Delaware Tech tobacco-free campus policy off to a quiet start

One month into its new policy, green signs paper Delaware Technical & Community College campuses warning students to refrain from lighting up or partaking in any kind of tobacco product.

At first glance, it doesn’t seem like anyone is breaking the new rule, but some students say they’ve seen smokers on campus, just not as many as before.

Peter Omote of Middletown said he’s spotted a couple of people still smoking on the Terry Campus in Dover since the Jan. 1 rule went into effect.

Patti DePlasco, co-chair of Del Tech’s Tobacco-free Committee, said the college’s policy fits their concept of a healthy environment and a general concern about student health, especially at a school with a lot of medical programs.

The use of all tobacco products is prohibited within the boundaries of the college, including parking lots, walkways, sidewalks, sports venues, and vehicles parked or operated on college property, according to the new policy.

First announced in March 2010, DePlasco said the committee worked hard to get the word out and prepare everyone.

“It’s been relatively quiet. We had a lot of preparation and I think that was key,” she said. “Communication is very important when doing something like this.”

As for enforcement, the college’s public health office will ask students — and visitors who aren’t aware — to stop using any kind of tobacco product. DePlasco said repeat offenders will be referred to the dean of Student Services, or employees to their supervisors.

Kandace Dixon of Dover, a Terry Campus student and smoker, has mixed feelings about the tobacco-free policy.

“I like the part about the campus, but the parking lot, c’mon,” she said. “My car’s not here and I’ll be honest, I want a cigarette now but I don’t want to risk getting kicked out.

“I’m still going to go to my car and smoke,” Dixon said. “I’ll keep the windows up and not throw anything out because I don’t want to get kicked out.”

Dixon wishes the college had created some sort of smoking section because people are still going to find a way to smoke.

Fellow Terry Campus student Francesca Greene of Smyrna is in favor of the tobacco-free policy, and said although she’s heard a few students talking about it in class, she thinks everyone will adjust pretty quickly.

Lakeisha Baker of Dover, a non-smoker, also agrees with the policy.

“I don’t smoke so I don’t like walking through smoke,” she said.

DePlasco said so far, the student reaction at all the campuses has been similar and cooperative.

“For the most part students are too busy with classes and class work to run out to their cars and smoke,” she said. “I could be wrong but when they are here they are pretty focused on their schoolwork.”

Del Tech has become the second college in Delaware to put a tobacco-free policy in place. Widener University, which has a law campus in Wilmington, began a similar policy in July 2010.

Widener University Director of Public Relations Daniel Hanson said the policy has gone well for them as well. However, Widener’s system levies fines after the first-time warning.

Hanson said as far as he knows the university hasn’t given out fines so far.

Both DePlasco and Hanson pointed out a number of campuses have enacted tobacco-free policies. More than 260 colleges and universities have prohibited tobacco on campus, according to the American Lung Association of Oregon, which keeps a comprehensive list.

For more information on Del Tech’s policy, visit www.dtcc.edu/tobaccofree.


Email Jayne Gest at jayne.gest@doverpost.com