Supporting a tobacco-free campus
On Jan. 1 of this year, Southwest Minnesota State implemented a policy for our campus to “go tobacco-free.” We joined 10 other campuses in our Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) System which are currently one hundred percent tobacco-free.
Several other campuses are in the process of adopting this tobacco-free policy.
Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death in our country. It claims more than 5,000 lives in Minnesota alone. According to a recent report by our Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. Second hand smoke, either indoors or outdoors, can cause immediate damage to our body and could lead to illness or death. The report goes further to explain that damage is immediate to the cardiovascular system and even low levels of tobacco exposure can lead to heart attacks, stroke, a weakened immune system and asthma attacks.
The implementation of this tobacco-free policy on our campus is a positive change. This action is helping SMSU create a healthier environment in which to live, work, and learn.
As students and employees face personal challenges with tobacco usage, the SMSU Health Center offers support services for our students and employees who want to reduce or quit using tobacco products.
We support the decision for a tobacco-free campus and hope you join us in making the campus of SMSU a healthier and cleaner place in the future.