If we lived according to TV/movie standards, everyone would
move to New York or L.A. after graduation and live in apart-
ments far exceeding our income. Here are a few more unique

(and more realistic) post-grad options.

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Magazine Editor:

Ian DIllingham

Deputy Editor:

Natalie Gadbois

Design Editor:

Jake Wellins

Photo Editor:

Luna Anna Archey

Illustrator:

Megan Mulholland

Maggie Miller

Managing Editor:

Lev Facher

Editor in Chief:

Jennifer Calfas

Copy Editors:

Hannah Bates

Laura Schinagle

Emma Sutherland

THE statement

THE LIST

BALTIMORE, MD
In recent years young people have been flocking to this bay
city because of its proximity to D.C. and its affordability.

CLEVELAND, OH
No longer the “mistake on the lake,” the Land of Cleves
boasts a happening food scene and growing start-up
industry.

DENVER, CO
Best for those who love the outdoors and appreciate a good
bar, Denver is the definition of chill.

BUZZFEED, BUT BETTER

POST-GRAD DESTINATIONS

AUSTIN, TX
Often billed as a larger, more diverse, warmer Ann Arbor,
Austin combines Texas eccentricities with the cultural
offerings of a much larger city.

PORTLAND, OR
Known mainly as a hipster paradise because of the show
“Portlandia,” this small city is calm and beautiful.

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Wednesday, March 18, 2015 // The Statement

L

ast St. Patrick’s Day, I
remember
leaving
the

house with one of my room-

mates on a people-watching expe-
dition. Before either of us partook
in any of the celebrations, we
wanted to take the time to take
full witness of the carnage that
was ensuing just south of campus.

If you’ve ever been in Ann

Arbor on a football Saturday, you
can probably picture the scene:
kegs, mud, orange construction
fences, mud, bro tanks, funnels,
mud, and music. The difference
was the substitution of green for
the customary maize and blue.

As
we
walked
passed
an

unnamed fraternity house on
our way home for the afternoon,
I noticed a group of middle-aged
men and women standing on the
sidewalk observing the destruc-
tion. They were all Ann Arbor
residents and, despite the occa-
sional shamrock pin, they were
not there to celebrate. They were
there to protect the students.

As partygoers exited the fra-

ternity’s backyard, I watched as
these adults stopped particu-
larly intoxicated boys and girls
to check their condition, asked if
they needed transportation, and
— in the most severe cases — con-
tacted the proper authorities to
get students the help they needed.

I
remember
immediately

feeling embarrassed as a group
of partygoers, obviously more
concerned
about
preserving

the health of the party than the
health of their peers, gathered
on the porch and heckled these
Good Samaritans as they relayed
information to paramedics and
police.

Though visibly disturbed, the

vigilant group of Ann Arborites
did not waver from their spot.
They held their ground as two
paramedics and a police officer
entered the yard to retrieve a
young girl who appeared uncon-
scious. Only as the party began
to dwindle down — presumably a
shortage of green beer — did they
move down the block to the next
party.

I don’t know any of the people

that were in that group of citizens.
They don’t know me. But, that

day, they were out there to make
sure our student body was safe.
At worst, they shut down a couple
parties. At best, they may have
protected someone from serious
injury or death.

This
school
is
a
world-

renowned institution and natu-
rally elicits a sense of prestige
— and a fair share of perks — to
those fortunate enough to have
the chance to enroll. But, like
other universities across the coun-
try, it places students in an envi-
ronment that breeds a sense of
entitlement while simultaneously
clouding students’ perceptions of
the “real world” outside this two-
mile bubble.

That entitlement includes a

belief that someone else will step
in to protect us when we do stupid
things. While this becomes the
case in practice, it should not be

the expectation. The old motto,
“college is the place for making
mistakes,” is not a free pass to
make your safety — potentially
your life — someone else’s respon-
sibility.

I didn’t end up drinking last St.

Patrick’s Day. Witnessing so many
“close calls” killed my desire to
celebrate Christianity coming to
Ireland and PBR coming to Hill
Street. This year, I’ll likely cel-
ebrate with a non-green beer as I
edit installments for next week’s
magazine.

But if the group of unappre-

ciated guardians decides to do
their holiday service once more, I
hope they are at least treated with
respect — maybe even offered a
passing “thank you” for keeping
watch over crazy crowds of kids
decked in green.

Footnotes: Green beer and entitlement

B Y I A N D I L L I N G H A M

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MEGAN MULHOLLAND

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COVER BY LUNA ANNA ARCHEY