Editorial: Proposal takes anti-smoking rules too far

In May a proposal to ban smoking on campus passed through the College Senate to continue as a recommendation to the school administration.

Current school policies allow for smoking on campus as long as smokers stand a mandated 15 feet away from buildings.

The basis of the argument for the smoking ban is that the policies in place aren't working.

The main problem isn't the smoke but the enforcement. The proposed smoking ban would necessitate more enforcement than the current constraint.

So instead of increasing the restrictions, why not do more to enforce those that already exist?

We've all seen people smoking right up against buildings on campus, despite signs that clearly indicate the rules.

We question how a complete smoking ban would be enforced if the current restrictions are not.

An idea that was suggested as an alternative to an all-out smoking ban is an anti-smoking educational campaign for the campus.

It doesn't seem like this would be worth the effort or resources. Many of us have been inundated with "Kissing a smoker is like licking an ashtray" billboards and shocking advertisements showing an actual smoker's clogged artery or smoke-damaged heart. The effects of smoking should be painfully clear to everyone.

But as evidenced by the amount of people who still choose to smoke, educational campaigns aren't entirely effective at preventing smoking — so let's not waste our money.

To be frank, the proposed smoking ban is ridiculous. Just because people break rules, the solutions do not always have to be extreme. People speed on the highway frequently. Should we just abolish roads?

There's a way for smokers and non-smokers to coexist on campus and the current proposal isn't it.