globalblue

MBA1, Section 4

by Debby Foster and AnneMarie Suarez-Davis, MBA1s

fosterd@umich.edu, absuarez@umich.edu

Welcome back from break--and let's say welcome back to this column! Your humble Global Blue reps would like to plead for forgiveness for our inability to keep you informed of your classmates' whereabouts. But that is now in the past, and we have made an extra effort this week to dig up juicy spring break tales.

Although neither of us were part of the Mexico spring break trips, both of us were fortunate enough to have found informants. It turns out that the beaches in Mexico were ripe with plenty of section news. It is our understanding that Erik B. honorably earned the title of "wingman extraordinaire" for his efforts to help out his fellow MBA classmates in their spring break conquests. Any luck wingman? Scott C. earned the "Section 4 Macarena Dancer of the Year" award for all of his efforts in Mexico. Go Scott! We knew those Oktoberfest chugging skills would come in handy again at some point. Many of our section mates got to experience firsthand the previously unknown talent of Berny C. and Scott C. Both of them on guitar, along with section 6's own Rich L. on trumpet, were kind enough to serenade the Mexican spring breakers on a nightly basis. In case you were all thinking that was Berny C's only talent, don't despair he's also known to "table dance," or is it "table surf" to The Doors. Go Berny! Go Berny! Go Berny! To top off the spring break talent, Kristen C. impressed all by hustling an unsuspecting vacationer at the pool table.

So why does that spring break experience seem so far away? It must be MAP! So how are those MAP teams doing? We have the one extreme at NBC, with four guys sharing a cramped NYC corporate apartment (that's one benefit of being a woman at the business school--they only have two to an apartment), and then there's the other extreme at 3M. These MAP folks have been wined and dined and treated to individual suites at the best hotel in town (O.K., it is Minnesota). Life just isn't fair for those of us stuck in Ann Arbor, especially for those on the Chrysler team. So Alan, do you need directions to the gas station?

Good luck to all, and happy MAPPING!

MBA2, Section 1

by Renee Robinson, MBA2

reneerob@umich.edu

The general consensus is that there is a lot of section news but no one wants it to go in Section News Column. Well, except maybe John S., who wouldn't mind if the world knew Butz said his paper was the best ever written for the class. (Wasn't it a group paper?) Hidden information consists of rumors of long time friendships are being dissolved over misunderstandings and forgotten meetings. So, for the sake of Section friendship and light-hearted gossip, let's try to do a few more things as a Section before the end of the year.

First of all, what have Alex L. and John L. done with all of our Section dues? We need at least one more Whirleyball event. Remember, all those random bruises? Alex has been claiming that there is going to be a big all night party. As paying Section mates, we want to know. Secondly, Michael has been working on a return trip to Benton Harbor.

I also want to encourage everyone to sign up for the "Night on Your Town" city dinners. Sally has set up an Excel spreadsheet on the I-drive for people to input their contact information. Please put your information in the computer, even if you're not planning on attending a dinner. Global Blue wants to make sure that all MBA 2s are able to contact each other in the Fall.

I plan on sending out e-mails for Section 1 to vote on several "most likely to ..." awards. Look for that in the upcoming Section News.

MBA2, Section 2

by Tom Glomski and Brad Schorer, MBA2s

tglomski@umich.edu, bschorer@umich.edu

So how is everyone's motivation doing these days? We have seen some slippage in the performance of some of our more anal classmates and know that the MBA 2 second semester motivational illness is upon us. Of course, for others in our section, this level of motivation is about par for the course.

But no matter, your friendly authors have a "solution" for this illness! We would like to propose a way to go out of our second quarter like we came in on the very first quarter of our MBA careers ... drinking! As such, we have established an open happy hour to be held every Thursday at 5 pm at Dominick's until we graduate. This way Ata won't have to spend any section money (which we, of course, don't have anyway) and we can get together socially for one last quarter. Please come out if even if you don't drink (gasp!) or have something due the next day. With the weather holding as it has been, we should have at least 3 more days of sunshine before we graduate which makes for optimal drinking time out on the patio. So bring who you like (spouses, SOS', BBAs that you hit on, professors and faculty) and join us at Dominick's at 5 pm on Thursdays! We have already had two events that were well attended, so take a break from your golf game and drink some beer with your section-mates.

The last thing that we would like to bring up is the barrage of information that you are about to receive over the next few weeks. One of the most important activities that you need to do before graduation is to update your new address information in M-track. If you do not know your direct dial number at work or your home address, just put the company that you will be working for and the city. This way, everyone will know where you will be so we can keep in touch and be efficient networkers (just like Paula Caproni asked us to be). Everyone should use M-track after graduation to keep his or her information current.

Lastly, as a sign of the times, we are in the process of developing a Class of '98 web site. This site will help us keep in touch and will be a way for everyone to post any interesting news such as promotions, moves, marriages, etc. More details to follow as it is developed.

That's all for us. See you Thursday!

MBA2, Section 3

by Stephanie Skolnik, MBA2

sskolnik@umich.edu

Who can believe I am actually writing another Section News Column in my name, after last year's blow-pop fiasco? Well, let the record show that I am sacrificing for the good of the section!

Just this week, I found myself hanging out in the lounge with a bunch of 3ers, and thought to myself, "Hey, these guys are pretty cool. Our section should all get together more." Maybe it's just end of the year nostalgia, but ... Anyway, I discovered, much to my surprise, that we actually do have money, so if anyone has any good ideas, well, tell Sean K. My house, which has hosted two big bashes (post-Follies and HLBSA) recently, as well as two police visits, needs a rest.

As a service, I'd like to share with you all something surprising and important I learned last night. Free wine is not necessarily a good thing. And chugging wine is definitely bad--just ask Steve H., who reportedly got quite a workout carrying Jan H. around. Elizabeth E. and Maggie F. might disagree, though, they got to spend all of Accounting laughing at me the next day.

Anyone have any good spring break stories? Rumor has it that while at a dance bar in Prague, a Global Projects team eyed a very attractive woman in the bar, and there were suspicions that she may have been a "professional." John "Buck" L. was overheard saying to a teammate, "You know, it doesn't cost anything to dance with them." He also apparently had an interesting two-and-a-half-hour walk home from the bar that night. Hmmm.

I spent the week in Tahoe with a few 3ers. While I cannot break the code of silence, we had a blast and managed to not rake up too much gambling debt. What I learned: snowboarding can be dangerous, although you do get to hold hands with the instructors during lessons! Daron R. and I both injured ourselves and had to be consoled with a day of wine tasting (we had yet to learn the above lesson) followed by a surprise get-well party from our housemates. Benoit N. developed a taste for crispy fries. Michael A. can make a mean grilled cheese sandwich. Jen D. is a pool shark. Rohit B. almost fell over a ledge. Elizabeth E. is a crack skier. And Darren S. actually lost his voice, yet he, not surprisingly, led us out on the town repeatedly. More lessons: it is easier

than you might think to break the back window of a Rodeo, and 26 people in a house is too many.

In other news, Larry L. won the NCAA tourney pool--Not! It seems that he forgot too pick a National Champion. Now I know we're all not in complete study mode here, but...isn't that the whole point of filling out those sheets? Speaking of studying, or not, it seems many of our sectionmates are taking very few classes. Patrick H., what do you do during the day?

Many of our sectionmates have also been working hard on the BBSA conference. Tiffanie B. is one of the co-chairs for prospective students day, during which students participate in a case discussion and learn more about student life, financial aid, and global opportunities at Michigan. Other BBSAers hard at work: Eric W. has been responsible for maintaining the website and Rodney C. is one of the co-chairs for the conference social committee. Don't forget about your section social committee, Rodney! Also, Tracey W. will be done with school in London at the end of this month--one whole month before we do...it's a tough life, going abroad.

Well, that's all I have. I propose that we all continue to go out in the fashion we've begun to this semester so that I can have more news to report!

MBA2, Section 5

by Anonymous

Our Global Blue reps have again waved the white flag and passed off the section news duties to this anonymous reporter. Welcome to Section 5 Hard Copy! Let's get started with the most provocative and recent news of the week. Claudia L. and Robin K. hosted a party last week that got a little out of control. I asked at least five sectionmates what happened, and they reportedly all blacked out. It took a non-section 5 classmate to remember anything worthwhile. This source said Claudia was apparently tempted to throw out the disruptive guest who was causing the most damage--knocking over furniture, running around crazy, spilling beer all over--except she realized it was her. And it took 28 years, but Robin finally cast aside her girl-next-door image and rebelled by smoking a cigarette. You've come a long way, baby. People are supposedly just recovering from that night. When's the next party, chicas?

Spring Break was an eventful time for many sectionmates. Several people joined the slew of UMBSers down in Costa Rica, including Sue S., Andrew H., Dan B. and Daniel G. While Dan and Daniel were touring the country, Sue and Andrew lounged with others at Playa Tambor. They had fun jet-skiing, boogie boarding, playing volleyball, and lounging at the swim-up bar. Everybody also had an educational experience observing an active volcano (from the comfort of the hot springs). There were rumors of an after-hours game of strip name-game in the resort's jacuzzi but reports are unconfirmed at press time. Andrew was heard, however, to be the first loser of the evening with help from his Southern friend Jack D.

On other trips, Dave W. donned his swingin' leisure suit and walked away with a "Best Legs" award in Puerta Vallarta; Glenn G., Tony C. and Kurt C. went skinny-dipping together in the ocean in North Carolina and rallied an entire bar full of sailors in a drunken rendition of "American Pie"; Shawn C., Juan B. and Bill G. enjoyed the hedonistic atmosphere in Martinique by "studying the Torah with a Rabbi" (OK, Shawn--wink, wink, I gotcha); Rick P. went to Brazil, Eamon M. jetted to San Francisco and Anthony P. shopped for furniture in Washington D.C.

The next weekend was the Section 5 Vegas trip attended by Bart B., Tige S., Jeff D. and his fiancé, Bill G., Stephanie S. and Andrew H. They came, they saw, they gambled. And especially in the case of Andrew H., they buffeted. Guys, was the first week of classes so bad you had to get away AGAIN? The sports books and casinos were packed, but somebody had to make some money. That somebody was the owner of the MGM Grand because Section 5ers seemed to be losing their shirts. They learned several key lessons over the course of the weekend: 1) you don't know basketball as well as you think; 2) splitting a pair of fours is generally not a good idea; 3) while gambling and prostitution are legal in Vegas, six people in a taxi is a big no-no; 4) if you wake up at 2 pm and go straight to the buffet, you can have breakfast, lunch and dinner in one sitting; and 5) the Big Shot ride at the Stratosphere is not for those who fear heights. The Michigan loss was disheartening but they persevered and radically adjusted their sleep schedules. The red-eye flight back was another beauty.

Finally, some random questions for our sectionmates. Kurt C.: do you have to bring your pin-up girl to class with you? Tim M.: what's up with the goatee, dude? Sure it looks good, but are you losing your competitive edge with the 6Gs salary in your hip pocket? Kathy B.: do you have homework? Or are you only fine-tuning your lengthy wedding to-do list at this point? Sue S.: yeah, you've been in Fortune but when's the big debut in Rolling Stone?

P.S. We're trying to get a couple social events planned in the next couple weeks and will let you know the details soon. The Class of 1998 Gift drive is starting next week so be on the lookout for a brochure in your mail folder and a friendly call from one of your sectionmates. Section 5 needs to help keep Michigan ahead in innovation and excellence.

MBA 2, Section 6

by Ruby Chang and Sarah Kelly, MBA2s

rchang@umich.edu, sarkelly@umich.edu

The most recent Section 6 happenings seemed to have revolved around the old childhood tune, "[Fill in the blank] and [Fill in the blank], sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a kid in a baby carriage."

KISSING--OK, so we don't have any dirt on anyone kissing anyone else, whether in a tree or not. However, that doesn't mean that there aren't steamy windows somewhere in Ann Arbor. It's probably more an indication that no one has told us anything since we've begun writing this column.

LOVE--Despite Roberto B.'s request for us to do a "Who's Sleeping with Whom" column, we'll stay out of the mud and keep this clean. You'll just have to do your own investigation. We do see a potential for this Section News Column line extension since demand for smut is so high. Good luck with your research, Roberto B.

MARRIAGE--A member of our very own section was married over Spring Break in a tropical locale. We know that your brain is spinning wildly, scanning its memory bank. Who's got a tan and who doesn't? Is it Michael D.? Roger M.? Benzi R.? Chopo G.? We'll give you a hint. No, it wasn't any of the crew who went to Costa Rica or Mexico. By now, you've narrowed down the list of possibilities and are wondering about the circumstances. Did a Sixer have too much to drink and inadvertently stroll down the aisle? Not quite. We'd like to wish Tom He. congratulations on his romantic wedding in Hawaii! That'll teach you all to jump to conclusions!

BABIES--Hey, Dennis G.! Where's the baby? Baby G. was supposed to have arrived on March 6 but has yet to show any desire to join the extended MBA family (and personally, we don't blame him or her). When Baby G. will actually come into the world is unknown. What we do know is that the child will definitely take after Dad (who sets the precedent by not showing up for any classes on time). Like father, like baby. We just hope that the baby doesn't come while partners-in-crime Amy M., John H. and Greg S. are shirking their duties and living it up in Las Vegas. Until it's time, we're all anxiously awaiting and wish you and Lara good luck.

We've got news on another kiddy on the way, Baby Arlington. No, that's not a beer belly. In case you haven't bumped into Aimee A. recently or heard yet, she's pregnant and due right after graduation. We know that she will make a great mom. Aimee A. showed her great maternal instincts during last Wednesday's "Stucchi's and South Park" get-together. She joined us for frozen yogurt but passed on South Park, that vulgar hit cartoon. She feared what would happen when her baby came into the world and was slapped on the bottom. Instead of letting out a hearty cry, the bambino would yell out to the doctor, "Hey *&%^@#, what the #$@!$ do you think you're doing? I'll sue your @%$!!" Granted, that would not be a pretty sight. Instead, she joined her Leadership, Vision and Change (a.k.a. the "Movie Class") group and watched that night's assigned homework on video, Howard Stern's Private Parts.

Don't forget to drop $45 in our mailfolders for the section dinner on Sunday, March 29! Coming attractions: Sarah K. brings you all the Ann Arbor gossip that people will actually tell her or will accidentally let slip while in a weakened, drunken state. Ruby C. will provide excerpts from her Las Vegas travel journal. It's sure to be filled with wonderful remembrances of having stayed at the craps table until 4 am, seeing entire signing bonuses disappear from just one lost hand of blackjack and yes, blowing on someone's dice.