Grand Valley Lanthorn Vol. 55 no. 25

Open, at a Distance

G R A N D VA L L E Y L A N T H O R N

Museums, theatres still hopeful for normalcy a year later

Professor highlights importance of Asian adoptee experiences following Atlanta spa shooting CONVERSATION | A8

GV Volleyball falls short in GLIAC tournament, ending their season VOLLEYBALL| A11

M O N D A Y , A P R I L 1 2 , 2 02 1 // VO L . 5 5 N O. 2 6

@ GV L A N T H O R N

LANTHORN.COM

A2 | NEWS NEWS BRIEFS GV COVID-19 CAMPUS DATA UPDATE

The GVSU community has had a cumulative total of 2,939 COVID-19 cases since Aug. 1. The university’s update for this brief was from Friday, April 9.

Through testing results this past week, GVSU’s Virus Action team have so far reported 187 current active cases including five members of faculty, eight staff members, 27 on-campus students, 100 “off-campus Ottawa” students, 44 “off-campus Kent” students and three “off-campus other” student with active COVID-19 cases.

“Current active cases” is the count of positive cases reported to the Virus Action Team over the past ten days. This is an estimate of those currently in isolation, assuming a ten-day symptomatic period following the reporting of a positive test result. Actual periods of isolation are specific to the individual and determined by the county health department.

Testing and Incidence: GVSU’s own testing program has performed 76,923 tests overall since August 21, for a cumulative positivity rate of 1.33% from the latest update as of last week.

“GV Surveillance” includes the GV/ Spectrum administered programs of randomized testing, regular testing of high-risk groups, and invited testing of individuals connected to potential clusters. A calendar is available. “GV Total” includes surveillance testing plus all symptomatic/exposure tests administered by Spectrum.

INTERSECTION ON GV’S PEW CAMPUS CLOSES FOR CONSTRUCTION

Beginning April 7, the intersection of Mount Vernon Avenue and Fulton Street will be closed for construction. This intersection is located on GVSU’s Pew Grand Rapids Campus and could effect GVSU student’s daily route.

A map of the detours can be found on GVSU’s website. The construction funded through the Strategic Capital Reserve Fund is working towards building a pedestrian campus. This $3.9 million project will include a green space accompanied by a pathway and a bike trail. Seat walls, art walls and raised planters are also going to be built to fill the green space.

The construction is scheduled to wrap up

by August.

APRIL 12, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

POLICE

Four shot at off-campus apartments near GV’s Allendale campus

BY ADAM TROMBLEY NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

The Ottawa County Sheriff ’s Office and the Grand Valley Police Department responded to a call about a shooting at the Enclave apartments located near 48th Avenue and Lake Michigan Drive early on Saturday morning.

GVPD were the first to respond to the scene where they were able to secure the location and offer initial first aid to the victims. Very shortly after, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office arrived and began looking at the victims, taking pictures, checking for additional evidence and using a search warrant to look through the apartment where the incident had occurred.

Of the four victims who were shot, three of them remained and were treated at the scene before being transported via an ambulance to the hospital. The Ottawa County Sheriff ’s Office was made aware of a fourth victim who was taken to the same hospital in a private vehicle. Currently, all four victims are still alive, with one in critical condition.

The four victims are not students at Grand Valley State University.

The subject who shot the four individuals is still unknown. However, according to an email sent to students early Saturday morning, the subject was described as a Hispanic man, who was around six feet tall and weighed 200-225 pounds. He was also described to be wearing a

INCIDENT: The Grand Valley Police Department were the first to respond to a reported shooting at Enclave, providing first aid to three initial victims until other police came. COURTESY | MIX957GR.COM

white shirt, dark blue jeans and a baseball hat.

The motive for the incident is still unclear, but the Ottawa County Sheriff ’s Office is working thoroughly to find any information that will help them find the subject. Currently, they are monitoring social media for information and they have received a few silent observer tips throughout the day. There is a detective at the hospital attempting to gather more information from the victims.

This is an Ottawa County Sheriff ’s investigation. The role of the GVPD will be to assist

ENVIRONMENT

Ottawa County Groundwater Board forms to address groundwater depletion issue

BY AUDREY WHITAKER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Ottawa County is the fastest-growing and most dominant agriculture-producing county in the state of Michigan. Grand Valley State University’s hometown, Allendale, is one of the fastest-growing townships in the state. The aquifer that

supplies water to the area is draining faster than ever as a result.

The Marshall Formation supplies Ottawa County residents with the groundwater they need to cook, clean, drink and grow crops.

Unfortunately, the aquifer is unable to “recharge” due to the area’s geology.

According to Paul Sachs, director of the Ottawa County Planning & Perfor-

GV PLANS VACCINE CLINIC FOR STUDENTS

The wait is coming to an end for GVSU students to a receive a vaccine by a University run clinic. Beginning April 16, GVSU will invite students to receive the vaccine on campus. The University will be receiving 1,700 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Individuals 18 and older are approved for this vaccine.

Community members with the most high-risk exposure will be the priority for the vaccine. The priority schedule includes dining student workers, resident assistants, laboratory student workers, on-campus residents and near campus and in-person students.

Ottawa County if needed.

Ottawa County Sheriff ’s Office Capt. Mark Bennett urges cooperation as some people who were around the scene have been hesitant to give information.

“We understand people can be apprehensive, but we encourage cooperation,” Bennett said. “We can take great efforts in keeping information anonymous. But sometimes that little piece of information is the last piece of the puzzle we need to put together and link the case.”

mance Improvement Department, a thick layer of impermeable clay creates around 150 square miles in the county where water absorption is “limited,” meaning water from precipitation is not making its way back into the aquifer.

“It’s nestled right around the middle of our county,” Sachs said. “As we’ve developed with a blind eye to what’s happening below the surface, every new well that we put in to suck water up just been dropping the water level.”

Residents old and new have already experienced the effects of groundwater depletion, Sachs said. Ruined crops and homes without running water prompted the county to take a closer look at what was going on beneath their feet. “(A resident) irrigated his crops the day before, and when he woke up in the morning, all of his soybeans were burnt to a crisp,” Sach said. “Come to find out that the water he was pumping out of the ground to irrigate was full of sodium chloride — saltwater.”

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SUPPLY: Ottawa county has been facing issues with water drainage due to more usage by residents in Allendale now that more people are moving to the area. COURTESY | GRAND HAVEN TRIBUNE

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APRIL 12, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

CONTENTS POLICE

| A2

EDITORIAL

| A4

AWARD

| A5

FINE ARTS

| A6&7

CONVERSATION

| A8

LEADERSHIP

| A9

PERFORMANCE

| A10

VOLLEYBALL

| A11

LACROSSE

| A12

VOL. 5 5

NO. 26

Lan thorn EDITORIAL STAFF

Layout Editor VIVIANA RUBIO

Editor-in-Chief NICK MORAN Associate Editor OLIVIA FELLOWS

Layout Designer KHOI TRAN PROMOTIONS

Associate Editor XAVIER GOLDEN News Editor MARY RACETTE

Promotions Manager ALEX DAGOSTINO ADVERTISING STAFF

STUDENT RESEARCH

Student Scholars Day celebrates 25 years of tradition

BY RACHEL MATUSZEWSKI NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Student Scholars Day is a longtime tradition of allowing students to showcase their research to a lay audience. As the presentations have expanded from standard three-by-four-foot poster presentations to include exhibits, demonstrations, performances and an array of majors, Student Scholars Day has also adapted to a virtual space on their 25th anniversary.

“One of the things employers are consistently looking for is a college graduate who can ask a really good question,” said Susan Mendoza, Director of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship. “Then they can figure out how to answer that question or get more information that provides clarity on that question. That’s what research is.

Employers or graduate schools aren’t necessarily looking for someone who can find an answer in a book. They’re looking for someone who can make observations, pull together complex data, and ask really good questions and pursue the answers.”

Students Scholars Day originally known as Student Research Day, began in the summer of 1995 when the dean of science and mathematics, P. Douglas

Advertising Manager SHANE MCATAMNEY

Sports Editor ZACK GOODROW Laker Life Editor YSABELA GOLDEN

A3 | NEWS

Business Manager RACHEL MCDOWELL

Image Editor MEGHAN LANDGREN

Asst. Business Manager DAYTON HAMMON

year, the challenge was creating a virtual space for students and faculty that included interaction from the audience. They chose the platform Symposium, where a presentation can be shared for up to two weeks. Members of the audience can pose questions and the presenter can reply even after the presentation is over.

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GVPD to welcome explosives dog to team this summer

BY ADAM TROMBLEY NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

At the Lanthorn, we strive to bring you the most accurate news possible. If we make a mistake, we want to make it right. If you find any errors in fact in the Lanthorn, let us know by calling 616-331-2464 or by emailing editorial@lanthorn.com.

The Grand Valley Lanthorn is published weekly by Grand Valley State University students 31 times a year. One copy of this newspaper is available free of charge to any member of the Grand Valley Community. For additional copies, at $1 each, please contact our business offices.

The Lanthorn is published on recycled paper and is printed with soy bean ink. This means that our newspaper is entirely compostable. Help us do our part to be kind to the environment by recycling or composting this newspaper after you enjoy reading it.

POSTMASTER: Please send form 3579 to: Grand Valley Lanthorn 0051 Kirkhof Center Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI 49401

Kindschi, and faculty members of the science and mathematics division met to create a way for students to share their research findings with a university-wide audience. Since then, the event has been renamed, presentation styles have expanded beyond poster and oral presentations, and now includes all areas of study beyond math and science.

Due to COVID-19, last year’s Student Scholars Day event was canceled, giving students the opportunity to defer, cancel or transfer their presentation online. This POLICE

BUSINESS STAFF

A&E Editor MARY DUPUIS

RESEARCH: GVSU celebrated 25 years of Student Scholars Day formerly known as Student Reaseaech Day and focuses on creating a way for students to share their work. COURTESY | GVSU

K-9 UNIT: GVPD officer Kelsey Sietsma will be working with the new dog officer in training and assignments when it arrives. COURTESY | GVPD

For the first time in the history of the Grand Valley Police Department, the department will be welcoming an officer on four legs. Although the specific name for the furry recruit has not been chosen by the department yet, the lab breed will be coming in as a dog that will be used to check for explosives on our campus, in the buildings, and at special events held by the University.

“The fact that we are getting a dog is awesome,” said GVPD Capt. Jeffrey Stoll. “I think it’s great for our department, I think it’s great for our community. I think due to the nature of the dog because it’s going to be explosives and not an enforcement dog, it will blend well with the community.”

The idea to get a K-9 officer for the department was brought up early on in 2020.

But after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, things had to be put on hold and ultimately stopped for a six or seven-month period.

Around Thanksgiving, the department was able to find a donor who offered financial

backing in order to help the department get the dog. The dog will be coming from the Vapor Wake Vendor.

The K-9 will only be used as an explosives dog that will be able to detect certain vapors in a moving environment that are related to explosives. It will not be used on patrols, in the apprehension of criminals or in drug detection.

“The thing that our dog will be able to do even more so, is as patrons are walking through buildings walking towards an event it has enhanced ability to identify explosive vapors associated with people and is able to track that,” said Stoll.

From a preventative standpoint, Stoll said the dog will be used quite a bit. Stoll says that there are a number of different events that happen without people really thinking about them. Things like football games, interactions with politicians on or around campus, and student life night are just a few examples of events where the K-9 officer may be present.

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A4 | OPINION GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON

APRIL 12, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

By Xavier Golden

EDITORIAL

COVID-19 surges put state, schools in bind

W

4/12/21

editorial@lanthorn.com

Finals prep: of Arches and lockdown browsers

BY MADDIE ZIMMERMAN FRESHMAN BIOLOGY EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

When I hear the word “finals” I just want to run away. The thought of an exam that rounds off your 89.98% in writing is terrifying. A final over material you were barely taught is uncalled for.

During COVID-19 many would agree that our education hasn’t been top tier. From bad internet, lazy professors, having little motivation and having all of your classes basically online, this year has been nothing short of a nightmare for students. That’s why I’m here to hopefully help you stress about finals less.

Step one–this one is special for the GVSU students. Do not step under the blue arch by the arboretum. When I first toured GVSU, I was never warned to not step under the mysterious blue arch.

I believe it was a setup because when I came back to GVSU once I was officially committed, my mom wanted a picture of me under it. Unknowingly, I walked right under it while my mom zoomed in on my face, even though I begged her not to for her infamous Facebook mom photos.

Now flash forward to my first psychology exam. My boyfriend and I are

walking to the arboretum when he tells me the horror story. If you walk under the arch you fail your first exam. Well, flash forward even more to me sitting down at my desk to take the god forsaken thing. Let’s just say I didn’t do too hot.

Just in case my mom is reading this, I did pass (but barely). I was recorded the whole time and my anxiety was through the roof. So when I tell you do not walk under it, trust me.

Now, let me tell you about this whole lockdown browser thing. So, my psychology professor required this program you had to install into your computer to literally watch you and record you in order for you to prove that you didn’t cheat on the exam.

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Life is good, except for LG phones

BY FABIAN SEGURA SENIOR FILM & VIDEO, MULTIMEDIA JOURNALSIM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

After 23 months of continuous losses, LG has pulled out of the smartphone market. Announced on April 5,

LG will wind down their smartphone division and close up all operations by July 31 of this year. While the rest of LG will continue on with their other products, the LG smartphone is gone.

For many, LG was often forgotten in the face of their more popular Korean cousin, Samsung. While Samsung grew to dominate the Android market, LG was quietly trucking along doing its own thing.

Their last few notable releases being the LG Velvet targeting the midrange market with dual screen support and the LG Wing having a swivel display that unveiled another screen underneath. Both were interesting in their own right, but sales were less than stellar to continue on.

To give credit where it’s due, while

LG’s sales haven’t been great since 2014, they have been one of the most innovative, if not most influential manufacturer in the smartphone landscape over the years.

They released the first high resolution 1440p display with the G3 in 2014; The first ultrawide camera with the G5 in 2016; Double tap to wake was first introduced by LG in 2013 on the G2; Taller and narrower displays with the G6 in 2017; And the V40 in 2018 was the first phone to have all three focal lengths, a normal, a wide, and telephoto, on the back that’s all so common today on flagships.

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hile vaccine d ist r ibut i on hits a national high, Michigan’s battle with COVID-19 has taken a grim turn. The state is home to some of the worst outbreaks in the country, with hospitals near Detroit crowding due to the new surge.

Stuck with the decision to either enforce another lockdown or keep voters and local businesses pacified with the current relaxed guidelines, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is pinned between political upheavals as her path splits.

On one hand, she enforces another lockdown onto a population largely sick of the pandemic. On the other, she continues to push for vaccination and holds policy where it is.

Ultimately, her decision was to issue an optional recommendation to schools and businesses, which has already gotten pushback from the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, school districts and more. While some, such as Grand Haven high schools, are locking down for two weeks – cutting everything in-person from learning to athletics – others are not so keen on the idea.

The rise in cases, ongoing vaccination efforts and Whitmer’s recommendation forces schools to decide whether or not they will return to remote learning.

On one front, we have to acknowledge the significant vaccination efforts made both in Michigan and around the country. Michigan is pushing 40% vaccination on adults as of April 8, with Kent and Ottawa counties in the mid 40s for adult vaccination. Those numbers are encouraging and give residents some hope that the pandemic’s

strain may end soon.

But despite that, schools are still seeing COVID-19 clusters pop up. East Grand Rapids High School is reporting more cases and Grand Valley State University has been seeing daily new cases increase throughout March.

There’s just under a month left of classes on GVSU’s campus, and more for other local schools. Parents, students and leadership seem to have a “finish strong” mentality as they push for the finish line, and schools seem to be generally following along.

It’s a fair stance to take, but if schools are to remain open, there has to be increased efforts to curb the spread in these communities. Whether it be more rigorous testing, reporting and quarantining efforts or other means, schools across the board must display that they are actively fighting the upward trend in cases we’re seeing around the state.

Charting forward as is underserves students and opts for an irresponsible “ignorance is bliss” mentality.

Universities like GVSU are making strong strides in increasing testing and vaccination rates, but students are still traveling and cases are still rising. It feels as if sweeping closures are the only option for many schools.While it may be the most effective option, it may be more unpopular.

Keeping in-person learning available for students is a testament to our collective efforts to fight the pandemic, but it’s not something we are entitled to. Schools and their communities, now is not the time to give up. At the very least, if we’re resisting widespread closures, we must prove that we’ve learned from our past mistakes.

APRIL 12, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A5 | NEWS

AWARD

GV professor receives civic honor from France and cultures started quiet early on. Growing up in suburban Detroit, he made many international friends throughout his early life Grand Valley State University French pro- and was fascinated by the way they spoke. It fessor Dan Golembeski has been given the wasn’t until he started taking French in high title of Chevalier des Palmes Académiques, school and listening to French radio from or Chevalier of the Academic Palms, one of Windsor that his love and fascination with the most prestigious and oldest civic honors the language and culture grew.

“I traveled twice to Quebec when I was bestowed by France.

On Wednesday, April 7, Golembeski 16 and 17 and after those trips I was fascialong with Jolene Vos-Camy were presented nated with the idea that other people not the Palmes Académiques medal, consisting only speak differently, but they think differof two olive branches on a purple ribbon, by ently – they don’t view the world the way we Consul General Guillaume Lacroix during a do in the States,” Golembeski said. “As I took ceremony at Calvin University. While it was an interest in French and began traveling mostly held on Zoom to adhere to COVID-19 there, I wanted to share what I had learned regulations, there was a small in-person cer- with others.”

The opportunity to teach and spread his emony held in the Calvin University Chapel.

The award dates back to 1808 and was es- knowledge of language and culture came to tablished by Emperor Napoleon for teachers Golembeski first as a graduate assistant at and professors at the University of Paris. It Indiana University and then as an English has since been broadened to include those in language teacher at a high school in Toulon, France and internationally who have made France. Golembeski then joined the GVSU significant contributions to the promotion of French faculty in August 1997 and has since seen the program grow and develop over the French culture.

Golembeski said that he was surprised to course of twenty years.

Golembeski said the dedication from have been nominated for the title.

“The best awards, in my opinion, are those faculty and the passion of the students that make you wonder if you truly deserve in the program have allowed the GVSU them, and that’s because they spur you to do French program to remain strong despite even better, to do more,” Golembeski said. the downward trend in foreign language “Sharing French culture with those around enrollment nationwide.

The need to study different languages and me and especially with my students has been understand different cultures in the United a big part of my life.”

Golembeski’s interest in other languages States is becoming increasingly more import-

BY LAUREN FORMOSA NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

COMMUNITY

Specialists discuss need for inclusion in times of disaster

BY ELIZABETH SCHANZ NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University students were able to partake in a panel discussion called “Disabilities, Disaster and Preparedness, and Climate Discussion” where they were able to listen to specialists and ask questions relating to disaster preparedness.

The discussion pinpointed ways to better help those who are marginalized in society when facing natural disasters and problems like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The panel members included Dr. Karla Black and Patricia Draper, members of the Kent County Health Department; Dr. Shontaye Witcher the Director of Disability Support at GVSU; Gabby Roux, a specialist in public health; and Anna Landre, a disability activist. This group was able to bring their expertise to further the discussion surrounding preparedness.

The event addressed what society has done in previous times of disaster such as Hurricane Katrina, the 2021 Texas winter

storm, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic where plans to help the public fell short leading to more damage. By looking at these shortcomings the panel focused on issues including funding and helping all groups of people.

Anna Landre, as a wheelchair user, talked from personal experience.

“What’s important in disaster preparedness particularly, is to look at disability as the reaction in some ways to a deeply ableist world,” Landre said. “Disabled people are not expected losses.”

Landre and the other panelist stressed that in order to bridge the gap in disaster preparedness those with disabilities must be part of the planning process to create a positive change for all. Disadvantaged individuals have historically been excluded from effective planning, for instance the many deaths of disabled people in Hurricane Katrina who were unable to get transportation, senior citizens in homes dying in large numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and

HONORED: Dan Golembeski was honored with the Palmes Académiques medal, which honors individuals who have made contributions to promoting French culture. COURTESY | DAN GOLEMBESKI

ant, according to Golembeski. Not only has globalization and technology made it more easy for Americans to interact with other cultures, but learning from other cultures allows people to view challenges and problems from a new perspective.

“Studying any other culture will help you think ‘outside the box,’”Golembeski said.

“Rather than to randomly try a solution here, we can look to see how a given solution is

working in another society and determine whether that particular solution might be applicable and successful here. Students who study foreign cultures gain new insights to the arts, social life, politics, architecture, environmentalism, and much more.”

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A6&7 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

APRIL 12, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

One year later, Grand Rapids museums, theatres remain hopeful

BY MARY DUPUIS ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

AFLOAT: The Grand Rapids museum has had several successful exhibits that have brought in attendees in recent months. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT

With the recent announcement from President Joe Biden that all Americans will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine

by April 19, Grand Rapids museums and theatres began slowly opening their doors wider and wider to the public in accordance with CDC guidelines.

Now, with Michigan becoming a COVID-19 hot-spot, many of these same museums and theatres are finding themselves at a standstill. With policies remaining untouchable and progress seeming distant, museums and theatres are remaining hopeful and waiting it out once again.

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) reopened in July at 25% capacity and moved to 50% capacity in March. Kate Kocienski, GRPM Vice President of Marketing and PR, said they have had much success with the current safety guidelines in place, and they plan to continue this way.

“Knock on wood, we are very fortunate that all procedures and policies have led to no outbreaks happening at the museum, so we’re really happy about that,” said Kocienski.

She said that the museum is following all state guidelines, including reduced capacity, advanced ticketing, a mask requirement (if a visitor is unable to wear a mask, a face shield is required), social distancing in museum spaces and timed ticketing for the popular visiting exhibitions. The museum also has high-quality air filters that create “hospital-quality air control.”

Kocienski said since reopening, the museum has only had to make minor adjustments in terms of traffic flow and where to put plexiglass. They have not yet been able to bring back hands-on interactives or hold any events.

However, they have seen success with smaller groups of educational classes and after-school programs offered to students and the public. Kocienski said usually eight children come and participate, and for spring break, the museum hosted science shows in their theatre.

Although the museum was hopeful for the lifting of restrictions as vaccinations became more widespread, Kocienski said that with cases on the rise again, it doesn’t look as if things will be returning to normalcy any time soon.

“What does post-pandemic life look like?” Kocienski said. “It’s hard to predict knowing things have shifted so rapidly.

Michigan is a hot spot once again, so we’ll just continue to follow the procedures we know are working.”

Another Grand Rapids museum that is sticking to what they know during this time is the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM).

GRAM Communications Manager Elizabeth Payne said the museum also opened in July and is currently still operating with reduced capacity to best protect the health and safety of staff, volunteers and guests, and that they do not plan to change anything at this time.

“The Museum’s health and safety guidelines have served us well,” Payne said.

“Because safety has been our top priority throughout this process, and our team has done thorough research, our visitor guidelines have largely remained unchanged.”

Payne said although the museum does not predict a return to normal procedures in the near future, their top priority is making the museum a safe place for guests to visit when they are comfortable enough to do so.

ATTRACTION: The Grand Rapids museum’s floral art exhibit was a particularly popular one this year for many attendees. GVL | SHIELA BABBITT

ADAPT: The Circle Theatre has been able to plan performances for May this year despite the pandemic’s challenges. COURTESY | CIRCLE THEATRE

“We hope members of our community will visit when they feel ready,” Payne said.

“The Museum offers an array of in-person and virtual experiences and three floors of artwork, so we encourage guests to head to our website to plan their visit and reserve timed tickets.”

The Community Circle Theatre in Grand Rapids very recently decided that they were ready to begin performances again, and are prepared to operate outdoors and indoors with limited capacity and in accordance with all CDC guidelines in order to make that happen.

Ashlee McGreevy, Circle Theatre Marketing and Outreach Specialist said Circle Theatre will be opening with outdoor productions of “The Gin Game” starting in May and “Always... Patsy Cline” in June.

In July, they plan to move back into the theatre with “Cabaret,” followed by “Noises Off ” and “Hair.” McGreevy said that although they have been creating online content and hosting pop-up concerts throughout the past year, the theatre is excited to invite patrons back for live theatre, so long as it is safe to do so.

“So much of what we are doing in regards to mask-wearing, social distancing, capacity restrictions and other safety precautions

are dictated by medical professionals,” McGreevy said. “We will continue to keep our beloved community in mind and do our part to keep everyone as safe and comfortable as possible.”

McGreevy said the theatre hopes that people will come back to the theatre as soon as possible, and with joyful hearts.

“Our hope is that people will be excited, feel comfortable, and be ready to support local theatre,” McGreevy said. “Grand Rapids has amazing talent and we have the privilege to showcase that talent and tell needed stories. We look forward to the day that we can welcome folks back into the theatre for live entertainment.”

Similar to the theatre, Kocienski said she hopes that the museum can be a source of fun and of peace for visitors, even if the road ahead seems challenging once again.

“I hope the public sees the museum as a resource both for a great place to go and have educational fun and for a mental health break to get out of the house in a low-risk environment,” Kocienski said. “Museums are one of the safest indoor activities you can do, so we hope the museum stays on top of peoples’ minds as a low-risk activity to do with their family.”

APRIL 12, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A8 | NEWS CONVERSATION

GV professor highlights importance of Asian adoptee experiences following Atlanta spa shooting

BY OLIVIA FELLOWS ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM

The March 16 spa shootings that occurred in Atlanta, Georgia that killed eight people — six of whom were Asian women — and wounding one other person has left the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community reeling and fearful during a year that has already increased the number of violent racist attacks against them.

In a study and analysis released by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino which examined hate crimes in 16 of America’s largest cities, results revealed that while such crimes in 2020 decreased overall by 7%, those targeting Asian people rose by nearly 150%. The analysis revealed a surge in cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Boston.

Following the shootings, the importance of supporting the AAPI community during the past year and rising fears of attacks have been a major topic of discussion. Dialogues about the treatment of Asian American immigrants and citizens have also reached new audiences, and new voices speaking on the issue are being heard.

Kimberly McKee, a Grand Valley State University associate professor in the Integrative, Religious, and Intercultural Studies department who specializes in Asian Amer-

ican Studies and Critical Adoption Studies, recently spoke with National Public Radio (NPR) about her thoughts on the Atlanta shooting in her capacity as a scholar who also identifies as a Korean American and member of the Korean adoptee community.

McKee highlighted the importance of recognizing Asian adoptees as a unique subgroup of Asian Americans, many of whom adopted by primarily white families to the United States from the interwar period between World War I and World War II to the present day. She explained that many have a unique perception of the United States an important one the Atlanta shooting.

“For many (Asian-American adoptees), being raised in white families whose promoted colorblindness — they often reflect on how their parents never discussed race or acknowledged the racism that they faced,” McKee said.

“Yet, for so many adoptees, the Atlanta shootings struck a nerve. Adoptees found themselves lacking spaces to grieve the lives lost in Atlanta.

Many noted that their white families did not check to see how they were doing. Instead, they turned to social media to find connections with other adoptees and Asian Americans.”

The shootings in Atlanta are only one of countless examples of anti-Asian violence affecting AAPI communities throughout history.

The earliest federal immigration law, the 1875 Page Act, was enacted to prohibit the migration

of Asian women — primarily Chinese women — for “lewd and immoral purposes.”

The Act, along with Orientalist assumptions of Asian women’s sexuality, set the conditions for linking Asian women to sex work.

American popular culture (such as “The World of Suzy Wong,” “Flower Drum Song,” “Full Metal Jacket,” “Miss Saigon”) capitalized on assumptions of Asian women’s hypersexuality and submissive nature. U.S. militarism in Asia resulted in the sexual coercion and exploitation of Asian women in countries where the U.S. maintains a military presence, including, but not limited to the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam.

When Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Capt. Jay Baker proclaimed the spa shooting suspect was “having a bad day,” McKee said that Baker erased the agency and personhood of the victims and that his comments demonstrated racial bias.

Many adoptees were unsurprised to learn that Baker’s brother, Tony Baker, is a Vietnamese adopted person and a Superior Court judge in Georgia. Adoptees are familiar with the way in which racism operates within their own families. Baker also promoted an anti-Asian racist t-shirt in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic.

McKee explained that this history matters in the way that we view Asian American people in the United States, and especially in the way we

PERSPECTIVE: GVSU’s Kimberly McKee spoke on NPR about the experiences of Asian adoptees following AAPI violence. COURTESY | GVSU

view the Atlanta spa shootings given their sexualized nature following reports that the shooter was motivated by a sexual addiction that was at odds with his religious beliefs.

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HOUSING

New Living-Learning Communities coming to Pew Grand Rapids campus

BY TREVOR HUBERT NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

In recent years, Grand Valley State University has sought to increase its presence in downtown Grand Rapids.

Now, a new host of living communities

is set to attract more students to GVSU’s Pew Grand Rapids Campus.

GVSU has announced that they are adding four new Living-Learning Communities (LLCs) to the campus, all located in Winter Hall.

The expansion will provide new liv-

TOGETHER: New living communities are coming to GVSU’s Pew Grand Rapids campus in an effort to promote togetherness and draw more students toward downtown. GVL | JONATHAN ELOI LANTIEGNE

ing options for incoming freshman and transfer students in the Fall of 2021.

Three of the communities will be curated towards business, engineering, and social work, with the fourth, called the Momentum House, geared towards social justice as well as undeclared students. All four houses are coming with an overarching theme of “Social Responsibility.”

The communities are being created in an effort to enrich the higher education experience from an academic and a social perspective. Students will be able to attend classes and meet with faculty in the same areas where they are making new friends.

“Research shows that living in a community has a strong effect on student learning and achievement as students in LLCs connect more intentionally and naturally with peers, faculty members and staff members,” said Seidman College of Business Dean Diana Lawson. “In addition, faculty and staff create co-curricular activities that integrate classroom learning with social and professional applications, such as social innovation projects, project-based learning, and ex-

periential activities across the LLCs.” GVSU has seen success with LLCs on the Allendale campus with the Frederik Meijer Honors College and the Calder Art Center, and the four that are coming to Grand Rapids will be following the same model.

Students who live in the new LLCs should also expect to see increased access to tools that will make their college experience a successful one.

“Students will have better access to faculty, staff, and students with similar academic interests,” Lawson said. “The University is in the process of ensuring that the primary services students need, such as registrar, financial aid, DSR (Disability Support Resources), will have a presence on the downtown campus.”

GVSU has put a very clear focus on LLCs, as its recent history shows. The last LLC to open was the Holton-Hooker community on the Allendale campus in 2016. If the university continues to see LLCs as a better living and learning experience, further expansion should be expected in the near and distant future.

A9 | LAKER LIFE

APRIL 12, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

ARTS AT A GLANCE HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN HOSPITALITY SEMINAR Human trafficking is a serious global issue intersecting with many different industries, including hospitality and tourism. In order to create awareness, Grand Valley’s Hospitality and Tourism Management Club has organized a lecture from FBI-recognized Wisconsin police detective Neal Lofy on how to recognize signs of human trafficking, and what you can do when you recognize them.

The event is focused on Hospitality and Tourism Management students and professionals, but all who want to learn more about this topic are welcome to attend on Tuesday, Apr. 13. The seminar begins at 4 p.m., both virtually over Zoom and in-person at Loosemore Auditorium in the DeVos Center on Grand Valley’s Pew Campus. More information is available online on the HTMC’s LakerLink page at gvsu.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/htmc.

CASUAL PAINTING WITH CAB

Grand Valley’s Campus Activities Board is encouraging students to embrace their artistic side this week with a “Bob Ross Painting Party,” inspired by the legendary PBS television host and art instructor. No prior painting experience is required for this free event, and all art supplies will be provided for those attending.

The party begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Apr. 15, and will take place in Kirkhof Center’s Grand River Room. Those interested in attending can RSVP to secure their spot through CAB’s page on LakerLink, gvsu. campuslabs.com/engage/organization/laker-traditions-team-student-life.

LEADERSHIP

‘Elect Her’ teaches students about their political voices

BY KATHERINE ARNOLD LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

On April 7, the Community Service Learning Center (CSLC), Student Senate and Running Start joined together to host an event addressing the topic of women in office and leadership. “Elect Her” was dedicated to walking students through exercises around how to run for office, why it is important, and having a discussion with a series of panelists who are currently in a variety of political positions across Michigan.

“What we do is a combination of great discussions around running for office and women in politics, and also learning concrete campaign skills exercises,” said Jess Kelly, Running Start Chief of Staff.

Running Start is a nonpartisan nonprofit that seeks to empower young women to get involved in politics, one elected female leader at a time.

“We are all experts in the things we care about,” Kelly said. “Sometimes it is intimidating to think, ‘I don’t want to run for office because I don’t know enough yet.’ What helps to get you going is finding a topic or issue that you are really passionate about.”

Through examining topics participants were personally interested in, exploring their current networks, and helping them to create a sample elevator pitch about a possible campaign, Kelly

LEADING LADIES: A joint effort, GVSU hosted an “Elect Her” event focused on empowering students to run for office around the country and preparing them accordingly. COURTESY | RUNNING START

led students through a workshop that taught them more about their own abilities, political interests and gave them a chance to use their voice amongst a community of support.

In addition, half an hour of the session was dedicated to a panel of successful women leaders in Michigan. The panelists included State Representative Mary Whiteford; Brandy Lovelady-Mitchell, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Kent ISD and Trustee for Grand Rapids Community College; Jody Hanson, Al-

lendale Charter Township Clerk; Milinda Ysasi, Executive Director of The Source and City Commissioner for the City of Grand Rapids; Michelle McCloud, Kent County Commissioner for District 13; and Sonya Hernandez, School Board Member and Commissioner, Hispanic Latino Commission of Michigan.

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WALK IN SOLIDARITY FOR SEXUAL IMMIGRATION ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH In 2000, the Center for Disease Control worked with survivors and activists in order to establish the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. In 2001, the organization coordinated the very first formally recognized national Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign. This year is the 20th anniversary of that first campaign, which the Grand Valley Police Department is commemorating with a solidarity walk around campus.

The walk will begin at 1 p.m. under the Cook Carillion Tower, but those interested can join at any time between 1-3 p.m. so that participants can remain spaced apart. Free t-shirts will be available while supplies last.

More information is available on LakerLink at gvsu.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/ oncampus.

OMA hosts Michigan Network for Undocumented Immigrant Success

BY YSABELA GOLDEN LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

Last week, Grand Valley State University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs hosted their “UndocuWeek,” three days dedicated to programming that acknowledges, supports and uplifts those living with undocumented or

DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status. The culminating event on Wednesday, April 7 was a panel from the Michigan Network of Undocumented Immigrant Success, an organization formed over the pandemic by young professionals who used to organize similar programming when they attended Grand Rapids Community College.

“My parents were like, don’t talk about it, don’t talk about it, so it was difficult for me to reach out to my community college for help,” said Kevin Vazquez, an Administrative Aide in Oversight and Public Accountability for the City of Grand Rapids. “But when I was attending GRCC, they put on a presentation about undocumented experiences, and afterwards I reached out to the presenter. I could tell that he was really willing to help people, and that experience helped me a lot.”

Vazquez spent much of his time getting his bachelor’s flying back and forth between school and Washington D.C., where he advocated for himself and other DACA recipients when Donald Trump moved to end the program— and the legal protections it gave immigrants who came to the United States as children— in 2017.

LOG ON TO:

HERE TO STAY: Conversations around the country are focusing on those with undocumented or DACA status, including on GVSU’s campus. COURTESY | KATHRYN S. KUHAR VIA THE HARVARD CRIMSON

www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

A10 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTS AT A GLANCE

APRIL 12, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

PERFORMANCE

GV CAMPUS ACTIVITIES BOARD SET TO HOLD PAINTING EVENT Grand Valley State University Campus Activities Board (CAB) will be holding a Bob Ross Painting Party.

On Thursday, April 15 from 7-9 p.m. at the Grand River Room in Kirkhof, students are invited to join and have a relaxing evening of painting with Ross.

All supplies are included, and by no means is painting experience required. Students who wish to attend are asked to RSVP on LakerLink.

GV Art Gallery introduces new photography to their collection More than 30 photographs by sports photographer Walter Iooss have been added to the Grand Valley Art Collection.

Iooss, an American photographer, is best known for his award-winning images of legendary athletes such as Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Scottie Pippen and Muhammad Ali. His career began at Sports Illustrated, to which he contributed for over 50 years.

The collection can be viewed in the “Online Collection” section of the Grand Valley Art Gallery’s website.

Senior dancers present CONTINUUM, an inspiring accumulation of capstone projects

PAINT BY NUMBER PROJECT COMES TO GRAND RAPIDS

BY ALLISON RAFFERTY ARAFFERTY@LANTHORN.COM

Partnering with Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., The City of Grand Rapids, The Big Old Building restaurant and Alfred Reeves Photography, ArtXchange Grand Rapids has announced a new Paint By Number (PBN) project taking place in Grand Rapids.

ArtXchange Grand Rapids, a company that has been providing resources and support to artists of color in Grand Rapids since 2017, said from April 30 to June 30, PBN will be a public engagement art installation that will invite all community members to create works of art as a collective unit.

At the root of the project will be paint by number images of communities in the Greater Grand Rapids area in order to engage all neighbourhoods included in the Greater Grand Rapids Zone.

JOHN BALL ZOO HOLDS SUPERHERO DAY Visitors were invited to attend the John Ball Zoo dressed in their favorite superhero costumes for a special Superhero Day event.

Held on April 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., guests could come to the zoo to meet a rotating group of superheroes including Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Thor, Captain America, Spider-Man, Star Lord, Black Widow and more.

Guests were also able to discover themed animal enrichment and signs at the animal exhibits that showcased animal superpowers. In addition, guests could enjoy superhero-themed treats like Spidey Slush, Hulk Floss and a Captain America Freezy.

FINAL SHOW: Two performances on April 16 and 17 will mark the end of the college journey for seven Grand Valley State University dance majors as they showcase their senior capstones. “CONTINUUM” is a virtual recital with solo dances, group performances and a handful of short films. COURTESY | GVSU

Seven Grand Valley State University dance majors will be performing their senior capstones in their final recital titled “CONTINUUM.” The virtual recital is set to take place Friday, April 16 and Saturday, April 17 at 7 p.m.

CONTINUUM, set to last approximately two hours, will feature 13 performances including solo dances, group numbers and short films, in each of which the dancers were given the ability to express their personal style.

Dance and exercise science major Mary Twietmeyer said the group selected the title of the show to reflect their time spent in the university’s dance program.

“The title of our show is CONTINUUM, which we selected as a group because we felt it represented our progression and growth as dancers and as artists these past few years at Grand Valley,” Twietmeyer said. “We are not the same people as when we started our journey in the dance program, we have each grown immensely as individuals and as a group.”

Twietmeyer said that while she never would have imagined completing her senior capstone during a pandemic or having to convert it into a virtual show, she feels that it shows how resilient the art of dance really is.

“We have found ways to work around the obstacles that have been presented to us this past year and it makes it even more rewarding in the end,” said Twietmeyer.

Dance and communication studies major Emily McKenzie said that since she’s been dreaming of this show since her first day freshman year, the fact that it is being done virtually is hard to accept. But, her fellow performers have helped her see the bright side of things.

“Luckily, the cast I worked with this se-

END OF THE ROAD: The senior recital’s name was chosen to represent the performers’ “progression and growth” as they approach the end of their time as dance students at GVSU. COURTESY | GVSU

mester made it really special,” said McKenzie.

McKenzie’s capstone is a group performance titled “EVERYTHING, NOTHING.” “My work investigates the ideas of both purposeful existence and meaningless existence of all things,” said McKenzie.

She will also be performing a solo piece recorded in the corner of her bedroom called “pieceofmynd” that she said is inspired by “the dichotomy of overwhelming thoughts and anxiety that can live in mere silence and stillness.”

For Twietmeyer’s senior project, she choreographed a duet called “Contradictions from Within.” She said the piece explores the internal conflict that comes from an individual experiencing opposing beliefs within their own mind.

“The movement reflects how these conflicting thoughts surface, bringing about feelings of anxiety and uneasiness within the individual,” said Twietmeyer.

She is also in a solo number called “absence” which captures the nostalgia that comes with reminiscing on what is no longer present in one’s life.

Twietmeyer said each piece is catered so much to the dancers’ individuality,

and she is excited to see it all come together for one complete performance.

“We all have very different styles that represent who we are as dancers and choreographers and it will be really captivating to see each of our artistic voices show throughout the show,” said Twietmeyer.

Information on the inspiration behind each piece can be found in the Dance Program’s press release for CONTINUUM. “We’re ecstatic that we can share our works with audience members near and far, that’s one perk of having our show virtual,” Twietmeyer said. “This way dance can be brought to them and our audience members can relax and enjoy our show from the comfort of their own homes.”

McKenzie said she hopes that audience members will stay inspired and embrace everything about themselves after experiencing the performances CONTINUUM has to offer.

Those interested can attend the recital free of charge and can get tickets through GVSU’s website. The pre-recorded performances will be available for streaming on the platform AnywhereSeat.

A11 | SPORTS

APRIL 12, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

QUICK HITS TRACK AND FIELD COMES BACK HOME TO MICHIGAN

The GVSU track and field team spent another weekend in Kentucky as they competed in the Jim Vargo Invitational. Natalie Graber picked up a first place finish in the 1500 meter with a time of 4:35.57.

The team then came back to Michigan the following day to compete in the Hillsdale Invitational. Marcedes Chandler won the 100 meter race with a time of 11.99 seconds. The men’s team broke another record in this meet as well. The men’s 4x100 meter relay team broke GVSU’s record and earned a provisional time. Makiyah Smallwood, Calvin Hatcher, Antonio Passarelli and Jalen Kyles finished the event in 40.86 seconds.

SOFTBALL PICKS UP TWO MORE VICTORIES

Against Davenport, the No. 17 ranked GVSU softball team picked up two solid wins. In the first game of the series, GVSU won 2-1 in a close pitching battle. In the second game however, the Lakers’ bats came alive as they won 9-2.

Hannah Beatus picked up her tenth victory of the season against Davenport. She pitched a complete game, struck out seven batters and gave up only one earned run.

She gave up only two hits in this game.

Providing offensive support for Beatus was Taylor Rieger, whose two RBI singles in the fifth inning gave the Lakers the lead.

Hannah Hollister racked up two hits and three RBI’s in the next game of the series.

Bailey Thatcher also swung a hot bat as she picked up four base hits and three doubles. Ever time Thatcher made it on base she would eventually come home as she scored four runs.

BOTH TENNIS TEAMS PICK UP WINS AGAINST GLIAC OPPONENT

The GVSU tennis team both beat Purdue-Northwest on Friday April, 9. This event put the GVSU men’s team at 4-0 against their GLIAC competition. This was also their fourth victory in a row. The women’s team has also found success in the GLIAC so far this year, as they are 4-1 in conference play. The women’s team beat Purdue-Northwest 7-0 and swept all six of their singles matches. The men’s team won 5-2.

The men’s team won four out of their six singles matches. Sean Miller won his two sets 6-4 and 6-3. Tomas Oliveira won both matches 6-3. Freddy Cossio won both of his sets 6-3 and 6-2. Sasha Lescoulie won both of his sets 6-3 and 6-1.

The women’s team was very impressive in not only their singles matches, but also their doubles. Marily Canellopoulos and Marija Leko won their matchup 7-5. Taylor Berrett and Vera Griva won their set. To close out the doubles, Vasileia Griva and Liv Hanover won their game 6-1.

VOLLEYBALL

GV Volleyball falls short in GLIAC tournament, ending their season

BY SHAWN ROBINSON SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State University volleyball team traveled to Saginaw Valley State University this weekend to take part in the GLIAC volleyball tournament. The Lakers entered the tournament as a three seed and started play on April 9 in the quarterfinals against Ashland University winning 3-0, but would lose Saturday in a hard fought semifinals matchup against Northern Michigan 4-1.

After receiving an opening round bye, the Lakers came out on fire in the quarterfinal matchup. In the opening set, the Lakers were able to jump to a 6-1 lead with dominant defensive performances. GVSU led as much as 11 points in the opening match, 23-12. Ashland was fighting back at the end of the set, as they scored six straight points before the Lakers would take care of business. An attacking error by Ashland would give the Lakers a first set victory.

In the second set, it was a back-and-forth game to start as both teams were trading points.

The Lakers then went on a 7-1 run to take an early 12-7 lead. The Ashland Eagles wouldn’t let that stop them as they were able to trim the Lakers lead to two, with a 15-13 score.

GVSU was able to take over after three straight kills by sophomore Karlie Kucharczyk.

The Lakers continued to dominate the rest of the game, winning the second set 25-19.

The Lakers looked to sweep the Ashland Eagles and move on to the semifinals, and would score the first seven points to open the third set.

Ashland wouldn’t let up, as they continued to fight back and stay in the game. GVSU would increase their lead 10-6 and then score the next eight points to put the set and match out of reach for Ashland. The Lakers would win the third set 25-17 and secure the match.

GVSU recorded a season high .238 attack percentage and tallied 45 kills compared to Ashland’s 32 kills. Junior Ali Thompson led the team with 14 kills, while sophomore setter Rachel Jacquay dished out 37 assists as sophomore Sarah Wight recorded four total blocks.

The Lakers would advance to the GLIAC tournament semifinals against Northern Michigan.

In the semifinal’s matchup against Northern Michigan on Saturday, the Lakers would start off on a bad note. Northern Michigan University came out and started with a 5-1 lead against the Lakers.

They would then end up pulling within one point of Northern Michigan’s 9-8 lead.

A few serves later, an attacking error by NMU would give the Lakers a one-point advantage, 13-12. In a hard fought first set, the Lakers would end up losing 20-25, putting them behind in the match and giving Northern Michigan the first set.

In the second set, GVSU would open the game with an early 2-1 lead after back-to-back points. Northern Michigan came from behind after an attacking error by Thompson and took their first lead of the set. Another Laker error would then give NMU a 10-8 lead.

UPS AND DOWNS: GVSU’s volleyball team conquered Ashland 3-0 as they kicked off GLIAC tournament play. The Lakers would fall to Northern Michigan in the semifinals. GVL | KATHERINE VASILE

After a 13-13 tie, the Lakers would go on a 4-0 run, extending their lead to 3, 16-13. The Wildcats then went on a 4-0 run of their own to take the lead. GV tied the game 18-18 but NMU would go on another 4-0 lead to take a 22-18 advantage. A Northern Michigan kill would end the second set, 25-21 and the Lakers would go down 2-0 in the match with a chance to fight back and win the third set.

The third set started off with an early 2-0 lead from Northern Michigan, but the Lakers would mount a comeback. They took a 7-3 lead after a kill by junior Abby Graham.

Northern Michigan would take a timeout, which was good for the Lakers as they never lost the lead and won the third set, 25-17. The Lakers were still alive in the match, although they had some work to do down 2-1.

As the Lakers tried to mount a comeback, Northern Michigan had a chance to close the door and end the match in the fourth set. Both teams were trading points to open the set. GV would take an early 12-9 lead after a kill by redshirt-senior Jayla Wesley. The attacking play from the Lakers was starting to ramp up as they took a 19-14 lead before a Northern Michigan timeout. NMU would score three straight points to trim the Lakers lead to two, 19-17. A Grand Valley timeout led to the Wildcats pulling within one point, but the Lakers would increase their lead after back-to-back points. The Lakers later went up 23-21, but Northern Michigan rallied back and went on a 4-0 scoring run to lead the Wildcats to victory. They won the fourth set, 25-23, and the Lakers would lose the match and exit the GLIAC tournament.

“It was disappointing to see,” said coach Deanne Scanlon. “But the team played at a great level and it was great to see that.

We’re all looking forward to coming back next season with the same high intensity and pressure we had this season.”

The GVSU volleyball team would end their season 12-4 overall and 11-3 in the conference.

The team has a lot of young and returning talent, with only one senior on the roster this year.

Four women on the team received All-GLIAC honors. Two players – juniors Ali Thompson and Jaelianna Primus – received first team honors, junior Abby Graham received second team honors, and junior Karlie Kucharczyk was an honorable mention. Primus was also named GLIAC Blocker of the Year, as she led all of DII in solo blocks and ranked eighth in DII, as well as lead the GLIAC in blocks per set.

“It feels really good to be recognized and honored,” Primus said. “It feels really good to accomplish that and it was one of my long-term goals this season. It’s fun to see all the hard work and the competing. Our team is really competitive so just all the competitiveness within the whole year. We’ve been practicing, just playing out and seeing where that goes is great to see at the end of the year.”

Playing sports this year was a struggle for everyone amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lakers were able to be resilient and play through it all.

“It was a challenge at first for sure,” Scanlon said. “I think we formed a great bondage and the fact that we were able to play and practice during the pandemic was great. The girls were ready to come out this season facing this challenge as they had a whole level of commitment to the season and the team.

I look forward to next season as I know we’re in store to do some great things.”

The GVSU volleyball team ended their season on a bittersweet note, but they’re hungry and ready for next season.

“We definitely wanted to get the conference championship this year but next year we’re going to gun for it again,” Primus said.

“So definitely get that conference championship next year as well as the national championship. We came out as a great unit and we look forward to coming out and doing that same thing next year too.”

APRIL 12, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A12 | SPORTS LACROSSE

Women’s lacrosse defeats Davenport in close game on Senior Day

BY HOLLY BIHLMAN HBIHLMAN@LANTHORN.COM

Last Saturday, April 10, the Lakers went up against the Davenport Panthers in their eighth game of the season on Senior Day, celebrating the five graduating seniors on the team. The sidewalk chalk leading into the Grand Valley State University Lacrosse stadium and the flower bouquets on the bench gave away the Laker’s pregame celebrations for the seniors, supported by a nice turnout of family and friends on the bleachers.

Keeping the scoreboard busy throughout the entire game, the Lakers eventually made the last two points for the win at the end of the second half, putting the final score at 15-13. The Panthers are ranked ninth in the GLIAC Conference while GVSU sits in eighth nationally, making the playing field a little more even than some of the matchups they’ve seen so far this season.

Freshman attacker Maddy Champagne started the game off in GVSU’s favor, scoring two goals within the first few minutes and following it with four goals for a two-point lead over the Panthers. Davenport’s offense kept the pressure on junior goalie, Payton Neil for the first half, gaining on the Laker’s strong start quickly.

A faulty pass from the Panther’s goalie landed in sophomore midfield, Kate

SENIOR SHUTOUT: The women’s lacrosse team trumped Davenport during their April 10. The Senior Day celebration gifted the graduates with a close win over the Panthers. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT

DeYoung’s net for a breakaway goal in the middle of the first half, tying up the game 5-5. The girls struggled winning face-offs in the first half as the Panthers advanced on GVSU’s defense, scoring another two goals to end the first with a score of 5-7.

In the first 27 seconds of the second half, DeYoung scored another goal for GVSU,

directly followed by senior attacker Sophie Conroy’s goal-heavy second half. Senior midfielder Olivia Esposito started a scoring roll for the Lakers with their ninth goal of the game, followed by sophomore midfielder Maggie Hammer’s goal and Conroy’s second, to bring the score to 11-8. Just as the rain started to trickle in on the field, the Panthers

caught up to tie it again at 11-11 with 15 minutes left in the game.

Champagne and DeYoung brought it back up with another two points in a tense battle on the field, totaling out at four goals for both girls. The final score left Davenport with their first loss of the season and increased GVSU’s overall season score to 6-1.

While the Lakers did come out victorious, the two-point win was taken with a grain of salt due to the fierce battles they left out on the field. Competing against a team ranked so closely in the GLIAC Conference can lead to some serious competitive nature, which the girls had to catch up with in the second half of the game, said fifth-year defender Anna Gritter.

“We have a target on our backs being ranked eighth in the country and number one in our conference,” Gritter said. “Everyone is just out to get us, everyone is going to play their best game against us, so we have got to make sure we’re ready every game we play.”

Some of the frustration in the first half could have come from a lack of preparation for the level of competition they’d be facing, or from the emotional value surrounding the traditional Senior Day. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

REBUILDING OR RETOOLING?

The Pistons are moving towards a brighter future

BY JOSH ROCHETTE SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

As a lifelong Detroit sports fan, I know what rebuilding a franchise looks like. It may seem like just yesterday when the Red Wings held up the Stanley Cup or when the Tigers were at least seeing a World Series. In all reality however, those times are long gone. The term rebuild gets

thrown around every year with the Lions to absolutely no one’s surprise, but of all Detroit sports it seems that the Pistons are the ones showing signs of life.

The Pistons’ 16-37 record may not show it, but the team has released much of its dead weight and continues to push forward, despite losing the “star power” they once had, if you could even call it that.

The buyout of forward Blake Griffin wasn’t surprising as the Pistons showed their hypothetical belly in surrender, but not all was lost. Sure, the Brooklyn Nets are much scarier with Griffin in the starting lineup, but it’s not like the Pistons were looking to compete with the Nets this season anyway.

In my eyes, this was the first step towards something bigger than what was once known as the “twin

towers” of former Pistons center Andre Drummond and Griffin.

To me, this is the first time in years that the team looks refreshed and ready for change. It could be argued that the team was a bigger contender only two or three years back, but if we’re being honest, was that team as competitive as we thought? Sure, we had roleplayers like Avery Bradley, Luke Kennard, and a young but promising Tobias Harris, but they were only as good as their weakest link.

At the time that weak link was split between a few of the supposed leaders like point guard Reggie Jackson and Drummond, but I argue that a big part of the problem was former head coach Stan Van Gundy. Van Gundy was not only head coach in 2018, he was also the president of basketball operations, a fancy title meaning he was in

control of the roster.

Van Gundy saw the leaders of the league around him focusing on what’s known as small-ball revolving around a strong shooting presence and less around the paint.

Coaches around the league all envied the glamour and elegant playstyle of the Golden State Warriors or the Houston Rockets, but Van Gundy saw something different.

Van Gundy saw a phenomenal talent in Blake Griffin being wasted on the Los Angeles Clippers, a team that at the time was fighting for the 8th seed in the playoffs in 2018, much like the Pistons. The Clippers recently pawned off their other assets in Chris Paul and Deandre Jordan, so the move made sense at the time. Maybe not in exchange for the best of the Pistons’ squad of journeymen, but hindsight is 20/20.

That move was something it would take years to recover from and only recently has the team aligned itself on the path of redemption. Griffin was riddled with injuries and was seemingly a shell of his former self. Watching Drummond walk across the court on fastbreaks was embarrassing. At the start of the 2018-2019 season, Van Gundy’s time had finally come. The Pistons landed former head coach of the Toronto Raptors and winner of the Coach of the Year award that season, Dwayne Casey.

Casey has held the reins on this team since, and has made a point to take what was formerly a rag-tag team from the first round of the playoffs to, well, not making them.

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