Update bans lighting up within 25-foot perimeter to protect buildings; comply with ordinance

T he U n iv e r s i ty 's po licy regarding smoking on campus has been updated to include a ban on smoking within 25 feet of the outside of any building. The change, accord ing to a News and Information release, was approved on Aug. 26. The primary reasons for the revision are two-fold, Michael McCauslin, assistant director of Notre Dame Risk Management and Safety, said. The new perim eter will help preven t the “influence or the e n t ra in m e n t of smoke within the building,” he said. “Many of our buildings have pretty pow­ erful intake systems for venti­ lation, cooling and heating.” These systems are oftentimes located on the service side of the build ing, the side th a t is frequently used as a smoking a r e a , a n d t h e r e h a v e b e e n some incidents of smoke en ter­ ing buildings, McCauslin said. A se c o n d r e a s o n fo r th e change of policy is to bring the U niversity in line w ith a St. Joseph County ordinance tha t establishes a perim eter where smoking is prohibited around public buildings, he said. McCauslin said the county’s ordinance also prohibits smok­ ing w ith in pu b l ic b u i ld in g s , re s ta u ra n ts and ath letic ven­ ues . The o rd in a n c e w as pu t into effect in April of 2006. On campus, the Departm ent of Risk Management and Safety was charged with investigating co n c e rn s r e g a rd in g sm oking near buildings. This change in policy b r in g s th e U n ivers i ty “m o re in to c o n c e r t w ith the o r d in a n c e ,” M cCauslin sa id , which “helps keep [regulations] c o n s i s t e n t a c r o s s St. Joe County.” The rev is ions to the policy also incorporate requirem ents fo r L e a d e r s in E n e rg y a n d Environmental Design (LEED) certifications, McCauslin said, which are pa r t of sustainable campus design. “E ach b u i ld in g d u r in g the design and construction phase seeks LEED certif ication ,” he sa id . “We only h ave a sm all