About 25 students from the Scottsdale Community College chapter of Students for Liberty, a national nonprofit group, handed out cartons of cigarettes on their campus Wednesday to protest a ban on tobacco that will be instituted this summer.
Maricopa Community Colleges approved the ban for all 10 of its campuses to be implemented on July 1 as part of their new Breathe Easy Arizona campaign.
SCC biology sophomore Kody Holmes, president of the SCC chapter of Students for Liberty, led the protest.
“Our primary objective is to advocate free choice for students and bring attention to the injustice of the smoking ban,” said Holmes.
During the protest, members handed out free items such as apples, doughnuts and anti-smoking pamphlets in addition to the cigarettes.
Political science senior Kjirstin Brewer has never used tobacco, but helped distribute cigarettes alongside fellow club members.
“We aren’t here to bolster the actual smoking of cigarettes, but to resist those who are intent on controlling our lifestyle choices,” Brewer said. “We as students and as taxpayers should have the right to choose.”
When the ban goes into effect, the campus’s public safety officers will enforce the it by issuing warnings followed by $10 fines to those smoking on school property.
Repeat offenders of the ban could face suspension or even expulsion.
SCC students who frequently use tobacco, like nutrition freshman and army veteran Anthony Bissaco, were disturbed to hear about the ban.
“I think it is ridiculous that I can smoke cigarettes while deployed overseas fighting for my country, but now that I am home, they want to take that right away from me,” he said.
Non-smoker Robert Daniels, a construction management freshman, said a smoke-free campus is the healthy choice.
“Many times when I walk by people using tobacco, the smoke agitates me,” Daniels said. “As an athlete for this school, I can appreciate they are trying to clear the air around here.”
Maricopa Community Colleges Chancellor Rufus Glasper, the campaign’s spokesman, acknowledged the ban would negatively affect some faculty and students.
“We recognize that making properties smoke free and tobacco free will mean that some employees and students will have to change their habits, and we want to help them do so,” Glasper said.
Reach the reporter at mjgordo1@asu.edu
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