COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS : Committee to Study Smoking Ban

A move to ban smoking from College of the Canyons’ cafeteria is gaining momentum, despite some concerns that students who smoke might not be fairly accommodated.

The college’s Associated Students Senate has formed a committee to investigate alternatives for smokers if smoking is eliminated from the cafeteria. The committee was formed after the student government recommended a smoke-free cafeteria last month to the Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees.

Trustees will take no action until the committee completes a report on the alternatives.

Currently, the cafeteria provides a smoking area for about 50 students (about one-sixth of the students who eat there), College of the Canyons officials said.

The cafeteria setup “is not fair because the smokers get all the atmosphere and the nonsmokers just get a place to sit,” said Janice Sue Norris, the Associated Students vice president who brought the idea of a smoking ban before the senate.

Norris, a former smoker, also is heading the six-member students committee made up of three smokers and three nonsmokers. Although her committee will poll 60 smoking and 60 nonsmoking students, Norris already believes there are limits on what can be done to accommodate smokers.

“Some smokers want a cafeteria for smokers,” she said. “Financially, there’s no way that can be done. It is not possible to partition or make another room in our cafeteria because it is a multipurpose room” and that would violate the building code, she added.

If a smoking ban is enacted, the only option Norris sees is to permit smokers to eat on the cafeteria patio. Currently, the patio is not equipped with enough tables for smokers, nor is it enclosed to protect them from the elements, she said.

Sue Bozman, the college’s public information officer, said the patio also would have to be equipped with outside lighting.

“About one-third of our students are here at night. If people wanted to eat and they had to smoke outside, they’d be eating in the dark.”

Cal Allsup, campus facilities director, said this year’s budget cannot accommodate the patio being converted to accommodate smokers. He estimated it could cost as much as $30,000 just to add a roof to the patio, not counting the cost of tables, electrical outlets and lighting.

“It’s a pretty hefty price tag,” Allsup said.

Student trustee Michael Daly, a nonsmoker, said he is concerned that a smoking ban would not leave enough alternatives for smokers.

“The cafeteria is the only place on campus that serves food. There’s not a lot of options around there,” he said. “I feel that smokers should be accommodated. And before we stop smoking in the cafeteria, adequate places should be provided for them to smoke.”

Everyone agrees on at least one thing: It will take time for the committee to complete its report.