Valaree Peden 2003 alumna

Junior, alumna theorize about cold weather, body hair and smoking risks

Wildcat: Hi, my name's Nathan and you're on the spot. It's cold, right? I bet you're glad you have a beard.

McIntosh: I am.

Wildcat: All right. (to Peden) Is it true? Do you think women get colder than men?

Bryan McIntosh political science junior

Peden: Yes, probably because they're thinner.

Wildcat: Maybe it's because you guys don't have as much body hair. You shave your armpits and stuff.

Peden: I don't know if that has anything to do with it, but ... good theory.

Wildcat: If you had hair on your armpits, do you think you'd be as cold?

Peden: No, I think I would be just as cold. So wear clothing.

Wildcat: As far as smoking goes, you don't heed the surgeon general, or what?

McIntosh: No. I don't trust the surgeon general.

Wildcat: Do you even know who the surgeon general is? Do you know his name?

McIntosh: No. I know the old guy, with the mustache.

Wildcat: I don't know either. I don't even know who my district representatives are. How long does it take you to grow a beard?

McIntosh: About a week.

Wildcat: (to Peden) Have you ever gone camping and grown out your armpit hairs at all? (Peden stares) Do you know how long it would take them to reach full growth?

Peden: A month. I'd give it a month.

Wildcat: Really. Are you a hairy girl?

Peden: Not at all. I went on a camping trip for 40 days. Well, I didn't grow my hair out, but several girls did, and it took about four weeks, I'd say.

Wildcat: You shaved while you were camping? With what? Like in the river?

Peden: No. Wherever we stopped at campsites you could shower at.

Wildcat: Oh, I thought you like shaved in the river and some poor fish was like, swallowing your stubs.

- Interview by Nathan Tafoya