Chancellor Case designates Nov. 21 UAA Smoke Free Day

Chancellor Tom Case has signed a proclamation designating Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, as UAA Smoke Free Day in support of the American Cancer Society's national Great American Smokeout campaign.

According to a survey by UAA faculty members Drs. Gabriel Garcia and Joy Mapaye, nearly 80 percent of UAA students do not smoke and about 75 percent of UAA students support a smoke-free campus.

"As the health campus of the University of Alaska system, we are committed to providing a safe and healthy environment in which we teach, learn, research, live and work," says UAA Chancellor Tom Case. "UAA Smoke Free Day is an important step toward a healthier life and a healthier campus."

In October, UAA signed on to the Fresh Air Campus Challenge, a first-of-its-kind effort to encourage all college campuses in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington to adopt a 100 percent smoke- or tobacco-free policy by 2016. About 1,180 colleges in the U.S. have already chosen to have a comprehensive smoke- or tobacco-free policy.

Drs. Garcia and Mapaye are part of the UAA Smoke-Free Task Force, a group of students, faculty and staff advocating for a 100 percent smoke- or tobacco-free campus.

"Our goal is to provide the healthiest possible learning and working environment for our students, faculty, staff and visitors," Garcia says. "As the number one cause of preventable death in the nation, we believe that limiting the harmful effects of tobacco use is one of the best ways we can support a healthier campus community."

For more information, contact Dr. Gabriel Garcia at (907) 786-6532 or gabrieljmgarcia@uaa.alaska.edu.

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