Jack Remson | Staff Writer
jremson@gmail.com
Recently, Santa Rosa Junior College made efforts to extend and better enforce its long-standing smoking ban.
Smoking on campus at Santa Rosa Junior College has been outlawed since 1989. The new policy allows campus police to ticket smokers up to 20 feet away from the campus as well. The new policy took effect August 17. Fines go as high as $500 at the third strike.
“We haven’t been ready to cross that line,” said Jeff Christian, a City College nurse, of the possibility that City College might adopt a similar policy. “[We’re] trying to find a balance.”
Christian is making efforts toward a student-led “Nicotine Anonymous” support group on campus.
“People need the freedom to make choices on their own,” said Christian. “But my role is to keep everybody healthy, to promote an environment where [students] can be successful.”
City College currently restricts smoking to 30 feet or more away from a building entrance.
“It would make it easier to quit,” said student Stephani Echeverria of a smoking ban, who estimates she smokes 10 to 20 cigarettes a day. “I’m always conscious of second-hand smoke.”
Echevarria said City College could consider a compromise, with designated smoking spots.
“I can’t pretend to not care,” Echevarria said.
For more information on SRJC’s smoking ban, visit www.santarosa.edu or www.pressdemocrat.com .
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