For years now, smoking on campuses has been a growing trend throughout colleges everywhere. Walking between classes, hanging out on a bench outside, or standing outside the doorway of a classroom building, smokers will whip out a cigarette while most of them disregard the fact that there are non-smokers close enough to them who get a nice whiff of the tar-infested smoke. University of Central Florida demonstrates inheritance of this trend, occupying a large amount of on-campus smokers. "I feel like a victim because I don't smoke and I have to breathe it in," says UCF student Chris Villani. This establishes that not only is smoking on campus a trend, but it is now a problem. Even though some people believe that this developed problem is not a problem at all, there are a majority of people that believe smoking on campus should be banned or strongly regulated, and UCF has been doing what it can to follow through with these people's wishes.
There is a large amount of UCF students that strongly insist regulations for smoking on campus. "I think it's gross. I think that there should be stricter rules or designated areas for it. Too many kids just blow smoke in your face all around campus," says student and non-smoker Deanna Quintero. "If people weren't smoking I could take the route I want to class, and not have to dodge people," says Chris Villani. It is unfortunate that these poor students feel this way when they should be enjoying their college experience whole-heartedly without the nuisance created by these smokers around campus. They should not feel the need to "dodge" people or feel like a victim when a student is simply trying to walk to class. Inhaling smoke unintentionally can be very damaging to a person's health, so not only is it a detestation, but it is threatening to their physical wellness through second-hand smoke. Someone who hangs around a smoker on campus regularly can be inadvertently inhaling that smoke and it eventually has to potential to cause serious harm to a student's body. According to lungusa.org, "Secondhand smoke contains hundreds of chemicals known to be toxic or carcinogenic, including formaldehyde, benzene, vinyl chloride, arsenic ammonia and hydrogen cyanide." A non-smoker would involuntarily be exposed to these toxins and if exposed enough, it could start to have negative side effects to this person's health. Clearly, students at UCF that attest to the regulation of smoking on campus can all agree that it would create a pleasant environment, as well as a safer environment.
As important as it is to recognize the opposition to smoking on UCF campus, it is interesting to note what the smokers think about the issue. "I don't mind either smokers or smoking. But I do agree with the notion that smokers should be considerate and non-smokes should not be afraid to ask smokers to not blow smoke in their face. I don't see how there could be a problem if people are communicative, tolerant, and amenable," says student and smoker Simon Valencia. Based off of this quote, it seems that there are some smokers out there that tolerate the problem and believe that people that are offended by the smoke should just speak up. Although doing so could be effective, it would only be short-term. In order to make a significant change in the campus atmosphere, a long-term adjustment is necessary, including rules and regulations. It is simple to politely ask a smoker to relocate, but there are those who find it unnecessary to do so because they should not have to go out of there way just so they can breathe better. "I feel like I shouldn't have to ask to feel comfortable and sometimes they look unapproachable," says student Dan Suarez.
According to the 2005 Core Survey on Tobaccofreeu.org, "28.2% of college students indicated using tobacco (cigarettes, chew, or snuff) in the past 30 days. The good news is an even bigger percentage (71.8%) DON'T! And half of the current college smokers would like to quit." If this pertains to UCF's smokers, then any regulation would only affect that small portion of smokers, in comparison to the large amount of non-smokers who would greatly appreciate any change.
As far as what UCF is trying to do to regulate on-campus smokers, there have been events related to a tobacco-free change. Tobaccofreefloridaevents.com states that UCF held an event for the UCF Market Day, which promoted becoming tobacco-free as a student. Also, recently the University of Florida declared its change to becoming a Tobacco-Free university. Tobaccofree.health.ufl.edu states that "starting Nov. 1, 2009, all University of Florida Health Science Center and Shands HealthCare facilities will be tobacco-free. Patients, visitors, students, and employees will no longer be able to smoke or use tobacco products on our campuses, in HSC, Shands and UF Physicians buildings or parking lots, or even in their cars while they are visiting. UF plans to implement the policy on its main campus in July 2010." Knowing UCF, the university will probably implement a plan like this eventually, as it usually does when there are changes at different Florida universities. Hopefully, any change such as this will be sooner rather than later.
When problems arise on college campuses, there are always complaints and unhappy people that suffer from these problems. Some can be fixed, some can't. I strongly believe something can be done about smoking on campus. There are those that agree, mostly the non-smokers, and those that disagree, mostly the smokers. If it is recognized enough throughout UCF that the non-smokers who suffer on a day to day basis walking to class, inhaling the second-hand smoke want a change, it can be done. There are the quotes to prove it that these victims find it necessary for a change, whether it is regulation or banishment of smoking in general. Through events and organizations around campus, their voice has been reaching others who feel the same, and hopefully that voice will be powerful enough to make a change. Expectantly, UCF will follow in other universities footsteps by becoming tobacco-free one day, and our campus will be a healthier, more breathable space.
Works Cited
Villani, Chris. "Personal Interview on 6 October 2009".
Quintero, Deanna. "Personal Interview on 18 October 2009".
Valencia, Simon. "Personal Interview on 19 October 2009".
Suarez, Dan. "Personal Interview on 19 October 2009".
"College Students and Tobacco Use". tobaccofreeu.org. The Bacchus Network, 2002. Web. 18 October 2009. http://www.tobaccofreeu.org/facts_figures/college_students.asp
Health Science Center and Shands Healthcare. University of Central Florida, 03 August 2009. Web. 18 October 2009. http://tobaccofree.health.ufl.edu/
"Secondhand Smoke Fact Sheet". lungusa.org. American Health Association, 2009. Web. 18 October 2009. http://www.lungusa.org/site/c.dvLUK9O0E/b.35422/
"Street Team Events". tobaccofreefloridaevents.com. Tobacco Free Florida, 2009. Web. 18 October 2009. http://tobaccofreefloridaevents.com/street-team
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