The Sophian

Issue date: 4/22/10 Section: Opinions

As I sat down to enjoy a nice picnic lunch with some friends on one of the few days this past week when the sun actually decided to shine, I brushed my hand against something poking out in the grass: a cigarette butt. Yuck. This was not the first time I have noticed cigs littered around campus; they are everywhere. And why, might you ask, are they everywhere? Is it because Smithies are too lazy to actually dispose of their trash properly? Or is it because there are just too many hipsters at this school and not enough cigarette disposal containers? Whatever the reason, I am fed up with all the smoking on this campus.

In the Smith student handbook, it says that "all smoking by faculty, staff, students and visitors is limited to outdoor areas more than 20 feet from any academic, administrative or residential building." That's right: 20 feet! But does anyone follow this rule or enforce it? Not to my knowledge. There are always clusters of students smoking on the steps right outside of Neilson and on the steps in front of Seelye if you are facing Washburn - neither of these locations a full 20 feet from their respective academic buildings.

I am sick and tired of walking through clouds of smoke when I enter buildings around campus, or sitting behind students who were clearly just smoking a few minutes before class - and don't even get me started on those students who get up every 30 minutes in the middle of a lecture to light up. I understand that smoking is an addiction, that it is hard to quit, and that all the cool, hipster kids are doing it. Fine, whatever, it's your body; I care not. But what really irks me is when I end up smelling like smoke simply because I went to class. This is not fair to me, or to any of my other fellow Smithies who do not enjoy smelling like a club after going to the library.

When I came to Smith, I did not realize how prevalent smoking had become on college campuses today. I was still under the impression that people knew smoking was bad for your health, that it causes lung cancer and a bunch of other fun diseases and medical problems. I don't understand why smoking has been reclaimed as cool, but it has. This is something that college campuses, where the largest concentrations of 18-and-older youth reside, are going to have to live with.

Colleges across the nation are beginning to adopt smoke-free policies, where smoking is not permitted anywhere on the campus. The pros of this movement are obviously to increase student health and well-being, though opponents have brought up the infringement on student rights inherent in the initiative. While I can understand how a smoke-free policy could be seen as a violation of student rights, I think this can be overlooked because smoking impacts others' health through second-hand smoke. Colleges need to make sure they are protecting the health of all of their students, and if this means those students who just can't kick the habit or who really do enjoy ruining their health have to walk out of their way to smoke, so be it.

While Smith has not yet formally mentioned if they are going to join in the smoke-free movement, I hope that it is brought to the attention of the administration and a student forum is held to hear student opinions on the issue. With studies coming out that even third-hand smoke can be harmful to our health, I really hope that I can see Smith go smoke-free within my four years. After all, if as a college we can manage to go Coca Cola-free, surely we can have a smoke-free campus.

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