The AUSA Senate licensed a cigar club at its meeting last week, but required that it would not ever be funded by student activity fee money.
Sen. Kelsey Yamasaki reported that the Student Organization Committee voted to fund a DU Cigar Club led by sophomore Jordan Kober. Yamasaki stated that the club must meet several conditions to avoid potential legal repercussions.
The conditions included that every member must have identification to verify that he or she is of legal age to consume tobacco. Also, the club must have memoranda from university counsel, University Risk Management and HRE Health and Counseling to approve that it meets risk management requirements.
The cigar club must also include a waver form from all members and a signed contract with the AUSA Senate stating that all smoking regulations will be followed or face losing its license for one academic quarter.
“Our main concern is for liability and insurance reasons because they are in essence a smoking organization,” said Sen. Monica Kumar.
Yamasaki and Kumar stated that if there were liability problems the AUSA Senate and DU would be held responsible since they would financially be supporting the club.
“If they get sued, Colorado has what’s called the ‘deep pockets’ law, where the president or the club account is not held reliable, its whoever has the most money,” said Yamasaki. “So they would come to us and our money, the University of Denver’s money.”
Yamasaki also stated his concern that if someone in the future claimed they contracted cancer from the secondary smoke inhaled when the club was meeting, that person could hold a future AUSA Senate accountable.
Kumar and Yamasaki explained that the club has been going through the proper channels and following the necessary rules and precautions to establish the club. Upon receiving all the documents the Senate will vote on the club.
“They’re very well organized,” said Kumar.
Kober said the club wishes to have a cancer awareness event to ensure that potential members and potential cigar smokers are aware of the risks involved.
“We thought that that would be interesting if we could say that this is a product that is harmful, such as alcohol, but if used responsibly as an adult under the law it can be something that is a source of enjoyment, relaxation, all the things that we stand for,” said Kober.
Also discussed during the AUSA Senate meeting was the possibility of bringing back Boone, DU’s old mascot, and installing water-free toilets in Negal Hall, now under construction.
“It saves 40,000 gallons of water per unit,” said Sen. Jake Rokeach referring to the urinals in the Sturm College of Law
AUSA Senate President Aaron Schwarzberg also discussed the possibility that one of the 2008 presidential debate may be held in Colorado. He is, therefore, he is going to work with Chancellor Coombe to try to get the debate to be held at DU.
“That would be great for our school,” said Schwarzberg.
