According to the Americans for Nonsmokers' rights, over 140 schools are totally smoke-free, over thrice the number which prohibited lighting up by March 2007. The boost in numbers was partly due to the total smoking ban last month by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education on all state-owned universities. The 14 institutions of higher learning in the state have over 110,000 students.
The PASSHE's move followed a ban on cigarettes in many offices and public places in June.
American Lung Association director of national advocacy Erika Sward said the reason for the fast-paced growth of the anti-smoking campaign among U.S. college students was evidence and recognition that second-hand smoke poses a big risk to health.
Bill Phelps, spokesman of the Altria Group, the parent company of Philip Morris said it agrees that people should be protected from second-hand some by banning lighting up in certain areas, but disagreed with a total ban.
PASSHE spokesman Ken Marshall said the system imposed a total ban on smoking because the campuses have indoors and outdoors classes.
Some of the students who disagreed with the policy held peaceful protests in three of 14 Pennsylvania campuses.
