The Commute

Join us from Thursday April 12 through Saturday April 14 as Michigan Tech hosts the the Region V AISES Conference! AISES, the American Indian Science & Engineering Society, is an organization on campus open to both Native students and faculty members that is devoted to creating a supportive environment for students and also to educate the campus and community on Native American culture.  The Region V AISES Conference will be attended by students from colleges all over the midwest, and will be filled with presentations, activities, and speakers designed for both college students and high school students alike that emphasizes working and education as a Native student, as well as celebrating Spring through a powwow from 12:00 – 5:00 pm on Saturday (the powwow will be open to the public)!  If you are interested in attending this conference, please register at http://www.diversitycenter.mtu.edu/aises/2012%20AISES%20Conf%20Region%20V%20student%20reg%20form.pdf

From April 09 – April 20 2012, the Rozsa Art Gallery will be displaying work from your fellow Michigan Tech students in the Student Art and Design Show. These works were created by students taking Visual and Performing Arts classes throughout the year and are now being recognized in the gallery throughout the month.  The show is open for viewing from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm in the Rozsa Art Gallery.  The displayed works include ceramics, sculpture, watermedia, drawing, audio, two-dimensional and three-dimensional design.  So support your fellow students while enjoying top notch art this month during the Student Art and Design Show!

Keweenaw Pride, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Straigt Ally organization for Tech and the Keweenaw, will be hosting its 2nd Annual Pride Week from April 1 to April 7. There will be a plethora of events taking place designed for both the GLBTQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning) and straight communities on campus.  Please remember that no flagrant or hateful language will be tolerated at any event.  Here is a list of events that will be taking place during Pride Week:

Sunday April 1: The Curiosty of Chance film screening at 7:00 pm in M&M U115

Monday April 2: Guess the Straight Person at 7:00 pm in the MUB Ballroom A1

Tuesday April 3: Taboo Talk at 7:00 pm in DHH Ballroom

Wednesday April 4: She’s a Boy I Knew film screening at 7:00 pm in Fisher 135

Thursday April 5: Presentation by Dr. Reverend Jamie Washington at 6:00 pm in DHH Ballroom

Friday April 6: “Uncovering the Gay Interculturalist” presentation by Dr. Keith Berry at 1:00 pm in Walker 109

Friday April 6: Lunch with the Queens at 2:00 pm in the CDI (Center for Diversity and Inclusion)

Friday April 6: Pride Week Drag Show at 8:00 pm at the Rozsa Center

For more information about the events during Pride Week, please visit this website: http://diversitycenter.mtu.edu/events.php

This Sunday is International Night, 2012- a long standing tradition at Michigan Tech!

At International Night 2012, you can savor an endless buffet of international dishes including dumplings, chicken, rice, curry, hash, salad, desserts, and more while enjoying 8 international performances including singing, dancing, comedy sketches, and community drumming.

Tickets are $10 for students and are available at the SDC ticket office and on the Rozsa Center website at https://rozsa.tickets.mtu.edu/Online/default.asp?doWork%3A%3AWScontent%3A%3AloadArticle=Load&BOparam%3A%3AWScontent%3A%3AloadArticle%3A%3Aarticle_id=3C374A73-7B54-4473-A5CD-FAA773289480&sessionlanguage!

Performers Include:
Don’t Feed The Bears- performing “Entre Sabanas” & “Bullet”
African Student Organization- performing “West African Modern Dance”
Malin Erickson- performing “Simple Swedish” a Comedy Sketch
Keweenaw Community Drum Project- African Drum Circle
Conventus Discessio- Variations of “Farewell” and A-Minor Jam
Zichen Qian- Singing “Those Years”
Praise in Effect Gospel Choir- Singing “Can’t Give Up Now” & “He Wants It All”
Swagata Banerjee- Noted Odissi Dancer

The event is this Sunday, April 1, from 6pm-7:30pm in the MUB Ballroom. Limited tickets may be available at the door.

If you’re looking for a job, and you are not using NACElink, than you are missing out! NACElink is a database of jobs that is created by Michigan Tech’s Career Services, just for Michigan Tech students.

The database includes jobs for graduating seniors, co-ops, internships, local jobs, and on-campus jobs. There are currently 793 unfilled jobs listed on Michigan Tech’s NACElink! You can search jobs by job-type, keywords, and job location— the database includes jobs all over the US and abroad!

Systems like NACElink usually require subscription fees, but NACElink is free to all students and Alumni of Michigan Tech. To access NACElink, be sure to visit http://www.career.mtu.edu/students/NACElink/ . You can sign-in to the system using your Michigan Tech username & password.

Once signed in, click the “Jobs” tab to browse positions! There are currently 38 jobs listed in the Houghton/Hancock region. If you’re hoping to get hired, be sure to fill out the “Profile” tab, and upload the most recent copy of your resume.

Having trouble with NACElink? Visit Career Services, located on the second floor of the Administration building.

This week of March 26 to March 30 is Phi Sigma Biology Honor Society’s Biology Week! Many different events will be taking place throughout the week to celebrate Biology and to support the Honor Society. Here is a list of events that will be occurring:

Monday, March 26: Save a life and register to become an organ donor; 10:00 – 2:00 in MUB Commons

Tuesday, March 27: Stop by and sign the ‘We Love Biology’ banner with fingerpaints; 10:00 – 2:00 in DOW Lobby

Wednesday, March 28: Book and Bake Sale; 10:00 – 2:00 in DOW Lobby

Thursday, March 29: Contagion movie night (snacks provided); 7:00 pm in FISHER 328

Friday, March 30 : Pitch Burst! Soak your friends with water balloons; 2:00 – 4:00 pm at the MUB lawn

If you have any questions about Biology week, please contact Phill Mercier at pjmercie@mtu.edu.

If you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend consider joining NOSOTROS for free Latin Dancing lessons. The Michigan Tech Student Organization is offering free Salsa lessons this Saturday (March 24), from 8pm-9pm and Open Floor dancing from 9pm-Midnight in MUB Ballroom.

They’ve extended a special invitation to Commuter Students, so put on your dancing shoes and enjoy this free event!

Twelfth Night
March 22-24 and 29-31 at 7:30 PM;
March 25 and April 1 at 2:00 PM
General Admission $10, Michigan Tech Students Free
“Orsinio loves Olivia. Olivia loves Cesario. Cesario (who is acutally Viola) loves Orsinio. Cupid reigns in this cherished Shakespearean comedy where lovers are made fools as they strive to win the affection of their innamorati. ‘If music be the food of love, play on!’ Presented by the Tech Theatre Company.”
McArdle Theatre
tickets.mtu.edu

Don Keranen Memorial Jazz Concert
March 24 at 7:30 PM
General Admission $10, Michigan Tech Students Free
“Don Keranen Memorial Jazz Concert, celebrating 45 Years of Jazz at Michigan Technological University! Jazz lab Band, R&D Big Band, Guest Artists, and the return of the Michigan Tech Alumni Jazz Band!”
Rozsa Center
tickets.mtu.edu

Superior Winds: Spring Revels
March 31 at 7:30 PM
General Admission $10, Students $5, Michigan Tech Students Free
“The Superior Wind Symphony is Michigan Tech’s premier Wind Ensemble featuring woodwinds, brass, and percussion instruments. The concerts offer symphonic thrills, innovative programming, fruitful collaborations, and exciting premieres. The Spring Revels concert will feature the music of John Williams from the original Star Wars Trilogy. The American Film Institute selected this score to the original Star Wars movie as the greatest American movie score of all time.”
Rozsa Center
tickets.mtu.edu

Dona Nobis Pacem
April 14 at 7:30 PM
General Admission $15, Student $7, Michigan Tech Students Free
“The Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra and Michigan Tech Concert Choir will join forces for a performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem. Based on poetry of Walt Whitman, Vaughan Williams’ cantata is a fitting 150th-year commemoration of events from the American Civil War.”
Rozsa Center
tickets.mtu.edu

In my own experience there have been two major decisions that improved my commute. The first was the decision to move closer to campus, and the second was the decision to work on campus instead of in the local community.

Before moving closer to campus, I arrived on campus every morning at 7:00am to snag a prime parking spot. I never left campus during the day, because I was afraid I may lose my prime spot. As a result, I spent many 14-hour days on campus, exhausted, without a break. Eventually, I decided to move within walking distance of campus, which dramatically improved my commute! These days I drive less than once a week, saving a ton of gas money, and I get good exercise walking to campus every day. I no longer worry about parking, and I have the privilege of taking lunch breaks and nap breaks at home, instead of on-campus!

When I worked off campus, I found that my supervisors were not understanding of my academic schedule. They expected me to be at work, on time, whether my class ran late or not. I wasn’t allowed to take time off before exams, and it was a struggle to excel academically. After deciding to work on campus, I found it much easier to balance work and academic life. Today I work on-campus 30-hours a week. All of my hours are during the week and during the day, leaving weekends and evenings open for academics. On-campus my supervisors are understanding about my academic life, allowing me to reduce my hours during busy time of the semester.

If you are interested in improving your commute by working on campus or moving closer to campus, you may find the following resources useful.

To find apartments close to campus visit the USG off-campus housing website @ http://www.aux.mtu.edu/usghousing/index.php?p=search. Most apartments cost $250-$400 a month, and apartments close to campus will save you considerable gas money.

To find on-campus jobs log into NACElink with your Huskymail username and password @ http://www.career.mtu.edu/students/NACElink/

Thank you to everyone who attended the Commuter Spring Break Kick Off on Friday March 2. It was a big success and a great way to start the break!