Go “cold turkey” and get cold turkey at Great American Smoke-Out November 15

Employees and students who have been thinking about quitting smoking can get extra help during the upcoming Great American Smoke Out on Thursday November 15. The UI Wellness Center will provide people who agree to quit smoking that day with quit kits, cold turkey sandwiches, healthy snacks, and fun activities.

The Center will sponsor three Smoke-Out locations:

  • Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) (201 East Peabody Drive)
  • Campus Recreation Center East (CRCE) (1102 West Gregory Drive)
  • Beckman Institute (405 North Matthews Avenue)

All locations will operate from 11 am – 1 pm on Thursday, November 15.

Quit kits, and a bag lunch with a cold turkey sandwich (courtesy of Pekara), water and carrot sticks will be available at all of the three locations. People can also pick up quit kits at the UI Wellness Center (UIWC) all day, or on the Main Quad during mid-day (no lunches at the UIWC or Main Quad however).

To help quitters get through cravings to smoke, each location will also feature a fun activity. Beckman participants can make aromatherapy patches or listen to a free music concert (at 12:20 pm); ARC participants can play a “Beat the Buzzer” game and learn about how much money they can save by quitting smoking; and CRCE participants can enjoy a games table featuring things like Sudoku, jigsaw puzzles and more.

Everyone who pledges to quit for the day will get a pass for a free Campus Recreation group fitness class.

The Center is also seeking nonsmokers and former smokers to help out. Here are two ways to help:

  • Former smokers can send an encouraging statement or share something that helped them to quit. These messages will be posted on the Smoke-Free campus website and will be sent to employees who register to participate in the great American Smoke Out.
  • Former smokers and nonsmokers can sign up to support a quitter on November 15. People who sign up will be assigned to a specific quitter. Ways to support include sending an encouraging email, or giving something up yourself that day (e.g. chocolate).

The American Cancer Society has been sponsoring the Great American Smoke-Out for 37 years. The event challenges people to stop using tobacco, and helps people know about the many tools they can use to quit and stay quit. People may use the date to make a plan to quit, or plan in advance and then quit smoking that day. By quitting — even for one day — smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life – one that can lead to reducing cancer risk.

Quitting is not easy, but you can increase your chances of success at the Great American Smoke-Out. To register or to volunteer to support a quitter, contact the UIWC at or 265-9355.