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Some students at Ohio State are drawing the line when it comes to secondhand smoke – literally.
Members of Colleges Against Cancer, a student organization affiliated with the American Cancer Society, walked to several campus buildings Wednesday evening and drew thick, bold chalk lines outside the entrances, marking off the 25 foot no-smoking zone. The lines are meant to reemphasize Ohio’s smoking ban known as Issue 5, which requires smokers to be at least 25 feet from public buildings. Within the lines, a message was written in chalk: “You must be outside the line to smoke.”
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and this event was one of many planned by OSU’s chapter of Colleges Against Cancer to spread awareness and educate the public.
“We want to send a message that says many students are bothered by the smoking around campus buildings,” said Sarah Murphy, co-vice president of CAC. “Basically, it’s cancer education. It’s not obnoxious or obtrusive. It’s just a reminder that you have to be 25 feet from the buildings if you’re smoking.”
According to the American Cancer Society, 126 million Americans are exposed to secondhand smoke, and every year about 3,400 adults die of lung cancer from breathing secondhand smoke.
Kate Bowman, a senior in speech and hearing science, has been involved with CAC for two years. She said her motivation for being part of the program stemmed from her grandmother’s death from cancer several years ago.
“I see a lot of people smoking right by the doors of buildings, especially in the winter,” Bowman said. “I have asthma, so I hate being around smokers because I literally have trouble breathing. Personally, I’d like to be able to breathe freely in public.”
The controversial Issue 5 took effect in December 2006. Opponents of the law argue that the smoking ban is unreasonable and violates the rights of business owners and individuals. Arguments in support of the law include Ohioans’ right to breathe freely and to be protected from secondhand smoke in public buildings and workplaces.
“I think cancer affects everyone. Most people at least know someone who’s had cancer,” said Kathleen Neff, a senior in marketing and human resources and president of CAC. “This event will bring awareness. People will walk by, see the lines and read our fliers.”
The main event for CAC is Relay For Life, an annual 24-hour walk-a-thon and fundraiser held in May. Jared Goldwasser, spokesman for OSU’s Relay For Life, said thousands of dollars are raised at the event to spread awareness and raise funds for cancer research.
“Relay For Life is organized in a lot of communities around the country, not just on college campuses,” he said. “The relay involves teams, each with a fundraising goal. People camp out and have a lot of fun.”
The CAC organization also participated in the American Cancer Society’s national event, “The Great American Smokeout,” held Thursday. The annual event offers support for those who want to quit smoking, and encourages smokers to join thousands of others nationwide who will quit smoking for at least one day.
Natalee Seely can be reached at [email protected].
