No smoke on the horizon?

Elliot Golan / Roundup

Pierce College students may soon be attending a smoke-free school. 

In their monthly meeting on Sept. 15, the Pierce College Work Environment Committee (WEC) discussed going smoke-free, according to Dr. Leland Shapiro, director of the pre-veterinary program and WEC member. 

“We will be (smoke-free) if people don’t respect the designated smoking areas,” said Shapiro. 

The WEC addresses many topics on campus, including workplace safety, environmental concerns, and smoking. 

Shapiro, an asthmatic, considers smoking a major issue.  

“We have a constitutional right to a safe working environment,” Shapiro said. 

According to the American Lung Association, secondhand smoke can have a wide range of adverse health effects, including cancer, respiratory infections and asthma.  

Pierce would not be the first to make this decision. There are 12 smoke-free campuses in the state and 16 more that relegate smoking to parking lots, including nearby Moorpark College. 

Shapiro also mentioned the city of Calabasas, whose Comprehensive Second-Hand Smoke Control Ordinance prohibits smoking in all public places in the city when others can be exposed.  

“Nothing at this point has been decided,” said Melody Cooper. WEC chair and instructor of art. 

The map on the back page of the Fall 2009 schedule of classes illustrates eight designated smoking areas scattered throughout the campus. According to Shapiro, that hasn’t worked out the way it was supposed too. 

“Pierce has authority to enforce it, but has elected not to,” Shapiro said. 

There is no monetary fine determined at this point for violating the smoking policies, according to Sheriff’s Deputy Al Guerrero.  

“We try to give students the benefit of the doubt,” Guerrero says. He added that current protocol can consist of taking down the student’s name and information and filling out an incident report, which is subsequently sent to the dean of student services.  

“Whatever final policy concerning smoking comes forward will be the result of complete shared governance discussions between all groups at Pierce College,” said Bob Martinez, math department chairperson and senate vice president of academic policy, in an e-mail. 

Martinez said the issue will be discussed with input from both student and staff leadership. However, no timetable for a final decision was given. 

Shapiro suggested that students incapable of quitting smoking should take some of the addiction studies courses offered on campus. 

“If you’re addicted to drugs or alcohol, we wouldn’t provide you a place to drink alcohol,” said Shapiro.

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