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Surveyed students are leaning toward a smoke-free Auraria
By Josie Klemaier
jklemaie@mscd.edu

Students are being asked for their input concerning a possible campus-wide smoking ban proposed by the Auraria Board this past June.

A survey conducted by the Student Advisory Committee to the Auraria Board asks students from the three Auraria institutions if they consider themselves to be smokers, if they would support a campus-wide smoking ban, and if they would support designated smoking areas on campus.

Of the students surveyed so far, 66 percent support a campus-wide smoking ban, and 84 percent of these supporters are in favor of designated smoking areas.

Of those opposed to the ban, 62 percent favor designated smoking areas, and 50 percent said they do not consider themselves smokers.

“I get sick of walking through puffs of smoke,” said Metro Junior Greg Wamboldt, who said he would be in favor of designated areas for smokers.

Another student said she would like a smoking ban, but did not feel it was right. “I selfishly would like a smoking ban,” said UCD freshman Kara Fern. “But I don’t think it’s my right to tell people not to smoke.”

Colorado law currently prohibits smoking within 15 feet of the main entrances of state-owned buildings, which includes those at Auraria. Auraria’s policy prohibits smoking within 20 feet of the entrances of all campus buildings.

“A campus-wide ban would be difficult to enforce because the 20-foot policy is already difficult to enforce,” said SACAB chair Shaun Lally, who is helping conduct the survey. “But people are passionate about it.”

Lally said many students were interested in filling out the survey. Some students left comments on their surveys regarding the right to smoke.

“I see no threat in allowing people to smoke outside. Plus, such regulations would be hard to administer,” one student wrote.

Though a campus-wide ban would not be the law, it could be enforced.

Students can be cited for disobeying the 15-foot state policy, said Deputy Chief of Auraria Campus Police John Egan.

If students in violation of the 20-foot Auraria policy are asked to move, they can be cited if they refuse to comply. If Auraria were to implement a campus-wide ban, it would not be a state law, and students would not be charged for disregarding the regulation.

However, he said, students could be arrested and charged for disobeying a lawful order if they refused to put out their cigarette when asked. He said Auraria regulations would be enforced.

The proposal is still in its early stages. When SACAB has finished surveying students, they will go to the Auraria Board with a recommendation based on student input, SACAB member Zach Banks said.

Jordan Bair, who recently resigned from her position as the Metro Student Government Assembly‘s SACAB representative, was the SACAB member spearheading the smoking-ban survey. It is unclear who will take over in her absence.

Students can stop by the SACAB office in Tivoli Room 314 to fill out the survey.