IOWA CITY – Do not plan to light up on the University of Iowa campus anywhere. It is going completely smoke-free. Smokers are obviously upset.

The idea has been debated for years. But on Monday came the burning reality, University of Iowa President Sally Mason announced the decision. And now begins the time of transition.

The haze hovering around the University of Iowa campus Monday is not from smokers trying to get their last puffs in before the ban goes into effect. It does not happen until July 1, 2009. The university believes that will be enough time to educate the thousands of people who work and go to school here. University spokesman Steve Parrott said, “Really what we're looking to do is create a healthy environment, healthy culture for everyone on campus."

The university will spend the next 17 months letting people know of smoking cessation programs. But smokers say it will not matter. Smoker Lindsay Johnson said, “They can try all the want, but I’m still going to smoke."

Currently people cannot smoke near doors or anywhere on the health sciences campus which includes the hospital. But in 2009 the entire campus goes smoke-free and that includes Kinnick Stadium. Non-smoker Jill Lyon said, “It's the best thing Iowa City can do for the patients in the hospital and for the health of the people walking in and out of the hospital."

Smokers say they're being picked on. Johnson said, “If we want to smoke here we have to go across the street. It's awful. You don't have time."

The university says it is hoping for higher productivity and lower health insurance costs. Iowa will not be the first smoke-free campus. North Dakota University and Indiana University are entirely smoke-free. Those schools have major research facilities like UI.

Email Steve Nicoles at Steve.Nicoles@kcrg.com