UCLA to go tobacco-free in April

Earth Day 2012 — the Westwood campus, along with other university-owned and leased sites, will go tobacco-free, according to a letter Tuesday by Chancellor Gene Block. Advised by the Tobacco-Free Steering Committee, UCLA will implement a full ban on all tobacco products, including cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco and other products.

A draft of the policy, including plans for a "Healthy Campus Initiative" will be available November 15 for review by students, staff and faculty. More than 800 colleges and universities nationwide have adopted tobacco or smoke-free policies, said Chancellor Block in his letter. His message, which points to the cascading health dangers and environmental toxicities tied to tobacco use, is published in its entirety on the UCLA Newsroom site.