MUNCIE, Ind. - In a move designed to promote the health and safety of its students, Ball State University will join a nationwide movement prohibiting smoking in residence halls in 2002-2003.

Eliminating smoking in the residence halls comes after nearly a year of examining the issue, said Cathy Bickel, associate director of housing and residence life.

A series of focus groups and surveys found the majority of students living on-campus preferred to live in a totally smoke free environment.

"Over the last several years we have enrolled more and more students who don't smoke and who do not want to be exposed to second hand smoke," Bickel said. "An increasing number of students want to live a more healthy lifestyle."

The Journal of American College Health reported in its March 2001 issue that 81 percent of American universities prohibit smoking in public areas and 21 percent have eliminated smoking in residence halls.

Ball State's decision is not based entirely on the nationwide trend or student desires.

"On one level this will decrease the cost of maintenance to repair damage caused by smoking," Bickel said. "But more importantly it also will reduce the potential for a fire in our residence halls."

An estimated 1,700 fires hit college campuses annually with smoking the third leading cause behind arson and cooking, according to a report by the Federal Emergency Management Agency released in 2000.

Over the past decade, Ball State steadily reduced the number of areas in residence halls where smoking was allowed. Currently all residence halls are non-smoking except for the fourth and eighth floors of Mysch, Hurst, Knotts and Edwards halls, the seventh and eighth floors in Wilson and first floor of Howick and Williams halls.

Smoking is not allowed in any common area, hallway, restroom, lounge, elevator, or near air intake vents. The rest of the university's buildings are virtually smoke free.

The university will allow smoking in several "designated" apartments in Scheidler and Anthony complexes.

"Gradually eliminating smoking areas in the residence halls gave students an opportunity to adjust," Bickel said. "Ball State will be providing an atmosphere that the majority of students prefer."

Students who violate the no-smoking policy will be disciplined by residence hall staff on a case-by-case basis, she said.

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Bickel at cbickel@bsu.edu or (765) 285-1863.)