The plaza at Fordham's Lincoln Center campus is a friendly place where students, faculty, and members of the local community like to enjoy their free time. But as you leave the doors of Lowenstein, McMahon, or McKeon, it hits you: the smell of smoke. So you hold your breath as you speed-walk out, when you could be enjoying your time in this public space. The Robert Moses plaza is already named after a racist city official of the past. Why does it need to constantly smell like cigarettes too?

Going smoke-free is a step that many universities are taking to better the student life aspect of their campuses. CUNYs are tobacco free, as well as the University of California at Berkeley, American University, and 468 other college campuses in the United States. 

Yes, there are many health risks to smoking, but that is not what this initiative is about. This is simply about improving the quality of a public space used by the students and faculty members at Fordham University at Lincoln Center. Join the petition, and tell Fordham University to make the outdoor plaza smoke-free.