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

Page 33 text:

CONSTRUCTION backhoe tears into the sidewalk at Washington and State Streets. This phase Df downtown construction inconvenienced students trying to get to the north side of campus and businesses such as Zanzibar and Starbucks. . Weiner photo Construction barrels surround the future site of botanical improvements down- town. The comer of William and Maynard marked one of the many locations that was part of the city-wide O ur Neighborhood: A Work in Progress campaign. J. Werner photo This construction site poses yet another obstacle for students trying to walk to class or downtown. Yellow caution tape remained a familiar sight for students during the school year as the cty and Unwersity began proiect after proiect. J. Werner photo Hejh fences surround the future location of the Ufe Sciences Initiative. To freshmen and sophomores, the crane was a permanent part of the skyline on the hill. J. Werner photo MICHIGAN LIFE 29

Page 32 text:

Having to take a final exam alongside a demolition crew reinforces my belief that the administration is only concerned with their own futures and not ours. By Lauren Rutledge Once upon a time, Central Campus was a welcoming environment for the thousands of students it served each day. Students walked eas- ily from one building to another, the Diag beck- oned studiers and Frisbee-throwers alike, and sounds of musicians, birds, and the occasional activists contributed to the dynamic atmosphere many associated with the University. But this year, several simultaneous con- struction projects turned the Diag and its neigh- boring areas into what seemed like a war zone. Fencing was assembled around the Modern Languages Building, Mason and Haven Halls, and Hill Auditorium. These projects not only inconvenienced students ' routes to class, but also drastically diminished the aesthetics of the ivy-covered buildings in question. The sounds of drilling and pounding (not to mention the yell- ing necessary to be heard over the drilling and pounding) became customary to those passing by. It was most difficult for students taking class- es in the Diag area. Patrick Crowley, a junior classical archaeology major, said, I was taking a class in Angell Hall, and right in the middle of lecture in Auditorium A, a piece of the ceiling fell down right on my head. My professor just laughed, but I might have been killed. While Crowley ' s experience may have been a little extreme, junior Bridget Briley, juniorsports management and film major, had a similarly exasperated opinion. She said, Although I think it ' s noble that the University is trying to improve problems for future students, I think it is horrible that they are disregarding the needs of the students they already have. Having to take a final exam alongside a demolition crew reinforces my belief that the administration is only concerned with their own futures and not ours. Fortunately, the construction hassles did plan to make students ' lives easier in the near future. An eight-story addition to Haven Hall, along with new electrical and computer sys- tems, was intended to house the departments of history, political science, American culture, and the center for African and Afro- American studies by November 2002. The renovation of Mason Hall promised to leave students with new lighting and floors, in addition to air- conditioned rooms. Hill Auditorium, nearly 90 years old, received new support structures, plumbing, ventilation, electrical systems, sprinklers, restroom facilities, and lobbies. Rackham Graduate School also welcomed a makeover, receiving improvements for office space, classrooms, galleries, an auditorium, and study lounges. All the construction projects the Univer- sity underwent this year certainly reinforced the saying, Good things take time. Maybe renovating the buildings on campus took too much time the students who might have waited eagerly for them ended up graduating before they were finished. 28 MI IENS1AN

Page 34 text:

CAMPUS EATERIES A plethora of cheese piles high on the counter of Zingerman ' s. The popular Kerrytown restaurant ' s enormous selection of gourmet delicacies made up for its out-of- the-way location, making it a favorite of students and families alike. M. Christiansen photo