Sarah Lawrence College to Become Smoke-Free Campus

Sarah Lawrence College will be a smoke-free campus as of August 1, the school announced.

The move adds another school to the growing number of colleges in New York State and around the country that are prohibiting smoking on campus, which it is undertaking to safeguard the health of students, faculty, staff and visitors.

“The decision to become a smoke-free campus reflects the College’s support for a healthy learning, living, and working environment” said Sarah Lawrence President Karen R. Lawrence in a statement.

Three years ago President Lawrence created a task force to look at the issue of smoking on campus including the effects of exposure to second hand smoke. Following a recommendation from the task force, she announced in February, 2014, that the school would adopt a smoke-free campus policy effective in August of this year.

A Smoke-Free Campus Implementation Committee, chaired by Mary Hartnett, RN, director of Medical Services, and comprised of students, faculty, and staff spent the last 18 months educating the campus community about the new policy.

“The campus community has been extremely supportive during this time, embracing the change and looking forward to a cleaner and healthier campus environment,” Hartnett added.