Thursday November 18, 2010 year: 130 No. 154 the student voice of
The Ohio State University
www.thelantern.com
thelantern Ban makes students loco for Loko
arts & life
jami jurich Senior Lantern reporter jurich.4@osu.edu
5A
‘Harry Potter’ sneak peak
‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1’ opens in theaters Friday. The Lantern reviews the film.
sports
The lights are out for the “blackout in a can” and similar products, and some students are going loco for Four Loko as a result. Aaron Fisher was among dozens of Ohio State students who stocked up Wednesday on the drink that the Food and Drug Administration declared “unsafe” and that will no longer be sold in Ohio after its makers voluntarily remove it from store shelves in the state. Immediately after hearing the announcement, Fisher went to Campus Corner, a vendor at 16th Avenue and High Street, to fill a shopping cart with the drinks. He purchased 50 cans of Four Loko, which he transported in four crates stacked in a push cart. “I will probably crack one open tonight,” said Fisher, a third-year in political science. Fisher and other students’ frenzies came as a result of several announcements issued Wednesday about Four Loko and other caffeinated alcoholic beverages. Four Loko contains 12 percent alcohol and as much caffeine as a 12-ounce coffee. The FDA said stimulant-and-alcohol products such as Four Loko “present a public health concern.” “FDA does not find support for the claim that the addition of caffeine to these alcoholic beverages is ‘generally recognized as safe,’ which is the legal standard,” said Joshua M. Sharfstein, the principal deputy commissioner of FDA, in a statement. The FDA issued warning letters to four manufacturers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages to inform the companies their products violate the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, according to the release. Companies who received warning letters include Charge Beverages Corp., distributor of Core High Gravity HG and Lemon Lime Core Spiked; New Century Brewing Co. LLC, distributor of Moonshot;
JOE PODELCO / Lantern photo editor
Brad Petroff grabs two cases of Four Loko at Tobacco International at 13th Avenue and High Street near OSU campus Wednesday. ‘I’m stocking up because they’re getting rid of them starting today,’ Petroff said. United Brands Company Inc., distributor of Max and Joose; and Phusion Projects LLC, distributor of the popular campus drink Four Loko. The manufacturers have 15 days to inform the FDA of the steps they will take to fix the violation and prevent its recurrence or to present a defense of their product, according to the FDA release. If the companies fail to comply with the FDA’s requirements, the federal agency could seize the products
or seek a court order to prevent the companies from continuing to manufacture the products. While the FDA was announcing its decision, the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Liquor Control made its own announcement regarding caffeinated alcoholic drinks.
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Smaller arena could replace St. John
2B
Sixth year for Moeller
Coach Jim Tressel announced Wednesday that the NCAA granted safety Tyler Moeller a sixth year of eligibility.
sports
Iowa’s locker room pink for visitors campus
1B
Options for aging St. John Arena
blake williams Senior Lantern reporter williams.3012@osu.edu St. John Arena has been a part of Ohio State for 56 years, but its time appears to be running out. Though officials have not yet decided to demolish the aging building, some say they have little use for a such a large and costly venue. And even though the decision to demolish wouldn’t come for at least five years, some officials said, they’ve devised a scenario that would level St. John and replace it with a smaller arena at a different site. A state-of-the-art facility at the time of its construction, the arena housed the university’s men and women’s basketball teams until the 1998-1999 season, when the Schottenstein Center opened. The men’s team called St. John home during its run to the 1960 national championship, the program’s only title. “I remember growing up in Columbus, and it was the place to come … at some point it changes, you start new traditions,” said Ben Jay, senior associate athletic director of Finance and Operations at OSU. “It was the home of athletics for many, many years, and those are the things that we’ll all treasure.” But now, officials are questioning whether the building should be demolished to set a clean slate for new facilities. “You have a building right now that is by some estimates $30 million in deferred maintenance … and it comes down to somewhat of a financial decision,” Jay said. “Is it worth spending $30 million
Source: OSU Athletic Department EMILY COLLARD / Lantern designer
Proposed project if officials decide to demolish St. John
5,000-seat arena option
Parking structure (1,000 cars)
Demolition of St. John
St. John Site Development
Proposed construction cost
$32,400,000
$26,521,255
$1,600,000
$1,050,000
to fix up a building, or do you take the money and build something new?” According to the athletic department’s master plan, renovating the arena would require, among other tasks, fixing the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, addressing power distribution and emergency generators, and replacing 800 bleachers. Even if officials choose to renovate the building, the arena as it operates now costs the university $1.2 million a year for utilities and other maintenance costs, said Don Patko, assistant athletic director of Facilities Management. Though expensive, those costs keep the arena functional for the four sports teams housed in the building: men and women’s volleyball, wrestling and gymnastics. Other sports also use the venue. “We still have the occasional basketball game in there and outside events,” Jay said. “It is a great place for Skull Session,” the ceremony before each home football game where the marching band warms up and the football addresses the crowd. “I like playing at St. John,” said David Lighty, a senior forward on the men’s basketball team. “It’s
real active and alive in there every time we play. I haven’t lost there either.” Lighty’s undefeated St. John record includes regular season games against Virginia Military Institute in 2007 and Delaware State in 2008, in addition to the team’s 2008 second-round game in the NIT versus California. This season, OSU will play Western Carolina in the arena Dec. 12. Despite some players’ affinity for the arena, officials have already developed a plan to pursue if they demolish the building. Those plans call for a “sports pavilion” that would include a smaller, 3,000to 5,000-seat arena and an attached training center, officials said. It would be constructed west of the Olentangy River and north of Lane Avenue. “We don’t need a 13,000-seat facility for (those sports), but we’re paying utilities for a 13,000-seat facility,” Patko said. Jay said a new basketball practice facility and an indoor golf training center rank ahead of the smaller sports arena on the department’s agenda.
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Prof receives presidential Michigan beating OSU in annual blood battle OSU behind in battle award high 49 low 28 a.m. showers
www.weather.com
continued as Blood on 3A
Time is running out for Ohio State in the annual American Red Cross blood battle — Michigan is beating OSU by 197 pints. Michigan has beaten OSU the last two years. 2,500
Goal Michigan
2,000
Ohio State 1,500
1,000
500
0
Year 2008
Year 2009
Current Year
Source: American Red Cross MOLLY GRAY / Managing editor for design
F 54/37 sunny SA 50/40 partly cloudy SU 58/49 partly cloudy M 63/52 showers
For the past six years, the Ohio State football team has beaten Michigan. But for the last two years, the Wolverines have won a far bloodier battle — one they will win again this year if their lead holds. As of Wednesday, Michigan fans have donated 1,749 pints in the American Red Cross’ annual blood battle between the two rival schools, which began at the beginning of the month and ends Wednesday. OSU has donated 1,552 pints. The goal for each school is 2,500 pints, said Megan Hartley, a communications associate with the American Red Cross. “It’s a great way to give back to people, help save lives and also help beat Michigan, which is something everyone at Ohio State wants to do,” said Doire Perot, blood services chair for the American Red Cross Club at OSU. Candice Hines, a red cross donor recruitment representative for campus, knows the importance of donating to the Red Cross. “I know what the families have been through that have a sick child or sick family member,” Hines said. “I’ve had three people in my family besides me who have received blood.” Casey Lehman, a third-year in film studies at OSU, donated blood Wednesday. “It feels good,” he said. “I’m also an organ donor. It’s kind of the same reason I do that. If I don’t really need it — I’m perfectly healthy — if other people need it, I’ll be glad to help.” Rodney Wilson, communications manager for American Red Cross blood services, said the battle boosts blood supplies for the most important time of the year. “Holiday times are generally the most challenging periods to collect enough
Blood donated in pints
weather
2A
chris burkett Lantern reporter burkett.41@osu.edu
1A