Despite Marx's intentions to better the health and comfort of students in their residences, some students voiced concern about the way in which Marx made his decision.
Marx acknowledged that he made a mistake by making the decision unilaterally. "I do recognize that while the decision was in my view correct, the process by which the decision was deliberated was not correct," he said. "I have learned from this experience that [deliberation] is a step that I should not skip even when I am sure of the outcome. That that is not the spirit of this place."
Marx has learned from his mistake. "I ... certainly will have learned that as conversation goes forward on the other issues that are pressing upon us in terms of students that this is a step not to skip. I will not make any decisions from the president's office without going through more deliberative processes than I did," he added.
Marx also indicated that he plans to talk with Resident Counselors (RCs) in January to discuss how they can successfully promote the prohibition. According to Ian Shin '06, an RC in Appleton, Marx has yet to contact the RCs.
Some RCs question the effect the ban will have on their residents. "I don't oppose the smoking ban because of the health hazards that first-hand and second-hand smoke pose," said Sunju Park '06, an RC in Stone. "What I'm interested to know is how this policy will be enforced, and what the consequences of ignoring the policy will be."
"Some of my residents have chosen their housing based on what dorms were smoke-free, and wish that President Marx had waited until next year before imposing the ban," said Maura Klugman '05, an RC in Moore. "I personally am concerned about how the ban can be enforced. I see the importance of the ban in trying to reduce smoking on campus, but I don't know what sort of effect it will actually have."
Although Marx said he regrets his decision-making process, he still supports the ban. "I think that was the right decision for the health of the community and is consistent with the policies of most of our peer institutions," he said.
Williams College enacted a similar smoking ban in February of 2003 after the president and the dean of Williams presented the idea of a ban to the student government. The student government discussed the issue and voted against it, but administrators ignored their vote, adopting a ban anyway.
"[The] new no-smoking policy … will ban smoking in all student dorms and smoking within 25 feet of any College building," according to an article in The Williams Record. According to The Record, Williams also implemented free smoking cessation programs, similar to the program Marx promised health services at the College will offer.