Today marks the Great American Smoke-out, a time when smokers in the First State and the nation are encouraged to kick the tobacco habit once and for all.

Smoking has been linked to major health concerns including worsened allergic conditions, heat disease and lung cancer. But smokers are not the only ones at risk. There also is clear evidence that exposure to second-hand smoke may seriously threaten the health of nonsmokers.

Since the mid-1990s, the University has taken several major steps to encourage students and employees not to smoke and to protect the health of those who do not smoke.

In 1995, at the recommendation of UD's Faculty Senate, all academic and office buildings and UD vehicles were declared smoke-free, an action that also included a ban on smoking during football games at Delaware Stadium.

All UD-owned residence halls became smoke-free at the beginning of the current fall semester, after several years of step-by-step smoking restrictions and the addition of numerous smoke-free housing options.

To help facilitate the latest policy changes, a Smoking Cessation Committee was formed in May, with student, staff, faculty and administrative representation.

The chief goals of the committee are to furnish ongoing smoking cessation materials and information and to provide individual and group support for persons wishing to stop smoking.

"We want to encourage students and staff not to start smoking," Anne Lomax, Center for Counseling and Student Development, said. "We are a clearing house for activities and units involved in health and wellness smoking cessation efforts."

Smoking cessation efforts have included four free showings of The Insider, the Academy Award-winning film documenting the true story of Jeffrey Wigand, the research scientist who blew the whistle on his former employers at Brown & Williamson Tobacco Co.

After the film, students were offered a short five-question quiz, with those getting the answers correct eligible for prizes that included free sodas, pizzas, gift certificates to the University Bookstore and Vita Nova.

During training sessions held before the start of the fall semester, resident assistants learned about the new policy and what to do if violations occur.

"Violations of this policy will be treated as housing violations, similar to having a lighted candle in the residence hall," Lomax said. "It is not being treated as a Residence Life judicial violation, such as a drinking violation."

The Smoking Cessation Committee also is involved with several projects including the formation of focus groups and the submission of proposals to receive educational funds from the state of Delaware's share of money awarded in settlements with the tobacco industry.

-Jerry Rhodes