Network gives LCC an F for its tobacco policy
The results are in! California Youth Advocacy Network reviews and measures current smoke and tobacco policies on California campuses, and their findings are shared in an annual Report Card. The aim is to show tobacco use policy trends on each campus. This report rates healthy campus environments for California colleges and universities.
The High-Country region has an overall grade of a C+. Lassen College ranked an F for only a perimeter 20 feet or more. Clearly there is more that needs to be done.
It is no secret that Big Tobacco preys on rural counties. The Report Card shows that 40 percent of rural colleges have a smoke/tobacco-free policy. That is compared to a 69 percent rate for non-rural colleges. This shows that rural areas are behind.
The tobacco industry preys on rural communities by discounting tobacco and advertising tobacco products with a rugged lifestyle. It needs to come to a stop.
What can we do as a community to help save the health on our college campus? Smoke and tobacco free places are proven to help people quit and change the social norm around tobacco control. Feather River College has worked hard and adopted a 100 percent smoke and tobacco-free policy, and so can Lassen Community College.
It starts with public support; the college needs to hear your voices letting them know you stand against Big Tobacco on LCC campus. Your actions matter! Attending campus events, speaking at public comment at the college board meetings are ways to show you care about the health at LCC and how to fight back against Big Tobacco.
Together we can help set our college students up for success by saying goodbye to Big Tobacco. It can’t be done alone. It is going to take all of us to adopt a policy for LCC and finally put the health of students and staff first.
For more information on how you can help create a healthy college campus in your area, contact Caitlin Gannon at [email protected].
