Click the FresnoStateNews logo to return to the home page

University Communications Office -- 5241 N. Maple -- Fresno, CA 93740-8027 -- (559) 278-2795

 Featured:  Faculty Who Energize Fresno State

  Save Mart Center - Search

 Maps:  Heading to a campus event? -- Use our online maps

EDITORS and NEWS/PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTORS: Press releases can be downloaded at www.fresnostatenews.com. University Relations also provides releases for news media companies via e-mail. To be added to the distribution list, send your e-mail address to tomu@csufresno.edu.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tom Uribes

May 7, 2003

(559) 278-5366 or 250-8459

Fresno State Seeks ‘Smoke Free’ Campus

New Policy Offers Smokers Help with Quitting

California State University, Fresno has formally implemented a new “Smoke Free Campus Policy” that designates certain areas smokers can use and provides resources to help smokers who desire to kick the habit.

“We are committed to providing a healthy, comfortable and productive environment for students, faculty and staff,” said Fresno State President John D. Welty.

The president recently approved the policy proposed by a university committee he established after the CSU Board of Trustees authorized its 23 campuses in September to limit smoking to specified areas or ban smoking on the campus altogether.

State law already bans smoking from workplaces and all buildings accessible to the general public throughout the state.   CSU regulations ban smoking from within 20 feet of buildings but now university presidents can set up stricter rules.

Welty created an eight-member committee of employees and students that worked to develop the new policy that is now being phased in with full enforcement beginning Oct. 1, said Dr. Jeannine Raymond, committee chairperson.

The committee cited the United States Surgeon General 1996 findings that involuntary smoking is a cause of disease, including lung cancer, in healthy nonsmokers, and that the simple separation of smokers and nonsmokers within the same air space may reduce, but does not eliminate, the exposure of nonsmokers to environmental tobacco smoke.

“The Environmental Protection Agency has classified secondhand smoke as a Group A carcinogen, a substance known to cause cancer in humans.” The policy says.  “The EPA does not recognize a safe level of exposure to Group A carcinogens.”

The policy calls for maps showing designated smoking areas to be made available to all employees and students through appropriate campus Web sites and publications.  

Signs will be visible at all designated areas and directional signage identifying designated areas will be posted where needed by July 1, Raymond said.

Smoking cessation resources for students, faculty and staff include the Health Center, California Smokers Health Line and Employee Assistance and Development.  

This information will be announced regularly on university Web sites and in publications such as the University Journal and materials that reach students at least once a year.

The policy establishes a timetable to give people a reasonable amount of time to adjust to the new policy:

• From April 1 to June 30, the new policy will be advertised and the designated smoking areas posted;

• From July 1, to Sept 30 the university will begin requiring smoking only in designated areas with reminders issued to those in violation of the new policy;

• After October 1, full enforcement of the new policy will be implemented.

“The success of this policy will depend on the thoughtfulness, consideration and cooperation of smokers and nonsmokers,” Welty said.

The policy states that: 

1. The university shall be a smoke free campus except for officially posted designated smoking areas effective April 1, 2003.  In addition, the use of smokeless tobacco in any form is strongly discouraged and shall not be permitted in any classroom or other enclosed facility.

2. Smoke-generating tobacco products shall be not be sold or distributed in any manner on campus either in vending machines, the student union, the Kennel Bookstore or any other campus area.  This prohibition includes free samples distributed by vendors or event sponsors.  Advertising and sponsorship of campus events by tobacco companies shall be discouraged.

3. This policy shall apply to all university facilities, owned or leased, regardless of location, athletic facilities, the amphitheatre, and all state and auxiliary vehicles.

4. This policy pertains to students, faculty, staff, administrators, visitors and the general public attending campus events.

5. The designated areas shall be within a reasonable distance for access by students, faculty, staff, administrators and visitors as determined by the appropriate administrator.

6. The campus shall make available to students, faculty, staff and administrators information about smoking cessation programs.

A list of the designated smoking areas and the entire policy are available below.

Questions about the new smoking policy or designated areas can be directed to the Office of Administrative Services or Raymond at (559) 278-2083.

------------------------------------------------------------

California State University, Fresno

Smoke-Free Campus Policy

and Implementation Procedures

I.  Policy

California State University, Fresno is committed to providing a healthy, comfortable, and productive environment for the students, faculty and staff of this campus.  The United States Surgeon General in his 1996 report on Involuntary Smoking concluded:

Ø       Involuntary smoking is a cause of disease, including lung cancer, in healthy nonsmokers, and

Ø       The simple separation of smokers and nonsmokers within the same air space may reduce, but does not eliminate, the exposure of nonsmokers to environmental tobacco smoke.

The Environmental Protection Agency has classified secondhand smoke as a Group A carcinogen, a substance known to cause cancer in humans.  The EPA does not recognize a safe level of exposure to Group A carcinogens.

The legislature of the State of California and the public through the initiative ballot have enacted legislation banning smoking from workplaces and all buildings accessible to the general public throughout the state. Consistent with this trend the Trustees of the California State University have enacted regulations banning smoking from within twenty (20) feet of buildings.  The Trustees have further authorized campuses to limit smoking to specified areas or ban smoking on the campus altogether.

In light of these findings and actions,

1. The University shall be a smoke free campus except for officially posted designated smoking areas effective April 1, 2003.  In addition, the use of smokeless tobacco in any form is strongly discouraged and shall not be permitted in any classroom or other enclosed facility.
2. Smoke-generating tobacco products shall be not be sold or distributed in any manner on campus either in vending machines, the student union, the Kennel Bookstore, or any other campus area.  This prohibition includes free samples distributed by vendors or event sponsors.  Advertising and sponsorship of campus events by tobacco companies shall be discouraged.
3. This policy shall apply to all University facilities, owned or leased, regardless of location, athletic facilities, the amphitheatre, and all state and auxiliary vehicles.
4. This policy pertains to students, faculty, staff, administrators, visitors, and the general public attending campus events.
5. The designated areas shall be within a reasonable distance for access by students, faculty, staff, administrators and visitors as determined by the appropriate administrator.
6. The campus shall make available to students, faculty, staff and administrators information about smoking cessation programs.

II.  Implementation procedures

This policy and campus maps showing designated smoking areas shall be made available to all employees and students through appropriate campus Web sites and publications.  Signage shall be visible at all designated areas and directional signage identifying designated areas shall be posted where needed.

To give people a reasonable amount of time to adjust to the new policy the following implementation schedule will be used:

 April 1 – June 30, 2003              Advertise the new policy and post the designated smoking areas

 July 1, 2003 –  Sept 30, 2003     Begin requiring smoking only in designated areas with reminders issued to those in violation of the new policy

 October 1, 2003                        Full enforcement of the new policy

Smoking cessation resources advertised to students, faculty and staff will include the campus Health Center, California Smokers Health Line, and Employee Assistance and Development.  These will be announced regularly on University Web sites and in publications such as the Journal and materials that reach students at least once a year.

Current designated smoking areas include:

Ag Operations, near storage area on north side of the yard

Alumni House, east side near parking lot

Athletics facilities, in designated areas

Between Conley Art and the Joyal building, northwest corner of parking lot B, near portable

Education building, last bench on south end toward the corner of Maple and Shaw

Engineering East, southeast side, near fire hydrant           

Music building, south side of curved cement bench near the “Three Graces”

Music building, southwest corner of amphitheatre area

North Gym[1], northwest corner of the grass area near the Annex

O’Neill Park, near one of the tables

Plant Operations, under water tower on east side at existing bench

Between Psych/Human Services, McKee Fisk, Social Science, and Family and Food Sciences, at the two benches on the north side of that area

Residence Dining facility, at the camphor trees north of the sun dial

Residence halls, in designated locations outside of Graves, Sequoia, and Sycamore halls, and on the outside patio of the Atrium

Satellite Union, near the southwest corner of the cement area, last table

Between Science and Business buildings, halfway between each building

Speech Arts, north side in front of theatre at the two benches

Student Union, west side of the patio to the north of the Student Union

Requests for modification to these areas should be submitted to the Vice President for Administration.

Questions and problems regarding this policy should be handled through existing administrative processes including Facilities Management and the Vice President for Administration.

The success of this policy will depend on the thoughtfulness, consideration, and cooperation of smokers and nonsmokers. 

March 2003

###