UTA’s tobacco ban alienates tobacco users

With the recent tobacco ban on the UTA campus, a bit of controversy has risen. Many people have praised the campus administrators for taking a step in controlling the tobacco usage on campus, while said tobacco users are up in flames about it.

Ever since I started my academic journey at UTA, I have rarely heard anyone complain about walking into the smoke plumes caused by the tobacco users. It seemed that the implementation of the ban caused the majority, the ones against smoking all together, to suddenly realize why UTA had not done this before.

Why does the majority have to be subjected to walk through the plumes of smoke from the minority of the tobacco users on their way to class? As suggested by some, it is not as if tobacco users are purposely being rude or trying to hurt people. They want to have a cigarette, and sometimes don’t have the time between classes, which is why they smoke in the open.

I do realize, however, that the majority do not want secondhand inhalation, so why not create a designated area for tobacco users instead of eliminating the usage all together?

Now that the ban has been carried and a “smoke patrol” enforces the policy more than ever, the minority feels — in a way — separated from the community. The tobacco users would congregate together to talk to each other about their day, exchange the varieties of tobacco, meet people from different majors and essentially become friends.

Tobacco users must now take a long walk of guilt off of the campus for doing something they have come to know and love. It is who they are, and they now have become the topic as of something vile, controversial and blatantly disrespectful. If the minority does not seek to harm anyone or defile anything by minding their own business, should they have to be targeted for an everyday habit?

The people of UTA should strive to keep the sense of community amongst its students by not forcing others to go way, or stop what they are doing. Instead, UTA should get to know and understand the tobacco users and see what we truly have to offer the community. Isn’t that what being a Maverick is about?