See the Special Video Report by Felipe Oliveira

GROSSMONT COLLEGE, Sept. 9 — It took several years for Grossmont College to ban smoking, according to Dean of Student Affairs Agustin Albarran.  In 2004 and 2005, a student named Rick Walker headed a campaign calling for it; and in 2006 student Sarah Moore helped bring the policy into reality.

In the first year of an experiment authorized by the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, Grossmont College restricted smoking to certain areas of the campus.   Thereafter, a full ban went into effect, requiring students who wanted to smoke to go off campus.

Predictably, there is a division of opinion today among smokers and non-smokers over the efficacy of the policy.  In interviews non-smokers Chuck Reid said he’s glad that as a result of the policy he doesn’t “have to smell fould disgusting cigarette smoke,” and Melissa Milstead said she’s pleased she doesn’t “have to breathe others’ nastiness.”

Smoker Joshua Jensma, on the other hand, said the policy was unnecessary.  He said that two reasons are often cited for it: to protect people against second-hand smoke and to guard against littering.

However, he added, littering is already against the law and subject to a fine.   Second-hand smoke, he added, could be avoided simply by avoiding areas on campus that were designated as smoking areas.
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Preceding summarizes video report by Felipe Oliveira, a student in Media Comm 132, which produces the GC Summit