Our list of the 38 things every University student should do before they graduate.

Take a final exam without studying

Think of it as more of a challenge to your intellect. How well can you decipher those multiple choice questions without knowing an ounce of the material? What about bullshitting those essay questions? Who knows — you might even do better.

Drink a Sharkbowl at Rick’s ... by yourself

But make sure you have at least one very good friend who is willing to hold your hair back as you vomit blue-green bile everywhere and take you home in a cab — long before “Sweet Caroline” comes on — as you drunkenly swear you’ll never drink again.

Jump up and down with the Maize Rage

Your feet will ache. And you will most definitely have trouble getting up in the morning. But nothing beats jumping up and down with hundreds of other maize-clad students, praying anyone you know watching the game on television won’t recognize you.

Hippie Hash at Fleetwood Diner

Fleetwood Diner is one of those spots that is unique and endearing enough to be a definitive part of the Ann Arbor experience.

Unfortunately, it falls outside a lot of students’ radars because many believe Ann Arbor is contained between South University and State Street. But I promise, a Fleetwood experience is worth the trek past Main Street.
First, Fleetwood is the only 24-hour restaurant in town. And if that doesn’t immediately interest you, then maybe Fleetwood just isn’t your kind of place.

“Normal” people don’t go to Fleetwood when it’s light out — at least, I never have. Being the only place open at ridiculous hours makes Fleetwood a kind of late-night Mecca.

Food wise, expect classic greasy Americana diner fare — burgers, Reubens, omelettes, a pot of coffee always on. But really, the best part about Fleetwood is its specialties.

Namely Hippie Hash: greasy hash browns topped with broccoli, tomatoes, feta cheese and whatever else you want. It’s sort of like if Bob Evans moved to Kerrytown and started getting down with his bad, green self. I can promise it’s the tastiest thing you will ever eat at a diner.

But really, the thing you’ll never forget about Fleetwood is the environment. The walls are covered in stickers, postcards and graffiti, and I can’t imagine any of the furnishing or equipment inside has changed much in the last couple decades. There’s even an old boombox the staff keeps going with everything from Daft Punk to Metallica.
There’s usually someone chain smoking and reading at the counter, a guy you are vaguely concerned might start talking to you at any moment and some grad students who have been doing whatever it is they do all night refueling over plates of food.

Sometimes things get weird — I’ve seen people get thrown out for stealing bread from the kitchen — and sometimes there is a guy that just sits and talks to himself. But it’s all part of the atmosphere.

My most memorable experience at Fleetwood happened with a friend at 4 a.m. after we had finished some homework. A scraggly looking kid approached us and asked if we had any change for the bus — he had to get back to East Lansing for class in a few hours.

We were bored, so we gave him a ride instead of change. During the 45-minute drive, we talked about everything from differing religious views on reincarnation to how Facebook is fundamentally changing the way our generation interacts with one another.

If I had to guess, this is pretty tame as far as Fleetwood encounters go, though.

Fleetwood is not just another restaurant. You’ll see and eat things there you just won’t find at other places. Yes, it’s dirty, and yes, the first word a lot of people use to describe it is “gross.”

But there’s a reason I keep going back and why I never want it to change. Think of it as an experience that happens to come with delicious food, not as a restaurant.

— Clif Reeder

Spend way too much on a meal at Zingerman’s and enjoy every bite

This is the easiest task on the list. You really just need to eat at Zingerman’s and you’ll be able to check it off. Sandwich, chips and a drink will set you back at least $20. Just throw in a dessert and you’re there.

Get in trouble with the Department of Public Safety

Sure, no one actually enjoys that ominous knock on the door of your dorm room when you’re doing something illegal on the other side, but it sure makes for a great story a few years later when your probationary period is officially over and you’ve forgiven DPS. And, if you’re really lucky, you might even make it into a Crime Note.