The Associated Student Government of Fresno City College held a debate on the topic of smoking on campus on March 16 in Room 251 of the Old Administration Building.

Moderated by ASG Stefanie Sorondo, this debate, the second of three, provided a forum to disseminate information as well as discuss the three options in the cigarette smoking policy that will be voted on in April by the student body. The smoking campaign is headed by Sorondo and Gabriel Cordova.

The debate included three chairs representing the three options – to ban smoking on campus, to leave the rule as it is, or to limit smoking to specially designated areas. Those in favor of banning smoking were represented by ASG President Daniel Gai while those opposed to banning cigarette smoking on campus were represented by Senator Cordova. In the middle chair was ASG Senator Tony Capetillo who represented those in favor of designated areas.

“They did a really good job of clarifying every side of this issue,” said Sorondo, who added that the debaters covered their own sides of the issues while also considering the other perspectives.

Sen. Cordova started the debate with an argument that smoking is an outlet for some people and that their right to that form of stress release should not be taken from them.

“The rules haven’t changed in 101 years,” said Cordova during the debate. “Smokers should have their civil rights.”

He acknowledged that cigarette smoking can cause littering on campus, but that there are greater dangers in having students go off campus to smoke.

Cordova said that mandating students to go off campus could lead to injury as well as constitute a major inconvenience to students, especially those with no break between their classes.  

Arguing in favor of banning smoking, Daniel Gai said smoking causes littering on campus grounds. He said that cigarette butts contribute to the dead patches of lawn throughout the campus.

Gai said cigarette smoke leads to many health issues and that the dangers of second hand smoke are well documented and known. The ASG president said that banning smoking on campus would help the community by lowering health care costs.

The ASG president also mentioned that if FCC switched to a non-smoking campus, he’d be able to bring in up to $30,000 in grants to the campus.

For his side that smoking should not be banned but be restricted to specially designated areas on campus, Senator Capetillo pointed out that his plan would separate the smokers from the non-smokers, thereby eliminating the health issue. Additionally, it’d give students a better guideline on where smoking is allowed or prohibited.

“There is a 20 foot rule in effect,” said Capetillo, “but people don’t abide by it.”

The senator argued that the idea of designated areas helps establish a middle ground instead of banning smoking outright which takes away the rights of smokers or leaving the rule as it is with all the associated health risks.

State law AB 846 makes smoking within 20 feet of any public building illegal. However, according to the ASG, FCC students do not always follow this law. With designated areas, smokers would not have to worry about whether or not they are 20 feet from a building, nor will non-smokers have to worry about having to walk through a cloud of cigarette smoke nor would they be exposed to second-hand smoke.

After presentations, the audience was given a chance to ask questions and bring up points of their own. While the attendance of the debate was lower than the first, the smaller number allowed all who wanted to speak to voice their thoughts completely.

“I felt like we got to pay more special attention to the audience,” said Sorondo. “Overall, I think people came for a good cause. They all had specific concerns. They got the answers that they needed and got the chance to voice their opinions.”

A main issue addressed by both the audience and debaters alike was the means of enforcement if smoking was banned or restricted to designated areas. ASG president Gai, said the campus police department does not have the manpower to stay on top of such a rule which can create problems.

“We all have to play an active role in this,” said Capetillo.

FCC students will vote for banning, keeping, or designating smoking areas during the votes for ASG for the Fall 2011 and Spring 2011 semesters.  They will utilize VoteNet, a software program that will allow students to log on as attendees of FCC and vote on one of the three choices.

If the majority votes to ban smoking on campus, the decision will be presented by the ASG to the college administrators. There, the decision on the rule should be set in stone. Whatever the outcome, this rule will not be changed for another five years.