MARCH 2012!
Beyond the Diag What’s Inside: March is Na*onal Caffeine Awareness Month ……..….……….... 1 Happy St. Pa;y’s Day …..……..….... 2 Spring into Safety ..………………...... 3 Summer Sublet Tips ………..……..… 3 Health Update: Allergies ..…….….. 4 OSCR Who? ……………………..…….… 4 How Was Your Spring Break? .…… 5
Caffeine Awareness Month There’s no way around it: March is a long month. Chances are, you may rely on caffeine to get through this final push of the year. According to Health.com, that’s not en*rely bad since “250 milligrams of caffeine per day...wakes up the brain, improves concentra*on, relieves stress, and may also help you live longer.” Try to prevent your intake from becoming an addic*on, however – you might experience dehydra*on, anxiety, or sleep depriva*on. In honor of Na*onal Caffeine Awareness Month, check out these surprising sources of caffeine, whether you’re looking for more or hoping to cut back. Decaf Coffee: Despite its name, Consumer Reports has discovered that the average decaf cup of coffee s*ll contains caffeine, albeit 20-‐25% of that found in a regular cup of joe. Chocolate: Caffeine is a natural ingredient in cocoa beans, and the darker the chocolate, the more caffeine. For example, a Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Bar has almost as much as a can of Coke. Energy Water: Energy water uses the the Brazilian plant guarana as flavoring which -‐ like coffee -‐ is a natural source of caffeine. Fruits and Vegetables: Although they don't contain caffeine, some of the best, most natural sources of energy can be found in apples, bananas, carrots, peppers, and celery due to their high vitamin and mineral content. Wri$en by Josh Buoy
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! If you’re looking for plans on March 17th, check out these great events happening around campus! ST. PATRICK’S DAY BASH: NOON – 3 PM ON THE DIAG Free pizza, face pain*ng, balloon animals and a chance to win 2 suite *ckets for a home football game! MEN’S TENNIS VS. MICHIGAN STATE: NOON @ VARSITY TENNIS CENTER MEN’S LACROSSE: 3 PM @ MICHIGAN STADIUM MEN’S GYMNASITCS: 7 PM @ CLIFF KEEN ARENA ST. PATRICK’S DAY DANCE: 7-‐10 PM @ THE MICHIGAN LEAGUE For South Quad, Betsy Barbour & Fletcher residents and friends VISHTÈN: 8 PM @ THE ARK Michigan Union Ticket Office: General Admission $15, Reserved $22 You have never heard feet used as percussion like this! If you plan to drink on St. Patrick’s Day, choose to be safe and legal by Staying in the Blue. Keep your BAC (blood alcohol content) at low-‐risk levels by following these *ps from UM students:
eat something with protein/fat before drinking measure & count your drinks drink S-L-O-W-L-Y (1-2 drinks per hour tops) If you plan to host a party, consider these sugges*ons from Student Legal Services: • Be considerate of neighbors and talk to them prior to your event • Control the size of your event • Monitor how much people are drinking • Make sure those under 21 are not drinking • Be polite to the police • Leave your drinks behind when you leave a party • Use bathrooms, not bushes; use trash containers, not the ground • Provide food and non-‐alcoholic drinks for your guests • Don’t allow drunk people to drive • If you think someone may have alcohol poisoning, call 911 immediately If you plan to be sober on St. Patrick’s Day, head to UHS on Friday, March 16th from 9 AM – 4 PM for a free “Kiss Me, I’m Sober” t-‐shirt (while supplies last). Have a safe and fun holiday!
Spring into Safety Spring is here! Before you start pulling out your sandals, take a few moments to make sure your house is safe. Several studies (da*ng back to the 1800s) have shown the posi*ve correla*on between temperature and crime. There have already been DPS crime alert emails sent out specifically about burglaries. Here are some *ps to keep you and your place safe: Install a peephole so that you can see without opening the door. Do not rely on chains. Ask for proper iden2fica2on from servicemen, if they are legi*mate they won't mind. Keep windows and doors secured at all 2mes. For ven*la*on, secure windows open no more than five inches. Close your curtains or blinds at night to prevent strangers from seeing that you are alone. Never men2on to a stranger that a neighbor lives, or is at home, alone. Do not permit a stranger to enter to make a call. Offer to call for him/her. Never hide an extra key under a mat, in a flowerpot, etc. Criminals know all of these tricks. Only give keys to trusted neighbors and friends If you come home to open doors/windows or signs of forced entry, don't go in. Go to the nearest phone and call the police. • Have good ligh2ng at all entrances. • • • • • • • • • •
For more helpful ideas, visit the DPS website. Wri$en by Sabrina Palombo
Summer Sublets Summer is coming, and whether you're trying to find a subtenant or a sublet, both processes can seem troublesome or confusing. Here are some *ps to make your process less stressful: Get the landlord's consent before you sublease. Many require that you contact them first as they oxen want to go through the same approval process for the subtenant as they do for normal leases. Consult your property owner to see if they offer help with finding subtenants or sublets. Some larger management companies provide this service. Make sure every subtenant has a copy of the current lease. Subtenants are s*ll responsible for upholding tenant responsibili*es, and they should be clear on possible restric*ons. Use the resources from the Housing Informa*on Office! You can find sublease agreement forms and inventory checklists there that will help you through the process. Contact the Off-‐Campus Housing Advisor if you are facing difficul*es with your sublet and need help to resolve them. Finding a subtenant or sublet can seem difficult because you have to handle much of the administra*ve details yourself. Luckily, there are lot of resources available at the Housing Informa*on Office, and don't be afraid to contact the property companies for help. Good luck with your summer plans! Wri$en by Emily Ho
Spring Brings Seasonal Allergies Is your runny nose caused by a virus or an allergy, and how would you know the difference? Clear nasal discharge, sneezing, itchy eyes and nose, and conges*on that persist longer than a week may indicate a seasonal allergy. Allergies may also cause an asthma a;ack. Seasonal allergies are caused by your immune system’s over-‐reac*on to pollen and/or mold spores, which floods your bloodstream with chemicals like histamine. If symptoms are mild, you may tolerate them or take a non-‐ prescrip*on an*histamine, such as Allegra or Zyrtec or generic equivalents. For more severe allergies: • Nasal steroids or an*histamines are available by prescrip*on. • Tes*ng can help iden*fy what causes your allergic reac*on. • You can reduce exposure, e.g., by spending more *me indoors on high pollen days, ideally in air condi*oned spaces. • Immunotherapy (shots) can desensi*ze the immune system and reduce allergic reac*ons. University Health Service offers consulta*on, tes*ng and treatment for allergies. For currently enrolled U-‐M students, clinic visits are free. See the UHS website to learn more about allergy services. Contributed by Carol Tucker, UHS
OSCR Who? The Office of Student Conflict Resolu*on is a safe place for students to come in a *me of conflict. Located in South Quad, the OSCR staff is dedicated to building trust and suppor*ng the University’s Statement of Student Rights and ResponsibiliCes. Our teams are mo*vated to help students resolve conflicts peacefully and receive the resources they need to succeed. ACR: The Adaptable Conflict Resolu*on approach is designed for students who are in conflict and who want to resolve the ma;er without gezng anyone “in trouble.” This approach allows students to control the outcome of their conflict without crea*ng a “record” for anyone involved. ACR for AOD: The Adaptable Conflict Resolu*on for Alcohol and Other Drugs approach is available for students who would like to address alcohol and other drug related incidents in a safe and confiden*al environment. As with ACR no “record” is produced in this process. FCR: The Formal Conflict Resolu*on approach is designed for students alleging that a UM student has violated the Statement. This approach is the most formal resolu*on style, and students found to be responsible will have it noted on their educa*onal record. To ini*ate this process, a complaint must be filed. The par*es will then a;empt to enter into an agreement. If no agreement can be reached, the case will move into an arbitra*on stage where a decision will be made on responsibility and restora*ve measures. Students may also come into the office to gain knowledge of how to approach their own conflicts in a way that resolves their issues without having to bring in another party. If you or anyone you know is interested in any of our services you can stop in during normal office hours (Mon-‐Fri. 8am-‐5pm), call the office at (734)-‐936-‐6308, or e-‐mail us at oscr@umich.edu. Contributed by Courtney Rivet, OSCR Staff
How Was Your Spring Break? Mine was an absolute blast – not only did I have a great *me, but I also took part in a rewarding experience. As an alterna*ve spring break site leader, I traveled with a small group of students to rural Soddy-‐Daisy, Tennessee. Located in the Appalachians near Cha;anooga just north of the Georgia-‐ Tennessee border, our group’s mission there was to help construct a hiking trail for the Cumberland Trails Conference. The Cumberland Trails Conference hopes to build over 300 miles of scenic hiking trails that will connect with the Appalachian Trail in an effort to promote the conserva*on of our beau*ful environment. Before break, the twelve par*cipants in our group barely knew each other’s names. However, from the moment we began our road trip down south, the par*cipants instantly started to bond. Between spending the day doing exhaus*ng trail work, ea*ng delicious s’mores around a bonfire, sharing deep reflec*ons with each other, star gazing in the wilderness, or going to the amazing Tennessee Aquarium, our group eventually grew very close and returned with nothing but smiles and memories. Alterna*ve Spring Break is available to any student. The program aims to educate par*cipants and provide a hands-‐on experience that will enlighten students on a wide variety of social jus*ce issues in our society today. The University of Michigan has the largest Alterna*ve Spring Break program in the en*re na*on, so get involved! h;p://ginsberg.umich.edu/serve/asb/ Wri$en by Wen Ning
For more safety *ps and informa*on about Beyond the Diag, visit studentsafety.umich.edu Like us on Facebook @ facebook.com/Umbeyondthediag Follow us on Twi;er @umbeyondthediag S*ll have ques*ons? E-‐mail us at beyondthediag@umich.edu