02/17/2015

PAGE 10

Valentine’s Day media defines our idea of romance

February 17, 2015

PAGE 4

Leaders in Continuous Improvement

PAGE 15

Men’s Basketball on a win streak heading towards GLIAC Tournament

Photo by Pratik Joshi

2

NEWS

Tuesday, February 17

The world at a glance RAND SILVERS Editor in Chief

Libya

Italy officially pulled staff from its embassy in Tripoli, the Libyan capital, on Sunday. The Italian embassy was the last western embassy still operating in the conflict-torn country.

On the same day, Italian coast guard and other vessels rescued more than 2,000 refugees attempting to cross the Mediterranean to the southern European country in what has been described by UN officials as “the most dangerous route in the world.” Last week, more than 300 refugees died when their overloaded inflatable boats were destroyed in stormy weather.

Refugees have been fleeing the violence that has erupted in the four years since the overthrow of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Militia groups involved in the NATO-supported uprising failed to coalesce around the elected government, which now rules out of the eastern city of Bayda after being driven from the capitol.

The elected government, recognized by western countries, is involved in a power struggle with a rival government set up in Tripoli as well as various militant groups across the country.

Several militant groups have announced themselves to be in support of ISIS, including the group which executed 21 Coptic Christians that had been captured last month in Egypt.

The groups have said they support the ISIS mission of restoring an Islamic Caliphate.

One casualty of the conflicts has been Libya’s oil industry. Production has fallen by over 80 percent due to attacks on infrastructure, and the National Oil Corporation has actually had to import gas. Oil historically represents more than 90 percent of national revenues, and international observers fear that there cannot be a meaningful state without restored production.

Fears for the stability of the country and the region have provoked talk of a UN peacekeeping mission. On Friday, Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni expressed willingness to lead such a mission, the first specific indication of the sort.

Michigan Tech Lode

Where did I leave my…

Students and statistics indicate Tech is a particularly safe campus SYLVANA FINKBEINER Lode Writer Just last semester, as a freshman just barely grasping the flow of college, I really displayed my responsibility losing my Husky Card within the first month of college. Even after all this time, it never shown its face, rather my face, in sight. The $15 dollar purchase to replace my access to food, free hockey games, discounted events, and more continued to convince me the true value of keeping a little tighter responsibility on my possessions.

Some things are lost and to never be found (my love life, anyone?), but for most items missing from possession, MTU keeps a temporary home for missing goods in several locations around campus.

As student in the dorms, found items can be retrieved usually at the reception desk or at Res Life office in 153 West WADS. When found and taken to the desk, the attendant will record the item,

“I can have my laptop or tablet out at the library, get up to go somewhere, and not worry about someone stealing it. When I lose items, [most cases] they are in the lost and found or someone returns it to me. Even the most valuable hiking sock I lost earlier this year.”

-Kat Bristol, First Year Studen

along with a brief description under the Super Ledger to keep collection until retrieved.

Major value items with monetary value greater than $20, purses and keys other than room keys will be taken to public safety within 48 hours of intake for temporary storage. Room keys are kept until the key number is identified by staff at Res Life. Minor items such as empty backpacks or costume jewelry are kept for a minimum of 30 days and then taken

The Student Development Complex is one of the many places on campus where students can find a lost and found bin.

Photo by Sylvana Finkbeiner

to local charity store such as Goodwill.

For items lost not in dorms, multiple spots around campus keep unclaimed items. The lost and found for the following locations are as follows: at the SDC in the ticket office or multipurpose room, at the MUB in the Memorial Union and dining Services Office, and at the library in the Circulation Desk. Most items are kept at these places for 30 days then donated to local charity. Bike registration with MTU also keeps a free track of your bike in case lost or stolen.

Although it is difficult to account for all robbery on a college campus, crime statistics gathered from university websites recorded that Lake Superior State

University had two thievery incidents, while Michigan State University reported 14 and MTU reported none in the past three years. Even in comparison to LSSU’s smaller campus of around 5,000, Tech is particularly safe college.

“I can have my laptop or tablet out at the library, get up to go somewhere, and not worry about someone stealing it.

When I lose items, [most cases] they are in the lost and found or someone returns it to me. Even the most valuable hiking sock I lost earlier this year,” says Kat Bristol, first year student at Tech.

Public Safety encourages student to keep eye on their items and to not be too lenient, regardless of the reports.

Michigan Tech Lode

NEWS

Tuesday, February 17

3

Graphics courtesy of http://s1070.photobucket.com/user/jacobsoncomm/library/TrustLeaf

No luck at career fair? Don’t fret!

More and more young people are starting their own businesses. It’s no wonder why; there are a wealth of new technological tools to help. TrustLeaf co-founder Daniel Lieser shares some important tips for using those tools to the best advantage.

DANIEL LIESER Courtesy of TrustLeaf Crowdfunding is back in a big way and with the recent success of “the most successful Kickstarter campaign ever,” created by The Oatmeal’s Matthew Inman and which is now making headlines, let’s take a moment and discuss what “the rest of us” can do to make our Kickstarter campaigns work for us–even if we don’t have the almighty power of Exploding Kittens game cards or fancy hand-hewn graphics.

There are many reasons to love (or not love) Kickstarter, but for those of us statistics dorks who thrive off of endless Excel spreadsheets, there is one aspect in particular in which Kickstarter rules all….data.

And if you are thinking about starting your own Kickstarter, that data can help you with perhaps the most elementary of choices: what to call your Kickstarter project.

A Rose By Any Other Name Receives Less Funding

So…which awesome keywords perform the best? Actually, ‘best‘ and ‘awesome‘ perform great, but ‘super‘ tops the list of the qualitative adjectives we tested, at 1,223% of their projects’

goals. Among the worst in this category were ‘spectacular‘ and ‘marvelous‘, both averaging only 76% of their stated goal amounts.

As you notice, I include both the average amount raised as well as the average % of goal raised. For the most part I focus on the % of goal raised, since Kickstarter’s all-or-nothing model rewards only those who reach at least 100% of their goal.

A ‘Geeky Gadget’ is better than a ‘Nerdy Device’

Geek chic is alive and well on KS, with nerds next in line, followed by the destitute dorks. But regardless of what kind of social misfit best embodies your particular product, be sure NOT to call your product a gizmo or thingy (I didn’t get around to test do-hickey, thingamajig, or whatchamacallit). Drones of course perform extremely well. Gadgets are bit cooler than devices.

Most surprisingly, people will actually give you money if you promise them an apparatus. Personal experience, however, has led me to believe that while this may work on Kickstarter, it produces mixed results when offered to strangers on the street.

In the land of Kickstarter, the Swiss are anything but neutral

When it comes to nationality, just like

with banking, people love to give money to the Swiss, or anything with Swiss in the name. Despite this outlier, we found that nationalities in general were far less effective than other types of adjectives.

So instead of launching your “French Energy Drink” project you might want to emphasize a different product quality, like “Sparkling Energy Drink”. Or even better, don’t invest in a French business (je suis desolé).

Kickstarter is sick of pizza.

How ’bout them apples?

Have you ever noticed tons of neighborhood pizzerias trying to get funding from Kickstarter? Well, apparently the donors have too. Pizza is one of the lowest performing common food items we found. Nice and healthy apples are only marginally better.

So if you are trying to cook up a profitable Kickstarter campaign, be sure to pick a more interesting flavor or food item. Grapefruit andpomegranate are good flavors. Organic slightly edges out Kosher. And gluten-free appears to have just as many enemies as friends.

These stats were gathered with the help of KickSpy, which keeps a record of all projects ever posted on Kickstarter in an easy search format. It should be noted that my research here was hardly scientific (or more precisely…not scientific at all), though I tried to only

use keywords with enough projects to be statistically significant. I focused on projects in USD that completed their campaign and either succeeded or failed (not paused or canceled).

About TrustLeaf

TrustLeaf is a new funding service that helps self-started businesses and entrepreneurs get starter loans from friends and family, without straining their relationships. Because loaning money to friends and family for new ventures can be tough on relationships, TrustLeaf formalizes personal loan agreements, keeping money far away from affecting relationships, so entrepreneurs can get their business going and friends and family can feel more secure.

Borrowers and Lenders Worry.

TrustLeaf Can Help.

Six million small business are started annually in the United States. 2.3 million of these small businesses are started with loans from friends and family.

65% of those who borrow from friends and family worry about how borrowing money will affect their relationships.

TrustLeaf helps entrepreneurs get organized and present professional looking proposals to friends and family.

TrustLeaf also offers help formalizing verbal loan agreements from people who’ve already lent money.

For more stories about small business entrepreneurship, check out blog.trustleaf.com

4

Tuesday, February 17

NEWS

Michigan Tech Lode

Student Org Spotlight

Leaders in Continuous Improvement The organization started in the fall of 2013 by the Continuous Improvement office who reached out to students EVAN MAYER Lode Writer Time is money as the old saying goes.

In today’s world, those that are efficient also tend to be those that are the most successful in their chosen careers. To learn the skills to be efficient can be a bit difficult though, because no classes are designed around pure efficiency. A student organization though is and it is helping give these skills to the future leaders of their professions.

The Leaders in Continuous Improvement’s program revolves around increasing efficiency through lean manufacturing and Six Sigma. Lean manufacturing is a systematic method for the elimination of waste within a manufacturing process and increasing customer value and Six Sigma is a set of techniques and tools for process improvement.

The organization, which started in the fall of 2013, came about as the result of Continuous Improvement office looking to branch out to the students. To do this they enlisted the help of students working in the office to form the group, among these students was Kaylee Betzinger.

“The club may not seem very exciting initially because it’s more academic based,” said Betzinger. “What needs to be realized is the benefits of the tools that we are learning will be beneficial for the rest of your life. They are skills that will you need to be used in an internship, job, or career and learning them now can give you an advantage over other people vying for the same positions.”

The club began by holding bi-monthly meetings. At these meetings, a tool or concept is introduced and then it is discussed to look for real world applications. Faculty members

and other members of the community also come in to guest lecture.

The Leaders in Continuous Improvement do not want to just be a group that gets lectured at; they are always looking for opportunities to use the skills they are learning. One of the skills they have practice is called the Five S’s.

These five terms are sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain. To practice they went in a faculty member’s office for one hour every week and go through one of the S’s in order to reorganize the faculty member’s office to

be the most efficient for her.

Another one of the projects the club has undertaken is teaming up with 31 Backpacks. 31 Backpacks is an organization that goes to elementary schools in the area and pack backpacks full of food for students who are less fortunate.

The Leaders in Continuous Improvement are looking to use this project as a means to utilize their improvement skills.

The club is still relatively small with currently only around 15 members, but they are always looking to expand. The club is welcoming to all majors, but the

member demographic is mostly made up of engineers due to their use of Six Sigma terms.

To join the club, attend a meeting, which are held every other Monday, with the next meeting being on Feb 23.

By attending the meeting, an interested individual gets added to the email list so they can stay in the loop with all the club’s happenings.

For those looking to join a club that will give them the tools to succeed in their chosen profession, give the Leaders in Continuous Improvement a chance.

“What needs to be realized is the benefits of the tools that we are learning will be beneficial for the rest of your life. They are skills that will you need to be used in an internship, job, or career and learning them now can give you an advantage over other people vying for the same positions.”

-Kaylee Betzinger

NEWS

Michigan Tech Lode

Tuesday, February 17

5

The energy crisis that wasn’t While energy conflicts have been stirring in Midwest government, Upper Peninsula Michigan residents were possibly in the path for an increase in energy bills SYLVANA FINKBEINER Lode Writer While energy conflicts have been stirring in Midwest government, Upper Peninsula Michigan residents were possibly in the path for an increase in energy bills. What was almost a $400 increase on the average homeowner’s electric bill in 2015 can be attributed to the controversial status of Marquette’s Presque Isle Power Plant, originally the main supplier of electrical energy to the UP. The story begins with Cliffs Natural Resources, which runs the Tilden and Empire iron ore mines. Cliffs remains one of the largest electrical energy consumers in the UP. Traditionally, Cliffs had purchased their energy from Presque Isle, but changes to Michigan law allowed them to switch to an outside provider called Integrys.

The loss of their largest customer was only the most recent of Presque Isle’s problems. The plant is very old, expensive, and recent environmental regulations are going to require significant upgrades. Under pressure from stakeholders, it was decided in early 2014 that the plant should be shut down.

Before this could be done, however, the Midwest Independent System Operator [MISO] entered the scene. MISO is an independent organization recognized by the Federal government as a Regional Transmission Operator, responsible for

maintaining a secure, unbiased energy grid across state boundaries.

Late in 2014, MISO ruled that the Presque Isle plant was a System Support Resource, necessary for maintaining the electrical grid in the UP. This meant that the plant could not be shut down. But the costs associated with keeping the plant running were enormous.

Traditionally, 92 percent of the yearly $97 million cost to keep the plant running has been charged to Wisconsin Electric [WE] and only 8 percent to Upper Peninsula Power Company [UPPCo]. Objections from Wisconsin Public Service Commission to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission pushed MISO to allocate at first 58 percent and then to 99 percent of costs to the UP. Substantial financial effects were planned to take effect with beginning Dec 1, 2014. Estimates include increase of $700 dollar per month to small businesses and thirty dollar per month increase to residents. Lake Superior State University expected an extra $400,000 payment.

“The total impact to MTU... was difficult to determine. The range was calculated at between $300,000 and $600,000, contributed about half the total to Presque Isle,” said Dave Taivalkoski, Director of Energy Management and

Sustainability.

Fortunately, it seems that all these extra costs are going to be avoided, largely due to negotiations led by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s office. There are four agreements in development.

While the details have yet to be worked out, all parties involved have expressed consensus on the main ideas.

First, WE will sell retail business and Presque Isle to UPPCo, keeping current rates but terminating any extra costs. Secondly, Cliffs will purchase the majority of its power from Presque Isle until the plant’s planned closure in 2020. Thirdly, Cliffs will collaborate with Invenergy to construct new gas cogent plant allowing Presque Isle to retire without undermining the electric grid. Finally, government parties will agree to not object WE’s new merger with Integrys if everything works out according to plan.

Michigan Tech used to receive energy from UPPCo until switching in 2014 to downstate energy provider, Wolverine.

Since then, Tech energy expenditures have been lowered by nearly two-thirds, even though energy usage increased nearly 1,000 KWH. Since Wolverine joined in co-op with WE, the expenses from power plant shutdown could affect Tech, but energy conservation plans are

always in progress.

“We’ve been working on a lot of lighting retrofits and HVAC retrofits all over campus. It’s targeted to where we can find really good paybacks,” said Taivalkoski.

Along with Presque Isle situation, Tech keeping other activity on their radar. “[Tech’s] contract with Wolverine ends in 2016. There are other factors coming into play…Michigan’s [renewable portfolio standard] is set to run out in 2015. The legislator and governor are looking at how they are going to set up Michigan energy programs. [Also], in March 2016, MISO plants will be shut down. Then, MISO will have a new capacity auction,” said Taivalkoski.

MISO will take power requests from utilities and match with their power generations. The generators will complete by bidding into MISO market and a decision will be made based on price. New auctions can mean change where Tech will receive energy from.

“What could possibly impact Tech to a larger degree is economic. If 25 percent of MISO plants are shut down, market will tighten up. Some are projecting the Lower Peninsula will be short of capacity, other say that Michigan and Wisconsin will have sufficient capacity but tight,” said Taivalkoski.

“The total impact to MTU... was difficult to determine. The range was calculated at between $300,000 and $600,000, contributed about half the total to Presque Isle.”

Michigan Tech Lode

-Dave Taivalkoski

106 Memorial Union Building, Houghton, MI 49931 (906) 487-2404 • www.mtulode.com

Advertising - Michael Groess

Editor in Chief .........................Sasha Burnett Business Manager....................Trevyn Payne Distribution Manager.................Neil Noack Design Editor............................Kaila Pietila Media Editor..................................Pratik Joshi News Editor..................................Rand Silvers Opinion Editor.....................Adam Romanko Pulse Editor......................................Jane Kirby Sports Editor .........................Ellie Furmanski Advisor .............................................Kara Sokol

Staff Writers - Katherine Baeckeroot, Zach Evans, Sarah Harttung, Ian Hatzilias, Evan Mayer, Aric Rhodes, Autumn Channey, Parker McColl, John Reynolds, David Morehouse, Joseph Pietrzyk, Joe Andres, George Castle, Andrea Spencer, Gage Herringa, Sylvana Finkbeiner Circulation - Neil Noack, James Wood Visuals Staff - Maxwell Curtis, Colton Wesoloski, Manjusha Khaire, Margaret Darrow Copy Editors - Erin Norton, Savannah de

Luca

Opinions expressed in the Lode are not necessarily those of the student body, faculty, staff or administration of Michigan Technological University or the Michigan Tech Lode.

The Lode is designed, written and edited by Michigan Tech students.

The paper is printed every Tuesday during fall and spring semesters.

The Lode is available free of charge at drop-off sites around campus and in the surrounding community.

To the best of its ability, The Lode subscribes to the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional

Journalists.

The Lode is funded in part by the Michigan Tech Student Activity Fee. 1. lodeads@mtu.edu for submitting ads to the Lode.

2. lodesubmit@mtu.edu for submitting articles and letters to the editor.

Work submitted to the Lode should be submitted with the understanding that it may be printed by the Lode and/or posted to the Online Lode, www. mtulode.com.

The Lode reserves the right to edit submissions for length, clarity and potentially libelous material.

Submissions should not exceed 500 words.

6

PULSE

Tuesday, February 17

Brothers Burn Mountain SARAH HARTTUNG Lode Writer The Northwoods of Wisconsin can nurture more than a love for adventure.

Great music sometimes finds its way out of the thickets. The duo Brothers Burn Mountain is coming to the Orpheum Theater on Friday, February 20. Jesse and Ryan Dermody may not have grown up making music, but now they’re helping each other to grow through the medium.

Playing with his brother is one of Jesse’s favorite things about being in Brothers Burn Mountain. “It’s great to hear him,” he said about listening to his brother on vocals, bass, and guitar.

Jesse himself began on an African hand drum known as the djembe. Besides Ryan, spontaneous natural beauty, old time blues musicians, and even finding a pair of tennis shoes hanging from a telephone wire in Minnesota inspire Jesse to perform. The brothers are mostly self-taught, but help from good friends cannot be forgotten, including from each other. All of their music is original, and Jesse says “it doesn’t really fit into a genre.” In fact, their favorite genre to play? Their own. Jesse said he doesn’t want the duo “to sound like anyone but ourselves.”

Brothers Burn Mountain has never been to this part of Michigan, but they’re “really excited” to play here.

While in town, they want to hang out and give their audience a great experience. When Jesse’s in “the zone,” his brother says that he makes funny faces. “Ryan says it’s endearing, I say it’s a fault,” he mentioned. Their visit will be low-key, with a travel home back to their native Wisconsin to do some work on a log cabin.

During the summer of 2015, the brothers will be heading out west to perform a few shows in Colorado.

They’ve opened for a few big names, including Charlie Parr and others.

When asked what his favorite show was that he’s performed at, Jesse said he’s always too excited about “the next one” to have a preference. While it may be difficult to top subsequent performances, we in the U.P. can give them a run for their money. Come out to see the Brothers at the Orpheum Theater on Friday, which is in the back of The Studio Pizza in Hancock.

Michigan Tech Lode

Free Books to help heal JANE KIRBY Pulse Editor One of the biggest and perhaps bestkept secrets across our nation today is childhood sexual abuse. The Center for Disease Control estimates that in America, about 1 in 6 boys and 1 in 4 girls are sexually abused by their eighteenth birthday. Victims often feel trapped and unable to break free of their pain, leaving them in a state of despair and confusion without proper resources to help.

Organizations across Michigan Tech and the surrounding community are looking to spark the conversation about it, and ultimately help the healing process, starting next week with distributions of free books.

Starting next Monday, February 23rd,

students and community members may notice some free books available around campus. “Hush,” by Nicole Braddock Bromley will be available for students to pick up and read in various locations, including in residence halls, Counseling and Wellness, various restrooms, all Greek houses, the Canterbury house, and the Center for Diversity and Inclusion.

So what’s the big deal and why is this happening? Kayla Zuiderveen, senior medical lab science student and member of His House Christian Fellowship, explains.

His House is collaborating with other organizations in the area including Counseling and Wellness, Love Inc, Dial Help and more to distribute free books for students and the community. “Hush” is a story about the author, Bromley, who was a childhood sexual abuse victim. In

the book she exposes the harsh realities of being a childhood abuse victim, and how it has forever altered her life. Through telling her story, she aims to empower other survivors and lead them towards healing “by breaking the silence.”

“We want to get people talking,” Zuiderveen says. Sexual abuse is a topic that is rarely heard about but more common than most think. His House noticed the struggle with sexual abuse among students at Michigan Tech, and decided to team up with other organizations to make a change. They want to “break new ground” and spark the conversation to spread awareness and be a resource to those who need it.

In addition to the free books, Bromley will be speaking on campus later on in March. More information on this event will be available as the date approaches.

A Soviet Artist’s Respone ARIC RHODES Lode Writer Soviet Russia is well remembered for its oppressive qualities, from art to architecture, the very culture was being engineered by the Soviets. Music was a part of this oppression, unfortunately.

Soviets gave demands for “Socialist Realism” to be portrayed in works of its composers, attempting to control the musical identity of the state. One of the composers who rebelled against this ideal was Shostakovich. This is the story being told February 21, at the Rosza.

Rather than a more typical concert, Shostakovich and Stalin will be demonstrating even more talent, as an audio-visual representation of the oppressive climate under which Shostakovich worked. This, along with the drama being presented through the music, assures a fulfilling show. The piece to be performed will be Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5.

Shostakovich’s compositional style shows noticeable differences from the more commonly played western classics, and evolved significantly over the course of his career. Early on, there were very evident inspirations from Sergei Prokofiev and Igor Stravinsky, both great composers of their time. Later through his

career, however, Shostakovich developed further, taking on aspects of neo-classical music and post-Romanticism. The sharp contrasting overtones, as well as elements of the grim reality in which he lived, make Shostakovich’s music beautifully unique.

The fifth symphony was Shostakovich’s response to having fallen from official favor due to his opinions on the oppressive attacks on culture. This symphony is more conservative than his earlier works, but still shows much of the raw emotion for which Shostakovich is well known. When it first premiered in Leningrad, there were many in the audience who openly wept as the piece brought forth the thoughts of horrors recently committed in the city. While this was a particularly ideal audience for the piece, it has widely been regarded as the cry of an oppressed and desperate artist, with sheer reality within the piece.

It is unlikely that the piece shall receive such a reception here, with a far different climate. In spite

of this, the Fifth Symphony is a beautiful piece, and well worth hearing. The additions of the audio-visual elements, as well as presentation as a drama, should make for a fantastic show. This will be worth the price of admission.

Photo courtesy of imdb.com

Michigan Tech Lode

PULSE

Tuesday, February 17

7

OAP Spring Break Adventures SARAH HARTTUNG Lode Writer

Why sit at home when you could be in the wilderness with a group of great people?

The Outdoor Adventure Program (OAP) takes groups of students out and about for spring break (which is in a little over two weeks) on various trips in the great outdoors for a reasonable cost.

This year, Adventure Spring Break participants will be taken further west and south than Houghton, with Arkansas, Utah, and Colorado at the ends of the van rides.

Arkansas is home to America’s first National River, the Buffalo, which is managed by the National Park Service.

People come here to hike, paddle, float, and white water raft. Over 400 Rocky Mountain elk also reside in the park, brought in the 1980s to replace an eastern species of elk that was extirpated in the 1800s by humans.

Two student leaders, Kate Patronik and Karl

Schlicker, will lead participants in paddling the river, camping, and other activities. $475 includes transportation, food, activities, and camping for the week.

The Arapahoe Basin is a top-notch ski resort 68 miles to the west of Denver, in Colorado’s Arapahoe National Forest.

Skiers and snowboarders will find this mountain one of the highest skiable terrains in North America, with half of it above where trees can grow normally (the timber line). Average snowfall in the Basin, which is at over 10,000 feet in elevation, is 350 inches per year. Those wishing to carve their mark on the bowl will get to do so for $900, which includes lodging, food, and ski passes. The group will ski and snowboard for four days and snowshoe for two, but avid skiers/ snowboarders can continue for the last two days at an additional cost. Parker McColl and Rob Clark are leading the trip.

Hikers and campers will their chance to do so out in Utah’s Canyonlands National Park. This area is known as the high desert,

with elevations ranging from 3,700 and 7,200 feet above sea level, and receiving less than 10 inches of rain annually. Participants on this trip will hike, camp for three nights, and a visit to a hot spring. Transportation, food, lodging (including one night in a hotel), and the hot spring are all included in a fee of $570. Aaron Steeg is the trip leader.

Any questions should be directed to the OAP at 207 East Street or by email at oap@mtu.edu. A half-credit of P.E. is also available. rticipants in paddling the river, camping, and other activities. $475 includes transportation, food, activities, and camping for the week.

The Arapahoe Basin is a top-notch ski resort 68 miles to the west of Denver, in Colorado’s Arapahoe National Forest.

Skiers and snowboarders will find this mountain one of the highest skiable terrains in North America, with half of it above where trees can grow normally (the timber line). Average snowfall in the Basin, which is

Photos courtesy of mtu.edu, liftopia.com, and nps.gov

at over 10,000 feet in elevation, is 350 inches per year. Those wishing to carve their mark on the bowl will get to do so for $900, which includes lodging, food, and ski passes. The group will ski and snowboard for four days and snowshoe for two, but avid skiers/ snowboarders can continue for the last two days at an additional cost. Parker McColl and Rob Clark are leading the trip.

Hikers and campers will their chance to do so out in Utah’s Canyonlands National Park. This area is known as the high desert, with elevations ranging from 3,700 and 7,200 feet above sea level, and receiving less than 10 inches of rain annually. Participants on this trip will hike, camp for three nights, and a visit to a hot spring. Transportation, food, lodging (including one night in a hotel), and the hot spring are all included in a fee of $570. Aaron Steeg is the trip leader.

Any questions should be directed to the OAP at 207 East Street or by email at oap@mtu.edu. A half-credit of P.E. is also available.

8

Tuesday, February 17

COMICS

Michigan Tech Lode

Parking

Comic courtesy of XKCD

‘Police reported three dozen cheerful bystanders, yet no one claims to have seen who did it. ’

CLASSIFIEDS

Snow Tracking

CLOSEST APARTMENTS TO CAMPUS! BLANCHE APARTMENTS. Located Directly Across from MTU Library.

4 bedroom, 2 bath for 4 students for 2015-2016 School Year.

View at www.houghton4rent. com Call: 906-482-7744 GAZETTE APARTMENTS. Large apartments located within walking distance to MTU and downtown Houghton. Plowed parking, on-site laundry and garbage pick-up. Heat and water included. $650/month.

Call Cheryl: 906-231-4385 MINI FRIDGE FOR SALE. Wishing that you had purchased a fridge before coming to college? Now is your chance to purchase a fully functional fridge for only $50. Please contact The Michigan Tech Lode at lodesubmit@mtu.edu or by calling 906-487-2404.

E-mail lodeads@mtu.edu for information about placing a classified ad.

Comic courtesy of XKCD

‘I suppose that’s more accurately a hare dryer. ’

PUZZLES

Michigan Tech Lode Puzzle 1 (Hard, difficulty rating 0.60)

Sudoku

3 2 7

1

7 9

8

9

9

5

1

6

7

8

9

2

6

2

3

5

8

Rules: Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 block contains 1-9 exactly once.

3

6

4

Crossword Last week’s solution

5

7

9

Tuesday, February 17

7

Last Solution...

PuzzleWeek’s 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.48) 6 8

3 5

1 7

6

9 7 1

2 4

5

1

9

9

4

3

1

8

7

2

3

7 4

8

3 6

2

6

4

5

2

5

7

4

2

1

8 9

5

9

6

3

1

3

8

5

8

6

1

9 7

2

2

6

7

4

8

3

1

4 6

9

5 7

4 2 9

5

5

1

8 1

M I R A C L E

S M E L T K I N

L A D L E

6 3

3

I H A V E I T

7

6 7

T S G A R P

8

O B E W A T S H O N A E I P R A P E N

2 4 9

E E R N E R P U K O N E T E N P O N O M O N S T G A L F E A A N N S E E R G T F O O G O O U W N N

S P A R S I T Y

L A T E O N S E T

O M E R E I L P B O A T R O D Q U U L E L

I T I S S I N T E N T T K O S E W T E D A S X P R E R O O P A S S T H E S E T C S T O O P A W N A E J U D C U P U N S A R T E U L A T K S S

C E T G G O I O N S E N D C R U O U P S S H A N E L Y S T M I P S H E E O T T S T A L I E L R S I I O N O N G

X I I S I L E N T L S P A Z

B E A R I S H

E R R A R Y

R E M V A F U R I P I E E S P T O B A L L E E H A W A X M E

S T I O L N K E

S W I S S E S

C H E E S E T R A Y

N G B Y A N

Y U M M I E R

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Mon Feb 16 15:42:33 2015 GMT. Enjoy!

No. 0215 SPLIT ENDS

BY ELLEN LEUSCHNER AND JEFF CHEN / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ ACROSS

RELEASE DATE: 2/22/2015

1 ‘‘Everyone who’s anyone is attending!’’

8 Shoot for the moon 13 Much-anthologized Frank R. Stockton short story 20 Herald, as a new year 21 Mitchell heroine 22 One calling it quits 23 Is a rat 24 Chimes, e.g.

25 Short thing for a diva 26 Big ___ 27 Rarely 29 Long John Silver, for one 31 Not standard: Abbr.

32 Word with coffee or water 34 Bird that’s also the name of an Irish river 35 Sped 36 Canon competitor 38 Cookies with a ‘‘Golden’’ variety 39 Slowing, in music: Abbr.

40 Audible pauses 41 Knot again 42 Miranda warning receiver, informally 43 Remote button with ‘‘+’’ and ‘‘–’’ 45 Govt. construction overseer 46 Founded, on city signs Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 4,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year).

47 Word before ‘‘I didn’t know that!’’

49 Heavy metal band?

51 Some fraternity men 54 Proverbial matter of perspective 59 John who played Harold in the ‘‘Harold & Kumar’’ films 60 Question asked in classic 1970s ads 66 Jeopardized 67 Ask 69 Greek goddess of vengeance 70 Like Lake Mead or Lake Powell 71 Strunk and White topic 72 They’re of no concern to cougars 73 ‘‘M*A*S*H’’ role 75 Cry from a damsel in distress 77 Part of I.M.F.: Abbr.

79 Stickup line 83 Just 86 Laughed harshly 88 Overstress 89 Foe of Mr. Fantastic in the comics 91 Reception vessel 92 Some samples 94 Figure skater Midori 95 ‘‘Now it makes sense!’’

97 Mop & ___ 98 Frontier sheriff’s badge 100 In the style of 102 Whistleblower’s target?

104 ‘‘Bye for now,’’ in textspeak 105 Rummage (through) 107 No longer hungry 109 D.C. club 110 Indian music 111 Langston Hughes poem 112 William ___, British general in the Revolutionary War 113 Assist, as an outlaw 114 Colored like ink in ‘‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’’ 115 Song by the Clash on Rolling Stone’s ‘‘500 Greatest Songs of All Time’’ list 119 Material for many a ski lodge 120 Part of an Adirondack chair 121 ___ Conference 122 Command to Fido 123 Before 124 Tech grad: Abbr.

125 Gets fixed 126 Parisian possessive 127 ‘‘Maid in Manhattan’’ star, informally 128 Rx signers 129 General ___ chicken

6 Incense 7 Eve who wrote ‘‘The Vagina Monologues’’ 8 Mounted 9— 10 Test ___ 11 Beginning of an attorney’s ending 12 Like four of the eight planets 13 Subjects of apprenticeships 14 Superman, e.g.

15 — 16 Rough position?

17 Ones in the oil field?

18 Historic filer for bankruptcy in 2013 19 Was lovesick, say 28 Blather 30 ___ Exchange 33 Cut (off) 37 April second?

44 Center of activity 45 Physicist Ohm 47 Virgil, for Dante 48 Queen of mystery 50 Flightless bird 52 Org. with the motto ‘‘Not for self but for country’’ 53 Battle of the Alamo, e.g.

DO WN 54 ‘‘For ___’’ 1 Dot on a transit map (store sign around 2— Father’s Day) 3 Cartoonist who 55 California’s Santa wrote the caption ___ River ‘‘Well, if I called the wrong 56 I.C.U. worker number, why did 57 — you answer the 58 Most feeble phone?’’

61 — 4 Titter sound 62 Map part 5 Backspaces, say

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

32

28

33

34

38

47 55

56

57

44

48

49

58 67

70

71 73 77

78 87

91 98

92

50

51

52

63

64

65

84

85

37

61

62

69 72

81

76

82

83

88

89

93

94

95

100

101

106

107

90

96 102

108

97 103

104

105

110

111

114

115

116

120

121

122

123

124

125

126

127

128

129

63 ‘‘Life ___ Highway’’ 64 One given the velvet-rope treatment, for short 65 Sigmoid shape 67 Get in line 68 Kind of question 74 Kernel keepers 76 Prefix with -form 77 Crabby

19

53

60 68

80

99

18

46

75

79

17

41

45

74

86

36

59

66

16

31

40 43

15

30

35

39

42

54

29

14

112

78 Female with a beard 80 — 81 Stone who co-created ‘‘South Park’’ 82 Cousins of clarinets 84 Little houses on the prairie 85 Indie band whose name means, literally, ‘‘I have it’’

117

109 113

118

119

86 Brace 87 Anaïs Nin and Franz Kafka, notably 89 Straight shooters?

90 Family members 93 Please, to a Puritan 96 Sommelier 99 Angles 100 Baseball family name

101 Pompom wielder’s cries 103 Sulking 106 Things found in a pyramid 108 Sacred symbol 116 ___ Library (Austin, Tex., attraction) 117 Atl. Coast state 118 —

R S T L N E

10

Tuesday, February 17

OPINION

?

Michigan Tech Lode

ROUND 3

ROUND

ROUND 1

Debate:

Valentine’s Day media defines our idea of romance

Pro: ANDREA SPENCER Opinion Editor

Con: RAND SILVERS Editor in Chief

We have all seen many Valentine’s days come and go and have become attuned to the media that surrounds it. Sure, media isn’t an exact mirror of the average life, but it does define our morals and ideas that we use to perceive life. It is undeniable that upon the mention of Valentine’s day, anyone would think of boxes of chocolate, red roses, and romantic dinners. I even bet that those thoughts come with very specific imagery. Where and when were these ideas formed? These ideas of romance are not innate, they are born from the media we consume every year. Television, movies, advertisements, greeting cards, and the decorative art on packaged candies carry an endless supply of images and words that are meant to define romance for us.

People have concepts of what romance looks like. When people come together, they share these conceptions and a social understanding of romance is developed. They then share that through media and other art forms. The fact that we’ve decided to celebrate it in the way that we do on Feb 14 is just a function of our society. There isn’t anything wrong with that. There are 364 days in a year to celebrate your romance or lack thereof any way that you’d like, but on this day we all choose to celebrate it in one way. It lends consistency to relationships and romance, and gives us all a common understanding of what it means to love someone.

Valentine’s Day is only as fake as you make it. There’s certainly a risk to Valentine’s chocolate and heart cards coming across as artificial and forced. But it’s important to have a day devoted to appreciating romantic partners. All too often, relationships can become taken for granted. Once the opening stages of a relationship are done and both partners have settled into a routine, it’s easy to forget to make special gestures to show how much you love someone. Just because it is expected that a gesture will be made doesn’t make that gesture any less important or meaningful to a romantic partner.

If Valentine’s Day is the reminder to take time out for that special someone, that’s okay, but what about the other days? A relationship needs and deserves more celebration than one day of the year. On top of that, Valentine’s Day carries with it specific expectations and standards. Ask any number of men or women, and they will list a few for you. Men are supposed to plan and pay for a special date while women are expected to spend some money, but a little bit less. With these protocols, any gift seems a little less meaningful and a little more engineered by society. Following these terms on any other day would portray greater meaning, because they aren’t expected.

If it’s not the traditions of Valentine’s gift giving that motivates someone to buy candies and flowers, it’s the sales. Even those who are not in a relationship flock to stores to buy themselves something.

Candy aisles fill with treats that have a special display only before Feb 14 and then are put back on a plain old shelf a week later. Think about it- if roses are on sale and daisies aren’t, which are you going to buy?

The market knows how to get consumers to buy certain products.

Gifts that are tagged to be romantic on Valentine’s day also come with a discounted price tag. When these things become so abundant at this time of year, it is easy to connect them with romance.

People are going to make choices like consumers regardless of what day it is. I’d buy on-sale roses over expensive any day of the year. Businesses are also going to make choices like businesses. They know people are going to buy flowers on Valentine’s day, and they want to ensure consumers do it at their shop. Stores are of course going to shape their marketing strategies around Valentine’s, because that’s what a lot of people care about. But not everyone.

The sales a lot of people look for start on Feb 15. For single people across the country, the real holiday is discount chocolate day, when stores need to get rid of all their excess themed merchandise.

It’s about time to look into smartwatches JOSEPH PIETRZYK Lode Writer Smartwatches are a trend that never really caught on. With the popularity of smart phones, who really needed them?

Smartphone functionality has traditionally

dwarfed that of smartwatches while only being slightly less accessible. Because of this, most people have felt they don’t need anything other than their smartphone.

However, this will all change soon. It’s likely that in the near future smartwatches will be able to offer the functionality to make them worth their price tag.

The release of the Apple Watch in April, a smartwatch developed by Apple, is the main reason why smartwatches will be worth looking into. You don’t have to be an Apple fan to appreciate the fact that a company as large as Apple wouldn’t bother appealing to a crowd as small as the smartwatch crowd without attempting

to expand the consumer base. And indeed, they are attempting to push the boundaries of smartwatch functionality.

The Apple Watch will feature apps similar to those of an iPhone, albeit a bit trimmed down. The apparent goal Continued on page 11

OPINION

Michigan Tech Lode

#WLC

Tuesday, February 17

Un

ing

ZONE

Opinion Editor

Photos by Kaila Pietila

The Love Your Body Action Team, who brought us the sticky notes, works with the Department of Athletics and Recreation to offer discounted Women’s Fitness Courses each semester. Women’s Philanthropy works to support local organizations that have similar goals as WLC. The Recruitment and Marketing committees are rather self-explanatory. For anyone looking for more information, check out the Women’s Leadership Council at Michigan Tech Facebook page.

As far as self-image goes, there is a wide variety of opinions and arguments out there, and some rather interesting youtube videos. Among my favorites are a photoshopped image of a slice of pizza turned into a gorgeous model and a woman who sent a picture of her face to several countries and asked them to digitally ‘make her beautiful’.

The “Idea to Read Body Image Survey” conducted last year by AOL and TODAY provides some real life insight into how teen girls and adult women see themselves.

According to their results, women spend an average of 55 minutes per day on their appearance and worry more about twice as many problem areas on their bodies than men do. A total of 82 percent of women in the study feel like they should lose weight.

It is important that everyone, no matter what groups they ascribe to, are aware of their own self-worth. It is important for everyone to have a form of support and an awareness of others. The CDI is a great resource for students to use in finding out how to help minorities and to be helped themselves. As far as self-image goes, there is immense value in personal research and coming up with a personal stance on the matter.

It’s about time to look into smartwatches Continued from page 10 of the Apple Watch is to offer similar functionality to that of an iPhone, but to have a much simpler interface so that it’s more convenient to use your Apple Watch instead of pulling out the smartphone.

Users will also be able to answer phone calls on their Apple Watch, and trivial phone calls such as those from telemarketers will be easily ignored without clogging up the interface according to Apple.

The Apple Watch won’t be the only smartwatch out there, either. The Android Wear was released in March, 2014, and offers similar functionality to the Apple Watch. The Android Wear also offers “light” version of its apps as well as access to its own App Store, and it extends the functionality of Android smartphones.

While the Android Wear wasn’t enough to make smartwatches hit the mainstream, according to sales figures, it

Rand Silvers

LODE

ANDREA SPENCER

Last week as I meandered half-asleep into the women’s restroom, as I usually do to prepare for my morning classes, everything seemed rather normal. It wasn’t until I looked in the mirror that I noticed the positive messages staring back at me.

A handful of sticky notes had been placed there with messages such as, “You are beautiful”, “You are worth it”, and “You are good enough.” What a pleasant surprise.

What a great way to start out my day.

These uplifting notes were stuck to the mirror in every women’s bathroom I went into that day. It was impressive that wherever I went on campus, they would be there. One thing that I was rather ignorant about was another thing the notes had written on them- WLC. Instinctively, I turned to my all-knowing friend, Google. Google had nothing for me but the power of asking around proved to be a success. While discussing my findings with some hallmates, one replied, “Women’s Leadership Council. They do this every year about the same time.”

WLC is involved with the Center for Diversity and Inclusion and is composed of about twelve women. Their mission is to support the women currently at Tech and to work towards a higher percent of women’s enrollment. The organization is composed of four committees.

11

was moderately successful. Apple bringing its consumer base into the smartwatch industry will greatly increase smartwatch popularity, and a successful smartwatch market will make more quality devices.

As we’ve seen in the past with MP3 players and smartphones, competition between the industries will greatly improve the quality of the devices. The Android Wear alone may not have been enough to make smartwatches popular, but it suddenly having a competitor will force both companies to try to make the better smartwatch. In the end, smartwatches will be filled with their own unique and innovative features that will make them worth their price tag.

For those who aren’t a fan of Apple or Android, they’re a bit out of luck.

Apple Watch and Android Wear so far offer the greatest functionality and

best compatibility with their respective smartphones. Android and iPhone users looking to buy a smartwatch will more or less be sticking with the brand of their smartphone.

But this isn’t to say that the Apple Watch and the Android Wear will be the only smartwatches worth buying. Other large technology companies will likely enter the smartwatch industry upon seeing the success of the Apple Watch and Android Wear.

So if you’ve never payed attention to smartwatches before, now’s the time to start looking into them. For the first time the smartwatch industry will have functionality with the most popular smartphones as well as competition between major companies. Soon enough these factors will make a smartwatch worth its price tag.

I love ‘80s music. Pet Shop Boys, The Human League, a-ha, Tears for Fears; these are some of my all time favorite bands. There’s something about the music of the era that gives it a tremendous energy nothing else really duplicates for me.

I didn’t live through the ‘80s, which means I have no cultural context for these awesome tunes.

But just because I didn’t see “The Breakfast Club” when it first came out doesn’t mean I can’t understand John Bender’s exultant thrill as “Don’t You Forget About Me” by Simple Minds plays at the end.

There is certainly contemporary music that I enjoy. I’m a huge fan of electronic music, and Katy Perry’s Superbowl show wasn’t awful.

“Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon was one of my favorite songs of 2014; it really captures an exuberant energy that appeals to me.

Perhaps the most appealing quality of ‘80s music is how massively overdone it is. If it’s not sugar-sweet, it’s massively heartwrenching, with no middle ground.

There’s no moderation of feeling, no hiding from extremes. Every emotion is larger than life, and the music makes you feel it.

The fact that ‘80s music has maintained such popularity is something of an oddity. Teenagers in the ‘80s weren’t lis tening to their parents music, so why is there such a population of young people today that do?

Maybe we’re all hipsters, trying too hard to be cool. Or maybe we’re onto something. Perhaps its just misplaced nostalgia for a time we never lived, and so can idealize as something better than the reality we’re living today.

A less complicated time, when people loved each other or didn’t, and wrote songs about their experiences.Or maybe good music is just good music.

12

SPORTS

Tuesday, February 17

# the By

s r e b m nu

13

Consecutive conference matches won by Women’s Basketball, who boast a GLIAC record of 18-1

10

Goals scored by the Hockey Huskies in Saturday night’s shutout over Alaska Anchorage

Where Men’s Basketball stands in the conference tied with Ferris, up one spot from last week

3

2

Number of shutouts Tech Hockey has earned so far this season

1

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Ben Stelzer

ELLIE FURMANSKI Sports Editor Senior guard Ben Stelzer, who earned his fourth GLIAC North Division Player of the Week award just last week, had another standout performance when the Huskies hosted Hillsdale and Saginaw Valley State.

In Thursday’s matchup against the Chargers, Stelzer earned 29 points for the Huskies, helping lift Tech to a 7262 victory. He kicked off scoring for the match and concluded scoring with two successful free throws, going 9 for 15 in field goals and sinking six for six free throw attempts in between. On top of his phenomenal offensive play, Stelzer added four rebounds, three assists and three steals to his matchup totals.

4

Where Women’s Basketball stands in the conference, up two games from second place Wayne State

Saturday’s game was a close contest against the Cardinals, who currently are tied for the lead in the conference. Once again, however, the scoring prowess of Ben Stelzer pulled through, helping the Huskies to a huge 75-70 victory. Stelzer earned 25 points in this matchup, going 8 for 17 in shooting and sinking seven of seven free throw attempts.

Stelzer still leads the conference in points earned per game with an average of 22. He is also second in the GLIAC with a three-point percentage of 46.0 percent.

The two victories lifted Tech to 14-5 on the season, and they are now tied for third in the conference standings with Ferris State behind Lake Superior State and Saginaw Valley.

Stelzer and the rest of the Huskies will be back in GLIAC action against Northwood and Lake Superior State this

Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech Athletics

week. They will look to continue their winning streak in hopes of securing home court in the GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal.

GLIAC play to kick off for Men’s Tennis ELLIE FURMANSKI

Place earned by Ulrika Axelsson in the women’s 15-kilometer classic race at the CCSA Distance Championships on Feb. 13

Michigan Tech Lode

Sports Editor It may not seem like spring time out there, but the 2015 Men’s Tennis season is officially underway. Already two matches into the season, the Huskies will hit the ground running with their first set of GLIAC matches this coming weekend.

The squad kicked off their season with split results after playing back-to-back matches on Feb. 7 in St. Cloud, Minn. The season opener was a 7-2 loss to host St. Cloud. St. Cloud swept all three doubles matches, but the Huskies found wins at No. 3 and 4 singles. Junior Built Yumuang played at No. 3 and won his match by scores of 6-0, 6-2. Junior Nick Kremkow followed Yumuang’s winning ways at No. 4, taking his opponent 7-5, 6-4. Freshman Robin Duhnsen, who joins the Husky squad from Dusseldorf, Germany, this season assumed the No. 1 singles position for Tech.

Returning senior Javier Oliveros played at No. 2, and freshmen Iliya Chibirev and Yani Beeker played at No. 5 and 6, respectively.

The Huskies contested against Augustana later that day and were able to pull off

“Big things are expected from Duhnsen especially, who assumed the top singles spot during the team’s opening matches in St. Cloud.” a 7-2 victory. The No. 1 and 3 doubles pairs of Yumuang/Duhnsen and Chibirev/ Luke Doskey earned 8-2 and 8-6 wins in the doubles competition. Oliveros and Kremkow fell 9-8 in a close match at No. 2.

All but Chibirev then went on to win their singles matches, giving the Huskies their first win of the year.

This year’s squad is led by the returning upperclassmen Oliveros, Yumuang and Kremkow. Last year, Oliveros went 9-12 at No. 2 singles and 10-11 at No. 2 doubles.

Yumuang and Kremkow went 10-11 together as No. 3 doubles partners and posted 14-6 and 10-11 singles records of their own, respectively, with Yumuang primarily at No. 4 and Kremkow at No. 5.

With four returners, the new roster also includes some new faces and a touch of youth with three freshman, Duhnsen, Chibirev and Beeker. All three are in the lineup and looking to make a difference for the Huskies, who went 4-7 last year.

Big things are expected from Duhnsen

especially, who assumed the top singles spot during the team’s opening matches in St. Cloud.

Tech’s first test in the conference will feature a matchup at Findlay on Feb. 21.

So far this season, Findlay is 0-2 after suffering two 6-3 losses to Southern Ind. and Northwestern Ohio earlier this month.

Last year, the Oilers clinched the seventh seed in the GLIAC Tournament, one spot above the Huskies.

On Feb. 22, Tech will be on the road for a match at Tiffin. The Dragons have played three non-conference matches so far this month and stand 2-1. They finished third overall in the conference last season and clenched the GLIAC Tournament fifth seed.

Tech will take a short break from GLIAC play over spring break when the team makes their annual trip to Hilton Head, S.C. Conference play will then resume throughout March and conclude with the GLIAC Tournament on April 26

Michigan Tech Lode

SPORTS

Tuesday, February 17

13

Women’s Basketball in good Sidelines Winter Baja standing for GLIAC Tournament

The Michigan Tech Baja SAE Enterprise will host their annual Winter Baja Invitational this Saturday, Feb. 21. Nearly 20 universities will compete, looking to put their vehicles to the test on Tech’s wintery course. The winter Baja course is set up behind the SDC, spanning the practice fields and Lot 24. Spectators are encouraged. Bundle up and come out to the SDC practice fields to support your fellow Michigan Tech Baja team. The competition will kick off at noon and last until approximately 4 p.m. with a dinner and awards ceremony to follow.

JOHN REYNOLDS Lode Writer The No. 11 ranked Huskies are in first place and looking good going into the end of the season. They have already clinched the North Division and a home quarterfinal game in the GLIAC Tournament, and they are well on their way towards clinching the number one seed in the tournament. They have already beaten the opponents that remain in their regular season schedule, but those were all matches at home, so these games could be interesting with the playoff bracket on the line.

The Huskies’ last two victories came against Hillsdale in an 88-57 victory and against a feisty Saginaw Valley State, who held the Huskies to just 34.4 percent shooting. Those wins brought the Huskies to 13 consecutive wins and 22-1 record on the

Intramural deadlines The registration period for intramural badminton will expire this Friday, Feb. 20 at noon. Divisions for co-rec doubles and men’s and women’s doubles and singles are available. The badminton tournament will be held Feb. 20 through 21.

“This season is a good chance to take home another trophy, and with second place Wayne State already defeated at the hands of Tech, there isn’t much that stands between Tech and the championship.” season.

The last time they only suffered one loss in GLIAC play was the 2010-11 season, and they were the NCAA runner-ups that year.

It was also Coach Kim Cameron’s inaugural season. She has the best winning percentage of any coach in Tech history. If recent history is to repeat itself, this team should make a deep run in the final tournament.

The GLIAC tournament begins on March 4 at home for the Huskies. They are the only team to clinch a home game so far, with Wayne State failing to do so with a loss to Ashland over the weekend.

The Huskies’ strength comes from their balanced attack and their stingy defense. Offensively, their five starters are all averaging at least 9.7 points per game.

Danielle Blake leads the way with 12.4 points per game, but it is close between the top five.

Tech is currently tied for 10th in DII basketball, allowing only 56.5 points per game. In their upcoming game against Northern, they will see another good defense in Northern Michigan’s 59.6 points allowed

WCHA playoff tickets The Hockey Huskies clinched home ice for the first round of WCHA playoffs, and tickets are now on sale. Games will be held at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena March 13-15 at 7:07 p.m. in a best-of-three game series. Reserved seats for adults are $17 and $15 for youth. There will be 100 seats reserved for the Experience Tech entrance both game nights. To purchase tickets, call 906487-2073, visit buyhuskiestickets. com or stop by the Central Ticket Office at the SDC.

Huskies Scoreboard Sophomore Morgan Anderson lead the team with her career high of 21 points to a 53-42 victory over Saginaw Valley State this past Saturday.

Photo by Pratik Joshi

per game, but that is 39th overall in NCAA. Their other tough game remaining in the regular season will be against Northwood, who could very easily be a team the Huskies see in the GLIAC Tournament. Northwood, Hillsdale and Walsh are the most likely candidates to be Tech’s first tournament foe, but the season could see some shake ups by the end.

Tech most recently won the final tournament in the 2009-10 and the 2010-11 seasons. This season is a good chance to take home another trophy, and with second place

Wayne State already defeated at the hands of Tech, there isn’t much that stands between Tech and the championship. Tech’s only loss this year came against a team that won’t even make the final tournament.

It all seems to be falling in Tech’s favor this year. They are probably going to be the top seed in the final tournament, and are going into their final three games with a thirteen game win streak and the No. 11 ranking in the country. Their staunch defense and depth of starters should carry them far, especially if history is to repeat itself.

Men’s Basketball: The men extended their win streak to four games with a 72-62 win over Hillsdale at home on Feb. 12 and a 75-70 victory over Saginaw Valley State on Feb. 14.

Women’s Basketball: Lucky 13 -that is the number of games Women’s Basketball has earned consecutive victories. The Huskies added two wins last week while hosting Hillsdale (88-57) and Saginaw Valley (53-42).

Hockey: The Hockey Huskies dominated at Alaska Anchorage last week. They extended their win streak to eight games with a 5-1 win on Feb. 13 and a 10-0 shutout on Feb. 14.

14

SPORTS

Tuesday, February 17

Michigan Tech Lode

Huskies extend streak to eight, Petan hits 100 career points IAN HATZILIAS Lode Writer The Huskies are on another lengthy winning streak for the second time this season having won eight straight after sweeping the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves on their home turf last weekend.

Tech scored five goals in a row on Friday night and let in one from UAA early on in the third period. Jamie Phillips started and made 22 saves on the night.

The special teams were riding hot and scored twice on the power play in two minutes. Malcom Gould’s power play goal opened the scoring in the first period followed by Shane Hanna’s on the man advantage. Mike Neville and Tyler Heinonen also found themselves on the score sheet, and Hanna found the net once more in the middle of the second period.

“After contributing to the dominant performance the team displayed last weekend, he [Petan] has garnered 100 points under Coach Pearson, 40 goals and 60 assists in 108 games played.”

A 5-1 victory on Friday was only a light win compared to the night that Pearson’s Huskies would have on Saturday. Michigan Tech fired 41 shots on goal, scoring on 10 of them. Yes, 10 goals. Alaska Anchorage scored zero goals, making this game the Huskies’ fourth shutout of the season. Scoring for the Huskies were Tanner Kero, Malcolm Gould, Brent Baltus, Mark Auk, Dylan Steman, Alex Petan, Chris Leibinger and Patrick

Junior forward Alex Petan shots the puck during the huskies home opener against the University of Michigan.

This past weekend Petan joined teammates Blake Pietila and Tanner Kero in reaching 100 career points.

Photo by Maxwell Curtis

Anderson.

MTU has had UAA’s number all season long, defeating them in all four contests in which the two teams met.

Tech outscored them 20-2 in those four games.

The No. 5 ranked Huskies now hold the longest active winning streak in the United States and have improved to 24-7-1 overall and 19-4-1 in WCHA play, sweeping nine of their conference series. Tech now leads the nation in wins.

Junior forward Alex Petan has been a star in his

entire career as a Husky, making an impact immediately upon his arrival. After contributing to the dominant performance the team displayed last weekend, he has garnered 100 points under Coach Pearson, 40 goals and 60 assists in 108 games played.

After making the trip to and from Anchorage, the Huskies will have a week off this coming weekend and then travel to Mankato, Minn., for what is bound to be a nail-biting series against the WCHA leading, No. 1 ranked Minnesota State Mavericks on Feb. 27 and 28.

Varsity Events Schedule: February 17 - 23 Tuesday, 17 Women’s Basketball Men’s Basketball Hockey Nordic Skiing Men’s Tennis

Wednesday, 18

Thursday, 19 @ Northwood, 6:00 p.m.** @ Northwood, 8:00 p.m.**

Friday, 20

Saturday, 21

Home Game ** Conference Match Sunday, 22

@ Lake Superior State, 1:00 p.m.** @ Lake Superior State, 3:00 p.m.** American Birkebeiner Hayward, Wis. @ Findlay, 10:00 @ Tiffin, time a.m.** TBA**

Monday, 22

Michigan Tech Lode

SPORTS

15 Husky Nordic team finishes strong at CCSA Distance Championships

Tuesday, February 17

MACKENZIE PLETCHER Lode Writer

The basketball huskies put on a stellar preformance against Saginaw Valley State this past Saturday at home.

Photo by Pratik Joshi

Men’s Basketball on a win streak heading towards GLIAC Tournament JOHN REYNOLDS Lode Writer The Huskies have managed to clinch a postseason GLIAC Tournament berth with a recent string of good wins. Tech will be in familiar water having made the GLIAC tournament the last four years, including 18 berths in the last 20 years.

Behind the play of Ben Stelzer, who just won his fourth GLIAC player of the week this year, they should be in good shape.

Michigan Tech is currently riding a four game win streak going into the final three games of the regular season. On Feb. 12, the Huskies took down Hillside 72-62 behind Stelzer’s 29 points. The next game was against then first place Saginaw Valley State. Tech took the five point home victory to sweep the top-ranked GLIAC team 75-70.

With these wins, the team can begin looking towards the GLIAC Tournament, which they haven’t won since the 2002-03 season when they won it for the second year in a row.

Last year’s champion, Lake Superior

State University, is currently leading the GLIAC and has clinched a quarterfinal home game, which goes to the highest four seeds.

Tech can get a preview of LSSU in one of their upcoming games, giving them an opportunity to unseat another first place team. Tech already suffered a home loss to this team, however, and will be playing during the Lakers’ Basketball Alumni Weekend, which will make it that much tougher. If Tech gets the victory, Saginaw Valley will reclaim first, most likely, and Tech is unlikely to catch them for a higher seed in the tournament.

Tech is currently ahead of Ferris State, but the two teams carry the same GLIAC record. Ashland currently sits in fifth place, but sitting three games behind Tech, they haven’t yet clinched a spot and are unlikely to catch the Huskies. More than likely Tech will take the third or

fourth seed with Ferris State taking the other, which would mean Tech would host a quarterfinal game.

Coach Kevin Luke should be getting used to the GLIAC Tournament, having been with the team the last 20 seasons.

His 0.623 winning percentage is the best of any coach, and his teams always seem to do pretty well. The past two years Tech has made the NCAA tournament, becoming a regional finalist last year.

Hopefully, following a strong GLIAC Tournament, they can earn another berth.

The Huskies look good going into the end of the year. They are on a hot streak, Stelzer is playing really well and they have an experienced coach at the helm. They face a tough away streak in their schedule before hopefully returning home for the final tournament. Their momentum could very easily carry this great team thru to a DII championship.

“More than likely Tech will take the third or fourth seed with Ferris State taking the other, which would mean Tech would host a quarterfinal game.”

Despite freezing temperatures which were on the verge of bypassing the safe, legal limit to hold competitions, the Michigan Tech Nordic Ski team competed this past weekend at the Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA) Distance Championships with impressive results. The races were held at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis, Minn., from Friday to Sunday afternoon.

For the first day of races, Ulrika Axelsson finished the women’s 15-kilometer classic distance scoring second place narrowly against first place finisher Felecia Gesior of Northern Michigan University. Alice Flanders of MTU finished the race in 11th followed by Freshman Carolyn Lucca scoring 22nd place.

MTU racers Kyle Hansen and Thomas Kendrick ranked high in the men’s 20-kilometer classic distance race with a ninth and 10th place finish, respectively. Hansen and Kendrick were followed shortly by David Joda with a 16th place finish and Sam Holmes who placed 17th overall.

As for the second day of the competition, some of the top results achieved by MTU were scored by Alice Flanders and Tom Bye in the freestyle races. Flanders managed to place first in the women’s 5-kilometer freestyle distance race with a time of 13:53. Other finishes for MTU include senior Deedra Irwin with a seventh place finish, Ulrika Axelson earning 16th and sophomore Lisa Konig placing 17th.

In the men’s 10-kilometer freestyle, Tom Bye scored sixth place with a time of 20:33. Much like the previous day of races, Thomas Kendrick and Kyle Hanson placed closely together in 15th and 16th place, respectively.

The next race for the MTU Huskies will be held this Saturday in Hayward, Wis., at the American Birkebeiner Nordic Skiing Competition.

Upcoming

Events February 17 - 23 Comedian Alex Stone-Late Night Programming

Friday, Feb. 20. 10 p.m. MUB Ballroom

Late Night Programming is bringing comedian Alex Stone to the MUB Ballroom for an evening of good laughs this Friday, Feb. 20. Alex was recently chosen as one of the top 100 comics to appear on NBC’s new season of Last Comic Standing and has participated in competitions such as the 2014 Limestone Comedy Festival. The entertainment is set to start at 10 p.m.

“Antigone”-Tech Theatre Company

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 19 - 21.

7:30 p.m. McArdle Theatre

The Tech Theatre Company presents “Antigone,” a contemporary retelling of the ancient tale of conflict between the political terror of dictatorship and the vision of humanity at its very best. Showings will be held at the Walker Center for Arts and Humanities in the McArdle Theatre on Thursday, Friday and Saturday starting at 7:30 p.m. In case you can’t make it, additional showtimes will be held the following weekend, Feb. 26 - 28, same time, same place.

“Shostakovich and Stalin”-Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra

Saturday, Feb. 21. 7:30 p.m. Rozsa

The Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra will be performing their take on the creative struggles of Russian composer Shostakovich in reaction to disillusionment and persecution under Stalin’s Soviet dictatorship in “Shostakovich and Stalin: A Soviet Artist’s Creative Response.” The performance will be held at the Rozsa this Saturday, Feb. 21, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Study Abroad Info Session-Modern Languages and IPS

Wenesday, Feb. 18. 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Walker HDMZ 120A

This Wednesday, Feb. 18, Modern Languages and International Programs and Services are holding an information session about studying abroad for language immersion. Come ready to listen to students talk about their own study abroad experiences and ask questions. Also, IPS will discuss the application process for studying abroad. Refreshments will be served. The session is set to run from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in Walker HDMZ 120A.

Interested in purchasing a Winter Carnival Pictorial?

Contact James Wood at jawood@mtu.edu

ASK TECH Kyle Sutela “My ideal Valentine’s Day would include a long day at the beach somewhere warm with my significant other.”

Anurag Upadhyay “Spend the entire day with her and a romantic candle light dinner to end it with.”

Place your ad here!

Special rates on events page advertising.

Contact us at lodeads@mtu.edu or for more information call (906) 487-2404.

What would be your ideal Valentine’s Day? -Pratik Joshi

Shivaram Vishwanathan “Go on a long drive with our favorite music tracks in the stereo!”

Pranav Jadhav “Host a dinner for, cook her favorite food and spend some nice time at home.”