B Y LAUREN DISESSA
I hesitated to write this article. It’s easy to be a critical of others; that is not what I intend to do here. I simply find myself faced with a problem that I can’t solve alone, and would like to share my feelings with the larger student body.
I fall into a small group of Green Mountain College students who guard their health with a sort of secretive neuroses. I wash my hands a lot, and take a fistful of vitamins every day. I am that girl in spandex running tights, carrying a package of Brussels sprouts. Don’t even ask, because no matter how thirsty you are, I will not share my water bottle with you. Although I make fun of these tendencies, the truth is this: I take care of myself, and I’m proud of it.
I suppose then, it goes without saying that I strongly believe I should not have to unwillingly inhale other people’s cigarette smoke. I hesitate again. Some of you are reading this and cringing, blowing me off as one seriously un-chill bitch.
What can I do? There are conflicting interests on this campus, and I find myself in an awkward position. Many of my classmates and friends smoke. I don’t judge, criticize, or belittle them; I just don’t feel comfortable breathing near them. It is undeniably their right to smoke cigarettes. It is also undeniably my right to protect my body in the common outdoor space of my college campus.
I have to admit though; I feel like I’m getting the short end of the stick. Aside from holding my breath for long stretches of time (which I sometimes do), I have no way of avoiding the smoke and chemicals that my fellow students are emitting into the campus airspace. The 50 foot rule is obviously not taken seriously, and I don’t feel comfortable becoming campus enforcer. Despite the fact that I am being seriously disrespected when I open the door to a face full of smoke, I have found that speaking up generally results in ridicule or rudeness. Sometimes people just ignore me. This makes me upset, not just for myself, but for everyone. In my opinion, the inner environments of our bodies are just as deserving of protection from pollution as the earth and sky.
What can we do? Personally, I might start wearing an inconspicuous mask, or perhaps just wrap my scarf in a fashion that will cover my entire face. Pardon my clumsiness if I walk into you, I probably can’t see or breathe under there. To end on a serious note though, I think it is truly important for this community to find a way to devote as much energy to caring for our lungs and bodies as we devote to protecting our mountains, soils, and watersheds. I think we all deserve it.
