College Clips

By James Patrick Schmidt

Published Feb. 9, 2007

Brain damage makes quitting smoking easier

Research done at Illinois State University has shown that having a stroke might make it easier to quit smoking. According to the research, damage done to the insula, which is part of the cerebral cortex in the brain, can make a person lose nicotine cravings almost immediately.

Paul Garris, a biology professor at Illinois State University, explained the insula is involved in representing bodily functions. Smoking has an impact on these bodily functions.

The researchers have found damage to the insula to only have an effect on learned behaviors and not to impact inherent behaviors.

"(The researchers) looked at appetite and found it was still intact," Gerris said.

Gerris also said because a person has a stroke, it does not mean the insula will be damaged.

The researchers looked at other regions of the brain and found that the insula was the only region that affected nicotine cravings.

— The Daily Vidette (Illinois State University)

'National Condom Day' promotes awareness

It's no coincidence that Valentine's Day is National Condom Day and February is National Condom Month, according to the National Health Observances calendar.

Caitlin Megginson, a University of Illinois freshman, initially reacted with a laugh.

"It makes it like, 'It's National Condom Month, let's get some condoms and have a bunch of sex,'" she said.

Megginson also said she thought the title added to the commercialization of Valentine's Day but said that if it raises awareness of sexual health, it is a better alternative to only teaching abstinence.

The purpose of making February National Condom Month is so "health professionals, teachers, community groups and others can use these special times to sponsor health promotion events, stimulate awareness of health risks or focus on disease prevention," according to the National Health Information Center's Web site.

— The Daily Illini (University of Illinois)

Lawrence smoking ban could become statewide

Lawrence, Kan., has gone smoke-free, and the rest of Kansas might soon follow.

The Kansas Senate is deliberating a bill that would ban smoking in most indoor public places. The proposed ban is similar to the one implemented in Lawrence in 2004 but on a statewide level. Counties could opt out of the ban if they did not want to enforce it.

Mark Ellis, manager at Skinny's Sports Bar and Grill in Topeka, Kan., said the ban could be detrimental to businesses in Kansas. Ellis estimated that 80 percent of his customers are smokers.

Sen. David Wysong, R-Mission Hills, introduced the ban, and he disagreed that it would affect Skinny's business.

"I question and discount his numbers," Wysong said. "Eighty-two percent of citizens in Kansas don't smoke."

— University Daily Kansan (University of Kansas)