No butts about it, smoking should not be banned in bars

Before I start my real article, I would like to get something off my chest. Yesterday morning as I was walking on campus, I was treated to quite a sight. As you well know, there is some minor construction going on with the Smith-Hutson building. As part of this job, they have brought in this big honkin' construction crane. Yesterday morning the crane operator swung the crane out over the street between the construction site and the LDB while there were about six or eight students walking there.

Now they have these signs up all around the fence there that say that the area inside the fence is a hard hat area and such. But the street is supposed to be safe.

I know for a fact that almost anywhere you go, the area underneath a crane is a hard hat zone. It is also a hazardous place to be, so you can imagine what I thought as this thing was swung out over a group of students. As if that wasn't bad enough, the operator was also lowering the hook, which comes complete with a big metal skull-crushing ball on it.

You take away our parking, and we grumble. You make us pay to park in a garage because we are running out of parking lots, and we sneer. Most students draw the line at having construction equipment dangled over their heads as they walk to class.

You've heard the saying, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you." But what about the lesser-known saying, "Don't crush the heads of tuition-paying students with construction equipment?" Either tell the construction workers to keep their toys in their yard, or issue every last student and faculty member a big, bright orange and white, school spirit hard hat.

And now for something completely different.

The Republic of Ireland recently put a new anti-smoking ban into place which no longer allows smoking in bars and pubs. This is a total outrage. I do not smoke, nor do I think smoking in many public places should be allowed, but I see know reason for banning smoking in bars.

Many will find this to be an odd stance, so I will explain. Smoking and second hand smoke is a health issue as addressed in many bans. I agree that I should not have to have smoke blown in my face while I am eating, watching a movie or having major surgery, but bars are a different story. Most patrons in a bar are not there for the healthy environment.

A bar is a place where people go to drink, and I don't mean have that one glass of red wine for the old ticker. No, these people are there to have a few beers or cocktails and eat fried and salty foods if they eat at all. Smoking is ok in that environment; in fact, it is almost mandatory.

This goes double for the traditional Irish pub. This is a place where people gather for good company and strong drink. Irish and pseudo-Irish pubs are my favorite kind of bars. There's no loud, annoying music, plenty of atmosphere and just enough smoke in the air to make the Guinness taste a little better.

It is ridiculous to take away smoking from a place already ripe with vice. People know what to expect in a bar, and the most hardcore of the anti-smoking crowd won't end up in those bars anyway.

Some cities in the United States have already banned smoking in bars, and I'm afraid more will follow suit. I say, don't mess with a good thing. The smoke is part of the ambience of a bar. Without it, arguing with some grizzled old drunk about why Condi Rice will tell her story anywhere but under oath is the biggest crock of poo in recent history just wouldn't be the same.