[smoky policies]

(See a shorter version of this article and participate in community discussion about this issue at the Unofficial UMBC SGA Blog.)

So I started investigating Residential Life's misrepresentation of the UMBC Smoking Policy after receiving this email in regards to how the policy was being enforced in my residential community:

"[...] if you wish to smoke, beginning now, you may only do so in designated areas on campus... [...] RAs will be working with me and with University Police to enforce these policies. Should you be found smoking in an area [...] that is not one of the designated areas, regardless of the weather or time of day, you will be documented and referred to Student Judicial Programs for violating university policy. There is potentially a fee charged to students who violate these areas, as well as asking students violating this policy to clean up discarded cigarette butts, and we hope that disciplinary action and fees will not need to be assessed for policy violations. Please help us in this endeavor by smoking in designated areas."

Apparently someone (or a widespread rumor) in Residential Life had led all all of the Community Directors to believe that this was the campus policy, leading them to misinform their Resident Assistants, many of whom made fliers to give students similar ideas about the policy.

The problem here is that the UMBC policy does not prohibit smoking everywhere besides designated smoking areas. The designated smoking areas are worded as a suggestion or additional component to aid understanding and enforcement of the policy. For reference, the current policy is as follows:

"Smoking is prohibited within 20 feet of all building openings including walkways, doorways, air or ventilation intake systems, entryways, and windows. Smoking is also prohibited on UMBC’s mainstreet area (from the entrance to the Kuhn Library to the street adjacent to the Administration and Recreational Activity Center), and the patio area outside the Commons. To ensure regulation of smoking on the UMBC campus, it is necessary to identify areas where smoking is permitted. Signs will be posted identifying designated smoking areas and refuse containers will be available for the disposal of smoking material. A detailed listing of designated smoking areas and a map that displays those locations can be viewed at http://www.umbc.edu/fm/index.shtml.

Smoking refuse is to be disposed of in ash urns or other containers specifically designated for such use. Smoking refuse is not to be disposed of by littering on UMBC grounds or other paved areas."

Believing Residential Life's interpretation of the policy to be incorrect, I began to investigate where the misinformation was coming from, questioning SGA members and Residential Life staff. I presented that my interpretation of the policy and asked to be put into contact with whoever had spread a different interpretation. I planned to contact Student Judicial Services if I didn't hear back from Residential Life.

I received this email this afternoon in regards to my complaint:

"[...] about your concern – we’ve talked internally in Residential Life about the designated smoking areas and looked at the policy again, and we’ve come to essentially the same conclusion as you have about the 20 foot rule, and the 20 foot rule is what we’ll be looking at enforcing."

So for anyone still confused about the current policy, Residential Life has confirmed you are not required to smoke in designated smoking areas as long as you are more than 20 feet from buildings, at least in residential areas. I'm pretty excited about this clarification and hope that this helps alleviate a little of the confusion surrounding this policy.

Now that this issue is resolved, it's time for me to focus on my SGA campaign! I'll be running for Vice President for Student Organizations for next year. I turned in my application today and am working on another post explaining my platform in great detail, so be on the lookout!