Anti-smoking unlikely to succeed

Last spring, SGA launched a smoke-free campus initiative after conducting a survey that showed 74 percent of the 634 students polled supported the idea. Accordingly, SGA extended their research to find at least 774 other colleges and universities across the nation that have banned tobacco from campus. It seems that SGA is more determined than ever to effectively ban smoking on campus, yet there is no definitive answer as to whether or not people will follow the rules.

As it is, people continue to smoke on the green and in front of lecture halls. Though it is common courtesy to be mindful of others when smoking, most people enjoy their cigarettes where they are most comfortable. Although the survey indicates that more than half of the students polled support the smoking ban mandate, smoking is not necessarily an easy habit to kick. The bottom line is that cigarette smoking is not a crime. People will continue to smoke, regardless if the smoking ban exists. Imposing a full-force campus-wide prohibition might not be worth the trouble because people will still light up. Moreover, this forces cigarette smokers to take their habits to other places, opening up the possibility for congregations of smokers rather than smokers spreading out.

SGA should have approached this initiative followed with a test on certain areas of campus to see if students truly notice a difference with the smoking ban. For example, it would be more effective to have East Campus or part of the Green with the smoking ban, followed with a student poll.