Secondhand smoke on college campuses

Secondhand smoke encompasses two types of smoking: mainstream and sidestream smoke. Mainstream smoking is the smoke exhaled by the smoker while sidestream smoke is the smoke from the end of a lit tobacco product. Nonsmokers are exposed to the dangerous chemicals, such as carcinogens like Radon, Benzene, and Nickel, without their consent. Standard researchers have found that in order to avoid the negative effects of secondhand smoke, a nonsmoker must be 6 feet up-wind from the lit tobacco produce. The State of California has placed secondhand smoke on the most dangerous Class A carcinogen list.1 Furthermore there are more than 60 chemical compounds have been proven to be cancer-causing agents. 1 The Surgeon General has stated that there is no risk-free level of exposure to second hand smoke.1 Secondhand smoke is not an incidental problem which only affects a few, select people. Secondhand smoke is the direct cause of more than 50,000 deaths among nonsmokers.2 3,000 nonsmokers will die because of lung cancer.2 The nonsmoking, asthmatic people will not only increase the number of attacks but also the severity of the attacks. These are all negative effects which the nonsmoker does not willing wish to participate in.

As more research has been conducted, it is possible to determine that secondhand smoke have a negative impact on a nonsmoker. California drew national attention by becoming the first state to ban indoor smoking in workplaces including bars and restaurants.1 By 2009, 17 states have enacted 100% smoke free policies for all workplaces include bars and restaurants. Those states include: Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and Washington.2 Additionally, there are 437 municipalities with a local ordinance that requires bars and restaurants to be 100% smoke-free.2 Currently there are over 305 colleges and universities that have enacted 100% smoke-free policies on campus.3 Although accidents, suicides and homicides are among the leading causes of death among young adults, smoking kills more than alcohol, car accidents, suicides, AIDS, homicides, and illegal drugs combined.3 National-wide 71.8% of college students did not smoke in the past 30 days according to the Core Survey.4

Truman State University Board of Governors smoking policy has not changed since 1995.5 According to that document smoking is permitted anywhere on campus except in academic buildings and university-owned vehicles. Although any student of Truman State University can tell an outsider that smoking is not permitted in the dorms. Res Life slowly phased out smoking in the dorms starting in 2001. Currently, there is a discrepancy between the Residential Life Handbook and the Board of Governors policy. Truman State University currently does not have a required distance away from door entrances. Again, Res Life has implemented a 10 feet from the door rule, but this rule is not enforced. The Board of Governors policy should at least meet the actual implementation policies of Res Life and provide enforcement of these policies. However, if the Board of Governors only amends the current policy, Truman will lag behind the 305+ university, nation-wide, that have implemented a 100% smoke free environment including both indoor and outdoor spaces on campus.4 Even within the state of Missouri, Truman is lagging behind both public and private universities. Nine schools have implemented 100% smoke-free policies.4 These schools include Washington University, St. Louis University, A.T. Still University, Northwestern, and University of Missouri-Columbia. Truman State University can not afford to lose additional students to a smoke-free campus but furthermore Truman can not expect its students to willing subject themselves to dangerous chemicals without their consent. Truman needs to update its smoke policy. If Truman truly believes that “excellence is no accident” than shouldn’t Truman also believe “exposure to secondhand is no accident”.


1. CA. Gen Laws. Ch 1 § 3 (2008).
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_1551-1600/sb_1598_bill_20080506_amended_sen_v97.pdf

2. American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundtion. (2009). Overview List- How Many Smoke Free Laws? Retrieved September 20, 2009 from http://www.no-smoke.org/pdf/mediaordlist.pdf

3. American Lung Association. (n.d). Secondhand Smoke Fact Sheet. Retrieved on September 20, 2009 from http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35422

4. Truman State University Board of Governors Policy. (2008). Retrieved on September 20, 2009 from http://governors.truman.edu/codeofpoliciesworkingdraft.asp

5. American Non-smokers’ Right Foundation. (2009). U.S.Colleges and Universities with Smoke-Free Policies. Retrieved on September 20, 2009 from http://www.no-smoke.org/pdf/smokefreecollegesuniversities.pdf