> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # SMC says no to butts - URL: https://www.smdp.com/smc-says-no-to-butts/ - Published: 2007-04-12T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T00:32:55.000Z - Author: Guest Author - Tags: Education, Santa Monica, #archive-import *SMC students choose a smoke-free campus* *By IRENE MANAHAN Special to the Daily Press* SANTA MONICA COLLEGE When the smoke from last week’s student government election finally clears on campus, it may clear for good. Before heading out for spring break, Santa Monica College students overwhelmingly approved a smoking ban for their school grounds in balloting that wrapped up last week. Along with standard officer positions, the 2007 ballot also included the additional question: “Should SMC be a smoke-free campus?” Close to 63 percent of the more than 2,200 voters said “yes.” The Associated Students, or student government of SMC, proposed placing the item on the ballot in an effort to gauge student support for a ban. They provided a four-day voting frame from April 2 to April 5 for students to cast their votes, either online or in person. “\[The approval\] simply reflects the majority of students who oppose its appearance and presence, the disturbance of its smell and its way of affecting or damaging a lot of people’s health,” said SMC student Barbara Navaro, a non-smoker. While the students have spoken, they cannot simply will the ban on smoking into effect. That role still lies with the SMC Board of Trustees, which is expected to make its final determination in the near future. “It doesn’t happen very often that the students vote on something like this,” said Lisa Rose, a spokesperson for SMC President Dr. Chui Tsang. “The measure still needs to come before the board.” At present, students cannot smoke within 25 feet of any building, open window or entrance on its campuses, leaving many smokers and non-smokers alike wary of the ban. “I don’t smoke, but I don’t like that our rights are being stripped away,” said Matthew Haggard, an SMC student.“Martin Luther King would not be proud.” Many worry about their health, as well as the health of others affected by the smoke. “Since it has been proven in many studies that smoking shortens your life with every cigarette, it should be every man’s own decision to do so,” said student Josephine Frej, a non-smoker. “Secondhand smoke is as toxic and dangerous as firsthand smoke, and the only way to give people the chance to decide for themselves, is by having a smoke-free campus.” Even with the 25-feet rule enforced, students are still affected. Smokers often go beyond designated smoking areas, students in favor of the ban contend. “I voted ‘yes’ to ban smoking from the campus,” Frej said. “I considered voting ‘no,’ and hope for some marked areas where smokers could still smoke, but since the smokers in general don’t respect the rules we have now, I figured they probably would not respect the new rules either.” Student and smoker Kathryn Ernst understands the problems her colleagues face. “I respect the people who do not smoke, and I would be more than happy to smoke off campus,” said Ernst. “The smokers who don’t care about that are being very selfish. Smoking is not healthy and we all know that. “We have no right to give others secondhand smoke.” Fellow student David Fockens agrees that the current measures are not enough. “I ended up voting ‘yes’ on the measure,” said Fockens. “Even though I had reservations, I thought about how every day I go to SMC, I do end up inhaling smoke at least once. I don’t really have a problem with people smoking without affecting others, but when they do it in public with lots of people around, they’re basically saying that they don’t care about the people around them.” If approved by the board, SMC will be smoke-free for the first time since it opened its doors in 1929. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 12, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/041207.pdf?ref=smdp.com)