Midwestern State University and the American Cancer Society are teaming up in an attempt to get students to quit smoking for just one day. The Great American Smokeout took place Nov. 19 on Midwestern State's campus. It was all about teaching young people some of the dentrimental effects of lighting up.

Mustangs went bowling with turkeys today at Midwestern State. This isn't college kids gone wild, this is an effort from MSU's Rehab Health Promotion Class to push people to go tobacco free.

 Tammy Kurszewski, Assistant Professor of Respiratory Care said, "I think it brings awareness. I think we bring information to the student population so they have an idea of what can happen. A lot of times they don't have a really good knowledge of that.

MSU's Respiratory Care Program Chair, Ann Medford, said the best way to quit is cold turkey. So students got out those cold turkeys for some fun and games, with a serious message.

She said, "Tobacco companies have done a good job in promoting tobacco, making cigarettes look cool, making dip look manly, whatever you want to call it. This is just a chance to say its not cool, its not manly, its not the thing to do."

Midwestern's Respiratory Care Program offers classes to give students a reason to quit, as well as provide them with tips on how to get over the addiction. The American Cancer Society also has a system that helps smokers quit.

Regan Baker, Community Manager of Development for the American Cancer Society said, "There's a phone number that will help get them in touch with a live person, its kind of like a mentor to help them quit smoking. A quick way just to get on track to quit smoking."

This year, doctors in the Wichita County area diagnosed over seventy cases of lung cancer. Forty of those lung cancer victims were men. Not one of them survived. That's one of the reasons why the American Cancer Society wants to target young people, so they can make the decision to save their own lives.
 
 Jennifer Gresham, Assistant Professor with Respiratory Care said, "College students think they're invincible and that it won't happen to them. So we want them to be aware... Add years onto their life."

This was the American Cancer Society's 34th annual 'Great American Smokeout.' MSU will become a smoke-free campus in January of 2010.