UNC: Smoke Free/Math Free?

The signs across campus profess UNC to now be smoke free. Actually the new rule is against smoking "within 100 feet of University buildings." (http://www.sph.unc.edu/epidemiology_news/school_of_public_health_supports_unc_smoke-free_policy_effective_jan._1_2008_6570_1957.html)

That's not really very far, folks. The flagpole at the law school is 100 feet from the door (I paced it off. Yes I am that anal). I'm not sure how close you'd be to the track building at that point, but a few steps into the parking lot and you'd be in the clear.

So we're not banning smoking, just giving those who do a little more exercise. There are lots of places on campus more than 100 feet from buildings -- the quad, the arboretum, other quads, lots of parks, parking lots, quadparkinglots….

Heck, if The Pit on main campus was about 40 feet wider you'd be able so smoke there (I paced that off too. I told you I was anal).

It's not that I enjoy second hand smoke or am against helping folks quit smoking. But is this really a ban or a restriction? And let's have some understanding of distance. I've gotten both lost and nearly in a bad car accident because folks don't know 100 feet from a quarter mile or 100 yards from where a hurricane blew down a tree in the road that I was supposed to go take pictures of for the newspaper and it wasn't where they said it was so I sped up again… and then drove through the tree… in a hurricane.

Yes, I know I'm a codgerly coot verging on curmudgeonliness, but when I say I walked six miles to school each day uphill both ways (I lived on South Campus) in three feet of snow and 110 degree heat (on the same day, no less), it really was six miles.

I paced it off myself.