The Board of Trustees listened to the voice of Citrus College students, many of whom called for a change to the smoking policies on campus.
On January 17, 2019, the board made changes to the legislation in its policy on smoking at Citrus College during a Board of Trustees meeting.
Even though the board did listen, the changes didn’t come swiftly though. It took almost three years for the changes to be implemented.
The Associated Students of Citrus College conducted a survey in which the majority of those who participated voted that they do not want smoking to be allowed on campus in 2016.
Then came a resolution.
On May 17, 2016, the ASCC executive board voted 6-2 in favor of eliminating smoking on campus on behalf of the student body.
The resolution allowed the exception of parking lots and other designated smoking areas to remain intact.
Even though the ASCC doesn’t have the power to change campus policies, their mission is to advocate for the students’ interests.
While it takes more than a survey to change the rules and policies at Citrus, at least the conversation can plant the idea that change needs to happen.
A report in June of 2018 might have been what pushed the Board of Trustees over the fence.
The California College & University Smoke/Tobacco-Free Policy Report Card resulted in Citrus College receiving an “F” for their grade. Only 13% of the community college’s in California received a grade of an “F”.
Shortly after the report card’s release, the board decided to act on this policy on campus.
Not only did the board make changes to the policy at Citrus, but they even went beyond what ASCC has asked for in the past and took measures to completely eradicate tobacco on campus.
According to the report card, if the Citrus College campus was completely free of tobacco including e-cigarettes than it would result in Citrus receiving an “A” on future report cards due to the fact that the campus will be 100% tobacco-free, including e-cigarettes– the requirement for an “A”.
The policy revision, which takes effect in the fall 2019 semester, states that smoking/vaping is prohibited on campus. Students, employees and visitors who smoke or vape are required to do so off campus.
The new policy also states that The Citrus Community College District is a smoke and tobacco-free environment. Smoking, vaping, and the use of tobacco products is prohibited on all District property at all times. Administrative procedures apply to students, faculty, staff, administrators, visitors and general members of the public.
From campus media, to student tweets and even Facebook posts from students in recent years, the ability to smoke on campus has adversely affected students.
According to Truth Initiative, an organization dedicated to promoting tobacco-free lives, the amount of universities and colleges who have implemented a smoking ban policy has more than quadrupled in the last nine years.
Nationally, only 446 universities and colleges had smoking ban policies on their campuses in 2010.
As of April 1, that number increased to 2,365.
For the greater good of everyone’s health, these policies can only help the young lives of students on campuses all across the world.
The right to be able to ingest, inhale or use smokeless tobacco in other forms is understandable but in the appropriate place and time.
Walking to class and having a cloud of smoke blown into a student’s face is definitely not the time and place, especially for those with health conditions such as asthma and upper respiratory infections.
The Board of Trustees has listened to several calls from students. Implementing a smoking ban on campus is another reason as to why it is important to hear the students voices and their wishes at Citrus College.
While action could have happened sooner, at least they came through and listened to the majority of the student body.
Implementing a smoking ban from the Board of Trustees also allows the opportunity to educate students about the dangers and effects of tobacco.
Even if the fact that smoking kills can be referred to as common knowledge, the time is never too late to remind students of the dangers and impacts of tobacco.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that over 41,000 deaths each year are related to secondhand smoke directly.
The CDC website also says “nearly all adult smokers start before the age of 26.”
The primary target market for cigarette companies is young adults and a ban such as this one only makes it harder for that age group to participate in these habits that can have life-changing effects and in some cases life-threatening effects.
Smoking bans also have environmental benefits.
Truth Initiative says “every year around 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are littered each year, making them by far the most littered item in the world.”
In addition, cities spend anywhere from $3 million to $16 million on city-wide cleanups of cigarettes per year.
Times are changing. Trends are happening. Schools are listening.
In the past, the norm would have been students and teachers smoking inside the classroom or inside the office at work.
But the awareness and dangers of tobacco use have increased. While there may be an early pushback from the rules, it is important to follow the policies created at Citrus for the improvement of the campus for everyone.
Health benefits, environmental benefits and economic benefits from implementing a tobacco ban like the one at Citrus makes so much sense for other schools and universities to follow.
The most important part about this ban, however, is the enforcement backing it to ensure everyone has a healthy environment, especially in the place they choose to pursue their education. Without enforcement, the rules don’t carry much weight to them.
As students, it is necessary to hold others accountable in following the rules and policies in place.
Tobacco bans allow for the elimination of secondhand smoke, for the facilitation of social norm change, for the prevention to promote smoking and other methods of cessation and for the protection of staff members, students and employees on the campus.
The Board of Trustees has cared about the students’ opinion, enough to make policy changing decisions for the betterment of everyone that walks the campus of Citrus College. Three years to make changes seems too long, but at least the changes have been put in place made to make this campus a better environment for everyone on the grounds.
Over time, hopefully, it becomes a norm for college campuses to be smoke-free.
