Though Riverland officials may have banned tobacco use on Riverland Community College property (except in your car), do students and staff support the new policy?

Survey says yes.

Out of 347 Riverland students and employees, 203 students answered it was very important or somewhat important that Riverland adopt a tobacco-free campus policy in a survey sent out to Riverland campuses this spring. In addition, 195 respondents said they’ve never smoked before.

“I love it,” said Yesenia Mendoza, Riverland adviser about the new policy. “I don’t like to breathe unclean air.”

She wasn’t the only one. There were 154 respondents who said secondhand smoke on campus was a concern or annoyance. In addition, 99 people said they were sensitive or allergenic to secondhand smoke.

“Chewing’s fine, because it doesn’t bother anybody,” said Preston Higby, Riverland sophomore. Higby said he doesn’t smoke and doesn’t like being around smokers.

That doesn’t mean the ban is universally loved. Of the respondents, 94 said they smoked cigarettes at least once a day, and 10 respondents use chewing tobacco. In addition, 83 respondents thought a tobacco-free campus policy was somewhat or very unimportant.

“I don’t like it,” said Jordan Wylde, Riverland junior. “It’s not good. I am not happy about that.”

Wylde was strongly against the ban when he first heard about it, as he is a smoker. He works in Riverland’s theatre department and stays at the Austin East campus for up to 12 hours a day this summer.

That’s why Riverland officials made an exception to the ban: people can smoke or chew in their cars, just not anywhere else.

“We didn’t want to restrict the rights of individuals to the point where they didn’t have any tobacco use,” said Danielle Heiny, Riverland’s Student Life Director and member of the tobacco policy committee which met this spring.

Policy aligns with MnSCU schools

Riverland officials say they aligned the college’s tobacco policies to keep up with other schools in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. In March 2010, the MnSCU Board of Trustees approved a resolution encouraging MnSCU colleges to address tobacco policies. The board wanted colleges to educate employees and students about tobacco use dangers, provide information about quitting smoking and further restrict tobacco use.

Riverland was one of 22 colleges and universities that allowed smoking outside in designated areas. All colleges banned smoking indoors before the board’s decision. Of the remaining 10 colleges and universities, only three allowed tobacco us in a private vehicle; the others banned tobacco outright.

“People should have the right to smoke or use tobacco in their own vehicle,” Heiny said.

Students and employees who violate the ban will be subject to the disciplinary policy outlined in their respective policies. A general warning is given about the tobacco policy at the first violation.