One need only take a stroll around Guilford’s campus to see that smoking is a noteworthy characteristic of student culture. The evidence can be seen all around campus. Anyone who has guided their way through a maze of smokers indulging in a quick cigarette break before class or walked through the quad of Bryan Hall can attest to this fact.

It seems that the culture of smoking has become so ingrained that even the 2008

Princeton Review’s “Guide to the 368 Best Colleges” grouped Guilford’s student body into the category titled “almost everyone smokes.”

Over the past several years, the administration has attempted to reduce the amount of student smokers by limiting the number of locations where students are permitted to smoke.

Guilford has also administered surveys about student’s opinions on the subject of tobacco use.

In a 2008 campus survey, to which over 730 students and faculty responded, 60 percent were “somewhat bothered or very bothered” by tobacco use, and 55 percent “would like to see campus tobacco policies made more restrictive in some way.” Traditional students comprised 57 percent of the respondents for this particular survey.

Yet, with the lingering hubs of students that can be regularly observed around campus smoking and chatting with friends, it is apparent that enforcement of the existing policy is lacking.

The smoking policy on the college Web site states that smoking is prohibited around or inside of all campus buildings, as well as in the interior of campus. Consequently, there are only nine designated locations where students are able to smoke, all of which are in specific areas outside of the residence halls.

However, even with the increase in smoking restrictions, the administration is now considering converting Guilford College into a tobacco-free campus.

Thus, the smoking of cigarettes, cigars, or other tobacco-related products would be banned in their entirety.

“We’re looking at what has been the precedent of other schools,” said Aaron Fetrow, dean of students.

Four other major college campuses, within Guilford County alone, have already made the transition to a tobacco-free campus, not to mention a total of 26 other colleges and universities in North Carolina.

Because there are both smokers and non-smokers alike among Guilford students, the potential ban on all tobacco use is triggering a multitude of reactions.

“I don’t think its other people’s job to tell students what is good from them or not,” said sophomore Max Van Pelt-Diller. “For Guilford to forbid students to do something that is within their legal rights is unequal. They can do it, but why would they? The consequences would be inappropriate.”

“Smoking is part of the college culture in general, not just for Guilford,” said junior Megan Fair. “Smoking on campus doesn’t bother me, but, as a tour guide, it can sometimes be troublesome.”

The lack of enforcement for the current smoking policy is another issue that must be taken into account. If the existing policy has yet to prove effective, then with what degree of certainty can an all campus ban be implemented?

“It’s the school’s values versus student rights,” said sophomore Maggie Martin. “If a smoking ban was passed, then Guilford should have a funded program to help students stop smoking.”

Whatever one’s opinion about this controversial topic, it is essential that this issue be viewed as a discussion, not a dispute.

“In true Guilford fashion, we’re still talking,” said Fetrow. “This proposal is a process that will involve faculty, staff, and student input.