Volume 125 Issue 9
,2012
kansan.com
Thursdav. August 30, 2012
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RESEARCH
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
A recent study finds binge drinking can lead to not only increased social satisfaction, but also long-term health concerns.
Students discuss binge drinking study
REBEKKA SCHLICHTING
rschilchting@kansan.com
Binge drinking students may be happy and satisfied with their social experience in college, but the long-term effects are not as satisfying.
A recent study suggested students who binge drink feel they are more socially accepted than students who do not binge drink. The study was conducted by Landon Reid, a former Colgate University faculty member, and Carolyn Hsu, associate professor of sociology at Colgate University. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines binge drinking as four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men in one occasion. The findings were presented at the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association on Aug. 20.
"If you're binge drinking, you stay out longer than everyone else and you meet more people, and the next time you are out, there are more people asking you to go hang out," said Liz Smith, a junior from Augusta, Kan. "So you meet new people and go to more parties"
Julia Patterson, a freshman from Lawrence, said she doesn't drink, and if she attends a party, she doesn't fit in.
The study found that students of a higher social status were more likely to consume alcohol than their less social peers. It also found that white, wealthy, heterosexual male members of the Greek community who didn't binge drink weren't as happy with their social lives as the binge drinkers from the same group.
Hsu said students of lower social status can access the same social benefits as the high status by binge drinking.
"It's easier to be more outgoing and easier to talk to people while binging," said Taylor Gaston, a junior from Augusta, Kan.
"If you aren't drinking, you aren't going to have as much fun, and you are not going to want to go talk to people at a party," Patterson said.
Edited by Laken Rapier
Christian Crandall, a social psychology professor at the University of Kansas, said young adults binge because they are interested in fitting in, finding out who they are and finding a group to belong to. He said binging is a way to blend in and stand out at the same time.
"Binging is only going to get you to fit in when the group likes it," Crandall said. "The important, unspoken issue is that binge drinking isn't going to work all of the time or everywhere. It only works in special places at particular times."
Brandon Huddleston, a sophomore from Harper, Kan., said he doesn't binge drink because he doesn't want drinking to get in the way of his studies. Instead, he is an active runner, has a film project and is involved with the Self Engineering Leadership Fellows Program (SELF).
"Social exception shouldn't be down to how much you can drink," Huddleton said. "I meet a lot of amazing people around campus, and I don't need to drink to be friends with them."
Long-term health effects including high-blood pressure, liver disease and poor control for diabetics are also increased by binging. Nelson said. "It's important to encourage an alcohol abuser to go get help." Nelson said. "Also, be cognizant and make sure they aren't driving."
According to the University's Alcohol and Drug Policy, students who are caught drinking on campus are penalized by expulsion, suspension, probation, or by a disciplinary warning or completion of an approved rehabilitation program.
Lore Nelson, pediatrics associate professor at University of Kansas Medical Center, said binge drinking is associated with numerous unintentional injuries, including car crashes, falls and drowning. There can also be increased incidents of sexual activities, which increase the risk of transmitting STDs and pregnancies.
TAKE ON TAILGATING
GAME DAY SAFETY
University officials and Lawrence Police team up to increase presence around Memorial Stadium as part of a new tailgating safety initiative.
RACHEL SALYER
rsalyer@kansan.com
Sean Gutzwiller, a fifth-year senior from Topeka, tailgates for every home football game.
He's excited for the first game Saturday to start the tradition again. The game starts at 6 p.m., but he and his friends will start drinking and socializing about 11:00 a.m.
"It can make for a long day" Gutzwiller said. "You've got to pace yourself."
It's a lesson he learned the hard way. Laughing, he remembers spending one game night on the bathroom floor of a friend's house.
Gutzwiller will be joined by hordes of students in crimson and blue celebrating before the game, and efforts by the University and the Lawrence Police Department aim to ensure it's done safely.
"Our No. 1 goal is always to keep students out of the backs of police cars and ambulances," said Frank DeSalvo, associate vice provost for student affairs.
KII ATHLETICS
Desalvo helps oversee the KU Buddy System, which is starting a new game day safety initiative.
Game attendees will see a 45-second promotional video at every home game, which DeSalvo said is known to be a high incident day. To tailgate safely, DeSalvo said to simply look out for your friends and for yourself.
"We know that if you have ten students, nine out of the ten are doing OK," DeSalvo said. "It's the one that's not, and all of those ten are capable of being the one on any given night."
For the students that aren't celebrating safely or legally, both the KU Office of Public Safety and the Lawrence Police Department will be out.
responsibly."
"We hope to have a presence everywhere," said Schuyler Bailey, a university police captain. "We know there's going to be a lot of people, a lot of tailgating, and we just want to have fun and do it
There are designated tailgating areas surrounding the stadium where legal drinking is permitted three hours before the game but must stop at kickoff.
Trent McKinley, an LPD spokesman, said that for the first time the department will have an additional shift of officers dedicated to policing the areas surrounding the game.
He wanted to remind students they couldn't have any open containers in public, which includes sidewalks, streets and the areas in between the two.
avoid.
"That's probably the easiest way to get a citation," McKinley said.
It's citations like that Gutzwiller and his friends are hoping to
"There's definitely a right way and a wrong way," Gutzzwiller said. "It's always fun, but only within reason."
Edited bv Sarah McCabe
- Rotate water between every drink
- Be sure to eat something
- Have one drink per hour
- Rest or take a nap if your body needs it
- Don't park in the grass; it's illegal
- Keep open containers off public property
OFF-CAMPUS
Labyrinth provides peaceful escape
EMILY DONOVAN editor@kansan.com
The hum of bugs and the quiet shifting of dirt underfoot replace the urban roar of campus life. In a drive just under 30 minutes west of campus rests a simple, natural break from the stress of daily life.
Luna Bella Labyrinth is a 100-foot in diameter circular path which spirals into a meditation area in an 11-circuit medieval design. Guests follow the 0.75 mile trail, consider their worries or stress, meditate, sing, pray or chat in the path's center. Then they can retrace their steps to exit the labyrinth.
"You walk the labyrinth and you release anything that you no longer want to carry with you," said
Joan Clark, the labyrinth's creator.
Clark is a local aromatherapist and traveling educator. She and her husband David Bartholomew were inspired by the famous labyrinth in the Chartres Cathedral in France. Clark felt complete clarity after walking the labyrinth and hoped to offer that sense of peace and balance to the public at home.
"Every time you take a curve or turn, it balances the right brain and the left brain so that this peace comes over you," Clark said. "You're bringing yourself back into alignment basically."
Clark said the labyrinth is a non-denominational sacred walk, a pilgrimage of inner joy.
Public feedback has been overwellingly positive. A visitor's log at the path's display case lists
Cole Eisenmenger is a sophomore from Norfolk, Neb., studying Music Therapy. He is interested in meditation methods and in walking the Luna Bella Labyrinth.
short, thankful messages. Visitors have often knocked on Clark's front door to thank her for the experience. People have left stones, notes, bracelets and necklaces at the labyrinth's center.
"Ive always loved meditating when I've had the time to, or just sitting down to relax," Eisenmenger said. "I would love to try a new method and just clear my mind and basically let enlightenment come in."
Luna Bella Labyrinth is open to the public free of charge from sun-up until 8 p.m. on weekdays and until 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. It is located at 1661 E.1
TYLER BIERWIRTH/KANSAN
400th Rd. Meditators are encouraged to wear walking shoes and park off of the gravel driveway.
- Edited by Ryan McCarthy
CLASSIFIEDS 3B
CROSSWORD 11A
CRYPTOQUIPS 11A
OPINION GA
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
Don't forget The football season starts on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
Today's Weather
A really hot August Day.
HI:99
LO:68
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