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FORMER LAKER CHARLES JOHNSON MAKING THE MOST OF NFL CAREER SEE A7 VO L . 49
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
THUR SDAY, OCTOBER 23
N O . 19
| KATIE ZIOLKOWSKI GVL
$220,000
NMU
$234,400
SVSU
$246,300
FSU
$299,117
MTU
$371,280
CMU
$340,000
$371,623
GVSU
EMU
$373,440
$430,000
$520,000
salaries
WMU
SEE A3
Presidential
WSU
STUDENT SENATE BRINGS GRPS STUDENTS TO GV
U of M
SEE A8
MSU
KATIE BOUNDS: SOCCER SPEEDSTER SPURS GV OFFENSE
$603,357
How much does T. Haas make?
GV’s president makes 5th most among Mich. public universities BY HANNAH LENTZ HLENTZ@LANTHORN.COM
.Haas” is a name known all across the campuses of Grand Valley State University. Referring to the president of GVSU, Thomas Haas, a majority of students are familiar with his family, his hobbies and most importantly, his Laker pride. But one aspect not as familiar is the area of compensation. Haas has been president of
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GV STUDENTS VOLUNTEER IN MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY SEE A6
the university since 2006 when he took over the position from President Mark Murray. In his time at GVSU, Haas has played a key role in the university’s rapid expansion in both enrollment and overall quality of education. Haas’ salary is currently listed at $371,623 as a base salary with his annual payment of deferred compensation totaling $46,300. With this salary, Haas is placed at the fifth highest salary of public university presidents in
Michigan, behind presidents of the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University and Western Michigan University. This past July, Haas received a positive evaluation due to his work on opening new academic buildings and an increase in GVSU’s graduation rates. According to this review, the university’s graduation rate is the third highest of Michigan public universities with a 70 percent graduation
rate. The board approved a year extension of Haas’ residential contract, including a 3.3 percent pay raise. “The Board of Trustees reviews the president’s performance and sets his pay at the July board meeting,” Mary Eilleen Lyon said. “The trustees consider his performance, longevity and how his compensation fits in with the other presidents of SEE SALARIES ON A2
GV under investigation for Title IX violations
GVL
| MARISSA DILLON
BY AUDRA GAMBLE NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
FIGHT THE FLU: Grand Valley State University’s Family Health Center is offering members of the GVSU community another chance to get a flu
shot this season. This year, GVSU is also participating in a state-wide challenge with other schools to try and vaccinate the most students.
GV competes to fight the flu season Lakers participate in state-wide vaccination challenge BY DUANE EMERY DEMERY@LANTHORN.COM
n the battle to fight influenza, the real challenge comes from getting people vaccinated. Everyone loves a little friendly competition, and defending individuals against the flu is a crucial part of staying healthy through the winter months. For the first time, Grand Valley State University is participating in a challenge that brings these two ideas together. The College and University Flu Vaccination Challenge, put on by the Michigan department of community health, tasks universities with seeing which one can get the most students vaccinated. This year, GVSU joins other colleges such as Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and others in a competition where everyone is a winner. “Everyone wins with this challenge
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through protection from influenza and increased knowledge of the illness,” said Mary Jo Miedema, a nurse at the GVSU Family Health Center. Though this is the heart of the challenge, there are other benefits to participating as well. According to the vaccination challenge website, by participating in the challenge GVSU will receive access to educational resources and programs. GVSU will also receive an award of participation and a chance to win free registration to state immunization conferences. Universities that perform exceptionally well will also be recognized with an award of excellence, though currently GVSU is not in first place for most students vaccinated. “Vaccination numbers are about the same this year so far, if not a bit lower than last fall,” Miedema said. “We have given about 500 vaccines to students.” She said as the flu spreads, more people will want to get protected and
participation will pick up. However, she stressed early vaccination. “Students tend to think the flu won’t affect them,” said Ann Sheehan, the assistant dean for practice at the Kirkhof College of Nursing. “This campaign should help highlight the need for everyone to receive the vaccine on an annual basis.” Sheehan said the college population is very vulnerable, yet the percentage of students who are vaccinated through the FHC is very low. “It takes about two weeks for us to build immunity to the flu virus after receiving the vaccine,” Miedema said. “So vaccinate early in the fall for the best protection. We are already seeing cases of the flu in Michigan.” According to Miedema, the vaccine this year protects against four strains of influenza. “One of the greatest misconceptions about the vaccine is that you will get the flu from it,” she said. “As long as a person does not have any
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contraindications (a condition which makes a treatment inadvisable) to receiving the vaccine, there are no negative effects or risks. The greatest risks come from having influenza and its associated complications.” According to Sheehan, patients are screened for these conditions to determine if the vaccine could harm them. She also said that although there are contraindications to the vaccine, the benefits far outweigh the potential side effects. The FHC is planning another vaccine clinic for students on Nov. 4 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the DeVos Center. Students can also walk into the FHC during office hours and get vaccinated. Vaccines cost $25 and can be billed to student accounts. However, many health insurances cover the cost as well, Miedema said. Once vaccinated, students are asked to go to www.surveymonkey.com/s/ flubattle for a brief survey so GVSU gets credit toward the challenge.
rand Valley State University is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights in regard to their compliance with Title IX responsibilities. A complaint was filed against the university on Oct. 6, and will be investigated fully. According to the official statement from GVSU, “the university believes it is in full compliance with all its Title IX responsibilities, and the Division of Inclusion and Equity works vigilantly to ensure a campus climate free from harassment and discrimination.” GVSU’s Title IX officer Dwight Hamilton said the university has been unable to identify the individual complaint that the investigation involves. The complaint was filed with the Office for Civil Rights, an office of the federal Department of Education. “The complaints can be filed by anyone, it doesn’t have to be an affected party,” Hamilton said. “We have responded by providing information that (the Office for Civil Rights) requested. They requested information regarding our practice and procedures regarding sexual violence.” GVSU now joins over 80 other universities that are currently under investigation for Title IX violations. Hamilton is not surprised that GVSU has been added to the list. “I think this is part of a larger environment,” Hamilton said. “The Office for Civil Rights started off with the Ivy Leagues and they’re broadening their scope to include other universities. They’re not even waiting for com-
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SEE TITLE IX ON A2