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

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Espresso Royale lattes in hand, LSA seniors Hillary Peltier and Brad Lienimv converse near the corner of North University Avenue and State Street. Good conversation was an essential ingredient in build- ing strong relationships, photo b - Ben Haws Snuggling close, a couple relaxes in the sun between class. The beauty of campus provided a romantic back- drop for those searching for love, photo by Ben Hayes Enjoying a night with friends, Christine Essary and Dustin Calkins, LSA sophomores, share a laugh. House and apartment parties were a good time to meet people and look for new prospects. photo by Ben Hayes Out on the town, students talk over dinner at Mon- golian Barbeque. The outdoor patio seating provided guests with a prime people-watching location, a dis- traction that came in handy on awkward first dates. photo by Ben Hayes Michigan Life | 27

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Love: we isa.. . need By Jennifer Lee and Caelan Jordan In a culture of messages that contradicted each other - All you need is love against Work hard, play hard - students had to decide for themselves how much time and effort they were willing to invest in the dating scene. Dating attitudes seemed to run the gamut: Some students prefered not to date at all, while others returned to Ann Arbor thinking more about where their next hook- up was coming from rather than where their next aced exam was coming from. For those students looking to meet that special someone, options abounded. In the fall, first-year students often dated peers in their dorms or traveled to frat parties. Once those possibilities were exhausted, having a network of established friends seemed to be one of the most popular ways for students to meet new people and potential significant others. The first few weeks of the fall semester, with nicer weather and lighter homework, created an atmosphere where love, if one was willing to look for it, was in the air. When you first get back to school there is less work and more partying. Pretty much it is the time to meet people and find somebody comfortable for the busy season, said sophomore biology major Rebecca Bartkowski. In a school with 35,000 intelligent, attractive and diverse students it was hard not to meet new people and be interested in them. Although there were some unusual methods of meeting significant others, for many the venues were the same: classes, housing, bars, and parties. These appeared to be the most common avenues for the lovelorn to take in the quest for a companion. For those students already attached, Ann Arbor offered a variety of options for dates, including great restaurants, movie theaters and a multitude of outdoor places to be alone. Of course, everyone was different, and therefore dating and meeting new people at the University was a complex and unique experience. Sophomore ISA student Joanna Beck and junior mechanical engineering major Douglas Constantine had been dating on and off since her freshman year. The nice thing about coming back sophomore year and dating Doug was that I am already so comfortable with him. All that frat party pressure to meet someone was nonexistent, said Beck. The couple went out to parties, dinner or studied together. They met in 2000 in South Quad with the mutual interest in rowing, and had stayed closeever since. They both did not think that dating each other had hindered their social life in any way; in fact, they thought that it had enhanced it. It is nice to have somebody that you love a lot to just hang out with all of the time, Constantine said. While some students felt the need for a relationship in order to have someone to hang out with all of the time, others just felt that being social with friends provided all the fun and companionship they needed - without the pressures of the dating scene, first dates and awkward silences. 26 I Fall Romance

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( WPrn ' - ' .,; % While people-watching, a student takes advantage of the fall weather as he eats his lunch on the Diag. Pack- ing a lunch often offered a healthier and economi- cally friendly option over expensive restaurant food. photo by Abby Johnson ( ! 1 JL Taking advantage of the warm September, a couple enjoys Stucchi ' s ice cream cones between classes. Stu- dents could turn to either the State Street or South University Avenue locations to satisfy sugar cravings. photo by Abby Johnson With a steady hand, a student dresses his hot dog at Bieners Wieners hot dog stand on the corner of State Street and North University. The stands located all around campus offered a quick and affordable bite to eat. photo by Abby Johnson 28 | Lunch Breaks