No smoking. Photo by Katelyn Avery.

Most of my colleges campus is smoke free, and I’m very happy about it. I’m not a smoker, and I know I’ll never become one. My Dad smokes, as do other people in my extended family on both sides. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t hate smoking, because it placed a chokehold on my life at a young age. As an adult I like to see people my age staying smoke free. At the very least, I don’t want someone else’s smoke in my life.

Walking around campus I can usually breathe just fine. There are a few people who break the rules, usually at night, but for the most part the smoking ban has had smooth sailing.

As a transfer student I didn’t experience campus life before the new smoking sections were made. They are at different ends of the campus, away from us non-smokers. I haven’t even walked into one of the smoking sections, because of the distance. Unlike my community college, which because of space constraints had two smoking sections along my typical route. One was near the entrance for drop-offs, and another was near the path heading towards Dunkin’ Donuts.  I didn’t catch smoke in my face or anything, but the more populated smoking section, near the Dunkin’ Donuts path, had a nasty smell.

A few smokers gather outside the front entrance of my residence hall at night. This is what I’ve heard through the grape vine. I live in the back of the building, so I haven’t experienced this. While heading out to breakfast I’ve seen some cigarette butts off to the side, so my doubts have been squashed. Everyone is doing their best to clear the smokers from a non-designated smoking stop.

Considering what I could be going through, my campuses smoker life isn’t that bad. I don’t have to deal with it most day, and the campuses courtyard isn’t ruined by cigarette butts. If you are a smoker I understand it’s an addiction, but consider stopping. You will be healthier, and you can join the rest of us non-smokers as we breathe easily.

– Katelyn Avery

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