Campus Smoking Ban Still In Place
A campus wide smoking ban has been
effect since fall 2011 on the Texas State University campus. According to the
university, 67 percent of students surveyed favored the ban.
Previously
only high traffic areas on campus, such as the quad, were smoke-free.
University
President Denise Trauth announced the ban during the summer of last year.
Trauth noted the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, and the student body’s
desire to go smoke free.
Six months
after the ban was put in place, students can still be found smoking on campus.
Which poses a question, “how is the smoking ban being enforced?”
Texas State
University senior, Collin Couey,22, was asked about his view of the ban, “I think
it’s more of an appearance thing for Texas State to be able to say we’re a
smoke- free campus. They don’t enforce it very well.”
Due to the
limited number of officers employed for the university’s police department it
is unrealistic to believe that Texas State would the limited manpower to troll
the quad for smokers.
For this
the smokers rejoice. Every student knows where to catch a classmate on his
smoke break. The bus loop, behind Derrick Hall, or next to Taylor-Murphy
appears to be some of the most popular choices.
Many
student smokers accredit their habit to stress caused by their workload.
Sophomore elementary education major, Ashley Winslow admitted she is one of
those students. Winslow also aid, “we try not to smoke in the middle of the
campus… I try to hide.”
Despite the
criticism there are students, staff and faculty members who continue their
support for the ban. Courtney Williams, a 21-year-old social work major said, “It’s
a positive change for the school. It won’t work 100 percent, but it’s a step in
the right direction.”
The
city of San Marcos may follow the university’s lead. Talks of a city-wide
smoking band have been in talks amongst the city council for the past 2 years.
By: Victoria Gomez
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