Gavilan College is getting serious about helping students and
staff extinguish their smoking habits for good.
Gavilan College is getting serious about helping students and staff extinguish their smoking habits for good.
The board of trustees recently approved a smoke-free/tobacco-free campus policy during their June 14 meeting, an undertaking Jan Bernstein, Gavilan’s director of public information, says was led by student government and took 10 years to accomplish.
The new policy prohibiting smoking, use of tobacco products and non-regulated nicotine products on all Gavilan College-owned property – save for designated smoking areas in parking lots – became effective July 1 and will be ushered in with a one-year educational campaign, Bernstein says.
“The first year of the policy will be a soft launch with public education and gentle reminders,” explained Bernstein, who said this will entail posting signs, publicizing designated smoking areas and educating people about the new policy and quitting resources available to them.
Starting July 1, 2012, she added penalties may be implemented through state laws and Gavilan’s Student Code of Conduct. Â
Free smoking cessation treatment, including peer mentor support and Nicotine Replacement Therapy, will also be available from Student Health Services and is made possible through a $5,000 grant from Breathe California. The organization offers public health leadership and strives to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, according to its website.
“For a lot of people, the cost of quitting has prevented them from even trying,” said Bernstein. “This should make it possible.”
For more information, contact Student Health Services at (408) 848-4791.
