As a smoker, I feel compelled to finally speak up and no longer be silent about this issue that has now raised itself. This ban on smoking on the Portland State campus is both dangerous to the school and damaging to its smoking students. It is dangerous to this wonderful university on the grounds that smokers like me now have an incentive to leave.
We, as a group of individuals, almost universally accept designated smoking areas and smoke-free zones. Sure, they hinder our ability to fulfill our right to use a legal product as we see fit, but it does smell horrible to others and most people don’t want to smell it night and day. We can see, as respectful members of the community, that other people also have rights, and that there needs to be a way for both smokers and non-smokers to be a part of a community that is diverse in that way.
But this ban signals to me that non-smokers are no longer even trying to be respectful. We smokers are not wanted here anymore, and at least I would prefer if you (universal “you”) were at least honest about your distaste for me. I am happy to just go somewhere else, where I can do my thing in peace and relative acceptance in a community that does not mind me, but I have a right to know when I am not wanted.
This banning of smoking tells me that I need to file my money to some other college that accepts smokers or work on funding a university that will accept smokers. We are a part of the community and we, as individuals, do have a right to not associate with those who do not like us.
For my part, I did want to attend a graduate program here, but this ban does dissuade me from doing so. Without remorse or thanks I must say, I will put in my last two terms and be done with this place. I hope other smokers do likewise. But this gets at the heart of the problem for us as students too. We smokers also require an education, and by banning us from the university we are disenfranchised from the only thing that can secure us a good future. My ability to do my best for my community is now diminished by this ban.
This ban hurts everyone, and it destroys individual prospects at a time when we need them most. Hopefully this too, like most things, shall pass. I just hope it does so soon, for the sake of PSU and myself.
As a non-smoker, I am thrilled PSU has banned smoking on campus. Banning is a growing trend across the country not only on campuses, but in work places as well- all for very good reasons. PSU serves its students well by preparing them for this and it is shown that most smokers adapt quite well. Its unfortunate that someone would actually put smoking over attending a school that bans it, but I suppose this demonstrates the level of control that such an addiction has over people. Very sad.
I think the Clean Air Corridor was enough. The only problem I saw with smoking on campus was when smokers would gather in those areas and create those huge smoke clouds everyone would have to walk through on their way to class. Now that we have that area smoke free, I hardly really notice smokers. I see people walking through campus with a lit cigarette but that’s all. I think the main issue was to prevent huge gatherings of smokers near door ways and outside buildings.
Yeah, you totally have the right to blow that cancer in our air. This is a total violation of your right to pollute the earth.
And they aren’t banning smokers from the University, don’t make stuff up. Go smoke at home.
No, people with asthma have a right to enjoy walking through campus without being sent into coughing fits more than you have a right to partake in your addiction. I don’t have asthma, and even I hate walking through the park blocks. Smokers are not considerate, they do not stay in designated areas, and they throw their butts on the ground. Good riddance.
Paul, I was a student at PSU when smoking was allowed in the CLASSROOM and I’d have to sit through 50 minutes of breathing tobacco fumes while trying to take notes and concentrate on a lecture, even though the wafting smoke made me feel sick. Asking someone in the bad old days not to smoke near me always got a look of dismay that I’d have the bad manners to even ask such a rude thing of them. Smokers never had a single bit of consideration for how they affected me and never once did I have one of them ask if I minded if they smoked (oh, a couple of times they did ask that as they were lighting their cigarette, as if it were a foregone conclusion that of course I’d say “sure, go right ahead and smoke”.
Its too bad for folks like you who don’t mind ruining your health and shortening your lives, but I sure mind you doing that to me with your second hand smoke stinking up my breathing air!
I was a student at PSU when smoking was permitted anywhere at anytime, including even in classrooms (back then you could actually smoke on a passenger jet plane!). Taking notes in class was difficult with somebody smoking in the seat next to you and the student lounge always had tobacco smoke filled air in it. I’m glad today’s PSU students don’t have to endure your polluting their immediate environment and if you smoke you need to quit. I’ve seen the horrific consequences cigarettes brought to people I knew who back in school, some of whom died from them.
I was a student at PSU back in the 1960”s when smoking was permitted anywhere at anytime, including even in classrooms (back then you could actually smoke on a passenger jet plane!). Taking notes in class was difficult with somebody smoking in the seat next to you and the student lounge always had tobacco smoke filled air in it. I’m glad today’s PSU students don’t have to endure your polluting their immediate environment and if you smoke you need to quit. I’ve seen the horrific consequences cigarettes brought to people I knew who back in school, some of whom died from them.