Guidebook

Smoking

Reed College Smoking Policy

Approved by the Community Affairs Committee and by the Student Senate February 28, 2014.
Approved by the Faculty March 3, 2014.

Revised Policy Approved by the Student Senate February 26, 2016.
Approved by the Faculty March 7, 2016.

Effective August 29, 2016

(Edtited December 21, 2017)

Preamble

We, as a community, believe in the right of all members of the Reed College community and all visitors to campus to be able to conduct their affairs without unwillingly being exposed to second-hand smoke. The purpose of this policy is to express the need to protect this right while recognizing the individual freedom of those who choose to smoke. This policy does not replace the Honor Principle; rather, it articulates a community norm that requires each individual to recognize a certain right and to act accordingly.

For purposes of this policy, the term “smoking” means inhaling, exhaling, burning, carrying or possessing any lighted tobacco or marijuana product, or the use of smoking devices or equipment that includes, but is not limited to cigarettes, cigars, hookahs, pipes, and inhalant delivery systems (e.g. e-cigs, vaping equipment).

Primary policy

1. Smoking is prohibited within 10 feet of the architectural footprint of all campus buildings. For the purposes of this policy, all entrances, exits, operable windows, air intakes, porches, covered walkways and overhangs of a building are included in its footprint.

2. Smoking is prohibited on all campus bridges, and within 20 feet of the Health and Counseling Center and the Growing Seeds Childcare Facility.

3. Smoking is prohibited on all campus walkways and footpaths, including those in the canyon, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. To ensure every community member’s right to breathe smoke-free air while using pathways during these hours, community members who smoke should consciously observe a reasonable distance away from pathways that respects the designation of pathways as smoke-free. Between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., community members who choose to smoke on pathways should avoid the unwilling exposure to secondhand smoke of others who may be sharing those pathways. At all times, community members who choose to smoke in parking lots, on roads, and on residence hall patios, should avoid the unwilling exposure to secondhand smoke of others who may be sharing that space.

A. Smoking is prohibited between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. in the GCC quad except within a provided weather shelter. In the event that there is insufficient space within the shelter, smoking will be permitted in the immediate vicinity, but no more than five feet beyond the perimeter of the shelter when possible.

4. Community members who smoke shall dispose of the remnants of their smoking in appropriate receptacles.

A. Receptacles will be made available in close proximity to spaces where smoking is permitted by this policy.

5. All members of the community have the right to engage any person observed to be in violation of this policy. However, the obligation to adhere to the policy rests upon the person smoking regardless of whether anyone requests that they move or dispose of the remnants of their smoking appropriately.

Any person in violation of this policy who refuses to adjust their behavior after engagement by a community member, including Community Safety Officers (CSOs), may have their information recorded by CSOs for the purposes of tracking repeat offenders or identifying geographical areas with high concentrations of violations.

A. Staff: The Office of Community Safety may forward information about violations of this policy by staff to the Director of Human Resources (or designee) who may forward this information to the staff’s direct supervisor.

B. Faculty: The Office of Community Safety may forward information about violations of this policy by faculty to the Dean of the Faculty (or designee).

C. Students: The Office of Community Safety may forward information about violations of this policy by students to the Dean of Students (or designee).

i. Students who repeatedly or egregiously violate this policy may be asked to speak with the Dean of Student Life (or designee) to discuss the consequences of violating this policy in such a manner. Ramifications may include but are not limited to mediation coordinated and facilitated by the Office of Student Life or a behavioral contract that outlines clear expectations and any possible corresponding consequences for the violation of those expectations. Violations of this policy that occur in Reed’s residential facilities may also result in consequences outlined in the housing contract.

ii. If an individual staff member or group of staff members representing the Office of Student Life in the enforcement of this policy is unable to reach resolution as outlined in 5.C.i or believes that a violation of the Honor Principle has occurred, they may initiate any aspect of Reed’s Honor Process deemed appropriate in the relevant community and judicial documents.

D. Community members found by CSOs to repeatedly violate this policy may receive a notification from Community Safety that includes the incident report(s) and a copy of this policy.

6. In its restrictions on smoking, this policy may exceed, but will in no way negate, any aspect of the relevant local, state or federal smoking laws.

Shelters

The college will provide weather shelters for smoking that will be placed in areas in which community members may smoke without causing unwanted second-hand exposure to smoking byproducts.

Members of the community may propose additional locations for shelters to the Physical Plant Committee, who will make recommendations to the President. The President will have final authority in designating and decommissioning weather shelter locations.

Dissemination

At the beginning of each academic year, all students, faculty, and staff will receive a copy of this policy governing smoking on campus. The college should make available to all community members information regarding smoking cessation programs and resources.

-end-

The following descriptions of Oregon law are separate from the policy described above.

Oregon Smokefree Workplace Law, ORS 433.853-433.990:In June 2007, the Oregon legislature passed a law strengthening the Oregon Smokefree Workplace Law. The new restrictions went into effect on January 1, 2009.

The law expands the number of indoor workplaces that are required to be smokefree. Smoking is prohibited in most public places and workplaces with few exceptions. Public place means any enclosed area open to the public. Place of employment means every enclosed area under the control of a public or private employer that employees frequent during the course of employment.

The law also prohibits smoking within 10 feet of entrances, exits, windows that open, and ventilation intakes of workplaces or public places.

Tobacco 21 Bill: Beginning January 1, 2018, Oregon SB 754 makes it illegal to sell tobacco products to people under the age of 21, and for people under the age of 21 to use these products, including on college campuses.

In addition, the college residence halls are smoke-free.

Smoking of any substance is prohibited in the residence halls and apartments. This includes smoking out of the window while the smoker is in the building. Smoking is not permitted on balconies. Evidence of smoking in the residence halls, apartments, or balconies may result in the student being fined $100 per incident and/or other suitable sanction(s) (for example, community service) as determined by the Assistant Dean of Students for Residence Life.

See also the Housing Contract for more information.

(Page last modified: November 29, 2023)