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

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avoiding the ' M ' dodging your R.A. wailing for a 2 a.m. bus it ' s all part of being a freshman LSA freshmen Molly Heitner andVicki Christner study in their Markley dorm room on a Friday afternoon. Many freshmen found the college workload heavier than imagined and had to sacrifice more time to studying. . Neff photo 20 Michigan Life

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In the early morning hours of April 26, seniors gathered together as they entered into Michigan Stadium for the last time as undergraduate students. Unlike familiar Saturdays in the Big House, graduates traded the usual blue and gold stadium attire for black caps and gowns that appropriately marked the end of an unforgettable four years. Students were both nostalgic and enthusiastic as they, along with family and friends, listened to the auspicious commencement ceremonies. Alumnus Michael Guttman explained, On one hand you ' re sad that you ' re graduating, but as I sat with my best friends in Michigan Stadium where I saw so many great games, I couldn ' t help being so happy that I had four incredible years. CO CD CD CD 13 CD ( i- CD hail to the graduates Speaker Governor Jennifer Granholm reminded students not only to look back but also to look forward. Some felt anxious and even affronted by her reminder of the difficult job-hunt and declining economy awaiting the graduating class in the months to come. She told us that although we had now graduated from a great university, our accomplishments could not just end there. Instead of reflecting on the past four years, I found myself thinking about a very uncertain future. . .Yet I ' m confident that my whole experience at U of M, not just the academic aspect, will allow me to be successful, described graduate Evan Lison. President Mary Sue Coleman also gave her first spring commencement speech, in which she reminded students to pursue intellectual freedom in the age of the information revolution. for Advanced Studies, doctor of humane letters; Hillel Shuval Lunenfeld-Kunen, Professor of Environmental Sciences at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, doctor of science; Judith Jamison, director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, doctor of fine arts; and Dr. John Schwarz, former Michigan State Senator representing Battle Creek, doctor of laws. Most importantly, more than 6,400 undergraduate degrees were conferred to the class of 2003, making them a part of the largest living alumni base in the nation. During the ceremony, honorary doctoral degrees were conferred to Governor Granholm, doctor of laws; Oleg Grabar, professor emeritus at the Princeton Institute Graduation 19

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Even while rushing to class, this student avoids stepping on the M in the middle of the Diag. Legend stated that anyone who stepped on the M before their first blue book exam would fail and few freshman dared to challenge that possibility. Y. Granata photo by Nicole Mammo It was an inevitable phase in the lives of all students a time where first impressions were important and everything seemed to matter. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, and it was the freshman rite of initiation to becoming a full-fledged University student. As much as all tried to deny their freshness, that first year sparked unforgettable memories. Walking across the Diag on the first day of classes, it was the duty of all new students to avoid setting foot on the infamous yet sacred M. This was no easy task, as friends nonchalantly pushed each other into its path. Many wondered, Did riding a bike across it count? Breaking into the party scene was an important rite of passage freshman year. It was done as a community: during the frat crawl from Markley, people paraded to parties with members of their own floor, their friends, and all acquaintances picked up along the way.The freshmen on North Campus had a plight all their own. Partying was such a production if you lived in Bursley. We got so sick of having to make it back to C.C. Little by 2 a.m., stated sophomore psychology major Lindsay Guinan. The hours of operation for campus buses posed a problem for partygoers who had to make the trip down from North Campus. Many freshmen had the urge to push the limits and test the waters with their authority figures. Freshman music and cellular molecular biology major Lucy Head described an episode she witnessed. You know you ' re a freshman when you walk into an R.A. ' s room totally trashed, with a half full bottle of Smirnoff, babbling, ' whaat ' s up? ' In the eyes of some, rules were made to be broken, and receiving warnings in the dorms from the resident advisor was a small price to pay for some fun. Regardless of embarrassing experiences or unpleasant situations, repeated traditions ensured that everyone went through a similar process in order to survive freshman year; and make sure that it was one that would be remembered for years to come. The cube rests in the Regent ' s Plaza on a crisp autumn day.As one of the landmarks of the University, many new students used the cube to navigate themselves on their first days on campus. . Neff photo Freshman Life 21