By Meg Gugarty | Observer Reporter
Photo by Ashley Arseneau
Smoking remained a hot-button issue at March 8 ‘s Student Government Association (SGA) meeting.
According to Ann McDonald, Executive Vice-President of MWCC, a recent survey showed students are split almost evenly over the issue of smoking on campus, with roughly 47 percent bothered by it and 53 percent in favor of allowing it.
The main issue is the location of smokers. While Parking Lot B is a smoke-free area, students have complained about smokers in the MART bus kiosk.
“People are waiting for the bus in the rain because they’re sick of the cloud of cancer in the bus stop,” said Kris Ambrozewicz, SGA member.
Another worry is the approach of smokers towards sheltered areas closer to the building. McDonald cited the childcare center as a special area of concern. Pushing smokers away from the childcare center and towards the Fitness Center would be an ideal goal, she said. One of the main points raised was the issue of how to enforce smoking rules. “People are going to smoke,
no matter what,” pointed out SGA member Julian Fox. Another SGA member, Kyle Carlson, noted, “People who do smoke [in non-smoking areas] see no threat.”
However, there is no feasible way to confront all violators. “We just can’t afford to discipline every student who smokes,” McDonald said.
The idea of a student-held position working with campus police to curb smoking offenses was discussed, but no plans were laid down.
The idea of a shelter for smokers remains a possibility as well, but a permanent structure would require special permission from the state of Massachusetts. It would also take up valuable space in the parking lot, which is often filled to its capacity.
Another obstacle is the matter of the structure itself. Suggestions of possible solutions to the creation of such a structure included requesting a donation from Montachusett Regional Vocational High School or having it built by SGA representative Scott Brown.
The issue was tabled until the next SGA meeting due to time constraints.
Comments are closed.