U U Ads 0 v W w w ABOUT CAMPUS ILLUSTRATIONS BY JOHN OQUIST Magazine Editor: Jessica Vosgerchian Editor inChief: Gary Graca Managing Editor: Courtney Ratkowiak Photo Editor: Sam Wolson The Junk Drawer: Brian Tengel Center spread design: Sara Boboltz Cover photo: Max Collins The Statement is The Michigan Daily's news magazine, distributed every Wednesday during the academic year. new rules rule 218: Just because you have a Black- Berry doesn't mean you can expect everyone else to text 75-word responses, too. rule 219: Even if it's not your chore to clean the bathroom, you can't leave your grody stuff all over it. rule 220: Whether you're fighting or sexing with your boo, keep the volume low for the sake of your roommates. - E-mail rule submissions to TheStatement@umich.edu IS YOUR BREW, THE BEST? Are you currently storing a beer fermenter tub in your bathroom? Are you collecting bottles to fill with your recipe? If so, The Michigan Daily wants to sample your beer in its student brewer competition. To learn more. please e-mail vosgerchian@ michigandaily.com with your name, year in school and type of beer. Onlypeasants walk to parties Ann Arbor's economical alternatives to walking There are so many decisions to make before you go out at night. What will you wear? At whose apartmentwillyou pregame? Which bar will you go to? How drunk will you get? The most important question, though, is how you will get there. If it's a long walk, you'll want to drive. But if you drive, you can't drink. And if it's cold, you'll refuseto walk very far at all. These considerations couldputadamperonyourweekend - unless you know about nighttime transportation like the BTB Cantina Party Bus, Ann Arbor Pedicab and the Fifth Quarter shuttle bus. Cheaper than a cab and more flexible than a bus schedule, these transportation companies provide another alternative to footing it across campus. The blazing red BTB Party Bus couldn't have a better slogan than what is printed on its front, "$2 Rides." It rumbles along, picking up people on the street or respond- ing to reservation calls, and you never know who or what you might encounter on the taxi-bus hybrid. While boarding the bus, the potent smell of fryer grease makes BTB's use of vegetable oil as alterna- tive fuel obvious. But environmen- tal conscientiousness isn't the main reason students hail the Party Bus. Rides are often rowdy and always cheap - a long trip within the Ann Arbor city limits costs $4 at most. "We are sort of rickety and bois- terous and that gives us character that students love," BTB Party Bus driver Gabe Jones said. Riding on the bus is an experi- ence in itself, as I found when I rode the bus last Thursday. By the time students get on the bus, they are usually somewhat inebriated, so the clientele often has an "anything goes" attitude. "You're supposed to be seated the whole ride, but one time I was on the bus, people were dancing and humping one another," LSA junior -Joshua Yim said. But the Party Bus can be just as difficult to snag as a cab if you don't make a reservation ahead of time. Luckily, though, other operations have sprung up to fill the niche for alternative transportation. Fifth Quarter, Ann Arbor's new- est'Tuesday night freshman des- tination, launched its own shuttle bus this past Welcome Week, which is available Thursday through Saturday after 10 p.m.. Painted a drab brown and featuring only one comfortable couch, Fifth Quarter's minibus isn't as cheery as the BTB Party Bus. But it offers a similarly enticing deal: rides to Fifth Quarter are free, while anywhere else with- in a 10-mile radius of the club will cost you $2. But the Fifth Quarter bus seems to lack the party atmosphere of BTB transport. When I rode the bus last Thursday, there were only two other people, which combined with the absence of music, made for an awkward silence. The Bursley-Bates bus gets wilder than that. Of course, if your destination is Fifth Quarter, tflis shuttle bus is your best option since it's free. Your next alternative transit option is pedicabs, or tricycles tot- ing hooded seats. Business sopho- more Calvin Schemanski started a pedicab business in Ann Arbor this semester after a successful test run during the summer in his home- town of Petoskey, Mich. "My partner and I decided to make a business out of the tourist appeal of our city (Petoskey) and I decided to bring it here because I felt it would be successful," he said. There are two pedicabs that roam Central Campus from about 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, weather permit- ting. You can either flag them down (they are usually on South Univer- sity Avenue or State Street, between Lf ILLUS'TRATION BY L AURA GARAVOGUIA William and Liberty) or you can call them, hopped in, and they seemed and ask to be picked up. Schemanski to be having fun," he said. said there is no charge because any Schemanski added that the ser- tips they make are pure profit. How- vice seems to be more popular with ever, there is a suggested donation women, although he has had a fair depending on where you're going. number of males ride, too. Unfor- "When someone asks how much tunately, Calvin said that in a few the ride would cost, I ask them weeks, he willbe suspending servic- where there are going and give them es until next fall since it will soon be a quote," Schemanski said. "For a too cold to stay out in tricycles three ride less than 10 minutes, I would nights a week. ask for a couple of bucks and leave So this weekend, don't fret if your it at that." taxi numbers only get busy signals The pedicabs can fit two people and freezing rain threatens to keep comfortably, but since the weight you hostage indoors. Try one of limit is approximately 600 pounds, these modes of alternative night- Schemanski said even five people time transportation - because deal- would be able to ride together. And ing with the smell of grease is better yes, that has happened before. than a dull Friday night. "A group of girls and guys, five of -SUTHA KANAGASINGAM FREE DAT COURSE! FREE COURSE aFor the first 20 enrolled 50% OFF COURSE " j, - For the second 20 enrolled. r DAT Course Value: $1399 , 'aid Fr:5901,5019-04 800-2RoviewIPrincetonRevew.com -- CornerofS.University& S.Forest a H,--O The Department of Communication Studies and The Howard R. Marsh Center present a lecture by THo s FRANK THE WRECKING CREW Thursday, October 22, 2009 Lecture 7:00 pm with a book signing to follow The Amphitheatre in the Rackham Building 119 East Washington Street Ann Arbor, Mt 48109-1070 For directions, please see llttp://wvtw.racklam.nliclh.edsi/rackham_butilding/ Contact t1w Department tf Communication Studies (734-764-0423) for more information LIKE TO EAT? READ THE DAI LY'S FOOD BLOG. 3 r r 1 L.eaini moricauumeviaco ..rpa. Attend an information session. 4; Thursday, October 22nd .a x :4Q p.m. Michigan Union 800.424.85801 www.peacecorps.gov Life is calling. How far will you go?