Consider a smoke-free campus
Kari Albsmeyer
Issue date: 5/6/09 Section: Opinion
The Western Illinois University Office of Public Safety (OPS) Web site has a disclaimer that states, "Western Illinois University's Office of Public Safety provides a safe and secure environment for our campus."
Although many students may feel safe on campus, they need to be aware of a hidden danger they are being exposed to multiple times every day they are on this campus. Many people are not aware of the fact that there are over 50 cancer-causing chemicals in secondhand smoke.
Recently, Illinois became one of 35 states to implement a statewide smoking ban. Many other colleges and universities are following suit.
There are currently 305 private and public colleges and universities in the United States that are 100 percent smoke-free with no exemptions. There are another 49 that are 100 percent smoke-free with minor exemptions, meaning there are a few select areas where smokers can light up.
Western should follow suit and add to the over 350 campuses in this country that are smoke-free. Although students are not allowed to smoke within 15 feet of all building entrances, it never fails that smokers huddle near the door to get that last puff in before running to class or to stay dry and warm from the elements of the weather.
Students should be able to walk to class and breathe clean air without worrying about developing lung cancer from all the secondhand smoke. Not only should students be able to breathe clean air, they should not have to deal with the repulsive smell of a group of smokers or even worse, getting caught walking behind a smoker.
There are so many dangerous chemicals in cigarettes and secondhand smoke. All one needs to do to realize how dangerous cigarettes really are is watch the Truth ads, which many smokers find offensive.
The mere fact that cigarettes cannot be sent through the mail due to the harmful chemicals inside them should caution anyone from breathing something like that into their own body.
Although many students may feel safe on campus, they need to be aware of a hidden danger they are being exposed to multiple times every day they are on this campus. Many people are not aware of the fact that there are over 50 cancer-causing chemicals in secondhand smoke.
Recently, Illinois became one of 35 states to implement a statewide smoking ban. Many other colleges and universities are following suit.
There are currently 305 private and public colleges and universities in the United States that are 100 percent smoke-free with no exemptions. There are another 49 that are 100 percent smoke-free with minor exemptions, meaning there are a few select areas where smokers can light up.
Western should follow suit and add to the over 350 campuses in this country that are smoke-free. Although students are not allowed to smoke within 15 feet of all building entrances, it never fails that smokers huddle near the door to get that last puff in before running to class or to stay dry and warm from the elements of the weather.
Students should be able to walk to class and breathe clean air without worrying about developing lung cancer from all the secondhand smoke. Not only should students be able to breathe clean air, they should not have to deal with the repulsive smell of a group of smokers or even worse, getting caught walking behind a smoker.
There are so many dangerous chemicals in cigarettes and secondhand smoke. All one needs to do to realize how dangerous cigarettes really are is watch the Truth ads, which many smokers find offensive.
The mere fact that cigarettes cannot be sent through the mail due to the harmful chemicals inside them should caution anyone from breathing something like that into their own body.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Margaret
posted 5/06/09 @ 3:01 PM CST
Are you kidding? I'm a smoker, and the way you talk about me is repulsive. You act like we aren't humans too. If you don't like the smoke, tell the smokers. (Continued…)
Dani
posted 5/06/09 @ 6:27 PM CST
You might as well make driving on campus banned too with all the chemicals in the exhaust.
Tom Paine
posted 5/07/09 @ 8:22 AM CST
All of Kari's articles were based on her perfection and the subhumanity of other people and opinions--usually over molehill issues like this. Not a lot of anger and hatred, but cool indifference to anyone but herself. (Continued…)
Timeshare Market Pro
posted 5/07/09 @ 2:18 PM CST
I really dont understand this. How is a smoker supposed to smoke if everywhere they go there is a law. Why aren't cigarettes just outlawed completely so we dont have to worry about where we can and where we cannot smoke!?
Tom Paine
posted 5/07/09 @ 3:16 PM CST
If our Wise Solons do come out for prohibition de jure, all I can say is if the "War on Drugs" isn't expensive enough on US taxpayers along with the curtailment of civil liberties (think paramilitary raids by many law enforcement agencies), I can't wait to see the stupidity unleashed by enlarging the "war" to 20% of the population. (Continued…)
Joe filmore
posted 5/08/09 @ 3:13 PM CST
Miss Kari has obviously not taken the time to think this position through much less do any research on the ramifications of her completely self-centered ideal. (Continued…)
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