Issue 32, April 22, 2019 - Grand Valley Lanthorn

GRAND VALLEY

A L L E N D A L E & G R A N D R A P I DS , M I C H I G A N ST U D E N T- R U N P U B L I C A T I O N S // P R I N T · O N L I N E · M O B I L E // L A N T H O R N . C O M

M O N D A Y, A P R I L 2 2 , 2 0 1 9 // VO L . 5 3 N O. 3 2

YEAR IN REVIEW

APRIL 22, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVNEWS

A2 | NEWS LEADERSHIP

Thomas Haas Interview

BY BRADY MCATAMNEY EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

Brady McAtamney: Obviously this is your final year as president here. When did you officially decide that this would be the year?

Thomas Haas: Well, it was about a year ago when I had a conversation with the board chair and some other members and I looked ahead regarding the university, where it was and its history. It was coming up on its re-accreditation effort. We had a good, strategic plan in place to bring that closure and I looked at where my family dynamics were – my oldest son was going to be retiring from the Air Force, which he did a couple weeks ago after 20 years of service, and he and his wife just had a girl at the time. My other daughter and son-in-law live over in Chicago. They just had our first grandson, too. So we were looking at the dynamics of the family and the changes, and our health is great, thank goodness for that, and we decided with the university, in the shape it was in, was a good foundation to leave it for the next president.

I asked the board if they would consider accepting my letter to retire, and one other son is in xe Coast Guard and he’s going to be retiring here himself too, and he also mentioned that maybe we would want to be around a little. He has two little girls, not so little anymore, they are 11 and nine, but we were really enjoying every single day coming here. My wife has been a partner throughout the time that we’ve been here. And so we decided that with the university, I wanted to take it through it re-accreditation effort, and we did. We got a clean bill of health that just came out within the last couple weeks. That was one goal that I really wanted to see happen. And that particular report, by the way – I have been in the re-accreditation business in three of those six areas in the nation – I have never seen

a report like that. That was as good of report feedback to us that I ever could have imagined.

This is good for the students because it gives the elevation of the degree and the value of that degree as well, so that was good to see. And I’m still continuing to work on some other needs within the development world.

We have an $85 million goal that we want to wrap up by 2020 and I want to continue to do some efforts there as well. And of course the day-to-day continues. I’m thrilled with the leadership I have on the President’s Cabinet. The board has been phenomenal in its support. So long answer to your question, it was – I think – the right time.

With the history of the university, I’m number four; Zumberge was number one, being the founder; Lubbers was here

for many, many years. He was an entrepreneurial president.

Very, very good at what he did and developing friendships with the university – public-private partnership in many regards, and then Mark Murray came in. A phenomenal leader in his own way, within the state as a public institution he brought in a great skill set there. And my focus since day one, even in my inauguration speech, I said the North Star was going to be the student-centered nature of the university, the student successes is the North Star. All that taken into account, we believed and the board agreed with me that this is a good time for change for the leadership because of the circumstances we find ourselves in.

BM: What is your fondest GVSU athletics memory?

TH: There’s a lot of them. I enjoyed going to the first-ever championship football game.

That was my first year and it was phenomenal. I walked into a very, very large hall and we had, what must have been 2,000 students, Lakers, parents, family members and friends rooting on the Lakers through the championship. And there, I’m walking and had been on the campus for a relatively short period of time, and to pick up on the nickname I received my first day right here at the (Cook Carillon Tower) with the student leaders in the transitions group along with Frank Foster, who was the student senate president at the time, they started chanting my name and I got chills.

It was a remarkable expression of the mutual relationship

and the respect that I had with our students and they with me.

And probably the number of President’s Balls. Each one was unique in its own way and it was just wonderful to once again see the students and how they embrace who we are as an institution. So the athletic piece is one, but many of those student President Balls have been very, very special as well. And probably the last one is most recently.

So go from one national championship with football to the most recent ones, we’re down in Pittsburgh, where Marcia and I decided to spend the day. We flew down early in the morning, were able to match up with the men’s cross country, and they won the national championship.

It was muddy, rainy and cold, but we were so thrilled to see the men’s team come across the

line, and then followed up with the women’s who did the same thing. That was thrilling and to see the other embraces with the national championship teams that we experienced with soccer and the indoor/outdoor track and cross country. All phenomenal. And what we started with the football team, is they would come to my home – the whole team including the coaches and those supporting – and we would have a dinner in their honor. So, we had 110 people in my home that first year, and then we wrapped it up with two national championship teams at our home with men’s and women’s cross country.

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HAAS-TA LA VISTA: Sitting down with Lanthorn Editor-in-Chief Brady McAtamney, outgoing Grand Valley State University President Thomas Haas shares some of his fondest memories of leading the university. In his final interview with the Lanthorn, Haas mentioned his favorite traditions, spots to eat on campus and memorable selfies . GVL | BENJAMIN HUNT

GOVERNANCE

Dr. Philomena Mantella to be GVSU’s fifth president

BY NICK MORAN NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Philomena V. Mantella was unanimously appointed Grand Valley State University’s fifth president during a special Board of Trustees held on Jan. 22. Mantella, GVSU’s first female president, will replace outgoing president Thomas J. Haas following his last day on July 1.

Following three rounds of interviews with the board’s 18-person presidential search committee, committee chair John Kennedy announced the recommendation at the meeting. The trustees noted Mantella’s strengths in strategic planning, global market expansion and keeping current with trends in education.

Specifically, Board of Trustees Chair Mary Kramer said that out of the four semifinalists that the search com-

mittee proposed to the board, Mantella stood out because of her leadership roles in enrollment management and student life. Mantella’s experience in “life-long learning” and global studies was also appealing, Kramer said.

Mantella currently sits as executive vice president and chief executive officer of the Lifelong Learning Network at Northeastern University in Boston. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Syracuse University and a doctorate degree in college and university administration from Michigan State University.

Mantella will be GVSU’s fifth president in its nearly 60year history.

Following her election, Mantella joined the board in front of the crowd and spoke about her excitement to be GVSU’s next president.

“I’m inspired by the energy and the passion you all have for this exceptional place,” Mantella said. “Grand Valley State is brimming with commitment to its student experience, it’s animated by talented professionals, it’s anchored in strong assents and it’s driven by its values and unparalleled momentum.”

Mantella also said that she hopes to strengthen GVSU’s role as a trendsetting university “More than ever, this nation needs breakout universities who leverage experiences to better not just themselves, but the lives of the communities and learners they serve. Grand Valley State University has the triple threat: one, it fulfills its mission as a true economic development driver. Two, it shapes a high quality community of learning for the 21st century.

Three, it’s become a model for creating and accessing a path leading to prosperity.”

President Haas and former presidents Mark Murray and Don Lubbers expressed their approval of the newly-elected president. The group offered Mantella council early on in her presidential career, which she said she would take them up on.

Haas provided his stamp of approval for his replacement, noting that Mantella’s experience and passion will make her more than suitable as GVSU’s next president.

“The trustees have made a wise choice in their selection of Dr. Mantella,” Haas said. “Her background is impressive, and her passion for education and her warmth as a person are obvious. I look forward to working with her and others to ensure a smooth transition to her leadership.”

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LEADING LADY: Incoming president Philomena Mantella addresses the crowd at Grand Valley State University’s Kirkhof Center following her unanimous appointment by the board. Mantella will be the fifth president in school history and the first female president. GVL | LEAH KERR

APRIL 22, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

NEWS | A3

SAFETY

Grand Valley student leaders address sexual assault on campus, proposed Title IX changes LAUREEN HORAN ASSOCIATE1@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University is widely regarded for its inclusive community and safe campus, which includes a centralized police force, Grand Valley Police Department. While it’s clear that GVSU and GVPD prioritize student safety, sexual harassment is a prominent issue for college campuses everywhere.

In light of the Dept. of Education’s (DOE) recently proposed changes to Title IX guidelines, student leaders at GVSU are addressing these issues, saying there is always more to be done.

On Dec. 6, 2018, GVSU’s student senate published a resolution to show their objections to the proposed Title IX changes.

Along with narrowing the definition of “sexual harassment,” the proposed changes would lessen the liability of universities and would not offer protection for students who were assaulted off-campus.

This resolution, spearheaded by Student Senate President Rachel Jenkin, asserts that the potential changes would do more harm than good for victims of sexual assault. The proposal also aims to implement a live hearing in each case with the opportunity for cross-examination.

According to Jenkin, this could deter students from making a report when they’ve been assaulted.

“Cross-examination is shown to not be effective in this setting. If a victim has to face their abuser again as they recount the details of their assault, this could cause (the victim) to experience that trauma all over again and potentially discourage students from reporting,” Jenkin said.

Other student leaders on campus agree that the proposed Title IX changes do not prioritize the needs of assault victims.

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NIGHT WALKS: Walking on campus, a student travels toward the Kirkhof Center. Weekly GVPD reports highlight that there was at least one sexual harassment report per week last semester, with students questioning whether relevant alerts should be sent. GVL | BENJAMIN HUNT

CAMPUS

Subscription inflation, enrollment dips cause library budget cuts

BY NICK MORAN NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University’s library is in the preliminary process of cutting over $800,000 for its collections budget to combat the rising prices of subscription-based services and an absence of bonus funds

from the Provost’s office.

In a January 2019 memo from University Libraries, the process will include the collection of feedback from students and faculty to ultimately make cancellations to journals and databases

by January 2020.

Associate Dean of Curation, Publishing and Pres-

WEATHER ervation Services Jeffery Daniels said that out of the library’s approximate budget of $12 million, there is little wiggle room in finding ways to cut costs.

Nearly $6 million of those funds supports faculty and staff and approximately $5.2 million is set aside for collections, with the remaining funds being used for library upkeep and support, such as furniture and technology maintenance.

Of that collections fund, 90 percent of it is allocated toward subscriptionbased services, which have caused budgeting stress due to annual inflation.

According to the January memo, the mean price of an Ebsco title has increased 5.6 percent on average over the past four years.

GV cancels week of classes due to Polar Vortex, sets school record

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CABIN FEVER: Students pass the time indoors following a school snow day. Due to the Polar Vortex, GVSU canceled five days of school, setting a school record. The last time the Grand Valley canceled more than one consecutive school day was during the blizzard of 1978. GVL | KATHERINE VASILE

BY ALEXANDRA LOYD ALOYD@LANTHORN.COM

STUDY SESH: Students work inside the Mary Idema Pew Library. Due to the rising prices of online subscription services, University Libraries are cutting over $800,000 from their collections budget. GVL | ARCHIVE

In the last week, Michigan has faced its coldest days since 1996, rightly claiming the week’s weather forecast title of Polar Vortex 2019.

The temperatures hit record lows for the last two decades, with highs below zero and wind chills hitting 50 below zero in some parts of the state, making conditions dangerous for anyone that spends more than five minutes outside.

This and the nearly two feet of snow were enough to close Grand Valley State University for the entire school week, breaking all kinds of records.

“To my knowledge, this is unprecedented at GVSU — but then again, so is this weather,” said Associate Vice President for Facilities Services Tim Thimmesch. “The last time campus closed for two days in a row was back in the 1978 blizzard. (Closing for) five is a record.”

When the university is closed, all classes are canceled and all buildings are closed except for those where essential staff work.

Essential staff include the Department of Public Safety Services, Facilities Services, Food Service, Housing, Information Technology and Fieldhouse Management.

On Monday, Jan. 28, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state

of emergency in order to address threats to public health and safety related to forecast.

“It’s challenging because we’re looking at 25,000 students, and it’s hard to identify a solution that’s going to be the best for everybody,” said Assistant Director of Public Safety and Grand Valley Police Department Capt. Jeff Stoll.

“A lot of it is looking at safety on the roads, because we don’t want to expose anyone to unnecessary danger. Walking to class in bad snow isn’t hazardous — it can be frustrating, but it isn’t hazardous.

Commuters, though, are put more at risk in this weather.”

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APRIL 22, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A4 | NEWS GOVERNANCE

TAKING THE OATH: Being sworn in by outgoing president Rachel Jenkin, president-elect Eric-John Szczepaniak recites the oath required to take office. Szczepaniak was elected senate’s next president during the 20192020 body’s April 11 general assembly. He assumed the office during student senate’s April 18 general assembly. During elections, Szczepaniak was described as a leader with cloud and respect. GVL | NICK MORAN

2019-2020 student senate elects president Szczepaniak

BY MCKENNA PEARISO ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM

On Thursday, April 11, EricJohn Szczepaniak was elected student senate president for the 2019-2020 body. He is a former vice president for educational affairs and a first generation college student studying education and social studies.

Szczepaniak has been a senator since he arrived at Grand

Valley State University in 2016 and will now take on the presidency for his senior year. The general assembly had plenty of positive messages about the candidate before he was elected, many noting his impressive accomplishments and reputation in the community.

“He has clout in west Michigan,” said senator Hugh Boyd. “Having Eric as our head is a statement in and of itself. That name travels and

it travels with a lot of respect.”

Indeed, the Szczepaniak name does travel thanks to his position as treasurer of the Kenowa Hills Public Schools Board of Education. The youngest elected official in west Michigan, Szczepaniak obtained the position in 2017 as a high school graduate and college freshman.

While discussing his plans and qualities for the senate president slot, Szczepaniak assured the senate body he

would be able to balance both positions and still be dedicated to his work. He also spoke of his love for teaching which drives his interest for leadership roles education.

“I am running to do lifelong learning, to listen to testimonies of others and to work together for the betterment of this great institution,” Szczepaniak said.

While discussing the candidates, many senators old and new spoke of why they

were supporting Szczepaniak. This included the newly elected executive vice president Andrew Nurmi.

“Truly one of the most loving and passionate people I have worked with at Grand Valley,” Nurmi said. “(Szczepaniak) has a lot of drives and and a lot of ideas to make really big changes at our university.”

Many of these proposed changes were new solutions to issues many contesting senators

hoped to address. This included being more transparent about senate proceedings, increasing campus collaboration and addressing the disconnect between student senate and its students. Senators agreed that improving relations with students would better assist the body in representing them.

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CHARITY

Student senate votes to discontinue Battle of the Valleys fundraising competition

BY NICK MORAN NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

CUTTING THE COMPETITION: Hoisting the Battle of the Valleys trophy, representatives from Grand Valley State University’s student senate and Saginaw Valley highlight fundraising competition successes at the annual rivalry football game. GVL | ARCHIVE

Grand Valley State University’s student senate voted in favor of withdrawing from the annual Battle of the Valleys fundraising competition against rival university Saginaw Valley State University. The decision was made during the senate’s March 21 general assembly and will be effective as of Fall 2019.

Student senate Vice President of Campus Affairs Carter Engler said that a main reason to drop the fundraising competition was due to the copious amount of time and energy required by an already busy senate.

Laker Traditions did not help organize 2018’s fundraising battle, leaving most of the work to fall on Executive Vice President Morgan Mattler and Engler. This resulted in preparation throughout the summer and multiple meetings a week.

Even with the additional help of other student senators, Engler, who has been closely involved in

the planning of the competition for the past three years, said Battle of the Valleys’ execution will continue to be too much work for the body to handle. During this year’s competition, Engler said he felt the drain of the planning on his work as the fall semester began.

“There was a lot of separation between what we were trying to do for our committee and then what we were trying to do for Battle of the Valleys,” Engler said. “When I had multiple senators come on to my committee… I had a hard time relating to them right off the bat, making sure they were comfortable and set with their projects. I had to focus more on Battle of the Valleys.”

Mattler said that over the past year and a half, student senate has made a long list of changes that directly impact the student body. By freeing up time and not organizing the Battle of the Valleys fundraiser, he said students will feel that senate productivity will be up through more changes around the university.

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STUDENT LIFE

Evacuate the dance floor GV cancels President’s Ball amid severe weather conditions

BY OLIVIA FELLOWS OFELLOWS@LANTHORN.COM

On Thursday, Jan. 31, the decision was made by Grand Valley State University’s Office of Student Life to cancel this year’s President’s Ball. The decision followed five consecutive snow days — a campus record.

According to Associate Director of Student Life LeaAnn Tibbe, it was a difficult but necessary decision.

“I hope students understand that this was a tough de-

cision and everyone at Student Life is disappointed,” Tibbe said. “However, due to campus being closed and classes canceled, we were forced to cancel the President’s Ball for students’ safety. Our view of the cancellation was that it was better to be safe than sorry with such bad weather and roads.”

The President’s Ball is the second most student attended event at GVSU outside of football games, and many students took to Twitter to

BLUE BROTHER: Dawning his fedora and sunglasses, GVSU President Thomas “T.Haas” Haas performes a song and dance number from “The Blues Brothers” during President’s Ball in 2016. What would have been Haas’ final President’s Ball on Feb. 1 was canceled due to severe weather conditions as part of a stretch of five consecutive school closures at the end of January 2019 during the polar vortex. GVL | ARCHIVE

express their disappointment in the canceling of the dance.

With many expressing that they believed the dance still could have taken place despite the weather conditions and some students expressing frustration over purchasing appropriate clothing for the dance that they won’t get money back for. Others were desperate to know if the dance will be rescheduled,

especially because this President’s Ball was to be GVSU President Thomas Haas’ last.

“Extreme weather?” one student tweeted. “The weather on Friday was near the same as it was a couple weeks ago. Same temperature. People spent hundreds on this night and are now out that money.”

“I’m really bummed it was canceled because of weather, I

think it was a possibility despite that,” another tweeted. “They should really just reschedule it — it’s T. Haas’ last year!”

As for ticket sales, Tibbe stated that both dance and dinner tickets will be refunded electronically to students in the coming days.

Prior to the dance, the Office of Student Life had sold 500 dinner tickets within the first week of them go-

ing on sale, and around sold 4,000 dance tickets.

As a reaction to the cancellation, the Office of Student Life boxed up more than 500 hot meals from the planned dinner and handed them out free of charge to people in need around the Grand Rapids area.

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APRIL 22, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

NEWS | A5

MEMORIAL

WELL-SERVED STORIES: Posing for a group photo, members of the Mully’s Bar and Grill Funeral bar crawl share drinks in honor of the closing of GVSU’s “college bar.” The bar crawl carried the group of mourners between four bars on Jan. 12, stopping at each to share their own memories from visits to Mully’s. No replacement for the local bar has been announced as of the end of the winter semester. GVL | BENJAMIN HUNT

GVSU students pour one out for their dear friend Mully’s

BY MCKENNA PEARISO ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM

There are several bars and restaurants near Grand Valley State University’s Allendale campus, but none quite live up to the reputation of Mully’s Bar and Grill. Located in Meadows Crossing Retail Shoppes with a head-on view of the Cook Carillon Tower, Mully’s was essentially GVSU’s “college bar.”

However, at the beginning of winter break Mully’s Bar and

Grill closed its doors for good with no notice to its employees and the community of students it primarily served.

“The way we were informed of the closure was honesty hurtful,” said Brittany D’Avignon, who had been serving at Mully’s since April. “We had some idea that it was coming, but we had no solid proof or words from our bosses. We were told two days after what would be our last day open.

We were not told in person, but through text.”

A majority of Mully’s employees were GVSU students, who now had to start the new semester looking for new jobs. D’Avignon believes her fellow Mully’s employees will easily find new jobs but will dearly miss the family that had formed at the bar.

“My former coworkers are people I will be friends with for life,” D’Avignon said. “As cheesy as it sounds, we are actually a family and we will continue to be close.”

This feeling of family was

common among student patrons as well, who knew they could always find a familiar face at Mully’s. The bar was most popular on Thursday evenings and, at early points in the semester, it would be packed to the brim with students. Often resembling a large reunion, the likelihood of running into a friend was most fitting at Mully’s.

“Thursday’s were our biggest night of the week, and it was filled with students,” D’Avignon said. “I never really

felt like I had to go into professional server mode because the bar was full of friends. It was a place where people could come and always have a good time, and there would always be a friendly face if you needed one.”

Over the years, Mully’s became the staple for students to gather and enjoy each other’s company, which is likely what made it stand out from the other bars in the area. Although, Mully’s popularity on Thursdays would often bring more than of-age

students coming together, it even fostered in the worst bar customers: minors. Just since 2015, Mully’s has received over five violations for serving minors or intoxicated persons as well as not keeping up with their licensing.

Some of these violations even resulted in short closures of the bar, but it always seemed to bounce back.

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STUDENT LIFE

Hung out to dry GV imposes sanctions on Greek Life, cite issues within the community

BY NICK MORAN NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Members of Grand Valley State University’s fraternities and sororities were gathered on Wednesday, Oct. 31 by Associate Dean for Student Life Bob Stoll and GVSU’s Greek Life Board to participate in a Greek Life Town Hall where administrators announced sanctions imposed on all GVSU Greek chapters. The sanctions come off the heels of Sigma Phi Epsilon’s fiveyear ban from GVSU last fall, and the recent two-year ban of Kappa Sigma.

During the town hall, Stoll cited four sanctions in a note from the desk of Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Loren Rullman. They include a ban of alcohol at Greek functions, an embargo of further Greek Life expansion, putting a relationship agreement between GVSU and Greek organizations on hold and the creation of a task force to inves-

tigate issues and expectations regarding Greek Life. The sanctions are currently in effect and will be until further notice.

“We can’t wait,” Stoll said during the event. “We have to do this now. We’re too close to a situation where we might lose one of you in this room and I can’t sleep with that.”

Throughout the town hall, Stoll elaborated on the sanctions. The ban of alcohol at chapter events follows the definition of gatherings from each chapter’s national governing bodies.

In terms of the ban on expansion, GVSU will not accept any new fraternities or sororities. Greek organizations currently in the process will continue without issue.

Rullman’s sanctions also put a freeze on a relationship agreement between Greek organizations and the university. The agreement, which would outline conduct between GVSU and each chapter will not be

completed and signed until conditions improve.

The announcement of the sanctions gave way to a presentation from Greek Life Board President Mikaela Padgen who responded to the new sanctions with a call for Greek Life as a whole to own up their flaws and find ways to improve on them. Padgen cited several headlines from the past few months about the mishaps of fraternities and sororities throughout the country — including headlines about GVSU Greek organizations — saying GVSU unfortunately fits the national trend.

“We have for so long lacked awareness of the audacity of our community’s actions,” Padgen said. “Instead of focusing on and preaching the idea of a Disneyland of Greek Life, it is time to take responsibility as a whole for the actions of our Greek members.”

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DINING

Sliced off

GVSU becomes one of the many universities to end relationship with controversial pizza franchise

BY DEVIN DELY DDELY@LANTHORN.COM

PEACE OUT, POP: Grand Valley previously housed two different locations for Papa John’s on the Allendale campus. GVL | ANDREW NYHOF

In June of 2018, Papa John’s Pizza CEO and founder John Schnatter came under fire for using a racial slur during a conference call. After the call was made public, the story was picked up by multiple media outlets and resulted in Schnatter’s resignation as CEO. Though Schnatter is no longer the face of the company, they are still dealing with the fallout as businesses and organizations continue to cut ties with the nationwide pizza chain, the latest of which is Grand Valley State University.

Around the beginning of the school year in August, the Papa John’s location in the Commons on GVSU’s Allendale campus

was replaced by Oath Pizza. According to GVSU Vice President of Finance Greg Sanial, the location in the Connection is also on its way out. Although the timing of this change has much to do with the comments Schnatter made in June, Sanial says the university has been considering ending their business relationship with the company for quite some time.

“We had started internal discussions about replacing Papa John’s in the spring,” Sanial said.

“Sales have been declining, and the brand has not evolved as you’d expect it to do in that pizza market. We had sort of targeted the 2020 time frame for that change, but when the founder made those inappropriate comments on that conference call, we accelerated that process;

those comments just don’t agree with the core principles here at Grand Valley State.”

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APRIL 22, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A6 | NEWS SECURITY

GVSU to spend $3 million on updated surveillance system

BY LAUREEN HORAN ASSOCIATE1@LANTHORN.COM

Security is a priority for public and private academic institutes everywhere and Grand Valley State University is no exception. Grand Valley Police Department intends to increase safety measures across the Allendale, Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Holland campuses by adding hundreds of exterior surveillance cameras while also improving the software and infrastructure through which these devices operate. The nearly $3 million project could take up to two years to complete.

According to Grand Valley Police Capt. Kourosh

Khatir, it was the quantity and location of surveillance cameras at Central Michigan University that led officials to the location and perpetrator of a double-homicide on campus the morning of March 2, 2018.

“For the last few years, there’s been a hodge-podge of cameras around campus in various buildings that installed their own setup. The software and equipment is different in each location, so there’s certainly a lack of infrastructure as far as surveillance,” Khatir said. “We are too big to have a lack of infrastructure in this area…

We aren’t investing all this money just to be ahead of the game — we want to catch up

to where we need to be.”

Khatir isn’t the only one who believes so. Many students and faculty members, including GVPD Capt. Jeff Stoll, agree that the addition of more cameras is not only practical, but necessary.

“As we’ve seen technology increase over recent years, we’ve seen other universities increase their cameras on campus. We do have a lot of cameras now, but they’re not consolidate into a master plan,” Stoll said. “GVSU was a little bit behind in this regard so we knew it was time to have this discussion.”

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EYES IN THE SKY: Monitoring the Kirkhof Center, two security cameras connect Grand Valley Police Department officers with a campus hotspot. The university is spending $3 million on increasing the presence of its security cameras, specifically ones targeted toward popular outdoor areas. GVL | BENJAMIN HUNT

DISCUSSION

Parkland high school shooting survivor talks safety and reform at GV

BY MCKENNA PEARISO ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM

A year after the infamous shooting at her high school in Parkland, Fla., survivor Sa-

mantha Fuentes visited Grand Valley State University to provide her story and perspective about gun violence in American schools. On Feb. 27, she sat on a discussion panel with

several faculty members from GV’s College of Education. The event titled ‘Safe Learning Environments for our Students’ was held in Loosemore Auditorium on the Pew Campus and

STUDENT SPEAKERS: Speaking at the podium, Samantha Fuentes, a Parkland high school shooting survivor, addresses the crowd, talking about her real experience to as a survivor of gun violence. GVL | BENJAMIN HUNT

explored the various questions of ethical safety in schools.

The event had a prominent basis around gun violence and its recent prevalence in school discussions across the country.

The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas left 17 of Fuentes’ classmates dead and even resulted in injuries of her own.

Fuentes’ was hit with shrapnel and a bullet pierced her thigh while hiding with her fellow classmates during the shooting.

Since the event, Fuentes has traveled the country spreading her story and speaking at events to promote the experience of gun violence victims.

“I was never really an activist before,” she said. “I was surely outspoken but I never thought that my words and my story could influence and inspire people. I think any survivor has a story and a power to them and I learned to harness that power and use it towards good.”

Unfortunately, Fuentes sur-

vival story is all too common in America. 2018 was a record year for school shootings in the U.S., with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identifying 94 in total. Most U.S. school districts have around 180 schools day each year, which averages out to one school shooting for every eight school days.

Fuentes’ 17 late classmates and staff are only a fraction of the 113 individuals lost to school gun violence last year.

Some see this as an issue over gun control regulations, but not everyone. In fact, several school districts across the country see more guns as a solution, not less. This idea was the basis for the documentary ‘G is for Gun’ which was screened during the GVSU safe learning event.

“We aren’t doing a service to students to shy away from those topics,” said event panelist Chasity BaileyFakhoury. “Especially when they are doing active shooter

drills in the classroom. There are age appropriate ways to have discussions with students about gun violence and frame it in a way that they can understand and grasp.”

Panelists at the event prominently emphasized the importance of awareness when discussing gun violence and safety protocol. The screened documentary provided perspectives from both sides of the debate on whether teachers and school officials can effectively protect students from an active shooter. Issues of training and ethics were proposed against the practice, while immediacy and training programs were posed to support it. Many movements have risen in opposition of programs like these, especially those who emphasize gun policy change with stricter regulations.

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HEALTH

Increased ethylene oxide emissions surround Pew Campus

BY SHILOH REYNOLDS SREYNOLDS@LANTHORN.COM

Viant Medical Inc. of Grand Rapids is currently facing scrutiny from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) after the company violated ethylene oxide emission levels. Located at 520 Watson St., the company stands less than half of a mile away from Grand Valley State University’s downtown Pew Campus.

On Friday, Jan. 18, all GVSU students received an email from university officials warning them of the increased level of ethylene oxide.

According to information presented by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the U.S. Department of Labor, exposure to the gas may cause numerous health problems, which include respiratory problems, dizziness, nausea and headaches. Moreover, the OSHA classifies ethylene oxide as a known carcinogen and cites studies linking it to cases of leukemia and other forms of cancer.

This was not Viant’s first violation of emission levels; according to a report from MLive, the company had multiple previous violations. In July 2018, DEQ personnel cited the facility with the “failure to adequately capture and control ethylene oxide emissions.”

After additional air samples were tested in fall of 2018 during a return inspec-

tion, the DEQ found that emissions from the facility exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) acceptable limit of ethylene oxide by 150 times.

Despite this increase in emissions, Supervisor of Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality’s Air Quality Division Robert Sills told GVSU authorities that there is little cause for concern.

“Our evaluation has found no reason to be concerned about short-term health effects at the level of emissions and exposure we think are occurring,” Sills said in a statement to GVSU authorities, which was released to students through email. “Our concern is only for long-term exposure.”

First-year student Rachael Les said that she has heard others complain about the air quality in the downtown area.

“I haven’t personally noticed a difference in air quality, but I have heard from many other students that there’s a noticeable difference,” Les said.

Since the passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970, the EPA has been charged with setting National Ambient Air Quality Standards to decrease hazardous pollutants in the country.

Through the decades, these standards have significantly lowered national concentrations of several pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, lead and carbon monoxide.

The EPA states on their website that “the U.S. leads the world

in having clean air and a strong economy due to the implementation of the Clean Air Act.” However, some metropolitan areas still continue to struggle with air pollution. Topping the list of the American Lung Association’s 2018 State of the Air Report for the most polluted cities include Los Angeles and Fairbanks, Ark. Grand Rapids is tied for the 34th most polluted city in the U.S. Les thinks the local community could take away a few lessons from Viant’s violation of ethylene oxide emissions.

“Pollution is a more commonly occurring issue in our world, and... it doesn’t only affect places far from home,” Les said. “We should take this experience and maybe learn ways to deal with air pollution in times when it’s more serious.”

On Jan. 25, Viant Medical Inc. spokesperson John Truscott stated that Viant is aware of the health concerns and aims to address them.

“We understand the concerns of those in the community and are committed to ensuring our facility follows state and federal standards in support of public health,” Truscott said.

“The public’s safety is of utmost concern, and we will continue to work closely with the DEQ to ensure proper measures are in place and the public receives accurate information.”

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ENCROACHING EMISSIONS: An overhead shot of GVSU’s Pew Campus shows Viant Medical’s proximity to GVSU’s Grand Rapids property. An email was sent out to students about local ethylene oxide levels exceeding recommended levels, with Viant Medical pledging to take rapid action. COURTESY | GOOGLE MAPS

APRIL 22, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

NEWS | A7

CAMPUS

Reilly’s ripple effect Fallout of 2016 student murder leaves GVPD trust in spotlight NICK MORAN NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

A lawsuit regarding the claimed wrongful death of Rosemarie Reilly, a Grand Valley State University student, in 2016 was filed on Nov. 2, directly citing two Grand Valley Police Department (GVPD) officers and four Ottawa County Sheriff ’s Department (OCSD) officers for their involvement and “gross negligence.” The surfacing of a lawsuit not only brings up questions surrounding the cause of Reilly’s death, but challenges if the situation could happen again.

What’s happening now?

Jim Rasor, the attorney representing Reilly and her family, said that the lawsuit was filed because Reilly’s death and lack of concurrent investigation left too many questions unanswered.

As stated in the lawsuit, Rasor claims that the risk Reilly’s killer presented was “obvious and known,” which leaves one question lingering: why wasn’t anything done to arrest him?

A key claim in the lawsuit states that local police “listened and acquiesced to” the killer’s father, who was a local officer at the time, when he “requested leniency for his son.”

OCSD and GVPD could

not respond to the Lanthorn’s requests for comment due to the ongoing status of the legal proceedings.

The Holland Sentinel reports that in OCSD’s response to the lawsuit, they claimed that Reilly did not do enough to protect herself from her killer. Rasor said he believes that Reilly did everything in her power to protect herself, raising questions about the values of both OCSD and GVPD. “If I was a student at GVSU, I would be worried about my police force,” Rasor said. “What was (Reilly) supposed to do?”

The relationship between victim/survivors of sexual violence, stalking and domestic abuse and GVSU’s resources are now in the spotlight.

It’s On Us president Maddie Vervaeke said that trust plays a key role in not only reporting an underreported crime, but helping students cope as well. Without that trust, Vervaeke said that students should go elsewhere. Vervaeke said that GVSU has certainly earned her trust, which is why she encourages others to feel comfortable with oncampus resources.

“From my standpoint, being able to trust the centers on campus is extremely important,” Vervaeke said. “You want Grand Valley to be on your side and I think a lot of what Grand Valley stands for is (supporting) students… I personally trust the individuals who I’ve met in each of the centers and I have a relationship with them.

Because of that, I would recommend people to go talk to (them), whereas if I did not trust them, I’d recommend them to go somewhere maybe off campus.”

Through her involvement with GVSU’s chapter of It’s On Us, a national movement aiming to end sexual assault on college campuses, Vervaeke said that she’s worked closely with GVPD, the Center for Women and Gender Equity and many other resources on campus for victim/survivors. With sexual violence being such an emotional experience, it’s important that student relationships with resources are strong.

“If I was having a similar issue and I had read that GVPD had done this, I would go to the Ottawa County Police Department instead, or I would go somewhere else and find support somewhere else,” Vervaeke said. “You’re not going to talk to someone you don’t know about something like that. It’s such a personal topic to people and it is about trust and building a relationship with someone before that persons starts spewing their feelings.”

What happened, day by day While trust plays a key role in getting victim/survivors the resources they need, GVSU victim advocate Krystal Diel said that ultimately, the recovery

REILLY’S RELATIONSHIP: Rosemarie Reilly poses with Jeremy Kelley, her boyfriend at the time, in January of 2016. Reilly was murdered while she was attending school at Grand Valley. COURTESY | FACEBOOK

process is an individual one. While some students may feel comfortable pursuing legal action right away, others may need to work at their own pace and may not feel comfortable working with police.

“Each victim/survivor is different,” Diel said. “For some individuals, pursuing justice through the criminal justice system or Title IX can be incredibly healing and a way for their voice to be heard. For others, they would rather find healing through counseling or through family and friends. It’s so individual in what makes the most sense for each person.”

Vervaeke said that the most startling part of the lawsuit is its claim that GVPD and OCSD expressed negligence. Since It’s On Us’s inception at

GVSU in 2016, Vervaeke said that the conversation surrounding sexual violence has improved to the strong point it’s at today.

“I’m shocked by this whole thing because I know GVPD almost on a personal level and they work really closely with us, so (the lawsuit is) really surprising to me,” Vervaeke said.

“I know that just recently, things have shifted and the campus climate has shifted to be very in support of victim/survivors of sexual assault. I really hope that helps. Maybe this was kind of a turning point for that.”

Reilly was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend Jeremy Kelley on Nov. 6, 2016 before he turned the gun on himself. Both were pronounced dead within an hour. The impulsive act was preceded by a revealing past.

The following chain of events comes from the lawsuit files on behalf of the Reilly estate on Nov. 2, 2018.

While attending school at GVSU, Reilly ended her relationship with Kelley. In the days following, Kelley called Reilly twice between Oct. 5 and 7 threatening to kill himself. Reilly reported both to the police, with OCSD and GVPD working together to locate Kelley following the first call.

On Oct. 8, Kelley got in an argument with Reilly and prevented her from running away. He then proceeded to physically assault her with Reilly sustaining a broken nose among other injuries.

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POLICE

As GVSU grows, GVPD expands patrol in downtown Grand Rapids

BY LAUREEN HORAN ASSOCIATE 1@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University’s presence in downtown Grand Rapids has been amplified in recent years with the addition of Finkelstein Hall, the proposed construction of a parking ramp shared with Spectrum Health and the ongoing expansion of the engineering school. As the Laker community continues to grow in the big city, Grand Valley Police Department recognizes the subsequent need for increased security. GVPD now has two officers on duty near the Grand Rapids campuses, the first step in their plan to establish a downtown GVPD unit.

Upon the opening of Finkelstein Hall in fall 2018, GVPD assigned officer JP West to patrol the Grand Rapids campuses weekdays between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Starting this week, officer Andrew Dusendang will start his new job patrolling in the evening.

“Between the Pew Campus and the expansion of the health campuses, along with other ongoing construction, we recognized the need for more GVPD officers to be present downtown,” said Capt. Kourosh Khatir, who oversees the downtown unit.

“The calls made in Allendale are different than the kinds of calls that require a response downtown. The urban setting leads us to deal with theft and trespassing more than things like MIPs and noise

FLASHING LIGHTS: A Grand Valley Police Department cruiser pulls over a suspicious vehicle. Following the addition of several new buildings in Grand Rapids over the past few years, GVPD is expanding their presence downtown to ensure student safety is a priority. This is the department’s first step toward establishing a downtown unit. GVL | ARCHIVE

complaints…. If someone gets robbed across the blue bridge, (the perpetrator) can run over the bridge and suddenly they’re on our property. We have to be prepared for that.”

Dusendang has been with campus security for nearly three years, starting as a part-time dispatcher in Allendale and then joining the security staff downtown. Dusendang will patrol the downtown GVSU

facilities on weekdays from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.

“For now, the goal is to have police coverage during operational hours of the university. Once more officers are brought in we can expand those hours to cover the weekend, but for now we are able to cover the majority of campus activity with these two shifts,” Khatir said.

“Our communication with (Grand Rapids Police

Department) has improved as well now that we can contact them via radio system. We were unable to do this before — we’d have to actually call GRPD but they can now dispatch our officers as needed via the police communication system.”

According to Khatir, a new GVPD office downtown is also in the works to accommodate the growth of the unit. GVPD and campus security will take

over the facility where engineering is currently located and occupy the new space on Aug. 1.

“Security and law enforcement go hand in hand. The campus security staff is our eyes and ears on campus, but they do not have power to arrest or enforce criminal law, nor do they carry any weapons,” Khatir said. “Currently we have six full-time security staff members downtown.

We might have one more officer by August… The ultimate goal is to have four officers and a sergeant working downtown.”

Though there’s no definitive timeline yet for when GVPD will fully staff their downtown unit, Khatir said it’s likely to happen within the next year, along with new opportunities and the expansion of a cadet program for criminal justice students at GVSU.

A8 | SPORTS

APRIL 22, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

FOOTBALL

Leaders, questions, legends and tests 2018 GVSU football season preview

BY BRADY MCATAMNEY EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

The 2017 season did not go according to plan for the Grand Valley State Lakers football team.

Coming off of a Division II playoff berth the previous season with more production expected to be gained than lost for the new season, the Lakers finished “only” 8-3 – a record

most teams would call a success, but one that GVSU refuses to settle for.

Luckily, it’s a new year and the winningest program in NCAA football history is ready to learn from their shortcomings.

“We’re going to try and be a team,” said head coach Matt Mitchell who is returning for his ninth season at the helm. “Some of the parts are going to be

CALM UNDER PRESSURE: While the pocket is collapsing around him, quarterback Bart Williams steps back and delivers a rocket to the targeted GVSU receiver. Despite losing talented contributors on the offensive side of the ball, GVSU looks to improve upon an underwhelming 2017 season through tenacious defense, a strong recruitng class, lots of offseason preparation and a winning mentality. GVL | ARCHIVE

better than the individuals and that starts a lot with accountability, trust and building that culture. Our culture is set by leadership.

I’m a leader, our assistant coaches are leaders, but I’ve been working hard trying to develop team leadership, to make this a peer driven unit that’s playing together and not individuals achieving for statistics or trying to make it to the next level.

“I think we’re going to be a true team and we’re working really, really hard to achieve that team culture and team chemistry.

At points last year in our three losses we weren’t that way. We were a little individually operated. I think that cost us at times.”

Mitchell expects his defense - which is anchored by returning key contributors Dylan Carroll, Mike

Pettis, Tyler Bradfield, Isaiah Nkansah, Brendan McMahon, Kalen Dunham, DaMario Johnson, Jailyn Harden and Jacob Studdard - to be a key part of each Laker victory.

Take the GVSU veterans and add defensive back Grant Postma, who missed all of 2017 with a torn ACL, and two defensive lineman Division I transfers in Jake Hlava from North-

ern Illinois and Johnathon Williams from Toledo and GVSU looks ready to improve on a unit that allowed opponents to score double-digits in only four of 11 games last season.

The offense, though, has a few more questions to be answered.

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INTERVIEW

Behind the face mask with Bart Williams

What would happen if 2018 Bart Williams had a chance to meet 2010 Bart Williams? What would you say to him?

I did make the right decision to come here for college because I was definitely the guy who in school who wanted to play big time Division I. I thought I had to potential and talent to do it and it didn’t work out for me, but I do remember in the process just thinking too that there was something special about Grand Valley. Even though I did follow the advice, that’s still something I’d say, to just embrace it and make the most out of the opportunities, which is something I could have done a little bit better in high school, too. I kinda look back, and, you have one chance to do everything in life but there’s probably a few things. 2010; that would have been my… sophomore year of high school starting. There were probably some things I could have done to embrace being a high school student athlete a little bit better, some things that I could change back then.”

“That’s a good question. I think I would say, like, trust your instinct. I think I did a good job. Looking back, it’s my sixth year here. I’m very fortunate and surprised that

On the flip side of that, what would 2010 Bart say to 2018 Bart? What would he think of meeting this guy who’s got a record now and has won a lot of DII games?

BY BRADY MCATAMNEY EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State football team is off to a dominant start during the 2018 football season after ripping off four straight wins. Much of that success can be attributed to the play of quarterback Bart Williams, who has thrown for 1,038 yards and 13 touchdowns with zero interceptions.

As is the case with everybody, though, there is more to the new all-time school record holder in pass touchdowns. I took some time out of my day to hang out with the school’s four-year starter and talk about more than just what’s happening on the field.

What would that guy think of you?

“I would think proud.

Like, just proud of what you’ve accomplished, how much work has gone in.

There’s been a lot of adversity throughout the process to get to where I am today. I’m here for six years because I had an injury, getting through that and all those winter conditioning sessions. I remember heading back for winter break my freshman year, heading back home, hanging out at home for a couple of weeks and being dreadful that, you know, coming back to winter conditioning in a place where you haven’t been established yet. You don’t have the rep that you had in high school and getting through all that instead of taking it head-on, trying to weasel your way through it, I think 2010 Bart would be very proud not just of where I am today but the things that it took to put myself in the position that I’m in.”

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PREVIEW

POISED IN THE POCKET: Senior Grand Valley State quarterback Bart Williams had quite the day on Sept. 22, leading the Grand Valley State football team to a 45-20 victory over Michigan Tech. Williams entered the record books for his efforts, as he became the new all-time school touchdown pass leader during the game. Williams reflected on where he’s been and what’s coming up. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT

Do or die

GVSU football prepares for Northwest Mo. State in playoff bout

BY BRADY MCATAMNEY EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

SECURING THE PASS: Senior wide receiver Nick Dodson evades the defender and dives to his left to catch the incoming pass with both hands as he falls toward the visitor’s sideline. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT

The Grand Valley State football team has won 10 out of 11 games in 2018. Over those 10 wins, the Lakers have defeated three of last year’s NCAA Division II Playoffs participants.

Seven of those victories are by double digits and six are by at least 21 points.

Their resume has earned them the No. 3 seed in NCAA’s DII Super Region Three and an opportunity to host a national powerhouse: the No. 6 seeded Northwest Missouri State

Bearcats. The program has won six national championships – including four since 2009 and as recently as 2016 – compared to GVSU’s four.

“It’s a great first round matchup,” said head coach Matt Mitchell. “It’s crazy that you have these two programs able to square off.

This is my sixth time against them as a coach, whether assistant or head coach. Two really high quality programs and it’s a unique opportunity for them to square off in the first round.”

The Bearcats boast one of the top defenses in the country, as they have held opponents this sea-

son to 13.3 points, 201.1 passing yards and 66 rushing yards per game while forcing 17 turnovers.

The Lakers are not necessarily intimidated though, as they liken the NMSU defense to those of two of their 2018 opponents: Ferris State and Ashland, who rank in the top two spots in the GLIAC in terms of defense. GVSU’s four point loss to FSU was fueled by three turnovers and, while they squeaked past AU by three points, they committed a handful of careless penalties to forfeit precious yardage.

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APRIL 22, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

SPORTS | A9

SOCCER

Preview: GVSU women’s soccer prepares to compete in Final Four

BY KADY VOLMERING SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The No. 1 Grand Valley State women’s soccer team is headed to Pittsburgh, Penn. on Thursday, Nov. 29 to play in the last stretch of the NCAA tournament.

Now in the final four with the No. 1 seed, there is some heightened pressure on the Lakers, but they are handling it well and taking it day by day.

With nearly two weeks between the Lakers’ last game against Central Missouri and their Pittsburgh match-up against Lee, head coach Jeff Hosler said they are preparing slightly different than past tournament practices.

“We’re taking advantage of the opportunity to let the kids get home and spend some time with family and friends over Thanksgiving,” Hosler said. “It gives them a couple days to get their minds off soccer.”

GVSU ended on a high note two weeks ago with a 6-1 victory, sending them in a positive direction heading into the last final matches of the national tournament.

“I think the game gave us additional confidence and belief,” Hosler said. “It definitely reinforced the idea that if you start matches effectively and take it a step further and have a dream start with two goals

in the first ten minutes, it can be very debilitating to your opponent.”

The Lakers’ current record stands in good shape compared to Lee’s, as they have 6 losses already, but the team is still maintaining the mindset they’ve held all season.

“It’s not really any different for us, to be honest,” Hosler said. “We’ve been in the same mindset all season, nothing really changes there. Just some additional excitement just because of how cool the fall festival is.”

Records aside, GVSU is not overlooking their competition this week.

“You’ve got to be really good to still be playing this time of year,” Hosler said.

“Our opponent has been very consistent all year having success, and playing their best soccer in the national tournament.”

This year will be the Lakers ninth appearance in the Final Four matchups in the last ten years, and the Lakers are focusing on maintaining their style of play just as they have all season. The team is working to continue dictating their style of play, not letting outside pressures or opponents impact the way they play.

The Lakers are also looking to be in a good position to defend the high press, something they’ve previously struggled with throughout

DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW: Grand Valley State sophomore defender Makenna Schoolman looks to push through the onslaught of snow, find an open teammate and move the ball upfield earlier this season in the playoff game versus Rockhurst on Friday, Nov. 9 at the GVSU Soccer Field. Up to this point, the talented soccer team had yet to lose a game during the 2018 season. GVL | KATHERINE VASILE

this season. With two good training sessions already under their belt, the team is looking good to keep up the hard work and intensity to find success against Lee. “They’re super excited,” Hosler said. “That game is a

long way off, and they just need to be really excited. In comparison to years past, our last session was the best it’s ever been, largely because of the focus and energy they brought.”

The Lakers’ starting line-

up contains quite a few underclassmen, and for some this will be their first appearance in the Final Four.

Hosler said that with the help of some already experienced seniors and coaching staff, the team should be well

prepared and ready to play their best game in the final matches of the tournament.

The Lakers will face off with the Flames on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. to start off the Final Four match-ups.

SOCCER

“Definitely Bittersweet” Senior defender Madz Ham reflects on her GVSU career

BY KELLEN VOSS SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Anyone who grew up watching USA women’s soccer in the past 20 years knows that the last name ‘Hamm’ is synonymous with success on the soccer field, and that’s exactly the case for Grand Valley State, as senior Madz Ham’s final season with the Lakers draws to a close.

Although her name is spelled differently, GVSU’s Ham has had an impressive career in Allendale, being the proverbial quarterback of the Laker defense and earning an All-GLIAC first team selection last season.

A great representation of a student athlete, Ham also earned a GLIAC Academic All-Excellence in 2016, as well as being named a CoSIDA Academic All-American last season.

Growing up, the GVSU senior saw Mia Hamm as

one of her idols, as well as falling in love with soccer watching stars in the MLS. “I always loved Mia Hamm. We share a last name so I may be a little biased,” Ham said. “I remember watching guys like (Landon) Donovan and (David) Beckham, I love those guys.”

It wasn’t until her freshman year of high school that Ham realized she could play soccer at a collegiate level when she had a conversation with one of her assistant coaches she will never forget.

“He asked me if I wanted to play college soccer, and I said ‘I’m not sure’ and he said ‘you have the talent, and if you’re willing to put the work in, you can do it,’” Ham said. “That boosted my confidence and made me realize that’s something I could do.”

After fielding offers from numerous GLIAC schools in high school, Ham realized

that GVSU was the place for her because of their dedication to their student athletes.

“A lot of little things are what make this program good and separates it,” Ham said. “A lot of schools win conference games and have accolades, so I think the amount of success GV has had, mixed with how much they care about the details is great, and that’s what drew me to GVSU.” Majoring in public and non-profit administration, Ham has a plan for after graduation and is excited to execute it after she hangs up the cleats.

“After I graduate, I’m looking for jobs in local government, or at a non-profit,” Ham said. “I’m planning on moving back to Detroit, my fiancé and I will be moving to the Detroit area and looking for jobs around there.”

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GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END: Senior defender Madz Ham reflects on her impressive career for the Lakers, as she is sad it’s ending but is proud of everything GVSU soccer has done for her. GVL | ARCHIVE

SOCCER

Transition play

BY BRADY MCATAMNEY EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

WELL-ROUNDED COMPETITOR: After putting away her cleats and finishing her illustrious soccer career this fall, Grand Valley State’s Tara Lierman laced up her new Grand Valley State basketball shoes and worked toward a return to the court. Lierman helped lead the women’s soccer team to a national championship appearance and hopes to help the basketball team to a lengthy postseason run. GVL | ARCHIVE

It takes serious talent to be a two-sport athlete in college. While many people play multiple sports in high school, they’re usually only good enough to advance and play at a high level in one during their college years.

Coming out of Holt High School in Holt, Mich., Tara Lierman knew she was a talented at both soccer and basketball, but made an early decision to strictly pursue soccer at Grand Valley State. Her decision paid off, as the midfielder went on to play in 100 games for the Lakers while starting in 74 of them, scoring 29 goals

GVSU soccer star takes up basketball and handing out 23 assists.

GVSU went 91-8-3 with a three national championship appearances, one national title and four GLIAC titles. Individually, Lierman was named to multiple AllAmerican teams and maintained excellent status in the classroom.

However, hoops fever returned for the soccer star and she made an executive decision.

“She approached (GVSU basketball associate coach) Phil Sayers and said something in passing or as a joke, and coach had watched her play a little bit when she was in high school and she was a good player,” said GVSU women’s basketball head coach Mike Williams. “He

knew she could play and might have said something to her and she said ‘oh, that’d be my dream’ and he said ‘you finish your soccer season, when you season is done you’ll sit down with Coach Williams and we’ll see what transpires from there.’”

This exchange came during her senior season, but the idea had been there for nearly one year.

Williams insisted on Lierman finishing her soccer career and staying focused on her performance on the pitch. This did not go unnoticed by GVSU soccer head coach Jeff Hosler.

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APRIL 22, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A10 | SPORTS M. BASKETBALL

GVSU wins GLIAC, punches ticket to NCAA tournament

BY KELLEN VOSS SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

FERGALICIOUS: With the Lakers’ bench and fans looking on, junior guard Jeremiah Ferguson steps back, fires and hits the game-winner against Wisconsin Parkside. COURTESY | GVSULAKERS.COM

Going into the GLIAC tournament, no one in their right mind would have predicted that No. 7 Grand Valley State, a team who was 12-11 after losing to No. 3 Wisconsin-Parkside in overtime exactly one month ago, would comeback to beat the Rangers in a buzzer-beating win in the GLIAC semifinals to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2009, and then go on to win the GLIAC tournament.

But then again, that’s exactly why they play the games.

In the closing seconds of the second half, the Lakers looked jittery, as Jake Van Tubbergen couldn’t get his footing on his signature spin move, and Hunter Hale couldn’t quite make it to the lane, forcing him to kick it out to the corner as he fell to the floor at the Davenport Student Center.

Point guard Jeremiah Ferguson picked up the ball in the corner, executed a crossover and threw up a

mid-range shot from the baseline that hit the front of the rim before rolling up and in as time expired, securing the 55-53 win and tournament berth for GVSU. The berth was clinched before the title game because their championship opponent, Davenport, has not been a Division II team for the minimum three years to be eligible for the NCAA tournament, therefore the Lakers inherited the GLIAC’s automatic bid.

“I just want to thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ, because without him I wouldn’t have that shot and we wouldn’t be in this position.” Ferguson said. “I just wanted to get it up, I was shooting very well today, but my teammates did a great job picking up the slack because I didn’t play my best today.”

The game could have been a blowout, as GVSU trailed by 11 to the Rangers in the opening minutes. A teary-eyed head coach Ric Wesley could not stress enough the important of good defense, leadership and grit to

make that comeback.

“We started off poorly, but I thought as the game went along, in the second half, our defense was a little bit better, and certainly our offense was a lot better,” Wesley said.

“Hunter (Hale) really showed some leadership in that second half, Isaiah (Brock) was tremendous the entire game and I thought we got really good contributions off the bench from Shake (McArthur) and Zach (West).”

It was truly a team effort by the Lakers, as Brock helped hold down the fort defensively, posting two blocks and 13 rebounds to help lead a defense that held the Rangers to 41.8 percent from the field, including 27.3 percent from three.

The great defense helped lead to good offense, as Hale led all players with 19 points and the Lakers crashing the offensive boards extremely well, with seven of the team’s offensive rebounds going to McArthur.

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FEATURE

More than a manager The head student assistant that drives GVSU

BY KELLEN VOSS SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Basketball players on Grand Valley State’s campus are easy to spot, as most are taller than the average student and are always repping the GV logo on their backpacks and on their clothing. It’s easy to see their impact on the team, as it can be quantified through statistics.

But as is the case with any college basketball team, there are a lot of jobs that contribute to the success of the team, from making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and filming games to playing scout team in practice and ridding the floor of sweat with a few vigorous wipes.

Executing those jobs to a tee, as well as building a bond with the GVSU players and coaches, is what head student manager Zak Spryszak is all about. In his four years working with the men’s basketball team, Spryszak has learned a lot of valuable lessons that he can apply to his future coaching career.

“One of the biggest things I’ve learned is how players think and how coaches think because I work with the team every day.” Spryszak said.

“Some of the players are some of my best friends and it’s been a really cool experience to learn the X’s and O’s and how to talk to the players.”

In spring of his senior season of high school,

Spryszak knew that he wanted to coach basketball for the rest of his life.

When the varsity coach at Troy Athens High School referred Spryszak to an assistant role at GVSU, he knew that was the most efficient way to get his foot in the door in the field while having fun in the process.

When asked about his impact to this program, head coach Ric Wesley, a former student assistant himself, couldn’t stop praising Spryszak, commending his work ethic and recommending him as a head coach one day.

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DOING THE DIRTY WORK: Head student manager Zak Spryszak wipes up the left side of the lane after sprinting onto the floor to make Fieldhouse Arena‘s court squeaky clean. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS

West is best FEATURE

Senior brings leadership to GVSU basketball team

BY KELLEN VOSS SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Every basketball team is only as good as their captain, as a person who can focus the team, lead by example and bond with fellow teammates is helpful to have on any basketball team, especially the Grand Valley State men’s basketball team.

Senior Zach West is that leader for the Lakers.

Sharing the captain’s role with junior Hunter Hale, West has learned to connect with his teammates as a vocal leader, which is something he never expected to do when he came onto campus as a high school senior.

“Coming in as an 18-year-old kid and now being 22, the coaches and older players have taught me a lot, not only about basketball,” West said.

“I’ve learned that it’s about the hard work it takes to be a student athlete and be successful. I’ve seen myself grow from being a shy kid to being more vocal and outgoing as a

leader, so for the coaches to put their faith in me in that role is huge.”

Originally from Oswego, Ill., West had never even heard of Grand Valley State until his first visit four years ago, but when he saw the campus, it was quite literally love at first sight.

“When I was first getting recruited, I had no idea where GV was when I came on my first visit, and when I saw all the new buildings, I fell in love,” West said. “All the sports programs had a long history of being good, always competing for a top spot. That drew me in, and I’ve loved getting a chance to know the guys in the program and what it stands for.”

West has been a contributor since his freshmen year, starting 23 of 29 games as a true freshmen. A former member of the GLIAC All-Academic team, West has seen his role ebb and flow over the years, whereas some games he scores 20, including earlier this year against Tiffin, and some games he sees the floor well, makes hustle plays

and leads by example.

In his senior season, West has proven to be a jack of all trades, averaging 5.0 points per game, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists, shooting a consistent 45.9 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from three, starting in 13 games this season. Being that he’s not outstanding at just one thing, West sees himself as a glue guy, which is crucial to have with this talented roster.

“I feel like I do a little bit of everything,” West said. “I’m not a prominent scorer or a leading rebounder, but I do chip in in every little part of the game, which lets coaches trust me at the end of games, and that confidence they’ve given me has evolved my game into what it is today.”

West’s contributions to this team are also evident off the floor, as he finds building one-on-one relationships with each of his teammates to be the best way to lead the Lakers.

“I like to connect with guys individually, because I feel like I can get down to

the nitty-gritty things with them,” West said. “People may not be comfortable getting coached in a big setting, so a lot of the oneon-one talks are the best way for me, because I feel like I can connect to a lot of different people and their different personalities.”

A finance major who is looking to work in Grand Rapids next year, West couldn’t pinpoint one or two moments when asked about his favorite memories with the team, but will instead take away the relationships with his teammates that can last a lifetime.

“The guys have been amazing, we’re a fun, goofy group and there’s always laughs and smiles and giggles going on,” West said.

“It can sometimes work against us in practice, but the relationships that I continue to build on and that I still have with older guys are what I will most fondly remember when looking back.”

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LOOKING TO PASS: GVSU senior Zach West uses a screen from fellow senior Kindred Williams and attempts to make a pass off a screen near the perimeter at Fieldhouse Arena. GVL | LEAH KERR

APRIL 22, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

SPORTS | A11

FEATURE

The Freaky-Geeky Five

BY BRADY MCATAMNEY EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

As practice is wrapping up for the Grand Valley State women’s basketball team on Wednesday, Feb. 20, associate head coach Phil Sayers breaks the final huddle and sends his players off to practice their free throw shooting for a few minutes – the usual ending routine for the Lakers. They have finished preparing for a conference matchup with the Northern Michigan Wildcats – a game they would go on to win by double digits for their 24th win in 26 games.

The group has split up across six different nets, but two groups stand out among the rest. In front of me shoot a trio of junior roommates: guard Jenn DeBoer, forward Maddie Dailey and center Cassidy Boensch. To my right are a pair of guard who also happen to live together in junior Victoria Hedemark and senior Natalie Koenig. Both nets house a “swish” every few seconds as shots drop with regularity.

They finish shooting and I need to quickly catch them be-

fore they enter the optional but always exercised shoot around.

Hedemark and Koenig make their way over before DeBoer, Dailey and, eventually, Boensch. We exchange greetings and the women take a few swigs of water and wipe off some sweat before answering a few questions about themselves — one of the best five-person sets in the NCAA. Jenn DeBoer A five-foot-seven-inch guard from Byron Center, Mich., DeBoer committed to GVSU as part of one of the largest recruiting classes in recent program history.

She is the point guard that every team aspires to have running their floor, as she often controls the pace, finds her teammates, scores and rarely turns the ball over.

“Jenn’s just ‘point guard.’

She’s just Jenn. One of a kind,” Hedemark said. “She brings a certain something to the team that we would struggle without and off the court (has) a fun personality and also knows what to say to you on the court to get you playing your best.”

Her career started as a back-

up before jumping immediately to the starting spot in her sophomore year, during which she averaged 12.3 points, three assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. Her shooting jumped from 30 percent from threepoint range on 50 attempts to 36.1 percent on 180 shots and is now on pace to mirror that stat at 35.2 percent this season.

She is averaging 14.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game through 26 contests in 2018-19.

Natalie Koenig Koenig is a special case on this Laker squad. She’s the only transfer, the only true senior and the only player with a year-round tan.

“Natalie is someone who’s kind of (quieter), like go-withthe-flow kind of thing, but you know she’s got your back and is going to be there for you,” DeBoer said. “On the court she’s so expressive, she has all these emotions so it’s really cool to see that come out.”

The five-foot-seven-inch guard from Wauseon, Ohio made her way to Allendale from Ursuline where she was a scoring machine, averaging

SMILE FOR THE CAMERA: GVSU basketball players (from left to right) Victoria Hedemark, Maddie Dailey, Cassidy Boensch, Jenn DeBoer and Natalie Koenig put their arms around each other after practice and pose at Fieldhouse Arena. This fab fivesome have been starters for the women’s team for the entire season and have helped lead the team to 25 wins, including 18 in the GLIAC. GVL | BRADY MCATAMNEY

13.7 points per game during her sophomore year. After deciding that she needed a change of scenery, she fell in love with GVSU and knew where her next home would be.

Her scoring fell slightly in 2017-18 but led the team in assists and was second in steals while starting every game and her defensive presence has become vital to the Lakers’ cur-

rent success while still being able to fill up the bucket, averaging eight points per game.

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W. BASKETBALL

Sweet 16

Laker women win two to advance MAKING A MOVE: Grand Valley State junior Victoria Hedemark rips past a Truman State defender in attempt to get to the basket during the first round of the NCAA tournament. Hedemark and the rest of the Lakers had a dominant tournament weekend, beating Truman State and Lewis en route to the Sweet 16, where they would ultimately end up losing to No. 1 seed Drury, 51 to 44. COURTESY | GVSULAKERS.COM

BY BRADY MCATAMNEY EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

For the first time since 2016, the Grand Valley State women’s basketball team is on to the Sweet 16.

The No. 3 seeded Lakers beat up on the No. 2 seed Lewis 72-55 on Saturday, March 16 to punch their ticket to the regional semifinal

after defeating No. 6 Truman State 89-64 the day before.

“It’s unreal,” said GVSU forward Maddie Dailey. “We’re so excited to be one of 16 left playing. It’s a great feeling, especially because the last two years we’ve lost in the semifinal in our region so to finally make it to Monday night is really special for us.”

Dailey led the game with

20 points while adding five rebounds and three assists, but she got plenty of help from her teammates. Four other Lakers scored in double digits with guard Jenn DeBoer (13 points, eight rebounds, four assists), guard Taya Andrews (12 points, six rebounds), center Cassidy Boensch (11 points, five rebounds) and guard Natalie

Koenig (10 points, seven rebounds, five assists).

“Our kids are looking to score, they’re making good decisions,” said GVSU head coach Mike Williams. “We talk about the fact that I’m not sure we have great scorers individually but as a group, if we move the ball, we take good shots and we attack, we can all score and

I think that’s what they’re doing right now.”

The Lakers won each of the first two quarters 14-10 to bring an eight point lead into halftime, but outscoring LU 21-11 to put themselves in a confident position to win the game heading into the final 10 minutes.

Lewis and GVSU met earlier this season in November

where the Flyers came into Allendale and claimed an eight point victory, but the Lakers feel as though they’ve evolved over time and have learned from their previous games to become the power they are right now.

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Winner’s Pride W. BASKETBALL

GVSU women win weekend by combined 81 points in display of dominance and teamwork

BY BRADY MCATAMNEY EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

PASS AND CUT: Grand Valley State center Cassidy Boensch stretches out her long arms to reach around a Wisconsin Parkside defender in a effort to find the open cutter at the Fieldhouse Arena on Thursday, Feb. 7. During the first half of the game, Boensch recorded her thousandth point in a Laker jersey. GVL | DAN PACHECO

The No. 13 ranked Grand Valley State women’s basketball team owned the weekend, defeating the Purdue Northwest Pride 84-36 on Thursday, Feb. 7 and the Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers 84-51 on Saturday, Feb 9. Both games were played in GVSU’s Fieldhouse Arena as the Lakers returned home following a five-game weekend spanning three weeks.

Both games were total team efforts, as all 14 players who saw game action during across the two victories scored.

The return home started hot for the Lakers, as they jumped out to a 42-22 first half lead against the Pride whole scoring no less than 19 points and allowing no more than 11 in any given quarter. Head coach Mike Williams wasn’t necessarily happy in the moment with the first half lead, though, but readjusted his expectations and allowed his team to expand their lead following the break.

“I had a little gut check at halftime. Sometimes as a coach, you have to have expectations but they can’t be too high and they can’t be continuous,” Williams said.

“I thought we didn’t play great but we played really good and yet I’m always pushing for great. We went into the break and said ‘at halftime, we’re just playing with energy. Just play with energy. Be vocal. Play hard.’

We played better basketball in the second half because of it, because we weren’t focused on ‘did I do this wrong or this wrong or this wrong’ so it was a credit to our players just to do that.”

Among the Lakers’ scoring leaders were center Cassidy Boensch with 18 points and eight rebounds, forward Maddie Dailey with 14 points and nine boards, guard Jenn DeBoer with 13 points and guard Brooke McKinley with 11 points.

Despite the Pride’s conference-low two wins on the season heading into the contest, the first-place Lakers prepared as they would have for any other game

with record out of mind, working hard in practice all week long as if they were playing the top team in the country.

“I feel like sometimes it’s hard to play a team with a bad record just because a lot of times, how they play doesn’t reflect the record,” Dailey said.

They carried the momentum from Thursday’s win into Saturday, as the Lakers once against took a 20-point lead into the break at 43-23 before eventually claiming their 33-point win. GVSU scored 48 points in the paint while committing only seven turnovers while forcing 18 from the Rangers, picking up 26 points off turnovers. Additionally, UWP only hit five of their 15 three-point attempts.

“We came out with a great deal of intensity,” Williams said. “I thought we did a good job keeping them off-balance on their threes. They’re a team that can really shoot the threeball. I think they had 13 or 14 last game against Dav-

enport, shot 48 percent so those were two of our focal points. I thought we did a really good job in both of those. I thought offensively, we went through some of the contact getting to the rim. Kept our eyes up, made great decisions finding people or getting to the basket in that first half especially.”

Boensch dominated in the post, scoring 26 points on 9-14 shooting with 13 rebounds. Her eighth point scored punched her ticket to the GVSU women’s basketball 1,000 point club, making her the 24th player in program history to achieve the feat.

“I’m just grateful to be a part of this team,” Boensch said. “I definitely couldn’t do it without them so it’s just a reflection of how well we work together.”

Additionally, DeBoer scored 18 points – including a half-court buzzer beater to end the first quarter – and Dailey contributed 11 points.

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APRIL 22, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A12 | SPORTS TRACK & FIELD

A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY: The GVSU men’s and women’s track and field teams showed up their competition March 8-9 at Indoor Nationals in Pittsburg, Kan., with team members breaking both personal and school records. The Lakers finished with 3.25 total team points and 12 podium finishes in their respective categories and are preparing themselves for their outdoor season. COURTESY | GVSULAKERS.COM

GVSU track and field teams shine at Indoor Nationals

BY JEROD FATTAL SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The men’s and women’s track and field teams competed at Indoor Nationals in Pittsburg, Kansas on Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9.

GVSU saw more of the same dominance on the second day, as the GVSU women’s team finished second in the indoor championships, while the men’s team finished fourth.

40 Lakers represented

GVSU at Indoor Nationals, but before they had the chance to win national medals in Pittsburg, the program earned four U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association regional awards.

Zach Panning and Allie Ludge were both named the Midwest Region Men’s and Women’s Track Athletes of the Year, while head coach Jerry Baltes and assistant coach Aaron Watson received the Midwest Region

Women’s Head and Assistant Coach of the Year awards.

“It’s a credit to the rest of program,” Baltes said. “We don’t win these awards without the amazing student athletes we have in our program.”

The Lakers started the meet strong on Friday, earning 12 All-American honors over the course of the first day.

“It’s important to just go out and be the best you can be (in championship meets),” Baltes said. “We wanted to

stay focused on what we could control, execute our race plans and let the results speak for themselves.”

The women’s team earned the most points (21) of any other team on Friday, with the biggest performance coming from Bobbie Goodwin in the weight throw. She won an individual national title with a throw of 20.75M. “She came in ranked sixth and we never talked about her winning the individual

title,” Baltes said. “But deep inside, she really believed in herself and it was inspiring to the rest of the team.”

Allie Ludge earned a silver medal with a time of 4:49.03 seconds, finishing only .08 seconds off of first place.

In the final race of the day, the DMR team of Rachael Walters, Heather Johnson, Abby Crouch, and Allie Ludge earned a bronze medal, crossing the line in 11:29.05 seconds.

In the 800M, Dennis Mbuta

took home a bronze medal with a time of 1:51.33 seconds.

The highlight of the day came in the 5000M, where Zach Panning crossed the line in 13:36.87, earning a silver medal, while breaking his own personal record by 12 seconds and the school record by five seconds in the process.

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CLUB BOXING

GVSU boxing club’s Batenburg takes home state championship

BY ELI ONG SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

“I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion,” once said former heavyweight boxing champion and American sports icon Muhammad Ali. For Sarah Rae Batenburg, these words from one of boxing’s greatest rang true leading up to her Michigan Golden Gloves state championship fight on April 13.

Months of practice, lifting, conditioning and dieting prepared Batenburg for the moment where she would

have the opportunity to take home the Michigan Golden Gloves in her weight bracket.

“Like normal, I was nervous before the fight,” Batenburg said. “But once I got in that ring and the bell went off, all those nerves went away and I kind of just went at it from there on out.”

As the bell sounded at the beginning of their match, Batenburg and her opponent immediately went at it, charging forward toward one another and trading blow for blow for the first 30 seconds of the first round.

“Sarah Rae has that killer instinct,” said GVSU boxing club head coach Dennis Shimmell. “When she gets hit, she

has that instinct to just meet her opponent and go at it.”

Shimmell added that after the first 30 seconds of the fight, Batenburg started to calm down and heed his advice.

“Pivot and move your head Sarah Rae,” Shimmell said. “Once she started to move her head and stay mobile, she had a clear advantage that she exploited at times.”

Batenburg realized that she had a natural advantage in terms of agility over her opponent and this allowed her to start dodging punches, landing combos and pull away from her opponent.

“Keep moving Sarah Rae, hit her low one time and then two times high

and repeat,” Shimmell yelled throughout the match. As Batenburg did this more and more, he said it became more obvious punch by punch who was going to win the match.

“She started dodging and slipping her opponents punches and landing a lot of combinations during the back half of the second round,” Shimmell said. “When she went toeto-toe with her opponent, it was pretty even but when she moved and landed combinations it was all very one-sided.”

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VICTORY SCREECH: GVSU’s Sarah Rae Batenburg flexes and celebrates her victory at the DII club boxing national championships Saturday, April 13, at the Deltaplex Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she became a Golden Gloves champion. GVL | ELI ONG

DII CLUB HOCKEY

The stalwart pipe protector

BY ELI ONG SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

NOT IN MY HOUSE: Grand Valley State starting goalie Jared Maddock attempts to save an errant shot from a game earlier this season at the Georgetown Ice Center. In his fourth year with the team, Maddock’s stellar net play and excellent leadership has led the Lakers to a hot start, as they posted an impressive 9-3 record early on in their 2018-19 season. COURTESY | GVSU CLUB SPORTS

“Goalies almost never get credit for winning a game, but they always get blamed for losing a game,” once said Steve Carrell, an avid hockey fan and actor best known for his role as Michael Scott on “The Office.”

That much is true for the average sports fan. Common sense would dictate that the team with the fastest pair of skates and best puck handlers should win, right? The statistics may surprise you.

During the 2017-18 NHL season, the team with the best record in the eastern and western conferences, the Nashville Predators and Tampa Bay Lightning, both finished in the top five in goals allowed against in their respective conferences.

The formula would not only appear to point toward being able to bang the biscuit past the goalie, but to also have

How GVSU goalie Jared Maddock found his way to hockey and has helped the Lakers find success a guy in goal that’s good at not letting that happen to your own team as well.

Enter Jared Maddock, the senior in charge of stopping the puck for the GVSU DII men’s club hockey team.

In his fourth year navigating the net for the Lakers, Maddock has helped lead the team to a 9-3 record and while he has been a stalwart in goal for the past three-plus years, he said that his hockey career all started at the age of six and took off from there.

“I started playing hockey around when I was six years old in local leagues,” Maddock said “Then as I got older I got more and more involved and started playing in travel leagues in and around the Detroit area.”

What led Maddock to play goalie was a lack of skill out

on the ice at forward or back on defense, and also a natural interest in the nuances of the position.

“I wasn’t that great at forward or D,” Maddock said.

“Plus I really liked the equipment a lot. I was really obsessed with all the pads and stuff as a little kid and I thought it would be cool to be that guy.”

Although he had an obsession with hockey growing up and loved the sport, Maddock was on the dean’s list all four years at his alma mater, Plymouth High School in Detroit, and chose to prioritize academics over sports when choosing a college.

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LOOKING FOR A SUMMER JOB? Apply now for Move Crew! www.gvsu.edu/housing/employment

APRIL 22, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

SPORTS | A13

CLUB SPORTS

Creation of identity and support Eric Garvelink helped club sports grow at GVSU

BY ELI ONG SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

NEW BEGINNINGS: Colleagues and friends of GVSU’s Eric Garvelink gathered this week to celebrate Garvelink starting a new position at UCLA after the current athletic season. COURTESY | ERIC GARVELINK

It’s 2011 and the Grand Valley State University men’s DII club hockey team has just taken the ice at the SAP Center in San Jose, Cal., home to the National Hockey League’s San Jose Sharks.

Once warm ups concluded and the final buzzer sounded, GVSU had come away with a 6-1 victory over local rival Michigan State, claiming the ACHA DII National Championship. This was the first of many national championships that the newly hired graduate assistant for club sports would experience.

Enter Eric Garvelink, or ‘Garv’ as nicknamed by his peers and club sport athletes, who began working at GVSU in 2010 as a graduate assistant in the Department of Campus Recreation.

“One of the things I first noticed was that there wasn’t a consistent identity,” Garvelink said.

“Teams weren’t using the same font, logos and often viewed themselves as their own entity, rather than as a piece of a larger program.”

Shortly after Garvelink completed his position of graduate assistant, club sports teams and the student senate at GVSU lobbied to use the GVSU athletics logo, and in 2012 were officially approved to do so.

“One of the policies was that teams had to use the word ‘club’,” Garvelink said.

“Our programs really didn’t care. They just wanted to be able to represent the institution at the highest levels of their collegiate club sport.”

On top of the addition of the GVSU athletic logo, Garvelink cited the cohesive nature and buy-in from club sports athletes and administration that allowed for so much growth in his first three years working at GVSU. “For the first time, the club sports program had a full-time staff member to oversee them and support

them as a whole,” Garvelink said. “With the success of many of our programs on a national level, I was able to help club teams realize that when one of our teams have success, it makes all of our teams and entire program look better. This created a sense of pride and support as a part of something bigger and that is the entire club sports program.”

Garvelink, who was hired as a program coordinator after his stint as a graduate assistant and was eventually promoted to associate director of Campus Recreation, said it was a no-brainer what his favorite part of the job was at GVSU. “I had an awesome experience as a student at Grand Valley and as an alumnus,” Garvelink said. “But my favorite thing about my job, what I always took the most pride in, is that I was able to impact and make students have an awesome experience at Grand Valley as well through their sport.”

Director of Campus Recreation Kate Harmon said Garvelink had many characteristics that allowed him to be successful while at GVSU. “Eric has many great qualities that I appreciated as his supervisor,” said Harmon, who began working as his supervisor in 2015 after his promotion to associate director of Campus Recreation.

“His ability to connect with students and our coaches was beneficial in furthering the mission of the program.

Eric is a Laker for a Lifetime and that was evident in his daily approach and care for our students.”

By the end of Garvelink’s tenure at GVSU in 2018, not only had GVSU club sports developed a program identity, but the program had also grown from 48 club sports teams to 56 at its peak; placing it in the top one percent for program size in the country according to NIRSA. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

FEATURE

Sneakers to Spikes GVSU freshman Samantha Gehrls transitions from basketball to softball

BY KELLEN VOSS SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Being a student athlete is a huge commitment, as the juggle of classes, working out, practice, games and a social life can sometimes be tough to manage for some athletes.

In order to keep a cool head during these long seasons, one needs to manage their time well to succeed.

GVSU freshman Samantha Gehrls is a perfect example of that, as being a member of both the university’s basketball and softball teams is a big-time commitment.

“I would definitely say it’s a challenge, but I have really good coaches and teammates that have helped prepare me to get to this moment,” Gehrls said. “It’s a big commitment, but I’ve been able to learn time management, and it’s been a good journey.”

Both of these sports have

been in Gehrls’ life as long as she can remember, as she started playing softball when she was five and starting playing basketball in kindergarten shortly after. As she developed as an athlete, the Caledonia native found a home in Allendale thanks to the support both programs have given her.

“This is near my hometown and I’ve always grown up knowing Grand Valley, I’ve gotten to know both coaches and both programs pretty well, there’s a lot of great girls on both teams,” said Gehrls.” “I’m also undecided in what I want to go into, so GV has a lot of opportunities for education as I’m trying to figure out the path I want to take, so this is a really good fit for me.”

In her debut season for the Laker hoopers, Gehrls appeared in 21 games and looks to see her role on the team increase in upcoming seasons.

As soon as the team lost in the Sweet Sixteen two weeks ago, Gehrls laced up her spikes and jumped right into the softball season head first.

Gehrls has already made her presence felt on the diamond, as the pitcher has earned wins in each of the two games she’s appeared in while also making strides in relief. The freshman has only allowed one earned run in her 10.1 innings pitched; an impressive feat for someone who was grinding through basketball practices half a month ago.

Gehrls had perhaps her best performance so far this past Wednesday, March 27, as she pitched five innings and allowed no hits, no runs and one walk, easily earning the win in the team’s 7-2 victory over Wisconsin-Parkside.

“I did alright, I’m still trying to get back in the groove of things and make some adjustments,” Gehrls said. “I’m just

slowly trying to make changes and be comfortable out there.”

Head softball coach Dana Callihan sees Gehrls as a ground ball pitcher who can add to an already elite group of starting pitchers in senior Allison Lipovsky and sophomore Hannah Beatus. Callihan appreciates the dedication Gehrls has shown, as it takes a lot of tenacity to make the transition from basketball to softball “She’s a gamer, when she’s in the game, she’s got a job to do and she knows what that is,” Callihan said. “Now we’re just trying to get her stamina and in pitching shape. We kind of threw her out there without a lot of practice, but she’s adjusted well.”

Gehrls has shown plenty of potential in her early starts this season, and as she gets into the stride, one can only imagine how much of an impact the freshman phenom can make.

READY TO LAUNCH: Grand Valley State freshman Samantha Gehrls pushes her momentum forward to launch a blaring pitch with all of her strength at the GVSU Softball Field. Gehrls has earned her team nine wins through 13 games this season. GVL | ANDREW NYHOF

BASEBALL

GVSU baseball looks to reclaim GLIAC throne as season begins

BY ELI ONG SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

SWINGING FOR THE FENCES: Grand Valley State catcher/first basemen Ryan Blake-Jones puts all his power in his hips as he looks to connect with an incoming pitch in a game from the 2018 season at the GVSU Baseball Field. Blake-Jones and the rest of GVSU’s baseball team hope to have a strong rebound season in 2019 after finishing fifth last year, with hopes of once again becoming a top team in the GLIAC. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT

For nearly two decades, Grand Valley State has maintained a reputation as the premier baseball program in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Since 2004, GVSU baseball has captured nine regular season GLIAC conference championships and four GLIAC conference tournament championships.

GVSU looks to continue that tradition when they open up their season against No. 23 Ohio Dominican and Truman State on Sunday, Feb. 24. GVSU ended last season with a record of 28-23, going 15-13 during conference play. GVSU’s season ended in 2018 with back to back loses during the first round of the GLIAC tournament.

“It’s certainly not where I wanted us to end the year,” said head coach Jamie Detillion. “I’ve been here for 17 seasons now and fifth place is not something I am used to.”

Detillion also said the

struggles GVSU went through during stretches last year opened his eyes to some changes he needed to make in order to best set up the team for success out on the diamond.

Those changes include shuffling new players around positions in the infield where catcher, second base, shortstop and third base are up for grabs after last year’s starters graduated or transferred.

“Parker Murdie will be the guy we play at short to start,” Detillion said. “As for third base, Anthony Cocco is a left-handed hitter that we like with the ability to play third, so he will get the opportunity to start there at the beginning of the season.”

According to Detillion, the rest of GVSU’s position battles will be hard to sort out until the Lakers get to spend legitimate time playing and practicing outdoors, which can be a struggle at times when you are a college baseball team from the Midwest.

“It’s nothing that we aren’t

used to, but it will take some time for us to figure out our other positions,” Detillion said.

“We normally have played 30, 40 percent of our games before we have our first outdoor practices and that’s something that plays into figuring out our starting nine.”

Aside from position turnover in the infield, GVSU returns three out of their five best hitters from a year ago and the majority of their bullpen, which Detillion believes will be the strengths of the ball club as the season goes on.

“Jake Gleason and Ryan Blake-Jones provide a very solid one-two punch in the middle of our lineup,” Detillion said. “With them and guys like Murdie and Zach Berry, I think we will be seeing a lot of good production at the top of our lineup from these guys.”

Gleason hit .385 with a team high 10 home runs and .642 slugging percentage for the Lakers while Blake-Jones lead the team in batting average at .407 and runs batted in with 51 last season.

Detillion says that righthanded pitchers Christian Mercure and Michael Morelli look poised to handle starting pitcher duties. Mercure went 2-1 with a 3.31 earned run average in four starts on the mound with the Lakers last year while Morelli went 3-3 with a 3.83 earned run average in nine starts last year for Mott Community College.

In the bullpen, the Lakers will slot junior transfer Christian Sidoti as their closer with converted pitcher Chase Carpenter and returning relievers Brett and Brendan Nearing serving as set-up men behind Sidoti.

“I think our bullpen is going to be our biggest strength this year, we have a lot of depth going into the season,” Detillion said. “Christian Sidoti brings good stuff and the right mentality to be our closer then we have a lot of guys like Chase Carpenter and the Nearing twins behind him to provide support as well.”

APRIL 22, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

A14 | LAKER LIFE EVENTS

RHA drag show to be the largest in GVSU history

BY AMY MCNEEL LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

Each year, the Grand Valley State University Residence Housing Association (RHA) hosts a drag show for GVSU students, faculty and staff. In the past few years, the shows have grown tremendously and this year is set to be the biggest drag show the GVSU community has ever seen.

“This drag show is going to feature some of the best local, national and international queens, which is so much larger than the drag shows in the past,” said Vice President of Programming for RHA Chris Gard.

“The size of this show has required many months of planning to accomplish the large-scale show we want.”

The show will provide a night full of entertainment and fun, but it will also serve a much larger purpose: to enlighten attendees about the culture within the drag community.

“Drag is a subculture of the LGBTQ+ community

that is normally confused with cross-dressing or transgender individuals,” Gard said. “We want to share more about the drag community and garner further acceptance for LGBTQ+ individuals on and off campus.”

For those who have little knowledge about drag, this is an opportunity to learn about drag queens and the creative outlet of drag shows.

This year, RHA is excited to present special guest Cynthia Lee Fontaine, who was featured on seasons eight and nine of RuPaul’s Drag Race. In season eight, she won the title of Miss Congeniality, which is awarded to the queen who the fans perceive as most helpful in the season.

General admission for the show is free, but those who wish to skip the admission lines and meet Cynthia Lee Fontaine after the show can purchase a VIP meet and greet pass for $20.

This year, the drag show is being hosted in partnership with the GVSU Drag Club, which was established in 2017. The

club is in affiliation with the GVSU Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center.

According to the club’s constitution, the group is open to anyone who is interested in drag, even if they don’t participate in drag themselves.

“Our mission is to explore drag culture, build a community of drag enthusiasts, host speakers and drag related workshops, educate on matters of gender expression and plan events such as the Amateur Drag Race to increase awareness of gender expression in the context of empowerment, privilege and self-affirmation.”

Attendees are sure to experience a night full of energy, creativity and fun, while also gaining some insight on the drag community. Gard encourages all students to attend because the more who attend, the more awareness and inclusivity will be shared.

The drag show is taking place on Saturday, Feb. 16 from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. at the Fieldhouse Arena.

ENTERTAINMENT: This year’s RHA drag show was the largest in history at GVSU. Many students were in attendance, and special guest Cynthia Lee Fontaine made the show even more special. GVL | ARCHIVE

LAKER FOR A LIFETIME

MICHIGANDERS: Grand Valley State University alumnus Nick Hoffman opened a business with his brother, Nate, to support his home state of Michigan. A percentage of their earnings has been donated to the state’s trademarked Great Lakes, which is an inspiration for their work. Hoffman stated that GVSU showed him what community is all about and that it is a community he enjoys being part of. COURTESY | NICK HOFFMAN

GV alumnus starts business that celebrates Michigan

BY AMANDA ROGERS AROGERS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University alumnus Nick Hoffman recently started a business called Mitten on My Mind LLC (Limited Liability Company) with his brother Nate Hoffman. Mitten on My Mind is an online business that has allowed the brothers to share their state pride with fellow Michiganders.

Mitten on My Mind sells a plethora of products including apparel, coffee

mugs and phone cases.

“We really love the state, so we decided to create something like apparel to celebrate our state and what it means to us,” Nick said.

The brothers have always had a love for the outdoors and they wanted to create something that really showed their passion for Michigan.

Nick said that as they got older it was harder for them to make time to see one another, so the business was just another way to bring them together.

Ideas to create the business

started back in November 2018, and they became official LLC in January. Now that the business is up and moving, they are shifting their focus on reaching out to places like GVSU and other establishments.

“We saw a need for freshness in the Michigan apparel space,” Nate said. “We wanted to bring a lot of our passion and where we have been.”

One of their designs includes various coordinates of points in Michigan that have impacted their lives the most. Both brothers gradu-

ated from Alma College and Nick went to GVSU for his graduate school, so both coordinates for those locations are present on their website.

Nate said this gave them a chance to really personalize everything and allow for people to wear these coordinates proudly.

“With our logo on the back, it shows that you are part of our family and it shows how Michigan is always on our mind,” Nate said.

Nick said GVSU really showed him what community

is all about and that the GVSU community makes you want to be a part of it. He said he wanted to make sure they could honor that and incorporate it into some of their designs.

The brothers even decided to take their love for Michigan even further by donating a percentage of their earnings every year to the Great Lakes.

“We didn’t want this business to be about ourselves, we wanted to give back,” Nate said. “One of the best things about Michigan are the Great Lakes that surround it and

we have seen how they are starting to get polluted so we tried to pick one of the best companies that we could partner with to donate to.”

Nate said that one of the most stressful parts of starting the business was trying to put themselves out there. Because these are designs that they personally like, they did not want to fail or feel judged.

The brothers are excited to bring more attention to Michigan through their business and show how great of a state it truly is.

LAKER EFFECT

GV Lions Club protects the eyes of little Lakers

BY AMY MCNEEL LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

PAVING THE WAY: Members of the GV Lions Club screened the eyes of kids at the Children’s Enrichment Center. COURTESY | GVSU LIONS

On Tuesday, Feb. 26, two student members of the Grand Valley State University Lions Club visited the GVSU Children’s Enrichment Center for their annual Kidsight event. At the event, the Lions Club members screened 24 children to detect eye problems.

Lions Club International (Loving Individuals Our Nations Safety) was founded in 1917 and now has over 1.4 million members in 211 countries. The club provides a safe space for individuals to join together and give their time and effort to their community and the world. The club’s main focus is vision, but they also help many different causes.

“Helen Keller challenged the Lions to be Knights of the Blind at our International Convention in 1925 held at Cedar Point, Ohio, but today we have five global causes: Vision, Dia-

betes, Hunger, Environment and Pediatric Cancer,” said GVSU Campus Lions Club Adviser Cheryl Anderson.

Members of the GVSU Lions Club pay ode to Keller’s request by hosting Kidsight each year, which provides free eye screenings to children at the GVSU Children’s Enrichment Center.

“We offer this free service because these kids are about to enter grade school and some kids may need glasses to perform well in the classroom,” said GVSU Lions Club President Samual Merring. “The eye screening we offer is very important because if we can detect a serious visual impairment in a child early on, we can make a big difference in the rest of their lives.”

At the event, club members use state-of-the-art eye screeners that capture eyesight in seconds. The screener will either register as “okay,” or if an eye problem is found, it will give a referral. Those who get a referral can then be sent to an

eye doctor. This year, the children screened at the Children’s Enrichment Center did not have any referrals.

“I decided to join Lions Club at Campus Life Night, and being born with a vision impairment myself I thought I’d be able to serve others in an impactful way by joining the club,” said Lions Club Historian and former President Ryan Harrower. “My favorite part of the event was the screening.

Knowing that I was taking a little time out of my day to make sure that the kids’ vision was correct made me happy.”

Along with this annual screening, Lions Club members around the world host eye mission trips. The members collect recycled eyeglasses, clean and catalog them, and then distribute them around the world. There is even an eyeglass recycling center in Grand Rapids.

“I just came back from Mexico with a team of 25 people – six doctors and the rest of us were just vol-

unteering,” Anderson said.

“One lady cried because she had not seen her grandchild’s face. Another girl couldn’t walk because she was cross eyed; her mother had to carry her into the clinic, but she was able to look around and stand up once she was given glasses that straightened her eyes.”

All proceeds given to the Lions Club are given out to the public. People can help the Lions Club by giving glasses to eyeglass recycling centers or donating to the cause. GVSU students are encouraged to join the club.

“I would like the GVSU community to know that we are a growing organization and that we are always looking for new members,” Merring said. “We frequently schedule community service projects for students looking to get involved in the Allendale or Grand Rapids area. Anyone looking to get involved can find us on LakerLink or contact me directly via email.”

APRIL 22, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

LAKER LIFE | A15

EMPOWERMENT

GVSU Recreation to host Love Your Body Week

BY ELYSE GREENWOOD EGREENWOOD@LANTHORN.

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is an international awareness affair, and Grand Valley State University is participating with this 19th annual event to promote a healthy body image in its own community.

Through a combined effort by Campus Recreation, the Center for Women and Gender Equity, the University Counseling Center and Campus Dining, the Love Your Body Week 2019 will take place Monday, Feb. 18 through Thursday, Feb. 28.

The programs this week features aim to educate students about positive body image, the media’s influence on body image, healthy eating habits and more. Some of the events include free group exercise classes, cooking demonstrations, Body Positivity Bash and eating disorder screenings.

“As a department, Campus Recreation is looking forward to supporting students and encouraging self-

awareness, self-love and positive self-talk in regard to one’s body,” said Assistant Director of Marketing and Special Events for GVSU Campus Recreation Kayla Cupples. “To us, loving your body means taking the time to engage in exercise, healthy eating and other healthy behaviors that promote self-love.”

The 2019 theme of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is Come as You Are, which focuses on the current efforts of inclusivity in the greater eating disorder community. This theme shares the message to all individuals at any stage of body acceptance and eating disorder recovery that their stories and experiences are valid and important. The goal is to start conversation among communities that are usually stereotyped as not ones to normally struggle with eating disorders.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, college students are most at risk for developing eating

disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, due to the challenges and stresses of college life and being away from home for the first time. The goal of Love Your Body Week is to not only teach students how to develop a healthy body image, but also to raise awareness in students about resources available on campus to help them on their journey to self-love.

“We hope that Love Your Body Week will raise awareness about what positive body image is, the resources that are available and foster communities that will aid in creating support for students,” said Assistant Director of Fitness and Wellness for Campus Recreation Amy Campbell.

If you or someone you are close to is struggling with an eating disorder, Campbell recommends reaching out to the many resources available at GVSU. This National Eating Disorder Awareness Week has been advertised using the line, “Come as you are, not as you think you

EVENTS: Love Your Body Week was held in February and aimed to empower students to love their bodies.

During this time, Campus Rec held a plethora of activities for students. COURTESY | CAMPUS RECREATION

should be.” The event is a reminder that students need to find happiness within themselves, not in the social framework that

has been created for them.

“This week is important because it allows individuals to recognize the importance of body positivity,

which includes taking time to focus on and appreciate one’s body and all the wonderful things it can do for them,” Cupples said.

GREEK LIFE

GVSU’s ATO fraternity walks “Hard Many Steps” for Multiple Sclerosis fundraiser

BY OLIVIA FELLOWS LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

STEPS TOWARD A CURE: In March, 20 GVSU Alpha Tau Omega fraternity members walked 160 miles for Multiple Sclerosis. COURTESY | GVPD

Over spring break between March 1-8, Grand Valley State University’s Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) fraternity hosted their seventh annual Walk Hard event benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The eight-day fundraiser entails a 160-mile walk from Traverse City to Allendale, Mich., with a kickoff ceremony on GVSU’s campus before the walk began.

This year, 20 fraternity brothers took part in the grueling journey meant to symbolize the pain that people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) face every day through the fatigue, poor balance and muscle cramps that the continuous, daily walking causes. In the past seven years of hosting the fundraiser, the fraternity has raised over $230,000 for the cause.

“It started 7 years ago with one of the founding member’s mother having MS,” said ATO Vice President Grant Robertson. “Our old philanthropy wasn’t very successful and we thought we could bring more

attention and money to the MS society through doing something crazy and ridiculous like walking 160 miles in the bitter cold on spring break instead of living it up in Fort Lauderdale.”

Robertson said that the goal for the fraternity is $50,000 each year; however, they are always happy with whatever amount of money they end up raising. This year, the fraternity raised $30,000 before the walk had even begun.

The annual fundraiser is also close to home for many of the brothers as they have personal connections with the disease through family or friends, giving some even more of a reason to take part in the walk. The walkers do around 20 miles each day, with 27 miles being the longest they walk on a single day.

Matt Bertoia, a GVSU junior and ATO brother, explained that the walk has a support team that helps the walkers with meals, clean up and any medical needs when they stay overnight at churches along the way. Bertoia said that the fundraiser is meaningful to him because

he enjoys supporting a cause that is not often discussed, as MS is such a rare disease.

“Oftentimes, everyone has a relationship with someone with cancer, whether it’s someone who is close to home or a distant cousin, but not many people have a relationship with someone MS,” Bertoia said.

“MS is a terrible disease because it affects people’s ability to walk, talk and see and it takes away from a person’s personality. We as ATO brothers have come to recognize that this fundraiser has become something that is bigger than just us and we want to help the cause to find a cure.”

During this year’s walk, there were many new first-time walkers on the trek across the state, and many didn’t know exactly what to expect going into the walk. Jake Golding, a GVSU sophomore and a second-year ATO brother who was also a walker leader on this year’s trek, explained that this year’s walk was emotional for many of the brothers taking part.

“Looking back on it after finishing, there was definitely a lot of emotion that was present,” Golding said. “I know I

teared up a couple times during the walk because of my personal connection with MS, but it was really just a lot of horseplay and a lot of fun. Coming back to campus after the finish and being able to rest and hang out with all the brothers to share the experience was definitely one of my favorite moments.”

Grant Robertson explained that the message that ATO wants to send through their involvement with the fundraiser is that fraternities are more than just party hubs. Robertson said that each brother in ATO takes pride in all of the fundraising and philanthropy work that they do, and that they’re just regular students who want to make a difference.

“We are a good group of gentlemen who pride ourselves on helping the community and making a difference in the lives of thousands,” Robertson said.

“We are all just regular students at Grand Valley. The only difference is the club we joined.

We hope this message can shatter the stigma of ‘frat kids’ and show we are just as committed and well-rounded as a regular student here.”

LAKER EFFECT

GV students recognized for excellence in broadcasting

BY AMY MCNEEL LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

After hours of hard work both behind and in front of the camera, a handful of Grand Valley State University Multimedia Journalism students were recognized at the Great Lakes Media Conference. The conference was hosted by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and took place on March 5 and 6.

For the second year in a row, GVSU’s West Side Stories television program took first place in the Daily Newscast category of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters’ Student Awards. West Side Stories is a student-run program that focuses on interesting stories about people and places in west Michigan.

The program started in 2017, and has since received early and consistent success.

After being nominated by Professor of Multimedia Journalism James Ford, GVSU junior McKenzie Sorrell won the $1,000 Jerry P. Colvin Scholarship for her work with West Side Stories.

Sorrell wasn’t aware that she was nominated for the scholarship until after she won it. She said she felt

honored just to be nominated, let alone to win it.

The award confirmed to her that her hard work is paying off and that she’s heading in the right direction.

“All of these stories that I do for West Side Stories – I do them because I want to share part of the world that some people may not know about,” Sorrell said. “I take pride in the work that I do and sharing experiences and peoples’ stories that people wouldn’t know unless I shared them.”

Sorrell didn’t become a multimedia journalism student until the beginning of her junior year, meaning she’s new to the program. She thanks her passion, dedication and hard work for her early success.

“I think that sometimes people can be scared or intimidated trying something new, but I think if you’re passionate about something, everyone should take a leap of faith and go for it because you never know what could happen,” Sorrell said. “I won a scholarship within a semester of being in the program, so I think it’s important to just take the leap and trust your gut.”

Also honored at the Great Lakes Media Conference was junior Nate Dreyer

SUCCESS: Several Grand Valley State University Multimedia Journalism students recieved awards for their hard work and dedication in broadcasting. Their success is helping GVSU build a name in broadcasting and paving the way for future Lakers. COURTESY | GVSU

and recent alumnus Paul McPherson. They took first place for Live Sports Announcing team. Dreyer was the play-by-play commentator, while McPhersen was the color analyst.

Dreyer had an early interest in sports broadcasting and it has always been a focus for him.

“You can probably go back

to me calling backyard baseball games when I was eight, nine or 10 years old,” Dreyer said. “I’ve just always, for some reason, had an interest in broadcasting, sports broadcasting and auto racing. I don’t know what it is, it has just always been something there for me that I wanted to do.”

He said that awards like this show him that he’s on the

right track, but he doesn’t let the success get him too high, as everyone has a different opinion of what they want in a sports caster.

Dreyer currently works almost exclusively for third parties and hired jobs. He does work for high school football and basketball and Aquinas College along with his work at GVSU.

“I’m happy to continue the success that GVSU has had in this award and in this field over the last couple of years,” Dreyer said. “Hopefully whoever comes after me can pick that back up and GVSU can keep that momentum going because we’re starting to build a name, I think, among other people in sports casting.”

APRIL 22, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

A16 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT COMPETITION

ArtPrize 10 awards thousands in artist grants

BY ARIE NIENHUIS ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

For 10 years, ArtPrize has been a significant event for the greater Grand Rapids area.

With the city lined up with thousands of artistic pieces, festival-goers are able to see work created by artists from around the globe.

Recently, ArtPrize awarded $165,000 in grants to several contestants to support their artistic ventures. These grants will fund large-scale outdoor pieces as well as many smaller projects appearing in various locations throughout the city.

These works include murals painted on shipping containers, crystalline glass sculptures and a large orb floating in the Grand River.

These grants will allow ArtPrize to enhance the festival and draw more attention from fine art connoisseurs around the world. Artists from regions as far as Milan and Rio De Janeiro were awarded grants, adding new perspectives to the festival. Communications

Manager for ArtPrize, Jaenell Woods, said she sees these grants as a way to enhance the festival and give attendees a richer experience as well as make Grand Rapids a big name in the global art scene. “[With the grants] artists from across the country can realize projects they might not otherwise be able to bring to Grand Rapids” Woods said.

“Having these immersive, interactive pieces that 500,000 visitors can experience, as well as having some big name artists come here can help put [Grand Rapids] on the map.

These are really ambitious projects that take a lot of funding… and having these big pieces outside really enhances the public experience.”

There are many reasons for the public to be excited for this year’s ArtPrize offerings. Throughout downtown, festival-goers will be able to see the same enormous number of art pieces in a huge number of venues. Woods also expressed excitement for the various multimedia attractions present in the

city, with some very close to GVSU’s downtown campus.

“I’m excited for the Blue Bridge Music Festival to come back, and for our film festival to come back,” Woods said.

“I’m especially excited to see Cracking Art from Italy, where alligator statues will be crawling out of the water.”

ArtPrize is a common means for a student new to the Grand Rapids area to learn about the city. By exploring the city and checking out all the art, students will learn more about the culture of the city and get used to navigating the area. For students interesting in getting involved with ArtPrize, Woods highlighted the festival’s volunteer program.

“Volunteering is a great way to get involved,” Woods said. “It’s very flexible, and some volunteers come every day. You can volunteer for our education program or you could help artists install their work. Signups are happening now and all the way throughout the event.”

GLOBAL GUESTS: Emerging from the water, Italian ArtPrize entry “The World Beneath the City” received an artist grant this year. The piece aims to address environmental issues like pollution. COURTESY | ARTPRIZE

THEATRE

SPOTLIGHT: Actresses Mikayla Berghorst and Elise Endres take the stage as Ruth and Eileen, sisters who move to New York to follow their dreams. GVSU’s production of “Wonderful Town” ran for several weekends in February and featured student actors and crew members. As a comedic musical, students were challenged with a rotating cast, a tight script and comedic timing on top of musical talent. GVL | BENJAMIN HUNT

Grand Valley Opera Theatre showcases ‘Wonderful Town’

BY JACOB CRESWELL ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

On Friday, Feb. 15, Grand Valley State University’s Opera Theatre presented “Wonderful Town,” a production originally created by composer Leonard Bernstein and lyricists Betty Comden and Adolph Green. GVSU’s run of the productions began the weekend of Feb. 8 and

wrapped the following weekend on Feb. 17.

“The fizzy, festive, cocktail is about the lighthearted, sweet and funny quality of the music and the jokes,” Schriemer said.

The swinging show tunes of the musical depict the effervescent charm of New York City, wrapped up in the story of two sisters chasing their dreams.

“Watching student performers learn how to land jokes, sing great songs, do

jazzy little dance numbers and creating friendships among the cast is the most exciting thing about this whole process,” Schriemer said.

Schriemer explained that a production of this caliber required a lot of hands on help — which meant recruiting a very large cast and crew.

“Twenty-five student performers are on stage, twentyfive musicians are in the pit and another twenty work

backstage on the production elements,” Schriemer said.

The lead actresses in this production are Mikayla Berghorst, who plays Ruth, and Elise Endres, who plays Eileen. Schriemer described these two characters as “sisters from Columbus Ohio who go to NYC to seek their fortunes,” elaborating on their mishaps along the way.

“Through a series of funny, awkward and silly situations

they finally find success and happiness and they begin their new lives,” Schriemer said.

Auditions for these productions are typically open to all students. Live theater is a group effort that thrives best with a diverse team that can think outside of the box, so students in any program are encouraged to keep an eye out for audition postings. Schriemer stated that music majors gener-

ally make up the majority of cast and crew members.

“Wonderful Town” has seen Broadway showings and has been covered by The Wall Street Journal.

The production, originally based off of a 1953 novel, was revived for Broadway showings in 2003 by Bernstein, Comden and Green.

The revival ran from 2003 to 2005 and was nominated for several theatre awards.

EXHIBIT

GVSU students to create brand through capstone exhibitions

BY JENNY ADKINS ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

ONE OF A KIND: Jacob Mol’s piece was included in the “Command + N” exhibit, which showcased students’ work. COURTESY | WKTV

Approximately 20 students within Grand Valley State University’s Visual and Media Arts Department are now showcasing their semester-long projects, in which they aimed to represent their collegiate educational experiences.

The displayed works will include students from various majors within the art department. The projects include graphic design, photography, metals, printmaking, painting, visual studies and illustration.

“Command + N” was the first of five exhibitions to be showcased, kicking off the senior showcase on Nov. 26.

Shelby VerStrate, a senior majoring in studio art with an emphasis in graphic design, stated that “Command + N” showcases what graphic design is as a whole, the different angles students can take with graphic design, and the different paths offered within this profession.

“I worked on the branding for a company I invented titled ‘Hollistic,’” VerStrate said. “This company sends

customers ingredients they need to make a specific product of their choosing.”

For example, if a customer wants to order a lavender potion, they would be sent a package that includes lavender essential oil, premeasured ingredients, as well as a container to keep the finished product in and instructions on how to make it.”

The project took VerStrate the entire semester to curate and she hopes consumers could find ease in having a product delivered as opposed to visiting multiple stores to search for the necessary ingredients.

“Showcasing my work makes me feel very anxious but also excited,” VerStrate said.

“This is the first time I’ve ever had to showcase my work in a gallery and our senior project is the biggest amongst the other studio majors. However, I’m excited that it’s finally over and all my friends and family can see why I haven’t had much of a social life this semester.”

Although there are only five exhibitions overall, visitors should look out for each individual’s piece for future scheduled exhibits, as it took six

students alone to bring “Command + N” to life.

“In the beginning of the semester, we worked in tandem to create the name for our show and talk about all of our ideas for our own projects,” VerStrate said. “We discussed what ideas were working and what wasn’t working. Once we figured out our game plan, our projects became independent.”

Senior Jacob Mol worked on “Command + N” and explained that the name of the exhibit is derived from the keyboard shortcut graphic designers are taught to use on Apple computers in order to curate a new project. Mol showcased

his creations for an emergency survival kit during the display and he says that his work reflects the skills he obtained through his time here at GVSU. “Command + N” was on display from Monday, Nov. 26 through Friday, Nov. 30 in the Padnos Student Visual and Media Arts Gallery in the Calder Arts Center on the Allendale campus.

For students, faculty and staff that were unable to attend “Command + N,” there are four more exhibitions to look for throughout the months of December and January.

APRIL 22, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | A17

CAMPUS

GVSU Art Gallery fills new Finkelstein Hall with more than 280 pieces of art

BY NICK MORAN ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

Extensive directional meetings, selecting art out of a sizeable collection and installing over 280 pieces of artwork may seem daunting, but it’s standard work for Grand Valley State University’s Art Gallery. Their latest masterpiece involved filling the halls of the newly completed Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall, a canvas that gave way to floors of powerful, themed art.

With buildings being constructed and renovated every year, Art Gallery Project Manager Alison Christensen said that the gallery is always busy over the summer. Despite that, the process to select art is a lengthy one that begins with one goal in mind: to choose pieces from GVSU’s collection that serves the needs of the students.

“We really try to make sure that whatever artwork is going into the building can be utilized for the students and that it relates to the programs that are happening inside the building,” Christensen said. “It should work for how students may use the art in those spaces.”

For Finkelstein Hall, an initial art advisory committee

formed to determine criteria for artwork to be featured just over one year ago. The committee, which included members of the Art Gallery, determined the various artistic themes featured on each floor.

“The halls of the lower level, which focus on sonography and cardiovascular sciences, feature artwork with imagery based off of those fields; the committee selected work that is inspired by these sciences, not direct depictions,” Christensen said. “The first floor is full of windows, exposing the community, so art was selected to reflect local artists and GVSU’s new presence in the neighborhood.”

The art for the second floor features California artist Ted Meyer, who partners with medical patients to create prints using ink and their scars. Christensen said a committee member brought up his work and the team was inspired by his storytelling. “(Meyer’s work) helps students see different types of patients, understand their story, and I also really like these works of art because it was a partnership between the medical patient and the artist rather than the patient being

objectified,” Christensen said.

“They both wanted to be able to have their stories of their medical conditions displayed in an artistic way.”

The third floor houses observational labs, where children will make up the majority of patients. The art reflects this, with some art being purchased from the neighboring Coit Creative Arts Academy. GVSU selected art created by students, with profits allowing their teachers to purchase school supplies.

Juxtaposed to this work is art from a GVSU charter school in Flint, where students reflect on the effects of the city’s water crisis. “(The pieces) are pretty powerful because younger kids don’t really hold back what they’re feeling,” Christensen said. “It’s a serious topic but a very approachable way to think about that crisis and how we can make improvements moving forward.”

While the fourth floor is mostly offices and collaborative spaces, it also features an expansive view of the surrounding neighborhood. Working with the Grand Rapids archives, the gallery printed historic images of the surrounding Belken neighborhood.

“Since Grand Valley is a

new neighbor in this neighborhood, we wanted to be able to show the growth in the neighborhood and promote the idea that we’re part of the growth,” Christensen said.

While the total number of pieces of art installed may seem immense on paper, head preparator Andrew King said that it’s what he has been doing annually for Grand Valley since 2003.

King and his team prepare works with UV reflecting glass and mount them to protect the variety of 2D and 3D works on display. For the Finkelstein Hall project specifically, King said he was on board from the very beginning of discussions, with the final instillation taking three weeks.

“Usually, we’re so exhausted by that point that once it’s on the wall, we’re happy,” King said. “But if everything looks good and nothing is damaged, that’s success.”

With every project – whether it be a renovation or new construction – the art the fills each building is meant to be meaningful and intentional.

While the art itself may be beautiful, it mostly provides the tools that allow students to see worldly, inspiriting perspectives.

INTENTION: The artwork installed in Finkelstein Hall was chosen to represent the programs housed on each floor. COURTESY | GVSU

CAMPUS

Office of Multicultural Affairs hosts events for Native American Heritage Month

BY JACOB CRESWELL ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

During the months of October and November, Grand Valley State University’s Center for Multicultural Affairs will host several events to help bring awareness to Native American Heritage. These events will include numerous performances and lectures, as well as panels and service projects.

According to the Office of Multicultural Affairs website, their overall ambition is to welcome diversity in all forms.

“Our mission is to support efforts in recruiting and retaining diverse students; to educate, engage and empower all students to live in a multicultural world; and to advocate for a socially just campus environment.”

Along with educating students, the OMA also aims to cultivate different cultures into education and foster a place for cultural success.

Their website states that the OMA will, “create an educational environment that cultivates the rich contributions of all cultures and also provides a place where students can achieve academic, social and cultural success.”

Moreover, one of the events scheduled will be titled “Professionals of Color Lecture Series: Trans Day of Remembrance with Qwo-Li Driskill.” This event will occur on Nov. 19 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Kirkhof Center. The lecture will be hosted by poet and activist Qwo-Li Driskill whose poetry focuses on healing and inheritance.

Qwo-Li’s poetry also has involves multiple themes in Cherokee culture, as well as queer and mix-raced themes.

Walking with Ghosts, Driskill’s first poetry collection, was named Book of the Month

by Sable: The LitMag for New Writing and was nominated for

the Griffin Poetry Prize.

The Office of Multicultural Affairs website further highlights a second event: a performance by hip-hop artist Sacramento Knoxx will occur on Oct. 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Cook-DeWitt Center.

Like Driskill, Knoxx also has a background in activism.

According to the website, the nature of his performance is centered on starting a conversation. “His work and activism is focused on drawing attention to both the historic and contemporary experiences of Native American and Chicanx populations.”

Knoxx will give a 45 minute performance followed by a discussion that highlights how creative expression can challenge us to confront social ills and think critically about our own identities.

The third event highlighted on the OMA’s event page was

titled “Re-Imagining Indigenous People’s Day” which included a performance and presentation. The event was about the shift from Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day, including a push for decolonization and global Indigenous movement building. The event included a performance by Twindians.

“Re-Imagining Indigenous People’s Day” was presented on Oct. 8.

The Office of Multicultural Affairs initial aim is to, “offer diversity and cultural learning opportunities to improve intercultural understanding and competency,” followed by the efforts to “stimulate and encourage opportunities for intentional intercultural dialogue and engagement among university members.”

All events scheduled are free and open to students, faculty and staff.

DIVERSITY: GV celebrated Native American heritage through poetry, performances and music. COURTESY | NATIVE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

EVENTS

Slam poet wraps up GV’s Intercultural Festival

BY MARY RACETTE ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

OUTLET: Ebony Stewart emphasized the importance of healthy relationships during her March 25 performance. GVL | MACKENZIE BUSH

Slam Poet Ebony Stewart combined poetry and activism in her performance for Grand Valley State University students at the CookDeWitt Center on March 25.

The performance was put on by the GVSU Campus Activity Board (CAB).

Opening her hour on stage, Stewart shared that she wanted audience participation. Students remained engaged throughout the entirety of the hour.

Encouraging honest reactions from the audience, she spent her time talking directly to the students.

“Poetry tends to open people’s minds a lot more and gives them a different way to hear something,” Stewart said.

Stewart has earned numerous awards for her slam poetry. She holds three adult

female slam championship titles in Austin, Texas and is the 2017 Woman of the World Poetry Slam Champion. Her work has been featured on Button Poetry, Write About Now, Poetry Slam Inc. and Afro-Punk.

Stewart was a sexual health instructor for sixth graders prior to her slam poetry career. She shared stories from her job and tied these themes and experiences into her poetry.

Throughout her performance, Stewart addressed themes for the black experience, womanhood and humanity. Due to her past with sex education, Stewart incorporated messages of sexual health in her work.

In between poems, Stewart asked students questions which ultimately played into her next topic. Students were asked to raise their hands to share their fears and ask questions. Stewart responded to each student with her ac-

quired wisdom and opinions.

Before her final poem, Stewart passed a box with a pen and paper for students to ask anonymous questions. Students’ questions ranged from asking about her career to asking for relationship advice. Stewart offered her honest perspective in each answer, ensuring the audience understood it was her opinion.

Stewart is from Houston but tours internationally to spread her poems and activism. Every year, Central Michigan University includes her in their Leadership Safari for incoming freshmen. Her March 25 performance was her first time on a GVSU campus.

“I am super fortunate that schools will see me perform and want me to come to their schools and talk to their students,” Stewart said.

CAB decided to bring Stewart to campus after seeing her performance at the

National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) Grand Rapids convention.

Stewart is the first slam poet CAB has brought to GVSU. “Ebony put on an amazing performance and was wellreceived by the crowd,” said CAB adviser Kelly Wrobel.

“Ebony touches on several important topics including intersectionality and sexuality and we thought it was important to give students the opportunities to learn more through her spoken word.”

The slam poetry event closed out the 2019 Intercultural Festival on campus.

The festival, which went from March 20 to 25, has been a GVSU tradition for 14 years. This year, the festival celebrated different cultures through workshops, film, dancing and poetry.

The next event hosted by CAB will be the spring concert featuring Blackbear on Thursday, April 4.

APRIL 22, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A18 | OPINION EDITORIAL

The reality of the broke college student trope

BY EDITORIAL STAFF EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

As tuition and housing rates continue to increase, so does the age-old joke about the poor college student. The reference to being a ‘broke college student’ continues to be commonly referenced as students trash-pick old furniture, eat ramen and donate to BioLife for spending money. To struggle financially while getting a degree has almost become a rite of passage that builds character for those on the brink of adulthood.

All jokes aside, evidence shows that more than a quarter of college students are experiencing actual poverty, often in the form of hunger. Many students find themselves to be food insecure, unsure where

their next meal will come from.

Food insecurity is becoming a predominant problem on campuses across the country, with many students dedicating their funds to school instead of food. Skipping meals can impact a student’s physical and mental health while deterring their academic success. While the poor college student joke may continue, hunger is not the punchline. This trope may be glossing over the serious problem of student hunger.

One big factor to food insecurity is the increase of low-income and nontraditional students who are enrolling in college at heightened rates. It is great

to see higher education become more widely available, however this may put these students at a disadvantage. The college population has become a diverse place for people of all ages and means, which can explain why hunger may not be a common problem for traditional students. Many non-traditional and lowincome students will have to choose between breakfast and textbooks, utilities versus groceries, and food will most often be the losing option.

This is why universities need to be looking at the problems all students are facing, not just the younger, post-secondary students. Luckily, Grand Valley State University has

a food resource known as Replenish for students in need of food. Many students may still not know about this resource, especially those who keep their time on campus to a minimum. The promotion of Replenish, along with further education about campus food insecurity, can assist those that are struggling to get by.

At the end of the day, people will still use the broke college student trope to joke about the strange behaviors of college kids on a budget. However, keeping in mind those that are struggling with poverty and donating when possible can assist those that are living the reality of being a poor college student.

What’s wrong with being confident?

BY AMY MCNEEL JUNIOR WRITING LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

“Excuse me, but crop tops are against the dress code here,” said a female Campus Recreation worker to the girl lifting next to me. “Is there something else you can put on?”

The girl in question was wearing high waited leggings and a grey t-shirt that she had tied into a knot. The result: An inch of skin around her waist that showed her belly button.

As the conversation continued, her face got red and her eyes wandered nervously. “Is this really that bad?” she asked, looking down at the sliver of skin between the hems of her shirt and pants. The worker responded that the Rec Center is cracking down on crop tops and that they are prohibited for “health and safety” reasons.

The girl looked upset and embarrassed. At first, she unknotted the shirt so

no skin was showing, but within five minutes she left the gym altogether.

Later, I saw the same Campus Rec worker talking to a fellow employee.

She said something along the lines of, “I did it. I asked someone to change.”

The other worker responded with a “Good job” and a high five. A few minutes after that conversation, I saw her ask another girl to change. As a witness, I felt angry and disgusted.

Telling women to cover up their bodies hardly encourages body love and empowerment. And for health and safety reasons?

You’ve got to be kidding me. Is an inch of skin around the waist really that much more dangerous than the skin on the shoulders, thighs and arms? I’m no expert, but I think not.

As a girl who goes to the gym on the daily, I’m

constantly surrounded by big dudes with cutoff shirts that show their nipples. So, Campus Rec Center, are you telling me that male nipples are more acceptable than a little bit of female stomach? Why can’t girls wear crop tops if guys can wear cutoffs? I’m tired of the double standard.

The Campus Rec dress code states that cutoffs are prohibited. However, I’ve never seen a guy be asked to change, and I don’t see signs that say “No cutoffs” in the entrance to the gym.

Instead, I see signs that say “No crop tops.”

What makes this whole thing even more ridiculous is that Campus Rec is currently co-hosting “Love Your Body Week,” which aims to promote healthy body image in the Grand Valley State University community.

In a recent Lanthorn

article titled “GVSU Recreation to host Love Your Body Week,” Campus Rec Assistant Director of Marketing and Special Events Kayla Cupples says, “As a department, Campus Recreation is looking forward to supporting students and encouraging self-awareness, self-love and positive self-talk in regard to one’s body.”

To me, their efforts to stop girls from wearing crop tops is the opposite of encouraging self-love.

Ultimately, showing skin should be a woman’s choice. People go to the gym to reach fitness goals and to feel good about themselves. And now you want to punish them for being confident enough to show some skin? This hypocrisy says a lot more about the GVSU Rec Center than it does about those they humiliate.

The longest shutdown in United States history

BY YSABELA GOLDEN SOPHOMORE UNDECLARED EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

As of Sunday, Jan. 13, Trump’s border wall has now instigated the longest shutdown of government agencies in United States history. The previous record breaker was a 21 day shutdown in 1996 (a length less daunting now in retrospect) which had been driven by a very different budget conflict. Then-President Bill Clinton vetoed the republican majority’s significant budget cuts, concerned about hikes in medicare premiums and slashes in education and the environment.

This time, it’s the republicans trying to add to the budget with Trump’s demand of $5.7 billion dedicated to the construction of his Mexican border wall. Negotiation offers from the democrats have reached $1.6 billion - intended for multiple increases in border security, not purely for barrier construction - but Trump hasn’t budged. Having said earlier in the month that he’d “look foolish” if he

accepted the democrats’ attempts to reopen the government during negotiations, it seems like if the matter is left to Trump, having $5.7 billion wall is a prerequisite to having a functional government.

He’s chosen quite the hill to die on, and that’s not an exaggeration - even his most loyal supporter in congress, Senator Lindsey Graham, has predicted a grim outcome for the president if he doesn’t get what he wants. “If he gives in now, that’s the end of 2019, in terms of him being an effective president,” Graham said. “That’s probably the end of his presidency.”

As a solution, Graham has suggested that Trump follow through on his threat to override the legislative branch by declaring a state of national emergency and pushing the wall through that way. The rest of his party, though not all quite so extreme as Graham, have continued to support

Trump’s unbudging style of negotiation. Despite still not participating in arbitration over the wall himself, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked bills from the democrats that attempted to re-open parts of the government unrelated to the wall debate on Jan. 10.

Republicans and democrats were willing to come together to pass a bill ensuring furloughed federal workers back pay once the government opens again, but in the meantime those employees have already missed one paycheck, and there’s no clear indication that the government will be back open in time for them to get their next.

Even more concerning, federal agencies like the Food and Drug Administration are now dangerously low on funds.

Though the FDA promises to monitoring public health issues that pose an imminent threat, the agency has lost 41 percent of its employees and warn

Read the Lanthorn on our website at lanthorn.com

that their response time to emergencies could be slower as a result. This is especially concerning considering how often the FDA had to declare emergencies over food safety in 2018, and are still trying to investigate what caused the latest crisis over E. coli bacteria in romaine lettuce as the shutdown continues, however long that will be. Trump tweeted at the end of the shutdown’s 22nd day that in order to understand his plan in this crisis, Americans have to understand the promise he campaigned on. “Part of that promise was a Wall at the Southern Border,” he said. “Elections have consequences!”

So we’ve noticed.

Trump’s reputation might be damaged if he negotiates with the democrats, but 800,000 federal workers have already been harmed - and if important federal agencies like the FDA continue to go unfunded, so may the population at large.

APRIL 22, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

OPINION | A19

The people we forget, forgot

BY DYLAN GROSSER JUNIOR MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

I was a writer for my high school newspaper in 2014 when news broke of the violent execution of American journalist James Foley at the hands of the infamous terrorist group ISIS. In our newspaper class, we took the time to talk about the risks of reporting in unstable parts of the world or on dangerous people.

Foley knowingly risked his life to report on the important details of the Syrian civil war.

To many journalists, he is a hero. His reporting exemplifies the goal of the free press, which is to provide accurate and timely information to the public despite the dangers involved.

There are a lot of privileges in being a journalist in the United States, as freedom of the press is guaranteed by the constitution. Unfortunately, not everyone in the world is as lucky as we are. In some countries, speech deemed critical of the government is outlawed and the ones usually persecuted under those laws are journalists.

Journalists in democracy starved countries are threatened with arrests, beatings, tor-

ture and murders for fulfilling their purpose of fact finding and surveillance.

According to Reporters Without Borders, a total of 326 journalists are detained in the world as of Dec. 1, 2017. Not only that, The Committee To Protect Journalists states that 1,337 journalists have been murdered since 1992.

The greatest offense committed by these journalists is delivering the public the truth - an act oppressive governments believe is treason against the state. By detaining journalists, governments aim to silence critics and distill fear into others in order to solidify their power.

Recently there have been many high profile cases of detained or murdered journalists. A recent example is of American journalist Jamal Khashoggi, supposedly murdered by the Saudi Arabian government over his critical reporting of the crown prince, Mohammed Bin Salman. The imprisonment of Chineseborn governmental dissident Yang Hengjun over his articles opposing the Chinese regime have made international

headlines as well for the blatant tyrannical tactic that it is.

Even when the violent treatment of journalists occur, we don’t hear enough about it to understand the severity of the situation. It’s also not widely known what we can do to help reporters in these situations.

We don’t have to resign ourselves to the fact that there’s nothing that can be done. We have to take steps to promote the democratic free press and to denounce violent, unlawful treatment of journalists across the globe.

Eliminating the silence surrounding the issue is key to fixing it. It’s not enough to allow our government and other countries to decry these human rights abuses; there must be some vocal intolerance by the public against countries with oppressive laws making the free press illegal.

We should take action by holding accountable certain companies like Google and Apple that allow their services and devices be compatible with strict laws in countries that criminalize dissent against the government. We should

encourage our lawmakers in our own country to be more progressive in creating legislation that makes government more transparent, to set an example of what a democratic free press looks like. Moreover, we should use our privilege of free speech to raise awareness of the people locked up in countries for reporting on issues that governments disapprove of.

Use the hashtags #ProtectJournalists, #FreeThePress, #DefendPressFreedom or #JusticeForJamal to show support and raise awareness of detained journalists and attacks against free speech across the globe. Many organizations aimed at protecting the democratic free press allow donations to be made on their websites, like the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders. There are many things the average person can do to help stop this global crisis of suppressing dissent and abuse of power, which if one day undone, could result in the safety and peace of millions.

Do you create or consume?

BY KENDALL POLLIDORI SOPHOMORE COM. & WRITING MAJOR EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

In a generation where social media, the internet and technology are a major source of creation and consumption, we’re left to question ourselves which act we take part in more. I recently attended an event where a speaker spoke on the effects of social media today and the many benefits it has brought us.

It is easy to see the new age of media as addictive and as a problem, as it can be distracting or alter certain facts that are put out there. While there are always issues surrounding this topic, many people forget the crucial impact it has had on our society.

Social media has built a platform for absolutely anyone to create something and put it out there for everyone to see. People have been able to create films with a device that can fit in their pocket. Yes,

it is not as highly edited or captured with expensive equipment, but it is possible. And with today’s evolving of technology, it is also very viewable and enjoyable. Some who do not have access to high quality equipment can still use their artistic ability to capture something and deliver to millions of people within seconds.

Now, the question is whether most people are using this kind of technology to the best of their ability or if they are overly consuming with them. First we must distinguish the difference between the two.

Creating is simply using this technology to make something original and put it out there for others to see. This can be with photography, blogs, videos, etc. But, consuming is when you simply just look at everything that is posted,

such as scrolling through Facebook or Twitter for an hour. Consumers are those who retain the work.

Consuming is extremely important as well as creating, don’t get me wrong.

How else would we know current events or news without reading or viewing? But, there are always limits of course, and there are always questions as to what we are consuming and if it is the best thing for us. Just think about it: is it better to look at President Trump’s tweets for an hour or to watch NBC News’ two-minute story coverage on Trump.

Now, think about what you actually choose to do.

Of course there are always different opinions but I believe it is important to be conscious of what you are choosing to consume with your time.

Technology, such as cell

phones, has given us the opportunity to communicate and express ideas with others in seconds, which is extremely powerful. I believe people only see cell phones as a problem in our generation because most are so captivated with consuming that they forget they have the power to create as well. The speaker event I attended made it clear that we should not treat this technology as a nuclear part of our society, but that we should use it for our greater good.

This can be writing a daily blog or filming a short documentary on an issue that is important to you. You can easily be that person that you view each day on Instagram, just by taking that step to no longer hide behind the screen, but to be in front of it instead.

You probably aren’t as big of a GVSU fan as you think

BY BRADY MCATAMNEY SENIOR MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

Do you have school spirit?

Most students will gladly answer with a gleeful ‘Yes! Go Lakers!’ but turnouts at sporting events would suggest differently. I understand completely that we’re a Division II school so our teams’ games will more often than not be less intriguing than the likes of Michigan or Michigan State, but that does not mean that students should ignore Grand Valley State athletics completely.

On Saturday, Nov. 17, the Lakers played in their biggest game of the year – a DII playoff game against a national powerhouse in Northwest Missouri State. We had the honor of being one of only 12 schools in the United States to host a postseason football game that day and, with the nature of it being a winor-go-home scenario, the turnout from students and fans alike should have been

rather sizable.

GVSU’s Lubbers Stadium is able to hold upwards of 17,000 people and, earlier this season, it held 16,563 fans for the Lakers’ primetime bout with rival Ferris State. On average this season, 12,742 people attended GVSU home games.

On Saturday, not even 10,000 fans showed up for what ended up being the final game of the season.

Not even 8,000. Not even 6,000. Not even 4,000. In fact, a pathetic 2,895 fans showed up to the game. That is barely TEN PERCENT of the season average.

For a game that saw the Lakers lose by 25 points, that is quite possibly the most embarrassing statistic of the entire day.

I get it: it was cold outside.

People don’t exactly like freezing their asses off when they could be inside getting

wasted (which, in itself, is a problem for another column), playing Fortnite or sleeping, so why go watch the team? People probably had good excuses for missing out, whether they headed home early for break or were buried in homework or had prior commitments. For everybody else, you have no excuse.

Nearly GVSU’s entire student population is from Michigan and its surrounding states, meaning that very few people here are strangers to cold weather.

You own a coat and some gloves, so wear them. Money is not an issue here either since student tickets are completely free; the university has paid off your ticket so that you can attend.

Worst of all, this was the final game for several football greats at the university.

These seniors have worked tirelessly in an effort to bring

honor to the school and the Laker brand, and now that their seasons and, for many, their football careers are over, they’ll be left with the image of empty stands and zero-damns-given about them from the community.

These young men put their personal health on the line for you and you have responded with a resounding “we don’t care.”

This is not just a football issue, either. Our women’s soccer team is Final Four bound – did you know that?

How many of our basketball players can you name on the men’s team? How about the women’s team? Do you know any of our volleyball, baseball or softball players?

If you answered ‘no’ to most of these questions, maybe you should re-evaluate just how much you love your school.

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C1 GRADUATING STAFF

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C2 GRADUATING STAFF

APRIL 22, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN

Larry Beery (Advisor for 27 years) Worked with more than 2500 students, including over 30 editors, 25 business managers, and 20 advertising managers Approximately 14 years of weekly, 13 years of weekly off issues, equaling 1240 total issues Roughly 50,000+ original pages.

1.62 million in payroll over the years 2002 started GV scholarships - as far as Larry knew, it is the only self-funding media scholarship in the state.

Over 150 Michigan Press Awards over the years, including some national awards and recognition.

Sarah Stinson the first Editor and Brady McAtamney last/current Editor - Both coming out of Sports Founding member/author of Michigan Collegiate Press Association - Larry recognized for MCPA Advisor Award - Lanthorn is only student newspaper that has gone up a division in more than one category in MCPA

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Congratulations “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

– Nelson Mandela

Class of 2019

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Housing

Grand Valley State University Farmers Market taking place this summer from June - October. Every Wednesday at 10am t o 1:30pm.

Go to gvsu.edu/farmersmarket for more information.

We are looking for 3 people to take our lease in Trio Center for the summer months. Preferably June 1st to end of August. But, if you need the month of May we can move out early. Four bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, air conditioning, washer/dryer, dish washer, and deck on the back! Rent is $420 a month and utilities are never more than $30 per person. Contact (269) 3622335 for more information.

I spent four years in college.

I didnʼt learn ?a thing. It was really my own fault. I had a double major ?in psychology and reverse psychology.

me r t e s mmer Take classes at Muskegon Community College and transfer the credits back to your home institution. Go to www.muskegoncc.edu or call the admissions office at (231) 777-0366 for more information.

B. J. Novak

kin r a s mmer Apply now: Move Crew openings! Move Crew Team members work with facilities on campus and furniture in the residence halls. Applicants must be able to lift 60 lbs and have a current driver's license. Team members work up to 20 hours/week during the academic year and up to 40 hours/week during the summer at a $9.95/hour pay rate.

Apply at www.gvsu.edu/housing/employment

Which type of vegetable tries to be cool, but is only partly successful at it?

The radish.

A lonely frog, desperate for some form of company telephoned the Psychic Hotline to find out what his future holds. His Personal Psychic Advisor tells him, “You are going to meet a wonderful person who will want to know everything about you.”

The frog is thrilled and says, “This is great! Where will I meet them, at work, at a party?” “No” says the psychic, “in a Biology class.”

What did the hot dog say when his friend passed him in the race?

Wow, I relish the fact that youʼve mustard the strength to ketchup to me.

When it comes to candy bars, the term fun-sized is misleading. There is nothing fun about your candy bar being 1/8 the size of a regular bar. You should call them what they are: “disappointment-sized.”

Jimmy Kimmel

616-331-2460

Puzzle Answers

de is n irin for college student summer program.

Herman Miller - Spring Lake, Zeeland, Holland. $13.00 - $13.75 all shifts available.

Call us at (231) 755-2195 or apply at adeccousa.com

S end y r s mmer in Maine Tripp Lake Camp is looking for passionate and qualified counselors at Tripp Lake in Poland, Maine from June to August. Apply online at www.tripplakecamp.com

e all ave t e er t stand up to cancer. Marvel Studios' Avengers: Endgame, Mastercard, and Stand Up to Cancer are joining together today to help take down one of the biggest villains of all: Cancer.

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rk n Ma kina sland t is s mmer The Island House Hotel and Ryba's Fudge Shops are seeking help in all areas: Front Dest, Bell Staff, Wait Staff, Sales Clerks, Kitchen, Baristas.

There will be dorm housing, b o nus, an d discount in g meals. Go to www.theislandhouse.com or call (906) 8477196 for more information.

If the local coffee shop has awarded you “Employee of the Month” and you donʼt even work there, you may be drinking too much coffee.