Thursday 14 February 2013

Smokers banished to basement

By: Fakhriah Halim

“Although it may seem inconsiderate for us to be smoking near others who are having their meals, the smoking section at the cafeteria of SEGi was fine.

“We could have our cigarette together right after our meals and hurry back to class,” said Nurfazlyana Fathly, 23, ADP student.

Prior to the renovation in 2012, the smoking zone took up a quarter of the outdoor cafeteria space.

Since the allocated space was comfortable, smokers would only smoke there at the outside cafeteria.

Previous smoking area - the outdoor cafeteria
However, after the renovation was completed, the entire open cafeteria was designated as a "smoke-free" zone.

The smoking area was then relocated to a small corner of the basement car park.

New smoking area - basement car park
According to the Maintenance Department of SEGi University, the moving of the smoking zone was to provide a smoke-free, clean and healthy environment for the students and staffs in the cafeteria.

Smoking prohibited in outdoor cafeteria
“The new policy regarding smoking is great since it creates a more comfortable and cleaner space for everybody,” said a non-smoker Joshua Michael, 22, ADP student.

Reactions toward the new policy differ between smokers and non-smokers.

Mohd Ariff, 19, nursing student who is a non-smoker commented, “It feels better with the new policy since smokers travel in groups which makes it hard for some of us to ask them to smoke elsewhere.”

While some are comfortably happy with the smoke free ruling, others, especially smokers, had a hard time abiding by this policy.

“This smoking space provided is very small.

“It is near vehicles parked at the basement which could lead to complications if anything happens to these vehicles,” complained Mohammed, a foreign business student.

Despite the new policy, cigarette buds can still be seen at the former smoking section.

ZOOM @ outdoor cafeteria: Cleaners cleaning ashes and cigarette buds
According to the cleaners at SEGi, they had to sweep and mop the cigarette buds and ashes scattered across the outside cafeteria because only a few students follow the new ruling.

ZOOM @ outdoor cafeteria: Cigarette buds found 10 minutes after the cleaners mopped the area
Hilmiah Razali, ADP student shared her thoughts about the new policy as a smoker, 

“Although I do follow the new policy and smoke at the basement, I notice that some smokers do smoke wherever and I understand why since it gets very uncomfortable as we’ll be sweating and annoyed by the condition after just a puff.”

“It gets very hot and cramped with smokers at the corner of the basement.

“Sometimes, I just have to take my smoking break at a place that I can sit and rest,” answered 24 years old American Degree student, Nabila Majnin, when asked about her reasons for the violation. 

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