Awnings to cover Portland State smoking concerns

Portland State smokers may soon be asked to light up under covered canvas awnings over benches around campus, after changes to PSU smoking policies were proposed by the university’s committee on smoking and tobacco use.

The covered awnings would serve as shelters for smokers in the walkways between Cramer and Neuberger Halls and Smith Memorial Student Union, said Gywn Ashcom, Student Health and Counseling Center outreach coordinator and committee chair of PSU’s tobacco safety board.

The Smoking/Tobacco Use Sub-Committee, part of PSU’s University Safety Committee, released a comprehensive report on the university’s smoking policies last October. The report was released in response to complaints about smokers crowding pathways outside of SMSU.

The covered awnings are in accordance with Oregon’s Smokefree Workplace Law, Ashcom said. Once the awnings arrive, the committee can start replacing the current no smoking signs that will stretch the smoking restrictions from 20 feet to 25 feet away from buildings, she said.

The committee is in the process of drafting a proposed revised smoking policy that will be more comprehensive, Ashcom said.

The revisions to the university’s smoking policy are also taking into consideration Senate Bill 571, which adds enclosed spaces to the list of banned smoking locations ruled on by the Oregon Smoke Free Workplace Law, Ashcom said

“Any space that is closed on three or more sides is considered smoke-free,” Ashcom said. “That passed June 2007. I’m putting all this information in the policy, so it’s not like I just kind of pulled it out of anywhere.”

Ashcom said loading docks, parking garages, balconies and overpasses on campus have to be considered as possible smoke-free locations now because of the bill.

For now, the university is interested in getting the awnings up as soon as possible, said Cathy LaTourette, associate vice president of the department of human resources.

The PSU Facilities and Planning Department purchased the coverings after looking at Ashcom’s recommendations, LaTourette said.

“The facilities department acted on that, and the fastest way to get a covering is to not have to get a permit.” If a covering, such as a canvas awning, is not a permanent structure, it does not need a city permit, she said.

“These awnings are a really clever way to get something going quickly,” LaTourette said. “The timeline was as soon as possible. They already ordered the equipment,” she said.

Other changes to the university’s smoking policy will be decided on in the coming months.