Smoking In-House

[mz715]

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[lucgreek]

Originally Posted by mz715

Hi,
A group of people in our house are trying to ban smoking in the chapter basement. Currently, it's allowed when a cold enough temp. is reached and at large parties. There are two very distinct voting groups. The pro-smoking group states that we need to allow it during parties because smoking outdoors will attract the police. The pro-ban group is pushing the new policy because our house wreaks of it, is one of the only houses on campus with any smoking period, and we have been getting complaints/turning people away. Do you have any suggestions on ways we can push this policy? Is smoking allowed in-house at any chapters on your campus?

Thanks

This isn't directly addressing your question, but I would imagine most groups would not want any smoking indoors due to smoke damage/smell and the risk management potential in case of a fire.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by lucgreek

the risk management potential in case of a fire.

This would be my first concern. Candles usually arent allowed either for this same reason.

I would check your risk management & facility policies. If they prohibit smoking in the chapter facility then that rule needs to be upheld regardless of what the pro-smoking voting faction thinks. If nothing is stated in your rules/policies about it, I would double check with your HQ/advisors. If they tell you it is a chapter issue, then bring it up for a chapter vote and let the membership decide.

[lucgreek]

Originally Posted by mz715

For as long as any of the actives in our chapter have known, it's been written into the bylaws to allow smoking indoors below ten degrees and at any approved, wet party. We're struggling to pass a policy because it requires a 2/3 vote to amend our bylaws. It's a tough system to change

Your national organizations policies may override your local chapter policies. Double check with a representative from HQ.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by lucgreek

Your national organizations policies may override your local chapter policies. Double check with a representative from HQ.

Yes.

[BemoreLXA]

As a smoker, I can say I would not allow smoking in the basement. If the house reeks of it, then you've got a problem. If its in a party setting, I also think thats crap. People can smoke out the back door or only allow brothers to smoke outside and no one else.

I think the biggest problem is the fire hazard. If you do keep smoking in the basement make sure to have a number of ashtrays or a bucket of water for the butts or something.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by BemoreLXA

As a smoker, I can say I would not allow smoking in the basement. If the house reeks of it, then you've got a problem. If its in a party setting, I also think thats crap. People can smoke out the back door or only allow brothers to smoke outside and no one else.

I think the biggest problem is the fire hazard. If you do keep smoking in the basement make sure to have a number of ashtrays or a bucket of water for the butts or something.

Agree with all the above, and I'm also a smoker. There's no smoking in my apartment...my roomate and I both go outside and if it's too cold we put on Uggs and parkas. It won't kill them to light up outside.

And to add to the fire hazard, let me just tell you it's just about impossible to get that smell out of carpet or furniture. Don't make it worse. It will also yellow blinds and some white paint.

[knight_shadow]

^^^ Ditto, from another smoker.

[excelblue]

How I personally see it is that it should be restricted to the outside.

People can even camp outside when it's -40 deg (F or C, choose your favorite unit). As such, smokers can just dress up very warmly and get their 10min break outside.

Here's the issue:
- Nonsmokers suffer a lot more second-hand smoke when there is less ventilation.
- Having a house reek of smoke turns away people, and that is a more serious issue than attracting the attention of police.
- The smell of smoking is almost permanent.
- Smoking indoors poses a fire risk.
- If attracting police with the smoking is a real issue, you have other risk management issues to look at.
- Everyone knows it's unhealthy; you shouldn't do anything to encourage it. It's not unreasonable to make all of them satisfy their addiction outside.

[33girl]

If your house is reeking indoors I would look into a ventilation system. It shouldn't be throughout the whole house if you contain it in one room.

Once you get that settled, I would continue to allow it in the basement. Smoking is a legal activity for adults over the age of 18. If there are people who don't want to attend your parties or visit your house because you allow it, that's their prerogative.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by 33girl

If your house is reeking indoors I would look into a ventilation system. It shouldn't be throughout the whole house if you contain it in one room.

Once you get that settled, I would continue to allow it in the basement. Smoking is a legal activity for adults over the age of 18. If there are people who don't want to attend your parties or visit your house because you allow it, that's their prerogative.

Isn't a ventilation system the reason why the smoke is circulating through the house in the first place? The sort of smoke-filtering ventilation systems that prevent cigarette smoke from circulating are reaallly expensive if the restaurants I've seen in St. Louis are any indication.

[Senusret I]

Quit smoking.

It makes your breath stink, it makes your lungs dirty, and then you die!

[/RudyHuxtable]

[SOM]

Besides the prior suggestions, all rather good, I have one more:
Are there any rules, laws, policies outside of your Chapter and/or
National Fraternity that may also come in to play?

There are many parts of the county that you can not smoke inside
any more.

While you seem to have been doing it for some time now, has any looked at or asked about School, City, State laws?

In my Chapter, we had one room, and one room only, that one could smoke in. And it was on the top floor with good ventilation.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by SOM

Besides the prior suggestions, all rather good, I have one more:
Are there any rules, laws, policies outside of your Chapter and/or
National Fraternity that may also come in to play?

There are many parts of the county that you can not smoke inside
any more.

While you seem to have been doing it for some time now, has any looked at or asked about School, City, State laws?

In my Chapter, we had one room, and one room only, that one could smoke in. And it was on the top floor with good ventilation.

There is no place in the country that disallows smoking indoors. There are places that disallow smoking in a work place or a public place, but not "indoors".

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by AGDee

There is no place in the country that disallows smoking indoors. There are places that disallow smoking in a work place or a public place, but not "indoors".

Right. When Arlington TX was introducing its ban, we were only allowed to smoke in places that had specific ventilation systems in place. Once the ban went into full effect, only places that were "bar bars" allowed smoking.