Louisiana’s ban on tobacco was implemented back in 2007. Since the enactment of the bill LSU has tried to carry those sentiments to campus. It started with restricting smokers from smoking indoors. Then campus officials mandated that smokers could no longer stand near entrances of buildings and doorways. They were then required to stand 25 ft. from the entrance.
All these actions lead to the Tobacco-Free Campus campaign that was successfully implemented in 2014, enraging smoking students and faculty. In defiance, some students refused to put out their cigarettes and continued to smoke them. Some students even resorted to blowing smoke in the faces of Tobacco-Free advocates. Now nearly three years later, the rivalry between the two groups continues to exist.
“No one enforces it.”Malone said.
Malone is one of many smokers who frequently lights her cigarette in front of LSU’s main library. But her actions aren’t out of disrespect for the rule.
“It’s an addiction and I think the school needs to be more understanding of that,” Meghan Malone said.
“The school needs to be more understanding of that because it’s not something you can just stop.”
She stated that the school officials were insensitive to the condition of addicts. If the school were to supplement the tobacco mandate with designated smoking areas for those who suffer from addiction, her and others would be more likely to abide by the laws.
The jump-starter of the movement, Judith Sylvester disagreed.
”It’s too much money for such a small percentage of the student population.” Sylvester said.
“And if they did have these areas, they wouldn’t stay in them. They’d figure they can smoke anywhere, because it was allowed.”
