Bakersfield College students will not see signs saying “Designated Smoking Area” in the spring; however, the idea did not vanish.
“It is still being considered,” said Dean of Students Don Turney. “We haven’t let this thing die.”
According to Turney, the Student Government Association is in the process of conducting more research on how to enforce the current smoking policy.
The current smoking policy states that there is to be no smoking or any kind of tobacco use inside BC buildings, and smoking within 20 feet of a door or open window is also prohibited.
“I didn’t even know that until we started researching those things,” said SGA President Micah Card. “What we want to do is create more visibility of the rules and do it in a non-threatening way.”
According to Card, the smoking policy, which involves the banning of smoking on campus, has been an issue for a couple of years.
“Initially they [SGA] passed it,” said Card. “It was a thing that was brought to us [current SGA] to finish for them, but we really had to step back and look at it.”
According to Nsele M. Nsuangani, project director of the Tobacco Education Program for the Kern County Department of Public Health, “we’ve been working on this thing since 2004. It took me a lot of time.”
Although the delay was a disappointment, according to Nsuangani, he and his partners remain optimistic.
“We’re hoping for a full adoption,” said Nsuangani.
According to Card, the reason for the delay was because the original policy brought up questions of concern. “There was really heated controversy,” stated Card.
“We really had to look at it from an objective standpoint.”
“Bringing another set of laws to the campus,” said Turney, “is not a good idea.” According to Turney, a non-smoking campus does not mean there is no smoking on campus.
“There is still smoking on campus,” said Turney, “just in designated areas only.”
Even though there will be no designated areas next semester, the SGA plans to invoke these authorized areas by the end of next year.
According to Turney, student smokers will be involved in the selection of the designated smoking areas.Maria Leon, 19, a non-smoking BC student, believes that the designated areas should be in “an isolated place where there’s not a lot of people.”
“By the dumpsters,” Leon added, “at least they will be surrounded by other smells.”
“I don’t really care,” said another non-smoking student, Marisela Cuevas, “[be]cause I can always move away.” However, she agreed that there should be plenty of designated areas for smokers.
Although, according to Nsuangani, “it’s about the 80 percent of students who do not smoke,” the SGA is considering all BC students’ needs.
“So, that may involve making things more comfortable on campus,” said Card, “for smokers and non-smokers alike.”