“It’s kind of last minute.” said Joe Sicilian, Coordinator of Student Activities. “But we can handle it,”  he assured the student government, who had been presented with a new challenge; to put together an awareness walk in three days. “We were chosen for this because we’re becoming known as a school for activism,” continued Sicilian, “People trust us to take action, it really is a big deal.”

The walk, entitled “Take A Walk in Our Shoes” was sponsored by the American Lung Association, the Staten Island Smoke-Free Initiative and Reality Check, a program sponsored by the Jewish Community Center. The walk had one purpose, to increase awareness of the amount of tobacco advertising that is geared toward children. Approached by James Pistilli, borough organizer of the Staten Island Smoke-Free Partnership and Staten Island Quits Chairman, Curtis High School decided to spearhead the walk to help show others how much tobacco advertisement is on display close to schools. Curtis and Tottenville students gave a tour to other students, as well as elected officials, of the St. George areas tobacco advertisement hot spots.

“Once you actually actively look for it, it becomes quite noticeable,” says Sarah Keddy, Junior Class Vice President. “Walking down to Borough Hall, there were about twenty advertisements for tobacco, all in proximity to schools.” During the walk, the students passed seventeen advertisements, and five stores with tobacco products. The proximity of the advertisement to the school helps tobacco companies promote their products to younger people. “The younger the better,” said Pistilli. “Tobacco companies are only looking for replacement smokers. Smokers are already addicted, they don’t need to be persuaded.”

The walk helped students realize how advertising is geared toward children. Signs placed prominently next to ice cream signs, candy, and even pictures of Spongebob Squarepants, showed the students that the ads are being cleverly placed by the tobacco companies. “The tobacco companies are really smart,” said Bayron Torres, senior. “They place their ads so strategically, I can’t believe how it really is solely for the children.”

Students who participated in the walk received red shirts that read “The More Tobacco Advertisements I see, the more likely I am to smoke.” which helped spread the word while walking around St. George. Ending at Borough Hall for refreshments, the large group of kids walked through the area encouraging their friends not to smoke, stopping at delis and drugstores to point out the amount of cigarette posters. “It really is disgusting.” commented Gabriel Solano, junior, a main speaker and a member of the student organization, “Tobacco companies are gearing all their advertising towards students. It disgusts us, and we knew we had to do something about it.”