In mid-November, a new vending machine appeared in the snack bar offering a variety of energy drinks to help students endure the final stretch of the fall semester.
Although the canned drinks boast high levels of caffeine and other stimulants such as taurine, guarana and ginseng, few students said they have purchased drinks from the new machine.
Kevin Kirwan, general manage at Saga, said the machine is not as popular as the “regular soda” machines but that it’s too early to say how successful it will be.
“Maybe it’ll get more hits in finals week,” he said.
Many students said the high cost of drinks is a deterring factor.
Junior August Stafford said he has not purchased drinks from the machine, “mostly because I’m broke.”
Stafford said he used energy drinks frequently early in the semester but now drinks coffee, which is cheaper.
Some students said they purchase energy drinks in large quantities from retailers and Internet vendors.
Described by friends as an “energy drink junkie,” freshman Alison Mellish said her drink of choice is Monster Energy. She claims it helps increase productivity and keeps her awake throughout the day.
“I just bought two four-packs of it,” Mellish said. “I think the machine would be a moneymaker at this time in the semester.”
Some students, such as freshman Sean Crawford, take purchasing their energy drinks more seriously; Crawford buys Bawls, a guarana drink, by the case.
“I use it almost entirely as a study aid,” he said. “Sometimes in the morning I’ll have some.”
Crawford says he drinks two or three bottles per week.
“It’s way too expensive to drink more,” he said.
Marie-Claire Morellec, associate professor of French, said she’s noticed students having trouble staying awake and showing up for classes recently.
“I just noticed it today,” she said. “I think it’s the turkey—stuffing and cranberry is a deadly combination.”
Senior Chris Sleeper, a lab assistant who often works as late as 2 a.m., said he does not use energy drinks.
“[I drink] Mountain Dew, but not really for the caffeine,” he said.
Although he does sometimes find it difficult to get the day started, Sleeper said, “I’m too lazy to make coffee in the morning.”
Though many students reported some energy drink consumption, they said the drinks have not displaced traditional stimulating beverages such as coffee and Mountain Dew.
“I always feel a bit silly walking around with a big can that says ‘Monster’ on it,” Stafford said. “I’m not a monster, a rock star, or amped up,” he said, referring to Monster, Rockstar, and Amp energy drinks.
Stafford, who describes himself as “sleep deprived,” says in addition to drinking coffee, he finds other ways to keep himself going.
“I talk more when I have to stay awake,” he said. “I do better in my classes because I talk to keep from falling asleep.”