Penn Universities Ban All Smoking
From the Chronicle of Higher Education:
Some students at the 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education are fuming over a decision announced by their chancellor last week. On Wednesday, the day before a state law that prohibits smoking in any public place in Pennsylvania took effect, Chancellor John Cavanaugh informed them that the ban would be enforced everywhere on the system’s campuses, even outdoors.
I’m sure all the nannies in the Oregon State Board of Higher Education are stroking their chins thoughtfully.
Damn you Pennsylvania for contributing to this insane war on a great American habit.
Pennsylvania’s statewide smoking ban banned smoking INDOORS, not in outdoor spaces. In fact, the ban does not prohibit smoking in any specific outdoor place. The Penn State nannies have clearly misinterpreted the law, which they say applies to outdoor spaces because some classes might meet outside, or some workers may have to work outside. Under that analogy, smoking would have to be banned 100% in the entire state, indoors and out. If the chancellors of the system want to enact an ineffective, overreaching outdoor ban, they should do so without hiding behind a misinterpretation of the law.