Whether it’s waiting for class in Smoker’s Alley, worrying about tomorrow’s test outside the library, or talking it up at the benches outside Biever, one thing is clear: Loyola students like their smokes.
It’s hard to walk outside any building on campus and not run into at least one person lighting up. Loyola isn’t alone, and the American Cancer Society is trying to change that with the Great American Smokeout. Scheduled for Nov. 15, its goal was to educate smokers about the effects of smoking and offer them the opportunity to quit.
“The American Cancer Society has been putting on the Great American Smokeout for over 30 years, and now they’re really trying to direct it at college smokers, because there are so many of them,” said Rebecca Do, American Cancer Society intern and mass communication senior.
Smokers said they would like to quit, but Loyola’s campus is a difficult place to get serious about it.
“Almost everyone I know who smokes is trying to quit. I think it’s the on-campus atmosphere. You just get bored, especially living in the dorms. When I chill with my friends off campus, I smoke far less cigarettes,” said Chris Burke, a finance junior who started smoking his freshman year of high school.
Rachel Henderson, history senior, said, “I do want to quit. I’ve tried to quit, but with stress from school it doesn’t seem too practical right now. I’ll try again after graduation. It’s hard to quit when you’re surrounded by smokers.”
Loyola’s Substance Abuse Task force, with the help of a $25,000 grant from the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living, is planning programs to educate the community about the harmful effects of tobacco.
Dr. Alicia Bourque, chairwoman of the task force and director of the University Counseling Center, said the task force has required grant-related activities they are expected to carry out, including supporting TFL Statewide Events such as the Great American Smokeout, and Kick Butts Day, coming in April 2008.
Other expectations include promoting the Louisiana Tobacco Quitline, 1-800-QUIT-NOW, and reviewing Loyola’s current smoking policy.
“Fr. Wildes has signed a letter of commitment stating that the university will not accept monies from the tobacco industry,” Bourque said.
The American Cancer Society said studies show 41 percent of the estimated 45.4 million Americans who smoke have tried to quit for at least one day in the past year.
They go on to say that although lung cancer incidence and death rates have declined overall, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women, claiming the lives of an estimated 160,390 Americans this year. In the U.S., tobacco use is responsible for nearly one in five deaths, taking approximately 438,000 lives each year, the ACS says.
Despite the statistics – and prices – smokers continue to indulge for reasons including stress from work, school and relationships, peer pressure and simply taste and feeling.
“I started smoking sophomore year of college because it was something to do outside, and I liked the taste. I liked the feeling of taking a drag. It’s like a deep breath with substance,” said Bridey Murphy, psychology senior.
Murphy said, “I’ve had an aunt and an uncle die from smoking and my dad had a stint put in his heart because he’s been smoking since he was eleven. It should deter me, but it doesn’t right now.”
Jordan Hultine can be reached at [email protected].
