Monday, February 9, 2009
Marlboro, Camel, Parliament, American Spirit. All these recognizable cigarette brands can currently be purchased from the Hawk Shop in the KU Memorial Union. Because the University is an establishment of higher education, all cigarette sales should be removed from campus. Although all students have the right to choose whether to smoke, the University should not be profiting from a product that is damaging to the students it is here to serve.
The decision to sell the cigarettes at campus convenience stores ultimately rests with the Union, which operates under the guidance of the Union Board. The board is composed of 11 students, five alumni, three staff and three faculty members who meet four times per year. The last time the board discussed this issue was two years ago.
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To request a ban on Cigarette Sales Contact:
David Mucci, director of KU Memorial Unions at 785-864-2421 or dmucci@ku.edu.
David Mucci, director of KU Memorial Unions and a voting board member, said “ I was surprised … students [on the board] looked at the issue and didn’t see it as a health issue.”
“Everyone knows there are health issues, but students felt they should be able to make that choice — they didn’t want the University making it for them.”
Removing cigarettes from campus will not take away the right to choose whether to smoke. It will simply show that the University does not profit from a choice that is a risk to students.
The money from the Hawk Shop goes directly back into the Union, which is separate from The University. Some of the Union’s profits are used for student activities and go back to the University for programs such as student orientation.
Reader poll
Do you think cigarette sales should be banned on campus?
- Yes 59% 123 votes
- No 40% 83 votes
206 total votes.
The University would not say how much money it made on cigarette sales. But it said the profits did not represent a substantial sum.
“We’re not afraid to lose the money,” said Mucci.
In an obvious paradox, not only can students buy cigarettes on campus, they can also receive assistance to quit smoking through a Health Service program called Kan-U-Quit at Watkins Health Center. The University has recognized the problem but is still selling the product behind it.
“It makes it too convenient for students to buy cigarettes, but students are going to buy them whether they are sold on campus or not,” said Ken Sarber, administrator of the Kan-U-Quit program. “I’m not completely against it, but I’m really against anywhere that does sell them just because I want students to quit.”
As a leader in education and progress, the University should not benefit from or support a product that is ultimately a heath risk for students. Having them behind the counter is condoning and enabling the habit. The right to smoke remains in the hands of the students; however, this debate should end with the decision to remove all cigarette sales from campus.
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Comments
Editorial: Union board should force cigarette sales off campus
The University should have a right to sell anything it wants as long as it is legal. Cigarettes, like fattening foods, are harmful when used improperly (which happens quite frequently, admittedly.) There is no need to ban their sale on campus.
Editorial: Union board should force cigarette sales off campus
Hamburgers are also "dangerous products." Should the university ban The Underground and The Market from selling them? The obvious paradox is that the gym is just down the hill.
Editorial: Union board should force cigarette sales off campus
I really enjoyed this editorial. It's quite the interesting proposal, and, at the moment, I can't decide where I come down on it.
Editorial: Union board should force cigarette sales off campus
At the same time, though, many are pushing to allow alcohol sales back on campus. If danger is the criterion, shouldn't alcohol remain off-campus?
Editorial: Union board should force cigarette sales off campus
Cigarettes are legal, and they can't be any more dangerous than the crap food they sell in the Market and the Hawk Shop. If you ban cigs, people will just walk the extra five minutes to Jayhawk Food Mart.
Editorial: Union board should force cigarette sales off campus
KU has a campus full of adults. Adults who make decisions which both harm and help their bodies and minds. I'm guessing that most of these students did not start smoking because of ease of access. I'll also assume that they did not continue smoking JUST because there were cigarettes around. There is no need for you or anyone else to decide for these students where they can purchase a legal item.
Editorial: Union board should force cigarette sales off campus
part2 you are so on target! LOL
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