New smoking policy changes NMC campus

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Michael Moore, of South Boardman, smokes a cigarette as he walks from the campus of Northwestern Michigan College toward his car. Record-Eagle/Keith King
A sign thanking people for complying with Northwestern Michigan College's tobacco-free policy is displayed on the NMC campus. Record-Eagle/Keith King

October 4, 2010

BY SHERI McWHIRTER smcwhirter@record-eagle.com The Record Eagle Mon Oct 04, 2010, 07:14 AM EDT

TRAVERSE CITY — Erin Fonville stood in a cul-de-sac at the end of Apache Pass and puffed on a cigarette, just a few feet from Northwestern Michigan College's main campus.

Fonville, 20, lives on campus and sometimes smokes between classes, but doesn't always have time to go to her car to do so. The college began a tobacco-free policy this semester, leaving smoking students to go to their vehicles, find a city sidewalk or duck into the nearby neighborhood for a few puffs.

Not all the neighbors are happy about the trend and some have complained to the college.

"We're not real appreciative of it," said Jennifer Dykstra, who lives on Apache Pass. "I've had to close my windows to my house because the smoke has come in."

It's not uncommon for a dozen student smokers to congregate at the end of Dykstra's street and some walk up and down the road, she said.

"What they are doing is not illegal. It's not illegal to smoke on the street," Dykstra said. "It's just a nice neighborhood and we're not thrilled to have a bunch of people smoking at the end of the street."

The cul-de-sac on Apache Pass is littered with cigarette butts, but Fonville said she takes hers to a nearby garbage can on campus. The new campus policy makes her feel a bit alienated, she said.

"I understand the reasoning behind it, but it could have been executed better," Fonville said.

Fonville would have preferred a designated smoking area away from all building doors and campus pathways, she said.

Others praise the tobacco-free policy.

"I love it. I like that you can walk out a door and not go through a cloud of smoke," said nursing student Charlie Hubbell, 34, of Traverse City. "Even if I did smoke, I don't think I would do it right there and make people walk through it."

Fellow nursing student Mary Vasquez, 45, of Elk Rapids, agrees.

"I can't stand the smell of cigarette smoke and don't like walking down the sidewalk with my coffee and having to hold my breath because of the smoke," Vasquez said.

College computer technician Hema Daya said she's bothered by tobacco smoke and is grateful for the new campus policy.

"As a non-smoker, I thought it was great, but I can see where the smokers are coming from," Daya said.

Student Julia Carpenter is a smoker and said she doesn't mind the new tobacco-free policy, but thinks it infringes on smokers' rights.

"I can understand not smoking near building entrances, but there are lots of places on campus where they could designate a smoking area," Carpenter said.

College officials discussed that when creating the policy but opted against designated smoking spots, NMC spokesman Paul Heaton said.

"It's already been considered and it's not going to be a possibility," Heaton said.

The college does offer free nicotine gum and lozenges to help students get past their cravings, but the policy was created to promote a healthy culture and environment for learning, Heaton said.

"We recognize it's a change and a challenge for some," he said.

Other campus neighbors don't mind the students ducking into their neighborhood, so long as they don't cause trouble.

"They've got to go someplace. So long as they're not boisterous, it won't bother me," said Bethany Steffey, who lives on the cul-de-sac.

The policy is currently under a "soft implementation," but student and employee disciplinary actions will begin in January for those caught smoking on campus, Heaton said.