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

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. the Rock 7 a campus legacy As a symbol of pride or a bonding experience, the Rock, located on the corner of Hill and Washtenaw, deliv- ered messages to students. Fraterni- ties, sororities and numerous Univer- sity organizations took part in paint- ing the Rock. It was quite often known as a battle for possession between the different houses in the Greek system, constantly being painted over by a different house. As Barry Zilan, a se- nior communications major, said, Be- ing a member of the Greek system, I see the Rockas a pride thing. You paint it, you guard it, people try and paint over it. It ' s like saying ' we were here first. The different houses competed against one another to see whose let- ters shone on rock on any given evening. When it came down to it, painting the Rock created healthy competition while at the same time enhanced a sense of pride in being part of an organization. As Zilan em- phasized, The Rock gives us a reason to have pride in things we do. As a new member to a Greek house, painting the Rock was an exciting new event. Senior Gabrielle Baumann, a history and archaeology major, recol- lected, As a first-year student, I painted the Rock with my pledge class as a sisterhood event and it allowed me to get to know my sisters better. Unlike fraternities, sororities saw painting the Rock as creating a memory, instead of fighting a battle. Baumann claimed that painting the Rock was a great bonding experience. Although a large part of the Univer- sity experience, the painting of the Rock was also an event enjoyed by members of the general Ann Arbor community. A University student who also grew up in Ann Arbor, Susan Dailey, a senior French and psychol- ogy major, fondly remembered, When I was nine, my family painted the Rock for my dad ' s birthday. We also painted it when I was on the swim team in high school. No mattertheoccasion, paint- ing the Rock was a memorable mile- stone to anyone who took part. By Tiffany Marsch 48 I The Rock

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Sucking on a lemon at Mitch ' s, Business School senior Annie Waterfall completes the last step to a lemon drop. Waterfall lad the benefit of turning 21 after most of her friends, allowing them to join her at the bar on her birthday, phou by Jan i Chnrlev ' sont i ing major Adam Krug toasts his ,-iior Andrew F-inc, on his 21st binhdav. Wi- were sup- posed to go 10 Rick ' s but vc were all tuo drunk by 11, tVic-nd Alison Plent re- called. Michigan Life | 47

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AKfc Located steps from the Rock, Delta Phi Epsilon sorority sits on the cor- ner of Washtenaw Avenue and Hill Street. The original entrance to the house ' s driveway was commonly painted along with the Rock, phaw fry Nicole Muendelem Covered in Greek letters, the Rock displays the work of the Sigma Delta Tau fall pledges. Painting the Rock was traditionally a new mem- ber activity aimed at promoting houses as well as being a group bonding experience, photo by Betsy Michigan Life | 49