Oregon State University Smoking Ban

It seems that Oregon State University is taking a bold leap into the "betterment" of the student body. In a recent article from OSU's signature periodical - The Daily Barometer - it is revealed that the university is beginning an 18-month process to ban smoking on campus.

"It is an emotional issue, number one," explains Lisa Hoogesteger, director of the OSU Smoke Free Review Task Force. "And number two; from a data perspective, it is clear that no amount of secondhand smoke is safe"

I don't smoke, but on behalf of the entire smoking community I'd like to apologize. I'd like to apologize for the fact that Ms. Hoogesteger is so butt-hurt about people's own individual choices. An emotional issue? The only people that get emotional about smoking are the people who don't smoke and make it as hard as possible for the people who do not to be able to. 

"But we ultimately determined that everyone should have a universal right to clean air. It's a give and take." Yes, and people like you seem to be taking an aweful lot. First the smoking sections in airports and restaurants went away, then in bars, then in all buildings, and now people can't even smoke outside. If you really want to crack down on what's polluting our air, why not take on the big guns? Why not ban cars from campus? That campaign will cut down on pollution, parking issues, and students getting hit when they walk carelessly onto the road without looking both ways. Why not ban alcohol? We all know the trouble that drug gets everyone into. If the university is so concerned with the health and well-being of the students then why not change the food options available on campus? Why not force everyone to go to the rec center? 

The article goes on to explain that not all tobacco products will be banned from campus, just tobacco in smokable forms. This proves that it's not the health and well-being of the users that's of concern, but only the suffrage of those who don't smoke. This ban will not force people to quit smoking, but rather just have them switch to chewable tobacco. Then it'll be only a matter of time before they ban chewable tobacco because of all the spit on the ground. 

Sure, second hand smoke is unhealthy but it would take an outrageous amount of constant inhalation to even remotely effect the health of an individual. A brief wiff of smoke that's been deluted by the open air is a miniscule enough intake for the human body to not be affected in the least.

As I mentioned above, I am not a smoker. But neither am I one to judge others for doing so or one to argue anyone from making that choice. Oregon law is that smoking is prohibited within 10 feet of a building's entrance. If the university's proposal was to extend that distance then it would be a perfectly reasonable middle ground between smokers and non-smokers. instead, what the university is proposing is an absolutely ridiculious, non-compromising, piece of legislation that is based solely on the agenda of people who put their interests before the interest of others.