Jordan River Forum

Support smoking ban In his letter on Sept. 1, Ryan Marshall opines that we here in Bloomington must have too much time on our hands if we are passing smoking bans near University buildings. I would suggest that Mr. Marshall has not had enough time to seriously think through his position. Mr. Marshall complains that smokers' opinions were not included in the University study on campus smoking policies. Then perhaps Mr. Marshall should use his letter to state his point of view rather than simply to attack those on disability and denounce the ban as "liberal." Not once does Mr. Marshall give a reason for why he is against the ban. Such a letter does little to help the citizens of Bloomington evaluate the merit of the smoking ban. One reason I support the ban is from personal experience. Just this past spring, my father was diagnosed with lung cancer. What is especially curious about this is that my dad has never smoked, although many of his friends do. After a painful surgery to remove part of his lungs and daily radiotherapy, my father is now doing well. I wonder what caused the cancer, and I am curious to know if such a ban could have prevented my father's illness. Beyond my personal experience, there are even more reasons to support the ban. The needless health care costs associated with smoking are sucking precious money out of our health care system that could be used to provide medical care for the 43 million Americans without health insurance (http://www.cmwf.org). Moreover, lung cancer is a deadly disease. More Americans die each year from lung cancer than from breast, prostate and colorectal cancers combined (www.lungcancer.org). So after spending what Mr.Marshall considers too much time thinking about the smoking ban, I do find it reasonable for smokers to have to walk an extra 10 yards so that someone else isn't killed by their bad habit. It's a matter of public health. Dionissi Aliprantis
Senior Backward people As everyone is aware, IU has recently enacted a policy prohibiting smoking within 30 feet of doorways in on-campus buildings. I would like to applaud the administration for its progressive stance on smoking issues, and more importantly, in the open manner in which it adopted the rule -- allowing students an adjustment and comment period of thousands of minutes at the start of the semester before it went into effect last week. While the new rule is clearly a step in the right direction, further steps must be taken to make our campus a safe and enjoyable place for the student body. Prohibiting smoking within 30 feet of doorways stops smokers from assaulting innocent non-smokers with deadly second-hand smoke while going to and from class. But once class has begun, non-smokers may unwittingly sit next to smoker classmates, subjecting them to the stench of smoke for up to an hour at a time. Smokers should not be allowed to enroll in classes with non-smokers to eliminate this distraction. Or, at the least, smokers should be forced to wear some type of identifying badge, putting non-smokers on notice that any conversation will subject them to the smell of smoke on the smoker's breath. Some backward people may mistakenly believe that smoking is a personal choice, made by adults, which can be indulged in freely once outside. This argument is so plainly wrong that I feel no need to address it. It is wonderful to see that policy-makers at the University have moved beyond that old-fashioned thinking and are making our campus a better place for everyone. Gaston Fernandez
Law student A smoker's questions I am writing regarding the new smoking laws that are being enforced around campus. I am not sure where to direct questions about these laws. I really do not mind being 30 feet from a building; this is quite understandable. However, I find that if this is to be enforced, they need to provide ashtrays and a covered area near each building. What are we supposed to do on days when it is pouring down rain? Is this an issue that was omitted, or do you think that it was conveniently forgotten? Kate Peters
Senior Give smokers ashtrays So you want smokers to move away from the doors by 30 feet. So please move the ashtrays 30 feet away from the doors as well. There is no use in enforcing a smoking policy on campus when you keep the ashtrays sitting right next to the doors. I am a non-smoker and I appreciate the smoke-free air around the doors of Ballantine Hall, but you must provide those who smoke with the ashtrays in order to lessen the load of litter that is about to come your way. Amanda Robbins
Graduate student Negative lama "If there are people who don't have much interest in religion, they will see negatives," the Dalai Lama was quoted as saying by the Associated Press at the dedication of a religious shrine in Bloomington. I wonder if his "Holiness" realizes how bigoted and intolerant such a remark comes off to some of us who choose not to accept the alleged realm of the supernatural. We have only to take a casual look back in time to see that many non-religious people have significantly contributed to making the world a better place, including several of our nation's founding fathers. "Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise," James Madison said. "Faith is believing what you know ain't so," Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) said. "A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death," Albert Einstein said. Don Mainfort
Bloomington resident Android's editorial If the editorial "Being Rude in the Nude" is, as I fear, not a parody but the actual opinion of the IDS Editorial Staff, then the whole lot of you are doing a disservice to journalism. Wasn't this in an episode of "The Simpsons"? I Googled the phrase "Michelangelo" and "tacky," and this may be the only article ever written that puts that term next to the work "David" in a serious tone. That people in Evansville would be upset over art is no surprise. That the IDS would print such a lame attack on a couple of people who have a replica of one of the greatest works of art ever is shocking. This is a total non-issue. If they were displaying something shocking and disturbing that could actually harm someone mentally, I would agree they should move it inside. But I don't see how "David" could possibly be seen as obscene. There is nothing sexual about it, hidden or overt. Aren't there real issues that affect the IU student body to discuss? Grade inflation, war on terrorism, Playboy's "Girls of the Big 10" issue? In keeping with the cartoonish, Simpsonesque feel of the editorial, I sum it up thusly: Worst. Editorial. Ever. Patrick Hayden
Alumnus Seek better sources Regarding the article, "BPAC protests uranium" by Julia Blanford (IDS, Sept. 4) on the military's use of depleted uranium was a commendable attempt at balanced reporting. This seldom occurs on this issue. Your interview of a combat veteran/student as a counterpoint is the only one I have ever seen in the media, and I have been involved in this issue for over 10 years. However, a psychology professor likely is not a credible source for information about the biological effects that could result from the radioactivity and toxicity of this substance. Her words apparently were lifted from anti-nuclear activist sources and have little validity. I don't do psychology; she shouldn't do health physics and industrial hygiene without referring to authoritative, peer-reviewed literature, in my opinion. I suggest that you contact the IU Radiation Safety Officer, Greg Crouch, for authoritative information on this subject. Other knowledgeable nearby sources are in the IU School of Medicine Departments of Radiology and Radiation Oncology. Robert N. Cherry Jr., Ph.D.
Certified Health Physicist Colonel, U.S. Army (retired) Stay out of Connecticut Last Saturday was an embarrassing loss to UConn in football. This Saturday was another embarrassing loss to UConn in soccer -- they had scored their first goal Friday. Please keep the IU teams out of Connecticut. Enough is enough. Lois Cole Robillard
Alumnus Call for resignation I am writing in regards to an article that appeared in Friday's IDS concerning the business professor's Web site. First of all, I must say that a professor putting those comments on a state-funded server is appalling. It is one thing to have those ideas, which, in my opinion are ludicrous, small-minded, outdated and ignorant, but it is completely unacceptable to express them in that fashion. Furthermore, it is very disheartening to see this happen on a campus that has so many GLBT groups and such a strong support for the GLBT community. This professor can never be looked at as a non-biased professor ever again because of the opinions he has expressed. Because of these events, I personally believe he should resign as a professor at IU. Melissa Taylor
Senior The burden of P.C. So we have reached the point where a man or woman cannot share an opinion unless it's considered the 'right' opinion. I just read the article entitled, "Professor's site taken off IU server," and I have to say it left me saddened. A professor, Eric Rasmusen, was made to silence his opinions on homosexuality because it offended a few people. I thought this college fought for freedom of speech ... but I guess not. At the first signs that a minority group was offended, the University immediately buckled to pressure. The reason the dean of the Kelley School of Business gave was that he was, "not certain about that right (to personal opinion) extending to an IU site." Shouldn't he be certain before taking away someone's right to free speech? One of America's greatest strengths is it's diversity of opinions. Unfortunately, that strength has weakened under the burden of political correctness. Cody Sharp
Junior Monastic hand wringing I am absolutely amazed that the statue of David causes such controversy given that there are children about. The answer is after all obvious isn't it? Everybody knows that nudity in the media encourages the young to be promiscuous and leads to pregnancy and abortion. Everybody knows that women blatantly flaunting their bosoms sunbathing without tops, or even worse, men and women sunbathing together nude corrupts the impressionable young. In Denmark, nudity is allowed on all except two beaches and tops free or nude sunbathing is common in parks and gardens. The Netherlands has more naturists than any other western country. The U.S.A. is so strict that the French Government warns women visiting the U.S.A. they can't sunbathe tops free. Since the U.S.A. is the most prudish of western countries, it follows that it has the most sexually responsible and sensible teenagers, doesn't it? Thus they are less likely to become pregnant or to have an abortion than teenagers in Europe. Also, they won't have intercourse until they have reached a sensible age and when they do they will use a condom and effective contraception, won't they? Well that's the myth, now for some facts. A teenager in the U.S.A. is almost exactly 10 times more likely to become pregnant than their counterpart in Denmark or The Netherlands and over twice as likely to have an abortion. On average they will start sexual intercourse about a year younger and they are much less likely to use a condom or contraception. This pattern repeats across the western world. Either be open and honest about the human body or young people will continue to find out for themselves, by experiment, with often disastrous consequences. Prudery does harm and no amount of moralistic hand wringing can change that simple fact. Malcom Boura
United Kingdom resident Renters' rights Renting can be hell for the innocent or ignorant. But Bloomington renters do have rights, and we can have clout if we stick together. To find out your rights, and to rate your landlord, check out the Renters' Rights Project Web site at http://home.bluemarble.net/~sfcowling Su Cowling
Bloomington resident.