Grand Valley Lanthorn vol. 56 no. 20

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

‘You Will Be Welcome’

UndocuWeek explores DACA student experiences

GV expands tuition-free program EQUITY | A2

VAT discontinues classroom contact tracing

M O N D A Y, J A N U A RY 3 1 , 2 02 2 // VO L . 5 6 N O. 2 0

COVID-19 | A5

@ 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 6,851 cases since Aug. 1, 2020. The university’s update for this brief was from Friday, Jan. 28.

Through testing results this past week, GVSU’s Virus Action team have so far reported 683 current active cases including 37 faculty members, 48 staff members, 137 on-campus students, 274 “off-campus Ottawa” students, 151 “off-campus Kent” students and 36 “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.

JANUARY 31, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

EQUITY

GV expands tuition-free program

BY LAUREN FORMOSA NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University is expanding their tuition-free program to make higher education more affordable for prospective low-income students.

The Grand Valley Pledge program, announced in 2021, was only initially available to first-year students from six Michigan counties where there is a GVSU presence. It will now be open to all incoming freshman

and transfer students from across Michigan whose family income is below $50,000.

Ben Rhodes, Assistant Director of Financial Aid, said the program is meant to show GVSU’s commitment to helping students afford their education.

“These families have a household income around or below the national average and finances make a much bigger impact on their decision on where to attend college,” Rhodes said. “The Grand Valley Pledge is Grand

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 2,177 students and 129 faculty/staff with approved vaccination exemptions.

TESTING AND INCIDENCE:

GVSU’s own testing program has performed 122,342 tests overall since Aug. 1, 2020, for a cumulative positivity rate of 2.12% from the latest update as of last week. A total of 1,859 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.

SUPREME COURT DECLINES TO HEAR CASE OF MURDERED GV STUDENT

The United States Supreme Court will not hear the appeal of the family of the murdered Grand Valley State University student, 21-year-old Rosemarie Reilly.

Reilly’s family had wanted county and university police officers to be held legally responsible for supposed negligence and failed prevention of her death.

Valley’s commitment to these families who we know are making a big decision. We’re trying to tell them ‘We’re supporting you by this pledge, we are committed to helping you afford tuition.’”

The expansion will start with freshmen and transfer bachelor’s students admitted for the fall 2022 semester.

Those with a qualifying Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with the university will have any leftover tuition fees covered by the Grand Valley Pledge after applying Pell Grant funds and merit scholarships.

According to the Grand Valley Pledge website, the financial aid offered through the program will cover 12 to 15 credits of undergraduate level courses.

Prospective students don’t need to fill out extra paperwork to apply for the Grand Valley Pledge. Once a student gets accepted and a FAFSA has been completed, GVSU will automatically award full undergraduate tuition and fees if they are eligible.

The Grand Valley Pledge is renewable for up to three years after being awarded, given that the student is maintaining satisfactory academic progress and is enrolled as a full-time student.

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ELIGIBILITY: Grand Valley has expanded the eligibility of their tuition-free program to any prospective student in Michigan with a household income of less than $50,000. GVL | MEGHAN LANDGREN

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SENATE

State of the student body: GV & MI leaders address education efforts

BY JOSHUA ALBURTUS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State University Student Senate Cabinet recently gathered in the Cook-Dewitt Center Auditorium to give their State of the Student Body address to the campus community.

The opening speech was given by Student Senate President, Autumn Mueller, which included updates, achievements and ambitions from each of the seven vice presidents, as well as the body’s executive vice president.

Mueller used the speech to outline, and elaborate on, the major focuses of her position.

“I focused on three aspects that still remain evident today in my time as Student Body President: community, relationships and student government,” Mueller said.

Mueller said it’s these three areas that coalesce into what she sees as the Student Senate’s true purpose.

“Government in its essence is to support a collective unit that does the work that which it is elected to do for the best of a society and the group that it rep-

resents,” Muller said. “And that is true with student government as in Student Senate – a student group that is advocating for actions and notions that students are passionate about and feel best represent their needs.”

Last semester the senate sought to tackle a range of issues, which included expanding open educational resources, increasing mental health awareness through their non-profit Battle of the Valleys partnership and forming the University Food Committee.

As the new semester begins, the senate is aiming to take action on multiple areas, like campus dining and the presence of standardized tests in GVSU’s admissions process.

The issues the senate addressed in the meeting fell under the purview of the senate’s seven current standing committees.

Executive Vice President, Jim O’Neil, said the continued presence of the different committees is a reflection of the senate’s ability to solve various issues.

“We are able to look at any situation we face through a number of lenses to help us represent all students in their diverse, ever-changing needs,” O’Neil said.

Providing senators with chances to be as involved as possible in the process, O’Neil said, is integral to the senate’s work, and will help continue it into the future.

PLAN: GVSU Student Senate held a State of the Student Body address to discuss past and future plans of the group. GVL | LAUREN SEYMOUR

A3 | NEWS

JANUARY 31, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

CONTENTS EQUITY

| A2

OPINION

| A4

COVID-19

| A5

UNDOCUWEEK

| A6&7

RESOURCES

| A8

GALLERY

| A9

W. BASETBALL

| A10

M. BASKETBALL

| A11

VOL. 5 6

NO. 20

Lanthorn Videographer KATE KIRBY

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief ZACK GOODROW

Layout Editor KHOI TRAN

Associate Editor AUDREY WHITAKER Associate Editor XAVIER GOLDEN

Layout Designer DONOVAN LOPEZ PROMOTIONS

News Editor MARY DUPUIS Sports Editor HOLLY BIHLMAN Laker Life Editor JACOB DEWEERD A&E Editor

Promotions Manager GRACE O’BRIEN ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager JORDAN GREEN

COMMUNITY

GV administration and community mourns the loss of Brendan Santo

BY ELIZABETH SCHANZ NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University freshman, Brendan Santo, was reported missing on Oct. 29, 2021 while visiting friends at Michigan State University.

On Nov. 12, 2021, GVSU President Philomena Mantella sent her first email to the student body about Santo’s disappearance, about two weeks after Santo was first reported missing.

The nearly three-month search recently concluded on Jan. 21, 2022 when Santo’s body was found in the Red Cedar River.

The same day Santo’s body was recovered, Mantella issued a statement through email to the GVSU community.

The extent to which GVSU addressed the search for Brendan Santo has been met with some scrutiny from students.

When Santo’s body was recovered, presidents from both GVSU and MSU sent emails to their respective communities which were later circulated in Facebook groups in comparison to one another.

Some perceived MSU’s email from President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. as more heartfelt and genuine even though Santo was not their own student, leading to some frustration from the GVSU community.

Stanley’s email read, “While today may

GRIEF: The Grand Valley State University community is mourning the recent loss of freshman Brendan Santo. Santo’s Friends remember him for being kind and always willing to help. GVL | ARCHIVES

bring closure to such a tragic incident, our hearts ache for the Santo family.”

Mantella’s email stated, “The death of any student in our community is painful and distressing.”

Despite this frustration, GVSU has continued to navigate the next steps for the community in the wake of the recovery of Santo’s body.

GVSU’s acting dean of students, Aaron Haight, has emphasized multiple resources available to help students navigate this difficult time.

Such programs include the GVSU

counseling center, CARE referrals (which are a part of the division of student affairs) and outreach from GVSU housing and residence life staff to students.

CARE referrals allow students who are in need of support to reach out, or have the opportunity to anonymously report individuals they are concerned about.

Once a referral is submitted, GVSU will personally reach out and offer resources to these students.

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BUSINESS STAFF

SABRINA EDWARDS

Image Editor MEGHAN LANGREN Multimedia EditorHAILIEGH HUBER

Business Manager MORGAN JOHNSTON Asst. Business Manager LUKE KREGER Distribution Manager DAYTON HAMMON

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 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.

POLICE

GVPD addresses Apple AirTag tracking concerns

BY EMMA ARMIJO NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

With the development of the Apple AirTag, inconveniences like losing items or misplacing valuables can potentially be avoided.

The AirTag is a tracking device developed

by Apple to locate missing belongings using a similar design to the “Find my iPhone” feature included on their devices. The device connects via Bluetooth to any compatible smart device to report its location.

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CONCERN: GV’s Police Department said students don’t need to be concerned about being tracked via AirTags. GVL | MEGHAN LANDGREN

Often used as a keychain, the tracker can be put on a key ring to keep track of lost keys, in a purse or handbag or attached to something that might be often misplaced.

However, people are concerned this technology can be misused or taken advantage of, especially in congested areas with high foot traffic like a college campus. This concern is due to the marketing and wider production of these kinds of trackers and that it may be used to track or locate people without their knowledge.

The Grand Valley Police Department (GVPD) hopes to address the worries of technology like the AirTag and inform students of the best ways to practice cyber safety.

GVPD Captain Jeffery Stoll said there doesn’t need to be an immediate assumption of malicious intent.“It’s possible in this area that Bluetooth interactions between AirTags and other phones are going to happen, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that someone is tracking you,” Stoll said. “So if you have an AirTag that’s by you, your phone might try and pick it up.”

For an AirTag to start tracking something, it has to be enabled on the smart

device first. The technology reaches out to compatible phones, trying confirm where the location data should be reported.

In a highly dense area where many compatible devices are all together, there is a higher possibility that an AirTag will try to pair with the wrong smartphone by accident.

In this event, a notification will appear on the screen that an unknown device is trying to connect via Bluetooth.

Stoll said this can sometimes be concerning to students, especially if they don’t have an AirTag. “It could be that your friend that’s next to you that has an AirTag and the phones are just interfacing in a highly densely populated area like Grand Valley,” Stoll said. “I think you’re going to understand where if people have a lot of AirTags, it’s possible that (because of the proximity) the phones may try and connect and there is no negative intent at all.”

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A4 | OPINIONS

JANUARY 31, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN

EDITORIAL GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON

By Athena Jasman

Canceling classroom contact tracing signals change

G

01/31/22

editorial@lanthorn.com

Is streaming good for the music industry?

BY AYRON RUTAN FRESHMAN MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

In the age of the internet, the way artists create, share, and monetize their work has shifted and changed in the last 20 years.

It all started when the file sharing website Napster rose to fame as a way to download and share music for free. As many know, the reason Napster was shutdown was the fact that none of the artists who had music on the site were compensated for their work.

After the fall of Napster, it didn’t take long for new music streaming services to sprout up all across the world. Apple’s iTunes launched in 2003, Pandora was founded in 2005, and Spotify was released in 2006.

Each service offers its own busi-

ness model in terms of how the company and musicians will profit. iTunes was probably the most ethical with them offering songs for purchase for $0.99 a piece.

Fast forward to today, and those three same companies top the music streaming industry. Apple’s iTunes has transitioned into Apple Music with a subscription-based model.

Spotify and Pandora offer free and premium versions.

The music streaming industry is booming, with nearly one-third of Americans listening to music via streaming. But while streaming companies are making a killing, artists are making fractions per stream.

For example, Spotify -- possibly the most popular streaming service on the market -- only pays out about $0.003 to $0.005 per stream. On top of that, if an artist is signed to a major record label, they could get even less. Currently, artists who are on major labels only receive about 16% of their streaming revenue.

While they may be devaluing an artist’s music from a monetary standpoint, an argument can be made for the benefits that streaming services can offer an artist in terms of marketing and distribution.

Spotify currently boasts about 172 million paid premium users world-

wide. This means that the music on their platform is available to a large audience all over the globe. This is a huge benefit for independent artists who may not have massive marketing teams at their disposal.

With so many pros and cons to music streaming services, many may wonder whether or not streaming is good for the music industry. While the concept of an online platform where music can be consumed and shared to a large global audience is a great idea, it’s obvious that it hasn’t done artists justice in its practice.

While streaming is good and bad for the music industry, there are alternatives to help support musicians.

The solution would be for the platforms to increase pay per stream and to act as a way for musicians to stray away from major record labels, so that they can get the most out of their music. Doing so would not only help up-and-coming artists make a living from their passion, but it would also help the big-name musicians we love keep the cost of their concerts down.

Streaming can be a huge asset to the music industry, but it must be done ethically to ensure that musicians are fairly compensated for the art that they put so much time and effort into.

rand Valley State Un i ve r s it y an nounced they have discontinued contact tracing in classrooms, a COVID-19 mitigation strategy that informs people of potential exposure to the virus.

As of Jan. 24, the University of Michigan is continuing to contact trace, and Michigan State University appears to be doing the same, except for close-contact individuals who are fully vaccinated and boosted.

However, many institutions are no longer contact tracing, as attempting to keep track of individuals who have potentially been exposed to COVID-19 during this surge of the highly-contagious omicron variants has proven to be a difficult and resource-intensive process.

The change in GVSU’s policy was announced with multiple emails to select audiences. A Jan. 24 email to faculty shared the news, days before a Jan. 27 email went out to students. In the meantime, multiple faculty members passed on the announcement to their students, which is how some first learned of the change.

Reactions to the news were varied. The discontinuation of contact tracing in

GVSU classrooms has likely flown under the radar of most students in the community. Among students who did notice, some were disappointed, while others expressed understanding or mild concern.

The decision is understandable; contact tracing is an intensive undertaking and there are other tasks the university’s Virus Action Team and COVID Awareness Team (CAT) could direct their attention towards; like booster outreach and the push for high-quality masking. Shifting their focus away from classroom exposures, the CAT can notify higher-risk exposures, like household members and unmasked close contacts sooner.

Even before the announcement, students and faculty expressed disappointment with the slow speed of GVSU’s contact tracing process.

However, the rollout of the decision – informing faculty days before students – did prompt frustration, and it’s easy to conflate this decision with others that are more obviously objectionable.

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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 31, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS COVID-19

VAT discontinues classroom contact tracing

BY AUDREY WHITAKER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University’s Virus Action Team (VAT) and COVID Awareness Team (CAT) have discontinued contact tracing in classrooms and in faculty and staff meetings.

Faculty and staff were notified of the change via email on Jan. 24 as the third week of winter semester classes began.

The message said that cases had decreased since the first week of classes and that the VAT anticipates fewer cases moving forward.

“The Virus Action Team and COVID Assessment Team (CAT) have on-going discussions with the Ottawa and Kent County Health Departments on best practices for close contact notification and quarantine,” the VAT said via email. “Based on these discussions and our experiences in 2021, the decision has been made to discontinue contract tracing in classrooms.”

While this part of GVSU’s COVID-19 mitigation plan has come to an end, other strategies will continue, according to the email. Faculty will still be notified when students in their classes test positive for COVID-19 and continue to require quarantine for unvaccinated household contacts and close unmasked contacts.

Greg Sanial, vice president for Finance

and Administration and director of the VAT, said that the CAT will now focus their efforts on household members and unmasked close contacts of those who test positive.

“CAT continues to contact trace close contacts of positive cases, focusing efforts on those who are most at-risk: household members and unmasked close contacts,” Sanial said. “Discontinuation of contact tracing in the classroom allows CAT to notify those at highest risk sooner.”

Sanial said that contact tracing in the classroom led to many students unnecessarily isolating during the fall ’21 semester- they never tested positive for the virus after masked exposure in the classroom. Ultimately, this disrupted students’ learning and didn’t provide any health or safety benefits to others in the same classroom “During fall semester, we quarantined unvaccinated students who may have been exposed in a classroom,” Sanial said.

“None of those quarantined students tested positive and needed isolation.”

Students who do test positive for the virus should report their results via GVSU’s daily self-assessment. Sanial said that those who do test positive are required to isolate and are not welcome in class while they are sick. Instructors will be notified

PANDEMIC: The Grand Valley State University Virus Action Team has made the decision to stop contact tracing in classrooms. The community was notified of the change on Jan. 24. GVL | SYDNEY LIM

when a student in their class tests positive.

Contact tracing in classrooms is no longer required by the Ottawa and Kent county health departments. Jonathan Arringdale, public health nurse for Kent County Health Department (KCHD) who meets regularly with the VAT, said contact tracing has become a challenge for area schools amid the surge of omicron cases.

“We recommend they continue to contact trace, even though there’s a surge and

of course, you’re gonna have a lot of cases,” Arringdale said. “We always recommend you do the very best that you can with the people that you have.”

Cathy Armstrong, public health nurse with KCHD, said that public health orders have changed now that vaccines and masking policies have reduced the threat of COVID-19 to public health.

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DONATION

Former GV trustee gifts funds to support HBCU/HSI Pipeline

BY PAYTON BRAZZIL NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

OPPORTUNITY: Former GV Trustee, Dr. William Pickard gifted GV $800,000 for the HBCU/HSI Pipeline Consortium. GVL | LAUREN SEYMOUR

Dr. William “Bill” Pickard recently ​​ gifted $800,000 to help support Grand Valley State University’s Historically Black College/University and Hispanic Serving Institution (HBCU/HSI) Pipeline Consortium.

The donation will also help to aid students from Genesee, Kent, Oakland and Wayne County Michigan.

According to GVSU’s website, the purpose of the HBCU/HSI Pipeline Consortium is to collaborate with HBCUs and HSIs to help create more opportunities for students of minoritized populations to find “real, meaningful positions while simultaneously expanding talent pipelines in West Michigan.”

Pickard’s gift created two funds, the Lubbers and Pickard Endowment and the Dr. William F. Pickard Pathway to Education Fund.

The Lubbers and Pickard Endowment will be invested for future students studying through GVSU and the Dr. William F. Pickard Pathway to Education Fund will be distributed annually.

Not only does Pickard support the HBCU/HSI Pipeline Consortium, but he was also instrumental in helping GVSU’s

first HBCU partnership with Fort Valley State University (FVSU).

There are now seven FVSU students who are currently enrolled in master’s degree programs at GVSU. Saint Augustine’s University has also joined with GVSU as a second HBCU. VP for Enrollment Development and Educational Outreach, B. Donta Truss, said prospective students would benefit from the new HBCU/HSI Pipeline.

“We are working with historically black colleges and universities to ensure that there is a partnership that allows these students to take advantage of GVSU and the robust academic portfolio we offer,” Truss said. “So, the students can be at an HBCU and graduate and then pipeline into our programs here.”

GVSU is also working with more universities in hopes of partnering with several other HBCU/HSI programs.

Pickard is a business and civic leader in the Detroit metropolitan area and has been an entrepreneur for 30 years. He was also a member of GVSU’s Board of Trustees (1977-1989) for 11 years and his lifetime support for students exceeds $1 million.

Pickard said the two funds were created out of Pickard’s gratitude to President Emeritus Arend “Don” Lubbers, founder Bill Seidman and others who inspired him to become an entrepreneur and pay his success forward.

President Philomena V. Mantella said Pickard’s contributions will help provide opportunities for future students and continue to diversify GVSU. “Dr. Pickard’s gift allows the university to enroll and graduate an increasingly diverse group of talented and deserving learners from underrepresented backgrounds, fueling our vision of an inclusive and equitable community that fosters and sustains a sense of belonging, and promotes diversity and respect,” Mantella said.

In addition to the funds going towards the pipeline, they also create more scholarship opportunities for students that face financial barriers.

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A6&7 | LAKER LIFE

JANUARY 31, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

UndocuWeek highlights issues faced

by DACA and undocumented students

BY JACOB DEWEERD LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

For the second straight year, Grand Valley State University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs hosted UndocuWeek, a weeklong series of events focused on advocacy and allyship for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and undocumented immigrants. This year’s UndocuWeek included four different events that culminated in a solidarity walk across campus.

DACA is an immigration policy that allows undocumented immigrants that arrived in the United States as children to receive a renewable two-year deferment from being deported. The policy was passed by the Obama administration in 2012 and expanded in 2014.

GVSU, which is home to many DACA and undocumented students, doesn’t require proof of citizenship during the admission application process. On the GVSU Resources for DACA and Undocumented Students website, quotes from both of the last two University presidents reaffirm that policy.

“We have a culture at Grand Valley that is committed to supporting our students; all our students,” said President Philomena Mantella. “We encourage those who are qualified, and prepared to tackle a rigorous education, to apply to become a Grand Valley State University Laker. You will be welcome.”

It’s in that spirit that UndocuWeek is held. The purpose of the event is to ed-

ucate students about their undocumented peers and to highlight the many issues they face while living and attending college in the U.S. Thalia Guerra-Flores, Assistant Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, said the event is also a way to showcase the resources GVSU offers to DACA and undocumented students.

“To me, it is important to show that our campus offers services and support to our DACA and undocumented students,” Guerra-Flores said. “We are one of the very few college campuses that outwardly has a dedicated website for DACA and undocumented students, a campus advocate, UndocuALLY trainings, and a week-long event.”

An UndocuALLY training session with Guerra-Flores is one of the four events that make up UndocuWeek. UndocuALLY is a nationwide program, and these trainings are given at universities all across the country. The program’s goal is to identify and support allies of undocumented students and those who advocate solutions to undocumented issues.

“It is a presentation that was created by our former graduate student Estefany Paniagua-Pardo before I came to the institution,” Guerra-Flores said. “The presentation goes over some of the history of DACA and what you can do as a community member to be an ally to this population.”

UndocuWeek also includes a showing of the documentary “The Unafraid,” which follows three DACA students living in Georgia, a state that has banned undocumented and DACA students from receiv-

OPPORTUNITY: GVSU does not require proof of citizenship during the application process and offers resources on their website. COURTESY | GVSU OFFICE OF MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS

ing in-state tuition rates at public universities. Despite the film being four years old, its content is still relevant as today’s DACA students face the same issues.

“We wanted the campus community to learn about the experiences of DACA students in higher education,” Guerra-Flores said. “The state of DACA remains the same. Advocates are still seeking a permanent solution for a pathway to citizenship through the American Dream and Promise Act, and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.” GVSU alum Veronica Beltran, who is the Legal Director for the Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center, gave a virtual presentation titled “Immigration 101”. The presentation covered legal issues faced by immigrants as well as helpful immigration resources.

Beltran spoke about what students can do to help their undocumented and DACA classmates.

“If someone has disclosed their status to you personally, ask them what you can do to help,” Beltran said. “What would be supportive, outside of having a personal relationship with someone, would be creating a mobilized effort, or doing something like a fundraiser for renewal fees.”

DACA and undocumented students face many barriers of entry when it comes to enrolling in college, many of which are exacerbated in southern states.

Alabama and South Carolina go so far as to prohibit undocumented students from enrolling at any public postsecond-

ary-education institution.

Other restrictions, like being unable to get driver’s licenses and apply for FAFSA, make attending college extremely difficult even for students that are allowed to attend public universities.

“I think the biggest thing for me, that I hope students understand, is the resiliency that undocumented students have, and the hard work and dedication they have,” Paniagua-Pardo said. “They’re putting in work to overcome all those issues and to still show up day after day to class and to succeed in higher education and get a degree at the end of it.”

UndocuWeek concluded with a solidarity walk through the Allendale campus. Members of the Office of Multicultural Affairs joined students and others from the community to show their support for DACA and undocumented students.

“It’ll show our students the actual support of the people and we can all group together and combine as a community,” Paniagua-Pardo said. “So, I think it’ll be really good for our students to know that regardless of what they may be going through, regardless of their life or home situation, that there is a group of people that are willing to learn about what it means to be undocumented or DACA.” More information about UndocuWeek and other ways to get involved with Multicultural Affairs events can be found at www. gvsu.edu/oma.

SUPPORT: In addition to learning about issues facing undocumented and DACA students, GVSU students learned how they can offer support COURTESY | GVSU OFFICE OF MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS

A8 | LAKER LIFE A LOOK AT LIFESTYLE GET RESUMES REVIEWED BY INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS

On Jan. 31, the Career Center is hosting Resume Review Day. The event will feature professionals from several industries that will be reviewing resumes and giving tips on formatting, content and how to translate educational and professional work experience into resume content that employers will value. Resume Review Day is being held virtually and students can sign up for sessions with multiple professionals from companies like JR Automation, Northwestern Mutual, YMCA of Grand Rapids and the Career Center.

NETWORK WITH HTM STUDENTS AND EMPLOYERS

The Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) Department is hosting a networking event on Feb. 1 dedicated to helping HTM students connect with each other and find job and internship opportunities. Managers from 30 local hospitality organizations will attend this in-person event, which is being hosted in the HagarLubber Exhibition Hall (105E DeVos Center). To keep the environment as casual as possible, informal dress is recommended. Refreshments will be provided and the event is free and open to anyone. No registration is required.

LEARN INTERVIEWING SKILLS WITH WOMEN IN BUSINESS

On Feb. 1 the Women in Business club is collaborating with Career Advisor Lori Staggs to provide mock interview training.

For students who’re starting to apply for jobs, this will be a great chance to get live feedback on their interviewing etiquette.

The event is taking place in Seidman 1008A and interested students will need to RSVP on LakerLink.

CELEBRATE HARRY STYLES’ BIRTHDAY

Campus Activities Board is celebrating the birth of Harry Styles on Feb. 1.

Held in Kirkhof 2270, the celebration will feature Styles-themed snacks, trivia and a photoshoot for participants in their best Styles-inspired outfits. There’s a good chance that Styles’ music will be played.

The party is open to all students; no RSVP required.

JANUARY 31, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

RESOURCES

GV welcomes transfer students with virtual event

BY MELIA WILLIAMS LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

To help new transfer students adapt to life as Lakers, Grand Valley State University hosted a virtual Transfer Student Welcome event focused on alleviating the stress of transferring. The event took place on Zoom on Jan. 25 and 26.

The Zoom room was a safe virtual space for transfer students who got the opportunity to discover resources available to them on campus, meet other transfer students and ask questions about living and studying at GVSU. “It is already hard to get transfer students to come in and ask for help, so the goal is to get students to leave with information that they may not have known about,” said exploratory study advisor Emily Davis.

Davis, who herself was a transfer student during her undergraduate study, said that one of the biggest challenges for transfer students is the adjustment period that comes with getting acclimated to a new institution.

A number of different organizations were included in the event to display all of the resources available to all students, whether they’re transfer students or not.

“There are an overwhelming number of organizations that students have access to,

ZOOM: Transfer students joined faculty and staff from the Career Center, Financial Aid Office, Office of Student Life and various other advising departments during the virtual event. GVL | SYDNEY LIM

these are just a few to help get students started,” Davis said.

On the Zoom call, students had the option to join a breakout room with any organization they wanted to speak with. Numerous advising departments, the Financial Aid Office and the Office of Student Life all had advisors present.

Career advisor Lisa Knapp spoke about the breadth of the Career Center’s reach to the entire GVSU student population.

“We mean it when we say ‘Laker for a

Lifetime’, your access to the Career Center doesn’t end after you graduate,” said Knapp.

The Career Center has a variety of crucial resources for transfer students, one of which is the Career Lab. There, trained faculty and student Career Advisors assist students with resume and job search help, and help students decide what direction to take with their major.

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ACTIVISM

Grand Rapids activist encourages students to get involved in their community

BY CLEMENCE DANIERE LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State University Community Learning Service Center, in partnership with the Peter C. Cook Leadership Academy, held an informational meeting

MAKE DOG TOYS WITH ALPHA PHI OMEGA

On Feb. 2, Alpha Phi Omega (APO) is hosting a service opportunity for students to turn old t-shirts into dog toys.

Participants are encouraged to bring old shirts and a pair of scissors, but APO will have extras just in case. The event will take place in Kirkhof 2215 and 2216 from 6 to 8 p.m. so students can earn two service hours for participating.

ACCOUNTABILITY: Aly Bates, founder of Always Film the Police addressed students during her presentation on activism. GVL | RACHEL SLOMBA

about activism and students’ involvement in the Grand Rapids Community.

The talk, which took place on Jan. 26, is a part of Democracy 101, a program run by the CLSC that focuses on keeping students involved in current issues and encourages them to be active in their community.

“The purpose of Democracy 101 is to bring light to the issues that students on our campus may be dealing with and need support and knowledge on,” said civic engagement associate Abigail Caswell.

Held in the Mary Idema Pew Library, the talk was given by Aly Bates, founder of the now-inactive organization Justice for Black Lives (JFBL). She spoke about what change she has brought and what others can learn from her time as an activist in the Grand Rapids area.

Bates founded JFBL in June of 2020, fulfilling her desire to go behind the scenes of activism and start to make a difference in the community herself. The organization focused on bringing awareness of police

brutality to Grand Rapids and surrounding areas. Rallies, protests and other forms of activism were present during the early days of the organization.

Bates’ efforts have succeeded in bringing awareness to city commissioners and she secured a meeting with the mayor to discuss further concerns. Although change has proven to be slow and discouraging, progress is still progress in Bates’ point of view.

Since then, JFBL has disbanded and converted into a community-based platform, Always Film the Police. The organization encourages members of the community to upload videos, pictures and verbal statements to hold police officers accountable for their actions.

Bates’ strides to make the community a safer and more accountable space for everyone is something that GVSU students can look up to and model their own actions after.

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JANUARY 31, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

ARTS AT A GLANCE LEARN ABOUT FASHION AT FASHION WEEK

Fashion Week is starting up Monday Jan. 31 with a modeling workshop. The workshop will be running from 5-6 p.m. in the Fieldhouse Dance Studio. Those who attend will be able to get a sneak peek into the fashion world and what goes on behind the scenes. On Feb. 2, there will be a bake sale from noon2:30 p.m. in the Kirkhof lobby. This will benefit the on-campus group, Model Entertainment.

On Feb. 4 there will be bowling at Park Center Lanes at 7 p.m. The cost of bowling is $4.50 per game per person and $3 for shoe rental. There will be carpooling available to those who need it. Ending out Fashion Week there will be modeling auditions from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Feb. 5 in the Fieldhouse Dance Studio.

STAGE HOLDS A VARIETY VALLEY TALENT SHOW There will be a student led talent show put on by STAGE Feb. 4 and 5. The performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and doors will open at 7:15 p.m. at the Cook DeWitt Center. The talent show will last until 9 p.m. with a brief intermission between. This talent show will feature singing, live music performances, comedy, spoken word and more. There’s no cost to attend.

SUBJECT TO CHANGE HOLDS IMPROV SHOW On Feb. 4 from 8-9:30 p.m. Subject to Change is hosting their improv show, “Love is a Funny Thing.” The theme of this event is comedy as well as romance. Tickets are $1 per person and will be available at the door, however seats are limited. For those who want to confirm their spot, there is an option to reserve tickets online. The link to get tickets in available on their Instagram page @gvstcimprov.

EXPERIENCE WORLD OF WINTER INSTALLATIONS Starting Feb. 4 there will be a new installation put in downtown Grand Rapids for the World of Winter events, “Loop.” This will be an illuminated musical interactive piece. This piece features short flip-book style movies which are inspired by Quebec literature. This is played in a zoetrope style, which is an optical toy from the 19th century. “Loop” is a mix of a music box, zoetrope and railcar. This will feature six different short films from different creators in Montreal.

Another piece to experience during World of Winter is the “Kindness Machine.” This was made by a local artist Andrea Zelenak. The intention behind this piece is to spread kindness by even the smallest of actions.

The piece features a colorful vending machine that challenges people to be kind to others.

A9 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT GALLERY

Behind the scenes: Selecting on-campus art

BY AYRON RUTAN ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

On both Grand Valley State University campuses, one prominent feature in their buildings is the art hanging on the walls.

Many may wonder where it comes from, who selects it and why. The people behind the art on campus are a part of the GVSU Art Gallery.

On the GVSU Art Gallery’s website, four prominent on-campus buildings are featured, including DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health, Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall, Lake Huron Hall and the Office of the Provost. Each building has its own distinct collection of artworks curated specifically to dress its walls.

Alison Christensen is the Art Gallery’s Project Manager and Curator of Public Spaces and is responsible for the process of curating and placing all public art on campus.

She also serves as the GV U-Club Executive Board Secretary, as well as a GVSU alum, earning degrees in 2004 and 2019.

The process of selecting art to feature has multiple steps, but it’s relatively similar for any specific piece or project. It all starts with a meeting between Christensen and department heads, where they discuss what’s desired and how to narrow the options down.

“I’ll ask things like, ‘What are the themes or topics relating to your department, the primary role and function at the university?

DISPLAY: GV students walk past the art on campus, but many don’t know how it gets there or why these certain pieces are chosen to be on display in specific buildings. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

How does your department interact with our students?’” Christensen said. “‘What are the concepts, colors and feelings that you would like the artwork to amplify and support in your space? How do you see the artwork in your space supporting your programs?’”

Christensen says that this line of questioning helps her understand what is being hoped for and helps her be more creative with how she interprets the requests.

“I then put together a digital set of art options for them to review,” Christensen said. “I ask that they share the digital set of options with all working in the space allowing each person a vote on their favorite works of art.

Once I receive feedback on the art selections, I start to lay the artwork out on a digital drawing of the space/building.”

Each piece of art is placed in its respective building for a reason. The curation is meant to inspire and inform students about a wide range of different topics. The pieces are featured in order to encourage civic dialogue, foster creative and critical thought as well as providing a path for reflection and the ability to nurture empathy with others.

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THEATRE

GV performs Shakespeare spinoff play, “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead”

BY COLLEEN GARCIA ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University recently put on their rendition of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” play this past weekend. The play was performed four times, starting on Jan. 27. The play is meant to

ON-STAGE: GVSU Theatre held a Shakespearean inspired play “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” this past week. GVL | MAX RITCHIE

highlight the absurdity of human existence.

Diane Machin is the director of this year’s play and is a visiting professor at GVSU. This is Machin’s first year in Michigan, so this play was special to her as it was her first with the GVSU community.

“I was intrigued to work with these particular students and the opportunity to produce work in an incredible space like the HAAS performing arts center,” Machin said.

The pandemic has brought many long-lasting effects to the theatre community, causing many theatre companies to lose business and eventually shut down. Despite the hardships that have come with the pandemic, it has created new and unique ways for theatre to be produced.

Machin has found creative solutions to lockdowns and social distancing through Zoom. On Zoom, Machin has been able to create and direct an entire short film along

with directing an opera using the green screen effects.

“The biggest challenge is being prepared for the unknown variants,” Machin said.

Working through the pandemic has been difficult but as Machin explained it forced her and her colleagues to become more creative. When trying to put on “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern,” the actor who played Guildenstern became sick with less than two weeks until the premier of the show. Machin said the pandemic made it even more critical for understudies to be casted.

“A unique person who can step into an existing show and make it feel as if they are as much a part of the energy as this particular group,” Machin said. “To me, it’s training to be a versatile and brave artist.”

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A10 | SPORTS QUICK HITS JAKE VAN TUBBERGEN MAKES GV BASKETBALL HISTORY Senior forward Jake Van Tubbergen has always been one of Grand Valley State University’s most valuable players and he’s earned his moment in program history with 1,000 career points this past week.

Van Tubbergen is one of only four GVSU basketball alumni to break 1,000 points.

Van Tubbergen has been on the team for five years now, using his extra year of eligibility form the COVID-19 pandemic year. The freshman during the 2017-18 season came out swinging, earning GLIAC Freshman of the Year and Second team All-GLIAC honors.

Sophomore year, he repeated the success of his rookie year and went into his junior season as the first Laker to earn NABC All-American status since the 200708 season. Van Tubbergen also made First team All-GLIAC and First team All-Region.

His senior season didn’t count towards his eligibility, but he still managed to earn Preseason Player of the Year and First team All-GLIAC to continue his streak.

The 1,000th career point is just another accomplishment that Van Tubbergen can tack onto his legacy at GVSU as he finishes out his last year as a Laker.

GV LOSES WOMEN’S SPORTS LEGEND JOAN BOAND LAST WEEK On Jan. 27, Grand Valley State University trailblazer and longtime professor and coach Joan Boand passed away at 88 years old.

In 1996 just two years after the school opened, Boand came to GVSU to teach physical education. As an athlete herself, Boand recognized how important women’s sports were and decided to turn GVSU into a leader for women’s athletics.

Her achievements began with the start of the women’s volleyball team in 1968 which she founded and coached for 26 years. Winning five national championships in a row plus one more, her success with the program translated to the development of several more sports teams for women. She coached the women’s basketball team to four GLIAC titles and the women’s softball team to 10 NCAA championships.

Before retiring in 1999, Boand served as the Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Women’s Administrator and earned herself the lifetime achievement award for Women Leaders in College Sports. She was also inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame during her incredibly influential career, ultimately leading her to the legacy that GVSU honors today.

In 2020, Boand was commemorated with the Wall of National Championships in the GVSU Fieldhouse where her memory will live on with the school and continue to inspire, motivate, encourage and push women’s sports forward.

Because of Boand, 20 out of the 27 national titles that GVSU holds are in women’s sports.

JANUARY 31, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

GV Women’s Basketball extends win streak to 12

BY BRIAN BLOOM SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The no. 11 ranked Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team (17-1) extended their winning streak to 12 games with decisive wins against Parkside University (8-11) 67-34 on Jan. 27 and Purdue-Northwest University (6-12) 64-40 on Jan. 29.

The team’s latest win was a tight affair from tipoff. GVSU held a narrow 7-6 at the 6:29 mark in the first quarter. After a back and forth six minutes, which saw the Pride score five of the last seven points of the quarter, GVSU faced a narrow 15-13 deficit to start the second quarter.

GVSU was on fire in the second quarter, scoring seven unanswered points. Freshman guard Rylie Bisballe capped off the 7-0 run with a layup after a steal by sophomore forward Courtney Sharland.

However, Purdue-Northwest battled back, turning a five-point deficit into a 2424 tie with 53 seconds remaining in the half.

Junior guard Emily Spitzley wasn’t fazed by the lead evaporating, as she nailed a threepoint shot with just 34 seconds left in the first half, giving the team a 27-26 lead going into the locker room.

While the team held the lead at the end of the first half, improvements had to be made going into the second if the Lakers were going to come out on top.

“We weren’t clean offensively in this game; a lot of that was due to Purdue-Northwest,” Williams said. “They were really prepared defensively. I thought they took away a lot of

ON FIRE: The Lakers have extended their streak for the eighth week in a row, now putting them at 10-1 in the GLIAC conference. They haven’t lost since Dec. 2, their first GLIAC game. GVL | SYDNEY LIM

things we wanted to do, they got us out of the post, and they went to the rim on us.”

The third quarter was a very different story. Spitzley picked up where she left off in the first half, as she canned a fast break three-pointer. On the very next possession, freshman Ellie Droste added a three of her own, extending their lead to eight points.

The Lakers rode the momentum they gained all throughout the third quarter, going on a 19-5 run lasting until the 2:17 mark in the quarter.

“We were slow in the first half offensively, but at halftime we reminded ourselves to just stick to who we are, read the defense, take what it gives you, and that’s what we did,” Spitzley said. “We found some easy breakaways, some layups and easier looks that got us flowing better. Once we started clicking, things went better for us offensively.”

In the final quarter of regulation, GVSU’s

stout defense shut the door on any chance of a Purdue-Northwest comeback, as the team only allowed four points the entire quarter.

The team’s balanced scoring effort by the bench added 12 more points to their already big lead, winning the game 64-40.

“I thought we played a good basketball game for 40 minutes,” Williams said. “I thought we did a better job in the second half getting deep on the block, we hunted shots, saw our penetration better; defensively, we stayed in front of (Purdue-Northwest) better and got on their shooters.”

GVSU dominated in points off turnovers, outscoring the Pride 19-8. The team performed well on their fast break opportunities as well, scoring 15 more points than Purdue-Northwest.

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CLUB SPORTS

DI club hockey defeats WMU for the sixth time

BY HOLLY BIHLMAN SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

During the weekend, the Grand Valley State University (13-15) men’s DI club hockey team defeated the Western Michigan University Stallions (6-22) for the sixth time this season. With all of the COVID-19 postponements, cancellations and stressors on the league, the convenient 45-minute drive has led these two teams to face off against each other for a few more games than usual.

Coming back from a difficult 5-3 loss

FAMILIAR FOES: After several schedule changes this season, the Lakers played the Stallions again this weekend. GVL | LAUREN SEYMOUR

against one of GVSU’s longtime rivalries, Davenport University on Jan. 22, the team was looking to increase their overall record in the few games they have left before playoffs. “(It was) one of those games where you didn’t get a lot of bounces; didn’t get much help,” said coach Carl Trosien. “We scored late to make it 4-3, and then they score one late, so you don’t get a chance to pull the goaltender and try to make things happen, and that was frustrating. I felt like we played a little bit better than the results. We’ve got to get on the right side of the win column on a few more of those during the year.”

Heading into their fifth game against the Stallions on Jan. 28, the Lakers played their usual high-scoring game, coming out of the gates in the first period with five goals.

The team was able to keep the pace up for the remaining two periods for a final score of 9-3, scoring nine goals for the third time against Western.

On Jan. 29, the Lakers picked up right where they left off on Friday night with freshman wing Mason Breit scoring an early goal with 17:28 left in the first period. The game had a slower start than usual for the

Lakers with that being their only goal scored in the first.

In the second period, junior wing and team captain Zach Borchardt scored his first goal of the night 6:36 minutes in, ramping up the pace of the game. Borchardt hit his 50th career goal on Friday night, adding another four goals total to his tally by the end of Saturday’s game.

Freshman wing Carson Korte added another goal with 9:34 left in the second, followed by Borchardt’s second goal of the night with just two minutes left in the period. The Stallions had yet to put one in the back of the net with the score at 4-0 before the third period.

With tensions rising between the two teams who’ve now played each other plenty this season, junior defender Tyler Hoffman and Western’s Blake Siewersten ended up in the penalty box for fighting midway through the game before the Stallions could avoid a shut-out.

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A11 | SPORTS

JANUARY 31, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS MEN’S BASKETBALL

Men’s Basketball goes 1-2 over busy week

BY SHAWN ROBINSON SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State University (13-5) men’s basketball team played three games in five days, going 1-2 overall this past week.

The Lakers were defeated Jan. 25 against Davenport (9-7), 72-87 and Jan. 27 against Parkside (10-9), 67-78. The Lakers bounced back for a victory against Purdue Northwest (5-15) on Jan. 29, 89-80.

GVSU is now 7-4 in GLIAC play with just nine games left in the regular season.

“It’s tough; just physically tough,” coach Ric Wesley said. “Our guys taking care of their bodies, fueling up, getting rest and staying hydrated are just so important.”

On Tuesday, the men’s basketball team fell to Davenport, but still came out with a few successes from the game. Three Lakers scored double figures, with senior guard Jordan Harris leading the way with 22 points. Senior Jake Van Tubbergen notched another double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds but only played seven minutes in the first half due to early foul trouble.

Both offenses were slow to start the contest, as the game was tied at nine with 14:23 remaining in the first. GVSU opened the lead to five after a made jumper by Harris with 10:57 left, but Davenport cut the deficit to one, 22-23 with 9:31 remaining.

The Panthers took their first lead of the night, 39-38, 16:52 into the opening half after a made layup. The one-point advantage soon turned into a nine-point lead for Dav-

enport heading into the break.

In the second half, Van Tubbergen made two free throws to cut the Davenport lead down to five with 17:45 left. The Panthers three-point scoring continued in the half, as Marcedus Leech Jr. knocked down a three with 16:05 remaining to put Davenport up by nine.

Senior Issac Gassman stepped up and made a three-pointer 5:04 into the second half to cut the lead to five. The Panthers would then go on a 10-0 run halfway through the last frame and never lose the lead again, securing the 87-72 victory over the Lakers.

On Thursday, the Lakers repeated some of the same mistakes against Parkside. Despite the loss, Van Tubbergen grabbed 10 boards, giving him 1,000 in his career and only the fourth Laker in the program to reach the mark. Senior Deleon Brown had a game-high 18 points.

Parkside came out firing and had a 12-5 lead with 14:45 remaining in the opening half. The Lakers would get within one with 10:52 left as Harris made a long three-pointer.

The Rangers held the lead for majority of the half but at the 16:30 mark, GVSU got their first advantage of the game after Van Tubbergen knocked down a jumper. The Lakers would maintain that lead going into the break, leading 32-30.

Parkside tied the game at 32-32 right out of the gate to open the second half. A

CONTESTED: Over five days, the Lakers played three home games, losing two to Davenport University and Parkside, but pulling through with a win against Purdue Northwest. GVL | SYDNEY LIM

back-and-forth start made it a close game, 41-41 with 14:44 remaining. The Rangers would go on an 8-0 run to retain the lead for the rest of the contest, giving them a 78-67 victory.

On Saturday, the Lakers would get their first win of the week against Purdue Northwest, 89-80. Van Tubbergen led all scorers with 30 points and 14 rebounds, including 13 free throws. Brown recorded 17 points in the second half alone and a career-high 24 points while knocking down four three-pointers.

“Happy to get the win,” Wesley said. “Purdue Northwest is always a very enthusiastic, aggressive team that we always have battles with. (We) feel fortunate enough to survive their run; we needed to stop the bleeding.

We’ve been in little bit of a rut here, so happy we did that and hopefully we can get rolling a little bit.”

The Lakers opened the game on a 16-4 run, causing Purdue Northwest to regroup and call a timeout. The Pride slowly came back into the game after a made three pointer, making it a four-point game 25-21.

PNW took their first lead of the game after back-to-back triples to make it a twopoint contest, 33-31. After a made two by Van Tubbergen, GVSU took a 35-34 lead before going on a 6-2 run to end the half and take a 39-36 advantage going into the break.

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TRACK AND FIELD

Personal records broken for GV track and field at Bill Clinger Classic

BY JAMES HERRICK SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s track and field teams hosted the Bill Clinger Classic on Jan. 28. The event was a success for the Lakers as the women won seven events while the men won six.

HURDLES: Several track athletes set personal records this weekend. GVL | LAUREN SEYMOUR

Standout performances from the meet include sophomore Eli Kosiba in the high jump. Kosiba cleared 2.15 meters to take first place in the event. This also set Kosiba’s personal record and moved him into a tie for first place in DII high jump.

In another jumping event, junior Mac Mitchell finished in first place in the triple jump with a final score of 13.63 meters.

The women also won a handful of jumping events. Sophomore Jenna Doyle won the high jump as she cleared 1.67 meters. In the long jump event, sophomore Ashley Perryman finished with a distance of 5.16 meters to take first.

Both the men’s and women’s teams dominated the throwing events. For the men, sophomore Myles Kerner won both weight throw and shot put as he threw for distances of 19.90 meters and 18.54 meters, respectively.

On the women’s side, junior Judith Essemiah set a personal record of 20.43 meters to win the weight throw and freshman Mackenzie Bohrer threw 13.79 meters to

finish first in the shot put event.

The final win in the field events came from senior Elli Kimes in the pole vault as she cleared 3.95 meters.

In track events, the only individual win for the women came from sophomore Klaudia O’Malley in the mile when she set her personal record of 4:48.34.

“I was coming into (the mile) a little bit skeptical,” O’Malley said. “I had COVID last week, so I was doing the return to play process and I didn’t get my first workout back on the track until this Tuesday. I didn’t know what was going to happen. I was pretty confident. I felt I was in a good spot; but still not 100% sure. I’m really happy with how it went.”

The only other track win for the women came in the 4x400 relay. The team consisted of sophomores Cameron Cleveland and Sydney Nesbitt along with freshman Taryn Chapko and Maria Mitchell. They finished with a time of 4:00.14.

The men picked up two wins on the track as senior Marcos Garcia won the 3000-me-

ter run and junior John Groendyk won the 800-meter run.

“I feel like I am running pretty well right now,” Groendyk said. “I feel like I am sitting pretty good heading into postseason stuff.”

The Bill Clinger Classic provided GVSU with a number of positives achievements to look back on.

“A lot of bright spots,” said coach Jerry Baltes. “We just need to continue making progress and keep checking some boxes.

Hopefully come big meets, conference and nationals, we will be in a good spot.”

Next week, GVSU will be rotating the student-athletes that will compete. As they are about a month into their indoor season, the runners that have competed over the last couple of weeks will get time off; meanwhile, those that did not compete on Friday will be back in action next week.

On Feb. 4, the GVSU men’s and women’s track and field teams will be at home as they host the Snowdown Showdown.