The University of Alabama Announces New Smoke-Free Campus Policy

Today, the University of Alabama made a strong statement by saying the campus is going smoke-free. The new policy is effective January 1st, 2015.

As the new year rings in, so will a rule stating that smoking, including the use of e-cigarettes, will be prohibited in all facilities, grounds and parking areas on the UA campus.

According to a UA Media Relations press release:

This is the next step in a long-standing policy prohibiting smoking inside University buildings and limiting smoking areas outside buildings.
The Faculty Senate, the Professional Staff Assembly, the Office, Clerical and Technical Assembly, the Black Faculty/Staff Association and the UA Association of Residential Communities have passed resolutions in support of a smoke-free campus.

 

The policy protects the UA community from the dangers of second-hand smoke, promotes a healthier environment and reduces the problem of littering and the risk of accidental fires due to discarded cigarettes.

The University says it's providing resources to support our community as this policy takes effect. The Student Health Center, the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness, and the College of Community Health Sciences/University Medical Center will offer assistance to individuals who want to stop smoking.

To see links to these resources, visit the established smoke-free campus website, www.ua.edu/smokefree.

The press release also points out, UA joins more than 1,400 colleges and universities across the country that have become smoke-free.

What do you think? Are you supportive of this new policy or not?