Survey examines university tobacco smoking policies

A new survey by a Portland State safety committee could alter the university’s policy about smoking on campus.

The survey is designed to take a hard look at university smoking policies and is asking for the input of everyone on campus, according to Gwyn Ashcom, chair of the tobacco policy subcommittee of PSU’s university safety committee. The committee will use survey data to determine whether to alter current smoking policy, which prohibits smoking in any building and within 20 feet of any doorway or marked air intake.

“We were getting a lot of complaints on campus, so we formed a subcommittee,” Ashcom said. “We thought it was important that we get the PSU community involved so we can hear from everybody, get all their insights and evaluate the efficacy of current policies.”

Still in its early stages, all students and faculty are encouraged to give their opinions in order to provide for a large and varied representative data sample.

“We want to see what people at PSU think, instead of just rolling with something without really thinking about it. We’re trying to get as many voices as possible,” said Ashcom.

The survey comes at an already tough time for Oregon smokers, as bills calling for an 84-cent tax hike on cigarettes and a proposed ban on smoking in bars are currently making their way through the state legislature. Senate bill 571, which would extend an in-progress workplace ban on cigarettes to include all bars and taverns, was discussed Friday at an open hearing in Eugene.

Eugene has already passed an indoor ban on smoking, according to Brad Avakian, a member of the state Senate Judiciary Committee overseeing the bill. He said the hearing in Eugene helped tell the committee how the ban would affect smokers in the bar and workers behind the bar.

“Most people are in support of the bill,” said Avakian. “People [non-smokers] shouldn’t be forced to breathe in harmful chemicals, but the bigger issue is the people that work in the bars.”

Avakian said cancer rates are 50 percent higher for people who work in bars that allow smoke. He said that an American Cancer Society study shows pollutants are 622 percent higher in bars that allow smoking.

“That’s who we’re trying to protect here-the people,” Avakian said.

The smoking ban hearing Friday took place as an open forum to allow testimony from representatives for and against the bill. The earnings of house bill 2201, which proposes an 84-cent tax increase, would go towards providing health insurance to the children of low-income families.

The bill is expected to move to the state Ways and Means Committee sometime next week. While reaction concerning the bills is mixed, general reaction on campus seems to be that the legislature’s attempts are misguiding policy.

“I think in certain places it’s ideal, but not every bar should be forced to [ban smoking],” said Neil Schultz, a PSU student. “Pubs go hand in hand with smoking, I think. You should have a choice of going to a non-smoking bar or a smoking one.”

“It’s not good,” said Andrew Gorny, a jazz performance major, speaking of the ban. “I don’t see why it [smoking] needs to be banned in every bar, it should be up to the establishment. Besides, a lot of non-smoking bars are more highbrow-if I go somewhere casual I want to have a cigarette.”

Gorny said that the state has historically been bad with funding and therefore opposes the cigarette tax.

“The money should be coming from somewhere else,” he said. “Why does it have to come from a commodity?”

Response to the university safety committee’s smoking survey has been similarly negative among the student smoking population, who says the university has not provided adequate smoking accommodations on campus.

“If the school provided a reasonable place for smokers to smoke, you wouldn’t get this problem,” said Kathy Sanchez, who is taking continuing education classes at PSU. “People think that all smokers are these horrible, inconsiderate people, but if I’m with a group of non-smokers I’ll go stand elsewhere. I just don’t want to stand in the rain.”

While not unanimous, many bar managers say they would not mind if some kind of smoking regulations created a healthier work environment.

“Personally I would not mind,” said Phil Chung, the manager of Suki’s Bar and Grill. “I don’t smoke myself–a lot of people smoke in our bar and lounge, but if it’s going to affect every business, it’s going to be good for everyone overall, especially with people that work here. It would make a better environment.”

“I’m a smoker, but it’s a good idea so that everyone can enjoy the bar rather than just the few that do,” said Mark Biloretl, who manages the Candlelight Caf퀌� and Bar on Southwest Fifth Street. Biloretl said he is getting mixed reaction from the employees, but thinks that the cigarette ban is a good bill.

The manager of the River City Saloon, who would only speak under anonymity, disagrees. “I’m against it,” he said. “Most of my customers are against it too. There are plenty of non-smoking places in Portland.”

The manager said that people who could not smoke in a bar would rather drink at home, which would bring in less business. “My employees are against it too, and half don’t even smoke,” he said. “It would not only kill our business, but we’re the only smoking bar in the area. That’s where a lot of our profits come from.”

The legislative bills in the House and Senate are expected to continue to move forward through the state legislature in the coming months.