North Shore Community College To Become Smoke Free [POLL]

As part of a national inititiave to ban smoking from college campuses, has begun a voluntary cigarette ban this semester, before implementing a mandatory ban at the start of 2012.

"We believe a smoke-free policy is an important investment in our students’ health and their promising futures," said NSCC President Wayne M. Burton in a release. "In addition, a smoke-free campus is more aesthetically pleasing, welcoming and accessible to all students and staff, safer from fires, and environmentally sustainable."

John Hruska, a business administration major from Everett became involved with the Smoke Free Task Force after enrolling at the college in 2009.

Hruska, a self proclaimed "guilty smoker" said he often would nag his peers to not smoke right in front of an entrance to a building. "That was one of the big drivers--smokers were directly outside the door and it was a complaint from students and faculty."

Hruska said the some of the "hardcore" smokers are upset about it, but he has seen indifference among many students. The new policy will apply to all students, staff, faculty, contractors, vendors and visitors. Starting in January of 2012, the only place on campus that smoking will be permitted is inside of a vehicle.

"We're doing a soft rollout starting right now," he said. "We're going to be asking students who are smoking to voluntarily put it out."

The smoke free policy will also fall in line with the college’s core values and strategic directions of accessibility for all, respect and sustainability, according to a release. "It was always planned that when the Commonwealth’s first Zero Net Energy building opens on its Danvers campus in January 2012 it would be smoke-free as part of its green mission. Thus bringing the rest of the campus into similar compliance makes sense as we strive to be excellent environmental stewards," Burton said.