2
THE GUILFORDIAN
New campus-wide smoking ordinance
reflects changing health trends
Chris Ward
Perspectives Editor
Recently, Guilford put signs concerning
the new smoking ordinance on all tables in
the cafeteria. These signs state that there
now is a designated smoking section in the
dining hall, which is located on half of the
cafeteria's balcony. Although the signs do
not mention it, there has been a non-smok
ing as well as a smoking section in the dining
hall for some time.
Unfortunately, some students choose to
smoke in the non-smoking section, and the
cigarette smoke of those who do smoke in
the appropriate section is picked up by the
ventilation system and distributed through
out the cafeteria. Also, dining hall employ
ees sometimes smoke in the non-smoking
section even after a meal has begun. These
practices defeat the right of students to have
a smoke-free environment where they can
eat without disturbance.
There are many other areas on campus
uee\vl ©'??'
. . , fcvj MAtr
ir^\l
fTO PLACE AO ) yj~\ J /J s r fi C?J
UP - Q ✓"N IS II
_Jy l^f
HP!I *£?f ~W% lJslt/
(5 - M
vJ> :o- |//ll | [ZZZZZZZZZZ
—"IP
where those who do not smoke and do not
like breathing the smoke of others cannot
find refuge from this pollution. The Under
ground doesn't have non-smoking section
and the cigarette smoke there at times be
comes unbearable for some non-smokers to
tolerate.
The Recreation Room once had a no smok
ing sign posted in it, but this has long since
been removed for no apparent reason. For
non-smokers who enjoy playing video
games, table tennis, and pool in a clean
environment, the Recreation Room fre
quently has its doors open, allowing smoke
to enter the adjacent Student Health Service.
If there is a regulation concerning smoke
in the Recreation Room, the sign needs to be
replaced immediately. But if there is no
such rule, the creation of a smoke-free Rec
reation Room and Underground should be
considered by the Community Senate.
Although there are many places at Guil
ford where smoking is restricted or forbid
den, there are many places including
Perspectives
Sternberger Auditorium and the lounges of
many residence halls where no smoking regu
lations exist
In regard to this year's new rule forbidding
smoking in dormitory hallways, there have
been instances in at least one residence hall
where someone has smoked in the hallway
and therefore allowed smoke to enter a room.
This is an extreme violation to the privacy of
a person who cannot even escape someone's
cigarette smoke in his own room.
There are many solutions to the problem
of unwanted cigarette smoke at Guilford.
Either the person who is bothered by the
cigarette smoke can leave the area, or he can
ask the smoker to stop. Neither of these
solutions is completely acceptable, however.
Since over seventy percent of Americans
are non-smokers, t is time to recognize the
wishes of many people who silently tolerate
offending smoke and are unable to do any
thing about it There should be regulations
enacted at Guilford to curtail smoking in all
public areas on campus, including residence
halls.
Smoking, how
ever, will not and
should not be banned,
instead we should al
low those who choose
to smoke to do so in a
place where they will
not offend others.
When regulations that
respect the rights of the
non-smoking majority
are adopted, Guilford
College will be more
in touch with the needs
of its students.
Editor-in-Chief Bruce James
Assistant Editor-in-Chief Justin Cohen
Personnel Manager Cindy Briggs
News Editor Michael Tobkes
Features Editor Eric Dawson
Perspectives Editor Chris Ward
Sports Editor Butch Maier
Layout Editor Kady Judge
Special Sections Editor Jennifer Watts
Photo Editor Joan Malloch
Copy Editor Scott Genualdi
Business Manager Edward Pike
Advertising Manager David Putzel
Faculty Advisor Jeff Jeske
The Guilfordian is the student newspaper of Guilford College,
Greensboro, N.C. Submitted articles are welcome. Opinions
expressed in editorials and letters to the editor do not necessarily
reflect the views of the staff and editorial board. The editors
reserve the editorial license to The Guilfordian staff. Please
address all mail to: The Guilfordian, Box 17717, Greensboro,
NC 27410.
September 9, 1991
- New perspective
Campus-life
inviting to
new students
Andrew Horvat
Staff Writer
As a new student at Guilford, I was asked
to contribute a freshman's perspective on
life here. Having been on campus for just
twelve days, you may think that I have little
to write about. I can, however, write quite
knowlegeably, about how quickly I feel
that I have become a part of this commu
nity.
The buildings and their arrangement on
the park-like campus are welcoming. They
make one feel larger, simply because the
buildings themselves are human-sized. The
library is a prime example: comfortable,
well-lit, and inviting. The cafeteria, that
place of earthly delights, is relaxing.
The staff, faculty, and students have made
me feel very much at home. My parents
and I enjoyed talking to Bill Rogers after
the convocation, as he crossed from Dana
to New Garden Hall. My professors are
eager to teach and open to ideas. The
students here have made me feel quite
welcome and appreciated. Most have been
interested and inviting. The sophomores,
juniors and seniors have been helpful and
friendly. I feel as if I am a needed and
appreciated member of the community.
It is great to be here. I hope that other
first-year students are feeling as welcome
as I, and I hope to get off on the right foot
with the readers of The Guilfordian, be
cause writings in the future may not be as
"reader friendly" as this one. But I'll talk
about that later. Thank you for welcoming
me into this community!