Students Lobby for a Smoke-Free State

Winter 2007

School of Public Health students recently joined 800 fellow Minnesotans to rally for statewide smoke-free legislation. The students, along with SPH faculty and alumni, gathered at the Minnesota Capitol to meet with legislators on the issue.

The students told lawmakers about a recent poll that finds 69 percent of Minnesotans in support of comprehensive smoke-free legislation. But they also shared personal stories on why the issue is important for them.

Amanda Woodfield said she was at the capitol for her grandfather. Although he never smoked, he worked with smokers in a Pittsburgh area post office. When he died of lung cancer, Woodfield was inspired to act. The public health administration and policy student works on Quit and Win, a program that helps college students to stop smoking.

Woodfield and other SPH students met with Sen. Lawrence Pogemiller and Rep. Phyllis Kahn. Both legislators are optimistic about passing a statewide bill in the 2007 session. Kahn was chief author of the pioneering Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act of 1975.

When Minnesota became the first state to pass the indoor air act, it was thought to be a leader in protecting people from secondhand smoke. Today, more than 20 other states have passed statewide smoke-free laws while Minnesota has failed to do so.

Fourteen organizations sponsored Smoke Free Minnesota Day at the Capitol, including the School of Public Health. SPH Dean John Finnegan served as master of ceremonies for a pre-Capitol gathering.