The opinions of this editorial reflect the news of The Daily News editorial staff and do not necessarily reflect the views of its Unified Media affiliates.
It’s easier to make a rule than to smoothly implement it.
Ball State went from having almost 20 smoking sections to having absolutely no smoking on campus Aug. 1. Since then, neighborhoods and students — both smokers and nonsmokers — have disapproved, some even through formal complaints sent to administrators.
Kay Bales, vice president of student affairs, and other administrators created the tobacco-free policy for the health benefits for faculty, staff and students.
The fact of the matter is that smoking tobacco is legal. Though it isn’t healthy and the university is concerned about its community’s well being, it isn’t truly their concern. Most students won’t quit smoking just because they can’t smoke on campus.
None of the smoking sections were right up against buildings. The smoking section near LaFollette Complex was pushed back about two years ago. Purdue University pushed back their smoking sections to make it more friendly for nonsmokers, as well.
Even Gene Burton, director of public safety, has shown concern for safety on Petty Avenue, an unofficial smoking area where students congregate and where residents have complained about people obstructing traffic.
He said safety is more of a concern than people smoking on campus, though officers will stop those who they see violating the policy. He said they haven’t seen many. The public safety concern is valid, but don’t officers have better things to do than sit in their patrol cars at the parking lot by an unofficial smoking area?
Students aren’t happy. Many of the ones who smoke have to walk to areas to take part in their legal habit. Some students even have other students smoking in their yards, leaving piles of cigarette butts.
Residents of the Westridge neighborhood, west of campus, aren’t happy, either. They are forced to clean up cigarette butts, which have collected in many areas to what seems like hundreds of pieces of debris. Bales said the university has installed receptacles, but only time will tell to see if people will actually use them.
In letters sent to Ball State that The Daily News obtained through public records, local residents even asked administrators to reconsider smoking sections on campus, as they were much less of a problem.
Administrators seem to be the only people happy about the ban. Of course, it looks good to make a move that shows their concern for their faculty, staff and students’ health. But is it really that simple?
The size of the backlash isn’t surprising. When asked if administrators expected this much general disapproval from residents and smokers, Bales said, “Any change requires an adjustment period, and this is no different.”
We don’t disagree with the eventual goal of a smoke-free campus. However, going from having so many designated smoking areas on a campus that is much smaller than Purdue or IU to none is a little drastic.
Though administrators, such as Bales, don’t appear to be reconsidering the completely tobacco-free policy, it is time to have that conversation.
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