Campus To Go Tobacco-Free on Nov. 19, 2009
Media Contact: , (859) 257-6605/699-0041
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 5, 2009) – The University of Kentucky announced today
that the UK Tobacco-Free Campus Initiative will take effect on Nov. 19, 2009, coinciding with
the American Cancer
Society's Great American Smokeout®, held annually on the third Thursday in
November.
Additionally, members of the task force responsible for planning the implementation of this policy have been named.
A tobacco-free policy, which prohibits the use of all tobacco products on campus (cigarettes, chew, pipes, cigars, snuff, etc.), has already been in effect at the UK Medical Center and all UK HealthCare-owned facilities within Fayette County since Nov. 20, 2008, and will now apply to all areas of the contiguous UK campus in Lexington, indoors and out. Currently, smoking is not allowed in any UK building, anywhere on the grounds of the UK Medical Center or within 20 feet of any university building or residence hall on the remainder of campus.
When this change is enacted on Nov. 19, UK will join more than 255 other United States colleges and universities with tobacco-free policies in place for the entire campus, indoors and out.
"Enacting the tobacco-free policy at the University of Kentucky in November will greatly improve the campus atmosphere for all members of our community," said UK President Lee T. Todd, Jr. "This policy has already created a healthier environment for patients, workers and visitors at the UK Medical Center, and we look forward to the long-term benefits of its implementation throughout all areas of the UK campus.
“I also view this as an opportunity for the university to take a leadership role in creating a healthier Kentucky. We know that tobacco use has had a negative impact on the health of Kentuckians for generations. Kentucky continues to lead the nation in the number of adults who smoke, a statistic that negatively impacts the health of Kentuckians. From high rates of cancer and diabetes to poor cardiovascular health, the use of tobacco has prevented Kentuckians from reaching their full potential. And I hope that our campus tobacco-free initiative will serve as a role model to communities, workplaces and individuals looking to create a healthier Commonwealth."
The task force is co-chaired by Ellen Hahn, a professor in the UK College of Nursing, and Anthany Beatty, assistant vice president for campus services. The members of the task force represent a comprehensive range of departments and areas at UK.
"It is critical to have involvement in this process from a wide representation of people across campus," said Hahn. "The tobacco-free policy will be of great benefit to the entire campus as it has been to the UK Medical Center, and we want input from all members of the UK community on the best ways to implement this policy."
Additionally, there will be five subcommittees within the Tobacco-Free Campus Initiative Task Force: Facilities and Boundaries/Signage, Communications and Marketing, Tobacco Treatment/Addiction Management, Compliance and Good Neighbor. Anyone wishing to serve on a committee should contact Jane Smith at (859) 257-8200.
Additionally, members of the task force responsible for planning the implementation of this policy have been named.
A tobacco-free policy, which prohibits the use of all tobacco products on campus (cigarettes, chew, pipes, cigars, snuff, etc.), has already been in effect at the UK Medical Center and all UK HealthCare-owned facilities within Fayette County since Nov. 20, 2008, and will now apply to all areas of the contiguous UK campus in Lexington, indoors and out. Currently, smoking is not allowed in any UK building, anywhere on the grounds of the UK Medical Center or within 20 feet of any university building or residence hall on the remainder of campus.
When this change is enacted on Nov. 19, UK will join more than 255 other United States colleges and universities with tobacco-free policies in place for the entire campus, indoors and out.
"Enacting the tobacco-free policy at the University of Kentucky in November will greatly improve the campus atmosphere for all members of our community," said UK President Lee T. Todd, Jr. "This policy has already created a healthier environment for patients, workers and visitors at the UK Medical Center, and we look forward to the long-term benefits of its implementation throughout all areas of the UK campus.
“I also view this as an opportunity for the university to take a leadership role in creating a healthier Kentucky. We know that tobacco use has had a negative impact on the health of Kentuckians for generations. Kentucky continues to lead the nation in the number of adults who smoke, a statistic that negatively impacts the health of Kentuckians. From high rates of cancer and diabetes to poor cardiovascular health, the use of tobacco has prevented Kentuckians from reaching their full potential. And I hope that our campus tobacco-free initiative will serve as a role model to communities, workplaces and individuals looking to create a healthier Commonwealth."
The task force is co-chaired by Ellen Hahn, a professor in the UK College of Nursing, and Anthany Beatty, assistant vice president for campus services. The members of the task force represent a comprehensive range of departments and areas at UK.
"It is critical to have involvement in this process from a wide representation of people across campus," said Hahn. "The tobacco-free policy will be of great benefit to the entire campus as it has been to the UK Medical Center, and we want input from all members of the UK community on the best ways to implement this policy."
Additionally, there will be five subcommittees within the Tobacco-Free Campus Initiative Task Force: Facilities and Boundaries/Signage, Communications and Marketing, Tobacco Treatment/Addiction Management, Compliance and Good Neighbor. Anyone wishing to serve on a committee should contact Jane Smith at (859) 257-8200.
The members of the UK Tobacco-Free Campus Initiative Task
Force are as follows:
- Anthany Beatty, Co-Chair, Campus Services
- Ellen Hahn, Co-Chair, College of Nursing
- Ore Adedoyin, Graduate Student Congress
- Felito Aldarondo, Counseling & Testing Center
- Lance Broeking, Campus Services/Real Estate Services
- Marilyn Childre, BCTC
- Karen Clancy, University Health Service
- Deborrah Cox, BCTC
- Larry Crouch, Student Affairs
- Ben Crutcher, Auxiliary Services
- Harry Dadds, Legal Counsel
- Warren Denny, University Architect
- Carol Diedrichs, Libraries
- Tom Harris, External Affairs
- Jimmy Henning, Agriculture
- Jerry Hester, Hilary J. Boone Center
- Lisa Higgins-Hord, Community Engagement
- Dana Macaulay, Office of Residence Life
- Morgan Mason, UK HealthCare
- Bart Miller, Staff Senate
- Tyler Montell, Student Government
- Rob Mullens, Athletics
- Joey Payne, Human Resources
- David Randall, Faculty Senate
- Ray Schmidt, Dining Services
- Jackie Silvers, KY Geological Survey (Research)
- Jimmy Stanton, Public Relations
- Bob Wiseman, Vice President for Facilities
- John Whitt, Resident Student Association
- Don Witt, Admissions & Registrar, Enrollment Management