12E - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 3, 1997 ANN ARBOR r:ar Id- 4 H I 0 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- -.- --- .......................................................... Mifchigan's Finest 15emp afore Hemp i5 1the strongest Natural Fib'er known to man! Voted Best Shoe Store I In Ann Arbor By Our Staff Total support for the student body.' -i t y ,. >t~ h: Y' %h . ) I A