Clearing the Air: Clearing the Air: Assessing Students' Assessing Students' Ideas and AttitudesIdeas and Attitudeson Implementing a on Implementing a Smoke-free CampusSmoke-free Campus

MTSU ADP Student OrganizationMTSU ADP Student OrganizationLiz Thomason, Matthew Foriest, Kiara Hall, Nicholas Crosby, Andrew KingLiz Thomason, Matthew Foriest, Kiara Hall, Nicholas Crosby, Andrew King

Middle Tennessee State UniversityMiddle Tennessee State UniversityJune 19, 2010June 19, 2010

ADP National Meeting, Providence, Rhode IslandADP National Meeting, Providence, Rhode IslandAs part of the panel “Supporting, Engaging, Inspiring: As part of the panel “Supporting, Engaging, Inspiring:

Students as Agents and Architects of Democracy”Students as Agents and Architects of Democracy”

Smoking by the NumbersSmoking by the Numbers

AdultsAdults 20.6%20.6% 18-2418-24 21.4%21.4% SmokelessSmokeless 3.3%3.3% DeathsDeaths 443,000443,000

COPD COPD CancerCancer HypertensionHypertension Heart AttackHeart Attack StrokeStroke Pulmonary EmbolismPulmonary Embolism = $96,000,000,000= $96,000,000,000

Smokefree Air ChallengeSmokefree Air Challenge

Arkansas Clean Air on Campus Act Arkansas Clean Air on Campus Act (2009)(2009) Prohibits smoking on state-supported Prohibits smoking on state-supported

institutions of higher education institutions of higher education campuses, with the stated goal being to campuses, with the stated goal being to “reduce secondhand smoke exposure to “reduce secondhand smoke exposure to non-smokers.”non-smokers.”

Passed in March 2009: 68-26-6 in the Passed in March 2009: 68-26-6 in the Arkansas House and 34-0-1 in the Senate.Arkansas House and 34-0-1 in the Senate.

Law goes into effect August 1, 2010.Law goes into effect August 1, 2010.

Iowa Smokefree Air Act (2008)Iowa Smokefree Air Act (2008) Prohibits smoking in public areas, mass Prohibits smoking in public areas, mass

transit systems, school grounds, and transit systems, school grounds, and other state buildings.other state buildings.

Passed in the Iowa House 56-44 and 28-Passed in the Iowa House 56-44 and 28-22 in the Senate.22 in the Senate.

Upheld after a judicial challenge on April Upheld after a judicial challenge on April 1, 2010.1, 2010.

The ALA suggests tobacco-free policies The ALA suggests tobacco-free policies rather than smoke-free policies.rather than smoke-free policies.

The number of tobacco-free campuses The number of tobacco-free campuses is growing nationwide:is growing nationwide: October 2009: 176 tobacco-free campusesOctober 2009: 176 tobacco-free campuses April 2010: 231 tobacco-free campusesApril 2010: 231 tobacco-free campuses June 2010: 249 tobacco-free campusesJune 2010: 249 tobacco-free campuses

““Strong Law in Effect”Strong Law in Effect”

2006 Tennessee law, which did not go into 2006 Tennessee law, which did not go into effect until summer 2007, ended smoking effect until summer 2007, ended smoking in public buildings in Tennessee.in public buildings in Tennessee.

2007 Tennessee Non-Smokers Protection 2007 Tennessee Non-Smokers Protection Act ended smoking in numerous Act ended smoking in numerous restaurants, hotels, etc., to permit restaurants, hotels, etc., to permit Tennesseans to breathe smoke-free.Tennesseans to breathe smoke-free.

Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) complied with the new 2006 state complied with the new 2006 state legislation and adopted its own legislation and adopted its own

non-smoking-in-TBR-buildings policy.non-smoking-in-TBR-buildings policy. TBR also has a policy prohibiting TBR also has a policy prohibiting

tobacco being sold and distributed on tobacco being sold and distributed on its campuses. its campuses.

MTSU Smoking Policy: MTSU Smoking Policy: UnenforcedUnenforced

Middle Tennessee State University was the last Middle Tennessee State University was the last TBR school to stop the sale of cigarettes on its TBR school to stop the sale of cigarettes on its

campus.campus.

MTSU’s policy is a reflection of current TBR policy, MTSU’s policy is a reflection of current TBR policy, but the policy is not being enforced.but the policy is not being enforced.

MTSU has stepped in the right direction by MTSU has stepped in the right direction by stopping the sale of tobacco, but now there needs stopping the sale of tobacco, but now there needs

to be more enforcement of current policy.to be more enforcement of current policy.

RESTRICTED RESTRICTED ALLOWANCES ALLOWANCES ALLOWANCES ALLOWANCES ALLOWANCES ALLOWANCES

Tobacco Free Tobacco Free Smoke FreeSmoke Free ( = Smokeless( = Smokeless

Tobacco Tobacco

Permitted) Permitted)

Smoking in Smoking in

Private Private

VehiclesVehicles ( = Smoking in ( = Smoking in Cars Permitted)Cars Permitted)

Smoking in Smoking in

Parking LotsParking Lots( = Smoking in a ( = Smoking in a Few Designated Few Designated Spots Permitted)Spots Permitted)

Austin Peay State Austin Peay State UniversityUniversity XX East Tennessee East Tennessee State UniversityState University XX Tennessee Tech Tennessee Tech UniversityUniversity XX Cleveland State Cleveland State Community Community College College

XX Pellissippi State Pellissippi State Community Community College College

XX

We think of our campus as We think of our campus as having a lot of smokers, having a lot of smokers,

but…but…

How many students actually do How many students actually do smoke at MTSU? How big is our smoke at MTSU? How big is our smoking population?smoking population?

Would our student body support a Would our student body support a smoke-free or tobacco-free campus?smoke-free or tobacco-free campus?

23,653 student population at MTSU 23,653 student population at MTSU

Spring 2010Spring 2010

$$ 53% women 53% women

$$ 47% men 47% men 1290 students surveyed (5.5%)1290 students surveyed (5.5%)

$$ 54% women 54% women

$$ 46% men 46% men

Do you consider yourself a Do you consider yourself a smoker?smoker?

No 82% Yes 18%No 82% Yes 18%

Do you smoke on campus?Do you smoke on campus? No 79% Yes 21% No 79% Yes 21%

CDC national estimates, 18-24 year CDC national estimates, 18-24 year olds:olds:

21.4% smoke21.4% smoke

Dip, chew, or use smokeless tobacco?Dip, chew, or use smokeless tobacco?6%6%

CDC national estimates:CDC national estimates:3.3% smoke3.3% smoke

Yes Yes NoNo I don’t knowI don’t know

Would you Would you support a policy support a policy for a smoke-free for a smoke-free campus?campus?

53% 53% 34% 34% 14% 14%

Would you Would you support a policy support a policy for a tobacco-free for a tobacco-free campus?campus?

47% 47% 38% 38% 16% 16%

Next? Sequencing?Next? Sequencing? Write a policy proposalWrite a policy proposal Do due diligence: campus community Do due diligence: campus community

organizingorganizing- Solicit support from like-minded - Solicit support from like-minded student organizations student organizations- Solicit support from broader circles of - Solicit support from broader circles of campus organizationscampus organizations

Work for a resolution by SGAWork for a resolution by SGA Meet with VP for Business and Finance and Meet with VP for Business and Finance and

seek administration supportseek administration support Work for a resolution by Faculty SenateWork for a resolution by Faculty Senate Work for a resolution by Staff SenateWork for a resolution by Staff Senate

Democracy in ActionDemocracy in Action