Correction – An earlier version of this story had several factual errors. The following corrections have been made. The Viking identified who approved the rollout. The date of the rollout was corrected. The consequences and fine costs were specified. The role of enforcement was specified. The body of government was specified as well.
LBCC will post signage and start communications in the following weeks of March for an already set policy that makes PCC and LAC smoke-free.
So far, plans include passing out flyers, posting signage, even making little cards for when the police department starts issuing warnings to give to students to let them know of resources available.
Marlene Drinkwine, the vice president of business services clarified how the ban will be enforced.
“We wanted to convene a group of stakeholders to best implement the ban, recognizing that for many of our staff, student and faculty it will be a challenge,” Drinkwine said.
“By the time we get to March or mid March you will start to see signage go up you’ll be seeing communications coming out in a lot of different ways, and then once we have that information out there, we will be working with the Long Beach PD so that there will be a gradual implementation prior to things like citations which they would do normally.”
By May, if a police officer sees anyone smoking on campus, there will be first warnings.
Drinkwine explains that the goal of the police department is to not fine any student, but to help students respect the policy of the school.
One of the tasks for the smoking ban committee will also be working to change the standard student code of conduct to soon show the updated ban.
The committee is working closely with ASB as well as the Veterans group to communicate with students about current workshops for smoking cessation.
Fifonsi Jenkins, majoring in Organic Chemistry, feels she will be really affected, “I have been smoking for a long time, which I’m trying to quit but its hard, but if they do it that’s the best reason for me to quit it will just stress me out a lot more,” Jenkins said.
So far there have been workshops at both PCC and LAC in an effort to support students to quit smoking.
Fabiola Rojas a student at LBCC, “I think people who do smoke need an area to do that, but this area (smoking area by building D) is too central, especially since it’s in your way when your approaching the cafeteria, you never know if pregnant women are gonna cross,” Rojas said.
Upcoming workshops for smoking cessation are March 19 and March 20.