The Michigan Daily - michigandaity.com
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 9C
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE DORMS
Are you nervous about sharing a room with another person who you've never met? Do you know nothing about your assigned
dorm? We've solicited help from Daily writers who have lived in some of the residence halls on campus to provide you with
background information that the Orientation leaders and tour guides don't tell you.
CENTRAL CAMPUS: EAST QUAD
Entering East Quad through the courtyard, you immediately
sense something out of the ordinary. You can't place it at first, but
you know it has something to do with that girl wearing the kimono
in the corner, sketching mushrooms. And yes, the chanting coming
from that open window is part of it, too. Ignore the table of hipsters
staring you down, enter the building and smile. You have arrived at
the Bohemian cradle of the University: the Residential College.
To your left is one of two dining halls in which you will be served
more organic, vegetarian, international and locally grown food than
anywhere else on campus. Remember this acclaim when you grow
tired of barbeque tofu after your first month.
Upstairs, your room is bigger than any of your friends' in Markley,
but they still tell you East Quad sucks. And you either respond that
you love it or you say, "but the location is great..." There's no escaping
the community showers, but you don't mind. College is all about
experimentation anyway, right? Have fun with it!
Smell that smoky, herbal smell? That's the not-technically-
addictive-but-still-pretty-intense scent of nonconformity - your
gateway to the liberal arts. Breathe it in and you feel at home.
Oh, and if you're not a weirdo, there are plenty of normal people in
the South half of the building.
MATT GREEN
"CENTRAL CAMPUS: MARTHA COOK
Built in 1915 as a safe haven to house the women who would
eventually become the wives of the lawyers next door on South
University, Martha Cook currently houses approximately 140
female students who may or may not follow the archaic path of
past "Cookies."
While the students may catch a bad rep on campus for being
snooty and reserved, freshmen can be assured that their room
will be larger and nicer than in any other residence hall on
campus. Many will be pleasantly surprised by the number of
walk-in closets.
The environment is conducive to studying at almost any time,
and when weather permits, the porch that sits off the east side
of the building overlooking the fenced-in courtyard is perfect for
evening strolls and picnics. The weekly Friday Tea is something
that most, if not all residents come to love. And at the end of
the day, even though non-residents will need to be escorted off
the premises, the Cookies get to sleep soundly at one of the best
residence halls on campus.
CHANTEL JENNINGS
At first, Couzens might not seem like the perfect dorm for
freshman year. Not only does it lack a dining hall, but-it's also a
slight walk from most classes on central campus. However, these
perceived shortcomings are easily overcome by Couzens' countless
positives.
It is great to have the beautiful Hill Dining Center within close
proximity, allowing students to grab a quick bite to eat with ease.
Both Palmer Field and the Central Campus Recreational Building
are only a short walk away, making it relatively easy to find a place
to enjoy some activity between classes.
It provides the ideal balance between social and studious
residence halls. The multiple lounges in Couzens facilitate
interaction between students, serving as comfy places to hang out
and relax with friends.
Additionally, the dorm is never too rowdy and presents a calm
working environment. When studying in a residence hall is just not
enough, the quick stroll to the Taubman Medical Library will surely
be appreciated, especially during the cold winter months.
Couzens offers the best of all worlds - a central location that is
neither too close nor too far from anything, a social environment
and a comfortable place for quiet relaxation and study.
SHRUTI UMESH GANDHI
So the rooms aren't so big, you're relegated to use community
bathrooms and the walk to class is a tad on the longer side, but don't
worry - two weeks into your first semester, all of your friends not
living in Markley are going to wish they did.
Markley is the end all, be all of residence halls at the University.
It has all of the essentials to offer you the best freshmen experience
possible.
So you have a paper and a final for tomorrow? There's a 24-hour
computingsite in the basement as well as a study lounge at the front of
the building to help in your academic endeavors. Do you get hungry at
10 p.m. but don't want to run outside in the 20-degree weather to grab
a late-night snack? Don't fret - the Hideway, a dining convenience
store, has everything you need to get you through your hunger pains.
Want to go out on a Saturday night? With over a thousand freshmen
and sophomores living in Markley, you'll always find people to hang
out with no matter what night of the week it is.
This is the dorm for incoming freshmen. Consider yourself very
lucky if you're assigned to live here.
MARKBURNS
HILL CAMPUS: ALICE LLOYD
The lingering sounds of students playing Beethoven and Billy Joel
on the piano float down the hallways. Students splatter paint on can-
vases in the art room. Others read and recite poetry in the lounge.
Welcome to the Lloyd Hall Scholars Program inAlice Lloyd.
Around 200 studentswith an interest in writing and the artsbelong
to the LHSP learning community.
Students in the program take English classes taught specifically by
LHSP professors and participate in arts and literary-oriented clubs
such as Photography Club, Extemporaneous Writing and Film Club
and produce A View from the Hill Literary Journal with writing and
artwork from students.
But Alice Lloyd isn't just a creativity oasis. About 200 residents
belong to the Health Science Scholars Program - another learning
community for students interested ina career in health.
HSSP students take health-related courses and attend monthly
seminars where healthcare professionals discuss the latest develop-
ments in public health.
If you happen to be one of the lucky freshmen placed in Alice Lloyd,
but not in either learning communities, rejoice. You get to live in one of
the dorms with the biggest rooms on campus, where Palmer Field is your
backyard and the walk to the dining hall is less than one minute away.
STEPHANIE STEINBERG
NORTH CAMPUS: BURSLEY/BAITS
You've heard the horror stories about North Campus and all its
doom. You've been educated on how living there isolates you from
the rest of the University. And yes, that is all kind of true.
But Bursley and Baits aren't as bad as everyone might have told
you. The commute to and from Central Campus does suck at 8
a.m., but you'll meet some really cool people on the Magic Bus.
With your newfound friends, you'll be able to bitch and complain
about how living on North is a pain but, in doing so, you'll develop
a bond with your fellow students. While North is three miles from
Central, the trek back to North at the end of the day will leave
you with a sense of peace that you have to really search for on
Central.
But if you're one of the unfortunate few assigned to live among
three miles from the heart of the University- I'm sorry. Find a
good group of friends, make the best of it and find a way to stay
at a friend's dorm on Friday night before home football games.
If you don't, you'll be sure to wait a while for the bus down to
Central.
MARK BURNS
With first director, Semester in Detroit
gears up for inaugural program
By BETH WITTENSTEIN
Daily StaffReporter
SEPTEMBER 3, 2009 - The
Semester in Detroit project, a pro-
gram which will intertwine a com-
munity-based internship and an
urban studies course, moved one
step closer to sending students to
the Motor City.
Craig Regester, the recently
appointed associate staff director
for the program, began work Tues-
day and is enthusiastic about the
program's goals.
"It will provide an opportunity
for students that seriously want
to immerse themselves in the city
in a way that wasn't possible until
now," said Regester.
Regester already set up a listing
of courses and additional infor-
mation about the program online.
Students will live in Wayne State
University residence halls and have
access to the school's facilities.
University professors and
administrators from several dif-
ferent schools and departments
have worked together over the
past year to launch the program
including Ginsberg Center Direc-
tor Margaret Dewar, Residential
College Director Charles Bright,
LSA Asst. Dean Evans Young and
Lester Monts, Senior Vice Provost
for Academic Affairs.
Regester said the group has
contacted more than 300 Detroit-
based organizations in hopes of
placing University students in
internship programs.
The program will offer three
elective courses for program par-
ticipants - "Detroit Connections,"
taught by Nick Tobier, an assistant
professor in the School of Art and
Design; a creative writing course
titled "Writing in Detroit" taught
by RC Lecturer Lolita Hernandez
and a Detroit history course taught
by Residential College Prof. Ste-
phen Ward. Ward and his students
will collaborate with Detroit's
Mosaic Youth Theater to produce
an oral history production at the
end of the term.
Regester said he plans to add
more elective choices for students
in the program.
He said he'd also like to see
the Semester in Detroit program
involve an extracurricular mentor-
ship program in which University
students can meet regularly with
a University alum living or work-
ing in the city and a Detroit high
school student.
"On a small scale," Regester said,
"that sort of mentorship program
will encourage more young people
to consider college in general."
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