I am currently studying abroad in Scotland, and I have been following the AUSG presidential contest with some interest. I wish to comment on the absurdity of the proposed campus-wide smoking ban.
Some of my friends in favor of the ban have argued that the AU administration and the Student Government should seek to “facilitate” a healthier environment on campus. I would point out that “facilitating” and “compelling” are two very different things; and to claim one is doing the former while actually attempting to do the latter is both insulting to students’ intelligence and presumptuous of those wishing to represent us.
If the University had an interest in facilitating a healthier campus environment, then perhaps the administration would actually enforce the existing 25-foot ban so students do not breathe in tons of smoke as they enter or leave buildings.
As much as I enjoy living off-campus because I can live in an apartment where none of us smoke, I would argue that universities should not ban smoking campus-wide, as students have the legal right to buy cigarettes when they turn 18.
Likewise, I oppose “dry campus” policies, which, in my experience living for two years on campus at AU, have only encouraged students to drink clandestinely. Many students living in the dorms also turn to other drugs like marijuana and some even smoke it in their rooms, which, of course, really disrespects their roommates.
Attending the University of Edinburgh this semester, where there is no such drinking policy or a smoking ban, I see firsthand how my British friends have grown up in an environment in which they are exposed to alcohol earlier than many U.S. students, and as a result, by the time they enter university, most already know their limits and know to drink responsibly without the administration devoting its time, funds or energies to supervising their behavior.
I do not smoke. I find the smell atrocious, and it amazes me that anyone would still choose to smoke with what we know about cigarettes today; but I respect students’ right to smoke if they choose to do so.
I consider certain AUSG candidates’ talk about what they think should or should not be banned both presumptuous in attitude and irrelevant in practice. Students who are addicted to cigarettes will find ways to smoke on campus regardless of a ban.
Rather than grandstand about what new policy they would propose, it would make more sense to support actually enforcing the current 25-foot ban. It makes no sense to waste time talking about how we would go about implementing a campus-wide ban. Let’s enforce the existing 25-foot policy.
It is reasonable for non-smoking students to not want to have smoke blown in their face upon leaving or entering a building on campus. It is reasonable to have designated areas for smokers.
It is unreasonable, impractical and smacks of excessive self-importance for any candidate or University official to commit to a smoke-free policy for the campus, when we already have a ban in place that is not enforced.
Ryan Hunter
Class of 2013
