Smokers can light up – for $25 a pop

by Sean Kim

Butts and more butts. Smoke and more smoke. The air thickens as smoke rises from the ends of butts. It has been almost two years since the smoking ban was implemented at Longview yet smoking still occurs. People can see students smoking on campus and their cars, and find butts of cigarettes on the sidewalks, sometimes even a whole box of cigarettes.

Just a few years ago, MCCKC-Longview had designated stations where smokers were allowed to smoke, mainly by entry ways of buildings, in front of the Liberal Arts, Science and Technology and the Campus Center. Many smokers chose to follow the rules of smoking in these designated areas, while others did not. Now smoking is banned from all parts of campus at MCC.

“If you want to smoke, it’ll be $25,” said Ben Dick, MCC police. He explained that the smoking ban is a district wide policy enforced by all MCC campuses.

“The first time will be a warning ticket, the second will be a $25 fine for each time,” said Dick.

When students are caught smoking even on the first offense, they will be given a warning ticket. If the same student is caughta second time, they will have to pay a $25 fee, and that is every time the student gets caught.

Zoe Wallace, a third-year student at MCC-Longview said she believes that students should be able to smoke on campus as long as they smoke in designated areas and don’t bother non-smokers.

“I understand that it gets to be an issue when they smoke near doors,” said Wallace.

Wallace believes that smokers shouldn’t smoke near doors and the campus shouldn’t have put designated smoking areas near doors before the ban was put in place. She think smokers should care and be aware of people around them before they smoke.

“I smoke in isolated areas and I pick up after myself and don’t bother others,” said Wallace.

Aaron Oliver, a third-year student at Longview, believes that the ban on smoking was a good change.

“The smoking ban was probably for the benefit for people who don’t smoke,” said Oliver. Oliver said the smoking ban is healthy for everyone.

“People can smoke somewhere else, it is not a big deal,” said Oliver.  He says it makes sense to have the campus be non-smoking because most people don’t smoke. He thinks that non-smokers shouldn’t be harmed due to second-hand smoke.

“It just makes sense,” said Oliver.