UK Celebrates Seven Years of Being Tobacco-free

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 16, 2016) — The University of Kentucky will celebrate UK’s tobacco-free policy for the seventh year. All students, faculty and staff members are encouraged to come help celebrate the anniversary of the tobacco-free policy along with the Great American Smokeout from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17. The event will take place at the Rose Street Walkway, directly in front of the Mining and Minerals Resources Building, and is free and open to the public.

The UK Tobacco-free Task Force, the Tobacco-free Take Action! (TFTA!) Ambassadors, University Health Service, the UK College of Pharmacy, the Student Health Advisory Council, and UK Dining will host the annual Tobacco-free Tailgate: The Great American Smokeout celebration. The tailgate will give people the opportunity to learn more about the health hazards of tobacco as well as available tobacco treatment resources on campus. There will be games, prizes and free food (chili, hot chocolate and s’mores).

UK’s tobacco-free policy took effect in fall 2009 and the University is committed to promoting a healthy place to live, work, and learn for students, employees, patients and visitors. The use of all tobacco products is prohibited on any property that is owned, operated or occupied by UK within Fayette County, which includes buildings, parking structures and lots, sidewalks, streets and inside vehicles. Tobacco products are defined as all forms of tobacco, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookah, smokeless tobacco and electronic smoking devices. Everyone on campus — employees, students, patients, visitors, and vendors — are asked to respect others and adhere to the policy.

Kentucky leads the nation in incidence of lung cancer and mortality from the disease and reports some of the highest rates of tobacco use across the nation, UK recognizes the importance of the tobacco-free campus policy and offers many options to help employees, students and sponsored dependents quit using tobacco. For more information on quitting, go to http://www.uky.edu/TobaccoFree/.

Jacyln Perryman, an tobacco-free ambassador, is proud of the ways the tobacco-free policy has influenced campus and the role she gets to play in making campus healthier for students, staff and visitors. “I love that my job has allowed me to make a lasting, positive impact on our campus and I truly believe that the Ambassador Program, along with our volunteers, have made a difference and are continuing to make UK a healthy place to live, work, and learn," Perryman said.

In order to improve policy effectiveness, TFTA! was developed in spring 2011. TFTA! Ambassadors promote compliance with the University’s policy on a daily basis. Individuals who would like to get involved with the TFTA! Volunteer program can sign up here: http://www.uky.edu/TobaccoFree/volunteersignup

Show your support for UK’s tobacco-free campus on social media by using the hashtags #seeclear #seeblue.

UKPR&M CONTACT: Olivia McCoy, olivia.mccoy1@uky.edu, 859-257-1076