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

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MM m 26 Michigan Life

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. w Y +m - 1 ' - v . - u t Despite the contraction on the central diag of campus, students continue to use these pathway fl| as a constant route to and from classes. Se vra nevvly created sidewalkscriss-crossed this center i ' ! rsitv life.

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The Rock on the cor- ner of Hill Street and Wash ten aw Avenue is a well known place tor campus graffiti. Sornriu and fra- temity pledges painted the Rock, andstudents quipped that underneath ali the lay- paint, the Rock was probabiv no move than a pebble. Athletes ' signatures adorn the wail of Mai Blue Deli on South Univer- graffiti by Jamie weitzel [ ' nivtrsitv hi nefactors like Preston Robert Tisch, whose name graced Tisch Hall and the Tisch Tennis Building, donated significant amounts of money to have their name permanently fixed to the campus. Students however, found a more economical way to immortalize themselves. Whether it was due to having a magic marker at a convenient time or a paint brush and some Greek letters, the art known as graffiti provided students a creative way to make their mark on the University. Greek and other organizations tradition- ally painted the rock to celebrate their par- ticular group. The colorful boulder located at the corner of Hill and Washtenaw changed shades and themes nightly, as decorating the rock usually occurred in the dark. I ' ll never forget painting the rock with my sorority, re- marked Melissa Fette, junior organizational studies major. It was a bonding experience and it was great to see our letters on display the next day. So many people drive by and notice the rock. A less public display of student creativity was found in the ground floor Mason Hall women ' s restroom. Scrawled on the walls of what the night janitors referred to as stalls five and six, were heated debates on such issues as sexual orientation, sororities, women ' s health, and violence against women. One graffitist wrote, If he hits you, leave him. I know from experience. The written conversations on these walls were, at times, intense and scathing. Many other forms of graffiti abounded throughout the University. Athletes had the opportunity to inscribe their names inside Touchdov. n Cafe and Maize-n-Blue Deli. A popular way to get word out about different activities on campus was to chalk the sidewalks and as a result it was rare to walk to class without stepping on four or five pink and blue announce- ments. Students were IT t shy about expressing their thoughts through the written word and though not always regarded as the cleanliest or most legal method of approaching this goal, graffiti served to convey the students ' message. Adriana Vugovich Adriana Yugovich Campus Graffiti 27