Lanthorn G R A N D VA L L EY
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 V A L L E Y. W W W. L A N T H O R N . CO M VIEW THE VIDEO:
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
V I E W T H E S L I D E S H OW:
LAKER FOOTBALL SIGNS 27 NEW STUDENT ATHLETES FOR 2012 TEAM
LAKER BASKETBALL STARS BOND ON, OFF THE COURT
‘A LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA’ DEBUTS AT GV LOUIS ARMSTRONG THEATRE
www.lanthorn.com/multimedia
SPORTS I B1
www.lanthorn.com/multimedia
T H U R S DAY, F E B R UA RY 2 , 2 01 2
gv underground GVL / Eric Coulter
Details unknown: Bart Merkle, dean of students at GVSU, addresses the media in a press conference on Monday.
New details not available in Frey drug incident BY ANYA ZENTMEYER GVL MANAGING EDITOR
G GVL / Eric Coulter
Underground, under wraps: An emergency exit sign hangs in the underground tunnels at Grand Valley State University’s Allendale Campus. The tunnels, the subject of several campus myths, are used as service and utility tunnels carrying heat, water and electricity.
SEE TUNNELS, A6
GV cadaver collection enables hands-on learning Undergraduate cadaver use at GV among best in state, increasing yearly By Liz Garlick GVL Staff Writer
For most, the thought of mingling with the deceased is the stuff of nightmares, but for many students in medical or health-related graduate programs at Grand Valley State University, cadaver labs are part of everyday studies. Timothy Strickler, professor of biomedical sciences, said the anatomy labs have expanded since he arrived at GVSU in 1980, when there were only two cadavers in the anatomy lab and students dissected cats in their introductory-level anatomy courses. “I began to increase the number of cadavers in 1980, and worked them into the labs to replace the cats,” Strickler said. He said GVSU receives one to two “permanently donated” cadavers each year from the University of Michigan and eight to 10 cadavers each year from Michigan State University. Including delivery and pickup, he said the cost of each cadaver from MSU totals at around $1,300. Dawn Richiert, BMS
“Grand Valley students are lucky, because it is so unnatural for undergraduates to be (studying in) graduatelevel programs”
Justin adams assT. professor, biomedical sciences
professor, said some other institutions offer cadaver labs at an undergraduate level, but the labs only have a minimal amount of cadavers, or only offer sections of bodies for teaching purposes. However, GVSU undergraduates study from complete cadavers. “Grand Valley students are lucky, because it is so unnatural for undergraduates to be (studying in) SEE CADAVERS, A6
GVL / Eric Coulter
Hangin’ out: A plastinate hangs between two cadavers in a classroom at Grand Valley State University. GVSU receives its samples from the Von Hagens Plastination Facility in Guben, Germany and each years’ order costs the university about $100,000. Cadavers cost about $1,300.
rand Valley State University officials have released no new information about the four male students hospitalized Sunday after ingesting what officials are still referring to as an ‘unknown narcotic.’ Despite reports from students that the four male students were abusing bath salts, the university said the drug is still undetermined. “It’s a broad range of things we’re looking into, trying to piece together what happened — when, where, how,” Bart Merkle, dean of students at GVSU, told the media at a press conference held by university officials Monday at 1 p.m. The students were transported to Spectrum Health Hospital around 7:15 p.m. on Sunday from Frey Student Living Center on the Allendale Campus after the Grand Valley Police Department responded to a call from a resident assistant describing the students’ behavior as unusual. Other student residents present at the time of the incident said they could hear the four students laughing uncontrollably, hitting their heads against the walls and screaming. Reports from some students in Frey Living Center at the time indicated that the four males being transported resisted assistance from public safety, however, Merkle said police and living center staff were able to safely transport the students and no parties were harmed in the process. “I think public safety was able to deal with them, I couldn’t speak to the specifics of whether they were resisting assistance or not,” Merkle said. “Our biggest concern was getting them transported so we could get them down to Spectrum.” SEE NARCOTICS, A6