The showcase was held at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in Rose Arena Room 127.

Twelve students presented their ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical and contemporary dance pieces to a capacity audience of more than 75 viewers.

“I’m so thrilled with the turnout and our students work. Each student is truly remarkable,” said Artistic Director and Dance Instructor Heather Trommer-Beardslee.

Students have been working since the second week of school to prepare for this showcase. Each choreographer and their dancers have put in over 50 hours rehearsing individually and with their peers weekly.

To open the showcase, Trommer-Beardslee said she was excited for the audience to see the dances because the audience had been brought into the studio where art was made, practice happened and the choreographic process went on.

“It was very intimate having the showcase here,” said Livonia senior Erin Wheeler, a choreographer and dancer. “This is where we practice, it’s where we think.”

The showcase displayed 11 pieces ranging from three to five minutes long. At the beginning of each piece, the choreographers introduced themselves to the audience and told them a little about their piece.

“I think providing the audience with an explanation to what each choreographer’s piece was about really made it easier and made more sense to the watchers,” Wheeler said.

Though two choreographers made their pieces duets, the majority of the performances were group dances with five to 10 dancers in them.

One group of choreographers known as the Dance Company Seniors worked together to put seven ideas together to create one piece. According to program, the Dance Company Seniors piece represented their diverse backgrounds in dance.

The showcase displayed a variety of stories based on themes ranging from the consequences of greed to positive aspects of womanhood.

“I like dancing because you get to tell a story without words,” said Illinois sophomore Aja Grizzard. “You tell the audience everything through your body.”

After the final showcase Sunday, family and friends gathered with the dancers and choregraphers.

“My favorite part about this year’s showcase was the process of working with each choreographer,” Trommer-Beardslee said. “Though the final performance is the absolute exclamation point, helping choreographers through the choreographic process was truly amazing.”

DALMAC was created by former State Sen. Dick Allen in hopes of developing an appreciation of bicycling as both recreation and transportation in Michigan, Katie Donnelly, DALMAC media relations coordinator said.

Donnelly said about 30 percent of the 1,800 expected riders this year are new.

Kelly Prielipp was a DALMAC rookie looking to push her limits.

“I decided to do my first DALMAC tour because I wanted the challenge,” the Grand Rapids native said.

Prielipp is a Central Michigan University alumna and said she remembers seeing the riders at Rose Pond when she was in school.

“I remember there always was a lot of tents and bikes around this time and it made me get interested in what they were doing,” she said.

Rockford resident Shirley Pasco is also joining Prielipp as a first time rider to Mackinaw by bike.

“We were really nervous, but once we got going it all went away,” she said.

She said she was excited to meet new people and see all of the different parts of Michigan from a perspective other than driving in a car.

Grand Ledge resident John Schrock participated in his 18th DALMAC tour.

“I did my first tour in 1994 and have done it ever since,” he said. “I enjoy it and it’s nice to just get away and not think about anything but riding.”

Prielipp said the average biker rides about 70 miles per day until reaching the final destination.

The bicyclists joined together in Rose Arena for dinner and woke up to breakfast Thursday morning before heading out on their next trip.

Michigan Cycling Charters owner Rick Hogle helps assist the bikers in their journey by carrying their belongings and baggage in a trailer.

“We all meet at the campground and I drive them to their hotel or help set up tents and have their bags waiting for them,” he said.

After Mount Pleasant the tour continued with planned overnight stops in McBain, Elk Rapids and  Petoskey, before arriving in Mackinaw City on Sunday afternoon.

For a coach that had made his home-away-from-home in Rose Arena for the past seven years, Olson was forced to move his team to Finch Fieldhouse this year while renovations were being made to the CMU Events Center.

The team spent its preseason in a dark room in the Student Activity Center, something Olson and his players struggled to adapt to.

“All spring long we practiced in a dark SAC room in a small sports room,” Olson said. “The film quality was terrible because it was so dark in there.”

Then the team was displaced to Finch, where they haven’t competed since Rose Arena was built in 1973.

For the team, the everyday routine they had established changed. The changes were something the team had no control over and were forced to work around.

“It was uncontrollable,” Olson said. “It didn’t mess with our heads, but the fact is it was different.”

The change in venue, however, did cause some problems in regards to the team’s practice style. Because of only having one complete court to practice on, they had to shorten specific position work, which caused problems once the season began.

“We could only pass and play defense on the other court,” Olson said. “You start to not have quite as good of a middle connection with your setter and middles.”

Another issue was the ability for players to access the coaching staff. Because the staff maintained their regular offices in Rose and practices were held in Finch, it was difficult for many of them to get individual time with coaches.

Watching film was also complicated by the move because much of the film time took place in a low quality film room.

“It is just little things like that, players didn’t watch as much film this year because of the inconvenience,” Olson said.

However, Olson said that his two visits to the new facility were interesting and he is excited to see what the final product of the new arena will be.

“I think this new facility is going to be gorgeous and we’re really excited to get back into a routine there,” Olson said.

Now nearing completion, the new Events Center will provide a first-class venue for academic, athletic and community events at CMU.

We’re confident it will prove to be an exciting addition to the CMU campus.

To achieve CMU’s goals for the project, the design includes an extensive renovation of the original Rose Arena. The degree of renovation requires that new construction interface with existing structural and site conditions in numerous locations. When designing a facility to interface with an existing building, unforeseen and undocumented issues often arise and can present challenges — including those that affect technical issues, budget and schedule.

As noted in the article, SmithGroup is actively working with CMU and the construction manager, Clark Construction, to achieve an on-time completion in a way that is consistent with the project design goals and requirements. Regarding the article’s reference of “Alleged design errors or omissions,” the determination of an item as an error or omission is premature as the issues have not yet been thoroughly evaluated.

Our focus and commitment remains on continuing to work collaboratively with the entire project team, CMU, the construction manager and subcontractors, so that a highly successful project results — one that the CMU community will enjoy and be proud of for many years to come.

Chris Purdy

Project Manager, SmithGroup

The board meets at 9:30 a.m. in the Presidential Conference Room of the Bovee University Center.

A total of $1.5 million will focus on a proposal dealing with “unforeseen conditions, design errors and omissions associated with the project,” whereas $500,000 will focus on June 3 flooding issues and $500,000 will focus on rubberized floors taken from the Events Center as a result of flood damage.

Out of the $1.5 million, $750,000 is needed to cover the conditions, design errors and omissions. Another $100,000 is needed for internal signage enhancement and $650,000 is being requested for a 30-foot-by-10-foot video board and related video equipment.

The request said the “addition of the video and graphics package will provide expanded sponsorship opportunities and the cost will be repaid by athletics from future revenues.”

University reserves would finance $850,000 of the additional funds requested and future athletic revenue would finance the rest.

The total cost of the Events Center will rise to $22.5 million if the request is approved.

Athletic department officials were unavailable for comment.

Flood damage

Three requests totaling $4 million pertain to flood damage caused by heavy rainfall that dumped water in the Events Center and other campus buildings.

Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management, said CMU will seek reimbursement from an insurance policy subject to the university’s $50,000 deductible to replenish the reserve account.

“We will be reimbursed by the insurance company,” he said. “That’s our expectation.”

One proposal requests $500,000 to repair damage in the Events Center that occurred during a June 3 flood in which Mount Pleasant received 1.7 inches of rain.

The water that entered the lower level of the building flooded four different locker rooms and six former racquetball courts now used to store athletic department equipment.

Another proposal requests $3 million to repair damage that occurred during the Aug. 11 flood in which the city received four inches of rain in three hours.

Lawrence said that flood impacted 39 campus buildings.

The final request pertaining to flood damage requests $500,000 to transfer disposed rubberized flooring taken from the Events Center originally transferred to the Brent Run Landfill in Montrose. If approved, it will be sent to the Environmental Quality Landfill in Rawsonville.

The flooring, which was removed after the June 3 flood, was determined to be hazardous waste and it must be relocated from Montrose.

The claims management process requires CMU pay contractors directly for their services or goods, before being reimbursed by the insurance company for its expenses.

Faculty contract

The board will also vote whether to give University President George Ross authority to ratify and sign a collective bargaining agreement with members of the Union of Teaching Faculty.

Dan Kukuk, organizer for the American Federation of Teachers Michigan, said the bargaining process will begin by the end of fall.

Union members voted by a margin greater than 3 to 1 for union representation Aug. 20 after a year-long campaign.

“Non-tenured faculty did not have the opportunity to negotiate so we worked for over a year to have that election and we won overwhelmingly,” Kukuk said. “Now we are moving on in the bargaining process.”

Temporary faculty want to bargain terms of job security, health insurance, salary and several other conditions of employment with the university, he said.

Construction crews continue to piece together the $21.5 million addition to Rose Arena, which has been in the works since last October.

The facility’s structural steel, precast walls, masonry, and its heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems are all finished. Ongoing work is being carried out on the seating structure, bleachers, athletic wood floor and interior finishes, said Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management.

Finish site grading, sidewalk work and landscaping were scheduled to commence this month, he said.

The Events Center will include a new glass entrance and lobby, a practice facility and student fitness center. Work on the fitness center cannot begin until the new wrestling room is complete at the beginning of December, Lawrence said.

Rose Arena’s seating capacity will remain around 5,200, but seats are being enhanced with cushioning. About 50 percent of the seats will be chairs, but bleacher seats are also being significantly improved for comfort, said Derek van der Merwe, senior associate athletic director.

“The focus was to enhance seating and not to increase the volume of seating,” he said.

The new lobby was also sorely needed, van der Merwe said. He predicted the new features will come along with an increase in attendance at sporting events this winter.

“Lobby areas are a critical component of any entertainment facility,” van der Merwe said. “The previous arena had no noticeable entry area that allowed for effective ticketing, organization and fan entertainment.”

Since the project began, construction crews have averaged about 45 workers per day, with a peak expected later next month.

“We’re 50 percent complete,” said Steve Lawrence, associate Vice President for facilities management.

Lawrence said the first goal is to have the arena completed in time for the first basketball game in December and the second goal is to have the Student Activities Center expansion finished by February 2011. Construction began last October.

Lawrence said concrete is being poured on the concourse level of the arena and the electrical rough is being installed. Walls will be sealed once the rough is complete.

He also said the structural steel for the stairways and the east club room in the concourse is being placed and blocks are being laid for concession stands and restrooms. Within the next week, brick will be seen on the exterior of the building, he said.

“I think that people are interested in seeing this new venue with all the changes and maybe there will be a possibility for new events that will definitely draw people in,” Mount Pleasant freshman Kaylee Harless said.

Lawrence said the expansion will be beneficial to sports teams, events and summer camps.

“The arena will now have two basketball courts available for summer camps,” he said.

Derek van der Merwe, senior associate athletic director, said every seat will be enhanced. On the lower bowl, seat backs and bottoms will be cushioned.

A second tier of around 1,000 seats will also be added with cushioned bottom seating and plastic backing. New contoured balcony seats will have a lot of space around them, van der Merwe said.

“The entire university will benefit from the new event center,” van der Merwe said. “We have designed the spaces in the event center to be flexible and open to allow for multi-purpose use.”

He said the lobby will be used for banquets and the club lounge area for convenient meetings and social gatherings.

The practice gym will be used by teams and for space for any university sponsored events, said van der Merwe.

The new collegiate-level arena will have an intimate wrap around bowl effect, Lawrence said.

“Space was pretty limited before, so the expansion will allow for bigger ‘names’ brought to Central,” said Kendall Boyle, a West Bloomfield junior. “Hopefully, that will draw larger crowds.”

The Central Michigan University volleyball team will play the home portion of its 2010 schedule, released over the weekend, at Finch Fieldhouse before the $21.5 million project is completed in November.

“We’ve developed a competition facility and a place for them to practice at,” said Athletic Director Dave Heeke. “It’s going to be more than adequate for the types of crowds they’ve had. It will serve our purposes very well.”

The team cannot begin practicing in Finch until Aug. 29, after the season has begun, and will alternate practices between Mount Pleasant High School and Morey Courts until then.

“It’s something we’re going to have to adapt to,” said head coach Erik Olson. “We’ve known we’re going to be displaced for some time and that’s why I’ve been scheduling a large non-conference schedule. We just don’t have to think about it and take control of what we can control.”

CMU will spend the first month of its season on the road, competing in four tournaments on four consecutive weekends beginning Aug. 27.

“We had a very young team in 2009, but I think it’s a good weekend to catch teams off guard,” Olson said. “That’s what we’re hoping to do with that Purdue tournament. It’s easily the hardest tournament I’ve had a team open up with since I’ve been at CMU.”

The Chippewas open Mid-American Conference on the road at Eastern Michigan on Sept. 23 before hosting MAC champions Ohio at Finch on Sept. 25. The Bobcats eliminated CMU in the MAC tournament semi-finals last season.

“I like to play Ohio early in the season because we ended with Ohio for about four or five seasons,” Olson said. “This year I think they’re going to be down and we’re going to be up. I like the timing of it all.”

The team plays four consecutive home games against Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Bowling Green and Miami (OH) from Oct. 8-16.

CMU also hosts Eastern Michigan (Oct. 28), Toledo (Nov. 4) and Ball State (Nov. 6).

“We’re going to get to play at home a little more in the first half,” Olson said. “It’s a little bit tougher in the second half, but this is the year we get the toughest teams at home.”

The MAC tournament is Nov. 19-21 in Toledo, Ohio.

2010 Volleyball Schedule:

Purdue Mortar Board tournament
Fri. Aug. 27 Northern Iowa
Fri. Aug. 28 Purdue
Fri. Aug. 28 Western Kentucky

Youngstown State Invitational
Fri. Sept. 3 Youngstown State
Sat. Sept. 4 Howard
Sat. Sept. 4 Niagara

Fri. Sept. 10 @ Wisoncsin-Milwaukee

Marquette Invitational
Sat. Sept. 11 Wisconsin
Sat. Sept. 11 Creighton

College of Charleston Invitational
Fri. Sept. 17 Radford
Sat. Sept. 18 North Florida
Sat. Sept. 18 College of Charleston

Thur. Sept. 23 @ Eastern Michigan
Sat. Sept. 25 Ohio
Fri. Oct. 1 @ Ball State
Sat. Oct. 2 @ Toledo
Fri. Oct. 8 Northern Illinois
Sat. Oct. 9 Western Michigan
Fri. Oct. 15 Bowling Green
Sat. Oct. 16 Miami (OH)
Fri. Oct. 22 @ Akron
Sat. Oct. 23 @ Buffalo
Thu. Oct. 28 Eastern Michigan
Sat. Oct. 30 @ Kent State
Thur. Nov. 4 Toledo
Sat. Nov. 6 Ball State
Fri. Nov. 12 @ Western Michigan
Sat. Nov. 13 @ Northern Illinois
Nov. 19-21 MAC Tournament (Toledo, Ohio)
Sat. Nov. 27 @ Temple

Zeigler, the son of CMU men’s basketball coach Ernie Zeigler, wrapped up his senior season at Mount Pleasant High School earlier this semester ranked among the top prospects in the country.

He averaged 24 points, 10.5 rebounds, four assists and two steals as a shooting guard this year and was pegged No. 30 overall by ESPN.

Big-time basketball schools such as Michigan, Michigan State, Arizona State and UCLA have big interest in Trey.

Even Duke, which just won the national championship, reportedly expressed interest.

One other school, however, remains in the mix — Central Michigan, primarily because of Trey’s father and the proximity to home.

Obviously, it is Trey’s decision.

Going to a bigger school means being in the national scope, playing other top teams in the country and the opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament year after year.

There is more tradition, more history and more attention to be had at any of those schools.

But CMU has to be a promising prospect.

Think of what would happen if the No. 30 player in the country played for the Chippewas.

The men’s basketball program would instantly be revitalized, creating an excitement unseen since Chris Kaman, now the starting center of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, led the team to a Mid-American Conference championship in 2003.

Trey has the potential to be the poster boy for CMU athletics, much like quarterback Dan LeFevour was for the football team the last four years.

He also would get to play in a revamped CMU Events Center, which will be complete in time for basketball season.

On a slightly wider scope, the impact on Mount Pleasant business would be tremendous.

The football team has done its part in bringing thousands to Mount Pleasant every home game — translate that sort of excitement to the winter months.

And it is not as if Trey wouldn’t receive national attention in Mount Pleasant.

Kaman and Dan Majerle, a three-time All-Star with the Phoenix Suns in the early 1990s, were both drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft. Neither had the high school credentials Zeigler has.

In short, Trey could be the Mount Pleasant hero — at least while he’s here (college basketball players can declare for the NBA Draft at any time).

Of course, the possibility of the No. 30 player in the country staying in Mount Pleasant is not exactly likely.

But we hope Trey gives strong consideration to playing for his father at Central.

There are benefits to be had at CMU despite its status among the upper echelon of men’s basketball programs.

“I like sitting in bleachers and looking down at dancers because there is a swirl of color and movement; it’s really wonderful,” the director of the Multicultural Education said.

The 21st Annual Powwow takes place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in Rose Arena. Saturday’s grand entrance is at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday’s is at noon.

The event is free for CMU students, $7 for the public and $5 for children and elders.

Colleen Green, director of Native American Programs, said the Powwow is a way for people to gather and make friends.

“It’s like a big reunion, also a place where you can meet people,” Green said. “In our culture, we like to have these big reunions where we can come together and meet new people as well as see old friends and family.”

Green said the Powwows are invitations to the community to explore Native American culture. The event will include dancers, drummers and vendors to purchase Native American crafts.

“When you go to a Powwow, we have an emcee (who) will talk about the different dances that we have, and that will give an explanation of what kind of dances there is,” Green said.

Josh Hudson, president of the North American Indigenous Student Organization, has attended Powwows throughout his life and said they are great social gatherings.

“To me, it’s a really beautiful experience,” the Mount Pleasant junior said.

The event will include a dance and drum contest, Green said.

“I think it is very important for the community because we live in such a diverse society now sometimes we forget about the different cultures, so it is a way for us to give back and say, ‘We’re still here, we’re still strong,’ and we invite you in to share in our culture,” she said.