National Student Employment Week

The National Student Employment Association (NSEA) has designated April 9-13, 2012 National Student Employment Week. As recognition of student employees is going on among this country’s universities, the importance of student workers is clearly being demonstrated at Montana Tech. Currently, departments across both campuses employ more than 580 student workers. Day after day, their impact on the workings within our institution is experienced, both directly and indirectly, by nearly everyone associated with this university. 


Student employment is a true “win-win” situation. It allows the student to utilize many of the technical skills learned in the classroom setting, while at the same time presenting the chance to learn and master other important techniques – often labeled “soft skills.” Recruiters continually state they look for both when interviewing candidates for internships and full-time jobs. Customer service, verbal and written communication skills, and interpersonal skills – for example being a positive member of a team – all are present in a student employment environment. 

Farewell to Butte's Last Madam

photo: Wikimedia

From The Great Falls Tribune

"Butte's last madam died Saturday at Crest Nursing Home at the age of 94, the Duggan-Dolan Mortuary confirmed Tuesday. The cause of her death was not immediately known.  

Garrett, also known as Lee Arrigoni, told the Montana Standard in 1991 that prostitution should be considered a commodity instead of being morally wrong. "If you don't think it's morally wrong, then it's kind of fun," she told the Butte newspaper."

READ MORE..... 

Student Loan Delinquency Rate Is Up

From The LA Times:

A new report raises even more alarms: It's likely that as many as 1 in 4 borrowers was carrying a past-due student loan balance in the third quarter, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Monday. 

Indeed, the New York Fed put the latest outstanding student loan balance at $870 billion. That's more than the total credit card debt, $693 billion, and car loan debt, $730 billion.

The average balance per borrower: $23,300.

Montana Tech doesn't have to deal with this issue very often.  Even though 55% of our students take out loans to pay for their education, the default rate is around 2-3%. This is not a positive trend for the nation though, through the mortgage crisis we have seen what can happen if too many people have bad debts they cannot pay back. Let's hope this isn't the next bubble about to burst that will take the whole economy down with it!

Top 10 iTunes Songs of 2011

In December of 2011, iTunes released its “Rewind 2011” year-end chart toppers and awards for its top selling songs, apps, albums and more. A recap of 2011’s biggest hits would have you party rocking your way into the deep with Adele and LMFAO coming in at the  one and two spots. Adele really hit it big in 2011, surpassing old favorites such as Katy Perry and Bruno Mars. 

What makes a chart-topping song? More than half of the songs below deal with some form of love relationship whether it be a “forget-you”, grenade catching, or an extra-terrestrial experience. One song that was particularly infectious was “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster the People. What is this song really even about? Some guy named Robert with a gun who’s telling you to run faster than his bullet? 

Top 10 Free Smartphone Apps of 2011

There’s plenty of jammin’ iPhone apps that won’t cost you a cent. 2011 was another great year for Apple, despite the loss of its fearless leader, Steve Jobs. In honor of the media giant, or as I like to call it, the Big Apple, here’s my top 10 apps of 2011. 

1. Facebook

Let’s not try to pretend you waste spend far more time on this site than MyMtech. And why not when it’s just as easy to update your status strolling between classes as it is from the comfort of your classroom. Notice: Facebooking while walking may result in running into doors, light posts, railings, and other pedestrians. Facebook may also decrease your grade point. 

2. Angry Birds Free

Unlike Facebook, which one could argue can also be used for the “research” and “educational” purposes, as well as sheer time-wasting; Angry Birds is a one trick time-wasting pony. But spend a couple Angry hours chasing pigs and you’ll discover what a gratifying waste of time it is. 

The 3 W’s For Better Sleep

Imagine this situation: You’re bright-eyed, energetic, and happy. Today you’re looking and feeling good. You’ve got the attitude, “Today is my day! I can do anything! Bring it on world, I’m ready.” Go get ‘em tiger!

Now imagine this situation: You had to drag yourself out of bed this morning, you’re tired, cranky, irritable, and feeling less than your best. It feels like everything is hard today! Your attitude is more like, “I just want to skip today. Why does everything bad always happen to me? What next?” Now, recall your last week and ask yourself this – which situation more closely matches your average day? I hope you can say the happy-go-lucky one, but if you can’t, then definitely don’t stop reading now! Let’s solve your “bad-day syndrome” once and for all. 

Greenhouse Gas Inventory

What is a greenhouse gas inventory? A greenhouse gas inventory is how an institution, such as Montana Tech, or a household, such as your own, accounts for its emission of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are those that contribute to global climate change. 

 Did you know that since 2009 Montana Tech has conducted its own greenhouse gas inventory every other year? And finally, did you know that as a student, faculty, or staff, you play a major role in the accuracy of Montana Tech’s greenhouse gas inventories? In the past, commuting has accounted for 18% of the campus greenhouse gas inventory, or the carbon footprint, of Montana Tech.

Tim Tebow Coming To Butte

It’s Tebow Time! Fuel Fitness & Nutrition is holding a Habitat for Humanity event right here in Butte, MT on March 6, 2012 at the Butte Civic Center. Special guest? None other than the highly inspirational and publicly spiritual superstar: Tim Tebow, NFL quarterback for the Denver Broncos. The event starts at 1pm, and tickets are on sale now on the Butte Civic Center web site, starting as low as $25.00! Even better, you can get a free ticket if you sign up for one year membership at Fuel Fitness at either the Helena or Butte location.

Although the focus can easily be placed on the celebrity appearance, the true meaning of the event is not so superficial. According to KBZK.com, Michael Burks, the owner of Fuel Fitness, said “the reasons for the event are to bring in an exciting, positive role model to the Butte community as well as to raise enough funds to allow Habitat for Humanity to build a new house for a family in need. We have priced the tickets so that anyone can afford to come to the event, and if we can fill every seat we will raise enough money to allow Habitat to provide a brand new home to a local family.”