The department of public safety and the department of environmental health and safety have been issuing warnings to violators of the Smokefree Air Act in order to educate people about the smoking ban.

The smoking ban, which went into effect July 1, makes all university buildings and grounds completely smoke free. Iowa State’s Smoke-Free Campus Policy, the university’s interpretation of how the ban affects campus, went into effect Nov. 10.

Jerry Stewart, director of public safety, said DPS officers began issuing warnings in September to educate people and push compliance for the ban.

“The problem we have is, particularly at football games, there’s a lot of visitors to the campus who are unaware of the ban,” Stewart said. “Right now we have been in more of an education mode.”

Stewart said so far about 40 written warnings have been given and DPS has only received fewer than 10 complaints.

Angie Jewett, emergency response preparedness coordinator for the department of environmental health and safety, said she has received “just over 100” complaints of people smoking on campus.

“To my knowledge DPS has not written any actual citations,” Jewett said. “But they have issued a number of warnings.”

Jewett said EHS does not actually write citations. The department coordinates enforcement by receiving complaints, and if they see a pattern of repeat offenders, they pass complaints on to DPS, which may issue warnings and citations.

“The south side of Friley, that has been probably the largest problem area,” Jewett said. “I know that is also one of the areas where Public Safety has issued warnings to people, because after numerous verbal warnings from residence hall staff, people just will not comply over there.”

Jewett said people who have been given warnings in the past run the risk of getting a citation, which, if caught again will result in a civil fine, but that decision would be up to DPS officers.

She said some university employees have been disciplined for violating the ban, which have been handled by their supervisors and would “probably have more teeth to it than giving someone a civil citation.”

The one exception to the ban on campus is apartments at Schilletter and University Village.

Keith Bystrom, associate counsel for the university, said university housing is not effected by the statewide ban, but because the department of residence has a smoke free policy, students are not allowed to smoke in most housing.

“We’ve always interpreted that our housing units are really a student’s private residence,” Bystrom said.

He said the department of residence could choose to change their policy and allow smoking in all university housing or not allow it at all. He said the difference between SUV apartments that allow smoking, is that these apartments already allowed smoking before the ban, while apartments in Frederiksen Court did not.

“Their existing policy as this went into effect is that certain apartments permit smoking, and that has not changed,” Bystrom said. “Since we allowed it before, we were in agreement with residents that they could continue to permit it there under the private residence exception.”

Bystrom said the new Iowa ban has presented some changes for smokers living in SUV apartments.

“One of the differences now is they have to do it inside,” Bystrom said. “They can’t go outside, at University Village, and smoke.”

Bystrom said it is important for people to know the boundaries of where they can smoke, and he hopes people make the right decision to go off campus and dispose of their cigarettes properly.

“We know people smoke,” Bystrom said. “But they should throw away their cigarette butts appropriately.”

Smoking ban by the numbers

Ban went into effect July 1

Citation for smoking on campus — $50

Citations written so far — 0

Complaints received by environmental health and safety — About 100

Complaints received by department of public safety — Fewer than 10

GSB involved with smoking ban

By Allison Suesse — Daily Staff Writer

Since smoking is not allowed inside establishments, a consequence of the law has manifested as litter outside Campustown businesses.

Lauren Suerth, Government of the Student Body Campustown senator and senior in community regional planning, is exploring ways GSB can get involved to minimize litter from cigarettes.

Suerth is chair of the Campustown Student Association, and said she has had a few discussions with the advisers of the committee to brainstorm ways to reduce litter outside of establishments.

Suerth said businesses are not allowed to place ashtrays outside establishments because they are trying to deter smoking. However, since the sidewalks outside businesses are public property, owners are not required to clean those areas.

She has also had informal discussions with city council members who have shown interest in the project. They said Ames has recently purchased a street sweeper, which could potentially be used in the Campustown area after the weekend.

Campustown Student Association spoke with ISU students to get their opinion on the subject.

“Students have noticed an increase of litter outside business since the smoking ban,” Suerth said. “They are identifying it as a problem.”

Further discussion will take place at the Campustown Student Association meetings.