Show r us exercise a little common sense “Let BHBSSBBBSSa Zahller viewpoint editor Mike This summer was probably one of my best for numerous reasons First I got to see my little brother and sister the early stages of the dreaded “terrible twos" To boot I had a cool job that paid well and I got the rare opportunity to spend lime with old friends However I think a unique aspect about this summer in Colorado had to have been the freedom I enjoyed in regards to cigarettes Sec in Colorado you only have to be 18 years or older to purchase tobacco products Unlike Utah Stale Codes - which require a minimum age of 19 years and prohibit smoking in almost all public buildings- - Colorado regulations allow you to smoke in indoor areas such as restaurants and night dubs For a smoker that's paradise Now that I'm back at CEU though I am once again reminded of Utah's discriminatory policies towards smokers and thus compelled to experience respond If it is one thing I cannot stand in this world it has to be uniust laws thal are ignorantly endorsed by the people of the state Take for example (he law currently embedded in Utah Slate Code law hooks that requires an individual to remain hi trust 25 feel from the doors and w indows of an public building while smoking The or exception to the rule is that if there is a double door entrance then smoking is allowed anywhere around that urea Let me ust say this I totally understand the negative effects that secondhand smoke can have on other individuals and I realize that it's not right for me to smoke around a nonsmoker thus exposing herhim to my exhaled smoke I don't have a problem with that side of the equation What I warn to know is what exactly does the gov eminent plan to do to protect us smokers from the harm of winter uca'hcr If vnu have vv itched tin news litcU ou have proh-jH- v lie ai Vai iiit a I V Yif It mn let me hriellv explain (orm i comes around about ever- ! i md iti just huppeiMo tv us' cai oi letmr Suenitst relieve dial 19'7 will he a unique Yim will he the woisl ycii and eiiiiaie tint tins si sloi Mill iv cats Kasiallvil comes down In past tli n e mig r get a little hit nippy this winter in I tali ail vou noiismokers who do not have to wony 1 1 is a tiupikul u-u- - ' I I aituit venturing outdoors loo much this winter the rest of this arlicie really docs not apply loo much to you because you just won't he able to relate Several problems are inherent with Utah's law For starters local governments are not required to mark off the exact distance Irom the building Apparently Utah officials are putting their faith in the “com 25-le- mon sense" of us citizens I do not disagree with this approach completely but when you design laws to be specific and exact you risk the possibility of being lenient on violators When our courts adopt a "black or white" mentality in their approach to laws they loose sight of (he “gray" areas that exist in everyone's lives For example if I am approximately 22 feet or so from the building and my “common sense" tells me that that's about 25 feel I could easily lead myself into a false security What I mean is if I pul faith in my "common sense” and it turns out to be wrong by 1 or 4 feel I could end up getting a ticket just because I was not exactly 25 feet from the building It is almost as if Utah state legislatures are selling a trap selectively designed for smokers because they as us to “guess" how far 25 feet is and then automatically punish us if we are wrong Do not be mistaken I know that this docs not actually occur on a widespread basis People are not being ticketed if they are not exactly 25 feet away from public buildings But what I want to focus on is the principle of the law itself Even though the law is not actually enforced to its full capacity just another flawed aspect of (he law- - docs not make the principle behind the law right or just It is not "legally just" to ask an individual to guess at w helher or not t hey are comply ing w ith a law Rather citizens should know where the line exists Only then can they truly be f ree to choose to obey or disobey concise laws The only reason punishment for laws is in accordance with justice in our country today is because each individual knows their rights and llicir limitations Only because of that know do our law s become just since individuals are now truly aware of the consequences they face and whether or not they want to avoid them Even if Utah could mark off the area thal dies not rule out lire possibility of other problems arising One iiiiiiicdiuic problem dial will most likely arise is lire amvil o w inter and the lack of structure' or shelters for 25-fc- 25-fe- us sttiok'-iRight now your laws force lire and otlrers to subjugate ourselves to hush weather conditions ' Vine just toexeii-rmv constitutional especially s right to smoke a cigaicllc You provide a place for iiotMiiokcrs i e pul lie buildings hut v on I'ii to lire hide a hum poitnm ol "the public '' 1 he principle behind the 25 leet law is Hawed because it provides for sale conditions to one segment ol lire population while al lire same time throwing another portion of tire populous out in the cold What is even worse is thal your law is specifically designed to combat a specific choice the decision to smoke I do not know if it is because of economic interests moral beliefs or a combination of both but the bottom line is this: the law requiring 19 years or older to purchase tobacco products the overwhelmingly high increase in the amount of taxes put on cigarettes the prohibition of smoking in all public buildings and the principle of the rule are all examples of distinct Utah legislation No where else in the country is there such strict laws on smokers Would not “common sense" dictate that these policies are at least somewhat discriminatory if not blatantly unjust? If the Utah government wishes to use our intuitions as a base for our action then why can't they do the same? Ltxik I do not enjoy spending the little money I have just so I can: a Fund a highway project that the state is obligated to do so anyway and b Exercise my constitutional right to liberty and the pursuit ofhappincss Other stales are privy to the same information thal details the harms of secondhand smoke that Utah is however Utah feels it has even more compelling evidence that other slates look pastmordl views of stale officials Other states do mn let their mural choices affect the decisions they make if there is a general disagreement on the issue Thai is why there is been no firm stance on issues of abortion and affirmative action Instead legislatures across our country with the exception of Utah- - try to provide the fairest conditions for both sides of the issue For example they balance the equation by dividing sections of public buildings in half to accommodate both sides of the smoking spectrum Some specifics include restaurants and air ports This way nonsnuikcrs do not have to deal with intense secondhand smoke and smokers get to exercise their constitutional rights In Utah though it is all and nothing nonsniokcrs get all public buildings while smokers are left with nothing to use as a shelter or building to go into while smoking No that is nut discriminatory al all? Thai is like saying men are free to go in any public building and exercise every constitutional right they have including the right to vote but women even though they have the inherent right to vole cannot go inside and exercise that right It is hypocrisy and it has to stop I w ill leave your uiipisl laws alone it you do me one I want lavi-you to build smokeis some sort of struc-tue- s that w ill provide some sliellet in the w inter months ahead lt d some shade' in (lie summer lieal to lollow All you have to du i design moic pjblic utility structures used lor public iiunsporlution Instead of culling it a "bus slop" we can call them "smoke stacks" Or liow about donating someol the money smokers are required to pay on extra cigarette taxes and put it towards shelters for us That way you give us the satisfaction of feeling like (lie taxes that arc put solely on us are actually going to things for us and not just to fund a highway fur you After all our "common sense" can easily conclude that is what democracy is actually all about individuals to be Jeppson staff writer is becoming a national epidemic Statistics that one in every fourcollcgc-agc- d women Rape victim of rape or attempted rape ' ' mately 84 percent of these were commitled by an acquaintance and 57 percent occur on dales Trying to identify a potential acquainlqance rapist is one of the hardest things to do Detective Bill Downard of the Emery County Sheriffs Office indicated an exact profile is hard to come by The rapist may he good looking popular and well liked by others Or they may he shy and reserved A serial rapist attacks because they hate women but an acquaintance rapist may be motivated by bragging about how many women they've been to bed with They often hut not necessarily feel that their date owes them something in return for the date Acquaintance rapists are often heavy drinkers and partiers Downard said thal he would beware of people who stalk others or who go way overboard on flowers and gifts "Don't go out just to gel rid of someone" he cautioned He also said it would he wise to avoid situations where alcohol or drugs may be involved "You can often gel a feeling about people" he said "Pay i i I ' I M Approxi- attention to your feelings" "Always tell someone where you're going and what time you'll he back" he said "Make sure that you have a way out" He also advises young people nut to go on blind dales "Check them out first" He suggested going on double or group dales or possibly meeting somewhere for lunch if you don't really know someone well Another good idea is taking enough money for a phone call or a cab If you are out alone keeping your doors kicked is very important and avoid walking alone at night The CEU police department has an escort program fur people who need a safe way back to Ihcirdorms You can reach them 1 or on at 637-69- 1 campus at extension 5234 If unable to reach them at either number you may call the dispatcher at 637-089- 3 if you find yourself in a position of being attacked? Depending on the situation sometime not resisting may be heller If the attacker is really violent What you could be hurt more seriously Try talking first If that doesn't wurk and you do need to fight he prepared to be violent and use any means of escape Slaiuld all else fail and you become a rape victim reporting the crime immediately is very important Call the police rape crisis family service division or even ‘ Amber Stupa Editor ''j v : ' ' After being in school for two and a half weeks we wanted to know what the new students as well life so far and what they like or dislike about the College of Eastern Utah so far Here is how a few responded as the old thought about campus Dcstri Killpack (19) Sophomore Major: General “I like all the activities it's cool how you guys get -- - everyone involved” Kenna Wright (19) Sophomore Major: General ”1 like the fact that it’s a small college and that you know a lot of the people that are here” Leah Stwart (18) Freshman Major Art ‘‘I want to know where all the parties are” r Acquaintance rape: how to avoid by Shelly o-- p 25-fe- et V Melisa Riedle (19) ' Freshman Major: Physical Therapy The thing thal caught my attention the most about CEU is how bad the food it actually tastes" just tell a friend One of the biggest problems that police have in trying to solve rape cases is that the victims often wail months before reporting the rape this is partially because they often feel dirty or embarrassed and they usually don't want to talk to men "I just felt dirty" was what one rape victim told Downard "She would get out of the shower and climb back in" This victim had taken four showers before contacting the police Actually showering right after being raped is one of the worst things a rape victim can do Don't bathe shower or wash your clothing Call the police immediately after the rape occurs or go directly to the hospital The police will order a Code R kit performed The hospital will take your clothing the paper from the table and all other physical evidence from the examination They will examine these for traces of hair semen and anything else that will help the police build their case against the rapist "A lot of people think they can handle the situation" said Downard Thalis one reason why some people are reluclunt to report a rape "The thing they need to realize is that it happened to me How many other people will it happen to?" - Den Carroll (22)' Sophomore x!V £" Mqor Music Education i g - j "My opinion about CEU ' is that it's a good college (chool be 'ty° "" cauieit gives you s lot of options like Jotiofschol- -' V 'Srships opportunitin to V meet people and U is an easy way to gct your ' generals done Tlie only bad part is there is no football or any other kinds of sports like track and cross country running”' ) ‘ ‘ j - r J V f S’ a T' I V ’ ' r -- l i i t 4 I i H i Y ' Freshman Major ComputerScience like all the activities they haveduring the week and at night” ' ”1 |