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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 1982)
Hou can take it with ijou Porta-music eases dailq doldrums By Marian Green Of tty EmtnU With black cords hanging from their necks and headphones perched on their heads, music lovers have found a way to be wired for incessant sound Minature tapedecks that will fit in a coat pocket, and headphone sets so light you hardly notice them are pop ping up all over campus And they're selling out faster than dealers can stock them ‘ It s really been quite the fad,’ says Steve Springston, who selis several models in the Meier & Frank electronics department "During the holidays, we could not keep up with the demand." Springston says Right now the store stocks the Sony Walkman I and II and the Pana sonic brands, but several other brands are on the market, including Aiwa. Akai, Infinity and Sanyo, he says Prices vary, ranging from under $100 to more than $250 "You get what you pay for" in sound quality, he says At Eugene s Good Guys Stereo Dis count Center, employee Roger Kauble says the stereos are among his hottest selling items. "We bought all we could from the manufacturers If we could’ve bought more, we could’ve sold more," Kauble says The Aiwa sells best among the several brands Good Guys stocks, he says. "They’re the company that start ed it ail Who buys the tapedecks? "It's probably the post-war genera tion — ages 15-30. Springston says But Kauble says "everybody — old people, young people, middle-aged people, joggers, skiers" — buys them "Just about everyone who walks in here looks at them, and about half of them buy.” he says Good Guys carries the Aiwa. Sony and Sanyo models, which also sell within the $100 to more than $250 for the top-of-the-line. AM-FM. Aiwa cas sette model But because of heavy demand, not all brands are in stock Kauble says the stereos are not dan gerous “I use one on my motorcycle. I wear the pair of headphones under my hel met, and I don’t have problems hearing traffic or anything, he says Sgt Rick Allison, of the Eugene Police Department, however has mixed feelings about the stereos "You re limiting one of your senses You can’t hear the car beeping, you can’t hear the sirens or someone run ning up behind you,” Allison says Although Allison has not heard of a University-area accident involving the small stereos, the headphone sets could become a "real problem in some of the assault and sexual harrassment cases on campus," he says "You can be much more easily vic timized," he says A female jogger, for instance, could be listening to a stereo while running along the bike path and never hear an attacker approaching, he says The ideal set would allow one free ear for hearing external sounds; the other could be “tuned into whatever," he says Many owners of the small stereos believe there is a law restricting use of the devices while driving But no law directly restricting that use exists, alth ough the Legislature did consider such a law last year, according to Dave Cottmg. senior trooper of the Oregon State Highway Patrol office in Eugene "We don't recommend it. but it's legal " Jim Baughman, another senior trooper with the patrol, says the only related law is one stating that anything constricting free unhampered opera tion” of a motor vehicle is a Class C traffic infraction carrying a maximum $100 penalty Asked if that law could be used against drivers wearing the stere^ headphones Baughman says, "that depends" "If you get to jiving to the music while you're diddly-bopping all over the road then yes definitely ' University freshman Lane Rude bends over his notebook at a small table outside the EMU Fishbowl On his head rests a pair of the music-making headphones The music is good to have around he says. Rude listens to the stereo radio "between classes or when I'm just sitting here at the EMU ' “It makes it a lot easier just to sit and look at books with music in the back ground “fverqbodq” buqs them. “It's reallq b€€n quite the fad.” “During (he holidays uj€ couldn’t keep up with the demand.” He says he has to be more aware of traffic while riding a bike or jogging if he is listening to the stereo but that the music makes it worthwhile "It really makes running a joy "I like to have music with me says Rude who has stereos in his car and home "You get an energy from it Meg Metz, a University junior, bought her cassette stereo with leftover ' Christmas money An art major Metz says she can listen to her tapes — Neil Young and The Police among others, — in her drawing and oil painting classes because everyone is silent anyway Metz says she was very tempted just to turn my music on when slides were being shown in a class, but decided against it Although Metz says her parents would rather see the money spent on food or other necessities, she justified the expense because of a recent soccer injury, which tore some leg ligaments and left her on crutches "I figured if I have to go around campus as slow as I do, I might as well be listening to music, she says Recovery therapy could take up to six months and she'll probably be on crutches for at least a year but she's not dreading the long wait ' If I listen to that thing, it'll make it go fast" Photos bq Brian Bubak ATTENTION!!! S.U.R.C. APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE Student University Relations Council is now accepting applications for membership for membership for 1982-83. Applications are available from the Office of University Relations, Room 111 Susan Campbell Hall. Please return by Friday, March 12. • computerized Xerox • reduction • 2 sided copies • binding • lamination 344-7894 764 E. 13th ALTERNATIVE TRAVEL S>. NIGHT COACH Travel comfortably and in good company aboard customized sleeper coaches Slop at Wilbur Hot Springs for a soak and cook-out breakfast Special prices to points along the way Eugene 343-5081 Portland 225-0310 or(800)227-4766
