COLLEGE PULLS PLUG ON VENDOR'S PIPE SALES

United Way Fundraiser Organizer Backs Removal Of 'Tacky' Merchandise

Although the sale of pipes doesn't violate Langara College's antidrug
policy, a fundraiser organizer asked vendors to remove them because they
could be offensive.

"We don't want anything tacky or messy looking," said Mandy Barwick. "It's
supposed to be a friendly fundraiser to raise money for a good cause. If
anyone's offended, we will ask them to stop selling the item."

The United Way board member said pipes, bras, and CDs are among a list of
items that vendors are not supposed to sell.

Barwick said Langara College president Linda Holmes called her last week to
say the pipes weren't appropriate because they might promote illegal drug
use. By the time Barwick approached the two tables that had been selling
pipes, the offending items had already been removed.

Morgana Odin, a vendor for the African market, said she isn't sure why
people are so "hung up" on pipes and that the whole issue was blown out of
proportion.

Odin, who was wearing a necklace made of pipes, said they're pieces of art.
She added that to smoke a pipe, you need a screen and their table wasn't
selling any.

She said she had no problem taking the pipes off the market, but couldn't
understand why alcohol could be sold and consumed freely on campus.

"Alcohol is more dangerous," Odin said. "These students go to the pub, and
do you think they walk home after? No, they drive."

Langara's code of conduct policy makes no mention of the sale of drug
paraphernalia, but prohibits the possession, consumption, and sale of drugs
and alcohol on campus.

Holmes said the college doesn't turn a blind eye to drinking on campus but
because the licensed Dissident Cafe is in the Student's Union building, it
is not under the college's jurisdiction.

"Any student whose behaviour indicates they are under the influence of
alcohol, when reported to security, will be dealt with under the code of
conduct," she said.

Nam Yoo, the owner of the Dissident Cafe, said business is slow and people
don't drink that much, so it's not much of a problem.

Yoo referred to a Serving it Right poster displaying guidelines for serving
liquor responsibly, such as encouraging patrons to eat food while drinking
and limiting the number of drinks served.

Langara student Nathan Horton said he didn't know about the pipes but likes
the pub because alcohol is a "social lubricant".

Horton said he sometimes has a drink after class while he's doing his
homework, but he knows his limit.

BANNED on campus

A matter of student taste

Items you can't sell here include:

* Bras.

* Pipes and anything else that promotes drug use.

* CDs or items you can't ensure weren't illegally copied.

* Brand name knockoffs.

* Items considered to be in poor taste.