Issuu

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GV STUDENTS SET UP 9/11 MEMORIAL SEE BELOW, A1

ST U D E NT- R U N P U B L I C AT I O N S / / P R I N T . O N L I N E . M O B I L E / / L A N T H O R N . C O M

NO. 7

LAKER FOOTBALL PREPS FOR FIRST HOME GAME ON SATURDAY VS. ODU SEE A7

By the numbers 4,226 TOTAL STUDENTS

VO L . 49

THU RSDAY, SEPTEM BER 1 1

Introducing the class of 2018

59.5% FEMALE 40.5% MALE

White

60.4% FEMALE 39.6% MALE

American Indian

African American Hispanic

2018

GV STUDENTS SHARE EXPERIENCES FROM FRESHMAN, SENIOR PERSPECTIVES SEE A3

TOTAL STUDENTS

2017

4,124

SEE A6

BY AUDRA GAMBLE NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

he statistics for the Grand Valley State University class of 2018 are in, and the numbers don’t lie. This incoming class of freshmen is the largest yet at 4,226 students. However, the standard of academic achievement has not changed much. In fact, the average high school grade point average of the class of 2018 rose slightly. The mean GPA of the class of 2018 is 3.54, a small increase from the class of 2017’s mean of 3.52. While the average GPA of the new Lakers rose, the percentage of first generation college stu-

dents fell. Last year’s incoming class consisted of 38 percent first generation college students while this year’s class has 35.4 percent. There are 18 student veterans entering GVSU this year, compared to 19 student veterans last year. The new group of Lakers is made up of students from all around the U.S. and abroad. Approximately 92 percent of the freshmen are from Michigan, but 7.6 percent are from out of state. Students came to GVSU from all over the U.S., including Alaska, Florida, New Jersey, Texas and Colorado. Additionally, 0.83 percent of the new students are international. Some of the countries represented

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STARS AND STRIPES: Last year at Grand Valley State University, students set up a memorial for Sept. 11

by placing flags by the Kirkhof Center. This year, the memorial will expand to the downtown campus.

hirteen years ago today, America was struck by a tragedy that changed the nation forever. The memories may be painful, but that doesn’t stop Americans from proving each year that they won’t forget. Today countless memorials will be held, speeches will be given, friends will be remembered and tears will be shed as Americans look back at Sept. 11, 2001. At Grand Valley State University students set up a small memorial to remember the lives of those that were lost that day. American flags will be set up near the Kirkhof center, 2,977 of them. Each

GVL

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2018. The data shows a slight improvement in diversity of ethnic backgrounds of incoming GVSU students.

by the international students are: Australia, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Chile, Ghana, South Korea, the Netherlands, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The incoming class reported that 16.5 percent of the new students have an ethnic background that is a minority. This is a slight increase from the full university’s statistics from the previous academic year, where the percentage of minority students was 15 percent. “That 15 percent of students of color represent years and years of slow growth,” said Phillip Batty, director of institutional analysis. “We have done that consistently. For public, four-year

GV remembers Sept. 11

BY DUANE EMERY DEMERY@LANTHORN.COM

Unreported

DIVERSITY DEMOGRAPHICS: Grand Valley State University recently released the demographic data for the class of

EUPHORIA PREPS FOR A CAPPELLA NIGHT WITH NEW MUSIC AND SINGERS

Pacific Is. / Asian

flag represents a life that was lost in the attack. To go along with this, a banner will be on display showing all the names of those who lost their lives. “It’s a nice way for students, in a small way, to think of the victims,” said Maddie Cleghorn, the vice president for external relations on the Student Senate. Student Senate, along with Young Americans for Freedom and College Republicans, are sponsoring the memorial. The scope of the memorial is larger this year as there will also be a similar display in the courtyard of the DeVos Center at the Pew Campus, doubling the scale of the project. However, the expansion has not been easy.

“One thing that is difficult is finding volunteers to help set up downtown,” Cleghorn said. She feels students should volunteer to place the flags not just because it’s something people want to see, but because the act itself can be beneficial. “To physically put those flags down makes it mean more to you,” she said. “It brings good memories to a day that can be really rough.” This year the memorial has about 30 volunteers. Students are encouraged to volunteer next year and the Student Senate is always eager to hear new ideas for further expansion. “Anyone is welcome to come and speak at Student Senate on what they think we should do for

next year,” Cleghorn said. She added that the aim of the display is not to bring up hurtful memories, but rather to remember those who lost their lives in a respectful, constructive manner. “I don’t want people to feel sad, just somber while remembering the day,” she said. She hopes the memorial will create dialogue among students, though it is not always easy. “It is easy when in college to get lost in our own bubbles, but it’s so key to keep a global mindset,” Cleghorn said. Benjamin Soltis, the chairman for Young Americans for Freedom, said with recent terrorist activities in the news, it is important to keep a watchful eye out for what may happen throughout the world. “There are always terrorist attacks, so we like to keep people informed so we can protect lives,” he said. “It shouldn’t be about politics, but keeping people informed so we can protect lives.” For Cleghorn, the commemoration of the Sept. 11 attacks is a reminder to stay informed and culturally aware. “Take a little time to read the news, and don’t make generalizations based on stereotypes and race and culture,” Cleghorn said. “Bring it into daily conversation.” Soltis said the volunteers involved in the memorial come from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds. The Sept. 11 memorial was put up between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. this morning and will remain standing until 8 p.m. tonight.

institutions in the United States, 28 percent of students are students of color. Clearly, students who attend Grand Valley are going to get their education in an environment that is considerably less diverse ethnically than what they might find elsewhere. The university continues to work on changing that balance.” While the most popular major among the freshmen is “undeclared,” with 20.6 percent of the class falling in to that category, the top declared majors are biomedical sciences and nursing. Six percent of the incoming class entered as BMS majors and 6.8 percent of the freshmen are entering as nursing majors.

Palestinian activist speaks about conflict BY GABRIELLA PATTI GPATTI@LANTHORN.COM

n light of the recent ceasefire agreements created between Israel and Palestine on Aug. 26, Ali Abunimah, executive director of The Electronic Intifada, an online publication that is known for its incisive coverage and advocacy of Palestinian people, politics and culture, came to speak to Grand Valley State University. The discussion was sponsored by Healing Children of Conflict and co-sponsored by GVSU’s Middle East studies program, GVSU’s Peace M.E.ans and Hope Equals. Abunimah’s lecture consisted of sharing his thoughts and charts, videos and pictures that sympathized with the plight of the Palestinian people in the Gaza strip. He made himself available to answer questions and sign copies of his book “The Battle for Justice in Palestine.” “The Gaza Strip is a very small part of Palestine,” Abunimah said. “There are 1.8 million people in Gaza.” Abunimah said the Gaza Strip makes up 2 to 3 percent of the total land but holds 40 percent of the population. Despite the small size, Abunimah said it can take a couple of hours to travel through Gaza due to a lack of convenient roads and other restrictions like checkpoints. “For 51 days until Aug. 26 the Palestinians were subjected to round-the-clock bombardment from Israel,” he said. Abunimah said that through

SEE ACTIVIST ON A2

NEWS

SEP TEMBER 11, 2014 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

NEWS BRIEFS

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| MARISSA DILLON

RESUME WORKSHOP

HEIGHTENED HOSTILITY: Ali Abunimah, a Palestinian-American journalist, spoke with students at Grand Valley State

University about conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine, especially in the Gaza strip.

ACTIVIST CONTINUED FROM A1

his own personal research and calculations, Israel had dropped a large total of explosives on Gaza this summer, comparing the total power of the explosives to an atomic bomb. Abunimah cited his own website and research as well as a series produced by the United Nations showing

the destruction. “They say (it is) simply unprecedented. There has been nothing like this in Gaza or in Palestine before,” he said. In total, 2,168 Palestinians were killed with 521 of them being children. Over 12,000 people were injured, Abunimah said. “If you were in Gaza between July 7 and Aug. 26, your chances of being killed by an Israeli bom-

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bardment was greater than one in 1,000.” Abunimah scaled the number of casualties down to GVSU. “That would mean that 24 of your peers- students, faculty, staff- would have been killed in that period,” he said. Abunimah’s friends currently living in Gaza have suffered on a cultural scale as well and say travel and study are currently impossible. “Several of my friends in Gaza sent me text messages saying ‘if I don’t survive this, I want you to know such and such,’ or ‘I want you to remember me,’” Abunimah said. He said that even after the ceasefire, there is still very little humanitarian aid getting in. “In a sense, things have gotten worse,” Abunimah said.

Abunimah said that there needs to be a political shift in the mentality towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “If you turn on T.V. or read the New York Times, you get a certain standard story,” Abunimah said. “Israel is the victim. You hear this from every member of Congress more or less. The senate voted 100-0 to support Israel’s attack with no political debate.” Abunimah challenged the audience to think more critically, saying that the current atmosphere is unhealthy and will not allow people to hear both sides. “How many issues do you think there are in this world, or in this country, where one group is 100 percent right and the other group is zero percent right?”

Career Services is offering a resume workshop for students at Grand Valley State University at 1 p.m. today in Room 206 in the Student Services building. The session will show students how to create a new resume or edit an old one. It will focus on the standard structure and content needed in a resume. The event will also highlight some of the Career Center’s services, which include help finding a job or internship and tips for interviews and networking. For more information, visit the career center online at www.gvsu.edu/careers/ or contact careers@gvsu.edu. TIME MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP

Grand Valley State University’s Student Academic Success Center is hosting a time management session today at 5 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center to offer students tips for taking control of their time while in college. Attendees will learn how to get organized and find new ways to improve their time management while achieving their personal and academic goals. For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/sasc/ or contact Jackie Rautio at (616) 331-3588. CAMPUS MINISTRY TO HOST SCAVENGER HUNT

Campus Ministry, a faith-based student organization at Grand Valley State University, will host a scavenger hunt at 6:15 p.m. on Friday. Students can meet the group at the clock tower on the Pew Campus in Grand Rapids. Participants are encouraged to bring friends. After the event, Campus Ministry will provide free pizza at Rosa Parks Circle. For more information, visit www.campusministrygv.com/#/home/home.

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SEP TEMBER 11, 2014 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

NEWS A3

Bookends:

Reflections from a GV freshman and senior Senior:

Freshman: Olivia Corder BY ALYSSA RETTELLE NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

ome students come to college knowing exactly what they want to do. They’ve decided their major and already know what they want to get involved with. Others, however, take some time to figure everything out. Olivia Corder is a freshman at Grand Valley State University this semester. She was born on the east side of Michigan and went to Monroe, Wis., for high school. “I’d heard a lot of great things from family about Grand Valley, and one of my

Rodney Vincent Washington II

cousins was already going here and he said he liked it,” Corder said. Corder has already declared her major as social work and is contemplating adding a minor in sociology. She describes herself as outgoing and a little scatterbrained. “My first week was awesome,” Corder said. “My dorm bonded really quickly thanks to our awesome RA.” But the first few weeks of

BY ALYSSA RETTELLE NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

odney Vincent Washington II, a native of Chicago, thought he knew what he wanted to do when coming to Grand Valley State University as a freshman. Now he’s in his last semester and is headed in a completely different direction. Washington describes himself as a leader and a professional, as an entertainer and a counselor, as a lover and a fighter and most of all, very busy. As a freshman, Washington came to GVSU on a full scholarship for track and declared his major as criminal justice. He’s decided, however, that his real dream and goal is to become an A-List Hollywood actor. “I’m not at all doing what I thought I’d do as a freshman,” Washington said. “My major is criminal justice and I’m going almost in the complete opposite direction with trying to take in Tinsel Town.” His goal for this semester is just to graduate. “I just want to get done with as little resistance as

SEE FRESHMAN ON A5

GV to host U.S. intelligence panel

SEE SENIOR ON A5

BY CONOR WOLFGRAM NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

rand Valley State University will host a discussion panel featuring experts in U.S. intelligence on Tuesday, Sept. 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m in the Cook DeWitt Center. The panel will consist of author Don Markle, as well as several GVSU professors and other local U.S. intelligence experts. Gleaves Whitney and Jonathan White are faculty at GVSU and will be part of the panel. Whitney is director of GVSU’s Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies. White is a professor of interdisciplinary studies and teaches classes on terrorism, counter-terrorism and intelligence analysis. They hope the discussion will provide a full exposition on U.S intelligence and spark understanding and interest in politics

How accessible is GV for disabled students?

Staff, students evaluate campus accomodations | KEVIN SIELAFF GVL

SECURITY: Dr. Jonathan White, professor of interdisciplinary studies at GVSU, will be one

of the panel members at the discussion about U.S. intelligence, taking place on Sept. 16.

and history among students who may not know a lot about U.S intelligence. The panel will analyze tensions in a post Sept. 11 world and address recent issues in U.S. intelligence, such as the recent National Security Agency scandal. “This discussion is impor-

tant because every student should know the rights and duties in the constitution,” Whitney said. “If people who are for civil rights are not careful, we may open ourselves to future terrorist attacks. We need intelligence gathering to prevent future attacks. We have to be smarter.”

U.S. intelligence is not without its complications and is a prime topic for debate. White and Gleaves said there are various types of U.S. intelligence that will be discussed. They include national security, law enforceSEE PANEL ON A5

OrgSync updates offer student organizations new tools BY STEPHANIE BRZEZINSKI ASSISTANTNEWS @LANTHORN.COM

rand Valley State University has seen many changes on campus this year. One of these changes is the recent updates to OrgSync, a web-based platform for student organizations. Todd Cox, student orga-

nization development coordinator at the Office of Student Life, said there are over 400 campuses around the country that use OrgSync in addition to GVSU, which officially launched the website in January 2013. Cox said OrgSync got a “major interface upgrade” in July that examined students’ use of social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

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students to go up the ramp and enter buildings. “Students with disabilities rand Valley State University has riding The Rapid, especially over 800 regis- those who use wheelchairs, tered students need to be allowed to enter with disabilities. the bus first,” VanderVeen With the university growing said. “Too often, students exponentially, accessibility who use wheelchairs are in for students across campus the back of the line followwith physical disabilities is a ing many able bodied students. By the time they enter main concern. “Grand Valley strives to the bus, there is no room. It be an inclusive campus for all is important to be considerindividuals,” said Kathleen ate and allow your peers in VanderVeen, assistant vice wheelchairs to get on the bus president for inclusion plan- first or toward the front of ning and director of disabil- the line.” One GVSU student deality support resources. “GV works hard to be accessible ing with these concerns is for individuals who have Chandler McBride. “GVSU is, for the most mobility impairments and our facilities are a testament part, very accessible,” Mcto this commitment. Faculty Bride said. “The only problem are considerate and helpful I’ve had are with doors going into classrooms themselves. when they have If the profesa student with sors usually a disability in leave them shut, “What reminds the classroom it is difficult to and generally me I’m disabled get inside. The include a statesame goes for is the way ment on their syllabus that someone looks at Campus Dining, sometimes announces to a student with a me or something things are out of reach and hard disability how they say or do.” to get to.” to get accomThough Mcmodations and CHANDLER Bride is mostly how to contact MCBRIDE impressed by disability supGVSU STUDENT GVSU’s acport resources.” commodations, In addition to GVSU’s physical disability the biggest problem for him amenities, the university also is the testing accommodahas a Campus Links program tions. Many times, profesfor students with Autism sors change days of exams Spectrum Disorder. The pro- or exam accommodations gram helps with the social which means he has to meet aspect of college for students with a DSR advisor and the with ASD. It is a residential professor to have a paper program and very unique. It signed to work things out. “When I leave to go to pairs the participating stuclass or wherever I’m going, dent with a mentor who then in my head I don’t think of helps the student to navigate myself as being in a wheelthe social waters. Though the disability chair,” McBride said. “What organization does work to reminds me I’m disabled is improve accessibility and the way someone looks at me make campus as manage- or something they say or do. able as possible, one concern Don’t be afraid to talk to stuis keeping all students as dents with disabilities.” knowledgeable as possible. Some common mistakes inGO TO: clude bus consideration and lanthorn.com/article/2013/ using railings to lock up bicy10/best-of-friends FOR MORE INFORMATION ON cles. The railing system was THE CAMPUS LINKS PROGRAM put in place and is needed for BY HANNAH LENTZ HLENTZ@LANTHORN.COM

“OrgSync is constantly being updated,” Cox said. “They look at what college students are using and mimic that so there’s less of a learning curve. The difference is it’s much more user-friendly and much more graphically based.” Previously, OrgSync was text-heavy with few graphics and pictures. The new interface includes icons that link to social media websites, smart

panels that highlight information relevant to each user and standardized pages that look similar for each organization. Campus administrators such as Cox had early access to the site so they could inspect the site for any problems before it became available nationwide. Through the help section, administrators SEE ORGSYNC ON A5

OPINION

SEP TEMBER 11, 2014 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

Unexpected adjustments to college

BY EMILY DORAN EDORAN@LANTHORN.COM

ollege has been full of adjustments for me. Some have been big – living far away from home and family, for example – while others, such as learning to find my

way around campus, have been much smaller. I foresaw most of these challenges as I prepared to go to school, but I’ve still been confronted by a few unexpected ones. First, I didn’t realize how strange it would be to live in a community so densely populated by people my own age. Growing up, I lived in a fairly average town inhabited by people within a far broader age range, so there was a much more balanced mix of young and old. Now, I am living on a campus overwhelmingly occupied by young adults. This almost seems ironic, given Grand Valley State University’s en-

thusiasm for diversity (which is, of course, abundant in other areas), but I suppose such an imbalance is unavoidable. As a result of this disproportionate population, there is a general atmosphere of lightheartedness and hope which seems to have pervaded even the remotest corners of campus. (Whether this attitude will turn to despair when we are confronted by snow and finals, however, I have yet to discover). Another change that has played out a bit differently than I expected is my living situation. While I enjoy my apartment’s space and the privacy which it affords, I

have found that living with only one roommate (even though we get along very well) has been an even bigger adjustment than I anticipated. Perhaps I should not be too surprised by this; after all, I grew up with six siblings and almost always shared a bedroom with at least one of them. It’s strange, then, to have so much space to myself. While this has its advantages, it certainly has its shortcomings as well. For one thing, it’s quiet, almost aggravatingly so at times. I don’t think I’ve ever listened to so much music within the span of one week in an attempt to fill the silence.

Q UEST IO N O F THE ISSU E

VA L LEY VOTE

What is your most vivid memory from 9/11?

Are your professors participating in the fall breather?

SARAH BARTON “My mom was scared because my aunt and uncle lived in New York and were in the city when it happened. They ended up moving to Connecticut after 9/11.” YEAR : S o pho mo re MA J OR : Psycholog y H OMETOWN : Ro c kfo rd , Mic h .

TIERNEY TUBERGEN “I lived in Dallas, TX at the time. My mom came to my school and picked me up. She thought (terrorists) were targeting bigger cities, and that Dallas would be next. We ended up going to a friend’s house in Longview.” YEAR : S o pho mo re MA J OR : Psycholog y H OMETOWN : Ro c kfo rd , Mic h .

LEVI RYFAK “I remember being in my classroom in kindergarten. The television was on and teachers were walking in and out of the classroom. The lights were turned off and we were having serious quiet time.” YEAR : Fre s h ma n MA J OR : S e c o nda r y Ed uc atio n H OMETOWN : Midd lev ie w, Mic h .

TORIANA MILLER “I was in kindergarten and school was dismissed early. Parents rushed over to pick their kids up. We were wondering what was going on and why we left early.”

YES NO I DON’ T KNOW

Nevertheless, some of the unexpected adjustments I’ve experienced have been entirely positive. The best example of this is the plethora of resources available at GVSU. I went to Campus Life Night last week and was overwhelmed by the number of clubs represented. There were more than I could have imagined, and they satisfied an enormous range of interests. With so many outlets for professional and creative pursuits available, it will be easy for me to become an active member of the campus community in ways that are both productive and fun. These past few weeks, I’ve

THIS ISSUE ’ S QUEST IO N :

BLO G Le tte r to t h e e d ito r :

Do you think GVSU does enough to remember 9/11?

7% 21% 71%

learned that college life is full of adjustments, but I think that the way we view and treat these adjustments directly affects their impact on us. There is certainly a lesson to be learned or some knowledge to be gained in each of these situations, regardless of whether or not they are difficult or unpleasant. In keeping with the infectious spirit of optimism shared by GVSU’s students, then, it seems only natural that I should choose to exchange the word “adjustments” for the word “opportunities.” After all, with the right attitude, isn’t that what they really are?

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EDITORIA L

NEVER FORGET The 9/11 terrorist attacks impacted everyone differently. It’s important to remember those who are still affected by terrorism across the globe. here were you on Sept. 11, 2001? Class, work, at home with your family? Some of us were school children, too young to fully understand the atrocity of the event. Others tried to cope with the shock of such a catastrophe. Some of us had family and friends living in New York or working in the towers. Others had loved ones working as emergency responders and in the armed forces. Each of us has our own memory of the day, and our own way of remembering it. Today, we at the Lanthorn encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the implications of 9/11, to say thank you to the men and women who risked their lives responding

to the disaster and to pay respect to those who lost their lives. It may be difficult for some current GVSU students to remember the fear for our loved ones that all Americans felt in 2001. After all, many college students were in elementary school. The class of 2018 was in kindergarten. Take a moment to tell your family you love them, in memory of those who cannot tell those loved ones they lost 13 years ago. There is now less being done to remember those who lost their lives as time passes. But it is important to not forget, as terrorism is an ongoing problem. We ask that you think about the thousands of people who are still being affected by acts of terror-

ism today. On Wednesday, Sept. 10, President Obama announced he has the authority needed to take action against the jihadist group the Islamic State. That same day, Fox News published the article, “Digital jihad: ISIS, Al Qaeda seek a cyber caliphate to launch attacks on US,” saying the group is working on an attack targeted on America’s infrastructure and financial systems. With these growing concerns in the Middle East today, it becomes even more important that we remember the events of 9/11. The arc of history is long, and bends toward justice, but we are not there yet. It is imperative that the United States reflects on the past and looks forward to a safe, peaceful future.

GVL EDITORIA L CA RTOON

B y Natal i e Love

YEAR : Fre s h ma n MA J OR : Psycholog y H OMETOWN : Las Ve g as , N ev.

GV L E DI TO RIAL BOAR D Sarah Hillenbrand Carly Simpson Audra Gamble David Specht Jay Bushen

Editor-in-chief Associate editor News editor A&E editor Sports editor

GV L O PI N IO N 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 opinions published here do not necessarily reflect those of the paper as an entity. The Grand Valley Lanthorn aims to be a safe vehicle for community discussion. The Lanthorn will not publish or entertain any forms of hate speech, but will not discriminate against any other views, opinions or beliefs. The content, information and views expressed are not approved by nor necessarily represent those of the university, its Board of Trustees, officers, faculty or staff. Reader submissions on the opinion page appear as space permits, and are reserved for letters to the

editor only, all other readergenerated content can be submitted to the Grand Valley Lanthorn’s YourSpace page by emailing community@ lanthorn.com. Letters to the editor should include the author’s full name and relevant title along with a valid email and phone number for confirming the identity of the author. Letters should be approximately 500-650 words in length, and are not edited by the staff of the Grand Valley Lanthorn outside of technical errors for clarity. To make a submission, email at editorial@lanthorn. com or by dropping off your submission in person at: 0051 KIRKHOF CENTER GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ALLENDALE, MI 49401 616-826-8276

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Discussing real issues, not symptoms

BY LUKE VAN DER MALE EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

f it’s true that it’s how we think and not what we think that’s important, it follows that it’s how we talk and not what we talk about that is similarly essential. But what does this mean in the modern media landscape that is simultaneously exploding and contracting all of the time? Should we bicker about whether Michael Brown was a petty thief, or ask how he ended up shot? How about what it means that a global

warming prediction from 1995 has been changed, or how to stop our economy from smothering our planet with CO2? The fundamental difference in these topics is whether we are talking about the symptoms of a problem, which in their details can be confusing and irrelevant, or the systems of the same. Brown’s larceny or lack thereof, as a previous Columnist noted, is merely a distraction from race relations between the police and the black community. That is, unless someone is arguing being shot six times is a natural consequence of stealing. Determining the exact events of Brown’s shooting will at best shed light onto the existing problems, but more likely it will only absorb unwanted limelight until the national attention has wandered again. Society’s concern over an issue is a scarce resource, and we can spend that concern on either what is wrong, or how and why it is

wrong. And I think it’s quite obvious which will assist progress. An acquaintance of mine once insisted that the way to save the environment for posterity was not the vulgar taxation systems I proposed. Instead, she claimed, we must change our culture. Now, if culture is a system at all, it’s certainly not one that can be changed while New York is above water. But at least she and I were discussing the method of reducing imminent flooding, which is more than can be said of much of the national conversation on climate change. There is still furious debate on whether it’s even happening, regardless of scientific consensus, almost biblical Californian droughts, and steadily mounting average temperatures. I think the American conversation on Ferguson and climate change share a feature of revealing what we’d rather talk about as opposed to what we

should be talking about. Why talk about the immense black prison population, or the lack of racial representation in police departments, or the extreme violence used against protesters when we can instead discuss the last time Brown smoked a joint? For that matter, why worry about how we will have to fundamentally change the global economic system to cap emissions if we can instead endlessly question the minutiae of climate science? I once saw a photo of a skeptical demonstrator holding a sign that read “What do we want? Evidence based change! When do we want it? After peer review!” But evidence is only a part of the answer. Our focus on fundamental issues, rather than trifling ones, is every bit as necessary to evidence based change. Bickering over symptoms does nothing to the disease, and societal concern is not our only scarce resource.

SEP TEMBER 11, 2014 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

FRESHMAN CONTINUED FROM A3

many plays, either on stage or behind the scenes. She’s hoping to continue to do some things with theater at GVSU. Corder is also hoping to get involved in the swim club. “I swam during my freshman and sophomore years in high school but I had to give it up so I could focus more on school and my job,” she said. “But I’m hoping to get back to (swimming) regularly.” Despite only being at GVSU for about three weeks, Corder is already enjoying her time at the university. “I like that there is always something to do. There is always somewhere you can go, whether you want to be

alone or with other people,” she said. “And at Grand Valley it’s really easy to find people who like the same things you do or to discover new things.” She already knows that three years from now things won’t be the same. In fact, she’s already starting to see some changes in herself. “I think I am going to change between now and my senior year,” she said. “I’m already starting to see it.” But she isn’t focused that far on the future just yet. “Right now, I’m just hoping to accomplish keeping my grades up and being able to understand what I learn.”

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possible,” Washington said. He isn’t nervous at all for graduation either. “I’m overly excited to start my life journey,” he said. “I cannot wait to get out there and get the hundreds of rejections out of the way so that I can walk into that one audition, or casting call, or party, or restaurant, or bathroom that will change my life forever.” After graduation, he joked that he’s taking his talents to South Beach, laughing before

| KEVIN SIELAFF GVL

GVL

OLIVIA CORDER, FRESHMAN

RODNEY VINCENT WASHINGTON II, SENIOR

adding he’s just kidding. He’s actually relocating to Los Angeles to start acting. Washington still has four months left at GVSU and he’s enjoying it while he can. He’s a member of Alpha Kappa Psi and a member of the improvisation group, Subject to Change. “I’m the token black guy of Subject to Change and I love it. The best part of my week is our rehearsals,” Washington said. “That’s about it this year, working 45 or more hours a week makes it hard to stay involved with organizations.” His friends and the rela-

tionships he built over the years with many great people are what he says he’ll miss the most after graduating, though he’s hoping to keep in touch as much as possible. His advice for the freshman that just moved in is fairly simple. “Keep up with your syllabus,” he said. “Keep up a good relationship with your professors; make sure they know who you are. Participate in class, ask questions, spark discussions and challenge authority academically.”

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ment and civil rights. “If people who are for national security get too much leeway, we may lose rights, but if civil rights gets too much leeway, we may lose national security. Can we reach a compromise” Whitney said. White, who has been working with U.S. intelligence since the early 1980s, stresses the importance of national security. “After Sept. 11, I was on loan from Grand Valley for

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| MARISSA DILLON

college don’t come without a little confusion and adjustments. “The hardest thing to get adjusted to was the fact that you are always near someone, especially at night,” Corder said. “I’m not used to so many people.” Of course, moving to a new environment has its own challenges. “I was kind of scared to eat at any of the food places because I didn’t know how meals worked,” Corder said. In high school, she was very involved in the theater program. She participated in

NEWS

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can suggest ideas for future upgrades. However, Cox said he has not seen any bugs with the system since the switch. “At first I didn’t like the switch, but it’s easy, increases communication and gives administrators the tools to manage registrations,” Cox said. “It’s like Facebook. The more you use it, the more valuable it is to you.” He said he has heard no complaints, which suggests most people at GVSU like the new interface. The site has seen an increase of 2,000 users since its new look emerged in July. Cox said the numbers change every day, but GVSU currently has around 14,000 OrgSync users. OrgSync also helped increase online preregistrations for both Max it Out and Campus Life Night this year, Cox said. More groups registered for spots ahead of time than in previous years. In addition, there were more groups signed up than there were tables available, though not all of them showed on the event day. “OrgSync has a tremendous amount of functionality for helping (student) officers make their lives easier,” Cox said. “They can be more efficient with how they conduct business.”

three years,” White said. “I’ve also worked closely with law enforcement agencies. I know that national security works outside our borders and manages all threats against the nation.” The discussion on Sept. 16 will follow a keynote featuring Don Markle, a former U.S. intelligence officer, Smithsonian Institute lecturer and author. The keynote will be at 7 p.m. on Sept. 15 at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids. “Donald Markle is the real

expert,” White said. Markle worked in the U.S. Department for 34 years and donated a vast collection of reference materials to the Hauenstein Center in 2010. His book “The Fox and the Hound: The Birth of American Spying” will be another focal point in the discussion. The event is free and LIB 100 approved, but seats are limited. Those wishing to attend the discussion panel can RSVP at www.hauensteincenter.org.

Cox added that OrgSync recently created an iPhone application, and an Android application is coming in the winter of 2015. Chad Hollenbeck, a GVSU junior studying information systems, is a technology assistant who helps student organizations use and maintain OrgSync. Hollenbeck said this is the first update they have seen since GVSU partnered with OrgSync. Most of the changes came through the OrgSync developmental team, though GVSU suggested some solutions to improve the site. “We were brought in to find out how we use OrgSync and what would be helpful to us,” Hollenbeck said. “Any users of OrgSync before the update can attest that it wasn’t the easiest to navigate.

This is a major improvement from the old OrgSync.” Hollenbeck said the most helpful update is the search bar at the top of the page because it allows users to search for files, forms and organizations in a more efficient way. “The majority of the changes were aimed at simplifying the user experience,” he said. “Unfortunately, I don’t believe the majority of student orgs know how to effectively utilize all OrgSync has to offer.” Part of his work with the OSL includes hosting training sessions for student organizations to show them how to use OrgSync’s resources effectively. For more information about scheduling an OrgSync training session, contact Chad Hollenbeck at osltech@gvsu.edu.

TAKING BACK FRIDAY While the main stretch of Downtown Grand Rapids – home to staple venues such as The Intersection and The Pyramid Scheme - tends to consistently draw concertgoers each weekend, The Orbit Room manages to pull in a big-name act every few weeks that draws fans to the eastern edge of the city. On Fri., Sept. 12, the spot will play host to two highprofile alt rock bands: Taking Back Sunday and The Used. Though both bands have been in the mainstream for over a decade, each of the two crews recently dropped fresh albums, Taking Back Sunday with “Happiness” in March and The Used with “Imaginary Enemy” in April, meaning that those in attendance will likely have a chance to enjoy plenty of new material and classics alike. The show is all ages and doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets for the show are $30 in advance, $35 the day of the show. For more information, visit orbitroom.com. BENEFICIAL BASSLINES On Fri., Sept. 12, a handful of local musicians will take to The Intersection’s outdoor stage looking to raise funds for 20 Liters, a local nonprofit dedicated to bringing clean water to the country of Rwanda. The inaugural outdoor concert, BeneFest, is a part of the venue’s Rock the Lot series and will feature performances by The Crane Wives, Vox Vidorra, The Accidentals and Channing + Quinn. Also pitching in are local food and beverage vendors such as Founders Brewing Co., Lantern Coffee, Cult Pizza and Brewery Vivant, to name a few. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for this all-ages show and tickets are $15. To find out more, check out sectionlive.com/events/benefest.

Singing to a new tune A cappella group Euphoria prepares for new season with increased song variety BY JACKIE SMITH JSMITH@LANTHORN.COM

his September, the student-run group Euphoria will begin to ease back into the groove of things. The coed a cappella group, one of four a cappella groups on Grand Valley State University’s campus, is not your run-of-the-mill singing group. Euphoria provides their own take on music, covering chart topping hits, classic oldies and even beat boxing. Euphoria’s Vice President Adelaide Clock explained that the group doesn’t simply cover one single genre of music. “Lately we’ve dipped into rock and roll, jazz, choral and indy stuff,” Clock said. “We’ve changed our slogan from ‘top 40’ to ‘top 40 at some point.’” As for the group’s beat boxing incorporation, Michael Vacanti, Euphoria’s president, said a cappella groups everywhere are latching on to its rising popularity, especially fellow GVSU singing groups including GrooVe! and Midnight Snack. Popular hits and beat boxing aren’t the only things that draw students to Euphoria though. Their experience and love for music is what is really at the heart of the singing group. “Music has always been a huge impact on my life,” Vacanti said. “(Euphoria) is my second family here at GV.”

CELEBRATING THE COMMUNITY – EASTOWN STREETFAIR For the 41st year in a row, the residents of Grand Rapids will unite to celebrate the city’s hippest community, Eastown, by indulging in all of the arts, crafts, eats and music that the eclectic district has to offer. Hosted on Sat., Sept. 13 by the Eastown Community Association and Eastown Business Association, the outdoor gathering spans across several streets, and is family-friendly as well as free. The first batch of vendors opens their booths around 9 a.m., with performances and events running through 10 p.m. To find out more about the fair, such as when and where vendors will be located, visit eastown.org/ streetfair-map-vendor-list.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: A cappella group Euphoria is preparing to perform at “Night of A Cappella”

on Nov. 7. The group has expanding its repertoire to include rock and roll, jazz, choral and indy music.

Clock agreed, adding, “I have ber one coed group,” Vacanti said. made some of my best friends “The ICCA is like the one from here. Other people ‘Pitch Perfect.’” have made other conEuphoria will be nections through the performing in “Night “...it can be group as well. “ of A Cappella,” on Euphoria will be stressful because Nov. 7, at 8 p.m. in the competing in a capCook Dewitt Center. everyone is pella competitions All a cappella groups human, but throughout the year, at GVSU including the largest being the A GrooVe!, Midnight the music and Cappella Off and the Snack, After School friendship are International ChampiSpecial and The V onship of Collegiate A Men will also be perworth it.” Cappella competition. forming. “At A Cappella Off “It’s a night of ADELAIDE CLOCK last year, we got numshowing everyone this EUPHORIA VP

is what we do, and this is what we love to do,” Vacanti said. As for those students who are on edge about joining an a cappella group, Clock and Vacanti have some advice. “It’s worth it,” Clock said. “Sometimes it can be a little stressful because everyone is human, but the music and friendship are worth it.” Vacanti cautions students to look at their schedules. “It’s a time commitment,” he said. “Our group knows we rehearse six hours a week, so it’s a time commitment, but also a wonderful experience.”

Making a difference in the community Leadership and Service Team interns work to organize service events at GV

GVL

| EMILY FRYE

STRANGE, BEAUTIFUL LAKERS Having just returned from a 4,000-mile tour that stopped to perform at five national parks, GVSU’s New Music Ensemble is no stranger to the limelight. On Sat., Sept. 13, the group looks to share their catalog of recently commissioned music from their tour with musicians and fans alike at the seventh annual Strange Beautiful Music VII, hosted by the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit. The show begins at 4 p.m., and while the bulk of the evening will feature performances by New Music Detroit, the GVSU New Music Ensemble is the first act to take the stage. By employing the “Pay What You Want” system, general admission tickets for the show range from $10-$100, depending entirely on what each person can afford. For more information about the ensemble’s performance and to purchase tickets, go to dso.org/ CalendarView.aspx.

| JACQUELINE SMITH

ARTS AT A GLANCE

COURTESY

LAKER LIFE

SEP TEMBER 11, 2014 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

KELLIE HOWE BY MADDIE FORSHEE MFORSHEE@LANTHORN.COM

t’s no secret that Grand Valley State University students are heavily involved on campus. With over 350 student organizations and many volunteer opportunities, it’s not hard for a student to get involved. Events like Make a Difference Day, which is put on by the Community Service Learning Center, take a lot of planning and organization to put on. There are entire teams of students such as the Leadership and Service Team that are

hard at work helping faculty members pull off such events. Kellie Howe, a junior at GVSU studying public and nonprofit administration with minors in business and writing, is an intern with the Leadership and Service Team, an organization through the CSLC. Hailing from Bloomfield Hills, Howe is the MOCC/NCC of the Residence Housing Association in addition to her internship. In her free time, Howe likes to waterski, wakeboard and snowboard. In the future, Howe would love to work with nonprofits that help children, such as the Make-a-Wish Foundation. She said she’s seen what it’s like when a child gets sick, and loves the fact that Make-a-Wish is there to support the family while helping the child have fun during hard times. Originally Howe did not plan on attending GVSU, but said she was hooked after she visited campus and talked to an admissions counselor. “The different service opportunities brought me here,” she said. “I’ve always been into community service and helping others.” When she heard about the Leadership and Service Team internship, Howe knew right away that it was something she wanted to do. Since

she was young, Howe said she has and Make a Difference Day. always been involved in service “I thought (Make a Difference trips, preferring those to family va- Day) was the coolest thing ever,” she cation. Leadership was something said. She chose the leadership semishe was involved with too, saying nar because she said she wants to be that it was ‘a no-brainer’ when it able to help people grow through came to the internship. being a leader. “It’s just one of my Howe is really pospassions,” she said. itive about her experiAs part of the team, ence as an intern with “The different Howe and the other the team so far. She four interns help fasaid she’s had to learn service cilitate and coordinate time management opportunities leadership and service and to really work as events being put on brought me here. part of a group that around campus, said she can turn to if she I’ve always been needs help. Laura Murnen, the intern coordinator. “I definitely think into community “(The interns) are (the internship) is service...” doing the behindbeneficial for my mathe-scenes work and jor,” she said. “But also working the also, you just learn to KELLIE HOWE JUNIOR events,” Murnen said. grow as a leader.” “They make sure they Howe added that go flawlessly.” networking for jobs and being able Howe and the other interns also to connect with organizations that do a lot of promotion for the events she wants to work with in the future by visiting classes, tabling and even is a huge advantage. chalking sidewalks. She added that her favorite part “It really is a team effort,” Murn- of the internship is the team that en said. “We couldn’t get the job she works with saying they are all done without them.” there for the same reasons; they like Each semester, each intern has to to help out with service and are al‘head up’ two events. Howe chose a ready leaders on campus. strengths-based leadership seminar

Fall Arts Celebration returns to campus Events on campus to show variety in arts, will include music, dance, poetry BY BEN GLICK BGLICK@LANTHORN.COM

o help accommodate the onset of the dreary autumn weather, the Grand Valley State University Art Gallery has a number of events lined up to help students cope with the changing of seasons. The annual 2014 Fall Arts Celebration will supply GVSU students with a series of six monthly installments ranging from music, art, dance and poetry. Festivities begin Sept. 15 with a musical tribute to John Philip Sousa. The performance will take place Sept. 15 at the Louis Armstrong Theater, Performing Arts Center on the Allendale campus at 7:30 p.m. The event is organized by an array of GVSU faculty and staff across many disciplines, including Department of Music and Dance Chair Danny Phipps, who has played an important role in attracting talent for the Fall Arts Celebration. “The performing arts, which have

a vibrant and balanced presence on our campus, continually add unique qualities and singular viewpoints to the Laker experience,” Phipps said in a 2013 interview for last year’s event. The Fall Arts Celebration is an annual event held by the university to showcase local and national talent. “It has always been a long standing Grand Valley tradition,” said Art Gallery Program Coordinator Stacey Tvedten. “I’m looking forward to them all.” On Aug. 22, the Art Gallery began hosting the art collection of the Stuart and Barbara Padnos Foundation Collection. A reception will be held for the exhibit Sept. 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. The collection joins selected works by noted international artists such as Marc Chagall, Raoul Dufy, Joan Miro and Paul-Emile Pissarro. These works were donated to GVSU in 2013. Peabody Award-winning NPR host Scott Simon will lecture on the challenges of journalism, democracy and personal sanity in

news consumption on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. in the Eberhard Center on the Pew Campus. The lecture will be followed by a book signing and reception. Poets Mark Doty and Dorianne Laux will be hosted on Oct. 16 in the Eberhard Center at 7 p.m. The critically acclaimed poets will read from their works at this year’s poetry night, and will be available at a reception and book signing. In the Louis Armstrong Performing Arts Center on Oct. 27, students will have the opportunity to see a performance by Gallim Dance, a dance company based out of New York City. The performance will start at 7:30 p.m. and will be followed by a reception. Festivities conclude Dec. 8 with a choral and symphonic concert at Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids.

GO TO: gvsu.edu/fallarts FOR MORE ON UPCOMING EVENTS

Fall Arts Celebration Lecture

+ + +

Scott Simon, “Professional Journalism in a DIY Age” October 6, 7 p.m. Eberhard Center 2nd floor, Pew Grand Rapids Campus

Poetry

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“An Evening of Poetry and Conversation with Mark Doty & Dorianne Laux” October 16, 7 p.m. Eberhard Center 2nd floor, Pew Grand Rapids Campus

Dance

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“Gallim Dance: Articulate Bodies, Viceral Language” October 27, 7:30 p.m. Louis Armstrong Theatre, Performing Arts Center, Allendale Campus

SPORTS

SEP TEMBER 11, 2014 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

The Grand Valley State University football team will be without a pair of linebackers for Saturday night’s home opener against reigning GLIAC champion Ohio Dominican. On Monday, GVSU coach Matt Mitchell said sophomore starter David Talley is out for the ODU game after breaking his hand against Azusa Pacific. The Lakers will also be without junior Christian Harris, a transfer from the University of Tennessee, who tore his ACL. GVSU continues to battle injuries at linebacker. Redshirt freshman Robbie Peck tore his ACL prior to week one, joining sophomore offensive lineman Zach Jolly and redshirt freshman cornerback Devin McKissic on the list of players who have suffered season-ending injuries. Meanwhile, standout defensive end De’Ondre Hogan is “undecided” for Saturday’s ODU game. GVSU’S ODENDAAL EARNS WEEKLY GLIAC HONOR A senior member of the Grand Valley State University women’s soccer team, Juane Odendaal, was named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday following an impressive pair of home victories for GVSU over the weekend. Odendaal, an outside back, led a Laker defense that posted back-to-back shutouts against No. 13 Quincy University and Truman State University. GVSU allowed just seven shots on goal combined in the pair of games on its way to 4-0 and 3-0 wins, respectively. The London, Ontario native notched her first point of the season against Quincy on Friday night by floating a picturesque cross into GVSU’s attacking box, where sophomore Kendra Stauffer eventually corralled the ball and sent it home for what proved to be the game-winning goal. No. 1 GVSU heads west for a pair of games this weekend, with games scheduled at Southwest Minnesota State University on Friday night and Minnesota State University on Sunday afternoon.

VARSITY SCHEDULE CROSS COUNTRY Friday at MSU 12pm SOCCER Friday at SMSU 4pm Sunday at Minn. State 1pm VOLLEYBALL Friday at WSU 7pm Saturday at SVSU 2pm W. GOLF Saturday at MSU invite Sunday at MSU invite M. TENNIS Saturday at DePauw TBA Sunday at DePauw TBA W. TENNIS Saturday at SVSU 1pm FOOTBALL Saturday vs ODU 7pm

Lakers stick together after loss, set for ODU BOUNCING BACK:

After a 26-23 defeat at Azusa Pacific on Sept. 4, the GVSU football team has a chance to respond in its home opener against Ohio Dominican, which went 10-0 in the regular season last year. COURTESY TIM BROWN

#18 GV hosts #10 Panthers in Black Out on Saturday BY JAY BUSHEN SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

n October 2013, the Grand Valley State University football team had its proverbial back against the wall. The Lakers lost a number of key starters to injury, a pair of road games at Ohio Dominican and Ferris State in a three-week span and perhaps a few fair-weather fans in the process. There were some questions after the 4-2 start, but those questions were answered, and answered emphatically. GVSU won eight in a row and finished as the No. 3 team in the final AFCA poll. Rankings such as the AFCA poll, which moved GVSU back 16 spots on Monday, don’t seem to matter inside the Laker locker room. What matters is a sense of cohesion, camaraderie and an ability to overcome both injuries and tough losses. But for any team, a double-overtime loss is a tough way to start a season. “We’ve had to bounce back from things like that before,” said senior defensive back Jack Sauber. “There’s a lot of guys in our locker room that understand what it takes, how we need to refocus and just really get to work so that we can bounce back from it.” The experienced Lakers have a chance to bounce back at Lubbers Stadium this weekend, but it won’t be easy against reigning GLIAC champion Ohio Dominican (1-0). Ohio Dominican’s 4-3 defense, which has given up just 17.8 points per game since 2013, will be a test for the Laker offense which scored just 13 points in regulation last week.

The Panthers led the GLIAC with 42 sacks a year ago and most of their starters are back in 2014, so GVSU’s ability to run the ball and protect senior quarterback Heath Parling could be key. Parling took some hits against against Azusa Pacific, but – after hearing questions about the offensive line on Monday – the captain backed his teammates and said it was mostly his fault, not theirs. “We weren’t in the right protections and “We weren’t that comes down to in the right me,” he said. “Pre-snap, I didn’t see some coverprotections and ages, some pressures, that comes down some stuff on tape...I have confidence in to me...” those guys, they’re good players. They’re all good HEATH PARLING players, they’re tough QUARTERBACK guys. I need to get them in the right looks, that’s on me.” GVSU coach Matt Mitchell said the offense’s play in week one was due to a combination of factors, and that the entire unit – quarterback, running backs, tight ends, wide receivers and coaches included – was responsible for the lack of production, blitz pickup and explosiveness in the run game. SEE FOOTBALL ON A8

Panthers on the prowl: ODU hasn’t lost a regular season contest since Oct. 6, 2012 2012 Season at Findlay at ND vs Tiffin at Lake Erie vs MAL

W 63-31 W 45-7 W 31-14 W 44-14 W 56-7

2013 Season at #6 GC vs Hillsdale at Northern vs #9 GVSU at Walsh at Ashland vs Findlay at Tiffin vs Lake Erie at Malone

W 41-14 W 37-20 W 30-23 W 57-14 W 33-20 W 31-19 W 41-21 W 18-0 W 62-21 W 40-13

2013 Playoffs vs #19 WTAMU

L 27-34

2014 Season vs Malone at GVSU (Saturday)

W 59-14

Twins, former national champs team up once again or the past decade, as Kaitlyn and Kourtney Wolters have matured into the adults they are now; their volleyball skills have followed suit, developing and growing from high school to college. After playing alongside one another from grade school to prepping at Unity Christian High School, and for two years playing together at Grand Rapids Community College, it made for a unique transition in 2013 when the Wolters twins found themselves separated on and off the court for the first time. “I haven’t known really anything about volleyball without Kourtney,” senior Kaitlyn Wolters said. “It was definitely hard playing without her at first. It was one of the biggest adjustments I’ve had to make in my life.” After capturing a NJCAA Division II National Championship with Grand Rapids Community College in 2012, the Wolters twins parted ways. Kaitlyn had an opportunity to join Grand Valley State University, while Kourtney decided to attend Western Michigan University, where she played club volleyball. “It was an adjustment I had to make, for the first time in my life I was by myself,” Kourtney said. “I tried playing club at Western and it just didn’t feel right for me. I guess you could say that I wasn’t loving the sport for the first time.”

| KEVIN SIELAFF

GVSU LOSES TWO MORE LINEBACKERS TO INJURY

GVL

QUICK HITS

REUNITED: Kaitlyn (left) and Kourtney Wolters (right) bring a family dynamic to the GVSU volleyball team.

After Kourtney’s experimental run at WMU, she contacted Laker coach Deanne Scanlon with hopes of joining her sister in Allendale. The feeling was mutual, and Kourtney joined the Lakers in the spring of 2014. “I saw not only the success that Kaitlyn was having at Grand Valley, but also just how much fun she was having and I wanted to be a part of that. I wanted volleyball to be fun again,” Kourtney said. “It was always on the back of my mind, I was fortunate enough to play for this program.” Kourtney now joins her sister, Kaitlyn, who was an AVCA All-

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American Honorable Mention honoree and All-GLIAC First Team selection a year ago. Meanwhile, Kourtney said she hopes that her work ethic and mentality can translate into a leadership role within the GVSU team dynamic. “I want my role to be whatever can help the team,” Kourtney said. “I consider myself an energetic person on the court and I also fit in at a number of positions. I haven’t played one position for more than one season, so I feel like I can adapt quickly to anywhere they need me.” With Kourtney, the Lakers added yet another experienced and sea-

soned senior to a team that already features nine upperclassmen. It seems the Wolters twins have the potential to bring added chemistry to an already close-knit team. “You can tell just how comfortable Kaitlyn and Kourtney are with each other,” senior Christina Canepa said. With only four games completed so far, it’s undetermined how the Wolters connection will pay off at GVSU. At the very least, the Lakers are hoping another senior will aid in communication and leadership. At best, it may just lead to another titlewinning opportunity for Kaitlyn, Kourtney and their teammates.

SEP TEMBER 11, 2014 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

SPORTS A8

DON’T FORGET ABOUT DRE

GVL

| EMILY FRYE

| KEVIN SIELAFF

GV’s Strauss goes from club to varsity starter

SENIOR STARTER: GVSU senior goal keeper Andrea Strauss (31) passes the ball to a teammate during a recent soccer

WORK PAYS OFF: Lakers Jenny Shaba, Kendra Stauffer and

game. Though there were four options for who would start as goalie, Strauss was chosen to defend the net.

Gabriella Mencotti celebrate after making a play.

BY ADAM KNORR ASSISTANTSPORTS @LANTHORN.COM

inutes before the Grand Valley State University women’s soccer team kicked off its 2014 season opener, head coach Jeff Hosler announced the starting lineup to his squad. It started on the back end, and Hosler called for senior Andrea Strauss to undertake the goalkeeping duties for the evening. The decision, although seemingly mundane, was one of the most difficult ones Hosler and Co. had to make prior to the season opener. The Lakers had four highly skilled goaltenders battling for one position, and it took until minutes before game one for a starter to be named. Strauss, the lone senior of the four, proved to be a good choice. GVSU blanked No. 13 Quincy University 4-0 on Friday before doing the same to Truman State University in a 3-0 victory two days later. Strauss faced just seven shots, but came up big in separate occasions each game. For now, the job is hers. “It’ll always be a constant battle and there’s always an opportunity for the other

FOOTBALL CONTINUED FROM A7

“It’s a complete group effort,” Mitchell said. “If you’re going to get explosive plays in the run game, you have to get great perimeter blocking, and there were times where we didn’t have great perimeter blocking on the outside in the run game, too. It’s not just the offensive line. Our protection issues and our run game issues are not just pinned on one specific unit. It’s a complete thing.” It’s certainly going to take a complete performance to knock down ODU on Saturday. The Panthers beat GVSU 57-14 last year, and did so by making plays in all three phases. ODU forced a safety, scored three touchdowns through the air, had two on the ground and two in the return game – both courtesy of now-senior wide re-

three to earn that starting not to play varsity soccer. spot,” said graduate assistant Instead, Strauss chose club and goalkeeper coach An- soccer in hopes that she nette Stromberg. “Much like would be able to tend to our field players, if they’re the academic side of college having a great week and de- when the need arose. serve a start, that will happen. In 2013, things changed “But for now, Dre has so- for Strauss. Then-assistant lidified herself as that num- coach Erica Demers apber one.” proached her after a club Strauss’ path to the num- practice and mentioned that ber one goalie on the No. 1 the varsity squad needed team in NCAA another goalDivision II has tender. After been a tad out mulling it over, “I love making of the ordinary, Strauss accepthowever. Comed and joined big plays and ing out of high saving the team the DII titans school, Strauss three weeks and being a was a threeinto an evensport varsity stability player in tual national athlete with 11 championshipthe back.” years of total winning seavarsity experison. ence under her As a junior, ANDREA STRAUSS belt at Auburn part of Strauss’ SENIOR Hills Avondale initiation into High School. the team was As do many a sort of idenMichigan high school ath- tity change. Sports call for letic standouts, she chose to communication, often as attend GVSU. quickly as possible. With GVSU, however, was this need for instantaneous “pretty much an academic conversation often comes decision” for Strauss. Now nicknames, and the case is in her fourth year of stud- no different with Strauss. ies, Strauss is in the allied Andrea became Dre, and it health sciences program stuck. studying to be a speech lanWhen she’s in uniform guage pathologist. for the Lakers, she is called She anticipated a dif- by nothing else. ficult class rigor when she Despite being a senior came to college, and opted this year, Strauss’ varsity ceiver Abe Johnson. their calling card. Johnson was an All-GLI“I can see why people AC second team honoree are doubting us,” said juin 2013, as were running nior wide receiver Jamie back Brandon Schoen and Potts. “But at the end of the guard Perrin day, we’ve all Cunningham. been through ODU also camp together. “I can see why brings back We’ve gone a first-team through the people are selection ofsummer workdoubting us. But outs together. fensively in wideout Dez We know what at the end of Stewart. we’re capable the day, we’ve ODU has of...If we honwon 16 straight all been through estly just play regular season how we know camp together.” games since we can play, October 2012, we’ll go out JAMIE POTTS which was also there and be JUNIOR the last time it very hard to failed to win a beat and very GLIAC contest. competitive.” The Panthers are certainly a The game starts at 7 p.m. quality opponent. on Saturday in Allendale. However, they’ll be play- Home fans are encouraged ing a motivated GVSU to wear black. Those lookteam, and the Lakers don’t ing for live updates of the lose at Lubbers easily. They action can stream the game may be 0-1 for the first time on YouTube, or follow us on since 2000, but adversity is Twitter @GVLSports.

experience didn’t separate her from the group of 2014 goalie candidates as much as it would seem. The 21-year-old played in parts of just three games last season, and, before last Friday’s season opener, was yet to start a varsity game in net. What set her apart from the rest, however, was a refined polishing that comes over time. “As the preseason progressed, she became a clear candidate in terms of her being well-rounded,” Hosler said. “She was the leading candidate in the majority of categories.” Hosler pinpoints Strauss’ hands as her top skill – a forte made clear by her ability to pluck nearly every high ball out of a sea of opponents. Some goaltenders at the DII level struggle to make high saves, but Hosler says Strauss’ ability to locate a ball at its high point, and react, sets her apart from others. Strauss’ mentality, on multiple levels, separates her from many athletes as well. She stresses that college is her first concern, a statement made apparent by her early-year decisions to put school over saves. Her love for her position in net comes from a lifelong desire to lead whenever possible.

“I love being a leader,” Strauss said. “I love making big plays and saving the team and being a stability player in the back. I love being vocal and knowing my teammates have confidence in me.” What truly sets Strauss apart from many high quality athletes, however, is her perspective on the game. Despite being the only senior of GVSU’s four goaltenders, she doesn’t feel any

sense of entitlement or importance. Her focus is helping the team win – regardless of whether she’s on the pitch. She stresses that the player in the net should be, “the one who is doing the best at that time, who can lead the team and who can contribute in a big way.” So far, that player has been Strauss, and – with the way she has been playing up to this point – it doesn’t seem that will change.

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T H G U A GET C reading the

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Name: Jailyn Glass Major: Advertising/P.R. Year: Senior Why Jailyn reads the lanthorn: I read the lanthorn to stay up to date on events and news happening around campus Quote: “Finding an uncomfortable place in a comfortable world” Meaning you have to step out of your comfort zone to accomplish your goals!