A recent Michigan graduate is deeply offended by the university’s request for donations, which he deems “unethical” because “the departments are paying inflated wages to lecturers and graduate students.” Let’s hope this guy never joins a political party; imagine the fallout when he gets the first fundraising letter and finds out that political consultants are paid even more than graduate research assistants.
A2 isn’t quite doing it for Olympic swimming star Michael Phelps, who prefers Baltimore to Tree Town. ‘’It’s kind of a weird change, coming from Baltimore to Ann Arbor because its so much smaller,'’ he says in a new documentary. ‘’I like bigger towns better.'’
The News’ food column, once preoccupied with Bill Knapp’s soup and cheese cracker casserole, finally reflects its community by exploring the nuances of premium honey. The Ann Arbor obsession with anything varietal — olive oil made from just one kind of olive, for example — even makes an appearance here. We’re sort of starting to regret making fun of those old-fashioned sauerkraut recipes.
Ann Arbor may not have much in the way of spectacular skylines or ocean scenery, but look on the bright side; it’s got lots of space and, if you look out far enough, a view of a tower that’s part of a cement plant. “Looking out across a long distance is itself exhilarating,” as the News puts it.
By the way, we’re in Chicago with pneumonia; we’re hoping to be back in town soon.
Ann Arbor’s fairy door craze hasn’t subsided yet; the Ark now boasts a miniature fairy ticket window.
Nothing like City Council on CTN to get us through a nasty case of bronchitis. Last night’s meeting included such highlights as a public comment from 101 N. Main resident Michael Potter on proposed nearby tall building Ashley Terrace. “I’ve got a nice view out of…my condo right now,” he said, “and for you to rezone it just — I don’t like it.” Potter concluded, “Civil decisions should not be made with the predominance of the consideration motivated by greed.”
And we also find out that the City Council’s anti-PATRIOT Act resolution never would have passed if it weren’t for unsuccessful First Ward council candidate Tim Colenback. As much as we love those purely symbolic council resolutions that make living in A2 that much more exciting, we’ll have to get over Colenback’s non-selection somehow.
The News’ “M Issue” is full of advice for students looking to rent off-campus housing. For example, it’s time to debunk that pernicious myth, spread by students and valiantly fought by landlords, that it’s necessary to look for fall housing almost a year in advance. There are still places for rent in July! And if something’s wrong with your apartment, don’t withhold rent. Student renters are notoriously hardnosed about insisting that every aspect of a place is up to snuff, and it would be too bad if any landlords had to suffer.
But what could possibly be wrong with any of the beautiful rental houses in A2? The News mentions two possibilities for illegal accommodations: a house with more than six bedrooms intended for more than six tenants, and a house that has a bedroom in the basement. Hmm, strange that both of these have more to do with the density than the condition of the house. Well, anyhow, happy hunting!