Comic René Hicks Visits USU during Great American Smokeout

Did you hear the one about the comedian from a truly marginalized group in comedy? No, not African-American women — former accountants!

Funny woman René Hicks comes to Utah State University Tuesday, Nov. 14, to share her off-beat humor and offer an important message about the dangers of secondhand smoke. She performs at 3 p.m. in the Taggart Student Center Stevenson Ballroom. Her performance, sponsored by USU’s Student Wellness Center and ASUSU Arts & Lectures VP Kyle Milne in observance of the Great American Smokeout, is free and open to all.

 

A lifelong nonsmoker, former All-American athlete and lung cancer survivor, Hicks believes her constant exposure to tobacco smoke, while performing in comedy clubs, led to her illness. She now uses her gift of comedy to get audiences to consider the health dangers of smoke-filled workplaces.

 

A veteran performer on the national comedy circuit and TV programs such as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the Dave Chappelle Show, Politically Incorrect and Comedy Central, Hicks performs only in smoke-free venues.

 

“Club owners were initially reluctant to schedule smoke-free shows for me out of fear of losing some business,” says Hicks, who worked as a CPA following college graduation before switching to comedy. “Well, I lost half a lung, so it is important for me. The fact is that most people are nonsmokers. The shared air we breathe means that these indoor places need to be smoke-free, or everyone inside is at risk.”

 

In addition to Hicks’ performance, the Student Wellness Center hosts an exhibit on the TSC patio Wednesday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., to educate students, faculty and staff of the harmful effects of tobacco and secondhand smoke.

 

“We stand ready to provide people with information about resources to help them quit,” says Ashlee Cooper, SWC health educator. “Oftentimes smokers feel under attack, but our intention is not to attack. We want to support those who wish to quit smoking or other tobacco use.”

 

Earlier this month, the Utah Department of Health presented a silver-level ‘A Healthier You’ Legacy Award to Utah State in recognition of the university’s efforts in promoting and improving the health and well-being of students, faculty and staff. Among the efforts noted during the awards presentation were the Student Wellness Center’s educational efforts in tobacco use prevention, along with the university’s use of signage to designate smoke-free areas and enforcement of those areas.

 

The Great American Smokeout is an annual November event coordinated by the American Cancer Society and observed in public and private venues throughout the country. For more information about USU’s observance, contact Cooper at 435-797-8080.

 

 

Contact: Ashlee Cooper, 435-797-8080