Need Some Advice

[Karot]

So I'm walking back into my dorm right after finishing up my first sesh with my brand new mya vortex. Up walks some goober asking, "Can I look inside there please?" So of course I do, since its a hookah, and completely legal, duh. "You can't have those, that's drug paraphernalia." I tell him no, its not, its a hookah. And he offers to bring up public safety so I can have a chat with them. Not wanting to make a scene I tell him I'll just drop it off to friends house. I've been told by numerous people that it's totally legit on campus and I even asked a member of public safety before making my order. I'm thinking I'll email the head of housing or whatever and see what's really up. Assuming it is against the rules, you think there's any way I can persuade them that that's completely ridiculous? Considering you can smoke NHT out of a cigarette or a wood tobacco pipe, it doesn't make much sense. I'd really hate having to sneak my hookah out and in every time I want to use it.

[duckah]

I was an RA at my university for 3 semesters and I can confirm that they should be legal under most housing rules. The only stipulation on our campus is that you're not supposed to smoke indoors (even though you won't be setting off any smoke alarms) and that you have to be a certain distance from any buildings.

[Tuscani]

also have to check and make sure they haven't banned hookahs... have heard that has been going around some states... its way too popular here in AZ thank goodness... even if they did, there like 5 hookah bars within walking distance of ASU =P

[r1v3th3ad]

Check your student handbook, there are a few universities out there that specifically state hookah as not allowed. They are not defined in most student handbooks, the only time they are pariphinalia is once it has been used for illegal substances, that is also defined by U.S. law code. If it is not defined in the student handbook, then bring it back, if they give you beef, show them that its perfectly legal via law and school handbook. If they still wanna give you crap, let them call public safety and bring up the same thing...

I had a huge issue with this at the beginning of the year, I was gonna go to the ACLU, but right after it happened, a state-wide smoking ban went into effect and college campuses were included, so I couldn't do squat.


http://www.hookahforum.com/?showtopic=24354

[srawas89]

Go talk to the head of the university such as a vice president or something as it helps. Hookahs used to be banned here At Xavier University until this year and I and some other people talked to the vice pres of the university and told them that this is not drug paraphernalia and it is a large culture symbol of the middle east. On top of that it is used for Tobacco and only tobacco. Throw the whole culture and tradition card at them and they will probably consider removing the drug paraphernalia label on the hookahs if there is one. But it could also be a misunderstanding on the RA's part.

[mushrat]

check with a public safty officer, then have THAT officer come and set your RA straight. Should take care of it.

[shootermeb116]

You could do like I did when I was in college. I checked all the rules regarding what is and isn't legal on campus, then I just basically faked up a bunch of fake illegal stuff and waited with the door open to see if they would bust me. I put open bottles of "alcohol" - just empty bottles with water in them, crushed up some asprin to make it look like something else.

So when the RAs came to bust us for a noise complaint they looked shocked for a second, realized it wasn't anything illegal, and left us alone for a while because we weren't really doing anything bad.

Get a bunch of friends, sit right out in the open with your hookahs and just be hoping for someone to come and try to "bust" you.

[wpw36]

that is just asking for trouble just talk to the housing supervisor and explain it to them then they should either tell you if you can have it or not

[rigor]

You could do like I did when I was in college. I checked all the rules regarding what is and isn't legal on campus, then I just basically faked up a bunch of fake illegal stuff and waited with the door open to see if they would bust me. I put open bottles of "alcohol" - just empty bottles with water in them, crushed up some asprin to make it look like something else.

So when the RAs came to bust us for a noise complaint they looked shocked for a second, realized it wasn't anything illegal, and left us alone for a while because we weren't really doing anything bad.

Get a bunch of friends, sit right out in the open with your hookahs and just be hoping for someone to come and try to "bust" you.

Don't do this. Totally asking for something to go more wrong here than good.

[Stuie]

build a wall of soda cans in front of your RA's door so he has to smash through them to get out and make a total mess. Then do what Mush said.

[Karot]

Haha some very good ideas. I know its not illegal in the state because there's a hookah lounge literally across the street from campus. Plus, they like to pride themselves in "diversity" here, and blatantly rejecting a very strong cultural item would just make me that much more dissapointed in the authorities here.

"Smoking University strives for an environment as close to smoke-free as practically possible. The University is concerned about the health and safety of all faculty, staff, students and visitors. Smoke is offensive to many non-smokers, and can be a detriment to community living. Smoking and hookahs are not permitted inside any University facility including all residence halls, the Murphy apartments, and the Kolvenbach Community. Therefore, smoking is prohibited in all public and private areas of the residential community. These areas include elevators, lobbies, bathrooms, lounges, hallways, stairwells, kitchens, and residence hall rooms. When smoking outside, please remember to remain twenty-five feet from any doorway, window, or air intake and dispose of cigarette butts in proper receptacles. Smoking preferences will be considered when making room assignments."

This is the only thing that directly references hookahs, and I interpret it as saying that you cannot smoke them indoors(duh). I'll try to arrange a meeting and let ya'll know how it goes.

[jezter6]

Wow? They actually reference hookahs directly in the docs?

That's pretty cool that at least they identify hookah smoking directly and are not associating it directly with NHT devices.

I read it as that you can't even HAVE the hookah on campus, even if you smoke it outside - but one could argue that allowing a smoker to keep his cigs and lighter in the dorm room is no different than you bringing your hookah into your dorm room. As long as you smoke it outside as required, maybe they'll let you slide on this one because you're already playing by the rules.

[indian_villager]

Check your hand book to see that there is no stipulation against keeping a hookah indoors. The same rules that apply to cigarettes should apply to hookahs. You can have it indoors. But smoke outside!

[Tom1]

there are a few universities out there that specifically state hookah as not allowed.

Like mine.

If you go to a private college, chances are that you're boned.
If it's a state school you might have a chance.

[sandsk8erz400]

Yeah, my school is one of those that specifically states it in the handbook that it's not allowed, anywhere on campus, b/c it's paraphernalia. So I'm just hoping that my car doesn't get checked and I have to go off campus everytime i want to smoke. Most of the time this is fine, but sometimes I just want to set it up for a quick session and that's pretty much impossible.

[Capt. Morgan]

I never looked into the rules on it but I've had an RA give me shit about smoking hookah on campus last year. Now I usually just go over to friends' houses off campus. I share a suite with the RA for the wing I'm on and he doesn't care. More often than not he'll go smoke with me when he's not on duty. I've walked right by the Area Coordinator's officer more times than I can count carrying my hookah and she has never said anything.

[Karot]

Yeah it makes it pretty irritated because last year we smoked probably at least once every other week with public safety walking around everywhere nobody ever said a word. Then the first time I pull it out this year, I get shit for it. Either its a rule that nobody chooses to enforce except retarded RAs, or they're cracking down this year. I did just send an email to the director of residence life, so hopefully I can meet with him and convince him to repeal the rule.

[srawas89]

there are a few universities out there that specifically state hookah as not allowed.

Like mine.

If you go to a private college, chances are that you're boned.
If it's a state school you might have a chance.

Hey I go to private college and all it took was one little email and within a summer it was legal on campus. I think you will be fine whether it is private or public.

[hookah hippie]

you should be good I lived in a dorm last semester no problems at all

[Tom1]

there are a few universities out there that specifically state hookah as not allowed.

Like mine.

If you go to a private college, chances are that you're boned.
If it's a state school you might have a chance.

Hey I go to private college and all it took was one little email and within a summer it was legal on campus. I think you will be fine whether it is private or public.

Let me change "private college" to "private catholic college". Nuns don't take kindly to hookahs. Edited October 23, 2008 by Tom16689

[Codename067]

I wonder when will people finally acknowledge that hookahs are not meant for NHT [anymore]

[srawas89]

there are a few universities out there that specifically state hookah as not allowed.

Like mine.

If you go to a private college, chances are that you're boned.
If it's a state school you might have a chance.

Hey I go to private college and all it took was one little email and within a summer it was legal on campus. I think you will be fine whether it is private or public.

Let me change "private college" to "private catholic college". Nuns don't take kindly to hookahs.

Uhhhh.....Dont mean to rip on you or anything but I go to Xavier University....A private Jesuit college...tho i guess its not catholic but still....quite religious and I smoke hookah on campus all the time haha, the RA's know abuot and are really cool about it...plus they cant do shit cuz its legal haha.

[MWlax00]

i have this same problem here at UNO. i now just pack my hookah in a box and sneak it around.
but it really sucks because im here in a apartment style dorm, with a awesome balcony perfect for smoking, but we cant smoke on it.

[ashes87]

I never looked into the rules on it but I've had an RA give me shit about smoking hookah on campus last year. Now I usually just go over to friends' houses off campus. I share a suite with the RA for the wing I'm on and he doesn't care. More often than not he'll go smoke with me when he's not on duty. I've walked right by the Area Coordinator's officer more times than I can count carrying my hookah and she has never said anything.

Thats why I need to get out of here and move in with you when you move off of campus because I only live 2 hours from you now, and I miss smoking hookah with you.

Im happy your coming in this weekend, even if we have to watch Blackbeard, but that bird is cool.

[Tom1]

there are a few universities out there that specifically state hookah as not allowed.

Like mine.

If you go to a private college, chances are that you're boned.
If it's a state school you might have a chance.

Hey I go to private college and all it took was one little email and within a summer it was legal on campus. I think you will be fine whether it is private or public.

Let me change "private college" to "private catholic college". Nuns don't take kindly to hookahs.

Uhhhh.....Dont mean to rip on you or anything but I go to Xavier University....A private Jesuit college...tho i guess its not catholic but still....quite religious and I smoke hookah on campus all the time haha, the RA's know abuot and are really cool about it...plus they cant do shit cuz its legal haha.

Ok, you got me then.