Binghamton University Community Analysis

I step out of the Lecture Halls and I take a deep breath in – classes are done for the day and I feel free as a bird. Oh wait, I think to myself. I cannot take that deep breath in because there are four smokers crowding the exits of the building. I tell myself, wait a few more seconds and you can take that deep sigh of relief. I continue the walk back to my building through Binghamton University’s beautifully maintained campus. I begin to take a deep breath but then I hold it in because I see another group of two friends smoking. I just can’t get in that uncontaminated air that I am looking for. Again, I tell myself that in just a few more moments I can get what I am looking for – something so simple and presumably so available to everyone. On my walk back, there are smokers lining the sidewalks of my “beautiful,” “wholesome,” and “clean” campus. Finally, I am back inside a …show more content…
Starting on our campus may be the first steps to a greater movement. Perhaps we can start by enforcing the rules of no smoking within 25 feet of a building by having student advocates against smoking sitting by the buildings, or getting the Residential Advisors involved. Even though there is a rule, it is contradicted by the fact that smoking poles and ashtrays are about five feet from buildings, such as the library. Also, a policy can be implemented stating the one place where it is okay to smoke on campus. For example, the smoking area can be somewhere in between residential halls and the learning centers, so it is a hassle for students to actually be able to smoke. This hopefully encourages the student to stop their bad habit, because of the annoyance of actually getting to the permitted area. This way, if someone who is addicted feels the need to smoke he or she will have to make the journey there – an unappealing aspect, especially when it is below zero