Terrace Club changes smoking policy

Terrace Club changed its smoking policy to ban smoking in most parts of the club, according to an email sent to members from club president Lucia Perasso ’16 on Sunday night.

"No smoking at any time, anywhere, except in the TV room and [on the outdoor] terrace," the email reads, adding that a new "smoking-eating ventilator" was installed in the TV room and that this effectively means the library, green room and ball rooms are now smoke-free rooms, as is the rest of the club.

The old policy said smoking was never allowed on the first floor of the club or in the basement storage areas; that smoking was not allowed before 6 p.m. on weekdays on the second floor, except in the library by consensus or on the outdoor fireproof deck; that members must comply with any officer or employee requests regarding smoking; that additional restrictions may be enforced in special cases; and that ashtrays must be used to dispose of tobacco waste.

Perasso deferred comment to graduate board chair Sandy Harrison ’74.

“I think it will work," Harrison said. "It is a set policy. We don’t plan to change it unless it’s not working."

He said that after reading several articles on smoking in New Jersey, includingaNov. 24 articleinThe Daily Princetonian about smoking on campus, the graduate board decided the club’s smoking policy was out of compliance with state law.

The law, which stipulates that rooms have to be designated smoking or non-smoking rooms, prohibits the type of policy Terrace had previously, he said, noting that rooms cannot be designated as both smoking and non-smoking depending on the time of day.

In response to their examination of the issue, the board decided to amend the policy, Harrison said.

“The graduate board decided this, but the undergraduate officers were on board. We received their input,” he explained, adding the "overwhelming majority" of the board was in favor of the revised policy. “We think the student membership is receptive to this.”

Harrison declined to say which types of smoking were allowed in the designated areas.

"The graduate board wants to respect the rights of non-smokers," he said. "We think this is the best solution.”

However, not all students agreed with the new policy.

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Mohamed Shalan ’17, who is not a member but frequents the club, said it is a part of Terrace’s reputation to be an environment friendly to smokers, and it would be losing one of its main draws with the new policy.

“It’s absurd because one of the main things that attracts Princeton students to Terrace is its lively spirit of smoking anywhere that you want to,” Shalan said.

Under the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act of 2006,almost all indoor workplaces are required to prohibit smoking.

The Princeton Board of Health is set to introduce an ordinance before the town council on Thursday that would prohibit sales of tobacco and electronic smoking devices to people under 21 years of age. The corresponding state age is 19.

The town hall for Terrace members about smoking policy scheduled for Tuesday was canceled in light of the new policy.

Correction: Due to a editing error, an earlier version of this article misstated the legal smoking age in New Jersey. The legal smoking age is 19. The 'Prince' regrets the error.