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When the university proposed in October to ban smoking near all its buildings, it offered the NYU community a chance to offer feedback via a website.
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Out of the nearly 1,900 people who submitted comments, about 1,600, or approximately 84 percent, said they would be in favor of a ban, according to NYU spokesman John Beckman. He added that some commenters asked for even more stringent changes to be made.
"We thought the appropriate way to approach this was to let the NYU community (not just students) know about the proposed change and give them an opportunity to comment on it," Beckman said.
Beckman said NYU will soon make a decision about whether to implement a ban, and a final report will be released later this month.
On Nov. 16, the College of Dentistry implemented a smoking ban within 15 feet of any part of the exterior of the building, including all entrances and exits. The policy was primarily implemented in accordance with a New York State Department of Health mandate that established specific no-smoking policies for institutions under Article 28, which includes dental schools and dental hygiene training programs.
Elyse Bloom, assistant dean for public affairs and communications at the College of Dentistry, said the ban has been effective so far.
"I think so far people are sort of taking it in stride," Bloom said. "I personally, since it went into effect, have not seen any smoking right in front of the doors as I had before."
Bloom said there has not been strong negative feedback.
"Nobody has been complaining, and people are not smoking in the areas where they had been smoking, so that's a good sign," she said.
But CAS freshman Jay Hsu, a smoker who lives in Weinstein residence hall, said the restriction would inconvenience him during inclement weather.
"When it's raining, we would have to stand away [from the building]," Hsu said.
Other students, including College of Nursing sophomore Courtney Roy, said they are in favor of the ban.
"You go outside to smoke anyway," Roy said. "Why not walk 15 more feet?"
College of Nursing sophomore Missy Russell also thinks the ban is a good idea.
"I lived on the second floor of Weinstein last year," she said, "and I could legitimately smell every cigarette."
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