MU to Become Smoke-Free

COLUMBIA (AP) – Smoking won’t be allowed at the University of Missouri on July 1, six months earlier than originally planned.The Missouri Students Association pushed for the earlier date, saying there was no good reason to wait for the previous Jan. 1, 2014, deadline.The ban will end an effort that began in 2009, when smoking was banned from buildings. Last summer, the university designated certain spots on campus for smoking, such as parking lots. After July, all smoking will be banned on campus.A committee is considering how to enforce the smoking ban. Plans call for an educational campaign first, followed by discipline for repeated offenders. The school also plans to hand out free patches or lozenges to help those trying to quit.