It is everywhere it shouldn’t be. Around the campus, there are many places where the air is polluted with smoke. Typical areas with heavy smoke clouds include entrances to buildings and covered walkways. Additionally, smoke frequently drifts inside buildings.

There are many problems with the current smoking policies in effect around campus. While they appear fair on paper, in practice it is still not possible to avoid the smoke if one wishes to do so. This is wrong. Non-smokers have the right to a smoke-free education.

First, there are two current rules for smoking in residence halls. Either the building is completely smoke-free, or in buildings where smoking is permitted, the smoker must only smoke in his room with the door closed. This seems like a logical choice: Those who do not want to be exposed to cigarette smoke should choose a smoke-free dorm. Unfortunately, this is not guaranteed, as I know from experience. In the buildings where smoking is allowed, the closed-door policy is not very effective. Smoke easily finds its way through the cracks in the door, through the radiators, and through the windows.

Another common practice, not only at RPI but also around the country, is for smokers to smoke directly outside the entrance to a building where smoking is prohibited. This is not really any better than allowing smoking inside the building, as it does not protect non-smokers from the effects of smokers. In order to get into the building, one must walk through a thick cloud. Once the door is opened the smoke travels into the building, if it was not already going inside through an open window near the door.

This is not the only abuse of current smoking policies. In fact, smokers are very good at taking the word outside literally. The main reason why smoking is permitted outdoors, but not inside buildings, is that smoke inside has nowhere to go, but outside it will dissipate quickly enough to not be a problem. Unfortunately, there are many places on the RPI campus where, although it may be technically "outside," the smoke hangs in the air and is too thick to tolerate. For example, consider the overhangs above the entrances to buildings, such as the Science Center and Folsom Library. There are always people smoking there, and it’s hard to avoid when walking past. Even worse is the covered walkway connecting the CII, DCC, and JEC. This is the most heavily traveled pedestrian corridor on campus, so it obviously has the most smokers, and being partially enclosed makes it even worse.