2013-2d-2

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After a summer of heat, sports and fireworks, let the Lanthorn be the first to say

WELCOME BACK

BY ANYA ZENTMEYER GVL EDITOR IN CHIEF

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rom transfers to returning students, super seniors to incoming freshman; from the rolling hills of Allendale to the breezy Muskegon lakeshore – welcome back, Grand Valley State University. We missed you. This summer was one for the books; in fact, earlier this month, the Associated Press reported that the record temperatures made July 2012 the hottest month ever recorded in the lower 48 states, bar-none, breaking records set in the 1930’s during the Dust Bowl. The 2012 London Olympics were almost as exciting as Mr. Bean’s cameo during it’s opening ceremonies, with the United States athletes taking home 104 total medals, 46 of those being solid gold.

GVSU had it’s own Olympians in London – alumna Sarah Zelenka competed in the women’s pair rowing finals, and GVSU’s executive chef, Paul Mixa, cooked up meals for athletes from around the world in the Olympic Village. Everyone’s favorite Mexican restaurant, Los Aztecas, saw an untimely demise in June after a stove fire spread. Nobody was injured, but everything but the entry way crumbled to ashes as a result. Los Aztecas wasn’t the only thing that caught on fire in West Michigan this summer - a lack of rain, coupled with the fallen embers of bottle rockets and the like, lit enough dry patches of grass on fire and sent enough neighbors into frenzy that firework ordinances began to crop up throughout the state. The Grand Rapids City Commission, for example, passed an ordinance that went

into effect on July 1 prohibiting firework use to the 10 national holidays and the days surrounding each. Allendale has yet to pass any official ordinance, but township leaders say residents can expect similar measures to hit the ‘Dale sometime soon. Since we waved goodbye in the spring, the Lanthorn has been up all night making improvements to our print product and web page, as well as polishing off the final plans for the release our first-ever mobile app. And while you wait for our first official issue to hit stands on Aug. 27, we want to hear from you. Did you take any great snapshots on your summer vacation? Finally polish off that essay or short creative writing piece? Our Your Space page is always hungry for your content – so if you’ve got something to say (or something to show), you could see your work published in the

GV cancels class on MLK Jr. Day

Sincerely,

The Lanthorn

TRUSTEES APPROVE 3.7 % TUITION HIKE FOR 2012-2013 YEAR BY ANYA ZENTMEYER GVL MANAGING EDITOR

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BY ANYA ZENTMEYER GVL EDITOR IN CHIEF

For the first time ever, Grand Valley State University has made the decision to close all regularly scheduled classes on Jan. 21, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The action follows a resolution passed by the Student Senate, as well as recommendations and supporting materials from the University Academic Senate, the Academic Policy and Standards Committee, the Senior Management Team and the Provost. “The decision to cancel classes for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday beginning in 2013 is the result of several years of thoughtful discussion and reflection by both students and faculty,” said Jeanne Arnold, vice president of Inclusion and Equity and vice provost of academic affairs at GVSU. When she arrived at GVSU as the vice president of inclusion and equity in 2008, Arnold said she received several complaints from students who wanted to attend MLK day events but feared missing classes. In 2009, she formed a subcommittee to examine the way the university observed the holiday, including a subcommittee that explored whether or not GVSU should close for the day. The subcommittee made a recommendation to close the university for the holiday in 2011, when Arnold presented the recommendation to both the faculty in University Academic Senate and the Student Senate, who passed a resolution supporting closure later that year. Provost Gayle Davis gave the motion its final approval in June and the new closure was announced, with the addition that the decision will be revisited in a few years to determine whether the changes “prove to be compatible with the best interest of our students’ academic success,” as stated on the Inclusion and Diversity page on GVSU’s website. No additional classes will be added to make up for the cancelled classes, which Arnold said, much like Labor Day, is a standard practice when holidays are involved. “For myself I just think that it was the build up – it’s been talked about

Lanthorn’s print edition every Monday and Thursday. All questions about Your Space, as well as submissions, can be emailed to us directly at community@lanthorn.com. There you have it, GVSU. We’ve sharpened our pencils, dusted off our moleskins and we’re all geared up to keep a watchful eye on the community to bring you exclusive news, feature, sports and entertainment coverage from all corners of campus. So somewhere in between the chaos of move in, the emotional turmoil of buying books and the moment the reality of the phrase “dry campus” sinks in, take a break from all of the madness, crack open the Lanthorn, and let us catch you up, clue you in and welcome you back the right way.

GVL Archive

Making strides: GVSU administrators lead a past MLK Jr. Day Silent Walk on campus.

every year, we’ve got the momentum,” said Bobby Springer, associate director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and co-chair of the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration executive planning committee. “…We were one of the three (universities that do not close on MLK day), and now for us to be one of the universities that will cancel classes on that day, I think it’s a step in the right direction.” Despite the good news, there are still concerns over how the cancelling of classes will affect student participation on the day of events – something administrators like Springer hope they can curb by packing MLK Day with events that students want to participate in. “We don’t want it to be a long weekend for students – we know with some students, that’s what’s going to happen and that was always a concern in the past, students not being engaged,” Springer said. “And that’s even more important now that classes are cancelled, is to make sure that we get students and faculty involved so therefore we have to really increase what we do on that Monday to make sure that people are excited and that they want to be a part of the events on campus.” The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Executive Planning Committee are in the process of deciding what new events to add, and how to get students involved n the planning process. “In our meeting we’re talking about doing additional things to make sure that people are on campus and engaged in some parts of multiple things that we’re doing on campus that day,” Springer said. “But we think with a great day of events to really get people involved that

students and faculty will come out will participate and it will be an opportunity where students will not have to worry about missing classes, and they can just relax and enjoy the moment.” Springer said with the passing of this decision at GVSU, all eyes will be on that Monday to see whether or not it is really making a difference. “The majority was in favor of this, but that didn’t happen over night. There was a build up for this to happen and just making sure things were in order,” Springer said. “…and that’s why it’s very important that we make this spread and do more now that people have the time to really engage, and make sure we give them something that they can participate in something they can really participate in and want to come back for more.” If you ask Springer, he’d tell you there is still work to be done in terms of racial equality -both worldwide and right here at GVSU. “We all have to continue to grow, and learn and engage in this process that’s going to make things better,” Springer said. “We’re not there yet. I think it’s very important for all of us to engage. Because we bring some dynamic interview on campus, we do some great things and I think there’s a piece for all of us in some of things we’re doing. I know I learn something every year, and I’m right in the middle of it. I just think that could happen for others as well because the more that we learn, equip ourselves with, the more we will be able to pass on to others and continue to build in that way.” editorial@lanthorn.com

he Grand Valley State University Board of Trustees approved a 3.7 percentage tuition increase for the 2012-2013 academic year. The increase, which translates to a per-semester hike of $181 and brings the average yearly tuition for a full-time, in-state student from $9,716 in 2011-2012 to $10,078. “The challenge is clear,” said President Thomas J. Haas in a statement released by GVSU’s News and Information Services following the approval. “We are increasing financial aid beyond the increase in tuition HAAS and we’re keeping our tuition rate below the state average for public universities. Our graduates are sought after by employers, and we continue to keep highquality, well-educated workers in the state.” GVSU’sincrease falls in the lower half of rate increases. Michigan Technological University tops the chart, setting a $500, 3.9 percent increase for the 2012-2013 academic year. “These rates keep GVSU tuition below the state average and below the legislative tuition cap,” said Jim Bachmeier, vice president for finance and administration. Bachmeier said the increase is largely due to the university’s lack of state funding, which was cut by 15 percent last year, and puts GVSU at the very bottom of the list. This year, GVSU is expected to receive $52.6 million in state allocations with an additional one-time state grant of $2.8 million in performance funding. Where two decades ago state allocations accounted for two-thirds of GVSU’s total revenue, this year’s $52.6 million from the state will account for only 17 percent. The net cost of average yearly tuition for students should fall around $6,200, including scholarships and institutional financial aid – aid that the university plans on boosting from $31.1 million last year to $33.6 million for students who can demonstrate financial need. The boost aims to help account for the tuition increase, which Bachmeier and other trustees recognized might create financial hardships for students this coming year. To view the president’s accountability report, visit http://www.gvsu.edu/accountability/. editorial@lanthorn.com


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