,E i .
£ "
2B Wednesday, March 14, 2012 // The Statement
THE JUNK DRAWER
w
w
w
IRW
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 // The Statement 7B
from last week: tuition hikes
Do you think undocumented residents
of Michigan should have the right to in-state tution?
random student interview
by laura argintar/ illustrations by jeff zuschlag
Welcome to the Random Stu-
dent Interview, where honesty
is the best policy.
Relay for Life is coming up. Are
Yes No you going to participate?
33% 67%
Probably not. I participated soph-
1 U omore year as a requirement for
my sorority, and I don't think it
Cssm$30t0hgd
av a FRE Suer io~vie,5 our -$99vlue was something I'd like to repeat.
Classes preparing for the June/July 2012
PrinCeton MCAT Start Soon: April 29th & May Th
Review 800-2Review1800-273-8439 PrncetonReview.com
-.5".'
(Laughs) You know it's for can-
cer, right?
Yeah, maybe don't put that in
there.
It's OK. Honesty is the best
policy. But what happened that
made you not want to do it
again?
I don't even remember what it
was. I was so high I blacked it out.
I don't remember anything except
getting candy everywhere and
it was beautiful and I wanted to
lay on the grass. I didn't feel like
walking.
Wow. You really are taking the
"honesty" thing seriously. Well,
maybe since you blacked it out,
you'd want to sign up this year
and make some memories. It's
actually pretty fun. There's
food and cool booths set up.
Yeah. Maybe I'll go super sober,
get some exercise and then get
high as a reward.
THE statcmei
Magazine Editors:
Dylan Cinti
Jennifer Xu
Deputy Editor:
Kaitlin Williams
That's definitely one way of
looking at it. Do you do any-
thing that doesn't involve mari-
juana?
(Laughs) Yes. Sorry, I came on a
little strong there. This is mildly
inappropriate. Let me think. I
usually go to class not-high and
homework I do not-high. Um,
sometimes I work out and go to
the movies, but yeah, I do that
when I'm high.
Nice.
I like to shop - definitely no-high
- or else you get overwhelmed
and there are so many choices.
So yeah, shopping is one. I love
live music, which may or may not
involve marijuana.
That's great! I hope I'm not
making you feel bad about this.
No judgments, seriously. It's
college.
Yeah, I figure once I graduate, my
habits will totally nose-dive. It's
not cool to go to work stoned silly.
And I want to be a real person, not
some loser who can't do anything
without being high first. I guess
I'm trying to pack it all in now
before graduation. But really...
Lite
Editor in Chief:
Joseph Lichterman
Design Editor:
Nolan Loh
Copy Editor:
Beth Coplowitz
Well, at least you have your
priorities straight. This isn't
meant to be some kind of inter-
vention. More power to you.
Thanks, I appreciate it. I'm sorry
if you're going to have to re-do
this. It must be super awkward
to ambush people and have over-
sharers like myself.
It's actually the highlight ofmy
day. No sarcasm. I'minto super
awkward situations and ambush-
ing and over-sharers, or else I
wouldn't be doing this. Plus, I like
meeting new people, especially at
a university of this size.
Hi! Care to answer
a few questions?
Gah! P
Yeah. It must be kind of cool to
meet someone new every day.
Too bad it's anonymous. I feel
like the Random Student Inter-
views could also be an insight
into a new person that you'd
want as a friend. Like, attach
the person's e-mail if you wanna
hang out.
(Laughs) I think it's a good thing
this is anonymous. Especially
because I'd probably get an influx
of e-mails from people who want
to blaze with me, and that's just
annoying. Find me on Hash Bash
if you want.
-Sami is an LSA senior.
Managing Editor:
Josh Healy
Photo Editor:
Terra Molengraff
Junk Drawer:
Jordan Rochelson
RELAY
From Page 5B
cross-section of campus that encompasses a
range of organizationsranging from Greek
students to religious groups to pre-profes-
sional organizations.
It also allows a number of associations to
personalize their fundraising efforts toward
their own organization's mission.
For instance, the Muslim Students' Asso-
ciation cannot hold bar nights because
traditional Islamic teaching forbids the
consumption of alcohol. So this forces
them to be a little more creative with their
efforts.
LSA freshman Kinza Ilyas, chair of MSA's
Relay for Life committee, said that instead
of bar nights, the group focused on raising
money from members during their Friday
prayers and through community outreach.
"We're trying to highlight our cultural
aspects" in our fundraising efforts, Ilyas
said.
On the day of the event, the MSA will be
on hand to sell hummus to hungry runners.
LSA senior Daniel Spencer, captain
of the Society of Biology Students team,
is spearheading the organization's first
Relay for Life team. The team, 15 strong,
is in the midst of fundraising for the com-
ing year. According to Spencer, establish-
ing a Relay for Life team was made much
easier by the support he'd received from
the Relay's leadership team, which also
empowered him to inspire his own team
members.
"I don't think that the weight of the situ-
ation really hit me, but after going to every
single one of these events (sponsored by
the leadership team), they've given me the
motivation to get my team going," Spencer
said.
Still, the motivation for each of these stu-
dents is quite similar.
"Cancer is the universal enemy," Davis
said. "We all know someone who's been
affected by cancer in some way."
For some student Relay participants, the
fight against cancer literally hits close to
home. LSA sophomore Sarah Peck, philan-
thropy chair for the Chi-Omega sorority,
said this year in particular carries special
meaning for her Relay efforts.
Just over a month ago, the father of her
close friend passed away from cancer. Dur-
ing his year with the illness, Peck was
inspired by her friend's dad's perseverance
in the face of a bleak prognosis.
As Peck pointed out, he even continued
his commitment to public service.
"He ran for mayor again, and won," Peck
said. "When he passed away, he was (still)
the mayor of our town."
Many students shared a similar connec-
tion to cancer, whether it be a grandparent,
parent, other family member, friend or mem-
ber of their community.
This is the core reason that impels such an
eclectic group of people to generate money
for the cause.
Of course, one of Relay's biggest draws is
the event itself.
From all accounts, the event has a car-
nival-like atmosphere with a variety of
activities that keep participants occupied
during all day and night. LSA junior Madison
Goforth, entertainment director for Relay
for Life, is in charge of coordinating the con-
certs and performances that occur periodi-
cally throughout the day.
"In terms of staffing it, we've definite-
ly had a help with more students getting
involved and wanting to be on the planning
committee," Goforth said. "We're always
trying to make things exciting and do things
a little bit differently."
Dance group EnCore, Impact Dance,
and the a cappella group Amazin' Blue
are all lined up to perform at this year's
Relay. Goforth added that they are also
trying to get a "big name" band for the
event as well.
The Luminaria ceremony serves as the
major draw for many participants.
The ceremony, a hallmark of virtually
every Relay for Life event nationwide, is a
touching remembrance of those who have
lost a battle with cancer. Participants light
candles in a flickering, silent remembrance
of those who have passed away. These indi-
vidual candles also light the way around the
track for the runners.
Simultaneously somber and uplifting, the
Luminaria ceremony reminds the partici-
pants of their mission: to defeat the "univer-
sal enemy."
Lewis said his favorite moment in the
event was always the Luminaria ceremony,
but he cited last year's as particularly memo-
rable. For the first time, he was able to add a
picture of him and his father for the entire
Relay to see.
"Seeing us up there on the big screen in a
front of everyone was really powerful to me,"
Lewis said. "(My dad is) something that I've
always held on to, but to share that with the
community that's there for the same reason
... is always very moving. I'm always br ought
to tears.
GCHAT
From Page 6B
whole life or having it vanish into thin air, the latter might actually be
a relief.
When asked whether she'd miss her data if it were suddenly inac-
cessible to her, LSA freshman Paige Wittmann's response was ambiva-
lent.
"I'd probably be a little bit upset," she said. "Like when Timeline
came out (on Facebook), I looked back and found things that were
funny and that were important and seemed like the end of the world
or the greatest thing ever. But when you look back, they're not really
relevant now at all. So, yeah, I'd probably be a little bit upset, but it's not
gonna be detrimental."
Perhaps there are benefits that come with shedding the data we call
conversations and letters. Gchat can rapidly become oppressive, and
freeing oneself from the digital clutter may not just be relaxing, it may
be necessary.
Gumport discussed the downside that comes with a culture of chat.
In her own words, "there's a sort of claustrophobia to it," as the lines
separating one facet of our lives from another slowly dissipate. A study
session in the library is soon indistinguishable from chatter on your
living room sofa.
"It's like working from home, almost," she said. "It's like your
entire life is lived in one place, and there's no escape from it."
She added, "It's kind of like being under house arrest. What could
happen outside of Gchat? Kind of nothing, right? Because all your
friends are there, your work is there, there's nothing outside. And that's
sort of the sour side of it."
Maybe the trick to Gehat lies in remembering how to disconnect, if
only momentarily. That is, if we can.
Me: ok i am going to sign offnow
it was very nice talking to you
goodbye
Friend: why
why
nog
don't go
0 O0 0
Do you need
FINANCIAL AID
for Fall/Winter
2012-2013?
Don't forget to submit your 2012-2013
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)!
Complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov
Apply Early: Allow 3-4 weeks
FOR MORE INFORMATION, SE
www.finaid.umich.e
U-M Office c
2005SA
helping U2
go blue!(734) 76-'
goble
for processing before the deadline
E
edu/CurrentStudent#fall
of Financial Aid (OFA)
B and B430 Pierpont Commons
3-6600 * www.finaid.umich.edu
EMAIL: financial.aid@umich.edu
We tweet, too!
Follow us on Twitter @thestatementmag