Collegiate Times

University alters smoking policies, follows state's lead

In accordance with the statewide smoking ban that will go into effect Dec. 1, 2009, Virginia Tech recently revised Smoking Policy 1010 to prohibit smoking within 25 feet of university buildings.

"Basically, it is very simply in response to the fact that if you are very near a building, it is possible for secondhand smoke to blow back into the building entrances and ventilation systems," said Mark Owczarski, director of news and information.

The policy went into effect at the beginning of the 2009-10 academic year, but it was recently announced in a campus-wide annual notice on community standards.

The revision states directly that "those who smoke outside of buildings are expected to be considerate and courteous of other individuals in the university community. Smoking locations should not impede traffic flow in or out of buildings and should be in a location where smoke cannot drift into office, class or living space. Additionally, smokers are asked to leave the smoking locations free of cigarette butts and other trash materials."

Smoking has been banned in all university buildings since 2003, except for designated lodging rooms in the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center.

The revision went through four stages of approvals of university governing boards, including the final Board of Visitors approval in March, Owczarski said.

by billy mitchell

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