Briefs

Dal takes it outside

In what is probably a first for Canada, Dalhousie University in Halifax banned smoking on all university property. Nicotine fiends will now have to go to city-owned property, such as a sidewalk, for a puff.

Dal has installed ash-cans around the perimeter of its three campuses and is funding a student clean-up crew to act as a butt-patrol.

"The no smoking program has gone incredibly smoothly," says Bill Louch, director of Environmental Health and Safety. "Most people are respecting the restriction and going to a sidewalk."

So far the policy has been implemented with relative ease, although there have been a few complaints from people in the surrounding neighborhood.

"We do remind smokers that Dalhousie is located in downtown neighborhoods," says Louch. "We need to respect our neighbours' property and needs."

One of the goals of the program is to help students, faculty and staff kick the habit of smoking. In conjunction with the Capital District Health Authority, the university is offering the tobacco-reduction program, "Getting Started."

With files from the Dalhousie News