Long lines, lost freshmen mark start of school

Yes, it's that time of year again.

For some, school is just that - school. For others, the beginning of the academic year marks a welcomed end to a work-filled summer and holds the promise of friends, parties and a lack of parental supervision.

"The summer was too long," said LSA sophomore Russ Heilbrun. "I missed my friends and the atmosphere here. It was just time to come back."

SAM HOLLENSHEAD/Daily First-year Engineering student Necombe Clark watches TV and talks on the phone. Eventually he'll get to his homework.

There's no doubt that Ann Arbor has atmosphere, and plenty of it, especially the week before classes begin.

Here's a look at the people and events that make the back to school experience something of a tradition.

Rookies:

For the incoming freshmen, college life is still a mystery, a puzzle that is slowly coming together piece by piece.

"I knew it was going to be big," said Janette Williams, an LSA first-year student from Texas, "but I apparently had no concept of how big 'big' is.

"At first, I felt apprehensive about the size and the distance from home, but then as things started to get more 'normal.' I got more comfortable."

Adjusting to a new life away from home is perhaps the most difficult challenge for new students.

Cramped dorm rooms, questionable cafeteria food and the absence of mommy all serve as potential hazards for bewildered first-year students.

"It took me two hours to study for my bio class, but four and a half hours to do my laundry," complained LSA first-year student Justin Christy.

There's no doubt that by the end of the year, the confused first-year students wandering around campus will have learned more than the things they read in their textbooks, including not to wash reds and whites together, the power of duct tape and the necessity of all-nighters.

Some are already quickly picking up on that sort of useful knowledge.

"I've learned not to expect anything. Everything is completely up to you. If you need something, go ask for it. Don't wait for someone to ask you if you need it," said Williams. "Also, I learned that there is no sleep what-so-ever."

Veterans:

For returning students, they've been there, seen it and done it all. Frat parties are no longer a mystery, overflowing lecture halls are not so intimidating and college life is not complete novelty.

"I was looking forward to coming back to Ann Arbor, but not looking forward to doing homework," said LSA sophomore Nicole Muendelein. "College is a lot of work, and it seems like no matter how much work you put into it, there's always more to do."

She was quick to add, "Even though there's a lot of work, that's only some of the college experience. Part of it is living in the dorm, learning to live with someone other than your family, having fun. There's a lot of learning to do besides what goes on in the classroom."

Jordan Goodman, a business school junior, agreed. "It's always nice to come back to school and see the friends you haven't seen in months. College is the best time of your life. Even with classes it's still a lot of fun."

Most first-year students live in the dorms, but older students often explore other options, living in apartments or houses around campus. Living outside the residence halls affords students the opportunities to have their own bedrooms, parties, and a stronger sense of independence.

"There's a lot more freedom in an apartment as opposed to University housing," confirmed Goodman.

Football and Other Back-To-School Traditions:

Of course, no one can overlook the importance of The Big House in the back to school atmosphere. Nothing compares to the level of excitement in the air on football Saturdays, when students crowd the stadium to cheer on Michigan.

"It's like the biggest party on campus," said Muendelein. "Where else can you get 100,000 people to sing a song together?"

The congested traffic of move-in week is something of a tradition. With freshmen and sophomores piling into the residence halls, the impatient drivers and confusion are commonplace. The pounding of hammers as lofts are built resonates throughout campus and DPS officers are abundant.

Buying books is also a sort of back to school ritual. Some reserve their books online prior to September to ease the hassle. Others suffer through the high temperatures and long lines of the bookstores along with half of the other students campus.

Either way, paying $400 for two books you'll never read is an unavoidable part of college life.

In a blink of the eye, the end of the school year will be here and it will be off to another summer away from Ann Arbor. Bask in the traditions while you still have the chance!

09-16-99