04/15/2009

Drag Show 5B

Serving the Michigan Tech Community Since 1921

April 15, 2009

Final study break

Internet Upgrade

Spring Fling 2009 gives Michigan Tech students one more opportunity to unwind before exams

Students promised a better connection with Rovernet 2.0 LASHAE NASZRADI Lode Writer

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Plowing forward: Students at last year’s Spring Fling participated in the Truck Pull. Although not an event this year, there are many of other activities to participate in this year. Lode file photo

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s you are walking around campus this Friday, you will notice a lot of activity. This weekend is the annual Spring Fling at Mich-

igan Tech. Now that spring has come and the snow is almost gone, students are able to brave the weather outside and enjoy Upper Michigan.

Just the facts What: Tech’s traditional spring fling Where: All over campus When: 12-5 p.m. Fri, April 17 Who: Staffed and organized by the Memorial Union Board and sponsored by your student activities fee

Tech’s Spring Fling is a tradition for students to relax in a stressful time. When classes are wrapping up and exam week is right around the corner, Spring Fling is that little break that we all look forward to and need.

The theme for this year’s event is country/ western. With a side event put on Full Throttle Motorcycle Club’s stunt show in lot 27 and SACS comedian Tim Kidd, campus is sure to be full of fun activities.

If you find yourself out and about this Friday, break out your shorts and take a walk around campus. Have fun and relax this weekend at Michigan Tech’s Spring Fling.

Activities 12:00 -5:00 p.m. Mechanical Bull 12:00, 2:30 & 4:00 p.m. Motorcycle Stunt Show 2:00 p.m. SACS Comedian, Tim Kidd 3:00 -5:00 p.m. Cach Kings (Johnny Cash Tribute Band)

Budget cuts affect SLS SOUND AND LIGHTING SERVICES Sound and Lighting Services of Michigan Technological University has, for the past 37 years, provided professional quality entertainment equipment to students and the local community. First and foremost, though, SLS is a student organization that is designed to give real world experience

to the organization’s members in entertainment as well as the operation of a business. Even though this is our primary concern, we have provided services to the general student body, university departments, and community that cannot be easily and as inexpensively provided by other organizations.

Over the years, many people have questioned the business practices and operating procedures of SLS. These concerns

Sports

News 2A Big 3 and Michigan Tech 2A USG Beat

have, in the past, been resolved on an individual basis with representatives from USG and SLS being present. The resolutions have usually contained very few, if any, changes to the operations and procedures that SLS employs. However, this year USG decided to pursue a complaint in a different fashion, taking it upon themselves to investigate SLS’ accounting.

Upon the request of the USG Treasurer, SLS provided all ac-

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Football team prepares for annual spring game

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NBA and NHL playoff predictions

counting documentation for the past two fiscal years to date.

Beyond this, SLS has not been contacted about the complaint or the results of the audit.

Prior to budget hearings, SLS was approached by the USG Treasurer to try and determine a way to streamline the transfer of funds that student organizations use to pay SLS. This was a one-on-one meeting with the see Lights 3A

Opinion

ith the end of the school year fast approaching, the University is thinking of ways to improve and update our Internet capabilities. With the introduction of Rovernet 2.0, we have that needed upgrade.

“Michigan Tech Telecommunications (Telcom) is upgrading its current Rovernet wireless network to provide Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) to students, staff and faculty,” according to Michigan Tech’s Telecommunications Service, TS, site.

The system is currently being tested and should be up and running this month.

The TS site also mentions that “the new WPA Enterprise System known as Rovernet 2.0 applies the 802.1x standard for user authentication to allow greater flexibility and security when accessing the campus wireless network.”

There will be vast security improvements within the new system. Unlike the old Rovernet, Rovernet 2.0 will support WPA/WPA2 (PEAP) authentication and all traffic will be encrypted. The new 2.0 also boasts easier usage and you will not longer have to log in every time you connect to the wireless network.

“This is primarily an overlay network with additional security (WPA/ WPA2) with a few options for user to use,” said Shane Allan Godmere, Senior Telecommunications Engineer II for Michigan Tech.

“Both the current Rovernet ‘MTU’ as well as Rovernet2 ‘Michigan Tech’ will be available as options in the near future.”

There are a couple of new system requirements for the new version, which include having the drivers to support WPA/WPA2 as well as configuring your device for WPA/WPA2 authentication.

Currently, Rovernet 2.0 is only active in select areas including the EERC basement, the MEEM fishbowl and the MUB food court/ commons. For more information, see the Web site at http://www.tc.mtu.edu/ rovernet2/ or for questions contact telecommunication services at rovernet@ mtu.edu.

4A Nazi to be deported 4A Fresh produce success 5A Moolah vs. happiness

Pulse 5B 5B 6B

Michigan Tech’s own Ghostbusters

Gossip girls fail to impress Keweenawesomefest an awesome success

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News

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

CAMPUS CRIMES 4•7•09 No Driver’s License

Subject driving on US 41 without operators license and was arrested.

4•7•09 MDOP Benedict Lab

4•7•09 Larceny

Property stolen from a motor vehicle in Lot 10.

4•7•09 PDA Lot 9.

4•12•09 Larceny

Property stolen from a motor vehicle in Lot 10.

4•13•09 Public Peace Graffiti in Wadsworth Hall.

4•13•09 CSC

Report of criminal sexual conduct in McNair Hall happened on 12/19/08.

Big 3 and Michigan Tech ALEXANDER TRIPP News Writer As anyone who has been following the news lately will no doubt be aware, the American auto industry has recently been experiencing some less-than-ideal times.

Certainly, this is a matter of potential concern for many Michigan Tech students, particularly those in engineering departments. Traditionally, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler have been present and recruiting at the Career Fair; at this spring’s event, only Ford was present.

Yet, the situation may not be as dire as it first appears. Dr. William Predebon, Chair of the Mechanical Engineering department, says that Michigan Tech’s degree programs

4•15•09 Safety Reminder

Please, at all times keep your vehicles locked, rooms locked and keep an eye on your bookbags. It only takes a second for someone to take items.

If you have any information about these or other crimes, contact Public Safety at 4872216.

Corrections There are no reported corrections in last weeks issue of the Lode 4-8-09.

If you see any mistakes e-mail us at lodesubmit@mtu.edu or call us at 4872404.

are diverse enough to cushion students and graduates from a blow to any particular industry. There is no automotive engineering degree; rather, students study a broad engineering program that prepares them for work in many different industries and offers electives based on their specific interests.

Individual students may need to make adjustments, says Dr. Predebon, but the department already provides a balanced program.

Other companies that seek engineers are still hiring, and Michigan Tech has a strong record of getting its students hired.

And even with troubled economic times, people will still buy cars. Both Dr. Predebon and Jim Turnquist, Director of the Career Center, expressed confidence that the American auto industry will

survive the recession. Even if one of the three companies collapses, the others will recover. When the auto makers faced similar economic dilemmas in the 1980s, the University diversified its engineering program. Most Tech students are hired into other industries.

Meanwhile, Michigan Tech is working to bring other industries, such as energy-related ones, to the Career Fairs. Several such companies were present at this spring’s Career Fair, as well as several companies that support the auto industry. While students may have to adjust their career plans slightly to accommodate the economy, Dr. Predebon and Jim Turnquist are both confident that Michigan Tech graduates are well prepared for their careers.

USG beat 4-15-09 SARAH ANDERTON

4•15•09 Blue Lights When you see a BLUE LIGHT

(On Campus), there is an EMERGENCY PHONE. Dials directly to Public Safety.

Michigan Tech Lode

USG Secretary Money Matters: Reimbursements:

SAAM- $500 for Men’s Week Speaker.

AIsES- $3,125 for Pow-Wow Expenses.

Audio Engineering Society- $984 for Term lab and dB Drag.

Global City- $350 for Film Board costs.

IVCF- $1117.05 for cooler and conference.

AMA- $800 for Conferences.

Four wheelers- $742.81 for equipment.

BSA- $1550 for MLK and BHM. TV Production Club- $1000 for camera.

Opportunity Funds that were made this week will be voted on at the meeting of the 15th.

All financial matters for 2008-2009 are done as of Wednesday, April 15.

2009-2010 financials will be discussed in the fall of 2009.

Matters to the Students:

The Student Issues Committee is working on ID Card Replacement fees and the Experience Tech fee. The committee is also aware that Motor Pool is an issue, and is working to find a solution for the students.

The Student Association of Michigan meeting was hosted here at Tech a few weeks ago. This is a committee made up of similar student governments in Michigan. From this meeting, USG hopes to improve the student organization budgeting process for the next year. An issue was brought up during open floor concerning the SAF($50 per student per semester). An idea was proposed that the Office of Student Activities receive a portion of the fee so that they may do the budgets for a proposed group of organizations.

These ideas were as follows: $25 each to Office of Student Activities and USG, $6-$44 (Office of Student Activities, USG) $50 (Office of Student Activities). USG is looking for your feedback about this proposed idea.

Come to the meeting this Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the MUB Ballroom or e-mail usg@mtu.edu with your feedback.

Michigan Tech Lode

News

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Lights Continued from 1A SLS General Manager and the USG Treasurer where the primary purpose of the meeting was to brainstorm ideas on how student organizations would no longer have to worry about SLS fees and only be concerned about their events. The results of the meeting were positive with many different ideas presented that could become feasible operating procedures within the organization.

Budget hearings for Special Budget Groups, did not turn up any major discrepancies.

The proposed budgets were in line with historical allocations and nothing out of the ordinary

was presented. During the individual meetings, there were no serious questions brought up to SLS about any aspects of the budget and all SLS members present were led to believe that USG had no major concerns due to them not voicing anything during the meeting or trying to resolve any of the issues that had come up previously. It came as a shock when the proposed budget allocations for SBG’s were released and SLS’ budget had been cut by over 60 percent. Once this decision was made, the only other time that SLS had to ask questions was at the general USG meet-

ing, where three minutes were allocated to discuss a cut of $14,000 to one of the longer standing and visible student organizations on campus.

During that meeting, the rationale for the cut was brought up. USG, with the SLS proposed and past budgets in hand, described their reluctance in paying student payroll (even though 25 percent of the approved 2009-10 USG budget went to member stipends and service payments) and questions over rental rates for student organizations (past meetings had resolved this issue).

Upon further investigat-

ing the procedures USG is required to follow when conducting business, SLS requested the current USG by-laws. SLS was told that they were in the process of being revised and that a current copy was unavailable.

The requests for the official by-laws that were abided by for this year’s budget hearings continued to go unanswered for a month, until finally an e-mail to their advisor and president produced a copy. At this time, using past documents and the current by-laws, it was determined that USG has gone above and beyond their power in many of the processes that

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have been administered in the past semester. Further action is being pursued by SLS to obtain official records and proper procedural documentation to determine USG’s actual role in these processes.

Due to all of these recent events, SLS will be required to raise rental rates to maintain the level of professionalism and quality of equipment that our clients have come to expect. If you feel that these events are unsettling, please contact your USG representative and voice your opinion. Better yet, become a member of USG and get involved.

Michigan Tech Lode

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Opinion April 15, 2009

R o b D e va u n , O p i n i o n E d i t o r - r h d e va u n @ m t u . e d u

Nazi to be deported, should age factor?

LUKE GUBLO Lode Writer The crimes against humanity

by Nazi-controlled Germany have been well-documented over the years. As most readers are probably aware, Hitlerled Germany was responsible for the deaths of between five and six million people during the Holocaust, most of whom were from Jewish backgrounds. Many consider the crimes of the Nazi Party to be amongst the worst in history.

Time certainly cannot completely heal the wounds, but those who were alive and committed these crimes do eventually pass on. For the most part, those who fled ahead of war crimes trials (such as the Nuremburg Trials) were either caught and deported to be put in trial for their crimes (such as Adolf Eichmann, a Nazi Party member who played an integral role in the Holocaust) or have since passed away (such as Josef Mengele, head doctor at Auschwitz-Birkenau).

Over the past week, in spite of the considerable time that has passed since the Holocaust, we were reminded that there are many who have not been held responsible for their role in one of the worst chapters in the history of humanity.

John Demjanjuk, also known as “Ivan the Terrible,” a retired auto worker and resident of Seven Hills, Ohio (just outside of Cleveland) is in the process of being deported and standing trial in Germany for his role as a possible accessory close to 29,000 deaths at the Sobibor Concentration Camp, located in what is presently Poland.

Demjanjuk, now 89 years of age, has faced legal troubles previously for his role at Sobibor, including being sentenced to death in Israel back in 1988.

The conviction was later overturned by the Israel Supreme Court in 1993.

New legal actions against Demjanjuk had been in the offing since a 2004 ruling by the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Fresh produce success

SALLY SANDERSON Pulse Editor As a general consensus, Houghton isn’t really thought of as a beautiful city or a tourist destination. The environment surrounding Houghton is unique and often times stunning; however, Houghton itself looks like a slightly rundown town with all its old and sometimes deserted buildings.

Because of this, Houghton isn’t on most people’s top 10 places to go and it can wear down the

I think that holding a weekly or bi-weekly farmer’s market near the Portage would be a good addition to Houghton’s summers. The market could showcase local artists, farmers with produce and any other stands that would be applicable.

Live music could be played by local musicians and the market could be held somewhere like Shoots and Ladders, where people could socialize, swim and enjoy themselves during the event. Having something like this would not only increase fun activities for residents, but it would draw people from surrounding cities.

Aside from a regular market, Houghton could host art fairs or food fairs during July or August. Local businesses could set up stalls and sell their goods for a few days out of the summer, similar to the Food Fest held in Marquette over the Fourth of July. By having fairs such as these, local residents benefit from having more to

do, while businesses and smaller local vendors could get their names out to the public. And again, holding a larger gathering would encourage people to travel to Houghton.

Changing Houghton completely would cost a lot of money and not be worth the work of remodeling. However, the city, and all that call it home, would definitely benefit from hosting

surrounding the gay culture.

I think it’s extremely important to host these types of events on campus. The UpStraight Person” contest and per Peninsula is not exactly known for its liberal thinkthe Drag Show. ing, so promotAs we have gone through ing tolerance, the new millennium, especially our society has become amongst a more open and tolerant to different lifestyles. In some states, a gay couple can even marry. It is not uncommon to see same sex couples on TV, which 20 years ago would have been unheard of. Despite this progress, there is too much discrimination and hatred towards gay people that still exists in our country. There are still hate crimes and genStory art by Rick Peterson eral stereotypes as well as ambivalence

younger and more impressionable crowd, should be a norm on campus. Teaching acceptance towards anyone regardless of sexual orientation, culture, ethnicity, etc. is often times overlooked as the most important education out there. After graduation, people need to learn how to work with anyone despite their differences. As a country, we should not have to be concerned about internal conflicts and issues.

We have enough problems to worry about.

While it’s true that our society has made great strides towards tolerance and acceptance of the gay community, discrimination still plays a major role in many aspects of America. Gay adoption rights are one area that could really see some progress. Too often,

cheeriness of those who reside in town. Since a town can’t be changed without spending a lot of money, I think that holding large public events that are attractive to a lot of people might increase the tourists through town and could also give residents something to look forward to.

In most cities, the summer is full of outdoor fun with farmer’s markets, picnic parties and other such events. Houghton has two main outdoor events during the summer: Bridgefest, which is often held in June and the Seafood Fest, which is usually held sometime in late May. Though these events are fun, a wider variety of activities and an increased frequency would cause more people to come out and may help the town financially.

Teaching tolerance

KATIE WYSOCKY Lode Writer The role the gay community should play in our society has been a hot topic across America for the last 10 to 20 years.

Amongst disputes of legal gay marriage, discrimination and other conflicts concerning sexual orientation, Michigan Tech did its part to promote tolerance and awareness through Gay Pride Week. Lasting April 5-10, Tech hosted a week full of events including a showing of the movie “Milk,” a panel discussion, a “Guess the

that Demjanjuk could lose his citizenship due to evidence of wrongdoing during his time at Sobibor. After numerous appeals and legal actions, on March 11, 2009, Demjanjuk was charged by the top German Holocaust crimes Prosecutor Kurt Schrimm with over 29,000 counts of accessory to murder for his role at Sobibor. A stay of his deportation was granted by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday, which delays his deportation until further legal action is pursued.

Cases such as this one remind us of the horrible atrocities committed by the Germans during World War II. As much as we would like to believe that we are completely beyond all of this, we are not.

John Demjanjuk is just one of many people who participated in the deaths of millions of people. Many of these people are still alive Story art by Rick Peterson today and

have not paid the ultimate price for their actions.

Here in the United States, we have experience in dealing with similar cases due to the Civil Rights era, notably the trial of KKK member Edger Ray Killen for his role in the deaths of civil rights activists Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner, and James Chaney in Philadelphia in 1964. In 2005, Killen, then 80 years old, was sentenced to 60 years in prison for his role in their deaths.

Like Killen, Demjanjuk should face trial for the crimes that he has been accused of. The age of the defendant shouldn’t be a matter of issue in dealing with Demjanjuk, as we know that justice knows no age or ability. Naturally, if he is deported, he will be subjected to the German judicial system, as opposed to our own. While attorneys on behalf of Demjanjuk may be correct that previous legal action against Demjanjuk may have included prosecutorial misconduct, the fact of the matter is that there is enough legal evidence of his participation in the deaths of over 29,000 people at Sobibor.

One hopes that Demjanjuk will come face-to-face with his past and be held responsible for his actions.

more events. Likewise, Michigan Tech could help sponsor some events and use them as a way to invite prospective students and their families to get a feeling for Houghton, which would benefit everyone. By making the “Gateway to the Keweenaw” a little more lively, Houghton could become a better place to live and visit.

Story art by Rick Peterson

a gay couple is barred from adopting primarily because of their sexual orientation. The ironic thing is if they’re trying to adopt, that means they actually want to be parents, unlike so many people out there whose children are mistakes.

Children born to drug-addicted parents or parents who did not want them in the first place would be better off with a set of parents that actually want to be parents, whether or not it means they may have two moms or two dads.

We can’t expect a lot to change too much in the next couple of years, but any progress is promising.

By continuing to have events like Gay Pride Week, our campus can truly promote acceptance and tolerance of different types of sexual orientation. Yet, it does not need to stop there. We should extend this openness to all different cultures and minorities, making anyone and everyone feel welcome at our school.

Michigan Tech Lode

Opinion

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Moolah vs. happiness KAYLA HERRERA Lode Writer My father came home from work one day, meticulously setting his wallet on the counter next to the heart-shaped glass jar. I could tell there was something wrong, for his eyelids hung low and his brows furrowed. He said to me in a tender tone, “Kayla, when you arrive at the corporate age, promise me you will not only work for money, but mostly to be happy. Do what you love in life.” At that moment, I wasn’t sure what emotion struck me first – pity or motivation. But it was in that compassionate instant that I conjured the conclusion that life does not have to be stamped with a dollar amount; rather, it should be measured in poignant moments and reminisces of bliss.

From the May/June 2008 issue of The American, it narrates a tale of anomalous luck encountered by a man named Mack Metcalf.

While hard at work during the midst of his night shift as a fork-lift operator, Metcalf decided to verify the lottery results in the paper, expecting the customary letdown. To his surprise, Metcalf’s ticket was the winner of the $65 million jackpot in Kentucky. Without a second to spare, he walked out on his job and pursued the affluent standard of living. With plans to move to Australia and purchase several houses, it ap-

peared Metcalf had it going for him. After being exposed countless times on television, a social worker spotted him as one of the crooks for child support from a prior wife, costing him over $1 million. While inebriated, an ex-girlfriend bribed another $500,000 out of him.

Alcoholism and paranoia began to consume him.

Mack Metcalf never moved to Australia. His pre-lottery problems in alcoholism and family dysfunction failed to be guzzled by the abrupt prosperity. Since his liver was in the process of being slowly corroded by cirrhosis and his body

Story art by Rick Peterson

whittled away by hepatitis, Metcalf died alone and dilapidated at the age of 45. Apparently, his bed of dough was not enough to cushion a smooth transition into a life of luxury.

Did the sudden, massive amount of money spin wonders for Metcalf as we often think

the lottery will execute? No; no it did not. Evidently, this cannot just be the only case of money, isolation and difficulty.

Indirectly, money may play some sort of role in happiness while getting the bills paid and so forth. But the environment I was brought up in did not contain a considerable amount of money. My clothes never emanated with the crispness of high value nor did I ever exhibit posh accessories. Our apartments were not spacious or adorned with modern technology, yet my childhood was drenched with blissful, memorable moments. I didn’t need money to go adventuring through the junkyard across the street or climbing the waterfall in the woods behind the apartments.

Maybe the attainment of an excessive amount of money does have more of a negative effect on a person rather than positive.

There may be such a thing as too much money.

Regardless of the dollar amounts that continue to be hallmarked on every aspect of my life, I take strides serenely and engross myself in the benefits of existence. Money brings financial security, yet happiness conveys a superior standard of living even in the most disheartening of environments; it is all about the attitude.

From letter to litter LENA WILSON Lode Writer As the snow melts, I’ve been noticing strange discolorations on the ground. Has dyed Jell-O become outlawed? So, I gather Styrofoam is a whole mess better. The letters left from the Winter Carnival snow statues are now littering our campus. Ideally, those who built the statues, the groups responsible for making the lettering, should take it into their hands to pick up their own lettering. And the ones who decided it was a fantastic idea to use Styrofoam should be given a lesson or two about the harm it does to the environment. It’s bad enough that Sty-

Long time coming LUKE GUBLO Staff Writer For most people, the date of April 15 represents Tax Day here in the United States where we all do our patriotic duty and file out income tax returns.

While undoubtedly this carries much importance, there’s another important anniversary that is celebrated on April 15.

I speak of the date of April 15, 1947, the date that Jackie Robinson became the first AfricanAmerican baseball player to play in Major League Baseball.

One may wonder why this is important. After all, it’s just the game of baseball, nothing representing anything really in an official capacity. One obviously

rofoam is utilized for everyday use. There are a slew of other colorful, disgusting patches of earth around campus as a result of negligence. Why don’t we brainstorm some alternatives right now for Winter Carnival letters. Well, since it is balls cold during Winter Carnival, ice and snow could be exploited... as it is used for everything else on the statue. I do understand that this would create

some extra work and time, so I’ll continue brainstorming.

Fabric could be cut into shapes; fruit would be kind of cool and gross when thawed, shoes, sticks, heck, anything you can find can be arranged into letters. I’m mostly joking about random objects. My main concern is that those who’ve built the statues are leaving their nasty letters to get

In light of the recent incidents, how safe do you feel on campus?

“I’m definitely more cautious than before”

Jess Weyburne 1st Year

“Walking home at night from the MUB at night freaked me out..”

Michelle Foy 3rd Year

“I feel safe... Tech still has one of the best safety records.”

Chris Bork 3rd Year

“I feel safe because we are always notified of what’s happening.”

Christina VanDyke 2nd Year

“I feel pretty safe. Public safety does a good job patrolling the roads.”

Darya Patyutko 3rd Year

Check out exclusive video of the full interviews online at: www.mtulode.com/videos

gross all over the grass. It would have been worlds easier and more convenient to simply drop by your respective statue and quickly pick up the letters and properly dispose of them. Every time I

walk through campus I have the urge to pick up these messes.

So why haven’t I? I guess it’s the same reason as anyone else, the idea that it’s not my fault or the dependence that someone else will pick it up. It seems a good childhood motto would apply here: If you see it, do something about it. Perhaps you’ll see some of the letters disappear. While I’m at it, is there a problem with snuffing out a cigarette and throwing it somewhere else besides the ground? A person eating a bag of chips doesn’t usually immediately throw the bag on the ground. As the weather warms up, more students are getting out. I’ve been out a couple times slack lining and have noticed a littering of random cigarette butts accompanying other miscellaneous trash and

Carni letters. Are there proper receptacles for smokers to put their cigarette butts? Perhaps the school could put up a couple. Sitting here, I can’t think of seeing any. If they are there at all, then please, smokers, use them! The rest of you guilty litter goons, remember to use the trash cans. Can we have a little respect for the beautiful area we have? Can’t we just try a little?

Of course the trash will go to some big heap somewhere, but littering the space you live in... that’s like trying to take care of a rodent that likes to piss in every corner of its cage. You may think it doesn’t make a difference if you throw one wrapper on the ground or use superfluous amounts of paper towel to clean up a mess, but every little thing you do does really count.

Gibson, in spite of being one of the most talented catchers in baseball history, was never able to demonstrate his talents in the Major Leagues, while Satchel Paige briefly pitched with the Cleveland Indians, Saint Louis Browns and Kansas City Athletics during the tail end of his career.

The reaction from people around baseball was mixed upon his signing with the Dodgers in 1946. Hall of Fame Brooklyn Dodger GM Branch Rickey, knowing that the archaic gentleman’s rule of keeping the Major Leagues white would soon be left to the wayside, scouted Robinson out and convinced him to be put into the uneasy situation of being the one to break the color barrier in the Major Leagues. He was assigned to the Montreal Royals, the Dodgers AAA affiliate, and was eventually called up in 1947 to play for the parent club.

The pressure was enormous

on Robinson. While there were many who supported the tenacity of Branch Rickey to bring Robinson on board, there were just as many fans and players who were vehemently hostile towards the idea of Robinson being on the Dodgers. In one particular instance, the St. Louis Cardinals threatened to strike over the matter. They soon rebuffed after being threatened with suspensions by MLB Commissioner Ford Frick.

The role of the Brooklyn Dodgers management in standing up for Robinson during the early abuse and backlash against the move was quite admirable. In a famous statement about the matter, Dodger manager Leo Durocher effectively silenced any dissent within the organization over Robinson’s role with the team.

“I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a…zebra,” said Durocher.

“I’m the manager of this team,

and I say he plays.”

We can all learn a lot from reviewing the experience of Jackie Robinson. It’s hard for us to comprehend the situation since we not only weren’t alive during this time period, but are also living in a time where an African-American has assumed the office of the presidency.

Nonetheless, without figures like Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks or others, we would not be as advanced as we are today in regards to unifying as Americans.

In a sense, all the verbal and emotional abuse that was exerted upon Robinson was done to give us what we have today: an America that now judges less off of superficialities than at any other time in our history. For that, Jackie Robinson deserves admiration. He was one of the first to break through the unwritten social code of his time and put the United States on a path to the Civil Rights Act.

Story art by Rick Peterson

cannot argue that the true pinnacle of freedom being reached for all people in the United States was the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a true acknowledgement of rights for all people regardless of race and creed. Nonetheless, it was events such as Jackie Robinson’s MLB debut, Brown vs. Board of Education, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, amongst others, that ultimately led to the Civil Rights Act being introduced and made into law.

To give some historical context, prior to Jackie Robinson, professional African-American ballplayers competed in the Negro leagues. Most of the baseball players who competed in these leagues were on par with the talent featured in the Major Leagues at this time. Players such as Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson have since been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. in recognition of their talents.

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April 15, 2009

S t e p h e n A n d e r s o n , S p o rt s E d i t o r - s t e a n d e r @ m t u . e d u

Tennis teams find mixed success Women drop tough match at St. Cloud At this point in the spring schedule, every win becomes a big one when attempting to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. On Wednesday, the women’s tennis Huskies had a tough dose of that as they dropped three three-set matches en route to a 6-3 loss to the St. Cloud State Huskies, who continued their hot spring run.

“That was a tough loss,” said head coach Mike Axford. “St. Cloud is ranked third in our region, we lost, but we lost to a team that should beat us.”

St. Cloud jumped out quickly to take an early lead in the match as Kristie Eull and Tanya Halloran defeated junior Danielle Stoll and freshman Caitlin Hartley, 8-1, at number three doubles. The duo dropped to 4-7 on the season for the Huskies.

Senior Silvia Oliveros and sophomore Nathalia Rondelli evened the match with a win at number one doubles of Jacquelyn Doll and Kelly Freese, 8-5.

The Huskies’ pair is now 14-9 on the campaign.

The Huskies then took their first lead of the match with a hard-fought win at number two doubles, 9-8, as senior Samantha Jang-Stewart and sophomore Asel Otunchieva defeated

Men finish GLIAC schedule on a high note

DAVER KARNOSKY

Dawn Olsen and Kayla Lenz. The pair is 6-2 on the season.

St. Cloud evened the match as Samantha Boushek won in straight sets at number six singles over Hartley, 6-2, 6-3. Hartley is now 4-9 on the season.

Rondelli scored her second point of the match after making adjustments in her first set, winning 7-5, 6-3 over Olsen at number two singles. Rondelli now has 17 wins on the season, the most of any Huskies’ singles player.

St. Cloud’s Freese defeated Jang-Stewart at number three singles, 7-5, 6-1 to get them within striking distance of the match win.

Jang-Stewart fell to 8-11 with the loss.

The Huskies dropped all three matches, which needed a third set to lose the match.

“We couldn’t adjust [to] St. Cloud when they stopped hitting with us,” said Axford.

The Huskies must now wait until next week to see if they will be invited to the NCAA Tournament.

Lode Writer

Men’s Tennis results Feb. 7 St. Scholastica, W 9-0 Feb. 13 Lewis, W 5-4 Feb. 14 LSSU, L 4-5 Mar. 9 Aquinas, L 1-8 Mar. 10 Salve Regina, L 3-6 Mar. 10 Dowling, W 5-4 Mar. 12 Wesleyan, W 5-4 Mar. 12 St. Cloud St., L 2-7 Mar. 19 Northwood, L 0-9 Mar. 20 Wayne St., L 4-5 Mar. 28 Ferris St., L 3-6 Mar. 29 GVSU, L 0-9 Apr. 3 Tiffin, W 9-0 Apr. 4 Findlay, W 7-2 Apr. 10 LSSU, W 6-3 Apr. 18, 19 GLIAC tourn.

Women’s Tennis results Feb. 14 LSSU, W 5-4 Feb. 15 Minn. Dul., W 8-1 Mar. 6 Nova SE, cancelled Mar. 8 Bethel, L 0-9 Mar. 9 Chr. Newport, W 9-0 Mar. 9 MSU Mankato, W 5-4 Mar. 10 Aquinas, W 7-2 Mar. 11 Lincoln, W 9-0 Mar. 28 Minn. Dul., W 8-1 Mar. 29 St. Scholastica, L 4-5 Apr. 8 St. Cloud St., L 3-6 Lode photos by Alex Cotton Top right: Anders Sandholm gears up for a serve in a match this spring.

Left: Senior Samantha Jang-Stewart serves in a match earlier this year.

Bottom: Sophomore Nathalia Rondelli prepares for a forehand volley return in a match this spring.

Looking to build off of a strong showing the weekend before in Ohio, the men’s tennis Huskies fought hard for a 6-3 win over the Lake Superior State Lakers to finish the GLIAC season with their third consecutive win.

“It’s good that we won, but we’re not translating

our good doubles play into good singles play,” said head coach Mike Axford. “It’s good that we won, but we have to take our singles game up one more level.”

The Huskies (7-8 overall, 3-4 GLIAC) got things going quickly as senior Brandon Ellefson, who was named GLIAC Player of the Week last week, and freshman Anders Sandholm cruised to an 8-2 win over Brandon Clayton and Robert Nelson at number two doubles. The Huskies’ duo is now 8-6 on the season.

Sophomore Chris Verhulst and junior Tim Viola extended the Huskies’ lead to 2-0 as they earned an 8-3 win at number three doubles over Craid Baas and Jack Miller. The pair is now 10-5 on the season with the win.

see TENNIS 3B

Michigan Tech Spring Football Game Saturday, 1 p.m.

Sherman Field

Sports Shorts

Football is

Vlaisavljevich receives Goldwater Scholarship

Eli Vlaisavljevich

In addition to his hockey success for the Division I hockey Huskies, third-year defenseman Eli Vlaisavljevich has found tremendous academic success, earning the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship. Vlaisavljevich has earned a 4.0 on the Dean’s List every semester at Tech in biomedical engineering.

back H U S K I E S

See Page 2B for a game preview and wrap-up of the spring practice season

Ellefson earns GLIAC player of the week honors On April 8, Brandon Ellefson was named the GLIAC player of the week for the men’s tennis team.

He won 6-1, 6-1 and 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 during their road trip last weekend.

Ellefson was the first and only player from Michigan Tech to earn the honor during the GLIAC regular season schedule.

Brandon Ellefson

2B

Sports

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Michigan Tech Lode

Football team prepares for Terriers win Frozen annual spring football game Four in fitting fashion DAVER KARNOSKY Lode Writer

Lode file photos e Huskies shing attack for th bigger ru e th s ad le th ra ck Phil Milb expects even Above: Running ba added in the offseason, the team he d ee sp and with the th this coming fall. things from Milbra brates a ck Steve Short cele Bobby Slowik.

Right: Quarterba er iv ce re de ll with wi touchdown last fa

STEPHEN ANDERSON Sports Editor This Saturday will mark the culmination of spring football practices for Head Coach Tom Kearly’s football squad, as they will take to Sherman Field for the annual spring game, with kickoff slated for 1 p.m.

“Saturday is for the players,” said Kearly. “We’ve had a great spring and we’ve accomplished everything we’ve wanted to accomplish, but the game is for the players.” The coaching staff will be divided up and several of the seniors will pick the teams for the Black and White squads.

Kearly spoke of the strong group of seniors coming back after a season in which just seven seniors graduated.

The goal of the game is to have fun, above all. “We just hope that nobody gets hurt,” said Kearly.

The team has faced several injuries this spring, but none to this point that will affect the team when the fall season comes around. Quarterback Steve Short has sat out of spring practices as a precautionary measure, but

Full Throttle Motorcycle Club to sponsor stunt show for Spring Fling

Kearly assured that he would be ready for the fall.

QB Brent Heim has done a great job leading the No. 1 offense in his stead.

In addition to Heim, several players have impressed the coaching staff this spring.

“Phil Milbrath has had a great spring this year,” said Kearly. “He has always had quick feet, but this spring he has gotten a lot faster and has improved his breakaway speed.” Defensive end Todd Storm, linebacker Justin Armstrong and senior safety David Carmody have also had a standout spring.

Even though it has been a long winter, the new turf was plowed off so that the team was able to hold all their spring practices outdoors, greatly increasing the effectiveness of the spring season, which in past years has been forced indoors due to lingering

The Editors Shootout is a competition of knowledge, luck and wits between contributor, Richard Goodell, copy editor, Michael Babcock, the sports editor, Stephen Anderson and the opinion editor, Rob Devaun. Last year Stephen squeaked out victory with the Red Wings winning the Cup. This will be a weekly feature where each editor picks his winners of the three biggest games/series of the week and backs up his decisions with a short rant. THIS WEEK: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers (series), Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat (series), Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals (4 games)

ROBERT DEVAUN Opinion Editor 2-1 Last Week, 47-31 Overall

FULL THROTTLE MOTORCYCLE CLUB On Friday, April 17 the Full Throttle Motorcycle Club of MTU will be hosting a motorcycle stunt show featuring two-time World Trials Champion Tommi Ahvala from Finland. There will be three performances starting at noon, 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.

The event is free and will be located in Lot 27 between the Memorial Union Building and the Administration Building.

snow.

The game will feature four 15-minute quarters with running time, except possibly during the last couple minutes of each quarter for practice in clutch situations. All fans are encouraged to check out the reloaded Huskies football team this Saturday. Coming off an 8-3 season, Tech should be ready to be a heavy contender in the GLIAC this fall.

This year’s NCAA Frozen Four ended the way it should have with the No. 1 seed in the tournament winning, but not without fighting through a pair of one-goal games. The Boston University Terriers needed a comeback and overtime to get past the pesky Miami University Redhawks, 4-3, Saturday night in Washington, D.C. The Terriers (35-6-4 overall) took an early lead as Chris Connolly netted the game’s only goal of the first period at 15:15.

The Redhawks (23-13-5 overall) netted the game’s next three goals and appeared to have the game well in hand.

Gary Steffes evened the game just 2:01 into the second period. The game remained deadlocked at 1-1 until Tommy Wingels, one of the Redhawks’ outstanding sophomore class, notched his 11th of the season at 12:31 of the third.

Trent Vogelhuber notched what appeared to be the icing on the cake at 15:52 and the Redhawks appeared to be home free.

Crafty veteran coach Jack Parker pulled goaltender Kieran Millan with 3:32 remaining, and the move paid off not once, but twice, as Zach Cohen and Nick Bonino scored 42 seconds apart in the final minute of regulation.

Just under 12 minutes into overtime, Colby Cohen, who was later named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, fired a shot that deflected off a Redhawks defender and past Kevin Roeder, the Redhawks netminder, sealing the fifth national title in Terriers’ history.

The Terriers also needed to comeback against the Vermont University Catamounts on Thursday to advance to the title game with a 5-4 win.

Colin Wilson and Jason Lawrence scored 5:08 minutes apart in the first period, and the Terriers appeared ready to cruise to the finals.

The Catamounts (22-12-5 overall) answered with four goals in the second and third periods to take the 4-3 lead. Wahsontiio Stacey scored first for the Catamounts before Justin Milo and Josh Burrows scored 45 seconds apart.

Vinny Saponari evened the game with his power play marker 18:39 of the second, setting up an epic third period.

Drew MacKenzie gave the Catamounts the lead again as he notched a power play goal at 9:40.

The Terriers needed to dig deep and they did just that, scoring twice in 1:13 as Chris Higgins evened the game and Wilson netted his second goal of the game for the win.

The Redhawks advanced to their first-ever championship game as they got three goals in the second period en route to a 4-1 win over the Bemidji State University Beavers, the first team to make it to the Frozen Four as the 16th overall seed in the tournament.

Wingels scored the first of his two goals on the power play, 3:56 into the second period. Alden Hirschfeld extended the Redhawks’ lead with his goal at 8:35.

Matt Read got the Beavers (20-16-1 overall) back into the game with his power play marker at 9:46.

The Redhawks regained their two-goal lead a minute later as Bill Loupee scored.

Beavers’ head coach Tom Serratore pulled Matt Dalton in an attempt to even the game, but the move backfired as Wingels buried an empty netter at 17:52.

STEPHEN ANDERSON Sports Editor 3-0 Last Week, 43-35 Overall

MICHAEL H. BABCOCK Copy Editor 2-1 Last Week, 41-37 Overall

RICHARD GOODELL Contributor

1-2 Last Week, 36-42 Overall

Penguins are going to have their work cut out for them, but I don’t see the Flyers competing with their Crosby/ Malkin lines. Not to mention, Fluery is a playoff tender who still has last season’s disappointing finish on the brain. Go Wade! Lead the Heat past the Hawks!

I’m not a huge fan of either the cubs, but as a KC fan, I’ll always cheer against the Cards. Stephen, I know it’s not over till it’s over... but buddy... it’s over.

Penguins 4-2 Heat 4-3 Cubs 3-1

This will be an intense conclusion (you’ll have to tune in online in a couple weeks to see the final standings), and possibly only one result will be in print next week. I’m going to take the Pens to advance to the conference finals (as you’ll see across the page), but only after a tough first-round bout. Despite Wade’s effort, Hawks advance. Finally, I think the Cubs will use the Wrigley advantage well.

Penguins 4-2 Hawks 4-2 Cubs 3-1

Where’s the Paper Twirling in this weeks list? (see: Youtube.com, search: Paper Twirling) Weak matchups between teams with no hope in the long run.

However, these will be tight this week with the Penguins pulling away from the Flyers in the Pennsylvania state finals, Heat edging the Hawks and the Cubbies pulling away with four one-run wins over the Cardinals

Penguins 4-3 Heat 4-2 Cubs 4-0

Ric wasn’t able to make his picks this week, so his record is left up to you. Think you can improve his record? ...It shouldn’t be too hard.

Sports

Michigan Tech Lode

UPCOMING EVENTS Away WED

THURS

FRI

Home

OFF

SAT

SUN

MON

Tennis from 1B TUE

MEN’S TENNIS at GLIAC tourn.

at GLIAC tourn.

GLIAC MEN’S TENNIS STANDINGS Team Northwood Ferris State Grand Valley State Wayne State Michigan Tech Lake Superior State Findlay Tiffin

GLIAC 6-0 6-1 5-2 4-3 3-4 2-5 1-5 0-7

Pct. 1.000 .857 .714 .571 .429 .286 .167 .000

Overall 13-1 11-6 18-7 5-10 7-8 6-9 8-8 1-20

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Pct. .929 .647 .720 .333 .467 .400 .500 .048

Last Week: April 3 MICHIGAN TECH 6, Lake Superior State 3 This Week: April 18-19 GLIAC Tournament, all day

Marc’s MLS picks

The Huskies completed the sweep of the doubles matches as senior Brett Girard and freshman Douglas Yossida defeated Razvan Mag and Pawel Wegrzyn, 8-5, at number one doubles. With the win, the duo is now 9-6 on the season.

In the singles matches, the Huskies won at numbers four, five and six singles, but dropped the matches at numbers one, two and three.

Ellefson made short work of Nelson at number four singles, 6-3, 6-3. Ellefson is now 4-9 on the season after the win.

Verhulst needed three sets to get past Baas, falling 1-6 in the first set before battling to wins of 6-4 and 6-3 in number five singles. Verhulst leads the Huskies with 12 wins in singles play.

“Chris has played really solid (this year),” said Axford.

“He learned a lot last year and he’s translated that into playing a lot better this year.”

Senior Alan Parenteau took his first set 6-1, dropped his second in a tiebreaker, 6-7 (2-7), and then won 6-3 over Miller at number six singles.

With the victory, Parenteau is now 7-1.

Yossida was the other Huskies singles player to end up in a third set, but he couldn’t come away with the tiebreaker in the deciding set, falling

3B

Lode photo by Alex Cotton Anders Sandholm returns a forehand volley in a home match this year. The team completed its regular season and will now head to the GLIAC tournament this weekend.

to Clayton, 6-2, 5-7, 6-7 (68).

With the win, the Huskies secured fifth place in the GLIAC heading into the GLIAC Tournament on April 18-19. The first round opponent for the Huskies will likely be the Wayne State Warriors, who squeezed out a 5-4 win in the Gate Tennis Center over the Huskies on March 20.

The top six singles players for the Warriors (5-9 overall, 4-2 GLIAC) are Bertrand

Moulin, Johan Maubacq, Kevin Turnbull, Eric Szydlowski, Roberto Gomez and Michael Savalle, respectively.

The Huskies only won two of those matchups in March.

Should the Huskies knock off the Warriors, it’s expected that the Huskies would then face the No. 12 Northwood Timberwolves. The Timberwolves (12-1 overall, 5-0 GLIAC) are well on their way towards winning the GLIAC Title for the 15th straight season.

MARC SANKO Lode Writer The fourth week of MLS play turned into the week of the draw as five of the seven matches last Saturday had tie scores when the final whistle blew. Those results killed my record and didn’t give me a lot to analyze going into this week.

Ridge Roamers host climbing competition

Last Week’s record: 2-5 Overall: 14-15 New England Revolution @ DC United

New England escaped last week by sitting out with a bye.

United was one of two unfortunate teams to end the week with a loss, falling 2-1 to Real Salt Lake. Coming home should be a big boost as DCU may not have that opportunity much longer with rumors of the team moving out of town.

Revs 0 – DCU 2

Real Salt Lake @ New York Red Bulls

Real travels to the Big Apple to take on the Red Bulls who may have been the luckiest team to draw last weekend as they are still winless on the year. Salt Lake is off to a good start, but I have to believe the Red Bulls will start clicking soon.

Real 1 – Red Bulls 2

Kansas City Wizards @ Chicago Fire

Undefeated Chicago will play host to maybe one of the more exciting games of the weekend as the red hot Wizard roll into town. Kansas City last weekend became the first team to beat Seattle and now will try to do the same to Chicago; however, the firepower of Chicago will be too much.

Wizard 1 – Fire 3

Los Angeles Galaxy @ San Jose Earthquakes

Galaxy played an incredibly sloppy game (two men ejected during the course of the 90 minutes), but still managed to gain a draw out of it. The Quakes meanwhile matched the Fire goal for goal at home last week; they will show that power again.

Galaxy 0 – Quakes 2

Seattle Sounders @ Chivas USA

Sounders are human after all! Dropping their first game of the year against Kansas City may have them feeling unsure about how good they really are. Chivas on the other hand must be disappointed by drawing a Galaxy team that played with nine men. With that, Sounders can pull the upset.

Sounders 2 – Chivas 1

Colorado Rapids @ Houston Dynamo

Dynamo drew New York at home, not a good result considering they should have won a home result against an inept club like New York. Rapids meanwhile landed a draw against the defending champions, Columbus Crew, in Columbus. Unlike the Dynamo draw, this one is better as Rapids were the visiting team.

Rapids 3 – Dynamo 2

Toronto FC @ FC Dallas

This is a rematch of last week’s collision in Toronto. TFC should have had 3 goals in the first 15 minutes but couldn’t finish it; one was an open net opportunity. Those misses allowed Dallas to stay in the game long enough to poach a goal at the end; TFC won’t make the same mistake again.

TFC 2 – FCD 1

Lode photo by Jake Mohan Michigan Tech Ridge Roamers Climbing Club hosted a climbing competition on Saturday. Climbers from all skill levels competed to see who could climb the farthest up the wall in the Student Development Complex.

Melissa Willet, JD Dennison and Kane Johnson are pictured from left to right.

Kane earned second place in the advanced division, the highest of all Tech students.

JD, a high school student from Troy, Mich. won third place in the beginner division.

The Ridge Roamers host club nights every Wednesday and Thursday from 7-9 p.m. in the SDC. All are welcome to attend. Equipment is provided.Visit climb.mtu.edu for more information.

NBA and NHL playoff predictions 1 San Jose Sharks 8 Anaheim Ducks 4 Chic. Blackh.

5 Calgary Flames 2 Det. Red Wings 7 Col. Blue Jack.

3 Vanc. Canucks 6 St. Louis Blues

Boston Bruins

San Jose Sharks San Jose Sharks

Pitts. Peng.

Chic. Blackh.

Pitts. Peng.

Det. Red Wings

Wash. Capitals Det. Red Wings

Wash. Capitals NJ Devils

Vanc. Canucks

The Wings are the most experienced team and they are primed for a repeat. As impressive STEPHEN ANDERSON as San Jose has been, and as marketable as the Pens and Caps Sports Editor are, experience matters.

1 LA Lakers 8 Utah Jazz 4 Portl. Trailbl.

5 San Ant. Spurs 2 Denv. Nuggets 7 Dallas Maver.

3 Houst. Rockets 6 New Orl. Horn.

Clevel. Caval.

Clevel. Caval.

Portl. Trailbl.

Atlanta Hawks

Denv. Nuggets

Boston Celtics Denv. Nuggets

New Orl. Horn.

8 Montr. Canad.

4 Pitts. Peng.

5 Philad. Flyers 2 Wash. Capitals 7 NY Rangers 3 NJ Devils 6 Carol. Hurric.

As much as I’d love to see the Pistons advance, Cleveland is so good at home, good enough to take down Kobe and crew, too.

LeBron has the talent around him this time.

LA Lakers LA Lakers

1 Boston Bruins

Boston Celtics

* NBA match-ups predicted as of press time

Orlando Magic

1 Clevel. Caval.

8 Detr. Pistons 4 Atlanta Hawks 5 Miami Heat 2 Boston Celtics 7 Philad. 76ers 3 Orlando Magic 6 Chicago Bulls

Study Break April 15 , 2009 For Sale

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Pictorial. These were reprinted after Includes water and plowing. Approximistakes were made by the production mately 3 miles from MTU. $475/mo. sta.

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Help Wanted The Michigan Tech Lode is hiring for all writing positions. If you're interested in writing and would like to network in our campus community, all while making a little bit of money, apply today and we'll get you started. If interested visit our employment page at mtulode.com.

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PHD Comics by Jorge Cham

Pulse APRIL 15, 2009

Danny Messinger, Pulse Editor - DMMESSIN@mtu.edu

Annual gender-bender Ask enlightens and entertains Sally SALLY SANDERSON

Keweenaw Pride hosts ninth-annual drag show for Pride Week ALLEN BEVERLY Guest Writer On Friday, April 10, Keweenaw Pride hosted the ninth annual drag show. The drag show is the grand finale of Pride Week. It is a fabulous celebration of the many differences that make the GLBT community as diverse as the rainbow.

This year the show featured two queens that have not performed at Michigan Tech before as well as two that are now icons of the show here.

Miss Joey Black has been the mistress of ceremonies for Tech’s drag show since its first year. She has been performing in drag since 1985 after competing in an amateur competition in 1985 at the La’Cage club in Milwaukee. Though Joey no longer performs full time, she still uses her charm to promote fundraisers and do shows for both Michigan Tech and Northern.

Candi Stratton has been coming to Tech for many years now as it is now one of her favorite shows. Candi has been doing professional drag since the early 1980s and has gone on to win

over 40 titles including Miss Gay Australia and Miss Gay Universe. Miss Stratton now resides in Minneapolis performing at the Gay 90s.

Miss Cass Marie Domino made her Michigan Tech debut this year. Cass performs professionally at Club 5 in Madison, Wis. She has also become the premier AIDS activist in Madison. Throughout her career, Cass Marie has also won many titles at both the state and national levels.

Genevee Love rounded out the cast with her Michigan Tech Debut. Also hailing from Minneapolis, Genevee performs at the Gay 90s as a member of the La Femme Show. She wows crowds with her edgy performances of current pop stars and fabulous fashion.

The show was packed throughout the night as the queens performed songs from Poker Face by Lady Gaga to Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds by the Beatles. Each number received roaring applause as the queens brought down the house.

All of the Drag queens would like to thank Keweenaw Pride and Michigan Tech for bringing them to town for the show and cannot wait to be here again.

Lode Writer

Dear Sally, My guy friend is really creepy.

He asks me for girl advice all the time, and I don’t know how to tell him that he creeps on girls and makes them uncomfortable. I know he’s harmless, but I wish he would stop. He’s a nice guy, just very clingy. How can I make him aware of his creepiness without hurting his feelings?

Dear Cling Wrap,

Above: Drag show performer Genevee Love entertains crowds in the MUB Ballroom on Friday night. Love was one of four performers to visit Michigan Tech as part of Keweenaw Pride’s ninth annual Drag Show.

Photo by Lindsey Kenyon

Gossip Girl fails to impress DAN BOYER Lode Writer There are enough reasons not to like Gossip Girl, Josh Schwartz’s follow-up to The OC. The rough edges of Cecily von Ziegesar’s shocking and beloved novels about high-class Upper East Side prep schools and proletarian Brooklyn have been sanded smooth, perhaps for a nervous network. Vanessa’s shaved head has grown a lot of beautiful hair. Charming details are erased – brilliant Ed Westwick’s Chuck Bass still drips with evil, but his monkey-in-matching attire is MIA. Part-time pot smoker Nate Archibald’s mother has been demoted from princess to American royalty. Pointedly, the touch football is very rough, although with remarkable inau-

thenticity, the Vanderbilt’s JC Penney Stafford “crest” embroiders a blazer given to femaleline Nate.

Why watch this show, in which the invisible title character relentlessly destroys people and cripples their reputations on her Web site? After all, adoption plots are seemingly copied from the new 90210. And Manhattan prep-school girls’ tedious power-plays for seats higher or lower on museum steps, eating their yogurt, sometimes grate in its immaturity. Their trivial if scarring victories are too easily won and lost, a parallel to girlfriends and boyfriends shuffled and reshuffled with an ease not just shallow, but at times artificial. It reminds you of the show’s cynically marketed soundtrack of irrelevant music.

Why watch this show? Blake Lively’s Serena van der Woodson. She is flawed and lumi-

nous and the magical beauty whose mysterious flight from and mysterious return to New York began the series.

You never question her as a dream girl’s (of aspiring poet Dan Humphreys) very embodiment. Dan Humphrey’s gallerist father Rufus, former B-list ‘90s rock guitarist, is in a really boring romance with his exphotographer, Serena’s mother Lily. You even miss dead Bart Bass, his billions built on an arson that clouded his past and imperiled his future.

Other faint lights are Jessica Szohr’s underemployed bohemian-next-door Vanessa and the wonderful job Taylor Momsen does playing the enterprising, sometimes sarcastic Jenny Humphrey. Blair Waldorf ’s maid Dorota’s (Zuzanna Szadkowski) personality and subtle humor also make her an exceptional character. (Dorota’s story

is extended on the Web beyond the main program.)

It has to be said that the often unlikable characters have a depth and dimension that frequently lend them a surprising sympathy. But neither this, nor the art, nor the style, nor the hip restaurants at which girls dine quite make the show.

The program lives on scandal and is even sold as sensational with sex and opium. It is still marked but the strange imaginative restraint characteristic of TV. For the most part, what befalls the characters is cut short by rescues we sometimes regret.

Every strong arc, such as Jenny Humphrey’s living on the streets for about five minutes, is followed up by many more that are mere shadowboxing.

Schwartz has gone wrong in ways he did not in The OC.

Michigan Tech’s own Ghostbusters JEREMIAH BAUMANN Online Editor Over the past year, the Michigan Tech student organization HAPI (Houghton Alliance of Paranormal Investigators) has been quite busy doing paranormal investigations and research. You may have seen people wearing their black uniform shirts with the ghost logo on them. You might have also seen them at some of the student organization fairs. So what is HAPI, and what exactly have they been up to lately?

HAPI is a student organization at Michigan Tech that was started in the summer of 2007.

They have been doing investigations all over the UP, including digging into local landmarks and the famous Paulding Light. HAPI is open to all Tech students and faculty/staff.

They use scientific equipment and reasoning to try to debunk paranormal activity claims. It is

only when the evidence collected can’t be explained by science that the organization accepts it as paranormal and completes follow-up research.

In the past year, the team has had a number of investigations in the Keweenaw area. They were called in to investigate the old Portage Hospital, which is now a building on Finlandia’s campus. This investigation took the team to the top three floors, which still were full of old hospital equipment, including the old operating rooms and the intensive care unit. After spending the night there, HAPI did recover some odd voice recordings that they are looking into further.

HAPI also made a house call to a private residence in Calumet where many odd things were happening to a family there. HAPI went in and was able to come up with scientific reasoning for these occurrences ranging from moving shadows on the walls of a bedroom (which were explained by a re-

Sincerely, Cling Wrap

flection of passing cars outside bouncing through a cracked window) and claims of having clothing tugged on in the attic (which was due to the many nails that had penetrated the shingles, pushing through into the attic).

The most recent investigation took the team to one of the buildings owned by the Laurium Manor Inn. The night’s data is still under review.

With these investigations completed and a few more on the horizon, HAPI will surely stay busy in the Keweenaw over the summer.

With investigator numbers limited over the summer, HAPI welcomes new members to contact them about joining HAPI and all that it entails. Look for HAPI at Spring Fling on Friday or visit their Web site at www. houghtonparanormal.org.

I would go about the subject carefully. He might not understand that he creeps girls out with his behavior. Use some of his specific behavior traits as examples of what not to do.

For example, if he’s one of those clingers that, when at a party with his girl, he stays near her side the entire time and continually holds on to her, tell him that most girls like a guy who’s a little more hands-off.

Next, tell him some traits that are well received by girls and encourage him to incorporate those into his pick-up routine.

You might want to concentrate on things he does that are creepy and find the opposite for this part of the talk. For example, if he is really emotionally invested in the relationship after a short amount of time, tell him that holding out on falling head over heels is a safer bet and will most likely keep his girl around longer.

Try to be as inoffensive as possible, but get your subject across. If your friend is a harmless guy with a good heart, he should accept your advice and hopefully he’ll change his ways.

Dear Sally, My mom is coming to visit me at Michigan Tech. I’m trying to have all my friends hide their drinking and birth control and cigarettes so my mom won’t think I’m hanging out with a bad crew. My friends aren’t alcoholic sluts or anything, but I want my mom to think I am pure and don’t do anything wrong, ever. My friends think I’m crazy.

How can I explain that it is really important?

Sincerely, Robo-Tripper Dear Robo-Tripper, Your friends will respect your decision if you explain how important it is. You might have to tell them multiple times, but I’m sure after a while they’ll understand. Start with reversing the situation: ask them if they would expect you to change your ways when their parents are visiting; most of them probably would. If you have to, just clean up their stuff for them; chances are if you take the initiative, they’ll follow suit.

If they still don’t respond to your continued pleads for decency, just tell your mom that your friends’ habits aren’t necessarily your own: you don’t drink, have sex or smoke cigarettes, you just hang out and live with a bunch of girls who do. Hopefully your mom will buy the story, but even if she doesn’t, you covered your butt.

As for your mom never finding out that you do wrong, you might want to just come clean.

You’re in college and you’re slowly but surely becoming an adult, so when else are you going to admit to your parents that sometimes you get a little crazy and aren’t completely pure?

6B

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

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Pale Young Gentleman Pale Young Gentleman ended the two day concert extravaganza taking place in McArdle Theatre last Friday and Saturday. The band, hailing from Madison, Wisc. shared their unique indie rock style with the Michigan Tech community.

Mike Reisenauer, right, showed his versatility by performing lead vocals, guitar and piano. Also making the trip to the UP for Pale Young Gentleman was Matt Reisenauer (percussion), below, Beth Morgan (vocals, cello), above, and Gwendolyn Miller (viola, bell kit).

Listen and find out more at:

Michigan Tech Lode

AWESOME

EWEEN AN

Pulse

www.paleyounggentleman.com

T SUCCESS

Photos and layout by Alex Cotton

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