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by Christine Parlamis and Sonia Verma, MBA1s
cparlami@umich.edu, vermas@umich.edu
Name:
Age: Over 21 (Johnnie Walker Black Label)
Status: Single
Length of Single Status: About 12 months
Hometown: Findlay, Ohio
Number of Dates in Past Year: 14
Job Trek: Working in Houston with Exxon this summer, financial analyst program
52 Week High: Planning the Ward Connerly speaking engagement which took three months to prepare and was attended by over 600 people
52 Week Low: Can't think of one
Reflections of Past Love Life: It's better to forget the past
Longest Relationship: Three months, and that was TOO LONG
Role Model: Alexander the Great and Ted Kennedy
Favorite TV Show: South Park (Favorite episode: The Thanksgiving one)
Favorite Magazine: Financial Times (Okay, it's a newspaper, but it's a great one)
How others would describe you: Extremely intense, motivated and VERY loyal, very funny with a good sense of humor
Ideal Type of Woman: She's older, tall, black hair (length doesn't matter), athletic, ambitious, loyal, and a former soccer player. LOVE girls who played soccer. Nice legs
Ideal First Date: We go for drinks, we talk about her soccer playing days. You know, the usual.
How the BBA dating scene is different than the MBA dating scene: BBAs do everything better, which is a given of course. BBAs I have noticed are more relaxed. MBAs are uptight about dating. MBAs don't date, they just complain about their lack of dates and then scam on BBAs, especially MBA men who cannot get enough of my Market Maiden column.
Most Embarrassing Moment: I literally have none. I have no shame.
Craziest Thing You've Ever Done: Everything I do, it is done with a certain flair that I alone possess.
Michigan Dating Scene Observations: Nobody has relationships, just hook ups. Which is not bad, depending on your point of view.
Advice to Market Players: Have a certain savoir faire? Played soccer? Tough yet sweet? Can debate the role of government in the life of man according to Hobbes and Locke while drinking Johnnie Walker Black Label? Let's talk.
by Scott Hause and Andrew Vickers, MBA1s
Andrew
Give it up you lazy, out of shape codgers! Do the words diet and exercise mean anything to you? For the love of God, maintain your self-respect. I know you want to believe that those cries "Beached Whale!, Beached Whale!" were directed at someone else, but you're the one that the mob threw back into the ocean.
Ask my venerable opponent where he went for spring break. In confidence, he told me he couldn't find any SPF 64 for his chrome dome so he was afraid to risk the exposure. At least he had the common decency to spare the world the spectacle of watching him pick his Speedo from his pasty, fat, wrinkled butt.
Yes
1. Dinner is the peak of the evening, all plans and discussions throughout the day are focused on this all important topic
2. Showed Animal House clips in the bar, only you and the career bartender in the DJ Booth knew what movie it was
3. Spent more time telling old spring break "back when I was wild" stories than you did working on new material
4. Best part used to be the crazy stories that people brought back, now everyone is too image conscious to relate any of the really fun stuff that happened
5. Have you seen Chris Reid in a Speedo (a.k.a. the marble bag)?
6. Scalp burns! Need I say more?
7. Fellow Spring Breakers keep on calling you Ma'am or Sir.
8. You look like a narc
9. Afraid of getting caught making out with your niece/nephew
10. Reading the Wall Street Journal on the beach is not sexy
Scott
This week's topic is one that hits close to home for those of us coming up on 30. I am sure that if you went on spring break, whether you knew it or not, someone around you had a discussion about how OLD you were and they laughed at how you were still trying to "hold on to being young." But I say, NO! Put these non-believers out of your mind. Say it with me: "We are not too old to stir it up. We are at our peak for this kind of event: young at heart, wise in judgment, and deeper in the pockets that we ever were the first time we were in college."
Some people, like Andrew, are prejudiced against older Americans, but by gawd, don't let them stand in the way of your dreams! Say it with me, loud and proud: "I don't care who sees me pick my Speedo from my pasty, fat, wrinkled butt. I'm gonna pick away!"
No
1. You finally have enough money so you don't have to sleep in (take your pick): a) a cramped, cheap, smelly hotel room with 15 friends, b) in sleeping bags on the lawn chairs by a motel pool c) right on the beach itself. (author's note: not that I have had to do any of those things ... those are just guesses at what a desperate undergrad would do)
2. Finally have friends who are old enough to keep their mouths shut about what happened "down there!"
3. Can finally afford to go somewhere nice
4. Are now a cagey veteran, who is mature enough to duck out before fatal seventh shot that ruins the entire next day
5. Your "Spring Break Mentors" program for vulnerable freshmen is just starting to take off!
6. Live it up while you still can ... I hate to burst your bubble, but do you honestly think after age 40 you'll have any embarrassing stories to tell you friends about the family vacation to Disney World? (e.g. "... so then the missus and me put the magic in that castle!" ... dream on ...)
7. Now if you forget your driver's license, no one cares.
8. Have you seen me in a Speedo? (Don't laugh, ...Chippendale's has called several times....or was that Chip's Big and Tall stores. So many calls, I just can't remember)
9. Tanning hides age spots
10. Because you know now what you wish you knew then.
by Kate Wilson, MA/MBA 2 - Abscure and Amusing Theories
I sense the skeptics already. Yeah, yeah, we have heard all the b-school theories on dating before (we went to the Follies after all) what can you possibly say that we haven't heard before? Well, this theory does not bash dating at business school at all. In fact, I know many happy couples who met here. What is their secret you ask? The trick is in treating dating like hunting and only shooting in the right season.
Essentially, there are peak seasons for dating at B-school which you can compare to hunting season. The first three weeks of each year are the B-school "regular" dating seasons with Orientation serving as opening week. These are the only weeks in business school when you actually have any time and can show off a tan. Unless you meet and "make the kill" (for lack of a better analogy) during the beginning of one of these two years, you will become too busy with work, recruiting, etc. to take the time to get to know someone well. So, basically unless you met the person of your dreams during this time period, you will pretty much just hang out with your friends and complain about why you don't date at business school. If you are an MBA1, don't despair--notice how many MBA2s are dating MBA1s now?
If you are an MBA2, you are thinking that the above advice doesn't help you all that much and are resigned to watching Jerry Springer's guests beat each other up again. However, get off the couch, brush the cheese doodle dust off your shirt and head out the door because you too are currently in a prime, but little known, hunting season which I would like to refer to as "big game" season. This season occurs during your last seven weeks of the second year when the horde of MBA2s fill the bars on Main Street every night, and if the number of people out on a given Wednesday night is anything to judge by, it may be the best "season" of all.
by John Sebastian, MBA1
Keeping with UMBS tradition, members of the B-school community are taking charge in this year's MS Walk for Multiple Sclerosis. The national tenth annual MS Walk will take place in Ann Arbor on Sunday, April 19, in conjunction with Global Citizenship's Spring Swing For Charity, which is also donating its proceeds to MS. The MS Walk will host hundreds of walkers who gather pledges to raise money for the National MS Society to fight Multiple Sclerosis. The event will require over 100 volunteers and, if history is any indication, over half of the volunteers and many of the walkers will be B-school students and administration.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that randomly attacks the nervous system, wearing away the control one has over his or her body. Symptoms range from numbness and balance problems to paralysis and even blindness. MS is as devastating as it is unpredictable. People with MS have no way of knowing how quickly the disease will progress, how severe it will be, or what specific symptoms they will have.
The MS Walk helps fund the National MS Society's efforts to treat and end MS across the country and for over 15,000 people with MS in the Southeastern Michigan area. This year's Walk in Ann Arbor is headed by Natalie Grinblatt, John Sebastian, and Mark Rodrigues. If you are interested in volunteering for the MS Walk and/or participating in this year's event, contact John Sebastian at jsebasti@umich.edu.
by Chris Parlamis, with Silvia Cheskes, Cristina Egge, Alicia Finger, Jeanine Fukuda, Colleen Murphy, Julie Szudarek, Sonia Verma, Ru Wu, Alta Yen, MBA1s
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Acapulco is the place for females to vacation. With a male: female ratio more favorable than even the one held here at the B-School, how is a female to go wrong? To some, Acapulco is just another Mexican town in which to take in the sun. Warm weather, cheap accommodations, and a whole bunch of others on Spring Break. For us, a group of 10, nothing could have been finer than a trip to Acapulco.
Traveling in large numbers has its advantages. On our first night, we decided to venture to Extravaganza, the most popular club in town. After being hurried through the thick crowds at the front door, the club owner personally sat us down and declared "complimentary drinks for the beauti ful Senoras all night long." An hour into the festivities, I soon discovered my vacation cohort, Silvia Cheskes, partying with George Stephanopolous (yes!, the Greek God himself). The nonchalance that Silvia displayed was a result of the warm, relaxing air that Acapulco beholds. The girl never even skipped a beat, even when they ended up on the dance floor together.
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Acapulco has international diplomacy
Acapulco is the favorite vacation spot of choice of Canadians by far. It wasn't until our fifth day into the vacation that we even met an American. But the vacationing Canadians are quite the amiable ones. For example, one young gent was polite enough to swim up to Julie Szudarek (who was lounging in an inner-tube) and inform her that "excuse me ma'am, but I believe you have a crab on your bum." Two other Canadians, were kind enough to carry our heavy shopping bags while walking back to our hotel.
Acapulco has some fine shopping
For those who want to take a break from the sun, the quaint town of Taxco is only a three hour drive away. Jeanine Fukuda, Colleen Murphy, and Alta Yen rented a taxi and made their way to this beautiful hillside town known for its sterling silver, cobblestone streets, and baroque cathedral. After a leisurely lunch overlooking the hillside, they strolled through the market bargaining for silver jewelry and crafts.
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Acapulco is cheap
And I mean cheap. Our group of 10 went out for dinner, ate like there was no tomorrow and still everything cost less than $10 a head. Want a taxi? Three bucks gets you anywhere. A bathing suit? 10 bucks. A soda? 30 cents.
Acapulco has the friendliest locals of any place around
While relaxing on the beach, we were treated to the company of 25 of the sweetest young Mexican gentlemen you could ever imagine. These guys taught Ru Wu and Julie Szudarek how to punch-box. Even after two hours of serenading, their charm never wore off.
If you're looking for a relaxing, warm, beautiful, charming, fun, place to travel, try Acapulco. Yes, okay, so it does have the MTV Beach Party scenes at the pool decks of the hotels (see photo above). But if you look past this fact, you women out there will quickly discover Acapulco to be an ideal vacation spot.
by Chris Parlamis, MBA1
I don't understand all this hype about Zingerman's. I really don't. I mean, what's the big, fat, hairy deal about that place? Ever since I stepped foot on this campus, and even before, everything is "Zingerman's this" and "Zingerman's that." There's even a Zingerman's van which zips around Ann Arbor all the time. Even today, at my MAP project in Cleveland, Ohio, I was asked if I had ever eaten at Zingerman's. Enough already!
At her request, I sent my mother some bread and brownies through Zingerman's mail-order catalogue. After her ranting and raving, I decided I finally needed to try the food. So, last Sunday, I went to Zingerman's deli determined to find out just what everyone was getting so excited about.
After all the hype, I couldn't help but be disappointed. My experience there was less than euphoric. However, I did learn 3 key takeaways from my little escapade to the renowned establishment.
Take-away #1:
Never go to Zingerman's if you're in a rush
The deli was fairly empty on a Sunday night, but despite this fact, it took 10 minutes to try and find someone to take my deli order. I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich on sourdough with asparagus and dried peppers. It took 15 minutes to get my sandwich made after placing the order. That might not seem like a long time at first, but with hardly any other customers in there, I got a little antsy. Plus, I had just finished waiting 10 minutes to place my order. Total time in store for a take-out sandwich: 30 minutes.
Take-away #2:
Be ready to spend $11.41 on a $5.00 sandwich
I spent $11.41, plus tax, on my sandwich. For that much money, I thought, well, at least it would be great. It wasn't. It was average. Nothing more, nothing less. Better than a Y&S Wrap, but far inferior to any NY deli sandwich.
Take-away #3:
There are serious Zingermites out there.
Hang out in that store for a while, and you will quickly observe that Zingerman's supports its own little cult/fan club. The Zingermites like to wander, to chat, to sample the samples, and to 'ooh' and 'ahh' at all the pretty jars on the shelves. God bless them, but I just don't get it.
Zingerman's will be an unavoidable part of my life till at least next Spring. My goal before I graduate is to try and understand the magical mystery behind this place. If anyone has any insight as to just what makes Zingerman's so great, please fill me in.
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Wacky Photo Winners! Sonia Verma, MBA1, would rather read the MSJ than take in the sights of her homeland in India (Above left) Romulo Thoms, MBA1, takes in the knowledge of the MSJ during his recent flight out of Ann Arbor. (Left) Evening MBA, John Culp, enjoys the MSJ at twice the speed of sound from the cockpit of the Concorde, cruising at 55,000 feet somewhere between New York and London, February 27, 1998. (Above) |
hsitner@umich.edu
Today, March 23, Students for Responsible Business is excited to have Geri Larkin speak to the UMBS community. Larkin is currently the President of Strategic Thinking, a consulting firm specializing in strategic planning.
In addition to her considerable experience in the business realm (Larkin was a senior manager with Deloitte & Touche, among other professional accomplishments), Larkin is also an ordained Zen Buddhist minister and has written three books: Stumbling Towards Enlightenment, Woman to Woman: Street Smarts for Woman Entrepreneurs, and Twelve Simple Steps To a Winning Marketing Plan. This author was particularly pleased to note another accomplishment--Larkin has a Zingerman's sandwich named after her!
Larkin is a very engaging and dynamic speaker with a wonderful ability to blend many topics into a coherent and meaningful message. Lewis Garvin, MBA1, has seen Larkin speak in Chicago and says "as a speaker, she interacts with her audience with infectious energy and personable informality. She imparts wisdom through laughter."
Larkin's talk will focus on the topic of "A Right Livelihood," which is also the name of a seminar that she teaches for entrepreneurs. The author of this article has read Stumbling Towards Enlightenment and can personally vouch for her clarity, accessibility, and meaningfulness.
Chuck Hornbrook, MBA3, says, "This event will be an excellent opportunity for the business school community to question their notions about business and to learn more about Zen Buddhism." Questions will be encouraged.
No need to get out those Palm Pilots--just show up tonight, Monday March 23, at 5:00 to B1270. After all, when else will you be able to hear management consulting and Zen Buddhism in the same sentence?
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