College Hookah issue

[pboyle]

So apparently, I'm unable to use my hookah on campus, unless its in my tiny tiny bathroom with towels covering the door cracks.

Campus police claims that it is drug related or something.
A girl was kicked out of residence.

I'm thinking of starting a club. If we can have a club for gay/lesbian (and i'll show you what i mean in a second), we should be able to have a hookah club.

technically (it isn't how I think it should be) gay/lesbian couples cannot legally marry in some states. Yet, we have a club on campus that promotes gay/lesbian rights. As United States citizens, we have a constitutional right to argue the law.

At 18, I can legally smoke hookah in NJ. its a fact. The club would only be promoting the continuation of something I can legally do, and protect people who want to, so we don't get kicked out. Oh... and we'd smoke hookah. lol.

What do you people think about people being unable to smoke hookah on campus?

[yashman19]

Well if you go to a private school, you're pretty much at the mercy of the school's rules. If not a private school, then you should be able to argue for your rights. Mind you I'm not saying go out and cause trouble, but you should try to talk to the proper authorities and educate them on the situation.

I went to a private school, and even though hookah wasn't specifically mentioned in the school handbook, drug paraphanalia was, which they consider hookahs. But if you think about it, an apple/pen cap/tin foil/ a soda bottle, etc etc etc... can all be considered 'drug paraphanalia'. So bring this to their attention.

At my private college, when I wanted to smoke outside, I just had to make sure I was 50' away from the closest building. We definetly wern't allowed to smoke inside the dorms, or anywhere inside on campus, but we did anyways. While in the dorms, I just covered the smoke detector, toweld the door and put a fan in the window. I did this my freshman and sophmore year while living in the dorms. But my sophmore year, I was in-like-flynn with all the RAs, and they all knew I smoked, and were cool with it. Hell I even smoked/drank with most of them in my room...

Then for my junior/senior year, I lived still on campus, but in apartments that were on campus, much different from the dorms. In the apartments, I could smoke all I wanted indoors, and no one ever knew.

But like I said, if your school is private, they can do whatever the hell they want to do, fair or not fair. If they catch you and want your ass out, they can do it. If not, they will be assholes to you, but you might be able to argue your way pass it. They'll probably just stick that 50' away from a building rule on you, but hay, atleast you'll be able to smoke.

[mgcsinc]

I just got my Hookah, but I'm doing it outside on campus all the time now, and no one has bugged us yet. But I go to a very, very liberal school.

If you really want to make sure this issue is put to bed on your campus, I think this is a foolproof way to do it, without the hassle of starting a club (which I still encourage you to do): Gather a group of people together, and make sure you have at least 15 people and 4 hookahs between you; also make sure hookah smoking is part of the authentic culture of at least a few of the people there. Go and smoke in a very public place in the middle of the day, and do it a few times. You'll enjoy the attention, trust me. One of two things will ultimately happen: a. you don't get in any trouble, and thus there is precedent to allow the activity on campus, or b. you do get in trouble, and the administration finds themselves in a total quagmire over not allowing students to do something that is perfectly legal and an important part of their culture. Either way, you win.

I should say that I think it's awful that this kind of misimpression about Hookah smoking still exists, and I hope you're able to overcome it at your school.

[pboyle]

also make sure hookah smoking is part of the authentic culture of at least a few of the people there.

lmao.. what a classic line. Thats just... hilarious.
But seriously.. its a good idea. Just dead center of the campus during common hour.

I go to a state university. I can understand the 50' rule too, except for the fact that people practically smoke cigarettes in the doorways of some buildings. They're maybe 3" from being inside.

its ridiculous.
but just to enhance the smoking on campus idea. I think everyone on the forum should come with a hookah, and just line the main strip on my campus. One big outdoor hookah-rific chill session.

[Krautle87]

I go to a state university. I can understand the 50' rule too, except for the fact that people practically smoke cigarettes in the doorways of some buildings. They're maybe 3" from being inside.

Rutgers? My buddy Rafla goes there and commutes, he's the one who introduced me to shisha.

[pboyle]

Nah, William Paterson

[worr lord]

If a college in California can ban the Pledge of Allegiance, you can get a smoking club.

[mgcsinc]

pboyle, let us know if you ever put the idea of a center-campus hookah-fest into action, and tell us how it went!

[pboyle]

oh you know it.

heck if it happens, I'll get videos on youtube.
maybe the on campus police force'll freak out and taser us too.

but it won't be their fault. We're "doing drugs".

[Shavo989]

Pboyle, that's a freakin' awesome idea. If only I could get my ass to Jersey I'd be right there with ya', man. Rock on, freedom fighter!

[Sonthert]

Why don't you just go to the dean or president and talk to them about it...take them some tobacco, show them what's up. They might just not understand. Point out to them that by the same logic we should ban apples and automobiles since they are both used to smoke drugs in sometimes, same as hookahs. Show them a modern hookah and (if possible) show them a piece of drug paraphernalia for comparison.

[SanguineSolitude]

i second sonthert. but actually... dont bring a bong with you. lol. maybe a picture of one. basically let him know that hookahs are useless for smoking dry herbs. like canabis since its extremely inefficient at producing smoke through combustion. the coals produce smoke by vaporizing the glycerine.

[Sonthert]

OK, fine...a picture of a bong. Like the guy is gonna walk into the dean's office..."Dean, I should be able to smoke this hookah because its not this bong at all!".

[TheHookahLounge.org]

If I were you I would just explain that all the smart colleges are doing it. I happen to know for sure that kids smoke the hookah at Harvard, Princeton, and Vassar college. But, then again, people's ideas are often stronger than logic. It's hard to change something like that unless you publicize the battle or say they are being racist.

[pboyle]

I think at my school its a little more ignorance than it is belief.
Lack of knowledge.

Much like that one post where the guy had a cop bust in on him and start arresting people for smoking hookah.
same general idea.

[Cicada]

i'm 23 and an MBA student living on campus. i got in trouble for even having my hookah on display in my res hall/apartment. i wasnt even smoking it when the RA came by, and got written up. I an understand not smoking indoors because of the smoke detectors [which cant evne detect hookah smoke because even if im smoking real thick, it dissipates by the time it gets ot the ceiling]

anyway, we cant even have them on campus. not even if i wanted to take the hookah outside and smoke it there.

i thought that was BS, as i too, am old enough to smoke [and drink] legally.