Weathering the bitter cold for the right to light up a cigarette on a college campus is becoming an increasingly common phenomenon. While the Nov 26 Justice article "Brandeis Prioritizes non-smokers," depicted the University's 10-year-old smoke-free-building policy as relatively restrictive, albeit widely supported, many colleges across the country are following Brandeis' example. The New York Times reported that a recent administrative action in Bowdoin College stipulates that in addition to the already existing prohibition of smoking in classrooms, offices and the student union, students must now stand 50 feet away from any building while smoking. In Brandeis, while students are also pohibited from smoking in areas immediately outside any University buildings, no distance is specified.

The University of Southern Maine has also adopted an anti-smoking initiative that according to another New York Times article will develop into one of the strictest in the country. This fall, the dormitories were marked with signs announcing them as "smoke-free buildings," and smokers were prohibited from coming within 50 feet. Next fall this buffer zone is expected to grow even larger.

In New York, the spirit of the policy changes in the two universities is reflected in the approval of the Smoke-Free Air Act of 2002. According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, this legislation expands the Smoke-Free Air Act of 1995 by adding bars, restaurants of any size, offices, pool halls, bingo parlors and bowling alleys to the list of no-smoking facilities. As reported in the New York Times, according to Mayor Michael Bloomberg the smoking ban will not hurt his popularity because 80 percent of New Yorkers do not smoke.

Both New York City and the two Universities are part of a nationwide trend in the restriction of smoking privileges. According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, 25 percent of American colleges have already banned smoking in dormitories, with more universities considering similar action. The New York Times reported that the changes include banning smoking in indoor areas, limiting tobacco sale and advertisement and creating designated smoking areas rather than non-smoking areas.

The trend to combat smoking is also visible in city legislation. Last week, Nassau County prohibited smoking in all indoor workplaces, and two other New York counties are considering similar measures. Boston and Chicago are among the other cities debating restrictions in their smoking policy.

The soon-to-be enacted New York legislation is already being denounced by many angry New Yorkers, most recently by a man in a Superman costumes parading with a threatening sign in front of city hall. While, according to the New York Times, the change of university policy has been much less controversial, the almost 30 percent of college students who smoke have created some resistance. When the University of Southern Maine proposed a referendum to make the campus entirely smoke-free, the action was opposed by students 60 to 40 percent.

When presenting his plans to the Council, Bloomberg asked, "Does your desire to smoke anywhere, at any time, trump the right of others to breathe clean air ...?" Judging by the recent action in cities and Universities, the answer many American officials are giving is 'no.'