Emotions ran high during an open forum at the Northeastern State University Net Auditorium, when participants discussed the possibility of a tobacco-free campus.

About 25 people showed up for the forum to share their thoughts and opinions.

“This is a choice thing,” said student Johnny Aman, 20, of Park Hill. “This is just taking away another piece of our freedom.”

Aman is a non-smoker.

A steering committee composed of NSU students, faculty, staff, administration and community members staged the recent forum to discuss the feasibility of a tobacco-free campus.

Dr. Richard Matzen, associate professor of computer science, started the open discussion.

Matzen asked why the committee, which presented the proposed ban as a health issue, isn’t pushing for mandatory diet and exercise for all students, faculty and staff at NSU if health is such a concern.

“I think there are more important issues facing students on campus,” Matzen said.

Committee member Jolie Person said she hoped a diverse group would attend the forum.

“We wanted people who reside on campus, commuters, students, faculty, staff, employees and community members,” she said. “The purpose of the forum is not to pit smokers and nonsmokers against each other, but to allow people to voice their opinions on the adoption of a tobacco-free campus policy.”

Person said the committee wants to consider all sides of the issue before making a recommendation to NSU President Dr. Don Betz.

“He has the final say,” she said.

“He may decide to not follow our recommendation. We just want this to be a well-informed decision.”

According to the Associated Press, the Oklahoma Department of Health reported the adult smoking rate has dropped from 28.7 percent in 2001 to 24.7 percent in 2008. During this time, the number of former smokers in Oklahoma grew to 24.7 percent, marking the first time the state had as many former smokers as current smokers.

Most listeners at the forum felt a compromise of some type would be more practical than a complete ban of tobacco products.