The Towerlight reports on a committee at Towson University that seems to be placing that school in line for a total ban of smoking on campus by the end of fall semester. Currently, smoking is banned inside all buildings and within 30 feet of buildings. The university president seems to be the impetus for re-examining the issue, according to the article.

President Robert Caret, himself an ex-smoker, has brought the subject up because he doesn’t like the amount of litter from cigarette butts or secondhand smoke. His Assistant VP and Director of Housing and Residence Life Jerry Dieringer seems to think the current policy (the 30-foot rule was added 3 years ago) works fine with few problems. Dieringer also points out that there are two major issues with the potential new policy are 1) where would smokers go? and 2) how would the policy actually be enforced?

Some of the current students who smoke who were interviewed for the Towerlight article scoff at the idea of it being enforceable. Dieringer also agrees that the current policy doesn’t have an enforcement mechanism.

VP for Student Affairs Jana Varwig says the committee will get feedback from faculty, staff and students as well as looking at other schools’ policies. There’s no word on whether Harford Community College’s policy of banning smoking in private vehicles on campus will be considered. Other policies in the area are also mentioned here.

MalnurturedSnay (via Blogtimore) doesn’t give the policy much of a chance of being enforced and there’s a lot of good information in the post and the comments on how the issue might be received on campus.

We look forward to hearing from Towson faculty, students or staff in the comments below. We also will take email from the same people (mail@insidecharmcity.com) with anonymity protected upon request.