I applaud the more than 63 percent of the participating student body who, during last month’s Student Govern-ment Associ-ation elections, voted in favor of an all-campus referendum to limit smoking to campus parking lots and the campus perimeter.

Secondhand smoke is a serious health issue. In 2007, the U.S. Surgeon General stated that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. In other words, if your nose can smell smoke, it’s causing immediate, negative effects on your health. Now that’s scary.

SGA made the right move in allowing the entire student body to voice its opinion about Referendum B. The fact that 63 percent of students support limiting smoking outside at SLU shows that secondhand smoke is no longer regarded as tolerable. It is a public health issue that must be addressed, now.

Students are clearly more educated about the negative effects of secondhand smoke, due in part to the efforts of smoke.free.slu, a group dedicated to eliminating or greatly reducing exposure to secondhand smoke. Students at SLU are leading a charge to help limit secondhand smoke and the health hazards it causes.
College students between the ages of 18 and 24 are the only demographic with an increasing rate of smoking.

Furthermore, Missouri is extremely behind with its smoke-free laws. Already, 23 states, including neighboring Illinois, have prohibited smoking in public places. Missouri, meanwhile, has the second lowest tobacco tax in the nation. A smoke-free campus would provide us with some safety, when the rest of the state does not.

SLU takes pride in its health law program and medical campus. In fact, the area outside the medical center is smoke-free. If people there have the right to breathe clean air-even outside-shouldn’t we?

The answer that students propose is a loud, “Yes.”
This referendum is a victory for non-smokers and smokers alike. Non-smokers will no longer be forced to breathe secondhand smoke while walking around campus, and smokers will still have the right to smoke in designated areas.

The students’ vote will now be presented to President Lawrence Biondi, S.J.’s office for further deliberation. Meanwhile, we will do everything possible to ensure that the health of everyone on SLU’s campus is placed at top priority.

Carly Caminiti is vice president of smoke.free.slu and a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences.