Cigar Club appears with a puff of smoke

They knew where to go just by following the smell. More than 65 people attended the introductory meeting of the Penn Cigar Club yesterday, more than organizers had expected. Joined together in a smoky Bishop White Room of Houston Hall, the diverse group of novices and true afficionados alike enjoyed Ashton Prime Minister cigars, a mild tasting brand which is hand-made in the Dominican Republic. The cigars, which usually cost about $3 each, were supplied free to the club by the Holts Cigar Company. In addition, Ciboulette Restaurant provided crackers, p%te and Perrier. "The idea of this is basically to bring cigar smokers together on campus," said Penn Cigar Club President and College sophomore Thor Halvorssen. "[We are] people interested in the excellence of cigars and the great taste of tobacco." Halvorssen added that the club is the first of its kind in any private university in the United States. Club Vice President and Wharton evening student Aram Sabet said he was pleased with the "good turnout," but that a lot of the students attending were not "regular" smokers. Sabet said he started smoking cigars daily at age 16, after he quit smoking cigarettes. "'A stogy a day keeps the doctor away' -- it's almost become my trademark," he said. Sabet added that cigars come in different sizes, textures and tastes. "It's like a wine," he said. "You pick it to go with a meal or the mood you're in." Halvorssen said the club will hopefully get together every two or three weeks in the future for educational speakers, cigar tastings, cigar dinners and possibly wine or cognac tastings -- for those over 21 of course. He added that although mouth and throat cancer are potential dangers of cigar smoking, it is not as dangerous to one's health as cigarette smoking because "we don't inhale." "This is a great habit -- it doesn't kill you," he said. Wharton and College senior Christophe Charlier said Halvorssen and Sabet introduced him to cigars last fall. He added that he was "happily surprised" at the turnout for the first club meeting. "I think it's a good thing that half of the people here are new cigar smokers who wanted to try it, [and the] other half are long-time smokers," he said. "It's good that we can get together to enjoy one of life's little pleasures." For College freshman Jared Minsk, yesterday will be remembered as the day he smoked his first cigar. "I've always been curious about this, [and] I've always just wanted to try it," he said. "I figured, 'hey, this is college, I might as well.'" While yesterday's cigar was Minsk's first, he hinted that it might not be his last. "I don't know if it will become a habit, but it's a good way to kick back a little bit," he said. "With all the tension that goes on, it's a good way to just relax and let off a little steam." And even some women got into the smoking action, dispelling the stereotype that cigar smoking is only for men. "It's a different atmosphere -- it's enjoyable," said College and Wharton junior Jennifer Moeller, who is also a cigarette smoker. "I don't think there's a lot of women [who smoke cigars], but I think it's an unfair stereotype." Moeller added that she took up the habit because her grandfather liked cigars. Halvorssen said the idea of the club "is not to encourage smoking." Still, he said, yesterday's meeting was a good start to a potentially great organization. "I see a lot of future here," he said.