A Breath of Fresh Air
Posted: June 25, 2008
Beginning July 1, people across the state of Iowa--and on St. Ambrose's campuses--will breathe a little easier. That's the day the new state law regulating “smoking in public places, places of employment, and outdoor areas in order to protect the public health and the health of employees" goes into effect.
While a university task force had been working to build consensus about creating a more respectful campus by limiting exposure to second-hand smoke for nearly a year, Iowa's law supercedes some of the options that had been under consideration.
Still, the benefits of a smoke-free campus are irrefutable. In addition to reduced campus maintenance costs and fire risks, the American Legacy Foundation cites that each employee or dependent who quits smoking reduces annual medical and life insurance costs by at least $210 almost immediately.
The impact to students is just as important. A 2001 Harvard study charted students' patterns of tobacco use and results indicated that they are in transition during the college years, suggesting that "there is an opportunity for both prevention and cessation interventions on college campuses."
In an effort to assist Ambrosians who want help curbing their use of tobacco, the St. Ambrose Human Resources Office and the Health Services Office have compiled a number of resources for information and services, including partnering with Genesis Health Systems to offer SAU employees a smoking cessation program.
St. Ambrose is just one of many universities that have gone to a smoke-free campus. According to the American Nonsmokers Rights Foundation, as of April 1, 110 campuses nationwide have become smoke-free.
The links below will take you to some recent stories about the smoking ban.
Smoking Ban Q&A, Quad-City Times
Culver signs smoking bill into law, Quad-City Times
Iowa Smokefree Air Act, Iowa Department of Public Health