G R A N D VA L L E Y L A N T H O R N
Bundle up and Hold on Winter weather causes slick situation for buses
Snow sculptures, sledding, snoozing: how students spent their sub-zero days
NEWS | A5
Documentary short film inspires GV audiences during MLK week
ARTS | A11
M O N DAY, JA N UA RY 2 2 , 2 0 2 4 / / VO L . 5 8 N O. 1 1
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LANTHORN.COM
A2 | NEWS
JANUARY 22, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
SPACE
GV students reach for the stars in project with NASA BY MAX BUFKIN LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
A project designed by Grand Valley State University students might be going to space. The Padnos College of Engineering and Computing (PCEC) is one of three university programs selected to move forward with a project sponsored by NASA. The project includes the creation of a lunar flag, flagpole and anchoring system that astronauts can deploy on the moon during the upcoming Artemis III missions. On Dec. 8, the PCEC announced in their newsletter that their department’s team had been chosen by NASA to proceed with the project’s development. The project’s prompt was provided by NASA’s Micro-g NExT challenge, which helps encourage students to get involved with space research and design. The chosen team is composed of 12 students from GVSU’s American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME): Scott Strayer, Caleb Capps, Andrew Latunski, Tasmiya Shaikh, Isabella Moore, Dayna Straub, Owen Kirkpatrick, Aiden Latchaw, Abigail Way, Cebrina Kader, Simon Morgan and Rock Phelps. The twelve-member team, known as the Astro Anchors, successfully developed a simple, practical design that met all of NASA’s challenge requirements. “Each team member brings in a unique set of skills essential in completing this project on time.
The challenge will give everyone involved excellent hands-on experience, while networking with NASA,” according to the PCEC Newsletter. The Micro-g NExT Challenge is a program that provides undergraduate students with hands-on engineering design experience, test operations and public outreach opportunities. The purpose of the challenge is to create a tool deemed vital to space travel. After workshopping their ideas, the Astro Anchors concluded the flag deployment system was the best choice. “The part of the project that really stood out to me was how simplistic our design was. When I first heard we were going to work on this NASA project, at first I felt that a complex, detailed design was something we needed to strive for, being that it is NASA we are working with,” Kader said. “But after working with the other members of ASME, we were able to create a more simplistic design that brought us to Phase Two of the NASA project.” The design consisted of a modular flagpole system built to reduce deployment time. During the winter semester, the team will work alongside a NASA mentor to create a project prototype after successfully passing the initial challenge phase narrowing down applicants resulting in three universities, including GVSU, moving into the next stage of developing their project. “Being a part of this project is very exciting,”
Kader said. “I’ve always seen NASA as a place that strives towards proving the impossible possible, like they did for Apollo 11 by sending the first man to the moon. The fact that I get to work on this project for NASA, who accomplished such a feat, is such an exciting moment for me.” The challenge will end with the Astro Anchors taking a trip to Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where they will test their final design. The test will be conducted in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at NASA’s headquarters, which simulates the microgravity astronauts experience in space. If the test is a success, NASA may adopt and replicate the design in their upcoming missions to the moon. “A dream of mine since I was younger has been to work at NASA someday, so working with their engineers on this project is an amazing experience, Strayer said. Additionally, the Astro Anchors aim to cultivate a passion for space through community outreach. The Astro Anchors have also been collaborating on the project with Allendale High School (AHS) to promote space research among high school students. Sanjivan Manoharan, an assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering at GVSU, is the project’s faculty mentor. Major sponsors supporting the project include Aveeno Technologies LLC, GVSU Center for Scholarly Excellence and the GVSU School of Engineering.
ENGINEERING: “Astro Anchors” have made GVSU one of three colleges in the country to continue on in NASA’s challenge . COURTESY | GVSU PADNOS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTING
A3 | NEWS
JANUARY 22, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
CONTENTS SPACE
| A2
LITERATURE
| A4
WEATHER
| A5
OPINIONS
| A6
EDITORIAL
| A7
NEWS
| A8-9
PRINTMAKING
| A10
ATHLETES
| A11
TEAMWORK
| A12
MOVEMENT
| A13
BASKETBALL
| A14
CHALLENGE
| A15
SWIM & DIVE
| A16
VOL. 58
EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief ELIZABETH SCHANZ Associate Editor HAILEY HENTZ News Editor EMMA ARMIJO
N O. 1 1
Layout Editor REV BRONOWSKI Layout Designer CARLIE SHERWOOD PROMOTIONS Promotions Manager TARYN DOLE
Sports Editor NELSON HUBBELL
ADVERTISING STAFF
Laker Life Editor ISABELLE ENGLAND
McKENNA DOLE
A&E Editor DYLAN HOFFIUS Image Editor BETHANN LONG Multimedia Editor AYRON RUTAN
Advertising Manager
CLEANSE
How “Dry January” can lead to long-term impact, sobriety BY SHAY CARR LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
For many, the start of a new year heralds a list of resolutions- goals for starting fresh and things you’d like to achieve. These goals can be actions, maybe eating healthier foods, starting exercising more, drinking less alcohol or no alcohol at all for a whole month. The trend “Dry January” has recently been a topic of discussion across social media, especially with younger generations. The trend consists of drinking no alcohol for the entire month of January. There’s another alternative called “Damp January” where participants significantly limit alcohol consumption. Andrea Smith, Associate Director of Alcohol and Other Drug Services (AOD) at Grand Valley State University, said the benefits of this cleanse help people to realize how alcohol is impacting them. “A lot of people like Dry January due to holidays and generally over-indulging in lots of areas,” Smith said. “When folks tend to take a break from alcohol, they’re realizing a lot of the negative potential impact that alcohol is having on their body.” Some immediate effects of cleanses from alcohol might lead participants to have a better mood and to get better sleep. Many who partake in a “Dry January” or “Damp January” gain a fresh perspective on life without alcohol can help people make decisions on when, or if, they go back to drinking. Commonly, overindulging among young people can stem from peer pressure. “A lot of students start using substances as a way to feel like they’re fitting in better,” Smith said. “A lot of students also report alcohol makes them feel less awkward and more socially open.” Some students might also turn to substances if they’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Additionally, overindulging in substances, like alcohol, can lead to substance abuse. Smith said there are many positives to living a sober lifestyle.
“Sobriety is a choice some people make because they don’t like the way alcohol makes them feel,” Smith said. “Some students might also choose a sober lifestyle because they feel they can’t drink responsibly or use substances responsibly.” Some people use alcohol as a way to cope with negative feelings– physical and emotional. Sobriety can be a way to find more healthy coping mechanisms by being able to feel and acknowledge uncomfortable emotions. Some students also might choose sobriety if a student’s family has a history of addiction, which can increase their chances of substance use disorders. Personal experiences with substances can look different for everyone. Joshlyn Rasmussen, a fifth-year student at Grand Valley State University said personal experiences related to family and friends with alcohol prompted their participation in “Dry January.” When Rasmussen turned 21, they felt they had fallen into a negative rhythm with alcohol and attempted to limit drinking to only once a month. “I told my mom and my stepdad about it and they were really concerned,” Rasmussen said. “I stopped drinking at that point because I didn’t want to let them down.” Rasmussen said a night out in downtown Grand Rapids for a friend’s birthday caused their old habits to resurface. Rasmussen felt pressured to join in when seeing their friends or family using substances like nicotine vapes, cannabis edibles and alcohol. “Whenever my friend and family member was doing it, I wanted to join in,” Rasmussen said. “I have learned that alcohol and edibles and smoking are some of the most toxic things that I should not do and, honestly, it’s really really bad for my system.” Dry January can be helpful for people trying to get out of the cycle and become motivated to quit drinking altogether. If someone is struggling with substance abuse, the Alcohol and Other Drug Services Division of Student Affairs has a variety of resources available. Programs open to students include prevention and education, sober events on holidays, substance abuse counseling or consultations, group meetings and smart recovery.
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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 616-3312464 or by emailing editorial@lanthorn.com. The Grand Valley Lanthorn is published biweekly by Grand Valley State University students 17 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. Help do your part by recycling or composting this paper after you read it, our paper is entirely compostable. POSTMASTER: Please send form 3579 to: Grand Valley Lanthorn 0051 Kirkhof Center Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI 49401
HEALTH: The trend “Dry January” takes the peer pressure off participants to drink and promotes a sober lifestyle. GVL | TRENTON ESTRADA
A4 | NEWS
JANUARY 22, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
LITERATURE
The most popular books of 2023 at the Mary Idema Pew Library BY EMMA ARMIJO & MALLORY BURT LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
There are 1,770,000 titles held in the Grand Valley State University library, a large library system that supports the campus community. Mary Idema Pew Library, which officially opened to the public on June 24, 2013, has a mass data collection of journals, books and style guides available for anyone connected to campus to reserve. There are a wide variety of books available for check out range including academic resources, adult nonfiction, fiction and other materials like CDs and DVDs available for students. Business Liaison Librarian Cara Cadena said the university has rules for checking out different kinds of books, explaining the maximum amount of time a student can reserve a specific book varies. However, due to the popularity of online books, checking out physical books in print has significantly decreased at the Mary Idema Pew Library. “Students can check out regular books for eight weeks and popular reading books for four weeks, so that is also a factor with these numbers,” Cadena said. “Our print circulation has been declining the past several years as our users’ preferences lean more towards electronic (books).” This could explain why the amount of physically reserved books from the library doesn’t exceed 20 checkouts, despite over 23,000 people having access to the library’s resources. However, GVSU student Lauren Gilmore still likes to check out books at the GVSU library. “Having a print book is way different than an online book, it just better,” Gilmore said. The Mary Idema Pew Library provides check out records for the most popular books. The most popular books checked out at the GVSU Mary Idema Pew Library this year were primarily academic, pieces written about historical composites on a range of social issues, culture and music. Six out of the ten most checked-out books on campus in 2023 are academic. Data from the Mary Idema Library was compiled into a list of the top 10 books reserved for the GVSU community during 2023. Below are the titles, authors and a brief synopsis of each book to provide an overview of the kinds of materials the GVSU community has spent the most time with last year. 1. “The Norton Anthology of African American Literature” by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. – 26 checkouts “The massive work gathers writings from six periods of black history: slavery and freedom; Reconstruction; the Harlem Renaissance; Realism, Naturalism and Modernism; the Black Arts Movement and the period since the 1970s,” according to the book’s description. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. collected written pieces from over 120 historical African American authors and writers, giving readers the opportunity to learn from the most influential historical Black writing, as well as providing readers with exposure to the pioneers of Black American authorship. 2. “The Music Tree: A Plan for Musical Growth at the Piano” by Frances Clark – 20 checkouts A how-to piano book, “The Music Tree” was written to help students learn a “variety of idioms encompassing folk, jazz, and pop. The creativity
of the students is emphasized since they are given musical segments to rearrange, transpose, complete, or use as the basis for a new composition.” “The Music Tree” is used frequently by students studying music and musical composition, often in entry level music classes at the university. Because the book is a how-to guide, students reserving it are able to follow along with author Frances Clark to learn more about composing music. Courses investigating music and music history are very popular at GVSU. Often, these kinds of courses are able to fulfill general education requirements from the university for a student with any major. Whether the students reserving this title are majoring in music or not, this book provides students with an easy-tofollow and easier-to-read explanation for a range of musical styles and genres when learning the piano. 3. “The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents: Travels and Explorations of the Jesuit Missionaries in New France, 1610-1791” The original French, Latin, and Italian texts; with English translations and notes edited by Reuben Gold Thwaites – 14 checkouts This collection of books and documents are centered around the Catholic Church and the influence it has. Throughout the book, Reuben Gold Thwaites discusses the history, rituals and writings that played a role in the creation of the largest Christian church in the world. Several documents and texts within this collection have been translated to English from their originally published language, providing background to students and scholars exploring global religious trends and history of the most powerful religious entity in the world. This book helps students or GVSU community members that are looking to explore origins and influences of Catholicism. The book tackles how the role international social factors played in the establishment and development of the Church, including the religious importance of Vatican City in Rome, Italy. 4. “I’m Glad my Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy – 11 checkouts As Jennette McCurdy was an influential part of many students’ childhoods due to her roles in popular 2010s kids’ TV shows like “iCarly” and “Sam & Cat,” it is no surprise the memoir made the most checked-out list on campus. The book is about how McCurdy was able to find both herself and stability within her life and “her struggles as a former child actor—including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother.” “I’m Glad my Mom Died” is based on the onewoman show of McCurdy’s life that she began touring in 2020, before everything was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 5. “Conditional citizens: on Belonging in America” by Laila Lalami. – 11 checkouts The author Laila Lalami wrote this book as an exploration of the “rights, liberties, and protections that are traditionally associated with American citizenship,” using her own experience as a Moroccan immigrant to a U.S. citizen to kickstart the work. The book is a historically significant piece of literature
that walks the reader through the intrinsic workings of American immigration systems as well as providing readers with a personalized account to relate such processes with. 6. “Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones” by James Clear – 11 checkouts “Atomic Habits” gives students and GVSU community members an outline to creating personal improvement and life strategies to follow. Throughout this literary work the author, James Clear, offers readers advice, tips and tricks to master small behaviors that can lead to a lifetime of badhabit breaking, good-habit forming and practical strategies to produce a more improved sense of self and more organized life structure. This self-help book is a guide to personal improvement and many readers have felt Clear helped them to reframe their perspectives in a positive way, which creates lasting change in the trajectory of readers’ lives. 7. “Pandora’s Locks: The Opening of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway” by Jeff Alexander – 8 checkouts Jeff Alexander takes readers through the stories of the engineer and politicians that fought for the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Alexander leads readers to see the historical relevance of the people involved that were “driven by hubris and handicapped by ignorance,” through the book’s storytelling and writing. The historical book is especially relevant to Michigan, as it explores waterways connected to the state. 8. “The Oboe” by Geoffrey Burgess and Bruce Haynes – 7 checkouts This book examines the musical history of the instrument and the significance of oboe music in the 1600s. Geoffrey Burgess and Bruce Haynes take readers through the instruments’ prehistory and “subsequent development” in “The Oboe,” set in the mid-seventeenth century. 9. “Daisy Jones & the Six: a novel” by Taylor Jenkins Reid – 7 checkouts This book was written by popular romance author Taylor Jenkins Reid, who also wrote the wildly popular “Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.” Considering this, its popularity among students is not surprising and the story has even been evolved into a cinematic experience in Amazon Prime’s limited series adaptation of the same title. The story follows the rise of a rock group in the 1970s by telling the story of the lead singer, taking readers through the band’s mysterious and infamous breakup. 10. “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin – 6 checkouts This novel reimagines concepts of identity in multiple ways, creating a unique perspective of the human experience and the technologies, disabilities, failures and redemptions that go along with it. Intricately woven through the course of the novel, readers find that author Gabrielle Zevin hones in on themes relating to the innate human need for connection.
A5 | NEWS
JANUARY 22, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
WEATHER
Snow sculptures, sledding and snoozing: how students spent their sub-zero days BY EMMA ARMIJO, ELIZABETH SCHANZ, SHAY CARR LANTHORNEDITORAL@GVSU.EDU
With high snow accumulation, sub-zero conditions and frozen roads, winter weather in the greater Grand Rapids area led Grand Valley State University to call “remote learning” days, which allowed students a couple of “snow days.” Students enjoyed an extra long weekend with remote learning status partially on Friday Jan. 12, after noon, a the entire day on Wednesday Jan. 17. Additionally, many students also had remote learning or classes canceled on Tuesday, Jan. 16 due to inclement conditions at their professors’ discretion as well as the day off for MLK Jr. Day, unrelated to the weather. Despite the chilly temperatures, many students took the opportunity during their time off to enjoy the heavy snowfall. Many snow “creations” popped up around
campus on the lawns of dorm buildings, dining halls and off-campus student apartment complexes. The creations range from snow people of varying detail and size as well as various obscene “snow appendages” resembling particular male-reproductive organs. Many students took to posting these obscene sculptures, dubbed “snow dicks,” on social media platforms, including Yik Yak, an app in which users can post anonymously within a five-mile radius. “Upvote to make snowdicks a gvsu tradition,” posted one Yik Yak user with an image of the snow sculptures in front of GVSU residence halls. For those that didn’t gear up for the cold, staying inside and playing video games was a very popular activity for students. Many people took the remote days and the snowy weekend as a chance to play video games for hours each day. Student Jennifer Bushey said they mostly played video games over the long weekend, attributing their hours spent gaming to the
threat of bitter cold air that kept them inside. “I had to go and shovel snow, it was so cold I couldn’t feel my hands for a while,” Bushey said. Digital entertainment was a major player in students’ snow-day activities, keeping them both out of the harsh conditions and off the dangerous roadways. GVSU’s location in West Michigan has historically led to harsh winter weather conditions because of lake-effect snow. In a 1972 article from Grand Valley Lanthorn, the article reported on ways the GVSU community has taken advantage of snow related activities. In years past, GVSU students and staff would organize several outdoor activities to celebrate the extreme Michigan weather. The events included dog sledding, ski races, winter carnivals and sculpture contests. Snow activities, past and present, demonstrate how GVSU students are creating college memories in Michigan’s winter climate.
How some of the Grand Valley Lanthorn team spent their remote day:
Lanthorn Image Editor Bethann Long “I unfortunately still had to nanny that Monday morning so I had to trek through the winter storm. However, I was able to come back and watch some Monday Night football and hockey.”
Lanthorn Arts and Entertainment Editor Dylan Hoffius “I was able to finish some work I had been procrastinating for way too long. I also watched the new “Mean Girls” movie and the Sydney Sweeney rom-com “Anyone But You,” both of which were great.”
ARCHIVES: The photos above were taken from the GVSU Archives showcasing the winter activities and sports organized around Grand Valley State University in the 1970s. These images feature students in the 1970s sledding on cardboard boxes, dog sled racing, on-campus skiing and a group of students playing a game called, “broomball.” COURTESY | GVSU ARCHIVES
A6 | OPINIONS
JANUARY 22, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
OSU’s dance team took home the trophy, but at what cost?
BY CHLOE SCHRAM LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
The last few years, I have noticed the Universal Dance Association (UDA) College Nationals become increasingly popular because of the competition’s increased visibility on social media with many routines posted on YouTube and TikTok. The world of dance teams and competitions are not new to me, as I competed in UDA Nationals all four years of high school. However, the attention and popularity that the 2024 UDA College Nationals have gained among college students is undeniable. During UDA Nationals, which too place the weekend
of Jan. 12-14, Ohio State University’s (OSU) dance team competed their Division 1A Jazz routine to “My Way” by Frank Sinatra. The routine, which placed first overall in the category and division, was powerful and emotional. The work that goes into learning, perfecting and performing a competitive dance routine is nothing short of incredible and OSU’s dance team always shows up and shows out. However, the work of the team in my eyes is overshadow by the unfortunate truth that OSU’s jazz routine was choreographed by Travis Wall, a choreographer known for sexually harassing multiple dancers and peers, including minors. The team’s routine won, but at what cost? OSU’s choreographer, Wall, was part of Break the Floor Productions (BTF), a dance entertainment company that organizes workshops, competitions, training, theatrical productions, video production and more. The company has toured the world since 1999 with various dance projects, conventions and other workshops. BTF has a dark side of allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct that most dancers are pretty aware of. BTF removed Wall from their faculty in 2021 after multiple sexual misconduct allegations were made against him. Multiple choreographers at BTF have been accused of sexual assault and harassment since early on in the organization’s history including Mark Meismer and Danny Wallace. I question why people continue to use choreographers like Wall on not only small-scale projects, but also routines that are shared with the dance world and taken to national championships. The dancers can not take the blame for their
chosen choreographer, as coaches should be held accountable for the decision. In previous years, OSU’s dance team worked with choreographer Shannon Mather, the owner and director of Mather Dance Company. Mather choreographed OSU’s jazz routine in both the 2022 and 2023 UDA Nationals. In 2022, the team took first place in jazz, but in 2023, they were runner-up. What made them switch choreographers this season? Was a second place trophy enough to choose a known predator over their previous choreographer? As a dance major and a retired competitive dancer, I know the gravity of what you place at a dance competition. Especially at the collegiate level, sports are some students’ entire life. Student athletes dedicate their time outside of studying to training and perfecting their craft. Even so, I can not excuse OSU’s choice to use Wall as their choreographer. With the prominence and attention UDA nationals brings to choreographers and dancers, I am upset that Wall is being celebrated even with the knowledge of his sexual misconduct. It feels necessary to acknowledge the idea of separating the art from the artist and recognizing that someone can create something incredible and still be a terrible person. This concept is a moral conundrum. I applaud OSU for their success and performance, but can not disregard the difficult aspect of Wall’s involvement. Sexual assault allegations should never be taken lightly and it is unfortunate that the accused, like Wall, are able to work with new dancers constantly.
The Stanley cup trend encourages wasteful buying
BY MADDIE ZIMMERMAN LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
We have all seen the rise in popularity of reusable water bottles over the last few years. Many flocked to purchase them because they are eco-friendly and do not have as large of an environmental impact as disposable plastic bottles. Others became enamored by the brand that “started” the movement– Hydroflask– during the days of the “VSCO girl” trend. People personalized their Hydroflasks to reflect their personality with stickers, which is still a popularity factor compared to disposable bottles. Since then, there have been several different reusable water bottle brands that have gained rapid popularity, such as Yeti, Nalgene, S’well, Takeya, Simple Modern and Owala. Lately, however, the brand that has been gradually taking over is Stanley.
Although the Stanley company has been around for over 100 years, it is gaining a new kind of popularity beyond what water bottle companies typically see. This month, Target had new Stanley cups on display, and within minutes, they were completely sold out. People waited outside of the store and later, raced their way around the aisles, hoping to get the new pink and red cups. In videos, people grabbed as many as five Stanley cups, which cost around $35 each. It is no longer just about keeping ice cold or wanting to be sustainable and make a smaller environmental footprint. It is now an obsession. It is insane to me that people are running through stores to get pink and red water bottles. It is even more insane that they aren’t just buying one, they are buying as many as they can carry. Why? The answer is to resell them. In stores, since the cups sell out in minutes, the resale value skyrockets. Stanley cups can be found listed online for up to $550. Yet again, overconsumption is ruining something that started as a good cause– sustainability. It is a waste to own 10 bottles in different colors because reusable cups were never made for the purpose of collecting. Although Stanley won’t be complaining about how much profit they are making from its cult-like following, it is saddening to see people being enticed by social media to buy the latest colors and designs. As an avid water bottle user, I don’t see what makes Stanley cups so special. I got one for Christmas and don’t get me wrong, it is adorable but it is not practical. For one, it weighs a ton and is heavy to carry around and even if it tips the slightest bit, all of the liquid spills out. I am also not a huge fan of the exposed straw, so I use mine strictly at home for that reason. Companies have begun to profit off of these faults and have already marketed products, such as plastic straw covers featuring animals, plants and cute designs. I shouldn’t have to feel the need to buy anything
else for a cup that already retails at $35. For the time being, I still think Hydroflasks are my favorite, with Owala bottles right behind them. The Stanley cup trend sadly isn’t about sustainability anymore and in my opinion, Hydroflask and Owala are better brands that haven’t come to represent overconsumption and waste.
OPINION POLICY The goal of the Grand Valley Lanthorn’s opinion page is to act as a forum for public discussion, comment and criticism in the Grand Valley State University community. Student and columnist opinions published here do not necessarily reflect those of the paper as an entity. The Lanthorn strives to be a safe vehicle for community discussion. With this in mind, the Lanthorn will not publish or entertain any forms of hate speech, but neither will it discriminate against any other views, opinions or beliefs. The content, information and views expressed are not approved by-nor do they necessarily represent those of-the university or its Board of Trustees, officers, faculty or staff.
Letter to the editor should include the author’s full name, relevant title and a headshot, along with a valid email address and phone number for confirming the identity of the author. Letters should be approximately 500-650 words in length, and they are not edited by the Lanthorn staff except to fix technical errors or to clarify. Reader submissions on the opinion page appear as space permits. To make a submission, email editorial@lanthorn.com or drop your submission off in person at: 0051 KIRKHOF CENTER GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ALLENDALE, MI 49401 616-826-8276
A7 | EDITORIAL
JANUARY 22, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
EDITORIAL
The possible death of Sports Illustrated is a sign of a bigger issues in journalism BY LANTHORN EDITORIAL STAFF LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
The news of enormous layoffs at popular American sports magazine Sports Illustrated jumped out of nowhere for us. It was a shocking development for fans of the historic magazine, and yet another traumatic blow to an industry being torn apart at its seams. Talk of the mass layoffs came after the news that The Arena Group, the publisher of Sports Illustrated, failed to pay “its licensing fees to the
magazine’s parent company,” reported NPR. It is the second time in recent years that major layoffs have hit Sports Illustrated. Back in 2019, S.I. laid off 30 percent of their staff when media conglomerate Meredith Corporation sold the company to Authentic Brands Group.
The term “media conglomerate” is one that makes news media employees shudder. Now, something that once seemed to hurt small newspapers has begun to destroy legacy news media. Many small newspapers across the country have been bought up and shut down by media conglomerates like the newspaper company Gannett. What Gannett is doing has created a phenomenon called news deserts, which has been a blinking red dot on the radar of journalists and other industry professionals for quite some time. “One-third of American newspapers that existed roughly two decades ago will be out of business by 2025, according to research made public Wednesday from Northwestern University’s Medill School,” reported The Washington Post. It is clear this is not just a Sports Illustrated issue, it is a journalistic news issue. With more and more reputable news outlets closing due to insufficient funding or being bought out and then shut down by these media conglomerates, the news landscape is becoming increasingly bare. This egregious error from The Arena Group is disappointing to say the least. We feel their poor financial decision making is now threatening an entire community of sports fans. Like a lot of people, many of us grew up reading Sports Illustrated and consider it an iconic publication within pop culture. To witness it being treated with such neglect is
disheartening to us as a fellow news publication. Today, magazines like Sports Illustrated have been reduced to ash, representing a forgotten time of serious and engaging short-form print journalism. “Magazines used to be places that curated the world of information into something you could hold in your hand and now that role is filled by the likes of Google, Facebook and TikTok,” wrote Peter Kafka in Business Insider. As prospective journalists, we find the grim reality that legacy publishing outlets are facing as worrisome. What does the future of our chosen profession look like? How are we supposed to navigate this tumultuous landscape when the powers that be actively reject smart, passionate journalists? These questions are anxiety inducing and, as of right now, the answers are certainly unclear. We worry these shutdowns are chipping away at the future of journalism. We value news in ways that moneyhungry corporations care little for. Losing trusted local outlets and national brands that offer local, political, world, pop culture and sports news hurts everyone. These shutdowns create major media deserts that do not benefit anyone: readers, writers and publishers alike. Media outlets serve an important purpose in keeping the general public informed, something crucial to the existence of a functioning society and healthy democracy. Keep your head on a swivel. If Sports Illustrated falls, who knows what company is next in line for the chopping block.
MAGAZINE: Media outlets, such as Sports Illustrated, are being bought out by corporate conglomerates, changing the journalism’s landscape. COURTESY | AP PHOTO LAWRENCE JACKSON
A8&9 | NEWS
JANUARY 22, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
Winter weather wreaks havoc on The Rapid’s routine BY NATALIE BROOKS LANTHORNEDITORAL@GVSU.EDU
Grand Valley State University’s Transportation Services consists of a bus system that is commonly used by students. Whether students use the buses to get to and from their off-campus apartments to the Allendale campus, or to travel between the Allendale and Pew campuses, many students depend on the buses daily. There are four different bus lines that service GVSU: the Laker Line that travels between the Allendale and Pew campuses, the 48 line (the South Campus apartment shuttle), the 37 (the North Campus apartment shuttle) and the 85 for weekend service. Recent winter storms brought severe weather and high snowfall across Michigan. In lieu of the 11-19 inches of snow Allendale and surrounding areas received, GVSU’s Rapid buses experienced difficulties and unpredictable situations on the roads. Clare Meteer, a GVSU senior who uses the Rapid buses daily, had multiple scary experiences on the buses as a result of the inclement weather. On Jan. 10, the 48 bus that Meteer rode got stuck in the snow at the four-way stop at the intersection of Pierce Street and 42nd Street. Meteer said the bus was fishtailing as the driver attempted to continue moving forward towards campus. She said this is not the only time this has happened at this intersection. “I don’t know if he (the bus driver) had to pull off the side a little bit to get close to the sidewalk and got stuck in the snow, but he was like, flooring it and the bus was not going anywhere and just kind of fishtailing in place,” Meteer said. On Jan. 16, Meteer rode the 48 bus line to campus to get to her on-campus job at Mary Idema Pew Library for her opening shift. When the bus turned left to make its stop into Lot J, a parking lot on the Allendale campus, around 7 a.m., Meteer said the bus spun out on the ice and nearly slid into a plow truck. “We were turning into the J-lot stop and the bus, like, lost control and the back of the bus started rotating,” Meteer said. “The driver was swearing, letting us know that he was scared and that made me scared because I’m like, okay, he obviously doesn’t have any confidence, so I was just kind of panicked.” While not on the bus at the time, Meteer also said she heard about the 85 bus getting stuck at the GVSU Greek housing bus stop. A picture of the stuck bus circulated on the app Yik Yak, a social media platform in which users within a five-mile radius can share posts anonymously. “(The bus) was like up on the sidewalk and the tow truck had to come to get it off the sidewalk,” Meteer said. Additionally, Meteer takes the Laker Line to get to and from her class downtown at the Pew campus. Meteer said on Tuesday, Jan. 16, she could feel how the ice and snow were impacting the safety of the drive. “One or two stops after the Meijer stop, we ended up behind another Laker Line,” Meteer said. “It was snowing and the roads were not super great. Every time we would come to a stop- I think because the snow was built up along the platform, (the bus) would shake really bad.” The GVSU Bus System Instagram account, @gvsubus, posts updates and comments about GVSU’s bus system. On Jan. 16 the account posted about a detour alert for the Rapid buses due to the winter storms. “Due to icy conditions, Eastbound Laker Line will be detouring again today in GR: Monroe; stay straight on Monroe to Leonard (R) Leonard (R) College (R) Michigan; to service Lafayette station to regular route westbound. The EB Spectrum Health Platform at Michigan/Bostwick will not be serviced,” said @gvsubus in the post. The account has also been posting rider safety tips to aid student riders, as the buses have no choice but to run throughout the winter season. However, even with the social media updates from the GVSU Bus System Instagram account, apps that students usually rely on for bus arrival times and to track buses, like myStop or Transit, were not consistent or updated. “The roads were too bad to drive, so I had to take the bus to my downtown job. I left an hour before my shift and was 45 minutes late, said Ellie Kerber, a GVSU senior. “The Rapid didn’t come for nearly an hour, but the app was still saying it was coming every five minutes like normal, so I was out waiting for the bus in sub-zero temperatures with no way to find out why the bus wasn’t coming.” GVSU issues GVSUAlerts! to put the university on “remote status” when road and weather conditions are deemed too dangerous for the campus community. However, winter weather conditions continue to pose challenges, even when the weather conditions are not deemed severe enough for classes to be held remotely. In order to allieviate problems caused by weather to the bus system, the Ride the Rapid website posts rider tools and has a Rapid Alert Guide to notify riders of line changes and delays.
“The Rapid didn’t come for nearly an hour, but the app was still saying it was coming every five minutes like normal, so I was out waiting for the bus in subzero temperatures with no way to find out why the bus wasn’t coming”
BUS: Several GV students experienced the harsh conditions and icy roads over the long weekend as temperatures dropped below zero. The Rapid Buses that service campus had experienced several affects of the storms: swerving, slipping and sliding along their routes. GVL | TRENTON ESTRADA
A10 | ARTS
JANUARY 22, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
PRINTMAKING
GV professor connects art and environment through new exhibition BY RACHAEL GAGE LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
“Full Circle: Teaching, Creating and Curating,” is a new gallery exhibit on display at Grand Valley State University’s Haas Center for Performing Arts Gallery. The exhibit features works from Bill Hosterman, Professor of Foundations, Drawing and Printmaking at GVSU, and work from the K. Caraccio Printing Studio and Collection. A reception for the exhibit was held on Jan. 18. At the event, Hosterman explained the collections’ themes of art, mentorship, collaboration, education and printmaking. The art on display combines wood prints and hand-drawn pieces from Hosterman. The combination of these mediums create a special connection between artist and the environment. Alongside Hosterman’s original work are pieces he chose from the K. Caraccio collection in New York, which is where he spent his recent sabbatical. During sabbatical, Hosterman worked alongside longtime friend, mentor and master printer Kathy Caraccio to create the prints for his exhibit. Hosterman credits Caraccio for her influence and many teachings throughout his artistic career, beginning with Hosterman’s internship at Caraccio’s studio in 1993. Through the collaborative effort, Hosterman acted as the artist and Caraccio as the printmaker, requiring the sharing of ideas and trust between the two. “I was thinking about how it’s important for everybody that’s a student to have people outside of school that they connect to,” Hosterman said. “The idea of education (is) beyond just the university. It’s beyond the idea of being here for classes-- it’s about finding people that can somehow inspire.” Caraccio said she was more than happy to collaborate and create the exhibition with Hosterman during his sabbatical. Caraccio allowed Hosterman to choose from her collection of over 5,000 pieces to display for his exhibit, which she said is especially rewarding.
COLLABORATION: The purposefully abstract pieces on display encourage viewer interpretation GVL | ELLA MCCLINTOCK
“When I get to see somebody else’s favorite (art piece), I get to revisit that piece, remember it and pull up the story behind it,” Caraccio said. Caraccio said she deeply values the artists she collaborates with. She said she gets to know them through their art and the stories behind their designs. With Hosterman’s work, Caraccio said she particularly enjoyed his talent for drawing and “eye for color,” specifically his use of red color palettes. “I liked that he liked the red-orange kind of version of life,” Caraccio said. “He has a very good eye, and I’m pleased to help him sort that out through print.” Hosterman said the genesis of his work began with an attempt to combine Michigan’s history of lumber with the inherent aesthetic quality that wood has as a canvas. “I was thinking about the connection between new growth (trees) and the idea of education,” Hosterman said. “I started with getting the wood primarily from Michigan and interacting with it.”
Hosterman said each wood piece has its own voice and unique personality, depending on the type of tree the wood came from. Considering the abstract element of his prints, Hosterman hopes those who visit the gallery will see the pieces and create their own interpretation. “I want them to dream, in a way, (and) to go ahead and see more than one thing,” Hosterman said. Hosterman said in the future, he plans to continue his work with the medium of wood, while also exploring realism through drawing. However, he also wants to branch off from the style of work created during his sabbatical. “You can’t predict art until you actually see it,” Hosterman said. “There will always be something that will take you in another direction because, at least for me, art is a conversation.” “Full Circle: Teaching, Creating and Curating,” will be on display at the GVSU Haas Center for Performing Arts Gallery until March 29.
EDUCATION: Gallery visitors have the opportunity to view a variety of artwork from GVSU professor Bill Hosterman that he completed during a recent sabbatical GVL | ELLA MCCLINTOCK
A11 | ARTS
JANUARY 22, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
ATHLETES
Documentary short film inspires GV audiences during MLK week BY NATHAN RICH LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
As part of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Week, Grand Valley State University hosted two screenings on Jan. 18 of “Team Dream,” a short documentary film written and directed by Luchina Fisher. The film follows Madeline Murphy Rabb and Ann Smith, two elderly African-American women who made it their mission to swim in the National Senior Games. The first screening of the film was shown in Kirkhof Center’s Pere Marquette Room and was accompanied by a brief panel discussion with the cast, giving the audience a chance to learn more about the film and its story from those involved. The second screening was shown in the Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium at GVSU’s Pew Campus and was followed by a question and answer session with Smith.
“What was my passion going to be? My passion was going to be taking care of this instrument so that I could live a long life and enjoy it” Louis Moore, Ph.D., co-chair of the commemoration week executive planning committee and GVSU history professor, helped organize events for MLK week, including the film screenings. Moore said he was excited to bring “Dream Team” to GVSU because of its themes that coincide with Dr. King’s legacy. “It’s a beautiful film just to sit with and to watch these women train, but also at the same time understand this history,” Moore said. “It’s (the film screening) going to
be a powerful moment for a lot of people.” In addition to footage of Rabb and Smith training and interviews with their coaches, scenes depicted the reality that many African Americans faced during the days of Jim Crow and the Civil Rights Movement. The “separate but equal” doctrine that came from the racist Supreme Court ruling Plessy v. Ferguson defined this era, resulting in a lack of access to swimming pools for many African Americans, which played an important role in Smith’s upbringing. “For most people who look like them (Smith and Rabb), those opportunities didn’t come, and if they did, the city would drain the swimming pool,” Moore said. “Literally, if a Black person touched the water, the next day the swimming pool would be drained and they’d have to fill it up again for the white kids to swim.” Smith discussed her experience with these struggles as she recounted her father working to bring pool access to his community. “My father, and some of the men in the community, realized there was no swimming pool in the Black community,” Smith said. “All of the pools in the city were in the white communities. My father, and some of the other parents, petitioned the city to build a swimming pool (in) our community.” In addition to the discussing the film itself and racial inequities during the Jim Crow era, Smith and the other panelists highlighted the topic of health and well-being. For Smith, the subject is of particular importance because she has a mission to
PREPARATION: Madeline Murphy Rabb trained to swim in the National Senior Games. COURTESY | TEAM DREAM
reach her 100th birthday, something Smith said her great-grandfather expected from of his 18 children. “What was my passion going to be?” Smith said. “My passion was going to be taking care of this instrument so that I could live a long life and enjoy it.”
COMMEMORATION: Audiences at the screenings were able to hear from those involved in the film, as well as from GV faculty members that organized the screenings. GVL | SAM NELSON
A12 | LAKER LIFE
JANUARY 22, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
TEAMWORK
Stars of Make-A-Wish Foundation makes an impact in the GV, Local community BY SARA BAGELY LANTHORNEDITORAL@GVSU.EDU
SHOWCASE: The club had a table set up at the Fall Campus Life Night. COURTESY | GVSUSTARSMAW INSTAGRAM
Stars of Make-A-Wish Foundation (Stars for MAW), a student organization at Grand Valley State University, is gearing up for another semester of serving the community. The campus organization fundraises in West Michigan to “grant wishes” to people in the community with critical illnesses. The club aims to provide hope to the local population. To achieve this, the club’s fundraising efforts vary from partnering with local restaurants to fundraising activities at GVSU basketball games. They also help plan events for the non-profit Kids Food Basket, which focuses on ending childhood hunger. Brianna Hipple, the club’s president, works directly with a representative from the national Make-a-Wish foundation. Through this collaboration, the group got to make a GVSU freshman’s wish come true this past August. “We were able to deliver him a swag bag. He got his fall tuition covered by Make-A-Wish Michigan. Grand Valley (assisted) by giving him gift cards to Best Buy and Meijer to help with his first year (of college),” Hipple said. “When he moved in, we came with the basket and welcomed him. That was a really cool experience that we got to be a part of.” For the most part, the group fundraises the majority of wishes through donation and organization efforts rather than face-to-face interactions. However, they recently also got the chance to attend a holiday party and interact with some of the kids they had fundraised for. “We got to personally meet one-on-one with different (Make-A-Wish) kids and their families,” said Lily Shaw, the club’s treasurer and social media manager. “We got to know not just the reason or what their wish was, but who they actually were.” Leah Barys, another member of Stars for MAW,
has participated in multiple fundraisers. She said her favorite club memory was the group’s Christmas Store Cleanup for Family Promise, an organization that helps unhoused families. “Family Promise puts on this giant Christmas store every year. Families get to go and everything is discounted. There’s so much stuff there and we get to do the cleanup after,” Barys said. “You left knowing that you did good and you were able to help people, even if it was just moving a ton of boxes.” Rachel Maude, the club’s volunteer and event coordinator, also enjoyed participating in the Family Promise cleanup. Maude said she was able to meet many other volunteers at the event and interact with event participants. “There was a buffet for them (participants), Christmas games and face painting for the kids,” Maude said. “It was cool to see that interaction too, aside from them going and shopping in the Christmas store, just seeing them in their environment having fun.” While Stars for MAW partake in many seasonal opportunities, they also focus on year-round community service. The group works frequently with the Ronald McDonald House. Stars for MAW’s Vice President, Olivia Grover, said working with the foundation has been a highlight of her time in the club. “We were only there (at the Ronald McDonald House) for two hours, but we got to make meals for 20-30 people,” Grover said. “I really like their mission and how they help families that are in and out of the hospital. It was a feel-good experience.” From working with various organizations to delivering a wish to a GVSU student, club members said volunteering at every level allows them to make an impact. Whether it’s providing smiles or truly life-changing gifts, Stars for MAW aims to be there for the local community.
FUNDRAISE: The club often sets up at GVSU sporting games and tailgate parties to help fundraise for the Midwest branch of the foundation. COURTESY | GVSYSTARSMAW INSTAGRAM
JANUARY 22, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
A13 | LAKER LIFE
@GVLANTHORN
MOVEMENT
GV’s Belly Dance Club moves to the beat of body positivity BY SITLALI PADRON LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
Grand Valley State University’s Belly Dance Club aims to promote body positivity and make members feel comfortable their own skin. The club hopes to build a sense of community and creative space. “I know for myself it has given me so much more confidence-- more than I even thought was possible. I am just so grateful for this opportunity to fall in love with myself again,” said Faith Miller, the social media officer of Belly Dance Club. The club focuses on making sure everyone is comfortable by making club meetings a safe space to have fun with no judgment. They hope to alleviate the negative impacts of social media on body image. “Our whole motto is body positivity and I think that’s really important, especially in this day where social media is so prevalent and a lot of the ‘perfect body’ is out there,” Miller said. “It’s about embracing yourself and feeling confident in who you are and what you look like.” Recently the group held their first all-club meeting of
the semester to introduce new members and the club’s Eboard. Within Belly Dance Club, there are various groups called PODs. These PODs that meet at different times of the week to practice to practice their own individual routines and create a smaller community within the wider scope of the club. The club members create choreography for performances. The collaborative approach helps to cultivate the positive environment. “We help each other out when we’re struggling (and) lift each other up when the choreo is difficult or if you’re new (t0) a style of dance,” Miller said. “It’s hard to get the hang of so we kind of support and encourage each other.” In addition to dancing, the club takes on other creative projects. Miller said their costumes are all handmade. Miller said the members dedicate a night to getting supplies at craft stores and decorating bras or tanks with tulle and charms. The custom nature of the outfits help the individual PODs create unique costumes to match performances. Pozi-POD, one of the groups within the club, performs at campus events. Danahe Garcia Navarro, who is part of Pozi-POD, said her favorite memory of the club has been making bras for costumes. She
said costume making is a way for members to bond and get to know one another better. Along with the club expressing the principle of body positivity, they emphasize that the art form of belly dance is meant to be fun. Navarro said she feels confident during the two hours she spends practicing with the club. “I think that’s the place where doubts are put to rest because everyone’s there for the same thing-- to enjoy themselves,” Navarro said. The PODS work all semester practicing and perfecting their dancing in preparation for their end-ofsemester showcase. Navarro said it is rewarding see how the months of hard work pay off for all club members. “To see it all come together as one, you see the different people, the different dance moves and techniques, but also you see it as one cohesive thing. It’s really interesting to see the finished product,” Navarro said. The Belly Dance Club will be holding their endof-semester showcase on April 13 in Kirkhof ’s Grand River Room.
COLLABORATION: One of the many PODs pose in their handmade costumes. PODS pick their designs and they custom make their coordinating costumes. COURTESY | GVBELLY INSTAGRAM
A14 | SPORTS
JANUARY 22, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
BASKETBALL
GV men’s basketball drops back-to-back road games against LSSU and Ferris BY KEVIN LOPEZ LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
The Grand Valley State University Lakers men’s basketball team lost both road games as they took on Lake Superior State University and got blown out 91-55 and then lost a close battle to the Ferris State University Bulldogs, 86-73. On Thursday, Jan. 18, GVSU couldn’t get anything going in the first half against LSSU as they shot just 30% from the field and allowed a 25-7 run to end the period with a score of 45-27 going into halftime. Any hope for a comeback was thwarted by the Lakers’ continued struggles on offense. They shot 28% from the field, with that being their downfall, and LSSU maintained the offensive onslaught by dropping 46 points in the half and shooting a screaming hot 66% from the field as a team. On Saturday, Jan. 20, GVSU then traveled to Big Rapids, Michigan to take on rival and the No. 2 team in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), Ferris State, in the two foes’ first matchup of the season. It was a much closer battle as both teams had momentum changes, with GVSU jumping out to a 13-3 lead to start the game before Ferris State was able to come back swinging with a run of their own that gave them the lead going into halftime at 42-41. The Lakers first-half offense was spearheaded by two ball-handlers as sophomore guard Britain Harris led GVSU in the first half with 12 points, while fellow sophomore guard Mason Docks followed close behind with eight points. The second half is where it fell apart for the Lakers as they struggled on offense once again, shooting 30% from the field, while
their opponent seemed to flourish shooting at 53%. GVSU assistant coach J.R. Wallace thought that some lapses from the Lakers defensively sparked the Bulldogs’ offense. “The second half we let them (Ferris State) get loose a bit too much in terms of transition and at the basket as they dumped it off and got some easy baskets,” Wallace said. “It really started happening at the end of the first half and then we let them get into the teeth of our defense and they got two or three dunks in a row, so I think that got them going.” The Bulldogs were able to get an 8-0 run to start the half and then continued to build that momentum by pushing their lead as high as 15 points. A GVSU comeback attempt shortly thereafter cut it down to an eight-point lead with seven minutes remaining. It wasn’t enough, as the Lakers could not stay consistent on both ends of the floor and with the buzzer sounding that the game ended in defeat for GVSU, 86-73. Despite the loss, Wallace is focusing on the improvement of the team’s performance on Saturday compared to Thursday. “We didn’t play with any energy, effort and focus. That was obviously a lot better today, not quite at the level we needed to be, but that is what we’re going to try to continue next week,” Wallace said. “We got two teams coming in that had big wins in the week already, so what we gotta do for next week is we gotta sharpen up some of the details and make sure our energy, effort and focus is continuing to improve as it did today.” The Lakers look to rebound from backto-back losses at home as they take on Purdue Northwest University at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. TOUGH LOSS: GV lost on the road in a 91-55 blowout against LSSU, 25, followed by the University of Wisconsin- and 86-73 against Ferris State. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS Parkside at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27.
LOSING: GV men’s basketball drops to 7-10 on the season and 4-3 in conference. The Lakers will look to bounce back against PNW on Thursday, Jan. 25. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS
A15 | SPORTS
JANUARY 22, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
CHALLENGE
GV women’s basketball wins big over LSSU, lose rivalry matchup with Ferris BY GRIFFIN MISSANT LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
The No. 1 Grand Valley State University Lakers women’s basketball team split their two road matchups in a dominant 69-25 win over Lake Superior State University on Thursday, Jan. 18 and a tough 71-65 loss versus their arch rivals, the No. 9 Ferris State University Bulldogs, just two days later. The upset by Ferris State handed GVSU their first loss of the season against a Division II opponent. It was the second time the Bulldogs have done so this campaign, when in December they handed Ashland University, the defending national champions, their first and only defeat to date. Going into Thursday’s matchup against LSSU, Lakers’ head coach Mike Williams knew that his team could not overlook their opponent before playing a very good Ferris State team. “We talked a lot about that, we don’t overlook anyone,” Williams said. “We come to play every game just to get better.” After a slow start where play had become stagnant and GVSU went down 6-2 with nearly three minutes left in the first quarter, redshirt sophomore Macy Bisballe drained a 3-pointer that led to a 10-0 GVSU run to end the quarter. Points were hard to come by early in the game for both sides as GVSU led LSSU by a score of 23-16 at halftime. Following the low-scoring first half, Williams felt like the Lakers were pressing and reminded his team to relax at the halftime break.
“I thought we were rushed a little bit,” Williams said. GVSU’s response to begin the second half could not have been any better. The Lakers were firing on all cylinders out of the gate. The electric start to the half was sparked by redshirt junior Ellie Droste, who scored 10 straight points. Droste’s fantastic outburst snowballed the GVSU offense into a 21-0 run to begin the third quarter, where the Lakers allowed only two points. “Our players really locked in,” Williams said. “They were on point defensively. We understood what they liked to do and I thought we did a good job taking those things away.” The Lakers dominance on the defensive end carried into the fourth quarter and they eventually cruised to a 69-25 win over LSSU. Following what ended up being a big win, Saturday’s matchup with Ferris State was a whirlwind from the start. At the end of a back-and-forth first quarter, the Lakers led by just one point, taking the lead on two free throws by sophomore Avery Zeinstra. The second quarter was a tight, as both teams continued trading several baskets before things turned for the worse for GVSU. With just over four minutes left in the second quarter, the Bulldogs went on a 14-2 run to end the half, giving Ferris State a 40-27 lead at halftime. The momentum the Bulldogs created carried over to the second half as they eventually extended the lead to 20 points during the third quarter. However, GVSU did not lay down. Behind their leading scorer in the game, the Lakers found success from sophomore guard Nicole Kamin who scored seven points during the fourth
and helped cut the lead to single digits. Then, after a huge 3-pointer from redshirt junior Rylie Bisballe and two free throws from redshirt sophomore guard Lexi Plitzuweit, the lead was down to only three. “It’s the never give up mentality,” Kamin said. “You’re down 20, that’s a big gap, let’s keep fighting and try to get this win.” However, time was not on GVSU’s side. After a couple free throws from Ferris State the Lakers ultimately fell 71-65. This was GVSU’s first loss of the season against a Division II opponent, having dropped a game to Division I No. 18 ranked Ohio State University earlier this season. Williams and his team are ready to move forward, looking to improve from the loss. “It was a good test for us,” Williams said. “Now we can evaluate and move forward.” Kamin said he feels the loss will ultimately strengthen the Lakers, while also looking ahead to her team’s next matchup. “I think there is a lot to learn from this game,” Kamin said. “This will be good for us and will give us a chance to bounce back.” With a home stand that begins on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. GVSU will take on Purdue University Northwest in the Lakers’ annual “Coaches vs Cancer” Pink Out game at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena, before playing the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 1 p.m. for “Sawyer’s Day.”
SPLIT DECISION: The GVSU women’s basketball team split road games, winning against LSSU and losing to Ferris State, a heartbreaking defeat to a rival. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS
A16 | SPORTS
JANUARY 22, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
SWIM & DIVE
Highly ranked GV men’s, undefeated women’s swim and dive dominate dual meets finale BY NELSON HUBBELL LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
The Grand Valley State University Lakers No. 4 ranked men’s and the No. 6 ranked women’s swimming and diving teams continued their dominance with sweeps over the Davenport University Panthers and the Findlay University Oilers. The women finished an undefeated 10-0 for the first time ever and the men ended 9-1 in dual meets. The Lakers celebrated senior night at the GVSU Fieldhouse Pool by honoring 13 seniors, six men and seven women, before taking on the Panthers in their final home dual meet of the season. The GVSU men went on to win 196-44 and the women won by a score of 186-56, breaking a combined 10 pool records on senior night in their last weekend of competition before preparing for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and NCAA Championships. Senior Roger Miret Sala broke the 100 meter backstroke pool record against Davenport, with a time of 48.59. Miret Sala, a native of Cleida, Spain, is a team captain in his fifth year with the program. According to Lakers’ standout freshman Andrew Goh, Miret Sala is the senior who he is going to miss the most. “One of those seniors who I actually bond with really well was Roger (Miret Sala) who is one of our captains. He’s one of the seniors who reached out to me before I committed and he helped me through the whole process of committing,” Goh said. “I really owe a lot of thanks to him, but I’m really sad to see him graduate. Roger is a really, really big mentor for me.” A native of Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, Goh is also an international student. His father had previously come to the United States to study and wanted his son to share the same experience. When Goh had begun the
process of looking for schools to attend, his swimming teammates from back home in Malaysia, who also swam in the GLIAC, influenced his decision. After applying to several universities in the conference, GVSU’s coaching staff and facilities stood out to him. Goh became one of the contributing swimmers in breaking the pool record for the GVSU men’s 400 meter medley relay against the Panthers, which was set by a time of 3:16:02 in just his first season. There is also another highly successful young swimmer on the women’s team that is coming into their own for the Lakers. Sophomore Katie O’Connell, a native of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, is the reigning GLIAC Champion in the 400 meter individual medley and is looking to defend her title next month. “I think we have a lot of confidence going into the championship season because we’ve had such a great undefeated season,” O’Connell said. “I’m just hoping to make that final push these next few weeks and have a good time. I feel like that’s what the conference and national meet is all about because we work so hard the whole season and it’s just about showing off and having a lot of fun.” After beating Findlay 166-68 in the men’s division and 156-78 in the women’s, spirits were high for Lakers’ head coach Andy Boyce, who is in his eighteenth year with the program. Boyce led GVSU to their first-ever win over an NCAA Division I opponent, Oakland University, in both men’s and women’s categories earlier this season. The Lakers dominance has been evident against almost every opponent in the dual meets, dropping just a single competition on the men’s side earlier this season. It was a narrow five-point loss to the defending national champions and No. 1 ranked Indianapolis University. Now, Boyce is looking ahead to the GLIAC Cham-
pionships. His men’s squad will attempt to earn their tenth-straight first place finish in conference play, as the women will try to finish in first place in back-toback years for the first time under Boyce. With the competition running from Friday, Feb. 9 through Monday, Feb. 12, the GLIAC Championships will be held at the Holland Aquatic Center in Holland, Michigan, at a time to be announced. The Lakers will travel back and forth from Allendale, Michigan every day for the competition, a 30-minute drive. Although making the drive for four straight days is not ideal, Boyce believes that the ability for his team to sleep in their own beds will be a big advantage. “It makes a difference being so close and we’re familiar with the facility,” O’Connell said. “We even did a practice there around the New Year, this year, just to get a little bit more familiar with the facility for the freshmen. It ‘s nice to have that phenomenal facility in our backyard.” After competing for a conference title, Boyce expects to send some players to the NCAA Division II National Championships. “The more people we send to nationals, the higher we’re gonna finish up the national championships,” Boyce said. “It’s tough to get them there, but I think we’ll have a solid group this year at the National Championships.” With just the GLIAC and NCAA championships left before those 13 seniors finish their careers, the Lakers are looking forward to competing as a group for the last couple of times. “We just really want to enjoy these last few meets as a team because we really are just like one big family,” O’Connell said. “We just work for each other and we’re happy for each other’s successes. I feel like I had a lot of good role models these past two years and people that I’ve looked up to.”
SENIOR DAY: The GVSU swimming and diving teams honored their seniors before a dominating end to their dual meets regular season against DU and FU. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS