By AUSTIN MORTON, Senior Reporter
Miss Northwestern wants to spread the truth about vaping.
Carli Seabolt, who won the title in 2021, is partnering with the Truth Initiative to bring facts and information about smoking and vaping to Alva.
The Truth Initiative is America’s largest nonprofit public health organization focused on ending smoking and vaping.
A large portion of its efforts are set on ending youth smoking with the “Truth Campaign.”
Seabolt began partnering with the Truth Initiative while competing in the Miss Northwestern pageant.
One of the requirements to run for Miss Northwestern is being part of a social initiative and having a year of service within that initiative.
“I knew immediately I wanted to advocate against smoking and vaping,” Seabolt said. “My grandpa passed away when I was about 4 years old from lung cancer after smoking for 50-plus years. He eventually quit, but he had already done the damage.”
The first event Seabolt hosted for her cause was a masquerade fundraiser in October.
The event raised $1,000 for the Truth Initiative.
Seabolt has also used Facebook to play her part of the initiative, called “Up in Smoke.” She doesn’t want to see people’s dreams or goals end up in smoke, Seabolt said.
“Up in Smoke” is where Seabolt posts her “Factual Friday” segment, and where she uses information from the Truth Initiative to help educate her followers about the harm that can come from smoking.
She is also planning to host a clean-up day around Alva to remove discarded cigarette butts and wasted e-cigarette cartridges. The Truth Initiative will send kits to ensure that proper cleaning takes place.
No date for the event has been determined yet.
Another aspect of the Truth Initiative is its advertising aimed at younger audiences.
These commercials are focused on the negative effects that can come from vaping. Those includes mental, physical and environmental effects. The ads call vapes “depression sticks.”
“Might as well call it what it is,” Seabolt said. “It [vaping] actually enhances those feelings of anxiety and depression.”
These ads are played in between TV shows, on social media platforms and also on YouTube.
The effects that they have on smokers are still being studied, but students already have opinions on them.
“I vape pretty often, but when I see those ads, I just don’t pay them any attention,” said Erick Livingston, a former NWOSU student.
“I guess they are a good thing,” said Donavon Paden, an elementary education major. “I don’t see a problem with showing the effects of smoking. It’s like seeing the sad animal commercials. Like, I feel bad, but I don’t want to buy the dog that’s crying.”
Seabolt said she plans to help as many people as possible quit smoking while working with her initiative.
She said it is hard for her to understand how it feels because she has never smoked, but she still has a method thanks to the Truth Initiative.
“It’s called the START plan,” Seabolt said. “Set a date, tell your friends and family, anticipate challenges, remove tobacco substances from your lifestyle and talk to a doctor.”