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Campus-wide tobacco bans, which have been proposed to the University of Maine Student Government and President Kennedy, are leaving students with mixed emotions.
The Tobacco-Free Campus Committee, co-chaired by Lauri Sidelko, has submitted a modification on the current tobacco regulation which, if accepted, could eliminate all tobacco use on campus as soon as next year.
According to the University of Maine Student Handbook, the current regulations state that smoking is not allowed inside any university vehicle or building, including residence halls. Smoking is also prohibited within 20 feet of building entrances.
If the new amendments to this rule are accepted, student fees may drop as insurance costs and property damages go down, but the cost to enforce it may also make a difference.
To those who smoke, this is little consolation. Travis Bourassa, a mass communication major, said, “I do not want there to be a ban,” as he stood among a small group of friends, finishing a cigarette outside of Fogler Library. “If I couldn’t smoke between classes,” said Bourassa, “I would want to smoke in class and then I wouldn’t be able to concentrate.”
Another man standing nearby said, “It’s bulls—-, [the university] is trying to infringe on our rights!”
“The University can’t even control illicit substance abuse, how can they control legal substance abuse? There is no conceivable way.” Tom Barrows, a 23-year-old anthropology major said.
“If they did ban smoking on campus, I would continue to smoke until they absolutely enforced it; until they take the cigarette out of my mouth,” said Bourassa.
Others felt differently; Chris Pendagast, a junior civil engineering major, said, “Personally, I’d love it.” Some students, including a friend of Pendagast’s have serious reactions to cigarette smoke.
“Banning indoor smoking is good enough, there’s enough fresh air for me to feel comfortable and not worry about smelling like cigarettes. I don’t [smoke], but who am I to tell people they can’t?” said Steve Smith, a senior business major.
Kaj Thomsen, a junior environmental science major, said the ban would be a good thing. “I’m sick of taking trails to class where I have no choice but to walk directly behind someone who is smoking and being forced to suck in all their second hand smoke. [A ban] would be better for them, maybe they’ll quit.”
Bangor Daily News