Committee strives to create a smoke-free college

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.

Board of Trustees President Douglass Otto reaffirmed the importance of students' involvement and said, "No one has brought it to the trustees as a potential agenda item and if people are addressing it as concern, then the board is more than welcome to take an initiative."

Even with a prevalence of supporters on campus, considerable time, research and community support is needed to fully jump-start the initiative.

Director of Public Relations at Golden West Margie Bunten assured that it was only after an overwhelming number of constituency groups surveyed students and employees regarding implementing the policy did they vote and agree to present it to the president's advisory committee. The committee then recommended it to the Board of Trustees, which overseas district affairs, where it was initially passed.

Villa said, "Multiple parties must be heard, pros and cons, and there's got to be a mechanism to entertain that proposal."

"My job is to facilitate conversation and concern. We are working with P.R. and marketing on putting a question of the week on the Web site for students and that would be an indicator and would give everybody a sense (of how students feel on the issue.)"

The current policy on smoking, LBCC board policy 7002, at both campuses is that it is prohibited in all buildings and within 50 feet from any entrance point, which was implemented in 1983.

Former Dean of Student current Dean of Physical Education and Athletics John Fylpaa said he recalls when teachers and students could smoke in classrooms.

"It is a matter of change and critical change is the hardest part," Fylpaa said.

"This will obviously spark debate about peoples' rights, but it's about trying to educate people not suppressing them. It becomes a continual education process for this to become a success."

Several teachers have already voiced their support of the policy including physical education teacher John Smith, who said, "It's a good idea and I can't imagine anyone in our department being opposed to it."

Still, others like student Heather Palmer said the current policy is sufficient.

"It's unfair. There are smoking areas for a reason and they just need to enforce them. This is not a private campus, this is a Community College," Palmer said.

Among other Community Colleges that have adopted smoke-free policies are Santa Monica, Riverside and Fullerton.