Letter: Smoke Free Urbana

As president of Colleges Against Cancer, one of the largest volunteer organizations on campus, I would like to thank the DI for covering a very important event last week that many people probably would not have otherwise heard about - the Urbana City Council's meeting regarding a proposed smoke free ordinance. Though Colleges Against Cancer respects the rights of smokers and of business owners, our first and foremost concern is for the health and safety of the workers and patrons of businesses in Urbana. Many of us take for granted the ability to breathe clean air while we work, but workers in many bars and restaurants are not provided this same right.

Again, smokers do have rights, but that does not include the right to put others in danger. Though I commend businesses for trying to establish non-smoking areas to accommodate both groups of people, creating a partition in the room or allowing for a few feet of space between areas is not an adequate solution to a very serious health threat.

To conclude, I would hope Urbana makes a decision that is in the best interest of those who live, work, and frequent the town. Cigarette smoke is considered a cancer causing agent, and so too is second hand smoke. Colleges Against Cancer hopes that students of the University will contact city council members and make their opinions known, whether for or against the smoking ban. Though many of us only live here during the school year, we are still an important economic force in the area, which makes our voice a very powerful one - should we choose to use it.

Eve Winiarski

President, colleges Against Cancer