MTU Miscellany
Tech Talk | Tech Songs | Tech Traditions
Tech Talk
alumni—Tech graduates, male and female
Ambo—The Ambassador eating/drinking establishment in downtown Houghton
audit—Taking a course without credit or grade
bluebook—Lined paper book with a blue cover used for taking some tests
breakdown—When students in a converted residence hall room are notified of a vacancy in another room
Breakers—A breakwater at the western end of the Portage Canal that's a common place for get-togethers
Bridge—The Mackinac Bridge or the Portage Lake Lift Bridge
broomball—A hockey game played with a broom and a volleyball while wearing tennis shoes
CAD/CAM—Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing
Carnival—Winter Carnival
converted room—regular room reconfigured to accommodate one extra person
Copper Country Anthem—The song, "The Blue Skirt Waltz,"
played between the second and third periods of home hockey games
Copper Country cruising—Touring the Keweenaw Peninsula with or without a map
Daily Bull—The student news bulletin
DAT—Dental Aptitude Test taken for admission to dental school
DHH—Douglass Houghton Hall, the smallest and oldest residence hall
diffy-Q—Differential equations course
Dog House—The Douglass House eating/drinking establishment located in downtown Houghton
DT—The Downtowner eating/drinking establishment in downtown Houghton
EERC (pronounced "erk" or "E-E-R-C")—Electrical Energy Resources Center
Fish Bowl—Glass-enclosed area in the R. L. Smith Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Building that houses computers used in CAD/CAM
FOAD letter (pronounced "foe-add")—Job rejection letter
Gates—The tennis center located near the SDC
GDI—Name sometimes given to those who are not in a fraternity or sorority
GLI—Great Lakes Invitational hockey tournament cosponsored by Tech at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit during Christmas break
GMAT—Graduate Management Admission Test taken as a senior for business graduate programs
GPA—Grade Point Average
GRE—Graduate Record Examination taken as a senior for graduate school
GSC—Graduate Student Council
Heights—Daniell Heights Apartments
K-Day (Keweenaw Day)—Annual fall event where students and faculty take one-half day off and enjoy food and fun at McLain State Park on Lake Superior
kiosk—Glassed-in bulletin board in the mall in front of the Memorial Union
KRC—Keweenaw Research Center, located near the Houghton County Memorial Airport
late drop—Dropping a course after the drop date because of extenuating circumstances
Lode—The weekly, student-produced campus newspaper
Lookout—Roadside turnoff on the top of Quincy Hill where the city of Houghton and more can be seen
LSAT—Law School Admission Test
MaCH-1—A summer program in mathematics and chemistry to help first-year students succeed
MCAT—Medical College Admission Test
McNair—Residence hall on the east end of the campus
ME-EM (pronounced "meem" or "M-E-E-M")—R. L. Smith Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Building
MUB—The Memorial Union Building
MUB Board—The Memorial Union Student Programming Board
ombudsperson—A person at the University whom students, faculty, and staff consult as a last resort when they have a complaint
pasty (pronounced "past-ee")—Originally a meal of meat and various vegetables wrapped in a pastry for the miners, now a local delicacy
rush—Party to recruit fraternity or sorority members
scoop—Old course material (tests, lab reports, etc.) used to study for upcoming tests
SDC—Student Development Complex; athletic facility on campus
sieve—Name for an opposing hockey team's goalie when we score
silver and gold—Michigan Tech's school colors
slusher—A Winter Carnival activity where a group of students work on snow statues together
Tech Today—Daily online newsletter for faculty and staff
TOEFL (pronounced "toe-full")—Test of English as a Foreign Language
TOOTS—Tech-Out-Of-Town Students
troll—Person from below the Mackinac Bridge
trooper—Someone who was once a troll and is now a yooper
Union—Memorial Union Building
USG—Undergraduate Student Government
Wads—Wadsworth Hall, the largest residence hall
Walker—The Walker Arts and Humanities Center
WBKP TV—ABC affiliate with office in Marquette
WCCY AM—Adult standards 'til 7:00 pm; all sports at night, Detroit Tiger baseball, Detroit Red Wings hockey, Detroit Lions football, local sports, and news
WGGL FM—Public radio, classical music, news, and public affairs
WHKB FM—Mainstream country and news
WKMJ FM—Best music of the 80s, 90s, and today and the official voice of the Michigan Tech Huskies
WLUC TV—Marquette-based NBC affiliate
WMPL AM/FM—Talk radio, local information, local sports, and the Sporting News Network
WMTU FM/cable FM stereo—Student-operated radio station featuring a variety of alternative music
WOLV FM—Classic hits, morning sports, and news
Yooper—Person from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Yooper Scooper—Hand-operated snow scoop
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Tech Songs
Fight Tech Fight (audio)
We'll fight, Tech, fight Engineers,
For banners bright, Engineers.
The northern hills will sound our cry.
We'll ring your praises to the sky.
Then fight, Tech, fight Engineers,
For right with might, Engineers.
We'll win the game, the glorious name,
Of the Michigan, Michigan, Michigan Engineers.
Hail Alma Mater
Hail alma mater; hats off to you.
Ever you'll find us loyal and true.
Firm and undaunted always we'll be.
Hail to our MTU,
Here's a toast to thee.
Copper Country Anthem
I dream of that night with you,
Lady when first we met,
We danced in a world of blue,
How can my heart forget.
Blue were the skies,
And blue were your eyes,
Just like the blue skirt you wore.
Come back, blue lady, come back.
Don't be blue any more.
The "Copper Country Anthem" is played at the intermission between the second and third periods of all home hockey games. Everyone in the stands locks arms and sways to the Pep Band's rousing rendition. The song is actually "The Blue Skirt Waltz."
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Tech Traditions
K-Day
 Classes are cancelled at noon on Friday of the first week of fall semester so that students and faculty can celebrate Keweenaw Day (K-Day)—a celebration of the beautiful Keweenaw Peninsula, which is home to Michigan Tech. Everyone heads out to McLain State Park on Lake Superior for a day of fun, sun, music, games, and food.
www.kday.mtu.edu |
Parade of Nations
 The Parade of Nations and Multicultural Festival, held in September, celebrate diversity with a colorful parade of flag-bearing students, who represent eighty nations, and also includes a celebration of food, culture, music, and dance.
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Homecoming
 Few homecoming festivities on other campuses can rival Michigan Tech's for zaniness and all-around fun. Besides the usual Homecoming Queen and football game, there is a Hobo Parade. The parade features cars that can barely run, thanks to some customizing by the students. The students are also dressed in their worst clothes to go along with the theme. Other Homecoming activities include a cardboard boat race, three-legged race, clothing strip relay, and a tailgate party before the big game.
www.homecoming.mtu.edu |
Family Weekend
 During a beautiful fall weekend, parents and families are invited to the Copper Country to explore campus, attend some cultural events, cheer the Husky football team to victory, cruise the Portage Canal, and tour the Keweenaw Peninsula as it is lit afire with the rich colors of Mother Nature. It is a weekend that will be filled with fond memories of Michigan Tech and family fun.
www.familyweekend.mtu.edu |
Winter Carnival
 No MTU tradition can match Winter Carnival for national fame and overall involvement. The Winter Carnival started in 1922 and has grown to become one of the largest annual winter festivals in the nation. It features huge, intricate snow statues on campus and in the local area; a home hockey series against a tough WCHA team; men's and women's varsity basketball; skits, broomball, and other sports; sleigh rides; a Winter Carnival Queen; and more midwinter fun than you'd think was possible! Winter Carnival is held in early February with students getting two days off from classes.
www.wintercarnival.mtu.edu |
Spring Fling
 On a Friday afternoon late in spring semester, students end the academic year and welcome warmer weather by engaging in activities such as pie-throwing at professors, mud volleyball (better known as oozeball), and listening to rock bands at the Spring Fling festival. Various student organizations participate in this event with food and entertainment for a campus community eager to relax and have fun before the serious business of final exams begins.
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