Most Boston smokers will have to go outside to smoke starting in May, but Boston’s new smoking law will not affect college dormitories, according to Boston Public Health Commission spokesperson Kristin O’Connor.
The law, passed in late December, bans smoking in all Boston businesses, including bars and nightclubs, starting May 5, 2003, but excludes the city’s residences, O’Connor said. Though numerous workers report to BU’s dormitories every day, the law classifies dormitories as residences. Consequently, smoking rooms in residences throughout the BU campus will remain open.
‘It’s really intended for where people work, and we consider the dormitories your home,’ O’Connor said.
All other university buildings will fall under the law.
The new smoking regulations will not alter Boston University’s current policy on smoking in residences, according to John Weldon, director of the Office of Residence Life. This policy prohibits smoking in all common areas. In addition, Weldon said if any roommate objects to smoking in the room and complains to the Residence Assistant, the room will be declared a non-smoking room, as the current policy dictates.
Weldon said students will still be allowed to smoke ‘in the privacy of their rooms as long as the smoke doesn’t bother a roommate or floor mate.’
But some BU students still believe the ban should still extend to dormitories. Mike Kaplan, a student in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences who began efforts toward banning smoking in all campus buildings during the fall, said he believes the new law should apply to campus dormitories.
‘There are people for whom the dorm is their working place,’ he said.
Kaplan said he is not currently actively campaigning to change the smoking policy, but said he plans to conduct a campus-wide survey to gauge students’ opinions on the issue in the near future.
‘My goal now is hopefully to be able to create dorms, floors, halls, somewhere that are specifically smoke-free,’ Kaplan said.
While many students seem content with the current policy, there is very little housing for students who want to live in an absolutely smoke-free atmosphere, he said.
‘All I want is for people who don’t want smoke in their environment to have that option,’ Kaplan said.
But several students, smokers and non-smokers, said they are satisfied with the current policy and see no need to change it.
‘I think it should be an option to smoke in the dorms,’ said Sarah Wolf, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. ‘A lot of people have to live in the dorms it only seems fair.’
Fred Williamson, a sophomore in the School of Management and a non-smoker, said he is also satisfied with the currently policy and feels no need for additional designated smoke-free areas.
‘I don’t smoke but I don’t mind people smoking in the dorms, as long as they’re not blowing it in my face and they do it in their rooms or in the smoking lounges,’ Williamson said.