Butt Out

On a typical day at Eastfield, students and employees can be seen smoking near the entrances to campus buildings and by the dumpsters between the W1 and W2 parking lots.

All of them are breaking the school's two-year-old smoking policy. Yet many don't even know it.

"The current policy is a tobacco use policy, and it states that tobacco is not to be used on campus grounds," President Jean Conway said. "It may be used in the parking lot."

Rather than sitting on benches and smoking near ashtrays, people must retreat to the parking lot or their cars to smoke. Those who don't could face a $5 citation from campus police.

The smoking policy was put in place in 2009 after the City of Mesquite adopted an ordinance in July of that year prohibiting smoking in public and in places of employment.

However, many current students and employees seem unaware of the policy.

Confusion seems to be one of the main problems. Some students are left questioning what exactly the policy says and where they can smoke.

 Ashtrays placed near benches and sidewalks can be misleading to some, making them believe smoking around the ashtrays is OK. Signs like "No smoking beyond this point" are also confusing.

"I don't see the problem with being by the benches because the sign says ‘Not past this sign,'" electronics major Ryan Switzer said. "They should have signs at least saying what [the policy] actually is."

Sharon Cook, director of College Communications and Community Relations said getting the word out about the policy is "almost like a re-education" for new students and employees coming in each semester.

Conway said the city ordinance isn't the only reason that administrators are now enforcing the policy more strictly.

 "People have said, ‘I have to walk through smoke to walk into my building," she said, noting that there are health concerns about second-hand smoke.

Another reason for the increased attention is that cigarette butts aren't being thrown away. Rather than disposing of them in the ashtrays provided, some students are throwing them on the ground or into the bushes.

Not only is this littering, which is against the law, it can also be dangerous. Captain Michael Horak said several grass and ashtray fires have erupted in the past.

"They need to be mindful of their responsibilities of making sure it's extinguished," Horak said.

Campus police are making it a point to get the word out to those who choose to smoke.

"At this point, the way we enforce it is if police or other people see smoking where it is not allowed, they just diplomatically say, ‘This is not allowed here. Could you go to the parking lot and smoke?" Conway said.

The police website states that a $5 citation will be assessed to violators of the policy. However, Conway and Horak feel such an action will not be necessary. A reminder of where smoking is allowed is usually enough.

"I haven't had someone tell me, ‘No I'm going to stay right here and smoke'" Horak said. "Not in the three years I've been here."

Some students believe there should be a designated smoking area.

Theater major Stephanie Carroll said that while people with health conditions such as asthma and allergies shouldn't have to walk through smoke on campus, smokers should have an area where they can take a break.

"I don't have a car, so I would not be able to smoke because I would not have a car to go sit in," she said. "I think it would be really helpful to have a designated smoking area."

Others believe that wouldn't help the current situation.

 "If they don't do it now, then what's the point of giving them an area where they're not going to follow the rules?" biology major Marisol Sanchez said.

Although Conway doesn't believe fines are the answer to the problem, she said she may take further action if smokers fail to follow the rules.

"If people do not obey the current smoking or tobacco use policy and restrict their tobacco use to the parking lot, we are forced to take another step and even make the parking lot a smoke-free area," she said.

If that were to happen, Eastfield would become a smoke-free zone such as the University of Texas at Arlington and TExas State University.

Other state colleges are also raising awareness about their own smoking policies.

The Student Government Association at the University of North Texas recently tried to institute a smoking ban on its campus in Denton, but the referendum received only 25 of the 30 votes required to pass. The current policy requires smokers to be at least 25 feet away from building entrances.

While some students supported the UNT smoking ban, others fought it. A group called Young Americans for Liberty organized a petition to keep the current policy and handed out free cigarettes on Nov. 28.   

Eastfield's policy may raise many questions and concerns, but Conway said the policy is here to stay. As for new students and employees coming in, orientation packets will be updated with details about the policy.

"The goal for us, even as the police, is to educate them," Horak said.