By Editor in Chief Jack Brady.

The Student Union has set forth a motion proposing that DCU become a partially tobacco and nicotine free campus.

DCU would become a partially smoke free campus under the new legislation, through the emphasis of designated areas for nicotine consumption

Commenting on the matter, VP for Wellbeing Lauren Joyce argued for the protection of student health from unwanted inhalation of smoke on campus.

“Those who smoke or vape will still have the opportunity to do so on campus, but in a way that is suitable. Non-smokers should not have to walk into a cloud of smoke when coming out of the U Building.”

The Student Union further aims to ban the selling of tobacco and nicotine products in DCU’s Londis, lobbying the DCU Educational Support Services (DCU ESS DAC), that covers the companies on campus, to drop the products from their shelves.
The Bulletin reached out to ESS DAC but failed to receive a comment.

Students will have access to free or low-cost support off-campus for quitting nicotine as the SU aims to cooperate with the HSE Stop Smoking Service. The nearest clinic to the Glasnevin Campus is the Ballymun Primary Care Centre.

Joyce stressed that DCU offers free counselling for anyone struggling mentally with addiction. 

The exact locations of designated nicotine areas is uncertain as the SU cannot proceed without the permission of DCU Estates.

A spokesperson for the Estates Office confirmed “the proposal from the Students’ Union is being considered and we will be engaging directly with them on this matter.”

No official date has been set on completion as the work begins, but Joyce herself doubts that the initiative will be completed during her time as VP for Wellbeing.

DCU is one of the only major Universities in Ireland to not have at least partially smoke-free campuses with Trinity College and UCD both going partially smoke-free in 2016 and 2015 respectively. TUD became partially smoke-free in 2019, while a number of other colleges in the country are completely smoke-free such as ATU Galway and IADT in Dublin.

Image Credits: Euronews