' e ittN+ ttil_ E W S T U D E N T E D I T I 0 N 1 9 9 3 S0 i St C .aS 51v. IL An essential guide for the new 'U' student by Travis McReynolds Entering the University of Michigan can be as confusing as moving to a foreign country, and as difficult as finding yourself in a jungle without a machete. Moving from highly conservative Grand Rapids, Mich., as I did, to the more liberal town of Ann Arbor was quite shocking. Grand Rapids has a higher ratio of churches to people than any other city in America -- this is true. I think it is something like one church for every 15 people, although my calculations could be off a bit. Whereas Ann Arbor has more restaurants per capita than any other city in Michigan - it is like moving away from the Stoics and moving in with the Epicureans, "Eat, drink, be merry, for tomorrow may never come!" In the next few weeks, you will be forced to adjust to a new way of living, just as I was forced to do two years ago. Don't panic, I caught on quickly - everyday I pick up a few more U of M survival tips. I am proud to say I speak the language spoken by the veteran students quite well now, and I have learned the customs of campus life through various means - by asking many questions, and by the less popular method of trial and error.. I attended Grand Rapids Junior College, or as I like to call it, High School Part II, for two years. With only 10,000 students, GRJC is quite different from the U of M. Attending junior college does have its advantages. Forty dollars per credit hour is slightly more reasonable than the University's current robbery of $144.63 per credit. By transferring in as a junior, I was also spared the suffering of living in a dorm and sharing a bathroom with 5,000 other students. On the other hand, living at home two years after high school can be a bit grueling at times. Nineteen years-old with a curfew is not only embarrassing, but downright infuriating. I remember my parents and I began counting down the days until I moved to Ann Arbor months ahead of time. See GUIDE, Page 9 S TUDYING L You came to school to study and procure wonderful grades. Well, maybe. No matter what your main ob- jective at the University, you will likely want to log some quality study hours at onetime oranother. We know the places to go and the places not to go. So if you want the ins and outs of the study scene, read this article. T HE DIAG COURSE7 SCHEDULING Computer Registration In- volving Student Participation (CRISP) is the system used by the University for registering for classes. For a handful of students, CRISP is a breeze. For many more, though, it is little more than a pressure-filled crapshoot. CRISP night- mare stories are a dime a dozen. Take a gander at this story and you will see why. I C AMPUS SEC 8 URITY The Diag? What the heck is that? It is the place to give a speech, listen tomusic andpass out fliers. Itisalsoagood place to sit and read your favorite Fyodor Dostoevsky workof literature-weather permitting, of course. (bottom) Even though some students use the Diag as a simple path from one class to another, many view it as a forumfor freedom of expression. Peruse this piece and discover what the Diag is all about. ECREATION 3 CENTERS Everyone knows the evils of the "freshman fifteen." The question is, how do you avoid the surplus baggage? At the University, all it takes is a little motivation and a small decision regard- ing locale. If you want to play hoops, lift weights or use a Stairmaster, you are in luck. There are enough recreation cen- ters on campus that provide the facili- ties you need. So get off the couch, run (don't walk)tothe CCRB, IM orNCRB and stay away from the spare tire. TheDepartmentof Public Safety (DPS) prowls the University campus, keeping a watchful eye on student hap- penings. The departmentwas deputized in 1992 and officers carry firearms. DPS is often a hot topic in A. Some see it as the administration's watchdog, while others look on it more favorably. REGENTS 9 What do Shirley McFee, Wayne Gretzky, Meg Ryan and Paul Brown have in common? Not too much, butBrown andMcFee siton the Univer- sity Board of Regents. The Board of Regents controls all academic and fi- nancial matters connected to the Uni- versity. The eight-member board deals with issues ranging from tuition in- creases to tenure. OLOGY 9 What happens if you step on the 'M' in the middle of the Diag? (top) Is there a nuclear missile in the Burton Tower? (middle) Is the MTV flag on the moon really a Michigan flag? Are there tunnels in place for nervous 'U' admin- istrators? Ah, many of the wacky tales regarding the University's distinguished past and colorful present are included in this true/false exam. G REEK SYSTEM 6 Many students are confronted with the dilemma of whether or not they should rush a fraternity or sorority. Nearly 25 percent of University stu- dents are members of a house. Many more frequentGreek activities and gath- erings. Like most groups or associa- tions on campus, the Greek System has its positive and negative attributes, at least that is what many students say. Totes 11 u