Between classes, work and having a social life, not much time is left to pursue something as challenging as writing a musical.

Comstock Park freshman Alastair Watt did just that.

Watt wrote and directed a musical entitled “Passion and Lies,” which will debut this weekend in Moore Hall’s Theater-On-The-Side.

His background

As a child, Watt never grew up with the aspiration to be a playwright but always seemed to have some involvement in the arts.

He started his artistic career at age nine with ballet, tap, jazz and hip-hop dancing.

Over the past 10 years, Watt has incorporated his love of dance in every musical or play he has been involved in.

“The rush I get from being on stage, knowing that whatever I do everyone will see, it keeps me going,” Watt said.

What attracts him to acting is the ability to change who he is from one performance to another.

“Performing gives me a chance to let out the emotions I am feeling and escape reality even if just for that moment,” Watt said.

A passionate response

Pursuing a passion that mainstream society views as “un-manly” has given Watt a chance to rise above those who mock and criticize him.

This particular passion posed some challenges for him in high school as well as college in dealing with the teasing from other students.

“I would get called names such as ‘fag’ because I liked to dance, which I thought was stupid,” Watt said.

Fellow students have also gone as far as to pick on him to the point where it made his living situation in the residence halls unbearable. This tension forced him to move out and reside in a guest room to avoid the fights that it caused.

The Comstock Park high school he graduated from cut musical theater classes in 2008 before Watt had a chance to really do much performing.

Coming to CMU gave him his first real chance to stretch his abilities in acting and to eventually devolve his passion for writing.

“I never thought I would write a play in a million years and it looks like this might turn out into a career,” Watt said.

Beyond that is the support of fellow actors who help Watt gain the confidence to achieve his artistic goals.

“Even if we weren’t in the play together we would still be friends,” said freshman Ramon Rodriquez of Saginaw, “We are very driven people.”

The play

Originally, his musical entitled “Passion and Lies” started out as his personal poetry writings but it eventually evolved into a full-scale musical production.

The musical centers on a love triangle between two males and one female, but is not a typical love triangle by any means.

The story centers on a heterosexual couple and the homosexual male who falls in love with the male character. His love is so strong that he is willing to kill the female character in order to get the man he desires.

“Highlighting a homosexual character in a love triangle is something you don’t see a lot of and we wanted to show the reality of that,” he said.

The project started out as an independent work but has grown to utilize the whole freshman theater class. The goal is to promote the program on the freshman level by highlighting the many talents of their members.

Watt explained that as a freshman entering a new school with veteran actors could be very intimidating at first, he said. Everyone has something to offer the theater no matter what level they are at.

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Lindahl explained that she and her husband chose to look into foreign adoption after being told that their age would be a factor in being eligible to adopt an American baby.

“Our friends told us horror stories of people adopting children from the United States and having them taken away,” Lindahl said. “After seeing the plight of the girls in China, it made us want to go and get Emma.”

The story was recounted during Wednesday’s soup and substance discussion in the Bovee University Center about the rise in foreign adoptions verses domestic adoptions.

Other panelists told stories of times that they had felt like an outcast at school and instances where they had been asked questions like “Why don’t your parents look like you?”

Adoptive parents themselves also experience a time of growth and adjustment as they help their newly adopted children transition into their new homes, panelists said.

“It’s important to not act as though the birth parents don’t exist,” said Dave Opalewski, professor of teacher education and professional development. “Children tend to respect you more if you acknowledge the birth parents.”

The panel also shined light on the false assumption that all Asians are adopted.

Nicole Kamidoi, Port Huron senior and member of the student organization 12 C.A.R.A.T.S., spoke about a time her mother, who is a white Polish woman, was confronted by a customer in the grocery store and questioned where Kamidoi came from.

Kamidoi, who is half Polish and half Japanese, took on more predominantly Asian characteristic as a young child. The shopper in the store said, “She is so cute, where did you get her from?” she said.

After numerous attempts, Nicole’s mother finally convinced the shopper she actually gave birth to her.

The event was put on by the Multicultural Education Center and co-hosted by 12 C.A.R.A.T.S., which stands for Celebrating Amity and Reflecting Asian Traditions Through Sisterhood, as part of Asian Heritage month.

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But what people see on television isn’t always accurate.

Asian adoption will be the topic of discussion at a soup and substance presentation hosted by the Multicultural Education Center and student organization 12 C.A.R.A.T.S., which stands for Celebrating Amity and Reflecting Asian Traditions Through Sisterhood.

“Adoption is a subject that many people don’t fully understand,” said 12 C.A.R.A.T.S. President and senior Jessica Porritt of Grand Blanc.

The event takes place on Wednesday, April 1 in the Bovee University Center Terrace B from noon to 1 p.m. and a free soup lunch will be provided to anyone who attends.

The lecture will feature a four-person panel discussion with a moderator. On the panel are two faculty members, one who has adopted a child and one who is an expert on the topic, and two students who are both adopted themselves.

Junior Nou Her of Auburn, who serves as president of the Asian Student Organization, said one widespread misconception is the belief that all Asian people come from Asian families.

She said that culture shock comes with being adopted into a family who lives in a foreign country.

“When you are taken from your original nation you can have a hard time relating to the culture of those people who are born in the country, verses those who are adopted into it,” she said.

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Asian cuisine was on the menu Wednesday in the Bovee University Center Rotunda Room.

The Asian Cultural Organization and Program Board brought a taste of Asian cuisine to Central Michigan University with the Asian Cook-off competition.

“I come back every year because the food is so good and I really enjoy watching people competing to win the cook off,” said Detroit senior Aesha Rashid.

Eight teams of students participated in the cook-off competition that tested their abilities to prepare a creative and tasty Asian-inspired meal under the eyes of a team of judges.

The winners of the competition were Farmington Hills junior Kevin Gorman and Mount Pleasant senior Morgan Gardner.

All eight student teams were judged on six criteria that included taste, appearance of food, safety and sanitation, and creativity.

The focus was to teach students about the diversity of Asian cultures around the world.

“Many people think of Asian culture and immediately assume Chinese people,” said Asian Cultural Organization President Nou Her. “When in reality, there are numerous groups that don’t fit the traditional standards.”

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Shouts of pain and strain were heard as participants gathered to compete in a team style Twister Tournament in Kulhavi Hall Tuesday night.

“We thought it would be a nice idea to have something to break up the monotony of school work and give people a chance to win some sweet prizes along the way,” said Port Huron senior and coordinator Heather Chapman.

Organizers transformed the classroom into a makeshift arena, complete with a refreshment stand and an overflowing prize table.

Prizes included items such as beach towels and swimming accessories, glow-in-the dark puzzles, various card games and movies.

Groups of students waiting to compete served as cheerleaders for their fellow competitors as they encouraged each other to stay in the game as long as they could.

Along with the usual shouts of excited players, a mix of ‘ouch’ and ‘hurry up’ as players stretched beyond their limits could be heard.

Trying to stay on the mat just a little longer was made even more difficult as the moves forced participants to arrange themselves in very awkward positions.”People looked like they are in a human pretzel,” said Brent Kearns, a Clinton Township sophomore.

Participants took frequent breaks from the game to share laughs and stories of having to stretch to reach a color that left them with their head up someone’s rear end.

Those awkward moments could be seen all night long as people attempted to outstretch themselves and keep the game going.

Traverse City senior Mo McManus had to rely on support from viewers, as well as her own ‘inner cheerleader,’ as she tried to beat out her opponent and win the prize.

“I had to just keep telling myself ‘you have been in it so long you can’t just give up now,’” McManus said.

As the games continued, players showed visual signs of their fatigue as their faces reddened and limbs started to shake as they pushed themselves to keep in the game. The event was sponsored by Residence Hall Assembly as part of their year-long philanthropy project.

Proceeds from the event will go to support the Listening Ear Crisis Center, located at 107 E. Illinois St.

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It’s all a part of “going green.”

But for some students enrolled in the course COM 461: Communication in Leadership, it’s more than a social trend. It’s a passion.

That’s why they aim to collect at least 12 feet of stacked cardboard from local businesses this Friday.

“We wanted to continue with Central’s campus-wide focus on cardboard recycling and really get people involved,” said Westland Junior Blaise Badynee.

Group members decided to begin the project after seeing the large amounts of cardboard that are thrown away daily at a local fast-food restaurants.

“I was driving through the Arby’s in town and noticed a huge dumpster filled with perfectly good cardboard,” said Remus sophomore Sarah Vanderhoof. “I thought, ‘Why can’t that be recycled?’”

Students and volunteers are taking to the streets of downtown Mount Pleasant from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday.

Participants are asked to meet at the school seal in front of Warriner Hall on Friday at 4 p.m to be divided up into groups.

“It’s really all about getting the community involved in recycling and cleaning up our environment,” Vanderhoof said.

For more information on the event and how you can participate, log on to the groups page, “Cardboard Recycling Party” on Facebook.

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More than 30 people show up weekly for themed events at Trout and Robinson Hall weekly council meetings, many simply to get to know the students with whom they share a home away from home.

“Making people feel comfortable and happy is the best way to make hall council a place that residents want to be,” said Ashley Billcheck, Dearborn Junior and Trout hall maintenance leader. “That is what we strive for in every meeting.”

In Robinson Hall, chairs are arranged around a fireplace to create a relaxed atmosphere. Trout hall features recreation style room seating which promotes informal socialization.

“We are all friends and we promote an inviting atmosphere where people can feel free to open up and ask whatever they want,” said Trout Hall President, Johanna Slusser, a Zeeland sophomore.

Robinson Hall President Joshua Chinquee, a New York freshman, stressed the importance of attending meetings because of the impact he has noticed within the residence halls.

“This past school year has given everyone so many opportunities to get to know each other and develop relationships. We really clique with each other,” said Chinquee.

People chat and laugh a lot. During a recent meeting Trout council meeting, members discussed the announced resignation of University President Rao and shared personal experiences with the president.

“I was in the cafeteria taking my tray back and just as I passed by him, I let out a huge sneeze on him,” said Amanda Smith, a senior from East Lansing. “I was so embarrassed but he just laughed it off.”

Theme weeks offer a chance for hall members to break out of their comfort zones with friendly competition. People attempt to outdo each other to win the coveted “Best in Theme” award each week.

Attending members are encouraged to dress for the week’s theme. Robinson Hall’s current theme is to wear pink in support for Relay for Life.

Trout Hall members participated in a theme week entitled “career day,” which encouraged attendees to dress for their future careers.

Hall council members promote good study habits through a program called ‘study bucks’ that offers a chance at winning a ten-dollar gift card to various Mount Pleasant businesses.

Brian Gregory, a Robinson Hall terrace floor resident assistant and sophomore from Royal Oak, went all out to support the cause when he proudly wore pink spandex leggings, short shorts and a pink hooded sweatshirt.

“As an R.A., it’s important to set an example, so I wanted to go all out to get people involved,” Gregory said.

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Five Central Michigan University students and a faculty member won nine photojournalism awards this weekend, including first place in college photographer of the year and the illustration category.

The Michigan Press Photographers Association honored the best in Michigan photography at its annual spring awards conference.

The MPPA awards are a highly competitive competition meant to highlight excellence in the field of photojournalism. Some of the top winners were Central Michigan University students and professors, such as Lambertville senior Sarah Miller, who took home first place for College Photographer of the Year.

“It was so unexpected and surprising because I only hoped to be mentioned,” Miller said. “It was such a big surprise because you are competing with so many great photographers.”

Central Michigan Life senior photographer Patrick Siller, a Commerce Township senior, won second place for this photo entry “High Heels in High School,” where he shows the lifestyles and passions of high school students in a New York City fashion arts high school.

Suttons Bay senior Dan Stewart was awarded first place in the spot news category for his photo entitled “Mobile Home Destroyed.”

His winning photo was of a woman being consoled by a family member after a fire burned down their mobile home, which was published at the Jackson Citizen Patriot during his summer internship.

CMU journalism professor Kent Miller represented excellence at the professional level by placing second for his photo called “Wolf Puppy.”

Miller photographed wildlife at the Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska, which he describes as being “a great experience.”

“My whole determination was to show the connection between the people in the park and the wildlife that live there,” Miller said.

Award winners

College Photographer
of the Year
- First Place: Sarah A. Miller
- Third Place: Alex Stawinski
- Honorable Mention: Dan Stewart

Illustration
- First Place: Libby March, “Pisces Brought to Life”
- Second Place: Patrick Siller, “High Heels in High School”

Features
- Honorable Mention: Kent Miller, Freelance, “Too Close for Comfort”

Landscape/Nature/Wildlife
- Second Place: Kent Miller, Freelance, “Wolf Puppy”
- Third Place: Sarah A. Miller, “Anole”
- Honorable Mention: Kent Miller, Freelance, “Bigfoot”

See the photos online with other contest winners at mppa.org.

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Mom’s not here to tell you that you need to get A’s in school.

But, you can still pie a Resident Assistant in the face if you do.

Next week’s “Grade Wars,” a challenge that will reward residents for academic achievement, is just one part of a three-week series of competitions between Larzelere Hall residents.

The competition between residents encourages students to become more active in their halls and to make more friends.

This week’s “Door Wars” challenged students to keep their doors open. The week of Feb. 23, a clothing and food donation war means the hall will make collections to benefit the West Midland Family Center.

“It’s actually a very friendly competition,” said Larzelere Hall Council secretary Stephanie Fetting, a Peck sophomore. “We aren’t out to be aggressive toward each other.”

Owosso freshman Maegan Stechschulte initially found it difficult to make friends when she transferred from Hope College for CMU’s athletic training program at the start of the spring semester.

But the competition, which encourages students to get to know their neighbors and make vital connections, means Stechschulte will not be without friends for long.

“Events like these give me an opportunity to talk to people I would normally have just walked by,” said James Custer, a Shepherd sophomore.

The “Floor Wars” program means that closed doors and cold shoulders are generally not characteristics of the hall.

“What makes Larzelere Hall different from other halls is its open door policy that has always been in place,” said Mount Pleasan freshman Kay Haas. “We always try to leave our door open and having the ‘Grade Wars’ encourages us to get better grades as well.”

The overall section winner will receive a trophy and will be allowed to “pie an R.A.” when the competition wraps up at the end of February.

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Techno music blared throughout Finch Fieldhouse.

Glow sticks could be seen floating up and down the rock climbing wall.

It wasn’t a rave party. It was a free climb in the dark.

Equipped with just a head lamp and the neon glow sticks, 27 people scaled the slide of the A-Wall rock climbing wall in nearly complete darkness.

“I had a great time experiencing something out of the ordinary at the last climbing event, so I thought I would come out again tonight,” said Danielle Lackaff, a senior from Charlevoix.

The event was Finch Fieldhouse’s second Headlamp Rock Climbing event of the year. The event gave participants an opportunity to test their skills at a variety of different climbing walls.

The fact that the climbers couldn’t see more than a few inches in front of them made maneuvering a tricky and thrilling experience.

“Climbing allows you to push past what you thought you could accomplish and challenge yourself to get better,” said veteran climber Jarod Hughes, a Chesaning senior.

The chance to offer students a new and exciting rock climbing experience was on the mind of event coordinator Jordan Bruursema, a Zeeland graduate assistant for the Recreation Parks and Leisure Services Department.

“We had such a great response from the last event we decided to do it again,” Bruursema said.

The inspiration for the event came from Bruursema’s experience rock climbing outdoors in Colorado. He plans on holding this event twice each semester because of the positive response from the student body.

The last half of the night was marked by the music stylings of Doug Mienk , in a show he entitled “Totally Boring.” He describes his music as an analog-electronics mix of his original work. The music was put together from various cassette tapes that are blended together to create a unique listening experience, Mienk said.

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