Dear Editor,
I am a non-smoker, I have never smoked. However, the idea of a smoking ban on campus in the summer of 2007 was very upsetting, and I was especially anxious to hear about its enforcement, and now—two years later—I have a clearer answer. Seeing as how tobacco is a legal substance for those 18 and older, I was interested to read The Horizon’s article on the enforcement of the policy.
Then I was signing the office contract for the student group I participate in on campus and noticed that if a single one of our members is caught smoking my student group will automatically lose its office.
Can someone explain to me why an entire organization should be punished for single person’s legal activities?
So now that I have some idea of how the ban will be enforced to keep smokers in their own vehicles, I have a few questions.
What about those students who plan on selling their car and don’t want the smell of smoke to effect the price?
What about those students who are in dorms or take public transportation? (I’ve been informed that they should use a friend’s car…they must have good friends). Those who are non-students can come on campus and smoke…what is deterring them, a Bursar hold?
Why does a non-student have that luxury when I am paying tuition and do not?
Lastly, I’ve heard that those who are wheelchair bound on campus and have no cars should go get special permission to smoke…so now these people have to jump through an extra hoop just because they are handicapped?
I feel the administration has no grasp about what the students really want nor will they compromise.
I’m not advocating that smoking should be everywhere, but there should be a way that the two sides of the issue can come together. There are better things the campus resources can be used on, and there are definitely worse things out there than tobacco, such as excessive use of signs.
Julie Bland
political science senior