Task Force Proposes Increase in Smoke-Free Residential Space

The Smoke-Free Residence Hall Space Task Force has submitted three proposals that would increase nonsmoking space in residence halls beginning this fall. In their report, submitted to the College Life and Advising Committee, the group proposes the College accept one of these recommendations:

*		Make 75 percent of residence halls smoke free.
*		Make all residence halls smoke free.
*		Limit smoking to one floor of each residence hall (except in Torrey, which is already totally smoke free).

Dean of the College Beverly Daniel Tatum said that the task force offered these proposals in response to a recommendation by health directors at the Seven Sisters institutions encouraging smoke-free residence halls by the year 2000.

At press time, Director of Residential Life Michele Rosenthal was scheduled to discuss the proposals with students at the March 30 SGA meeting. A final decision is expected to be made by Tatum in consultation with Rosenthal, the College Life and Advising Committee, and taking into account SGA comments.

The task force, which is made up of four students and two staff, said two basic reasons lie behind their proposals. It cites the "health risks associated with exposure to environmental tobacco smoke," about which it says, "Given the overwhelming medical evidence that associates a plethora of health risks with exposure to tobacco smoke, protecting residential students and residentially based staff...from involuntary exposure should be a priority."

The report also notes possible tobacco-related liability incurred by the College by permitting smoking on campus. There is pending legislation in the Massachusetts House, House Bill 1346, "which would make all dormitories in all public colleges in the Commonwealth smoke free." In addition, if a pending lawsuit succeeds, "no Massachusetts college, public or private, will be able to defend itself against the series of lawsuits that will certainly follow." (The parents of a Bridgewater State College student are suing that institution for failing to provide their daughter with a smoke-free living environment.)

The task force's recommendations are based partly on a survey of student satisfaction with the current allocation on nonsmoking space in residence halls, and on how twenty other colleges handle the issue. A review of other campuses' approaches revealed, the report states, "that most schools are currently trying to increase nonsmoking space in residence halls." A February survey, to which 535 students responded, found that "most students favor a considerable increase in residential nonsmoking space."

The current policy, implemented last fall, includes these provisions: "One additional nonsmoking floor was added to each hall with 100 or more residents; rooms immediately adjacent to head resident/resident adviser apartments were made nonsmoking (in response to concerns about a smoke-free workplace for residential staff); Torrey was made smoke free; and residents were asked to vote on the status of currently smoking floors (i.e., a floor is automatically smoking unless a unanimous vote makes it nonsmoking)."