Student Life Archives

Everyone knows it is a good idea to talk to someone about sex before having sex with that person. You need to make sure you are on the same page about what you both want to get out of it and about whether you see it as a casual act or an act of commitment. But before having this discussion, there are several things you need to think about on your own.

Since the right time to have sex with someone hinges a lot on each person’s own sexual attitudes and experiences, you need to make sure that you know yours well before trying to make a decision that involves somebody else.

First, consider the emotions that sex has brought up within you in the past. Has it made you feel more connected to the person that you slept with, or has it felt like one more fun thing to do without any real emotional effect? If sex does intensify your emotional connection with a person, then you need to assess whether you are confident that your partner is ready to deal with your strengthened feelings, and also whether he is planning to stay in the relationship for the foreseeable future. If your gut instinct tells you that you may become emotionally attached, you are probably not ready to have non-committed sex with him. This is less of a concern if sex does not appreciably intensify your feelings for someone else, but you need to remember to touch upon that issue with your partner, and make sure that you will not be awakening deep emotions that you are not ready, willing or able to deal with.

If you have never had sex before, it would serve you best to approach sex as if it would strengthen your emotional connection to your partner. There is absolutely no way to tell whether sex is emotional or purely physical for you until you try it. Making sure you are in an emotionally close and supportive relationship the first time you have sex will give you the chance to figure out your reaction in the safest possible environment and avoid the risk of feeling emotionally attached to someone who was only seeking pure physical pleasure.

Another consideration to make involves your beliefs about sexual activity. Whether the beliefs stem from religion, morals, ethics or any other source important to you, beliefs often have a strong role in shaping sexual attitudes. Ask yourself what your beliefs about sexual activity are and ask yourself why your beliefs are the way they are. If your beliefs include a complete ban on sexual activity in your situation (for example, you are considering having sex with your girlfriend or boyfriend, yet you have beliefs that prohibit non-marital sex), ask yourself why you believe that sex is incorrect in your situation. Ask yourself if that reasoning makes sense to you. Ask yourself why you are thinking about sexual activity now, even though your beliefs advise otherwise.

Maybe you will realize that you are thinking about sex merely because your hormones are running wild. Or is it possible that your true beliefs about sex are different from what you thought they were or what you grew up with? There is no right or wrong response to these questions as long as you reach your answer through honest thought and self-evaluation.

Another inquiry to make before deciding to have sex is whether you are able to maturely face the potential consequences. Think about whether you feel comfortable talking to your potential sex partner about her sexual history. Think about whether you feel comfortable going to a doctor and getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases. Think about whether you feel comfortable getting birth control or condoms and using them to protect yourself. If you are not comfortable doing all of these things, then it is probably best to wait to consider sex until you are comfortable. If you are planning on engaging in sex acts that could result in pregnancy, think about what you would do if you got pregnant or made your partner pregnant. Thoughtfully considering potential problems and coming to reasoned opinions beforehand will be far easier and more pleasant than answering them in haste when you are caught in the heat of the moment, or if you later find yourself staring pregnancy or disease in the face.

It almost seems strange to think so extensively on your own about sex, a thing that is often fun, spontaneous and shared with someone else. Yet, it is very important to do so. Your reactions to sex will be different from anyone else’s reactions. Whether you are considering sex in a committed situation or a casual one, you’ll be a lot happier if you sort out your own feelings about sex before you have to take anyone else’s opinions into account. It will save you some stress and also may save you from getting talked into an uncomfortable situation.

Doctors and nutritionists alike enforce the idea that getting enough vitamins and minerals is extremely important for optimal health. However, what they often don’t emphasize enough is the importance of getting these nutrients from actual food. When taken in pill format, the vitamins are usually less effective due to poor absorption rates in the body. Yet, it is still pretty simple to overdose on vitamins when they are taken in the pill form. In fact, overdose is the primary concern about oral supplements-and one that has been nearly disregarded in our “health-conscious” society. Ingesting too many vitamins can be extremely dangerous for one’s health. Below, I have outlined some of the major vitamin supplements, their uses and their dangers.

The most popular vitamin of all has to be Vitamin C. For years, Vitamin C has been touted for its disease-fighting abilities and anti-oxidant properties. Health-aware Wash. U. students have been known to pop Vitamin C supplements like Emergen-C or Airborne into their water bottles, especially around finals time when it seems like everyone is getting sick. Loyalists of these products beware-supplements like Airborne usually contain about 2,000mg of Vitamin C, which is well over the recommended 60mg your body should get in a day.

While Vitamin C is water-soluble and it won’t cause long-term damage, it turns out that consuming 2,000mg a day can actually cause diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps and headache. Vitamin C normally functions as an antioxidant by neutralizing free radicals that damage cells, but if too much is taken in too frequently, it can act as a pro-oxidant and cause cellular damage. Daily mega-doses of Vitamin C may also create a Vitamin C dependency that will have rebounding deficiency signs like bleeding gums, wounds that take a long time to heal and skin problems.

Vitamin B6, a water-soluble vitamin often taken under the presumption that it is a panacea, can also be dangerous when taken in excess. Vitamin B6 has been advertised as an “energy booster” and overall “mood-enhancer” and is often used to relieve headaches or lessen symptoms of depression. Nonetheless, taking more than 250mg a day can cause irreversible nerve damage.

Another common supplement is zinc, particularly popular among young males. Zinc is often sold in “men’s health and wellness” packets, stamped with the claim that it can improve sexual prowess and strengthen immunity. Unfortunately, much like the other vitamins, zinc can actually impair immunity and lower good cholesterol when too much is taken.

While water-soluble vitamins may be harmful, fat-soluble Vitamins like A and E are even more of a concern. This is because fat-soluble vitamins are not excreted like water-soluble vitamins but are in fact stored in the liver. Overdosing on Vitamin A, which is often taken to improve the appearance of skin, can lead to headaches, hair loss, dry skin and bone and joint aches. Vitamin E is normally taken as a supplement to reduce the risk of heart disease, but when taken in surplus, it has similar effects on the body as Vitamin C and can lead to muscle weakness, fatigue, nausea and diarrhea.

So how much is too much, and how can we avoid overdoing it? My recommendation would be to steer clear of vitamin supplements with the exception of one multi-vitamin a day. No matter what you overhear or read online, it is rare that anyone needs extra Vitamin C, B6, zinc, A or E. If you think you should be taking more of any of these vitamins or are considering tampering with your dietary supplements, make sure to consult your physician. And remember: too much of a good thing can in fact become a very, very bad thing.

Brooke Genkin is a junior in the college of Arts & Sciences majoring in Anthropology with a concentration in Public Health studies. Information for her column is provided by experts at the Habif Health and Wellness Center and other sources.

Courtesy of Lee Cordova

It’s been said that there’s something a little quirky about every Wash. U. student. Some of us love to salsa dance. Others prefer to don medieval attire and battle on the swamp. A select number of students-to put it simply-build cool things.

In recent years, the most publicized example of Wash. U. students’ engineering handiwork has probably been the computer-controlled light display dance floor used for Vertigo, EnCouncil’s annual dance party. The floor debuted at EnCouncil’s 2005 function, but since then its technology has proven to be a bit clanky and cumbersome. A group of engineering students have taken on the project of Vertigo Dance Floor 2.0 in hopes of updating the floor’s technology.

Senior Greg Galloway, president of Wash. U.’s chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, noted that there have been several difficulties in getting the project rolling, such as a lack of know-how and the limited free time of project participants. Still, after preliminary testing and the choice of new materials, the project should soon be on its way. New ideas include a high-density plastic that will be strong, clear and possibly waterproof to the point that it could be put under a pool. Also, fresher sensor technology will allow for such activities as human pong, human Tetris and a floor that lights up as people walk on it.

Once it is finished, the Vertigo Dance Floor 2.0 will hopefully go on to be used at Vertigo, Dance Marathon and other community events. Galloway proposed that working on the Vertigo Dance Floor is an experience that could benefit any engineering student, regardless of specialty.

“It melds different schools of thought,” said Galloway. “Mechanical, electrical, computer engineering-there’s a lot of things involved. So it helps you learn a lot about not only your specific major but [also] how it relates to the other majors in the engineering school.”

Working with EnCouncil is certainly a great way for students to get involved in unique endeavors. Junior Lee Cordova, biomedical engineering major, has done several projects with EnCouncil in the past. Although the 8-foot duct tape beaver that he worked on for EnWeek 2006 was a tough act to follow, he considers his current project-life-sized “Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em” robots-to be one of the greatest tasks he’s taken on while at Wash. U.

Cordova is working with fellow juniors Sam Wight and Matt Watkins to recreate a sturdier version of the oversized toys they created for the Thurtene carnival last year. After excessive rocking and socking, it turned out that the rope and PVC plastic that comprised the innards of the robots were just not cutting it.

“The whole carnival was very stressful for the three of us because we were constantly [the robots] and taking them apart,” said Cordova. “We had to tell the kids [our booth] was shut down for a couple hours because we had to cut another groove for the head joint or replace some of the rope.”

The robots’ mechanics can be broken down and understood even by those of us who didn’t get into this prestigious University for our knowledge of physics. In fact, after a stint at 2008’s Thurtene carnival, the new robots will be used in a children’s engineering exhibit at the St. Louis Science Center. The basic idea behind the machines is that you move a bar back and forth in order to control the pulley systems. In turn, these systems control the robotic arms. When you pull back on the cords, the robots’ arms extend to punch. In true Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em fashion, the head is spring-loaded when the chest plates are hit.

While the three talented engineers spent around 30 to 50 hours on the original project, it is estimated that the repairs (which include using metal cable, copper tubing for joints and structuring more accurate dimensions) should only take around 15 to 20 hours. Cordova explained that his Wash. U. education nicely complements the intense mechanical thought that went into creating the robots. Wight and Watkins were both used to working with forces and torques as a result of their fields of study, but Cordova especially had some luck in the time of his classes and his creation.

“It is interesting because at the time I was taking the sophomore biomechanics class,” said Cordova. “I was learning about how forces act with arms and here I was, basically building an artificial arm.”

Senior Eric Jensen has found a similar synergy between his schoolwork and his extracurricular endeavors. As president of the Formula SAE Racing Team, Jensen leads a team of Wash. U. students in constructing and racing custom-built cars-cars that are so well-crafted they can go faster than a Corvette. He cites his Wash. U. education as an important resource for his work.

“As you progress [through] your years of schooling here, you find that it’s easier and easier to apply the things you learn in the classroom to practical, tactile knowledge,” said Jensen. “I’ll start designing something on the computer and then I can use the things I’ve learned math- and science-wise to analyze that part on the computer and then do everything by hand.”

Junior Matt Schweiker, the team’s suspension design specialist, agrees that merging his classroom studies with his outside interests has been a great experience.

“[It’s] one of the most attractive aspects of the Formula Race Team,” said Schweiker.

The FSAE team is currently working on revamping the cars they used in last year’s competitions so that they can be used for new member training or hybrid competitions. Jensen and Schweiker work with a group of highly talented students. The team’s main contributors include experts in alternative fuel research, engines and pedals, among others. With more than twenty members rounding out the team, FSAE participants hope to soon turn out a car every year rather than every two years like it has been in the past.

FSAE team members participate in competitions in May and August, but work on the cars spans a much wider time frame. Despite time management issues and learning curve effects for the underclassmen, the team has experienced constant improvement. Schweiker noted that for many team members it seems that there is a sort of natural affinity for this kind of project.

“I think all of us have background experience with cars, or Legos, or some kind of erector set,” said Schweiker. “It all just kind of carried over into something a little more technical and high-powered.”

Eric Bierman

Pomme Caf‚ and Wine Bar
Rating: 4.5/5
44 North Central Avenue
Clayton, MO 63105

For fine dining in St. Louis, look no further than Pomme in downtown Clayton. The small bistro boasts an ever-changing, taste-bud-tempting menu and an extensive wine list. But at almost $60 a person, Pomme is most likely reserved for dinner with parents or important dates.

Lucky for cheap (yet discerning) college students like us, last year Pomme owner/chef Bryan Carr opened the more affordable Pomme Caf‚ and Wine Bar just two doors down from the original restaurant.

The caf‚’s ambiance could not be better: small, dimly lit and very warm, it boasts an exposed brick wall and a very large chalkboard that lists the day’s specials.

There is also a patio outside for daytime meals and warm nights. On the side of the restaurant, a beautiful bar invites patrons to sample a vast array of wines. Needless to say, the vibe is decidedly more European than Midwestern.

You truly can’t tell the difference between the original Pomme and the more wallet-friendly caf‚ version. Well, that is, until the check arrives.

After we chose our table, we were given a drink list and our menus. In addition to wines by the glass, carafe and bottle, you can order wine by the 3 oz. glass, which permits you to sample a variety of offerings.

In addition to the various alcoholic beverages, the caf‚ offers teas, coffees, smoothies and juices.

The menu is relatively simple, with a selection of sandwiches, one dish with chicken, one with steak, and pastas.

However, rather than being detrimental to the success of the restaurant, the uncomplicated menu adds to the establishment’s charm. All the ingredients are top notch and the plates are as tasty as they are classic.

Sides include a hummus plate, marinated olives and house-made potato chips, which were some of the best we had ever eaten. In addition to the chips, we started off our meal with a salad and vinaigrette dressing that was light and succulent.

For the main course, we had a pasta dish and a chicken dish. The pasta was served in a pesto sauce with fresh Parmesan and roasted red peppers. It was cooked perfectly and seasoned just as well. We would have preferred if the plate had come with some bread, but overall the dish was excellent. Also, the portion was very large for an entr‚e that only cost 11 dollars.

The chicken dish was delicious, too. It was served with mixed vegetables, potatoes and mushrooms, all cooked in a sauce that complemented the mushrooms perfectly. While this dish’s serving size was not as large as the pasta’s, it was so well-prepared that we would definitely recommend it to anyone planning to go to Pomme Caf‚ in the future.

We didn’t sample any of the sandwiches, but we did notice that Pomme Caf‚ offers a variety that spans from a simple grilled cheese to a hot dog to a more “refined” turkey and avocado.

Also on the menu are two tartines, which are open-faced sandwiches. These included apple with brie and prosciutto with roasted pepper. Dishes like the tartines show the range of the Pomme Caf‚ menu and showcase its ability to put a distinctive touch on even the most generic of dishes.

Pomme Caf‚ and Wine Bar is an excellent addition to Clayton’s restaurant scene and it holds its own on North Central Avenue, a street that boasts some of the city’s best eateries.

The friendly and helpful staff makes the restaurant all the more appealing. Our waiter checked on us several times, and a number of others came to the table to ensure that we had the best possible dining experience.

We whole-heartedly give Pomme Caf‚ our seal of approval.