BALLARD: ASUN has no right to ban smoking on campus

And so it begins. It's that time of year when ASUN realizes that it hasn't done anything so far this semester and, like a procrastinating student who hasn't written a paper yet, it thinks of something really bold in order to make a splash. And just like that student who waits until the last minute, ASUN hasn't really thought it through.

For those readers who don't know what I'm talking about, ASUN is attempting to ban or limit smoking on campus.

ASUN is now putting together a student committee in order to truly understand the smoking situation on campus and what should be done to change it.

This group, disguised as a fact-finding initiative, is really anything but. The name of the group itself has the phrase "Smoke-free Campus" in its title. This is not a fair or balanced fact-finding endeavor. This is an underhanded attack on the student body and the university as a whole.

According to ASUN, 20 percent of the student body smokes. I would argue that it's a lot more and question where they got these numbers. But, because 20 percent of students smoke, this new research group will be made up of 20 percent smokers.

How ingenious you are, Connect Party, for devising this scheme! When trying to pass legislation, of course you want to have the majority be the people who are pro-change. Otherwise, nothing will get done, and you'll eventually end up in the forgotten masses just like Emily Zimm-whatever.

As a party elected on the ideas of tradition and pride at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, shame on you for the political hypocrisy.

If we want to talk about tradition for a moment, let's not forget that our university has always been a place for people to do what they please. We're not a tyrannical private school that imposes ridiculous rules on our students. The students who come to UNL do so because they want to have an experience, one of freedom and open-mindedness. That is what college is for: experimenting, learning and developing who we're going to be when we get out of here.

If smoking is banned at a public university, you are contradicting the whole idea of being a public university. We receive state funding, as well as our tuition as students from all over the country. The state of Nebraska has not banned smoking outside. Nor has the United States of America. We're condescending those who make their livings deciding what's right for this country and state by debating a law which does not exist. This notion is extremely arrogant and self-righteous.

If you're walking to class and someone is smoking in front of you, it might be bothersome. That's a given. But there is no difference between the sidewalks of campus and the sidewalks of any major city in the world. People have the right to do what they please with their bodies. Other people are always going to have a problem with other people doing so. But, that's not their prerogative. There is no reason to sugarcoat the real world for our students who will then be brutally awakened when they leave this place.

Not thinking that the world affects this college is a mistake. But, the bigger mistake is not thinking this college affects the world around it. Hypothetically, if we banned smoking, who would enforce this preposterous rule? Would it be the University Police, already overburdened by the alcohol problem that no one wants to talk about on campus? Would is be the public safety guys chasing after me in their brown suits as I light up?

Because I'm going to continue to smoke, I just want to know who I should be looking out for.

What about local businesses? The misguided mindset that a smoking ban on campus will not affect Kabredlo's, Jake's, U-Stop, Cliff's and any other business that sells tobacco, is simply wrong. These businesses thrive on the American notion that people can do what they want to relax. They know smoking isn't good for you, but it's not their call to make – or ASUN's for that matter – whether it should be legal. In this time of economic struggle, striking a blow to local businesses will certainly be a mistake.

If it is only 20 percent of students who smoke, there's got to be at least that, if not more, professors who smoke. These faculty are old school and from a time where liberties weren't taken away at a student government's leisure, especially not in a place like college. They smoke, like everyone does, to relax their brains and increase their focus. Nicotine has that effect.

Nebraska is one of the lowest paying gigs for an entry level professor in the Big 12, if not the entire United States. I know that because ASUN used it as a reason to increase my student fees. Do you think that a world renowned professor who happens to smoke is going to want to come to Lincoln, Neb., and be told that the student government says they can't smoke? Not even outside?

I doubt it.

This is a place of free thought and hard work. My understanding is that ASUN wanted to promote that idea, as well as socialization and happiness.

Researchers at Stanford University just published the results of a study that shows nicotine may actually be good for the heart. Smoking has been proven to reduce stress that we all deal with as college students. Nicotine stimulates the pleasure receptors in the brain in a healthy way that makes the brain work harder and focus, as well as providing a little break every few hours.

Smoking also builds socialization by bringing people together for a common activity. I don't really like playing sports. Not much of a Dungeons and Dragons sorta guy. But smoking is another activity that promotes interesting conversation and mental stimulation. That's why the cliche of smoking has been associated with college.

I implore ASUN and you as a reader to consider the ramifications to just assume smoking is bad and not consider the consequences. It's a much bigger issue that needs to be decided with a bigger consensus than a few over-achievers trying to boost their resumes.

Noah Ballard is a junior English major. You can reach him at noahballard@dailynebraskan.com or find him smoking just outside the Union.