The Inter-Residence Hall Association, backed by the Department of Residence, is joining seven other Big 12 schools with its plan to be smoke-free by Fall 2002.

In order to get more student input on the issue, IRHA may postpone the vote, scheduled to take place tonight, on a bill that would end smoking in every area of the residence halls, including private rooms.

Randy Alexander, director of the Department of Residence, said he considers the bill to be timely, appropriate and in line with the current Ames smoking ban and decisions made at other Big 12 schools.

“The department has not made a final decision to go smoke free in all buildings, but we are certainly leaning in that direction,” he said.

Alexander said a recent survey of Big 12 housing directors showed that Baylor, Kansas State, Texas A&M and Texas Tech are all currently smoke free. Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska plan to be smoke free by Fall 2002.

Demand for smoke-free environments in the residence halls has increased, he said.

“For the past several years, we get significantly more requests for smoke-free housing than we can fit into the available space,” Alexander said.

It is difficult for each floor to make itself smoke-free, Alexander said. Residence halls require 80 percent of house members to vote in favor of the restriction.

The bill, which was introduced at last week’s IRHA meeting, raised questions as to where smokers would go if the bill passed.

Alexander and UDA President Jeff Greiner, who sponsored the bill, have been discussing the construction of protected areas for smokers.

“Some [student staff and student leaders] have raised the question of providing some sort of outdoor shelter for smokers,” Alexander said. “We are open to investigating this idea.”

The Department of Residence insurance premiums could possibly be reduced by the implementation of the smoking ban, he said. Alexander said he does not know an exact amount of money that the department would save.

Greiner said the vote may be postponed so more student input can be heard on the controversial issue.

“The responses I have gotten have been overwhelmingly in support of the ban,” he said. “There are some good, well-thought-out oppositions that have been heard, and I and others have seriously looked into those issues. I don’t want to enact this if people aren’t for it.”

The IRHA meeting will begin at 7 tonight in the Maple-Willow-Larch Conference Room.