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by JOHN SHELTON
reporter

About 169,500 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer, the primary source of cancer deaths, this year according to a news release from the American Cancer Society.

Today marks 25 years of the Great American Smokeout, a day established to urge people to quit smoking for a day and to let people know about the dangers of smoking.

Some students around Marshall's campus responded negatively to the SmokeoutÕs call to kick the habit.

Larry C. Young, an English and Latin junior from Charleston, said he did not plan to quit for the Great American Smokeout. "When I wake up tomorrow, I will have forgotten," Young said. "I have a date set, and that's when I'll quit."

Jeremy W. Skidmore, a freshman from Ceredo, said, "I quit yesterday. I was just too damn expensive."

Kristan N. Boggs, a biology sophomore from St. Albans said she would probably not quit, "because I have a test Friday."

A four-year smoker, Jared A. Roush from Point. Pleasant, said he would probably not quit. Roush, a management information systems junior, said smoking was "just a habit, just something I do. I'm not that heavy of a smoker," Roush said. "I only go through a pack a week."

The Great American Smokeout began in 1976 when the ACS's California division got about 1 million smokers to quit for the day. The event went national in 1977, according to a news release from the ACS.

More information about quitting smoking, improving health and getting involved in the Great American Smokeout is available at the ACS Web site, www.cancer.org or by calling the ACS at (800)-ACS-2345.

photo illustration by Karel Leon

Some students on campus may just be putting out one cigarette after another as they refuse to quite smoking during today's Great American Smokeout.