It was one of those lovely warm, late fall days in
October when the temperature was in the high sixties.
Russet & golden chrysanthemums were still
blooming beside shrubs covered in bright purple
berries, circled by enthusiastic bees gathering
pollen late into the season. I made my way outside
with a lunch tray to sit on a bench opposite the
lily pond and enjoy those warm moments that are
especially precious before winter sets in.
Sadly for me, I found that I was joined by a smoker,
and another soon sat on a nearby bench. I wondered
whether I might point out that the cigarette smoke
intruded on the natural fragrances of flowers
and autumn leaves that I had been enjoying.
But that also would have spoiled my lunch time
serenity; there’s no pleasure in spoiling someone
else’s peaceful moment.
And in any case, I noticed to my surprise that there
were rather elegant ash cans right there beside
the benches indicating that smoking was tolerated,
even expected.
I felt that my rights as a nonsmoker to be
protected from second hand smoke in my
workplace were being violated.
The rights of the nonsmokers must be protected
at Bucks. I have the greatest respect for my
smoker friends and colleagues.
However, nonsmokers should not have to run the
gauntlet of smokers clustered around building
entrances in order to reach our classrooms and
offices, or have beauty of the Bucks’ grounds
marred by smoke and stubs. Smoking should
be restricted to consenting adults in limited areas,
not encouraged liberally in public areas by the
placement of ash cans.
Other colleges have moved to become
non smoking zones, outside as well as in.
So should Bucks.