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TOYCEN: Implications of the campus-wide smoking ban  

Under new rules at Lawrence, people are no longer allowed to smoke within the "academic necklace" of campus. Although it is completely acceptable to pass this rule -- Lawrence is private property -- there are some implications that need to be brought to attention.

First, the biggest problem with the ban is that short of someone vigilantly patrolling the affected areas and accosting individuals who break the rules, very little can be done in the way of enforcement. . . .

Several of my friends -- we were drinking a lot -- were perplexed when I disagreed with the ban. My friends countered that it did not affect me, so why should I care? I don't smoke cigarettes. But at the same time, there are many people at Lawrence who choose not to drink and thus have to put up with damage done to Lawrence because of alcohol; I'm sure there are a number of people on this campus who teetotal and would have no qualms with ridding Lawrence of alcohol.

At this point, an alcohol ban is impossible. A smoking ban was feasible because it affected a minority, and a majority has no problem with it. A freedom is a freedom, and one that existed before no longer does. People should consider this no matter what their vice is.

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