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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 11, 1982)
A large backlog of unsold books, caused partially by dwindling student spending money, forced co-owner Fred Austin to close shop. Son of Koobdooga RIP By David Brown Of fh« Emerald Red letters clearly signify the theme, a literary tragedy Son of Koobdooga — a bookworm's delight — goes out of business after 11 years Co-owner Fred Austin saw the writing on the wail as early as four years ago, when Son of Koob dooga's ledger no longer showed enough entries to pay the rent, he says But he and partner Max Baker kept the book store open with profits from a second bookstore "because we like it." Austin readily confesses he probably wasn't facing facts, just nursing a former hobby Son of Koobdooga. which is "a good book" spelled backward, began as a personal hobby, not a business "I became really interested in books while I was at the University I realized that I spent as much time shopping the bookstores as I did going to class," he says So Austin went into the bookselling business Nine years ago, when Austin bought the Koob dooga bookstore and renamed it Son of Koobdooga, a bookstore could operate in a relaxed manner, he says But that "quiet" retail book trade slowly transformed, as did Austin Austin says he learned it took great care to operate a business About four years ago, Austin and Baker bought the Marketplace Bookstore at the 5th Street Public Market. Austin says Marketplace Bookstore combines several elements of success: location, location and location " Son of Koobdooga iacked all three “At three blocks (down 13th Avenue) from the University, traffic diminishes considerably," he says Over the years, students' costs have increased while their spending money has decreased, he says "They're not coming in as great a number as they did before,” Austin says In 1973, most of the paperbacks in the store could be purchased for $1 95, he says That price has increased to $3 95 each during the last four or five years, Austin says "This business is a big challenge from top to bottom, publishers on down,” he says. To increase profits, a bookseller must increase sales volume, Austin explains A retailer who orders five books might take a 40-percent profit from the price already stamped by the publisher, he says. Shipping costs come out of that profit margin, Austin adds. With the purchase of 100 books, the dealer's profit may increase to 42 percent, he says And unable to sell large volumes of books, Son of Koobdooga's story ends. Board to remove TV from lounge The EMU Board will remove chairs, tables and a television set from the EMU Fishbowl TV Lounge because of the high number of transients using the facility just off University Street The board unanimously approved the proposal at a meeting Wednesday evening The proposal, which refers decision of where to relocate the TV lounge to the EMU housing committee, states the TV lounge will have to be emptied of the furniture by Friday Lounge transients have been a continual problem for the EMU, but this year the problem has worsened, EMU director Adell McMillan said. Two fist fights and drunkeness, which used to not be a problem, have been reported. Transients control the lounge most of the time, except when students watch soap operas, McMillan said. Police think if the TV is moved elsewhere in the EMU, the transients will not take over the new location because it would not be as accessible and isolated as the current location, she said Since the EMU is semi-public, the transients cannot be evicted for no reason, McMillan said. Moving the television is the best solution. Last year’s housing committee considered the proposal but decided against it when transients vacated the lounge during spring term, McMillan said. Transients always tend to leave during spring, however, and they returned in larger numbers this year, she said. Leaving the lounge empty would be ”a terrible waste of space,” and the housing committee should consider a new purpose for the room, added Alan Scearce, EMU Board member. Council gets ‘Hult petition’ The Eugene City Council should 'rescind' its decision to change the name of the city's performing arts complex, according to a petition submitted to the city Wednesday The petition, signed by more than 1400 residents, was presented to the council by Dottie Niel, a member of Citizens for Open Government The 17-member citizens group opposes the way the city council changed the name of the Eugene Performing Arts Center to the Hult Center for the Performing Arts. The petition is the second action the group has taken toward nullifying the decision to name the complex after local millionaires Nils and Jewel Hult, in recognition of a $3 million donation The group filed a lawsuit Monday in Lane County Circuit Court charging the city violated the Oregon Public Meetings Law when they made the decison to name the complex after the Hults during a $10-a-plate recognition dinner Sept 23. The petition asks the city council to “rescind Resolution 3718 which renamed the Eugene Perfor ming Arts Center to the Hult Center for the Performing Arts” The petition also requests "that any future resolu tions regarding the renaming of the center be conduct ed at adequately announced public meetings." The city council accepted the petition with no comment. Members of the citizens group were told before the council meeting they could present the petition but would not be allowed to address the issue during the meeting, according to CFOG member Tom Huesel Nader talk gives push to program Consumer advocate Ralph Nader proved he could spark student interest in the Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group. About 60 students signed a list indicating they wanted to find out more about OSPIRG after the Nader speech Monday, says Gretch Brevoort, OSPIRG direc tor. "We knew he'd put in a plug for us," she says. "It was definitely a positive push.” In October 1970, after Nader urged students to start OSPIRG during a campus visit, 239 students signed a petition calling for the group s formation. Lobbyists needed for ASUO group The ASUO needs students with a historical perspective in Oregon education for lobbying efforts starting in January, says Ed Razor, ASUO director of state affairs. About 10 people have applied for the voluntary positions, Razor says. ASUO is trying to develop a “core” group of lobbyists to monitor committees and legislators and to do research, he says. The remaining volunteers will be used to tell legislators personal experiences and troubles related to the lack of money higher education receives, Razor says. Legislators tend to make decisions in a "detached state," he adds. Lobbyists will be trained this term, he says. The ASUO is trying to get ESCAPE credits for the volunteers, Razor says. Applications can be obtained in EMU Suite 4 from Razor or Dennis Noble, assistant to the office of public affairs. Applications are due Nov. 18. abbeduto/phillips HEARTS & MINDS Thursday, Nov. 11 University of Oregon 7 and 9 pm 177 Lawrence co-sponsor: SNuFF and CORD The explosive award-winning documentary of the Viet Nam War. free admission r Greek Home Cooking at Reasonable Prices • Daily specials • Beer and Wine from the U S. and abroad • Weekend Brunch GREEK PEASANT FOOD WINE-AND SPIRIT! 675 East T 3th Avenue Closed Tuesday 343-0846 1 h30 am-10:30 pm, Weekdays 9 am-10:30 pm. Weekends
