Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
America is not a democracy.
Whether or not you agree with that statement, it was the subject of a lecture given by Duke University’s political science Prof. Michael Munger on Monday, Jan 26 at the University of Maine.
The hour-and-half seminar, named “Why the United States Is Not a Democracy … and Shouldn’t Be! (With an Application to Campus Smoking Bans),” delved into the particulars of the American government, specifically the way legislation in our country is passed.
Munger, who ran for governor of North Carolina as a Libertarian candidate this past election, stressed the U.S. is not a true democracy. He argued decisions are made by few, but affect many.
The last 10 minutes of the lecture were devoted to the viability and fairness of public smoking bans.
Smoking bans are being considered at colleges across the United States, including the ongoing Tobacco-Free Campus Committee at the University of Maine. When asked what he thought of TFCC’s initiative, Munger said, “Public smoking bans will drive the problem in other directions . it is a limitation of individual rights.”
He acknowledged the justifications of those in favor of a smokeless campus, suggesting people cannot ignore a reduction in litter and a healthier quality of life.
The Tobacco-Free Campus Committee proposed an initiative to ban tobacco on UMaine property. A survey conducted by Student Government last April attempted to measure student response to the initiative. More than 1,000 students participated. The survey found 29 percent of students support a smoke-free campus.
Along with banning tobacco, the TFCC has been seeking grant money to fund campus-wide programs to encourage smokers to quit.
“[Should] the Constitution be broken in order to protect the individual?” Munger said.
Not everyone in the crowd agreed with him.
“Dr. Munger was an intelligent and engaging lecturer on a fascinating topic . My support for a smoking ban on campus is unwavering, however. Dr. Munger failed to mention recent research on the health effects of second-hand smoke in outdoor settings,” said Sharon Tisher, a professor in the Honors College.
Recent research conducted by Stanford University revealed that being near a smoker outdoors typically resulted in the inhalation of about 50 times more toxic material than clean air.
Critics contend that these tests measured an extended exposure to second-hand smoke of at least an hour, which make it hard to relate results to campus situations, where second-hand smoke is usually a brief encounter.
