A 2B-Thursday, September 9, 1982-The Michigan Daily Campus dorm life takes some patience and a lead stomach By ANN MARIE FAZIO Thousands of people crammed into tiny 10 foot by 12 foot cubicles, living with complete strangers, eating in- stitution-style chow. It sounds more like San Quentin than the dorm they described at orientation. TRULY THE first and biggest ob- stacle University students face lies not in deciphering the maze of campus buildings or in mastering difficult classes, but in adjusting to dorm life. The realities of mass coed living are nothing at all- like the comforts of a family. You can't yell for mom when your roommate throws dirty towels on the floor. Biting your lip and cleaning things up yourself can be the most diplomatic strategy. And that home-cooked turkey on Thanksgiving will never taste as good as it does after three months in the dorm. Unfortunately, dorm food lives up to its reputation. But its starchy, bland character is filling and there usually is plenty to keep one's stomach filled. Then again, it's easy to see why slim is in on campus. BUT ALONG with the drawbacks come the blessings that every un- dergraduate is bound to discover-the excitement and adventure associated with living with hundreds of people of about the same age but vastly different character. Although things might not resemble a luxury hotel in the dorms, the first taste of freedom is more than enough to compensate for the initially discouraging drawbacks. These characterizations are typical of all dorm living, but each residence hall does have its own distinctive features. The following descriptions are based mostly on facts and partially on popular legend. Barbour and Newberry- These two, small, female dorms were built more than 60 years ago and some antiquated attitudes seem to persist. Not quite as stuffy as Martha Cook (see below), but almost. They do offer, however, a relatively elegant atmosphere and the best location on campus for students in LSA-right across from Angell Hall. Bursley- Although the rest of cam- pus pities those stuck out on North Campus, most Bursleyites grow to love their scenic home. And it's really not that hard to get used to the buses. The common bond of isolation also leads to many good friendships. Baits- Another North Campus residence, Baits is occupied mostly by foreign exchange and graduate studen- ts. Residents eat at Bursley since Baits has no cafeteria. It's basically a quiet place, conducive to studying. Martha Cook- Since it's across the street from the President's House and side-by-side with the Law Quad, Mar- tha Cook can hardly help being a bit snobbish. Only upperclasswomen are allowed to live in this most exclusive dorm. It may be more socially secluded than a coed dorm, but some residents maintain living next to all those future lawyers does have its advantages. Couzens- The big dorm that nobody hears about. Located across the street from the Medical Campus, Couzens is popular with nursing students. Markley- Markley is the place for up and coming freshpersons to see and be seen. Whatever the reason for its social standing, many residents rave about it. The once famous pit parties have lost a lot of popularity in recent years, but the snack bar is still a hill area favorite. And if you tire of the cell-like rooms, who can complain about the Arb for a backyard? Mosher Jordan- The ultimate in co- ed dorm luxury, this small hall has four fireplaces, four pianos, and bay win- dows galore in many rooms. Many students want -to live here, but only a handful get the privilege. East Quad- A nonconformist's haven, East Quad draws some of the campus' more free-spirited students. Known best for housing the Residential College, the dorm has retained the last vestiges of the University's long bygone radical era. The architectural flair, the in-dorm theater, and the Halfway Inn are some of the lesser-known reasons why it is a popular place to live. Fletcher- Never heard of it. Henderson- Never heard of that one either. Alice Lloyd- Runner-up behind East Quad in the alternative lifestyle category, this dorm houses a mini- Residential College called the Pilot Program. Lloyd also features a regular selection of vegetarian meals and an excellent library. South Quad- If you want to meet football players, live in South Quad. If you want a 48-hour party on, the weekends, live in South Quad. If you want to get ahead in life, move. Th residents of this large dorm seem to thrive on the Animal House-like at- mosphere. Others say the reputation is undeserved and peace and quiet is available. Stockwell- Although several nicknames allude to the sexual habits of this female dorm's residents, Stockwell retaliates (and pulls in men) with what is reputed to be the best dorm food on campus. West Quad- South Quad's neighbor and rival, West Quad boasts its share of athletes and the famous quaddie burger (although a redecorated cafeteria this year might mean some improvemen- ts). The shouting matches across Madison Street, featuring a limited selection of verbal insults, livens up spring evenings. The dorm is also con- veniently connected to the Michigan Union. (Fletcher and Henderson- So as not. to worsen these two dorms' identity crisis, here's a brief description. The former is an all-male dorm close to the athletic campus, a point which attracts many athletes. But after a long work- out on the track, it can be disappointing to come home to a dorm without a cafeteria. Henderson, an all-female cross between a dorm and a co-op, is located on Hill Street near Washtenaw.) 4 ff a \ : zI i7 . t i 0 0 0 ,:. << xY ' ' 41 Daily Photo by DOUG McMAHON WEST QUAD'S EXTERIOR changed in 1981 when the building received new windows. This year, some internal redecoratiug resulted in a refur- bished dining area. 40 _ -i I Are you living in an apartment next year? WHAT ABOUT MEALS? Study optionis o per if the dorm 4 We at McDonalds S can help! FREE MEALS FLEXIBLE HOURS TO FIT CLASS SCHEDULE NEAR CAMPUS RECEIVE REGULAR RAISES too nolS Y By GREG BRUSSTAR Some students need seclusion in os der to study, and some study in their dorm rooms with the door open, blasting Wild Planet by the B-52s. There are places on campus to fit the study habits of all types of students. For students who enjoy studying in the' company of others, the Un- dergraduate Library (UGLi) is the place to go. It gets crowded in the evenings and is sometimes noisy but there are spaces in the UGLi where one