Students voted this evening at Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union council for a reconsideration of the union’s stance on Trinity’s tobacco-free campus initiative.
Students voted to remove the union’s current mandate on smoke-free zones on campus. The old motion, which came with certain specifications, required TCDSU officers to engage with the College’s sub-committee on smoking.
In a discussion that was at times chaotic, the union voted to remove its current policy on Trinity’s smoke-free zones policy.
Trinity has a long history of grappling with the issue. In a referendum in February 2014, students voted on whether TCDSU should support the Tobacco Free Initiative: 53 per cent of voters voted no. In March 2014, TCDSU introduced a mandate to oppose the initiative. In 2015, TCDSU’s council voted to support the introduction of smoke-free zones in “identified problem areas on campus”.
A new proposal on the tobacco-free campus will be brought to the College Board in the coming months. TCDSU President Kevin Keane tonight appealed to students to remove the mandate, telling council that it limits TCDSU’s negotiating position.
Speaking at council, Keane explained that within a designated area around the rugby pitch and College Park, people would be allowed to smoke. Within all other areas, people would only be allowed to smoke in designated smoking areas with shelters. It left many wondering what would be made of the vaping trend, and if it was to be included with in the smoke ban in smoke-free zones, it wasn’t researched but many more students bought something a long the lines of this Vape Starter Kit as they knew the smoke-free zones were being implemented.
Keane explained that these areas were chosen because people can reach them “very easily”.
Many students were critical of the implementation of the smoke-free zones. Student speakers called for a survey to see what areas students wanted to be smoke-free as opposed to “pigeonholing” them in certain areas.
A recent report by the Tobacco Free Trinity Committee, seen by The University Times, has labelled the smoke-free zones introduced 18 months ago a “success”. The report found an average 81 per cent decrease in smoking in the smoke-free areas.
Speaking to The University Times, David McGrath, the Head of College Health Services and the Tobacco Free Trinity Committee, explained that there has been “a dramatic decrease in the number of people smoking in the zones”.
The most popular spot for smokers was Fellows Square – the area outside the Arts Block – with 1,030 people found smoking there after 313 checks.
To ensure the success of the smoke-free areas, the committee hired paid ambassadors, who asked people smoking in the zones to leave or put out their cigarette. The report found that people were more likely to refuse to leave as the year progressed.
Members of the committee intend to return to Board in December with a proposal to increase the number of smoke-free areas on campus. This proposal will be based on the information found in the report.
Correction: November 22nd, 2017
An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the referendum saw students vote not to have a smoke-free campus. In fact, students voted on whether TCDSU should support the Tobacco Free Trinity initiative. It also neglected to mention that in March 2014, TCDSU introduced a mandate to oppose the initiative.
