Smokers beware! Sinclair Community College has revised authorized smoking locations.
What was once a permissible area–the doors in front of Building 9–is now an off-limits site to light up. The reasoning behind the change is the daycare located inside of Building 9. As long as the children can see people smoking directly outside, Sinclair is at risk for losing it’s accreditation for the daycare program.
Director of Public Safety, Charles Gift said that if the changes to the smoking policy had not been made, the daycare center couldn’t have operated anymore.
“We’re providing a service by running the daycare,” said Gift. “But were also using students in Early Childhood Education and that’s part of their coursework. So we wouldn’t want to deprive anyone of their education.”
Sinclair students seem to understand.
Chris Hart, an undecided major and smoker, said Sinclair is pretty lenient about its smoking policy and that the change to the policy doesn’t affect him.
If a student is found violating the smoking policy, they will be warned by Sinclair Police and given information about permissible smoking areas. If the student is repeatedly caught smoking in unauthorized smoking sites, refuses to comply or becomes disorderly, they will be referred to Judicial Affairs. However, if the student breaks a law, they will be arrested through Sinclair Police and charged through the City of Dayton.
The smoking policy doesn’t only apply to students. If a staff member is found disrupting the smoking policy, they will be referred to Human Resources.
The Public Health Department enforces a ruling against smoking within 25 feet of a doorway. If this is reported, Sinclair will be investigated and possibly fined because Sinclair wasn’t found enforcing the smoking policy.
“I think it’s good that they got rid of the smoking area,” said Liberal Arts major and nonsmoker, Alie Butler. “And I think they need to enforce the areas more.”