Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1938 [PAGE 793]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

IQ38]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

79I

as a restaurant while the second floor is occupied by undergraduate student roomers. The property has been leased, but at no profit. T h e building is in bad condition, and to put it in suitable shape will require a great amount of repairs. Under the circumstances the Physical Plant Department has been authorized to tear down the building at the expiration of the present lease on June 15.

This report was received for record.

SMOKING IN UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS (19) The present University regulations relating to smoking in public buildings on the campus are based upon a provision in the "Rules for Government of Students" adopted by the Board December 8, 1891, which is as follows: "Smoking is not permitted in any of the public buildings of the University." There is also a provision in the regulations applying to undergraduate students forbidding smoking on certain areas of the campus. Early in 1932 the Board considered a proposal to modify the regulations to permit smoking in certain areas. After considerable discussion the Board decided that it did not wish in any formal or recorded way to modify the regulations existing then regarding smoking in buildings, but it agreed informally that 1. T h e action relating to smoking in buildings is not to be interpreted as forbidding members of the staff from smoking in their private offices. 2. T h e practice of not permitting smoking on certain areas of the campus should be continued in keeping with a long standing tradition. As a result of these deliberations the President of the University announced to the Deans, Directors, and Heads of Administrative and Academic Departments the following administrative smoking regulations: 1. T h e administration has no objection to members of the staff smoking in their offices under conditions which do not create a fire hazard. Such an interpretation of the Trustees' regulation is not objected to by the Board. 2. I ask all individuals concerned to cooperate in seeing that smoking does not go on in corridors, classrooms, teaching laboratories, and other places in which its presence would be objectionable or unsafe. 3. As the sentiment of the Board, and I understand a considerable faculty, student, and alumni sentiment, favors not smoking on certain traditional campus areas, I urge everyone to respect this tradition with the understanding that on special occasions and on areas on the campus where conditions bring about a difference in the situation (such, for example, as the tennis courts behind the Library) changes may occur from time to time. Subsequent to this announcement the President of the University ruled that smoking in certain buildings (notably University Hall, Natural History Building, Old Agriculture Building, and several of the Engineering buildings) would not be permitted because of fire hazards which exist in those non-fireproof buildings. Smoking on the campus and in University buildings, particularly by students, has become a serious problem. It seems desirable to bring the situation to the attention of the Board for its consideration and a review of existing regulations and practices.

This report was received for record; it was the sense of the Executive Committee that no change should be made in existing regulations and policies concerning smoking in public buildings.

R E S O L U T I O N O F ILLINOIS B U I L D E R S LEAGUE (20) The Secretary of the Illinois Builders League has sent the following resolution adopted by that organization at a meeting on April 5: Whereas, it has been brought to the attention of the construction industry of the State of Illinois that the Physical Plant Department of the University of Illinois is engaging in construction work on a day labor basis, and that it is producing materials for its use on a non-competitive basis, and