A.S. Government Resources

A Resolution in Support of Designated Smoking Areas at San Diego State University

WHEREAS, Associated Students is the representative body for over 35,000 students which make up the majority of the population at San Diego State University; and

WHEREAS, in October 2008, the Senate Environment and Safety Committee unanimously approved a resolution to declare the San Diego State University campus to be a Smoke-Free campus and to bring this resolution forward for Senate approval; and

WHEREAS, in the late 1990s smoking sales in both Aztec Shops and vending machines were prohibited; and

WHEREAS, in 2003 the Environment Health and Safety Committee proposed more strict restrictions for smoking on campus such as prohibiting smoking on all walkways and stairwells; and

WHEREAS, the Surgeon General has stated that tobacco use in any form presents a significant health hazard, and that the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the California Environmental Protection Agency have determined that there is no safe level for exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), and because ETS has been declared a toxic air contaminant by the State of California Air Resources Board, implementing a ban smoking on campus would reduce exposure of its students, faculty and staff to a known health hazard; and

WHEREAS, environmental tobacco smoke has been classified as a Class-A carcinogen; and

WHEREAS, SDSU has an ethical obligation to safeguard the health of its students, staff, and faculty as well as those who work in auxiliary organizations (Aztec Shops, The Foundation, Associated Students, etc.); and

WHEREAS, the CSU Board of Trustees in its meeting on September 17-18, 2002 gave authority to each CSU campus to establish its own policies with regard to tobacco use; and
WHEREAS, a survey of 11,000 students at 119 U.S. colleges and universities found that more than 75% of students supported a smoke-free academic environment (Tobacco Control, 2003 Sep;12(3):251-6); and

WHEREAS, a survey conducted at SDSU in April, 2002 revealed that one-third of the 1,347 faculty, staff and students polled reported exposure to secondhand smoke entering indoor areas, 57% reported having to walk through outdoor tobacco smoke, 59% reported adverse effects (bothered, asthma, allergies), 58% said it was very important to address this problem, 52% chose designated smoking areas as a solution, and about two-thirds favored a ban on tobacco sales on campus as well as ban on advertising, events and club sponsorships by tobacco companies; and

WHEREAS, a survey in Spring 2009 given randomly to 286 students-at-large found that 66% of them were in favor of making the campus smoke-free; 23% were in opposition, and 10% were impartial; and

WHEREAS, another survey in Spring 2009 given to 36 members of the Associated
Student Council, at San Diego State University, found that 69% of them were in favor of making SDSU smoke-free; 22% were in opposition, and 8% were impartial; and

WHEREAS, from December 2008 to March 2009, approximately 187 SDSU students on the Facebook social networking site joined a group in support of a smoking ban at SDSU, and approximately 21 SDSU students joined a group in opposition to a smoking ban at SDSU; and

WHEREAS, banning tobacco smoking on campus would create a reduction in the associated litter and would present a more pleasant and attract campus image and learning environment; and

WHEREAS, according to Public Safety banning smoking on campus would reduce the incidence of trash receptacle fires and associated safety risks; and

WHEREAS, tobacco restrictions on campus would reduce identifiable janitorial costs by reducing litter and the need for cleaning more cigarette urns; and

WHEREAS, the current SDSU policy states that smoking shall be prohibited in outdoor areas connected to or within 25 feet of university buildings or leased spaces including entrances, exits, operable windows, air intake vents, stairwells, balconies, breezeways, under overhangs, and awnings; and

WHEREAS, according to Physical Plant there is over 100 “no smoking within 25 feet” signs currently posted adjacent to building entrances, exits, etc., and the cost for such signs is approximately $20 each; and

WHEREAS, campus safety regularly sites the signs as clear communication of the
campus policies and justification of enforcement; therefore be it resolved that

RESOLVED, the Associated Students adopt a resolution in support for designated smoking areas at SDSU; and also be it

RESOLVED, signage should match the policy of the campus and if it is to be
enforced, the signage should be consistent with other signage on campus ; and also further be it

RESOLVED, if the campus is to not enforce the signs then it should remove the
current signage to match the decisions of campus administrators so as
to not be confused to campus guests whom are subjected to the enforcement of policies; and also further be it

RESOLVED, that the placing of these designated smoking areas would be considered jointly and fairly between Associated Students, the Environment and Safety Committee, SDSU Senate, Staff Union
representation, University Administration, and any other appropriate affiliates; and also further be it

RESOLVED, that this resolution be distributed to the University Senate, the Senate Environment and Safety Committee, San Diego State University President Stephen L. Weber, and any other appropriate University Administration. 

Approved by the Associated Students Council on April 8, 2009.

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James Poet, Associated Students President