Page Eight
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Thursday, September 5, 1974
Page Eight THE MICHIGAN DAILY Thursday, September 5, 1974
-campus housing:
Exorbitantly priced,
poorly constructed
By CHERYL PILATE
Each spring, nearly half of the University's nomadic student
population starts the annual scramble for 'the choicest water-
ing holes and the most reasonably-priced tents.
Although the denizens of the student ghetto don't really live
Bedouin-style, off-campus housing is known for its flimsy qual-
ity. Often the cheap plaster found in many apartments can
no more withstand heavy rain than tent canvas.
ANN ARBOR is also known for its exorbitant rents. Greedy
management companies and avaricious landlords are largely
responsible for giving the city one of the highest cost-of-living
averages in the country.
According to a survey conducted by the Public Interest Re-
seach Gropp in Michigan, the median rent for one-bedroom
dwellings in Ann Arbor is $185 and $290 for two bedroom
dwelling.
Off-campus 'housing generally falls in one of two categories:
'the slick, plastic-coated apartments or rambling, antiquated
houses that often violate either health standards or the housing
code.
ALTHOUGH APARTMENT living is somewhat cheaper than
dorm living, the headaches involved in dealing with an unco-
operative management company or a profit-minded landlord
often make the dorm's sterile cubicles appear attractive by com-
parison.
Because of the housing shortage in the central part of the
city, students are often forced to live in sub-standard dwellings
which often lack proper ventilation systems, adequate plumb-
'ing and sound construction.:
In many cases, landlords and management companies totally
neglect maintenance problems and even when basic repairs are
taken care of, the wait is often int'erminable.
THE OFF-CAMPUS housing picture is not totally bleak, how-
ever. There are many apartment building and houses which
See LANDLORDS, Page 10
Co-ops: A
By PATRICIA HINSBERG dorm or ap
For many people, the term cooperative quires men
housing brings to mind the neo-utopian sibilities of
communes popular on the west coast dur- gated to la
ing the 1960's. Each co-
However, co-ops are far from being a tribute 4-6.
new or novel living arrangement. Since' tail cooking
1932, University students have established lawn, or m
residences where each dweller shares in are fairly
the building's ownership. even come
come breal
BECAUSE OF its long tradition of low- Since me
ered costs and democratic government duces thee
dozens of co-ops are flourishing on cam- ops, the re
pus. IN ANN.
The Inter-Cooperative Council (ICC), lapidated 1
with offices located in the Student Union, $140, thei
is 'a non-profit organization composed of ranges fror
22 cooperative houses and 700 members. ing the Spr
These houses are divided among three membersa
subsidiary councils for the respective the costs a
neighborhoods of south, central, and north Co-op foo
campus. spite thei
Because the co-ops are founded on cooks. Nort
democratic principles of ownership, reso- enjoy such
lution of problems and determination of lic bread,p
policies take place at representative meet- Not the 1
ing held on a regular basis. ops are the
laxed natur
TECHNICALLY, each member owns an wide array
equal share in the ICC: This allows mem- students to
bers a breadth of freedom impossible in occasional
cheaper deal
artment housing. But it also re-
mbers to shoulder the respon-
maintenance ordinarily rele-
ndlords.
op member is expected to con
hours per week, which may en-
g, washing dishes, cutting the
hopping floors. Working hours
flexible, and some co-opers
to view their jobs as a wel-
k from academic monotony.
mber maintenance greatly re-
overhead costs of living in co-
nt is remarkably inexpensive.
ARBOR, where rent for a di-
-bedroom apartment starts at
room and board at a co-op
m $90 to $110 per month. Dur-
ing - Summer terms, when all
are guaranteed single rooms,
re even lower,
od tastes amazingly good, de-
inexperience of most of the
h campus co-op members often
delicacies as lasagna with gar-
pepper steak, and rich kasha.
least of the advantages of co-
residents themselves. The re-
re of co-op living appeals to a
of individuals - from grad
foreign students and even an
street person.
IF YOU delide to live in a co-op, you
11 b 'l? to _hoose among three dif-
f nt c-O) coy nolTxes. Central and South
m'ns co-ops tend to be more conven-
ient because of their proximity to the
Di'ig.
On the other hand, living in the North
Campus co-ops is desirable because of
their location amidst pine trees and grass-
co ered hills.
Many of the houses on Central and
South Campus are the original hoises with
which the co-ops were first founded. Mich-
igan House, for example, was organized
in 1932.
THE NORTH CAMPUS complex first
opened in 1970. These residences were
built with the help of a government loan
and are copstructed in a much more mod-
ern style.
Many people who might consider living
in the north campus are reluctant to sign
a contract because they fear the hassles
of riding a bus to class every morning.
Bus service, however, proves to be far
less of a problem than one might expect.
D'iring the day, buses run at least every
fifteen minutes, and, at night, the service
ius!lly continies into the wee hours of
the morning.
Dorm dwellers find community
spirit
in crowded
conditions
By CHERYL PILATE can be invaluable in quelling the and coordinates social activities.
The the uninitiated neophyte, first pangs of loneliness, as Hall parties, dances, picnics,I
dormitory can time goes on you may find that and beer bashes occur frequent-
be full of surprises. Living with your lifestyles are incompatible. ly enough to relieve the aca-
hundreds of other people is a If this happens, it is usually ad- demic monotony.
hundruedseoxterrpope whcninavisable to try and work things
uniqueexerience which can i out. However, if you are going SNACK BARS, which serve in-
voke y e iritherdeepsenfs ofto bed about the time your room- expensive sandwiches and var-
mnnmuntr s iri nrf~ ings' of
while the smaller residences of-
fer atmospheres more conduc-
ive to studious pursuits.
IN RECENT YEARS, .the
most popular dorJ aoncampus
has been Mosher-Jordan.
claustrophobic paranoia.
Although the University's 14
residence halls vary greatly inI
size and personality, none ofI
them offer much variation on
the standard ,cubicle-sized room
and the institutional food.
THESE barracks-like living'
conditions are sometimes h a r d}
to adjust to at first. Privacy is
a rare commodity when you
share a bathroom with 30 other
people andeat in a dining hall
that seats 200. If you happen to
have a roommate, locking your-
self in a closet is often the only
I solution when you desire soli-
tude.
There are some advantages to
community living, however. Un-
less you are a determined re-
cluse, it is almost impossible toI
avoid making friends.
On some freshperson halls, the
residents become as closely knit
as a family. Close ties develop
that often sustain through the
remaining three years at the
University..
PERHAPS the most difficult
aspect of adjusting to dorm life
is learning to make compromis-
es with your roommate.
Although having a roommate
I
mate is waking up, and study- ious starchy delights are locat- Located on the "hill," MoJo
ing when she is practicing her! ed in most of the larger resi- is a medium-sized, co-ed hall.
clarinet, getting a transfer is dence halls along with pool tab- Because of its ivy-covred walls
often the best solution. les and pinball machines. and pseudo-Gothic facade, it
Because most of the larger Although dorms food has long, radiates a much warmer atmos-
dorms are hotbeds of social ac- been the subject of merciless block-style dormitories.
*.': ::.::"s. s :s.., s phere than the new er, cinder-
South Quad, also known 8s
"These barracks-like living conditions the "monkey house," is the
largest dorm on campus. Hous-
are sometimes hard to adjust to at first. ing 1,200 students, this hall re-
-"- sembles as asylum more than
Privacy is a rare commodity when you anythin else. The main advant-
share a bathroom with 30 other people age to living here, is the dorm's
strategic location near Angell ..> <
and eat in a dining room that seats. 200." Hall. You can roll out of bed at
9 a.m. and be taking notes in
'"°" " your philosophy lecture ten min-
tivity, partying often continues barbs, it's not all that bad. Des- utes later.
on into, the early hours of t h e pite the fact that the turkey 0
morning. patties resemble fish sticks, and WEST QUAD, located next
the spaghetti tastes like Chef door to South Quad, is one of
ALTHOUGH the noise level Boy-ar-dee, he meals can be the oldest dorms on campus.
drops a few decibels at night, it at least tolerable if you use a Dubbed the "armpit of the Uni-
is often impossible to get eight little imagination. versity," this residence hall fea-
hours of uninterrupted s 1 e e p Ice cream toped with honey tures a labyrithine floor plan
unless you wear earplugs. and wheat germ or peanut but- which makes it impossible to
andwhet grm r panu bu- ,walk from one end of the build-
Even if you are fortunate ter makes a great dessert and in to the other without go
enough to fall asleep at a rea- Thousand Islands salad dressing gtoghethert othi
sonable hour, you may be jolted can be used to cover up the basement
awake by the false first alarms taste of just about anything.
that periodically plague t h e The four all-women dorms -
larger residence halls. MOST OF the dorms on cam- Stockwell, Martha Cook, Bar-
All the dorms have some type pus are co-ed. Consequently bour and Newberry - reported-
of governing council that deter- some of the bathroom facilities ly serve food a bit more palat-
mines how dues will be spent are utilized by both sexes. Des- able than the usual dorm var-
pite the shocked reactions of iety. These halls are popular
many parents, the freshpeople among both undergraduate and
seem to adjust easily to co-ed graduate women alike because -
Johns.the zoo-like atmosphere which U t
Four all-women dorms are pervades in the quads is totally
still maintained on campus for peaceful residences.
those females who do not wish Eastfuadre ndde lce
to reside with the opposite sex. E Q n Alcer
supposedly the most "radical"
IWELL-LIKED 'by the m o r e dorms on. campus, also feature re a irss7
academic-minded because of educational programs for their
their quiet atmospheres, t h e residences. The Residential Col- By BETH NISSEN
women's halls tend to be more lege and the Pilot Program of- If at some point during the
restrictive in their visitation fer small, unstructured classes semester, your third all-nighter
policies and their house rules. on topics normally not covered in a week results in a chonic
Because dorm living is such by the mammoth liberal arts croup, or all the wonder reme-'
antegral part of the first year co'g~ dies offered by Pepto-Bismol!'
at college, it is important to ALTHOUGH IT IS important and your grandmother won't
choose a hall suited to your life- to make the right decision when help you keep breakfast down,
style.the University's Health Service'
choosing your dorm, you will stands ready to diagnose and
ry The larger, co-ed dorms tend soon discover that your living treat your ills for a price.
to sponsor more social activities experience is basically what you The Health Service is an odd
A- make it. blend of nuclear medicine and.
DAILY CLASS I F I EDS Dorm residents are free to 19th century methods. If a stu-
Join the Daily Editorial Staff
clinic
FALL
'74
4
university
towe
APARTMENTS
South University at Forest Ave.
ON CAMPUS
walk to everything-no car or parking expenses necessar
r 2 blocks from the ft
* 8 month Lease
" Air-Conditioned
. Fully Carpeted
" Piano and Recreatio
* Laundry Facilities
r " Study Room
" HetedSwimmingP
*24 Hour Maintenanc
and Security
* Luxurious.Lobby
: Weekly Housekee it
less than C average. Lest these
myths frighten the novice sickie
in Ann Arbor, it should be
stated that the doctors at Health
Service are usually technically
excellent.
Health Service does offer
surprising range of special serv-
ices, from the whirlpool baths
of physical therapy to the alI
lergy clinic. Health Service cap
treat a student for athlete'
foot, tennis elbow, a broken ar
or pre-exam tension. Healt
Service has a good practice o
referral of patients toacounsel
ing services.
ag
in Room
Pool
ce
Ong
BRING RESULTS
11
comecand go 24 hours a day.
You can while away your free
time in the Arb (the Univer-
sity's large park), become ac-
tive in one of the many campus
organizations, seclude yourself
in the Grad Library and medi-
tate on ancient wisdom, or get
stoned and party until dawnI
dent is ableatoidrag hi
fevered or aching body
steps of the old brick
on Fletcher Street, a 1
minute wait can bee
before the student is .
whitecoacted doctor.
UPON ARRIVING,
s or her
up the
building;
every night.
RENTALS
STEREOS 1
AIR CONDITIOI
ciuaranteed repai
service done riht
in our shop
Hi Fi Stud
215 S. ASHLEY
668-7942 769-
must get their medical
~ - from an overgrown rol
and fill out a simple
one" form regardingt
Tvs cifics of their illness a
doctor preferences.
N E RS The forms are bothers
pecially to an even mo
r R sick student, but ared
it to be as expedient as
and ensure a match of
to doctor that will theo
i o be most beneficial and
table for the patient.
Y Most ailing studentsa
0342 ushered through the yel
into a plastic furnished
room where they canr
Sports Illustrated fro
I February or listen to t
low students feverishly
L0 or 70- ONE OF THEIR most-visitec
expected and best organized services is
facing a pregnanoy t e s t i n g, complete
with a trained counseling staf
to supplement the lab test re
students sults.
history Health Service does manag
odex file to offer medicinal drugs
"check swallowable prices. The costc
the spe- prescription d r u g s in hig
nd their enoigh on public market t
cause the mortgage of two
ome, es- more vital organs, but to e
derately rolled U of M students, mo.
designed nharmaceutical drugs can b
possible inirchased at 10-30 per cent b
patient low drug-store price.
retically
comfor- TNDTVIDUAL student evalu
*ion of the over-all service pr
are then' vxided at Health Service is
low door m"ost alwavys based on individu
waiting evorience.
read the "T wis given the old take-tw
am last and-go-to-bed routine," said o
heir fel- student. "I should feel bett
cough. soon .'nt I cain't heln wan1
UJSED ,
' ..
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