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

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Restaurants. Dining halls. Free delivery. Food. These were four of the most important terms used by University students this year. Al- though eating was a great way to socialize and get away from the annoyances of classes, there were many students on campus struggling with the is- sue of food. One of the more infamous struggles was that of the freshman fifteen. All freshmen were warned about this dreadful weight gain, but many did not believe that it would happen to them. However, between the late night pizza orders (thanks to free delivery until 4 a.m. by some restaurants) and the increase in alcohol consump- tion, some freshmen gained ten pounds before they even realized what had happened. Some blamed it on their dining halls. As first-year LSA student Jenny Martin stated, Living in Martha Cook has definitely added pounds to my package. The food is incredible, I just can ' t stop eating it! Other freshmen came into the year knowing they could not gain the weight. Some students used the irrational approach of crazy dieting or not eating before the nights they knew they would go out, trying to keep their calorie in- take constant. Others were more practical. First- year LSA student Sarah Monsell took advantage of the facilities on campus. I work out in the CCRB. Living in Markley makes it easy, it ' s so close. I have no excuse not to go, since I walk by it every day. While some freshmen continued strug- gling with overeating, other students battled with the even more serious issue of not eating. Eating disorders plagued students on the University campus. Students Promoting Education Aware- ness and Knowledge about eating disorders (S.P.E.A.K.) was a student-founded, student-run organization whose main goal was to get into the University community and spread awareness of eating disorders. All members of the organiza- tion have been affected by eating disorders, and wanted to spread support for people who suffered from them. Resident advisors were also available to help students suffering from eating disorders. They teach us to look out for kids who are show- ing the typical signs, but more importantly for those who aren ' t showing the signs, said junior Economics and Communications major Smita Kalokhe, a resident advisor in Markley. We hope that if someone knows a person who has an eating disorder, that they will come and talk to us about it, added Kalokhe. The School of Nursing held a study with women on campus who suffered from symptoms of eating disorders. In exchange for participat- ing in the research, the women received twenty weeks of psychotherapy and nutritional counsel- ing at no cost. Compensation up to $200 was paid upon the completion of the study. Studies like this were effective because they performed research to further the methods of prevention and recovery, and gave eating disorder patients free treatment. Like that of S.P.E.A.K., their goal was to help students in need to recover. By Katrina Deutsch 108 MlCHIGANENSIAN

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ace On October 1 1, the U.S. Senate passed the resolution that the House of Representatives had approved hours earlier: granting President George W. Bush war-making powers against Iraq. Eternally a base for activist thought and word, the University community responded to the mat- ter with surprising nonchalance. The institution that had founded the Students for a Democratic Society organization during the Vietnam War, which achieved fame for its liberal stronghold at a national level, and has always featured a historically fertile location for rallies (the Diag), remained uncharacteristically silent after the legislation. Despite the notable absence of ag- gressive protests, certain student organizations sought out to advertise and assert their political inclinations. The Muslim Students Association hosted a two-part teach-in with internation- ally renowned activist and autoworkers union president David Sole. As Co-chairman for the MSA political committee, engineering senior Ashraf Zahr announced bold plans to start a broad-based coalition for peace on campus. The lecture included allusion to the Vietnam War, pictures of Iraqi children and hospital patients, and a firm anti-war message. The University of Michigan College Democrats also took a stab at hosting a political seminar. Representative Dennis Kucinich (Demo- crat, Ohio) visited campus with his talk entitled Give Peace a Chance. Called by chair Rachel Fisher an honest, thought provoking discussion, Kucinich actually offered much commentary on the positive political and negative moral ramifi- cations of Bush organizing a war campaign soon before his reelection bid. Other campus-based groups with loud opinions included the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice. Mostly Christian in composition, this group cited Republican opposition to war against Iraq as its most potent rallying device. Quoting the misgivings of Dick Armey, Brent Scowcroft, and Henry Kissinger, the organization ' s monthly newsletter was circulated around campus, adver- tising its anti-war meetings in several off-campus buildings. Regarding the subject, political science senior Jeremy Stein offered, I think the recent international aggression from several different Muslim states is making even the liberals com- placent about opposing the war. History junior Alexis Eigenseher added, It ' s still tough to forget about 9 11, and it ' s easy to associate that day with aggressors like Saddam Hussein. In any case, as the Federal government proceeded to take more action, the campus opposition naturally contin- ued to grow louder. By Eric Rajala VOICES 107

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Working hard, a group of University students takes one of the many aerobic classes offered by the CCRB. Not only did the CCRB have organized classes, but it also had a weight room, many exer- cise machines, and a pool that kept students from putting on the pounds. K. Stoner photo while eating, a University student reads up on vegetarian cuisine, a healthy eating alternative. Con- cerned about gaining weight, many students tried different types of diets, such as vegetarian or cutting carbohydrates out of all of their meals. K. Stoner photo Taking advantage of the warm weather, restaurants set up outdoor tables. Many students, especially freshman, started gaining weight during the first few months of the academic year. It took them the rest of the cold winter months to try to lose the unwanted pounds. M. Foil-child photo VOICES 109