WKU News

The year 2020 marked the beginning of WKU’s journey as a smoke-free campus.

Now the university is being recognized with a tobacco-free award as WKU’s Amy Bingham explains in this week’s View from the Hill.

Way back before the global pandemic started, WKU transitioned to a smoke-free campus. Now the university is receiving an award for its smoke-free accomplishments.

“I started smoking in the first year of high school and I smoked for 35 years.”

CHHS Budget Coordinator Deidra Greene hasn’t had a cigarette in 12 years.

“Several times tried to stop and just couldn’t do it and finally in 2008 my husband and I set a date and that was gonna be it, that was our last cigarette and we did it.”

Fast forward 10 years to 2018 and Greene jumped at the chance to be part of WKU’s Task Force to take the campus tobacco free.

“I was very interested in joining cause you know I knew people that were still smoking and I wanted to be able to be a part of maybe helping people stop.”

The campus transitioned to tobacco free at the first of the year.

“Honestly there was very little pushback when it happened January first. The task force did a great job. They prepared people adequately. They knew it was coming, they had cessation offerings for folks who were current smokers or tobacco users.”

“So the 2020 tobacco-free campus award …”

Now the Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy is honoring WKU and the task force with the 2020 Tobacco free campus award.

“They’re recognizing us for really improving the quality of life for all Hilltoppers and all of our guests to campus which is very exciting.”

Greene says it’s a transition that’s a win-win for everyone.

“I think it’s great and I’ve also noticed not just the award but the campus is cleaner. I don’t see anybody smoking which is wonderful.”

WKU will be recognized during a virtual awards ceremony hosted by the Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy on Nov. 10. (More: Video of the awards ceremony)