Grand Valley Lanthorn vol. 55 no. 24

The Long Road Ahead

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

OMA, students push for public to understand undocumented struggle

Campus Readiness Team prepares for upcoming semester CAMPUS | A8

Mental toughness, time management helps Gehrls succeed as dual athlete PROFILE | A11

M O N D A Y , A P R I L 5 , 2 02 1 // VO L . 5 5 N O. 2 5

@ GV L A N T H O R N

LANTHORN.COM

A2 | NEWS NEWS BRIEFS GV COVID-19 CAMPUS DATA UPDATE

The GVSU community has had a cumulative total of 2,819 COVID-19 cases since Aug. 1. The university’s update for this brief was from Friday, March 26.

Through testing results this past week, GVSU’s Virus Action team have so far reported 158 current active cases including seven members of faculty, nine staff members, 29 on-campus students, 68 “off-campus Ottawa” students, 39 “off-campus Kent” students and six “off-campus other” student with active COVID-19 cases.

“Current active cases” is the count of positive cases reported to the Virus Action Team over the past ten days. This is an estimate of those currently in isolation, assuming a ten-day symptomatic period following the reporting of a positive test result. Actual periods of isolation are specific to the individual and determined by the county health department.

Testing and Incidence: GVSU’s own testing program has performed 72,413 tests overall since August 21, for a cumulative positivity rate of 1.31% from the latest update as of last week.

“GV Surveillance” includes the GV/ Spectrum administered programs of randomized testing, regular testing of high-risk groups, and invited testing of individuals connected to potential clusters. A calendar is available. “GV Total” includes surveillance testing plus all symptomatic/exposure tests administered by Spectrum.

COVID-19 VACCINE OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE

The time has come where anyone 16 and up is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This opportunity is at The West Michigan Vaccine Clinic at Devos Place in Grand Rapids. The clinic is operated by Kent County Spectrum Health, Mercy Health and Vaccinate West Michigan.

The Virus Action Team clarified in a statement that this vaccine opportunity is not sponsored by GVSU, however, it is one of the most accessible ways for the GVSU community to get vaccinated from COVID-19. Online self-scheduling is available on the Spectrum Health website. Minors and individuals who need special assistance can set up an appointment by calling 833-755-0696.

COVID-19

GV urges community to stay vigilant as vaccines roll out

BY ELIZABETH SCHANZ NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

COVID-19 cases have once again begun to rise in the midst of the spring allergy season, where people mistake their COVID-19 symptoms for allergies, leading to a further spread of the virus.

There are many ways to stop the spread of COVID-19 while communities are striving for herd immunity. As recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, preventative measures such as getting vaccinated as soon as you are able to, socially distancing and wearing a mask that covers the nose and mouth all aim to stop the spread until vaccine distribution can make a significant impact on public health.

It is also important to identify COVID-19 early on. People should get tested when they have been in crowded settings such as an airport or social gathering as well as self-isolating and getting tested when developing any symptoms.

Tina Barnikow, Senior Director of Health for the Virus Action team at Grand Valley State University, urges people to continue these measures while people get vaccinated

CAUTION: GVSU is urging students to conti ue to stick to guidelines and be careful to avoid large gatherings as the vaccine rollout continues amidst case numbers rising. GVL | KATHERINE VASILE

“We understand it has been a very long 13 months, and everyone is looking forward to returning to ‘normal’,” said Barnikow.

On April 5, the COVID-19 vaccination will be available to all individuals 16-yearsold and older. One location where people can schedule their appointments is Vaccinate West Michigan. This site allows students to look at multiple vaccination locations and if

no appointments are available, register to be notified when there is availability.

Barnikow encourages the campus community to get the sign up for the vaccine as soon as possible.

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INITIATIVE

“Press Pause” campaign focuses on balance for month of April

BY JACOB DEWEERD NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

AARON HAIGHT APPOINTED ACTING VICE PROVOST FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS, DEAN OF STUDENTS

Beginning May 15, the current Associate Dean of Students Aaron Haight will be taking over duties as the acting Vice Provost and Dean of Students. Stepping down from the position will be Loren Rullman, who has been in the position since 2018.

Haight has been a member of the GVSU community since 2000 where she has occupied various leadership positions across campus. Previous roles include Assistant Director of Student Life, Director of Student Conduct and Special Projects, and Assistant Dean. She has also shown involvement in advising student organizations on campus.

APRIL 5, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

BALANCE: The GVSU Press Pause campaign is spreading awareness on finding balance in one’s life during college. COURTESY | GVSU RECWELL

As the end of the Winter 2021 semester nears, Grand Valley State University’s recreation and wellness (RecWell) Press Pause campaign is highlighting the importance of keeping a balanced lifestyle. This month’s theme will also focus on avoiding burnout — a popular feeling for students this time of year.

The Press Pause campaign has spotlighted a different student wellness theme each month this semester — these themes include selfcare, rest, unplugging and sleep. Balance is a culmination of all those themes, and it’s one that Ryleigh Emelander, Health Promotion Assistant and Press Pause coordinator, knows the difficulty in obtaining.

“Most of us can relate to feeling busy all the time, especially this semester when so much is going on and it doesn’t feel like we get a real break,” Emelander said. “This ‘grind’ culture is actually harmful to your health and wellbeing.”

This semester is unique because GVSU students did not have a traditional week-long spring break. Instead, the University designated two break days throughout the semester — March 10 and April 1 — so students could still get some time off of schoolwork while also ensuring that COVID-19 spreading could be kept to a minimum.

Emelander explained that this month’s theme was also chosen because of the tendency for students to feel burned out by this point in the semester.

“Students have so many things that are difficult to balance,” Emelander said. “With our busy lives, it feels like there is never enough time to take a break. Or if we do take a break, then we feel guilty about it. Our hope was that if we used April to focus on balance, students can understand the benefits of prioritizing rest.”

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APRIL 5, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

CONTENTS COVID-19

| A2

EDITORIAL

| A4

LOCAL

| A5

IMMIGRATION

| A6&7

RESEARCH

| A8

GREEK LIFE

| A9

EVENTS

| A10

PROFILE

| A11

SOFTBALL

| A12

VOL. 55

NO. 25

Lan thorn EDITORIAL STAFF

Layout Editor VIVIANA RUBIO

Editor-in-Chief NICK MORAN Associate Editor OLIVIA FELLOWS

Layout Designer KHOI TRAN PROMOTIONS

Associate Editor XAVIER GOLDEN News Editor MARY RACETTE

Promotions Manager ALEX DAGOSTINO ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager SHANE MCATAMNEY

Sports Editor ZACK GOODROW Laker Life Editor YSABELA GOLDEN

BUSINESS STAFF

A&E Editor MARY DUPUIS Image Editor MEGHAN LANDGREN

Business Manager RACHEL MCDOWELL Asst. Business Manager DAYTON HAMMON

At the Lanthorn, we strive to bring you the most accurate news possible. If we make a mistake, we want to make it right. If you find any errors in fact in the Lanthorn, let us know by calling 616-331-2464 or by emailing editorial@lanthorn.com.

The Grand Valley Lanthorn is published weekly by Grand Valley State University students 31 times a year. One copy of this newspaper is available free of charge to any member of the Grand Valley Community. For additional copies, at $1 each, please contact our business offices.

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A3 | NEWS JOBS

Unemployment in Ottawa country drops significantly

BY JACOB DEWEERD NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

The state of Michigan’s unemployment numbers can fluctuate for a variety of reasons as the economy expands and contracts, but the events of the past year have proven to have a particularly unique effect on unemployment in the state, as well as Ottawa county.

When the pandemic-related closures began last year, unemployment spiked up to a peak of 20.4% in Ottawa county. By comparison, during the great recession of 2008, the highest unemployment figures for Ottawa County were 13.4%. While the 2008 numbers were also in the double digits, the extraordinary effects of the pandemic pushed the figures to new heights.

“With the lockdowns last year, industry jobs dropped, particularly in the leisure and hospitality and manufacturing sectors, which are some of the larger employers in Ottawa county,” said GVSU economics professor Sonia Dalmia.

A year after the pandemic started, the State of Michigan’s Department of Technology, Management, and Budget’s latest economic report indicates that unemployment this February was at 4.2%, a marked improvement from the previous year’s numbers.

This is in contrast to some other parts of the state. Most other counties in Michigan have around 5-7% unemployment, with Mackinac County’s unemployment up at 17.5%. As a whole, Ottawa County is ranked fifth-best in the state for unemployment numbers as of February, right behind Clinton County.

“Part of the reason Ottawa is doing better than most counties is because West Michigan’s economy is currently better than other parts of the state,” said GVSU economics professor Paul Sicilian. “It’s the same for much of the area, so Ottawa has rebounded nicely. But it isn’t all good news.”

Despite the sharp decrease in unemployment from the highs of last year, this statistic does not paint a complete picture of the situation. Unemployment figures only count members of the population who are searching for work and cannot find one, thus this number does not include members of the public who are not currently looking for a job.

“The employment rate is still lower, even though the unemployment rate has changed,” Sicilian said. “Depending on where you look, there’s a huge improvement in the unemployment numbers, but this hides the fact that some people left the labor force and have not gone back.

And this has affected different groups in different ways. Last year, the labor force participation rate for women was 57.8&, but by April of that same year it was

IMPROVEMENT: In Ottawa County unemployment has seen a steady decrease following a sharp increase as the pandemic has worsened, leaving many wihout work. COURTESY | WWZM 13

down to 54.6%, a drop of over three percentage points, and those numbers have not yet recovered.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell sharply in January 2021 to 5.7%. This rate drop was largely due to significant monthly labor force

withdrawal, as employment edged up only marginally over the same month.

Overall, as more vaccines are rolled out, and more people return to work, the economy is expected to continue its recovery. What remains less clear is how effective the recovery will be, and if, or when, it will return to the levels it was at last year’s pre-pandemic levels.

A4 | OPINION GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON

APRIL 5, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

By Katie Cussans

EDITORIAL

Approach to immigration policy rooted in privilege, facelessness

T

4/5/21

editorial@lanthorn.com

The April Streaming Reload: Here’s what to watch

BY SIMON WAGNER SENIOR MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

There’s never a shortage of great cinema out there, and with the month of April getting just underway, another batch of films are getting the streaming experience. So, let’s take

a look at eight films that I feel are required viewing coming to the platforms of Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and HBO Max. Available April 1 “Insidious” (2010) - Netflix One of the most successful horror films of the last decade, “Insidious” did what other PG-13 horror flicks struggle to do be scary.

The film sets itself apart from other studio films because of director James Wan at the helm. Wan has established himself as one of the most prominent big-budget filmmakers, and it’s all due to the fact that he made a name for himself from his horror films. Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne are excellent as two parents dealing with their son being haunted, and composer Joseph Bishara elevates the movie to another level with his eerie, in-your-face score.

“Inception” (2010) - Amazon Prime Video It’s never too late to experience a mind-bending classic. Although Christopher Nolan may be most well-known from his Batman trilogy, it’s “Inception” that cemented him as a household name.

With the concept of dreams at his disposal, Nolan crafts one of the most exciting cinema experiences of the past decade, and includes a final shot that’ll leave audiences thinking well beyond the credits.

“Moonrise Kingdom” (2012) - Amazon Prime Video This is a Wes Anderson film, and I feel like that says it all. It’s about a young boy and girl who flee town and set off a search party after them.

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Biden failed his promise to change Saudi-US relationship

BY JOSH ROCHETTE SENIOR MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

From the ongoing war in Yemen to the airstrikes in Syria, the U.S. continues to wage a silent war against the Middle East.

President Joe Biden had an opportunity to justify the United States’ complex rela-

tionship with Saudi Arabia this February, but instead chose to let back the curtain on why fixing it is more than he bargained for.

He instead chose to allow the Saudi Arabian Prince Mohammed bin Salman get away with approving the murder of Saudi journalist and American citizen Jamal Khashoggi. This came after the release of U.S. intel just over a month ago, in which there was evidence pointing to Salman as the one that orchestrated the assassination back in 2018.

Although this was often rumored and suggested around the time, this was the first time it was publicly proven to be true.

This on its own is an immense violation of both human rights and the law, but considering the president’s promise to change the U.S.-Saudi relationship, it’s tasteless to not incriminate bin Salman.

It’s worth noting that Biden did place a visa ban on the prince, but sanctions

have yet to be put in place beyond that.

According to senior administration officials, the price of giving him proper consequences was too high, since the two countries are seen as key allies.

The depth of that alliance spans decades of trade focused on guns, destruction, and — you guessed it — oil. Former U.S. President Donald Trump blatantly admitted at a conference that Saudi Arabia essentially buys its protection from consequences to their actions. It begs the question: is it better to be honest about the evil you commit or to hide behind a shroud of diplomacy?

Biden recently doubled down on his decision not to incriminate in a press conference in which he claimed he didn’t hold the prince accountable because the U.S. never has.

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he Trump administration and the pandemic generated a lot of pain, fear and anxiety for plenty of people. But thanks to their privilege – the benefits that come from being wealthy or white in a capitalist – there have been people who don’t feel the need to pay attention to what’s been happening and are lucky enough to be able to ignore it without repercussions.

During the past several years, some people have continued on as normal, and they’ve carried on dining out, having large social gatherings, and ignoring the unemployment and housing crisis throughout a period where they should have been wearing masks, social distancing, and helping people who are less unfortunate.

One of the most important issues that people with racial and class privilege have been able to ignore is the immigration crisis.

Immigrants, asylum-seekers, and refugees – people coming to America in search of a safe haven – have been detained, tangled up in arbitrary legal red tape and subjected to inhumane treatment at the hands of governmental organizations. But nobody should disregard what’s happening to our classmates, co-workers, and friends whose families have relocated to the United States.

This crisis is a human issue, but it is abstracted into something cold and heartless because undocumented immigrants, or

documented immigrants who face new discriminatory policies that threaten deportation, are forced to remain anonymous for their own healthy and safety.

During his 2016 campaign, Trump put his discriminatory attitude on display, and when he was elected, he followed through on that with a series of policy changes over the course of his time in office. It was first stopping, then slowing naturalization ceremonies, then denying entry to refugees and people seeking asylum, and then reducing legal immigration by almost 50%.

Even now, with the Biden administration in full swing and Congress in Democratic control, immigrants continue to face challenges living in the United States and trying to cross the border. In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in detention centers, Biden has kept Trump-era legislation that enables the Border Patrol to turn away immigrants intact, and detained minors in jails to keep shelters from exceeding capacity.

The horror stories about living in fear of ICE raids, or being forced to survive in detention facilities can move any caring person to anger, but because immigrants must remain faceless in order to escape persecution, those stories sometimes struggle to find the light of day.

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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 500650 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

APRIL 5, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A5 | NEWS

LOCAL

New GV course teaches the history of Anishinaabek in Michigan

BY HAILEIGH HUBER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University is offering a new course titled INT 380 Anishinaabek Lifeways. This course is designed to help students understand the Anishinaabek history in Michigan, and they’ll learn about this state in ways that haven’t been fully covered.

The Anishinaabek are indigenous peoples from the Northwestern Michigan area with ties to the Three Fires Confederacy. Prior to land encroachment due to American wars and the founding of the state of Michigan, the Anishinaabek had sprawling trade routes throughout the region and into modern-day Canada. It took 125 for the tribe to receive federal recognition under the Indian Reorganization Act. Assistant professor in the Integrative, Religious, and Intercultural Studies Department Andrea Riley-Mukavetz will be teaching this course, with knowledge keepers from the area who will be co-teaching with her.

This course will introduce the history of the Anishinaabek, explain contemporary cultural practices, and teach students about treaties, environmental justice movements from the Anishinaabek perspective, hunting and foraging practices, gender roles and sexuality, beadwork, and music.

“Throughout this course, we will situate

INDIGENOUS: The Anishinaabek Lifeways course will highlight indigenous culture staples and help understand Michigan’s indigenous history through the Anishinaabek people. COURTESY | GVSU

the Anishinaabek within Michigan history,” said Riley-Mukavetz.

This course is very hands-on, Riley-Mukavetz hopes to be able to show them indigenous clans and cook indigenous foods.

“Students will learn how to be a good guest and visitors on indigenous land and how to form meaningful and respectful rela-

tionships with people,” said Riley-Mukavetz.

While oftentimes Native American studies focus on the past, this course takes a deeper look into the modern presence of indigenous people and tribes that are still in Michigan today while also examining their past history and the impact it had.

There are three major tribes — the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi — in the region, but there are federally recognized tribes in Michigan that have different relationships with those peoples.

“When we think about the names of these tribes and where they’re located, it tells a whole different story about Michigan’s history,” said Riley-Mukavetz.

French and British settlers couldn’t pronounce the names of the original tribes, so they named them for us through variations of French and British words. Riley-Mukavetz focuses on the importance of the tribe’s names and what was taken from them when they were renamed.

This course gives students the opportunity to submerge themselves in a part of Michigan’s history that isn’t discussed enough, and they will learn to honor the culture of the Anishinaabek.

“Understanding where we live is about understanding the larger cultural history of where we came from,” said Riley-Mukavetz.

The course will be celebrating indigenous intellect and help students understand the Anishinaabek history.

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POLICE

GVPD: Alcohol, drug amnesty calls can help save lives

BY ADAM TROMBLEY NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Although the age to legally consume alcohol in the United States is 21, the implementation of amnesty laws has been important in helping those who are suffering medical emergencies to get help without facing criminal penalties. At Grand Valley State University, the Grand Valley Police Department wants the community to know how important this amnesty law is in

order to help people get the help they need.

“The amnesty impact has expanded in Michigan pretty substantially, but the whole fundamental goal remains the same,” said Captain Stoll of the GVPD. “The intent is to get people to seek help when it’s needed to help their friends, their family. And so, they’re encouraged to do that by being protected from any type of criminal repercussion associated with the offense that led to the overdoses,” he added.

The amnesty law protects the caller, the

LIFESAVING: The GVPD encourages people to utilize the amnesty call law that protects individuals who have been drinking and want to help a friend who is overintoxicated. COURTESY | GVSU

person in crisis, and the people who are around when the incident occurred. Although the law is often thought of in conjunction with alcohol, drugs were added to the law coverage in 2016. Under it, the legal age requirements were taken off.

The GVPD sees a fair amount of these types of calls around campus. Most of them revolve around alcohol, but the second leading reason for these types of calls is related to the consumption or use of marijuana.

“I agree with the concept,” Stoll said. “I want people to seek help rather than risk the lives of their friends and relatives due to a criminal offense. We want them to be comfortable seeking help.”

Stoll says that he thinks people are often worried about potential consequences that could impact them or their lives. But oftentimes in these types of situations, the people calling are under the influence so emotions and the combination of different chemicals can lead to bad decisions.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, over 1,500 college students die from accidental incidents that in-

volve alcohol. Stoll says that the contribution to these types of amnesty calls and incidents may be tied to the seemingly social acceptance of drinking in college and the prevalence of alcohol on college campuses.

As medical first responders, the GVPD responds to all medical complaints that happen on GVSU’s campus. Many of the incidents they respond to revolve around binge drinking of hard alcohol-related to pregaming or ending of parties.

According to the Department of Public Safety and Alcohol and Substance Abuse Information of GVSU’s website, binge drinking is when a male consumes five or more drinks, and a woman consumes at least four drinks within a two-hour period.

Binge drinking and heavy consumption of alcohol can lead to alcohol poisoning or other incidents that require medical assistance. Signs of alcohol poisoning include confusion, vomiting, blueish or pale skin, falling unconscious and more.

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A6&7 | LAKER LIFE

APRIL 5, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

ily on the rights and struggles of immigrant farmworkers, a subject the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) is continuing to focus on with their first-ever UndocuWeek, a virtual series intended to uplift those living with undocumented or DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status.

At 7 p.m. on Monday, April 5, the OMA is hosting an Immigration 101 lecture; 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 6, a presentation on Grassroots Advocacy; and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 7, a panel with the Michigan Network for Undocumented Immigrant Success.

“The panel consists of three young individuals who are impacted by undocumented and/or DACA status,” said Adriana Almanez, the Associate Director of the OMA. “They serve on the leadership team for the MNUIS, which is a network for folks throughout the state of Michigan to connect with and get support from other undocumented/DACAmented individuals.

One of the panelists is a GVSU alumnus.”

Another organization, the Michigan Coalition for Undocumented Student Success, will be presenting at the Grassroot Advocacy event with One Michigan for Global Majority.

“The MCUSS advocates for best practice and policy regarding undocumented/DACA support at institutions of higher education,” Almanez said. “The group was led by me for the past three years, where I served as chair. They will share what allyship and advocacy look like and how individuals can get involved.”

Though the César E. Chávez Celebration and UndocuWeek were not organized as a continuation of each other, they both intend to share lessons in immigrant advocacy with the Grand Valley State University community.

“When immigrants come here, they

come here with a lot of skills and a lot of experience,” Villarino Gonzalez said. “Just because we went to college, or we’re administrators, does not mean that we’re not equal. Racism and discrimination are learned behaviors, taught by people who have power in their worlds. In English, power sounds kind of dirty. In Spanish, poder, translates into the ability, the capacity to do something. It means empowering somebody. That was the motto of the United Farmworkers: Sí, se puede. Yes, we can.”

A BORN LEADER: Born into a Mexican family and spending his early life as a manual laborer, César Estrada Chávez was a renowned community organizer who fought for laborers and pushed for civil rights. He was most notably known for leading the Delano Grape Strike, which protested the brutal conditions of the Coachella farming tycoons and created higher wages and safer work. COURTESY | ASSOCIATED PRESS

OMA celebrates César Chávez, undocumented immigrants

BY YSABELA GOLDEN LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

Last week, the Office of Multicultural Affairs held their annual celebration of the life of labor leader, community organizer and civil rights activist César Estrada Chávez. Famous for his leading role in the Delano Grape Strike, a massive protest of the Coachella farming tycoons that forced the growers to cooperate with the union of immigrant laborers, Chávez was successfully able to negotiate for higher wages, the introduction of a health plan and safer working conditions in the fields.

“Prior to César organizing, there was no water in the fields for people to drink,” said David Villarino Gonzalez, the current CEO of the late Chávez’s Farmworker Institute Of Education And Leadership Development and Chávez’s son in law.

“There were no toilets in the fields – how indignant. There were no protections from pesticides, workers would just be sprayed along with the crops. They were viewed as tools to implement.”

Villarino Gonzalez began working with

his father-in-law as a young adult, acting as a community organizer and even as Chávez’s bodyguard when the powerful California growers put out a contract on the labor leader’s life in 1974.

“César taught me to be a negotiator, to organize workers and plan strikes,” Villarino Gonzalez said. “Senator Ted Kennedy sent his Secret Service to train us to protect César. We studied how Bobby Kennedy was murdered, how Malcolm X was murdered. In the end, César died of natural causes. I’m proud of that.”

Though Villarino Gonzalez discussed Chávez’s accomplishments, he emphasized that the real lesson of the activist’s life was that it was the common people coming together, not the work of any individual leader, that allowed for the success of the farmworker unions.

“The perfect leader does not exist,” Villarino Gonzalez said. “Perfection is not of this world. The farmworker’s movement was not just César, it was tens of thousands of people taking leadership. It’s the role of leaders to think about how other people can be great, to empower other people.”

The Chávez E. Celebration focused heav-

WEEK: To highlight undocumented immigrants, GVSU is hosting its first UndocuWeek starting April 5. COURTESY | THE NEW YORK TIMES

STORIES: The experiences of undocumented families are far reaching, even extending to students on GVSU’s campus. COURTESY | THE NEW YORK TIMES

Letter to the Editor

Undocumented experience one of constant fear, struggle years later Hello GVSU family and friends,

ACTIVIST: Chávez is well know for successfully negotiating for higher wages, health care and safer working conditions. He was great at getting people to come together. COURTESY | ASSOCIATED PRESS

EDUCATION: UndocuWeek will include Immigration 101 lecture on April 6. COURTESY | LA TIMES

It’s crazy to think we are just around the corner from spring and most importantly summer! I know among all of us the best part of being a Michignader is summer time at the beach or at the local ice cream shop!

Although it’s something I always look forward to, it’s also a time that brings lots of thinking along with it.

You see, I’m a proud daughter of undocumented immigrants that have called Michigan home for over 25 years. As a child, I never really grasped that my reality was much different from others, until I hit about 10 years of age. I found out that my family couldn’t take trips via airplane due

to my parents fearing being caught by customs at the airport.

I had a lot of growing up from that point and more importantly, lots of adjustments as I got older.

As a teen, being part of a mixed status family meant much more than doing daily chores. When I turned 13, my dad taught me the basics to driving, and as soon as I was old enough for drivers ed, I was enlisted. As soon as I had obtained my first driver’s permit, I was now the “youngest family Uber,” as my family likes to call it.

You see, undocumented immigrants can’t obtain a drivers licesece or state ID in the state of Michigan.

So now that I was legal to drive, I was now responsible for taking siblings

to school and sporting events, along with my own and all other necessary places like medical appointments and much more.

Now as a full time student at GVSU and living away from home, the uncertainty of not knowing how and if my parents can do these things overcrowd my mind on a daily basis.

I also many times blame myself for not being able to still help out with these types of things and not being able to be at two different places at once. I know many of you will think this doesn’t affect you directly, but the reality is that it affects your friends and peers more than what you think.

Many times we are silenced because of the constant fear we live in because

of our legal status. It’s a really hard reality for many students here at GVSU and across the country to have their future lie in the hands of voters and politicians.

The biggest thing that you as a community member of GVSU to be any ally is voting, and also educating – educating not only yourself but those around you to understand what DACA students must endure along with mixed status families. Along with this is speaking up for those that are silenced within the walls of fear. Remaining silenced when you can speak up is choosing the side of the oppressor.

Sincerely, Your GVSU peer

APRIL 5, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A8 | NEWS RESEARCH

Speaker discusses Amazonian dark earth, Xinguano indigenous history

BY LAUREN FORMOSA NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State University’s Latin American and Latino/a Studies Program along with the Department of Geography and Sustainable Planning invited Morgan Schmidt, geographer, archaeologist, and Postdoctoral Associate in the Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Science Department at MIT, to talk about his research in the Southern Amazon region. In his webinar on Tuesday, March 30, Schmidt focused on the formation of “terra preta,” or Amazonian dark earth, and his partnership with the Kuikuro Community located in the Xingu Indigenous Territory.

The roughly hour-long presentation titled “Indigenous History, Historical Ecology, and the Environmental Tipping Point in the Southern Amazon” was hosted by David Stark, professor and Director of the Latin American and Latino/a Studies Program, and Jim Penn, professor and Department Chair of the Department of Geography and Sustainable Planning. All students, staff and faculty were encouraged to virtually attend the presentation through Zoom.

Following brief opening remarks from Stark, Penn continued by introducing Schmidt and his work with the Kuikuro indigenous community.

Schmidt began his presentation by show-

AMAZON: Morgan Scmit’s presentation focused on his research in Amazonian dark earth through the Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Science Department at MIT. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

ing maps of the deforestation and forest fires in the Amazon up to 2019 and explaining how the Amazon is beginning to reach its tipping point. The Amazon has lost 65.8 million acres of primary forest since 2001 and has experienced an increase in deforestation and forest fires since 2019 due to the Bolsonaro Administration opening protected lands

for ranching, logging, and mining. Schmidt then went on to explain the deforestation in relation to the Xingu Basin and Xingu Indigenous Territory.

“The Upper Xingu is like a peninsula of green sticking down into… what we call the Arc of Deforestation,” Schmidt said. “You can see that the only real significant forest left in

this region is in indigenous areas.”

Next, Schmidt proceeded to explain a brief history of the Amazon, starting with Francisco de Orellana’s navigation of the Amazon River from 1541 to 1542. From accounts of his descent, the river was densely occupied by villages and towns of indigenous communities. However, in the 19th century, researchers found that many of these villages had been abandoned and indigenous people had been dispersed throughout the Amazon.

Since then, many archeologists and researchers have gone to the Amazon to excavate and explore the region and its indigenous history dating back thousands of years. This led to Schmidt’s explanation of Amazonian dark earth, which he simply refers to as “dark earth.” “(Dark earth) is an anthropic soil, which means was created, made, or formed from human activities,” Schmidt said. “It is also an archaeological remain that’s full of artifacts and ecofacts, or botanical, animal, and fish remains. It’s usually a settlement site where there was a village or town in the past and is characterized by the dark color, abundant charcoal, many artifacts, and can cover extensive areas and be up to two meters deep in some areas.”

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CAMPUS

Campus Readiness Team prepares for upcoming semester

BY RACHEL MATUSZEWSKI NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University’s campus has been quieter for the past academic year.

The halls of the Kirkhof Center are mostly empty, there are now open seats in the library on Sunday nights, and the sidelines for sporting events hold smaller crowds.

This might not be the college experience students expected, however, the Campus

Readiness Team is preparing for the fall semester to look different.

In a campus-wide email sent by GVSU President Philomena Mantella in March, the Campus Readiness Team was created to set guidelines for people who are interested in holding events on campus. They have had three weekly meetings thus far to discuss academics, athletics, events and more.

“We have to have a consistent message and follow a process,” said Campus Readiness Team

PREPARATIONS: The GVSU Campus Readiness Team is making plans to welcome students back for the spring and summer semesters and have considered additonal health measures. COURTESY | GVSU

Co-Chair Rence Meredith.

The guidelines that will be put into place surround in-person events on campus and provide an outline for what people securing space for these events need to be aware of. There are several people involved in this discussion, including people in camps, those in event planning and conferences, dining and athletics.

“We’re just looking at all the parameters around that and trying to figure out how do we best handle all the requests that might come in because we don’t want to turn anybody away,” said Meredith.

Anyone looking to host an event on campus will sign up through the Office of Student Life once it meets the event matrix guidelines.

When signing up for an event, the event holder needs to make a variety of decisions.

This includes the event’s location to reserve, putting in a work order for facility services in case the event needs extra cleaning such as PPE, or a list of items to add to the space such as tables, chairs and hand sanitizer. The dining option alerts staff if boxed lunches or meals will need to be supplied. Finally, safety considerations are also part of the decisions on whether

GVPD needs to be contacted.

Tim Thimmesch, the other co-chair of the Campus Readiness Team, said he hopes to bring in-person learning to 80% or 90% this coming fall.

One of the biggest challenges surrounding the Campus Readiness Team is the uncertainty of the course of COVID-19. The Campus Readiness Team works to abide by every new and changing guideline.

“It’s really the uncertainty around COVID and the percentage of the number of people who have been vaccinated versus the number that haven’t, and how do we blend the two and make sure that everybody’s still safe,” Meredith said. “We’re not stepping outside the boundaries of the guidelines and the public health orders.”

Health precautions at GVSU have instilled plans throughout the year that have been put in place by the Incident Management Team.

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A9 | LAKER LIFE

APRIL 5, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

A LOOK AT LIFESTYLE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT SEEKS VOLUNTEERS

Grand Valley State University’s Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP) is not only a scientific research station and laboratory for hands-on learning, as well as a studio space and gallery for artists, but a farm that grows food and sells it to raise money for its activities (or donates it to the community). This spring, the project once again calls for volunteers from the GVSU community to help around the farm.

In-person volunteers will be welcome on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and from 12-3 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. Those interested can find more about the program at www. gvsu.edu/sustainableagproject, or email SAPmanager@gvsu.edu with questions about the project.

CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS CONTINUE TO PUSH STUDENTS TO REGISTER TO VOTE

There are currently 39 election-related bills that lawmakers are pushing through Michigan legislature — a package that many election experts theorize will make it more difficult for citizens to vote. Most notable among them, after a recent national election in which absentee voting was vital to the results, this legislation would take away prepaid postage for absentee ballots, more or less forcing citizens to pay in order to vote via mail. It would also add a photo I.D. requirement for both in-person and absentee voters, discouraging voting even further.

With conversations about democracy and voting still in the air, the Community Service Learning Center is hosting a Voter Registration Drive in Kirkhof Center from 12-2 p.m. on Tuesday, Apr. 6. In addition, the following day, the CSLC will be hosting a lecture on the components of running for office with Running Start and Student Senate. More information for both events can be found on the CSLC’s LakerLink page.

COUNSELING CENTER OFFERS SERVICES FOR NATIONAL ALCOHOL SCREENING DAY

First launched in 1999, the National Alcohol Screening Day initiative seeks to bring awareness and understanding to the issue of alcohol abuse and dependency. Screening is a large part of outreach programs — the offer of confidential opportunities for help can open the door for education, referrals, and treatment to those with alcohol dependency issues.

At Grand Valley State University, the Counseling Center is offering such screenings online: a fast, quick, anonymous check-up on both alcohol use and other aspects of mental health. Those interested can find screenings and the center’s other programs on their website at gvsu.edu/counsel.

GREEK LIFE

Sigma Pi “Stuffs the Bus” to feed GV community

BY AUTUMN PITCHURE LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

In a time of financial hardships, Sigma Pi Fraternity at Grand Valley State University decided to help brighten others’ days through their “Stuff the Bus” charity event. They hope to make a positive change in their community and thought donating food to those struggling would be the perfect opportunity.

Stuff the Bus was held Friday, Apr. 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cook Carillon Clock Tower, just outside of the Kirkhof Center on GVSU’s Allendale campus. Altruistic Campus Experience Chair Brenden Cotter, along with co-chair Jack Fowler and Vice President Alex Stulberg came up with this moving idea.

When looking to further their impact, they realized there was a need right on their campus. They saw how some students did not know where their next meal was coming from. So they decided to provide as much food during the event as possible to help these students.

“We reached out to both Kirkhof and Replenish to make sure they wanted to work with us and they both agreed,” Cotter said. “From there, we informed other Greek organizations about the event to spread awareness.”

Since 2009, GVSU’s food recourse program, Replenish, has helped students struggling financially. Replenish provides multiple

GIVING BACK: The GVSU Sigma Pi fraternity chapter sponsored an event where they filled an entire truck with food and care supplies for community members in need. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

food sources and personal care items free of charge to Lakers facing temporary challenges.

When they heard about the Stuff the Bus event Sigma Pi was hosting, they knew they had to join in.

Sigma Pi fraternity members, the staff at Kirkoff Center and Replenish all chipped in to try and contribute the most they possibly could.

“Anyone who wanted helped out,” Cotter said. “There was also heavy involvement from Greek Life.”

The Sigma Pi fraternity looks to promote scholarship, culture, and chivalry, as well as building character and developing lifelong bonds, goals they seek to accomplish through

their collaboration on activities and events.

Through their commitment and connections, Sigma Pi Fraternity is able to reach out and impact the lives of others.

All the proceeds collected went directly to Replenish in order to make sure their stock was overflowing with a variety of different food items to choose from.

Sigma Pi Fraternity asked participants to bring any food item that has a long shelf life and does not need to be refrigerated.

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ORGANIZATIONS

National Millenial/Gen Z Organization works with student PR firm

BY KATHERINE ARNOLD LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

This year, the National Millennial/Gen Z Organization (NMGC) launched an Educational Campaign in celebration of their fifth anniversary and to address genera-

GENERATIONAL: GrandPR encourage intergenerational conversations. COURTESY | GRANDPR

tional misconceptions. The organization in charge of creating and distributing this campaign is none other than Grand Valley State University’s renowned student advertising firm, GrandPR. Last year, the student group was contracted for this opportunity and have since had the chance to showcase their hard work and skills through the creation and development of a media campaign alongside the founding advisor of NMGC, Bill Imada.

NMGC was founded in 2016 with the purpose of giving younger generations a voice and creating an atmosphere for open and honest conversation between different generations. Their mission is to create a safe environment for the free exchange of ideas, and to place greater emphasis on building awareness and understanding. In Michigan, GVSU is the only school in the state with members of the NMGC. “The campaign GrandPR is working on

is a result of winning a request for proposal that we were invited to compete for,” said Adrienne Wallace, an assistant professor of advertising and public relations and the faculty advisor for both GrandPR and NMGC. “The outcome will be improved awareness through media relations tactics resulting already in pieces that improve the understanding of the greater community about what NMGC stands for and hopes to achieve through its collaborative work.”

For GrandPR, this experience is one they earned through their merit and hard work that speaks to their success as an organization. Kendall Smith, a senior advertising and public relations major and Account Executive for GrandPR, explains her experience with this contract as one of hope and pride.

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A10| ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTS AT A GLANCE GV PIANO STUDIO TO HOLD THEIR FIRST LIVE-STREAMED CONCERT OF THE YEAR

For the first time all year, Grand Valley State University students in Dr. Sookkyung Cho’s piano studio class will perform a livestreamed virtual recital.

Free to attend, the concert can be found on GVSU’s website on Wednesday, April 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Over the course of an hour and a half, nine GVSU students from the class will perform a variety of songs, some of which are: Ravel’s Sonatine, mvt. I, Chopin’s Ballade No. 3, and Beethoven’s Appassionata Sonata, mvt. I. Cho said per usual for these concerts, the music selection will be diverse.

Read more at www.lanthorn.com

GV ART GALLERY PRESENT “VERA VISION” MULTIMEDIA EVENT TO CELEBRATE EXHIBITION Grand Valley State University’s Art Gallery celebrated their exhibition, “Vera Klement,” with a multimedia experience of artmaking, poetry and music inspired by the life and work of artist Vera Klement.

“Vera Vision” was held on April 2 from 12-3 p.m. at the Haas Center for Performing Arts and via Zoom. The event included painting demos, a paint set giveaway, a poetry reading and a performance by the GVSU Chamber Ensemble.

Klement fled Europe just before World War II, and this experience as well as her Jewish identity are known to be subtle influences in her artwork.

For those interested in learning more about the exhibition’s theme of memory, the gallery recommended reading Marianne Hirsch’s “The Generation of Post War Memory” which can be found at the GVSU Library. The book argues that the memories of traumatic events are able to mark the lives of everyone, even those who did not experience them.

GV SET TO HOST FINAL WRITER’S SERIES EVENT OF SEMESTER The fifth and final installment of the Grand Valley State University Writer’s Series will feature readings from visiting author Scott Blackwood.

The author of two novels, a story collection and two narrative nonfiction books, Blackwood will be reading on Monday, April 5 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. on Zoom.

Blackwood’s most recent novel, “SEE HOW SMALL,” won the 2016 PEN USA Award for Fiction, was named a best book of 2015

by NPR, an “Editor’s Choice” pick by The New York Times, and a Texas Book of the Decade

by The Texas Observer.

Those who wish to attend are asked to contact the GVSU Writing Department for the Zoom link at wrtdept@gvsu.edu.

APRIL 5, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

EVENTS

French Club holds film festival in virtual format, welcomes new online opportunity

BY MARY DUPUIS ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University’s French Club is currently holding their annual Tournées Film Festival.

Typically, the club would partner with the Grand Rapids Community College and host films in-person at the GVSU and GRCC auditoriums in downtown Grand Rapids. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, everything this year had to be made virtual.

French Club President Ian Curtis said that although the format of the festival is different this year, it has also offered the festival a unique opportunity for reaching a wider audience.

“Normally, only people in the West Michigan area were able to make it since the films were screened in a physical location,” Curtis said. “This year, we were able to advertise to high schools, colleges and community members all over the state and the country. In fact, the Chicago Office of the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the Midwest posted our film festival flyer on their social media, which reaches a couple thousand people.”

This was also the first year the club created a GVSU webpage for the festival, helping to give a more permanent place for the festival and allowing viewers easier access to the films.

In previous years, the club would post the films on evenings during the weekend. Now,

CLASSICS: The GVSU French Club is hosting a series of films for both students and local community members to enjoy from home safely in lieu of their usual film festival. GVL | SHIELA BABBITT

due to the festival’s online format, the films have been made available for an entire or multiple days.

Officially beginning by making the first film of six available on March 19, Curtis said the inner workings of the festival really began in the fall when the club had to apply for a grant from the FACE Foundation, an American nonprofit organization that is dedicated to supporting French-American relations through innovative cultural and educational projects.

Once their proposal and film selections were approved, Curtis, along with French professor Dan Golembeski, Language Resource Center Director David Shultz, and Language Resource Center Assistant Direc-

tor Veronica Clapp, contacted the distributors to get their virtual screening links, designed a GVSU webpage and advertised.

The group also needed to contact GVSU professors to “present” each film, as following each screening is a recorded presentation from a faculty member who specializes in the subject of the film.

“These presentations help give context to the film and can perhaps provide a unique perspective on the events in the film,” Curtis said.

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FASHION

Local clothing startup, West Michigan band release collaboration

BY PARKER LEARMAN-BLAAUW ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

Merchandise collaborations are a frequent occurrence in the music industry, and for good reason. With music streaming continuing to slim down profit margins, especially for smaller artists, working together with a prolific clothing brand is a great way to drum up some excitement and hopefully keep the

lights on a little longer.

Artists like Post Malone, Billie Eillish, Travis Scott and hundreds of others release collaborations with merchandising brands regularly, and usually to great effect. As of today, Malone’s Crocs are currently listed on shoe resale sites for upwards of $690.

Brother Elsey, a local West Michigan band that has been slowly building their sound and their fan base since 2017, is soon to join that list.

Recently, the band announced an upcoming collection of merch designed in partnership with The Oddest Supply Co. What started as the unexpected hit of a pop-up streetwear shop in 2016 morphed over time into Oddest, which has become a full-blown independent clothing startup based out of Grand Rapids.

The two had first connected a few years prior when Brother Elsey needed some shirts printed while touring. They had discussed potential ideas with Edgar Hernandez, Creative Director at The Oddest Supply Co., but this is the first official collaboration.

Hernandez, who did all of the art direction for the most recent merchandise drop, said the band first approached him back in January wanting to develop some new goods to coincide with the upcoming single release.

LOG ON TO:

COLLAB: Local band Brother Elsey are collaborating with The Oddest Supply Co. to create unique erchandise for the band that they create and sell locally and nationally. COURTESY | LOCAL SPINS

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A11 | SPORTS

APRIL 5, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

QUICK HITS

PROFILE

GV TRACK AND FIELD WINS HANDFUL OF EVENTS IN WKU HILLTOPPER RELAYS

Last weekend, the GVSU track and field team competed in the annual WKU Hilltopper Relays in Bowling Green Kentucky.

In the field events, Erika Lechner finished third in shot put with a throw of 13.35 meters. In her first appearance during the outdoor season, Jenna Doyle finished fourth in the high jump with a 1.6 meter performance. In the hammer throw event, Hunter Harding took first with a 60.08m throw.

Justin Scavarda finished first in the discus throw (51.18 meters) and Myles Kerner finished first in shot put (17.14 meters).

In the track events, GVSU’s 4x400 meter team finished first. The team consisted of Daniel Walker, Jaylen Hasan, Alexander Porter and Jason Blanchard. They finished the event with a time of 3:15.93. Blanchard (51.16) and Walker (51.27) finished first and second respectively in the 400H event. For the women’s team, Jessica Eby finished first in the 400H with a time of 1:00.15.

Nicole Sreenan took the top spot in the 400m with a time of 53.74. The women’s 4x100m relay team consisting of Sreenan, Eby, Ashley Perryman and Anjelica Floyd finished first with a time of 47.10.

GV BASEBALL SPLITS SERIES VERSUS NO. 21 RANKED NORTHWOOD

The GVSU baseball team (9-9) faced off against a tough opponent in Northwood (11-3) last week. While they fell in a close matchup during the first game of the series, they rallied back to earn another victory in the second game.

The first game of the series was a back and forth battle. GVSU jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in the third inning. Northwood rallied however to take the lead after scoring two runs in both the third and fourth innings of the game.

GVSU trailed 3-5 heading into the sixth inning. They scored four runs, however, and looked to take control of the game.

Northwood answered with four runs themselves at the bottom of the sixth and GVSU was unable to bounce back. They lost the game 8-9.

In this game, Mark Scannell got the start for the Lakers. He pitched 4.0 innings, giving up three earned runs and striking out two batters. Michael Barno was credited with the loss after he was called in the sixth inning. In the sixth, he gave up four earned runs and struck out three batters. On offense, catcher Ryan Lorber batted in two runs for the Lakers.

In the second game of the series, GVSU jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. They scored 10 runs in the second inning and never looked back.

Northwood tried to rally back, but the Lakers offense kept their foot on the gas pedal. They scored four runs in the final four innings of the game to keep a healthy lead against Northwood.

MENTALITY: Playing two different sports takes excellent mental toughness. Physically, the two sports work out different muscle groups so Gehrls feels fresh coming into the softball year. GVL | ARCHIVES

TAKING A SHOT: Gehrls is taking full advantage of her time at GVSU. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS

Mental toughness, time management helps Gehrls succeed as dual athlete

BY ZACK GOODROW SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

It’s no doubt that student athletes have a unique experience when it comes to navigating their college career. Training, competing in games, and taking classes are all factors for every athlete at Grand Valley State University. At times, it’s an overwhelming task.

Student athletes have to deal with a busy schedule and have to maintain their physical and mental health. Only a few special types of GVSU students can do this while playing more than one sport.

Junior Samatha Gehrls is a starting guard for the GVSU women’s basketball team. This year, she averaged 6.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and amassed 23 steals before the season ended. She started all 20 games for the Lakers and was second in minutes per game on the team with 30.3 a night.

As soon as the team’s season ended on March 13, she had the weekend off and then went straight to the GVSU softball team. So far this year, Gehrls has pitched 5.0 innings and has given up only one earned run. Last year, Gehrls was unable to appear in a game for her team due to the transition from basketball and because of COVID-19. When she was a freshman however, she dominated her competition. In 16 games, she posted a 10-2 record with 60 strikeouts and a 3.49 ERA. Coming from Caledonia High School, Gehrls didn’t have an obvious path for playing both the sports she excelled at in high school. Her primary sport was basketball, and she was recruited heavily by the GVSU basketball team. Gehrls was also interested in continuing her softball career, and reached out to the softball team.

One of the biggest factors involved with Gehrls contacting the softball team was her connection with pitching coach Jen Rivera.

Rivera coached Gerhls’ sister and she has known her from a very young age. That con-

nection helped Gerhls become one of the few dual athletes at GVSU. “It was never super apparent to me, it just kind of lined up that way for playing two sports,” Gehrls said. “I was recruited for basketball from Grand Valley and I also got some interest from GV for softball. It worked out fantastically that I was able to do both.

Freshman year I just thought, ‘we’ll give this a go around and see how it goes’. I wasn’t sure if it was possible but I went for it.”

Her first year at GVSU was a huge transition.

She was very overwhelmed at points during the year. Like most athletes, having a structured schedule and routine has helped Gehrls to be able to play two sports. She prioritises what she needs to get done and has realized that waiting until the last minute for assignments is not the way to go. She has also learned to value the very little time to herself she gets.

“There is a bit of craziness involved with it,” Gehrls said. “I’m not going to lie, it has been one of the most challenging opportunities in my life. I’m extremely thankful however to have this opportunity. It’s hard and there’s days that are harder than others. At the end of the day though, I’m surrounded by some of the most amazing relationships and memories that I wouldn’t trade for the world.”

In the fall, Gehrls splits her time training for both sports. If there’s ever any scheduling conflict however, she goes to basketball. As a dual athlete, Gehrls rarely has any down time.

Gehrls has no specific duration with time off, but she finds ways to mentally and physically relax. During the school year she is obviously extremely busy. September to March is all basketball for her. After the GLIAC tournament or the NCAA tournament, she heads straight to the softball field to compete.

Gehrls acknowledges that it’s very difficult at times to compete in both sports, but she understands the value in these experiences.

“You only get four years of your life where you get to compete at the collegiate

level,” Gehrls said. “Those are four very special years.”

To Gehrls advantage, both sports are different in their mentality and physicality. Physically, Gehrls uses different muscle groups in each sport and doesn’t have to worry much about fatigue. On the mental side, she’s also around different people and an atmosphere that keeps things fresh.

“Basketball is so complex with the running and jumping and all the physical aspects involved with it,” Gehrls said. “I have so much respect for every college student who plays the game. On the flip side, softball has a great mental complexity. That mental toughness transfers between both sports. Whether it’s striking out a batter or hitting two important free throws, mental toughness is key in both sports.”

This year, the transition for Gehrls was very hard. Throughout the semester, Gehrls spends two days a week pitching for an hour.

Having softball as a second sport is beneficial for Gehrls. Pitching is fined tuned and it takes consistency in accuracy and form. She’s able to train for softball while going through the physical trials of a basketball season.

“It’s something I’ve learned throughout college, that mental toughness is really the key,” Gehrls said. “I’ve learned it from some amazing teammates and from coaches from both sports. Being a pitcher you have to zone in and that transfers into basketball as well.”

Throughout her college career, Gehrls has flipped back and forth between which sport she enjoys more. While she spends most of her training and time involved with the basketball team, Gehrls always enjoys the mental trails a softball season takes. Both sports have also surrounded her with amazing teammates and have given her great experiences.

Playing college sports is tough. Playing two sports is even tougher, but Gehrls has risen to the challenge and will get the most out of her four years at GVSU.

APRIL 5, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A12 | SPORTS SOFTBALL

Lakers split doubleheader series after dominant first game victory

BY SHAWN ROBINSON SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State University softball team split their doubleheader on March 30 against Wayne State University. The Lakers started off with a great start, winning game one 8-0 but then lost the second game 4-0.

In game one, the Lakers were hitting extremely well. In the first inning, junior IF Taylor Rieger started off with a single to get the Lakers on base. Junior UT Brooke Henning then drove in a run with a single and the Lakers would take a 1-0 lead.

The game would then break open in the fourth inning as the Lakers were swinging the hot bats. A single by freshman OF Hannah Hollister followed by another single from Henning would put two on base for the Lakers. Sophomore C Morgan Wagner then bunted down the right foul line to load the bases with no outs in the inning. Junior IF Bailey Thatcher then recorded a two-run single followed by a two-run triple to right field by freshman IF Megan Koenigshof. Rieger would then record her second hit of the game with an RBI single to center field, giving the Lakers a 6-0 lead. The team recorded five runs and six hits in the inning, but the Lakers weren’t done just yet.

In the sixth inning, sophomore OF Joanna Cirrincione doubled down the infield line.

SLAMMED: The GVSU women’s softball team took home a win and a loss during last Tuesday’s games against Wayne State University racking up a 8-0 Victory and a 4-0 loss. GVL | KATHRINE VASILE

Rieger would then get on base after a fielding error by Wayne State followed by a Goble two-run double to end the game due to the mercy rule with a thrashing 8-0 victory. Every batter for GVSU was able to record a hit.

“We’ve been working on it a lot here lately,” Thatcher said. “Our at-bats have been more on the quality side and we’re not trying to overdue anything. Every-

thing has been a big team effort and it’s not just coming from one side of the lineup which is really nice to see.”

The pitching was key for the Lakers game one victory as redshirt sophomore Hannah Beatus had a dominant performance. Beatus recorded her seventh complete game on the season posting no earned runs, three hits and two strikeouts.

After a dominant game one performance, Laker fans were looking for the sweep in game two, but the Wayne State Warriors had different plans. To start the game, the Warriors recorded a line-drive RBI triple to center field, giving them a 1-0 in the first inning.

In the third inning, Wayne State would open up with a double to left field followed by a home run. The Warriors would take a 3-0 lead, with still plenty of time left for a Lakers comeback.

Koenigshof would record a single but wasn’t able to record a run. Going into the fifth inning, the Lakers made a pitching change and put in Samantha Gerhls to try and stop the bleeding. The change looked to be a good one but with two outs in the inning, Wayne State tripled to right field followed by an RBI double to left field extending the Warriors lead 4-0.

The Lakers tried to get on the board with hits from Cirrincione and Goble in the sixth inning but would fail to bring in a run. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Lakers would end up losing game two of the doubleheader, 4-0.

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LACROSSE

Lacrosse lights up scoreboard in dominant series against Concordia-St. Paul

BY HOLLY BIHLMAN SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Last week, the women’s lacrosse team nailed both games against ConcordiaSt. Paul’s Golden Bears after taking two weeks off of games. Their return to their

home field after a close loss against Indianapolis gave the Lakers a shot to come back swinging, ending both games with a marginally high score.

On Thursday April 1, freshman attacker Maddy Champagne scored six of their 21 goals in the game, followed by three from

VICTORIOUS: The GVSU Women’s Lacrosse team controlled the ball in their two games against Concordia St. Paul and put in 39 goals between the two games. COURTESY | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

senior midfielder Sophie Conroy and another three from sophomore midfielder Molly Bursinger. The first half concluded at 16-1, ending with another five goals from GVSU and one goal from Concordia-St Paul for a score of 21-2.

Saturday’s game wasn’t much different, as Champagne repeated her success on Thursday for another six points in the game, this time followed by five goals by Conroy and three by freshman midfielder Sydney Stone. The Lakers scored 12 points in the first half, and another six in the second while the Golden Bears split their two points again, to end at 18-2.

“Our defense played spectacular, especially on Thursday, and our offense had some solid games,” said coach Mackenzie Lawler.

While both games resulted in high scoring first halves, the second halves slowed down on the scoreboard. The Laker’s de-

fense was practically unbreakable for the Golden Bears, but junior goalie Payton Neil saw a little more action towards the opening of the second half on Saturday.

“I thought we played a crisp 60 minutes on Thursday from start to finish and today there was just definitely mental lapses on both ends of the field,” Lawler said. “I think that’s what you saw at certain points defensively. We had a lot more turnovers today and so the ball was just down on their end a little but more than it was on Thursday.”

Their defensive faults didn’t cause much damage though. They only allowed one goal by the Golden Bears in the last minute of the second half on Saturday, only to be returned by a last second score by Champagne to round out the final score.

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