Smoking on Campus

Gabrielle Guider, the Wellness Educator from Student Affairs, states, “Research demonstrates that cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States […] there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke can cause stroke, lung cancer, and coronary heart disease in adults.”

Because of the health risks associated with smoking and second-hand smoke, New Jersey issued the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act. According to the Tobacco Control Policy and Legal Resource Center of New Jersey website, the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act and subsequent laws prohibit all smoking inside public buildings and workplaces and in “exterior area[s] if smoking in the exterior area results in migration, seepage, or recirculation of smoke to an indoor public place or a workplace at which smoking is prohibited.”

On September 6, 2016, Senior Advisor of the Office of Human Resources Matt Principe sent out an email stating that, “In order to protect the health and safety of all staff, faculty, students and visitors, and in accordance with the state regulation, the ‘New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act,’ Stevens will establish a formal policy in the near future regarding smoking on campus, both indoors and outdoors, for all staff, faculty, students and visitors.”

In the email, Principe stated that “The current practice which permits smoking just outside of buildings is causing discomfort to a number of staff and guests. Therefore, as a provisionary measure until a formal policy is established, beginning September 1, 2016, smoking will be prohibited within 25 feet of all buildings.”

A year later on October 22, 2017, the Student Government Association (SGA) approved proclamation P-17F-003, Recommendation of the Establishment of a Formal Smoking Policy. In the proclamation, the SGA recommended that the administration create a policy which would ban the use of tobacco products in all buildings, residence halls, balconies, patios, walkways, vestibules, and more.

According to the SGA proclamation, “Implementation of this policy is the responsibility of the Departments of Human Resources and Student Affairs.” The proclamation also claims that oversight is the responsibility of administrators, stating, “The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President for Facilities, Vice President for Human Resources and Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs are the Stevens Institute of Technology Officials responsible for the administration of this policy,” with enforcement the responsibility of Campus Police.

At an SGA meeting on November 17, 2019, SGA President Jason Chlus claimed that he was told that smoking on campus was being dealt with. “I was talking to a few members in OSL, they assured me that this issue was known and that they are working on it. This was my sophomore year, so about a year ago. I showed them the Law [25 feet for academic buildings] and was told that they knew about this and they would be coming out with feedback soon.”

The policy currently in place is written in the student handbook, which states, “Smoking is prohibited within 25 feet of all campus buildings, including but not limited to individual offices and rooms; athletic and sporting facilities; spectator areas at outdoor university events; university-owned vehicles; shuttle buses and vans; dining facilities, theaters, and concert halls; partially enclosed areas, such as archways, weather-protected rams and tents; and outdoor dining areas.”

However, people on campus continue to smoke. According to Sara Klein, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, “Having a policy does not ensure 100% compliance. Some members of our community still smoke within 25 feet of campus buildings. Our staff consistently remind folks of the policy, but it’s ultimately on all of us in the community to remind smokers about the policy.”