It is essential for animal life. It makes up 60 percent of the human brain. It resides within most of the organs of the body. Why, then, is it frowned upon by so many people in American culture, and thought of as taboo? Fat is what I’m talking
about, and it seems to be that these underestimated lipids are ignored and battered by the American population as an unwanted
part of our bodies.
Fat is a supreme insulator, keeping our bodies warm and comfortable, which allows us to focus on other more important functions. It also supplies us with most of our energy, and does not need water to be stored, making it much lighter than muscle and easier to carry. Fat aids greatly in reproduction, libido, immune functions, eyesight, and makes food taste way better!
In fear of looking like a gelatinous
blob, most people filter the word “fat” out of their diets, consequently
looking like a skeletal corpse. I would not exactly call that attractive, unless that is their natural body form. But today’s media constantly batters us with the image of the “perfect” human
being. Check out the Hane’s commercials, which shame men subconsciously into working out at the gym, or Ralph Lauren ads, giving females the undesired option
to save more money instead of buying food in an epic battle to look like a rail.
Today it seems as though muscle
has become idolized within the male population, giving males wide options for a mate and even job opportunities. Muscle is essential
for life as well, but it is certainly
overly-accentuated compared
to fat. Female models, on the other hand, are very thin and tall. Male and female models, for the most part, are healthy people who naturally have an ideal body image, with the help of healthy eating and exercise, but there are many more people with physical “flaws” as seen through the cold eyes of the media. It is a mystery to why the media focuses on such an image as the “perfect” body for both males and females, but it certainly makes a long lasting statement within the beholder’s psyche, whether subliminally implemented or not.
An excess of fat by no means is healthy, just as an abnormally gargantuan amount of muscle is equally as unhealthy to the kidneys. But we have to realize, as humans, we are not on the same level to judge as a B.M.I. (body mass index) calculator. Our calculating mind is powered by compassion, which should be shown to all people regardless
of their weight or looks. An “excess” amount of healthy fat should not be frowned upon at all, but thought of as beautiful for a change. Unfortunately, we cannot teach the BMI calculator to love. In a new study, people who were either underweight or extremely obese died the earliest,
but those who were slightly overweight lived the longest! For those of you cold, skinny people quick to judge (you are literally cold because you lack insulation), your fat counterparts will be laughing above your grave.

Everything in the world contains or uses energy. We find it in the makeup of our bodies, the production of new goods and in the use of electrical applications. We are constantly looking for new ways to harvest energy to benefit our uses or change our world. Though energy is necessary for basic life, we may be changing the frontier on energy usage. As the world begins to combat global warming and changing environments, people have begun looking in the direction of sustainability and conservation. These ideas don’t just apply to waste production and the emissions of greenhouse gases, but encompass many of the normal daily functions we take for granted.

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In the past couple of decades, the emphasis of big colleges and universities has declined, gravitating to a new appreciation for the benefits a smaller school has to offer. Twenty years ago, everyone was trying to get into the major schools that have over 50,000 students in attendance. The thought was that those were the only schools that provided students with a good education. However, that mindset has switched gears and now high school students and parents are considering a smaller school as the better choice, primarily because of the opportunities that exist in a smaller environment.

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As anyone who has been following the news lately will no doubt be aware, the American auto industry has recently been experiencing some less-than-ideal times. Certainly, this is a matter of potential concern for many Michigan Tech students, particularly those in engineering departments. Traditionally, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler have been present and recruiting at the Career Fair; at this spring’s event, only Ford was present.

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The National Society of Leadership and Success, Michigan Tech Chapter, is proud to present Les Brown, renowned speaker and best-selling author of “Live Your Dreams” and “It’s Not Over Until You Win” this Thursday, April 16, at 7 p.m. in the EERC, room 100. Les brings a unique wealth of world experience and continual education to his presentations, sharing his energy and enthusiasm for personal success with audiences around the world.

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The end is in sight. You can already feel the hot sun on your face (or cold snow if it’s Houghton). You can taste the burgers right off the grill. You can smell the freshly mowed grass of the Little League fields. Summer is so close you can almost touch it. But while you’re reaching out, trying to grasp onto the freedom, professors, group meetings, papers, lab reports, final exams and projects all snap you right back into week twelve of the semester. Sorry, but we’re not done yet.

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Next week is Pride Week. “It focuses on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender visibility, awareness and education to create a safer and more inclusive campus community,” says Tech Today. The events include movies, games, workshops, a bowling event and a speaker culminating with a drag show. “I like Pride Week! There’s so much to do and learn about,” said Jess Turuc, senior in communications. “I think Pride Week is great way to embrace and support our GLBT students on campus.”

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There are many initiatives all over campus to be more “green.” One such initiative is in the form of the Green Campus Enterprise.

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All of our time and energy we put forth during our schooling years is put into one magical document. After trudging through grade school and putting up with high school nonsense, we categorize all of our achievements and honors into one piece of paper. We define ourselves by our successes and some random self-assigned attributes. I remember students not knowing what to put down on their high school resume. The teacher I had would ask, “Well, are you organized? Hard-working?,” and if the student had other such key word adjectives they could throw into their resume.

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President Obama gave his first address to a joint session of Congress last Tuesday. Although he began with a sobering summation of the nation’s ills, he proceeded to praise the nation’s integrity and lay out an ambitious plan to mend the economy, health care and education systems.
“But while our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken… we will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before,” said Obama to an applauding Congress. Focusing first on employment, Obama claimed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will save or create 3.5 million jobs within the next two years. He also said that the plan would give 95 percent of “working households” a tax cut. For families who have children in college, Obama said they would receive a $2,500 tax credit for four years of higher education.
In response to claims that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act comes with too big a price tag, Obama said, “…while the cost of action will be great, I can assure you that the cost of inaction will be far greater…” And to the concerns of increasing taxes, Obama said that taxes would not be raised “a single dime” for families making less than $250,000 a year.
Obama also stressed the importance of transparency in government, particularly in regards to spending. The Web site www.recovery.org is to be a tool for the American people to see where and how their tax dollars will be spent. Obama called for accountability on government bailouts as well saying, “This time, CEOs won’t be able to use taxpayer money to pad their paychecks, or buy fancy drapes, or disappear on a private jet. Those days are over.”
Obama’s speech soon turned to his recovery plan and the upcoming budget he will submit to Congress which he saw as “a blueprint for our future.” In regards to energy, Obama promised to double the United States’ use of renewable energy within three years by investing $15 billion a year to research and develop new technology. He called for Congress to present him with legislation that would promote the production of renewable energy and place “a market-based cap on carbon pollution.”
Health care reform was also an important point in Obama’s address. “Our recovery plan will invest in electronic health records and new technology that will reduce errors, bring down costs, ensure privacy and save lives.”
On education, Obama pointed out that the United States has one of the highest high school dropout rates of “any industrialized nation” and that only half of the students who begin college actually finish. Obama pledged to reform the education system and make higher learning more affordable. He asked Congress to send him legislation that would decrease college costs for those who volunteer in their community or serve their country. “By 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. That is a goal we can meet.”
Towards the end of his speech, Obama touched on the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. He said he would announce soon his plan for Iraq that “leaves Iraq to its people and responsibly ends [the] war” but still pledged to continue combat in Pakistan in Afghanistan “to defeat Al Qaida and combat extremism.” Obama said his budget increases the amount of soldiers overseas and raises the pay and expands the health care of soldiers and veterans.
Obama ended his address by encouraging Congress and the people of the United States to come together and solve the challenges the nation faces. “…Even in the most trying times, amid the most difficult circumstances, there is a generosity, a resilience, a decency and a determination that perseveres; a willingness to take responsibility for our future and for posterity.”