The University traditionally prides itself on its nationally recognized image as one of the most progressive schools in the nation. At least, when it’s convenient. The effects of alcohol use are highly publicized on campus, and the University contributes funds to services such as health workshops for those with alcohol-related problems, Designated Driver Shuttle and activities such as the recent “Party House,” which was set up to show students the negative side of drinking.
When it comes to nicotine, the University is a hypocrite, actually making money off selling students an addictive drug. The educational entity whose main concern is supposed to be for our well-being and success obviously prefers the $103,686 it made last year from tobacco sales to the scary fact it’s the only Pacific-10 Conference school that sells tobacco on-campus. It’s not as if the University doesn’t realize that tobacco is responsible for more suffering and death than all other illegal and legal substances combined, or that it is the No. 1 cause of premature death in the United States (according to biology professor V. Pat Lombardi). The University is even aware that smoking is the utmost risky health behavior for students, according to the results of a 1994 University Health Center Survey.
So why is the University spending money to corroborate the fact smoking can kill and that students are at a high risk, or setting up programs such as Smoking Cessation through the Peer Health Education Program, when packs of smokes will continue to be sold at the EMU’s Erb Essentials Store?
Obviously, the peace of mind that would come with knowing the University isn’t directly contributing to the pollution of its students’ lungs just isn’t worth giving up the income it’s making from Joe Camel’s favorite “death stick.” With 7.5 percent of total EMU food service sales (and a third of Erb Essentials sales) coming from tobacco products, maybe we should rename the little store “Herb Essentials.”
EMU Food Services Director John Costello claims that if the store got rid of tobacco products, they could also lose corollary food sales from people buying cigarettes. Maybe John doesn’t understand that nicotine is an appetite suppressant, and that students who didn’t have easy access to a cigarette might buy some munchies to keep their mouths busy.
Maybe students will just make the trek to 7-11 if they’re craving a little nicotine buzz before class — though it’s highly doubtful they’ll hoof the extra blocks during a ten-minute break between classes. I’m not naive enough to suggest that the University ceasing to sell tobacco is going to cause students everywhere to drop the habit. However, it’s pretty clear to me that it’s entirely unethical for the University to be profiting from tobacco sales and supporting tobacco companies.
Oregon State University doesn’t sell tobacco products on school grounds, and they aren’t griping over the money they aren’t making. Of course, Corvallis also went smoke-free years before Eugene did. Maybe we should re-evaluate just how health-conscious Eugene really is.
Rebecca Newell is a columnist for the Emerald. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the Emerald. Reach her at [email protected].