Letter to the Editor: Western should adopt a non-smoking rule on campus

Smokers have been a constant issue on campus.  Clear signs have been posted in many visible places.  However, such efforts have been to no avail.  This issue still needs to be resolved.
First of all, this is not just personal preference.  Inhaling second‑hand smoke is scientifically proven to damage personal health.  It is not right to force me and the rest of the student body to breathe toxic air.  Because of the sheer number of smokers, and the fact that they are often a few feet away from doors, it is almost impossible to simply relax and enjoy fresh air.  Ignoring the health effects, cigarette smoke just ruins any beautiful, refreshing atmosphere outside.  There is something about that pungent, lung‑burning smell that squashes the opportunity to enjoy the season.
If Western is not to be a smoke‑free campus, then at least the rule of no smoking within 100 ft. of any building should be enforced.  It is very common to see people breaking this rule.  Western controls the issues that they want to, such as parking regulations; why can’t someone enforce one simple non‑smoking rule?
There are several easy solutions.  First, fines are a great motivator.  It would not need to be a large fine, but if someone were charged $5 for every violation, people would start to listen.  Also, the smoker islands in the Valleys are effective; large groups of people always congregate there.  I think it would serve to create alternate places just for smokers with benches, etc, like the smoker islands so smokers can be comfortable and not mind actually going there.  There are other possible answers to this problem, but I stress that a solution needs to be reached.

—Jessica Taylor
Sophomore