I’m not a smoker, but I do know the only way some of my friends got through college was by writing those dreaded term papers with a coffee in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

Those days, however, may soon be over.

The state Senate on Monday passed a bill that bans smoking in college dormitories and residence halls.

Yep, that’s right.

The Assembly had passed the bill in January and now the governor must approve the legislation before August 15 in order for it to take effect in the 2008-09 school year.

Local legislators — Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, D-Scarsdale, and Sen. Vincent Leibell, R-Patterson — sponsored the bill.

Thoughts? Reactions?

Read on for a statement from the American Heart Association, which applauds the move.

(Thanks to my colleague Candice Ferrette for pointing this out. She writes the ‘To Your Health’ blog.)

American Heart Association applauds dormitory smoking ban

The American Heart Association believes that the ban on smoking passed by the state Legislature on Monday, June 17, will lead to a healthier lifestyle for New Yorkers.

State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, D-Scarsdale (Westchester County), and state Sen. Vincent Leibell, R-Patterson (Putnam County), sponsored the bill. It bans smoking in college dormitories and residence halls. The Senate passed the bill on Monday; the state Assembly had passed it in January.

“Smoking is a major cause of coronary vascular disease, including coronary heart disease and stroke,” said Ed Stoppelmann, chair of the Westchester County Board of Directors of the American Heart Association. “Environmental tobacco smoke exposure results in about 35,000 coronary heart disease deaths among nonsmokers each year, and we’re glad to see this prevented,” Stoppelmann said.

The new statute amends New York’s Clean Indoor Air Act to include dormitories, residence halls and other group residential facilities owned or operated by public or private colleges, universities and vocational institutions. Off-campus units occupied by anyone other than an undergraduate student are exempted.

In order to take effect in the 2008-2009 school year, the governor must approve this legislation before August 15.

In college residence halls, smoking in one part of the dormitory causes smoke to seep into other parts of the building, chronically exposing nonsmokers to dangerous toxins. Many colleges offer students the option of residing in smoke-free dormitories, but demand often exceeds the supply of available rooms, meaning that many nonsmokers requesting smoke free housing are relegated to residence halls where smoking occurs. As a result, many nonsmoking students have found themselves unwillingly exposed to other students’ second hand tobacco smoke and unable to change to a smoke free residence.

About the American Heart Association

Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association today is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and all other cardiovascular disease, claim nearly 870,000 lives per year. In fiscal year 2006 -07 the association invested more than $554 million in research, professional and public education, advocacy and community service programs to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives. To learn more, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit americanheart.org.

Photo by Angela Gaul / The Journal News/LoHud.com