Snuffing out smoking

A campus-based health care group is trying to make Cal State Long Beach the state's first smoke-free public university.

"We want to be the one who takes the big step for other schools to follow," said Natalie Whitehouse, project coordinator of the tobacco control program for the Center for Health Care Innovation that focuses on heath care issues, grant projects and education.

The group's action plan is to enlist student, faculty and administrative support for an expansion of outdoor smoking restrictions on campus.

Whitehouse and the center's tobacco control project director, Stafford Cox, are hoping to secure interest in a committee that would meet this summer to develop a sensitive approach in creating a campus-wide smoking policy.

While admitting their goal of a smoke-free campus is some time away, the group is now focusing on restricting the habit near building entrances and outdoor eating areas and creating a smoke-free walkway that would run from the International Food Court, which is located next to The Nugget, to the library and continue to Brotman Hall.

Whitehouse said the group wants to increase the visibility of non-smoking signage in these areas to motivate voluntary compliance.

"We're looking at five years to get things done around here, but we want to start the conversation and see if students are interested," Cox said.

Cox is sensitive to the rights of campus smokers and doesn't want to impose a restrictive campus smoking policy without enlisting their support.

"In fairness to the smokers, they should have a right to smoke somewhere," Cox said. "You're talking about restricting someone's right to do something -- something that's legal."

The group has conducted surveys showing that a majority of smokers are actually in favor of a smoke-free campus.

"I think it's right," said Calvin Do, an administration staffer in Brotman Hall. "I'm thinking about quitting. It will keep people from smoking and will give them a chance to think about their health."

Cox and Stafford claimed to have the support of CSULB President Robert Maxson, although Maxson has expressed reservations about their goals.

"You have to be conscious of everyone's rights," Maxson said. "We've tried to follow state laws. We think that by doing that we're protecting the rights of everyone. For us to go beyond that, we have to worry about infringing upon others."

Danielle Roupoli, a senior majoring in public relations, said:  "I think it's a waste of time. If people want to smoke outside they should be able to."

Cox and Whitehouse delivered a presentation to the A.S. Senate, but did not receive full support. Some senators supported the idea of a smoke-free campus but were unsure about compliance and enforcement, while others believed it would trample on the rights of smokers.

"Way too many people on campus who smoke will be affected by this," said Sen. Erica Macintosh, College of the Arts. "I think it's going to be very hard to enforce."

"Smoke comes in the classrooms," said Sen.-at-large Aaron Moore. "I'm in there and I'm gagging. It's a violation of my rights. I don't want to breathe smoke."

"I don't think smokers are going to want to hear about it," said Sen. Jonas English, College of Engineering. "If people want to smoke they should be allowed to smoke in certain areas. To tell them they can't smoke at all is wrong."

Cox and Whitehouse want to eventually create a tobacco-free campus that would also ban pipes, cigars and smokeless tobacco, prevent the sale of cigarettes in the Forty-Niner Shops and ban tobacco advertisements on campus.

"We don't want the tobacco companies coming on our campus and trying to push their products," Whitehouse said.

Cox and Whitehouse are also members of Smoke Free California, a coalition of Long Beach groups working toward smoke-free schools and parks. If they are successful in creating the first smoke-free university in California, Cox and Whitehouse will be keeping within the city's reputation as a forerunner in the anti-smoking crusade.

"Anyone doing anything in tobacco prevention looks to the city of Long Beach," Whitehouse said. "They're the ones who have made the most strides in creating innovative programs."