Smoke, Smoke, Smoke: Just Not Around Me

I read an article in the Spartan Daily called “Should SJSU ban cigarette smoking on campus. There are two opposing views. The first one was by Holly Szkoropad who states that members of SJSU community are entitled to a smoke-free campus. Holly goes on to talk about the benefits of a smoke free campus and how she hates the smell of the smoke on her clothes even though she does not smoke. She just wants it to stops so she can breathe easily. (Someone needs to remind her that we live in California and pollution is our daily oxygen.) The second one was by Michael Le Roy who states everyone has the right to smoke cigarettes on campus. Michael goes on to talk about how this ban will never work and that there are far more bigger things than a smoking ban. He also talks about how second hand smoke in an outside area doesn’t hurt anyone compare to second hand smoke indoors. (There are tests to prove this he states).

This article caught my attention because both sides have convincing arguments but I agree more with Michael opinion. Like me, he doesn’t smoke cigarettes but doesn’t mind the smell. And plus by putting a smoking ban on campus what would the students who do smoke do to relieve stress, there are consequences for people actions. They might turn to something destructive, like burning trash in the garbage bins allowing buildings to catch on fire. I don’t know, but you never know. Michael’s opinion piece was more relatable to me because of the way he structure his writing may me feel as if I was talking to him face to face. It had elements that I like light humor and reliability. Holly’s piece was good also but it felt as it was more of a rant and that she just really hated cigarette smokers. I wasn’t feeling it because in Chapter 14 it states watch out for moments that seem odd because they contrast with what’s them. From reading Holly’s opinion piece, I felt like this was a problem. The way that she presented her argument and then throwing a curveball in the middle of the paper may me feel confuse about her paper. If she would have presented the information about the smoking in the park ban in the beginning then maybe I would have probably felt better about her work. Until then people will continue to smoke, smoke, smoke!