From: SMOKEFREE@compuserve.com
Date: Thu, 06/19/08
Lawmakers vote to ban smoking in all college dorms
Associated Press - June 17, 2008 5:45 PM ET
WCAX-TV 3 NEWS
http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=8514498
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - State lawmakers have approved legislation to ban
smoking in all college dormitories, including private schools, citing
health and fire risks.
The State University trustees banned smoking in state college dorms last
summer, and some private universities like Syracuse and Hofstra have done
the same. Sponsors say many private colleges offer the option of smoke-free
dorms but demand often exceeds supply, and the rate of smoking among
college students has increased "sharply" in the past decade.
The bill would take effect Aug. 15 and also apply to vocational schools,
with an exemption for college-owned off-campus housing whose residents are
not registered undergraduates.
Gov. David Paterson has the bill under review.
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Center for a Tobacco Free New York
June 17, 2008 Contact: Russell Sciandra
For Immediate Release
518-449-5438
(cell) 518-441-1869
New York's College Dormitories to Go Smoke Free Under Bill Passed by
Legislature
Smoking will be banned in college dormitories and residence halls under
legislation passed yesterday by the New York State Legislature. The
bill (A538a/S1955a), sponsored by Assembly Member Amy Paulin and Senator
Vincent Leibell, passed the State Senate last night. It had passed the
Assembly in late January.
The new statute amends New York's Clean Indoor Air Act to include
dormitories, residence halls and other group residential facilities
owned or operated by public or private colleges, universities and
vocational institutions. Off-campus units occupied by anyone other than
an undergraduate student are exempted.
"We congratulate Assembly Member Paulin and Senator Leibell for their
leadership and persistence in bringing about this legislation. Since
they first introduced their bill many colleges, including the entire
State University system, have chosen to go smoke free," said Russell
Sciandra, Director of the Center for a Tobacco Free New York. "Now we
can be assured that all student at all colleges enjoy their right to
breathe clean air in their own living space."
"In order to take effect in the 2008-2009 school year, the Governor must
approve this legislation before August 15," Sciandra continued. "We
hope the Legislature and Governor will act quickly to get his signature
on the bill so campuses can prepare to go smoke free in September."
In college residence halls, smoking in one part of the dormitory causes
smoke to seep into other parts of the building, chronically exposing
nonsmokers to dangerous toxins. Many colleges offer students the option
of residing in smoke-free dormitories, but demand often exceeds the
supply of available rooms, meaning that many nonsmokers requesting smoke
free housing are relegated to residence halls where smoking occurs. As
a result, many nonsmoking students have found themselves unwillingly
exposed to other students' second hand tobacco smoke and unable to
change to a smoke free residence.
Restricting smoking to separate dormitories or to separately ventilated
areas within otherwise nonsmoking dormitories is costly and, because of
the limited space available, inequitable. Recognizing this, 30 percent
of colleges nationwide had banned smoking in dormitories by 2007. Many
private universities in New York, including Syracuse University, Cornell
University, the University of Rochester, NYU, Siena College, and
Hamilton College, have adopted 100 percent smoke free residence
policies. The State University of New York Board of Trustees, after
extensive review and discussion, banned smoking in all residence halls
effective July 1, 2007.
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