Thursday, August 18, 2011
Complete the Tobacco Policy Survey!!
Calling all students, staff and faculty! Here's your chance to express your opinions about UT Austin tobacco policy? Do you want to be smoke-free? Hate regulations? Let us know what you think! Fill out the survey.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Guide to Off-Campus Housing
Some of you knew this was coming, and here it is! The Student Guide to Tobacco-Free Housing Off-Campus.
About 86% of UT Austin students live off-campus, and many of us want to be proactive about protecting ourselves from secondhand smoke. After all, we non-smokers don't want out clothes smelling like smoke. As for smokers - well, studies show that living in non-smoking environments will help you smoke less and hopefully even quit!
Let's face it - tobacco-free housing is the healthiest option for all of us. For those of you who live in apartments not included on this list, please check with your housing management and let us know the official policy. We want this to be as comprehensive as possible.
Happy apartment hunting!!
About 86% of UT Austin students live off-campus, and many of us want to be proactive about protecting ourselves from secondhand smoke. After all, we non-smokers don't want out clothes smelling like smoke. As for smokers - well, studies show that living in non-smoking environments will help you smoke less and hopefully even quit!
Let's face it - tobacco-free housing is the healthiest option for all of us. For those of you who live in apartments not included on this list, please check with your housing management and let us know the official policy. We want this to be as comprehensive as possible.
Happy apartment hunting!!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Kicking Back Into Gear!
So we've been in a bit of a lull for posting since the beginning of summer but we're back and our mission to work towards a healthier, tobacco-free, campus is getting back into full gear.
Some of you may have heard but Texas State has voted to go tobacco-free. Our neighbors have clearly got the right idea, not to mention that several parts of the UT system have already gone tobacco-free. It's hard for anyone to say at this point that we're pushing the radical envelope when so many Universities around the country and even some of those close to us are adopting the kind of policy we are asking for.
We'll be putting a housing report out soon listing the student housing options around campus along with their tobacco policies. Keep a lookout and share with any friends looking to lease a place!
Remember to take our survey and join our facebook group!
Some of you may have heard but Texas State has voted to go tobacco-free. Our neighbors have clearly got the right idea, not to mention that several parts of the UT system have already gone tobacco-free. It's hard for anyone to say at this point that we're pushing the radical envelope when so many Universities around the country and even some of those close to us are adopting the kind of policy we are asking for.
We'll be putting a housing report out soon listing the student housing options around campus along with their tobacco policies. Keep a lookout and share with any friends looking to lease a place!
Remember to take our survey and join our facebook group!
Monday, May 9, 2011
ACS
American Cancer Society
Contact your representatives about the vote tomorrow on a work-place smoking ban!
Check out the webpage, and make your opinion matter.
Contact your representatives about the vote tomorrow on a work-place smoking ban!
Check out the webpage, and make your opinion matter.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Just keepin' it real...
EW. This is what happens when you're irresponsible about smoking. Be prepared to have your eyes scarred because I will post more pictures of lungs ridden with lung cancer for y'all to enjoy.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The Ashtrayler Comes to UT!
We want to thank the City of Austin for bringing the Ashtrayler to campus yesterday. Many students stopped by to share their stories of personal struggles with tobacco, about family members that have been lost due to tobacco-related diseases, and even romantic relationships that were strengthened through quitting tobacco. The Ashtraylor gave these students an opportunity to commemorate their lost kin and provide words of encouragement for their peers as they wrote their own comments in the trays.
Fox 7 News also provided some coverage of the event, which can be viewed here.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Tackling the Tough Topic (Trying to Balance Opinions)
Alright, so I'm just going to cut to the most recent happenings about the smoke-free legislation that UT's Student Government passed in March. Just to refresh, they called this to be a seven-year process, and they do have a few exceptions to their rule. Just like alcohol is allowed in the Cactus Cafe and at the stadium, these are a few examples to the exceptions of our dry campus rule. Student Government hasn't actually posted the official exceptions, but you can figure them out for yourselves; there will probably be areas designated for smoking, maybe they will enforce a greater distance from any building that one must be to smoke. Right now, I think 20 feet is the rule? Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
Anyways, President Powers had a little something to say with regards to the SG's legislation. Powers, the President of the UT campus, is opposed to a complete banning of smoking. He basically implied that he supported designated smoking areas, according to the Daily Texan article found here: http://www.dailytexanonline.com/content/staff-council-set-discuss-campus-wide-smoking-ban. Keep in mind this article was published not too long ago, about 3 weeks ago. He said that a "complete ban alienates too many people." President Powers I believe is trying to accommodate the interests of every individual on this campus; I think his expression is reasonable.
However, it should be in everybody's best interest to understand that all UT really wants (okay, again I am speaking for UT pro-banners in general) is to protect the health of its people, while respecting those who still want to smoke. Powers said he understands banning smoking in certain areas--he even mentioned "outdoor areas", which, quite frankly, is very vague. But nevertheless, the most important aspect of this campaign is to reduce the amount of carcinogens in my lungs (and yours). I completely understand Powers' viewpoint: of COURSE a complete ban would alienate people and cause a lot of disgruntled workers and students to completely rebel. I think Powers is talking realism here.
You do know that a complete ban of smoking on this campus would help us be a LOT healthier by reducing the cigarette carcinogen levels to ZERO?
Of course, that's ideal. Ideally, that's what we want. We know it's not going to happen POOF one day I'll magically wake up and be soooo healthy. I think I need to point out a few important notes: 1) SG's legislation called for a seven-year process. SEVEN. It's going to take a while. 2) They even have EXCEPTIONS to the smoke-free campus policy they proposed. 3) Powers isn't completely against this plan. So people against this ban, before you say "AWW NO WAY AM I GOING TO OBEY THIS DUMB RULE", please give it a chance. Because everyone is trying to accommodate your views to make this work, and we all want to make this work.
Let me ask you this because I'm curious (and please, everybody reading this, answer): Would you be okay with having designated smoke areas somewhere away from campus? Or even in some secluded area on campus where nobody walks through? Here's the crazy idea: WHAT IF...Student Government decided to make this one area a smoking area, but it was at the edge of campus (somewhere where there are not many people)? So the people who do want to get some chemicals in their respiratory system have to walk all the way over to those places to do their thing. Do you think that'd be effective in discouraging smokers to smoke while still giving them the opportunity to smoke? Or is that just not fair?
Or, okay, here's another thought: The ban calls for smoke-free campus. I and you several thousand people are aware that we have a hookah bar and two smoke shops on the Drag, a strip of street bordering one of the smokiest areas I can think of. Yeah, we are not going to call them out. We can't do that. But would it be too much to ask if SG said "No smoking on campus but here's technically a part of campus where you can exercise your right to cancer. Just please respect the people on campus who don't want second-hand smoke"?
I'm doing the best I can to balance out opinions. Realism, people, think real! Keep public healthy; do your part responsibly. Smoke somewhere else.
A few comments: If anybody has insight as to where to find more info about the SG legislation, please comment and link me!
Anyways, President Powers had a little something to say with regards to the SG's legislation. Powers, the President of the UT campus, is opposed to a complete banning of smoking. He basically implied that he supported designated smoking areas, according to the Daily Texan article found here: http://www.dailytexanonline.com/content/staff-council-set-discuss-campus-wide-smoking-ban. Keep in mind this article was published not too long ago, about 3 weeks ago. He said that a "complete ban alienates too many people." President Powers I believe is trying to accommodate the interests of every individual on this campus; I think his expression is reasonable.
However, it should be in everybody's best interest to understand that all UT really wants (okay, again I am speaking for UT pro-banners in general) is to protect the health of its people, while respecting those who still want to smoke. Powers said he understands banning smoking in certain areas--he even mentioned "outdoor areas", which, quite frankly, is very vague. But nevertheless, the most important aspect of this campaign is to reduce the amount of carcinogens in my lungs (and yours). I completely understand Powers' viewpoint: of COURSE a complete ban would alienate people and cause a lot of disgruntled workers and students to completely rebel. I think Powers is talking realism here.
You do know that a complete ban of smoking on this campus would help us be a LOT healthier by reducing the cigarette carcinogen levels to ZERO?
Of course, that's ideal. Ideally, that's what we want. We know it's not going to happen POOF one day I'll magically wake up and be soooo healthy. I think I need to point out a few important notes: 1) SG's legislation called for a seven-year process. SEVEN. It's going to take a while. 2) They even have EXCEPTIONS to the smoke-free campus policy they proposed. 3) Powers isn't completely against this plan. So people against this ban, before you say "AWW NO WAY AM I GOING TO OBEY THIS DUMB RULE", please give it a chance. Because everyone is trying to accommodate your views to make this work, and we all want to make this work.
Let me ask you this because I'm curious (and please, everybody reading this, answer): Would you be okay with having designated smoke areas somewhere away from campus? Or even in some secluded area on campus where nobody walks through? Here's the crazy idea: WHAT IF...Student Government decided to make this one area a smoking area, but it was at the edge of campus (somewhere where there are not many people)? So the people who do want to get some chemicals in their respiratory system have to walk all the way over to those places to do their thing. Do you think that'd be effective in discouraging smokers to smoke while still giving them the opportunity to smoke? Or is that just not fair?
Or, okay, here's another thought: The ban calls for smoke-free campus. I and you several thousand people are aware that we have a hookah bar and two smoke shops on the Drag, a strip of street bordering one of the smokiest areas I can think of. Yeah, we are not going to call them out. We can't do that. But would it be too much to ask if SG said "No smoking on campus but here's technically a part of campus where you can exercise your right to cancer. Just please respect the people on campus who don't want second-hand smoke"?
I'm doing the best I can to balance out opinions. Realism, people, think real! Keep public healthy; do your part responsibly. Smoke somewhere else.
A few comments: If anybody has insight as to where to find more info about the SG legislation, please comment and link me!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Tackling this Tobacco Issue, Step 1
So I've been given the task to write this blog for the Tobacco-Free Texas Campaign. Yes, I am a part of this campaign. This blog will address controversial smoking issues regarding UT, its legislation, news, opinions, and stories. Here's the introduction to the smoking issue:
In March 2011, Student Government passed a resolution calling for a 7-year process of a smoking cessation policy on the UT of Austin campus. Their legislation includes exceptions to the rule, which we will get into later.
Wait for it...
WOAH. Uproar! What? Why would Student Government do this? This is ridiculous! Stopping smoking on campus? Not. Possible. "They can't make me."
Well, no, nobody can absolutely make you to do anything but here's why your freedom should consider smoking cessation: Smoking is the "leading cause of cancer and death from cancer. It causes cancers of the lung, esophagus, larynx, mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, pancreas, stomach, and cervix, as well as acute myeloid leukemia" (National Cancer Institute).
To put it short, you can die of cancer (wait, back up: you can be extremely miserable in a hospital), and you can contribute to deaths of other people who probably don't want to develop cancer. How can you do this? Second-hand smoke. According to the National Cancer Institute (I will abbreviate this to NCI, just for your information from now on), "Inhaling secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in nonsmoking adults" and "approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths occur each year among adult nonsmokers in the United States as a result of exposure to secondhand smoke".
Blah blah blah words and numbers, but I'm going to break it down for you in this scenario:
You're sitting outside on a bench at the Six Pack doing your thing, when suddenly two people light cigarettes not too far from you. You inhale the smoke. BAM, you've now got chromium, vinyl chloride, benzene, among other chemicals in your lungs. Okay, so you only took one breath. Oh wait...this happens again a few days later. Maybe twice the next month. Every time, you have to grab your stuff and shuffle away, and every time, you come a little closer to having carcinogens brewing a party in your lungs.
Also, don't believe my quotes? Check it: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/cessation
So this is why smokers should take this law seriously. Now, I'm not saying that smokers are careless people; no, they are not. But what the Tobacco-Free Texas campaign strongly urges is preventive care and precaution to protect those who do not want to inhale these carcinogens.
Note: I apologize for my blunt language. With all due respect, I am concerned for those with family and friends currently struggling with lung cancer and/or any health problems due to smoking and in general, so please don't take offense. I just wanted to lay the case down not lightly, but realistically.
I think this is it for today. Of course, this matter is a serious one that is still in debate among the UT community and Student Government. There are questions that need to be addressed (doesn't mean they'll necessarily be solved): What does "smoking" encompass? How realistic is this legislation? Implementation methods? Any exceptions? And there are probably more on my mind, but those will come later. No worries, I hope to address all sides of the issue/opinions while ultimately educating you about the risks associated with smoking and informing you that this legislation is not bogus. It has potential to do some good.
In March 2011, Student Government passed a resolution calling for a 7-year process of a smoking cessation policy on the UT of Austin campus. Their legislation includes exceptions to the rule, which we will get into later.
Wait for it...
WOAH. Uproar! What? Why would Student Government do this? This is ridiculous! Stopping smoking on campus? Not. Possible. "They can't make me."
Well, no, nobody can absolutely make you to do anything but here's why your freedom should consider smoking cessation: Smoking is the "leading cause of cancer and death from cancer. It causes cancers of the lung, esophagus, larynx, mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, pancreas, stomach, and cervix, as well as acute myeloid leukemia" (National Cancer Institute).
To put it short, you can die of cancer (wait, back up: you can be extremely miserable in a hospital), and you can contribute to deaths of other people who probably don't want to develop cancer. How can you do this? Second-hand smoke. According to the National Cancer Institute (I will abbreviate this to NCI, just for your information from now on), "Inhaling secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in nonsmoking adults" and "approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths occur each year among adult nonsmokers in the United States as a result of exposure to secondhand smoke".
Blah blah blah words and numbers, but I'm going to break it down for you in this scenario:
You're sitting outside on a bench at the Six Pack doing your thing, when suddenly two people light cigarettes not too far from you. You inhale the smoke. BAM, you've now got chromium, vinyl chloride, benzene, among other chemicals in your lungs. Okay, so you only took one breath. Oh wait...this happens again a few days later. Maybe twice the next month. Every time, you have to grab your stuff and shuffle away, and every time, you come a little closer to having carcinogens brewing a party in your lungs.
Also, don't believe my quotes? Check it: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/cessation
So this is why smokers should take this law seriously. Now, I'm not saying that smokers are careless people; no, they are not. But what the Tobacco-Free Texas campaign strongly urges is preventive care and precaution to protect those who do not want to inhale these carcinogens.
Note: I apologize for my blunt language. With all due respect, I am concerned for those with family and friends currently struggling with lung cancer and/or any health problems due to smoking and in general, so please don't take offense. I just wanted to lay the case down not lightly, but realistically.
I think this is it for today. Of course, this matter is a serious one that is still in debate among the UT community and Student Government. There are questions that need to be addressed (doesn't mean they'll necessarily be solved): What does "smoking" encompass? How realistic is this legislation? Implementation methods? Any exceptions? And there are probably more on my mind, but those will come later. No worries, I hope to address all sides of the issue/opinions while ultimately educating you about the risks associated with smoking and informing you that this legislation is not bogus. It has potential to do some good.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
The Facebook
We now have a facebook page! Check us out!
Did you know: there are over 250 Universities in the United States alone which have committed to a tobacco-free campus?
Did you know: there are over 250 Universities in the United States alone which have committed to a tobacco-free campus?
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Beginnings of a blog
Birth is a humble experience - it can be nasty, drawn-out, and painful, with little left for the imagination of all participants.
So to, it goes with the inception of a blog - pardon our mess and dust as we arrange things here to best bring information to you about the Tobacco-Free Texas campaign!
So to, it goes with the inception of a blog - pardon our mess and dust as we arrange things here to best bring information to you about the Tobacco-Free Texas campaign!
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