Northern Michigan University - Smoking Survey Results

Keywords A to Z People

2008 Smoking Survey

Smoking Survey Results

Student Smoker 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.
a campus wide ban on smoking would be an overtly fascist and totalitarian policy
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 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 total smoking ban is a bad idea and unfair to the smokers. I don't see what the big deal is.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
Anyone thinking about a smoke free campus is not only selfish, but ignorant to the reality of this universities students and there personal rights.
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 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 long as ashtrays are available outdoors, I do not see a reason for going smoke-free.
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 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!
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
dont take away our rights!!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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!
Get a good football team
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.
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!
going smoke free is agains students rights.
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 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 will cause more problems for people then having it around
Going totally smoke free I view as an act of discrimination. Not accommodating at all and just dictating is not the american way.
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.
how cam you expect people to not smoke outside on campus when we live here!! This is dumb!!
How does smoking outside affect anyone? Unless someone blows smoke in your face... wth... who does that anyway?
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 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, 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 we all should have rights and choices.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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, 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 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 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 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 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 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 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'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 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 should be completely smoke-free, but have designated areas where smoking is allowed.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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, 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 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 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 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 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 to say that excluding smokers from anything is discrimination.
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 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 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 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 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 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 to have a cigarette after class. Please do not make the campus 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 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 really think that the university should consider making smoking shelters on campus...that way it benefits both smokers and non-smokers.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 either way you will have made a good choice.
I think have smoking shelters is the best idea that you have. There are just too many smokers to go 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 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 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 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 more effective to clearly mark 30 feet from the building and create additional revenue by ticketing any violators of the statute.
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 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 its bull. i dont care about the outcome of the survey, im gonna smoke outside on campus anyway.
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 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 people will still find a way to smoke even it is non smoking, just like drinking in the dorms.
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 even though smokers have a nasty habit it is no reason to descriminate against their right to a cigarette.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 smoking ban is a bad idea.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 let students do as they please. It isn't like everyone is going around blowing smoke in other kids faces.
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 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 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 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 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 go to another school if the policy changes!
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 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 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 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 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 support more restrictions and possibly harsher punishments for those violating the 30 foot rule. The smokeing near exterior door is the only thing I find annoying. However if smokers followed the rules already in place I personally believe that fewer people would have a problem with smokers.
I would support the use of smoking huts as long as students could still smoke outside as well and not only in the huts. Also i feel that this whole idea of making the campus smoke free is really a few people being anal and squandering the rights of others.
I wouldn't mind having smoking shelters, but placement would be a huge issue for me. If there isn't one near my residence hall and I have to walk 10 minutes just to have a smoke, it would be more inconvenient than say if someone were bothered by my smoking and asked me to move away from the doorway. 30 feet is more negotiable than a ten-minute hike in freezing weather. It seems like smokers are being discriminated against, and it doesn't seem fair that we should get shafted just because there's fewer of us and we don't complain as much as the non-smokers.
I'm fine with no smoking by the doors, but people should have the freedom to smoke in their cars and on the way to class in the open.
I'm not a heavy smoker,I smoke maybe once a week. But when i do want to go and smoke I would like to be able to smoke on campus and not have to go some where else. Smoking shelters could be an idea, I just don't think northern should go 100% smoke free. I honestly think it would cause more bad then good. Think of all of the students who would now be sneaking smoking in the dorms.......
I've been a smoker since I was 18, I can see how non-smokers hate being the once influenced by second hand smoke. I furthermore agree that we should look for a way that smokers and non-smokers can live peacefully with each other, but banning smoking from campus, making it smoke-free would go a bit far.
If I am outside smoking how is it bothering other people. Walk around me if you don't like it.
If it really bothers other people they can go to another entrance or walk around. ever try holding their breath when they walk by.
if nmu goes smoke free people will likely disregard it and just move out of the way a little, then either throw the ciggarette butts on the ground or put them in trash cans, hightening the risk of fires, i know because i would probably be one of the people smoking regardless of the potential ban.....coffee is addictive and unhealthy too but it's sold in the starbucks at nmu for 6 bucks a pop, don't fall into the pit of double standards, if you trade one thing for another you may end up losing both
if NMU goes smoke-free professors that smoke will not come to this campus. this will lead to limiting the professors that are available to the students that come to this university. making the professors that come to this universtiy second rate. this would be just like baseball before integration. the universities that dont limit smoking will be able to have more people to choose from and can provide a better education. students that smoke will not come to this campus. this will reduce the number of students that will come to this campus. i know i would not have come to NMU even if it was free if i had to leave campus to smoke. the added cost of police power to enforce this new rule and/or build smoking shelters would also force tuition to rise. this added price would force other students to choose another school because they would not be able to afford it. it is simple supply and demand, if you raise the price the quantity will go down. I beleive that making NMU smoke-free would be a big mistake. this will lower enrollment and limit our choices for professors.
If NMU were to go smoke free I would see no other choice then to leave NMU for another school.
if nmu were to go smoke free, it would be best to do it at a quicker pace or all at once. of course allowing time for students to get used to it. it may make or break the university. what many people fail to understand is that it's not only the non-smokers who hate walking behind a smoker or getting upset when someone is smoking by the doorway/entrance of a building. smoke in your face is offensive to everyone, but taking out right to smoke at all might upset some.
if people aren't allowed to smoke on campus, how will this be enforced? also, if this rule is applied, there will be a huge backlash of protests and people wanting other things to be stopped on campus (bikers are always running me off the sidewalk).
If people can no longer smoke outdoors than it might as well become completely illegal as all of our rights have completely been stripped. Further, it is absolutely ludacris to ban people from smoking in their own vehicle and I personally would igonre that rule regardless.
If smoking is an issue, then what about snuff? Cigarette butts lie all over campus but chew spit the same. Go tobacco free if anything; Nothing or all. As for parking lots, people should be allowed to smoke in their vehicle as well. The smoking shelters might work and seem to be a generally good idea. If anything, go with the shelters and have ADEQUATE smoke-less cans, not plastic.
If smoking is banned on campus, alcohol use should be as well. I think that the 30 ft rule needs to be more heavily enforced, even as a smoker, I do not think it is right for smokers to huddle around a building, and I do not do so. If smoking rules on campus are changed, the only fair new policy would be for designated smoking areas to be placed in strategic places on campus. I do not think it is fair to totally ban smoking on campus, especially for students who live on campus. I think students who ban the current policy, and the new policy if there is one, should be held responsible and disciplined to the full extent possible.
If someone chooses to smoke, that is their business; making the campus smoke-free limits anyones right to practice their right to smoke or not to smoke.
If someone wants to smoke they should at least be able to do it in their own car regardless if windows are down or not. A good chunk of the parking lots are seperated from campus so no one would see them, or feel they had to walk by them. What about smokers who live on campus?
If the problem is people smoking by doorways, why don't you actually start enforcing the "no smoking within 30 feet" rule? Just charge say a $5 fine unless it's in designated areas, such as the smoking areas for the different Student employment areas (Wildcat Den, Marketplace, etc.) I can see smoking by doorways being annoying, as you're leaving a clean air building to be assaulted by smoke. However once you're away from the doors, the smoke has more than enough time to dissipate before it could cause any health problems. It's not fair to discriminate against part of the student body just because the other part doesn't like the smell, appearance, etc. of their LEGAL habit. As to the smoker stations, I don't particularly mind the idea, if for no other reason that I'll know where I can find a lighter at any given time. However, I predict you'll start getting complaints of smoker's feeling humiliated by being put on display in a box away from the "healthy" people, just because they have an addictive habit. If people suddenly decided that the sound of chewing gum was as annoying as the smell of cigarette smoke, would you put them in soundproof "chewer's stations"? No, and then people would be calling you crazy for considering it. The funny part is that gum isn't addictive, yet nicotine is, and yet the smoker's are stigmatized. Personally, I think the best idea would be to do the fines for smoking too close to buildings, use that to pay for both smoker stations AS WELL AS more support for people to stop smoking, so that this isn't even an issue. As a final note, I'll just point out, people don't follow the "don't smoke within 30 feet" rule for doorways as it is. What makes you think that they'll follow a rule for smoking in designated stations? And how do you plan on paying for the increased public safety to catch the people that AREN'T smoking in the stations?
If the university goes smoke free I will transfer to another school.
If there is a complete and full ban, how do you enforce it? I will not pay a fine, or preform any sort of duty for NMU. It's my right, it's not illegal. I will, however, smoke away from the doors.
If there were designated smoking shelters, and those were the only places on campus where smokers could smoke, I would be supportive of making the rest of campus smoke-free.
If there were smoking stations set up, I think students would use them. It is the best alternative to banning smoking entirely. Students who do not want to be around these stations can easily avoid them, and students who want to smoke will be able to.
If you are going to enforce an entirely smoke free campus, wouldn't that cost more than building smoking shelters?
If you are going to make campus smoke free then take out the pop machines and vending machines. Everyone has their own bad habits. I do not see anyone restricting the obese people on campus getting bigger and bigger with their own fix. I am a considerate smoker and do not think I should not be allowed to smoke. I am so sick of being restricted on the choices I make. There is so much heat about second hand smoke, well outside it is not hurting anyone. We are adults, there is not any children around, it is our own choice.
If you control smoking, what else will you control? It's a college campus, let adults figure out what they like and don't like on their own.
If you don't want the smoke getting into and by the doorways, then don't put the metal smoke stations next to the door.
If you make it a non-smoking you'll lose a lot of students!
if you make this a smoke free campus, good luck trying to get ppl to stop smoking... its a bad idea
if you put butt bins noear the doorways there would be less mess from butts. I thought NMU celebrated diversity? does this not include my choice to smoke? outdoor smoking does not affect non smokers
In Marquette we have enough smoke free areas as well as on campus, I think smokers have the right to smoke at least outside and in their own vehicles and homes. Taking away these rights will in my opinion harm NMU in attendance and takes smokers rights away completely. This is ridiculous.
In my opinion, even if there were Smoking Shelters similar to the Wildcat shuttle bus shelters, it would not make a difference. The majority of the time, students are either walking to or from class, or outside of their dormitories while smoking. If these smoking shelters were to be built, what difference would they make other than to shelter the smokers from the wind and cold? The smoke would still be traveling across campus. As a smoker and student, it would be nice to have these shelters to block the wind and cold, but I personally don't see a purpose other than that. As long as the smokers are the legal limit away from the entry-ways, I don't see a problem with allowing students and faculty to smoke on campus. Thank you for allowing everyone to voice their opinion, and I look forward to hearing the final decision.
In my opinion, smoke free campus is a good idea. Majority of people do not smoke and second hand smoke should not interfer with non smokers. I truly do not have a problem with campus being smoke free. I offer my suggestion that smoking at this time of change should, however, be allowed in private vehicles and the parking lot. An area away from the building and away from other students.
In my own opinion, I find it pretty hard to make this campus a smoke free one. Not to mention that there is a possibility the univeristy will not only lose students but faculty as well.
In spite of the negative aspects of smoking, for smokers quiting is very difficult. In addition, many smokers simply don't want to quit and since it is not illegal, smoking is a matter of choice. However, the rights of non-smokers must be respected as well. Therefore, designated smoking areas seem to be the most reasonable and fair solution. Otherwise, many will feel as if personal boundaries are being invaded - specifically, the right to make decisions concerning one's own body. Keeping in mind the issues at hand, spending money to build shelters for smokers seems like a waste. If smokers want to smoke, I don't see anything wrong with being a little cold while they do it. If they don't want to deal with the elements, they are welcomed to quit smoking.
In today's world we are trying to be our brother's keeper more and more. Civil Rights are being pushed to the backburner under the guise that public safety will be improved. I thought we lived in America, not behind the iron curtain. Just as I would support your right to smoke cigarettes ( a legal substance mind you), you should support my right to as well. It is a slippery slope to outlaw smoking because it might not just end there, in the future something you might like will be taken from you. There are things that people do that bug me as well, how about the people who put on way too much cologne or perfume and I have to sit behind them, should I be able to tell them they can't wear that cologne because it bothers me. No I should not because I believe in civil rights and if what you are doing is only hurting yourself, then you should be able to do it. I just don't buy the indirect arguement that my smoking harms you, especially if I am doing it outside not in a building. Please do not make Northern Michigan University smoke free, just as I should not be able to tell you how to run your life, you should not be able to tell me how to run mine. Thank you.
Is it not true that public universities are not allowed to put something like this into affect? If I wanted a smoke free campus I would have found a PRIVATE school where they are allowed to do that. In Marquette it doesnt really matter about smoking outside. The wind whips between the buidlings and dorm halls that smoke doesn't even matter. If you are having this many people complain about smokers by the doors build shelters for us to move away from the doors, but don't make the whole campus smoke free. You will have MANY upset and disgruntled students.
is there really a problem here? no ones smoking inside so who are we bothering? people? are they going to be out in the world and expect people not to smoke outside? it just doesn't make much sence to me.
It doesn't matter what kind of policy you put in effect, people are still going to smoke. You don't have the manpower to enforce the policy anyway. A smoke free campus would only increase the amount of violations of the policy, not decrease the amount of smokers on campus. Smoking is bad. We have had that message shoved down our throats since middle school. If people want to smoke, there is nothing you can do.
it is a persons choice to smoke. i think that by being a public university, people who smoke are entitled to their rights. if people dont like others smoking, stay away from the party smoking. why should someone who smokes have to change their life to cater to those who dont smoke, even though they are the minority.
It is good how it is everyone i know who smokes on campus thou there butts in the cans that are place there
It is illogical to deprive a college student of their stress relief, regardless of its status as a vice. Extraneous variables need be considered--for example, some students need nicotine to concentrate! Be prepared for a serious drop in registration for courses more than 50 minutes in addition to a fall in grades for students who smoke if this is enacted. I feel this is a serious infraction of rights, and if I were not graduatiing in May I would more likely than not transfer out of principle. Thank you for your time.
it is much easier for nonsmokers to stay away from smokers than it is for smokers to go off campus every time they want a cigarette. They are legal for people eighteen and older so that shouldn't be taken away from people who smoke because it is not fair. I understand nonsmokers dont want to be around smoke but it is not like they have to smell it all day, just as they walk past people for one second. It is not fair to people who smoke that they would have to go off campus every hour for a cigarette, that is ridiculous.
It is time to go smoke free.
It would be unfair to current students who are smokers to ban smoking on campus, especialy to those students who live on campus. A better way to deal with it would be to actualy give out tickets to those who don't follow the rule of smoking a certain distance from doorways and provide them with an alternative shelter farther from the buildings that would protect them from the weather.
It's a personal choice to smoke or not. I don't think it really bothers people that much, if others smoke on their way to class and such. I can see where it can be a problem when smokers smoke so close to the doors, and if there were enough smoking shelters, where you wouldn't have to walk a mile to get to them, it wouldn't be a problem.
It's an infringment on my rights as a citizen to not be able to smoke outdoors wherever I please, because it is not like the smoke is filling up a building and annoying people. How can someone be bothered by smoke that doesnt even hang around them at all. The 30 foot boundry by buildings is fare enough and anything besides that is unconstitutional for me to do what I want, except in aspects of smoking in buildings which I agree is innapropriate and is bad for people who don't smoke. I would never pay a ticket for smoking on campus, in fact i would burn it with my cigarette and light up another one
It's Everyones air don't take smoking away asshole.
It's not that big of a deal. Smoking is smoking! We dont blow it in peoples faces, we stay away from the doorways, why is everone making such a big deal about it?!?!!?!?!??!
It's wrong to take away a person's right. Granted, people shouldn't smoke by doorways. I think that's wrong in the respect that there are non-smokers that attend NMU and simply cannot stand the smell or the smoke. If a smoker is going to continue to smoke they should do so out of the way of others. This does not mean that I support NMU going smoke-free because I am a smoker myself. And the fact that you are trying to say you're going to make the whole campus smoke-free, including inside one's own car, is completely wrong. I can tell you right now that if this happens I will continue to smoke inside my car on campus because it's not hurting anyone else but myself. I won't be the only one to continue to do so, all other smokers won't abide by the rule either simply because it's foolish. It's MY car, MY lungs, MY choice what I decide to do with my life. Smokers shouldn't have to go all the way off-campus just to smoke a single cigarette. That's ridiculous. You need to take into consideration how many students you will be losing from the university if this happens, because a decent percentage of NMU students are smokers and they aren't going to want this "smoke-free" deal to go into effect.
its a students choice to smoke the 30 feet away from foor policy is enough
its stupid to even think about making it a smoke free campus!
Ive actually recently quit... and i still believe this policy would is asinine. It also seem completely unenforceable.
Just because I am a smoker this did was not the only influence with my answers. No smoking should not be allowed in doors. No you should not limit to car windows up that is totally rediculious. Do you really think second hand smoke is relavent when smoking outdoors!
Let the people smoke if they want to, keep them outside, 20ft away from the doors and I have no problem with them.
Let the smoker's smoke.
Lets not take away peoples rights! Thank you!
loss of attendance
Making a smoking ban is just another way you will find to fine people and make more money.
Making nmu a smoke free campus is a clear violation of student rights and evidence that NMU doesn't repect its students but infantalized them. "Higher education" should be about what goes on in the classroom and any student that feels their student life is infringed on by an occasional cloud of smoke outdoors should probably be doing something else with their lifes.
Making NMU a smoke free campus is not something that I support at all. Smokers as well as non-smokers have rights, and one of our basic rights is the right to be happy and smoking makes me happy. I fully support and agree with building smoking shelters, the only reason that I ever smoke near buildings is to stay out of the rain and to keep out of the wind. Making smoking only allowed in private vehicles with the windows up is only beneficial to those who have cars, which I do not. So that would only be a solution for a small majority of smokers, not the majority.
Many people smoke by choice. I went to madison and the taverns went smoke free and that was not nice. School on the other hand should only be smoke free in buildings. Freedom of choice to wreck your body is what America was built on. I support the shelters.
Me and most my friends are smokers. I know that it would be a huge inconvience if there was no where to smoke on campus. Every morning on the way to class I smoke a cig, with being smoke free i would not be able to do this and would not be in a good mood every morning
My general responses seem like "I want to smoke", not so please. If I choose to smoke, I find an area so removed, I appear antisocial. Could simple areas be set as to, "if you smoke, stand over there; rain, wind or snow ?" My habit is filthy, why should I impose it ???
My only comment on all of this, and coming from a smoker is......Why are the cigarette butt cans so close to the doors, and another thing, why are they always on fire and smelling like hell? Just curious, you may want to take care of that situation before going completely smoke free. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
My only problem with smoking on campus is walking through any door on campus and having to inhale second-hand smoke. I dont want to smell like second-hand smoke either while im sitting in class.
My rights as a smoker have been infringed on enough. If I am no longer legally allowed to smoke on the sidewalks, I will transfer to another school.
Nicotine seems to calm some people down more, and allow them to alleviate some of their academic stress. Smoking also serves as a social activity where students who smoke create bonds of friendship and comradery. If the campus was to become completely smoke free the stress would go on and get worse, and the bonds between smoking students would be non-existant.
NMU is the personification of a guide not a parent. I agree smoking is an inconvenience, but an outright ban on smoking is ridiculous
NMU should be ashamed of itself to think it can keep someone from smoking in their private vehicles. I would sue if such a rule was inacted for violation of my civil rights. How dare you think you can tell me taht I can not smoke in my own Auto that I paid for.
NMU should be smoke-free but if a smoker wants to smoke in the parking lot or in their car they should be allowed.
No one else is being hurt from smoking outside, give it up. Too many students would be negatively impacted by this change.
No school should be smoke free it is like trying to take away freedom of speech. The school forces us to live in the dorms for 2 years and then wants to take smoking away from us also. This isn't school its like living in a jail cell. People are trying to take smoking away from smokers what if we toke something away from others and see what they would have to say. One other fact is how are you going to make people stop smoking, is everyone that gets caught smoking going to get a ticket from public safety because that is ridiculous.
None
Nuclear Pakistan is in the begging stages of a civil war. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza are slowly being starved to death. 5 million men woman and children have died in the past 10 years in the Congo. Not to mention the Michigan primary that went unnoticed by the student body. In all seriousness, is “smoking” what NMU should be focusing on right now?
ok heres the thing...of course this policy is great for non-smokers..but i do not think you guys are seeing it from the smoker's point of view. So one of the questions is about smoking in a car with the windows closed...are you kidding that's really stupid, disgusting and just awkward. I guarantee more than half of the student's that go here smoke, and the committee who made this survey is most likely filled with non-smokers.
One choice not offered is to allow people to smoke in their cars with the windows open. I cannot imagine sitting in a closed-in car filled with smoke and no outlet for it.
People are going to smoke if they are going to smoke and I think making our personal vehicles and a campus that we pay thousands of dollars to attend should have enough money to accomodate the smokers on campus with shelters. Even if that isn't possible (which I don't see why it wouldn't considering the amount it costs per credit hour, for a parking pass etc.) the campus itself should not be smoke free because people are paying big money to be here, if it did become strict on no smoking, I wouldn't be surprised if you lost students.
people are going to smoke no matter what. giving students a ticket will only anger them about the school. Also how would this be enforced? More man power=larger paychecks=more money out of the students pockets=shitty economy
people have the right to smoke i mean if it wasnt for tobacco our country wouldnt be where it is at today. Tobacco played a great part of building this country and if someone wants to smoke they shouldnt be outcasted by that choice. as far as im concerned removing smoking off of campus is a form a profiling and that is wrong
People need to grow up and quit their dam complaining all the time. If we are gonna go smoke free then we should go vehicle free, because they throw more chemicals in the air the a cigarette and can cause more damage to every body's lungs. The second hand smoke people breath for two seconds walking by smoker outside has no effect on them what so ever. I as a smoker have had to accommodate to non-smokers long enough. I am tired of everyones bitching on this. It is my body and if I want to smoke i will, even if you try to stop smoking on campus I will still do it. As far as I am concerned you have no right to tell me what i can and can not do with my own body. I am not hurting anyone by standing off to the side and smoking a cigarette except for my self but that is my right. If this university was smoke-free i would have never came up here. I am an adult, I should be able to do what ever i want as long as i do not hurt any other person. the truth about second hand smoke is that it is not harmful. http://www.davehitt.com/facts/
People smoke it's an addiction that's really hard to break, I don't condemn people for smoking, just like this community doesn't condemn people with a retardation or anything like that. Generally speaking smoking is more like a handicap, some people have it some don't. The ones that don't are applauded and the ones who do get banned from places that are to "sophisticated" for smoking.
People smoke outside so i really dont see it as a health issue. I dont like that people throw their butts all over the place but if you can't deal with the smell of smoke for 2 seconds while you are walking there is something seriously wrong with you. Personally as someone who rides my bike i find exhaust from cars annoying and harmful. I will quit smoking on campus when people stop driving on campus. Maybe you should make campus car free. Northern Naturally!
People will smoke. People will always smoke unless cigarettes are made illegal, and even then people will smoke. I am trying to quit smoking, but even then banning smoking everywhere on campus isn't exactly fair. Designated smoking areas, like the area by Thomas Fine Arts, seems like it would be helpful in this situation. Restricting smoking to certain areas would also help to reduce litter from cigarette butts as those smoking would be forced to be near a put out station.
Personally, I think making the campus smoke-free would just be a hassle. I think people would continue to smoke outdoors because i do not believe NMU has the manpower to stand around handing out tickets all day. I think the giant plastic ashtrays would work if they weren't full all the time and/or if they were in more convenient places. I've personally thrown cigarette butts on the ground when I couldn't find anything to throw them in. I would guess that the littering is probably NMU's number one complaint. It personally angers me that people complain about smoking outdoors, which is why I don't understand the "no smoking in parking lots or in private vehicles". Long story short, I think if you can control the littering, maybe by threatening to take away smoking, you'll have less complaints, and the campus won't have small piles of cigarette butts everywhere.
place more cigarette butt containers around the campus. Although i smoke i don't litter my butts.
please consider some kind of option for us smokers please don't take our first amendent right away it would be totally un ethical. thankyou
Please do not discriminate..maybe you should have NMU campus be completely caffeine free also, thats also bad for your health.
Please do not impose on our freedom of choice!
Please dont take away our right to smoke on campus, it is a stress reliever in between challenging classes.
Please try to remember that smokers are people too. Instead of being so worried about people smoking cigarettes, why don't you give a shot at actually craking down on DRINKING on this campus. What about drug use? When is the last time you actually spoke with students in the residence halls? Do you have any idea how many students are drinking day upon day? How about how many students are taking drugs like LSD, cocaine, and estacy? Stop wasting university money, time, and resources on something as trival (and LEGAL) as smoking, and work on the big issues first!
Punishing students for having an addition seems to me immoral.
Put up the smoking shelters, make some of the entrances to buildings smoke free entrances, and attempt to appease both smokers and non-smokers before taking such a drastic step as to outlaw smoking on the entire campus.
School is one of the major reasons that I smoke. It relaxes me when I am stress during the times in between classes. I am not saying that it's fair for people to stand right next to the doors and smoke, even though there are signs saying not to, but there should be some area where smokers are allowed to go and it should NOT be an enclosed shelter area.
School is stressful...Tobacco use such as smoking eases people's stress levels. Are you as a University ready to deal with many aggravated smokers on campus?
Seems quite 'big brotherly' and overbearing. A University is NOT supposed to be 'close minded' or prejudice against any individual - for any reason.
smoka for life
Smoke in your cars with the windows up. That is one of the worst ideas I have ever heard.
smokeing areas are good, but you'll just cause problems going smoke free. have the people in smokeing shelters outside, that way people are away from everything.
smoker have just as much right as non-smokers!! you are goin to be segregating your campus. we don't smoke inside and that is good enough. it does not negitivly effect anyone to walk by a smoker. They have the choose to walk around or plug their nose. you can sit by a car and inhale more smoke that is even worse for them!!!! this is ridiculous. this is a public university and smokers are part of the public!!!
Smokers are already discriminated against enough, the University shouldn't discriminate against smokers also. Smoking outside doesn't effect anyone but the smoker.
Smokers are people too damn it!
smokers around the country are being told where they can and cannot have a cigarette. as people of this country we have a given right to have a cigarette and should be able to have it where ever we see fit. i am personally getting sick of non smokers complaining about second hand smoke and everything else. if people dont like smoke and smokers then stay away from areas in which people do smoke!
Smokers have just as much as a right to the campus as everyone else. If there are huge concerns about second hand smoke don't go outside or near a person that is smoking. Plain and simple. There are a ton of people that would quit coming here if campus became smoke free.
smokers have right 2, dont infringe upon ours, cuz something we like to do bothers them a little, we arnt attacking people, we r making a slightly unpleasant smell to some people.
smokers have rights to, and by banning smoking on campus your killing our right to smoke
Smokers have rights to. The 30ft rule is good enough as it is. Not to mention that there are plents of students who smoke and to deny them that right will have a impact on small business around the NMU area.
smokers have rights too!
Smokers have rights too. Cigarettes are a legal product sold in all states. If you ban smoking on campus, you need to stop drinking and parties. Where will it all end? More and more of our rights are taken away because of a few people complaining. The reason people smoke in front of the doors is because most of the ashtrays are placed there. If you want people to be so far away from the building move the ashtrays and set up areas around each building allowing smoking.
Smokers have rights, taking away my right to smoke on campus severely influences my views of NMU.
Smokers like to smoke, just leave us alone. How about some more outdoor ashtrays? I really don't think we're ruining everyones life. Thre is 'no smoking' everywhere else in Marquette, leave the walk from school to our cars (and while we're IN our cars) ALONE! That is my time, to do with as I please, smoking is a LEGAL act, and done completely outside at NMUs Campus. Really, this is ridiculous.
Smokers should be allowed to smoke on campus as long as they throw the butts away in the designated containers. i think it is unfair to change rules in favor of the non-smokers, everyone should go by the same rules. Quit judgeing the smokers!
Smokers: the new second class citizen
Smoking ban will only agitate the smokers on campus. Smoking rooms or smoking shelters is a fair compromise. Students who are smokers cam here with an expectation that they could smoke, so even if the ban goes through, I feel that there shoudl atleast be a grandfather clause for those students already enrolled at NMU.
smoking in cars with your windows closed? that doesn't make any sense. we should be allowed to open the windows... the parking lots are already blocks away from the buildings. you're not bothering anyone there. if people aren't allowed to smoke on campus they're going to go stand across the street in front of people's houses and throw their cigarettes all over their yards. the campus will get complaints from that.
Smoking is a choice just like putting pants on in the morning. If you were to ban a civil liberty of students at NMU it is considered, segregation.
smoking is a choice that we make in our lives. why should we be punished for this choice. if nmu wished to go smoke free then there should be places that smokers can go to smoke. designated smoking areas would be the best idea. create a covered area for us and many would use it. thank you for letting us express our views.
Smoking is a legal right, and should not be governed by the school at all.
Smoking is a personal choice, just like choosing NMU.
smoking is a personal choice. I would feel like I was back in High school if NMU became a smoke free campus. I don't agree with the litter of the butt's and I believe that should be inforced more or a treat to go non smoking campus, but I strongly disagree with the idea. Smoking is what keeps half of us sane!
Smoking is a personal choice. It is understandable that all public buildings are smoke free, but how can you keep a person from smoking outside. are there not enough laws. Am I an adult or a child. Telling someone they cant smoke outside on campus is like telling someone not to spit on sidewalks. what is the next rule after that? and after that? and after that. GUSTAPO!!!
Smoking is a right and i beleive that doing it outdoors harms no one but the person smoking, so why say that they cant smoke. Where are the students supposed to go and have a cigarette if the campus is smoke free? Go and stand out on the road?
smoking is a right just like any other that is granted to all American citizens. If smoking is to be banned from this campus, then the University is taking part in limiting the freedoms of its student body and therefore is presenting itself as a suppressive organization who is willing to appease the whims of a few students whom deem smoking as a horrible habit. Also, it is true, one's rights extend as far as another's, it is also a non smokers right to have their doorway free from smoke. As it is now the school requires smokers to be at least 30 feet away from all campus buildings, which in the Spring, Summer, and Fall seasons this is not a problem. But in the winter, which is notorious for very cold temperatures, many students don't wish to be exposed to the open air and freeze as they smoke. So if shelters where to be provided, then everyone would be appeased and no one side would be completely left out on this matter and everyone would be given equal protection of their individual rights.
Smoking is a stress reliever for me, as well as for many fellow students I know. I smoke when I take breaks from studying, or after a stressful day. It helps calm me down and give me a quick pick me up. Now if I were to have to walk out to my car and drive off campus every time I took a break from studying, my breaks would soon become much longer and quite a bit less enjoyable. I would also not support the "private vehicle with the windows up" solution as I am sure that anyone who has ever smoked in a car with all the windows up would not. For one person smoking one cigarette I am sure it would be tolerable, but smoking is also quite often a social event that gives people ten minutes to catch up with their friends. So now imagine four people smoking in a car with the windows up. Now I do not have a problem standing the required distance from the door, but in driving snow it does get harder to move further away. I would be all for some little pavilions in the courtyard. If it would help, I would even volunteer to help build them. So far this is the best idea I have heard, but if everyone is hell bent on taking away smoking then please phase out gradually so I can graduate before it affects me. -Jonathan Walker
Smoking is a very bad habit that i picked up while walking through the clouds here at NMU. Eliminate it on campus.
Smoking is an extremely hard and bad habit to break. It would be wonderful thing to see some form of smoking shelters put up in various places at NMU and the Jacobetti building.
Smoking is legal, to those of us above the age of 18. As long as it is legal, my right to smoke should not be compromised. What if we tried to ban certain perfumes/colognes, because of the harm to animals or the ozone? What if we regulate where you can drive? The list goes on and on........
Smoking is not good for anyone but completly banning smoking is not fair, and rude smokers have a right its not like we hold people down and blow smoke in there face. Where are we going to go except for areas by the doors to stay out of the wind! To ban smoking on campus is rediculus and if i wasnt a year away from graduating i would transfer if that was the case
Smoking is not that big of a problem at NMU. Yes I do realize that people know it is unhealthy but when smokers are respectful and smoke outside it just doesn't make that big of a difference. I personally think it is ridiculous that this is happening.
Smoking is one of my ways to relax and really helps me especially when I am really stressed due to school work. Take that away and it might be very hard for me to study.
Smoking is primarily a health issue; not a moral one. As long as we keep that in mind, whatever decision is made I will support.
smoking is something that helps students get through bad times and is not something that you should be able to take away. There is a 21 and older dorm so I think there should be a smoking dorm. And actually on campus i think you cant take that right away to smoke on your way to and from classes
Smoking is still legal and we should have the right to smoke if we so choose.
Smoking OUTDOORS does not pose any risk to others.. Absolutely ZERO risk!!
Smoking outdoors should never pose as a problem.
smoking outside doesn't seem to be a problem for my friends that are non-smokers. for those non-smokers who believe even smoking outdoors is a problem, smoking shelters seem to be the most logical solution.
smoking rooms (?) will make all of us late for class when we 10 minutes to run to our next class
Smoking shelters would be the best way to go. If NMU becomes a smoke free campus i can tell you right now i would keep smoking until someone kicked my off of this campus. Also, has anyone thought about how many people would leave over something like that? I know the majority of my friends would.
So many people smoke, it will be ridiculous if it's smoke free. Just leave it how it is, everything is going fine.
stopping smoking around the academic buildings is one thing- private vehicles, and outside of the dorms is another!
students who smoke don't want to walk a mile to the nearest smoke shelter this would be an inconvenience for a lot of students.
Taking away my right to smoke is wrong, its my choice to smoke, I do not blow my smoke into others faces, nor do I act rude while smoking outside in between classes. If non-smokers are complaining about it, there are mulitple entrances to every building to where they could circumvent the smoke,I support having "desginated" areas to smoke which I already abide by. But to say I cannot smoke anywhere outside or even in my truck and to possibly punish me for those actions is not your right to do so as a public university.
taking away the liberties of students faculty and staff here at nmu is a horrible idea
the addition of smoke-free politics is a waste of time, all it does is keep people on the payroll from discussing more important issues. I don't see any problems in the policies as they stand at the moment. Their are not enough smokers on campus to have it make much of a difference anyways. So please, quit wasting my money.
the air is the air no matter where you smoke. by making NMU a smoke free campus, you will be causing more problems than solving any. the smokers all generally hang otu in the same areas, and you can avoid them. not only that, but most people smoke inbetween classes and on their way back to their room. it is not fair to the smokers to take it away. a nicotine craving can throw off your whole day if you cant smoke and not everyone can afford the necessary tools needed to quit. its favoring non smokers over smokers, and that is not fair. To ensure that smokers are able to be successful in college, you need to have NMU a smoking campus. otherwise, it will negativly affect enrollment rates, and graduating rates. ITS A BAD IDEA TO MAKE NMU A NON SMOKING CAMPUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The current policy is sufficent. Second hand smoke, which is repeatedly brought up as the main concern, is not harming non-smokers when smokers are ouside in the open air. Why aren't real concerns being addressed (such as lack of parking) instead of this foolishness?
The idea of making NMU a smoke free campus is absolutely absurd to me. I can understand smoke free dorms, smoke free classrooms, and even the 30 feet away from entrances policy, but what I can’t understand is being forced to remove myself from campus just to enjoy a cigarette. The concept is unfeasible. If I’m in the library studying for exams and feel the need for a cigarette, I would be forced to walk or ride my bike so far away that I would feel uncomfortable leaving my belongings unattended, I would be wasting valuable time by gathering all of my books and saving all of my documents, packing up my belongings and getting off campus to smoke a cigarette, just to have to repeat the process in reverse. It’s an inefficient process that would cause me to waste precious resources such as time and money just so that people can remain oblivious to the fact that there are college students in this world who enjoy smoking a cigarette from time to time. Please, keep the current system in place; it’s the only way to ensure that everyone remains mildly happy. Smokers have the inconvenience of going 30 feet away from building entrances while non-smokers have the inconvenience of keeping their distance from students who smoke. Thank you for your consideration.
The littering of cigarette butts, I believe, should be addressed.
The major issue I have with NMU going smoke-free is that I feel as an adult it is my choice to smoke. I do not see an issue with having areas where smoking can happen, but I feel banning it from PRIVATE cars is a little to extreme! I know I have stated that it's my choice to smoke of not but it is also the choice of those who do not want to smoke to not be around it, I feel areas is the best choice for the campus.
The major problem with the current smoking situation on campus is that the 'butt-bins' are located right in front of building entrances! If you don't move THOSE 30 ft away from the building, the people aren't going to stay 30 ft away from the building. I have also noticed an increased amount of litter (butts) 30 ft from the building - which is a negative that could easily be fixed by moving the bins 30 ft from the building before forcing the campus to go smoke-free. I personally smoke in my car while on campus, rarely do I smoke next to the building entrances. If I do, I am courteous to those coming and going by stepping out of the direct line of entrance and being 30 ft from the building. On a more personal level, I feel discriminated against as a smoker. I work at MGH which is a smoke-free campus and if NMU follows suit ... where would be an 'acceptable' place for me to smoke? It is my decision to smoke, I realize the dangers of smoking and second hand smoke exposure and do what I can to protect others who do not smoke and are offended by it. I personally would like to see an alcohol-free campus, but what would students say about that? It would certainly never be passed, but some people are as offended by alcohol as other are about smoking.
The money spent to enforce a smoke free campus needs to be put toward other measures such as hiring faculty.
the policy discriminates against all students that are smokers, you cant try to shun a population of which many students on campus are!
The problem I see going smoke-free is that you are taking away a persons freedom, yes smoking can effect others around you and to ignore that would be wrong but by forcing beliefs upon others to choose your way of life smoke free or smoker is also wrong, the smoking shelts seems like a nuetral choice, allowing people to smoke in designated areas would be an acceptable solution but you must make them convient enough that you arent singling them out to have to walk a unreasonable distance. Unreasonable distances would cause people to violate the rules and you would have to have a "Smoking Police" on campus which would be a extremely negativaly viewed.
The shelters would be most loved and supported by smokers if they were heated. This non smoking campus violates our individual rights and freedom of choice. Building these huts would only cluster our sweet campus. WHY IS THE ADMINISTRATION TRYING TO MAKE CHOICES FOR US, NMU CANT AFFORD TO DO THIS!!!!!! The types of people who attend this school couldnt deal with this change, this is like having a smoking sighn on your cigarette break stupid thing to try and acknowledge into public universities, retarded.
The way I see it, cigarettes are still legal to purchase and consume. Yes, it's bad for everyone's health and flung cigarette butts are an eyesore and will eventually make their way into the lake if they aren't put into a garbage can somewhere. That being said, I feel that banning smoking on the entire campus, whether you are in a parking lot or outside of a building would be a relatively steep toll for students who haven't actually done anything wrong. Cigarettes are good at relieving stress, and long days on campus are stressful. And smoking in a vehicle with the windows rolled up? For real? That was someone's suggestion? I think that smoking outside should not be a problem for anyone, especially if smokers are keeping a decent distance from doors and walkways (30 feet seems a little excessive, actually). If one of the main concerns is students/staff being bothered by the smell as the walk in and out of buildings, you guys should probably go ahead and ban perfume, body spray, cologne, etc, too. Some people put way too much of that stuff on, AND they're allowed to wear it inside where people who do not want to smell it can't get away (I'm serious about this). The idea of the shelters is pretty good, but unless there are enough of them and they are distributed evenly throughout campus, then they probably aren't going to be as effective as you'd like them to be. Sometimes people only have 5 or 10 minutes between classes, and they might not have time to hike halfway across campus to a shelter to smoke before their next class starts. I understand the need for President Wong to maintain the health and wellbeing of the students and faculty here at NMU, but I feel that by making the entirety of campus non-smoking he would be doing a great disservice to students and staff alike who have, for all intents and purposes, done nothing wrong.
The world is becoming politically correct to the point that it disgusts me. Prohibiting smoking inside is understandable. Prohibiting it within thirty feet of any building entrance is reasonable. Prohibiting it completely is absurd, unfair, and unenforcible. There are so many smokers on campus it is foolish to think that smoking at NMU or anywhere can be stopped. The Volstead act and "the end of reefer madness" in 1937 are two prime examples of failed attmpts to curb the use of psychoactive chemicals for "public health" or moral purposes. If smoking is not permitted on campus not only will it make a smoker's life much more difficult (i.e. walking five blocks for a cigarette or risk getting caught)it will do non-smokers no good at all. Simply smelling a cigarette outdoors poses no risk to one's personal health whatsoever. I think that the campus police have enough to worry about already aside from a cigarette. It takes all day for three of them to drive around campus in their golf cart while one writes tickets for minor infractions pertaining to over-priced parking stickers. In other words, your endless rules and extortions have given me enough headaches and now you want to take away my ability to deal with them by creating another one to prevent me from smoking a cigarette.
There are many people that are smokers. I think it is only far to those smokers that it does not become a smoke free campus. You already took away smoking in side and now smokers are forced to smoke out side in the freezing cold, rain or shine. I think that it is un far to tell someone they cant smoke, when you know they are going to do it anyways. I do under stand were non-smokers want to get rid of it but they dont smoke and they are not in a position where they would have to drive or walk some where just to have a smoke break. Many people use smoking as a tool, to help them consintrat more or to quit drinking or quit outher thing. So i beleave that you should not become a smoke free campus. If you wanted to move smokers away from the doors then move the ash tray away from the door and put a pavillion up for smokers to be sheltered away from rain and snow. So then they would not be by the doors. Thats just a idea. Thank you!
There are several ways that the smoking conflict can be remedied without infringing on a person's right to smoke whether it be outside or in private vehicles. Smoking shelters would be the best solution provided there is some sort of fine or sanction to those that continue to smoke in front of buildings. People continue to smoke directly outside of buildings because there is no one enforcing the 30 foot rule (with the exception of the residence halls). Shelters would serve a dual purpose, keeping non smokers from having to walk through the smoke, and keeping smokers away from builing doors. I find it completely ridiculous to have rules that are not enforced. I am a smoker and I don't like it when people smoke in front of the building doors, but since there is no fine for people to pay they will continue. And then it comes out in a complaint that non smokers are tired of it and smoking should simply be banned from campus. It's a bit extreme, smoking shelters wouldn't cost a lot of money and would resolve most of the issue, instituting fines for those that continue to break the 30-foot rule would resolve the rest of the problems and possibly pay for the smoking shelters. I am also curious about the constitutionality of telling a person he or she cannot smoke in his/her private vehicle.
There are some many students at northern and i believe that if you did taking smoking away from the smokers thant your enrollment level would drop. i may be a smoker but i'm not as big of a smoker as some. Definately go with the smoking shelters that would even be a plus for the smokers in the winter. Don't take it away completely it might have a negative affect.
there is a lot of smokers to have a nonsmoking campus. i think there would be alot of tikits to a lot of people.
There is no way you can enforce students to not smoke on campus, there has to be some compromise other than banning it.
There is plenty of fresh air outside already and it is free. Think about it. Michael
There needs to be compromise. Trying to go smoke free wont keep kids from smoking on campus. Instead it will create more work for those trying to police it. Make designated smoking areas. Empty the butt containers and make sure there available for smokers to use. I think the shelters would be a good way to handle the situation, keeping in mind there needs to be some ventilation in them.
There should be a way that smokers and non-smokers can live harmoniously together. Stricter enforcement of smoking near entrances could help or smoking sections - making campus non-smoking is going to seriously aggrevate many, many people. I would plan to leave campus between classes instead of staying on and supporting campus businesses like Fiera's Starbucks and the Wildcat den. I know several other people who would also leave campus instead of staying between classes.
There should be areas where students can be able to smoke. I actually feel there should be a room in each dorm where students should be able to smoke as well, but I know that probably won't happen. There are a lot of smokers on campus and to make NMU a completely non-smoking campus would outrage them...especially the students living in the dorms because administration FORCES freshman and sophomores who don't live nearby stay in the dorms, and they don't take into consideration whether or not they smoke. I feel that just because I have made a choice to smoke, I shouldn't be ostracized for it. I came to college to learn and to open my mind, but how is my independence supposed to be encouraged when there are limits on what I can do with my own life? It upsets me that NMU may become a completely smoke-free campus. Having areas outside of all buildings is a good way to keep everyone, smokers and non-smokers alike, happy. Smokers have had to adjust to non-smoking establishments everywhere, but since I LIVE at this university, I shouldn't have to quit smoking in my own home! Please, please don't make NMU a completely smoke free campus.
these changes seem unecessary and expensive
This ban will have many of people upset. I beleive people will become turned off by Northern if this approach is taken. Just get people away from the doors, and people need to stop flicking thier butts.
This entire situation is just ridiculous. I don't smoke and never plan to smoke, I think it's a terrible habit that will ultimately make my life more miserable if I pick it up now. But to claim second-hand smoking OUTSIDE is quite possibly the dumbest thing I've ever heard exclaimed from anyone. Smoking outside hasn't killed or harmed anyone and at worse, I'll get a bad smell of it for about 10 seconds. Let these kids and faculty members smoke outside.
this is a bad idea i dont see what the big deal with smoking on campus is the majority of the student body smokes. if people have a problem with smoking stay away from smokers, and more stictly enforce the rule of smoking at least 30 ft from any building
This is a legal activity for the time been. It would have not only influenced my decison to come to NMU it would influence my decison to continue attending NMU. The idea that my private legal behavior is being attacked because of no other reason than its the current hot button issue is an insult to not only smokers, but the univeristy in general. It shows that instead of being a univeristy for leaders that we wish to follow what is easy and popular.
This is a liberal college and if smoking was prohibited it would no longer be the friendly NMU I came for.
This is a violation to rights and seems foolish since the smokers have to go outside anyway to completely ban it from the campus would only make it so many students would be breaking the rules, which would definitly happen.
This is as bad as making the campus coffee free...it's ridiculous
this is dumb. and what happens if someone does smoke? a five dallar fine? they just put it down step on it and say what cigarette? see no matter what happens i got this on lockdown.
This is not right; don't do this! Smoking tabacco is not illegal! Don't make it illegal, it's not your right! It is the governments. If you can go making your own rules, then why don't you decriminalize marijuana? There's a thought!
This is ridiculous to even consider and unfair to smokers, who by the way, are not doing anything illegal. You should pay attention to things that are illegal...such as the underage drinking that is rampant at this university. Also, you can come explain to my 12 year old step daughter why she had to observe naked men running around the perimeter of one of the halls.
This is ridiculous. An indoor smoking ban is completely acceptible, however, when you are outside, there is plenty of circulating FRESH air, and should not be a problem to others, especially when smokers abide by the signs already in place that prohibit smoking near entrances. This should be enough and the univeristy should cease wasting time and money such a personal issue as the decision to smoke. I would have found a communistic school that dictated every aspect of my life if I really wanted such control over me. Please refrain from enacting a smoke free campus, because honestly, it just will not work, people will still smoke, and unless the plan is to arrest, fine, and incarcerate every smoker on campus, and add to an already overloaded corrections system here in Michigan, then best of luck and God bless.
This is silly. There are much bigger problems for NMU to consider and this is a complete waste of time. What kind of fine would people get if they smoke a cigarette while walking between classes? $50 for a cigarette? People will still continue to smoke on campus regardless of the rules. This entire issue is stupid and I have wasted my time reading, discussing, surveying, and commmenting on it.
This is something highschools impose. I don't think I should have to drive off campus to have a cigarette in between classes especially when there is limited time and parking is poor. I also can't see how NMU would actually enforce a policy like this because smokers are going to smoke where ever they want.
This smoke-free environment fad has been sweeping the nation with force. Many towns and cities across America are already completely smoke-free, and Marquette is following into rank, with the majority of restaurants having become smoke-free. I am aware of the health risks of smoking, and I also know there is a large number of non-smokers who support a smoke-free campus. Despite, I still feel that my argument will be valid. In my observation, it seems that nearly one-third to half of the student body is smokers. Many of these smokers are on-campus residents. I feel that if a smoke-free policy were to be put into effect, many of these students would leave. From those that don't leave, another problem would be formed. Many students, I feel, would not obey the policy, despite the consequences, particularly if smoking is restricted in private vehicles as well. Enforcing this policy would be a very daunting task, possibly making cigarette smoking the same type of problem as alcohol and marijuana currently are. This policy has the potential to turn what is currently a nuisance into a serious problem. That is why I could never support a smoke-free policy.
this smoking ban is completely asinine. some people use smoking as an escape from there school work and if this ban proceeds the school will have a great decline in grades and class parcipitation.
this sucks!
Though I respect the decision for people not to smoke, that should not give non-smokers the right to pass such a bill. If you were to poll everybody on campus about this subject, there would be just as many smokers as non. I believe making northern a smoke-free campus would have more negatives than positives. You would lose a lot of prestige as a school for something as small as a cigarette. It is people's choice to not smoke cigarettes, but what is it going to be next? I now that it sounds rediculous to be fighting for a cancer stick, but it is human nature to complain. There are better options that to make smoking canopies and ban smoking; that will not cut down cigarette smoking, but only make it more concentrated in one area of campus. Eventually, you would take that away to. How about putting money towards programs to help people quit and give them actual incentives instead of telling them that if you smoke cigarettes on campus you will be reprimanded. There are better alternatives that I believe that you need to look into before pushing only one group's ideas onto the other.
Though I smoke, I consider the comfort of non-smokers by not smoking near clusters of people or building entrances. Perfume and other strong fragrances are equally as offensive as second hand smoke in areas of poor ventilation. Any policy should address the consideration people make of other peoples space and right to not be exposed to offensive odors or smoke. If any policy is to be imposed, it should be one of considersation to personal space, by providing an area to smoke and an area that people can trust they will not be exposed to second hand smoke. This is a simple comprimise for smokers and non-smokers. Anything else would, in my view, be an affront to personal choice. Also, the university is getting a great deal of money from me, it is a small expectation for me to be able to smoke on campus. Any drastic measure could represent a larger issue of personal rights, and could determine if I choose to finish my degree at NMU.
Though I understand why this is an issue for non-smokers, the fact remains that smoking is legal. It is up to the discretion of NMU to make it punishable, but then there is the question of what the punishment will be, how smoking will be regulated, the costs that regulating it will incur, and dealing with the protest. This all must be taken into account when determining if the trouble is worth it.
too strict of a policy could have negative impacts on the entire university
Understand desire to keep smoking areas away from doorways, but must have clear signage/areas designated. Many doorways have "No Smoking" signs, but then a "designated smoking area" sign right next to it.
Us smokers don't bother the non-smokers, thats why NMU makes us go outside to smoke, so we dont bother everyone inside and now you want to completley take that away from us
We are adults and should be treated like adults. A smoke free campus would be like a high school campus. The idea of not allowing students to smoke in their own cars if the campus becomes smoke free is rediculus. If this happens we should atleast be allowed to smoke in our cars.
We are already outside. Unless it is dead calm my smoke should not bother anyone. There are a lot of students that are smokers, if they go somewhere else because NMU is smoke free everyone loses.
What next? We can only wear green on Tuesdays?
Whatever happened to personal freedoms?
whats next? no red meat? this the most stupid idea ever... we are adults and if we choose to destroy our health that should be our choice.
Whats the deal with having to control everything/everyone? Things are fine just the way they are now. People just need something to complain about and smoking isn't for everyone, I understand, but for some of us it's that little bit of freedom, liberty, sanctuary each of us need.
whats wrong with the present system?
When I lived in the doorms we had the "smoking room" I did not agree with that room because the people who lived near it in the hall had to deal with the smell even if they didnt smoke. I would encourage more smoking stations not the plastic ones but solid ones. Perhaps make certain entrences smoking so that like students who are on that 5 minute break in class they have somewhere to go. Dont rule smokers out of the NMU population. I do agree though as a smoker it is not fair for non smokers to have to deal with a group of smokers standing infront of a building and they have a cloud of smoke to walk through to get into a building. Something has to change but dont make those that smoke out casts.
When smoking outside, one is virtually hurting nobody than themselves and 99.9% of smokers have already read the memo that smoking is bad for them. It is a choice one should be able to make whether they want to smoke on their way to class or not. Not the university's deicision, that is going WAY to far.
When you think about it, if you are a non-smoker, the fact that 75 cents per pack of the tax paid ( in MI ) goes to education. You're only hurting yourself by banning those who do smoke in a round about way as a student. Aparently the 'smell' of smoke is what's getting people all over this 'issue'. I don't drive to school most days because I'm trying to cut down the pollution from my car, so can we start a motion to ban driving here too ? It does a lot more damage than the smell of smoke.
Where about our civil liberties?
While I agree that others should not be subjected to anothers' second hand smoke, I do believe that a person should have the right to smoke in the privacy of their own vehicle...with the windows open...or in some other designated smoking area. I personally don't like the habit of recreational tobacco use...I had quit for 14 years before taking up the habit again. But I do feel that it should be the right of each individual to make that choice/decision and not to be enforced by anothers' decision as to whether or not they are "allowed" to smoke, as long as they (others) don't have to be affected by it...
While I appreciate and respect the complaints brought forth by students, faculty and staff, I see Northern's proposed smoking ban as an encroachment upon my personal freedom. I consider myself a fairly responsible smoker. I don't litter, I use the ashtrays and receptacles provided, and if a person is crossing my path while I am smoking, I make a point not to exhale in front of them. I would like the courtesy I try to extend to others to be returned to me, by not being marginalized, or forced to travel great distances just to smoke. And, truth be told, were such a ban put in place, I wouldn't observe it, and I doubt I'd be alone.
While I do believe that interiors of buildings should go smoke free, and that smokers should stand 30 feet away from doors, I think that smoking is a personal choice along the same lines as chewing gum or riding a bike. If smoking is completely banned on campus so should gum because people spit it out on the sidewalks and so should bikes because some could run over someone else.
While I understand non-smokers feelings about second hand smoke I feel that I shouldn't have to feel shunned and ashamed because I am a smoker. I support installing smoker shelters that are away from buildings.
While I understand the grounds for making NMU a smoke-free campus, I do not believe the arguements overcome my right to smoke in open quarters. Granted, being a smoker, I sympathize with those who complain of the foul odors as they walk in-and-out of entryways, as I deal with it myself. I also agree with the "30-feet" policy currently inaction, and realize that poor enforcement has hindered its success. This being said, I find it morally degrading to think that I could some day lose my right to smoke outside. As a side note, I would like to express my thoughts on the question three of this survey...outrageous.
while it is important to protect the health of non-smokers, it is a more fundamental right that citizens be free from the interference of authority in their private lives and choices.
While smoking is a harmful habit, it is still a personal decision. I am a smoker, but I am also a smoker who is respectful, as in - I don't throw my buts on the ground, and stay away from the doorways. I am also a smoker who has tried to quit on several occasions, and unsuccessfully. Banning smoking does not eliminate the problem of smoking, it just moves the location. For me, it is a cost issue. Nicorette patches, and all the other methods for quitting (besides cold turkey) are quite expensive and are hard to do. What about spending money on helping students who are interested in quitting smoking do so, by providing them with resources? If you wish to ban smoking, than also please include a dress code - since many of the students attire is offensive to me. (sounds silly, right? - its a personal decision on what to wear, as is smoking, or drinking, or anything else)
Who are you trying to impress?
Why are smokers rights being taken away. With the intense cold that Marquette has NMU should have smoking rooms so students don't get sick. Maybe in the basements of the dorms.
Why are you having us fill out this survey when Dr. Wong already announced at the President's Council that NMU will be smoke-free by 2009? I don't think that you will have enough support to legally mandate this
why not be more strict about smokers near doors and give tickets or something and maybe if people throw their butts on the ground in a certain place like by doors mark them as smoke free areas and ticket those who litter their cigs. I think that its a bad idea to be smoke free, i mean its a personal choice. also for the idea of smoke free parking lots and private vehicles i think that is ridiculous and way over the top. There are bigger problems on campus like smoking pot in the dorms, underage drinking and vandalism of dorms and campus in general. Why not focus on the big problems like people breaking the laws not people smoking. I only see two problems with smoking on campus:1. people smoke too close to doors 2. smokers littering. I personally think that the smoke shelters would be the best thing mainly due to the fact that it gets really nasty outside and i think that's why people smoke close to buildings mostly because they dont want to have to be far away from the doors or they want to be blocked from the harsh winds. I hope that this smoking ban doesnt go through, and if it does i really don't think that i will be enrolled as a student here at NMU come next fall as well a many others.
you are taking the rights away from the smoker.
you cannot take away our right to smoke. its like saying you cant go here if youre a man. its a prejudiced and biased decision. you cannot just do this. its absolute crap. be ready for petitions. and by the way, your welcome website advertises that you can smoke in your room in spooner hall. thats false statements. get your act together.
You dont have the right to take away our rights yes you can do something about it so that non smokers are happier but do take our rights away!
you gotta be joking, no smoking on campus! Give me a break.
You will not be able to stop people from smoking. Do you honestly think that all of the students in the dorms are going to walk off campus to smoke? Good luck. What are you going to do? Write tickets? No one is going to comply with that especially if tickets are being given out by the joke that is campus security.
You won't be able to enforce a ban without expensive patrols and harsh penalties on otherwise outstanding students.