Students who feel their right to choose is being violated by the upcoming campuswide smoking ban gave passers-by their own choice on the Quad on Thursday: Apple, donut or cigarette?

Members of the RSO Young Americans for Liberty held the demonstration to start a conversation about individual rights.

Dan Humbrecht, YAL president and sophomore in Engineering, said the event was hosted to gain support for ending the smoking ban.

“We are trying to get awareness and to get people talking about the smoking ban,” Humbrecht said. “Our club is based off of individual rights, and because of that, we don’t believe that it’s the University’s place to dictate what sort of lifestyle you are living.”

The University announced last month that the campus would go smoke-free next year. The ban is an extension of the current rule requiring that smokers be 25 feet away from public buildings and prohibiting smoking indoors.

Some students chose the cigarettes, including John Regan, junior in AHS, who said smoking is a personal decision and does not require permission.

“Everyone should have the choice if they want to smoke or not,” Regan said. “The secondhand smoke you get crossing the Quad from one smoker is not going to harm you in any permanent way.”

Others, however, went with the apple. Deanna Ciaccia, sophomore in DGS, who is supportive of the ban, said she does not agree with smoking, but the event gave her a better understanding of a smoker’s standpoint on the policy.

“I think hearing their perspective is interesting. It is your choice to stay healthy or get a cigarette.” Ciaccia said. “However, I still feel that it’s our right not to inhale their secondhand smoke. … I think it’s in the best judgment for the University to have this ban for the health aspect of the whole campus.”

The RSO Colleges Against Cancer set up a table near YAL’s. The group came out in support of the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, held annually to encourage smokers to make a plan to quit on that day.

Melissa DeCicco, cancer education chair for CAC and junior in Engineering, said she felt nervous about YAL giving out free cigarettes.

“It was a little frustrating that they are giving out cigarettes, but I understand the point they are making,” Decicco said.

Matt Cronin, vice president of CAC and senior in FAA, said that although the ban will make smoking less convenient, individuals can still make their own choices to smoke after the policy becomes effective.

“I don’t think the University is making the choice for anyone,” Cronin said. “They are not saying you can’t smoke, (but) they are saying you can’t smoke on University properties. So there are plenty of places you can still smoke. They are not making anyone quit.”

The University is set to become smoke-free by November 2013.

Carina can be reached at [email protected].