RPI to become tobacco-free campus

Saturday, March 20, 2010
By Danielle Sanzone
Troy Record

TROY — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will become the first college in the county and second college in the area to implement a tobacco-free campus policy as of July 1, said Larry Hardy, the college’s director of human resources and strong advocate of the policy.

The university currently allows students, faculty, staff, and visitors to smoke a certain distance away from most of the campus buildings. But surveys conducted by the college found that less than 10 percent of the college’s population smoked and found that many were in support of a commitment to sustainability and the environment, Hardy explained.

After working on this for about six months, they have met a small amount of opposition but have created groups to educate those affected by the new policy and get input on the easiest ways to transition.

More than 360 colleges in the country have similar initiatives, but the only other colleges in the area include Maria College, which was the first to implement such a policy two years ago, and The College of St. Rose, which has a partial policy installed currently.

“We believe that a tobacco-free campus allows the Institute to provide public health policy leadership, support a culture that reflects a genuine respect for all members of our campus community and visitors, be environmentally responsible, and be supportive of our institutional sustainability efforts,” stated Curtis N. Powell, vice president of human resources. “In addition, becoming tobacco-free supports our Healthy Campus Initiative. We hope to set an example that will encourage the Rensselaer community to embrace the spirit of healthy living, learning and working”.

Anti-tobacco crusader Rick Stoddard will visit Rensselaer, along with two area secondary schools, on Wednesday. He will have private conversations with some students who have lost parents to smoking and then he will give presentations to larger student bodies.

The Brunswick Central School District recently revamped their tobacco use policy and improved the language so it was more comprehensive, said secondary school Principal Rich Pogue, adding that about 400 students will hear Stoddard speak at the school Wednesday and they had him visit two years ago as well.

Meanwhile, the Watervliet City School District is in the midst of revising their tobacco free policy and they have become more vigilant about enforcement at the campus with visitors, said Dennis Robinson, health teacher and coordinator.

“There is more signage, big banners, and we’re trying to make people more aware by being proactive,” he said. “Students have really become involved by going on field trips and to school board meetings to talk about tobacco in movies and advertisements.”

The schools have been working with Capital District Tobacco-Free Coalition and Reality Check Youth Action.

According to a study by the Expanded Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, more adults smoke in Rensselaer County than in Albany and Schenectady.

The study, conducted from July 2008 to June 2009 found that 18.7 percent of county residents aged 18 to 34 are smokers, in comparison to 17 percent of people the same age range in both Albany and Schenectady counties.

Danielle Sanzone may be reached at 270-1292 or by email at dsanzone@troyrecord.com.