Nowadays, many universities and colleges have come up with rules and regulations to govern smoking. In most of these universities, certain areas have been set apart as designated smoking areas certain areas for the purpose of smoking. These areas are respected due to the fact that if they are not respected the students or persons violating those laws will face charges or various consequences. The Purdue University has not been left behind in putting up similar rules. In fact, by the year two thousand and ten it was declared illegal to smoke within the campus. The reason behind Purdue University’s smoke-free policy was to ensure that the well being of the people living within the University premises are not affected health-wise (Purdue.edu). This is due to the fact that passive smoking has been discovered to be far more dangerous than active smoking. Consequently, allowing smoking to take place within the campus is endangering the health and lives of the other people within the campus.
The school policy is designed for all the employees, visitors and students at the University. Therefore, anyone within the school premises is expected to comply to these rules. It is important to note that is prohibited for all persons whether or not they are indoors. In fact the smoke- free policy states that one is not even allowed to smoke inside vehicle or room owed by the school or leased to employees or students by the school (Purdue.edu). There are however designated areas for smoking. Moreover, one is allowed to smoke within privately owned vehicles. Other points to note are that he campus strictly forbids smoking to take place more than ten feet away from the designated smoking urns.
This decision was arrived at on the basis of facts about passive smoking that showed its dangers on human life. According to the EPA, any kind of exposure to passive smoking should be avoided at all cost and is extremely hazardous at any level (Cdc.gov). Their argument is based on scientific facts. A recent report done on passive smoking states that secondhand smoke refers to the smoke that comes from a cigarette as it burns, or when exhaled by a person that is smoking. This smoke has been proven to contain several particles and gases that have toxins in the form of more than seven thousand chemicals. Moreover, about seventy of the gases contained in these toxins are cancerous (Cdc.gov). These chemicals are also responsible for causing various heart diseases and problems. It has also been discovered that the toxins that the cigarette emits as it burns are more poisonous than those the active smoker takes in through smoking. Passive smoking should thus be avoided at all cost. Purdue also stated that the risk of respiratory disease is a major concern in the university as the student and faculty health are a top priority.
It is important to note that Purdue has several campuses and the above rules are those applicable to the most of the Purdue campuses including the IUPUI Campus. Another important thing that Purdue offers is the assistance to those smokers that are willing to quit. This is done through smoking cessation programs. Purdue hopes to help as many smokers as possible to quit especially because of their health. It is however crucial to note that certain Purdue universities vary slightly in their specifications. In general, some have stricter rules than others with regards to smoking.
In conclusion, smoking is a health hazard and should be banned internationally all together. However, as a result of the high demand for cigarettes and due to democracy, smoking zones are designated for those who participate in this self-destructive act. This is necessary in order to protect the rest of the people from inhaling toxic substances that can lead to addict, poor health, and even death. Purdue is thus taking part in safeguarding the lives of those within its premises.
Works Cited
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Smoking & Tobacco Use. 25 March
2013. 21 November 2013
<http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/?secondhand
smoke/general_facts,>.
Purdue University . Smoke-Free Campus. 21 November 2013
<http://www.purdue.edu/smokefree/>.
