After a year and a half of deliberation, University administrators are taking steps to completely ban tobacco smoke on campus in the next 13 months.

“We want to ensure a healthy environment for our entire campus community. There is incontrovertible evidence that smoking is a dangerous addiction and that secondhand smoke affects everyone,” Chancellor Phyllis Wise said in a mass email to the University community.

With slated date in November 2013 for a complete ban on smoking on University property, this new policy builds on a current rule that prohibits smoking indoors in all University-owned and leased facilities and within 25 feet of building entrances, exits, windows that open and ventilation intakes, according to the Campus Administrative Manual.

This policy would have the University join five other Big Ten universities that have smoke-free policies implemented for their campuses.

“Some Big Ten (schools) have smoke-free campuses as well, but they don’t enforce it,” said Matt Gold, senator and senior in LAS. “The students tend to understand it’s a smoke-free campus and act on the honor system.”

Christopher Dayton, senior in LAS, said he does not agree with the ban as it stands but would consider it if there were designated areas on campus for smokers to go.

“There is the constituency of student smokers … such that they become targeted and they become demonized in the view of the public as being outsiders, unwelcome, dirty and as a health hazard,” he said.

“They are not seen as an individual person but rather seen automatically as a smoker under the umbrella of this resolution.”

Although some students think this ban compromises their freedom, Keenan Kassar, senator and senior in Business, thinks the ban reflects the opinion of the majority of students on campus.

“How about the majority who has the freedom to not be exposed to the activities of others that affect them in negative ways?” Kassar said.

Kassar said this ban brings several benefits to the University.

“We most importantly won’t be exposed to secondhand smoke,” he said. “Some are continually exposed — faculty with offices and people around areas where there is a lot of smoking.”

Kassar said other positive benefits include the reduced litter of unsightly cigarette butts and a positive image for campus, saying “the University will be a better place for this.”

The ban was initiated in April 2011 when Kassar proposed a “smoke-free Quad.”

But Kassar’s resolution never carried in the senate, so then-student trustee Hannah Ehrenberg and Kassar created a student referendum together, collecting 3,408 signatures to put the issue on the Fall 2011 ballot.

When students voted on the issue on Nov. 10, 2011, 7,123 of 10,354 voted in favor of supporting “campus dialogue and action by the administration to explore making the (University) smoke-free.” Wise then appointed an ad-hoc committee to consider the issue over the spring and summer.

Renée Romano, vice chancellor for student affairs, thinks the ban is a great example of how students can get involved and make a difference.

“(The referendum) compelled the chancellor to look at making (the) decision to do this,” Romano said. “I just think it’s a great example of positive student activism.”

Michele Guerra, Wellness Center director, said the ad-hoc committee submitted its proposal to the chancellor in August.

It recommended that Wise implement a smoke-free campus but also laid out the options of a completely tobacco-free University, as well as leaving the current smoking policy as it is.

One aspect of the committee’s work was to look at the best practices on other campuses, including how to enforce the ban.

Four subcommittees will be formed in the coming weeks. Among these will be a student well-being committee; a grounds, policy and enforcement committee; a culture and communication committee; and a faculty and staff well-being committee, Guerra said.

These groups will address the issues that may be brought about as a result of the smoking ban.

Guerra said smokers will be offered help with the transition to a smoke-free campus.

Student groups and the Wellness Center will work together to explore the best avenues for helping students quit smoking.

“We don’t know exactly what will be put in place but we will be significantly increasing the amount of smoking cessation programs on campus,” Guerra said.

According to Guerra, smoking cessation programs will begin sometime during the Spring 2013 semester, before the ban takes place.

Corinne can be reached at [email protected]. Tyler can be reached at [email protected].

Lauren Rohr contributed to this report.