A new study, which appeared in the British Medical Journal, listed 116 reports of injuries involving pedestrians wearing headphones over the last eight years. According to the BMJ article, 70 percent of the headphone-related incidents resulted in death. However, students can still be seen walking around campus with their headphones on.

“Walking in silence is kind of boring,” freshman Cole Harris said.

But Harris said that he tries to stay alert by keeping the volume low, especially in high-traffic areas where headphones can drown out outside noises.

Clinical biology professor Jadin Jackson said that headphones can be dangerous.

“When you are wearing headphones, it’s kind of a double-whammy because they are filtering out the sounds of the traffic…and the sounds of the environment around you,” Jackson said. “At the same time, they’re subtracting away from your own attention so that you have less attention available to sort of put on whatever else is in your environment.”

While Harris said that headphones can be dangerous, he finds other things to be more distracting.

“It’s been more dangerous for me to have my hood up…because I actually have to turn my head,” Harris said.

The study also found that more than half the reports involved a pedestrian being hit by a train. Even more alarming, in one-third of those cases, there was a warning signal.

“I’ve made a point of making sure that I look around more when I’m wearing headphones because I know that I can’t hear as well,” Harris said.

Kristopher Jobe can be reached at jobe1276@stthomas.edu.

Cold weather and icy roads are common during Minnesota winters, but bike enthusiasts do not stow away their bikes and hibernate when the temperature drops.

On Jan. 18 at 1:10 a.m., Public Safety documented an electronic copyright infringement at the request of Information Resources & Technologies.

On Jan. 18 at 1:11 a.m., Public Safety documented an electronic copyright infringement at the request of Information Resources & Technologies.

On Jan. 18 at 1:12 a.m., Public Safety documented an electronic copyright infringement at the request of Information Resources & Technologies.

On Jan. 18 at 1:13 a.m., Public Safety documented an electronic copyright infringement at the request of Information Resources & Technologies.

On Jan. 18 at 1:13 a.m., Public Safety documented an electronic copyright infringement at the request of Information Resources & Technologies.

On Jan. 18 at 9:34 a.m., Public Safety documented an attempted theft in O’Shaughnessy Science Hall. A UST student reported an unidentified suspect tried to scam him out of money via a fraudulent online transaction.

On Jan. 18 at 9:54 a.m., Public Safety documented a vehicle accident near at the intersection of Cretin Avenue and Grand Avenue. A UST student stopped at the intersection was rear ended by a second vehicle, damaging the rear of the student’s vehicle.

On Jan. 18 at 4:59 p.m., Public Safety documented a welfare concern at 1128 Harmon Place. An Interprofessional Center staff member reported an unidentified IPC client expressed a desire to hurt themselves and then contacted MPD to perform a follow-up welfare check.

On Jan. 19 at 8:58 p.m., Public Safety assisted Residence Life with an odor of marijuana in Ireland Residence Hall. The odor was determined to be coming from a UST student’s residence.

On Jan. 19 at 8:15 p.m., Public Safety and the Minnesota Police Department responded to an intoxicated person outside of 1128 Harmon Place. An intoxicated non-UST affiliated individual was transported by MPD to detox.

On Jan. 20 at 1:42 a.m., Public Safety and the St. Paul Police Department responded to intoxicated persons on the upper quad. A disorderly intoxicated UST of legal drinking age was transported by SPPD to detox, and the student’s intoxicated guest was sent home with a sober caregiver.

On Jan. 20 at 3:12 a.m., Public Safety documented a robbery at Super America at 2051 Grand Ave. The St. Paul Police Department reported that an unidentified suspect robbed the store with a firearm and then fled the scene.

On Jan. 20 at 3:12 a.m., Public Safety and the St. Paul Police Department responded to a suspicious incident on the 100 block of Cleveland Avenue. SPPD’s search of a UST student’s residence, as requested by the student, was completed without incident.

On Jan. 21 at 12:47 a.m., Public Safety responded to a suspicious odor of marijuana in Ireland Residence Hall. An odor of marijuanna was determined to be coming from a UST student’s residence.

On Jan. 21 at 4:32 a.m., Public Safety responded to a medical in Byrne Residence. A BYR residence who had fallen was assisted by officers and declined further medical attention.

On Jan. 21 at 10:37 a.m., Public Safety assisted a UST student in Morrison Hall. The student’s bike, initially reported as missing, was located in secured found property and was returned to the student.

On Jan. 21 at 10:18 p.m., Public Safety assisted a UST student with a welfare check in 2171 Grand Avenue.A second student, who the first student was attempting to locate, was found in their residence and was okay.

On Jan. 22 at 2:19 p.m., Public Safety documented a robbery from at an off-campus location in Minneapolis. A UST student reported that while riding the Metro Bus on Nicollet Avenue, an unidentified suspect grabbed his phone from him and fled the bus.

On Jan. 22 at 3:38 p.m., Public Safety documented a burglary on the 2000 block of Roblyn Avenue. A UST student reported several pieces of personal property were stolen from his secured residence.

On Jan. 23 at 11:10 a.m., Public Safety rendered assistance to a non-UST affiliated individual in Morrison Hall. A non-UST affiliated individual in crisis and calling from out of state was transferred to Ramsey County Emergency Communications Center, who was able to get assistance for the individual.

On Jan. 23 at 3:42 p.m., Public Safety documented an attempted theft in Morrison Hall. A UST student reported an unidentified suspect tried to scam her out of money via a fraudulent online transaction.

On Jan. 12 at 7:49 p.m., Public Safety documented suspicious activity in O’Shaughnessy Science Hall. An office found unsecured, with what appeared to be missing equipment, was determined to be as a result of authorized work being completed by IRT.

On Jan. 13 at 12:31 p.m., Public Safety documented a theft in O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library Center. A LIB staff member reported a UST computer monitor was stolen from the second floor.

On Jan. 13 at 12:35 p.m., Public Safety documented a burglary on the 1800 block of Summit Avenue. A UST neighbor reported her garage was unlawfully entered and cash was stolen from her vehicles.

On Jan. 13 at 2:04 p.m., Public Safety documented property damage in Lot I. A UST student reported her vehicle was struck by a UST vehicle as she exited the lot, causing damage to the front corner of her vehicle.

On Jan. 13 at 10:47 p.m., Public Safety and the St. Paul Police Department documented a noise/party complaint on the 2000 block of Dayton Avenue. A report of a loud party at a residence on the block was determined to be unfounded upon officers’ check of the area.

On Jan. 14 at 8:39 p.m., Public Safety documented property damage on the Lot B drive aisle. A UST guest’s vehicle slid on ice and struck a curb, damaging his tire and rendering the vehicle inoperable.

On Jan. 15 at 4:11 a.m., Public Safety assisted several UST students with a welfare check in Morrison Hall. An additional student, initially reported as possibly missing, was later located in his residence in Morrison and was okay.

On Jan. 17 at 12:17 p.m., Public Safety assisted the UST community by donating six abandoned bicycles to Express Bike Shop in St. Paul.

On Jan. 3 at 10:27 a.m., Public Safety documented suspicious activity in O’Shaughnessy Stadium. A lewd image was found drawn in the snow in the stadium.

On Jan. 4 at 11:45 a.m., Public Safety documented fraud in Morrison Hall. A UST employee reported unauthorized charges were made on their UST-issued department credit card.

On Jan. 4 at 5:30 p.m., Public Safety reported property damage in Morrison Hall. A counter top in the sixth floor kitchen area was found burned as a result of a hot pan being placed on it.

On Jan. 4 at 7:42 p.m., Public Safety documented property damage in Flynn Residence Hall. A UST student reported the first floor lobby fireplace glass partition was cracked due to unknown circumstances.

On Jan. 5 at 3:56 a.m., Public Safety and the St. Paul Police Department responded to a suspicious person outside of Flynn Residence Hall. A UST alumnus, who was attempting to contact and retrieve property from a UST acquaintance, was identified by officers and sent off campus.

On Jan. 5 at 10:06 a.m., Public Safety documented a theft in O’Shaughnessy Science Hall. A UST student reported money was stolen from him as a result of participating in a fraudulent online transaction.

On Jan. 5 at 4:55 p.m., Public Safety documented a theft at an unknown off-campus location in Minneapolis. A UST alumnus reported that his wallet was stolen from him while he was walking through the downtown skyway system.

On Jan. 5 at 3:37 p.m., Public Safety reported damage to property on the 2100 block of Summit Avenue. A UST student reported her parked vehicle was struck and sustained damage to the rear of the vehicle.

On Jan. 6 at 2:18 a.m., Public Safety, the St. Paul Police Department and St. Paul Fire Department Medics responded to an assault on the 2100 block of Summit Avenue. A UST student reported he received a head injury when he was struck by an unidentified individual.

On Jan. 6 at 2:34 a.m., Public Safety responded to public urination on the 2100 block of Summit Avenue. An underage intoxicated UST student, also found in possession of a fake ID, was sent home with a parent.

On Jan. 6 at 5:10 p.m., Public Safety documented a theft outside of John Paul II Residence Hall. A UST student reported his secured bicycle was stolen from the bike rack on the south side of JP2.

On Jan. 6 at 10:03 p.m., Public Safety assisted Residence Life with a liquor law violation at 2151 Grand Avenue. Two underage UST students were found in possession of alcohol and four underage students were found to have consumed alcohol.

On Jan. 6 at 11:19 p.m., Public Safety responded to a disturbance on the 300 block of Cleveland Avenue. A report of a loud party at an address on the block was determined to be unfounded upon officer investigation.

On Jan. 7 at 1:43 a.m., Public Safety and the St. Paul Police Department responded to a noise complaint on the 300 block of Cleveland Avenue. SPPD advised the residents of an address on the block of proper noise levels.

On Jan. 7 at 3:45 a.m., Public Safety assisted Residence Life with a liquor law violation in Dowling Residence Hall. Two underage UST students were found to have used and were in possession of alcohol, one of the students was intoxicated and was sent home with a parent.

On Jan. 7 at 3:27 p.m., Public Safety documented an electronic copyright infringement at the request of Information Resources & Technologies.

On Jan. 8 at 3:19 a.m., Public Safety responded to a liquor law violation in Koch Commons. An underage intoxicated UST student was sent home with a family member.

On Jan. 8 at 2:54 p.m., Public Safety assisted a UST parent with a welfare check in Dowling Residence Hall. The parent’s student, whom the parent had been trying to contact, was later located at an off-campus residence and was OK.

On Jan. 8 at 10:03 p.m., Public Safety documented damage to property in Morrison R3 Ramp. A UST student struck a second student’s parked vehicle, damaging the front of the vehicle.

On Jan. 9 at 1:22 a.m., Public Safety documented an electronic copyright infringement at the request of Information Resources & Technologies.

On Jan. 9 at 1:25 a.m., Public Safety documented an electronic copyright infringement at the request of Information Resources & Technologies.

On Jan. 9 at 11:10 a.m., Public Safety documented a theft in Minneapolis School of Law. A UST student reported his unsecured laptop was stolen from a second floor library study room.

On Jan. 9 at 11:56 a.m., Public Safety documented a disturbance on the Minneapolis campus. A group of approximately 20 non-UST affiliated individuals, who came onto campus to protest a UST faculty member, were advised of and complaint with UST policies regarding such gatherings.

On Jan. 10 at 11:43 a.m., Public Safety documented an attempted theft in O’Shaughnessy Science Hall. A UST student reported an unidentified suspect tried to scam him out of money via a fraudulent online transaction.

On Jan. 10 at 2:11 p.m., Public Safety reported a policy violation in Lot N. A vehicle was found parked in the lot with a counterfeit parking permit.

On Jan. 10 at 11:40 p.m., Public Safety documented an electronic copyright infringement at the request of Information Resources & Technologies.

On Jan. 11 at 1:47 a.m., Public Safety responded to a liquor law violation near the intersection of Cleveland Avenue and Portland Avenue. An underage intoxicated UST student, also found in possession of alcohol, was sent off campus with a sober caregiver.

On Jan. 11 at 9:30 a.m., Public Safety and the Saint Paul Police Department responded to a suspicious incident on the 2000 block of Grand Avenue. An unidentified suspect, who entered and then fled from a UST student’s unsecured residence, could not be located upon officers’ search of the area.

On Jan. 11 at 10:38 a.m., Public Safety documented a theft at an off-campus location in Monticello, Minn. A UST employee reported that her UST-issued laptop was stolen from her unsecured vehicle.

On Jan. 11 at 5:27 p.m., Public Safety documented an electronic copyright infringement at the request of Information Resources & Technologies.

Students are already occupying the Anderson Student Center, but its official opening is still a week away.

Junior Evan Shrader, a Tommie Central employee, said it is a privilege to be inside early.

“It’s an honor to be able to be here while the building is in its early stages (and) help be a foundation for what’s going to be happening in the next few weeks,” Shrader said.

Besides Tommie Central, students from leadership organizations including Aquinas Yearbook, Undergraduate Student Government, HANA and St. Thomas Activities and Recreation were able to move into their offices Monday in the Student Leadership Center. IRT and Food Services also have students working in the building.

“I wish more students had the opportunity to go in early just to make it feel like home,” said Vang Khang, president of HANA. “I’m really lucky. It’s really cool to see it come alive.”

Although most of the center is completed, there are still parts that need to be finished before the opening.

Mary Ann Ryan, associate vice president for student affairs, said the staircase is not finished yet and the center is waiting on the delivery of pool tables, dart boards, and shelving for some of the storage units. IRT also has some work left to do in the building.

“It’s the finishing touches on the building. We’re almost there,” Ryan said.

Some students, like sophomore Jackson Penning, do not mind having to wait.

“The soft opening is next week, so it’s not that big of a deal… (but) to see the final product will be a nice treat,” Penning said.

Junior Jewel Matsch also said she is “fine with waiting to see it.”

“I can wait eight days or however long,” Matsch said.

Students that have already seen the center think that the reaction to its opening on Jan. 17 will be positive.

“A senior will be a little bit jealous, but at the same time will be going, ‘Oh my gosh, this is such a radical change from what we had before,’” Shrader said. “Someone who’s in their first year here might just go, ‘Oh, a new student center, great. I’m glad I got to see it.’”

Shrader said he experienced “a little bit of shock and awe” upon seeing the center for the first time.

“It’s a great addition to campus, and I don’t think there’s one person here that could legitimately say otherwise,” Shrader said.

Ryan said that without students’ help, the center wouldn’t be as close to completion as is it now.

“We appreciate all the wonderful students who have contributed to opening up this building because it’s a big job.”

Rita Kovtun can be reached at kovt1547@stthomas.edu.

The Anderson Student Center, which officially opens its doors Tuesday, Jan. 17, let employees and workers in the building to buy items from Scooters and the Summit Market Place for the first time Monday.

Senior Annyetta Keefe was one of the students working in the new Scooters.

“Today we are cooking for all of the employees, the physical plant or construction workers,” Keefe said. “We’re trying to start up all the equipment for the opening next week.”

Keefe said that out of all of the items being served, the pizzas were the biggest hit. However, Scooters made them in a new way.

“Today we’re trying to promote the pizzas. The brick oven is absolutely awesome,” Keefe said. “People think, ‘How can we put out the same pizza just with having the oven be the difference?’ It’s 200 times better.”

Junior Andrew Falck, who was also working in Scooters, agreed.

“Everybody thinks we changed every ingredient about it, but it’s the same,” Falck said. “The crust is what is different. It’s well-cooked.”

Dean of Students Karen Lange said that she came down from her new office on the second floor to order something for lunch.

“I think I’m going to order a slice of pizza,” Lange said. “Did you see the wood burning pizza oven? It’s phenomenal.”

An area where students can get grab and go items from Scooters connects to the Summit Market Place, which is the new C-Store.

Junior Justin Titus stocked the shelves with new products and said there are new foods to expect in the store.

“It’s more like a convenient store,” Titus said. “We have pastries now and coffee and fountain drinks.”

Hannah Anderson can be reached at ande5385@stthomas.edu

With the Anderson Student Center opening Tuesday, Jan. 17, the Bookstore is making the across the quad.

Sophomore Lindsey Landgraf creates headbands and sells them to raise money for Door of Hope, an orphanage in South Africa.

Landgraf believes that she isn’t doing this job on her own, but that she’s an instrument of the Lord. Being in tune with her faith, she said God is a big motivator in her life.

Landgraf continues to raise money and raises hope for the children of South Africa.

Geena Maharaj can be reached at maja8007@stthomas.edu.

The holidays are near, and the snow has fallen. Photo Editor Rita Kovtun captures the winter scenes.