UI, WSU now tobacco, nicotine free

Washington State University and the University of Idaho will join more than 1,000 smoke-free college and university campuses nationwide this academic year.

The UI's tobacco-free campus rule took effect July 1 and includes a ban on cigarettes, cigars, pipes, electronic nicotine delivery systems, hookah, all forms of smokeless tobacco, clove cigarettes and alternative products made primarily with tobacco, according to the policy.

Across the state line, WSU's policy will go into effect Monday and includes nicotine as well as tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookahs, all forms of smokeless tobacco, electronic cigarettes, clove cigarettes, chewing/dipping tobacco and any other alternative products made primarily with tobacco. The WSU ban also includes tobacco cessation products like nicotine patches, gum, nasal spray, inhalers, lozenges and any other products that contain nicotine.

Both campuses have exemptions for research purposes and at WSU for nicotine and tobacco cessation programs. On the UI campus, smoking will be permitted inside enclosed personal vehicles and for ceremonial and traditional rites, in accordance with the American Indian Religious Freedom Act.

"I like (the ban) because I don't like the secondhand smoke, but I don't personally smoke," said Dawson White, a WSU freshman from Wenatchee, Wash.

Many students said they were unaware of the change until they arrived on campus and didn't think many others are yet in the know.

"I thought we were already tobacco free," UI senior Scott Kozisek said. "We just saw the signs. It won't affect any of us because we don't smoke, but it will affect a couple of guys we know. We live on private property, so the guys that do smoke can smoke at the house."

Shanon Quinn can be reached at (208) 883-4636, or by email to squinn@dnews.com.