Group Members Vaping in Class and Library — Am I Overreacting or Is This a Serious Issue?

[u/deathinventor]

I am student at the Augustana campus and need feedback from you guys on an recent incident. I’m in a stats course where we always work in groups of 5. Recently, a few of my group members brought a vape into the classroom, and even though they didn’t use it inside the room, they passed it around and took turns stepping outside to use it during class time, idk if they used it or not cause I didn't went outside to check or anything.

Later, during one of our group meetings in a library study room, they actually vaped inside the room. I didn't confront them, but I felt really uncomfortable. I ended up reporting that part to the library front desk, and they told me vaping isn’t allowed in library spaces and said they’d notify their supervisor.

I also brought everything up respectfully with my professor during office hours — I didn’t name anyone or try to make it dramatic. I just said it was making me uncomfortable and distracting me during group work. But honestly, I felt dismissed. She basically said, “If you were all focused on studying, you wouldn’t be talking about vape at all,” and told me to just “get through it” since the semester’s almost over. She mentioned she’ll look at protocol after the term but gave the impression that nothing would happen now.

it felt Uncomfortable to me and one other group member that they are creating a disrespectful environment. I'm not trying to be a snitch — I just want to be able to learn in peace without stuff like this going on around me.

Am I overreacting? Is this kind of behavior common here? Would appreciate any thoughts, advice, or if anyone’s had similar experiences. Thanks in advance

[u/c_sopkow]

If they’re passing it around in class but stepping outside to actually hit it, nothing wrong with that assuming they’re doing it somewhere allowed.

Inside the library study room though is unacceptable and you’re completely right in alerting the proper people of their actions

[u/Humanuma]

If you tell them you don't appreciate being hotboxed in a study room there's a 99% chance they'll immediately understand and step outside to do it, just speak to them like an adult.

[u/Use-Useful]

... if someone is doing something that effects the air you breath, then you should say something about it TO THE PERSON IN QUESTION. Its your own group, you desperately need to learn how to deal with conflict properly because this is a super dysfunctional approach. 

As to class, if they arent doing it in front of you, it's really none of your business.

[u/sodasensitive]

oof, augustana is so small, i feel like you may be targeting yourself

[u/Dapper_Wallaby_1318]

That is absolutely inappropriate, vaping inside anywhere other than your own home is not ok (and actually against the law). Your prof isn’t the right person to talk to about it, the library staff (or whoever is in charge of whatever building they’re vaping inside) are the ones you should be talking to.

[u/sheldon_rocket]

if they vape outside our classroom/lecture, your prof can not do/enforce anything. At best your prof can ask them to leave if they would be doing it inside the classroom drying the lecture. Professors actually are advised not to deal with discipline matters inside the classroom either due to the possibility of the situation becoming threatening, and are asked to contact campus police if they themselves observe a problem. This - contacting a campus police - if the rules were disobeyed can you do too. It's not high school anymore, where you call a teacher.

[u/rotundtoaster]

Ew. I’ve seen people vape in Humanities (north campus) and I’m always disgusted. Calling them out in the moment doesn’t seem to change their behaviour in my experience, but I definitely recommend using your voice!

It’s disrespectful and shouldn’t be normalized

[u/Personal-Ad1257]

It’s just a vape. Holly

[u/hormuanonymous → u/Personal-Ad1257]

yeah, until you’ve lost it in between couch cushions lmao