Everyone knows smoking is bad, but should cigarette smoking be banned from college campuses?
Complaints about second hand smoke on City College campus are nothing new and may bring a big change to the school.
As of now City College allows smoking in designated smoking areas and is clearly marked with No Smoking signs in prohibited areas.
Government Code section 7597 states that smoking is prohibited in all public buildings and San Diego Community Colleges will not permit smoking within 20 feet of main entrances to buildings, exits, or any operable windows.
But is that enough? Mesa College has prohibited smoking everywhere on campus since Jan. 1st, 2007. Also on the smoke-free campus list are Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges.
Will City College be the next to become a “smoke-free campus”?
City college student DeJon Parnell states “I am an art major and I spend a lot of time outside of the C building painting and it would be less distracting without smoke being blown in my face. Smoking is lame and dangerous to other people.”
“It’s hard enough being a student.” Says City College student Laura Jean. “It’s nice to have a place to sit and take a break in between class on campus, it would be one more issue to deal with if students had to go off campus to smoke. What’s next no walking on the grass?”
Student Rudy Gonzalez says, “To take away all smoking on campus is a matter of civil rights, taking away peoples rights is never a good idea.”
So what is the penalty for smoking on a smoke-free Mesa College campus? Surprisingly, nothing, education on second hand smoke is offered to the campus community as well as counseling and health information campaigns. Campus officials believe those who smoke will be peer pressure not to smoke on campus because smoking is a behavior best influence by social persuation.
After the transitional period of the smoking ban at Mesa there were few complaints from the smokers and after the ban went into place no one complained. So the key here for smokers and non-smokers a like is speaking up. If you want a change in smoking policy go complain, if you don’t go protest.
The ban at Mesa was sparked by asthmatic student Kendra Jackson who approached the board because she was getting sick from the second hand smoke, so students looking to keep their right to smoke better be careful who and where they blow their smoke.
To decrease smoking on campus City College’s student health services provides tobacco cessation counseling. For students that are looking to quit or anyone interested in more information on the harms of smoking contact health services in room A-116 phone (619)388-3450