BY JESSICA O’KEEFE
Lions’ Pride Assistant Editor

Upon walking around our beautiful campus lately, I have noticed an over abundance of cigarette butts. Now, I have no problem with smokers on campus. However, what I do have a problem with is littering and breaking the Florida state law.

Saint Leo University is very accommodating with the smoking policy. Students are allowed to smoke, but they are simply asked to do it 25 feet from the entrances of any building.

According to the Tobacco Control Network, in Florida, smoking is not allowed in any state building. There are designated smoking areas outside of most state buildings. Any employee who violates this policy is guilty of a non-criminal violation, punishable by disciplinary action up to and including dismissal and/or a fine.

The campus is not smoke free; however, we do have restrictions stating that no one shall smoke within 25 feet to the entrance of a building. Florida is 100 percent smoke-free indoors - the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act (FCIAA) prohibits smoking in all enclosed indoor workplaces.

Many students wish smoking was allowed in the dormitories. However, putting aside state regulations, students have to consider how hazardous it could be and how it would effect other non-smoking students. Last year, there was a terrible fire in Sweetwater started by a cigarette butt that was not fully put out. If that were to happen on campus, think of the repercussions that would ensue.

Also, many students are either directly allergic to smoke or smoke can affect their other allergies in someway. One of the biggest reasons for this is that smoke seeps into the paint on the walls of the dormitory. Students are then constantly exposed to the smoke even if no one is actually smoking. This is also why students are charged for smoking in their rooms; those rooms are repainted to get rid of the smell.

When students smoke, they should make sure they put their butts out and then throw them in the trash. Without these precautions, the butt could start a fire on campus.

Just last week at Marmion and Snyder, someone threw a cigarette butt into the mulch next to the entrance of the building. The mulch, dry leaves, and dead branches all began to burn until there were small flames. Luckily, some residents noticed the fire and it was extinguished and no one was hurt.

A fire, like the one caused at the freshmen dorms, can grow so quickly because of the dry weather. This isn’t just an effect occurring at Saint Leo University, but all around Pasco County.

According to the Tampa Tribune, Florida is in the midst of an unusually active fire season, and so far, Pasco County appears to be a hotbed for brush fires. In the last ten days, Pasco County firefighters have battled a number of wildfires in the area. They first battled an 80-acre wildfire that threatened the Beacon Square community in Holiday and forced the evacuation of 25 homes. There was also a 50-acre brush fire west of Hudson. About 90 percent of the fire was contained Monday evening, and homes in the path of the blaze appeared safe, state forestry officials said. A 20-acre wildfire was burning in a remote wetlands area near the Zephyrhills airport. Lastly, the one closest to our beloved Saint Leo University, was a 100-acre brush fire in a swampy area in San Antonio.

With all of that said, students can tell that we experienceing a bit of a dry spell. So please, be mindful of where you’re smoking and where your cigarette butts end up.