As of July 1, UTM became a smoke-free campus.
This decision is in conjunction with the other UT system schools. Knoxville became smoke-free one month after UTM and UTC will become smoke-free on Jan. 1, 2019.
The decision was made by UTM’s administrators and an email was sent to faculty and staff at UTM; however, no email was sent to students making them aware of the new policy.
The policy states that all cigarettes and e-cigarettes are not to be used on property owned by UTM. This includes inside parked cars in parking lots, though the policy does not apply to sidewalks owned by the city of Martin.
The reason for the new policy is one with healthier faculty and students in mind.
“The University of Tennessee at Martin promotes a healthy, safe work, educational and living environment. Our campus community acknowledges that long-term health hazards may accrue to people who are subjected to second-hand smoke. A smoke-free UT Martin campus encourages a green and clean environment, prepares our faculty, staff, and students for other smoke-free environments in their future, and can be a source of UT and UT Martin pride in supporting a major wellness initiative,” read a portion of the email sent to faculty and staff.
Brian Affolter, a senior Communications major from Spring Hill, said that he is loving it.
“I think it’s something we’ll start to take for granted in a year or two, but right now it’s incredible to not have to deal with second-hand smoke right outside of buildings I walk in and out of multiple times a day,” he said.
The smoke-free policy is effective 24/7, 365 days a year and applies to UTM students, visitors, faculty and staff.
