By Joy Fang

LAST week, some Management Development Institute of Singapore students protested over the implementation of a dress code.

This week, two institutions are coming down hard on students who smoke.

Nanyang Technological University's (NTU's) Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) yesterday enforced a no-smoking rule within its premises.

An e-mail message sent to staff and students by Associate Professor Benjamin Detenber, chairman of WKWSCI, said this is to "make the school a conducive and healthy environment". "We are concerned about
the health hazard posed, especially to people who are pregnant," the e-mail message said.

Some NTU students have accepted the rule. Mr Chong Zi Liang, 23, a third-year student at WKWSCI, said the ban is understandable because it arose from valid health concerns. He said: "Smoking regulations
are everywhere. You can smoke only in designated areas in coffeeshops, so does that mean the coffeeshop is clamping down on our freedom?"

Ms Ng Wai San, 21, a third year WKWSCI student, does not think the ban will be effective as "ultimately, people will find a way out".

However, some students do not like the ban. Mr Daniel Leong, 23, a smoker and a third-year student in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, said: "They should allocate a place for us to smoke. Many students are smokers and are all above 18."

In a separate incident this week, a Republic Polytechnic student was fined for smoking at an HDB block near the school.

Stomp contributor "Justice" wrote in on Monday to question the polytechnic's jurisdiction in handing out fines for smoking outside the school.

The polytechnic responded to the citizen-journalism website yesterday. Its spokesman cited the school's responsibility in educating students on not becoming "a nuisance and a source of irritation to our neighbours".

He said nearby HDB residents had complained that some "students littered the place with their cigarette butts, boxes, wrappings, drink cans" and "have even exhibited socially-irresponsible behaviour".

Other institutions my paper spoke to say they enforce the no-smoking rule.

A National University of Singapore spokesman said: "The NUS campus is smoke-free as the university believes in providing an environment of clean air... This rule is generally enforced by our university's campus security."

As for Singapore Management University, its spokesman said its campus is designated as "non-smoking".

But he admitted: "As we are located in the heart of the city and the campus grounds are open and accessible to the public, enforcement requires cooperation and discipline from everybody."

joyfang@sph.com.sg

For more my paper stories click here.