Issue date: 12/10/09 Section: Letters

I was very intrigued by your Nov. 19, 2009 article "Smoke-Free Campus No Longer Necessary." As an off-again, on-again smoker I appreciate the understanding the author creates through their many points. I, however, do not agree with their recommendations to the issue of not needing a smoke-free campus. People have either chosen or not chosen to smoke for quite a few years, but with the smoking ban in restaurants and bars starting sometime this June, smokers are getting discriminated against more and more by these restrictions to the places where they can smoke.

I hardly see anyone smoking on campus, but one of the people I did see was smoking right next to a nonsmoking sign, and I couldn't help but laugh. The article's recommendation to create more non-smoking areas isn't a solution because there are hardly any places to smoke as it is. Off the top of my head, the only place that we're allowed to smoke on grounds is in front of the old library. There are many entrances to the library, so people that don't wish to risk inhaling any of that second hand smoke can just choose a different entrance.

Nonsmokers that complain about the smell of smoke need to make better choices and decide against walking near a person that is getting their daily fix of nicotine. We all have to live together on this planet, so it would be nice to try and get along.

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