The New Year marks a return to college life and a time to bring newly received holiday gifts to campus for our enjoyment. One of the most popular gifts this season was the iPod, which had expected holiday sales of more than four million --¡ that's individual iPods, mind you, not dollars.
But while it seems like a great idea to listen to The Black Eyed Peas and Nickelback while making your way across campus tomorrow, consider this: That slim-lined technological wonder could be hazardous to your health, safety and common sense of courtesy.
Recently on his Web site, The Who's guitarist Pete Townshend has been warning young music listeners to turn down their headphones and earbuds, which pose a large threat to their hearing later in life - if not now. Townshend himself admits to major hearing loss after years of using studio headphones, but he says the seemingly harmless earphones that come with MP3 devices might do equal damage in less time.
The Hearing Loss Web site reports that roughly a million people between the ages of 18 and 24 suffer from hearing damage, and over 350,000 college students admit to having hearing loss.
And while the prospect of not being able to hear professors' lectures might be appealing, you depend on your hearing more than you might think.
In the New York subway system, for instance, many passengers rely heavily on their MP3 devices to pass the time as subway cars transport them to their destinations - but over the volume, they might not notice when they are being mugged. iPod users are also easier targets because the accompanying white earbuds are so recognizable; once a thief recognizes them, it's relatively easy to grab the devices when people do not keep them hidden or close to their bodies.
Thefts connected to iPods are up at least three percent, and in some urban and student-populated areas, iPod-related thefts have nearly doubled over the past year - prompting warnings on billboards and even blogs.
Ball State University students are just as susceptible to misuse of MP3 devices. One particular scenario comes to mind - you're running late for class, and though you don't have the "walk" sign, you begin to cross the street anyway. Admit it - you've done it at least once. Your iPod is turned up loud, you're hastily rummaging through your backpack to find your notebook, and oncoming drivers are too busy listening to their own music and changing radio stations to notice you.
The unimaginable can happen, and all because you wanted to listen to a song at full blast.
Perhaps you're standing in the hallway of Teachers College, waiting for a class to be dismissed so you can enter Room 101. Crammed shoulder-to-shoulder with dozens of other students in the hall and daydreaming to your favorite song, you don't notice another student - perhaps in a wheelchair - has been politely asking you to step aside so that he or she can make it to class on time. Or you could be returning to your dorm from a night class, with your iPod to keep you company, but being unable to hear background noises and ignoring your surroundings as you change songs, you remain unaware of the person lurking nearby who grabs your iPod, steals other belongings or does something worse.
There's no doubt new iPods or other MP3 devices are entertaining and exciting for their owners. And you don't have to worry that your parents' $300 investment in an iPod was a waste of money because you shouldn't use it. The iPod and Ball State can co-exist peacefully.
Minor adjustments like keeping the volume at a normal level, concealing the device on your body or in your bag and remaining alert to your surroundings at all times should keep you healthy, safe and considerate of your peers.
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