University of Michigan

The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (U-M) is a public coeducational university in Michigan, United States. The flagship and oldest campus of the University of Michigan, U-M Ann Arbor is considered to be a Public Ivy, and is consistently ranked as one of the top public academic institutions in the world.{{ref|worldranking}} The University of Michigan's professional graduate schools in the fields of law, medicine, business, engineering, and education are consistently ranked by US News & World Report in the top 10 in the country. The U-M's departments of philosophy, economics, political science, history, and mathematics are also highly respected for their academic reputations and research activities.

Student life

Residential life

The University of Michigan has the sixth largest campus housing system in the U.S. and the third largest family housing operation, capable of housing 12,562 people.{{ref|housing}} The residence halls are organized into three distinct groups: Central Campus, Hill Area (between Central Campus and the University of Michigan Medical Center), and North Campus. Family housing is located on North Campus. The largest residence hall is capable of housing 1277 students while the smallest houses 31 residents. A majority of upperclassmen and graduate students live in off-campus apartments, houses and cooperatives, with the largest concentrations located in the Central Campus and South Campus areas.

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The residential system has a number of "living-learning communities" where academic activities and residential life are combined. These communities focus on areas such as research, medical sciences, community service, and the German language. The Residential College, a division of the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, has its principal instructional space in the East Quadrangle of the residence hall system.

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Groups and activities

There are more than 900 student clubs and organizations at the University.{{ref|groups}} With a history of student activism, some of the most visible groups include those dedicated to causes such as civil rights and labor rights. Though the student body generally leans to the left, there is a sizeable conservative and religious community. There is also a number of fraternities and sororities. Intramural sports is popular, and there are three major campus recreation facilities. The Michigan Union and Michigan League are student unions located on Central Campus while Pierpont Commons is on North Campus. There are also several engineering projects teams, including the University of Michigan Solar Car Team, which placed first in the American Solar Challenge four times.

Related Topics:
Civil rights - Labor rights - Left - Fraternities and sororities - Intramural sports - Michigan Union - American Solar Challenge

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The Michigan Daily is the student-run daily newspaper. Other student publications include the conservative The Michigan Review, the progressive The Michigan Independent, and the humor publications The Michigan Every Three Weekly and Gargoyle. WCBN (88.3 FM) is a free-form radio station while WOLV-TV is a student-run television station that is primarily shown on the University's cable television system.

Related Topics:
Michigan Daily - The Michigan Review - The Michigan Independent - Gargoyle

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Student government

Housed within the Michigan Union, the Michigan Student Assembly (MSA) is the central student government of the University. With representatives from each of the University's colleges and schools, the MSA represents the voice of students and manages student funds on the campus. The Michigan Student Assembly is a member of the statewide Association of Michigan Universities.

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Within each college and school, there are also student governance bodies. These bodies represent the needs of their respective college or school. The two largest colleges at the University of Michigan are the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LS&A) and the College of Engineering. Students in the LS&A are represented by the LS&A Student Government. The University of Michigan Engineering Council (UMEC) manages student government affairs for the College of Engineering.

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Michigan "fight song"

The school "fight song" is The Victors, written by student Louis Elbel in 1898 following a last-minute victory over the University of Chicago that clinched a league championship. The song was declared by John Philip Sousa as "the greatest college fight song ever written." Largely believed to be an original creation, the melody of the fight song is actually the same as the breakup strain from George Rosey's The Spirit of Liberty March, copyrighted earlier in 1898. The alma mater song is The Yellow and Blue. A common rally cry is "Let's Go Blue!" Though primarily used at sporting events, the fight song is also used at other competitive events during a University of Michigan victory. The fight song is also sung during graduation commencement ceremonies.

Related Topics:
1898 - University of Chicago - John Philip Sousa

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