Issue 58 - April 17, 2014 - Grand Valley Lanthorn

Page 1

APRIL 17, 2014

Lanthorn

WWW.LANTHORN.COM

Women win three of four tournaments to start spring play SPORTS, A7

SPORTS, A8

G R A N D VA L L EY

ST U D E NT- R U N P U B L I C AT I O N S L A NT H O R N . C O M PRINT . ONLINE . MOBILE

CLUB DODGEBALL TAKES SECOND CONSECUTIVE NATIONAL TITLE

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GV seniors prepare to start new life chapters with Toast with T. Haas, graduation prep BY MARY MATTINGLY ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

GVL | KEVIN SIELAFF

For the students who will be walking across the stage at this semester’s commencement ceremonies, all the hard work they put into their undergrad degree culminates in one piece of paper. But that simple document is a representation of the time and effort they have put in during their last few years at Grand Valley State University. “Since our motto is ‘Lakers for a lifetime,’ this is a last memorable occasion for (graduates) to go through,” said Sue Willemsen, administrative assistant at the Dean of Students Office. “Students are excited. I have been working with commencement for many years and I get excited to see students get excited. It’s coming to an end; it’s hard to leave Grand Valley and I’m

A bubbly send-off: President Thomas Haas celebrates the final chapter of graduating seniors’ college careers with his traditional toast yesterday night.

GV alumni open first hostel in GR BY CARLY SIMPSON NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

In December 2013, Grand Rapids was dubbed the 2014 top travel destination in the country by Lonely Planet, an international travel website. After this announcement, Grand Valley State University alumni Matt Knaack and Tom Damitio knew it was time to start Stay Hostel, which will be the first hostel in the city. “When I moved out here I loved the beer culture, being by the water, the four seasons-kind of everything,” Damitio said. “With Stay Hostel we can provide a service and bring more people to the city that we love.” A hostel provides inexpensive accommodations for travelers. People can rent a bed for one night or several. Knaack and Damitio believe their business will be an alternative for people who do not want to stay in a hotel, cannot afford to or want to experience a different side of the city. “The entrepreneurial spirit of Grand Rapids, it’s so progressive,” Knaack said. “A lot of people are trying to set up their own little shops locally and we want to be a part of it.” On Tuesday, the pair launched their crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, a web platform used to generate funds for various campaigns such as political candidates, nonprofit organizations, philanthropic events and start-up companies. Stay Hostel needs $50,000 for opening costs and the first six months of operation. So far, Knaack and Damitio have raised about $1,600 on Indiegogo. The crowdfunding campaign will end May 30. Donors will receive “perks” based on the amount they

GV acts in compliance with FOIA laws BY SARAH HILLENBRAND ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM

In August 2013, the Obama Administration announced that it would be putting together a list of colleges that ranks universities based on their value for their students’ dollar. The Student Press Law Center requested that the government consider how readily universities share information with the public as one of the measures. Officials at Grand Valley State University said that compared to other schools, GVSU has information readily available to anyone who seeks it. “I think we’re way ahead of that curve,” said Matt McLogan, vice president for university relations. “We’ve been publishing an accountability report for eight years with almost 40 measures on how the university performs and how students perform while they’re here.” McLogan said GVSU makes much of its informa-

(ACADEMIC YEAR)

tion available online, such as budgets, security and crime statistics, collective bargaining agreements, and reverse transfer agreements with community colleges. “Depending on the data, (there are) explanations on how and what we do,” he said. “It’s on annual audited financial statements — which are about 80 pages — on how and why we spend and what our practices are.”

(ACADEMIC YEAR)

(YEAR IN TOTAL)

With information readily available online, McLogan said the university rarely gets Freedom of Information Act requests. “Michigan has a robust Freedom of Information Act,” he said. “If their questions are still not answered, they can ask — just call the department. Hardly anyone would have to use that process.” University Counsel Tom Butcher said that for the

2012-2013 fiscal year, the university received 89 FOIA requests, and so far for the fiscal year 2013-2014, it has received 40 FOIA requests. In the calendar year of 2013, there were a total of 64 requests. While some information may be available online, these statistics contrasted with McLogan’s statement SEE FOIA ON A5 COURTESY | GV VISUAL RESOURCES LIBRARY

SEE HOSTEL ON A5

sure students will leave on a Tibbe, assistant director of good note.” Student Life. “Alums often say The Commencement cere- things like, ‘I can’t remember monies held on April 26 honor the speaker, but I do rememthose graduating ber the music’ or from the winter, ‘I can’t remember spring and sumthe music, but I mer semesters. remember the They will take speaker.’ There’s place at 10 a.m. This is a something about and 3 p.m. at the memorable that ceremony Van Andel Arena that always resoin downtown last occasion nates with stuGrand Rapids. to go through. dents.” As Lakers walk The Comacross the stage SUE WILLEMSEN mencement certo receive their DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE emony at 10 a.m. diplomas, the cerwill honor graduemony serves as a last hurrah ates of the Seidman College of for those students who now Business, the College of Comjoin their peers as alumni. munity and Public Service, the “It’s important for them Padnos College of Engineering because it is their last experi- and Computing, the College ence at Grand Valley and one of Health Professions and the of those moments they’ll always remember,” said LeaAnn SEE COMMENCEMENT ON A2

For mind and soul: The children involved in the Art Buddies program, through which Grand Valley State University students provide mentorship, create different art pieces based on the theme decided by the GVSU student. Art education majors are able to apply their classroom knowledge during this collaborative experience.

Art education majors mentor students with learning disabilities BY SHELBY PENDOWSKI SPENDOWSKI@LANTHORN.COM

According to the National Center of Learning Disabilities, students with learning disabilities retain information better by incorporating the arts with academics. It was also reported that these individuals are exceptional artists and, accord-

ing to Grand Valley State University art education professor Katalin Zaszlavik, youths with learning disabilities are just that: exceptional. In 2003, GVSU professor Catherine Timmermannis partnered with Rockford Public Schools to create a hands-on teaching experience for future

special needs teachers in art called Art Buddies. Two classes make up the Art Buddies program, which assigns two to three exceptional students to one GVSU student. “As part of their first art education courses, it is important to expose my students to a variety of experiences where they

can observe work with their future audience, (which are) K-12 students; among these will be students with special needs,” Zaszlavik said. The program allows the GVSU students to design a lesson plan and adapt it to their art buddies. Throughout the year, the art buddies produce

four projects alongside their mentors. “Art buddies bring their own voice, idea and visual solution to the same big idea or theme and avoid a cookie-cutter or one-fits-all, art-making activity, which is quite an undermining pedagogical practice but sometimes might be necessary,” Za-

szlavik said. The relationships created through the program radiate an impact outside of the classroom, said Rockford teacher Amanda Cavazos. “The program has instilled a greater confidence in many

SEE ART BUDDIES ON A2

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