If students want to take a smoke break between classes this semester, they’re out of luck.
The University’s ban on tobacco went into effect Aug. 1, and after an ongoing battle among administrators, it remains to be seen how the new policy will be enforced on campus.
“Unfortunately, there’s no way my team can enforce the new tobacco-free policy,” said LSUPD spokesman Capt. Cory Lalonde. “Law enforcement enforces law, not policy, and as of now, there are no laws making smoking illegal or worthy of penalty.”
The tobacco-free policy, formally known as PS-118, will establish an honor system during its first year. According to Faculty Senate member, mass communication professor and SmokingWords adviser Judith Sylvester, the “educational curve,” rather than consequence, will teach students to live tobacco free.
“Our priority is education and explanation,” Sylvester said. “Policy Statement 118 is the best we could have ever hoped for in terms of this definition.”
The LSU Athletics Department and LSU Student Life and Enrollment are already commandeering the education and awareness sectors of the enacted policy via informational fliers and the removal of all tobacco trash receptacles on campus.
CVS pharmacies are also at the forefront of the new tobacco-free movement, Sylvester said. The company has stated it will no longer sell tobacco by Oct. 1 and is beginning to pressure Wal-Mart and Walgreens to do the same.
Enforcement of the policy on football game days attempts to raise awareness and permit the University to remain distinguished as a “WellSpot” under the La. Department of Health and Hospitals’ “Well-Ahead Louisiana” program.
The program is part of a state government initiative to promote healthy lifestyles to students and recognize universities putting forth the effort and concern to improve their students’ well-being.
However, Sylvester believes the campus can be relaxed about implementation of the policy on football game days, especially when it concerns visitors.
“It won’t be necessary to have policemen running around about this,” she said.
Mechanical engineering sophomore Marc L’Hoste said LSUPD has to deal with more pressing issues on a day-to-day basis than “busting the butt.” While the department has every capability to enforce the policy, they are unwilling to do so, he said.
L’Hoste, who is a smoker, recognizes the potential benefits of kicking the stick to adhere to the tobacco-free distinction.
“If anything, it’ll benefit me financially,” he said. “I’ll smoke less on campus, so I won’t have to buy as many cigarettes. I might be a little more stressed than usual, but that’s about it.”
Ensuring the University becomes an entirely tobacco-free campus within the policy’s first year will nearly be impossible, and all parties know it, Lalonde said.
Sylvester said LSU will be the “last hope” for raising awareness about tobacco manipulation and misuse in students ages 26 and younger.
“We must keep in mind that 70 percent of the LSU campus doesn’t smoke,” said Sylvester. “It’ll take a village to do what we’re doing, but, thankfully, we’ve already got the policy. Now, we just need the cessation, stress reduction and student support to truly make it happen.”