Grand Valley Lanthorn vol. 56 no. 4

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

New Police Pup Patrols GVSU Campus New k-9 trained to detect explosives and weapons

On-campus parking once again point of frustration among GV students this fall PARKING | A5

GV hosts Michigan’s first-ever, citizen-led redistricting commission POLITICS | A8

M O N D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 2 0, 2 02 1 // VO L . 5 6 N O. 5

@ 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 3,640 cases since Aug. 1, 2020. The university’s update for this brief was from Friday, Sept. 17.

Through testing results this past week, GVSU’s Virus Action team have so far reported 115 current active cases including two faculty members, six staff members, 14 on-campus students, 51 “off-campus Ottawa” students, 38 “off-campus Kent” students and four “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 94,289 tests overall since August 1, 2020, for a cumulative positivity rate of 1.37% from the latest update as of last week. A total of 1,729 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 67% of students report being fully vaccinated, while approximately 85% of faculty and staff reports being fully vaccinated.

GV INCOMING CLASS IS LARGER, MORE DIVERSE

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

VETERANS

GV awarded Gold Status by MichiganVeteransAffairsAgency

BY LAUREN FORMOSA NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University prides itself on being an open and welcoming community for all its students, as well as providing the necessary resources they may need in order to succeed in their academic and even personal lives. For veteran and military-connected students, that sentiment couldn’t ring more true.

The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) has awarded GVSU with “Gold Star Status” for the 2020-21 academic year, validating the claims and sentiments of many at the university who strive to make GVSU a welcoming and accessible school for veterans.

The MVAA’s Michigan Veteran-Friendly School Program recognizes academic institutions that are committed to supporting their veteran and military-connected students.

Their bronze, silver and gold-level rankings are based on multiple criteria which all tie back to the veteran-centric programs and services offered at a given college or university.

For prospective students who have either served in the U.S. military or have some form of military connection, these rankings are a good indication of the type of community they will be entering when applying to university.

“Having ‘Gold Status’ recognition is just sort of a confirmation that we’re doing the right thing,” said Jill Hinton Wolfe, GVSU Military and Veterans Resource Manager. “If a veteran is thinking of coming to Grand Valley, it’s just one extra reassurance that this is a

RESOURCES: Grand Valley State University received ‘Gold Star Status’ for the resources and community they provide to veterans and military dependent students from MVAA. GVL | LAUREN SEYMOUR

good school and that their service is going to be recognized and their needs are going to be supported.”

GVSU has an abundance of resources available for current and prospective veteran and military-dependent students, many of which are offered through the Military and Veterans Resource Center. From financial aid and GI Bill enrollment to academic advising, the resource center offers anything its students may need in order to succeed during their time at GVSU. “We have this huge network of support for veterans, regardless if they’re in a financial crisis or if they’re looking to go to grad school

and want ways to have it paid for through scholarships or grants,” Wolfe said.

Besides the obvious means of support, The Military and Veterans Resource Center supports its students by giving them something all university students look for: a sense of community and belonging. Transitioning to university life after serving in the military can be a struggle for many, however, GVSU is committed to making sure these students have steady support systems in place and a strong sense of community with one another.

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COVID-19

Vaccine mandate questions remain as deadline approaches

BY GRACE SMITH NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

In response to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate, Grand Valley State University has allowed students to file for vaccination exemptions for personal, medical, or religious circumstances. As this opportunity closed Sept. 15, with the impending

This fall, GVSU’s incoming class of first-time college students saw a 0.3% increase in the student body, with a total of 3,894 students, according to the GVSU enrollment snapshot for Fall 2021.

The snapshot also revealed that this year’s incoming class is one of GVSU’s most diverse. Enrollment among African American students increased by 80%, Asian students by 27.5% percent, and the number of Hispanic/Latinx students by 31%. GVSU also welcomed 1,234 first-generation college students this fall.

VACCINATION: GVSU Virus Action Team uses on campus events, signs, posters and emails to share vaccine information. GVL | AUBREE WAGNER

deadline to receive fully vaccinated status on Sept. 30, many community members are left with questions for future proceedings.

The Virus Action Team (VAT) said that students who were denied vaccination exemptions will have the opportunity to appeal. However, if students still choose to not receive the vaccination after being denied an exemption or postponement, the VAT plans on “seeking compliance through a series of conversations in alignment with policies and progressive discipline measures.”

The VAT plans on beginning enforcement of the mandate in October begging with an “education phase,” which will include communications with unvaccinated students regarding vaccination status and intention.

The VAT said that they are also working with their healthcare partners on the possibility of continuing to hold vaccination clinics at GVSU. The VAT addressed the plans for confirmed COVID-19 exposure following the vaccination deadline. For those who test

positive the procedure will remain the same, involving 10 days of isolation following a positive test unless prior symptoms were reported on the self-assessment.

Those who are not vaccinated will still be required to complete a ten-day quarantine starting the last day of exposure.

GVSU housing will still be available to make arrangements for quarantine or isolation accommodations. Students living off-campus will continue to be required to make their own arrangements.

At this time, GVSU students, faculty and staff who are fully vaccinated may continue to attend classes and other campus activities as normal but are required to get tested 3-5 days after a confirmed exposure to COVID-19. The VAT said that those who have experienced a confirmed exposure must wear a mask on campus regardless of the current university masking policy until they receive a negative COVID-19 test.

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

CONTENTS VETERANS

| A2

OPINION

| A4

PARKING

| A5

SPREAD

| A6&7

DISCUSSION

| A8

LOOKING BACK

| A9

PIANO

| A10

FOOTBALL

| A11

SOCCER

| A12

VOL. 56

NO. 22

Lan thorn Layout Editor VIVIANA RUBIO

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief ZACK GOODROW Associate Editor MARY RACETTE

Layout Designer KHOI TRAN PROMOTIONS

Associate Editor XAVIER GOLDEN

Promotions Manager ALEX DAGOSTINO

News Editor ADVERTISING STAFF AUDREY WHITAKEN Advertising Manager Sports Editor JOSH HENGTGEN HOLLY BIHLMAN Laker Life Editor BUSINESS STAFF SABRINA EDWARDS Business Manager A&E Editor RACHEL MCSOWELL MARY DUPUIS Image Editor MEGHAN LANGREN

Asst. Business Manager DAYTON HAMMON

A3 | NEWS FANS

Students clash with security at first GV football game

BY ELIZABETH SCHANZ NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

On Sept. 11, students and fans packed the Lubber’s stadium in the first Grand Valley State University football game in over a year. What was supposed to be a joyous reunion resulted in many grievances amongst attendees who faced issues with the security present, overcrowding, and overall miscommunication.

GVSU athletics sent out an email to the student body establishing the rules to attend the game including a new clear bag policy, reminding students that their ticket is their student IDs and that those who leave the stadium are not able to reenter.

Rae Tull, a junior at GVSU, was one of the individuals who experienced communication issues with security. Tull’s husband had left the student section to get concessions within Lubber’s stadium grounds and upon his return to the entryway, he was denied entry. Tull said her husband was told by security that he had left the stadium and was no longer able to return to his seat without buying another ticket.

In addition to Tull and her husband’s experience, she said that she had witnessed

third party, DK Security. DK Security was hired to fill the role of the reserve deputy program of the Ottawa County sheriff ’s office who had previously assisted with game security alongside the Grand Valley Police Department and the athletic department.

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Allendale Township board of trustees grapple with Ottawa County School’s mask mandate Allendale Township’s board of trustees held a township meeting late Monday night to highlight and discuss the township’s current focuses. Topics like community concerns and truth in taxation: budget updates and general funds were discussed.

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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other conflicts amongst students who were trying to leave to use the bathroom or get concessions and were told they were not going to be able to reenter by security.

“The security guard was being aggressive and his body posture and body language was very demeaning and rude and aggressive,” Tull said.

Security at the game was hired through a

COVID-19

BY SARA COLLINS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

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.

RETURN: Students were shocked in their first game back at Lubber’s Stadium when the security staff refused to let them back in their seats after going to the concession stands. GVL | LAUREN SEYMOUR

TOWNSHIP: Allendale Township’s latest meeting consisted of discussing ongoing make mandates and general budgets. COURTESY | LINKEDIN

The board also highlighted how they are prioritizing the community concerns over the current mask mandate in the Allendale public school district.

Several concerns from the community have risen as schools in the township are now in session and masks for in-person classroom learning are currently required. Allendale township itself doesn’t have a mask mandate, but the township’s public schools have a mask mandate put in place by the Ottawa County Health Department, according to Adam Elenbaas, supervisor of Allendale Township.

District 8 Allendale County Commissioner, Greg Dejong, gives hope to the community by ensuring that opinions regarding current mask mandates are being taken into consideration.

“We are doing whatever we can to look into this. Obviously, we have layers upon layers of opinions on this now, but we just can’t override,” Dejong said. “I have taken this assignment very seriously. I have communicated with as many Allendale residents as I could.”

According to an August 2021 article

published by WZZM13, Allendale school’s superintendent sent a letter to state leaders to override mask protocols required in the district’s schools. The intent was for masks to become optional, giving students and parents the choice.

Several residents have stepped forward and voiced concern as they do not agree with the mask mandate, saying there seems to be a gap between the community and state legislators, said Dejong.

Dejong has taken the responsibility of ensuring he bridges that gap, spending his time communicating with attorneys on behalf of Allendale township.

“In the last two weeks, we received two outside attorney’s opinions on what the health department is doing. Both of those attorneys concurred that what the health department is doing meets the state’s statutes and we can not override what the health department is doing,” said Dejong.

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A4 | OPINION GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

By Athena Jasman

EDITORIAL

Get vaccinated, pleads Lanthorn Editorial Board

T

09/20/21

editorial@lanthorn.com

Letter to Editor

GVSU vaccine mandate concerns Editor’s note: The views in this Letter to the Editor don’t follow those of the Lanthorn Editorial Board. This Letter to the Editor has been published to start a healthy dialogue between those who have received the COVID-19 vaccine and those who are still hesitant.

Dear GVSU Community, As all Grand Valley State University students know, we are required to take the COVID-19 vaccine in order to be a part of the GVSU community. It seems that not everyone in the community is on the same page with this decision, however. There have been many students that still have concerns not with the vaccine specifically, but with the

fact that it is being mandated.

We, as a community, need to come together and start discussing the measures we are taking for mitigation. So far throughout this two-year pandemic, we’ve not been able to have much discussion or interaction with our school leaders. Students that feel underrepresented in the community are now speaking up. A petition was started on change.org by student, Haley Demitroff, to start a dialogue.

“What’s the point of forcing us to put something in our body that we may not feel comfortable doing if we can still spread and get it?” Demitroff wrote. “Those who haven’t if they do get it are all 18 to 22 year old who will

most likely fight it off and not die.

Roughly 1% (actually .43% for 18-29 yrs) of those who have had it have died in the whole United States.”

With over 6,000 signatures in just four days, the petition is certainly taking off and the points mentioned are worth considering.

A Facebook group called “Open Up GVSU” has over 1,000 members with many parents and students active in applying for exemptions and helping one another get approved.

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Envisioning the future of how journalism, community intersect

BY ZACK GOODROW SENIOR MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

There were several factors that led me to my decision of spending four years studying at Grand Valley State University.

The school is close to home, the campus

is beautiful and the class sizes are small.

I knew I had an interest in podcasting and sports journalism. I decided to major in the subject when I first came to Allendale for orientation. Since then, the CMJ major at GVSU hasn’t disappointed me in the slightest bit.

The school offers multiple organizations such as GVTV, The Whale Radio station, the GVSU Podcast Network and of course, the Lanthorn. The university also stocked the teaching department with excellent professionals like James Ford, Jeffery Kelly-Lowenstein, Len O’Kelly and Eric Harvey.

I have learned so much from each of these professors. Like most majors I’m sure, students start out with the basic fundamentals of their traits in their early years at GVSU. Now that I’m a senior, I find myself exploring more

he entire editorial board of the Grand Valley Lanthorn has received the COVID-19 vaccine, and each of us has written why we decided to get vaccinated. While we’ve already written about why students, faculty and staff should get vaccinated, the Sept. 30 deadline of GVSU’s vaccine mandate is less than two weeks away, and anti-vaccine and vaccine-hesitant sentiment on campus is still strong.

In lieu of simply ignoring the critics of the mandate and our paper’s coverage of COVID-19, we hope to open up a dialogue by acknowledging them and continuing to encourage the GVSU community to get the vaccine.

The Lanthorn thanks you for hearing the stories of our editorial board, and we encourage you to write in or post a comment telling us why you got vaccinated, whether it be to safeguard the community or just make life during a pandemic a little more tolerable.

Xavi Golden, Web Editor: I got vaccinated because I wanted to protect myself and others in the GVSU community; professors,

complicated topics, changing aspects of journalism and what the field may look like after I graduate.

According to Forbes, 56% of Americans agree with the following statement: “Journalists and reporters are purposely trying to mislead people by saying things they know are false or gross exaggerations.”

While I do disagree that journalists are purposefully reporting fake news to trick the public, (except for cases like FOX News), I do understand the distrust in the media that Americans obviously have.

The issue is that national media outlets do have a clear agenda. Profitability drives large media organizations.

LOG ON TO:

www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

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.

students, and staff are all susceptible to the virus, despite the claims made at the beginning of the pandemic that COVID-19 was only a threat to the elderly and the immunocompromised.

Mary Racette, Associate Editor: I got vaccinated to do my part in protecting myself and the people around me. Not only do I feel a responsibility to not spread the virus to loved ones, but to the people I interact with who may or may not be immunocompromised.

Meghan Landgren, Photo Editor: I got vaccinated because I wanted to be able to protect myself and those around me.

While I know others have mixed feelings about the vaccine, I feel as if my decision to get vaccinated acts as a contribution to get back to some normalcy.

Zack Goodrow, Editor-in-Chief: I got vaccinated because I was diagnosed with cancer in high school. My mom is also diabetic. I choose to get vaccinated to protect myself, my mother and others with health concerns in the LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

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 20, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A5 | NEWS

PARKING

Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care

STUDENT PARKING: While resident parking permits at GVSU can run students $210 each semester, transportation options for commuters and off campus students like the Laker Line, park-and-ride lots and pay to park spots are available as an alternative to buying a parking pass. GVL | AUBREE WAGNER

On-campus parking once again point of frustration among GV students this fall

BY JACOB DEWEERD, NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

As Grand Valley State University has seen the return of many in-person classes this semester, students are finding themselves frustrated with one common problem: on-campus parking. High prices, the number of spots available and the lack of alternative parking options in downtown Grand Rapids are raising concerns for students.

Issues with parking are raised at the start of every school year. Chris Swank, Manager of Parking, Transportation, and Services has seen it all before.

“Each fall for the first few weeks, parking seems to be tricky as people are figuring out where to park, where they are permitted to park, what to expect and when to arrive at campus,” Swank said. “We are hopeful that this will level out soon.”

While students usually end up figuring out where to park as the year progresses, the issue of parking permit prices is not exclusive to the start of a new semester.

Before the start of the 2020-2021 academic year, commuter permit prices were raised to $240 per semester. Compared to Grand Rapids Community College and Western Michigan’s semesterly costs of $125 and $150 respectively, GVSU’s permit prices are substantially higher.

“It’s too expensive and it’s frustrating,” 4th-year student Jesse Schmitt said. “The price point is outrageous, especially with how many empty spots we have anyway with classes being half in-person and half remote.”

For commuter students looking for ways to get between campuses without buying a semesterly parking permit, there are several alternative options.

“If someone is only coming to campus a few times during the semester, in lieu of purchasing a parking pass, I would recommend they utilize pay-to-park or purchasing a day pass for $10,” Swank said. “It comes down to how many times they will be on campus to see where they would find the most savings.”

While it may not make sense for students coming to campus several days a week to buy day passes, there is another mode of transportation they can utilize instead: the Laker Line. Alongside the permit price increases at the start of the 2020-21 academic year, GVSU also saw the launch of the Laker Line bus route connecting the Allendale and Pew campuses.

“The most affordable option would be to park at one of our park-and-ride lots in Standale and ride the Laker Line to campus,” Swank said. “This option is free and service is every 10 minutes during peak times and takes approximately 10 minutes to get to Kirkhof on the Allendale Campus.”

The Laker Line is also a great option for student residents who need to travel between campuses. Residents need to buy residential parking permits at a cost of $210 per semester to keep their vehicles near on-campus housing, but those passes do not allow for parking in commuter lots which are typically located closer to academic buildings.

The lack of non-GVSU parking spaces is of particular importance to students who have most of their classes downtown, where there are hardly any places to park off-campus.

“Seriously. I have to pay $240 for 30 minutes of parking a week downtown,” 4th-year engineering student Evan Driscoll said.

The only additions to parking spaces this year have been roughly a dozen new spaces in lot D on the Allendale Campus and 600 spaces on the Health Campus downtown. The new spaces on the Health Campus were added with the construction of a new ramp connected to the Center for Interprofessional Health.

As a result of this new construction, student parking at the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences is now prohibited.

More information about on-campus parking and permit prices can be found at www.gvsu.edu/parking.

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A6&7 | NEWS

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

BY KAY KELLER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Despite the black “POLICE DO NOT PET” vest, Grand Valley State University’s new K-9 Koda is incredibly friendly. Koda is a two-year-old black lab and just recently joined the GV Police Department with Officer Kelsey Sietsema.

Getting Koda was a long process. The idea for an explosives K-9 was sparked in 2019 with Officer Kelsey Sietsema and her partner Officer Andrew Hintz. Together, the pair drew up a proposal and it was sent up the ranks.

Everyone involved loved the idea and before long, the interview process to find GVSU’s first K-9 officer began.

Several officers interviewed for the position, and in the end, it was offered to Sietsema.

She was sent off to K-9 training in Alabama through Vapor Wake Canine company. After a week of classroom learning, Sietsema was assigned a dog.

“They kinda go off your personality, how you are, what work environment the dog will be going back to, and then they pair you with the dog that’s the best fit for you.” Sietsema said.“If she didn’t work out, they would always

switch you, but we just hit it out of the ballpark right from the get-go.”

Koda is an explosives detection dog, who also has training in firearm detection. Not all dogs trained in explosives are able to detect firearms, but Koda’s exceptional nose qualified her for the special training.

GVSU opted for an explosives dog over other types, such as narcotics or detainment, for many reasons. Her most important responsibilities will involve patrolling events on campus, such as football games, large student gatherings and special events. Her goal is to keep campus safe and to break the ice between officers and the community they serve.

“Having a black lab, actually a lab in general opens up that conversation because people want to come over and pet the dog,” Sietsema said. “A drug dog has a very negative connotation as opposed to an explosives detection dog that’s only used to protect the community. Not to have a dog that’s used for enforcement or to get people into trouble.”

Before the football game against Colorado State University-Pueblo, Koda and Sietsema did a safety sweep of the entire stadium. The pair walked through the stands, across the field, and even checked out the President’s box

to make sure that nothing was out of place.

To keep her skills sharp, the duo trains constantly. Training for Koda includes open field searches, plant searches, and general detection. When she signals that a scent has been found, Koda gets a reward: her ball.

Though she has many toys, she gets a ball only as a training reward.

“She loves training, she loves working,” Sietsema said. “When we’re training and she finds an explosive odor that we have planted somewhere, her favorite toy that she gets rewarded is a ball, so I throw the ball where the source is and it keeps her focused on that area where it’s coming from.”

Since Koda is always at Sietsema’s side, they go on their patrols together. Koda will frequently be seen on campus. While she is more than happy to see everyone, sometimes her attention can’t be taken from work.

When Koda is on duty, she wears a vest that reads “DO NOT PET”, but when she is off duty, the patch is replaced with one that reads “ASK TO PET”. Officer Sietsema encourages people to come to ask pet Koda and engage in conversations when she is wearing her off-duty vest, but does ask that people don’t attempt to distract Koda when she is working.

SEARCH: The K-9 Koda is trained in explosives and firearm detection. These skills will be used to help keep campus safe. COURTESY | GVSU & WZZM 13

PET: When Koda is working, she will wear a patch that says “DO NOT PET.” Off-duty, the patch will say “ASK TO PET.” COURTESY | GVSU & WZZM 13

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A8 | NEWS DISCUSSION

“Thinking Globally” panel explores cultural significance of time

BY JAMIE WILSON NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

In the latest installment of “Thinking Globally: How Language Influences the Lives We Live,” Grand Valley State University professors spoke from firsthand, global experiences about the subject: time. Each of their stories varied extensively, giving the viewers a sense of how diverse, yet connected, the GVSU community and our world, really are.

Dr. Meghan Cai, who represented China on the panel and spent extensive time in Shandong, Tianjin, Nanjing and Beijing, spoke on her experiences in China and how its people define quality time. She went on to explain the ambitious, vigorous work ethic of many people in the country and how it relates to their family values.

“Family is perhaps valued above all else, in an ideal situation, love and work would contribute to family harmony,” Cai said. “Why do people work hard? Why do people try to get ahead [at work]? Money, power, and respect.

This all ties into the family unit.”

In China, the older generations usually save and pool their money to support the

TIME: Representatives from all over the world came to GVSU as apart of the “Thinking Globally” panel to discuss their experiences and diverse culture as it relates to time. GVL | ANABELLE ROBINSON

younger generations in getting ahead. China’s One-Child Policy results in grandparents and parents supporting one child on their path to success, Cai said. “The rule of guanxi,” an important part of Chinese culture, says that people are dependent on certain social groups: family, classmates, and friends.

“The right network of relationships is what makes things go smoothly for a person,” Cai said. “It helps them get into the best schools, or

get a desirable job, or land a lucrative contract.

Working hard benefits family.”

Dr. Anne Caillaud, a native of Paris, France, spoke on how time is measured and valued in her country. She said that meals take much longer than they tend to in the U.S.. Students often have an hour or two for lunch so they can go home and eat with their families. In France, meals are an important way to connect with friends and family.

Caillaud said that France emphasizes “quality of life” and how the way time is spent directly correlates to a person’s quality of life.

“In France, by law, people do not work for more than 35 hours per week. Extra hours are considered overtime and the people are therefore paid extra,” Caillaud said.

Recently, however, Caillaud said that common workplace settings in France are taking on “American traits,” such as more hustle and bustle, but that quality of life remains paramount.

There seemed to be a common trend among many European countries in terms of how time is measured, as both Dr. Zsussanna Palmer, from Hungary, and Professor Gisella Licari, from Italy, agree that family time is valued over wealth.

Dr. David Crane, who represented Ancient Greece and Ancient Athens, said that in these cultures, how time is measured depends greatly on a person’s profession. He explained that in ancient Athens, class determined what a person did and did not have time for.

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POLITICS

GV hosts Michigan’s first-ever, citizen-led redistricting commission

BY JOSH ALBURTUS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Amidst an era of heightened political tension, a bipartisan public commission is setting out to involve citizens- especially students at Grand Valley State University- in the redistricting process. The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission met on GVSU’s campus in an open-to-the-public meeting to continue drafting new state voting districts.

Resulting from a 2018 vote that amended the Michigan constitution, the commission consists of four Democrats, four Republicans, and five Independents. The commission uses a trove of data provided by past elections and the 2020 census to draw proposals for new voting districts in the state.

According to the commission’s website, its mission centers around a “citizen-led, transparent process” of crafting new districts for the Michigan State Senate and the U.S. and Michigan State Houses of Representatives.

Since its inception, the commission has held public meetings across the state to begin its work and include public input in its decision-making. Conducted in partnership with the university’s Community Service Learning Center (CSLC), the meeting was held in the

Kirkhof Center on the Allendale campus on Sept. 16 as part of the commission’s college tour throughout the month.

Designating five universities across the state to host select meetings, commissioners hope to blend the usual public participation with an element of education for students and others to learn more about the body and its efforts to conduct fair redistricting.

Anthony Eid, a 28-year-old medical student and former president of the Wayne State University Student Senate, recognizes the important role student education and input plays in the commission’s work. Serving as a member of the commission himself, Eid sees the college tour as an opportunity to involve students in a historic discussion in which they are a major constituency.

Students, Eid said, represent an important community for the commission to consider.

Since the new districts may affect who serves as the students’ elected leaders, Eid believes that decisions that directly affect their daily goings-on could rest on the commission’s work.

“This work that we’re doing in that room is going to determine how much tuition you pay,” Eid said. “It’s going to determine how much in student loans you have to take out, as well as the percent interest you have to pay on those stu-

SLUGGER: A recent meeting on GVSU’s Allendale campus discussed local politics aimed to interest and engage young students. COURTESY | MICHIGAN INDEPENDENT CITIZENS REDISTRICTING COMMISSION

dent loans.”

Because of that potential reality, Eid views student input in the commission’s work as vital to the process.

“We need to get young people out and tell us about their communities and tell us what their communities are about (and) the values that they have, specifically as students,” Eid said.

That impression is one the public could certainly feel during the meeting. Students like GVSU Student Senator Nancy Hoogwerf who attended the meeting were left with a firm grasp on the critical nature of the commission’s work.

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A9 | LAKER LIFE

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

LAKER LIFE BRIEFS MAKE YOUR OWN BOBA

The Office of Multicultural Affairs is hosting an event on Sept. 21 where students can make their own boba. The build your own boba event will be from 5- 6:30 p.m. in the Holton Hooker Multipurpose room. They’re hosting this as a welcome back to the semester event for the office.

It is free to attend and everything will be provided for students. There will be a range of different options, from flavors of tea to different toppings and even food. Students are welcome to come try their own mixtures of boba and socialize with their peers.

INTERESTED IN DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS?

The Dungeons and Dragons club is hosting meetings every Tuesday from 7 to 10 p.m. The meetings take place in Kirkhof in rooms 2215/2216. There are annual fees to be a part of this group, members have to pay $5. Dungeons and Dragons is a fantasy table-top roleplaying game where players can create their own character. They then go on a campaign led by their dungeon master. There are multiple different types of campaigns people can participate in. For more information on the campaigns reach out to dndgvsu@gmail.com.

MAKE BLANKETS WITH PHI SIGMA PHI

Phi Sigma Phi- Epsilon Psi is hosting an event where students can gather to make blankets. The event will take place on Sept.

22 from 6-7 p.m. in Kirkhof room 1142.

Students can gather with Phi Sigma Phi to help give back to the community. All of the blankets will be donated to homeless shelters. The supplies will be available for free for anyone who attends, students will be crafting fleece blankets. Those who are interested can RSVP on LakerLink so Phi Sigma Phi knows how many students will be attending.

KICKBACK AT KIRKHOF

Friday Sept. 24 students can attend the kickback outside of Kirkhof. Everything will be taking place in the Kirkhof lawn.

Students are asked to bring their ID’s in order to check out game supplies. There will be cornhole, can jam and spike ball available. There will be music streaming as well.

LOOKING BACK

GV celebrates Constitution Day

BY YSABELA GOLDEN LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

Following their late-night decision on Sept. 1 not to block a now-infamous Texas abortion law, the Supreme Court has featured heavily in headlines as Americans debate not only the law itself but its “bounty” based method of enforcement.

Many of these arguments revolve around “Roe v. Wade,” which affirmed a Constitutional right to safe and legal abortions, having yet to be overturned: arguably making the law itself unconstitutional.

To complicate matters further, Senate Bill 8 specifies that defendants being accused of enabling abortions cannot argue that the law is unconstitutional as a defense.

Only a few weeks later on Sept. 17, the United States celebrated Constitution Day, in memory of the document’s original ratification in 1787.

“In contrast to the previous Articles of the Confederation, the new Constitution pointedly omitted any assertion that each state remained sovereign,” said Akhil Reed Amar, Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University, at the Constitution Day Celebration hosted by the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies. “The new Franklin/Washington plan expressly proclaimed that states must always and everywhere bow to the supreme law of the land

formed by the federal Constitution.”

The proposed Constitution would only bind states that agreed to it, and even then only if nine or more of the original thirteen states agreed. Ultimately, the Constitution won the popular vote in eleven of thirteen states (North Carolina and Rhode Island remained sovereign, independent, and separate from the United States until 1789 and 1790, respectively).

Amar has a history with the Supreme Court, having served as a clerk for thenJudge, now-Justice Stephen Bryer as a younger man. Years later, in his career as a legal scholar, he’s been cited as a source by

Supreme Court Justices across the political spectrum in over forty cases. In his presentation of a chapter from his new book “The Words That Made Us: America’s Constitutional Conversation, 1760-1840,” Amar showed the audience the political cartoons that had contributed towards popular attitudes surrounding the developing Constitution, including Ben Franklin’s original invention of the medium with his 1754 “Join or Die” snake segmented into thirteen colonial pieces.

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ALUMNI ADVICE

GVSU Alumni, Aaron Radelet, speaks on campus

BY STEVEN LAWRENCE LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

On Thursday, the Frederik Meijer Honors College welcomed Aaron Radelet, a Grand Valley State University alumni, to speak on campus about his life and his career. Radelet graduated from GVSU in 1998 with his advertising and public relations degree. He was also part of the Student Senate, Alternative Breaks and was a resident assistant.

Now, Radelet is the global communications

KARAOKE BATTLE OFF

Student Senate is hosting a karaoke battle on Sept. 28 in the Grand River room at Kirkhof from 6 to 8 p.m. This event will support a beneficiary for Battle of the Valleys, “I Understand.” Students can come to watch or perform a song. The cost to attend is $3 per person and all proceeds go to “I Understand,” which is an organization that works to help end the stigma around mental health and works to help those with mental illnesses. Student Senate is asking those who want to attend to fill out their self-assessment event pass filled out before they attend. Students can RSVP on Laker Link to attend.

REFLECTING: Grand Valley looks back on Constitution Day following the recent decisions made in Texas with the Roe v. Wade issues. GVL | LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, PRINTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS DIVISION

TEACHING PERSEVERANCE: Grand Valley alumni Aaron Radelet returns to speak about his career and life. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

officer and senior vice president at Walgreen Boots Alliance (WBA), which has been ranked 16 on the Fortune 500. Radelet is in charge of communications for the company both internally and externally, he is also the executive sponsor of WBA’s LGBTQ+ resource center.

Radelet spoke of his time at GVSU and other life experiences that have helped shape his career and him as a person. He focused on the importance of finding balance in one’s work and social life on a day-to-day basis. While finding success in the workforce is a goal for many, Radelet emphasized that it’s not the only important thing in life.

“We should strive to be so much more than our jobs, and instead when asked what we do it should be a combination of all of our life’s accomplishments,” Radelet said.

Radelet left his dream job in order to spend more time with his family. He also took time off to travel and discover himself.

“Life is like jumping across a rock, every time you take a leap it is fun and freeing, but you also open yourself up to falling and getting hurt,” Radelet said.

Radelet spoke about how people have to be comfortable with themselves, to step out of any closet that they might be holding themselves in.

Radelet reflected on his time at GVSU, where he was struggling with being comfortable with

himself and who he is. He stated that once he was comfortable with himself enough to come out as gay, he saw an instant increase in not only his wellbeing and mental health but also his work ethic as a student.

Radelet concluded his talk by restating that life is so much more than a job and that it’s important to be true to one’s passions. No matter if that means changing career paths, taking a year off to travel or just doing something that garnishes happiness.

“Authenticity is the best way to build not only a professional brand, but a personal one also,” Radelet said.

After his speech, Radelet reflected on his decision to come to speak at GVSU. “Well, Grand Valley is my Alma Mater, I couldn’t really say no,” Radelet said. “Grand Valley has offered me so much in becoming who I am, that it was a pleasure to come back and talk.”

Radelet’s speech was part of a lecture series that is put on by the Frederik Meijer Honors College, they host alumni or people with ties to West Michigan and have them share their experiences. To know more about these events be sure to visit https://www.gvsu.edu/ honor/frederik-meijer-lecture-series-58.htm to see upcoming and past lectures.

A10 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTS AT A GLANCE GV CAMPUS ACTIVITIES BOARD WELCOMES LOCAL ARTISTS TO PERFORM AT TAILGATE

The Grand Valley State University Campus Activities Board (CAB) welcomed local Grand Rapids band, Pretoria, to campus on Saturday for an “Outdoor Coffeehouse Show.”

Students were welcome to enjoy the music from 1:00-2:00 p.m. during their football tailgates in Lot C West prior to the game at 3:00 p.m.

Originating in Grand Rapids, Pretoria is a five-member guitar-driven indie-rock band formed in 2018 by high school friends Rob Gullet (bass) and Josh Bilisko (guitar).

Since their formation, the band has released their 2019 EP “Cape Town” and a festival-winning single, “Keep Two Stepping.”

The band hopes to continue getting involved in the GVSU community, making new music, and traveling for shows in the future.

JOHN BALL ZOO OFFERS “WIZARDING WEEKEND” EXPERIENCES The John Ball Zoo recently invited all witches, wizards and muggles to celebrate their 2021 Wizarding Weekends.

On Sept. 11, 12, 18 and 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. the zoo was “magically” transformed to a Harry Potter-themed family-friendly experience.

Costumes were highly encouraged, and guests were welcome to sport their house colors while carrying their wands throughout the park.

Signs were placed throughout the animal habitats detailing what magical beasts the animals would be if they lived in the wizarding world, and some displays even featured the magical beasts themselves.

Photo opportunities with Hogwartsthemed backdrops were set up throughout the zoo, as well as interactive “Quidditch Training Camps” for visitors to test their skill at the magical sport.

DEVOS CENTER FEATURES ARTWORK FROM MRC ARTWORKS

The newly finished DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health is showcasing the importance of recognition, celebration, and understanding in health care education through artwork.

MRC artWorks, a program of MRC Industries, Inc., is an art gallery, studio and retail store located on the Kalamazoo Mall in downtown Kalamazoo.

The gallery offers individuals with disabilities a way to use self-expression to create artwork that is meaningful to them and promotes self-confidence and growth.

Pieces featured at the DeVos Center are “Monster” by Allen Portera, “Picture 1” by Larry Paynter and “Zane’s House Plant” by Scott Yukio Fergus.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

PIANO

Chamber music brings harmony to Grand Rapids

BY MARY RACETTE ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University’s piano faculty member Dr. Sookkyung Cho noticed a need for a local concert devoted to piano chamber music. This observation led Cho and the Department of Music, Theater and Dance to initiate the first BrahmsFest.

While Grand Rapids is filled with opportunities to see live music such as the ‘symphony and string series’, piano chamber music is not made easily accessible to see live in the city. GVSU is determined to change this as the concerts in this series are free and open to the public.

“Chamber music felt like a perfect thing to do right now because it’s all about harmony between each other and being together,” Cho said.

Harmony is a focal point of the concert series. One of the takeaways Cho wants the audience to get out of these concerts is the understanding of the relationship between the instruments and how they all come together. The need for harmony is a theme that is relevant in the Grand Rapids music scene as well as other aspects of our daily lives.

“One instrument can do a lot of beautiful things but I think when we all come together in chamber music, there is a lot

HARMONY: Faculty member Dr. Sookkyung Cho and the Department of Music, Theater and Dance will hold a chamber music concert that will feature the work of Johannes Brahms. GVL | ARCHIVES

more possibility in terms of creating beauty,” Cho said.

Cho will be the sole pianist, but she will be accompanied by a range of other musicians playing different instruments. In addition to Cho, the chamber will be made up of GVSU Faculty, musicians from the Grand Rapids Symphony, and Marie-Ève Poupart.

Poupart is a violinist who will be flying in from Montreal. GVSU Faculty members who will be playing in the series are Letitia Jap, Paul Swantek, Pablo Mahave-Veglia, Gary June and Richard Britsch.

As faculty members, Cho said they see

it as very beneficial for students to see them perform. She compared it to a literature student reading a professor’s book.

Performing is part of the faculty’s professional careers, so it is crucial that students experience their work.

“It is really important that they hear us perform so they know what artistic level that we are trying to bring them up to,” Cho said.

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INTERACTIVE ART

Grand Rapids Public Museum blends

technology, pop culture in successful exhibition

BY ALLISON RAFFERTY ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

Since the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s exhibition “Popnology” opened in May, it has seen huge success with the Grand Rapids community.

The name “POPnology” comes from the combination of pop culture and technology.

ENGAGE: ”POPnology” is a Grand Rapids Public Museum exhibit that includes interactive modules and games. GVL | JONATHAN LANTIEGNE

The exhibition was curated to celebrate the ways that science fiction and pop culture have intertwined with, and evolved into, science fact.

With over a dozen interactive games and modules, visitors can engage in operating robots, building creations with wooden blocks, building rockets, and more.

GRPM Marketing Manager Alee’a Cherry described POPnology as having a unique approach of blending popular culture with the idea of evolving technology.

“The exhibit includes nostalgic moments through some of the pop culture and technology references, and dives deep into what movies, TV, and books predicted and what maybe they weren’t exactly correct about,” Cherry said.

Cherry said that POPnology is a great place for tactile learners.

Among many other modules and presentations are a giant Lite-Brite that visitors of all ages can enjoy making artwork with, and a photo booth with unique, digital backdrops that al-

lows visitors to send their pictures directly to their email for free.

POPnology is just as educational as it is entertaining. There are stations located throughout the exhibit where visitors can build a rocket to launch to Mars, control NASA’s Mars Rover to collect data points, and engage in virtual reality experiences.

Along with the modules, games, and interactive stations, POPnology also features iconic replicas. Visitors will encounter icons from popular sci-fi movies including E.T., R2D2, the Terminator and the Delorean time machine.

“We hope this exhibit sparks curiosity within visitors of all ages, while encouraging them to learn more about the science field and to activate their creativity to push boundaries for what is possible,” Cherry said.

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A11 | SPORTS

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

QUICK HITS GV CROSS COUNTRY OUTSHINES COMPETITION AT SPARTAN INVITATIONAL

The Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s cross country teams travelled to Michigan State University on Friday, Sept. 17. Proving their high levels of competitiveness and drive, the men took home first place up against Division I schools and the women took home second, placing first against all of the other Division II teams.

With 35 points total, the men were trailed by MSU in second and Youngstown State University in third, while the women totaled out at 73 points right behind MSU and just ahead of the University of Toledo.

Junior Tanner Chada completed the overall win with a first-place finish in the 8K, with senior teammate, Issac Harding, just behind him. On the women’s side, junior Hannah Becker placed sixth in the 6k as the only one of her teammates to finish in the top ten, followed closely by sophomore Klaudia O’Malley.

The GVSU cross country teams secured the top spot in the GLIAC preseason poll last week and they’ll be taking their competitive forces to the University of Notre Dame and the Live in Lou XC Classic the first weekend of October.

GV MEN’S CLUB HOCKEY BEGINS THEIR FIRST SEASON AS A DI TEAM

While the rest of Grand Valley State University’s teams have started their fall seasons, the newly upgraded men’s club hockey team will compete in their first game since 2019, now proudly a Division I team. They’ll travel to the University of Michigan-Dearborn for their first game on Friday, Sept. 24, and then then come home to play at the Walker Ice Arena on Saturday, Sept. 25, at 8 p.m. to face them again.

With a team almost entirely made up of underclassman this year, the players have had ample opportunity to practice and prepare for their inaugural season in the new division. There are only 14 veteran players, none of them seniors, and 14 freshmen.

Unfortunately for club sports teams, their athletes were not granted the extra year of eligibility, so all of their last season seniors have moved on.

With a fully loaded schedule this year, the Lakers will play 35 games, 17 of them home, before the Great Lakes Colligate Hockey League playoffs starting at the end of February, 2022.

FOOTBALL

GV football takes their second win of the season in high-scoring victory against Wisconsin-La Crosse

BY SHAWN ROBINSON SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

No. 10 ranked Grand Valley State University continued their 2021 season with another big win over Wisconsin-La Crosse Saturday, Sept.

18. at Lubbers Stadium. This was the fourth matchup ever between the two teams, and the first since 1986.

With the sun shining bright and perfect football weather, GVSU opened up the game electing to receive the kickoff. On their first offensive drive, the Lakers managed to drive the ball down the field. Sophomore quarterback, Cade Peterson, threw a 42-yard long ball to junior wide-out Hunter Rison to set up the Lakers in the red zone. A two-yard touchdown run by sophomore Tariq Reid ended the drive to put the Lakers first on the board, 7-0.

After a quick three-and-out by Wisconsin-La Crosse, GVSU got the ball back with decent field position. Peterson threw an interception that led to the Eagles driving down the field to score. Wisconsin-La Crosse quarterback, Jakob Parks, threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jake Simuncak to tie the game at 7-7.

With a chance to take the lead back, the Lakers came out on offense and then fumble the ball on their own side of the field. Parks then scored with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Simuncak for his second touchdown of the game. The Eagles would take a 14-7 lead halfway thru the first quarter.

To open the second quarter, Wisconsin-La Crosse drove down the field to try and take a

three-score lead, but the GVSU defense stood their ground and forced the Eagles to go for the field goal, extending their lead 17-7.

After a missed field goal attempt, the Laker’s defense stood their ground again and forced Wisconsin-La Crosse to a three-and-out. The Lakers then scored in two plays with a 65-yard touchdown pass from Peterson to Rison to cut the Eagles lead down, 17-14.

With a determination to take the lead before the half, junior running back, Aryuan Cain-Veasey, scored on a two-yard run and gave

the Lakers their first lead since the beginning of the game, 21-17. On that run, Cain-Veasey went down in the GVSU football record books for having 1,000 career all-purpose rushing yards in 15 career games.

The third quarter started well for the Lakers as they were able to cap a five play, 90-yard drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown, this time by junior running-back, Jack Provencher.

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VOLLEYBALL

GV volleyball starts conference season strong, boosting win streak to five JUSTICE STEINER SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

GLIAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

This week, sophomore linebacker, Abe Swanson is GLIAC’s defensive player of the week, along with sophomore volleyball player, Sarah Wight. In the volleyball team’s last game, Wight led the team with 11 kills and five blocks, almost a replica of the previous game with 11 kills and three blocks, appearing in 44 sets this season. Swanson tallied nine tackles in their first game of this season and ten tackles in their last game, setting a new career high for himself.

ON A ROLL: The Lakers take home another win in an exciting game last weekend after their first home game was canceled, raising the stakes for their now 10-game season. GVL | LAUREN SEYMOUR

SET TO WIN: The Lakers defeated both opponents last weekend in GLIAC play. GVL | ARCHIVES

The Grand Valley State University volleyball team made a trip to Michigan’s upper peninsula this past weekend to compete in their first GLIAC action of the season. Heading into conference play, the Lakers were 4-4 with three of the four losses coming to teams ranked inside the top 25 in the nation.

Friday, Sept. 17, conference play began as the Lakers took on Michigan Tech, who came into the match with a record of 5-3. GVSU took the first set of the match 25-21, before dropping set two 25-18, leaving the match tied at 1-1. The back and forth continued, as the Lakers took set three in an intense 25-23, then dropping the fourth set 25-19. With the match tied 2-2, the Lakers just edged out the Huskies in the fifth and final set 15-12, deafening MTU 3-2.

Winning the match advanced the Lakers win streak to four, while snapping a four game win streak for MTU. Helping lead the way for the Lakers was junior Abby Graham, who recorded 18 kills and 16 digs in the match. Junior

Ali Thompson added 16 kills and 20 digs, while sophomore Sarah Wight chipped in with 11 kills and three blocks.

“A big key has been confidence and composure over the last few games,” Graham said. “We have really been focusing on being mature and playing together and I think it really showed in our play last week.”

Day two in the upper peninsula featured a showdown with Northern Michigan University. The Wildcats were 4-5 overall and 1-0 in the conference, coming off an upset victory over Ferris State the day prior. Following a close first set where the Lakers won 25-22, GVSU never looked back, sweeping NMU after winning the second set 25-16 and the third and final set 25-18.

“When you are able to keep the ball in your setter hands and allow your hitters to run free it creates a lot of problems for the defense on the other side and that’s really what ended up happening,” said coach Jason Johnson.

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A12 | SPORTS SOCCER

GV soccer opens GLIAC Conference play with two wins, extending their record to 5-0

BY JOSH CARLSON SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Heading into the opening weekend of GLIAC play, the Grand Valley State University women’s soccer team is 4-0 and ranked no.

2 in the nation. After a long road trip to Missouri last weekend, the Lakers made another long trek to the Upper Peninsula where they played their first two GLIAC opponents, the Northern Michigan Wildcats and Michigan Tech Huskies.

Cecilia Steinwascher, a senior for the Lakers using her extra COVID-19 year of eligibility, is excited to be back to normal and to conference play in her final season wearing a Laker uniform.

“It feels really good,” Steinwascher said.

“Coming off last season, COVID-19 kind of hit us and ruined our chance of winning a regular season title but, we bounced back with the conference tournament title. This year is a good fresh start, and it’s good having a new voice (Jim Conlon) and a couple of girls needed it and are shining. I’m really excited for this season.”

With the Lakers being ranked no.1 in the preseason GLIAC, they will have a target on their back from teams who look to take down the Lakers on top. This is expected from Steinwascher, a veteran on the team, who has dealt with this year-in and year-out.

“We wear ‘GV’ on our chest, so we always

WIN STREAK: The Lakers continue to rake in the victories, settling last weekend up with a perfect overall record of 5-0 and a conference record of 1-0 so far this season. GVL | JONATHAN LANTIEGNE

have a target on our back,” Steinwascher said. “Northern is going to come out better than they were last year, we have heard a lot of good things and we are expecting a lot of good competition.”

Game one of the Lakers’ long road trip to the U.P. started in a familiar fashion as they started their GLIAC play with a 4-0 win over the Wildcats, pushing their win streak to five with a perfect record of 5-0. The Lakers had

four different players hit the back of the net Friday, Sept. 17 in a well-rounded scoring attack. The first goal of the day --and only of the first half-- came from junior defender, Greta DeLoach, in the 40-minute mark with an assist from sophomore forward, Kennedy Bearden.

In the second half, the Lakers ramped up the scoring, starting with a goal from redshirt sophomore forward, Chantel

Carranza, on an assist from freshman forward, Taylor Reid, in the 58-minute mark of play. Four minutes later, Steinwascher found the back of the net on an assist from sophomore midfield, Alexa Morello, pushing the lead to 3-0 for the Lakers. The final Laker goal came in the 81-minute mark from freshman midfield, Stephanie Sturgeon, with an assist from senior defender, Makenna Schoolman, sealing the fourth shutout of the season for the Lakers.

With his first conference win under his belt, coach Jim Conlon had high expectations for his team after a strong week of training heading into the weekend.

“The women had a great week of preparation heading into the GLIAC opener,” Conlon said. “I thought Northern came out very well prepared, but I think that we were very composed. Keeping our composure and understanding the game plan was a really big asset for us today.”

As a team that can have four different players score on any given day, Conlon knows that the team’s attack is open for any one of his players to score when they have the chance.

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SOFTBALL

GV softball holds on to first game positives as second weekend fall-ball matches get canceled

BY JAMES HERRICK SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University women’s softball began their 2021 fall season when they traveled to Westfield Indiana on Sunday, Sept.

12 to take part in a doubleheader of scrimmages. The Lakers faced off against the University of Evansville and Marian University.

Since these games were scrimmages, the game’s details cannot be made public. However, GVSU walked away from these games with a lot of positives to look back on.

“That was probably the best fall game our team collectively has had in the time I’ve been here,” said graduate student pitcher, Hannah Beatus. “There was some really awesome stuff. Usually, you have a team live pitching so hitting tends to be a little rockier in the fall, but our hitters came out and played awesomely. Our defense was great, and our pitching was really great.

Our past fall games this weekend definitely really got us excited.”

These scrimmages left head coach, Dana Callihan, happy with what she saw from the team as well.

“We played very well,” Callihan said. “I thought our team chemistry was solid, I thought we were extremely aggressive at-bat, we put the ball in play, made a lot of things happen, scoring runs; we were just really aggressive.

So, I was very, very pleased with that.”

The fall softball season allows teams to gain some experience before heading into the crucial spring season. For GVSU, this means evaluating new players on the roster and growing team chemistry.

“I am trying to see what the new players can do,” Callihan said. “So, in the fall, there is a lot of observing. We are trying to get the new players introduced to the way we do things, and getting them used to new teammates.”

This emphasis on improving team chemistry led to a great team atmosphere during the scrimmages.

“I mean we have only had a few practices together, so the whole trying-to-build-team-

chemistry thing is a work in progress,” Beatus said. “But we had some awesome energy over the weekend, and that was super consistent, so that was great. When you have a newer team with younger players who are not used to the way things roll on our team, that can sometimes be a weakness. But we have definitely been able to turn it into a strength.”

GVSU softball was going to have a pair of opportunities to take the field on Sunday, Sept.

19 at home against Muskegon Community College and Valparaiso University. However, as a result of COVID-19 protocols, the scrimmages had to be canceled. There is no further information on the cancellations at this time.

“We are doing everything we need to do to prevent spread,” Callihan said. “Whatever battle is placed in front of us, we will deal with and move forward.”

Optimistically, these are only scrimmages that are being canceled.

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CANCELLATIONS: Lakers hold out hope for no more cancellations this year. GVL | ARCHIVES