The Iona College Student Government Association (SGA) set up a poll to gauge student interest in changing the smoking policy on campus on Sept. 29.

The executive board members of the SGA said they had heard people complaining around campus and wanted to know if people were passionate about seeing the policy changed.

“We heard a lot of student asking why smoking is allowed on campus,” junior and Vice President for Administration of the SGA Katie O’Brien said.

The issue has been put on the agenda for the SGA meetings and a poll was set up on Twitter to find what the student body thought of the issue.

The Twitter poll gave 3 options for participant to choose from. The option for keeping the smoking policy the way it is had 15 percent of the vote, prohibiting smoking all together had 22 percent and designating smoking areas had 63 percent of the vote. The Twitter poll showed that 86 users participated in the poll.

The SGA is currently gathering information as to how people feel about the current smoking policy, which prohibits smoking in buildings and within 20 feet of a building.

According to O’Brien, the SGA wants this decision to reflect the majority of the population at Iona, which is why they set up the Twitter poll instead of just speaking about it in their meetings, which are generally only attended by club presidents and e-board members. She also said that they had considered a Facebook poll.

“We want to make sure our information is accurate,” O’Brien said.

Students have varied opinions on the topic.

“I don’t really care either way,” sophomore Sarah Newman said.

Sophomore Alyssa Gayapa said that the smoke she breathes in on her way across campus affects her lungs.

“The smell of smoke and being exposed to it has an effect on me and is potentially harmful to other people,” Gayapa said. “It would be a good idea to have designated areas for smoking a reasonable distance away from common areas.”

Gayapa also voiced concern over being able to enforce the policy, pointing out that the benches in the courtyard between the residence halls are very close to the buildings.

“It’s kind of silly to change the policy if people do not follow or enforce the current one,” Gayapa said.

“We are not sure if it will go forward,” O’Brien said. “The SGA is not against smoking.”

Anyone wishing to voice their concerns is welcome to email the SGA e-board or visit their office on the bottom floor of the LaPenta Student Union.