Hamilton College President Eugene M. Tobin has announced a new policy that prohibits smoking in all campus facilities and entranceways. The new policy takes effect with the start of the 2003-04 academic year in August.
"In making this decision," Tobin said, "I was persuaded by recent tragic residence hall fires at colleges and universities across the country and by the Environmental Protection Agency's classification of secondhand smoke as a Class A carcinogen. Hamilton's commitment to provide a safe and healthy atmosphere for our students and employees obligates us to take this step."
The policy applies to all student residences, including all rooms, lounges and public spaces. Smoking will still be permitted in The Little Pub on campus.
In announcing the new policy, Tobin said, "This decision was made to protect the health and safety of our students and employees. Although we have been spared the consequences of a deadly residence fire caused by an improperly discarded cigarette, other colleges have not. And the recent couch fire in Major Residence Hall, which sent three Campus Safety officers to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation, served as a reminder for how close we have come to a tragedy."
Furthermore, Tobin said, "since only a small portion of our students smoke regularly, the demand for smoke-free facilities is increasing, as are complaints from students affected by secondhand smoke."
The college's Student Health Center and Office of Personnel Service will provide information and schedule smoking cessation programs for students and employees who would like to quit smoking.
