Vassar policy protested at hookah-in

Stephen Cheng Staff Writer

Approximately 20 students held a “hookah-in” protest on the Library lawn on Wednesday, Oct. 11, in opposition to the College’s refusal to allow the owners of the local Zorona Restaurant and Hookah Bar to establish an open-air hookah bar.

Dan Schwartz ’07 and Lidiya Yankovskaya ’08 organized the demonstration, posting fliers around campus and creating a Facebook event called “Zorona’s Hookah-In.”

Students sat in a circle and took turns smoking from various hookahs. The protest grew from one initial group to include three more within two hours. The organizers also displayed a poster board for comments and handed out copies of the 10.6.06 issue of The Miscellany News, which featured an investigation into Vassar’s decision to halt Zorona’s plans for the hookah bar.

“We actually wanted to do this for a little while,” Schwartz said of the event, adding that he e-mailed various administrators to alert them to student concern over the matter.

“I know Zorona’s had been preparing the bar for a long while and it seems last-minute [to end it],” said James Eversmeyer ’08, one of the protestors. “It’s something that Vassar should have taken care of before now and in a conclusive manner.” Organizers also considered starting a petition in the future.

Schwartz contacted Dean of the College Judy Jackson and Vice President of Finance and Administration Elizabeth Eismeier prior to the protest to discuss the issue further. According to Schwartz, Jackson and Eismeier were both receptive to his concerns. “I look forward to continuing the dialogue,” Schwartz said.

Zorona Restaurant management was aware of the protest, but was not associated with the demonstration. According to Schwartz, the owners “were really happy to hear that we’re supporting them.”