2008 Woodie Awards
Students should support smoke-free policy at De Anza
Mark Du, De Anza student
Issue date: 12/1/08 Section: Letters to the editor
I think we should support a smoke-free campus at De Anza College because it is an important way we can provide a more healthy environment to study.
In order to truly combat tobacco use on campus, it's necessary to address the issue on many fronts. Classrooms, dorm rooms, offices, living rooms, etc. should all be explicitly targeted in this policy.
Smoke-free campuses are becoming more popular as the dangers of exposure to secondhand smoke and the increased risk of fire become more apparent. I face clouds of smoke every time I walk through the parking lot that I do not wish to breathe. Sometimes I hold my breath as I walk through certain areas of campus as to not inhale the secondhand smoke. Smoking has been banned on at least 130 university campuses in the United States.
Pennsylvania has issued a smoking ban for college campuses in their state. The law states there shall be no smoking on any campus grounds, which is not limited to buildings and residence halls. Smoking cigarettes is unhealthy in general, and we have all seen the tobacco commercials with a cowboy singing through a tracheotomy.
I am not going to tell people whether or not they should smoke. It is a choice.
However, I do not want to be forced to walk through a haze of chemicals every time I walk across our campus. I think all students need to think about having a smoke-free campus. Other schools in California are catching on and joining smoke-free campuses across the United States. Why not join and be one of the forerunners in California for a healthier campus? I think we should start it right now.
In order to truly combat tobacco use on campus, it's necessary to address the issue on many fronts. Classrooms, dorm rooms, offices, living rooms, etc. should all be explicitly targeted in this policy.
Smoke-free campuses are becoming more popular as the dangers of exposure to secondhand smoke and the increased risk of fire become more apparent. I face clouds of smoke every time I walk through the parking lot that I do not wish to breathe. Sometimes I hold my breath as I walk through certain areas of campus as to not inhale the secondhand smoke. Smoking has been banned on at least 130 university campuses in the United States.
Pennsylvania has issued a smoking ban for college campuses in their state. The law states there shall be no smoking on any campus grounds, which is not limited to buildings and residence halls. Smoking cigarettes is unhealthy in general, and we have all seen the tobacco commercials with a cowboy singing through a tracheotomy.
I am not going to tell people whether or not they should smoke. It is a choice.
However, I do not want to be forced to walk through a haze of chemicals every time I walk across our campus. I think all students need to think about having a smoke-free campus. Other schools in California are catching on and joining smoke-free campuses across the United States. Why not join and be one of the forerunners in California for a healthier campus? I think we should start it right now.
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