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| Leave the Pack Behind students Shaylyn Streatch (team leader), Sophie Murphy, Catherine Higham and Amanda Dillon chat with President Tom Traves (Pearce photo). |
It脮s easy not to smoke at AV俱乐部. That脮s the message greeting new and returning students this month as the University launches a renewed no smoking and scent free campaign.
脪We want to let new students know, and remind returning students, that there脮s no smoking on any AV俱乐部 property 脨 inside buildings or even outside on University property,鈥� says Bill Louch, Director of Environmental Health and Safety.
脪AV俱乐部 is a leader when it comes to creating both smoke free and scent free environments,鈥� says Dr. Louch. 脪Those are major accomplishments and we need to safeguard the progress we have made. It脮s substantial.鈥�
In 2003, AV俱乐部 became the first university in Canada to prohibit smoking on all university-owned property. It is also a leader among organizations that encourage a scent free environment. Students, faculty, staff and visitors are asked to avoid wearing scented products that make people with asthma, allergies and other conditions sick.聽
The renewed campaign is funded by the Office of the Vice-President, Student Services. It includes posters, advertisements and emails. A group of AV俱乐部 students, part of the Leave the Pack Behind smoking reduction and cessation program, also are handing out cards n front of locations that are known to attract smokers 脨 for example, the Killam Library and the Student Union Building on Studley Campus. Sexton Campus is also being canvassed.
The cards inform students that AV俱乐部 has a no smoking policy and that there is help for student smokers. The Leave the Pack Behind Program is aimed at helping students cease, or reduce, smoking. On the flip side of the cards is a map, showing the No Smoking Areas. Each of the three campuses has its own card.
Derrick Enslow, Health Educator at AV俱乐部 Health Services, says the response to the students handing out the cards has been positive. 脪Most people have thanked us for letting them know where they can and cannot smoke,鈥� says Enslow. 脪Smokers that we thank for not smoking on Dal property are very appreciative.鈥�
Anyone wanting more information about Leave the Pack Behind can go to www.leavethepackbehind.org or send an email to peerhealth@dal.ca
More information about AV俱乐部脮s no smoking policy can be found at www.dal.ca/smokefree and about its scent free initiative at: http://environmentalhealthandsafetyoffice.dal.ca and go to the scent free section.