Lanthorn G R A N D VA L L EY
GV STUDENTS SET UP 9/11 MEMORIAL SEE BELOW, A1
ST U D E NT- R U N P U B L I C AT I O N S / / P R I N T . O N L I N E . M O B I L E / / L A N T H O R N . C O M
NO. 7
LAKER FOOTBALL PREPS FOR FIRST HOME GAME ON SATURDAY VS. ODU SEE A7
By the numbers 4,226 TOTAL STUDENTS
VO L . 49
THU RSDAY, SEPTEM BER 1 1
Introducing the class of 2018
59.5% FEMALE 40.5% MALE
White
60.4% FEMALE 39.6% MALE
American Indian
African American Hispanic
2018
GV STUDENTS SHARE EXPERIENCES FROM FRESHMAN, SENIOR PERSPECTIVES SEE A3
TOTAL STUDENTS
2017
4,124
SEE A6
BY AUDRA GAMBLE NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
he statistics for the Grand Valley State University class of 2018 are in, and the numbers don’t lie. This incoming class of freshmen is the largest yet at 4,226 students. However, the standard of academic achievement has not changed much. In fact, the average high school grade point average of the class of 2018 rose slightly. The mean GPA of the class of 2018 is 3.54, a small increase from the class of 2017’s mean of 3.52. While the average GPA of the new Lakers rose, the percentage of first generation college stu-
dents fell. Last year’s incoming class consisted of 38 percent first generation college students while this year’s class has 35.4 percent. There are 18 student veterans entering GVSU this year, compared to 19 student veterans last year. The new group of Lakers is made up of students from all around the U.S. and abroad. Approximately 92 percent of the freshmen are from Michigan, but 7.6 percent are from out of state. Students came to GVSU from all over the U.S., including Alaska, Florida, New Jersey, Texas and Colorado. Additionally, 0.83 percent of the new students are international. Some of the countries represented
| ARCHIVE GVL
STARS AND STRIPES: Last year at Grand Valley State University, students set up a memorial for Sept. 11
by placing flags by the Kirkhof Center. This year, the memorial will expand to the downtown campus.
hirteen years ago today, America was struck by a tragedy that changed the nation forever. The memories may be painful, but that doesn’t stop Americans from proving each year that they won’t forget. Today countless memorials will be held, speeches will be given, friends will be remembered and tears will be shed as Americans look back at Sept. 11, 2001. At Grand Valley State University students set up a small memorial to remember the lives of those that were lost that day. American flags will be set up near the Kirkhof center, 2,977 of them. Each
T
GVL
| ROSS TANNER
2018. The data shows a slight improvement in diversity of ethnic backgrounds of incoming GVSU students.
by the international students are: Australia, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Chile, Ghana, South Korea, the Netherlands, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The incoming class reported that 16.5 percent of the new students have an ethnic background that is a minority. This is a slight increase from the full university’s statistics from the previous academic year, where the percentage of minority students was 15 percent. “That 15 percent of students of color represent years and years of slow growth,” said Phillip Batty, director of institutional analysis. “We have done that consistently. For public, four-year
GV remembers Sept. 11
BY DUANE EMERY DEMERY@LANTHORN.COM
Unreported
DIVERSITY DEMOGRAPHICS: Grand Valley State University recently released the demographic data for the class of
T
EUPHORIA PREPS FOR A CAPPELLA NIGHT WITH NEW MUSIC AND SINGERS
Pacific Is. / Asian
flag represents a life that was lost in the attack. To go along with this, a banner will be on display showing all the names of those who lost their lives. “It’s a nice way for students, in a small way, to think of the victims,” said Maddie Cleghorn, the vice president for external relations on the Student Senate. Student Senate, along with Young Americans for Freedom and College Republicans, are sponsoring the memorial. The scope of the memorial is larger this year as there will also be a similar display in the courtyard of the DeVos Center at the Pew Campus, doubling the scale of the project. However, the expansion has not been easy.
“One thing that is difficult is finding volunteers to help set up downtown,” Cleghorn said. She feels students should volunteer to place the flags not just because it’s something people want to see, but because the act itself can be beneficial. “To physically put those flags down makes it mean more to you,” she said. “It brings good memories to a day that can be really rough.” This year the memorial has about 30 volunteers. Students are encouraged to volunteer next year and the Student Senate is always eager to hear new ideas for further expansion. “Anyone is welcome to come and speak at Student Senate on what they think we should do for
next year,” Cleghorn said. She added that the aim of the display is not to bring up hurtful memories, but rather to remember those who lost their lives in a respectful, constructive manner. “I don’t want people to feel sad, just somber while remembering the day,” she said. She hopes the memorial will create dialogue among students, though it is not always easy. “It is easy when in college to get lost in our own bubbles, but it’s so key to keep a global mindset,” Cleghorn said. Benjamin Soltis, the chairman for Young Americans for Freedom, said with recent terrorist activities in the news, it is important to keep a watchful eye out for what may happen throughout the world. “There are always terrorist attacks, so we like to keep people informed so we can protect lives,” he said. “It shouldn’t be about politics, but keeping people informed so we can protect lives.” For Cleghorn, the commemoration of the Sept. 11 attacks is a reminder to stay informed and culturally aware. “Take a little time to read the news, and don’t make generalizations based on stereotypes and race and culture,” Cleghorn said. “Bring it into daily conversation.” Soltis said the volunteers involved in the memorial come from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds. The Sept. 11 memorial was put up between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. this morning and will remain standing until 8 p.m. tonight.
institutions in the United States, 28 percent of students are students of color. Clearly, students who attend Grand Valley are going to get their education in an environment that is considerably less diverse ethnically than what they might find elsewhere. The university continues to work on changing that balance.” While the most popular major among the freshmen is “undeclared,” with 20.6 percent of the class falling in to that category, the top declared majors are biomedical sciences and nursing. Six percent of the incoming class entered as BMS majors and 6.8 percent of the freshmen are entering as nursing majors.
Palestinian activist speaks about conflict BY GABRIELLA PATTI GPATTI@LANTHORN.COM
n light of the recent ceasefire agreements created between Israel and Palestine on Aug. 26, Ali Abunimah, executive director of The Electronic Intifada, an online publication that is known for its incisive coverage and advocacy of Palestinian people, politics and culture, came to speak to Grand Valley State University. The discussion was sponsored by Healing Children of Conflict and co-sponsored by GVSU’s Middle East studies program, GVSU’s Peace M.E.ans and Hope Equals. Abunimah’s lecture consisted of sharing his thoughts and charts, videos and pictures that sympathized with the plight of the Palestinian people in the Gaza strip. He made himself available to answer questions and sign copies of his book “The Battle for Justice in Palestine.” “The Gaza Strip is a very small part of Palestine,” Abunimah said. “There are 1.8 million people in Gaza.” Abunimah said the Gaza Strip makes up 2 to 3 percent of the total land but holds 40 percent of the population. Despite the small size, Abunimah said it can take a couple of hours to travel through Gaza due to a lack of convenient roads and other restrictions like checkpoints. “For 51 days until Aug. 26 the Palestinians were subjected to round-the-clock bombardment from Israel,” he said. Abunimah said that through
I
SEE ACTIVIST ON A2