Piedmont College Navigator

Issue date: 1/8/07 Section: Opinion

The issue of smoking on campus has long been discussed at Piedmont College. Smoking was formerly allowed on the campus of Piedmont, but cigarette butts became a problem and a vote was taken among the students and they chose to prohibit it.
We as a staff feel that the students of Piedmont College who choose to smoke, should be able to do so on campus and not in the street. We propose that Piedmont establish designated smoking areas. These areas should be located at all dorms and one on the main campus in the quad. The administration says that in the past there was a problem with students not throwing their butts in the trashcans. We suggest imposing a ticket for littering if anyone is caught throwing butts on the ground.
As a staff of mostly non-smokers we feel that it is unfair and unsafe to send smokers to the street to smoke. By not allowing students to smoke on campus Piedmont is encouraging students to place themselves at risk by standing in the street. Cigarette butts left on the ground are already a problem on our campus. Designating areas for smokers to smoke and giving them a place to properly dispose of their butts will only help to alleviate the issue. The area in front of Mayflower and the stairwell of the library are already a giant mess - what can it hurt to allow students to smoke on campus?

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