Spring Break
Blowing Smoke
Issue date: 9/24/09
On Wednesday evening, the student organization Hopkins Kicks Butts met to discuss its proposal that the University move ashtrays away from the doorways of campus buildings in order to prevent secondhand smoke from overwhelming students on their way to classes
The organization, also known as the Hopkins Anti-Tobacco Coalition, first discussed moving ashtrays with administrators almost a year ago - and yet nothing has been done.
The lack of change does not bode well for the group's ultimate goal: a complete ban of smoking on campus.
The Coalition has plenty of ammunition to support such a demand. They have collected signatures and plan to get more, including those of Hopkins athletes.
They have a recent report from researchers at the University of California about the power of smoking bans to reduce the risk of heart attacks.
They probably even have an ally in Michael Bloomberg, the New York mayor and Hopkins alum who was recently lauded by the Lasker Foundation for his work in instituting a progressive smoking ban and reportedly has plans to increase its scope.
As a private university, Hopkins certainly has the right to ban smoking on campus. But perhaps we do not need to go that far just yet.
Smokers: The News-Letter will continue to support your right to smoke on campus. In exchange, please respect the rights of non-smokers.
Why don't you voluntarily move away from the doorways while smoking? Standing there and allowing smoke to enter campus buildings and the lungs of your non-smoking peers will only ignite tensions that will ultimately result in a campus-wide ban.
And hey, while you're at it, try to quit.
The organization, also known as the Hopkins Anti-Tobacco Coalition, first discussed moving ashtrays with administrators almost a year ago - and yet nothing has been done.
The lack of change does not bode well for the group's ultimate goal: a complete ban of smoking on campus.
The Coalition has plenty of ammunition to support such a demand. They have collected signatures and plan to get more, including those of Hopkins athletes.
They have a recent report from researchers at the University of California about the power of smoking bans to reduce the risk of heart attacks.
They probably even have an ally in Michael Bloomberg, the New York mayor and Hopkins alum who was recently lauded by the Lasker Foundation for his work in instituting a progressive smoking ban and reportedly has plans to increase its scope.
As a private university, Hopkins certainly has the right to ban smoking on campus. But perhaps we do not need to go that far just yet.
Smokers: The News-Letter will continue to support your right to smoke on campus. In exchange, please respect the rights of non-smokers.
Why don't you voluntarily move away from the doorways while smoking? Standing there and allowing smoke to enter campus buildings and the lungs of your non-smoking peers will only ignite tensions that will ultimately result in a campus-wide ban.
And hey, while you're at it, try to quit.
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