Week of Jan. 21, 2013 | Volume 67 | Issue 13
Indiana University Southeast
Features—Page 8
Joe Moorehead Band takes stage at IU Southbeach
Caffeine drug of choice for students caffeine such as Four Loko. The FDA also gathered and published incident reports relating to 5-Hour Energy shots, Monster energy Michael McKean, computer sciences junior, said drinks and Rockstar energy drinks he would not be able to get through his busy day addressing recent reports of deaths linked to caffeinated beverages. without the help of caffeine. The 31-year-old said he struggles to find enough Michelle Smith, a dietician at the time for all of his responsibilities. Between working Floyd County Health Department, full-time, going to school part-time and spending said that when dealing with patients it time with his wife and two young sons, McKean works better to give exact numbers. “Three-hundred milligrams of cafsaid he relies on caffeine to keep him going. “Waking up at 4 o’clock in the morning is quite feine doesn’t really mean anything to difficult,” McKean said. “Caffeine gives you that the average person,” Smith said. “Nolittle pump you need in the morning — it has just body is going to count numbers. I usually say limit yourself to one 12-ounce become a habit.” McKean said that he considers himself a caffeine soda or one cup of coffee and to stay addict and that on any given day he drinks up to two away from the Monsters and the Red Bull.” energy drinks and five cans of Mountain Dew. McKean is not alone. According to a report from Smith also said that even when cafthe Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 90 percent feinated drinks list the caffeine content of Americans regularly use caffeine, and the aver- the numbers can be incorrect. age adult consumes about 280 milligrams of caffeine Rob Hawks, public speaking sophomore, is a self-confessed caffeine addaily. According to the Mayo Clinic, a worldwide, non- dict. He said he usually drinks six to profit medical organization, adults should consume eight cans of Pepsi per day. no more than 300 milligrams of caffeine a day. Some “I think college students really rely however find it to be difficult to keep track of how on caffeine as a means to keep them awake during finals,” Hawks said. “It much caffeine they are drinking. The Food and Drug Administration does not helps pull off the all-nighters, and alrequire the amount of caffeine in a beverage to be most every student needs that at some listed on the label because caffeine is not considered point.” Another self-confessed caffeine a nutrient. However, according to the FDA, investigations addict, Jade Veirs, biology freshman, of 30 different manufacturers are under way to look said she typically drinks about three into the safety of certain alcoholic drinks containing pots of coffee a day, but she drinks more caffeine to get through exams. “I’ll add some Monsters,” Veirs said. “Coffee doesn’t wake me up anymore, but Monsters will help keep me awake.” Caffeine is the world’s most Veirs said she thinks caffeine is popular popular drug. But how much among college students because they need caffeine are you consuming? something to make up for sleep deprivation. “With the schedules that most students have, they have to be powered by something to get through,” Veirs said. According to the Mayo Clinic, consuming more than 500 milligrams of caffeine could 100 mg Brewed coffee cause side effects such as muscle tremors, nervousness, fast heartbeat and upset stomach. 55 mg Mountain Dew McKean said he is familiar with some of the negative side effects of caffeine. McKean said once he was making a four-hour drive to Ohio 39 mg Pepsi after work, and was trying to stay awake. He said he stopped at a gas station to get some80 mg Red Bull thing caffeinated. McKean said he decided to buy a Red Bull energy drink and a 5-Hour Energy shot. 207 mg 5-Hour Energy “I do not recommend mixing a 5-Hour Energy with a Red Bull,” McKean said. “That’s caffeine overload. It goes way beyond that 200 mg NoDoz pills right amount of caffeine for me, and it made me feel really sick.” Source: mayoclinic.com Smith said that while the short-term side effects of caffeine are unpleasant, there are Graphic by Hannah Ash also unpleasant long-term side effects of prolonged caffeine use. By HANNAH ASH Staff hash@ius.edu
Caffeine Content
Caffeine (mg)
Smith said that the long-term side effects can include high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and irregular sleep patterns. Smith also said that caffeinated drinks can be dangerous because caffeine is dehydrating. “People think they are getting their fluids with soda and energy drinks, but they aren’t,” she said. Smith said that people using caffeine before exercising should be especially careful to drink extra fluids to offset the dehydrating effects of caffeine. Veirs, McKean and Hawks all said that they notice withdrawal symptoms if they go without caffeine. “I get headaches if I don’t have any or if I have very little, which is quite annoying,” McKean said. Veirs said that without caffeine, she feels less focused and cranky. According to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, signs of caffeine withdrawal can include difficulty concentrating, irritability, depression, anxiety or flu-like symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, if people plan to cut back on caffeine, they should reduce their intake gradually to help reduce withdrawal symptoms. McKean said his wife would like him to cut back on the amount of caffeine he drinks, but McKean said he has no immediate plans to. He said he relies on caffeine too much to get him through the day. “Caffeine is popular because the way our society is go-go-go,” McKean said. “It’s one of the only legal ways to keep our bodies going.”
New policy could allow guns on campus, IU opposed By HANNAH ASH Staff hash@ius.edu According to the IU website, Indiana University’s current firearm policy states that firearms are not allowed on campus without written permission from the Chief of Police, but if passed, an Indiana Senate Bill could make it illegal for state universities to regulate the ability to carry concealed firearms on campus. Indiana Sen. Jim Banks, R-Columbia City, and Sen. Jim Tomes, a RPosey County, submitted the bill. The bill, Indiana Senate Bill 97, would make it illegal to regulate the possession of firearms on any land owned or leased by the state. Banks said he heard from a number of students at different universities in Indiana, including IU Southeast, that expressed interest in being able to carry concealed firearms on campus.
“These are licensed gun owners,” Banks said. “These are responsible adults that follow the law.” Banks said the Indiana state constitution affords the right to carry firearms, and he believes it should not be limited. He also said he spoke with female students who carried a firearm for personal reasons and expressed a desire to be able to carry a firearm on campus for protection. Mark Land, Indiana University associate vice president of public affairs and government relations, said Indiana University officially opposes the bill. “We’re opposed to a bill that would take decision making out of our hands,” Land said. “We find we are in the best position to determine our own policies.” He said that Indiana University believes campuses should be allowed to make their own policies concerning
U.S. Air Force photo
Under a proposed bill, concealed carry holsters and weapons like this one could become legal on Indiana college campuses. firearms because campus officials understand their own campus environments. Land also said Indiana University
believes in the police force and its ability to keep students safe. He said the university does not believe that introducing firearms on campus will make students safer. “It could potentially have the opposite effect,” Land said. Drew Appel, criminal justice junior, said he supports Senate Bill 97. He said he believes the bill would help make campuses safer. “The people that carry off campus are the people that are going to carry on campus,” Appel said. “If a person is all right to carry at Walmart, they’ll be all right to carry on campus.” Appel said if concealed-carry weapons were allowed on campus, students would be able to protect themselves in the case of a violent incident. He said that while the campus has security measures in place, IUS police cannot be everywhere. See GUNS, page 2
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