Grand Valley Lanthorn vol. 58 no. 2

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

Familiar Foes

With a new head coach, Lakers face miners in a top 5 contest

GV dance professor explores dance movement therapy ARTS

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GV establishes new partnership to support international student M O N DAY, AU G U S T 2 8 , 2 0 2 3 / / VO L . 5 8 N O. 2

NEWS | A2

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A2 | NEWS

AUGUST 28, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS

OPPORTUNITY

GV establishes new partnership to support international student success

BY GRACE SMITH NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University announced a new partnership with Global Detroit and the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce on June 15. With the goal of driving local economic growth, these organizations seek to collaborate on the expansion of the Global Talent Retention Initiative and the Global Entrepreneur in Residence Program.

“There’s two kinds of components to the program and one is the Entrepreneur in Residence Program, which allows for an international person to apply to be hired at Grand Valley at about 10 hours a week,” said Rachel Becklin, career advisor and internship specialist at GVSU. “Through that, they would be able to work on developing their company or business, whatever that is that they are creating outside of those work hours, which gives them some time and space to apply for the appropriate visas to help them stay and establish that organization.”

However, the expansion of the Global Talent Retention Initiative component of the new partnership is likely to create the biggest benefit to undergraduate international students at GVSU. Through increased development of the partnership, connections will be created between local corporations and students abroad in hopes of increasing West Michigan’s Talent Recruitment power.

For international students to accept an internship

in America, they must apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which would give them the legal ability to attend school and work an internship.

This process can be confusing for employers and students, prompting the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce’s move to serve as a link between local businesses, Global Detroit and GVSU. “The chamber is going to help to connect the employers to Global Detroit to provide education and training on what that (CPT) looks like from an employment standpoint and they also provide professional development and training for international students looking to apply for these opportunities,” Becklin said.

The impact of the new partnership will continue to play out in the coming months. GVSU is excited and optimistic about what the future holds.

“GVSU is excited to work with the Chamber and Global Detroit to ensure international students and entrepreneurs are part of the region’s business community and talent pipeline,” GVSU President Philomena Mantella said in a press conference. “In partnership, we will work to support them in ways that build equity, prosperity and growth.

This partnership is rolling into the fall semester alongside one of GVSU’s biggest classes for both international students and incoming freshmen. Last week, the Padnos International Center welcomed nearly 200 new international students to both GVSU and Michigan,

according to the center’s Assistant Director Liz Montoya.

“We’re so excited at the possibility of increasing the opportunities and the pipelines for our international students to work,” Montoya said. “A lot of international students already work for Dematic, they work for Meijer, they have those opportunities already but to build on those and expand them is really the goal.”

The new partnership seeks to build upon the work already being done at GVSU. The university is already working to provide both international students and undergraduate students with career opportunities and internships while advising students on the legal logistics of entering the workforce.

“Even while applying for internships, GVSU was very helpful in guiding me with all the forms,” international student Aruna Karkee said. “When I’m back home I don’t have to worry about all the forms because I know the things, but here I was very worried about what it could be and everything was new to me.”

In order to make the process of obtaining an internship accessible for all students at GVSU, the university offers a number of internship coordinators and advisors. Karkee’s internship coordinator, Quincy Williams, was a reassuring presence throughout her applications.

“I was quite confused to take that journey, because what if something was wrong in the forms, what if I’m liable to something, but Quincy helped me on the process,” Karkee said.

EMPLOYMENT: GVSU partners with the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce and Global Detroit to create more internship and establishment opportunities for students. GVL | AIDA DENNIS

A3 | NEWS

AUGUST 28, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS

CONTENTS OPPORTUNITY

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GROWTH

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EDUCATION

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OPINIONS

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EDITORIAL

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SPORTS

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PERFORMANCE

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HISTORY

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GRAND HAVEN

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LAKERS

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COMMUNITY

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SOCCER

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VOLLEYBALL

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VOL. 58

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief ELIZABETH SCHANZ Associate Editor LEA GAETTO News Editor EMMA ARMIJO

N O. 2

Videographer MUSA DOVE Layout Editor REV BRONOWSKI

ADVERTISING STAFF

Multimedia Editor

The Bureau of Labor Statistics published trends for the 2021 system, showing a major increase in workplace injury and illness in the healthcare and social work industries. The risk for illness has been consistently high within medical fields, but recently, new growth within the work-related injuries and death subcategories has stirred conversations about how dangerous healthcare and medical professions are becoming.

Healthcare locations across the board have noted more violent occurrences, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. The numbers for Spectrum hospitals show a massive uptick in calls to security for 2020, with a 57 percent increase from 2019. While the pandemic put patients and staff alike under tremendous stress, the amount of violence taking place in the healthcare field poses additional concerns for patients going through difficult times, especially with mental health concerns.

Dean of the Kirkhof College of Nursing at GVSU, Tricia Thomas, said the pandemic has had a powerful

effect on increasing the unfortunate circumstances in the workplace.

“It escalated pretty abruptly during COVID,” Thomas said.

“The pandemic caused tremendous isolation of people and a lot of trauma and social strife. People were isolated and overwhelmed.”

While the pandemic itself was highly influential in the increase in violence, Thomas said mental and emotional stress of any kind can make a bad situation worse.

“These are very high-stakes emotional situations, especially when dealing with people who are mentally ill,” Thomas said. “Many frontline workers have been confronted with violence and aggression. It is unfortunately not uncommon.”

Though these circumstances coalesced into an increase in workplace violence, the healthcare field is trying to address these concerns and make it safer going forward.

“Training for staff and nurses on how to de-escalate these types of situations is very important,” Thomas said. “This has helped lots of people learn how to most effectively intervene and interact with people so that they are not making it worse.”

Additionally, although medical professionals may have some

training in these situations the reality for workers often ends up being inconsistent with their idea of the career and their goal to help people.

“No one providing healthcare goes to work thinking they are going to be injured or harmed through their work,” she said. “Their objective is the opposite, in fact.”

Lily Weber-Bailey, a senior at GVSU studying behavioral neuroscience and biomedical sciences with a pre-med emphasis, agreed with Thomas that violence in the healthcare field is a major concern.

“I think you’d have a hard time finding someone who works in health care that hasn’t experienced some sort of violence while at work,” Weber-Bailey said. “There are incidents that occur so regularly that you almost become desensitized to the fact that things like that shouldn’t be happening at work.”

Weber-Bailey said the mitigating factors for behavior like this are varied.

“Sometimes it’s altered mental status, sometimes frustrations, or a myriad of different things,” Weber-Bailey said. “Whatever a patient’s reason for violence towards healthcare workers may be, short staffing and stress do not make the situation better.

PROMOTIONS

Laker Life Editor ISABELLE ENGLAND

AYRON RUTAN

BY JOSEPH POULOS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

CARLIE SHERWOOD Promotions Manager ELISE RAPEYKO

Image Editor BETHANN LONG

Trends of workplace violence increase in healthcare fields

Layout Designer

Sports Editor NELSON HUBBELL

A&E Editor HAILEY HENTZ

SAFETY

Advertising Manager LAUREN SCHOENHERR BUSINESS STAFF Business Manager BRENDAN BUTTERFIELD Distribution Managers DALLAS MATTHEWS REAGAN RUDD

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DANGER: Data analysis has shown the frequency of individuals working in the medical and healthcare fields becoming injured or experiencing violence within the workplace setting is increasing, meaning technically the field as a whole is becoming more dangerous. GVL |

A4 | NEWS

AUGUST 28, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS

GROWTH

Engineering program expansion brings aMDI students new opportunities

EXPERIENCE: New 3D printers have been installed to expand part of the engineering program at GVSU. The two new printers will streamline the process of creating and producing items that utilize additive manufacturing. Using the new printers allows students to practice with the equipment in the workforce and gain skills. COURTESY | KENDRA STANLEY-MILLS

BY KATELYNN PARKER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

The applied Medical Device Institute (aMDI), an engineering consulting organization, has been helping Grand Valley State University students gain professional, real-world experience in the engineering field since 2015. They work with experts in the community to construct novel medical devices to advance the medical field. After receiving grant money from the university, the aMDI has obtained more resources to manufacture products using top-notch engineering technology.

Originally located in the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences, the aMDI will expand to a second location at the Shape Corp. Innovation Design Center. Both locations in downtown Grand Rapids will open even more opportunities for GVSU students in the School of Engineering.

“The aMDI’s role in serving our community and industry is unique,” said Brent Nowak, founding director of the aMDI. “We provide the students with the broadest range of state-of-the-art AM technologies.”

AM, or additive manufacturing, is another term for 3D printing. The use of this tool in manufacturing allows for a quicker and cleaner process on the line. Before 3D printing, many industries used

subtractive manufacturing. This requires the cutting and drilling of parts to make them fit together. With additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, parts can be constructed in their finished stages. This cuts out the time required to finish them by hand.

Many materials can be used in 3D printing, depending on what a project calls for. Coppers, alloys, ceramics and biomedical materials can be used in the additive manufacturing process. These materials can be made into many different things, ranging from machine parts to implantable devices in the medical field.

Because of the broad range of materials that can be used in 3D printing, the range of objects that be made continues to expands every day. The two new printers being installed at GVSU differ in production because of the materials they use.

“In short, the Markforged system prints in metals and the 3DXTech system prints using polymer filaments,” Nowak said.

The two printers will be used as needed by community partners and students. The aMDI gives students the opportunity to work with professionals in the engineering industry and to learn under the supervision of these professionals.

Professional experience is vital in all college majors, especially in a hands-on area of study

such as engineering. Organizations like the aMDI help students to make connections, familiarize themselves with current engineering practices and gain insight into their career field.

John Hall, a principal engineer and project manager at the aMDI, said access to this technology and resources creates impactful experiences for engineering students who put in work at the institute.

“Seasoned engineers and faculty experts are intimately involved in each customer project, to provide mentoring and guidance for the student engineering project teams,” Hall said. “Students will benefit from learning how to utilize different AM technologies to manufacture prototypes and parts to support aMDI’s industry-sponsored projects.”

Additive manufacturing is widely used in the engineering field, and not just in West Michigan. It is gaining popularity because it streamlines the engineering process, making it simpler and more concise. The addition of the two new 3D printers for the aMDI will serve as another way for engineering students to get hands-on experience with additive manufacturing. These new resources will continue to help GVSU’s engineering program turn out talented and experienced young people who are ready for the workplace.

A5 | NEWS

AUGUST 28, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS EDUCATION

GV REP4 program receives national recognition, maintains campus goals

BY NATALIE BROOKS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

In the summer of 2020, Grand Valley State University designed the first blueprint of the Rapid Education Prototyping (REP4) summit. On July 26 2023, GVSU President Philomena Mantella went to Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. with the other founding members of REP4 in order to spread knowledge about the program and its impact on high school students.

The REP4 Alliance is a national program designed to assist high school students in gaining knowledge of and access to higher education, specifically students that tend to be lower income or first generation college students.

The briefing took place at the Rayburn House Office Building for the first Unified Day of Advocacy. The REP4 leaders held a panel discussion presenting and dissecting the work that has taken place across the U.S. in the REP4 program.

In attendance with Mantella were President Marlene Tromp of Boise State University, Chancellor Terrence Cheng of Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, Director Carin Barber of California State University, Dean Beth Day-Hairston of Fort Valley State University and Executive Vice President Mary Papazian of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, all members of the nationwide REP4 Alliance.

Throughout the discussion, each of the Alliance leaders had the opportunity to speak about their successes and challenges within their own REP4 Summits and the common goals between them.

Chancellor Terrence Cheng expressed his experience with the REP4 program in Connecticut was really inspiring.

“That place of creativity and bringing things into

the world that did not exist before and that to me is so exciting,” Cheng said at the briefing. “For me as an immigrant, as a first gen student myself, serving so many students that remind me of myself is really inspiring.

The program brings these high school students together with college students to interview about a “pain point” or the things that often prevent students from pursuing their higher education journey. The high school students then use the information that they collect, propose a solution to said pain point and create a prototype to push past those obstacles.

President Marlene Tromp mentioned during the panel discussion Boise State University’s initiative to uplift interested high schoolers in the semiconductor industry, which was the focus of BSU’s REP4 2023 Summit. The most impactful ideas of how to accomplish this goal came from the students prototypes.

“We had students ask the question, ‘how do we get young people who are coming up from high school excited about and interested in things like the semiconductor industry?’ ‘How do we change what they imagine is possible for their future?” Tromp said. “One of the winning designs was an app that helped students find mentors in Steam so that if they were interested they could easily access someone who is in education in those fields so they could actually begin to imagine a future.”

The program offers four total college credits for completion of the program. These credits are not only free, but REP4 also offers a stipend for the students’ time. Completion of the program provides students with admission to GVSU with or without an application.

According to a GVNext article, the students meet with their groups virtually prior to the summit to conduct

interviews and discuss their ideas before coming to campus to pitch their solutions. While on campus students participate in campus experiences called rotations. These rotations allow the students to learn about different majors and programs at GVSU they might be interested in.

Participation in REP4 creates connections with peers and introduction to resources at GVSU that high school students are able to utilize while transitioning into their undergrad.

GVSU student and REP4 mentor Megan Smith says her mentees have felt empowered by the program. In Smith’s rotation at the Midwestern REP4 2023 Summit hosted at GVSU this summer, she designed a chemistry lab and activity to take the students through a quick day-in-the-life chemistry class and teach them about the program. Smith found the students were surprised by their success within the rotation and were proud of the work they had accomplished.

“Once I told them, ‘you guys just synthesized a polymer and did organic chemistry’ like the look on their faces of like ‘Oh my gosh.’ One of the students asked, ‘Isn’t that hard?’ and I’m like ‘Yeah, but you just did it,” Smith said. “I just feel like they left feeling very empowered and less scared of college science courses, which is actually a very cool thing that I don’t think a lot of people have the opportunity to do.”

Smith said as a first generation college student she was intimidated by higher education as a whole and felt alone in her journey, but the REP4 program makes the whole experience much more comfortable.

“The fact that they feel like they can have a say in higher education is so important, because it almost feels like they have a place in higher ed before they’re even in higher ed,” Smith said.

CAPITOL HILL: President Mantella meets with REP4 Alliance leaders at Rayburn House Office Building in D.C. to share successes of the program the nationwide. COURTESY | GVNEXT

A6 | OPINIONS

AUGUST 28, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS

Kennedy: a democratic candidate or an eccentric?

BY HOPE LEINEN EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

As you all know, the 2024 election is coming up. While we have the two candidates everyone is anticipating (Trump and Biden), we also have a new runner in the Democratic party.

Robert Kennedy Jr. announced his candidacy earlier this year in April and has since been winning the hearts of many Republicans. Yes, you heard me right. A Democratic candidate is slowly winning over many Republicans with his push to close the border.

Now, this all sounds relatively normal. He’s a candidate pushing for the closing of the border, which has many pros and cons and has weighed on the minds of many Americans. Nothing about that

proposal is overtly unsettling to Americans, given that it has been discussed in the past.

However, when you delve into some of his other advocations, it becomes more and more problematic. Kennedy Jr. believes that he will lower the number of people with chronic illnesses by the end of his term if he is to be elected.

He also believes that Prozac, an antidepressant, is the cause of people using guns in America. I don’t know about anyone else, but that statement is borderline hilarious. The fact that he is saying an ANTIdepressant is the cause of people using guns in America is just crazy. It seems like what he really believes is that people shouldn’t be taking medications because those types of chronic illnesses aren’t real in his mind. Now, I want to emphasize that he never says anything of the sort. However, whenever he talks about chronic illness in America, he exclusively refers to obesity and mental health conditions.

If that wasn’t unsettling enough, he also talks about how we had one of the “healthiest populations in the world, with only 6% of the population having chronic diseases,” in the 1950s and 60s.

To put this into perspective for you, he isn’t considering advances in medicine that allow for the proper diagnoses of certain things like autism, which he loops into other chronic conditions such as mental illnesses and obesity.

These advances are partially why there was such a jump in the number of chronic conditions in the U.S.

He neglects to focus on any other chronic conditions outside of mental health and obesity, which means when he is talking about eradicating the “chronic illness epidemic in the U.S.,” he is talking about getting rid of healthcare for people with mental health problems and lowering obesity rates.

Oh, and there’s more.

Kennedy Jr. is a known anti-vaccination misinformation advocate and supports many health-related conspiracy theories.

What does this all mean?

Kennedy Jr. is unfit to be in office.

He is known for making baseless claims about childhood vaccinations and COVID-19. He has been in many interviews where he blatantly makes numerous false statements. In one, he refers to COVID-19 as “‘clearly (being) a bioweapons problem,’” which has no foundation according to American intelligence agencies.

Not only is it concerning how many Americans are supporting him, but it is crazy how someone who advocates for governmental transparency can make so many baseless accusations about the healthcare system and chronic diseases.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I’d rather take my chances with Trump or Biden.

Things I wish I knew sooner in college

BY SAM NOWOTNIK EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

I cannot believe I am entering my final year at Grand Valley State University. Although everyone has their own unique college experience, I think being a part of the class of 2024 came with a lot of adjustments and new experiences different than most students have had in prior years. I wish someone had told me these tips and tricks to navigating my first years at GVSU. With my first semester of school being in the fall of 2020, I experienced a full year of school with online classes. This wasn’t a completely foreign concept since I had to finish my senior year of high school online.

The one thing that made online college courses most difficult was the disconnect between my professors and my peers since I did not know them before being online as I did in high school.

If I could redo my first year, I would attend office hours and contact my professors via email. I have gotten to know many of my online professors recently from online calls, and it made me realize how professors are equally eager to meet their

students. I have received numerous insights for future jobs, internships, class recommendations and professional development opportunities from building relationships with my professors. Every educator, regardless of the field you are studying, has so much advice they are willing to share to help you.

It is crucial not to pass up the opportunity to connect with your professors during your first years at GVSU. Another piece of advice I can offer, and something I wish I had known sooner, is that wanting to change your major is perfectly fine. I finished my entire first year knowing I didn’t want to continue on the path that I was on. I thought it might be very difficult to change majors and that no one was going through the same situation. Once I figured out the available resources, I realized it wasn’t problematic, and I was relieved to have a new schedule with classes better suited for me.

One resource I used was going onto the MyPath section of Banner, the best tool that many students are unaware exists. It shows your current standing and lets you see how close you are to completing a major. A great feature when changing majors that I used was using the “what if ” section. It shows you a breakdown of what classes you still need to take based on any major you decide to go into. The ultimate takeaway is that if you are unhappy with your major, don’t hesitate to look at a new hypothetical schedule with a potential new major.

Lastly, if there is something you have always wanted to do, such as a sport, club, or any activity, there is a good chance that GVSU has something for you. I highly recommend stepping out of your comfort zone and joining an extracurricular activity. One method I have used is to give things a chance for about two weeks, and after that, if you think it’s not fit for you, you can always switch things up. In my experience, by the end of the two weeks, I have always been glad to have tried

something new. I have met some of my closest friends through clubs and intramurals. It may seem like college will last forever, but coming from a senior, it went by faster than I thought, and I will miss how accessible it is to join sports and clubs once I graduate.

Beginning college is definitely an intimidating experience, but with the help of some of these tips, I can assure you that you will be off on the right foot and set for the best years of your life.

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.

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

To make a submission, email editorial@lanthorn.com or drop your submission off in person at: 0051 KIRKHOF CENTER GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ALLENDALE, MI 49401 616-826-8276

AUGUST 28, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A7 | EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL

Tackling tourism during tragedy

NATURAL DISASTER: The wildfires in Maui cause us to reflect on the lives effected, the impact of the event and how we react and behave during tragedies. COURTESY | GETTY IMAGES

BY LANTHORN EDITORIAL STAFF EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

In the midst of years of destructive tourism and the recent Maui Wildfires, Maui’s ecosystem and economic landscape are struggling now more than ever. The fires started around Aug. 8 in Lahaina, Maui, and have reportedly claimed the lives of over 100 people, with CBS News reporting that over 800 people are still considered missing.

In the aftermath of the fire, over 2,700 structures across the island have been destroyed as the fire rapidly progressed. The Maui fires, considered among the deadliest wildfires in modern U.S. history according to NPR, have left Maui in a devastated state.

Some residents have expressed concern and frustration regarding tourists visiting the area while Maui is mourning the loss of life and damage to land of culturally significant locations following the destruction from the fires.

Maui has had a long, complicated relationship with its economic reliance on tourism. According to ABC News, the fires have already cost billions of dollars in damages to the area. Maui residents also worry about how the devastating aftermath of the fires will come into play with their economic reliance on tourism.

The NY Times reported that “many residents, particularly in Maui, are furious over the uncomfortable, contradictory scenario of visitors frolicking in the state’s

lush forests or sunbathing on white-sand beaches while they grieve the immense loss of life, home and culture.”

Tourism during tragedy is distasteful, dehumanizing and, frankly, disgusting. It minimizes the human lives impacted and disvalues their reality.

Additionally, with more and more tourist agencies buying land and driving up prices of real estate, it is harder for working-class families to afford housing according to AP News. The fires have only exacerbated this problem, displacing families living in condos amidst losing their homes. Real estate agents are circling, trying to buy up the land cheaply to make room for more luxury vacation homes and condos. According to NPR, local resident, Jeremy Delos Reyes, and his wife, Grace, have had three different realtors call to ask if he wants to sell his land.

With Maui left to rebuild after the losses of the fires, the residents have conflicting feelings regarding the need for tourism to bring in capital and the dangers tourism poses to the town. Tourism has been hostile throughout Hawaiian history, so it’s understandable that residents would want to fight large corporations taking advantage of the coastal land where residents’ homes and neighborhoods once stood. The flip side of the coin is the expensive price tag it will take to rebuild the city. If the money doesn’t come from Hawaii’s most popular area of commerce, then where could it come from?

However, the lack of land and housing isn’t the only crisis that Maui faces post wildfires. With heavy

water regulations in place, the residents of the land feel like they do not have a say in how their most important resource is used. The deadlock over water policy has left areas of the island at risk of being consumed by the flames. There are simply more pressing issues that citizens should have to be worried about than a contractor bothering them with selling the property where their home once stood.

Local government and citizens are pursuing a balance of water usage for cultural purposes, tourism and residents.

“Since the fire, Gov. Green has repeatedly highlighted the ongoing water conflict in Maui in remarks to reporters. He has suspended portions of the water code ‘necessary to respond to the emergency,’ and has signaled he may further relax water regulations throughout West Maui,” according to a report done by The Washington Post.

In the aftermath of the fire, Maui looks forward to reuniting families and rebuilding, on top of confronting the economic and water crises that surround tourism.

Residents in Hawaii should be able to focus on rebuilding their lives, their homes and their city. Financial implications of corporate influence should take a backseat while the city is repairing.

While Maui depends on tourism economically, tourists must also be mindful of how their presence affects the island’s culture and ecosystem.

A8&9 | SPORTS

AUGUST 28, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

BY NELSON HUBBELL SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University will take on the Colorado School of Mines in a battle of the top five nationally ranked teams in their season opener once again.

GVSU travels to Golden, Colo. in the higher elevation of 5,675’ (compared to Allendale’s 653’) to break in their new head coach. According to new Lakers’ Head Coach Scott Wooster, the elevation is something that you cannot prepare for in Michigan.

“I’ve talked to some people, I know some people in my professional network in the NFL, about when they play in Denver or in Mexico City. When you don’t have the resources or ability to go train at elevation it’s just about stressing the cardiovascular system,” said Wooster. “There’s really no way to replicate it here.”

The Lakers are coming off of one of their best seasons in recent memory where they finished 12-1 under former head coach Matt Mitchell. The 2022 season opener was at home in Lubbers Stadium against the Miners. The Mitchell-coached Lakers took a 25-23 lead with under a minute remaining as Quarterback Cade Peterson led a game-winning drive that capped the clutch performance with a touchdown pass to Jayk Slager.

Since former Head Coach Matt Mitchell has moved on to become the special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wooster was promoted after serving as the offensive line coach for GVSU during the last three seasons.

With four 2022 Don Hansen DII Football Gazette All-Americans returning for the 2023 season, Wooster has plenty of veteran leadership on the field as well.

Senior Linebacker, Abe Swanson, Defensive Lineman, Christian McCarroll, Offensive Lineman, Garrett Carroll, Running Back, Tariq Reid and Peterson help

to ease some concerns for Wooster. Swanson earned the GLIAC Defensive Back of the Year in 2022 while McCarroll was the Defensive Lineman of the Year.

All five of those players plus Senior Offensive Tackle, Jordan Davis, were named to the preseason D2 Football Elite 100 Watch List for 2023.

GVSU is no stranger to the highly ranked and anticipated matchups. Last season they took on Ferris State University twice in top-five matchups on top of their season opener against the Miners. This year they take on the Miners again who are number two according to the D2 Football rankings and number four in the country according to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) preseason poll. GVSU sits at third overall in the D2 Football rankings and second in the AFCA poll.

As a battle-tested team, they feel like they know what they need to accomplish to get over the Ferris hump. Now it is just about execution under the bright lights.

“When we get in these big-time games we have to be able to respond to adversity well. We need to win clutch moments,” Peterson said. “That’s what helped us win that game up in Big Rapids last year and it’s what hurt us here at Lubbers. Games like that can really only be two or three plays to decide it.”

Now, two of the top QBs in the country will be dueling it out to help kick off the Division II college football season. The Senior Quarterback for Colorado Mines, John Matocha, took home the Harlon Hill Trophy for the top quarterback in the country in 2022 as Peterson won the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year.

As the Defensive Coordinator, Louis will be tasked with slowing down Matocha and the pass-heavy scheme of the Miners.

“I’ll have called the game probably somewhere between 15-20 times throughout the week. We’re really anticipating them trying to get out there and spread us out and throw the ball around,” Louis said.

Both sides of the ball are bringing back considerable talent, but players and coaches are taking notice of one guy on the defensive line who could be making a jump in development.

“We have an edge rusher in Niles King who really stepped up in the pass rush,” said Jay’viar Suggs sophomore defensive lineman.

A sophomore, King stands at 6 ‘5’’ and 260 lbs also popped off of the tape to Defensive Coordinator Jim Louis.

“Niles (King) came on during the later part of the regular season in 2022 and in the playoffs. He had an excellent spring. He’s really turned himself into a complete player,” Louis said. “He’ll really complement some of our other guys in Colton Hyble and Christian McCarroll who are maybe more of a physical presence in the pass rush. Him and a couple other guys are going to bring a little more of that athletic presence with speed and bend as opposed to power.”

The offensive side of the ball is also facing a unique challenge said Offensive Coordinator, Matt Vitzthum.

“Mines is going to present a great test for us offensively. They’re going to play a three-down front, which we don’t see in our league, so it’s going to be a big adjustment for us as we prep for them,” Vitzthum said.

“I think the best part about it is that we did get to play them last year, so there are definitely some things that we can learn from watching our tape from last year.”

Due to the return of all of their starting defensive linemen and four of their starting offensive linemen, GVSU has an uncommonly deep rotation on the offensive and defensive lines. Attrition will be important in the thinner air, especially in the trenches.

The players and the coaches feel like this team has something special, and now they are setting out to prove it.

The game will be live-streamed on the Miners’ RMAC Network page as well as broadcast on 96.9 FM for WLAV radio on Aug. 31 at 8 p.m.

SPORTS: As GVSU comes off of one of their best seasons in recent memory (12-1), they are tested in their season opener against a top 5 ranked Colorado Mines. COURTESY | GVL ARCHIVES

SPORTS: GVSU brings back four of their starting offensive linemen and their entire defensive line. Attrition will be important at a 5,675’ elevation in Golden, COL. COURTESY | GVL ARCHIVES

SPORTS: Lakers Quarterback Cade Peterson drops back to pass against Colorado School of Mines in their comeback victory over the Miners a year ago. Peterson was awarded as the top quarterback in the GLIAC and will duel it out with John Matocha, the Harland Hill Trophy winner for the top quarterback nationwide. COURTESY | GVL ARCHIVES

A10 | ARTS

AUGUST 28, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLARTS

Performance

GV dance professor explores dance movement therapy

BY DYLAN HOFFIUS ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

Hannah Seidel, an associate professor of dance at Grand Valley State University, is returning to campus this fall after her semester-long sabbatical.

Seidel, an instructor, choreographer and dancer with nearly two decades of experience within the dance industry, spent her winter 2023 semester creating three new dance pieces. She has also been continuing her study of dance and movement therapy (DMT) in New York City, which she has done for the past three years.

DMT, according to the American Dance Therapy Association, focuses on the “psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive and physical integration of the individual, for the purpose of improving health and well-being.”

Seidel’s three new pieces utilize her DMT research and each involve a unique process in their creation. The group performance features the most experimentation and editing. The duet requires an extremely intensive rehearsal process because of its complexity. The solo performance utilizes spontaneity and involves the audience holding crisscrossed ribbons resembling a spider web that Seidel gets stuck in and must graciously navigate through.

The apparent symbolism of the solo performance is very much intentional.

“The spider web allows us to navigate a somewhat familiar situation with unknown variables,” Seidel said.

“It’s new each time because I may get stuck in the web differently, which is symbolic and symbolism is a very important aspect of DMT.” With efforts currently being made to bring these teachings and practices to GVSU, Seidel has previously used this outlet of expression in a much different setting.

“The spider web allows us to navigate a somewhat familiar situation with unknown variables” During her time as a company member of Gibney Dance, Seidel helped domestic violence survivors find comfort and pride in their bodies through similar practices of therapeutic movement creation and experience workshops. However, these workshop experiences differ from traditional

MOTION: Grand Valley State University Associate Professor of Dance Hannah Seidel returns from semester-long sabbatical with three new dances. Her most recent pieces incorporate psychotherapeutic performances and experimentation with symbolism. GVL | ARCHIVES

dance performances associated with DMT because they lack the performance component that a crowd would see.

Seidel said in these workshops, movement creation is used in an individualistic manner that allows for the person to make a connection with themselves in the moment.

Incorporating her studies, Seidel’s most recent performances took place on Aug. 25, and Aug. 26 with Chase Dance, as part of the Grand Rapids Ballet’s annual Summer Dance Festival.

The festival featured local dancers from all over Michigan, including five GVSU alumni performing alongside Seidel.

“The rehearsal process has been really fun so far because of Hannah and the input she encourages the dancers to give,” said Kaye Suarez, GVSU alumna and dancer in Seidel’s performance. “During many of the rehearsals, Hannah would have the dancers create a movement based upon a certain phrase or word that would get added to the final routine, which creates work that everyone is comfortable with and proud of.”

Creating this type of work is an important aspect of dance and movement creation for Seidel. Much of that has to do with her philosophy on movement being the facilitator of non-

verbal communication and language, which she views as just as important and meaningful as the written word and other verbal communication.

“I believe that to fully articulate ourselves as artists, we must be able to traverse this divide,” Seidel said. “This can be done by expanding the understanding of research held by many students.”

As a former student under Seidel during her time at GVSU, Suarez said a similar sentiment regarding movement being the language of non-verbal communication: “Punctuation creates the life of words but movement connects with people in a way that words cannot.”

A11 | ARTS

AUGUST 28, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLARTS

HISTORY

Exhibit at Grand Rapids Public Museum addresses lasting impact of racism

BY ELIZABETH SCHANZ ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) hosted a traveling exhibit from the Jim Crow Museum at Ferris State University (FSU) from June 3 to Sept. 3. The exhibit titled “Overcoming Hateful Things: Stories from the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Imagery” addressed the history and lasting impact of racism and racist policies in the U.S. GRPM is the first museum in the country to host the FSU Jim Crow Museum’s traveling exhibit. Its presence at GRPM aimed to create an experience for visitors to learn, observe and engage with history in a way that gives context to hateful imagery and items.

The exhibit hoped to teach people about the wrongs of the past in order to work for a more just future.

FSU’s Jim Crow Museum was founded in the early 1990s by Dr. David Pilgrim who donated his personal collection of historical items to the university. Pilgrim is currently the Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion and Strategic Initiatives at FSU and the Director of the Jim Crow Museum.

“The museum was founded to create a space for dialogues about race, racism and race relations,” said Pilgrim. “The museum has more than 25,000 objects that are used to document the Jim Crow period in this country—but I hasten to add that the museum also includes objects that show African Americans pushing back against discrimination, segregation and other horrors that occurred in this nation’s past.”

Pilgrim said the objects in the exhibit act as “powerful teaching tools” for visitors. Similarly, GRPM’s Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations Dustin Tyler said having the objects in the setting of a museum is impactful for visitors. He said seeing “racist propaganda” with the context, stories and historical explanations of an exhibit can give people a better understanding of how the hateful things they observe impact our past and future.

“It (the exhibit) is just a great reminder of how much work we’ve done and how much work we still have to do,” said Tyler. “This exhibit provides a safe space to have these uncomfortable conversations about race relations.”

Pilgrim said the Jim Crow exhibit’s ability to “facilitate constructive, though sometimes difficult, conversations” remained consistent when bringing the exhibit from FSU to GRPM. He said he is “proud to collaborate” with GRPM to bring the exhibit’s message to West Michigan.

Tyler said GRPM was careful in hosting and “rolling out” the exhibit to accurately represent the mission of the Jim Crow Museum. In order for visitors to properly understand and take in the content, Tyler said GRPM set an age restriction for the exhibit: not recommended for children under 12 and minors 12 to 17 had to be accompanied by an adult.

Since the exhibit opened on June 3, over 20 percent of total general admission visitors attended the “Overcoming Hateful Things” exhibit. Tyler said the impact has been “profound” for those who have visited. The end of the exhibit featured a whiteboard where guests could reflect on their time there which created a visual representation of their experiences with the material.

Although the traveling exhibit is now closed at the GRPM, the work of the Jim Crow Museum at FSU continues to develop and expand. Pilgrim said the museum hopes to help society “progress” by learning from the past and the message it conveys is vital to ensure that the nation does not repeat or extend the malicious parts of history.

“Today, we are a more democratic and egalitarian society than we were, but we still live in the residue of Jim Crow. For example, the caricatured images and racist depictions common in the Jim Crow period have morphed into contemporary society,” Pilgrim said. “Also, when there is a race-based incident that occurs today that receives national attention, racist objects are created shortly thereafter.”

The exhibit acts as a visual representation and helps to educate people when knowledge of race-

related history can often be limited. Pilgrim said although there are many parts of history that “should make us proud,” it is important to take an “accurate and honest look” at national wrongdoing.

To promote the FSU Jim Crow Museum’s work, Pilgrim and the university are raising funds to create a new facility for the museum. They hope this project will continue to help open up opportunities for new tools and resources, advance the mission of the exhibit and draw in visitors from all over the world.

EDUCATING: The Grand Rapids Public Museum hosted a traveling exhibit documenting the Jim Crow period. Through the archival imagery, the exhibit aims to encourage visitors to continue the conversation of race relations. GVL | AIDA DENNIS

A12 | LAKER LIFE

AUGUST 28, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

Grand Haven

GV promotes student involvement with beach cleanup

ENVIRONMENTAL: Students line up for the buses that will take them to the annual beach cleanup. Many students express how important the local ecosystems are and how they feel the need to protect and clean up their local beaches so they can all continue to enjoy the Great Lakes. Cumulatively over the past three years the participants collected over 200 pounds of trash and waste from the beach. GVL | ANNEBELLE ROBIN

BY ANNE DAVEY LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

The coast of Lake Michigan is a major draw for many students at Grand Valley State University.

However, with many visitors to the beaches pollution and littering can often become an issue.

To help keep the beach clean and to respect the beach, the Office of Student Life organizes a beach cleanup at the beginning of the fall semester.

Cumulatively over the past three yearly cleanups, the event has amassed over 200 pounds of trash collected, with the majority being pieces of discarded plastic.

According to the Office of Student Life, this event is highly important because it encourages students to be engaged with their community and make a positive environmental impact. The timing of the event is calculated to give first-year and returning students an opportunity to connect on campus and make their transition smoother at the start of the year. This year’s beach cleanup was held on Aug. 26.

While the main focus of the event is to clean the beach, there are also team-building exercises and free time to explore Grand Haven built into the day. Students look forward to games, cleanup and

reflection. The Office of Student Life provided free food and transportation to the beach so that many students could attend without obstacles.

Sydney Gandolfi, first-year graduate assistant for the Office of Student Life, helped to organize the event this year. She said how the pollution, especially on the beach, is not just a blemish but rather more like an infection. As the problem continues to worsen it takes over more of the beach, distracting and harming the natural beauty the environment has to offer. Additionally, Gandolfi said the waste can be dangerous and plastic can be detrimental to the animals that inhabit the beach if they consume it.

“The Great Lakes hold 20 percent of the world’s freshwater and 84 percent of the drinkable freshwater in North America.”

“It takes up space in their stomach and diminishes their hunger, causing them to eat less, have less energy, weaken and, in worst cases, die,” Gandolfi said.

Wildlife and visual appeal are not the only things at risk, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency: “The Great Lakes hold 20 percent of the world’s freshwater and 84 percent of the drinkable freshwater in North America.” With the two most commonly collected items being plastic and cigarette butts there is a major threat posed to the freshwater.

According to the Michigan United Conservation Club, if the beach pollution is not handled acutely there are serious risks of algal blooms, different public health risks, several beach closures and general ecosystem disruption.

As the Office of Student Life encourages more students to come out every year, the event aims to get a head start on deterring the growing issue of pollution. This event allows students to make meaningful connections with their peers while supporting an extremely relevant issue.

Gandolfi said the beach cleanup does not just serve one purpose or group but many: “The beach cleanup is not only important to me, it’s important for the wildlife.”

AUGUST 28, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

A13 | LAKER LIFE

LAKERS

Events fill GV welcome week

BY MELIA WILLIAMS LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

As Grand Valley State University prepares for the largest incoming class of students in school history, the university has a wide variety of welcome week events planned to kick off the 2023-24 school year.

From music-themed events, such as the block parties and Laker Kickoff, to the mellow events, such as friendship bracelet making and movies on the football field, they all have the same goals in mind: bringing more students together to make them feel welcome.

The Campus Activities Board (CAB) president Bridie Tolley said she aims to get students involved to help create a positive college experience.

“It’s an easy way to make friends and build those relationships that you’ll use throughout the rest of the four years,” Tolley said.

As students began to arrive on campus for the first move in day on Tuesday, Aug. 22, they had an evening to look forward to with the north campus block party. Students flooded out of their dorms and onto the Holton-Hooker basketball courts, and they danced and socialized the rest of the night to kick off the start of the year.

The south campus held its own block party the following evening. Housing and residence life, intramural sports and Greek Life all partnered together on this event to bring the south apartment basketball courts to life. As the music played and students danced, student creators, such as photographers and videographers, used the opportunity to create content for the university and the various organizations collaborating on the event.

By Thursday afternoon, things settled down with friendship bracelet-making took place at the Cook Carillon Tower from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. There was a table lined with multiple different colors and types of beads, which gave students the creative freedom to make whatever they desired.

“It was fun that I got to do a hobby of mine for free while meeting other students at the same time,” said sophomore, Abby Johnson.

“Seeing the campus live and up again is a huge deal, especially for transfer students or even just people who weren’t up here over the summer” Students were encouraged to trade these bracelets at the Convocation with other students later that evening.

The anticipated event of the week was the Laker Kickoff ,which took place on Friday, Aug. 25, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the Kirkhof lawn. This event had

EXCITEMENT: New and returning students participate in welcome week tie-dying on the Allendale campus. As the week goes on the anticipation for the new semester grows with each fun activity students participate in. COURTESY | GVSU

food trucks, a DJ, a foam pit and inflatables. Tolley said numerous aspects go into making Laker Kickoff and interesting and engaging event for students.

“Even if students live in on campus housing or off campus housing, going to a food truck is something that is different,” Tolley said.

With hundreds of students attended the evening.

Many student attended and people noted that the environment was exciting.

“It was actually lit,” said Taryn William, a junior at GVSU. “I’m glad I decided to go.”

The final event of the welcome week was Saturday, Aug. 26, with tie-dying on the Kirkhof lawn, followed by a movie at Lubbers stadium in the evening.

Tolley loves to see the campus come back to life again as everyone arrives on campus.

“Seeing the campus live and up again is a huge deal, especially for transfer students or even just people who weren’t up here over the summer,” Tolley said.

As students approach a new school year, CAB encourages students to participate with activities on campus. “(I just) like telling people to get involved, I think a huge part of your campus experience is who you meet and where you go,” Tolley said.

A14 | LAKERLIFE

AUGUST 28, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

Community

GV campus diversity at an all time high

STUDENT BODY: The Grand Valley State University class of 2027 is the largest and most diverse incoming class in the university’s history. This reflects population shifts. GVL | ARCHIVES

BY CHLOE SCHRAM LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

The Guardian reports that Generation Z, individuals born between 1997 and 2012, are expected to be the last generation to hold a white majority. The U.S. Census data predicts Generation Alpha, the people born between the years 2012 and 2025, is going to be the most diverse generation yet.

Similarly, Grand Valley State University’s incoming class is the most diverse group and largest incoming group of students in the university’s history, according to GVSU. As diversity increases at GVSU, equity and diverse student support come to the forefront of discussion.

“I definitely think it is a positive thing to have a changing and diverse incoming student class. It’s important for the GVSU community to welcome change like that,” said Lauren Perez, a GVSU senior.

Perez was born in northern Mexico and lived there for part of her childhood. She is thankful for the opportunities and organizations GVSU offers to students of different backgrounds.

“I have seen many diversity organizations that are really important for GVSU because we have such a homogenous area surrounding campus,” said Perez.

“It makes me feel more comfortable having clubs that

I can join and relate to based on my background.”

GVSU offers a wide variety of cultural clubs and organizations for students of varying backgrounds.

These organizations offer students an opportunity to find a community of people they can relate to and learn from within the university. Some student organizations include the Black Student Union, the Asian Student Union, the Latino Student Union, Laker Familia, the Native American Student Union and more.

Through the Division of Inclusion and Equity at GVSU, the university strives to establish a climate that welcomes and affirms the contributions of all students and employees.

“Coming into Grand Valley, I was worried I would not be able to find people with different backgrounds, but I was comforted when I saw how there is a diverse range of professors,” Perez said.

Chief of Staff to the President and Vice President for Inclusion and Equity at GVSU Dr. Jesse Bernal said it is important to foster an inclusive environment where all members of our community feel valued, heard and supported “At GVSU, we believe that diversity is a strength that benefits our community in countless ways,” Bernal said. “We believe that everyone deserves to have access to higher education, with all their diverse backgrounds and circumstances and we

strive to make our university a welcoming place.”

GVSU values inclusiveness and community which are integral to the university’s mission to educate students coming from all walks of life.

The university strives to provide all members of its community with an inclusive environment and equitable opportunities for success.

“By bringing together individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, we will be able to promote cross-cultural understanding and work to break down barriers,” Bernal said. “This will help build more compassionate, inclusive and dynamic communities.”

“Our students, faculty and staff will be exposed to new ideas and experiences, challenging us all to grow personally and professionally,” Bernal added.

Bernal believes bringing more diversity to GVSU impacts not only the campus but the wider Grand Rapids community and beyond.

“Our focus on collaboration and partnership with external stakeholders allows us to create change that has a positive and lasting impact not only on our university but on the larger Grand Rapids community,” Bernal said. “We are excited about the opportunity our diverse incoming class presents for us to learn from each other, grow together and build a better future for us all.”

A15 | SPORTS

AUGUST 28, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

SOCCER

GV women’s soccer looks to continue success in 2023

BY NELSON HUBBELL SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

With high hopes and high expectations, the Grand Valley State University Women’s Soccer team will begin their title defense.

Voted to finish first in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) standings, the Lakers are anticipated to be one of the top teams in the country following their National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Sweet Sixteen appearance just a season ago.

In her first year, Head Coach Katie Hultin led GVSU to a GLIAC Championship in both the regular season and conference tournament. The Lakers earned the number one seed in the Midwest Region and reached the Sweet Sixteen.

After her time at the University of Michigan working under Jennifer Klein, Hultin’s biggest takeaway is that slow and steady wins the race.

“The biggest thing I learned from her was how to trust the process. It’s step-by-step, game-by-game and day-by-day to reach our goals,” Hultin said.

The Lakers look to use their process to push for the pinnacle of soccer glory.

“The ultimate goal as a team is to win the national championship this year. I think now since we’ve had the same coach for two years, (and) since I’ve been

here, we’ve never had that, I think we have a good chance,” said senior forward, Taylor Reid.

Meeting those expectations will be a challenge as graduate senior forward, Kennedy Bearden will miss the entirety of the 2023 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) that she suffered this past spring. Instead, she will be redshirting and taking a sixth year to come back in 2024.

“When it first happened I knew right away because I had never done anything like that,” Bearden said.

“It popped and I knew. I would say the first month I was in disbelief. It didn’t feel real at all.”

Bearden led the team in points (33) and gamewinning goals (5) and said she is thankful to have Taylor Reid, among others, to help fill the void.

“I have a lot of faith in her. I think she’ll really take over this year,” Bearden said.

Reid is one of three seniors who are United Soccer Coaches Midwest All-Region First Team players: Bearden, Mackenzie Jones and Reid. All three of which also earned All-GLIAC first-team honors. Reid was a first-team All-American, as well as GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year. Junior goalkeeper Kendall Robertson is also returning, as she won GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year and second-team all-conference.

On top of the returning stars, Hultin is bringing in eleven new players. This year’s recruiting class consists of ten freshmen and a Western Michigan University

transfer, sophomore Alice Spiegel. The preseason and early season are crucial for team bonding and integrating the incoming players into the team.

“This year, I think, is about sustaining that culture.

The soccer will show based off of our culture,” Jones said.

Team bonding was tabbed as one of Jones’ and Reid’s favorite things about the 2022 team. Playing beach volleyball during the team’s move-in weekend was just one of the things they did to continue that in 2023, along with a barbecue.

Apparently, soccer players and volleyball do not mix said Reid: “We played sand volleyball. It was funny because obviously we play with our feet and we don’t really play with our hands. Everybody was all over the place and laughing. You would not expect soccer players to be good at volleyball. I’ll just say that.”

Now, the Lakers look to use their culture and closeness again as a catalyst for their highly anticipated season.

“I think they know that if they come to Grand Valley that the expectation is to be the best and to perform at our best,” Hultin said. “This group is very capable of performing at a high level and performing at a championship level every day.”

GVSU had an exhibition matchup against Lewis and Findlay before the season began. The mantra of one step at a time, one game at a time and one day at a time begins for the Lakers against Ashland on Aug. 31, at the GVSU Soccer Field at 5 p.m. in Allendale, Mich.

SOCCER: Grand Valley State University Lakers women’s soccer will use team comradery and culture as a catalyst for success in upcoming 2023 season.

COURTESY | GVL ARCHIVES

A16 | SPORTS

AUGUST 28, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

VOLLEYBALL

With speed and a drive to win, GV volleyball is ready to play

VOLLEYBALL: Grand Valley State University has a team stocked with eight upperclassmen and three Division I transfers, so talent is not an issue for them.

BY NELSON HUBBELL SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Although their season begins on Sept. 1, Grand Valley State University’s Head Volleyball Coach, Jason Johnson said it began over seven months ago.

“Everybody thinks the season starts in August, but the work really starts in January after our season ended in December,” Johnson said.

Following a 2022 season where they reached the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Regional Tournament, the GVSU volleyball program is eager to take the court.

Johnson is beginning his twenty-fifth season with the program and his third as the head coach and has followed in the footsteps of legendary GVSU coach Deanne Scanlon. Scanlon won over 600 games and took home the Division II National Championship in 2005.

Now, Johnson is coming off leading the Lakers to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament Championship game and to the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Tournament appearance was the program’s first time since 2015.

“One of the things that our players are gonna hear from me consistently is that we have to find ways to get better every year,” Johnson said. “I think there is an expectation in this program that we are a program that is looked at as a nationally ranked and nationally recognized brand and that is where we need to be.”

Working under Scanlon for over 20 years has taught Johnson the sacrifice that needs to be made to reach the national championship again.

“How much time you have to put in, (and) how much work you have to do away from the spotlight of the Friday and Saturday night games— those are the things that if you’re not willing to pay the price for you’re not going to be successful,” Johnson said.

Finding different ways to get better is a constant battle for a head coach. GVSU has a team stocked with eight upperclassmen and three Division I transfers, so talent is not an issue. Junior setter, Jordyn Gates finished last season as one of the Laker’s top players, earning American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American honors. Gates was a transfer from the University of Arkansas in 2022. She has the potential to help push the program with Johnson’s guidance as she led the NCAA in triple-doubles (13) last season.

Her sister, Madison Gates, is a graduate transfer from the University of Purdue Fort Wayne. She joins sophomore, Jaden Rice from Rutgers, making them the two Division I newcomers that were brought in during the 2023 winter semester.

One component that Johnson has his team working on is becoming faster and using speed to their advantage on the court. To keep up with some of the better teams in the conference and in the country, the Lakers believe that becoming faster, especially as a setter, could elevate their play.

Senior Rachel Jacquay commented about how crucial that is for her specifically: “As a setter, I’m making sure my positioning is consistent with my feet and hands, just trying to support the hitters to get them success.”

Fellow senior, Sarah Wight said “just getting to the

COURTESY | GVL ARCHIVES

ball quicker and having my arm up,” is the best way for her to become a more versatile player.

Johnson said the final component for this team is learning how to win in big games and big situations: “The question mark we still have to ask each other is if we are ready to win yet. The maturity of winning is something that you have to earn. It just doesn’t show up.”

“It is a mentality that takes time to build and you have to earn it. I think that’s the piece right now that we’re still trying to get to that we haven’t reached yet,” Johnson added.

However, winning is not everything to Johnson. In his time with Scanlon, one of the biggest lessons he learned was the value of team culture and relationships outside of the court and you learn that through trial and error.

“You think it’s all about winning and losing, and you realize that comes and goes,” Johnson said.

“There are great things that come out of those, but it’s the conversations, the relationships and the phone calls 10 or 20 years down the road that matter the most when building the program up.”

That general sentiment and team mindset are reiterated by leaders like Wight and Jacquay who are extremely excited to leave it all on the court for one final ride as a Laker.

Voted to finish second in the GLIAC behind Ferris State University, the Lakers are ready to hit the court as they begin their campaign on Sept. 1 at the Florida Invitational in Lakeland, Fla. The contest is a two-day set of doubleheaders that start with Washburn University at 1 p.m. followed by Barry University at 4 p.m.