Smoking around campus, which is not a bother for the students who commit the act, is an obvious issue for the professors.
When asked about her opinion on the topic of smoking in the Humanities area, Bakersfield College English professor Kerrie Buis immediately responded, “What? About the fact that we hate it, and how smoke floats down the hallways and into the classrooms?”
So, right off the bat, there was an issue.
“I think it should be 20 feet out from the doors, just like any other federal building, but not banned,” said philosophy professor Reggie Williams who, despite his belief toward smoking at BC not being banned, quickly explained, “I don’t smoke.”
BC English instructor Mary Braun agrees, “There should be no smoking where it could float into the offices and classrooms.”
Instructors in the Allied Health area also had something to say about the pollution contributed by smokers in the area.
“My main concern is that they (the students) just obey the laws,” said Radiology Technology Program Director Nancy Perkins, “I would prefer they just obey the laws and smoke 20 feet from the buildings.”
Many other members of the Bakersfield College faculty have things to say as well.
“It doesn’t bother me,” said Daymon Johnson, history professor, “As long as people are courteous of others. I think more of an issue is how we’re understaffed.”
“Floors are not getting mopped, and desks are not getting cleaned,” he said, “It’s not the fault of the custodial staff. They’re just way understaffed.”
Speaking further on the campus cleanliness issue was Office of Humanities Department Assistant Josie Sarullo said, “They (the students) have a trash can every five feet and still can’t make it in.”
“It needs to stop,” said BC custodian James Hendrix. “It’s nasty.”
Hendrix seemed more concerned with students disregarding the campus with their littering behavior, rather than with their smoking behavior.
“When students come to campus, they need to grow up,” said Hendrix, who owns an Olympus camera filled with photos of trash, graffiti, and other vandalism from all around BC.