UC System Bans Cigarette Smoking Anywhere on Campus

By Simone Wilson Fri., Jan. 13 2012 at 9:30 AM

Don't even think about it.

A strict new "no smoking" policy for the University of California will ban the use, sale or advertisement of any tobacco product anywhere on campus.

Pretty extreme, but to be expected -- because, unlike keeping tuition affordable for students, UC leaders have always made it a priority to stay on the cutting edge of the fight against tobacco addiction. They've thrown bucketfuls of sweat and tears into blocking research gants from tobacco companies, and just this winter banned smoking at all the UC health campuses.

The new ban to end all bans was an executive decision by...

... UC President Mark Yudoff, who announced the sweeping cig extermination in a letter to all the UC chancellors on Monday, according to UCLA student newspaper The Daily Bruin.

And in Los Angeles specifically, UCLA spokesman Phil Hampton says university leaders are in the early stages of forming a committee to enforce the ban.

However, it won't begin until 2014. That's because the UC cares about you and your withdrawals, the Bruin reports:

The university wants to help students wean themselves off of smoking in the period before it takes effect, rather than expecting students and faculty to immediately follow the rule.

Once it does go into effect, though, expect no mercy. Nary a parking lot, eucalyptus grove nor dumpster nook will be safe from the crackdown. So those craving a cigarette break will essentially be forced to brave Westwood campus traffic for 15 minutes just to find a safe haven for their terrible habit.

California's (and arguably the nation's) most prestigious ring of public universities is already reaping the PR rewards, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle:

"This is a very important milestone in California," said Colleen Stevens, chief of the tobacco control branch of the California Public Health Department. "In other states, most young people start smoking in their teens, but in California, that start date is getting older. This policy will help protect the next generation from suffering the horrible impacts of tobacco."

About 20 in-state colleges are already observing similar tobacco blackouts, but the UC system -- serving around a quarter-million students, plus a couple hundred thousand staff and faculty -- is the largest and highest-profile by far.

[@simone_electra / swilson@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

Tags:

Mark Yudof, no smoking, smoking ordinance, tobacco, University of California

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anonymous

The worst Regents in UC history. Fire them all.

Counsel Dew

Yes... because censorship in enclaves solves the problem... What? Do the regents hide their heads in sand too? They, more than most, should realize the only long-term solution is ... educating the masses. That they miss this is telling isn't it?

perspective2

Major issues facing UC remain untouched by President Yudof. Californianssubsidize the tuition of foreign students at UC Berkeley (UCB) in the name ofdiversity while instate student tuition/fees are doubled. UCB Chancellor RobertJ Birgeneau replaces Californians qualified for public UCB with a $50,600payment from foreign students.

UCBis not increasing enrollment. Birgeneau accepts $50,600 foreign students anddisplaces qualified instate Californians (When depreciation of assets funded byCalifornians are in foreign and out of state tuition calculations, out of stateand foreign tuition is more than $100,000 + and does NOT subsidize instate tuition). Like Coaches, Chancellors Who Do Not Measure Up Must Go: remove Birgeneau.Morerecently, the campus police that report to Chancellor Birgeneau deployedviolent baton jabs on students protesting Birgeneau’s tuition increases. Thesky will not fall when Birgeneau and his $450,000 salary are ousted.

Opinionsmake a difference; email UC Board of Regents marsha.kelman@ucop.edu

perspective2

Major issues facing UC remain untouched by President Yudof.

Californianssubsidize the tuition of foreign students at UC Berkeley (UCB) in the name ofdiversity while instate student tuition/fees are doubled. UCB Chancellor RobertJ Birgeneau replaces Californians qualified for public UCB with a $50,600payment from foreign students.

Like Coaches, Chancellors Who Do Not Measure Up Must Go: remove Birgeneau.

Morerecently, the campus police that report to Chancellor Birgeneau deployedviolent baton jabs on students protesting Birgeneau’s tuition increases. Thesky will not fall when Birgeneau and his $450,000 salary are ousted.

Opinionsmake a difference; email UC Board of Regents marsha.kelman@ucop.edu

SickOfTheStupid

The University of New Mexico attempted the same type of prohibition. Like all prohibitions it failed miserably.......................All across the country it is the same , our university's (cash cows for the 1% , just look at the student loan bubble) are no longer teaching , but indoctrinating us into accepting the nanny state fascism.

Chris

The CA UC System has MUCH more pressing issues to deal with than implementing these types of "nanny rules" for their students. What's next?? Only healthy snacks and no potty language? A ban on cigarette smoking isn't going to magically encourage smokers to quit.... It's just going to piss them off.

Bruin

All the pre-med kids outside of the UCLA library are going to kill themselves

Mike Morgan

How times have changed and so much for the free-thinking liberal days and ways of California and its universities. Electronic cigarettes can help avoid tobacco and odor, so see www.ecigwerks.blogspot.com for more.