In 2008, Illinois passed the Smoke-Free Illinois Act that called for public places to be smoke-free on the inside and 15 feet around anywhere air could enter.

Now, these smoking bans are starting to become more popular in other states and especially within universities. Should Illinois State University be next to completely ban smoking on campus?

According to the American Nonsmokers Rights Foundation, there are 530 smoke-free colleges around the nation. It’s not breaking news that smoking and second-hand smoke is bad for your health. Although cigarettes are legal for anybody over 18-years-old to buy, should universities control their students’ personal habits?

This Editorial Board believes that these campus-wide smoking bans are a good idea; the fewer areas there are to smoke and inhale second-hand smoke, the healthier people can feel.

According to Illinois State University policy, smoking is prohibited in all University buildings and vehicles and within 15 feet from buildings. There are smoking receptacles that are around campus where students can smoke in order to accommodate them and keep the campus looking cleaner.

However, there are still numerous areas where cigarette butts line the ground and trails of smoke are being inhaled by other students passing by. Even though it’s a personal choice whether or not to smoke, the campus could look cleaner and be healthier if a total ban were to be implemented.

Is it realistic to enforce more rules on college students who are known for rebelling against regulations that are already set? Maybe not, but at Indiana University, a study was done and proved to show some positive results.

A campus-wide smoke-free policy was in place for two years and researchers looked at the effects it had on students. As reported by the Indiana University news, the percentage of smoking students dropped, as well as the number of cigarettes smoked daily. Student’s views and attitudes about smoking were also said to change.

Whether or not these rules would ever come into effect at ISU, people need to know that smoking is very harmful to your body and is a habit that should be kicked or not started at all.

Along with bad breath, smokey clothes and stained teeth, smoking causes tons of other harmful effects, such as numerous types of cancer, infertility, lung disease, aneurysms and coronary heart disease.

Illinois State provides many resources for people trying to quit. The Health Promotion and Wellness office in McCormick Hall, the G-Spot, Student Health Services and Student Counseling Services all offer resources and tools to help those who wish to quit smoking. The Illinois Tobacco Quitline (1-866-QUIT-YES) offers over-the-phone counseling as another option to those listed above.

Ultimately, smokers must decide for themselves whether or not they want to quit. Life offers many more pleasures to be enjoyed than taking up a bad habit. If you saved your money instead of buying one pack a day, you could save almost $20,000 in 10 years. Is it really worth it for your health and your wallet?

With all the resources out there, hopefully our campus can raise awareness of the dangers of smoking. Maybe a campus-wide smoking ban would be what some people need to quit. Until then, second-hand smoke and cigarette butts will be the normal scene here at ISU.