State Employee Heath Benefits, Dinosaur Heroes, College Binge Drinking

Air Date:
Heard On Central Time

Rob Ferrett and Veronica Rueckert discuss a proposed shift in health benefits for state workers,, talk about the unsung heroes of the dinosaur world, and discuss confronting the college drinking culture.

Featured in this Show

  • UW-Madison Named No. 2 Party School, Magazine Says

    Recently, Playboy Magazine named the University of Wisconsin-Madison the no. 2 party school in the country. It’s recognition that some said they see as worrisome.

    While the adage “all publicity is good publicity” is well known, does a university want to be known for its “party” scene, which tends to go hand-in-hand with drinking?

    Binge drinking on college campuses is a common trope in movies, but campus drinking — both legal and underage — can be linked to other college problems, like violence, mental illness and sexual assault, according to the Washington Post.

    According to Dr. Sarah Van Orman, executive director of University Health Services at UW-Madison, the way drinking to excess is portrayed in media and pop culture represents a significant part of the problem. She points to binge drinking in film and TV as something that is often painted as funny or a joke.

    “That’s a thing that really needs to change,” she said.

    As to why Wisconsin showed up on the recent Playboy party-school list, Van Orman saiud, “We have a little bit of a perfect storm.” She notes the mix of college drinking culture and Wisconsin itself as a high-risk state for excessive alcohol consumption.

    To combat the drinking culture at UW-Madison, a new program called AlcoholEdu was launched this fall for all incoming students. The program focuses on alcohol education and personal feedback based on students’ drinking habits and lifestyle.

    Parents are another focal point, according to Van Orman.

    “It’s really important for parents to talk to their students about alcohol,” she said.

  • Unsung Dinosaurs Heroes Tell Us The Real Dino Deal

    Some dinosaurs get all the limelight, like the tyrannosaurus rex–but we’ve learned a lot from lesser-known species. Central Time’s guest celebrates the unsung heroes of the dinosaur world.

  • Dealing With The College Drinking Culture

    The University of Wisconsin-Madison was recently named the #2 party school in the nation. Some are cheering that distinction, but others point to the serious problems associated with the college drinking culture. A public health expert from the UW discusses addressing that culture in a meaningful way.

  • Possible Changes to State Employee Health Benefits?

    According to a Wisconsin State Journal story, there could be a change coming to health benefits for state workers in Wisconsin. A reporter breaks down what could be on the way.

Episode Credits

  • Veronica Rueckert Host
  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Dr. Sarah Van Orman Guest
  • Brian Switek Guest
  • David Wahlberg Guest
  • Chris Malina Producer

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