Amherst student rides boxcars for thesis
AMHERST, Mass. (AP) - Ted Con
over’s classroom was a rolling boxcar,
his first big test a fight with a drunken
hobo. He fell off a train, foraged through
garbage cans for food and got lice in his
hair.
The Amherst College student rode the
rails for 31/i months, living the life of a
railroad tramp, to research his senior
thesis.
He found that it wasn’t all bad.
“There's something about jumping on
a freight train that just feels right,” said
Conover, a 23-year-old anthropology
major from Denver.
"It’s the feeling of the wind in your face
and the train pulling you along. I think
there's some truth to the saying that
every red-blooded American boy should
hop a train."
Conover rode the rails for 10,000 miles
last fall, criss-crossing the American
West to study what author John Steinb
eck called "the last free men.”
Conover said he didn’t want to “suffer
in the library” researching his thesis, so
he spent a semester observing or inter
viewing 460 tramps. He estimates there
are at least 10,000 hobos living in the
United States today.
‘‘They’re invisible to most of us," he
noted. “But there’s a romance about
tramps. They’ve found something
valuable that the rest of us have missed."
But Conover also discovered some
unpleasant realities about the life of a
tramp.
"I went 2Vi weeks without a shower
once," he said. "My friends thought it
sounded romantic to get really dirty. But
when I got lice it took away a lot of the
romance.”
Conover has concluded that tramps
play an important role in society.
"They define our society," he
explained. "A person can’t be great
unless there's someone who isn’t great
Tramps are our (grade) Fs. They know
that in society's eyes, they've blown it."
Most tramps, he found, are middle
aged or elderly men who either can’t or
won’t work. They are loners without
friends or family, bound together by a
sttrange mix of failure, camaraderie and
mutual distrust.
Although the transistor radio has
replaced the lonely strains of a harmon
ica, a tramp’s life is pretty much the same
today as it was 100 years ago, Conover
said.
ALDERWOOD
1860-84 Aider?
Furnished one bedroom next to campus. $229.
No children, pets Manager 484-6113.
ROYAL TERRACE
625 E. 16th
Furnished one bedroom. Ideal campus loca
tion, $229. Manager 686-9479.
SOUTHGATE
2345 Patterson
One bedroom, pool, sauna, parking, $269.
Manager 686-0072 after 2:30.
1085 PATTERSON
Large semi-furnished studio, laundry facilities,
parking, Summer rates, $139
CATALPA
1425 West 8th
Very clean two bedroom in quiet adult
complex, $229-$249 Manager 484-9067.
IPM CO., REALTOR
1065 HIGH ST. 485-8252
2478:tfn
FURNISHED AND UNFURNISHED one and
two bedroom apartments near campus $175
to $225 summer rates 485-0359,484-1619
2337:tfn
CLOSE, ECONOMICAL, COMFORTABLE
one bedroom apartment Furnished/unfur
nished. Reserve now. 735 E. 17th, 345-4663,
344-1583.5^1
ONE BEDROOM APARTMENTS 9 windows,
assorted sizes, second story of old house
across from campus. $200 Available June.
John 687-9643.__5^2
SUMMER SUBLET
Large 2 bedroom furnished apartment across
from campus. Nice view, covered parking,
laundry, reasonable rent. Call 683-7603 5-22
SUMMER SUBLET Spacious three bedroom
apartment. Furnished, with deck, south light,
many extras One block from campus.
683-52955-19
BLACKSTONE MANOR APARTMENTS
1750 ALDER
Now taking applications. One, two bedroom
furnished apatments. $250 and up._560:tfn
SUMMER SUBLET: 2'/j bedroom, pool,
balcony, fireplace, dishwasher, June
15-August 31. Pay no June rent. Close to
campus. For details 683-5440 _5-22
AVAILABLE JUNE 15. Two bedroom
apartment, fully furnished, pool, laundry,
parking. 1 block from campus 686-0677.5-21
LARGE FURNISHED ONE bedroom
apartment with 2 twin beds, laundry, covered
parking, one block from campus Available
June 15. Call now 683-5520. A steal at $180
month.5-20
1790 ALDER
Frat house Excellent location, ideal coopera
tive living. 22 bedrooms, community kitchen,
open living areas. Lease $2,000, sale
$185,000. 686-8369.554:tfn
FUNKY, OLDER HOME
in Fairmont area. Two bedrooms, large fenced
yard, appliances, fireplace, garage. $315.
686-8369 555 tfn
QUADS
Clean, quiet, modern
$135 including utilities
THE BROWN DERBY 441 E 17th
Manager #10 683-7353
or 686-1049,683-2733
_2218:ttn
CAMPUS QUADS
475 East 15th $109-$129
Room In house plus quad Kitchen privleges.
Resident Manager 343-0459 evenings
WESTSIDE
601 West 11th $152.50
Beautiful quad with private bath, and refrigera
tor in each unit. Share kitchen Carpets,
drapes, laundry facilties Manager 683-2887
IPM CO., REALTOR
1065 HIGH ST. 485-8252
_2079 tfn
QUADS NOW RENTING Beginning $139
Private 'k bath, private refrigerator.
CAMPUS COURT OUADS
1544 Alder 686-1075
_2189:tfn
$145 INCLUDING UTILITIES.
CLEAN, QUIET QUADS.
'k block from campus on E 16th Furnished,
private bath and refrigerator Air conditioned
345-1272._1882:tfn
1728 FERRY
Quads Share kitchen and bath $119 Manager
683-8796. M-W-F 5-7 , T-Th-Sat 12-2
IPM CO., REALTOR
1065 HIGH ST. 485-8252
2000:tfn
QUAD AVAILABLE NOW
Private bath, refrigerator, $125 553 East 18,
#2
JEAN TATE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
1756 Willamette St 683-2271
417 5-20
738 E 16th
Now renting, private bath, Vi block from
campus 343-8024 223:tfn
LARGE QUADS $105 month. utilities payed Vi
block from campus 1827 Harris 485-8859
Also apartment subleases available5-21
QUADS
SUMMER RATES
$85 month Starts June 16 1360 ALDER
485-4167527:tfn
QUADS-FALL 1981
$125 month on 9Vi month lease from Sept. 1
$114 month. For reservations 485-4167
136QALDER ST 526 tin
Lost/Found
LOST: KEY RING with 6 keys. Last seen on the
stair case of 3rd floor Gerlinger If found call
686-6193. Reward509
LOST- BLUE JEAN JACKET with Grateful
Dead embroidery on back Please! If found
contact Ned at 485-9707; if gone, leave
message. $10 reward5-20
LOST: Kyes on Paralyzer key ring on campus
grounds Saturday evening Call 683-344?.
5-19
Events
FREE PUBLIC SYMPOSIUM
ON
HUMAN RIGHTS
AND
SOVIET
DISSIDENT
LITERATURE
•MAY 19: LECTURE, “THE WRITER
AND FREEDOM”
(7 pm, 138 Gilbert)
•MAY 20: SYMPOSIUM, “HUMAN
RIGHTS AND SOVIET LITERATURE"
with V. VOINOVICH, A. SINIAVSKY. L.
SCHROETER
(7 pm, 150 Geology)
•MAY 21: LECTURE by Russian writer
and
critic ANDREI SINAVSKY (Abraim
Tertz)
(7 pm. 177 Lawrence)
•MAY 22: FILM, SOLZHENITSYN'S
THE FIRST CIRCLE
J. Rice discussant.
7 & 9 pm, 107 Lawrence)
SPONSORED BY: UO RUSSIAN «
EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES CENTER
and the Oregon Committee for the
Humanites.
499:5-22
ECKANKAR
A Way of Life
FREE TALK SERIES
Tonight: “Learning
Through Dreams”
8 pm, Cenlury Room "A" EMU
551:5-19
MT. ST. HELENS
SYMPOSIUM
May 17,18,19
Tuesday Schedule
12-4 pm EMU Film Series
2-5 pm EMU discussions on social,
economic, environmental, and scientific
effects of Mt. St Helens eruption
7:30 pm 150 Geology Psychological
effects of the eruption.
8:30 pm 150 Geology. Journalist’s
Perspective of Covering the Eruption
FREE
Sponsored by the Outdoor Program
525:5-19
“THE STARVING STRINGS” Hot Bluegrass
Band available for your Memorial Day parly
Price negotiable- We just want to play
682-1182__ 5-20
LAST CHANCE
This year to hear
UO JAZZ LAB BANDS
Friday, May 22
8 pm Beall Concert Hall
$2 general $1 students, seniors
552 5-22
University Theatre Presents
ANYTHING GOES
by Cole Porter
May 22. 23, 27-30
8 pm Robinson Theatre
$4 50 $2 75 UO students &
seniors, $3.50 other students
686-4191
519:5-29
COME TO
THE
GREATEST
TALENT
SHOW
ON EARTH!
THURSDAY, MAY 21
7 PM
In the EMU Ballroom. Only $.50 admis
sion at the door Take a break and watch
the (almost) stars come out 508 5-20
WOMEN'S FILMS 81 PRESENTS
The Making Of
The Dinner Party
Johanna Demetrakas sensitive yet objective
documentary chronicles the communal
process that brought nearly 400 volunteers
toether to complete a mammouth project
conceived by Judy Chicago - a celebration of
women from the beginning for recorded history
to the present.
TUESDAY, MAY 19 7:30 PM
177 LAWRENCE $1.25
Children under 12 free
Sponsored by Media-Rites. 1981 Women s
Symposium, EMU Cultural Forum. 553:5- 1J)
THE BIJOU THEATRE
492 E 13th (at Ferry St) 686-BIJU
The Best Sound System
The Best Theatre in Town
Admission $2
Ask about The Bijou's "spilt-ticket" double
feature admission policy. PICK UP SPRING
SCHEDULE AT THE BIJOU.
HOW I WON
THE WAR
“John Lennon in Richard Lester's near bril
liant black comedy about war, death, and
truth.”
Nightly at 7:30 pm
Alice’s Restaurant
The past mirrors the future. Stars Arlo Guthrie.
Music by Arlo Guthrie, Joni Mitchell, Woody
Guthrie.
Nightly at 9:30 pm
Coming
May 21-27 One Sings, the Other Doesn’t w/
The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe
May 28-June 3 The Discreet Charm of the
Bourgeoisie w/ The Phantom of Liberty
511:5-20'
CINEMA 7
10th & Olive-Atrium Building
687-0733
Eugene Premieres start Saturday
through May 20
GATES OF HEAVEN
In his first feature Errol Morris set out to film a
minor local news item: the grounds of a pet
cemetery were being sold for a housing proj
ect, and its occupants were to be exhumed and
moved the experience proved to be traumatic
for pet owners and cemetery entrepreneurs
alike What emerges is an often sad, but usually
hilarious meditation on the American coul, its
myths and obsessions about love, life and
death.
Plus the short film
WERNER HERZOG EATS HIS SHOE
Herzog honors a vow he made to Errol Morris
that he would eat his shoe if Morris actually
made one of the films he'd talked about Morris
did (Gates of Heaven) and Herzog, true to his
word, returned to Berkeley to consume of his
desert boots in classic, obsessive Herzog style
Complete showings of both films 7:30 6 9:30
PRIVATE HELP FROM FRIENDS. Free
pregnancy testing 687-8651 4680:U
SUMMER STORAGE
FOR YOUR PERSONAL BELONGINGS
Clean-Dry-Secure
Sizes 5 x 5, 5 x 10 and larger
SELF STOR
West 11 th at Berlelson
344-2710
349:6-8
Politically minded?
THE POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENT
UNION will be holding its election of
officers for next year All students who
are interested in domestic and interna
tional politics, come and attend the
meeting this Thursday, May 7th at
4 00pm. EMU Room to be posted
368:5-7
GET FAST, DEPENDABLE SERVICE
on Alterations at
Slegmund's Cleaners 821 E 13th Ave
181 UWH
MAKE MONEY!
Recycling Your Clothes!
RAGS TO RICHES buys, consigns, and trades
secondhand clothing for men and women
For appointment: 344-7039 360 E 11th
1881 UWF
DUFFYS
HUMP NITE
Wednesday May 20
Live music with THE BOYS
$1.75 Pitchers 9-11 pm
Slide into the weekend at Duffy's
Miller or Milter Lite on tap
532 5-20
SANDEL
OPTICAL
• Full Service Contact Lens Clinic
• Hard, Flex, Soft Contacts
• Regular and Designer Frames
• Personalized Seryice
• Established tor Twenty Years
You’ll Be
Looking Good
1614 J Street Spfd
747-3098
_ _ 252:tfn
NEED VITAMINS? Save 20% off regular price
everyday. Radiance, Schiff, Thompson, and
others NATURAL VITAMIN SHOPPE 945
Garfield (across from Mr Steak), 343-6305.
Monday-Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-5 271 ttn
HAVE A PARTY!
VIDA BARN
Call evenings 896-3913
tfn
PLEASE RETURN MY FRONT SIGN I don't
have the money for a new one Thanks,
LENNY Lenny's Gourmet Hot Dogs & Video
Games in the Courtyard_?88 tfn
DUFFY’S
presents
The Sneakers
TUESDAY, MAY 19
9:30 pm
520 5-19
PLANNING
TO REGISTER FOR SUMMER
SESSION?
Don't forget to file your
INTENT TO REGISTER CARD
Stopy by Room 64 PLC or the
Registrar's Office
705:5-22
DERVA Happy Birthday, now we won t be
bored on Friday nightsl 5-19
WANTED: FULL GOSPEL CHRISTIAN
STUDENTS to attend international conference ■<
on campus evangelism (Sept. 2-6. 1981) to
receive training on how to reach you campus
for Christ in fall of 81 Scholarships available
For details write Conference, PO Box 1799,
Gainesville, FI 32602 or call 904-275-6000
____5-22
PLEASE RETURN MY FRONT SIGN I don't
have the money for a new one Thanks,
LENNY Lenny's Gourmet Hot Dogs & Video
Games in the Courtyard. 388 tfn
FIRST TIME IN EUGENE
THE BOYS
Appearing at DUFFY'S
Wednesday thru Saturday
May 20-May 23
This group is the next Loggins &
Messina
531:5-22
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Nearly 90% of all women have unwanted hair
Our modern solution to this embarassing
beauty problem outdates the old fashioned,
painful needle process It’s safe It's gentle, it
works Call today. Marian. Graduate
Specialist in Electrology and Skin Care,
687-918T._539 5-21
REBECCA KURTZ
Metaphorically speaking, the phenomenology
of your genesis requires the mtersubjective self
to open all letters and packages and, at the risk
of unexpurgated anomie, get down and party
Happy B-day Becky1 5 19
ASKLEPIADS! There will be a meeting tonight
at 7 pm at 1000 Alder Street. Election for new
officers and a guest speaker Refreshments will
be provided._5-19
MICK I hope you don't kick back not on you
21st! Love-n-rock-n-roll, T.D.T. 5-19
PHI PSI’S Thanks for the drinks and dancing,
What a fun date! Having Moms and Dads there,
made it extra-specially great! Love THE
KAPPAS 5-19
IT’S READY
THE SUMMER SCHEDULE OF
CLASSES
So pick one up today1
Stop by Room 64 PLC or the
Registrar's Office
5?6 5-22
JOHN BRAVER
9:04.8- GOOD JOB SATURDAY
I knew you'd do it1 I've sat in the east grand
stands all year to see you quality, go tor it at
Pac-10, you stud!
FAN IN THE EAST
GRANDSTANDS
5-19
ENGLISH MAJORS: Come to a panel discus
sion of exciting career opportunities for you
Thursday, May 21 t 3:30. 204 Condon
__ 563:5-21
DON’T LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL AWAY
UNNOTICED
Remember 'em all with a
SPRING FUNG
For $1 50 you get 20 words to dedicate,
inspire, remember or admire. Only if placed by
1 pm June 5 at the usual locations: 300 EMU,
UO Bookstore, EMU Main Desk 5-19
DUFFY'S
Luncheon Special
TODAY IS
Irene's Beer Cheese Soup & Salad
Reg $2 25 Today $1.75
533:5-22
SOCIOLOGY MAJORS: The Peer Advising
Program in 639 PLC is now accepting
applications for Fall term Students interested
will be gaining valuable experience while
earning credit._5-20
Pofluck dinner for
ALASKANS
May 28, 1981 Call 683-7737 for details, 5-21
CHI-O JULIE You should be more careful on
Saturday nights about where you partake of the
earthy delights I've sent them to Portland,
sealed with a kiss; I hope you can wrangle your
way our of this! 5-19