2C - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 3, 1997

UNIVERSITY


North Campus shows off
'bucolic,' high-tech traits

By Greg Cox
Daily Staff Reporter
Although nuclear reactors, art gal-
leries, ion beams, carillons and
espresso bars may not serve a com-
'mon goal, they are all integrated
seamlessly, with countless other facil-
ities, on 800 acres of rolling hills and
towering trees to form the
University's North Campus.
More than 10,000 faculty members,
students, and staff members utilize
North Campus's facilities, but despite
its amenities and services, many
University students are unaware of all it
has to offer.
In hope of changing common mis-
conceptions about North Campus,
efforts are being made to attract stu-
dents who don't schedule regular class-
es on the campus to it.
"The students on the North Campus
are anxious to have those from the
Central Campus spend time up here,"
Engineering Dean Stephen Director
said. "In fact, in the fall a group of stu-
dents will begin planning some kind of
major event that will take place on the
North Campus early the following fall
that is intended to involve all U of M
students and draw them up to the North
Campus."
Even some first-year Engineering
students seldom spend time on North
Campus, despite its many facilities and
offerings.
"I usually didn't leave Central," said
Engineering sophomore Kevin Kalp.
Many students who are more familiar
with North Campus said they find
many of its resources invaluable. Even
Kalp himself admits the ride to North

Campus will soon become a part of his
routine.
"It's very centralized for engineering.
I like the newer buildings and facili-
ties," Kalp said. "They're a little ornate
with the architecture, but I guess most
colleges are like that."
The North Campus has indeed kept
architects busy recently. It has under-
gone a massive metamorphosis over the
past few years, through a great deal of
construction.
Director said the additions have
made a big difference to the campus.
"Several new buildings have drasti-
cally changed the North Campus,"
Director said. "First and foremost is the
Media Union, where students from all
parts of the campus congregate to col-
laborate and create."
The $45-million structure is home to
more than 600,000 volumes, 1 million
technical reports and 85,000 art and
architecture slides, in addition to its 400
computer workstations and other facili-
ties.
Even more visible is the concrete
tower whose carillon sounds the tradi-
tional Westminster Quarters during
the day, and frequently plays other
music.
"The new Lurie carillon adds a focal
point to the campus," Director said.
Some of the most interesting and
unique features of North Campus
aren't as apparent as the Media Union
and Lurie Tower. Works by renowned
artists and unique facilities are not
necessarily in the most obvious loca-
tions.
"Maya Lin's Wave Field is tucked
away in a quiet plaza near the FXB

Building," Director said.
The 1,800 square foot field of
earthen waves provides a unique and
visually dynamic place to study, read
or relax.
Also off the beaten path from the
main North Campus Diag area, the
Gerald Ford Library houses docu-
ments from the former president's
time in office, and serves an interna-
tional public interest in U. S. domes-
tic and foreign policies of the 1970s.
Director stressed that even more
impressive than many of the structures
themselves are the things the North
Campus community does within the
structures' walls.
"Recital halls and galleries abound,
and display the talents of faculty and
students," Director said. "In
Engineering, with 11 departments and
over 6,000 graduate and undergradu-
ate students, there is always some-
thing interesting going on - design
showcases of student work, seminars,
work on national competitions such
as SunRacer and student society
meetings.
"It's bucolic, but not boring."
Despite all these, North Campus is
not without shortcomings, in the eyes of
some students.
"It (The Lurie Tower) doesn't have a
clock on it," Kalp said. "There are no
centralized clocks on the entire cam-
pus."
Another complaint offered by some
North Campus visitors is that there
are fewer businesses located near the
North Campus Diag than the Central
Campus Diag area. There are only
three restaurants in the Pierpont

FILE PHOTO
The Lurie Bell Tower on North Campus is a recent addition to the campus's sky-
line. North Campus has seen a boom of construction in the last decade.

Commons, and the only other dining
options are the facilities at Bursley
Residence Hall.
Director said it is difficult to compare
the two major academic campuses at
the University.
"The North Campus is quite different

from Central Campus - it's quieter,
more park-like, lots of trails running up
and down hills," Director said. "The
grounds around the Schools of Music,
Art and Design and Architecture and
Urban Planning are delightful in the fall
and spring."

U' student ID card connects to local banking options

By Matt Weiler
Daily Staff Reporter
Students, be prepared to meet your M-Card.
It is roughly the size of a credit card. It can be used
to purchase cookies and Cokes from the vending
,pachines. It doubles as an ATM card, provided you
have an account with the right bank. It is adorned
with your grinning mug and student ID number.
If a student has an account at First of America
bank, he or she can use the M-Card as an ATM
card, said Dave Doyle, M-Card program coordina-
tor at First of America Bank.

"If there is an existing account, the M-Card can
be linked," Doyle said. "Savings accounts can also

tor's) bank," Doyle said.
The M-Card may not necessarily follow the path

be linked." to banking heaven, however.
Doyle said that First Of America has tables at Kathy Snyder, branch manager at Comerica
orientation to facilitate new accounts. bank on North University Avenue, pointed out that
"They provide students an opportunity to open an there may be additional fees associated with using
account," Doyle said. "They are there for students' the M-Card as an ATM card.
convenience, fall branches can get crowded." "It is 50 cents after the fifth transaction of every
Doyle said that the M-Card works at any Cirrus month," Snyder said.
ATM machine, but he warns that using a competi- This fee is associated with a Campus First
tor's machine will result in a $1.50 service fee. account, which is the most popular account for
"It is a way to cover the cost to the (competi- first-year students, Doyle said.

M-Card offers the convenience of a combined
ID and ATM card, but some competitors offer a
debit card that incurs no fees at all, regardless of
how many times it is used.
"The debit card (offered by Comerica) is used as
a check book ... you could use it every day in the
month and you would have no additional fee,"
Snyder said.
Yet the M-Card remains quite a card, a jack of
many trades.
"My M-Card is quite handy," said LSA junior
Andy Wallace. "Once, I even tried to shave with it."

Internship[
give vital,
real-world
experience
By Maria Hackett
Daily Staff Reporter
First-year students usually have
enough on their minds without thinking
about jobs and careers.
But should that be the case?
Some student find that even with
excellent grades and recommendations,
jobs can be difficult to find without pro-
fessional experience.
"We've seen a nationwide trend t
internships and work experience are
increasingly important in hiring at enty-
level positions," said Judy Lawsdh,
senior assistant director of the Office' df
Career Planning and Placement.
Internships are helpful for obtainrig
the sort of skills employers are looking
for, she continued.
"A high percentage of employers are
hiring from the ranks of interns. It
pool of people already familiar with
organization," Lawson said.
Many internships can lead to jobs or
other internships.
"I know people whose internshps
have gotten them jobs for life," said Ltv
student Rachel Paster.
As students gain more experiene,
they become more marketable for pres-
tigious positions.
"Students might want to build their
skills for the first two years be
applying for some of the more comp -
tive internships," Lawson said.
Internships do not have to leaj,
careers, and oftentimes, they doi't.
Lawson advised that internships ar a
good way of "testing out a field" bfote
making a commitment to a profession.
Often, an internship can also influ-
ence the educational path studnnts
choose.
"Even a bad internship can h:
There's so much you can learn, berg
around professional people, helpingo
decide what you want to do, if you wart
to work in that field," Paster said. "It #s
helpful in helping me decide to go to law
school."
The emphasis of the internship exp'&-
rience is on learning the field.
LSA junior Stephanie Fried has com-
pleted several internships in federal gov-
ernment, including work for the Ho
Judiciary Committee. Fried spent iiie
summer interning for Sen. Ted Kennedy
(D-Mass.).
"I feel like I've learned so much about
how the system works," Fried said. "I
didn't think there's any other way to ral-
ly learn how the government works."
LSA senior Shani Waite said 'she
gained her position working with a 6-
fessor through the Undergraduate
Research Opportunity Program. *
said she learned the importance of hav-
ing "experience in how to present
something you believe in to society,
and how you have to be able to defend
it."
Several strategies are employed 'in
finding an internship. Some students
use personal connections. Fried said
personal connections are critical to fid-
ing the right internship, but after that, i's
up to the intern to hold their position'"
Others start at the Career Plann$
and Placement office located in the
Student Activities Building.
"The best way to get started is to

think about what kind of internship
experience they want, what kind of
skills they want to gain, what kind of
fields they want to get exposure to,"
Lawson said. "There are so many dif-
ferent kinds out there. We help students
figure out what they want and how -
locate them using a whole variety,,
techniques.'
These techniques involve searchinig
indexes, attending job fairs and usiflg
the Internet, among others.
"It always helps to come to the cadii
center and explore and decide what k;W
of experience you want to have. There
a whole range of experiences out tlie
and they can all be career-relate,
Lawson said. "They can come to us
information will be waiting."
An internship search requires 't4I
and dedication, and the earlier d
starts, the more opportunities are a~r
able.
"It typically involves a codpl
months" Lawson said. "It is work,2
good experience for finding a job sei o
year."
Some students' searches are mored
ficult than others, "depending on w
their goals are and how specific
needs are," she said, "We can make-tci
lot easier. The world is full of intent
ships. They come in all shapes and sit.
Students should be flexible and cft
minded."
Students should be prepared to ff i
many unpaid internships, depending T

. "

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