Most students and faculty members gave NIU’s no smoking policy a clean bill of health.

The policy, which was established in 1988, prohibits smoking in all public areas at NIU except specifically marked “smoking areas.”

Also, each residence hall is allowed to have at least one public smoking area. Grant and Stevenson residence halls do not have smoking areas at this time.

Students are allowed to declare their rooms as smoking or non-smoking rooms, if both roommates agree on the decision.

Patricia Perkins, assistant to the vice president of Finance and Planning, said there are no plans to alter the policy.

But the policy allows departments to establish or remove smoking-permitted areas in buildings or residence halls.

Both smokers and non-smokers seem to be content with most of the guidelines.

“I don’t have a problem finding a place to smoke,” said Andy Reed, a resident in Douglas Residence Hall.

Non-smoker Jennifer Siefert, a resident assistant in Gilbert Residence Hall, also had no complaints about the policy.

“I’ve never had a problem with cigarette smoke on campus,” Siefert said.

However, Joe Gastiger, program coordinator for the University Honors Program, said NIU needs more smoking areas, especially in Reavis Hall and Watson Hall.

“I can understand why it’s restricted and in general I think that’s fine, but there ought to be more lounges around open to smokers,” he said.

Some smokers and non-smokers said smoking areas should be moved out of building entry ways to main lobbies or less frequented areas.

Buildings with designated smoking areas include Zulauf Hall, DuSable Hall, Cole Hall, Founders Memorial Library and the Health Center’s Telecommunication & Public Safety Wing.