University President Jens Frederiksen, announced plans for an unusual Easter celebration in an email sent to all students. The celebration will resemble your typical easter egg hunt, however, in place of eggs will be ZYN pouches.
The event will take place on Easter Sunday, April 20 at 12 p.m and will last until 5 p.m. The event will kick off on the Bixler/Gerber Quad.
“This year, we’re doing something a little different,” Frederiksen said in the email. “In the spirit of embracing change, we’re swapping out kiddie plastic eggs for something that fits the demographics of today’s student body.”
The email caused mixed reactions among students, with many taking to popular social media app Yik Yak, to express their thoughts. One user commented “miles ahead of Kaplan #PowerOn,” referring to Steven Kaplan, the university’s previous president.
“Each of these packs contains a nicotine pouch,” Frederiksen said with a playful grin. “Perfect for a little pick-me-up during finals season. So, let’s make this hunt fun, but remember you feins: moderation is key.”
The announcement raised concerns about students below the age of 21 getting access to the nicotine pouches, which Frederiksen addressed in a separate email.
“Only students aged 21 and over will be allowed to check in using the Corq app. Those who successfully check in will be given wristbands. Security guards and on campus police will be keeping an eye on those picking up pouches without the wristbands” he said.
Nicotine pouches have been around since 2008, aiming to become tobacco-free alternatives to traditional snus, first launching under a brand named “Zonnic.” Today, the pouches have gained tremendous traction amongst the youth, with the ZYN brand being the popular choice.
“I wasn’t expecting this,” said senior Nick Thompson, an avid ZYN user. “But it’s kind of fun! Zyns are all over campus anyway, so why not turn it into a game?”
Other students expressed concern on Yik Yak, with one user who said, “I get that it’s a unique twist, but I’m not sure encouraging nicotine use on campus is the best move.” This post received immediate backlash, with a reply that says “ts pmo.”
Despite the mixed feelings, the hunt garnered attention beyond the campus. By late afternoon, the hashtag #NobodyDoesItLikeUNew began trending on social media, a reference to popular catchphrase “nobody does it like sig nu,” referring to the American college fraternity Sigma Nu. Local news outlets soon picked up the story, with many questioning the appropriateness of using nicotine products in such an event.
For some, this event will be a good way to have fun before being forced to lock in for finals, and for others it will be a great opportunity to reduce, or even quit smoking with packs of free ZYNs.
While opinions are divided, the one thing that is for sure is that Frederiksen knows his audience and is not afraid to mix things up,
With finals looming, the event was, if nothing else, a reminder that college life can always use a little more unpredictability.
