Matisyahu, a Hasidic reggae artist, played loudly from the speakers in the bottom level of Mo's Tavern on Tuesday night as the Ball State Hillel played host to its third-annual hookah night.
More than 150 people attended the event, which featured more than 10 flavors of shisha for attendees to chose from.
Senior literature major Victor Eichhorn attended Tuesday's event and brought his own hookah. However, he said he thought the event should have been at LaFollette Field.
"I support the smoking ban but think an organized event like this would have fallen under the exemption," he said.
An incense stick sat burning at the table with Eichhorn and the four people around him. Senior literature major Elizabeth Campanello said the stick was there because they wanted, "as much burning stuff as possible."
Eichhorn's group were all seasoned hookah smokers, they said. Several who attended Tuesday had smoked hookah at least once before at a hookah bar or in their homes.
Sophomore early education major Ashley Layton said she had smoked hookah many times and found it to be a good way to relieve stress. With the finals drawing near, Layton said the timing of hookah night was perfect.
However, Layton said she was a little disappointed with the atmosphere provided at Mo's compared to when the event was at LaFollette Field.
"It seemed a lot more welcoming at the field," she said.
Contrary to Layton, junior journalism major Stefanie Lucas said she enjoyed the intimate atmosphere provided by the tavern.
The smaller environment appeared to make it more difficult to get to the hookahs. Groups of people stood near hookahs waiting for a chance to take a puff with varying levels of success.
Senior speech pathology major Kelley Hale said the location was acceptable but also thought it would be nice to be able to smoke outside.
"I think on a night like this it would have been nice to be outside," she said. "I think it should be a choice."
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