UNM students publicized the dangers of smoking Friday with the first Kick Butts Day.
UNM's Campus Office of Substance Abuse Prevention worked with the newly formed student organization, Expose, to plan the day's events.
The goal of Expose is to let college students know that tobacco companies are targeting them, and to advise students not to fall prey to those messages, said Sarah Chaara, a UNM student who started the organization.
Simone Meta, a member of Expose, said organization members decided to have Kick Butts Day because they want students to be aware of the dangers of tobacco, while making it a fun event.
The day included pie-eating contests, musical chairs and a "Fear Factor"-style game in which people had to stick their hands in buckets full of tomato sauce or peanut butter. Nail polish remover bottles represented the acetone, and frogs represented formaldehyde, which are some of the chemicals in cigarettes.
Frisbees, water bottles, highlighters and candy were also given away.
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Peer Consultants participated in the day by handing out pamphlets from the American Cancer Society and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"We want to let students know that there are free services on campus to help them quit smoking," said Malissa Bellamy of Peer Consultants.
Members of Peer Consultants are trained by the American Lung Association and offer students one-on-one help to quit smoking.
"Every service you need to quit smoking is on campus," Bellamy said.
Jill Anne Yeagley, program manager for COSAP, said the organization is concerned about tobacco and its effects on health.
"A lot of college students smoke and think they are not addicted," Yeagley said. "When they try to quit, they find out that they are addicted, and it is not that easy to quit."
Yeagley said a COSAP survey last year found 16.9 percent of students smoked three times a week or more, which might indicate addiction.
"Still, just a minority of students smoke, which is good," she said.
The 1999 Master Settlement Agreement, which involved more than 46 states and the six largest tobacco companies, states that youth cannot be targeted in the advertising, promoting or marketing of tobacco products.
Chaara said since tobacco companies are not allowed to target minors, they target college students because it is still a young audience. She said that is the reason she started to combat tobacco companies on behalf of college students.
"That made me angry," Chaara said. "Our organization lets the tobacco companies know that college students are not going to stand for it."
Brian Aragon said he picked up a lot of useful information at the event.
"I think this day is a good idea," Aragon said. "Hopefully it will help a lot of people quit smoking."
