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(02/20/06 5:00am)
Below freezing temperatures didn’t stop students from going out
Saturday night to hear a taste of Detroit’s Funkilinium.
The critically acclaimed band played for a packed house from 10 p.m.
to 2 a.m. at Rubbles, 112 W. Michigan St.
“There have been about 100 people through here tonight, they’re a
great band,” said Chris Workman, a bouncer at the bar.
The event cost $5 for anyone over 21 and $10 for minors.
Formed in 2002, Funkilinium is a six-member band known for putting a
unique R&B touch on many popular songs.
The enthusiastic crowd sang along to the band’s version of hits by
Kanye West, Blackstreet, Usher and more.
Although the words were the same, Funkilinium had their own specific
style.
“This is the best band I’ve seen in a while,” said Steve Everett,
Saginaw senior. “It definitely beats the other bars’ music tonight.”
Despite the band’s large fan base, they have yet to be signed to an
official record company
“We’re really trying to put our name out there right now,” said GT,
Funkilinium’s bass player and chief executive officer.
During short intermissions, DJ Psycho – the band’s disk jockey –
played songs from their album that kept the crowd dancing.
“They’ve been here before,” said Cheryl Meyer, a bartender at
Rubbles. “They’re excellent and bring a lot of energy.”
Funkilinium released their album in 2004 and were nominated for four
Detroit Music Awards in 2005.
For more information and the band’s tour dates, visit
www.funkilinium.com.
(02/20/06 5:00am)
Jessica Krefman learned a bit about Australian English while rooting
for a contestant on “Australian Idol.”
Unfortunately, the Paw Paw senior learned “rooting” in Australia is
slang for having sex. And she learned it by saying the word to her
friend’s family.
The pronunciation and meaning of some words proved to be some of the
biggest cultural differences she found during her semester-long study
abroad at the University of Wollongong in Australia.
“It was enough different,” she said of the culture, though American
fast food restaurants, like McDonald’s and Burger King, which is called
Hungry Jack’s, were common.
Krefman had always wanted to go to Australia, though the farthest
she had been from home before she left for Australia last July
was California.
“The whole time I was there I had a smile on my face,” she said.
When she left for Australia in July, Krefman was planning on working
with animals when she graduated, but now she wants to work with people.
“I became more of a people person,” she said.
Ashley Jordan, a student at Roger Williams University in Rhode
Island, saw Krefman change during their time in Australia.
“When we first met, she was shy, while still being very friendly,”
she said. “As time went on, she came out of that shell more and more.”
One of their favorite memories of the trip was their spring break
trip to Cairns where they scuba dived at the Great Barrier Reef and
held koala bears.
Jordan and another friend also took Krefman out for her 21st
birthday, though the legal drinking age in Australia is 18.
Krefman’s friends back home took her out again to re-celebrate the
milestone once she returned to the states.
While the experience was more expensive for Krefman than a semester
at CMU, she said the money shouldn’t discourage other students.
“It’s worth it,” she said, adding there are scholarships available
to help students cover the costs.
For more information on study abroad programs and scholarships,
visit the Office of International Education in the Bovee University
Center’s Room 106 or call 774-4308.
(02/20/06 5:00am)
Calkins Hall’s Terrace Lounge transformed from a cozy student hangout
to an international discotheque.
(02/20/06 5:00am)
Marshall freshman Lindsey Merkel wanted to do something to stay out
of the frigid temperatures Friday.
Central Michigan University ROTC’s Ridiculously Outrageous and Totally Confused Games seemed
like the perfect idea.
“It was free, seemed like a lot of fun and gave me a chance to spend
time with my friends,” she said.
Six five-member teams competed in a variety of events planned by the
ROTC, including the army physical fitness test, shaving a balloon, hot
shot basketball, a rock wall relay and a large obstacle course called
The Crucible.
During the physical fitness test, participants have to perform as
many push-ups and sit-ups as they could in separate two-minute
sections. The test also requires a timed two-mile run.
East China sophomore Jackie DuBois completed the most sit-ups in a
two-minute time period to give the Saxe-Herrig residence hall team the
highest score on the test.
“I did 75 sit-ups and couldn’t believe it,” she said. “It really
didn’t feel like I had done that many.”
Teams received points in each event and the team with the most
points won a plaque and individual medals.
Clinton Township freshman John Doman, the leader of the Saxe-Herrig
team, cheered his members on in each event.
“Our strategy to winning this competition is to perform all the
tasks in an efficient and timely fashion,” he said. “We hope we are
going to win, but in the end it’s all about having fun to us.”
Maj. Gregg Mays, military science professor, said he got the idea
last year from a member of the University of Nebraska’s ROTC.
Mays changed the event’s name to make it a play on ROTC and created
some of the events himself.
The severe weather that hit Mount Pleasant Thursday caused him to
push everything into one day instead of two.
“I’m happy with the turnout we received even with the weather and
the postponement,” he said. “I would have liked to have had more
people, but the people here are having a good time.”
(02/17/06 5:00am)
The International Club is giving students a chance to enjoy late-night
dance and food while learning about travel and international culture
this weekend.
The International Dinner and Disco will take place from 9 p.m.
Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday at Calkins Hall’s Terrace Lounge.
Calkins Residence Hall Director Cathleen Warner said the event was
inspired by the 14 international students who live in the residence
hall.
“It will give international students the opportunity to share their
culture and experience” she said.
Miranda Crawford, Indian River sophomore and Calkins Hall president,
said the theme doesn’t reflect the American form of disco.
“They refer to their own dance clubs as discotheque,” she said.
The event will feature food from local restaurants, as well as
dishes from members of the International Club.
The event is free, but the group will be selling cookbooks
containing recipes for the dishes presented. The cookbooks will be sold
for $3 to $4 and the International Club will donate the proceeds to a
charity that is yet to be determined.
(02/17/06 5:00am)
Men’s basketball coach Jay Smith gives a pep talk to players during a
time-out in the second half of Wednesday night’s game against Ball
State. The Chippewas lost 63-60. See Sports for complete coverage.
(02/17/06 5:00am)
Thursday night was supposed to be the debut of the Orchesis Dance
Theater’s Winter Concert. Then Old Man Winter intervened.
(02/15/06 5:00am)
“Step up or get stepped on” is the motto for a new registered student
organization on campus.
Forever Stompin’ Step Squad, formed last November by Detroit
freshman Frank James Jr., fills the gap for students who want to step
without having to join a sorority or fraternity to do it.
“I feel that a step club was needed because many people love the art
of stepping, but don’t have the desire to be a part of the Greek life,”
James said. “So now we can step without being Greek.”
The step squad uses their hands and feet to make unique beats.
James, who was captain of his high school step team, said Forever
Stompin’ Step Squad is about amusement.
“The goal of this club is to provide the student life with
entertainment through the art of stepping,” he said. “We are unique
because we are not in competition with anyone.
The 16 member group performs at different programs on campus
throughout the year. Their first performance was at the Common Ground
dance team’s Talent Extravaganza.
“It was the best,” said Holli Blassengale, a Detroit freshman. “We
did great. People loved us. After the show people came and asked us how
to join.”
Beaverton junior Becky Wolpert decided to join the group after
attending one of their performances.
“I’m part of Swing Kids and I really enjoy dancing,” she said. “It
looked like a lot of fun. It’s high energy and looked like something
that would be enjoyable.”
The club’s success requires a lot of time, energy and effort,
Wolpert said, adding she likes the uniqueness of the group.
“It’s unique because it’s a mixture of everything, hip hop and tap
dancing, all mixed into one.”
James said he’d describe the organization as a brick wall.
“We stand tall and strong and we are sturdy enough to keep each
other up and the people and things around us,” he said. “We all hang
out and do things as a team.”
The next performance for Forever Stompin’ Step Squad is at the Feb.
25 “Night at the Apollo,” which begins at 7 p.m. in Warriner Hall’s
Plachta Auditorium.
(02/15/06 5:00am)
SAGINAW – U.S. Armed Forces veteran Anthony Schrems was heading to the
library when he was intercepted by four Central Michigan University volunteers armed with
valentines.
(02/15/06 5:00am)
The melodic voice of Detroit junior Sam Prater could be heard
resonating through the Towers Tuesday evening in the spirit of
Valentine’s Day.
Prater, backed by guitar and keyboard, performed singing telegrams
from 7 to 10 p.m. for students throughout the complex as part of a
fund-raising effort.
Songs were performed for $3 and each student could choose from a
list of numerous Valentine’s-related songs, including the Temptations’
“My Girl,” Heatwave’s “Always and Forever” and the popular duet
“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
Prater went from door-to-door to serenade students along with
Chesterfield senior Henry Vanloon on guitar, Detroit junior Myron
Shorter II playing the keyboard, and Benton Harbor sophomore Michelle
Brooks accompanying vocals.
Couples were not the only ones taking advantage of this Valentine’s
Day gift. Grand Haven sophomore Aaron Nash was one of the first to
purchase a singing telegram when he bought a song for his friend Julie
Shade, a Davison junior.
“She is single,” Nash said. “I decided to do something nice for her.”
The goal of Prater’s fund-raising effort was to raise enough money
for transportation to New York City, where Prater and a group of his
friends plan on volunteering during spring break.
“We go around every year and do hot meals for HIV/AIDS
patients,” he said. “This year we are going through the five
boroughs of New York.”
(02/15/06 5:00am)
Thrift store lovers may be unaware they’re performing a societal good
while they do some of their vintage shopping.
(02/15/06 5:00am)
On The Fly Productions spent around $95,000 to bring rap star Ludacris
to Central Michigan University for his Feb. 8 concert at Rose Arena.
The Central Box Office, located on the lower level of the Bovee
University Center, reported selling 2,058 tickets to the show, nearing
a total of $60,000. This does not include figures from Ticketmaster,
which were unavailable as of press time.
Rose Arena can seat as many as 5,200 people – not including the
floor.
“It’s all about calculated risk,” said Dani Hiar, OTF adviser. “I
thought it was a fantastic show.”
Hiar said OTF receives much of its budget through allocations from
Residence Life, and an effort is made with every production to set up a
budget to break even.
On the Fly collaborated with Program Board in 2003 to bring folk
artists Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds to Rose.
The show drew audience members from around the country and sold out
with ease; a lottery was even held to determine which students could
purchase tickets.
The cost was $193,000, and tickets sold for around $40 for students
but, Hiar said, OTF still lost $1,200.
“It should never be our goal to make money,” she said.
She said because OTF is student run, its interests lie in booking
acts that will attract students and offer them a cheap alternative to
traveling to Detroit or Grand Rapids for live music.
OTF does not exist to make money, Hiar said.
“It would have been nice to sell 500 or 600 more (tickets),” she
said. “But is it worth it? Yeah.”
Willis graduate student Lonnie Scott said students also are in
charge of filling artists’ riders.
A rider is a list of food, drinks and other amenities requested by
the artist for backstage.
He said Ludacris’ rider included catfish strips, chicken, some mixed
salad, soft drinks and a deli tray.
“Both (Ludacris’s) and Bizarre’s riders were pretty simple,” he
said. “Surprisingly.”
Scott said University Events officials screen riders for alcohol,
drugs and tobacco before submitting them to OTF .
“Bizarre requested a box of cigars, but it was crossed off,” he
said.
Hiar said students in OTF and Program Board do not receive the
recognition they deserve.
Some students volunteered to stay up all night to accompany those
who camped outside the UC to be the first to get tickets for Dave
Matthews and Tim Reynolds.
“They do it because they love to bring stuff to campus,” she said.
OTF and Program Board are responsible for bringing past acts such as
Dave Chapelle, 311, Nickelback, and Lone Star to campus.
Yellowcard is scheduled to perform April 26th.
(02/15/06 5:00am)
Couch potatoes have one more reason to stay in front of the
television this semester.
Students can catch the latest campus news, men’s basketball games
and laugh at fellow students on television on a weekly basis this
semester.
Moore Hall Television students promoted the spring semester TV show
lineup Monday afternoon by giving away prizes in Moore Hall.
“If students give us a chance, then they will like what they see,”
said Jason Dizik, West Bloomfield sophomore.
Dizik and other MHTV members asked students to draw from a box for
the chance to win a free MHTV T-shirt. MHTV buttons and stickers also
were given out, as well as gift certificates to area restaurants.
The spring lineup begins with “Central View” at 6 p.m., “MHTV
Sports” at 6:30 p.m., “Little Bird” at 8 p.m. and “A-OK” at 8:30 p.m.
The first episode of each show will run for two weeks, with five
total episodes aired.
Ken Ochalek, Romeo graduate student and co-executive producer for
“Central View,” said the show is a weekly news-magazine show based on
things happening in and around Mount Pleasant.
“We do this because we enjoy it, but we want others to enjoy it
too,” he said.
Two new shows in the lineup include a “super-natural, drama-type”
show called “Little Bird,” and a sketch comedy called “A-OK,” Dizik
said, adding he thinks “A-OK” will be a favorite of students.
“I really think students will enjoy this show, but all the shows are
good,” he said.
Dizik also is a producer for “MHTV Sports,” which lasts 90 minutes
and televises Central Michigan University’s men’s basketball games.
“Students can take pride in the high quality of work we do,” he
said. “We do just as hard of work as the basketball team, but we’re not
as prominent.”
MHTV airs between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday. On
campus, MHTV is on channel 34 and off campus it is channel 23.
(02/15/06 5:00am)
Barbara Peddie, associate professor of physical education and sport,
receives a Valentine’s Day and birthday serenade from her husband Don,
associate professor of physical education and sport. Music Professor
David Gillingham, Sanford resident Bob Witt, Ithaca resident Jeff
Ryburn and St.Clair Shores freshman Dominic Calzetta of the
Mountaintown Barber Shop chorus sing to Barbara Tuesday morning in Rose
Arena. “I’ve never had anything happen to me quite so romantic,” she
said.
(02/15/06 5:00am)
The Student Activity Center is offering free fitness assessments in the
Fitness Assessment Center Monday through Thursday for students, staff
and SAC faculty members.
“It gives people a starting point to determine their fitness level
and then they can base a workout program off of their results,” said
Wisconsin graduate student Emily Yachinich, a fitness and wellness
graduate assistant for University Recreation.
Non-SAC members also are eligible for free fitness assessments, she
said, provided they have a daily pass to use the facility.
A full assessment measures a person’s blood pressure, body fat
(using the skinfold method), muscular strength and endurance,
cardiovascular endurance, flexibility and hand-grip strength.
Cardiovascular endurance is measured with a three-minute step test,
Yachinich said, and push-ups and sit-ups are used to measure muscular
strength and endurance.
The SAC also offers simple body fat assessments, a test Yachinich
said takes approximately 10 minutes, compared to around 30 minutes for
a full assessment.
“We can do a pre-workout assessment and a post-workout assessment if
they want to come back and see what kind of progress they’ve made
because we keep their records on file,” Yachinich said.
There needs to be at least a six to eight week time frame between
the pre-workout assessment and post-workout assessment in order for
changes to be noticed, she said.
Yachinich said approximately 200 students get free fitness
assessments each semester.
Norway senior Nick Hamlin serves as a workout coordinator for the
SAC and is one of four people who administers assessments.
Hamlin said he has been giving assessments since last fall and sees
seven to 10 clients in a given week.
A lot of men come in for body fat assessments, he said, and recently
he has seen a lot of students getting assessments for classes.
“It can be very rewarding when you work with somebody and see
improvement in their physical fitness,” Hamlin said.
Free fitness assessments are offered 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays, 4 to 6
p.m. Tuesdays, 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays.
(02/15/06 5:00am)
World War II veteran Leonard Gates shows pictures from his travels to
Melissa Bentley, MCC Americorps VISTA from the CMU Volunteer Center,
Tuesday afternoon at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1500 Weis
St., Saginaw. Bentley went to the medical center to hand out valentines
to veterans.
(02/15/06 5:00am)
Sharyl Majorski worked with former chemistry professor Kenneth Magnell
on numerous lab experiments.
“He really cared about the students and he wanted their lab
experiences to be the best they could possibly be,” said
Majorski, chemistry lab coordinator. “He spent many, many hours
on little details just to make sure the lab would be perfect.”
Magnell – who taught chemistry at Central Michigan University for 33 years until
retiring in December 2003 – died while being transported to University
of Michigan Hospital Saturday, Feb. 4, at the age of 67.
He was married for 15 years to Ruth Magnell, who said the cause of
death was undetermined and autopsy results are pending.
Majorski said she remembers Magnell’s strong work ethic and
friendliness on the job.
She said she had much in common with Magnell, as both graduated from
Wayne State University and both were deeply involved with their
churches.
“Even when he was retired we kept in contact,” she said. “I had just
seen him in early January and he actually looked fine.”
Majorski said they often talked about family and traveling.
“Anyone who got to know him, he made a lasting impression on,” she
said.
Edmund Benson, associate chemistry professor, worked with Magnell
during all 33 years the professor was on campus.
Besides their occupation, the two had something else in common -
their July 27, 1938 birthday.
Benson said Magnell put all his energy into teaching and always was
concerned with ways to improve his teaching techniques.
“I enjoyed many years with him as a colleague and a friend,” he said.
Ruth Magnell said her husband volunteered with Meals on Wheels, a
charity that provides meals to senior citizens, and he enjoyed reading
and traveling in the couple’s motor-home.
“I’ll always remember his love of the outside, his caring for
nature, traveling with him,” she said.
She and her husband traveled to see their five children wherever
they were located, ranging from Muskegon to Alaska.
“One of our favorite times was when we were on our son’s fishing
boat in Alaska for nine days two years ago,” she said.
Ruth Magnell said her husband always loved the time he had at CMU.
“It was the one thing he missed when he retired - the contact
with students,” she said.
Along with his wife and five children, Kenneth Magnell also is
survived by nine grandchildren, one great-grandchild, two brothers and
a sister.
(02/13/06 5:00am)
Jackson senior David Rothermel II listens to a reading from the student
Kabbalah group’s latest book study Sunday in Anspach Hall. The group
meets twice a week, on Monday and Sunday nights. Kabbalah is a body of
mystical teachings based on confidential interpretations of Hebrew
scriptures, according to dictionary.com.
(02/13/06 5:00am)
Two CMU students accomplished more than they expected during a two
month trip to Africa.
They built a library for an elementary school in Ghana.
Dexter senior Rachel Nati and Auburn Hills graduate student Jillian
Markham stayed in Tema, Ghana from October to December as part of a
student-teaching program.
Both Markham and Nati said they chose Ghana for their overseas
teaching experience because of their love for diversity.
Shocked the school didn’t provide a library for its students, Nati
and Markham pitched a plan to build one.
After a meeting with the school’s principal, a room was set aside to
become the location of the new library.
“We got all of the teachers together and told them our idea,” Nati
said. “They liked it so we formed a committee.”
The committee wrote letters to the children’s parents and their own
family and friends requesting donations.
The pair ended raising about $1,700 to buy books to fill the library.
Nati, Markham and a few other teachers drove to a city about an hour
away to purchase books for the library.
And they were surprised just how cheap the books were.
“We were grabbing one or two of each kind. We hadn’t even used half
of the money and we had bought out all of the books at two stores,”
Nati said. “We were worried that there were not enough books in the
city for us to buy.”
After two separate trips to the city, the committee collected more
than 800 books.
“I’d have to say that my favorite memory was when Jillian and I
drove up in the taxi with all of the books in the back and the kids
knew why we were there that day,” Nati said. “They started shouting
‘Books! Books!’”
It made her feel like the children were grateful and she had done
something special for them, she said.
“I felt really proud that we could do something to make a difference
in their lives,” Nati said.
While carpenters put shelves on the walls, Nati and Markham
categorized the books, created a check-out system and made rules for
students to follow.
Despite only having a limited amount of time to work on the library,
the two students completed the project during the last few days of
their trip.
Markham said the experience gave her a better sense of life.
“Everything opened my eyes a lot and made me feel more
appreciative,” she said. “Seeing all of those kids’ smiles made me feel
really good. It’s hard to put it all into words.”
(02/13/06 5:00am)
Looney Toons, Peanuts and The Muppets are just funny characters to
laugh at for most people.
But for Jay Fosgitt, they’re the inspiration he needed to draw a new
chapter in his life.
Fosgitt, a Saginaw native, will be featured this month as a
published cartoonist for the first time in the nationally read comic
book “Yenny,” by Dave Alvarez.
Alvarez, freelance artist and “Yenny” illustrator, needed additional
stories from quality artists. Alvarez met Fosgitt through the Muppet
Central Forum, where he was impressed with Fosgitt’s work.
“Jay has a lot of humor in what he does and perfect cartoon timing
for his gags,” Alvarez said. “His work quickly caught my eye. The story
he did is quite unique and I hope we can do more in the future.”
The fourth edition of “Yenny” features a collection of comic strips
telling the story of a young girl’s (Yenny) dream of becoming a model,
but struggling in the industry because of her big feet.
Fosgitt’s story, “Poop-A-Doop Dreams,” has Yenny watching a marathon
of old 1930s cartoons when she falls asleep. Yenny sees herself in a
fantasy world looking like Betty Boop.
Fosgitt said he isn’t looking to hit the jackpot with his first
publication as he won’t receive any money. But the exposure is what he
said he is after.
“Cartooning is fun and creative, and followed me through my life,”
he said. “It’s the purest, most distilled form of my imagination and
creativity poured on to paper.”
Fosgitt has been drawing since he was 2-years-old, and said he knew
he wanted to be a cartoonist at age 5.
He began cartooning for “The Delta Collegiate,” Delta
College’s student newspaper, in 1996.
“There’s no doubt that he has a talent. It’s very professional and
it’s his own style,” said Terry Rock, Delta College’s public marketing
director. “He certainly has developed that over the years. Someday I am
going to say I knew that Jay Fosgitt.”
Justin Engel was the editor of “The Delta Collegiate” when he first
saw Fosgitt’s work.
“I saw Jay’s work as very daring, in-your-face and bordering on
getting me fired for letting it publish. But his humor grows on you and
his drawing abilities are undeniable,” Engel said. “He does things most
cartoonists don’t dare to do. He’s not afraid to voice his opinion
through his comics, no matter who it might offend.”
Fosgitt began cartooning for Central Michigan Life in the fall of
2001. Before graduating in 2004, he wrote “Mother’s Goofs” comic
strips, a parody of the Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes, and “Waste
Products of a Warped Vision,” an editorial cartoon.
Fosgitt said he received continual support from his family and
friends. But it wasn’t until he spoke with his mentors – Muppets
creator Jim Henson and Peanuts cartoonist Charles Schultz – he realized
his dreams might just become reality.
“Meeting your heroes is a frightening experience,” Fosgitt said.
“You adore these people and think you know them through their work, and
they don’t know you from Adam, and that’s intimidating. Once you break
the wall and shake hands for the first time though, it’s magic.”
Fosgitt said he learned a lot after talking with Henson in 1984.
Henson said he liked Fosgitt’s work and wanted to meet him in person
when he got out of high school. Unfortunately, Henson passed away
before they could meet.
It was an opportunity Fosgitt said he never had a chance to fulfill.
But a girl named “Yenny” may have given him a second chance.
“I am thrilled to be published. Nobody could read this comic book
and I could still be just tickled that I have made it this far,”
Fosgitt said. “This is a childhood dream fulfilled and I couldn’t ask
for anything more than that.”
