By Diana De Jesus –
During three-hour classes, I like to use my 15-minute break to stretch my legs – and my lungs. The leg part is simple; I walk out to the front of any building I am in. But this is where my lungs are often robbed of breathing fresh air, and I have to hold my breath through a wall of cigarette smoke until I am on the grass closer to Hepburn Hall or as far as possible from the entrance to the Starbucks, the walkway towards GSUB and all other areas that smokers gather to light up.
I feel like a loner on my breaks; I am not a smoker. My habits consist of “selfies,” pumpkin coffee, overestimating the amount of time I have available for any given project, and the occasional purchase of a new shade of lipstick.
I’m not interested in being one of the 3,400 people that die every year from lung cancer, or the 46,000 people that die from heart disease (caused by secondhand smoke).
Health insurance is a big deal on campus and in the country these days, but why aren’t we taking steps to prevent more illnesses, such as those related to second-hand smoke? Although healthier snacks are now offered in our vending machines, there are still no designated smoking areas on campus.
I shouldn’t be subjected to inhaling cyanide, benzene, formaldehyde, methanol, acetylene or ammonia when I step out to enjoy a few minutes of the Indian summer we’ve been experiencing this semester.
There is a simple monetary solution for this air quality issue. A designated smoking area on the far right side of each building can be created; all we need is a plaque that reads “Smoking Section.” Can the campus officials agree to order plaques that’ll encourage smokers to gather in one section per building? It’s genius, right? That way, those who hang out in the smoking section are choosing the side effects of second-hand smoke.
I’m not concerned with the damage you are doing to yourself, smoke a pack on your break if you’d like, but please – be considerate to rest of us. We’re already struggling with the pollution we’re subjected to by attending NJCU, which is right off of Route 440.
Cigarette smoke stinks to a non-smoker. It’s like farting in public and I wouldn’t do that to you.