Tobacco Banned on Campus
“I don’t even smoke and I think it’s a bad idea,” said Anthony Potter, Automotive Technology student.
“Everybody’s going to be late for classes, even professors,” said Sydney Ritchie, Honors Liberal Arts and Humanities freshman.
The college made this decision in light of the decision of the SUNY Board of Trustees to support a ‘Tobacco Free SUNY” policy.
SUNY’s ban would affect the campuses of 64 separate colleges in New York State, which makes it the largest public university system in the country to adopt a comprehensive tobacco free policy.
SUNY wants the policy to take effect by January 2014.
“The reason that Hudson Valley is becoming Tobacco Free in the fall semester instead of in the spring is because it would be a smoother transition for students if they can’t smoke from day one of the academic year rather than halfway through it,” said Dennis Kennedy, Executive Director of Communications and Marketing.
“We’d be the last college in Troy to ban Tobacco,” said Coordinator of Health and Human Services, Claudine Potvin-Giordano.
The other colleges include Saint Rose, RPI, and Sage. Hudson Valley will be becoming tobacco free before Schenectady County Community College does. Out of this state’s six smoke free community colleges, four are fully tobacco free.
“I was used to it in high school but some people who are on campus all day need to step out,” said Danny DeGraff, Chrysler College Automotive Program senior.
“I would definitely be a lot more stressed if I had to go off campus to smoke between classes,” said Ian Castaldo, Electrical Construction and Management freshman.
“We want to make the change in as non-degrading of a way as possible,” said Potvin-Giordano. “[We want] signs displaying messages similar to ‘Thank you for keeping the college clean and not smoking on campus.’”
“It’s probably just the mess that all the smokers make,” said Dan Gigandit, Automotive Technology senior.
“I smoke occasionally but there are literally hundreds of butts on the ground at the campus center. It’s disrespectful,” said Gregory Tompkins, Electrical Construction and Maintenance Freshman.
When the idea was first brought to the Student Senate, it had little to no support.
However, when the entire college was taken into consideration, 25 members of the college community, including the Director of Public Safety, the Director of Environmental Health and Safety, and the President of the Student Senate, began to work on the initiative.
“It will be hard for everyone to adjust but this change is going to benefit the college. It’s healthier for everyone and stops the littering of cigarette butts. The campus will be cleaner,” said Adam Sanzone, Student Trustee and senior Political Science major.
Potvin-Giordano has made 12 separate presentations since Nov. 12, to groups on campus, including the Safety Committee, the Enrollment Management Forum, the Faculty Student Association, and the Student Life Committee.
“It’ll lower revenue because people may drop out, potentially leading to programs being cancelled,” said Max Dresser, Business Administration freshman.
“With all of the college’s budget problems, how is the college going to enforce it?” said Violetta Pawlak, Biotechnology senior.
“We haven’t decided what the consequences would be if a student has to be repeatedly told to stop smoking on the premises because we are still developing the policy,” said Potvin-Giordano.
“Some people have got to smoke to relieve stress. It’s a free country and as long as you aren’t blowing smoke in anybody’s face, it is okay by me,” said Brandon Rowe, Vikings Wide Receiver and Individual Studies senior.
“If people can’t smoke, then what about after-hours events? What about paying visitors for teeth cleanings and automotive work? What about the people who come to use the BTC to produce commercials?” asked Pete B., Computer Information Systems senior.
One student mentioned that the college is private property and, therefore, if they do not want tobacco to be used on their property, it is entirely legal and up to them to do that.
Other students suggested that there ought to be smoking zones on campus.
Smoke free college campuses are becoming more and more common nationwide. There are currently at least 1,129 campuses in the country that are smoke free.
Additional information and resources will be provided to students, faculty, and staff, and campus signage will be updated prior to the tobacco free policy’s effective date of Aug. 26, 2013.