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w w w . v e r m o n t c y n i c . c o m | Tu e s d a y , D e c e m b e r 8 , 2 0 0 9 – Vo l u m e 1 2 6 I s s u e 1 4 | B u r l i n g t o n , Ve r m o n t

Men’s basketball returns home from an exhausting road stretch.

opinion

CyniCT h e V e r m o n T

5Cynic columnist Jeff Ayers debates whether UVM is getting fatter. 15

FeatureDespite being dry,

UVM dorms enjoy a considerably large

drinking culture.

8

Want to work for The Cynic? No experience necessary. Contact cynic@uvm.edu WE’RE ONLINE TOO! www.vermontcynic.com

News 1-3 — opiNioN 4-5 — life 6-7 — feature 8-9 — arts 10-11 — comics 12 — distractioNs 14 — sports 15-16iNdeX

That magical, fix-all pill just got easier to swallow.

Students are looking to Adderall, a drug prescribed to people with ADD and ADHD, to manage their workload.

“People use Adderall toward the end of the semester when papers and tests are piling up,” junior Ellen Sears said.

Adderall attaches to specific receptors in the brain that are linked to the ability to really focus, director for the Center of Health and Wellbeing Dr. Jon Porter said.

“If you want good grades, you have to put the work in, so people take Adderall because it gives them the physical capability and concentration to do copious amounts of work,” sophomore Kelly Walsh said.

Although it is most commonly abused during finals, students say they take it throughout the year as well, according to one junior CDAE major, who wished to remain anonymous.

“All my friends do it, and

not everyone, but most people I know do it, too. I just got five pills upstairs [in the library],” he said. “It is also really easy to fake ADD to get Adderall, which a lot of people do. Out of my group of friends, five kids are prescribed it and none of them have ADD.”

Porter said that he is concerned about the ease with which students are getting prescriptions.

“We in the medical community have to make sure that the diagnosis is arrived at in a very rigorous way,” Porter said. “We want to know we aren’t masking

other issues.”People with underlying

issues that they may be unaware of, particularly structural heart issues, high blood pressures and arrhythmias, could have negative reactions with the medication, he said.

Porter said that this is an important reason that people need to see a doctor and get a proper diagnosis before taking Adderall or other medications not prescribed to them.

Although most people get Adderall through a friend with a prescription or get a prescription themselves, it is standard to pay about $2 for every 10 mg if you’re buying it from someone you don’t know, junior Ellen Sears said.

Since drugs started to be advertised as a solution to numerous disorders on television,

taking medication has been normalized, said Diana Gonzalez, UVM drug and alcohol educator.

“[Students have] grown up with television ads saying ‘if you have this problem, just take this!’” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez is concerned that the “medicalization” of daily life

makes it easier for people to take a prescription pill, even if its not prescribed for them.

“I have ADD and it sucks to have to take medicine. It reduces your appetite and keeps you awake. It doesn’t seem like it’s worth it at all to take it if you don’t have to,” sophomore Nash Hall said. “There has got to be a better way to get your studying done than taking pills,” he said.

Adderall is not only used for helping to get through that 20-page paper, but also recreationally.

“I take it [while] drinking,” the junior CDAE major said. “You can snort it or just take it as a pill and basically it just gives you [an] adrenalin rush. You are pretty happy, nothing can piss you off and it makes you more focused.”

However, this type of abuse is one of Porter’s main worries.

“Combined with alcohol and cocaine, it can predispose people to cardiac arrhythmias, especially if it is used in significant amounts,” Porter said.

Side effects of Adderall can

By Natalie DiBlasioStaff Writer

Students speed through exams

Uncovering the practical realities of Adderall abuse on UVM’s campus

When senior Andrew Waldeck goes to his lab on the third floor of the Cook Physical Science building, he’s not working on your typical academic science experiments.

As an undergrad researcher, Waldeck receives credit for building molecules that may be useful against cancer, which are then sent to Italy’s University of Padua for biological testing.

“UVM is one of the few colleges in the country that allows undergrads into labs and research programs,” Undergraduate Research Coordinator Gayle Bress said.

Over the past two summers, Waldeck was paid to do research with UVM professor Dr. Paul Krapcho, bringing him one step closer to his goal of becoming a synthetic organic chemist.

“This is what I want to do with my life,” Waldeck said.

Lab research isn’t limited to honors and prospective med students, Bress said.

“Anybody can do research for experience.”

Until recently, funding has only been available for undergraduate programs related to science, technology, engineering and math.

Come January, UVM hopes to broaden the database of research opportunities to include areas of study for the social sciences, humanities, fine arts, history and business.

Students can earn one credit for every three hours a week they work in the lab, Bress said, and students who devote a lot of time to research often apply for EUREKA grants, fellowships, or mini grants, but many students are primarily interested in the experience.

“Students doing undergrad research are building important skills that will help them be more competitive to the job market and to many graduate programs,” said Pamala Gardner, director

UVM’s undergrads are in the labs

By Patrick DowdStaff Writer

see RESEARCH page 2 see ADDERALL page 2

“I just got five pills upstairs[in the library,]” Anonymous CDAE major

UVMunior

Photo illustration by katie Cassidy

Despite the tough economy, students are actually buying more ski and snowboard passes this season, and local mountains are saying that students are unwilling to give up a their beloved winter activities.

Will Curchin, vice president of the Ski and Snowboard Club (SSC) said that the club is comprised of roughly 2,000 students.

“The Ski and Snowboard Club offers passes to Stowe, Sugarbush and the Triple Major, which includes Jay Peak, Bolton Valley and Mad River Glen,” Curchin said.

Curchin said that although season pass prices are the same this year as last year, the number of Stowe passes sold has gone up from 581 to 871, a 66 percent increase.

He also said that Triple Major remained the same at 500 passes sold and Sugarbush increased from 30 passes sold last year to 90 passes sold this year, a 33 percent increase.

SSC adviser John Abbott said UVM students remain passionate about skiing and riding, have and continued to buy passes, even in tough economic times.

“It’s so cost beneficial to have a pass,” Abbott said. “If you were to go out and buy a day pass at $80 and ski for five days, that’s $400 right there.”

Jeff Wise, communications director at Stowe Mountain Resort, said he has not seen a decline in snow sports participation in recent years.

“Skiing and snowboarding is a lifestyle choice,” Wise said. “I also think the increase in college pass sales is due to heavy word-of-mouth marketing for ski resorts.”

According to Wise, it is more cost efficient for a college student to purchase a season pass than a non-student adult.

Wise said Stowe offered a full-time college student, the discounted price before Oct. 30 of $399 while the price increased to $450 after Oct. 30. A non-student adult price before Oct. 30 was $1,452 and is now $1,815.

Sophomore Maggie Druschel said that she thinks students are more reluctant to buy passes this year and was surprised to hear that passes are still so popular.

“I bought my pass to Smuggler’s Notch because I have a lot of friends who ski there,” Druschel said.

“It is also less expensive and has the best snow besides Stowe.”

Even though Druschel thinks the economy will affect UVM students’ decisions to buy passes this year, senior Greg Blinn feels that the majority of the students that come to Vermont are attracted to the accessibility of the mountains.

“The ski prices have remained relatively the same throughout the years and, if you look at the price of the non-student adult passes, they’re over $1,800,” Blinn said.

Although the sale of season passes has not been affected by the economic recession, Curchin said the SSC has seen drawbacks in their large trip sign-ups and sponsorship-by-industry companies.

“We have trips to various mountains around New England and Canada including Jackson Hole, Mount T r e m b l a n t , Sugarloaf and M o u n t Snow,”

Curchin said. “The sign-ups for these trips have been cut in half.”

Seventy-four people signed up for the Jackson Hole trip two years ago, but this year only 50 people are scheduled to go, Abbott said.

Abbott also said the price of the trip costs $1,084 and includes airfare, lodging, transportation and a five-day lift ticket. The price of the trip increased by about $80 since last year.

“The big trend I’ve seen is that people would rather take small local trips rather than larger trips because it’s more economically efficient to buy a ski pass than spend over a thousand dollars on a five-day trip,” Curchin said.

Curchin said that the lack of sponsorship is due to the fact that many companies that sponsor the club have closed due to the economy and are reluctant to give the Ski and Snowboard Club free goods.

NEWS2 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2009 NEWS 3TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2009

The Student Government Association (SGA) passed a bill last Tuesday supporting the ban of bottled water on campus.

But this doesn’t mean any change just yet — control over bottled water, among other beverage sales, is managed by the administration.

“What I am hoping now is to open up the table for discussion about this issue with [the administration] such as V.P. Gustafson to talk about the feasibility of UVM going through with this initiative,” said Marlee Baron, the SGA senator responsible for the bill.

While student organizations like VSTEP have started bottled water campaigns aimed at students, handing out free water bottles and hanging empty bottles around the Davis Center, the SGA’s resolution looks toward the administration for changes.

The bill cites social and ecological hazards as reasons for the proposed ban.

While most students who spoke at the meeting agreed with the motive, some said the bill would be a poor decision for the

SGA.One advocated for freedom

of choice, another suggested postponing the bill until the Coca-Cola contract expires in 2012, while yet another questioned the thoroughness of prior student polling.

Another student, speaking in support of the bill, said that out of 50 students he talked to, 47 were in favor, while one said he would support it only if one place on campus could still sell it.

“That’s a very strong percent of random students,” he said. “I love to hear specific numbers … rather than invoking this ghost of these people that aren’t here.”

After the discussion, voting concluded with a vote of 27 to 7, with three members abstaining.

“It may still turn out that, before the admin is even willing to talk about this matter, a broader base of students will have to be mobilized,” Baron said.

“Students involved in VSTEP understand this to be primarily their charge to organize a student movement to garner more diverse support across campus and further educate the community about the reasons behind this ban idea,” she said.

Doling out cash for that season pass

By Katie RendaCynic Correspondent

Filmed on two sunny days in November, UVM’s new ad won’t be your typical college commercial.

Airing later this month, and replacing the University’s “dated,” 6-year-old commercial, the three new 30-second spots will be played during the free airtime given to the school for televised athletic events.

“Fundamentally, the message is that UVM is an interesting place,” vice president for Student & Campus Life Tom Gustafson said. “We’re trying to convey a message of academic quality without overlooking our exciting community.”

The three spots will cost about $65,000, Gustafson said, but the entire cost will be covered with gift money the University received from alumni.

“It’s one of those things you need to do if you want to compete with other universities,” Gustafson said. “We needed to take this opportunity to tell people how great UVM is.”

UVM hired creative director Tim Brunelle to make the ads. Brunelle is popular for his work on Volkswagen’s Drivers Wanted campaign and has been making commercials since 1992.

“Fair or unfair, the Groovy UV image has been around,” Brunelle said, hoping these commercials will challenge that stereotype.

The project’s goal is to make something visually stimulating that somehow captures UVM’s academic excellence and

accentuate what makes us unique, he said.

“If the spots look cool, then UVM looks cool,” Brunelle said.

Brunelle is currently editing the commercial with Jerry Spivak at Ring of Fire Studios in Santa Monica, Ca., the same studio that does work for companies like Intel, UPS and director Tim Burton.

“It’s true of every commercial production, you’re always kind of pulling in favors,” Brunelle said, “but in this case Jerry really liked the idea behind the spots.”

Brunelle wanted the spots to have a “fresh cutting edge look” so that, even without the audio, people still think UVM looks

good.Most advertising from other

universities all looks the same, Brunelle said.

“It’s the helicopter shot of the campus and the guy holding up the test tube, and the same visual and somatic material,” he said, “and it’s boring.”

“I think, visually, these spots are going to stand out in the realm of marketing colleges and universities,” Brunelle said. “I hope that people at look UVM’s advertising and say it’s as good as Nike’s advertising.”

“As a brand, why couldn’t the University compete on that

level?” Burnelle said. “Why shouldn’t it?”

The filming took two days and features 34 students and faculty reading from three different scripts.

English professor Phillip Baruth was cast as one of the faculty actors.

“My favorite line was something like, ‘This is where the modern University was born 250 years ago, and it’s still making history today,’” he said. “For me, that captures the University at it’s very best.”

“I always wanted to be in a commercial,” Baruth said.

“On many levels this has been one of my favorite jobs, and I’m not just saying that,” Brunelle said. “The clients have been very honest … and they know how to articulate their passion for the school.”

The ad is scheduled to air during the 24 combined regular season games of the men’s hockey and men and women’s basketball teams, appearing on networks like ESPNU, ESPN2 and NESN.

NESN reaches four million homes every broadcast according to Chris McCabe, the assistant Vice President for Athletic Marketing and Business Development, and each ESPN broadcast reaches upwards of 10 million homes.

“If you were to quantify all the airtime UVM is getting for free, it would be around seven figures,” McCabe said. “It’s a great way for the University to have access to a national and possibly international audience.”

Groovy UV no more?

By Patrick DowdStaff Writer

The student government backs water bottle banMembers urge administration to stop stocking bottled waterBy Jeff BotulaNews Editor

TV commercials try to build a new UVM image

HARRISON BIGLER | The Vermont CynicUVM’s new 30-second commercials attempt to emphasize the community surrounding the University. UVM hired creative director Tim Brunelle, who is popular for his work on Volkswagen’s Drivers Wanted campaign.

“If the spots look cool, then UVM looks cool.”

Tim BrunelleCreative Director

Students refuse to give up thesnowy slopes

include the inability to sleep, sleep disruption, weight loss and dangerously high heartrates.

Gonzalez said that there has been minimal research regarding Adderall’s long-term effects.

“Many drugs are recalled all the time and after years of being on the market,” she said. “Not only are we talking about people are misusing the drug because it’s not prescribed to them, they also don’t have studies to see the effects.”

In addition to the physical effects of the drug, Gonzalez is aware of the additional social

side effects.“If people are relying on an

outside source, like Adderall, as their path to the academic performance, they think they will only get it from that pill,” she said. “You are giving up power and making your performance not about you — it takes away your ability to believe in yourself.”

Gonzalez said that she feels the prevalence of study drug abuse does not fit into the goal of the UVM community.

“If we are a school that believes in academics, that means we don’t take drugs to do our academics,” she said.

ADDERALL...continued from page 1

Keeping campus wired

of Career Services. “A lot of students learn

by working hands-on,” Bress said. “The lab gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge and see a product of their work.”

UVM professor Keith Mintz is currently researching oral bacteria. Assisting him is undergraduate student Ryan Dundon, who works in the lab with faculty and grad students.

“My goal for undergrads is to get them an appreciation for what basic science is all about and get them engaged in their studies,” Mintz said.

Dundon said that for his first year he learned to maintain the

lab and became familiar with the equipment and setting, but now he’s given his own projects working on problems that haven’t been answered.

“If I could have done the whole thing over, I would have gotten into the lab much sooner than I did,” Dundon said.

Real research isn’t like a lab course Mintz said. “In basic science you never stop asking questions, because you get a result, and say ‘what does this mean?’”

“[Students] don’t get to explore in the classroom — they are just told to prove the hypothesis — but in the laboratory I’m trying to train their minds how to think logically,” Mintz said.

REsEARch...continued from page 1

Students find lab work

THE BEST DEALSFOR STUDENTS

Sudent discounts lead to huge savings on season ski passes

Stowe$1,815Regular Price

$450Student Price

Mad River Glen$944

Regular Price

$802Shareholder Price

Sugarbush$1,469Regular Price

$419Student Price

Smuggler’s Notch$599

Regular Price

$399Student Price

Killington$1,249Regular Price

$329Student Price

Triple Major$419

Student PriceIncliudes Jay’s Peak, Bolton Valley,

and Mad River Glen