The Voice - Student Newspaper - February 13, 2008

Hookah smoking to become a club?

There is a certain mystique to the hookah, or water pipe. The tales of the Arabian Nights come to mind, with Moroccan tents and Persian rugs. Some may think head shops. At the moment a hookah smoking fad is sweeping the nation.

Alex Garcia is a devotee and has started a Hookah Club with Jessee Hagevold at Glendale Community College (GCC) this spring. Hagevold first experienced the hookah when she lived in Chicago. She says, "I'm majoring in Busienss and I am going to own a Hookah salon someday."

The ritual of the hookah became popular over 500 years ago in Turkey. The design and use of the water pipe has not changed very much since then. Thoughout history Hookah salons were usually a gathering place to enjoy thick Turkish coffee and discuss the politics and events of the day.

Hookah salons first opened in the United States a decade ago, primarily in the immigrant sections of cities such as New York and Los Angeles. However a national trend has started in college towns and spread to larger cities such as Boston, Washington D.C., and Seattle.

In America the water pipe earned a disreputable reputation during the 60's. College aged baby-boomers used the apparatus to smoke illegal drugs such as opium and hashish. However, tobacco has almost always been the substance used in the pipe.

Garcia says he enjoys smoking the hookah for "the socializing and the relaxation between classes."

The attraction of smoking with the hookah is that it makes the whole smoking experience very pleasurable. The smoke is filtered through ice water, making inhalation very smooth.

Another popular aspect is the tobacco itself. The tobacco comes in different flavors. A popular blend, Naklia shisha, is a combination of foreign tobaccos, honey molasses and dried fruit.

Garcia says he also enjoys the herbal blends. Hagevold's favorite is guava-raspberry or anything with mint.

At the moment, smoking bans are closing Hookah salons in places like France and England. According to the Arizona smoking ban, as long as someone is smoking 20 feet away from an entrance to a building or ventilation system, one may smoke.

While not yet a formally approved club at GCC, the students are making efforts to reach that status by the fall semester of this year. By meeting informally now, the foundation has already been laid for their goal to be reached.

The hookah-smoking students meet every Monday and Wednesday at 3 p.m. outside of the Student Union. Garcia and Hagevold invite everyone to join them in this ancient ritual.