The Editorially Independent Voice of The University of Akron

The Buchtelite

The Editorially Independent Voice of The University of Akron

The Buchtelite

The Editorially Independent Voice of The University of Akron

The Buchtelite

Attack of the raining smoker butts

By: Jaclyn Wlosek

Can you smell it? That puff from the cigarette the man is smoking in front of you has just blown into your face. The man continues to smoke as you inhale the filthy air. Then he does the one move that every smoker seems to do on this campus: the tap and flip of the hand to toss the cigarette butt to the ground.

Yay litter.

Illustrated by Carli Molinelli

It makes you wonder how someone could be so selfish in their ploy to kill himself with cigarettes that he seems to be so indifferent about nature and society.

Story continues below advertisement

Why must the smokers on Akron’s campus go so far as to not only smoke in public places but to toss their still smoking trash to the ground? It’s appalling and, if you take a look around campus, much more noticeable than you thought. Do the campus a favor, smokers of Akron! The world is not an ashtray!

Why do they do it? Maybe the all-encompassing feeling of being a rebel while smoking has something to do with it. Is it possible that placing the cigarette in the proper trash receptacle involves obeying “the man” or “the system”? Has Akron become yet another stereotype of America’s society – lazy? I’m sure the five seconds spent walking to the trash can could not possibly make a smoker any more winded than smoking has already made him.

In my opinion, both concepts contradict each other. Being lazy is bowing down to “the man”; it is fulfilling a stereotype for America. By littering with your rebel cigarette, you are actually conforming (Isn’t that food for thought!). But honestly, both types of individuals are subservient to the American stereotype.

Next time you are on campus, count how many smokers you see. I saw at least a dozen in one day. Half were rebels and half were lazy. It’s something to think about the next time you see that man smoking his brand or the next time you light up.

View Comments (6)
Donate to The Buchtelite
$250
$500
Contributed
Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of The University of Akron. Your contribution will allow us to keep printing our magazine edition, purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
Donate to The Buchtelite
$250
$500
Contributed
Our Goal

Comments (6)

All comments that are well-informed, civil and relevant to the story are welcome. To leave a comment, please provide your name and email address. The Editorial Board reserves to right to remove any comment that is submitted under false pretenses or includes personal attacks, libel, hate speech, profanity, spam or inaccurate/misleading information. All comments are screened and are generally approved unless they are found to be found in violation of these standards. Readers who notice comments that appear to violate these standards are encouraged to contact the Online Editor at [email protected].
All The Buchtelite Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Leave a Reply to Tom Murry on Facebook Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • T

    The Buchtelite on FacebookSep 15, 2011 at 2:20 AM

    Tom: the people that write for the Buchtelite are all students, and while sometimes the editors do write stories, we prefer to have students that are not on our editorial staff write for us. We would happy to hear from you if you are interested in writing an opinion article, letter to the editor, or writing for another section.

    Reply
  • M

    Mike Penta on FacebookSep 15, 2011 at 2:19 AM

    No thanks. I just find the letter writer could have made her point without going on the attack or turning to assumptions and stereotypes. She could have politely asked smokers to be more sensitive and courteous to those around them.

    Reply
  • T

    Tom Murry on FacebookSep 15, 2011 at 2:08 AM

    Hah, Mike, you opninon only matters if its the same one The Buchtelite shares. Dont let them fool you.

    Reply
  • T

    The Buchtelite on FacebookSep 15, 2011 at 2:02 AM

    If you are interested in writing a letter to the editor or have your own ideas for an opinion story on that topic, Mike, we’d be more than happy to hear from you. We welcome all students interested in writing for us. Would you like our Opinion editor’s contact information?

    Reply
  • M

    Mike Penta on FacebookSep 15, 2011 at 1:51 AM

    Yawn. You breath more toxins from the traffic on campus. How about a story about people who run into us because their head is stuck in their cell phone?

    Reply
  • T

    Tom Murry on FacebookSep 15, 2011 at 12:53 AM

    Now this is something I can agree with.

    Reply