Buffalo State students Jessica Braunscheidel and Kate Shaffer wore white on Thursday, November 18, to spread awareness for the 35th Great American Smokeout (GASO)—did you?

Shaffer and Braunscheidel are responsible not only for hosting GASO on campus, but also for founding the newest chapter of Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) at Buffalo State. The organization is affiliated with the American Cancer Society, who hosts GASO annually as a day to encourage smokers to make a plan to quit, or to quit that on that day.
 
CAC brings together students, faculty, and staff dedicated to ending cancer through advocacy, cancer education, survivorship, and Relay for Life events.

“Buffalo State’s CAC chapter is all about fighting cancer and raising awareness—whatever we can do to help, we will,” said Shaffer.

The students were also involved in a news conference, held the same day, about putting more regulations on tobacco advertising and sales targeting youth. The conference was to report findings of 40 surveys. Braunscheidel, Shaffer, and their treasurer Matt Metelitz, went to 40 locations throughout Hamburg and Tonawanda researching tobacco advertising.

“It was shocking! For every three or four advertisements promoting tobacco, I would be lucky if I found one counter-advertisement,” said Braunscheidel of the experience.

The CAC is now working on the process of hosting a Relay for Life on Buffalo State campus in the upcoming years.