Smoking Ban:

January 2006 issue

Forget about security enforcing the smoking rules outside the DePaul Center. Why? Well because some of them stand within 20 feet and are puffing away.

Response

From an "enforcement" point of view we are only able to truly mention the rule to smokers who continue to gather or stand close to the building entrances, as there is a great deal of hesitation on the part of the University to go into a stricter reinforcement mode- which might include subjecting both students and staff to disciplinary procedures.

What we do then is have both Facilities Operations and Public Safety Office staff point out the rule to those who are breaking it, when we notice them in passing, and ask them to be courteous to others and stop. Often times that helps, though in some cases it does not. We also cannot spend time on a continuous policing of these areas, as, without trying minimize the rights and feelings of non-smokers, there are other security related priorities that we must concern ourselves with and pay attention to. More than anything, we are counting on smokers to be courteous and considerate of the non-smokers.