Smoking ban at American University will now cover outdoors, too

[Generic Other]

49. Forcing others to accomodate your vice is what is horrific

And yes, every door entering any building on campus had smokers clustered in them to shelter from the rain between classes when everyone was trying to go in or out.

Now you may not think that is horrific, but for non-smokers who have allergies and other upper respiratory issues it is an issue to have to hold your breath to enter a building, push past loitering smokers who won't move so others can enter or exit. In front of twenty buildings on campus.

In the 60s, students and profs smoked in class. Hard to imagine such a thing today. Then the state outlawed smoking in state buildings including offices some that took years to air out! The ban on the smoking by the doors was followed by a campus-wide ban including suspending tobacco sales at the school bookstore.

I was skeptical at first that it would work, but the smokers complied. And it really is nicer to work in an environment where you are not forced to breathe another person's poison that they thoughtlessly blow in your face.

We have been smoke-free outdoors for about 10 years now. Times have changed since the days when all buildings were smoke-filled. Most smokers do not inflict their habit on others these days. And the non-smokers appreciate that.