12E - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 3, 1997
ANN ARBOR
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Graphics by ERIN RAGER/Daily
Region's weather
strikes at extremes
By Jack Schillaci
Daily Arts W'riter
To get to classes, work or the night's
biggest keg party, University students
trudge through Ann Arbor's tempestu-
ous weather every day. In doing so, they
experience everything from scalding
heat and inescapable sun to near-torren-
tial rain or heavy snow storms. The city
has a reputation for having weather that
is both unpredictable and unpleasant.
Every fall, first-
year students adjust Stomy
to the city's tem- * An Arbor see
peramental weather. 136 days where.
Out-of-state stu- ter dips to tempo
dents from warmer tha32
or more stable cli- O 12 y tt
mates often dislike rehigherthan
Michigan's compar- EThe rost snos
itive cold. Arbor in 24 hour
"At home right 1974, when 1.$'
now, it's everything blanket the towr
I was hoping it ' Anr Arbor see
would be here" said of rainy days -
New Jersey native 135 so-called w
and LSA junior crty annualy,
Lydia Jani, during a: 1nwnsr
spell of bad weather
in spring.
The city's unpredictable weather
sometimes catches students off guard.
"1 was expecting more sun, especially
during spring term," Jani said. "It's a lit-
tle overcast and chilly."
Ann Arbor's weather is significantly
affected by the Great Lakes, according
to a report on the city's climate prepared
by Atmospheric Science Prof. Peter
Sousounis, recent University graduate
Chris Weiss and University meteorolo-
gist Dennis Kalbaum.
However, the city receives less
extreme weather than other places in
Michigan due to its distance from any
of the lakes. According to the report, the
city's temperature drops below freezing
an average of 136 days each year - sig-
nificantly less than many shoreline
cities. The city's precipitation also tends
to be lighter - there are rarely storms
of more than four inches of snow.
The fall semester starts with warm,
summer-like days. By November, the
temperature usually drops from its
September average by 20 degrees.
November and
leather December see many
a whopping overcast days, as the
e thermome warmth of the Great
atures lezS Lakes cause signifi-
cant moisture accu-
temperatures mulation in the
atmosphere.
to f1l on Ann The winter semes-
:arne . 1, ter begins cloudy, but
t white stuff the lakes usually
freeze enough by
its fair share February to reduce
average of cloud cover. January
days hit the often brings the year's
worst snowfalls, but
fmranl a rzger.2 there is rarely more
y,31SS resmers, than one six-inch
snowfall annualy.
The spring and summer semesters
generally begin coldly due to the
lakes' low temperatures. Severe
weather is most likely during the
spring as cool Canadian air and warm
air from the Gulf of Mexico create
strong storm systems. Weather pat-
terns established during the early
summer tend to remain stable
throughout the summer. For example,
the summer of 1988 brought tempera-
tures of 100 degrees and a severe
drought throughout the summer.
The report stated a possibile resur-
gence of an atmospheric event known
MARGARTU MYERS/Daily
Residents of West Quad and South Quad residence halls battle it out In a snowball fight last winter. This snowball fight between the two neighboring residence halls is a
perennial showdown at the University held every winter, one of the ways students try to make the best of the cold and snowy weather.
as El Nino during the 1997-98 school
year. The event is caused by the relax-
ation of trade winds over the Pacific
Ocean, eventually leading to a distur-
bance in weather patterns all over the
world. In Ann Arbor, El Nino causes
warmer air temperatures during the
winter months and greater precipatory
moisture from the lakes - eventually
spawning increased snowfall.
"The weather has been getting worse
and worse the past couple years - what
happened to the greenhouse effect we
were supposed to see?" asked recent
LSA graduate Deanna McElhaney. "I
hope I'm not here when that (El Nino)
happens."
McElhaney said "Ann Arbor's weath-
er is generally crummy. I hate cold
weather, and its always cold."
Not all University students dislike the
city's weather so much. Julia Music, an
LSA student, said the weather is gener-
ally pleasant but that last year's winter
Ice, ice baby
Banks pledge
convenience,
woo students
By Matt Weiler
Daily Staff Reporter
Most new students quickly discover that financial con-
cerns often extend to more than making the next tuition pay-
ment.
Upon arriving at school, most students will have to set up
new bank accounts, or at least transfer old ones to campus-
area locations. The options for setting up a new account are
nearly as copious as the number of bookstores in Ann Arbor.
Banking salespeople will attempt to woo new students with
various incentives - dizzying, figure-packed sales pitches,
a flood of credit-card offers and broucheres, and even the
occasional unsolicited phone call. Students should wade
through this mire of interest rates by considering many
options before making a decision.
For some students, banking is a daunting task, where dis-
aster lurks behind every transaction.
"I once had to pay a $70 fee because the check I bounced
and the check I wrote to cover that also bounced," said Kate
Hickner, LSA iunior. "Big mess. Bit fiasco."
Learning to navigate the rapids of interest rates and check-
ing fees is important, said Kathy Snyder, manager of the
Comerica Bank branch on North University Avenue.
"Students need to make sure they are informed of all
charges," Snyder said. "Bottom line - be aware of every-
thing. Ask questions."
The two largest banking chains in Ann Arbor are First of
America and Comerica. Each of these banks has more than
seven branches in the Ann Arbor area. Other banks with
locations on both North and Central Campus are Key Bank,
National Bank of Detroit and Great Lakes Bank.
First of America and Comerica offer comprable options to
students. First of America accounts can be tied into M-Card
- a student ID card - which can be used as a debit card at
some area stores. The money is drawn directly from the
checking account, with no additional fees, said Dave Doyle,
M-Card program coordinator.
Comerica offers a similiar card, called the Visacheck
lintoftmrtio poied bY, 4 t df~vial 4 ,rl -
Card. The Visacheck is a card that works like a check and is
accepted by merchants because it bears the Visa logo, Snyder
said.
"It's a debit card that's used as a checking book," Snyder
said.
Both Comerica and First of America offer ATM cards with
their basic checking plans. First of America's plan offers four
free withdrawls a month, with each additional withdrawl
costing 50 cents. Comerica's ATM plan imposes no fee for
ATM withdrawls at all. Comerica also boasts the most
machines (19) of any other area bank.
"You could concievably use it every day with no addition-
al fee, if you wanted to," Snyder said.
But Comerica does not offer the convienence of being
able to use the M-Card as an ATM card, a boon that is
offered by First of America.
Students should be wary of using their ATM cards at com-
petitors' machines, however; there is a $1.50 fee for using an
ATM that is not your bank's.
"(These fees are) because whenever a First of America
customer goes to NBD they (NBD) get a service fee. The
fees are a way of covering the cost to the bank," Doyle said.
Setting up an account is a relatively simple process. Many
banks encourage students to walk in and set up an account
upon arrival next fall - or earlier, to avoid long lines.
All of the banks also offer other services to students, such
as CDs and full service brokerage, so students can improve
their stock options at the same time they are improving their
career options.
extended too long into the spring
months.
The weather can also have an effect
on students' moods and attitudes. Music
said that nice weather puts her in a beS
ter mood.
"It's easier to wake up when it's not
rainy and cold," she said.
2
A toget
new area
code
Change will shift
phone numbers from
313 to 734 prefix
By Megan Extey
Daily Staff Reporter
The 313 area code in part of Ann
Arbor will go the way of the rotary
telephone, starting this September.
Effective Dec. 13, 1997, the 313
area code used with most local phone
numbers will change to 734.
Brandy Woodward, a sales repre-
sentative for Ameritech, said it is
conceivable that some regions will
be separated into two different zones
after the change.
"Changes in area codes do not go
by city or towns," Woodward said.
"However, at this point in time, it
appears that most University phone
numbers will be affected by the
change."
Woodward said Ameritech has
already sent literature about the
upcoming change to the public.
"The new phone books will als
list the prefixes that will be affec'
ed," Woodward said.
In the Ann Arbor community,
numbers with the prefixes 213, 332,
647, 669, 761, 763, 764, 930, 994,
996 and 997 will be among those
subject to change to the 734 area
code, starting Dec. 13.
Woodward said the area code is
being changed due to the dramatic
increase in fax, computer and pager
numbers in recent years.
"We are simply running out o
numbers in the old area code,
Woodward said. "By changing to the
new area code, we will open up
access to more numbers."
Woodward said the area code
change will not affect telephone
rates.
"We want everyone to realize that
phone numbers that are local now
will still be local after the change,
Woodward said.
Most University students said the
area code change is a surprise to
them.
"This is the first time I have heard
about it," said Engineering junior
Charles Garnett. "I don't think it will
JOHN KRAFT/Daily
Martin Folk, a chef at Stockwell residence hall, saws his way through a
chunk of Ice for a Valentine's Day sculpture outside the residence hall.
Ice sculptures are displayed In front of Stockwell every winter.
F- -.- --- ..........................................................
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