LETTER: A sincere take on smoking

To the editor:

Yesterday I received a handout inviting me to join with others to ban tobacco on campus. I am completely opposed to this ban.

It is true, second hand smoke is hazardous and it smells terrible. Sure, I don’t like to walk in someone’s smoke trail. But I also don’t like walking behind some who recently “passed gas.” Should we ban flatulence on campus. Maybe we should ban beans that cause gas. I also don’t like studying near someone that has there iPod so loud that I clearly hear what they are listening to. Should we ban iPods? NO. I am perfectly capable of walking somewhere else.

It isn’t like we don’t know that the TSC patio is where we usually find people smoking. If you don’t like it–avoid the TSC patio. Mostly, I disagree with the ban because those who choose to smoke are generally courteous. One day, while walking in a remote part of campus, my wife and I found a lady who was smoking. Not only did she apologize for the smoke, she also said that she tries to smoke where people aren’t.

Let’s not be so closed-minded and understand that they have a legal right to do what they do, just like I have a legal right to pass gas or destroy my hearing.

Dan Gudmundson