This semester, dorm residents exploring their buildings for the nearest smoking lounge came up empty handed, and students hoping to decorate their rooms with candles were denied.

To increase fire safety, officials have banned smoking and the possession of candles anywhere in dorms.

"It's a good decision. It's safer," Conal Carr, assistant director of Residence Life and adviser for the Student Fire Safety Commission, said of the new smoking policy.

Laura Klingelhoefer (junior-elementary education), an ex-smoker, is glad to see the smoking lounges go.

"The smell of it really bothered me," she said. "I don't want to smell like smoke when I'm walking past."

However, others see the ban on smoking in dorms as an unnecessary intrusion into students' lives.

"The fact that most freshmen are 18 and can legally smoke almost makes it kind of silly that the university is saying, 'No, you can't,'" said Lauren Thomas (senior-management and international business).

Thomas has fond memories of the days she lived on campus and frequented the smoking lounge after dinner with her friends.

"It was more of a social experience, really. It was about making friends and making memories," she said with a smile.

Thomas said if she still lived on campus, smoking in January wouldn't be pleasant. "I would freeze my butt off outside. It would be awfully cold."

She doubted the lack of indoor facilities would cut down on smoking rates.

"The real die-hards are going to be out there with their coats and their smoking mittens with two fingers cut out," she said, laughing.

Carr said upcoming cold weather may tempt residents to light up in their rooms, but he advised against it.

"Our staff are fairly good at noticing it and disciplining accordingly," he said.

This year, Residence Life will be enforcing the smoking ban as well as another fire-safety rule that bans candles in dorms.

"Anything that's lightable or has an open flame isn't allowed," said Diane Andrews, senior associate director of Residence Life.

She said resident assistants won't be searching rooms, but students can be written up if it becomes clear that there is something prohibited in a room.

"Having a candle would be considered a housing violation," Andrews said. "Students would be asked to get rid of it, and/or talk with their coordinator."

A lit candle would merit stronger disciplinary measures than an unlit candle.

Students can keep themselves out of trouble by sending candles home by fall break or removing the candle's wick, Andrews said. "If somebody does have a decorative candle and they cut the wick off, they can have it. Basically it just becomes a decorative ball of wax."

Complete fire safety regulations for dorm residents are listed on the Residence Life Web page (www.sa.psu.edu/RL) and on page 133 of the daybook residents received on their desks.