Clearing the Air: Assessing Students' Ideas and Attitudes on Implementing a Smoke-free Campus MTSU ADP Student Organization Liz Thomason, Matthew Foriest, Kiara Hall, Nicholas Crosby, Andrew King Middle Tennessee State University June 19, 2010 ADP National Meeting, Providence, Rhode Island As part of the panel “Supporting, Engaging, Inspiring: Students as Agents and Architects of Democracy”

Smoking by the Numbers Adults20.6% Adults20.6% % % Smokeless3.3% Smokeless3.3% Deaths443,000 Deaths443,000

COPD COPD Cancer Cancer Hypertension Hypertension Heart Attack Heart Attack Stroke Stroke Pulmonary Embolism Pulmonary Embolism = $96,000,000,000 = $96,000,000,000

Smokefree Air Challenge

Arkansas Clean Air on Campus Act (2009) Arkansas Clean Air on Campus Act (2009) Prohibits smoking on state-supported institutions of higher education campuses, with the stated goal being to “reduce secondhand smoke exposure to non- smokers.” Prohibits smoking on state-supported institutions of higher education campuses, with the stated goal being to “reduce secondhand smoke exposure to non- smokers.” Passed in March 2009: in the Arkansas House and in the Senate. Passed in March 2009: in the Arkansas House and in the Senate. Law goes into effect August 1, Law goes into effect August 1, 2010.

Iowa Smokefree Air Act (2008) Iowa Smokefree Air Act (2008) Prohibits smoking in public areas, mass transit systems, school grounds, and other state buildings. Prohibits smoking in public areas, mass transit systems, school grounds, and other state buildings. Passed in the Iowa House and in the Senate. Passed in the Iowa House and in the Senate. Upheld after a judicial challenge on April 1, Upheld after a judicial challenge on April 1, 2010.

The ALA suggests tobacco-free policies rather than smoke-free policies. The ALA suggests tobacco-free policies rather than smoke-free policies. The number of tobacco-free campuses is growing nationwide: The number of tobacco-free campuses is growing nationwide: October 2009: 176 tobacco-free campuses October 2009: 176 tobacco-free campuses April 2010: 231 tobacco-free campuses April 2010: 231 tobacco-free campuses June 2010: 249 tobacco-free campuses June 2010: 249 tobacco-free campuses

“Strong Law in Effect” 2006 Tennessee law, which did not go into effect until summer 2007, ended smoking in public buildings in Tennessee Tennessee law, which did not go into effect until summer 2007, ended smoking in public buildings in Tennessee Tennessee Non-Smokers Protection Act ended smoking in numerous restaurants, hotels, etc., to permit Tennesseans to breathe smoke- free Tennessee Non-Smokers Protection Act ended smoking in numerous restaurants, hotels, etc., to permit Tennesseans to breathe smoke- free.

Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) complied with the new 2006 state legislation and adopted its own Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) complied with the new 2006 state legislation and adopted its own non-smoking-in-TBR-buildings policy. TBR also has a policy prohibiting tobacco being sold and distributed on its campuses. TBR also has a policy prohibiting tobacco being sold and distributed on its campuses.

MTSU Smoking Policy: Unenforced Middle Tennessee State University was the last TBR school to stop the sale of cigarettes on its campus. MTSU’s policy is a reflection of current TBR policy, but the policy is not being enforced. MTSU has stepped in the right direction by stopping the sale of tobacco, but now there needs to be more enforcement of current policy.

RESTRICTEDALLOWANCESALLOWANCESALLOWANCES Tobacco Free Tobacco Free Smoke Free Smoke Free ( = Smokeless ( = Smokeless Tobacco Tobacco Permitted) Permitted) Smoking in Smoking in Private Private Vehicles Vehicles ( = Smoking in Cars Permitted) ( = Smoking in Cars Permitted) Smoking in Smoking in Parking Lots Parking Lots ( = Smoking in a Few Designated Spots Permitted) Austin Peay State University X East Tennessee State University X Tennessee Tech University X Cleveland State Community College X Pellissippi State Community College X

We think of our campus as having a lot of smokers, but… How many students actually do smoke at MTSU? How big is our smoking population? How many students actually do smoke at MTSU? How big is our smoking population? Would our student body support a Would our student body support a smoke-free or tobacco-free campus?

23,653 student population at MTSU 23,653 student population at MTSU Spring 2010 $ 53% women $ 47% men 1290 students surveyed (5.5%) 1290 students surveyed (5.5%) $ 54% women $ 46% men

Do you consider yourself a smoker? No 82% Yes 18% Do you smoke on campus? No 79% Yes 21% CDC national estimates, year olds: 21.4% smoke

Dip, chew, or use smokeless tobacco? 6% CDC national estimates: 3.3% smoke

YesNo I don’t know Would you support a policy for a smoke- free campus? 53%34%14% Would you support a policy for a tobacco- free campus? 47%38%16%

Next? Sequencing? Write a policy proposal Write a policy proposal Do due diligence: campus community organizing Do due diligence: campus community organizing - Solicit support from like-minded student organizations - Solicit support from broader circles of campus organizations campus organizations Work for a resolution by SGA Work for a resolution by SGA Meet with VP for Business and Finance and seek administration support Meet with VP for Business and Finance and seek administration support Work for a resolution by Faculty Senate Work for a resolution by Faculty Senate Work for a resolution by Staff Senate Work for a resolution by Staff Senate

Democracy in Action