Staff Reporter

Jim Munroe blends illusion, humor and danger in his show “The MAZE.” Munroe performs Christian-oriented entetainment to college campuses worldwide. Staff Reporter Courtney Hudson interviewed Munroe after his performance Thursday night on campus.

Courtney Hudson: Why did you title the performance the MAZE?

Jim Munroe: I feel the world in which we live in can be very confusing, especially for a college student. I feel like when we come to a university we are expecting to find truth, we are expecting to solidify our understanding of how the world works to put us in a better place, to be come a better person. I feel like what ends up happening a lot of times when people come to college, they actually end up more confused. So I feel like the world in which we live, apart from any like solidified conviction, feels a lot like a maze, like where’s the cheese in this thing? You know? But a maze, it’s a winding network of all kinds of confusion, where one uninterrupted path, is the soul solution and I believe there is a solution inside the world of confusion. Just like a magic trick, if you think about it, I’m confusing the crud out of you. But in reality, there is an answer in that confusion. I’m just now showing it to you, I’m keeping it a secret.

CH: When was the maze founded?

JM: 2001

CH: Who founded the maze?

The group will sponsor illusionist Jim Munroe, who has been to more than 200 college campuses worldwide.

Munroe’s “The MAZE: Illusion Redefined” will be held from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Finch Fieldhouse. The event is free.

Campus Crusade for Christ organizer Paul Hardaloupas said Munroe would be a great way to show the Christian message.

“He uses magic to reach out to students who are not Christians,” Hardaloupas said.

The illusionist’s performance is considered to be one of the most innovative ways to reach young minds.

Munroe has been featured in Christians tours like Acquire the Fire and has gained great respect from fellow illusionists and the Christian community around the world, Hardaloupas said.

This is the first year the Christian organization has sponsored a performance by Munroe.

Campus Crusade for Christ intern and alumnus Dan Cheevers said the group tries to do one big event each semester, but this is the first time it has done an event on this scale.

“Munroe uses a message behind illusion, focusing on different deceptions and lies society might have,” Cheevers said.

Hardaloupas said this is a good and unique alternative to going out Thursday night.

“This is a great way to share the good news of Christ and interact through magic,” he said.

Cheevers said the group hopes for about 1,000 people to come.

“When Jim Munroe has come to other campuses worldwide, they have had anywhere from 500 to 2,300 people attend,” he said.

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The UCC will begin 10 a.m. Saturday at the Student Activity Center. The indoor cycling event will end at 10 p.m.

“There will be 13 participants in four or more teams, from all over the state. Some are from Traverse City or Saginaw,” said UCC co- chairman and Auburn junior Katy Foco.

The event costs $30 and participants will receive goody bags from numerous amounts of sponsors.

Foco said she first did the cycling event in Holland with an instructor and decided to bring the event to CMU.

“I feel it is important to raise money for cancer,” Foco said. “One person in the U.S. dies of cancer every 58 seconds.”

Foco also said she is hoping the event will raise at least $5,000.

Meghan White, the co-chairman of the UCC and CMU grad student, feels this event is crucial for cancer awareness.

“Everyone knows someone who has died of cancer. One of two women and one of three men will die of cancer,” White said.

White works for a pharmaceutical called, GlaxoSmithKline, who said they will match whatever the event raises.

Foco and White are hoping to make this fundraiser an annual event at CMU.

CMU fitness instructor and Midland senior Danielle Schmidt will also participate in the event, to show her support.

“I am dedicated to helping cancer awareness, I love cycling and benefiting a good cause,” Schmidt said.

She also motivated others to join this cause.

“I told my classes, and motivated my students through my excitement,” she said.

The deadline for participants to sign up has past, but people can still donate money.

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