In the wake of new policies, USC needs to be smoke-free

On Aug. 27, the California Senate approved a package of six bills restricting tobacco use. Most notable of the six was a motion to raise the smoking age in the state from 18 to 21, which would directly affect students on college campuses. Due to the many health hazards associated with cigarettes, universities, especially USC, should echo these anti-tobacco measures.

Since 2011, the adoption of tobacco-free campuses has rapidly increased. In October 2011, only 586 college campuses reported entirely smoke-free policies. According to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation, as of July 2015, 1,577 campuses are completely             smoke-free. A study conducted by Indiana University found that students on smoke-free campuses experienced significant changes over time to the perception of smoking, acknowledging the detrimental effects of cigarette use.

Though the ban on campus smoking restricts the personal freedoms of smokers, it protects the entire population. After all, studies show that secondhand smoke, or environmental tobacco smoke, can be as harmful as firsthand smoking. Environmental tobacco smoke has been strongly correlated with the development of lung cancer but has also been linked to leukemia, lymphoma and brain tumors, among other diseases. Moreover, some researchers maintain that thirdhand smoke, in which tobacco particles are left behind in the form of dust or stick to surfaces, can also lead to the same conditions as regular smoking. Therefore, because carcinogens from cigarettes never truly leave an environment, smoking regulation tactics such as designated smoking areas would be rendered superfluous.

The state Senate’s bill to raise the smoking age targets college-aged individuals. According to College Tobacco Prevention Resource, 40 percent of smokers start smoking in college. Nikole Cronk, a researcher studying the time when people start smoking, said, “If you ask college students, many will tell you [smoking is] something they don’t intend to do after they’re out of school, but a significant number do continue smoking. What we know is there’s no safe level of smoking and no way to know that once you start you’ll be able to easily quit.” Given that smoking bans have been proven to transform the psychology behind smoking into a more health-conscious mindset, raising the smoking age from 18 to 21 or banning smoking across college campuses reaches a very critical age gap.

The decision to start smoking stems from societal pressure, whether it be encouragement from peers or trying to fit in with social norms. Being surrounded by smoking, even just through the sight of strangers lighting up on campus, creates a mentality that the act is not just condoned, but also celebrated. If the University supports the education and awareness of cigarette use and seeks further, more decisive action, then there is potential to create meaningful progress on our campus.

If USC were to adopt a smoke-free campus persona, this would not punish smokers but rather protect the entire USC community, from students to faculty to employees. The new bill passed by the state Senate would support a healthier environment by placing an age restriction on smoking cigarettes. However, since no concrete policies have been enforced thus far, it is up to everyone to be more courteous of the pollutants put in the air. To smokers: Think before you light up.

Danni Wang is a junior majoring in psychology. She is also the lifestyle editor of the Daily Trojan. “Point/Counterpoint” runs Tuesdays.