Michigan Technological University
has long had a reputation
as a high-quality school, and it seems that reputation is not without merit: the U.S. News and World Report’s college
rankings, as well as the Princeton Review’s rankings, have both rated Michigan Tech among the top universities in the nation.
The U.S. News and World Report’s College Rankings have given Tech a rank of 117 among national universities, an improvement from last year’s ranking of 121. Tech shares that rank with two other schools: Loyola University Chicago and the University of San Francisco. U.S. News also ranked Tech as the 57th best public university
in the nation, and the third best in Michigan, behind only the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. Finally,
Tech was listed among “A+ schools for B students,” which were described as high-quality schools that also accept a large number of students with an ACT of 20-30, and also have high retention rates.
The Princeton
Review also once again listed Michigan Tech as “Best in the Midwest”
in book “The Best 373 Colleges, 2011 Edition.”
Unlike the U.S. News and World Report rankings, the Princeton Review’s report only profiles 15 percent of American schools, and also bases its ratings partly on student response (The U.S. News rankings do not include student opinions as a factor).
Dr. Les Cook, the Vice President
for Student Affairs at Tech, said that while the rankings are certainly good news, one shouldn’t look too much into them, since those rankings tend to focus more on “inputs” like selectivity and test scores rather than outputs. “The attention Michigan Tech gets from being
recognized among the best is valuable and certainly helps reconfirm our academic reputation,”
Cook explained, “but what students gain from their experience here is far more important.”
University President Glenn Mroz said much of the same thing, telling the Lode, “Certainly we’re pleased with the recognition from both magazines,
and it’s always good to be moving
up.” But, Mroz said, “In the end, the real gauge of whether a university or a degree program
is good is whether a graduate gets the education to do what they want to do in life. I think Michigan Tech does very well in that area.”
Students, for their part, took a generally positive view of the news. First-year exercise science
student Deedra Irwin said that the ratings “Makes me feel honored to be going to such a great school.” Fletcher Swanson, a first-year materials science engineering student, agreed. “That’s fantastic, I mean, that’s exactly why people come here. That and the snow.” Students also agreed with U.S. News and World Report’s assessment of Tech as an “A+ school for B students.” “I was a B student myself… they get you up to speed with the harder classes if you’re not quite there yet,” said third-year computer science and management information systems student Adam Gibson. He wondered, though, whether a university’s hiring practices were taken account in either of the ratings, referencing his disappointment with the layoff last year of adjunct computer science professor Bill Siever. Swanson was less concerned about the quality of the ratings. “I guess it would depend on the source,” he said, but added “I’m going to go out on a limb here and say Princeton’s pretty trustworthy.”

There once stood a great, well-loved, decrepit white pine in the center of campus. The EERC tree (originally ‘the Leaning Pine’) living in front of the EERC building was cut down on August 17. It seems that there should be some sadness or sorrow surrounding
the EERC tree’s death but it is widely understood that its hulking, leaning being was becoming a threat to public safety.
The pine simply could not survive its isolated environment.
It was quite obvious that the end was near for this old fellow, with his many dead and dying limbs and severe lean. The decision to cut down the tree was handled by Facilities Management. “There were few negative reactions. Most folks realized that safety precedes sentiment,” says Director of Facilities John Rovano.
Forester and Lecturer James Schmierer (undergraduate from 1994-98) remembers betting
with his friends at the beginning
of each term whether or not the Leaning Pine would fall. “I usually bet in favor of the tree — that it would persist for another quarter”. Although the community will never know how long a leaning tree will lean before it lays down.
There are many ideas for what to do with the pine now. Some requests are to make benches for the memorial garden
next to the Rozsa Center or use some of the wood for a sculpture to place on campus. Some “slices” have been requested
for posterity. Facilities Management have stored several
large servings of the pine and plans to parcel them out as requested.
It has been decided another
Michigan white pine will be planted in the EERC tree’s place. Irrigation and electricity
have been added to the area. Now there will be a lighted
white pine at the center of campus. Of course there will be maintenance for this new tree placed in the same urban landscape with the same additional
stresses. Perhaps in another one hundred years Michigan Tech will have it’s leaning tree back. For now the student body will have to find a new candidate for Winter Carnival Queen.
For more information, read the August 18 Tech Today.

On the morning of Tuesday Sept. 7, Enterprise Applications Services (EAS) will turn on a new user interface for the campus
Banweb system.
The Banweb system includes Student Self Service, Faculty and Advisor Self Service, and Employee
Self Service. This new interface will be more graphical,
but essentially all of the menus and options remain the same. Only the look and feel will change.
The new interface has undergone
many weeks of testing and validation; however if you do find an issue or error, you can click the “Report a bug” link or email eas@mtu.edu.

There are many products designed to be cheap and supposedly useful just for dorm rooms and entering freshmen. The saying “back to school” seems to rev parents right up. Of course, relatives are happy to travel to the local Wal-Mart to buy some small appliances, plastic shelving, hand towels and things of the like. Many students are often gifted with “food”. Ramen noodles and candy are automatically associated with the term “college food”.

Read the full story

1. Know which foods to eat regularly, and which to eat in moderation.

2. Take advantage of Michigan Tech’s free gym; exercise is a stress reliever just as much as a fat burner or muscle toner.

Read the full story

Michigan Tech will host a blood drive on Tuesday, Aug. 31 (Noon – 6 p.m.) and Wednesday, Sept. 1 (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) in the JR Van Pelt and Ope Library East Reading Room.

Read the full story

You’ve been welcomed. You’ve been taught how to study, get involved and travel overseas. But when you wake up the morning of your first class you may suddenly be overcome with uneasiness and a strong desire to vomit. The familiar first-day-of-school jitters might take over your mind and body reducing you to a mumbling mass of anxiety. You’ll curse every out of place hair and your parents for not taking you shoe shopping before you left home. You’ll suddenly forget where every building on campus is and wander aimlessly, missing your class. This is, of course, a worst-case scenario. However likely, it can be avoided by following a few simple steps which will allow you to be prepared and blend in with those sixth-years who stroll to class with such ease and grace.

Read the full story

With all the extracurricular opportunities at Michigan Tech, it can be easy to accidentally let academics slide. Maybe your friends will go out and party when you have an exam the next day. Maybe “the big game” is on, but you know you have not touched “the big paper” due in a couple days. Maybe you have averaged four hours of sleep for two straight weeks and sleeping through class seems like the best option.

Read the full story

You’re a first-year college student — why in the world would you ever read a newspaper? After all, the industry is dying. Well, maybe that’s what you’ve heard. We’re here to break that stereotype, serving you with the best, hard-hitting, in-depth, accurate and ethical news, sports, opinion and pulse content from a student perspective. This is neither your parents’ newspaper nor a public relations wing for the University — we’re truly here to serve you.

Read the full story

HOUGHTON — The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and consulting engineers are trying to figure out what caused the Portage Lake Lift Bridge to get stuck in the “up” position twice in the last two days. Workers will conduct several diagnostic tests at 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 5, which will likely cause travel delays.

Read the full story