College Shorts

Author: Jaime Fuller

GWU PREPARES FOR RECORD-BREAKING INAUGURATION

With less than a week to go, George Washington University (GWU) is preparing events for President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration on Jan. 20. Over four million people are expected to attend the event, and the day is being observed as a national holiday by most of Washington, D.C.

Because of the volume of visitors coming to the capital for Obama's historic inauguration, security will be "really, tight," according to John Petrie, GWU's assistant vice president for public safety and emergency management.

"Talks of university security are increased this time because of the number of people," he said.

Despite the logistical nightmare, Petrie said that GWU "students should expect a wonderful experience."

Leo Ribuffo, professor of history at the University, believes that the inauguration serves as an excellent introduction to the new president, but that such optimism usually does not hold strong.

"I think Americans understand really that an inauguration is like a graduation or a wedding," said Ribuffo. "There's a kind of rhetoric of great optimism and then afterward, well, maybe the graduate doesn't get the greatest job in the world. Maybe the marriage is a little rocky. But today, at least, let's look on the bright side."

- The Associated Press and The GWU Hatchet

RESEARCHERS WARN AGAINST SLEEP E-MAILING

Fouzia Siddiqui, a neurology student at the University of Toledo Medical Center, has just published an article in the journal Sleep Medicine concerning the uncommon phenomenon of sleep e-mailing.

One patient she studied, a 44-year old woman, was an insomniac and came to Siddiqui's clinic to seek medical attention as she had episodes of sleepwalking. The patient sent an e-mail while sleeping with the subject "!HELP ME P-LEEEEESE" to three of her friends. The e-mail was an invitation to dinner the next day.

"The intriguing point on this specific case was that she actually went on the computer and typed in her username, typed in her password and went on the Internet and typed her username and password again," Siddiqui said. "The next day, her friends called her back; she was unaware and was shocked. That's when she sought medical attention."

Another little known activity Siddiqui focused on was "Sexomnia," which involves performing sexual activities while asleep, a medical condition that can place one at risk of being accused of sexual assault.

These two rare but troubling conditions led Siddiqui to prescribe a more regular sleep schedule for college students.

"You need a good night's sleep to perform better in the day, and if you don't get a six hour sleep, no matter how much you're doing that day, the performance would not be to the level where you get a good night's sleep," she said. "[A lot of people think], 'What if I don't sleep and [nap for] an hour here and there?' or 'Maybe I can make up during the weekend.' It doesn't work like that."

- The Independent Collegian