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HAYES HOPES TO MAKE JUMP INTO STARTING LINEUP FOR GV HOOPS SEE A7
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
VO L . 49
NO. 25
THUR SDAY, NOV EM BER 13
Lakers pay it forward GV surplus store donates furniture to local school
SENIOR-LED LAKERS EMBARK ON FINAL POSTSEASON QUEST
| KEVIN SIELAFF
SEE A7
GVL
HOUSING DEPT. CONDUCTS HEALTH, SAFETY CHECKS SEE A3 GIVING BACK: Julie Moore, a Grand Valley State University alumna, and her sixth grade class at Grandville Public South Elementary received
seven chairs and 28 tables for their classroom. The furniture was donated by the GVSU Surplus Store, located at the Steelcase building. BY DREW HOWARD DHOWARD@LANTHORN.COM
hrough the efforts and donations of the Grand Valley State University surplus store, a local elementary school received enough supplies to fill the needs of an entire classroom. Located at the Steelcase building, the surplus store is a recent addition to GVSU that aims to support the university by taking in used materials for recycling or later sale at the retail store. The sales of all items at the retail store go toward funding for the university. Items available for sale at the retail store include furniture, laptops, cell phones and
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GRADFEST HELPS PREPARE SENIORS FOR GRADUATION SEE A6
office chairs, among other things. If an item brought into the surplus store cannot be reused, it is then recycled. Student employee Rebecca Ramos says that when given the chance, the surplus store tries to donate some of its items to local nonprofits such as Grandville Public South Elementary School. “We contacted Julie Moore, a teacher at Grandville Public South Elementary, and told her about the store,” Ramos said. “We told her that in certain approved opportunities, we can donate things that aren’t selling. In this case we had a large surplus of tables and chairs. When we have a large surplus of items, we look toward local nonprofits in need.”
The GVSU surplus store gave the classroom a total of seven chairs and 28 tables. “I spoke with the teacher on the phone, and she was very thankful for our help,” Ramos said. “We were happy to do something that would benefit not only the school but the area around us as well.” Moore, a sixth grade teacher, said the furniture donated by the surplus store was a much needed addition. “I had 28 desks in my classroom prior to the donation,” Moore said. “They were not at all conducive to a collaborative learning environment as driven by the new curriculum
GVL
| EMILY FRYE
Students respond to federal court decision
GAY RIGHTS: Brody Cragg, Sean Diaz, Annika Gray, Levi Ryfiak and Emily Glownia stand to-
gether in the LGBT Resource Center. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled to uphold the ban on gay marriage in Michigan, overturning a previous ruling made in March.
Court upholds Michigan ban on gay marriage BY STEPHANIE BRZEZINSKI ASSISTANTNEWS@LANTHORN.COM
Michigan constitutional amendment that banned same-sex marriage since 2004 was overturned in March, allowing about 300 couples to marry legally based on equal protection under the law. The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned this ruling on Nov. 6, upholding Michigan’s gay marriage ban. Colette Seguin-Beighley, director of the LGBT Resource Center at Grand Valley State University, said the court unfortunately continues to rule in favor of discrimination. “We’re on the wrong side of history,” Seguin-Beighley said. “Michigan is like the South during the Civil Rights Era because we have written discrimination into our constitution.” The 1976 Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act outlawed discrimination in employment,
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housing and public accommodations based on a variety of things, from sex and race to height and weight. However, Seguin-Beighley said it leaves some important things out. “Marriage will bring immediate relief to many families, but it will not address some of the most difficult issues facing the queer community, such as homelessness and discrimination in housing and employment,” she said. “At GVSU, we have excellent protections in place in policies that protect around sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.” Leslie Boker, a GVSU senior and member of Out ‘N’ About, said people who oppose LGBT rights are often doing so in an attempt to impose gender conformity on others. “Society punishes and delegitimizes gay, bi and trans people and relationships,” Boker said. “That reflects on all of us. The homophobia and transphobia that make GVSU
GRAND VALLEY
feel uncomfortable or unsafe for LGBT students spring from the cultural impulse to shove us back into the gender boxes we are perceived to have escaped from.” Seguin-Beighley acknowledged that there is a lot of opposition to same-sex marriage in Michigan, but she said there is still hope for the ban to be lifted in the future. “We value inclusiveness here at GVSU. That’s who we are as an institution,” she said. “As a society, people grow and change, and their understandings grow and change.” The same is true for marriage equality, Boker said. “The Michigan government is legislating unjust ideas about gender conformity to make sure people stay inside the lines,” Boker said. “There is no smooth, inevitable path toward equal rights, but there has been an enormous push for this cause, especially from mainstream gay interests.” Matthew Nugent, a GVSU senior and president of the College Republicans student organization, said he agrees with the circuit court’s ruling, believing that the 2004 constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage should be upheld. “Keeping social issues outside of the courts and leaving it with the political process is better for democracy,” Nugent said. “If the people of Michigan want to bring this up for referendum again and legally recognize same-sex marriages, then there is a process for it.” Boker agreed with Seguin-Beighley that maintaining the ban shows Michigan’s active discrimination against the LGBT community. “Marriage equality is a highly visible cause because it’s an easily understood and concrete goal,” Boker said. “Looking at the big picture, I’d say that marriage equality itself is less important than improved understanding and acceptance for LGBT identities. If that understanding were there, equality would naturally follow.” Nugent said the Republican position supports the right of the state, not the federal government, to determine who can marry legally. The party has historically supported traditional marriage. “It will affect GVSU students either when the state or the courts will put a stay on the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples,” he said. “We will understand the true impact of this decision if and when the United States Supreme Court takes up this issue.”
SEE DONATIONS ON A2
Campus dining teams up with Red Cross Students send cards to heroes BY SHELBY PENDOWSKI SPENDOWSKI@LANTHORN.COM
ll around the world, people are preparing to celebrate the upcoming holiday season in different ways. Grand Valley State University has partnered with the American Red Cross to spread the holiday spirit one letter at a time. Holiday Mail for Heroes began at GVSU over three years ago and each year, volunteers man tables throughout campus. Students, faculty and community members can stop at the booths to jot down a “thank you” or “well wishes” to personnel in the armed forces or veterans. “Campus dining is not seeking any specific benefit, simply providing an opportunity for members of the campus community to acknowledge service people and veterans,” said Deb Rambadt, marketing manager of GVSU campus dining. “Campus dining partnered with the American Red Cross on this project as a community building effort. “We were drawn to the idea of doing something for others, and taking the time to thank veterans.” By hosting the Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign, campus dining is responsible for providing cards, staffing the tables and facilitating an opportunity for the community to write letters to veterans and active service members. Sarah Day, director of service to the armed forces and international services at the American Red Cross Michigan region, has
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SEE RED CROSS ON A2
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