Dear Gustavus,
I don’t smoke, but I feel a need to protect that right for other students. I’m writing to implore you to not support the petition to make our campus smoke-free.
I grow tired of the artificial and sanctimonious “do gooders” on this campus. You want to do something good for this campus? Free yourself of these rigid ideas about how we should be living our lives. You don’t like smoking? Then choose not to smoke and lay off those who choose to do it.
Smoking is bad, we know this, but you know what? There is a mountain of far more important things that should be getting you inspired enough to sign a petition and table outside of the caf.
I want to see a petition that keeps the drunks of my dorm quiet on Wednesday nights. How about a petition to foster healthy sexual relationships between students or a petition to end hate speech on campus?
Vomit in my bathroom sink on a Sunday morning, overhearing guys at the table next to me ranting about the “chick that they f***** last night,” watching a friend weep at the injustice of being discriminated against because of their sexual orientation are things that make me want to sign a petition, not smoking.
Let’s be honest: making Gustavus smoke-free is an easy target. It’s a cheap, superficial way to make us feel good about ourselves. “Look at us world! Gustavus is smoke-free! We’re making our lives count!” Meanwhile, the things that should really matter to us slip through the cracks silently and unnoticed; it seems to be a recurring theme around here.
If you’re really worried about your fellow students’ health, get out from behind your petition table and find out what’s going on in their lives. Offer your support, not a smug petition.
Pick your battles Gustavus. Get passionate about things that really matter. Eradicate our campus of the moral hypocrisy and I’ll consider signing your smoke-free petition.
Victoria Clark ‘14
As both a former cigarette user and an alumnus of Winona State University who, in my time with student government, worked on the issue of a campus-wide ban on tobacco use, I understand the feelings of maintaining “tobacco freedom.” It largely seems ridiculous that the Other seeks to keep tobacco-users from enjoying their purchased product. After all, isn’t chew or a cigarette just like bottled soda?
However, issues such as stakeholders’ health and campus beautification were the key points in students passing a referendum with their senate and the university administration support of a tobacco-use ban. Second-hand smoke is just as harmful to health — and depending on the study, far worse — than smoking or chewing yourself. Also, Winona State saw increasing amounts of tobacco debris littering campus. It is a financial waste of time for grounds maintenance to clean up after students/staff/faculty who wouldn’t discard the refuse themselves.
The growing trend of banning tobacco-use offers rewards, as well. There are financial and recognition awards given to campuses for not only restricting use but clearly defining universities/colleges as anti-tobacco. Declaring oneself as being a “Tobacco Free Environment” offers great promotional advantages and can play a part in attracting students.
Although tobacco is a product anyone at least eighteen years of age can purchase and use, it is also a luxury item for consumption. It is not a necessary staple in the human diet. Use is strictly provisional, privilege-based, and already legislated by state standards.
Should the GA administration consider implementing a tobacco-free standard, there are concerns the college should keep in mind: will banning tobacco-use from campus cause conflict with the neighboring community, and who will enforce the ban? The logical answer for the second question is Campus Security. Given GAC’s recent incident with sexual offenses, is snuffing out cigarettes an efficient use of Security’s time?
I wonder if this student would be so open if she or he was dying from second hand exposure to cigarette smoke. This is the whole deal behind a smoke-free environment. To protect the ones who want to LIVE a little looooooooooooooooooonger. So if you want to smoke, take it to the open air. Example: If you had to pass gas, would you stand in a crowned room for everyone to smell it. No… You would go into the restroom. They both stink, so take them both to their appropriate places. American Blue Tip Cigs (dot) Com http://americanbluetipcigs.com