{"id":118371,"date":"2020-10-06T16:58:07","date_gmt":"2020-10-06T14:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=118371"},"modified":"2026-01-20T10:24:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T09:24:49","slug":"smoke-free-campus-responsible-decision-or-counter-productive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2020\/10\/06\/smoke-free-campus-responsible-decision-or-counter-productive\/","title":{"rendered":"Smoke-free campus: responsible decision or counter-productive?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A quick ciggy between lectures has become a thing of the past since the start of this academic year. The new law has turned the Erasmus University campus into a completely smoke-free zone. Students used to have access to special smoking zones, but smoking has now been banned on the entire campus. Not everyone welcomes the ban. One student even believes that it might have a counter-productive effect.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRandall van Gurchom-Colijn<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

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Aaron Martin<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

Aaron Martin was never a smoker himself. The master student International Management supports the new ban. \u201cThere is so much data available on the health issues caused by smoking that I don\u2019t think we can tolerate it any longer,\u201d he believes. \u201cI think many people smoke because of the social aspect. Imagine: you\u2019ve just finished a tricky exam and you see your friends all having a smoke outside \u2013 this will make it much more likely that you\u2019ll want to light one up too. By banning smoking from campus, that particular aspect is gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think any efforts are needed to make students more aware of the consequences of smoking; most people know what the risks are,\u201d he continues. \u201cThe university could, however, do more for the students who start smoking out of stress. The university could for instance educate them on alternative means of dealing with stress, such as meditation. That\u2019s a lot healthier.\u201d<\/p>\n

Counter-productive<\/h2>

On the other hand, master student Financial Economics Dennis de Jong is happy with the smoking ban. \u201cBefore, you used to encounter groups of smokers everywhere,\u201d he says. \u201cAlthough I believe that it\u2019s their personal choice, it does bother me when they\u2019re a nuisance to others. I really dislike the smell, and there are the medical consequences of imposed second-hand smoking to consider.\u201d<\/p>\n

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He\u2019s not sure whether people will abide by the ban. \u201cI see fewer people smoking on campus, but surely some students are having sneaky ciggies in dark corners, because they think it\u2019s too far a walk off-campus, for instance.<\/p>\n

Second-hand smoking<\/h2>
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Dennis de Jong<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

On the other hand, master student Financial Economics Dennis de Jong is happy with the smoking ban. \u201cBefore, you used to encounter groups of smokers everywhere,\u201d he says. \u201cAlthough I believe that it\u2019s their personal choice, it does bother me when they\u2019re a nuisance to others. I really dislike the smell, and there are the medical consequences of imposed second-hand smoking to consider.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s not sure whether people will abide by the ban. \u201cI see fewer people smoking on campus, but surely some students are having sneaky ciggies in dark corners, because they think it\u2019s too far a walk off-campus, for instance.<\/p>\n

Neater<\/h2>
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Dimitar Manov<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

Dimitar Manov, exchange student International Business Economics & Business, is not too fussed about the smoking ban, but he understands both sides. \u201cI\u2019m not a smoker, so I don\u2019t really care whether on-campus smoking is allowed or not. But I do understand why it\u2019s been banned,\u201d he says. \u201cThe campus looks a lot neater. An educational institution like Erasmus University doesn\u2019t want to be associated with smoking. I believe the university is mainly doing it for the image it\u2019s presenting to the outside world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like Sophie, he doesn\u2019t believe the smoking ban will work. \u201cWhenever I\u2019m on campus and looking around, there\u2019s always someone smoking somewhere. I think a smoking ban is too extreme. It would be better to have a small smoking zone near every building. That way everyone\u2019s happy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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