A new policy, preventing students from smoking between the front doors and benches of Regents Residential College, will go into effect in the coming weeks.
The resolution was formed after several residential advisers received complaints from students about people smoking near the doors.
“Often if it’s raining, smokers will stand right by the door, where you have to swipe your ID,” said Jessica Boyd, president of the Residential College Council for Regents.
The RA’s presented their proposal to the RCA, which voted on the policy Wednesday.
The policy ignited some opposition in the meeting, but students voted 15-5 to approve the resolution.
RCC asked housing if there was any way to build a shelter over the benches for students to smoke in the rain. The housing office turned down the proposal.
For several years, Murray State has tried to establish resolutions to reduce smoking, but so far, nothing has been effective.
In 2008, Staff Congress passed a policy to decrease smoking near buildings on campus. The proposal prohibited smoking within 100 feet of a campus building to assure smoke would not travel through windows, doors and ventilation units.
Even though Staff Congress passed the resolution without difficulty, administration failed to enforce it.
With new discussions of smoking policy rising again, some students wonder if eventually Murray State will ban smoking completely.
As of January, 1,129 colleges have enacted a 100 percent smoke-free policy on their campus, according to Americans for Non-smokers’ Rights. This number has grown from 530 campuses in 2011.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 25.2 percent of all adults in the state of Kentucky smoke, placing it second in the U.S. for the most smokers. The age group with the highest number of smokers is 18-24 years old.
After examining statistics and watching other campuses nationwide with anti-smoking campaigns, the Tobacco-free Take Action! organization at the University of Kentucky pushed to establish a smoke-free campus.
Nearly four years later, students at UK say the administration still does not enforce the non-smoking policy. Although students are not reprimanded for smoking, an increasing number of UK students have sought tobacco treatment services. Students can purchase nicotine gum for $5 at several different locations on campus.
Caroline Webb, UK sophomore from Paducah, Ky., said students will continue smoking, no matter what state they live in or school they attend.
“I don’t think it’s necessary to spend time or money on it,” Webb said.
Students and faculty at Murray State have been watching the progress of smoking policies closely over the last few years.
Leon Bodevin, residence director of Richmond Residential College, said he could see Murray State moving closer to becoming a smoke-free campus in the next 10 years.
“I really think it has to do with the health of students,” Bodevin said. Bodevin said there have not been any complaints at Richmond in relation to where smokers stand outside. He said the RCC may consider looking at policies and possible changes.
Boyd, president of RCC for Regents, said she does not think a 100 percent smoke-free campus is what Murray needs.
“I like the idea of restricted area, but on campus and walking around shouldn’t be an issue,” Boyd said.
While Gov. Steve Beshear addressed the state two weeks ago on making cities in Kentucky smoke-free, he did not include outside areas or public universities in his plan. Many restaurants and public facilities are currently smoke-free, but Beshear wants to push for cities such as Murray to establish further policies.
Webb said after the smoke-free policy was instated, she began to question the motives of the plan.
“I don’t think universities really want to eliminate campus smoking,” Webb said. “They just want to deem themselves tobacco-free because it looks good.”
Story by Lexy Gross, Assistant News Editor.
