The past two classed we talked about the harmful effects of smoking and our societies understanding of the consequences of smoking. In the lecture, we discussed that smoking has a big effect, and is a major cause of an otherwise rare disease.
However, you’re bound to see a student smoking on campus in front of the HUB, or walking to class. So despite the fact we now know that smoking is not only bad for you, but also the people around you: why are there so many smokers on campus?
An article by ABC claimed a third of college students smoke. The study that found these results was conducted by researchers from Harvard, that surveyed 14,000 students at 119 universities across the country.
Graph from here.
The University of Missouri School of Medicine reported what events triggered college students to smoke. Based off the graph, college students most often smoke in social situations. Because of its addictive properties, what starts as a casual thing when out with friends can quickly develop into an addictive habit.
According to USA Today, in 2008 the state of Pennsylvania banned smoking everywhere on campus at 14 state-owned universities. However, Penn State still allows smoking on campus.
While the Penn State Student Affairs outlines strict smoking areas on campus, there appears to be little or no enforcement of this. If the smoking areas were strictly enforced, there may be a drop in the number of students smoking on campus. New smokers would not be able to casually light up on the way to class without fear of punishment. That leads into the controversy of how the university would go about enforcing this, and the fact that just because you’re not allowed to smoke doesn’t mean students will listen. But it begs the question if Penn State had stricter smoking policies, would there be less students smoking on campus?
“If this trend continues, it threatens to reverse the decline in U.S. adult smoking that we have witnessed over the past half-century,” Dr. Nancy Rigotti said, in an interview with ABC.
I believe Penn State and every university should be a smoke free campus. There are so many large universities that are already smoke free. It only benefits everyone. Not just the students or the professors. It benefits all of the visitors, the campus, and the beauty of the school. Secondhand smoke can really have a harmful effect on everyone. The campus will become polluted, students , professors, and bystanders who do not smoke will be inhaling smoke.
I like how you mentioned that the designated smoking areas need to be strictly enforced. As of right now, Penn State does not do anything to enforce these smoking areas therefore students and employees assume that it is okay that they smoke anywhere they want. This is unfair to all non-smokers on campus. In addition to enforcing these smoking areas, I also feel as if the smoking areas need to be relocated. If you look at this map of east halls http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/reslife/i/east_smoking_map.jpg the smoking areas are shown in yellow and purple. In order to walk to the Commons from any East Building you must pass through at least one of these areas. I think that smoking areas should be in parts of campus that are not popular areas for students. If we relocate and enforce these areas then I think it would make the campus safer and more enjoyable for everyone!
During this article, you are actually talked about “what should we do to reduse smoker on campus” but not “why student smokers exist” wholelly. I think the answer for your question is maybe because students got too much stress from their classes or they are not doing well in their lab…etc. Smoking in front of the HUB is just a way those stress presents. To be honest, I’m one of smokers in front of the HUB everyday’s lunch time. And I did that because I don’t want to smoke during walking, to let people arounded by frog. Setting smoke place is a better choise than cut smoking totally. After all, people who are addctied need place to go, right?