Can kisses help cure cancer? New Mexico State University’s College of Arts and Sciences, the NMSU Health Center, and the Tough Enough To Wear Pink NMSU Committee is letting the campus community’s lips speak for them as part of the university’s ninth annual NMSU Aggies are Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign.
The health center, college, and TETWP committee are kicking off the first “Kiss Away Cancer” poster contest on Oct. 3, asking students, faculty and staff members from across the campus to draw lips, write the names of loved ones or attach paper lips or pictures of lips to a large white sheet of butcher paper. These “kisses” may also include a statement about what breast cancer prevention means to them.
“Our goal is to work with campus health and other departments and programs around campus to raise awareness,” said Anne Hubbell, professor of communication studies who is spearheading the efforts. “Perhaps our efforts will help increase donations for cancer research through Cowboys for Cancer Research and encourage women and men to get early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.”
The College of Arts and Sciences has dedicated resources each year to promote the TETWP campaign at NMSU, through its doors decoration contents and other events.
“We felt it was time for a change, to renovate and re-energize awareness around this important event and this critical problem for our community” said Enrico Pontelli, Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
The Kiss Away Cancer posters will be on display by Monday, Oct. 17 and will be judged at the Tough Enough to Wear Pink luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 20. The winners will be notified onFriday, Oct. 21.
TETWP has raised more than $3.5 million since 2007 and has funded a number of NMSU faculty members pursuing cancer research. Through various events throughout the week, students may set up information tables and raise money to be donated to Cowboys for Cancer Research.
“These campaigns were developed by Kirsta Bezenek from the Campus Health Center and we invited the TETWP Committee’s Deb Widger and Amy Buesing from the NMSU-UNM Pre-Pharmacy program to join us,” said Hubbell. “We now are challenging all the other colleges and departments to see who can get the most ‘kisses’ and show that we are united as a campus against breast cancer.”
The Campus Health Center is sponsoring a campus-wide “Pink Panther” pledge where the campus community will be encouraged to find Pinky the Panther on campus between Oct. 1-14 to take a photo with him, post it to their Facebook page and tag it. The photo with the most “likes” by Friday, Oct. 14 will win tickets to the Tuesday, Oct. 18 Keith Urban concert in the Pan American Center. Those who follow HealthyAggie on Snapchat will get clues to Pinky’s location. For rules and participation see the NMSU Campus Health Facebook page.
The pledge to the Ta-Tas is to help the campus community say “ta-ta” to breast cancer by sharing what they learned about breast cancer and encouraging breast cancer prevention awareness with eight women in their lives. “Cupcakes for cancer” will be giving away cupcakes on Oct. 20-21 to promote an evening event called “Tata Talk.”
For more information about Kiss Away Cancer and other College of Arts and Sciences events, visit artsci.nmsu.edu, or contact Hubbell at ahubbell@nmsu.edu or Kirsta Bezenek atkbezekek@nmsu.edu.
Information form NMSU