Schrammie: College banning chaw is so nanny-like
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Is it public health or social engineering?
Is there a lesson to be learned from an institution of higher learning?
I'd like to invite the Everett Community College board of trustees to quit rolling their own and come on down.
Earlier this month the board voted to ban any and all tobacco use on its campus.
No smoking anywhere outside.
No smoking in your car if it's on college property.
And no chaw.
Second-hand smoke is the culprit for the ban on cigarettes and such, even within the confines of your vehicle.
But I'm told that protecting people from themselves is the reason college officials have banned chewing tobacco.
Seems the community college board of dictators doesn't cotton to the idea of students making unhealthy decisions effecting no one but themselves.
I think banning smoking outdoors is kind of goofy.
Extending that to your car is asinine.
And banning smokeless tobacco is so nanny-like that it crosses over to the inane.
So before some dentist gets the board to ban lollipops because they promote tooth decay, I'd like the board of Everett Community College to take a bow, because this "Schrammie" is for them overextending their authority.
Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com. You can also connect with Ken on Facebook.
Is there a lesson to be learned from an institution of higher learning?
I'd like to invite the Everett Community College board of trustees to quit rolling their own and come on down.
Earlier this month the board voted to ban any and all tobacco use on its campus.
No smoking anywhere outside.
No smoking in your car if it's on college property.
And no chaw.
Second-hand smoke is the culprit for the ban on cigarettes and such, even within the confines of your vehicle.
But I'm told that protecting people from themselves is the reason college officials have banned chewing tobacco.
Seems the community college board of dictators doesn't cotton to the idea of students making unhealthy decisions effecting no one but themselves.
I think banning smoking outdoors is kind of goofy.
Extending that to your car is asinine.
And banning smokeless tobacco is so nanny-like that it crosses over to the inane.
So before some dentist gets the board to ban lollipops because they promote tooth decay, I'd like the board of Everett Community College to take a bow, because this "Schrammie" is for them overextending their authority.
Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com. You can also connect with Ken on Facebook.
Ken is right. The only place I disagree is where he said 'banning smoking outside is KIND OF goofy." No, its TOTALLY GOOFY.
Boeing did it and it works.
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Kenny, I have to agree with most of the posters here. Â Chewies are a dirty, disgusting lot who leave their spit everywhere for others to step in, clean up or otherwise get it on themselves. Â Chewing is a disgusting habit and should be outlawed in any public place where smoking is banned.
 Ken you've got to stop now. Stop complaining about tobacco. More and places of business, public places, parks, etc are cutting it [tobacco] out all together. So stop complaining. Stop smoking. Stop chewing. Just stop. It's gross. It's time.
Ken, most of the time I agree with  you, this time I don't. Regrettably I have used smokeless tobacco for 30 plus years.  I consider myself to be discreet and polite when it comes to my bad habit.  Many others aren't as discreet or polite. Their lower lips protruding grotesquely, spitting in cups and bottles sinks and sidewalks. (often times leaving them behind) for other to spill, throw away or step in . It is a nasty, disgusting habit that is extremely difficult to give up, believe me I have tried.  I wish that when I was in school, it would have discouraged, instead of ignored. It is a horrible habit, it has significant health risks, and yes it does impact others should they be the one that follows the student and happens to spill the "spit cup" that has been left behind.
Woah there.
Suddenly liberal thinking is not your bag?
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I have to wonder exactly what WA lawmakers do (for our own good) is okay in your mind.
What I hate are all the food and drink waste that doesn't find the trash bin on campus. Â All of those starbuck coffee cups and lids, gum wrappers, water bottles, pieces of paper, food wrappers, etc. Â It's so disgusting that the school should ban all of it so we don't have to see it on the ground or on campus anymore. Â I guess you could ban 'chew' as well.
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Hey, Ken.
Ever seen the ugly brown, slimy spit globs on the sidewalk, in the parking lot or in the planting areas that chewers leave?
Ever seen the disgusting paper cups full of brown glop that they leave sitting on benches, walls and newspaper boxes?
I'm totally in favor of the plan. Tobacco users are some of the filthiest people around. They leave their butts wherever they choose, they leave crumpled empty packs anywhere they like, and continuously push the limits of no smoking areas.
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Bravo to the school.
 @Glassman Well I sure haven't, but what I HAVE seen is trash from food, papers, etc left on the ground.  Have you ever seen that?  I think the school should ban all of that too.
Ken,
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I like how you slipped in that shot at dentists. They should be educating the public on responsible use and enjoyment of lollipops. Too many laws are denying too many United States citizens a chance to pursue happiness.
All these safety and health laws, bans, regulations and policies humor me. And yet, obesity, heart disease (not related to smoking), promotion of physical activity, workplace destress practices and preventative medicine all ride in back seat of the priority wagon.
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Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin once said "Tell me what you eat and I'll tell you who you are..."Â To that, I say, "Tell me where you live and I'll tell you what you can't..."
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It is all coming to the front of the bus slowly but surely. Bloomberg banning big gulps and so forth. Heath care based on BMI charts and other health factors. Some people are thinking hey I diet and exercise why should I pay the same as some fatty smoker whoâs exercise is plan is using the electric cart at wall mart to get their soda and chips? Off topic I know but itâs on the horizon.
Aside from the millions and millions of dollars taxpayers shell out for "chaw" related cancers and diseases, it's a disgusting, unsanitary, and dirty, addiction that DOES affect people around it. Â I've been behind guys in trucks who open their doors at the stop lights to spit, I've seen them spit on campus, in landscaping. Â You really think that the College should be paying to clean their spit off the corridors??? Â Â Ugh.. why would any chew that junk, and why would anyone defend it?? Â Oh wait.. I forgot, you're a smoker (one of the thousands of chemicals in treated tobacco actually deadens the area of your brain that deals with understanding cause and effect. Â So I forgive you Ken, because your brain has been affected by the chemicals you ingest.Â
 @DT You hit the nail on the head and "keeper" is wrong. The college has every right to ban smoking or chewing, especially chewing. It's a disgusting habit where a person is constantly spitting and they don't seem to care where it lands. Maybe Ken would change his mind if 10 or 12 guys chewing would spit on his driveway on a daily basis.Â
 @JT Here's the part that bugs me about your statement,
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"....and they don't seem to care where it lands."
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That's not a fair statement and you are using that statement to suggest the behavior of all tobacco chewers without knowing the facts yourself.
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Yes, I think chew/tobacco and smoking is gross and I hate it when people who chew spit in public, but does that mean all of them do it? Â I've also known people who would chew at work, but I didn't even notice because they were very discreet about it. Â It doesn't mean they are all responsible or irresponsible, there IS a middle-ground.
 @DT Let's ban sex too! It causes all kinds of health problems (STDs, AIDs, pregnancies). How about alcohol? Cars too, do you know how many people are killed in car accidents (especially college students). GIve me a break. They don't spend a second cleaning up spit from chew. I can't remember the last time I saw somebody chew.Â
 @DT That's not the point DT. I think it's disgusting and vile too, but it's not the college's place to tell people not to do it. I think sushi is gross as well, should that be banned?
@keeper  Well, if it's the College's private property, and they're sick of cleaning up after smokers, it is certainly their place to dictate, what activities they allow on their property.
As much as I hate cigarette smoke, stepping in chew and spit, and finding chew in drinking fountains...I more hate others who are higher up dictating things that should be personal choice! I would rather avoid drinking fountains (bringing my own container of water) and watch where I step!
Ken! The same policy is in place at Boeing. It's a non-tobacco use company.
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Kind of the trend.
@HonkeyCat Boeing is paying their employees to work and not waste time spitting in a bottle. Are they allowed to smoke and chew on their breaks?
Hi whoareyou.
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I did a quick Google search but for some reason I can't cut and paste a link in this new format.
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According to smokefreeWashington.com, Boeing announced the company would be smoke free in 2008. There is no smoking on any company property including in cars, parking lots, etc.Â
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Anyone know why links can't be pasted?
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 @HonkeyCat The difference is that Boeing is paying its employees and they can indeed dictate what their employees can and cannot do. They have to make a blanket policy so they don't get nailed for discriminatory practices.
At ECC they training people for said work force. Also why should our tax dollars and tuitions pay to consantly clean after said users?
Heck, lets just ban people from campus! No people, no costs at all...
You are right, and at the same time, then why shoud ECC receive any of the "Sin-Taxes" since they no longer allow the use of the sinful items on campus? Tit-for-Tat, IMHO.
 @BocaBob Your tax dollars pay for many clean-ups of all kind of users.  Think of all the gum wrappers on the ground, starbucks coffee cups that don't find the trash-bin, etc.  Your tax dollars pay for that clean-up as well.  Why single out people who chew?
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If you are going to single one type of 'user' out, then you might as well include them all. Â Just ban all food/drink on campus if you really want to save the tax dollars on cleaning up.
Ban this ban that..... Smoking, chewing or whatever else the busy bodies demand! I say smoke em' if you got em'.... or in this case.... chew away! Give busy bodies the one finger salute!
I'm sure places that accept taxes generated from the sale of tobacco will also be happy to discontinue accepting it. A place of higher learning wouldn't want to hypocritical, after all...
If people had more respect for other people and property this would not be a problem. The problem with smoking in their cars it that when done smoking they throw the butt out the window causing a litter problem. The problem with chaw is the disrespectful users who spit on the walkway or spit their chew in the drinking fountain. It has always been the few who ruin it for others, but it seems like the few is increasing. I work at a company that banned all tobacco on company grounds. Before this happened. There were cigarette butt cans outside the building. One day I counted over 100 cigarette butts on the ground within 10 feet of the can. If people would think of someone other than themselves these rules would not have to be implemented.
 @RF66 Going off of your reasoning, we need to ban fast food and gum too. Look on the side if the road and see just how much trash people throw out of their cars. And then you can also find gum on the sidewalks and in front of business entrances, even under tables. I honestly have never seen "chew" anywhere in public.
This is not a state ban it a campus ban . A school that has a large population of minors(HS kids take up to half thier classeshere).
I also belive Wash state public schools ban the sale fast food, gum and tabaco already.
No one is saying a state ban here, just a small campus. You can keep on chewing smoking all want.
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You hit that nail on the head! Chew in drinking fountain very gross also on the side walk if you step in it. Its also a matter of the schools image and the way of the work force. Gov jobs miltary and civilan alike have simular bans.
Ken who loves nanny laws would be against this.
So Ken here is a big wad of chew for you! PPssssst----- ting
 @BocaBob then... teach people some manners! Not ban everything in sight because we don't want to look at it...
 @me  @BocaBobÂ
"then...teach people some manners!" I agree, but easier said than done.  Respect and manners is a thing of the past. Obviously the next gen will have even less since their parents did not have any.
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I think the college is ok with the chaw. You see alot of the guys spitting on the ground. Not in the grass but where everyone walks. Its gross.
I wish the board would get serious and put a ban on over use of patchouli.Â
man that stuff stinks!
And people get all upset when I suggest we could solve the State budget problem by ending State support of Community Colleges and Evergreen State. Â
@Sid Vishess Doesn't this just sound like an episode of Community? I love that show because it does such a good idea of showing how sillly these institutions of "higher" learning are!
This is what happens when a nanny state conditions people out of thinking for themselves. It used to be most people did things properly out of respect for other people, and the ones that did not were properly shunned. Now law abiding people will only do or not do things because the nanny state has taken over their thinking. And now the nanny state has to come up with a law to govern all our waking hours about everything we do. There are a lot of people in this nanny state that do not believe in religion for very similar reasons of not wanting to be controlled by some unseen force in the universe but now they just have a new bible now called government, and you must follow that bible or be locked up. You just don't get to go to the promised land if you do everything per government, you just get to die, although I would probably not want to spend my eternity in a promised land created by any government if they could provide one.
 @Beam_Me_Up Rush would be proud, how many times did we count "nanny" in your comments.  Sorry, but until people get some brains, the laws will continue.  I'm tired as a taxpayer of paying for billions in tobacco related diseases...Â
 @DT Sorry, even though you were born with brains you seem to be refusing to use them. I guess there is no law yet that says you have to use your brains. This is not an existing law, this is a new law so there is no continuing. Or are you OK with any and every law that our government comes up with? Do you really need these laws to self governance? If so then you are pretty weak minded. Or do you like the laws to be written just so you can complain when other people break them? What good does that do you? Are you out doing people's arrests when you see someone breaking a law? And BTW, I don't listen to Rush but apparently you do since you seem to know what he rants about.
@alaska_dreamin -Â People seem to have a problem differentiating between a campus policy, a company policy and a law.
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 @whoareyou  @Beam_Me_Up  @DT It isn't a law, it is a campus policy.
@Beam_Me_Up @DT I wonder if DT would support banning abortion? That is gauranteed to kill at least one person? I somehow doubt it though!
 @DT ...which is offset by the billions in extra taxes smokers pay AND which is balanced by a decreased life expectancy resulting in billions in savings for  Social Security and which is balanced by fewer smokers living to the age where they need to be supported by your tax dollars in nursing homes and Alzenheimer related facilities. See, ya gotta look at the BIG picture.Â
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Oh, another reason health care insurance should not be funded by taxes.
@Sid Vishess @DT It is the same old hypocrisy that permeates liberals. They don't want to be told what to do by conservatives, but have no problem telling others what to do!
I'm sure this will go a long way to making better graduates...
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Nanny State EVCC - How about banning alcohol use too?? I'm sure you have tons of hung over college students skipping classes, maybe even failing classes...I went to college I know!! lol
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FYI - I'm not advocating repealing roe v wade - I'm just puzzled at how liberals determine what is important relative to quality of life or life itself... Pro abortionists claim they want the freedom to abort an unwanted pregnancy because it will be a burdened for their entire life to care for another human being... BUT chaw/smoking is primarily harming only the individual not killing another one... I'm further puzzled by the fact liberals seem to have money for art projects, to fund eco terrorists in rubber boats harassing Japanese whalers and other projects and causes YET why can't they take that same money to promote healthy births and find home for unwanted babies instead of being the human version of PAW's.
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OK back to the topic - Personal FREEDOMS are being TAKEN AWAY...as determined by the Liberal Elite..  Â
 @Truth Percolates Closer to "utopia", one ban at a time they'll say.Â