Those Lines are There for a Reason

The "Burgy's Smoke-Free Zone" lines are all over campus. Photo Credit / Cory Nidoh
The "Burgy's Smoke-Free Zone" lines are all over campus. Photo Credit / Cory Nidoh
The “Burgy’s Smoke-Free Zone” lines are all over campus.
Photo Credit / Cory Nidoh

By Sarah Borys
SC Staff Writer

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 17.3 percent of adults between the ages of 18 and 24 are smokers. Although it may seem like a small amount, many people view it as a big problem because of the effects of smoking.

It is not uncommon to walk through campus and pass by numerous students who are smoking. It is also pretty common to find these students near or even right in the middle of non-smoking zones.

According to ESU’s Tobacco policy (Policy Number: ESU-FA-2011-002-A), “Tobacco products are prohibited in the designated ‘No Smoking/Smoke Free’ zones between the University Center and the Keystone Room, between Stroud Hall and the University Center, and on the walkway below these two buildings.”

The Tobacco policy also states “tobacco use is permitted in any exterior open area which is not within (or closer than) twenty five feet from the nearest facility entrance.”

While walking through campus, if you find yourself looking at the ground, you may notice some red lines painted. These lines are supposed to indicate where someone may or may not smoke.

As someone who suffers from allergies and asthma, cigarette smoke is something I generally try to avoid. This means that I often have to re-route my way to class if there is a large group of smokers near one of the doorways.

The first time I heard about the non-smoking lines, I thought it would be a good idea. But after seeing them, I realized that they are actually extremely ineffective. These red lines signal the no-smoking areas, but wouldn’t it make more sense to make zones for smokers that are out of the way of the rest of us?

Smoking is your choice, and I certainly wouldn’t hold that against anyone. It is also my own choice not to smoke, so I shouldn’t have to walk around Stroud Hall and hope to sneak in the side door without being bombarded with smoke.

Email Sarah at:
sborys@live.esu.edu