Midyear Commencement Volunteers Needed!

The Commencement Team is seeking volunteers for the Midyear Commencement ceremony on Dec. 17. We need volunteers to help with pre-ceremony setup, serve as greeters and ushers, coordinate graduate check-in, collect tickets at the door and assist guests with special seating accommodations. There are also opportunities to volunteer on Dec. 15 and Dec. 16 during setup and rehearsal if that works better for your schedule.

There are multiple shifts available during the ceremony Dec. 17. More information regarding the ceremony may be found on the Commencement website. An optional volunteer training will be scheduled during the week of Midyear Commencement.

Please sign up to volunteer by Dec. 2 if you would like to volunteer. Contact Anna McClatchy at ajmcclat@mtu.edu if you have any questions.

This special weekend cannot happen without the help of our amazing Michigan Tech community! Thank you!

Assistance Needed: New Compliance Poster Released

On Oct. 19, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released their new “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” poster. This new poster replaces the “EEO is the Law” poster and poster supplement that Equal Opportunity Compliance (EOC) has previously distributed to departments.

This poster is not required for posting in your department, but you could post it in a main office location. If you have the outdated “EEO is the Law” poster and supplement posted in your department, please replace it with the new “Know Your Rights” poster. If you have it linked on your website please update to link to EOC. This poster is available on our website so it can be easily found by applicants and employees.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Equal Opportunity Compliance at eocompliance@mtu.edu.

Night Parking Ban Goes Into Effect Monday Night

The Night Parking Ban goes into effect at midnight Monday (Oct. 31) and remains in effect until April 30, 2023.

During this time, parking is prohibited on campus between the hours of 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. except as follows:

  • Michigan Tech employees with shifts prior to 7 a.m. who have an assigned parking location (email parking@mtu.edu if you have not yet been assigned a location)
  • Occupants of University Housing with a valid residential parking permit in their specified lot
  • Visitors with purchased permits

Individuals who need to request parking past 2 a.m. need to call Michigan Tech Public Safety and Police Services at 7-2216 after 1 a.m. to be assigned a designated parking space. In order to request permission to remain parked on campus, you will need to provide the following information in your request to Public Safety:

  • Name
  • Reason for request
  • Campus Location
  • Phone Number
  • Vehicle Information (license plate number, make, model and color of vehicle)
  • Permit Number

Those granted permission to park on campus after 2 a.m. will be assigned a parking spot in a designated lot or in one of the three designated meter areas (meters will need to be paid). Vehicles must be moved prior to 6 a.m. unless alternate arrangements have been given prior approval.

This parking ban is in effect regardless of the amount of snow on the ground.

Visitor Parking Permits
Permits can be purchased from Transportation Services Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or on the Michigan Tech Parking Portal. Visitors can park overnight in Lot 26 if vehicles are moved to a meter by 7 a.m. or in Lot 24 if they would like to remain parked there for the next day. If arriving after 4 p.m., the overnight permit should be purchased with the next day’s date to allow for overnight parking.

Email parking@mtu.edu with further questions.

Linnaeus University of Sweden and IKEA Present on Monday, Oct. 31

All are welcome to join the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science and the Institute for Policy, Ethics, and Culture in attending the following events with faculty from Linnaeus University of Sweden and IKEA this coming Monday, Oct. 31:

  • Presentation Title: "An Overview of Linnaeus University's Innovation Master's Program-Engineering, Business, and Design," 9-10 a.m., Library Rm. 244
    • Miguel Salinas, Program Head, Innovation Master's-Design, Linnaeus University
    • Soniya Billore, Program Head, Innovation Master's-Business, Linnaeus University
    • Peter Lerman, Program Head, Innovation Master's-Engineering, Linnaeus University
    • Google Invite
  • Seminar Title: "Faculty of Technology at Linnaeus University and Swedish Forestry," 2-3 p.m., Noblet Rm. 144
    • Åsa Blom, Associate Professor, Pro-Dean, Forestry and Wood Technology, Linnaeus University
    • Google Invite
  • Seminar Title: "Linking Research and Industry the IKEA Way," 3-4 p.m., Noblet Rm. 144
    • Thomas Walther, Material Engineering Leader, IKEA; Adjunct Professor, Linnaeus University
    • Google Invite

Please contact Erin Syth, elsyth@mtu.edu, with any questions.

Nominations Open for 2023 MAGS Excellence in Teaching Awards

Nominations are now open for the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) Excellence in Teaching Awards. Michigan Tech may nominate two students, one at the MS level and one at the PhD level.

Each graduate program may nominate one MS student and one PhD student. Nominations are due to the Graduate School no later than 4 p.m., Jan. 4, 2023.

Eligible students:

  • will have been enrolled at Michigan Tech during the 2022 calendar year and have a teaching appointment
  • will have earned the Michigan Tech Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award
  • will have an excellent teaching portfolio and student evaluations

See the application page for complete details on what is required for a nomination.

Tech Students Place in Regional Marketing Competition

Michigan Tech American Marketing Association (AMA) students attended the largest regional AMA conference and competition at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on Oct. 6-7. Huskies competed with students from all over the world and demonstrated their competency in three of the five categories:

  • Fiona Chow (management information systems) earned second place in the mock interview bracket sponsored by Henry Schein.

  • Two MTU teams were among 11 teams selected as finalists in Colony Brands’ marketing strategy competition.

  • In the digital marketing competition sponsored by AcuRite, one Tech team was included in the final presentation.

Read more about the trip on the College of Business Newsblog.

SWE Section Attends WE22 Conference

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) WE22 Societal Conference was held in Houston, Texas, on Oct. 19-22. Twelve members of Tech's SWE section and their advisor, Gretchen Hein, attended the conference.

The section's conference activities included:

  • Hein, Aerith Cruz, Skyler Brawley and Talia Olson held an #IamRemarkable Workshop regarding how to advocate for yourself and others.
  • Alli Hummel and Kathleen Heusser presented on the SWE Section’s tiered funding model.
  • Julia Westfall applied and was accepted into the SWE Collegiate Leadership Institute.
  • The section was awarded the 2000 Gold Level Collegiate Mission Award.
  • Hein was recognized for her review of Undergraduate Scholarship and the Multicultural Awards.

The students also enjoyed meeting many of our Tech alumni who attended the Houston Area Alumni Meet and Greet. It was interesting to learn about their experiences at Tech and how campus and classes have changed over the years.

The section and their advisor thank their corporate sponsors for supporting their travel to the conference. We look forward to attending SWE WE23 Societal Conference in Los Angeles, California, next year.

Each student’s conference experience was different, and their quotes are below:

  • Alli Hummel (civil engineering):
    “The most impactful part of the conference was talking to various students and company representatives after giving a presentation on our section’s tiered funding model.”

  • Abby Mello (chemical engineering):
    “It was inspiring to hear the stories of so many accomplished women in STEM. I look forward to seeing the women in our chapter follow in their footsteps, face challenges with the confidence they have earned, and lead impactful lives fulfilling their aspirations.”

  • Natalie Hodge (electrical and computer engineering):
    “It was amazing to hear stories and life lessons from many incredible women. It really helped me rethink the way I approach challenges and other situations.”

  • Victoria Berger (materials science and engineering):
    “I found the keynote speeches to be inspiring and motivating and loved how the women presenting them were so accomplished in life.”

  • Amanda West (mechanical engineering):
    “With the support of my SWE section and the environment of woman empowerment, I took full advantage of the career fair with hundreds of companies, learning how to network and sell my resume.”

  • Aerith Cruz (management information systems):
    “It was an incredible experience being able to share “#IamRemarkable” to a global audience.”

  • Skyler Brawley (computer engineering):
    “I had an amazing experience during my first time at the WE22 conference.”

  • Talia Olson (mechanical engineering):
    “I had the opportunity of presenting with such inspiring women leaders on the #IamRemarkable workshop.”

  • Kathleen Heusser Pakenas (biomedical engineering):
    “I was able to see the most amazing women in engineering leadership ... The entire experience made me feel that I can have a place at the top of the engineering world too, if I’m willing to work hard enough for it.”

  • Sophie Stewart (mechanical engineering):
    “I have never seen so many women engineers in one place! I had so much fun attending the sessions, networking, and hearing everyone’s story.“

  • Josie Edick (chemical engineering):
    “As a graduating senior, I spent a lot of my time during WE22 at the career fair. ... I was able to diversify my network and discuss opportunities with industries I never knew were possible to work in as a chemical engineer.”

  • Julia Westfall (mechanical engineering):
    “I learned MTU alumni are everywhere and frequently hold leadership positions wherever they are ... I did not realize how well employers recognized our smaller-sized school.”

ROBOT101 Event: Discussion on Robotic Artwork

On Wednesday (Nov. 2) at noon in the Van Pelt and Opie Library and via Zoom webinar, artist Simon Penny will discuss robotic art. Perry’s eccentric but robust interactive robotic artwork, called Petit Mal, took a pioneering role in the development of autonomous sensor-based real-time computational systems that engaged users in embodied interaction. Penny is a professor in electronic art and design (Department of Art) at the University of California, Irvine.

Most ROBOT101 events are held both in person and via Zoom webinar. Find more information and register for the webinars at the ROBOT101 website.

ROBOT101 events are supported by:

Institute of Computing and Cybersystems | College of Computing | College of Sciences and Arts | College of Engineering | College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science | Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences | Department of Computer Science | Department of Engineering Fundamentals | Department of Humanities | Department of Social Sciences | Department of Visual and Performing Arts | 41 North Film Festival | Institute for Policy, Ethics, and Culture | Pavlis Honors College

Chemistry Seminar Series: Mare Cudic

Maré Cudic will present "Chemical Tools for Functional Studies of Tumor-Associated Glycans of MUC1" today (Oct. 28) in Chem-Sci 101.

One of the main barriers to understanding the functional significance of
glycan-based changes in cancer is the natural epitope heterogeneity found on the surface of cancer cells. To help address this knowledge gap, we focus on the design of synthetic tools to explore the role of tumor-associated glycans of MUC1 in the formation of metastasis via association with lectins.

Huskies Host St. Lawrence in Non-Conference Series

Michigan Tech hosts its only non-conference homes series of the season this weekend, welcoming the St. Lawrence Saints. The puck drops at 7:07 p.m. Friday and 6:07 p.m. Saturday at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

Tech is 2-2-1 and St. Lawrence is 3-2-0. The teams last played in November 2011 in New York with a weekend split.

Saturday is the annual Tadych's Kids Day at Michigan Tech. Tadych's Marketplace Foods of Houghton has purchased and given away 500 youth tickets for Saturday's Michigan Tech football and hockey games.

All Michigan Tech home and CCHA games during the 2022-23 season will be live-streamed on FloHockey.tv. Fans can purchase either annual ($150) or monthly ($30) subscriptions and will have access to all CCHA games along with the full USHL, Atlantic Hockey and ECHL schedule. Fans can download the FloSports app on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and the App Store.

Huskies Welcome #1 Lakers on Senior Day

Michigan Tech football welcomes top-ranked Grand Valley State to Kearly Stadium Saturday at 1 p.m. for Senior Day and Tadych’s Kids Day.

The Huskies enter the week 2-2 in conference play and return home following a 28-20 loss to No. 7 Ferris State at Top Taggart Field.

Prior to kickoff, 23 graduating student-athletes will be honored on the field, including four-year starting quarterback Will Ark.

Tech will be back on the road to finish the 2022 regular season at Hillsdale and No. 23 Saginaw Valley State in the first two weeks of November.

Job Postings

Job Postings for Friday, Oct. 28, 2022

Staff and faculty job descriptions are available on the Human Resources website. For more information regarding staff positions, call 906-487-2280 or email mtujobs@mtu.edu.

For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted.

Custodian (12 months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #22314, Sports and Recreation (AFSCME posting dates Oct. 28 to Nov. 3, 2022 — external applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal AFSCME applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal AFSCME posting dates). Apply online.

Building Mechanic I – Training Position (12 months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #22318, Facilities (AFSCME posting dates Oct. 28 to Nov. 3, 2022 — external applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal AFSCME applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal AFSCME posting dates). Apply online.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Accommodations are available. If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or other accommodations to apply for employment, or for an interview, at Michigan Technological University, please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or mtujobs@mtu.edu.

In Print

Part 4 of a six-part series authored by Karyn Fay (BioSci) and based on Michigan Tech's COVID-19 Testing Lab has been published by Critical Values, a journal of the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

The series is titled "Meeting the Needs of a Rural Community During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Ups and Downs of Starting a University Based Clinical Lab for COVID-19 Testing From Idea to Final Completion."

The series is based on meeting notes compiled throughout the process and written by Fay with input from Karl Meingast (VPR). The meeting notes were compiled by Fay during the many Zoom meetings the laboratory group had over a nearly two-year span of time.

Available now:
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Reminders

Academy for Engineering Education Leadership Induction and Reception

Please join us as we learn from, celebrate and induct three outstanding educators into the Academy for Engineering Education Leadership today (Oct. 28) at 2 p.m. in the East Reading Room of the Van Pelt and Opie Library.

Janet Callahan, dean of the College of Engineering, will host the induction ceremony, and refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome — faculty, staff, students and the community.

After the induction, attendees are invited to stay for a learning/Q&A panel, “Leadership in the Engineering Academy,” starting at 3 p.m.

This year's academy inductees are:

  • Debra Larson — Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, California State University-Chico
    Creating pathways for all students to succeed is a primary focus for Larson. She is a highly effective problem solver and resilient leader who respects shared governance and the diversity of experiences. She is passionate about innovating and delivering high-quality and hands-on education that prepares each generation of graduates for success and well-being. Larson earned her B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from Michigan Tech, and her Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Arizona State University.

  • William Predebon — Professor Emeritus, Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics (ME-EM), Michigan Technological University
    Encouraging faculty, staff and students to innovate, push boundaries, take risks and be entrepreneurial was a daily activity for Predebon during his 25 years of service as ME-EM department chair. Under his watch, the ME-EM department made tremendous strides in conducting interdisciplinary research, growing the doctoral program, expanding research funding and labs, and advancing the curriculum. Predebon earned his B.S. in Engineering Science at the University of Notre Dame, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Engineering Mechanics from Iowa State University.

  • Sheryl Sorby — Professor of Engineering Education, University of Cincinnati
    Serving as founding chair of the Department of Engineering Fundamentals at Michigan Tech, Sorby developed and delivered a highly supportive first-year program — a legacy effort that remains to this day. Her groundbreaking research and outreach, focused on helping people across age groups and cultures to develop their 3-D spatial skills, enables educators to develop the capacity of students worldwide. Sorby earned her B.S. in Civil Engineering, M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Ph.D. in Engineering Mechanics at Michigan Tech.

The Academy for Engineering Education Leadership was established in 2018 by the College of Engineering. Two alumni, Sarah Rajala and Karl Smith, were inaugural inductees.

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Society of Medical Laboratory Scientists Hosting Campus Blood Drive

The Society of Medical Lab Scientists (SMLS) is hosting a blood drive today (Oct. 28) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Douglass Houghton Hall ballroom. All blood donated stays in the Upper Peninsula. You will complete a mini physical and donor history questionnaire prior to donation.

Donors can sign up to donate in advance. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Please consider donating and help save a life!

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Alumni Awards 2023: Nominations Now Open

The Alumni Board of Directors is excited to announce that nominations for 2023 Alumni Awards are now open!

Since the establishment of the first alumni award in 1969, a very important role for our Alumni Board is recognizing our extraordinary alumni through the Alumni Awards program. You can help us identify outstanding alumni and friends for the five distinct awards:

These individuals will be celebrated during the Awards Ceremony over Reunion Weekend in August 2023. 

Nominations will be accepted until Dec. 31. Check out each unique webpage to review award definitions and their respective forms. Call 906-487-2400 or write to us at alumni@mtu.edu if you have any questions or concerns.

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Film Board Presenting 'A Quiet Place'

This week, the Film Board is presenting "A Quiet Place," which is rated PG-13. Sponsored by IRHC! Admission is free for everyone!

Summary: In a postapocalyptic world, a family is forced to live in silence while hiding from monsters with ultra-sensitive hearing.

Showings:

  • Friday, Oct. 28 — 5:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 29 — 5:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m.

Located on Michigan Tech's campus in Fisher 135.

Tickets are free and concessions are $1. We hope to see you at the movie this weekend, and have a great day.

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Due Tuesday: GLRC/ICC Rapid Seedling Research Funding Applications

Applications for the Great Lakes Research Center/Institute of Computing and Cybersystems (GLRC/ICC) 2023 Spring Semester Rapid Research Seedling Funding Opportunity are due Tuesday (Nov. 1).

The intent of this funding is to provide faculty and research staff funds for idea development and data collection that will quickly enable large externally sponsored funding requests.

Proposals will be accepted from Michigan Tech tenured, tenure-track and research faculty, and research scientists and engineers. Any individual researcher is eligible to receive up to one award per calendar year as a principal investigator (PI).

Awards will be announced within one month of the funding cycle deadline. Projects should have a duration of one semester with request amounts not to exceed $10,000.

Awardees must be an affiliated member of the GLRC and/or ICC and are expected to assign a Center/Institute of the GLRC or ICC to any subsequent proposals and awards generated using the data developed/enabled with the rapid seedling funding.

The application form, additional information, and instructions can be found in the Member Resources section of the GLRC Institute webpage and on the ICC website. Questions will be addressed by emailing glrc-icc-admin-l@mtu.edu.

New Funding

Pasi Lautala (CEGE/MTTI) is the principal investigator on a project that has received a $58,359 research and development contract from the University of Michigan MTRAC. The project is entitled, "Crossing-i Harnessing Drone Data and Analytics for Efficient Grade Crossing Management." Colin Brooks (MTRI/MTTI) is a Co-PI on this potential project.

In the News

The Daily Mining Gazette and ABC 10 ran stories about this year’s Haunted Mine Tours at the Quincy Mine in Hancock, which run tonight (Oct. 28) and tomorrow (Oct. 29) from 6-10 p.m. Associate professor Kent Cyr (VPA) and students Madi Wentela, Isabella Capanda and Cameron Whitesidewere were quoted in the Gazette article. 

WLUC TV6 and the Keweenaw Report ran stories about recent and upcoming performances by the American Ballet Theater Studio Company at the Rozsa Center. Mary Jennings, director of the Rozsa Center, was quoted in the TV6 story. 

Patch and several downstate outlets reported on Tuesday’s release of the 2023 Best Global Universities rankings by U.S. News & World Report. Michigan had seven universities on the list of 2,000 schools worldwide. Michigan Tech ranked No. 779. 

Michigan Tech was mentioned in a press release from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announcing the Michigan Strategic Fund’s approval of a range of projects in the state. Among the projects receiving support are the Michigan Translational Research & Commercialization (MTRAC) Program and active Innovation Hubs at Michigan Tech and other universities. 

Michigan Tech was one of three universities in the state cited in an MLive editorial as having increased enrollment since 2011. The letter from the editor was written in reference to a five-part series of reported stories about enrollment from MLive earlier in the month.

Michigan travel show and podcast Behind the Mitten featured an interview with MTU’s director of admissions Beth Fitzpatrick on a recent episode.

Today's Campus Events

To have your event automatically appear, please submit them to the University Events Calendar.

The Rozsa Galleries Present: Arabesque

THE ROZSA GALLERIES PRESENT ARABESQUE AN ART EXHIBITION OF THE WORKS OF CLEMENT YEH AND TOMAS CO FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 THROUGH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2022 GALLERY HOURS: M-F 8...

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Engineering Education Leadership Inductee Dr. Debra Larson shares her thoughts on Academic Leadership, impact and importance of serving students, colleagues and the profession

Debra Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, California State University Chico Bio: Dr. Debra Larson is the Provost and Vice President for Academic...

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Mathematical Sciences Seminar Series (Dr. Matthew (Jake) Roberts)

Title: Peak Matching for Direct Analyisis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS) Abstract: Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS) is a new technology that...

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Academy for Engineering Education Leadership: Induction and Reception, then Panel Discussion

Please join us as we learn from, celebrate, and induct three outstanding educators into the Michigan Tech Academy for Engineering Education Leadership. Inductees are: Debra...

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Computer Science Colloquium Lecture: Scott Diehl, Google

Scott Diehl will present a Computer Science Colloquium lecture on Friday, October 28, 2022, from 3-4 p.m. in Rekhi Hall, Room 214. Diehl is a senior staff engineering manager...

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Weekly Workshop

A weekly workshop to dive in and discuss the various concepts underlying LEAN and Continous Improvement. The workshop typically begins with assigning different concepts and...

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Student Workshop: Technical Interviews

Technical interviews can sound intimidating and feel like an obstacle between you and a great job. To help, Scott Diehl, a senior staff engineering manager for Google’s Cloud...

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(Women's Soccer) Northern Michigan vs. Michigan Tech

Women's Soccer: Northern Michigan vs. Michigan Tech

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The Rozsa Galleries Present: Arabesque Artist Reception

THE ROZSA GALLERIES PRESENT ARABESQUE ARTIST RECEPTION WITH ARTISTS CLEMENT YEH AND TOMAS CO Artist Reception Join artists Tomas Co and Clement Yeh for the Arabesque...

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Physics Bowl

Women in Physics is hosting Physics Bowl! This annual event tests your physics knowledge through fun trivia questions. All you need is a Halloween costume and a team of 2 or...

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(Women's Volleyball) Michigan Tech at Wayne State

Women's Volleyball: Michigan Tech at Wayne State

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Rhythm Afrikana

It’s the first-of-its-kind evening of great music from Africa. African foods will be on sale to interested individuals. It is simply unmissable for everyone in the community!

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(Men's Ice Hockey) St. Lawrence vs. Michigan Tech

Men's Ice Hockey: St. Lawrence vs. Michigan Tech

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The Rozsa Presents: American Ballet Theatre Studio Company

THE ROZSA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTS AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE STUDIO COMPANY "From the opening pose and throughout this movement there was passion and...

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Summoning Spirits

In collaboration with Late Night Programming, MUB Board brings to you Summoning Spirits! Reach beyond the grave with an all-new show that will make you scream! Summoning...

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Adult and Youth Huskies Tennis Lessons

Youth Tennis Lessons: After school and weekend Youth Huskies Group Tennis Lessons are back this fall! Join by age group and level for some fun on the tennis courts! October 24...