CLEAN AIR LIVING SPACE — A PARENT-LED DEMAND FOR ACCOUNTABILITY

Clean Air Living Space is a parent‑led campaign fighting for a basic, undeniable right: for college students in the United States to breathe clean, allergen‑free air in their own dorms. Our inaugural campaign focuses on South Carolina State University’s Hugine Suites—an area with long‑standing, well‑known problems that the university has repeatedly ignored.

For years, SCSU has allowed conditions in Hugine Suites to deteriorate. Students who want clean air have been dismissed, overlooked, and pushed aside, while the comfort and convenience of marijuana smokers are consistently prioritized. This imbalance is unacceptable, and parents will not stay silent anymore.

WHY WE CARE

The silent majority of students prefer clean, breathable air in their living spaces. But many are timid, shy, or afraid to speak up when their rooms, suites, and courtyards are filled with secondhand marijuana smoke—or when dust and pollen blow in through windows opened only to ventilate fumes. Students repeatedly report that their concerns are ignored, especially in Hugine Suites, where complaints rarely lead to meaningful action.

Students should not be forced to flee their rooms to escape secondhand marijuana smoke, haze, dust, or pollen. They should not have to leave their dorms just to study in clean air. They should not be pushed off campus or forced to transfer because nonsmokers have no rights or protection in Hugine Suites.

No student should have to:

• Stuff towels under their doors to block smoke
• Buy air purifiers with their own money
• Block vents
• Purchase window fans
• Use air fresheners to mask pollutants
• Open windows for fresh air regardless of weather
• Close windows to keep courtyard smoke out
• Move to another dorm because they dared to complain

Beyond discomfort and allergies, students are being exposed to serious health risks: secondhand smoke, thirdhand smoke, dust, and pollen. This is not a minor issue. This is a health and safety failure.

WHY PARENTS ARE CONCERNED

• Our students’ health and safety are at risk
• Our students deserve clean air and a supportive living environment
• The university’s renaissance must include quality of life
• Speaking up now protects current and future students

WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR

We call on Dr. Tamara Jeffries, SCSU Vice President of Student Affairs, to take immediate, meaningful action:

1. Create Wellness Dorms by Fall 2026

Designate several buildings in Hugine Suites as substance‑free, smoke‑free Wellness Dorms—a proven model across the country. Wellness housing leads to:

• Higher GPAs
• Better retention and graduation rates
• Improved mental and physical health
• Fewer conduct issues
• Safer, quieter environments
• Reduced maintenance and property damage
• Higher parent satisfaction

2. Restore Balance and Enforce Policies by Spring 2026

Implement real strategies—not empty promises—to restore order and respect in Hugine Suites. Protect the rights of all students, including those who want clean air.
Stop assigning nonsmokers to rooms with students who smoke marijuana or cigarettes.
Enforce housing and conduct rules consistently and transparently so nonsmoking students are no longer ignored, dismissed, or placed at risk.

NO LONGER SILENT

Silence has not brought change. Students deserve clean air, respect, and protection in their living spaces. This campaign is a collective voice demanding immediate action. We will email leaders, sign petitions, and participate in peaceful protest. We will stand up for the health, dignity, and rights of every student at South Carolina State University.

Clean air is not a privilege. It is a basic right. We urge Dr. Jeffries and the administration to take this seriously and act now. Support the Clean Air Living Space Initiative by sending letters and signing our petitions. Together, we can transform Hugine Suites into a safe, respectful, and healthy environment for every student.

Sign today. Speak up. Protect clean air.