The UNM Smoke-Free Campus Coalition held an open-mic forum Thursday, allowing people to voice their opinions on creating designated smoking areas on campus.
Monica Patten, of the American Lung Association of New Mexico, said the point of the forum was not to pit smokers and nonsmokers against each other, but to identify solutions and ideas.
The association would like to know if designated smoking areas are a feasible idea, she said.
"We're looking for the students' ideas, and we're also looking for the ideas of the faculty and staff because the faculty and staff work here, as well," she said. "And they smoke, too."
Student Carlos Chavez said he would have no problem taking his smoke breaks in a designated area. But turning UNM into a smoke-free campus would be a difficult, he said.
"There are always going to be smokers," he said. "There always is. Why not compromise with both sides?"
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Melinda Jordan, administrative assistant of theater and dance, said she understands both sides of the issue because she didn't start smoking until recently.
"I think everybody has a right to clean air," she said. "But I think we have a right to smoke, too. I mean, we do other things that are bad for our health and bad for other people. Why is this any different?"
Regent Don Chalmers said he would be in favor of creating designated smoking areas on campus.
"If there is a designated area, and the people that choose to smoke are not hurting anybody else, then I'm for letting them have their freedom to choose," he said. "The only reason they shouldn't have the freedom to choose is just when their choices hurt other people."
Chalmers said he couldn't speak for the rest of the regents.
Jordan said the needs of smokers should be taken into consideration.
"I think there should be some area for smokers," she said. "It should be set aside."
Chalmers said he is a reformed smoker. He smoked for 24 years but quit because of the health effects.
"I know what it is to smoke, and I know what it is to quit smoking," he said. "From a business standpoint, I pay my (employees) $1,000 to quit smoking for a year. So, quite a few of my employees quit smoking, because I just don't believe in it. But at the same time, it's a choice they make."
Chalmers said he has successfully created designated smoking areas at his dealership, Don Chalmers Ford, for his employees. The same could be done at UNM, he said.
"If there were a totally segregated area, that could be worked out," he said.
Patten said she wants the forum to assist UNM transition to a smoke-free environment.
"We'll see how much information do we have from the students, and then we'll go forward," she said.
