A new smoking policy took effect Aug. 23 at City College limiting the areas where people can smoke to six specific locations on campus.
The policy, titled Change is in the Air, alerted students and staff members of the new designated areas and parking lots where they are expected to smoke in order to promote a smoke-free, clean air environment on campus.
“I’m very happy to see that we’re moving in a healthy direction for our students and our employees,” says Wendy Gomez, Health Services nurse at City College and chair faculty member for the Subcommittee of the Safety Committee who orchestrated the new smoking policy.
According to a survey conducted by the Subcommittee at City College in 2013 and 2014, smoking has been a long-standing concern for the employees and students on campus.
Ninety percent of the individuals who participated in the survey were students, and the results showed that 67 percent reported that they were negatively affected by smoking on campus, while 49 percent indicated that they would prefer City College to be an entirely smoke-free campus.
This concern resulted in the formation of a Subcommittee of the Safety Committee, assigned by City College President Kathryn E. Jeffery to review this issue, and establish Designated Smoking Areas as a solution to the growing problem.
This new policy will be an addition to the current smoking regulations practiced throughout the Los Rios Community College District that state smokers must stand at least 30 feet away from building entrances, outdoor air intakes, and operable windows.
While Change is in the Air tries to promote good health and protects non-smokers from second-hand smoke, the Subcommittee also realize that smokers desire a comfortable and convenient place in which to sit down, take a break, and indulge in a cigarette while they wait for their next class to begin.
There is a total of six DSAs at City College campus where students are requested to smoke from. These six spots will all be provided with ashtray receptacles, and will be away from building entrances to comply with the current LRCCD requirements.
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“We have signs up everywhere that we can possibly put them right now on campus,” said Gomez. “It’s also up on the television sets, it’s been on Facebook, and it’s been tweeted several times.”
These new DSAs are also implemented at LRCCD’s Davis campus and West Sacramento campus. The assigned sections are spread throughout each campus, and are known as ‘pop-up’ areas that can usually be recognized by its large tarp roof that is used as protection from the sun while students smoke. However these tarps are also only temporary shelter, and will soon develop into a more substantial DSA as the semester progresses
“They have six smoking areas on campus that I am aware of, but I don’t think that does justice to enough of the smokers at SCC,” says Eric Iverson, a 22-year-old philosophy and sociology major. “I’m glad that there is a smoking area because it is fair to the people who don’t smoke, and at the same time I think that you need to have an equal voice for those who do smoke, as well as those who don’t.”
These specific smoking locations can be found on several maps handed out to students on campus by staff members, signs posted throughout the campus, and on the Health Services section of the Sacramento City College website.
Students may have also received an email in their student gmail account on August 20th from SCC’s Public Information Office notifying them of the new policy regarding the designated smoking areas. Smoking outside these DSAs, parking lots, and inappropriate disposal of smoking waste can result in repercussions.
“I’m very indifferent about it,” says smoker and 19-year-old music major Darius Simpson. “It’s kind of annoying that you have to go out of your way to these spots to smoke a cigarette, but you got to think about it when there’s children around and other people.”
For individuals interested in quitting smoking, or open to the idea of switching to smokeless tobacco, they are encouraged to visit the Health Services department on campus, located in Rodda Hall North 125, for free resources and counseling directed at quitting smoking.
Students can also visit the California Smokers’ Helpline at 1-800-N0-BUTTS, or visit www.californiasmokershelpline.org for more information on how to kick their nicotine addiction.
