Why smoking on campus should not be banned
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By Duwi Riyadi Putra
In my first year of college, as most of us do, I managed to ask some of the seniors how they survived their freshman year.
At first, I expected great insights in response to my question. But, surprisingly, many of them just frowned and replied simply, “You’d better stay away from the cafeteria or student lounge. Many of the smokers are there.”
I came to realize that smoking on campus has been a huge issue at my university and, I believe, in other universities as well. Having known that secondhand smoke ― people breathing in other people's cigarette, pipe or cigar smoke when they do not smoke themselves ― poses twice the health risk as the smoke poses to active smokers themselves, most understand the dangers of smoking in public places and they believe it should not be permitted.
However, apart from that, many argue that the smoking ban does not essentially solve the real problem which lies in the fact that there are not sufficient areas set aside for those who smoke.
I have found that smokers actually are aware that smoking on campus can cause discomfort to non-smokers, or even cause serious illnesses to other students.
However, they contend that they have no better alternatives to take than smoking in areas that they think might be ``appropriate,” such as the cafeteria or student lounge. Bearing in mind both sides of the debate, I wholeheartedly disagree with the smoking ban policy for two main reasons. Firstly, as I have previously mentioned, a smoking ban does not essentially solve the real problem. Take, for example, the premise that, “Smoking carelessly on campus can cause discomfort and illness to non-smoker students.”
I put the word ``carelessly” in the premise since those students who support the smoking ban think that students or campus employees who smoke are not supposed to do so in public areas such as the cafeteria or student lounge. On the other hand, those who smoke tend to think that their actions are not entirely wrong as there are no areas provided for them to smoke on campus. Hence, the real problem here is the role the campus board plays in providing a win-win solution for all concerned, which is to provide smoking areas that are away from heavy foot traffic, yet within a reasonable distance of the buildings where classes are held.
However, some skeptics might argue that providing smoking areas on campus can be considered a form of support for the students’ smoking habits. In fact, it is not. If anything, providing smoking areas can help the campus board easily regulate the cigarette waste produced by smokers because they are gathered in specific areas where trash bins can be provided.
Secondly, I think we all agree that to smoke or not to smoke is everyone’s right, notably college students. Smoking is not a crime and allowed by the law ― although it is not a desirable habit to acquire in the society ― as long as those students are aware of the health risks involved and clean up after them.
In looking at this problem, we cannot simply see smoking as a “`bad” habit. It is a lifestyle that we cannot deny. When someone wants to smoke in their own homes, it is their choice and responsibility and there is no single entity which has the authority to prohibit them. That is something campus officials should recognize and accommodate.
The writer is an exchange student at Chonnam National University and can be reached at: duwi.riyadi@ui.ac.id.