This is suddenly becoming a big news story:
Smoking Ban Linked to Bathroom Vandalism
FREDERICK, Md. - Vandals suspected of stealing toilet paper and trashing men’s bathrooms at Frederick Community College have given school administrators an ultimatum: lift the campus smoking ban and the vandalism will stop.
Instead, the college is offering a $500 reward to anyone who can provide information leading to arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.
School spokesman Michael Pritchard says the vandals have struck at least 12 times in the past month.
The college banned smoking, except in parking lots, last spring.
Pritchard says a message left on the wall of the first bathroom vandalized indicated the attacks would continue until the school lifts the smoking ban.
Source: Associated Press/AP Online
8 responses so far ↓
The Dude // October 28, 2007 at 10:08 am
If you think they’re steamed now, wait until February 2008, when all Maryland restaurants and bars go non-smoking.
Better stock up on TP.
Jim H // October 28, 2007 at 3:46 pm
It always seems that University students are the first to protest social injustice.
I’ll be carrying a spare roll in my glove box, just in case I can contribute to the cause.
K // October 29, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Perhaps FCC wouldn’t have banned smoking at the school had the students smoked where they were supposed to and not immediately outside the doorways. I took my daughter to some Kids on Campus classes there and invariably there would be someone smoking right near the doors, not paying any heed to the signs they had that designated where to smoke.
People have a right to smoke, but they need to be aware that smoke doesn’t just go into their lungs, it travels, and I have a right to *not* breathe their smoke.
TK // October 30, 2007 at 10:59 am
I’m with K on this one
Sarah in Maryland // November 7, 2007 at 9:03 am
I wish that smoking bans were more voluntary, but I agree with K, too. I hate when I have to go into a building and have to hold my breath to walk through a sea of smokers huddled around the door. Just because we are outside, doesn’t mean that we don’t breat it in! When I was a teen we were at a high school football game. My aunt, who had terrible asthma, came to the game. At the time the school allowed smoking at games because we were outside. Well, she was near some smokers and we had to take her to the hospital ER.
I have to admit that there are sometimes when I want to sit out on the patio and relax, but I am not hungry or I’ve had too many cups of coffee. I can see how lighting up could be pleasurable. Nonetheless, it doesn’t just affect the person doing it.
ALSO, another bone to pick… cigarette butts are not biodegradable and somehow it is ok to just flick them on the ground!?!? Look around FMH, 100 feet from the door and there is a ring of butts all around the campus. It is taboo to throw a gum wrapper on the ground, but people flick butts without thinking. Grrrrr.
[/end rant]
Jon // November 8, 2007 at 10:05 am
I will pick the same bone as Sarah. Littering is nasty in general, but cigarette butts are flung about with such carelessness that it is hard to believe. I have even had cigarettes flicked on the hood of my car while driving on the highway.
I think it would be great to organize a group to walk the historic district each equipped with a pair of litter grippers and pick up all the cigarette butts. Then put them on display outside the mayor’s office to let everyone know that we don’t appreciate careless smokers littering our streets. My real fear is that when the smoking ban takes place on February one, that the streets and sidewalks will get even worse.
Alex // December 11, 2007 at 7:05 pm
I am a smoker, and I have always advocated putting your butts where they belong, but I get tired of hearing about how they are not biodegradeable. That is a myth, the filters that they used years ago were not, but nowadays they biodegrade very easily. They are made out of a specially treated cotton and nothing more. Look it up. While I still say it is better to use an ashtray to benefit wildlife and to cut down on litter, I’m just tired of hearing that myth propogated.
Vince // January 1, 2008 at 10:15 am
Alex, I’m afraid I have to disagree with you.
Here’s just one example, from Longwood College in Virginia….they had a number of students asking them this same question.
http://www.longwood.edu/cleanva/cigbuttbiodegradable.htm
If you do the research you’ll find that butts don’t biodegrade. If there are some cigarette manufacturers out there that are using totally biodegradable filters I haven’t heard about it (not to say it doesn’t exist, but it would cut into profits).
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