Quote :

"CHAPEL HILL - A campuswide smoking ban at UNC-Chapel Hill will take effect Jan. 1. Chancellor James Moeser announced the ban, which would create a 100-foot no-smoking boundary around all university buildings, in e-mail sent to faculty, staff and students Monday. 'The practical effect of this University policy is that the campus will be smoke-free,' Moeser wrote. The university will offer smoking cessation assistance to faculty, staff and students. The ban will be enforced by the community. 'If you are comfortable doing so, simply request that people who are smoking within 100 feet of university facilities extinguish their tobacco product,' Moeser wrote."

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/higher_education/story/746103.html

I don't smoke, but I see this as a personal freedom--and political--issue. Should UNC be allowed to ban smoking in this way? It seems to be a bit much.

10/25/2007 7:28:47 PM

that's such bullshit. i would openly disobey if i smoked regularly and attended unc.

10/25/2007 7:30:06 PM

Quote :

"which would create a 100-foot no-smoking boundary around all university buildings"

There are plenty of places at UNC that are more than 100 feet from another building. Why should I have to walk through a cloud of smoke every time I leave a building?

[Edited on October 25, 2007 at 7:33 PM. Reason : .]

10/25/2007 7:33:04 PM

^

Quote :

"'The practical effect of this University policy is that the campus will be smoke-free,' Moeser wrote."

10/25/2007 7:35:40 PM

hopefully they'll ban fat people next

10/25/2007 7:37:08 PM

10/25/2007 7:40:19 PM

10/25/2007 7:43:05 PM

Quote :

"Why should I have to walk through a cloud of smoke every time I leave a building?"

i'm a smoker, but i try to be respectful of non smokers in situations like this

however its a bit of an exaggeration on your part...its not like theres a 100 foot cloud of smoke around every building that you have to deal with

also fuck UNC

10/25/2007 7:44:38 PM

Quote :

"hopefully they'll ban fat people next"

They're always standing around, blocking hallways. Very inconvenient.

10/25/2007 7:45:41 PM

I have no problem with people smoking, but I'd rather not have some asshole blowing it all over me if I can avoid it.

Thus why I have no problem with smoking at bars, but smoking on campuses does kind of bother me. Seeing as how there's evidence to show that second-hand smoke causes health problems, I don't see how this is a bad thing.

10/25/2007 7:47:14 PM

Quote :

"hopefully they'll ban fat people next"

10/25/2007 7:47:36 PM

walkin slow down sidewalks drivin up health care costs with the die a beat us

10/25/2007 7:47:47 PM

^x6 Ha! LOL.

Quote :

"also fuck UNC"

[Edited on October 25, 2007 at 7:49 PM. Reason : .]

10/25/2007 7:48:06 PM

Well yeah, fuck UNC (forgot to add this).

10/25/2007 7:50:14 PM

Does this mean UNC is no longer a part of Tobacco Road

10/25/2007 8:03:43 PM

what a nice way to pay homage to the nice, hardworking tobacco farmers of this great state.

10/25/2007 8:03:55 PM

I know right, we should be concerned with any person in an industry thats product is a net negative on society!

10/25/2007 8:06:20 PM

I BET THEY STILL SMOKE POLE AMIRITE?!?!?

10/25/2007 8:06:41 PM

^yeah they'd never ban that at UNC...it would be worse than prohibition

10/25/2007 8:07:25 PM

how is this legal?

10/25/2007 8:08:06 PM

I think the proper question you're looking for is how is this constitutional

10/25/2007 8:10:14 PM

Quote :

"I know right, we should be concerned with any person in an industry thats product is a net negative on society!"

yeah fuck a wisconsin dairy farmer! All that cholesterol in their cheese is making America fat and cloggin' their arteries.

BTW, more people die of heart failure than smoking.

[/thank you for smoking]

[Edited on October 25, 2007 at 8:10 PM. Reason : .]

10/25/2007 8:10:29 PM

Do you know what "net negative" means?

^ and what does that last comment even mean? People die from heart failure DUE TO SMOKING, among other things.

10/25/2007 8:11:57 PM

Its not really a new sentiment in the area. Chapel Hill already has its own restrictions, I'm sure orange county probably has some to some degree too, and alot of restaurants are voluntarily smoke free.

Quote :

"Restrictions on Smoking in Public Places The Orange County Board of Health has regulations restricting smoking in certain places open to the public. Smoking is prohibited in service lines, elevators, public restrooms, polling places, buses and taxicabs, public areas of galleries, libraries and museums when open to the public, seating areas of theaters, sports arenas and convention halls, public meeting rooms, and common areas in multiple-unit residential facilities. Restaurants with a seating capacity of 30 or more should have designated a nonsmoking area consisting of at least 25 percent of their indoor seating capacity. Info: Orange County Health Department, 245-2411. In addition, a Town of Chapel Hill ordinance restricts smoking in various places including retail stores, many restaurants, Town meeting rooms, etc. For more information including a brochure, please call the Town Manager’s office at 919-968-2743. "

http://www.ci.chapel-hill.nc.us/index.asp?NID=95

And Orange County already has nearly one hundred voluntarily smoke free restaurants.
http://www.co.orange.nc.us/health/SmokeFreeRestaurants.asp

10/25/2007 8:13:14 PM

I'm somewhat torn on this issue. On the one hand a smoking ban would have a positive impact on health. But on the other hand I don't think you should tell people that they can't smoke, provided that they keep the second-hand smoke away from those who don't want to be exposed to it. So really, as long as you smoke in your own home or smoke in a wide-enough area that diffusion will protect others from an unhealthy dose, there shouldn't be a call for a ban.

In that case, I guess I support this ban.

10/25/2007 8:24:22 PM

Quote :

"Does this mean UNC is no longer a part of Tobacco Road"

winner

also, it's bullshit

and also, fuck carolina

10/25/2007 8:25:43 PM

^^ Fattening foods is also a net negative on society. Lets ban them and put the local bakery out of business.

Shit, children's cartoons are a net negative, lets ban that.

While we're at it, sexual intercourse outside of marriage is a net negative, lets ban that.

10/25/2007 8:38:50 PM

I guess left-wing "tolerance" doesn't apply if what you're smoking is legal

10/25/2007 8:44:29 PM

now that's just silly

there's tons of hipster liberal beatniks who smoke

and there's tons of conservative tea totalers who don't

[Edited on October 25, 2007 at 8:58 PM. Reason : +]

10/25/2007 8:46:55 PM

Quote :

" ^^ Fattening foods is also a net negative on society. Lets ban them and put the local bakery out of business."

False.

At the very least, there is some nutritional value in all but the worst offending foods.

Quote :

"Shit, children's cartoons are a net negative, lets ban that."

False.

Quote :

" While we're at it, sexual intercourse outside of marriage is a net negative, lets ban that. "

False.

10/25/2007 9:00:02 PM

Quote :

"I BET THEY STILL SMOKE POLE AMIRITE?!?!?"

I clicked on this with the intention of posting the exact same thing - even down to the AMIRITE.

Fuck you spöokyjon.

10/25/2007 9:07:46 PM

Since I carry concealed, I checked out the Chapel Hill Police website to find out if there were any special restrictions in the area. The website gave me a number to call and the officer, when I presented my questions, became very irate saying, "Chapel Hill prohibits concealed carry on all public property."

So I said, "ok, appreciate it."

"You know, we consider sidewalks and streets public property, so I recommend you don't bring it at all."

"Right, thanks." *hang up*

Seriously, fuck Chapel Hill and the giant cocks they rode in on.

10/25/2007 9:17:34 PM

Quote :

"^^ Fattening foods is also a net negative on society. Lets ban them and put the local bakery out of business."

No, fattening foods in excess and combined with no physical activity to offset the extra calories taken in is a net negative on society.

Quote :

"Shit, children's cartoons are a net negative, lets ban that."

How the hell do you even figure this?

Quote :

"While we're at it, sexual intercourse outside of marriage is a net negative, lets ban that."

Wrong again, dipshit. Unprotected sexual intercourse with untrusted strangers that have STD's they neglected to mention to you is a net negative.

What a fucking surprise; one giant straw-man after another while going down a slippery slope. Nobody's called for a world-wide ban on cigarettes. You could still smoke if you wanted to, all that's changed is that you can't do it within 100ft of the campus.

[Edited on October 25, 2007 at 9:22 PM. Reason : better wording]

10/25/2007 9:21:02 PM

^^I believe that's also true for State.

10/25/2007 9:31:24 PM

If memory serves, it's illegal to carry onto any school campus anyway. I believe federal law prohibits the carrying of firearms on educational premises. So any school-based policies doing the same are redundant; if you get caught with a gun on campus, you'll be charged with a felony in addition to violating university policy.

10/25/2007 9:34:56 PM

Orange county is a bunch of assholes when it comes to firearms. I had a friend try to get a pistol permit and he needed to get 3 character witnesses to fill out paperwork for him and then go through an excessive waiting period.

Doing the same thing in Wake county requires going downtown, saying "Me want gun", and then coming back 5 days later for your permit.

10/25/2007 9:43:03 PM

I'm down with a reasonable restriction on smoking in places that can't reasonably be avoided -- say, the areas right in front of doorways to campus buildings. A hundred foot radius around every building, however, strikes me as an unnecessarily strict measure intended to simply ban smoking in a de facto sense, which clearly most of you got right away.

At any rate, since I'm opposed to the prohibition of tobacco, I'm opposed to this measure. Also, thinking about taking up smoking again whenever I'm on Chapel Hill's campus, which is almost daily.

10/25/2007 9:44:38 PM

Quote :

"Orange county is a bunch of assholes when it comes to firearms. I had a friend try to get a pistol permit and he needed to get 3 character witnesses to fill out paperwork for him and then go through an excessive waiting period."

same for Pitt County

10/25/2007 9:52:02 PM

Quote :

" The ban will be enforced by the community. 'If you are comfortable doing so, simply request that people who are smoking within 100 feet of university facilities extinguish their tobacco product,' Moeser wrote.""

I'm surprised no one touched on this. Seems almost like this ban is more symbolic than anything. I mean, how will this play out, someone asks someone to not smoke in front of a doorway or whatever, they refuse and you actually expect that people will call the cops?

10/25/2007 9:57:38 PM

Quote :

"If memory serves, it's illegal to carry onto any school campus anyway. I believe federal law prohibits the carrying of firearms on educational premises. So any school-based policies doing the same are redundant; if you get caught with a gun on campus, you'll be charged with a felony in addition to violating university policy."

You are correct sir, but I didn't call campus police, I called Chapel Hill police and they informed me that the policy held for the entire municipality.

It is largely irrelevant. As I understand the law, cities cannot prohibit persons with a CCP from carrying in public at any location not covered by the law. For example, they can tell me not to carry in the Chapel Hill town hall, and an individual can tell me not to carry in their store or residence, but they can't regulate me when I'm passing through town (but not on campus).

10/25/2007 10:24:19 PM

Might I add that the campus gets littered with thousands of cigarette butts a day, and also poses a fire hazard. Who knows how many fires have been started by carelessly discarded cigarettes. They have had to ban pine straw for landscaping because it goes up like jet fuel during a drought.

10/25/2007 10:42:04 PM

Quote :

"I BET THEY STILL SMOKE POLE AMIRITE?!?!? I clicked on this with the intention of posting the exact same thing - even down to the AMIRITE. Fuck you spöokyjon. "

FYI, spookyjon is mocking you.

[Edited on October 25, 2007 at 11:11 PM. Reason : dsf]

10/25/2007 11:11:42 PM

the entire state of Washington (along with a few other states) are entirely smoke-free

that is to say, there is NO smoking anywhere in ANY building accessible to the public, and no smoking within 25 feet of any door or any window. this includes all bars, restaurants, coffee shops, stores, etc. etc.

its great.

smokers around here are like an endangered species. you see them hiding behind bushes, in alleys, beside dumpsters... sheepishly getting their fix. even outdoor events, people just dont smoke. theres always a couple that do, and the all look so low-class. they either are fat, look uneducated, or inbred, or look like felons.

...

anyhow, you all better believe it, its going to happen in your state sooner rather than later. im sure the southeast will be the last to go (and maybe along with the rust belt states) ... but it will happen.

just a matter of time.

FTR, I used to be against banning smoking for the exact same reasons some of you here expressed. i felt like it was an infringement on "rights" ... but no more. now that the ban is in effect, it's wonderful. i dont have to smell that shit anymore. you can go to a nightclub without having to throw your clothes in the HazMat bin afterwards.




[Edited on October 25, 2007 at 11:43 PM. Reason : ]

10/25/2007 11:34:29 PM

North Carolina:banning smoking::Washington:banning Microsoft software

10/25/2007 11:37:26 PM

this isn't a personal freedom issue. smoking affects OTHER PEOPLE AROUND THEM. i'm all for a ban on public smoking. tired of walking along and suddenly smelling a big cloud of shit

10/26/2007 12:15:41 AM

OMFG IT SMELLS SO BAD

Why not just ban BO and farts in public while you're at it?

BUT ITS UNHEALTHY TOO

OK, let's ban McDonald's, it smells like shit and is unhealthy as well.

BUT OMG WHEN OTHER PEOPLE SMOKE IT'S DANGEROUS FOR ME

The same is true of people driving SUV's, and hell, they're more likely to injure the non-user than the user (to say nothing, again, of the smell of the fumes).

Quote :

"you can go to a nightclub without having to throw your clothes in the HazMat bin afterwards."

I am so fucking tired of this line I might honest to God vomit. One load through the wash. That's what it takes. Or were you planning to wear your clubbing clothes several days in a row without cleaning them?

---

The question is, ultimately, whether or not smoking within a hundred feet of a building can be made into a public health concern, in the sense that it threatens the health of non-smokers. I am eager to see the study that suggests that somebody smoking twenty feet away from you outside in the open fucking air presents a real health risk from secondhand smoke.

[Edited on October 26, 2007 at 12:31 AM. Reason : ]

10/26/2007 12:29:25 AM

Biggest non-issue evar.

10/26/2007 12:35:46 AM

This from the guy who told me to "Think globally, act locally" when I said that the NCSU ACLU was lame for complaining about the NPO.

[Edited on October 26, 2007 at 12:44 AM. Reason : You also said a number of things far more colorful than that]

10/26/2007 12:44:36 AM

^^ Competing for stupidest post "evar."

Quote :

"that's just silly there's tons of hipster liberal beatniks who smoke and there's tons of conservative tea totalers who don't"

marko

Yeah, but conservatives aren't the ones banning and attempting to ban smoking.

[Edited on October 26, 2007 at 12:51 AM. Reason : .]

10/26/2007 12:50:56 AM

[sarcasm]They're Nazis! After all, it was Adolf Hitler himself who introduced one of the first comprehensive, national smoking bans in the modern world... [/sarcasm]

10/26/2007 12:56:10 AM