2008 Woodie Awards
Committee strives to create a smoke-free college
Stephanie Raygoza
Issue date: 3/19/08 Section: News
LBCC may be one of the many colleges in California to become a smoke-free campus, following Golden College's ban on smoking last August.
As more colleges each year join the ranks of smoke-free campuses, ongoing discussions among students and employees have sparked growing interests and concerns on whether LBCC should follow in the same footsteps.
Golden West, which lies 15 miles away in Orange County, is the latest college to enforce a no-smoking policy, where smoking is only allowed in parking lots. Construction of pavilions is underway to accommodate smokers.
Having heard of Golden West's recent smoking ban, LBCCC speech teacher Jim Ostach proceeded to contact the Academic Senate, Associated Student Body President John Kindred and Vice President of Student Support Services Chris Villa regarding getting a group started among the student body committed to getting an initiative started.
"For compelling health, safety and aesthetic reasons, it would be beneficial to everyone and the physical environment," Ostach said Tuesday, March 18.
A committee headed by the environmental affairs director Carlos Peinado and student Mark Chambers currently meets every Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m. in E120 to discuss the proposed initiative.
Peinado said, "It takes someone to take the lead. I'm willing to take that challenge even it I become hated by everyone."
"We are trying to get students involved and started handing out fliers to professors in the science building." Peinado said. "We want to educate people on what it means to have a smoke-free campus."
Peinado and Chambers plan to start handing out fliers to students the Monday after Spring Break.
Upon reaching out to the student body, the committee plans to create a survey gathering data and statistics to see if students and employees really want to carry out the initiative.
Peinado hopes to conduct a final vote that will take place along the time of the ASB elections in April.
As more colleges each year join the ranks of smoke-free campuses, ongoing discussions among students and employees have sparked growing interests and concerns on whether LBCC should follow in the same footsteps.
Golden West, which lies 15 miles away in Orange County, is the latest college to enforce a no-smoking policy, where smoking is only allowed in parking lots. Construction of pavilions is underway to accommodate smokers.
Having heard of Golden West's recent smoking ban, LBCCC speech teacher Jim Ostach proceeded to contact the Academic Senate, Associated Student Body President John Kindred and Vice President of Student Support Services Chris Villa regarding getting a group started among the student body committed to getting an initiative started.
"For compelling health, safety and aesthetic reasons, it would be beneficial to everyone and the physical environment," Ostach said Tuesday, March 18.
A committee headed by the environmental affairs director Carlos Peinado and student Mark Chambers currently meets every Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m. in E120 to discuss the proposed initiative.
Peinado said, "It takes someone to take the lead. I'm willing to take that challenge even it I become hated by everyone."
"We are trying to get students involved and started handing out fliers to professors in the science building." Peinado said. "We want to educate people on what it means to have a smoke-free campus."
Peinado and Chambers plan to start handing out fliers to students the Monday after Spring Break.
Upon reaching out to the student body, the committee plans to create a survey gathering data and statistics to see if students and employees really want to carry out the initiative.
Peinado hopes to conduct a final vote that will take place along the time of the ASB elections in April.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Meejah
posted 3/20/08 @ 8:20 PM PST
great take on the story, however, i'm not sure if smoking students would be thrilled about this. Are we going to banish a large segment of our student body to the parking lots? What about faculty and staff who smoke? And do we have a large enough campus security to enforce such a policy?
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