First-year med students Arthur Williams and Josh Lantos are skipping their biochemistry and physiology classes. They're among two dozen UPenn and Temple students in white lab coats who are hauling brown cardboard boxes around City Hall. Inside each box are 1,000 sheets of paper; they're letters from constituents who favor a smoking ban.

"Seventy-five percent of the city supports smoke-free workplaces," says Williams, scanning a dim corridor last Thursday, "but the loudest people are the small percentage that don't want it."

They planned to hand the boxes to legislators, but the first meeting of Council's latest session has started late and they have to get back to campus. So, they decide to deliver the worksheets to council members' offices instead.

Inside Councilman Darrell Clarke's office, Williams starts his spiel. "We're medical students with the University of Pennsylvania. We have letters from people supporting the smoking ban." A staffer looks up. She's got their number. "This is what we always get every year," she says.

"Well, if he votes in favor of it he may not get them anymore," Williams responds. "He might get Christmas cards from them instead."

Down the hall at Councilman Brian O'Neill's office, it's Lantos' turn. "We're medical students with the University of Penns--" Before he can finish an aide tells him O'Neill backs smoke-free legislation, "uncompromisingly so."

Still, they unload a box and Lantos, also carrying a messenger bag and bike helmet, smiles at Williams, who constantly checks his cell phone. They've had other things on their minds lately. Class, for example. "It's hard to keep on top of that," Williams says of City Council deal-making. "Maybe [ban-boosting City Councilman Michael] Nutter will figure that out today even."

The woman who greets them at Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller's office shakes her head. "Here you go with the smoking ban" she says wearily, opening the box. "We'll go through them. Are you sure they're all in her district?"

The American Cancer Society, Breathe-free Philadelphia and the students have high hopes for their next project, which will target restaurant and bar owners with wallet-sized cards pro-ban patrons can leave with their checks. They'll claim the businesses will actually make money after a prohibition on smoking.

Do they think the campaigns will succeed? Both students shrug and then leave City Hall.