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Sustainability has low priority in election concerns BY ELLIE PHILLIPS GVL STAFF WRITER
With the presidential election closing in, several topics are on the minds of young voters, and the least of these is sustainability. “During recessions and low-growth years, environmental issues get pushed aside by concerns over economic growth and unemployment,” said John Constantelos, professor of political science at Grand Valley State University. “Even as a non-specialist, I can state with some confidence that sustainability is not an important factor in the election.” In truth, sustainability in the environmental area has facets in three separate areas: government finance, societal function and, as previously stated, the environment. Subsequently, the most focused-upon area of sustainability in this election is the financial sector. “When we look at financial sustainability, there’re really two edges to that: Having a business sector that’s vibrant and continuing forward and having a government sector that can fund what it’s promised to the future,” said Paul Isely, professor and chair of economics at GVSU. “We’re seeing that on the government side both (of the candidates) want ... a budget that is sustainable.” Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Mass.) has a plan to create a sustainable budget which involves making the government budget smaller, giving more latitude if something goes wrong in the economy, Isely said. President Barack Obama’s plan would tend to stabilize the budget, making it less likely for something to go wrong in the first place. “As far as the business side, I think they both have good plans for business,” Isely said. “The difference is the Obama plan tends to be a little more (focused) on the short run - the next five years - whereas the Romney plans tend to be looking beyond that. There’s good arguments for both, so it’s a matter of what your perspective is as an individual.” In terms of the environment, Obama may have the more proactive plan of building up renewable and alternative energy sources and offering tax-cuts, low interest loans and subsidies for those who use sustainable energy. Romney’s plan to minimize the budget would mean taking money away from federally-funded sustainability endeavors,
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GV athletes make the grade on the field, in the classroom BY AUSTIN METZ GVL ASSOCIATE EDITOR
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rand Valley State University has placed 22nd out of 100 Division II colleges and universities for academic performance by student athletes in a ranking compiled by the National Collegiate Scouting Association. The rankings, which are used by prospective athletes looking to choose a college, are compiled by averaging each college’s ranking in the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup, the studentathlete graduation rate for each school and the U.S. News & World Report ranking. “We are at a school where we strive to succeed academically,” said Tim Selgo, GVSU’s athletic director. “Overall, our athletes have a nine percent higher graduation rate than the student body. Along with that, we have a nine percent higher retention rate than the student body.” Selgo contributed much of the success to the coaches GVSU has along with having higher academic standards when recruiting. “We have outstanding coaches here at Grand Valley,” said Selgo, who said most NCAA universities only require a 2.0 GPA while GVSU is closer to 3.0. “They know their stuff and it shows in the classroom. It really all
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starts with the coaches.” Doug Woods is GVSU’s softball coach and during his time with the university, his teams have graduated players at a near-perfect rate. “I know the players do have a high graduation rate,” Woods said. “I have been coaching, this is my twenty-third year, and the girls that have been in the program for four years, we have only had one not graduate so our rates are way up there.” Following this season, Woods said he has five seniors who have been with the team for four years
Center to help them out.” Woods also realizes that no matter how much emphasis he puts on studying, it is still their responsibility to keep their grades up. “My thought is they have to grow up and mature on their own so that is their responsibility to get them to study,” Woods said. “I really can’t force them to do that, they have to do that on their own. But then again, if we have a student that might have a problem in a class, then we get a tutor and get help with that situation.” Katie Martin (pictured) is a se-
We put a big emphasis that the academics are a large part of it and that’s why you are here. Softball is secondary...”
DOUG WOODS
SOFTBALL COACH and all five plan on graduating at the end of the year. “I think those people who are playing a sport and going to school, they are pretty motivated,” Woods said. “Their time management skills are good and they are motivated to get it done and that degree is what they want ... We put a big emphasis that the academics are a large part of it and that’s why you are here. Softball is secondary and a lot of our players chose Grand Valley because of our strong academics.” Following the 2011-2012 season, the softball team had 11 girls named to the All-GLIAC academic team and five named to the National Fastpitch Association all-academic team. “I check with them all the time, at practice you know?” Woods said. “We talk about it, if they have any problems, they can get a hold of me and we work through it with Damon Arnold at the Academic Resource
ROBERT MATHEWS & BO ANDERSON | GVL
nior designated hitter for the Lakers and has been able to excel both on and off the field, but even she said that it was tough as a freshman. “I have definitely gotten better,” Martin said. “I was an engineering student but now I’m in business. For me, it was about not knowing how to study. In high school I didn’t have to study but in college it was like, wow. It was about growing and learning how to study and learning how teachers would ask questions on the tests.” Martin said that not only learning how to study, but finding a better place to study helped her succeed at the university. “As a freshman, I was in the dorms and studying was hard,” Martin said. “I now am in an apartment so that helps to have a quiet place to study. It all comes down to transitioning into a better student.” Selgo and Martin agreed that SEE ATHLETES, A2
President Haas addresses Student Senate BY SARAH HILLENBRAND GVL STAFF WRITER
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resident Thomas J. Haas stopped by the Student Senate general assembly meeting Thursday, reminding senators of the importance of their role as the collective voice of the student body at Grand Valley State University. “Thanks for taking on the leadership roles that you have,” Haas told senators. “It’s important to get your voice to influence our policies and the life you have here at GVSU.” Student Senate plays a vital role in the university community, Haas said, because it represents the diverse population that makes up the entire student body. “Diversity is very broad, from traditional students to working adults,” Haas said. “You are all a part of a university that respects differences in different student com-
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ERIC COULTER | GVL
Paying a surprise visit: President Thomas Haas stressed the importance of the Student Senate during a guest appearance.
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