Junior Economics major Seth Maditti announced plans yesterday to start smoking as of November of this year. The announcement was made in the wake of Maditti’s devastating breakup with girlfriend Gretchen Moregenson, a former UMass Boston student who reportedly dumped Maditti’s for a guy who lives in her building.  

Maditti said this is the first step in a marketing campaign aimed at renovating his public image. The troubled 22-year-old also announced preliminary plans to stop being a vegetarian and to purchase a used leather jacket.

“I am so sick of bitches thinking that I’m the ‘nice guy,’” he said in statements to his best friend, mother and older brother yesterday afternoon.

Maditti has been under increasing pressure from the community to improve his relations with the opposite sex after numerous sources came forward to dispute his past claims of sexual conquests.

“As far as I know, he didn’t even lose his virginity until three months ago,” said a source close to Meditti’s ex-girlfriend. 

The plan to start smoking will be implemented in three stages beginning Nov. 5, when Meditti expects to purchase his first pack of cigarettes. He outlined a proposal to steadily increase his cigarette consumption throughout the following months to peak at an average of nine cigarettes a day by January.  

This move marks a significant shift in Meditti’s strategy, which has been criticized in the past for not being heavy-handed enough. Acquaintances expressed hope that the move will yield better results.

“The kid’s got no game,” testified best friend Kevin Doherty, who has known Meditti since seventh grade.  

No word yet on what cigarette brand will be chosen in the execution of the plan, but many speculate that the two strongest candidates are Parliaments and Newport Light, which are the brands of choice for Meditti’s mother and older brother, respectively.

A representative from the Office of Community Relations issued a statement praising the announcement.

“The benefits that come from the socializing opportunities facilitated by smoking far outweigh any health repercussions,” said the representative.

“UMass Boston is a commuter school with a lot of non-traditional students. We welcome any initiative that inspires students to engage with the community. There’s no better way to do that than to smoke cigarettes together, in the great outdoors.”