5 Things Michigan Students Won’t Take for Granted after the Pandemic
Maybe living in a shoebox Freshman year wasn’t that bad after all….
—By Alexa Berman, James Varblow, and Julia Klein
You were so relieved to escape your messy freshman roommate in cockroach-infested Mary Markley. So… why do you remember that time with such fondness?
As we reflect on our years at Michigan we think about the amazing times we have had, the great friendships we cherish, and that one Chemistry class you still cannot believe you passed. We think about the obvious things we miss—the amazing Ann Arbor food, parties, and our beautiful campus. But what about the things you thought you would never miss? You will most definitely never take them for granted again, after you can get out of your parent’s basement.
Being pushed around at a sporting event
As Michigan fans, saving ourselves from humiliation in stadiums has felt like a nice hiatus. Our sports teams have a history of being, well, disappointing. We get decked out in maize and blue, tailgate for hours on end, excited to finally beat our opponents. We shuffle into crowded student bleachers, enduring freezing temperatures (or blistering heat—why is the student section always in direct sunlight?). And in the end, Michigan tends to lose, pretty badly. But, each week we attend with some renewed hope for an epic victory, mostly because we’ve paid for a season ticket and can’t let that money go to waste.
Yet, there is no better feeling than cramming yourself into a crowded section in the Big House. The largest college stadium, holding over 100,000 fans, is an experience unlike any other. The energy around you makes you feel like you belong to something larger than yourself. Going to sporting events will no longer feel like an opportunity to become an integrated part of the university, but rather a “must-do” as a Michigan student. Chanting the fight song, dancing along to the Michigan band, and watching halftime shows allows us to remember what an amazing feeling it is to be part of this community. Looking around to see so many people in one place will seem pretty incredible too.
Attending in-person Class
It is guaranteed that there have been numerous times that your alarm rang at 9:00 am and you just wished you could skip your discussion section and stay in bed. Those dark December mornings where ice skating across the Diag was your only mode of transportation to attend your 300-person lecture hall was brutal. That professor who would speak a mile a minute, but computers and electronics were prohibited leading to infinite amounts of charley horses through the hands and fingers. Showing up to class trying to sit in the last couple of rows, so the professor would not interrupt your online shopping. Who knew those were the good old days.
Entering passwords to join classes through Zoom University every single day has proven that in-person classes are unparalleled. There is just something special about in-person interactions, forming interpersonal relationships with your classmates and professors, and meeting in the UGLI to work on the Math 115 group homework which makes absolutely zero sense.
Standing in line for Restaurant week
Ann Arbor restaurant week spikes excitement twice a year on campus. This semiannual week of great deals at Ann Arbor’s top rated restaurants. Publishing each restaurant’s deal to the website, students search through to find the best bargains. Once arriving at your well-researched choice you are met by very large crowds, all seeking a table. After waiting for a couple of hours, students cherish the warm delicious food with friends. The experience is larger than a nice meal, it’s the sense of being more than just a student slaving away in the library. You are now a sophisticated adult member of society.
This next restaurant week is coming up in February, from the 21st to 26th. Naturally it will be a little toned down, with an emphasis on carry out. While it will not feel like the same escape from student-life reality, it is a nice way to get a deal in the face of the pandemic. Hopefully the next restaurant week will be a nice opportunity to get back to the cheap and chaotic version of fine dining.
Living in Dorms as a Freshman
We’ve all had our struggles with dorm life. When young adults are stuck together in glorified cubicles for months, there are going to be wild times. From the mad rush on the dining halls after 12:00 classes, to standing outside on a chilly February evening, wrapped in a blanket, because someone decided to try their hand at baking—at one in the morning. The security in the dorms has always been impressive; indeed, it’s proven to be stronger than that of the US Capitol building. You need a card to go everywhere. If you forget your card on a late-night bathroom trip, well, better hope someone’s awake to hear your pleas for help. If it’s not your dorm, even getting in can be an issue.
As frustrating as these dorms can be, there is a level of endearment to them. Getting chewed out by an RA is never fun, but after an extended time away from the dorms, you will start to miss their endearing inconveniences. As frustrating as they could be, these unique little problems help unify U-M students. It will be nice to get back to eating a salad and hamburger with a side of Lucky Charms for lunch.
Socializing (the in-person kind)
Thursday night itinerary: Sweaty basements, sticky floors, loud music, beer cans, and cheap vodka. Michigan, everyone knows, is a work hard, play hard school. Once the work has been grinded out, getting dressed, putting on makeup, and the pre-games begin. Finally it is time to pack into the Uber to attend the late night party. Open the front door decorated with big Greek letters and you will be greeted by the indescribable scent composed of rotten beer and improperly cleaned vomit. Simply put, it smells like hell on Earth. But while that smell is vile, it’s hard not to look back at it with fondness. After such a long social isolation, these little smells, along with a thousand other things combine to create the environment that Michigan students know as home.
Featured image: M at the Michigan Big House. Photo credit: Julia Klein