Bard sounds awesome in so many ways, but I have one concern. I have read that a large number of Bard students smoke cigarettes compared to students at other great colleges: Williams, Amherst, Vassar, etc. If you attend a party or hang out at Bard, how common is it to be near someone who is smoking? I respect everyone’s right to make his/her own choices, but I am just worried about exposure to second-hand smoke.
I’m asking my son what he thinks about this. He’s a total non smoker himself and I know he had concerns the first time he saw Bard (which he ended up attending and loving for five years!) I know all the college buildings are non smoking. No idea about private parties off campus….
http://www.bard.edu/dosa/handbook/index.php?aid=1262&sid=718 - The stated policy:
In keeping with Bard’s desire to protect the health of its faculty, staff, students, visitors, other campus constituencies, and the public in general, it is College policy to provide a smoke-free environment, to the maximum extent possible for those desiring such an environment, in full compliance with the Dutchess County Smoke-Free Air Act (Resolution No. 202237) and the New York State Clean Indoor Air Act (Article 13-E of the New York State Public Health Law).
Smoking Defined
To “smoke” and “smoking” means creating smoke by lighting a cigarette, cigar, pipe, or other smoking product; it also means puffing on, carrying, or holding a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe, or other smoking product.
Regulations
a. Smoking is prohibited in all indoor spaces, including common areas, individual student bedrooms, and Bard owned vehicles (including the Campus Shuttle).
b. Smoking is permitted in designated areas outside college buildings provided that these areas are located far enough away (minimum of 25 feet) from doorways, windows, and ventilation systems to prevent smoke from entering these facilities.
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Bard quickly came off my child’s list when we visited and we saw how prevalent smoking was. Butts everywhere! What a contrast to such a beautiful location.
The college’s policy might be 25 feet away from doorways, windows, etc. but it definitely wasn’t enforced. We saw smokers and their litter of butts within feet of doorways and that was on a nice sunny day. Can’t imagine they are going 25+ feet away in the dead of winter.
@doschicos - did you visit recently? From what I hear they are getting stricter about smoking now - so it’s interesting to know if the policies are still not being enforced. However, I do agree that there is a tolerance for smoking at Bard which was an initial surprise to a Californian. But it turns out that smoking really is the drug of choice among the creative intellectual crowd in New York. I’ll bet you didn’t see a prevalence of beer cans or red plastic cups littered about at Bard, though. 
Okay - I got a response from my son:
It’s hard to say if Bard has more cigarette smokers than Williams, Amherst, or Vassar. I always figured it was just a Northeast hipster thing, of which I’m sure there are a lot at Williams and Vassar at least. Also, I don’t think that smoking cigarettes at parties is really an issue. I never heard of anybody smoking a cigarette indoors at Bard. It’s probably more because Bard students tend to want an excuse to go be alone for 7 minutes. Anyhow, I don’t think second-hand smoke is a potential problem at Bard at all, and I went five years there and never had a friend that smoked cigarettes. If they’re worried about being around a bunch of people who are addicted to nicotine, then that’s legitimate. It definitely is a culture shock to see so many people who are okay with smoking cigarettes, but you get used to it pretty quickly.
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@spiritmanager - It was a few years ago. Perhaps the administration has clued into what a turnoff it is to many - visitors and resident nonsmokers, let alone health concerns. Glad to hear it. Still wonder about the winter, though. It’s the same everywhere when there are feet of snow on the ground and subzero temps and smokers are present.
Red cups/beer cans would be a huge turnoff as well. A different campus we visited on a Saturday had frozen puke outside a dormitory doorway - the one the group was touring - so we all had to sidestep around it. Not pleasant.
My kid is very creative and artistic and she was looking for the intellectual bent in choosing a college. However, she is very health conscious and outdoorsy as well. Bard sounded like a good fit on paper and we were impressed by much of the student work being created. The Bard scene wasn’t her “people”, though, as she leans more hippie than hipster. She’s not one to think smoking is cool because its part of the scene.
It points to the importance of college visits. Each school has its plusses and minuses. You just need to find the places that fit you.
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My D, who is a nonsmoker, had no problems there. The smokers went outside, just like they do at all the other colleges, and no one judges anyone for their personal choices.
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This was a huge concern for us - Bard almost went off the list - BUT I have to say it is getting MUCH better, even since our first visit last fall to her matriculation this fall. I have been in correspondence with the Wellness person, and she is really working hard on this issue. Also, the increasing presence of CA and other West Coast students, who generally don’t smoke cigarettes, is also probably making a difference in culture. So not perfect, but much better. My daughter’s whole dorm is full of non-smokers, btw.
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