the Informer

Alexandria Hubbard

Anyone who has spent time outside the Mortensen Library has seen the steps and grass littered with cigarette butts, a problem a group on campus is now trying to combat with a no-smoking proposal.

The group, composed of students, faculty and staff, is proposing that the area outside of Harry Jack Gray be a smoke-free zone for a trial period next year.

While there are many people in support of this initiative, there are still risks of unhappiness involved. Take away a smoker’s cigarette, and there are sure to be some unhappy campers.

“Clearly any change of this nature cannot be unilaterally imposed,” said Jane Horvath, senior adviser to the president and member of the group.

It is likely support for this cause could be split down the middle, and students are sure to have suggestions for alternatives.
Senior Calum Rennie stated, “To a certain degree, smokers are kind of bastardized, the bigger problem is just there’s no ashtrays, and nowhere to throw the cigarettes away.”

Because of the sensitivity towards the subject, this Thursday, April 29, the group will be holding a “Community Conversation” in the Mortensen Library from 4:15 to 6 p.m. Anyone on campus is encouraged to come to voice their opinion on the subject and learn more about the proposal.

Through this gathering, the group is aiming to answer questions like the amount of support for the idea, and how to go about implementing such a change.

“As the idea initiated with students, and as faculty and staff have been discussing the need to do something to improve the area, we thought it important that we discuss the proposal as a community,” said Horvath.

The proposal came about during discussions of the Values Committee, an organization on campus whose goal is to come up with ways to strengthen a shared sense of community across the university.

One thing that teachers and students alike have expressed as needing improvement is gathering spaces. While the library is frequented by many students, the Values Committee feels it would be beneficial to the community if it could further be enjoyed by everyone.

Victoria Lamagna, a Student Government Association representative of the group, said, “The smoking outside the library has become an issue for many students and it also ruins the atmosphere with all of the cigarette butts all over the ground.”
The group sees many positives in implementing this change, including that there would be more outdoor seating during desirable weather for students and others using the library. It comes as no surprise that there have been complaints about the area as one frequently has to walk through a cloud of smoke to enter the library, or be wary of the excess ash covering the steps if looking for a place to sit.

“The proposal, if accepted by the community of students living on campus, would allow them to enjoy themselves outside the library, after hours of studying, in a clean environment,” said Lamagna.

The Values Committee has already started executing projects to improve gathering spaces around campus by holding campus clean ups, campus plantings, as well as having students work with facilities in the placement of benches around campus.

In order to hear the opinions of members of the university and to further implement the initiative to improve the campus’ overall appeal, Lamagna and her team are urging everyone to attend this Thursday’s Community Conversation forum.
For more information visit the event’s Facebook page titled “A Community Conversation.”