PASS-MU Activities

April 2-4, 2009 PASS-MU participated at the Meeting of the Minds conference in Kansas City. Meeting of the Minds is a regional prevention and health education conference for college and university peer educators, their advisors, administrators, and campus and community law enforcement. PASS-MU gave a presentation on the production of tobacco and the exploitation of workers in the Third World (here) and on tobacco companies' marketing aimed at women, children, and minorities.

April 2-4, 2009 HPS for Columbia and PASS-MU advisor Devin Lammy received the Outstanding Advisor award at the Meeting of the Minds conference in Kansas City. She was nominated by her students and competed against candidates from schools in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa.

April 1, 2009 PASS-MU conducted its fourth annual "Kiss Me, I'm a Non-Smoker" student services wellness fair, at which they informed students of the many aspects of wellness, such as tobacco, alcohol, nutrition and fitness. Professionals from the community and campus provided interactive services to the students. Nearly 500 students were reached and received informative feedback.

Nov. 13-16, 2008 PASS-MU attended the annual BACCHUS General Assembly, a national peer education conference held in Columbus, Ohio. They presented "Bigger than the Habit: Big Tobacco's Exploitation of the Third World," where they focused on the tobacco industry's exploitation of the Third World, including the destructive impact on the environment, the lies that trap farmers in a cycle of poverty, and the use of child slavery in the farming and production of tobacco. PASS-MU also received an award for Best Tobacco Prevention Program in the nation for the annual "Kiss Me, I'm a Non-Smoker" health fair.

Nov. 12, 2008 PASS-MU conducted the 2008 Great Mizzou Smokeout: The Global Impact of Tobacco Farming on the MU campus. They presented the project Explore the Little Hands of Tobacco, which was dedicated to uncovering the role of the tobacco industry in the Third World, including its economic, environmental, and human impacts. Students led a discussion about an industry which perpetuates bonded labor of adults and children, who may have to choose work over education, and limits food crops in order to grow tobacco. The event was co-sponsored by Stop Traffic and Mizzou for Malawi.

Sept. 10, 2008 PASS-MU students had a table at the Joint Peer Education Council Resource Fair. They had information about cessation opportunities for students who smoke and education on the dangers of secondhand smoke, and recruited students interested in joining PASS.

Sept. 8, 2008 PASS-MU students had a table at the MU Activities Mart. They had information about cessation opportunities for students who smoke and education on the dangers of secondhand smoke, and collected names of over 270 students who would support a smoke-free campus.

August 30, 2008 PASS-MU volunteered at the American Heart Association's walk in Columbia. Students assisted with setup, tear down, and other activities during the walk.

August 28, 2008 PASS-MU students helped TATU students at Hickman High school at their information table at the "Kewpie Fest," where the high school students had an opportunity to sign up for participation in student organizations.

August 22, 2008 PASS-MU students had a table at the MU Fall Welcome Resource Fair. They had information about cessation opportunities for students who smoke and education on the dangers of secondhand smoke, and collected names of over 250 students who would support a smoke-free campus.

July 31, 2008 PASS-MU participated at M1 Activities Fair to reach out to first-year medical students. They gave out information on PASS activities and tobacco issues and garnered support for a smoke-free campus

June 5 & 12, 2008 Jenna Jordan of PASS-MU, Linda Frost and Diane Coffman of SAFE-Columbia and Devin Lammy, health promotion specialist for Columbia, hosted an information table at the Twilight Festival in Columbia. They talked to community members about tobacco cessation and social justice issues related to Big Tobacco Companies.

June-July, 2008 PASS-MU student Jenna Jordan was part of the cast who performed Summer Welcome Wellness Skits during MU's Summer Welcome program for incoming freshmen. The skits covered wellness topics including alcohol responsibility, Facebook safety, acquaintance rape, body image, and tobacco cessation and smoke-free Columbia. Click here to read the news coverage.

May 14, 2008 Health Promotion Coordinator Tiffany Bowman, Health Promotion Specialist for Columbia Devin Lammy and PASS-MU President Traci Harr presented 13 community service awards to Hickman High School TATU students who had worked with PASS and CASE on tobacco education in the area schools. The awards were in appreciation of their work to further tobacco control efforts.

May 6, 2008 CASE and PASS-MU participated in the Mayor's Health Fair at the Activity and Recreation Center in Columbia together with other health organizations in town. They presented an educational display and talked to Columbia residents about the dangers of smoking and secondhand smoke.

April 28, 2008 TATU (Teens Against Tobacco Use) students from Hickman High School along with PASS-MU president Traci Harr presented to both health classes for each of the five class periods at West Junior High School. Students presented activities and a skit covering the dangers of tobacco use and second-hand smoke. Approximately 130 junior high school students who were educated by this event.

April 25, 28, 2008 PASS-MU students drove a golf cart around campus and gave students rides to classes while talking to them about smoking cessation and secondhand smoke. During the rides talks also centered around a smoke-free campus.

April 12, 2008 PASS-MU students assisted the Wellness Resource Center with the Tenth Annual Chad Eatherly Memorial 5K Fun Run in Columbia. Chad Eatherly was a WRC peer educator who died of unknown causes. Each year the WRC with the help of the Greek Week Steering Committee hold the run in his memory. A memorial scholarship is also awarded to a WRC peer educator.

April 5, 2008 PASS-MU members Christine Matthews, Andrea Johnson, Jenna Jordan, and Megan Rau delivered the session "Put Your Foot in the Door, Not in Your Mouth" at the 2008 Meeting of the Minds annual conference in Kansas City, MO. The presentation was designed to help college students understand the differences between speaking to a peer group and to professionals, including campus administrators and decision makers. They used their experiences in working to change the MU campus smoking policy as a guide. To see the presentation, click here.

April 4, 2008 PASS-MU members Traci Harr, Lindsey Goetz, Mike Puricelli and Melissa Oribhabor delivered the session "What the Hookah?" at the 2008 Meeting of the Minds annual conference in Kansas City, MO. The presentation discussed the history of tobacco water pipes (hookah), the rising popularity among college students, myths about the safety of hookah. To see the presentation, click here.

March 19, 2008 PASS-MU students participated in the Wellness Resource Center's Safe Spring Break Resource Fair. They disseminated information about the harmful effects of secondhand smoke and resources for free tobacco cessation. Students also collected names of peers who support a smoking policy change at MU.

March 18-21, 2008 PASS-MU students hosted educational tables at Hickman and Rock Bridge High Schools for the annual "Red Ribbon Week." The week, coordinated by the high school outreach counselors, promotes healthy decision making, and focuses on the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

March 3, 2008 Health Promotion Specialist for Columbia Devin Lammy and PASS-MU President Traci Harr traveled to Westminster College in Fulton to meet with their new peer education group. They discussed the format of the peer groups at the MU Wellness Resource Center and PASS-MU's activities over the last year. They also encouraged Westminster students to attend the Meeting of the Minds conference to meet members of other peer groups.

Feb. 13, 2008 PASS-MU students held the third annual KISS Me campaign at the University of Missouri campus. This year's theme was "KISS Me, Just for the Health of It." The event expanded into a free student wellness fair, focused on providing students with personalized health information such as lung capacity, aerobic ability, and bone density tests, brief eye exams, and sun damage assessments. Participating organizations included Columbia Allergy and Asthma, The Mason Eye Institute, The Dermatology Department of the MU Health System, Wilson's Total Fitness, The Starting Block, and others. Over 1,000 students attended and many signed pledges to further smoke-free living and environments. Seventy-three percent of them supported a smoke-free campus. Click here to see related materials.

Dec. 4, 2007 PASS-MU students had an information table at the Safe Holiday Break Resource Fair on the MU campus. They handed out information on tobacco cessation and the dangers of secondhand smoke and collected over 200 names of MU students to be included in a thank you letter to the City Council for passing the smoking ordinance.

Oct. 23 & 29, 2007 PASS-MU participated in the Walk to Wellness Health Fair for MU-Columbia employees at Reynolds Alumni Center. Students helped at the various health booths, which offered free health screenings for blood pressure, fasting glucose, cholesterol, and skin cancer. Employees had the opportunity to enroll in tobacco cessation programs, stress reduction workshops, weight management classes and low-cost exercise programs.

Oct. 20, 2007 PASS-MU, SAFE, and CASE participated in the MU-Columbia homecoming parade. They were wearing "We love smoke-free Columbia" T-shirts and walking with a 7-foot helium balloon with the slogan "I love smoke-free communities." They also passed out Gatorade to the crowd. "It was great to see so much support along the parade route," said Dean Andersen, CASE project coordinator. "This was a great opportunity to do community education."

Oct. 5, 2007 PASS-MU students volunteered at the Wellness Resource Center's 12-Hour Alcohol Responsibility Walk. Students helped in many areas including working booths, serving food and supporting the walk staff. The walk took place between 12 p.m. and 12 a.m. at Stankowski Field.

Oct. 2, 2007 PASS-MU helped run an MU Student Wellness Advocates (MUSWA) table at the Alcohol Responsibility Month Resource fair with the ADAPT/PAWS peers. The resource fair had a record 800+ participants! The MUSWA table had resources for wellness issues and applications to become a peer in the Wellness Resource Center.

Sept. 8, 2007 PASS-MU hosted a state-wide training day for the student groups at the other Missouri campuses. The training included information on tobacco control history, program planning, community and campus advocacy, and allowed the campuses to share their plans and goals for the upcoming academic year.

Aug. 25, 2007 PASS-MU students assisted the American Heart Association with the Columbia Heart Walk. Students volunteered by setting up and tearing down, working an advocacy booth, and assisting participants as needed. This was one of the most successful Heart Walks held in Columbia.

June 7, 2007 PASS-MU President Traci Harr and fellow member Mike Puricelli presented PASS's recommendations for a campus smoking policy to the staff of the MU Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs. The presentation was well received and included suggestions such as eliminating language that allows smoking indoors on campus, and allocating specific smoking areas outdoors while removing secondhand smoke from outdoor common areas.

May-July, 2007 PASS-MU supported the Wellness Resource Center by assisting with the Summer Welcome Resource fair. They had the opportunity to speak with incoming students and their parents about the center's mission and joining PASS or other peer education groups on campus.

May-July, 2007 PASS-MU member Mike Puricelli was among the seven actors selected from six campus peer education groups to perform in Wellness Skits, a part of the Summer Welcome program at MU. The skits were presented to incoming students and covered alcohol responsibility, secondhand smoke and smoking cessation, sexual health, academic responsibility and other topics. The audience had a chance to ask questions of the actors after the performances.

April 27, 2007 PASS-MU participated in Gambling Day on the MU campus. Students disseminated information about the dangers of cigar smoking and tobacco use in casinos.

April 25, 2007 PASS-MU students participated in Natural High Day on the MU campus. The event introduced students to various information and giveaways about healthy ways to combat stress, rather than the unhealthy alternatives of alcohol, drugs or gambling. Students had a chance to relax by playing with puppies and getting shoulder massages. PASS was there to counter the popular belief that cigarettes relieve stress and provide information about the dangers of smoking and secondhand smoke.

April 21, 2007 PASS-MU students played a central role in the organization of the Ninth Annual Chad Eatherly Memorial 5K Fun Run in Columbia. Chad Eatherly was a peer educator from the Wellness Resource Center who died of unknown causes. The event raised scholarship funds for peer educators from the center.

April 16, 2007 PASS-MU President Traci Harr and fellow member Mike Puricelli presented PASS's recommendations for a campus smoking policy to MU Vice- Chancellor's Smoking Policy Taskforce. They covered research on secondhand smoke on college campuses, smoking policies at comparable universities, and student support for decreasing secondhand smoke on the MU campus. PASS's suggestions included eliminating language that allows smoking indoors, allocating specific smoking areas outdoors, and removing secondhand smoke from outdoor common areas.

April 14, 2007 PASS-MU students partnered with the MU Pre-Medical Society to participate in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Columbia to raise funds for cancer research. Their team contributed by collecting donations and selling barbequed hamburgers and bratwursts that raised nearly $1,000. The entire Relay for Life event raised over $100,000.

Feb. 14-13, 2007 PASS-MU conducted their second annual KISS (Keep It Smoke-free Sweetheart) Me campaign, which centers around Valentine's Day. For two weeks leading up to the event, they ran ads in the MU student newspaper and sent out e-mails to the entire campus letting students know what they were up to. They also had sandwich boards set up in Brady Commons (the building with the bookstore, food court, and student activities offices). The day before the event, they sent out a news release to the local television stations, which resulted in coverage by KOMU. PASS students chose the theme "We're Bringing Sexy Back" for this year, which listed the top 5 reasons non-smokers are sexy. PASS gave away 600 T-shirts over the two days and "squishy lips" - stress balls in the shape of lips. They also gave away a sticker promoting the free nicotine replacement therapy at the Student Health Center and information about PASS, joining the organization, and smoking cessation services. In order to receive a T-shirt, MU students had to answer a question about a campus tobacco fact. PASS students received very positive feedback from the students receiving T-shirts. For more information, click here.