Campus tobacco ban provides no solutions for users
A heated wave of discussion on the potential 2015 Tobacco Ban has washed over University of Idaho’s campus. For a while, a wall featured in the Idaho Commons depicted various opinions on the tobacco ban, which was put in place by the UI Economics Club.
Different ideas need to be put up, before the thought of banning tobacco entirely from campus happens. As of now, people who choose to smoke on campus must do so at least 25 feet away from buildings, according to university policy.
We can all attest that this regularly does not happen. The reason so many people smoke so close to the entrances of buildings is because the cigarettes disposal is much closer than 25 feet away from buildings. People don’t want to venture far from where the disposal is, especially if they need only a quick fix.
There is concern for the large amount of tobacco waste littering the streets. At the beginning of the year, freshmen volunteering with Serving Your New Community were shocked from collecting huge amounts of tobacco trash across campus. Littering anywhere is never wanted, and especially on our beautiful campus.
A way to fix this problem is to provide more cigarette disposals. There is hardly enough trash cans for the huge amount of campus waste, let alone cigarette disposal units. If there were more disposals provided, we would see a decrease of littering on campus.
While tobacco use can cause serious health problems for the user, many students also fear secondhand smoke exposure. Students who refuse to use tobacco become frustrated, because they believe their health is being put at risk. I am not saying I disagree, secondhand smoke can increase the risk for heart or lung cancer.
While the idea may be concerning to some, it isn’t at all prevalent on our campus. I have been in no encounter with clouds of smoke from someone using tobacco while wandering about campus. And I have rarely passed by anyone who does use tobacco. Everyone has their own experiences, but mine have been positive and relatively smoke free.
Furthermore, it’s easy enough to leave an area with smokers around. If you can’t leave the area, just politely ask someone if they mind putting out their cigarette. Instead of telling someone they can’t do something at all, and depriving them of their freedom to make their own choices, why not work with tobacco users on campus to implement a better tobacco policy?
Just because one person doesn’t believe in the use of tobacco, doesn’t mean another person is in the wrong for wanting it in their life.
Finally, UI currently has problems when it comes to people smoking closer than 25 feet to a building. If the current policy isn’t working, why would a complete tobacco ban be any better?
As an alternative to banning tobacco completely, our school should try setting up seminars, meetings, rallies, etc., about the health benefits of not using tobacco. Instead of taking away someone’s right, inform them of what they are doing to their bodies.
People only change when they realize they have a problem, not when they are being forced to stop. Now isn’t the time to ban tobacco at UI, now is the time for another solution.
Emily Lowe can be reached at [email protected]