The voice of De Anza since 1967.

We get it: You vape (but you shouldn’t)

April 19, 2016

Adrian Discipulo
Adrian Discipulo

Cigarettes and e-cigarettes, or vapes, have been banned on campus at De Anza College for some time, outside of four designated smoking areas near parking lots around campus.

However, this measure to separate smokers and the rest of the student body is not enough; De Anza should ban smoking and vaping, and do away with smoking areas.

It is imperative that we consider the health and well-being of the entire student body, not just that of smokers.

De Anza banned smoking outside of designated areas in consideration for the health of its student body.

“Even if you’re not smoking or vaping, the chemicals will still leach out through your skin and hair,” said Veronica Song, a registered nurse working at the De Anza Health Center.

“Children are more prone to get respiratory infections like bronchitis from exposure to these chemicals, which are more prevalent in people who smoke or vape continually.”

The negative effects of vaping are varied. “Smoking is bad for you, but vaping involves breathing in combusted material other than vapor that is bad for your lungs.” said Song.

Breathing in water vapor may not sound bad, but Song said it can be worse than cigarettes.

“(Vaping) is so new that it isn’t regulated (by the FDA). You can buy vaping machines from China, or Thailand, so we don’t know what’s inside them.”

Using vape pens that are made cheaply overseas exposes the users to combusted materials other than the vapor they intend to breathe in, Song said.

The college is moving toward getting rid of the four smoking areas around campus. If smoking is banned, then non-smoking students won’t be exposed to it, especially in the parking lot when they are making their way to and from their cars.

All UCs and most CSUs have complete smoking and vaping bans in place on their campuses, including parking areas; those that don’t are working toward enforcing those bans, Song said.

“De Anza cares about the well-being of its student body, which is why smoking isn’t allowed on campus,” she said. “This is why most colleges in California have these bans, because they value the health of their student community.”

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