Smoking scoff laws at PBAU may be forced to quit refuge

Tag: Wall Receptacle

There's a short stretch of wall in the middle of Palm Beach Atlantic University's smoke-free campus where students can still light up, flaunting their rebellion with a puff alongside private property that administrators at the Christian school have no domain over.

The salmon-colored smokers wall is known to two decades of PBAU students, who pass on its location by word of mouth and steal moments of nicotine-spiked freedom between classes at the downtown university.

But school officials, concerned about student health and how the butt-laden sidewalk and its patrons look to potential recruits, are brainstorming ideas that may end the era of the smokers wall.

A survey was sent to students for their thoughts, and although the results have yet to be tallied, PBAU's health and wellness director, Vince Diller, said new rules could go into effect over summer break.

"I've been here four years, and smokers wall has been on my list since I've been here," he said.

As a private Christian school, Palm Beach Atlantic University could ban students from smoking altogether, no matter where they are.

But Diller said that's an unlikely solution - too Big Brother. Still, a perceived increase in smoking this year at the wall - on the busy corridor between the student center and library - worries him.

The dilemma with the smokers wall is that it's not just a matter of changing a rule but also a tradition - as odd as it may be.

Taking advantage of the waist-high stucco barrier, which surrounds a private residence swallowed by PBAU's expansion, is as much a statement as it is a respite from classwork.

"Everyone knows the cool kids are usually a bit rebellious, and this was definitely an act of defiance," said 1995 graduate Bryon Rivers, who, even as a nonsmoker, hung out with friends at the smokers wall. "They knew they were getting away with something, and it was kind of like, 'Yeah, we're breaking the rules, sort of, and you can't do anything about it.' That's pretty punk rock when you're talking about a Christian school."

On a recent sunny afternoon, as students hustled between classes, sophomores John Campbell and Seth Waite took a smoke break.

Waite, who wears two piercings under his lower lip and a long blond ponytail, said there's nothing sinister about the wall.

In fact, it's been the location for many late-night discussions about theology and Christianity, he said.

"A student came up to me once and assumed because I was smoking that I couldn't be a Christian," Waite said. "I don't see anything in the Bible that says I can't smoke."

Campbell said most smokers at the wall try to be respectful, putting their butts in a nearby receptacle, but it is a busy thoroughfare and nonsmokers will inevitably inhale secondhand smoke.

Nationally, schools are moving toward smoke-free campuses.

In 2006, Florida State University launched its Breathe Easy campaign, which creates 20- to 50-foot no-smoking zones around buildings.

The University of Florida set up 50-foot smoke-free perimeters around 15 buildings four years ago.

And the University of North Florida is two years into a policy that forbids smoking within 25 feet of all buildings and "busy campus walkways."

Palm Beach Atlantic has been smoke-free since 1989.

Diller, the health director, said he's not sure what the solution to the smokers wall is but plans to begin a full smoking-cessation assault in the fall with new programs.

He's been told by students that they picked up smoking while hanging out with friends at the wall. He said having easy access to the wall, which is close to dorms, the cafeteria and classrooms, may exacerbate the problem.

"Where does personal choice impact community choice?" Diller said. "That's where this comes in."