Depressing Day For Most Pa College Students.

[mjdx88]

I know this a serious topic but I think this should be posted here so many know what is going on. Today Sept. 11 PA clean air law is being enacted. Which along with many other states no longer allows smoking indoor public places like bars and restaurants. Included with this is all PASSHE schools are now to be 100% Smoke free, this includes the resident sides of campuses.

Here is a copy of an email I received this evening.

KU students, faculty and staff:

The Pennsylvania Clean Indoor Air Act (Senate Bill No. 246), prohibiting smoking in the workplace and locations defined as “public places” throughout the Commonwealth, goes into effect tomorrow, September 11, 2008. This act specifically indicates that no person shall carry a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or other lighted smoking device in an enclosed area which serves as a workplace or in an area where the public is invited or permitted, including an educational facility.

We have recently been informed that it is the position of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education that smoking, as defined by the statute, is prohibited on the entire campuses (including any open areas) of the 14 PASSHE institutions. “No Smoking” signs will be prominently posted at appropriate locations throughout the campus and maintained by the university in the near future. It will be a violation of this law for KU employees and students to smoke on campus.

The unions representing PASSHE employees have been notified by the Chancellor’s office that effective close of business on September 10, 2008, all current local agreements and/or practices related to smoking on campus will be considered null and void. Previously designated smoking areas will be closed and previous smoking arrangements will be discontinued.

It is PASSHE’s policy that any complaints regarding a possible violation of the Act are to be referred to the Department of Health for enforcement.

A variety of smoking cessation programs are offered through the PASSHE’s benefits program and other sources. These programs are listed on the Human Resources Website: http://www.kutztown.edu/admin/personnel/Cl...lementation.pdf

Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

Sincerely,


F. Javier Cevallos
President

I bet you can all guess what I did tonight. I sat outside and smoked hookah for a good 3 hours in front of my apartment. Smoked Pink Lemonade.

I find it hard to believe that this law will stick since a good portion of Professors and staff smoke and have no where to go off campus to do so, nor should they. As for students many of us will have to take a hike of campus for the time being. Along with the laws I find it hard to believe the State will have some sort of way to keep this law enforced.

Till then my smoking days are over on campus.

-Mike

[Codename067]

Wow, that REALLY sucks.


You did a good thing by smoking that bowl...you keep on smoking.

[Bulldog_916]

It doesnt seem like they'll enforce it but trust me they will. They are pretty hardcore on that stuff here. All places are going smoke free, its only a matter of time. God damn anti-smoking lobbies. Assholes.

[srawas89]

O man I know there is a smoking ban in Ohio however luckily it has not been pushed on toward schools and thank god I go to a private university so I dont think it will affect me. I hope not I helped get hookahs unbanned on campus just last year and have only smoked on campus twice this year so if it ends soon I will be so mad. I feel for you man I really do, esp. after all that crap you dealt with, with the campus police.

[TigerLord]

The US is YEARS, almost a decade behind. France, Germany and other EU countries have been smoke free for around 8 years and it's been like this in Canada for about 4 years now. And it's AWESOME!

I can enjoy my Hookah in the privacy of my home, I can understand why others might not like it, and respect that. But I have not yet met someone who said "ew it smells like disgusting hookah here". It usually smells good right?

These laws however, was never targeted to hookah smokers, but for cigarettes. I am thankful I can go on in a bar or club without suffocating from second hand smoke or dye my lungs blacker than they might already be. I can also enjoy a good dinner at a restaurant without the disgusting smoke of someone else beside me in my face.

Too often did I have an asshole in front of me waiting in line for something while he blew his fucking smoke in my face. Now I can kick his ass and he'll get a big fat ticket.

Not all Hookah smokers are cigarette smokers. And I welcome this with open arms.

[mushrat]

I know this a serious topic but I think this should be posted here so many know what is going on. Today Sept. 11 PA clean air law is being enacted. Which along with many other states no longer allows smoking indoor public places like bars and restaurants. Included with this is all PASSHE schools are now to be 100% Smoke free, this includes the resident sides of campuses.

Here is a copy of an email I received this evening.

KU students, faculty and staff:

The Pennsylvania Clean Indoor Air Act (Senate Bill No. 246), prohibiting smoking in the workplace and locations defined as “public places” throughout the Commonwealth, goes into effect tomorrow, September 11, 2008. This act specifically indicates that no person shall carry a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or other lighted smoking device in an enclosed area which serves as a workplace or in an area where the public is invited or permitted, including an educational facility.

We have recently been informed that it is the position of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education that smoking, as defined by the statute, is prohibited on the entire campuses (including any open areas) of the 14 PASSHE institutions. “No Smoking” signs will be prominently posted at appropriate locations throughout the campus and maintained by the university in the near future. It will be a violation of this law for KU employees and students to smoke on campus.

The unions representing PASSHE employees have been notified by the Chancellor’s office that effective close of business on September 10, 2008, all current local agreements and/or practices related to smoking on campus will be considered null and void. Previously designated smoking areas will be closed and previous smoking arrangements will be discontinued.

It is PASSHE’s policy that any complaints regarding a possible violation of the Act are to be referred to the Department of Health for enforcement.

A variety of smoking cessation programs are offered through the PASSHE’s benefits program and other sources. These programs are listed on the Human Resources Website: http://www.kutztown.edu/admin/personnel/Cl...lementation.pdf

Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

Sincerely,


F. Javier Cevallos
President

I bet you can all guess what I did tonight. I sat outside and smoked hookah for a good 3 hours in front of my apartment. Smoked Pink Lemonade.

I find it hard to believe that this law will stick since a good portion of Professors and staff smoke and have no where to go off campus to do so, nor should they. As for students many of us will have to take a hike of campus for the time being. Along with the laws I find it hard to believe the State will have some sort of way to keep this law enforced.

Till then my smoking days are over on campus.

-Mike

Time to organize. Get the other srudents and faculty up and moving. If you all sit there....then you deserve not to smoke.

[r1v3th3ad]

I will continue to puff my cigs....MWF I have fifteen mins between classes and is not enough time to walk off campus....they can cite me all they want on those days....


I got an almost identical email btw

[Oggie505]

I am sure there is a clause built in for places that have a certain percentage amoutn of sales for tobbacco to allow smoking. Most states allow smoking in cigar shops and other places where sales are 70% tobacco. Even the UK ban was ammended to allow smoking. A place has to have sales from tobbacco be 80% of the business. This is why davidoff's in London still allows smoking inside, because they meet the sales quota.

[Stuie]

The Pennsylvania Clean Indoor Air Act (Senate Bill No. 246), prohibiting smoking in the workplace and locations defined as "public places" throughout the Commonwealth, goes into effect tomorrow, September 11, 2008.

How ironic on a day we should remember the attack on our freedom and celebrate it here in the states, they enact a law to take more freedom away.

[MrMoodz]

AZ was hit with the smoking ban earlier last year (or the year before). To my surprise there are more hookah cafes/lounges/shops now then before. I don't know how they get away with it but they do.

[ahwahoo2006]

I don't really have a problem with limiting indoor smoking.

I have a HUGE problem with banning outdoor smoking.

[wpw36]

Iowa got hit too, i got almost got that letter word for word in my mailbox. i think it is bullshit alot of us smoke and we don't wanna walk/drive off campus cuz we really dnt have time to do that in between

[Apets22]

I agree with mush. Im for the most part against protest but this killing a right. Inside, no big deal, but outside, thats fucking rediculous

Id get all students with hookahs, cigarettes, cigars, pipes whatever and stage a smoke out/barbecue. Peacefully of course.

[Thetawaves]

Heh Heh, my friend at Kutztown said the same thing. He's not too happy about it, but he didn't buy a hookah yet. Luckily I go to school from home, so I can still enjoy my hookah here in Pa when ever I'd like to. : )

[mjdx88]

-shrugs- still people smoking around campus, there was a peaceful protest today of about 30 people sitting in front of the admin building today(who has no control over this law). It was said to say but most people their were protesting more about the fact it was a pain in the ass and less about loosing rights and not even getting a voice in the law.....there were only 2 people there that felt that way. I for one feel the same....I dont need to smoke but I like to enjoy a bowl at the end of the week.

I did my part by trying to cover the whole story with an unbiased opinion.( I work with the campus news show) I feel since this is a state act I dont have too much direction to work on voicing my opinion along with maybe an Idea for a compromise. Its all too soon to tell what will happen.

-Mike

[r1v3th3ad]

I still continue to smoke on campus. With the rain, today I stepped off campus...too much of a hassle for me, I hate rain so therefor am not as alert. I smoked two on campus other than that...yesterday had 5 on campus....I must've seen 75 people smoking still over the past two days.

Only way I'm stopping is if the fine is like 250 bucks...not worth it...but 20 bucks is no prob to me.


Apparently, the health board are the ones who have to enforce it, not cops...from what I read in the paper today