Up in Smoke

1770

Along with 500 gallons of ram, Eleazar Wheelock brings to Hanover 100 pounds of tobacco and a gross of pipes.

1796

Given a dollar by upperclassmen to buy pipes and tobacco at a distant grocery, a freshman returns with 99 pipes and one cent's worth of tobacco.

1877

All scholarship students are required to promise never to spend money on liquor, tobacco, dancing, or billiards.

1895

College President William Jewett Tucker drops the nonsmoking scholarship pledge. He asserts that it is less harmful for students to smoke than to smoke and later lie about it.

1907

The Dartmouth College Club presents a "schedule of smokers"—evening talks at which smoking is permitted.

1975

Students respond two-to-one in favor of a Green Key Society referendum asking the faculty "to eliminate or at least reduce" smoking in all classrooms.

1987

Smoking is prohibited in Sanborn Library. Studious smokers gather in the 1902 Room, the sole designated smoking area in Baker Library.

1989

Smoking is banned in all College libraries.

1990

The Dartmouth College Health Awareness Program offers students and staff a smoking cessation clinic.

1992

The seniors drop a 121-year-old Class Day tradition—distributing "peacepipes" and smashing them on the Old Pine stumpfollowing complaints that the practice is offensive to Comanches, Sioux, and other Native Americans who regard pipe-smoking ceremonies as sacred.

1993

The Dartmouth Hemp Alliance, a student group dedicated to encouraging the legalization of marijuana, petitions the College for recognition as an official organization. "It's really not any different than trying to change the traffic laws," says one student. The administration demurs.

1994

Lenore O'Jibway, former assistant director of special gifts at Dartmouth College, presents Mohegan Tribal Chief Ralph Sterges, a Samson Occom descendant, a gift of tobacco and books written about Occom.

1995

The Dirt Cowboy Cafe, one of Hanover's last havens for smokers, bans smoking for economic reasons. Owner Tom Guerra complains that students order a cup of coffee and spend an hour smoking four or five cigarettes. With the no-smoking policy, Guerra hopes to attract "more middle-aged customers ordering cappuccinos and pastries."

Lighting upis no longerfashionable forthe harriedscholar