Clearing the Air

Cal State San Marcos is now a smoke and tobacco free campus, along with all 23 California State University campuses.

The use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other smoke-emanating products such as e-cigarettes, vapor devices and other like products will be prohibited on all University properties as well as smokeless tobacco, snuffs and any other tobacco products. 

“Becoming a smoke and tobacco free campus protects and promotes the health and well-being of our campus community,” said Dr. Kimberly Pulvers, a CSUSM associate professor of psychology who has researched addiction and tobacco use extensively. “The smoke and tobacco free campus initiative supports the mission and values of our university, prepares our students to enter workforces which are increasingly smoke and tobacco-free, and supports environmental sustainability and litter reduction.”

CSU Chancellor Timothy White issued an Executive Order on April 7 implementing a systemwide smoke- and tobacco-free environment for campuses effective Sept. 1. This policy was created to provide the CSU’s faculty, staff, students, guests and public with campuses that support the principle of one’s individual freedom to learn, teach, work, think and take part in intellectual endeavors in a fulfilling, rewarding, safe and healthy environment.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, approximately 30 percent of the roughly 4,700 institutions of higher education in the country are 100 percent smoke and tobacco free. With CSUSM’s move to ban smoking, virtually every college and university in San Diego County will be smoke and tobacco free this coming fall.

For further information about the CSUSM policy and tobacco cessation resources, visit: http://www.csusm.edu/smokefree.

Anyone interested in kicking the habit can receive free phone counseling in multiple languages through the California Smokers’ Helpline (1-800-NO-BUTTS).