Indiana State University group working toward smoking ban

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) - A student-led organization at Indiana State University is working to make the university a smoke-free, tobacco-free campus.

Tobacco-Free Blue was founded last spring to advocate for more limits at the university's Terre Haute campus, which is primarily tobacco free but has some outdoor designated smoking areas. The current policy also allows people to smoke in private vehicles while on campus, according to The Tribune Star (http://bit.ly/2kfSro4).

Tobacco-Free Blue's proposal calls for the campus to be completely smoke free and tobacco free, including e-cigarettes and all tobacco products. Designated smoking areas and smoking in private vehicles would no longer be allowed.

The student group plans to meet with university president Dan Bradley later this month to discuss the proposal.

Some people are not happy with the possibility of a smoke-free campus.

University psychology professor and smoker Virgil Sheets recently learned about the group's efforts.

"I'm always concerned when we as a society try to enforce one value set on everybody, and I think it concerns me this campus might do that as well," Sheets said.

Sheets said he respects those who are concerned about people's health, but that there are other ways to motivate change.

Psychology major Abigail Johnson said smokers know the side effects. She predicted smokers on campus would start their own petition to fight the proposal.

Indiana University-Bloomington has a tobacco-free policy.

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Information from: Tribune-Star, http://www.tribstar.com