Volume CXXXII, Number 1 September 13, 2002 f

Smokers take a hit

In New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg is attempting to curb cigarette smoking. Following in the footsteps of Los Angeles and many other California counties, the Mayor has proposed a ban on smoke in bars, restaurants, pool halls and bowling alleys. While there are many supporters, a large population in the Big Apple disagree and insist that Mr. Bloomberg's proposal challenges their constitutional liberties.

Barry Mills does not have that problem. President Mills announced in a September 5 email that "smoking is no longer permitted in any college building, including all student residence halls, apartments, and the College Houses." It is likely that the only opposition he will have is the small assembly of campus smokers. A majority of the Bowdoin population does not smoke and is against first and second hand contact. However, the majority of smokers will not be affected by the school's new policy.
Depending on housing and roommate situations, many will puff away without bothering others. Undetected by security, smokers will most likely continue without change in various social houses (however, many have instituted policies of their own), Coles Tower, and the apartments.
President Mills writes, "College survey data indicate that while very few of our students arrive on campus as smokers, a significant number become smokers while here." The largest component of his statistic is first-years. Here, smokers and non-smokers can be paired together with conflicting habits. Seeing a close friend constantly smoking can either repel or draw in the non-smoker, very often the latter.

The most important and effective aspect of this new policy is Dudley Coe's gratis counseling and "tools for quitting." Nicotine patches are readily available after an appointment with the health center staff, a confidential and highly effective instrument. It is important that the college has recognized the great risks of smoking, not only in thought but materially. Just as safe-sex talks will not provide for students already engaging in unprotected intercourse, regulations against dormitory smoking will not curb smokers' trends. However, the open, advertised availability of proven addiction-breakers can immediately affect those trying to quit.

"Studies show that the number of students who become addicted to cigarettes during their four years at college can be decreased by 40% just by making college residence halls smoke-free," said President Mills. It would be interesting to concentrate on the value of making freshman halls smoke-free as this is the most (and perhaps only) effective area for the new rules. Undoubtedly, the pressure on first-years to isolate their habits and eventually cease them will influence the trend as they progress through their four years here.