Smokers and non-smokers gathered at the L.A. Pittenger Student Center Wednesday to share their thoughts about the campus-wide smoking ban that is being discussed by Ball State University's administration.
Advocates from both sides of the issue addressed the Student Government Association members and visitors about the pros and cons of the ban.
Wade Guisewhite and Alison Scribailo, speakers for Students Against Smokefree Ball State, said it was important to clarify smoking is not illegal and is not against any local, state or national laws.
"We support smoking cessation classes, but we don't support eliminating it outdoors and having a smoke-free campus," Scribailo said. She said having a smoke-free campus would be difficult to enforce, and the key is to enforce smoking 30 feet away from doors before doing it on a campus-wide scale. Keeping students from smoking would divert police attention from other, more important things, she said.
Scribailo said smoking creates a subculture and those who do not smoke discriminate by saying smokers have lower GPAs and do other drugs.
"The real issue is because it's a discomfort, but is it OK to limit people because of it?" she said. "Smokers are not demons, or horrible people; they're like you and I."
Tara Presley, Katie Robertson and Bingbing Chu, speakers for Smokefree Indiana, countered those arguments by saying they were not trying to alienate anybody, but provide smokers programs and help them be healthier.
"We're trying to grant everyone the right to breath smoke-free air," Robertson said. "This is a place to start to promote healthy habits. Why not start now, why not start with this?"
To get across some of their ideas, the Smokefree Indiana advocates gave a PowerPoint presentation about the effects of secondhand smoke.
Some points the students made were that two-thirds of students and staff are non-smokers and potential graduates should be aware of the expectations and costs related to smoking at the workplace.
After the discussions, the senators voted on a referendum to send to University Computing Services so students can vote on whether Ball State should be a smoke-free campus or whether students can continue smoking.
SGA President Betsy Mills said the referendum was important and never before in her four years of being on campus has she remembered a time, besides SGA elections, when the organization has actively sought every student's voice.
"It seems small, but it's so big," she said. "Get your voice in this and vote because it's really, really important."
Students can vote on the issue beginning at 8 a.m. Monday and ending 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
