MONTREAL – McGill University may soon be butting out.
The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) voted overwhelmingly in favour of banning smoking on campus.
They could become the latest Canadian university to eliminate cigarettes.
“We looked around to see if other campuses did it and they do,” said SSMU’s medical senator David Benrimoh.
“A lot of students have come to us expressing concern about the effects of second hand smoke- especially those who have asthma or migraines.”
Dalhousie University was the first to ban smoking in Canada in 2003.
At McGill, the student body voted 73% in favour recommending the school go smoke free.
Ironically, the only place that smoking is banned by the university is one of the most popular spots to light up.
The McLennan-Redpath Terrace has been a smoke-free zone since 2014.
Judging by the amount of cigarette butts the rule isn’t sticking.
“That’s a smoke-free area but it’s covered from the elements,” said Benrimoh.
“We’ve gotten a lot of students telling us they want to study but they have to go through that cloud of smoke.”
Benrimoh says it’s not about punishing students who do smoke, it’s about changing the culture.
“The point of this is not to police individuals,” he said.
“It’s to decide what kind of behaviours and activities we want on our campus as a community.”
University representatives declined an interview, but said they are open to dialogue.
The Students’ Society estimates the ban will come into full effect in 3-5 years.
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