GOP blasts stimulus dollars to study college hook-ups

A decision to use stimulus funds to study college “hook-ups” is drawing the ire of national Republicans.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded $219,000 of stimulus dollars to researcher Michael Carey, who will study the “hook-up” patterns of 500 female freshmen at Syracuse University, the Syracuse Post-Standard reports.

Carey describes a hook-up as a sexual encounter with no expectations of a relationship.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), however, isn’t too stimulated by the proposal.

“I think the people of Central New York would rather be ‘hooked up’ with jobs instead of more questionable stimulus spending,” said NRCC spokesman Tony Mazzola.

Carey says the funds will pay for one part-time employee and help retain at least two other full time workers. But the purpose of the study, he says, is public health, not economic stimulus.

“I did not prepare an application to create jobs or stimulate the economy,” Carey told the Post-Standard. “I prepared an application of scientific study to address an important public health problem and I think that is a valuable contribution to society.”