Complaints of no-smoking violations has prompted the installation of fans in Altgeld Hall to create a smoking area.

Shey Lowman, NIU publications associate director, said there has been a problem with violators of the policy in Altgeld because it was not possible to provide the building with designated smoking areas when the policy went into effect Sept. 1.

There was no lounge for smokers in that building, and they smoked anyway. Non-smokers were reporting the violators, and there was a lot of “ill will,” Lowman said.

The Physical Plant supplied the $3,200 needed to ventilate Altgeld, Lowman said. “Fans are being installed now.”

Gary Smith, who presides over employee relations, said he believes there will be no further conflicts after the installation of the ventilation system in Altgeld.

Patricia Hewitt, assistant to the vice president for budgets and planning said, “Individuals in a unit may want a smoking area, but many have not organized and formally requested one.”

Hewitt also noted a problem with finding proper funds to remodel space that could serve as a smoking area.

“For example, if there is a need to upgrade ventilation in smoking areas, we don’t have funds specifically earmarked for that purpose,” she said.

The no-smoking policy went into effect as a preliminary process on July 1 for assignment of designated areas and getting people accustomed to the policy.

The full policy went into effect on Sept. 1. The idea for the policy came after NIU employees expressed concerns for smoking restrictions at an open forum meeting originally meant for an asbestos issue.

Smith said there are many questions about the punishment of violators. Faculty probably will be faced with a written warning for a first offense and a three-day suspension for a second offense, he said.