Movie, discussion to feature Rear Admiral David Titley Oct. 30 at Michigan Tech

Poster announcing visit of Rear Admiral David W. Titley (ret) and showing of the film The Age of Consequences at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30, in Fisher 135 at Michigan Tech. (Poster courtesy Earth Planetary and Space Sciences Institute)

HOUGHTON -- The leader of the US Navy's 2009 Task Force on Climate Change, Rear Admiral David Titley (retired), will be on the Michigan Tech campus Monday, Oct. 30, to introduce a film on climate change in which he is featured.

This movie, The Age of Consequences, investigates the impacts of climate change on increased resource scarcity, migration and conflict through the lens of national security and global stability.

The film will be shown at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30, in Fisher 135. Admiral Titley, who is in the film, will help introduce it and then participate in a discussion session following the film showing. The discussion will include a Q and A with the audience. The film and discussion are free and open to the public.

Pentagon insiders make the compelling case that if we go on with business as usual, the consequences of climate change will continue to grow in scale and frequency with grave implications for peace and security in the 21st century.

Described as The Hurt Locker meets An Inconvenient Truth, The Age of Consequences unpacks how water and food shortages, extreme weather, drought and sea-level rise function as accelerants of instability and catalysts for conflict.

Titley served as a naval officer for 32 years. His career included duties as commander of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command; oceanographer and navigator of the Navy and deputy assistant chief of naval operations for information dominance.

After retiring from the Navy, Dr. Titley served as the Deputy Undersecretary of Commerce for Operations, the chief operating officer position at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  

Titley holds a bachelor's, master's and PhD in meteorology. He is a professor of practice in the Department of Meteorology at Penn State University and founding director of Penn State’s Center for Solutions to Weather and Climate Risk.

On Monday afternoon, Titley will attend an Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences Institute (EPSSI) seminar at Michigan Tech.

Click here to learn more about Admiral Titley and his work.

State Rep. Dianda testifies against SB 574 allowing charter schools to receive enhancement millage funds

State Rep. Scott Dianda (D-Calumet) testifies in the House School Reform Committee against Senate Bill 574, which would allow charter schools that are located within Intermediate School Districts to receive proceeds from an enhancement millage, in Lansing on Oct. 26, 2017. Sitting next to Rep. Dianda is state Rep. Kristi Pagan (D-Canton). (Photo courtesy Rep. Scott Dianda's office)

LANSING -- The House Committee on Education Reform today held a hearing on Senate Bill 574, which would allow charter schools, including for-profit schools that are located within Intermediate School Districts, to receive proceeds from an enhancement millage. In response, state Rep. Scott Dianda (D-Calumet), who testified against the bill in committee, issued the following statement:

"I am opposed to Senate Bill 574 because it would send the hard-earned tax dollars of U.P. residents to for-profit companies that run some of the charter schools in the U.P. If my residents approve a school enhancement millage, they expect it to go to the public schools and students that our tax dollars are supposed to support. If this money is also sent to charter schools we will have no way of knowing if the money is going into the classroom or to increase the bottom line of a for-profit company. Charter schools do not operate the same as public schools. They do not pay into the teacher retirement system if they are operated by education management organizations, and many spend less on special education than public schools do. Our public schools are already struggling to find the funding they need to support our students, and this bill would only make things worse. Taxpayer-supported enhancement millages should support public schools and public school students, and that is why I am opposed to Senate Bill 574."

Cardboard Boat Racers enjoy warm, sunny weather during Michigan Tech 2017 Homecoming

By Michele Bourdieu

An original flat-box design for this cardboard "boat" proved challenging during the Oct. 20, 2017, Michigan Tech Homecoming Cardboard Boat Races. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

HOUGHTON -- With the high winds and predictions of snow for this week, last Friday's balmy temperatures in the 80s (F.) may seem a distant memory of a summer day. Yet only four days ago enthusiastic Michigan Tech students enjoyed that hot, sunny weather for their Homecoming Cardboard Boat Races on the Keweenaw Waterway at Houghton Waterfront Park.

A large crowd gathers to watch and cheer as the first heat of three cardboard boats takes off:

Those whose boat doesn't survive the race don't seem to complain about the chance to cool off. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

In another heat one boat sinks right away and the other two race madly for shore ...

"Mama's Boys" expend a lot of vocal energy as well as vigorous paddling ...

Competitors included fraternities, sororities and other campus groups, some with original hats and names -- and most relying on cardboard and duct tape.

Lesson Number 1: Don't overload your boat or you might not make it to the first buoy!

Each team is required to pull their boat completely out of the water on shore to qualify for first, second or third place.

This team remains cheerful even with a third-place.

In this heat, all three boats survive the race, including the box-shaped boat -- a subject of speculation and conversation among the spectators.

Another exciting heat and all three boats make it to shore.

More photos: 

 Triangle fraternity heading out ...

About to round a buoy ... (The Sheriff's boat patrols along with kayakers beyond the buoys.)

Racing to the finish ...

A safe landing!