THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY,FEBRUARY 14,2011
WWW.KANSAN.COM
BY CHRISTINE CURTIN
ccurtin@kansan.com
ccurtin@kansan.com
WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?
Studies have shown people in a loving, healthy relationship have the advantages of:
VOLUME 123 ISSUE 93
- Lower risk of heart disease, heart attack or stroke
Cartoon-heart eyes, cheesy grins — it's Valentine Day. While some students want to shout their love atop Mount Oread, others want to push those people down the hill. But good news for both sides: there are health benefits to both being in a relationship and being single.
- Healthier immune systems; less susceptible to the common cold
- Decreased stress
- Open attention; more willing to try new things
- More likely to engage in positive health behaviors
"A lot of times people will take better care of themselves for another person," Dr. Patricia Denning, chief of staff at Watkins, said. "They're willing to make behavior changes for someone else, and that's the person they love."
A hormone called oxytocin, referred to as "the love hormone", also plays a huge role in our health. Oxytocin is the hormone responsible for pair bonding in mammals, but it also serves as a stress-buffering hormone. When our oxytocin levels go up, our stress levels go down.
"It's something really particular about thinking of love and why those relationships are important to you that raises your levels of oxytocin," Sarah Pressman, University of Kansas psychology professor, said. "And then our stress shows to decrease."
LIVING THE SINGLE LIFE
Even if you're not in a relationship, you can still rake in these positive emotional well-being and health benefits:
· Feeling of support from family, friends
· No risk of negative effects of being in an unhealthy rela-
- No risk of negative effects of being in an unhealthy relationship
- Sense of personal identity
BELONGING TO DIFFERENT SOCIAL ROLES
"If you have friends around you, if you have a social network that you can do things with, that can help you out in times of need, that can be really helpful and that's more of feeling supported," Pressman said.
However, singles also may be able to have some of the same positive benefits that people in relationships experience.
"If you're in a loving relationship, it has a positive impact on your health," Denning said. "If you're single but still have good family relationships and friends, it's considered somewhat neutral. You still may be able to have some of the benefits, or you may not."
So, if you've pledged to wear black every Feb. 14, remember you still get health benefits from your social network. And for those of you in a loving relationship, toast to good health tonight.
Edited by Becca Harsch
- Nothing says romance like a night with a sultry piano and a soothing vocal performance, right? Join faculty members Julia Broxholm and Richard Reber for a night of music at Swarthout Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m.
· Stay out late by going bowling at Royal Crest Bowling Lanes from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. All ages are invited, and cost is $1 per person per game. Shoes are $3.
· Sing your heart out or swoon to your favorite love tune at Jazzhaus karaoke night for only $1 starting at 10 p.m. Drink specials include $2.25 Boulevard pints,
$2.25 wells and $3.25 double wells. Must be 21 or older
- Show your artsy side by taking your valentine to "Black Box, an undergraduate theater project designed to showcase the work of up and coming directors. With limited rehearsal space, a minimal set and a small budget, these directors' passions are bound to shine through their work, sending a message of fervor to your lover. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Inge Theatre. Tickets range from $10 - 15, and you must be 18
Valentine Events
"What are your plans for Valentine's Day?"
What do you think?
- Head over to the The Granada any time between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. for Mudstomp Monday featuring the Brody Broom Band, a folk/bluegrass band. Entry is $2 and must be 21 or older to attend.
- Enjoy a romantic four-course meal at Five 21 located inside the Oread for a special evening with wine and roses. Get dinner, roses and an overnight stay in one
- Spice up your Valentine's Day with fun ideas that are bound to entertain you and your sweetheart. Mix and match these events to create the most special Valentine's Day possible.
BY CLAIRE MCINERNY
JORDAN BOYD junior, Topeka "My boy and I are going on a hike in either Lawrence or Topeka."
freshman, Des Moines, Iowa "My plan is to go to the library and hit on all the single girls"
Cuddle close to each other during the suspenseful movie "Black Swan" or get serious with "Blue Valentine", a dramatic romance film, about a married couple through the years. For more information, visit Liberty Hall's website
ELLIOT KRAUSE
SYDNEY SCHMILLE sophomore, Wathena "I have a math assignment due Monday night."
CASSANDRA ANDERSON senior, Manhattan "I thought Valentine's Day was on Tuesday."
Associate Director, English Dept. "We call my house Allen Fieldhouse West because people always come over and watch away game so we'll do that Monday and have people over for the K-State game."
MARY KLAYDER
INNOVATION
Student's Paw Wash invention now available online and in stores
He held a record 1,093 patents. She holds only one. It took him four months to get his first patent. It took her two years. He was 40 when he created his first invention. She was 12 when she created her first invention.
Who is he? He is Thomas Edison.
BY MIKE LAVIERI
mlavier@kansan.com
Who is she? She is Katie Mullen. Edison created the light bulb and the phonograph, which evolved into the modern-day telephone. The sophomore from Louisburg created the Paw Wash; the first dog paw cleaner that does not use
Who is she? She is Katie Mulich.
Mulich said she came up with the Paw Wash when she was in sixth grade because she had to come up with an idea for a science fair project. She said her mother told her to clean her dog Saddie's paws that were covered in mud, but she wanted an easier way to do this.
a hose, bucket or brush. Instead, it uses suction and grooves on the inside of the container to clean the paws of dirt and snow.
"I went to the barn and got PVC pipe and I showed my dad and we got a cap for it after church the next day," Mulich said. "We used it and he said 'Katie this actually really works'."
She had no idea that the PVC
pipe would work, but that it was just out of luck. She didn't add a brush to the Paw Wash because she did not want to worry about mold and how to clean it out.
All it uses is water from a faucet and liquid soap. There are different variations of the Paw Wash, like the Pawplunger, which Mulich said infringed on her patent. She was not able to disclose any of the details of the infringement case, but did say that she did go to federal court when she was 17-years-old. She has sent cease and desist letters, but because it costs so much to go to court, she says it's not worth it
SEE PAWS ON PAGE 3A
MEN'S BASKETBALL | 10A
No.1 ranking not important to all
LECTURE | 3A
Author discusses Hitchcock
Filmmaker's influence reflected in America's love for horror movies
INDEX
Classifieds...7A
Crossword...4A
Cryptoquips...4A
Opinion...5A
Sports...10A
Sudoku...4A
WEATHER
TODAY 5225
TUESDAY
Mostly Sunny
5333
Cloudy
WEDNESDAY
65 51
Partly Cloudy weather.com
All contents, unless stated otherwise. © 2011 The University. Daily Kansan