President Todd's E-mail Regarding Tobacco-Free Initiative
I am pleased to announce that the University of Kentucky has set a date of November 19, 2009, for the entire campus to become completely free of tobacco products. As was the case with the tobacco-free initiative's beginning at the UK Medical Center last year, this date coincides with the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout, which is always the third Thursday in November. The tobacco-free campus initiative prohibits the use of tobacco (cigarettes, chew, pipes, cigars, snuff, etc.) and will apply to all areas of the contiguous UK campus in Lexington.
This initiative has been an enormous success at the UK Medical Center, and I am excited that this tobacco-free policy will now encompass our entire campus, both indoors and out. This policy will greatly improve the atmosphere for the members of our campus community, as it has already fostered a healthier environment for patients, workers and visitors at the UK Medical Center.
I have appointed a task force, co-chaired by Ellen Hahn, a professor in the UK College of Nursing, and Anthany Beatty, assistant vice president for campus services, that is responsible for defining the specifics of the policy and planning its implementation. This task force includes members from departments and units across the UK community, ensuring that this project is a true campuswide collaboration.
As the tobacco-free campus date approaches, the perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff play a critical role in how to best implement this policy. I hope you will join me in helping to spread the word about our new tobacco-free policy, and, if you wish to serve on one of the committees associated with this task force (Facilities and Boundaries/Signage, Communications and Marketing, Tobacco Treatment/Addiction Management, Compliance and Good Neighbor), I encourage you to contact Jane Smith at 859-257-8200.
I also view this as an excellent 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, and our state continues to lead the nation in the number of adults who smoke. It is clearly one of our "Kentucky Uglies." From high rates of cancer and diabetes to poor cardiovascular health, the use of tobacco has prevented Kentuckians from reaching their full potential.
As was the case when the tobacco-free initiative was enacted at the UK Medical Center, smoking cessation programs will be available for those who wish to take advantage of such an opportunity.
I hope that our campus tobacco-free initiative will serve as a role model to communities, individuals, and workplaces that are looking to create a healthier Commonwealth. I thank you in advance for your compliance with this tobacco-free policy, and I feel strongly that this will be of great benefit to all associated with the UK family.
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
