Campus policy up in smoke

We all learned right from wrong at an early age. Many times, we learned this by doing something wrong and suffering the consequences.

It's time for those who break rules on campus to finally learn this lesson.

A good place to start would be the smoking policy.

For those who do not know, the policy currently states: Eastfield proper is designated as a tobacco free zone. People may only use tobacco products in their cars and in the parking lots. As they enter the campus grounds proper, use of tobacco products will need to stop.

According to the policy, campus police can fine violators $5 for their first three offenses. The fourth offense could lead to a meeting with administrators for disciplinary action.

But all of this would require some actual enforcement first.

Eastfield College is already a smoke-free campus, and our tobacco use policy has been in place since 2009. The problem is, not many people know about it. Some aren't even aware there is a policy.

For any type of policy or rule to be successful, students and employees need to be educated. However, we see people smoking all the time where they shouldn't be, and nobody seems to be doing anything about it.

There needs to be consequences when the rules are broken. The first time someone is caught smoking in a no-smoking area, a warning should be issued. The next time, they should be required to pay the $5 fine.

Recently, a female student was sitting on the railing outside the G Building taking her smoke break as people walked into the building through her wall of smoke. No one stopped her. This type of scene happens every day all over campus.

Administrators could help by making no-smoking signs more clear.

The ashtrays, like the ones in front of the N Building, are there for smokers to throw cigarette butts away so they don't litter the campus grounds. However, their location by the benches and in front of the ‘No smoking beyond this point' sign makes it seem as if it is OK to smoke there.

We are asking campus police to please enforce the policy. And to all the smokers, please smoke in your cars or in the parking lot, and dispose of your butts properly.

Keep that in mind next time you light up. It could save you a fine.