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

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graduating by Emily DeMa rco Victors... - Keynote speaker, CNN Chie International Correspondent, Christiane Amanpour addresses the graduates. There were many speakers at graduation, all of them with valuable advice for the graduates. L. Worcester photo leade to in i tbdi ' i wdarao going on; inrathca pirtingk seemed B bnotc ! Graduates talk with each other as they look around for other friends. Many graduates found it difficult to concentrate on the speeches as the excitement in the environment of the Big House was so overwhelming. L. Worcester photo wed, L ,sel ' Cool ' is i Gradmta , was o av.g Finaiv, pates d no matter

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or eight months of the year, Ann Arbor was home to 40,025 undergraduate and graduate students. Though many stayed for spring and summer terms, enjoying a more relaxed atmosphere, campus came alive in the fall. With the start of Welcome Week, freshmen navigated campus in large groups finding their classes and going to their first college parties, while the upper classmen reunited with their friends and bar hopped on South University and Main Street. Campus extended beyond the borders of the Diag and reached through the entire town of Ann Arbor. Students danced at concerts not only in Hill Auditorium, but also at the Blind Pig, and studied in the Grad and Starbucks alike. In addition to classes and the academic resources the University had to offer, including 1 9 libraries, holding seven million volumes, Ann Arbor offered students a wide variety of enriching activities. The University ' s sporting events gave students the chance to come together to support their school and let loose from the pressures of class. Students went apple picking at local orchards in the fall, had snowball fights in the Diag in the winter, and walked through the Arb in the spring. No matter what time of year, or what the weather, there was never a shortage of events taking place on campus. Charity fashion shows, concerts, and musicals always drew large crowds as did students and Ann Arbor locals speaking on the Diag. The Union was a center for Michigan life, always busy with people doing a million different activities from marketing for their organizations, to meeting friends for lunch. An electric charge ran through every inch of campus and always sparked a buzz among Michigan students who truly knew how to take advantage of the best years of their lives. :

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A large blow-up penis bounces over the heads of graduates. Though it was normal to throw around colorful beach balls, this was an unusual first. L. Worcester photo On April 29, 2006, thousands of graduates flooded Michigan Stadium to be formally pronounced as University alumni during the 2006 Spring Commencement. With so many graduates from the different colleges, commencement was held in Michigan Stadium in order to accommodate everyone. Graduated history and history of art senior, Shelby Ludtke said, Graduation was completely surreal. It was like any regular day, except there were thousands of people dressed in ridiculous black gowns traipsing through the streets like we were headed to a football game. Many students adorned their mortarboards with messages such as Thanks Mom so their family and friends could pick them out of the sea of black. Graduating English and communication studies senior Katrina Deutsch said, It was crazy. I thought I knew a good amount of people at this University until graduation. There were new faces everywhere. My mom called me while the procession was going on and told me that she saw me walking into the stadium, but I was still standing in the parking lot in line! Unlike years previous, the graduates seemed to enjoy and appreciate the invited keynote speaker, CNN Chief International Correspondent, Christiane Amanpour. Her speech was well-delivered and she memorably stated, Ladies and gentlemen of the class of 2006, self-absorbed is so ' yesterday. ' It ' s out. ' Cool ' is now to be a citizen of our world, not just an inhabitant. Graduated English senior Michael Bolgar said, I was very pleased with the speaker at graduation. It resonated a lot with the current climate of the world and it posed concerns without steering away from the real message of the day, graduation. Finally, University President Mary Sue Coleman ended her speech with the heart- warming remark, For today, goodbye. For tomorrow, good luck. And forever, Go Blue! Coleman could not have been more accurate in her description of being a Michigan alum. Graduated Spanish senior, Robert Fowler, concluded, Graduating from U of M is the greatest thing ever because without a doubt, no matter where you are in the world, you will meet a fellow alum. It ' s amazing to be able to say Go Blue in any country, on any continent. Booyah.