Issue 19

B6 GV student wins UICA Junior Maven award

Lanthorn www. lanth o rn . co m

G r a n d Va l l e y

T H E S T U D E N T - R U N N E W S PA P E R S AT G R A N D VA L L E Y

T H U R S D AY, O C TO B E R 27, 2011

lanthorn.com Sports

FEELING OVERCROWDED?

Former football player alumnus opens disc golf and smoke shop on Lake Michigan Drive www.lanthorn.com/sports

A&E

Rhode Island acoustic duo Brown Bird to play the Pyramid Scheme

Bus ridership continues to decrease despite student complaints of overcrowding GVL / Robert Matthews

Personal space: Students crowd a Route 50 bus. GVSU students continue to complain about crowded buses, but university and Rapid Transit officials say ridership is decreasing.

www.lanthorn.com/arts

News Sixth annual career fair to help undecided, questioning students narrow down their search for a major.

GET THE

REAL NUMBERS Combined bus ridership per week for all routes from 2011 to 2007.

Week 11/12 10/11 09/10 08/09 07/08 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

109,786 64,657 105,283 106,079 106,345 100,403 96,779

115,739 67,759 111,970 109,877 100,727 99,592 96,537

102,202 59,259 99,229 94,800 93,112 92,979 93,228

87,887 58,455 89,599 87,755 86,870 83,322 84,558

69,511 47,062 77,927 76,741 72,568 70,110 71,781

689,332

702,201

634,809

578,446

485,700

www.lanthorn.com/news

Data compiled by The Rapid

What’s Inside

A B

A2 News A4 Opinion A5 Your Space B1 Sports B4 A&E B5 Marketplace

By Lizzy Balboa GVL Staff Writer

A

lthough students continue to report the problem of overcrowding on buses, updated bus ridership records at Grand Valley State University indicate there is no problem at all.

“We consistently monitor the ridership counts, and as demand increases we provide additional buses to alleviate potential congestion,” said Mark Rambo, operations manager for Pew Campus Operations. “We evaluate each concern and adapt our system to

best accommodate our ridership.”

Pew Campus Operations, which coordinates with The Rapid on behalf of GVSU, has recorded a decreasing trend in ridership in the past few weeks. While ridership rose from weeks three to five since the fall semester began, numbers fell steadily during weeks five through seven.

Week seven saw a 10,000-strong rider decrease from week five, during which 106,345 people rode the buses.

The first week of school was the busiest of the year, though, with 109,786 students using public transit. However, the disparity

in ridership from week to week is not nearly as drastic as the difference from year to year.

Although some students have complained that the buses are far more crowded this year than in years past, the ridership logs show otherwise. During the first seven weeks of the 2010-2011 school year, 702,201 people rode the buses as opposed to the 689,332 students this year. The large decline in ridership disrupts a steadily increasing trend seen since Fall 2007.

Bus ridership is recorded by

See Overcrowding, A2

“We have

adjusted the 50 schedule to accommodate additional runs after midnight to allow our lateworking students to take the bus.

”

Mark Rambo Operations manager, Pew Campus Operations

Minority enrollment on the rise, but GV still trails Racial minorities up to 13.6 percent of campus population for Fall 2011

By Derek Wolff GVL Senior Reporter

Please Recycle

The amount of students of color on campus is increasing at Grand Valley State University, up to a total of 3,349, or 13.6 percent of the universities’ total undergraduate and graduate Fall 2011 enrollment

of 24,662.

But those numbers still lag behind other public Michigan universities with comparable student body populations, such as Western Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University.

Eastern, based in Ypsilanti, has a total Fall 2011 enrollment

of 23,341 students with a white majority of only 73 percent, according to its Institutional Research and Information Management website. ARNOLD Black students account for the dominant minority at Eastern with 4,639 students, or 20 percent of the university’s

population.

The 2010 U.S. Census for Ypsilanti reported that 29.2 percent of the city’s 19.435 residents identified as black or African- BLUE American.

Western does not offer a breakdown of minority representation, but according to the Fast Facts

See Minority, A2

A2 NEWS Minority

continued from page A1

portion of its admissions website, 4,071 of the university’s 25,045 students in the fall of 2010 fell into the minority range, accounting for 16 percent of the school’s population. Western officials were unavailable for comment on updated 2011 figures.

Both Lynn Blue, vice provost and dean of academic services, and Jodi Chycinski, director of admissions, said they have made it a priority to recruit students from inner city areas such as Chicago and Detroit and bring them to GVSU for tours.

Blue said keying in on specific areas was crucial in bringing underrepresented students to GVSU. “It’s all about visiting the right high schools and having the right contacts within a city, and they are not necessarily with a school but are something with organizations or churches,” Blue said. “It’s bringing groups of students from underserved high schools to the campus for a visit, inviting certain groups to a football game in the fall and then an admissions tour. It’s our work in Chicago, our work in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb; there are hundreds of different tactics that are in that plan to get to where those minority applicants are.”

Jeanne Arnold, vice president for inclusion and equity, said while the 13.6 percent falls into the national average, there are still things the university can do to improve upon the figures.

“The university will continue to work hard to increase the number of underrepresented students in our community,” she said. “The percentage of students of color at traditionally white institutions in the U.S. is usually between 10 and 15 percent. At 13.6 percent currently, we’ve come a long way particularly in light of Proposition II, which is a strong barrier to access. Still, we have significant work to do and will strive

Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011 to meet and exceed that 15-percent level.”

Arnold said the university is also working to increase the awareness of other cultures on campus.

“One of the many responsibilities of the division of inclusion and equity is to raise awareness about the importance of inclusion and work to enhance cultural competency skills among faculty, students and staff,” she said. “Our director of Intercultural Training, Sean Huddleston, provides a variety of workshops on these topics that are free to anyone in our university community.”

A key factor in getting minority students to come to GVSU and stay at the university is the retention rate, or the rate of turnover in which students stay at a university following their first semester or first year there. Philip Batty, director of the Office of Institutional Analysis, said he did not have a projection for minority students in the future, but the retention rate of minority students is largely the same as white students.

“The retention rate for minority students who entered GVSU as freshmen in 2010 was 80 percent, compared to 82 percent for white freshmen,” Batty said.

Arnold acknowledged that the region’s demographics, reflecting a white majority, have provided challenges to minority representation at GVSU. “The fact that GVSU is located in a politically and religiously conservative area is a challenge,” she said. “The more culturally competent we become as a university, the more we’ll be able to positively impact the community surrounding the university.”

Arnold said the university plans on implementing a community version of the Intercultural Competence Certificate program, a 15-credit degree certification, and will use the results of climate study to implement both short and long-term solutions to increasing diversity at GVSU. dwolff@lanthorn.com

NEWS BRIEFS Internship offered to students majoring in sciences The Annis Water Resources Institute is accepting applications for a winter semester internship by Grand Valley State University students who are majoring in the sciences.

Job responsibilities for the intern include working an average of 12 hours a week on AWRI projects in an internship period that will last 15 weeks. Academic credit is available, with as much as $1,800 in compensation.

The deadline for applications is Nov. 4. Students can receive more information by contacting Roxana Taylor at taylorr@gvsu.edu or calling 616-331-3749.

GVL / Robert Mathews

Cramped: Students ride to off-campus apartments on a Route 37 bus.

Students have complained of crowding despite more buses in the line-up.

Overcrowding continued from A1

the Rapid drivers, who click a button each time a student gets on board transit routes 50, 51, 37 and 48.

Philip Batty of GVSU Institutional Analysis said the process for recording ridership is about as accurate as the Rapid can manage without slowing the system or being too invasive.

Batty said the method does not measure the number of individuals that use the bus system each day, but the number of times the bus is ridden. Therefore, students who use the bus multiple times are counted for each ride. Because the records only concern bus traffic each day, the recount of students does not hinder the calculations.

Rambo said Pew Campus Operations is making slight changes to the bus schedule to accommodate everyone, but no bus has been added since the issue was last pursued earlier this semester.

“We have adjusted the 50 schedule to accommodate additional runs after mid-

“monitor We consistently the ridership counts...

”

Mark Rambo Operations manager, Pew Campus Operations

night to allow our late working students the opportunity to take the bus,” he said.

Operation of Route 50 after midnight and a temporary change in bus stops due to construction at Campus West have been the main concerns addressed by Pew Operations this year, Rambo said.

While the addition of more buses has not been a question this fall, Rambo said the university has contracted new buses to its system every year since 2000.

For more information on ridership numbers or bus schedules, visit www.gvsu. edu/bus. ebalboa@lanthorn.com

Mini-grants being offered for internships To encourage internship activity, the Career Services at Grand Valley State University is taking applications from departments or individuals for Internship MiniGrants.

Previous recipients have used the Internship Mini-Grants to improve employer connections in the community, build websites or to pay students for time employed through internships.

Proposals for the IMG are due by Nov. 18 to Rachel Becklin at becklira@ gvsu.edu or they can be dropped off at 206 Student Services Building.

Ford display Focus Electric at GV On Oct. 24, Ford Motor Company showcased a prototype of the Ford Focus Electric vehicle to Grand Valley State University public relations students. The showcase was designed to promote the vehicle and discuss the company’s promotional campaign.

Mike Tinskey, global associate director of Electrical Vehicle Infrastructure for Ford, lead the discussion with GVSU students outside of Lake Superior Hall.

GVSU student created promotional plans to promote the vehicle to GVSU and other college students.

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICARTIONS Amanda Johnson was incorrectly referred to as a cochair for Take Back the Night in our Oct. 24 article. Johnson is a member of Eyes Wide Open, but not a co-chair.

If you find any errors in the Lanthorn, call us at 616-331-2464 or email us at editorial@lanthorn.com

Lanthorn

Volume 46, Number 19

EDITORIAL STAFF

ADVERTISING STAFF

BUSINESS STAFF

Editor-in-Chief EMANUEL JOHNSON

Laker Life Editor HALEY OTMAN

Layout Editor VALERIE WALDBAUER

Advertising Manager KEVIN HAUSFELD

Business Manager ALEX HOUSEMAN

The Grand Valley Lanthorn is published twice-weekly by Grand Valley State University students 62 times a year. One copy of this newspaper is available free of charge to any member of the Grand Valley Community.

For additional copies, please contact our business offices.

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

Managing Editor SAMANTHA BUTCHER

A & E Editor BRIANA DOOLAN

Asst. Advertising Manager KIMBERLY VERELLEN

News Editor ANYA ZENTMEYER

Image Editor ERIC COULTER

Layout Staff KENDALL GILBERT KAYLA KOENIGSKNECHT

Receptionists SHANTI COLLINS ANGILEENA GIBSON

Assistant News Editor DAN SPADAFORA

Assistant Image Editor RANE MARTIN

The Grand Valley Lanthorn is published under the authorization of the GVSU Newspaper Advisory Board.

Sports Editor BRADY FREDERICKSEN

Copy Editor HALEY OTMAN

Web Team THOMAS LEE ERIC MATCHETTE TY BAILLIE DANIEL HODGES

Account Managers MICHELLE SCHEFFERS RENAY SCHOENMAKER ERIKKA SIMPSON Ad Designers RANDI FORD LAUREN PURDY

Distribution THOMAS LEE STEPHEN PRATT STEVEN MERDZINSKI

A3 NEWS

Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011

NEWS EDITOR ANYA ZENTMEYER news@lanthorn.com

UNDER A SPELL Alumni Relations gears up for 2011 Homecoming events at GV

By Anya Zentmeyer GVL News Editor

Homecoming Week 2011 is in full tilt at Grand Valley State University, with most of the major highlights to come this Halloween weekend with the theme “GVSU, you put a spell on me…”

Kim Schmidt from Alumni Relations headed up the organization of this year’s homecoming events, which include Saturday’s football tailgate. Schmidt said historically, between 800 and 900 GVSU alumni, students, faculty and staff typically attend, with weather one of the main factors for turnout.

“If it is nice, like they are saying now, then I would expect high numbers,” Schmidt said.

She said homecoming takes anywhere from six to eight months to plan between promoting the event across campus departments, Student Life Organizations and securing the

GVL Archive

Private funds: Maribeth Wardrop, vice president for university development, speaks to donors. Wardrop’s office has led the push for private donations and alumni giving, which funds 82.8 percent of the GVSU budget.

Construction, alumni giving primary focuses for university Officials discuss GV’s financial situation with student leaders

By Samantha Butcher GVL Managing Editor

G

rand Valley State University’s financial struggles are far from over as the state’s budget crisis continues, but the university is appealing to current students in the hopes of building its alumni donor base.

University officials gathered officers from student organizations together Tuesday night for the What Every Student Leader Needs to Know About Grand Valley reception. A panel of speakers addressed student questions about state appropriations, fundraising and the university’s financial future.

The panel included Jim Bachmeier, vice president for finance and administration; Maribeth Wardrop, vice president for university development; and Matt McLogan, vice president for university relations.

As state appropriations have been cut back, the university had made up for the difference with private donations. In the past 15 years, Wardrop’s office has raised $200 million through private donations.

“All of the money that Maribeth has raised has either gone into facilities or student scholarship programs or financial aid,” McLogan said. “We do not use private money to pay the light bill, or pay anybody’s salaries.”

GVSU receives $58.3 million in state appropriations, or about $2,365 per student, the lowest of Michigan’s 15 public universities.

State appropriations make up 17.2 percent of the univerity’s $309.7 million budget.

The state budget has been cut $4 billion since 2000, with the single largest cut going to higher education appropriations.

“State funding at Grand

Valley is low,” Bachmeier said. “It’s very low, perhaps the lowest it’s been since it’s inception. We’re in the bottom five percent in the country, and I’d even venture to say we’re in the bottom two percent.”

The university hopes to transition the donor base from community members to GVSU alumni, Wardrop said. Currently, 6.3 percent of alumni give back to the university, a “pretty embarassing” statistic Wardrop attributes both to the youth of the university — the majority of GVSU alumni graduated in the 1990s — and the youth of the University Development office, which was created 15 years ago.

“This university came out of the community,” Bachmeier said. “... The public said we need a university in West Michigan and that same group of people — literally, that same group — we’re losing them, sadly.

Bill Seidman and his colleagues, they’re still some of our major donors. Well, they’re not going to be with us much longer and some of them already aren’t, and I think they fully expected to pass that torch to another generation, and another generation really has stepped up but at some point they’re going to pass that torch from the community to the alums.”

Construction is also a priority for GVSU. In 2010, GVSU had 123 square feet per student without including living centers, half of the state average. Wardrop said the limited space on campus prevents the university from hiring more professors or offering more sections of popular classes.

“If we built a building right next to the buildings we have, a building the same size of every building we have except for our living centers, we’d still be short of space,” Wardrop said. “That’s a visual that’s

physical space for the tailgate, which Schmidt said is the most important detail. After that, time is spent working out the logistics with key players on campus.

“It is a busy day for everyone on campus we start the day early with things going on all over the place, … fun things taking place on campus for everyone,” Schmidt said. “It takes a lot of time to plan, but it is worth it.”

Schmidt said the actual cost for homecoming varies from year to year. Since there are so many “moving parts” and different factors, such as the number of people who eat at Saturday’s events, there are no certain figures available off hand.

She added that there are charges on some events to help subsidize the costs.

For more information about Homecoming 2011, visit www.gvsu.edu/homecoming or www.gvsu.edu/studentlife/homecoming. news@lanthorn.com

HOMECOMING HIGHLIGHTS THRILLING Flash Mob Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Outside of Fieldhouse Arena Spotlight Productions Presents: Mike Posner (2,300 tickets left) Friday, 8 p.m.

Fieldhouse Arena 5K Walk/Run with Costume Competition Saturday, 9 a.m.

Fieldhouse Grounds Pancake Breakfast Saturday, 10 a.m.

N.E. of Lot F

by Turf Building

McLOGAN quite impressive.”

In past decades, the state bore the majority of construction costs for new university buildings, but today that burden rests with the universities. The university’s most recent construction projects, including ongoing construction of the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons, were funded through private donations.

“We’re going to be building for a long time,” Bachmeier said. “It’s very difficult when you’re building to tell people you need more, and they look around and they say, ‘Well, I believe that you need it, but it looks like you’re getting it.”

Panelists encouraged students to be vocal supporters of higher education to their representatives, and to encourage their parents and family members to do the same.

“Higher education was seen as a public good, and now lawmakers see it as a private burden to you,” McLogan said. “Because in your lifetime, you’re going to make $1 million more in your career on average than someone who goes to college, and today’s policy makers say, ‘You’re getting that benefit of a higher salary, you ought to pay for it.’

I happen to disagree, and strongly.” managingeditor@lanthorn.com

Spotlight Productions Presents:

Mike Posner 2,300 tickets left

Reunion Row Saturday, 4 p.m.

N. Turf Building grounds and E. football practice fields Homecoming Tailgater and Expo Saturday, 4 to 6:30 p.m.

Outdoor basketball courts and E. football practice fields GVSU Lakers vs. Michigan Tech Huskies

Saturday, 7 p.m.

Lubbers Stadium **For a complete and detailed list of 2011 Homecoming events, visit www.gvsu.edu/homecoming.

see LANTHORN.COM to view read the story “Majors fair to help students decide career paths” >> Majors Fair

A4 OPINION LANTHORN OPINION ONLINE

Visit LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011

VALLEY VOTE

Last issue’s question: Is it the right time to pull the troops out of Iraq?

Did police overreact to Occupy Oakland protesters?

Vote online at lanthorn.com

YES 75% NO 25%

GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON I BY DAN SILLS

EDITORIAL

Give a little back to GV Current students should remember to help the university continue to serve students by continually offering small monetary gifts as alumni.

H

ere’s a statistic for you: the mean amount of money that all of Michigan’s 15 public universities receive is currently at $4,597 per student. Grand Valley State University, however, only receives about half of that at $2,365 per student.

But that’s nothing new to the university. During a 25-year period since 1986, GVSU has seen its per-student state appropriation drop 33.9 percent, the largest decrease in the state during that span of time. And despite that, the university has still found innovative and effective ways to grow.

With that in mind, it becomes apparent that if the university is to continue to grow and serve its student effectively, it will rely heavily on us, not so much as students but more so as alumni in the future.

Many universities pester their alumni in the hopes of convincing them to give something back, but few can make as strong a case as GVSU for how much they really need it, especially if state appropriation rates continue along current trends. The university is limited in how many required courses it can offer and how many new faculty members it can hire because it lacks the funds to build new classrooms and living space, things that GVSU could easily afford with a strong alumni base.

And it’s not about the size of the gift. Some alumni may feel that what they can offer wouldn’t do the university much good, every little gift really counts.

GVSU currently has 80,000 members of its alumni base, and if each of them were to give but $20, it would raise more than $1.6 million that the university could redirect into scholarships and other studentcentered initiatives. If you try to wait until you have a significant amount that you can afford to give, then you’ll never get around to giving.

It’s not about the university begging for money because they’ve found innovative ways to raise and save money in the past and will continue to do so in the future. It’s more about trying give future students an even better college experience than we had.

After all, someone a little older than us opened up their wallet and offered the university the funds to do the same for you. Return the favor.

Lanthorn

The student-run newspapers at Grand Valley State University

EDITORIAL PAGE BOARD EMANUEL JOHNSON SAMANTHA BUTCHER ANYA ZENTMEYER KEVIN HAUSFELD

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Advertising Manager

dsills@lanthorn.com

Q: What are you going to dress up as for Halloween?

“A girl scout, because I used to be one when I was little so I already have the costume.”

“A cowgirl.”

“ I’m taking a cheerleader outfit and decking it out with a winged wheel and ‘HELM 43’ on the back and being Darren Helm’s cheerleader, much like my regular life.”

“I usually dress as the devil because I am from Hell, Michigan. But this year I decided to stay away from evil, so I’m being Barry White”.

“Mr. Potato Head.”

Jenna Shoemaker Sophomore Allied Health Professions Hartland, Mich.

Aly McCarthy Sophomore Biology Indianapolis, Ind.

Jessica Leone Junior Criminal Justice Birmingham, Mich.

Niklas Stevens Unknown Astrophysics, German Hell, Mich.

Brennon Henderson Junior Marketing Clio, Mich.

Dating in college, part 7: In conclusion

By Chris Slattery GVL Columnist Note to self: Never, EVER do another column “series” again.

Because I’ve obligated myself to continue talking about dating without interruptions, I have missed out on some juicy column topics, which are no longer topical: Occupy Wall Street, the death of Steve Jobs, the season finale of “Breaking Bad,” etc.

But while that has been a bummer, the reactions I’ve received from readers were the complete opposite.

Everyone has been so generous with their responses, and it was refreshing to hear

far as I know — there is no law that states we need our romantic futures decided before we graduate (but you should really be watching the Republican debates, just to make sure it’s not a hotbutton issue).

The problem is that we live in a society of instant gratification — we type “summary of ‘Moby Dick’” into Google and receive millions of web pages in fractions of a second (“something about a penis…”). The same goes with pursuing a mate: It’s our love and we want it now.

It’s so easy to ask why we can’t find our special someone now. Why all of this heartache and headache?

Is it even worth it?

I’ll say yes, partially because I believe it and partially because these last few weeks have been nothing more than pessimistically analyzing college dating in

order to get some laughs out of it.

Might as well leave everything off on a good note.

To anyone who is in a serious relationship or married, this isn’t meant to attack you. It means you got lucky early (I don’t mean that kind of “get lucky”) and you deserve a medal for that. It’s in the shape of a circle and fits on your ring finger.

As for the rest of us, we’ll find that person (or a suitable substitute) at some point. Patience is a virtue — a stupid, frustrating virtue.

Until that time, we just need to find a healthy way of coping. My method involves lots and lots of vodka and watching “(500) Days of Summer” for the hundredth time. (Perhaps I should clarify what I mean by “healthy.”)

And now back to our regularly-scheduled columns. cslattery@lanthorn.com

Top spenders not necessarily best candidates

GVL OPINION POLICY

The ultimate goal of the Grand Valley Lanthorn opinion page is to stimulate discussion and action on topics of interest to the Grand Valley Community. Student opinions do not reflect those of the Grand Valley Lanthorn.

The Grand Valley Lanthorn welcomes reader viewpoints and offers three vehicles of expression for reader opinions: letters to the editor, guest columns and phone responses.

Letters must include the author’s name and be accompanied by current picture identification if dropped off in person. Letters will be checked by an employee of the Grand Valley Lanthorn.

Letters appear as space permits each issue. The limit for letter length is one page, single spaced.

The editor reserves the right to edit and condense letters and columns for length restrictions and clarity.

All letters must be typed.

The Grand Valley Lanthorn will not be held responsible for errors that appear in print as a result of transcribing handwritten letters or e-mail typographic errors.

The name of the author may be withheld for compelling reasons.

The content, information and views expressed are not approved by nor necessarily represent those of the university, its Board of Trustees, officers, faculty and staff.

that so many people were in the same relation-ship (see what I did there?) as me: dating in college is stupid and frustrating. And stupid.

I’m insanely grateful for all of the ridiculous and heartbreaking stories I heard, and all of the laughs too.

So what now? Where does one go to escape this constant bombardment of dating pressure? Are we all destined to die alone or aggravated?

If you want my opinion (which is not why you came to the editorial section of this newspaper), there is no escaping, but we’ll be alright in the long run (assuming we’re all long-distance runners).

I’ve been adamant about keeping these columns college-specific, and for a good reason. Why should we lock ourselves in at such a young age? Most of us are in our early ‘20s still and — as

BY ANDREW JUSTUS GVL Columnist The next presidential race is fixing to be the most highly-funded presidential contest in history.

With lax rules after the “Citizen’s United” case last year and an explosion in spending by so-called Super PACs, the 2012 run will easily eclipse the mark set in 2008, with expenses by the two eventual frontrunners expected to exceed a combined $1 billion.

The recent expansion of fundraising has placed

a greater emphasis on the wants and desires of a few moneyed interests and siphoned influence away from the people.

It doesn’t have to be this way. We don’t need to have a system where the highest elected office in the land is for sale to the highest bidder. It’s not right that candidates like Ron Paul and Herman Cain are relegated to second-tier status simply because they lack the high-dollar backers that Rick Perry, Mitt Romney and President Obama have herded into their presidential donor corrals.

As far back as 1905, then-president Teddy Roosevelt, a Republican, championed the need for stringent campaign finance reform that would ban corporate contributions and

cap donations from wealthy individuals. In the time after that, Congress passed a few laws to regulate election spending and even created the Federal Election Commission to oversee all federal campaigns.

Recent developments have conspired to change this, however.

The 2010 Citizens United vs. FEC Supreme Court case opened up the flood gates for unlimited and unchecked political contributions from corporations and unions under the guise that cash for campaigns equates to free speech. But it doesn’t.

Free speech is a guy atop a soapbox on a street corner shouting at passers-by, or a newspaper running a risque column. It’s the actual act of distributing a message,

the legwork of appealing to the masses. Not putting a few C-notes in someone’s pocket for them to do it for you.

For the record, this columnist could be swayed to write for a given issue if given a few 100 Grand bars.

But back to the campaigns, the ferocity of grassroots support enjoyed

by Ron Paul and to a lesser extent Herman Cain will have a tough time overcoming the tide of money flowing to the three best-funded candidates.

The only way to stop this slide toward big-moneyed interests in campaigns is to, as a people, insist we go back to a system where a person’s words and ideas carry more weight than the contents of his wallet. ajustus@lanthorn.com

A5 your space Art of the Issue

Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011

Letter to the Editor: “Not confronting disability alone”

Just over a month ago, I was having a pretty awesome day. As I was leaving Zumberge to head to Spanish, I couldn’t help but try and spread my cheer to those I passed. One young girl in particular looked as though she needed some cheer so, without hesitation, I greeted her with a chipper “Hi!” Anticipating an equally chipper response, I was saddened to hear nothing more than a soft grumble followed by an “Eh. I’m okay.” When I asked why she was just okay on a gorgeous day, this young woman admitted to me she was lost and needed to find her way to North C. Quickly reviewing my mental campus map, I told her Mackinac was on the way to North C and I would gladly walk with her and help her find her way.

As we walked, we discussed things from different organizations to classes we hoped to take to the places we want to live next year.

We passed Mackinac and yet I didn’t leave her side. We continued our conversation all the way to her dorm where, sadly, I realized I was two minutes away from being late to class. Asking her name, she smiled and told me Kristin.

We parted ways and, when I turned to

walk away, I noticed a hoard of students staring.

I didn’t understand why until I saw one of them mimicking the motion of the white cane Kristin uses to see because, well, she is blind. As the daughter of a blind man, I can honestly say that her white cane did not even register in my mind until it was pointed out by others.

The only thing that registered in my mind about Kristin was that she was a lost freshman and I was a sophomore who could help.

I have spoken with Kristin only once since our encounter that day. And though I know she cannot read this piece, I cannot help but hope someone shares this with her. Because, even though she may not remember me, Kristin impacted my life that day. She not only brought home the fact that my father’s blindness is not something I need to deal with alone but she also, for the first time in many years, allowed me to feel good about myself. So, Kristin who lives in North C, I owe you.

Jessica Wehby GVSU sophomore wehbyj@mail.gvsu.edu

Art of the Issue

Amber Stout Senior public and nonprofit administration major

A6

Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011

B SPORTS

Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011

SPORTS EDITOR BRADY FREDERICKSEN sports@lanthorn.com

SPORTS

SHORTS BRIEFS TENNIS Tennis players honored by GLIAC Coming off a runner-up finish at GLIAC Tournament last weekend, three players on the Grand Valley State University women’s tennis team have been acknowledged as AllGLIAC performers.

Led by senior Tara Hayes, who earned AllGLIAC first team honors, the Lakers saw Hayes, freshman Leah Dancz and sophomore Niki Shipman honored.

The trio helped GVSU to a 13-3 overall record, with a 9-2 mark in the GLIAC. Their regular season has finished, but the team will return to action in the spring for the national tournament.

RUGBY Club rugby to host National Tournament After successful seasons by both the men’s and women’s club rugby teams here at Grand Valley State University, the teams will get to continue their seasons on campus as GVSU will host the first round of the Midwest regional playoffs.

The women, who are currently ranked No. 2 in the nation, will play against Ball State University on Saturday, and then against the winner or loser of the Loyola University ChicagoSlippery Rock University game on Sunday in a consolation/championship match.

On the other side, the men will face off against Northern Illinois University on Saturday, then against the winner or lose of the Central Michigan UniversityXavier University on Sunday.

SCHEDULE M. Swimming

Friday at Calvin College, 5 p.m.

Saturday at Ashland, 2 p.m.

W. Swimming

Friday at Calvin College, 5 p.m.

Saturday at Ashland, 2 p.m.

Volleyball

Friday at Ohio Dominican, 7 p.m.

Saturday at Tiffin University, 2 p.m.

Football

Saturday vs. Michigan Tech, 7 p.m.

W. Soccer

Saturday at Ferris State, 12 p.m.

ROWING

BIG TIME IN BOSTON

GVL Archive

Swiftly down the stream: The men’s rowing team prepares for a previous regatta. The men’s and women’s teams saw success in Cambridge, Mass., this weekend at the Head of the Charles Regatta, with the men’s team placing fifth and fifteenth in the Collegiate Eights Men and Club Fours Men, respectively, and the women’s team placing third in the Collegiate Eights Women.

Lakers place high at the Head of the Charles Regatta Jon Van Zytveld

T

GVL Staff Writer

his past weekend, the Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s rowing club teams traveled to Boston to compete in the 47th annual Head of the Charles Regatta in Cambridge, Mass.

The regatta is one of the biggest two-day rowing events in the world and features more than 8,000 athletes competing in 55 different events.

Despite being put head to head with varsity programs and some of the most prestigious rowing programs in the country, the Lakers managed to place favorably in all three events in which they participated.

“Grand Valley had a grand day on the Charles River,” said GVSU head coach John Bancheri. “It was a great

weekend, I was really pleased with the performance of everyone. What really stood out was the quality of our underclassmen on the women’s team. They were young, and didn’t have that much experience, and they rowed a very tough race and they did a nice job. We were pleased with that.”

The GVSU women’s rowing club took third place in the Collegiate Eights Women event with a final time of 17 minutes, 22.29 seconds.

“We went into the regatta a little nervous because it was our first big regatta of the season, but we ended up doing exceptionally well,” said senior Lauren Adlof. “The whole environment was a little nerve racking. It was very different from Allendale, so we didn’t know what to expect. We did the best that we could and we were all pretty satisfied with the result.”

The men’s club finished fifth and fifteenth in the Collegiate Eights Men and Club Fours Men events, respectively, narrowly defeating teams like the University of Notre Dame and Boston University. Their final times were 15:31.06 and 18:19.27.

“It was a little tiring, but everyone was excited to learn how well we had placed,” said senior Jimmie Wilkie. “The women took third and the men took fifth out of forty schools which is nice because we were facing varsity programs and even Ivy League schools like Harvard, Yale and Brown. To find out that we’re close to those guys skill-wise is a big deal for us.”

Not only are these rankings significant for the Lakers this season, but they will provide opportunities for GVSU rowing in the future as well.

“If you finish in the top half of

the competition, you’re automatically entered for next year,” Bancheri said. “If you don’t, you have to enter a lottery, because they can only handle a certain number of boats in the regatta. All of our crews made the top half, so we’re all pretty happy about that.”

On Saturday, the GVSU rowers that participated in the Head of the Charles Regatta will take a break in order to attend the weekend’s homecoming festivities, giving other Lakers a chance to row in the Head of the Eagle Regatta in Indianapolis this weekend.

“We want to give everyone a chance to race, and at this point, we wanted to make sure everyone got equal time,” Wilkie said. “Michigan and Michigan State will be there, so it’s one of our bigger events of the fall. Everyone’s pretty excited.” jvanzytveld@lanthorn.com

M. CROSS COUNTRY

GLIAC Runner of the Year leads on and off the course Stephanie Deible GVL Intern

To be to be able to run 120 miles a week, one must possess a superior work ethic and sheer determination, but for senior Anthony Witt, running that distance every week has become second nature.

After leading the Grand Valley State University men’s cross country team to its 10th-straight GLIAC Championship in Ashland, Ohio, this past weekend, Witt has put in the miles and was named the GLIAC Runner of the Year.

Even with Runner of the Year honors, Witt said he is not satisfied yet. H is ultimate goal is to perform well in the Regional Tournament on Nov. 15 in Big Rapids, Mich., and then end the season with a national championship.

“Running is a sport where there are no shortcuts,” he said. “To have success, you have to put in the work, and I’ve been able to do that with my teammates, so that’s why we’ve seen the success.”

GVSU head coach Jerry Baltes said Witt brings several intangibles to the cross country program, but his biggest strengths are his work ethic, leadership and commitment to being great.

“Anthony can lead by either example in doing work, he is someone who trains anywhere from 120 to 125 miles a week,” he said. “That’s the highest on our team, so everyone looks up to that and understands that

Courtesy Photo / GVSU Athletics

Flash Gordon: Senior Anthony Witt (bib no. 101) won first place in the GLIAC Cross Country tournament this weekend before being named GLIAC Runner of the Year. Witt, a biomedical sciences major, runs between 120 and 125 miles each week to stay in prime competitive shape.

he is doing the work that it takes to get the job done.”

Baltes added that Witt is willing to lead vocally if needed by telling or asking teammates to do the right thing.

Witt began his running career in high school at Shakamak in Jasonville, Ind., when looking to get involved in activity outside of the norm.

“I’ve always wanted to find something to be different than most, so in high school the way to do that was through running rather than the mainstream sports of baseball and

basketball, at least in my school,” he said. “That’s kind of when I developed a passion for it and met some interesting people, so that kept me going.”

Fellow teammate Tyler Emmorey said he recognizes that Witt brings a lot to the team in terms of athletic ability, but perhaps more importantly, Witt has an entertaining personality to which the entire team can relate.

“You think he is serious, but he’s always cracking jokes,” he said.

“Still, he’s very passionate and he steps up when he needs to.”

Witt, a biomedical science major who has aspirations to go to medical school after he graduates, said his success this season is in large part due to the support and encouragement he receives from his teammates and the GVSU coaching staff.

“It’s been of culmination of four years in college and then four years high school, so eight years total, working up to this point,” he said.

“I’ve been able to stay relatively healthy so you put all that together and luckily that has resulted in positive things.” sports@lanthorn.com

B2 SPORTS

Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011

DODGEBALL

GVL Archive

Ready, aim, fire: The GVSU dodgeball team takes aim at opponents at a past game. Fresh off a strong showing at the Bowling Green Invitational last weekend, the Lakers will host Saginaw Valley for their home opener on Nov. 6.

Lakers prep for home opener against Saginaw Valley

By Melanie Huhn GVL Staff Writer

I

n accordance with its slogan, “Headshots Guaranteed,” this season the Grand Valley State University club dodgeball team is looking to give out plenty of headshots to any opponent it comes across.

With only six returning players from its 2010 national championship team, the team put together a strong showing in its season opener last weekend at the Bowling Green Invitational.

The Lakers went undefeated on the day and surrendered just one point in the first match against Kent State University.

The team is coming off a rebuilding year that saw many firsts, including back-to-back losses, the first home loss in program his-

tory and falling to Central Michigan University in the final of the NCDA National Championships. this year’s team is back for revenge.

“It was truly a great team effort on Sunday,” said Mark Trippiedi, team captain.

“The young players on the team spent most of last year getting their feet under them and learned a lot last year.”

With many young players on team, it would seem that this year would be another learning experience, but Trippiedi assures that it won’t be.

“I am so excited about how much talent we have on the team this season,” Trippiedi said. “Unfortunately, there are 20 spots on a varsity roster and there are more players than that who are talented enough to play on the varsity team. It is an awesome problem to have.”

In response to the fully-loaded roster, the team has taken a different approach during practices this year. As in former years, the team will come and play dodgeball at every practice, but this year members are putting more emphasis on making catches and communicating.

“I’m stressing on making catches, blocks and communication with the rest of the team,” Trippiedi said. “At practice when we communicate better, we tend to play quicker and more efficiently as team while keeping it fun so the team stays loose.”

Along with those keys, the team will use strategy as a way to prepare for its upcoming home opener against Saginaw Valley State University.

“We go over the other teams strengths and weaknesses and form different strategies to combat each scenario,” said Dan Lesley,

an assistant captain. “By the time game day comes around, everything becomes second nature knowing where and what to do on the court.”

When the game rolls around, the Lakers know that the target will be on their back again this year.

With four national championships already under their belt, they expect to contend for a fifth this season.

“Over the last few years we have always been considered the best, or at least one of the best teams in the country,” said assistant captain Jeremy Stempky. “Our team is good enough this year to have a chance at winning the national championship.”

The Lakers will play their home opener against Saginaw Valley on Nov. 6 at 1 p.m. in the Fieldhouse Arena. sports@lanthorn.com

M. HOCKEY

Three players chosen for ACHA DII Select Team

By Joe Maher-Edgin GVL Staff Writer

GVL Archive

All star: Senior Ryan Welch (left) faces off in a past game. Welch is one of three members of the GVSU hockey team selected to be on the ACHA Division II Select Team. Head coach Mike Forbes will serve as an assistant coach.

Three players and the head coach from the Grand Valley State University Division II club men’s ice hockey team were chosen to be a part of the 21-man roster of the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II select team on Sunday.

Senior forward Ryan Welch, junior forward CJ Pobur and junior defender Shane McCusker will meet with their teammates from around the country next month in Albany, N.Y., along with head coach Mike Forbes, who was chosen to join the coaching staff as an assistant.

Each of the players selected were required to apply to play for the ACHA selects. Most players were then evaluated at the 2011 ACHA All-Star game prior to selection.

“Our guys chose not to attend the showcase game because our season was essentially over,” Forbes explained. “They were part of the selection process just by competing in the National Tournament.”

The GVSU men’s hockey team competed in the ACHA National Tournament last March, defeating Michigan State University 6-1 for its first ACHA Division II National Championship.

Forbes said he supports all three of his selected players and feels they have what it takes to compete on an international level.

“With international rink sizes, skating is going to be at a premium,” Forbes said.

“CJ came off a pretty good season last year … he had a good year points wise. He’s

“I know a few names who

have been on a previous team, and they’re all really talented guys … Some of them I’ve actually played with. It’s just a huge honor to be involved in something with them and being selected to do that.

”

C.J. Pobur Junior forward a solid two-way performer and a great skater, and I think that will be a great benefit to the team when we get over to Europe.”

Probur said he is especially honored to join a list of familiar players, both from his past and present.

“I know a few names who have been on a previous team and they’re all really talented guys … Some of them I’ve actually played with,” Probur said. “It’s just a huge honor to be involved in something with them and being selected to do that.”

Probur said he will feel right at home along side his Lakers’ teammates and coach.

“Having Forbes there will be huge and going into it having two guys that you’ve played with all year will help with the comfort level,” Probur said. “Welch is our captain, and he has been a solid forward on this team for five years, so he’s definitely shooting to be effective on the team.”

Welch said he is looking forward to playing alongside McCusker, who will look to bring his physicality to the selects.

“Shane is one of the toughest guys I’ve played with and a great intimidator,” Welch said about his teammate. “You see him in the locker room and he’s a excellent guy … A very, very nice guy, but when he gets on the ice, he changes.

He moves the puck well and he’s just a hard-nosed defender.”

Forbes shared similar sentiments for McCusker, calling him “a beast” in his play last year.

“At the National Tournament last year he really dominated whenever he got on the ice,” Forbes said.

“He’s a big physical body that is an exceptional skater and has as good speed as anybody in the ACHA. He’s the type of shut-down defenseman that any team would look for, which is why I think he was selected.”

The three Lakers and the rest of the players, representing 18 ACHA Division II colleges and universities, will tour Europe from Dec. 27 to Jan. 5. The team will play five games against teams from Austria, Germany, Slovenia and Croatia. jmaheredgin@lanthorn.com

SPORTS B3

Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011

FOOTBALL

Put a leash on ‘em Lakers look to achieve homecoming win over Michigan Tech “They’re a hard-

By Brady Fredericksen

G

GVL Sports Editor

nosed football team, and we’re going to have to play tough …

We’re just going to try to pressure (the quarterback) and try to get after him.

oing into its game against Michigan Technological University last season, the Grand Valley State University football team was riding high as the No. 1-ranked team in the nation and had its eye on securing a first-round bye in the NCAA Playoffs.

Those undefeated Lakers left that game with their first loss, a 20-17 decision, and allowed Michigan Tech tailback Phil Milbrath to gash their defense for 298 yards.

This season’s Lakers (5-3, 4-3 GLIAC) are not in position to aim for a first-round bye, and Michigan Tech (5-3, 4-3 GLIAC) does not have Milbrath and the home-field advantage it enjoyed last season, but GVSU head coach Matt Mitchell said his team will still need to perform well in order to come out with a victory in Saturday’s homecoming game.

“I think 2011 is a lot different than 2010,” he said. “Last year we went in there feeling pretty good about ourselves and rolled up there and kinda got punched in the mouth. You don’t really use the revenge thing – we’ve lost some games since then – so it’s not like we’re looking back towards that.”

This year’s matchup will pit the GLIAC’s top-ranked total offense in GVSU against the GLIAC’s top total defense in Michigan Tech.

The Huskies boast the conference’s No. 1 pass defense, allowing only 154 yards per game, and the second best rushing defense, holding opponents to 126 yards on the ground.

Despite the Michigan Tech de-

WHO TO

”

Zach Breen Senior safety

GVL Archive

Drag-down battle: A GVSU player drags down a Husky ball carrier in last season’s contest at Michigan Tech. The Lakers lost that game 20-17 and will look to avenge the loss in Saturday’s homecoming with the Huskies. The Lakers are on a four-game win streak.

fense’s record, GVSU wide receiver Charles Johnson said he does not see Michigan Tech having any intimidation on the Laker offense.

“I think our running backs are excellent, and I would take our receivers over any receivers in the nation right now,” Johnson said. “We feel like if we can get one-on-one coverage, we’re going to win and convert when we have to.”

Converting on offense will be key against a defense that has held its opponents to only 31 percent in thirdand fourth-down conversions.

HUSKIES vs. LAKERS

GVSU will also face a defensive line that rivals its own sack-happy line. The Huskies have recorded only four fewer sacks this season, and the play of the line has been key in leading a top-ranked rushing defense.

“With their big D-ends, you have to be able to protect the quarterback, I think that’s key,” Mitchell said.

“Inversely, you can’t go out there and expect to convert a bunch of third-and-longs. If we have 10 or 12 third-and-longs, it’s going to be a long night.”

Michigan Tech will use its run-

SATURDAY

WATCH Jarrod Cox Strong safety Cox’s play as the last line of defense for the Lakers has been important all season long. His 50 tackles rank second on the team, and that tackling will be key with Michigan Tech aiming to run the ball at every opportunity on Saturday. Expect the Lakers to bring Cox into the box to contain the running game.

Charles Johnson Wide receiver The junior has put together some big numbers this season and will look to continue that on Saturday. Michigan Tech boasts the top pass defense in the GLIAC, but with Johnson’s ability to get vertical and fellow receiver Jovonne Augustus’ success near the goal line, the GVSU passing game has proven deadly in recent weeks.

Akeem Cason Running back An All-GLIAC kick returner last season, Cason has led the run-first Michigan Tech offense this season. His production running the ball and catching out of the backfield will determine how much the Huskies’ redshirt freshman Tyler Scarlett will have to throw.

Todd Storm Defensive end The defending GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year will force the GVSU offense into some quick passing decisions. His five sacks are second on the team, but he has also gotten to the quarterback and laid a hit on him six times this year. Storm will be one of the top priorities for the GVSU offensive line.

|

ning game to dictate the time of possession, but quarterback Tyler Scarlett has been a reason for the team’s success this year. The red-shirt freshman has played well in his first year as the Huskies starter, and Mitchell said it is thanks to his running game.

“They’re a hard-nosed football team, and we’re going to have to play tough,” said senior safety Zach Breen. “We’re going to do a lot of stuff in the back end to try to confuse him, and we’re just going to try to pressure him and try to get after him.”

7 p.m.

|

INSIDE THE

OPPONENT

The Lakers will play without their leading rusher, injured junior Norman Shuford, for the second straight game and will look to continue the machine-like efficiency the offense has demonstrated during this fourgame winning streak.

“We do have to continue this streak — we’ve been executing and we haven’t had breakdowns, so if we can do the same things this week, I think we’ll continue it,” Johnson said. “They’re a pretty good defense, but we’re not intimidated by anyone.

We just need to come out, execute the game plan and hope it works.”

Fans can catch the Homecoming game at Lubbers Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on WMUS 107.9 and Comcast 900/901. Follow the action live on Twitter @LanthornSports. sports@lanthorn.com

LUBBERS STADIUM Head coach Record Offense Defense Points per game Points allowed

Tom Kearly (5-3, 4-3 GLIAC) Pro Set 4-2 26.1 17.4

BY THE NUMBERS GVSU Stat Leaders Passing Rushing Receiving Tackles Sacks Interceptions

Heath Parling Norman Shuford Charles Johnson Brad Howard Andre Thomas Erik Thompson

109/179 1777 yards 27:9 (TD:INT) 86 rushes, 656 yards, 5 TDs 40 rec, 757 yards, 10 TDs 27 solo, 33 asst, 60 total 7 sacks, 29 yards lost 4 INT, 225 yards, 2 TDs

MICHIGAN TECH Leaders Passing Rushing Receiving Tackles Sacks Interceptions

Tyler Scarlett 137/207, 1714 yards, 12:8 (TD:INT) Akeem Cason 117 rushes, 464 yards, 5 TDs Steve Worthy 29 rec, 491 yards, 4 TDs Jesse Vandenberg 39 solo, 20 asst, 59 total Drew Vanderlin 5.5 sacks. 23 yards lost Quinn Parnell 2 INT, 49 yards, 0 TDs

a &e

Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011

B4

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR BRIANA DOOLAN arts@lanthorn.com

>>BROWN BIRD: Rhode Island acoustic duo coming to Pyramid Scheme

www.lanthorn.com

ReACT! GV actors, activists perform against violence

By René Rodriguez GVL Staff Writer

Dating violence, sexual assault and stalking can be difficult subjects to broach, but the student group ReAct hopes to make the taboo topic easier to talk about.

ReACT!, a group of student actors, perform skits for the Grand Valley State University community, classes and clubs in an effort to educate students on the realities of sexual assault in a way that is not intimidating.

“I’m an activist,” said ReACT! member Erin Quetell. “I’m always looking for a (way) to give a voice to the victims and survivors.”

The ReACT! performances are sketches and skits that display actual situations that have come from or pertain to instances of dating and domestic violence. They explore what has happened in situations with violence and show how to avoid such situations without escalating problems.

“I was going through my second year of R.A. (resident assistant) training where we had a presentation about sexual assault,” said ReACT! member Dmitri Westbrook. “They told us about the opportunity of sharing this information and about ReACT!. Afterwards I knew I wanted to be a part of getting the word out there.”

ReACT! is set up from a partnership of GVSU’s Women’s Center and theater department and is made up of GVSU stu-

dents who perform realistic situations pertaining to dating violence. Most performances take place in GVSU courses by request, but those not enrolled in the specific classes hosting the performances may still attend.

ReACT! will also hold a non-classroom performance in January as well as a performance at Rock Against Rape in March.

In addition to addressing specific situations that may be familiar to college students, ReACT! also defines terms such as “consent,” which they define as an unquestionable yes rather than the absence of a no.

According to statistics from the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, one in six women and one in 33 men in the U.S. alone will be the victim of an attempted or completed sexual assault in their lifetime.

“Education, motivation and impetus to share this knowledge with other people are what I think I’ve gained from this experience,” said Brian Murray, a ReACT! actor. “The things we talk about in ReACT! are things everyone should know about, and I would highly suggest you come to a performance if you can.”

Performers in ReACT! receive a $250 stipend after a semester through funding from the Office on Violence Against Women, part of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Auditions to join ReACT! for the 2012-2013 will take place in the fall. The organization hires actors for the full year.

GVL / Rene Rodriguez

Awareness: Members of ReACT (left to right): Brian Murray, Erin Quetell, Kerissa Bradley, Lydia Benkert and Dmitri Westbrook.

“If you’re passionate about making changes in these areas then ReAct is a great place to do that,” Murray said.

For more information about ReAct visit www.gvsu.edu/ theatre and click on the ReACT! link on the sidebar. To request ReAct for a classroom presentation, contact GVSU professor Allison Metz at metza@gvsu.edu. rrodriguez@lanthorn.com

Day of the Dead GVL Archive

Measure up: Professor Frank Blossom hands out an award at a previous event. This year’s event will take place tonight at 7 in Grand Rapids.

Yardsticks

competition offers awards, networking opportunities

By Briana Doolan GVL A&E Editor

Advertising and graphic design students will come together for the Yardsticks annual student advertising competition tonight from 7 to 9.

Michigan advertising and graphic design professionals will critique student work from all around Michigan. This year the judges include Bill McKendry from Hanon McKendry, Tom Crimp from Auxiliary and Yang Kim from Peopledesign. All three are local Grand Rapids professionals.

The competition will take place at 38 Weston St. SW in Grand Rapids. Admission is free and open to all members of the community. The event provides the opportunity for students to network with professional advertising and design companies.

Twenty students from each category entered the competition and the judges will choose the three winners, one from each category: advertisting, design and mock up, which is a new addition this year.

The Yardsticks is sponsored by the Polishing Center, a 15week workshop founded by Frank Blossom that gives students the opportunity to be taught by creative professionals.

“Grand Valley State University has had the most participants and general attendees for the last two years,” said Kendra Lokker, Yardsticks Event Coordinator.

Last year, 80 students submitted work from Grand Valley State University; 120 attended the competition. This year, the competition is preparing to host more attendees.

The mock up category, which features designs created without computer programs in an attempt to broaden the number of competitors, encourages students to design anything.

“Mock up is for students that don’t have a lot of experience with graphic design programs,” Lokker said. “Mock up allows them to do a rough sketch of an ad just like how they would want it to look in a design program.”

Those who entered the competition turned their work in at the beginning of October with applications on a first-come, first-serve basis. Next year, Yardsticks will accept applications around the same time.

“Most of the students who attend are advertising and graphic design majors,” Lokker said. “It’s just a really laid-back and casual environment where students can network and talk to design professionals about anything from internships and hiring or about their own experiences.” arts@lanthorn.com

Courtesy Photo / journeymexico.com

Remembering of the dead: The Grand Rapids Public Library will explore the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead in English. More than 20 altars honoring the dead will be on view today through Sunday, all built by local residents.

Public library celebrates Dia de los Muertos

By Tyler Steimle

W GVL Staff Writer

hile those who will celebrate Halloween get ready to dress up as ghosts, zombies and vampires, Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, prepares to celebrate life and loved ones.

Following the first year’s success, the Grand Rapids Public Library and the Hispanic Heritage Committee, with a grant from the Grand Rapids Public Library Foundation, will open up its second “Dia de los Muertos: Honoring Day of the Dead” today.

“It’s just a way for

people to honor and remember their loved ones. And to do this they build altars which include pictures of the person and usually candles...

”

Steve Maesen GRPL librarian coordinating the event

This year’s event will run through Sunday, and both institutions hope to continue the event, which is free and open to the public, each year.

Molly Rios conceived the event’s idea, and it initially ran for only two days.

“The hope is that this will bring the celebration of the Hispanic community to a broader audience,” said Steve Maesen, the librarian coordinating the Dia de los Muertos events.

Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday connected to the Catholic holidays of All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1 and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2.

“It’s just a way for people to remember and honor their loved ones,” Maesen said. “And to do this they build altars which include pictures of the person and usually candles — or, in our case, LED electronic candles — the person’s favorite food, maybe an article of clothing.”

Traditionally, altars include a photo of the loved one to whom the altar is dedicated as the centerpiece.

In addition to providing some food for the spirit of the loved one, toiletries such as a bar of soap are considered important since it is believed that the spirits have been on a long journey and would like to freshen up.

Fragrant candles are generally included because they are thought to guide the spirit to the altar. The idea is to build the altar according to the personality of the loved ones and

nourish their spirit.

Maesen said the GRPL plans to have at least 19 altars on display this year and that they will represent a diversity of people from the community.

“The first year we had a very successful turnout,” he said. “We only did it Friday and Saturday. We had about 500 people on the official count, but there more than that. This year we’re having an extra day, so we’re hoping to increase that.”

The Grand Rapids Public Library will have staff on hand to answer patrons’ questions, Maesen said.

All events will take place in Ryerson Auditorium on the third level of the Main Library in downtown Grand Rapids.

Tonight patrons can watch participants build their Day of the Dead altars from 4 to 8 p.m..

On Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the altars will be available to view and festivities will include performances by Cody Van Slyke and Audacious Hoops, a Grand Rapids hula-hoop troupe.

Food and refreshments, including Day of the Dead bread, will be offered at noon, and children will have the chance to decorate their very own sugar skulls.

The altars will also be on display for public viewing on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday and Monday from 1 to 4 p.m. tsteimle@lanthorn.com

B5

Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011

Announcements Harvest Health Foods, your locally owned natural and organic grocery store. 3 locations in the Hudsonville area.

Visit www.harvesthealthfoods.com for more information.

Living on-campus? GVSU Facilities Services asks you to please do your part to help conserve water and electricity. Help us keep costs low!

Striders, West Michigan’s premier running store. 4045 Chicago Dr., Downtown Grandville. Second locaion coming December 2011!

(616) 261-9706.

Employment The Grand Valley Lanthorn is seeking applicants for the position of Editor-in-Chief. The appointment period ranges from one semester to an entire academic year. Applicants must be a Grand Valley student, registered for at least nine credits, must carry a 2.0 cumulative GPA, and be in good academic standing.

The position requires significant management and leadership skills, the ability to thrive in an unpredictable and stressful environment, and the patience to help direct over 65 fellow students to produce a twice-weekly print newspaper and a 24/7 Web newspaper.Applicants should expect to work as needed, but a minimum 25-hour week.

Compensation is about $3,190 per semester.

Applicants need to submit a letter of interest and a current resume that document specific news-elated experiences and leadership /management skill. Three references required.

Submit applications no later than 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the Lanthorn office, 0051 Kirkoff Center, Allendale Campus.

GVL is an equal opportunity employer.

Internships Kids Food Basket Job Title: Kid's Food Basket Fund Development Intern Location: Grand Rapids, MI For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ Clare Public Schools Job Title: Kindergarten Teacher Location: Clare, MI For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ Tulip Time Festival Job Title: Marketing Intern Location: Holland, MI For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ GVSU Hockey Job Title: Marketing Intern Location: Allendale, MI For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ Verify Valid Job Title: Sales Support Intern Salary Level: $10/hr.

Hours: 20 hrs.

Location: Grand Rapids, MI For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ New World Systems Job Title: Software Development Summer Internship Location: Troy, MI Salary Level: $16-20/hr.

For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ Shape Web Designs JobTitle:Web Development/CMS Location: Grand Haven, MI For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/

Gerald R. Ford Job Corps Center Job Title: Academic Intern Location: Grand Rapids, MI For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ Grand Rapids Children's Museum Job Title: Grant Writing Intern Location: Grand Rapids, MI Salary Level: Unpaid Hours: 10+ hrs.

For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ Grandville Jenison Chamber of Commerce Job Title: Events & Marketing Internship Location: Grandville, MI Salary Level: Unpaid For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ LINC Community Revitalization Inc. Job Title: Business Incubation and Cowork Administrative Internship Location: Las Vegas, NV Salary Level: Paid Hours: 40 hrs.

For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/

Grand Valley State University Job Title: Athletic Marketing Internship Location: Allendale, MI Salary: Unpaid For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ WGVU Public Television and Radio Job Title: Business Development Internship Location: Grand Rapids, MI Salary Level: Unpaid Hours: 10 hrs.

For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/

College Pro Job Title: Summer 2012 Management Internship:Franchise Manager Location:Grand Rapids,MI Salary: Paid Internship Email David at dleveque@collegepro.com or visit www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Job Title: Marketing Intern Location: Grand Rapids, MI Salary Level: $9/hr.

For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/

Miscellaneous Get Caught Promotion. Rules and Restrictions. Only one student or faculty is a winner per issue. Readers will be chosen at random throughout the week on campus.

The prize awarded is to-be-determined at random but may include gift cards, t-shirts, etc. Winners are requested to have their picture taken and answer some questions to be published in the Lanthorn.

SATURDAY, October 29th, come on out to Sixx Night Club for Devil’s Playground Costume Contest! There is a chance to win a week in LAS VEGAS! Must be 18+, call 6 16-235-7666 for more detail.

Opportunities Bartending. High income potential. Training courses and equipment available. Call 1-800-965-6520 ext. 226

B6 a & e

Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011

Courtesy Photo / jazzink.com

Loving Lovano: Saxophonist Joe Lovano (pictured) will kick off the St. Cecilia Music Center’s jazz concert series tonight with his band.

Jazz super-group to perform tonight

Courtesy Photo / Alynn Guerra

Art and community: Amber Stout and her group created this series of prints for Art Works in 2008. These posters were for the for the “Save Your Ash” campaign for the West Michigan Environmental Action Council. The UICA in Grand Rapids recently gave Stout their Junior Maven Award.

UICA recognizes GV senior’s art

By Cory Finkbeiner

G

GVL Staff Writer

rand Valley State University senior Amber Stout received the Junior Maven award Wednesday from the Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts.

Stout has worked with the UICA’s ArtWorks program for several years. Last summer, she taught graphic design to 13 young artists, whose work was on display at the award ceremony.

“Teaching 13 younger artists was a bit intimidating at first because I had never been in the role of an instructor before,” Stout said. “It was challenging but also exciting to be the teacher and see it from that point of view.”

Stout’s ambition carries beyond a sole role as an artist. She is currently a nonprofit administration major at GVSU. The Junior Maven award reflects Stout’s coupling of artistic talent and community involvement.

“Nonprofit administration is a great fit for me because it allows me to understand the ins and outs of what it is like to work in and run an organization,” she said.

GVSU associate professor Renee Zettle-Sterling created this year’s three-piece Junior Maven award, a hanging pendant and pair of earrings stacked in a series of domes loosely on top and around one another.

The UICA award has been designed and created by a jeweler or metalsmith four years in a row, but this is the first year the award was not a brooch.

“Young people typically do not wear brooches,” ZettleSterling said. “I wanted to make a piece of jewelry that Amber would want to wear on a daily basis, or at the very least pull out of the jewelry box every once in a while.”

Zettle-Sterling sought the help of her students in creating the award, asking them if the piece was something they would wear.

“I spent a couple weeks going over different design options,” she said. “Working in metal is demanding and labor intensive from start to finish.”

Zettle-Sterling commented on Stout’s positive class involvement, saying she always brought a lot to the process of making art.

“It was an honor to make the award for Amber and was

Courtesy Photo / Amber Stout

Young accomplishment: Amber Stout has not yet graduated, but she has already taught graphic design to 13 younger artists.

so interesting to create an award for a former student,” she said.

Stout saw the award for the first time yesterday.

Stout said she remembered difficulties in ZettleSterling’s 3D imaging class because of her tendency to think two-dimensionally.

“I remember the best ad-

vice she gave me was to just ‘turn it’ and look at whatever I was working on from a different angle,” Stout said. “I carried this advice through to my graphic design practice by having multiple people view my work in order to receive feedback from different perspectives.” cfinkbeiner@lanthorn.com

BLINK to display senior photographers’ portfolios

By Cory Finkbeiner GVL Staff Writer

More than a dozen Grand Valley State University photography students will showcase their work in the collaborative photographic experience BLINK. The senior thesis exhibition, which opens Nov. 28 and will run through Dec. 10, will merge the artistic perspectives of 14 GVSU photographers, each conveying a different point of view.

Photographer and climber Lauren Hills used her camera to capture images of the experience she wanted to convey.

“I can usually be found on a rock wall,” she said. “I photographed what I knew and loved in an attempt to share with the audience my perspective on rock climbing.”

Hills said she wanted to created something the observer could view and immediately understand was a statement of her love for climbing. She said she uses photography as an expression while remaining conscious of the dangers of living a life behind a lens.

“There’s even times that I occasionally need to put down the camera and make a conscious effort to enjoy the moment,” she said. “Anything that sparks my interest I want to capture as a way to remember or show others

Courtesy Photo / Stacey Kasbow

On display: Stacey Kasbow, an artist featured in the Senior Thesis Exhibit, photographed historical and unigue places of the Upper Peninsula and Straits of Michigan. Pictured here is “Arch Rock, Mackinac Island.”

what I saw.”

While Hills’ work is very unique to who she is as a person, featured photographer Kara VanderMolen’s work holds more serious and tragic undertones. Her images explore the effects of drunk driving on a family and the resilience of two individuals who still find moments of happiness.

“The inspiration for my images are the two girls I am photographing,” she said.

“Their mother was killed in a drunk driving accident a few years ago, and their father is in jail.”

BLINK student photogra-

pher Nakia Bole focuses her pictures on the ambiguities of adolescence.

“The older I get the more I realize that there is a great desire to grow up faster,” Bole said. “I want to portray childlike behavior with an adult counterpart to convey the inevitable shift we are all faced with.”

Bole focuses her work more on girls than boys, saying the act of growing up is a more steadfast phenomenon with young girls because of their rate of growth.

“It’s not about liking or not liking a person’s work,” Bole said of critiquing fellow

photographers. “It’s about whether that person got their point across.”

Hills said the best part of the program is the involvement of 14 separate artists, meaning the viewer can experience what 14 individuals see as important.

“It’s exciting to get to put up work showing what it is you want the audience to see, and then step back and get 13 other perspectives at the same time,” she said.

There will be an exhibit reception on Dec. 1 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center Gallery. cfinkbeiner@lanthorn.com

By Chris LaFoy GVL Staff Writer

The historic St. Cecilia Music Center will bring saxophonist Joe Lovano and his band, Joe Lovano Us 5, to the stage tonight for the first concert in a three-part Jazz series.

Lovano has been to St. Cecilia’s stage before, but this will be the first time the entire cast of musicians in his band will perform together in Grand Rapids.

The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. at St. Cecilia, located at 24 Ransom Ave. NE in downtown Grand Rapids. Student tickets are available for $10.

Lovano’s bassist, Esperanza Spalding, won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist earlier this year. He has been credited for bringing a much-needed youth appeal to the art form of jazz.

“When I was in school, all of my favorite jazz artists were dead,” said Tyler Prowant, a Grand Rapids musician. “Esperanza brings something young and hip to jazz without sacrificing any musical quality. She’s an incredible musician and she’s filling an important hole in a sometimes forgotten genre.”

A Cleveland native, Lovano immersed himself into the rich jazz scene of his childhood hometown. He began playing the saxophone at age 5 and soon was recognized as a special talent.

After high school he attended Berklee School of Music in Boston and began his performing career.

Other programs at St. Cecilia include a grand band, string orchestra, summer camps and a rock songwriting class.

“In reality, as the oldest arts organization in the region, much of the arts groups and organizations started here at St. Cecilia,” said Catherine Holbrook, St. Cecilia’s executive director. “St. Cecilia is the mother of the arts in Grand Rapids.”

Visit www.scmc-online.org for more information. clafoy@lanthorn.com