Policies ‘trading one vice for another’

Duplicity is rife within the bureaucratic beast that is the University of South Dakota’s policy-making.

It seems that trying to appeal to popular opinion; the university is likely to anger some students. Initiatives proposed by the Student Government Association, aims to eliminate smoking on campus, there are restrictions in certain areas, such as parking. It became apparent that the University of South Dakota to develop a sort of moral compass, or at least a logical methodology for approaching this kind of topic in the future.

There is already a current policy in place that prohibits smoking within 25 feet of the property of the university. So, now social pariahs smoke, which should be made to meet in exile? And in this, that the university can not be infringing on the rights of students who by age and want to smoke?

While it is true, everyone deserves the right to clean air to breathe, I think it’s worth a minute of exposure to second hand smoke when entering or leaving the building, is unlikely to cause any long-term adverse health consequences is the subject of a general courtesy, not a dilemma which calls for administrative responsibility.

Also, what was the angle of SGA in the development of such a proposal? If this were to involve more people are living on campus, the idea seems counter-intuitive, is that it will just trade one vice for another. USD recently announced that it would allow alcohol in the apartment-style housing complexes next fall. So, you’re going to invite Keith rock the party, but Joe Camel can not hang?

When smoking is known to cause lung cancer and liver failure drinking, it does not seem reasonable to assume that a “better” or “more acceptable” than others in terms of physical harm that may result from their use. If the smoking ban passes, U.S. dollars will do just that – while condoning drinking ban on smoking.

And cigarettes and alcohol are addictive and physically harmful, and both are illegal have, in accordance with their legal age limits. The vast majority of students enrolled in college more than 18 years, but most students living on campus are underclassmen and are unlikely to be able to legally buy and consume alcohol.

Thus, we can conclude those USD students, suggesting that they are law-abiding, would be more likely to smoke cigarettes and not drinking. The university should consider how their decision on the proposal will affect his students, most of whom are paying good money to be here, and many of them have decided to exercise their right to smoke.

The essence of the matter is that students should have a voice in decisions that affect them directly. SGA did the right thing, when a survey of students regarding their proposal. USD should follow suit and begin campus-wide vote before making a decision on such a widespread problem. Smoking is probably the same as physically harmful as drinking water, but it is legally entitled to the age of the people, so if they choose.

Thus, if the university decides that they will be more tolerant stance drink, rationally speaking, they should have at least tolerant of smoking policy. Let’s hope that the forthcoming update of the strategic plan the university will come up with a new values and perspectives that will help USD a successful transition into the future.

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