Published 2008-05-13T00:00:00Z”/>

The Academic Senate is being blinded by a cloud of smoke into considering ignorant mandates for the university.

The proposed revisions to the university smoking policy the Academic Senate will vote on Thursday are unrealistic, idealistic and don’t truly address the problem.

If enforced, revisions would completely ban smoking on campus and would fine smokers for lighting up.

In the 2007 student election, almost 34 percent of the votes supported a complete ban on smoking and almost 30 percent supported the creation of designated smoking areas.

But in actuality, less than 5 percent of the entire student body cared enough to vote to support a ban.

So how can the university push a measure that such a small portion of its students supports?

When San Francisco State adopted a no-smoking policy in 2004, the university established designated smoking areas. However, at Chico State, no such areas will be provided if the policy is approved.

San Francisco State president Robert Corrigan addressed the exception by saying complete prohibition does not work.

“Denying those who smoke any outlet is likely to prove counterproductive and prompt both resentment and violation of the policy,” he said. “Further, mutual respect, a cornerstone of our campus values, leads us to seek a solution that addresses the concerns of all involved.”

If Chico State wishes to seek an effective solution to student health, it should address smoking head-on.

First-hand smoke is the root of the problem, and prevention and assistance programs would be more effective than a campus ban.

After all, the current smoking policy requiring smokers to stand 25 feet away from building entrances is seldom obeyed, probably because it is easily violated.

Many ashtrays are within a few feet of doorways, which means that is where the cigarette has to be extinguished. And in rainy weather, smokers have no covered smoking area that adheres to the 25 feet of limitation.

The proposed policy revision also calls for fines similar to skateboarding and bicycle riding violations around campus.

Does that mean we would be calling on University Police to cite smokers? What a great use of time and resources.

The Campus Alcohol and Drug Education and Student Health centers should unite to promote a smoking awareness campaign that could have positive effects on students’ health.

Discounted nicotine patches could be offered, as well as assistance programs and classes to help students quit smoking.

No one will argue smoking is good for this campus, but denying students the right to make that decision on their own destroys the mutual respect this university should strive for.

<strong>Editorial Board</strong>Ashley Gebb, managing editorOlga Munoz, news editorMike Murphy, opinion editorRyan Van Fleet, sports editorLeslie Williams, entertainment editorCari Radford, features editorDavid Flannery, photo editorGenny McLaren, chief copy editorChelsea Accursi, online editor

<strong>Related links</strong><a href= “http://media.www.theorion.com/media/storage/paper889/news/2008/05/14/News/University.Considers.Smoking.Ban-3370742.shtml”>University considers smoking ban</a>