SALEM — Smokers at Salem State College were fuming yesterday over the school's announcement that it plans to ban smoking and tobacco products from the campus beginning next September.
Currently, smoking is prohibited only in and immediately around college buildings.
"We were just talking about it," said John Pohlmeyer, a junior from Lynn, who was sitting outside at a table with two friends. "It's absolutely ridiculous."
Those sentiments were repeated by others during an unscientific survey of students, mostly smokers, on the main campus of Salem State.
"I plan on not obeying this rule at all," said Patrick Flynn, a junior from Lynn who was seated with Pohlmeyer.
Students said they understand the health concerns and the reasons for a ban inside college buildings, but they don't agree with the decision to extend it to the pathways, athletic fields and all the grounds of Salem State's three campuses.
Smoking is a personal choice, several students said, and a stress reliever after classes and on long walks between buildings and campuses.
"We have rights, too," said freshman Danielle Johnston of Wilmington, who said she was angry when she read the e-mail yesterday announcing the new policy. "We shouldn't have to walk off campus ... in the freezing cold" in winter just to smoke.
"I don't smoke, and I think it's ridiculous," said Lauren Smith, a sophomore from Haverhill who was walking with Johnston. Both women said they were just talking about the new rule, which was communicated to students and staff yesterday in an e-mail from Executive Vice President Stanley Cahill.
In the message, Cahill said the college surveyed students, faculty and staff, received more than 1,200 responses, and "the vast majority supported the creation of a tobacco-free environment for the campus."
In addition to banning smoking, a committee that studied the issue recommended outlawing chewing and smokeless tobacco products.
According to Cahill, 300 of the respondents said they have respiratory health conditions and more than 600 said their "experience on campus was negatively impacted by secondhand smoke."
Salem State has about 10,000 graduate and undergraduate students.
The tobacco ban will apply to students, faculty, administrators, staff and anyone who comes onto the campus, officials said.
"More than half the janitorial staff and people who work in the cafeteria are all out here every day with us smoking," Flynn said.
Junior Amado Mejica, an education and philosophy major from Gloucester, was walking down a sidewalk and smoking yesterday when he learned of the proposed ban from a reporter.
"I think it will be hard to enforce," he said with a smile.
While saying it "could be good" for the college, he said the loss of cigarette tax dollars could be bad for the state.
"I don't know what the cities and state are going to do when all the smokers quit. That's a lot of money. ..."
Salem State said it plans to offer smoking cessation programs and other services over the next year. It has not proposed penalties or fines at this point.
"How we enforce it is under discussion," college spokeswoman Karen Cady said.
The threat of possible penalties really irked a few students.
"I'm paying my own tuition, and I don't get that much financial aid," Pohlmeyer said. "What, am I going to — get fined now?"
Not every student interviewed opposed the ban. One student, who was smoking a cigar, said he supported it.
"This is his," said junior Josh Torres of Everett, who quickly handed the cigar to a friend.
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