The academically and athletically successful UK is experiencing some nips and tucks. The idea of using tobacco products as portraying a negative image on UK has caused a plastic surgery operation involving a campuswide tobacco ban. Walking through the UK campus during any semester, if you are not using tobacco products yourself, you are bound to pass a student or faculty member fulfilling their nicotine crave. With the new tobacco ban, UK will ultimately receive the facelift executive members wanted. But are the majority of students, and even staff members, happy?

The answer is no. Though using tobacco may seem wrong and terrible habits to some, many young adults consider tobacco to be a commonality. With the campus tobacco ban passed, students and faculty will be stripped of their right to go about what they acknowledge as part of their everyday life.

With the start of the new tobacco ban quickly approaching, students and staff members are wondering many things: Does UK just want individuals to use tobacco products in designated areas, or do executive members want us to quit all together? Either way UK is violating students’ rights because they can no longer view using these products as part of their lifestyle. Would an individual be at ease to change his or her standard of living?

So here is the real question: Is a student’s happiness less important than making a college campus appear more appealing to Lexington community members? A happy student means a successful student. Though the removal of tobacco products will make the outward appearance of UK better, students and staff members are striving less because they don’t want to study on campus where they have their rights taken away. Maybe before UK executive members approved the tobacco ban facelift, they should have had a consultation with the heart of UK — Dr. Student.

Amanda Neal

undeclared freshman