The increased aesthetic problem of littered cigarette butts has the campus looking for better options
Wyatt Smith
Features Editor
Wooster’s Student Government Association, in association with Campus Council, is creating an ad-hoc committee to resolve campus smoking issues. The new group will primarily address the rise of littered cigarette butts.
Despite the wording in SGA’s most recent newsletter, the committee is not considering instituting a campus-wide tobacco ban, said SGA representative Kate Schiller ’13, who is the acting chair of the ad-hoc group.
The term ‘ad-hoc’ means that the committee is open to the campus at large, and will be disbanded after a solution to the issue is found.
“The committee is focused on addressing issues raised by both smokers and non-smokers,” said Schiller. “At this time, a perfect solution is unclear, which is why the committee is interested in as much help from the student body as possible.”
Alex Dorman, a member of the ad-hoc committee and the only SGA representative who actively smokes, said that the committee will be in operation for at least a year.
According to SGA President KC Sullivan, ’13 fewer and fewer cigarette butts have found their way to proper receptacles over the past couple of years. Two weeks ago, a first-year sent an email to SGA, asking if they could do anything about all the cigarettes strewn around Bissman Hall.
Sullivan believes that such concerns are symptomatic of the overarching issue of littering. “It’s just not aesthetically pleasing,” Sullivan explained.
Dorman added that another issue the committee will address is smoking right next to residence halls.
SGA’s Advocacy Committee normally deals with such student concerns. However, the littering of cigarette butts was considered important enough to warrant its own, temporary group.
Schiller attributes the litter to problems with the College’s cigarette receptacles. The containers must be placed on concrete, meaning that they’re often next to buildings. The Scot’s Key, however, mandates that students must smoke at least 25 feet away from buildings. Schiller believes that this discrepancy leads to littering. Another contributing factor is how the receptacles are often full, an issue that will also be addressed by the ad-hoc committee.
The Admissions Office is also concerned by this issue.
“The lack of proper disposal of cigarette butts creates a negative impression for our touring guests,” said Senior Associate Director of Admissions Catherine Finks, “[It is] a negative impression not just on the cleanliness but also on the underlying message of student health and wellness.” Finks herself supports the idea of a cigarette ban. “The message of a tobacco-free campus would align with our commitment for the wellness of all students.”
The committee will first meet on Wednesday, Sept. 26 in the SGA office in the basement of Lowry to discuss this. Schiller welcomes any interested students, regardless of their involvement in student government or their smoking habits, to attend the 4:30 p.m. meeting.