By: Marley Shirakawa

SAN JOSE, CALIF.–Many are converting the bathrooms at Silver Creek High School into temporary lounges for a quick hit at their vapes – resulting in long lines, vacant stalls and causing fire alarms to go off and disrupting classes. The smoky smell raises problems throughout the school.

Smoking at school has been prohibited from the California Education Code 48901 Suspension or Explosion, “No school shall permit the smoking or use of a tobacco product by pupils of the school while the pupils are on campus, or while attending school-sponsored activities or while under the supervision and control of school district employees.” 

Silver Creek High School has made it very clear that smoking on school premises or especially in the bathroom is not allowed. However, students take risks and continue to go against the rules. This has caused an outpouring amount of annoyance throughout students. “ It’s not appropriate so I just distance myself,” said Amanda Bayani, a senior at Silver Creek High School. This has also caused a lot of chaos in the bathroom, with long lines and stalls being taken up by students who are vaping. “I don’t like it because they take up time and then teachers get mad because I take too long, but it’s because they are in there smoking it up” stated Jianne Andaya a Junior at Silver Creek High School. Vaping in the bathrooms can be very hazardous. The second hand smoke that gets put into the air can affect one’s health. Second hand smoke can cause various diseases but it can also increase the risk of lung cancer. It is specifically worse in the bathrooms since there is no window or air vent inside, allowing air to circulate. “I feel very unconscious, so please don’t do that in the bathroom” indicated Leyna Le, a Senior who is affected by the smoke due to her asthma. 

Tags: #nosmoking#vapingisbad#banit#holdaccountable#notallowed#vapingisbad#longlines