By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-979901.mp3
Dallas, TX – The University of Texas at Arlington is "tobacco free" starting today. KERA's BJ Austin says that means no smoking anytime, anywhere on campus - even outside.
Jeff Jones, UTA manager of Learning and Development, has been hard at work the past few weeks getting the word out with signs, brochures, free t-shirts and wrist bands. No tobacco use - including smokeless - on all campus property, including walkways and bus shelters.
Jones: We have had a policy of non-smoking in any campus building and within 50 feet of any door of the campus buildings. It's not like this is something brand new indoors. It's changing the culture of those who smoke outside.
The discussion about going tobacco free began two years ago. Jones says surveys and town hall meetings found a lot of fans for the policy. Sophomore Cody Felts is one of them.
Felts: It's not a very healthy lifestyle. I've seen what it does even with second hand smoking. I have minor asthma attacks around cigarette smoke, so definitely I'm happy we're going tobacco free. It's nice to see that.
Jones says about 15% of UTA students and faculty are smokers and the school is offering free "stop smoking classes", plus free nicotine patches and gum for students who complete the class. Semiha Under - an international student from Turkey and a smoker - says she may quit rather than walk all the way OFF campus between classes to light up.
Under: After class I usually smoke. And it's going to be impossible because we just have ten minutes. It's hard for me, you know.
The University is relying on a "culture of compliance" and peer pressure to get offenders to snuff out their smokes. There are no fines, but already established disciplinary procedures could be brought against a repeat offender.
UTA is the largest campus in Texas to go tobacco free. Texas State University-San Marcos also goes tobacco free today. Jones says the two schools join Midwestern State in Wichita Falls and Alamo Community Colleges in South Central Texas, as well as a growing national trend.
Jones: We will be the 531st college or university in the country to make this move. The American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association all say it's not so much "if" you will go tobacco free, it's "when" you will go tobacco free.
The Student Government Association on the UT-Austin campus recently voted to support an effort to go tobacco free.