The Smokers' Bench, Jenna Fravel

30 years ago smoking was the norm for college students, most smoked regularly and not just socially. Going outside to smoke was a bonding activity, and a way to get to know people in your building. Now smokers are among the minority on college campuses. As the popularity of smoking descended public spaces such as restaurants, hotels, and building began turning into smoke-free zones.

            The places left for smokers to congregate were fewer, but the bonding aspect of smoking in a group continued. This picture is of the smoking area outside of my dorm and coincidentally outside my window. While most nights their carrying voices annoy me, when thinking about the bench in a social aspect I realized it fit the idea of a public space perfectly.

            On any given day and night the smokers are free to congregate at any time, and frequently they do even after they have finished their last cigarette. Going outside to smoke is more of a social action like checking Facebook than feeding an addiction to some of them. They have music and build friendships in a public space.

            I do not believe the architects had this in mind when designing the front of my dorm but this is what it has become. Instead of an entryway walking into the dorm is similar to walking through a planned public space such as the quad.

            Although some people dislike walking through a cloud of smoke when entering the dorm, the area is a public space and smokers although they wake me up at night need a space to hang out.