CSI in the News - CSI Today

CSI tells smokers they'll have to take long walkPublished: Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 6:03 AMBy Amy PadnaniSTATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Soon smokers atthe College of Staten Island will have adecision to make before lighting up: Walk15 minutes in (enter inclement weathercondition here), or quit the habit.The Board of Trustees of the CityUniversity of New York voted yesterday toban smoking on all 23 of its campuses inthe five boroughs, citing its responsibilityto ensure the public health of roughly halfa million students.Staten Island Advance/Hilton FloresThese cigarette butts in an ashtray outside the enterance of the CSICampus Center could soon be a thing of the past.after the unanimous decision was made at a board meeting."When we know about the toxic effects ofsmoking, it just seemed to me that thiswas the right thing to do," said CUNYChancellor Matthew Goldstein immediatelyBut what appears to be a public health issue on the surface is a touchy topic about equality and fairnessamong smokers and non-smokers alike at CSI's Willowbrook campus."It's our right as adults, and we already go outside in the cold, so we're being as respectful as we can," saidRose Ellicott, a sophomore from Eltingville. "I already have enough stress between classes, family andstudying that the last thing I need is to be told not to smoke. Don't take the one thing that prevents mefrom ripping someone's head off during the day."Others, like Alicia Rebelo, argued for their privilege to breathe fresh air."I have seasonal asthma so I try to avoid smokers -- If I see people smoking outside a main entrance, I'll goin through the side," the 25-year-old from Westerleigh said. "I'm glad CUNY is conscious of it and they'reaware people are being bothered by it."Page 136 of 157