At Wednesday’s Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) senate meeting, an organization advocated for the implementation of a no-smoking policy on campus.

Three representatives from Project Individuals, Mentors and Peers Advocating to Control Tobacco (IMPACT) — a branch of the American Lung Association — asked the Senate to consider becoming the first California State University (CSU) campus to implement a no-smoking policy.

Currently, Fresno State has 26 designated areas on campus for smokers.

According to Sen. Brie Witt, a no-smoking policy was discussed last year but did not pass.

Project IMPACT’s representatives said that more universities around the country are moving towards eliminating smoking on their campuses. They cited a fellow Western Athletic Conference school — Boise State University — as one of those schools.

Matt Smith of Project IMPACT said no-smoking policies have worked at other schools.

“This is an excellent opportunity,” Smith said. “We know this campus is great, and why not show everyone else around the nation.”

A no-smoking policy would include students who live in dorms on campus.

Derrick Schaffer of Project IMPACT said roughly 10 percent of students at Fresno State smoke, and while it may be imposing on the individual, only one out of 10 students are inconvenienced, while all others would not have to deal with secondhand smoke.

The Senate was skeptical about how the proposed policy would be enforced.

“If we’re having problems enforcing the current smoking policy, how are we going to enforce a new schoolwide non-smoking policy?” Sen. Melissa Mata said.

Project IMPACT representatives said the university would not have to hire additional staff, and that students who violated the policy would be cited by campus police in the same way they cite tickets for parking violations. Except in this case, unlike parking tickets, the person would be present at the time they are cited.

Project IMPACT representatives said it would be easier to cite someone for smoking when smoking is prohibited across campus as opposed to discerning whether a student is close enough to a smoking zone.

The senate will take the next two weeks to debate whether or not to consider such a policy, and are awaiting a proposal that is more concrete.

Witt, said she is indifferent to a campuswide no-smoking policy, because there is no discussion to move forward at this moment and that last year there was a lot of opposition to the idea.

“The group would really need to come up with a more formal and well-researched proposal,” Witt said.

After the meeting, Sen. Luis Sanchez said the policy was futile, and that its feasibility is in question.

“The biggest problem will be enforcement,” Sanchez said. “I say focus on enforcing the current policy rather than creating a new one.”

Sanchez also said smoking isn’t really a problem on campus and that there is no reason why students shouldn’t be able to enjoy cigarettes on campus.

“We as students are constantly under the strain of academic work and we need a source of relief,” Sanchez added. “If we are attempting to make our campus healthier, why facilitate alcohol by means of a pub? Drinkers have a pub, smokers have their areas.”

Edward Boyle, a Fresno State student and a member of Project IMPACT, said there are other practical concerns to creating a no-smoking environment on campus.

“There are other compelling factors including a public day-care on campus, and a high school that should be considered,” Boyle said.

Boyle, who is studying public health, said smoking is an issue on campus. He cited the garbage fire by McLane Hall last year, when a student on a balcony in a non-smoking area set fire to garbage by discarding a cigarette.