2008 Smoking Survey

• Smoking Survey Results
  • Student Non Smoker Comments
  • Student Smoker Comments
  • Non-Student Non-Smoker Comments
  • Non-Student Smoker Comments
  • All Comments

All Comments

• "...all interior and exterior parts of the campus, including parking lots and private vehicles?" Northern thinks it can tell me I can't smoke in my own car? Seriously? That's flat out ridiculous! I smoke, and I fully realize a lot of people don't like it. But I don't smoke near doors, I don't smoke upwind of people, if I'm walking to class and smoking and someone is approaching me, I hold my breath and wait until they pass to exhale. You know what's more annoying than smelling cigarette smoke? Drunken assholes in the dorms and apartments all weekend. Yeah, drinking on campus is illegal, but hell, if Northern can't even control that, what's the point of banning smoking? "Smoking sheds" are another ridiculous idea. Pen us in like sheep while we smoke? Laughable, really. If this happens, I don't really foresee any smokers taking this seriously. Honestly, I won't. I smoke in front of my apartment building and on my way to class. That's my choice; the university can tell me I can't have a cat, they can force me to pay $130 to park on campus even though I'm paying thousands of dollars worth of tuition and a monthly rent that would probably shock me if I spent too much time thinking about it, but they're sure as hell not keeping me from smoking on campus.
• "Natural Northern" is not conducive to cigarette butts all over campus
• "Naturally Northern" will not be completely true until the campus is free of a disgusting addiction to nicotine and tar. How can anyone enjoy the beauty of the North when you're breathing in the smoke of someone in front of you?
• "Smoke shelters" would be a waste of money. Smokers should be allowed to smoke in their cars or off campus.
• #4 - I Don't support the graduated approach to going smoke free. There is no valid reason to wait. Those of us who have to walk through it on a daily basis as we leave the buildings shouldn't have to be subjected to it on a regular basis or wait any longer to just be able to breath clean air. I end up inhaling or holding my breath every day as I walk between buildings and there's no reason I should have to do that outside. Few if any smokers are currently abiding by the 30 feet from the building rule. And I am appalled at the placement of the huge, cement block eyesores in front of Jamrich that we have already spent thousands of dollars on to keep smoke from entering the building. That money could have been used to purchase TEN quality pre-built, aesthetically pleasing buildings from a local supplier that could have served as smoke shelters with chimneys that would direct the smoke up and away from people walking between buildings. Where is the common sense and frugal money management? No wonder this University is always in a budget crisis.
• #4-I would be graduated by then and it wouldn't effect me I would still have to walk through smoke to get into the buildings every day.
• #5 Something NEEDS to be done to keep the smokers away from the doors (why cant someone write tickets for this?) Spending money on some shelters they may or may not use seems to be a waist. Appleton is smoke free and it is so nice you can go out to eat and you don't stink when you get home.
• 'Smoking shelters' will not work, as it stands now smokers disregard the 'no smoking within 30 feet of building' signs and smoke right outside the doors. If given an inch to smoke, I believe they'll take a foot.
• **Great idea, as smoking policy is not enforced AT ALL
• -Instead of a graduated plan, consider a cold-turkey date 1 or 2 years out -Instead of a non-smoking policy, institute a $50 fine for litering, including cigarette butts. If someone tosses their cigarette butt onto the ground- nail them -Would the vehicle ban be enforced on just parked vehicles, or moving vehicles as well? If so, can an officer pull someone over for smoking? This must be considered. Don't make a rule you can't enforce -Although smoking shelters are a fair compromise, I'm not sure smokers would use them. I think people would smoke wherever until they saw an officer approaching. IF they did use the shelters, the shelters would most likely be filthy and would smell bad, even from a distance. -OVERALL- it is always better to lead, so go cold turkey. -IF you implement this- advertise and publisize. When NMU announced the ThinkPad program, I was EXTREMELY disappointed in the lack of publicity NMU generated for itself. The 1991 hockey championship and NMU's appearance on the CNN sports-ticker may be the most recognition NMU has ever received. Recognition leads to curiosity, curiosity leads to investigation, and investigation can both increase enrollment and increase the "value" of a degree from NMU. So do it, invest some resources into publisizing it (hire a PR or media firm to help generate placement...and I'm not talking about Tavernini & Assoc. A couple of posters at the airport won't help, and a story on WLUC news will simply tell everyone what they already know. -A non-smoking campus plays well into the "Northern Naturally" slogan.
• 1) We live in Marquette. Marquette = Wind. Wind = No Smell 2) If you think smoke is bad, I'd send this survey to the industrialists here in Marquette. Have you seen the exhaust pouring out of that plant? 3) Smoking outside doesn't pose any threat to any human being. 4) Why is the school so eager to remove smoking "outside"? 5) I smoke, but not often. When I do, I'm usually 30 feet from the door. You think that would be good enough. Do we really still have people bitching about the smell? 6) You're going to waste funding from the school on equipment people are still going to boycott? 90% in the U.S. begin smoking when they begin college anyway. It's inevitable even if this ends up happening. My opinion, save the money for something we REALLY need, not some anti-smoking junk people are going to end up vandalizing.
• 1) Where I work on campus, people smoking near the building's air intakes make me sick. This increases my health costs and sick days. Just enforcing the current rules would save NMU money. 2a) Helping NMU employees cure their addiction to cigarettes would save NMU money, too. I think some of that savings should be available to help employees quit if they want to. I think a lot of them want to quit even though they might scream about this proposed policy. Talk to former smokers if you want an honest view about the value of this policy. 2b) Thinking outside the box (or carton) for a moment, how much is it worth to NMU for every staff person who quits smoking? What is the decrease in lifetime health care costs? Please think seriously about this. Is it worth $1000 in reduced health care costs when a full-time staff person quits for good? Obviously. It's easily worth ten times more than that. And hundred times more in a lot of cases. What does one triple bypass operation cost? So why don't we have a bright group of people sit down and figure out what we could do with $1000 per smoking employee to help them quit smoking? It's not extravagant--it's just common sense. 2c) Smoking's not a civil right. Look up addiction in the dictionary: It's a disease. People are trying to quit and failing all the time. Anything we can do to help them successfully quit and stay tobacco free is worthwhile economically when we are paying their health-care costs. 3) I think NMU being a smoke-free campus would be an attractive and comforting factor to PARENTS of prospective students, much as the TLC program is. It fits in with "Northern Naturally." "Your kids will breath fresh UP air all the time, not just when they go hiking." 4) When I was an undergraduate at NMU, Northern Vending sold cigarettes from vending machines in dorms and classroom buildings. That seems unthinkably ignorant today. Letting smokers pollute our buildings by crowding the entrances and smoking near the air-intakes will seem just as ignorant in the future. 5) Smokers are addicts. The protests against this policy from smokers might be vehement, but will mainly be a rationalization of their addiction. Ask FORMER SMOKERS how they feel about this policy. You'll get a more honest perspective. 6) I don't mean to single out one department, but just for instance, how many LPN candidates do we certify every year who smoke? The answer is, "A lot." Don't you think that's scandalous? I do. Why isn't smoking cessation part of our health-care degrees and certificates? Is there a 200 level HPER course in smoking cessation? What would it hurt? Non-smokers might protest they aren't eligible. I'm sure we could figure out a way to deal with unhappy non-smokers. Let them CLEP out of it if they're really put out. It's more important to provide serious resources to help smokers kick the habit. Most of them really want to, even if they don't admit it.
• 2010 is way too late. 2009 much more reasonable. Smokers will abuse any "special area" and it would be very naive to think smokers would stay in their cars with their windows closed. This is a major HEALTH issue, and while I applaud your efforts, I'm worried you will try to placate smokers to the extent that the policy won't have enough teeth. If you're going to do it, go all the way with zero tolerance.
• 75% of people do not smoke. The remaining 25% of the population should not dictate teh health of the majority. Smokers do not want to be inconvienced to get off ther backsides to go to a place that is provided to smoke and this should be the way there rights are preserved.
• A campus smoking policy should NOT address what individuals do in their own vehicles, regardless of whether their windows are up or down. I make this assertion on the basis of, "Don't make laws you can't enforce."
• a campus wide ban on smoking would be an overtly fascist and totalitarian policy
• A college is thought to be a place where freedom and openmindedness is taught. Every college student is an adult and should be of smoking age and to ban a totally legal act such as smoking on campus even if its outdoors is an attack on personal rights or american citizen. Nmu is a public institution and should not take such action unless the voters of the state of michigan approve this action and the legislation enacts such a law banning smoking outdoors.
• A completely smoke-free campus is the only way to curtail its impact. However, I do think you need to allow smoking in personal vehicles. Without some outlet for their habit, as demonstrated by MGH, smokers are likely to spill across the street to residential neighbors or businesses. That activity, and the remnants they leave behind, would justifiably build resentment and tarnish town-gown relations. But vehicles are the only places smoking should be allowed. It has already been demonstrated that efforts to limit smoking to restricted areas on campus (30 feet from buildings, etc.) don't work. People extend the boundaries and there's little/no enforcement as a deterrent. Enforcement will be a huge issue in making any of these efforts successful. Also, will there be proactive, complementary activities on campus such as smoking cessation clinics or other things designed to help people quit or find the resources for doing so? It would make the university look better than simply outlawing an act with no recognition of the underlying nicotine addiction that makes it necessary.
• A crack down on smoking might be a good idea - but I'm not so sure that taking it away entirely would be a wise move. There are a lot of smokers who live on-campus, and taking away their rights to smoke completely would probably drive them to other universities, and therefore lose the school even more money.
• A few things, just about 80% of the students at northern are smokers. If u had those smoker shelter and letting us smoke in our cars without getting a ticket. I think that could work. Then u wouldn't have any complants from the smokers and the non-smokers won't be affected from the second hand smoke.
• A lot of people smoke here. So I think it might be a bad idea to make campus completely smoke free. You would probably loose a lot of students. But I think that the smoking stations are a good idea because people would still be able to smoke and the people who don't like the smell of smoke wouldn't have to deal with it.
• A smoke free campus is a good idea, but it has to be done gradually. However, I would like to see the 30 ft rule enforced more. The other day I was leaving Jamrich and as I opened the double doors to go down the stairs I began to smell cigarette smoke and I was still in the building.
• A smoke free campus is a great idea! Presently smokers stand right next to outside doors forcing the rest of us to inhale strong doses of secondary smoke.
• A smoke free campus is a wonderful idea, however, students unable to smoke in one's own private vehicle is absurd.
• A smoke free campus is the best idea ever. I wish all public places were smoke free.
• a smoke free campus seems much too difficult to enforce. We should appeal to common courtesy (as the library did in its cell phone policy) Signage to discourage smokers from smoking near buildings, etc.
• A smoke free campus would be a great change at northern!
• A smoke free campus would be a great thing, it annoys me to no end when i'm walking behind a smoker. Go smoke free in one way or another. Thank you!
• A smoke free campus would be a huge upgrade to NMU! Better for nonsmokers and smokers!
• A smoke free campus would do is force the smokers to walk a little farther to have one. The only problem this would solve is the decision of whether or not we want to make some people feel outcast.
• A smoke-free campus fits very well with the Northern. Naturally. theme, and I have had campus visitors comment that it seems like a relatively high number of students smoke on our campus. Perhaps that's an artifact of right-to-try admissions policy, or the first generation, blue-collar background of many students. Potential students who are already smokers may either see a smoking ban as a positive (it will help them quit) or a negative (they're not going to tell me what to do). Requiring students to live on campus is the heart of the problem. MGHS phased in a ban, but all their employees can go home to smoke. Students living on campus would have no other home to go to. Before implementing a policy, I would consider what other public universities in Michigan are doing. I would hate to put NMU at a disadvantage. Perhaps smoking shelters is a good temporary solution, but I would have an exit strategy. I imagine it will be very expensive to heat, ventilate and clean the shelters.
• A smoke-free campus is ridiculous. It will never happen,and even if a rule was established to ban smoking, people are still going to smoke. No ones going to walk all the way off campus or to their car just to smoke, there's not enough time besides. They're going to smoke where it's convenient, right on campus.
• A smoke-free campus is smart. There is no question regarding the health implications of smoking and second hand smoke, and given such information a public university has the responsibility to maintain the best environment possible for all. With several states going entirely smoke-free in public, and others following suit, it is of the utmost importance for NMU to continue to been seen as progressive (similar to the all laptop university, etc.). I do, however, question the details of the proposed smoke-free campus. Prohibiting smoking in private cars with windows closed (as asked) would seem a violation to the individual smoker and I do not believe enforcement of such is called for. Also, smoke stations are terrible. I have seen such attempts and the results are dirty, awful looking areas, and public concentration of such toxins does not resolve the issue of public smoking anyway. As for a graduated fashion, the concept may be effective but 2010 seems too far away. The benefits far outweight the drawbacks in this proposal and I sincerely hope the outcome will support a smoke-free campus.
• A smoke-free campus would be very nice to have. It is very annoying to me even when I have to sit next to someone in class that smokes and they smell. I think this is a very positive effort by NMU to make people live healthier!
• A smoker sat next to me during one of my fall finals, and the smell was horrendous. I felt sick to my stomach, got a headache, and am positive that had I not been surrounded by the stench, would have had a higher grade on the exam. I am in total support of the campus going smoke-free.
• A smoking shelter would not work because most of the smokers do not go 30' away from the builodings and use the smoking pots that are curently in use and a failed attempt to move smokers away from the buildings. If we do not enforce the current rules or any new ones it is going to be a waste of time and effort to move forward with any change.
• A total smoking ban is a bad idea and unfair to the smokers. I don't see what the big deal is.
• A university is a place that should showcase tolerance and acceptance of peoples personal choices. I feel that it is unreasonable to put a restriction like this into effect. Social control in this country is already overbearing, and a policy such as this would only take us a step further in the wrong direction. Restricting smoking in private vehicles is obsurd.
• A very sensitive topic for some. However, I feel it is a step in the right direction considering that some Marquette establishments are smoke-free and some major cities are also smoke-free.A smoke-free university demonstrates the university's committment to a healthy student body and mind.
• A) If you're going to make Northern a smoke free campus, it's necessary to change the housing policy so that people don't live on campus for two years because that forces people to basically quit smoking for lack of anywhere to smoke, which should be a decision of the individual, not mandated by the school. B) It would cut down considerably on the litter from smokers if there were ashtrays near every door. There is one ashtray outside of JXJ. I have yet to see one outside any other educational building except the library. If there was a place to actually put the butts, it would probably cut down on the litter. Likewise, if the ashtrays were posted next to the sign for thirty feet -- not right next to the door like they currently are -- would ultimately encourage people to smoke further away from the doors. C) I think if the 30 feet rule was actually enforced, people wouldn't smoke next to the door. But there's no enforcement; it's nearly like a suggestion at this point in time for how little it's controlled. D) I think if the campus does go smoke-free that it has no right to infringe on whether or not I can smoke in my car, windows up or down. I think the fact that there is discussion for NMU to go smoke free and extend that to my car as it drives on campus roads is ridiculous and could be in many ways an intrusion of privacy, not to mention harder to enforce than the 30 foot rule. If NMU can't control people smoking by the doors, they're certainly not going to be able to stop people from smoking in their cars, windows up or not.
• According to the Americans for nonsmokers' rights orginization (http://www.no-smoke.org/)*ANY* level of inhalition of second-hand smoke is potentially dangerous. This includes studies where non-smokers blood was tested before and after being subjected to the CLOTHS of smokers (NOT EVEN direct second hand smoke). This means that when a person who is a smoker sits down next to YOU and you SMELL the cigarette smoke YOU have been subjected to harmful chemicals WITHOUT your approval. Think about that for a few minutes.
• All I care about in regards to this is that I don't want to walk out of a building into a cloud of smoke, and that doesn't happen very often to me, maybe once or twice a semester. So if people want to continue with their bad habits, let them.
• All long as people are not smoking by enterances they should be allowed to do what they want outdoors. This is a "free" country!
• All student smoking at NMU takes place outdoors, where there is plenty of air to go around for students who choose not to smoke. If they don't like somebody smoking, they have the choice to walk away from that person. In my opinion, it would be completely unnecessary, not to mention unfair, to take away a student's privilege to smoke on campus.
• All this is not really fair...smoking outside doesn't farm anyone. and this shit about the cars...thats violating a privacy...I'm not a smoker and never have been but think this is retarded.
• Allowing smoking anywhere is allowing for endangerment. It's a selfish, needless to say disgusting, habit. If you plan on going smoke-free, just do it. Completely. No shying away or stepping lightly. The so-called policy of maintaining a 30 ft distance from entryways isn't even regulated (has it ever been?). And Jamrich often smells like an old townie bar with the way the air-intake brings in the smoke from the smokers smoking RIGHT OUTSIDE. If you allow for smoking in cars, smokers will break that rule. They'll smoke in parking lots. They'll smoke outside buildings. They will smoke on campus. Fine them. Do this now. When the many smokers (and there are a lot of them) smoke right outside a building, fine them $200. Or more. And keep doing it. Use the money to fund health services for all students. Building a shelter is laughable. What does this say about NMU? It says, "Hey, don't smoke near our buildings or on our walkways, but come into this tiny cubicle and for 10 minutes or so, 3 times a day or more, work on killing yourself. Go Big Tobacco! You-rah-rah, cancer and early aging!" Go smoke-free, and don't do it gradually. Why bother with baby steps? We (NMU) are already so far behind. The fact that we allow smoking right outside doorways is downright barbaric. Go smoke-free, do it now, and stop with these silly surveys asking 19 year olds their smoking preference. Have some regulations and enforce them. Be confident in them. Let me be proud of NMU. Let me tell others about our school.
• Allowing students to smoke outside on campus generally means that they will stand in groups just outside of buildings, and this forces all students entering the buildings to walk through a cloud of smoke. This shouldn't happen.
• Almost everyone who has smoked for a long time is trying to quit and regretting their decision to start when they did. It is now common knowledge that smoking is unhealthy, expensive, and frankly unattractive. If people want to smoke then that's their mistake to make, but the rest of us don't want to be stuck behind them on the way to class or walk through a cloud when entering a building.
• Although everyone knows that smoking is bad for your health, and second hand smoking is much worse, I don't think that smokers should be punished for the choice that they made to smoke somewhere along the way. I believe that if Northern was to become a smoke-free campus, the number of students at this university may decline, however, it may increase because of the students who believe a university should be smoke-free. Students may become frustrated with not being able to smoke on campus before or after a class as smoking between classes can "calm ones nerves." It may help students quit smoking, but that is not the responsibility of NMU and I don't think that we should make it a smoke-free campus. I like the "smoking shelters" idea but the cost would probably be sky-rocketing high and I'm sure that would affect the cost of tuition in the future. The students that live in the dorm rooms would be awfully upset that they aren't able to walk outside of the building to smoke and someone shouldn't have to walk all the way off campus JUST to have a cigarette. I am 100% against making the University smoke-free.
• Although generally smoking bothers me, I haven't found it to be a 'problem' on the NMU campus. There seem to be places where people do smoke and don't, and I've come to accept that.
• Although I am a non-smoker and I find smoking disgusting, I believe that people have the right to smoke. As long as they smoke outside and at least 30 feet from building entrances, I don't see any problem with it.
• Although I am a non-smoker I do not believe that a public institution has the right to ban a legal substance. Maybe if the university actually implemented the 30 foot policy this would not be an issue. But as far as banning smoking outside on public property I think that that is absolutely ridiculous. Smoking is a highly addictive habit and turning smokers into criminals seems somewhat unfair. And if the university does ban smoking what are we going to do to students who continue to smoke? Fine them, kick them out of school, imprison them, for what, for having a bad legal habit. What’s next? I think the university should focus more on underage drinking, marijuana usage, cocaine, and speeding drivers. These things are all illegal and the university never talks about these issues. I’m just waiting for the SS to show up and haul away all the smokers, maybe even taser them, that will show taxpayers not to do legal things on public property. And as far as health issues, there is asbestos in most of the dorms, there are cars pumping out exhaust all over campus. A cigarette is just a plant, carbon natural, and harmless to non smokers. I think that the college should teach tolerance, not teach students to ban thing they don’t like.
• Although I am a non-smoker, I believe smoking is an individual choice. We have already banned smoking inside, which is a hassle for smokers to have to go outside now. Smoking is an addiction just like anything else, and the people who believe a smoke-free campus will decrease the amount of smokers clearly don't know how bad of an addiction this is. Also, everyday we breath in fumes from cars, factories and even airplanes. When going through a drive through like McDonald's, the person working the window is inhaling the fumes from the cars. Honestly, how is that good for you either? It's no different than inhaling cigarette smoke. Whether we ban smoking or not, we are still getting those fumes and smoke from else where.
• although I am a non-smoker, I feel that smokers who are outside the buildings are not interfering with my safety or inconvenience me in any way.
• Although I am a non-smoker, I strongly believe that the smokers have a right to smoke on campus. I think it will negatively affect admissions because people will look at that and think NMU tries to control our everyday lives. I believe that if you choose to you can avoid smokers. People who complain are the ones who choose to walk behind them going to class, or they choose to walk right through a group of smokers going into buildings.
• Although I am a smoker I feel that NMU's campus going smoke free would be a huge asset to our learning community as well as the Marquette community as a whole. Non-smokers should not have to be exposed to the cloud of smoke that accumulate outside of the doors, not to mention the smoke that filters in through vents and open windows.
• although I am all for a smoke free environment, this is not especially fair to those who do smoke. They can't just quit like that. I have no problems with the smoking population here at school. There aren't many smokers and they all abide by the smoking outside rule and everything. I am fine with the current situation and would not advise against going stricter, ESPECIALLY not using any of the school's budget on "smoking shelters". That would be a very unwise investment, and people will most likely never use them.
• Although I am not a smoker, I do respect the fact that smokers are 18 and older. As adults who are trusted to make our own decisions with other aspects of our lives, I feel that the University should not attempt to babysit/threaten us when we make otherwise legal decisions.
• Although I am not a smoker, I still think this plan is too restrictive. Like it or not, smoking is legal in the U.S.A.,and smoking is a legal activity for those people who are 18 or over. They have the right to exercise their freedom of choice. People shouldn't be subjected to second-hand smoke--those rights need to be respected too. The challenge is finding this balance that respects the rights and needs of both groups--smokers and non-smokers alike.
• Although I completely support the idea of NMU becoming a completely smoke-free campus, I really am wondering how this policy would be enforced.
• Although I do have a few friends who are smokers and I don't judge them for their choice, smoking effects nonsmokers as well, and this is where the problem lies. Those of us that are choosing not to smoke are still reaping the negative impact of second hand smoke to our lungs. Whether we are walking through campus following someone with a cigarette, or when I lived in the dorms and had cigarette smoke radiating up into my window from people standing outside, it is difficult to get away from it on a campus.
• Although I do not smoke and I think smoke free environments are truly beneficial, I think it may be a good decision to create a small, enclosed location where smokers may smoke. Penalties should be enforced if these rules are broken. Becoming a smoke-free campus can do no harm - it is truly a great idea! Maybe a smoke-free campus will encourage others to stop smoking?
• Although I like the idea of a smoke-free campus, I do not think it would be well-enforced, as the current regulations are often broken with little consequence. Furthermore, the institution of a smoke-free campus would likely create many unhappy students.
• Although I personally do not smoke, I feel that the choice to smoke is a matter of personal freedom. Though it is harmful to the smokers and those who regularly share their smoke, I think that it is plenty to have those who choose to do so stand outside, where their smoke will dissipate quickly. Asking them to stand in shelters or find someone else's car to sit in and suffocate is absolutely ridiculous--the smoke would completely fill the shelters. The real issue here is personal freedom. I would not be proud to attend a university that restricts the personal life choices of its' students and residents.
• Although I support the campus going smoke-free, if it were not to something needs to be done to prevent/stop people from smoking right at the doorways. I for one do not smke and don't appreciate having to walk through a cloud of smoke just to enter or exit a building.
• Although I think smoking is a disgusting and dangerous habit, I also believe that people should have the right to smoke outdoors if they please.
• Although I understand and support the rights of non-smokers to be free of tobacco smoke, it is also the right of smokers to choose not to be free of it. A completely smoke free campus discriminates against smokers and will adversely affect the university as a whole; possible backlash from students, and the potential for legal issues cropping up are both plausible outcomes.
• Although I would prefer everyone quit smoking, I know it is not going to happen soon. I believe some accommodation should be made for those who smoke. Either allow smoking in private vehicles or build smoking shelters.
• Although I'm a non-smoker and neutral on all these issues, making campus smoke-free is discriminating against smokers. Although I feel it's a gross habit and I don't like smoke being blown in my face, what right do we have to tell people they can smoke or not?
• Although it would be good for the campus to go smoke-free I do not feel it will be able to happen in the immediate future. I feel that the smokers in the campus community will be very upset and have a hard time adjusting the new smoke-free campus. If they decide to keep smoking then there will be an increase in students that are in trouble.
• Although it would be wonderful to have a smoke free campus, i think it would be very difficult to do and that it would alienate a specific population of students at NMU. That being said i think the best alternative to having a smoke free campus would be having shelters as well as stricter punishments for not following the policy. Having great upkeep of the shelters and the grounds that are littered with cigarette butts would also be a must.
• Although some people argue that this would be almost impossible to implement, entire cities go smoke-free and it IS possible. It is an important but difficult decision, and I, as a educated citizen, greatly support it. I am a recovering smoker, and still feel strongly that this can be done. I don't believe that it will affect enrollment negatively. Nothing irks me more than when I'm sitting in a lecture and ten people come back in from a smoke break and I'm forced to rub elbows with that stench for the remainder of the class period. It's disturbing. Also, most people don't acknowledge the 25 feet rule when smoking away from the building. They huddle around the doorway and it becomes necessary to push through the smoke just to get out into some fresh air. Therefore, it'd be best to just eliminate the issue entirely. Thanks for allowing me to give feedback!
• Although tobacco use should remain an individual decision, I am strongly against it affecting those who choose not to smoke. As the policy stands currently, I am the subject to second hand smoke every day as I walk to class, especially near building entrances. Also, I believe that a policy that eliminates smoking on our campus might urge individuals to quit smoking completely- perhaps you could offer educational seminars on the harmful effects of smoking, and offer quitting support.
• America is a free country. How can people regulate where you smoke, for example, in your car or on the side walk. That is just stupid to make NMU a smoke free place. Maybe if you enforced smoking in the dorm rooms or smoking so close to the door ways it would be better. But to eliminate smoking all together is a ridiculous idea and I don't even smoke. Just enforce the non-smoking zones and smoking by door ways.
• another college that I had attended was a smoke free university and the campus just look cleaner, within a few weeks smokers didn't seem to mind either.
• Any action will be a well made decision because as of now smokers do not follow the designated smoking areas.
• Any policy or practice which actively or passively encourages smoking on campus is tantamount to condoning assault. It permits the perpetuation of lifelong poor health, increases campus healthcare and maintenance costs,serves as bad examples to young people, diminishes disposable income, pollutes the earth and air, and decreases productivity. NMU's obligations to society and the campus community significantly outweigh any personal freedom of choice regarding this issue.
• Any progress towards becoming smokefree is a step up and in the correct direction for an up to date campus. I however do not agree with tuition raises to non-smokers, just to build new areas for them to smoke. If any fee is needed for smokers, then only they should have to pay for their own convenience.
• any steps towards becoming a smoke free institution is a plus, no matter how you look at it. Its only a matter of time entire states are going to be smoke free, including Michigan
• Any thing to improve the situation would be great. The worst thing is when the snow melts and you see all of the buds all over campus, had I seen that when making my choice to come here I seriously might not have come. It is also horrible to HAVE to walk through a cloud of smoke to get to the building your class is held in.
• Any time you walk by a smoker...who is smoking...you end up breathing in their secondhand smoke. Unless you hold your breath till you're far enough away from them to not be in their smoke-cloud. Smoking in a vehicle with it's windows up is a compromise but let's get real....who in their right mind would smoke in a vehicle without rolling DOWN the windows...even a little bit?
• anybody who proposes banning smoking in private vehicles must be smoking something other than tobacco
• Anyone thinking about a smoke free campus is not only selfish, but ignorant to the reality of this universities students and there personal rights.
• Anything done about smoking on campus would be an improvement, whether it entails building shelters or going completely smoke-free (ideal). Nobody enjoys walking through a cloud of harmful pollutants while trying to go to class. I cannot think of any downsides to a smoke-free campus, beside the obvious inconvenience to those who smoke. However, allowing smoking on campus provides a much bigger inconvenience to those who don't smoke and who don't care to be around it.
• Are these new policies going to be enforced? Right now there are still smokers standing right next to the doorways, and there is no one telling them that they have to move.
• Areas for smokers might be a good idea, if they were actually used, instead of people crammed around the doorways smoking. Also to enforce the smoking ban initially give warnings then fines if the same person continues to smoke on campus.
• As a former smoker i do have some sympathy for smokers. I don't believe it to be fair to take away the right to smoke outside. There are many smokers that live in the dorms and would have to walk an unfair distance to smoke. i agree with many people that smokers smoking right outside the doorways of buildings is a problem. That however, is not a good enough reason to punish all smokers especially those that follow the rules and stay a good distance away from the doors. Smoking is an addiction and it is not fair to punish someone for being legally addicted. If NMU is concerned about people smoking and smoke bothering other non-smokers they should not cut off smokers but should provide support and programs to quit smoking. Rarely will you find someone at this level of education that smokes for the enjoyment only.
• As a former smoker I would support designated areas away from entrances. I'd prefer totally smoke-free but can appreciate the needs of the addicted.
• As a former smoker, I feel that if NMU had been smoke free I would have quit faster. After successfully quitting the one thing that I hated and still hate is walking around people who are smoking because I never want to get into that bad habit again. I see this as a positive to either help people quit smoking or help those who used to smoke or have been trying to quit to be free of the smoke that may be taunting them. It's a horrible habit and the university grounds would certainly look better if there weren't as many cigarrette butts lying around.
• As a former smoker, I find it hard to not want to smoke while walking through campus. I'd like to see less people smoking, first off to make it easier on myself in my attempts to quit smoking, but also for the health benefits of others. However, I see the issue as more of a general lack of respect, than a smoking vs. nonsmoking issue.
• As a former smoker, I know how the smokers think. But honestly, this is going to be the trend for most public places. So whether you do it all at once or step by step as long as your ultimate goal is a smoke free campus, you're on the right track. Smoking poses health hazards and as a we're supposed to be a higher learning facility, we should reflect that.
• As a non smoker it is very frustrating to exit a building to be engulfed in someones chimney coming from their mouth. I know there are signs that state no smoking beyond this point but they are rarely considered when a smoker steps outside of the building and lites up the door opens up and the smoke filters in the building. I believe that if a person smokes they have the right to smoke but let me a non smoker have the right to take a deep breath without burning my lungs out with the toxic smoke. I feel if they want to smoke in their cars or if there were the buildings put up so they could smoke there it would be great, just consider the path of most of the traffic when placing these smoke areas as not to close to buildings and direct walking traffic.
• As a non-smoker with asthma I HATE walking through clouds of smoke and literally gagging on them. I gag on smoke even when there are no smokers currently present because the smoke lingers. I wish the smoking away from entrances was enforced and actually MOVE the butt-trays/buckets away from them (leaving butt-trays/buckets near entrances only signifies that it's okay to smoke there). Enforcing this rule will significantly positive step in the resolution of the problems related to smoking on campus. However wonderful having a smoke-free campus would be, I consider the rights of smokers- their vehicles are their property, and the out-of-doors is free to everyone. Becoming smoke-free infringes on the rights of smokers and will only create rules, such as the "smoking away from entrances" rule, that will be broken and unenforced. therefore, changes need to be made, but abolishments are not the answer.
• As a non-smoker, I believe that this is taking away from the rights of students. You can't segregate smokers from non-smokers, it is their choice. I don't care if people smoke, and I don't care if people ride bikes or skateboards. I think that NMU is asking for a lawsuit because of segregation, we don't tell obese people not to eat so much because it is ruining there health and we don't tell them when they can eat and where they can eat.
• As a non-smoker, I don't mind the smell or the amount of smokers on campus. It's their choice to do as they please. The 50feet from a building rule is a good rule; if enforced. And regarding the smoking shelters, waste of money on the part of the university.
• As a non-smoker, I must admit I don't enjoy walking through a cloud of smoke at the entrance to buildings. At the same time, however, I believe the smokers have rights too. Smoking has not been criminalized in the U.S. and therefore they should be allowed to smoke outside. If building shelters is cost-prohibitive, perhaps having public safety officers issue citations for littering would be more effective. Regardless, I don't think anyone really cares what someone does in or around their cars. The parking lots are all wide open and there is plenty of fresh air for nonsmokers to breathe there.
• As a non-smoker, I respect a smoker's right to harm their own body. I do not see smoking as an inconvenience to my lifestyle.
• As a non-smoker, I would like to put my support with those friends of mine who choose to smoke. The crime rate would increase if such a thing were to happen. I do not support a smoke-free NMU campus.
• As a non-smoker, walking behind or by a smoker is not pleasant.
• As a non-smoking student with asthma, I end up holding my breath everything I walk in and out the doors to avoid the smoke.
• As a nonsmoker, I often run the gauntlet into classroom buildings through a cloud of smoke. These people stand right outside the doors, even on a nice day. Since they are in direct violation of obvious signs near the building, I would like to see enforcement of the rules that people are not to smoke close to entrances. It can even be dangerous to go into the buildings. Last fall I was walking into West Science when a smoker near the door suddenly thrust her arms out while talking to a friend to emphasize a point. The cigarette in one of her hands was smashed into the back of my hand, causing a burn. The young woman glared at me as if I'd done something wrong and didn't even apologize. I don't necessarily think we need an entirely smoke-free campus, at least not right away. What we do need is more enforcement of the rules we already have, and acknowledgment that if smokers want to smoke, they have to do it well away from the doors.
• As a previous smoker I don't have a problem with the shelters in order to keep smoke away from building doorways and hopefully there would be containers to dispose of the cigarettes. I can't stand walking through smoke to enter a building and the butts littered on the ground. I don't think you should deny an indiviudal of smoking in their own personal vehicle - that's their own personal space although I wouldn't want to smoke without the window open but that's their choice.
• As a prior smoker, it is very difficult to quit a habit like smoking when you're placed into a stressful situation such as finals coming up. Having smokers at every entrance to every building just put smoking on one's mind and made it more difficult. It would have been much easier to quit, had the campus been smoke-free.
• As a professor, I find the number of students currently smoking or beginning to smoke very disturbing. A smoke free NMU gets my vote.
• As a second year student, I am forced to live on campus. Should i choose to smoke outside, i think that that is my right. If the university does not want me to smoke near their buildings then they should not force me to live in an environment that is not conducive to my lifestyle.
• As a smoker I am not in favor of this proposal. On the rare occation that I do smoke outside of my vehicle on campus I am considerate of others. I do not smoke right by the doors nor do I blow my smoke in the direction of others walking by. Have degsinated areas for smoke (ie the shacks) is a great idea! Thank you for allowing us to have input on this matter.
• As a smoker I have never smoked on campus. It is rude and disrespectful to make others take a breath of smoke before entering the library, or any other building on campus. It is also not in my best interest to spend much needed money on "shelters" when we could be spending our tuition on better things. I would love to see NMU smoke-free.
• As a smoker, I am very opposed to the policy change that would make NMU a smoke-free campus. While doubtfully any research exists on smoker demographics in Marquette compared to other Michigan cities, one has only to look around themselves to see that this area has a significant population of smokers. Having lived downstate most of my life, I know that smoking outside of the Upper Peninsula is highly shunned. Friends and relatives that have visited NMU have continually been surprised at how many smokers there are. For whatever reason, NMU, and Marquette in general, have a large demographic of smokers compared to campus and city population, respectively. That means that a smoke-free campus policy would have a greater impact on the student population than in, say, Central Michigan University. Even if all this is just conjecture, the fact that this smoke-free policy is such large issue points to the fact that there are enough smokers to have made it so. Otherwise people would not be bothered by the smoke from a few and rare smokers. So then, smokers are opposed to the policy change, but what about non-smokers? In both the smokers forums held last fall and from my own inquiries, most non-smokers are indifferent to the “problem” of smokers. That means smokers do not bother most non-smokers and they could care less if we puff away. In fact, many non-smokers are against the policy change because they view it as discriminatory. That puts a large population of non-smokers on the smoker’s side, because if they do not care, then their vote is NOT for a smoke-free campus. Which leaves the very small population of non-smokers who are honestly bothered by smokers as the minority. If this policy change is to be democratic, as is suggested by this survey and request for student input, then a vote in favor of the minority is wrong. Simply put, not enough students actually want the smoke-free campus policy.
• As a smoker, I believe that we should have the right to smoke on campus anywhere outside, if we are going outside to smoke then we are already respecting others by not smoking indoors
• As a student, I strongly support the decision of NMU going completely smoke-free. I am frustrated when walking to class and end up behind a smoker, only to have smoke blown in my face and finding myself trying to hold my breath. It is annoying as well when there are many smokers outside of a building all within ten feet and I have to walk through a cloud of smoke to get in because the smokers refuse to stay thirty feet away like the signs say. It is pointless to ask them to move because most don't care enough about others to listen and instead would choose to ridicule someone for even asking. I have asked many students around my dorm to please step the thirty feet away and they move maybe another five and then once I am out of sight, will move in again. Later when I see them smoking another cigarette, they are no further from the building by choice and I have to constantly ask each time I see them. This tells me that most (not necessarily all) smokers from my experience don't care about the "rights" of nonsmokers for it to be our choice to not have to breathe in the secondhand smoke. I would like to see just one time where a smoker was actually thirty feet from the building, or where I ask someone to step away more and then they conscientiously follow suite in the future. I am sorry but when a poor choice they are making begins to infringe on the lives of others and their well-being, I don't believe smokers deserve to keep such an unneeded desire.
• as a university town in Marquette, MI proceeds of alcohol and cigarette sales go directly to help the community be able to stay open and function. If it wasn't for smokers and drinkers, the towns economy would fall drastically and NMU needs to keep things how they are because it is legal to smoke if you are 18 or older and NMU will not be able to stop that law as making it a campus rule because they will be overidden by the real law.
• As always one small group with one loud voice is now speaking for an entire community of people. I do not hold out much hope that this survey will change the mind of the administration but if my small opinion counts...tell the whiners to deal with it! Statisically 17% of the population smokes so I am not sure exactly how many people that equates to at NMU but it seems wasteful and intoleratant for others to demand that people cannot even smoke outside! Where does it end?
• As an asthmatic student, I can say that I am a fine example of how second hand smoke from other students can effect the others around them. Having to walk to class in such cold weather during the winter can already make me short of breath, much less having to inhale nauseating clouds of secondhand smoke from the people walking in front of me. There have been times I have had to take my inhaler before entering class so I wouldn't disturb other classmates with my coughing. It is absolutely absurd that I should have to deal with the unhealthy side effects of someone else's unhealthy habit. I didn't choose to have asthma, but they make the choice to smoke. If it is so important to smokers to be able to destroy their lungs, then they can find a place where they will not be destroying others lungs as well.
• As an asthmatic, more than anything I'd like to see the policies enforced, whatever they may be. If you do nothing else, please make sure there is a way for people who want to avoid smoking to get around campus realistically without having to dodge smokers.
• As an asthmatic, the smokers standing near the doors are bothersome, even dangerous. The smokers who go the thirty feet from the entranceways are no problem for me. Obviously, I wish the youngsters wouldn't start in the first place but that's not my decision, as they are adults. And there are folks who have been smoking for a long time and they deserve their rights too.
• As an environmentally concerned campus, this fits right in
• As far as private vehicles goes it is the owners decision to smoke in it. and decide if they want the windows up or not. We have areas on campus where people have smoked in front of air intakes and caused problems in buildings. Its been a constant complaint for years that smokers get more breaks from work than people who do not smoke do. If nmu could make it mandatory no smoking especially for employees this might help a few of them quit. Every one that quits has got to help our medical a little bit.
• As former smoker and present gum chewer, I have some sympathy for people who are still smoking. It is legal. Also heavily taxed. It is bad enough now in midwinter having to stand outside freezing because one has a bad habit. Don Dreisbach
• As it is there is no smoking allowed in any of the buildings on campus, I believe that that is enough of a measure against smoking. If people who do smoke want to stand outside and smoke they should be able to. How far are people going to try and impose their will on other people. Is this still a free country or not? I think that this is a ridiculous measure that radical people want. I only answered this questionnaire to express my very heartfelt, adamant and resounding no to this ludicrous idea.
• As long as ashtrays are available outdoors, I do not see a reason for going smoke-free.
• As long as buildings remain smokefree and smokers go outside, I have no problem and do not believe it would be right to ban them from smoking outside.
• As long as I am surrounded in the smoke I am not bothered by someone else's smoking. It is their choice to smoke and it is mine not to. But if they had their own place smoke I am sure non smokers would not go in there. So I am in favor of designated smokers area for them.
• As long as people are not smoking in the buildings it should not be an issue. If someone does not like it then they should just stay away from it.
• As long as people are smoking outside and there is fresh air to disperse the smoke, does it really matter.
• As long as people smoke outside it's not a problem. It's not like a building where the smoke is confined to one space and just hangs there. You may catch the scent of smoke, but it is usually gone in seconds. I'm not a smoker but going smoke free is to extreme and it is just going to cause an uproar on campus that is not needed. Spend your time on more important matters.
• As long as smokers smoke outdoors -- away from building entrances, especially -- I don't care what or how much they smoke. But certainly not in buildings in any way.
• As long as we're not smoking inside, I don't think anyone should have the right to tell me I can't execise my right to smoke. No one has to put up with my second hand, if they don't like the smell of smoke outside, then go back inside.
• As more and more people quit smoking or undertake steps to quit smoking, I think it would be beneficial for smokers, former smokers and non-smokers for NMU to become smoke free.
• As most restaurants are going smoke-free as NMU should. Even a country like Scotland went all smoke free in public places. If a whole country went smoke free, we most definitely could go smoke free campus wide. It would re-enforce Northerns Natural embodiment.
• As much as I can't stand walking around campus behind a smoker, I really don't think it will be possible to get a campus to be completly smoke free. I also like the idea of having the smoke huts, but I really don't want to have an increased tuition to let students and faculty smokers smoke in. It's simply not fair to us. If they want a "warm" place to smoke, then they should have to pay for it. I just feel that this whole debate is a run-around, and nothing productive will get done from it.
• As much as i find smoking to be disgusting and unhealthy, i do find it hypocritical to be trying to ban something that is perfectly legal for those who are 18 and older. Tobacco was something that helped build our country from the beginning and although I'm not a smoker myself, it is a right for those who are of legal age. Just because people complain about the way it smells isnt a reason to ban it. If things got banned based on people disagreeing with it, there would be no religion, politics, or just about any other organization that people look to for comfort and direction. So despite the fact that i find smoking to be utterly disgusting, if people want to continue harming their body, I say let them.
• As much as I'd like the populace to be smoke free, I question whether the attractiveness of non-smoking with regards to recruitment for Northern would offset the loss of students who would not come here due to an atmosphere that is unsupportive of their lifestyle.
• As non-smokers would like the School to be smoke free, they are also being inconsiderate to the feelings of other people. We have the right to smoke, and should not be ban from smoking on campus. I find this ridiculous to make a college campus smoke free. There should be a balanced equilibrium between the ideas of smokers and non-smokers. Strictly adhering to one groups ideas, is nothing more than neglect to recognize the rights of other students who are the minority in this case. We are aware smoking is bad for your health, yet being obese will kill you as easy. If the campus goes smoke free, i think all overweight students should have to be put on a diet, or remove all junk food from the school. Same scenario, but instead of smokers being persecuted, overweight people are. Before the school becomes completely green, the faculty and staff should realize that the further you implement rules, typically the more rules will be broken. Is the campus going to have police on campus giving out smoking tickets? How would you enforce this ? Have you all thought about the amounts of complaints from the student body will be made? I am 100% against a non-smoking campus. I would like answers to these questions, and would even take a active role to prevent this from happening. Attached will be my email address. Matmurph@nmu.edu
• As of right now, I am a smoker, unfortunately...but I'm hoping that in the near future that I can quit...having NMU be smoke free would make it easier on me, and anyone else like me, to stay away from it. Best of luck with everything!
• As repulsive as I find smoking to be, and the difficulty smokers may have in trying to quit, I think they probably should be allowed to smoke on campus, but farther from building entrances. I think parking lots and their own vehicles should be allowed (at least).
• As society today is increasingly making more and more efforts to go smoke-free, I believe it's the next step in our future to eliminate cigarette smoking in public places. Thanks
• As some one who is very allergic to cigarette smoke, I understand the campus's interest in creating a smoke free environment. However, I do not feel banning all smoking will solve any problems, deter smoking or even prevent it. Smokers will find a way to smoke whether legal or illegal according to University policy. I believe smokers need to be more respectful how and where they smoke but banning smoking all together seems counter-productive in my opinion. I do however agree with creating smoking shelters and even allowing students to smoke in their cars.
• As someone who does not smoke, the current smoking policies do no bother me in the slightest. I see no reason to change the rules. In my opinion, putting up shelters and designating smoking areas would only be a waste of time and money that could be spent elsewhere.
• As someone who has just recently quit smoking for the second time, I know what a powerful drug it is. I don't know what they are supposed to do if they can't smoke on campus - it's a legal drug and they are addicted, and frankly, they have enough stress with classes and whatnot that they shouldn't have to worry about their one release. I'm absolutely certain that students will continue to smoke on campus, regardless, and it will snowball into a major issue as students feel they are more and more harassed if public safety is going to stand around handing out tickets. It is a legal drug and they are addicted. The people that complain don't understand that, they aren't empathetic. As a previous smoker, I will happily make my way through a cluster of students because I know what it is like. And forcing students to sit in their cars with their windows closed is completely ridiculous. For one thing they are practically asphyxiating, but in the winter, their collective cars would be belching out exhaust at passers-by, an equal if not more toxic exposure. Please, in these days of nationally decreasing freedoms, let these people be.
• As someone who has quit smoking but struggles with staying quit, It would be so helpful if I didn't have to walk through a cloud of smoke in order to get into my building. Also, I think the evidence is clear that any second-hand smoke exposure is detrimental to anyone's health.
• As stated above, I am not a smoker. However, I do not see that it is my right to tell someone they can't smoke if they would like. We already have a 30 ft rule in place. I feel that if there were a few smoking shelters put up with adequate ash trays and trash receptacles for smokers to dispose of their cigarette butts and empty packs our campus would be cleaner and there would be less people complaining about smokers. Also, those who are spending their time pushing the smoking ban must have little going on in their lives to focus their attention on something so trivial. I do not want to disregard those with Asthma or allergies of which second-hand smoke cause reactions, but just as it is each person's choice to smoke, it is each anti-smoker's choice to walk either near or far from someone who is smoking to avoid contact. I don't enjoy the smell of cigarette smoke, but I also don't encounter the smell of it more than once... maybe twice per day. It's possible that I have conditioned myself to unconsciously avoid such encounters, or it could be that smoking on campus isn't as prevalent as some believe.
• At first I was thinking about all of the people that I know who are smokers and was agianst the proposed idea. However, when I think about what it is that all of those people are doing, it just washes away any fragment of sympathy for them. And this is not easy for me to say, many of my best friends (at NMU and from my home town) are smokers.
• At least try and enforce the 30ft policy from doorways right now.
• At my previous school, we got the school to put up "smoking huts" (like previous mentioned in survey). It took a little while for people to use them- but they ended up being a hit. NMU would just need someone to re-enforce the rule of not smoking else where- Great Idea!
• At one time I was a smoker so I realize the addictive nature of the habit. While I would like to be supportive of smoker's rights (since smoking is legal), I think it is just as important that they recognize the rights of non-smokers as well. Providing designated shelters away from doorways sounds like a wonderful solution. Unfortunately, without strict enforcement and stiff penalities I believe people will continue to smoke wherever they wish. That is truly the problem we encounter right now.
• At the age of 18 we are told that we are adults. That means that we are able to make our own decisions about what we do with our life. If someone chooses to smoke, as an adult, they should have the right to do so. Treating students as though they are still children only weakens the student body. I am an adult, I don't need someone to tell me how to live my life. I used to be a smoker, now I am not. I made that decision myself. And in my opinion every should be able to make that choice themselves. Smokers aren't bad people that need to be punished, and everyone knows the risks of smoking by now. Treat students like adults, not criminals, and not children.
• At what point, if this continues, will the non-smokers of this world tell the smokers they cant smoke at all?
• Athough I believe making NMU a smoke-free campus is with good intentions, I also strongly question the legality behind this. What are the chances of legal repercussions from civil liberties organizations?
• bad idea
• Ban smoking all together. It is a dirty and nasty habit that poeple need to break and this just may help them do so.
• BAN SMOKING ON CAMPUS NOW!
• Banning smoking at NMU would benefit both the smokers and the nonsmokers. However, I hope NMU does not take it too far and place a band on something as private as smoking inside your own vehicle. It's a difficult issue. On one hand I am not a smoker, and hate having to break and smell smoke. Yet, I am also a large supporter of an individuals rights, when it comes to their choice of smoking or not. Overall, I thing it would be in the best interest of the students on NMU's campus, to learn and live in a smoke free environment.
• banning smoking on campus i think would make it feel like nmu is trying to control the students more. Alot of people may be discourgae to come hereand/or stay here if they have to drive or walk all the way of campus or be trapped in there cars where they would have to talk to get to. I feel it would put more strain on the Resident advisors down in the residence hall. it will become a thing in which we would have to enforce by documenting any person somking and will start to make some residents not all begin to hate us. because i feel that no matter what were going to get students not following this rule and just trying to hide it more.
• Banning smoking on campus is a ridiculous idea. I do not smoke, and I do not think the 1/2 second of breathing cigarette smoke from smokers on my way to class is a problem at all. This is being made a big deal by people who feel the need to force their opinions on others and have no other policies to put their efforts behind. The idea of banning smoking on campus is a huge joke, and I think the resources and time that administrators would put into this project would be wisely spent on something else. And this is all coming from a non-smoker.
• Banning smoking on campus would be a horrible decision. Many students and teachers would be lost, some of whom I have talked to myself. Also it would be almost impossible to enforce as those smokers who don't chose to leave the school would probably pay no attention to such an unjust rule. It would also more than likely provoke students to find ways to smoke in their dorm rooms. If some non-smokers can't live with smokers then I don't see how those people will possibly be able to make it in the real world. The idea of taking away the right to smoke on a college campus is simply ludicrous.
• banning smoking will lead to will lead to anger from some facualty and students who may leave or find other ways to smoke. student enrollment may go down due to the lessend freedoms. This will be a discriminatory policy that may lead to departures of the most qualified facualty and may decrese student enrolment. Costs for enforcement will be required and it is likely that people will disobey the policy. On the other hand the university may find a new student base by attracting student looking for a smoke free campus. You have to weigh the costs and benifits but in this case the costs may be higher than the benifits. Brian Meehan(non-smoker)
• Because addiction recovery is not a simple process, an abrupt change would amount to cruelty toward those addicted to nicotine. Re. question 4, announcement well ahead of implementation would be appropriate, allowing those who do not wish to attend a smoke-free school opportunity to make other plans and giving faculty/staff a chance to do so as well.
• Because of health concerns, I completely support going smoke-free as soon as possible.
• Because there are so many students on Nothern's campus, if you would chose to put up smoking shelters you need to take into account that number. Also, there has to be more than just 2 or 3 located on campus because faculty and students aren't going to walk from one building to another just so they can smoke. And then taking into account the number of students who smoke that live in the dorms. There would have to be 2 or 3 shelters by the dorms alone. Then at least 4 or 5 by the class buildings.
• Before anything new is implemented the old rules need to be enforced.
• Before creating new policies the fact that current policies are not being enforced should be considered. For example, not allowing smokers by the doorways has not been enforced well at all. I pass smokers that are right next to doorways on my way into jamrich, west science, new science and the LRC every day. If these rules are enforced first then maybe complaints will go down alot more. This may cause an even more difficult rule to enforce to be avoided.
• Before my career at NMU I was a public health professional specializing in tobacco prevention and education. Firstly, I would be happy to offer my professional opinion as a volunteer consultant for this project. As NMU staff I support a smoke-free campus 100%. The negative health effects of cigarette smoke and second cigarette smoke have been irrefutably demonstrated. For the health of NMU students, faculty and staff a smoke-free campus is the only logical decision. Fortunately, it is also the most economical choice for campus -- reducing fire risk, long term health effects of faculty and staff on NMU's health insurance plan and creating a more desirable atomosphere for incoming students looking for universities with progressive health policies. I also do not support special shelters for smokers. One of the best things about a smoke-free campus is creating an environment where it is inconvenient, if not difficult to smoke. Many smokers I counseled told me that the anti-smoking attitude of the majority is was a large motivator in deciding to quit smoking. Good luck with this important and LIFE SAVING project! Kristi Kangas, M.P.H., M.S.W
• Being a non-smoker I think it would be great to be able to walk to class without smoke in my face from the person smoking in front of me. It would be even better if smokers would obey the rule that they are supposed to be 30 ft away from the building when smoking because I do not enjoy walking through a puff of smoke to get in the doors to go to class. As much as I do not like smoking, I see that if NMU were to be completely smoke-free it would be very hard for many students to go to class all day long. I feel that if students who choose to smoke need to do it between classes to make it through the day then it is their choice to do so. I don't know what withdrawl feels like, but from what I hear it is very hard to deal with. If students are thinking about their need to smoke during class it is not beneficial for them to be their. To me it would be like someone telling me I can't eat or drink water on campus, I would not be able to focus on my studies if my body is telling me constantly that I need something. I think it would be a good compromise to use the smoking shelters because it would give students a place to get their nicotene fix and allow non-smokers to keep their lungs clean.
• Being a non-smoker I think that this idea is rediculous, who cares if people smoke outside buildings or while walking to class, it's probably a great stress reliever. What would smokers do if they couldn't smoke on campus? Im sure they wouldnt just quit. I don't see what the big deal is.
• Being a non-smoker it is very unpleasant walking around campus because at every turn there is somebody blowing smoke in your face. Either just walking around or coming out of a doorway it is a terrible feeling inhaling so much smoke when previuously i was in a smoke free environment. The smokers on campus show absoltely no consideration for the non-smokers.
• Being a non-smoker, I do not feel threatened by this, but I would not actively support a program that would suppress student choice, no matter how self-destructive, when it is legal on a state level. The argument can be boiled down to this: Are we going to completely suppress one group's choices and show outright favoritism to another group, when alternative practices are available (smoker huts). I agree that the present system is not working, but that does not mean smokers are a blight to be wiped off the face of campus, despite what the zealous say.
• Being a non-smoker, I would appreciate having a smoke-free campus. I know that many students, though, would be quite unhappy with it; it is possible that students and/or potential students may be lost because of it. If the current smoking policies were actually enforced (30 feet away from doorways, etc.), I think that it would be less of a problem. However, since that is not the case, I think that something more drastic may be in order.
• Being a nonsmoker i see it as a great idea, the only problem is the large number of people that smoke. If the campus is smoke free, there could potentially be a decrease in enrollment. I'm not entirely sure though since you would attract more nonsmokers, in theory.
• Being a Smoker, I find it very hard to remain focused on the subject matters in class if I hadn't had a cigarette in a while, and start to mainly focus on the fact that I haven't smoked for a couple hours. If smoking became banned on campus, then it would be impossible to focus on any of my classes enough to learn the material given to me. Even if I was allowed to smoke in my car with the windows up, then I would end up being very late for most of my classes and in turn fail the courses. The parking lots are too far away to be able to go to them to smoke and still make it to class on time. Then, there are a lot of people that live in the dorms who may not even drive to school. Thank you for your time and consideration for reading this, but I am undoubtedly opposed to the idea, on terms more so than the fact that it's just because I smoke.
• Being smoke free would be good for some people but what percent of people on this campus smoke? I just feel that it is their choice to smoke where ever they want to but in accordance with the law. But if this campus goes smoke free, the people that smoke would smoke on city property which would make the citizens aka supporters of the school unhappy with this matter which could make the city of marquette go smoke free. it's just a thought that i had about this topic. but with packs going up in cost significantly, i see the number of smokers reduced by 2010.
• Being someone who can see both sides (once a smoker, quit second semester I was here) I think it is unfair to ban smoking in private vehicles. That is the property of the student and there is no right to say what goes on inside of private vehicles. Banning smoking outside of buildings would be more understandable, however inconvenient and ridiculous. You would be segregating those who smoke due to an addiction, something that they cannot control. Taking away a the right to a personal decision, however harmful it may be, is demeaning to anyone and will, in turn, create hostility and possibly a drop in attendance.
• Building smoking shelters will take away from the "Northern Naturally" motto that the university uses to sell itself. We can't continue to put up structures on campus that take away from the beauty of our natural environment. Just keep the smokers away from the buildings where classes are being held. If people want to smoke by hedgecock, cohodas, or the UC then let them. Prohibit it by dorms, or class halls.
• Buildings are smoke-free, and you're not supposed to smoke near the buildings anyway. I think it's ridiculous to enact a rule that you can't even smoke in your vehicle with the windows open, much less in the parking lots.
• By making the campus a non-smoking campus, there will most likely be a drop in the number of students attending. I would love to see the campus become smoke-free, but the costs are greater than the benefits. The best bet, in my opinion, would be to make the campus smoke-free by 2010 in a graduated fashion.
• Campus should be completely smoke free, no acceptions!
• Campus should be smoke free. Private cars an exception.
• Campuses that have gone smoke free in the past have been wildly unsuccessful. Implementing programms that encourage students to make healthy choices such as not smoking show greater success rates.
• Cigarette smoke affects my allergies, and I would absolutely love not to have to deal with smoke. Not only does it bother me walking into buildings, but smoke is also a problem after breaks when several students go outside to smoke. Thank you for considering this!
• Cigarette smoke greatly effects my asthma and if Northern does not go smoke free, I would appreciate the enforcement of smoking rules already in affect. It would be nice if smokers would actually stand 30 feet from the doors so I don't have to walk through a smoke cloud.
• Cigarettes are legal in the US (of course, only if you are 18 or older). I do not think it is appropriate to mandate that US citizens are unable to do something on our campus that is legal. I support having all buildings be smoke-free, so that other people's rights are respected. I think we need to find some way to create shelters - they benefit both smokers AND non-smokers, since the shelters would "protect" people from second-hand smoke. So I think it is fair to share the cost, and do not believe that this is favoring smokers. In addition, part of the basis of our society in the US is to not persecute minorities (e.g., smokers). I believe that by eliminating the right to smoke on campus, you would be persecuting smokers.
• college is a place for adults. adults should be able to make their own decisions about whether or not they want to smoke. for those who are against smoking dont buy cigarettes, but dont target the people who do. NMU should remain a open choice campus when it comes to smoking. Don't try to make personal decisions for others it rarely is a sucess
• college is stressfull, smoking helps relaxes people
• completely banning smoking is a bit too extreme. Having measures such as not at certain hours and in certain areas would be best. The time I am most bothered is when walking through campus in the morning to class and having to smell the smoke of someone in front of me is most bothersom.
• Considering that all smoking takes place outdoors, I don't believe that it is fair to smokers rights for the university to impose a complete smoke-free campus. Although, I can understand if smoking were limited to designated areas of campas (such as smoking shelters), I think that my rights as a citizen of the USA and a tuition paying student are being ignored if I am unallowed to smoke in my own vehicle.
• Considering the fact that you do not enforce the 30 foot rule that is already in place, I doubt that you will have much success enforcing an entire campus ban on smoking. Personally, I believe this university has better things to address such as campus renovations and budget strains, rather than an unsupportable smoking ban.
• Current smoking rules don't work. Smokers don't stay 30 feet from entrances.
• Currently, smokers do not keep a safe distance from buildings so we walk through the "smoking" areas to enter buildings.
• Despite the fact that smoking is disgusting and extremely unhealthy it is crazy to try to take away the option to smoke in an open-air environment. It seems the student body is always having freedoms taken away, this is crossing the line.
• Discriminating against people who smoke is just that: discrimination. It starts small, and then more and more liberties begin to be taken. It's fine the way it is right now, as making campus smoke free would alienate students who smoked, and building "smoking shelters" (which is a very stupid idea) would be costly and pointless. No smoking in the buildings, but to ban smoking outside is ridiculous and unfair, and I'm not even a smoker.
• Disregard #6. I am not a student, but it wouldn't let me toggle out my initial response.
• Do it.....!!!!!
• Do not raise tuition because smokers want the convenience of shelters. It's not my responsibility to pay for their addiction.
• Do not wait until 2010, effective immediately next year.
• Do not waste university funding on something as trival as smoking huts. Just enforce the current rules of smoking thirty feet from the building. If this rule was enforced the problem probably would not be as bad. I understand non-smokers not wanting to deal with smoke but to waste money that could be to other programs on building huts to appease the smokers is unwarrented and unneeded.
• Do smokers have rights? We used to and for a long long time!! Now, since Big Tobacco fell to their knees in front of the Attorney Generals, our smoking rights are chipping away. It will be interesting to see how people react as they realize personal rights are gradually encroached upon. Maybe they will look back on these days of legislation and discrimination against the smokers as a wake up call that was missed. The day when [insert your personal, legal activity here] becomes the target. To me this more of a control issue than anything. I know plenty of people that have opposed seat belt and helmet laws that fully support smoking ban laws and can not understand the correlation. Few people remember or acknowledge that if it weren't for tobacco, this nation might not have arisen. The wealth generated in the colonies by exporting tobacco played a crucial role in developing this country's financial independence from the British throne.
• Doesn't matter to me either way
• don't be a dictatorship. This is ridiculous. I am not a smoker, but I don't see a need to tell people that they can't even smoke outside! People need to loosen up, don't let a few uptight people make every smoker on campus look over there shoulder, paranoid a cop is going to give them a ticket for smoking OUTSIDE!!! I don't like smoking and I especially don't like 2nd hand smoke, but that does not mean I think a campus law should be enacted. DON'T BE A DICTATORSHIP.
• Don't do it. There are already 30 ft smoking bans away from the door and no one is enforcing that. To enforce a smoke free campus would prove too costly. The university has other problems that are much worse and for some reason this difference in opinion is consuming too much time. The best policy is no policy. The best way to put smokers where they will not bother others is to put smoker’s outposts (ashtrays) where you want them. If you put the ashtray next to the door, that’s where people will smoke. If you don’t put out ashtrays people will leave their butts on the ground. As an ex-smoker I can tell you that smokers are looking primarily for shelter from bad weather and wind. Maybe a roofless wind shelter would help. But this would be costly and the unintended consequence of sheltering smokers would be people smoking pot in the shelters. Then you would have to patrol the shelters and maintain them. Not to mention that many people would continue to smoke by the doors. The easiest way to solve this problem is to enforce the rules already in place.
• Don't make NMU a smoke free campus. That would be a really bad choice in recruiting new people to Northern. A smoke free campus sounds good on paper, but not in real-life. If you want to make 'smoking shelters'...then fine. If you want to make NMU a smoke-free campus, then you might as well restrict all incoming freshman to a 'NO SWEETS' meal plan. Seriously.
• Don't spend our money on shelters so people can smoke in them. It's there choice to smoke, and if it's to cold outside that's there problem. They can buy themselves a better jacket.
• Don't take away all rights. I feel alchol is the biggest problem on campus. not right at the doors or in the manner of drinking in the dorms. But we have functions that support drinking and i feel drinking is worse than anything else happening on this campus. faculty, staff, administration, students, everyone, if we were really concerned about the health and welfare of the student body there would be NO drinking Anywhere or at anytime. the problem of alcohol is the worse than any use of tobacco.
• Don't try to legislate morality in outdoor space even if there are valid health issues.
• Don't waste money to solve a problem just do it, no smoking on university property or go soft and impliment a larger distance from the buildings; to 50ft instead of the 30ft that it is now. Then inforce it!
• Don't we have more important issues to address than smoking. It's still s free country leave the people alone.
• dont infringe on peoples rights. we already give you enough of them as it is.
• Dont make NMU smoke free.
• dont take away our rights!!
• dont think its that big of a deal, but i know it would make a lot of people pretty mad.
• Dr. Wong, I think you are aware that smoking is an "addiction" that is very difficult to break. What if you don't have a car? Already bearing an increasing amount of negative social stigma, we, the minority, have become community and social pariahs. Do you actually think that smokers "enjoy" smoking? Do you actually think that smokers like to "stink" of smoke, have our teeth and fingers turn brown, be socially ostracized,and spend a large proportion of our salary on something that will kill us? I think your university policies are your business, but just let me know so I can transfer before you implement your own personnal soapbox agenda.
• During the winter, it can be hard to stay away from cigarette smoke outside. Many students, like myself, have health needs that are made worse by smoke.
• End Smoking
• Enforce the minimum distance smokers must stand away from the building. I am a smoker and respect that and I also always through my cigarette either in a trash can or smokers post. Another thing is that the smoker's posts don't seem to get emptied very often which i think is why a lot of people will just throw them on the ground.
• Enforcement would become difficult seeing as many faculty smoke also, sees a mute point in this day and age to worry about it.
• ETS (environmental tobacco smoke) is a CLASS A CARCINOGEN. In addition to the health risk to all human beings on campus, I see no way that an employer can allow any employee to be exposed to this anywhere at our workplace and not risk suits for the damage done. Even residue left by smoke is toxic. Please get us away from it entirely!!!
• Even as a non-smoker, I feel that smoking is an individual choice and right. NMU should not be granted the power to take that right away.
• Even being a non smoker, i don't believe that NMU should ban smoking anyway, that is a person's own choice and as long as smokers don't come within the limits, i don't know what the issue is
• Even if I had never smoked in my life, I would be seriously offended if NMU went smoke-free. I just got done studying abroad in Sweden and Spain for a total of six months. In Spain especially, smoking is a very integral part of their life. The Spaniards are very much about relaxing and enjoying life and cigarettes to them are part of doing that. The same thing goes for certain people who attend Northern. In between classes it is nice to relax with a cigarette.
• Even if NMU does not go completely smoke free then students should not be able to smoke outside of the dorms room because it is disgusting to walk through the smoke jut to get into my own building & smoking right next to the door is unexceptable and leaving the door open while they are smoking is letting smoke into the building and that is NOT acceptable!
• Even if the campus couldn't be smoke free, smoking shelters would be a good idea because smoking by the doorway is irritating and very rude.
• Even if the campus does not go completely smoke free, there needs to be a way to keep smokers away from buildings and doorways. No one follows the 30ft rule.
• Even if we don't end up going smoke free something needs to be done. I can't get into a class building without pushing my way through the smoking crowd. For some reason they missed the memo that they are not suppose to smoke right next to the door.
• Even second hand smoke kills, so yeah I'm for NMU being all smoke free.
• Even thou I'm not a smoker, I don't think you could make campus outside of buildings or greounds non smoking enforceable. Public Safety doesn't enforce the rules they now have control of.How IS Public Safety going to enforce this? Look at how many fire doors are propped open? Safety Meeting have not worked to slove issues until MIOSHA steps on Campus. Look at what Public Safety did at JXJ to keep the smokers away from the air vents. A stupid ulgy concrete block wall. They didn't want to enforce the non smoking rules there. Now its ugly around the building where all the NEW student recruits have oreintation. How do the Parents view this site? Pick a better cause to make campus a better place for new students and parents to see. Again I'm not a smoker, but pick something that can be managed properly. Public Safety won't enforce it if it gets passed.
• Even though I am a non smoker, I would have found the smoke-free aspect negative because I feel this is a violation of our rights. We have to live in the dorms for two years, unless you commute. Making us pay to live here and then taking away something that people like to do I feel is just plain wrong. I would feel differently if you did not have to live on campus for your first 2 years. As a non smoker, I understand why people want the campus to be smoke free. Many smokers hang close by the door ways. I think that if there are certain "smoking areas" that would be fair for everyone. Smoking is not illegal and I don't think it should be on campus, we are all adults here. If smokers had a designated place to go to smoke, the majority of them would go there. I feel at this point in time it is hard for smokers not to be breaking the "30 foot" rule. No one wants to stand 30 feet from a doorway when it is below zero.
• Even though I am not a smoker I believe that smokers have the right to smoke outdoors on campus. I'm not bothered by people smoking outside. There is enough outdoor space on campus for all of us to peacfully coexist.
• Even though i am not a smoker, i think it would be bad to go completely smoke free. Just keep them away from the buildings.
• Even though I do not smoke anymore I still feel that it is the right of people to smoke if they want to and they will continue to smoke on campus even if it does go smoke free. The majority of people I have talked to have said that they will continue to smoke no matter what.
• Even though I don't care too much about the matter of this being a smoke-free campus, I'm just more concerned that when I am in class and the room smells of cigarette smoke and the smell comes through the heating vents. That just makes it harder to breathe and concentrate.
• Even though I have always been a non-smoker I feel making NMU a smoke free campus says a lot about the restrictions (current and future) that are or can be placed on the students. I agree with having a distance from doorway requirement to prevent smoke from entering the buildings and prevent non-smokers from walking though smoke upon entering and exiting. However, shelters would be costly and unattractive, just as bus shelters are. Things are fine as is.
• Even though I'm a former smoker, I feel that smoking is a privilage, not a right, and you can light up off campus without having to do it on university property. If that is too hard for some smokers...time to quit and save your life!
• Even though there are signs that tell smokers to stay 30 feet away from buildings, the smoke still goes into the air uptake systems. I have been in numerous classrooms where I was basically second hand smoking for an hour. It's disgusting and a health risk.
• Even though there is rules about being away from the doors to smoke, know one follows them. I hate walking through a cloud of cancerous smoke to get into the building. Something needs to be done!
• Even when I was a smoker, I did not appreciate, nor did I partake in, smoking in public. I lived a good deal of my smoking life in Duluth, MN, and they are a non-smoking city, can't smoke in restaurants, some bars, or any workplace, so I am all for a smoking ban at NMU. There's nothing more unappealing than walking through a cloud of smoke before you enter the building to go to class.
• Eventually all public places will be smoke-free, I see it as an inevitability that NMU follows suit.
• Every day walking to and from class cigarette smoke reaches my nose from a student passing me. It imposes on my health and enjoyment of campus. Campus is also less beautiful with cigarette butts all over it. Restricting where people smoked or banning cigarette smoking on campus all together would only benefit the campus and the students.
• Every smoking complaint will be directed to Public Safety, it happened to the MGH Security Officers when MGH went smoke free. I'm possitive it will happen at NMU.
• Everyday I walk through a cloud of harmful chemicals because for years smokers cannot obey a simple rule of being thirty feet from the building. This daily undue contact with secondhand smoke is jeopardizing my health. I should not have my health threatened when entering an educational facility. I would be irate if NMU provided smoking shelters - I see that as a complete waste of funding. As far as a graduated fashion in going smoke-free, half the student who have had to put up with the effects of secondhand smoke will reap no benefit. It should not take two years to put up no smoking signs.
• Everyday walking to class I constantly have smoke blown in my face and there is no way to avoid it. I feel this is a TERRIBLE habbit and not having it on campus would eventually stop a lot of kids from even starting to smoke. I went MQT high school and now i see some kids who smoke who i never thought in a million years would, just because its avalible they do it.
• Everyone has rights to what they believe in theres. I do not smoke but believe in this. NMU as well as other establishments should provide space for smoking that does not infringe on others. An imaginary line, as in resturaunts, is not enough. Those that are complaining about smoke, how many times do they visit business that permit smoking yet, still remain in there by their own volition. However, when they are here at NMU they want to extend their control of others. Now smokers can't even smoke outside, when will it all end? I can see it then, "You're not dressed right, you can't enter" "You're not our kind (color) you can't enter" We are headed back to segregation of society, when we should be integrating, and looking at ourselves; Are we being hypocrites, YES.
• Everyone has the right to learn, and everyone should have the right to clean air.
• Everyone has their rights. Non-smokers have their right to breath clean, healthy air just as we have the right to pollute what goes into our lungs. Smokers are a minority and that's quite apparent. Therefore limiting the health damage-- as small as it may be-- that we inflict upon everyone else is justified . . . to an extent. The administration should try to find a common ground that doesn't involve those "smokers shelters" or smoking in vehicles with our windows closed.Even people who smoke think both of those ideas are repulsive and a way to socially embarass us. The "shelters" (horrible name by the way) are humiliating in the sense that we'll be looked at like dirty, weak, animals on display in a glass case . . . you might as well mandate that we have to be naked at all times in these "smokers shelters." To point: Limit distance from buildings even further and move the "butt" disposal containers away as well. But do NOT remove our right entirely.
• Everyone understands the risks and dangers involved with smoking. However, to completely ban smoking outside seems not only discriminatory, but anti-American, anti-tolerant, and just a horribly bad, bad, bad idea. Forcing people to smoke in their cars with the windows up should be considered criminal. It's an overwhelming absurdity. I would hate to see NMU go down this hateful and harmful road.
• Finally!
• Find better ways to stop students from smoking in front of doors and such, but dont take away their freedom to smoke. That is coming from someone who hates smoking completley
• First I don't smoke. But for people who work here - it's their choice if they want to smoke and they go outside. Who is going to police them to not smoke? Do they have to close themselves off in a car or would they have to walk to across campus to a 'shelter' if one is not by their building.
• First-hand smokers are making the choice to harm their bodies, but second-hand smokers are not given that same choice. It is unfair that non-smokers are forced to breathe in potentially harmful (and often unavoidable) toxic fumes. I should not have to go out of my way to get a breath of fresh air; smokers should be the ones to make a sacrifice if they wish to continue their bad habit. Perhaps the "inconvenience" will make it easier for them to quit! I smoked for several years, and when restaurants began to go smoke-free, I was not angry. Instead, I had more respect for the establishment and realized that I was endangering the lives of others by smoking near them. I'm really happy I quit!
• For a lot of people smoking is a social thing and can help us meet new people. Thats how I met a lot of friends freshman year. I can see having a smoking shelter and that a lot of people would use it, but banning smoking altogether is not a great idea.
• For better or worse, students, faculty, and staff are going to smoke. The current permiter around the buildings is adequate, but not enforced. I think making the campus smoke-free treats smokers as second-class citizens which is not right. You should raise awareness of the concern and encourage smokers to respect the perimeter around building entrances. Then let it be.
• For comfort and health, (as a nonsmoker)I would personally like to see NMU go smoke free. However, it has been challenging for MGH to enforce this. I am concerned about enforcement. As it is, people do not adhere to the 30 feet from entrance rule. I am nervous about the impact that may have on students choosing to come to NMU.
• For me, I think the buildings of NMU should be smoke free. For example, in the apartments, you can still smoke in the building and I believe that is a problem and contradicts the fact that there are no candles allowed. (question 2) Then, with question 3, I don't see the importance of the car windows being closed. If anything, I see it as a potentially dangerous resort for students. The closed window option is a harmful option.
• For my sake, I totally want the campus to be smoke free. But as for smokers, I'm guessing they would be very offended and angry about it. So in many cases, my answers are neutral for that reason only.
• For now, there should be certain areas to smoke in or not to smoke in. Definately not right by building's doors. That is really annoying. People do not follow the "how many feet away" Sure....smoke...go ahead, I just don't like smelling like your smoke:)
• FOr Q# 5 I was in japan where they do this and it worked but I feel that this would not work here at nmu because people are not very respectfull as is. (they smoke right next to the doors nto 30ft away). I feel that there would be alot of problems trying to enforse this. Students can go off campus to smoke. for Q#4, I would like it to happen now because its not nice to be walking to class behind a smoker and have their smoke blowing all over me and breathing in his smoke. I am from chicago where thye recently passed a law where you are not allowed to smoke in restaurants. Its going well down there why couldnt we bring that to our campus. I dont feel as if anyone is having their rights taken away I just feel as if I deserve fresh air when I walk around campus. I hope this passes! thanks for allowing student input!
• For the amount of money students pay to come to this school, I think it is unacceptable to eliminate the privilege of smoking from the student body. I hope the president understands that NMU is NOT the most coveted school in Michigan or any state for that matter and the student body is generally only coming here for the financial benefits and/or easy entry. So, taking away our option to smoke is not only eliminating our freedom but will probably eliminate a significant part of the student body. Whether it is your goal to drive the "smoking group" out of your university is your goal or not, I think you will lose some students in the process of it all. Save the smoke free environments for hospitals and public schools where it makes sense, but at a university where many people work full time and go to class full time, a student's most pleasant part of the day is lighting up a cigarette after a hard shift or a stressful class. Healthy or not, it's a choice, and it's a choice that I feel should remain to be open. I hope this comment is read and appreciated because I know a lot of people who feel, very strongly, the same way I do. Thank you for giving out this survey and giving everyone, smoker or not, a voice.
• For the health of your students, staff and faculty members, please don't drop the ball on this one.
• For the many students that are addicted to this legal substance this would be unbearable. The stress of school is already high as it is. I feel that this would cause students to either miss class or be late. I am in favor of designated smoking areas as long as there are a good amount so that students have access to them without being late to class. This addiction is not something that many people can just stop without withdrawal symptoms. Adding the stress of school and the withdrawal symptoms together is to much to ask.
• former smoker, i think the parameters of how close you can be while smoking should be re-enforced. parking lots should be free game.
• FREE AIR can be used however anyone choses!
• Freedom of choice is a rught, a freedom taken away is seen as a negative no matter what campus, city, or country. The freedom to choose is beautiful, don't take that away!
• From what I have seen, Smoking on campus is not an inconvienence to anyone. Banning smoking outdoors infringes upon the basic freedoms of smokers. Extra money SHOULD NOT be spent on smoking shelters. Thankyou.
• General comments would require to time and space here to give a reasonable analysis of your question; would I support some form of a smoke free campus. Thanks, concerned about any form of limiting our rights.
• Get a good football team
• get rid of it!!! it not only is a detriment to themselves but it causes pollution both air and ground. I strongly support non smoking campus !!! GET IT OUT OF HEAR!!!
• GET RID OF SMOKING ON CAMPUS ITS ANNOYING AND GROSS TO NON-SMOKERS!!!!!
• Get rid of smoking...it's horrible...it kills people, and in the long wrong it could help people quit possibly, it would be a very good idea to ban smoking and I'd also advise getting some pictures and more information on what smoking does even though people already "know" about them if they see it everywhere they go they could eventually start thinking.
• Get rid of the smoke!
• Get rid of those filthy butts.
• Get smoking off campus please!
• Getting caught behind smokers walking to class is disgusting and annoying!!
• getting very close to infringement upon rights. I have never once had someone come up to me and tell me that my smoking was bothering them. that should be taken into account.
• Given what research shows about the effects of smoking and second-hand smoke, making NMU smoke-free seems to be an easy choice.
• Giving smokers the option, that is what free choice is about. Smoking shelters would seem ideal. The thought of not allowing smoking even in parking lots, seems over-the-top and controlling!
• Go cold turkey!
• go for it
• Go smoke free for the health of the University, and its students and faculty. This is a great idea. I hope this survey helps.
• Go Smoke free!
• Go smoke free!
• Go Smoke Free!
• Go Smoke Free!
• Go smoke free,no question,s asked,there,s enough information on this subject and if they want to continue to do it issue them a plastic bag to put over one,s head and let em smoke in it.
• GO SMOKE FREE.
• GO SMOKE-FREE!
• Going smoke free is a fabulous idea!!!
• Going smoke free is a great idea. I realize that it is a smokers choice if he/she wants to smoke, but it is not my choice to inhale their second hand smoke when walking to and from classes.
• Going smoke free is a wonderful and healthy idea.
• going smoke free is agains students rights.
• Going smoke free is an excellent idea, but trying to take away the right of a student to smoke in their own vehicle with the windows closed is absurd. It would do no harm to others if one was inside their vehicle with windows closed, as long as the cigarette bud was disposed of inside the vehicle as well. Also, the rate of younger aged people smoking has increased a significant amount in the past few years, making northern a smoke free campus would ultimately decrease the population of students because many who smoke will not attend a smoke free university there for making tuition jump because of less attendance on campus which will not just affect the smokers but the non smokers as well.
• Going smoke free is not a unreasonable request.
• Going Smoke Free on Campus infringes the rights of smokers. It is already, as far as I know, a campus policy that smokers have to stand 30 feet away from door ways. To further punish them for a choice that some Americans disagree, with is wrong. Smokers have a right to smoke the University should not infringe on that right.
• Going smoke free will automaticly determine my status to non-student and i would be finding myself a new school. Tolerence means making ends meet for all people, which is why NMU is my home.... dont get rid of that.
• going smoke free won't stop smokers from smoking on campus, i know from working at the hospital because when they went smoke free i didn't stop any smokers from smoking on its campus.
• Going smoke free would be great! It would start to catch us up with many metropolitan areas in the country. If we do not go smoke free we should at least enforce the no smoking in buildings and within 30 feet of buildings. I get disturbed when I walk out of a building and am met with a big cloud of smoke from the 3 people who were lighting up on their way out the door. Also have witnessed people smoking in the dome after dome hours.
• Going smoke free would be the most retarded thing a campus could do! May as well ban caffeine too.
• Going smoke-free directly next to building is the closest suggestion that actually makes any sense, factoring people's private rights, but it is still limiting for those living in dormitories who smoke. People have the choice to smoke at their own risk, and while our school should support healthy living, at the same time it should completely endorse personal freedom. Smoke buildings, like the bus stops, are a fairly decent suggestion as well, but I do not believe the school should be spending funding on items such as that when there is a horrible economy in Michigan and we are constantly being told that tuition is just going to increase...and to be honest, even private sponsorship to build them would take away money that could be spent much more applicably to assist low-income students or something else more philanthropic.
• Going smoke-free helps everyone, including smokers. Maybe they'll realize they're not only hurting themselves but everyone around them with their smoke. That way, they MIGHT try quitting.
• Going smoke-free is taking from our freedom to be smokers and it show NMU as being some sort of controlling. If you go smoke free students may few it as "What are they going to take away next" or that is how I view it. Giving NMU a bad name. Thanks Will
• going smoke-free will cause more problems for people then having it around
• Going Smoke-Free will promote a healthier lifestyle on the NMU campus.
• Going totally smoke free I view as an act of discrimination. Not accommodating at all and just dictating is not the american way.
• Gradually, more and more public places are going smoke-free. I think this would be a very positive move for NMU's campus. No longer would we have to deal with smoke blowing in our faces when we are walking from class to class. I think that becoming a smoke-free campus would be a huge push in the right direction (in improving the campus.)
• Great idea. A smoke free campus would be AWESOME!!!
• Great Idea. Would set NMU apart from all others. That's a good thing.
• Great initiative!
• Hate walking past student's who blow smoke in my face or surrounding area's. I think it's rude of people to throw butt's all over the campus. Make's the university look very trashy. It's something that should be done in their own car, on their own time. Let them put the butt's in their car ashtray, not on the ground. If a smoking area is made, please enforce it.
• Having a smoke free campus is the only way to go. I am sick of cigarette buts and smoke in my face as i enter buildings on campus.
• Having areas for smoking outside is only partially effective at best. Many people don't follow policy on where to smoke and expose the rest of us to second hand smoke. Little reinforcement of this policy is a problem.
• Having been a smoker I find it unfair to those who still are to make the campus smoke free. I think the students would have an easier time adjusting than the faculty or staff. Also if the smoking shelters were implemented then they would have to be numerous and in accessible locations, not in remote places that would make it difficult to reach. If the smoke free policy is not implemented in the correct way then I would expect that people will continue to smoke in the same places that they currently do in defiance of the regulation.
• Having smoking by the doors of buildings is not a good thing. The signs are in the wrong places and instead of them smoking away from the building, they smoke infront of the doors!
• Honestly, as a non-smoker, the smoking doesn't really bother me all that much, but I do believe that if we became a smoke-free campus, it would be very appealing to perspective students. It would also just be a nice thing to not have to worry about.
• Honestly, if people want to smoke they will, and it really isn't a problem for others 95% of the time.
• Honestly, If we were not allowed to smoke on campus, my education would have been a lot different. I can tell you right now I would not have taken any 3 and a half hour courses. Without being able to smoke over the break, I couldn't handle them. And I had four 3 and 1/2 hour classes that I truly enjoyed. It would have been a shame, but I wouldn't, I couldn't, have taken them.
• horrid and unjust idea. think of the opposite, what if instead of no smoking anywhere, it was smoking everywhere. it is unfair either way
• how cam you expect people to not smoke outside on campus when we live here!! This is dumb!!
• How can it be legal to stop people from smoking in their vehicles? I know it has been passed in other places, but I find that it crosses a line of personal freedom.
• How difficult would it be to inforce a no smoking outdoor policy? Would they get a ticket with a fine? Would it cost the University money to inforce this policy vs utilizing officer time with more important manners. Food for thought.
• How do you plan on enforcing a policy such as this? I mean what would the response be, and how would you necessarily find out if someone was smaoking in their car, but the window was down, someone walking in the parking lots smoking, and the surrounding community that passes, both on foot and in vehicles, through campus?
• How does smoking outside affect anyone? Unless someone blows smoke in your face... wth... who does that anyway?
• How far dows intolerance go before it become a dictatorship? As an incoming student, I would wonder...if NMU is that restrictive in one area, how much would it restrict other activities which I enjoy? If NMU is worried about enrollemnts in this time of budget constraints, why on earth would the admin. adopt a policy that surely will decrease the number of potential students? Please use some sense and compassion. We don't need smoke police on campus.
• How have we become so intolerant? I am an ex-smoker, but this whole issue makes me so angry that I might start again! I'm all for not offending the non-smokers, but not being able to smoke outside is getting a bit ridiculous. How about banning coffee drinking on campus as well? I really dislike the smell of coffee.
• How many more ways can NMU figure out to fine students.
• How will this be enforced? What penalties for violation? What portion of our finite resources will this policy consume?
• I 100% agree with the campus going smoke-free. Although I do not have a problem with the choices of my fellow students to smoke, I do not think that it's fair that i have to walk through a cloud of smoke just to get into a building and go to class. I feel as though i might as well just light up a cigarette myself with the amount of second hand smoke that i get when walking from building to building.
• I 42 years old and eaned my first degree at NMU. I am currently enrolled in a graduate program. I no longer smoke. I do not support NMU telling me what I can or can not do when sitting in my car or walking down a sidewalk. I am shocked that such is even being considered.
• I absolutely HATE that the on-campus apartments are not smoke free, I also hate walking behind a smoker. Seeing that studies have proven that second hand smoke is worse then smoking itself I see no reason why the campus should not be smoke free. I think it would be a huge positive if the campus was smoke free and if not the entire campus I think that the on-campus especially should be smoke free. By having the apartments not be smoke-free the university is losing money!
• I actually quit 3mo. ago and even before then I was insulted by rude smokers who don't seem to care that other people have to breathe also. They litter the ground because they are too lazy to walk 3 steps out of their way to put it in the garbage they are standing next to and they are rude to everyone by standing directly in-front of building entrances so that to get in or out of a building a person must walk thru this disgusting cloud. I believe that a non-smoking policy on campus with the exception of the person's vehicle would be a great step forward. Also any person seen throwing butts out the window or onto the ground should be ticketed. After a heavy enforcement period I believe that NMU would be a fresher place to attend school.
• I agree that it is not good that people smoke everywhere but that is because there is nowhere specific for them to go! If it were declared that NMU was smoke free it would not stop people if they smoke they are going to smoke especially if they live in campus housing. The only way to prevent students and faculty from smoking anywhere is to give them locations to smoke. Either have smoker enterences to each building so they can go out that door, sit on a bench, and smoke and non-smokers will know that and use a different enterence. Also fine people for throwing there butts. I think the best solution is some kind of a shelter so that they have somewhere that they can go. Not to mention that a shelter is capital added to the structures of this university where just saying no smoking will result in a need for more officers and in ture more money invested into nothing!
• I agree that it is offensive to have to walk past people smoking to enter a building, but I feel that smokers should be able to smoke outside while on campus. One of the problems with the 30 foot smoking rule--is that it has never been enforced. What would happen if the rule were enforced? I would imagine that smokers would move away from buildings.
• I agree that there should be more restrictions to the smoking policy on campus, however, I do not see enforcement of the current 30 foot rule in place. For a policy to be effective, it must be enforced. I would caution putting the smoke-free policy in place until there is significant enforcement and clear-cut penalties for smoking within 30 feet of any entrance.
• I agree with a smoke-free campus, but it does seem that smokers should have the ability to smoke somewhere on campus. I don't think that it is right to say that there is absolutely no place on campus that they are allowed to smoke.
• I agree with allowing smoking in private areas such as personal vehicles.
• I agree with enforcing the 30 foot rule whether there are shelters or not, and I also strongly support all campus buildings being smoke-free. However I do not agree with smoking being banned in cars on campus. I understand the reasons behind wanting to go completely smoke-free, but I believe that stopping people from smoking in their cars with the windows down would be even more difficult to enforce than the 30 foot rule.
• I agree with not smoking in buildings but outside shouldn't be taken away. If someone does not want to be around my smoke, then I would think they would then come to the conclusion not to stand by me. If you took away my right to smoke on the campus I feel that you would be obstructing the Pursuit Of Happiness.
• I agree with the workplace being smoke free. There should also be designated outside areas, such as in the backs of buildings, for smokers. But get real, isn't it more about the "publicity" of being smoke free? Are you next going to come after my vices? People need to grow up.
• I am *very* bothered by inconsiderate smokers congregating around building doorways throughout the NMU campus. For example, I am forced to breath second-hand smoke nearly every time I enter Jamrich Hall. And what's worse, these smokers often give me challenging looks, as if *I* represent the real problem. I strongly support a smoke-free campus.
• I am 100% in favor of making NMU a smoke-free campus (although I do think people should have the right to smoke in their own vehicle). For health and economic issues, this is an easy call, one we should make quickly.
• I am a ex-smoker 7 1/2 years now
• I am a former smoker, quitting long before I came to NMU. Although I don't want to walk through cigarette smoke walking through campus or though a doorway, I don't want to encourage people to smoke in an enclosed vehicle because that is just a terrible idea. The shelters are a compromise, but those are going be really dirty, possibly very ugly, and will still emit smoke. I lean toward a nonsmoking campus. It is for the greater good. Smokers can smoke at home, cut down or better yet, quit.
• I am a non smoker and would really like a smoke free campus, but it is a freedom of choice.
• I am a non smoker, personally it makes no difference to me if the ENTIRE campus becomes non-smoking, but I would like to see a larger radius around the entry doors to the buildings that are non-smoking. I do not enjoy walking through a cloud of smoke to get to my class. I would also like to see that radius enforced further, the current distance might be far enough, but it is rarely enforced.
• I am a non-smoker and completely support smoke-free restaurants, stores and work-places. As much as I would love a smoke-free campus; I am worried that not allowing smoking ANYWHERE on campus may hurt the university's ability to recruit students and off-campus events and more importantly; impede on our personal rights. In order for me to be in support of such policies, I would need there to be reliable research which documents the ill effects of smoking in 'open' spaces and/or maybe relaxing the smoking restrictions to "private vehicles regardless of whether the windows are open or closed".
• I am a non-smoker and have been all my life. Smokers should be allowed to smoke outside. Each building has multiple entrances and maybe half of them could be smoking and half non-smoking. This would give non-smokers who wish not to walk through smokers the opportunity to enter the building at another area while giving smokers areas to smoke in.
• I am a non-smoker and have never found the students smoking on campus to be bothersome and have always felt I could easily distance myself to a smoker if I was bothered by it. Many students living on campus smoke would lose thier choice to smoke in thier "yard" if NMU went smoke free. I think it would be unfair to mandate for them to leave campus in order to smoke....I would be very difficult to enforce this especially in the winter.
• I am a non-smoker and I get irritated even when the 30 feet away from the entrance is not followed. I don't think I should have to smell cigarette smoke when I enter or leave an NMU building.
• I am a non-smoker and would prefer a campus that is non-smoking, I do not see why my body should suffer from someone else's decision.
• I am a non-smoker but I do have a few friends who do smoke and I respect their decision I just don't agree with smoking on campus. One of the reasons I do not like smoking on this campus is because no one follows the smoking rules, such as the "stand 30-ft from the door" rule. When you walk out of a building and people are smoking, all you get is smoke in your face instead of fresh air. It also bothers me when I am walking to class and there is a smoker in front of me. With the wind the smoke blows right into your face. To me, second-hand smoke is worse than actually smoking and I think it should be banned on the main parts of campus.
• I am a non-smoker who is generally bothered by smoke. However, I don't think it would be in the University's best interests to ban smoking because that would force a lot of people to choose between NMU and smoking and I am betting that some of them would choose smoking over attending NMU. Also, people who smoke contribute just as much diversity to this campus as non-smokers. I fully support the decision to make smoking shelters for smokers at a distance from buildings. I think that they would appreciate and use them on a regular basis. Thank you for your time.
• I am a non-smoker who thinks this BAN on smoking on campus and, going so far as to baning it in private vehicals parked on campus. Who are you people, to take these kind of rights away from people, espically people in their own vechials. This proposed BAN on smoking will be unproductive to the goal you plan on achieving(spelling?).
• I am a non-smoker, but I can see how making the campus completely smoke free is really unfair to smokers. That being said, I really support the idea of several smoking shelters on campus as the only areas to smoke.
• I am a non-smoker, but I do not think the campus should become a non-smoking campus. My stance is that it is against the Constitution to tell a person that they cannot smoke. It goes along with the Pursuit of Happiness. Who am I to say that I don't want someone smoking because it bothers me.
• I am a non-smoker. I hate everything about smoking, but for me the issue of a smoke free campus has more to do with personal rights. I do not support the move to a smoke free campus. I think that to alienate such a large group of the population is unjust, and would put more divisions between non-smokers and smokers and students and the administration of this university. I also don't believe that smoke shelters are economical. Smoke would still escape, and I think it would just be a waste of money. Furthermore, the shelters would be no better in terms of alienation of smoker students. They would be like locked in a clear box for all the world to gauk at. It just would not be the right thing to do. I don't think NMU should pursue a smoke free campus. I realize that the health benefits of smoke free air are a positive, but I believe that each person should be allowed to make a conscious choice to smoke or not, but nevertheless it should be up to the individul, not the administration to make that choice for students.
• I am a non-traditional student and I finally was able to stop smoking 2 years ago after 20 years of trying. I welcome the movement by Northern to make smoking more difficult to do on campus. Had it been more difficult for for me in the past I probably would have quit sooner. Nearly all high schools have zero tolerance tobacco rules on campus now anyway, so why not a university.
• I am a none smoker, and dislike smoke smell, however to make the entire campus a smoke free environment is too extreme/unfair of a task. I firmly agree with the thirty feet away from the buildings rule, but until smoking itself is at least illegal this should not be happening.
• I am a past smoker for 16 years. I quit almost 25 year ago. It was very hard to do. But am fine now. I however, do not want to be around smokers.
• i am a smoker and i dont think that those who dont smoke are extremely bothered by us who do, and i would not be pleased if i couldnt smoke between classes while im walking. i dont want to have to freeze more just for a smoke.
• I am a smoker and take in consideration others around me that don't. I always put my ciggarette butts out before putting them in the trash, but there are others that ruin it for the rest of the smokers. And have no regards of those around them and their environment
• I am a smoker and to remove the ability to smoke on campus would seem a detriment to me. Also, to infringe on other smokers' ability to smoke is a detriment. I just think that there are fewer and fewer places for smokers to smoke. If you remove a few more places for smokers to smoke it would make them feel uncomfortable on campus. Thank you.
• I am a smoker who is in the process of quitting...while I no longer smoke at work, going smoke free would actually be beneficial for me because the choice of whether to smoke or not would be taken out of my hands. I would not build smoking shelters...if you do that, than we are not smoke free. Do Marquette General Hospital employees come on to NMU's campus to smoke? I know I've seen a lot of that going on by the University Center...I guess that would put a stop to that as well and that would be good. As for it affecting students choice whether to come here or not, I'm not sure, although I think students are becoming increasingly used to smoke free environments. How many other campuses are smoke free?
• I am a smoker, and yes i do stand 30 feet from the building, but when it rains and snows, there is no shelter for us. We are just people like everyone else, we just have a bad habit.
• I am a smoker, without a vehicle. Although I dislike the cigarette butts on the ground, I don't see smoking as a problem. it would seriously affect my choice to remain here at NMU in the future if it was to become a smoke-free campus.
• I am a smoker. I am trying to quit. I understand the dangers of smoking and second hand smoke. But, I feel it is a bit presumptious of the campus to enforce whether we can smoke on campus or not. I could understand designated areas, and hopefully "smoking outposts", to take a name from the cigarette receptacles, for smokers to congregate in away from the elements. To take away our freedom to choose whether to smoke or not seems ludicrous to me, both as a smoker and as an American. I am not arguing that the school can not take away our freedom. I realize that this is an institution and it is totally within university guidelines to do as you wish about this issue, but also, this is a state institution. If you ban smoking you may cause an uprising from the smoking population on campus. I personally will abide by whatever you may choose to do, whether I agree with it or not. The smoking shelters, although may be an eye sore, in a limited fashion could greatly appease the smoking population. Whatever the final decision, I personally would greatly appreciate the smoking outposts being constructed.
• I am a smoker. I wish the campus were smoke-free now. Smoking shelters get trashed, they have garbage and butts associated with them. Yuck.
• I am a student and it is not fun walking to class having to breath in cigarette smoke! Please it is not healthy for anyone get smoke free so we can breath free!
• I am a student who has asthma. Sometimes cigarette smoke does affect it, but not normally. If NMU becomes a smoke-free campus, the number of people that enroll here will suffer. I have a number of friends who smoke and I am not sure if they would be going here if they could not smoke on campus for many of them life far enough away that they could easily go somewhere else, but they chose here.
• i am about to quit smoking but still...smoking should be a prilivlegde in certain areas....i am a fire fighter and to smoke in other territories...i was taught to pick up after myself.... people should pick up after themselves...
• I am against NMU going smoke free, the chose of stop smoking should rely on the individual. We should not be forced to stop, I do agree with not smoking too close to the exits.
• I am against shuttle bus shelters being used for smoking because non-smokers using the shuttle will be subjected to the smoking.
• I am against smoking in general in any setting, it is a harmful to the smoker and all around them. I would love to have a smoke free campus.
• I am against smoking indoors, but when it comes to the outside I don't see why it should be a problem if people wish to smoke. If someone chooses to smoke then that is their right.
• I am against smoking shelters, I believe they would be a waste of time, money, would be an eye sore and believe they would not be utilized properly if built.
• I am all for a smoke free environment. However, I think that we are invading a person's privacy by including their personal vehicle.
• I am all for NMU going COMPLETELY smoke free. I am not a smoker and I cant stand when Im walking to class and 14 people are smoking. I have to walk behind someone who is smoking, people in back of me are smoking, and the people walking along side me are smoking. I want to enjoy Northern naturally but the smokers are destroying my fresh air...I mean If I wanted to breathe in harmful oxygen I would have stayed in Detroit...PLEASE make NMU a COMPLETELY smoke free campus...Thank you for the chance to express my opinion
• I am all for the campus being smoke free, although i dont want it to turn into an exscuse for public safety to give out uneccesary tickets. Students should not have to pay fines for being on campus smoking, punishing young people for doing something they think is OK is just counter productive. In other words, punishment isn't going to change anyones outlook on smoking. I think the idea of smoke shelters is a really good one. But just dont give out tickets to smokers! I'm 21 years old and 30,000 dollars in debt, last thing i need is a ticket for having a cigarette....
• I am all in favor of insituting a smoking ban on the Northern campus. I hate getting caught behind someone smoking a cigarette because I have to walk through it the whole way up the hill, and it seems everyday I have to walk through a cloud of smoke to enter one of the campus buildings since many smokers do not abide by the 30 feet rule and stand right next to the doors. Smoking hurts everyone and it should be banned on campus.
• I am allergic to smoke so having to walk behind someone whos smoking on the way to class darn near kills me literally. The rule that they have to smoke so far from the building isnt working, smokers smoke right next to the doors so for someone like me its really upseting having to walk through their cloud of smoke holding my breath. If the campus became smoke free I would be so much healthier and happier!
• I am allergic to smoke, and it also triggers severe migraines for me. For the past four years at NMU, my walks to class have been constantly plagued by smokers standing outside the doorways of buildings and walking down the middle of the sidewalk with a cigarette lit so everyone else has to walk through it. I have never seen anyone enforce the building doorway policy, and I very rarely see anyone follow it. For me it is not a matter of annoyance, but a matter of health. However, people's cars are not campus property, windows down or not, and you have no right to tell people what to do in their own vehicle. I would also not care if the parking lots were not part of this policy (I can't imagine anyone here enforcing that anyway). Also, if this university has money to waste on shelters for smokers, they should not be charging us so much for tuition. It's getting ridiculous around here, and very frustrating. I would like to see this university spend less on unnecessary things, not more, if you are going to continue hiking our school expenses in such large amounts. Don't build a smoker's shelter, give someone a scholarship instead! Finally, please don't wait until 2010 to make the rest of campus smoke-free. I believe a one or two semester transition would be fully sufficient. Do it for the benefit of your current students!
• I am allergic to smoke, and just by passing people who are smoking outside, it makes it hard for me to breath. I realize we are in America and everyone has their own rights, but when it comes to smoking they are taking away other people's rights to have a healthy smoke free working/living environment. Also no matter where you go on campus you are able to smell the stench of smoke, which makes not only me, but others feel sick.
• I am allergic to smoke, so when i have to walk into a building, I know before I get to close to take a breath and hold it until I'm all the way in the building or i will smell the cigarettes. So I think this is a great idea.
• I am also bothered by walking behind people going to class with the wind blowing it in my face; they are 30 feet away from the building but its on the same path everyone has to take to classes and its not fair to have to walk through that going to class.
• I am an adult, nearly thirty years old, and I am a smoker. I feel very strongly that this smoking ban would be a violation of my personal rights. I can understand a relocation of designated smoking areas, but I can not understand a complete ban. This seems very unfair.
• I am an ex-smoker. I chose on my own accord to quit. It is unfortunate that many think we should force quitting when this is a free country. If we don't want it in the buildings, then provide an area for the smokers, but don't eliminate it. I think that Harrington fellow is cursading in the wrong way. By completely eliminating smoking then it forces people to do it illegally.
• I am an RA, and if you would make campus smoke-free, it would be a huge problem for housing staff. On top of everything else, we would have to chase kids for smoking. You would have to pay me a lot more to enforce this. And as an RA, I have gotten to know a lot of people through smoking. It is a great way to meet new people, that i now call friends, that I would have not really gotten to know if we did not smoke. Also, for the three years that i have been here in the dorms, I have not been able to smoke in my room. I am looking forward to being able to smoke in my apartment next year. I am considering not living on-campus next year if I am not able to smoke in my apartment next year. I love the feel of living on-campus, but I would like to be able to smoke in my own apartment.
• I am an x-chain-smoker and cannot stand to be in a room with smokers - it makes me sick to my stomach (thank the GOOD LORD)! I know what it takes to quit smoking and have the DEEPEST sympathy for smokers because I really do not believe they would all continue smoking if were easy to quit. Smoking is an addiction and smokers should not be persecuted because they are addicted. A few smoking shelters around campus should suffice - make it difficult but not impossible. Maybe you can get the tobacco companies to front the money for the shelters or smokers themselves for that matter (I, a non-smoker, do not want to pay for smokers to have a place to smoke). Thank you.
• i am by no means a smoker but i would like to add this. my mother smokes and has tried to stop and its hard, and now u wanna make all these people would sometimes need a smoke to calm them down before a test for example. i just find this very discrimitory, where are smokers suppose to go if this gets past? i like the idea and the care u have for us non smokers wellbeing but i think this is taking it a step to far. if you had smokers in your family you would understand wat im talking about. so take this from a non smoker and proud of it. thanks
• I am completely against smoking on campus. Any policy that is put into place will be a positive issue. I like the air I breathe to be as Northern advertises.....Northern Naturally!
• I am completely supportive of NMU going completely smoke-free. I think it is a fabulous idea and should have happened already. Do you have any idea how annoying it is to walk out of class into a cloud of smoke? Those "no smoking within 30 feet of door" signs are completely useless. Especially in winter, there are so many smokers outside of them. it's frustrating walking to class behind a smoker. I find myself stopping to let them get ahead, and often, this makes me late to class. It's a privilege to smoke and it's a right to decent air to breathe. I think it's a wonderful idea and needs to be implemented sooner than 2010. I also think smoking has a negative influence on the campus, especially as Northern students representing their school. Making a campus smoke-free may even inspire some students to quit. Please please please please please make NMU smoke-free.
• I am completely supportive of NMU going smoke free. Look at the success Marquette General Hospital has had from becoming a smoke free campus. Eliminating today's health risks has to do a lot with prevention. It is disappointing that people on campus do not understand the 30 feet from the door rule when smoking. Smoking shelters may fix this; but I am in support of anything that would eliminate have to breath in second hand smoke while on campus and walking into buildings on campus.
• I am concerned with how it will be enforced. We have had a 30 feet from the door policy but it never worked because there were no consequences. I think we should find a way to enforce that policy before trying to create a new one.
• I am discusted by the smell and sight of a cigarette. We are here to get a good education, and not have to walk past a cloud of cancer while getting there. Also I think things like making NMU a smoke-free environment would make smokers rethink about thier choices. It will make them aware that society doesn't support thier nasty habit.
• I am entirely in favor of the concept of a smoke free campus, however I do think private vehicles would need to be exempted at least for the sake of visitors. I live on campus and I know that when my mom visits and wants to smoke now she goes out to her vehicle because I have asthma.
• I am extremely sensitive to cigarette smoke and not once has it ever bothered me on campus. Leave things as they are. :)
• I am extremely supportive of NMU becoming smoke-free in any way possible. I truly abhor the need to hold my breath whenever I'm walking through clouds of smoke in order to get into almost any door on campus. This is especially problematic as the 30-foot rule is not usually enforced very well. Even walking between buildings is difficult, as the slightest wind blows smoke into my face, causing me to cough extensively. With my allergies, smoke in any concentration makes me uncomfortable at best, and throws me into a fit of coughing that requires me to sit in fresh air for several minutes at worst. As a resident of the on-campus apartments, I also suffer at home. One or more persons in a neighboring apartment smoke, and the fumes drift into my apartment, forcing me to spend much of my time with sinus problems and a headache. My time in the smoke-free dorms was also plagued with tobacco; though I asked for a non-smoking roommate, she picked up the habit during the year, and I spent several months trying to rid my room of the fumes she brought in after smoking. If these detriments could be solved, I would be eternally grateful, and so would my lungs. I do not appreciate detriments to my health that I can have little control over. I think that the private vehicle option is the best idea for allowing smokers to smoke "on campus" with as little impact on others as possible; though we might have to look out for which cars contain smoke when they get out, overall it would make the best compromise in my eyes. In the event that smoking shelters are constructed, I would hope that they would be inexpensive enough that non-smokers would not feel that they are paying for something they will never use. If the graduated smoke-free process is used, I am still supportive of that, but a little disappointed, as I will likely not get to experience a smoke-free campus. THANK YOU FOR THIS SURVEY! I was unable to make it to either of the smoking forums due to class conflicts, and have wanted to express my opinion on this for some time.
• I am fairly neutral on having a smoke-free campus. The smokers do not effect me, so I have no reason to support the movement. I do not understand how it would be enforced and what the punishment might be. I imagine that it would be a wasted effort of time and money to have officers ticketing a smoker when there are other things that could be taken care of. Thanks for making this issue open to all of campus to have a voice.
• I am for a smoke-free campus, however I do think that individuals who choose to smoke should be a llowed to do so in the comfort of their private vehicles, windows down or up.
• I am happy to see that NMU has taken measures to eliminate the smell of smoke in buildings (Jamarich) by blocking off the air intake areas. I am not satisfied with the way people smoke near entrances to buildings. The "no smoking within 30 feet" rule is being completely ignored and the rule is also not being enforced. I would like to see the rule enforced.
• I am HIGHLY supportive of Northern Michigan going smoke-free. Smoke-free is the way of the future . . . keep NMU ahead of the times!
• I am higly supportive of banning smoking on campus. It is just a fact that smoke cannot be contained from other people, and it is a known carcinogen. With all the safety regulations and concerns on campus, do we really want to knowlingly keep supporting the exposure of the faculty/staff/students to carcinogens??
• I am in full support of going smoke-free on a designated date rather than in a graduated fashion. If we are going to make this a smoke-free campus, do it at once not in small increments.
• I am in full support of NMU going smoke-free as soon as possible.
• I am in TOTAL support of a smoke-free campus, but I am interested in how/if this will be enforced. We already have a no smoking regulation within 30 feet of all buildings which is not enforced. I am so sick of walking out of the buildings through a wall of smoke. It is disgusting and rude (not to mention illegal) for these smokers to congregate outside of the buildings blocking the doors. Those of us who are allergic, or just plain disgusted by the smell, get into our cars reeking of smoke. This smell sticks on our clothes and in our hair. It is almost impossible to get rid of the smell and it is extremely embarrassing and unprofessional if we happen to be rushing to an appointment. I would like to see NMU go ahead with the smoking ban, but I would like to see it done in reality, not just on paper.
• I am in total support of my rights as a non-smoker to never have to breath smoke. I am in total support of smokers right to smoke... I think some kind of allowance for them (a smoking area-perhaps it could be a money-making area/particular really neat restaurant) that would be appropriate.
• I am interested in what I can do to make NMU smoke free post some opportunities to help maybe?
• I am just letting people know when you leave near the door entrances the smoke comes right into your window and into your room.
• I am not a full on smoker but i smoke every now and then but i probably would end up not doing it at all if i couldnt just go right outside and do it
• I am not a smoker and do not appreciate having to walk through smoke to enter a building, which regularly occurs regardless of policy. Can a more rigorous compliance campaign be run first? I am a passive contributor to these smoking violations - I have never asked a person to move away from a building. If creating a more physically defined smoking area is needed to help the enforcement, it seems unfortunate that it comes with such a cost.
• I am not a smoker and do not want smoking inside facilities, however smoking outside (away from building entrances)or in personal vehicles goes beyond what I believe is reasonable for 1st time implementation. We do a lot of education on hazards of smoking, but it is legal for those who choose to do so and my goal is to eliminate contact in enclosed spaces for others. Sometimes there are already too many laws and rules where individuals are impacted...seems state, counties, and cities are already legislating everything we can do. Common sense and respect for others is sometimes a good thing to learn how to interact with others in a variety of situations. Legislating everything we do in our actions is not the answer to living together respectfully.
• I am not a smoker and do not wish to force other people to make that same decision in their lives. However, I do not want to have to put up with the byproducts of their habits either. So I support a smoke free campus, and would have no problem with people smoking in their own cars. Using a graduated fashion would probably be most effective. Stopping people completely right away only leads to people "breaking rules" by sneaking smoke breaks in bathrooms and trying to hide it, which just makes the problem worse. (Just ask the employees at MGH) I am not opposed to smoker shelters, but would question their effectiveness. It seems that many smokers on campus choose to ignore the signs and regulations already in place and smoke wherever they please. I am very thankful however that NMU is taking a serious and hard look at the issue and have great faith that a fair decision will be made.
• I am not a smoker and don't normally care what others choose to do with their lifestyle. However, it is unfair to those of us that don't smoke to be subjected to the smell and the cigarette butts that people throw on the ground. I fully support a smoke-free campus!
• i am not a smoker and have never been personally bothered by anyone smoking on campus, i think people should stop being sissies and looking for stuff to complain about.d
• i am not a smoker and i dont like the smell of smoke but i feel that it would not be fair or just to smoker to turn nmu to a smoke free campus. as long as students continue to smoke out side i feel that there is no harm and if some one dosnt want to be around the smoke it is very easy to avoid.
• I am not a smoker and I hate walking behind people to class who are smoking and all you can breathe is smoke. I think the shelter ideas are a good idea.
• I am not a smoker and personally am tired of having to breathe behind people who are smoking right in front of me. Also walking into the buildings holding my breath for a minute so I dont directly inhale the smoke that people are standing right next to the doors smoking!! So much for standing 100 feet away to smoke! And in my apartament I am tired of walking in and smelling smoke ALL the time. I have a baby who is 8 months old with eczema and smoke irratates it to no end! Please make campus smoke free!! Or at most only have a FEW like 4 of those little building things for smokers!
• I am not a smoker but every one has the right to enjoy a cigaret outside.
• I am not a smoker but honestly, smokers do not bother me. I know a lot of them and they are very considerate of others around them that do not smoke. I don't feel it is necessary to have a smoke free campus.
• I am not a smoker but i believe that the smokers that we do have should keep that right. This is the U.P and it is just to be expected. I dont have any complaints about them and think this proposal is completely unnecessary.
• I am not a smoker but I think people should be alowed to smoke outside. I totally agree with a smoke free environment inside buildings, but outside doesnt bother me it is their decision to smoke and banning all places around campus will only make peopl egrouchy or not respecting the rules. Smoking shelters are gross and terrible for health. Let the people smoke outside.
• I am not a smoker myself so I can understand one's opposition to those who smoke on campus. I however do not think that it has influenced any ill opinion (for me) towards smoking on campus. I think that it would be nice if the people who do smoke were not in front of the building entrances, but I do not think it is necessary to forbid it entirely. Maybe NMU should think about restricting it more.
• I am not a smoker myself, but considering making NMU completely smoke free would certainly be a difficult adjustment for many students. I am much more in favor of smoking shelters than of banning smoking completely. Also, students should be allowed to smoke in their parked cars WITH the windows down. No one will ever be in danger of health complications from walking past too many cars with smoke floating out of them, especially when you consider the wind at NMU.
• I am not a smoker myself.. however I think that people who enjoy smoking should be able to.. It is their choice, and it shouldn't be taken away from them simply because they are attending college.. it also may hurt the amount of money that Northern makes, because some individuals may choose not to attend college here, because they smoke.
• I am not a smoker per se, but a social smoker. I'll have a cigarette with my friends if they are smoking, but I don't smoke regularly.
• I am not a smoker, and do not enjoy walking in the library or another building with a group of smokers I have to walk past to get in. I transferred here from Lansing Community College, and they had a designated tent area that was away from the door entrances. It was very nice, the smoke was away from those it bugged, and the smokers were able to have an area to themselves.
• I am not a smoker, and in fact find smoking quite disgusting; however, I cannot support a policy that completely abolishes smoking from the campus, parking lots, at even private vehicles. The campus should keep buildings smoke-free and also begin to make much of the main campus smoke free, but parking lots and vehicles should be fine for smoking, and there should be places where smokers could go smoke throughout campus. Smoking is a dirty habit, but it is not illegal and people should not be ostracized for their personal addictions.
• I am not a smoker, and never have been. Cannot believe why on earth anyone wants to smoke--it's a character weakness as far as I am concerned and a sign that peer pressure can easily get to these people. Most, but not all, smokers are inconsiderate litterbugs who carelessly toss their butts around. The ashtray areas on campus are smelly places strewn with butts. I have no sympathy for smokers at all. I support locking them in their cars with the windows rolled up.
• I am not a smoker, but I do have a fair amount of friends who are. I would rather not see them without their nicotine fixes because they can become intolerable. Letting them at least have their cars in the parking lots should be okay. I would get so annoyed in the winter time when all the smokers would huddle near the doors to the buildings. I don't mind if people smoke, but I'd rather not have to walk through a cloud to smoke to get into a building.
• I am not a smoker, but I do not agree with the idea of raising our tuition to build "smoker huts". These would need to be maintained and constructed, which comes from our wallets. I think that as long as smoking does not occur in buildings (which is the case as of now), people are not going to throw a fit. Not allowing smokers on campus is a drastic measure.
• I am not a smoker, but I feel that they have rights too. I agree 100% with no smoking in the buildings and within 30 feet of doors. I feel that a stronger enforcement of that should be the first step, and take appropriate actions later if that does not work. I disagree with smokers having to leave campus to smoke. If they are outside, at least 30 feet away from the building or in their car, that is completely fine with me.
• I am not a smoker, but I have quite a few friends who are. I think that for the campus to be smoke free, it is not fair to those students who have a legal right to smoke cigarettes in an outdoor arena. Now I would support smoking shelters, but also I think that they would have to be numerous and located within a legit walk of classroom buildings, and that might take away from the aesthetic look of the campus. I just do not think it would be fair to ask someone who is a chain smoker, and has the legal right to be so, to go many hours without a place to smoke, I actually think that might keep people from coming to Northern or staying here. I think another route to go would be to have greater enforcement of the however many feet from a building rule someone needs to be, like give out a $10 ticket to students caught within that space? and put better markings on the ground for students to know how far the distance really is. I think just keeping smokers away from the doorways would make a big difference, but, this is not high school, anyone who is 18 or older has a right to smoke cigarettes, so making a campus wide smoking ban doesn't seem right. If someone is walking in front of me and is smoking, I simply move over so the smoke doesn't get in my face, I mean non-smokers have the ability to make choices in that instance. The only time it is difficult to make a choice is when someone is right outside the door. I think maybe instead of doing a total ban on smoking(and spending money on all those smoking shelters), that the university should consider starting a "respectful smoking" campaign. And put up ads around campus, put videos online, maybe do a program towards the goal of smoking not in front of doors or trying to be aware of other students around that the smoke might be bothering. I think that before going to the extreme of no smoking at all, I think the university needs to exhaust all of its options, and to see if the student body is happy after trying those programs and policies. If not, maybe THEN a campus wide smoking ban should be put into effect.
• I am not a smoker, but I understand both points of view. I am supportive of buildings being smoke-free and enforcement of the 30' rule. However, I don't agree with going completely smoke-free, especially banning it even from private vehicles. The only way I see smoke-free working would be to also eliminate alcohol and make it a dry campus (if you outlaw one person's vice, you should make equal for everyone). Even being a non-smoker, I personally don't believe campus should be completely smoke-free until the city of Marquette or Marquette County makes moves to do so as well.
• I am not a smoker, but my husband is. I would never have come to a place that is that staunch about smoking. Smoking is not an illegal act, and therefore it is a persons own choice. I would support smoking shelters though. This would keep smokers from being towards the building (trying to get out of the weather) to smoke, and issuing fines to students who do not use the smoking shelters. My biggest problem with banning it altogether is that it would include the university apartments, mine and other people's homes. I would never support any ban which would ban a person from smoking in their own home. I wish my loved one did not smoke, but it is not my right to take away his right, as it is not the universities right to take away. I think it unfair to people who are living on campus to suddenly start mandating what they can and can not do inside of their vehicles and homes.
• I am not a smoker, I feel that people have a right to smoke, its their personal choice. When it comes to health issues later in life, second hand smoke is worse than actual smoking. Therefore I am protecting myself with having smoking taking place somewhere else rather than just ban it all together.
• I am NOT a smoker, I never have been. I have been late to classes because I've sat in my car and waited for the smokers(the students going outside to smoke on their breaks)to get away from the doors to the buildings so I wouldn't have to walk through their second hand smoke. It is disgusting and I would completely support NMU having a smoke-free campus. NMU has a beautiful campus, in a beautiful location. But walking through clouds of smoke, and seeing cigarette butts scattered all over is very unappealing and detracts from the campus.
• I am not a smoker. But let us not continue to scapegoat the smokers on this campus. Let's instead keep a clear focus on academics. Let's really try to accomplish something there, continuing on the margins we've already begun to develop, rather than taking on this crusade. As administrators enter the job market beyond this institution, let's not have their previous accomplishments amount to "I spearheaded and instituted a completely smoke-free campus plan."
• I am not a smoker. However, I know many people who are addicted to this habit. I strongly agree that by making NMU's campus smoke free, smokers, non-smokers, and the environment would benefit from it. However, I think that by making this change so quickly, many people would struggle with focusing in class if they were craving their daily (or hourly) dose of nicotine. I think that by establishing smoking shelters, smokers could have the opportunity to smoke (if they are willing to walk half-way across campus for it). This may encourage many smokers to quit. Also, with the smoking shelters, people can smoke if they choose to and they are not harming the health of those people on campus who opt not to.
• I am not a smoker. I think that cigarettes are disgusting. However, that does not give anyone the right to tell others what they can and can not do out of doors. If this means that the 30 foot rule needs to be reiterated then fine(as an RA I do that all the time), but people have the right to smoke if they want.
• I am not a smoker. I have never had any problems with students or faculty smoking on nmu campus, it is a decision that each individual makes and taking that away would just cause problems and protests that are unnecessary.
• I am not a student and accidentally click #6. I have never been a smoker and never will. I have asthma and smoke makes my breathing difficult.
• I am not an avid smoker, however I do enjoy a cigar every now and then. I feel that it is an invasion of our rights to force smokers to travel off of campus, especially in colder weather. I understand keeping smoking away from the buildings and that some people would like to avoid smoking. I do not see why those people can't just go around or past those who are smoking. Smokers have the same right to smoke that non smoker have to avoid it.
• I am not bothered if people are smoking around me. I don't see it as that big of a deal. You can say its a "smoke-free school" but thats not going to stop people from smoking, its kind of a wast of energy to try and convert people to change.
• I am not convinced that the smoking shelters are a good idea. There is no guarantee that smokers will actually use them; the smoke-free radius around building entrances we have now is rarely enforced or followed. Even if the shelters were used they would quickly become filthy, dirty, smelly eyesores. That much smoke will make anything nasty, and who will clean them? Although I realize that non-smokers stand to benefit from the construction of these shelters, I don't think it’s fair to pay for them with tuition fees from non-smokers. Smokers are entirely responsible for creating this issue. Perhaps if they had not made the conscious effort to start smoking in the first place, or had been more careful to observe the smoke-free radius around building entrances, this survey would be unnecessary. Smokers are to blame for creating this issue, and the smokers are ultimately the ones who should have to pay for it. I've never smoked a day in my life, and I have no use for a smoking shelter, so is it fair to use my tuition fees to pay for one? More and more places are going smoke free, and college campuses should be no exception. I’m sorry for the lengthy response. I feel strongly about this issue and I’m glad that NMU is doing something about it. Thank you!
• I am not partial to people smoking around me, though i have dealt with it in the past. I know that it could cause some problems making it smoke free, but i am supportive all the way!!
• I am not supportive of a graduated implementation of the campus going smoke-free because it seems silly and wasteful of time and energy to delay the inevitable. Also, I'm not in support of structures being built for people to smoke in!!! I do not want to see our campus, in a time of money-crunch, spend money on people who are killing themselves! Also, if they chose to live and be smokers in a climate that is cold 6 months out of the year, that's their problem! To give a different suggestion, I would also say that instead of spending money to build structures, spend money on people that would actually enforce the smoking in designated zones, however many feet from the building they are ACTUALLY suppose to be. If they actually stayed where they are suppose to now, none of this would be such an issue. This way we're not being too controlling. The fine for breaking this rule should be very large too! Like $100! It's crazy that parking is patrolled so well, and yet something like smoking, that has a direct affect on a persons well fare is no big deal...
• I am not, nor have I ever been a smoker, and so while smoking on campus does sometimes negatively effect me, I think that it would be an unfair infringement upon smoker's rights for NMU to go completely smoke-free, unless it was gradual. I think that actively trying to employ other choices of where to smoke, eg the smoking shelters, would be a very good route to some sort of middle ground. I realize that many non smokers argue that it should not be fair for them to pay for such shelters, but to that I say that it is an amount worth paying for people's right to choose.
• I am now a senior here at NMU. I will graduate this May. The administration needs to step up and start making people whom smoke either not smoke at all on campus or if they are going to smoke lets say outside the campus buildings, actually inforce the whole 20-30 ft from the doors beacause I have found it very upsetting that you have 5+ people at times huddled just outside the doors trying to get that last hit of thier cigerette. I mean come on. If your going to have a rule, actually make people comply. Charge a $50 ticket to those whom don't. We are in a age know where more and more resturants, buildings and even cities are not allowing smoking in some areas. Its time for the school to step up and make a stance. Another thing, I am tired of seeing cigerette butts on the campus sidewalks. I came up here for the natural beaulty of this town and campus and I am not thilled about seeing smokers jsut flicking butts on the sidewalks and grass. Thank you
• I am really weary of walking past inconsiderate smokers at entry ways to buildings that I need to get into,,,, Thankyou for taking some action in this matter....
• I am severely allergic to cigarette smoke and this is a major concern for me. For four years here I have dealt with this in the TFA. I am a music major and spend 12+ hours in the TFA practice rooms practicing my flute. The ventilation is soo poor that when smokers stand right outside it gets up into the vents and comes directly into the practice rooms, which are TINY. So while I'm playing my flute I am breathing in TONS of second hand smoke and there have been a few occasions when I have had an allergic reaction to the smoke ie: my throat closes up.
• I am sick of having to hold my breath OUTSIDE because of all the smokers who stand by the doors and smoke. I would rather try to use all of the tunnels then go outside because of them!!
• I am so tired of walking behind people smoking on my way to and from class, and I'm annoyed at seeing piles of cigarette butts lying around campus!
• I am someone with asthma and a smoke-free or at least not in or around the buildings would be very helpful. When I am walking into a building and someone is smoking my lungs start to tighten up and my eyes can start to water. So i strongly support NMU becoming a smoke-free environment. I wouldn't be against people smoking in their own cars. I just don't agree that smoking should be allowed around any of the buildings.
• I am supportive of a smoke free campus but I need to know what that reality would look like. Are there going to be smoke police? If you smoke, do you receive a ticket? How can the rule possibly justify invading someone's car? Smoking is by no doubt a public health crisis but don't turn the school into a strange restrictive campus. You have already managed to stifle political speech. I guess my final thought is that smoke free campus, yes; private property and any enforcement of the smoke free policy, no.
• I am supportive of any non smoking measures you can take.
• I am supportive of this action however, I do feel that smoking in private vehicles may be a bit too far. I agree with the outdoor areas being off limits simply for that fact that smokers seem to leave their used butts wheever they finish smoking.
• I am tired of people complaining about smokers' rights. What about the rights of non-smokers? Shouldn't we as the majority and the people who are not adversely affecting the health of others, finally get the rights that we deserve. Even with the current standards at NMU I am afflicted with smoke constantly.
• I am tired of walking out of a building and getting a lung full of smoke instead of fresh air. If smokers actually stayed away from buildings like they should I wouldn't have that much of a problem. Going smoke-free is only going to be good for the University.
• I am tired of walking out of a building into a cloud of smoke especially since it is already hard for some people like me to breath because of Asthma and other respitory problems.
• I am tired of walking through a cloud of smoke when I am entering a building to go to class!
• I am totally for creating a smoke-free campus, but i'm not sure if it is realistic. As an RA i see multiple residents every year smoking outside my building. Although i hate walking through the smoke, by making a smoke-free campus you will lose a TON of residents and you wont get those numbers back.
• I am trying to quite smoking. This would be great! Most people do not start smoking until they arrive at NMU. Therefore, in turn NMU would be doing them a favor.
• I am very excited about the potential for Northern to be smoke free. I strongly dislike breathing second hand smoke while I am walking to class. It is an unnecessary health hazard to everyone. I hope this policy will discourage smokers from smoking in the first place. Maybe this policy would encourage some smokers to quit for their own health.
• I am very glad to see the smoke-free campus discussion come about. I am tired of walking into class buildings holding my breath because a couple of people are smoking right by the doorway. As stated above, I would not be supportive of "smoking shelters". I know that many people would think of the "rule" to use the shelters in the same way as the "rule" to stand 30 feet away from the building when smoking now. That distance is laughable because most people smoke within 3-10 feet. I believe people would think the shelters to be laughable, as well.
• I am very nuetral on this topic, however, I think having interior smoke free buildings is great, exterior next to the buidling I am supportive of, but if someone choses to smoke in thier car in the parking lot with windows down or open, that is their business. I really dont mind if people smoke outside, they are the ones freezing and if they are stupid enought to freeze and damage thier lungs, that is non of my business. Thanks for the survey!
• I am very supportive of a policy which would eliminate smoking in and on all areas of NMU. Those who choose to smoke do have rights (and their rights ARE important to me), however when those rights infringe on anothers ability to breathe air without smoke it becomes an issue. When smokers rights are considered and alternatives are proposed for on campus smoking options, please take the location of those options into consideration (i.e. do the locations of the options offered still require those who do not smoke to walk by and and be affected by it). Thank you.
• I am very supportive of a smoke free environment on NMU's campus. I've often seen smokers who smoke very close to buildings on campus and smelt the smoke as it drifted into the vents of the buildings. This smell has long since bothered me since it gives me headaches and it is very hazardous to one's health. I strongly encourage a smoke free environment on campus, and I appreciate your efforts in getting feedback and addressing this issue. Thank you!
• I am very supportive of a smoke-free campus, but I do not feel that we can "legislate" what people do in their own private cars. I do strongly support smoke-free buildings and other NMU property that is uniformly used by the public.
• I answered not supportive to #s 3,4&5 but they are better options than what we have now.
• I appreciate a smoke-free environment and would like to have smokers stay away from the building entrances and air intakes. But, I'm not sure a total ban on smoking is appropriate given its legality and addictiveness. I'm not convinced we need to be so intolerant.
• I as a non-smoker support NMU is this, but I know of many people that would be turned away from NMU because of this policy. I hope that we can at least come to a happy medium because it is a huge problem on campus with people disregarding rules that are already set. The litter that is caused by this issue is also a huge problem and very bad for the environment only person alone can't stop prevent this or clean it all up. Thank you for considering the smokers and non-smokers in this process.
• I attended Lansing Community College a couple years ago. They are a smoke free campus and only permit smoking in a couple designated shelters. However, they are not used very often and the entire policy is very poorly enforced. I've seen smokers walk past campus police and not get into any trouble at all. I think enforcing this policy would require a zero tolerance policy with very strong penalties.
• I believe a smoke free campus would be too difficult to enforce, and if its not going to be enforced, then it becomes a useless policy. If public safety is prepared to write and uphold violations for each instance, then perhaps in time it could be made to work, but that seems to require more man power than they have.
• I believe a smoke free campus would help to attract the type of student who is into health and environment, and possibly a bit more intellectual.
• I believe going smoke free is taking away peoples rights. I quit smoking, but it does not bother me that other people are smoking.
• I believe in free choice, so banning smoking outdoors starts to infringe on that. However, keeping smoking away from building entrances where smoke can enter the building seems like a good idea. Strict enforcement of that should be a priority. However, I do not agree with using University money to build specific shelters for that segment of the population. That money could be better used on features that benefit all.
• i believe in freedom of choice
• I believe it would be wholly unfair to, in a sense, shun the smokers within the NMU society. Also, the blow to student morale would be staggering.
• I believe making NMU a smoke free campus would be one of the smartest things this campus has done in a long time!!!
• I believe making the campus entirely smoke free is not the best idea. I see so many smokers when i'm walking to and from class. They need a place to smoke or students may reconsider staying here.
• I believe making the campus entirely smoke free would cause some enrollement decrease. A better idea would be to seriously impliment smoking rules, such as smoking in a designated area away from other non-smokers.
• I believe NMU sholuld ban smoking in the vicinity of all buildings, not jsut the entrances, because of the air intake issue and windows that can be opened in some buildings. While I support the elimination of smoking and do not smoke personally, I would not like to see us lose faculty, staff, and students over a total ban of smoking. I believe we can afford and figure out how to set up enforceable smoking areas away from the main traffic routes. Smoking in cars should be the car owner's issue not the university.
• I believe NMU should go smoke-free but not to the extent of being in a private vehicle. Also, how this smoke-free policy is enforced and what is the punishment for violators should be part of this survey. For example, students should not be fined excessively (i.e $25.00) or be expulled from NMU because of smoking. So the question is how is this going to be enforced?
• I believe no matter what our university does, it will cost money. After reading about last years enrollment levels being down, I don't think a smoke-free campus will help. Smoking is bad, but students should control eachother and where they smoke if the school isn't going to enforce where smokers are. I walk to campus and students looking for parking at jamrich and west science affect me by the exhuast, i think we should inform more transit people where to park.
• I believe people are going to smoke whether they're supposed to or not, so I think it is best if we have smoker's outposts at least for people to discard cigarette butts in, and if campus must become smoke free, I believe that should not include private vehicles. Plain and simple, people will need a place to smoke, and I think they should be able to do so in their cars if not in smoking shelters as well.
• I believe people have the right to smoke freely outside
• I believe people have their right to privacy and would be severely disappointed if it was taken away in this area. I also believe that smokers need to obey the 30ft rules and be a little more considerate of others and think smoking shelters would help.
• I believe smokers have the right to do so however,those who don't deserve clean non-toxic air to breath. I think shelters are a good idea as long as they are away from the entries and the cost of doing so isn't past on to the students. I don't feel that I should have to pay higher tuition costs for those who choose to smoke. I am confindent that NMU will make whatever decision they feel is right.
• I believe smoking is a persons choice. It is a hard to break habit and would cause more trouble than it is worth for NMU. If this being a smoke-free campus was by some miracle fully enforced and followed application rates would drop and the university would more than likely fail.
• I believe that a non-smoking environment is conducive to quitting smoking--the rub is civil rights. It seems unfair to force tobacco addicts to live in the dorms and then add to their stress by taking away their "fix." I think the answer is protective shelters with an eye towards eventually being smoke free. I am alarmed at the number of young people that smoke on campus even though I am a smoker. As a smoker, I would welcome a smoke-free campus to get this monkey off my back but I would not force that on anyone else.
• I believe that a smoke free around buildings and other public places would be a plus. I know that second hand smoke annoys and irritates some people, so any steps taken to remove that problem would be a positive move.
• I believe that a smoke-free campus is a great idea in theory. I am not a smoke, never have been and never will be. Frankly, smoking just disgusts me. I hate the smell of it and having it around me. However, I feel that a smoke-free campus would have more of a negative impact on student recruitment because many non-smokers would be discouraged while it isn't a substantial issue to non-smokers. From talking to friends about this issue, and my own personal opinion, I feel that the campus should just enforce the 30 foot rule more aggressively.
• I believe that a smoking ban will promote more health among people who are in the educational system. To be part of an educational system, means to be knowlegable about the fact that smoking and second-hand smoking is obviously lethal. To ban it on a campus-ground is a start to hopefully start getting rid of smoking cigarettes as a whole in the whole county, state and hopefully country. I do understand that this is a contreversial subject, and I know that smoking is a addiction to many people who shake at the very thought of a ban. But all in all it is beneficial for everyone.
• I believe that all of the interiors of buildings should be smoke free. I don't think we project a good image having smokers by entrances to buildings. I don't mind if people are smoking away from buildings. Smoking is not illegal so as long as they can do it in areas that do not impact others then it should not be completely banned.
• I believe that all that needs to be done is to strictly enforce regulations to keep smokers away from doorways and other public places that people must pass through frequently. If that solution doesn't work, I would support a smoke-free campus, with the exception of private vehicles and smoking shelters. The right of people with asthma or simply sensitive people to avoid smoke should trump the right of people to smoke, but a 100% ban on campus is unreasonable.
• I believe that as an American people do have the right to smoke. It is unlawful to take this freedom away from them. I am not a smoker and I do appreciate all interiors becoming smoke free. However, smokers should be given a place to smoke (such as outside or a smoking shelter). Maybe more support should be put into securing the 30 feet rule from any building.
• I believe that banning all smoking even outdoors away from people is a violation of personal liberty. Having said that, I have no tolerance for littering with cigarette butts and I believe that banning smoking in front of entry ways is reasonable. Though these activities are already banned, I have never heard of anyone getting ticketed for either of them. Before we make more restrictive rules lets try enforcing the existing ones.
• I believe that banning smoking on campus would be a gross violation of students' rights. This is a public school. It's none of the school's business if its students smoke. Allowing smoking in cars only would actually be worse than an all out ban as it would make smoking a privilege exclusive to those who can afford a car. I don't have a car! I'm not even a smoker and it's obvious to me how unfair that would be. I imagine that a great number of people would be very angry if the school instituted this ban, including myself. I personally don't want to attend a school where students have such limited rights and freedoms. What's next? Banning students from listening to rap on campus?
• I believe that everyone should be allowed to choose if they smoke or not. I am not a smoker and I absolutely can not stand it, but I have seen many great friendships form from people smoking outside and meeting new students.
• I believe that having some sort of shelter for those who smoke would greatly lessen the amounts of complaints from non-smokers. During the winter months it is so cold that most smokers don't want to have to walk 30 feet away from the door because they don't want to freeze. If there was some sort of building that was insulated or heated I think all the smokers wouldn't have a problem walking to those to smoke. Having more places to throw cigarette butts away would also help on complaints.
• I believe that I would rather have people who are smoking in their vehicles to have their windows open. Smoking in their own vehicles SHOULD be allowed, my significant other smokes in the car when I am in it (I do not smoke). The smoker will smoke no matter what so it would be awful for passengers to seal in the cigarette smoke inside the car. Even for smokers, sealing smoke in their vehicle causes them to have more health risks and continue to breathe in twice as much toxic smoke. I am a nonsmoker after 5 years of smoking. It is a very rough addiction. I am very torn between supporting this issue and on the other hand, understanding what it is like to be addicted to cigarettes. When you need one, you need it. I am predicting that if the campus goes smoke-free, then there will be far too many smokers tardy for class because they WILL be late as long as they can smoke. This policy will only target the weakly addicted smokers who can wait to have a cigarette. Many others will risk being late or even missing class so that they can drive or walk off campus to have their cigarette break. I am choosing to support a smoke-free campus with the exception of smoking shelters or maybe a less costly "designated smoking areas". This is because I believe that smoking is deathly unhealthy and if there is any iota of something I can do to get people to averse from smoking, then I will. (It had an effect in New York City)
• I believe that if one chooses to smoke, they should also consider the effect of their choice on others, and understand that people should not have to deal with the effects of someone else's choice to smoke.
• I believe that if our college became smoke-free, it will decrease the school's population and the i interest of the student's who do smoke.
• i believe that if you make campus smoke free you will lose a lot of students. enforce the 30 feet rule. if not make the feet longer like 50 so they cannot be so close. if not make designated areas for them to smoke. make sure that they throw away their cigarette butts. give smokers a ticket if they do not follow the rule. we have enough public safety to enforce and give tickets. public safety gives enough parking tickets so why not give tickets to smokers. i believe that the smoke coming from the factory fills my lungs more than the smokers on campus.
• I believe that if you were to build the smoking shelters or allow smoking to happen in cars, that people would abuse that previlage and not stay in those designated areas.
• I believe that it is not NMU's place to decide if the students should smoke or not. If they do go smoke free they may not see much of a decline in students enrolling but the overall student morale WILL drop considerably. Use of smoking sponsons (smoke shacks)would solve the problem if they were conveniantly placed around the campus. If smokers do NOT have direct access to a smoking sponson they WILL smoke where ever they can. Please take this into account if you decide to place smoking areas, quantity over quality.
• I believe that it is up to the individual if he or she is going to smoke. However, I have yet to see someone follow the "no smoking within 30 feet rule" around buildings, and I think it is ignorant that others are forced to walk through others' clouds of smoke in order to go to class. I also do not feel my tuition should increase in order to build other people "smoking areas," for it is something uneccessary. If one were to do that, then NMU should have to build "skateboard areas" for people who would like a place to do tricks and whatnot in between classes, etc. And those types of things are not what I pay tuition for!
• I believe that it would be a good idea to have "designated smoking area" or shelters as mentioned abouve. This way those that have made the personal choice to smoke can, and limiting the effect on those that dont. I think that it would be a better option to compromise than to completely ban smoking on campus.
• I believe that making campus smoke free takes away from the rights of individuals to choose to smoke.
• I believe that NMU going smoke free would be considered a benefit for many. Many parents and students would push for this college being a first choice.
• I believe that NMU going smoke-free would be a negative influence for college students. Part of going to college is to stem away from your parents and upbringing to become a unique educated individual. This would take away part of the learning process that each student goes through to decide what is right or wrong for them in the future.
• I believe that On-Campus Apartments should go smoke free. I believe the 30ft policy should be enforced, but I don't believe the campus should go completely smoke free. It may help people to quite smoking, which is obviously a positive, but it may also alienate smokers, causing them to possible leave the university.
• i believe that our constitution gives us the right to be able to smoke anywhere that we would like as long as it is not inside a building, but anywhere outside there should be no question.
• I believe that people should have the opportunity to make their own choices. Smokers should be considerate to the fact that their are non-smokers who don't want cigarette butts everywhere. Yet it will not change the fact that their are students who spend entire days on campus who smoke regularly. If dorm living students cannot smoke outside they will be tempted further to get away with smoking inside and that is just where it begins. Thank You for letting us have a voice.
• I believe that prohibiting smoking in buildings and doorways is sufficent to protect non-smokers from second hand smoke. Having designated smoking areas makes sense for those who have made the choice to smoke. As a former smoker, I am aware that quitting smoking is very difficult and I did not appreciate others inflicting their judgment on me.
• I believe that smokers are being unfairly discriminated against. While not everyone agrees with smoking, its still a choice that people make and should be respected. As long as people smoke outside and are not bothering people, i see no problem with it. Programs that help people quit smoking and tell the truth about smoking should be funded more and made available to all students. I feel also that all smokers are stereotyped and thought of as being trouble makers and people who are generally law breaking, this negative connotation is wrong. I believe that NMU should uphold the rights of everybody even if they do not agree with them.
• I believe that smokers have a right to smoke but they do not have the right to kill me. I also think that the 30 feet rule is a good idea but is not enforced or encourage because the smokers stations are always right next to the building. This is why I would wholly support the smokers shelters as an answer to the current problem of smokers vs nonsmokers. As a nonsmoker I think that the shelters offer the best for both sides of the fence as long as they are far enough from the doors and windows (at least 30 feet) of the university buildings. They would provide a place for smokers to be out of the elements and it would keep the smoke away from the nonsmokers who do not want to be exposed to it as they walk in and out of the building. In conclusion, I do not care one way or the other if the campus goes smoke free, but I believe that there should be more enforcement of smoking rules or a better solution to the debate rather then banning something. I urge you to truly consider the smoking shelters as a solution. Thank you for your time and consideration.
• I believe that smokers have the right to smoke where they want, as long as they abide by the current rules (30 feet from the doors, not inside, etc.). As for the shelters being proposed, I don't think that smokers will all huddle in the shelters while they smoke, just as not all people waiting for the shuttle actually wait inside the shelter. I believe smokers should have rights just as nonsmokers have rights. Thank you for conducting this survey.
• I believe that smokers have the right to smoke, it's their bodies and they can do as they please. The level of second hand smoke that nonsmokers get while walking briefly past a smoker is miniscule. They probably get more toxins in their lungs by driving behind another car going down Washington street. I don't believe that banning smoking should even be considered. If anything, your proposed "smoking shelters" would be the best choice, although they should be located closer to the buildings. Who is really going to walk halfway across campus to smoke?
• I believe that smoking in front of the doors is wrong, and i smoke. However the parking lots and private vehicles should be smoking.
• I believe that smoking in vehicles should be allowed.
• I believe that smoking is a choice people make, I don't smoke (minus the occasional cigar or pipe) to restrict them not too would not only greatly decrease enrollment, but would also make the enforcement a huge issue. Do Public safety and RA's really want to have that much more paperwork to keep someone from smoking outside? Smoke free buildings are fine. But outside of the building it is unconstitutional to Revoke the right to smoke.
• I believe that smoking is a personal choice. Thus those who do not smoke should not be forced to breath in smoke. Also, I would be strongly against building shelters or spending money to accomodate smokers as funding is limited and again, it is their choice whether or not to smoke.
• I believe that smoking is a persons choice. The general population of a college campus is over 18, which means they have a legal right to smoke. I understand that many students choose not to smoke, and they have a legal right to be away from smoke for their own general health. It is easier for a non-smoker to move away from a smoker, then it is for a smoker to travel off campus to smoke. I don't believe that it is fair to the non-smokers, but it is more unfair to the smokers. I know I would stand this position being a non-smoker or a smoker. I plan on quitting, and I still stand this ground. College is about being on your own and doing what you want in the legal limits. Taking smoking away from students that pay for their college education would be wrong. Smokers pay just as much as non-smokers, and they should each get the same rights.
• I believe that smoking is a right. It's also a great stress reducer for those who do smoke after a big exam or during stress, etc.
• I believe that smoking on campus should be allowed only if the students abide by the rules in place. In the past I have seen students smoking inside the non-smoking zone of buildings, so I think that smoking shelters would be a good way to keep students away from buildings but still provide a place for them. Also, I think that students should get a fine if they violate these rules which would bring more money to the university and deter anyone from breaking the rules set in place. The university would also benefit from these "shelters" by keeping the litter that correlates with cigarette butts to a minimum if these zones were the only smoking areas.
• I believe that smoking should be prohibited in the buildings on-campus, which I believe is the rule now. There are signs that say you're not supposed to smoke within a certain distance of the buildings, but I have never seen that rule enforced. It is ridiculous to try and prohibit people from smoking in their own vehicles, whether or not they are on campus. I do not believe smoking shelters are worth making. If people really want to smoke and they are not allowed standing by the buildings then they can go stand out on the grass in the academic mall. If the weather is bad, it is their problem if they have to go out and have a smoke. It is not NMU's responsibility to accomodate them.
• I believe that smoking should not be banned from campus, but instead there should be some rules about the act that are actually inforced. I have seen the "No smoking within 30ft" signs, and these are almost always ignored. I think that the smoker shacks would definitely help with this issue some (seeing as though most of the time people smoke near the buildings due to the wind, rain, snow, and any other weather that Marquette is prone to), but I think that there would possibly still be some issues with people smoking near doorways and air intake vents. Maybe some sort of fine (along with the installment of the smoking shacks) needs to be installed in order to prevent this from happening. There needs to be a half way point, both parties have the right to be happy. Having people smoke in their own personal vehicles with the windows rolled up is absolutely absurd. Smokers should be allowed to continue on with their lifestyle choice, but at the same time they need to not effect the health of those around them. Give them a place to go so they can enjoy their (often stress relieving) pastime. Please, be considerate towards everyone, no matter what their choices may be.
• I believe that students, staff, and faculty have a right to slowly poison their body at their own will. If someday they wind up with cancer it will be their problem... not mine. Who am I (or the administration of this campus for that matter) to regulate other peoples personal lives and their personal business. My exposure to their fumes is minimal; in fact I would bet that I inhale more pollution from NMU snowplows, grounds-keeping vehicles, axillary service vehicles, and the daily 7:00am visit from the garbage truck than I do from cigarettes. I AM A NON-SMOKER. I HAVE NEVER SMOKED... I PLAN ON NEVER SMOKING. I HAVE NOTHING TO LOOSE, I'M JUST BEING HONEST.
• I believe that the enrollment will greatly decrease if smoking is banned on campus. Either that, or people will do it regardless of if it is illegal or not.
• i believe that the nmu non smoking idea is in good heart and with good intentions. however even as a non-smoker i believe that having a non smoking campus would influence people's choice whether or not to come to nmu and i believe this would cause a downfall in enrollment.
• I believe that the only real problem people have with smoking on campus is the could of smoke you have to walk through to get into buildings. So the smoking ports would be the best idea. I myself do not smoke on campus, but you cannot limit it to people in their cars with the windows up. That is just a bad idea.
• I believe that the population of smokers is far to great for this proposal to be accepted on a campus wide front. I feel that the number of student who smoke is far too great for this type of plan to be implemented. I realize the dangers of smoking, but for me it is a choice. I feel that like many other freedoms on this university, and in this United States, smoking needs to be aloud. Precautions to lower the risk of second hand effects is necessary, but not enough to eliminate smoking completely. If NMU is made a completely smoke free campus the number of disciplinary measures, infractions, and hearing will go up due to the majority of the smokers being against the implementation. I feel that this new policy can only do more harm than good.
• I believe that the shelters and the smoking behind closed doors/windows is a very bad idea. i am a nonsmoker and i am against smoking in general, but forcing those who do smoke to be in a confined area is dangerous. This will increase their heath risks even if they do not care about them. NMU shouldn't force them to be over exposed to the smoke, there should simply be no smoking allowed on the entire campus.
• I believe that the smoke shelters are a great idea but banning smoking entirely would drop enrollment here at nmu and my boss and half of my friends smoke i know that they would leave if a smoke free campus were enforced.
• I believe that this policy would be difficult to enforce. What would the penalty be for smoking on campus? Would it be any different for a student, a staff member, or a visitor? What would happen if someone came in contact with someone who smelled of smoke (from home or from their car) and found it offensive? Would this be a violation of the non-smoking policy? If it would be I would also think you could find offensive some colognes or body sprays that people wear too. In for a penny in for a pound... Honestly, I think that it is a good idea to limit the exposure to the smokers for people who do not like smoke. Designated smoking entrances in buildings and smoking shelters ("butt huts") are all better and more feasible options than taking the campus completely smoke free. Better yet the campus should take on a "healthy lifestyle" campaign instead. You could focus on non-smoking programs, but also on over eating and unhealthy lifestyles. There are a lot of people out there senselessly eating their way higher cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes that group insurance has to pay to treat.
• I believe that this would be a great asset to the university expecialy the workers on campious that take 5 min. smoke breakes every half hour.
• I believe that, disgusting and harmful as smoking is to smokers, it is legal to smoke in our society and it is improper for NMU to consider negating the right to a legal activity. The harm we would be doing to smokers, by requiring them to leave campus to smoke, is greater than the temporary foulness I experience walking past a smoking area. It has been my experience that smokers are polite and stand off to the side of entrances, keeping second-hand smoke away from passers-by. I believe current policies are sensible and sufficient. Further, I would ask NMU administrators to consider the problems with enforcing a smoking ban. Smokers will continue to smoke-- as likely inside as outside buildings-- and Northern should devote its funds to causes and policies more relevant to its educational mission.
• I believe the campus should be smoke-free. The smoking occurring just outside doorways, not to mention the accumulation of "butts", affects us all, as we have to walk through it to get to our classrooms. I realize it would be difficult to enforce the "no smoking inside your car" thing, but it's worth a try. There's no good reason to permit this "killer" habit to occur at Northern any longer. Thanks for your efforts!
• I believe we all should have rights and choices.
• I believe we have far more serious problems at NMU than smoking.
• I came to NMU for education, not to be ridiculed about smoking, it was our choice to come to NMU, and should be our choice to be able to smoke, as long as we meet the requirements of however many feet from the building is posted.
• I can hardly breathe around the smoke-- banning it totally on campus would be wonderful.
• I CAN NOT STAND ALL THE SMOKERS ON NMU'S CAMPUS!!!! I would like to walk to class just once without walking through a blue cloud of smoke. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stop the smoking.
• I can often smell smoke when inside the classrooms, I'm not sure if this is from the vents or just lingering on other classmates. I would love for campus to be smoke free.
• I can see having all buildings and maybe around buildings no smoking. But it is rediculous to make the parking lot or private car smoke free.
• I can see if the campus was smoke free but I think that the parking lots should NOT be - if people want to smoke in their cars with their windows open that does not affect the campus buildings and people inside.
• I can see the issue and I can clearly see that if this survey is taken seriously then smoking on NMU grounds will be banned. This is because a clear majority of the population at our school are non-smokers, they can and will have the majority decision about this issue. I do not think it aptly represents smokers and non-smokers because non-smokers will try to get everything they can to get people away from smoking, but this violates my rights. I believe most television is harmful for people to watch or listen, but I do not tell them to shut it off. It is their right to watch it. Just like smoking, it may be harmful to myself, but when diluted in the outside air is basically harmless to passersby. That is why I am against this smoking ban on the campus because it clearly pins the majority against the minority. It is an annoying smell, yes, but that's why I am avidly supporting the smoker's station. It just makes a lot of sense to do so because it gets non-smokers away from smokers and smokers do not have to trample across the street on someone else s property to have a smoke. That's just a bit of my opinion, thank you for leaving this general comments area for me to fill up. Again, thank you
• I can support a non-smoking building policy, but to ban students and faculty from smoking outside is insane.
• I can understand not wanting people smoking within or close to buildings but saying people can't smoke far away from buildings or in their own cars is ridiculous. At that point, it's not harming anyone but the smoker and there is no need to restrict it.
• I can understand why many non-smokers are really pushing for a smoke-free campus. Many smokers are not acknowledging the rule (law?) that they stay 30 feet away from the door, and many times a non-smoker can be enveloped in tobacco smoke as soon as they exit the building. One can argue that it is his/her right to smoke, bu another can argue that it is his/her right to be able to breathe clean air. They are both right; it is one of America's founding principles: ONe's rights extend as far as another's. To the non-smoker it is tiresome and even dangerous (for those who are allergic) to have to deal with a cloud of smoke outside their door. However, I also understand the smokers' predicament; it is REALLY cold outside. That is why I would strongly support constructing smoking shelters, especially if we could get some heat in there (I know it's possible; that's what they do for bus stations in Minneapolis). It would be expensive, surely, but I think it would be worth it. While it might be cheaper to merely declare NMU smoke-free, it would result in a load of paperwork (especially for violations) and thousands of unhappy students and staff--not only because they cannot smoke, but because they feel slighted by the system. Both non-smokers and smokers need to meet each other half-way, and I believe we can make this work out for everyone.
• I can't say that I have never smoked before; however, on campus when sitting in class when smoke is coming through the vents isn't that fun. It smells and it's distracting to learning. I have no problem with people smoking in their cars or at least somewhat farther away from the buildings.
• I can't stand smelling smoke - but I don't want to become a "nanny" university either. My philosphy is "educate - don't mandate".
• I can't stand smokers around me and overall non-smoking leads to a more healthier and productive group of Students.
• I can't stand the smell of cigarette smoke. I don't mind it if people smoke, but not close to me. I don't want to infringe on their rights to smoke. However, when walking to class why should I have to inhale second hand smoke with someone walking to class.
• I can't stand walking through clouds of smoke when I come out of any building, or walking behind a smoker. I shouldn't have to smell like smoke when I am just trying to get an education.
• I can't stand walking to class behind smokers and getting the smoke in my face or when entering a building. I realize they have their rights, but I have a right to not breathe in their smoke, especially when it's bad for me, or for some they are allergic and have to take their medicine to class with them to prevent allergic reactions. They shouldn't have to go through that hassel just because some kid wants to whip out a cigarette to relax after an exam. Health shuld come before rights (or personal addictions in a smoker's case).
• I cannot see myself attending this school for another semester if this policy is enforced. Where are my rights as a person who smokes? I think I respect the people around me. I try to smoke in an area that is not heavily populated or in my vehicle. This is honestly ridiculous.
• I cannot tell you how many times a day I am forced to endure the putrid stench of cigarette smoke as I walk to class. Walking to any class any time of the day I always either pass or am stuck walking behind at least two people smoking. I do not think its fair that I have no other choice, but to smell smoke on my way to and from every class. My girlfriend is allergic to smoke and is forced to smell it to and from every class. One time she even asked if the man walking in front of her could blow the smoke the other way so it wouldn't go in her face, his response was to blow smoke directly in her face. If a smoking ban is put in place it should not be gradual but should be put in place at the end of this semester. Furthermore having designated smoking areas like bus stop areas is a waste of money that could be spent else where and they would be disregarded by smokers just as the 30 foot rule is disregarded everyday by hundreds. I do not believe the University has the right though to say people cannot smoke in their own cars as those are private vehicles. Please do something about smoking on campus soon so that I am not forced to have to deal with these noxious fumes anymore. Thank you for your time.
• I checked "not supportive" to question #4 as I don't like the idea of doing it in a graduated fashion. Just implement the program (if it's going to be implemented)so people can get used to the rules all at once. As a non-smoker, I am all for having a smoke-free campus. The one question that I have is how this will be enforced but I'm sure that will be thought of. Thanks for bringing this issue to the forefront. Let NMU set the example of a smoke-free environment when business in downtown Marquette are afraid to!
• I checked student, as I also take classes even though I am faculty.
• I choose NMU, because I saw less smoking here then I did at any other campus I toured. If it were to go smoke free, I could see it being a huge selling point, not just to students, but to the parents as well!
• I come from a campus that is Totally Smoke free. It can be done and shouldn't be hard to implement without progression. (no need to prolong til 2010). I also live in a smoke free province where smoking is prohibited in most public places and is not allowed anywhere that a has a ceiling. Therefore shelters built for smokers are not available. It was also done basically over night. they designated a date (within a year) and on that date the law came into effect.
• I come from illinois where smoking was banned within 30 ft of all buildings and in all buildings, bars, clubs, resturants on January 1st, 2008. I also visited London this past summer where smoking was banned July 1st, 2007 and i was there on the day it went into effect. The change was amazing. I shouldnt have to walk through peoples smoke in order to get to class. that is what annoys me the most!!
• i comments//
• I completely support NMU going smoke free. Cigarette smoke is an extreme irritate for me so even when I walk outside and people are smoking by the doors is not good for my health. I think the idea of smoking shelters and/or private vehicles is fine.
• I completely support Northern becoming a Smoke-free Campus. However I think students and faculty should be able to smoke in their private vehicles with the windows rolled up. If they weren't allowed to smoke in their private vehicles the smoke-free policy would be unfair to smokers.
• I completely understand the worries of being a NONsmoker, walking around in a smoking atmosphere. The consequences are severe and deathly, TRUE. However, as a SMOKER, I would not want to see the smokers get penalized if they are caught smoking close (like 10 feet) with in the the designated smoking area without actually being in the area. As a SMOKER I too do not enjoy the smell, nor the chemicals, nor the health risks I am putting myself at. Again, if a program was provided such as a smoking cessation (where a portion of money was used to aid in quitting smoking)I would be more inclined to take advantage of that type of assistance. I understand that is not a probable solution for students, but it would aid faculty and staff alike who do indeed smoke.
• I completley support the non smoking policy....why should people who don't smoke be forced to breath second hand smoke? It's not fair to us. Why should we suffer because smokers want to gradually kill themselves? Definitely not fair.
• I completly understand the problem non smokers have having to walk through a cloud of smoke going in the door. As a smoker I think it's smoky by the doors, however making the campus completly smoke free is punishing those of us who DO stand 30 ft from the door. As I said it my response Email before, why not write tickets? If there are students that it bothers that much, let them volunteer to write the tickets, mark the ground where you have to stop smoking. I garuantee you the first $100 ticket someone gets, and they'll stand behind the line. Again, we are smoking OUTSIDE, not indoors....I just don't think we should have to go all day without a cigarrette. Thank you.
• I could not sit in my car and smoke with the windows up. The car would be consumed with smoke and be hard to breathe in it. I will smoke in my car if I can keep the window cracked. When I opened the door, all of the smoke would pour out of it anyway. I do not see that option working out very well. Smoking shelters may work depending on the size of them, heated or non-heated, or how well they are ventilated. When I was looking at Universities and saw that NMU is a completely non-smoking campus, I would see that as a school that does not respect other peoples choices to smoke. That would make me think, what else does NMU not respect about it students?
• I definately agree with the effort to move the smoking areas away from buildings. I can imagine that walking into a cloud of smoke would be overwhelming for a non-smoker. Especially those with athesma, etc.
• I dislike being around smokers. I have few friends who are smokers, and I don't allow the ones who do to smoke in my house or car. I refuse to ride in a vehicle with someone who is smoking. However, all that said, I don't think that banning smoking on campus is a realistic solution. How would it be enforced? It is hard enough getting smokers to respect the mandated distance from buildings. Would public safety be deployed on foot to make sure that students weren't sneaking smokes as they walked between buildings? What will the unions have to say about prohibiting a legal (though disgusting) activity still practiced by some of their members? I had never heard of smoking shelters before, but they seem like a workable solution. Most smokers aren't deliberately trying to assault or offend non-smokers, so providing a place for them to gather to inhale each other's second hand smoke seems like it would meet less resistance than attempting to extinguish smoking altoether.
• I dislike the students smoking by the doors and smelling it inside. Other than that its a persons personal choice and it's their lungs being harmed.
• I do agree that smokers should not be hanging around doorways on campus. However I don't think that trying to completely ban smoking on all parts of campus is a good idea. If there were shelters constructed with butt-cans in them placed 30 feet away from the buildings, perhaps in central areas, it would alleviate all concerns non-smokers have. Also, I feel that Public Safety officials should give littering tickets to any smokers caught disposing of their butts improperly.
• I do believe smoking is a disgusting habit that I and many other students, faculty and other Northern employees have. To ban smoking as far as in your private car is absurd and I can only hope that NMU will be mature enough to keep the welcoming atmosphere, and sense of privacy that brought me to this school.
• I do believe that smokers have rights,too, although it should not be at the expense of my own health. I am not a smoker and am totally against it, but I do think that there should be certain places designated for smokers on campus.
• I do not agree with a smoke free campus policy. This university is publicly funded, and this land is technically public land. It is a deal breaker for me, and I feel cheated that the university would rope me in, and then change the rules midway through my degree. The fact that the president said, "[smokers] don't have to go to school here," has not only made me dislike the proposed change, but made me angry about it. For paying 14 thousand dollars a year to go here, I should be able to have a cigarette whenever I want. Smoking is nobody's choice but the person who chooses to smoke, and if I am outside, I feel that everybody else should just leave me alone about it. It is none of their business. I'm sure looking at the health facts about second hand smoke exposure outdoors is way less than even exposure in a parking lot. Looking at that, you should be able to deduce that this is merely a holier than though attitude that is being spread throughout the campus by avid non-smokers. Furthermore, this survey is even skewed. You're asking people who's life smoking doesn't really affect if they care whether or not smoking should be taken away. Of course the don't care. If somebody picks all neutral, then their submission should just be wiped clean to make it fair, not bumped over to anti-smokers, or pro-smokers. I don't have enough words in my vocabulary to describe how wrong this is. Read the constitution. Also, what a paradox. How is it possible for something to be a legal substance, but illegal at the same time? That is what this university and every other anti-smoking institution is doing. In short, if I am outside, I will smoke. Plain and simple. The university should be worried about things like people not stopping for students at crosswalks, and people speeding through campus. Those are real concerns, not somebody legally smoking a legal substance, because to me, that is cut and dry. This university has a moral responsibility to allow smokers to smoke outside, it is only right.
• I do not agree with this idea of going smoke free at all. I believe that it is our right to smoke if we choose to do so. I have personally never heard a complaint from a non-smoker concerning cigarette smoking on campus. I believe that this would make many student angry if the campus did go smoke-free and many would smoke anyways.
• I do not agree with this policy of having a completely smoke-free campus. People have a choice if they want to smoke or not. I do however agree that smokers should be moved away from the doorways so that non-smokes such as myself are not bothred. Smoking shelters my not be needed, but insuring smokers stay the 30ft from public doors (as all signs say) would make campus more comfortable for non-smoker. Although all doors on campus have the No Smoking within 30ft signs, smokers seem to not be phased by such signs.
• I do not appreciate having to walk through smoke to get into and out of the buildings. Smoke irritates my lungs and having just a few inconsiderate smokers makes life more difficult. (Not all smokers are inconsiderate, but enough of them are.)
• I do not believe parking lots and private vehicles should be smoke free. Mainly just the interior of campus such as around the LRC, Jamrich, and West science. Overall smoking has never bothered me on campus except when people stand too close the the doors and I have to walk through it to get in and out.
• I do not believe that additional smoking shelters should be built. Why encourage the habit? Having to walk to a freezing area to smoke a stick of cancer should be helping give them incentive to quit.
• I do not believe that rights of non-smokers are more important or should be held to a higher standard than the rights of smokers. We all must understand that we live in a society where we all must get along. What once was segregation by race is now segregation by legal choices we make. I understand that this is a slight exaggeration of the current subject up for debate. However, there would be an unfair intolerance towards a targeted group of students and visitors exercising a state-wide legal right to smoke if they so choose. I believe that a campus with specified areas that don't leave smokers exposed to the elements of the outdoors would be courteous to both sides and would provide smokers with an alternative to smoking in their rooms, cars, or otherwise "would-be" illegal places to smoke should the campus go smoke free. All while still remaining fair to the non-smokers by removing the proximity of the smokers to a fair distance, and not appearing to be enabling smokers to continue their decision to smoke. We all know that smoking is addictive and one of the most addictive "legal" opportunities we are privileged to in Michigan. I think it may be slightly naive of NMU to think that they can stop an entire campus from smoking while the state remains neutral and accommodating to the smoker crowd. Ergo, creating a 99% probability of rebellion against what impressionable young smokers view as their state-given right to smoke in the outdoors of a free country. I thank you for your time and consideration and I hope I have given you something to think about in your decision soon to come. Thank you and have a good day. Respectfully, Joel Bates Spooner Hall Room # 339 jbates@nmu.edu
• I do not believe that the NMU campus should be smoke free. If the smoke is bothering people on campus then have designated smoking areas AWAY from the doors and not have the ash trays right next to the doors. Smoking is not illegal and smokers have a right to do what they will with their bodies just as non smokers have a right to stay away from smokers if they so choose. In an ideal world declaring campus smoke free would prompt those who are smoking to quit and make NMUs campus overall a healthier environment, but in reality it will probably just make for alot of irritable people who smoke like feigns when they return to the privacy of their own homes. Katie VanderVeen
• I do not believe the University has a right to legislate what students can and cannot do in the outside or epically in their own cars. The University has every right to ban smoking in their buildings if it wants to (and it has) but the school should not dictate what can and cannot go on outside or in peoples private cars, I feel it is a slippery slope. Also, smoking shelters are counter productive and not cost effective for a University so cash strapped it keeps raising my tuition every year. Smoking shelters would trap smoke in them and make it more hazardous for people to smoke (even more than it already is) part of the "benefit" to going outside to smoke is that the smoker is in the free air and their smoke can be naturally moved away by the wind, any kind of enclosed shelter would negate this "advantage" and just create an overly smoky room (assuming this shelter would be used at all) I am not a smoker but am concerned with the right of those who do smoke, smokers have rights too and the school does not have the right to ban smoking in the outside or in peoples private vehicles.
• I do not believe we should begin policing smoking in private vehicles. I support smoke-free in campus buildings and within a short distance of doorways. However, smokers should not be made to leave campus to smoke (e.g., not being allowed to smoke in their own cars) as they do have this physical addiction and cannot go off campus to smoke between classes. We want to protect others from second-hand smoke while not infringing on the rights and needs of those who continue to smoke in private spaces.
• I do not consider my self a smocker though I have smoked from time to time. I obey all the rules about it on campus and in the dorms. I do hear that the dorms are tuff because the smoke gets sucked in the windows and the butts are flicked more often than put in the receptical placed out for them.
• I do not enjoy smokers standing directly outside a doorway/entrance. But I don't think making NMU a smoke free campus will make any real improvement to campus life, or my education. Dorm rooms do need better enforcement of no smoking policies.
• I do not feel NMU should be smoke free. It is not fair to the students who do smoke. It would be better to inforce the smoking ordinences rather than taking smoking completely away.
• I do not know how this policy could be implemented. It would be ridiculous and depressing to have "smoke police" ticketing students in noncompliance. This is the main problem I would have with the policy.
• I do not like the fact that if im walking to my class, and someone in front of me is smoking, they blow it in my face as they walk.
• I do not like the idea about smoking shacks because it would be a hard policy to enforce and who would make the rounds enforcing this? If it was entirely smoke free it would be much easier to regulate.
• I do not like the idea of NMU going smoke free. I've been talking to many other smokers and they don't like the idea either.
• I do not like the idea of smoking shelters. I do not believe that part of my tuition should be used to build something that only gives students a place to help kill themselves.
• I do not like the idea that you would not be able to smoke in a private vehicle without the windows down. I think you should be able to smoke in your car with the windows down as long as you do not throw the cigarette butt out the window.
• I do not like walking into a cloud of smoke, but i can't really blame smokers. I think they could be more courteous about it, but i understnad why they would not want it to be a smoke free campus
• I do not like walking into buildings when there are smokers standing just outside the doors. I choose not to smoke and do not want to be around it. I would support NMU for going smoke free.
• i do not like walking up the hill from the dorms and getting the back draft from the smokers!!
• I do not like when you walk out of any door on campus, during class hours, that you have to walk right into a cloud of smoke to exit the building. I do not think that it is a good idea to completely bannish smoking from Campus,however. In fact, a smoke free campus would turn away many students which I believe is not the intention of this proposal. The "smoking shelters" I think are a good idea to put up around campus, however people will most likely still smoke outside them while they are walking. So, I think the best solution is just to make and enforce a rule that smoking may not be done within a certain amount of space from the buildings, specifically right in front of the doors.
• I do not mind if people smoke outside of the buildings--smoking outside is fine--under the condition that smoker's do not throw their butts or filters on the ground. That is what I take issue with. I lived in Prescott, Arizona when a smoking ban was implemented at all public establishments, including bars. Proponents of smoking argued that making the businesses smoke-free will reduce patronage at their establishments. This was the case for approximately the first month of the ban, but the regular patrons returned eventually, without much grousing, and stepped outside to smoke.
• I do not see it as a problem for students and staff to be allowed to smoke outside as long as the are away from the building. However, I think that better inforcement of the 30 feet rule is needed. If the smoking shelters would help with this, then we should get them.
• I do not see what smoking outside is doing to anyone. I understand not smoking inside, that makes complete sense, but when smoking outside it is hurting nobody. Take into play the smoke stacks not far from the campus, should those be taken down because they pollute the air? I don't like certain people's cologne they wear when they walk by, so now are we going to stop letting them wear that to school? Troy Heikkinen
• I do not smoke but am not avidly against kicking it out, but if it does I wouldn't complain either
• I do not smoke but I do not care if other people smoke. Sometimes it is annoying when people stand right next to the doors but other than that it does not bother me. I think its disgusting but it is there choice. I think it would be difficult to make NMU smoke free but I think it would improve campus if it worked.
• I do not smoke however, I feel that for those that do it would be unfair to require them to not smoke at all while on campus. Many students are here all day long and don't have the luxury of leaving campus whenever they want to smoke. Smoking seems to be a habit (good or bad) that helps many individauls deal with the pressures of going to college. I would not be in favor of a policy that removes this freedom from those individuals. Thank you.
• I do not smoke on campus even though I enjoy the occasional cigarette. I would be more or less ambivalent about the policy, but am fundamentally against legistlative morality. If this policy were indeed to go into effect; I would apprecriate NMU marketing it as a 'public health policy.' Thank you for allowing my input.
• I do not smoke, but beleive smokers should be allowed to smoke anywhere outdoors on campus.
• I do not smoke, but many students and faculty here at NMU do. I really don't think making the university smoke-free would be beneficial, it really wouldn't change the minds of students who are choosing their college of choice because that is based more on majors, athletics and such. Students here do have the right to smoke where they want and when they want, this wouldn't help but make several students angry. The whole smoking shelter idea is reasonable but if there was going to be smoking banned everywhere else what is the point of having a few points on campus the only spots where smokers can smoke. It defeats the whole banning purpose. I believe this whole idea is something that really doesn't need to be resolved and should just be left alone. Good luck with the final decision.
• I do not smoke, nor do I have any desire to start. Whomever the smoker is, it is that person's choice -- and only that person's -- to smoke. Non-smokers should not be subjected to smelling that disgusting stench and risking our health so they can get their fix of nicotine. I will be very disappointed should this not be passed, if only for the weaker of our species to rely on smoking. It's ridiculous.
• I do not smoke. Smoking is a personal choice, if students want to do it I say let them. I just think public safety should enforce the 30 foot rule and lock down on people littering ciggerate's.....
• I do not think that going completely smoke-free is reasonable. Personally, I do not smoke and I do not like smoky environments. However, going completely smoke-free would turn away many people from the campus, and it would make life difficult for those who do smoke. As an alternative, I truly believe that we should focus on enforcing our smoking rules. It is posted that no smoking is allowed within 30 feet of buildings, but I see people right outside of doors smoking all of the time, and it is honestly annoying. This should be much better enforced; otherwise it is unfair to the nonsmokers who wish to avoid smoky areas. Proper disposal of cigarette butts should also be enforced. I also think that "smoker stations" is not a bad idea. I think the university should be putting much greater efforts into making sure smokers do not impose over nonsmokers instead of trying to go smoke-free.
• I do not think that NMU should be smoke-free. I do on the other hand think people should respect non-smokers, as well as, campus property. People who smoke should try and stay away from entry ways and exits so non-smokers do not come in contact with the smoke if they do not wish to. By respecting campus property I am talking about putting cigarettes out COMPLETELY and throwing them in the trash or and ash tray. I always stay away from exits and throw cigarette butts in the trash because i have noticed a considerable amount of butts littering the campus and I find this gross, and staff who have better things to do should not have to pick up cigarette butts up from the ground because people are too lazt to take care of this themselves. I would support some type of rule concerning the "littering" of cigarette butts all over campus, but i would not support a smoke-free campus.
• I do not think that restricting individuals from smoking is a logical thing to do. I do understand how annoying it is to some who do not smoke, but I think that there can be a compromise instead of banning it.
• I do not think that smoking on campus is a problem for anybody. As I smoke outside the wind carries my smoke away. It bothers nobody. The only time anyone has complained to me about my smoking, was when I was to close to campus doors. I apologized and walked further out. Smoking on campus should not be banned.
• i do not think the outdoors should be made smoke free, since i smoke outdoors at home also!
• I do not think we should support harmful life-style choices in the least.
• I do not understand the concept of making the university campus smoke-free when students already abide by the rule of standing 20 feet from the entrances to buildings. I have never smelled smoke when entering any buildings and have also never heard complaints from fellow students. This would be taking away student's adult privileges. If non-smoking students have a problem with people smoking around them, those students smoking will most likely be respectful and move to another location. I do not see an issue here. It would just cause for students to become unhappy. Northern shouldn't want that.
• I do not understand the rationale behind this proposal. The only possibly justification i can think of for this policy is that it will improve the collective health of the nmu faculty and student body. I strongly disagree with this idea for the following reasons: 1) Making nmu smoke free is not likely to make many people quit smoking. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug and smokers who try to quit usually fail time and time again. Smokers will face the tremendous inconvenience of having to leave campus to light up and will consequently smoke less, but will not therefore release themselves from nicotine's cancerous grasp. 2) Smokers at nmu endanger only themselves. Currently there is no place on nmu's campus where a non-smoker is forced to endure second-hand smoke in an enclosed place. Smokers have to stand thirty feet away from university entrances which virtually eliminates the possibility of nonsmokers breathing in any substantial amount of smoke. Why place further restraints on smokers’ freedom? 3)As long as it can be demonstrated that smokers at nmu only endanger their own health (which i believe is the case), nmu should respect the rights of faculty and students to make their own decisions about smoking instead of imposing a paternalistic policy such as this proposal. It is my firm belief that the existing smoking policy is sufficient for any legitimate purpose nmu may have for placing restrictions on smoking on campus. I wish that this survey would have listed the reasons why nmu has proposed this ban at all. If people were provided with reasons for a smoking ban this survey might have been more fruitful as it would impel people who took the survey to think more rationally about this proposal but as it stands i believe that this survey really amounts to a poll of the amount of pro or anti-smoking sentiment on campus. If nmu's purpose for proposing this policy is to gauge student feelings about smoking in order to maximize enrollment (see question 7) then i believe this entire enterprise is severely misguided. The only good reason i can see to construct a smoking policy that severely inconveniences a formidable percentage of nmu's students and faculty would be to protect the health of innocent bystanders, not to increase student enrollment. I believe that a public discussion of this issue would be most appropriate before any further action is taken on this issue. This survey would certainly be a poor substitute for a reasoned explication of the motives behind this proposal followed by an open debate on the issue.
• I do not understand why this is an issue - NO ONE SHOULD SMOKE. We have known this for over 40 years. Moreover, no one should be subject to second hand smoke. If I contract lung cancer, I will sue Northern Michigan University for not enforcing no smoking withing 30 feet of doorways.
• I do not view NMU trying to regulate student behavior as relates to legal lifestyle choice as a positive endeavor. NMU requires all freshman and sophomores to live in the dorms. NMU then bans smoking anywhere on campus. So, in fact, NMU regulates the legal lifestyle choices of its students. I don’t support government entities mandating lifestyle choices, especially entities whose overall mandate is to provide a higher education to this State’s population. I also don’t support wasting money on Smoking shelters. Why? Students would follow the rules regarding how far to stand from entrances if anytime Public Safety saw someone smoking to close to an entrance they fined the person a significant amount. With the increased usage of security camera’s after the lost key incident it should not be hard to start using video surveillance to identify and fine smokers who violate distance rules. Heck, NMU would even make money off that.
• I do not want to breathe smoke. I want to breathe fresh, clean air, which is a lot more likely if we ban all smoking on this campus. I believe it would also decrease our health-care costs and improve our general image.
• I do think they need to do something about the people smoking in the doorways. I dont think we should restict them from smoking in their vehicle. The campus would look alot nicer with out cigarette buts everywhere.
• I do understand the concerns of smokers, since it is legal and their personal choice. Having said that, I feel that non-smokers should not have to tolerate smokers not following the rules by staying 30 feet from entrances, leaving cigarette butts all over campus, and having to walk to class with smoke in our faces. The smoking ban would create a healthier student body. I do fear, however, that it would cause enrollment to decrease. I would rather have to deal with smoke in my face than having to pay more tuition.
• I don't believe anyone is getting cancer from walking by a couple smokers outside on their way to class. Thus the only strong motive I see for an all-campus smoking ban including students' PRIVATE vehicles is to discourage students from smoking at all. This is fascism. It is not the university's job to create legislation that controls the way students make choices about their health. The legal smoking age is 18, so let them smoke. If you still have a problem with it, try to get the age restriction changed.
• I don't believe it's up to the campus officials to tell people whether they can smoke or not. It is our right, as adults, to make those decisions for ourselves. I am personally a non-smoker and the smoke doesn't bother me because those who do smoke tend to do it while walking to class and it's easy to avoid walking behind them. I just can't help thinking that IF I WERE a smoker, I wouldn't want to have to walk all the way to my car in the parking lot furthest from my room just so I can smoke.
• I don't believe that it would be ethically correct to take away a right from someone that they legally have.
• I don't believe that smoking shelters would work. People would still smoke near the buildings. They already ignore the "No Smoking Beyond This Point" signs, and smoke right at the doorway as it is. As a non-smoker, I find this disgusting and VERY inconsiderate. I choose not to smoke for my own benefit, and feel somewhat violated every time I have to breathe in someone else's cigarette smoke. Also, some people are allergic to cigarette smoke or have breathing problems already. Having all the smoke around can't benefit them any, either. Smoking should be limited to private vehicles with the windows up, at the very least.
• I don't believe this is a fair proposal. I'm a nonsmoker, but it just doesn't seem right to completely ban smokers from campus-we've already locked them outside. It seems almost discriminatory, and, while I don't like walking through clouds of smoke, it seems to be a fair compromise to have the indoors smoke free but allow smoking outdoors.
• I don't care if people smoke, as long as they quit crowding around doorways. I hate walking through them, and they're not supposed to be by the doors anyway. Being totally smoke-free forces the dorm students to quit. That will make a big affect on their choice of going here.
• I don't care if someone wants to smoke. I personal prefer a cooler way to die however I have problem when I'm walking up to class or to get food and I am forced to inhale someone else's smoke. Even if they haven't been there for a while the after smell still makes my asthma and allergies act up and it's not fair to me to pay $12,000 a year to get lung cancer.
• I don't disagree with no smoking near the buildings but I think prohibiting smoking in my private vehicle is going too far. Smoking shelters could be a good compromise.
• I don't feel its right to make this a smoke free campus. If you have designated area's, meaning more then just a private vehicle and a parking lot then I feel that would work better.
• I don't feel that Northern's current smoking policy is dangerous or detrimental to the student body at large. Smoking is legal and as long as it's done in open areas it does not significantly affect others. If health is the issue, address many of the choice of fried food in the Den, ubiquitous soft-drink machines, etc.
• I don't feel that this should be a gradual thing, it should stop now. Year after year innocent people are dying because of second hand smoke. I feel that it is ineffective to have the "stand 30 feet from the door" signs. Most of the time people don't follow the rules (I actually had a CA that broke the rule quite often). Also if there is wind the cigarette smoke is blown into others faces, even from a distance. With the rising cases of asthma, lung cancer, second hand cancers, I really feel that something drastic needs to be done. Just as it isn't excused to get drunk on the campus (whether 30 feet away from the buildings or not) why should we keep tolerating something that is causing severe health problems and killing people every year? The answer is that we shouldn't.
• I don't feel that, as tuition paying students enrolled in this institution, it is fair to discriminate against smokers. How is habit any different from racism in the sense that it is, in a sense, segregating and exclusive toward those students that happen to smoke cigarettes.
• I don't find the smoking in front of buildings to be a distraction or health hazard. I think that the 30 foot perimeter is adequate but should be enforced better. We also should fine people who throw cigarette butts on the ground as litter. Beyond that, it is a matter of personal choice and responsibility.
• I don't have a car, and I live in the dorms. If I wanted to smoke at night and the campus was completely smoke-free, that would require me going off campus, alone, at night. For women, that would be an unnecessary safety risk. I shouldn't be forced to put my safety at risk because someone else doesn't want me to smoke outside, when they aren't even around to be influenced by my smoking.
• I don't have a problem with people smoking in their own cars or whatever, but it is annoying to find tons of cigarette butts outside all the doors to the dorms, and to walk through clouds of smoke from people passing in the other direction on my way to class.
• I don't have a problem with people smoking outside, as long as they are are respectful of the distance from building rules. I believe that smokers people will ignore any all-campus smoking bans.
• I don't have a problem with smokers as long as they smoke in designated areas and not leave a mess.
• I don't know if smoke free is exactly the way to go. I think if NMU does go smoke free, starting with the shelters would be the first step and that it is a good idea to gradually make NMU smoke free rather than just saying that's it no more smoking. Smoking is a bad habit, but it isn't fair to those who smoke to be pushed off campus. Do you think that maybe it will have an affect on attendence?
• I don't know the legal issues of smoking in a car with windows up or down while driving or parked on NMU property. Enforcement of the ruling would be part of the situation for both faculty and students.
• I don't like cigarette smoke and so I choose not smoke. That is my Civil Right to make that decision for myself. No, I'm not happy when I'm walking behind someone and then get a puff of cigarette smoke in the face. I wish that the smokers could be a little more considerate of the non-smoking community. However not every smoker is inconsiderate, and so I personally think that it is selfish of other people to attempt to outlaw smoking within the campus. Also just because the University outlaw smoking on campus doesn't meant that people are going to actually follow the rules. As of right now smokers are suppose to be thirty feet from any door. If the smokers actually follow this rule then maybe smoking on campus wouldn't be that much of a problem. And to not allow people to smoke in there cars on campus seems a bit overboard. Also the University could loose a large number of potential students because of this outrageous rule.
• I don't like it when I walk out of a building such as JXJ or the west science building and people are smoking right next to the doors, it's way to close to the building and very agitating. I think it would be fine if people smoked in there cars, but not necessarily with the windows rolled up.
• I don't like peoples' right to smoke being taking away, I don't smoke, but if it is enforced, and people smoke a certain number of feet away from the building, who cares. The inability to smoke, may distract some students, more so than it would smoke bothering non smokers.
• I don't like smoking, but I don't really have an issue with other people smoking. After all, smokers pay NMU tutition as well. The main thing I find disgusting are the cigarette butts lying all over the grass and bushes outside the bulidings. Perhaps we could enforce a law/rule that makes studets throw their butts into the garbage or else they will get a fine of some sort. I am not sure if that idea is even plausible, but it's just a thought.
• I don't like that the on-campus apartments allow smoking inside and outside of the buildings. If there are children living in the building, it is especially harmful. No matter where someone smokes, it is easy to smell, either coming up from the vents or from outside the window or in the hallways.
• I don't like the graduated idea. I think that it should switch over at the end of the year.
• I don't like the idea of "smoke shelters" because it would cost money to construct them. This takes away from the funding that non-smokers could potentially benifiet from. Maybe NMU could get local gas stations and stores to pay for the smoking shelters because smokers bring them buisness.
• I don't like the smell and the health effects of second hand smoke
• I don't like the smokers crowded around doorways, but I also think that a total ban is draconian. You will not be able to "ban" smoking effectively...people will still do it...and who will be the smoking police?
• I don't mind the fact that people smoke. That's their choice. I don't like the fact that often in order to enter a building I have to walk past several smokers's excess smoke. I also don't like that sometime walking to class in the academic mall I'll end up following behind someone that is smoking. It might not be fair to the people who smoke to tell them that they can't smoke on campus, but it's more unfair for the people who choose not to smoke to be subjected to it.
• I don't really care either way as I am a non-smoker and don't feel that people smoking outside is a big deal. I think the smoking shelters would be a big waste of money though.
• I don't really care if its a smoke free campus, just don't have people smoking in the dorms or in classrooms. Its their choice to smoke in their cars and on their way to and from class.
• I don't really have a problem with people smoking on campus, however I do think that the 30 foot rule needs to be enforced, as most people smoke right next to the building doors, right in front of the signs that say 30 feet. Also, I don't really see how it would be possible to enforce being smoke free over such a large area. I'm not sure if being completely smoke free would be the best choice. People should have the right to smoke, with respect to the people who do not smoke. Stricter restrictions on where people can smoke would be a good compromise I think.
• i don't really having a problem with smoking in parking lots, or while people are walking around campus. my only issue is students smoking right outside the doors of buildings, eventhough there are signs not to smoke within 30 feet of the building.
• I don't really see anything wrong with smokers smoking in their cars with windows up or in designated outside areas away from foot traffic. Just as long as its actually followed since the whole 20ft away from buildings rule right now isn't enforced very well.
• I don't see how NMU could become completely smoke free. We have students that live here 24/7 and they should be able to smoke outside (on campus) if they choose.
• I don't see why my right to smoke from building to building is an infringement on any one else's rights- The outdoors is well ventilated and people have the opportunity to distance themselves from smokers if they choose. I feel the rules about not smoking by doorways is sufficient enough.
• I don't smoke and don't think anyone should but those who do smoke should be allowed to do so outside. I think smokers do hurt everyone in general by increasing health care costs and they should pay more of their own Health Insurance. What you might do is have them "taxed." Let them pay for smoking by paying a portion of their "Health Insurance" and make them purchase a pass that allows them to smoke outside on campus, otherwise they must go off campus to smoke. I think going completely to a smokeless campus with no options will hurt enrollment at a time when we do not want to have enrollment problems.
• I don't smoke and have never smoked, but I'm concerned about the economic impact of NMU going smoke free. I think it might affect the decisions of future incoming students and will also cause some turn-over in the long run. Therefore, the current rule of smoking a certain distance away from buildings is good. Distance can be increased however.
• I don't smoke but i do think an all campus band on smoking is a very bad idea. You would lose both current and feature students, thus resulting in higher rates for the rest of the students.
• I don't smoke but I think a complete ban on campus is unnecessary and infringes too much on the smokers' rights. I'd say having designated smoking areas would be the best solution for all students.
• I don't smoke but people should have the freedom to make their own choices, especially in college.
• I don't smoke but they have rights too.
• I don't smoke so it doesn't really matter, I don't even smell that much smoke whenever im walking around campus. But I am against smoking so I would support it.
• I don't smoke, and sometimes the smell bothers me when people smoke by the doors - but I definitely think it's taking away student's rights and if NMU became completely smoke free I think it would negatively effect enrollment.
• I don't smoke, but I don't think it's right to completely BAN smoking all together. It is the student's right and choice to smoke and they should have clear, designated ares to be able to do it. I really like the idea of the smoking shelters.
• I don't smoke, but I know plenty of people who do. I don't like smoking, but I don't necassarily feel that it needs to be banned from campus... it's not going to help people stop smoking, it's only going to upset them and raise the rate of bandit-smoking in places that they shouldn't. As long as they are outside... I wont complain.
• I don't smoke. I believe a person that does should be able to smoke outside. The only recommendation is to provide receptical bins for the smokers to put their cigarette butts. I don't think it is necessary to eliminate smoking on campus, parking lots, and private cars. Don't we have enough to focus on without getting into situations where we are trying to govern personal habits. What's next?
• I don't support spending money (i.e. shelters) to support smokers' habits. But I think they should be allowed to smoke in private vehicles with their windows closed (but not in parking lots generally, or elsewhere on campus).
• I don't think a smoking ban is a good idea. I'm not gonna be the one who has to listen to my mom complain when she can't smoke when she comes to visit.
• I don't think campus should be smoke free completely. I think non-smokers should have a choice about being around people who are smoking. A designated smoking area, with maybe a ticketing system for people to violate the smoking areas, would be ideal. Thank you for considering us non smokers :)
• I don't think campus should go smoke free. Smoking outside is not like smoking in and enclosed area. The smoke blows away with the wind. You should be able to smoke outside if you want to. Smokers don't bother me. If someone doesn't want to inhale the person's smoke don't walk past them. They don't purposely blow smoke in someone else's face.
• I don't think I should have to walk out my classes or the dorms holding my breath because of the groups of people smoking. It's disgusting!
• I don't think it is problem with having students or professors able to smoke anywhere outside on campus. Having a radius of twenty feet from main doors that is non smoking is my position on any regulation of smoking. Not at all seems far too restrictive.
• I don't think it is right to dictate the actions of students on your campus. Cigarettes are legal so therefore if you are old enough to smoke, you have the choice, it is not the choice of anyone around you. I can understand if you are confined in a building, smoking is irritating, but outside, it doesn't bother anyone. America is a free country where you can choose how important your health is to you, and what you choose to do with your time and life. People will smoke whether or not NMU says it is ok or not. It is simply not up to NMU to make that personal choice. If you make the campuse smoke free, people will smoke in their bathrooms (or hide other places), or choose not to come to NMU because they can't make their own decisions. If you make NMU smoke free, you have to make it Alcohol free too, because alcohol is just as bad, if not worse, then cigarettes. If you had 'smoking stations' I think they would be utilized quite frequently, especially for the bitter UP winters, and would help keep students away from ventalation systems and such. Thank you for reading my opinion. :0)
• I don't think it is right to force students to go off campus to smoke. However, I also don't enjoy having to breath in someone elses smoke when I'm walking to class. I smoked my first two years here at NMU, and I always tried to keep my habit away from other people. I never smoked and walked, choosing instead to move off to the side of a cleared path, and blow my smoke away from people walking. So long as smokers are responsible, smoking on campus shouldn't be an issue. Providing them with shelters to use in bad weather would probably cut down a lot on any complaints non-smokers have.
• I don't think it is up to the university to decide whether or not I can smoke. I am not a smoker, but I do think an infringement of rights to not allow people to make those decisions on their own. I understand smoke-free buildings, but outdoor areas are not problematic.
• I don't think it matters if a person smokes in their car with a window cracked. I don't think a person should be able to tell another person they can not smoke in their car. America is a free country and a persons car is their property not the property of NMU
• I don't think it would be very fair to those smokers who LIVE on campus to make NMU completely smoke free. I think it would increase students smoking in their dorms, which would not be good. I think the "smoking stations" would be a good idea, so then faculty and staff too, wouldn't have to walk off campus, or smoke in their cars between classes or meetings. People complain about how the smokers don't obey the 30 foot limit on buildings to smoke, which is reasonably, but it also is NOT enforced. I think a smoke free campus would be a very drastic step when smaller steps could be taken to make everyone agreeable. Oh, and there should be better ash trays, instead of the plastic ones that burn.
• I don't think it would matter if the campus was smoke-free anyway. Who's too be watching everyone on this campus 24/7? Sounds like a good idea, but isn't going to work.
• I don't think it's a big deal. People are gonna smoke when they wanna smoke..it would be dumb to not allow students to smoke outside..we come to college for more freedom..we're already not allowed to smoke in the dorms, why not let us smoke outside??? we're not hurting anyone but ourselves. we shouldn't get things taken away from us for succeeding in school...
• I don't think it's appropriate or very profesional to have people smoking outside near the entrances of buildings. From what I have seen, people are not moving far enough from the buildings when they smoke like they have been told to do.
• I don't think it's right that NMU is even considering a smoke free campus. For some of my fellow students it's their only form of coping with the intense work and class load. Let them have their choice to smoke or not smoke, isn't that what America is at war for? Our freedom to choose?
• I don't think it's right to impose complete smoke-free outside. Inside yes and it is already so. Smokers have some rights too! Even though I am not a smoker I don't think we should dictate what others should do with their bodies. Pro-choice, anyone? Make some accomodations - shelters might be interesting, given the weather up here. Let's try to focus on something serious, like the amount of waste generated on campus by not recyling or reusing office paper, and NMU's contribution to glabal warming, or the sulfide mine that will affect people for generations. Second-hand smoke in open air is not a big problem when you are inhaling other kinds of exhaust sputed on a daily basis, including from your smoke-free car.
• I don't think its a great idea to make the campus smoke free since there are a lot of smokers and that could potentially make their choice of NOT coming to NMU for school because of it. I think the smoking shelters are an awesome idea so that they are away from the public doorways and also keeps them warm in the winter.
• I don't think its right to "cater" to the smokers by providing them with shelters, its their choice to smoke and their privilege to accept all the consequences, which might mean standing outside in the cold/elements to smoke. I also don't think its a reasonable idea to have a smoke free campus. I don't think it would be easily enforced as there are already smoke policies in place that are already not enforced (30 foot rule). It seems as though more people smoke in the UP than other places I've lived and visited and I think in a place where a lot of the population smokes, its just not feasible to have the campus become smoke free.
• I don't think parking lots and private vehicles should be part of the smoke free campus. If someone wants to smoke in their car, as long as it's not right next to a building, they should be able to have their windows open. Also most of the parking lots are far enough away from buildings they too should be a place for smokers to go. I think inside and right near the buildings should be smoke free.
• I don't think smokers should be allowed to smoke in the shuttle bus shelters as non smokers are still breathing in harmful chemicals. Parking lots should be where smokers are allowed to smoke, not any where near buildings or shelters.
• I don't think smoking in cars should be allowed either, that will still be something that will be hard to enforce, making sure everyone's windows are up if they are smoking. I think that a lot of people would not abide to this, especially on hot days. I would also like to see this done before 2010, so that many of us who are having a say in this, can actually see it happen.
• I don't think smoking on this campus is that big of a problem. I am a non- smoker and I am actually allergic to the smoke but it does not bother me to the point where i feel uncomfortable. I think that if the campus goes smoke- free, it would be taking peoples rights away because what about people who live on campus but don't own a vehicle to drive somewhere to smoke? Each time they needed a cigarette, they would have to walk off campus a few blocks every time they wanted one and i think that it would cause more problems and it would lead to people smoking in dorm rooms because they dont want to walk all the way for one cigarette. I think that smoking in the dorms could be more of a problem than people smoking outside and with me being allergic to the smoke, i would much rather want them outside smoking than in the dorms surrounding me because they are too lazy to walk a few blocks for a cigarette.
• I don't think smoking outside is a big deal. As long as smokers are outside and away from the building by about 10-30 feet, I think they should be free to do as they wish. Emphasis should be strongly placed to clean up after the trash they produce. Emtpy packs and butts should not be left around.
• I don't think smoking shelters will work simply because people won't use them; as it is, smokers are supposed to stay away from building entrances, yet every day I walk through at least one disgusting cloud of smoke at a building doorway. Hopefully a completely smoke-free campus will be better enforced.
• I don't think that anyone has the right to discriminate against smokers. As a non-smoker, I prefer not to be around cigarette smoke, but it certainly isn't going to bother me if I have to walk past someone outside who is. It's completely tolerable. Our buildings are smoke free, and that should be enough. It would be a waste of time for students and faculty to have to leave campus to have a cigarette. As unhealthy as smoking may be, it doesn't have a negative impact on society as drinking in public or using other mind altering substances do, and is the individuals choice. I do think that regulations about how far from the building you have to be while smoking should be enforced, as many do not comply. Anyhow, that's my two cents.
• I don't think that anyone should be able to tell people what to do in their private vehicles. That's just like saying that no one is allowed to smoke inside their house. If someone pays enough money for a vehicle they should be able to do what they want inside of it.
• I don't think that it is appropriate to coat the entire campus with the policy under discussion. I had been a smoker for years. I am glad that I quit, but on rare occasions I do enjoy a cigarette. If this policy were implemented I support a more structured, and hopefully effective ban for keeping smokers away from building entrances, and providing them shelter from the weather. Also, how would this be regulated? Would smokers be ticketed? Would there be a "first warning"?
• I don't think that it is right to forbid smoking at NMU, especially when smoking itself is not illegal in Michigan. I think forbidding smoking on NMU's campus is a good idea in theory, and would foster a healthier academic environment... but college is at least partly about experimentation and learning how to live as a responsible burgeoning adult, and telling students they can't smoke isn't going to go over well with incoming students. I think, should this idea become NMU policy, we'll see a decline in enrollment; and I really don't want to see the resulting loss in income made up by more raises in tuition. Frankly, I think eliminating smoking entirely is an overly drastic measure when the current smoking policy, the "30 feet away from buildings" rule, is not being enforced. I personally don't care to exit buildings and run into a cloud of smoke, but it's a simple matter of holding my breath until I've moved far enough away from the smoker. NMU is a large campus-- it's large enough for smokers and non-smokers to share, especially since smoking indoors is prohibited-- and we need to at least try to make the current rules work before we seriously consider making harsher ones.
• I don't think that it should be completely smoke-free, but have designated areas where smoking is allowed.
• i don't think that it should include vehicles you should be able to do what you want inside your own car
• I don't think that making campus smoke-free would benefit the college in any way. Students that do not smoke would see it as a positive, but I doubt it would influence any students to come here simply because of that fact. However, students who already smoke, or are likely to begin smoking during college, would see it as a negative aspect of this university and would be much less likely to choose this university. Obviously, this could impact enrollment rates and negatively affect the university. It could also be adverse in attracting new faculty members simply because they are smokers. In the end, I think that if current university rules (the 30-foot rule) were enforced there would not be as many complaints about smoking on campus. I dislike walking through doors through a cloud of smoke because smokers do not move far enough away from the building, but if the 30-foot rule were actually enforced, I would have no problem with smokers being on campus.
• I don't think that making NMU a non-smoking university will make many students quit smoking. It would also be really hard to enforce. I do think the idea of designated "smoking stations" is a good idea.
• I don't think that NMU should go smoke-free, because there are for one just as many smokers as non smokers, and also its a persons choice whether to smoke or not, and when outside the smell doesn't even linger. I think making campus smoke free, our right to smoke would be taken... and just cause a few non smokers dont like it doesnt mean the rest of us have to quit!
• I don't think that smoking in private vehicles should be banned along with the policy. I think a private vehicle is a person's property so they should be able to do in it what they want. Unless they're driving around blowing smoke onto people I don't see a problem with it.
• I don't think that taking away or limiting a students right to choose to smoke is a healthy choice for a university to make. Though I do agree that in order to protect the rights of non-smokers, smoking should be limited to specific areas such as cars and smoker's shelters for those who do not have cars.
• I don't think that there is really anything wrong with smokers on campus as long as they follow the policy. In the winter, when it's cold, the students seem to think that they can smoke right outside the doors. This bothers me because they are right in front of the doors as students are trying to enter and exit the buildings. I currently live in the dorms and I'm near the far end of the building near those doors. When the doors are opened by students coming and going, you can smell the cigarette smoke in the hallway and in my room. I don't think that I should have to smell that in the building and definitely not in my room.
• I don't think that we need to be 100% smoke-free but enforcing the rules and areas that smoking is allowed would be better. It is on the buildings that no smoking can be within 30 feet, but there is always people smoking right outside the door because of cold weather and convenience.
• I don't think the campus should go smoke free but it would be nice if people wouldnt smoke right outside then entrances to all of the buildings. I like the idea of the smoking shelters.
• I don't think the real benefits to non-smokers are anywhere near sufficient to justify diminishing the personal freedoms of smokers. Freedom is important, including the freedom to do foolish things. We don't insist that eveyone wear a jacket on cold days, or carry their books/laptops in something that won't damage their backs. Let's skip this bandwagon.
• I don't think the shelters will have the effect that is hoped for if they are put in. I don't think students will go there so it will be a big expense that won't keep smokers away from the buildings. I think it would be great if NMU won't smoke free, but I really don't see it happening. I think there are way to many people that smoke.
• I don't think the smoking is that bad at all. Its just when they are gathered so close to the building doors is what bugs me. They should not be so close to the doors when smoking. Other then that it doesn't bother me.
• I don't think this is a good idea. Even though I am a non-smoker, I believe smokers have rights, too. And people should be allowed to smoke while at work (outside or in designated areas). Some smokers will not quit. People will take longer breaks, because they will have to leave NMU property to smoke. And, people should be allowed to smoke in their own vehicles. That is their property, not NMU property. Please, seriously reconsider this idea.
• I don't think we should go completely smoke free-- as in including cars and parking lots. The idea of shelter, I think would be a good comprimise. The smokers can smoke away from the buildings, protecting the non smokers, but not forcing to them to quit.
• I don't think we should have to spend money on smokers in order for them to follow the rules. If they can't have enough sense in order to walk the 30 feet away from a building they're supposed to, i hardly think they'll use some sort of a shelter. We can't take rights away from people wanting to smoke in their cars though. That to me would be invasion of people's privacy.
• I don't think you can go half-way on this issue. If you designate "smoking shelters" people will still have to walk by them to get places and, like the current smoking policy where they have to stay a certain distance from the building, they will not obey it anyway. I think we need to be 100% smoke-free so that there is not discrepancy and people are not tempted to see what they can get away with.
• i don't think you should go smoke-free in a graduated fashion. If NMU goes smoke free is should be an instant thing.
• I don't understand how it would be enforced. Someone would get a ticket for smoking outside? Right outside a building, sure, but anywhere? bit harsh.
• I don't understand why there is a problem with the policy now. As long as people stay away from the buildings, they should be left alone. The reason you have a problem with people smoking near doorways is because not only do you not have "smokers huts", you do not enforce your no smoking within 30 feet of buildings policy. If you put up some conveniently placed smokers huts and then actually enforce the existing policies your problems will be solved. If smoking gets totally banned, oh well. I've been thinking about transferring anyway.
• I don't want campus to go smoke-free because I hate smokers or because I want to cause a commotion on campus. I am against smoking on campus because the smokers expect that we will respect their rights to smoke on campus while they won't respect our rights to not have to walk through the smoke. I don't mind walking through the smoke for two seconds while I enter a smoke-free building however. I DO mind that the most common pollutant on campus and most other places is the stupid cigarette butts. It really bothers me that you can find the highest concentration of butts directly outside of building entrances. How hard can it possibly be to drop them into the receptacles near the entrances (which are further away from the doors than the smokers themselves, but still not at the 30 foot ordinance) or carry it the extra three feet into the building and a trash can inside? The blatant disregard for the environment when Northern is pushing so hard for this green movement seems like we continue to take steps in the right direction, but the littering keeps us held back from our potential.
• I don't want to completely smash someone's freedoms, but as a serious ashtmatic, I've suffered through classes because of passing a group of smokers on my way into a building. I think the smoker's huts are an excellent idea as it would keep it away from the entrance and exits to buildings, but also keep the smoke in one concentrated area. Way to go NMU for taking a healthy stand!
• I don;t think the shelters would work, due to the fact no one enforces rules, but parking. Students and professors smoke right in front of the doors constantly, where it is posted no smoking within 30 feet. I would love to see a smoke free campus, but it would have to be enforced. If it is not inforced, there is no point in wasteing time doing survays and implimenting a new policy.
• i dont believe it's a big issue. during spring clean up i was outside for about an hour picking up butts. i am a smoker. i think the smokers should clean up after themselves. if students know you are considering going nonsmoking, i believe the students who smoke will step up and clean up their own mess
• I dont feel like it is right to tell someone they can not smoke outside whether standing on campus or anywhere else. This is starting to sound like a political issue and i am totally against it. I will look into changing university's if this is passed. A person has the right to do what they want as long as it is not illegal and no one should be able to tell them different. I understand inside a building but not outside.
• I dont find Northern being a crazy smoking environment. I think it will end up turning a lot of people away. Its kind of like a discrimination thing where you are trying to say you where you dont except people who do smoke. I dont find it a huge deal i may see a couple people outside every now and then but I have never smelt smoke anywhere in doors or hardly even outside.
• I dont make non smokers be around smoke nor to i force people to smoke that dont want to so who is campus to tell me that i cant i could understand if smoking was illegal but its not if im of age to smoke then who cares. With other crimes happening on campus (we just herd about illegal drug crimes are on the rise) how does the university plan on enforcing the law if we have smoking police running around what is going to happen with the other crimes. I think if you want to come down on the smokers of campus make sure the university doesnt have other bigger issues.
• i dont mind if people are smoking outside of buildings, the only problem i have is when i am walking up the hill to class and there is someone in front of me or walks past me and a puff of smoke goes into my face.
• I dont smoke cigarettes however i support freedoms. sure it bothers me if someone is smoking right next to me but that doesnt mean we need to take there freedom away. if its outside and away from entrances or exits to the buildings, they should have every right to smoke. forcing people to smoke in private car's with the windows closed is simply introducing further ill effects for smokers, i think that would be the worst thing that could be offered.
• I dont smoke, but dont make the people who do have to leave campus anytime they need a little break.
• i dont think making NMU completely smoke free is a good idea. i am a non smoker, and dont really care if people decide they want to smoke on campus. as long as they are far enough away from the building entrances, they dont bother me. i think the main issue is how close they are to the building entrances all the time. i feel that the proposed smoking shelters are a much better alternative than banning smoking campus wide. this should also help lower the number of smokers that get upset over this issue. if they have a comfortable place outside to go, im sure they wont have a problem with using it durring the winter.
• i dont think that smokers should be punished becuase we are smokers. it's a freedom we all share and if we chose to smoke that's our decision not anyone elses. i dont think the university can go from HARDLY enforcing the 30 foot rule (except near residence halls where it is highly enforced) to a completely smoke free environment. it's a bit far fetched. smokers should not be ridiculed for their choice to smoke.
• i dont think this is fair at all because i dont have a car and dont feel that it would be fair to make all smokers go to designated smoking areas around campus because of the cold. also why just smokers why not people who chew tobacco (Dipping), some find that habit equally as disgusting. this is not fair to the smokers of NMU, and this proposed smoking ban is a violation of my rights as an American.
• i dont understand why this would be a problem, considering this is a university i think we should be aloud to smoke, we are not in high school anymore and we are all of age, if we want to smoke we should be able to. it takes away from us. if this was a non-smoking university before i came here that would have highly hindered my choice in coming here. if non-smokers have a problem with smokers (if they are around them) they should tell them to move or they shouldnt be around them. its easy to ask someone to just walk a little further from where they are its not that big of a deal.
• I enjoy the right to smoke outside, please don't take the rights away from a quarter of the students attending this university. I would leave if the campus went smoke-free and I would tell graduating high schoolers to seriously consider not attending a college with such moral bankrupcy.
• I favor a smoke-free campus, but I do not favor of legislating what one does in one's car, even while parked on campus. Legislate litter and smoking near buildings. Smokers have civil rights, too.
• I fear that going COMPLETELY smoke free will decrease enrollment. I think the "smoking shelters" are the best fix for the problem. This way, for the most part, everybody's happy. Non smokers won't have to go through a cloud of smoke, and the smokers can still have their daily dose of nicotine. If anything, this might encourage people to quit.
• I feel as though creating NMU as a smoke free campus will portray the university positively as a healthy place for students to attend. This is a progressive initiative for the university to undertake and I feel it is a step in the right direction.
• I feel as though it is a right for students to be able to smoke freely without all of this hassle. It seems that NMU is making this into a much bigger deal than necessary. I also feel that if NMU does in fact get rid of smoking on campus that there will be numerous complaints and actions taken and that the consequences may very well out weigh the positives.
• I feel as though NMU will lose many smoking students if they decide to become a smoke-free community. I believe this because, although I'm against smoking in general, it is a person's right to smoke. I understand that they should stay 30 ft. away from the door, and I do feel that is a good policy, perhaps those shelters would be good outside residence halls. Yet, I don't feel those shelters would be very useful for those who smoke on their way to class. Plus, I also feel as though stopping everyone walking with a ciggarette on campus would be nearly impossible to enforce. With that being said, I do feel as though someday all smoking should end, I just don't know how well this will work, perhaps I'm wrong.
• I feel as though smoking is a disguisting habit and it is not fair that other people have to endure their unhealthy habits. Although buildings say you cannot smoke within 30ft, people crowd around the door smoking and you walk through a cloud of smoke as you enter and leave most buildings. Why should we have to inhale second hand smoke when pursing our education?
• I feel as though smoking is a right that every person has, and by banning it from campus, including and especially privately owned vehicles is infringing on a person individual rights. If someone chooses to smoke, it is there choice, and administrations should not have a choice in the matter.
• I feel banning people from smoking in their cars raises issues of "it's my personal property" so I'm not sure people would support that as much. I feel that on campus such as outside of buildings is a good idea or giving the smoking shelters. I have noticed in my many years at northern as a student that not many people follow the 30 feet away rule but if there was a shelter this may be followed more.
• I feel it is acceptable to have rules and regulations for smoking on campus and for them to be carried out. Being "smoke-free" on the other hand may make "smokers" feel discriminated against.
• I feel less than human because of this proposed smoking ban. I smoke little cigars and a pipe about three to four times a week (occasionally more than that), out of enjoyment, and I do not appreciate being constantly reminded about how I am endangering my health and the health of those around me. First, I know what smoking tobacco does to my body. I have seen the same health videos and taken HP200 like everyone else. I choose to smoke, and I have also made the conscious effort to cut down on my smoking recently. I do NOT need someone to hold my hand and tell me what I can and cannot do. Secondly, secondhand smoke can only hurt those around me if they choose to be around me when I smoke. Most anti-smokers steer clear of myself and other smokers if they are truly adamant about preserving their own health, or at least, avoiding the rank odor of tobacco smoke. I understand that part of the issue is students standing within the 30ft. no-smoking limit of buildings, to which I say there should be better enforcement, not a complete ban, because people choose not to follow directions. I don't believe, either, that NMU should use student's tuition money on smoking shelters, as this would be a waste of money for students who are not smokers. In closing, if the smoking ban goes through, I ask that alcohol and anything that is caffeinated be banned as well. Alcohol because it is just as bad for your health, and caffeine because it is physically addictive, just like tobacco. If you are going to take away one choice in what I do with my body, my health, and my life, why not take away a few more?
• I feel like if NMU were to go completely smoke-free, as a University it would loose many of it's current students and possibly future students. I myself am not a smoker, nor have I ever been, but as long as someone is not blowing smoke directly in my face, I feel it should be the individuals choice whether or not to smoke. We pay over 13,000.00 dollars to come here every year as students we should be able to choose what we do and when we do it.
• I feel like this is an attack on our liberties as Americans. Now I am not a smoker, and I never have been, but this is how this issue effects me. It is limiting the freedoms of me and fellow students. I just want to know whats next gum chewing? This is ridiculous. I would consider transferring colleges if northern becomes a smoke free college. I do not want to be associated with that.
• I feel like this is taking my rights away as an individual.
• I feel that although it seems like a great idea in theory the smokers oncampus are going to be outraged, i'm in the process of quitting smoking so smoke free to me would be a good idea, but there are still people that are going to smoke on campus even if you fine them. I mean the signs saying no smoking beyond this point are ignored and people light up their smoke walking out of a building. Who knows if it will be a positive or a negative, but I'm sure if serious smokers were applying to colleges they wouldn't apply to Northern if it said "SmokeFreeCampus" but on the other hand there might be an increase of the amount of nonsmokers on campus.
• I feel that before campus decides to completely become smoke-free, there should be amendments to the rules and regulations already in place regarding smoking i.e. 30 feet from the the building, smoking indoors, the grandfathering of smoking in the apartments, etc. After these amendments have at least been attempted and failed, then could I see NMU becoming a smoke-free campus.
• I feel that by making smoker's go off campus to smoke NMU is persecuting an act that is not illegal. By building shelters or reinforcing the 30 foot rule (with tickets perhaps?) NMU would be doing the best thing for everyone. Also, the budget has room for large building plans and renovations, why not a few small open air shelters? The shelters don't need to be heated or even have all four walls...just something to keep smokers and friends out of the worst of the elements. I care about my health, but not enough to infringe on someone else's rights.
• I feel that completely smoke free is very drasic. If a person wants to smoke they should be able to. I think the 30 foot rules should be inforced rather than banning it completely. Try having public safety go around and give out $10 tickets to those not following the rules. I don't see how a smoke free campus will be enforced when the 30 foot rule can't be.
• I feel that converting NMU to a smoke-free campus would be a very good idea. I also think that if a smoke-free campus goes into affect, anyone caught violating the rules should be given a ticket.
• I feel that going smoke free would beneifit the campus. Yes we may lose enrollment of smokers but it makes NMU a more healthy campus too.
• I feel that if people want to smoke that they need to stand outside in the cold. Hopefully the cold weather will make some people think about quitting. If people feel like they need to smoke that is their choice, but they need to respect others health.
• I feel that if smoking shelters were made people would use them in nice weather situations, but in the cold nasty snowy winter days,below freezing temps I can see where people would not use them and smoke as close to campus doors as possible. As an ex smoker, stop the games on campus and quit smoking or go off campus.
• I feel that if smoking shelters were put up, they would not be used, just as the 30 foot rule is not followed. People would complain that it is to far to walk to and it is to cold in the winter. Unless there would be people reinforcing these new rules, nothing will change. This also pertains to a smoke-free campus. If public safety or whomever does not enforce these, just as they don't enforce the 30 foot rule, nothing will change!
• I feel that if some people want to harm their own health that is of their own decision, but when it comes to them respecting those of us who don't smoke, I wish they would be more considerate to just take it to an area where it would not disrupt others. Unfortunately I have not seen this happen, so banning smoking would help contribute to the health of all NMU students and faculty.
• I feel that it is disgusting to come out of a campus building and have people smoking right outside of the doors and the smoke will blow on you when you leave or enter the building. The smokers have no common curtosey for the people who do not smoke. I also find it disgusting the amount of cigarette butts that are on the ground outside of the doors of the buildings on campus. I feel that if the campus does not go smoke free additional regulations should at least be made, with designated smoking areas and cigarette urns around buildings to keep the area clean.
• I feel that it is unfair to make the entire campus smoke free when buildings are smoke free. If people are smoking outside then non smokers should not stand by them if they dont want to smell it. And I feel it is a violation of privacy to even propose that I cannot smoke in the vehicle that I own
• I feel that it would be a benifit to Northern to become smoke free, but individual rights need to be addressed. Individuals should be able to smoke in thier vehicles and in areas designated for smoking. Standing 20 feet from doors is not working!!!
• I feel that it would be unfair to smokers to force them to go to such extreme measures such as getting far enough away from campus to smoke, when it is in fact an addiction that can affect the way they feel and perform under pressures of class. I also think that if you made NMU smoke-free smokers would feel alienated and would violate the non-smoking rules a lot more.
• I feel that it would take away from a students rights. I would like if they did not smoke right by the doors. But in the parking lots and cars do not bother me. I would say at least maybe 40 feet from doors or so would be great. Hope it helps
• I feel that making NMU a smoke-free campus would be a good choice. It would be getting one step closer to making our community healthier. I don`t like walking out of one of the buildings after class and walking through a cloud of smoke. It is that person`s choice to smoke but I don`t want to have to worry about my health from inhaling their second hand smoke.
• I feel that NMU is fine just the way it is. I don't think that smoking outside is affecting any non-smokers to the point where it should have to be completely band. You have to take into consideration the students who live on campus, myself not included, this would be a huge disadvantage to them and may pose a problem with the people who attend NMU or are thinking of attending.
• I feel that NMU should stay the way it is. If a student wishes to smoke, as long as it is withing 30 feet of the building. I see no problems with that.
• I feel that people smoking next to the doors are putting others health in danger. They should not be allowed to smoke at the expense of others.
• I feel that smokers are ok to smoke outside like they are. It would be a cool idea to put up the shelters for people to smoke. I don't really have an issue with it though. People are usually respecting when it comes to other people and second hand smoke.
• I feel that smokers should be responsible where they smoke and take other people into consideration. But I feel that there should be a designated place or limit to where. Of course there shouldn't be smoking in front of buildings. But I feel in a wide open spot there shouldn't be a problem. And yes I am sure if you did decide to become smoke-free then an immense amount of people probably will second guess if they will attend. I can see NMU revoking the smoking policy if there was a big problem. But I wouldn't mess with something that isn't broken.
• I feel that smoking is a very unhealthy habit. However, if NMU wants to take the freedom to smoke away from students, faculty, staff, etc. then maybe a program should be implemented to help smokers stop smoking. Students have many stressors on them academically, finacially, with relationships, family, etc. that many people use smoking as a stress reliever; it is not a very healthy one, but a stress reliever nonetheless. Don't forget smoking is also an addiction that people cannot stop with the flip of a switch. Smokers still need to smoke or else may need help to stop smoking.
• I feel that smoking is an individual choice. I don't think anyone should be told where they can do something that was made legal by the government and is a form of tax to pay for bills in most states. It is the freedom of choice and if people choose to smoke that is thier business. It would be a better idea to give them warm places to smoke in the winter. Maybe designate a room per building and vent it well for the smokers. I think putting a non-smoking policy into effect may drop the amount of students looking at NMU for college as NMU woulod be taking away a thier right to smoke.
• I feel that smoking next to the doors of buildings is frustrating for non-smokers because we have to walk through the plume of smoke to get to class. I personaly feel that if the campus was smoke free maybe that would help encorage students to stop smoking just because of the inconvience that smoking between classes and during breaks would pose. One thing I would wonder is how the school would enforce the smoking ban. I do think smoking infront of buildings should be banned before 2010, non-smokers are the majority and why should the majority have to deal with the smoke to get to class.
• I feel that smoking on campus is not only detrimental to those who do smoke, but also to those who do not smoke. I believe that having a completely smoke-free campus is really the only way to make an impact in this issue. The reason I feel this way is because I believe a partially smoke-free campus would be far too difficult to enforce. Even now the rule of only being allowed to smoke 30 feet away from a building on campus is rarely, if ever, enforced. I have heard smokers say that it is their personal right to be able to smoke on campus, but I feel that it is also my personal right to be able to pursue an education without having to be exposed on a daily basis to the harmful substances in cigarettes.
• I feel that smoking shelters are the best possible solution for all parties involved, allow smokers refuge from wind rain and snow, and keep nasty ashtrays away from doors we all have to go through. Possibly ban smoking on certain "high flow" sidewalks on campus, like the walk up the hill, and around the academic mall. It really sucks walking to class behind a lit cigarette. On the whole, i feel smokers have rights like all the rest of us, i have many friends who smoke and they are mostly very considerate of others, there are certain doors they choose to stand by to smoke that are out of the wind, and very few people use those doors. My feelings of the cost of smoking shelters, and the likly oposition you will encounter from students who dont want their tuition to be used on smoking shelters, is that you built huge gaudy bike racks right outside my dorm room window in VA and you didnt seem too concerned about "non-bikers" being opposed to you spending tens of thousands of dollars on fancy bike racks (i am opposed, and my input was not asked for). I say, you have a large demographic of on campus smokers, including faculty and staff, you would be foolish to completely disenfranchise their intersts.
• I feel that smoking should be regulated but not banned
• I feel that smoking should perhaps limited but not completly banned. Perhaps certain areas could be designated as smoking areas. I think it would be ridiculous to not allow smoking in private vehicles with the window open. If that rule had existed when I was looking at NMU as a possible school to attend, I probably would have chose to not come based on that.
• I feel that the smokers should be able to harm their bodies any way they like, as long as it is not a problem for me. So to ban smoking from the entire campus would be a bad decision for the campus life and faculty. By banning it from parking lots would be a step backwards because it would put more anger into students for the fact that they are not going to go to the parking lot to smoke. Students come to college to be on there own, not to be controled. If you take away the smokers right to smoke, then we loose the freedoms we have as growing adults, because we are not teenagers. How would this decision be enforced? Are the campus police going to write up tickets if we are caught? They have more important things to do than to babysit smokers to keep them from lighting up, because they give us enough headaches with the parking problems. On another note, if the campus was smoke free, that would apply to all the staff as well in which we as students look up to for guidence and teachings. If decided to go smoke free, the campus will not be able to enforce it's decision. The best solution would be to have smoking booths or pavilions built outside away from the doors, so they do not interfear with the non smokers. ---Thank You---
• I feel that the smoking distance from building entrances should be enforced. If the word got around that people are getting $25 tickets for smoking inside of the allowed distance, the problem would be greatly reduced. I have been involved with a similar situation in Colorado. Eagle county went 100% smoke free in bars and restaraunts, and you had to be at least 25 feet from the door to smoke outside. If you broke the rule, and were seen by authorities, you would be issued a ticket/fine. It worked out for everyone. That is my take on this situation.
• I feel that Universities play an important role in the development of its students. Part of developing from an adolescent into an adult, from an average citizen into a highly educated one, is autonomy- being your own person, being independent, making your own choices and mistakes. It seems to me that NMU would be shirking an important duty if it took on a nannying role; telling students what they ought not to do and what they may not do are two entirely different things.
• I feel the smokers should have their designated place away from the rest of the community...maybe an unoccupied storage shed or garage. The university should not consider putting any funds into a group of people who Choose to slowly and painfully commit suicide while endagering the lives of others...especially in regards to the bus stops. I would like to know how the university is going to enforce a no smoking policy? Does Public Safety really have that much time on their hands?
• I feel we would lose an important and valuable part of our student body if we told them they are not allowed to smoke on campus. Smoking shelters and enforced building distance requirements are not only worth the cost, but are also a valuable way to show support for all students.
• I feel, personally, as if this proposed measure is yet another step in a long string of infringements on personal rights. Already smokers cannot smoke indoors, and the so called harm of second hand smoke outside is a mute point, completely unfounded by unbaised empirical data. Far too much is being taken away from the students, in the guise of "being in our best interest", the audacity, the sheer gall to infer that Les Wong shall take the role of parent over the student body is not just insulting, it is infuriating. Let me remind you, that you work for us, a quarter of your student body smokes, and if you do this, you spit in the faces of every one of us. Your blatant disregard for the students is appalling.
• I find being forced to smell a cigarette burning while walking from class to class offensive. I am also concerned about smokers disregarding signs that indicate they must be 30 feet away from the door. Give them an inch and they take a mile. Smokers have a sort of disillusion that they have rights, but as far as I'm concerned an addiction does not indicate rights. What's next? Alcoholic rights, junky rights? It's ridiculous.
• I find breathing in carcinogens very disturbing. i don't care for the smell of cigarette smoke. I also have mild asthma, so when i'm walking fast and get a lungful of cigarette smoke i start coughing uncontrollably. Avoiding cigarette smoke is impossible on this campus. That fact has been the most aggravating thing on this campus. I would very much appreciate a smoke-free campus. it would make my time at nmu practically perfect
• I find it really gross when you are leaving one of the buildings on campus and you have to walk through a big cloud of smoke from students smoking right next to the door. It's rude. Plus I had a class room last semester that would smell very strongly of cigarettes because students would be smoking right next to the building and the smoke would get sucked into the vents.
• I find it very distracting and gross when people all gather around doors to smoke. It makes me walk around the building to a new door so i don't have to walk through all the smoke.
• I forget which state is smoke-free, but I can't wait until more states are smoke-free. It's another way to help people quit smoking. I think that it also keeps those people who don't smoke safe, because second hand smoke is just as deadly!
• I fully support a smoking ban. It is unhealthy and encroaches on my right to breathe good clean air. I also on't beliew smokers deserver special treatment (shelters).
• I fully support a totally smole free campus
• I fully support NMU going smoke-free. I also think there should be some sort of place where students who smoke can go because I believe that there is a large number of students on campus right now that smoke and I'm sure NMU would like to keep them as students.
• I fully support the idea of a smoke-free campus in any light. It's extremely unlikely to ever walk to class or other places on the NMU campus without crossing paths with a smoker in front of or behind you. And on the side, those who do smoke often do not stand more than a dozen feet from the doors of the buildings where there is a sign not permitting such a doing with thirty feet. Thanks...
• I generally agree with the health aspects of this proposal. I agree that restaurants should be smoke free. However, anyone has the right to make the decision to smoke...and yes, there are awful consequences for people who smoke if that's their lot...but I do wonder if totally banning smoking anywhere on campus including outside when not immediately by a bldg. door is going too far in terms of individual rights.
• I get annoyed with smokers standing in the doorways so when u enter/leave buildings you have to walk into a cloud of smoke. Nobody obeys the 30 feet policy. How about public safety start giving out violations if your smoking in front of the door =) They give tickets for everything else!
• I get really bad migraines from cigarette smoke and it is really annoying when I have someone come sit by me in a lecture hall and smell like an ash tray. Also, walking out of buildings to be bombarded with a thick cloud of cigrette smoke is disgusting. If smokers want to kill themselves, then let them. I don't think it is fair for us nonsmokers to have to deal with the second-hand smoke everywhere on campus along with the after-effect of the horrible smell. SMOKE FREE NMU ALL THE WAY!
• I go here because I have to. I would like to quit, and planning on quiting in the near future. smoking shelters are a good idea
• I guarantee I inhale more toxic fumes walking next to busses then I do walking past a smoker. People can't smoke in the buildings already so that’s enough. Also how are people going to enforce this ruling? This sounds a lot like prohibition; it sounds good in theory but it’s ineffective at best.
• I had a hard time with this survey because I have compassion for those truly addicted. Smoking is still legal and I sympathize those who struggle with this. However, it is a true health issue and second hand smoke kills people so for that reason I support NMU going totally smoke free by 2010. Enforcement would have to be implemented, though, or those addicted would still smoke on campus. Hopefully higher numbers of those in future generations, understanding the limitations and stigma not imposed before, will choose not to smoke because of NMU and other entitites taking a stand against this health hazard.
• I had always hoped NMU would go smoke free. I can't stand walking outside after class and my first breath of fresh air is smoke. No matter how many feet away people are supposed to stand they usually don't care. Last semester when the weather was bad, people would smoke under the building to avoid rain. We could smell it in the class rooms, it just made me feel sick sitting in class. Our professor even cancelled class because a few students had some bad allergies to smoke and were leaving regardless. Thank you for finally doing something about this situation.
• I happen to be a non-smoker. I am not in support of NMU implementing a no-smoking policy. The smokers will still smoke cigarettes, just not on campus. College is a stressful time for many, and an occasional cigarette is an anti-stress device. I strongly believe that taking the right to smoke away from students will have a negative impact on the campus. Everyone has their own way of dealing with stress and the smokers smoke. Think how those smokers will feel when midterms roll around and they have those long days full of classes and labs, and the only thing that keeps them sane is the occasional cigarette. How are those people going to act in the classroom or laboratory? Their performance will suffer because they will be thinking about nicotine rather than learning. I personally wouldn’t want to be lab partners with one of those people in a chemistry lab. What if they hadn’t had an opportunity to sneak away from campus for a quick cigarette, and they made a mistake in lab because they weren’t paying as much attention as they could have been due to their nicotine dependency. Our great nation of the United States of America has not made Cigarettes illegal. Smoking is a legal right. If the smokers want to smoke cigarettes then let them smoke. Thank You for your time and consideration.
• I hate being stuck behind smokers when I walk to class. I don't like breathing smoke in but sometimes I have no choice when I'm walking to class.
• I hate cigarette smoke and most smokers do not abide by the established non-smoking areas. If the campus were to become non-smoking I would like to see punishment enforced. I also miss parking my bike underneath the overhang on the side of Jamrich and think that putting cement blocks and boarding up the doors is extremely ugly.
• I hate going to class and having to "smoke a cigarette" every time i walk into the buildings because people smoke right next to the doors. I know it is their right as of now to smoke, but it is infringing on my own rights by forcing me smoke at the same time as I walk into the building is not something i approve of. Get rid of smoking on campus and I'll be happy.
• I HATE HATE HATE walking through campus and having someone around me smoking, and having to breathe in their second hand smoke. I am a non-smoker for a reason!!! I am 200% supportive of a smoke free campus. In conjunction to it, there would need to be something in place to enforce it... because having a rule is useless unless there are negative ramifications that are enforced.
• I hate having to breath 2nd hand smoke when entering buildings and walking to my car. @nd hand smoke does cause cancer and I and my family should not have to be subjected to it. Cold turkey non-smoking policy for campus is the only way to go. Take a stand for the right of having a safe and and healthful learning atmoshere. No smoking on NMU campus anywhere.
• I hate having to smell smoke, but it isn't my right to tell somebody that they can't smoke. If the 30 foot rule was actually enforced, it would make things a lot better I think. I think a shelter for smokers would be a great idea as well.
• I hate having to walk behind somone who is upwind of me and they are smoking cause it causes problems with my asthma since it is induced by people smoking around me like even in resturaunts...
• I hate having to walk through smoke on my way to the doors of the class, but at the same time, if I were addicted to cigarettes, I would want to be able to smoke...This is a tough one...but pleasing the majority (non-smokers) is probably a more progressive, healthier decision.
• I hate having to walk to class behind a smoker and having it blowing into my face for the entire walk. I loathe walking through a haze of smoke to get into my dorm or class building. Smoking, if kept on campus, should be limited to smoking shelters and not by the doorways where other students are.
• I hate having to walk to class behind someone that is smoking.
• I hate people who smoke in front of the doors or who walk by you on the sidewalk and you instantly inhale a big cloud. I dont understand the question about gradually going smoke free by 2010? Either say they can or cant smoke. If they need a smoke so bad make them go to there cars simple as that.
• I hate smoke and hate when people smoke right outside of buildings. It is so rude, because it can hurt other innocent people. I am all for getting rid of it on campus.
• I hate smoking and I hope it is banned indefinatly as soon as possible.
• I hate smoking so Im all for non-smoking on campus grounds!
• I hate smoking. Go smoke-free.
• I hate the smell of cigarette smoke and students smoking right next to the door. I also realize that if the current smoking rules were followed, students wouldn't be smoking next to the door. I think you should simply enforce the current rules more and increase the penalty. If NMU went smoke free I wouldn't complain.
• I hate the smell of smoke and it's damaging to everyone's health who has to walk through or by it to get to class. It's unfair to the non-smokers to have to put their health in question when all they want to do is go to class and learn!
• I hate to admit that I smoke, and am a closet smoker, so I don't smoke in public anyway; however, I do not feel the need to smoke when I know I can't! It is not a hardship to not be able to smoke on campus - and it will set a good precendent for younger people. Don't be afraid to do this!
• I hate to breathe the air when I walk by them. I always have to hold my breath. Smoking is disgusting, and is entirely bad for you.
• I hate to see those who smoke not able to do so on campus, but at the same time we do need to keep the smokers away from entry ways.
• I hate tobacco. Smokers are hazardous to my health, and cigarette butts litter the landscape everywhere.
• I hate walking around campus and being stuck behind someone who is smoking because then I am forced to either hold my breath or breathe their smoke. I also hate that I cant open the windows to my apartment in the summer because I am near the main entrance and the smoke of people outside blows into my room. I think if we didn't go smoke free it would be a good idea to at least put some smoking shelters around campus away from the doors of buildings.
• I hate walking behind or next to smoker because it is very windy normally and the smoke blows in my face
• I hate walking down the sidewalk and having smoke blowin in my face or walking out of our buildings and walking through a wall of smoke.
• I hate walking in or out of a campus building into the path of smokers huddled around the doorways!
• I hate walking into a building through a cloud of smoke.
• I hate walking into buildings and having to walk through the cloud of smoke given off by smokers. Also, during the winter, I have a hard time breathing in the cold due to asthma. When one adds on top of that constantly walking through clouds of smoke, it becomes even harder to breathe. A smoke free campus would cause my lungs to have a celebration!
• I hate walking into entrances when there are people standing out smoking. I think it looks tacky and smells. I hate that the hospital employees are now coming onto NMU property to smoke. It reminds me of kids in high school going across the street to smoke on lunch break.
• I hate walking on my way to class and being forced to smell and inhale second hand smoke. People are adversely affecting my health and I can't do much about it. I like the idea of the campus being smoke free, except for maybe designated 'smoke shelters'. I think it should be a strictly enforced policy. It will also keep the campus looking nicer, there won't be cigarette butts everywhere.
• i hate walking outside from a class, eating, or from the dorm and smell the odor of cigarette smoke. i think this would greatly benefit the campus.
• I HATE walking through a cloud of smoke every morning to get to my classes.
• I hate walking through clouds of smoke to get into the building. I also don't like smelling like it, when I'm not even the one who is smoking!
• I hate walking through smoke when I walk into a building, because smokers are inconsiderate and don't stand the required 30 feet from the door. I think a smoke-free campus will make going to class much more enjoyable for non-smokers like me, and encourage those smokers who don't want to go through hoops just to smoke try to quit. Two of my grandparents died from cancer caused by smoking, so I am a strong supporter of anything that promotes being smoke-free.
• I hate walking to class and having someone in front of me light a cigarette, forcing me to breathe in their smoke. Same goes for the people that congregate around the entrances into the buildings.
• I hate walking to class behind smokers. I also don't like the crowd of smokers around doorways because when entering a building the last breath of fresh air you get is polluted by smoke.
• I hate walking up to class and having someone's smoke blowing in my face.
• I have a allergy to cigarette smoke and this would greatly approve my health!
• I have a friend who is dying from emphysema- of course, it is because she smokes. My mom has COPD from smoking for 40 years. I am against it and I view the concept of NMU going smoke-free as a means of helping to promote the health of the student body.
• I have a heart condition and i hate walking out of buildings and being surrounded by smokers. I am sick of smokers ignoring the signs on the doors about being a certain distance way and then it not being enforced. If NMU went smoke free it would defiantly bring up the class of the the university its self
• I have a question about how you would enforce this new ban? The University, in my opinion, is already not strictly enforcing the "30 foot" rule for smoking around buildings. Also, I'm concerned that the costs of, potential, increased enforcement of these new rules will reflect on tuition costs. How is the University considering paying for these costs, if not from the student body?
• I have a real concern with putting out a message that places moral ratings on a personal habit, albeit a harmful habit. Can we really afford a message that excludes certain people from being acceptable candidates for admission to NMU?
• I have a right to breathe clean, fresh air free from carcinogens which supersedes any smoker's "rights" to pollute our air. They can do it in a shelter or in their car and do the damage to themselves, not the general public. Cancer runs in my genes and I don't need anymore risks especially having to walk through clouds of carcinogenic smoke lingering outside doorways.
• I have always been very sensitive to the smell of smoke. When I was visiting the colleges I was choosing betwen, one allowed smoking in certain buildings. When on the campus tour, we visited one of these buildings, after being in it for less than 5 minutes, I could barely breathe. Less than a week later I had a severe sinus infection. Needless to say I chose Northern, and a lot of my decision was based on the fact that it did not allow smoking in the buildings and I believe making Northern a smoking campus would greatly enhance the campus community's health.
• I have always understood that the safety and well-being of NMU students is the University's top priority. No matter how we look at it, smoking kills. GO SMOKE FREE!
• I have asthma and I am tired of walking through a cloud of smoke every time I have to walk in or out of a building. It is not healthy for me and is frustrating. Also, the campus looks disgusting with cigarette butts all over the ground because the smokers can't even throw their butts in the trash can.
• I have asthma and I find the smoking on campus really repulsive. I do think that it would be nice to have designated smoking areas to be courteous to current smokers.
• I have asthma and smoke triggers attacks for me so going smoke free would be a definite advantage!
• I have asthma, and being around anyone smoking affects my breathing. I believe making NMU smoke-free would make the campus environment a lot cleaner for everyone.
• I have asthma, and cigarette smoke is a big trigger for that. I am also pregnant, and I don't feel that myself and my baby should be subject to another's decision to kill themselves. If smoking had no affect on other people, it wouldn't be an issue, but it only has large negative affects. Therefore, I should not have to be subject to breathing in toxins everytime I walk into a building, because people right now aren't honoring the 30 foot rule and they never will.
• I have been a nonsmoker for almost 4 years now, I don't think that smoking should be completly banned from campus, I think it will affect someones decison on attending this school especially if they have to live on campus and if the smoking remains only outdoors I dont really see how it bothers anyone
• I have been here at Northern for four years and have had many problems with smokers. I have worked in Housing & Residence Life for three of the four years and it seems like a never ending battle because of the "lack of enforcement" on the thirty feet rule. There are multiple universities that are smoke free and doing well with the rule. I do not think Northern would be affected negatively by a "smoke free campus" just as it has shown no change with the "dry campus" rule.
• I have been sitting in class before (in Jamrich), and had the smell of smoke come into the classroom. This was very unpleasant for me, as I used to be a smoker and have chosen to quit this bad habit. I don't believe anyone should have to smell this while in class, or walking to class. If smoke shelters are an option, that would be a positive choice for all of the non-smokers, because at least no one would have to smell it. The campus being COMPLETELY smoke free, I believe, would be the best option!
• I have experienced smoking shelters at other universities, they are a constant source of litter and simply lead to people smoking whever they want as time passes. The university spends far too much money on landscaping and maintenance to erect cancer huts that are ugly, smell, and are surrounded by butts. Please dont half ass this one, either eliminate smoking on campus, or carry on as we are now.
• I have had to deal with smokers on campus throughout my college career. They don't stay as far away as they should from campus buildings and I hate following behind them when walking to campus. Why should I have to suffer because they chose to be a smoker?
• I have heard around campus that something like 60% of students do not want the campus to be entirely non-smoking. Why pursue something that has already been discarded by the majority?
• I have never been a smoker. I know people who are and realize that they want the freedom of choice as to where they can smoke, but with all we know today about the horrible affects of smoking it seems logical to go smoke free. I hate the smell of smoke and seeing as how i chose not to smoke i hate when i am subjected to it against my will. I am fully supportive of a push for a smoke free campus.
• I have never been a smoker; this is my fourth year at NMU and I never noticed a smoking problem on campus. I do see people smoking outside of the buildings but it really has no affect on me. I think that if you banned smoking, NMU would see a decline in potential students. I feels its the individuals choice whether or not they want to smoke and if they are doing it in a manner that is not negatively hurting anyone why take it away. You would deter students from coming; and with countless universities out there they would chose one that would allow them some freedom to smoke.
• I have never seen the "Smoke at least 30 feet away from the doors" rule enforced and that concerns me. If the university can't enforce the current rules about smoking, how can I expect the university to enforce a new policy, which is even more strict than the current rules in effect?
• I have never smoked, but I don't condemn those who do. As long as they are out of general public range, I have no problem with smoking. It is just not an activity that should take place in public except by those who wish to involve themselves by choice.
• I have never smoked, nor do I now. I am not fond of cigarette smoke. Nonetheless, I am completely opposed to this type of control. The odor of people who don't bathe regularly is far more offensive to me. We should not allow this trend to reduce our personal freedoms. Who will be next?
• I have not been bothered by smokers on the NMU campus. However, I feel going smoke free is a positive goal for the campus to work towards.
• I have not found the smokers to be that bothersome. They can usually be avoided without much effort.
• I have quit smoking but my vigor for the rights of smokers could not be stronger. It is understandable that non smokers do not want smokers to be near the entrances, etc., but it is intolerant to ban smoking altogether. Do not let the example set by some cities and even entire states guide your decisions; just because one group does it doesn't make it right, as we all know. If this college truly heralds tolerance then give smokers a place to smoke. An indoor facility with air cleaners would be more than sufficient; a room set aside specifically for smokers. Any non smokers need only avoid the room. If an indoor solution is unsuitable, there is no reason that a detached structure of some sort could not be constructed. Heed my warning, those who smoke and are truly addicted will only find new and more creative ways to smoke inside the dorms if you make it fine-able offense to smoke on campus.
• I have recently quit smoking, however I do not support the campus going smoke free anytime. If anything have designated smoking only sections around, or like previously in the dorms there was a smoking room on the 3rd floor.
• I have seen the use of smoking shelters used on other campuses and they, in general, do not seem to work.
• I have to say that excluding smokers from anything is discrimination.
• I have to say that the smokers that come from Marquette General Hospital because they're smoke free is disgusting. I'm so tired of having smoke blown at my face. I don't mind smoking on campus but smoking in pedestrian/public areas is getting real old. I also think if smoking continues to be allowed, the University should purchase more cigarette butts depositories.
• I have VERY mild asthma, in fact it is almost never a problem--except when I have to walk to class behind a smoker. It makes me choke, hack, and cough for up to an hour afterwards, even if I am breathing in the smoke for only a few minutes. If I even get a whiff of cigarette smoke, I usually walk faster or even run to get in front of the smoker in front of me, as I just can not breathe well. I am very strongly in support of going smoke-free because although most people don't have asthma on campus, second-hand smoke is a major health problem and it is unavoidable if people have to breathe it in while going to class.
• I haven't smoked for several years, and I don't like second handsmoke--but students should be allowed to smoke outside, away from building entrance and in private cars with windows rolled down. Yes, smoking shelters are good, if they are not trashed.
• I highly disagree with any form of smoking ban. We, as adults, have a right to smoke. To eliminate smoking on campus would do nothing more then get more students tickets. With the burden of a college workload smoking is one thing that can effectively relieve stress and help me continue about on my day. We are already forced 30ft away from doorways and into the cold. This "smoking ban" is ridiculous and a violation of our right to smoke.
• I honestly believe that on paper there is nothing wrong with the current campus smoking policy. The problem lies with the fact that it is not enforced. If public saftey actually wrote tickets (just like the parking tickets they are so good at giving) I think there would be less of a problem. I am all for smoking shelters, all of the smokers I have talked to about this topic agree that it is an excellent compromise. The main reason they don't want to go thirty feet away from the doors is because there is no shelter from the wind/snow. Also I believe moving the butt disposal boxes thirty feet away from the door (not directly next to the door as they are now) would help the situation. People will be more willing to go thirty feet away from the door if they have to go there to dispose of their butts anyway.
• I honestly hate walking up campus behind someone who is smoking and trying to get in the door and holding my breath. No one pays attention to the 30 feet rule. Building smoking "shelters" is NOT a good idea, it would become and eye soar and probably get vandalized. Plus it isn't keeping with the natural look northern is trying to portray. I also don't know of a smoker who likes to smoke with their windows closed, plus it is going to be pretty hard to inforce that. A gradual fashion might work to see if Northern is not getting as many applications, because I know they are more worried about the money these smokers bring in. My last comments is to just to be smart, don't through away money, make sure it is inforceable, and plant more trees!
• I hope that if smoking shelters were put in that they would not be in a place where students walking to and from class would pass by and inhale a ton of second hand smoke. I know that there have been many times when I was caught walking to class behind a smoker and having to inhale the smoke because I could not pass the smoker. I would greatly support a smoke free campus!
• I hope that NMU can become smoke free by 2010. I grew up with second hand smoke my whole life, and I thought I was getting away from it. There is a 30' limit for smoking away from buildings. When I go outside of buildings in cold weather, I am overcome by a smoke filled exit. If you are going to place a 30' smoking ban, ENFORCE IT!!!!! I have yet to see one ticket get written to a smoker for smoking too close to a building. Please take my comments seriously. Thank you for selecting me for this survey. I hope it helps with the cause.
• I hope the survey will give you the needed backbone to move toward a smoke free campus, but in reality this is really a health issue and not simply "What do you think" issue. Thanks
• I just don't understand how you would enforce it anyways do to the fact that you don't enforce the 30 feet rule. I live in the Norwood apartments and i stand out further by the end of the side walk i know it is not 30 feet, but every day i see people standing up against the pilers right outside the door. So i guess my question to you is if you cant make people stand 30 feet from the door how are you going to stop them from smoking?
• I just don't want the people that do smoke think that they have to change schools or quit smoking because of the campus policy. If there is some way to make the smoking boxing I think that it would work out well, but that doesn't mean they will automately stop smoking when they are walking to and from class.
• I Just dont like them smoking by the doors.
• I just find that if smokers were more considerate of non smokers, such as leaving their butts on the ground, smoking near doorways and smoking on the way to class where it is impossible to avoid breathing it in, I would not feel so strongly about the issue.
• I just want to get the smokers away from the doorways. You have to walk right through their smoke and I do not want to be forced to breathe in second-hand smoke.
• I just want to say I know there a lot of people who smoke on campus.....but I also know that Marquette is one of the first cities to go smoke free in public buildings such as resturants and even bars now.....It would be nice for a cleaner enviorment such as less cig. butts laying around and less smoke blowing in your face when you enter or leave the residence halls....that is one problem I see with smoking as of now....I dont mind of people smoke...its just better if there was a certin area to do it in...meaning away from building including the residence halls.....
• I know it is a difficutly decision if campus should be smoke-free or not but it isn't just the smokers that will be affected by the final decision. You have to think about those that are affected by the smoke when they walk by the smokers.
• I know my opinion may seem biased because I do smoke, but I don't see the need to make NMU a smoke-free campus. Smoking is already prohibited in all of the buildings. Therefore, non-smokers are not forced to be surrounded by second-hand smoke unless they choose to be when they are outside. I think a better course of action would be to enforce the 30 foot rule that is already in place to prevent smokers from smoking close to the buildings.
• i know smoking by the doors is a problem but all we smokers need is a sheltered place, i try and be respectful when smoking but a smoke free outside violates my rights.
• I know smoking is bad for people's health and I'm grateful that there is no smoking inside public buildings. However, people still have the right to smoke and to ban smoking on a public campus where people pay a lot of money to attend is taking away their personal liberties. So as much as I don't like smoking, I still don't think it would be right to ban it completely. People should be allowed to smoke outdoors.
• I know that a lot of students (including me) smoke as a way to help to deal with stress, especially during exams. I also know some professors who smoke on campus. I think that making the campus smoke free would be a big mistake.
• I know that it is perfectly acceptable for NMU to be a smoke-free campus and I love that NMU might be smoke-free. Hospitals, schools/universities, and other institutions have gone smoke-free, and although people complain, I think it's for the best. How will this be regulated though? Even now I see smokers right next to the doors of the buildings, clearly violating the 30 foot rule. Are there any ideas of how to monitor smoking? Maybe having "undercover" Public Safety people on duty. They could be dressed like a regular student, but approach smokers in a friendly fashion and ask them what their name is (write it down) and then announce that they're violating new University rules and report them. But will something like that even work? I think that smoking shelters is a stupid idea--why should money be used (something new built) for a group of people's bad habits? There are more important ways to use our money on campus. If smoking shelters are built, I definitely won't be seen anywhere near them, if I can avoid it. My concern is that students and faculty will drive off-campus to smoke (rather than walk). Since I advocate strongly for a green campus, I love the idea of being smoke-free, but hate the idea that extra driving is a possibility.
• I know that smoking is harmful not only for the smoker, but those around them. But, I feel since we are smoking outside, and keeping 30feet from all doors and windows, I see no problem why we cannot continue with our smoking ways as they are. We have our rights too.
• I like NMU, it is beautiful here. I also love to outdoors, that is a big reason why I came here, but I love to smoke while in the outdoors. Also it is ridiculous for students having to walk off campus to enjoy a smoke.
• I like the concept of a smoke-free campus. I think that the support necessary to move forward with this initiative is present. However, I wonder how enforcement of such a policy would be/could be managed... Also, what is the impetus for such an initiative? Thank you.
• I like the fact that NMU is thinking about being a smoke-free campus.
• I like the idea most of all because it would eliminate the cigarette butts that are littered around the building. Last year a friend and I raked around Hunt Hall (in the spring) to help dispose of them, it was disgusting how many people don't use the "outside ash bins".
• I like the idea of a smoke free campus because I don't enjoy walking out of buildings into a cloud of smoke all day long. I also don't think that telling people they can't smoke in their vehicles it a good idea either. I think you could make just a few designated smoking areas on campus (not smoking shelters though) and really enforce that people use only these areas or issue them tickets or put something in the student handbook about it that would allow you to write up those people who didn't listen.
• I like the idea of a smoke free campus but it is understandable that it is hard to accomplish. I would be nice just to walk to class without having to walk behind every smoker on campus. also the entry ways in to VA always smell of stale smoke. It is awaful. So the smokers hut is also a great idea.
• I like the idea of a smoke free campus, but about private cars: I vote against the idea of people being able to smoke in their cars only if the windows are up because it is even worse to smoke in a closed in area with no ventilation. Also, I'm not a smoker so a smoke free campus would not affect me, but I'm thinking about smokers. I hate it, can't stand the smell of it, but smokers shouldn't be banned. Perhaps we should work on stricter enforcement of the 30 foot rule first. I believe that would be more fair.
• I like the idea of a smoke-free campus in theory, but wonder how realistic and practical it is. Who will enforce it and how? Will there be smoking police? At what cost?
• I like the idea of banning smoking on campus all together, but I know that lots of other people wouldn't, therefore it seems a little unlikely. Even if smoking was banned except for a few small smoking "shelters," that would be a grave improvement and I support this 100%.
• I like the idea of having designated areas for smokers only. I used to smoke and have chosen to quit on my own over a year ago. I would like to see areas right in front of the doors smoke free..it stinks and is not good for our health.
• I like the idea of keeping smokers away from the doorways to the buildings.
• I like the idea of seperate shelters for smoking. I don't think there would have to be many of them. Students are moving from place to place all day and would come across one if they needed to smoke.
• I like the idea of smoke-free all together, but the idea of shelters for smokers seems like a good idea too. Even though I won't be here in 2010, I would be glad to know I made an influence to change the policy.
• I like the idea of the smoking shelters, my father works for an energy company and they went smoke free except for certain areas that were marked off with cones, at least a shelter will keep the smokers warmer and dry. I feel that there may be many negative comments about this idea but I believe that if there were plenty shelters built and it was enforced to smoke in these the rest of campus would be able to breath easier.
• I like the idea to ban smoking on campus, but we can't just abandon smokers. NMU should offer smokers education and options to help them quit. NMU also needs to do a better job of enforcing the current 30 foot rule.
• I like the smoking shelter idea. It would make it so that you don't have to stand next to the building for shelter from the wind forcing those entering and leaving the buildings to put up with the smoke. In a place as cold and windy as as it is here the only way you are really going to be able to enforce people not smoking within the distance around the doors in winter is to have some kind of shelters for them. It would also make it easier to control where smoking occures. The shelters wouldnt have to be fancy all they would need to do is block the wind, snow and rain. If these shelters were built it would make the people smoking on campus not nearly as big of an issue.I understand the complaints from students and faculty on campus about the people smoking around entrances and that kind of thing but I believe the smoking shelters would solve most of these problems. The people who live in the dorms and other on campus housing and smoke would have to walk a ways oto get off campus so they could smoke. This would probably cause people from throughout the surroundig community to complain because the students would not have any where to put the cigaretes so they would most likely wind up throwing them in people's yards, on the sidewalk, and in the street. Northerns nieghbors probably wouldnt like the students constantly stand ing outside thier houses either, let alone the fact that thier nieghborhoods sudenly smeling quite heavily of smoke. For these reasons I think Northern should not go smoke free because it would only cause more trouble than good. Overall I think that the smoking shelters are a good idea and the best option, it is definetly somthing that NMU should look into having on campus.
• I like the U.P. of michigan for its fresh air, and when walking on campus, all you smell during your walk is usually Cigarette Smoke. It's disgusting.
• I like to have a cigarette after class. Please do not make the campus smoke free!
• I live in the on-campus apartments and I find it extremely rude when other residents step outside the door and smoke. When my window is open my apartment eventually is filled with the smell of smoke. Not very pleasant for me.
• I live on the first floor next to a door. Smokers constantly smoke right outside the door and it blows into my window.
• I live on the third floor of Halverson and when my window is open I sometimes smell smoke like with someone smoking right outside the doors. If there was no smoking on campus this wouldn't be happening at all
• I live upstairs of an oncampus apartment, the people that live downstairs from me smoke in there apartment. The smoke comes up into our apartment from under the sinks. I dont think that I should have to smell there smoke in my apartment, there for I think the camus should be smoke free.
• I lived in Hunt Hall from 2002-2004; there the smoking room was looked down upon. Many of the students up on the third floor (where the smoking room was installed) were non-smokers and did not like the fact that their hallways “always” smelled like smoke. I think the solution to the problem is very simple. Up until 2003, smoking residents were allowed to smoke in their rooms as long as they had their suite-mates consent. REINSTATE THE RULE: On resident applications the section that addresses smoking preferences asks if you 1. Do you Smoke? 2. Would mind living with a smoker? and 3. Would you like to live in a smoking hall or a smoke free hall? Current residents and future residents can fill out their preferences. Students who smoke can be placed up on the third floors of Hunt, Gant, Halverson, West, or Spooner Halls where smoking will be permitted in the rooms, just as previous years have allowed. Smoking residents who apply for a smoking room and cannot get one would then be placed in one of the halls with smoking rooms, therefore being able to go upstairs and have a cigarette in a warm, sheltered area instead of being thrown out in the cold or rain. This solution costs Northern no additional money and will make campus a cleaner, happier place.
• I love the idea of a smoke-free campus. My only fear is that this will harm enrollment. If this seems like it would be a problem, I would like to see smoking shelters. Right now the 30 feet away from buildings is not enforced. I often avoid certain doors so I don't have to walk through the smoke. But I still end up smelling it all the way up the stairwell in the dorms, and even in my room when my window is open. A smoking shelter is a clear spot for smokers, and smokers do not have to estimate where to stand if they follow the rule at all. If shelters are built, I would like to see tickets being given out to people smoking elsewhere. The money from the tickets could then be used to go towards the cost of the shelters. At the very least the 30 ft. rule needs to be enforced and tickets need to be handed out to those who do not stand back 30 ft. I applaud the University for looking into this issue.
• I love the idea of NMU being a smoke-free campus, but I don't think it would be such a problem if the rules we already have in place were enforced. Smokers routinely smoke within the no-smoking zone, because they know they won't be reprimanded for doing so. Whatever is decided upon needs to be fully enforced.
• I love the idea of NMU going smoke free (even in closed cars) but I have a problem with the idea of the campus regulating what I can and can't do in my car. Seems like the beginnings of a police state.
• I love the smoke Free initiative going across the nation in bars and places of work: However it would be nice if smokers would just choose not to smoke on there own since they are ingesting a poison. But since 2nd Hand smoke is also a killer, those of us who choose to keep as healthy as body as possible are now affected and should not be in a public place and have to tolerate another person's bad choice. I think that if you are going to do it - go the " cold turkey" route. Smoke Free starting Fall semester 2008, or this summer. Don't progress, rip the band aid off.
• I may not only be speaking for myself but for others. But i know when i am around people who smoke it is hard for me to breathe.
• I often find myself having to hold my breath when I enter or leave a classroom building, because there are so many people standing by the doors smoking, and I have asthma.
• I often have to take my baby with me when I am running errands around campus. I find it disgusting that she has to breathe in that smoke when people are smoking right outside the buildings. Making NMU a smoke-free campus would be beneficial to everyone, even those not attending.
• I only see smoking a problem when people smoke right as they are walking out the doors in jamrich and such, they should have to stand farther away from the building.
• I personally believe that a lot of people would be happy to see northern go completely smoke-free. It would keep students more healthy. Students wouldn't have to worry about avoiding the smoke when entering buildings on campus.
• I personally believe that it would be a waste of time and money to try to make NMU a smoke-free campus. I don't believe it would even make a dent in making people stop smoking on campus. They will do it anyway. They will break the rules, just like the consumption of alcohol on campus. Also, if they are really addicted and not willing to quit for themselves, they are not going to care about the university. Smoking is an individuals choice, don't make it for them. One thing that I feel NMU should do for the smokers is to purchase and set up cigerette trash bins. I don't support smoking. I have had two VERY close family members pass away in 2007 because of lung cancer. But, making NMU smoke-free is just going to stir up angery thoughts and probably even cause a loss in the number of enrolled students.
• I personally do not care either way, but you have to think...we already make "them" stand outside in -20 degree weather isn't that enough punishment for being a smoker?
• I personally do not mind if student choose to smoke on campus. NMU is very supportive with situations in the dorms, offering tobacco free halls. I would however like to see smokers obey the rule that says they must be 30 feet from a doorway. I often see people standing within 5 feet of a doorway smoking. I honestly believe that should be grounds for a ticket from public saftey (even if its only 2$).
• I personally do not smoke, however I have friends who do. These "smoke houses" would cost the campus too much money and would be an inconvenience to those people who have to constantly walk to and from their dorms to reach them. The most the campus should do is better enforce the 30ft from buildings smoking restriction. It's one thing to help non-smokers by preventing second-hand smoke, it's quite another to tread on the rights of smokers.
• I personally do not support smoking, and would like to be able to walk into a building without having to walk through a cloud of smoke from the various people outside smoking. I have also noticed that many people do not take advantage of the ashtrays outside, and there are always cigarette butts on the ground.
• I personally feel that something needs to be done about the smoking problem before 2010. This issue needs to be resolved ASAP! I feel that outside of Jamrich; the building where I have the majority of my classes (as well as most students). I cannot walk into or out of the building without walking into a could of smoke. I feel that people generally ignore the situation to avoid confrontation and there needs to be some sort of penalty for breaking the 30 foot rule that already in place. If the 30 foot rule was followed by everyone on campus there would be no need to go completely smoke free!
• I personally hate having to walk through a doorway on campus and be required to hold my breath to refrain from inhaling the smoke of fellow students and/or staff. Though signs are posted, I have never seen anyone smoking more than 30 feet away from the doorway. I also hate seeing cigarette butts littering the campus, especially near residence halls. I think that NMU going smoke-free would be an enormously positive action and would benefit all students and staff equally. Smoking is dangerous to not only those who participate but also innocent bystanders and passerby as well. I am sincerely glad that NMU is considering a smoke-free campus and hope that it finds enough support to carry though.
• I personally hate walking past smokers when entering buildings at NMU. I feel that a non-smoker, such as myself, should not have to walk through a cloud of smoke and then smell like smoke when entering a classroom! There is a reason I don't smoke and as a result I should not have to be constantly exposed to something that I choose not to do. By NMU going smoke free or partially smoke free, such as allowing smoking in closed vehicles or providing shelters well away from the main walk-ways, it demonstrates how NMU is concerned about the safely of their students and the environment we are exposed to. I am proud to attend NMU knowing that the school is striving to improve the lives and environment for all of their students. The change will be difficult, but it can be done.
• I personally hate walking to classes behind a smoker because not only are they exercising their right to smoke, but they are making the choice for me as i walk behind them breathing in the second hand smoke. I don't mind if people smoke, but they should do it where it doesn't btoher those who have made the choice not to!
• I personally have never smoked and never will. The smell of smoke has always annoyed me. As much as I think there should be no smoking on campus, I think there should be designated areas for them to smoke. I do not support smoking, but I also know that going without a cigarette can be difficult for smokers for long periods of time. I'm glad we are considering a smoke-free campus, it shows a lot of concern for the student and staff!
• I personally love the idea of no smoking at the university. However, I feel that it could prevent others from coming here and negatively impact enrollment.
• I personally think it would be great to have the campus smoke free because even though building doors say no smoking within so many feet, people are still rude enough to still smoke right outside the door. And as someone who is allergic to cigarette smoke, I would see this as a great move to make. The only side I'm unsure of, is how to prevent people from continuing to smoke on campus. How would they be stopped and how would they be punished?
• I personally think that additional regulations against smoking are unnecessary. Occasionally, I smell a whiff of tobacco when I am outside, but it is never a very strong odor. I think that smoking shelters are a good idea, but simply designating a location as a smoking area would be more cost effective. Still, I am not bothered by the level of smoking on campus, and I don't think it is a problem worth spending money on.
• I personally would see a smoke-free campus at NMU as a good thing. However, I know that the number of smokers on campus is a significant figure and in my opinion a smoke-free campus would probably anger many people and deture some from coming/remaining here. I think stricter enforcement of the 30 feet rule would be great, and maybe harsher penalties for disregarding this policy.. but some of the other measures seem a little extreme to me. Lastly, the smoking shelters seem unnecessary and probably costly.
• I previously attended Delta College, and they recently went to a completely tobacco free campus, and every one of the students that was addressed about the issue was very supportive about it, and I believe that NMU students will be the same way. I don't think it's right that people should be exposed to smokers if they don't want to be.
• I purpose that fast food be eliminated from campus because it is more of a health concern than smoking.
• I quit smoking about 8 months ago and i think its just not right to make campus a smoke free enviroment
• I quit smoking over a year ago and I would love to see tobacco companies go under. However, I don't think it would be right to keep people from smoking in their own vehicles, or out in parking lots. I do support doing away with smoking elsewhere on campus and I do not like the idea of smoking shelters. More people will quit if they are forced to stand out in an unprotected parking lot to smoke in the dead of winter. It certainly played a part in my decision to quit. Smoking near school buildings needs to end right now! It stinks. Thank you.
• I realize that smoking is a freedom expressed by those who choose to do so, but it is also something that is very harmful to the people that surround them. The worst feeling one can have is, while walking across campus to get to class, getting stuck behind a slow-walking smoker and having their disgusting cigarette smoke clouding around you. I have found myself on numerous occasions literally holding my breath while walking behind a smoker as to not breathe in their second hand smoke. I do not want anything like that in my lungs, and I know there are a great amount of people that feel the same way. Northern Michigan University has a beautiful campus, but with all the smokers throwing their butts about has a declining effect on the natural beauty we here possess. We should work to make Northern Michigan University a little more natural and put a ban on on-campus smoking. And if there is someone who can’t stand to go a few hours or so without a cigarette, then I would assume that is something that person as an individual needs to work on, and let the rest of us keep our health.
• I realize that some students and faculty are bothered by smoke, but by banning it from campus altogether isn't the best idea. I'm sure there will be a lot of people that drop out, and NMU will be overlooked by many smokers in the future. There's no reason why we should have to take a walk or a drive off campus to have a cigarette. By banning smoking from property, there will be a lot of angry smokers, and a lot of happy non-smokers, which to me doesn't seem fair. Take away their alcohol! See how they like it. The idea of a smoking shelter isn't bad, but to be honest, I think it would be inconvenient. How many of these proposed shelters would be put up? There are lots of entrances to lots of buildings that people come out of wanting a cigarette break. If anything, to keep everyone happy, NMU just needs to enforce the 30ft from building policy. Put up more of those signs! I see lots of entrances that don't even have a sign. Get one up on every doorway. Put one of those official cigarette buckets (I'm not entirely sure what they're called, but it has a long neck) stationed 30 ft. from all doorways. I think the cost of buying a few dozen of those would be a lot less than building shelters around campus.
• I realize this is a emotionally tense issue, but I would like to point out that I have yet to hear a factually based argument about why we should NOT go smoke-free? I appreciate the extensive consideration going into this issue from Dr. Wong and ASNMU, but at some point, we just have to act to make NMU a place where we can all grow in a healthier environment. I do feel as though the phasing in option poses too many 'I didn't know I couldn't smoke here' issues and could only further agitate the problem.
• I really don't like it when I walk out of a building into a cloud of smoke. Plus I am sick of seeing all of the butts from the cigarettes all over the ground. I could see making some sort of shelter for people to smoke as some sort of temporary improvement, as long as there was adequate places for the disposal of litter. I would,however, long term like to see NMU as a smoke-free campus.
• I really don't mind the smoking. I have gotten used to it quite a lot. I think that the no smoking within a 30 foot range from all doors rule needs to be more enforced but with all honesty I don't have a problem with the smoking at all.
• I really feel that the government shouldn't have the right to ban or restrict smoking in an open place where it doesn't harm others, and as Northern is a government funded public school I don't believe that it is right to ban smoking on campus. Banning it will only cause more trouble and cost money to enforce if done.
• I really hate getting caught walking behind someone with a cigarette, as I'm allergic to the smoke. I would love having a smoke-free campus.
• i really hate the smell of smoke and it can give me a headache really quickly.
• I really hope we can end the smoking on campus. Or atleast really enforce the rule of 30 feet from the buildings, because I see people everyday people are next to the doorway and when you walk in you breath in that somke...considerd 2nd Hand smoke. Please do all that you can to end this!!
• I really like the smoking shelter idea, I hate when I am going in to jamrich and people are smoking right by the door.
• I really support having designated "smoking" areas that us non-smokers would not have be around if we chose not to.
• I really support NMU going smoke free. I am a non smoker and I do not enjoy being bombarded by clouds of smoke when I walk near a building. This morning I was walking towards my class, against the wind, and apparently the guy in front of me was smoking because I got a face full of smoke as I was walking to class. I did not enjoy this, and I never enjoy when that same type of thing happens. I would be very happy if NMU went completely smoke free.
• I really think that NMU could focus their efforts on more productive issues. I have been more distracted by students using cell phones on campus than by students who smoke outside and/or in their cars. However, I would support NMU placing proper disposals for cigarette butts outside entrances. Thank you for your time.
• i really think that the university should consider making smoking shelters on campus...that way it benefits both smokers and non-smokers.
• I really think that there should be smoking shelters in which that would be the only spot you can smoke. I don't like the smoking, but I also have respect for those who have been able to smoke in the past, so I think a complete removal of it is a little harsh. However, if a phase out plan was used, I would be supportive of that because that way we could see what people's reactions are to the changes on a more gradual and more "fixable" level. In general though, I am pretty neutral on the matter, however, I can not stand the ineffective policies that are currently in place that do not clearly define the "30 feet" rule. Smokers can stay, but we have to find a way to get them AWAY FROM THE DOORS.
• I really think this is going to turn a lot of people away from NMU. I'm not a smoker so it wouldn't directly affect me, but at the same time it seems like the university would lose a lot of money because no smoker in their right mind is going to want to come live on a smoke-free campus.
• I recently quit smoking, and feel it would be ridiculous to make students smoke off campus. You are doing this for all the wrong reasons i assume since you were not telling us the reasons. Peace
• i recently quit smoking, but i think people should be able to smoke outside when they want to, and i know that smoking between classes is nice. i think the smoking shelters idea is a good one for giving people a designated, and maybe even warmer, place to smoke where they wont be bothering other people. bothering nonsmokers should be your main concern, because policies like that arent going to stop anyone from smoking.
• I recently quit smoking. I think the rules should be enforced better about students remaining 30 feet away but I don't think that smokers should be treated like second-class citizens. Maybe some cessation programs and support groups would be a good idea.
• I respect my co workers choice to smoke, but when she comes back to the office after a smoking break, the smoke lingers to my desk area, and gives me an instant headache and affects my sinuses. She takes 2 breaks a day.
• I respect that people do not want to be around second-hand smoke but i also think that people should respect my choice to smoke, having NMU going smoke-free would be highly annoying to student smokers
• I respect the 30 feet rule while smoking. It would greatly influence my studies if I were unable to smoke while at school, I would be thinking about how much I would want one more than thinking about my school work.
• I say go smoke free. Its the way to be!! I'll will support the transition in anyway I can. Good luck on this all.
• I see no need to build smoking shelters and add extra expense which could go to more worthwhile sources. If students want to smoke, they should go off-campus.
• I see nothing positive about keeping the campus smoker-friendly.
• I see smoking shelters as a possibility but realistically I am not sure if all smokers would use them. The rule now is that smokers must remain a certain distance away from buildings but they do not follow a rule as simple as that so why would it be expected that they would stay at an even greater distance. If smoking shelters are implimented I think a system of fines would have to be considered as well. If there are no consequences for not following the rules then rules are ineffective.
• I see this becoming a problem with a lot of the students and faculty because I see a lot of smokers at NMU.
• I smell and here smokers outside my window nearly every night. I think it would be great to ban smoking entirely. Even if shelters were built I do not think that it would change the situation.
• I smoke get over it!!!!! I'm not the only person that feels this way i'm sure of it!!!!!!
• I smoke on and off and am well aware of how offensive the smoke can be to a non-smoker. I agree that people should not be smoking near entrances and exits, but with often inclement weather it is bound to happen considering that NMU has done nothing to accommodate them. If NMU created a sheltered area, or even designated one already in existence for smoking it would greatly help. O course, people are lazy (smokers and non) so the smoking regulations would actually have to be enforced. I don't agree with the closed car idea; first of all, those people shut up in their car will smell worse around campus than if they were sitting on it's hood with the smoke dissipating above them. Secondly, many people don't have cars. There should not be a regulation inhibiting someones freedom to take a smoke break in the middle of their long and stressful day if they so choose. I would say that parking lots and a designated shelter would be best, with enforcement of the regulations for their use. The parking lot sees a lot of traffic, but there is less concentration of smokers in that type of open area and if you would like to avoid the smoke, the space makes it considerably easier. There must be a sheltered area created regardless.
• I smoke on occasion but find it disgusting to have students AND faculty huddled right outside the doors smoking. I can understand the students lack of respect, but the fact that even the teachers ignore the rules should be extremely embarrassing for the university. I don't see adding "shelters" solving any of the problems. The main reason why everyone smokes right outside the doors is because they are too lazy to walk 50 feet. They aren't going to change just because there is a roof over there head. All this would do is increase the already high cost of an education. Instead of looking at options that increase expenses for students, try to find ways to solve this problem that decrease costs. Start fining students and faculty that are caught breaking these rules. This money can be used to fund beneficial programs for the university. This "problem" is only an issue because the university knows that teachers and students alike will whine and complain as soon as their smoking "rights" are being infringed upon. A university should not look for ways to cater to a habit that is unhealthy. I know that when I smoke a cigarette that I am damaging my body. I would hope that NMU wouldn't be looking for ways to make my destruction any easier.
• I smoke on occasion, but I smoke respectably away from students. I myself hate it when I just leave class and exit a building and then I have to hold my breath because smokers loiter outside the door. I try and be an example by not smoking near the campus buildings.
• I smoked for about 6 months while here at NMU. Although I have quit smoking, I think that it is not right for NMU to be entirely smoke free, including all outdoors and private vehicles. I believe it is a person's own right to choose whether or not to smoke, and since there is no smoking inside buildings on campus, it does not interfere with those who choose not to smoke. I think that smoke shelters would help with dealing with complaints of those who choose not to smoke but hate walking by smokers entering buildings, considering the smokers stand close to the buildings due to wanting to have protection from the elements in this winter climate. I believe that since cigarette smoking, much like alcohol, is legal for those of a certain age in our country, it should not be a choice that is decided by anyone other than the person themselves. Students residing on campus who are over 21 and live in either Spooner Hall or any of the on-campus apartments are allowed to possess alcohol without problems, and I feel that as long as someone is over the age of 18 and is in an area outdoors or in their private vehicle that they should also be able to smoke, as long as they are in an area where they are not interfering with non-smokers.
• I smoked last year when I first came to Northern, and I believe that the people who are smokers deserve to have the right to smoke if they want to. I don't believe it is fair to ban smoking even though it is a bad habit and bad for the environment.
• I smoked maybe 10 cigarettes in my life before I came to NMU. I can't say that it wasn't a social thing when I got here, but it was a bad decision. Making the campus smoke free will surely influence me and help me to quit as I have been trying to for a while. When I went home for break for a month, I didn't smoke but as soon as I got back here I did. I understand that for some people it is a necessity however as a smoker I would not mind making the campus smoke free.
• I started smoking because I came to college as an 18 year old, not because of NMU. I am an occasional smoker today and think the suggested changes are a bit ridiculous. Smoking in the car with the windows up? Ha. A bit too exaggerated for me. Smoking shelters I support in order to level with non-smokers, though I have never been a smoker who puts the cigarette butt on top of the garbage can, instead of inside of it (if that makes sense). I consider myself a respectful smoker. I don't litter my butts, and I avoid smoking in front of non-smokers. (This type of courtesy, I recognize, does not happen with the majority of smokers, but smoking is a choice and should be left a choice.) I like NMU allowing smoking because we are all adults over that age of 18, and jobs outside of the university do not guarantee a safe place to smoke a cigarette that does not effect people underage. Again, smoking is a choice and should be left at that.
• i strongly disagree with going smoke-free due to the fact half of the campus smokes as well as it would possibly affect people not to attend northern.
• I strongly disagree with making NMU smoke free. I see it as violating the rights of the smoking students and faculty. I have nothing but contempt for those nonsmokers who whine about their rights being violated, and who hypocritically subvert the rights of others.
• I strongly disagree with the way the rules are now. How can chewing tobacco be against school policy, but it is ok for students and faculty to smoke? If the campus goes entirely smoke free, then it makes sense to prohibit the use of all tobacco. Smoking being allowable and chewing tobacco being prohibited is in no way fair and should be changed.
• I strongly dislike having to walk by people constantly who are smoking.
• I strongly support a smoke free campus as soon as possible.
• I strongly support a smoke-free NMU but draw the line at prohibiting smoking to the extent that people cannot smoke in their own cars. I also believe smoking shelters should be set up for those who do choose to smoke. I don't smoke at all, never have, and actually find it a disgusting habit, but, as long as public spaces are not being invaded by smoke, I feel anyone of the legal age has the right to choose to smoke if they wish.
• i strongly support NMU becoming a smoke free campus. It is our right to remain smoke free and students standing outside doorways smoking when nonsmokers walk by are taking away that right. Everytime I walk out a door I breathe in smoke and I do not appreciate it.
• I strongly support NMU going smoke free! Second hand smoke kills. It is also really annoying and gross.
• I strongly support NMU going smoke free. I was shocked by the amount of smoking on campus.
• I strongly support the idea of going completely smoke free with the exception of private vehicles with the windows up. I see it as encouraging those who smoke to continue to build special "shelters" for them to smoke in no matter how far away they are from buildings. Building shelters for them is enabling smokers to continue to do so and contradicts the efforts trying to be made here. I think it is unneccessary to make the smoking ban a graduated thing. If I came to campus next year and there were signs about the new policy and the disposal cans were gone that would be wonderful. By dragging it out over several years we are putting more time, money and effort than is needed. If the university decides to ban smoking on campus then get rid of it and don't delay. We would be chewing up resources for an issue that has been decided on if the ban was on a graduated system.
• I strongly support the initiative as long as students are allowed to smoke in a shelter or their vehicle. As a non-smoker who is somewhat sensitive to smoke, I would appreciate the fact that it would keep people from smoking just outside windows and doors, or in front of me on the sidewalk. However, given the very physical nature of nicotine addictions, I feel it would be downright cruel to students who do smoke to be denied a cigarette even in their own cars. I also feel that the shelters are a great compromise that would better serve the smoking population without being a burden or problem for the non-smoking population. Thank you for your time.
• I support a smoke-free campus as soon as possible.
• I support a smoke-free campus. However, what people do in their private vehicles is not something that NMU should police. A smoking ban would stop people from smoking by doorways which would be a positive.
• I support all of NMU's ideas of making the campus smoke free, however my thought is that it may be difficult to enforce, I mean, now smokers aren't allowed closer than 30ft from the buildings and I walk out of a door and there is a mob of smokers. Making the campus smoke free would be a wonderful idea if it will be enforced.
• I support an environment where a non-smoker can be present without being able to breath the smoke.
• I support anything we everthing we can to to discourage smoking now!
• I support going smoke-free completely.
• I support making NMU a smoke-free campus. I think going about it in a graduated fashion is the only way to do it. This will give students who came to NMu as smokers the opportunity to graduate before the no smoking policy goes into effect and it will give employees the chaance to quit.
• I support NMU being smoke-free, but saying people can't close themselves up in a private vehicle is pretty extreme. Regardless, I don't support smoking. As for the shelters, I don't see a need for me to spend money that I really don't have to fund something to help a negative decision they're making. Fund raisers can be held if people really want them. Although I do suspect that those shelters will end up looking dirty like the Wildcat Express one does (the windows on that appear to be dirty.) They may possibly be targets for vandalism as well. If NMU wants to promote itself as drug-free, then eliminating smoking is a step in the right direction. It's known among students that some people smoke things other than tobacco products around where tobacco smokers stand. Eliminating these smoking places also eliminates those places for drug usage. One other note I'd like to make is that if smokers would continue tossing their finished cigarettes out into the grass & onto the sidewalk or parking lot, then it is acceptable to eliminate it altogether. Seeing all the used cigarettes like we do now is not aesthetically pleasing or enjoyable.
• i support not smoking in buildings but outside and in private vehicles is b.s. and is affecting individual rights and freedoms. smoking shelters would be a good idea however and would ensure the 30foot rule is enforced. what about walking to another class? are you not allowed to smoke unless your in a shelter?
• I support smoke free, but not to impose on private vehicles, whether their windows are open or closed. I don't see smoking shelters as a viable alternative as many smokers do not abide by the 30 ft policy. I think location, expense and potential little use should be considered regarding shelters. I would support smoke free 100% for: interior and exterior of all buildings, and parking lots, but not in private vehicles, whether windows are open or closed at this time.
• I support smoke-free all interior and exterior, but NOT include private vehicles in parking lots.
• I support smoke-free areas where the smoke would impact or potentially harm others. I don't see where smoking in one's own vehicle, without nonsmokers present, fits this criterion. In fact it seems kind of big brotherish. I also wonder about enforcement. I think current policy requires smokers to be 30 feet from buildings, yet many people smoke just beyond building entrances. If a thirty foot rule were strictly enforced, perhaps a campus wide policy wouldn't be necessary. And if a campus wide policy is enacted but not enforced, what's the point?
• I support smoke-free in all buildings, including residences. But away from buildings outside? Wow! Too harsh!
• I support the campus being smoke-free, but I believe that smoking in a personal vehicle should be a decision that is made by the owner of that vehicle.
• I support the policy as it is except that enforcement of keeping smokers away from doors has not effectively been enforced. I don't expect that NMU will make an effective plan regarding smoking shelters.
• i support the smoke free campus but i believe you are taking it to far with non smoking in parking lots and private vehicles...thats not right. i want a smoke free campus but not to those lengths...just not on main campus or in front of the doors.
• I support this effort 100%. In my travels about campus I see very few smoker adhering to the current policy of staying at least 15-20 ft.(or whatever the exact distance is)away from the buildings. I can imagine that it is impossible for campus police to enforce the current policy. Not to dismiss the importance of this issue but there have to be are so many other responsiblities and safety issues to attend to that are critical to keep our campus safe. Becoming a non-smoking campus makes sense for NMU in so many ways. Kudos to all of you for pursuing this initiative!...
• i think a better compromise would be having certain smoking area. Such as certain smoking area, not shelters. For ex. one entrance on the front of west science be smoking. that way all none smokers have plenty of choice as doors to go into and don't have to walk by us. Even though i will be close to gone in 2010 I don't think it is fair to students coming in to discriminate like this. Also with the number of smokers if you are to go smoke free i think a good portion of people might not come to northern because they know they can't step out side their dorm, which you require them to live in for the first two years, and have a smoke.
• I think a big object that influences students to smoke directly outside of buildings is in reference to how near to the building the butt holders are kept. At the dorms, they are on the building, on campus they are in front of the doors. If these things were kept further away, people wouldn't be overwhelmed with the smell of smoke the moment the door is opened. For having 'no smoking within 15 feet of building' rules, this should have been observed much earlier.
• I think a graduated process would make monitoring and follow up with violations of the policy very difficult. People smoking in closed vehicles would come back to their residence hall rooms and classrooms with an overpowering smell of smoke on their clothing and hair. This smell can be as disruptive as second hand smoke. Due to extreme UP weather conditions, I think it would show that NMU was making a reasonable effort to respect the rights of everyone in our community by providing accessible smoking shelters for people who choose to smoke.
• I think a smoke free campus is a little bit over the edge, having certain areas within campus where smoking is permitted with be a good alternitive. This way non-smokers can have the option of staying away from these areas if they don't like smoke. You ought to give students the right to smoke if they want because they are over the age limit, just reduce it to certain areas so they can retain that right.
• I think a smoke free campus would be wonderful but not allowing students to smoke in their own vehicles would be a little over the top
• I think a smoke-free campus is an excellent idea. Even when students abide by the "30 ft from door" rule, it is still unpleasant to walk through clouds of smoke throughout campus. Perhaps workshops on healthier livestyles could be offered, to help those that smoke deal with the smoke free environment on campus. Assistance with quitting smoking would be an excellent resource as well.
• I think a two-year time frame is too long. I've been at other institutions that have managed to go smoke-free in less than a year. Considering that we, as faculty, are often given very short timelines for doing very important committee work, I think this is something that could be accomplished in a much shorter time frame.
• I think as a public University it is important to go smoke free. Not only is it important because its "northern naturally" but other students have to suffer, because "smokers" have the privalege of smoking on campus. Espesially in the on campus apartments i think that they should be smoke free NOW. There is no way to keep the smoke from a neighbors room from completely infecting the surrounding appartments. Especially, as a person with allergies to cigarette smoke.Iit is important that if they have an option to smoke, i should have an option of living in a married housing unit with no smoke, especially when it adversly affects my health, and ability to efficiently study and do work. I should be able to sleep and study and live comfortably in my own home, which i am currently unable to do. Just because my neighbor smokes doesn't mean I should have to, and that is exactly what I am doing now....otherwise, i advise that the university provide the nececary adaptations to completely make rooms smoke tight, or be willing to pay for doctors bills for those who are allergic to the cigarette smoke.
• I think banning smoking from cars in the parking lot might be excessive. I just want the people away from the door ways, so shelters would be a great.
• i think banning smoking from NMU is a very bad idea. People have the right to chose if they want to smoke, and taking that right away from them at this age is not right. we're adults, and should be able to do what we want within reason.
• I think banning smoking on campus is a very bad idea. I understand non-smokers don't like having to walk through the smoke outside the doors but banning it completely is just stupid. Designate certain areas on campus where smokers can go. Tell us not to smoke by the doors. We'll listen, I'm sure of it.
• I think completely banning smoking on NMU campus takes a real whack at the first amendment.
• i think either way you will have made a good choice.
• I think first off the policy or rule should be better regulated by the outside of buildings. The 30 foot area, no one ever follows and no one ever enforces. Start with that first.
• I think getting the campus smoke free would be a nice addition but i think it would take many years to achieve. best of luck
• I think going completely smoke free is a great choice. No matter where on campus smoking is allowed, non-smokers still have to deal with walking behind smokers, walking through a cloud of smoke, or sitting next to someone who reeks of smoke. I'm very sensitive to the smell and asking smokers to take their habits off campus may seem extreme but overall is best for the campus.
• I think going completely smoke-free is the way to go. I hate walking to class behind a group of smokers; it makes it harder to breath and I don't want those chemicals going into my body.
• I think going for a smoke free campus is a great idea and I hope it works.
• I think going smoke free is a great idea however I'm not sure how you could patrol the smokers and where they're smoking. However I think that the academic mall should at least be smoke-free
• I think going smoke free is a great idea! However, I think it would be appropriate to accompany the idea with some assistance for current smokers to quit. Make it a positive thing for smokers also.
• I think going smoke free is a great idea. I am very irritated when I walk into a building and the 30 foot rule is never enforced and I have to walk through clouds of smoke to get to class. Or when I am stuck walking behind someone who is smoking, simply because we are walking to the same dorm/ parking lot. We are here to learn, and shouldn't have to deal with the effects of 2nd hand smoke. I realize there will be students and faculty that would be upset about this policy, but seriously.... is smoking more important than your job or education?! If anyhting, Northern would be doing many people a favor and saving many lives.
• I think going smoke free is a wonderful idea from a health standpoint, and as a non-smoker, I can see many positive benefits. However, as a faculty member in a department already struggling for enrollment, I worry that we may lose precious students as a result. The idea of smoking shelters probably has good intent, but I doubt the shelters would be used given that we currently cannot control students smoking right in front of buildings when signs prohibit it.
• I think going smoke free is important, this isn't a choice issue anymore; this is a health issue.
• I think going smoke free will make the campus grounds less messy. I would be in favor of smoking area's around campus, such as shelters. For on campus living, maybe have one or two buildings that are designated smoking apartments only. For the dorms, keep them smokefree and maybe put a shelter in a courtyard. Meyland Hall has implamented that certain building entrances are smoke-free. It seems to have worked.
• I think going smoke free would be a great addition to northern. The slogan is "northern naturally." It could only enhance the reputation of Northern and the smokers would have to pollute their lungs on some other campus.
• I think going smoke free would be very tough and it would be met with a very high amount of resistance, but, in my opinion, it would benefit the college community by not alienating the non-smokers and also by encouraging the smokers to quit. Good luck!
• I think going smoke-free is a great idea. There are so many reasons this would better our campus. We are suppose to be 'Northern Naturally'. It isnt natural to see all these smokers who really dont respect those who are non-smokers. They smoke too close to the building when they should be 30 ft. away, they dont care if it gets blown in your face. I wouldnt mind if private cars were okay to smoke because that is their property, you really cant take that from them. I am hopeful that you will get alot of supprot on going smoke-free!
• I think going to a smoke-free campus would be a good idea. Especially since some people may be allergic to cigerette or cigar smoke.
• I think have smoking shelters is the best idea that you have. There are just too many smokers to go smoke-free.
• i think having it smoke free everywhere except parking lots and cars is acceptable. I think having a gradual shift to smoke free is not a good idea. it wouldnt be hard for people if you just say NO SMOKING. It hurts that person's life as well as others. You dont need to wait until 2010 what you can start next year. i also do not think people need shelter from the cold. im sorry, they decided to have this habit (one that kills) we should not promote it by giving them a shelter. I agree about the wildcat shuttle ones, but not ones for smoking. that doesnt look very appealing for people touring campus.
• I think having little smoking shelters is a great idea...will keep the smokers away from the doors to Jamrich and other buildings (for example). I don't think it's completely fair to people who smoke to not even let them smoke in their closed vehicles though.
• I think if Northern went completely smoke free it would be discriminating against all smokers. It leads me to think what is Northern going to next??? Ban my favorite kind of pop because pop isn't healthy for me, or tell me how much or how little toilet paper I can use?? I think that it would be terrible for Northern to become a smoke free campus. As a non-smoker, I honestly don't feel that this is in the best interest for Northern. I only say this because Northern would probably loose a large amount of their students.
• I think if our campus enforced the rules already in place, maybe this wouldn't be an issue. Smokers are suppose to stay away from all entrances, but they don't. And they know they won't get in trouble for it, so maybe if public safetly spent less time writing useless parking tickets all day, everyday, and made an effort to enforce the smoking rules (staying a certain distance away from the door.)
• I think if this a goes through a lot of people would leave the campus, but also bring in others. It's annoying when smokers don't follow the 30 feet rule. I hate walking through clouds of smoke to go into any building. I think designated areas would be best. The only problem with the designated areas is that they will be treated the same as the 30 feet rule. I think if the smokers are forced to follow the rules it would be better than going completely smoke free. I do have friends that smoke and I know they would leave if the campus went completely smoke free.
• I think if you don't smoke and have a problem with it then don't go around those who smoke. But Northern need to take into consideration that they pretty much force students to live on campus for a certain amount of time and a good portion of those students are smokers. forcing them to also leave campus so they can smoke is not fair. If other students don't like the smoke then they can avoid it. No one is forcing other people to stand around smoke and walking by it briefly will not effect your health.
• i think if you have desinated smoking area's away from other people that would work also
• I think if you want to smoke you should be allowed as long as you don't bother other people. If that mean we have to build a smokers booth to keep everyone happy when it will be worth it.
• I think is a great idea. Second-hand smoke has a really huge effect on people. Some people are allerigic to cigarette smoke. Many smokers are not courteous of others.
• I think it comes down to personal choice. I choose not to smoke but I am not going to tell others not to and really if they are smoking outside of a doorway it effects my life for all of 2 seconds. If they want to smoke i suppose that they can.
• I think it is a fantastic idea to go smoke free. I am a non-smoker and I am fed up with walking to class through all of the people smoking in the doorways and then smelling like I do smoke. It is gross and I do not feel like getting lung cancer just because people are too lazy to walk 15 feet away from the door. Maybe if everyone was not so inconsiderate about those of us who don't want to smell like an ashtray, it wouldn't be a big deal. However, most people are inconsiderate, so something needs to change. SMOKE-FREE ALL THE WAY!
• I think it is a good idea and could be a way to help many students quit smoking however I feel as if there wouldn't be a real way to enforce it. Right now the rule is you cannot smoke within 30 feet of a building but they do it right in front of the doorways anyway with no real punishment. At Cedar Point where I worked this summer they made it a smoke-free park for the first time this summer. As employees we were supposed to ask the guests to quit smoking. It lasted for about a week before we were tired of stopping every three people for smoking even though there were signs all over the place, it was on the tickets, and in the brochures. I think the same thing will happen if we try it here at Northern. There will be no one around to "punish" people for smoking, if there is someone around they will get annoyed with stopping every three people, or there will be a big rally where every smoker against the new rule will gather in the Academic Mall and smoke to make a statement. Like I said, if it happnes great, if not, it's not that big of a deal. You can avoid people smoking on the sidewalks, next to the buildings it's kind of hard but if your so against smoking that you can't walk through a couple of people smoking in front a building you shouldn't be allowed in public.
• I think it is a great idea for NMU to be smoke-free. While people have the right to smoke, I have a right to not have to breathe in smoke on the way to class or anywhere else on campus. Seeing that smoking is a health threat and not just a nuisance, I see no reason why NMU shouldn't be smoke-free.
• I think it is a great idea for NMU to go smoke-free. Sure, there will be some backlash initially. There always is when people are accustomed to something. Being smoke-free will make it more pleasant to walk in and out of places like Jamrich, since there will no longer be a cloud of smoke to struggle past. Also, I think many prospective students will see it as a positive, and it may even make them more likely to come to NMU.
• I think it is a great idea for NMU to go smoke-free. The health consequences for both smokers and non-smokers who are subject to breathing in second-hand smoke is not worth a few complaints for those who smoke. NMU would be more prestigous if it banned smoking for the greater good, rather than allowing it. I think there will be an abundant amount of support for NMU's decision to go smoke-free, and perhaps it will ultimately give those who smoke a reason to think about quitting.
• I think it is a great idea! I would love to see a smoke free campus as soon as possible
• I think it is a great idea, but you are going to have a lot of pissed off smokers.
• I think it is a great idea. I won't have to smell other people's smoke when I go into a building. And maybe it'll help people smoke less or quit.
• I think it is a great idea. Sitting next to someone in class who just came in from smoking can be distracting because it smells and bothers me. Walking past people smoking at the doors is disgusting to me. I think it is a GREAT idea!
• I think it is a great plan and fits nicely with the Northern naturally and sustainability initiatives. I think the world is moving in this direction and being on the cutting edge with this, laptops, and green living practices will be a good thing when people look back at NMU historically.
• I think it is fine for people to smoke as long as it is away from the building (doors, windows, etc.) I feel it would be a violation to do otherwise. Also asking people to not smoke in their car--I feel would definately be a violation to personal privacy, especially when the car is theirs--not the university's.
• I think it is good to make an effort to be completly smoke-free, but in reality I dont think it would happen. Especially not the no smoking in private vehicles.
• I think it is gross that you can not walk into or out of a building without walking through a cloud of smoke from people.
• I think it is import that our campus becomes smoke free. I don't think i should have to be subject to the inhalation of the smoke. Not just for my health but for the people who do smoke, letting them know that its not well for them. Having to deal with lung cancer up close, I don't want anyone to go through what I had to go through the death of my father with lung cancer.
• I think it is important that smokers not be allowed to smoke outside entrances to University buildings. People with lung problems and asthma are trying to enter the buildings and have problems because of smoke. If there are enclosed spaces on campus that are for smoking then we can choose not to enter these spaces.
• I think it is important to at least go smoke free in the on-campus apartments.
• I think it is only a matter of time before this will be the standard. It would be good for NMU to be recognized as one of the first, not one of the last to do something good for student health.
• I think it is pretty discriminative against smokers, who should have the freedom to smoke outdoors, even in this horrible, cold weather. Not to mention we suffer enough freezing to death outdoors during the winter.
• I think it is ridiculous that NMU is wasting their time and money on such a pointless issue. Smokers do not effect anyone, and if someone feels the need to complain about this issue than they should probably avoid public places as a whole.
• I think it is ridiculous to impose any smoking ordinances outdoors. To do so is infringing on peoples rights, and the people who it supposedly bothers should really find something better to worry about. This shouldn't even be an issue. People should be able to smoke outdoors: Get over it!
• I think it is ridiculous to try to enforce such matters especially in vehicles and no one wants to smoke in a car with the windows up. I am an occasional smoker, i don't smoke on campus and do not see the problem, it seems to be that smoke travels in buildings. smoking shelters are a good idea because it is so cold they would need to be in strategic locations but enforcement of their use would be difficult.
• I think it is very disgusting to walk to class and not be able to breathe as I walk through the doors. Or to have someone sit next to you in class who smells like smoke because 2 minutes before they were just out smoking. Even to walk out of West hall (or anyother) and see the cigarette butts on top of the garbage cans...that just makes us as a school look unhealthy. For the health of the students...please put in the no smoking...I won't even be here in 2010 but I would still like to see that is action for the future students who are to go here.
• I think it is very rude to smoke on campus, especially when someone has classes in the McClintock building because as soon as you go out the doors there are tons of people out there smoking and non smokers should not be subjected to that.
• I think it is very small-minded and discriminative to target smokers in this way. Shelters are the mature, compassionate way to handle this issue.
• I think it may be better to help smokers with a place to smoke, rather than not letting them smoke on campus at all. I really think that would upset alot of people.
• I think it should be a gradual process. Take one place away at a time. One section here and there. I would be concerned, as unfortunate as it is, that students would not enroll here because of the inability to smoke. A gradual process won't seem so harsh. But, I really like the idea.
• I think it should be very ones right to smoke just like it is to read a book or any thing else i am personally a non smoker i dont enjoy cigarette smoke but if there out side and away from buildings why does it relly matter that much i always walk buy smokers nad it doesnt bother me. thats there decision dont make it yours..
• I think it should not be smoke free
• I think it sucks that I have to breathe in smoke every time I walk to my classes. I live off campus and will pass at least five people smoking where ever I walk on campus. I can only imagine what those people who live on campus have to go through. I am an avid runner and athlete and although I am not constantly exposed to the toxins of smoking, I do not appreciate being forced to inhale them on a daily basis. Smokers also clog up the doorways outside of Jamrich in between every class and are very inconsiderate of those who are just trying to get to class. I believe it is unfair to force non-smokers to be a part of such a toxic and unhealthy lifestyle choice.
• I think it will be fine as long as you have designated smoke areas with somewhere to dispose your cigarettes.
• I think it would be a bad idea to go smoke-free. I really do
• I think it would be a good idea to get rid of people smoking right next too the buildings.
• I think it would be a good plan and I would enjoy it being a non-smoker, but having a smoke free campus would probably ruin the enrollment for this college.
• I think it would be a great idea for the campus to be smoke free. I was in one of the classes that was effected with the smokers outside of Jamrich.
• I think it would be a great improvement if NMU became smoke free. It is not fair to non-smokers to have to breathe in second hand smoke walking to and from class. Thank you for taking this into consideration!
• I think it would be a positive aspect of NMU to be smoke-free. It would cut down on pollution, air, and earth. Not to mention second hand smoke annoyance or health hazards. I can not tell you how many times I have walked into a building by holding my breath to pass by a smoker. I also do not care to see butts littered anywhere. I do feel that smokers would be put to a disadvantage, I know many students who smoke.
• i think it would be a problem trying to keep COLLEGE kids from smoking wherever they want
• I think it would be absolutely ridiculous for the school to waste the money on building smoking facilities. If you think it's that much of a problem that we're polluting the air why don't you cover the heating plant that is giving off ten times the pollution as cigarettes. Most schools aren't smoke free why would you make NMU a smoke-free campus? We already are standing 30 ft away from the doors. Why change it even more.
• I think it would be an extremely beneficial decision for NMU to adopt a smoke free policy. We are at a time in society where even bars are prohibiting smoking. It's odd that an institution of higher learning such as NMU has yet to adopt a similar policy. However, I think that if NMU were to prohibit smoking in private vehicles, with the windows up, it would be overstepping their boundaries.
• I think it would be fine if parking lots and private vehicles were not a part of the policy.
• I think it would be great because I hate walking through huge smoke clouds to get to class!!!!!! Also just walking behing people on the way to class.
• I think it would be hard to inforce!
• I think it would be more effective to clearly mark 30 feet from the building and create additional revenue by ticketing any violators of the statute.
• i think it would be nice for it to be smoke free just because i get tired of walking to and from class breathing in cigarette smoke everyday. i also think it's retarded all the people who just stand right by the doors puffin away. it just becomes really annoying. also the butts laying around all over. i just think it looks bad for parents and kids who wanna come here. they'll get the wrong impression and it reflects poorly on NMU when all they see everyone smoking and butts scattered everywhere.
• I think it would cause a lot of problems for the school if it were to ban smoking on campus altogether. There needs to be a median somewhere. I believe that smoking shelters would probably be the best median. And telling people they can't smoke in their cars is a little ridiculous. I also think that if this whole school went smoke-free, there wouldn't be as many people coming to this school.
• I think it would not be appropriate have smoking shacks because that would confine the smoke to a small area, and once people come out of it the smoke will all escape and pollute the air. But I would rather there be smoke shacks and it be smoke-free than the way it is now. I am allergic to smoke and drives me crazy when I cannot even walk in a door.
• I think it wouldn't be fare to build smoking structures with the non-smokers' money. I think banning smoking in restaurants made since and I think banning it in other public places like NMU makes sense too. At one of the forums a person said that smoking was his stress relief. Another said snowmobiling was his. The smoker told the snowmobiler all he had to do was go off campus and find a trail. I think the same concept could apply to the smoker... go off campus to smoke.
• I think it's a gread idea that NMU becomes a smoke-free campus. I hate walking through a group of smokers on my way to class or the library.
• I think it's a very bad idea because you make students live on-campus for 2 years with no choice to live elsewhere. Since campus is where many live, I do not think that you can tell them that they cannot smoke where you make them live for 2 years.
• I think it's going too far to say that people can't smoke at all on campus. I think it's nice when people don't smoke right outside doorways but at the same time it is a much better place to smoke if there's a place to put the butts than far from a building and then throwing all of the butts on the ground. There needs to be a middle ground with this subject because it will turn prospective students away from NMU if they smoke a lot and don't have plans of quitting. I did have asthma as a kid and that does put the whole health issue spin on things. If it could be done in a place where people don't need to be, say between entrances etc. that would be good because people can avoid the smoke for the most part. Thanks for the opportunity to give some input.
• I think it's great that NMU is taking an interest in the health of their students. As a future heath care professional, I commend NMU's effors.
• I think it's great that Northern is concidering going smoke free, I hope it is a success.
• I think it's OK right now just some enforcement of the 30 feet rule so that I'm not walking into a building through a billow of smoke.
• I think it's ridiculous for Northern to go smoke-free. There would be a lot more stressed out students, which may lead to other problems on campus much larger than smoking. Smoking is a right to students, and taking that away would cause a large uproar.
• I think it's wrong to change to smoke free. Just leave it like it is.
• I think it's wrong to control tobacco use amongst legal adults. I think that if NMU is going to enforce something, perhaps it ought to be the federal law about asbestos. This sudden war against smokers is disgusting. Society today is bent on blaming cigarettes for everything. Almost everything we consume is cancer causing. Diet soda causes cancer, are we going to ban that, too? The lack of logic is appalling. The school has no right to boot smoking, and I don't know what it hopes to accomplish by doing so.
• I think its a good idea for the general health of the student campus.
• i think its bull. i dont care about the outcome of the survey, im gonna smoke outside on campus anyway.
• I think its fine if people are smoking outside, I just don't wanna smell it inside.
• I think its great that nmu is trying to tackle this issue. It would be awesome to walk to class without haveing to deal with all the smoke. On the other hand I think NMU would be turning away a ton of intellegent people by making a smoking ban. All in all i would say that the smoking stations would be better fix to the problem because this way other student know were to go to smoke and the students that don't want to smell it know were to avoid.
• i think its people free choice to smoke as long as you are outside then it is your own problem. if people dont want to be around smoke then dont stand by a smoker. its people own right to smoke, once you are over 18 you can pick to choose what you want. do not go smoke free its a dumb idea.
• I think lifestyle choices deserve to be respected. While we cannot punish smokers for theirs, I also believe we shouldn't punish nonsmokers who have to walk through a haze of smoke to enter a building. Smoking shelters are a great idea to lessen this.
• I think makeing NMU a smoke free campus would violate individuals rights. Also I dont think it would be possible to inforce this rule people would probably just smoke in dorm rooms potentialy causeing greater problems.
• I think making NMU a smoke free place is a GREAT idea but it wll be hard and you have to take into the count of Marquette. MI should be like IL and become a smoke free state but all states can't be like the great state IL. Make NMU a smoke free school but do thing about this because it will effect students enrollment.
• I think making NMU a smoke-free campuse is an excellent idea! Not only does it promote health but it would get rid of all of the cigarette butts that litter the area around building doorways. If NMU becomes a smoke-free campus I would commend them! I hope this happens while I am at NMU!
• I think making nmu smoke free is a good idea. I'm not for the keeping windows up in cars when someone is smoking though.
• I think making the campus completely smoke free is like telling thousands of smokers to just drop it. It would not really work and it would make people that smoke complain that they are not allowed to.
• I think many smokers would not like the idea of a smoke free campus, but it wouldn't be such an issue if they would just follow the simple rules already in place. It's only an issue for me because I have to walk through clouds of smoke to get into campus buildings. They should not be smoking that close to the building anyway. I feel that if these rules cannot be enforced, how will a smoke free campus be enforced?
• I think NMU going smoke free is a great idea. I, like many of my friends, find it irksome when trudging up the hill from Spalding to the academic mall, dodging the billows of smoke from others every so many feet. Its not very plesent in the mornings expecting to get fresh air that'll help wake you up but instead getting a mouthful of second hand smoke. I hope this becomes a reality. Thank you.
• I think NMU should become a smoke-free campus as soon as possible. Smoking is a disgusting habit and leads to further health complications. Smoking should be looked down upon.
• I think NMU should become smoke free, I find it very annoying walking to class with someone if front of me smoking and having to walk in their smoke. It is also irritating when I have to walk through a big cloud of smoke just to get to my classroom.
• I think NMU should go completely smoke free, but see no reason do to it gradually. I would suggest next fall as a date to make it smoke free!! I don't think allowing smoking in cars with the windows closed is a good idea, because no one smokes in their car with the windows closed. I don't think that smoking shelters would do a whole lot, because not everyone would go to them, just like no one stands 30 feet from the doors. And I'm sure I would still be able to smell the smoke walking to and from my dorm. I am allergic to smoke, and strongly suggest that NMU go smoke free!!
• I think NMU should just prohibit smoking. It bothers me when I can smell cigarettes on the way to class. There is already a 30 ft. rule, but nobody listens to it. Smokers stand right by the door and it makes me feel awkward walking by them on my way into the building. During the fall, people would smoke right outside my room, so my room smelled like smoke. Smoking is a drug and should be treated more like any other drug on campus.
• I think NMU should NOT be smoke free...Second hand smoke isnt a problem either, at least not for me. Being outside the smoke just blows away. I dont see how taking away people's right to smoke on campus is going to help anyone.
• I think NMU should try and become smoke free sooner than 2010 if possible. It really isn't that great walking behind someone who is smoking on your way to class, when your a non-smoker.
• I think NMU should try to enforce the policies they already have. Instead of putting blocks around the buildings to keep smokers away which makes it harder to get to the buildings. Could NMU have issued tickets to smokes that broke the rule and smoked too close to the building.
• i think people should be able to smoke outside, not next to the door by if they are by the side of the building it dosent effect anyone else. "smoking shelters" would be an extreme waste of money for people who smoke, what do people who dont get out of it? smoking relaxes people and i would rather see someone smoke outside and be comfortable in class that have them not be able to smoke and be irritable.
• i think people will still find a way to smoke even it is non smoking, just like drinking in the dorms.
• I think rather than making it smoke free there should be clear set boundaries, strategically placed garbage cans, and just basically really enforcing the rules that are already in place.
• I think seeing smoking booths on campus would tarnish the beautiful "natural" campus that we already have. I don't think we should have to accomodate smokers in this way. If a student really needs a cigarette they should have to smoke on their own time off of campus. Although if smoking booths are the only way to compromise, it would be better than having to walk through a cloud of smoke on my way into a building, which happens often when people smoke right outside the entrance ways. Also, I think if NMU could offer quit-smoking classes/support groups that would be great.
• I think smoker's should be allowed to smoke on campus especially during night classes that tend to run three or more hours. Students often have a cigarette during a break in these long classes.
• i think smokers have the right to smoke. smoking shelters would definitely solve the problem, yes they're expensive, but that way people would not complain about such and such for invading their air space. i'm not a smoker, but many friends i know smoke, and it's their time to relax, it's a stress-reliever for them, it's just not right to go smoke-free, yes it'd be healthier in some cases. but i think they have a right to smoke if they want to.
• I think smoking has slowly become a huge problem within the students. So many are now smoking and smoking a pack or more a day! Its gross and as a friend of someone who smokes way to much, it makes me sad to think of what it's doing to them! Also, for those who don't smoke and for those trying to honestly quit, it's rude!
• I think smoking is a nasty habit. Although everyone has the right to do as they choose when it comes to there own health,it affects my health when I have to walk by the smoke and breath it in just to get into a building. NMU should for sure go SMOKE FREE
• I think smoking is a very disgusting habit. I am severly allergic to cigarette smoke, this will make life much easier. I have to hold my breath when people are smoking, especially when they are standing by the doors.
• I think smoking is disgusting and I shouldn't have to be subjected to it. Smokers smoking within 30 feet of buildings should be heavily fined, and the 30-foot rule needs better enforcement.
• I think smoking is something that is an individual choice. We are all adults here and if someone wants to smoke outside they can. What is the negative effect of smokers? The doorways smell a little funny when the wind blows right? I don't even smoke anymore but non-smoking campus would really cause a lot of trouble. It seems like it would be very hard to enforce and pretty much pointless to stop someone from smoking outside or in their own car.
• I think smoking on campus wouldn't be such a big deal if smokers followed the guidelines set. Since they cannot seem to do this, going smoke-free is a great idea. It's unhealthy for everyone else around them to breath in the smoke and there are people like me who are actually allergic to cigarette smoke and others whose asthma it affects.
• I think smoking shelters are a great idea. I wouldn't have a problem with smokers if I didn't have to walk behind them to class or walk through a cloud of smoke any time I enter or leave a building. Plus, when they stand by windows and doors in the summer, I can smell the smoke in my apartment!
• I think smoking should be away from doors in a shelter. I hate walking by smokers and seeing the butts on the ground.
• I think smoking should be banned wherever someone does not have a choice to be around someone that smokes (all buildings should be smoke-free). Otherwise I think people should be allowed to smoke outdoors as long as others aren't forced to be around them (no smoking at bus stops, campus/sporting events, etc.).
• I think students have the right to make their own choices about life. The vast majority of students here are legally adults and should be treated as such. Taking away the right to smoke outside is encroaching on our rights as students. If you ban smoking on campus, you might as well ban thinking and free choice too. This is discrimination against a large portion of students and teachers. Banning smoking indoors is reasonable and a solution that I think works just fine. Prohibiting students from smoking inside their own cars is like something out of 1984. I'll be graduating soon and I'm so strongly against this proposed policy, that if it is passed, I will not be making donations as an alumnus.
• I think students should be able to smoke in the parking lots away from the buildings but not near the buildings.
• I think that a ban on smoking would be a very positive thing for this college to put into place. Walking to class behind a smoker and being around that is not a positive. But then again, because of NMU being a public university I can understand the difficulties that are associated with this type of action. I hope that it can be put into place and I will strongly support any actions that are taken to ensure that this happens.
• I think that a campus wide smoke free environment is too extreme; the best solution would be designated smoking corridors or shelters.
• I think that a no smoking approach is a great one, as I am not a smoker. But, for those who are it may cause a negative reaction. For the people who do not want to smoke it would make a great place for them to do it with no peer pressure. I do not live on campus and I am not a smoker, but I do think it looks distasteful to see a smoker, smoking in front of West Science. Ick!
• I think that a partially smoke free campus would be nice. I just find it annoying when walking to class and smokers are walking ahead of me, exhaling smoke that blows back into my face. I believe if campus goes completely smoke free, we'll have a lot of angry students/staff. A gradual decrease in places where people can smoke would be ideal...but 2010 seems a bit early.
• I think that a smoke free campus would be awesome. I believe that there is nothing more disgusting than walking past someone blowing smoke in your face, or having to smell the disgusting butt-boxes outside of the doors
• I think that a smoking area outside of the dorms would be a very good idea, because smokers smoke right outside the doors during bad weather. because they do this, smoke often filters into the lobby doors and windows in the sun rooms.
• I think that all buildings should be smoke free, but in for no reason should we try to make outside a smoke free envirement.
• I think that becoming smoke free is the most ridiculous thing a PUBLIC University could ever do. That would be the equivalent of stopping sex in the dorms because it offends some people. Both goals are not only impossible to achieve affectively, but are also impractical. It leads to more surveillance of the campus, and more imposing on citizens' rights. The right to pursue happiness? Does this mean nothing anymore? You will be pleasing non smoker complainers, but infuriating the thousands of smokers. Perhaps it is better to chose the lesser of evils: Angry (but annoying) complainers? or angry nicotine addicts going through withdrawal.
• I think that better enforcement of the current smoking rules (i.e. smoking 30 feet from te building) would be a better solution at this point. If current measures are not being enforced, how can it be a realistic goal to be smoke free, even by 2010? I don't enjoy the second and smoke any more than the rest of the non-smokers, but students who do smoke have rights too. Smoking in their private vehicle would be their choice, windows up or down, and attempting to remove that choice is a violation of their legal right to smoke.
• I think that by banning smokin on campust that isnt really being fair to the people who smoke
• I think that by extending the smoke free policy into your cars with the windows open is a bit extreme. It is my vehicle and i feel that it is my right to smoke in it if i want to with the windows down. Also smoking outside i don't see as a problem either there are many ways that people who don't smoke can get around campus without even having to go outside.
• I think that cigarettes should be sold on campus.
• I think that disallowing smoking on campus infringes on the rights of students and faculty. The shelter idea may help with the issue of having smokers within 30 feet of doorways, however I personally do not care if smoking takes place right outside of doorways. I am not a smoker and never have been one, but I am concerned with my rights and the rights of other students and faculty.
• I think that even though smokers have a nasty habit it is no reason to descriminate against their right to a cigarette.
• I think that even with the cost, the smoking shelters are a good alternative. We don't want to be *hostile* towards smokers, we just don't want to die from their habit. This way, we can walk out of a building without holding our breaths.
• I think that going a smoke free campus is a great idea. Allowing people to smoke in their cars with the windows up would be a good compromise for the people on campus that do smoke and are addicted to smoking.
• I think that going completely smoke free would be a terrible thing esppecially if you include private cars in there as that is my personal property and even though it is on school property i reserve my right to do as i wish in it as long as it is not illegal in the first place also i think that putting up smokers huts would be a great thing as the main reason i tend to smoke close to the building is as we all know when the wind is blowing in the winter (which is pretty much all the time) it gets very cold and standing near the building cuts the wind down significantly so if the smokers huts were placed a short distance from the doors say the "30 Feet" as stated on the doors this would give me a place to go to be slightly warmer than just standing out in the middle of nowhere to smoke and freeze. Yes i agree if its that cold out i can just not smoke but i chose to and i dont beleive i should suffer from it. also when walking between buildings on campus i also like to have a cigarrette as it is one of the few times during the day that i have to go outside. these are my personal opinions and i am pretty sure most smokers will agree with them but just i dont think we as smokers should be discriminated against just because of our life choice is to smoke. please take these suggestions into consideration. THANKS
• I think that going smoke free is a great idea. I hate having to walk into a class room, which i have to smell the smoke for 50 minutes. I also hate having to walk through smoke because of the smokers NOT following the 30 feet rule.
• I think that going smoke free is a great idea. It would be a little hard to manage smoking while walking to class because of limited law/rule inforcement officers. Banning smoking in a person's private vehicle is a moot point. It would be like banning a specific radio station they play in their vehicle. In their vehicle it's their own property.
• I think that going smoke-free is very good idea. The fact that people smoke right outside the building and on the way to class is one of the only things that I dislike about this campus.
• I think that having a smoke free campus is not a good idea. I can see making shelters for people to smoke in as a good idea. I know that it would make the smokers more happy to be able to be sheltered from the weather. I also feel that if they say students cannot smoke in their cars on campus will really hurt students and there is no real way to enforce it. Would you keep giving a person a citation because they have an addiction? why not punish people that are alcoholics? that's right, alcoholism is a disease and you cannot hold that against them. Being addicted to nicotine is almost the same thing. A smoking ban is just not a good idea.
• I think that having shelters would help with smokers a lot. If smokers are forbidden to smoke on campus then so should be chewing tobacco because its basically the same thing as smoking and is disgusting to see while in class.
• I think that if NMU goes totally smoke-free, there will be more desputes and problems then plus. Students already hate the rule about staying in the dorms 2 years or until your 21. I would have to say that I dont think it is a bright idea to make all of campus a smoke-free enviornment.
• I think that if Northern Michigan University was a smoke free campus when I was making my decision on which University to attend, I would NOT have picked NMU. I think that it is taking away from the rights of students and also not allowing students to express who they are, do what they want, and feel comfortable at NMU. Smoking is legal if you are over the age of 18. Everyone knows that. If someone makes the decision to smoke, and it is legal, they should not be discriminated against. Making NMU a smoke free campus is a horrible idea. It should remain the way it is now!
• I think that if people want to smoke we should let them smoke. I think it is ridiculous that the exterior campus would be smoke free when it is a public area.
• I think that if there was a smoking ban the enrollment would decrease. Also if there were "smoking shelters" I dont think it would be enforced good enough.
• I think that if you do have smoking shelters that you should heat them in the winter because it is very cold and sufficient seating and ventilation.
• I think that if you provide certain area's for smokers and provide opportunities for students to quit smoking you'll be more successfully thank just trying to keep students from not smoking on campus at all.
• i think that if your going to do this you will have to let sophomers move out of dorms, or you will loose alot of your students that come here
• I think that in areas where there is smoking such as courtyards there should be a large gazebo with the heating overheads like at the UC as well as a garbage can to keep the area cleaner.
• I think that in theory the smoking shelters are a great idea, but right now there is a 30 foot limit outside buildings which smokers are supposed to adhere to, and they don't, so I don't see them utilizing smoking shelters either.
• I think that individuals have the choice to smoke & since they are already smoking outdoors, the idea should be left alone. Smoking shelters are only going to make the situation worse. I can forsee individuals smoking other substances in there and then the need for increased public safety will happen, upping costs all around. Enforce the current rule of smoking 30 feet away from all doors and provide more ashtrays and the problem with smokers won't seem as bad. If NMU goes smoke free, I'd transfer to a school that allowed me to smoke on campus.
• I think that instead of making it a completely smoke-free campus, we should enforce the smoking rule that is already in place. I may be a smoker but I am respectful towards the other students and smoke away from everyone. Just because of the people who are not following the rules doesn't mean we should punish the people who are.
• I think that it is a great idea
• I think that it is a great idea to go smoke-free on campus. I have asthma triggered by smoke, and there is nothing more obnoxious than someone blowing smoke back into my face while I'm walking to class. It's also very irritating when people smoke too close to the building, and they all do, especially in winter. I think that it could also really help those that are trying to quit. The less that they are exposed to it, the more it could help curb the cravings.
• I think that it is unfair to those students who do smoke to make this campus entirely smoke-free
• i think that it is wrong to make smoking banned, we should just enforce the rule about smoking 30 feet from a building, so non smokers don't have to inhale that junk.
• I think that It should become smoke free before 2010
• I think that it would a huge advantage to have a smoke free campus, i can barely get to class without smelling like smoke and its horrible, having quit smoking, being around smokers constantly is a constant temptation. I get very disgusted by smokers and i feel like it distracts me from my school work by not being able to get anywhere in peace.
• I think that it would be a spectacular idea!
• I think that it would be great of NMU had a smoke-free campus. I personally HATE smoking and I hate that I can smell it when they smoke outside my window. If NMU became a smoke-free campus, I would enjoy it much more.
• I think that it would be wrong to take away smoking privledges...people smoke get over it...
• I think that it's the peoples choice to smoke. I could hardly care less if people smoke. It just bothers me how people don't observe the 30 ft. rule. If NMU had smoking shelters it would make everything easier.
• I think that it's wrong to tell people they can't smoke, they are going to do it anyways. I think smoke free is not the way to go. Maybe have a couple of the dorms be specifically for smokers, or maybe let them live off campus. Some people are really addicted and/or it helps them to not get overly stressed out.
• I think that its up to the people if there are going to smoke or not. Do we not live in America where we are able to make up are own minds. Is this not a place of freedom and do we not have the right to smoke when we want to.
• I think that just as it is a person's right to smoke, it is a person's right to not have to deal with smokers. I am definately in favor of keeping smoking away from all buildings and entrances becuase that is a location where everyon must be. It is a smoker's choice as well as a non-smoker's choice to be in a "smoking shelter." Therefore, smoking shelters located at a reasonable distance from entrances would be fine. Smoking should be absolutely prohibited near any entrances... for example: In class thismorning, people were smoking near an entrance and you could very easily smell the smoke in the classroom. This is extremely distracing and bothering. Thanks
• I think that making campus smoke free is an excellent idea but what would the consequences be, if any, if someone were to smoke on campus since the "30ft. rule" is not enforced. I do find it to be quite disgusting to have to walk through a cloud of smoke when walking to class. However, I do not believe that personal vehicles should be included in the policy since those vehicles belong to students.
• I think that making NMU a smoke free campus doesn't make sense! Can we really tell people where to smoke or whether they can smoke outside or not? We already don't have smoking in the buildings, and I think that that is enough! One of my biggest pet peeves is listening to non-smokers complain about smokers and I think that if it is such a big deal, then maybe the non-smokers should go to a non-smoking school and maybe the smokers should complain about the non-smokers!!!
• I think that making NMU completely smoke-free, including parking lots and private vehicles is QUITE extreme. I am very much against smoking, have never had a cigarette in my life, and I still think this is quite harsh. I have even written research papers on smoking and second-hand smoke. And I get very irritated if I have to walk through a cloud of cigarette smoke to get into a building but I still am against this total ban. Most of the people on Northern's campus are adults. Smoking isn't illegal, and I really don't care if someone smokes in their car - that's their decision. I also wouldn't care if people smoked in the parking lots. I also would be in support of smoking shelters away from doorways. Smokers and cigarettes will probably never go away, even though people know the health risks involved, but I still think that making NMU completely smoke-free is too the extreme. I think there are plenty of other options!!! Another thought I had, is how are we going to monitor this? Smokers are supposed to already be standing 30 feet away from doorways - this rarely happens!! Almost every door I walk through, I have to walk through a cloud of smoke. Why would this ban change anything if nothing is being done about people not obeying the 30 foot rule?
• I think that NMU becoming a smoke free campus would be wonderful. The stipulations of not smoking 30 feet from entrances is not even followed by some professors. If they can not follow this one simple request/rule, why should they keep their "privilege"? Ultimately, if they wish to sign their death certificate early, that does not mean that the rest of us should have to. If NMU, becomes a smoke free campus, we are not telling smokers that they can not smoke, but simply not forcing the rest of us to smoke.
• I think that NMU should be smoke free because many people can't stand it when they are walking to class and there is smoke blowing in their face from the person in front of them. Not only that people do have breathing problems and that smoke doesn't help with it.
• I think that NMU should be smoke-free.
• I think that NMU should go smoke free as soon as possible.  With all that we know about the harmful effects of cigarettes, an educational institution should not only promote healthy practices for students, faculty, and staff, but also for the environment.
• I think that NMU shouldn't become a smoke-free campus because there are many people on campus who do smoke, so where are they suppose to go. They won't be able to quit just like that and besides, they'll probably smoke on campus anyways.
• I think that NMU's campus being smoke free would be good, but I do feel that being smoke-free should constitute making the parking lot and private cars under that policy. The major problem is when people smoke by doors to buildings. If they were smoking in their car or parking lot it's a big area, and if you really don't want to be subject to their smoke, you can avoid them in most instances. I feel that the smoking shelters would work good in the winter because it would protect them somewhat from the harsh elements of the winter, and would be possibly used a great deal then. However, I think that in the summer months most smokers wouldn't want to go to those shelters to smoke.
• I think that non-smoking parking lots is a senseless idea. Since they are far away from any buildings, and they are big enough that a non-smoker doesn't have to walk right next to someone smoking, it would not make sense. Some smokers do not smoke in their vehicles, so asking them to smoke in them with the windows shut is intrusive. If you ban smoking from campus sidewalks, at least let them smoke in the parking lot beforehand.
• I think that Northern should be a smoke-free environment because there are many students (me included) that don't appreciate having students smoking around us because we are allergic to the smoke. It's really unfortunate that those students have such little regard for others, but we should be able to walk out a door without having to walk through a cloud of smoke!
• I think that on campus there should be no smoking at all. campus should be for learning others get affected by the smell and second hand smoke!
• I think that one of the biggest issues is that people dont take into account the rules already in place about smoking near the buildings and there really is no incentive for them to do so because it isnt enforced.
• I think that overall I would be supportive of having a smoke free campus. However I wonder what the secondary effects of having a smoke free campus would be. How would it be enforced is the biggest question and what costs would be entailed?
• I think that people should have the right and freedom to smoke. My only concern is the fact that they do not dispose of their cigarette butts properly. IF the smokers are warned about disposing their butts and continue to just throw them on the ground, then I would feel comfortable seeing NMU deny them the ability to smoke on campus.
• I think that placing a ban on smoking at a college hinders the natural process of growing up. Freedom of choice for everyone is very important. Throughout life we always have to learn to deal with things that are less than perfect for us. Non-smokers learning to deal with smokers is part of life. As a non-smoker i can just walk away from smokers and not have to deal with it if i dont want to. If a ban was placed upon smoking at NMU before any kind of state laws prohibiting public smoking were enacted then i would consider NMU to be a school that is not progressive to peoples rights. As a result of this i would never recommend anyone to attend NMU because it would be clear to me that they could learn more about people and life nearly anywhere else. What is next? Mandatory nametags? A school dresscode? Must we begin to keep our schedule with us at all times? A ban on smoking begins to sound like a move toward communism. You have my contempt.
• I think that prohibiting smoking in private vehicles would be going too far. I would support allowing smoking ONLY in smoking shelters. If you allow them outside of a building, there would likely be a problem with cigarette butts left in the grass and on the sidewalk just outside the building entrances.
• I think that questions 6 and 7 should be asked of employees as well.
• I think that smokers should be able to smoke in the parking lots if they wish. I do not, however, support them smoking near campus buildings or on the sidewalks leading to buildings.
• I think that smokers will not stop smoking in places they should not unless there are repercussions. Ie a penalty, or fine if they are caught. I'm sick of seeing butts on the ground in the spring, and so I am pro getting rid of smoking on campus, but I do support having areas for smoking to be allowed ( not heated, but sheltered) heating, and a enclose space is too expensive due to filtering requirements.
• I think that smoking any where on campus should be prohibited. I also think the the rules that are in place now should be enforced more than they are. People are supposed to be away from the buildings when they smoke but everyday I walk through a crowd of people smoking infront of the doors. I shouldnt have to breath in somones smoke because they are too lazy to go away from the building.
• I think that smoking is a free will. Anybody and everybody should be able to smoke outdoors when they please and no person or policy should ever contridict that.
• I think that smoking is disgusting and should have no part on the NMU properties. If people want to smoke they can do it on their own property.
• i think that smoking is gross and very repulsive, but it is a personal choice. if nmu were to go smoke free im sure that you would lose alot of current students as well as perspective students.
• i think that smoking out of doors is a personal choice and I always believed that NMU did its best to stay an open-minded campus. Smoking outdoors hurts no one and preventing this takes away yet another personal freedom.
• I think that smoking shelters may be a good idea but would still require ventilation so you would still get the smell. you probably would have to do that though compensate for smokers because i see a lot of students smoking and you would probably lose a decent amount of enrollment
• I think that smoking shelters would be a great idea. i know how smokers feel, and the only reason the majority stand by the walls of the buildings, is to keep away from the cold wind, and the fact that there are benches.
• I think that smoking should be enforced not to smoke near any doorways. Other than that although I don't smoke I feel that it would take away from personal choice to smoke. As long as they are not smoking right next to someone then I feel that they should be able to do where they want as long as its outside.
• I think that smoking would not be so bad if there were areas that they could go to smoke that would be away from the people that don't. I am not a big fan of smoking, but I don't think that the whole campus should be a non-smoking enviorment, i just think it should be regulated to perticular ares, so that it is fari to everyone. I do on the other hand think that smoking should not be anywhere near buildings or inside anywhere.
• I think that spending money on outdoor shelters is just a band aid on the situation, forcing students to leave campus to smoke, or at least go to their car will help encourage then to stop. It will do no good to enable smokers. I think that NMU being smoke free is a good move and will show that we are thinking ahead and moving into the future, instead of holding to the past. I hope everything works out.
• I think that student should be able to smoke on campus as long as it is out doors. Why should someone have to drive off campus to have a smoke. I don't think people should be discriminated like that. As long as it's not inside any of the buildings then it is usually not harming anyone else.
• I think that students abuse their smoking priviledges by smoking directly outside of building entrances and leaving cigarette butts scattered around and trashing our beautiful campus.
• I think that taking away the choice to smoke or not to definitely goes against the entire idea of America. Isn't this a free country? I don't smoke and even I have the respect to allow smokers to smoke OUTSIDE. If you take away this right..how much farther are you going to go to take away more of the students rights. I refuse to support having a smoke free campus. I think you will lose alot of money, alot of students, and definitely alot of support from people who actually care about living in a free country.
• I think that telling someone they can't smoke on campus is very controling. I do not smoke but if I was told I can't on campus I would feel like NMU was trying to control my life. I am an adult so are my friends here at NMU. We have the right to smoke if we would like to. My friends don't stand next to the buildings. My friends throw away their cig butts. Also, how is NMU going to require freshman and sophmores to live on campus yet tell them they can't smoke on campus. I would be so angry if I was them. Something needs to be done about the smoking by doorways, but going smoke free is not the answer. Also, students are still going to smoke on campus if it goes smoke free people are just going to try to hide it. So by the dorms there will be girls hiding in corners and going out when it is dark. Is this really what we want? What if someone gets raped? I think this is a crazy idea and I am not supportive. Maybe NMU police or RA's should spend more time on campus asking people to step away from the building while smoking. Maybe there should be smoking rooms in the dorms or outside. I want a university that cares about their students not a university trying to control the lives of their students. Even though I am a nonsmoker I would not have attend NMU if they were controlling their students.
• I think that the campus should not be smoke free. People are smoking out side and I think that should be good enough.
• I think that the idea of going smoke free is FANTASTIC! Why should us non-smokers have to deal with the second-hand smoke of others. I believe that if they want to literally kill their insides, then they should have to do it on their own time away from a community area. I am allergic to smoke and when I come into contact with it, I end up having a terrible time getting through the day because of itchy eyes, sneezing, and troubles breathing. Believe me, it's not easy to concetrate in class when you are having to put up with all of that stuff.
• I think that the idea of putting limits on smoking is a good idea. Smokers will complain about their right to smoke but what about my right to not breath in second hand smoke as I walk to class? And as far as banning smoking in cars, that is no different than states outlawing the use of cell phones while driving out of concerns for safety.
• I think that the idea of smoking in your vehicle with the window closed in a preposterous idea. What good does that do? When you get out of your vehicle, all of the smoke goes outside anyway! I don't understand that proposal at all. I think that there should be smoking designated areas; there does not need to be a shelter as you propose because it would cost money, however, there is no reason as to why there are not already designated only areas away from the building with ashtrays right there. Right now, the ashtrays are near the entrances, again that is not a good idea. I am a smoker and I hate the fact that I have to go right near the entrance to put my cigarette out. I am always aware of non-smokers around me and I am courteous of that fact.
• I think that the issue of smoking on campus is not as major an issue; the real thing that bothers most non-smokers is that in order to get to class we have to walk through the cloud of smoke that smokers create when they stand directly outside the doors to buildings. If there was more enfocment for the 30ft. rule that would help with non-smokers complaints.
• I think that the majority of the NMU campus are smokers and that if NMU became a smoke free campus many people including some of the staff would be very upset. I am not a smoker myself but I do think that if NMU was a smoke free campus there would be a huge probability that many students would transfer to another school or move off campus.
• I think that the smoking ban is a bad idea.
• I think that the smoking shelters are a GREAT idea. I do however disagree with controlling what people do outside on public grounds. If this were to be inacted I would view it as a socialist movement for the University. I would strongly consider transfering even though I am a non-smoker.
• I think that there should be designated smoking areas not by the doors of the buildings. I don't like having to walk through a group of students smoking up a storm at 8 in the morning just to get to class, immediately the smoke makes me nauseas and the smell lingers on my clothes all day.
• I think that there should be NO smoking in ANY university buildings. Specifically the on-campus apartments. It is disgusting walking into a smoke filled building.
• I think that these rules should go into place as soon as possible. The smoker on campus have been lighting up whrever they feel like. They especially don't follow the 30 foot rule. I do not think that NMU should control what people do in their own private vehicles, it seems a bit to extreme. But I like the idea of building a smoker's shelter. I know some West Hall residents built a snow fort in the winter to protect them from the wind, and all of the smokers went out tere to smoke (it was also a good distance from the building). We should take the ashtrays off of the buildings. It encourages smokers to stay close to the building, but f we move them farther away, there is a good chance the smokers will too.
• I think that this is a great idea... 100% in support. We know that smoking is a bad thing, it is completely detrimental to a persons health, and I think that it is completely consciencious to make the campus smoke-free.
• i think that this is a joke. i personally am a smoker and think that the smoking ban is going a bit far. i can see the 30ft from entrances but in the parking lot or away from doorways is ridiculous. smokers have the same civil rights as those who do not smoke. i urge you to make the right decision and leave the smoking rules as they are.
• I think that this is an invitation to a lot of negatives about infringment of freedom, legal issues and enforcement of/defense for, etc. I can only think that this is a case of being for the good of the few, and affecting many, the few being those with very squeaky wheels. I personally am willing to quit smoking, that is for me to own, but the process by which this decision is being made disturbs me.
• I think that this is the best idea. I hate walking into a building and chocking because of the smoke.
• I think that this pursuit for a smoke free campus is simply a response to the current popularity of the nation to persecute smokers.
• I think that this will be very difficult if not impossible to enforce, especially if you are attempting to say we can't smoke in our cars with the windows open. The 30 foot rule can't even be enforced at this point.
• I think that to make the campus smoke free would be an improvement to this university because many students cannot handle the effects of others smoke. Personally when I see that someone around is smoking I have to alter my path so that I won't walk through their smoke. I have asthma that reacts strongly to it and I can feel it in my eyes the rest of the day. Even with smoking shelters it is still allowing people to smoke and therefore people are more likely to break the rules and not smoke in the shelter. Also the shelters would cost money to put up and tuition would be a reasonable place to take this money from but I don't want my tuition going to something that I am against.
• I think that to segregate smokers to protect those of us who choose not to is one thing, but to completely take away their ability the entire time they are on campus is cruel and completely unfair. This would negatively affect the lives of students, as well as, I'm sure, several professors. Please don't believe you can tell students not to smoke. You will only force them to break an unenforceable rule.
• I think that trying to regulate what students and faculty do in their private vehicles would not only be difficult to control but probably would be taking the smoking ban a little too far. As for a smoke-free campus, I would be hugely in favor of not walking to class behind someone who is blowing unfiltered smoke into my face. I would also love to be able to practice my instrument in TFA without worrying about the smokers exhaling near the intake vents for the building. I would be very much in support of a smoking ban.
• I think that when you put the no smoking signs by the doors by all the halls and took away the cigarette butt cans, it created more problems than it helped. Students smoke farther away from the building but have less places to put their cigarette butts when they go into the buildings. That is why there is so many butts on the side of the buildings. More disposal cans of cigarette butts would help greatly and keep NMU looking better than it does. If NMU went totally smoke free, i feel there would be a decline in the people that would come, and I feel that it would be alot harder for people to get to class on time because they would want to smoke a cigarette. It is an addiction for some people, and it would be like telling a non smoker that they can not have their coffee or pop on campus. People are addicted to caffiene and get very moody and cant concentrate without it, and if you took away smoking, it would definetly be the same.People would be late for class and be very testy and i think it would cause more harm than good to make campus go smoke free. My advice, put more smoking butt can banisters back up for less mess and see what happens
• I think that while the smoking shuttles are a good concept, the number of students who would actually use them is limited. As of right now, we have the rule about smoking within, what, 30 feet of the building? Hardly any smokers listen to that rule. They usually are right outside of the doors. Frankly, I am sick and tired of walking to class behind people who are smoking and having the smoke go right in my face. It's even worse when there are 4-5 people in a big group, smoking right outside of the doors you have to go into. I don't think smoking in public should be a right; if you want to kill your lungs with tar and tobacco and arsenic, then that's your prerogative, but please, stay away from mine.
• I think that with the level of wind that NMU has, that smoking outside is pretty non effective, people that smoke outside that exhale the smoke, it travels upwards so fast that when I walk by I rarely smell second hand smoke, and the amount I do possibly inhale I feel is non threatening to my health. The smoking shelters are the best solution I believe to this problem.
• i think that you could go and ban smoking from the campus, but there will be that one person who will light up a cigarette..public safety may have to be a part to make sure that no one lights up a cigarette...I don't think smokeless tobacco is a problem, however, as long as people don't spit it out on the floor.
• I think the 30 feet policy should be followed thru with. Walking into a building and having to hold your breath through a huge cloud of smoke right outside the door isn't what I want to do. Private vehicles are private property, an individual can smoke all they want in there, but not "puffing" in my face. Thank you.
• I think the best idea is the smoking shelters, but specifically near the dorms and campus apartments. This allows for residents of the campus a place to smoke, which will be essential for enrolment. This I think is very important with the freshman living requirements. I see no point in forbidding private vehicle smoking, and have seen only problems with it at hospital campuses. I am also strongly against people smoking around non-smokers, because it is harmful to people not wishing to smoke too. Also in the extreme cold environment, those with asthma are very affected by someone lighting up in front of them when walking to class.
• I think the Campus should go smoke free on a certain date. Give the students several months notice and provide as much support for the smokers to quit smoking as possible. See if you can give them patches or gum free or at a discounted rate. Have heath professionals on hand to help them. Have support groups for smokers to stop smoking. I don't think it should be a gradual thing, but I think you should give plenty of warning and a HUGE amount of support to people who want to quit smoking. Most people want to ban smoking because it is very annoying walking out a door and getting a face of smoke (*very* annoying), and also because of the dangers of second hand smoke. But you should approach the situation as you are doing this to to help smokers quit because it isn't healthy for them. Thats what the campaign should concentrate on, making NMU students and faculty healthier, so smoking in private cars on campus or smoke shelters would give the image that you are making the campus smoke free because the smokers are just annoying.
• I think the campus should go smoke-free. The smokers can take a break from killing themselves and others for a couple hours a day while getting an education.
• I think the current policy is fine, people should be encouraged to smoke about 20-25 feet away from buildings. Let's not demonize smokers. Give them a fair chance to enjoy their sins.
• I think the entire campus should be non smoking including all university owned or operated cars and trucks.
• I think the graduated smoke-free plan is bad. If you're going to go smoke free I think a date should be set and everyone should be alerted of that date far in advance.
• I think the idea of a smoke free campus is wonderful!
• I think the idea of becoming a smoke free campus would lead many future incoming students away. I like the idea, but I suppose the amount of students coming in would decrease.
• i think the idea of smoking shelters is a good one and should be put into action.
• I think the inner campus parts should be smoke-free. But the parking lots and private vehicles is going a little too far. Start small, then gradually build outward.
• i think the laws that are currently installed at nmu would work if it was only more enforced. you see these signs around campus that say 30 feet away from buliding but no one enforces it. i think if these were enforced it wouldnt be as big as a problem.
• I think the main issue here is making sure smokers are far enough away from buildings. I know the rule is 30 feet, but there are no exact guidelines as to where 30 feet actually lie. I think there should be an obvious marker for where smokers will be allowed to stand.
• I think the majority of campus should be smoke free such as making people stand away from the buildings when they smoke however not allowing them to smoke in the parking lots seems a bit extreme. From what i've seen smoking shelters dont really seem like they are that effective or that people actually want to use them
• I think the management at NMU needs to consider the consequences of banning smoking on campus. How many students and teachers will you turn away?
• I think the only thing that needs to be done is to designate specific smoking areas, with out shelters. There is no need to make smokers too comfortable. Also, I think there should be more butt cans and more severe punishment for people litering their cigarette butts. If smokers want to smoke on campus they should be more considerate of others and follow a few simple rules of staying in a certain area and disposing of butts properly. If they cant follow these simple rules, then NMU should be smoke free!
• I think the proposed ban is a great idea, as long as it's not taken too far. I am somewhat allergic to cigarette smoke, and I'm sure I'm not the only one with an allergy. Keeping the smoke away from the places everyone has to go, like near the doors will be a big help.
• I think the shelters are a good idea. I smoke and I'm not trying to be rude to other students when I smoke so I try to walk to an area that is away from others.
• I think the smokers need to take it outside to 30 feet away from the doors. I cant tell you how many times ive been bothered by the smell of smoke just going to the bathroom or walking to the laundry room. I think if they want to smoke they need to leave campus or goto thier cars. Its not a big concept, we have been WAY too lenient (sp) on enforcing the rules. Its amazing how much 30 feet turns into 2 feet during the cold time... which is about 80% of marquettes weather.
• i think the smoking shelters are an excellent idea.
• I think the smoking shelters would be a good idea. It will keep us smokers hands warm while we smoke outside.
• I think the smoking shelters would be a great idea and maybe if smoking was limited only to the shelters that would be acceptable. I can understand why non-smokers do not like the second hand smoke, but as a smoker I feel we have rights as well.
• I think the university should become a smoke-free campus.
• I think the university should do everything it can to support healthy habits and decrease the ease of smoking on campus. However, I think that forcing people to quit only demonizes the activity and therefore makes it more attractive to some students. Smoking should not be allowed in areas where passers by would be impacted (but with a breeze and plenty of walking space it's not a problem anywhere). More importantly, there's more important things to be worried about than a smoking ban!
• I think the university will lose a lot of new enrollments if they decide to go completely smoke free.
• I think there is a better method for addressing the issue than eliminating smoking on campus. Enforcing the current policy of 30ft requirement from any building would appease those who would complain or lobby for this ban. I don't believe NMU should foster this form of ban policy.
• I think there is something that needs to be done, although i don't think putting a smoking ban is the way. Yeah let the smokers just stand in the parking lot, to get hit by crazy drivers. Who would regulate it... how would you make sure the smokers are in their " designated" smoking area. shelters are necessary if the smoking is really that much of an issue.
• I think there should be designated areas for smoking and that there should be consequences for not following the rules. I have no doubt that this would be very difficult to enforce and is probably not practical, but until smoking is illegal I would never support a smoke free campus rule at a public university.
• I think this a great healthy idea. I dislike biking on the sidewalk near the doorways and having to inhale the smoke. Most people are not in consideration of the 30 feet and it should be enforced better.
• I think this can be done prior to 2010 if the shelters are put up.
• I think this is a huge issue, and I am glad it is finally being addressed. It's not fair that every day when I go to my classes I have to breathe in the smoke from other students- its disgusting and unhealthy. I would suggest to go as far as having select individuals (mainly Public Safety) monitor the university buildings for now, until this all possibly gets underway, just to cut back the smoke us non-smokers have to inhale while going to classes.
• I think this is a selfish endeavor and an example of nontolerance of a choice of others. Other than making buildings smoke free and asking someone not to blow smoke in your face, we can't ban the individuals or treat them so discriminately. We have to tolerate their right chose to smoke. Isn't that what democracy is all about? Are we not a democratic campus? Why do we have to treat a group so hatefully because they have made the choice to smoke, something we don't like. For what other habit or lifestyle are we going to become intolerant and ban?
• I think this is a very proactive concept to promote public and personal health on Campus and in the community! I wish this could have been proposed 4 years ago!
• I think this is an excellent idea. However, I don't think it is possible to regulate that faculty, staff, and students cannot smoke in their own vehicles, simply because that is private property. Also, having 'smoking shelters' is most likely going to be just as bad as allowing smoking on campus.
• I think this is an important subject for the matter that even the signs on the doors say stay 30 feet away when smoking and no body follows that rule. They were given a chance and a choice. If they can't follow it, privlages should be taken away. It shouldn't sacrifice the health of non-smokers.
• I think this is discrimination towards smokers. For those smokers who are inconsiderate of other, they can be punished. Other than that, it is the outside! This is actually the most preposterous thing. This isn't high school. We aren't putting non-smokers in smoke boxes with us. If we make such a fuss over this, what's next?
• I think this is hard stance to take, which will be followed by difficulty and pressure. I do however believe that for some individuals, having a smoke-free school would be a draw.
• I think to smoke is my right, I do not impose smoking on anyone, I do not litter, I obey the rules with smoking, but I am a smoker, and I do believe that I have rights to smoke in a designated area on my time. We respect all of the students habits here, some negative-some positive, but we do not judge them for the habits that they have. You are never going to totally please everyone, but I do believe that if I want to step outside the building and around the corner to have a cigarette, than that is my right, I obey each and every rule and regulation. I do not agree to having people standing outside the doorway and smoking as they are entering the building, as they throw the cigarette to the side of the doorway, or blow the smoke in someones face, to be respectful is the mature way to view this.
• I think we are okay with the level of smoking prohibition we have. AFter all, the smokers are outside the buildings. So we don't have to breathe in the smoke! Is the concern over the dorms where some students can smoke in their rooms?
• I think we have already come to a good compromise from the ASNMU forums. We want shelters that are thirty feet away so non-smokers don't have to smell us!
• I think when the policy is adopted that it would go into effect withing 90 days making sure that everyone is forewarned
• I think you could already call NMU a smoke free campus. I mean, you can't smoke indoors, I don't think; unfortunatly there's no indoor designated smoking area that I know of. I'm asking, is there much of a problem if we smoke outside? At the very least, was a designated outdoor smoking area ever considered before someone thought to completely make the campus smoke-free? I understand students and teachers don't want to be cigarette-breathed on. Also you have to remember that the university is educating and doing business with adults. We particularly as a group of adults are in a place (most of us) where more and more often we are making better decisions in our lives. We are starting to see some benefits from mistakes that we've made, although we know more mistakes are bound to happen, but we're being more careful about our futures. After all, we all have made the decision to become educated. Now that being said, that students are adults, with our ability to realize consequences and make choices, I don't see why the University needs to slap our wrists and prohibit us the choice to have a cigarette (freezing our butts off)in between class, be it a Health oriented class. We know the consequences already! Most students are working through college, some have been working their whole lives and have children and mortgages. We just want to relax in between classes, with a cigarette. We won't stand in front of the doors, I at least promise to freeze somewhere else so I don't bother and harm any non smoker without a choice in the matter when they inhale my second hand smoke. I can deal with that. I would really like it if the University treated us like adults and gave smokers a comfortable indoor smoking lounge, where we could fully enjoy our cigarettes while we're waiting for class or for a study break. The cold really taxes from the enjoyment, but i can deal.
• I think you should just enforce the rules of smoking away from the buildings. The only problem I have is when i'm sitting in class and the smoke starts coming into the room because they are smoking too close to the building.
• I think you should just start ticketing the kids who smoke next to the no smoking with 30 feet signs...
• I think you should let students do as they please. It isn't like everyone is going around blowing smoke in other kids faces.
• I think, that by going smoke free, we taking a step to better our environment and the health of the people in it. The litter of cigerette butts on campus is outrageous. The level of health risks related to smokers and the effect it has second hand on people should be enough reason to have this new policy go through relatively quickly. Also, smokers usually don't want to smoke, but since they are addicted they can't gelp it. With this new policy we could have Quitting support groups and stuff that can sell to replace the addiction. (like patches or pills to help them quit.) Other bussinesses and facilities have already become smoke free and the results have been possitive. Also, many people have to pay thier own health insureance for some time after or even before graduation and smokers have higher rates then non-smokers, so by helping them quit and making our campus smoke free we can help them in that aspect of life as well. So saving them money on the purchase of cigarettes, health insurance, are just some reasons why this will have a possitive affect on those who will have to change thier habit. Of course there will be those who choose not to change, but they will then be centering thier lives around when they can get off campus to smoke. But that is thier choice. I think our campus should be smoke free if not only to fit our slogan of "northern naturally", fresh air doesn't include a student or teacher clogging the campus with toxic smoke. Thank You!
• i thnk it would be great.. a smoke free campus
• I thought there was supposed to be a 30 feet policy, from buildings, but no one follows it, or enforces it. So I do believe that it will be very hard for NMU to become smoke-free. Who is going to enforce it?
• I totally agree to a smoke free campus, however I could live with them smoking in their cars or in shelters only.
• I totally support a completely smoke-free campus.
• I transfered a few years back from a college downstate and right away I noticed how in comparision NMU was a much cleaner campus (less cigarette remains on the sidewalks, etc.) which I saw as a big positive, so I feel this is an even bigger step in the right direction.
• I truly believe that university students, being adults, should have the right to smoke. However, the problem is that this usually interferes with others who actively choose not to do so. I can't even count the number of times I have walked out of a building on campus and inhaled a lung-full of smoke from someone standing right outside. This, I believe, violates my right to choose to keep my body smoke free. Because of this dilemma, I strongly support the idea of having smoking shelters on campus that would keep these students away from others. Despite the cost, I firmly believe it is the best way to protect the rights and interests of all the students involved.
• I understand and support no smoking near or in buildings and University vehicles and such, however I don't think it should be controlled away from buildings still on University property. Its a freedom of choice to smoke.
• I understand not having smoking in front of main doorways but if its outside its not bugging anyone. The shelters are a good idea. I don't think it should ever be an issue if your smoking in a vehicle with the window open thats just plain stupid. This policy is dumb and i think it's a waste of university time to even focus on it. The President should have more pressing matters on his hands than some people smoking outside.
• I understand smoke free by the doors and yes smoking shelters would be ok, but I am strongly against the idea of the parking lots being smoke free.
• I understand that people on campus may be upset about people smoking near doors. This reason is because if it is snowing or raining or high wind it is very difficult to smoke without shelter. I also believe it would be difficult to always regulate people who choose to smoke even when the campus is smoke free? You may still have people smoking in doorways = young people have a higher tendency to be rebels! I understand the cost of smoking shelters but I believe this is a way to keep both parties happy. Thank you.
• I understand that this is a progressive campus, but when my school starts telling me that i cannot smoke in my vehicle or in the parking lot, this is where I draw the line. I am a 29 year old smoker. I will be damned if someone is going to tell me what to do in my own vehicle.
• I understand the decision to make NMU a smoke-free campus but I don't NMU should take away a smoker's right to smoke in their personal, enclosed vehicle. This is their property and smoking in one's own car does not have any effect on non-smokers as long as they put the cigarette butts in the ash tray and not in the street.
• i understand the individuals right to breathe clean air. at the same time it is my right smoke. i believe that designated smoking areas should come into affect so that those who do not smoke, will not have to go through the fog of nicotine. but this also allows for other adults to smoke.
• I understand the need for a smoke free environment however there is a large percentage of NMU students who smoke. For non smoking students I completely understand the annoyance however maybe Ra's and Rd's should try and enforce the 30 foot rule before the campus takes extreme measures such as completely banning smoking.
• I understand the reasoning behind this proposition, and have sympathy for non-smokers who have to walk right through cigarette smoke when theres a crowd of smokers around doorways. I would have no problem if there were strict regulations concerning the no smoking 30 feet away from building signs, considering it is a nuisance for non smokers.
• I understand the the feelings (or rights if you will) of non-smokers not wanting to walk through smokers to get into a building. Smokers also have the right to smoke if they choose, and it would be really great if they had some sort of shelter to smoke in.
• I understand wanting to go moke free inside. It makes good sense. But regulating what people do outside is just plain wrong. People worry about second hand, but when you are outside it is not an issue, and you have enough room to disperse the smoke. Please we need less regulation in our life, not more.
• I understand why this topic is up, but it's ridiculous. If people want to smoke, rules already say they have to be outside. If you make NMU smoke-free you will just be creating the problem of students gathering someplace off-campus to smoke.
• I use to smoke, a ban on smoking wouldn't bother me but would make the campus a lot cleaner. Not having to walk through a wall of smoke to get into the dorms sounds nice.
• I Used to be a smoker and i quit because i decided it was not right for me. If people want to smoke they have every right and the fact is if they are smoking outside it is not hurting anyone else, even if somone was to walk through it. Half of the kids that complain about people smoking on campus end up at the smokey bar on weekends anyways. This is just another way for new aged hippies to start controversy.
• I used to smoke and chose to quit about a year ago. I find the most annoying thing concerning on campus smoking is when I climb the hill from the whitman parking to the mclintock building and people are smoking by the door - when i am trying to breathe fresh lungfuls of air due to my strain from climbing the hill in the freezing cold, I am greeted by another's choice to fill my lungs with cigarette smoke.
• I used to smoke but quite due to personal medical reasons. I have a problem with all the people who want to take away the right for smokers to smoke on campus. I understand why some people would be against smoking but they do not have a right to take that away. For the people who complain about walking right into a cloud of smoke when they walk out of a building I can tell you first hand the reason why smokers do that is because of the weather. If the smoker stations were to be put in place I believe that this would be a good compromise for both parties. Personally, back when I was looking for a campus I think that forcing a smoke-free campus would be a turn-off for that school (even though I didn't start smoking till I came to college) because the university, in my mind, already rips most students off but shouldn't tell them where they can and cannot smoke. That is crossing a line with me and many other frustrated students who are sick of NMU's policies and the poor education most of us receive at NMU.
• I used to smoke quite a bit and it was always a slap in the face for me not to be allowed to smoke in a place I spend time at every day. Many of my friends smoke and I think banning cigarettes on campus would make them go crazy. If someone doesnt like that a person is smoking next to them they can simply walk away. We already make the smokers go out in the cold, should we really make them walk across the street too?
• I used to smoke, I don't anymore. As an ex smoker, I feel that there should be no problem for smokers to take their habbit either off campus, or to a "smoking shelter" provided for them. It should be priority for NMU to become smoke free, we need to set an example to other universities! In addition going smoke free is another step in going green!
• I view this as being discrimination. I know that health related issues are exempt from being deemed discriminatory. But because there is already no building on campus that can be smoked in and the rule clearly states you must be 30 feet from the building before you smoke i believe this goes from a health issue to a case of discrimination.
• I was a smoker before I came to NMU, and now I am a social smoker only (or when I really need one). Smoking may be a bad habbit; however, it's not up to you guys to say if we should smoke or not. I do think that there has to be enforced rules about smoking away from buildings. Example, I used to smoke right outside the doors of Magers and Public Safety would pass me. What did they do? They didn't even look at me. If you want to start somewhere, how about you start with the laws you already have, but enforcing them. I think that would be a fantastic place to start. Don't take away our rights as Americans just because people on your staff can't do their job an don't enforce these rules.
• I was a smoker before I came to Northern and enjoy the fact that I can smoke on campus. I am a considerate smoker and feel that it is the right of each individual person whether or not they smoke. Northern not only has to think of the students, but visitors to the Dome also.
• I was a smoker for 13 years until one day it made me literally sick. Just walking through an area where someone had just been smoking makes me ill, my own mom refuses to visit me because I banned smoking from my home for the fact I get sick when I smell cigarette smoke. I understand what it means to be a smoker, but I also understand what it feels like to be subject to that second hand smoke now and it would be wonderful if smoking was allowed in designated areas away from high traffic areas of campus! (the doorways especially) It's their right to smoke if they want, but not at the expense of my health either.
• I was a smoker up until three motnhs ago. It would have been detrimental to my nerves, and therefore my concentration, if I hadn't been able to get my fix. I understand that it is gross and smelly, but until cigarettes are illegal I think it is a smoker's right to be able to smoke. I think most smokers would be happy to limit their smoking to designated areas
• I was just wondering what this would mean about chewing tobacco. Would it be the same rules or would it be less?
• I was once a smoker, so I know how it is to be one. I don't like the smell of it any more than anyone else. I think there should be designated areas for smokers and that it should be enforced that they can't smoke where other people have to walk by (such as on walkways or in front of doorways) The bottom line is, regardless of the rules, people are going to smoke cigarettes if they want to. We just need to find a way to control that a little more so other people do not need to suffer. We need to find a way in which everybody wins.
• I was walking out of the jacobetti center today, and literally had to manuever myself through a crowd of smokers crowding the door,,, enough said.
• I went to Lansing Community College and they had the shelter similar to the Wildcat shuttle bus shelters and I enjoyed that. I think it is discriminating to make NMU 100% smoke-free.
• I will admit, I have smoked a cigarette in my day, but by no means was I addicted. Yet, I have seen how powerful the addiction can be within my own family and understand how hard it is to quite. Although, with the education on smoking and its risk factors that is available to my generation and younger, I believe that people today who start smoking have had the tools to help them stop and the educaiton to tell them not to start. THERE IS NO EXSCUSE! I do not support smoking in anyway, and do not feel that I should tolerate smoking in a public area that I share with other people whether they be smokers or nonsmokers.
• I will go to another school if the policy changes!
• I wish it could be smoke free ASP, but I understand how long it takes to get everything set up. Thanks for doing this survey and considering to make NMU a smoke free campus! : )
• I wish the laws all ready in place were inforced. Such as smoking is permitted I believe 30 feet away from the buildings and start giving littering tickets.
• i work at MGH and they became a smoke free campus in jan. of 07. I dont like the way they did it because they didnt allot a place TO smoke. I would be fine with a smoking ban if a place was appointed to smoke at.
• i work in a smoke free restaurant and the customers are very pleased with it, i think the same could be true for campus.
• I worked on the grounds crew for a couple years and had to pick up several cigarettes off of the ground and sidewalks. People do not follow the policy away from buildings and no one enforces it. This would be an incentive for people to quit smoking.
• I would appreciate something to keep smoke from coming into my apartment room when the weather is nicer out. Before winter when I had my window open, I would have to deal with people outside smoking and the smoke coming into my room. It wasn't very often but I don't like the idea of having to deal with that at all when I am paying as much as I am to be in a smoke-free building.
• I would be less supportive of a smoke-free campus if my fellow smokers obeyed the 'no smoking w/in 30ft of a building' rule and took the time to throw their cigarette butts in an ash tray or garbage can. Unfortunately, many smokers on campus disregard such rules. I find this to be disrespectful to non-smokers and smokers alike. As far as I am concerned, we have lost the privaledge of engaging in our habit at school. I don't believe that building 'smoking shelters' will alleviate this problem, because there is no guarantee that people will use them. In fact, the further the shelters are from buildings, the less likely they are to be used. Although it will be hard for me to not smoke throughout the day, I believe Northern would benefit from becoming a smoke-free campus.
• I would be so happy if NMU went smoke-free. It not only would prevent non-smokers(like myself) to enjoy fresh-clean Upper Peninsula air but also send a message to the community that NMU does not and will not endorse such self destructive habits. I hope that NMU is successful in their Smoke-Free Campus campaign and if there is anything that needs to be done I would be more than happy to assist in the steps to making NMU Smoke Free.
• I would be very satisfied if there were ways to get around campus while avoiding smoke even if campus was not totally smoke free
• I would be very supportive of a smoke free campus.
• I would enjoy having a smoke-free environment. This would ensure that I would not get any second hand smoke. I do get headaches just from the smell of smoke. I also think that it would be a good idea because it may cause some people to quit if they don't have an easy place to go and smoke right outside of their room.
• I would go to any measure to have NMU become a completely smoke-free campus immediately. This is not because I believe that the smokers are directly hurting my individual health, but it doesn't portray NMU as a professional university and shows a bad image of us. Personally, I can't believe this has not been implemented years ago. I think NMU is way behind the times with this, and I believe that a smoke-free policy should be put in place immediately regardless of the results of this survey. It disgusts me to walk out of a building have a cloud of smoke in my face, to see cigarette butts all over the ground. How would you feel about NMU if you were with your son/daugther visiting NMU as potenial college to attend and at the entrance of all of the buildings, there were students standing around smoking all the time and there were cigarette butts all over the lawn and sidewalks. I don't know about you, but I would not be sending my child to this university. I could write about 10 pages on this subject, but I think you get the point on where I stand with this issue.
• i would have come to nmu because i cannot afford to relocate else where i'm 36 yrs old ... i do now not smoke by doors but in the winter with no protection is hard to do ...
• I would have definately been more drawn to NMU if it was smoke-free. I don't like having to inhale other people's smoke while I'm walking to class. There's no way to avoid it and the smokers are never willing to move for me. They say they have the right to smoke there but I want my right to not have to breathe it in. I totally support a smoke-free campus. I just wish it would have been done sooner.
• I would have seen it as a negative, even though I am not a smoker myself. My only concern with that is the university is trying to gain control over what it students can and cannot do, which would come into play with the individual rights as a student. I think that it is a great idea to have smoking houses outside so that students have a choice to smoke or not, but to completely wipe it off- campus, it just seems to me like the university is trying to gain to much control over its students. I think that it would be a great idea to make sure that students that are smokers also don't get paired up with a roommate that is a smoker. If your not a smoker and your stuff smells like smoking it is almost like the university does not care who they pair you up with as long as your a paying student. I am completely for a smoke free campus as long as there are designated areas where people can smoke if they want.
• I would hope that a smoke free campus would furthur provide the encouragement to quit smoking. I do not think that people should have the right to polute the air that I breath. While I do not support smoking shelters (why have these people rebreath their exhaled smoke...unless of course they were ventilated) I support designated smoking areas that are FAR (~70 yards) and out of the way of high traffic areas. This way people can enjoy what they enjoy without causing any harm to others.
• I would like NMU to be smoke free, but only because people are quiting/cutting back on their smoking.
• I would like to hear the committee or the president articulate why this is important to NMU and its future. I agree with the concept, however it should fall within a strategic overall plan, not merely something that a few people just want to see happen.
• I would like to see a compromise of sorts so both parties are happy. I am a non-smoker, and smoke from others bothers me, but I don't think it is fair to tell people they cannot smoke in public.
• I would like to see all smoking removed from campus. I'm glad that NMU is looking into this matter.
• I would like to see it go smoke free.
• I would like to see it happen sooner than 2010.
• I would like to see NMU smoke free. I am so tired of having to walk behind a smoke cloud when I go to class. the current rules must be inforced for any futher rules to work.
• I would like to see NMU's campus be completely smoke free as soon as is feasibly possible. People may smoke in their vehicles with closed windows.
• I would like to see smoking shelters and/or butt cans around campus. At times, the Griese hall front entrance, looks as if the smokers had a convention with all the cigarrete butts laying on the ground. The question I have is who will enforce the "Policy" and what kind of punishment will violaters recieve?
• I would like to see the campus completely smoke-free. Even if one can still smoke in their private cars, they may still dispose of their butts on NMU property making the campus appear dirty. I also think there will still be people who would not use the smoking sheds, just as people do not smoke 30 feet away from doors right now, I am always walking in or out of smoke 2-3 feet away from doors, especially at the Jacobetti center. I would also like to see the policy go into affect before 2010, understandably the implementations will be costly and may take time.
• I would like to see us go smokefree by 2009, not 2010.
• I would like to support a revenue sharing idea. As a non-traditional student, and a smoker, I would like to propose a 21 year old rule for allowing; only those who are 21 or older can smoke at designated places,(need to make nice looking, for infastructure harmony), and like Northern does with parking permit checking, have the campus security check the smokers for age, and if not 21, issue a $10.00 fine. this will curtail a good percentage of students from smoking on campus.
• I would love a smoke-free campus, if not that, at least a more strict smoking policy. Every time I walk out of a building I am confronted with smoke from the people who smoke right next to a door, and that is affecting my health by breating in their smoke everytime I walk out of a building.
• I would love for campus to be smoke free! Walking outside of buildings and seeing the dead butts on the ground is so gross.
• I would love for NMU to be a smoke-free campus. I'm allergic to cigarette smoke and find it difficult when walking behind students who are smoking.
• I would love for this campus to be smoke free. There is nothing worse in the morning or at anytime of the day to walk by someone who is smoking. Instead of smelling the beautfil UP air, all I get is an inhalation of smoke.
• i would love it if NMU were smoke free,I don't really mind if others smoke in an outdoor area as long as they are not gathered around the doors and areas of general public use. I also do not want the cost of paying for "Smoke Shacks" included in my NMU bill,I know it is their right to smoke if they please, but it is also my right to not smoke.And not have to walk through a cloud of smoke to gain acess to my classes. I'll hope for an equitable solution.
• I would love it if Northern became smoke free because when I am walking to and from class it is very irritating when I am trying to breath in the fresh air and all I can breath in is the smoke of the person in front of me. Also a year ago while I was walking back down the hill after class, it was kind of grounded and I was directly behind a smoker and as he was flicking his ashes some of them landed on my shirt due to the wind and burned a couple of holes. It made me angry but I didn't even know what to say to him because he has the right to smoke but he could at least be courteous and watch where he is flicking his ashes.
• i would love to be able to breath going to class!
• I would love to see campus become smoke free. I am tired of having to walk through a smoke cloud to get into buildings because student/teachers are not standing 30ft away from the door. I also don't like that the bus drivers for shuttles between the dome/LRC/Jacobette stand at the entrance onto the bus and smoke their cigs, thus forcing me to walk through a cloud of smoke. What dicusses me more is that the bus driver then proceeds to throw the butt on the ground; they are setting a bad example for the students.
• I would love to see NMU become a smoke free campus as soon as tomorrow. In a way I think it degrades the campus - having the smoking boxes outside dorms that smell terrible, occasionally are on fire on the inside and leak a disgusting juice down the side of the building. It's just not attractice. I've also got smokey smells coming in my room because don't stand 30 feet away. I think it would really clean up the campus.
• I would love to see NMU go completely smoke free. I think it would be a positive health benefit for all involved, smokers and non-smokers alike. I have worked in one of the food-service areas at NMU for the past two years, and I do not like that workers-student and full time staff (who handle the food) are able to go and smoke and then prepare or handle food.
• I would love to see NMU go smoke free as I am frequently finding myself walking behind someone who is a walking chimney and I get the brunt of the second hand smoke. As much as I am in favor of the idea I'm not sure how practical it would be to enforce over such a large area.
• I would love to see NMU go smoke free. For now, I believe that public safety should do a better job enforcing the current smoking policies on campus -driving through courtyards and actually ticketing people who are too close to the building. That would be a great change for now!
• I would love to see NMU go smoke-free as my tax dollars will be supporting those who smoke now as they get sick and develop illnesses and diseases associated with smoking. And I hate the smell of cigarette smoke, and so does my asthma.
• I would love to see NMU go smoke-free!
• I would love to see our campus go smoke-free. Not only will we be making great steps to a healthier student-body but also a better looking one. I am tired of seeing cigarette butts thrown on the ground, stuffed on the snow on top of trash cans and all over campus. It is a major eyesore to see these things. You know smoking has gotten bad when I have to hold my breath whenever I pass through a group of smokers.
• I would love to see the campus smoke free as soon as possible.
• I would love to see this campus go smoke-free. It's hard to avoid a cloud of smoke and piles of cigarette butts when you leave one of the buildings on campus.
• I would need addt'l information as to what effects this handful of smokers has on the "air" on NMU's campus. I am not in agreement if NMU says "a person can no longer smoke anywhere on campus" & then a non-smoker gets into their gas-guzzling SUV and drives away. To me, that just isn't right.
• I would never smoke around those who disliked it; that would violate their choice for themselves. Telling smokers being considerate isn't enough, that they're NOT ALLOWED, is also a violation of their free will. People have been rationalizing not allowing people to choose for themselves thoughout all of history, without success of any kind. In point of fact it always escalates the issues. Learn from history, and look to our founders: they knew better.
• I would normally not have a problem with people smoking outside but they always do it right in front the doors and I have to hold my breath as I walk through the smoke screen. The shelters are too costly. Couldnt they just have a smoking zone that was away from the doors?
• I would prefer a non-smoking campus but I think it would be hard to enforce the policy. I went to a community college that had a smoking shelter that was mostly effective at keeping smokers away from doorways. I think that would be easier to enforce and wouldn't make a lot of smokers as angry as a completely smoke-free campus.
• I would prefer to enforce current smoking regulations (such as distance from doors) prior to spending any funds on "smoking" shelters. Designated smoking "rooms" in specific buildings (which already exist) would seem a more practical way to appease both smokers and non-smokers. I'm not certain that smoking bans discourage students from smoking. Smokers are also people, and they have a legal right to smoke, provided they are of age, and as this is a "living" community, not just a "visiting" or commuter campus, there should be adequate facilities available to make students who either choose or are required to live on campus to be made to feel welcome.
• I would rather NMU focus on other problems on campus besides smoking. I don't quite understand the need of this at the moment. NMU has been planning all of these changes for the next few years and at times I feel like it is change for the sake of change. I am not a smoker and I'm not a fan of being in a building with smokers, but as long as people are smoking outside, it doesn't bother me at all. I'm thinking that those great big smoke stacks around campus are probably taking more of a toll on my health than cigarettes.
• I would rather see some form of smoking restrictions on campus than nothing at all. Completely smoke free would be the best choice. It is very annoying to see the many smokers who don't follow the current rules of staying 30 feet from entrances of buildings such as the library. Since the current rules can't be followed, smoking should be completely banned.
• I would really like to see NMU become a smoke free campus because as of right now, posted on the doors of each campus building are signs that say no smoking within 20 feet of the building. This is obviously not being followed and I get very frustrated when I walk out of a building and I smell nothing but disgusting cigarette smoke. I am very allergic to cigarette smoke and when I walk out of a campus building into a cloud of smoke, it not only makes it hard for me to breathe, it makes me feel sick to my stomach. I am very glad to hear that NMU is considering becoming a smoke free campus and I support this movement completely.
• I would say let them smoke in their cars, and maybe shelters. Also I have always hated the smell and polluted walkways with ciggarette butts, this would make campus cleaner and healthier to everyone.
• I would see a decision to move to a smoke-free campus not so much as a "victory" for non-smokers and their "comfort," or even a condemnation toward smokers for their choice, but more as an overriding statement about the value NMU places on striving for a quality of health for students and faculty, as well as protection of the environment.
• I would support a smoke free campus around buildings and sidewalks but think it should not matter necesarily in the parking lots and peoples' own cars, even with the windows open, it isn't like it is getting in other peoples face or interfering with them in any way.
• I would support going smoke free if there were desig