Grand Valley Lanthorn vol. 55 no. 18

From Portraits to Plays

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

The dynamic stories of Black visual arts, theatre

Former GV employee takes part in ‘Black business legacy’ with family

HOUSING GUIDE

LAKER EFFECT | A3

GV hosts Valentine’s Drag Show

INSIDE!

EVENT | A13

SEE PAGES 9-12

M O N D A Y , F E B R U A RY 2 2 , 2 02 1 // VO L . 5 5 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 GVSU community has had a cumulative total of 2,358 COVID-19 cases since Aug. 1. The university’s update for this brief was from Friday, Feb. 19.

Through testing results this past week, GVSU’s Virus Action team have so far reported 35 current active cases including 2 staff members, 3 on-campus students, 8 “off-campus Ottawa” students, 7 “off-campus Kent” students and 2 “off-campus other” student with active COVID-19 cases.

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

Testing and Incidence: GVSU’s own testing program has performed 51,779 tests overall since August 21, for a cumulative positivity rate of 1.55% from the latest update as of last week.

“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.

PAST, PRESENT GV PRESIDENTS DISCUSS ROLE OF U.S. CONSTITUTION

Prompted by the Jan. 6, Capital attack, Grand Valley State University President Philomena V. Mantella will be kicking off the new Presidential Roundtable discussions on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. Students interested in attending the virtual event are required to RSVP. Mantella will be joined by former presidents Thomas Haas, Mark Murray and Arend Lubbers to discuss the role of the U.S. Constitution and how America can move forward after the violence at the Capital.

Jeffery Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, will also join the discussion.

HEALTH

Healthcare workers discuss integrating classroom ideals into practices

BY RACHEL MATUSZEWSKI NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

The relationship between a healthcare worker and patient is built on trust, compassion and finding the best possible solution of care. However, sometimes a patient’s religious beliefs do not align with a healthcare worker’s decision for their quality of care.

A virtual West Michigan Medical Ethics Conference and Devos Medical Ethics Colloquy will take place Monday, Feb. 22. Postponed from last spring due to the coronavirus pandemic, the theme of the conference is Waiting for a Miracle: The Role of Religion in a Patient’s Decision Making and for the colloquy, The Role of Religion in Healthcare. The virtual event will be open to the community and students, with a target for those who work in healthcare.

The afternoon session of the conference will be from 2-5 p.m. where presenters, including David Vessey, Grand Valley State University professor of philosophy, will be speaking.

“Some people experience a conflict between what are medical best practices and what their religious beliefs recommend,” Vessey said. “It’s important that practitioners know how to navigate and support patients whose religious views might lead them to reject standard treatments or request non-standard treatments.”

Following Vessey’s presentation will be an interfaith panel. Assistant professor of philosophy Jeffery Byrnes said the panel is not per-

IMPLEMENTATION: The West Michigan Medical Ethics Conference highlighted ways to incorporate ethics and religion training and education into current medical practices. COURTESY | GVSU

fectly diverse and wished for more representation if they had more time. However, there is still a wide range of beliefs and practices.

On the panel will be Bishop Dennis J. McMurray from the Renaissance Church of God in Christ, Ali Metwalli from Western Michigan University representing the Islamic community, Reverend Mark Przybysz from Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Rabbi David J.B. Krishef from the Congregation Ahavas Israel, and Fred Stella from the West

Michigan Hindu Temple.

The panel will be given a series of situations that may occur in a hospital. With each situation, the panel will discuss the questions and concerns they have about a doctor’s perceived course of action based on their religious community and beliefs.

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COMMUNITY

LGBT Resource Center reinforces

importance of allyship

BY ZSOLT PALMER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

NEWLY-LAUNCHED MYBLUELAKER APP MAKES CHECKING GRADES EASIER

In an effort to provide students with functional and app-based solutions to their needs, GVSU is offering a new app to help students easily monitor their classes. MyBlueLaker is integrated with Blackboard, so connected courses are updated on the app as soon as professors update Blackboard.

In addition to real-time grade information, the app allows students to view information from the Banner system such as registration status and GPA information.

The MyBlueLaker app is now available for students on the web and to download on both the Apple Store and Google Play.

FEBRUARY 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

SUPPORT: The LGBT Center highlighted the importance of being an ally to all members of the queer community. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

On Feb. 19, the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center held an informational session called “Queer and Trans 101: A Virtual Training for Allies.” The meeting, held online through Zoom, invited students from across Grand Valley State University to come and learn more about the LGBT community. Participants learned about the bread-and-butter definitions of the community, as well as taking time to talk over more complicated subjects, such as the differences between sex and gender.

By providing this resource to students, the center hopes that students will learn more about the LQBT community and grow as allies.

“Allies, those who do not identify as LGBTQIA+ themselves but actively support LGBTQIA+ people, have an important role in effecting positive interpersonal, cultural and systemic change for LGBTQIA+ people,”

said Jen Hsu-Bishop, director of the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center. “Allies can work alongside those who identify LGBTQIA+ to ensure that all people, inclusive of their sexual orientation and gender identity, are welcomed, affirmed and celebrated.”

The building of an inclusive space on campus is an important facet of the LGBT Resource Center’s mission. Helping allies learn more about the LGBT community is one of the ways they hope to make the GVSU campus more inclusive.

“I believe it’s extremely important for cisgender, heterosexual people to do the work of allyship in making the world, the places, and the people within it, safer and more inclusive and accessible for members of the LGBTQIA+ community,” said LGBT Resource Center Assistant Mark Saint Amour.

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FEBRUARY 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

CONTENTS HEALTH

| A2

EDITORIAL

| A4

INITIATIVE

| A5

EDUCATION

| A6

ARTS

| A7-8

HOUSING GUIDE

| A9-12

CAMPUS

| A13

COLLABORATION

| A14

VOLLEYBALL

| A16

VOL. 5 5

NO. 19

Lan thorn EDITORIAL STAFF

Layout Editor VIVIANA RUBIO

Editor-in-Chief NICK MORAN Associate Editor OLIVIA FELLOWS

Layout Designer KHOI TRAN PROMOTIONS

Associate Editor XAVIER GOLDEN News Editor MARY RACETTE

Promotions Manager ALEX DAGOSTINO ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager SHANE MCATAMNEY

Sports Editor ZACK GOODROW Laker Life Editor YSABELA GOLDEN

BUSINESS STAFF

A&E Editor MARY DUPUIS Image Editor MEGHAN LANDGREN

Business Manager RACHEL MCDOWELL Asst. Business 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.

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A3 | NEWS LAKER EFFECT

Former GV employee takes part in ‘Black business legacy’ with family

BY JACOB DEWEERD NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Daddy’s Dough Cookies is one of many Black-owned businesses in Grand Rapids that have been forced to make major adjustments to survive during the COVID-19 pandemic. But, for a business that went from baking out of a family home to working in commercial kitchens and selling cookies in markets all over the city over the span of just a few years, Daddy’s Dough is no stranger to big changes.

Everything started when the thenf ive-ye ar-old d aug hter of D addy’s Dough’s founder and owner, MarcQus Wright, pitched a business proposal to her father.

“I would bake cookies every now and then and my daughter said, ‘Daddy, you should sell these. You could have a business and call it Nothing but Cookies!’”

Wright said. “I was like ‘Eh, I don’t know if I would do that.”

That small suggestion led to Wright taking his cookie-baking skills more seriously. He decided to see if they were really as good as his daughter said they were, and he gave cookies out to coworkers that he supervised while working at Grand Valley State University.

“Everyone said they were really good, but I thought ‘They might be lying, so let me try giving them to my brothers and sisters,’” Wright said, “When they said the cookies were good, I knew it was legit. If they were nasty, my siblings would have said, ‘Dude, don’t even try to sell these.’”

Wright started Daddy’s Dough in late 2016 and baked cookies from home while still working at GVSU. The business started small, but grew quickly as word and delicious cookie aromas spread around Grand Rapids. Soon enough, Daddy’s Dough outgrew its humble roots in Wright’s home.

“Once I baked 600 cookies for a wedding out of my house my wife was like, ‘You got to figure this out. You have to either cut back or make this a legit business,’” Wright said. “That’s when I decided to put in my resignation to Grand Valley and see what this business could do.”

Since Daddy’s Dough became an official commercial business in June 2018, it has expanded all over Grand Rapids.

Their cookies are sold at three physical retail locations in The Bridge Street Market, Horrock’s Market and Fresh Thyme Farmers Market. Traveling to events and other farmers’ markets used to make up the biggest portion of Daddy’s Dough’s sales, but the COVID-19 pandemic has completely cut out that part of the business.

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FAMILY AFFAIR: Daddy’s Dough is family-owned and run by a former GVSU empoyee who’s delicious hobby in cookie-making inspired him to open his own business in Grand Rapids COURTESY | WMCAT

Making a difference through research, education, and outreach

2020 R.B. ANNIS FOUNDATION: MAGGIE BRENNEMAN “The opportunity to intern at AWRI has been a fully immersive, hands-on experience that has been fundamental to my education at GVSU. Working in the Rediske Lab has given me opportunities I would not otherwise have had to learn and grow as a scientist and student. I’ve been blessed with the chance to not just observe, but immerse myself in techniques and research that directly impact myself and those I love—from water contamination studies to wastewater COVID testing. But more than that, I’ve been able to see the impact of environmental science on a community. Even in the midst of a global pandemic, I was warmly welcomed from my first day and have thoroughly enjoyed being able to jump in and learn during my time here as an intern. I’m incredibly grateful to all those who made this experience the highlight of my undergraduate career.”

The Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute at Grand Valley State University is committed to the study of freshwater resources, with a special emphasis on Michigan and the Great Lakes basin. Located in Muskegon, Michigan, the Institute’s mission is centered around three main programmatic areas:

• Research • Education and outreach • Geospatial analysis Applications will be accepted for Summer 2021 during Winter semester. Visit www.gvsu.edu/wri/ and click on Internships.

A4 | OPINION GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON

FEBRUARY 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

By Katie Cussans

EDITORIAL

Weather outside frightful, rising temperatures not delightful

F

2/22/21

editorial@lanthorn.com

GV aims to aid student mental health following canceled spring break

BY TOVI GENTILUCCI SENIOR MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

Towards the end of the fall semester, Grand Valley State University students learned that there would be no spring break offered during the winter semester.

This surprised many, as students look

forward to their spring break to help and some much-needed time off.

The university announced that March 10 and April 1 will be days off of classes for students to get a break from work in the hopes of helping their mental health and easing stress.

But is that enough?

Many students have already expressed concerns and dismay when regarding the lack of spring break time off this year. One of the first things to be shared around GVSU’s campuses and online was a petition for students to gain some sort of mental health break.

The GVSU administration listened, and gave students two days off during the later weeks in the semester, expressing that the Counseling Center is open for students as a resource every semester.

Despite the announcement, this left many students wondering if the new days

off are enough.

Eric Klingensmith, Associate Director of Clinical and Crisis Services at GVSU, encouraged students to visit the GVSU counseling website for tips to help themselves through their social media, group counseling, online help via Telehealth, and even view their self-help videos. He also urged students to use the resources on the counseling website if students find themselves in need of help.

“It’s really hard to say what it’s going to be like,” Klingensmith said. “My job is I worry about students’ mental health all the time. I always encourage students to practice self-help.”

Students have expressed concerns about their mental health since the first mention of the lack of spring break.

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Judas and the Black Messiah depicts Black Panther power

BY SIMON WAGNER SENIOR MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

Undoubtedly the most important film of the year thus far, “Judas and the Black Messiah,” offers up yet another piece of American history that should

have been taught in schools.

Set in the 1960s, Shaka King’s film tells the story of an FBI informant tasked with bringing down the chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party. Anchored by commanding performances from LaKeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya, and a filmmaker in total command of his voice, “Judas and the Black Messiah” isn’t just a powerful piece of cinema, but a calling out to society.

What the film does is show the pieces of a civil rights movement that has been demoralized by our country.

It brings to light the God complex of the American government, and how the systematic racism of our agencies has been silencing millions of Black people for hundreds of years.

Kaluuya’s portrayal of former Black Panther chairman Fred Hampton is nothing short of revolutionary. Although Kaluuya acts as somewhat of a supporting character in relation to Stanfield’s portrayal of former FBI informant Bill O’Neal, it’s the sheer conviction of Kaluuya’s dialogue and mannerisms that makes him the standout.

Not to take away from the steady performance conjured up by Stanfield, but it’s Kaluuya who gets to show off his muscle when it comes to the powerful speeches in the film. Every scene with Fred Hampton is like a catharsis of the soul.

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or the last couple of weeks, West Michigan has seen a drop in temperatures – the warmest being in the low 30s, and the coldest being single digits, with below zero wind chill – and over a foot of snow.

This isn’t out of the ordinary; it’s not as devastating as the storm in January 2019, and it’s not as uneventful as other recent winters. But even an average winter can have an effect on the remainder of the year, and serve as a reminder for some of the important climate issues currently facing Michigan.

As everyone is likely aware, it’s not just Michigan that’s experiencing extreme weather. The entire country is facing arctic conditions, with the middle of the country being hit especially hard.

Recently, the polar air mass reached Texas, resulting in a rare and continuous statewide power outage. Winter Storm Uri – the culprit behind the massive snowfall and Alaskan temperatures in Texas – is the result of a variety of factors, most of which involve the Arctic. While it seems counterintuitive, the global rise in temperatures is having a wide array of consequences, including extreme winter storms.

The five warmest years on record have all occurred after 2012, with 2020 ranking fifth. The Earth, on average, is warming rapidly, and with rising tem-

peratures comes climate disasters, like the forest fires that have plagued the American West Coast and Australia, or the recent power outages in Texas.

Last year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s 2020 National Climate Report, there were 22 weather and climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each across the United States, shattering the previous annual record of 16 events that occurred in 2011 and 2017.

The impacts of climate change are visible in Michigan, too. As Michigan gets warmer, we are experiencing severe snowstorms more often – resulting in outages, closures, degrading infrastructure and less of the Great Lakes freezing, which then results in fluctuating water levels and social and economic instability in communities that rely on lake ice.

Michigan’s farmers are suffering from climate change as well. Last year, crops that bloomed early in the spring due to warm temperatures were destroyed by a flash freeze in May. This year, the Great Lakes ice coverage has remained at 42%, which is similar to the average annual ice coverage in recent years’ past.

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GVL OPINION POLICY 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.

Letters 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 500650 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:

0051 KIRKHOF CENTER GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY

FEBRUARY 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A5 | NEWS

INITIATIVES

GV Pledge to create opportunities, advance equity in local communities

BY AUDREY WHITAKER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University has pledged to waive tuition fees for low-income students from six Michigan counties beginning fall 2021.

To qualify for the Grand Valley Pledge, incoming freshman must be accepted and enrolled as a full-time student, report $50,000 or lower in gross family income when filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and live in Calhoun, Grand Traverse, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa or Wayne county, according to the Grand Valley Pledge website.

Although the university is based in Allendale, GVSU is present in each of these six counties.

“The Grand Valley Pledge is a commitment to our communities,” said GVSU President Philomena V. Mantella in a statement.

“It is another way of assuring that we create opportunity and advance equity in the communities in which we live and teach, as well as inspire a broader movement of making higher education accessible to all.”

In an effort to make assistance as accessible as possible, there is no separate ap-

plication required, said Michelle Rhodes, Associate Vice President for Financial Aid said. Eligible students will receive an email notification.

The pledge applies to spring and summer semesters and will be renewed each year that a student is eligible and shows satisfactory academic progress, according to the website.

GVSU student Grace Bartholomew said she is glad to see the university making an effort to support communities like hers in Grand Traverse.

“It would benefit students who want to come to a university, rather than attending our local community colleges,” said Bartholomew.

Bartholomew said that by removing the cost barrier many students face, GVSU is taking action to embody its mission and offer opportunities to a wider range of people.

“I feel this is a huge thing for Traverse City because it allows those who are lower-income to attend classes that aren’t necessarily offered at a community college at a lower price and still have the convenience of living at home,” said Bartholomew.

More information about the Grand Valley Pledge and answers to frequently asked questions can be found at https://www. gvsu.edu/gvpledge/

TUITION: GVSU has announced it will waive tuition fees for students in several counties who are in need of financial support in order for them to attend the university. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

POLICE

GVPD captain reflects on journey from GV student to now

BY ADAM TROMBLEY NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

LEGACY: GVPD’s Jeffery Stoll studied engineering at GVSU before joining the police academy and changing career focuses. COURTESY | GVPD

Who would have thought that a freshman engineering student would end up being the captain of the Grand Valley Police Department? For GVPD Capt. Jeffrey Stoll, this story all too familiar because it is his own. Students often see the GVPD around at events, buildings, and even pulling people over or arresting them, but never really know why they chose to protect our community.

For Stoll, law enforcement wasn’t always the plan, but it has ended up being a career in which he has loved and grown with the GVSU community.

After a year of being an engineering student at GVSU, Stoll realized the major was not something he would love doing in the future. He thought about following in the footsteps of his father and being a teacher, but an unlikely job working for housing security created an interest in criminal justice.

“I got that job, not because of interest, it was more based on availability,” Stoll said.

“You just want a way to get money. I walked around with my partners and sought out violations that occurred in the living cen-

ters and when those situations happened, we did have interactions and I came to find that I really liked that.”

After taking the job, he enrolled in

Criminal Justice 101.

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FEBRUARY 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A6 | NEWS EDUCATION

GV Simulation Center adopts to virtual, socially-distanced models

BY LAUREN FORMOSA NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State University Simulation Center, located in the Cook-Devos Center for Health Sciences, has found clever ways throughout the past year to continue giving nursing students hands-on healthcare experience while following state and university COVID guidelines.

During the fall semester, the Sim Center introduced many new ways of conducting clinical and lab examinations for its students, faculty, healthcare professionals and team members to participate in.

“While the majority of the GVSU community continued to work and learn remotely, the sim team developed a High Fidelity Remote Simulation (HFRS) option that allowed the College of Nursing to augment the clinical education for nursing students; a remote standardized patient telemedicine platform for multiple health professions; our PT and OT program conducted labs in the parking lot at RFH ensuring proper COVID safety guidelines were met; and we created a Student-Directed Remote Simulation (SDRS),” said Multimedia Coordinator Kelly Klerk.

The HFRS allows students, observers, faculty and simulation operators to remotely view a patient exam room while a sim team member takes on the role of an acting nurse and responds to directions from the primary student nurse and student charge nurse. The

simulation operators display vitals, images, videos and play audio for students who then voice their opinions on what type of care they would deliver to the patient as if they were in the room as well. The simulation ensures the safety of all participants while also making it engaging and as realistic as possible through its virtual model.

Similarly, the remote standardized patient platform gives students the opportunity to practice examinations using remote telemedicine like those used in the healthcare community. The Sim Center also developed the SDRS, which uses pre-recorded and scripted videos of standardized patients for students to examine with a simulation operator.

During a normal semester, the Sim Center would work with faculty to provide students with engaging hands-on experiences for all aspects of healthcare delivery in a safe and controlled environment as well as hold interprofessional events where students learn from, with and about different healthcare professions. While some of their operations have had to go remote, team members at the Sim Center adjusted to COVID guidelines to keep in-person labs available to GVSU students.

“We were able to continue with a majority of their health-related academic labs throughout the year by following social distancing guidelines and requiring students and faculty to wear personal protective equipment and followed our Covid-19 cleaning policy and procedures,” Klerk said. “We have fewer stu-

VIRTUAL: The GVSU Simulation Center has been at work introducing new ways to educate their health science students and have done several virtual simulations this year. COURTESY | GVSU

dents in exam rooms at a time, which makes for longer days for faculty and the sim team, but it is absolutely worth every minute!”

Much like many others at GVSU, the Sim Center has found technology to be the biggest challenge in their virtual simulations.

“It takes a significant amount of prep work to ensure all the Simulation events are as seamless as possible,” Klerk said. “The key is to anticipate and troubleshoot issues as quickly as possible.”

Despite the trouble from moving to virtual simulations, the Sim Center continues to adapt and improve its new platforms to ensure students are receiving high-quality and engaging simulations.

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CAMPAIGN

Making Waves Initiative stays involved within campus community

BY KYLIE ELWELL NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

ADVOCATES: The Making Waves Initiative aims to educate on the topic of water and protecting the vital natural resource. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT

Almost a year and a half after its launch, the Making Waves Initiative (MWI) continues to work together with the campus community at Grand Valley State University. A lot has happened since Fall 2019 with MWI: accomplishments, challenges, future plans and more. Campus community members continue to look for and research new water-related topics that they can explore and offer their help and insights towards.

The MWI was created to encourage collaboration between students and community members across campus. The goal of their initiative is to explore and work together on learning about water and how it affects our lives.

The initiative has encountered numerous challenges in their first year involved on campus, they have been especially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many events

and efforts were canceled due to rising COVID-19 cases and the initial shutdown.

The MWI is now hosting and participating in many virtual events, on-campus photo exhibits and social media.

“I am proud of the creativity and congeniality of the MWI staff,” said MWI co-leader Nancy O’Neill. “We are small but we very much enjoy working together, solving problems, solving problems, and envisioning interdisciplinary programs and activities that will bring students, faculty, staff, and the community together to appreciate water and understand water-related challenges and opportunities.”

MWI co-leader Peter Wampler said that the programming over the span of the initiative has been varied, ranging from art to activities. However, some certainly takes the cake.

“I think one of the most fun events that we have done with the initiative was a kay-

aking event during Big Splash 2019 where we got over 100 students, faculty and staff out on the Grand River in kayaks, including President Mantella and Provost Cimitile,” said Wampler.

Reflecting on this positive experience, MWI plans to continue providing similar outdoor recreation opportunities for students.

“I am looking forward to a new collaboration we are working on called Community Recreation Experiences on the Water (CREW),” Wampler said. “We are working with Ottawa County Parks to acquire and manage a fleet of kayaks that will be located at Grand Ravines Park and will be available for class and group excursion on the Grand River.

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FEBRUARY 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

Black art is a voice

A7&8 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

BY TOVI GENTILUCCI ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

Art is not just something to look at. It tells us stories.

Art from the past, whether abstract or realism, helps to give us insight into people and events we could not witness today. Many creators use art to show us their perspective or even have us take a look at things from an entirely new one.

Black artists have been using their creativity for years upon years to provide a different look at Black people than the one that is portrayed through white American art. These artists have created pieces that force us to see things from the other side of the paintbrush.

Professor Kirsten Strom, GVSU’s co-coordinator of Art History, said some of the most famous Black American artists of this century are Jacob Lawrence, Romare Beardon, Faith Ringgold, Bettye Saar, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. These artists have provided a representation of Black people that isn’t the stereotypical representation that we see in American art. They offer a representation that is more kind towards Black people.

“Contemporary Black artists take a wide range of approaches,” Strom said. “Some have played an important role in rethinking the way that we look at the past.”

Some Black artists have even ventured into the basements of museums to pull relics from slavery and turn them into new pieces.

“Black artists have been at the forefront of many techniques and styles, including the innovative use of found materials, as in the work of Nick Cave and Mark Bradford,” Strom said.

One artist in particular that utilizes this style is Fred Wilson. Born in the Bronx in 1954, Wilson is an artist that no longer creates his own art, but works with pre-existing pieces to create new ones.

Wilson is well known for a piece he did

VISUALS: The community of Black theatre is a self-sustaining community because young Black kids want to see themselves represented on and off of the stage. COURTESY | THE NEW YORK TIMES

ICONIC: Faith Ringgold is an American painter, writer, mixed media sculptor and performance artists who is best known for her narrative quilts inspired by the rich stories of Black history and culture. Ringgold has also written two books, one of which includes a memoir about her work. COURTESY | JSTOR DAILY

for a Baltimore history museum. Known as “Mining the Museum,” the creation of this piece is made of pieces from history that relate to slavery or racism.

Sherry Johnson, a member of the English department with a special interest in 19th and 20th Century African-American Literature, said Black authors have also had a major effect on literature, the written form of artwork.

Johnson said a trend among Black literary authors is to look back at Black characters from white stories and give them one of their own.

“There is Black presence in white American literature written by people like Willa Casser and Edgar Allen Poe,” Johnson said.

“Every one of their stories has a Black presence. Even though they are not the main

ARTISTRY: Some of the most famous Black American artists of this century are Jacob Lawrence, Romare Beardon, Gaith Ringgold, Bettye Saar and Jean-Michel Basquiat. COURTESY | BLACK MOUNTAIN

character, the Black presence helps them understand the white character.”

One specific example she mentioned involved one of Edgar Allan Poe’s pieces, “The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket.”

In this instance, Poe’s novel uses a Black presence to help the reader understand a white character better. Johnson said Matt Johnson, a Black author, wrote a 2011 satirical novel in response to Poe’s piece called, “Pym.” The book is based around a Black background presence found in Poe’s piece. Johnson said the novel, “explores racial politics and qualities that Edgar Allan Poe didn’t specifically state.”

Black artists, whether they be in the physical artistic or literary realm, have paved the way for 21st-century artists today, allowing them to stand amongst others unlike ever before. This doesn’t mean that Black artists haven’t faced structural racism in the art world, nor has it been eliminated. But, many are gaining recognition as some of the important voices for the

Landscape of professional theatre moves towards Black representation

BY PARKER LEARMAN-BLAAUW ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

TECHNIQUE: Betye Saar is known for her work in the medium of assemblages, contemporary artwork and visual storytelling. COURTESY | NYC ARTS

UNIQUE: Through recent decades. Black artists have provided a level of representation of Black people that isn’t the stereotypical representation that we see in most American art. COURTESY | BIOGRAPHY

VARIETY: Styles from Black church and gospel music have been co-opted and have found their way onto Broadway stages over the years as live theatre has evolved. COURTESY | THE NEW YORK TIMES

Proportional representation in media has always been a hot-button issue in the larger cultural landscape of the entertainment industry.

Arielle Leverett, an adjunct professor in the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance at Grand Valley State University, is passionate about the Black experience in the world of theatre today and how it’s changing in light of last year’s surge in racial justice activism.

Leverett, a resident of Chicago and a member of a plethora of stage troupes and organizations, said the landscape of professional theatre is evolving.

Black American playwright August Wilson is best known for his play “Fences,” which was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film in 2016. Before his passing in 2005, he had won two Pulitzer prizes and a Tony for his work — plays that depicted the Black experience through different decades.

Leverett explained that there is a tendency among students studying theatre to have a very limited scope when it comes to the history of Black works and their influence, only recognizing bigger names like Wilson’s.

“Obviously (students know) August Wilson, but, people stop there, thinking, ‘Good, I’ve read a Black play,’” said Leverett.

Despite the singular focus of most students, Leverett said the impact of Black culture on theatre is massive.

“There are plenty of Black playwrights and Black works that have really shaped what theatre is,” said Leverett.

She said the landscape of theatre has rapidly shifted and many young Black peo-

ple interested in professional theatre are beginning to recognize the need for more diversity in this realm.

“I think they think things like, ‘Wow, I really don’t see myself enough on stage.

There aren’t enough people of color, and I want to change that,’” said Leverett.

Leverett explained that the community of Black theatre is self-sustaining because of that yearning the youth have to see themselves represented.

“You end up having to really look up other plays because there’s no one around to do that for you,” Leverett said. “The old white people that usually watch theatre are nice, they pay the bills, but it’s also nice to

see people like yourself.”

She said the internet has become very useful in connecting people across a distance as well as time. It’s easier now more than ever to access all sorts of information and content, including those from people of color.

While the internet will get you a long way, Leverett also shared a few of her favorite contemporary Black playwrights, whom she hopes will help those interested in broadening their horizons.

Leverett mentioned Katori Hall, a Memphis-native who has been nominated for a Tony and specializes in stories about black women navigating meager circumstanc-

es in search of more. She also noted Lynn Nottage, who she said “ has a brilliant way of exploring the Black condition,” in her play “Intimate Apparel,” which explores themes of race, sexuality and religion.

Styles from the Black church and gospel music have been co-opted and as a result have found their way onto Broadway, which Leverett said she sees ultimately as a positive.

Leverett believes that much like on the stage, we’re far better together than we could ever be on our own.

We should stop really trying to separate Black theatre, and instead focus on incor-

REPRESENTATION: Black actors and actresses on the stage are underrepresented in the theater world, and students often have a limited scope on the history of Black stage productions. This has impacted the number of Black theater students in many university and stage programs. COURTESY | THE NEW YORK TIMES

A9 | HOUSING

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A10 | HOUSING

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FEBRUARY 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A11 | HOUSING

VIEW THE DIFFERENCE

Living at Campus View means living in the most involved and exci7ng off-campus student community at GVSU. We are the closest off-campus housing op7on near GVSU, located at the south end of campus on 42nd Avenue. Even so, we transport our residents to and from campus throughout the day (every 12 minutes) on the exclusive CV-2-GV ShuJle. We offer, by far, the largest variety of housing styles and leasing terms of any off-campus housing community. With over 12 different floor plans, the choice of 1-4 bedrooms, and several lease op7ons, students are

able to find their perfect fit no maJer their needs. They can choose from a CoJage, Townhome, Apartment or a Co-op Unit to fit their style and budget. Anyone over 18 years of age can sign their own lease. We have con7nued our tradi7on of not requiring our residents to secure a guarantor.

The support and effort we pour into our community is embodied in the Student Senate Seal of Approval we were awarded last year. We have also been acknowledged as a GVSU preferred off-campus housing provider.

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A12 | HOUSING

WHAT DOES CAMPUS VIEW HAVE TO OFFER? Campus View knows what it means to be a GV Student because our family has been serving this community for over 55 years! Ask anyone at the View about what it means to live here and they’ll tell you about the fun and homey vibe they’ve experienced. We strive to make your life at college a memorable expereince by hos7ng community events just for you.

When COVID-19 hit we needed to set aside our typical agenda of yoga classes, craZ nights, basketball & volleyball co-ed rec leagues, and come up with crea7ve on ways to keep our community engaged. We encourage anyone to checkout our Instagram @campusview_gvsu to take a look at the weekly Zoom Trivia Matches, DriveThru Food Events, Discord Tournaments and the many other virtual events we’ve hosted to keep our community spirit alive. We love to help our residents give back to the community by sponsoring their service trips with financial aid so you can get out there and serve the greater good. Come talk to us, we want to show you what we’re all about at Campus View.

“By far the best op/on for anyone looking to live off-campus. Close loca/on, fun ac/vi/es, and great variety of units. Living at CV was one of the best choices I’ve made at GVSU” - CV Resident

FEBRUARY 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A13 | LAKER LIFE

FEBRUARY 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

A LOOK AT LIFESTYLE ASIAN STUDENT UNION HOSTS DISCUSSION ON REAPPROPRIATION

Simon Tam, founder of the Asian American rock band The Slants, attempted to reappropriate an ethnically-charged schoolyard insult with the name of his music group.

When he tried to trademark it, however, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Organization rejected his application, ruling the name a racial slur and thus in violation of the Lanham Act, a decades-old law that blocks the trademarking of “scandalous, immoral or disparaging” terms.

Tam eventually won his case, which made it all the way to the Supreme Court, setting a legal precedent for minorities to reclaim their identities through reappropriation.

From 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24, Tam will be joining Insoo Choi, President of GVSU’s Asian Student Union, for a virtual conversation about his experience in court.

Those interested in this event can register on the Office of Multicultural Affairs website, at www.gvsu.edu/oma.

STUDENT SENATE BUILDS BRIDGES WITH ON-CAMPUS EVENTS

Interested in familiarizing yourself with Grand Valley State University’s student government in a more casual environment than the general assembly? This week, there’s two opportunities available to do just that; one through an arts and crafts event Wednesday, Feb. 24, and one through a bingo game night Thursday, Feb. 25.

The first event, during which students will be able paint the pot of a miniature succulent, will last from 6-8 p.m. in the Grand River Room of the Kirkhof Center. The bingo event the next day will also be in the Kirkhof Center, from 7-8 p.m. in room 2263. Students interested can RSVP for both on the Student Senate’s LakerLink page at gvsu.campuslabs. com/engage/organization/studentsenate.

CAMPUS

Housing and Resident Life’s online community seeks to connect students

BY KATHERINE ARNOLD LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

With traditional social life taking a hit this year, students are still looking for ways to connect with each other. For those looking to play games or chat about streaming binges online, Grand Valley State University is looking to help.

Housing and Residence Life (HRL) has begun hosting a variety of Discord servers — online chatrooms with audio and video chatting capabilities — spanning a wide variety of activities and topics. From personal wellness to Minecraft to American Sign Language, each weekday features live events where students are able to connect with other students through common interests in a casual environment.

“We have recognized how much of the casual atmosphere has been taken out of school recently,” said Kristen Evans, HRL Assistant Director of Recruitment and Training. “We hope that these events are something that students can rely on by having a schedule that lasts over the whole semester — both (for) those who stop by once and those who want to attend every week.”

This style of event is something relatively new to the GVSU community, different from an event hosted through other campus organizations. Each video session lasts

GET CRAFTY: Housing and Resident Life is hosting a flexible online community with events for crafters, Bachelor fans and more through Discord, an digital chatroom service. COURTESY | HEALTHLINE

for only one hour, and there is no weekly requirement to attend. To register, students can simply find the Unwind from the Grind page on the HRL’s website at www. gvsu.edu/housing, filling out a form and creating a Discord account (if they don’t already have one).

“There is no pressure in attending these sessions,” Evans said. “Students aren’t expect-

ed to prepare anything in advance and it is simply a space for people with similar interests to engage. There’s not a commitment in the way that a student organization would require a commitment.”

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

EVENT

GV hosts Valentine’s Drag Show

BY AUTUMN PITCHURE LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

HAUENSTEIN CENTER DISCUSSES PROMOTING EQUITY THROUGH LOCAL CHANGE

As a part of their campaign to develop leadership skills amongst the Grand Valley State University community, the Peter C. Cook Leadership Academy at GVSU’s Hauenstein Center of Presidential Studies is inviting Grand Rapids native Kelsey Perdue to give a talk on her experiences this week.

Perdue has dedicated her career to promoting equity through local policy change, and his currently the project director of Kids Count in Michigan, an organization that promotes support of families in regards to health, education, financial security, racial equity, and most lately, protection from the fallout of COVID-19.

The virtual lecture is INT 100/201 approved, and will last from 4-5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26. Those interested can register for the event ahead of time on the Hauenstein Center’s website at gvsu.edu/hc.

QUEEN: It was a drag-filled Valentine’s Day full of fun and ballads. GVL | AUTUMN PITCHURE

This year, Grand Valley State University’s Campus Activities Board (CAB) and the LGBT Resource Center welcomed Ginger Ambrosia and friends for a night of ballads and drag to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Ambrosia co-hosted the event with Marla Wick, the Associate Director of the LGBT Center. People were able to RSVP for a spot in the Zoom call, but for those who couldn’t make it on Feb. 17, there was also a Facebook Live that anyone can tune in or rewatch at www.facebook.com/gvsucab.

With the event being online, there were some difficulties. Beginning the night, Ambrosia tried to play a video of a performer, but when doing so there was no sound. However, the audience was kind and was quick to help her navigate where the sound was. Sometimes, technology can be a pain; we’ve all experienced the struggle of trying to get our tech to work as intended over the course of this pandemic.

Thankfully, people were understanding and the night was able to get back on track.

The night focused on showcasing the work of all the different performers. Ambrosia asked questions and transitioned smoothly between acts, asking each how they got into drag and

what inspired them. At the end of the event, she asked for their social media, so people could stay connected to who they were interested in, support, and give them a follow.

Each of the performers built up the atmosphere, even online, through their dances, creativity and lip-syncing, and had unique expressions that brought you into the story they were telling, or the emotion they were feeling.

The first performer, La Reine Divine danced and sang along in a dazzling dress, her make-up done with precision. With movements and facial expressions were elaborately exuberant, Divine guided the audience through the emotions of the ballad. After the song ended, Devine finished with a classic GVSU Laker cheer.

“I played volleyball at Grand Valley,” Divine said. “I was the oldest gay on the team, so I was called ‘The Queen.’ My fiance at the time was taking French, and he came up with the name ‘La Reine Divine,’ because it means The Divine Queen. His uncle actually helped me with my first show. After three years performing on my own, I met Petty Divine at Grand Rapids Pride, and I’ve been a member of the House of Divine ever since.”

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A14 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTS AT A GLANCE GRAND RAPIDS BRINGS DREAMS OF SUNSHINE TO RESIDENTS WITH NEW ALLEY ACTIVATION

As part of Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.’s continuous efforts towards alley activation and the World of Winter Festival, new art has been installed in the alleyway on Studio Park’s Ionia Ave. entrance.

Called “Sunshine Alley,” residents are invited to come and enjoy a “mini-vacation” in the tropical-themed alleyway.

With inner tubes and beach balls strung from wall to wall and streamers hung in between, people are encouraged to grab a bite to eat and nestle next to the heaters while dreaming of warmer days ahead.

GRAND RAPIDS ART INSTALLATIONS PROMOTE LOVE, FINANCIAL SUPPORT A new project scattered throughout downtown called the “Have A Heart” installation consists of 12 colorful 4-by-6foot heart-shaped pieces created by 14 local artists.

Each heart represents a non-profit organization that has been struggling to find sufficient financial resources and support during the pandemic.

Viewers are invited to scan the QR codes included at the installations to make financial donations to support the organizations. The artwork will be on display through Feb. 28.

Grand Rapids also installed a “Path of Encouragement” on the south lawn of the Grand Rapids Public Museum as a way of offering pick-me-ups for challenging winter days.

Each art piece displayed offers words of motivation and love, such as, “If you see good in someone speak it,” “Nevertheless, you persisted,” and, “You got this.”

GV STUDENTS CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN NUMEROUS WAYS

Grand Valley State University’s Campus Activities Board (CAB) and the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) are coming together to celebrate Black History Month with students this week during a movie and trivia night.

The event will be held on Feb. 22 at 7:00 p.m. in the Pere Marquette room in Kirkhof or on Zoom. There will be a prize for the student who wins first place at trivia. Students are asked to RSVP on Laker Link before attending.

Students are also invited to stop by Kirkhof to learn about seven of the “Divine Nine” National Pan-Hellenic Council (a governing body for historically African-American fraternities and sororities) that have chapters at GVSU. GVSU’s Division of Student Affairs have also been using their weekly newsletter to highlight historical Black figures who have played a significant role in shaping and influencing the United States.

FEBRUARY 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

COLLABORATION

GV, GRPM gather voices from around globe to participate in Roger That! virtual conference

BY MARY DUPUIS ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University, in collaboration with the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM), successfully held its fifth annual Roger That! conference. Called “Roger That! V,” GVSU noted that the “V” is not only meant to represent the Roman numeral for the number five, but that this year, “The V is for Virtual.”

Held on Feb. 19 and 20, the Roger That! conference is meant to celebrate the life of Grand Rapids native, Roger B. Chaffee, and his love for space exploration.

Chaffee was a former American naval officer and aviator aeronautical engineer, as well as a NASA astronaut in the Apollo program. He died in 1967 during an Apollo I pre-flight test when a fire broke out in the cockpit.

Although the conference began in 2017 to mark the 50th anniversary of Chaffee’s death, Deana Weibel, event co-organizer and GVSU professor of anthropology, said the conference has become more of a way to celebrate his birthday (Feb. 15) than to commemorate his tragic death.

This year GVSU and the GRPM offered a multitude of speakers and events as well as some educational opportunities for K-12 students.

Weibel said the event being held virtually this year was actually a huge advantage, and that it expanded the opportunities of the conference by a great deal.

“Typically we would bring in one or two

ROCKET MAN: Grand Valley State University and the Grand Rapids Public Museum are collaborating on a virtual conference honoring astronaut Roger Chaffee’s deep love for space. COURTESY | GRPM

keynote speakers, usually an astronaut as one of them, often a scientist or artist as the other,” Weibel said. “This year, we weren’t limited by the costs of transporting guests, so we reached out to friends and acquaintances in the ‘space world’ for suggestions and ended up with quite a fascinating lineup.”

Some of the most distant presenters this year were Katarina Damjanov and David Crouch from Australia, and Brother Bob Macke from Vatican City (a section of it in an Italian town called Castel Gandolfo).

GVSU also decided that since Roger That! was virtual this year, they should invite some “masters of the virtual.” So, they brought in a very special panel of special effects and space artists.

The line-up included Vincent Di Fate, Ron

Miller, Robert Skotak and Rick Sternbach, luminaries whose numerous achievements include Oscars and Emmys for visual effects and Hugo awards for imagery.

Another guest speaker, Margaret Weitekamp, the Curator and Department Chair of the Department of Space History at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, presented on the ways that space-loving communities have been connecting with each other — even when they can’t be together in person — for years on end.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

VISUAL ART

GV Making Waves Initiative highlights importance of water through art galleries

BY ALLISON RAFFERTY ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

As a part of the Making Waves Initiative, two coinciding art galleries reside on Grand Valley State University’s Allendale campus.

The Making Waves Initiative has been a two-year-long ongoing project that calls for collaboration and creates opportunities for GVSU students, faculty, staff, and community.

According to a statement released by the Art Gallery, “The initiative provides new opportunities to explore and investigate the many ways that water permeates our lives and the natural world around us.”

The first gallery, known as the “Making Waves” exhibition, is being held at the Kirkhof Wall Gallery until March 5. This exhibition is a result of work between the Grand Valley Art Gallery and the Making Waves team to pro-

mote the initiative and document the many programs and events that have been created.

Joel Zwart, curator of exhibitions for the Art Gallery, said the gallery is meant to emphasize the importance of water in all of our lives.

“It is also a celebration of water and the many ways we’re connected to it,” said Zwart.

Peter Wampler, associate professor of geology and a co-leader of the initiative, said that this gallery is special because it highlights some of the accomplishments the Making Waves Initiative has had and how GVSU makes water an important part of campus life. “(The gallery) focuses on how we can integrate (water) into what we do at Grand Valley like co-curricular activities and art performances,” said Wampler.

The second exhibition, titled the “Rough Waters” Exhibition, will be held in the Zumberge Hall lobby through Fall 2021.

LOG ON TO:

INSTALLATION: Grand Valley State University’s Making Waves Initiative installed two art galleries around campus. Each aims to show the various aspects water permeates lives. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT

www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

FEBRUARY 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

QUICK HITS

A15 | SPORTS HISTORY

GV SWIMMING AND DIVING DOMINATES GLIAC TOURNAMENT

This past weekend, both the men’s and women’s team claimed first in the conference at the GLIAC Championship Meet. This will be the men’s seventh straight title, racking up 1,702.5 points in their first place finish. The women scored 1,200 points on their path to victory and won 18 events.

Awards from the season were also announced at the tournament. GVSU won all eight awards at the event: 2021 GLIAC Men’s Swimmer of the Year - Eric Hieber 2021 GLIAC Men’s Diver of the Year Chris Kelly 2021 GLIAC Men’s Freshman of the Year - Eric Hieber 2021 GLIAC Women’s Swimmer of the Year - Sam Laurich 2021 GLIAC Women’s Diver of the Year - Sarah Puscas Representing both the Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year - Andy Boyce A few notable performances from the men’s team came from Hieber in the 1,650 freestyle (15:31.79). Keegan Hawkins also won the 200 breast stroke (1:59.08).

For the women’s team, Neta Shiff finished first in the 1650 (16:53.39). Melina De Cort won the 200 backstroke (2:00.42) and Samantha Laurich won the 200 breaststroke (2:16.15).

MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM SPLITS WEEKEND SERIES AGAINST TECH

The GVSU men’s basketball team won their first game of the weekend series against Michigan Tech 70-62.

It was the Lakers’ fourth straight win where Jake Van Tubbergen led the Lakers in scoring with 17 points while also grabbing eight rebounds. Christian Negron added another 15 points, grabbed nine rebounds, blocked three shots and had two steals. Jordan Harris scored 14 points, dished out five assists and pulled down four rebounds. Deleon Brown also scored 14 points.

The game was back and forth leading into the second half. In the second half, the Lakers clamped down on defense.

Their perimeter defense held the Huskies in check from three as the team made only 8-29 shots from downtown.

The second game of the series didn’t go as well for the Lakers as they lost 62-75. Harris led the team in scoring with 23 points and made four 3-point shots.

Negron had seven points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Before fouling out, Van Tubbergen added another 11 points.

After falling behind 22-2, the Laker offense was sparked by a 9-0 run. Going into halftime, the score was 40-26, with Tech in the lead.

The Lakers outscored the Huskies in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to overcome their first half deficit. This weekend series puts the Lakers overall record at 9-6.

ACTIVISM: GVSU professor Louis Moore (center) reflects on Black athletes and modern activism. COURTESY | CNBC, GVL ARCHIVES & BLACK ENTERPRISE

GV professor Louis Moore discusses historic plight of Black athletes,

BY ZACK GOODROW SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

In the past few years, Black Lives Matter has riddled all of the American sports landscape. Players from a variety of leagues have protested, kneeled, marched and worn shirts advocating for the end of police brutality and racism in the country.

While this issue is talked about frequently today, it has always been in the history of American sports.

Louis Moore is an associate professor of history at Grand Valley State University. The author, educator and podcaster

has always been interested in sports and the civil rights movement.

As he grew up and progressed through school, he took every opportunity he could to write about sports and Black Athletes. Now, Moore has written two books, “I Fight for a Living: Boxing and the Battle for Black Manhood, 1880–1915” and “We Will Win the Day: the Civil Rights Movement, the Black Athlete, and the Quest for Equality.”

Moore has covered a wide array of Black athletes in the history of American sports. He’s covered the impact

of athletes in the middle of the twentieth century like Jack Johnson, Muhammad Ali and Jackie Robinson.

He also did research on Black sports journalists who participated in civil rights movements.

After years of studying and reading every piece of information he could find on pivotal Black athletes from decades ago, he also sees athletes today who make similar contributions to civil rights.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

W. BASKETBALL

GV Women’s Basketball loses on buzzer beater, fall to second in GLIAC behind Tech

BY HOLLY BIHLMAN HBIHLMAN@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team suffered their first loss in nine games against Michigan Tech University on Saturday Feb. 20, bringing their overall season record to 13-2.

The score was neck and neck for the entire game and the closely-contested matchup came down to the wire. The Huskies scored

LAST SECOND: GVSU would fall to Michigan Tech at the final buzzer. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT

a field goal in the last second of the game bringing the final score to 54-52.

This was a pivotal matchup for both teams as their seasons near an end. Going into the game, GVSU and Tech were tied atop the GLIAC standings for first place.

Both teams started the weekend 13-1, but the Huskies walked away 14-1.

This game featured two of the conference’s highest scorers. Junior guard Emily Spitzley is currently ranked tenth in the overall GLIAC standings for total points per game. Tech’s junior guard Ellie Mackay is currently eighth.

Senior guard Quay Stanton and freshman forward Riley Bisballe scored double digits by the end of the game with Bisballe at seventeen points and Stanton at ten. Spitzley scored seven points for the Lakers and had nine rebounds during the game.

The Lakers led the scoreboard throughout most of the first half, ending with a score of 22-23. In the second half of the game, the tension started to build both on the bench and on the court, and with a two-point shot

in the last seconds of the third period, Stanton brought the score to 39-36.

“I thought we were good defensively until the last minute and a half,” said coach Mike Williams. “We just lost kids on defense. We made some plays, hit some shots, but at the end of the day we had a couple defensive breakdowns. That could be the pressure, not ever being in these moments before.”

An older team compared to the Lakers, the Huskies used their experience playing tight games and went on a 12-1 run in the last 2:46 minutes in the game and Ellie Mackay scored the last two points at the buzzer.

“I thought our decision making on offense had to get better,” Williams said. “The game got tight and our head went down. Tech’s got two senior guards and a fifth-year guard. Their veterans did a heck of a job down the stretch, controlling the game on both ends of the court.”

Next weekend, Feb. 26 and 27, the Lakers will be traveling to Northwood for their final matchup of the season, until March 2 when the GLIAC Tournament begins.

FEBRUARY 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A16 | SPORTS VOLLEYBALL

After over a year, GV Volleyball hits the court, sweeps Parkside in weekend series

BY JOSH CARLSON SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

After a long wait, the Grand Valley State University volleyball team started hot in their season opener this past weekend against Parkside college with a pair of wins. The Lakers swept their Friday match 3-0 and didn’t stop their winning ways on Saturday with another 3-0 win.

On Friday, junior Ali Thompson led the way for kills with 13 and was followed by sophomore Karlie Kucharczyk with seven.

Sophomore Rachel Jacquay had 32 assists while junior Brooke Binkley led the way defensively with 11 digs.

On Saturday, the Lakers took the first set 25-18. The second set was almost identical to the Lakers’ first victory, winning 25-17 to take a 2-0 lead. The Lakers then finished the sweep when they won the third set 25-21.

Junior Abby Graham led the Lakers attack with 11 kills while also serving two aces.

Jaquay had 27 assists and Thompson had 11 digs.

While volleyball is usually played in the fall, head coach Deanne Scanlon is just happy to be back playing games this winter.

“I don’t know if I can even put it into words,” Scanlon said. “It’s just very emotional. It really helps you center in on why I’m coaching in the first place. It’s because you

GO FOR THE KILL: Looking to spike the ball, junior Abby Graham (12) leaps up during last weekend’s game. Graham led the Lakers with 11 kills and two aces in the sweep. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT

love the game and the kids. When you have it taken away from you, just like anything else, you really start to appreciate what you have. I feel like for me personally, stepping away from it has given me a good perspective when coming back to it and finding that joy of being out there and competing” The players on the team feel the same way as Scanlon. It’s been a long time since they

played on the court.

“It feels really good and we are all just super excited,” Graham said. “It just feels like what we are supposed to be doing now and it’s been a long time. We bring it up a lot that we last played in the fall of 2019, and now we are finally here. We are just excited to finally compete and play with each other.”

Due to COVID-19, the Lakers and oth-

er teams in the GLIAC are now competing in a shortened conference-only schedule.

Scanlon and the team noticed the difference in the schedule. Looking towards the future however, this new schedule could benefit the Lakers.

“It is a little weird, but we do have an off-season normally where we are doing some sort of competition,” Scanlon said. “I think the biggest change will be the turnaround going into the fall, having played a lengthier schedule in the winter, where it’s normally shorter. We have less of a turnaround time. I think it will be beneficial. We have been getting a lot of training time in right now. I think it will be better in the long run.”

Like the GVSU men’s and women’s basketball teams, volleyball is also playing backto-back games for this shortened season.

After the first weekend of doing so, Graham already sees the benefits.

“It’s interesting because we are able to scout the game we just played and make adjustments right on the spot,” Graham said.

“That’s something we never get to do. We normally have several weeks before we see a team again. It’s really interesting to reflect on the game from the night before and adapt.”

The 2-0 Lakers play again next Thursday, Feb. 25. They will be playing at Wayne State University and look to continue the success at the start of this young season

LACROSSE

No. 11 ranked GV Lacrosse hoping to start new season strong after last season’s abrupt cancellation JOSH ROCHETTE SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State University women’s lacrosse team was one of many sports teams who had their season cut short in 2020. Though players were given an extra year of eligibility to make up for lost time, they are confident that after last hot start will continue.

The team plays the first of their 13-game season on Feb. 26 against Findlay, entering the pre-season with a solid No. 11 national ranking and a chip on their shoulders. The Lakers have had all new coaches and players since 2018, continuing a streak of great performances that have kept GVSU in the mouths of teams for years.

Among those great performances were key players that have developed under this teams program. Some players that carry the torch onward now are senior midfielder Sophie Conroy, senior defender Rhys Green and senior midfielder Olivia Esposito.

Though the team has added nine players to

their roster over since November, coach Mackenzie Lawler was quick to praise Esposito as a player who she has watched develop over their three years together.

“She is one of the most humble players I’ve coached,” Lawler said. “Her speed and ability to help on the draw has been nice, and she is an offensive threat with or without the ball.”

Esposito is a quiet but calm presence on the team. She was one of five players named captain for the 2021 team, and has shown steady improvement over her years at GVSU with 12 goals as a freshman, 27 as a sophomore and 11 in only four games during last season’s short season.

Esposito has shined bright during her time with Lawler, and has fit into her role as team captain by being an exemplary midfielder on both sides of the ball.

“I think I lead more by example than I do vocally, but I think that with my experience now being here all three years I can fill the role of captain,” said Esposito.

The last time this team saw a tournament

game, they lost a close contest to the University of Indianapolis team in overtime back in May 2019. They were once in the GLIAC division and were often the biggest threat on the Lakers’ schedule, something that both coaches and players still hold to this day.

“We have another ranked team when we play Indy of course, and we want to work our way up the rankings so it starts with them,” Esposito said. “I think we will work our way up hopefully to a NCAA tournament, but there is definitely rivalry there. They beat us in a very close game and we still hold onto that pain today.”

The Lakers face off against the Greyhounds on Mar. 20 in Allendale, a game with high stakes for both teams that will impact their national rankings in a big way.

For those who were there in March of last year’s game against Lindenwood, this team is as ready as they ever will be.

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HUDDLE: Women’s lacrosse huddles during a previous game. COURTESY | GVSU CLUB SPORTS