It damages your skin. Your teeth turn yellow. It makes you smell. It ruins your lungs and kills mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and grandparents every single day. So why fight for it?

The “it” I am referring to is obviously tobacco. Students not only at UK, but at every university in America that has decided to impose a tobacco ban, are outraged. I recently went to the Web site for Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (www.no-smoke.org) and read comments of people comparing these bans to Hitler of Nazi Germany.

I feel compelled to ask the question: Why? Why are students so passionate to keep tobacco on their campus? This ban will only help every single student here at UK.

For those who do smoke, cutting back while walking through campus is only going to help your body. I mean who has ever heard that one less cigarette a day will hurt? For those who are trying to quit, it is your lucky day. It is going to be a relief being able to walk to class and not be tempted by the sight of a cigarette. For those who do not smoke, I would think it would be a relief no longer having to be crammed next to a smoker on Rose Street inhaling their second-hand smoke and smelling like their habit.

The ban is also going to help UK’s image. As a university that is dedicated to health care, we should not be promoting unhealthy habits. The administration at UK has to act as leaders, and imposing this smoke ban is for the benefit of UK. I mean let’s face it —tobacco will never become illegal in the United States. The right to smoke is here forever, and just because UK has decided not to support tobacco does not mean anyone is losing rights as an American citizen.

Melody Bailiff

undecided freshman