North Dakota State University Staff Senate has voted to support a campus smoking ban. A smoke-free campus is being considered through the proposed NDSU Policy 153.

The Staff Senate voted 35 to 23 to support the ban over the current policy, which allows smoking 50 feet from buildings.

The vote percentages were nearly identical to the opinions expressed in a recent survey of benefitted broad banded staff. In the survey, 399 staff members said they wanted a policy for a smoke-free campus, while 271 staff said they supported current policy. A total of 670 out of 1,443 broad banded employees participated. University administrators also voted in the survey, with 24 voting for a smoking ban and eight wanting the current policy.

" 'Policy 153 - Smoke Free Campus' was passed by NDSU Staff Senate with 60 percent in favor and 40 percent opposed. The vote mirrored the poll of broad banded staff, which also resulted in 60 percent in favor and 40 percent opposed," said Vance Olson, Staff Senate president. "It will be interesting to see how this policy moves through our system and how enforcement of the policy, if approved by all party's involved, will be implemented."