Time to piss off everyone. I've always been amused at people's desire to slowly kill themselves with cigarettes. Nothing says, “I'm cool” quite like actively trying to get lung cancer. I know it's your “hobby” (or whatever you need to justify acquiring foul breath) and maybe you are trying to quit but that nicotine is just too sweet to give up but SECOND HAND SMOKE KILLS PEOPLE.

Luckily people are out there helping to protect the non smokers from accidentally inhaling the carcinogenetic exhaust. Such lung guardians have banded together to gather enough signatures (over 10% of the current full time students) which creates a referendum to make SECOND HAND SMOKE IMPOSSIBLE ON ALL UNIVERSITY PROPERTY.

YEAHHHHHH.

I've been following this event via Facebook and creepily overhearing other people's conversations in order to bring the arguments to the spotlight.

Why for banning smoking on all campus property (including the gazebo, campus grounds, dorm grounds, Maxwell Field, etc.)?

Second hand smoke KILLS. Yeah, that's why nobody can smoke at Bars anymore. I love it. Now they only smoke well ventilated areas…OUTSIDE.

People don't obey the 25 foot rule. YEAH those bastards, they would definitely obey a “get the hell off campus” rule.

They smoke in large groups, on common path ways, and on the way to class. When I pass by I could inhale it. YEAH I HATE HOLDING MY BREATH WHEN I PASS THEM. They always walk slow too because they have shitty lungs. Make them smoke all the way over across the street in front of other people's houses where nobody walks to class from! That'll teach ‘em!

The wind is a major issue. Just because they are 25 feet away, doesn't mean the wind won't blow it in my face. WHITE RABBIT WHITE RABBIT! GET AWAY FROM ME!

Sitting next to a smoker in class could trigger my asthma. Don't you dare cause me to consider finding another seat and don't even think about causing me to use my inhaler. That is for emergency use only not allergic reactions.

You're missing the point, SECOND HAND SMOKE KILLS no one should be forced to deal with second hand smoke on campus! Crossing streets kills people too. I foresee an increase in cars striking students. Smokers are obviously stupid anyways right; they are more likely to get hit by a car. Maybe this isn't a good idea.

If smoking is so bad that it shouldn't be done outside, who are we to
tell them where to go. Why use the nearby community as a trash dump
for our "unsightly and harmful" activities? Are there going to be
cigarette butt containers everywhere off campus? Who's going to pay
for those?

But hey, this is just my opinion; please voice yours this week during elections so that campus policy is not determined by the possibly passionately misdirected few but rather a reasoned majority.

Reach Carl Hunter at CRHunter6218@winona.edu