Dear smokers, be more considerate

There have been many articles in the Clarion addressing the smoking policy at Citrus College.

Currently, the policy on campus is that one cannot smoke within 20 feet of a doorway. There is no policy that restricts smoking to a certain area or from campus all together.

This has become a serious problem and one that I became more aware of during the first week of this semester.

It is difficult to walk across campus without walking through a plume of smoke or at least getting a whiff of it.

I can comfortably say that I am far from being alone in my distaste for this. I hate to generalize when it comes to people, but it appears that many smokers hold no consideration of others when they light up.

Too often do I see people smoking in the midst of a crowd or even within 20 feet of a door.

Not only does this subject others to second-hand smoke–which we all know the dangers of–but it forces everyone around them to either have to move or deal with the unpleasant smell.

This unpleasant smell sometimes even has to be dealt with inside the classroom, as people come into class after just having smoked.

Clarion writers and members of the editorial board have made suggestions, such as creating designated smoking areas, restricting smoking to the parking lots, or banning smoking from campus all together.

The administration has, thus far, not made any such revisions to the campus smoking policy. I would like to echo my colleagues in the suggestions they have made to administration. In the meantime, I would like to address the smokers on campus.

I don’t know why you chose to start smoking. I don’t know why you continue. Frankly, that is none of my business. But what is my business is how your smoking affects me and my classmates at Citrus.

This is an institution of higher learning, and a stellar one at that. I, for one, expect such a place to have a high standard of behavior as well. Smoking in public and ignoring the current policy is not such behavior and is inconsiderate.

No one likes a person who is inconsiderate. If you must smoke, do it in a place that will not create an unpleasant environment for others. And when you are done with your cigarette, please throw it in an ashtray.