How far will hard-core anti-smoking activists go to force their will on the public?
That’s a rhetorical question.
Obviously the small, vocal minority that does not agree with an adult’s right to make use of a legal product like tobacco will stop at nothing to make others obey its iron-clad will.A prime example is a series of forums held at three of four Grant MacEwan College campuses during the daytime Monday.
Students were invited to the forums set up by the college students’ association.
The topic chosen by that association and promoted in posters was: ‘Do you want a completely smoke-free campus? Join the SA for discussions on whether or not Grant MacEwan College should become a completely smoke-free campus.’
Right now there is no smoking allowed inside any Grant MacEwan campus building, not even in the downtown campus bar. Nor is the sale of tobacco allowed on college campuses.
But that sweeping ban doesn’t satisfy the zealous, anti-smoking complainers.
Nope, a few people are beefing because students are gathering outside in the cold to smoke near the college entrances. Many would prefer these students be forced completely off the college property.
Now, any right-thinking person would assume this topic of outdoor smoking must be a burning issue in order for there to be official forums set up by the students’ association. But that’s not the case.
The forum was spearheaded by one member of the students’ association, vice-president of student life, Crystal Brown.
Vice-president of student life? Now doesn’t that have a nice, Orwellian ring to it?
Brown told me she’s heard complaints about people smoking outside on campus and it’s come up casually at some student meetings she’s attended.
Those who complained said they didn’t like having to walk through smokers trying to sneak a smoke outside. They also complained about butts scattered around.
A student association straw poll saw students split on a ban “about 50-50,” says Brown.
Armed with that information she arranged a forum. Student forums, she says, are held once per semester.
The downtown forum drew about a dozen students.
I don’t get it. Why would the students’ association waste time and money to hold a formal forum on something that is not even a big issue with most students?
What’s more, if the association wanted to strike up a discussion on smoking, why would it load the question toward a call for an outdoor smoking ban?
Instead of asking whether students want a full smoking ban, why not ask if they desire separately ventilated indoor smoking rooms?
Maybe it’s because the person who championed the forum has her opinion on the issue set in stone.
“My personal opinion is smoking in public violates the right of anyone who wants to avoid second-hand smoke,” Brown admits.
Ah, so there’s the smoking gun.
God forbid that a non-smoker catch even the tiniest whiff of cigarettes in the outdoors. I wonder how some of these smoke-fearing people live if they’re so concerned with encountering the tiniest bit of toxic chemicals.
Do they stay off busy city streets for fear of being subjected to toxic emissions from buses and cars? Do they turn down invites to outdoor barbecues where someone might have the gall to fire up an evil butt?
The bottom line is this push by a vocal minority to force its will on a silent minority is ridiculous. We all know smoking is harmful. The jury, however, is still out on second-hand smoke. Some studies suggest the threat from that is vastly exaggerated.
Aside from all that, people who attend Grant MacEwan are adults who should be free to make their own choices.
The average age of a full-time student is 21 and part-timers are 29 or 30 on average, according to Grant MacEwan media spokesman David Beharry.
They pay hard-earned money to attend the school and should be treated as adults.
They should, as a bare minimum, have the right to indulge in a cigarette outdoors on campus.
Brown says there is no push by the students’ association or the college to pursue a ban at this time.
I’d be skeptical. The hard-core, anti-smoking activists have never lacked zeal when it comes to forcing their will on others.
Originally written By KERRY DIOTTE
For the Edmonton Sun
