By Emily Senger
Smokers will have one less location to light up on campus this spring.
A Graduate Students’ Association discussion at their representative council on Wed., Jan. 25 resulted in a vote to ban smoking in the Graduate Lounge, effective May 1, 2006.
“The ongoing discussion of a smoke-free university has prompted this decision,” said GSA President Christine Johns. “It was a motion brought from the floor by a council member.”
Johns said GSA membership polls have been overwhelmingly supportive of a smoking ban in the Grad Lounge prior to the citywide public smoking ban, which comes into effect in January 2008.
Johns is not overly worried about business, as the Grad Lounge is already smoke-free during its peak hours of 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“I’m not sure what effect it will have on business, but I think it will be minimal,” said Johns. “The health and wellness of our members is our greatest concern.”
The decision comes on the heels of a similar decision by the Students’ Union, who recently voted to ban smoking in both the Black Lounge and the Den by January 2007.