Resolution for the Creation of Smoke-Free Housing at Princeton University 1 We, the members of the Undergraduate Life Committee (ULC), propose and strongly recommend that all Undergraduate housing under the jurisdiction of Princeton University be converted into smoke-free housing beginning in the 2005-2006 academic year. Reasons for this resolution are outlined in Section A, and are presented under four categories: 1) public-health, 2) indoor air-quality, 3) fire-safety, and 4) other. Section B describes the recommended implementation plan and enforcement of this policy, as well as suggestions for University support systems necessary to ensure a high chance of success. Lastly, Section C lists the numerous groups that have endorsed this resolution. Existing rules on smoking: These are outlined on page 16 of the Rights, Rules and Responsibilities: Smoking is prohibited in all academic and administrative buildings (including athletic department facilities), in University-owned vehicles and in spectator areas during outdoor athletic contests. In addition, smoking is prohibited in all common areas of the undergraduate dormitories and residential colleges. Smoking is prohibited in all commons areas of the Graduate College and the Annexes, except in the Debasement Bar. Although smoking is permitted in private residential rooms, in the event of a complaint, the University reserves the right to take appropriate action, including prohibiting smoking in a specific residential room or requiring the smoker to move. Recommended change to the existing rules: 1) the second sentence should be modified as follows; (2) the last sentence should be struck out (changes are underlined): Smoking is prohibited in all academic and administrative buildings (including athletic department facilities), in University-owned vehicles and in spectator areas during outdoor athletic contests. In addition, smoking is prohibited in all common areas of the undergraduate dormitories and residential colleges, in both private and common areas. Smoking is prohibited in all commons areas of the Graduate College and the Annexes, except in the Debasement Bar. Although smoking is permitted in private residential rooms, in the event of a complaint, the University reserves the right to take appropriate action, including prohibiting smoking in a specific residential room or requiring the smoker to move. Legality: University Legal Counsel reviewed our proposal and we have been informed that it adheres to all aspects of local, state and national law. 1 All statements marked by quotation marks, unless otherwise stated, come from the smoke-free policy as written by Brown University. Page 1 of 6
SECTION A: Rationale for this Policy Change While we respect the rights of an individual to make his/her own decision as whether or not to smoke, we feel that the rights of the non-smokers ought to be given priority when the smoking of an individual affects a non-smoker, Second-hand smoke is something no one should have to endure. State legislatures, including that of New Jersey, are increasingly passing laws to protect non-smokers as mentioned above. As we the students at Princeton University belong to a community of our peers, we are obliged to respect the rights of our peers to live in an environment that is smoke-free. The rationale for this resolution is: 1) Public-Health Second-hand smoke has been proven to cause ill health effects. Secondhand smoke is a Class A carcinogen or a compound that causes cancer in humans. Its many detrimental effects on health are well established and include triggering of asthma attacks, causing lung cancer, and contributing to cardiac arrest. A recent study by the Harvard school of Public Health shows that college students who live in smoke-free residence halls are 40% less likely to take up smoking than their counterparts who live in housing where smoking is permitted. 2) Indoor Air-Quality Attempts to eradicate exposure to secondhand smoke by limiting smoking to enclosed spaces are ineffective because smoke can travel through open doors, space in doorframes, and through heating vents. In-so-far as smoking in one residential room affects the quality of air in neighboring residential rooms, as well as the adjacent hallways, smoking in any residence forces non-smokers to be subject to second-hand smoke. 3) Fire Safety Smoking inside the dorm room is an unnecessary fire hazard. In the past 15 years, several cigarette-caused fires have occurred at Princeton, including one in 1993 that caused $350,000 worth in damage, minor injuries to a student, and the early morning evacuation of 150 students. According to the University Fire Marshal, approximately thirty fire-alarms are set off each year because of people smoking in their rooms. This costs the University financially and is a significant nuisance to many students. The numbers of cigarette-caused fires at colleges and universities nationwide are even more worrisome. While fortunately zero Princeton students have perished on campus due to fires caused by smoking in the dorms, cigarette-ignited fires caused an estimated 30% of fire deaths in the United States, more deaths than any other kind of fire. Candles are prohibited Page 2 of 6
4) Other from dorm rooms for the reason that they are considered by the Environmental Safety and Risk Management Committee to be an unnecessary fire hazard. The rules regarding the Environmental Safety and Risk Management Committee ought to be consistent, and should include the prohibition of smoking in residential rooms for the same reasons. Relatively few undergraduate students smoke at all, and of those that do, a large percentage would like to quit smoking. o According to TheHealthSurvey, covering a randomized sample of 1,600 undergraduate students and conducted from April 8 th to April 18 th of 2004, with a 45% response rate: 16.7% of students smoked a cigarette at least once in the past month. 8.0% of those who smoke started in college. 45.9% of students who currently smoke want to stop now. 84.5% of those who smoke said they guess they would not smoke at all after college, an indication that they would like to quit smoking after college. An informal poll on the USG-run website Point (www.point.princeton.edu) was conducted on November 15 th 2004. The question asked was Should the university designate all undergraduate housing smoke-free? No other information was provided, either for or against such a proposal. The options for answers were yes or no. Out of the 275 students that voted, 63% said yes. The majority of our peer institutions currently prohibit smoking in residential rooms. Brown, Cornell, Harvard, and Yale do not allow smoking in dorm rooms whatsoever. Almost all of Dartmouth prohibits smoking in rooms, and there has been increased interest in making this a campus-wide policy. Columbia and University of Pennsylvania allow smoking in some, but not all of their dorms. New Jersey state law restricts smoking in public places, government buildings, and private work places. Although each residential room is considered a private space, the common ducts and proximity invariably circulates air to neighboring rooms making it more akin to a public place or private work place. It can therefore be argued that smoking in dorm rooms violates New Jersey state law. In accordance with New Jersey state law, Princeton University employees are not permitted to smoke in their workplace, even if their workplace is enclosed. We find student dorms to be private working places, in addition to living quarters, and therefore meriting the same rules. Page 3 of 6
SECTION B: Implementation Plan and Policy Enforcement Smokers will need to have assigned places to carry out their practice. They either have to be outdoors or if indoors in places properly isolated and insulated from where non smokers might be. While many institutions have suggested a smoker be allowed to smoke if he or she is 30 feet away from a building, we prefer to leave a suggested distance to those with more expertise. If no particular position is arrived, we recommend keeping the 30 feet rule. Smoking indoor locations if any - must be determined by the university staff that has the necessary knowledge of the campus layout and its uses. The implementation must be accompanied by a publicity campaign to ensure awareness, understanding and compliance. University emails to the student population accompanied by flyers around campus and a short campaign of meetings with representatives that explain the new policy are essential. These should commence 30 days prior to implementation. We also request that the University install signs in all dorm rooms indicating their smoke-free status. Since the University will be taking a stance on the ill effects of smoking, it would be irresponsible not to extend free smoking cessation classes to undergraduates through the University Health Services (UHS), if it doesn t do so already, and as it offers employees. Housing contracts should hence include a sentence specifically stating that smoking inside the dorms is prohibited. Effective implementation of the smoking policy depends upon the courtesy, respect, and cooperation of all members of the [Princeton University community, smokers and nonsmokers alike. All persons share in the responsibility for adhering to and enforcing the policy.] Complaints or disputes should be brought to the attention of [Deans of the College in the case of Residential College members, and to the director of Housing for upperclassmen.] If satisfactory resolution is not reached, offenders will be referred to the non-academic discipline system. Page 4 of 6
SECTION C: Groups Backing this Resolution This Resolution was written and endorsed by the members of the Undergraduate Life Committee: VP Janet Dickerson co-chair, Vice President of Campus Life Mr. Juan Lessing co-chair, 05 Mr. Robert Anderson Minority Affairs Liaison, 05 Mr. Silvio Pellas Social Alternatives Liaison, 05 Mr. Weston Powell Athletic Affairs Liaison, 05 Ms. Katherine Reilly Women s Issues Liaison, 05 Mr. Wei Xiang Public Safety Liaison, 05 Mr. JW Victor Inter-(Eating) Club Council President Professor Elizabeth Bogan Economics Professor Daphne Brooks English Master and Professor Maria DiBattista English; Master of Rockefeller College Professor Adam Finkelstein Computer Science Professor Eddie Glaude Religion Professor David Nice Physics Dean Kathleen Deignan Dean of Undergraduate Students Dean Claire Fowler Associate Dean of the College Mr. Paul Breitman Director of Frist campus Center Reverend Dr. Thomas Breidenthal Dean of Religious Life and of the Chapel Professor Beth Jamieson Politics, Director of Pace Center for Community Service Chief Stephen Healy Director of Public Safety Mr. Stephen LeMenager Director for Administration and Planning Dr. Daniel Silverman Chief Medical Office of the University; University Health Services Mr. Gary Walters Director of Athletics Ms. Beverly Hamilton-Chandler Office of Career Services The Resolution is also endorsed by the following organizations and individuals in a position to address it: President Shirley Tilghman Council of Masters Residence Committee Student committee Student Health Advisory Board (SHAB) Student group Princeton Against Cancer Together (PACT) student group Environmental Safety and Risk Management Committee Mr. Tom Miller--Director of Housing Department Ms. Angela Hodgeman--Housing Department Mr. Ken Paulaski Housing Inspection Manager Mr. Robert Gregory University Fire Marshal Dean Maria Flores Mills--Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students Page 5 of 6
Dean Herbold--Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students University Health Services Center for Campus Fire Safety, non-profit, non-princeton group created for the promotion of reducing the number of fires on college campuses. Office of Public Safety Page 6 of 6