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Recently, Taper Hall of Humanities at USC witnessed a strong push from staff groups and faculty to ban smoking on campus.  This “Smoke-Free Campus Forum” meet was hosted by the Undergraduate Student Government.

At least forty students attended this forum that was held especially to gauge the extent of support that can be expected from students for this initiative before a senate resolution is passed in this regard.

In a town hall format, students had to voice their views to a four member panel. This panel is involved in this initiative and consists of four employees of the university. According to Monish Tyagi, USG President, the initiative is at the discussion stage at present and aims to find out what students feel about it before taking a decision.

Representatives of the university involved with the initiative include USC Academic Senate’s academic vice president Patricia Riley, Center for Work and Family Life executive director John Gaspari and Health Promotion and Prevention Services director Paula Swinford.

Preliminary results of an online survey were first presented by USG director of campus affairs Jared Ginsburg at the forum. Regarding the option of limiting smoking on the campus, multiple options were able to be supported by those who took this survey.

At least forty five percent of the total 1227 said that smoking must be banned altogether. Forty percent said that certain areas must be designated as smoking zones. Sixty seven percent of them said they have never smoked.

Most of the forum participants were in favor of a compromise such as allocating certain smoking zones as opposed to a complete ban. A biochemistry freshman Niki Noe opined that it is possible to create a better, healthier environment for everyone by not giving the right to smoke.

According to Denzil Suite, the Student Affairs Associate Vice President, no decision on this issue has been arrived at yet. He also said that ban will not be imposed linked with any fines or citations. According to Suite, their aim is to inform and educate people on the ill effects of smoking.

After obtaining at least 2000 responses in the survey, a resolution will be passed by the USG Senate. A decision will be taken on whether no smoking will be implemented completely or not.

Ginsburg said that they faced the huge challenge of wrestling between students who feel letting others smoke is an infringement on their rights as they inhale harmful passive smoke and those who believe it is their right to smoke in open air on the campus.

In fact, after listening to smoker’s arguments, some students did not feel as strongly in support of a ban as they did before.

In 2010, a resolution was passed by staff and faculty representative bodies, USC Staff Assembly and the USC Academic Senate in support of a smoke free campus. 100 percent smoke free policies on campus were adopted by over 530 colleges as on July 2011.  In the greater interest of everyone’s  well being, the best thing for USC will be to impose the total ban and let it sink in.