College Clips
Published April 24, 2007
Science explores chemistry between lovers
As young adults, we explore the idea of love almost every day with our friends and significant others. Science is attempting to understand love at a new level by attempting to construct a chemical formula to explain the universal phenomenon called "love."
Researchers say the early stages of romantic love can cause these reactions by stimulating the release of certain essential neurochemicals in the brain.
Romantic love is the most intense stage of love, Rutgers professor Helen Fisher said. The other two love stages discussed by Fisher are attachment and lust, which are characterized by different chemical changes.
Fisher describes the romantic stage of love as obsessive and addictive. She has found, judging from the cravings and pleasures it induces, that it is more characteristic of a drive than it is an emotion.
The study consisted of 17 newly in-love college students who were shown a picture of their significant other and a neutral friend while their brains were analyzed using functional magnetic resonance imaging.
— The Daily Bruin
(University of California, Los Angeles)
Attempt at Iowa to beat world record fails
The University of Iowa's Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity chapter's attempt to beat the world record for largest water balloon fight was unsuccessful, but its effort to support cancer research was still a wet and wild success.
This was Lambda Chi Alpha's second attempt at a world record. Last year, the fraternity successfully set the record for the most heads shaved in one day.
"This year we were working toward a new record," Lambda Chi Alpha Standards Chairman John Pana said. "But our focus is still the same."
The members of Lambda Chi Alpha aimed to increase awareness among young adults about the need for cancer research and to raise money for that research. All the proceeds from the event are going to the Taussig Cancer Center at the Cleveland Clinic.
— The Daily Iowan (University of Iowa)
Police learn of celebration through Facebook
Alex Gramajo wasn't aware Syracuse University Department of Public Safety could become an uninvited guest at a block party he announced on Facebook, where he asked students to join by hosting parties on the lawns of their off-campus apartments during MayFest this coming Tuesday.
The Facebook event, titled No Senior Week? F-that!, drew attention from The Syracuse Post-Standard in an article published Saturday. The event's original description said "Let's all get blacked out on MayFest on a day where classes are canceled."
That language has since been changed because it wasn't in-line with what the event is all about, Gramajo said. He also said he doesn't want the event to be public.
Public Safety is trying to get help from the Office of Residence Life to warn underclassmen that they could be arrested for drinking underage if they party with the seniors, Lt. John Sardino said.
— The Daily Orange (Syracuse University)
