Colleges For Change Mobilizing the College Community to Take Action Against Big Tobacco Presented by the Coordinators of Colleges for Change October 22, 2010

Agenda  Introductions  New York State Department of Health Tobacco Control Program Overview  Colleges for Change (C4C) Program Overview  Program Initiatives  Why Consider a Tobacco-Free Campus Policy?  Why Focus On Colleges?  How Is the Tobacco Industry Influencing College Students?  What Can YOU Do?  What We Are Doing  Getting Started  Questions

Introductions

 Name  College/University/Institution  Title  Why are you interested in this presentation?  Current tobacco policy at your respective college/university/institution

NY State Department of Health Tobacco Control Program An Overview

NYS Tobacco Control Program Vision:  Tobacco free New York Mission:  Reduce mortality & morbidity due to tobacco use

NYS Tobacco Control Program  Local Programs Community Partners Cessation Centers Youth Action (Reality Check) Comprehensive School Policy Colleges for Change  NYS Smoker’s Quitline NY-QUITS

Colleges for Change (C4C) An Overview

C4C: An Overview  Funded by New York State Department of Health Tobacco Control Program  Administered by local community agencies  3 year program  7 partners across the state  Working with 25 colleges/universities

C4C: Goals  To strengthen tobacco-related policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use  To limit opportunities for exposure to secondhand smoke  These efforts are directed toward the college campuses and the surrounding communities

C4C: College/University Partners  Wagner  College of Staten Island  SUNY Plattsburgh  Clinton Community College  Syracuse University  SUNY Cortland  SUNY Stony Brook  St. Josephs  Briarcliff  Hamilton College  Colgate University  Cazenovia College  Mohawk Valley Community College  Dowling  SUNY Fredonia  Jamestown Community College  St. Bonaventure  Alfred University  SUNY Alfred  Pace University (Pleasantville Campus)  Manhattanville College  SUNY IT  Utica College  SUNY Morrisville  Herkimer County Community College

Colleges for Change (C4C) Program Initiatives

C4C Initiatives “No Thanks Big Tobacco” Smoke-Free Multi-Unit Dwellings Tobacco-Free/Smoke-Free Outdoors Point of Sale

“No Thanks Big Tobacco”  C4C works to end tobacco company sponsorship both on and around college campuses by encouraging groups and organizations to adopt written policies banning tobacco sponsorship and promotion.  Targets:  College campus and events  Community organizations and events  Community bars and nightclubs  College fraternities and sororities  College clubs, cultural groups, sports teams

Smoke-Free Off-Campus Housing  C4C works to encourage off-campus apartment complexes and other multi-unit housing properties where students reside to adopt written non-smoking policies.  Targets:  Landlords and tenants of off-campus student housing

Point of Sale  C4C will encourage the college campus to adopt a written policy banning the sale of tobacco products on campus.  Targets:  College campus

Tobacco-Free/Smoke-Free Outdoors  C4C focuses on changing policies or passing ordinances related to the use of tobacco products on the college campus and outdoor areas in the surrounding community.  Targets:  College campuses  Outdoor areas in surrounding college community, including beaches, parks, playgrounds, outdoor areas of business

Cigarette butts are circled in blue. Photo was taken at SUNY Cortland in Spring 2010.

Why Consider a Tobacco- Free Campus Policy?

Why Adopt a Tobacco-Free Campus Policy?  Secondhand Smoke  Environmental Impact of Tobacco Litter  Tobacco Industry Targeting YOUR Students  Tobacco Use Regulations Decrease Rates of Tobacco Use  The Trend is Toward Tobacco-Free

Why Focus on Colleges?

Tobacco and College Students  The 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), prohibits tobacco companies from targeting youth under 18, this has caused them to shift their marketing expenditures dramatically to focus on young people between the ages of 18 and 25  A 2008 National Cancer Institute report concludes that tobacco industry advertising and promotion is causally linked to increased use and youth smoking initiation

Tobacco and College Students  In 2001, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that 27.9% of year olds in the United States smoke, compared with 23.5% of all adults  In a 2001 survey, 30% of college students reported being current tobacco users  Almost 40% of college students either began smoking (11.0%) or became regular smokers (28.0%) after starting college

Tobacco and College Students  Of the over 70.0% of college students who have ever tried smoking, nearly half continue on to become regular smokers  10% of current college students will die of tobacco-related illnesses

How Is the Tobacco Industry Influencing College Students?

Tobacco Industry Advertising  Internet Advertising  Ads targeting Young Adults Magazines Stores  Targeted Mailings

What are the 3 most heavily marketed brands of tobacco? Marlboro Camel Newport

 Music Events  Campus Events  Sponsoring Greek events  Athletics  Arts on and off campus Tobacco Industry Sponsorship

 Tobacco company bar and nightclub promotions target young adults  Tobacco companies entice bar owners with financial incentives and bar paraphernalia  They also recruit new smokers with cigarette- sponsored sweepstakes, contests and even hire people to mingle with the crowd to promote their brands and products Sampling/Bar Promotions

What Can YOU Do? Discussion

 What is happening on your campus concerning tobacco?  What do you think some practical next steps for your campus would be?  Consider Smokefree Policies (or lack of them) Tobacco Industry Sponsorship & Promotions Tobacco Sales on and around campus Smokefree Housing Other tobacco related issues

What We Are Doing Program Activities

C4C Activities  Evaluate your campus community (Environmental scans, administrator interviews, and/or campus-wide surveys)  Form a new student club  Work with existing clubs (Colleges Against Cancer, NYPIRG, Student Government)  Class project partnerships  Work with campus peer educators

C4C Activities  Establish or partner with existing health or tobacco advisory committees  Take on a college student intern  Work with on campus media  Partner with local tobacco programs and supportive organizations (American Cancer Society)

Evaluate Campus Community: Environmental Scans

Form a New Student Club

Work with Existing Clubs

Class Project Partnerships   University of Florida

Work with Campus Peer Educators

Establish or Partner with Advisory Committees

Work with Student Interns

Work with Campus Media

Partner with Local Tobacco Programs

Getting Started Colleges for Change Toolkit c4ctobaccofree.com

Toolkit Contents  C4C Coordinator Contacts  Example Policies C4C Comprehensive College Policy Smokefree Off-Campus Housing Policy Student Organization “No Thanks Big Tobacco” Policy  “Why Colleges/Universities Are Adopting Tobacco-Free Campus Policies”  Evaluation Tools Environmental Scan Tool Administrator Interview Tool Survey Tool  Key Resources American College Health Association Position Statement Americans for Nonsmoker’s Rights List of Smokefree Colleges “There is No Constitutional Right To Smoke”

Questions

For more information, please visit c4ctobaccofree.com