By Danielle Kaye

In November 2009, UK’s tobacco-free policy took effect. Tobacco-free Take Action! reports that students and employees are five times more likely to enroll in tobacco treatment programs since this policy has been adopted.

In an effort to further promote a healthier environment for UK students and faculty, University Health Services will be sponsoring the event Kick Butts Day.

At Kick Butts Day there will be large white sheets covered with handprints on display. Each handprint will represent five lives lost each year due to the use of tobacco products, according to a news release.

The handprints in black paint will represent the 30 percent of UK’s campus who choose to use tobacco.

According to the release, students at the event will also have access to information and resources that UK offers on how to stop smoking or how to help someone else quit.

There will be free giveaways, including free fountain drink coupons for on-campus dining locations.

“The goal of this event is to make students aware of our services,” Fadyia Lowe, the tobacco treatment specialist at University Health Services, said. “We want those who don’t smoke to know how to help those who do.”

Kick Butts Day has been coordinated around Earth Week events to promote awareness of the impact of smoking on the every day life and the environment, according to the release.

Cigarette butts are often not disposed of properly and end up on the ground. Butts are not biodegradable; it takes between 25 and 30 years for them to decompose. The use of tobacco products also contributes to deforestation, as one tree is wasted for every 300 cigarettes produced.

Kick Butts Day is sponsored by University Health Services, Student Wellness Association and Tobacco-free Task Force.