Students Comment on C of C's Tobacco-Free Campus Policy

On July 1, 2014, The College of Charleston implemented the Tobacco-Free Campus Policy to promote a safe, clean, and healthy environment for College of Charleston employees, students, visitors, and guests. The policy will also promote the existence of a tobacco-free environment for the campus community, so that the negative effects of tobacco use are minimized for community members.

The policy is a step in the right direction; however, it is surrounded by slight controversy. Some College of Charleston students commented on the policy and its stipulations.

Devon Schmolk, Senior, Communication Major
Cape May, N.J.

Devon Schmolk believes that the tobacco-free policy has excellent intentions, but it's a little too early to tell if it will be effective. She believes that the student body will most likely follow the policy, and hopefully the staff and maintenance crews will too.

"Nothing is worse than walking behind somebody smoking a cigarette . . . It's just dirty," Devon stated.

Shaylin King, Junior, Psychology Major
Ajax, Ontario, Canada

As a parent, Shaylin King highly supports the tobacco-free policy. Shaylin occasionally has to take her child around campus, and with he new policy the campus is a much cleaner environment now.

However, Shaylin does not think that the student body will adhere tot he policy: "I have already seen people smoking on campus, but they are on the border kind of testing the boundaries."

Dustin Shaw, Senior, Communication Major
Charleston, S.C.

Dustin Shaw, another supporter of the policy, believes that: "The policy is a good thing because it heightens the school's image for promoting health."

Although there has been a significant improvement, Dustin feels that the student body will probably not adhere to the policy 100 percent. He commented that he has already seen people smoking on campus. 

Colin Grier, Senior, Communication Major
Greenville, S.C.

Colin Grier believes that the tobacco-free policy has been a good change for those that do not smoke and do not like the smell of cigarette smoke around campus.

He stated: "I know a lot of people who smoke who have adapted to the changes of the campus and haven't complained so I'm not under the impression that the new policy is that hard for many of the smokers to abide by."

Colin feels that enough smokers will abide by the policy to be able to notice an improvement on campus.

Sienna Badura, Senior, Communication Major
Norfolk, V.A.

Sienna Badura, another supporter of the policy, states that: "The tobacco-free policy allows students who have made the decision not to smoke to not be burdened by students who do."

However, she believes that in order to make the policy fair to everybody there should be designated smoking sections available around campus.

According to the policy, students, staff, and maintenance crews all must abide by the policy. Any guests and visitors that refuse to adhere to the policy can be asked to leave the campus, and any exceptions have to be approved by C of C's president, Glenn McConnell.

Employees of The College who violate the policy can be punished through provisions of College Policy 9.1.2. Students who violate the policy can be punished through the Student Code of Conduct.

The e-College will provide cessation programs for all members of the C of C community who wish to end their use of tobacco products. Information on these tobacco cessation programs is available from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, (803) 545 - 4467.