WSU Tri-Cities to go tobacco free next semester

RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) — Washington State University Tri-Cities is implementing a tobacco-free policy at its Richland campus starting in the fall semester.

The Tri-City Herald reports (http://bit.ly/1THij5G ) that the policy, which takes effect Aug. 22, prohibits cigarettes and pipe tobacco as well as smokeless tobacco and electronic cigarettes. Tobacco will be banned in campus buildings, parking lots, leased property and open spaces.

The Pullman campus will also have a tobacco-free campus when classes resume in the fall. The university's decision puts the two campuses in line with WSU Spokane and WSU Vancouver, which have had a ban on tobacco products for years.

Chancellor H. Keith Moo-Young says in a news release the new policy will help "promote the health and wellbeing" of students, faculty and staff.