Jan. 24, 1980
Rolling Amok
Bob Schlesinger strums a tune on his banjo while skating in front of the "Mines building," an image hinting at the roller skating fad at the beginning of the Î80s. On a warm weekend, roller skates were rented out from a local business to as many as 200 to 300 people a day. "People have been run off the sidewalks, and in some cases, traffic is being disrupted," said then university police Capt. Ed Harris. A motorist reported that eight roller skaters joined hands and rolled east from Park Avenue on University Boulevard, refusing to let him pass. "It's becoming a nuisance," Harris said. Glenn Buckelew of the 1980 Wildcat writes, "Roller skating is not just a passing fancy · but is here to stay."