A Walk to Subway
How does the University of Illinois enforce their “no smoking” policy? As of Jan 1, 2014 smoking has been prohibited at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Once a college or university establishes themselves as a smoke free campus it is from that point forward acknowledged by many people, especially those who hinder the act of smoking, as a cleaner, safer, and healthier learning environment to accompany its students, faculty and guests. To this day, it has been eight months since this restriction of smoking on campus was authorized at the University of Illinois, however I am positive that smoking is still very popular on campus. A week ago I saw three women “puffing away” right outside The Chapel of St. John the Divine and just the other day I saw a few University of Illinois staff members carelessly smoking right next to Florida Avenue Residence Hall. Keep in mind, these are supposed to be the ones setting the example for the students. Many colleges and universities have already established their campuses as smoke free and many are in the process of doing so. I wonder if the University of Illinois is honestly against smoking on their campus or if they have integrated this policy on the university to follow a popular trend, or to make the University seem more prestigious. Obviously they don’t seem to be enforcing this new policy.
Tuesday evening as I am making my way to rugby practice an unpleasant stench smacks me in the face as I turn a corner. This stench filled my lungs with smoke. I immediately stepped back and began to “cough my heart out.” I have always dreaded the stingy smell of a cigarette as well as every other characteristic that goes along with it. Always. Once I regained my composure, I held my breath, fastened my pace and sped passed the smoke just as a child would do when someone farts near them. Anyhow, as I am turning the corner I see two university staff members casually posted against the wall smoking a square. Surprisingly as I passed by the two staff members, they seemed more startled at the fact that I saw them smoking than I had been by the smoke in my face. They had that “deer in the headlights” look. I just held my breath and kept moving. All I heard as I passed by was “my bad son.” However once I reached the end of the block I took a quick glance back and I noticed that they were no longer there. Gone in a flash. I didn’t think much of this situation until later on that night.
I was walking with a friend to grab dinner at subway and on the way I saw a couple “Smoke-free campus” signs. This puzzled me because earlier I saw two staff members casually smoking out in the open. Then I realized, as soon as the two were aware that I saw them smoking their whole demeanor changed. The staff members obviously knew the rules against smoking on campus but judging by the location they chose to smoke, they weren’t trying to hide anything.
These particular staff members knew the rules, but I had no idea about them. The no smoking on campus grounds policy was established just a couple months earlier. Being a freshman had little to do with me not knowing about this policy. I just don’t think the university makes it known well enough that this campus is a smoke free campus.
It was 10:30 on a Wednesday morning and I had class starting at 11. I had plenty of time before class started so I get off the bus a stop early to trek the rest of the way. As I get off the bus I see three grey-haired women smoking outside The Chapel of St. John the Divine. For one, these women were too old to be considering smoking. Two, unlike the two men I saw smoking earlier, these women were in the center of campus. In contrast with the two men, these women had no reaction when they noticed me. None. No change in facial expression or movement. Could that be because I’m just a student or does no one honestly respect this policy?
Their reactions made me wonder what would actually happen if the university caught them smoking, would they have done anything more than simply take away the cigarette. I have a few friends that have told me that they have smoked on campus and I have a few friends who said they saw their RA’s or other faculty smoking as well. How can the university expect its students to follow rules if those who are supposed to be “setting the example” aren’t even following them? Does the University actually enforce the no smoking policy? What are the consequences? Is it just a cover up? A cover up to make the university appear as if they bother to actually provide a clean, healthy, and safe environment for the students and faculty to live and work in when they could care less.