Some Things Never Change
Sarah Walker
Bridgewater State University has recently converted to a smoke-free campus. The regulation was put into act during the second week of school. For many, the smoking band has had no effect, for others, the ban has been frowned upon and dreaded. After about three months of school, students lighting up cigarettes still linger on sidewalks outside of dining hall, dorms and classrooms. Has the ban put forth any difference this school year, or can putting a regulation on smoking really be done? Most of all, many seem to wonder if there really was a change at all, or even more critically, will things ever change?
Ever since the ban has been put into force, smokers trekked out of campus bounds to have their fix. During the same week, the Bridgewater police informed the Comment newspaper that the smoking ban was not going to be enforced. As the papers hit stands on Thursday September 22, the quote read on the front page in big, bold font, from the police chief David Tillinghast, “We’re not anticipating getting involved unless a supervisor has an issue and contacts us.”
Louis Ricciardi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Bridgewater State University, was also interviewed for the article in the school newspaper. Ricciardi is a promoter of the smoke- free campus stating, “ I understand it’s a legal right to smoke. But not anywhere you want. It’s a free society, but your decision shouldn’t interfere with someone else’s right to breathe clean air.”
Ricciardi was very prominent with the ban, quoted again about the new policy, “ we run the campus, and the policy is set.”
Although Ricciardi is firm with the new regulation, the Comment seems to acknowledge the contradictory he places on the new rules when he states that no rules encouraging the policy have been put into place.
As students read the school’s newspapers that were placed in venues throughout campus, automatically, smokers then stopped their hike to legal smoking grounds, and began to light up on campus, once again.
Many feel this article published has ruined the potential smoke-free campus. Before the article has been published, students were not informed that the ban was not going to be enforced—smokers were perhaps going to follow the rules, fearing that a fine or other punishment would be made if the rule was broken.
What many seem to forget is that just because police are not enforcing the rule, does not mean other administrators involved on campus are not. Students seem to think the police are the only authority that has a say.
An education major and junior at BSU, Alex Katsafanas responded to the article, “ The ban does not affect me. I’m not a smoker and smokers don’t bother me, but by announcing the police man’s statement, smokers no longer fear getting in trouble. I wouldn’t.”
Alex’s comment corresponds with another student smoker. Mike Ernst, a smoker of five years agrees, “ Now that I know I won’t get fined, I’m not going to look for a different place to smoke. I’ll do what I did before, smoke whenever and wherever I want.”
Having reviewed the article, already two interviewed students have no fear, since the police are not getting involved.
Although a non-smoker like Alex has a passive opinion, others feel the opposite, perhaps hoping the smokers will fear them. Jen Diego, also a Junior at BSU, majoring in Spanish, had a winded, heated reply, “ I walk to class with cigarette smoke blowing in my face. I chose not to smoke because I want my health in good shape, so why do I have to inhale theirs’?”
Jen’s comment was in fact one of the main reasons the smoking ban possessed a positive response from many: the second hand smoke that students had to avoid, which was very hard many times, no longer was a conflict. However, as the smokers and the rest of the campus read the front page article their actions changed, as Jen continued, “ Now that we know smoking on campus wont posses any consequences, the smoke will still, and is still blowing in my face.”
Students like Jen did not dread walking past designated smoking benches as they walked out of the dorms or on their way to class when little was said about enforcement. Jen then reflected on the main question: are things on campus ever going to change? “I doubt it, “she responded, “ I was really looking forward to the new rule, but now, I feel like things have not changed, and never will.”
Will issues like these ever change at BSU? Do they need to? Smokers seem to think the change should come only if they decide-- it’s their body, they should be allowed to do with it what they want. As for the non-smokers, the change was something to look forward to, to improve their health. These questions have created issues throughout the campus community, seeming to create different controversies that have many at a discontentment.
Perhaps the non-smokers protesting about their health will lead the ban to be enforced. If more students become angry and try to make a change, maybe there will be. Time will tell for the community of BSU. Next year, the sidewalks may yet again be littered with smokers. Then again, administration can take a stand and let their authority be known, so the non-smokers will no longer be breathing the polluted air.
Sarah Walker
Bridgewater State University has recently converted to a smoke-free campus. The regulation was put into act during the second week of school. For many, the smoking band has had no effect, for others, the ban has been frowned upon and dreaded. After about three months of school, students lighting up cigarettes still linger on sidewalks outside of dining hall, dorms and classrooms. Has the ban put forth any difference this school year, or can putting a regulation on smoking really be done? Most of all, many seem to wonder if there really was a change at all, or even more critically, will things ever change?
Ever since the ban has been put into force, smokers trekked out of campus bounds to have their fix. During the same week, the Bridgewater police informed the Comment newspaper that the smoking ban was not going to be enforced. As the papers hit stands on Thursday September 22, the quote read on the front page in big, bold font, from the police chief David Tillinghast, “We’re not anticipating getting involved unless a supervisor has an issue and contacts us.”
Louis Ricciardi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Bridgewater State University, was also interviewed for the article in the school newspaper. Ricciardi is a promoter of the smoke- free campus stating, “ I understand it’s a legal right to smoke. But not anywhere you want. It’s a free society, but your decision shouldn’t interfere with someone else’s right to breathe clean air.”
Ricciardi was very prominent with the ban, quoted again about the new policy, “ we run the campus, and the policy is set.”
Although Ricciardi is firm with the new regulation, the Comment seems to acknowledge the contradictory he places on the new rules when he states that no rules encouraging the policy have been put into place.
As students read the school’s newspapers that were placed in venues throughout campus, automatically, smokers then stopped their hike to legal smoking grounds, and began to light up on campus, once again.
Many feel this article published has ruined the potential smoke-free campus. Before the article has been published, students were not informed that the ban was not going to be enforced—smokers were perhaps going to follow the rules, fearing that a fine or other punishment would be made if the rule was broken.
What many seem to forget is that just because police are not enforcing the rule, does not mean other administrators involved on campus are not. Students seem to think the police are the only authority that has a say.
An education major and junior at BSU, Alex Katsafanas responded to the article, “ The ban does not affect me. I’m not a smoker and smokers don’t bother me, but by announcing the police man’s statement, smokers no longer fear getting in trouble. I wouldn’t.”
Alex’s comment corresponds with another student smoker. Mike Ernst, a smoker of five years agrees, “ Now that I know I won’t get fined, I’m not going to look for a different place to smoke. I’ll do what I did before, smoke whenever and wherever I want.”
Having reviewed the article, already two interviewed students have no fear, since the police are not getting involved.
Although a non-smoker like Alex has a passive opinion, others feel the opposite, perhaps hoping the smokers will fear them. Jen Diego, also a Junior at BSU, majoring in Spanish, had a winded, heated reply, “ I walk to class with cigarette smoke blowing in my face. I chose not to smoke because I want my health in good shape, so why do I have to inhale theirs’?”
Jen’s comment was in fact one of the main reasons the smoking ban possessed a positive response from many: the second hand smoke that students had to avoid, which was very hard many times, no longer was a conflict. However, as the smokers and the rest of the campus read the front page article their actions changed, as Jen continued, “ Now that we know smoking on campus wont posses any consequences, the smoke will still, and is still blowing in my face.”
Students like Jen did not dread walking past designated smoking benches as they walked out of the dorms or on their way to class when little was said about enforcement. Jen then reflected on the main question: are things on campus ever going to change? “I doubt it, “she responded, “ I was really looking forward to the new rule, but now, I feel like things have not changed, and never will.”
Will issues like these ever change at BSU? Do they need to? Smokers seem to think the change should come only if they decide-- it’s their body, they should be allowed to do with it what they want. As for the non-smokers, the change was something to look forward to, to improve their health. These questions have created issues throughout the campus community, seeming to create different controversies that have many at a discontentment.
Perhaps the non-smokers protesting about their health will lead the ban to be enforced. If more students become angry and try to make a change, maybe there will be. Time will tell for the community of BSU. Next year, the sidewalks may yet again be littered with smokers. Then again, administration can take a stand and let their authority be known, so the non-smokers will no longer be breathing the polluted air.