2023 Orientation Guide

Dear Class of 2027,

Welcome, and congratulations! Through early-morning SATs and ACTs and late-night application submissions, you’ve finally made it, and The Michigan Daily can’t wait to welcome you to campus this fall.

Consider the Orientation Issue a resource hub for your freshman year. It is not by any means an exhaustive guide to the University of Michigan, but rather a small sampling of tips, tricks and advice for the coming months. From the best coffee shops in Ann Arbor, to the rules of euchre to navigating life at a big school, The Daily has you covered.

Every student’s experience here will vary, and that’s okay. Transitioning to college — especially to one as large as the University of Michigan — is a daunting task that will undoubtedly come with hardship. But your time here will also bring knowledge, friends and memories to last a lifetime.

So don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, both academically and socially. Take classes outside of your major, join too many clubs and introduce yourself to your hall neighbors. But above all else, prioritize your passions and your health.

The University of Michigan is truly a place like no other, so take advantage of everything this campus has to offer. And remember: The Daily is here for you, every step of the way.

See you soon!

Stanford Lipsey Student Publications Building 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1327 www.michigandaily.com

SAMANTHA RICH

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Meredith Knight and Nazim Ali Culture, Training, and Inclusion Chairs

The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is publishing weekly on Wednesdays for the Winter 2023 semester by students at the University of Michigan. One copy is available free of charge to all readers. Additional copies may be picked up at the Daily’s office for $2. If you would like a current copy of the paper mailed to you, please visit store.pub.umich. edu/michigan-daily-buy-this-edition to place your order.

MICHIGAN DAILY

By DANA ELOBAID, Summer Managing Editor

Beyond academics: Embrace passion and community at the University of Michigan

Ilike to say that I always knew I wanted to go to the University of Michigan, even before I really knew what it had to offer. During my sophomore year of high school, a woman from our career center came into one of my classes and made us all do a “possible colleges” search using their program. We had to choose, from a long list, qualities that we most wanted within our future college; mine were “Big School,” “Research,” “Basketball,” “Football,” “College Town” and “Renowned Faculty.” For some reason, the best the program could offer me was Carnegie Mellon University (a 98% match at that!); safe to say, it was not my perfect match.

Fast forward to the summer before my senior year, when I came across the University of Michigan doing my own college search — I instantly fell in love. Big school, big sports, great academics: It was everything I was looking for. Through college application and admissions season, the University quickly became the favorite on my list. Despite some unexpected and equally impressive acceptances, nothing compared to the gasp that left my mouth and elation I felt seeing the maize and blue confetti on the U-M decision portal. I was sure that the University was the school for me, and the happiest moment of my senior year was officially enrolling as a U-M student.

Excitedly perusing through different U-M websites almost daily, I compiled a laundry list of activities, programs and clubs I was interested in. From spending a semester in Washington, D.C. with the Michigan in Washington program to doing research through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program to finding an internship through the LSA Opportunity Hub, it seemed like the University had endless opportunities for academic and career enrichment.

However, my excitement about coming to Ann Arbor in the fall came with one big caveat: I felt like attending the University meant that I had to sacrifice a crucial aspect of my life and identity. Despite the University’s nonstop promotion of its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, only a paltry 5% of U-M students are Black. Coming from the DMV area — one of the more diverse regions in the U.S. — I was afraid of the realities of attending a predominantly white institution, and even more afraid that my college experience would be clouded by a stark lack of community.

To my surprise, I came to campus in August to find the opposite. Waiting for me was the vibrant, buzzing ecosystem that is the University’s Black community. While I remained the sole Black student in almost all of my classes, outside the classroom, the Black community offered me a true sense of belonging within the University. It was there that I met my closest friends and felt

The creativity and freedom overflowing within the University’s Black community opened me up to the reality that this school offered so much more than just academic opportunities — and this was only in my small corner of campus.

Design by Arunika Shee

surrounded by people that I understood and was understood by. But more than anything, it was there that I found people pursuing their passions. From Business majors starring in student-led theatre productions to pre-med and pre-law students curating a fashion runway to three students creating a Black hair care vending machine with U-M optiMize funding, I saw people using the resources at the University to curate an experience that truly fueled their interests, whether or not those interests aligned with their career goals. Talking to upperclassmen within the Black Student Union, it became clear to me that their U-M tenures were not marked by their academic successes and accomplishments; rather, the memories they held dearest came from the challenging activities they took on outside of the classroom — things that allowed them to learn new skills or tap into a creative side they didn’t know they possessed. The creativity and freedom overflowing within the University’s Black community opened me up to the reality that this school offered so much more than just academic opportunities — and this was only in my small corner of campus.

So I set out to find activities that I would enjoy, and replace my academic laundry list with one that would make my eyes sparkle in just the way the upperclassmen’s did when they reminisced about the various projects they undertook in their time here. For me, that meant going through with my personal interest in writing and journalism — despite having no intention of going into journalism — and joining The Michigan Daily as a copy editor; this process only magnified my appreciation for writing, allowing me to take a piece, help it reach its full potential and polish it before publishing a final product. It also meant signing up to mentor a seventh grade class at a local middle school through the Michigan Community Scholars Program; this not only ended up being a highlight of my year, reigniting my love for working with kids, but it also helped to fill a small part of the hole that my own seventh-grade brother left, 400 miles away. (It also meant attempting to live out my Annalise Keating fantasy by doing Michigan Mock Trial, and feeling utterly heartbroken when I received my rejection

email.)

For others I know, that meant auditioning for an improv team, or being part of cooperative housing, or joining a crocheting club, or running a student record label, or creating a fashion magazine, or backpacking in Northern Michigan, or DJing on the weekends or doing anything else that made their hearts skip a beat. One of the most interesting people I’ve met at the University was an aerospace engineering major who became the editor in chief of the U-M Journal of Political Science just because it was of personal interest to him.

When I look back on my first two years here, I’m certain that the University of Michigan has always been the right place for me, but not because it’s a “Big School” or it has “Renowned Faculty” (although that’s a huge plus). Rather, it is all the opportunities available for people to carve their own paths and tailor their time in college to suit their unique needs that make the University so remarkable. If I could do my freshman year over again, I probably would have taken more classes purely based on my interests or joined a couple more clubs. Of course, this is easier said in retrospect; amid constant academic pressure, it’s difficult to say you’re doing something “just because it’s fun,” but that’s precisely what I wish I would have done — and what I’m taking the time to do now. Coming into my junior year at the University, I only have plans to do more things that I enjoy, just because I enjoy them.

My advice to incoming freshmen is this: Let your passions guide you; there’s support no matter what you choose to do. The University of Michigan is an incredibly large school with equally large resources: It has more than 1,600 clubs, with ones for even the most niche interests. The University’s Central Student Government doles out hundreds of thousands of dollars to student organizations every semester. The aforementioned optiMize offers student teams up to $10,000 in funding to take on a social innovation project. So take advantage of it! Make your U-M journey one that nourishes all aspects of yourself, not only the academic or professional ones.

Design by Emily Schwartz

The cliché and the unsaid: getting ready for a new chapter!

Iknew absolutely nothing about the University of Michigan prior to setting foot on campus during movein day. It may seem peculiar, considering our attendance at one of the nation’s finest public schools, but I did not hold as much attachment as those whose parents were alumni, fans of Michigan football or grew up here in Michigan. I didn’t know about the traditions and I didn’t really care about football. Coming from Texas, I didn’t know anyone at the University. I arrived with zero expectations, completely alone — a daunting prospect for most 18 year olds. Many of you may fall far from this category and know more about this school than I probably still do (and that’s incredible) or be much braver than I was, but for those of you who resonate with my experience of feeling like you are entering the unknown, take comfort in knowing that it is perfectly acceptable to take it step by step when navigating this new transitional period in your life. You don’t have to have all of it figured out now.

All the adults love to give you the same cliché remark when sending you off to college: “Enjoy it, these four years will go by so quickly.” Now that I am an incoming senior, I can safely affirm that this statement is completely true, despite being annoying to hear. Contrary to the many moments when I felt that time was dragging, like

when school was stressful, my personal life was unmanageable or when I spread myself too thin, each life experience that I’ve had during my time in Ann Arbor has taught me something incredibly valuable and powerful about myself. My best lessons were all taught outside the classroom. Most of us attending this school got accepted here based on the premise of being overachievers and highly ambitious people, but I hope that by the end of your time here, you are able to truly define yourself outside of your academic performance, social groups or the pace of your journey in relation to others. This is the time to show yourself what you can do and grow closer to the person you want to be without repercussions.

I still don’t have the best tips and tricks on how to best navigate the University, but what I do have is knowledge and some words of wisdom to impart. So here it goes:

By ANKITHA DONEPUDI, MiC

My freshman year was the COVID-19 year, making college extremely atypical to how I imagined it would be. For my first year, it was lines in the dining hall to grab food to go back and eat in the privacy of our own

dorms and instead of fraternity parties, it was six people sitting with N95 masks on in a room and watching Netflix every night. It was hard to meet people, and freshmen were challenged with trying to find their place on campus when, in reality, we were restricted to the demise of speaking to one another behind closed doors and computer screens. It was difficult to maintain a social life while still wanting to protect our health. Often, it felt like a choice between one or another. Despite how difficult all this was, I was lucky enough to meet my best friend, Nitya, on the first night of freshman year, and little did I know that this random girl from Canton, whom I had nothing in common with, would be a defining person in my college experience. We have watched each other grow from immature teenagers to adults who actually still act like two year olds most days. I met some of the best people who stuck by me during my first two years, but I didn’t feel like I truly found my people, the ones who make Ann Arbor feel like home, until my junior year. While that may seem like a disappointment to many of you excited to make powerful connections as soon as you get here, everyone discovers their own pace and journey at this university. And that’s okay, because sometimes it takes time and finding yourself first to attract the most kind-hearted and genuine people into your life. Don’t put pressure on yourself if you find yourself alone, but instead, take that time to explore campus and grow individually. It is scary but here’s a little secret: Learning to define what being alone means to you in a healthy manner, instead of constantly comparing yourself to other students’ social media posts with their big friend groups, will allow you to gain confidence and individuality like no other. Eventually, everything will work itself out. You’ll join organizations and try new things, whether it be trying your hand at being a columnist at Michigan in Color, a fashion editor at SHEI magazine or a community leader through the Central Student Government. You will find your way and you will meet the most amazing people through your interests; each person will allow you to discover a part of yourself that you have yet to meet.

YOU WILL FIND YOUR COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE HERE, EVEN IF IT TAKES SOME TIME.

Photo by Ankitha Donepudi

Maybe you’re a first-generation student, maybe you have to work alongside school to make ends meet, maybe you’re a person of Color or maybe you come from a lowincome family. There are so many fears and anxieties dictated by your background when entering college that are so real and make you feel like you don’t belong at this institution. That is not true. You are here for a reason, so believe it. The one thing I wish I didn’t do in the past is hold myself back due to the fear that I wasn’t good enough for something, whether it be for an organization, a role that I wanted to try but thought I was inexperienced for or being silent in a classroom with all white men. I made myself lesser on so many occasions because I didn’t think I deserved the space in a room. I don’t do that anymore. I found that trusting that I am here for a reason and taking up the space I so rightfully know I deserve has led me to an abundance of opportunities and has allowed me to define my character arc on my own terms. Don’t let your mind trick you into thinking you are not good enough for something you want to go after professionally, personally or socially.

REJECTION CAN BE YOUR BEST FRIEND, IF YOU ALLOW IT TO BE.

I’ve encountered my fair share of rejections at this university — more than I could have ever imagined. It’s astonishing, really. I came into college thinking I wanted to do Business; I am now a Political Science and Economics major interested in International Law and content creation. Each rejection has led me to finding my true purpose while teaching me a valuable lesson in the process. Though initially disheartening and, perhaps, accompanied by a touch of drama, these experiences have always presented me with opportunities for growth. Trust that things happen for a reason. Shifting your mindset to encounter rejection as a positive thing will make you grow into a stronger and better individual.

Pain is a universal human emotion and it is very likely that most of us have dealt with adversity during our college experience. Whether struggling with mental health, navigating a difficult breakup, parting ways with a close friend, dealing with homesickness or experiencing bouts of loneliness, grief is an inevitable part of the process. Embrace it as an opportunity for self-discovery, maturity and personal growth. I’ve grappled with my own mental health challenges, even amid fantastic friendships and remarkable opportunities. And that’s perfectly okay. The transition into adulthood is devoid of a guidebook, and it unveils a multitude of epiphanies and emotions, so just be gentle with yourself. Seek solace in the company of individuals who genuinely care for your well-being. Most importantly, learn to be there for yourself, as you are your own constant companion throughout this transformative experience.

During my freshman year, I often found myself gravitating toward people merely to avoid being alone. I get it, making friends can be hard, but a piece of advice from me to you is to never settle for a friend group or friendships that are superficial or make you feel less than. These relationships aren’t the type that have your back for the rest of your life and will often make you feel constricted. Don’t settle for less and don’t give away pieces of yourself to those that don’t deserve it due to the fear of being lonely. There are more than 30,000 undergraduates on this campus; you will constantly have the opportunity to meet new people.

Consequently, my final piece of advice is this: never stop taking the risk of saying hello to a stranger because they could very well be your new best friend. Treat college like kindergarten — interact with random individuals simply because you can. I promise it makes the whole experience better. Congratulations to all the incoming undergraduate students! This university is one of the best places to be and get ready for so many firsts: the first time you go to a tailgate, the first time you sit in a packed stadium realizing there are 100,000 people sharing the same experience as you, the first time you go to a trashy fraternity party, the first time you fall in love, the first time you realize your purpose. Truly, the world is your oyster here. MAKE THE MOST OUT OF IT!

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It’s time to leave the library

The stereotypical college experience involves curling up in the library with copious amounts of coffee and homework. However, the University of Michigan’s Hatcher Graduate and Shapiro Undergraduate libraries get old pretty quickly, and during midterms and finals, they are packed with students desperately trying to cram in some last-minute studying or finish up the last few paragraphs of an essay. During my freshman year, I made it my personal mission to avoid studying in the libraries as much as possible. Below are my expert tips on the best campus study spots for any occasion.

CENTRAL CAMPUS CLASSROOM BUILDING

One thing that I loved about the CCCB was that it also housed a lot of my classes. After going to my international studies lecture, I would take the elevator up to the second or third floor to sit by the bright open windows and do work. My personal favorite is the third floor, as it has the best views. Seating options include booths, short tables with chairs and tall tables with stools. Besides the occasional noise from students leaving and entering classrooms, it’s fairly quiet but has a hum of activity.

MICHIGAN LEAGUE

The League is typically overshadowed by the Michigan Union based on prestige and recognizability. However, for someone who prefers a steady level of background chatter while they do homework and wants to spend their Blue Bucks on a snack at the robustly stocked Maizie’s Cafe, the League is perfect. If you are looking for a little more quiet, the basement is always nearly empty; and, despite its lack of sunlight, it has tables, booths and plenty of outlets (a scarce resource on the U-M campus).

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

Inside the Natural History Museum lives my favorite on-campus coffee shop, Darwin’s. This cute cafe contains several booths and tables that are available for

studying while enjoying a sweet treat or cup of coffee. Further into the museum, you will find even more tables and a row of soft chairs. Everything faces the tall windows of the building, meaning there is tons of natural light and perfect people-watching opportunities. If it is nice outside, there are outdoor tables and benches in front of the windows. While there are no outlets and the sun can create a laptop glare, it’s the perfect break from being holed up in a stuffy building all day.

KINESIOLOGY BUILDING

Contrary to what some may think, you do not need to be a kinesiology student to study in the Kinesiology Building. The architecture inside is amazing, and with multiple floors, there is always a new study spot to discover. The one downside of this building is that it is difficult to find seats next to outlets, but to make up for it, there is an abundance of couches and soft chairs to offset the back pain from sitting through hours of classes.

MICHIGAN UNION

While this is one of the more popular study locations on campus, I urge you to explore beyond the main floor. The basement has an abundance of seating in addition to restaurants, including a new Qdoba; the Idea Hub on the second floor has plenty of space and unique table set-ups, perfect for group projects; and there are even massage chairs on the fourth floor for when you inevitably need a minute to relax. Top it all off with a delicious coffee from Sweetwaters,

conveniently located under an enormous skylight that brings some sunshine to your darkest hours of studying, and you can’t beat the Union.

LSA BUILDING

Word to the wise: Check when this building is open. Unlike some of the other buildings where you can enter with only Mcard access on the weekends, the LSA Building has very specific and limited hours. However, the large glass windows, open atrium and multiple floors of seating allow for a range of studying spots all within one building. Additionally, there are study rooms that you can reserve in advance for when you need no distractions. Just don’t forget to reserve the room for long enough, because you will be kicked out — I learned that the hard way!

DORM LOUNGES

The quality of the dorm study lounges highly depends on which residence hall you live in. Living in Mary Markley Residence Hall, I did much of my studying in the Markley lounges and basement. Yet from my visits to South, East and West Quad Residence Halls, the dorm lounges there are a lot higher quality. There are typically tons of different seating options, and some dorms even have private study rooms. Depending on the location, these lounges can either be on the social side or more isolated for when you really need to grind, but the best part of these study lounges is their proximity to your dorm room!

Design by Hannah Willingham

By DARRIN ZHOU, Summer Digital Managing Editor

What if Michigan isn’t

Arbor, Mich., sometime in August — somewhere that you may have lived for the better part of 17 years or somewhere you never thought you would be in your life, at all, except maybe just to pass by on the interstate one day and say, Hmm, what an odd little town.

Idistinctly remember the day I got into the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

I had the news, digital confetti, light up on my phone. I went up to my dad and said Hey, I just got into the University of Michigan and he said, Good, have you finished your calculus coursework yet for tonight? I said no and went back to work.

Maybe you didn’t have an experience like this. For many of you, acceptance was a cause for celebration. For many of you, this was your dream school, this was

aspirations. Had wanted to run off to the big city, to the coasts, to the Princetons and Julliards and Barnards and Oxfords of the world, to somewhere things happened at, to somewhere that you couldn’t help but dream of; to somewhere where the professors would be brilliant, renowned, somewhere your new-found friends would push you past boundaries you didn’t know you could break, somewhere you would be reborn at; somewhere your friends would be proud of, somewhere your family would be proud of, somewhere you would

And you step foot here, begrudgingly, and maybe you get along well but you can never chase those ivy, golden ghosts out of your sight, out of the corners of your dorm room or out of your friends or your peers or your professors or your classes or everywhere on this damned campus — in this quiet, damned place where nothing happens.

And so you talk in hushed voices and you exist in somewhere that’s not quite here, with one foot in Ann Arbor and the other foot somewhere like New York City or Cambridge or Ithaca, where those ghosts, you think, will never go away, where you will always think about those invisible people or invisible classes and invisible experiences that would have changed your life, that would have shaped you in a way Ann Arbor never could, that would have been anything except for you, now, cradled in your dorm room, crying, feeling the mundanity of it all, and you think, What if I’ll be stuck in Michigan forever? What if I’ll never get out of here?

What if I’m worthless?

what you worked toward for the better part of your life, and you are happy, so happy, and I can see that you are happy, which makes it feel more taboo when I admit to myself that maybe I don’t quite want to go to the University of Michigan, because the acceptance letter from the University of Michigan was, in some respects, an inevitability, an afterthought, not something to really be proud of.

Maybe you, and I, had higher aspirations. Had T10 aspirations. Had Ivy

be truly proud of going, somewhere that feels right at the cellular level, in the heart, in a way that Michigan doesn’t. And now, because you got back your decision letter and it said I am very sorry to inform you that we cannot offer you admission to the Class of 2027 or because the zeroes in yours and your family’s saving accounts just wouldn’t add up evenly enough for you to justify going to those brilliant colleges or for whatever reason, you are going to end up in Ann

And this is no way to live. You know this is no way to live. Look at me, prospective disappointed student, and know that this is no way to live. I know you may have dreamed of somewhere more magical than Ann Arbor, Mich. I know you feel haunted by those visions. And I know you may have built up this conception of who you were — a mold of personality that burned up, leaving a comet’s trail of disappointment and harsh realities in its wake. And I know this is a turbulent, shapeless time for you, a time when you may have felt like those college decisions, this choice, was teleological, that everything led up to those letters, that you had prepared for your the rest of your

Maybe this University, this city, will change you in ways, push you past boundaries that you did not dream of passing; maybe the ivy vines are not bound as tight as they seem, maybe those ghosts will fade with time.

EMMA DECASA/Daily

right for me?

life with a 4.32 GPA and a 1560 SAT and by running a 17 minute 5k and by being the captain of the varsity basketball or tennis or soccer team and by volunteering at the humanitarian shelter and you did all of those things for college, for university, for your resume, and now it may feel like it all did not mean much.

And I know it is difficult to dream in ands, to live in ands, that you are supposed to be a perfect student and be an athlete and be a good leader, and know what it is you want to do with your life and be happy. And you wanted so desperately to love your university and to fall in love with your future and to love where it is that you are spending your next four years and to love the person you are going to be — and maybe you don’t, because love doesn’t really work in ands.

You can’t decide to love this university because of its rankings number or because of its academic quality. You can’t force yourself to love something because it is good in this or that way. Love takes time. Love takes practice. Love takes meeting this university where it is at, not where it could be. Loving this university is sitting on the Diag with your friends when the sun is out, even if you know it will only be like this for 10 days out of the whole academic year, even if you know it would be like this every day in somewhere like Southern California.

Loving this university is watching the sunset pour in through your dorm room window, even if it’s small, even if it’s cramped, even if you do feel lonely, even if you feel like you should be out doing something more exciting with new friends.

Loving this university is work. Loving this university is difficult. Loving this university takes patience, but I promise you that if you at least try to respect it, try to understand it for what it is instead of what you want it to be, that maybe, just maybe, being a Michigan person won’t be so bad. Maybe this University, this city, will change you in ways, push you past boundaries that you did not dream of passing; maybe the ivy vines are not bound as tight as they seem, maybe those ghosts will fade with time. Maybe everything will fade with time. Maybe those metrics that you think define who you are, that appear so dearly important to you now, will fade with time. Maybe the Princetons and Julliards and Barnards and Oxfords of the world are not everything. Maybe if you let go of those conceptions of who you are to let yourself come into Michigan, breathe with Michigan, to pass Michigan no judgement — pass yourself no judgement — maybe you will realize, just maybe, you are enough, that you were always, undoubtedly, enough.

Oh, and there are massage chairs on the fourth floor of the Michigan Union. Thank me later.

Judaic 205: What is Judaism?

Elliot Ginsburg

3 credits; Humanities

Tu/Th 2:30-4pm

Judaic 210: Sources of Jewish History

Devi Mays

3 credits; Humanities

M/W 1-2:30pm

Judaic 250: Screening Jewish Cultures

Editor’s Note: The given name of the roommate has been changed to protect their privacy.

When I returned to campus for the second half of my freshman year, it was to an empty dorm. I spent the entire afternoon rearranging the pictures on the walls and adjusting the positioning of furniture to make the room feel even slightly less empty. No amount of reorganizing, however, could distract me from the reality of the situation: My living environment had turned sour, I was no longer speaking to my first semester friend group and I hated my freshman year roommate.

Like most incoming freshmen, Samantha and I had met online. In a last minute scramble to find a roommate two days before the deadline, we had FaceTimed each other once and co-signed the University of Michigan’s living agreement the following day. According to our online profiles, Samantha and I had similar interests, social habits and routines. On paper, we were a perfect fit. I soon discovered, however, that shared hobbies and social patterns often do not translate into living situations. Consequently, just four short months after move-in day, I found myself staring at the empty bed on the other side of the room, questioning where I had gone wrong.

This circumstance is not uncommon. Approximately one-third of college students report having problems with their roommates, and these experiences can have a ripple effect within other areas of a student’s life. Studies have shown that a negative roommate dynamic can have consequences ranging from personal to professional, impacting social behaviors, grades and mood levels.

The problem? These extraneous factors are not readily apparent or accounted for when searching for a roommate online. Sharing a living space with another person constitutes a delicate and highly unpredictable dynamic. For many undergraduate students, it is their first time living alone, and balancing this new independence while navigating roommate relations can be overwhelming.

Websites including RoomSurf, StarRez and RoomSync are used by a variety of universities under the guise of streamlining and perfecting the rooming process. Some even go as far to assign students an estimated compatibility percentage, ranging from a zero to 100% scale based on similarities. All of these platforms provide the illusive promise of helping students find the perfect college roommate.

In an interview with NBC News, various students at the University of Miami reflected on their experiences finding roommates within these online environments.

“It’s almost like a dating website,” undergraduate student Paolo FedericoO’Muruchu said. “In the brief amount of space I had to keep people interested, I had to describe myself — which is hard, because we don’t really know who we’re going to be in college.”

Not only do these online pairing softwares possess considerable inaccuracies, but they place a tremendous amount of pressure on incoming students. The suggestion that roommate websites and pairing algorithms can assist students in finding a “perfect match” underwrites the difficulty of this reality. As a result, when these living situations experience turmoil, many students internalize the issues and cast self-blame.

Fortunately, there is a growing recognition among universities that the roommate pairing process requires a more nuanced approach. Some institutions are implementing alternative methods to enhance the compatibility and overall satisfaction of roommates. One such approach is the introduction of roommate mediation programs.

Offering a space for roommates to openly communicate their concerns and express their needs, these programs work towards resolving conflicts with the help of a trained mediator. These programs have been shown to foster empathy, understanding and compromise among roommates, promoting a healthier and more positive living experience. By addressing conflicts early on and providing the necessary support, universities are taking strides to prevent minor roommate issues from escalating into major disruptions that negatively impact students’ well-being and academic performance.

However, for the time being, it is important to acknowledge that finding the perfect roommate match remains a complex task. Living with another person will always involve some level of adjustment and compromise. Universities can play a crucial role in setting realistic expectations and providing ongoing support and resources to help students navigate the challenges of roommate relationships. Ultimately, if your living situation ends up not working out, know that you’re not alone. This is a challenging period, and it is essential to give yourself considerable understanding and space to grow — and more often than not, a 12-by-20 foot dorm is a tight space to navigate that kind of growth in.

I didn’t get along with my freshman year roommate, and that’s okay

Design by Haylee Bohm

To STEM or not to STEM

The University of Michigan is one of the top universities in the nation, with many of its programs considered the best in the world. The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts is the largest college at the University, with an extensive offering of majors and minors. Students who choose to attend LSA often find themselves either on a STEM or liberal arts path. It can be extremely difficult for undecided students to choose which field to enter, which is why we are here to provide an insider perspective on the pros and cons of each.

LARA: I entered my freshman year set on an English major and French minor. Though I come from a family of doctors, an obsession with “Legally Blonde” showed me I needed to be a lawyer. I’m a liberal arts kid through and through, and the seven natural science credits required to graduate have proven to be a big obstacle.

ZHANE: Unlike Lara, I had some reservations about choosing my major before coming to college. At first, I was intimidated by the difference between consuming science and actually learning it, but over time I gained enough confidence to finally declare myself a physics major. I still enjoy my daily dose of the humanities, evident by my writing for The Michigan Daily, but STEM is where my heart lies. That being said, we wrote this with our past selves in mind and for any wavering freshman who would like some truthful, genuine insight into these two paths.

ACADEMICS

ZHANE: For any STEM related major, academics are kind of the elephant in the room. I really couldn’t tell you how many times I was met with evident disgust, if not physical recoil, after telling someone I just met that I’m a physics major. Lots of people think that being in STEM requires some sort of an innate intelligence, like an extra gene that maWkes them “good at math” or a “coding genius.” This general perception is really unfounded. Just like in all other areas of study, a major in STEM is not inaccessible to anyone. Sure, the formulas or diagrams may look intimidating at one point (and maybe even nausea-inducing if you’re someone like Lara), but they’re not unknowable. It took me some time to learn this, but just because you struggle with learning something doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for it. If you step back and think about what you’re doing, you’ll realize that you are working towards being at the very forefront of human knowledge, and that’s something special.

Another common sentiment is that STEM is a totally uncreative field with no wiggle room to do things unconventionally. I’m not going to lie to you and say that STEM is actually super creative, because sometimes you really do have to follow the rules. But, problem-solving still requires a decent bit of creativity. In the words of renowned physicist Richard Feynman, science is akin to “imagination in a tight straightjacket.”

By LARA TINAWI & ZHANE YAMIN, Opinion Columnist & Summer Senior Opinion Editor

I wouldn’t feel like I had told the truth if I didn’t talk about how difficult some of the STEM courses are. If you are a STEM major, you will be challenged at some point in your academic career (the first time often being either MATH 115 or MATH 116). Again, remember that all knowledge is accessible to you. It might take a lot of patience and dedication to learn it, but you can feel rewarded in knowing that you are doing something that is genuinely difficult and requires a lot of tenacity.

LARA: While I’m not met with a physical recoil every time I tell someone I’m an English major, I’m usually met with a confused face and the question, “Are you going to be a teacher?” While a completely reasonable assumption to make, as I’ve met many future teachers in my English classes, I wanted people to look at me and assume I could be a lawyer.

A liberal arts path at the University is more accessible for undecided students because there are typically fewer credits required. An English major does not have any prerequisites, and I only have to complete 28 credits that are broken down in exploration of literature from around the world and in different forms. Many other liberal arts majors do have prerequisites and 30 credit requirements, but compared to a biology major’s nine prerequisite classes, I feel good.

Most of my English classes are basically book clubs with extra homework. Not every liberal arts class is easy, though: I was humbled by a political science class requiring immense memorization and analysis. Liberal arts courses often demand many readings for each class, with multiple essays due throughout the semester — sometimes it’s hard to keep up with the due dates.

In terms of assessments, I would choose essays over an exam any day, since studying turns me into a puddle of anxiety. Meanwhile, I can write essays in a couple hours while watching my favorite show. If you’re someone who dislikes testtaking, a liberal arts path is the way to go. Different people express their knowledge in different ways. Discovering the medium that best demonstrates your intellectual strength is essential to determining what is best for you academically.

Design by Jennie Vang

Design by Sara Fang

ZHANE: There is a sense that when you commit to STEM you are automatically throwing out your social skills for a solitary and academically confined life. However, this isn’t the case. Just like in every other major, you’ll have all different types of people to build relationships with. It’s also important to note that social skills are as beneficial in STEM as much as in other fields of study. In an era where scientific literacy is becoming increasingly important, having good communication skills in STEM will prove to be invaluable.

So, no, becoming a STEM major doesn’t mean resigning yourself to a lonely life atop a mountain of academia, though if that’s what you want, then STEM definitely gives you the means for it. It’s an amazing feeling, though, when you find someone you really enjoy being around, and it also happens that they are as dedicated to and enamored with the same subject as you. Like in any major, there’ll be people that you enjoy having around you and people that you might feel indifferent toward — either way, there are people out there for you.

A problem I often encounter with many STEM majors is that there’s a general lack of respect for the humanities. I’ve always gotten the sense that this feeling stems from the fact that, in order to justify the plethora of work that we do, we must put people down. Obviously, no one’s to say that one assignment is harder than another (I know some STEM students that would cry thinking about a 15+ page paper), and it’s important to have a mutual respect for each intellectual discipline.

LARA: One of the best parts of the liberal arts path is its diverse demographic. Because liberal arts encompasses a variety of majors, you are bound to meet people pursuing different career paths than you. It’s definitely a little easier to have a social life because of less frequent classes and fewer requirements for a liberal arts student.

Everyone seems to think we nap and read all day with no worries while our STEM counterparts fight for their lives. Though that describes my perfect day, the life of a liberal art student is no joke. I usually have a couple hundred pages worth of readings and an essay due each week. While liberal

arts students are great, there is competition in our field, often found in peer-reviews or feisty Socratic seminars. A liberal arts student will tear your paper apart and leave a little smiley face at the end of a deadly comment.

There is a lack of respect liberal art students experience at the hands of STEM students. I took the general chemistry series with my friends because I knew the content from high school, plus it gave me five natural science credits. Whenever I introduced myself and shared that I was an English major, I’d always get asked, “Why are you in this class?” as if I made a mistake despite knowing the content and getting good grades. Surprise, STEM students don’t own chemistry! Just because you choose the liberal arts path doesn’t mean you can’t take STEM courses that interest or can help you. The LSA requirements are there to give students an opportunity to explore all fields, so find classes you are passionate about, no matter their status as “science” or “humanities.”

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

Being out of state at a state university

Despite the fact that the University of Michigan is pretty evenly split between those from Michigan and those not, sometimes it feels like an ocean — or a Great Lake — separates these two groups. I am not from Michigan, nor am I from the Midwest, so coming up here to study and live for eight months each year was a bit of a culture shock. Adjusting to the occasional April snow storm and starting to say “pop” instead of “soda” was difficult, but there is so much more to being an “out-of-stater” at a flagship state university.

I chose the University of Michigan because of its stellar reputation for my major, its electric sports programs and the incredible student and alumni culture. There were, of course, reservations when I accepted my admission — just normal concerns about starting a new life in a different environment. The out-of-state tuition was no joke, and the 10 hour car ride to move in and out was going to be pretty unenjoyable.

There was also the fact that I would be so far from my family and friends back home — while open to the idea of making new connections, leaving my old ones behind was still a sad thought.

It’s normal to feel this way about leaving home, especially when home is going to be so far away. For in-state students, a weekend of home-cooked meals and clean showers is often an hour-long drive away, but for students from across the country or the ocean, your only chance to hug your beloved pet is during school breaks. Although ready for the new experience, this fact took some getting used to: I had never been away from home for more than two weeks and had never been more than 500 miles apart from it or my family. Weekly FaceTime calls with my parents and the occasional care package in the mail were the ways in which my family showed love from afar; these were pretty different from family dinners together, but they got the job done.

Being so far away from my family and hometown was hard for the first few months, espe -

cially in a state I had only visited once before. Adjusting to new dialects, perspectives and conditions — particularly the weather — was hard, too, but it was feeling like an outsider that was the toughest thing to deal with. Most of the people I have met at the University are in-state, and many attended the same high schools, have the same hometowns and know the same people; as

an out-of-stater, I felt like I was on the outskirts of a club of Michiganders. But, while it might seem like this is the case, it couldn’t be farther from the truth.

After two years here, I can ascertain that choosing to go out of state for my college years was the greatest decision I’ve made — next to the decision of choosing the University of Michigan, of course. For any 18 year old, going to college is bound to come with a strange feeling; packing up your belongings and saying goodbye to your childhood bedroom can certainly feel like an outof-body experience. You should not underestimate the additional strangeness of leaving your home state, but you should also understand that this departure comes with a newfound freedom and responsibility to discover yourself and your surroundings. When you leave home — a home that is hundreds or thousands of miles away — you truly become an adult and your own person.

It feels empowering to be so far away from the people who have helped you grow up and become the person you are today. When you leave home, you gain

After two years here, I can ascertain that choosing to go out of state for my college years was the greatest decision I’ve made — next to the decision of choosing the University of Michigan, of course.

By LINDSEY SPENCER, Summer Editorial Page Editor

control over your schedule, get to make your own decisions and your personal authority is no longer questioned. Going out of state for college was the greatest decision I’ve made for my confidence level — I feel so much more sure of myself and have gained a greater sense of maturity and worldliness. Leaving my home state for my undergraduate years has been not only a great academic choice, but also an incredible personal one — I can safely conclude that it has made me a more independent and developed individual.

While the personal and professional positives to going out of state for college are plentiful, there is still the concern of being the “outsider” to the “in” group of Michiganders. The University of Michigan may be labeled as a state university, but I can assure any concerned outof-state freshman that there is no secret “club” that will

shut you out. Not once have I ever felt as if my status as a non-resident student hindered my ability to find community on campus, and such community is not limited to out-of-staters. Sure, I might still be discovering the intricacies of the “mitten” and still think that Oakland County is in California, but I can truly say that the state of Michigan is now my second home.

Going to college can be an anxiety-inducing experience — feelings of stress are normal reactions to have. The added pressure of being so far from home and your “normal” makes the move extra difficult for out-of-state students, but I’m here to dissuade those concerns for you. As someone who knew pretty little about

Design by Arunika Shee

the state of Michigan prior to my tenure as a Wolverine, I bring you the successs story of an out-of-state student at the University: I’m still standing, have been lovingly welcomed by Michigan residents and have almost been concussed when driving over a pothole (a rite of passage).

So, to all of you who are entering the University of Michigan from around the country or globe, rest assured that coming from out of state will grant you the experience of a lifetime to grow, mature and get outside of your comfort zone. I promise that native Michigan students — and other out-ofstaters — will be here to greet you with open arms and introduce you to one of the most intensely supportive communities I’ve had the pleasure of encountering, despite the fact that I’m not from the Wolverine State. It’s just part of the Midwestern charm.

By MAX NEWMAN, Daily Arts Writer

Getting diagnosed with celiac disease in the middle of my junior year was one of the worst things that ever happened to me. Suddenly, I had to say goodbye to what felt like all of my favorite foods: bagels and cream cheese, chocolatey Starbucks frappuccinos with cookie mix-ins and my favorite cake from Wegmans that I requested for my birthday every year.

But I was determined not to let my dietary restriction get in the way of my college dining experience.

For those who are unaware, celiac disease essentially causes gluten to destroy the villi in my intestines, which in turn does not allow me to absorb the essential nutrients I need to live, including iron and B-12. In order to fix this, I have to eat a totally gluten-free diet, including avoiding cross-contamination. This makes things particularly difficult when eating out at restaurants, as many kitchens use the same grills, fryers and other equipment to make wheat products next to the dishes they label “gluten-free” on their menu. This can make finding food that works for me extremely difficult.

While I had moved out of the dorms by the time I was diagnosed, I would occasionally use a friend’s guest passes in the dining halls. My number one solution to my limited options: the gluten-free pantry. If you’re in a similar dietary situation,

Living with celiac at the

here’s how to gain access to this haven of cleanliness and dietary freedom:

1. Visit MDining’s page on dietary restrictions and allergies and scroll to “Gluten-Free Dining.” This page is great not just for us gluten-free diners, but for those with any and all allergies and dietary restrictions you might face in the U-M dining halls.

2. Watch the video and follow its instructions so your Mcard can unlock the pantry.

3. Make sure to grab from the pantry before anything else when you visit a dining hall to avoid cross-contamination from other food stations.

Now that I live in an off-campus apartment, and will be for the rest of my undergraduate career, I often handle my own food. My only issue: I hate cooking. I’ll occasionally order some gluten-free pasta

(the best brand of which is Barilla, and I will die on that hill) or other easy meals, but I can’t stand the time commitment and cleanup that comes from the cooking process. Here’s how I avoid my aversion to cooking without breaking the bank: Territory Foods!

Meal delivery services can be a great way to avoid cooking. Territory delivers six to 10 meals to your door each week with easy ways to filter by dietary preferences and restrictions. It’s also easy to cancel a weekly order if you’re going out of town or just need a break. The best part: Their kitchens are completely gluten-free! Despite my difficulties, I always enjoy treating myself to dining out or ordering food for delivery. Here are my recommendations for the best allergy-friendly restaurants in Ann Arbor:

FIRST BITE

As someone who enjoys sleeping in as long as possible before class, I’m not one to sit down for a big breakfast every morning, but First Bite is a wonderful treat when I’m in need of some avocado toast or breakfast potatoes. Many of their meals are customizable to accommodate dietary restrictions, and the best part: Their gluten-free bread doesn’t fall apart when pierced by a fork! My favorite dish is their fluffy french toast.

Design by Emily Schwartz

University of Michigan

TASTY BAKERY

Your first birthday away from home can be difficult, especially when birthday cake and other treats aren’t often a possibility when you have to eat gluten-free. Tasty Bakery is a great solution to this debacle. Their kitchen is entirely gluten-free, and they also feature many vegan options. Whether you’re looking for a sheet cake or a dozen cupcakes, Tasty Bakery has you covered. I highly recommend their chocolate layer cake if you have a birthday coming up.

WOLVERINE SUSHI BAR

One of the hardest things to let go when I received my celiac diagnosis was sushi rice, as many soy sauces use malt, which is not gluten-free. Wolverine Sushi Bar fixes this problem with their gluten free sushi rice and dedicated gluten-free section on their menu.

They offer your classic maki rolls, of course, but they also make specialty U-M-themed dishes that are perfect for celebrating your acceptance to the University! I highly recommend their harvest roll if you’re looking for unconventional sushi inclusions like apples.

CONDADO TACOS

Thank goodness for corn tortillas. If you’re looking for a great taco, tortilla chips or unique drinks, Condado Tacos is my best recommendation. With clearly listed allergens and great measures to avoid most cross-contamination in their kitchen, you can feel safe knowing your food won’t kill you. I recommend customizing one of their bowls with a side of chips and an agua fresca in your flavor of choice.

The most important recommendation I can offer as someone with a dietary restriction in a new place is to do your research. While I hope my suggestions have given you some relief in an often-daunting situation, not all of these restaurants or solutions may be for you. It is always important to verify what allergens might be included in a dish or cross-contaminate a kitchen. But know that you’re not alone. If I’ve survived this long with celiac in Ann Arbor, so can you!

By ELLIE RICHARD, Daily Sports Writer

Year in review: A non-revenue sports spotlight

Iget it.

Revenue sports like football, basketball and hockey are fun to follow. At Michigan, these big-name sports draw large crowds to their games and cultivate a sense of community that is hard to find anywhere else.

And this is for good reason, too. Gamedays in Ann Arbor are second to none. However, the spotlight around these sports is often so bright that it overshadows the likes of non-revenue sports, which consist of sports that do not generate positive revenue for the university.

It’s these same non-revenue sports that largely contribute to Michigan’s distinguished athletic reputation, collecting conference titles and personal trophies every year.

Simply put, non-revenue sports deserve more attention than they currently receive. So for today, the spotlight shines upon them.

Here are a few Michigan non-revenue sports highlights from the 2022-23 school year:

November 2022

• Field hockey defeats Northwestern en route to its eighth Big Ten Championship

February 2023

• Women’s indoor track and field wins Big Ten Championship

March 2023

• Men’s gymnastics claims its third straight Big Ten title

• Women’s gymnastics wins back-to-back Big Ten Championships

• Wrestling star Mason Parris is awarded the Hodge Trophy, an honor given to the best college wrestler in the nation

April 2023

• Women’s tennis clinches its second consecutive Big Ten Championship with a 4-2 win over Ohio State

• Sierra Brooks is named the 2023 AAI Award winner, earning the most prestigious award in women’s gymnastics

• Paul Juda wins the 2023 Nissen-Emery Award, also known as the “Heisman Trophy” of men’s gymnastics

• Ondrej Styler of the men’s tennis team is named Big Ten Athlete of the Year

May 2023

• Women’s rowing wins the Big Ten Championship, prevailing over Ohio State in a tight race

• Men’s lacrosse captures its first Big Ten Championship in program history with a 14-5 victory over Maryland

• Women’s track and field emerges victorious in outdoor Big Ten Championships, sweeping both seasons for the sixth time in program history

• Men’s lacrosse makes its first-ever appearance in NCAA Tournament and upsets No. 6 Cornell, 15-14 in overtime

• Men’s tennis edges USC to move on to the Elite Eight

• Women’s tennis defeats UVA, makes it to the NCAA quarterfinals Michigan may appear to be just a football school, but on paper, it is an everything school. So, future Wolverines, here is my advice to you: Michigan is a school full of elite Division I teams and athletes –some of which are the most dominant squads or players in their respective sports. For that reason, I urge you to occasionally step outside the Big House and pay attention to the non-revenue sports

The Official Merchandise Retailer of Michigan Athletics

PHOTOS (left to right):

Àbòwálé

When Ore walked into Festifall 25 minutes ago, she didn’t expect to be sitting alone, on a random patch of grass, crying. She also didn’t expect to have gone from a perfect, first-generation Nigerian American daughter to a tricky, first-rate T-shirt thief. It all began earlier that day, with her week-old friends. The four of them had just arrived at the University of Michigan’s biggest event of the year: Festifall. A woman with bewitching gray eyes and lustrous curly hair sat behind the welcome table.

“If you need anything, just ask for Cirena,” she smiled. “Be careful with that blue group to the left; stick together and you’ll be just fine. And you’ll want to be quick: We close in half an hour.”

Just before they could all walk away, she pulled Ore aside. “I almost forgot! You and your friends shouldn’t go to those groups on the right; students always get lost in there. They suck you right in.”

Cirena handed Ore a map as she turned to the next group. Ore glanced over it and joined her waiting friends.

Elumelu snatched the map and spoke up first. “This thing doesn’t say where the free stuff is. I need T-shirts!”

Yosola peeked over his shoulder. “Yeah, and where’s the food? I kinda didn’t eat lunch today,” she looked down at her stomach pitifully.

Ore grinned and shook her head, snatching the map back from Elumelu. “We’ll get the food and the free stuff, but don’t forget our main goal: ASA.”

Ah yes, the African Student Association. A place where their dide’s and exclamations of “chai!” would be understood. Where their hair was not exotic, food not gross and music not foreign. It radiated with jollof rice, parties, shared experiences and family: home. And Ore was going to get them there.

She stared at the map and hissed. “This map is useless,” she said, crumpling it into her pocket. “We just need to get to Table H12, which is straight ahead. How hard can it be? Yosola!”

Yosola whirled around, mouth stuffed with cookies and fingers dripping in gooey chocolate.

“Huh?”

Pelumi dragged her from the MDining table. “Must you always be chopping something?” he asked. “We’ll get food, but first, ASA.”

“Actually,” Ore sidled to a table by the Hatcher steps. “Let’s grab one of those T-shirts first.”

“Ore, that line is too long, and if Festifall ends soon —”

“You heard the woman,” Elumelu hit Pelumi’s arm. “Abeg, let’s get free stuff!”

So, the four of them waited in line. And waited. And waited. Until finally, they were the next group to go. Pelumi checked his phone.

“Ten minutes,” he said. “We’ve been in this line for 10 minutes.”

“I could’ve eaten so many cookies by now,” Yosola muttered under her breath.

A burly man stood in front of them, yellow hair plastered with sweat. Frown lines ravaged his forehead, and his face was set in what looked like a permanent scowl. An eyepatch covered one eye, leaving him one sea-green eye staring out. He took a labored breath and began his monotonous speech.

“I just had eye surgery, that’s why the eyepatch. No, I’m not a pirate and no, I’m not looking for buried treasure.”

“Who’s this club for?” Ore asked.

“Your mom,” the man answered, face and tone unchanged. “Just spin the wheel and get out of here.”

Elumelu seized the wheel and spun with all his strength.

“It’s your lucky day,” the man said, voice dripping with sarcasm. “You get a sticker.”

“Are you kidding me?” Elumelu stared at the wheel. “I waited 10 minutes for a sticker?”

The man wiped sweat from his forehead. “Listen kid. Life ain’t fair. Tell ya friends.” He chortled to himself. “Next?”

Elumelu still stared at the wheel in disappointment. “Ten minutes of my life. Gone. For a sticker.”

“Mumu,” Pelumi shook his head. “C’mon. Let’s go before Yoyo decides she

By TOMILADE AKINYELU, Daily Copy Editor

wants one of those KitKats over there.”

“Where?” Yosola exclaimed.

“No,” Ore determined. “We came here for free stuff, and that’s what we’re gonna get. Follow my lead.”

With that, she snatched a T-shirt and sprinted towards the Chemistry Building. Hastily, the others did the same. The man at the table roared after them, but the four sprinted as fast as their legs would take them. Suddenly, Ore slowed to a jog, then a walk, then stood still.

Elumelu shouted over his shoulder. “What’re you doing? We got the shirts, let’s go.”

“Tell ‘your mom,’ ” Ore’s voice carried in the wind as she turned back towards the man. “That Ore Soyinka wouldn’t want to join the club of a one-eyed freak!”

Some say the man threw pens at her retreating back; others swear he hurled the whole wheel. It didn’t matter. Ore had made it back to her friends; T-shirt in tow and 20 minutes till Festifall closed.

“Are you serious? This thing isn’t even my size!” Elumelu pouted.

Yosola crossed her arms. “At least you got what you wanted.”

“You know what I want?” Pelumi grabbed Ore by the shoulders, who was still breathlessly laughing at their escapade. “To actually make it to ASA before Festifall closes.”

Ore pushed him off and rolled her eyes. “We’ll get to ASA after we check out the Sirens.” She pointed to a blue table on the left. Some sunny-faced girls stood next to a trifold display, pointing out pictures to passersby. Others seemed to be going up and down scales, warming their vocal cords for something.

“That group on the left?” Yosola asked. “Didn’t Cirena say not to go there?”

“She said we could go there if we stuck together. Besides,” Ore raised her eyebrows towards Yosola. “They have free popsicles.”

“Let’s go!”

“No!” Pelumi argued. “El, back me up?”

“Chill Pelumi! We still got time,” Elumelu said.

“Ha! Three against one,” Ore smirked victoriously. “We’re going.”

Pelumi grunted as Ore continued, “All

I really need from them is that flyer with the QR code. But if they start singing, I’ll wanna stay. So, you guys need to pull me away just in case.”

“We got you,” Elumelu nodded.

Pelumi sighed. “Why are we going to the Sirens again?”

“Because Pelumi,” Ore tossed her braids back with her hand. “They’re a legendary acapella group, and I’m a legendary singer.”

Getting to the Sirens’ table was easy enough. Ore had grabbed the flyer and the group was about to leave. Suddenly, a melodious voice floated to their ears.

“Ore?”

She turned around slowly. It was Modupe, Ore’s tour guide from Black orientation.

“I thought I recognized you,” Modupe smiled with satisfaction. “You were the one asking about the acapella groups, right?”

“Yeah, but I —”

“You came at the right time,” Modupe continued. “We were just about to sing!”

She nodded to her group mates to begin. Their voices melted into glorious harmony. Together, they rose like

resonant mountains and fell like quiet valleys. With their clear intonation, even people from other tables were captivated by the spellbinding melody. The Sirens wove their song like a luscious waterfall, and Ore cascaded with it. As if even her feet wanted to be close to the beautiful ballad, Ore walked closer to the growing throng of listeners. Her ears were deaf to her friends calling her name, urging her to come with them. Seeing that she wouldn’t come, Pelumi and Yosola grabbed both her arms and ran away from the Sirens’ table, with Ore protesting all the while.

They didn’t stop running until the Sirens were out of earshot. When they finally stopped, the group erupted in fear.

“They were really good. Like, scary good.”

“What happened to you back there?”

“We only have 13 minutes!”

Ore silenced her friends with a wave of her hands. She gazed around the Diag. She saw two options. They could follow the map and go straight ahead to ASA. Yet, she looked wistfully to the groups on the right. If they went through that way, they’d still end up at ASA, just a minute later. Slowly, she pushed Cirena’s

warning to the back of her mind. What was college if not a test, a chance to show what you’re truly made of? What was life without a bit of adventure? She wouldn’t tell her friends about Cirena’s advice. She was Ore Soyinka. She wasn’t some lost freshman who couldn’t find her way through the Diag. Besides, those groups didn’t look that bad. She and her friends could make it through. She had told her friends she’d get them to ASA, and that’s exactly what she planned to do.

“We have plenty of time,” Ore reassured the others. “ASA is just past those groups on the right; we’ll get there.”

Yosola answered skeptically. “You’ve been wrong about everything so far, Ore. Oga, me and my stomach can’t take it anymore.”

“Yeah,” Elumelu agreed. He spoke in his best Nigerian accent. “We came here for ASA and free stuff, abi? So, what’s this gallivanting you’re trying to do?”

“They have a point, Ore,” Pelumi added. “We’re seriously running out of time. What does the map say?”

“Just trust me,” she pleaded. “I promise, Read more at MichiganDaily.com

Design by Sara Fang

nn Arbor’s coffee culture is rich and diverse. There are more than two dozen cafes within a mile of the University of Michigan’s campus alone, each boasting a unique roast. As you prepare to explore your new home this fall, The Michigan Daily’s coffee connoisseurs have compiled a comprehensive list of coffee shops for every occasion.

A brew on a budget — M36 Coffee Roasters

1101 S. University Ave.

Unfortunately, cheap coffee in Ann Arbor can be hard to come by. But if you are looking to cut down on your coffee spending, M36 is one of the best places to curb your caffeine craving without breaking the bank. Do it right and you can get yourself a latte under $4, or grab a $3 Americano. Add in Snackpass rewards and M36’s proximity to South, East and West Quads and you can save yourself time and money while still enjoying a fine cup of joe.

When you want to splurge — RoosRoast Coffee

117 E. Liberty St.

For a bit of a luxurious brew, take a stroll down Liberty to Roos Roast. The

brightly-colored building facade will catch your eye and the taste of their coffee will immediately capture your heart. From their honey vanilla latte — made with fresh honey and vanilla extract — to their iconic “Lobster Butter Love” blend, every sip is liquid gold. Roos has been an Ann Arbor staple since 2008 and when you feel like indulging your palate, it’s worth every penny.

Study while you sip — Shinola Cafe

301 S. Main St.

Perhaps one of Ann Arbor’s worst kept secrets is the cafe “hidden” under the Shinola store downtown. When you step through the door, walk past the rows of ticking watches and descend the stairs to your left to escape to your own personal coffee wonderland. Nothing inspires hard work more than the aroma of coffee mixing in the air with the strong scent of leather from the shop above. With a simple menu, the dim-lit cafe urges you to succumb to the darkness and pen the next great American novel — or just finish your math homework, it’s your choice.

Coffee on Central Campus — Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea at the

Michigan Union

530 S. State St.

An introduction to the A

Wolverines and townies alike love to grab a cup of coffee at any one of the seven Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea locations throughout the city of Ann Arbor. But the one at the Michigan Union provides easy access for students looking to grab their daily fix without being late to class. You can even use the Dining Dollars included with your meal plan on Sweetwater’s signature Dreamy Cold Brew (or anything else on the menu), so it’s basically like the University is sponsoring your coffee obsession.

Hot stuff for a hot date — Comet Coffee

16 Nickels Arcade

If you’re looking for a place to take someone special out for a (hot) drink, look no further than Comet Coffee. Whether you’re star-crossed lovers or you haven’t been on a date in many moons, Comet is the perfect place to express your feelings with espresso. Nestled right in the middle of Nickels Arcade, the intimate setting is only rivaled by the beauty of the latte art. Even if you don’t find the love of your life, you’ll at least fall in love with Comet Coffee.

Design by Haylee Bohm

Ann Arbor coffee scene

If your cup of tea is … a cup of tea — TeaHaus

204 N. 4th Ave.

If you don’t like coffee, it’s OK. Ann Arbor forgives you. Besides, with about 250 different kinds of tea for you to try at TeaHaus, you’ll have your hands (and your cup) full for a while. It might be a bit of a walk up to Kerrytown, but it’s worth it for the TeaHaus pastries alone. It’s not a place to study — in fact, TeaHaus doesn’t have internet or even allow laptops — but from tea cocktails (21+) to monthly Full English Tea, the cafe always has the perfect excuse for you to spend quali-tea time with friends.

For an adventurous cup — Black Diesel Coffee

1423 E. Stadium Blvd.

If you’re in the mood to try something new, head over to Black Diesel. It won’t matter if you’ve never been there or this is your 100th time; their expansive list of flavors and constantly changing specials are the perfect remedy to coffee ennui. And since making the trek from campus to Black Diesel requires either a quick drive or a long walk, there’s always a good chance of adventure along the way.

A morning brew for your morning stroll — Cahoots Cafe

206 E. Huron St.

There’s a good number of U-M students who matriculate and graduate without having ever visited Cahoots Cafe. Maybe that’s because it’s a bit of a hike from campus, or maybe it’s because the words “Kleinschmidt Insurance” are still inexplicably engraved in stone over the door of the cafe from the building’s past. Either way, Cahoots offers a quiet, yet luxurious cafe experience that will leave you smiling after every sip.

Coffee with Vitamin D — Vertex Coffee Roasters

1335 S. University Ave.

Surprisingly, it can be challenging to find outdoor cafe seating in Ann Arbor. And you’ll want to soak up every last bit of sunshine while the weather’s nice. Luckily, Vertex has got you covered — or uncovered in this case. With a lovely, open patio space, the sky becomes your ceiling and the wind your coffee shop ambience. And even when winter begins, drinking a steaming cup of coffee at Vertex, surrounded by dozens of indoor plants, might just be your saving grace until spring.

A finals pick-me-up in a cup — The Common Cup

1511 Washtenaw Ave.

When finals week rolls around, Ann Arbor coffee house seating becomes prime real estate. The Common Cup is the perfect place to snag a seat, with several large tables to accommodate your whole study group — and free finals goody bags to boot. You can grind out an essay while the baristas grind The Common Cup’s signature beans into their soup bowl-sized lattes. That means you’ll have enough coffee to keep you going after who-knows-how-many all-nighters.

By RONI KANE, Managing News Editor

Don’t expect too much from

By JOSHUA NICHOLSON, Daily Staff Reporter

Ihave two core memories from my freshman year, mirrored but distinctly different. In the first, I’m riding my bike from the East Quad Residence Hall to the Cube, a University of Michigan monument you’ve doubtlessly heard about on tours or online. It’s late at night and I end up sitting alone, watching students walk by with their friends. In the second, I’m walking down State Street at a similar time of night. Like in the first, I’m alone, and I can hear the laughter of friends marching on their way to a latenight party.

At first glance, the only real difference between these two memories is the weather — cool fall air compared to newfallen snow. But, on a deeper level, these two stories are from two different semesters, one demonstrating the difficult adjustment to college life and the other to the nerve wracking experience of trying new things. In the story from my second

semester, I’m braving the January cold to head to an indoor field that barely shows up on Google Maps. I was about to try something completely new: my first rugby practice.

My second semester was infinitely better than my first, largely thanks to rugby but also due to generally settling in at college. Even though I spent the first month or so running around, making friends and trying new things, I quickly ran out of steam. Creeping doubts over the new people I was meeting often led me to contemplate my time alone at night. While some gathered in empty classrooms to hang out or set out for the odd party, I studied in my room and went to bed early. It wasn’t until my second semester when I really settled into college and felt satisfied with what I was doing and where I was going.

When people come to college, they’re immediately faced with countless people and clubs demanding their attention. While they try to hold a conversation with their hallway neighbors and look at

the fliers an environmentalist club shoved in their hands, they’re simultaneously trying to create a healthy routine living away from their hometown. If you think that you will be the exception, heed my warning: You can’t just dive headfirst into college and expect to hit the ground running.

Instead, for your first semester, focus on surviving. Pick a handful of clubs you’re interested in and attend their mass meetings. Try to minimize the amount of listservs you get put on, or your inbox will be chronically cluttered. Drag some of your dorm friends along, guilt trip them if you have to, and step out of your comfort zone. Myself? I went to a blacksmithing club meeting, recruitment for The Michigan Daily and a music business club. Keep in mind that these don’t have to be commitments. I never followed through on blacksmithing, and I stopped participating in the music business club by second semester. If you aren’t enjoying things or people in the club, then stop going. You can cement what you really want to do later.

Design by Emily Schwartz

first semester

Meanwhile, you’ll find yourself trying to develop friendships with everyone you meet. A lot of people will tell you that they found their friends in their clubs — something I can’t dispute — but even then, there are a variety of college experiences. If you don’t find yourself clicking with any of the clubs you try out, you probably won’t become friends with any of the members. If you decide to leave a club halfway through the semester or halfway through the year, odds are you’ll stop interacting with those people. Don’t feel disappointed if you find yourself with fewer social connections than you had hoped at the end of your first semester. You have a whole year to meet new people.

Your first semester will be full of new things, people and experiences, but the second semester will slow down. Trust me. No one wants to go out every night once the weather hits below freezing and the fraternities won’t let just anyone in after the Welcome Week craze dies down. This is when you can get into your routines and really settle down. This is when you can develop the friendships you really want. You’ve met some people and have some knowledge under your belt of what to expect academically. Now, you can set a good study schedule using what you learned from your first semester, support the interests and activities of the friendships you want to invest in, and reevaluate what you really want to do with your time.

If I let my first semester set the tone for my college experience, I wouldn’t have had a very enjoyable year. I spent too much time studying, didn’t enjoy the friends I had initially made and fell into a slump. What helped me enjoy my first year was realizing it’s just that: a full year. I still had a whole semester to make my freshman experience enjoyable, and I did so. I invested in meaningful friendships I wanted to continue from first semester and dropped the others. I joined Michigan Rugby, something which kept me active and introduced me to a host of new teammates (something distinct from but, in my opinion, on par with friends). I also settled in academically, recognizing that I didn’t need to spend hours studying for an intro class I was taking for a distribution requirement.

One of my friends told me once that his goal for freshman year was to survive and just get through the year with good grades and a few friends. I could add that he said his goal for second year was getting a girlfriend, but let’s keep the advice on your first year, not the horizon. When you move into your dorm room and meet the people you followed from the class of 2027 Instagram page, remember that relationships take time to develop. Life takes time to develop. As I prepare for my second year, I’ve found the people I want to invest my time in and the clubs I want to support, but I didn’t find all of them right away. If you find yourself taking a lonely night time walk midway through October, stressing over college not looking like what you expected and feeling like everyone already found their place on campus while you got left behind, remember that it’s never too late. Now, I wouldn’t recommend walking 15 minutes on a winter evening wearing only shorts and a hoodie, but put yourself out there a bit more in your second semester, and you’ll realize everything is going to be okay.

10 tips for football gamedays

1. Go to a game at least once

By MIRIELLE WONG, Daily Sports Writer

Football Saturdays in Ann Arbor are about more than just football. Even if you have no interest in the game itself, or don’t quite know how football works, it’s worth it to attend at least one game at Michigan Stadium.

The late Keith Jackson, legendary football broadcaster, said Michigan Stadium was his favorite college football venue and was purportedly the first to coin the term “The Big House.” And indeed, Michigan Stadium — with its capacity of 107,601 — is the largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere. The Big House is larger than it looks from the outside, since the bowl of the stadium is built into the ground, and it’s at its very best on Saturdays in the fall. It’s an incredible sight to see the stadium filled to the brim with maize-and-blue-clad fans. Watching the crowd, more than 100,000 strong, belt “The Victors” is sure to give you chills — and insight into the shared passion for Michigan football that brings generations of fans together each fall.

2. Learn “The Victors”

It’s infinitely more fun to be one of those 100,000 fans in Michigan Stadium singing “The Victors.” The Michigan Marching Band plays the fight song at every possible opportunity, so learning those eight lines goes a long way. If you don’t already know the lyrics, a quick search of “Hail to the Victors” on YouTube will bring you plenty of lyric-laden singalong videos.

3. Dress for the weather

Over the course of a season, the weather on a football Saturday can range from bright sun and 90°F weather to snow and freezing temperatures. The shallow stadium bowl doesn’t protect from the elements, and the majority of tailgates and parties are outdoors as well. Check the weather before you go and dress appropriately — a short sleeve T-shirt may sound good in the morning, but in November you’ll need a coat by the time the sun sets over the brim of Michigan Stadium.

4. Don’t be afraid to go alone

It’s okay to go to games alone! You don’t need to be part of a group to have a good time on football Saturdays. In fact, sometimes it’s nice not to have to try and find a small group in a sea of 100,000 similarly-dressed fans. Football games — and, in fact, almost all sporting events — are friendly by nature. Football fans are trained to see anyone wearing their team’s colors as friends, not foes. I’ve felt safe at every game I’ve attended alone, and I’ve always enjoyed the camaraderie and conversation I’ve shared with the strangers on the bleachers next to me.

5. Be prepared to be on your feet

In the student section, students stand on the bleachers for the majority of the game. Factor in parties, tailgates and walking to the stadium, and that means you’ll be on your feet almost the whole day. Be prepared and wear comfortable footwear — and in late October and November, make sure your feet won’t be frostbitten come Sunday.

6. Quiet on offense, loud on defense

When Michigan’s offense is at work, keep the cheering muted. It’s important for the offense to be able to hear the quarterback’s signals. There’s nothing more frustrating than a Michigan fan interrupting the offense’s concentration by yelling out during a crucial series. Conversely, when Michigan is on defense, no amount of yelling and general noisemaking is too much. Home field advantage is dependent on fans’ commitment to making noise and disrupting the opponent’s offensive communication. There’s a “Big House Impact” counter that shows on the scoreboards every time the opponent commits a false start due to crowd noise. During the 2021 Michigan-Ohio State game, the “Big House Impact” hit a whopping five penalties — to the delight of the student section.

7. Learn the lyrics to “Mr. Brightside”

One of the newer entries in the long, long list of Michigan Stadium traditions, “Mr. Brightside” is a favorite in the student section. Played during the third quarter of every game, the stadium-wide singalong to “Mr. Brightside” is more fun when you’ve checked the lyrics out online beforehand.

8. Make sure to stay hydrated

Especially during the early portion of the schedule, when temperatures can still reach into the 80s regularly, staying hydrated during and after the game is key. I’ve seen students faint in the stands from dehydration — nobody wants to have a medical emergency during a game, so make sure you’re drinking enough water.

9. Download your tickets beforehand and bring your Mcard

There’s no WiFi at the stadium and cell phone coverage ranges from spotty to nonexistent, so download your tickets beforehand. You’ll also need your Mcard to go through the stadium’s student entrance.

10. Check out the Michigan Marching Band’s pregame and postgame shows

Stop by Revelli Hall an hour and a half before the game to watch the Michigan Marching Band’s Percussion Step Show, then follow the band on their march to the stadium. You won’t be the only one — there’s always a mass of fans accompanying the band along the way. Then, after the game, stay in the stadium for the band’s postgame on-field performance, and follow them from the parking lot adjacent to Michigan Stadium as they march back to Revelli Hall.

Building our shared future

The University of Michigan has embarked on a journey to define its future and it needs your input.

Through two collective efforts — Vision 2034 and Campus Plan 2050 — U-M will engage the campus community to chart its path for the next 10 years and define how the physical campus should evolve to support the U-M of the future. Learn more about each effort and opportunities to get involved this fall!

Vision 2034 is a yearlong effort to develop a 10-year strategic vision informed by the U-M community. Help define what U-M should be like in 2034 to increase our impact and create new opportunities for students to challenge the present and enrich the future.

vision2034.umich.edu

Campus Plan 2050 will explore the living, learning and working environments of the Ann Arbor campus in support of the strategic vision. Help establish clear priorities for campus as we create 5- and 10-year development planning horizons and a long-term, 25-year plan.

campusplan2050.umich.edu

What if I don’t make any friends? Friendship advice for my freshman self

By ALLISON WEI, Daily Arts Writer

Istill remember that growing pit in my stomach as my parents drove away from Ann Arbor, leaving me in my dorm room alone. I had just moved into Helen Newberry Residence Hall, and though I tried to distract myself by putting up posters and hanging fairy lights, deep down, I couldn’t help but think: What if I don’t make any friends in college?

This question haunted me throughout Welcome Week as I filled my Google Calendar with events, rushing to meet as many people as possible. I had met nice people, sure, but what about community — what about the “friends you’ll have for the rest of your life?”

Now, as a rising junior, I’m lucky enough to say I have met close friends in college — and yet, I look back and can’t help but feel for my freshman-year self. Here’s what I wish I knew about friendship in my freshman year: Community looks different for everyone: I came into college with grandiose ideas of a large friend group that was super tight-knit and was constantly hanging out. I’m not sure where exactly I got this idea from — whether it was the movies or social media — but this wasn’t my experience. I remember wondering if I was doing it wrong or if I simply wasn’t

good enough. The truth is, your community doesn’t have to look a certain way to be good. Someone else’s social sphere is going to look different from yours and that’s okay. Throughout college, I‘ve realized that I had an image in my head of a large friend group that I wrongly felt like I was missing out on. As someone who’s more introverted, the community that actually suits me the best is just a few close friends I can open up to. Quality trumps quantity in my case. Sure, we’re not the rowdiest bunch, but I enjoy baking banana bread or drinking tea with them, and for me that’s enough. There’s no need to compare my friend group to those around me.

Community takes time: I can’t tell you how many people I met during Welcome Week that I’ve never seen again. As much as freshman me was gung-ho about making friends fast, the truth is you can’t rush the process. Don’t expect others to get to know you all at once, but also give yourself the grace and time to unfold naturally at your own pace. When I think of some of my closest friends now, I honestly don’t know how we met or even how we became friends. There’s a certain mystery that comes with all friendships, but I prefer it that way — it’s a little bit like magic, and reminds me I’m not the one in control. Trust the process and trust yourself.

Talk about your loneliness: When I kept my loneliness to myself, it felt so big, and I felt so ashamed. I’m reminded of the children’s book, “I Don’t See a Dragon,” where a boy sees a dragon in his house and tells his mom, who does not initially acknowledge it, but the dragon keeps growing bigger and bigger until she has to. When I actually started talking about my loneliness with my friends and family, admitting that I felt this way, I realized how much my friends and family did support me and how loved I was. Loneliness

isn’t uncommon; we just don’t talk about it. As ironic as it may sound, the very feeling of loneliness makes you not alone. Opening up about loneliness isn’t a sign of weakness; rather, it’s a sign of strength, and may give others the courage to open up to you as well about the same experience. Instead of being afraid of loneliness, befriend it. Loneliness is a normal part of the human experience and can actually transform you to be a more inclusive and empathetic person if you let it.

Be intentional about your friendships: During the first week or so of our friendship, my now best friend told me how grateful she was to have me as a friend. That meant so much to me. She taught me not to just feel grateful for your friends but to tell them — there’s literally no reason to not let your friend know how much you appreciate them. Also, at a school as big as the University of Michigan, unless you plan to see someone, it’s easy not to spend intentional quality time together. Personally, I’m a big fan of scheduling weekly dinner dates/hangouts with friends I really value and want to make sure I see on a consistent basis. There’s no shame in sending a GCal invite!

Learn to spend time with yourself: Throughout college, I’ve gotten more and more comfortable spending time with myself. I’m learning to see an open day with no plans as an opportunity rather than fear missing out. Obviously, this is different for everyone based on where you fall on the introversion/extroversion scale, so find the balance that works for you. Just as valuable as investing in friendships is learning to enjoy your own company — sometimes, that’s actually the hardest part.

For me, I ended up finding community at my church; but there are plenty of other places to find company, from dorms to clubs to sports. Don’t be afraid to check out Wolverine Support Group, which exists explicitly for building community. There is a place for you here — remind yourself of that when you feel lonely. Remind yourself of it when you finally make the friends you always dreamed of. Remind yourself of this in every moment in between. You got this. I believe in you.

Design by Arunika Shee

Picture yourself at a Michigan sports game. What do you see? Let me guess: you see yourself belting “The Victors” in Michigan Stadium on a football Saturday, or jumping up and down in Crisler Center watching the men’s basketball team, or packing into the Children of Yost section and heckling opponents during a hockey game. When most incoming students picture themselves at Michigan sports games, their minds often jump to men’s sports. It’s understandable, because those teams are usually the most high-profile and well-known. But that doesn’t mean they’re the only options. Michigan boasts 14 varsity women’s sports teams, all of which are just as worthy of your attention and attendance. Below, you’ll find snapshots of just a few women’s sports teams here at Michigan, hopefully inspiring you to venture beyond football, men’s basketball and hockey and give women’s sports the recognition they deserve.

The Michigan women’s gymnastics team continued its Big Ten dominance this past season. Successfully defending its conference title, the Wolverines brought home their eighth Big Ten Championship in 10 years. On top of the conference championship, Michigan also made a national statement with a comeback victory over top-ranked Oklahoma in its last home meet of the season. The Wolverines’ season ended abruptly in a heartbreaking tiebreaker upset in the NCAA regional finals, but the disappointing end doesn’t overshadow the team’s successes — on both a team and an individual level. For the second year in a row, Michigan boasted the best senior gymnast in the country. Sierra Brooks won the 2023 AAI Award — the nation’s most prestigious award in gymnastics — a year after Natalie Wojcik received the same recognition. This upcoming season, the Wolverines are retaining two of their strongest gymnasts in Brooks and Gabby Wilson, as they attempt to win back-to-back-to-back conference titles and avenge their NCAA Tournament loss.

After a historic 2021-22 season in which the Michigan women’s basketball team reached the Elite Eight for the first time in program history, the Wolverines failed to replicate the same level of success this past season. Falling to 0-7 against ranked Big Ten opponents, Michigan lost to rival Ohio State thrice on the season — the most impactful coming in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. Traveling to Baton Rouge for the NCAA Tournament after falling out of host seed position, the Wolverines reached the Round of 32 before losing at the hands of eventual champion LSU. Heading into this upcoming season, Michigan is seeing substantial roster turnover. The Wolverines are losing three of last year’s biggest contributors in wing Leigha Brown, forward Emily Kiser and guard Maddie Nolan. However, Michigan is returning talented sophomore guard Laila Phelia as well as multiple other players looking to take on bigger roles, such as sophomore guards Jordan Hobbs and Greta Kampschroeder. The Wolverines also added a few players from the transfer portal as they look to build a competitive team and sustain a successful program moving forward.

The Michigan field hockey team made history this past season, winning its eighth Big Ten title — the most of any team in the conference. In the span of four days during the Big Ten Tournament, the Wolverines faced three top-10 teams — No. 9 Iowa, No. 3 Penn State and No. 4 Northwestern — and defeated all of them en route to securing the title. After the strong conference tournament showing, Michigan was heavily favored heading into its first NCAA Tournament matchup against UAlbany at home. However, the Wolverines suffered an overtime upset to end their season. Sophomore midfielder Abby Tamer, who was named to the USA Field Hockey Senior National Team in March, will be returning for Michigan next season along with numerous other strong contributors. The Wolverines look to compete with the best in the Big Ten — and the nation — again next season.

By LYS GOLDMAN, Summer Managing Sports Editor

Women’s sports roundup

MICHIGAN DAILY

GRACE BEAL/Daily ANNA FUDER/Daily

ANNA FUDER/Daily

A non-Michigander’s guide to euchre

If you are coming to the University of Michigan as someone who did not grow up in the state, or even the Midwest, you will undoubtedly be surprised to discover some characteristic regional quirks. You might do a double-take upon hearing someone use the word “pop” instead of “soda,” for example, or get totally lost watching someone point out where they are from on the palm of their hand (this will happen a lot, trust me — just nod your head and pretend to know what they are talking about).

Perhaps the biggest surprise when I came to school here was the lore surrounding the game euchre (pronounced YEW-ker). This card game is known as a “Midwest secret,” but is especially well-loved in Michigan. Journalist Jason Boog, a self-proclaimed euchre enthusiast, described the game to Michigan Radio as “a game that passes idle time with real people in real life, a kind of loafing that feels as endangered as any card game.” I can personally attest to this statement, as I’ve spent many, many hours in my friend’s dorm room doing nothing but playing euchre, or at least watching other people play.

Euchre is extremely confusing at first, and may seem daunting to learn — especially as someone entirely unfamiliar with the game.

So in hopes of smoothing the transition to a college in the “Euchre Belt,” I will attempt to explain the rules of the game in the simplest way I can.

My first tip: whatever you do, do not look up the official rules of the game before you first play. From experience, the lingo that is used there will only confuse you, and you will get lost in the instructions to the point where you won’t want to play anymore. If anything, preface your first game with the Family Guy episode “Bend or Blockbuster,” which is a strikingly accurate representation of what it feels like to have the rules of euchre explained to you for the first time.

The set-up

The game is usually played in groups of four with two teams. You must sit directly across from the player on your team — not next to them (this limits any cheating that can happen). Euchre is played with a deck of cards that only includes aces, kings, queens, jacks, 10s and nines of each suit. There are five rounds, or “tricks,” in each game. Each player will place one card down on the table on their turn, and a player takes a trick when the card they placed is the highest out of any other card. The game ends when one team reaches 10 points.

Step 1: To begin, each player will draw a card at random from the deck to determine the first dealer. The person that draws the highest card will be the dealer for the first

By EMMA LAPP, Daily Staff Reporter

trick. If you are the dealer, you then pass each player five cards.1

Step 2: The dealer will flip the top card from the deck face up, which reveals the potential trump suit. The trump suit is considered the highest suit of that round. You are then going to go around the table once, giving someone the chance to tell the dealer to pick up the flipped-over card (which declares the suit as trump or the highest). For instance, if you have a handful of diamonds and the flipped card is a high diamond (and if you or your partner are the dealer), you would want to call that card as trump. If you are told by your partner to pick up the card, then you must discard a card from your hand (you can choose, so I would recommend a low-value card).2 If someone decides to pick up the card on the first round, then the second round doesn’t happen. However, if everyone passes on the first round, the dealer must discard the flipped card to prepare for a second round, in which people can arbitrarily call for which suit they want as the trump suit. All of this starts with the person to the left of the dealer.

Step 3: Here is where the rules get more convoluted, if you can believe it. The “left bower” is the highest card in the trick and the “right bower” is the second-highest card. Both bowers are jacks of the same color, and they depend on which card was called the trump suit. Think of the colors as pairing the

Design by Sara Fang

bowers together: hearts and diamonds are both red so they pair together for the bower, and spades and clubs are both black so they also pair for the bower. For instance, if hearts are trump for that trick, the left bower would be the jack of hearts and the right bower would be the jack of diamonds.

The game

Step 1: The starting player (the person that is left to the dealer) puts down their lead card (this should be the highest card that the player has — preferably in the trump suit). The suit of the card that is led must be followed by the rest of the players. For example, if a diamond is the suit of the card played, then all other players must “follow suit” and play a diamond if they have it. If you don’t have a card that follows suit, you can play any other card, including a trump card. Just remember, trump cards win the trick if it is the highest card played.

Step 2: A big part of this game is keeping score. My advice to you is to let the Michiganders keep score for the first few times you play because it’s super confusing (or at least for me it was). But, to try to explain: a team gains points if they win a majority of tricks. For attackers (if your team initially called the trump suit), you gain a point for winning three or four tricks and two points for winning five. For defenders (if the other team called trump), you gain two points if your team wins the majority of the tricks.3

Step 3: Play each trick until you run out of cards and when one team reaches 10 points, the game is over and that team is victorious!

Weird Rules

1. When passing out the cards, you must deal everyone two cards first, and then three cards. Meaning, you cannot deal one person all of their five cards at once.

2. If you have a great hand, you can choose to play this trick alone (“go alone”), which exempts your partner from playing in that trick. “Going alone” can be a good strategy because it can get you extra points in that trick, which will help you win. I personally liked when my partner “went alone” because that meant that I wouldn’t have to play that round.

3. There are tons more little rules that are valuable components of the game. For example, when you and your partner have nine points (with only one point left to win) you are “in the barn.” Your partner (if they are cool like my friends are) will reach their hands across the table with their thumbs out (this represents the udders of the cows) and you must milk the “udders” with your fingers. It sounds silly, but it is honestly a fun thing to do, because you know you are close to winning.

Now you know the rules of euchre! The best way to get the hang of it, like any card game, is to practice. After being told that I wasn’t very good at euchre (I am still not), I practiced by playing online games, which I recommend. I should note that this is not a complete list of all of the rules, strategies and oddities of euchre, but this is all you need to know when first starting out. Most importantly, have fun with it, and welcome to Michigan!

Getting oriented: Meet the leaders and best of Michigan football

By JOHN TONDORA, Daily Sports Writer

With much of the 2022-23 Michigan athletics season wrapped up and the academic year no longer in session, the summer offseason always brings a time-honored tradition: Preseason football buzz. And there is much to buzz about. Coming off of its first 13-win season in school history before a crushing defeat at the hands of TCU in the Fiesta Bowl, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and his football team have their eyes laser-focused on returning to the College Football Playoff. Despite losing 11 players to the pros this past season, the Wolverines retain much of the dynamic roster that brought them to the College Football Playoff only a few months ago. So, with the opening kickoff of the 2023-24 college football season less than 100 days away, let’s dive into the returning big names of the Michigan football team.

Quarterback: J.J. McCarthy

The crown jewel of the Wolverines, it starts at the very top for Michigan with the all-American kid, quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing in at just under 200 pounds, the former five-star recruit’s long-lauded potential became a reality for the Wolverines last season.

Throwing for just over 2,700 yards and 22 touchdowns while chipping in another seven scores with his feet, McCarthy more than flashed for Michigan. From taking over the starting job against Hawaii in Week Two to walking out of The Shoe after bludgeoning Ohio State 45-23, the Wolverines’ blonde bombshell has come as advertised — high risk, but high reward.

Even coming off a tumultuous Fiesta Bowl against TCU that featured two pick-six interceptions from McCarthy and one nearlyHerculean comeback that was not to be, Michigan has its best QB of the Harbaugh era and a signal caller hungry for another shot.

The rising junior’s upcoming season will be his first as a Week One starter, with his hopes set on reaching even higher heights.

Graduate defensive back Mike Sainristil is the Swiss Army knife of the Wolverines.

On the field, the wide receiver-turned-nickel cornerback dazzled in his new defensive role when the lights shined brightest. A vocal leader, Sainristil commands Michigan’s self-proclaimed “no-star defense.”

Looking forward to 2023, Sainristil knows what lies ahead. After transitioning to defensive back in 2022, he looks to perfect his Renaissance man role.

“Just being able to focus on little techniques, small details,” Sainristil said March 9. “Last spring I was really more focused on learning the playbook … But now that I have a year of the playbook under my belt, I’m making sure I get with the coaches to help me find those finer points.”

As Sainristil gears up for his second year at the helm of the Wolverines’ defense, the finer points will eventually make all the difference.

Heisman. That was the accolade on the minds of the college football community heading into Michigan’s Week 11 matchup against Illinois. Rushing for 1,457 yards to that point and 18 touchdowns, rising senior running back Blake Corum’s backfield campaign was nothing short of the best in college football.

That is, until an injury midway through an 108-yard rushing performance derailed the tailback’s season, forcing him to look onwards from the sidelines.

And although Corum’s shortened season still attracted interest from the NFL, the 5-foot-8 bowling ball behind the trenches is back for his senior season with the Wolverines. In an announcement earlier this year via Twitter, Corum stated:

“Motivated by my profound love for Michigan and commitment to my education. I have decided to return for another season.”

Now, the 2022 unanimous first team All-American has another goal in mind: not just success, but redemption.

If there was a single phrase to best describe rising senior defensive lineman Kris Jenkins, it would be the words of rising junior linebacker Junior Colson:

“He’s a little crazy, but we enjoy him.”

Coming in at 6-foot-3 and hoping to reach 310 pounds by the start of the season, “crazy” might be the most measured way to describe one of the most athletic players in college football. From shouting too loud at weight room sessions to always being the most magnanimous in the room, Jenkins looks to take command of a dangerous frontseven.

Jenkins has a penchant for the “dirty work;” with 54 tackles coming in the trenches for the Wolverines this past season, the Maryland native won’t be hard to find in 2023.

Defensive back: Mike Sainristil

Running back: Blake Corum

Defensive line: Kris Jenkins

What really is The Michigan Difference?

If you are coming to the University of Michigan as someone who did not grow up in the state, or even the Midwest, you will undoubtedly be surprised to discover some characteristic regional quirks. You might do a doubletake upon hearing someone use the word “pop” instead of “soda,” for example, or get totally lost watching someone point out where they are from on the palm of their hand (this will happen a lot, trust me — just nod your head and pretend to know what they are talking about).

“The Michigan Difference.” An expression you have probably heard a hundred times by now. The phrase pays homage to the magnificence of the University, including (but not limited to) being the third-ranked public university in the nation, the 18th-ranked university in the world, and home to the secondbest collegiate football team in 2023. The slogan underscores the institutional might of the University as it dominates the both educational and athletic landscapes with its myriad of achievements. “The Michigan Difference” represents the line that separates the University of Michigan from the rest of the world. It makes us elite — the Victors, the Leaders and Best. ***

I think it’s easy to reduce something to a number as a measure of success: the volume of programs or majors that rank top 10 in the nation, the amount of titles the sports teams have accumulated or the vast network of alumni around the world. It makes this place seem more simple, boiling down complex entities on this campus to a singular statistic so that the perfection of life here can be displayed on every public forum. But the University of Michigan is much more than that. It is a living, breathing establishment with 51,225 different people, paths and perspectives residing within the 205-yearold, ivy-covered buildings. Those 51,225 lives cannot be represented in a single figure, and it is up to us to delve into the

nooks and crannies of the stories that give this school its liveliness and charm.

To me, “The Michigan Difference” is not just that we live in one of the best cities in America or that our football team has won two consecutive Big 10 Championships: it’s buying an iced latte from my favorite coffee shop — the café in the University of Michigan Museum of Art — on my way to the Law Library to do my chemistry homework. It’s my friends’ laughter on the way to Frita Batidos to celebrate my birthday as the spring sun shines on our smiling faces. It’s sitting in the Diag, a book in my hand and contentment in my heart, as I take in the sights and smells of a perfectly crisp October day.

My biggest advice for you as freshman year begins is to look past all the grand statistics that seem to define this University. While the University is extremely impressive and quite amazing, it is also so easy to let those metrics intimidate you until you feel alienated from the warmth of the U-M community. Make sure to focus on what’s around you as you settle into the year. You will be faced with days in which the facts and figures of “The Michigan Difference” won’t quell the discomfort rising in your chest as you try to adjust to

a life extremely different from anything previously known. So finding your own Michigan Difference — the reason you love this school — — will give you the support to continue until that discomfort slowly turns into fulfillment.

Whether it be the amazing position you got at The Michigan Daily or how the sun hits the leaves on the trees just right as you walk to your class in the Chemistry Building, everyone has a different reason for why they chose to attend the University of Michigan. So I encourage you to find that reason and store it in your heart and mind.

College will be an interesting time, and throughout the good and the bad, hold onto that reason. Even if it’s incredibly robust or surprisingly mundane, it will ground you when it feels like the world is spinning a little too fast; it will give you the strength to traverse even the hardest of situations. When you dive deep into yourself and figure out what’s important, you can make the most of your time here; because it will be fueled by that love — the love that makes going to the University of Michigan worth it. And that is so much more than any number that shows up on a ranked list. It is up to you to figure out what really is “The Michigan Difference.”

SELENA SUN/Daily

Discover the power of the ar ts with the U-M Ar ts Initiative. Ar ts competitions & exhibits, fellowship oppor tunities, internships, free tickets to events, & more!

23/24 Student Flex Series

New this year, the Student Flex Series Package offers access to eligible SMTD ticketed performances with flexible exchange policies, $10 tickets, and improved seating. The Student Flex Series Package goes on sale on July 10.

Explore Your Talents!

Bring your instrument to campus and join an ensemble. Learn to dance, sing in a choir, meditate, act, or compose music. We offer classes to all students from beginning guitar and rap songwriting to hip hop dance and the history of pop music. You can even add a music minor to your degree with only 15 credits of mainly electives.

Learn more about the SMTD Flex Series for the 23/24 performance season and our elective classes by scanning the QR code or visiting:

smtd.umich.edu/daily