WHERE THERE'S SMOKE THERE MIGHT BE FIRE

In the late 1940s the University of Kentucky Student Government Association passed a rule forbidding student smoking in restricted buildings that were "non-fire-resistant" or temporary frame units. The student rule did not apply to faculty or staff. 

In February, 1948 Dr. Thomas D. Clark brought charges against James Clarkson for smoking in Frazee Hall.  The student had been reported by history professor James Hopkins.  At his hearing, Clarkson pleaded ignorance of the policy since he was a "first-quarter" student and he had not seen any no smoking signs in the building.  Nevertheless, Mr. Clarkson was found guilty and fined $5.

Eight years later on the evening of January 24, 1956 a fire destroyed 75% of Frazee Hall including the offices, books, and papers of most of the university's history faculty.  Theories about the cause of the fire did not include careless cigarette smoking but did point to the possibility that students may have "bombed" the building using some type of incendiary device.

Frazee Hall Fire

Later that year on May 14, 1948, a Kentucky Kernel headline asked, "Faculty Exempt Under Smoking Law or Not?" Six students had recently been fined $5 each for violating the no smoking policy.  The article  noted that other student smokers had not been fined because of a lack of cooperation from the faculty in reporting offenders.

Two students, Rusty Russell and Jack Sorrelle, introduced a bill before the Student Government Association to make the non-smoking policy also apply to faculty and staff  including in private offices.  SGA leadership reminded everyone that faculty would have to accept the policy before it could apply to them.  While there is no readily available record of how the issue was resolved, it is safe to assume that few, if any, faculty or staff accepted the ban on smoking.

During the following fall semester Norwood Hall, built in 1910 and home to the Botany Department, was destroyed by fire.

Norwood Hall

Fortunately, today's UK tobacco policy makes everyone healthier and safer.