UK is here and was built because of tobacco.

For over 200 years, tobacco funded this university. For the university to totally ban tobacco from campus is wrong in so many ways.

How can UK call itself a diverse university when we discriminate against cigarette smokers? Is UK going to give up the research money for tobacco studies? If the ban is issued, then UK should give up the research money also. No tobacco, no money.

A more important issue is that tobacco is a legal product. Why does anyone have the right to tell someone they can’t smoke? This is not a communist country. I have been employed by UK for 25 years. Why does UK have the right to do this when it should be a state issue? How does UK have the power to do this?

This is about one thing: fascism — someone imposing their values on me.

Is this not the same thing gays and abortionists say? My choice, my rights. I would rather die of cancer than live in a fascist state.

Mike Howard

UK employee