Dear Editor,Regarding the article, Smoking continues despite policy, I don’t have anything against smokers, I used to be one.
Thankfully I was able to give it up years ago, which is good since I’ve been recently diagnosed with asthma.
My issue with smoking is that it really does have a direct effect on the people around you who are exposed to it.
In the article Ms. Hillman stated that she does not believe “that students who congregate in a designated area are harming the environment or others.”
I work in Rogers-Stout and the area behind the back of the building seems to be the mecca for many smokers.
At any given time, there can be at least five to six people smoking in that area and sometimes more.
This is extremely frustrating for the people who have offices located at the back of the building and can’t escape the smell of the smoke, even with the windows closed.
And if you’re trying to exit through that door to get to the library or the Culp Center, you have the choice of either walking through the wall of smokers or going all the way around the building and exiting through the front.
So it may not be harming, but it does have an effect on some of the people in and around the building.
Another student made the comment that “I smoke in front of buildings all the time and no one has said anything to me”.
The point is that they shouldn’t have to.
In other words, those who cannot tolerate being around cigarette smoke have no choice but to be inconvenienced by those who choose to disregard the no smoking policy.
You see, you do have a choice: you can choose when and where to smoke. I can’t choose not to have asthma. I wish I could.
I also don’t have the option of whether or not to become physically ill from the smell, it just happens.
Off campus, I can usually avoid areas where I know people will be smoking. But that’s not the case when I’m trying to get in and out of the building I work in.
I understand a person’s right to smoke. It’s also my right to breathe.
As I stated, I don’t have anything against people who smoke. I don’t think they’re purposely trying to be mean or oblivious to the rights of others.
I didn’t when I smoked. I just feel that it’s something they don’t think about.
If you see one or two people smoking on campus, it’s easy to justify, “Well, they’re doing it so why can’t I?”
But, from the side of those of us who physically cannot tolerate the smoke, to tell us that it’s our responsibility to approach people every day in the doorway and ask “Could you please not smoke in the doorways? It’s filtering into the building”. or “Could you please move so I could get in and out of the building without having to inhale your second hand smoke?” is exasperating to say the least.
If I could put aside my asthma to accommodate your addiction, I might consider it. But I don’t have that choice.
Thanks for hearing me out.
-Kathi Horne
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