Waking to a new soundscape
This morning in Champaign-Urbana, a few hundred freshmen are waking to an unfamiliar and unpleasant reality. For the first time in their lives, there's a new soundscape to their living environment.
They've never noticed sound before. They've never known what it's like to live between reverberating walls, bordering long hallways of clattering linoleum floors, below someone else.
For the first time in their lives, they sleep within spitting distance of a busy street, or actual country music.
In The Unwanted Sound of Everything We Want, Garret Keizer recalls his first noise experience, also at a college dorm. It was party time for some of his neighbors, and sleepy time for him.
Because Wednesday is Scott Cochrane's biggest sales night, a few hundred more freshmen will soon learn the joy of vicarious inebriation. (It's more fun when you're doing the partying yourself.)
Whatever the source of the noise, if it's affecting your sleep or studies, don't wait to do something about it. As Keizer confirms, acclimating to sound is an old wives tale:
In fact, the research is pretty conclusive in showing that noise is not something people get used to, unless one considers hearing loss a form of acclimation. Over time noise annoyance tends to increase, even when the loudness and duration do not, and even when reported complaints start dropping off. "People have stopped complaining" never means people have stopped suffering.
Transitioning to life away from home is plenty stressful enough. In a grade-competitive environment, you don't need the extra diversion. If noise is consciously bothering you, it will either get worse or stop completely.
What can you do about it?
I made inquiries with University Housing. I was directed to Kirsten Ruby, whose title is assistant director of marketing.
"Students should start with their RA. Other resources include their resident director and the front desk of their hall. Students can also report misconduct of any kind by emailing conductcases@housing.illinois.edu."
There's a certain amount of personal capital required in lodging any kind of complaint about people. RA's are not necessarily chosen for their understanding of liability issues. So if you're concerned about your safety or reputation, go the anonymous route.
That covers noise you know annoys you. But noise can hurt even if you're not aware of it. Noise spikes your blood pressure, even if it doesn't wake you up.
Last week's Journal of the American Medical Association reported that 1 in 5 American teenagers has some amount of hearing loss. Most people blame iPods. But that's nothing to do with noise.
Noise is sound you can't control and didn't ask for, whereas the music on your iPod is fucking awesome.
More on this in the next installment.
5 comments
car253 - Anti-noise activist
People are entitled to peace and quiet. That gift has been lost and once lost is hard to regain. Anti-noise activitists fight for everyone’s right to have peace and quiet.
Thanks to those that fight for our right to peace and quiet.
CQ
Spirit echoes -
http://www.iainandjane.com/work/silentsound/index.shtml
Audrey Robb
What sticks in my neck is that most noise (unwanted sound) is a violation of the law. So why is it often so difficult to get the authorities to address the issue? Why are the anti-social elements so protected? These lowlife induviduals now seem to have the upper hand, while law-abiding folk have to suffer. I feel very sorry for any student trying to get through his/her studies while being abused with noise, music, partying drunken behaviour, etc.
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/agriculture/2010-09-01/south-farms-taking-aim-birds-noise.html
If U of I did any research into repelling birds, they would use a very silent but effective high output LASER instead of adding noise pollution to the already olfactory polluted area http://www.allpestco.com/2009/06/laser-bird-deterrent-or-laser-gun-vs-birds/
Robert Knilands
“Rag Doll” by Aerosmith is a great accompanying song when you are throwing a tennis ball onto the floor to bother the people below you.
Most Recent Opinion Comments
Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.
funny, as your summer begins, another Summer ends.
And that, my friend, is love. Bob, I think I still owe you for my wedding cake, served in 1998. But nevermind.
I believe the kiss between Rob and I was documented on low-quality videotape in the mid-ninties porn classic, Dirty Harry…and Sticky.
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I have no specific memory of it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I’d kissed Mike, too—once we’d both drunk ourselves gay. And earlier this week I gave Clarence Shelley a back rub. Do I have to sign some forms, or am I just considered “in.”
FWIW, I got a copy of the letter in question. It was written in a way that would be plausible to a casual reader who didn’t scrutinize it too carefully. It announced the formation of an organization called G.L.A.B.A. (which actually exists), and had discussion about typical…
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Most Recent Comments
Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
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*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
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What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market. Check it: http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles
And without bloodshed. Sounds like the Savoy trustees aren’t as narrow-minded as some of their whiny pants constituents. Do you think quack Snell is already planning an asinine counterattack or is he still laying low after those “threats” against his person?
hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.
Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Excellent. I am glad sometimes American dreams are encouraged, rather than stifled.
Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.
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hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.