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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 1994)
Caffeine’s kick isn’t worth the hype Its health effects can work against studying students By Chad Lorenz Staff Reporter Students may think they need the extra boost that caffeine pro vides during finals week, but uni versity health officials warn them to beware of its effects. Many students use caffeine products the night before tests so they can stay up late to study. But Dave Bower, health center drug and alcohol education coordina tor, said students always weren’t aware of the effects of taking caffeine. i aon i minx mey consider the dangers,” he said. Caffeine can cause insomnia, headaches, upset stomach, dizzi ness, nervousness and mood changes, he said. Jennifer Johnson, a senior po litical science major, said she once took NoDoz, an over-the counter caffeine pill, to study late into the night. She said she had a headache and felt jittery and nervous the next morning. “I’ll never do it again,” Johnson said. She plans to use her time bet ter for finals this semester, she said, by preparing for them one at a time. Jeremy Hahn, a freshman civil engineering major, said he once used Vivarin the night before two tests. He wasn’t able to study very well, he said, because he took more than the recommended dose. “I was wired,” Hahn said. “I was bouncing off the walls all night.” But, he said he was tired the next day during hi s test and didn ’t think the test went well. He said he would distribute his time better during finals this year. Kayla Dulaney, a senior nurs ing student, said she crammed 1 Photo illustration by Miclwil* Pauiman When tha strass of studying takas Its toll, many students turn to caffalna to <Iva tham a lift. during past finals weeks so she could retain more information closer to test time. But this semester, she said, she plans to study the bulk of the material during dead week and review every night during finals week. Too much caffeine has left her nervous and jittery in the past, she said. She wouldn’t recom mend it, but, she said, some stu dents use it as a last resort. Bower said caffeine’s effects vary in each individual. Serious medical problems can develop in pregnant women, elderly people, people with heart conditions and individuals on medication, Bower said. About 250 milligrams will generally kick in side effects, he said. NoDoz caffeine pills con tain 100 milligrams of caffeine, and Vivarin has 200 milligrams. A can of Mountain Dew has - 55 milligrams of caffeine, one of the highest contents in soft drinks. Jolt has the most with 100 milli grams, he said. Different types of coffees range from 100 to 125 milligrams of caffeine, he said. Pat Harley, a staff pharmacist at the University Health Center, said Ephedrine Hydrochloride — sold under brand names such as Max Alert, Up Time, Mini Slims — was another stimulant being marketed for inducing insomnia. Ephedrine, available over the counter, was being abused to give a high, she said. The drug is inteuded to relieve asthma symptoms and fight low blood pressure, she said. It con stricts blood vessels, increases heart rate and relaxes bronchial tubes in the lungs, Harley said. A December public service bulletin issued by the Neighbor hood Watch Association referred to Ephedrine HCL as “over-the counter speed.” The drug could cause seizures, convulsions, nausea, irregular heart beat, high blood pressure, dizziness and headaches, the bul letin stated. Harley said some companies were pulling Ephedrine off the shelves because of the dangers from misuse. 2137 Cornhusker •11 Pool Tables *5 Dart Machines •Pinballs-Videos •Foosball •CD Jukebox *22 Beers on Tap Hours: Mon.-Fri. 6 am -1 am Sat. 11 am Sun. 1 pm INTERNATIONAL $06u/tfta'dkz Great Service, Great Prices Great Beads Supplies • Findings • Classes 15% discount with student I.D. Not valid with other discounts, special offers or coupons. 1637 P Street Suite B Lincoln 438-2828 Next to Pickles little price. 250 Off every purchase with valid UNL ID. & fa 'a ,, r -3 , 120 N 14th • 474-6158 Not available with any other offer. Good through December 16th. eunion North Sixteenth street GEORGE'S GREAT GYROS ftsflHH W3WB8S "Happ^ holidays. Thanks Lincoln." one coupon per person per visit EGGROLL PALACE Where else can you Vis much food to $2S9? A! EGGROLL PALACE, gel a HUGE helping of Sweet "N Sour Chicken with fried rice and egg roll. $1.95 for Crab rangoon (6) Pull up to our convenient customer parking lot or call for free delivery at 477-0963 Spellbound ss* Hob Playing, War Games, Board Games, Partng, Comics; Candy, Novels, Dice; T-Shrts, IVWatLres, Modeing Supples Open Daily 11:00am-/:OOpm 476-8602 Hump Day for 19-20 year olds. One can of soda is included in the cover. for 21+. How about Penny Pitchers? Budweiser Products, of course. at the Bay! Wednesdays with D.J. Crystyl Present Student ID and get in for 1435 O Street * 477-3877 Graduation to be held on Dec. 17 From Staff Reports UNL’s December commence ment exercises will be Dec. 17 at 9:30 a.m. in the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Chancellor Graham Spanier will preside over the ceremony, in which about 1,400 students will receive degrees. David Powers, executive director of the Coordinating Com mission for Postsecondary Educa tion, will give the commencement address. Saburo Nakagura, president of the Graduate University of Ad vanced Studies in Yokohama, Ja pan, and one of Japan’s most promi nent scientists, will receive an hon orary doctor of science degree. Special seating will be reserved for guests with disabilities. Golf carts will be located on the ramps on the exterior north and south sides of the building to help disabled guests enter and exit the building. Guests with disabilities should en ter the Devaney Center grounds via the 14th Street entrance and pro ceed to the north side of the build ing. Sign language interpreters will be located in section B-12 on the west side of the concourse level. Guests in wheelchairs will be seated on the northeast comer of the arena floor. Post office will stay open later during holidays From Staff Reports The U.S. Postal Service has ex tended the hours of its window to meet the high demand from cus tomers during the holidays. Beginning Dec. 10 through Dec. 23, the following stations have ex panded Christmas hours: • Main Post Office at 700 R St., Mondays through Fridays, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Station A at 110 N. 35th St., Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Indian Village at 1201 Calvert St., Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Gateway Station at 5945 R St., Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. • College View Station at 5100 Van Dom St., Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Satur days, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Postal Service is also pro viding additional service by visit ing retirement centers. Employees will sell stamps and accept Christ mas cards and packages from resi dents. Center Continued from Page 1 “It has created a morale prob lem,” Tadros said. “It has resulted in the center not being as produc tive as in previous years. It has caused the faculty to lose confi dence (in the college).” The college is supposed to pro vide matching funds to grants the center receives, Tadros said. But with its rapid growth, it has re ceived more grants than the college will support. Tadros said the center must honor the commitments to its external sponsors, and they now say any new research proposals must come with approval from the engineering dean’s office. But administrators are not say ing they would help the center as it slips further into debt, Tadros said.
