A correction was added to this article Oct. 13.Due to an editing error, the author of the Oct. 7 letter ‘End smoking in Ames restaurants’ was misidentified. Sophia Magill, senior in political science, wrote the letter. She did not write it in her role as president of the Government of the Student Body. The Daily regrets this error.As a member of the Story County Tobacco Task Force and a student government leader at Iowa State, I feel it is important for me to ask our legislators to support the right of all Iowans to breathe smoke-free air in public places and work sites.

I am concerned that ISU students work in bars and restaurants where they are exposed for up to eight hours to secondhand smoke. I support the Task Force’s goal of 100 percent smoke-free public places.

According to American Heart Association statistics, more than 250,000 Americans die prematurely each year from cardiovascular disease. Scientific research estimates that secondhand smoke is the second-leading cause of preventable death in Iowa.

I urge the Iowa Legislature to think about the health of our residents. Our Ames community leaders need the authority to once again save lives by enacting policies that will protect our residents.

Sophia Magill

President

Government of the Student Body