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

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Enjoying a warm autumn afternoon, students toss around a football in the Law Quad. Students took advantage of several days of unseasonably warm weather during the fall to study outside on the Diag or take a stroll through the Arb. photo by Nathan Busch

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A student displays his tongue piercing. Male and female students alike chose to pierce various parts of their body. photo by Audra Rowley Express Yourself by Nathaniel Williams Hair colors of every possible bright and bold shade. Every on thousand different styles and combinations of clothing. BMX showing their skills on the steps of East Hall and around the big spin cube. Actors, stand-up comedians, poets, musicians, and of course, lovers of those big chunky shoes. Every form of self-expression and individuality imaginable took brilliant and vivid form at the University. Not all forms of self-expression had to be edgy and wild, however. Some people went for the subtle-yet-stylish approach, like sophomore film major Dealio Lockhart and his still-growing collection of baseball caps. Lockhart also proved that the reasons for self-expression need not be intensely political or socially conscious ones. When I was about 1 5 or 1 6, I started watching major league baseball and became a big fan. I have seven hats so far; I hope to get all 29 teams. Even though Lockhart ' s hat collection was simply a cool hobby, he did express great favor for all the different forms of individuality and self-expression here at the University. I think it ' s very important that we all have our own individuality, our own personality. It wouldn ' t be any fun if everyone was in conformi ty. Expression was not something shown with just clothing and hairstyles though. Sophomore mechanical engineering major Marietsa Edje found time in her busy schedule for writing poetry and reciting it at various coffee houses and other establishments that sponsored open mic nights. She was grooming and cultivating a talent she discovered in high school. My teacher encouraged us to write autobiographies, and my autobiography was a book of poems. And the following year, I created and published a literary magazine for my high school. Edje enjoyed delighting audiences with the written and spoken word; however, her career plans remained primarily centered around her engineering curriculum. In my rigorous study time, poetry is my break. Perhaps I might publish, but it ' s not really a primary goal. Whether it was for relaxation, political statements, carrying on an old skill or fostering a new one, retooling a style or continuing an existing trend, all styles and forms of self-expression appeared in force throughout the University ' s colorful campus. 28 Self-Expression A student shows off his chin and mu ear piercings. Many students viewed tkj small decorative pieces of metal as a way to| unique. photo by Audra Rowley vfell