With more and more colleges in the area going smoke-free on their campuses, Guilford is tightening its reins on the current smoking policy, while looking to students for input about the future of Guilford’s smoking policy. The idea of non-smoking areas on Guilford’s campus seems almost imaginary based on the steady trail of cigarette butts. Guilford is one of the few colleges left in the Greensboro area that is not a completely smoke-free campus.

The Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition of Guilford County and partnering organizations have seen great strides taken to expand tobacco-free areas on college campuses.

“Not only have we expanded our reach into surrounding counties and campuses, but we have seen 100 percent tobacco-free policy announcements at Greensboro College and Guilford Technical Community College. They will soon join Guilford County’s first 100 percent tobacco-free college campus: Bennett College for Women, offering protection for non-smokers and incentive for tobacco users to quit,” according to a publication from the Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition of Guilford County’s Web site.

Students may have recently read about a more strongly enforced smoking policy here at Guilford on the Guilford Buzz and wondered about the next steps.

Mohammad Khalaf, health and wellness coordinator, wants to assure students that changes will not happen to the smoking policy without the voice of the community being heard about the subject.

“For Guilford we don’t want to go to that level (smoke-free campus) before having student input” said Khalaf.

The health and wellness section of Campus Life wants to encourage a lifetime of health and well being for the members of its community and strives to do so by enforcing designated smoking areas.

Khalaf explained, saying “no amount of second-hand smoke is safe.”

“I think that too much regulation on smoking, interferes with a person’s freedom, and personal choice,” said Emily Abbott, a sophomore and a smoker.

Non-smoking areas that seem to be hot spots for smokers include the fronts of dorms and academic buildings. In the past, RA’s and hall directors have enforced the smoking policy, stopping students in these areas and writing them up as they would for any other violation.

“Last year we would give people cards with a pledge as a warning. On the back of these pledge cards we provided information about quitting,” said Khalaf.

Students are invited by the Health and Wellness section of Campus life to join in a forum on Wednesday, Nov. 5, in Boren Lounge to discuss the results of last year’s tobacco survey as well as the current smoking policy and how it may change in the future. Look out for more information about the time of this meeting in the Guilford Buzz and around campus.