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In an e-mail sent last week, Edinboro University officials warned students, faculty and others to properly dispose of cigarette butts when smoking in areas surrounding campus; failure to do so may result in a citation from police.
Associate Director of Public Relations Jeff Pinski wrote in the e-mail, "You might not be aware of it, but such littering violates borough ordinance, while also defying environmental etiquette requiring proper disposal of smoking materials. Another municipal issue involving the proper extinguishing and disposal of smoking materials is the danger of fire as dry leaves accumulate during the autumn months."
The message comes after the university received complaints from borough residents living near campus who have been hit with a wave of smoking-related litter.
Between classes, crowds of smokers can be seen on the sidewalks surrounding the university in compliance with the campus-wide smoking ban set into action Sept. 11.
Edinboro University student Sean Vanvelsor, 21, lives directly across from Compton Hall and says the university should be held responsible for the displaced smokers.
"As an athlete, I really don't like the second-hand smoke. It comes right through our windows," Vanvelsor said. "We have ashtrays set up, but the university should really be doing more about it."
The management of Darrow Place Apartments has also posted their own warnings along Darrow Road reminding students they are on private property, and anyone littering or otherwise causing problems may be asked to leave.
Evan Fleckenstein, 18, lives in Rose Hall, located across from Darrow Place Apartments. For a cigarette, he relocates to the sidewalk outside the apartments along with dozens of other students living on campus. Fleckenstein wants to know where he and his friends are supposed to go to smoke.
"They tell us we can't smoke on campus, now we can't smoke across the street," he said. "Where are they going to put us next?"
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