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SOLD OUT: The 2015 Presidents’ Ball brought the 1920s back with a Grand Gatsby theme. Nearly 4,000 students partied with GVSU President
Thomas Haas and Student Senate President Andrew Plague Friday night. Students danced the night away to live entertainment and a DJ.
Presidents’ Ball has record attendance, increased budget BY HANNAH LENTZ NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
STUDENT BAND BOOKS ELECTRONIC MUSIC TOUR SEE A6
he DeVos Place ballroom was filled with Gatsby-themed glitz, glamour and Grand Valley State University students on Friday for the annual Presidents’ Ball. Nearly 4,000 GVSU students attended the event hosted by the Laker Traditions Team and Student Senate, making it the largest Presidents’ Ball yet. Tickets for the dance sold out on Feb. 4, one month after they became available, and all
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480 dinner tickets were sold as well. Event coordinator Emma Moulton worked with Assistant Coordinator Terrell Couch, Student Senate and the Laker Traditions Team to organize, plan and execute the yearly event. Additionally, there was a Presidents’ Ball committee made up of student senators that helped with planning and volunteering. “Our main hope in doing this is that everyone has a safe and great time at Presidents’ Ball,” Moulton said. “Hopefully this helps students feel connected to Grand Valley in some way.”
During the dinner portion of the event, several awards were given out. Campus Dining Marketing Manager Deb Rambadt received the Laker of the Year Award, Modern Languages and Literature professor David Eick won the Student Award for Faculty Excellence and Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell accepted the President’s Appreciation Award. The dinner was emceed by GVSU students, and there were several student performances SEE BALL ON A2
Celebrating Black History Month at GV the globe. This event also dedicates 15 minutes to discussion, he month of during which students can February is cel- talk about how the documenebrated as Black tary affected them. On Feb. 16, the Step Afrika! History Month across the Unit- event will take place. “We are particularly excited ed States. To commemorate for our Step Afrika! event,” this month, the Office of Multicultural Affairs has planned Springer said. “We had them perform for Black History a variety of events. The OMA, working with Month in the early 2000s, but it the Black Male Scholars Ini- has been a long time since we tiative, kicked off Black His- had them here. The performtory Month on Feb. 4 with ers mix step dance and African Black Lives Matter. The panel, dance, while interacting with which included six profes- the audience about ongoing sional African American history. It is a great event.” Another event Springer males from West Michigan, recommended, called the discussed day-to-day life. Bobby Springer, associ- Taste of Soul, will be held in ate director of OMA, said the the Kirkhof lobby from noon discussion went very well, and to 1 p.m. on Feb. 20. “People can come togeththey received good feedback er to share in the Africanfrom those in attendance. American tra“The panelditions of food,” ists were just he said. “Many talking about “We all need to people really their take on life, and the ups know about black enjoy attending and downs that history, as well as this event, and it is something they have to deal that we do put other significant with on a day on annually.” to day basis,” heritages.” There are Springer said. many other di“We opened BOBBY SPRINGER verse events it up for Q&A ASSOCIATE planned for because people DIRECTOR OF OMA the week. The had things on Positive Black their mind that Women organithey wanted to zation will host ask these distinthe Tribute to Black Women: guished men.” Springer explained that Strong, Fierce and Dynamic although the OMA was Divas from noon to 1 p.m. on coordinating many more Feb. 13. From noon to 3 p.m. on events for the month, each Feb. 14, students, faculty and event had a different goal. One of these events is a film staff can visit God’s Kitchen showing held on Mondays at 3 for a day of service that gives p.m. in the OMA office. “Hid- back to West Michigan. Due den Colors” is a documentary to space issues, this event is about the real and untold history of people of color around SEE HISTORY ON A2 BY CONSTANCE TURNBULL CTURNBULL@LANTHORN.COM
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MINOR PROPOSAL: Grand Valley State University senators contribute to a discussion during a recent general assem-
bly meeting. Student Senate will vote on the proposal for a Human Rights minor during their meeting on Thursday.
Senate to vote on new minor BY ALEX SINN ASINN@LANTHORN.COM
he Grand Valley State University Student Senate will vote this Thursday on a resolution of support for the establishment of a new Human Rights minor program. The proposed program will be the first of its kind in the state of Michigan and one of a few in the country. “I think there is strong support for this,” said Adam Hukkala, the student senator who introduced the resolution. The Student Senate resolution of support will help the proposed program through the approval process. Last year, the Provost’s University Curriculum Committee approved the minor prospectus, which authorized a task force chaired by Richard Hiskes of the Political Science department. He said he has seen a lot of interest in the minor program. “I’m very excited about it,” Hiskes said.
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“A lot of students are asking about it.” Hiskes is the former Political Science Undergraduate Director at the University of Connecticut, where he directed the Human Rights minor and established the Human Rights major program. “It’s the biggest program in the world,” he said. The professor said he’s happy to be at GVSU for his second year, adding that more than just students have supported the new program. “There’s a tremendous amount of administrative and faculty support that I’ve been feeling since I got here,” he said. Hiskes, who currently teaches a human rights course, said human rights is an established area in international law, but it’s a broad field and the courses can appeal to a variety of majors. “They incorporate human rights law, but also it’s kind of a moral sense about human rights and social justice,” he said. Organizations such as corporations, international courts, non-governmental
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organizations (NGOs), Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International are seeking graduates with experience in the human rights field, Hiskes said. “More and more professions like engineering and business are becoming increasingly involved,” Hiskes said. “It’s part of the game now.” The minor will be housed in the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies. Hiskes said he has many hopes for the program’s expansion, including opportunities for internships with human rights organizations both locally and abroad, as well as the inclusion of more majors into the program. The human rights field has the power to change the world and make it a better place, Hiskes added. “It’s possible to change the world and make money at the same time,” he said. “Doing well by doing good.” For more information or to contact Richard Hiskes, visit www.gvsu.edu/ polisci/professor-richard-hiskes-15.htm.
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