In the month since the American College Health Association released a set of updated guidelines urging all colleges and universities across the country go tobacco free, many colleges have moved to snuff out tobacco use.
 
Washington University Chancellor Mark Wrighton announced on Monday through the Office of Public Affairs that all campuses of Washington University will be tobacco-free by July 2010, including all University-owned and managed properties.            
 
The University of Texas at Arlington is among those still considering a ban. The Tobacco-Free Campus Initiative committee submitted four recommendations to President James Spaniolo last month, asking for the campus usher in a tobacco-free campus by August 2011 by beginning a community-wide campaign and tobacco cessation classes.
 
According to a Stanford University report, second-hand smoke, when a non-smoker stands or sits next to a smoker outside, can be significantly harmful, but when someone moves 6 feet away from an outdoor smoker, exposure levels are much lower.
 
“It makes sense for UTA to have a tobacco ban, because smoking isn’t allowed in Arlington restaurants and places like that,” said University of Texas at Arlington business management senior Sheila Kelashian. “But I don’t think it’s realistic to expect all colleges in America to adopt that policy.”

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