The Pacer

Professor calls for smoke-free restaurants in Martin

I enjoyed your review of the Dragon Buffet restaurant, but you left out one important fact: the air is not clean. When I went to eat there and they asked “smoking or non-smoking” I couldn’t believe it.

Here was a single room, with a single air-conditioning system, in which everyone had to breath second-hand smoke. Anyone who opens a restaurant in this day and age which isn’t smoke-free is out of touch with reality. Reality is that second-hand smoke is a carcinogen - it’s been proven. A restaurant with a smoking section is like a swimming pool with a peeing section - except that “pee” won’t give you cancer. I’ve had cancer once, and I don’t want it again. When the Dragon Buffet comes into the 21st century and becomes smoke-free like the majority of Martin’s eating establishments, I’ll go back - but not before.

Dr. Dwight Gatwood
Professor of Music