SU partners with county to explore possibility of becoming smoke-free campus
A smoke-free campus could be in the works within the next three years, as Syracuse University has partnered with the Onondaga County Health Department through a state program called Colleges for Change.
November marks the 35th annual Great American Smokeout, during which organizations encourage smokers to quit or make a plan to quit.
As a part of New York state’s tobacco control program, Colleges for Change aims to reduce the promotion of tobacco and lower exposure to secondhand smoke on campus. The age group with the highest prevalence of smoking in the state is 18- to 24-year-olds, according to a Sept. 10 SU News Services release.
‘There is no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure. Exposure to secondhand smoke can cause cancer in tobacco users and non-smoking bystanders,’ said Katelyn Upcraft, public health educator at the county health department and coordinator for Colleges for Change. ‘Even separate smoking areas pose a health threat to our students, faculty and staff.’
Upcraft said her group wants to prevent SU students from starting to smoke and becoming addicted to tobacco. She said at least 400 colleges and universities nationwide have outdoor tobacco regulations.
‘Outdoor air acts are becoming increasingly prevalent around the nation at city and state levels,’ Upcraft said. ‘Not just on college campuses.’
There are 4.3 trillion cigarette butts littered annually, and it takes 25 years for them to decompose, according to the Wellness Education Services at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
‘Reducing the environmental impact of tobacco in the Syracuse University community supports Syracuse University’s commitment to work toward an effective and efficient plan to ensure a healthy and sustainable lifestyle,’ Upcraft said.
Some students said they encourage the move to make SU a smoke-free campus.
‘I feel like the only time my lungs get a break on campus is when I get home,’ said Stephanie Narvaez, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences. ‘I think the university puts a lot of importance around being green, so why not being smoke-free?’
But some smokers said they feel they are being forced to quit smoking as opposed to quitting by choice.
‘I don’t think it is right for the campus to force students to stop smoking,’ said Michael Whalen, a first-year law student. ‘We are young adults and should have the choice to whether we want to smoke.’
Published on October 24, 2010 at 12:00 pm
