USU helps smokers kick butts
Various organizations from USU and Logan presented information about the dangers of tobacco use and how to quit smoking Monday in the TSC’s International Lounge.
Stephanie Hodgson is an intern at USU’s Student Health and Wellness Center (HWC) and organized Monday’s event. Hodgson said this was done because of Kick Butts Day.
“(Kick Butts Day) is a nationally celebrated event to let people know about the dangers of smoking and what they can do to quit,” Hodgson said.
Many different organizations participated in this event, which was organized mainly by the HWC.
Other groups involved included the Health Education Association at USU (HEAUSU), USU’s Environmental Health and Safety, the Bear River Health Department and The Truth Campaign, which is best known for their anti-smoking ads.
Participating groups set up displays which gave people information about the dangers of smoking.
The HWC distributed quit smoking kits to interested students as part of their service. They handed out a total of 15 kits at the TSC since last Thursday, nine of these on Monday. These kits included candy, information brochures about quitting and things to do that may help people stop smoking, including things to keep peoples’ hand busy, which Hodgson said is helpful to quit smoking. They did not include nicotine gum due to the high cost of that item.
Hodgson said the HWC also offers cessation classes meant to help people quit smoking. These classes are offered on a need basis, and she said people interested should contact the HWC.
Zeeshan Mirza, a USU student who said he is a smoker, said he thought the resources offered at the event were a good thing for people looking to kick the habit.
“It’ll help people who need to quit,” Mirza said.
He said he wants to quit partly because he knows it is better for his health, but also because he works at a school and feels bad about being a bad example to the children there.
Jake Sparks, a psychology student who visited the booths, said he visited because he was interested in the brownies at the booth.
While plenty of students came over to the booths because of the “free brownies” signs placed in the TSC, they stayed to answer trivia about smoking and win prizes such as candy bars.
Rosemarie Horne and Abby Palmer of HEAUSU said 50 people die each hour in the U.S. from tobacco-related causes. The HEAUSU displayed an equal number of empty shoes at their table to represent each of those 50 deaths. This was done as a way to let people know of the dangers of tobacco use.
USU’s current smoking policy follows the state’s Clean Air Act, which requires that smoking be not allowed within 25 feet of any building. The HWC wants to change this.
Ryan Barfuss, prevention specialist at the HWC, said a proposition to ban smoking on campus was passed last year within the Student Senate. This, however, was met with resistance. This policy was also passed in the Faculty Senate, and is now with the president for review before it goes to the Board of Regents.
Barfuss said while a majority of students and employees supported the ban, some members of faculty strongly opposed it, and as a result it may not pass.
Hodgson said as a compromise the HWC had proposed a new policy that would keep the ban on smoking inside buildings and within 25 feet as state law requires, but would also add to the current policy.
Some of the proposed changes to the policy include a ban on sales and advertisement (through sponsorships) of tobacco products on campus, Barfuss said. Right now, tobacco is only sold in USU at the Quick Stop in the TSC.
Barfuss said this new policy would also ban smoking outdoors in high traffic areas, such as the patio by the TSC and shuttle stops on campus.
“(Students) have the right to breathe clean air,” he said.
He said this is especially true of students, employees and faculty who have respiratory problems such as asthma and are very sensitive to cigarette smoke.
Barfuss said many of the people who smoke on campus are responsible and considerate of such situations and do support this policy, according to polls they have conducted among smokers.
Hodgson said, “It is important for students to understand that the reason we are trying to pass this new policy is not to push morals on anybody. That’s the reason why students think we’re trying to do that. The reason we are trying to do that is because of safety, because of the dangers of secondhand smoke. And we just feel that it is important to protect students from that, especially the students that want to pass through the high traffic areas.”
According to information provided by the HWC, only about 1.5 percent of USU students smoke.
–jp.rodriguez@aggiemail.usu.edu