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

Page 20 text:

V Above: The pumas outside the Natural Science Museum are blanketed in snow after the first major snow storm of the year. Snow, though thought to be annoying by many students, completely transformed campus into a winter wonderland. S. Jerome photo Top: A snow plow works hard in order to get the streets and sidewalks cleared for students to walk to class. This was just one of the many plows employed by the University that ran through the night and all day. 5. Jerome photo Right: Students bundle up for the cold walks through the Diag. Though many loved the snow, students also constantly complained about the freezing treks that they had to make to class daily. C. Leonard photo Michiganensian. 14

Page 19 text:

. days Hoov iatherine For the most part, Saturdays were a day to relax, kick-back, watch television, or simply a break from the rigors of the week. However, in Ann Arbor, everything was different in the fall. Saturdays meant people, drinking, hot dogs, lots of maize and blue, and most importantly, football. For seven Saturdays in the fall, Wolverine fanatics traveled from all over the state and country to cheer on their team. Whether it was State Street, Hoover Street, or the Victor ' s Lot, people congregated to prove themselves as the loudest, proudest cheering squad. State Street was wild. Fraternity and sorority members bounced around in blown-up moon walks and sprayed hoses at passers-by. Beer flowed, bands played and students danced. The experience was almost surreal with disproportionate clapping, screaming, and a mixture of Greek Life and football chants all at nine o ' clock in the morning. Hoover Street was a true tribute. Maize and blue painted the block so full of people that it was nearly impossible to walk down the sidewalk, much less for cars to pass. Beer bongs hung from three-story balconies and students embraced the opportunity to party and paint their faces blue. I wake up early and hang out at a house on the corner of State and Hoover Streets every football Saturday, junior English major Phil Eil said. I have been doing this ever since my freshman year and it ' s really cool because you can walk around to all of the different houses and stand in the street and it seems like everybody is there. Some people had so much fun on Hoover Street that they never quite made it to the game. The early morning partying warranted an early afternoon cat nap in preparation for the evening ' s festivities. In addition to the campus craziness, the city itself experienced major changes for these Saturdays. As Ann Arbor ' s population bordered 114,000, a doubling in its numbers certainly meant chaos. Roads were closed or redirected, parking lots were full, and traffic increased by more than 50 percent. For a city that was little more than 20 square miles, this mass invasion of fans ensured a surge in Saturday business for most stores and restaurants. Football Saturdays in Ann Arbor were crazy, but also a top event during the fall. The fight for space was hectic but welcomed, as alumni and students crowded into the stadium together. They did not care that they were squished like sardines for the big games they were all there for the same reason. They were true, proud Wolverine fans and they wanted their team to succeed. Michigan Life.1 3

Page 21 text:

' urn k For many who come to the University from out-of- state, foreboding stories of long, snowy winters were among the first things they heard. For other students who were used to the frigid climate, snow was often welcome after hot, humid summers that seemed to stretch long into the fall - and into stuffy residence hall rooms. This year, however, the snow barely fell during the peak months of the winter. Despite the occasional extra-chilly day, the winter was mild, even setting records on unseasonably warm days. According to the Detroit News, the average high temperature this January was 39.9 degrees, almost a full nine-degree increase from the previous year. While some students were pleased at the opportunity to don t-shirts and forgo the snow boots, others had reason to lament the conditions. I would much rather have snow than this. Half the time, it ' s cold but raining, which only causes everything to be muddy, including my driveway. It ' s gross: it gets on my shoes, in my car, and all over the house. I ' d prefer the salt and slush to that! Plus, I really appreciate the summer more when there is a cold winter to get me ready for it, said School of Education senior Casey Haapaniemi. Not to mention, I love snuggling up with a warm blanket and drinking a cup of hot chocolate to beat the winter blahs. This is just like having an early spring, she added. While most students were not upset about a warmer walk to class each morning, they were less likely to enjoy a weekend away at a local ski resort. The majority of up-north resorts were able to make snow in order to attract business, but for areas like Mt. Brighton and local parks that offered cross-country skiing and ice-skating, business was certainly impeded by the mild weather. In an interview with the Menominee Herald, local weather historian Bill Deedler of the National Weather Service said, it is not unusual to have a week of mild weather in mid- or late-January, but the warm temperatures have been more than a thaw because we ' ve been mild here for a couple weeks. Students could still get their ice-skating fix at the multiple Yost skate nights and there were plenty of days when it was necessary for one to throw on the old down parka, but the snow simply did not fall during the height of winter this year in Ann Arbor. Michigan Life.1 5