October 3, 2024

As director of Residence Education, Alexandra Marshall is dedicated to creating spaces within Michigan Tech's residence halls where all students can feel they belong. Colleagues and students describe her as a leader who takes meaningful action to create a welcoming campus community for all students.

Her leadership in initiatives like the Husky Closet Collective and the expansion of gender-inclusive housing has earned Marshall the 2024 Michigan Technological University Diversity Award.

Learn more about Marshall’s efforts and her vision for fostering a sense of belonging in a Q&A at Michigan Tech News.

The College of Computing is pleased to announce that William Starke ’90 and David Hale are this year’s inductees into the College of Computing Honor Academy. The Honor Academy recognizes Michigan Tech graduates who have distinguished themselves in their professions and others who have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of the College of Computing and its programs.

Starke is an IBM Distinguished Engineer and serves as chief architect for IBM Power microprocessors. Throughout his tenure at IBM, Starke’s contributions have been vital to the mission-critical transaction processing and analytics platforms underpinning many of the world’s largest enterprises.

Hale is a seasoned information security professional with nearly 30 years of experience in the field. For 27 years, he worked in Michigan Tech’s Department of Information Technology, leading the University’s information security efforts for 22 years. At the time of his retirement, Hale held the positions of chief information security officer and information systems security manager.

Read more about the inductees on the Computing News Blog.

The 2024 Midyear Commencement Ceremony will take place on Dec. 14 at 10:30 a.m. in the SDC Varsity Gym. Michigan Tech faculty are cordially invited to participate in the faculty procession to support students in their department at the ceremony.

Faculty presence means a great deal to the students and their families. Members of the procession wear regalia, march in the procession and sit as a group to show support for the graduates.

To participate in the ceremony on Dec. 14, please submit the Commencement Ceremony Participation Form by Oct. 18.

Faculty may order caps and gownsthrough the Campus Store’s Cap and Gown Orders page before noon on Monday, Oct. 7, to receive the lowest price. Expedited shipping fees will apply to all orders placed after that date. Orders placed after noon on Nov. 11 are not guaranteed to arrive before the commencement ceremony.

We hope you will join us at Midyear Commencement!

The Graduate School is offering writing support to assist female graduate students who wish to apply for American Association of University Women (AAUW) American Fellowships, International Fellowships, and Selected Professions Fellowships. Funding amounts vary from $8,000-$50,000.

Applications are due Nov. 15.

For details of each AAUW funding opportunity, see the organization's Fellowships & Grants page.

If your department has students who you believe to be eligible for one of these fellowships, please refer them to Sarah Isaacson at sisaacso@mtu.edu.

Michigan Tech Theatre is thrilled to announce the cast for “The Glass Menagerie,” a play by Tennessee Williams and part of the Michigan Tech Theatre Series in the 2024/25 Rozsa Season. "The Glass Menagerie" premiers in McArdle Theatre on Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Director Nich Radcliffe (VPA) has directed over 50 plays, operas, and musicals in Chicago and across the United States; “The Glass Menagerie” will be his second production at Michigan Tech — last season’s sell-out show “Purple Hearts” was his debut production.

“The Glass Menagerie” catapulted playwright Tennessee Williams to Broadway fame. This autobiographical play, narrated by the character Tom (Williams’ real name), follows the lives of the Wingfields, a family living in St. Louis in the 1930s.

The production features a talented cast:

• Chase Mead as Tom, the narrator
• Clarissa Gordon as Amanda, Tom’s mother
• Lyndsay Lagreid as Laura, Tom’s sister
• Dhruva Dayal as Jim, gentleman caller

Together, they bring to life the characters’ struggles, shame, hopes and dreams, creating a deeply resonant portrayal of a dysfunctional family grappling with the weight of its past and the uncertainty of the future. Recalled from Tom’s memory, the play explores Amanda’s tribulations of being abandoned by her husband to raise her two children. Meanwhile, Tom must secure a suitor for his shy and withdrawn sister, Laura, who, detached from reality, lives in a fantasy world with her collection of glass objects, her menagerie.

Radcliffe’s production will offer a fresh interpretation that aims to deliver a truly unique and memorable experience for both the artists and audience members.

“‘The Glass Menagerie’ is inarguably one of the greatest plays of the 20th century, and a play of its stature certainly sits on the bucket list of most any director — mine included,” said Radcliffe. “But a play this great, existing for more than 80 years, is also certain to come with expectations — dare I say baggage, even. As a result, one of my goals for our production is to leave those expectations in the wings and create something wholly our own.”

Tickets: Pay As You’re Able Tickets for this event are available online or in person at the Rozsa Box Office. This event is eligible for Michigan Tech Student Rush Tickets.

Production Details:

• What: “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams  Presented by Michigan Tech Theatre
• When: Wednesday to Saturday, Nov. 13-16, at 7:30 p.m. nightly
• Where: McArdle Theatre

The next guest speaker in the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BioMed) Seminar Series will present tomorrow, Oct. 4, at 3 p.m. in person in Chem Sci 102 and virtually via Zoom.

Join the BioMed Seminar on Zoom.

Yun Fang from the University of Chicago will present "Cardiovascular Mechanobiology and Precision Nanomedicine."

Read Fang's abstract and bio at the University Events Calendar.

After a perfectly timed bye week to conclude the nonconference portion of the season, the Michigan Tech football team returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 5. The Huskies will welcome Wayne State for Homecoming, opening league play at Kearly Stadium with a noon kickoff.

Along with all the Homecoming festivities, one of the most successful teams in MTU program history returns for its 50th reunion. The 1974 team went undefeated with a 9-0 record, and over 30 team members will be recognized at halftime of Saturday's game.

All home and GLIAC games will be streamed on FloSports (subscription required — a discount is available for students).

Read the football preview at Michigan Tech Athletics.

Job Posting for Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024

Staff and faculty job descriptions are available on the Human Resources website. For more information regarding staff positions, call 906-487-2280 or email humanresources@mtu.edu. For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted.

Assistant Professor – Optics, Physics. 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 humanresources@mtu.edu.

Ann Bengry and Brian Isaksson (both REC), Joel Isaacson (ATH) and Derek Butkovich (FM) were mentioned by Radio Results Network as recipients of Accessibility Awards at the inaugural Upper Peninsula Accessibility Summit. All were honored for their efforts in making Michigan Tech’s facilities more accessible.

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A research article written by Sonia Goltz (COB) was referenced in a Huffington Post story discussing the importance of understanding coercion. The story was picked up by Yahoo! News.

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Kristin Brzeski (CFRES) was mentioned by Baylor University in a story about new research published in the journal Royal Society Open Science. The research team includes Brzeski, whose work was supported through a grant from Michigan Tech and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s McIntire-Stennis Program.

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Kiersten Birondo (Rozsa) and Jared Anderson (VPA) were quoted by WLUC TV6 about Birondo’s upcoming role as the new executive director of the Rozsa Center, starting Nov. 1.

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The Daily Mining Gazette mentioned Michigan Tech students from the Arnold Air Society’s TSgt. Robert E. LaMotte Squadron in a story about their annual POW/MIA Memorial 5K fundraiser. The event, supporting the Hubbell VFW Post 4624, will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, near the ROTC Building.

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The Keweenaw Report published a story previewing Michigan Tech’s 2024 Computing [MTU] Showcase, hosted by the Institute of Computing and Cybersytems. The event, running Oct. 3-5, highlights the convergence of computing across disciplines and features expert speakers, panel discussions and a student poster competition. 

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The Valdosta Daily Times, Business Wire, Yahoo! Finance and 15 additional outlets mentioned Michigan Tech in a press release announcing Dana Cagle ’98 (B.S. Chemical Engineering) as the new vice president of environment, health and safety at Divert Inc.

Husky Folio Lunch and Learn

Folio thinking encourages deeper thinking, self-assessment and growth through the practice of maintaining a personal collection of work, ideas and reflections. This approach helps students track their progress, identify areas for improvement and develop a habit of continual self-improvement.

Join the William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and the Essential Education program for a Lunch and Learn about the Husky Folio, a structured yet flexible way of collecting learning experiences and reflective activities and integrating them into portfolios. Participants will be able to see examples and practice folio thinking via the new platform PebblePad.

Event Details:

• What: Husky Folio Lunch and Learn presented by the CTL and Essential Education
• When: Tuesday, Oct. 22, from noon until 1 p.m. 
• Where: MUB Alumni Lounge
• Registration: Register to attend (registration is required)

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Register for the Advocates and Allies Fall Workshop

Have you noticed that different people have vastly different experiences in classes, meetings, informal and formal events and other interactions on campus? Ever notice that this is dependent upon visually identifiable identities (gender, skin color, etc.)? If you haven’t experienced this yourself, have you heard from others that have? Would you like to learn more about being an ally in the moment and to help intentionally craft the culture at Michigan Tech to position every single individual for success (not just those who fit the "historically typical" mold)?

You are invited to attend one of two sessions (held concurrently) of a workshop that explores the impact of gender and race on faculty members’ experiences of the University campus climate. Through small group discussions, a review of the existing research, and large group discussions, these sessions will seek to shift the dialogue from individual problems and solutions experienced by underrepresented faculty to identifying and acknowledging institutional challenges and solutions related to gender and racial inequity in higher education.

If you'd simply like to learn more about these issues in a collegial environment, please attend. If you would like to practice allyship, attend and bring a friend!

This workshop will be led by Michigan Tech's own Advocate Team members (cisgender-men-only session) and by the Advocates and Allies Advisory Board members (women and other genders session). Details on Advocates and Allies are available on the ADVANCE webpage.

Lunch will be served at the workshop. Please RSVP for the Advocates and Allies fall workshop no later than Sunday, Oct. 6, so we can place our food order.

Event Details:

• What: Advocates and Allies Workshop
• When: Friday, Oct. 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Where: Memorial Union Alumni Lounge
• Who: All faculty and staff are encouraged to attend.
• RSVP: Please RSVP no later than Sunday, Oct. 6.

The Advocates and Allies program was developed by ADVANCE at Michigan Tech, an NSF-funded initiative dedicated to increasing faculty retention, improving campus climate and enhancing the career success of our faculty, and is now supported by Engagement and Belonging.

This event is part of the Bridging Communities Series. The Bridging Communities Series at Michigan Tech offers students, faculty and staff opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations that explore different perspectives and foster understanding. Through workshops, panels, films and more, we will develop skills for respectful dialogue and learn to navigate challenging conversations with empathy and openness. Join us as we build a stronger, more connected community at Michigan Tech.

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ChE Seminar Speaker: Caroline Schauer

Caroline Schauer will present a Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) seminar titled "Processing Biopolymer Nanofibers."

The seminar will take place tomorrow, Oct. 4, at 10 a.m. Attendance is invited in person in Chem Sci 101 or virtually via Zoom.

Join the ChE Seminar on Zoom.

Schauer is a professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Drexel University, where she studies the processing of natural polymers, structural color thin films, electrospun nanoyarns, wound healing dressings, active textiles and tissue engineering. She has published over 70 publications and five patents (two licensed). Her work has been funded by numerous sources such as the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Defense, Pennsylvania's Manufacturing PA Innovation Fellowship, and the U.S. Department of Education.

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Official Rollout of the Center for Artificial Intelligence Today

As part of the C+X Showcase, the official rollout of the Center for Artificial Intelligence is today, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m.

Join us as we usher in the evolved center with a talk from Director Vinh Nguyen (MAE), a showcase of AI research, and a panel on the convergence of computing featuring Institute of Computing and Cybersystems members. Food and drink will be available!

Get there early to hear visiting guest Jim Keller’s talk, titled “Von Neumann, Turning and ChatGPT.” Keller is a distinguished professor emeritus at the University of Missouri.

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Physics Colloquium with Subhasish Mandal

Subhasish Mandal from West Virginia University-Morgantown will present at this week's Physics Colloquium.

Mandal's presentation is titled "The Interplay Between Electron, Lattice, and Topology in Strongly Correlated Quantum Materials from First Principles."

The seminar will be presented in person at 4 p.m. today, Oct. 3, in Fisher 139.

Read Mandal's abstract and bio at the University Events Calendar.

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Today's C-Cubed Luncheon Menu

Carved and Crafted Catering at Michigan Technological University invites you to join the C-Cubed Luncheon for the 2024-25 school year. The weekly luncheon is held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Thursday in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge (MUB 107). All faculty and staff, along with their guests, are invited.

Menu for Thursday, Oct. 3:

• Meatball Sub
• Ratatouille with Cannellini Beans (V, VG)
• Italian Vegetables (V, VG)
• Minestrone Soup (V, VG)
• Italian Chopped Salad
• Cookie Platter (V)

The C-Cubed lunch buffet menus are created and prepared by Chef Luis Delgado and his culinary team. As the name suggests, the meals are meant to foster conversation, community, and collegiality. Attendees may bring their lunch instead of purchasing the buffet. Fruit-infused water, coffee, tea, and cookies are available free to all attendees. All vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free items on the buffet are labeled for easy identification. No takeout service or personal containers are permitted.

The buffet lunch is $15.50 per person. Cash, credit cards, and gift cards are accepted. Gift cards can be purchased in the Memorial Union Office (MUB 101).

You can submit C-Cubed feedback using C-Cubed Survey/Comments form. To join the C-Cubed Luncheon Email List and receive weekly menus, please complete the sign-up form.

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BioSci Seminar Series Speaker: Alejandra Martínez Blancas

Alejandra Martínez Blancas will present as part of the Department of Biological Sciences (BioSci) Seminar Series at 3 p.m. today, Oct. 3, in Rekhi G009 or via Zoom.

Join the BioSci Seminar on Zoom.

Blancas’ presentation is titled "The role of species interactions and abiotic factors on diversity maintenance."

From the abstract:
How diversity is maintained in communities has puzzled ecologists for decades. A way of assessing diversity maintenance is through Moder Coexistence Theory (MCT). MCT states that species may coexist if they differ sufficiently in their niches to overcome differences in their fitness. If species differ in their niches, then they will compete more strongly with conspecifics (intraspecific competition) than with other species (interspecific competition). We know that inter- and intraspecific interactions shift under abiotic changes in the environment. For example, competition may become weaker under stressful conditions. However, it is still unclear how coexistence mechanisms change because of these shifts. My research focuses on understanding how shifts in species interactions over abiotic factors affect species coexistence. In a semiarid grassland in Mexico, using field experiments and observational data coupled with dynamic population modeling., I found that the hydric gradient can aid niche differentiation. However, coexistence likely depends on other niche axes such as natural enemies. Indirect facilitation (i.e. when a species constrains another that would otherwise thwart a third) also plays an important role in diversity maintenance in this grassland. Global change factors may also have unexpected consequences on species coexistence. Increased nutrient inputs and greenhouse gasses, on competition and coexistence is still unknown. My current directions include exploring this using data from long-term field experiments that manipulate competition, soil nitrogen (N) and atmospheric CO2. As we desperately attempt to maintain our species diversity in the face of climate change, a better understanding of coexistence mechanisms is necessary.

Blancas is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Plant Biology at Michigan State University.

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MSE Seminar with Ying Zheng

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) is hosting a seminar presented by Ying Zheng, John and Virginia Towers Distinguished Lecturer of the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.

The seminar will be given today, Oct. 3, at 1 p.m. in M&M 610.

Zheng will present "Catalytic Approaches to CO2 Hydrogenation for Carbon Natural Energy Solutions."

From the abstract:
Limiting global warming will require major transitions in the energy sector. This will require a substantial reduction in fossil fuel use, widespread electrification, and use of alternative fuels. Catalytic technologies will play a key role in this transition. This seminar will discuss the rationale designs of catalyst and appropriate reaction processing technologies that are applied in biofuel production and low carbon CO2 reduction. CO2 is thermodynamically stable that makes it difficult to react under mild conditions. Various methodologies have been investigated for converting CO2 into chemicals, including photocatalysis and electrochemical approaches. Non-thermal plasma (NTP) also known as cold plasma, comprises electrons, neutrals, electronically and vibrationally excited species, ions, radicals, and atoms. When these charged particles interact with chemicals, they can act as catalysts, facilitating reactions such as bond dissociation or formation to occur at lower temperatures and under milder conditions compared to chemical processes currently employed in commercial applications. The objective of this study is to showcase the practical implementation of an NTP system for converting CO2 into valuable chemicals.

Zheng is a professor and a Canada Research Chair (Tier I) in Chemical Reaction and Intensification with the Department of Chemical Engineering, Western University. She is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Engineering Institute of Canada, and the Chemical Institute of Canada CIC, as well as the Royal Society of Chemistry, U.K.; the Institution of Chemical Engineers, U.K.; and the Global Academy of Chinese Chemical Engineers.

Zheng's research interests lie in the field of catalysis and catalytic processes for clean energy innovations. New catalytic materials along with catalytic processes are developed for application in CO2 utilization, N2 fixation, H2 production and clean/biofuel upgrading. She has published more than 220 referred journal papers in top-tier journals. In addition, she has 10 patented technologies, with three licensed. She has consistently been recognized as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide, ranked by the Stanford University analysis from 2019 to 2023. She has received numerous awards, including the 2018 Applied Catalysis Awards (the Royal Society of Chemistry, U.K.), the Award in Design and Industrial Practice in 2018, and the 2010 Syncrude Canada Innovation Award from CIC.

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K-12 Tutoring Workshop on Sunday

Tech Tutors at Michigan Tech is excited to welcome K-12 students to our first Tutoring Workshop of the year. The workshop will be held on campus in Room 132 of Fisher Hall on Sunday, Oct. 6, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The workshop will be a fun opportunity for students from local schools to get to know each other in a warm, welcoming environment centered around learning. Students are invited to bring their homework or come with a topic that they need some extra assistance with. Tech Tutors will be available to work with students one-on-one to provide a unique and personalized learning experience.

School supplies and snacks will be provided during the workshop!

Tech Tutors at Michigan Tech is a registered student organization whose mission is to provide tutoring to K-12 students local to the Western Upper Peninsula. All Tech Tutors have cleared a background check and are passionate about working with youth.

Sign up ahead of time or feel free to drop by!

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MAE Graduate Seminar Speaker: Steven Anton

The next Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Graduate Seminar Speaker will present at 4 p.m. today, Oct. 3, in MEEM 112.

Steven Anton will present “Global and Local Structural Dynamics Monitoring (SDM) Systems: Vibration-Based Smart Building Research at Tennessee Tech.”

Anton’s research interests include implantable biomedical sensors, smart knee replacements, smart buildings and infrastructure, energy harvesting for low-power electronics, and structural health monitoring.

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GSG Fall Color Tour

The Graduate Student Government (GSG) would like to invite Michigan Tech grad students, family, friends and staff to join us on Oct. 12 for a scenic bus tour to explore the beautiful fall colors.

We’ll visit Mont Ripley for free chairlift rides, Brockway Mountain Lookout, Mount Bohemia Ski Resort for lunch or exploration, and Bete Grise Beach. Buses will depart from the Memorial Union Building (MUB) at 10:45 a.m. and return between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Please fill out the registration form to reserve your spot!

Tag along if you have a car — no registration is required for those traveling in other vehicles.

See the Route Map.

For additional details, please review the registration link and view the event flyer. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to get in touch with Vikram Gurrapu, GSG social chair, at gsg-social@mtu.edu.

Organized by the Graduate Student Government.

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

that thing between my teeth is my foot Exhibit - Michigan Tech Art

Thursday, October 3, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Rozsa Art Galleries A-Space

MICHIGAN TECH ART SERIES EVENT Douglas Degges is presenting two parallel artistic explorations in the Rozsa A-Space Gallery. Since the fall of 2019, Degges has been creating...

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Showcase (C+X): Shankar Subramaniam

Thursday, October 3, 12:30–1:30 p.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB), MUB Ballroom A

Shankar Subramaniam (UCSD) will present "Is Big Data the sine qua non of Human Future? Challenges at the interface of Data and Life Sciences" at this time in the MUB Ballroom A

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Biological Sciences Seminar Series - The role of species interactions and abiotic factors on diversity maintenance

Thursday, October 3, 3–4 p.m. | Rekhi Hall, Goo9

Dr. Alejandra Martínez Blancas, Postdoctoral Researcher Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University Abstract: How diversity is maintained in communities has...

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Global and Local Structural Dynamics Monitoring (SDM) Systems: Vibration-Based Smart Building Research at Tennessee Tech

Thursday, October 3, 4 p.m. | R. L. Smith Building (MEEM), 112

MAE Graduate Seminar Speaker Series proudly presents Steven Anton, PhD Tennessee Tech University Abstract Smart buildings use integrated sensing systems and intelligent...

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Huskies Swim Training - Session 1

Thursday, October 3, 4–5 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Huskies Swim Training is a program that provides additional attention and competitive guidance to advanced swimmers looking to focus on stroke technique and...

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Physics Colloquium with Subhasish Mandal

Thursday, October 3, 4–5 p.m. | fisher hall, 139

Subhasish Mandal from West Virginia University-Morgantown will present at this week's Physics Colloquium. Mandal's presentation is titled "The Interplay Between Electron,...

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Linux/Unix Installathon

Thursday, October 3, 5–9 p.m. | Rekhi 101

Linux Users Group Installathon! Bring your laptop or desktop and learn to install Linux! From beginner distributions like POPOS! and Mint to barebones installs like Arch and...

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Python Workshop

Thursday, October 3, 5–6 p.m. | Rekhi 113

A free, in person, python workshop for beginners!

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Learn to Swim Levels 1-5 - Session 1

Thursday, October 3, 5:10–5:50 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Come make a splash in Huskies Group Swim Lessons! American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Levels 1-5 are being offered at the SDC Pool. Ages 6-17 years Space will be provided for...

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Dr. Susanne Brenner to Deliver Kliakhandler Lectures

Thursday, October 3, 6 p.m. | Fisher Hall, 139

We’re delighted to welcome Dr. Susanne Brenner to deliver the seventh annual Kliakhandler Lectures. Dr. Brenner will deliver the seventh Kliakhandler Public Lecture at 6...

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New Music in the Mine - New Music at Michigan Tech

Thursday, October 3, 6 p.m. | Quincy Mine Hoist, 1918 Hoist House

MICHIGAN TECH MUSIC SERIES EVENT Hard hats required (and provided) to hear this exciting new music by contemporary composers in the Quincy Mine 1918 Hoist House (Number 6 on...

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Showcase (C+X): Official Rollout of the Center for Artificial Intelligence + Research Showcase

Thursday, October 3, 6–8 p.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB), Ballroom

Please join the ICC as we celebrate our newest center for Artificial Intelligence in Ballroom A! A showcase of AI Research will be held concurrently in Ballroom B. Hors...

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Worship Ambiance

Thursday, October 3, 7:00–8:30 p.m. | Wadsworth Hall

Experience the atmosphere of worship, our bi-weekly gathering for believers and those who yearn to have a deeper relationship with God, deepening their understanding of Jesus...