There is a health issue that affects every person that steps foot on our beautiful campus. By enacting a new campus policy, we can have a positive impact on the physical and mental well-being of every student, faculty member, staff worker, and visitor to Saint Louis University. To accomplish this we need to implement a new smoke-free campus policy. 

The negative health effects of smoking and secondhand smoke have been well documented over the years. This culminated in the 2006 Surgeon General’s Report stating the following: there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke, exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems (especially for those with breathing disabilities such as asthma), it causes coronary heart disease and lung cancer, and secondhand smoke exposure causes disease and premature death.

In addition to the positive health benefits, a new policy would also save the university money. Smokers work one month less per year due to smoke breaks compared to non-smokers, and this dramatically lowers productivity. Savings may be made from lowering health insurance premiums as well. A study from the American Cancer Society found employees that smoke have an average insured health care payment of $383 more than non-smokers. Maintenance costs may also be reduced due to a smoke-free campus. The Building Owners and Management Association found that employers that went smoke-free saved an average of 10% on cleaning expenses.

Our university would not be the first to enact a smoke-free policy throughout the campus grounds. There are at least 530 campuses across the U.S. that have enacted 100% smoke-free campuses. Furthermore, the following colleges and universities currently have a smoke-free campus in our area: Fontbonne University, Harris-Stowe State University, St. Louis Christian College, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, St. Louis Community Colleges, University of Missouri St. Louis, and Washington University.

You may show your support for this initiative by signing this electronic petition. Doing so will be an investment in the future of Saint Louis University. This will have a positive impact on the health and image of the campus, and it will assist in lowering the operating costs of the university in these dire economic times.