Last night Students for Sensible Drug Policy hosted an informal conversation to "provide a safe space for a candid discussion on the proposed Morningside campus-wide smoking ban" advocated by Business school senator Mark Cohen. This new proposal is to address problems with last year's 20 ft. ban passed by the USenate in December.
The gathering in Satow attracted a diverse group of both undergrads and graduate students all able to agree that the current ban is not working. Senator Kenny Durell, CC '12 said, "I wanted a ban but now that I see the 20 feet rule is not being implemented I'm not sure. Until we can enforce and publicize a 20ft ban, we can't take the next step and actually impose a ban."
Cohen supports his proposal for a full ban on public health grounds, a stance many at the forum refuted by citing claims against junk food as posing greater health risks. After a straw poll among those present it was clear that a full ban would not be supported if the current 20 ft. ban could be made effective.
