The Buzz

The pros and cons of the ‘missing’ kiosks in the Main Mall

By Kelsi McKenzie

With the recent disappearance of the smoking kiosks in the Main Mall, students and staff are feeling discriminated against, according to Sean Tolan, Rho Theta public relations officer and vice president of the fellowship.

The two smoking kiosks in the Main Mall, as well as a couple from the spine of the academic center, went missing last week.

Administrators have given conflicting explanations for the reason for the removal of the kiosks as well as the intention to replace them (see story, page 1).

“It’s a nuisance issue and a political issue,” Tolan said. “The college does not want to give off a negative health message.”

According to Tolan, there is no scientific study that smoking affects public health if the smokers are outside and 30 feet away from a building.

There have been several rumors spreading through campus about the kiosks, or the lack thereof, including but not limited to: MHCC is going to be a smoke-free campus by May 9; the kiosks have been temporarily removed to allow for Rites of Spring events that require a smoke-free Main Mall; the kiosks are damaged and are being repaired but will return; the administration wants the kiosks to be more aesthetically pleasing so the students in the Visual Arts gallery will be decorating them, and that removal of the kiosks was due to a number of complaints by non-smokers that their right to clean air is being infringed upon.

Another issue on the minds of students is that the student body was not given a chance to vote on the choice to have a smoke-free campus or a smoke-free Main Mall.

“I think that we should have a say in things like this,” non-smoking student Nakita Ragsdale said. “I would rather have a place for smokers than having them walking around.”

Smokers and non-smokers alike feel there should be a place for smokers to go. According to student smoker Amy Vogel, smokers should be allowed to smoke, not everywhere they want, per se, but there should be a space.

According to Tolan, students in the PE and cosmetology areas are coming late to classes because they have to walk down to the kiosk in the Visual Arts gallery or the kiosk between the 1300s and 1400s block.

Tolan said there is a large population of smokers feeling marginalized or punished. He said “we all agree” that non-smokers should not have to be in a small space breathing the smoke, but added that it dissipates outdoors.
“It is just a nuisance and there needs to be a compromise, and that is not the way the trend is going,” Tolan said.

The inconvenience to non-smokers who must walk wide around the kiosks is not as great as it is for smokers who must walk to the other end of campus and be late to class, according to Tolan.

“There are some staff and faculty that are wondering if we are losing the right to smoke,” Tolan said. “It’s a tough issue but we need to protect what rights we have left.”

Tolan said he will be starting a petition soon to keep the kiosks that smokers still have, that it’s not a legal issue as long as they are 30 feet away from a building. He said the policies are excessive and discriminatory.

Until the smoke of the many rumors on campus lifts, smokers will have to keep out of the Main Mall and await an official administrative decision.