First, there really is no such thing as a private office at a public university. All office space on this campus is provided to further the educational mission of the university. Second, many of our buildings operate with recirculating air systems where smoke introduced in one room will recirculate throughout the building. Buildings where the air does not recirculate often have problems because smoke travels through open doors and windows, and even penetrates through walls. Since we cannot afford to construct private rooms with special filters and ventilation systems for everyone, we cannot allow special provisions for a select few.
Enforcement is always the most difficulty part of the implementation of any new policy.
The new smoking policy was enacted to protect the health of sensitive individuals and preserve the right of the nonsmoker to breathe clean air. However, nothing is ever that simple. While many smokers respect the rights of nonsmokers and do not smoke in the presence of a nonsmoker, it is not always possible to achieve that goal. We hope that the smoking population will try to understand the obligation of the university to protect personal health and welfare within the confines of what we can control. Adoption of this policy makes it an enforceable rule.