Creighton University’s smoking ban has the community responding with a variety of opinions on the effectiveness of the ban and its influence on the campus.

The first year is an educational period to raise awareness of the policy’s implication among the Creighton community.

Approximately 235 days have passed since the smoking ban was implemented on July 1, 2008, and its effectiveness is in question.

“In my opinion, the tobacco-free program has raised awareness,” said Rick McAuliffe, director of Public Safety. “However, the smoking ban is contradictory. People have been driven out onto the sidewalks to smoke, and you are more likely to see someone smoking on the sidewalk now than before the ban.”

Syed Mohiuiddin, Chair of the Department of Medicine and Chair of the Tobacco-Free Task Force, said he believes the smoking ban has been successful despite the fact there has not been 100 percent compliance.

There were some concerns of those who either didn’t know the policy or didn’t follow the rules. However, most of those people were visitors or contractors unaware of the policy, Mohiuddin said.

“It’s stepping on our freedom as adults,” an anonymous smoker said. “At least they could make a couple of safe designated smoking spots, since the smoking ban won’t make everyone stop smoking.”

The smoker expressed concern of the hardships regular smokers encounter, as they are pushed into corners, behind buildings and farther from campus boundaries.

“I applaud and appreciate the smoke-free environment,” said Arts & Sciences junior Kali Mann, “but it’s a double-edged sword – where do people go?”

“One of the bigger issues has been the campus boundaries,” said Jeff Branstetter, director of Human Resources.

“We need campus perspective from students, faculty, staff and administration concerning this matter.”

At the moment, the campus boundaries are outlined on campus maps, found on the Creighton Web site. Any areas outside of these boundaries are not under the tobacco-free policy, Branstetter said.

Arts & Sciences freshman Ken Homan agrees that the effectiveness of the smoking ban is questionable.

“The idea is wonderful, but Creighton desperately needs to enforce it,” Homan said. “In the fall, nobody smoked, but now cigarette butts are all over the ground again.”

Branstetter said he believes the upcoming issue of enforcement will play a key in the success of creating a fully tobacco-free campus.

The exact details of the reprimands of smoking are still being discussed, Mohiuddin and Branstetter said.