University Times

“Step away from the building” is the new message to smokers at Pitt. The University has adopted a policy that prohibits smoking within 15 feet of primary entrances and air intakes on campus.

The action, approved Tuesday by Executive Vice Chancellor Jerome Cochran on behalf of the University’s officers, takes effect immediately.

“It’s a done deal,” said Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources Ron Frisch, adding that the new policy has been sent to Vice Chancellor for Budget and Controller Art Ramicone’s office to be added to the online version of Pitt’s policies and procedures manual.

Frisch also said on Tuesday that he is drafting a memo on the policy that he expects will be in the hands of the University’s deans, directors and department chairs by the end of the week.

The smoking policy, proposed earlier this year by the University Senate benefits and welfare committee, was endorsed Sept. 11 by Faculty Assembly (see June 14 and Sept. 13 University Times.)

Senate Council on Sept. 18 unanimously approved the proposal.

The University’s previous policy, in place since 1991, forbade smoking in Pitt vehicles or buildings.

The new policy, while not as expansive as the recent decision at UPMC to ban smoking entirely, puts more distance than before between those who smoke and those who don’t.

“This takes a position in the middle,” said Senate President John Baker, who acknowledged that many people expressed interest in a more restrictive policy.

While the policy isn’t perfect, it aims to benefit both smokers and nonsmokers, Baker said, adding that once people learn where the designated smoking areas are, “it will work.”

The policy makes the Department of Environmental Health and Safety responsible for interpretation and campus-wide awareness of the policy as well as for coordinating requests for designated smoking areas. Enforcement is up to faculty and supervisory staff “within their respective areas of responsibility,” the new policy’s update to University procedures states.

The policy states that faculty, staff and students are responsible for making a good-faith effort to see that smoking does not occur where prohibited and for “taking appropriate personnel action, as necessary, to enforce this policy,” as well as to encourage smokers to attend University-sponsored smoking cessation programs.

During discussion prior to the Senate vote, representative Clark Muenzer of Germanic languages and literatures inquired whether some building entrances would be designated no smoking at all, thus permitting passersby to avoid walking through a gauntlet of smokers.

Baker explained that while the resolution allows for designated smoking areas it does not call for any areas in which smoking would be prohibited beyond the 15-foot range.

He added that if there prove to be problems, modifications to the policy could be considered.

Following the vote, Chancellor Mark Nordenberg commended the Senate officers and the benefits and welfare committee chaired by Pat Weiss for their work on the policy, adding that the extra time for administrators to review the proposed policy over the summer allowed for a collaborative effort.

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In other Senate Council business:

• Baker announced that in response to faculty and staff concerns about the cost and quality of catered food at Pitt, food services administrators have set a meeting for noon Oct. 16 in 1228 CL. Those wishing to attend should RSVP to the Senate office.

• The Senate fall plenary session is set for Oct. 17 in the William Pitt Union Assembly Room. In keeping with the Fitness for Life topic, the event will include biometric screenings for blood pressure, body mass index and blood lipids from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by a plenary program from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

• Student Government Board president Shady Henien, a student representative to Senate Council, reported that SGB wants to limit to two the number of finals a student can be required to take in one 24-hour period. Provost James V. Maher urged SGB to work closely with Vice Provost and Dean of Students Kathy Humphrey and Vice Provost for Graduate and Undergraduate Studies Patty Beeson on the issue. He noted that students may be unhappy with the side effects of a less compressed final exam schedule. “You’re getting into the question of how long is your summer break,” he pointed out, adding that reading period and fall semester break time also could be affected.

Baker added that students can request alternate exam times from their professors in case of a conflict, noting that he had accommodated students upon request in some cases.

—Kimberly K. Barlow