Welcome Back! …….……..….……….....1

Tips for Staying Safe ....…..……..….....2

Maintaining the Peace in the House ..............................................2

Parking in Ann Arbor ..…………..........3

The HAIL Program …….……..……..……3

Get Your Security Deposit Back ......4

Beyond the Dining Hall …..………….…4

Resources for Campus Involvement …………………………………5

Know Before You Go …………………....5

Welcome Back! Congratulations on making it through the first few weeks of classes! We hope that aside from practicing your “Gangnam Style” dance moves, you’re all fully settled into your new houses and apartments. Last year, the University of Michigan launched Beyond the Diag (BTD), a new program for students living in off-campus areas. The primary focus of Beyond the Diag is to establish a network of off-campus student neighborhoods within the Ann Arbor area. BTD aims to increase the sense of community among residents within these neighborhoods by hosting a variety of social events throughout the year. In this second year of the program, we have nine Neighborhood Ambassadors (NAs) in seven different neighborhoods. NAs provide resources, safety advice, and opportunities to off-campus students and serve as liaisons between the campus, Ann Arbor community, and student residents. Make sure to check out the map located on the last page to see what neighborhood you live in, and email beyondthediag@umich.edu with any questions! Go Blue! Stephanie Karaa & Matt Lonnerstater Beyond the Diag Program Assistants

Beyond the Diag

SEPTEMBER 2012

What’s Inside:

Tips for Staying Safe Ann Arbor evenings offer many opportunities for students, but it’s important to stay safe whether you are on or off campus. Here are a few simple, yet vital tips from the U-M Department of Public Safety:

• If you see a suspicious person, do not approach – call the police immediately. • Always keep your doors locked, even while at home. • Look assertive and be aware of your surroundings. • Walk with a trusted friend or co-worker when possible. • Be aware that your risk increases in secluded and Isolated areas. • Trust your intuition. If a particular situation makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, choose an alternative. • Have your keys in hand before you reach your vehicle or residence. • If you feel threatened on campus, look for a blue light emergency phone or call 9-1-1 from any

phone (no coins need for 9-1-1 calls).

If you feel unsafe walking home alone between 10 PM and 7 AM, request a free ride from SafeRide at (734) 647-8000. You may use the service once per evening and must present a valid U-M ID.

NightRide – a $5 shared taxi service within Ann Arbor – is also available from 11 PM to 6 AM Monday-Friday and 7 PM to 7:30 AM Saturday and Sunday. To request a ride, call SafeRide at (734) 647-8000 and select Option Three.

For additional ride services, review Late Night Transportation Options.

Maintaining the Peace in the House You like your roommates, but everyone has their problems now and then… Here are a few guidelines to help avoid conflict in your off-campus house or apartment: • Respect everyone’s lifestyle. Be aware of your roommates’ daily schedules and habits. • Keep the noise down if your roommates are studying or sleeping. • Lay out ground rules early in the year. Set a cleaning schedule and come to a consensus about how

joint costs (food, utilities, general household items, etc) will be divided. • Talk to everyone in your house before you host a party and clean up all party-related messes

immediately after the event. • Communicate – discuss problems early on to avoid bigger issues.

For help resolving a conflict, contact the following resources (free for all U-M students)

Student Legal Services: 734.763.9920 Office of Student Conflict Resolution: 734.936.6308

Parking in Ann Arbor

Finding a parking spot near campus can be very difficult. Whether you need parking for the year or just for a night out on Main Street, check out these helpful tips:

• If you are looking for a place to park your car for the semester, visit the parking listing on the U-M Off-Campus Housing Website. This is also a great place to list any available spots you have and

make some extra money. • Have a friend visiting for the weekend? Ask your neighbors or friends if they have any spots open at their house. • Consider buying a U-M Student Parking Permit if you want access to daily parking near campus. Junior, senior, and graduate students can choose to purchase orange or yellow permits. • Downtown parking options are limited, so try to walk if you can. If you need to drive, there are parking meters on most roads for $1.50/hr. The Maynard and the South Forest parking structures are also close to campus and offer rates at $1.20/hr.

Remember, parking structures and meters are free on Sundays and all major holidays! For more information consult The Ann Arbor Student Living Section.

Contributed by Monica Cerrezuela

Get Your Security Deposit Back

As you settle in to your new house or apartment, take these quick steps to ensure you get your entire deposit back at the end of the year.

• The Inventory Checklist: Your landlord is required to provide you with two copies of an Inventory Checklist. This checklist allows you to record the condition of things in your new residence. Fill it out thoroughly and return it! You don’t want to be charged for things that were already broken.

• Take Pictures: Take photographs of the entire house. Pay special attention to damaged walls, furniture, etc. Store these photos in a secure time-stamped service (such as email or Google Drive).

• Keep a Record: Keep a record of all correspondence with your landlord, especially those concerning repairs and maintenance. • Forwarding Address: At the end of the year, provide your landlord with a forwarding address within 4 days of move out to receive the security deposit check and an itemized list of damages. • Contact Student Legal Services (free for all U-M students) if you need more help.

Contributed by Alex Blaty

Beyond the Dining Hall

Whether you are a master chef or prefer eating out to save time, here are some stores and restaurants that should cover your needs this year.

Kroger: Prices are low (especially if you have a Kroger membership card, which you can request for free at any store) and be competitive with discount competitors, such as Meijer & Wal-Mart.

Meijer: If you need fresh produce, school supplies, household items, or electronics, Meijer has relatively many options. You also have the option of buying in bulk to help reduce costs.

Costco: If, like me, you live in a house with 6+ people, you need lots of food. Costco opened a new Ann Arbor store at State and Ellsworth and offers everything in bulk with food samples too! Membership is required. If you don’t know someone who is a member, consider splitting the annual $55 membership between everyone in your house.

Organic Food Stores: If you’re looking for local or organic food, you should try Whole Foods (locations on Washtenaw and Eisenhower), and Kerrytown’s Farmers Market and Sparrow Market.

If you’re not into cooking, search Ann Arbor Restaurants for places to dine out.

Contributed by Francesco Balducci

Resources for Campus Involvement As U-M students, we have the opportunity to develop ourselves inside and outside the classroom. Whether you are pursuing old interests or discovering new ones, Michigan has over 1,400 student organizations to choose from. Here are my top three recommendations to find what fits you:

1. Maize Pages This is the perfect online source to narrow down your search for extracurricular activities. The

website showcases U-M’s student organizations by category. There’s a tab for activism, service learning, creative & performance arts, and many more

2. Trotter Multicultural Center/MESA This Student Affairs office hosts a lot of information about multicultural student organizations on

campus. These organizations are great for students looking to promote justice, advocate for peace, and empower the student population in an inclusive manner.

3. Central Student Government (CSG) For those that want to be involved but are not college representatives, committees offer leadership within CSG, such as Voice Your Vote, Environmental Issues, North Campus Affairs, etc. Students may also approach their college representatives for resources. Student leaders are currently needed for the Student Safety Commission!

Contributed by Phaedra Wainaina

Know Before You Go UHS made big changes over the summer that affect how you can use the clinic. These 3 tips can help: 1) Schedule an appointment. Appointments are now required for most medical services at UHS. If you walk in without an appointment, you will generally be scheduled and asked to return at that time. 2) If you have an urgent problem, you’ve got options.

Weekdays, & Saturday 9am-noon: UHS medical staff can evaluate your need and determine whether you can be scheduled or seen same-day.

Nights & weekends: You may wish to call for nurse advice about self-care or seeking care – it’s free and may save you a trip to UHS or the ER. Or you may wish to go to an urgent care facility or hospital emergency room (fees will be your responsibility). 3) Learn how: Get the Guide to Health Care and put it on your fridge

Add UHS numbers to your contacts: 734-764-8320 (Monday-Fri day for scheduling and nurse advice) 866-204-1082 (nights and weekends for nurse advice for urgent problems) Contributed by Carol Tucker, UHS

For more safety tips and information about Beyond the Diag, visit http://offcampus.umich.edu

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Still have questions? E-mail us at beyondthediag@umich.edu