By Michael Cavanaugh

Health concerns over the usage of tobacco products have long been a widely-debated issue among lawmakers and citizens alike, smoking being most prevalent among the debate. While the negative impact of tobacco products on health is a well-researched and established fact, there is constant debate surrounding the severity of these health risks relative to how frequently an individual smokes.

Despite the considerable research on the negative effects smoking can have on one’s health, cigarettes remain widely consumed among a range of age groups. Statistics gathered by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that of the 18-24 year olds surveyed, 18.9 percent stated that they were smokers. This means that, statistically speaking, nearly one in five students on campus smokes cigarettes.

Politicians within New York have recently seen progress in their campaign to reduce the number of tobacco product consumers. Back in November 2013, Michael Bloomberg signed legislation that made it illegal to sell tobacco products to individuals under the age of 21. The former mayor stated that the new legislation would help prevent individuals from trying these products prior to the age of 21, Since the majority of smokers begin smoking before they turn 21. In addition to raising the minimum age required to purchase tobacco products, the legislation also prevents any discounts or specials from being offered on these products, and raises the minimum price of a pack of cigarettes to $10.50.

Jimmy Schapira, GSB ’15, does not believe that the new legislation will have much of an effect on the purchase and consumption of tobacco in New York City.

“New York City has the most expensive American cigarettes, and that’s reason enough for the statistic that says something like 50 percent of cigarettes are illegally imported into the city,” said Schapira. “So if the bodega is already breaking federal law by importing and selling these cigarettes, it seems like they would be less likely to turn away a customer.”

Whether this will turn out to be true remains to be seen, but if the purchase of alcohol by underage individuals in New York City—specifically and most relevantly, the Bronx—is any indication, it seems plausible.

Educational institutions have steadily been joining the campaign against smoking. As of Jan. 2, 2014, nearly 1,200 colleges and universities in the United States have adopted policies rendering their campuses 100 percent smoke-free. Fordham, however, is not among these institutions. According to the Student Handbook, Fordham’s policy regarding smoking on campus is as follows:

“It shall be the policy of Fordham University to regulate smoking of tobacco products as required by law. In accordance with New York State law, smoking is prohibited in all buildings. By definition, this prohibition includes classrooms, auditoriums, hallways, stairwells, elevators, lobbies, building entryways, terraces, churches, gymnasiums and health care facilities, as well as the public and private areas of residence halls. Violation of this policy may subject students to university sanctions and other fines.”

That is not to say that the university’s policies are insensitive to non-smokers. Students walking around campus can see signs posted on most residence halls that clearly establish a no-smoking area of 20 feet from the buildings’ entrances, giving non-smokers some breadth to avoid potentially distasteful or offensive smoke. Other than this, the administration has not made any changes to their policy regarding on-campus smoking.

However, according to Aileen Reynolds, FCRH ’14, executive president of the United Student Government, the possibility of becoming a smoke-free campus has been considered.

“Last year, USG Senator Katie Peachmann investigated the possibility of becoming a smoke-free campus,” said Reynolds. “However, from feedback, she found this policy to be too harsh for our community, specifically because of its inclusive nature.”

When the initial inquiry did not come to fruition, Reynolds said that alternative options were also considered.

“[Peachmann] then began looking at other university policies in attempts to propose a stricter policy for our campus, such as indicating specific spaces as designated ‘smoking areas’ with the rest of the campus being non-smoking,” said Reynolds.

This proposed initiative, according to Reynolds, did not move past the research phase, and because of a lack of concern on the topic from the student body, USG has not pursued it any further. However, this does not mean that some students would be opposed to modifications to the current smoking policy.

Paul Mascali, GSB ’15, a non-smoker who respects the rights of smokers to do so on campus, but admits that he sometimes avoids them when he can. He also believes that some change to the policy could be beneficial.

“If it were possible to have designated smoking areas around campus, that would probably be best to limit second-hand smoke,” said Mascali.

Mascali’s feelings are echoed by fellow non-smoker Jen O’Connor, FCRH ’15, who also respects the right individuals have to smoke on campus, but recognizes the qualms some have about it.

“Smoking on campus doesn’t really bother me,” said O’Connor. “I don’t have any personal issues with it, and I think people should be allowed the right to smoke on campus if they so please. I would imagine, however, that people who are non-smokers and are not used to being around smokers might have a much more difficult time with it and might prefer that policies regarding smoking on campus were more restrictive, although I cannot speak for anyone but myself.”

The idea of isolating a specific group of students into designated smoking areas may not be as considerate a compromise as it may first appear. Isaac Ronan, FCRH ’15, an on-and-off smoker, suggests that it is equally unfair to isolate smokers as it is for non-smokers to be exposed to second-hand smoke.

“I can’t imagine that non-smokers regularly suffer any more than a passing sensation of cigarette smoke in a typical day,” said Ronan. “However, I do sympathize with said discomfort and thus am in full adherence to Fordham’s policies on distancing smokers from entrances to buildings and such. But at the end of the day, Fordham students walking between classes are not toddlers trapped in room with a chain-smoking parent, and who’s to say that a mere breath of secondhand smoke is any more unpleasant than a smoker having to schlep all the way across or off campus to take an edge off?”

Similarly, Schapira is also against the idea of making Rose Hill a smoke-free campus.

“Smoking on campus does not bother me,” said Schapira. “I believe people should be allowed to smoke on campus because a ban on smoking would be ridiculous in any attempt to enforce it. The only thing that bothers me […] is when smokers throw their butts on the ground. The school should fine people for littering.”

Altering the smoking policy does not have to be so drastic as to designate smoking areas or make the entire campus smoke-free, however. Reynolds believes that another route can be taken in this regard.

“I would rather the university support students by providing resources to help people quit smoking,” said Reynolds. “And I would encourage people who do smoke to do so respectfully, [such as] smoking away from others to decrease second-hand smoke.”

While this policy would undoubtedly benefit some willing participants, not all smokers can—or want—to quit smoking.

“Nicotine is a chemical dependency,” explained Ronan, “and withdrawal sucks. But in turn, no matter what my mental state be, it’s consoling to know that there is an infallible means to obtaining at least some sense of relief. While your day keeps getting worse, mine can get a little bit better at any time that I please!”

There is no consensus on what exactly the smoking policy on the Rose Hill campus should be, but there does seem to be a general agreement among students that smokers should be allowed, at the very least in pre-determined locations, to smoke on campus. Only time will tell if the administration will follow the trend of New York lawmakers and other universities and make changes to smoking policies.

Michael Cavanaugh is Assistant News Editor at The Fordham Ram.