Then & Now
For evidence of changing times, look no farther than the suitcases, backpacks and boxes full of must-have items that students haul to campus. Over the decades lava lamps, typewriters and record players have given way to mini-fridges, iPads and smartphones. Here, James Kubitz ’71 and his children, Alex Kubitz ’13 and Elizabeth Kubitz ’15, recall some items they couldn’t live without at Willamette.
1970s
Dictionary — Once indispensable (especially for those of us who always hesitate over words like embarrass or perseverance), these heavyweight repositories of knowledge have been replaced by automatic spellcheck and online dictionaries.
Typewriter — Bulky manual typewriters have lost out to slimline, ultraportable iPads and laptops that allow students to work anywhere (with Wi-Fi).
Travelers checks — When he arrived at Willamette from Alaska in the fall of 1967, James Kubitz paid for the semester with cash and travelers checks. Today, a piece of plastic takes care of everything.
2010s
Longboard — Walking is so pedestrian! Many students today prefer to scoot around campus on this relative of the skateboard.
Headphones — It seems that every student now sports a pair of headphones, earphones or earbuds to listen to favorite music — or shut out the world.
Smartphone — Remember when you just used phones to, well, phone people? Today’s super-smart equivalents are like mini-computers that play music, wake you up in the morning, monitor your blood pressure, give directions, check your bank balance, take photos and videos, and so much more. WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY
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