NARRATOR：

Now listen to two students discussing the letter.

FEMALE STUDENT：

Hey, Ted...you're a runner.

Did you see this letter in the paper?

MALE STUDENT：

Yeah, I did...and I use those...

FEMALE STUDENT：

And?

MALE STUDENT：

I think it's a terrible idea.

FEMALE STUDENT：

How come?

MALE STUDENT：

Well, she really hasn't thought it through...

like, the thing about making them safer-

what she's not thinking about is the long-term consequences of running on a hard surface.

FEMALE STUDENT：

What do you mean?

MALE STUDENT：

I mean, it's not good for you...it's too hard on your bones and joints.

If you run repeatedly on a hard surface,

it can lead to injuries...or, that's what I've been taught, anyway...

it's better to run on a soft surface.

It does less damage to your body.

FEMALE STUDENT：

Oh...I wasn't aware of that.

MALE STUDENT：

Yeah, so actually it wouldn't be safer.

And her second point...

FEMALE STUDENT：

About changing the way they look?

MALE STUDENT：

Yeah, I don't think people will like it.

FEMALE STUDENT：

So they'd use them less?

MALE STUDENT：

Yeah, I mean one of the main reasons people enjoy them now is it's a way of taking a break from the rest of campus...

from buildings and streets and stuff...

it's, you know, a chance to feel like you're out in nature.

FEMALE STUDENT：

Oh...so you wouldn't get that effect anymore.

MALE STUDENT：

Right...it'd just be like you were on a regular street or sidewalk.

It wouldn't be as relaxing.