Jordan River Forum

Smoking policy goes unenforced \nMany IU smokers need to procure and learn to how to use a measuring tape. Within the past year, IU implemented a "no smoking within 30 feet" policy in regards to students and staff smoking near buildings and other structures. However, few people seem to acknowledge this, and even fewer people enforce it. \nI travel to a variety of campus locations weekly and am disgusted by the sheer number of people who choose to completely ignore this policy. For non-smokers like me, walking through a cloud of smoke when entering or leaving a building (particularly the Main Library) is not an enjoyable experience. I believe fully in a right to do what they will to themselves; however, I feel that people must be more considerate of others in their daily lives. \nIf you are a smoker and plead ignorance of this policy, please read the signs located on every door around campus to inform yourself. \nI have never once seen the policy enforced, and understand that unenforced policies seldom work. However, this world would be a much better place if people like the ones I'm writing of would show a bit more concern for their fellow humans and take their smoking away from the doors and entry-ways. I choose not to smoke for a variety of reasons and know that smokers choose to smoke for a variety of other reasons. Please take this matter to heart, and keep your smoke to yourself.\n Bars should be free to sue minors \n Checking IDs is part of my job at a local grocery store, and I'd like to think that I'm very good at it. I consult ID books, talk to employees at local establishments like Big Red to find out what the current popular fake is, and use good judgement in deciding if I should accept an ID. \nHowever, I know that I'm not going to catch every single fake that comes by. It's not that I'm lazy in checking some days, I just know there are IDs out there that look genuine in every respect and that the fake holder knows all of information on the fake. So why place all of this blame on the guy at the door checking IDs if a fake does slip by ("Bars shouldn't sue minors," June 24)? \nGranted, some establishments in Bloomington are easy to get into with a fake, but why shouldn't bars and other establishments that have good records have an avenue of keeping that reputation? Knowing that they could be sued for the damages incurred, the owner may even be a bigger deterrent for underage drinkers than losing their fake. Getting busted for a fake means losing the fake, possibly losing your real driver's license for a year and a $500 fine according to Indiana Code 7.1-5-7. If you get sued, you can add a few thousand more to that. I say all power to the bars and stores of Indiana in suing underage drinkers.\n Suing minors might prove profitable \nYou mention the possibility of bar owners becoming less concerned about minors "sneak(ing) by a lazy doorman" ("Bars shouldn't sue minors, June 24), which might happen; however, I think that a more serious possibility is that disreputable bar owners may do the cost/benefit analysis and decide that it is worth the risk to let minors in. \nIf they get caught, no problem, they'll just sue the minors for damages. They get the minors' business, and the minors pay their fine for them. It's a win/win situation -- for the bar owners.