If I Were a Designer...

This is a two-part assignment I completed for my Journalism 302: Introduction to Design and Visual Communications class. Just something to add to my body of work on here. I still have a lot to learn.

Before CMU's Exam Week, Sounds of Squeaking Sneakers and Bouncing Basketballs

Some Gus Macker teams played in front of Finch Fieldhouse on the Dream Court where Gus Macker founder Scott McNeal playfully did play-by-play announcing (below).

There was $18 on the line. That was a lot in 1974, when 18 kids gathered into a 3-on-3 basketball teams to play for the money on a driveway.

Scott McNeal expanded the tournament and traveled to five cities in 1987. More than 10,400 players played the tournament that year and propelled Mr. McNeal's brand — Gus Macker.

At Central Michigan University, where Scott McNeal graduated from in 1979, Gus Macker closed a street adjacent to the library on April 27 and 28. Amidst the sounds of bouncing basketballs, squeaking sneakers and cheers, Mr. McNeal speaks into the microphone at the Dream Court.

"There's Puke with the shot," Mr. McNeal said, referring to a player's nickname, "and it's too strong off the rim."

The Gus Macker was somewhat branded this year by CMU — it became the only college in the country to facilitate the tournament completely with students. The students said it was a semester project for a Recreation, Parks and Liesure class, a culmination of planning, coordination and planning the physical layout of hoops and court space.

Mr. McNeal donated $10,000 to CMU for the Dick Parfitt Gymnasium, a multi-sport practice facility near McGuirk Arena.

Today, Gus Macker tournaments are held in 75 cities in which nearly a quarter-million players participate. The tournaments, nationwide, draw nearly two million spectators. All-time, according to the Gus Macker website, it has drawn 2.2 million players ages 7 to older than 50, and 23 million spectators.

The tournament drew 174 teams in various age groups. Each team, according to Gus Macker rules, is guaranteed to play three scheduled games. 

Gus Macker was played on a street adjacent to the Charles V. Park Library on the campus of Central Michigan University.

Scott McNeal does play-by-play announcing during a Gus Macker tournament game on the campus of Central Michigan University on April 27, 2013.

Gus Macker founder Scott McNeal set out Toilet Bowl trophies on the table near the end of a tournament game on April 27, 2013, on the campus of Central Michigan University.

The Threads Fashion Show: Ooh's, Ahh's and Applause

Kristine Opaleski's work on display was driven by The Lion King.

The 15th annual Threads Fashion Show at Central Michigan University featured theme-based designs from movies like The Dark Knight, Black Swan and The Lion King.

Twenty-four C.M.U. students designed for the show on April 13 in the university's Warriner Hall. A collection of movie trailers at the beginning of the show introduced the audience to the themes used in the designs.

Kristine Opaleski's designs based on The Lion King were among the more talked about designs from the show. Her peers gave her more awards than the other designers. It was her third year designing for the show, she told Central Michigan Life.

“I was inspired by The Lion King,” Ms. Opaleski told Central Michigan Life. “I find the movie itself very majestic. It’s extremely moving. There (are) incredible themes I never caught on to as a kid, and every kid watches that movie and loves it, and when you get older, you love it for different reasons and that’s what I wanted to personify.”
Opaleski created six designs that she spent about $400 to make, along with some sleepless nights, according to an interview with C.M.U. Some students paired together to work on designs from a theme.

Opaleski's designs were made with basic earthly colors assembled in unique patterns.

Jason Gagnon's collection, "Memoirs of a Geisha."

Kristine Opaleski's "The Lion King."

Kristine Opaleski's "The Lion King."

Kristine Opaleski's "The Lion King."

Dress by Shermane Fouche, a C.M.U. apparel design faculty.

Election Day, Through the Eyes of a Candidate

Rep. Kevin Cotter, R-Mount Pleasant, speaks with his campaign managers Ben Greene and Matthew Golden during breakfast on Election Day at Stan's Restaurant in downtown Mount Pleasant.

AS PUBLISHED IN CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE

When state Rep. Kevin Cotter, R-Mount Pleasant, woke up Tuesday on the day of his re-election, he wasn't nervous. He was hungry, not only for breakfast, but for a second term in office. He met at Stan’s Restaurant, 220 E. Broadway St., with his campaign strategist, Matthew Golden, and his campaign manager, Grand Rapids senior Ben Greene.

“If you’re nervous on Election Day, that means you didn’t do your homework,” Mr. Cotter said. “It’s like trying to finish a book report the day it’s due.”

Mr. Cotter, 35, was projected by many people to defeat Adam Lawrence, the Democratic challenger for the 99^th District.

The first priority of the day was breakfast – two eggs, over-easy, with buttered toast and a coffee with no milk and sugar. With a few other patrons eating and talking in the restaurant, Mr. Cotter and his staffers spoke about the growing lines at local precincts and news about long lines for voting in Detroit and Miami.

He shook hands with other patrons in the restaurant. They wished Mr. Cotter luck in the election.“I’m sure you’ll win,” a man said.

The Cotter campaign took what could be described as a laid-back approach to his re-election campaign. Mr. Greene said they “knocked on a lot of doors” but they kept themselves from an “in-your-face” approach. Mr. Cotter said his previous term brought him recognition in the 99th District, which has traditionally been heavily Republican.

Mr. Greene began at CMU as a broadcasting major. His interest in politics shifted his major to political science, and he soon became involved in local campaigns. He developed the campaign plan with Mr. Cotter, a CMU alum.

“It’s tough to get away from the ‘bug,’ ” Mr. Greene said. “That’s what I call it.”

Regardless of projections, predictions and popularity, Mr. Cotter knew thorough campaign work had to be done.“I think the hardest part of our job is prioritizing,” Mr. Cotter said, about executing the campaign plan.

Mr. Golden usually works in Lansing but he took vacation time to stay in Mount Pleasant with Mr. Cotter.

“I’m just here because I’m a nerd,” Mr. Golden said. “I love this stuff.”

After breakfast, Mr. Golden drove behind Mr. Cotter to the Union Township office to vote. He waited in line for 12 minutes to complete and cast his ballot.

Mr. Cotter met at his campaign headquarters in an office space, 113 W. Broadway St., where his campaign signs were secured to the large window-front. In a back room, he spoke with Mr. Golden and Mr. Greene about Election Day events and made plans for preparing his victory party at Hunter’s Ale House, 4855 E. Blue Grass Road.

Throughout his first term, Mr. Cotter said he voted 53 times against his own party on various issues. He posted the results of each vote on Facebook, along with explanations for why he voted the way he did. Transparency and accountability for his official conduct was as much of a priority, he said, as meeting with constituents. During the campaign, he made it a point to avoid negative campaigning against Mr. Lawrence.From the headquarters, Mr. Cotter left to sit in on meetings regarding his official work as representative. Then he prepared for the evening, and had dinner with his family.

Mr. Cotter drove to Midland for the Midland County GOP Victory Party at the H Hotel, 111 W. Main St., a three-star hotel with a large conference room where Dave Camp held his victory party.

Rep. Kevin Cotter, R-Mount Pleasant, speaks at the Midland County GOP Victory
Party at the H Hotel in Midland, Mich. on Election Day.

Mr. Cotter met with supporters, took an interview with a local TV news station and spoke briefly about his hope for Republican victories in the local and national elections. After spending about a half-hour there, he headed back to Mount Pleasant for his party at Hunter’s Ale House. There, he greeted his family and friends, spoke to the gathering and then met with supporters as Mr. Golden continually updated the results numbers of his election, along with the presidential race and other local elections on a 200-inch screen.

Mr. Cotter’s supporters, expecting a victory, were more relaxed than in 2010, when he was elected to the House for the first time.

He was ahead of Mr. Lawrence by about 2,700 votes with just a few precincts left to report. Mr. Golden calculated the votes and made sure that the remaining number of votes were negligible in determining the winner. When Mr. Golden saw that the math guaranteed a majority of votes, he gave Mr. Cotter the thumbs-up.

Mr. Cotter’s wife, Jennifer, and his father, Bob, congratulated him after he declared victory at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.

He left Hunter’s Ale House at about 2 a.m. and stayed up until 3:30 a.m. with his laptop, keeping tabs on state and national elections.

Mr. Cotter’s hunger for re-election was satisfied. Mr. Cotter said his dad’s congratulations meant a lot to him.

“He congratulated me and told me to keep up the good work, and he was especially proud of the way we ran this race,” Mr. Cotter said. “He’s always been against negative campaigning, and said he was proud of the way things were run. That makes me feel really good.”

Jennifer Cotter, wife of Rep. Kevin Cotter, watches live election results as Cotter's campaign managers collect voting results at Hunter's Ale House in Mount Pleasant, Mich. on Election Day.

Rep. Kevin Cotter, R-Mount Pleasant, right, waits in line to vote on Election Day.

Rep. Kevin Cotter, R-Mount Pleasant, talks with a campaign manager at the H Hotel in Midland, Mich. on Election Day.

Rep. Kevin Cotter, R-Mount Pleasant, speaks in an interview with WNEM 5 News at the H Hotel in Midland, Mich. on Election Day.

Reliving My Hockey Years, Through a Long Lens

Dan Farley, coach of the Ontonagon Midget BB ice hockey team, talks with players during intermission of a game at the state tournament in Negaunee, Mich. on Feb. 28, 2013. "You guys need to step up," Farley said. "Be leaders out there."

Ontonagon right wing Travis Houtari is pulled away from the Fraser Titans goalie on March 1, 2013 during a state tournament game in Negaunee, Mich.

When I went home for spring break, I stopped in Negaunee, Mich. in Michigan's Upper Peninsula for a state hockey tournament that my hometown's team played in. Five years ago, it was the arena where I played my last hockey game in 2008, on the same team.

I rented a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 for break. Hockey games are a great way to use the lens. I was guaranteed three games to shoot and I didn't have to worry about credentials or limited photographers' space. Free reign, for a photographer, is hog heaven.

I drove from Mount Pleasant and arrived in Negaunee in time for Ontonagon's first game. After staring out my windshield all day, it was great to see friends. And hockey. I stayed in nearby Marquette with a friend, and then spent a night at a hotel with my grandfather, Stan, and my sister, Audrey.

Following hockey through a long lens, however, is difficult. Try following a hockey game with one eye through binoculars. You get the picture. The work of shooting hockey is not following the game, it's framing the game in the image, and anticipating where the game is going on the ice. I played hockey for 12 years, but my knowledge of the game did not make anticipating with a camera any easier. It's much easier to anticipate as a player than photographer.

Still, I hoped to see them win.

Westland celebrates a goal against Ontonagon on March 1, 2013 during the state hockey tournament in Negaunee, Mich.

Last year, Ontonagon competed for a state championship in Alpena, Mich. The team, more or less consisting of the same players as the year before, had another chance to win. Unfortunately for them, they lost. Their story ended the same as mine: Their last game together as a team was in Negaunee.

Ontonagon defenseman Jeff Pestka before a face-off against Westland on March 1, 2013 in Negaunee, Mich. during a state tournament game.

Fans watch Ontonagon play Blue Water Sting in their first game of the state tournament in Negaunee, Mich. on Feb. 28, 2013.

Dylan Morris of Ontonagon fends off a Westland player during a state tournament game in Negaunee, Mich. on March 1, 2013.

Dylan Morris, left, and Drew Pollard sit dejected after losing a state tournament game 8-2 against Westland in Negaunee, Mich. The loss eliminated Ontonagon from the tournament, making it the last-ever game together as a team.

Homecoming festivities integrate Twitter, Instagram to appeal to tech-savvy students

Central Michigan University sophomore Mackenzie Guest takes a photo of her Larzelere Hall teammates doing a pose from the photo checklist during the Gold Rush scavenger hunt on Tuesday evening. The photos were sent via Instagram for scoring.

Central Michigan University sophomore Mackenzie Guest, left, and freshman Natalie Scalabrino, right, anxiously
browse the list of things to photograph Oct. 16 during the 60-minute Gold Rush event. Photos were sent via
Instagram for scoring by the event coordinators.

As much as other industries that have looked to try the internet and its immediacy for delivering information, so has the operating of homecoming activities and events.

At Central Michigan University, the shift towards internet-based activity has not only become prevalent, but also essential to appeal to a generation of students affixed to absorbing information held online.

As C.M.U.'s homecoming week got underway this week, numerous events have been exacerbated by the services of instant information communications. During these events, like the well-known C.M.U. gold medallion hunt, a need has developed among competitors to communicate on an immediate basis to try and gain an edge over opponents.

Gold Rush event coordinator Will Damian, left, checks for incoming Instagram photos from the Gold Rush scavenger
hunt with Megan Ellinger, center, and Kelly Wright.

Meredith Vedder, center, waits for the final photo of the hour-long competition with her teammates.

The internet has also become a forum with which events have been run. In the first-ever 'Gold Rush' event at C.M.U., the structure of the game was to work on a checklist that gave clues about where teams had to go to take certain photos, which were sent via Instagram, the photo-sharing social media platform.

"I had a lot of people come up to me and say that this was one of the best homecoming events they had ever gone to," said Will Damian, a C.M.U. senior and event coordinator for Gold Rush. "It just warmed my heart. I'm really happy with it and I think a lot of other people are, too."

Integrating social media and the internet has been an ongoing effort by C.M.U. to make events appealing to students. Damon Brown, assistant director for the Office of Student Life, said the medallion hunt has been integrated with the internet for several years. The hunt is a clue-fed scavenger hunt for a medallion that results in points for the C.M.U. homecoming Maroon Cup. The goal of the homecoming activities is to connect students with each other and to the university.

"It's creative. We're trying to find new ways of doing things," Mr. Brown said. "Social media – everyone's using it – so it's a great way to connect and allow them to be a part of the homecoming event in an avenue that they're used to using."

It is a national movement towards disseminating homecoming on the web. The University of Delaware notified its students and alumni that they can use a "#UDHC" hashtag on Twitter for sharing their experiences during homecoming week. The Gold Rush event is an example of a rejuvenated attempt at connecting to a college generation that predominantly uses social media more so than others. 

"Will just kind-of came up with a good idea with Instagram and with locations and being able to use that as a means of having people spread out and not still being able to track everything that they were sending in," said Julia Moerman, program associate for the C.M.U. Office of Student Life.

Ms. Moerman said one of the objectives of aiming for students on social media was to increase attendance for the events, which has so far been successful. During the medallion hunt, groups of students from different residence halls gather their laptops and set up a headquarters in the residence hall lobby while others go out with cell phones or walkie-talkies and wait for instruction as the headquarters attempts to solve the clues about the medallion's location. Mr. Brown has made an effort to send the clues via Twitter as well as on the Office of Student Life website.

"That's the part that we like about it is the fact it gets people connected, and that's really what we're trying to do is connect students to each other, to offices, to services and more importantly, connect them to C.M.U. If we get them connected, they're probably going to stay here," Mr. Brown said. "At the end of the day, that's what we're really hoping is they come here, get connected, participate and graduate."

   Will Damian, center, tallies the final scores after the Instagram-based Gold Rush scavenger hunt at C.M.U.

No longer campaigning, Herman Cain contributes to Republicans

Herman Cain, a former Republican presidential candidate, speaks to an audience at CMU on
Sept. 25, 2012.

Herman Cain

In his deep, rumbly Southern baritone voice, Herman Cain asks me, "What part of Michigan are we in, here?"

I stop shooting photos of him. I point on my hand, representing lower Michigan, where Mount Pleasant would appear on a map.

"Ah, okay."

The former Republican presidential candidate barely garnered a crowd at Plachta Auditorium in Central Michigan University's Warriner Hall. Central Michigan Life reported that an estimated 300 people attended Cain's speech, which lasted for about a hour.

The same number of people were reported to have attended CMU president George Ross' State of the University Address Sept. 13.

“The economy sucks,” Mr. Cain said to the audience. “We have the ability. Our (gross domestic product) … is one-fourth of the world’s GDP. If you get the GDP growing faster, it will be better for us, and it will be better for the rest of the world.”

The decline of Herman Cain's prominence as not only a prominent candidate for presidency but respect for his political views, has been realized in the past year. As allegations surfaced and surrounded Mr. Cain at a time when his candidacy was seriously vetted by politicians and voters and led President Barack Obama briefly in polls, his campaign stumbled.

Mr. Cain could do nothing but stumble on out of the campaign race to become the next president. In an interview with media after his speech, he signified a degree of importance with which the Republican party regards him. Mr. Cain is on tour, the College Truth Tour. In a seemingly experimental ploy to win young votes and generate conversation among young voters, the tour not only involves the political rhetoric, but musical notes. The band Quietdrive performed before and after Mr. Cain's speech.

Then, when Republicans have a chance, they ask Mr. Cain to be their eyes and ears.

"Mr. Romney and I have met several times," Mr. Cain said. "Each time he asks me, 'What are you seeing out there? What are people saying?'"

It wasn't only left for the professional politicians to venture into the merky waters that the sexual allegations against Mr. Cain have created. None of the allegations have been proven. The CMU chapters of College Republicans and College Democrats debated the virtues of inviting Mr. Cain to speak on campus.

“I think it is disgraceful that the College Republicans would invite a sexual predator onto CMU’s campus,” said Alex Middlewood, president of CMU College Democrats about the allegations that led to the disruption of Mr. Cain's candidacy.

Herman Cain, a former Republican presidential candidate, cleans his glasses before speaking at CMU on
Sept. 25, 2012.

Megan Gill, president of CMU College Republicans, defended her decision to invite Mr. Cain to speak on campus.

“Obviously, there has been allegations against Cain which prohibited him from continuing his presidential campaign,” said Gill, a Traverse City senior. “But I think Cain brings a valuable perspective as a business man and a presidential candidate. I think we need to bring important politicians and important speakers to campus, so students can observe for themselves and make their own judgements. We shouldn’t let allegations stop students from forming opinions for themselves.”

Yet applause from the audience during Mr. Cain's speaking points revealed something: he still had opinions that the majority of people could agree with.

"The economy sucks," Mr. Cain said, which was followed with applause.

Mr. Cain also encouraged students to vote and be responsible about making their choice while voting in November.

"Stupid people are ruining America," Mr. Cain said. "Don't be among the stupid."

Civil War Reenactments Bring Color to Black-and-White History

Civil War re-enactor Tim Stebleton relaxes with a plate of dinner — sausage, green beans, potatoes, cornbread and a glass of water — on Sept. 15, 2012 at Deerfield County Park, near Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Civil War re-enactor Dave Fountain plugs his ear during cannon fire in a reenacted battle on Sept. 15, 2012 at Deerfield County Park near Mount Pleasant, Mich.

John Martin smokes his pipe while dressed in Confederate garb after a Civil War reenactment on
Sept. 15, 2012 at Deerfield County Park near Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Twenty-three thousand people died 150 years ago today in the Battle of Antietam. 

The Civil War was the conflict that, perhaps, defined America more than any time in its history.

People have relived the Battle of Antietam, among others, through today. Even in Russia, the battles, soldiers and uniforms are reproduced.

John Loyd, left, smokes a cigarillo with Kevin Kettlehut before a battle reenactment at Deerfield County 
Park on Sept. 15, 2012.

The rustic, adventure of fighting a battle as some soldiers' families visited them at their base is just one element that sparks curiosity and intrigue within re-enactors and those interested in Civil War history. Families, ever-attracted to the sound of gunfire, picnicked on hills that overlooked the battlefield and watched both sides fight each other to oblivion.

The Civil War was also one of the last battles in the world to be fought using battle line tactics. The technological advancements introduced in the Civil War hinted at a change in future warfare: the rifled barrel, repeater rifle and machine gun. These and other developments introduced changes in the tactical strategies of the way battles were fought. The Franco-Prussian war in 1870-1871 and the Second Boer War (1899-1902) are thought to be the last wars using battle line tactics. This change in technology and tactics, among other changes in America impacted by the war, lead many historians to believe the Civil War to be the first modern war in American history.

Civil War reenactments preserve the vivid history of tactics, technology and lifestyles that have been obsolete for generations. The reenactments, in a sense, create a portal between the late 19th Century world to the world of immediately available information and general ease of living.

Arnie White, center, looks into the crowd after a Civil War reenactment at Deerfield County Park
near Mount Pleasant, Mich. on Sept. 15, 2012.

Apart from technological developments changing the nature of warfare were other developments that changed the future of industries, especially in medicine. Journalism was forever changed with the development of the inverted pyramid — the method of presenting most important news at the beginning of news articles and broadcasts. Civil War journalists covering the war worked with shoddy electrical connections as battlefields between their telegraph post and news headquarters were bombarded with artillery. Journalists began to deliver the most important facts first in their telegraphs in case of a break in the connection. Consequently, the industry learned it was also the most effective way of presenting news to their readers.

A Civil War encampment at Deerfield Nature Park six miles west of Mount Pleasant, Mich. presented a chance for locals to question the details of Civil War life, both as a civilian and soldier on Sept. 15 and 16. Visitors to the encampment of authentic tents and equipment asked questions regarding anything from culture to card games of the time period. Apart from the history, re-enactors live history for simple reasons.

"I enjoy the camping and the night life," said re-enactor Tony Osterburg, a 17-year infantryman in the 2nd Kentucky Infantry Regiment. "Once my wife and I picked up the equipment and started doing this, we haven't looked back."

Osterburg served in the Gulf War and upon leaving the military, he longed for the military life. Even if its culture, clothing, weaponry and battle tactics were 150 years old.

"Everybody has a lot of reasons and purposes I'm sure," Mr. Osterburg said. "Not the same as mine, but I missed the flare of the military. We gave our modern equipment to our kids, the Coleman stoves, tents, all that. It all went to them.”

Mr. Osterburg also does reenactments of battles from the French and Indian War, the War of 1812 and World War II. He prefers Civil War reenactments.

"The Civil War defined us as a nation, as a character, who we are now," Mr. Osterburg said.

Confederate Capt. Jim Phillips looks back at his men near the end of a battle reenactment at Deerfield County Park near Mount Pleasant, Mich. on Sept. 15, 2012.

Debbie Phillips, a Civil War era re-enactor reflected in the mirror, looks out at the Civil War encampment at Deerfield County Park near Mount Pleasant, Mich. on Sept. 15, 2012.

Chandler Fountain, center, fires his rifle at Union soldiers during a battle reenactment in Deerfield County Park near Mount Pleasant, Mich. on Sept. 15, 2012.