History
The institution we now know as the University of Michigan was originally named the Catholopistemiad, established in Detroit in 1817 by the governor and judges of what was then considered the Michigan Territory. The school moved to Ann Arbor in 1837, and seven students enrolled in the first classes in that location in 1841. Eleven students were awarded their degrees in the university’s first commencement ceremony in 1845.
Women were first admitted to the University of Michigan in 1870, making it the first major university in the country to have a co-ed program, and the university also pioneered seminar study in the US. Around the turn of the century, the school expanded its educational offerings, adding professional schools in dentistry, government, and medicine. The history of the 1960s is closely tied to the history of the University of Michigan: President Kennedy proposed the creation of the Peace Corps at the campus’ Michigan Union, and President Lyndon B. Johnson’s speech introducing his Great Society program was also delivered at the university. The school also witnessed the nation’s first ever faculty “teach-in” as a protest against the government’s Vietnam policy.
- With special reporting by Mark Schultz ’09
Location
U of M is located in Ann Arbor, considered by many to be a quintessential college town. Neither too big nor too small, it’s Michigan’s seventh-largest city, with a population of over 110,000. The downtown area is filled with shops, restaurants, and bars, many of which conveniently surround the campus itself. Students frequent State Street and Main Street when they want a taste of city life. One Ann Arbor fan, Ariella Morrison ’10, knows how to take advantage of her surroundings: “After a long night out, my friends and I always head to Angelou’s, a small breakfast and lunch joint that is always busy and is renowned for its thickly-cut homemade bread, and as I can proudly testify, the omelets are worth waiting 45 minutes in line for. On Sunday mornings, Angelou’s is packed, and even on a rainy day, the line stretches out the door.”
Of course, that’s not the only eatery in town. Mark Schultz ’09 is a fan of Benny’s, the all-day breakfast spot: “Walk into Benny’s and the signed posters and jerseys of former Michigan athletes immediately convey this diner’s connection to the university. They love students, and they love serving them drunk, hung over, tired, stoned, whatever. As for the food, Benny’s serves every conceivable breakfast dish you could want, from Greek omelets to strawberry-covered pancakes. A lunch/dinner menu includes steak, burgers, and the like. I’ve eaten here once a week for the past year and never had a less-than-spectacular meal. It might be too far of a walk for carless freshmen, and its early closing time prevents it from competing with Fleetwood for the drunk denizens craving hash browns and toast. But if you live off campus and want a guaranteed excellent breakfast, Benny’s is the way to go.”
For those hitting the bar scene, Amy Geer ’08 recommends Ashley’s: “The fact that they've opened chain locations elsewhere in Michigan has caused some people to accuse Ashley's of selling out and losing the atmosphere that made the place special. To me, Ashley's is still the best bar in Ann Arbor. They have such a huge variety of beer it boggles the mind, and even if there are other less ‘authentic’ versions of the bar elsewhere in the state, the one here at U of M is and will always be the original. The prices aren't exactly low, but the beverages are quality and you get what you pay for. The food is pretty much exactly what one expects to eat at a bar: mostly tasty, but greasy drunk eats. Ashley's is a Michigan tradition for students 21 and over.”
There is also a large residential area off campus which most students rarely see, containing more expensive abodes than those found in the off-campus student living areas. The city’s residents are known for their politically progressive viewpoints.
Ann Arbor is about 35 miles from Detroit and 240 from Chicago.
Campus
With over 500 buildings in an area spanning 664 acres, the University of Michigan is split into four sections: North, Central, Medical, and South Campus. These four areas are within walking distance of one another and can also be reached by bus and shuttle services. Central Campus was developed concurrently with the city of Ann Arbor, so there is no distinct boundary between the two. Alongside privately owned buildings lie the College of Literature, Science and Arts, and the Law School. On the North Campus, one can find the College of Engineering, the College of Architecture, and the School of Music. South Campus houses the school’s main sports facilities, Michigan Stadium and Yost Ice Arena. There is also a golf course below South Campus, which is open only to faculty, staff, and alumni.
As reported by Aliza Olin ’10:
“The best thing about Michigan is that no matter what time of day it is, you will always see students out and about, walking to class or just being active. Whether the sun is shining and it’s 75 degrees out (which is rare), or the biggest snowstorm known to man has hit Ann Arbor, students brave the weather, suck it up, and carry on with their daily tasks. On a typical weekday, one will find students getting some studying done at coffee shops like Espresso Royale or Starbucks. The libraries can be rather crowded during the day, with usage peaking during the nighttime hours. Most people will walk by or pass through the Diag (Diagonal Green) on their way to class, and most find it nearly impossible to avoid running into at least five people they know en route. That’s the beauty of Michigan: even though it’s such a big school, students still enjoy the enclosed and relatively intimate campus setting.
"Michigan’s campus is unique because it combines both an urban and suburban vibe: along with the trees and gorgeous ivy buildings that provide a backdrop to each student’s daily routine, there are also a multitude of shops and restaurants on State Street and South University to enjoy. Between classes, students meet up with friends at cafes for lunch, go shopping if they please, or just relax outside on the grass if the weather permits. The Michigan Union and the Michigan League are two of the most popular spots on Central Campus, home to restaurants and cafes along with study rooms, event halls, bookstores, and more. These places most crowded during the weekdays, especially in the cold weather, and are where a lot of students choose to wind down in between or after classes.”
Issues
With the school’s history of political activism, U of M students are no strangers to controversy. In 2003, the school made headlines when two affirmative action cases hit the US Supreme Court – Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger. The Bush administration came out against the school’s affirmative action policies before the court had issued a ruling. While the court found that race could be considered as a factor in admissions decisions, a system allocating “points” to individuals from minority backgrounds was considered unconstitutional. The debate did not end there, as in November 2006, Michigan voters passed Proposal 2, which banned most forms of affirmative action in university admissions. While the administration plans to challenge that ruling, it continues to look for other ways in which to foster on-campus diversity.
Mark Schultz ’09 reports on another issue that took the UM campus by storm:
“Zack Yost was the former president of the Michigan Student Assembly, U of M’s student government body which allocates university funds to clubs and organizations. Yost had the gall and lack of foresight to start a Facebook group mocking MSA member Tim Hull, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism. One comment Yost posted on the group’s wall read, 'I’ll give that kid a fucking disability he can write home about.'
"The incident sparked a variety of reactions among students ranging from sheer horror to bemusement, and seemingly everyone on campus was talking about this political scandal. It was Yost’s Watergate — he had no choice but to resign, along with Kenneth Baker, the only other MSA member in that group. Yost’s friend Mohammad Dar became his Gerald Ford, the man thrust into a leadership position in large part because he was less irresponsible than his superiors. The lesson to be learned from Yost (college students take note) is that nothing is private on Facebook - not even a two-member group.”
