Last week, the Student Book Store distributed 25,000 bags containing complementary Vivarin caffeine pills, leaving some people wondering why.

Student Book Store, 330 E. College Ave., Manager Thad Johnson said he has no power over what is put in the bags.

The bags are ordered through New York-based Poly-Pak Industries. Products like soap, razors, coupons and, in this case, caffeine pills are put into the bags before they arrive at the store, Johnson said.

"We can't pick and choose," he said.

Johnson added after the last order of about 25,000 bags containing the pills is gone, the caffeine pills would no longer be distributed.

"I was a little surprised," said Colin Wiehagen (senior-mechanical engineering) after finding a packet of the caffeine pills, along with a dollar-off coupon for Vivarin, in his bag.

He said that he didn't have a problem with it and would probably take the pills at some point during the semester. If they weren't free, he wouldn't have gone out of his way to buy them, he said.

"I think it's wrong," Student Book Store cashier Alison Kelly (sophomore-nursing) said.

Student Book Store cashier, Natalie Little (sophomore-graphic design) said she witnessed the pills being handed out up to about a week ago.

"We think it's terrible," she said.

Vicki Kajder (graduate-elementary counselor education), another cashier at the Student Book Store said some co-workers refused to hand out the pills and took them out of the bags before giving them to customers. She added that other cashiers were taking the pills while working at the store.

A normal amount of caffeine intake is about 300 milligrams per day said Ellen Nagy, marketing manager for University Health Services.

The pills being handed out at the Student Book Store have 200 milligrams of caffeine in each pill.

"A moderate amount of caffeine is not going to be a problem," Nagy said.

However, too much caffeine can cause restlessness, jumpiness, nausea and in some cases abdominal pain. It all depends on the person's body chemistry though, she said.

Nagy said that college students are often looking for ways to get a jolt to aid in finishing homework or studying for exams and caffeine pills can offer that.

Bill Mahon, spokesperson for Penn State, had no comment because he had not heard of the event.