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Students light up to fight propositions

smokeout
Spanish and Russian major Juliana Snyder smokes a cigar during a rally held to encourage smoking and freedom of expression Friday.

About 20 students sat outside the Memorial Union Friday reclining in a cloud of smoke that drifted from their cigars, cigarettes and hookah.

They were participating in a "smoke-in," sponsored by Choice magazine to protest propositions they say infringe on smokers' liberties.

The new student-run Libertarian magazine distributed 600 cigarettes with fliers in an hour and a half.

"We had to make a splash to get the message out," said Chris Hering, Choice's managing editor. "We're not pro-tobacco, but we are pro-choice in a tobacco setting."

Proposition 201 would prohibit smoking in indoor establishments, including restaurants and bars.

Proposition 203 would add an 80-cent-per-pack tax to fund preschool programs, health screenings and other services, which Hering called "dangerous."

"There's no direct connection between eliminating smoking and helping preschoolers," said Hering, a finance and economics senior. "It's a nice cause, but it's tugging at the heartstrings for the wrong reasons."

Choice's associate editor Michael Kaminsky said the propositions would unfairly limit personal rights.

"The government shouldn't have the authority to decide what's best for a private business," said Kaminsky, a history and economics freshman.

Supporters of Proposition 201, sponsored by the American Cancer Society and the American Heart and Lung associations, say a statewide ban is the only way to curb harmful effects of smoking.

Students who support Proposition 201 also said they think on-campus smoking restrictions need to be better enforced.

"There's this one bench right outside Manzanita that says 'no smoking,' but everyone smokes there," said Manuel Chavez, a chemical engineering freshman. "Secondhand smoke is bad for everyone."

Katie Meyer, a supply-chain management junior, said the Dean's Patio at the business school is also a problem.

"So many people smoke right there, but we have nowhere else to hang out," she said.

Choice decided not to protest Proposition 206, which would let restaurant and bar owners choose to allow smoking.

"Propositions 201 and 203 are the harshest on individual liberty, and that's what we're campaigning against," Hering said.

Smoke-ins have occurred at universities across the country, said Choice staff member Maria Santiago, who got the idea for the event from a friend at Brandeis University in Massachusetts.

"I was inspired," said Santiago, an economics senior. "I think adding laws against smoking is fascist, and fascism is a terrible thing."

Bobby Tappe, a chemical engineering sophomore, said he came to the smoke-in after seeing a sign for the protest while smoking in front of his residence hall.

"It totally raised my awareness. I had no idea that the propositions were so oppressive and so immediate," Tappe said. "I wouldn't have known I needed to vote on them, but now I'm going to go."

Educating students like Tappe proves the smoke-in is effective, said John Dwyer, an English junior who participated in the protest.

"Even if we don't win the vote, at least we'll have raised awareness," he said.

Choice plans to publish its first issue next month.

Reach the reporter at Meghan.Keck@asu.edu.


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