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

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owner Bill Parkinson frisbee with Eleni on Elbel Field. The fenced-in field provided the perfect environment for local dog owners to exercise their pets. Almost everyday around 5 p.m., dog owners and pets gathered in the center of the field; dogs played together for almost an hour while owners chatted. Hanging out in the Diag reminded me of thefeelinglgotduring recess in elementary school. Chip Peterson When We Weren ' t Story by John Ghose tudyin In exaggeration? Maybe. But to many University students, Meijer contained every aspect of imaginable. From lima beans to bean bags, Meijer was a busy college student ' s dream. Meijer flabbergasts me. You could live in that place, said Joe Fletcher, LSA first-year student. Meijer often served as a place to hangout and people-watch. University students rarely ran on ordinary hours, and fortunately, neither did Meijer. It was not unusual to bump into friends during the wee hours of the night. I remember one night I caught Sharif Idris riding the amigo carts at 2 a.m., said Ed Glazer, sophomore engineering major. Hip and trendy it was not, but Meijer was part of the Michigan student ' s life in Ann Arbor. Layout by Howard Sidman Michigan Life 17

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on a bench near the , first-year students Kate Montgomery, Amanda Simmons and Kate Bloom- field watch groups of students pass by. The Diag was a popular hangout on warm fall afternoons. E ' ing a mild October af- oon, graduate students Blaise Gillioz and Cyril Battini grab a snack and cup of Cava Java coffee. Cafes offered a variety of coffee fla- vors which attracted crowds of students. Greg Kessler doin ' the Java jive The college student ' s necessities were food, clothes, shelter ... and coffee. Coffee is as essential to studying as paper and pencil, said LSA first-year architecture major Greg Pinter. But coffee was not only used as a tool for studying. Many University students frequented local coffee shops for the atmosphere. Hang- ing out at Cava Java is a nice break after my calculus class, said LSA first-year student Allyson Huber. Coffee shops on every corner accommodated students ' craving for caffeine. Coffee wasn ' t the only drink being sipped in local cafes, however. Cappuccino, espresso, latte and cafe mocha were other popular drinks. Hazelnut steamers at Rendez-Vous are heavenly, said Andrew Goulish, LSA sophomore. Studying was another reason University students frequented local coffee shops. But to Sharif Idris, LSA sophomore, the relaxed atmosphere was the real attraction. I like Gratzi because of its Parisian feel, said Idris. Although bars were often the center of social activity, coffee shops often proved to be just as much fun. digging the Diag In addtion to serving as the central pathway to and from classes, the Diag was also the center of campus life, where students played Frisbee, relaxed and studied. Its social atmosphere beckoned students to hang out at all hours of the day. Senior political science major Justin Hicks said, When I ' m on the Diag, I feel at home because I see so many familiar faces. Because of its central location, the Diag also served as a place to advertise, promote or relay information. Banners announcing campus events draped from the surrounding trees; kiosks were plastered with fliers. Members of Greek houses and organizations stood with charity buckets, collecting money for philanthropies. The Diag was not only a great place to hang out; it was also home to many activities throughout the year like Festifall, the Kiss-In and Hash Bash. 16 Michigan Life social life 101 Hey, let ' s go hang out at the library! At any other university, this statement may have seemed bizarre, but not at U- M. While most college students saw the library as a silent, serious place, University students saw the second floor of the Undergraduate Library, otherwise known as the UGLi, as a place to chat with friends, hangout and relax. When I really need to study, I go to the Law Quad reading room, said engineering sophomore Doug Marschke. But if I always studied there I ' d go crazy. That ' s why I like the UGLi. Students did study, but the real attraction was the warm social climate. I met my boyfriend at the UGLi. He helped me with economics, said LSA first-year student Kristen Kubichek. The UGLi attracted its fair share of interesting people. I liked the guy who collected cans and quoted Shakespeare, said engineering sophomore John Dunn. In spite of being officially renamed the Shapiro Library in the winter of 1995, the good time spirit and popularity of the UGLi endured. field of fun activities On almost every fall afternoon, a hearty hail was heard from the corner of Hil and Division streets where the University ' s marching band practiced the renownec fight song, The Victors. Where exactly was this music coming from? None othe than Elbel Field. Elbel Field was not only used as a practice ground for the marching band, it was also a popular recreational area for many students. A variety of University athleticj teams, such as men ' s rugby and women ' s soccer, practiced on the field. Students and area residents used the field to sunbathe, study and play a variety ofl intramural and pick-up sports games. A large baseball diamond soccer field coverec most of the field, and two sand volleyball courts occupied a corner. A pavec basketball court attracted players as well as roller bladers and hockey players.

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