The message, "If Truth Dies, It Won't Die Alone" was brought to Penn State yesterday as part of a national anti-tobacco campaign, the "truth."

The message came by way of The Citizens' Commission to Protect the Truth, a group touring the nation to show the importance of the "truth" campaign and acquire one million signatures asking that tobacco companies continue to support the Public Education Fund.

Financial backing stopped under the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), which was signed in 1998 by four tobacco companies and 46 states, all of which legally agreed to finance the Fund until 2003.

Richard Mulieri, spokesman for the Citizens' Commission to Protect the Truth, said he thinks the "truth" campaign has had a positive effect on decreasing smoking among young adults. "The 'truth' commercials affect young people's decision not to smoke, living proof that this campaign works," he said.

University Health Services community health educator Linda LaSalle said it's essential to counteract what tobacco companies do. "The campaign offers an innovative and fresh approach to educating young people about smoking," she said.

According to www.protectthetruth.org, 24 million 12- to 17-year-olds said the "truth" advertisements give them good reasons not to smoke.

"Ninety percent of teens start smoking before they reach 18 and the commercials help kids make informed decisions about smoking," said Abhinav Bhat, the Citizens' Commission associate interactive designer.

The tour's account executive, Matthew Caruso, said the Protect the Truth tour is about youth activism.

"We're pretty confident that students' attitudes have changed when it comes to smoking," he said.

According to the American Heart Association, 22.6 million women and 25.6 million men smoke. However, the campaign's Web site reports that cigarette smoking among high school students has decreased by more than a million from 2000 to 2002.

Elizabeth Whipple (junior-kinesiology) said that because the "truth" advertisements are televised, they reach and affect a large number of young people.

"I think the campaign is a great idea because the 'truth' advertisements are really hard to shake," she said.

Chairman of the Citizens' Commission to Protect the Truth Joseph Califano said students could sign the pledge at www.protectthetruth.org.

"Students at Penn State grew up with 'truth' so they know the impact it will have on their younger brothers, sisters, cousins and friends," he said.