Pennsylvania Kicks Cigarettes Off College Campuses

Reader Comments

Back to blog

It is pretty sad that you are a senior and have not yet managed to grasp the basics of grammar. Perhaps you should spend more time in the classroom and less time outside smoking.

l of PA 10:58AM January 31, 2011

I smoke, and I never started smoking because I thought it was "cool" or that it would make me "popular". I smoke for my own reasons, I think it is stupid of you to paste a label on all of the smokers in the world because you feel like it. Yes it is unhealthy but it is a choice that I have made as in individual. Are you also starting that because I smoke that I am now unintelligent and unhealthy? That is INCORRECT. Even Albert Einstein, the most intelligent man in the world smoked and he knew all the facts about it too. His doctor and his wife told him not to and he still did. I don't believe any of your points are valid and I think that you have no hard proof of this topic. Think twice about how a smoker is going to feel about your post.

McKenzie of PA 1:13PM November 12, 2009

I find it a very wise decision to ban smoking on the ENTIRE campus. Let's face it, smoking has no purpose beyond keeping the adiction, why should we accept that the healt of nonsmokers gets damaged because of that?

When people smoke outside the problem is not as big compared to when people smoke inside a poorly ventilated building but it still damages the health of all the people who walk there and people who are extra sensitive to smoking, like asthmatic patients, get annoying symptoms for many hours after only breathing in a small amount of smoke.

There are other important advantages to such a ban.

It sends a clear signal that smoking is not appreciated which changes the image of smoking from 'cool' and 'making you popular' to 'lame' and 'making you 'impopular'. This will help to prevent people from starting with smoking and will help smokers to quit smoking.

Many people started with smoking because they let themselves be influenced by the commercials of the tobacco industrie, politicians didn't fight against the culture of smoking because they were being influenced by the lobby of the tobacco industry and because a majority of them (the politicians) also used to smoke.

Fortunately nowadays most people, at least the educated and intelligent people, are aware of the unhealthy effects and other disadvantages of smoking and many people don't accept it any more that smokers smoke whereever they like whenever they like.

Peter 1:24PM November 12, 2008

i am currently a senior at a PA state school and smoke. nothings changed they just took out a benches here and there. there is nothing they can do, it is way to widespread, this law will be forgotten soon enough. what are they going to do hire a smoking patrol to give out tickets? ha ha what a dumb idea

Paul of PA 12:42PM October 21, 2008

The truth is simple, nicotine is addictive. It is shown that it will be harmful for your health in the long run. It is easy to see how policy makers would like to place smoke-bans on campus, including PA public universities. However, freedom or regards aren't to smokers in this case scenario. "Smoking will kill you" and "it's not fair to breathe smoke when I don't smoke" are the two strongest points for why anyone would ban smoking on campus. Sure it is an unhealthy decision to smoke-unless you have Tourette Syndrome, I heard it helps ease the outbursts. I can also agree that non-smokers shouldn't have to breathe in the more polluted secondhand smoke. I am a smoker. We all don't like to have smoke blown in our face because it is disgusting and infuriating. Secondhand smoke is unfair . On the other hand, neither is taking away a smoker's smoke bins because cigarettes will be thrown on the ground. Also, people are going to smoke anyways and you took away their special smoke spot! PA and every other campus, put up smoke stations for the smokers away normal travel. This will keep the place clean. If you try to enforce it with security you will only be taxing your available man power, when security should be making sure no one is caused undue harm. Be realistic, nicotine is addictive, maybe in the future colleges and universities will help supply students with subsidized quitting aids. Everyone be safe and try to be rational and not enforce your beliefs so strongly on others. This is America, act accordingly.

Hamilton Smith of AR 8:22PM October 08, 2008

The ban of smoking on the campus is a crazy idea....If people are old enough to smoke and wish to do so...they should be allowed to...While in college where else would they be able to smoke???....They should be able to freely smoke on campus...and it should have been banned based on majority vote...Not just one person's decision....If someone chooses to smoke let them have the right to....I mean as long as they are not smoking inside the buildings it shouldn't be banned.....If people are willing to pay for them then they should be allowed to smoke them.....Let the people have a say!!!!

T-tha1991 of NY 12:09PM October 01, 2008

As a registered respiratory therapist and an intensive care nurse I applaud PA's campus smoking ban. I have seen horrible deaths and even worse, horrible lives, all ravaged by cigarettes. In reality though, I believe this ban won't make a dent in smoking. As a graduate of Penn State I know that there were hardly enough on-campus security guards to answer valid calls let alone to enforce a smoking ban. The only way this will have a positive effect on smoking is if security becomes a pain in the ass and also re-arranges their priorities. Maybe I'll contract with the state to be the anti-smoking police and hand out tix in wxchange for a cut of the fines !

mike of NJ 9:50AM October 01, 2008

It's good to see a Educational Institute get tough! We smokers even though we have quit still need to know it's our decision to get hooked not the societies. We are not victims. But if we make sound chooses as to quit than seek help, maybe there is good for us out there. Plus we will save a lot of money in the long run.

Doing war on the tobacco industry is a good thing as well. I seen places sell cigarettes to minors just to get the sells. Our systems need to be monitored and governed much better, or we,as a nation just need to do away with tobacco products altogether!

Raymond Michael Walsh of UT 4:50PM September 29, 2008

First things first, let me emphasize that I DO NOT smoke cigarettes. However, I am a former smoker of 7 years, and I was able to successfully quit the habit. That said, it is absolutely ludicrous for PA to pass legislation to ban smoking from 14 state colleges. Simply put, it is HARMFUL to someone's body to quit smoking abruptly as nicotine is as equally addictive as many illicit drugs including heroin. This ban came with no forewarning for the students who attend these 14 colleges. How is a smoking student supposed to take a test or even pay attention in class while battling an addiction this strong? Moreover, I would agree that smoking indoors traps secondhand smoke and is dangerous and unfair to the nonsmoker who unwillingly inhales the smoke. However, secondhand smoke outdoors (unless you are in close proximity to a smoker) is not dangerous to your health. In fact, the pollution given off my local factories and automobiles is more dangerous than secondhand smoke since the carcinogens are given off at a much larger volume. Is the next step in the clean air program to shut down local industry and ban automobiles? I suggest to have several but few designated smoking areas across campus that are far enough away from local student passage. This seems more plausible and should appeal to both the smoker and the nonsmoker.

Brad Stonesifer of PA 2:05PM September 29, 2008

Add Your Thoughts
Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.

Back to blog

On Education

Report cards may come out only twice a year, but education news happens every day. Here is where U.S. News writers grade the latest developments, from school districts banning the game of tag to congressional debates that affect college affordability. Check regularly for the most recent updates.

advertisement