Statewide smoking legislation matches UIndy policy
By Chris Miller | Staff Writer
The University of Indianapolis is ahead of the newest piece of legislation out of the Indiana House of Representatives, a bill to ban smoking in most public places, with exemptions for casinos and many bars.
The bill eliminates any smoking in enclosed public spaces, but still leave open areas of public access free for smoking.
UIndy will not need to adjust the campus policy because of it’s already smoke-free. The university’s ban was established because of 2006 legislation that banned smoking in public places for Marion County. The campus responded by mandating a smoke-free policy that left no haven on campus for smoking, ash trays in the parking lots for smoking commuters to put out their butts and even a smoking cessation class to help those who want to abandon their habit.
Enforcement of the smoking policy is wholly by an honor system, according to David Wantz, associate vice president for community relations.
“We trust the people that live and work on this campus, and we never desired to build our policy on trying to catch people smoking,” Wantz said. “We don’t do a terrific job of enforcing this policy, but the comparison from where we were before and where we are now is wonderful. The new ban just reinforces the notion of a smoke-free campus.
Adam Johnson, a freshman criminal justice major, expressed mixed feelings about the new statewide smoking policy.
“I think it is okay. I smoke and I don’t enjoy sitting in a cloud of smoke, when eating,” Johnson said. “I just wish it wasn’t a smoke-free campus.”
The new policy differs from the policy passed in 2006, which only applied to Marion County. This recent statewide legislation requires all counties to match the policy. Restaurants and other eateries will be completely smoke free across the state.
“Legally, one can still smoke along the street. If smoking there is outlawed, there could likely be a larger issue,” Wantz said. “I don’t think it’s going to change anything on campus. We got ahead of any ordinance [in] understanding [that] the healthfulness of the campus is more important.”
