The state of New Jersey is taking steps to reduce smoking on college campuses and prevent fires caused by errant cigarettes.
The legislature passed legislation to prohibit smoking in all college dorms statewide, which was signed by acting Governor Richard Codey late last month.
The bill -- which is the first in the nation to apply to both public and private institutions -- will take effect Oct. 21.
Penn has banned smoking in the College Houses since fall 2004.
New Jersey did not receive any complaints or reactions from its schools in response to the new law, said Sean Darcy, a spokesman for acting Governor Richard Codey.
"We just signed a couple of days ago," Darcy said. "We haven't gotten any feedback yet."
The issue garnered attention in New Jersey dormitories after a cigarette ignited a dorm fire at Drew University last February. There were no serious injuries, but the fire caused thousands of dollars' worth of damage and displaced 150 students temporarily.
Penn's Director of College Houses and Academic Services Leslie Delauter said that New Jersey's decision -- as well as Penn's policy -- are indicative of a national trend.
"I imagine that this is the direction that most schools and states will take in the future, given the current climate concerning smoking, with cities banning it," She said. "I guess the next thing would be schools and living places that are shared by people."
The new law dually addresses necessary fire-safety and health concerns, Codey said in a statement on Aug. 22.
"Prohibiting smoking greatly reduces the risk of fires and creates a comfortable environment, free of second-hand smoke," he said.
Delauter said Penn chose to create a no-smoking policy after numerous students complained of smelling smoke inside their rooms.
She added, however, that Penn did examine regulations at other universities before making a decision.
Christopher Donovan, dean of Gregory College House, said that the transition to smoke-free dorms at Penn has been smooth.
"We had to fine three students ‹¨« last year, and that was about it," he said.
Though the New Jersey legislation aims to discourage smoking overall, Donovan said he has not noticed a decline in smoking at Penn since the enactment of its policy.
"The students just go outside like they are supposed to," he said.
Rutgers freshman David Hochbaum -- who smokes about one pack of cigarettes every two days -- said that the statewide ban will not influence the amount that he smokes.
Hochbaum said that though he would "rather have the luxury of smoking in his room," the law does not bother him very much.
He said that he is offended by the principle of the law.
"It's more the idea that people like to regulate other people's lives," Hochbaum said.
Delauter said that though ideally a school should notice a decline in smokers due to prohibiting smoking in dorms, she is not sure whether this is true in practice.
"The theory out there by health policy makers [is] that the less easy you make it for people to smoke, the less smokers there are. So I wouldn't be surprised if that is the case, but I do not think that anyone has done a study on campus," Delauter said.
Delauter said that she would not oppose a ban in Pennsylvania that is similar to the one in New Jersey, but noted that specific areas deserve the right to make their own decisions.
No smoking in Garden State dorms - "Smoking shall be prohibited in any portion of a building used as a student dormitory that is owned and operated or otherwise utilized by a school or institution of higher education." - The landmark bill -- the first in the nation to prohibit smoking in both private and public institutions -- was introduced following a dorm fire ignited by a cigarette at Drew University, located in northern New Jersey.
