The Tuesday Ames Tribune carried a story that said ISU students are overwhelmingly against a proposed ban on smoking. The author based his assumption on a GSB vote of 23 to 10 against the ban.

To my knowledge, GSB never held a formal hearing or took a formal survey of the students they represent.

Therefore, I don’t believe it can accurately be stated how the majority of the student body feels about the ban.

I do know that the members of ISU’s Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) support the ban on smoking in public places because they asked me to send you this letter.

I currently serve as president of this committee, whose purpose is to act as a liaison between students and the Student Health Center.

I also know there is support from many other students on campus who have been signing the petitions that have been circulating.

There have been many meetings, articles in the papers and editorial letters discussing this issue. No one has disputed the fact that breathing second-hand smoke is a health hazard.

It is a public health issue and should be treated as such. It isn’t the first time and it won’t be the last that the issue of health versus business has been tested. It is time that health took priority in Ames.

Chris D. Gleason

Senior

Community health education

President

ISU Student Health Advisory Committee