Avila announces No Smoking Policy

There is a new rule: No smoking on the campus. The executive committee has approved a revised smoking policy effective immediately. The revised policy allows smoking only in parking lots. This new policy is in response to ongoing smoking issues expressed by employees and students.  Many students and employees have always smoked on campus, and it has had a negative influence on the environment and other students who don't smoke.

Almost everyone knows that smoking causes cancer, emphysema, and heart disease, that it can shorten your life by 10 years or more, and that the habit can cost a smoker thousands of dollars a year.  So why are people still lighting up? The answer, in a word, is addiction. I smoke too, but I'm not blaming the school about their "No Smoking" policy. I understand why they would make this policy.  For example, people who do not smoke and walk through campus and inhale that stagnant smoke can still get diseases thru that second hand smoke. I asked one of the student in school about the "No Smoking" policy and what his opinion was on that. He said it is good for the students because when they get into the class and have to pass thru the entrance with many people smoking in front of the entrance, it is very annoying for them.  Now that the policy has been approved, people who don't smoke will have less of a chance to get cancer.

Avila's goal in implementing this policy is to protect all who work, study, or visit the campus from a major health concern: second-hand smoke. The policy is intended to provide a smoke-free environment for faculty, staff, students and visitors on university-owned or leased property, buildings, vehicles and moving equipment. The policy also states that all faculty, staff, students and visitors must observe this "No Smoking" policy. The revised policy allows smoking only in parking lots. Supervisors are responsible for enforcing the policy in their areas.

Avila also declared that smoking, and the use of smokeless tobacco products, is prohibited in all buildings on campus including outdoor facilities, except parking lots. Members of the Avila community and their guests must exercise courtesy at all times in the use of smoking and smokeless tobacco products. Disposal of smoking and smokeless tobacco materials should be made in the nearest outdoor receptacle provided for that purpose. The purpose of these policies is to protect our health and the health of others that are subjected to these environments. While we may not be able to protect others from their bad habits, we can still reduce our risks from the exposure to others' bad habits.