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December 9, 2010 • www.OlympiaMediaGroup.comAnn Arbor, Michigan

Going Loko?, Page 2'Tis The Season To Get Studious?, Page 5

Picking Easy Classes 101, Page 7

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Photo Credit: Danielle TollWisonsin V.S. Michigan game.

2 • www.TheOdysseyOnline.comODYSSEYODYSSEYODYSSEY

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Going Loko?Recently, there have been many rumors

regarding the future of increasingly popular caffeine infused malt beverages such as “Joose,” “A.M.," and of course “Four Lokos." These beverages are made with guarana, taurine and caffeine, and contain 12 percent alcohol by volume. Each one contains roughly the equivalent alcohol content of 3 beers and 135 mg of caffeine, or the equivalent of 1-2 cups of coffee.

This mix of alcohol with caffeine is the main cause for concern. Normally, as we get more drunk we lose energy which acts as a natural preventative measure from over-consumption of alcohol. Because these drinks provide the caffeine to keep consumers energized, there is a tendency to drink way too much and black out.

This is why legislators are working to ban these drinks in the United States; they believe they are dangerous. The state of Michigan banned these drinks on November 4, and ordered removal of these drinks from shelves within 30 days. Additionally, several other states have been stepping forward to ban caffeinated alcoholic beverages, such as Washington, Oklahoma, New York and Utah. There is even a motion for the Food and Drug Administration to place a national ban on these drinks, as announced by Senator Chuck Schumer, D-N. Y.

The government and parents are obviously not a fan of these drinks, but what about students? The drinks have gotten incredibly popular on campus with some students drinking a couple caffeinated alcoholic beverages in a

night, then staying up late to party. There is an overall disapproval by the students regarding government actions to ban these drinks.

Quotes from two fraternity members on their 21st birthdays: “What do you think about the ban on Four Lokos and other popular caffeinated alcoholic beverages?” -The Odyssey

“Unreal bad!” -Benjamin Prouty, Phi Kappa Psi“Hain!” Tucker Billups, Phi Kappa Psi

Casey Goldman is a sophomore studying business and chemical engineering. You may contact him at cgoldman@olympiamediagroup.com.

Going Loko?

CASEY GOLDMAN

Phi Kappa PsiPublisher

Alex Perlman, Phi Kappa Psi • Matthew Goldstein, Phi Kappa PsiLeann Arcori, Alpha Phi • Ben Prouty, Phi Kappa Psi • Will Pappo, Phi Kappa Psi

Interested in writing or sales? Contact Michigan@TheOdysseyOnlline.com

Casey Goldman, Phi Kappa PsiPUBLISHER

Vol.1 No.14

www.TheOdysseyOnline.com • 3STORYSTORYSTORYFeature

I hate cell phones. Think about their original purpose (a phone line that you can take anywhere with you), and then think about what they’ve become. Not only are they a place to make calls and text message, but thanks to more modern technology, they can now be used to (let me take a deep breath): look at facebook, browse the internet, check sports scores, MapQuest directions, listen to music, book tickets to an event, video chat, gamble, check your credit scores, play Tetris, order takeout, and more. Much more. While it's great that modern technology has made so many awesome advances, I hate to see people replacing their real lives with their phones.

Ever notice how whenever you’re with a group of friends, at least half of you are always texting? You go somewhere to see each other (let’s say to dinner), yet you end up spending more time texting someone else who is someplace else. Or checking your email... Or checking

the score of the game. Whatever you’re doing, you’re sure as hell not enjoying your friends’ company or that cheesy bread because you’re too busy focusing

your attention on this little piece of plastic and metal that sucks up your life.

Beyond the fact that it’s annoying to be with a crowd that’s always on their phones, not letting your eyes or your fi ngers leave

your blackberry or iPhone keyboard is just plain rude. Why make plans with someone who will just spend all of their time on their phone? You’d be better off just texting them for a few hours; in fact, you’d probably get more of their attention that way. We as a generation are so obsessed with our phones that a large percentage of us do stupid stuff like texting while driving, despite the fact that we all know people who have gotten in accidents (or worse) because of this practice.

Personally, I hate the concept of a cell phone because I don’t like the idea of being reachable at all times of the day. What if I want some

peace and quiet? What if I’m sleeping? What if I just don’t want to talk to you right now? Put down your phone. Go for a walk outside. Go see a play. Go have a quality conversation with someone. There’s a whole world out there, and you’re going to miss it if you can’t get away from your phone.

Lindsey Mandich is a sophomore studying political science and English. You may contact her at lmandich@umich.edu.

Too Connected

LINDSEYMANDICH

Delta Delta DeltaContributing Editor

"While it's great that modern technology has made so many awesome advances, I hate to see people replacing their real lives with their phones."

4 • www.TheOdysseyOnline.comTRADITIONTRADITIONTRADITIONGreek Life

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rWinter Rush

Winter rush at Michigan is the perfect second-chance opportunity for guys to rush fraternities. Here at Michigan, Fall rush happens very early in the year, and if you do not get the right advice, you can easily miss out. Thankfully, there is also Winter rush at many of the fraternities, which are run identically to Fall rush. In the second go-around at Michigan, many fraternities put on a Winter rush to attract new members to pledge their brotherhood. Perhaps, everything was moving too fast for you in the beginning of the year, and you did not get the chance to rush Fall semester. You need not worry - Winter rush is almost here.

You see your friends going to mixers with sororities what seems like every weekend and coming back with amazing stories about pledging. Sometimes it can feel lonely on the outside of Greek Life because there are not scheduled social events calendar for you. If you feel this way, a fraternity may be the answer to most of your problems. If you want to party here at Michigan, Greek Life is the way to go. Greek Life is a way to make U of M feel smaller, forge long lasting friendships and join in the

experience of being part of something larger than you, a brotherhood.

Winter rush will be run similarly to the way Fall rush was run, so if you did not receive a bid in the fall, you have a head start. Rush, for guys at least, is a very casual process. Rushes attend houses and speak with the brothers about the fraternity to gain insight into their activities, arrangements and pledge process. In doing so, food is usually offered at these functions and sometimes a football game will be on for public viewing and enjoyment. This makes for a very chill atmosphere where rushes can relax and ask questions about fraternity life.

My advice to you, the rush, is to ask as many questions as possible. That way, you display your interest in the fraternity you are rushing and you get as many questions as you have answered. Also note that Winter rush classes are usually-but not always-smaller than Fall pledge classes. This makes for a more intense

pledging experience because more will be expected of you as an individual. My mistake was not taking the rush process seriously enough and it is easy to do so because you do not fully understand what a great outlet Greek Life is until you are in it. Go to as many houses as possible, relax and rush your favorite fraternity. I promise that YOU WON’T regret it.

Ben Seidman is a sophomore studying undecidedology. You may contact him at benseido@umich.edu.BENJAMIN

SEIDMANAlpha Epsilon Pi

www.TheOdysseyOnline.com • 5TALK ABOUTTALK ABOUTTALK ABOUT

Something to

I don’t know about you, but I’m already counting down the days until Christmas. My roommates and I have got one of those paper chains started that we used to make back in grade school – yes, we’re that excited. However, I can’t help feeling that’s there a little bit of a damper put on my holiday spirit every time I think about fi nals…well, make that a huge damper. I can’t believe it’s that time already. I feel like I just got done with the second round of midterms, but unfortunately the UGLi and that lonely, empty class in Mason have once again become my best friends. With the end of the semester drawing near, it can be hard trying to avoid the massive amounts of stress that accompany studying for those dreadful fi nals. However, if we all try hard enough, we can successfully make it through that week of hell and return home for a few weeks of de-stressing. I’ve come up with a few points that should make this next week a little easier…if that’s even possible.

Make a to-do list. Yes, you might think you already have everything planned out in your head, but personally for me it is so much easier to stay focused on your priorities if they’re all written down. Plus, it feels good to cross each task off and feel one step closer to freedom!

Sleep. You might think you don’t have time for sleep, but getting more

than let’s say three hours of sleep each night should be a huge priority. Pulling an all-nighter will just make you that much more unproductive the next day, and if your body gets tired enough you might even sleep through your alarm on exam day…

Relax. Set aside one hour a day to do whatever calms you down. Whether that be facebooking, watching TV, or taking a short nap, its only healthy to act like a normal person for just a little while each day.

Stay hydrated. Studies show that you’re more

focused and alert if you’re drinking enough water each day. And no, that cannot be substituted for your favorite venti holiday drink!

Most importantly, go to the Big Chill. We all deserve a day off from this monotonous life.

Well, I suppose I should get back to studying. I guess this qualifi es as my one hour of relaxation. Just remember to stay positive and good luck!

Olivia Quinn is a sophomore studying English and economics. You may contact her at oliviaq@umich.edu.

OLIVIA QUINNDelta Delta Delta

‘Tis the Season to Get…

Studious?

6 • www.TheOdysseyOnline.comTALK ABOUTTALK ABOUTTALK ABOUTSomething to

It’s a given with “backpacking” and registration hanging over our heads that we tend to reassess our future goals. Do you ever wonder if you're headed down the right path? I’m pretty sure that the majority of students at this university can immediately respond to that question with a unanimous Y-E-S. Let’s face it: we’re preparing for the real world now. Simply planning for next semester has dropped this bomb in front of me, on top of the mountainous pile of fi nals I need to prepare for, mind you.

For me, it has been a 1 1/2 year battle with the whole pre-medicine path and I have, what, 90 years to go before I get to be a doctor? It’s pretty challenging—no, extremely challenging—to weigh out all of your options about where you want to be ten years from now when you have two exams, a 10-page research paper and a group presentation all due within the next fi ve days. The University of Michigan pretty much kicks our butts, but we all got in for a reason: Our drive to work through

the obstacles, (Insert corny line: “That’s the Michigan difference” haha). My one and only recommendation for all of you, and myself, is to use your resources. I totally understand that not everyone really clicks with their general advisor, so it’s probably best to go to advisors that match your concentration. I have met with a pre-health advisor when my LSA advisor wasn’t able to answer my pre-med questions. I also was able to speak with an advisor about my Spanish concentration because she knew what classes would be most suited for my major. Simply by typing in “academic advising” into the search queue on the U of M website, you will fi nd links to advisors who specialize in every school here from the College of Engineering to the School of Education.

Another page I stumbled upon after scrolling through the website was one for the Career Center. Here, I found so many useful things that I never realized were even offered to us. You can learn about career assessment tests, read up

on how recent alum are doing with their career pathways, and even interview professionals who might be working in the industry in which you are interested. All of these things, along with an online resume builder and networking opportunities, shape one of the most helpful websites I have come across.

I’m not about to preach that after you talk to an advisor you will have your entire life fi gured out; that would be unrealistic. Basically, if you want to get on the right track, you have to start somewhere. I have found that listening to advice from other people,

especially students, has been my most powerful resource. I’m still pretty shaky about whether or not I’m headed towards success, but as of now, I’m trying to be thankful that I chose the right university to help get me there.

Kendall Szczerba is a sophomore studying pre-medicine and Spanish. You may contact her at szczerba@umich.edu.

Anyone Else Worried About Their Future?

KENDALL SZCZERBA

Delta Delta Delta

Finals. The average college student spends more time avoiding the word (and event) than preparing for it. Like any other experience that signifi es the defi nite end to something, fi nals represent a milestone. Academically, they gauge progress and merit. In collegiate reality, they represent a week (or two for the unfortunate) of social exclusion, drudge, and all other non-words for a seemingly insurmountable amount of horridness.

In years past I have made extraordinarily outlandish excuses in attempts to circumvent everything that goes into fi nal exams. I have faked illness. I have prolonged studying for days on end. I’ve gone so far as to fabricate a story that

involves my grandmother, a certain terminal disease, and a short time frame in which her existence would be able to continue to fl ourish.

For those of you who are concerned, my grandmother continues to live on (and on and on.) Although I may be a horrible person, there is a moral to my story. I know I’m not the only person to put off my academic obligations —it’s in the essence college student nature. I’m promising you that this year will be different.

This year, amongst other changes in my life, I am promising to make a commitment to fi nals. When I arrived at

Michigan, I knew I would experience a level of academic rigor I hadn’t known

before. For the most part, I’d consider my fi rst semester on par with my expectations. Lectures and quizzes have come and gone, and what I’ve been left with is a resounding need to devote myself to

my studies. Sure football Saturdays and mixers are great, and they may or may not make up much of my motivation to grind it out in the library, but they are only a minute piece of our lives. The fact of the matter is that Greek life is a commitment we renew daily. If we apply a fraction of the vigor we have for our houses, we will soar academically.

For now, I’ll see you in the library.

Eaghan Davis is a freshman interested in pre-business and English. You may contact him at daviseas@umich.edu.

December Blues

EAGHANDAVIS

Phi Kappa Psi

"This year, amongst other changes in my life, I am promising to make a commitment to fi nals."

www.TheOdysseyOnline.com • 7TALK ABOUTTALK ABOUTTALK ABOUT

Something to

As registration for winter semester classes begin, the age-old question of “Do you know of any easy classes?” is once again raised. Although there are some classes that everyone is generally aware of as being “joke classes,” U of M also contains a handful of classes that are not as well known that can be your shot at an easy A. While these classes change from year to year, I’ll try and provide some tips on how to spot them.

SyllabusThere are a few things to look for in

a syllabus when researching a potential class. 1. Recovery Chances- If you do poorly on tests in the beginning of the semester, will you have the opportunity to make up the points later in the semester? A class with three exams all weighing the same makes it a lot tougher to bounce back from a bad grade than a class with the fi nal exam making up the majority of the grade. 2. Extra credit- If a class has several extra credit opportunities or mentioning of extra credit, it is probably a good signal. 3. Grading Distribution/Curves- While the appeal of a class where 25% of people get A’s, 50% get B’s, and 25% get C’s (Soc 100) may sound appealing, its not as easy as it sounds. It is much better to go for a class without a potential downward grading curve. Classes with

grading curves like the one mentioned above means not everyone get A’s and some people actually have to put in some work. 4. Group Projects- If you can be that girl or guy that every group member hates because you do not contribute any work to a group project that is the majority of your grade in the class but earn an A anyway by association…by all means go for it.

Rate My Professor.com

This website is a no-brainer. When you see an obscure class that you have never heard of, the fi rst course of action should be to see if the professor's rating is good or not. Generally I have found it is ok for a teacher to be reviewed as boring as long as they still grade easily.

GSI nameIn large classes, it is often the GSI in

your discussion section who will grade your essays and determine your grade. It is also often the case where the GSI is

responsible for teaching a large portion of the material to you in section. Not to sound like I am racial profi ling but a GSI with a foreign sounding name has a much higher chance of speaking with an accent, making them diffi cult to understand as well as having a tendency to be tougher graders.

LevelJust because a class is

100 level does not make it easy. Classes that are 100 level are often large, impersonal and based completely on how well you perform in class.

Some 200 and 300 level classes that are smaller allow you to interact with the professor more. This is benefi cial because professors will often boost your grade if they see you putting in effort or when they know you personally and believe you deserve a better grade. Also with smaller classes, the syllabus is not as rigid so occasionally the teacher will give the class a choice of how they want to be graded and how they want class to be conducted.

FacebookI am not sure how many people actually

do this and while it may sound a bit creepy, it does have some merit to it. When deciding between several options, it can be a huge benefi t to look the professor or GSI up on facebook. There is a huge difference between not being able to fi nd a GSI on facebook (bad sign) versus being able to fi nd a GSI on facebook and seeing that their profi le picture is them pounding down shots with friends in an bar (good sign).

Interest and TimeIt becomes much easier to earn a good

grade in a class if you are genuinely interested in the material. At the same time, it doesn’t matter how interesting the class is if the class is before 10am. If you are considering a class in the morning and its not a requirement, drop it immediately.

Sean Yang is a sophomore studying fi nance. You may contact him atyangsean@umich.edu.

Picking Easy Classes 101

SEAN YANGSigma Alpha Epsilon

10 • www.TheOdysseyOnline.comSPORTS

Michigan football pregames are one of a kind. The huge crowds dancing on tables and porches, the infi nite number of splintered red cups ornamenting the grass, the blasting music (and inevitable cop visit and noise violation)… these are the Saturdays we all wake up at seven in the morning for, regardless of the time we got home on Friday night. In my three Wolverine football seasons here, I have witnessed some crazy things—totally unacceptable in the real world--but here, it’s just another day in the life of a Michigan student. I’d like to highlight some of the funnier things I have witnessed at the Michigan football preparties this year… The absurd statements. Yes, when alcohol is consumed, people tend to catch a

bad case of word vomit. Football pregames bring out an even more uninhibited side when alcohol is mixed with an entire student body united by the maize and blue they proudly wear and an uncontained excitement for kickoff.

Statement 1: “One butt grab, and you can come to our party tonight. Just one!” Really, guys? I’m still trying to fi gure out how this one is okay. I guess chivalry seems to go to the wayside on Saturday mornings… Statement 2: A boy standing on top of a brick wall proclaiming, “I’M KING OF THE WORLD” and pouring cans of beer over

his head. Did I mention simultaneously emptying his bladder off the side of the wall? I don’t really have much to say about this one except that I sincerely hope no one was standing below him.

The sights. As college students with livers that take a beating, we are all bound to fall victim to making a fool out of ourselves at some point. At Michigan tailgates, it seems like many of us tend to forget that there are people around… or maybe it’s just that we’re all having too much fun to care. At times like the ones below, sometimes I think we should all put down the Pepsi and the fi fth of Popov for a second…

Sight 1: A freshman girl—shirt riding halfway up her stomach—falling face-fi rst into a bush. Her friend picks her up, and Freshman Girl proceeds to fall backwards out of her friend’s arms into another bush. At the same time, people are snapping pictures on their phones and rolling their eyes as they walk by. Leaves and branches are tangled in her hair, and she is unresponsive until someone asks if she’s all right. Freshman Girl then slowly raises her hand and gives the thumbs-up, smiling. As much as I felt badly that this girl was making herself look like a complete slob, maybe a few less jello shots could have saved her the

embarrassment (and most likely the really terrible 3pm hangover).

Sight 2: Just having observed this one embarrasses me. Picture this: “Hey Baby” blasting on the front lawn. Everyone is jumping up and down, laughing, and screaming the words to the song. Then there’s the one boy and girl whose ears have somehow translated DJ Otzi’s game-day song into Lil Jon’s raunchy anthem “Get Low.” Yes, two people grinding to the fl oor and intensely making out to “Hey Baby.” A sight for sore eyes, and one that I hope I never witness again. In all honesty, I know that I will witness all of this and more next football season when our pregames resume. Our last home game of the season resulted in a tough loss against Wisconsin, but that won’t dull our excitement to pick up next year where we left off… both on and off the fi eld. Samantha Scharmett is a junior studying French and communication. You may contact her at samariel@umich.edu.

Tales of a Michigan TailgateTales of a Michigan Tailgate

SAMANTHASCHARMETTSigma Delta Tau

www.TheOdysseyOnline.com • 11ENTERTAINMENT

www.TheOdysseyOnline.com

The duo Matt & Kim released their full-length album Sidewalks on November 2nd, and I’ve been listening to it since. You might know them from their epic shows at Lollapalooza or their previous hit Daylight. To be honest, I was more excited for the new album than I should have been after hearing their fi rst single Cameras. A great feel-good song indeed, it unfortunately wasn’t representative of the album as a whole. It’s actually become tiresome for me to listen to it in its entirety. The songs are all high-energy pop ensembles but much less chaotic than their previous releases.

This is certainly a good thing, but errs on the side of becoming monotonous as the same sounds play, and Matt’s unique, but occasionally fl at voice belts out simple lyrics. Individually, the songs are all acceptable works of music, but as a whole, the album lacks fl uidity and fails to create an enjoyable listening experience. If you don’t know what I mean, listen to the entire album Gorilla Manor by Local Natives, you’ll hear a well-composed and smooth album.

Still, Sidewalks certainly contains some standout tracks. I recommend Cameras,

Good For Great, Red Paint, and AM/FM Sound. Check them out at http://umich-music.blogspot.com/

Kristine Colosimo is a junior studying communication and American culture. You may contact her at kacolosi@umich.edu.

KRISTINE COLOSIMO

Sigma Kappa

12 • www.TheOdysseyOnline.com

ENTERTAINMENTwww.TheOdysseyOnline.com

As someone who fi nds it very diffi cult to sit and focus on one thing at a time, I’m constantly using the Internet as a mode of both entertainment and procrastination. Although I waste plenty of time on Facebook and stumbleupon.com, I have a few blogs that I follow religiously as well. Among these blogs is allinmyheadmusic.com, a site dedicated to all things music.

The blog, created by a student here at Michigan (Crosby Steiner of Delta Tau Delta) and his friend at Boston University, focuses on hip-hop and some modern rock. Since its start this past summer, the site has expanded tremendously from its humble beginnings

as a simple Wordpress blog to its very own site, attracting a loyal following that grows larger by the day.

Although All in My Head was originally completely operated by its founders, the site now boasts several music-crazed writers from different schools all around the country, including the University of Maryland, Kenyon College and Wesleyan University. Perhaps the most valuable aspect of the writing staff is the fact that each of them respects music in its entirety, but has passion for a wide variety of different genres

and artists. While some of the writers contribute more often than others, there really is something for most everyone on All in My Head.

The blog is especially helpful if you’re looking to follow releases of mixtapes and albums – the dedication of the writers to posting new music news is probably

my favorite part of the site. Along with the announcements of new music, the blog also features downloads and music players (plus a typically fantastic playlist of the week) so that you can hear all

the new (and sometimes old) goods for yourself.

In addition to the music itself, there’s also the occasional quirky music-related news story posted as well. There’s no way I would have heard about Flava Flav’s plans to release his very own beverage brand without All in My Head – or added myself to the product waitlist… just kidding.

The site is more than worth a second of your time, so defi nitely take a look around in your downtime. The posts are short and light, the music is dope, and most importantly, one of the founders is a Wolverine – so show some school spirit and check it out… now. (allinmyheadmusic.com)

Kylie Kagen is a sophomore studying communication. You may contact her at knkagen@umich.edu.

All In My Head

"Although All in My Head was originally completely operated by its founders, the site now boasts several music-crazed writers from different schools all around the country."

KYLIE KAGENAlpha Delta Pi

www.TheOdysseyOnline.com • 13ENTERTAINMENT

www.TheOdysseyOnline.com

Unfortunately, it is time for the fun of Fall semester to come to a close, and the fi nal sprint in the ongoing race that is our academic calendars to begin- fi nals. There is nothing more that we hate than the dismal outlook of the end of December. We associate this time of year with sweatpants, textbooks and too much take out delivered to our choice place of study to handle. While our lack of social life and ever-increasing library life are disheartening to say the least, it is important to look ahead past winter break and see the mounting opportunities that lie in the future. The following include activities and events to look forward to after break ends.

Restaurant WeekOne word: delicious. It is impossible to

be a University of Michigan student and

get through this longed-after week without gaining a solid two pounds or greater. This year, Restaurant Week will take place on campus from January 16th to the 21st. Can we say $12 lunch and $25 dinner? This fabulous week only takes place two times a year, so make sure to take advantage of cheap feasting and an open invitation to explore the city’s newest and most-loved restaurants. This is the only time of year that restaurants fl aunt their best food with a pre-picked menu and serve their fi nest for a signifi cantly cheaper price than usual. Hurry up and make reservations ASAP, as restaurants will book very quickly.

Concert TimeBuy tickets as soon as possible for Linkin

Park’s “A Thousand Suns: World Tour 2011” show. The event will take place on January

25, 2011 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. For all of the intense Linkin Park fans out there, the group will be selling VIP tickets for those that purchase tickets early. This will include a catered tailgate experience before the show, a free T-Shirt and free parking for the event. If you aren’t around to catch the band on the 25th, they will be playing the next day in Chicago. For more information on show times and tickets, visit the band’s website at http://www.linkinpark.com.

Erica Salmirs is a junior studying economics and environmental studies. You may contact her at esalmirs@umich.edu.

ERICA SALMIRSChi Omega

Mark Your Calendars!