Wednesday, September 8, 1999 - The Michigan Daily - New Student Edition - 3D CIty to spruce up parking structures I PARKING Continued from Page 1D "We all need parking and we're always looking for it. It's important to understand that a lot of work goes toward making it 1ivailable," Pallac said. At least $30 million dollars is expected to be spent on the massive renovation project, not including the cost of one structure's remodeling that has not yet been deter- mined. Pallac stressed the money to finance the project will not come from Ann Arbor resi- dents' tax dollars. "The money conies from the parking sys- tem's revenue," Pallae said. "It can be thought of as a user fee. Everyone who pays *o park is part of the solution." f Engineering senior Andrew Hunter said the improvements to structures will be a positive addition to Ann Arbor. "It should be great," Hunter said. "Hopefully it will allow more access to the downtown." Improvements will include measures to protect existing structures fromfurther win- ter damage and salt brought in on cars. The structures will be cleaned and repainted to improve their appearance. Some of the new structures will provide additional parking spaces, Pallac said Because so many of the structures under renovation are close to campus, many mem- bers of the University community will be affected. The University and the city of Ann Arbor need to have a common goal in mind, said Jim Kosteva, director of community rela- tions at the University. "There is a great deal of dialogue taking place regarding how the city and University can meet our mutual interests: to serve our respective customers and constituents," Kosteva said. Attempts to improve Ann Arbor's parking situation are coming not a moment too soon for many of Ann Arbor's downtown business owners. Tom Hackett, owner of Afternoon Delight, said parking is a constant concern. "Parking is always a problem," Hackett said. "We can't give customers valet park- people have the perception that there is no parking, but in reality, there is." - Tim Anderson Borders general manager ing. All we can do is keep complaining to the mayor." Some said too much emphasis is placed on the parking problem. Tim Anderson, gen- eral manager of Borders Books and Music on East Liberty Street, said he often hears frustration from patrons. "We have many customer complaints," Anderson said. "I think the people have the perception that there is no pa rking, but in reality, there is." DANA UNNANE/Oady' Carlos Jackson and his son, Carlos Jackson Jr., enjoy a leafy summer day In Ann Arbor. SST! WANNA BUY ANYTHING? Ann Arbor has unique ways to take your money By Chris Grandstaff Daily Staff Reporter Simply put: Ann Arbor is different. What other city can claim to be the home of a world-renowned university, a festival celebrating the legalization of marijuana, a borderline pornographic mile run, and arguably the most hated and hateful existing group of people on the planet? But even aside from housing the University of Michigan, Hash Bash, the Naked Mile, and entertaining the Ku Klux Klan every couple of years Ann Arbor is still1 far from your average Midwestern town. The diversity of people and events har- bored within the city limits of Ann Arbor can be attributed to the university and its need to cater to the variety of different life styles 'that it houses from around the world. The nature of the university is clearly vis- ible throughout the city of Ann Arbor, but it is perhaps most clearly scene through the windows of a few stores in close proximity to the university itself W While strolling up and down State Street and South University, amongst the hundreds of students and local Ann Arborites, you will notice a typical university selection of ath- letic apparel shops and CD stores, all woven in between a seemingly endless supply of bookstores and coffee shops. But a closer look at Ann Arbor's retailers will show that this is not your usual middle American locale. Ann Arbor provides its consumers with a variety of products that range from Hookahs to inflatable goats to lubrication. One store that will no doubt catch the eye of every incoming first-year student's par- ents is S3 or the Safe Sex store. Owned and managed by Beth Karmeisool, this racy boutique will let daddy know that his little Dorothy is no where near Kansas anymore. Although its primary product is the con- dom, S3 also provides some interesting tems in the adult novelty section. There you can find anything from cyberskin dildos - designed to feel as much like your regular skin as possible - to the "Love Swing," a positions chair which hangs from your ceil- ing. But there is a lot more to S3 than just kinky sex items. "I try to keep things clean in here," Karmeisool said. "Really our purpose is to first promote safe sex and to make sure we provide information to the customers so they feel comfortable coming in and getting con- doms and lubrication." Take just a few steps further down South University you'll find "The Middle Earth," a gift shop that sells everything from cards and posters to erotic male art. Guide expedites recycling for 'U' By Asma Rfeeq Daily Staff Reporter Frustrated by the enormous amount of waste produced by off-campus stu- dents at move-out time, four University students resolved to take action, spend- ing late nights and spare time to pro- duce the University's first-ever rcy- cling guide for off-campus students is available. SNRE senior Robin Deutsch, Art junior Betsy Stromberg, SNRE senior Becky Setzman and LSA sophomnore Jennifer Anderson, began planning the guide when they served on the Winter 1998 Environmental Theme Semester planning committee.. . Deutsch said they hope the guide will help students make the transition om recycling in the residence halls to itcy- cling off campus', and eventutally become a standard source of informa- tion for landlords and apartment own- ers. "I think a lot of people think that once it's out of your sight, it's not a problem - but it is," said Deutsch, co- chair of Michigan Student Assembly's Environmental Issues Commission. The eight-page guide, titled "Michigan Recycles," includes basics about sorting, tips for moving and phone numbers of local donation and re-use centers. Many people, Deutsch said,, are unaware that a local curb-side recycling service, Recycle Ann Arbor, will bring residents two bins for paper and con- tainers upon request. The quartet coordinated with local recycling agency, city and University representatives to research the guide. They received funding for the projict from MSA, the city of Ann Arbor aind the Environmental Theme Semester, among other sources. Last year, the students were instru- mental in organizing Green Move-Out, a recycling program for off-campus stu- dents similar to the move-out program in residence halls. Students donated a record amount furniture, clothing, packaged food ahd toiletries at three different off-campus sites, said Sarah Archer, the University's Recycling Coordinator. The program compiled a total of 12 tons of donations from residence halls and students in off-campus housing ast year - twice the collection of the pr- vious year, she said. "As University students, we live veiy disposable lifestyles," Deutsch said, "Just think ... pizza boxes, notebooks, pencils." The guide is available at Pierpont Commons, the Campus Information Center, the Michigan Union and th MSA office. To receive recycling bins for an off- campus residence call 99-GREEN (994-7336). DANA LINNANE/Daky LSA sophomores Julia Kim (left) and Sommy Ko examine the eclectic wares of Middle Earth, on South University Avenue. Many University students take advantage of Ann Arbor's unique retail scene. Some of the more interesting items one can find while perusing the shelves of "The Middle Earth" are sheaths made out of gourds that African Men use to cover their genitalia, and the already mentioned inflat- able goat, which can be seen hanging from the ceiling. Ann Arbor's campus retail community is also home to a couple of headshops that have found an interesting location for their stores. j If you are looking for "Purple Haze," or "Stairway to Heaven," you better, and appro- priately, look high because both stores are located on the second floor. The entrance to Stairway leaves little doubt that this is not your typical store. Once at the top of the steps the customer becomes surrounded by a long, dark hallway, illumi- nated only by black light and adorned with numerous black light posters that cast psy- chedelic neon greens, blues, and reds across the floor. Although "Stairway" specializes in water pipes, the store draws customers from all walks of life. "We've got 70-80 year-old people coming in here one minute, and your typical hippie type coming in the next," manager Dave Jordan said. "We've got our own little niche I think. It's the weirdest store in town," Jordan said. We have the strangest stuff, we have the strangest staff, we have the strangest loca- tion. We're fun, and we're designed to catch the eye." If "Stairway" is designed to catch the eye then "Purple Haze" is designed to catch the nose and ear, as strong smells of incense and the festive sounds of reggae music will no doubt grab the customers attention as they approach this headshop/body piercing retail- er. The store is filled with water pipes, hookahs, and Bob Marley paraphernalia. "Nothitig is outrageous at Purple Haze," owner Beatriz Hollis said. "People ask what's the weirdest part of the body you pierce or the weirdest thing you sell. Nothing is weird to me." Maybe stores like these are able to succeed in Ann Arbor despite it's Midwestern loca- tion because "Ann Arbor is just really liber- al, Karmeisool said, or maybe it's just "because it's Ann Arbor man," Jordan said, "that's the way it is." MIonaghan founds A2 law school By Michael Grass Daily Staff Reporter' The University's Law School may have a new neighbor next year as anoth- er institution of legal education plans to Lehman said he did not expect a mass exodus of faculty from the University to the new school. University President Lee Bollinger echoed Lehman's thoughts on Ave The school plans to incorporate pro- fessional ethics into the curriculum, Hirschfeld said, adding that Catholic teachings place "value on the human person." Genius is in the details I