Assistant Surgeon General to discuss challenges of tobacco-free campuses

Assistant Surgeon General Nadine Simons, of the U.S. Department of Public Health Services, will give the keynote address at a special lecture event, "The Challenges of Smoking Cessation on College Campuses," scheduled for 9 to 10 a.m., Feb. 15, in the Memorial Union, Arizona Ballroom, on ASU's Tempe campus. A continental breakfast reception will begin at 8:30 a.m.

If you are planning to attend the event, please RSVP here. The free event is open to the public.

Simons will join Justin Zeien, vice president of the Health and Counseling Student Action Committee, and Teri Pipe, dean of ASU's College of Nursing and Health Innovation, in discussing the student-led efforts to make ASU a tobacco-free campus and how the initiative is part of a collaboration with Mayo Clinic on development of a healthy lifestyle campus. Allan Markus, director of ASU Health Services, will moderate a Q&A panel to conclude the event.

Effective Aug. 2, 2013, Arizona State University will join more than 800 universities nationwide in becoming 100 percent tobacco-free. The initiative, spearheaded by students and supported by the University Staff Council and the faculty Academic Senate, is part of a larger ASU effort to promote health and wellness in the ASU community.

ASU already prohibits smoking inside its buildings. The new policy will prohibit all manner of smoking as well as the use of smokeless tobacco products and will apply to all properties owned, leased or controlled by the university, whether indoor or outdoor.

“Tobacco use is a documented public health hazard and the university is dedicated to providing a healthy, comfortable and educationally productive learning environment for faculty, staff, students and visitors,” said Kevin Salcido, associate vice president of Human Resources and a member of the tobacco-free working group.

In addition to contributing to better health, increased productivity and decreased use of sick time, prohibiting tobacco use on ASU campuses will result in decreased maintenance expense for facilities and grounds in managing related litter.

Additional information about the policy change; a listing of available educational programs and resources to help successfully quit tobacco; tobacco-free zone maps; and a supervisor’s toolkit are available, along with other items, at asu.edu/tobaccofree.

If you are planning to attend the event, please RSVP.