City College recently adopted the Smoke-Free Policy now in place as part of a change to California’s smoking laws.
On Jan.1, 2004, Assembly Bill (AB) 846 went into effect regarding California smoking policies and public buildings. According to a document distributed to government employees by the Department of Health Services Cancer Control Branch, the new law states that smoking is prohibited within 20 feet of main entrances, exits, and windows of any building owned, leased, and occupied by the state, county, or city. This includes UC, CSU and community college campuses.
The document also states that this law does not prevent government entities from adopting and enforcing future no-smoking laws that go beyond 20 feet. Administrators designed the Fall 2004 City College Smoke-Free Campus Policy to maintain a smoke-free campus except for officially posted smoking areas. This policy pertains to students, faculty, staff, administrator, visitors, and the general public attending campus events.
“Nobody knows exactly how far 20 feet is,” Joe Sullivan, vice president of Business Services said. “We’d rather give them [the smokers] a place where they can smoke and keep it clean.”
The campus Smoking Policy Implementation Team distributed a campus map with designated smoking areas marked, a reminder card, and letter of instruction regarding the smoking policy to Staff and Faculty. The cards will serve as reminders intended for distribution to smokers who are not familiar or in compliance with the policy. The instructional letter requested the administrations help with disseminating thve information about the new policy so the responsibility does not solely lie on the shoulders of Campus Security.
“Security’s role is helping getting people to comply,” Security Director John DaFoe said. “We honestly feel that no one wants to take a Gestapo approach. It will make more trouble than it will solve.”
If a student refuses to comply, discipline will be taken to the next level. In the City College Code of Conduct, section Q states, “Willful or persistent smoking in any area where smoking has been prohibited by law or by regulation of the governing board” is subject to disciplinary action.
“We need cooperation from everybody because we don’t want it to be confrontational.” DaFoe said. “Through education and asking, we will get substantial compliance.”
The Tobacco Prevention Settlement Program gave a grant of $3,500 to City College to help with the establishment of the policy.
Some suggestions to improve the policy include making the smoking areas more obvious by painting the benches that are in the area red.