The student news site of Marquette University

Marquette Wire

The student news site of Marquette University

Marquette Wire

The student news site of Marquette University

Marquette Wire

Letter to the Editor: Keep Policies in Mind Before Lighting Up

To the Editor:

Before fading away from foot traffic, you may have noticed chalking around some of the buildings on campus marking the prohibited smoking distance. In addition, in recent editions of University News Briefs there was a reminder about the current smoking policy, which states that smoking is prohibited 25 feet from all building entrances and balconies.

With colder weather upon us, those who smoke may be feeling the need to find shelter from the cold and the snow by moving closer to buildings and building entrances. However, there is a reason this policy exists; it is to comply with state laws and to support a healthy and safe campus environment.

We would like to emphasize the “healthy” part of the policy. As non-smokers, we do not enjoy inhaling secondhand smoke as we try to enter a building or breathing the secondhand smoke that drifts up into our residence hall rooms. In addition, secondhand smoke can be hazardous to students and staff on campus with certain health conditions such as asthma and other respiratory issues.

According to the Surgeon General, breathing even the smallest amount of secondhand smoke can be harmful to your health. Secondhand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals. Hundreds are toxic and about 70 can cause cancer. Secondhand smoke causes an estimated 46,000 premature deaths from heart disease and an estimated 3,400 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States among nonsmokers (Centers for Disease Control).

Smoking is a choice, not a right.  However, we along with everyone else at Marquette have the right to enter the building of our choice without having to breathe in secondhand smoke. Please be respectful of those who choose not to smoke by observing the smoking policy on campus.  If you are unsure of the how far 25 feet is, a good rule of thumb to follow is if you are standing next to an ashtray you are probably in compliance with the policy.

 

Sincerely,

Kristina Stemper and Analyn Kusper

On Behalf of The Marquette Chapter of Spark

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