Howdy! I’m Benjamin, this is my first time writing for The Lode. I used to think writing for a newspaper would have been crazy, but I have written a couple of sports articles and have seemed to enjoy it. I found myself writing for The Lode after joining the Intro to Journalism class, not knowing what I was getting into. I am glad I did, because writing these articles has pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me learn a few things about myself. 

On paper, I am a fifth year construction management major. I played football for Tech for four years as a defensive lineman. Go Huskies! In my spare time, if I am not helping baby ducks cross the road, or saving kittens down from a tree, you can find me enjoying the outdoors hunting and fishing, or playing some pickup basketball. 

The post Staff Highlight – Benjamin Marion first appeared on The Lode.

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The Keweenaw has a very rich history involving the indigenous communities that reside within the area. In fact, the name “Keweenaw” is an Ojibway word meaning “the crossing place” or “land crossing between two bodies of water”. Indigenous Peoples’ Day took place Monday Oct. 14, so to celebrate some of this rich culture, the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Campaign is hosting multiple events throughout the week. 

On Monday, Oct. 14 at noon, the Woodland Singers gathered at the Husky Statue to sing about honoring the land, place, and people. Later in the day, there was a facilitated dialogue in Fisher Hall 138 covering Indigenous American identity in contemporary media. 

Some upcoming events include a short film screening on Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Fisher Hall 138. Here they will be showing “Waadookodaading” and “This Is Who I Am”, featuring special guests Katy Bresette, a member of the Red Cliff Band of Ojibwe, and Kalvin Hartwig, a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa. On Wednesday, Oct. 16, there will be an Anishinaabemowin Distance Learning Session with Dr. Margaret Noodin from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Noblet 144 as well as a screening of “Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner” (2001) in Fisher Hall 138 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

With Michigan Tech’s campus resting on Indigenous grounds, it is important to be aware of the communities surrounding us. For more information, you can visit the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Campaign website at indigenouspeoplesdayblog.wordpress.com/whats-next/.

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As the crisp autumn air settles into Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the forests transform into vibrant landscapes of reds, oranges, and yellows, making the Keweenaw Peninsula an exceptional place to experience the beauty of the fall. Whether you’re into hiking or would just like to drive around to find the breathtaking views, the Keweenaw has plenty to offer for everyone’s style.

Brockway Mountain Drive is often considered the crown jewel for fall color enthusiasts and sight seekers alike. This scenic 8.8 mile road leads to the summit of Brockway Mountain, which offers panoramic views of Lake Superior and the colorful foliage below. Along the road, there are places to stop, stretch your legs, and enjoy more views on foot. When talking with Owen Jarvela, a Tech student out enjoying the fall colors, he said Brockway is a “must-see” for anyone in the area this time of year. Brockway Mountain Drive is located about an hour north of Michigan Tech’s campus just south of Copper Harbor. 

For hikers, Mount Baldy offers a six-mile loop trail to the summit, with gorgeous views of the colorful forest along with views of Lake Baldy and Lake Superior. The trailhead is located on Eagle Harbor Cutoff Road. Snacks and plenty of hydration are recommended, as the hike is a steady upward climb for its entirety. 

The local ski hills near Michigan Tech also offer an excellent place to take in the changing seasons. While Mont Ripley’s Fall Color Chairlift Tours just wrapped up this past weekend, it is still possible to take a short one-mile hike to the top to check out the views. When speaking to Chris Maxson, the Manager of Health and Safety at Michigan Tech and Mont Ripley, he said it’s not even just all about the colors, but a gorgeous view overlooking Michigan Tech, the bridge, and the Huron Mountains. 

Mount Bohemia also offers opportunities to check out the fall views. They have extended their chairlift tours through the weekend of Oct. 19-20, with tickets available to purchase online only. Alternatively, the Cliff View Trail gives sightseers an opportunity to hike around Mount Bohemia, bringing them to numerous lookout points to take advantage of the spectacular colors.

The post Places to view Fall colors in the Keweenaw first appeared on The Lode.

On Dec. 30, Kenny Bragg sadly passed away along with his parents and sister when their house exploded in Whitmore Lake, Michigan. Kenny was an aspiring archeologist and valued member of the Pep Band and Husky family. He was set to graduate this year. 

Kenny’s parents Don and Hope Bragg both graduated from Tech with degrees in forestry. They are survived by their son Stephen.

All students are invited to a candlelight vigil hosted by the Huskies Pep Band on Wednesday the 10th to mourn the loss of Kenny. Kenny’s grandfather and brother survived the blast, but were severely injured. The Bragg family is asking for donations to help pay for their recovery. Students can donate at gofundme.com/f/assist-stephens-recovery and gofundme.com/f/richard-pruden-medical-expenses. If you need assistance, students are encouraged to seek help at the Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being or by emailing counseling@mtu.edu.

As students return for the spring semester, they may notice some changes to campus. Michigan Tech has been undergoing many construction projects of varying scales over the past few semesters. The latest being the Alumni Way Gateway, completed late December, 2023. Here are a few construction projects students should be aware of:

One of the most impactful projects continuing from 2023 is construction of the H-STEM building in the middle of campus. As students left for winter break, the outer sidewalk was getting its final touches while internal workers were installing ceilings, finishing floors, and attaching doors. Michigan Tech gave a status update on their construction webpage, stating, “installation of furniture, testing of the HVAC and electrical systems, and installation of audio visual systems will all take place in January. Building occupancy will begin in February.” When completed, the H-STEM building will house research space for chemistry, biology, biomedical engineering, and kinesiology departments.

Students’ first sight when returning to campus may have been the new dorm being constructed on the east side of campus. The dorm is slated to be finished in the 2025 fall season and will house 516 students. This new building differs from current housing options on campus with updated student accommodation standards, including but not limited to one bathroom per living unit, building wide air conditioning, a built-in convenience store, and music studio. 

Passed in October of 2022, the “Campus Master Plan” details various major upcoming construction projects planned by the University. While no new major building plans have been set in motion yet, it is important to stay informed on the current and future campus developments. Students can find the “Campus Master Plan” at mtu.edu/campus-master-plan/. Students can also see a list of pending construction bids at mtu.edu/facilities/planning-construction/projects/bid/.

Once the HSTEM building is completed, what building or facility do you think Michigan Tech should build next?

“More parking maybe. Something to do with more parking – or another environmental science building….”

— Leah Komarzac First-Year, Environmental Engineering Student

“I honestly don’t know. Just because there’s a lot of buildings already on campus and I still haven’t been in all of them.”

— Steven Venerable, First-Year Electrical Engineering Student

“I think they were talking about this but the residence hall down [by the Rosza] so then they can hold more students in the school.”

— Kelsey Jensen Second-Year Biomedical Engineering Student

One year after Russian invasion; ‘Yoopers for Ukraine’ hosts candle vigil

On Feb. 24, at noon, Upper Peninsula residents gathered around the husky statue at the center of the MTU campus to pay their respects to the victims of the Russia-Ukraine war. The vigil was hosted by the organization Yoopers for Ukraine, marking one year of conflict in the region.

Yoopers for Ukraine is a community group founded a year ago on the cusp of the war between Russia and Ukraine when they held a walk across the Houghton lift bridge. One year later on Friday, they continued to show their support with a candle vigil in the heart of campus consisting of a five-minute moment of silence for the Ukrainians lost in the conflict. 

One of the event attendees was Nadija Packauskas, Yoopers for Ukraine Co-Founder, along with her 92-year-old father Vytautas. “It’s bittersweet this time for us because last year today we were all so full of sorrow,” said Nadija Packauskas “We were in Marquette celebrating Ukrainian Christmas….  – One of our Ukrainian refugees who left her home had tears coming down her face”. 

The event comes just as US President Joe Biden paid a surprise visit to Ukraine on the 20th. “This last week – [Biden in Ukraine] has allowed us – to have that solidarity and support sent to Ukraine,” says Packauskas.

The Lode spoke with Nazar Gora, a Ukrainian student at Michigan Tech. He has been in the United States since 2018 and has had to put visiting his family in Ukraine on hold because of the war. “We got together to commemorate all [the] people who lost their lives during this [past] year” he explains “But the war is still going on, and people are dying each day.”

“We are blessed in the fact that strong Ukrainian soldiers and strong Ukrainian people have resisted for an entire year and held onto freedom and fought for everyone. – It shows the world what true courage is” said Packauskas. Additionally, she describes the makeup of the organization as “Bipartisan – all together holding hands for Ukraine.”

In addition to holding local events, the group is also active on a national level. In September of 2022, the group traveled to Washington D.C., and met with several Michigan representatives to advocate for Ukrainian support.

Today, Yoopers for Ukraine continues to support Ukraine through weekly Sunday walks as well as other community events and activities. More information on Yoopers for Ukraine can be found on their Facebook page www.facebook.com/groups/yoopers.for.ukraine/ or by emailing them at yoopersforukraine@gmail.com.

Even during the cold winters of Houghton, Huskies at Michigan Tech enjoy staying athletically active. The Spring semester holds various wintery sports for students to participate and have fun in. This week, the Lode asked students what their favorite winter sports are.

“Hockey. It’s really fast-paced and incorporates different aspects from different sports that I like.”

—Izzy House, 4th-year Computer Science

“My favorite winter sport is downhill skiing – it’s just a good time to get outside and enjoy nature.”
— Liam Johnson, 4th year Civil Engineering

“Definitely snowboarding. I just think it’s fun. I’m self-taught and it’s cooler looking than skiing.
— Max Tartamella, 3rd year Mining Engineering

Michigan Tech students held a rally Wednesday, Nov. 30, in support of freedom and gender equality in Iran. The rally was created to convey a message of solidarity and support for the protestors in Iran who have risked their lives while fighting for equal rights.

It was a part of an international event called Campus Rallies for Iran, which was started by The Iranian Scholars for Liberty. The event involved more than 200 universities across the globe, each having their own march on Wednesday supporting the cause.

Kmanad, a rally attendee, said that “[The Universities] are doing this at the same time to promote awareness” as well as helping people “understand that this is so important for Iran because it has been going on for forty-seven years now.”

The event was originally planned as a march across the school grounds, going from the  Husky Statue in the center of campus to the Rozsa Center. However, freezing temperatures along with heavy wind and snowfall forced the Iranian Community at Michigan Tech to change their plans.

Despite the weather, the rally continued, only on a shorter path from the Husky Statue to the Memorial Union Building (MUB). In the MUB commons, a representative of the Iranian Community at Michigan Tech, K.K., gave a statement of support for the protesters in Iran. 

“More than 400 people, including 63 children have been killed and more than 18,000 people have been arrested since the protests began.” they said “As we are releasing this statement many students and academics are being assaulted, detained, and held in unknown locations.”

The rally was filled with more than twenty Iranian men and women, each showing their support for the cause.

When asked what the protests in Iran meant to them, one of these students, Soufia, told The Lode: “I think it’s a big way for women in Iran to find a way to get their rights.”

The rally concluded with members of the Iranian Community at MTU making hand gestures of themselves cutting their own hair, a recent symbol of Iranian protests for women’s rights.

In their statement, K.K. gives a call to the rally’s ultimate goal: “We believe that the unity of the academy voice and leveraging our platform to promote democratic values will influence the world’s interactions with Iran and will advance the world toward peace and equality.”