Spencer students participate in 'Kick Butts Day' activity

(Photo by Kris Todd) Spencer High School student Tim Juza plays a game of cat and mouse with fellow dodgeball tournament participants Wednesday afternoon in the SHS Field House. The event was sponsored by the newly-established Spencer Tiger Just Eliminate Lies (JEL) chapter. [Order this photo]

Students across Iowa rallied against tobacco Wednesday as they joined thousands of young people nationwide for the 14th annual Kick Butts Day, sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. The specially designated day raised awareness about continued tobacco marketing to kids and the need for Congress to crack down on such practices. This year, Kick Butts Day also fell on the heels of a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention demonstrating how tobacco marketing continues to influence kids.

Spencer High School students recently started a Just Eliminate Lies (JEL) chapter, known as Spencer Tiger JEL. The eight members sponsored a dodgeball tournament which encouraged students to "dodge big tobacco." The chapter's kick-off event was held Wednesday afternoon in the SHS Field House.

Winning dodgeball team members received T-shirts stating, "1,200 dead. ... And that's just today. Thanks big tobacco." Everybody who played in yesterday afternoon's tournament received a miniature dodgeball inscribed with the saying, "Tiger JEL: Kick Butts Day 2009."

Pat McGee, the Clay and Dickinson County tobacco prevention coordinator for Compass Pointe, suggested plans are to expand the local JEL chapter to also include Spencer Middle School students.