K-School Prohibits Smoking In Most Areas

In response to complaints from students and administrators, the Kennedy School of Government has instituted a policy that widens a ban on smoking to include all classrooms, offices, and cafeterias.

Steven Singer, director of press relations at the K-School, said smoking is now restricted to two areas of the school. Both locations are in the small foyers leading to exits, he said.

Although smoking has been banned from K-School classrooms for several years, the new policy extends the ban to all offices, cafeterias and lounges.

The new measure, which went into effect at the outset of the semester, was developed after many students and administrators complained last year about the volume of smoke, Singer said. An eight-member committee made up of students and administrators--both smokers and non-smokers--investigated the complaints and concluded that smoking should be restricted to the two foyers, each of which is approximately 100 square feet.

Singer said the limitation is an attempt to provide students and faculty with the best possible working conditions. A K-School statement hailed the measure as "enlightened public policy."

Non-smokers and administrators yesterday offered strong support for the smoking limitations.

Anne M. Coyle '84, a first-year student in the MPA program, said, "As an undergrad it was never a problem. Almost nobody smoked. But there are many mid-career students here who smoke." She added, "The ventilation in the building is not the best and after a while it gets really gross. It gets in your hair, your clothes--every-where."

Another student who asked not to be identified said, "I really appreciate [the new policy]."

Hale Champion, the school's executive dean, recently said that he supported the decision--despite his cigar habit.

Although many smokers support the idea of the policy because it protects the rights of non-smokers, some said the new policy is too restrictive and insensitive to those who want to smoke.

"I feel as if I am in a leper colony," said Margaret Moodie, a self-described "heavy smoker."

Referring to the administration's position thatthe ventilation system prevents locating thesmoking areas in the interior of the building,Moodie said, "We would all die if the airconditioning were truly closed. If they can havesmoking sections on airplanes, why can't theKennedy School have them?"

The biggest grievance smokers expressed is thatthe designated smoking areas will not be heated inthe winter. Smokers also say that there are onlyeight chairs in the forum smoking area and nothingbut benches at the often-used Belfer Centersmoking location. Ashtrays--where provided--arerarely emptied, several K-School smokers said.

Smokers also complain that there is no smokingarea in the cafeteria. In this respect, theK-School's policy is stricter than a CambridgeCity Council anti-smoking proposal currently underreview. The City's rule would restrict smoking inall public places except restaurants and thosework areas at which both employers and employeeshave agreed to permit it.

Despite the severity of the new K-Schoolregulation, not all smokers oppose the policy. AnArgentinian student who identified herself only asChristina said that "this policy has had aninteresting effect. An informal club of smokersnow meets at breaks. We talk. We have gottten toknow each other." Pedro Zorrilla, a student fromMexico, said that the rule creates a goodenvironment at the school. "Now all we need is asauna," he said.

Several students said the rule has providedthem with an incentive to kick the habit or atleast to cut down. In an effort to encouragestudents and staff to stop smoking, the schoolwill offer a smoking cessation workshop thatbegins next week. A stress reduction seminar, opento both smokers and non-smokers, will also be heldnext week