With a Puff of Smoke

By RS

Student Opinion

 

     Day to day, anyone who frequents the campus at Northern Oklahoma College, can see the many clouds of smoke rising about twenty-five feet from any given entrance.

     These are the smokers of today, though their numbers are dwindling, they are there none-the-less.

     Gone are the days of “social smoking”. We now live in a health-conscious era, a time when McDonald’s serves salads and yogurt, a time of diet sodas and light beer, also a time of restriction.

     Smokers have unwillingly been restricted and blacklisted from public areas. When I look around the campus at NOC I see my fellow smokers complying with the restrictions and laws, and now I believe it is time for a commendation!

     As I said, day-to-day you can see any number of people enjoying a much awaited cigarette before or after class, but what happens when it rains or snows? Smokers have accepted that all smoking must be done outdoors, but are we honestly expected to be drenched or frozen while doing so?

     The days that we experience rain or snow, these poor people can be seen huddled in the masses under any awning available. This usually means an awning right next to a door, and sadly it warrants disgusted glares or exaggerated coughs as people pass going to or from class. Why should this be necessary?       

     This campus provides salt for icy sidewalks to prevent injury, and yet there have been no awnings or lean-tos installed over benches to provide shelter for those who wish to enjoy a cigarette?

     I find it unfathomable to think that Northern Oklahoma College could not afford something so incredibly simple for its students, staff and faculty.

     Some of you, particularly the non-smoking party may be saying to yourselves, “Go, smoke in your car.”, but I now want you to ask yourselves if you have time between every class to run, not walk, to whichever parking lot you happened to find a spot in and sit for ten minutes? It’s just not always possible now is it?

     The smokers of this campus pay fees and tuition like everyone else and forgive me if I am wrong, non-smokers do not particularly enjoy walking through a cloud of smoke.

     I believe that it would be better for everyone if some sort of lean-tos were installed in a few locations on campus.

     We do live in a time of health, but we also do, and always will live in a time of rights and choices. With a puff of smoke I say, smoke on NOC and hopefully this wrong will be righted!