Student News Briefs: March 25, 2011

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FILM BOARD:  This week the Film Board is showing “Tron: Legacy in 3D.”  The shows will be on Friday (today) at 6:00 pm and 11:00 pm, and Saturday, March 26 at 6:00 pm, 8:30 pm and 11:00 pm.  Please remember to bring your Tech ID so you can check out 3D glasses.  Tickets are $3.00 and concessions range from 25 – 75 cents.

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SPRING CLIMBING COMPETITION:  Come join the Ridge Roamers for their Spring Climbing competition on Saturday, March 26th from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm at the Climbing Wall in the SDC.  The cost is $15.00, which is due upon check-in at the event.  The comp is limited to 50 competitors, so be sure to register as soon as possible.  Walk-ins are allowed if there is still room left in the schedule.  Register by sending an email to climb@mtu.edu and include your name, sex, desired competition division (beginner / intermediate / advanced and climbing time preference (if any).  Visit http://climb.students.mtu.edu for more information, or contact us at climb@mtu.edu.

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SAHAJA MEDITATION:  Please join us for the Sahaja Meditation Meetings held every Thursday in the MUB from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.   These meetings are free of charge and can be attended by anyone interested in learning the effects and benefits of meditation.  The meetings are held either in the Alumni lounge A or Peninsula Room A.  For questions, contact Pranay at pnagar@mtu.edu.

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CHESS TOURNAMENT:  A USCF Chess Tournament will be held on Saturday, March 26 in Wads Room G17.  Registration opens at 8:00 am.  The first round begins at 9:00 am, and other rounds are at 10:45, 1:15, 3:00 and 4:45 pm.  The entry fee is $5.00.  USCF membership is required and can be purchased on-site if necessary.  For more information, contact Sean Groustra at smgroust@mtu.edu, or (231) 557-1720.  Please note that event details and round start times are subject to change if necessary and will be announced on site.

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CLASS TRIBUTE PROGRAM:  Attention all students graduating in April 2011:  The Michigan Tech Student Foundation (MTSF) invites you to make your upcoming commencement day even more special by participating in the Class Tribute Program.  It’s an opportunity for you to recognize someone special to you in the printed commencement program.  Just go to http://www.mtu.edu/giving/today/programs/class-tributes/ for program details and find out how to participate.  The deadline for tributes is Friday, April 1, 2011.

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JAZZ CONCERT:  Announcing the Don Keranen Memorial Jazz Concert this Saturday, March 26, at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 pm.  Join us to celebrate the jazz legacy of the late Don Keranen on Saturday, March 26, 7:30 pm at the Rozsa Center. You will hear two large jazz ensembles, the Research and Development Big Band and the Jazz Lab Band, performing an eclectic mix of classic and modern jazz, Latin jazz, blues, funk, rock and original arrangements.  Ticket prices for the general public are $10 for Adults, $5 for Students, and Michigan Tech Students free with I.D.  To purchase tickets, contact Michigan Tech Ticketing Services at the Rozsa Box Office at (906) 487-3200, The Central Ticket Office (SDC) at 487.2073 or go online at tickets.mtu.edu.  No refunds, exchanges, or late seating, please.

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SUPERIOR WIND SYMPHONY RESCHEDULED:  The Superior Wind Symphony and Campus Concert Band concert has been rescheduled!  The date has moved from (today) Friday, March 25 to Saturday, April 9, and the location has changed from the Rozsa Center to the McArdle Theater.  To purchase tickets contact Michigan Tech Ticketing Services at the Rozsa Box Office at (906) 487-3200, The Central Ticket Office (SDC) at (906) 487-2073, or go online at tickets.mtu.edu.  Tickets will also be available at the door of the McArdle Theatre the evening of the performance.

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PRIDE WEEK SCHEDULE

Keweenaw Pride, the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and ally (GLBTA) organization on campus, kicked off their annual Pride Week celebration Wednesday. This week has been a work in progress for the organization since September, and it is a celebration of diversity, bringing together many people of many different origins and orientations in a week full of discussions and panels meant to open minds and break stereotypes.

Sunday: Film: “Prop 8″, 8pm in Fisher 135

March 27th is our annual film night. We’ll be showing “Prop 8: The Mormon Proposition”, a movie described by IMDb as  “a scorching indictment of the Mormon Church’s historic involvement in the promotion & passage of California’s Proposition 8 and the Mormon religion’s secretive, decades-long campaign against LGBT human rights.”

Monday: Safer Sex Night, 8pm in the Wads Annex

March 28th is our Safer Sex Night. We’ll be going over a variety of safer sex practices that help prevent the spread of STIs.

Tuesday: Guess the Straight Person, 7:30pm in the DHH Ballroom

March 29th is our annual Guess the Straight Person event. Come meet our panel and guess their orientation. This event is meant to prove that not all stereotypes indicate a person’s sexual orientation.

Wednesday: JAC Stringer, 7:30pm in the MUB Ballroom

March 30th is a presentation by Activist JAC Stringer. JAC is well known for his educational and entertaining presentations, and we hope everyone will come and learn about some things that not many know about.

Thursday: Taboo Talk, 7pm in the DHH Ballroom

March 31st is Taboo Talk. Got a topic that is taboo in your community that you want to know more about? Come to this event!

Friday: 11th Annual Drag Show, 8pm in the Rozsa Theater

April 1st is the 11th Annual Michigan Tech Drag Show! This year, we’ll be featuring the extraordinary talents of Joey Black, Tabitha Stevens, Cass Marie Domino, and, coming all the way from Las Vegas, DuWanna Moore! Seats fill up fast, so get there early!

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ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOWCASE:  The community is invited to The Great Lakes Showcase, a regional arts and crafts exhibition, opening on Monday, March 28 at 7:00 pm in the Rozsa Center Art Gallery.  The exhibition will feature the work of nearly 50 regional artists.  Awards of over $2,000 will be made to participating artists for outstanding achievement in a variety of categories.  The Great Lakes Showcase exhibition is free and open to the public, and opens with a reception on Monday, March 28, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, when the awards will be announced.  The exhibit will continue until April 29.   The hours of the exhibit are 8:00 am – 8:00 pm, Monday-Friday. 

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BIOLOGY WEEK SCHEDULE:  Support Phi Sigma by participating in this year’s Bio Week April 4-8.  Attend one or all of the many events related to the biological sciences being hosted this week.

Monday (April 4th): Save a life and register to become an organ donor.

            MUB Commons: 10-2

Tuesday (April 5th): Research presentations by faculty of the biology department:

   Dr. Mike Gibson, Dr. Qing-Hui Chen, Dr. Mi Hye Song, Dr. Thomas Werner, Dr. Rupali Datta

            M&M U113 7-9pm

Wednesday (April 6th): Watch Blue Planet with Snacks and drinks!

            DOW 642 6pm

Thursday (April 7th): Book and Bake Sale

            DOW 6th floor atrium 11am-3pm

Friday (April 8th): Walk dogs at the Copper Country Humane Society

            Meet in DOW 6th floor atrium at 4pm

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WHIMSY!:  The Michigan Tech Concert Choir will perform its annual spring concert, titled “Whimsy!”, on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 7:30 pm in the Rozsa Center.  Classical art-song, folk-songs and musical theatre selections make this concert appealing to all audiences!  Highlights of the concert include three selections from “Nonsense” by Richard Rodney Bennett, “The Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard” by Benjamin Britten, the folk-song suite “Women on the Plains” by Alice Parker, and “O Schöne Nacht” by Johannes Brahms.  The concert is open to the public.  Admission is $10 for the general public, $5 for students and free for Michigan Tech Students. To purchase tickets contact Michigan Tech Ticketing Services at the Rozsa Box Office at (906) 487-3200, The Central Ticket Office (SDC) at (906) 487-2073, or go online at tickets.mtu.edu .

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STANDATHON 2011

Join us at Standathon on Friday, April 1 for a night full of awesome activities, prizes and food!!!  Standathon 2011 will be held in the SDC from 7:00 pm – 7:00 am.   Some of the activities at Standathon include sumo wrestling, a 65 ft inflatable obstacle course, black light mini golf, laser tag, live bands, food eating contests, dance lessons, karaoke, water polo, kayak lessons, MTU’s Got Talent Show and so much more!  Food will be served all night and prizes will be raffled off every hour.  The grand prize this year is an Xbox Kinect.

The entrance fee is $10.00.  The cost of and entrance fee AND a Standathon T-shirt is $15.00.  The cost of an entrance fee, T-shirt, AND Grand Prize Bracket for Xbox Kinect is $20.00!

The best part about Standathon is that every dollar raised is donated directly to Bay Cliff Health Camp, a camp for children and adults with disabilities.  This is the fifth annual Standathon and we hope to make it the best one yet by setting a goal to raise $7,000 for Bay Cliff!  Everyone is welcome and we hope to see you there!!

Special feature:  Jordan Tobey’s band “Bear in Mind” will be playing at Standathon at 1:30 am.

For questions about Standathon, please contact Hilary Cadeau at hscadeau@mtu.edu.

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PROGRAMMING COMPETITION:  Put your AI to the test! On April 9, 2011 the 4th Annual BonzAI Brawl programming competition will take place in the CS department at Michigan Technological University.  The programming will be an all day event, where teams of 1 to 3 contestants will implement an AI player for a game. The contestants will be given the details of the API the day of the competition and must design a winning strategy within the 8 hours allotted.  After coding ends, the AIs are pitted against each other, in a tournament (known as the BRAWL).  Spectators are welcome to attend and cheer for their favorite AI at the BRAWL.  For more information about BonzAI Brawl or to register your team, visit http://wics.students.mtu.edu.  All teams must register by March 30, 2011.

Sponsored in part by a donation from LaSalleTech, Consistacom, Jackson, GE Aviation and the CS Department. 

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PEKING ACROBATS:  Bring the whole family to the Rozsa Center next Tuesday night to see the amazing PEKING ACROBATS® on March 29, 2011, at 7:30 pm.  The Copper Country will be treated to feats of acrobatic grace and agility, thrilled by high-wire walking, trick-cycling, precision tumbling, somersaulting, and gymnastics.   Ticket prices for the general public are $20 for Adults, $18 for Seniors, and Students $14.  To purchase tickets contact Michigan Tech Ticketing Services at the Rozsa Box Office at (906) 487-3200, The Central Ticket Office (SDC) at 487-2073 or go online at tickets.mtu.edu – No refunds, exchanges, or late seating, please.

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SPRING FLING 2011

Join us for Spring Fling 2011 on Friday, April 15 from noon to 5:00 pm on the Campus Mall.  Get a table by signing up at the MUB Board counter in MUB 106.  Use the GOLD registration form and include the name of your organization or department along with a contact name and email address.  Spring Fling 2011 has an 80’s theme, with classic 80’s arcade games sponsored by the MUB Board.  Feel free to follow the theme in games, giveaways and food choices for your booth or table.

Please note anything beyond packaged food must be prepared by Dining Services.  Questions can be directed to Bob in Dining Services at rwhiltun@mtu.edu.  Also, any demonstration or activity where participation or action may put someone in danger must have a Risk Management Plan submitted approved by Wednesday, April 13 at noon.  Questions can be sent to Rachel in Student Activities at activities@mtu.edu.

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MOTORCYCLE STUNT SHOW:  On Friday April 15 during Spring Fling the Full Throttle Motorcycle Club of Michigan Tech is hosting a motorcycle stunt show!  Two great groups will be performing on our campus:  Sick Air FMX, featuring freestyle motocross tricks, and the Smage Brothers, featuring trials riding.  Shows will begin at noon, 2:00, and 4:00, and are free for everyone.  PLEASE NOTE:  The shows will take place in Lot 27 (the $2 lot) so this lot will be unavailable for parking.  Questions can be directed to Kaitlyn Bunker at kjreed@mtu.edu.

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