Last summer, the Snohomish County Health District observed that EvCC was not complying with current smoking policy, and offered their assistance in bringing the campus up to standard.

During their visit the Health District officials saw cigarette butts lying on the ground around campus, Jene Ladke, Director of Campus Health, Safety and Security, explained. According to Ladke, the officials that visited were EvCC alumni and had children attending the college as well, so they took pride in the college and wanted to help instead of preach.

The Student Senate was approached, and they agreed to form a subcommittee which would address the smoking situation. The subcommittee has not yet been formed. However, according to Ladke, the subcommittee has plans to distribute a survey among the college population that will ask what the students want. Students wanting to be heard should approach the Student Senate. Smokers are also needed to be involved in this decision making so that they are represented as well.

Currently the tobacco policy involves restricting smoking to the three designated smoking areas on campus; located in front of Shuksan Hall, to the side of the Parks Building and in front of the Parks Building. Part of the subcommittee's job will be to decide if these smoking huts are really in the most efficient places. These smoking huts were paid for by student funds, as part of the policy is that smoking is prohibited in university funded structures.

Ladke expressed a need for students to enforce the smoking policy to other students. Don't start any confrontations; politely remind a rogue smoker that smoking is restricted to the designated smoking areas.

Once the campus has expressed what direction it wants to go the student senate will coordinate with Campus Health and Administration and they will set to at least improve the situation, Ladke explained, "If you want a grand plan that involves eventually going smokeless, then we can work towards it. It's your college."

Currently Clarke College near Vancouver is the only Tobacco Free Campus in Washington State. According to their website, their new policy involves prohibiting the use of tobacco products everywhere, by everyone at all times. They even offer up tips on how the new policy came about, involving "Four years of dedication on the part of Health Services and Environmental Health and Safety Officers and two surveys taken about preference of a new smoking policy versus a new tobacco policy."

Becoming a smoke free campus will ultimately be a student body decision. The main thing is for students to voice their opinion so that whatever decision is made will be a majority opinion.