The Ranger Online

Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Altug Sami Icilensu Liberal arts freshman Katt Perry, who is advocating for smokers' rights, sits at the corner of Belknap and Dewey.

A student unhappy with the new smoking ban put her name and phone number on fliers around campus and is requesting that students who share her sentiment call her in an effort to rally enough support to change this policy.

The student used the alias Jimbo instead of her real name on the sign and had her cell phone number on it.

Jimbo turned out to be liberal arts sophomore Katt Perry.

Perry said she did not want her identity revealed because she was afraid of retaliation from the college.

"I'm not on the good side of Emma Mendiola, dean of student affairs, because of an incident that occurred in the fall of 2006," Perry added.

"I was forced to enroll in a student development class, which I thought was completely worthless," Perry added. "I disagreed with the instructor over what the point of an assignment was, and she asked me to leave the classroom after that."

Perry said while she was complaining to her colleague in class about the instructor outside the classroom, the instructor came out and heard her use profanity in her description.

"I know that I'm no angel, but I was frustrated and angered at the instructor for telling me to leave," Perry said.

A few days later, Perry said she got a phone call from Mendiola's office saying that she had an appointment to meet with the dean.

"Dean Mendiola told me repeatedly that I needed to take that class, and to write an apology letter to the college, which I did," Perry said.

"I told her several times that I was in college to learn, not to waste my time in pointless classes."

Perry said she had a counseling hold on her file before the beginning of the spring semester that prevented her from registering unless she enrolled in the student development class.

"I had to go through the whole thing again with Dean Mendiola before," Perry added.

Mendiola said the only time a student would have a visit with her is if the student violates the college's code of conduct, which can be found on Page 74 of the college bulletin.

"As long as she doesn't violate the code of conduct, then she is within her rights," Mendiola said. "No retaliatory action will be taken against her."

Perry said she is trying to gather enough names for people who support her cause.

"There is enough air for everyone and we smoke outside," Perry said. "I don't see the point of banning cigarettes all over campus."

"A few friends and I started this movement a couple of weeks ago, and we have representatives in other colleges as well," Perry added.

"I'm even willing to go personally and clean it myself," Perry said. "All what we want is one designated area for smoking outside."

Perry said she cannot focus in class if she does not smoke and she will become distracted.

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