 "Photo: Jeremy Aaron <i>The Daily Gamecock</i>")
Recent complaints about students and staff smoking in high traffic areas on campus have prompted USC police to crack down on smokers.
People walking past Thomas Cooper or Russell House may notice the usual crowd of students or Russell House employees casually smoking their cigarettes against the sides of the buildings. Whether they are aware of it or not, these people are in violation of the University’s smoking policy.
USC’s tobacco policy states that smoking and all use of tobacco products is prohibited inside all University-owned or leased buildings as well as within 25 feet of a building or an air intake unit. This policy includes courtyard areas, decks and patios as well.
Officer Kenny Adams of USCPD says that the police and campus safety officers have been enforcing the policy to the best of their abilities since it came into affect several years ago.
“Freshmen and visitors to the campus may not be aware of the policy, which is why we have printouts of the policy that officers carry with them,” Adams said.
Nick Bennett, a first year business student, was caught smoking outside of his dorm in Maxcy Hall. Bennett said his Resident Mentor told him and his friends that the bench they were smoking on was not 25 feet away and if they did not move they would be written up and receive community service.
“I don’t really think it matters if you are 25 feet away or not as long as you are not in front of the door.” Bennett said. “But to make us walk across the street is ridiculous,” Bennett said.
Others, however, argue the policy is simply there to keep non smokers and visitors from being at risk of secondhand smoke, which contains carcinogens such as formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, butane and ammonia. Lauren Hastings, program coordinator for Campus Wellness Promotion, warns that nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing heart disease and lung cancer.
“In support of Healthy Carolina, we are concerned for students and visitors. These policies also help reduce the initiation of tobacco use and make it easier for smokers to quit,” Hastings said.
Some non-smokers are speaking out against the recent liberties taken by smokers.
“It is annoying to walk through a cloud of smoke,” said Ashley Stankey, a first year business student. Stankey is from Minnesota where smoking in public is prohibited completely by law. “It would be nice if they weren’t smoking in front of doors, but it is kind of hard to prevent.”
Smokers beware, though. Although first-time offenders will only receive a verbal warning, repeat offenders will be given a written citation followed by a trip to student judiciary. The best bet for students and staff is to keep their butts where they belong and follow the policy.
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