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.
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