The Spring 2022 commencement will take place on April 30 at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena at 10:30 a.m and lasts roughly 2.5 hours. The Michigan Tech commencement ceremony is a time for celebrating and acknowledging graduating Huskies. Each graduating senior has an important role to play on this day, including student commencement speaker Brooke Tienhaara, who was recently announced by the Dean of Students Dr. Wallace Southerland III. She was chosen as student commencement speaker by the Student Affairs committee after her essay on how she reclaimed her Husky spirit.

Tienhaara wrote her essay about how a gap year has helped her grow as a person and a MTU student. She made it clear that, “you don’t have to be a perfect student to be the commencement speaker; I just had a story I wanted to share.” Although she couldn’t go into much detail of what her speech will entail, she has been meeting with Dr. Southerland to ensure the most meaningful outcome for graduating students. She gave a short snippet of her main message: “just keep on chugging.” This goes for every undergraduate student either graduating or staying at Michigan Tech. “If something doesn’t work the first time, try again. If it doesn’t work the second time, try something new. Don’t stop trying.” 

To hear Brooke’s full speech and celebrate the spring class of 2022, tune in to the livestream mtu.edu/commencement/venue/watch, as in-person tickets are reserved for graduating Huskies’ family and friends. 

The Future Female Biologists Mentorship Program (FFBMP) is a project that fourth-year student, Jenna Disser, has created and will be implementing in the upcoming fall semester (2022). As a Medical Laboratory Science major herself, she draws her inspiration from similar programs. “I have seen so many incredible programs for young girls wanting to go into computer science or engineering, that it inspired me to provide a similar program for those interested in biological sciences.” 

The FFBMP is a program where local, high school female-identifying students will be paired up with a female student whose major is one of the following: Biological Sciences, Ecology and Evolution Biology, Human Biology, Medical Laboratory Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, or Bioinformatics. 

Disser then goes on to explain what the program will entail: “The pair will decide on a topic, and together work on a semester-long poster project that will be presented at a mock symposium at the end of the 14 weeks. The poster will cover categories such as: the history of the chosen topic, the impact or issue of the topic, what research is currently being done on the topic, what the future of the topic looks like, etc. I hope to be able to offer the program twice over the course of the school year. This would give the student the opportunity to present at one or both of the symposiums, and provide flexibility for the mentor.” 

As the program is still in the developmental stage, not everything is set in stone, but Disser hopes the pairs will meet every other week, for at least an hour. Mentors will be required to “instruct the student how to dive deeper into their topic, while providing thoughtful, provoking questions for the student to ponder. Resources regarding the chosen topic will be provided and/or located together. The mentor will also take the students through the steps of how to construct a research poster.” 

This program is important for young females, as it will be an environment where they can develop their inner confidence and trust within themselves. By pairing up with an older female role model, it provides a judgment free zone where they are open to ask questions, be creative, and explore topics that interest them that they may not be able to during normal school hours. 

If you are interested in being a volunteer mentor for this startup program, contact Jenna Disser jrdisser@mtu.edu. Information on how to be the best mentor for your student, timelines, and expectations of you will all be conveyed closer to the start of the semester. 

On March 2, the University Senate invited the Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Wayne Gersie, to give a presentation regarding “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and a Sense of Belonging at Michigan Tech.” He highlighted the Office of Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion (OVPDI) missions “among the many facets of diversity, equity, and inclusion, none are quite as important as a sense of belonging. Belonging means you’re an integral part of a community where you can explore and grow with others who will support you.” Dr. Gersie encouraged Senate members to change the demographics of MTU at a departmental level. He told the members that changes have to happen in all aspects of Michigan Tech’s campus and it shouldn’t just fall on OVPDI or the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, although they are the ultimate resource, the way to create a sense of belonging in our community is when each department creates a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging plan.

  Questions were asked about the OVPDI plans for more accessibility on campus. Gersie recognized the gap they have now with this problem and told faculty (and students) to reach out if they had any ideas on how to make campus more accessible. Later in the meeting in the “President’s Report,” Nathan Ford of Graduate Student Government (GSG) spoke of GSG’s, new initiative. GSG, the University Senate and other related organizations are tackling this problem by creating a committee to combat accessibility issues. This committee is filled with graduate students, undergraduates, and staff members. They are currently trying to fill more faculty positions on this committee. Once the committee is finalized, they will be sending a survey to campus to see areas where campus can make logical improvements. 

The Senate passed multiple proposals: including: 21.22 to add a B.S. in Business Analytics, Proposal 22.22 to add a Pre-Pharmacy concentration in the B.A. Chemistry degree program, 28.22 to shelf the degree M.S. in Applied Science Education, 29.22 the establishment of a new graduate certificate in Public Policy, and 32.22 approved amendments to Senate Procedure 108.1.1. 

The University Senate closed the meeting’s mentioning the support of Ukraine and Ukrainian students by attending the demonstrations on Thursday and Friday at noon by the Husky Statue. They will meet again on March 23 at 5 p.m.

All events are free unless otherwise noted

Wednesday, Feb. 9

Ice Skating

All Day — Kestner Park, Houghton

Winter Carnival: All-Nighter Competition Begins!

4 p.m. — MTU Campus

Winter Carnival Recess Begins

10 p.m. — MTU Campus

Don’t Plant That, Plant This: A Guide to Choosing Better Garden Plants and Avoiding Troublemakers

6 p.m. — Virtual Event

Open Rock Climbing

6 – 8 p.m. — SDC Multipurpose Room

Free to SDC members & MTU students; SDC day pass – $10

All-Nighter Pancakes by Guardians of the North & Air Force ROTC

8 p.m. — Fisher Hall

Live Band Karaoke by MUB Board

8 p.m. — MUB Commons

Thursday, Feb. 10 

Ice Skating

All Day — Kestner Park, Houghton

All-Nighter Competition Ends

9 a.m. — MTU Campus

Book Signing by J. Walitalo

12 p.m. — Atrium, Forestry Building

SnoBall Crash Course by Swing Club

2 – 5 p.m. —  DHH Ballroom

Trivia by MTU Quiz Bowl

2 – 3:30 p.m. —  Fisher 138 

SDH Open House

4 – 7 p.m. —   Sustainability Demonstration House

BigFoot Glowshoe

6 – 9 p.m. —  Michigan Tech Trails

Winter Carnival: Stage Revue Show

7 p.m. —  Rozsa Center

Friday, Feb. 11

Tug-o-War

10 a.m. — Recreational Sports Fields

Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding

12:30 p.m. — Mont Ripley

Cross Country Skiing

1 – 3 p.m. — Recreational Sports Fields

Meet the College of Engineering Dean

1 – 4 p.m. — College of Engineering Dean’s Office 

Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides

1 – 6 p.m. — Outside of Walker

Ice Mass

5:30, 9 p.m. — St. Albert the Great

Film Board – The Greatest Showman

Showtimes: 5:30, 8:30, 11:30 p.m. — Fisher 135

Hockey – Bowling Green vs. Michigan Tech

7:07 p.m. —  John MacInnes Student Ice Arena

MTU students get in free, $20 Adult $10 Youth

Winter Carnival Comedian – Drew Lynch

9 – 10 p.m. Rozsa Center 

MTU students get in free, $10 Public

Saturday, Feb. 12

Alumni-Student Broomball Tournament

8 a.m. – 4 p.m. —  Broomball Rinks

Ice Mass

10 a.m. — St. Albert the Great

Alumni Social

10 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Alumni House

Book Sale

12 – 4 p.m. — Van Pelt and Opie Library

Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides

1 – 6 p.m. — Outside of Walker

Winter Carnival Awards Ceremony

2 p.m. — MUB Ballroom A1

Dog Sled Rides

2 – 5 p.m. — Outside of Walker

Film Board – The Greatest Showman

Showtimes: 5:30, 8:30, 11:30 p.m. — Fisher 135

Hockey – Bowling Green vs. Michigan Tech

6:07 p.m. — John MacInnes Student Ice Arena

MTU students get in free, $20 Adult $10 Youth

Downtown Business Bonfire

8:30 p.m. — Houghton Chamber of Commerce Parking Lot

Torchlight Parade and Fireworks

8:45 pm — Mont Ripley / Over Portage Canal

SnoBall

9:15 p.m. — Rozsa Center

Black History Month is a national celebration that takes place every February. The month-long celebration is a reminder that Black history is American history, as individuals reflect on the faults, struggles, change, progress, and hopes for the future. On campus there are many organizations that support people of color at Michigan Tech, including the Black Student Association (BSA) and the Society of African American Men (SAAM). Both organizations are active on campus, participating in the celebration of Black History Month. They provide educational events and support for all students. 

Malachi Wilson, the Minister of Direction of SAAM, is aware that “African Americans only make up 1% of our school population and that’s females included.” They offer support to all races and ethnicities but specifically come together as an “organization of men supporting one another in order to have that safe place and a place we make for others as well.” SAAM is not doing anything on campus sponsored by their own organization, yet instead is putting their full efforts and manpower into supporting the Black Student Association and all the things they have on campus during the month. 

One of these events is an art exhibit in the library celebrating “Black Excellence, Innovation, and Joy” by displaying all forms of artwork from people in the community.  The exhibit intends to be an uplifting experience for all students to enjoy. The President of the Black Student Association, Jailynn Johnson, encourages students to visit this exhibit on the first floor of the library. “We will also be celebrating BHM by having what we call ‘Soul Train Night’ which is a themed dance party in the MUB ballroom on Saturday, Feb. 19 from 7 – 9 p.m. Please bring your friends and dress in your best 70s, 80s, and 90s attire.”

Johnson encourages all students to take time this month to recognize Black History Month. “[it is] a time of celebration and perseverance. It is a time to appreciate those who came before and paved the way for your own upcoming success. It is a time to remember the hardships while also basking in pivotal moments of glory. Most importantly, it’s an excuse to take time to learn something new!” Johnson advises students to stop by the Center for Diversity and Inclusion if they’re not sure where to start. “There are plenty of friendly people there who want to get to know you and point you towards the right resources [and] opportunities. Just don’t wait for those opportunities to come to you. Be the change that you want to see.”

Wilson hopes that more people will attend this month’s events. “Historically people have disregarded Black History Month. I wish people would pay more attention and participate in Black History Month events.” He explains how “Black History Month is more than just one man that everyone recognizes, it’s a celebration of culture, a celebration of accomplishments, and most importantly a celebration of the people that put their lives on the line throughout history to make things better for the coming generations.”

Both BSA and SAAM have the same hopes for the future: a diverse place at Michigan Tech’s campus that is not only recognized by BIPOC, but also as an active part of all departments and the institution of MTU as a whole. They are hopeful that eventually the campus community will create a welcoming environment for all students at Michigan Tech, which starts with exposure and education. 

The undergraduate student body received an email on Monday, Jan. 24 from the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) President, Zach Olson. The email covered how the board will support Registered Student Organizations (RSO)s in Spring 2022.

Officers and the position of At Large Representative will be open for nomination between Feb. 7 and Feb. 13. Officer positions include: President, currently held by Zach Olson (usg-president@mtu.edu), Vice President, currently held by Ethan Gerds (usg-vice-president@mtu.edu), Treasurer, currently held by Zbigniew Bell (usg-treasureru@mtu.edu), and Secretary, currently held by Cheyenne Scott (usg-secretary@mtu.edu). Along with their E-Board position, officers take on committee roles, as well as sitting as liaisons to other meetings that happen on campus.

The At Large Representative is a role on the governing board that represents all of the student body, being the voice for students as a whole, rather than breaking them up by class ranking. To fulfill a full government board there is a second round of nominations for the representative positions, happening from Feb. 28 to March 13. Representative positions include First-Year Representatives, Second-Year Representatives, Third-Year Representatives, and Fourth-Year Representatives. To fill representative positions, there is an average of three students per representative position but that number can fluctuate per year. The nominations this spring will be for Second, Third, and Fourth-Year Representatives, whereas First-Year Representative elections will be in the fall with the incoming freshman class.

If you are interested in being nominated and joining USG, consider attending a weekly meeting, occurring on Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m. in the MUB Alumni Lounge or emailing the USG secretary at usg-secretary@mtu.edu. 

Annual elections for the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) are coming up and will be taking place in February and March. USG serves over 220 on campus student organizations; they are used as support and fund new experiences and opportunities to all organizations that reach out, allocating $800,000 annually to student organizations. By fulfilling board positions and having enough representative nominations for the next election period, students ensure USG can give the best service to student organizations. Nominations for officer positions and at-large representative positions will occur from Feb. 7 to Feb. 13. The nomination period for all other representative positions will occur from Feb. 28 to Mar. 13.

As it gets closer to nomination dates, more information will be released and communicated to students. For more information about the Undergraduate Student Government or upcoming elections, email usg-secretary@mtu.edu.

Michigan Tech has been on the upward path to implement recycling efforts on campus. For more than a decade, the efforts put into place have helped students, staff, and faculty to recycle their waste at any point of their day. 

One implementation of sustainability is the recycling program in the residential halls. Dorm hall residents can have recycling bins in their rooms and bring their bins to the front desk of their respective halls. Front desk staff will take care of everything after that. Once behind the desk, the recycling from students and staff is put into one large 90 gallon bin at the loading dock behind Wads. It is then taken to a recycling compactor, and from there, Waste Management will pick it up and dispose of them properly. In October 2021, Michigan Tech’s campus had a total of 16.13 tons of recycled material.

Daniel Liebau, the Facilities Manager at Michigan Tech, explains what to recycle and where to recycle certain goods. Liebau says, “The university offers single-stream recycling for most consumer paper, plastic, and metal products. These items can be placed in the same container, or commingled, for collection and processing. Signage on or near waste receptacles on campus describe many of the materials that can be recycled, as well as items that cannot be recycled on campus, like styrofoam and plastic grocery bags’.’ 

When students are mindful of their habits and where their waste is going, it can help the campus and the surrounding community with waste management. Liebau states, “the waste diversion rate is the ratio of recycled material to the total weight of campus’ solid waste stream. Currently, the university has a solid waste diversion rate goal of 18%. The university’s monthly diversion rate for October was 17.85%.” With conscious decisions, students, staff, and faculty can help to achieve the diversion rate goal. 

In 2019 Michigan Tech received a grant from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy through student-led efforts, allowing for more recycling infrastructure. With this grant, the University’s Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President Administration focused on “increasing the visibility of recycling on campus” with a sense of urgency. With this direction came the start of more bin-deployment, signage, and labeling all over campus. 

As students think about what to do to move forward, Leibau encourages them to consider changing their habits. “Think about your daily routine and the small changes that you can make that might save water, conserve energy, or reduce wastes. Consider a reusable water bottle or food container the next time you’re packing your lunch. Before leaving your room, remember to close that window and turn off the lights. Changes like these can reduce daily waste, but they may also have a measurable impact on the university’s overall environmental footprint and operational costs.”

Recycling efforts can be seen in every building on campus, with proper signs displaying what recyclable materials can go in each container. For more information on taking part of the green initiative, people can contact Daniel Liebau (dpliebau@mtu.edu), Alan Turnquist, Director of Sustainability and Resources (alturnqu@mtu.edu) or Larry Hermanson, Director of Energy Management (ldherman@mtu.edu). 

With the ongoing pandemic, blood donations have been at a yearly low across the nation, but especially in remote locations like the Upper Peninsula. For this reason, many health leaders have been urging students to participate in local blood drives. “Donating with the UP Regional Blood Donations ensures that blood stays in UP hospitals, for all types of situations where blood transfusions are needed,” said Rachel Heath, coordinator of blood collection for the UP Regional Blood Center. “Donations can go to a wide variety of people, like patients with anemia, which has a low iron count whether from medical conditions or excessive blood loss, during surgeries . . .  to women after labor as they lose a lot of blood, patients with certain health conditions, and most commonly car accidents, where hospitals can use anywhere from 1 to 100 units of blood on one patient.”

This calls for a lot of blood, which explains why hospitals are desperate right now. Hospitals have a need for all types of blood, but especially type O-, as it is the universal donor, meaning that this type of blood can be administered to individuals of any blood group. Heath makes clear that if the shortage continues, hospitals may not be able to offer the best care in saving patients.

According to the American Red Cross, individuals save approximately three lives each time they donate blood. Blood drives are an easy way for the community to help with the blood shortage problem. Heath believes that donations are so low because there aren’t enough young people donating blood. “The older generation are primarily the ones who show up to blood drives. It was instilled in their generation that it was their duty to donate blood, and now younger generations are in the mindset of ‘someone else will do it.’ When older generations are at a point when they can no longer donate, the nation will see even less donors and we’ll be in bigger trouble. We need to start encouraging younger generations to start making a habit of donating blood.”

Interested individuals can visit redcrossblood.org to see if they are eligible to donate blood. To set up an appointment at the Hancock Blood Bank, call (906) 483-1392 or visit one of the upcoming blood drives in the area. There will be one at the L’Anse Township Hall Dec. 21 from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., and one at Finlandia University on Jan. 18 from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.