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

Page 89 text:

(Completely wasted after an evening at the bar, Ryan Hawk enjoys yet another beer. Once students turned 21, they frequented campus bars on all evenings of the week. Twenty-one was the symbolic beginning of adulthood, but many students chose to act voung and carefree. (rthdays + 85

Page 88 text:

tock ttieir tiv-enty-tirst the, the tirst Arink wry by roLpfi zerbonia ut 6y emma cartwrujftt Many students eagerly awaited the milestone age of 2 1 . Those who wanted to drink in the bars no longer had to go to Canada. Students could now drink at a bar down the street and not worry about having to designate a driver for the trek home from Canada; they could just walk, or stumble, home. While many students had fake identification be- fore reaching their 21st birthday, there was always a risk in using it because of the strong possibility that it would be taken away. I had my brother ' s ID, but he is six feet, six inches tall and I am only about five foot six. I tried to buy at Village Corner, and they checked my height and con- fiscated my ID. Now I have to wait another year before I can buy, com- plained LSA junior John Schlueter. ,... On this momentous occasion, stu- flick Torsky, Erik Ranha, and Marco Fracchia dents and their friends flocked to the bars. The goal was the consumption of 21 shots to mark the day. George Pokorny, a senior history major, did not quite make it to the goal of 21 Peter Nielsen ick Torsky, Erik Ranha, and Marco Fracchia commence the celebration of Ranha ' s 21st birthday at Scorekeepers. It was a tradition for students to go to the bars and drink on the first night that they could legally buy liquor. ,wenty-one ye continues the ce birthday at Score a shot. Friends birthday boy ' s fu alcohol. shots, but had a memorable birthday nonetheless. I think I made it to 1 5 or 1 6, but I really don ' t remember. I lost count after the two prairie fires [a tequila Tabasco sauce shot] and one vodka shot combination. Unfortunately for many birthday boys and girls, including Pokorny, the night ended with some vomiting. On the walk home I puked in front of a few cops. Then when I got home I insisted on sitting outside in the rain, where I proceeded to puke even more. The funniest part was that while I was sitting there throwing up, some girl walked up to me and asked me if I had a lighter. I lit her cigarette, and then resumed my puking. It still makes me laugh. Even underclassmen looked forward to their big day. It is something like a tradition. Everybody has to get themselves drunk when it comes to the 2 1 st birthday, said Sam Kirk, a first-year LSA student. This seemed to be the general consensus of most students. Even if they didn ' t plan on getting really drunk on their 21st birthday, most stu- dents agreed that they would drink a little. However there were still students who felt that a birthday was something to celebrate, but not a reason to get overly intoxicated. Sarvesh Soi, a first-year LSA student said, I think I might have one beer just to say that I had a legal A Peter Nielsen j i i i After consuming 22 shots, Erik Ranha passes out and dnnk ' but ll alm St Seems that b y that P mt ' J won ' t be as momentous. I know that a lot of people like to drink just because they know that Peter Nielsen fer consuming 22 shots, Erik Ranha passes out and finishes the evening off by bonding with a bucket. Rather than remembering this birthday with fondness, many students remember how sick they were and how terrible they felt the next morning. it is against the law, and that some of the fun is taken out of it when it becomes legal. 84 Twenty-first Birthdays

Page 90 text:

86 + Retrospect