Campus Smoking Ban Lacks Institutional Control

Many thought this semester would start with a tighter enforcement of the ban against smoking cigarettes on campus, but this new policy may not be as stable as many students may imagine.

As of now, campus security can only ask students found smoking on school grounds to put out their cigarettes or cigars.

Campus Safety Officer Jim McKamy confirmed that his officers have not issued any citations to smokers, nor had students removed from campus yet.

"We've only been told to ask students to put out their cigarettes, and so far, people have complied," McKamy said.

The ban, started under former Associated Students President John Mayer, is fully supported by current A.S. President Ethan Morse, 20, and his administration. Morse believes there are many different directions that the final law of the smoking ban could go. According to Morse, a committee has been formed consisting of himself, Dean of Fine Arts Robert Jensen, and College President Kathleen Hodge to look into different ways of enforcing this controversial policy. A sub-committee is also in the works to contact other community colleges on the state of their smoking bans, and to learn what actions they have taken.

General assemblies of Southern California Community Colleges have yielded non-smoking policies at 114 schools across the region. Schools such as Riverside Community College are enforcing their smoking bans by fining people up to $20 for each infraction.

If the smoking ban ever becomes a full enforcement measure, Morse hopes to accommodate the campus smoking community by finding alterative solutions.

"It's possible that students may be allowed to smoke in their cars (in the parking structure), or at designated bus stops," Morse said. This would also be something for any related committees to look into.

Students that smoke regularly on school grounds have mixed feelings on this subject. While a majority admit that they would adhere to regulations, mostly out of fear of citation, there are a few who will fight for their rights.

"I will keep smoking… I'll go to court over [a citation], if I have to," said Vlad Popescu, 20, Psychology.

Other students such as Nick Anem, 21, undecided, said, "I've been low key," not wanting to be spoken to by campus security.

A majority of the students interviewed commented that officials have not spoken to them about extinguishing their cigarettes on campus, while a small amount have been warned by professors and security alike to take their habit off of school grounds.

However, security officers in the quad are often seen telling students to stop smoking, and standing and waiting until their request has been complied with.

Many non-smokers, however, are less than pleased with this lack of enforcement, and praise the original ban.

"I think it's great for non-smokers, smoking just isn't good for your health," said Donna Hicks, 43, undecided.

Though the outcome in the years following this heated debate is still unknown, as of now, action against cigarette smoking on campus has been little more then requests and "education."

Anyone adamantly against this ban can make a case to A.S., and call a attempt to vote to repeal this controversial policy.