Classified

The best place to shop in Hanover, particularly at the beginning or end of a term, is at the bulletin boards near the mail boxes in the Hopkins Center. A freshman can buy a sofa, often not much older than he is, for less than $15—and a senior can unload a carpet he bought as a freshman from a senior who salvaged it from the trash pile at home.

One board, devoted exclusively to notices for rides, is always full. A ride is usually "desperately needed" to some place in the Northampton area "on any weekend." Prospective riders, among whom the competition seems to be fierce, promise to share driving, expenses, "sense of humor," or "whatever else desired." A student looking for a ride to Holyoke offered a "free place to crash when we get there."

Moving down to the merchandise section, we saw a request for a used wooden playpen and a note from an enterprising co-ed who offered "a great introductory deal" to new book-club members. "Top Quality Snorkel Gear" was being sold, along with a tractor and a gallon of yellow paint. One puzzling sign said "Action Seeks Foxes," and someone had scrawled on it, "So does AKA." Someone else wrote "Sexist!" across that, and another notice, for an oriental meditation course, had dollar signs drawn through all the s's.

The best price listed was for the analysis of doodles. "For the incredibly low price of 50c," the typed notice read, "you can have your seemingly meaningless scribbles analyzed to reveal the real you. Trust me. I'll get your analysis back to you within 48 hours."

Lots of books, backpacks, sleeping bags, stereo equipment, records, bikes, cars, and motorcycles were advertised. Hiking boots, mostly in women's sizes, seemed to be a hot item, and there was even a pair of "arctic combat boots." A karate suit, size small, was going for $8, a Beacon Hill apartment for $50 a weekend, a rocking chair for $10, and a "King Louis XIII style" lamp, hawked by someone who promised to deliver any place on campus, was a bargain at $7. Every student organization seemed to have a poster up, the College chaplains were advertising a communion service, and a local steel company was looking for "a few good men" to build strong bodies eight ways in the steel yard.

We didn't see anything we really needed, but it occurred to us we might be able to sell an extra snow tire—"ER78-14, used one winter, $15."

The Hopkins Center bulletin board: personals, rides, and the sweet smell of commerce.