Word: bans
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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Lewis recently proposed banning smoking in all residential houses to protect the health of smokers, students contemplating becoming smokers, and their roommates. Lewis hopes that a ban would persuade smokers to quit and dissuade non-smokers from picking up the habit. Wary of objections, Lewis believes his plan is palatable because "there's a lot of sentiment that would favor a complete [prohibition of] smoking among students." Should campus support for a ban not suffice, Lewis adds, "the general trend of society would support doing this...
Lewis' rationale that his proposal rides on a wave of student and societal sentiment is disturbing. If the ban is for health reasons, then Lewis should only invoke some of the irrefutable scientific facts about smoking. By referring to social sentiment and precedent, Lewis suggests that colleges should acquiesce to these things instead of libertarian sentiment. Yet I had believed (and hoped) that colleges might be somewhat countercultural. A ban on smoking shouldn't become right merely because it is politically palatable; for the same reason, the College shouldn't amend its position on affirmative action in response to Proposition...
...appalled to read about the proposed smoking ban in all college houses (News, April 8). Dean Lewis' comments are extremely patronizing. His paternalistic attitude toward the student body may be well-meaning, but his outlook definitely seems dated in this case...
...arguments in favor of the proposed ban are inadequate. He claims that "the general trend of society would support [a ban]." Has Harvard suddenly become a place that blindly follows the dictates of society? He also cites students' calls to purchase more exercise equipment as a reason to initiate a ban--this is downright silly. Suddenly, we have to trade acquiring more treadmills at the MAC for our personal freedoms? Eric Nelson's observation that we are on our way to adulthood is a good one, and I sincerely hope that he maintains his fight against such condescending whims...
...Master of Eliot House Kristine L. Forsgard said her position as deputy director of academic programs at the School of Public Health meant that she shared Lewis' concerns about the dangers of smoking. But she hesitated to support a total ban, though she said Eliot House already forbids smoking in common rooms...