Every summer as I work, I see tour groups pass through Bracken Library full of eager, young future Ball State University freshmen, ready to strike out and write their own story in the book of life. I also see their parents, who are excited at the fact that their little Susie or Timmy is finally grown up enough to leave the nest and attend a major university. I wonder how either would feel if they knew that Ball State has been a battleground on the smoking debate for the past few years.
Well, it appears the battle may be drawing to a close. President Jo Ann Gora and the Board of Trustees soon vote on whether or not to have Ball State join other universities across America as a smoke-free campus. If passed, the smoking ban that is heavily favored among students would eliminate smoking on all university property. As an advocate against the smoking ban, I have given up.
And it wasn't due to political issues or peer pressure; it is due to smoker irresponsibility.
As everyone knows, this ban wasn't the first measure the campus took to curb smoking on campus. The current regulation is no smoking within 30 feet of any building door. Simple enough of a rule, right? Well, apparently not.
Just a few days ago, I was leaving Cooper Science building, when I happened upon three nursing students smoking. After I got over the irony of a nurse smoking, I noticed where they were standing. They were FIVE FEET FROM THE DOOR! Well within the mandatory distance. I got onto them and they moved, end of story, right? Not for me!
This event made me notice that I was fighting a hopeless cause. As a non-smoker smoking advocate (yes, we do exist) I have to put up with more scrutiny than a smoker. I have to come up with a reason why I believe the way I do. I can't fall back on "because I smoke," as an excuse. I have to bring up freedom and the Constitution and civil rights as reason for my belief. Well I'm here to tell all of you smokers, I'm done fighting for you!
If these students can't follow a simple rule, then maybe they deserve to be ostracized. Maybe they deserve to have that cigarette ripped from their mouth, and be told "No! Bad student! BAD!" Maybe, it's justice. Maybe, I have been wrong to fight for ungrateful smokers.
The student government probably feels the same way. They held a poll to finally decide to back the smoking ban. Fortunately, I don't have to go that far.
The rules could have worked. We could have had smoking allowed on campus for many years to come. Many believe we should designate a smoking area. In all honesty, do you really think it would work? We had a smoking area; it was 30 feet away from every door on campus. That didn't work. This won't either.
I am appalled to see freedoms taken away, but when the freedom is taken for granted, sometimes we as people need a refresher course on what they mean. So, smokers, enjoy it while you can, and "Smoke if ya' got 'em!"
Richard Conwell is a senior information systems major and wrote this 'Your Turn' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
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