Bakersfield College Health and Wellness Center, Mentoring and Peer Services and B-COUGH participated in the American Cancer Society’s 37th annual Great American Smokeout. The Tobacco Free Coalition of Kern County participated along with some health related workshops in the Levan Center.
The event took place in the tents that were set up on the grass in front of the library. According to Tawntannisha Thompson, BC liaison to the dean of students, they had popcorn, sodas and cotton candy.
“The turnout was excellent,” said Thompson. “We had so much fun.”
Some of the smokers and non-smokers had contests to see who could blow up and pop their balloon fastest, while others spun the question wheel hoping for an easy question to win a raffle ticket, and be entered in the drawing to win one of the numerous prizes.
“We did give out three $50 gas cards,” said Thompson, continuing that the winners had been notified that they had won. She also thanked the winners for participating in the Smokeout.
“We had a great time,” said Thompson. “I hope everyone enjoyed it, and [that] we do a better job next year.”
Spanish and Chicano studies student Belinda Hess is a member of the B-COUGH committee and a volunteer for the Smokeout. Hess said the atmosphere was electric. People were signing pledges to quit smoking. Pacific Sound was playing DVDs from the Center for Disease Control, and the United States Health and Human Services Department on the dangers and hazards of smoking.
“Well we were having a great time,” said Hess. “People were interested in the information that we had. We were giving away prizes and having a lot of fun, and then it started to rain.”
The rain was just a sprinkle and didn’t cancel the event.
Nick Acosta, Student Government Association general counsel and B-COUGH’s student chair attended the TFK’s Levan Center event. He said the workshop had a smoking theme, but the workshop dealt with health, and health care in general, as well as how to organize and effect policy at the local level.
Acosta found the workshops informative and enjoyed attending. He also said B-COUGH was moving forward with the campus-wide 100 percent tobacco free initiative.
“We’re working out the details of how we’re going to advertise the vote, and the process for voting,” said Acosta. “I just want to thank TFK for having put on a great presentation and letting us borrow the Mr. Ciggy mascot suit and the Coughing Coffin.”