Ways You Can Take It On

Ever wonder if you, a college student, can actually be heard? Well, believe it. You can. Often campus policy that impacts students does not go before the college president unless it has the support of the students. And if you live in a college town, most likely that town or city council wants to know your opinion. Hey, they know you eat, shop, dance, drink, and even bowl in their town. They know it's your place too. Curious now about what you can do? Read on.

• If the sale of tobacco products is allowed on your campus, work to change that. Join your campus tobacco control task force to address the administration and/or student government about creating a policy that prohibits it.
  
  
• Talk with your campus newspaper and ask them to adopt a policy not to accept ads for tobacco products or promotions. If they're not up for that, ask them to run counter ads at no or low cost.
  
  
• Do the same with local newspapers, especially those geared toward college students. It won't hurt to ask—all they can do is say "no." But who knows, with a little perseverance, it could pay off.
  
  
• Meet with area bars and nightclubs to find out if they've been approached by tobacco companies to hold promotional events. Encourage them to turn Big Tobacco down and thank them if they already have.

Work with local coalitions to help enact smoke-free ordinances or to pass an ordinance prohibiting tobacco product giveaways. Don't know who these coalitions are? Call up your local health department or go online to the American Cancer Society or the American Lung Association to find your local chapter.