America has no official language. You can look it up to verify me; the United States’ national language isn’t English. The languages used here range from French and Spanish to even Finnish up here in the U.P.! It’s a given most Americans learned a second language, and some remember enough high school Spanish to navigate a Mexican city. While I haven’t learned Spanish, I’ve been extensively learning German throughout high school and university. I expect to continue working on the process of learning German the rest of my life, since any learning language takes a lifetime due to the complexity and changes.

    There are multiple complex ways of using a language. Most languages can be boiled down to four basic methods of communicating: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. However, writing and speaking wildly changes based on region, culture, and time period. In Hochdeutsch (high German), there’s no slang terms or conjunctions. A Berlin dialect of German, however, uses plenty of conjunctions and phrasing like woll’n instead of wollen. There’s also the difference between Samstag and Sonnabend. Both refer to Saturday, but the former is primarily used in southern Germany and the latter is popular in northern Germany. English has tons of nuances like this, even in America itself (using pop vs. soda, for example). 

Another thing to consider is that language learning is continuous. Sure, you can memorize your basic verbs and nouns, but there could be a regional tweak to the dialect worth learning about. Looking at English alone, there’s multiple variations throughout the country, let alone the world. New words are constantly introduced, along with revisions to old language rules. For example, they/them used to refer to only multiple people or objects. Now, it’s been expanded to include the unidentified and people outside the traditional gender models. 

Now, you might question how I chose German in the first place. Why not another “easier” language like Spanish or Portuguese? For me, it’s about my heritage and how the language sounds. My father’s family is from Denmark, which shares a southern border with Germany. Danish culture has differences, but it’s still Germanic in its roots. Learning German is close to experiencing that aspect of my heritage in a more widespread language than Danish. Additionally, Danish is much more guttural than German, and it’s compared to “choking on a potato” when speaking it. Thus, German sounds more appealing and more used widely, making it an ideal language for me to tap into. 

Language is one of those concepts of life that’s necessary, yet pointless with its structure. At times, English itself seems like an alien language with how much of it changes and how archaic the grammar seems. Yet it’s still important and fun to use. Since I’m not close to being fluent in German, English is my best bet for communicating (unless hand gestures outside of American Sign language count). For me, languages are incredible and worth learning, even if they seem ridiculous at times.

The ongoing pandemic has made remote working a necessity for many Americans. Technologies such as Zoom video conferencing, Google Docs, and Slack allow one to be productive from the comforts of home. A change in work process opens opportunities to work from almost anywhere. High school and college graduates have begun expressing interest in relocating to the Upper Peninsula. While there’s always been people coming from downstate or Wisconsin and Minnesota, there’s been a recent influx of people migrating up. 

An article by InvestUP recently discussed this sudden change in relocation. The article reports “…as many as 14 to 23 million Americans aged 18 and up intend to relocate to a different city or region.” Some of these young Americans see the tranquil beauty and isolation of the Upper Peninsula and want to enjoy nature. Cities like Marquette, Escanaba, and Houghton are booming in business from student populations. They generate revenue for the community through using local businesses. It increases tourism when these students talk about how great the cities and surrounding towns are. It’s a system that’s proven effective for communities like Houghton and Marquette, former mining hubs transformed into college towns. 

The Upper Peninsula isn’t just home to closely-tied communities, but also year-round outdoor activities from canoeing to snowshoeing. The range in geography (especially in the Western Upper Peninsula) gives variety for places to explore. InvestUP’s article points this out by mentioning the 4,500 miles of snowmobile and ski trails crisscrossing the land. The summers have the shores of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan for beachgoers and mountain trails for hikers. 

Already, the Upper Peninsula has seen evidence of people moving in. In the InvestUP article, Kristine J. Weidner of Houghton’s Century 21 North Country Agency stated, “The real estate market in our four-county area has been competitive for the last three years, especially in 2020. Residential and land sales both increased by 23% and 22% respectively.” Even during the pandemic, Weidner’s seen an uptick in people moving in. People are serious about moving in and raising families here. 

At the end of a full year of illness and lockdown, Americans look for better places to live and work from. For some, the Upper Peninsula offers that second chance.

On Feb. 6, 2021, Michigan Tech associate professor of creative writing and literature M. Bartley Seigel won the U.P Poet Laureate. The U.P. Poet Laureate promotes the humanities across the U.P., whether that’s from events at schools or publishing local poetry with themes relevant to the local area. He also serves as the director of the Michigan Tech Multiliteracies Center on campus. He’s been a consistent presence in the college writing world, cofounding Pank Magazine in 2006 with Michigan Tech alumni Roxane Gay. Matt also had a collection of poems published called This is What They Say. His poetry has appeared in numerous literary magazines across the state and nation. I was able to get in touch with him over email and ask him about poetry and his work. 

When did you realize you loved poetry?

“I started writing poetry in high school and have dabbled with it for most of my life. It wasn’t until after graduate school, however, that I started writing and publishing poetry in earnest. It’s taken most of my adult life to be able to look myself in the mirror, call myself a poet, and not crack a sly grin.”

What drew you to the UP for work?

“My wife, Dr. Marika Seigel, grew up in Houghton. After graduate school, she and I were both eager to return to the Keweenaw and we snatched up positions in the Humanities Department as soon as we could.” 

Do you have a favorite spot that inspires your work?

“We have a camp off the No. 4 road north of Eagle River, right on Lake Superior. I like to go there to sauna and write and do so as much as I’m able.”

What’s your favorite poem that you’ve written (or a few)?

That’s like asking a parent to pick their favorite kid! Two of my favorites are “Beach Glass” and “Birch Oil, Smoke, Pine Tar, Switch.” … Both are good U.P. poems, in different ways. 

How do you go about writing poetry?

“I usually start with an emotional response to something in my life—I have some feels and I bang out an autobiographical free verse poem. Then I usually try to squeeze that free verse draft into a more formal verse — I’m particularly fond of blank verse — see how I can make the language contort, what I can begin to make the language do that it wasn’t predisposed to do on its own. Then it’s revision, revision, revision, and my poems tend to take on a life of my own from there, take me to places I never intended to go in the first place, which is where the magic usually happens.” 

Who is a writer/poet that’s inspired you?

“I’m really a dirty slut of a reader—can I say that? I’m such a lifelong, obsessive, compulsive consumer of storytelling, and I read widely across genres. I love comic books. I love Russian novels. I love popular cosmology. I love an Instagram page called @depressingfridgepoems. I love literary magazines and experimental and emerging writing. The poets who have meant a lot to me range from Walt Whitman to Harriett Mullen to Wallace Stevens to Gertrude Stein. I’m just a really promiscuous reader.”

How can poetry change the world for the better?

“…In a nutshell, language matters, the words we choose to use matter. Our words can lift us up. Our words can bring us low. You need look no further than recent events on our own campus where at least two professors have put language to really irresponsible, hateful, and destructive use, and in ways that clearly neither of them are able to grasp despite their advanced degrees, academic positions, and self-righteous chest thumping. But we’ve seen others in our community use language to affirm and lift up, to push back against ignorance, avarice, and spite, to repair and built—that’s where the poetry is at. Language can burn things down, no doubt—history is chockablock with examples. But at its best, where language becomes poetry, we speak truth to power, and inspires each other to rise up against the demons among us to create new and better ways of being and knowing.”

What is your advice for any aspiring writers and poets?

“Read everything you can get your hands on. Read outside your box. Read where you’re ignorant. Read where it scares you. Read writers that don’t look like you, think like you, believe like you, speak the same language as you. Read about things you have no interest in until the subject becomes interesting. Read to know what you don’t know. Read to know what you don’t know you don’t know. If the Jeff Burls of the world read half as much as they run their ignorant mouths (and pens), we would live in a very different world, indeed. After that, the writing, the good stuff, it just follows as a matter of course.”

Last year, Matt founded a new poetry magazine called Simple Machines. While the magazine isn’t currently accepting new entries, it’ll soon open up for new submissions after its first issue is published. 

Winter Carnival already had a cancelled broomball season and virtual events stacked against it, but the winter storms throughout the weekend made walking outside difficult. There were a slew of online events, with a few physical ones, to help keep the festivities fun. 

The All-Nighter felt surreal seeing everyone masked. However, no one seemed brutally defeated as they hung out and worked on sculptures. The Memorial Union Board held free karaoke for students to partake in, along with the Audio Department and the radio station WMTU hosting small dance parties. Their speaker setups were built from the snow, fitting the carnival atmosphere.

The Tug of War took place Saturday at 10 a.m. amongst the flurries of snowflakes. Teams competing there faced wind chills close to -13 degrees Fahrenheit. I stood there watching as they huddled and pulled together. Other physical events took place off campus at Mont Ripley or in Calumet. As someone without a car, I found it difficult to keep up with these events. A majority of students up here also share that struggle, so the events taking place on campus physically were even more limited.

This year’s sculptures were incredible, as always. Walking down College Avenue and on campus, I saw all sorts of amazing sculptures. The theme was cartoon shows, so the likes of SpongeBob, Futurama, Looney Tunes, Phineas and Ferb, and other childhood nostalgia figures populated the grounds. Because this weekend had been filled with almost non-stop winds and snow, there wasn’t a best time to go out without experiencing face-numbing winds. Nonetheless, I loved the sculpting of details that make these stand out. For example, the Phineas and Ferb collaboration between Delta Zeta and Delta Phi Epsilon showed detail in the roller coaster girders and the windows of Doofenschmirtz Evil Incorporated. The ice sculptures of Phineas and Ferb were phenomenal with their geometric abnormalities captured well. If one were able to trek through the blizzards (and the continued ongoing ones), they’d be rewarded with craftsmanship from our Tech community.

Winter Carnival this year was certainly different, as I’ve been beating that into the ground. However, it’s important to acknowledge how these traditions should be kept, modified, or removed to fit current needs. Right now, it’s important for our school to stay as healthy as possible, even if it meant a limited Winter Carnival this year. 

To say Winter Carnival is different this year is an understatement. Since COVID spread its terror across the world last year, campus life has changed to keep us from getting sick. With the health guidelines imposed on so much of our regular lives, it’s not surprising Winter Carnival has also fallen victim to new restrictions. With the canceled broomball season to the socially distanced “gatherings” on campus, I thought it’d be good to look back at past winter carnivals from my time at Tech.

My freshmen and sophomore years were full of childlike curiosity as I walked across campus that Thursday morning. I had no reason to go out for the All-Nighter, so I slept through the night. The first time I saw the sculptures was incredible. It’s honestly impressive how ingenuitive these sculptures get. I remember seeing small campus replicas, Viking huts, ice displays, and the life-sized snow people. Afterward, I walked back to my small, cramped space in Douglass Houghton Hall and watched huskies pull people on a small track below me. I regretted not participating more, so next year would be my proper experience.

Junior year was when I finally stayed up for the All-Nighter. It was amazing how much went on; there was a bike trail for students to ride, small armies of students chipping at snow blocks, and people generally hanging out while staying warm. The first games of the season were underway, with crowds cheering at each court. I watched as players slid and handled their taped brooms with all the finesse of amateur hockey players. It was fun to stay for a little bit to watch the games before I went to help St. Al’s with their snow sculpture.

I was happy to work on a snow sculpture. After waking only to see them in the morning the previous year, I could now experience the magic of making one. For St. Al’s display, there was a crowd of stegosauruses standing by an ice waterfall. A large crocodile was about to attack one of them when Jesus Christ stomped down on it, protecting his prehistoric flock. I was amazed by the tools used, specifically the blow torch for sculpting the banks of the ice river/waterfall. Despite my inexperience with making snow sculptures, I was able to help craft a few stegosauruses. My favorite was the one I accidentally gave stubby legs, crossed eyes, and the largest open mouth of the herd. I dubbed him Mike, the “special” stegosaurus. After a few hours of helping out, I was happy to retire to bed.

The next day was full of activities, from human dog sledding to the tug of war. It was fun seeing these games going on, like a mini winter Olympics. That night, I rehearsed with St. Al’s for their Stage Revue show. My role was a humble Computer Science kid who helped build the cardboard boat that survived a biblical flood. Of course, our show had to have “Bonnie” passing out hats to cover our ears (I will never get tired of bringing that snow day email up. It’s historical for Michigan Tech meme culture). I enjoyed being on stage again and being in a silly play that had only one Northern joke. The following plays from other student organizations were interesting to watch. I was laughing pretty hard at how absurd the plots and jokes got. This was the best way for me to end the glorious four-day weekend.

I’m not too happy with the changes made to Winter Carnival this year. The topic is a fun one (I’m excited to cover the statues for next week’s review). However, it’s bittersweet knowing this year’s festivities will be darkened with all the mask-clad faces and lack of  group gatherings. 

I plan on being here for one more year, and I certainly hope next year’s Carnival is more familiar.

We live in confusing, dividing times. It seems society is pulling itself apart and criticizing identities. Fortunately, individuals at the Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) work to minimize discrimination and prejudice in our campus community. 

The CDI exists to help students feel comfortable in their identities on campus. Its mission is “to foster student success by providing engaging programs that create safe spaces for students of multiple social and cultural identities” (CDI, 2021). Their website discusses the specifics of their mission, including recognition of traditionally discriminated people and encouraging discovery of identity (CDI, 2021). These are achieved in workshops, group sessions, guest speakers, campus events, and other activities which bring  people together. Opportunities are opened to connect with other students (like-minded or not). The events are all organized from one spot on campus: the Hamar House. 

In the Hamar House, the CDI offers a few perks for visiting students. There’s a private lending library of books, board games, and movies for students to check out. Special accounts allow the CDI to track these materials so that others can continue enjoying them. These books discuss topics such as racism, sexual orientation, gender, writing, and other explorative themes. It offers a slice of different ideologies for curious students to explore and contemplate. 

Another draw for coming to the Hamar House is the people and the beverages. Hot chocolate/coffee is served for those passing by who stop in the House. Along with these perks comes the opportunity to talk with staff about life and struggles. It acts as a small coffee house in which one can learn more about past and present oppression in different communities. At the same time, the banter of other students can create bonds transcending traditional student relationships. There’s a common goal of overcoming adversity that can bring people together. When it comes to exploring minorities, a program has opened across campus that allows the CDI’s work to reach beyond the House and their services. 

The CDI has also spread the concept of Huskies Safe Places beyond the Hamar House. These spots were established to allow students of various sexual orientations to discuss their issues and explore their identities. These safe spaces are meant to challenge how universities handle sexual orientation amongst their students, as well as oppression imposed on someone from societal factors (CDI, 2021). They open spots for any student in almost any part of campus to talk and learn about other identities. Discussion and acceptance of these various identities is key to unifying the student body under the goals of academic success.

As those of us on campus celebrate Winter Carnival these next few days, it’s important to remember how our identities contribute to the campus culture. The CDI reminds us how great the Michigan Tech family is when everyone here feels accepted.