University of Oklahoma may not mimic smoking ban

 A ban on smoking and chewing tobacco has taken effect at Oklahoma State University, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the state’s other major university will be following suit.
State law bans smoking inside buildings at the University of Oklahoma, and spokeswoman Catherine Bishop said it’s also prohibited within 25 feet of all building entrances. So far, though, there hasn’t been grassroots support for banning the practice everywhere else on campus.
The issue was brought up this spring in a Student Congress after Oklahoma State approved its policy last year, which went into effect Tuesday. Student Congress chair Kurt Davidson said it was never even made into a formal resolution.
Bishop said in an e-mail that university President David Boren would want input from students, faculty and staff governance groups before considering any smoking ban. If there was support, Boren would appoint a task force to study the issue and suggest an implementation plan.
“The university is open to consideration of turning the Norman campus into a tobacco-free campus,” Bishop said.
The university’s Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City is already smoke-free.
The Oklahoma State policy contains a few exceptions. There are designated areas near student housing and parking lots leased for tailgating before sporting events where smoking will be allowed.
“Certainly something like this was a change in lifestyle for some people,” Oklahoma State spokesman Gary Shutt said.