Summer Orientation 1995 - The Michigan Daily - 7
Dorm living can be the
best and worst of times
By Dara Schoenwald
Daily Staff Reporter
The transition to college is indeed an exciting
and challenging one, with adjustments to meeting
new friends, a new place and heavier workloads.
However, getting accustomed to living in residence
halls is one of the most difficult challenges facing
first-year students.
Community living - in small quarters shared
with one or two other people - can be a positive
and rewarding learning experience, but it is defi-
nitely not without its drawbacks.
Alan Levy, director of Public Affairs and Infor-
mation for University Housing, recognizes the pres-
sure that living in the residence halls can present for
some students.
"This is the first time that most of these students
have to share living space," he said. "Whether it's a
double or a triple, it's still a big assimilation. Some-
times it goes effortlessly, other times it is accompa-
nied with contentious experiences."
A number of different factors, including area,
roommate and residence hall can affect a student's
experience with "dorm life."
Upperclassmen usually look back on their time
spent in the dorms as extremely memorable, but recall
certain times when it was rough.
"It's an important part of the college experience
to learn how to live with other people in small liv-
ing arrangements," said Stephanie Goldberg, an
LSA junior. "It is sometimes difficult to find your
own space, but that's what makes it challenging. At
times you hate it, but after you moved out you'll re-
alize that it's like nothing else you will experience
during the rest of you time at college."
The location of residence halls are divided into
three main areas: North Campus, Central Campus and
Hill area. Each has its pros and cons.
Josh Levine, an LSA junior who lived in Alice
Lloyd residence hall on the Hill, said he was happy
with his dorm.
"It's right near the CCRB, the Arb and Palmer
field. In the fall we would always be roller-blading or
playing tennis right outside our dorm," he said. "In
retrospect, though, it is a long walk to class. I didn't
realize it at the time, until I lived closer to my classes,
but it's also like its own little community."
A benefit to Central Campus is being close to
classes.
"I loved the dorms," said Katie Weisenfels, an
LSA junior. "South Quad was close and easy. The
excess of false fire alarms were a little annoying but
you get used to it.
"What I miss most about the dorms is not having
everyone around all of the time. Everyone was al-
ways in and out of everyone's room, just hanging
out. It's the perfect way to meet people your first
year."
North Campus is most noted for being aestheti-
cally beautiful, but far from Central Campus. The
bus ride is approximately 10 minutes, which is the
biggest complaint from students who lived on
there.
Sarah Evans, an Engineering senior, was not
bothered about living far from Central Campus.
"Bursley was really clean. It's a big dorm and
you meet a lot of people just by riding the bus every
day," she said. "People there tend to form close
friendships because it is sort of separated from most
of the main action."
ie ITIC building up on North Campus is currently under construction
North Campus offers
students peace and quiet
ly Steve Seepersaud
)aily Staff Reporter
Picture Central Campus, but imagine it with
ewer people and much less car traffic. Add a nice
vooded area with lots of tall trees and a scenic pic-
ic spot by a duck pond. It's quiet enough to hear the
ounds of nature:
Too good to be true? This place is real. It's
-th Campus.
North Campus was 800 acres of farm land when
he University bought it in the 1950s. Today it is
tome to the Art, Architecture, Music and Engineer-
ng schools. Like Central Campus, it has a "Diag"
hat sees less activity and is surrounded by engineer-
ng buildings.
The North Campus Commons is similar to the
Jnion - it has a coffee shop, video arcade, fast
ood, ATMs and a book store with supplies for stu-
lents in the North Campus schools. The Gerald
Library houses papers from the presidential
ministration of this University alum.
Many of the students who are enrolled in the
School of Art or the College of Engineering are as-
igned to live on North Campus. Others stay there
>ecause it is close to classes.
Anna Stolyarova, an LSA junior who lived on
entral Campus for a year, said she prefers North
ampus for a different reason. "Fewer people are
round. It's quieter because there are more grad stu-
lents. I like the nature. It's why I moved here," she
Andrew Hellmers, an LSA senior formerly in
Engineering, has lived both on Central and on North
ampuses. He said he favors Central Campus "only
ecause I'm more likely to see peopleI know. North
Campus is nice and quiet but I would have hated it
if I didn't have cool roommates."
Anthony Joles, an Engineering senior, lives on
Central Campus although his classes and computing
centers are on North Campus. "There's not many
places to go up here. Everything is within driving
distance. On Central, it's all walking distance," he
said.
Classes on North Campus have a different start-
ing time than those on the main campus. Instead of on
the hour, North Campus classes begin at 30 minutes
past the hour. This makes it easier to travel back and
forth. A student leaving class on Central Campus
would have half an hour to get to North Camptts.
The University operates four bus routes to North
Campus that start at the C.C. Little Building on Cen-
tral Campus. This service is available on weekends,
covering the entire campus. Buses run every 10t0
15 minutes during peak periods. Service is free of
charge for students.
Stolyarova said bus service is generally good.
"I haven't really had a problem with it. I know
some students who have cars, but take the bus be-
cause it's easier. It's on a schedule so you can plan
according to it," she said.
Joles agreed. "It's good. Sometimes it's a little
slow but most of the time, it's there."
But students hoping to avoid the constrction
that prevails on Central Campus won't have any
luck here. A new structure, the Engineering Center
Building, is being built on North Campus. The In-
tegrated Technology Instruction Center is being
constructed down the street from the Commons.
This facility would integrate the colleges located on
North Campus.
Music AT 1
MICHIGAN
1
The School of Music
invites you to enjoy...
Performances every week
The student ensembles and renowned faculty of the School of
Music offer fine concerts throughout the year, many free:
Orchestras * Bands * Choirs * Theatre * Musical Theatre "
Opera * Dance * Jazz, Early Music, Percussion, Gamelan, and
Digital Ensembles * Faculty and Guest Recitals
Ensembles for non-music majors
Musical groups designed primarily for non-majors welcome all
students to join them and perform in Hill Auditorium:
Arts Chorale * Campus Band * Campus Orchestras *
Please call for audition information
U-M School of Music * 1100 Baits Drive * 764-0583