Shared budget poses challenges for DI and DIII men’s club hockey teams
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
Recently, Grand Valley State University students may have noticed the yellow signs circling empty recycling bins and trashcans as they walk through the Russel H. Kirkhof Center. These makeshift receptacles were in place to catch water dripping down from leaks in the ceiling of the building that acts central hub of campus.
Since about two weeks before spring break, some ceiling areas throughout Kirkhof Center have been dripping water. Three buckets full of water sat off the main hall, across from Java City cafe, surrounded by caution signs warning about possible wet floors.
Some students seem to be unaware or unbothered by this, as the leaks are contained and there is enough space in the hallway to walk around the water buckets.
Other students are concerned about how long the buckets and caution signs have sat unattended in Kirkhof. Caleb White, a GVSU senior, believes that this issue should have been taken care of sooner.
“I think it’s concerning that it’s been going on for some time now and nothing’s been done about it,” White said.
According to Rence Meredith, the assistant vice president of Allendale Facilities Services, the dripping ceilings have not caused any other damage or problems throughout the building, besides possibly being a nuisance for students. He also said that it did not have any reported effects on the events of GVSU’s recent Sibs & Kids weekend, many of which took place in Kirkhof Center.
“Other than it possibly causing a nuisance for building occupants, (there are) no other issues to report as a result of this leak,” Meredith said.
“Other than the affected area, the rest of the building has had normal use.”
Meredith said that GVSU contracted roofing contractor company Tremco to fix the leaks, which took place on Thursday, Feb. 29. Maintenance addressed the problem of the dripping ceilings before spring break by attending to the problem areas. Meredith said the leaks are a result of an issue with the roof itself.
“A roof leak is the most common source of water affecting the ceiling/ceilings in all buildings on campus. There are times when the leak is caused by either fire protection piping or hot and cold water supply lines between floors,” Meredith said. “The leak in Kirkhof was confirmed as a roof leak as a result of a puncture in the roof membrane.”
Roof membranes are thick pieces of material that are used instead of shingles or other roofing materials. They are typically used on flat roofs or roofs with a very low
slope and thus have a more difficult time draining. They can last, depending on the material, anywhere from seven to 30 years.
In regards to the specific cause of the roof membrane puncture, Meredith said it is “hard to say. (It) could be the age and an issue with a seam coming apart, or debris blowing around (on) the roof.”
While there are several different possible causes of the roof membrane’s puncture, it does not seem to be a very large concern. This is not the first time that there have been leaks in the roofing of Kirkhof Center. Based on the way that roofs generally deteriorate with time and Michigan’s weather patterns, it will probably not be the last.
GVSU will continue to stop leaks and keep the roof patched up. However, the leaks caused many community members to question if it may be time for the student center to receive basic updates and renovations.
VOL. 58 NO. 14
During the Grand Valley State University Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting on Feb. 23, it was announced the GVSU Police Academy will be relocated from the Allendale Campus to Holland’s Meijer Campus. This move was proposed to meet the demands for law enforcement training and education, and will cost almost $6.5 million in renovations.
The project includes the addition of classrooms, scenario rooms, a multipurpose room, a weight room, a mat room, locker rooms, a computer lab and an exterior driving course for instruction and performance evaluations. Relocating the police academy utilizes the space on the Holland Campus, which was closed to the public in 2020 and according to GVNext, had been utilized for COVID-19 vaccination clinics. However, some students are concerned about how University resources are being allocated to support this project.
The police academy was founded in 1974. The program averages 35-40 recruits per session which are eight weeks or 15 weeks in length. According to the academy, it has a 99% licensure exam pass rate, a 96% completion rate and a 96% employment rate. In years prior, it has hosted only one 15-week academy, which took place during the summer. Last fall, however, GVSU Police Academy added another 15week session to meet the increased need for officers in the area. There is also an eight-week session option for military police veterans.
DALLAS MATHEWS
REAGAN RUD MALIK IMMOOSMA
BOT documents report that construction on the Meijer Campus is expected to begin in March of this year, with targeted completion projected by February 2025. The university plans to release more details about the project in the coming months. GVSU officials said the relocation and renovations will help accommodate the growth of the academy.
However, one potential problem of relocating the police academy is travel. Having to commute from Allendale or Grand Rapids to Holland could pose a challenge for students trying to schedule classes around their training, and the cost of gas.
While the University said the move will open opportunities within the police academy program, some GVSU students are displeased with these plans and feel the millions of dollars allocated for the relocation should be utilized towards addressing student concerns currently taking place on campus.
Micah Colby, a member of GVSU’s Young Democratic Socialists of America/Students for a Democratic Society (YDSA/SDS) said there are issues on campus that students are facing and he is disappointed by the financial decisions of the university.
“It’s our tuition money going into it, you know. We’re already having a housing crisis. We need more housing,” Colby said. “We need more resources for mental health, for disabled students, that sort of stuff, but the school has decided that their time is better spent, and their money is ‘better spent’ on another police facility.”
Jessica Koerkel, president of YDSA/
SDS said she thinks the university should invest in bettering the quality of student life, not in the Police Academy.
“Student tuition should go into making our college a better place for those who live and study here, not for cops who will harass and harm the diverse communities Grand Valley claims to value,” Koerkel said.
Colby was also skeptical of the estimated cost.
“They’ll always start with a low estimate, like oh, it only costs like $5 to $10 million, and then they’ll claim inflation and claim they need more facilities. They’ll claim anything to increase the budget even more,” Colby said.
YDSA/SDS shared a post of similar sentiment to their Instagram page, pushing that the BOT should be more considerate of immediate student issues.
Members of YDSA/SDS encourage students to advocate for themselves and their needs, calling for better living conditions in the area. They do not think a larger police force is the answer.
“We have way too many police in this country. Every study that’s been done on policing has shown that an increased police presence does not lower crime,” said Colby. “If you actually want to lower crime and you actually want to make the community safer, you need to invest in housing, school, health care and food programs.”
The police academy’s future will continue to unfold in a new location with new resources. It remains to be seen if changes will have an impact.
Although students are often the subject of discussions surrounding workload management, professors face a similar struggle.
On Feb. 28, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) hosted a discourse event inviting GVSU professors to discuss faculty workload. Faculty expressed frustration and concern around how their true workload and efforts are being represented in reports, and in turn, compensation.
The AAUP is an organization that advocates for and defends the values of university professors and their roles in higher education. The AAUP Advocacy Chapter began in 2020 at GVSU, following faculty’s concerns for working conditions and expectations. Since then, the organization has posted several memos regarding policies on relevant issues to campus faculty, most recently publishing a statement of support for the United Auto Workers (UAW) Labor Action.
The organization’s recent GVSU chapter meeting focused on the manageability of faculty workload. Faculty attendees gave their perspectives on “invisible” work not considered by official job expectations, like the extensive time writing emails, scheduling appointments or finding ways to recruit students to their departments.
workload is manageable for them.
At GVSU, faculty workload is mapped and decided in a Faculty Workload Plan (FWP). The plan is filled out by faculty who identify their scholarship, teaching, and service activities like advising student groups or curriculum development.
Following the collection of information in the FWP, faculty then submit their Faculty Workload Report (FWR) to the Office of the Provost. The FWR categorizes and tracks faculty workload by outlining courses taught, service activities undertaken and outcomes of their Significant Focus for the year. The report compares anticipated work with the Faculty Workload Plan with actual accomplishments and any additional tasks performed.
However, many faculty members feel the Faculty Workload Plan and Report does not provide a clear picture of the tasks and duties they fulfill.
“That document is not helpful,” said Associate Professor Sherry Johnson of GVSU’s English Department. “It’s not reflective of all of the work that we do.”
The FWP and the FWR are integral factors in determining faculty salary. However, the “invisible work” not under official job expectations or outlined in those documents goes unappreciated.
At the meeting, Johnson said the FWR is just another document that unnecessarily increases professors’ workload.
Associate Professor Mayra Gonzálezhas favored programs that will teach students more immediately applicable skills. This encourages faculty to take on further tasks to draw administrative attention to their programs to receive more recognition for the work they do.
“That translates into all the faculty constantly looking for ways to be seen, recruit and bring the message, with very little structural support,” González said.
Such factors also contribute to unappreciated workloads.
González feels the lack of structural support was seen after language placement tests were transitioned to an online format. González felt this transition was a decision of which faculty were notified too late and was made without regard for its impact on the Spanish program. Consequently, this change resulted in poor student placements and mishandling of AP credit transfers-- fallout that led to an increased workload not outlined in the FWP or appreciated in the FWR.
“It feels that we’re constantly going against the grain,” González said.
The AAUP’s chapter event highlights how the organization advocates issues like workload, aiming to provide a platform for faculty to voice their opinions and advocate for their needs within the university. The AAUP is the premier university professor advocacy group that has popularized some of the most important faculty governance
Freedom and Tenure and the 1966 Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities.
The GVSU AAUP Advocacy Chapter has even addressed issues surrounding students, including the cost of education and student debt. The chapter is different from the formalized governance, which constitutes much of the issue-based discussions surrounding faculty working conditions. An advocacy chapter does not have the same formal structure as typical faculty governance.
“Its goal tends to be to talk as directly as possible with faculty members to figure out what their burning concerns are right now,” said Associate Professor of Philosophy Andrew Spear and Secretary GVSU’s AAUP chapter.
After the concerns are heard, the advocacy chapter will appeal to formal governance to address said issues. Formal governance at GVSU is organized as committees that address various, but specific issues. Spear said these committees include university administrators, whom faculty may imagine as their “boss.” In this sense, formalized governance might contribute to a “chilling” effect on advocacy and discussion.
“It can be a liability because faculty may struggle to speak freely,” Spear said.
Spear said fair compensation and recognition of the university’s faculty is necessary to provide students with the best educational foundation possible.
Two fires occurred on off-campus housing complexes near Grand Valley State University on Sunday, Feb. 25.
Ottawa County’s police department responded to a dumpster fire near Campus West Apartments around 2:30 pm. Later that day, around 6 p.m., there was a vehicle fire in one of the Canvas Townhomes parking lots. Both fires were safely extinguished and no one was injured, but there was severe damage to a Canvas Townhomes resident’s vehicle.
Campus West and Canvas Townhomes are only 0.5 miles apart, roughly a seven-minute walk on foot. Located across the street from GVSU, both off-campus housing complexes have a high density of student residents. Grand Valley State University Police Department (GVPD) are often first responders to emergency calls involving students near campus.
Assistant Director of Public Safety and GVPD Captain Leah Heaton said there are many reasons these instances can occur.
“Vehicle fires typically start in the engine compartment. They can occur from a variety of sources such as frayed or exposed wiring, overheating engines or even animals nesting in the engine compartment,” Heaton said. “Dumpster fires can start from combustible items within the dumpster, such as batteries or chemicals coming in contact with paper, wood or plastic. We also see dumpster fires started in a malicious manner.”
Since the Canvas Townhomes vehicle caught fire in one of the complex’s parking lots, the fire caught the attention of residents. Similarly, attention was drawn to the dumpster at Campus West. Many people took pictures and videos of the blaze, posting them to social media like Yik Yak, a social media app that allows users to post anonymously to users in
a close radius, which is popular among college students. Several posts pictured accounts of both fires showed and the large plume of black smoke coming from the burning vehicle.
GVSU student and Canvas Townhomes resident Emilia Tombrella was driving home with her roommate when they both noticed the plume of black smoke coming from the townhouses. As she drove further, she came across several students on the sidewalk watching the burning vehicle. According to Tombrella, sirens began to ring and a fire truck arrived at the scene. She safely
watched the firefighters surround the burning vehicle from her porch. Tombrella said the vehicle was gone by the next morning.
“It seems like when something happens around here, it always takes place at Canvas,” Tombrella said.
Heaton said vehicle fires and dumpster fires can be particularly dangerous to deal with.
“If someone sees a fire, the first thing to do is call 911. Usually, a fire extinguisher alone is not enough to put out these kinds of fires,” Heaton said. “Stay away from (a) burning item in case there are things inside
that could explode.”
Heaton said students can follow different safety protocols to prevent future fires from occurring. For vehicles, she said it is important to perform regular maintenance checks for engine problems and to ensure no animals are nesting inside the engine compartment. Heaton said dumpster fires can be avoided by ensuring items are disposed of correctly, allowing hot materials to cool and keeping combustible materials out of the trash.
Both Canvas Townhomes and Campus West have declined to comment on the fires.
BY ELIZABETH SCHANZ LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
As a Grand Valley State University senior who turned 21 going into this school year, I now consider myself a connoisseur of the downtown Grand Rapids bar scene. I journeyed from my Allendale apartment by bus or Uber, and stood in the entry lines in the cold and rain, to concoct this list of five of the best places to go out.
5. Stella’s Lounge
Although not a traditional Grand Rapids Bar location, Stella’s has a special place in my heart for its
nostalgic environment cultivated by creative wall art and arcade games.
The location, a restaurant during the day, turns into a 21+ venue after 9 p.m., creating a space for adults to channel their inner child with games like PACMAN (my personal favorite), pinball and other classic 25-cent games.
The activities, environment, food and drink make Stella’s the perfect location to connect with friends through competition and conversation.
4. Mojo’s
Mojo’s dueling piano bar is a gem in the Grand Rapids night scene.
The live music from the dueling pianos create a communal experience between the performers and the crowd. Although the demographic near the live performance tends to be older than college students, people like me who enjoy a variety of music from the ‘80s to today are in luck here.
Although there is a DJ upstairs, I much prefer the opportunity to move to the musicians who bring their all to the space.
3. Boot Night at New Holland Brewing Co.
“Boot Night” is a special held by New Holland Brewing Co. on Wednesday nights and it’s the epitome of the college experience. What screams college more than congregating at a bar in the middle of the week to get a one-liter stein, a.k.a.
a boot, for 10 dollars or less?
The location has an open outdoor beer garden, even in colder weather, with space heaters and fire pit tables, in addition to interior spaces with large communal tables. DJs bring the place to life, and if you’re like me and my friends, dancing is a must (even with a heavy glass stein).
Boot night breaks up the week and truly brings the community together.
2. Joey’s Tavern
Joey’s Tavern is like a reliable old friend; no matter what you do with them, you will always have a good time.
The location, incredibly intimate, allows you to mix and mingle-- I’ve seen larger shoe boxes. The bar’s slogan “advice and enlightenment” is a testament to the conversations initiated by the proximity and ability to connect in the chaos of a perfect dive bar setting.
It is also one of the most affordable options for a night out. One time, two friends and I each ordered a cocktail, shot, and shared a basket of tenders and fries (might I add, I am addicted to) and the bill was a little over $10 each.
Joey’s just does it right.
1. B.O.B. and Eve Nightclub
Unsurprisingly at number one, I have the B.O.B. (aka the Big ol’ building), a crowd favorite. Consistently the bar has lines wrapping around both sides of the
building, bustling with a young crowd eager to explore the building’s four floors. The venue appeals to all of the people in your group with its basement cup pong, live bands, and dance floors. You’ll have all of your options in one place.
Eve Nightclub, the top floor of the B.O.B., is a hot commodity and often is sold out later in the night. It’s the best for groups that love to dance and for screaming the most popular music at the top of your lungs.
The only downside to the B.O.B are the overpriced drinks; however, the atmosphere is well worth it, especially if you are up for an eventful night.
BY MADDIE ZIMMERMAN LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
For the near future, Albert Einstein College of Medicine will be tuition-free after a $1 billion donation by Ruth Gottessman, a member of the college’s board of trustees. The donation and media attention Gottessman has garnered sheds light on college tuition and student loan debt.
Universities should advocate for affordable education and implement means to make it happen, especially since a degree is required for most jobs.
According to the Associated Press,
this is said to be the largest donation anyone has ever left for a medical school. The school, now tuitionfree, previously cost $59,458 per year to attend. The Education Data Initiative stated the average medical school debt in the U.S. is $202,453, excluding undergraduate debt.
This opens up the conversation about college tuition and how lifechanging it is for students to not have to worry about going into debt.
It is crazy to me how student loan debt is normalized and as a society, we brush it off. I can’t even count on both of my hands the amount of times my friends and I have called ourselves “broke college students” as a joke. What seems like a joke is now our reality.
Why is a college degree expected for most jobs, but college itself is not accessible to all people?
Yes, there are grants and scholarships, but often, that is not enough. Students are struggling to pay tuition and many people cannot afford to go to their first choice of school, even with external financial support. For college to be such a normalized, and often, required experience, it should be more accessible to those who want to attend.
The cost of living does not stop at just tuition payments. Once you
pay tuition, you still need to pay for housing, food, access codes, books and if you have a car, a parking pass and car payments. There are a laundry list of costs that go into college.
It is even more of a struggle to consider that many “entry level” positions are looking for years of experience. It is impossible to be a recent college graduate trying to find a job that allows you to pay back student loans, due to low salaries and the cost of living. In some cases, students will still be in debt later in life because of how much college costs.
I’m not saying that every single college needs to be tuition-free, although I would not complain if that was the case. However, colleges need to take into consideration the cost of tuition and that for the average person, education is by no means financially affordable. Gottesman made the donation to Albert Einstein College of Medicine to ensure that tuition is free, which will change students’ lives in the future because they won’t have to worry about paying off their medical school education.
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0051 KIRKHOF CENTER GRAND
VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
ALLENDALE, MI 49401 616-826-8276
Like millions of Americans and movie lovers throughout the world, we spent our Sunday night on Mar. 10
This fatigue has been highlighted by multiple Marvel and DC films underperforming at the box office, with many citing a noticeable decline in filmmaking and oversaturation as the two biggest catalysts for
multiple strikes in Hollywood brought much of the industry to yet another halt.
It is thrilling to see the level of high-quality filmmaking that has emerged since the COVID-19 shutdown. Paving the way for this
Grand Valley State University offers 38 club sports for women’s, men’s, and coed teams. Men’s club ice hockey is currently the only club sport that has both a Division I and Division III team of the same sex. The unique situation led Club Sports to force two teams to share a singular budget. The presence of two hockey teams under the GVSU club sports umbrella has led to questions about how the budget is and will be allocated between the two teams in regards to spending, fundraising and donations.
Before 2020 the two teams had separate budgets. When the teams began playing after some COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, the budgets were combined. Mike Przydzial, the Acting Director of Recreation & Wellness said one of the major reasons the budget was combined was “to level the playing field” in regards to how much money each club sport received from the Club Sports Department. He said GVSU has “no other club sports, same gendered, that existed as two separate organizations” like the men’s hockey organization.
“So when you look at things from an equity lens we had the men’s ice hockey program, basically receiving double the resources (from club sports) as the women were,” Przydzial said. “Ultimately (by combining the budgets) we were getting them to a level playing field, to align with every other club sport we have.”
While GVSU Club Sports helps fund club sports to a certain extent, the majority of the budget is funded through club members’ dues, fundraising and ticket sales from the games. Since the whole budget is shared between the DI and DIII teams, where the money comes from and how it is spent can be a point of contention for the players of both teams.
Currently, both teams play at Griff’s Georgetown ice rink located in Hudsonville, Michigan. Shared budgets helps the teams pay for time on the ice and lease locker rooms within the facility for the duration of the season. Additional expenses include gear, travel expenses and tournament fees.
DIII hockey players said they started noticing greater disparities in the shared budget during the 2021/2022 school year. The Division I team upgraded the leased locker room facilities in Griff’s Georgetown and the money for the renovation came out of this shared budget.
“We paid for half of the upgrades technically and not many of the Division III guys have even stepped a foot in (the Division I locker rooms) since the upgrade,” said Jack Myers, a senior captain of the Division III team.
The recently renovated Division I team’s locker room cannot be used by the DIII team. Since the teams practice at similar times and the DI teams leave items in the locker room, there are not enough lockers to accommodate two teams. The Division III locker rooms have yet to see any upgrades.
Myer said the current Division III locker room used to be a storage closet which poses its own problems.
“There’s not enough stalls to fit everybody so there’s chairs in the middle, we call it the island.”
“There’s not enough stalls to fit everybody so there’s chairs in the middle, we call it the island. It’s super packed there. No bathrooms, no showers,” Myers said.
To help better accommodate the DIII team, Myers said Griff’s helps provide the Division III team with a temporary locker room when they play home games, rather than let them use the leased Division III locker room.
Although the discrepancies in locker room space are not managed by the Club Sports Department, Przydzial said he hopes the teams can internally manage the funds to “refresh that Division III space.”
“I do think that I would continue to encourage them to look at ways on earmark dollars or setting aside a specific dollar amount to where ultimately they can get to a point of having upgraded locker space and equipment in there to make it an area of pride for the Division III program,” Przydzial said.
In April 2023, Myers and alternate captain John Livingston met with both Anna Tollefson, the Assistant Director of Recreation & Wellness and Andrew Rolls, the Club Sports Coordinator Myers and Livingston pushed for the shared budget to be separated and hoped to address some of their growing concerns about the shared budget.
“Basically we wanted to kind of separate the two budgets because they are two completely different teams,” Livingston said.
Aside from the frustrations over the locker rooms, the Division III players want to push for separate budgets because of how fundraising fits into the budget. Since a large portion of the shared budget is made up of fundraising, the players want the money they raise to go to their own team.
Additionally, concerns about where funds will be directed can lead family and friends of players to be hesitant about donating.
“We have a lot of parents, and even alumni, that want to make contributions to the DIII team but they are a little hesitant doing so, just because they don’t know if that money is only going to DIII or if some of it is going to DI as well,” Livingston said.
Tollefson said monetary donations can be directed specifically to one team under the men’s club hockey team umbrella. Tollefson said while the two teams do share a budget, she still encourages family and friends of players to donate. She said donors should communicate what team they want their donation to benefit. This
specification allows the money to go to the team’s “gift account.”
“(Donations are) easily tracked between the teams, and donors are allowed to make a directed donation. That just has to be outlined with their donation and communicated,” Tollefson said.
Livingston said being a part of the DIII hockey team at GVSU has been a constructive part of his time in college. He said this is one of the reasons why he feels so strongly about pushing for change in the GVSU Club Sports culture.
“Personally, I would love to establish a separate budget from DI, but it has been a very challenging task to do so since club sports has been unsupportive with that possibility,” Livingston said.
However, Club Sports said the decision to re-separate the hockey teams’ budgets officially would be a decision made at a higher administrative level in the department. Club Sports currently wants to act as a guide for the shared budget and encourage the students and coaches of the two hockey teams to create more transparency about where funds come from and how they are spent.
“We have talked to both their coaches, and the biggest thing that we preach is that it’s really about a lack of communication than anything else,” Tollefson said. “Students need to just know and have a better understanding in general of the entire budget and how things work financially for them.”
Since Club Sports does not oversee every detail of the team’s budgets or how funds are allocated, they say budget decisions are up to the players on the Eboard and coaches. Despite not being able to separate the budgets, Club Sports said can support the teams throughout the process.
“There are ways to (create separation in the budgets) internally, through one organization,” Przydzial said. “Club sports is for students, and we will continue to remind students of that organization and around the entire program. We want those students to be involved, we will listen to their voice, we are here to work with them.”
Overall, Club Sports said they hope Division I and Division III teams would be able to come together and mutually agree on a way to make the shared budget work and they would offer any assistance they can to help support the teams.
“We want them to succeed,” Przydzial said. “If there are issues perpetuating by all means we want to help navigate them through them.”
The 15th annual Midwest Regional Alternative Dance (RAD) Festival brought dancers from across the country to the Epic Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan from Feb. 29 to March 3 for a multi-day dance event. RAD Fest focused on building the Midwest’s dance community by bringing in experienced performers and instructors to connect the local dance community.
The festival spotlighted postmodern and contemporary dance from emerging and professional artists. Performances, classes and lectures, allowed dancers, including multiple Grand Valley State University students, staff and alumni, to network with one another.
The event was curated by Rachel Miller, adjunct professor of dance at GVSU, who has been with the event for many years. Alongside Miller, several other GVSU dance professors were involved with the festival this year. Hannah Seidel, associate professor of dance at GVSU, taught dancers contemporary movement forms, and Carolyn Rabbers, adjunct professor of ballet at GVSU, brought her company, CPR Dance: Inhale
Movement, for a performance on the festival’s opening night.
Rabbers said RAD Fest gave her the opportunity to catch up with dance colleagues and friends from different states. Rabbers also praised the platform that RAD Fest provides to dancers and educators, specifically those within the GVSU community.
“It (RAD Fest) always feels like the best reunion to celebrate and catch up on life and art,” Rabbers said. “(It’s) an inspiring weekend with so much passion and love for dance and movement, (and) it is always special to see the GVSU Laker presence in the larger professional dance world.”
With internship opportunities and the chance to grow in their dance skills, GVSU dancers were encouraged to attend the event. Rabbers said there are many GVSU alumni who perform, participate and serve at RAD Fest every year. One GVSU dance program alum, Grace Kitching, not only performed at the event, she also served as the curatorial assistant intern under Miller.
As the curatorial assistant intern, Kitching helped support the festival’s traveling artists and assisted in organizing events throughout the weekend. Additionally, Kitching attended several masterclasses and performed with the Detroit Dance Collective (DDC).
Whether it was taking classes, watching performances or performing herself, Kitching said RAD Fest offered inspiration attendees, and invited dancers of all ages, genders and experience levels.
“(It’s) comforting to know that everyone is accepted and welcome at RAD,” Kitching said. “Dance is my favorite thing in the world. Every time I watch dance, there is at least one aspect that inspires me.”
Kitching emphasized the importance of networking during college, and keeping in touch with mentors and colleagues after graduation. Kitching said her relationship with Miller led to the opportunity of working under her as
an intern at RAD Fest.
“The (GVSU) dance department staff is incredibly supportive (by) offering networking opportunities to students,” Kitching said. “GV connected me with many companies, artists and events out in the working world. I feel that I can turn to any of them for advice and support.”
Both Rabbers and Kitching said events like RAD Fest are important for fostering community within dance.
“Through gathering in celebration and movement, we share in our woes, concerns, explorations, research, passion and love,” Rabbers said. “This powerful sharing is unique each year, making RAD Fest an amazing festival to consecutively return to.”
MARCH 11, 2024
@GVLANTHORN
@GVLANTHORN
Every Sunday from 4-5:30 p.m., a sense of focus and community permeates the Kirkhof Center lounge area across from Java City Coffee. Here, Grand Valley State University’s Chess Club provides a place for chess enthusiasts bring their boards, game pieces and clocks to engage in friendly competitions with their peers.
The group encourages players of all skill levels to attend, with instruction provided on various aspects of chess, such as openings, defenses, endgames and how each piece moves. The club hopes to cultivate community through the game.
GVSU Chess Club President Sam George said chess is a mental game with an even playing field, so those with a lack of experience shouldn’t be discouraged from playing.
“Chess is just a game where you play with your mind, there is no advantage or disadvantage,” George said. “It is just your mind against someone else’s. There are no other variables, so it’s really easy to bring everyone together.”
At the most recent club meeting on Feb. 25, four separate games were played simultaneously among the group’s rotating members. Despite the small number of players, the close-knit community and camaraderie within the club has flourished.
The social aspect of chess is also important to the club’s players. Caleb Kipp, Chess Club’s vice president, said the group could just as easily host their weekly meetings online, but instead chooses to meet in person for overthe-board games. Kipp said being face-to-face with other players contributes to the communal identity of the game, which has, in some ways, faded due to the popularity of Chess.com and other free chess websites.
“(When you play chess) online, you don’t actually see the person’s face, so in-person is actually way better because you can see everybody,” Kipp said. “It doesn’t really matter who you are or what your physical abilities are. Anybody can play, and anybody at any level can work their way up.”
George said he began playing chess after watching Netflix’s chess
MATE:
miniseries “The Queen’s Gambit” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although he has experience and practice under his belt since that time, George said he does not believe in the notion that time is the determining factor of a player’s ability.
“There’s not really an advantage to playing for a while,” George said. “You can play for years and still be at the same level, or you can start and be really good. It’s really easy for anyone to get into (chess) and enjoy.”
Looking forward, George said he hopes more students will take an interest in the game, and expand their mind through friendly mental warfare.
“For better or for worse, you can only blame yourself and your own mind,” George said. “Most games have other variables or something where you’re like ‘oh, that was just luck,’ but chess, at the end of the day, whether it’s good or bad, you can only blame yourself.”
George said he took over as Chess Club president last September when Nate Welsh, the club’s former president, stepped away. The organization aims to create a more personal chess
experience for students at GVSU. George said he recognized the importance of everyone being together in one room, which was impossible when he first developed a love for chess during the pandemic.
INSTRUCTION:
Grand Valley State University offers a wide range of study abroad programs that cater to a variety of majors, graduate programs, studentathletes and honors college students.
Study abroad participant sophomore Mia Swartz is majoring in biomedical science with minors in both sociology and chemistry. She is currently experiencing life in Brisbane, Australia as she works on completing her sociology minor as part of GVSU’s study abroad program.
Swartz studying with Australia’s University of Sunshine Coast (UniSC). She said when searching for study abroad programs she instantly fell in love with UniSC and knew she wanted to go there.
“I picked Australia because it has been the number one place I have wanted to go since I was very young,” Swartz said. “There are so many amazing animals and I find the culture so interesting.”
For many students, a large aspect of studying abroad is the sightseeing and traveling opportunities that a particular location offers. Swartz’s
program specifically immerses her in Australian wildlife and culture, with the possibilities of travel opportunities to neighboring areas.
“I already have had some great experiences, like going to the Australian Zoo and Noosa National Park, but I would love to be able to go to Sydney, Cairns and Adelaide,” Swartz said. “My goal is also to go to New Zealand at some point during the semester.”
While preparing for her trip, Swartz had to coordinate class registration, insurance, housing and the proper visas. Swartz said one of the ways GVSU’s Study Abroad office assisted her in the process was helping make class selection easy.
“Grand Valley has a list of all the classes that previous students have taken and gotten credit for at your chosen university,” Swartz said. “I was able to choose three of my classes off of this list, but the last one I had to submit for approval to make sure it met Grand Valley’s standards.”
While the classes Swartz takes in Australia count towards her sociology minor, the structure of classes are very different from that of her experience in the U.S.
“In America, we have lots of busy
work and something due at least once a week. In Australia, you only have three assignments for the whole semester, they are just big projects or presentations,” Swartz said. “Also, every Australian class only meets once a week, unlike in America where each class meets usually two or three times a week.”
Swartz said this contrast in schedule and workload creates a more easygoing environment than what she has experienced in the U.S.
“I would say Americans live to work but Australians work to live, if that makes sense. I think people here are also much more connected to nature and the animals, they are always outside all the time,” Swartz said.
Additionally, Swartz has experienced some cultural differences including the common Australian practice of walking barefoot.
UniSC’s campus is very open, with access to wildlife and natural landscaping. Swartz mentioned there are many coffee shops and cafes that students walk to, which allow them to get to know the area. So far, she said it has been a smooth transition into the new environment.
“I like how all of the buildings are very open, like the classrooms just
lead to the outside. The university also has lots of resources for study abroad students, which has been very helpful,” Swartz said.
Aside from studying and immersing herself in Australian culture, Swartz has also made new friends, some of whom are experiencing the same things she is during the study abroad program. One of her three roommates is also American on a similar program. She said all of her roommates help create a community where they can lean on each other during the tough parts of being away from home.
“The hardest part of studying abroad is definitely leaving your family and friends back home,” Swartz said. “It’s really hard to see them all continue their life, but just without you.”
While homesickness is a struggle, Swartz has been able to enjoy meeting all kinds of new people, in addition to her classmates.
“I have met people from all over the world who are also studying abroad,” Swartz said. “I have met people from Sweden, Germany, Switzerland and Ecuador.”
Swartz will be studying abroad until May and hopes to make the most of the opportunity by learning about new cultures and exploring the national parks and lakeshores that surround UniSC.
In 2022, Dr. Kelly Parker, professor of philosophy and director of environmental studies at Grand Valley State University, organized and led the first Beaver Island Field School trip, which is part of a hybrid spring/summer class.
This will be on the course catalog this upcoming semester for the third consecutive year. The hybrid course includes a one-day orientation at GVSU’s Allendale Campus, followed by a week of online learning and concludes with a week’s stay on Beaver Island. The class allows students to research the island’s environment and sustainability, and put together a report and proposal based on their findings.
Parker is preparing to make the trip with a total of 12 student spots open for the tight-knit cohort. While the spring/summer course is through the Environmental and Sustainability Studies (ENS) Department, students of all majors are encouraged to apply.
Parker, who has been at GVSU for 32 years, helped to develop the ENS major, which became available during the 2019-2020 academic year. He put together the Field School program through personal contacts. In addition to the Beaver Island Field School, the ENS Department has one other field program called Semester in Detroit.
The Beaver Island Field School course partners with the island’s Central Michigan University’s (CMU) Beaver Island Biological Research Station. CMU allows GVSU students to stay in the campground’s cabins near the research facility and use their cafeteria.
While students are only on the island for one week, they are challenged to work with one another and community members to apply skills learned in the classroom to real-world sustainability issues. This year, the class will be focusing on working with the local community on sustainable food systems, and obtaining what Parker refers to as “food sovereignty from the island.”
“We’re coming in as guests, we’re coming in as outsiders and so we are learning how to connect with the local residents, business owners, other people that we work with, and make a good impression,” Parker said. “We (have to) really listen to find out what it is that they’re facing and what kinds of things they’re concerned about that we might be able to help with.”
Parker said the Beaver Island Field School demonstrates that “place matters.” He said the coursework on Beaver Island looks at many factors specific to this location.
“It’s an island, and sustainability means everything you need to live has either got to come from the island or be brought over on a boat or an
airplane-- that’s food, energy, water, housing, all of the things we talk about in sustainability studies,” Parker said. “It is probably different from what field school experiences they might’ve had in other disciplines. If you go (into) geology or biology or whatever, it’s going to be very discipline-specific.”
At the end of the students’ week on the island, they present their research findings and proposals to the local community at the Beaver Island Sustainability Fair.
Rebecca Williams, Ph.D., an assistant professor of the GVSU Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies, works closely with the ENS Department as one of her areas of instruction.
Though this will be Williams’ first year as an official faculty leader of the Beaver Island Field School, she has traveled to the island independently and voluntarily worked alongside Parker and the students. That involvement, in tandem with her past fieldwork experiences and studying abroad, has only increased her enthusiasm for learning about Michigan’s history and ecology. This has driven her participation in the field school course.
“I have the experience of living and working in different situations, which is also one of the reasons I really encourage students to do this, especially if they’ve never done anything like this before,” Williams
said. “It’s not a super challenging change. It’s just going a little North, going to an island and hanging out with people. It’s still Michigan, but it still gives you that ‘feels like a studyaway program.’”
Williams said studying away is a fundamental experience for college students. She said Beaver Island is a unique experience.
“Beaver Island is a magical place. You can tell that it’s a special place, so I think that students also get this intangible experience that kind of stays with them for a long time,” Williams said. “It’s a unique experience for students to learn about Michigan, and learn about this very unique ecosystem, but also meet people and have this really special experience.”
As educators, the Beaver Island Field School has provided new teaching opportunities for Parker and Williams.
“I am learning more about how to engage students, more about Michigan history and ecology. The island is such a concentrated and distinctive place,” Parker said. “It’s really let me reconsider how I teach my other classes that are more traditional classroom classes. It’s been a great experience for me as an instructor because I’ve learned how to integrate different interdisciplinary perspectives to get a more holistic view of environment and sustainability.”
Grand Valley State University’s Computing Club recently invited Gentex Corporation, a local technology and electronics company, to speak to students about the company and opportunities they offer.
The event highlights the greater goals of the club including hosting events that help club members network and building career-focused skills.
At the event, Gentex employees gave a presentation on past projects and projects the company is working on now. Students were then able to ask questions about the company, job opportunities and internships.
Marcos Sanson, vice president of the Computing Club, said that at the end of the event end, a few students, notably seniors, showed interest in working for the company and even gave Gentex’ speakers their resumes.
Sanson expressed they were happy with the event’s turn out and members interest in it. Sanson said inviting Gentex aligned with the club’s mission of helping members grow their careers.
President of the Computing Club Skyler Ruiter said another group goal has is to help students network in the field and learn new computing skills.
“The Computing Club is a community of computing students who come together to elevate their academic, social and education skills and grow their careers,” Ruiter said. “(The meetings) are an extra tool in your toolbelt.”
Additionally, Ruiter said the club’s activities are based on the time of year. During the fall semester, events are more career-oriented, as students are often looking for internship opportunities. In the winter semester, many of the meetings are more academic, as they invite professors and companies
to speak to students. The club has also hosted resume workshops in the past, where members have peer edited each other’s résumés.
The club has seen significant growth in membership over the past few years. However, Ruiter hopes to further expand the organization-not only in membership, but in the opportunities and resources they can offer to students.
“Something you can get from Computing Club is talking with seniors and juniors who have had more experience (and) internship experience and can tell you about the process and how it goes,” Sanson said. “(They can) actually give you personal advice so you’re not only in a classroom setting, but a community setting.”
The club will be hosting Micheal Santana, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Mathematics, to speak on March 11. Santana will discuss graph theory within computer science.
In an effort to help club members succeed academically and prepare them for future careers, the club will also be hosting a registration meeting on March 18. Attendees can seek advising on what computing classes are offered and the courses that might spark particular interests. The event aims to help students get advice from other students in their major by sharing experiences on different classes they’ve taken.
Sanson said they are excited for the registration event, as they enjoy helping other students on their computing journeys.
“It’s pretty fulfilling,” Sanson said. “It’s important to build a community at Grand Valley and help students with either their career or academic career, and even to potentially help them long term with these job or career opportunities.”
MARCH 11, 2024
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
@GVLANTHORN
@GVLANTHORN
Competing at the NCAA Super Region 3 Tournament on Saturday, March 2, the No. 17 ranked Grand Valley State University men’s wrestling team (137) faced multiple ranked opponents and finished fourth overall, while sending four wrestlers further in the postseason.
To qualify for the NCAA Division II National Championship, an individual wrestler must finish top three in their weight class out of the 12 competing wrestlers. The Lakers were able to successfully send four wrestlers to nationals, those being sophomore Chris Donathan, redshirt sophomore Josh Kenny, senior Seth Konynenbelt and redshirt sophomore Wyatt Miller.
The regional tournament was hosted at West Liberty University in West Liberty, West Virginia. The Lakers had already faced many of the 12 teams that were present previously in the regular season.
GVSU head coach Joey Simcoe, who was recently named Coach of the Year for the NCAA Super Region 3 by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, explained how the team prepares for their big matches.
“Once we are aware of our wrestler’s matchups, we watch film and begin game planning to try and get the best preparation for our team,” Simcoe said. “We work different situations, with live wrestling, and hope that our preparation gives us the advantage in the match.”
Ranked No. 4 nationally in the
149-pound weight class, Donathan’s first match was in the quarterfinal round against Kaelob Pearce from Bluefield State University. Within the first minute of the match, Donathan swiftly put up 19 points, giving him the win by technical fall.
In the semifinals, Donathan faced Nolan Gessler from Tiffin University. Unlike with his previous opponent, both wrestlers found themselves in a slow match, which lasted roughly 11 minutes. Despite few points being scored,
Donathan would maintain the lead and get the win by decision with a score of 9-4, punching his ticket into the finals.
Another slow match ensued in the finals, where against Christian Small from Lake Erie College, Donathan fought to get a small lead. Despite holding the lead for the majority of the match, Small scored a near fall with seconds remaining, putting him ahead in points.
This final match would be Donathan’s first loss of the season, and currently, with a 24-1 record, he looks to make a strong run at the national tournament.
Also looking to make a nationals run is No. 2 ranked Josh Kenny in the 174-pound class.
In the quarterfinal round, Kenny faced Gavin Rodriguez-Cayro from Davis & Elkins College. Throughout the first few minutes, Kenny would steadily grow his lead in points and would end the match with a pin.
Next, Kenny faced David Davis from Tiffin in the semifinals. Applying his speed and strength, Kenny overpowered his opponent and won 21-4 by technical fall.
For his final match, Kenny took on Nate Barrett from Ashland University. This match would take up the entire time limit, with back-and-forth takedowns. Ultimately, Kenny outscored his opponent 15-5, taking first place in his weight class with a win by major decision.
Wrestling in the 184-pound class for the Lakers was Seth Konyenbelt. In the quarterfinals, he barely escaped with
a 3-2 win against Lucas Salmon from Tiffin. Konyenbelt would then fall to Daniel Beemer from Ashland in the semifinal round. Still with an opportunity to finish in third place in the competition, Konyenbelt went on to win his next two rounds to secure the third-place finish.
Having to rebound after losing in the semifinals, Konyenbelt said he kept a determined mindset throughout the tournament.
“Each match revolves around trust,” Konyenbelt said. “I trust in my coaches that they have prepared me physically and technically. I also have to trust in myself to be able to execute during the match.”
The final wrestler to qualify for nationals was Wyatt Miller in the 197-pound class. Miller started with a win by technical fall, 20-2, in the quarterfinal against Crue Cooper from Davenport University. Miller would then lose in the semifinals and be put in the third-place bracket. In the same fashion as Konyenbelt, Miller went on to win his next two matches to secure third place.
As the lone senior on the team, Konyenbelt said he is “excited going into the tournament knowing it is my last couple of matches. Knowing I am not returning next year, I am excited to wrestle every match like it is my last.”
All four wrestlers, Donathan, Kenny, Konynenbelt and Miller, will compete for a national championship at the NCAA competition in Wichita, Kansas on March 15 and 16.
