University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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d students get iJ undreds of students fill room 1800, th largest lecture hall on campus, located H| the Chemistry Building. Some students fa that this huge environment was impersona and inhibited learning. The enormity ofth University often left students feeling threat ened and lost in the crowd. 3try Michelle McCnibs Covering 2,607 acres, incorporating 36,468 students, and employing 3,000 staff members, the University is one of the largest learning institutions in the world. Some people feel this environment is overwhelming, but the University offers incredible opportunities in education and experience. A large university offers a vast selection of programs. The University has 1 2 undergraduate colleges and 1 50 areas of study. Astronomy professor Gary Bernstein said, Because there are so many faculty members here, you can find one to work with or learn from on almost any topic imaginable. The University ' s population is comprised of students from 50 states and 104 countries. This diversity provides students with the opportunity to interact with others from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The best thing about attending a large University is the diversity of the people there. You get to meet all kinds of people from all different places, and it truly enhances your college experience, said senior aerospace engineering major Chris Melus. Along with a diverse student population, the University provides a wide range of opportunities for student involve- ment. Students can enrich their lives through academic, social, political, religious, athletic, and community service clubs. There are over 500 organizations, including 62 Greek chapters, affiliated with the University. Anyone who wants to be involved has ample opportunity. You get a more rounded education, you interact with more people, and you are exposed to more ideas and political views. You will learn to be more tolerate to other cultures, stated Geology professor Youxue Zhang. The benefits of a large university are almost as numerous as the students that attend it. No one should feel like they are lost in the crowd at the University because there are boundless activities to become involved in. + st@ry by DUg Steele The University of Michigan is an enormous institution physically and psychologically. While many students are abl to adapt to being part of classes with hundreds of students, f | some, the size hinders learning. Some students need clos contact with their instructors, and this is often difficult to fir at Michigan. In addition, students are not able to set themselves apa in classes that have hundreds of students. Meaningful persor interaction with professors is impeded by the number of sti dents in the class. LSA junior Chris Young said, It is diffici to get to know your professors, or even for them to know yc because there are simply too many students. Class size is not the only problem students encounte For many the University bureaucracy is too much to handl The size of the University necessitates a large support sta sometimes creating mass confusion. For example, I needed i determine the status of my student account. After repeated trif to the financial aid office with no results, I finally tracked do my financial aid disbursement at the Michigan League! should have been sent to my residence. Furthermore, students are only known by a number , the University. This lack of individuality is intimidating, idea is further manifested with the counseling system. Instea of having a personal counselor, students are assigned advisoj at random each time they wish to meet with a counsek Suzanne Schafer, LSA junior, recalls how she left counselor ' s appointment in tears because [the counselor] not even aware that her concentration existed. Navigating the University is tricky. For some student the attempt proved overwhelming. Some even considere transferring to smaller schools to escape the incredible enol mity of the University. For many, it was a matter of enduran | - adapt or be lost in the crowd. 48 + Is the University Too Big? iayut by Emma Cartwrigh '

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r yv I ike ' s swoosh decorates a University soccer ball as it is kicked by first-year student Marie Spaccarotella, afonvardon the women ' s soccer team. The University- was paid to allow the Nike swoosh on its uniforms and equipment.

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f discussion leader answers students ' questions. Smaller classes were often more condu cive for discussion and made students feel more like indi- viduals. Smaller upper-level classes were an at- tempt by Univeristy administrators to make the Univeristy seem smaller. Gabriel M. Correa liversity Too Big? 49