Students have to worry about getting classes, passing their classes and recently have to worry about staying safe from an active shooter on campus. Students shouldn’t have to worry about getting cancer or any disease from secondhand smoke while they are receiving their education.
In 2016, a bill was already set in place to ban smoking on college campuses, but Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed the bill stating it was unnecessary because campuses already have the authority to set their own policies.
This call to action is to the Citrus College Board of Trustees to ban smoking on campus.
The New York Times, March 4 edition, had a full-page warning regarding the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. The warning stated the following: secondhand smoke kills about 38,000 people each year in the United States, and causes lung cancer and coronary heart disease in those who don’t smoke. There is no safe level of exposure of secondhand smoke.
Citrus College’s official policy, revised as of June 20, 2017, states the following: “Smoking/vaping is prohibited within 20 feet of a main exit, entrance, or operable window of any campus building or district vehicle. Smoking/vaping is prohibited inside any indoor area of any campus building. Smoking/vaping is prohibited in any enclosed space on campus, including lobbies, lounges, waiting areas, stairwells, and restrooms that are a structural part of any building on campus.”
This policy is a joke because students can witness students violating the 20 foot rule daily. Students smoke right in front of classrooms, in the stairwells, restrooms and even in elevators. There have been occasional times where Campus Safety drives past students in front of ED 165 smoking right in front of the “20 feet smoking sign” without saying a word or enforcing the college’s policy. I guess students’ health or upholding the college’s policy isn’t a priority. The same enforcement should have been recognized just as if a student or staff member parked illegally. Not to mention all the litter of cigarette buds that are left behind on the floor or on the grass.
“The University of California system has had a policy in place for years,” said Patrick Mcgreevy in his Los Angeles Times article. “About 18 of the 72 community colleges districts, with 37 campuses already have smoke-free policies, as does Cal State Fullerton.”
The article went on to say that all of the Cal States are in the process of having a universal smoke free policy.
A learning institution should maintain a clean, safe and distraction free environment for students wanting to get their education. Students should not have to worry about trying to get away from the secondhand smoke. Seeing students leaving in the middle of class for a cigarette then having to smell the foul odor of cigarette smoke is a distraction. Most of the smokers at Citrus College violate the simple instructions from this policy on a daily basis and the local controls lies on the Board of Trustees to ban smoking at Citrus College and not to just maintain the California law of not smoking within 20 feet of a building.
If anyone violates the smoking ban there should be punishment just as if the student of staff parked illegally. An example would be a warning or a citation. Increase the cost of the ticket if anyone violates this on a continuous basis. An incorrigible person should face further disciplinary actions. If anyone refuses to put out their cigarette then they should be subjected to be removed from campus.
We recognize that cigarette smoking is an addiction. We understand the instant gratification one gets from smoking and how cigarette addiction is not an easy cycle to break.
Citrus College offers a free smoking cessation program for individuals to help students quit smoking. The meetings are every Wednesday from noon to 1:00 P.M. at the student services building (SS 153). If a student would like to attend feel free to call and sign-up (626-914-8671).
If you have no interest in quitting then you will still be able to smoke off campus. The outer sidewalks are at your disposal to have a smoke. Citrus College is a relatively small college, so it should only be a minor inconvenience. This will also prepare you for transfering to a four-year Cal State or a University since most are banning smoking on their campuses.
We essentially all failed this policy. The students who blatantly ignored the policy, other students who didn’t remind their peers of the smoke free signs and the Citrus College staff who did not properly enforce the policy.
It’s time to follow in the footsteps of what the Cal States are doing and make Citrus College a smoke-free campus by banning smoking. If the higher educational institutions are in the process of doing it then it should be something Citrus College should emulate.
The existing policy already failed. Smoke-free students shouldn’t have to be subjected to secondhand smoke that might have an impact on their life. It’s time to make Citrus College a cleaner and healthier campus.
