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GVSU provides holiday meals for U.S. heros
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MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE GVSU’s Xinyi Ou has become the first to be named a Point Foundation Scholar By Austin Metz Associate Editor
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istory and sociology major Xinyi Ou has been named the first Grand Valley State University student to be a Point Foundation Scholar, which is aimed at empowering LGBTQ students and to help them meet their academic and leadership potential. “I originally heard about the scholarship through the Fellowship’s office here because I knew I needed additional funding for school and so I was looking into what kind of scholarships would be available and this one just seemed to fit with everything in my story and what I wanted to accomplish in my life,” Ou said. The application process was long - Ou had to first complete two essays and be named as a semifinalist. Once she was named as a semifinalist, Ou then had to complete more essays and was eventually named as a finalist. “When I finally got the finalist email, they flew me out to San Francisco for the interviews and at that point it finally sunk in that this was actually a reality for me,” Ou said. “Even if I hadn’t won the award at that point, it wasn’t so much finances or anything like that. It was that sense of commu-
BO ANDERSON | GVL
Moving forward: GVSU student Xinyi Ou has overcome many obstacles on her way to helping change the face of the school’s LGBTQ community.
nity and that these were all the other people who were working for a better community for everyone. That was very powerful in it’s own way and also very intimidating.” Ou interviewed in front of a board of directors and was given a half hour to give a presentation and to field questions board members may have. Following the presentations, the board members chose to award Ou the scholarship, which she received in June.
“We are so excited for Xinyi,” said Colette Beighley, director of the LGBT resource center. “Xinyi is GVSU’s first Point Foundation Scholar. This is an amazing honor and she most certainly deserves this recognition.” OVERCOMING OBSTACLES Born in Beijing, China, Ou lived there with her grandparents until she was ten
years old. She moved to Michigan to live with her birth parents, and it was then that Ou began to be beaten and sexually abused by her father. “I remember a social worker came by our house at least four times before I actually ever ended up saying anything,” Ou said. “Every time they would come I SEE EYE, A2
Student senate helps okay funding requests $1.2 million budget helps fund campus 360 on-campus groups and organizations BY SARAH HILLENBRAND GVL STAFF WRITER
AMY HAMMOND | GVL
In good help: Students in need of on-campus health care can visit Grand Valley State University’s campus health center.
Professionals offer tips on local health care BY LIZZY BALBOA GVL NEWS EDITOR
Learning to live alone presents a lot of challenges. Students soon become responsible for their own education, their own income and their own health. When students leave home for the first time to attend Grand Valley State University, they generally leave behind their primary care provider, rendering them defenseless in a new community of diseases and health concerns. “It is important for students to establish a relationship with a primary care provider so that they can establish and maintain healthy preventive care habits, rather than rely upon reactive care as their response to a health need,” said Kimberly Muma, special projects coordinator for the GVSU Office of the Vice Provost for Health. “Establishing routine
primary care helps to prevent unnecessary emergency room visits.” Muma said the GVSU Family Health Center advises students to use the services that it provides, but it also encourages students to communicate with their hometown care provider. “Assistant practice manager Shannon Helton of GVSU’s Family Health Center suggests that students begin with their primary care provider back home first (and) ask their hometown primary care provider to provide recommendations for who to seek out in their new environment,” Muma said. Muma advised students who do not have a hometown care provider to use one of the GVSU Family Health Centers. If students do find a local provider, Muma recommended contacting their hometown care providers to request that copies of their medical records and immunizations be sent to the new care provider.
TIPS • establish a relationship with your primary health care provider • when selecting a local provider, know your insurance policy • send updated copies of your medical records & immunizations to any new local providers
Heather Rhodes, office manager for MetroHealth, offered a different opinion on care providers. Rhodes said the necessity of having a local primary care provider is really situational. “If the patient has a chronic disease that requires frequent visits, then yes, I would say it’s a good SEE HEALTH CARE, A2
The Grand Valley State University Student Senate receives many funding requests from organizations throughout the year, and its finance committee helps decide whether to approve or deny these requests. “Student Senate hears requests mainly for oncampus programming and educational or conference travel,” said Stephanie Ewart, vice president of the finance committee. “The vast majority is for on-campus programming from the 360 organizations on campus. Events such as Relay for Life, Leadership Summit and Rock Against Rape are partially funded through the Student Life Fund. Most organizations on campus utilize the Student Life Fund at some point.” The Student Life Fund began with about $1.2 million this year, which was allocated by the Board of Trustees and other members of the University Budget Committee. “The Student Senate Finance Committee spends several months budgeting the Student Life Fund appropriately to ensure that each group gets the money they need,” said Jeffrey Pelc, a member of
the finance committee. Ewart added that the money is allocated based on both merit and need as perceived from previous years. “The lump sum of $1.2 million is decided upon between faculty and administrators,” Ewart said. “From there, the 1.2 is broken down in a budget created by the Student Senate Finance Committee and approved by the general assembly. The budget is planned with input from students, staff and faculty and takes close to two months to plan.” Each senator on the finance committee chairs one of 13 funding boards on campus that include a variety of students from different organizations. The boards hear requests and the senate member that chairs the board is advised by the director of Student Life. “The senators provide counsel and proper procedure but the board members are responsible for making the decision about whether to approve or deny requests,” Ewart said. “Senators do not have a vote.” Organizations in good standing with the Office of Student Life are eligible to make a funding request. Once a request is made, a SEE FUNDING, A2