UI Campus Delays Smoking Ban

A plan to make the University of Illinois’ Urbana campus smoke free by the end of November has been postponed until January.

Different committees looking at the rollout of the smoking ban determined that pushing the start date back would be better for students who are overwhelmed about getting through final exams.

Michelle Guerra with the U of I’s Wellness Center said the committees’ recommendation was then approved by the school’s chancellor.

“So, it just seemed like a much more natural fit and one that would just create the least amount of stress as possible," Guerra said. "One of the goals we’ve had in really putting this implementation program in place is to have the process be as gentle as possible as it can be for people.”

Meanwhile, the Illinois legislature is considering a plan to ban smoking on all state-supported colleges and universities.

Guerra said regardless of how that effort pans out, the U of I’s Urbana campus is still on track to be smoke free.