Smoking on campus

Smokers….get your butts in gear!
What’s with smokers anyway? Why is it that many of them seem to think that it is perfectly OK to toss their butts any where they please, flower beds, sidewalks, etc. even though this campus has attempted to be “smoker friendly” by building smoking shelters and special ash trays on the sides of several buildings. I just cannot relate to this “the world is my ashtray” attitude. Even the area around our newest building is already littered with butts.
Today I went over to a special dogwood tree that was planted in the memory of my friend Mary Crouse, a long time SFCC employee who died of brain cancer three years ago today. I went there to reflect on her and her legacy. Instead, I spent most of my time picking up all the butts that had been thrown at her memorial. Disgusting! I fancy placing a sign there, “this is a memorial not an ash tray.” But why do I need to do that, isn’t it obvious as one can’t miss the engraved stone at the base of the tree?
We are told, “with rights come responsibilities.” If smokers cannot accept the responsibility of discarding their butts in the appropriate receptacles I say they don’t have the Right to smoke on campus.
Let’s hear it for a smoke free campus!

Beverly Schoen
SFCC Counselor

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