Sixth-year general studies senior Hilary Singleton remembers when students could use their Tiger Express to buy cigarettes on campus. Kyle Balding, a computer science freshman, said he wishes there was a place on campus where he could use his Paw Points to buy cigarettes.
Singleton was a freshman in 1997. The days of buying cigarettes on campus ended that year.
Shirley Plakidas, director of the LSU Union, said officials stopped selling cigarettes in the Union because of the law banning cigarette smoke in state-owned public buildings.
“It seems a bit hypocritical to sell cigarettes in a smoke-free facility,” Plakidas said.
The Union was built solely on student funds, Plakidas said. But it still is considered a state building, said Director of Contracted Auxiliary Services Mark Kraner.
This prohibits the Union from selling tobacco products, Kraner said.
Officials realized they would lose money by stopping the sale of cigarettes, but the conflict outweighed the profit, Plakidas said.
Until Feb. 12, the Mini Mart by the Pentagon Dining Hall sold smokeless tobacco. Kraner said he did not know the Mini Mart was selling smokeless tobacco, and when he found out, he took the product off the market that day.
Kraner said he does not agree with selling the products of a company the state has sued.
“We, as a state, say it’s harmful to your health,” Kraner said. “So don’t go there — just stop selling them.”
Mike Fernandez, an electrical engineering junior, said he tried to buy smokeless tobacco Feb. 13 in the Mini Mart, but he could not find any.
“I just thought they were out,” Fernandez said.
He agrees with not selling cigarettes on campus but does not see the relevance in discontinuing smokeless tobacco.
“I’m doing smokeless tobacco now — it doesn’t bother other people,” Fernandez said.
Billy Soliz, a general studies junior, said he thinks smoking should not be allowed on campus. But he also disagreed with discontinuing smokeless tobacco because it does not affect others, he said.
“I think if they want to kill themselves, that’s one less person to deal with,” Soliz said.
There are smokers on campus who agree with not selling cigarettes on campus but admit it is inconvenient.
“This morning I wanted a pack, and I had to go off campus to get some,” Singleton said.
George Rodriguez, a psychology sophomore, said he had to walk to the Texaco gas station to get his cigarettes. But he still thinks it is all right to not sell cigarettes on campus.
Michael Thyre, an English and Spanish senior, said he thinks people should be allowed to smoke, just not indoors.
“Why don’t they take the Coke machines out of the halls? That’s hypocritical too,” Thyre said.
The American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control produced its first annual report in 2002 analyzing state tobacco controls.
Louisiana received the lowest grades in program funding, smoke-free air and youth access, according to the report.