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1111 W.O.M.E.N. urges students to think pink -See page 7
Oct. 9, 2008
rgy drinks may pose risk ■ Scientists are concerned by the level of caffeine By Laura Hoffert Senior Reporter
WARNING! mei induce caffeine intoxication
Photo illustration by Chris Albers
Binders, textbooks that cost more than a month's rent and energy drinks are all common finds in students' book bags. However, only one of these things can potentially students. Some Johns Hopkins University scientists are now urging that labels be put on energy drinks that have high amounts of caffeine in them to warn against "caffeine intoxication." The Food and Drug Administration limits soft drinks to 71 milligrams per 12-ounce can. However, since most energy drinks are marketed as "dietary supplements," the restriction doesn't apply. With sleek can designs and flashy colors, the energy drinks are promoted as "performance enhancers" which causes many students to be drawn to the promise of staying awake during long lectures or while studying for tests. As an acknowledged clinical syndrome, symptoms of caffeine intoxication include nervousness, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, upset stomach, tremors, rapid heartbeats, psychomotor agitation (restlessness and pacing) and sometimes, but rarely, death, according to
the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases. In an article published Oct. 8 in Science Centric, Dr. Chad Reissig, one of the study's authors said, "over-thecounter caffeine-containing products require warning labels, yet energy drinks do not." This has also caused some scientists to be concerned that the level of caffeine students are taking in could lead them to take prescription stimulants such as Ritalin. Further concerns include one energy drink, "Cocaine," for it's drug-related name and faux-powdery label. In 2007, people worried that the drink would cause children to be unable to differentiate between the actual drug and the drink. That same year, an even more controversial drink hit the market. "Blow" was introduced and immediate attempts to ban the product began. "Blow" is an energy drink mix, which was distributed as white powder inside an easy to open vial. When bought online it can be sold in Styrofoam blocks to resemble a cocaine brick and even comes with a fake credit card so consumers can pretend they are "cutting". cocaine.
Name Ounces
Caffeine (mg)
mg/oz
Full Throttle 16 Monster 16 NOS 16 Rockstar 16 Redline Power 2.5 Rush
144 10 260 160 350
9.00 10.00 16.25 10.00 140.00
Violence Prevention Project to partner with OKC By Stephani Tobin Staff Writer
October is national Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Violence Prevention Project (VPP) at UCO plans to sponsor events with Oklahoma organizations to raise awareness. The VPP will be teaming up with the Young Women's Christian Association and the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault for events throughout October, including a month-long clothing drive and self-defense classes, Kathryn Toahty, Violence Prevention Program coordinator, said. "We are not raising funds," she said, "just creating awareness and providing information about domestic violence and dating violence so that survivors can seek services if needed." According to the Center for Disease Control and the National Coalition for Domestic Violence, women between the ages of 16 to 24 experience the highest per capita rate of intimate violence. Fifty-three percent of domestic violence victims are abused by a significant other or spouse, and one in five teenagers report being abused by a boyfriend or girlfriend. Although domestic violence victims often experience physical trauma, many victims also suffer from emotional and psychological harm, and also low self-esteem. These statistics also show that many women who are in abusive relationships suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, and men who are abused suffer anxiety and depression, as well as PTSD.
see Violence, page 6
Mold is hard to avoid, housing says By Andrew Knittle Senior Reporter
The issue of dangerous mold in Murdaugh Hall, which prompted Channel 9 to run a story several days ago, is really no issue at all, Housing Director Josh Overocker said Monday afternoon. "I'm not sure why they ran the story, but that's their business," Overocker said. "We're just going to keep doing what we said we were going to do." Overocker said the university hasn't made any changes to its planned course of action regarding the mold in the 72-year-old Murdaugh Hall. He added that the levels of mold found in the dormitory were normal and that mold is hard to avoid in general. Michael Jenkinson works forCitil Photo by Ryan Croft Ova( tikVii4v2Rftektt41 1.4,141tikiilttr, 41h Jonathan LaClair points out mold infestation in one of the dorm OkkihOPPM 0[1057 itititkii OM IIIOW 11!4, 0144iteritell ItiO<AlhAlty&,e MOM.
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DVD review: "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" --See page 6
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