Issue 57 - April 8, 2013 - Grand Valley Lanthorn

Page 1

MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2013

About to graduate? Tips, tricks for keeping up cashflow post-grad MONEY MATTERS, A6

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GVSU FRESHMAN THROWS SOFTBALL NO-HITTER, SPORTS B1

Student Senate passes resolution to limit smoking areas BY SARAH HILLENBRAND GVL SENIOR REPORTER

The 2012-2013 Grand Valley State University Student Senate passed a resolution to create designated smoking areas throughout the GVSU campus at its final meeting Thursday. The resolution is to: “Encourage the official designation of smoking areas on Grand Valley State University’s Allendale Campus, thereby protecting students, faculty, and staff from exposure to secondhand smoke and reducing the amount of litter on campus.” Senator Tim Layer

from the Educational Affairs Committee wrote the resolution and said that it could possibly lead to a smoke-free campus. “We’re trying to create a balance between smokers and nonsmokers,” Layer said. The resolution must be reviewed and approved by administration before it becomes a reality on campus. Several senators said they support the resolution, but not as a step to becoming a smoke-free campus. One of these senators includes Doug Krusell from the educational affairs committee, who said

SSD to highlight student achievement BY LIZZY BALBOA GVL NEWS EDITOR

At the persuasion of his professor, Jason Michalek showcased his linguistics research at last year’s Student Scholars Day—and he came away wondering why he’d never participated before. Michalek, who graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2012, valued the experience MENDOZA so much that he stuck around another year to present his English research at Wednesday’s SSD. And he’s not the only one who returned for more. Susan Mendoza, director of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship, said more than one third of participants in past SSDs are veteran presenters. “Most of the presenters are graduate students and upper class students in their junior or senior year, however we do have firstyear and second-year students presenting, as well,” Mendoza said. She added that this year’s 600-plus presenters represent at least 60 majors, from biochem-

ists showcasing lab work to musicians performing jazz compositions. “There are lots of cutting edge topical projects coming up,” said Melissa Morison, chair of the SSD committee. Morison said SSD helped encourage student presenters to have ‘high impact’ experiences in their field—opportunities often afforded students at ‘research-ones.’ Although GVSU is not widely known for its research, Mendoza said providing the experience is invaluable. “Folks often think that research and scholarship is only for research universities without realizing that scholarship is part of the academic enterprise,” she said. “SSD exemplifies that dynamic, cutting edge work happens at GVSU because (it) is part of who we are as Lakers. GVSU students and alums aren’t simply consumers of knowledge. We create it.” Mendoza added that research supplements the theory that students learn in the classroom. “Undergraduate research and scholarship provides students with an opportuSEE STUDENT, A2

that as a representative body Student Senate has a duty to protect the minority, whoever it might be in a given situation. “With smokers being in the minority, I think that we need to be a representative government and make sure that we are protecting them as the minority,” Krusell said. “I support the resolution but I don’t support having a smoke-free campus.” The specifics of where the designated smoking areas would be located and ROBERT MATHEWS | GVL

SEE RESOLUTION, A2

What a drag: A new resolution brought up in Student Senate would limit smoking spaces.

GV promotes alcohol awareness BY KARA HAIGHT GVL STAFF WRITER

As final exam stress creeps up at Grand Valley State University, campus leaders are raising awareness about alcohol abuse, affects and responsible consumption as some students might turn to alcohol for a release. The advocacy is part of the larger National Alcohol Screening Day on April, which offers students the opportunity to take confidential alcohol screening questionnaires at various locations throughout the Allendale and Pew Grand Rapids campuses. “Students can expect to take a brief alcohol screening questionnaire,” said Karen Burba of GVSU’s Counseling and Career Development Center. “It will take less than five minutes to complete and asks about drinking habits. Those who complete the questionnaire will have the opportunity to meet with a counselor and, based on their results, a counselor may refer them to appropriate resources to address any problems or concerns a student may have.” Burba said there are some signs of potential problem drinking that

anyone can observe. “(Not being able to) stop after one drink, engaging in behavior while drunk that they wouldn’t do sober, regularly engaging in pre-partying, not being able to follow limits,

drinking daily (and) feeling guilt and shame are their drunken behaviors,” Burba said. According to Grand Valley Police Department’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report 2012, there were 165 arrests made from liquor law violation on campus and 99 off campus in 2011. Although there are no statistics or numbers available for the current academic year, GVPD Officer Scott Dusendang said incidents involving alcohol, anything from Driving Under the Influence to Minor in Posession citations, have decreased overall, while drug incidents were on the rise. Dusendang did not pinpoint an exact reason for the incident decrease but said alcohol prevention programs and a high visibility by GVPD may have contributed. “High visibility is not just officers on the streets, it’s foot patrol, segways, bicycles,” Dusendang said. “We focus mainly on the living centers, Ravines and the public and academic areas of campus.” When it comes to pro-

SCREENING April 11 Screening Day Times/Locations Kirkhof Main Lobby: Noon to 2 p.m. Kleiner Commons: Noon to 2 p.m. Allendale Campus Recreation Center: 4-6 p.m. Counseling and Career Development Center: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Devos Center Student Project Area: Noon to 2 p.m. Center for Health Sciences Canepa Grand Lobby: Noon to 2 p.m.

WARNING SIGNS • not being able to stop after one drink • engaging in behavior while drunk that you wouldn’t while sober • regularly engaging in “pre-partying” • not being able to follow limits • drinking daily • guilt or shame as a result of drinking

SEE ALCOHOL, A2

Executive Committee discusses faculty collegiality BY RYAN JARVI GVL SENIOR REPORTER

BO ANDERSON | GVL

Best practices: Provost Gayle Davis speaks to ECS members on language detailing faculty collegiality, which is defined as civility or mutual respect between faculty members.

Grand Valley State University’s Executive Committee of the Senate approved a motion sending the concept of faculty collegiality and its role in the faculty handbook to the University Academic Senate for discussion at its next meeting. New language attempting to clarify collegiality in section 3.02 of the faculty handbook was presented by Kurt Ellenberger, chair of the Faculty Personnel Policies Committee, at the ECS meeting on April 5. ECS placed the issue on the next UAS agenda without recommendation for approval so that it can be further discussed. Collegiality is understood as civility, mutual respect and working constructively with other faculty members, but senators raised concerns that the term is subjective and difficult to measure. They also mentioned that many univer-

sities have removed any sign of the word from their handbooks due to legal issues. Ellenberger anticipates the creation of a taskforce committee that may include individuals from the Office of Inclusion and Equity, Human Resources and of the FPPC, which could be charged with clarifying the term collegiality and looking into bullying language. There hasn’t been discussion about removing the collegiality section, Ellenberger said, rather the intent of the new language was to put focus on positive interactions between faculty members. Senators also asked about incorporating collegiality into tenure and salary evaluation standards for faculty, but Ellenberger said nothing would change that isn’t currently in place. “(Current language) does say that you can apply collegiality, although it says it in kind of an awkward way, along with these

other things,” he said. “This, again, just accentuates the positive aspect of working together constructively as faculty.” Robert Hendersen, chair of the psychology department, said he liked that the new language clarifies that collegiality isn’t a separate evaluation criterion for faculty and that it emphasizes positive interactions, but he thinks collegiality could be still dangerous if misused. “Someone whose work, for example, is highly controversial (within their department), and where there are people who feel this person just isn’t listening and isn’t engaging in a kind of constructive argument, this becomes dangerous when included in a personnel policy at a university, which should be a sanctuary for free and open academic discourse,” Hendersen said. “Academic discourse we hope will be SEE FACULTY, A2


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