January 1st marks the first day of Emory’s smoke-free campus policy. Not that I promote the habit, but I cannot
blame Emory students for either picking up, or continuing the habit on campus. Of course, students don’t necessarily smoke due to stress alone, but with regard to stress, Emory isn’t exactly the most relaxing, academically-breezy campus around.
Our academic workloads tend to be rigorous and many students set impossible standards for themselves in order to “keep up” and “compete” with their peers. And, if we aren’t involved in enough extracurricular activities to explode our brains out, then we feel unworthy and shameful. What is wrong with our campus?! You know, if everyone dealt with the stress in the same way as some of the campus “smokers,” we’d all be walking chimneys.
Thankfully, the habit has only infiltrated a smaller percentage of the student population, and in an attempt to totally rid students from the later-in-life health complications and potential premature death from smoking, Emory is going smoke-free.
Some of you darling Collegiettes™ may be sighing with relief—you’ll never have to inhale secondhand smoke
clouds of death while walking on campus ever again! Others of you may be rolling your eyes and pouting over the inconvenience this policy is going to cause you. And let me tell you right now, I certainly do not discriminate against smokers. I embrace and love my smoking comrades. However, for all our sakes, HCE is here to introduce a couple options on campus that can help you or your friends quite smoking (if you/they choose). Rather than huff and puff (literally and figuratively) over this up-and-coming sanction, embrace Emory’s moral and kind intentions behind it. It’s all out of love, I swear.
- Emory Helpline – You can call these guys to talk about absolutely anything. Not only do they listen, they provide support without breaching confidentiality. If you are looking to quit smoking, try using the helpline as a “quit line” and call as needed. The peer counselor on the other side of the line may have some additional resources to which you can reach out. Call 404-727-HELP.
- Tobacco Free Emory Cessation Resources – Emory certainly doesn’t expect its students to give up smoking immediately. It recognizes that cessation is a major challenge, so our campus has created multiple resources for students who want to quit smoking. These cessation resources are a major part of the Tobacco-Free Emory policy and making the policy a success. From personalized online “quit plans” and telephone quit lines to on-campus cessation group classes, Emory provides a variety of options. Check out your options here for more information
- Georgia Tobacco Quit Line – Georgia has a quit line sponsored by the Georgia Cancer Coalition to help you kick your habit. Call 1-877-270-7867.
These are just a few options. There are many more in the Atlanta area that can be found easily via a simple
Google search. Of course, if you or your friends object to changing the habit, so be it. But as the campus is about to go cigarette-less, I’m foreseeing glares of disapproval and “shame-on-you” stares to be targeted at innocent students with a cigarettes hanging from their mouths. To this maltreatment, I disapprove one hundred percent. Smokers are people too! And they are usually quite kindly folk with hearts, perhaps a bit charred, but golden and pure in intention nonetheless. Rather than hate on these tobacco company suckers, show them a little love. Don’t judge and do help and give your support to those trying to quit. It is harder (and I speak from experience) than you might think. So make this new campus policy a positive experience for all students, rather than a demoralizing and segregating mini-war between the smokers and non-smokers. This is for the betterment of our college experience, our present and our future!