Why did CSUN go smoke-and tobacco-free?
CSUN is committed to providing its students, faculty, staff and visitors with a healthier, smoke-free environment in which to learn, live and work. A smoke- and tobacco-free campus protects the university environment and encourages nonsmoking and tobacco-free lifestyles.
A smoke- and tobacco-free campus demonstrates responsible sustainability efforts of our environment by reducing litter, eliminating smoke-filled areas at facility entrances and reducing associated fire danger. Lastly, a smoke-free campus reduces the health dangers related to secondhand smoke.
What are CSUN’s smoke- and tobacco-free guidelines?
The use, sale, distribution or advertising of tobacco products is prohibited on the campus. In addition, no organization sanctioned by the university will be able to accept money or sponsorships from companies or other entities engaged in the manufacturing of tobacco products; and the university cannot accept gifts or grants from tobacco companies. Also, university publications can’t accept any form of advertising of tobacco products.
What does smoke- and tobacco-free mean?
Smoking or use of any tobacco product is not permitted in any CSUN facilities or grounds. Tobacco product does not include any cessation product specifically approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for use in treating nicotine or tobacco dependence.
Tobacco products and devices include, but are not limited to, the following examples:
- Cigarettes
- Cigars
- Pipes (including hookah)
- Electronic smoking devices such as e-cigarettes
- Smokeless tobacco and nicotine delivery systems (e.g., chewing tobacco, snuff and SNUS)
- Simulated tobacco products that imitate or mimic tobacco products (e.g., herbal, cloves, bidis and kreteks).
CSUN community members are encouraged to voluntarily comply with the university’s smoke-and-tobacco-free guidelines. As such, the university is providing many educational resources to assist our community. Non-compliance of the guidelines by students, staff, and faculty will be addressed through our student conduct and progressive discipline processes. Visitors may be removed from campus property and as a last resort, per Education Code Section 89031, a criminal citation (fine) may be issued for any violation.
Who is affected by the smoke- and tobacco-free guidelines?
The guidelines apply to every person who comes to the CSUN campus, including students, visitors, faculty, staff, volunteers, alumni, vendors, contractors and service representatives.
Isn't smoking a legal right?
Court rulings maintain that tobacco users do not have the legal right to expose others to secondhand smoke, a Class-A carcinogen, and they are not entitled to protection against discrimination as addicts or as disabled persons according to Assembly Bill 846, Governor’s Executive Order W-42-93.
What types of training and promotion are being done to notify employees and students of the guidelines?
CSUN is an institution of higher education and education will be key to implementing these guidelines. Various campus departments will coordinate university efforts for guidelines notification, support and assessment to ensure successful implementation.
Examples of guidelines efforts include:
- Designated website
- Door and sidewalk signs
- Campuswide email blasts
- Guidelines information announced and distributed during New Student Orientation, New Employee Orientation and New Faculty Orientation
- Guidelines information communicated to prospective students and employees
- Guidelines information communicated to all outside groups that use university facilities
What areas of campus do the smoke- and tobacco-free guidelines cover?
The guidelines include any and all CSUN-owned, leased, rented or maintained property such as buildings, facilities, sidewalks, roadways, parking lots and grounds. In addition, the guidelines include all university-owned, leased or rented vehicles.
Can people smoke or use tobacco in personal vehicles while on campus?
No. Tobacco use is prohibited in all CSUN parking areas, both inside and outside of vehicles, or on the CSUN campus.
How do I report a concern or violation of these guidelines?
If you have a concern, please report it to the Department of Environmental Health and Safety at 818-677-2401 (also at: ehs@csun.edu).
Why isn’t CSUN utilizing designated smoking areas?
Designated smoking areas have many disadvantages. A study from Stanford University found that in outdoor designated areas with multiple smokers, levels of toxic air contaminants from secondhand smoke may be the same or higher than indoors, therefore, creating a hazardous environment to individuals standing in or around these areas.
Additionally, secondhand smoke is proven to travel outside of designated areas; distance depends on wind strength and direction. Designated areas have also been found to encourage tobacco use by creating a social environment for daily and non-daily tobacco users. By increasing the number of individuals smoking in one area, students are more likely to believe that more people smoke than they actually do. This misperception affects the norm of smoking on campus and may also contribute to increased tobacco use. Finally, designated areas are often heavily littered and smell of toxic tobacco waste.
To date, more than 2,000 colleges throughout the United States have successfully adopted 100 percent smoke-free policies.
