Grand Valley Lanthorn vol. 56 no. 19

G R A N D VA L L E Y L A N T H O R N

UAS Says Yes Faculty senate endorses revised Reach Higher 2025

‘De-standardizing’ tests: GV student senators seek admissions changes

POLICY | A2

Grand Rapids community meets their future police chief

FORUM | A3

Courtesy of Brett Martin M O N D A Y, J A N U A RY 24 , 2 02 2 // VO L . 5 6 N O. 1 9

@ GV L A N T H O R N

LANTHORN.COM

A2 | NEWS NEWS BRIEFS GV COVID-19 CAMPUS DATA UPDATE

The Grand Valley State University community has had a cumulative total of 6,489 cases since Aug. 1, 2020. The university’s update for this brief was from Jan. 21.

Through testing results this past week, GVSU’s Virus Action team have so far reported 752 current active cases including 37 faculty members, 53 staff members, 127 on-campus students, 322 “off-campus Ottawa” students, 163 “off-campus Kent” students and 50 “off-campus other” students with active COVID-19 cases.

“Current active cases” is the count of positive cases reported to the Virus Action Team over the past 10 days.

This is an estimate of those currently in isolation, assuming a ten-day symptomatic period following the reporting of a positive test result. Actual periods of isolation are specific to the individual and determined by the county health department.

VACCINATION:

GVSU encourages all students, faculty and staff to receive the COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible. All students, faculty and staff are required to be fully vaccinated, barring a medical or religious exemption or postponement. According to the COVID-19 data dashboard, an 80% vaccination rate in the GVSU community is required to reach herd immunity and minimal virus transmission.

Currently, approximately 82% of students report being fully vaccinated, while approximately 93% of faculty and staff reports being fully vaccinated.

There are currently 2,178 students and 129 faculty/staff with approved vaccination exemptions.

TESTING AND INCIDENCE:

GVSU’s own testing program has performed 120,483 tests overall since Aug. 1, 2020, for a cumulative positivity rate of 2.01% from the latest update as of last week. A total of 2,182 tests were performed over the last seven days.

“GV Surveillance” includes the GV/ Spectrum administered programs of randomized testing, regular testing of high-risk groups, and invited testing of individuals connected to potential clusters. A calendar is available. “GV Total” includes surveillance testing plus all symptomatic/exposure tests administered by Spectrum.

POLICY

‘De-standardizing’ tests: GV student senators seek admissions changes

BY JOSHUA ALBURTUS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause disruptions and delays in the education system, Grand Valley State University has temporarily made standardized tests optional for applicants.

However, legislation from two members of the university’s student government could turn the new policy into a lasting change.

On Jan. 13, student senators Nancy Hoogwerf and Luke Kreger introduced the draft of their legislation to GVSU’s Student Senate Cabinet.

The move seeks to keep the university’s temporary admissions policy going through future application periods.

“Our main goal with this legislation is to implement a permanent test-optional policy through the admissions process at Grand Valley,” Hoogwerf said.

The temporary policy was implemented for applicants in 2021, and the university’s Admissions Office website confirms its continuation going into the fall of 2022.

The co-sponsors of the legislation say that extending the policy would work to reduce disparities in students’ opportunities.

CHANGE: Student senators want standardized testing to remain optional. GVL | LAUREN SEYMOUR

“We’ve definitely seen through the past two years of the pandemic that (it) has just exacerbated every inequity, inequality that there has been pre-existing before the pandemic,” Hoogwerf said.

“We just thought if we made GV test-optional through this policy, then we could possibly work through some of the inequalities.”

Co-sponsoring the bill with Hoogwerf, Kreger said he believed that test scores don’t make pertinent indications in the admissions process.

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ELECTION

GV establishes on-campus voting opportunity for Allendale residents

BY ELIZABETH SCHANZ NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

JOHNSON CENTER FOR PHILANTHROPY RELEASES REPORT OF NEW TRENDS IN THE NEW YEAR

Grand Valley State University’s Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy recently released its sixth annual “11 Trends in Philanthropy” report.

The Johnson Center is an academic center within GVSU’s Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence.

JANUARY 24, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

STUDENTS: Grand Valley State University will now offer on-campus voting each election for Allendale residents. GVL | MEGHAN LANDGREN

College students’ busy schedules can make it difficult for individuals to find time to vote, or even register as a voter. Grand Valley State University is increasing on-campus voting resources for the student body.

GVSU Student Senate and Office of Student Life worked with the Ottawa County Clerk, the Allendale Township Clerk and the Michigan Secretary of State to allow Allendale residents to vote on the GVSU campus.

On-campus voting resources will allow Allendale residents to receive their absentee ballots at GVSU, register to vote and provide resources to other GVSU students who may not have residency in Allendale.

The Allendale Satellite Clerk’s Office will be the body managing these resources and will be located on the main floor of Kirkhof Center.

The Allendale Township Clerk, Jody Hansen, said the office will now be put to use prior to election dates.

“Allendale’s Satellite Clerk’s Office will establish the office two weeks prior to each primary and general election,” Hansen said. “This office will have extended hours, an increased number of customer service representatives on-site and will be available during the entire duration of voting hours on primary and general election days.”

When it comes time to vote, the satellite office will provide voting booths in which students will be able to fill out their ballot and then place it into an absentee ballot envelope.

The voter can then choose what to do with their ballot next. They can either mail it to the main clerk’s office, deliver it to the main office or place it in an absentee ballot drop box with locations both at the satellite office and the main office.

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A3 | NEWS

JANUARY 24, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

CONTENTS PLAN

| A2

OPINION

| A4

BIRDS

| A5

SPREAD

| A6&7

ROCKET LEAGUE

| A8

METALSMITHING

| A9

BASKETBALL

| A10

M. BASKETBALL

| A11

VOL. 56

NO. 19

Lanthorn EDITORIAL STAFF

Videographer KATE KIRBY

Editor-in-Chief ZACK GOODROW

Layout Editor KHOI TRAN

Associate Editor AUDREY WHITAKER Associate Editor XAVIER GOLDEN News Editor MARY DUPUIS Sports Editor HOLLY BIHLMAN

Layout Designer DONOVAN LOPEZ PROMOTIONS Promotions Manager GRACE O’BRIEN ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager JORDAN GREEN

Laker Life Editor JACOB DEWEERD A&E Editor

BUSINESS STAFF

SABRINA EDWARDS

Image Editor MEGHAN LANGREN Multimedia Editor-

Business Manager MORGAN JOHNSTON Asst. Business Manager LUKE KREGER

HAILIEGH HUBER

FORUM

Grand Rapids community meets their future police chief

BY HANNA HALSTEAD NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Back in August of last year, Grand Rapids Police Chief, Eric Payne, announced his plan to retire in early 2022.

With the start of the new year, three candidates were announced to be in the running for the position of Grand Rapids Police Chief.

These candidates include Jim Blocker, Jutiki Jackson and Eric Winstrom.

On Jan. 19 a community forum was held in the City Commission Chambers in City Hall, where members of the Grand Rapids community gathered to meet and ask questions of the candidates.

Dozens of participants showed up to the forum, with even more engagement on Grand Rapids’ YouTube and Facebook live streams.

The main focus of the night was how the candidates would use the position to help restore the Grand Rapids Police Department’s (GRPD) connection with the Grand Rapids community.

Candidate Jim Blocker, a former Grand Rapids resident, said he would leave his current position in Battle Creek to revitalize the GRPD with a focus on community involvement and engagement.

“This is a pivotal moment, a real pivotal point,” Blocker said. “We’ve come away from defunding the police back to refunding the po-

Candidate Jutiki Jackson opened his portion of the night by addressing a fatal shooting he was involved in as an officer in 1997, before discussing his hope for a future in Grand Rapids.

Jackson said while he was in a fight with a male suspect his gun discharged, killing him. It was ruled accidental. “(It was) one of the worst days, one of the worst experiences that I’ve ever been through,” Jackson said. “Men and women join the police department to save lives, to help people, to get involved with the community, to solve community problems.

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GV to offer ‘morsels’ of education through virtual learning series

BY EMMA ARMIJO NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley Lanthorn is published weekly by Grand Valley State University students 31 times a year. One copy of this newspaper is available free of charge to any member of the Grand Valley Community. For additional copies, at $1 each, please contact our business offices.

POSTMASTER: Please send form 3579 to: Grand Valley Lanthorn 0051 Kirkhof Center Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI 49401

lice, but the key here is that the community is going to demand that we do it differently.”

Blocker served 25 years in the Battle Creek Police Department (BCPD) in various positions, including patrol officer, community police officer, member of the SWAT team, detective and executive officer.

He is currently the 18th Chief of Police for the BCPD and holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, serving in the Michigan Army National Guard. He is currently assigned as the 210th Military Police Battalion Commanding Officer.

He has had multiple tours of duty, earning two Bronze Stars, two Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, the NATO ribbon and the Combat Action Badge.

SCIENCE

At the Lanthorn, we strive to bring you the most accurate news possible. If we make a mistake, we want to make it right. If you find any errors in fact in the Lanthorn, let us know by calling 616-331-2464 or by emailing editorial@lanthorn.com.

The Lanthorn is published on recycled paper and is printed with soy bean ink. This means that our newspaper is entirely compostable. Help us do our part to be kind to the environment by recycling or composting this newspaper after you enjoy reading it.

COMMUNITY: A community forum was held for Grand Rapids residents to gather in person and online to meet the candidates running for the position of Grand Rapids Police Chief. GVL | MAX RITCHIE

TEACH: GV’s Regional Math and Science Center and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences created a learning series. GVL | LAUREN SEYMOUR

The Grand Valley State University Regional Math and Science Center (RMSC) is working with the GVSU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences faculty to create a new learning series called Grand Morsels Grand Morsels is a series designed to breakdown complex scientific concepts into smaller, more digestible pieces, in hopes of providing

K-12 teachers and other community members with a better understanding of how science shapes the world.

Grand Morsels is a free, virtual event to help give teachers new content in a simple, easily accessible package. The series will occur on the last Tuesday of every month.

Science program coordinator, Kathy Agee, said Grand Morsels is about diving into topics most people are familiar with but can’t quite explain, and sharing content about how science applies to everyday life. “(Grand Morsels) is the idea that, ‘Oh, someone’s going to put these pieces together and help me understand this fundamental level of how something works,” Agee said. “I think that’s what has hit a chord, to go back and have this basic understanding.”

The RMSC is an outreach program within the university that has been working for the past 30 years to support students and teachers in the West Michigan area.

Agee helped to develop the Grand Morsels series alongside RMSC Director, Dr. Kristofer Pachla, and School of Communications faculty member, Dr. Richard Besel.

In the early stages of the series’ develop-

ment, the committee was focused on addressing the struggles teachers and educators face from the ongoing effects of the pandemic on the education system.

“There’s a teacher shortage, there’s a substitute teacher shortage, teachers are out with COVID, so teachers couldn’t leave their classrooms…and also people are getting tired of the virtual community,” Agee said. “The three of us got together and said, ‘What can we do to support teachers, students who are going into teaching or anyone in the community to make something that’s not long and arduous for people to attend virtually?”

The Grand Morsels Learning Series not only provides content in a free, comprehensive format, but also allows teachers to earn credits towards their State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECH), which are necessary for teaching license renewal, starting in February.

Agee said she hopes that the series will reach more than the teaching audience and encourage the idea that learning is ageless.

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A4 | OPINIONS GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON

JANUARY 24, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLEDITORIAL

By Xavier Golden

EDITORIAL

Dissecting the “new normal”

T

01/24/22

editorial@lanthorn.com

Review: Ranking the X-Men movies

BY ZACK GOODROW SENIOR MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

Over break, I decided to watch every X-Men film and rank them in an extremely subjective fashion.

Throughout my binge, I enjoyed this

Den of Geeks article by Kayti Burt explaining every confusing plot hole in the several timelines this franchise has created. It’s been extremely enjoyable reviewing and very confusing. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried and I’ve kissed several hours of my life goodbye.

13. “The New Mutants” “The New Mutants’’ is one of the worst films I’ve ever watched. What makes it worse is the fact that this might be the last movie of a beloved franchise.

The latest addition to the franchise brings an interesting idea: creating a thriller/horror movie with young mutants trying to control their powers. Ideally, this movie should have been on the same level

as “The Machinist” and “Fractured.”

However, it failed on almost every aspect of storytelling, whether it be character development, script, cinematography and CGI. The way this movie was produced is laughable and the idea turned into a shit-storm. It rivals the idea of creating a romantic comedy starring Black Widow and the Hulk or a Tony Stark movie like the “Social Network.” Despite the effort put in by Anya Taylor-Joy, Maisie Williams and Charlie Heaton with an absolutely terrible script, this movie should have never been attempted.

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Review: FKA Twigs is reborn with ‘Caprisongs’

BY SABRINA EDWARDS JUNIOR MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

English singer-songwriter FKA Twigs is on the upswing with her new mixtape, “Caprisongs.” This

is her first release since 2019, and after going through multiple public breakups, she’s reclaiming her sound and empowering herself through song.

Her previous release was her second studio album, “Magdalene.”

It was moving, with every song was filled with her then-present emotion. She wrote this while she was in a dark time, and it was obvious in the tone of that album. When comparing these two, it’s obvious Twigs is in a much better place in her life now and that’s reflected in her most recent release.

When creating her previous album she was in a lawsuit with her ex-boyfriend, actor Shia LaBeouf.

Following that, she had a slew of health issues, needing to get fibroids removed from her uterus.

All of this pain and heartbreak was funneled into “Magdalene.”

“Caprisongs” is her comeback; Twigs is now reborn. She has found herself again, and she’s flexing her newfound happiness and peace in this mixtape. She’s lifting the veil on all her personas, finally allowing herself to be free. It isn’t a Twigs album without breathy high-pitched ballads, however, these once-eerie sounds are now coupled with upbeat club tracks.

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wo years after the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in the United States, some cities are seeing their cases peak, and the end of their regional surges might be in sight. But Grand Valley State University is just starting to see the effects of the omicron surge, hitting 1,000 current active cases in the first week of classes.

Once this latest surge is over, questions will remain.

How many more surges are in store? What will the much-anticipated “new normal” look like?

Dr. John O’Horo, a Mayo Clinic infectious disease specialist, hopes this will be one of the last major surges— but that depends on having a larger population of fully vaccinated people.

However, almost a year after the first COVID-19 vaccines became available to highrisk groups, only 63.3% of people in the United States and only 58.4% of Michiganders are fully vaccinated.

COVID-19 will likely become an endemic disease.

Like the flu, it won’t be eradicated, but will be “worse in certain times of the year,” and require regular revaccination as well as an occasional return to stricter public safety measures.

Another part of the new normal’s health and safety guidelines will be a re-alignment to the latest available science and data.

The dominant narrative in previous years was that COVID-19 is mostly spread through large droplets. However, in 2021 and 2022, the CDC and WHO have revised their policy to focus on the importance of aerosol transmission. This is why high-quality masks are such an important component of slowing the spread of COVID-19.

Increased vaccination rates and diligent masking, will also hasten the stabilization of the economy. In 2020, a “pessimistic” model from the Journal of Nuclear Medicine predicted a road to economic recovery that will stretch beyond 2024.

Unemployment claims in Jan. 2022 exceeded predictions by 61,000 claims, a discrepancy attributed to the omicron surge.

The less tangible or measurable fallout of the pandemic, as COVID-19 becomes endemic and mundane, will be the fatigue and burnout stoked by the past two years.

Instead of using mental health as an excuse to not follow public safety measures, it may be time to start considering the exhaustive effects of living with the vast, grim reality of the COVID-19 pandemic as a factor in social, economic and political arenas.

GVL OPINION POLICY

Letter to the editor should include the author’s full name, relevant title and a headshot, along with a valid email address and phone number for confirming the identity of the author. Letters should be approximately 500-650 words in length, and they are not edited by the Lanthorn staff except to fix technical errors or to clarify. Reader submissions on the opinion page appear as space permits.

To make a submission, email editorial@lanthorn.com or drop your submission off in person at:

The goal of the Grand Valley Lanthorn’s opinion page is to act as a forum for public discussion, comment and criticism in the Grand Valley State University community. Student and columnist opinions published here do not necessarily reflect those of the paper as an entity.

The Lanthorn strives to be a safe vehicle for community discussion. With this in mind, the Lanthorn will not publish or entertain any forms of hate speech, but neither will it discriminate against any other views, opinions or beliefs.

The content, information and views expressed are not approved by-nor do they necessarily represent those of-the university or its Board of Trustees, officers, faculty or staff.

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A5 | NEWS

JANUARY 24, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS BIRDS

GV arboretum provides opportunity for field study

BY LAUREN FORMOSA NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

For many students at Grand Valley State University, the arboretum is an aesthetic feature of the Allendale campus. For the Biology Department, the arboretum now serves as the perfect location to study the local ecosystem.

Affiliate professor Jenny Jenkins is currently leading a group of students in a field study of black-capped chickadees, a common species of songbird in Michigan.

The study, which Jenkins said she is hoping spans 40 two-hour trial sessions, looks at the feeding habits of these birds under the pressure of different threats.

Data is collected on how individuals interact with a feeder under auditory predator calls, as well as the visual threat of a stuffed Cooper’s hawk set up about five meters away.

Not only will Jenkins’ research look at how black-capped chickadees act under predator threats, but it will also add on to previous research done to examine a bird’s behavior in a cage test.

Jenkins and her team caught and banded the birds last fall, as well as studied them in bird cages to see how they behaved in a controlled environment.

Now in their natural habitat, Jenkins said they can use their previous observa-

tions to see if these birds’ true personalities differ in any way, and analyze the spectrum of behaviors in black-capped chickadees.

“When I started graduate school 20 yo 30 years ago, it was kind of frowned upon to talk about personalities in animals,” Jenkins said. “Then, in the psychological literature and animal behavioral field, people started saying, ‘Hey, wait a minute, consistent differences in behavior are out there, let’s look at some individual variation.’”

By looking at the individual birds and assessing their behaviors, Jenkins says they can study how a bird might act in a life-ordeath situation.

Jenkins is working with two GVSU students on this study: senior Ian Pope, a behavioral neuroscience major, and junior Jodi Jenkins, a behavioral neuroscience and psychology major. Her team also includes a third biology student from Calvin University.

The field study has given Jenkins’ students an opportunity to not only learn more about complex animal behaviors, but to also dive deeper into their future fields and develop useful research skills.

Pope said he was enthusiastic to join the field study, and that he gained valuable insight into field work, data analysis and communication during research.

“Whenever you’re taking part in ex-

periments or anything with science in general, you learn how to communicate and you learn how to cooperate,” Pope said. “The thing that I’m really trying to do is learn how to listen to people because the more perspectives that you can listen to, the more accurate conclusions you’ll be able to come to at the end.”

Although the experience has been a cold one so far, Jenkins and her students said they are enjoying their time collecting data in the Arboretum.

“There’s been a couple times where we’ve been playing the sound or the stuffed hawk has been present and an actual Cooper’s hawk swooped overhead,” Pope said. “The other day I was out there and had gotten near the end of the trail when all the birds started freaking out. I looked up and there’s a Cooper’s hawk sitting on a branch 20 meters away from the feeder.”

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ECOSYSTEM: Grand Valley State University’s Biology Department is using the arboretum this winter to conduct a study on the feeding habits of black-capped chickadees. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

CAREER

Despite national teacher shortage, GV’s education program is booming

BY GILLIAN HANTON NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

COVID-19 has caused disruptions in every professional sphere, but the one that has likely been hit the hardest is the teaching industry.

The nationwide shortage of teachers has resulted in the creation of short-term

solutions to keep schools running, such as shortened in-person class time and encouraging retired teachers to return to their old positions.

However, there’s evidence to show that Grand Valley State University’s education programs are growing and preparing a new generation of teachers for the workplace.

MAJOR: Although there is currently a teacher shortage across the nation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Grand Valley State University’s education program has continued to flourish. Students are being well prepared to become educators in higher education and P-12 fields. GVL | MAX RITCHIE

Switching from online to in-person learning, dealing with heightened expectations and little to no increase in compensation during the pandemic has left many teachers burnt out and ready to leave their careers in education.

According to a recent study of 2,700 teachers conducted by the National Education Association, 32% reported the pandemic caused them to leave their position earlier than planned.

In addition to this, 25% teachers surveyed in 2021 said they were likely to quit their jobs, mainly due to mode of education and health reasons.

Despite the difficulties present in the teaching industry, many students are motivated to work in schooling.

Senior Sarah Spencer said she plans to continue her education into graduate school to become a professor of writing.

“I decided on pursuing a career in higher education because I want to help students discover their potential as writers, the same way I did as I went through school,” Spencer said. “I want to be able to uncover students’ passions and help them gain confidence in expressing themselves.”

GVSU’s teaching programs have experienced an increase in students as well, specifically those looking for a career in P-12 education.

Dr. Amy Schelling, Associate Dean and Director of Teacher Education, credits the pandemic as one of the reasons for this rise in enrollment.

“I think the recent interest might be attributed to the attention that’s been given to P-12 education in schooling and the work of teachers during the pandemic,” Schelling said. “There’s been a real spotlight on the profession and what it takes to do it.”

In addition to the attention the career has received during the COVID-19 pandemic, the growth of GVSU’s teaching program can also be attributed to its reputation in the Grand Rapids and West Michigan areas.

Potential employers said they are often impressed by the experience, tenacity and passion exhibited by recent graduates of the program, Schelling said.

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A6&7 | NEWS

JANUARY 24, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

BY MAX RITCHIE NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University’s University Academic Senate (UAS) voted to endorse the revised Reach Higher 2025 (RH2025) strategic plan. After the original document failed to secure approval in October 2021, UAS members came together once again to vote on President Mantella’s strategic academic plan.

RH2025 is a guide constructed by the university and its administrators. Academic plans exist to provide information about the direction of a university, including their goals in academia and what their students can expect from them.

For most colleges, these plans last roughly five years before another one is drafted. This gives universities time to implement the document fully and see short and long-term results.

The Reach Higher 2025 website provides a snapshot of the current draft. This overview of the RH2025 plan includes a statement of five values: inquiry, inclusive and equitable community, innovation, integrity and international perspectives. Next, the plan details GVSU’s vision and aspirations, mission and strategies, which include empowered educational experience, lifelong learning and educational equity.

During the vote on Oct. 1, 2021, the RH2025 plan didn’t receive approval from the UAS. This time, 87% of senate members voted to endorse the plan, according to a poll held during the UAS on the Jan. 21 meeting. 7% of members voted not to endorse the plan and another 7% voted to abstain.

After opening reports from Interim Provost Chris Plouff, and Student Senate President Autumn Muller, the Dean of Brooks College of Interdisci-

plinary Studies and RH2025 Steering Committee Co-lead, Mark Schaub, began the meeting with a presentation that highlighted the differences between the first iteration of the plan and the updated version.

Schaub also highlighted what steps the university took to allow GVSU community members to voice their concerns and ideas.

Changes to the document include improvements to syntax and clarity, as well as literary fixes regarding parallelism.

Parallelism refers to other plans that work in tandem with RH2025, such as the Strategic Enrollment Management Plan, the Digital Transformation Roadmap and the Division of Inclusion and Equity. All three programs will work alongside the RH2025 plan and help fulfill some of the goals identified in the strategic plan.

Other changes include the removal of certain bullet points that were deemed “redundant” in regard to the idea of an empowered education experience that the plan presents.

A land acknowledgment was also added to recognize GVSU’s existence on the land of the Anishinaabe people, an addition that aligns with the principle of educational equity that is also key to the RH2025 plan.

There was a general consensus among UAS members who spoke during the meeting that the RH2025 plan was improved since October and that many of the concerns had been properly addressed.

When the RH2025 plan was presented to UAS on Oct. 1, 2021, members responded with concerns about vague language used in the document, calling it “jargon-laden, unclear or open to multiple conflicting interpretations.”

In a memo to GVSU President Philo-

mena Mantella in October, UAS pointed to the lack of language regarding GVSU as a liberally-educated institution, as well as faculty’s unclear role in the implementation of the plan.

There was positive feedback regarding changes to the specificity of certain intentions, a deeper explanation of the role of faculty in implementing the plan and more.

Professor of Sociology and President of GVSU’s American Association of University Professors (AAUP) chapter, Joel Stillerman, said the revised plan also highlights GVSU’s identity as a liberal arts institution, which was a concern voiced by faculty when the first iteration of the plan was proposed in October.

“It more forcefully articulates our liberal arts tradition, the essential role of faculty expertise and research in our mission and clarifies some of the language regarding new university initiatives,” Stillerman said.

Stillerman said the RH2025 Steering Committee responded to faculty concerns by expanding the RH2025 committee, which he believes contributed to its endorsement.

“I suspect this was largely due to the addition of more faculty members on the RH2025 committee who effectively articulated faculty concerns as well as feedback the committee received,” Stillerman said.

One of those additions included Janet Winter as a third Steering Committee Co-lead.

Alongside Mark Schuab and Tara Bivens, the Steering Committee was able to continue hosting virtual events to gather feedback and concerns from the GVSU community. This included a faculty leadership series and a staff leadership series.

These events, dubbed “Leadership Conversations,” encourage open dia-

logues between community members, forgoing formal presentations in favor of an open forum where anyone with questions, concerns, feedback or suggestions was welcome to share and be heard.

These events will continue to be held throughout the winter semester.

The addition of more events to gather feedback was planned by the Steering Committee after the rejection of the original proposal.

“All voices are important in this process, and therefore, the timeframe for working on the plan has been expanded and new opportunities have been developed to provide community members additional means for providing input before finalizing the plan,” Provost Chris Plouff said in a prior interview.

Multiple UAS members also acknowledged the commitment they put forth to ultimately endorse the RH2025 plan.

Professor of English, Brian Deyo, said he is proud of the groups’ determination to improve the plan.

“I think it says a lot about us as a community that we’re coming together and we did our best to be able to improve this document and improve what we do at this university,” Deyo said.

With the plan now endorsed, GVSU will move on from the previous academic plan constructed in 2016, when former president Thomas J. Haas was still in office.

However, the endorsement does not signal the end of work on the RH2025 plan. UAS president Felix Ngassa said that minor changes may still be made to the document as it is implemented into life at GVSU. “It doesn’t stop today, it doesn’t mean that’s it,” Ngassa said. “This is a living document.”

JANUARY 24, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

A8 | LAKER LIFE A LOOK AT LIFESTYLE JOIN DISCUSSIONS AND ACTIVITIES ABOUT BODY POSITIVITY

On Jan. 27, the Center for Women and Gender Equity is hosting a meeting on body positivity. The meeting, which is taking place in Room 1142 in the Kirkhof Center, will have opportunities for open discussion and activities surrounding body positivity. The NIARA program, which is designed to increase the sense of community centered on the experiences of those identifying as women of color, will also be discussed. The event is open to anyone, no RSVP required and attendees are encouraged to bring friends. Food and refreshments will be provided.

MAKE CARDS FOR CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS

As part of their two-week rush schedule, Alpha Phi Omega is hosting a service event on Jan. 25 where students can make cards to pass out to hospitalized children. The event, which will take place in room 2201 in the Kirkhof Center, is open to anyone who wants to participate. Card-making supplies will be provided, but APO recommends bringing coloring utensils if possible. More details can be found on LakerLink.

ROCKET LEAGUE

GV Rocket League team wins match

against Davenport at LEC grand opening

BY STEVEN LAWRENCE LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

On Jan. 18, the Grand Valley State University Esports team hosted the grand opening event for the Laker Esports Center (LEC).

President Philomena Mantella attended and made remarks to commemorate the opening of the LEC. The event concluded with a Rocket League match against Davenport. The teams played a seven-game series and GVSU got to celebrate its first esports victory after a game-winning goal in overtime of game seven.

Esports, which is highly competitive computer gaming, is growing rapidly on college campuses everywhere. Players

HEAR SPOKEN WORD POETRY AND OTHER PERFORMANCES AT QUEER THE AIR On Jan. 26, the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center is hosting Queer the Air, a spoken word and open mic event.

The event will take place in room 1161 in the Kirkhof Center. Performance slots are open to anyone, but anyone looking to perform needs to sign up ahead of time.

Registration will close at 7 p.m. the night of the event, but registration slots will be limited.

DECIDE IF GRADUATE SCHOOL IS THE RIGHT MOVE

On Jan. 27, the Graduate School and Office of Admissions is hosting a virtual discussion that aims to help students decide if graduate school is the right move for them. The event will cover tips for preparing to graduate school, tips for enhancing graduate school applications and answer questions on whether graduate school is worth attending. This discussion is open to GVSU students and students from other universities, and will be held again every few weeks until the end of May.

LEARN SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING USING QPR

On Jan. 24, the University Counseling Center is hosting suicide prevention training in room 2270 in the Kirkhof Center. The training session will use the QPR method, which stands for “Question, Persuade, Refer” and eliminates misconceptions about suicide, helps students recognize warning signs of suicide and encourages students to save lives. This event, which is INT 100 approved, will recur on Mar. 16 and Apr. 7.

VICTORY: The GVSU Rocket League Blue Team kicked off the LEC grand opening with a win against Davenport. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

from teams all over the the world, compete against each other in both online and in-person matches. Esports games played at GVSU include Rainbow Six Siege, Rocket League, Overwatch and more.

Second-year student Spencer Deitrick is a member of the Rocket League Blue Team, the most competitive Rocket League team at GVSU. Each player on the team competes against high-ranking collegiate and professional players regularly and it takes thousands of hours of practice to play at their level.

“I always enjoyed video games as a kid, and to be able to play the same game I grew up loving and obsessed with at a high level of competition and organization feels slightly like a dream,” Deitrick said. “Not to mention the community is great and there are lots of resources available for players looking to grow and improve in whatever game they are focused on.”

Much like athletes from other sports, esports players are constantly training to get better. This effort and dedication proved to benefit the team in their victory against Davenport. Deitrick, along with the rest of the team, is very proud of how the match turned out and knows that it took the whole team to win.

“Well, it was our first LAN event ever as a team and individually as well, so we definitely had to work through some nerves,” Deitrick said. “However, we managed to come out on top, which felt amazing not

just because our hard work paid off, but also because we were able to celebrate a victory with our friends, coaches and supporters, which made it all the sweeter.”

Despite the nerves and the thrill of their first in-person competition, Deitrick and the rest of the team had to stay grounded and keep in mind that Davenport wanted to win just as badly as they did.

“Shoutout to the Davenport guys as well for coming out and giving us quite the challenge, the series could’ve just as easily gone their way. They’re really solid Rocket League players and a really nice group of people in general,” Deitrick said. “Shoutout to my teammate Ryan, aka Rilla, for clutching up with the open net shot in game seven as well.”

For students interested in getting involved, picking up a controller and trying out a new game is a great way to get into esports. More ways to get involved, according to Deitrick, include visiting events, asking questions and not being afraid to try something new.

“I personally discovered GVSU’s esports club by attending a Student Life event or something similar, and everyone I have met in the club so far has been really helpful and really kind when it comes to guiding new players through the esports world,” Deitrick said. “I believe you can also find a lot of information through GVSU’s website or the GVSU Esports Discord channel.”

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INVOLVEMENT

Campus Life Night canceled, replaced with Winter Student Org Showcase

BY MELIA WILLIAMS LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

Campus Life Night is a biannual event at Grand Valley State University. It is held once in the fall and again in the winter in order to give students multiple chances to discover the organizations the university has to offer. Just a few weeks before this year’s event was scheduled to take place, the number of COVID-19 cases started to rise as students returned to campus, leading to the event’s cancelation.

“We made the decision based on the move to level alert level three,” said Associate Director of Student Organizations Brianna Slager. “All events with over 100 attendees

are supposed to be canceled.”

In place of Campus Life Night, the Winter Student Org Showcase has emerged.

This new event is being held in the Kirkhof Center on campus, with multiple dates for students to attend. Although this event may be different than what students are used to, it is designed to ensure the safety of the GVSU community.

The typical Campus Life Night experience usually involves hundreds of students scrambling to get as much information as quickly as possible and any conversations between students and club members are brief. The Winter Student Org Showcase is designed to be safer regarding

KIRKHOF: The new Winter Student Org Showcase event will take place over the course of several days in the Kirkhof Center. GVL | SYDNEY LIM

the spread of COVID-19, but its format may also be beneficial for students looking to learn about on-campus clubs and organizations.

“Some of the orgs can interact with students twice a week,” Slager said. “There’s more interaction and

it’s more relationship based.”

All student organizations attending the Winter Student Org Showcase have the opportunity to sign up for more than one date.

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JANUARY 24, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

ARTS AT A GLANCE

A9 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT METALSMITHING

AUDITION FOR DIFFERENT ON-CAMPUS PRODUCTIONS

This week there are multiple productions holding auditions on campus.

On Tuesday, Jan. 25 from 6-8 p.m. there will be combined auditions for “The Most Massive Woman Wins,” “Welcome to Paradise” and “Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play.” The second date to audition for these productions is Wednesday, Jan. 26 from 6-8 p.m. Both auditions will be held in the Haas Center for Performing Arts room 1721. Those interested are being asked to sign-up for a time slot online, which can be found on the LakerLink event page.

Subject to Change is also holding their winter improv auditions. Those who’re interested can audition on Thursday Jan. 27 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Auditions will be held in the Haas Center for Performing Arts room 1721.

These auditions are open to everyone regardless of theatre background. The only requirement: be funny. There isn’t a required time slot for auditioning, those who’re interested just need to show up.

LEARN HOW TO DANCE

On Monday nights, Social Dance Studio will be hosting classes to teach beginners how to dance. There are two different time slots, the first class begins at 7 p.m. and the second starts at 8 p.m.

There’s no experience needed. The dances that are taught are alternating styles of ballroom. However, those who’re interested in attending don’t need to show up with a dance partner. It’s $15 per class or $10 when prepaying for the month.

Social Dance Studio is located at 925 4 Mile Rd. for those who’re interested in attending.

The Grand Rapids Original Swing Society (GROSS) holds meetings every Tuesday where participants can learn how to swing dance as well as being in a social environment. This Tuesday it will be held at the Public Museum, the cost to participate is $5. GROSS is the largest dance group in West Michigan.

Those interested in joining are welcome regardless of skill level.

WITNESS AN ART BATTLE AT THE SKELLETONES On Wednesday, Jan. 26, The Skelletones is hosting an art battle at 7:30 p.m. The painting will start at 8 p.m. This is a live painting tournament where local artists will have 20 minutes to turn a blank canvas into a work of art. Those who attend will be tasked with helping decide the winner of the battle. At the end all art will be available for purchase in a silent auction.

This is an all ages event, however proof of vaccination with a valid photo I.D, a negative test or masks are required in order to attend. Skelletones is located at 133 Division Ave.

HEALING: Three artists came together to create the metalsmithing exhibition, “Sorrow/Fullness: A Reflection on Mourning.” Sue Amendolara, Adrienne M. Graftron and GVSU professor Renee Zettle-Sterling based the work off of their own grief and loss for this special event on campus. GVL | RACHEL SLOMBA

Collaborative art event explores grief at GVSU

BY AYRON RUTAN ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State University Art Gallery hosted a brand new exhibition Thursday with “Sorrow/Fullness: A Reflection on Mourning.” This is a metalsmithing showcase that takes a look at grief and loss through the lens of reflection and celebration. The exhibition was a collaboration between three metalsmith artists, including Sue Amendolara, Adrienne M. Grafton and GVSU professor Renee Zettle-Sterling.

Amendolara and Grafton were unable to attend but it was ultimately a success, with an extremely positive reception from those who attended.

“I just wish that Sue and Adrienne could have been there with me,” Zettle-Sterling said. “I felt that people were receptive to the work and the ideas surrounding the show.

I received a lot of questions and interest seemed to be positive.”

The showing was a big deal for the artists, as it saw them return to a world where their work could be viewed by spectators in person. Zettle-Sterling said that the energy that surrounds a live show just does not compare to online showings.

“I am feeling very lucky that the show is able to be seen in a live setting,” Zettle-Sterling said. “I have been in several shows that have been forced to be online exhibitions and it’s just not the same. It reminds me of teaching online versus teaching in person; it’s just not the same and lacks soul.”

Grafton was happy to return to showing in person as well, as the coming together of artists to show and discuss efforts was her fa-

vorite aspect of pre-COVID exhibitions. She was also grateful for the precautions and actions taken by GVSU in order to best showcase the project.

“It was truly wonderful to be with friends and family again at our opening back in October at the Erie Art Museum,” Grafton said.

“When the pandemic hit, one of the things I missed the most was art openings and museums. I absolutely love gathering with artists and looking at and discussing work. With the latest rise in COVID-19, it again feels intimidating to get together, but, I’m very pleased with the online presence GVSU has created to showcase this exhibition.”

“Sorrow/Fullness” explores the realm of grief and loss, with a special focus on celebrating the lives of lost loved ones and the experiences shared with them. The art pieces have a very personal connection to the artists, as they were inspired by the lost loved ones in their own lives.

Grafton’s work was inspired by her mother, who passed away in 2014. The event was something that touched her deeply, ultimately inspiring the pieces shown in “Sorrow/Fullness.”

“A few years after her passing I began using the grief as a source of inspiration for the body of work in the show,” Grafton said. “The work for me is about the passing of time and memories. I use recognizable imagery to tell stories about my emotions and experiences.

In my piece titled “Residue,” I’ve taken my mom’s old used makeup and dipped it in plaster. The fragile shell encases the things she touched every day that were an important part of her daily routine.”

Amendolara’s work for the project was

also inspired by the loss of her parents. She said that her focus was to celebrate the experiences she had with them and to continue them with surviving family members.

“As a child, I spent a lot of time in my parent’s interior design studio looking at fabrics, wallpapers, antiques, etc.,” Amendolara said.

“I loved talking with my father about projects he was working on, and it was these experiences that led me to become a craftsperson.”

Working with different materials led Amendolara to create the piece she made for this exhibit. She took pieces that were personal to her and her loved ones to turn it into something else.

“I made a pair of upholstery scissors using cast flowers from my mother’s funeral bouquet,” Amendolara said. “The scissors are deconstructed, suggesting lingering grief or the inability to heal. The scissors rest on a small quilt made from silk from my wedding dress; a reference to family.”

Coming together to work through grief collectively is a powerful and healing concept that really flourished with “Sorrow/Fullness.”

It brought people from all over to experience the grief of the artists as a way to get through their own. Each of the artists hopes all who come to view their work are helping to use it to cope with their personal situations and hopefully broaden the conversation surrounding grief and loss.

The exhibition will be on display at the Haas Center for Performing Arts Gallery until April 1, 2022. For more information on the project and each of the artists, visit the GVSU Art Gallery website here.

A10 | SPORTS QUICK HITS MEN’S BASKETBALL SWEEPS IN THE U.P. FOR FIRST TIME IN 12 YEARS

JANUARY 24, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

BASKETBALL

Former teammates and lifelong

The Grand Valley State University (123) men’s basketball team traveled to the U.P. this past weekend to play Michigan Tech University (11-5) and Northern Michigan University (8-9), bringing home two wins for the Lakers. Progressing to 6-2 in the GLIAC, the team was able to secure both wins on the road for the first time since 2010, making the sweep that much sweeter.

On Jan. 20, GVSU faced off against the Michigan Tech Huskies with exceptional performances from the Laker’s top seniors. Forward Jake Van Tubbergen led the game with 18 points, eight rebounds and two steals, followed by guard Deleon Brown with 14 points and forward Christian Negron with 13. Negron also added six rebounds and a career-high six assists.

Freshman Trevor Gunter also added three three-pointers for the 80-74 win, improving the Laker’s overall record to 11-3.

Jan. 22, the team took on the Northern Michigan Wildcats, starting strong with the first 14 points of the game. Van Tubbergen led scoring once again with a game-high 23 points and 11 rebounds, with Negron on his tail scoring 16 points and a league-best 29th block of the season. Brown followed suit with another 13 points, finishing out the weekend with a 79-67 win.

The men’s basketball team is scheduled to play three home games this week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday against Davenport University, University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Purdue University-Northwest.

friends lead GV Women’s Basketball

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL MIRRORS MEN’S SUCCESS, SWEEPING U.P. TEAMS AS WELL

CLUB SPORTS

The Grand Valley State University (15-1) women’s basketball team went on the same road trip as the men’s team, playing the MTU Huskies (11-5) and the NMU Wildcats (8-7) on Jan. 20 and Jan. 22. The Lakers finished the weekend improving to 8-1 in the GLIAC for their 10th win in a row.

Playing before the men’s team on Jan. 20, the women’s team played a close game against the Huskies, ending regulation with a buzzer-beater three-pointer from senior Emily Spitzley to tie the game 60-60. Going into OT, the Lakers started on a 6-0 run, ultimately taking the win from the Huskies 74-70.

Sophomore Ellie Droste led the team with 31 points, followed by Spitzley with 20 points while the team shot 50% from the floor and made a total of 24 points from 17 turnovers.

Jan. 22 after the men’s game, the women took to the courts led by sophomore Rylie Bisballe with 20 points and seven rebounds, along with senior Qay Stanton with 13 points and five assists and sophomore Ellie Droste with nine points.

The Lakers brought home the fourth and final win for GVSU from the U.P. with a final score of 61-48.

BY JUSTICE STEINER SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The no. 12 ranked Grand Valley State University women’s basketball guard duo, senior Emily Spitzley and sophomore Ellie Droste, have always been a major part of each other’s lives on and off the basketball court.

“Our parents have been friends since they were in high school,” Spitzley said. “So our families are like family friends. We have gone on family vacations together for our entire lives.”

On the court, the pair found a great deal of success in their high school careers as teammates at Pewamo-Westphalia. In their first season together, Spitzley’s junior year and Droste’s freshman year, the two helped lead PW to the MSHAA state championship game. However, they fell short, losing to Detroit Edison Public School Academy 44-42.

Although making the state championship game was a great experience, both Spitzley and Droste said their favorite moment playing together actually came in the first game of their tournament run, which was a matchup with their rival school, Bath.

“They (Bath) were in our conference, so we played them twice a year,” Droste said.

“We lost to them the first time and then the second time it came down to the very end and we lost the game. So coming into

ELLIE: The sophomore only has one year left to play with Emily. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

EMILY: The senior is enjoying her last season as a Laker and Ellie’s teammate. GVL | ARCHIVES

the tournament we knew they were a really good team. They beat us twice, we just really wanted to win and we did end up winning that game.”

In the following season, Spitzley’s senior year, Pewamo-Westphalia once again found themselves matched up against Detroit Edison in the postseason, this time in the state semifinals. The result was the same, as Pewamo-Westphalia fell short and the chance for the Spitzley-Droste duo to win a state championship together came to an end.

“We wanted to be a really good high

school team and that was really the first thing on our minds,” Spitzley said. “We wanted to win a state championship and we made some really good runs at it while I was there.”

Spitzley then graduated from Pewamo-Westphalia and made the decision to play at the next level for the Lakers, a choice she said was an easy one.

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Men’s club D1 hockey drops two games to Davenport

BY JAMES HERRICK SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Heading into the week, the Grand Valley State University men’s DI club hockey team was originally scheduled to take on Roosevelt University on Jan. 20 and 21. After a series of cancellations and rescheduling, they instead played conference foe Daven-

TOUGH COMPETITION: The Lakers were unable to defeat one of their top opponents over the weekend going 0-2. GVL | LAUREN SEYMOUR

port University on Jan. 20 and 22. The Lakers were unable to pick up a win as they lost 6-1 at home Thursday, Jan. 20, followed by a 5-3 loss when they went on the road Saturday, Jan. 22.

After the tough loss on Thursday, GVSU came into Saturday’s game in a much better place. The Lakers got the action started early in the first period when sophomore wing Sam Lechel scored off an assist from freshman wing Josh Suzio. Shortly after, Davenport was able to pick up a goal to tie the score at one apiece.

Later in the first period, Lechel scored his second goal off assists from Suzio and junior wing Zach Borchardt to give the Lakers a 2-1 lead. With only two minutes left in the first period, Davenport added a goal of their own and tied the game at 2-2.

In the second period, Davenport got their first lead of the night after a power-play score. This was one of the three power-play opportunities Davenport had during the second period.

Davenport was able to score off another power play halfway through the third peri-

od, pushing the score to 4-2 in Davenport’s favor. The game was not over yet as junior wing Zach Kippe added a goal for GVSU off of an assist from Borchardt. During the Lakers comeback attempt, Davenport added one last goal and won by a final score of 5-3.

Despite the loss, GVSU played much better in comparison to their Thursday performance and almost walked away with a victory.

“I think we played really well,” said junior defenseman Tyler Hofmann. “We responded really well after Thursday night, came out with a lot of effort and just got back to basics and played the right way. I think we showed up tonight and we definitely put in the effort that could have won that game.”

This two-game series provided the Lakers with a unique opportunity to have a day of practice in between games. Usually, the Lakers play two or three games in a row but the cancellation of Friday’s game against Roosevelt allowed for a day of practice before returning to competition.

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A11 | SPORTS

JANUARY 24, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS MEN’S BASKETBALL

GV Men’s Basketball senior Jordan Harris talks team leadership and going pro

BY SHAWN ROBINSON SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

This season’s roster for the Grand Valley State University men’s basketball team has a healthy number of returning seniors filling leadership roles, one of which includes senior guard Jordan Harris. In order for a team to be successful the coach always needs a leader. This is where Harris seems to have found his spot.

The 6’1” 170-lbs guard is a big part of GVSU basketball’s success so far this season. Harris transferred to GVSU in 2020 after two years at Adrian College. During his sophomore year there he took off leading the squad in minutes played with 860 and came up three short of the team lead for a career-best with 430 total points.

“My first day on (GVSU’s) campus was my first time on the campus,” Harris said. “I didn’t get a chance to meet the team or anything before I got here. My first day here was meeting the team and seeing campus and everything. I was kind of surprised about the campus and my teammates.”

Last season, Harris made his Laker debut on Jan. 9, 2021, against Saginaw Valley State University. He started all 19 games while averaging 12.7 points and 3.5 rebounds on 33

minutes per game, and became the player coach Ric Wesley expected him to become.

“The best thing about Jordan is that he’s an everyday guy and very focused,” assistant coach Taylor Johnson said. “He’s so focused and wants to win so bad; he wants to help the team whether it’s passing, defense, shooting. He’ll do whatever you ask, so he’s a pleasure to have on the team and definitely the most focused guy day-in and day-out.”

The hard work and dedication has continued throughout the year, helping his team to 12-3 overall and 6-2 in GLIAC halfway through this season. Harris has averaged 10.9 points and has a team-high 60 assists so far this season. Even with the great start, Harris said this isn’t the best they can be.

“I think we have a really good team for sure,” Harris said. “I don’t think we’ve played our best basketball yet, but I know it’s coming. We’ve got to keep digging down, take it one game at a time and figure out a way to win every single time we play.”

Now here for his second year at GVSU, Harris has embraced the leadership role.

The fifth-year senior using his COVID-19 eligibility has helped the coaching staff and his teammates in big ways this season.

“Being the point guard, I always have to

be vocal,” Harris said. “(I) answer and ask questions if I’m not sure about anything and be humble. Being a little older than the young guys, when they come to me with questions, they get those same questions back to them.”

With 12 regular season games remaining on the schedule, Harris says he looks forward to the rest of the season and expects the team to give it their all every time they’re out on the court.

“I just look forward to having fun with my brothers and making sure we are coming out and getting wins,” Harris said. “That’s our biggest things; we don’t want this season to be full of ups and downs, we want a lot of upside to this season and I think that’s just going to come with being focused and making sure that we’re ready each and every single day. Take it one day at a time; just make sure we get better every single day.”

Harris will graduate from GVSU this April and says his main goal is to play professional basketball after this year. However, his biggest goal is to keep working.

“I’m not sure where or how that’s going to come about,” Harris said. “I don’t know of what I would want to do outside of basketball yet, but my biggest goal is keep working

TOP DOG: For his last year as a Laker, Harris has proven his hard work and dedication on the courts this season. GVL | LAUREN SEYMOUR

so that I can find something to where I can keep playing basketball after this year. But right now, we got a lot of season left, so I’m just trying to lock in on this and then I’ll worry about that stuff after.”

TRACK AND FIELD

Pole vaulters dominate in back-to-back track and field meets

BY BRIAN BLOOM SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s track and field teams competed twice on Jan. 22. The first meet of their double-header saw the teams travel to Ann Arbor, MI to compete at the Michigan Invitational, while they hosted the Mike Lints Alumni Meet later that day.

During the Michigan Invitational, five athletes placed. The 4x400m relay team of

QUALIFYING: GVSU making early provisional marks in both meets. GVL | LAUREN SEYMOUR

senior Jackson Blanchard, graduate student Caelon Harkey, freshman Brandon Miller and sophomore Myles Rhodes won the event, finishing with a time of 3:14.99.

Blanchard also finished second in the 400m, running a time of 48.97 and fifth in the 60m dash, crossing the finish line in 8.2 seconds.

Harkey and Rhodes finished third and fifth in the 400m, running times of 49.15 and 49.47 respectively. In the 200m, Miller crossed the finish line second, in 21.76 seconds. Joining these athletes was senior Makiyah Smallwood, who finished third in the 60m hurdles, running a time of 8.07.

“We sent (the athletes) over there, just to run in a different atmosphere, and hopefully (the athletes) got out of their comfort zones,” coach Jerry Baltes said. “Some of those guys opened up really well in December and again last week, so hopefully they continue to take the next step.”

During the Mike Lints Alumni meet, both the men’s and women’s teams saw a plethora of athletes place in the top five.

In the women’s field, senior Elli Kimes, senior Carly Livingston and junior Colleen Campbell swept the pole vault, recording

vaults of 3.96 meters and 3.71 meters. Junior Judith Essemiah had her best performance of the season, throwing a 19.86m in the weight throw, good for second place in Division II. Placing just behind Essemiah was sophomore Aliana Omonode, who threw a DII provisional mark of 17.59m. Freshman Mackenzie Bohrer threw a personal best 14.43m in the shot put. Rounding out the field events for the women were sophomores Jenna Doyle and Sydney Cangrilla, who took first and second place in the high jump, clearing 1.61m. The height was a season’s best for Doyle and a personal best for Cangrilla.

On the track, the women saw success in the mile with senior Allie Ludge and freshman Taryn Chapko placing first and second with running times of 4:50.45 and 4:51.12.

“We’re still six weeks away from nationals,” Essemiah said. “I think the plan right now is just to stay consistent, try and perform well every single weekend and use these meets to qualify for nationals.”

The men’s team dominated in the field as well. In the pole vault, junior James Nutt won, vaulting 4.63m. Joining Nutt was ju-

nior Max Rauch who placed second, clearing 4.63m, a personal best, and sophomore Wyatt Alwine, who placed fourth, clearing 4.48m, also a personal best. In the weight throw, junior Myles Kerner placed first with a distance of 19.34m; he also finished second in the shot put, throwing a personal best 18.05m.

“I would like to get top three at nationals in both of my events, shot put and weight (throw), so that’ll be the overall goal,” Kerner said. “(To achieve that) I need to be consistent. Every weekend I’m coming out and throwing as good as I can and getting good marks. Moving up my average throw distance will be my biggest goal.”

Joining Kerner on the leaderboards in the weight throw was sophomore Shane Byrne and junior Jacob Urban, who placed third and fourth respectively. Byrne reached a personal best with his throw of 18.86m and Urban reached his first provisional mark, throwing a personal best 18.50m.

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