GV students create serene experience at Meijer Gardens
GV Board of Trustees meeting addresses campus renovations, expansion, hears student concerns
Filming outer space partially underwater: a GV film student’s final
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
For the third consecutive week, the Grand Valley State University Academic Senate (UAS) met to discuss ongoing matters concerning GVSU admissions. The two-and-ahalf-hour meeting on Feb. 16 at the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences gave UAS representatives the opportunity to engage in an open dialogue about the effects of GVSU’s increased admission of underprepared students.
GVSU faculty members that serve on UAS detailed their experience of acting as the first responders for students who are ill-prepared to succeed at GVSU. Since they are the ones on the front lines in classrooms and lecture halls across campus, UAS representatives have seen firsthand the consequences of GVSU’s increased admission of students with GPAs below 3.0. This has led faculty to change curriculum, introduce competency basedgrading systems for courses and increase office hours to accommodate struggling students.
In the consideration of time and organization, the meeting was structured into three sections. A 30-minute period was given to UAS representatives to lay the foundation for admissions discussions followed by a 30-minute response from Strategic Enrollment Management Plan (SEMP) faculty and leadership. The remaining hour and a half was set aside for a questionand-answer session that was open to all.
Several UAS representatives used their allotted 30 minutes to relay personal experiences and stories from colleagues about the increased rate of students finishing classes with DFW’s (a grade of a D, F or Withdrawal).
UAS representatives cited a higher admission of underqualified students as a major contributor to this issue. Additionally, some representatives said their colleagues have introduced competency-based grading systems and made on the fly changes to curriculum to combat their increased DFW rates.
“There’s not a mystery as to why there’s more DFW students,” said Jason Crouthamel, professor of history at GVSU. “(We have) students who don’t come to class, who are woefully unprepared, and (who) cannot read and write. They’re not prepared for the university level of rigor that we are posing to them.”
Alaina Hogan, a GVSU student and tutor at GVSU’s Student Academic Success Center, said she sees students everyday that are struggling with a typical academic workload. Due to the influx of students with less than a 3.0 GPA, Hogan said professors are spending more time and energy getting unprepared students to an education level they should’ve already been at, which comes at the expense of the education for prepared students. Hogan said she’s heard stories of professors in GVSU’s Department of Mathematics splitting time between upper-level courses and introductory algebra, leaving both students and faculty stretched thin.
What Hogan is describing is happening across the GVSU community.
Scarlet Galvan, GVSU’s Collection Strategist Librarian, said she’s heard “horror stories” from the Fred Meijer Center for Writing & Michigan Authors about the “moral injury” that is occurring as a result of increased admissions of underprepared students.
“If you have people in a stretch course and you
really need to get them to this kind of writing by the end of it (the course) and the most you’re able to do is to get them where they should’ve been during their sophomore year of high school, that can be, I think, really painful,” Galvan said.
Galvan said “moral injury” occurs when faculty and staff act counter to their own morals and integrity. In this case, Galvin uses the example of faculty in GVSU’s Department of English that are solely getting students to be at a college level rather than expanding knowledge expected in postsecondary education.
Policies, in terms of admissions requirements, can shape the future of the public’s perception of a GVSU degree and college experience. Hogan feels policies discussed by the University puts GVSU at a crossroads for the institution’s identity.
“It’s whatever Grand Valley decides that it wants to be – does it want to be known for more of its prestige? Does it want to be known for its academic development, or does it want to be known for being inclusive and equitable?” Hogan said. “As a student who’s in higher education and also considering graduate school, I would love for my degree to have some sort of academic prestige to it so that when I do apply for grad schools it’s actually taken seriously.”
Matt Boelkins, professor of mathematics at GVSU, said he rejects the notion that diversity and inclusion are only achieved with lower admission standards. Boelkins said the university could’ve easily maintained their previous admission standards while simultaneously increasing student diversity by taking a slower, smarter approach to growth.
“If the goal was to grow the first-year class by 25%, you could’ve had a five-year plan where you grew it by 5% a year, and (then) you (progressively) scale it up a little bit, (and) hire some more people,” Boelkins said.
Furthermore, Boelkins said he’d like to see an increased emphasis on GPA requirements in the admissions process.
“The university has to tighten up their admission standards (because) who the students are matters,” Boelkins said. “It would be totally reasonable to say we’re not going to admit more than 100 students per year that have less than a 2.75 GPA, and also considerably lower the number of students with (a) 2.75 to 3.0 GPA.”
SEMP leadership, including B. Donta Truss, Vice President for Enrollment Development & Educational Outreach at GVSU, said they appreciated the balance of UAS’ discussions.
Truss clarified during SEMP’s response window to UAS discussions that there is currently a committee solely dedicated to reviewing applicants with a GPA between 2.0 to 2.79. Truss also said, however, this review committee, which was quickly assembled during the pandemic, likely would have benefitted from the inclusion of GVSU faculty.
“I hope that we (SEMP and UAS representatives) get another shot to continue to do this work, and work together because I think there is value that can definitely be added (to the review committee),” Truss said.
Truss further expanded on the committee’s review process for applicants with a GPA between 2.0 to 2.79. Truss said this includes the use of Landscape, a comprehensive admissions tool created by College Board that factors in the full range of an applicant’s background.
Vice President for Student Affairs at GVSU Jenny HallJones, Ph.D., said GVSU is committed to providing faculty
and students with the resources they need to succeed. Part of this commitment will come in the form of additional support for the Office of Multicultural Affairs and GVSU residence halls. Additionally, Jones also highlighted some of the steps already taken to assist GVSU students, namely through investment in Disability Support Resources.
“With way more students that are coming in (to GVSU) needing (more) accommodations than ever before, I don’t see that changing,” Jones said. “We hired two more adjunct staff in Disability Support Resources, and we were able to put another $100,000 in the accommodation budget.”
Jones said this money is used to purchase devices and materials required for students with accommodations to succeed.
By and large, UAS representatives for the past three weeks have made it clear that they want a more prominent voice in administrative decisions and programs that largely impact GVSU faculty. UAS representatives said it is imperative that both parties maintain a more collaborative partnership for the future. Many UAS representatives, including Andrew Spear, associate professor and chair of philosophy, believe a key point of emphasis going forward should be administration’s consideration of faculty concern and input in decisions that directly affect faculty and students.
“Sometimes you just (need to) ask a friend if what you’re about to do is a bad idea,” Spear said. “They (GVSU) have (over) 800 friends, a subset of which are always available through our (shared) governance.”
VOL. 58 NO. 13
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor-in-Chief
DALLAS MATHEWS
REAGAN RUD MALIK IMMOOSMA
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POSTMASTER:
Research shows mental health is declining throughout Michigan, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. At the 15th annual West Michigan Health Care Economic Forecast on Feb. 9, Grand Valley State University professors attended to present their research in the accumulating Health Check for 2024. The conference was held at the DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health in Grand Rapids and was hosted by GVSU’s Kirkhof College of Nursing and Seidman College of Business.
Erkmen Aslim and Daniel Montanera, assistant professors of economics at GVSU, looked at variables that are indicative of the mental health status within communities like the number of poor mental health days individuals reported. Their research concluded the overall decline of mental health takes form in various ways including a higher suicide rate, a rise in opioid overdoses and an increase in emergency room visits. Many students agree they can identify with the results of the survey and advocate for adequate mental health services in the area and on campus.
What is now a state-wide issue was previously localized to Detroit. However, Grand Rapids is now experiencing a new level of emergency department visits that is comparable to Detroit, according to GVNext. Factors contributing to the increased emergency visits include the COVID-19 variants as well as a rise in mental health-related visits.
Mental health trends are important to consider because they show patterns that relate to the capacity for individuals to thrive and contribute to a community in a meaningful way. In this case, the patterns are reflective of the state of Michigan entirely.
Many students said they feel that they experience moderate levels of anxiety and depression, which fluctuates with their stress levels. Students also shared
that the pandemic took a toll on their wellness status but highlighted how not having as many “adult” responsibilities took some of that stress away.
Holistic self-care is one-way students approach mental health. This means managing physical health, mental and emotional stress, getting proper sleep, having a safe environment and other similar activities. The Director of Prevention and Community Education at GVSU’s Counseling Center, Melissa Selby-Theut, said proactively taking care of yourself is a great preventative method for mental health struggles.
“Attending to all areas of our wellness – spending time with people we care about, moving our bodies as able, eating foods that fuel us, and taking care of our holistic needs,” Selby-Theut said.
People can also attend to work and school-related stressors and how to manage them. Selby-Theut said everyone works differently, so it can be helpful for students to take note of their habits.
“If you work best or are most productive in the mornings, make sure you schedule your day that way. If you’re a night owl and prefer to work late into the evening, that’s okay as long as it doesn’t compromise your sleep,” Selby-Theut said. “If attending a student group or spending time with friends brings you joy, create space for them amid the other important things in your life– like schoolwork.”
Taking care of scheduling and social life ties back to mental health. GVSU offers several resources that provide support for students. The University Counseling Center offers free services to GVSU students, including self-help materials, group counseling, individual counseling and referral to local providers, in addition to emergency response and community outreach. All students who reach out are seen for an initial screening appointment within two business days.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please visit the counseling center’s website for emergency resources.
Grand Valley State University’s Board of Trustees (BOT) met Friday, Feb. 23 to discuss the relocation of the GVSU Police Academy, a new program for adult learners, adding a Laker Store in downtown Grand Rapids and the campus housing 10-year plan.
The BOT meeting addressed projects to increase visibility for GVSU and many long-term education and infrastructure plans that aim to support students.
GVSU President Philomena Mantella began the meeting by talking about the newly implemented management system Workday which now houses financial, operational data for the university and serves other managerial purposes. Mantella and the board members acknowledged the challenges faced in the process of importing 20 years’ worth of data to a new system. However, they said it will ultimately “revolutionize” the way GVSU operates.
Mantella also praised the GVSU community for winning the 2023 GameDay Football Zero Waste Touchdown Challenge in the Waste Minimization Per Capita category in her opening remarks.
The university president additionally announced the plans to build a new Laker Store in the Grand Rapids Art Museum next to Rosa Parks Circle. She declared that this action of “planting our flag” increases GVSU’s Grand Rapids presence as a “hometown university.”
Another subject of discussion was how the university could expand “educational access and equity” to “lifetime,” adult learners. Kara Van Dam, Vice Provost and Leader
of the Office of Graduate and Lifetime Learning housed at the GVSU Battle Creek Regional Outreach Center, stressed the importance of postsecondary education. Van Dam said proximity is a major factor for adult learners, because “76% of adult learners said they would only choose a school within 100 miles of their home.”
As a result, GVSU is working on an adult learning program called the GVSU Omni program. This program is designed to help adult learners advance their education with flexible and accessible learning. The delivery model combines online and in-person learning through statewide GVSU campuses. Currently, Michigan is ranked 34th out of 50 in college attainment for individuals over 25 throughout the country, according to research by the Citizens Research Council of Michigan and Altarum. The university is hoping the GVSU Omni program can help change that.
At the meeting BOT approved the relocation of the GVSU Police Academy. To meet the demands for education and training, GVSU plans to move the academy to the Meijer Campus in Holland, Michigan. Renovations to classrooms, a multi-purpose room and an exterior driving course are included in this approval.
One of the largest planned renovations is to campus housing. Due to increased-enrollment this year, campus housing had overcrowding, with more students sharing a room than usual, and placing students in overflow off-campus housing. As a result, the GVSU Department of Housing and Residence Life has released an updated 10-year master plan in hopes of addressing these problems. The plan includes new residence halls, apartments and a new multi-use dining center, along with
various improvements to existing buildings.
In her report, Mantella said the university is prepared to continue leasing off-campus apartments if needed. Currently, some students who requested on-campus housing are living, through the university, at Campus West, an off-campus housing complex.
Mantella also noted that “mental health needs are at an all-time high.” Additionally, she said the lasting effects of the pandemic on education must be addressed. She called for increased support for student needs. Mantella ended her report with a quote from the film “A League of Their Own.”
“It’s supposed to be hard,” Mantella said. “If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great.”
To conclude the meeting, the BOT heard 11 public comments, many of which came from one GVSU student organization. The Young Democratic Socialists of America (YSDA)/Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) brought attention to a variety of student concerns, including housing, on-campus student wages and labor conditions and the humanitarian crisis in Palestine.
“We really had like three platforms we wanted to push,” said YDSA/SDS President Jessica Koerkel. “There’s the ‘raise student wages’ issue, which we pushed for a lot last year, there’s the Palestine issue, which the university has still been silent on and then there’s the housing crisis that many of us are tackling right now.”
The group said it is important for students to voice their concerns and said GVSU BOT meetings should be more accessible for student attendance, with some members of YSDA/SDS having to skip class to be present.
The next GVSU BOT meeting is scheduled for April 26, 2024.
legislation takes effect in Michigan with abortion, environmental policiesBY NATALIE BROOKS LANTHORNEDITORAL@GVSU.EDU
Michigan legislation has undergone many changes in recent months. Throughout 2023, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed off on 321 public acts. More than 140 of these public acts did not go into effect until Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. These acts include renewable energy strides, the protection of abortion access and LGBTQ anti-discrimination legislation.
The legislations’ induction was delayed because the Michigan legislature is allowed to push the date of effect until up to 90 days after the yearly session adjourns.
Senate Bills 271 and 277, and House Bills 4317 and 4318 clear the way for solar energy to be used on farmland, allow for more solar energy use and increase access to rooftop solar. GVSU Junior Ashtyn Jennings said the laws regarding the move towards solar energy stand out to her the most.
“As an environmental and sustainability major it is important to me that our government thinks about positive shifts in sustainable development,” Jennings said. “While this law is not a definite yes on green energy, it is a step in the right direction, making it more possible for the future. I think these new laws are a positive sign for Michigan and these are things I think most of the people in our generation think about, especially when it comes to reproductive rights and climate change.”
There is some statewide controversy about a law that went into place regarding the zoning authority of renewable projects. House bills 5120 and 5121 remove the authority from local governments and give it to the state. According to MLive, these bills came about in response to many townships’ refusal to build renewable energy structures in recent years, many refusing solely for aesthetic reasons.
Hannah Kos, local business owner of The Borough, a cafe that sits just off of GVSU’s Allendale campus, said that she paid attention to these laws when they were passed by legislature.
“I was aware at the time they were being voted on that these laws would not take effect until now,” Kos said.
In addition, the Reproductive Health Act was officially signed off on Nov. 21, 2023. The legislation includes:
- Lifting the ban on partial-birth abortions (a procedure often used for late-stage miscarriages).
- Removing the requirement of abortion coverage to be a separate, add-on health insurance plan.
- Removing the law that made it a criminal offense for doctors and nurses to prescribe abortion medication.
- Allowing pregnant students at public universities to
acquire information about abortion should they desire it.
Several different laws regarding abortion care seem to stand out for the GVSU community. Jennings appreciates Michigan’s policies that are significant to women’s rights.
“These are regulations we needed to see and I am happy to live in Michigan, where our governor looks out for the people,” said Jennings.
Public reception of the newly instated laws appears to be positive for many members of the GVSU community. GVSU Junior Kathryn Pratt said these new laws give her hope as a newer Michigan resident.
“The understanding of these laws going into effect gives me great hope, especially with the most recent laws coming out of Alabama,” Pratt said. “As I know some of these regulations in Michigan are fully focused
on keeping women’s rights just that - a women’s right.”
Other legislation regarding LGBTQ rights explicitly protects the rights of citizens based on their sex and gender identity, according to MLive. An anti-discrimination law ensures businesses cannot discriminate against their customers and employees and that landlords cannot discriminate against their tenets.
Kos said she is thankful to Governor Whitmer for making active changes that protect the people of Michigan.
“I know a lot of laws strengthening gun control and protecting women’s and LGBT rights went into effect this week,” said Kos. “I feel really fortunate to live in a state that has a governor whose views align with mine, and who makes active changes that are parallel to the platform they ran on.”
BY CHLOE SCHRAM LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
Valentine’s Day is known as a day of love, kindness and friendship. It’s a time for sharing moments of connection and affection with those we love. But to me, the sweetness of Valentine’s Day has been soured with the intensity of gun violence in America. As a college student with my closest friends attending Michigan State University, my perception of this time of year has been damaged. I can not speak for those who have experienced a shooting first-hand, but I know that it is something that changes your life forever.
On Feb. 13, 2023, three students’ lives were taken at MSU by an active shooter: Alexandria Verner, Brian Fraser and Arielle Anderson. Multiple people were hospitalized and all students were left traumatized. The shooter was on campus for multiple hours and thousands of calls were made during that time. Individuals with any connection to MSU students and members of the MSU community were terrified. We will continue to honor and remember the students of MSU whose lives were lost.
A few years prior, on Feb. 14, 2018, 17 people were murdered and 17 others were wounded by an active shooter
at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Alyssa Alhadeff, Scott Beigel, Martin Duque Anguiano, Nicholas Dworet, Aaron Feis, Jaime Guttenberg, Chris Hixon, Luke Hoyer, Cara Loughran, Gina Montalto, Joaquin Oliver, Alaina Petty, Meadow Pollack, Helena Ramsay, Alex Schachter, Carmen Schentrup and Peter Wang are gone because of the atrocities committed that day.
On Valentine’s Day this year, one person was killed and 22 others were injured by active shooters at a Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade.
Each year, Americans are reminded of the tragedies that continue to exist in this country and the multiplying list of names that we wish we didn’t have to honor in this way.
Last year, during the week of both Valentine’s Day and the MSU shooting, I was in contact with my best friends over in East Lansing. Upon the anniversary of the MSU shooting event, I reached out to a friend to see how she was coping with shootings recent and past. She said it all makes her angry that so many tragedies have happened since the MSU shooting last year, but hardly any change has happened since. People can’t go to school, people can’t celebrate the Super Bowl, people can’t do anything.
My friend at MSU told me she was anxious about going to campus for a group meeting on the one-year anniversary of the tragedy and met on Zoom instead. Without any actual discussion of the matter, they were connected by the devastating and despicable event they had experienced. She did not spend much time on campus that day, but what she did see from the campus community made her happy and made her feel the love from her college. Everyone was talking, hugging and respectful to each other. Everyone wore MSU clothing, in an attempt to honor and uplift their peers, despite the lingering grief everyone felt and will continue to feel forever.
Following the shooting, MSU made some campus
security upgrades, including installing about 1,600 door locks across campus. They upgraded the campus’ video surveillance capabilities– a project recommended to the university in July 2022. While security upgrades are of course incredibly beneficial in dangerous situations, it is clear that gun control itself is not strict enough in this country, as mass shootings continue to occur.
My friend told me that hearing about the Kansas City shooting one year later made it feel like she was reliving what happened at MSU. Every shooting since Feb. 13 at MSU has been upsetting for her since she experienced something similar.
We continue to ask, when will it end?
Gun violence is no longer a niche issue that only friends of friends have experienced. It is all around us, everywhere we look. The people I love have feared for their lives and have been left with the lingering grief of knowing, “it could’ve been me.” I feel sick just remembering the missed calls from friends on my phone from Feb. 13, 2023, even knowing that I am lucky enough to say the people I knew were somewhat okay. Even as someone who has not experienced this type of tragedy firsthand, I am constantly thinking of how I can find safety in every place I enter. Every public space I walk into, I check where a decent hiding spot may be. I stare at the locks on the doors of every classroom I am in and feel my heartbeat increase every time someone I do not recognize walks past the windows of the dance rooms I have class in. I know it is a privilege to say that I have not experienced a shooting firsthand. However, shootings seem to be an ever-present reality for many and I know change is needed.
These are not stories we hear on global news. These are experiences of the people we love who have nearly lost everything or they are the nightmare of hearing about the death of someone you hold dear.
BY SAM NOWOTNIK LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
Advertisements are everywhere you look. Companies allocate a lot of money to promote their products and push ads in the media. One of the biggest advertising opportunities is during the Super Bowl, which guarantees that millions of viewers will be watching at the same time.
On Feb. 11, the Kansas City Chiefs’ overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers delivered the most-watched telecast in history. Despite garnering 123.4 million average viewers across all platforms, the commercials were lackluster, considering the huge advertising opportunity for companies. Ultimately, I feel that Super Bowl advertisements aren’t resonating with Gen Z, a generation that grew up surrounded by technology and advertisements galore in the media.
Older Super Bowl ads, such as the talking babies for ETrade and Betty White’s Snickers commercial
started advertising trends that we see to this day. These commercials created engagement and had successful results. After noticing the success these Super Bowl ads had, other companies used similar concepts through creative humor to try and get people’s attention. However, with a saturated media market, nothing seems as unique as older commercials anymore.
Many of the recent Super Bowl ads have brought in celebrities to promote brands and products. Since so many companies do this, their commercials don’t stick out and it limits their chance of going “viral.” For instance, TikTok influencer Addison Rae appeared in a commercial for Nerds. In addition, many people watch an ad simply for a celebrity but disregard what the brand or message even is. For this reason, the younger generations “tune out” commercials.
Additionally, a bombardment of similar ads can make an audience lose interest on the whole. I can’t remember a single ad from this year’s Super Bowl because I would get up or be on my phone, just like everyone else I was with.
Since younger audiences grew up navigating advertisements and technology, Gen Z knows how to utilize media literacy. They can tell when an advertisement is good and they can tell when something doesn’t look right. A lot of people also do not like seeing personalized ads because it can feel like an invasion of privacy. For example, it’s common to discuss a product with a friend, and to your surprise, you come across an ad for that specific product or brand later. It can feel like losing privacy, which people don’t appreciate. In turn, people are losing trust in advertisers.
I believe there needs to be a new advertising
approach to get the attention of younger generations who grew up in a technology and advertisementcentered era. In the past, people couldn’t wait to watch Super Bowl commercials, but now, many people just tune them out and wait for the big game to start again.
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FEBRUARY 26, 2024
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
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EDITORIAL
It has been a great year to be a sports fan in the state of Michigan. With three Michigan-based teams, the Detroit Lions, the University of Michigan Wolverines and the Detroit Red Wings all having good 2023-2024 seasons, we are feeling good about how several Michigan sports’ have fared. Not only are Michigan sports fans over the moon, but the spotlight these teams shine on Michigan will likely continue to have an overwhelmingly positive effect on the economy in the state.
As big fans of Michigan-based teams, all of us on the editorial team can say we are ecstatic about the amazing runs the teams aforementioned recently have had. We are equally excited about the economic impact that these teams offer to Michigan, especially Detroit.
A large part of the economic boost seen through the popular seasons is the revenue brought in through sports tourism. Sports tourism brings in huge crowds to watch games, which in turn boosts the economy through sales at restaurants, hotel stays, gas, car rentals and other accommodations throughout the trips.
In response to the Lion’s successful season, the Detroit economy has seen a boost in sports tourism. We are very excited that the Lions and other teams’ successful seasons are bringing more tourists to boost the economy in Detroit.
According to the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, in an article published by Fox 2 Detroit a Detroit home NFL playoff game “brings about $20 million to the city.” Additionally, an analysis from Anderson Economic Group, LLC. estimated the divisional playoff game between the Lions and Buccaneers would bring in over $50 million in revenue.
We are ecstatic about this economic boost the city will be experiencing. It
“Working at the Annis Water Resources Institute has been the highlight of my time at Grand Valley State University. For the past three summers, I have participated in a variety of lake monitoring projects, including the Muskegon Lake LongTerm Monitoring Program. I was often working on the water, including going on research cruises aboard AWRI’s research vessel, the W.G. Jackson. Additionally, I conducted my own independent research projects with Dr. Alan Steinman on the effects of road salt pollution on a residential lake, which is now a peer-reviewed scientific publication in the Journal of Freshwater Ecology. As someone pursuing graduate school, the experience I have gained from this internship has been invaluable. I will always cherish my time at AWRI and hope to look back on it as the beginning of a fulfilling career in aquatic research.”
The Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute at Grand Valley State University is committed to the study of freshwater resources, with a special emphasis on Michigan and the Great Lakes basin. Located in Muskegon, Michigan, the Institute’s mission is centered around three main programmatic areas:
• Research
• Education and outreach
• Geospatial analysis
continues to help keep our economy running while also boosting all the amazing things Detroit has to offer the surrounding communities.
Chris Moyer, the senior director of communications and public affairs for Visit Detroit said to WILX 10 that the Lion’s incredible run this year “has been a major boom for the economy for Detroiters, for Southeast Michiganders, and for the entire state.” When you have a winning football team, when you have a winning sports team, more people want to come to the city.”
The renaissance of Michigan sports drove fans to stadiums and put butts in seats. The Lions broke the Ford Field attendance record during their electrifying playoff run, and the Wolverines, like clockwork, led the NCAA in attendance.
Naturally, local businesses and restaurants flourished with the increased traffic and attention. Harry’s Detroit Bar & Grill saw their business triple their daily earnings during the Lions’ wildcard playoff matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Going from a $20,000 daily average to over $60,000, Cesar Ramirez, the assistant general manager at Harry’s, told the New York Times that he credits Harry’s “huge uptick” in business to the Lions’ success.
With more money circulating through small businesses and entertainmentbased businesses in the city, we see the revenue boost as a positive opportunity for Detroit to continue to flourish and grow.
Sports tourism and entertainment are supportive of the community it takes place in and of fans across the state. We are happy to cheer on Michigan sports, especially when it is also supporting Michigan city economies.
On any given day, visitors at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park stand in awe of the Garden Pavilion– an expansive room where portrait-like marble faces stretch across the room’s walls. These portraits comprise “Utopia,” an exhibition from Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. “Utopia” served as inspiration for a collaborative music and dance performance by students in Grand Valley State University’s New Music Ensemble and Dance Company on Feb. 25.
The collaborative performance titled “Utopia: A Music and Dance Ambient Experience” brought instrumental music and synchronized movement to the Garden Pavilion. The 82-minute musical piece was performed twice with four showings of the dance performance, allowing visitors to stop in and enjoy the performance at their leisure. The fusion of music, dance and the visual art of the space immersed performers and viewers in the atmosphere of the piece.
The four large portraits in “Utopia” were created specifically for Frederik Meijer Gardens by Plensa in 2020. With a different portrait on each wall stretching from floor to ceiling, the glowing white-marble faces display meditative expressions that symbolize humanity’s beauty. The white marble used to carve the faces was chosen for its subtle reactions to light and shadow.
The Garden Pavilion that houses the exhibit is flooded with natural light from the room’s skylight, which GVSU Director of New Music Ensemble Bill Ryan said was a major inspiration for the performance. Ryan said he spent considerable time in this space alongside Hannah Seidel, associate professor of dance at GVSU, in preparation for their collaboration. Ryan said his composition was largely inspired by the natural light, walled textures and the pavilion’s mingling visitors.
“I decided to create a composition that is an extension of the sculpture (“Utopia”),” Ryan said. “(It is) almost as if (the composition is) an audio version of the sculpture.” Ryan said the performance’s composition was designed to provide the audience with a sense of relaxation through ambient and meditative instrumentals. Ryan described the composition as a “slowly shifting landscape of sound,” brought to life by the seven students in the ensemble. The instruments featured in the composition included a flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, cello, keyboard and vibraphone. Alongside the musicians were 12 students in GVSU’s dance program who performed four variations of choreography ranging from 15 to 17 minutes in length. Seidel described the piece as modern contemporary mixed with a sustained presence. She said the choreography was intended to reflect the space and music surrounding them. Seidel said she was drawn to the texture of the room, specifically the rough marble surrounding the smooth faces jutting out from the walls. When creating the choreography for this piece, Seidel said she wanted to include these textures within the dancers’ movements, and also incorporate the emotional pull of the message behind Plensa’s exhibit. “I honed in on working with the ideas of comfort for this (performance) largely because of the presence of the natural light and the large scale of sculptures in that
space,” Seidel said. “Comfort (was important) because there’s a beautiful humanity in the sculptures that I’m trying to bring out in the dancers as well.”
Additionally, Seidel said the meditative and vibrant rehearsal space allowed the dancers to explore movement through their own emotions and ideas. She said the choreography was a combination of her own movement and a “collaboration with the dancers.”
“They were very much involved in creating some of the movement,” Seidel said.
Seidel also said the choreography was particularly unique because it was performed differently across the four performance variations, creating a challenge for the dancers and a unique experience for the guests. Alaina Hogan, a GVSU student and dancer in the performance, said each set included four possible sections, leaving the dancers guessing as to which would come next.
“There is a level of spontaneity such that we never know exactly what is going to happen until it does,” Hogan said. “There is no set musicality. We stay together by watching each other and feeling each other’s energy.”
Though they performed alongside each other in the final piece, the GVSU New Music Ensemble and Dance Company had separate rehearsal sessions. Despite not having shared rehearsals, Hogan said she felt adequately prepared because she had become familiar with the composition in the weeks leading up to the performance.
On the day of the performance, the dancers and musicians arrived at the Garden Pavilions a few hours early to familiarize themselves with their new surroundings. Before performing, the dancers led with two performance rituals: a chant to build energy and a quick breathing exercise to calm nerves.
During the performance, the large room echoed the musical composition, enveloping the dancers and audience in sound. Hogan said this created a uniquely immersive experience that allowed the audience to join their “world” as active observers instead of passive viewers.
“While dancing, I feel the interpersonal connection between myself and the other dancers, which is reminiscent of the sculpture in the space that we are all connected (to),” said Hogan. “The reason why the audience is drawn to the piece is due to how it makes people feel rather than what it looks like.”
Hogan praised Seidel’s choreography and Ryan’s musical composition. She cited the harmonic synchronicity between the musicians and dancers as the reason for the performance’s success.
“Dancing to the composition is an ethereal experience,” said Hogan. “I feel like I am transported to another dimension.”
“There is a level of spontaneity such that we never know exactly what is going to happen until it does,” Hogan said. “There is no set musicality. We stay together by watching each other and feeling each other’s energy.”
This past weekend, Grand Valley State University’s theatre program staged “The Birds” at the Haas Center for Performing Arts in the Linn Maxwell Keller Black Box Theatre.
The production, which ran from Feb. 22 to 25, was designed to be a contemporary interpretation of Daphne du Maurier’s horror story and Alfred Hitchcock’s film of the same name.
Adapted for the stage by playwright Conor McPherson, the story focuses on three characters seeking shelter at an abandoned house in the midst of an avian apocalypse. The characters include Diane, a former author who’s journal serves as the source for the play’s narration, Nat, an unstable man with a mysterious past and Julia, a young survivor who becomes infatuated with Nat. As information about their past is revealed throughout the story, the audience’s perception of these characters becomes clouded with judgment, resulting in a hesitancy to trust them.
The show was performed “in the round,” meaning the audience surrounded the stage on all sides. Bridgett Vanderhoof, the production’s director
and the publicity and recruitment coordinator for GVSU’s Department of Music, Theatre and Dance (MTD) said the seating arrangement was intentional. Vanderhoof said this arrangement amplified the production’s sense of claustrophobia and paranoia. The audience represented the birds that were trapping the characters inside the house. Vanderhoof also said the audience was able to sympathize with the characters in the house and feel like they were trapped together.
“We (had) seating on all four sides, so it (was) a very immersive experience for both the audience and the actors,” Vanderhoof said. “It feels like you are trapped in this house with them as they try to survive the onslaught of bird attacks.”
The play also examined themes of climate change, power dynamics and gender roles within a domestic setting. As the story unfolds, one of the characters finds out they are unexpectedly pregnant, leaving them to grapple with the ethics of bringing a child into the world’s hopeless climate. Rather than focusing on the birds outside the house like in du Maurier’s story, attention is shifted toward the dynamic between the characters inside the house. As a result, the horror element was heightened due to the characters’ unpredictable behavior.
“(The bird attack) is the initial layer of apocalypse that they (the characters) face, but working to build tensions between each of the characters is the second layer,” said Sydney Hartmann, the assistant director for the production and a junior at GVSU.
Additionally, “The Birds,” like other contemporary apocalypse stories, such as “The Road” and “The Last of Us,” examined human morality in the face of disaster. With allusions to murder and depictions of predatory behavior, the production draws a line between what people resort to for survival and what remains beyond the threshold of morality. Hartmann said the production asked audiences whether their morality would shift in an apocalyptic scenario or if it would hold firm.
“Their structure of society is gone, so the way they act and fight for things (is) immensely different,” Hartmann said. “I want them (audiences) to think about how far they would actually go to get the things they want when all bets are off.”
The next production from GVSU’s theatre program, “The Rivals,” will run from April 5 to 14 in the Linn Maxwell Keller Black Box Theatre. Tickets for the production are already available for purchase.
FEBRUARY 26, 2024
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
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RESPECT
As part of the annual Faculty and Staff Campaign, the Grand Valley State University Development Office invited students to the Kirkhof Center on Feb. 14 to write appreciation letters for GVSU faculty.
Students had the option of including their name in the letter, or they could request that their letter be sent anonymously. Participants waited in lines that wrapped through Kirkhof Center to write their appreciation letters for professors and faculty who have impacted them in various ways. The event was meant to connect the GVSU community by providing an outlet to spread joy and share positive experiences.
Cheyenne Koenigsknecht, a GVSU student said she wrote a letter to thank her criminal justice professor for always asking how his students are doing. Koenigsknecht said he is a genuine and lively professor who is extremely patient with his students.
“They (GVSU professors) work so hard, and they don’t have to care about us, but they do,” Koenigsknecht said. “They always look out for us to make sure we’re getting the most out of college, and I really appreciate that about all of our professors here.”
Another student, Lizette Solorio, said she wrote a letter to Stephanie Bender, affiliate professor in GVSU’s Biomedical Science Department. Solorio said Bender was her BMS 208– Human Anatomy instructor during the fall semester, which also happened to be Solorio’s first semester in college.
“Her (Bender’s) class made me realize that classes are going to be difficult, but if you put the work in, you’re going to get the results you want,” Solorio said.
“She always encouraged us that if we want to be the best we (can) be, (then) we have to show up and do the work. They (professors) put so much work into classes – the professors here at Grand Valley really care about students, especially Professor Bender.”
Professors weren’t the only members of the GVSU faculty who were shown appreciation. Some students took the time to write cards for faculty whose work often goes unnoticed. Lex Larkspur, a GVSU student, said she wanted to share her gratitude to Randy Hill, who is part of the maintenance department staff at her living center. Larkspur said people like Hill keep the university running, with the majority of their work happening behind closed doors.
“I think that people tend to know their professor’s names, they tend to know the staff they see everyday face to face, but when it comes to people like Randy, they are the ones who are doing the work without the thanks,” Larkspur said. “I think that those people deserve a lot more congratulation and celebration than we give them right now.”
Similarly, Shajuana Johnson, a student worker at Panda Express in the Kirkhof Center, said she wrote a letter to thank her boss. Johnson also said she’s happy to see so many deserving members of the GVSU faculty being recognized for their hard work and dedication to helping students.
“I think it’s important to take time to appreciate professors, staff and faculty because they are the reason Grand Valley is running – meaning they do all the hard work,” Johnson said. “They come here every day ready to work, (but) I also think they are underappreciated. A lot of them go above and beyond for us students, and at the end of the day, it feels nice to have them, and this is the least we can do for them.”
UNNOTICED: Many cards were made for those whose work often goes unrecognized on campus. GVL | SAM NELSON
RECOGNITION: A variety of treats and potential prizes were available for writers while waiting in line to give their thanks to deserving members of the GVSU community. GVL | SAM NELSON
The Grand Valley State University Asian Student Union (ASU) invited the GVSU community to join them in welcoming the Year of the Dragon during the annual Asian New Year Festival (ANYF) which was held on Saturday, Feb. 17.
The Grand River Room in Kirkhof Center was transformed with red and gold decorations. Those in attendance could enjoy cultural dishes, take part in a giveaway and watch a lineup of performances. This event drew attention and celebrated the ANYF with the GVSU community.
“Something that I really appreciate is the attention to detail we did for cultural aspects for the event,” said Lily Nykamp, a GVSU sophomore and ASU activities coordinator. “At our tables, we have these six-section dishes and they have different candies in them. Oranges are supposed to represent wealth and importance. These are typical things you’d find in a Chinese household, so I thought it was really cool that we could incorporate that. We also have a lot of gold and red decorations, which are traditional colors for wealth and good luck.”
Nykamp was in charge of planning the festival and coordinating performance groups to bring in for the event. The groups that were brought in included GVSU’s Kpop Group Evolution and the Ascendant Lion Dance Team of West Michigan. The latter performed traditional dances presented by the GVSU Nepali Student Association and GVSU Vietnamese Student Association. In addition, for
the first time, Sumo wrestlers competed, including Grand Rapids Sumo Club and the acclaimed retired Sumo wrestler Ryuichi Yamamotoyama.
Since this was only the second time the event was held in person since COVID-19, preparations for the event were challenging for Nykamp and other members of the ASU executive board who were involved in planning the event.
“We prepare during the first semester, and even (prior to that) during the summer. We try to get performers not (just) from GV, as well as from other clubs and other schools,” said Brianna Lee, the copresident of the ASU. “We try to make this event free. We want everyone to come and enjoy it.”
Nykamp said that even with the ultimate success of the event the organization faced many challenges while trying to coordinate the event.
“It was a nightmare, to be completely honest. It was a lot of finding emails and resources, because we’re kind of starting from scratch again (after COVID),” Nykamp said. “We had to talk to a lot of our advisors who are involved in the community and find new people who would be interested in participating in a college event. After a lot of emailing time, we found some generous community members who were willing to perform, and so far, they’ve been doing such a good job.”
Even with the obstacles the role presented, Nykamp did not shy away from her coordinating duties. After she participated in the organization as a freshman last year, Nykamp was motivated to step up a role on the executive board of ASU because of events like the festival.
“I didn’t grow up with this kind of stuff at my school. It was majority white, so the fact that we
have a club (at GVSU) that put all this on, I knew immediately. This is my normal life at home. I wanna be a part of showcasing this,” Nykamp said.
Events like the ANYF festival can be expensive. ASU not only had financial support from the Asian Student Achievement Program, but they also received proposal-based funding from Student Senate to further support the event. Despite the cost to put it on, the festival is also a philanthropic opportunity for the club. Lee said donations raised during the event will go to the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights.
ANYF served as an opportunity for visibility and celebration for Asian communities on campus.
“Our purpose and goal is to spread Asian culture and Asian awareness. GV is mostly white-dominated, and we want to show GV and the community our Asian cultures,” Lee said. “Obviously we can’t just do that in a boring way, in a boring meeting, we want to do it in a big event.”
Nykamp said that the presence and visibility the festival creates for the Asian community on campus is valuable to GVSU as a whole.
“I think this is really important, because the Asian population (on campus) alone makes up only 2%. I think sometimes we’re a little invisible. People don’t see us or think that our culture is impactful if they don’t know a lot of Asian people,” Nykamp said. “A lot of the time, this is where we invite our friends and family from the community to be a part of this, and we love to be able to showcase our culture because culture should be shared. Culture can be intimidating, but this is a really easy setting to just come in and witness it. You don’t have to participate in it, but you can observe and watch and learn something.”
FEBRUARY 26, 2024
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Grand Valley State University film and video production majors have the option to create short films of up to 12 minutes as their senior thesis project. In student Tanner Hamilton’s case, this was an opportunity for him to bring life to a project he’d been thinking about for years- “Proteus.”
Hamilton aimed to create a film that suspends reality by turning a real submarine into a futuristic spaceship. During the filming process, Hamilton and his crew worked to overcome the confines of the setting to bring Hamilton’s creative vision to life.
Hamilton said “Proteus” is a sort of homage to his inspirations.
“It’s about two stranded astronauts who descend into paranoia and madness after a mysterious deep space accident,” Hamilton said. “I’m a huge fan of science fiction, horror and action (and) any kind of otherworldly genre. For my senior thesis project, I just wanted to make a tribute to the kind of movies that made me want to be a filmmaker.”
Hamilton’s first challenge, of course, was to find a spaceship. Or, at least, the closest thing he could, which ended up being the USS Silversides Gato-class submarine. The submarine is the featured exhibit at the USS Silverside Submarine Museum in Muskegon, Michigan.
The submarine sits half-submerged in the Muskegon Channel and is open for public tours through the museum. Hamilton had been tossing around the idea of using the submarine in a project for years after a childhood visit to the museum, but the opportunity had never come about.
“When I was much younger, I was in Cub Scouts and we did an overnight campout on the submarine, and it’s always been in the back of my head like, ‘Wow, that was a really cool place, I’d love to make a movie there some time,’” Hamilton said.
There were many challenges to film in this location: shooting video in a tight, enclosed space, transporting equipment down the submarine’s ladders and overnight shoots. Since the museum was open for its regular hours, Hamilton and his crew had to resort to filming in the space at night.
“Every set has its own challenges, and it’s a unique kind of problem-solving thing. You always have to figure out how to make things work,” Hamilton said. “This is definitely the most ambitious project I’ve ever done. I’ve been on a lot of interesting sets, but I haven’t done a ton of things at this scale (with) my own projects, so it was really a new experience.”
Michael Modugno, another senior in the Film and Video program and one of the student sound operators on the project, said the late-night shoots were difficult.
“I’ve done late night shoots before, but this was my first official overnight shoot, which was really grueling the first day because I had a long day of classes leading into the shoot and ended up staying awake over 24 hours,” Modugno said. “On the second day, because I had just woken up, we were in the submarine (so there wasn’t daylight) and I would forget the time. 3 a.m. felt like 3 p.m.”
Despite the filming challenges, crew members who were involved with “Proteus” created a comfortable environment throughout the process.
“We had those fun buzzwords of, ‘we’re shooting in a submarine,’ and ‘it’s an alien movie,’ so everybody was very excited about the idea. People were kind of willing to put up with some worse conditions than they might’ve if it took place in an apartment or something,” Hamilton said. “The crew we had really is what made (the project special). Everybody was so kind and had such positive energy, and really gave it their all with making it the best that it (the shoot) could be. I’m very happy that I got to work with everybody there.”
Similarly, Modugno took the obstacles associated with the project as a chance to grow.
“The submarine definitely forced me to adapt. Working in that confined space and maneuvering with the boom pole, making sure not to bump anything. I had to do a lot of problem-solving and figure out how I was going to squeeze myself in the space without interfering with the scene, while also getting optimal sound,” Modugno said. “But the submarine was super convenient for sound because it was soundproof, so there could be some noise in the next room over and we wouldn’t hear it.”
On top of that, Modugno was given the chance to practice a new skill, timecode, a tool that works with syncing cameras and audio files. Much like Modugno, Hamilton said working on the project was a major source of growth. He said the project pushed him beyond his normal role of working behind the camera to wearing the hats of writer, director, producer, director of photography and editor.
Beyond the production of the film, Hamilton aims to increase the audience of the work by branching out into communities outside of GVSU.
“We’re hoping to submit to more film festivals in Michigan so more people can see it around the state,” Hamilton said. “That will also help with networking with other filmmakers.”
The “Proteus” crew and other senior thesis film crews are preparing for the Spring Showcase in April. Hamilton and other budding filmmakers in the program look forward to seeing their work showcased on the big screen
The Grand Valley State University Lakers baseball team opened its 2024 season with a doubleheader sweep over the Gannon University Golden Knights. The Lakers took game one 10-2 and followed it up with a 12-1 blowout victory in the second game.
Friday’s doubleheader was the debut for GVSU’s first-year head coach, Jordan Keur. Keur said he has been leaning on his experienced veterans to help establish a successful program.
“I looked toward our guys and asked what they needed and what they wanted this program to look like, but also laid my own standards of how I want to build this program going forward,” Keur said. “Having a veteran leadership group already established allowed us to hit the ground running to prepare for the season.”
After surrendering zero runs in the top of the first inning in game one, GVSU got a chance to step up to the plate. Center Fielder Kyle Nott got the offense started when he had a base hit to left field. After moving into scoring position on an error by the Golden Knights, Nott scored on a double by right fielder Nate Logan. Logan then scored on an error by Gannon’s center fielder, giving the Lakers a 2-0 lead at the end of the first.
In the third inning, the Lakers batted through the entire lineup. Nott tallied another single and advanced into scoring position on errors by the
Golden Knights. Then, catcher Brendan Guciardo drove him in with a single up the middle, before infielder Jonas Gulbrandsen reached on a fielder’s choice. This allowed Guciardo to come around and score on a double by first baseman Jake Rydquist in the next at-bat.
After being moved into scoring position on a single by designated hitter MacArther Graybill, Rydquist slid into home on a groundout by second baseman Ayden VanEnkevort. The Lakers would score their final run of the inning when shortstop Connor Schuman singled, driving in Graybill, up 7-0 going into the top of the fourth.
The Lakers ended with a 10-2 win after allowing a couple of runs and scoring three more.
Senior pitcher Nick Rutkowski made six innings of work while racking up nine strikeouts and allowing just two runs. Rutkowski credits the new coaching staff’s standards and early run support from his team for his performance on the mound.
“Coach has his expectations clear-headed into the season,” Rutkowski said. “We were all on the same page as a pitching staff, and when you have as much run support early in the game it’s easier to settle into a rhythm and just focus on throwing strikes and trusting your defense to make plays behind you.”
Game two started similarly to game one. Nott, again, singled with one out to get things started, followed by a single by Guciardo. Both runners would advance bases on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single off the bat of Gulbrandsen with
two outs. In the second inning, there were four consecutive walks, which allowed GVSU to take a 3-0 lead early in the game.
Lakers’ designated hitter Justin Mansager opened the fourth inning with a lead-off single and would later score via a groundout by Ryan Dykstra.
Gulbrandsen stayed hot, blasting a solo home run in the fifth, followed by a three-run shot in the sixth. The Lakers would score six runs in the sixth inning as both Nott and Logan added RBI singles. Gulbrandsen put up a scorching six RBIs and two homers on three hits.
“I was just focusing on seeing the ball deep and hitting it back up the middle. Coach had us really prepared. We did a lot of live at-bats and scrimmages outside, which was different compared to the last few seasons” Gulbrandsen said.
GVSU ultimately finished off the doubleheader sweep by winning game two 12-1, led by four nohit, scoreless, innings from pitcher Colling Bradley.
Overall, Keur was very pleased with how his hitters performed at the plate, as the Lakers scored a total of 22 runs off of 21 hits in the two games.
“We had a good approach in the box, we battled every at-bat. There was no easy out. We put the pressure onto them from the start. Up and down the line up one through nine guys came up with big hits when we needed them to,” said Keur. “Putting pressure and running the bases, limiting strikeouts, that’s what our offense is gonna be built around this season.”
FEBRUARY 26, 2024
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
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The No. 2 ranked Grand Valley State University Lakers women’s basketball team returned to the Fieldhouse Arena for their last two home games of the season this week as they took on the No.10 ranked Ferris State University Bulldogs and the one-win Lake Superior State University.
The Bulldogs were the last team to defeat the Lakers, doing so 71-65 on Jan. 20. In this rematch, GVSU was able to get revenge in a 63-38 blowout victory on Thursday, Feb. 22. Then, on Saturday, Feb. 24, the Lakers beat LSSU in a dominant 10048 win.
With those two victories, GVSU extended their winning streak to nine games in a row and improved their record to 24-2 overall and to 15-1 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).
It was a raucous home crowd for the Lakers of over 1,000 fans, and the energy helped GVSU to start the game off by forcing several shot clock violations and an 11-2 start.
This was thanks to made 3-pointers from redshirt sophomore guards Molly Anderson and Paige Vanstee.
Ferris State was forced to call a timeout, but responded back with a 7-2 run of their own to cut the lead to four. The Lakers closed out the first quarter up 17-11.
Both teams struggled with scoring efficiency as they shot just 35% from the field with back-and-forth scoring. The big factor for the Lakers to close the first half was Vanstee scoring eight points in the second quarter. Vanstee scored in a variety of ways, including getting to the free
throw line. In the half, the Lakers shot eight for eight on free throws to maintain their 35-27 lead at halftime.
The second half was in complete control of the Lakers, using shut-down defense to force 22 Ferris State turnovers for the game and scoring 16 points off of those turnovers. GVSU only allowed 11 points in the second half on 34% from the field. Ferris State’s three leading scorers were held to just 5 for 23 shooting from the field for a total of just 14 points.
With such a strong second half effort, the Lakers were able to avenge their loss to Ferris State the previous month and walk away with the victory in hand, 63-38.
GVSU head coach Mike Williams was happy with his team’s overall performance against the Bulldogs.
“We made some shots and they didn’t,” Williams said. “I thought we did a good job of attacking the glass and taking care of the basketball.”
Vanstee led the team in scoring off the bench with 17 points and had four steals, while junior forward Rylie Bisballe followed right behind her with a near double-double of 12 points and nine rebounds. Vanstee pointed to her teammates as the main reason she had a big performance.
“I mean, it feels good. I don’t really know what to say about it just because it’s my teammates that are finding me on those cuts to the basket and they see me when I run the floor,” Vanstee said. “I’m just trying to just do what I can to help the team out there and numbers can say what they want, but I think it’s just my team that really helps me out when it comes to scoring around the rim.”
After the 25-point win over their rival and the second ranked team in the conference, GVSU faced LSSU on
Saturday, Feb. 24. LSSU is currently ranked last in the GLIAC standings, and it showed as the Lakers were able to take complete control of the game with their defense and size.
GVSU proved to be an overpowering matchup for LSSU. They grabbed 13 offensive rebounds and forced 28 turnovers, while also adding a monster 26 assists in a 100 point win.
It was a team effort in the scoring department as all 11 players that saw action contributed to their third highest scoring margin of the season. Bisballe led the way with 22 points, while freshman center Ava Scanlon added a career high 16 points from the bench.
Anderson also had a career high, but in assists, with a near double-double of 10 points and nine assists.
“As soon as I get the ball like in the back corner (I am) just pushing it and having my eyes up and looking for whoever’s open,” Anderson said. “Coach Mike is always telling us to hunt shots and that’s what we tried to really do.”
Williams was happy with how his team performed in the second half of the team’s final home game of the regular season.
“I thought the second half we locked in. Did a better job getting the space on the shots and we tried to balance those screens a little better and not let them get downhill on penetration,” Williams said. “We got to get a little better in some areas, but we did a good job.”
GVSU looks to continue their win streak on the road in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as the Lakers will take on Northern Michigan University on Thursday, Feb. 29 at 5:30 p.m. and Michigan Technological University on Saturday, March 2 at 12 p.m. The GLIAC tournament will then begin
VICTORY: The Lakers avenged a 71-65 loss to the Bulldogs on Jan. 20, winning 63-38 one month later. GVSU currently holds first place in the GLIAC standings. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER
The Grand Valley State University men’s basketball team won both of their final home games of the season, beating two of the top teams in the conference. On Thursday, Feb. 22, the Lakers were triumphant in an 87-77 thriller over their rival, the Ferris State University Bulldogs (207, 10-6), before upsetting Lake Superior State University (19-7, 11-5) 93-75 on Saturday, Feb. 24 for senior day.
The energy in the crowd was palpable on Thursday night as the rivalry game pulled in the largest attendance the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena had seen this season with over 1,600 people. The Lakers fed off of the crowd throughout the game and it was evident that the fans played a huge factor after early back-to-back buckets from GVSU forward Marius Grazulis forced a Ferris State timeout.
The Lakers got off to a hot start from 3-point land as four different players hit from downtown and the Lakers found themselves with an early 10-point, up 22-12 lead seven minutes into the first half.
Things got a little chippy after sophomore guard Britain Harris was bear hugged on a fast break in order to stop an easy bucket, but it only seemed to fire up Harris as he drilled a deep 3-pointer for the Lakers on the very next possession.
This shot would spark a 10-point run for GVSU
that pushed their lead to 17 points, 33-16, with under 10 minutes remaining in the first half.
The Bulldogs answered behind the shooting of Ethan Erickson, who had 13 points in the first half. Ferris State cut the lead all the way down to six before the break, making the score 42-36 with just one minute to go in the half.
However, the Lakers would end the half with six straight points in the final 60 seconds, which included a monster slam from redshirt junior William Dunn and a buzzer beating layup by Britain Harris.
GVSU led the Bulldogs by double digits at halftime, 48-36.
The Lakers were able to keep Ferris State at a distance for a good portion of the second half, as it seemed like anytime the Bulldogs would score, GVSU had an answer in return.
However, after a free throw from Jalen Charity with 13 minutes left in the game, the Lakers would go on a scoring drought for the next four minutes that allowed the Bulldogs to inch closer.
Ferris did not waste the opportunity. They proceeded to go on a 9-0 run and claw their way back. The momentum had completely swung the other way, and now the Lakers were only up by three points with under 10 minutes to play.
The game was 56-53 when Harris, who had a dominant performance all day, stepped up when GVSU needed it most. After a drive to the paint where he got fouled, Harris hit both free throws and was at 21 points for the game.
Those free throws were the start of an eight-point run by the Lakers that would extend their lead back up to double digits.
Once again the Bulldogs would not be put away without a fight. They responded to this run by hitting three straight 3-pointers that brought the lead back down to five.
This prompted GVSU head coach Cornell Mann to call a timeout with two minutes left, up 76-71. Mann drew up a play that worked to perfection for Dunn, who drilled a 3-pointer and was fouled. He capped off the four-point play, which would be the dagger.
After clutch free throws by several GVSU guards, the Lakers would go on to beat rival Ferris State 77-67.
“You have to understand what a rivalry is, and this rivalry is strong,” Mann said. “You got to put them up and you got to fight.”
Harris, who had a career-high 23 points, was happy with the big win over the Bulldogs.
“It was great, especially coming off an ‘L’ at their home,” Harris said. “We executed and let our game do the talking.”
The matchup versus LSSU, on the other hand, started a bit rough for the Lakers. After the first bucket of the game was scored by Ethan Alderink, GVSU went scoreless for a nearly five minute stretch.
During this time, the Lakers shot 1 for 8 from the field and LSSU got off to an early 8-3 lead. This drought ended for GVSU when redshirt junior guard Trevon Gunter got fouled on a 3-point attempt and made all three of his free throws.
Then, just a minute later, Gunter drilled his first of five 3-pointers in a big-time shooting performance. This sparked a 10-0 run for the Lakers and gave them a 10-point lead midway through the first half.
It was at this point that Dunn also started to heat up, hitting three consecutive 3-pointers and extending the GVSU lead to 19.
Dunn and Gunter combined for 30 points in the first half and the Lakers went into halftime with a 50-35 lead over LSSU.
The shooting in the second half remained equally as hot for the Lakers, but GVSU really started to pull away from LSSU because of their defense.
This was evident when at the 10 minute mark of the second half, when GVSU redshirt freshman Shamus Thompson had a monster block that led to an and-one for Gunter. This play got the crowd of more than 1,300 fans fired up.
The Lakers would ultimately go on to beat LSSU 93-75 behind a career-high of 29 points from Trevon Gunter. Gunter credited his team and coaches for his monster performance.
“My teammates and coaching staff believe in me,” Gunter said. “They tell me to shoot pretty much everyday in practice and in games.”
Following the momentum of two big wins, GVSU will go on the road to play Northern Michigan on Thursday, Feb. 29 at 7:30 p.m., their first of two road games to end the regular season.
The Lakers moved to 12-14 on the season and 9-7 in conference as they look towards the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament in order to make a bid for the national tournament. GVSU is currently the fourth seed overall in the GLIAC and have already clinched a conference tournament berth.