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

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Cars are almost a necessity, as the Northwood apartments are about two miles from most classes and stores, but parking is available there, unlike Cen- tral Campus. Buses run to and from Ann Arbor at a regular basis. Though some residents complain about the crowded buses, most say they appreci- ate the University-provided service. A student would normally have to leave for a class 30 to 45 minutes ahead of schedule to allow time for the bus, but the hours are frequent and prompt. Also, the services are free, which saves tremendously on the cost of gas even for such a short commute. Students with familites find time for studying almost inevitably at night. Of- ten the convenient basement of the Northwood Apartments are converted into makeshift libraries, quiet havens away from the disruptions of television sets. Of course, most married students aren ' t plagued with the temptations of bars or pizza on the night before exams as their unattached counterparts may be, so study habits among the couples tend to be quite regular. When asked if they regret being mar- ried before graduating from the Uni- versity, students reflected opposite opinions. Couples usually share the do- mestic duties of doing dishes and changing diapers. Some single parents do reside at Northwood apartments, but understanding companions for these people are much more prevalent there than on the independence-ori- ented Central campus. The Northwood Housing does provide group activities and counseling services for those who have difficulty making the changes. Married students have found that the reactions of younger, single students is that of negative ideas of marriage dur- ing college. They can ' t see themselves with those attachments and responsibil- ities, stated one long-time Northwood resident. It ' s true that you have to budget your time even more carefully. You can tell your friend in the dorm to leave you alone because you have to study, but you can ' t really tell your two-year-old child that. Quite often one of the family mem- bers attends the University while the other works or attends to the house and children. Traditionally, the women are the non-students, but the tables are rapidly turning, with the women bring home the books instead of the hus- bands bringing home the bacon. If you ' re still doubtful about the mar- ried student way of life, just ride the Northwood bus out to see your favorite TA or former bar-buddy. Just, remem- ber; Family Affair may have priority over the Monday night football game. Photos by David A. Gal

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CHEMISTRY VS By Katherine Wandersee The apartment looks like any other student ' s apartment, except that the calendar boasts a full-length center- fold of Big Bird, and the animal-shaped bookends hold Dr. Seuss adjacent to Dynamic and Acoustical Properties of Dielectrics. As you walk in, you cannot help but notice two small, drool ing objects on the floor they look like very little people without hair. You do not recog- nize them as babies at first. What do you expect? You are only a student who has resided for three years on Central Campus, where there is no one under age 18 or over 24. What would a baby be doing in the apartment of a University of Michigan student? The scene is Northwood Apart- ments, a sizeable complex of seemingly indentical wood-frame apartments the main location for married students at Michigan. To a person accustomed to the busy Central Campus, the place may seem rather isolated from everyth- ing, which leads one to wonder what it ' s like to live in the world of chemistry class vs Captain Kangaroo. Most of the students at Northwood Housing are upperclass or graduate stu- dents, so they do not feel as though they were missing out on all the ac- tion by living away from the typical college campus. Northwood apart- ments do anything but isolate married students from social interaction. The complex is like a small community where the residents share fellowship and responsibilities while still enjoying the privacy of one ' s own home. Though the turnover at the residence is high, with couples rarely staying more than a few years, they get to know one another through various projects and a gossipy Northwood newsletter. At the North Campus location, even spouses of busy staff or graduate stu- dents can find enough to keep them occupied. Groups get together to play raquetball or swim at the North Cam- pus Recreation Building. Non-students can apply for significant other passes for the University facilities. Usually, one lucky volunteer stays home watching five or more children while the neigh- bors take their turns at enjoying free- dom. For couples who have children to be cared for, a trade-off system has also evolved at the Northwood complex. Without the turnover of cash, parents can simply share child care responsibil- ities by exchanging special cards in di- cating the number of hours spent watching kids and giving under- ducks on the nearby swingsets. The complex is similar to a suburbian com- munity, children of the students always have playmates in the near vicinity. The roar of the Big Wheels cruising around Northwood ' s sidewalks is com- parable to the din of traffic around Central Campus on a busy afternoon. Being a kid without a Big Wheel at Northwood is like being in a dorm without a stereo. This year ' s Ann Arbor teacher ' s strike Ul ' OT I! created a large problem for many stu- dent mothers who rely on elementary schools as daytime babysitters. One mother said that she paid almost $70 a day in child care during the fall strike of 1980. Financial adjustments are a major problem for married students, with many extra expenses cropping up along with the monthly tuition bills. One rea- son that Northwood housing is so pop- ular is that it is practical. Rent at the housing unit averages $250 per month, including furnishings, utilities and oth- er benefits such as maintenance. A fur- nished house near Central Campus would probably cost the couple $500 excluding utilities. 28 Married Housing 4

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Sign Language You walked into a secluded bath- room stall in the basement of Angell Hall, seemingly all alone. But, as your skin met the cold porcelain, you found staring you in the face the thrilling news that the Archaeology Club was having a rock hunt that Saturday. You just can ' t get away from those campus signs! Sidewalks are littered with the unread messages forced by those do-gooders who lurk on un- avoidable paths in the diag. Students get their messages across through ki- osks, T-shirts, and of course that anony- mous graffiti which expounds on the more major social issues on campus. Greeks flaunt their proud heritage via the often-illegible paint splashes on what is known as the rock. The idea of this is not as much to boast of one ' s own Greek letters as to cover the pre- vious artists ' renditions with the biggest mess possible. You can be sure that you ' ll catch on the latest going-on just faithfully read the sign language. M -Katharine Wandersee Lew ' I Hs - T IS r 30 Sign Language