Boren presents tobacco policy

University of Oklahoma President David Boren will recommend features of the new campus tobacco policy to the OU Board of Regents on Tuesday.

The recommendations are based largely on the suggestions of his tobacco policy advisory committee comprised of students, faculty and staff. The committee forms its suggestions from input gleaned from emails committee members have received and on a commitment to the well-being of the university community.

“While the principal need to take action is the health and well-being of society, including members of the OU community, this policy would also have an impact on the cost to the university,” Boren said.

Boren said that the estimated cost of tobacco use for the university is $4 million annually.

While a majority of the committee voted to ban campus smoking altogether, Boren is recommending the implementation of designated on-campus smoking areas, in order to avoid increased smoking in nearby off-campus areas such as the Campus Corner District.

The two recommended smoking locations are in the parking lots near Dale Hall and Lloyd Noble Center, areas which are isolated enough to prevent others’ exposure to secondhand smoke.

The policy will take effect on July 1 and will affect students, faculty, staff and visitors. The policy also will ban smoking at sports venues such as Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium and Lloyd Noble Center.

Failure to abide by the smoking policy will result in up to a $50 fine for the offender.

“No policy is perfect, and (the) entire policy — including the impact of these designated smoking areas — will be evaluated after one year of implementation,” Boren said.