Photo: h_p://www.yanaknits.com/2008/11/scarfandmi_ens.jpg
Lower Your Energy Bill...........……….....1
What’s Inside:
Valen4ne’s Day Guide…..………..…..…..1
Sexper4se 2014………………………..……..2
Super Bowl Commercial Round-‐up.….3
Campus Safety Tip: Commu4ng in the Snow……………………………………………..…3
We Work……………………………..…………..4
Staying Safe on Spring Break.……..……4
Plan Ahead! Spend Summer Abroad…………..……………………....……….5
Give your Body a Break..………..…..……6
Late Night Transporta4on……..…..….…6
Hello Off-‐Campus Students!
We at Beyond the Diag hope that your semester is going smoothly so far! With Valen4ne’s Day, midterms and spring break just around the corner, we encourage you to stay safe, healthy and on top of your studies. We also encourage you, as the snow con4nues to fall, to keep your sidewalks clean and clear of snow. Learn more from at AnnArbor.com.
Inside this issue we have ar4cles covering topics from winter safety 4ps and basketball to Valen4ne’s Day ideas.
We would also like to invite you to the Winter Off-‐ Campus Housing Fair on Wednesday, February 19th in the Michigan Union’s Pendleton Room. Join us for free food, giveaways, and an opportunity to meet local property managers!
Whether you are helping a friend make the move off-‐ campus, looking for a new place to live next year, or interested in mee4ng your Neighborhood Ambassador, we welcome you to stop by. Make a note:
Off-‐Campus Housing Fair
Wednesday, February 19 from 1 pm – 4 pm Michigan Union ~ Pendleton Room
Beyond the Diag will be on-‐site to answer ques4ons, iden4fy neighborhoods, and guide you to resources both on and off-‐campus. Hope to see you there!
Stay Warm and Go Blue!
Emily Lus4g , Erica Brooksieker, and Ma_ Lonnerstater Beyond the Diag Program Assistants
Lower Your Energy Bill
If you pay for u4li4es in your house or apartment, turning the heat on this winter may have put a li_le extra strain on your wallet. To save money this semester, here are a few 4ps to conserve energy and lower your electricity bill.
o Unplug electrical appliances and turn off power strips when not in use o Take advantage of natural daylight when possible – open the blinds and turn off your lights o Avoid the use of portable electric space heaters o Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs where possible o Keep thermostats set at 68° during the cold months and 76° during warm seasons o Turn off the lights when leaving a room!
For more informa4on, check out the Student Sustainability Guide or visit sustainability.umich.edu
The Valentine’s Day Guide - College Edition
No ma_er your rela4onship status, Valen4ne’s Day is a 4me that everyone can find something to do. While most people celebrate with their significant other, there are those of us who like to spoil family members, close friends, and even pets. Here are some cost efficient ideas to do on Valen4ne’s Day for whomever you celebrate with.
Ice SkaOng Since winter already presents the task of dealing with the cold weather. Why not embrace it! Ice-‐ska4ng is a great way to bond, and do something ac4ve. There are a couple op4ons in Ann Arbor: Yost Ice Arena and the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. Costs range from $10 -‐$15 for two people.
Box of Chocolates or A Dozen Roses Always a classic and never a bad idea. Regardless of the status of your rela4onship, it’s always nice to receive a gil from your partner, be it flowers, chocolates or candy to share. Costs can range from $15 -‐ $40.
An Edible Arrangement These are not only cute and charming, but also HEALTHY! For those who don’t like candy and prefer fruit, edible arrangements have a plethora of op4ons from a box of chocolate covered strawberries to a bouquet filled with flower shaped pineapples, grapes and melons. This is an awesome subs4tute for the classic roses and chocolates. Cost varies from $25 -‐ $45.
No significant other, no problem. There are plenty of fun things to do. Go to a movie, concert, or treat yourself to some quality “me” 4me. Be safe, responsible, and cost efficient this Valen4ne’s Day and most importantly, have fun!
Contributed by Jared Hunter
Photo courtesy of www.orkut.com
Sexpertise 2014 With Valen4nes Day right around the corner, what be_er way to celebrate than to learn about sex and rela4onships? UHS is providing three days of speakers and events for this year’s SexperOse taking place February 11-‐13! All of the events are free and are open to the general public. There are a wide variety of topics covered to reach everyone’s interests. The topics range from sex in the media to discussions on sex4ng and “mobile love.” Registra4on for the events is recommended but not required. Throughout the week there is also free HIV tes4ng and resources located at the Safe Sex Store on South University, University Health Service (UHS) or the CCRB on campus! Feel free to reach out to any of the services and loca4ons listed above for advice, resources, or general ques4ons. Sexper4se is about educa4ng as well as facilita4ng open dialogues about sex. Sexper4se provides students the opportunity to ask the “hard ques4ons” about sex in an engaging way with experts on rela4onships and sexual health. Below is a list of all of the events and conferences taking place the 11th-‐13th! Tuesday, February 11 Loca4on: Rackham Amphitheater 7:00 PM: Keynote Event: Crea4ng Change through Sexuality Research and Prac4ce 8:45 PM: Sex in the Dark Wednesday, February 12 Loca4on: Michigan League, Vandenberg Room 4:00 PM: Lessons Learned with Dr. Sara McClelland 5:30 PM: Finding Pleasure with Sallie Foley 7:00 PM: Sexy Supplies! with S3 Safe Sex Store 8:40 PM: Kink for Beginners Thursday, February 13 Loca4on: Michigan League, Vandenberg Room 4:00 PM: Sex on the Screen 5:45 PM: Super-‐charge your Birth Control! 7:00 PM: Mobile Love 8:00 PM: Breaking Down the Binary: A Conversa4on about Iden44es Visit h_p://www.uhs.umich.edu/sexper4se for more informa4on and registra4on about Sexper4se and specific events! Here is the link to the Safe Sex Store’s STD/STI Q&A . Photo courtesy of www.uhs.umich.edu Contributed by Erica Brooksieker
Super Bowl Commercial Round-Up
Like the en4re City of Denver, we turned to the hallime commercials to take our minds off the one-‐ sided affair. Here is my list of the best -‐ and the worst -‐ Super Bowl hallime commercials:
Best: Ø Radio Shack: Who doesn’t like a company that pokes fun at themselves? Radio Shack did just that in their hallime commercial, opening with, “the eigh4es called…they want their store back.” Eigh4es stars such as Alf, Devo, The Hulk, Kid (from Kid ‘n Play) and, of course, Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Re_on then go on to loot the store. Aler all, nothing says eigh4es nostalgia like pe_y thel! Nonetheless, I had a good chuckle. See the ad here! Ø Seinfeld Reunion: Jerry Seinfeld and George Costanza appeared in my favorite commercial slot. As a Seinfeld fana4c, it’s always a pleasure to see the two argue over nothing. While the commercial referenced Jerry’s weekly show, Comedians in Cars ge:ng Coffee, it didn’t necessarily adver4se anything. Very appropriate for a show about nothing. See it here!
Honorable MenOon: Ø Audi: Audi illustrated their “don’t compromise” theme by introducing a terrifying poten4al dog breed: the Doberhuaha. 50% Doberman, 50% Chihuahua, 100% pants-‐wexng terrifying. You can view the ad here!
The Worst Ø Car Max: The country’s largest used-‐automobile retailer fell flat on their face with this year’s Super Bowl commercial. The ad starts with a customer sta4ng how sa4sfied he is with Car Max’s service, and is then followed by a 30 second slow clap. Real groundbreaking material and an excellent use of millions and millions of dollars of adver4sing money. What? You can view the ad (or not) here!
Contributed by Ma= Lonnerstater
Campus Safety Tip: Commuting in the Snow
As we all know, the roadways and sidewalks off-‐campus are a giant slippery sheet of ice. Here are some 4ps to keep in mind as you brave the snow, hail, rain and ice this February.
If you have to drive: -‐Invest in an ice scraper -‐Eliminate distrac4ons while you’re behind the wheel -‐If you have a light weight car, weight it down for be_er trac4on -‐Some cars have a “4-‐wheel” drive op4on, if it’s not already on-‐ turn it on! -‐Parking your car on the street or storing it in a lot? Keep a shovel in your car in case you get stuck.
Walking: -‐Take it slow -‐Walk on paths -‐Wear shoes with good trac4on -‐Wear a hat, hood, earmuffs, etc… to avoid heat loss from the scalp -‐Check the weather before you leave, so you know what to expect
Photo: h=p://www.naturesfare.com Contributed by Emily LusDg, Chair of the Campus Safety and Security Commission
We Work
As the Wolverines entered Big-‐Ten play, there was skep4cism as to whether the team could compete with the high intensity of the conference. When Mitch McGary went down for the season with a back injury; the team was at an all 4me low. Entering Big-‐Ten play, the Wolverines were an unranked, 8-‐4 team. But since the start of conference play, something has changed. Without McGary, the team seems to have taken a new form, with a focus on ball movement, and team play. The result? A more unified team that wants to win. The student body has rallied around the team once again as they are poised to make a big run in the na4on’s best conference. However, there are s4ll seats that need to be filled. Come out to Chrysler, support the team and help them be the leaders and best.
Photo: h=p://www.freep.com/arDcle/20140116/SPORTS06/301160113/michigan-‐basketball Contributed by Jonathan Bickmann
Staying Safe on Spring Break Students are beginning to count the days un4l Spring Break. Our minds wonder to sunny beaches and exo4c loca4ons away from the wintery abyss that is Ann Arbor. Before heading off to your warm des4na4on, there are some important safety 4ps to keep in mind to keep you and everyone you are traveling with safe.
1. Do not leave your drink una^ended If you are going to be drinking over spring break, this is a very important 4p to remember. It can be very easy to just leave a drink sixng on the counter while you turn to go talk to someone. Leaving your drink, even for a minute, is dangerous and grounds for dumping it. Keep your hand on your drink at all 4mes!
2. Buddy system Never go anywhere alone. You do not need to be a_ached at the hip, but making sure someone in your group knows where you are at all 4mes can prevent bad situa4ons from happening and can hold people more accountable.
3. Alternate drinks with water Switch off between a drink and a glass of water. Be responsible and know your limits! Check out the Stay In the Blue App, to help you stay on track.
4. Stay hydrated We’re almost gexng used to these sub-‐zero temperatures. When you finally set off to warmer temperatures it’s much easier to get dehydrated when spending all day in the sun. DRINK WATER!
5. Use Sunscreen Make sure while in the sun you’re using sunscreen. No one likes looking like a lobster.
Photo courtesy of Foxnews 1450 Contributed by Erica Brooksieker
Plan Ahead! Spend Summer Abroad
Although winter semester is just gexng under way, it’s 4me to start making plans for summer break, in order to take full advantage of both the warm weather and four months free of books and classwork. I have found no be_er way to spend this 4me than to study abroad. Not only can you gain language skills, you can also get work or internship opportuni4es, meet great people, and experience another culture separate from your own. More than a couple of great lines on a résumé, study abroad experiences allow you to meet a network of students with similar interests as yours, and to gain insight into a region that you can only learn by being there.
Resources are available all around campus. Check out the Interna4onal Ins4tute where you can find helpful links as well as grant opportuni4es for summer travel funding. The Interna4onal Center also has lists of study abroad programs and 4ps for traveling. As a side note, never be afraid to ask faculty for opportuni4es; language professors are always looking for eager and interested students to study their region. Don’t be afraid to think outside of your intended field of study; every country has opportuni4es to work in a mul4tude of fields, and you may discover a loca4on that fits your needs that you’d never thought of before. Gook luck and safe traveling. Ana’s Tips for Geang the Most Out of a Trip Abroad: • Consider going alone: groups of American students create groups of American speakers and can result in underdeveloped language skills and less contact with locals • Never sit in your apartment: go to concerts, soccer games, beauty pageants, or just walk around the city center, there’s always things to do • Don’t be afraid to stay in one city for a long period of 4me; traveling constantly can result in major fa4gue and can wear down on your body • Meet people: meet students at the local university, go to an English speaking club, get coffee with your coworkers, take walks around the park during work breaks, and meet with other Americans in the area • Stay informed: the more you know about the city you’re living in, the more opportuni4es you’ll have! Get in touch with local organiza4ons and workers in your field-‐ learn about what work is being done and where you can contribute.
Photo courtesy of Oleksi Netsivka Contributed by Anastasia Tkach
Give Your Body a Break
Spring break is right around the corner and for many students, this means increased insecuri4es about their bodies and an obsession with gexng the perfect “beach body.” Students who feel pressure to lose weight before their vaca4ons may end up engaging in unhealthy and dangerous behaviors. The promise of body transforma4on on a deadline can be temp4ng, but the methods that many use can have nega4ve health consequences, including slower metabolism, weakened immune systems, irritability, mental fogginess, and weight gain aler the vaca4on is over.
The weeks leading up to spring break can be triggering 4mes for people who have ea4ng issues. Ideally, spring break can be a 4me to replenish our mind, body, and spirit. Do you feel as though the focus has shiled in an unhealthy direc4on when connec4ng with friends? A student in my office recently said “In February, all the conversa4ons have shiled from our classes and our social lives to calories, workouts, tans, and bikinis. It is hard to get away from it. The obsession seems contagious and it can be hard to be the person to speak out against it. ” So, what can we do to support one another in pursuing a more balanced approach to wellness around spring break?
Shil your focus to your friends—it may sound trite, but college does not last forever. Enjoy the 4me you have together! Your weight is the least interes4ng thing about you. Create a pact to keep the focus in a healthy place; encouraging one another can be the best confidence booster.
If you are going to diet, try a media diet. Turn off the TV and put down those magazines that have a profound impact on your own body image. Don’t’ be afraid to ask for help if you feel like you are losing your balance. UHS and CAPS both have helpful resources and informa4on on any and all of these topics.
Contributed by Kellie Carbone, UHS Health Educator
Late Night Transportation
Ann Arbor offers a plethora of late night transporta4on services. Take advantage of some of these services, many of which are offered to students free of charge. For students commu4ng from campus to off-‐campus areas, you may find any of the following op4ons valuable. For off-‐campus only commu4ng, consider taking the Night Owl bus, which offers unlimited ridership and an expansive off-‐ campus reach. For more informa4on on the services offered, check out the op4ons below:
Night Owl: A new Michigan bus service that runs 10pm-‐ 3am Thursday-‐ Saturday. It is a blue Michigan Bus, so it is free for anyone.
SafeRide: a free service transpor4ng students with a valid MCard from University buildings up to a mile off-‐campus. It runs 10pm-‐ 2am, call (734) 647-‐8000 to request a ride.
Night Ride: a $5 shared taxi service that runs throughout Ann Arbor from 11pm-‐6am Monday-‐ Friday and 7pm-‐ 7:30am Saturday and Sunday. Call (734) 647-‐8000 and select op4on 3.
State Street Ride: a free service from 10pm-‐ 6am Monday-‐Friday from University buildings to the Park and Ride State Street Commuter lot. To request a ride call: (734) 547-‐2222.
Photo courtesy of the University of Michigan Contributed by Emily LusDg
A big THANK YOU to our Pla4num Members for suppor4ng the Beyond the Diag program!
Learn more about these proper4es and many more by visi4ng
offcampushousing.umich.edu – the official off-‐campus housing lis4ng service of the University of Michigan.
For more safety 4ps and informa4on about Beyond the Diag, visit h_p://offcampus.umich.edu
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S4ll have ques4ons? E-‐mail us at beyondthediag@umich.edu