Student: Why St. Cloud's smoking referendum is a sham

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Student fuming

St. Cloud State University student Jack Lofgren states why he thinks a student referendum on campus smoking is bogus — and unfair:

The Administration said it won’t matter which way the students vote, according to SCSU’s own press release: “Regardless of student feedback, the (smoking) Task Force’s proposal will stay the same.”

The “referendum” only exists to give students the illusion of democracy. … And why is it that Potter and SCSU’s bureaucracy wants a smoking ban so badly as to disregard the will of the student body, many of whom smoke?

Money. SCSU will receive a grant from MNSCU if our campus becomes smoke-free. So Potter and the Administration care more about making money for the university than the quality of life for students.

About the blogger

Alex Friedrich

afriedrich@mpr.org

Alex Friedrich reports on higher education issues for MPR News. Among the stories he has covered: the fall of the Berlin Wall, aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis, 2003 Moscow suicide bombing and 2004 presidential elections in the Republic of Georgia. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and a master’s in European political economy from the London School of Economics.

Cassidy

Thank you for posting this link. We have known this for quite a while now but are still trying to do our part to make our voices heard. Please join SCSU Students for Smokers Rights if you would like to stay informed on what is going on!