It takes 14 minutes off of your life every time you do it. It kills more than 400,000 people a year, just in the United States. It doesn’t affect just you, but everyone around you. It costs hundreds of dollars that could be spent in much better ways. Simply put, smoking is a terrible habit.

The University of Southern Maine banned smoking in all of its residence halls last fall, so smokers have to be at least 50 feet away from the buildings to smoke. Next fall, when it only allows smoking in designated areas, it will have one of the strictest policies in the nation.

More and more colleges and universities are finding new ways to restrict smoking on campus. A Harvard University study last year found 25 percent of U.S. colleges ban smoking in residence halls.,

Although the number of smoking floors on Eastern’s campus has decreased and Ford, Pemberton and Lawson halls are all smoke free, 27 floors in the other residence halls still allow smoking. The majority of the floors are smoke free, but I wish Eastern would ban smoking in all of its residence halls, too. It would be even better if the university went even further with its smoking restrictions on campus and was able to enforce those restrictions better.

Eastern does prohibit smoking in all university facilities, vehicles and outdoor areas where seating is provided, and the housing and dining Web site says, “The right of the nonsmoker to protect his/her health and comfort takes precedence over another person’s right to smoke.”

One such place smoking is prohibited is at O’Brien Stadium; however, I’ve seen more than one person puffing on a cigarette at a football game or pep rally. To such individuals, be a little more courteous and have a little more self-restraint.

Better yet, we shouldn’t have to have any regulations set because we should just live in a smoke-free world. OK, I’ll take off my rose-colored glasses; that’s not likely. Nonetheless, I’m out to try to get people to quit smoking.

Many of my colleagues in the newsroom throughout my time here have been smokers. Smoke breaks out on the steps in front of Buzzard are popular. I began to never let anyone go out there with my knowledge without putting up a fight, and sometimes I’ve been successful. I’ve carried gum with me and offered it to those announcing they were going on a smoke break. One person actually took me up on that offer a lot when he was trying to quit.

I don’t just ignore it if any of my friends smoke. I gave my cousin my two cents when she smoked during the semester break. I’ve begged; I’ve pestered; I’ve done everything I could think of to stop someone from lighting up at that moment when the lighter was centimeters away from the cigarette in their mouths.

If you don’t like seeing someone smoke, you should work to get them to quit, too.

Next, to those of you who do smoke, what in the world are you thinking, and why don’t you quit?

“I’m too stressed,” “I only smoke when I drink,” “I need to smoke when I drive,” “You’ve never smoked, so you don’t understand” — all just excuses.

The majority of smokers I know, if not every smoker I know, recognize how stupid it is to smoke. They all say they want to quit, but they can’t. I believe it’s hard, but I don’t believe it’s impossible. It doesn’t make any sense to do something you don’t have to and don’t want to do.

Throw away the cigarettes. Keep busy doing other things. Eastern has programs to help smokers stop smoking, so seek help from them or a friend if necessary. You could be happier, healthier and a little richer, three things much better than being a smoker.