Grand Valley Lanthorn vol. 56 no. 2

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

New Senators Take a seat Mantella introduces new senators at first senate meeting

Hauenstein discusses: why don’t Americans trust their institutions?

COVID-19 | A3

GV introduces new AM radio station to campus community

RADIO | A5

T U E S D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 7, 2 02 1 // VO L . 5 6 N O. 3

@ GV L A N T H O R N

LANTHORN.COM

A2 | NEWS

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

NEWS BRIEFS GV COVID-19 CAMPUS DATA UPDATE

The GVSU community has had a cumulative total of 3,504 cases since Aug. 1, 2020. The university’s update for this brief was from Saturday, Sept. 4.

Through testing results this past week, GVSU’s Virus Action team have so far reported 96 current active cases including eight faculty members, eight staff members, six on-campus students, 44 “off-campus Ottawa” students, 28 “off-campus Kent” students and two “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 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 91,007 tests overall since August 1, 2020, for a cumulative positivity rate of 1.36% from the latest update as of last week. A total of 945 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.

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 by Sept.30, barring a medical or religious exemption or postponement. According to the COVID-19 data dashboard, 80% vaccination rate in the GVSU community is required to reach herd immunity and minimal virus transmission.

Currently, approximately 57% of students report being fully vaccinated, while approximately 84% of faculty and staff reports being fully vaccinated.

GV NAMED TOP MICHIGAN EMPLOYER

BY FORBES

GVSU is ranked at 25 in the Forbes “America’s Best Employers by State.”

The ranking includes 75 Michigan companies with 500 or more employees.

Survey respondents were asked to rate their employers on a variety of criteria, including the safety of work environment, the competitiveness of compensation, opportunities for advancement, openness to telecommuting and how likely they would be to recommend their workplace to others. GVSU was ranked as Michigan’s number one workplace in 2020, and number two in 2019.To view Samardzija’s products, visit www.lockerlifestyle.com.

DISCUSSION: Americans’ faith in institutions, such as the federal government, have fallen to 20% in 2020. Researchers point to media coverage, inequality and critical thinking as citizens become more skeptical. Zuckerman explains these issues in his newly published book. COURTESY | AMANDA PITTS

POLITICS

Hauenstein discusses: why don’t Americans trust their institutions?

BY YSABELA GOLDEN LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

According to the Pew Research Center, 77% of Americans trusted the federal government in 1964. In 2020, that number was only 20%. This isn’t a partisan issue; the share of Americans who say they trust the government hasn’t risen above thirty percent since the final years of the George W. Bush presidency, staying concerningly low from Republican to Democrat to Republican again.

“What’s interesting to me, is that when you ask Americans about different institutions— not just the government but banks, churches, any large body— you get similar results,” said Ethan Zuckerman, a professor of public policy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. “Not only is our confidence in these systems very low, but it has fallen sharply off since the 1970s and 1980s.”

Zuckerman, who recently published his book “Mistrust: Why Losing Faith in Institutions Provides the Tools to Transform Them,” was invited to Grand Valley State University by the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies on Sept. 2 to speak on his research into institutional mistrust.

“The people that I saw this the most in were my students, at that point at MIT,” Zuckerman said. “They cared passionately about the world that they were living in, and they really wanted to find a way to transform it, but they were incredibly skeptical about their ability to do so through the ways they’d been told civics worked. The idea that going to the polls, or even going onto the streets protesting, would have real meaningful change in the world— it was quite foreign to them. I started to take them very seriously, and wanted to figure out what was going on.”

Zuckerman’s research into potential

causes and solutions for this crisis was counterpointed by Linda Chavez, a senior fellow at the Niskanen Center, a libertarian think tank named after an economic advisor of Ronald Reagan. Chavez argued, from the lens of her personal experience, that this crisis of mistrust was started by the progressive left during the Civil Rights Movement.

“How is it that a country as prosperous as ours, as educated as ours, could have a trajectory of distrust since the 1960s?” Chavez said. “I look at the period of the 1960s and 1990s, and I see a country that was becoming much more diverse, and I see that the left was not interested in pulling together as one nation, indivisible, with a common culture and common language. That kind of tribalism that took place on the left is now in the right as well, a tribalism based on ideology and political affiliation.”

As to her initial question, Zuckerman’s research provided a number of potential answers.

“In the 1960s, very few people went to college, a lot of people didn’t finish high school,” Zuckerman said. “We have many, many more citizens who have been taught critical thinking skills. Maybe we’re simply becoming more skeptical citizens. Maybe it’s the media. We know in the United States that after Vietnam and Watergate, the press got much more aggressive, much less likely to let things slide. Inequality has risen very sharply in the United States during this time period, and it’s possible that the system that we’re living within is not working well for people.”

Zuckerman also noted that it can take a long time for an institution to regain trust after a failure, and the last few decades have seen a great number of public shake-ups in that regard, from the Great Recession to the uncovering of widespread abuse in the Catholic Church.

“It’s okay to lose faith in institutions if

those institutions are failing,” Zuckerman said. “What’s not okay is to disengage. You actually have to engage and fight even harder to figure out how to transform those institutions.”

Zuckerman outlined two tools for approaching how to do this. The first was deciding where an individual stand in regards to a failing institution. There’s the radical institutionalist standpoint, transforming it from within; counterdemocracy, pressuring it from the outside to try and get it to behave better; and disruption, the radical work of deciding that maybe you need something different in its place. The second tool is the four “levers” of society: laws, norms, technology and markets.

“It’s amazing if people can go and pass laws,” Zuckerman said. “And it’s critically important— that’s how we get advances in society like gay and lesbian rights. But it’s also critically important that people figure out how to change social norms.

Movements like Me Too and Black Lives Matter aren’t so much about changing laws as they are about changing hearts and minds. We’re seeing incredible creativity with people using markets and technology to make progress on issues like climate change and privacy.”

The argument that Zuckerman outlined didn’t advocate for replacing or repairing specific institutions; rather, his goal was that everyone find their own efficacy, as people need to understand the tools for change available to them so that they don’t become disengaged.

“The way I view these questions of distrust is ‘do I think this institution listens to me, or people like me?’” Zuckerman said.

“Do I think it is accountable to me? That’s the way that I think we want to understand mistrust. The real question is, am I capable of influencing this institution?”

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

CONTENTS POLITICS

| A2

EDITORIAL

| A4

RADIO

| A5

SENATE

| A6-7

COMMUNITY

| A8

EMPLOYMENT

| A9

EXHIBITION

| A10

FOOTBALL

| A11

SOCCER

| A12

VOL. 5 6

NO. 3

Lan thorn EDITORIAL STAFF

Layout Editor VIVIANA RUBIO

Editor-in-Chief ZACK GOODROW Associate Editor MARY RACETTE

Layout Designer KHOI TRAN PROMOTIONS

Associate Editor XAVIER GOLDEN News Editor AUDREY WHITAKER

Promotions Manager ALEX DAGOSTINO

VACCINE

GV students work through vaccine

BY ELIZABETH SCHANZ NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

In light of Grand Valley State University’s vaccine mandate, the university is offering religious and medical exemptions for those who may need it. In order for individuals to receive these exemptions, they will have to fill out the appropriate form that can be found on the Lakers Together website.

The deadline for the GVSU community to be fully vaccinated is Sept. 30, while exemptions must be submitted by Sept. 15. In order to be granted an exemption or postponement for religious or medical reasons, individuals must write why they wish to receive an exemption for either reason. In some cases, additional documentation may be required, according to the Lakers Together website.

The Virus Action Team (VAT) said via email that individuals who have applied for vaccination exemptions should receive responses on their approval or rejection of the exemption in five to seven business days. The VAT attributes the requirement of vaccination or getting an exemption as an important step in controlling COVID-19 especially with the spread of the Delta variant.

“The health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and community are our top concerns,” the VAT said via email. “ Some areas with low vaccination rates are seeing significant increases in their case numbers, including hospitalization rates and intensive care unit occupancy.”

MANDATE: Some GVSU students are struggling to file for religious exemption of the mandated COVID-19 vaccination. Students and staff will need to be vaccinated by Sept. 30. GVL | ARCHIVES

GVSU student Jocelyn Jones is currently in the process of applying for an exemption from the vaccine. Jones said that her exemption is rooted in religious grounds. “[The COVID-19 vaccination] is just not something I believe in, it’s something we’ve prayed about a lot,” Jones said. “In middle school, I didn’t get certain vaccines and stuff because that’s just not what I believe in.”

Jones said she appreciates GVSU’s effort to offer choices for their community. However, within the process, she found challenges in how to formulate a quality response for her exemption form.

“The hardest part of filling it out [the exemption form] was finding a good way, in

2,000 characters to say why, religiously for me, I do not want to get the vaccine,” Jones said.

GVSU became one of 1,014 universities requiring the COVID-19 vaccination, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education, creating a stir amongst many individuals in the GVSU community sparking Anti-Vax Facebook groups and “Don’t let GV Call my Shots” protests. Many of these individuals wanted the choice on whether or not they want the vaccination and their choice on whether or not to participate in asymptomatic testing.

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ADVERTISING STAFF

Sports Editor HOLLY BIHLMAN Laker Life Editor SABRINA EDWARDS

A3 | NEWS

Advertising Manager JOSH HENGTEN

CLASSES

GVSU Save simplifies book-buying process

BUSINESS STAFF

A&E Editor MARY DUPUIS Image Editor MEGHAN LANDGREEN

Business Manager RACHEL MCDOWELL

BY PAYTON BRAZZIL NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

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.

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.

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TEXTBOOKS: GVSU has made the book buying process easier with their new GVSU Save program this fall. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

Grand Valley State University students have a new option when purchasing textbooks this fall. GVSU Save, a new initiative from the Laker Store, is a completely digital and convenient way for students to get course materials.

The process begins once a professor chooses to use GVSU Save for their class content. Then, the Laker Store will directly work with the publisher and negotiate the most reasonable price for students. The price of the books will be automatically charged to a student’s account and the information will be loaded into Blackboard. On the first day of class, students will have digital access to the required materials.

Students that want to purchase these books elsewhere or drop the class are able to opt out of the GVSU Save program within the first two weeks of classes. The money will either be refunded or not charged. Although, according to the Laker Store, most students didn’t opt out.

GVSU Save strives to help students, faculty and staff have a more convenient and affordable purchasing process, according to the Laker Store. If an instructor wants to use digital course materials via GVSU Save, the Laker Store no longer has to pay publishers to sell

books in-store or physically stock the books.

Since the materials are all online, it is impossible to go out of stock. Students using GVSU Save will no longer have to wait for their books to be restocked. GVSU student Raigan Novotny said she was glad one of her professors used GVSU Save for this reason.

“I think more professors should use this because buying books can be stressful if you don’t get them shipped in time or if you can’t find them at the store,” Novotny said. “Last year, my books took a while to ship and I missed assignments because of it, and I like that these books are online so I don’t have to carry heavy books to class.”

Like Novotny, more students are purchasing e-books or course codes to lighten their load on the way to class. With technology forever growing, GVSU Save presents a digital, time-saving way to get course materials with just a click of a button.

While the new digital option of buying books is more affordable and beneficial than physically buying books, technology will always come with problems according to GVSU student Georgie Findlay.

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A4 | OPINION GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

By Athena Jasman

EDITORIAL

Texas abortion bill stirs unrest on campus

T

09/07/21

editorial@lanthorn.com

Celebrate the end of summer with cinemas biggest hits ticket. GVSU students were surveyed on what their favorite summer releases were. The responses yielded a variety of opinions, but some were deemed more popular than others. Below is a list of on-demand releases to check out that would contribute to an entertaining night after studying.

“In the Heights,” HBO Max

COURTESY | BBC.COM

BY CHLOE BROWN SENIOR UNDECLARED EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

In past summers, Grand Valley State University students looked forward to catching the latest cinematic release with friends at their local cinema. However, with the pandemic still affecting theaters, more and more movies are getting released either direct to streaming services, or a hybrid simultaneous release between theatres and streaming.

The reasoning is simple; some are still uncomfortable going to a crowded public space like a theater, and we all enjoy the comfort of seeing the newest release in our homes. When asking GVSU students their thoughts, a plurality of students said they would prefer seeing a new release on a streaming service rather than in a theater.

HBO Max’s on-demand service is a prime example, as subscribers can stream new theatrical releases exclusive to Warner Brothers Pictures at no added cost.

“In the Heights” and “Space Jam” both made their way to HBO Max the same day as theaters, but at a limited release.

Disney offers a similar service with cinematic releases but does require members to pay an added fee for early access, similar to purchasing a movie

This is a feature film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, written by “Hamilton” creator Lin Manuel Miranda. “In the Heights” follows four Latino hopefuls living in New York City, dreaming of better lives. The story takes place in the predominantly Dominican Washington Heights neighborhood of Upper Manhattan and is a landmark in representation for big-budget studio filmmaking. Full of catchy songs, exuberant choreography, and inventive camerawork, not to mention a scorching hot setting, this film just about sums up the summer.

Luca, Disney Plus Disney and Pixar studios combine again to bring another heartwarming comedy that’s fun for all ages. Young boy Luca is a sea creature who is amazed to discover that when he walks on land and becomes dry, he looks like a human.

Meeting a fellow creature named Alberto, they set off on an adventure to explore the human world in the seaside human town of Portorosso on the Italian Riviera.

But when they meet the feisty Giulia, they’re roped into helping her win the local triathlon and beat the bullying Ercole.

Space Jam: A New Legacy, HBO Max After twenty-five years of anticipation, the sequel to the nostalgic nineties’ classic “Space Jam” is finally here. This

time starring LeBron James, “A New Legacy” follows James and his son, Dom, as they are tricked into entering a Warner Brothers themed virtual multiverse by a deceitful artificial intelligence named Al-G Rhythm, played entertainingly

by Don Cheadle. James encounters the Looney Tunes characters and enlists their aid in a basketball game against Al-G and his monstrous players to rescue Dom and earn their freedom.

Cruella, Disney Plus In the latest Disney live-action classic animated feature remake, “Cruella” follows the template established in “Maleficent” by reframing the story around the villain. Set in London during the punk rock movement of the 1970s, the film revolves around Estella Miller, played by Emma Stone. She’s an aspiring fashion designer, as she explores the path that will lead her to become a notorious up-and-coming fashion designer known as Cruella de Vil. Aided by a memorable soundtrack, a solid supporting cast, and an unforgettable evil turn from Emma Thompson, this flick keeps you guessing despite the familiar character.

Army of the Dead, Netflix Combining the two genres of zombie flick and heist film, director Zack Snyder brings a unique blend of action, suspense, horror, and comedy. Featuring an ensemble cast headed by Dave Bautista and Tig Notaro, this movie has something to offer everybody. Set in the near future, a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas forces the authorities to close off the city.

Afterward, a mysterious casino owner recruits a group of mercenaries to retrieve his stash of cash before the zombie apocalypse gets out of control.

his past Thursday Sept. 2, a pro-life group organized a protest in GVSU’s Allendale Campus’ designated free speech space in front of the Cook Carillon Tower. There was an older man standing holding a huge cross with posters on either side of him, one with images of bloody fetuses that said “Abortion is Murder,” and another with an assortment of bible verses on it.

There were some students laughing at him, holding their phones high in the air to take selfies with him and the posters in the background. Other students closer to him were yelling, chanting “go home.”

He came to make a scene, and the students ensured that there was one.

The Supreme Court ruled in Roe v Wade, in 1973, that women have the right to an abortion before the point in pregnancy when the fetus can survive outside of the womb.

However, this Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Texas bill that prohibits abortions after a heartbeat can be detected in the embryo. This bill specifically allows individual citizens, not state officials, to enforce the law;

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 orbeliefs. 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.

private individuals can sue people they suspect of having abortions or facilitating abortions, for up to $10,000. The bill also allows for very few exceptions; even if the person seeking the abortion experienced sexual assault, they are not allowed to terminate the pregnancy.

With this law, the state of Texas is violating the personal autonomy of anyone who wishes they could terminate a pregnancy, and empowering private citizens to violate that personal autonomy as well. While technically the Supreme Court has not established that it is a fundamental right, according to Cornell Law School’s open access Legal Information Institute, it was stated in Planned Parenthood v. Casey that a state cannot fully and absolutely invade an individual’s right to personal autonomy, even to save a life.

However, the decision reached by the Supreme Court in Washington v.

Glucksberg seemed to contradict that, where it was established that due process does not wholly protect an individual’s bodily autonomy.

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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: 0051 KIRKHOF CENTER GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ALLENDALE, MI 49401 616-826-8276

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A5 |NEWS

RADIO

GV introduces new AM radio station to campus community

BY JOSH ALBURTUS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University’s multimedia journalism program is diving into the world of AM radio to bring new opportunities to students looking for real-world experience.

Constructed this summer, AM 900 WLSX, or “The X,” will be integrated into the classwork of GVSU’s Introduction to Radio course that has been offered to students for the last ten years. Students will work through the class to manage the station. Len O’Kelly, a professor in GVSU’s School of Communications and architect of the station, will oversee the work of the students as the instructor of the Introduction to Radio class.

“The students who are in the Introduction to Radio class will work on this radio station and this will be their lab to get their hands-on training,” O’Kelly said.

“Students in that class, by the end of that semester, have the material to go to work in broadcasting.”

The AM station will join student-run

WCKS, or “Whale Radio,” as the only other radio station operating on GVSU’s campus. In creating WLSX, O’Kelly, who also acts as the faculty advisor for WCKS, wanted to ensure that students weren’t missing out on any experience needed to make it in the field. “[WLSX] is designed to be much more like what a student would experience either going into an internship or even going into a first part-time job,” O’Kelly said. “It’s more of a real-world feel.”

While WCKS provides interested students similar chances for hands-on learning, O’Kelly wanted to ensure that each station came with its own opportunities.

“If the only experience that they’ve had has been the student-run setting,” O’Kelly said. “They go to an internship or they go to a job and they’re very surprised to find that they don’t get to just do what they want on the air.”

To counter such an imbalance, the professor made it a point to utilize different formats for the different stations.

“A lot of the shows that are on [WCKS] are talk shows, sports shows, things like

BROADCASTING: GVSU Introduction to Radio students will now have the opportunity to use the brand new AM radio station that has been installed on the Allendale campus. GVL | AUBREE WAGNER

that,” O’Kelly said. “This station is executing a music format and the personalities, the students who are working on that, will be executing the music format.”

According to O’Kelly, not only will the new station offer experience to students through a music format, but it will

also provide important information to the GVSU community during different events throughout the year.

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ADMISSIONS

GV not requiring standardized test scores for fall 2022 applications

BY JACOB DEWEERD NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

TESTING: Standards test scores are now optional for prospective GVSU students due to COVID-19 related setbacks. GVL | ARCHIVES

Grand Valley State University is allowing prospective first-year students to submit their applications without standardized test scores for the fall 2022 semester. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for some students to access standardized tests, and the decision to make scores optional aims to allow as many students as possible the opportunity to attend GVSU. According to U.S News, SAT and ACT testing sites across the country have seen sessions postponed or canceled due to pandemic-related concerns, leaving students with no other options to take the tests. As the pandemic has persisted, many colleges and universities have made standardized test scores an optional requirement for admission for another year.

“Lack of access to standardized testing options resulted in GVSU initially making the decision to be test-optional for students entering during the fall 2021 semester,” said Director of Admissions Jodi Chycinski. “We will remain test-optional, as we do not know what barriers will exist this year due to the pandemic.”

Despite test scores now being optional,

the applicant review process is not changing.

The admissions office will continue to look at a student’s entire application whether or not it includes an SAT or ACT score. Application reviewers are also not assigning more weight to other factors like grade point average or classes taken to make up for the lack of test scores, according to Chycinski.

“The Admissions Office at Grand Valley takes a holistic approach to reviewing applications, meaning several factors of an application are evaluated to determine academic fit for GVSU,” Chycinski said. “These factors include grade point average, academic rigor, short answer response on the admissions application, leadership experiences, work and life experiences along with any additional information a student chooses to submit with the application for admissions.”

Chycinski said that applicants submitting test scores would not have a better chance of admission compared to applicants who choose not to.

“It’s not necessary to submit a standardized test score for admissions purposes,” Chycinski said. “However, we do have some merit scholarships that require submission of an SAT or ACT score for consideration.”

For students looking to be considered for as many merit-based scholarships as possi-

ble, GVSU’s admissions website states: “You may still submit test scores as a supplement to your application, even at a later date, for additional scholarship consideration.”

Prospective students now have the opportunity to make their applications stand out in other, potentially more meaningful ways as a result of test scores being optional.

“Without the emphasis on test scores, students can really shine by responding thoughtfully to our short answer questions, putting together strong activity and leadership lists as well as sharing any additional personal information that they feel will help us evaluate the total student,” Chycinski said.

According to the Washington Post, other schools like the University of California that have decided not to require standardized test scores have found that eliminating test score requirements can have a net positive effect on the admission of disadvantaged students.

Disadvantaged students are seeing higher admission rates at UC than ever before, and data like this could lead to more permanent changes to how applications are structured at colleges and universities across the country.

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A6&7 | NEWS

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Elizabeth Kalafut and Ben Biermacher are two of the newest student senators to be sworn in by GVSU President Philomena Mantella at the first general assembly meeting. Following the swearing in, Mantella shared words of advice and encouragement for the new year. COURTESY | GVSU

BY AUDREY WHITAKER & ZACK GOODROW NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University Student Senate met for the first general assembly of the fall semester. GVSU president Philomena Mantella joined the meeting as a guest speaker to swear in new senators.

“Typically our first meeting of the year we will always have the university president swear in our new folks,” Student Senate President Autumn Muller said. “It’s really exciting to have her come in and give us some words of encouragement for the upcoming semester.”

Muller said there are 16 new senators, as well as 13 open positions.

Following the swearing-in, where student senators vow to support and defend the constitution of the student senate and the interests of the student body, Mantella spoke about the importance and challenges of leadership at GVSU. “You will find that we have diverse opinions, passion, purpose, missions, majors, all an array of beautiful but different points of view,” Mantella said. “You are not only leading our student voice, but you’re participating in the governance of this university, along with our colleagues, and the University Academic Senate and our administrative associations and groups.”

Mantella encouraged Student Senators to work collaboratively with university administration as well as other student leaders.

“The leaders of the university administration, as well as the University family, are a

place where you can go for common conversation,” Mantella said. “We also have invited the Senate leadership to the President’s Council to hear and have conversations across all the leadership levels of the institution.”

As leaders and GVSU students, Mantella asked Student Senators to model civil discourse for the GVSU community.

“We as a country need to understand how to have different points of view, and we need to model it as an educational institution and the leadership of an educational institution, how to respect different voices, how to ask questions, how to diverge and to converge,” said Mantella.

One of these new Student Senators, junior Ben Biermacher, thought the fall 2021 semester was a perfect opportunity to join. Like many GVSU students last year, Biermacher felt idle and wanted to be more involved in campus activities.

“Last year I felt very stagnant in what I was doing,” Biermacher said. “I felt mundane and that I needed more to do. I’ve always felt I’ve had the capacity to do more and be a leader on campus. This was the perfect opportunity to do that.”

Biermacher, along with his fellow Senators, wants to be transparent with the GVSU student population. The Senate wants the bridge between university and students communication to be clearer.

“I want to give the students a voice on campus,” Biermacher said. “Last year I felt so frustrated with what the university was doing.

Everyday it felt like we were getting another

email or newsletter with bad news. I felt underprivileged in that way and we weren’t informed enough. That’s something I want to change.”

For Biermacher, this transparency is extremely important for first and second-year students.

“This year I feel that students haven’t had the true Grand Valley experience since they’ve been stuck in their dorm or apartment,” Biermacher said. “This year is a fantastic opportunity to experience what this campus has to offer with all the diversity and type of people here. I want people to see what wonderful and beautiful campus we have and I think that went underappreciated last year.”

Sophomore Elizabeth Kalafut has goals for younger GVSU students as well. Her objectives as a new Student Senator are focused on mental health. She is the Chair of the Mental Health Awareness Committee. Her goal is to make sure GVSU students take advantage of the programs GVSU offers them.

“No matter what one is going through, we have so many resources on campus that can help,” Kalafut said. “Whether it is the counseling center, one of our many on-campus resources, an off-campus resource, a RA, a boss, a professor, a friend, or even a classmate.”

Kalafut wants to assure students that these organizations can help students of every variety. She said she is looking forward to working with organizations on campus, as well as her fellow senators, to ensure all Lakers have access to the resources they need at GVSU.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A8 | NEWS COMMUNITY

Grand Rapids MARCH Committee launches street name change petition

BY GILLIAN HANTON, NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

The Moving Ahead for Remarkable Civil Rights Heroes (MARCH) Committee has recently launched an effort to change two street names in the Grand Rapids area to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and César E. Chávez.

In the proposal, the committee suggests that Grandville Avenue be changed to César E. Chávez Avenue, and Franklin Street be changed to Martin Luther King Jr. Street, as permanent markers of the leaders’ legacies. MARCH has launched a petition for Grand Rapids community members to show support for the change.

King, a former Baptist minister, is widely known for his prominence in the Civil Rights Movement during the 1950s and 1960s, advocating for equal rights for African American people, according to the King Center. Perhaps the most notable element of his career, however, was King’s intolerance of violence in his efforts for social change and racial justice.

Despite being jailed, attacked, and eventually killed, King continued to hold onto the belief that, “In spite of temporary victories, violence never brings permanent peace.”

Although his civil rights career lasted just over a decade and met a tragic end, King is still regarded as one of the most

influential leaders in the history of civil rights, according to the King Center.

Like King, Chávez was also a nonviolent social activist. However, his efforts were focused on Latino civil rights and the injustices of the working class, specifically farmers, according to the Chavez Foundation. Chávez founded the United Farm Workers of America, the first successful farmers’ union in American history.

To honor these civil rights leaders, the MARCH committee is proposing that Franklin Street and Grandville Avenue take on the names of King and Chávez, respectively. In a community with a larger African American and Latino presence, recognition of diverse history continues to be important, MARCH co-chairperson Lupe Ramos-Montigny said.

“Right now, there are a lot of people of Latino and African American descent living on Franklin Street and Grandville Avenue,” Ramos-Montigny said. “I think the changes will help honor their history and let them know they are seen.”

As with any public proposal, the transition from idea to reality is lengthy and challenging at times. However, the MARCH committee continues to remain vigilant and optimistic.

“I like to describe the process like it’s baseball,” Ramos-Montigny said. “Right now, we’re on second base and trying to run toward third.

PROGRESS: A Grand Rapids committee is working towards changing street names throughout the city. New developments will honor Martin Luther King Jr and César E. Chávez COURTESY | LOOPNET

We’re definitely making progress.”

So far, the bulk of public response has been positive, with hundreds of people in the Grand Rapids area signing MARCH’s petition in favor of the name change.

“We’ve had great support from the community so far and we’re going to continue to

work hard,” Ramos-Montigny said. “We’re hoping to get around three thousand signatures in support.”

A decision regarding the official name changes, immortalizing these figures in the Grand Rapids community, is likely to be made before the end of this year.

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Online or in-person: different formats offer GV students flexibility

BY HANNA HALSTEAD NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

As the fall semester begins at Grand Valley State University, many students and professors alike welcome the return to in-person classes, despite COVID-19 requirements, including a mask mandate and contact tracing.

80% of classes in the fall 2021 semester were offered in a face-to-face format, with a few online or hybrid formats available, according to the Lakers Together website. Most of those who have chosen to remain in online classes expressed a preference for being able to have a more flexible class schedule and liked the convenience of asynchronous classwork.

Online classes offer flexibility for students’ schedules as well as their comfort level with COVID-19. There are students that are taking online classes because there were no in-person options available, Dustin Denckaert.

“I decided to take one class online because there were no in-person offerings at times that worked for me,” Danckaert

PERSPECTIVES: GV students hold different opinions and comfort levels of the University’s decision to hold in-person classes. 80% of classes are being offered in-person this fall. COURTESY | LOOPNET

said. “Even then, they were hybrid courses.”

When asked if COVID-19 impacted his decision to schedule online or in-person classes, Danckaert said that it wasn’t really something that influenced

his decision, as he missed having classes in person. Danckaert said he felt that he wasn’t “getting the full education” he would have in a traditional class, due to the lack of peer interaction and detached learning structure.

Students who have returned to classes in-person full-time, like GVSU student Allison Klimedk, have expressed a sense of relief and joy to have classes return to somewhat normal.

“I‘ve had all online classes since March 2020, and have been eager to return to the classroom, “ said Klimek. “The classes I needed to take were in person, and it let me finally get back into the classroom.”

When asked about how in-person classes compared to last year’s online classes, Klimek said she’s gotten to actually meet new people and that she’s interacted with her classmates more this week than all of last year.

Klimek said she was concerned about COVID-19, but felt more comfortable signing up for in-person classes once vaccines became widely available.

Klimek said GVSU’s vaccine mandate was another layer of security against the virus to help keep the university running smoothly.

GVSU continues to encourage and mandate vaccination by Sept. 30.

A9 | LAKER LIFE

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

LOOK AT LAKERLIFE BRINGING BACK THE SILENT DISCO

The silent disco is returning to GVSU’s campus on Sept. 10. The Campus Activities Board is hosting another disco as a part of their welcome back to campus events. A silent disco is basically the same as a regular dance party, however, everyone is wearing headphones instead of the music being played on speakers. There will be three different DJ’s performing throughout the event that students can shuffle inbetween.

The DJ’s that will be there are DJ BWiz, DJ Composition, and DJ Kung. The disco will take place at the Clocktower Plaza from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Students can RSVP for the event on LakerLink, however it isn’t necessary to do so in order to attend.

LEARN ABOUT STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES

Students who are interested in studying abroad can go to the first step meeting Sept.

8 from 5 to 6 p.m. in Lake Ontario Hall in room 130. These sessions are recurring every Wednesday and run until Oct. 27. These information sessions will cover all of the basics of studying abroad which includes how to find a program, funding, academic information and more. Those who are interested and can’t attend an event can contact the study abroad advising office for information.

WATCH CRUELLA ON CAMPUS

The Campus Activities Board is hosting a movie event Sept. 10. Students can drop in to watch Cruella at four separate viewing times.

Showtimes are at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. This is the live-action version of the classic Disney animation. The live-action stars Emma Stone and Emma Thompson.

EMPLOYMENT OPPURTUNITIES

Campus dining reopens with some difficulties

BY SABRINA EDWARDS LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

With students coming back to campus, many of Grand Valley State University’s facilities reopened after being closed due to the pandemic, campus dining included. Due to more students being on-campus, the need for more cafeterias to be opened increased.

However, even though there is a need for dining on-campus, Campus Dining is still struggling to open at full capacity, but this time it’s not due to COVID. “Last year, a handful of locations were closed for the entire semester/year due to decreased on-campus population and COVID-19 restrictions,” said Deb Rambadt, Marketing Director of Campus Dining.

Even though many of these facilities are able to reopen, some still aren’t capable due to a shortage in labor. Many on-campus dining options are still closed because they don’t have enough workers to be able to reopen. Some of these are GV Brew, Qdoba and Einstein Bros. Bagels to name a few.

“This year our plan/goal is to have all locations open as soon as staffing levels are met,” Rambadt said. “In addition to current labor shortages, there are some supply chain issues. Restaurants are substituting items as needed and this may change menu

SHORTAGES: Restaurants are struggling to reopen with both staff and supply shortages leaving multiple restaurants closed despite hopes to open again this semester. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

options from time to time.”

While they are hoping to fully reopen as soon as possible, they can’t unless they get more workers. If these restaurants aren’t fully staffed, reopening isn’t a possibility.

If they aren’t closed due to labor shortages, it’s due to supply shortages. There are currently 17 on-campus dining facilities closed, three due to supply chain issues.

Panda Express is also being affected by the supply chain shortages, and because of that can only offer a limited menu to patrons.

Campus dining facilities are adhering to all of the on-campus mandatory requirements for indoor facilities. Much like at other restaurants, guests are asked to wear their masks until they get to their table.

“The university mask mandate is in effect in all buildings,” Rambadt said. “Guests are expected to wear masks while circulating dining locations. Masks can be removed only at tables while eating.”

Some things have changed due to the restrictions besides just masks. Guests are not allowed to get refills on any of their beverages and they are being asked to not bring any cups from home so as to not spread any illnesses. These rules may be adjusted as Ottawa County Health Department issues new restrictions or removes them.

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BYOB RIVER CLEAN UP EVENT

Grand Valley is participating in a campus to campus water clean-up event for the Grand River. Those who are looking to attend are asked to bring their own boats to get down the river. Whether that be a kayak, canoe or any other personal floating device.

They also suggest bringing a device to collect trash, like a net or separate device for trash.

Gloves, garbage bags and a support boat for offloading trash will be provided by Making Waves. There are two dates for cleanup, Sept. 11 at 8 a.m. and Sept. 13. Boats will be launched from Veterans Boat Launch. Those looking to attend are being asked to sign up online. For more information check out gvsu. edu/makingwaves.

PARTICIPATE IN OUTDOOR YOGA The Campus Activities Board along with GVSU Recreation and Wellness group are hosting a joint outdoor yoga event for students on campus. This will take place on Sept. 10 from 6-7 p.m. in the Arboretum.

Students are being encouraged to RSVP for the event so the groups know how many will be attending. Anyone who is interested in yoga is free to attend the event, from beginners to advanced skill levels.

STUDENTS RETURN

GVSU’s mixed opinions on being back on campus

BY KAYLA WORTHY LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University’s campus is buzzing with life this semester.

This is extremely different than last year when the COVID-19 pandemic caused the school to go completely online. Few people chose to live on-campus and attend online classes from home. Whereas the minority of people that had hybrid classes weren’t able to experience GVSU

IN-PERSON SESSIONS: Students and professors reflect on being back in-person after a year of online learning. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

the way it is today.

Now that the restrictions have been loosened, GVSU’s campus is open again.

There are crowds of students outside during the day, almost like normal college circumstances just without the masks.

However, there are mixed views on the return to campus.

“I’ve never seen this many people on campus,” said sophomore Lauren Williams. “I’m excited to be here but at the same time, I’m not sure how to feel about it. It’s the experience I should’ve gotten last year and I want to be happy about it, but I just can’t help but feel like we’re going to be sent home.”

Last year’s circumstances have had a huge impact on the mindsets of students regarding participating in a “normal” school setting. It seems like a lot of students are apprehensive about being on campus for the exact same reason as Williams. With the uncertainties looming, students are afraid to have to make the

switch back to online learning again.

“Anything can change for the worse,” said freshman Hannah Ramda. “It’s my freshman year and I don’t want the experience the sophomores had, but there are so many people outside at a time, usually with no mask on.”

GVSU has mandated that all students planning to be on-campus get vaccinated

by Sept. 30. There are clinics on-campus that administer the vaccine to students free of charge and offer both the Pfizer and the Johnson & Johnson. Many students agree that the vaccine is meant to make them feel safe and protected from COVID-19.

“I was willing to come on-campus because of the vaccine mandate and indoor mask protocols,” Ramda said. “They made me feel safe.”

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A10 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTS AT A GLANCE GV WRITERS SERIES WILL RETURN WITH DIVERSE AUTHORS, UNIQUE EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS Grand Valley State University’s annual Writer’s Series is set to bring a talented and diverse array of writers to the university once more.

GVSU’s Writer’s Series invites writers from various genres to interact with students and speak about their writing experiences. This year the series will begin on Fri., Sept. 24 and will conclude on Mon., April 4, 2022.

The Sept. 24 event begins at 12:00 p.m. with guest writer Deesha Philyaw and will conclude with guest writer Tommy Dean on April 4. Other guest writers include Sejal Shah, Nandi Comer, Sumita Chakraborty, Chuck Carlise, Brandon Rushton and Sarah Einstein.

GVSU Associate Professor of Writing and organizer of this year’s Writer’s Series, Amorak Huey, said that he tries to bring in writers that he feels will best help, and leave a lasting impact on, university writing students.

Read more at www.lanthorn.com.

GV HOLDS DOOR DECORATING EVENT FOR STUDENTS IN DORMS

The Grand Valley State University FMHC Student Council will be holding a free door decorating event for students living in the dorms.

On Tues., Sept. 7 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. students are invited to head to Niemeyer MPR for a night of door decorating festivities.

Students are required to RSVP to the event on LakerLink before attending.

The “Ecliptic” in downtown GR gets a makeover Significant rehabilitation is currently being done on The Ecliptic at the Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids.

Known as the heart and soul of the city, over 750,000 people make their way through the park and piece of art each year.

Improvements to the beloved site include the removal of the older “cast stone material” rings/seating and replacing it with granite, new trash receptacles, new lighting, new wayfinding signage, a new drinking fountain and water bottle filler, and more.

The park is expected to reopen in Oct. or Nov. of this year.

GV MODEL ENTERTAINMENT CLUB HOLDING AUDITIONS Grand Valley State University’s Model Entertainment Club will be hosting their fall 2021 auditions for all students.

On Sat., Sept. 18 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in Cook Dewitt all students are invited to audition to be part of the club. Females are asked to wear a solid colored top with black bottoms and heels, and males are asked to wear a solid colored shirt and jeans.

The club’s goal is for students who are interested in modeling, fashion, fashion design, photography, and the beauty industry a venue to showcase it.

According to the club’s biography on LakerLink, their aim is to provide student models with opportunities to enhance their skills through fashion shows and beauty

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

EXHIBITION

GrandValley Art Celebration champions Outsider Art with “Honest and Unrefined”

BY AYRON RUTAN ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

Formerly known as the Fall Arts Celebration, the Grand Valley State University Arts Celebration has been an important part of the West Michigan community for the past 18 years, and is back with a brand new exhibition.

Debuting on August 27 and titled, “Honest and Unrefined: Art Outside the Academy,” this new exhibition stems from the previous “Raw Art: Division Avenue Artists” exhibition hosted by the GVSU Art Gallery in 2005.

The 2005 exhibition was centered around a local group of artists who lived and worked in the Heartside neighborhood of downtown Grand Rapids.

Since then, GVSU has made a commitment to acquiring art from outside of the mainstream to incorporate into its collection.

“Honest and Unrefined” dives deep into different styles of art, including self-taught, folk, outsider, visionary and naïve artists. It draws from pieces in GVSU’s collection, as well as different collectors from all around West Michigan.

Bright colors, repetitive patterns, and unconventional crafting of found materials are major characteristics of “Honest and Unrefined.” Artists who contributed to the exhibition were driven by the desire to create and communicate deep, personal and provocative messages.

UNIQUE: The Grand Valley Art Gallery accumulated pieces of “Outsider Art” for years to put together an exhibition celebrating its out-of-the-box tactics and creativity. GVL | JONATHAN LANTIEGNE

Some of this exhibition’s acclaim is also due in part to the co-curatorship of famed West Michigan artist Reb Roberts.

Roberts is an artist, educator and collaborator who has been active in West Michigan since the mid 1990s. He and his wife own and operate The Sanctuary Folk Gallery in the Heartside neighborhood of downtown Grand Rapids, an important epicenter for artists for the last 18 years.

This new exhibition has been in the works for the past five years. Nathan Kemler, the Director of GVSU Galleries and Collections, said he is very excited for it to be shown to the public, as he is eager to bring a different style of art into the fine art community.

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TRADITION

Grand Rapids Art Museum features “An Interwoven Legacy” MARY DUPUIS ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) recently debuted the next installment of their Michigan Artist Series, titled, “An Interwoven Legacy: The Black Ash Basketry of Kelly Church and Cherish Parrish.”

The exhibition will be on view at GRAM through Feb. 26, 2022 and features work made by mother and daughter basket makers Kelly Church and Cherish Parrish of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band (Gun Lake Tribe). Both artists are nationally recognized for their crafts.

BASKETRY: GRAM opens new exhibit for end of 2021. COURTESY | GRAM Communications, Church Parrish

Together, they have debuted more than 20 new works centered around the tradition of creating black ash basketry specifically for the exhibition.

GRAM Communications Manager, Elizabeth Payne, said the artists draw from many different aspects of life for inspiration for their baskets.

“Some of these are traditional baskets, while others are woven works of art that draw on Native history and storytelling to make striking parallels to current events,” Payne said.

In a press release GRAM Chief Curator, Ron Platt, said that in Church and Parrish’s family basket weaving has been handed down from one generation to the next for centuries.

“Cherish and I take our old traditional teachings and we combine it with the contemporary stories of who we are as Natives in 2021,” Church said in a press release.

“We are the largest basket weaving family in Michigan, and the fact that we can carry it on this long, to me shows strength and resilience of who we are.”

Payne said the exhibition is meant to emphasize two of the artists’ primary motivations: the importance of maintaining the basketmak-

ing tradition and their advocacy for the black ash tree’s survival.

Originally, the Anishinabe made baskets for utility purposes, weaving them in different sizes for carrying or storing things. As a broader appreciation for Native baskets developed, they began creating decorative baskets to sell.

Today, the black ash trees are being decimated by an invasive insect, the emerald ash borer.

The survival of these trees is essential to keeping the basketmaking aspect of Church and Parrish’s culture alive.

According to a press release Church said the trees are a key part of their culture, and the story of their people.

“The black ash tree is an integral part of who we are, from creation stories to blood memories, to the baskets that we make today,” Church said. ​“We start with the black ash tree, and we do all of the processing — we harvest it, we process it, we cut it, and then we make a basket that tells a story of our life today.

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A11 | SPORTS

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

QUICK HITS WOMEN’S SOCCER SHUTS OUT BOTH OPPONENTS IN FIRST WEEK OF PLAY

On Thursday, Sept. 2, the women’s soccer team made a promising start to their 25th season with new head coach, Jim Conlon, in a 4-0 shutout against the Lindenwood University Lions. The no. 9 ranked Lakers jumped right in to their first game, starting with junior forward, Greta DeLoach’s first corner kick of the year and goal at the 25-minute mark. Later in the first half, DeLoach scored her second goal, followed by two more goals in the second half scored by redshirt sophomore forward, Chantel Carranza and freshman midfield, Mackenzie Jones.

On Saturday, Sept. 4, the lakers went on to play the University of Findlay Oilers, once again ending the game in a 2-0 shutout. The Oilers put up a fight, only allowing to goals scored in the backend of the second half with sophomore forward, Kennedy Bearden at the 64-minute mark. To end the game, freshmen midfield, Stephanie Sturgeon scored her first goal.

This weekend the Lakers will travel to Warrensburg, MO to compete against Northwest Missouri State on Friday, Sept. 10 and Central Missouri on Sunday, Sept. 12.

GV FOOTBALL TEAM CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED

Right before the beginning of the fall season, the Grand valley State University football team announced their three team captains for the year. Senior running back, Bryce Young-Walls, senior defensive line, Dennis Johnson, and junior wide receiver, Hunter Rison are all taking on the leadership position this season.

Young-Walls has seen a lot of game-time action, playing in fifteen games between his sophomore and junior years, earning his third varsity letter in 2019. Johnson also earned his third varsity letter in 2019 along with First-Team All-GLIAC and Defensive Lineman of the Year with 24 tackles that season. Rison will be playing his first season with GVSU after playing for Michigan State University his freshman year in 2017 where he caught 18 passes for 223 yards and 36 passes for 60 yards and seven touchdowns at Fullerton College in 2019.

These three impressively accomplished players will be leading their team with gametime experience and veteran confidence through the 2021 fall season.

FOOTBALL

GV football moves on from heartbreaking cancellation of season opener

BY HOLLY BIHLMAN SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State University football team has spent the past two years putting in serious time and work as the 2021 fall season begins. Their first game, scheduled to be at home on Thursday, Sept. 2, never came to be in a heartbreaking and frustrating turn of events.

The worst part is that the Lakers did everything right to get to this week, but still turned up empty-handed on Thursday evening.

What was originally supposed to be an electrifying return of the tailgating, the fans and GVSU football at Lubbers Stadium was unfortunately spoiled by COVID-19 on Edinboro University’s football team. Their vaccination rates weren’t high enough to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and resulted in several athletes being in quarantine.

What started out as a rescheduling of the game for Saturday, Sept. 4, was only briefly relieving for the Lakers and head coach, Matt Mitchell, until they eventually found out it was altogether canceled.

“I don’t know what else happened; I don’t know the depth of it and at that point in time, it didn’t really matter the scenario and the reasons why, it was just canceled,” Mitchell said.

“That was obviously really frustrating and my message to our team was that they did nothing wrong, in fact, they did a lot right. There’s a way to avoid these situations and that’s by teams be-

ing vaccinated, and that was the most frustrating part for us.”

When Mitchell got the phone call from the head coach at Edinboro, Jake Nulph, he was assured that their issues with COVID-19 would be resolved by Saturday, Sept. 4, so the GVSU Athletics made the decision to publicly reschedule the home game.

“I was a little incredulous when they said they were just going to move it basically 48

hours,” Mitchell said. “You know, it’s like, that’s interesting just given COVID protocols, but the head coach told me that and we had assurances that it was going to be played, so that’s why we made it public and we told our team that it was going to happen.”

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EQUALITY

GV athletics hosts SEA of Change event to help promote focus on social issues

SHAWN ROBINSON, SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

GV QUIDDITCH TEAM PREPARES FOR SEASON

The Grand Valley State University Grindylows Quidditch club appeared at Campus Life Night to recruit members for their 2021 season. Their first practice was Aug. 30 from 6-8 p.m. in the Kelley Family Sports Center, and they’re already preparing for their first tournament at Michigan State University. The club has been around for several years, hosting their first Midwest Regional tournament back in 2014, qualifying as the 11th seed in the U.S. World Cup Tournament for the second year in a row. The Grindylows will begin their season at MSU to kick off the 2021 quidditch season.

CANCELLATION: After cautious preparation for the start of the 2021 season, the GVSU football was disappointed to learn they would not play week one due to COVID-19. GVL | ANABELLE ROBINSON

DIVERSITY: GV invited student athletes to discuss sports inclusion. COURTESY | GVSU LAKERS

The Grand Valley State University athletic department hosted a SEA of Change event for social justice Sunday, Aug. 29, for incoming freshman and transfer student-athletes. SEA: Supporting, Elevating and Activating, was put together after several meetings and talks among several GVSU coaches, athletic administration members, athletes, and other outside groups.

“The purpose of this program was to give our incoming student-athletes the opportunity to see what Grand Valley is all about,” said committee member Walter Moore.

Moore, the Associate Director of Athletics for Student-Athlete Welfare and Development, has worked at GVSU for more than 20 years and said it’s great to see action being taken on campus.

“It gave them an idea of what the expectations are, what we would like to see all of our students, especially our student-athletes, embrace diversion, equity, and inclusion,” Moore said. “We know people are coming from all different backgrounds, but we want

to set the expectation when students come to Grand Valley State University that everyone is going to be well, everyone is going to have a voice, everyone will embrace, respect and get to know other people.”

The event was a three-hour session that featured keynote speakers, Olympian Gwen Berry, former student-athlete SIU-Carbondale’s Kenton Mack, and President of Athletes Igniting Action. In addition to the keynote speakers, there were two one-hour breakout sessions where students chose from five different areas based on diversity, inclusion, and equity. Athletes then filled out a survey based on what they learned and took from the event and that information will be used to help layout future events and programs.

“What we plan to do the rest of the semester is create three, one-hour virtual sessions in October, November, and December where all of our student-athletes will have the opportunity to partake and hopefully learn something,” Moore said.

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SEPTEMBER 7 , 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A12 | SPORTS SOCCER

The new face of GV soccer: Jim Conlon

BY JOSH CARLSON, SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

A new era is beginning in the Grand Valley State University women’s soccer team with the departure of seven-year head coach Jeff Hosler. GVSU named Jim Conlon the new head coach of the women’s soccer team on July 30, 2021.

Conlon joins the Laker family, bolstering an impressive record of himself with soccer programs. He departed from Division III Washington University, where he led them to three national championship appearances in his twelve seasons and winning Washington’s first-ever title in 2016.

Conlon also spent four years on the Loras College men’s soccer team, where he found something that he contributes to his success in coaching today.

“I had the great privilege of coaching high school soccer during my collegiate career,” Conlon said. “I think that naturally ducktailed itself into a graduate assistant position while getting my masters, and from there, I knew there was a lifestyle that would allow me to impact lives. Coaching has been an absolute blessing to me for my entire career.”

Although he left a position he held for 12 years, Conlon felt that GVSU was the right fit for him and is happy with his new home.

“I think GVSU is a great community filled with a bunch of people who care for the ul-

COACHING: Jim Conlon takes on Division II women’s soccer after coaching Washington University soccer for 12 seasons and leads GVSU to a successful first weekend. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

timate goal, which is the students and their experience,” Conlon said. “Coupled with the best intentions for the students and a championship environment inside the athletic department, it is just a great atmosphere to have our women grow as people and athletes.”

Conlon takes over a team that is loaded with talent, even with the departure of allstar forward, Ava Cook, who joined Hosler at Michigan State University this season.

Conlon inherits an offense that has ranked top two in the nation multiple seasons in a row. Conlon is returning a redshirt sophomore, Chantel Carranza, who was a firstteam All-GLIAC selection and will lead the attack for the Lakers.

Conlon returns both starting center backs for the Lakers on the defensive end, with three-time All-American, Cecilia Steinwascher, anchoring the defense once again.

The Lakers are also returning reigning GLIAC Freshman of the Year, Mia Hansen, who can help also make an impact defensively.

After inheriting a group of women who have seen plenty of success in their college careers, Conlon plans on showing them exactly what they’re used to seeing. Checks in the win column.

“I think the main focus is going to be maximizing the potential of this 2021 group,” Conlon said. “We’ve got some amazing women, who are very talented athletes. The primary focus is going to be getting the most out of their potential to achieve that success.”

While only having one month to transition into a completely new program, Conlon isn’t worried at all about what he and his team’s success will look like as the season begins this fall.

“The transition has been great,” Conlon said. “It’s been a lot of time listening, a lot of time soaking in things on top of having my personal thoughts of the direction we need to go. And the women have been absolutely unbelievable. They have been working at a high rate and have been very communicative, and I think we are in a really good position as we transition—while it was a quick one—to have a good opening weekend.”

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VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball head coach, Jason Johnson, gets first career win after high expectations in preseason coaches poll

BY JUSTICE STIENER SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

This past weekend, the Grand Valley State University women’s volleyball team kicked off their fall season as first-year head coach, Jason Johnson, takes his new team into their first season together. In the preseason coaches poll, the team was selected to win first in the GLIAC south division and finish third overall in the

conference. Coach Johnson said, after being involved in the program for over 20 years, the preseason hype around his team hasn’t added any pressure to his first year as head coach.

Now, with fall sports officially underway, the Lakers traveled west to Golden, Colorado last weekend to compete in the Oredigger Classic where the GVSU volleyball team played two matches on both Friday and Saturday.

SEASON OPENER: The women’s volleyball team returns from Colorado with three losses and one win under first-year head coach, Jason Johnson, this past weekend. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

The Lakers dropped their first match of the tournament against Sioux Falls, who took a 2-0 lead after the first two sets. However, GVSU fought back, tying the match 2-2 before losing the fifth set 15-12. Friday evening concluded with a similar result, matching up against Southwest Minnesota State University, the Lakers went down 0-2 in the early stages of the match and could not recover, losing the match 0-3.

“It was great that we were ranked that high, but it doesn’t really matter if they can’t come out and produce,” Johnson said.

Sophomore Sarah Wight, who was selected by the coaches to the All-Tournament team, said the team did a great job of keeping their heads up after losing both matches on Friday.

“The whole weekend the team did a really good job of sticking together and supporting each other,” Wight said. “We did get down a little bit during the games, but right after we did a great job of the, ‘let’s get back at it’ mentality, we were excited to play again. We knew we were

playing really tough teams Saturday so we were really excited to just go at it and give it our all.”

Saturday, the Lakers started strong, winning their first set of the day 25-19, but ultimately lost the first match in five sets against Colorado School of Mines.

The fourth and final match of the weekend is where things finally fell into place for Johnson and the Lakers, as they defeated Colorado Mesa in four sets.

Wight led the way, totaling 17 kills and six blocks and finished with a total of 55 kills and 19 blocks throughout the course of the tournament. In the win, sophomore Jaelianna Primus added seven kills and six blocks, junior Abby Graham chipped in with 11 digs, and sophomore Lisa Sulivan contributed with eight kills. There were three main components that Wight said helped propel the team to its first win of the season.

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