[467 Campus] The Never-Ending Controversy Over Campus Smoking Zones for Peaceful Co-existence

   Each semester, a persistent issue resurfaces on campus: smoking. The ongoing conflict between smokers, who light up in various areas around campus, and non-smokers, who express discomfort due to secondhand smoke, continues to be a source of tension. Some students argue that smoking is a personal right that should be protected, while others emphasize the importance of maintaining a clean and healthy learning environment. The situation is made more complicated by the frequent occurrence of smoking outside designated areas, which has led to growing dissatisfaction among students. The university’s approach to managing and addressing this issue is also under increasing scrutiny. As the rights of smokers and non-smokers clash, the question remains: is there a way for both groups to co-exist peacefully? In this article, The Dongguk Post seeks to explore the root causes of the campus smoking issue and propose practical solutions for resolution.

Campus smoking areas: The ongoing conflict

   Under South Korea’s National Health Promotion Act, university campus is designated smoke-free zones, with designated smoking areas available for smokers. Smoking in non-designated areas is prohibited, and violations can result in a fine of up to 100,000 KRW. But how is this policy being enforced on our campus?

   Certain areas on campus see heavy foot traffic, such as the ninth floor of the New Engineering Building and the sky bridge of Hyehwa Hall. While both locations have officially designated smoking areas, many non-smokers have raised concerns about the current setup. For example, the smoking area next to the sky bridge in Hyehwa Hall is separated by a partition with holes, making it difficult to delineate the smoking area from the rest of the space. As a result, students often smoke near the partition, and during peak times, the smoke spreads further into the sky bridge. This makes it challenging for non-smokers passing through the area to avoid secondhand smoke. The sky bridge serves as a primary walkway between Hyehwa Hall and the Law Building, and given the high foot traffic, many students have expressed frustration over exposure to secondhand smoke.

   The area in front of the ninth floor of the New Engineering Building is another high-traffic spot, with many students passing through on their way to class. However, the designated smoking zone here lacks sufficient separation or any air filtration systems, making it impossible to avoid secondhand smoke even when walking nearby. Similarly, most of the other designated smoking areas across campus are simply marked as such without any substantial barriers to separate smokers from non-smokers, rendering them ineffective in protecting the health of non-smoking students.

   In contrast, the smoking booth in front of the Information and Culture Building is somewhat better managed. Unlike the two previously mentioned areas, this booth is a container, which helps prevent cigarette smoke from spreading.    However, due to its small size, the booth can hold just three or four people at a time, making it crowded when too many people gather. This limited capacity leads to a buildup of smokers outside the booth during peak times, causing the same problem of exposing non-smokers to secondhand smoke. Furthermore, the booth lacks an air filtration system, drawing criticism for not fully addressing the needs of smokers or non-smokers nearby. Overall, while smoking areas are designated, the current measures on campus are inadequate in ensuring a clear and effective separation between smokers and non-smokers.

University’s response to smoking issues on campus

   The Facilities and Safety Team of Dongguk University’s General Affairs Department responded to students’ complaints regarding smoking issues as follows. They acknowledged that smoking-related issues are a concern not only at Dongguk University but also at other universities, where various efforts are being made to find solutions. They expressed their understanding of the discomfort caused by smoking and the differing opinions between smokers and non-smokers. Despite these challenges, the university stated that it is striving to address the issue in a reasonable manner to create a pleasant campus environment.

   Given the absence of legal regulations prohibiting smoking on university campus, they explained that enforcing strict restrictions is difficult. As a result, they must rely on individuals’ voluntary compliance when it comes to smoking within designated smoking areas. They emphasized that cooperation from all members of the university community is essential for resolving this issue, including the designation of smoking areas and fostering mutual understanding between smokers and non-smokers. Moving forward, Dongguk University stated that it will continue to seek solutions to smoking-related concerns based on these principles.

Inside the smoking experience: A student’s views on campus policies

   Student A, who was smoking outside the smoking booth in front of the Information and Culture Building, expressed confusion about the exact locations of designated smoking areas on campus. He mentioned that the smoking zones are either too small or poorly constructed, making it difficult to stay within the designated areas when crowded, particularly the sky bridge between Hyehwa Hall and the Law Building.

When asked about why students were smoking in front of the empty smoking booth in front of the Information and Culture Building, he stated that the booth was not fulfilling its intended purpose and was merely a container labeled as a smoking area. He explained that it cannot effectively filter out cigarette smoke, leading to lingering odors on clothing and skin. He also noted that even if a few people manage to fit inside during peak times, the limited capacity makes it ineffective, leaving him puzzled about the purpose of its installation. He stated that if large smoking booths equipped with odor-filtering capabilities were installed to accommodate many people at once, it could help reduce the conflict.

   Dongguk University’s smoking areas still face some challenges in resolving conflicts between smokers and non-smokers. Despite having designated smoking zones, their locations and facilities are insufficient, leading to complaints from non-smokers about secondhand smoke and dissatisfaction from smokers about convenience and effectiveness. The main issue lies in the lack of clear separation and the positioning of smoking zones. The key goal should be co-existence, ensuring that both smokers and non-smokers can comfortably share the campus. To address these concerns, the university needs to take more proactive steps, such as relocating smoking areas, adding proper barriers, or installing air filtration systems. Active student involvement in the process will be essential in finding practical solutions.