Smoking on campus was prohibited over a year ago, yet MCCC students are still questioning the policy.
On Aug. 1, 2009, MCCC prohibited smoking from campus grounds, still allowing smokers to smoke in the parking lot.
As of Aug. 1, 2010, smoking was prohibited on all campus grounds, as well as in the parking lot.
This raised a lot of concerns from students who are both smokers and non-smokers.
Marissa Manor, a full-time student at MCCC, doesn’t smoke and likes that the smoking ban was put in effect.
“Personally, I like it, because I don’t like walking to class and walking by people smoking,” Manor said. “I hate the smell.”
Manor also acknowledged the rights of the smokers, and said she hasn’t noticed a huge change on campus.
“In a way I think it’s unfair because we are in a free country,” Manor said. “But, I still notice people smoking outside the library and C building.”
Ted Mueller, a student and a smoker, hasn’t seen any change and finds the ban immoral.
“I pay to go here just like the non-smokers, but I’m being told where I can and cannot be to smoke,” Mueller says.
“I’ve seen people have a dip in during class and nothing was said,” states Mueller. “But I have to leave to smoke a cigarette?”
Since the complete ban of smoking on campus on Aug. 1, all of the outside ashtrays have been taken away.
“I’ve seen one change since the smoking ban has been in act,” says student Ashleigh Didario. “People aren’t standing by designated ashtrays, they’re throwing their butts on the ground now.”
Didario, who is a non-smoker, said she doesn’t see the point in the ban.
“People are going to smoke when and where they want, regardless of signs,” says Didario.
Randy Daniels, vice president of Student and Information Services, thinks the smoking ban is going well so far, but there are a few places on campus where people try to hide and smoke.
He says the ban is being enforced in a variety of ways, with students, faculty, and staff reminding one another. People who are smoking on campus are currently given a warning.
“If there’s an issue of a repeat offender, security brings them to my office,” he said.
If anyone is acting belligerently to a security guard, Daniels said, the security officers will deal with them.
