CLC prepares to go smoke-free on Jan. 1, 2015
The College of Lake County is preparing to become a smoke-free campus on Jan. 1 by launching an awareness-building campaign that emphasizes resources to help staff and students quit smoking. On Nov. 20, the same day as the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout, the college will hold a special event called "Take a One-Day Stand," where students and staff will be asked to give up smoking for at least one day and take steps to quit.
The event, being held at all three campuses from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5-7 p.m., will include free chair massages, food, goody bags, helpful information for smokers and non-smokers and the opportunity to sign up for CLC's "Commit to Quit" program. Participating students and staff will become eligible for free Southlake Campus massage/ wellness sessions, subsidized nicotine replacement therapy and support/cessation services.
A new state law, signed in August by Gov. Pat Quinn, requires all state-supported colleges and universities to become smoke-free by July 1, 2015. Responding to the new law and proposals that have emerged on campus over recent years, in September 2014 the CLC Board of Trustees approved a smoke-free policy for the college. To allow the college to become a leader in promoting a healthier campus environment, the trustees approved going smoke-free earlier than required by the new law, according to Teresa Aguinaldo, dean of student life and chair of the faculty and staff implementation committee.
In addition to complying with the law, the new policy will help protect the health of the campus community, lower maintenance and fire insurance costs and support CLC's effort to have a clean, sustainable campus, according to Kevin Lowry, manager of Environmental Safety and Health and a member of the committee.
A task force composed of faculty and staff is overseeing the effort to disseminate information, hold special events and assemble resources to encourage smokers to quit.
According to Janet Mason, a CLC human services professor, Certified Advanced Alcohol/Drug Counselor and member of the implementation committee, the awareness-building effort will include a website (www.clcillinois.edu/smokefree), a Facebook page, posters, fliers and t-shirts sporting a "Love your Lungs" image and "Breathe Easy at CLC" tagline. In addition, faculty, staff and students who smoke will be given "quit bags" containing a wallet-sized card with the non-smoking policy and tips on how go smoke-free.