Cleaning up
J-school janitor tells of colorful life ridinq the rails
By LISA McCORMACK
Of ttw Enwrild
If you're a damsel in distress
frantically searching Allien Hall
for a safety pin, Arlow Atkinson
might be your knight in shining
armor
At least he thinks so
Arlow, the Allen Hall cus
todian, keeps a large safety pin
attached to the pocket of his
stained blue work shirt tor just
such an occasion
“He's devoted to the opposite
sex," says Brian Carleton, Ar
low's student co-worker "He
knows all the girls around
here."
Even if you don't need a safe
ty pin, it still may be worthwhile
to visit Arlow at his "office" in
217 Allen, which he shares with
bleach, mops, chalk and
erasers
Arlow is a master storyteller,
specializing in tales of his winter
odysseys riding the rails during
the Depression
"I had no destination I was
just bummin' just riding the
rails to see the country and get a
little education," he says "What
I was interested in was what the
country produced and how they
went about it I'd compare the
way they was doin things with
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the way it was being done
here ”
Arlow is quick to point out that
he was a "bum" during those
sojourns south — not a hobo
A hobo, he says, is a profes
sional bum
"A hobo was before our time
Some of them had a little trade
they worked at goin' round the
various houses, like sharpenin'
knives and scissors or sellin’
varnish to spruce up furniture."
But "some of 'em didn't do a
dag-durned thing except bum."
While bumming, Arlow often
would stay at campsites called
"jungles," usually under
bridges or near railroad sidings
Arlow says he has seen as many
as 200 bums in one jungle
The first rule in bum etiquette
is not to enter the jungle without
something to throw into the
communal stewpot, Arlow says
f
The second rule is “minding
your own dag-durn business
Don’t ask any questions about
so-and-so’s name or where he’s
from You could talk, yes, and
‘I’m never in a big
hurry unless I want
to go fish in’. I’m a
mischevious old
rascal. ’
they'd talk with you But don’t
ask questions ”
Arlow says Pres Herbert
Hoover caught a lot of flak dur
ing jungle talks "I won't repeat
what they said about Hoover,”
Arlow says. “It wouldn’t do fer
some ears to hear — they might
blush.”
Like all good storytellers, Ar
low has developed a pattern and
rhythm to the telling that
borders on ritual He often ig
nores questions that take him
off his chartered course If by
chance he is lead astray by such
questions, he quickly will pick
up where he left off
Some claim Arlow is better at
storytelling than tending to his
job as custodian. Arlow couldn’t
agree more
’ I’m never in a big hurry un
less I want to go fishin',” he
says “I’m a mischievous old
rascal As far as being about to
stand up to a tough day's work
— them days is gone But when
allowed to set my own pace, I'll
catch up."
Journalism Prof Roy Halver
son describes Arlow as irre
pressible “He never seems
serious about anything I’ll say,
How are you doing Arlow?’ and
he’ll say As little as possible.’
And without batting an eye or
smiling, he'll just walk on by.
That’s not your standard re
sponse — but that's Arlow.”
Jack Hart, another journalism
professor, says Arlow some
times comes into his office and
plops himself down in the chair
opposite his desk to either fall
asleep or watch Hart work — or
both
"It is very unnerving He’ll just
sit,” Hart says "He kind of
whistles ”
And the sequence begins.
Hart: “How you doing, Arlow?
I don't have time to talk.”
Arlow: "That's okay."
(Doesn’t move.)
Hart: "Sorry we don’t have
time to talk, Arlow "
Arlow: “That's okay."
Then Arlow falls asleep
.issociatcd Students—I'nhcrsity of Orci/on
Kxrcutive < )ffice
Suite 4. (iror.nd Moor. EMI
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June 5, 1981
Dear Students:
The University of Oregon is in serious financial trouble. The
effects are already becoming noticable! University of Oregon's
share of faculty cuts could be upwards to 40. Resignations of
34 faculty members have already been confirmed for next year.
The admission requirement has been boosted from 2.50 to 2.75
which will impact on students. Finally, the most noticable
affect is on tuition levels. The ways and means subcommittee
of Education has recommended a budget note of an 18% increase
in tuition a term for resident undergraduates. This works out
to roughly $463.00 a term for tuition. We need to act now!
When you go home or where ever you go, contact your parents and
have them write a letter in support of the Governor's revenue
package.
If we don't support this package then we will have to take a
10% cut. This would devastate the University. The committee
members and addresses are below. This is our last salvation!
Many thanks for your help,
Rich Wilkins
ASUO President
HOUSE REVENUE
SENATE REVENUE
Rep. Bill Grannell, Chairperson
Rep. Mary Burrows, Vice-Chairperson
Rep. Larry Campbell
Rep. Wayne Fawbush
Rep. Wally Priestly
Rep. Barbara Roberts
Rep. John Schoon
Rep. Tom Throop
Rep. George Trahern
Sen. John Powell, Chairperson
Sen. L.B. Day, Vice-Chairperson
Sen. Ruth McFarland
Sen. Charles Hanlon
Sen. Ken Jernstedt
Sen. Rod Monroe
Sen. Cliff Trow
WHEN MAILING LETTERS TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES, SEND TO:
Senator or Representative's Name
State Capitol Building
Salem, OR 97310