NYU plans smoking ban within 15 ft. of buildings

NYU may ban smoking within 15 feet of entrances and exits university buildings, Senior Vice President for Operations Alison Leary announced in an e-mail to the university community yesterday.

Smoking is currently banned in all NYU buildings. The NYU College of Dentistry is already required by law to ban smoking within 15 feet of all entrances because it is a diagnostic and treatment center; this policy led NYU to consider a similar all-university ban.

"Doing nothing is not an option," Leary said after the e-mail's release. "People generally complain about the risks to their health — passing through clouds of smoke."

According to Leary, individuals smoking within 15 feet of NYU buildings probably will not be ticketed if the new measure is implemented.

"People will honor [the policy] and self-monitor, self-regulate their activity," she said.

Leary said the 15 feet rule was proposed as "a stab at something that's reasonable," but it may be modified as more discussion takes place.

Jonathan Whiteson, an assistant professor at NYU Langone Medical Center and director of Langone's smoking cessation program, applauded the university's efforts.

Second-hand smoke is dangerous at any level, he said, adding: "Whether you're smoking everyday or getting a little bit over a few days, you're still being exposed."

Distancing cigarettes from areas around campus could also curb smoking overall, Whiteson said, as cigarette users who see others smoking are more likely to light up themselves.

Elyse Bloom, the College of Dentistry's assistant dean for communications and public affairs, said the college will more aggressively market its smoking cessation program.

"We plan to make it more difficult to smoke on campus," Bloom said.

But some students aren't convinced that the proposal is practical.

CAS junior Erin Kidder said the ban is unrealistic.

"I think it's a rule that's going to be made to be broken," Kidder said.

The university has set up a website (nyu.edu/compliance/university.policies/no.smoking.html) to gauge community reactions to the proposal.

Additional reporting by Prerana Swami. Jaywon Choe is a deputy news editor. Lily Altavena is a staff writer.