The state of Iowa’s tobacco laws punishment for selling tobacco to a minor is a $100 fine and a citation for the first offense. This is a law that a local ISU convenience store found out may cost them more than a fine.

Andrew Goedeken, co-chairman of the Ames Tobacco Task Force, said the task force is trying to disallow tobacco sales at Onion’s, a convenience store located in the Memorial Union.

“The point of the Ames Tobacco Task Force is to change social norms, and any time you can remove tobacco from an educational institution, which is [the tobacco companies’] target, is good,” Goedeken said.

Belitsos, co-chairman of the Ames Tobacco Task Force, said the task force did not even realize that Onion’s even sold tobacco until they were found breaking the law.

“We received the reports of stores that sell tobacco that were in non-compliance with the tobacco laws and were shocked to find out there was tobacco being sold in the Union,” Belitsos said.

The task force will begin by approaching Bill Young, service manager for the Memorial Union, to see if he will agree to remove tobacco products from the union, and, if not, the task force will approach the board, he said.

“The main reason we are doing this is because tobacco kills,” Belitsos said.

Onion’s is one of eight stores already cited for a violation of selling to minors this year. It is the only place on campus people can purchase tobacco.

Goedeken said Onion’s is in an interesting situation, since the Memorial Union is smoke-free and yet has stores that sell tobacco products.

“Any opportunity we have to make tobacco less acceptable to a younger group of people is an opportunity we will take,” he said.

Amy Thelke, senior in English, said she doesn’t think taking tobacco out of the Union will anger many students. She has purchased tobacco products from Onion’s in the past, but she “tries to avoid buying there,” and doesn’t feel particularly upset by the possibility that Onion’s will no longer sell tobacco.

“Unless you are desperate, you aren’t going to buy there,” she said.

Amy Eaton, senior in journalism and mass communication and a smoker, has never purchased tobacco products from Onion’s, but questions what effect it will have on campus.

“On a college campus, tobacco laws are hard to control anyway, and if Onion’s loses their license, minors will just go buy somewhere else,” she said.

The Ames Tobacco Task Force will meet on May 31 to further discuss the issue. They will hold the meeting at 3:30 p.m. in the conference room at Mary Greeley Medical Center, 1111 Duff Ave.

Onion’s declined to comment.