The academic sector of campus hasn’t become quite as smoke free as many students expected. It’s come to the attention of many students lately that the new Clean Air and Smoking Policy isn’t enforceable to extent that many on campus initially believed, and some of those students are taking advantage of the issue by smoking on campus regardless of the policy.

These students are doing a great disservice to the campus community in doing so. Last March the campus body made it abundantly clear that they supported this policy in a campus-wide poll that resulted with a near 70 percent approval vote from students, and a 74 percent approval vote from non-students.

What the people who are violating this policy are doing is disregarding what the community of this campus wants for UW-Platteville. Whether one supports the policy or not, it’s important that we as members of this community respect the community’s voice. Even if a small population from the campus body feel opposed to this policy, blatantly disobeying it is not the way to express that opposition.

While civil disobedience has in the past proven to be an effective tool in campaigning for the rights of any group of people, it is only appropriate when it becomes apparent that other channels will be utterly ineffective, and even then, whether the authorities can reprimand you or not, it doesn’t change the fact that you are violating a policy.

To this end, I offer an alternative in making your voice heard through the administrative channels as well as student or faculty senate. Anyone who feels their rights as a smoker are being infringed on, talk to Rich Egley, dean of students, or talk to any or all of our student and faculty senators. Let them know you don’t like this policy, and why you don’t like it.

By doing this you will make yourself a voice that people will listen to. Your thoughts will be heard, considered and respected. This stands in strong contrast to those who simply take advantage of the situation and smoke in the restricted areas anywise. These people come off as disrespectful, and inconsiderate of their fellow students. This puts those who might otherwise empathize with the smoker’s concerns in a position to feel irritated or frustrated with not just the offenders, but all smokers.

When all things are considered, disobeying the Clean Air and Smoking Policy is counterproductive to gaining the freedoms that many smokers on campus want, and will only push people frustrated with this issue to press for further actions against smokers.