 |
|
|||||||
|
||||||||
|
|
MHCC to give out cold-turkey sandwiches at Great American Smoke-out Day
MHCC will join the Great American Smoke-Out Day Thursday in an effort to encourage smokers to quit smoking before the campus becomes tobacco-free on Jan. 2.
Activities will include free workshops in the Town and Gown Room at 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. There will be tables in the College Center, Health and Wellness Center, Library lobby, and Vista Dining Center where people can turn in tobacco products, pledge to quit and receive a coupon for a free cold turkey sandwich and an “I Quit-Survival Kit.”
A drawing will be held for gift certificates to Fred Meyer and winners of a slogan contest will be presented with gift certificates to the MHCC Bookstore.
June Jacobs, assistant to the president for strategic initiatives and board relations, said the slogan contest was created to get more of the college community involved and aware of the tobacco-free policy. The contest encouraged people to send ideas for the slogan via email to the tobacco-free task force and, if chosen, it will be used “not only through the end of the year but after the College becomes tobacco-free,” she said.
Another way the task force is getting the word out about the upcoming policy is through signage. There is a sign above the College Center by the Vista Dining Center and one outside the Student Services office. Jacobs is aware of the lack of signage. “Printing of the signs was unfortunately delayed but (they) are now completed and being picked up today. Facilities will be posting signs and sandwich boards immediately, ” she said Monday.
An informal tour of the campus on Thursday discovered that in addition to the two previously mentioned, there was one found outside the College Center entrance, a small one posted on the job board of the Career Counseling Center, and three posters advertising the Great American Smoke-out.
As for obeying the policy once it is implemented, Judy Riegelhuth, medical transcriptionist student, said, “I will honor the policy on campus, but after I’m done with six hours of school and hit my car, I’m smoking.”
Wayne Feagle, Public Safety supervisor, said that according to other campuses, such as Portland Community College, there hasn’t been an issue with the transition from partial tobacco restriction to tobacco-free campuses. He said, “We shouldn’t have a problem.”
As for enforcing the policy, Feagle said, “We have adequate manpower. Smoking will of course be a lower priority so we want to enforce it while prioritizing other calls.” He also advised that public safety officers already enforce the current policy so the new policy will not burden his office with any additional workload.
The policy published on the MHCC web states that smoking is prohibited in any vehicle parked on campus property and Riegelhuth said, ““Smokers rights have been cut.” She said that using secondhand smoke as a reason for implementing the ban on tobacco products is a “cop out.”
Chris Dobson, instructional administrative assistant, said she sympathizes with smokers and is “concerned that people who do use the products will have no where to go.” Asked how she feels about smokers prohibited from tobacco use in their vehicles, she said, “Are they prohibited from smoking in cars too?”
The decision to go tobacco-free was unanimously approved in May. Board member Ralph Yates had said it was long overdue, according to meeting minutes published online. The original request was for the campus to go smoke-free when a student with health issues approached the board, according to Chrissy Bloome, nursing instructor.
Not everyone entirely agrees with Riegelhuth. “I like it (the new policy),” said Tony Heiner, general education and outdoor major. He smoked for 25 years and quit because he discovered how “stinky” cigarettes are and now he is happy that he doesn’t have to breath them as a non-smoker. But Heiner said people should be allowed to use the products in their vehicles as long as they contain the tobacco products inside.
Riegelhuth suggested a compromise: Move designated smoking areas to places where people don’t regularly walk. “Why don’t they just put a smoking kiosk at the ends of the campus rather than right in the middle of everything?” she said.
According to Jacobs, the chair of the tobacco-free implementation committee, the policy is not being put in place for the sole purpose of preventing second-hand-smoke but is an initiative to promote a “healthier and safer environment for all employees, students and visitors at all college locations.
The Advocate reserves the right to not publish comments based on their appropriateness.