Gus Macker class lets students organize national event
Students in RPL 333 have the unique experience of organizing and running this year's Gus Macker Tournament at Central Michigan University.
Held on campus at Finch Fieldhouse, the Mount Pleasant basketball tournament is the only one in the nation organized entirely by students, rather than an organization, according to Tim Otteman, who teaches RPL 333.
Gus Macker was created in Lowell, Mich., and is typically played with two teams of three people, according to the Gus Macker website.
For five years, the class has given students the opportunity to experience the fun and stress of organizing an event that hundreds attend, Otteman said. In turn, the Gus Macker foundation donates $10,000 each year to CMU.
"We just resigned with (Gus Macker) for another five years," Otteman said. "We will have $100,000 in donations by the end of the 10 years."
Seventy-five students applied for 33 seats in the class. This year, the class decided on "Foodfürhoopin'" as their theme. Donations of non-perishable food and other goods will be accepted during the tournament and will be donated to the Isabella Community Food Kitchen and Compassion Care Network food pantry.
Registration costs $140 per team. Otteman expects 250 teams from across the state in the first Macker tournament of 2014. The event will be held on May 3 and 4 in front of Finch Fieldhouse on campus. Registration for the event ends on April 14.
"These guys really believe you only Macker once," Otteman said. "You bond with the 33 students. We expect that you're going to carry that (Gus Macker) flag forward."
