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

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Senior political science major Kelly Payton celebrates Carnival in Cadiz, Spain. Many students took the opportunity to visit friends who were abroad during Spring Break. Photo courtesy Kelly Payton 23

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Crazy Spring by Connie Chang Spanish major Kavya Vaidyanathan takes a shot of chai tea with her brother on their Spring Break trip to India. It was not uncommon for students to travel around the world for this short week. Photo courtesy Kavya Vaidyanathan Two University students play in a fountain in Toronto, Canada on their Alternative Spring Break. Students participating in ASB .were not allowed to partake in drugs or alcohol; despite this, ASB members all had a great time volunteering and helping others. Photo courtesy ). Phillip While Winter Break was a time where most students went home to spend time with their families, Spring Break was a notorious time for travel that college kids looked forward to all year long. Students traveled all over the world; many went on cruises, to beaches, or to tropical paradises with large groups of friends, while others backpacked through Europe on their own. To many, Spring Break of senior year represented the last major college experience before graduation. We don ' t know where we ' re going yet, said senior biology major Divya Murthy. But me and my six friends are all really excited! We ' re definitely going somewhere warm. Another option students at the University had was ASB, or Alternative Spring Break. Approximately 500 students participated in ASB every year, making it one of the largest ASB programs in the United States. Students who participated in ASB spent the year in 14 member groups led by site leaders, who had generally participated on past ASB trips, learning about different issues, from AIDS to immigration. Each group was responsible for fundraising approximately $1,000 to fund their travel and living expenses for their trip. I went to St. Louis last year to help mentally handicapped kids at Epworth School. It was such an incredible experience. You have to keep in mind the whole time that you are getting more from them than they ' re getting from you. This year, I ' m site-leading the Honors ASB trip to San Juan, Texas in order to help immigrants and migrant farm workers. It ' s going to be a 30 hour drive. Bring it on, said LSA sophomore Wenbo Chang. break

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SingLC in tfie City... by Chris [ibanese For many students at the University, it was a blast to be single in Ann Arbor. While some students embraced the constancy and personal intimacy of a long-term relationship, others were blissfully noncommittal. Single students loved to meet potential mates at the library, parties, bars, in their classes, or in their student organizations. However, some students were slightly more adventurous than most in seeking out their hunting ground. For example, junior history major Jeff Williams recommended the grocery store as a place to shop around for ladies. Most students don ' t know how to shop for food, Williams quipped, and there is nothing more charming than a man who knows his vegetables. Williams recommended a couple of produce-related pick-up lines, like Is my cucumber ripe? or Your tomatoes are gorgeous. Williams was apparently satisfied with the available pool of singles around town; he noted with a modest Itudent flirts with sophomore ler and design production major |ghan Shelly at Cafe Felix on Street. Downtown Ann Arbor la popular place for singles to ps there were many trendy bars and cafes there. R. Peplinski photo. shrug, There are some cuties. LSA junior Aaron Osborn also sang praises of singles life in Ann Arbor. Osborn said, It ' s good because you get to rock the ladies, [and] you get to do what you want when you want. Freedom and independence were perhaps the two qualities of the unattached lifestyle most highly regarded by students at the University. Junior economics and political science major Brian Restuccia said, I ' d say the singles life in Ann Arbor is pretty nice, as far as looking for a relationship. There are so many groups and organizations to meet people with like interests. And there are also a lot of great bars and clubs so there is always some way to have fun and find friends in lieu of a significant other. With its bars and clubs, highly sociable football culture, and rich student tradition of carousing several nights per week, Ann Arbor was a wonderful place for exuberant, youthful singles. in the city