(WSBT) One of Michiana's biggest college campuses is making a bold move to help students and staff snuff out tobacco.

Indiana University South Bend (IUSB) says it's going tobacco free on every inch of its property by 2008.

A committee of students and staff came up with the new policy over the summer. Now, they're making it public.

Not only will smoking be banned, but chewing tobacco too. IU administrators say it's all an effort to get people to give up the habit.

Wednesday morning, Alan George enjoyed a cigarette between classes. And as usual, he followed the rules: puffing 20 feet away from the door.

But in two months, he'll have to make a choice: smoke off campus or quit.

"I understand the restaurants and stuff, you don't want to smoke on the premises, but campus in the open air — I don't see why that's a problem,” George told WSBT News.

"It is a stringent policy," said IUSB Spokesperson Ken Baierl.

A stringent policy IUSB officials say came from the top. Like a growing number of colleges and universities, IU administrators ordered their campuses statewide to come up with a smoke-free policy by next year.

"And what IU South Bend decided to do was become tobacco-free,” explained Baierl. “What that means is you can't smoke on this campus, you can't chew tobacco on this campus, beginning January 1.”

The tobacco ban covers every inch of the campus property, from academic buildings to sidewalks and park benches. Once finished, it'll also include student housing across the river.

It's a trend catching on in communities across the country, with smoking now banned in restaurants, businesses, and even some city parks — putting the squeeze on smokers who are now facing fewer places to light up.

“People do have individual rights but when you come together as a campus community or any kind of institution or business, you try to do what's right for the greater good," said Baierl. "We hope that people will quit smoking because of this."

"[It] might help me. Maybe not,” Alan Gage said. “It's a tough habit to quit.”

The university says it's offering free classes for students and staff to quit smoking.

You can go to the parking lot and smoke in your car, but university officials say the smoke has to stay in the car.

To read the smoking policies of other state universities, click on the links in the Related Content box.