The University of Michigan has 16 dorms, but most undergrads only stay on campus for their freshman year.
Alice Lloyd Dorms – according to Ariella Morrison ’10, “Lloyd Hall is a popular residence hall for students interested in writing and the arts or students who wish to pursue a career in the health sciences, because it houses two Living Learning Communities (the Lloyd Hall Scholars Program and the Health Science Scholars Program). Lloyd is conveniently located on ‘the Hill’ on Central Campus, and is surrounded by four other popular dorms. It’s a five-minute walk from Lloyd to the gym, and it takes about ten minutes to get to most classes. Alice Lloyd is a good dorm for students who are social and don’t mind a little noise at night, as chatter and loud music are often heard past 2 a.m. on weeknights. Like most of the other dorms, Alice Lloyd has a study room equipped with wireless internet access, as well as a computer lab with printers.”
Baits I & II Houses provide co-ed housing, mostly for upperclassmen.
Betsey Barbour House is an all-female dorm.
Bursley is one of the larger dorms, with over 1,200 occupants.
Couzens is a popular option for students in the Michigan Community Scholars Program.
East Quadrangle houses a number of upperclassmen. Amy Geer ’08 reports that East Quad “is a maze-like complex that contains much more than simply rooms to live in. There are classrooms, teachers’ offices, art studios, two cafeterias, a café, an auditorium, a courtyard area, a computing center, an art gallery, and a few lounges. East Quad isn't even the largest dormitory, but it does take a few weeks to get a sense of its layout owing to the basement’s bizarre corners and hallways, the fact that the staircases don't connect on every floor, and because there's only an elevator in one part of the building. Once they’ve adjusted properly, however, some students get so comfortable that they don't often venture out! Nearly everything a college student could need can be acquired within the walls of East Quad. While this insularity can certainly be a good thing during the freezing winter months, some residents warn of the effects of cabin fever. This dorm is home to the Residential College, and as such all of the classes, offices, and language lunches conveniently take place in the building. The students of the "RC" are required to live in East Quad for two years, mostly congregating in one half of the dormitory. Another group has also recently been added to East Quad: the WISE program (Women in Science and Engineering) has been temporarily moved due to renovations in their home dormitory.
The two dining halls in East Quad have varying hours, but both North and South Cafeterias serve identical food. Like all dorm dining halls at Michigan, there's a salad bar, various other fixed food sources like pop and juice machines, as well as different entrees available depending on the day. During dinner and some lunch hours it can be difficult to find seating for more than a few people, and for some the shared experience of eating with a bunch of friends makes it worth it to hold off on dinner until later in the evening if possible. People often comment that the fare at East Quad is more vegetarian- and vegan-friendly than at other dorms. If the entrees don't look appetizing, there are always basic items like waffles, salads, or pitas available. Some believe that the policy prohibiting students from taking food outside of the cafeteria causes students to overeat, and while the freshman fifteen tends to add up quickly, there are plenty of healthy options available. Produce at East Quad isn't always fresh, but it's almost never disgustingly old or stale. The staff is responsive to student comments, and they try to plan future meals based on student input. Once every few months the dining halls host a special themed meal featuring the best food you’ll find in a dining hall. The other, more casual eatery in East Quad is the Halfway Inn, or the "Halfass" as most people call it. Located in the basement, this café has fast food and snacks, the kind of comfort and junk food that late-night studiers crave. The Halfway Inn accepts meal credits too, so students can always head downstairs if the cafeteria menu sounds gross on any given day.”
Fletcher Hall is also popular among upperclassmen.
Helen Newberry House is an all-female dorm.
Mosher-Jordan is a popular option for female engineers.
South Quad is a popular choice for athletes.
Stockwell is another all-female dorm.
West Quad houses a number of upperclassmen, and rooms come equipped with sinks.
Mary Sue Coleman was born in 1943 in Kentucky. After attending Grinnell College, Coleman earned her Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of North Carolina. Before coming to U of M, Coleman was president of the University of Iowa. She is known for her outspoken views on diversity and affirmative action, especially Proposal 2, the passing of which banned U of M from giving preference to minority students in the admissions process. Her house is located prominently on South University, one of the campus’ most-trafficked streets.
Coleman is highly respected in the academic community. Even though Michigan and the University of Notre Dame are bitter rivals, Coleman was the graduate school’s commencement speaker in 2007, from which she received an honorary degree. The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that she is the fifth-highest-paid public university president in the country.
- With special reporting by Mark Schultz ’09
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