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.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
