A Deadly Education

Should smoking be prohibited at school? T. Maxwell who is a student at Clayton State University wrote a very compelling essay on effect of smoking and the exposure to second hand smoke: "A Deadly Education". She illustrated that CSU and other colleges have not shown keen interest or put this matter into perspective, even though CSU has designated areas for smoking students non-smoking students are not protected from second hand smoke. I agree with T. Leigh Maxwell CSU should ban smoking entirely because non-smoking students health could be at risk. Maxwell said “students should never have to choose between compromising their health and getting a good education”.  She deliberate briefly on personal rights but truly focus her attention on the danger of second hand smoke and that smokers believe that a few seconds of exposure to second hand smoke is harmless.  She said “the center for Disease Control (CDC) has warned that breathing drifting tobacco smoke for as little as thirty minutes can raise a nonsmoker’s risk of suffering a fatal heart attack to that of a smoker”.  In Georgia State smoking in all restaurants and government facilities are prohibited.

               In her article Maxwell stress on the danger of second hand smoke along with toxin, chemicals and ammonia that contains in cigarettes.  One must agrees that smoking is dangerous not only to non-smokers but to smokers as well, according to T. Maxwell.  "In fact, the very smoke so flagrantly exhaled by professors and students alike in the common area of CSU is presently degrading the health of every students at the university”. (pg 170)  We all have amendment’s rights, people who smoke have rights but what about non-smokers rights.  Is it fair that non-smokers rights of a clean environment should be violated by smokers who are polluting the environment with their toxins and chemicals?  Board of Directors at CSU should take this matter very seriously and prohibit smoking at the university because students attend CSU to get a higher learning education not to get lung cancer or any type of disease that you can get with second hand smoke. We all have our point of view on smoking, but its not right that non-smoking students should inhale while smoking students exhale.