Issue 4, September 3, 2019 - Grand Valley Lanthorn

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

Allendale listed as most expensive city for renters

Student Senate President cites accessibility issues in police complaint regarding Board of Trustees SEE GOVERNANCE | A2

Toughness up front: GVSU’s top scorer Ava Cook talks rise, GVSU soccer SEE SOCCER | A13

T U E S D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 3 , 2 0 1 9 // VO L . 5 4 N O. 4

@ GV L A N T H O R N

LANTHORN.COM

A2 | NEWS NEWS BRIEFS

SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

GOVERNANCE

GRUBHUB CAMPUS DINING LAUNCHES ON CAMPUS

Tapingo became a part of the Grubhub family last year, allowing Grand Valley State University students to order food ahead of time and pick up at the restaurant, skipping long lines. Students can enter their debit card numbers or even student ID numbers into the Grubhub app to use their dining dollars and meal plans to pay, just as they did with Tapingo.

A notification lets users know when their food is ready. This lets them skip the line and the ordering process, making for an easy and quick pick up of what they ordered.

Unfortunately, GVSU’s app doesn’t have an extensive amount of options for restaurants that students can order from. This mobile ordering app is more popular among freshmen and upper level on-campus students, since the places available for fast pick up are located throughout campus.

DEAN ANTCZAK DELIVERS FINAL ADDRESS AS DEAN OF CLAS

After 16 years as dean of Grand Valley State University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Fred Antczak will return to a faculty position in 2020. With the start of the semester underway, Antczak delivered his final address in the Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Performance Center.

His address centered around preparing students for the future in both their professional and personal lives through higher education.

“Preparing our students for living as professionals and citizens will be challenging,” Antczak said. “Preparing each person for a whole life of sudden, profound and accelerating change may prove even more difficult, and surely more important.”

Antczak addressed faculty at the event, emphasizing the importance of working closely with colleagues.

“What we build into the future always needs to be the right thing for the times and circumstances as they present themselves,” Antczak said.

A nationwide search for university’s next dean will take place throughout fall 2019.

MIPERC CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON COLLABORATION IN HEALTH CARE

The Midwest Interprofessional Practice, Education and Research Center (MIPERC) conference will be held at Pew Campus Sept. 19-20. In its 12th year, MIPERC aims to improve interprofessional communication.

Created by Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners and Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine, MIPERC is composed of over 25 organizations working toward collaborative health care initiatives. The conference will include workshops and opportunities for participants to hone their interprofessional skills.

Those interested in attending should register online.

SPEAK OUT: The Open Meetings Act (OMA) ensures that attendees at Board meetings can ask questions and give comments. After attempting to work with GVSU’s Board, Szczepaniak filed a police report to protect the Opening Meetings Act, the first OMA complaint the GVPD received. GVL | ARCHIVE

Student Senate President files police report Cites accessibility issues in complaint regarding Board of Trustees

BY OLIVIA FELLOWS OFELLOWS@LANTHORN.COM

This year, Student Senate President Eric-John Szczepaniak looked to continue the senate’s positive change through investigating accessibility issues within the Board of Trustees at Grand Valley State University. Szczepaniak was dismayed to find that the Board of Trustees didn’t appear to be taking steps to improve community access and comment on the Board’s actions and decisions, and began pushing to make change.

Szczepaniak contacted the Department of Attorney General to inquire about the legalities of the Board of Trustees, who continue to violate the Open Meetings Act (OMA), which said that universities are exempt from following the OMA when conducting a presidential search. However, the justices did not speak to the OMA requirements for formal meetings of the university boards in this case.

The Attorney General’s office informed Szczepaniak of the normal process for a violation of the Open Meetings Act, which is to file a police report and to contact a local prosecutor. However, this response did not provide a clear answer because the Attorney General cannot legally answer questions of this sort unless asked by either chamber of the Legislature or by the Governor.

Szczepaniak then attempted to gain access to the chair of the Board, but was cut short quickly.

Following this response, Szczepaniak decided to file a police report in hopes of raising action.

The issue is an ongoing one, but Szczepaniak explained that President Philomena Mantella has been a big help in making change.

“I have been in contact with President Mantella who, to her credit, has taken several steps to make the Board of Trustees more

accessible in ways that do not require Board approval,” Szczepaniak said. “This includes creating a link on the Trustees website page to request public comment and posting the times that the Trustees will meet in their committees. If someone wanted to address the Board in the past, they would have had to read pages of bylaws and hopefully stumble across Section 3.9 to learn how to do so.”

Following the complaint filing, the Grand Valley Police Department (GVPD) received paperwork from the complainant and attached it to the report. During the investigation, GVPD spoke with the university’s legal counsel and requested documentation regarding the inapplicability of the Open Meetings Act. GVPD then forwarded it to the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office for review, but have not yet heard back.

GVPD Captain Jeff Stoll explained that while this report was an unusual one, the GVPD was still willing to help.

“We deal with the unexpected, so our reports vary in terms of their simplicity and complexity, and while we have never dealt with an Open Meetings Act complaint filing, it didn’t necessarily take me by surprise,” Stoll said. “We are working in those parameters as a police department, where many things happen on a given day, and our department will take into consideration any complaint.”

Above all, Szczepaniak says he filed the report only as a last resort and hopes to see the Board respond positively. He explained that Student Senate does not like to be in an adversarial relationship with the Board of Trustees or administrators, and works to build relationships with those that can make positive changes for students every day, including Board members.

“At this point, further changes must be

made by the Board of Trustees,” Szczepaniak said. “We hope that they will listen to the student body that has articulated that public comment is an essential part of a democracy. When it comes to the accessibility of the Board of Trustees, there is no middle ground. What we ask of the Board is to comply with the bare minimum, to hear what others have to say. We pride ourselves on being an institution dedicated to lifelong learning but the Board of Trustees practices and policies make it nearly impossible to hear from a wide swath of the student population and the general public.”

INCITING CHANGE: Szczepaniak aims to ensure free discourse at GVSU. GVL | KATHERINE VASILE

SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

CONTENTS GOVERNANCE

| A2

GRAND RAPIDS

| A5

LAKER EFFECT

| A7

FINANCE

| A8&9

RESEARCH

| A10

FOOTBALL

| A12

SOCCER

| A13

CLUB SPORTS

| A15

BASKETBALL

| A16

VOL. 5 4

NO. 4

Lan thorn EDITORIAL STAFF

NICK MORAN NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Addressing student senators during the first general assembly of the academic year Aug. 29, Grand Valley State University President Philomena Mantella recited the senate’s oath, swearing in the bulk of its 20192020 legislative body. While several empty seats dotted the room — to be filled by the interested applicants seated in the gallery — the formality acted as a ceremonial start to Student Senate’s year of work.

“You’re helping us build the university and the student voice within it,” Mantella said after reciting the oath.

Mantella also fielded questions from senators. With the majority of the year ahead of them, senators asked the university president what she expected of them and their work.

“First and foremost, set an environment of representation so it’s not your in-

dividual views coming forward, but that of the student body,” Mantella said. “It’s really getting to (and representing) folks who are on their individual journey.”

Questions from around the room asked what the president’s vision was both for her role as president and for the university’s image. As the university continues to grow, students wanted to know whether Mantella would fight to maintain GVSU’s student-centric approach or shift toward prestige, such as universities like Michigan State University and University of Michigan.

Mantella said she didn’t believe there to be an ultimatum. While she said she would continue to look for the intersections of these paths, Mantella said her focus would be to preserve facets of GVSU’s mission, which include promoting entrepreneurship and experiential learning.

The university president also answered questions about Greek Life — noting that they, along with other student organizations,

contribute greatly to the university and will not “undermine the campus culture” — and how she plans to involve a range of voices in helping fuel ideas for future growth.

Following Mantella’s time at the lectern, the newly-sworn-in members of Student Senate voted successfully to reinstate two returning senators.

Other senate actions included a presidential report updating the body on the police report he filed against the Board of Trustees’ violation of Michigan’s Open Meetings Act and a vice presidential report on an ongoing project to award an off-campus apartment for exceptional service to students.

Senator Nitzkin also provided an update on a multifaith prayer room at GVSU’s Pew Campus. While like the Kirkhof prayer room, this one is still in development, so a classroom is being reserved for daily prayer or meditation as needed. Nitzkin said students may use Room 304 in the Richard M. DeVos Center Monday through Friday.

VIVIANA RUBIO PROMOTIONS Promotions Manager HOLLIE PICKELMAN ADVERTISING STAFF

Sports Editor KELLEN VOSS Laker Life Editor YSABELA GOLDEN

Mantella swears in new student senate body, kicks off first meeting

Layout Designer

Associate Editor BRIANNE KERR News Editor SARAH EDGECOMB

LEADERSHIP

Layout Editor MAX GELDHOF

Editor-in-Chief NICK MORAN Associate Editor AMY MCNEEL

A3 | NEWS

Advertising Manager JESSE BECKER BUSINESS STAFF

A&E Editor MARY RACETTE Image Editor BENJAMIN HUNT

Business Manager RACHEL RUTGERS Asst. Business Manager NEHEMIAH HUDGINS-LOPEZ

CORRECTION

In the August 26, 2019 issue of the Lanthorn, an article titled “GV creates new biomedical & cybernetic engineering degrees” incorrectly stated the names of the new majors and the college they are housed under. The new degrees are housed under the School of Computing and Information Systems.

TALENT: Award-winning a cappella group Eurphoria performed to draw interested students in during Campus Life Night. The group holds several concerts each semester. GVL | MARC GREEN

FUN: Students enjoyed music and friends while visiting Campus Life Night. GVL | MARC GREEN

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.

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

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

ZEN: Students at Campus Life Night saw demonstrations from many groups. GVL | MARC GREEN

WELCOMING: Sororities and fraternities set up booths at Campus Life Night to draw in members as well as offering the opportunity to meet current members before joining. GVL | MARC GREEN

A4 | OPINION Presidential youtubers gone wrong (clickbait)

SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON

By Juliette Elton

EDITORIAL

Leashed to the lease

I

9/3/19

BY ATHENA JASMAN JUNIOR FILM AND VIDEO EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

Americans are and have always been ahead of every other country since the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. What we red, white, and blue-bloods are best at is implementing democracy and doing so in the most effective way possible.

So it’s of no surprise that the American government is naturally ahead of the curve by soon using YouTube opinion surveys as our primary way of voting for the next elected official of our blooming federal branches.

I was a little taken aback when I first came across a YouTube ad that wasn’t a watchable commercial, but instead a multiple-choice opinion survey about which shampoo brands I trust the most.

But I’ve since gotten used to those, I was much less shocked when I recently received my very first Youtube presidential candidate multiple-choice survey that replaced the Skip Ad button with a “Vote for Hillary” option.

I mean, what better way to get a youth such as myself to vote? Absentee ballots were okay, but it still required me to, like, buy a stamp? I wouldn’t know where to get one of those — I’ve never even seen an Instagram ad for stamps.

Anyway, I of course knew my choice would be binding, and that I had to cast my vote for the 2020 Presidential Election before watching the video I had clicked: “I Built a Giant Meatball in Minecraft (emotional).” So after I carefully chose the most obvious candidate out of the multiple choice list (the one with the most logical and sane approach to all the important policies. You know the one), and finished my very important architectural video, I decided to check up on what our current president was doing.

Trump’s Twitter had lost its luster and became too boring for my little millennial-smooth brain, so naturally I went to his YouTube channel instead.

The first video of his I watched was “Donald Trump Plays Fortnite (Liberals Destroyed),” which was actually a part of a short series on his channel entitled “Donald Trump Fortnite,” or “DTF” as

editorial@lanthorn.com most refer to it.

It soon became clear that #NotMyPresident wasn’t getting very far in the battle royale game — mostly because he still hasn’t figured out how to build a wall. So I moved on to another one of his videos entitled “DEM DISS TRACK (D-Trump)” where the incumbent had a drone take footage of him dropping bombs and flexing the White House, before sending it in Iran’s direction. Later in the diss track, he called the drones back to get more shots of himself instead.

I haven’t watched many videos posted on the channel of the president or any of the presidential candidates until the 2020 presidential election was finalized the following year, and I saw that the new democratic president posted a video.

It began with “Hey, whats up America? Make sure to SMASH that vote button and click the liberty bell if you want to see more of me pulling EPIC pranks on the Republicans.” Once I finished watching, I clicked off of “PRANK ON PRESIDENT (GONE WRONG) (NOT CLICKBAIT)” and logged back on to Twitter.

Student senate promotes democracy

BY ERIC-JOHN SZCZEPANIAK SENIOR STUDENT SENATE PRESIDENT EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

Are you a collaborative thinker?

Do you aspire to make positive change in your community? Apply for Student Senate today! You can go to gvsu.edu/studentsenate to learn more about us and to apply or leave a comment on what you want changed here at GVSU.

Student Senate’s main goal is to be a voice for all GVSU students when it comes to bringing their concerns, suggestions, or ideas to the faculty and/or university departments of Grand Valley. Throughout the school year, we work on projects, pass resolutions, and vote on important topics regarding the best interests of the student body.

The Student Senate continues to accomplish a variety of improvements for the campus community. In recent years, the Senate has helped to lower textbook costs, establish a mid-fall semester break, and co-author a final exam reschedule policy (if a student has three or more exams on a single day). Senate efforts continue with initiatives to create prayer and meditation space at the downtown campus, increase Meal Plan options, establish an on campus voting precinct, and increase the

number of GVSU students registered to vote.

We are currently in the process of recreating the mission and vision of Student Senate through the creation of an in depth strategic framework.

Senate offers students the ability to grow in their leadership skills and build authentic relationships with students across a wide array of backgrounds and interests.

Please feel free to contact us to receive an application or share your thoughts about how to improve anything here at GVSU. It is up to all of us to make sure that this institution is accessible to all Lakers. We look forward to hearing from you! *Student Senators must be available after 4:30pm on Thursdays to attend the General Assembly each week in Allendale. Senators cannot have a 6pm class this day either.*

t’s October of your freshman year. You haven’t even been through your first round of final exams, and you already need to answer a crucial question: Where are you going to live next year? The GVSU Office of Housing and Residence Life is sending you emails to secure an on-campus spot, while sponsored planes from off-campus apartments soar above your head at football games.

For many students, this is the first lease they will sign, and landlords can take advantage of that inexperience. On top of the rush of the school year, the stress of finding a place to live can be overwhelming. Some students just sign with one of the first places that they hear about, just to get it over with.

For Grand Valley students, however, there is an even bigger problem: cost.

The average rent to live off-campus in Allendale has risen to a ridiculous level. Believe it or not, Allendale is the most expensive city for renters in the state of Michigan.

This is a problem, because ultimately, most students want to live close to campus. Living in Allendale, directly on the bus route, makes life much more convenient. It’s much easier to get to morning

classes, run home during breaks between classes, or get involved with a student organization.

Local landlords, it seems, prioritize amenities over affordability. They scramble to offer tenants the best options, from pools to fitness centers to tanning beds.

While some students are willing to pay for luxury, most prefer to sacrifice frills for a cheaper monthly rent.

Financial aid plays a part, as well. When students take out loans to pay for tuition, some request additional funds to pay rent. It is not far-fetched to assume that local landlords take advantage of that fact.

If housing prices continue to increase at a disproportionate rate to other university towns, students may seek different options.

Some might find places outside of Allendale. Others may find it practical not to return to GV at all.

Some prospective students and their parents might see housing costs as a negative factor in attending GV in the first place.

The GV administration prides itself on creating a campus community where students can thrive. Affordable housing is a key element of any inclusive community. Whether on or off campus, Allendale needs more affordable living options.

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

The Lanthorn strives to be a safe vehicle for community discussion. With this in mind, the Lanthorn will not publish or entertain any forms of hate speech, but neither will it discriminate against any other views, opinions or beliefs. The content, information and views expressed are not approved by— nor do they necessarily represent those of—the university or its Board of Trustees, officers, faculty or staff.

Letters to the editor should

include the author’s full name, relevant title and a headshot, along with a valid email address and phone number for confirming the identity of the author. Letters should be approximately 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 3, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A5 | NEWS

EDUCATION

Unsuccessful K-12 budget hurts students, teachers

BY AMY MCNEEL ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM

For the first time this decade, Michigan Legislature was unsuccessful in adapting a K-12 education budget before the beginning of the schools’ new fiscal year. This lack of budget has resulted in unsettled employee contracts and uncertainty in schools statewide, including Grand Rapids Public Schools.

Each spring, the Governor, the House and the Senate each introduce separate budget proposals. The process then ends with a consensus budget proposal between all three, which in the past eight years has happened in late May or early June. The budget is signed into law shortly after.

“That’s a good time for schools because schools have a statutory requirement to adapt a budget for school districts by June 30, so with that state budget signed into law we were able to factor in what our per-people revenue would be for the upcoming school year,” said Forest Hills Public Schools Superintendent Dan Behm. “This year, the proposals have been made by the House, Senate and Governor, but they have not consolidated those into one consensus proposal, so we are left in the lurch in not knowing what our operating revenue will be.”

UNCERTAINTY: Without a budget, teachers are left unsure of their employment. Students are also hurt by this through larger class sizes and even less one-on-one time with teachers. GVL | ARCHIVE

Unfortunately, this results in uncertainty for school districts and workers. If the districts don’t know what their operating revenue is, the number of people hired and the amount they are paid can be impacted.

For many Michigan school districts, there is nothing to work with until the legislator comes to a consensus.

Grand Rapids Education Association (GREA) President Mary Bouwense believes that a lot of the issues surrounding K-12 education in Michigan is due to the teacher shortage. Teachers are making less and less money – not usually making over $40,000. Because of this, less people are going into the field.

“We are short on teachers, and what it’s

doing is it’s making really large class sizes and it’s a drain on the resources,” Bouwense said. “I mean, when you enroll your child in kindergarten and there’s 30 kids in there, that’s just unacceptable. Then we’ve got to have them reading by January, and by third grade they have to be proficient. But when you’ve got one adult trying to teach 30 kids who have never been in school before, it’s difficult – it’s malpractice, it’s not the right thing for kids.”

While the lack of a budget consensus has been uncommon in this decade, Grand Valley State University’s Deputy Director for Charter Schools Don Cooper said that it’s not uncommon historically.

“As you can imagine, getting the state Senate and state House and Governor’s Office to agree on the billions and billions in state spending sometimes takes a while,” Cooper said.

This year, one of the main contributors to this disagreement is road funding and money needed to fix potholes. The legislator is trying to find a long-term solution for road funding without taking away from public education.

For now, Michigan school districts are participants in a waiting game. The state has until Sept. 30 to enact their budget, but Behm said there is a growing consensus that the budget impasse will likely not be resolved until the last minute.

GRAND RAPIDS

River restoration project to bring community together

MACKENZIE KELLER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Banding together to protect nonrenewable resources has a way of bringing people together. Wanting to make a difference in the world is a powerful force when it comes from people who care enough to act.

The River For All project is Grand Rapids’ way of doing its part for the environment and community. Though the final designs for this $40 million project were approved in November of 2018, efforts toward that goal started earlier.

The designs include trails and six different types of community sites stretching across both sides of the seven and a half mile-long river. Along with these additions, the project plans to build a fish ladder and a hydraulic structure for the control of sea lampreys.

To combat the sea lampreys, there are plans to build a new adjustable hydraulic system (AHS) on the Grand River. Though the AHS requires a separate permitting process, the sys-

tem is still a part of the project.

Approval of the designs is only step one in an eight-year, four-step program. From there, the plans consist of the construction of the Lower Reach, AHS construction and finally the removal of the Sixth Street dam.

The project has five main goals according to their website. They include restoring the rapids to the Grand River; improving habitat and connectivity, water quality, functions of the river banks and aesthetics; creating economic opportunities, enhancing underserved communities and instilling stewardship; optimizing City-owned property along the river to provide access; and public space and providing equitable connections.

These goals were created with the help of the people of Grand Rapids. During ArtPrize 10, members of the project set up a table and engaged with as many people as they could, educating them about the history of the river and asking for their opinion.

With the river being renovated, it will create an equitable and accessible river for everyone in Grand Rapids to enjoy.

REVIVED: The River For All project aims to restore the Grand River in an eight-year program. The plan includes improving environmental issues and increasing river recreation. GVL | BENJAMIN HUNT

This is where the project hopes to see the most impact. The project hopes that improving the connection between nature and the city will motivate people to be around others more and improve their sense of community.

On top of the social aspects, the River For All project also has economical and environmental benefits.

Many environmental perks will come with this project, including improving fish

passage, restoring historic spawning areas for state-threatened lake sturgeon and improved habitat conditions for endangered and threatened species.

Group activities along the riverside will draw more people to the park and site that the project is building.

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

SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A6 | NEWS ACTIVISM

Muskegon teen connects young adults to gun violence prevention resources

BY LUCAS SWARTZENDRUBER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Amidst recent shootings in August, a student activist from Muskegon is connecting organizers to an upcoming summit hosted

by Not My Generation. He described the organization’s mission as resourceful toward gun violence prevention.

“The summit, specifically, is about bringing a diverse group of individuals from across the U.S. to D.C. to pool resources within their regions,” Policy & Advocacy Manager Elijah Nichols said.

Nichols said that Not My Generation emerged in response to the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. Executive director Kathryn Fleisher talked with others about the intersectionality of gun violence; the discussion entailed asking whether violence was based on race, religion or sexuality.

Upon hearing of Not My Generation’s call for a diverse coalition against gun violence, Nichols said it incited something within him. A major reason for his involvement goes back to Feb. 1, 2006, when he saw his uncle, Frank Sibson, shot and killed in Muskegon.

Losing an uncle made gun violence feel personal, Nichols said. Subsequently, he felt the need to take direct action upon such a systematic issue. When he speaks about gun violence prevention, Nichols thinks back to his uncle and how his family still hurts over the loss.

As the Policy & Advocacy Manager for Not My Generation, Nichols does not refer to the issue as “gun control.” He emphasized the term implies an authoritarian way of thinking, instead preferring “gun violence prevention” for its holistic approach.

Nichols works with regional coordinators, learning about communities’ needs and solutions for gun violence prevention. He asks organizers interested in attending the summit what resources they require. Upon arriving to the summit, Nichols said participants will receive informational packets, containing policy briefings by legislators to advocacy guides.

Such materials are normally available to experienced advocates and leaders in Washington, D.C., Nichols said. Not My Generation enables young adults to utilize resources they would otherwise lack access to. For

MAKING CONNECTIONS: Protestors participate in March For Our Lives against gun violence. Not My Generation Policy & Advocacy Manager Elijah Nichols works with regional coordinators to help them attend gun violence prevention summits and connect with supporters. COURTESY | ELIJAH NICHOLS

example, advocacy guides will help organizers at the summit by instructing them on how to protest and lobby.

Meanwhile, applications to the summit involve building coalitions among people interested in attending it next November.

When signing up as an individual, Nichols said this accounts for half of the application.

He then connects individuals to organizers, and they form groups to finish the application and attend the summit together.

“Part of the reason that summits like Not My Generation are so important is because sometimes we can still have such a narrow view on the issue,” Michigan State University student Elizabeth Lancaster said.

As president of Students Against Gun Violence (SAGV), Lancaster said her group is focused on changing the university’s gun policy. Ordinance 18.01 states that no individual shall possess weapons at MSU, unless permitted by state law. Firearms Act 372 of 1927 specifies places that prohibit concealed weapons in Michigan, which includes schools, such as public universities.

However, Lancaster described MSU’s

gun policy as confusing. Michigan law prohibits open carry of guns at public universities, with exceptions for security officers. By contrast, MSU allows visitors to open carry firearms, provided they have concealed pistol licenses.

While SAGV seeks to reduce school violence at MSU, Lancaster said her group is short on many perspectives on gun violence. She noted some students who attend MSU have probably experienced gun violence within neighborhoods and families.

Furthermore, she said SAGV should acknowledge there will be new members who are not aware of community gun violence as a concept.

During the weekend of Aug. 3-4, CNN reported at least 31 people died during mass two mass shootings. El Paso, Texas had one shooting occur at a local Walmart; Dayton, Ohio saw another shooting in the Oregon District. For the El Paso shooting, CNN also reported U.S. Attorney John Bash said the Justice Department is contemplating pursuing hate crime charges.

On the same weekend, Lancaster and

Nichols attended a Giffords Courage Fellow summit in Washington, D.C. One of the fellows was from Ohio while another came from Texas. After news arrived of the mass shootings, Lancaster recalled that silence accompanied lunch.

“We didn’t really know what to say because it’s really hard when you’re trying to do something that feels like there’s nothing you can do,” Lancaster said.

Despite the fact that shootings continue in the U.S., Lancaster said she is thinking about going to the summit. If she makes it there, she hopes to connect with organizers of clubs like SAGV. For those interested in attending, she advised having an open mind and listening to other people. By doing so, Lancaster hopes making connections in the gun violence prevention movement will be easy.

As for Nichols, he noted that Not My Generation responded to the mass shootings with determination.

“Our response is always we stand with the communities that are affected by gun violence,” Nichols said.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A7 | NEWS

LAKER EFFECT

GV professor donates historic collection to GR Public Library

BY RACHEL MATUSZEWSKI RMATUSZEWSKI@LANTHORN.COM

As Grand Valley State University students are working toward their dream jobs, pursuing their passions and becoming educated on topics of interest, GVSU professors have been chasing their own interests for decades. GVSU biology professor Carl Bajema recently released his monumental historical Grand Rapids paper collection to the Grand Rapids Public Library.

Stored in Bajema’s basement were 1,600 volumes of paper archives. His interest in the environmental history of West Michigan drove him to collect and organize newspaper articles across a variety of environmental studies including the lumber industry, rivers, fishing, the Great Lakes, ports, water quality, sawmills and general history. About 400 maps and old business documents from Michigan companies dating back to the 1800s are also a part of the collection.

“If there was an article that mentioned four to five different people (or) topics, he would make four to five copies, and each of those copies went into its own binder relating to that topic,” said Jefferson Seaver, a friend of Bajema’s for over 20 years. “It’s a significant gift on Carl’s part to make this permanently available at the public library so anyone interested in researching these topics has access. (I hope) it will speed along the research of other historians, as well as just by it being available and people seeing the topics and materials, that it will actually inspire people to do other

research and write articles and books that they might not have otherwise.”

His paper database collection started in the 1980,s when he sifted through reels of newspaper articles on environmental and historical topics, and also conducted his own research. Seaver said research like this can lead you down rabbit holes, in reference to Bajema’s expansive collection as a result of following one passion.

Seaver recalls Bajema hiking through swamps with a GPS in hand, recording the locations where logging railroads had once existed so future generations would know their exact location.

Besides his work as a professor, Bajema had a hand in the installation of the Blendon Landing on the Michigan historical register. The Blendon Landing sits on the south side of Allendale Campus in the ravines, and was once a lumber village in the 1850s and 1860s.

In addition to his volumes of research, Bajema is also the author of “The First Logging Railroads in the Great Lakes Region,” published in 1991 by the Forest and Conservation History magazine, and co-authored a book with Tom Mass titled “The Street Railways of Grand Rapids” in 2017.

Over the last four to five years of Bajema and Seaver’s friendship, their interests have overlapped with local history.

“Certainly, he spent countless hours doing research on his own, as well as collaborating with other historians or researchers over those decades,” Seaver said. “He’s very well known and plugged into the local history circles of people.”

LIVING HISTORY: The Grand Rapids Public Library received Bajema’s collection for others to browse.

The library houses a sprawling newspaper archive for visitors to peruse. COURTESY | WIKIPEDIA

COLLECTOR: Biology professor Carl Bajema donated his life’s collection on Grand Rapids history. By donating to the Grand Rapids Public Library, others can benefit from his work. COURTESY | MLIVE

Bajema’s work is now available at the Grand Rapids Public Library, the setting for most of his previous research. Seaver recalls the library staff ’s assistance in Bajema’s research to be helpful. The staff has been anticipating the collection’s new home within their walls, as Bajema mentioned his desire to donate his work.

“I don’t think it was entirely possible to grasp the enormity of his collection, until we actually started working with it,” said Head

of Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Julie Tabberer. “We are deeply honored that Carl chose the library to donate his collection to. It isn’t easy for anyone to turn over their research, especially when they’ve spent years building and caring for it. Our mission is to collect the history of our community and to make it available for research, and this donation furthers what we do.”

For a look into Bajema’s collection, visit the Grand Rapids Public Library or its website.

A LOOK BACK: A picture of Grand Rapids from 1894. Bajema’s interest in history goes throughout his lifetime, having written a book on rail cars in the city. COURTESY | GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY

SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

Raising the R

BY SARAH EDGECOMB NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Each semester, Grand Valley State University students shell out hundreds for off-campus housing. A report by RentCafe, an online apartment search, found that Allendale’s status as a college town costs students more for rent — in fact, Allendale is one of the most expensive towns for Michigan renters, coming in at an average rent of $1,580 per month.

RentCafe offers rent information for cities across the nation, including yearly rent changes, average square footage and pricing ranges. The site releases a monthly report for each state.

The July 2019 report revealed Allendale’s pricey rent.

While high rents are expected in cities like East Lansing and Ann Arbor, the report’s results are unsual given that Allendale is nestled in a quiet part of west Michigan.

But it’s not the city that dictates housing costs — ­ it’s the apartment complexes.

“The quality and size of apartments are among the main price drivers in Allendale,” said RentCafe spokesperson Nicky Iudean.

Factors like apartment amenities, location and availability of on-campus housing may also contribute to rental rates, Iudean said.

Based on the July report, Kalamazoo’s average rent falls at $918 per month, East Lansing evens out at $1,299 and Ann Arbor comes in close behind Allendale at $1,567.

Allendale’s rent even tops that of Grand Rapids, which is an average of $1,050 per month.

With proximity to campus, high-end apartments and amenities like basketball courts, pools and regular community events, students ultimately pay more. Many apartments in Allendale also draw renters in with pet-friendly policies.

While other towns boast lower rental rates, Allendale offers students more high-end options and opportunities for shared apartments. Allendale’s percentage of luxury apartments tops the list at 82 percent of off-campus housing, while the next highest

is Rochester Hills at 61 percent, according to data provided by RentCafe. Allendale also features 97 percent of its apartments being labeled for student use in “multifamily stock,” whereas Rochester Hills has 0 percent under that category.

In addition, 77 percent of Allendale apartments offer more than three bedrooms, while East Lansing comes in second at 25 percent — a 52 percent difference between them. A majority of Allendale’s off-campus housing is a townhouse-style intended for four people, accounting for the gap in room numbers between college towns.

Beyond amenities and location, the square footage of apartments ties into higher rent. Allendale apartments are an average of 1,401 square feet, while housing in Kalamazoo averages at 978 square feet and Ann Arbor at 879 square feet.

Since Ann Arbor and Allendale have similar average rents, GVSU students appear to get more bang for their buck in terms of square foot per dollar.

With larger, high-end apartments, the expensive rent seems justified. In an interview with the Grand Rapids Business Journal, Iudean explained that rent in Allendale is not as expensive as it seems considering that many apartments are shared by students.

However, many off-campus housing options near GVSU’s campus employ individual leases to protect renters from spiked expenses in the event of a roommate moving out.

Because of this, some students each pay the listed price for the apartment instead of splitting it evenly like other non-student apartment complexes.

Allendale’s off-campus housing continues to be unique from other college towns, offering high-end, townhouse-style living along with a convenient location — but the price tag as Michigan’s most expensive city for renters may be overcharging students.

Roof

A8&9 | NEWS Allendale listed as most expensive city for renters

A10 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTS AT A GLANCE AFRICAN AMERICAN ART SHOWCASE

An exhibition at DeVos Place will feature a collection of pieces from African American artists. The African American Art and Music Celebration and Project 1 is bringing “Shades of Blackness” to Grand Rapids.

The exhibition will open September 6 until October 4. The public is welcome to view the exhibition every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A reception will be held in DeVos Place on September 29 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m..

The exhibition will feature a variety of styles or art and mediums. The winner named by the jury will be awarded 5,000 dollars.

JONAS BROTHERS IN GRAND RAPIDS

The Jonas Brothers will be performing in Van Andel during their “Happiness Begins” tour on September 8. The brothers have reunited to revamp their brand and sound after a six year hiatus from performing together.

The former Disney stars’ comeback singles included “Sucker” and “Cool”, followed by their fourteen track album which was released June 7. In addition to their reunion album, the band released a documentary called “Chasing Happiness” on Amazon Prime. The Jonas Brothers’ Grand Rapids concert will include openers Bebe Rexha and Jordan McGraw.

POSADA’S IMPACT ON CAMPUS

The Kirkhof Center Gallery on Grand Valley State University’s Allendale campus is featuring the exhibit, “José Guadalupe Posada: Calavera Prints from the GVSU Print and Drawing Cabinet”. The exhibit has been public since July 12 and it will be up through October 25.

Reproductions of José Guadalupe Posada’s prints will be showcased, gathered from the GVSU Print and Drawing Cabinet.

GVSU purchased Posada’s prints from the family of Antonio Vanegas Arroyo in 2002.

Posada was a Mexican printmaker and engraver who lived from 1852-1913. His most famous piece, “LA Calavera Catrina,” reflected his views on the political elite during the Mexican Revolution.

GRAND VALLEY POW WOW

Spend the weekend following Labor Day at a Native American cultural celebration.

The Grand Valley Indian Lodge Pow Wow is a free family friendly event presented

by Gathering Thunder Foundation. The event will take place September 7 and 8 at Riverside Park.

The weekend will be filled with music, dancing, food traditional craft vendors and more. The event will begin with a grand entry and a closing ceremony. While the event is open to the public, pets are not welcomed to tag along.

DOWNTOWN

Crossing lines in the city

BY MARY RACETTE ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

“Project 1: Crossed Lines” has emerged as the first installment in a new series by the creative minds of Grand Rapids’ city-wide interactive competition, ArtPrize. Sept. 6 will be the opening date of Project 1, filling in the gap between ArtPrize years.

Five acclaimed artists were chosen from around the world to present their contemporary art throughout Grand Rapids. Each piece is intended to prompt community conversations on the topics of belonging and boundaries.

“Through Project 1: Crossed Lines, we are interested in how lines are drawn, both literally and figuratively, throughout our city, and how these lines inform our sense of belonging,” said creative director of Project 1 Kevin Buist, in a statement.

Project 1 will be displayed for seven weeks, from Sept. 7 to Oct. 27. The artwork featured allows for aspects of interaction and collaboration. The five artists’ work is spread out in three neighborhoods around the city, including Martin Luther King Park, Downtown in Rosa Parks Circle and at the Tanglefoot Building.

Artists utilized unique mediums to convey their interpretation of the theme, “crossed lines.” Public participation stands out in many of the pieces. “A lot of these artists are thinking about their artwork as not so much just something to see, but something to do and some-

INTERACT: Visitors stand on a submerged rooftop created by Heather Hart. Hart’s work and that of other artists will be featured in Grand Rapids instead of ArtPrize this year. COURTESY | Heather Hart

thing to be involved in,” said Buist to MLive.

Artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer will transform the bluebridge into an interactive experience, as he inserts light and sound as he interprets the theme of “crossing lines.” In his piece, “Voice Bridge” walkers are able to talk into the intercoms at the end of the bridge, creating a loop of the recorded message throughout different speaking on the bridge.

This Spring and Summer, Amanda Browder relied on the community to participate in her project by donating bright fabric and helping sew it to be wrapped

around Grand Rapids buildings. The most prominent location of her project, “Kaleidoscope”, can be found at the community center at MLK Park.

Browder Told Wood TV, “I am very interested as a contemporary artist in incorporating the everyday human.”

The submerged rooftops which can be spotted in Rosa Parks Circle and MLK park, are the works of Heather Hart. The rooftops, titled “The Oracle of the Soulmates”, are open for people to crawl inside, and the roof will hold several live performances.

FESTIVAL

Keeping it weird: the 46th Annual Eastown Street Fair

BY MAISIE WILER ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

On Sept. 7, local vendors, artisans, bands and musicians will take to Wealthy Street for a day of family-oriented festivities. The Eastown Community Association (ECA) says that the event, presented by MobileGR and Parking Services, will recognize local arts, crafts, food, music and the Eastown neighborhood itself, which the ECA calls “one of Grand Rapids’ most eclectic districts.”

The one-day fair will take place along Wealthy Street between Lake Drive and Giddings Avenue and also in the first block of Ethel Avenue and the Wealthy Street Hub Lot.

Events will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 9 p.m.

However, the beer tent, supplied by Short’s Brewing Company and Vander Mill cider, will remain open until 10 p.m. From noon until 9 p.m., visitors may enjoy live music, performed by eight local bands and musicians, as they walk among the food trucks and vendor booths.

The Eastown Street Fair became an annual tradition in 1973, the same year the Eastown Community Association was founded. The ECA, who organizes the annual fair, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit committed to keeping its self-proclaimed eclectic community “vibrant” and “weird.”

“We like to think of Eastown as being a very diverse community, a very welcoming

ATTRACT TO THE ABSTRACT

Opening September 6, “Relevant: Abstraction from GRAM’s Collection” will include eleven pieces of abstract art, primarily created in between 1950 and 1970. Curator Juana Williams is a guest curator from the Urban Institute of Contemporary Art, bringing her fresh ideas to the exhibit.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

community,” said Don Lee, Executive Director of the Eastown Community Association. “Our motto, our unofficial slogan, is ‘Keeping it weird since 1973.’”

Lee said the first-ever Eastown Street Fair was a “hyper-local street party that evolved into a street fair.” 46 years later, this annual tradition is equally beloved by visitors, and it has only continued to grow.

According to Lee, the ECA usually plans on 15,000 attendees.

The event will feature two barbecue tents, Haitian food, Ethiopian food, Mexican food, Polish food, Malamiah Juice Bar and Sacred Springs Kombucha. Beyond food, there will be vendors with jewelry, kitsch, steampunk, paintings, screen printing, handmade soap and more.

“The intentionality is great,” Lee said.

“A lot of our vendors have gone on to form brick-and-mortar businesses. This event and the (annual) Bizarre Bazaar, our early summer event, serve as incubators for local makers.”

Lee said the ECA is committed to finding “great makers” in its community.

LOG ON TO:

EXPLORE: Eastown Street Fair will include a variety of food and craft vendors in addition to live local entertainment. Guests will enjoy all that Eastown has to offer this Saturday. COURTESY | GRVegFest

www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

A11 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

LIVE MUSIC

Mandolin Orange at the Frederik Meijer Gardens

BY ALLISON RAFFERTY ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

The fast-rising folk band Mandolin Orange will be performing at the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept.

4.

This summer, the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater has been hosting their annual Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts series. The series kicked off the season June 6 with musical group Nahko And Medicine For The People.

The season will be wrapping up with singer songwriters Calexico and Iron & Wine Sept. 18.

The concert series offers viewers a wide range of musical performances.

Mandolin Orange, consisting of singer-songwriter Andrew Marlin and multi instrumentalist Emily Frantz, is a folk band that made their first appearance to the scene almost a decade ago.

With roots in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the husband and wife duo have created a total of four albums. Their most recent, Tides of a Teardrop, was released earlier this year.

According to an article on the group by WOUB Public Media, Tides of a Teardrop “paints Marlin’s lifelong grief after losing his mother unexpectedly when he was only 18-years-old with aching, quietly spiritual songs.”

With over one million subscribers on Spo-

tify and reviews ranging from RollingStone to the Washington Post, Mandolin Orange’s music has not gone unnoticed.

RollingStone described the music duo as being “engineered to settle worried minds, slow the blood and lend an empathetic ear” with “songs about life lessons that feel lived-in and hard-won.”

NPR also praised Mandolin Orange for “officially mastered blending engaging storytelling with acoustic elements of bluegrass, folk and country.”

The Washington Post spoke highly of the music group for letting their southern background shine through in their acoustics.

“The North Carolina duo’s music — laced with bluegrass, country and folk — is often wistful and contemplative without being somber, and always firmly grounded in the South,” said an article The Washington Post.

The Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater raved about the folk duo on their website.

“Mandolin Orange’s music radiates a mysterious warmth—their songs feel like whispered secrets, one hand cupped to your ear,” stated the Frederik Meijer Gardens article.

The aforementioned Frederik Meijer Gardner’s article also credited the intimacy exhibited through the group’s music as the reason for the steady growing fan base. The article also claims that this intimacy is exemplified more than ever in the duo’s most recent album. To

FOLK: Mandolin Orange will perform at the Frederik Meijer Gardens. Their band’s sound is noted as “bluegrass, country and folk” music “firmly grounded in the South.” COURTESY | MEIJERGARDENS.ORG

see more of Mandolin Orange live performances, they will be touring in the northeast region of the United States in November.

Along with the highly reviewed Mandolin Orange, concert goers will also get to view the musical workings of three-

piece band Bonny Light Horseman as their opening act.

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

CONTEMPORARY ART

Fall Arts Celebration highlights Contemporary Chicago Art

BY JACOB CRESWELL ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University will be kicking off this year’s Fall Arts Celebration with the “Art of Today: Contemporary Collections from Chicago” collection. The exhibit is a collection of contemporary art, which combines pieces from GVSU’s own collection with pieces on loan from the city of Chicago.

The Art of Today collection will be on exhibit from Aug. 23 until Nov. 3. The exhibition is on display at the Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts, located at GVSU’s Allendale campus.

“Visitors will encounter a wide variety of compelling artworks from many important contemporary artists,” said Curator of Exhibitions Joel Zwart. “As the curator, I worked to develop a list of potential objects for this exhibition and then worked with the Art Gallery team to get their input on the final selections.”

The exhibit especially highlights contemporary art from artists based in Chicago.

CREATE: GVSU’s collection of contemporary art from Chicago will be showcased. COURTESY | GVSU

“Chicago has always been an important center for art in the United States and the world,” Zwart said. “It continues to be so, with major institutions (including the Art Institute, the Museum of Contemporary Art) and a major art fair (such as Art Expo).”

Contemporary art, as Zwart describes, is art produced by artists of the current day.

Zwart also notes another element of today’s world that challenges contemporary artists.

“Contemporary art is also defined by the many ways in which artists seek

to challenge boundaries and engage a world that is rapidly becoming culturally diverse, technologically developed and globalized,” Zwart said. “We feel it is important for GVSU students and our community to engage with contemporary art.”

Zwart said there is a lot that goes into the selection of curated pieces.

“The works were selected to reflect the generally accepted period of Contemporary Art, which begins in the late 1960s and runs through today,” Zwart said. “Additionally, we wanted to represent our connections in Chicago, so the selection is a balanced view of work from our donors and our collection.”

On the topic of the works, Zwart noted one that he considers being particularly notable.

“When you enter the exhibition, you will encounter a 3-dimensional paper clown suit that is suspended from the ceiling,” Zwart said.

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

A12 | SPORTS QUICK HITS

SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

FOOTBALL

LAKERS CROSS COUNTRY RANKED NO. 1 AND NO. 2 IN NATIONAL COACHES PRESEASON POLL

The Grand Valley State men’s and women’s cross country teams will open the 2019 campaign ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the National Coaches’ Poll released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

The men’s No. 1 ranking marks the first time in program history that they open the season as the top-ranked team in the country. The women’s squad earned the unanimous runner-up position to match last year’s ranking, placed right behind Adams State.

Both teams get their seasons started this Saturday, Sept. 7 at the Knight Invitational in Grand Rapids, MI.

GVSU WOMEN’S CLUB HOCKEY ANNOUNCES TRYOUTS

The GVSU Women’s Club Hockey team announced Thursday, Aug. 29, that tryouts will be Sept. 4-5 from 10 p.m.-11 p.m. at Griff’s Georgetown Ice Arena.

There are limited openings, but all prospective players are welcome to attend. It is important to note that prospective players who want to try out must have their own protective equipment.

For more information, please contact head coach Doug Wickstrom at wickstrd@ gvsu.edu with any questions.

GVSU ANNOUNCES NEW TICKET OPERATIONS PROVIDER AND PARKING PROCEDURES FOR 2019 FOOTBALL SEASON

The Grand Valley State University Department of Athletics has entered into a partnership with University Tix, a third-party company, to help facilitate season and single-game ticket purchases, donations, parking services and more. The new partnership will officially start for the 2019 season.

Most ticket options are still available for the 2019 season that will feature seven home games. Season tickets start at just $99 as well as single-game tickets are available online at gvsutickets.com or by calling the ticketing office at (616)331-3200

VARSITY SCHEDULE

Football: Saturday, Sept. 7, 7:00 p.m., vs Edinboro (PA) Soccer: Thursday, Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m., vs Rollins Saturday, Sept. 7, 2:00 p.m., vs No. 6 Lee Volleyball: UNC Pembroke Invitational, Friday, Sept. 6-Saturday, Sept. 7, Friday, 11:00 a.m., UNC Pembroke, 3:00 p.m., Coker Saturday, 9:00 a.m., UVA-Wise, 5:00 p.m., Fayetteville State Men’s Tennis: Friday, Sept.

6-Saturday, Sept. 7, All Day, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Invitational, Whitewater, Wis. Men’s and Women’s Cross Country: Saturday, Sept. 7, 10:00 a.m., Knight Invitational, Grand Rapids, MI, Gainey Athletic Complex

CELEBRATE AFTER A SCORE: Grand Valley State wide receiver Austin Paritee (89) celebrates a touchdown with former teammate Marty Carter (21) in a 2017 game at Lubbers Stadium. Now a senior on the 2019 team, Paritee is pulling from former teammates to help lead the young guys. GVL | ARCHIVE

Senior Paritee brings leadership to young Grand Valley offense preparing for Edinboro

BY KELLEN VOSS SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Outside of the practice field and the locker room, there are not many times in life when over 125 college players manage to fit in a room together, but the Grand Valley State University football team did just that this past weekend, as they fit their entire team in one theater at Celebration Cinema to watch the latest Seth Rogen comedy, “Good Boys.”

“We had the opportunity to give the guys a Saturday night off, get pop and popcorn and watch a good sophomoric comedy,” said head coach Matt Mitchell.

“It’s just a chance for guys to kick back and be teammates, we had the whole theater to ourselves, so we didn’t have to worry about disrupting the crowd.”

Outings like that to build team chemistry are huge for this young team, especially on the offensive side, as there are only two seniors on the first and second teams combined within that unit.

One of those seniors who has already shown excellent leadership skills both on and off the field is wide receiver Austin Paritee, who is taking things day-by-day with his young teammates.

“Our offense is kind of young, but we

got guys working hard,” Paritee said. “It’s a blessing to come out here every day with a lot of energy. We’re just trying to find ways to get better each and every day. We’re still not tired yet, and we’re still trying to find ways to prepare for that opener.”

Paritee proved to be a quality No. 2 option in the passing game last season who can now become the main option through the air, as 53 catches for 962 and nine touchdowns helped him earn All-GLIAC honors.

With the opener against Edinboro coming up fast, Paritee has put his leadership skills to work among his position group. He is drawing techniques from his former roommate and teammate to show these young guys how to commit to being successful.

“Nick (Dodson) and I came in as freshmen roommates, and we’ve been best friends the whole time he was here,” Paritee said. “Just watching him and how he carries himself, I always used to call him the ‘young veteran’ because he was always professional about everything he did. I take that example that he showed me and I try to implement it to the younger guys. Sometimes it’s hard, but when you have guys above you that can show you the way, it helps you when your time comes to be that leader.”

That poise and lunch-pale attitude that Dodson and Paritee carried themselves with

is a great way to lead young men, and as Mitchell has seen with Paritee and a junior running back, it’s clear that these professional approaches do not go unnoticed.

“From a leadership standpoint, Austin Paritee has been thrust into that position,” Mitchell said. “The other guy who has earned that right even though he didn’t play last year is Bryce Young-Wallace. They are both natural leaders, and (quarterback) Cole Kotopka has done an unreal job. He’s had some offensive-only meetings and players-only meetings where he has addressed some stuff, and we need these guys to lead the way because we are very young offensively.”

When it comes to preparing for the season opener Saturday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. at Lubbers Stadium, Paritee and the Lakers haven’t started specifically game-planning against Edinboro just yet. The team is just trying to improve as football players and controlling what they can control before worrying about their opponent.

“Right now, it’s more general preparation (for Edinboro),” Paritee said. “We’re trying to be the best we can be. At the end of the day, it comes down to how good we play every game. We’ll start preparing more next week, but as of right now, Grand Valley is trying to be the Grand Valley we can be.”