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Staff takes a stand on smoking ban

The Tan & Cardinal discusses opinions on the possibility of policy that bans smoking

The Problem

Smoking is undoubtedly an unhealthy habit. It has been linked to cancer and other health problems — but does that warrant a campus policy against it?

There are entire national campaigns geared toward college-age students trying to convince them to quit smoking or abstain from taking up the habit at all.

Currently, students and faculty are permitted to light up on campus, but they must be 20 feet away from any building.

If a student were to receive a smoking violation under the current policy, they would receive a level II violation. This is the same punishment as breaking visitation in a dorm or misusing your Cardinal Card.

If a student refuses to comply with the smoking policy, they could receive judicial referral. But more likely than that, they would just be asked to move away from the building or put out their cigarette.

The question of secondhand smoke comes into play, but if the smokers stay the proper distance away and are outside, then secondhand smoke doesn’t become an issue.

Our Opinion

The Tan & Cardinal staff is currently made up of both people who smoke and people who choose not to smoke. Our staff is against a ban that would prohibit tobacco products and smoking on campus.

The current rule provides an appropriate compromise for smokers and non-smokers alike. Those who do smoke are free to make the personal choice to do so, but non-smokers are not unfairly forced to be around secondhand smoke.

In general, we agree that non-smoking students’ health should not be put in jeopardy by those who do choose to smoke.

We have been taught for years about the negative effects of smoking. The warning label is clearly displayed on every pack of cigarettes and distressing commercials come across our televisions warning against smoking.

Yet despite all of that knowledge, people continue to smoke, because that is their choice.

Making a policy that prohibits smoking on campus is not going to improve the health of students and suddenly make the smoking population realize they should stop.

If the new change in policy were to bring about any difference, it would likely just result in people becoming more apt to find new ways to smoke.

The simple fact is that if someone wants to smoke, they will find a way to do so.

There are already other policies that technically prohibit students from participating in otherwise legal activities because of campus bans.

Let’s consider Otterbein’s controversial campus-wide ban on alcohol that prohibits students from consuming alcohol in their on-campus apartments, even if they are the legal drinking age.

Our campus may be labeled a “dry” campus, but it’s no secret that some students still find a way to consume alcohol on school property regardless.

While drinking and smoking are two separate activities, the way that people respond to bans of the activities are similar.

Choosing to smoke is a personal choice and should be left as such. Students don’t need a policy to dictate personal choices regarding their own health. If students are smoking in a place that doesn’t affect others, as the current policy mandates, then why is a new smoke-free policy needed?

College is supposed to be a student’s home away from home. Students live, sleep and eat here. If they smoke, then they should be able to smoke near their home.

If the goal of this new policy is to improve student health, then why doesn’t the university make a policy against junk food, not dressing warm enough when it is cold outside or not getting enough sleep? If a policy against smoking would be made in the name of student health then where would it stop?

Our Solution

At the end of the day, an individual’s personal choices prevail. When people have a will to do something, such as smoke, they will find a way to do so.

A habit like smoking is a lifestyle behavior. An individual’s lifestyle doesn’t typically change because of the imposition of rules. Rather, this kind of change occurs because of an individual’s own desire to change.

More education on the dangers of smoking could be informative, but it most likely wouldn’t be telling people things that they don’t already know.

We believe that the most effective way for the university to foster a healthier lifestyle would be to create an environment that inspires students to seek self-help and provides them with the resources to make healthy changes.

A program to help smokers who want to quit would be a way to encourage healthy living without restricting the rights of the students.

If students were breaking laws, smoking where they should not be or littering the paths of Otterbein with ashes or cigarette butts, then of course, action should be taken to correct it. But if it is a question of personal choices, then let the smokers smoke.


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