By Erica Brosnan Staff Writer
The academic side of Hofstra University became smoke-free in December 2014, but that’s not something you would realize if you simply walked around. Despite the fact that the south side of campus is a completely smoke-free area, cigarette smoking continues as if a ban never even existed.
Hofstra has always been clear about the repercussions of smoking on campus: a fine of $25 for the first violation and a fine of $50 for reoccurring violations. Yet the campus still seems far away from being free of smoke.
When the ban was first enacted, I thought it was really going to do Hofstra a lot of good. Before the ban I would find myself constantly and unexpectedly walking into clouds of tobacco smoke and was repeatedly frustrated that it was allowed on campus.
Even more so considering this was happening well after the Smoke Free Air Act had been passed in New York, banning smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes “in virtually all workplaces, close to hospital entrances and in city parks, beaches and pedestrian plazas.”
It had seemed to me that Hofstra stayed in accordance with New York State law banning smoking from indoor areas, but pedestrian walkways and plazas on campus were still legally free game.
Therefore, when Hofstra decided to ban smoking across the entire south side of campus, I was proud of my school for recognizing the impact of smoking and second-hand smoke and that it had made an effort to attempt to minimize the effects.
I recognize that most college students are above the legal age to smoke and therefore, if they choose to smoke then that’s completely fine and I respect that decision.
However, I feel that smokers should also respect the indisputable fact that second-hand smoke is a very real threat. Smoking is also a fire hazard – especially in grassy areas around campus where people flick cigarette butts – and an environmental and aesthetic problem as well.
We have a smoking ban on campus for a reason, yet there are still plenty of people who will blatantly ignore it. I’ve even seen some students smoking while standing directly adjacent to a “smoke-free campus” sign.
There’s only so much Public Safety can do to enforce the smoking ban, and most of the time it’s considered too much of a hassle to fine somebody for such a small offense.
It’s really up to the students and faculty to respect the ban and realize that it’s not funny or ironic when you ignore rules that are put in place for the safety of others, especially when there are plenty of places on the north side of campus where you can chain-smoke to your heart’s content.
Smokers, please do everyone’s lungs a favor and minimize the amount of toxins already polluting New York’s air and start smoking on the other side of the unispan.
The views and opinions expressed in the Op-Ed section are those of the authors of the articles. They are not an endorsement of the views of The Chronicle or its staff. The Chronicle does not discriminate based on the opinions of the authors.