Issue 29, April 1, 2019 - Grand Valley Lanthorn

GRAND VALLEY

Exclusive interview with GVSU president Thomas Haas 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

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

TRUMP IN GR

POTUS AND PROTESTS: Listening to Donald Trump Jr. make a speech before the president, supporters and protesters alike gather outside of Van Andel Arena to watch the MAGA rally on a screen. The rally stop marked Trump’s first 2020 campaign rally, returning to Michigan after making it his last stop in 2016. Spectators lined up for over half a mile to try to get into the arena to watch the rally from the stands. GVL | NICK MORAN

President hosts MAGA 2020 campaign rally in Grand Rapids

BY NICK MORAN NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Tens of thousands of Michiganders flocked to Grand Rapids to attend President Donald Trump’s first “MAGA” Rally of his 2020 campaign. The visit marks Trump’s second rally in Michigan following his victory of the state in the 2016 election.

During his address to a packed Van Andel Arena, Trump tailored part of his messaging to Michigan, specifically noting the growth of the automotive industry in the state and the upcoming construction of new Soo Locks, which connects Lake Superior to the lower Great Lakes. He also delivered “breaking news,”

which included a promise to fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

“I’m going to get — in honor of my friends —full funding of $300 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which you’ve been trying to get for over 30 years,” Trump said.

“So, we’ll get it. It’s time.”

The promise has received both support from Michiganders as well as outside flak, with many citing that Trump’s fiscal year 2018 budget plan didn’t include the $300 million in government support that the initiative has received for the past seven years.

Those in attendance came from all over the Midwest to see the president, including Kaitlin Bennett, known as the

BUDGET

“Kent State Gun Girl” for her pro-gun activism.

Bennett spoke with Grand Valley State University students Hannah Swain, Trevor Hubert and Madison Wehby in Rosa Parks Circle while engaging with protesters. With a public personality in engaging with people who have radically different political views, Bennett said her first trip to Michigan was to attend Grand Rapids’ protests.

“I wish there were more people here (in Rosa Parks Circle),” Bennett said. “Grand Rapids, you’ve got to up your anti-Trump game. This is pretty sad, as Trump would say.”

Guests also traveled from the surrounding area, includ-

ing Allendale. GVSU freshman Ted Ames and sophomore Jack Thayer traveled downtown at 2:30 p.m. to wait in the line to enter Van Andel Arena, which spanned just over a half a mile prior to arena doors opening at 4 p.m.

“It’s comforting to know that you’re not alone,” Ames said.

“The camaraderie out here is phenomenal. We’ve gotten a lot of love from a lot of people.

Thayer said he expected Trump to talk about running for president in 2020 and the fallout of the Mueller investigation, of which a summary was released March 24. Above all else, Thayer said that the unity of attending the event was a highlight, with waves of supporters standing together.

“Mainstream news wants you to think that Trump supporters are all hateful,” Thayer said. “They make you feel bad about yourself, but as far as I can see, everybody is peaceful.”

GVSU’s College Democrats were also downtown for the rally, but Vice President Austin Marsman said that it was to send a different message. The College Democrats protested in Rosa Parks circle alongside peers from Kent County and Michigan’s Democratic groups.

Marsaman said that he was protesting the lack of civility revolving around the presidency, the president’s support of Betsy DeVos and, most importantly, a lack of action involving climate change.

“We’ve seen the studies that tell us what is going on, yet President Trump and his administration have done little to nothing to combat climate change,” Marsman said. “This issue hits our generation the hardest and instead of denial, our leaders should be debating the best way to address it.

Whether that’s the Green New Deal or something like it – we must act.”

The Lanthorn reached out to GVSU’s College Republicans for comment but have not heard back. The group volunteered downtown in support of the president’s visit. *Hannah Swain, Trevor Hubert and Madison Wehby contributed to this story.

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Student senate approves 20192020 Student Life Fund budget

Grand Valley ranked top Gilman Scholarship school for 2018-19

BY JAMES KILBORN JKILBORN@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University has the distinction of being among the top institutions for students receiving the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, as 11 students were granted the award for the 2018-2019 academic year. Granted by the U.S. State Department, the scholarship provides financial assistance for students traveling overseas for internship or study-abroad programs.

Paul Villa, one of the students selected for the scholarship, will travel to Spain where he will apply medical skills learned in the classroom this summer.

“The first month I will study Spanish language at the University of Granada, and the second month I will be working in a community health clinic and/or a cancer center in Granada,” Villa said. “As a pre-med student, the latter half is particularly exciting, and I look forward to briefly assimilating into a Spanish-speaking community while doing some good.

I hope to travel all over Spain, but starting with Alhambra won’t be a bad start.”

Capriana Calvachi, another Gilman Scholarship recipient, will be traveling to the United Kingdom as part of the Anthropology Department’s study abroad program this summer.

BY MCKENNA PEARISO ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM

At student senate’s general assembly on March 28, the 2019-2020 Student Life Fund (SLF) allocations were approved for over 20 campus councils and events, which is then distributed to almost 400 campus organizations across Grand Valley State University. SLF is compiled of over $1 million from GVSU’s general fund and housing and dining.

“The full general assembly votes on this budget as far as how this amount of money gets broken into each year,” said Office of Student Life Assistant Krista McFarland.

While senate may approve the budget, not all body members know of each request that is factored into the final spreadsheet. Senate places its faith in the budget’s effectiveness on Senate VP of Finance Amanda Crawford and the rest of the finance committee. Most senators are just seeing the final product now, following months of request reviews and comparisons to previous years by the finance committee.

SEE FUNDS | A2

LAKERS ABROAD: Hugging an elephant during a study trip, a student travels abroad. Grand Valley State University is a leading school in earning the national Gilman Scholarship, which support students studying abroad. COURTESY | GVSU

SEE AWARD | A2

APRIL 1, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A2 | NEWS

FUNDS

NEWS BRIEFS INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION DEEMS AIR POLLUTION LEVELS SAFE

During a public meeting March 29, Grand Valley State University officials reported that they had conclusive evidence from their independent investigation on campus air quality that nearby Viant Medical’s pollution was found to be safe.

The university hired public firm Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc. to conduct air quality tests in the Seidman Center, The Bicycle Factory, the DeVos Center, and Winter Hall. Each location was tested twice, a month apart, and confirmed that potential pollutants were in the safe range.

The meeting highlighted both the results of the tests as well as the practices, with the standard for testing the air being established by the Environmental Protection Agency and Michigan Department for Environmental Quality (MDEQ).

The report assured guests that it is “highly unlikely” that students, faculty or staff will contract cancer due to ethylene oxide emissions from Viant. The group cited the risk of developing cancer for a four-year student as six in one million.

While GVSU has publicly declared their relief after testing their facilities, the MDEQ is still investigating and consulting with cancer databases.

CELEBRATING WOMEN AWARDS HIGHLIGHTS CAMPUS LEADERS

Grand Valley State University announced 11 scholarships and awards during its annual Celebrating Women Awards.

The event aimed to promote leading women in and around GVSU’s campus.

The awards were presented by Positive Black Women; Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity; Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; and the Women’s Commission.

Positive Black Women gave out the most scholarships, acknowledging five students: Tova Jones, Lillian White, Deonquanic Hayes, Imani Gissendanner and Robert Webb.

Additionally, the Center for Women and Gender Studies gave its Outstanding Student Award to Maddie Rhoades, Edith Torres and El Boynton. Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies presented its Jean Enright Scholarship to Miranda Bryan.

Faculty and staff were also recognized. Various awards were given to Mary Karpen, Susan Howard, Amanda Syers and Bonnie Peterson. They were credited for serving students and supporting the feminine community at the university.

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The finance committee is actually compiled of two groups: the appropriations and the cultural funding boards who oversee their respective budget needs. In a trickle down-like method, each year’s million dollar SLF is broken down through allocations based on previous years’ needs and individual funding requests through the university’s online Lakerlink portal. These allocations and requests fund events like President’s Ball, the spring concert and campus organization programming.

The changes to this year’s budget included reducing funding to academic and professional groups, an increase to club and recreational sports as well as a rise in student media funding.

Club and recreational sports were upped to $445,500 for the next fiscal year, both as means to provide safety equipment and to pay the salaries of coaches and train-

ing staff. The adjustments to the academic and professional have repeatedly gone down since the 2018 fiscal year, due to a lesser need for funding for those groups.

“We still have a lot of academic groups but their needs may not be to request funding, it might just be monthly meeting or speakers but it’s not something that requires funding for,” McFarland said.

According to McFarland, the adjustments to allocations are never a reflection of senate’s attitude toward a specific group or council, but solely based on the needs of campus organizations. Each year campus programming is different both as a result of a decline in funding requests and as organizations’ leadership change from year to year.

Senate’s approval of the 2019-2020 budget did come with some disagreements, however. Specifically the student media budget, which will reach over $100,000 next year to provide funding to Grand Valley Television (GVTV), WCKS The

Whale radio station and the Lanthorn. While some senators voiced their concerns about this large allocation of money, others provided their support for student media and the opportunities they provide.

Despite the disagreements, the 2019-2020 was approved for the next fiscal year and will begin allocating funding next school year.

One surprising change to the budget is a small drop in travel funding, from $85,300 to $83,500, which supports all travel for student organizations. This allocation has grown regularly in previous years due to increasing student travel engagement.

The drop is the result of excess money from this year’s travel fund, which is then rolled back into senate’s reserve fund. While the total amount of the reserve fund is hard to pinpoint, in part due to senate pulling out $20,000 to cover the cancelled President’s Ball bill, money from the reserves is regularly used for a variety of reasons.

“We try to spend these

budgets,” McFarland said.

“So the reserve is kind of for contingency plans. Our goal is that that students receive this funding and that we don’t have a lot of reserve year to year.”

This budget, created with precision by Senator Amanda Crawford and the finance committee, reflects the needs of campus programming based on previous years and funding requests. While some allocation decisions my be harder than others, senate believes in the SLF budgeting process in providing support to campus programming at GVSU. “(The) decisions that were made were based on use or the lack of requests coming from certain organizations in their field,” said Senate President Rachel Jenkin. “It’s all really based on the usage from these organizations.

There’s definitely countless hours put into making up the budget.”

The finalized 2019-2020 budget can be viewed at lanthorn.com.

ANNIS WATER RESOURCES INSTITUTE HOSTS DISCUSSION ON ALTERNATIVE POWER

The Annis Water Resources Institute at Grand Valley State University hosted a presentation on wind power March 29.

Jeff Kehne, chief development officer of Magellan Wind, discussed the applications and current use of offshore, deepwater power from Lake Michigan.

The open speech was held in GVSU’s Lake Michigan Center at the Annis Water Resources Institute in Muskegon.

Kehne discussed how his company is moving forward in researching and creating offshore wind energy farms. Magellan is currently looking into making the technology equipped to deal with ice and Great-Lake-specific conditions.

Following their studies, the company looks to go widescale with their findings, potentially into the commercial realm.

BUILDING A BUDGET: Standing at the lectern, student senate Executive Vice President Morgan Mattler leads a discussion. Senate passed their 2019-2020 budget proposal, which increased funding for club sports, student media and decreased academic group funds. GVL | BEN HUNT

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VOL . 53

NO. 29

Lan thorn EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief BRADY MCATAMNEY Associate Editor MCKENNA PEARISO Associate Editor LAUREEN HORAN News Editor NICK MORAN Sports Editor KELLEN VOSS Laker Life Editor AMY MCNEEL A&E Editor SARAH EDGECOMB Image Editor SHEILA BABBITT

Layout Designer MAX GELDHOF Layout Designer VIVIANA RUBIO PROMOTIONS Promotions Manager HOLLIE PICKELMAN ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager JESSE BECKER Advertising Manager RACHEL MOORE BUSINESS STAFF Business Manager ALEXIS LAMB Asst. Business Manager RACHEL RUTGERS

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“I am double majoring in both biology and anthropology and am looking forward to this trip since it offers a perfect blend of both of my interests,” Calvachi said. “We will be conducting research on skeletal remains at a museum in London, as well as immersing ourselves in the culture by exploring multiple historically significant locations. Personally, I am most excited about visiting Stonehenge and the host of museums found in and around London.”

Special education major Chloe Church will be using the Gilman Scholarship to assist her in traveling to Tanzania where she’ll help in schools within the African country.

“The thing I am looking forward to most while in Tanzania is being able to learn about their culture and language from the kids in the school I will be working in and from the people in the community,” Church said. “We are also going on a safari which I am really excited about.”

Since the Gilman Scholarship program’s implementation in 2001, over 100,000 applications have been processed and over 28,000 students have been awarded the grant, allowing them to travel overseas and gain experiences they otherwise couldn’t. Villa, Calvachi and Church all emphasized how the scholarship provided the financial assistance required to make their trips feasible.

“This opportunity was contingent on receiving a Gilman award,” Villa said. “So, for me, this is really a lottery win. I’m very honored to be selected by them; I would not be able to go if it were not for this award.

I would also like to take the opportunity to shout out the Frederik Meijer Office of Fellowships. I am 100 percent certain I would not have gotten here without the help of Lauren Presutti and Elizabeth Lambert.”

With these scholarships, these students will travel to foreign countries, building skills that will not only translate into their careers but will create experiences they can draw upon and cherish throughout life.

APRIL 1, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN

T. HAAS EXCLUSIVE | B1

GRAND VALLEY

THOMAS HAAS’ LANTORN FINALE “I think that if the legacy is anything, it’s that I was always attuned to the North Star of student success and student centrality.”

APRIL 1, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN

B2 | T. HAAS EXCLUSIVE

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

And then there was a news reporter following us from the Grand Rapids Press and that afternoon, in the review of my first day, it said ‘Students Welcome T. Haas to Campus.’ So it stuck here in campus, it stuck then into the community, and even now my wife is calling me T. Haas.

THOMAS J. HAAS GVSU President

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 reaccreditation 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 reaccreditation 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 b e -

cause 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 – publicprivate 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 a n d

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.

BM: So going back, you kind of talked about your first few months here on campus.

Describe to me your first day of being on campus as president.

TH: It was in August of ’06, Monday, and it was a beautiful day. We had gone into the office about 7:30 (a.m.) and my wife and my daughter at the time who was still with us, she went on for a time in the Navy and now is living with her husband over in Chicago as I mentioned before with our firstever grandson to go with the

five granddaughters we already have. So we were here in the office, and at about 10 (a.m.) was on the calendar with Rachel, my assistant and Frank Foster and a few other members of the student senate would take me on a tour of the campus through the eyes of the students. Of course, I had been taken on a tour before. So, I said sure and he said ‘but we’re going to stop by the Carillon,’ and I did and we met up with probably 210 or so transitions students and at that point in time, this was 10 in the morning, I said, ‘It’s great to be here. I look forward to meeting many of you.’ And one of the women there asked, ‘What can we call you?’ and I said well, ‘President Hass, Dr. Hass, call me Tom informally, that’s fine.’

And then she said, ‘How about T. Haas?’ and the students started chanting. And then there was a news reporter following us from the Grand Rapids Press and that afternoon, in the review of my first day, it said ‘Students Welcome T. Haas to Campus.’

So it stuck here in campus, it stuck then into the community, and even now my wife is calling me T. Haas. And then we followed up the rest of the day with meetings with faculty, some of my staff members and had lunch with, I think it was the football team. We just went for lunch over at Fresh. And then later on that afternoon, after some more meetings, I decided to go watch the women’s soccer team practice and enjoyed watching them participate as well. And it was a glorious first day.

BM: That sounds pretty great to me.

So you mentioned eating over at Fresh and that leads perfectly into my next

question. What’s your favorite on-campus meal to get?

TH: Well, pizza. I like pizza, no doubt about it.

BM: Me too.

TH: I’ll do a salad and a pizza. We have gone over many times to the Connection - that was new and I was able to support the building of that. But over in

Fresh, usually it’s pizza and salad. And then I do like Qdoba - that’s been a good place to stop. And at least twice a year, I get to go behind the carving station to carve either ham or turkey - that’s one of my traditions so I do that as well.

APRIL 1, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN

NEWS | B3

FRONT AND CENTER: Surrounded by a crowd in Grand Valley State University’s Fieldhouse Arena, President Thomas J. Haas speaks at a podium. “T. Haas” has been the university’s president since 2006 and will take part in his final commencement in his role on Saturday, April 27, 2019. GVL | ARCHIVE BM: Very nice. So how have you grown both as a person and as a president since you took over here?

TH: We continue to grow as leaders. We learn so much from those people around you. I’ve learned a lot from our students. I’ve listened to their needs, and it has changed over the years as well. We’ve been becoming a more and more diverse campus. Inclusion and Equity

about the students. And to give another good example is our focus on sustainability. I learned so much more from the students and how passionate they are and continue to be about sustainability. I am too - from the Coast Guard background I have - with Environmental Health Sciences. That is one of my areas of emphasis. We need to protect our globe for the generations ahead. That’s going to be more and more

vironment for our students, and everyone that is working here and visiting here as well.

I continue to really grow and understand strategic thinking and planning because the academy is changing the way we deliver the programming we offer. When you think about the online programs, the hybrid programs and those types of things, we really need to understand that we have to ensure that the students are growing within

not just the content, but the ability to use the content that helps student succeed. The whole notion of understanding the enterprise is where I’d like to continue my growth.

And probably equally important is learning what the needs are within the community and how we, as an institution, need to grow and adapt in the development of the talent. Whether it be in the health professions, education, business

SOAKED AND SUPERB: T. Haas takes in the pain and glory of having freezing water poured on him by Louie the Laker as part of the internet fundraising trend “Ice Bucket Challenge.” GVL | ARCHIVE was one of my focal points early on with the hire of Jane Arnold, who was the first VP and now Jesse Bernall who is the second. That was very important. So I’ve learned much in the space of inclusion and equity. Really the point on my work as a Coast Guard officer, my time in the service, (was) how important it is to achieve a mission. I continued in learning and growing as leaders must. One of the important aspects, I think, of a leader is to tie in their service component to the mission and to ensure that they continue to grow as a leader. So, I learned a lot

important for me now that I’m a grandfather, too. So, I think that’s another area that I’ve grown to appreciate.

And then I think I’ve grown to continue to have the patience to effect the changes that we need to ensure that students get the best learning environment that they can have. I’ve learned a lot about student safety on campus, Title IX and all of that; that’s critically important and as a leader, you need to understand that those dynamics might change, the laws might change. At the end of the day, you want to make sure that you have a safe, secure en-

the use of technology. So I like the high-tech, hightouch feel and I’m growing a greater appreciation for that.

Also, understanding that it’s

or whatever discipline we’re teaching here, I continue to learn and it always comes to this point. We need to drive the relevance of this institu-

tion toward the needs of the students and their success.

I’ve learned a lot about leadership throughout the years, but I continue to learn from those who are around me.

BM: Perfect, perfect.

Bringing it back to just a few months ago, what was your reaction or feeling toward issuing five consecutive snow days?

TH: Let me put it this way: I don’t like to close school.

We’re Michiganders at the end of the day, so I just don’t like closing it. But we could not justify putting anyone in harm’s way. That particular episode was once in a lifetime, if not once every hundred years, or more. But it was the right thing to do. I was asked the other day about closing down school and not putting on President’s Ball, and, well, I missed it. It was a lot of work by so many people, so many students who put their passion into that particular activity. At the end of the day, my ultimate responsibility as a fiduciary to student safety and health is to make sure that we’ve protected them to the best of our abilities. That was just an unusual circumstance, but I know that we did the right thing.

BM: Now, this one is a little heavy, a little tough, but what kind of legacy do you hope to leave at GVSU?

TH: You know, one’s legacy is once one leaves, and I do think in ten years from now that the alumni who were here during my time viewed their time as a great investment in their future; that they have discovered what I call “the habits of heart and mind” to be successful. We have created while we’re here a learning environment that was relevant to them and their futures. That legacy can be built upon the fact that we continue to be attuned to our own institutional integrity to our mission, and that we believe in that mission, in shaping student lives, professions and societies, and that we’re true to that mission. That we deliver the promises on that mission. And that during my time here, 13 years, we grew numerically from about 22,000 to 25,000. But we grew numerically in the number of graduated from about 4,000 to 5,600 year over year.

We grew about 8 percent in terms of incoming numbers, so to speak. The outcomes, the delivery on the students with a degree increased by 40 percent. So I think that if the legacy is anything, it’s that I was always attuned to the North Star of student success and student centrality. I think that that will be seen hopefully with our alumni as they go into their professions and into their work life. But also into their service lives and into their communities and across the globe.

I don’t like to close school. We’re Michiganders at the end of the day, so I just don’t like closing it. But we could not justify putting anyone in harm’s way.

That particular episode was once in a lifetime, if not once every hundred years, or more.

THOMAS J. HAAS GVSU President

THUMBS UP: T. Haas celebrates GVSU’s athletic department winning yet another NCAA Director’s Cup. Multiple programs have won national titles during Haas’ time at the university. GVL | ARCHIVE

APRIL 1, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

B4 | T. HAAS INTERVIEW BM: Now, this next one is kind of a two-part question. First, what’s your favorite selfie you’ve ever taken with a student or with yourself or really any selfie that you’ve ever taken? And then what’s the most uncomfortable selfie you’ve ever taken. Have you ever had a selfie with a student that was kind of odd or uncomfortable for you?

TH: For one thing, I’ve probably taken 10,000 or more through the years. We do this Toast with T. Haas now (for) graduation - we do a lot of selfies there as well. You know, I’ve never said no to a student request.

...after I lectured in the freshman chem, one student came up and goes ‘are you related to our new president?

Because you have the same last name.’

I said ‘I know him really well.’ We both had fun with that.

THOMAS J. HAAS GVSU President

But most recently, this was kind of a fun way that a student asked me. He runs up to me and he says, “Hey, T. Haas! Are you available for a selfie?” I’ve never been asked if I was available for a selfie before. I thought that was pretty unique! So then we took the selfie and I thought that was kind of a neat way to demonstrate the mutual respect that the students have for me, but that I have for our students. One time wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was to my colleagues. I was walking across campus to a meeting and a student stopped- and we were running a touch late, and I don’t like to be late - but a group of students stopped and said, “Hey, T. Haas, we need a selfie.” My colleagues were antsy about going, but I said to wait a minute. I wasn’t uncomfortable, but I thought my colleagues said, “What is Tom doing? Well, Tom’s doing what Tom does!”

BM: And that’s taking selfies.

TM: We engage with the students. It’s really that relationship with engagement.

If at the end of the day, the student has a good memory about this institution because I’m available for a smile, then isn’t that great?

It’s that mutual respect. It’s priceless. And it’s all driven by students. That’s the other part that I need to reemphasize. It wasn’t me, per se, but it was me saying “sure.” One of the things about leadership that I find is that you should show up, so I’ll show up to chemistry class and teach freshman chem. Or I’ll go to football, basketball or to the performing arts center, or go see some of the research work that we do with the students and faculty members as well. But you show up. As a leader

at an institution like Grand Valley, one cherishes the opportunity to show up and to see what our students are doing day in and day out.

Early on in my time here, I would show up in the start of the winter semester and I would spend a night on campus. I would engage with students, maybe go out and have pizza at Fresh and spend the night in one of the residence halls, too.

Those are some of the great memories. Those are the types of things that a leader has to understand: that they do represent the university, and to be visible and explore what the students are all involved with. At the end of the day, I’m an educator.

That’s what my role is.

BM: Absolutely. That’s a really awesome, little tradition that has been built with those selfies.

TH: The other part of the selfies is now I’m getting selfies requested by parents, by faculty members and members in the community as I’m going out and about. We had the parents event where I invite parents of students for dinner when we were over in Chicago. I had a line of students and parents who wanted to get a selfie. Every one has been special.

I can’t say that there was one that stands out more than any because they all do, and I mean that from my heart. They all do. It’s because it was important to that student that they asked and had the confidence to say, “Hey, are you available for a selfie?” Absolutely, I’m available for a selfie.

BM: Always. Even if you’re running late to a meeting. Now, what would you consider to be your greatest achievement at GVSU? TH: I could do that in a couple of ways. From a physical standpoint, I think creating the health campus in downtown Grand Rapids.

Before, we had one building, and now we have literally a campus that has grown since probably 2010. I think from a physical standpoint that is a testimony to the vision we have here at the institution to build the talent and the space that’s important to west Michigan and the health professions and nursing, including some of the efforts in engineering down there. I think that particular physical demonstration of supporting the regional needs and the healthcare industry is one that I’m very, very proud of.

Then if I look here on the campus, I’m going to view the buildings that we have created, the learning environments whether it be the Mary Idema Pew Library, to the efforts with Kindschi Hall and some of the others, the rehab of the football stadium, the lacrosse and the outdoor track facilities, the club sports area, all that.

All the investments made.

The one area that I’m really thrilled with is that we all focused on the LEEDs certification of the additional learning spaces that we have here. The Leadership in Engineering and Environmental Design and so I’m really, really pleased with the efforts that our staff put forward. James Moyer in

ALL SMILES FROM THE GRILL: President Thomas J. Haas flashes his beloved smile as he flips his signature pancakes at a grill on campus.

Before this interview, Haas had just returned from making pancakes at the wish of a young boy who aspires to be a chef. GVL | ARCHIVE

particular, but others supporting him. James now is retired but to create the environmental design for the future, I think that is something I’m very proud of. And then probably on a more intimate level, I think our focus in on inclusion and equity with the hiring of our (vice presidents) in that space before an institution like us to have a vice president on the staff and working at that and I know that is critically important to student success. So lots of things from a physical standpoint and then from a more cultural need here for us was student success and probably, if you tie it all together, that we have become a more relevant institution.

BM: This one’s a bit unique, but it was actually requested by some students for me to ask. If you were a professional wrestler or professional athlete, what would your walk-in song be?

TH: My walk-in song… okay, that’s a good one. Let’s see… what would it be? Now I say this because it’s one of my favorite songs, it’s meaningful to me and it doesn’t work with a professional wrestler or athlete, but What A Wonderful World is one… my wife and I enjoy that. It would be kind of an interesting paradox, you walk in with a wonderful world, but it truly is. When I think about the adventure my wife and I have had, we’ve been married for over 45 years right now, the places that we’ve gone, the places we’ve seen, here at the university with some of the activity, some of the travels with our international partners, that is one of those songs that means a lot to me.

But if you wanted to roll it up, We Are The Champions.

I like Queen, so I would put it that way. One from a personal standpoint with wonderful world, and then with Queen.

BM: I think those are both excellent choices, both excellent songs as well. Now, you’ll be going from being the president of the university to teaching for the next, what was it, year or so?

TH: Well I’m going to take a little time off. I’ve never taken a sabbatical.

I’ve been teaching for 42 years and I’ve never had a sabbatical so I’ll take a little time off and then we’ll come back and get involved in the classroom a little bit.

QUESTION AND ANSWER: GVSU President Thomas Haas sits with Lanthorn Editor-in-Chief Brady McAtamney in the president’s office in Zumberge Hall overlooking the Cook Carillon Tower. GVL | BEN HUNT

BM: Are you worried that your reputation as the president might make it difficult or distract your incoming students that you’ll be teaching?

TH: I don’t think so. As I continue to teach now, I go into a freshman chemistry class, organic chemistry class, that’s never been a distraction here. I think it’s been embraced by the students a lot because at the end of the class period there’s usually a few selfies of course, but in fact I heard from an alum over in Chicago, she said ‘I was in your freshman chemistry class and I think you had some balloons.’ I was doing some structures, she remembered that from 12 years ago. Now she’s a PT over in Chicago. I don’t think so, but I have a funny story for you.

BM: Let’s hear it.

TH: I’m here, I’m going into freshman chemistry, it was one of the larger lecture halls, and after I lectured in the freshman chem, one student came up and goes ‘are you related to our new president? Because you have the same last name.’ I said ‘I know him really well.’

We both had fun with that.

They’ve demonstrated, to go with your question, the confidence that the student had to come up and just engage. I say just the opposite.

I think the students, when I’m in the classroom with them, will recognize that I had some leadership role here but at the end of the day I’m an educator helping them in their pursuits of a degree.

BM: Do you have anything else that you’d like to say? Do you have anything you’d like to touch on that we haven’t gotten into yet?

TH: Yeah, I think so. One of the areas of great satisfaction has been within the development space and that is developing friends for the university, whether it be through helping folks invest here in a new facility or invest in scholarships, invest in somehow into Grand Valley State University and I think that that has been a wonderful display of confidence. When I met Bill Seidman, for instance, he’s reputed to be the founder along with others, he had the vision of the university just like this.

I think that we continue to see now those individuals continue to invest and now, what I’m saying some of the alumni that are coming, out of the probably the 180,000 alumni I’ve probably shaken hands with half of them. What I see with a great deal of pleasure is people wanting to come give the same advantage to students that are here or are going to be here in the coming years and that investment, to me, validates our mission.

And I think that that is pretty special note to end up on. So many people come here because they choose to be here.

They could choose to go other places. We have a remarkable student body. From the standpoint of who they are individually and collectively, they are talented academically and in regards to the talents they bring to us. And so they choose us. So the donors and the investors are choosing us as well because we’re giving a good return on that investment, good value. And that’s what Grand Valley is all about. It gives us a good value, a good education, a good step forward and hopefully the habits of success that they are investing here to get are seeing a good return here as well.

APRIL 1 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

NEWS | A3

COMMUNITY

SEA OF COLORS: Throwing colored dust into the air, students celebrate Holi on campus. The celebration continued this year, as it tied into Campus Interfaith Resources’ Interfaith Week. The week-long event aims to encourage discussion between students and community member of different faiths through various activities and events. Many of the events highlight less-represented religions on GVSU’s campus. GVL | ARCHIVE

First ever annual Interfaith Week spurs conversations about religion

BY SHILOH REYNOLDS SREYNOLDS@LANTHORN.COM

For the first time ever, Grand Valley State University’s Campus Interfaith Resources department hosted Campus Interfaith Week.

The week’s intent was to allow students to explore different religions and talk about their own beliefs in a respectful manner.

Based on a 2015 report, 63 percent of GVSU students identified as Christian. Nine percent of students identified as agnostic, seven percent as atheist, one percent each as Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist and less than one percent as Hindu.

These numbers are consistent with data from the Pew Research Center that suggest

approximately 70 percent of adults in Michigan describe themselves as Christian.

However, based on indicators such as fertility rate trends and youth participation in religion, Pew Research Center predicts that by 2050, the percent of Christians in the United States will decrease, while the number of Muslims will increase to surpass the number of Jewish in the country.

With the country becoming more religiously diverse, Campus Interfaith Resources Campus Engagement Manager Kevin McIntosh said that he believes it is important for students to learn about traditions different than their own.

“The country is growing more religiously diverse everyday,” McIntosh said. “I think that learn-

ing about other traditions makes GVSU students better global citizens. It could be that they just recognize that when they order pizza for an event, they should make sure to get a few without pork but it could also be that they recognize other religious holidays or customs that their future coworkers, neighbors and friends practice.”

McIntosh worked with Graduate Assistant Lauryn Nett to implement many of the activities during the week.

“All of our events are LIB 100 approved, so we get many students who attend for that,” McIntosh said. “We also get students who want a chance to talk about different religions, spiritualities and worldviews.

So often it’s considered ta-

boo to talk about these things when a healthy interfaith dialogue can be so rewarding.”

Events during the week included a Student Experience Panel, Speedfaithing, a Sikh Langar meal and a Holi event to celebrate the Hindu festival of colors. The Holi event took place outside of the Kirkhof Center.

Assistant Professor of Religious Studies Abhi Ghosh opened the celebration with a brief overview of Holi.

He explained to the crowd of approximately 30 participants that Holi celebrates not only the springtime, but also family and unity.

Holi is considered a national holiday in India, and people there traditionally decorate themselves and others with colored powders

made from crushed flower petals. After the introduction, participants were encouraged to scoop up cornstarch-based powers and make themselves, as well as others, more colorful. Soon, most people’s shirts and faces were streaked with vibrant shades of blue, purple, red, orange and green.

Local second-grader Willow West came to the celebration with her family after learning about Holi at school.

“One of my classmates actually celebrates it, so that’s how we knew about it,” West said. “It’s a festival of colors and I learned that people throw around colored powder and water.”

West said she was “very happy” to attend the event.

GVSU student Megan White came to the event

with her friend Meda Kulbaclauskalte.

“My friend is in LIB 100 and when she mentioned it, it sounded fun,” White said.

“I had never heard about Holi before this.”

Ghosh, who grew up in India, said that he thought it was important for everyone to learn about and appreciate cultural traditions, regardless if they represent your own beliefs or religion.

“In India, we have Hindus celebrating Christmas and Christians celebrating Eid,” Ghosh said. “Holi is a festival in India where everyone celebrates it. It’s a cultural and a religious holiday. At Grand Valley, this event was a fun way to learn about other cultures and feel happy together.”

WORLD

Grand Valley student represents Michigan in Cherry Blossom Festival

BY ALLISON RAFFERTY ARAFFERTY@LANTHORN.COM

This year marks the 71st annual Cherry Blossom Festival in the nation’s capital, and along with it, the annual Cherry Blossom Princess Program, in which women from all over the country are selected to represent their state. This year, the Michigan representative is none other than Grand Valley State University student Elizabeth Kebler.

Kebler, a senior at GVSU studying advertising and public relations, got involved with the Cherry Blossom Festival through the National Conference of State Societies (NCSS) and the Michigan State Society.

She then went through an application process before being crowned Michigan’s Cherry Blossom Princess.

The festival and princess program celebrates friendly relations between the United States and Japan. As explained

by Vice President of Events and Festival Chair with NCSS, Teresa Downs, both were revived in 1948 as part of post-WWII efforts to promote peaceful relations with Japan.

Communications Vice President of the princess program Diana Tappert said, “The princesses share a week

in D.C. together, sharing culture about their home states and learning more about the culture of Japan.”

As the program is all about international friendship, princesses from countries outside of the U.S. are included as well.

In order to become a Cherry Blossom Princess, candidates must be 19 to 24 years old, have graduated high school, and have a connection to the state that they represent.

Additionally, a potential princess must demonstrate strong leadership skills in her school, workplace and community.

Tappert said that candidates must also possess “poise, intelligence, maturity, have a good personality and character, and enjoy good physical, mental and emotional stability in order to withstand the rigorous schedule of festival activities.”

Representing Michigan is an honor for Kebler, as she is very passionate about the state and all of the opportunities it has provided her.

“Working alongside Congressman Bill Huizenga and his staff for the past year has brought my attention to how great our state truly is, and I am excited to be able to bring attention to that in D.C.,” Kebler said.

Kebler was inspired to partake in this opportunity be-

cause she feels it is the perfect way to end her time as an undergraduate student.

“I knew this would give me the chance to not only represent our state, but also allow me to participate in a variety of cultural and social events celebrating the unique and enduring friendship between the United States and Japan,” Kebler said.

As a 2019 Cherry Blossom Princess, Kebler will discuss policy issues and cultural insights with the nation’s leaders.

“During my time, I will be visiting the U.S. Institute of Peace, meeting with the ambassador of Japan and attending receptions at the Russian Embassy, as well as attending many other events,” Kebler said.

While she is excited about the program in its entirety, Kebler is most looking forward to being escorted by Huizenga at the Congressional Reception on Capitol Hill.

“Engaging with leading government, business, arts and media leaders for a week is an incredible experience and doing that alongside other powerful young women who are passionate about civic and world affairs will be an enriching experience,” Kebler said.

At the end of the week, a princess will be selected at random and crowned Cherry Blossom Queen. The Queen

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ROYAL REPRESENTATIVE: Representing the state of Michigan, Grand Valley State University senior Elizabeth Kebler will be the state’s Cherry Blossom Princess and travel to Washington D.C. COURTESY | GVSU

will represent NCSS on a twoweek-long diplomatic trip to Japan in which she will meet with the Prime Minister of

Japan, business leaders and members of cultural societies around Japan, spreading the history of the National Confer-

ence of State Societies and its role within the Cherry Blossom Princess Program.

A4 | OPINION EDITORIAL

APRIL 1, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON

By Juliette Elton

When political views clash, civility trumps all

P

resident Donald J. Trump’s recent visit to Grand Rapids exemplified one of the great things about American democracy: the opportunity to openly express one’s ideas.

From supporters to protesters alike, Grand Rapids civilians took to the streets to make their opinions known. While some folks may have been there to ruffle some feathers, most attendees conformed peacefully at the rally. The recent era of protesting policies and political figures has sparked conversations across the globe about what it means to be an active citizen.

Following the inauguration of President Trump in 2016, the world’s largest march was held on Saturday, Jan. 21. From the combined efforts from countries across the globe, it is estimated the Women’s March on Washington movements had participation from over 5 million people. According to a Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation survey, since 2016, 20 percent of Americans have joined a political rally or protest, 19 percent of whom have never done so before.

A big portion of those involved are college students, who have been the face of public protest dating back to the Vietnam War era. Some protests since Trump’s inauguration have seen instances of violence and destruction, but the most recent rally in Grand Rapids managed to keep things peaceful.

Being an active citizen can entail various facets, yet the election of Donald Trump has seen a (HUGE) rise in the country’s first constitution right to peacefully assemble.

During the Lanthorn’s coverage of the rally, we saw what the crowd was

like first-hand.

While the area around Van Andel and Rosa Parks Circle were full of protesters and counter-protesters alike, the half-mile-long line to enter the arena was orderly, civil and optimistic. Despite the president’s rhetoric demonizing news media, those in line were polite and seemed to want to share the communal feeling that was assembled in Grand Rapids.

Outside of Van Andel, protesters met with proTrump supporters as the president took the stage.

Surprisingly, despite the mixture of those with vastly different views, the crowd was civil.

As the president made controversial statements, you could hear cheering from those wearing MAGA hats on the sidewalk and booing from those with anti-Trump signs ahead, but there was little to scoff at beside the occasional verbal confrontation or protester hoping for a riot.

We witnessed other reporters experience similar success in both realms, with supporters and protesters alike cooperating to share their messages in a peaceful manner.

This did not have to be the case. We’ve historically see rally backlash go sour, with not just reporters, but businesses, citizens and bystanders face the fury of political dissonance.

This is what progress looks like. While the country is still facing a radicalization and separation of our political beliefs nationwide, we’re now approaching what seems to be a movement to not just speak up, but to be listened to.

So we take our red, white and blue hats off to you, the political masses, for making your voices heard without stepping on the throats of others.

GV L ED ITORIA L B OA R D BRADY MCATAMNEY MCKENNA PEARISO LAUREEN HORAN NICK MORAN KELLEN VOSS AMY MCNEEL SARAH EDGECOMB

Editor-In-Chief Associate editor Associate editor News editor Sports editor Laker Life editor A&E editor

WHAT IS A LANTHORN? Lant • horn, n. [Old English] A lanthorn is a lantern that was used in mid-to-late 16th-century Europe. It was constructed of leather and a single lens made from a thin

piece of ox or steer horn. It was used for illumination and as a beacon.

The Grand Valley Lanthorn slogan is “Give light, and the people will find their own way.”

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

The Lanthorn strives to be a safe vehicle for community discussion. With this in mind, the Lanthorn will not publish or entertain any forms of hate speech, but neither will it discriminate against any other views, opinions or beliefs.

The content, information and views expressed are not approved by—nor do they necessarily represent those of—the university or its Board of Trustees, officers, faculty or staff.

Letters to the editor should include the author’s full name, relevant title and a headshot, along with a valid email address and phone number for confirming the identity of the author. Letters should be approximately 500-650 words in length, and they are not edited by the Lanthorn staff except to fix technical errors or to clarify. Reader submissions on the opinion page appear as space permits.

To make a submission, email editorial@lanthorn.com or drop your submission off in person at:

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

WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM? HAVE A PROBLEM THAT YOU NEED HELP SOLVING? SEND US AN EMAIL. EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

editorial@lanthorn.com

Does your Battle of the Valleys opinion carry weight? Take the survey.

BY NICK MORAN JUNIOR MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

The decision to suspend the fundraising competition portion of Battle of the Valleys has raised quite a stir. Social media is a firestorm of comments criticizing the decision to pull out of the competition.

Before you roll up your sleeves and share your two cents, see if you can make it through this survey.

1. Have you read the Lanthorn’s coverage of the situation or talked to a senator? If yes, please continue.

If not, understand the full

scope of the conversation before adding your voice. No, reading the headline alone does not make you an expert on the topic at hand. If it did, you’d find me in the library scanning the titles of books. I think we both know that’s not how it works.

I also firmly believe that if anyone has an opinion based strictly on what their university’s Barstool account believes, they’re also probably the type of person that thinks their professor is “totally full of it” when lecturing on anything they don’t understand.

Take a moment to assess the situation and know the facts. Then you can check this box and move on.

2 Did you know there was a fundraising competition associated with Battle of the Valleys prior to this conversation? If yes, please continue.

If not, ask yourself how your personal relationship with the competition began. If it was with my article, I’m flattered.

If this was the first time you

even heard about the fundraising competition, your actual thoughts are probably just rooted in the universal truth that donating to charity is a darn good thing. Everyone would agree, but I can assure you that there are other foundations and competitions that will happily take your support.

Take that energy and support GVSU Greek Life’s philanthropy, make a Relay for Life team or donate some food to Replenish yourself. Even if you checked yes, these organizations aren’t going anywhere.

3 Have you ever participated? If yes, please continue.

Note: shotgunning beers and cursing at the rival football team doesn’t count as participating. Participating is considered a donation or helping organize the competition.

If not, ask yourself why you’re complaining.

Are you angry because that money won’t be raised anymore? Because ideas were raised about other ways senate can raise money via a large-

scale event before the vote to strike the fundraising competition was even called.

Also, student senate helped facilitate thousands of dollars in donations. Can you say you were one of the people to help?

If the last time you made a donation was because you got a parking ticket and thought Food For Fines was easier, you need to think about what charity means to you. I can’t make you care, but if I provided you with an epiphany, finish the survey.

Did you check all four of those boxes? If you did, kudos to you. I’ll happily listen to your thoughts on this and I’ll even buy the coffee when we meet.

But if not, reconsider what message you’re portraying.

Think about what Battle of the Valleys really means to you and stand behind what you say.

Are you supporting charity?

Are you considering the whole story? Are you making a difference?

End of survey.

L ET T ER TO TH E EDITOR

SVSU on Battle of the Valleys CAITLIN COULTURE SAGINAW VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY

Dear editor, I am writing in response to the article published by the Lanthorn, “Student senate votes to discontinue Battle of the Valleys fundraising competition.” I am currently president of the Saginaw Valley State University Student Association, and last year I served as philanthropy chair for SA, which placed me in a position to lead SVSU’s fundraising efforts during Battle of the Valleys week.

I was saddened to learn that the GVSU student senate has voted to discontinue participation in Battle of the Valleys, a fundraising competition that has raised a

combined $652,385 for charity over the past 16 years.

But the primary reason for my letter is to respond to an allegation made in the article. It states, “Saginaw Valley State has been accused of breaking competition rules in the past to raise more money.

This was supposedly done by collecting money year-round and utilizing donations from outside of the student body.”

This is utterly false. I can directly speak to SVSU’s full adherence to the competition rules during the past two years, and I am familiar with the commitment and integrity of past SA leaders.

We at SVSU did not collect a dime outside of the designated week of competition. We worked diligently in advance to make it easy for people to donate and to maximize contributions during BOV week.

It is true that we accepted donations from SVSU faculty, staff, alumni and friends, as well as students, but this is fully within the rules.

To suggest any improper conduct by SVSU students is an insult and cannot go unchallenged. Over the past 16 years, thousands of Cardinals have poured their heart and soul into the cause of helping others during Battle of the Valleys, and their legacy should not be tarnished by an unfounded and inaccurate allegation.

At SVSU, we care deeply about the non-profit agencies in our community and the people they serve. That is why I – and so many others inside and outside of SA – have worked tirelessly during Battle of the Valleys week to raise funds. For example, I work as a medical scribe in a local hospital. During my year as philanthropy chair, I worked four overnight shifts during the week prior to Battle of the Valleys so that I could fully commit to the 18-hour days required to successfully raise funds during the contest week. To me, this was work and sacrifice

to be embraced in service to a cause greater than myself.

I know many others could share similar stories of determination.

I would like to close by thanking all of the GVSU students who have participated in Battle of the Valleys over the years. The competition pushed us to be our best and do our best for our charity partners, and many deserving causes are the better for our shared and individual efforts. This contest began in 2003 as a way to capitalize on the attention drawn by the football rivalry to engage the respective student bodies out of a desire to help others. We at SVSU are sad to see it end this way, but we are grateful to have learned valuable lessons and to know that many lives have been changed for the better through this Battle.

Sincerely, Caitlin Coulter President, Saginaw Valley State University Student Association

VALLEY VOTE

THIS ISSUE’S QUESTION

QUOTE

What’s your favorite season on campus?

Did you attend the President Trump rally in Grand Rapids?

“Your legacy is every life you’ve touched.”

50% 0% 30% 20%

Fall Winter Spring Summer

QUESTION OF THE ISSUE

–Oprah Winfrey www.lanthorn.com WHAT WILL T. HAAS’ LEGACY BE?

ALEX WORLEY

ANTHONY SCIARINI

“Iconic.”

“The GV president who was most present on campus, taking selfies.”

YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Business HOMETOWN: Holland, Mich.

YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Computer Science HOMETOWN: Haslett, Mich.

BREE MCFADDEN

BETHANY SCHMID

“Everybody loved him. Everybody.”

“He’s super friendly and gets along well with students.”

YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Allied Health Sciences HOMETOWN: Fenton, Mich.

YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Exercise Science HOMETOWN: Novi, Mich.

APRIL 1, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

NEWS | A5

PRESENTATION

Dreamer, mathematics professor speaks at GVSU on her journey

BY RACHEL MATUSZEWSKI RMATUSZEWSKI@LANTHORN.COM

On March 26, professor Pamela Harris spoke to Grand Valley State University professors and students about her journey into the United States, discovering her love for mathematics and the people who helped her along the way.

Harris, who has published over 40 research and peer reviewed publications in algebra and other mathematics, has given over 80 research talks and done research with more than 30 undergraduate students. Harris had taught at West Point Military Academy for four years before accepting a position at Williams College. “(Teaching mathematics as a minority) still has a huge emotional toll on me,” Harris said. “(To complete the process of tenure and promotion) I have to have 40 papers. My teaching scores have to be astronomical.

I have to win national teaching awards so I am comparable to a mediocre white man.”

A native of Guadalajara, Mexico, Harris recalled her love for traveling, and her ability to achieve her dream early on when she and her family moved to California when she was just eight years old. Although, her parents hoped she would earn a better education there, the finances in California were similar to Mexico, so they moved back and eventually found themselves in Milwaukee, Wisconsin when she was twelve years old.

Graduating high school was a huge deal, as Harris’ parents

only finished ninth grade in Mexico. Being undocumented when their visa ran out, Harris found it challenging to attend and afford a college education.

With her passion and talent in art, she said she decided to become an art teacher.

“I found, in art, a venue in which I could pour my soul into,” Harris said. “It gave me a way to escape. Hobbies are really powerful... I didn’t have to spend every waking moment trying to figure out what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I could at least focus on finishing this particular piece.”

She was placed at a seventh grade math level in college.

Sitting in her Intermediate Algebra course, she didn’t believe her professor when she said numbers multiplied and added to different things. Her kindness from her professor is still a respect she passes on to GVSU professors.

“As a professor, your words and your tone matter. We meet our students where they are at and we help them build up.”

Harris said.

To take more math classes, Harris transferred to Marquette University and completed an independent study with one of her professors who inspired her to keep learning.

“Encourage your students,” Harris said. “They may end up doing really well in something you know they’re good at, but they still don’t know.”

As a graduate student at University of WisconsinMilwaukee, she married her active military husband and had a daughter. Harris said this was another challenging

OF MENTORS AND MATH: Speaking in Henry Hall, mathematics professor Pamela Harris shares her experience as a dreamer and budding mathematician, and the role of mentors. Harris spoke to a crowd as part of Grand Valley State University’s Mosaic Lecture Series. GVL | LEAH KERR

time of her life, but her adviser and mentor continued to tell her to focus on math.

They would meet in coffee shops while her daughter was napping and spend two hours doing math together. Harris said she now understands “focus on the math” meant focusing on the things she could control in her life.

The second part of Harris’ discussion addressed the importance of professors and

WELLNESS

STUDYING AND STRESS: Working on homework in the Mary Idema Pew Library, a student chugs through an assignment as the year draws to an end. April is the worst time of year for mental health. GVL | ARCHIVE

April showers: GVPD says April is worst for student mental health

BY LAUREEN HORAN ASSOCIATE1@LANTHORN.COM

It’s finally April, and final exams are approaching quickly for students at Grand Valley State University. Some students are breathing a sigh of relief knowing that the end is near, but according to Grand Valley Police Department, preparing for finals also leaves many students buckling under extreme pressure. GVPD Capt. Jeff Stoll confirmed that last week, four GVSU students were hospitalized due to ailments of poor mental health and encourages struggling students to de-stress and prioritize their well-being.

“Moving into April, the stress of finals can be so overwhelming that it creates a physical reaction such as panic attacks or breathing troubles, but can also cause people to feel suicidal… Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon this time of year,” Stoll said. “It’s a tough time of year for students, especially seniors.”

The department has responded to nearly 20 mental health crises within the Laker community since January.

GVPD is able to respond to students who need immediate attention, but from there, Stoll hopes students will utilize resources and safe spaces found on campus. The Counseling Center is a great resource for

students who need emotional support and a listening ear, but counseling isn’t the only way to recoup and reduce stress as finals week approaches.

“Mental health can be addressed by several departments on campus; the rec center is a great way to cope and unwind,” Stoll said. “Resident Assistants (RAs) and living center directors on campus are there to be supportive and help students smooth out issues that arise.

We are all here to ensure that the students can not only finish the semester strong but put themselves on a good track toward the future.”

Resident Assistant Marshal Brummel emphasizes the role of campus RAs and how they are trained to look for certain signs and communicate with residents.

“The function of an RA is primarily to monitor and refer,” Brummel said.

“I monitor what my residents do and say. It’s common for RAs to do programs about stress reduction or community resources so residents know how to help themselves, but outside of referring students to counseling, I usually try to figure out the source of the issue… I can’t do much for a student who’s having family issues, but for students who are stressing over their grades, I refer them to various tools I use and encourage them to get a tu-

tor or any other academic help they may need.”

Some time at the gym, a nice long walk, movie night at Kirkhof or even a good tutoring session could do wonders for the struggling student. During the week of exams, GVSU hosts “Exam Cram:” a week of fun, relaxing and intellectually stimulating events to help students decompress and thus improve their productivity.

Student Senate President Rachel Jenkin expressed that though it’s time to buckle down on classwork, students shouldn’t let the pressure of a perfect grade destroy their sanity.

“I would suggest to students to talk to their professors more than anything else.

Sometimes students have multiple exams in one day and are overwhelmed, but do not realize they can get it moved. I’m not sure the best way to teach students to not take the pressure of grades so seriously, but it is something I think we need to work on as a society, because it can truly feel like the end of the world if you fail a class or get an exam grade that makes your GPA tank. Maybe this is something professors could address, given that their voice is the most powerful when determining the value of grades,” Jenkin said.

universities welcoming undocumented students.

“Remember that there are undocumented students,” Harris said. “They need our help. Most of them were brought here as children by absolutely no choice of their own. We should embrace the people (who) are a part of our community.”

She said students and professors need to build welcoming environments, such

as putting the symbol for the undocumented — a butterfly — on their door or mentioning they don’t discriminate in their syllabus. With several ways to support undocumented students, Harris said that providing a range of resources is crucial.

“This was one of the first times I’ve been to a presentation from someone who was undocumented and who went through the entire process,”

said sophomore Rebeca Barajas. “It was nice to get a perspective from a minority who (has) made it very far. I was very inspirational to see someone I can relate to could go through all of those life challenging moments. The role that she plays where she works, we also have that support system here and it was nice to see that there’s different institutions across the country that believe in what she does as well.”

A6 | LAKER LIFE

APRIL 1, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

LAKER EFFECT

ARTS AT A GLANCE GV FACULTY, STAFF THANK MARCIA HAAS

On Wednesday, March 27, more than a dozen Grand Valley State University faculty and staff members came together to gift a handmade quilt to Marcia Haas. The quilt was a secret project that took months to create.

The quilt consists of Laker blue blocks, and the designs include formulas, student artwork and anchors. Faculty and staff who collaborated on the quilt met in secret over two lunch hours. Some of the quilters took their work home to finish their blocks. Once the blocks were completed, they were taken to a local machine quilter and then stitched together by a small group of the GVSU quilters.

Marcia has been a huge part of the GVSU community ever since her husband, Thomas Haas, was appointed GVSU president in 2006. The quilt is a gift that thanks Marcia for her involvement in the GVSU community, where she will always be welcome.

STUDENT WORK TO BE SHOWCASED AT STUDENT SCHOLARS DAY

The 2019 Student Scholars Day (SSD) is taking place on Wednesday, April 10 from to 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The event will be held in three different locations: Henry Hall Atrium, Kirkhof Center and Mary Idema Pew Library.

SSD is held every year to showcase the work that Grand Valley State University students have done throughout the year. The showcase will include poster presentations, art exhibits and performances, oral presentations and discussions. All of the work is part of a course or in collaboration with a GVSU faculty member.

SSD is free and all GVSU students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend and explore. To register to volunteer or find presentations, visit www.gvsu.edu/ours/ssd.

GV TO HOST LAKER EXPERIENCE DAYS

Laker Experience Days are taking place on Friday, April 5 and Friday, April 12. These days are specifically for high school juniors and their parents, and aim to help students understand why Grand Valley State University may be a good fit for them.

Laker Experience Days will include academic information sessions, student services information sessions, walking tours and a handful of optional activates. In depth information about optional activities and information sessions can be found at www.gvsu.edu/admissions/ laker-experience-day-79.htm.

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

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

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 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.

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

COMMUNITY

Greek Life lets their voices be heard at second annual Greek Speak

BY AMANDA ROGERS AROGERS@LANTHORN.COM

On Tuesday, March 26, members of GVSU Greek Life filed into the Loutit Lecture Halls for the second annual Grand Valley State University Greek Speak. Greek Speak, which was hosted in partnership with GVSU’s Greek Life Board and the Speech Lab, took place between 8 and 10 p.m.

The event is a speaking

competition designed to inform the audience about participating Greek fraternities and sororities backgrounds, philanthropies and brotherhood/sisterhood.

The competition included three judges: Director of CLAS Communication and Advancement at GVSU Monica Johnstone, Adjunct Professor of Communication at GVSU Isaac Simon and recent GVSU alumnus and for-

mer Student Director of the Speech Lab Justin Sims.

All speeches were restricted to no more than five minutes and there was a one-point deduction for every 15 seconds over the deadline.

The event, while educational to those in the audience, was largely a learning experience for competitors. It gave participants the opportunity to use their voices in a way they might not have before.

COMPETITION: As part of Greek Week, Grand Valley State University Greek Life members participated in Greek Speak. Gamma Phi Beta took first place and won 80 Greek Week points. COURTESY | GVSU

DIVERSITY

Explore cultures at Grand Rapids Latin American Film Festival

BY AUTUMN BABAS LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

Living in the United States of America, we are constantly exposed to Hollywood blockbusters. Although we have spent hours siting on the couch, shoveling down popcorn and binge watching Netflix, many of us haven’t experienced the style, imagery and imagination of films set and created in other areas, such as Latin America. From Friday, April 5 to Sunday, April 7, multiple award winning films from Latin America will be displayed right here in Grand Rapids for the Latin American Film Festival.

This will be the ninth annual Grand Rapids Latin American Film Festival (GRLAFF) and will be free to the public.

“We want to show that even though there are cultural differences between the United States and Latin American countries, there are still a lot of points they can connect,” said Associate Professor of Spanish and Co-Chair of the Organizing Committee for the GRLAFF Mayra Fortes

González. “A lot of these films show different human experiences and people can relate to these experiences and similar struggles.”

The event is organized by five local colleges, including GVSU, Aquinas College, Calvin College, Davenport University and Hope College.

“Students from each college will be serving as volunteers for the festival,” said Co-Chair of the Organizing Committee for the GRLAFF Médar Serrata.

In 2018, the GRLAFF was recognized as an outstanding event, winning the local Grand Rapids Grandy award for Outstanding Art Event

(Judge’s Choice).

“Over a thousand people attended last year,” González said.

“I think people really enjoy the relaxed atmosphere where they can come, see a nice film and connect with other people who are interested in cultures.”

The GRLAFF will be located at the Wealthy Theatre in Grand Rapids. People will have the opportunity all weekend to come out and see the engaging visuals and thriving sounds of Latin America through nine films, including five short films.

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

ENTERTAINMENT: The Latin American Film Festival is coming up in GR. Lakers are urged to attend this free event. COURTESY | GRLAFF

“This event helps elevate peoples’ voices and inspires people to realize the importance of public speaking and just to learn how to use their voice to talk about what is important to them,” said Sigma Pi Vice President, Vice President

of Programing for Greek Life Board and Speech Lab Consultant Dominic Cassisi. “That is a big thing that the speech lab prides itself on – empowering people to use their voices.”

Greek Speak was designed as a bracket that included five

rounds. In the first round, each team picked a representative who gave a speech about their organization, their background and who they are.

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SPORTS | A7

APRIL 1, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

QUICK HITS

SOFTBALL

NO. 21 LAKERS OPEN HOME SCHEDULE WITH WIN OVER MCKENDREE The No. 21 ranked Grand Valley State Lakers opened their home schedule with an impressive 17-5 win over the Bearcats of McKendree on Friday, March 29 at the GVSU Lacrosse Stadium.

The home opener was broadcast on ESPN3, which was a first for Grand Valley Lacrosse. After conceding the first goal to the Bearcats, the Lakers rattled off 11 goals a in run away with the win.

Sarah Stagaard scored five goals and dished an assist while Kelley Fitzgerald dished out eight assists. Carly Shisler, Olivia Esposito and Megan Yoshida all recorded hat-tricks, while freshmen goalie Payton Neil made 13 saves on 18 shots to help bolster the defense.

NO. 21 GVSU RUNS AWAY FROM MARYVILLE, 20-1.

The No. 21 Grand Valley State Lakers never trailed in Sunday’s game against Maryville, winning 20-1 at the GVSU Lacrosse Stadium.

Ten different Lakers scored on the day to help GVSU improve to 8-3 and 5-1 in GLIAC play.

Kelley Fitzgerald led the Laker attack with four goals and four assists, giving her 12 dimes on the weekend.

Carly Shislet contributed a hattrick and controlled nine draws while Ashley Albright scored a pair of goals to go along with two assists. The Lakers were able to out-shoot the Maryville Saints 32-2, while holding the Saints to just three successful clears on 20 attempts and won the draw control battle, 19-4.

The Lakers play their final road game of the season this Saturday, April 6, when they face crosstown foe Davenport at 1:00 p.m.

GVSU BASKETBALL’S BOENSCH NAMED WBCA ALL-AMERICAN HONORABLE MENTION

Grand Valley State women’s basketball standout Cassidy Boensch was named to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NCAA Division II Coaches’ All-America honorable, per a release from the organization on Monday, March 25.

Just 10 players in Division II earn all-america status while Boensch is joined by 30 other athletes on the honorable mention list.

Boensch was previously named the GLIAC Player of the Year, as she helped lead the Lakers to the second most wins in program history when they finished the season 29-4 overall and 19-1 in conference action to take home the GLIAC regular season title.

The Au Gres, Mich., native averaged 19.6 points on 57.2 percent shooting with 11.6 rebounds per game while setting single season records for total blocks (102) and total rebounds (382).

EYES ON THE PRIZE: GVSU junior Kelcie LaTour digs her feet in the dirt and readies herself to engage her hips in the doubleheader against Wisconsin-Parkside on Wednesday, March 27. LaTour and the rest of the GVSU softball team had a successful week, earning their 20th and 21st wins of the season. GVL | ANDREW NYHOF

GVSU softball dominates Wisconsin Parkside, continue on hot start to season

BY KELLEN VOSS SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State softball team continued their dominant start to the season on Wednesday, March 27 as they picked up their 20th and 21st victories of the season at home against WisconsinParkside by scores of 8-0 and 7-2.

The team has won a multitude of games this season due to their consistency in batting, pitching and base running.

“I can’t complain,” said head coach Dana Callihan. “I thought we played pretty well, got our bats going and got the runs in and our pitching was pretty good.”

Lights-out pitching was the key to victory in that first game, as se-

nior Allison Lipovsky earned her 11th win of the season, only allowing one hit while striking out 15 rangers in six nearly perfect innings as she continues to make her case for DII Pitcher of the Year.

Solid hitting helped Lipovsky earn the win, as eight Lakers were able to combine for 11 hits in the contest. Nikola Holmen earned two hits and two RBI while scoring two runs, the second coming off her two-run homer that iced the game in the sixth inning.

It was more of the same in the second game for the Lakers, as freshman pitcher Samantha Gehrls had a solid outing of her own, allowing no hits and only one walk for the Rangers in five innings, with Hannah Dieck coming in relief to seal the Laker victory.

“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.”

While the Laker offense was stagnant for the majority of game two, the bats suddenly exploded in the fourth inning, as hits from Holmen, Bailey Thatcher, Shannon Flaherty and Lydia Goble helped drive in six runs for the Lakers in the inning.

With the Rangers starting to hit their stride with two runs in the final two innings, the Lakers needed a clutch play to secure the win. They got exactly that in the sixth inning when Goble was able to steal home on a wild pitch.

With the wins, the Lakers im-

prove to 21-3 on the year and currently sit alone in first place in the GLIAC with a 5-1 record.

Despite this hot start, Callihan feels the team needs to be more controlled at the plate.

“We still need to be more consistent throughout the lineup,” Callihan said. “Sometimes we lose some discipline when we’re at the plate. We’re a little anxious, so we got to relax up there.”

GVSU will have a chance to make those improvements this week, as they have a home doubleheader with Northwood on Tuesday, April 2, before heading to Saginaw Valley State for a doubleheader with the Cardinals two days later. Both doubleheaders will have games at 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

FEATURE

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

BY KELLEN VOSS SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

VARSITY SCHEDULE BASEBALL Monday, April 1, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., @ SVSU Tuesday, April 2, 3 p.m., @ Hillsdale Friday, April 5, 3 p.m., Home vs Davenport Saturday, April 6, 1 p.m., Home vs Davenport Sunday, April 7, 12 p.m., Home vs Davenport SOFTBALL Tuesday, April 2, 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., Home vs Northwood Thursday, April 4, 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., @ SVSU Sunday, April 7, 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., @ Ferris State TRACK & FIELD Friday, April 5, TBA, WKU Hilltopper Relays, Bowling Green, Ky. Saturday, April 6, TBA, MSU Spartan Invite, East Lansing, Mich.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE Saturday, April 6, 1 p.m., @ Davenport

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 edu-

READY TO LAUNCH: Grand Valley State freshmen Samantha Gehrls pushes all of her momentum forward to launch a pitch with all her strength at the GVSU Softball Field. Gehrls has already earned two wins this season. GVL | ANDREW NYHOF

cation 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 impres-

sive 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

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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.

APRIL 1, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A8 | SPORTS BASEBALL

SWING, BATTER BATTER: Grand Valley State junior catcher Connor Grice shifts the momentum of his hips, unlocks his knees and keeps his eye on the ball as he looks to hit an errant pitch at the GVSU Baseball Field. Grice and the rest of the GVSU baseball team have been struggling as late, losing all three of their last three contests to fall six games below .500 so far in the 2019 season. GVL | ARCHIVE

GVSU baseball close but stumbling, fall to 8-14

BY ELI ONG SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Whether it be injuries, inconsistent performance or just pure bad luck, Grand Valley State’s baseball team has experienced them all to a certain extent this season.

GVSU continued to fall in the standings as they faced Wayne State, Central Michigan and Saginaw Valley State in five games over the course of the past week. The Lakers split a doubleheader with No. 18 ranked Wayne State 7-4 and 8-9, before dropping a 6-2 decision at Central Michigan on Wednesday, March 27 and then dropped a twin bill against SVSU on Friday, March, 29.

“I refuse to believe this team is bad,” said GVSU head baseball coach Jamie Detillion. “It’s not an excuse, but we’ve played a lot of close games and good competition so it’s just a matter of us putting everything together out on the field.”

Of GVSU’s last four losses,

three have been by only one run. GVSU has also faced opponents with a record over .500 in 18 of their 22 games so far this season.

GVSU has also experienced a lot of attrition in the middle of their lineup. Senior outfielder Zach Berry, who spent most of the year so far as GVSU’s second hitter in their lineup, recently underwent ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction - better known as “Tommy John surgery” - and will be out for the rest of the season.

Junior catcher Joe Laudont, who has hit in the three through five slots in GVSU’s lineup this year and owns the highest batting average on the team, was just reinserted into the lineup on Friday, March 29th. Laudont was listed as injured for two weeks with a strained hamstring after slipping on a mud patch in practice while trying to field a pop up.

“Two through six we’ve had a lot of shuffling this year, both with injuries and incon-

sistency,” Detillion said. “I’m not going to fall back on that as an excuse, but it’s one of the variables we have to deal with, and we should perform better once we get some consistency in the lineup.”

While there have been plenty of sore eye sights for GVSU so far this year, but there have also been moments where players and the team have shined, even if they have been few and far between.

Chase Carpenter has blossomed into a versatile two-way player. Carpenter is hitting .359 with nine extra base hits and a .594 slugging percentage while also appearing as a relief pitcher. On the mound, Carpenter features a low

90s fastball that he mixes with a traditional curveball. In three appearances over 2 1/3rd innings, Carpenter has only surrendered one hit while also striking out four batters.

“Chase has been one of our most steady performers this year,” Detillion said. “With Zach Berry out of the lineup the opportunity arose for him to get more time in the outfield and he’s made the most out of it so far this year.”

GVSU’s offense has also shown moments where they can be a tough team to record outs against. In their Sunday, March 24 double header against Wayne State, GVSU scored 10 runs in a two inning stretch from the

MEETING AT THE MOUND: Former GVSU baseballers Tate Brawley (No. 22) and Connor Glick meet at the mound. GVL | ARCHIVE

LOCKED AND LOADED: GVSU Senior Jacob Gleason loads up his stance to unleash a powerful swing at the plate. GVL | ARCHIVE

end of game one to the beginning of game two.

“We’ve had flashes of potential, but potential doesn’t mean much unless you can consistently execute out on the field,” Detillion said.

Moving forward, Detillion said he wants to stress mental toughness and being prepared to compete from game-to-game and inning-to-inning on an every day basis.

“If I were to sum up our season so far I guess I would say it’s definitely a work in progress. We need to improve in a lot of areas, specifically

with runners in scoring position and situational defense,” Detillion said. “But if we can hone our mentalities that is often what plays the biggest role in whether you win or lose, which team can be the most prepared and mentally tough is the team that comes out on top and that’s what we are looking to become.”

Up next for the Lakers they play another doubleheader at conference rival SVSU on Monday, April 1.

Christian Mercure (1-3, 5.03 ERA) and Luke Hargis (1-0, 0.63 ERA) are slated to start the twin billing for GVSU.

APRIL 1, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

SPORTS | A9

M. TENNIS

SPREAD OUT AND RETURN THE SERVE: Grand Valley State senior Nicholas Urban uses every inch of his six-foot frame to stretch out and return a serve at the Premier Athletic & Tennis Club in Grandville, Mich. Urban and the rest of the GVSU men’s tennis team had a fairly successful week, as they were able to defeat both Hillsdale and Northwood earlier this week to improve to 13-5 on the year. COURTESY | GVSULAKERS.COM

GVSU men’s tennis takes home wins against Hillsdale, Northwood

BY ROSEMARY BOOHER SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State men’s tennis team played the Hillsdale Chargers on Thurs-

day, March 28 and faced off with the Northwood Timberwolves on Saturday, March

SPRING

HOUSING GUIDE

30; both matches ending in a Laker victory.

Last year, the Lakers defeated the Chargers 6-3.The Lakers followed in their own footsteps, as GVSU once again won their matchup with a score of 5-2.

“Each year is a new year with new players” said head coach John Black. “We have been working hard in practice to get ready for the matches.”

GVSU earned the first point in the match from doubles. Jack Giessler and Martin Matov as a team won 6-2.

Also winning 6-2 was doubles pair Nicholas Urban and Jack Dausman. However, Hillsdale prevailed by beating the team of Sebastien Lescoulie and DJ Colantine 6-4. At the end of doubles, GVSU had won two out of three matches.

“We focus on aggressive doubles play and developing a game plan that will give us the best chance of success,” Black said. “We focused on keeping a positive mindset and controlling our emo-

tions over the match.”

The winning continued as the Lakers were successful in four out of six matches in singles. Lesculie lost his first set but came back to win his next two 6-3 and 6-4. Giessler once again won his match with scores of 7-5 and 6-1. Matov gained another win with the score of 7-6 (4) and 6-4, as did Urban, who won three sets (6-3, 4-6, 10-8). Two of Lakers fell to the Chargers, Dausman and Zwemer.

The Lakers traveled to the Timberwolves’ home turf in Midland, Mich. on Sunday to compete in another GLIAC matchup. GVSU to secured another conference win of 4-3.

“The GLIAC is very tough this year with seven teams that could advance to NCAA play,” Black said. “Every match will be a battle and we are excited to pick up the comeback win over Northwood.”

The Lakers had a large comeback in the singles division with wins from four of six

players. Sebastien Lescoulie won 6-1 and 7-5, also winning was Giessler after losing his first set he came back, winning the next two 6-4 and 6-3.

Urban won his sets, (6-1, 4-6, 5-7) and Zwemer also secured a win, with scores of 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. Two Lakers lost in singles, Daisman and Matov.

The Lakers also lost all of the doubles matches prior to the singles playing.

“Northwood started off very strong in doubles,” Black said. “Doubles is so quick now with it only a set to six, that we cannot afford to work our way into it. We need to be going at full steam from the first point of the match.”

GVSU now sits at 12-5 on the year, and will look to improve upon that this Friday, April 5, with a 4 p.m. matchup against Ashland in Grandville.

2019

FEATURED IN THIS WEEKS ISSUE

SEE ANSWERS | A10

APRIL 1, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A10 | SPORTS TRACK & FIELD

CELEBRATING TEAM SUCCESS: The Grand Valley State men’s and women’s indoor lacrosse teams smile for the camera at the Kelly Family Sports Center after each team claimed their respective GLIAC Championship. Both teams opened up the indoor season this past weekend at the Florida Relays, where the 4 x 200 women’s relay team broke the school record with a 1:39.17 finish. COURTESY | GVSULAKERS.COM

GVSU track and field breaks school records to start the outdoor season

BY JEROD FATTAL SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The GVSU men’s and women’s track and field teams started the outdoor season on the road this weekend, competing in three different meets from Thursday, March 28 through Saturday, March 31.

The Lakers started the three-day tour in Gainesville, Fla., competing in the Florida Relays hosted at University of Florida.

“It’s important to start strong and try to get some NCAA qualifications out of the way early, so you can start to focus your training on the long term,” said coach Jerry Baltes. “Instead of focusing on a week-toweek or practice-to-practice approach, we can start to focus on the championship meets.”

Sarah Buella started the meet strong in the 400m

dash, where she ran a career best 56.02 seconds.

Rachael Walters led the way on Friday for the Lakers, finishing fifth place overall and as the top DII athlete in the 800m run with an NCAA automatic time of 2:05.68.

“She’s already three seconds faster than where she started last year,” Baltes said. “She’s been the NCAA runner-up a couple of times in the 800 and I expect her to be in the mix for a national title.”

Daniel Walker highlighted the men’s performances in the 400m hurdles, finishing as the top DII athlete with a time of 53.71 seconds.

GVSU opened the season competing against Division I powers like Florida and North Carolina State, which the Lakers hope will help them come championship season.

“Hopefully it raises the bar for us and produces better results,” Baltes said.

“Hopefully later in the season at championship meets we will be ready and prepared for competing against better competition.”

Zach Panning continued the Laker momentum Friday at the Raleigh, N. C. Relays, breaking his previously-held school record by more than 30 seconds in the 10,000m run with a time of 28:30.77, which ranks in the top 10 of the fastest times in DII history and earned him a bronze medal and the top DII athlete finish.

“He’s been on this path over the course of his career and the past couple of years we have held him back at this meet,” Baltes said. “Over the years he has developed into one of the best distance runners in the United States.”

Dennis Mbuta and Colin Herrmann also ran personal bests in the 1,500m and 5,000m races with times of 3:46.98 and 14:25.83 seconds. “(Mbuta) only ran track for two years in high school, so he’s only been racing competitively for four years,” Baltes said.

“He just continues to learn, progress and get stronger as a runner.”

On the women’s side, three different athletes started their season strong with three personal records. Hanna Groeber crossed the line in the 10,000m with a time of 34:54.23 seconds and Madison Goen followed her up in the 5,000m, finishing in 16:46.48 seconds. Allie Ludge rounded out the day in the 1,500m with a time of 4:22.33.

Ludge concluded her weekend Saturday at the final day of the Raleigh

L AK E R E XCHAN G E Announcements

Announcements

Announcements

Syner y ance oncert.

Seniors from the Grand Valley State University Dance Program will be featuring dance works, as well as performing for their dance capstone during two performances: Friday, April 5th at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 6th at 2 p.m., in the Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for the Performing Arts, studio theatre room 1600, on the Allendale Campus. The general public is welcome to attend this concert with free admission.

Snow is actually clear.

Snowflakes are made out of ice crystals, so when light passes through, it bends and bounces off each individual crystal. The entire spectrum of light is reflected back to our eyes, and we see white snow. So thereʼs actually no such thing as a White Christmas, but that sounds a lot catchier than Translucent Christmas.

Theatre at Grand Valley presents e a inary n ali . Performance located at Thomas J. and Marcia J Haas Center going from March 28th to April 7th.

Go to www.gvsu.edu/theatre for more information.

Snowflakes always have 6 sides. Itʼs science. The water molecules that snowflakes are made of can only fit together in a way that results in a six-sided ice crystal.

So those snowflake decorations and ornaments you see with five or eight sides?

Donʼt buy them. Youʼd be breaking a law of nature.

Happy April Fools Day! Today is the day to fool your friends, family, and significant others. You can do the classics like switching sugar with salt or you can get creative by putting onions instead of apples on a stick and cover them with caramel.

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.”

a ers s. oes la oot all ourna ent Grab your friends and join us on April 6-7 for the Lakers Vs. Joes Flag Football Charity Tournament supporting the Boys and Girls Club. The winning team will play against former GV Football players on Sunday the 7th!

7-10 players per team. $5 a person. Email lakersvajoes@gmail.com to sign up!

Why do you rarely find mathematicians spending time at the beach?… Because they have sine and cosine to get a tan and donʼt need the sun!

ran inale low 5K 2019. Saturday April 13th at 8:00pm. Register by April 5th to receive a race t-shirt.

R e g i s t e r a t gvsu.edu/rec/grandfinale5k.

Relays with a fourth place finish and new personal record in the 800m, crossing the line in 2:08.63 seconds.

Mbuta won the lone gold medal of the weekend in the following race, clocking in at 1:49.89 seconds, which was the fastest time at the invite.

GVSU saved their best running for last, breaking two more school records in the 4x200m relay at the final of the Florida Relays on Saturday. The relay team composed of Eby, Nicole Sreenan, Willow Stuedemann and Angelica Floyd crossed the line in 1:39.17 seconds and breaking the previous record by over five seconds, which was set back in 2000.

In the following race, the men’s 4x200m relay team of Walker, Jordan Johnson, Jahaven Haye and Andrew McFarland finished in 1:27.44 seconds, breaking

the previously held record of 1:28.33 set back in 2000.

In the field events, Hunter Weeks finished the day for the Lakers, taking third overall in the high jump, with a jump of 2.06m.

The Lakers had a good start to their season, but adjusting from the indoor to the outdoor season can have its challenges.

GVSU competed well, but both the men’s and women’s teams weren’t satisfied with the final results.

“We didn’t race as strongly as we would have liked to this weekend,” Baltes said. “Hopefully it helps prepare us for a couple of the big meets we have coming up over the next couple of weeks.”

Both teams will both be back in action April 5 at Western Kentucky for the Hilltopper Relays and Saturday, April 6 at Michigan State for the Spartan Invite.

FREE CLASSIFIEDS FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF some restrictions apply email lakerexchange@lanthorn.com for more info on restrictions FOR COMMERCIAL RATES EMAIL

lakerexchange@lanthorn.com OR CALL

Housing

Looking for Subleasers, to take over the lease at The Lodge in Allendale, for April until July. You can extend your lease. This is a luxury apartment that includes stainless steel appliances, a flat screen TV, all furnished.

The Internet, Utilities are all included in the rent for a monthly rate of $650 per month. If interested please email me your information and any questions so we can get the process started right away. Email: fifielde@mail.gvsu.edu

Puzzle Answers

616-331-2460