Smoke-free misconceptions on the Opinion page

First, I would like to commend Jacob Stewart for being the first contributor to the IDS editorials who has actually educated himself before writing about the upcoming smoke-free policy.\nUnfortunately, however, his piece was followed by the third gross misrepresentation of this policy to appear in the IDS opinion section in the past two semesters. Grace Low argues that this policy is about paternalism and policing her actions (“ ... trying to protect us from ourselves”).\n If she would speak to those involved with its creation (including myself), she would come to realize that this policy has nothing to do with policing her decision to smoke or do anything else. It does, however, aim to prevent such a decision from harming those throughout this campus who do not wish to suffer the ill effects of secondhand smoke.\nFurther, she argues that this policy has virtually no precedent. Again, a little research would show that over 30 universities nationwide have taken this step, and hundreds more are considering it (including Iowa and Ohio State). This does not even consider that literally thousands of cities and towns (including Bloomington) have provided overwhelming precedent for such a policy – and have survived legal challenges over and over. The case is indeed closed, but Ms. Low happens to be on the wrong side of the argument.