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UTA residents will need to look for new smoking locations

Written by William Johnson and Joan Khalaf, The Shorthorn staff

Monday, 23 November 2009 09:17 PM

For tobacco users living on campus, a night-time smoke or chew won’t be a quick trip in a couple of years. President James Spaniolo decided Friday that tobacco will be banned on campus effective Aug. 1, 2011. This includes residence halls and on-campus apartments. Kevin Turner, aerospace engineering freshman and a Kalpana Chawla Hall resident, said he is against the ban. Instead of his usual areas, along the University Center mall and around KC Hall, Turner will have to find new places close to campus in the next 21 months. As an on campus resident, he said he feels like the choice to smoke is being taken away from him. “It’s not like I deliberately go out and blow smoke in people’s faces,” he said. “If I’m outside, in the designated area, then why should it matter?” Nursing junior Ryan Mitchell said he isn’t worried about the new initiative because of the difficulty to enforce it. “How are they going to stop it,” he asked. “By the time that anybody gets called, the cigarette will be done.” Spaniolo mentioned in his released statement that the university would be working in the next 21 months to enforce the current policy, which does not allow tobacco use within 50 feet of any campus buildings. But, catching a dip user in his or her apartment might be impossible, said Bobby Joe Barrett, kinesiology junior and Meadow Run apartments resident. Tina Mertes, alumna and Arbor Oaks apartments resident, said it’s not right to tell people living in the on-campus apartments that they can’t smoke. “I’m paying hefty rent here,” she said. Some people, like computer science junior Bertrant Grillett, a smoker and Meadow Run apartments resident, have to live on campus to go to school because of a scholarship. “I already can’t smoke in my apartment,” Grillett said. Related Stories University will be tobacco free Students, faculty react to the tobacco ban Other schools also cope with smoking bans Views: 380 | E-mail   Be first to comment this article Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6 AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com All right reserved

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 27 January 2010 03:31 PM )

 

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