Grand Valley Lanthorn vol. 58 no. 9

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

Semester in Review

No. 4 GV Football topples SPORTS A21 reigning back-to-back national champs in No. 1 Ferris |

Sticker shock: why are GV C-Store prices so high?

M O N DAY, D E C E M B E R 4 , 2 0 2 3 / / VO L . 5 8 N O. 9

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A2 | NEWS

DECEMBER 4, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS

OCT. 16

Sticker shock: why are GV C-Store prices so high?

BY ELIZABETH SCHANZ LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

Grand Valley State University’s campus stores sell products to students at heavily inflated rates, sometimes as high as about 360% more then the item’s original market value.

Clare Meteer, a Grand Valley State University senior majoring in Business Management and Dance, recently noticed she needed allergy medication. Meteer does not have a car and had very little time in between classes, so she decided to go to the Kirkhof Center C-Store, a convenience store on campus that is part of GVSU’s Laker Food Co., formerly known as Campus Dining, to buy some Claritin.

In a hurried state, Meteer grabbed the only box of Claritin. The register rang her up $5.29 before tax; she paid and went on her way. Later, she opened the box to find only one tablet. Meteer was shocked that she spent $6 on a single tablet of medicine that she had no other way to access on campus.

Frustrated, Meteer decided to look on Amazon. A tenpack of Claritin costing about $10 equated to about $1 a tablet, versus the $6 she paid at the C-Store on campus.

“I get that it’s probably going to be a little bit more expensive when I’m on campus, but I think that this much is crazy,” Meteer said.

A quick price comparison revealed that the cost of over-the-counter allergy medicine at GVSU C-Stores is much higher than the local Meijer, Family Fare and Walgreens locations near the Allendale Campus. At Meijer, a 10-pack of non-drowsy Claritin is $11.49 before tax, which equates to about $1.15 per tablet. This puts the campus stores’ selling of essentially the same product at a markup rate of over 300%. At Family Fare, the Claritin 10-pack costs $13.79, or $1.31 a piece, and at Walgreens, a five-pack of Claritin costs $9.99, about $2 each Although Allendale students can access these locations by car or bus, they are not within walking distance for students.

“I don’t have a car, and there’s also many students who don’t have a car, and this is like one of the main places we can buy things,” Meteer said. “I think that, that makes it unethical, especially when it comes to medicine and things like necessities.”

GVSU Associate Professor of Marketing Vivek Dalela said although the price hikes can be uncomfortable for students they are a common economic concept.

Dalela attributed the nature of higher prices at GVSU P.O.D. (provisions on demand stores) and C-Stores to the concepts of the economies of scale and captive market.

Dalela explained that economies of scale mean that businesses like Walmart or Meijer can buy in bulk- thus allowing the products to be sold at a lower cost.

“If you’re able to sell a lot, the price per unit goes down.

(Businesses) buy in wholesale, (the customer buys) it cheaper,” Dalela said. “Walmart does the most economies of scale, so it sells it cheapest. You go to CVS or Walgreens and you try to buy the same product, they have lesser economies of scale, so their prices are high. You go to a mom-and-pop store, for example, and they have even less of an economy of scale. The less you sell, the higher the price will be.”

Dalela said this concept can apply to the GVSU P.O.D. and C-Stores because they are serving a smaller market of students, with less business and at a lesser volume than bigger stores, so the cost will be higher.

Dalela said to make the business viable, on-campus stores may have to keep the prices higher to pay for fixed expenses and to make the business work.

Additionally, a captive market has less competition and customers are more likely to buy out of convenience or necessity. Dalela compared this to airports, where travelers pay higher prices because they have no other option, and there are no competitors to drive down prices.

“They will be willing to pay a higher price just for the convenience of it because they don’t want to walk five miles or drive down to get to another store, they don’t have a choice,” Dalela explained.

This concept is reflected in the GVSU C-Store and P.O.D. store prices.

In addition to the medicine sold on campus, other prices reflect price hikes that could be attributed to the concepts Dalela notes. For instance, GVSU charges $1.29 for a single pack of ramen noodles while Meijer and Family charge only 39 cents. Similarly, GVSU charges $3.59 for a single Chapstick original, while Meijer charges $1.49 and Family Fare $1.59.

Many students are aware of these price hikes and are often more weary of shopping on campus because of it.

“I understand that campus needs to make money off of what they are selling, but it doesn’t make sense why they have the price so high,” Hannah Bernhardt, a junior at GVSU, said. “Personally, I don’t think the prices should be that high as we are all college students who aren’t making all that much money. I would rather drive 10 minutes down the road to Meijer to buy the

same thing for a little cheaper of a price.”

However, many students may not have the option to get necessary goods somewhere else and feel the on-campus prices can be limiting.

“I only buy things from the C-Store when I need to, like in this case. If I had the choice I would have easily waited and bought it somewhere else,” Meteer said. “If prices were lower students could use the C-Store more, but they can’t right now because of the prices they see at the store.”

Although students may be frustrated with the prices that GVSU is charging in on-campus convenience stores, Dalela said price-mark-ups are legal, common and often remain acceptable as long as people are willing to pay convenience pricing.

“You would expect Grand Valley to have a store, which has more reasonable prices rather than higher prices, but, at the end of the day, these are small everyday consumer items, and I don’t think at this pricing level, ethics aren’t playing any significant role,” Dalela said.

“They (companies) will test our limits, without being challenged by anybody on the legal front or on the ethical front of anyway, because they aren’t really flouting any rules here. There is no legal framework, which says your markups have to be limited to a certain level.”

Meteer said although the C-Store and P.O.D. stores on the GVSU campus are more accessible, she tries to avoid shopping at them for a variety of reasons including cost and how the costs relate to her student wages.

Meteer works on-campus jobs to pay for her living expenses and feels the wages students are being paid, often which are under the calculated living wage for the area, cannot even meet the expense of shopping at the on-campus convenience stores.

“I can’t afford to shop at the C-Store with the wages I’m paid on campus, as for pretty much all student employees,” Meteer said. “If you look at what Grand Valley wants to charge you pretty much for everything, the student wages don’t make up for that.”

Meteer feels that the university should reevaluate the prices on campus to keep the best interest of students in mind.

“I think Grand Valley needs to be aware that everyone, especially students, are struggling financially,” Meteer said.

“They need to keep the prices as low as possible, like at least the price I would get somewhere off campus.”

Laker Food Co. did not respond to several requests for comment before publication.

EXPENSIVE: “I think Grand Valley needs to be aware that everyone, especially students, are struggling financially,” Meteer said. Meteer feels that GVSU must reevaluate its prices. GVL | BETHANN LONG

A3 | NEWS

DECEMBER 4, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS

CONTENTS | A2-6, 12-13

NEWS OPINIONS

| A7-8

EDITORIAL

| A9-10 | A11, 14-16

ARTS LAKER LIFE

| A17-20

SPORTS

| A21-24 VOL. 58

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief ELIZABETH SCHANZ Associate Editor LEA GAETTO News Editor EMMA ARMIJO Sports Editor NELSON HUBBELL Laker Life Editor ISABELLE ENGLAND A&E Editor HAILEY HENTZ Image Editor BETHANN LONG Multimedia Editor AYRON RUTAN Layout Editor REV BRONOWSKI

N O. 9

Layout Designer CARLIE SHERWOOD PROMOTIONS Promotions Manager ELISE RAPEYKO ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager LAUREN SCHOENHERR Advertising Design MORGAN MANN BUSINESS STAFF Business Manager BRENDAN BUTTERFIELD Distribution Managers DALLAS MATHEWS REAGAN RUD IT Operations Manager JOSHUA DANIELS

NOV. 6

GV sells alcohol at homecoming game

BY JOSEPH POULOS LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

Grand Valley State University sold beer at the concession stands for the first time during the homecoming football game on Oct. 28. GVSU is historically a “dry campus,” which means alcohol is prohibited from university facilities, with some exceptions including designated tailgate areas within a particular time frame. The sale of beer and other alcohol at the game could potentially adjust the university’s alcohol policy to a permanent move in the future.

Michigan law passed in July allowed in-state universities to sell alcohol in college sports arenas. House Bill 4328 and Senate Bill 247, gave each Michigan university the right to acquire liquor or tavern licenses for the purpose of making alcohol available for purchase to those aged 21 and older one hour before a sporting event. GVSU first began their own alcohol sales at the Homecoming Game. Earlier this season, Michigan State University began alcohol sales at Spartan Stadium on Sept.

16 and Western Michigan University utilized the new policy starting at their season opener on Aug. 31. The University of Michigan is set to begin sales starting Jan. 1, 2024.

The GVSU Board of Trustees expressed interest in the sale of alcohol at sporting events back in June, according to MLive. The support for the sale was followed through in the Oct. 28 game.

In June, Gregory Sanial, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for Finance and Administration said the safety and well-being of the fans and students alike is going to be a primary focus.

“Our first priority is safety for our fans and the community,” Sanial said. “If we move forward with sales at our events, we will do so when we are confident we can provide an enhanced fan experience in a safe and responsible manner.”

This decision may be somewhat at odds with GVSU’s alcohol and drug policy, which has historically been in favor of alcohol-free programs.

For GVSU students, reactions are varied. Caleb Pratt, 21, said he was in favor of the change.

“Students were bringing alcohol to the events anyway, the school might as well help the cause,” Pratt said.

As far as benefits from this new policy, Pratt said

the new policy “could be a reduction in drunk drivers surrounding and inside (of) campus.” He determined if alcohol is available close by, students will no longer have to get in their vehicles to purchase more alcohol.

Thomas Meyer, 19, thinks a sporting event is an appropriate place to sell alcohol but can’t see many benefits to allowing alcohol to be sold in a campus setting with many younger attendees.

“Other than sporting events, it doesn’t make much sense, because the vast majority of people who live on campus are underage anyway,” Meyer said.

Nik Tompkins, 21, believes this could be an economic opportunity for GVSU if executed correctly. Tompkins believes profits from this policy could reduce costs in other areas around campus.

“As long as proceeds go towards the campus and not into administrators’ pockets, I think it’s a good idea,” Tompkins said. “Proceeds could go towards improving the campus and or expansions. They could go towards making things like parking passes cheaper.”

Other students were less enthusiastic about the university’s new approach as it regards the sale of alcohol on campus.

GVSU alum Tyler Walters, 26, said he could see the potential benefits for GVSU but not necessarily for students.

Walters, a former GVSU cross-country runner, believes the policy could have negative effects on students.

“It will probably increase attendance and keep people at games longer,” Walters said. “I think it will be a net negative and could even raise tuition rates.”

As the university moves towards selling alcoholic beverages at different sporting events, representatives for the school have emphasized their interest in the well-being of students regardless of the decision.

Chris Knape, Assistant Vice President of University Communications – Media and Public Relations, said he aims for students to remain safe even if alcohol consumption at sporting events is endorsed by the university.

“Safety is the key for us,” Knape said. “If we’re going to do this, we want to make sure we’re doing it right and that we’re doing it in a safe and responsible manner that makes for a more fun environment and does not detract from the fan experience.”

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

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SPORTING EVENTS: During the homecoming football game, GVSU’s concession stands sold beer for the first time. GVL | SAM NELSON

A4 | NEWS

DECEMBER 4, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS

SEPT. 25

GR community shows support during Suicide Awareness Month

BY ABIGAIL JONES LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

Grand Rapids and Grand Valley State University show support for families and loved ones for throughout Suicide Awareness Month through the “Out of the Darkness Walk” and the “Lakers Keep Lakers Safe” initiative.

With September being Suicide Awareness Month, there are many efforts from a range of activists and organizations to raise awareness and open the conversation about mental health.

The Grand Rapids Out of the Darkness Community Walk on Sept. 17 was a proactive support walk to unite the Grand Rapids community and “acknowledge the ways in which suicide and mental health conditions have affected our lives and the lives of those we love and care about.”

The “Out of the Darkness Walk” was a bustling event with hundreds of attendees and was full of mixed emotions. Many were glad to see each other and happy to not be alone. At the same time, many felt grief and shared tears, especially at the “Memory Wall” where people wrote the names of lost loved ones and even messages to them.

“Mommy, Daddy, and Ody love you forever,” said one heart. “Love you, miss you, Terena. I’m walking for you today,” said another.

It was a solemn day, with many speakers getting up to recount stories and share poems they had written.

However, there seemed to be an undertone of hope as people gathered to raise awareness and donate to a good cause. The Grand Rapids walk, organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, raised over $59,000 for suicide prevention resources.

Depression and mental health are personal battles many college students can identify with. According to a study done by the National Library of Medicine study, suicide is one of the leading causes of death for students in college.

Eric Brefka, the Marketing Coordinator for the Grand Rapids “Out of the Darkness Walk” and GVSU alum knows this fact too well. He graduated in GVSU’s class of 2013 and losing his friend Mike compelled his activism for mental health awareness.

“I had my former college roommate at GVSU lose a battle to suicide. It’s been a while but it’s still one of those things. I’m here because of him. I’m here to continue telling his story,” Brefka said. “Mike was my good friend, and I just want him to be remembered and show people that it’s okay to grieve these things and talk about these things. It doesn’t need to be stigmatized.”

Brefka said while he did not take advantage of support resources at GVSU, he believes the campus community could have been doing more when he attended.

“I never sought out services. I probably should have.

I know Grand Valley has some things, but I feel like they could do better,” Brefka said. “Students (need to) know they have somewhere to go and someone to talk to. But it felt like something that was kind of pushed into a corner.”

Other students have shared different experiences at GVSU. Quiona Colter, a volunteer at the “Out of the Darkness Walk,” attended GVSU from 2017-2021 and majored in psychology. She attended during the COVID-19 pandemic and recounts it as being “intense.”

“I think Grand Valley did an amazing job of supporting their students and staff and made sure we practiced selfcare,” Colter said. “They made sure we were safe and

healthy. I can say, although it was an adjustment, Grand Valley did a good job of helping us get through that phase.”

Brefka and Colter helped run the “Out of the Darkness Walk” on Sept. 17, coordinating a widespread effort to gather and commemorate those lost to suicide and celebrate those who have persisted in their personal fights against mental health.

The GVSU “Lakers Keep Lakers Safe” initiative urges students to report concerning behavior among fellow students. It isn’t just limited to mental health issues. Students are asked to report any substance misuse, sexual violence, a climate concern or even someone needing assistance with basic needs.

Additional on-campus resources include the University Counseling Center (UCC) that has trained professionals available for one-on-one counseling, group counseling and other consultations. They also have emergency services in case someone is an immediate threat to themselves or others, coordinating with GVPD after hours.

Many feel these resources are not doing enough. Students have expressed concern with the lack of acknowledgment of September’s Suicide Awareness Month on campus, expressing these programs rely on students to come forward and not putting the responsibility on administrators or faculty to take initiative. GVSU hasn’t shared anything on social media regarding Suicide Awareness Month, prompting some to believe there is a lack of discussion around suicide and how to prevent it in a college setting.

If you are struggling with mental health or need to talk to someone, reach out to the GVSU’s UCC for resources. If someone on campus is an immediate threat to themselves or someone else, please call 9-1-1.

HELPING HAND: The University Counseling Center offers many different resources to students during the school year, including solo and group therapy sessions. GVL | SAM NELSON

A5 | NEWS

DECEMBER 4, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS OCT. 16

Walkouts in pharmacies across the nation; GR could be next

BY NATALIE BROOKS LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

Nearly two dozen CVS locations in Kansas City, Mo. shut down their pharmacies unexpectedly due to staff walkouts on Sept. 21 and 22. Widespread reports from all over the country show that CVS pharmacies are short-staffed and employees have been forced to work under unsafe conditions, which could cause more pharmaceutical shutdowns, and even in Grand Rapids.

According to USA Today, the final straw for the Missouri walkouts was when a manager was fired due to his refusal to force his pharmacists to close their pharmacies to help other short-staffed locations in need of help.

“That was the catalyst for something that needed to happen for a long time,” an unnamed pharmacist said to USA Today.

There are various reports claiming understaffing of pharmacies has been an issue for quite some time.

According to NPR, CVS planned to cut hours at thousands of pharmacies while staff were making complaints that they were already low on staff.

Even as the demand for prescriptions and vaccines grow, CVS continues to cut back on staffing, including less time for technicians to assist pharmacists and putting patients at risk according to several protest accounts published in the Kansas City Star. Similar reports have popped up across the country with walkouts and protests in Ohio, Virginia and Oklahoma.

“Severe understaffing at CVS stores seems to have contributed to weeks-long waits to fill prescriptions, lack of proper controls over narcotics, expired and adulterated drugs not being removed from shelves, prescriptions being improperly dispensed and other problems,” according to Ohio Capital-Journal.

One CVS store in Ohio reported a patient being harmed and the loss of almost 2,000 doses of controlled drugs. The same Ohio Capital-Journal article stated from April 2021 to June 2022,

the store reported losses of lorazepam, diazepam (Valium), tramadol, alprazolam and zolpidem tartrate (Ambien).

This store also had an incident in which a patient who was prescribed ropinirole, a drug used to treat restless leg syndrome, Parkinson’s disease and other illnesses, was given the incorrect medication. The bottle the patient received actually contained digoxin (a drug used to treat heart issues). Even after switching to the correct medication and discontinuing the use of digoxin, the patient’s problems did not go away.

“The dispensing software permitted the medication to be verified without scanning the bottle or alerting the pharmacist the standard safety procedure may or may not have been completed,” according to a report by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy.

According to the Virginia Mercury, a Virginia Beach CVS location experienced multiple instances of patients being harmed due to understaffing and an intense workload.

There was a patient who received 100 extra doses of Percocet, a patient who received a medication that they had a known allergy to and a patient who was given incorrect instructions on how to administer their medication.

“At the CVS in Virginia Beach, a state inspector reviewed 200 hardcopy prescriptions and found 74 mistakes — an error rate of roughly 37 percent. In at least two cases, pharmacists dispensed medications at multiple times over the prescribed dosage, including cyclobenzaprine, a muscle relaxant, and dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory drug that’s been used to treat COVID-19 patients,” according to the article.

According to a 2020 New York Times article, Oklahoma state regulators fined CVS $125,000 due to the same staffing and prescriptive issues that have affected the pharmacies in other states. $75,000 worth of this fine is due to a specific incident in which a patient was given a much smaller amount of his medication than prescribed, and it caused his seizures to persist.

“As part of its agreement on Wednesday, CVS will pay a $75,000 fine for that incident — the highest amount allowed under state law for this case — and its Owasso pharmacy will remain on probation for two years. While pleased the board had addressed the matter, the boy’s parents said they were worried that the action was not strong enough and that it could allow other patients to be harmed in the future unless CVS made substantial changes to its business,” according to the article.

These staffing issues are not limited to CVS either; Walgreens has experienced the same problems. A recent post on Reddit called Walgreens to stage their own protests, gaining popularity with nearly 500 shares.

“In national and state surveys, retail pharmacists working for large chains including CVS and Walgreens have complained that low staffing levels, combined with the rising pressure of corporate performance metrics, push a dwindling number of workers to handle an everincreasing number of prescriptions, vaccinations and other tasks daily,” writes Emily Le Co for USA Today.

An unnamed Grand Valley State University student, who is also a Walgreens pharmacy employee, said these issues are normal and expected in most retail pharmacies and that the stress of these environments has impacted people’s health. Walgreens’ employee disclosure agreement restricts employees from disclosing internal proceedings, so this source has requested to remain anonymous.

“We are constantly being overworked and our expectations are rising each month. I know of a young technician who was experiencing chest pain, sweaty hands and frequent headaches while at work,” the GVSU student said. “When he went to the doctor for help he was diagnosed with a general anxiety disorder, which was caused by the high-stress work environment in the pharmacy. He left the pharmacy shortly after.”

Mekik Climatology Lab is proud to announce...

The Winners of its pioneering annual Climate Meme Contest!

The objective of the contest is to develop the best meme elucidating a critical piece of information, correcting a misconception, or promoting a change in attitude about climate science, climate change, or developing resilience toward the adverse effects of climate change.

Please Congratulate Memers:

Logan Gluesing

Nathan Jenkins

Stephanie Michmurheizen

2nd place

3rd place

1st place This year the competition received 87 meme submissions from undergraduates across all majors at Grand Valley. Although not printed here each submission came with scientific rationale and links to sources, and the winning memes were in part chosen based on that work as well.

MCL is grateful to its meme judges and advisors which include 19 Grand Valley faculty, 4 senior administrators, and of course Provost Mili – all from 15 disciplines university-wide.

PUBLIC HEALTH: Understaffed CVS pharmacies across the country cause pharmaceutical shutdowns and could soon impact the Grand Rapids community. GVL | SAM NELSON

To Learn More About The Contest Please Visit mekikclimatelab

www.gvsu.edu/climatelab/

A6 | NEWS

DECEMBER 4, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS

NOV. 17

Ferris HC Tony Annese suspended vs GV, can still attend game

BY NELSON HUBBELL LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

The No. 2 ranked Grand Valley State University Lakers are preparing to face off with the No. 3 Ferris State University Bulldogs for the second time this year and the sixth time in three seasons, but this is no ordinary matchup.

The last time the two met on Oct. 14, GVSU jumped out to a 35-0 lead before ultimately beating Ferris State 49-28. When they meet again on Saturday, Nov. 18, it will be without one of the two head coaches on the sideline.

As previously announced on March 23, 2023, Ferris State head coach Tony Annese will be serving a one-game suspension that was issued by the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Division II Football Committee.

According to the NCAA, the suspension is for players smoking cigars in the locker room of a Texas high school’s campus and for “damage that occurred at the host stadium after the 2022 championship game.” The penalty also included a $2,500 fine against Annese and “Restitution to the McKinney (Texas) Independent School District for $15,383 in cleaning and repair expenses,” which Ferris State paid.

However, according to Philip Pierce, the NCAA Assistant Director, Championships and Alliances, Annese is allowed to attend the game.

“He (Annese) can coach his team throughout the week and can be involved in game plans,” Pierce said.“If Coach Annese chooses, he may attend the game as a spectator and must purchase a ticket to do so.”

Although the Bulldogs’ HC is allowed to attend per the suspension, Pierce felt this situation was especially unique and maybe even unprecedented during his career.

“What I can say is that over the last eight years that I’ve been working with Division II football, this is new ground and the first time a coach has been suspended for a game,” Pierce said.

It was an unusual decision that neither Pierce nor GVSU Director of Athletics Keri Becker were familiar with.

Becker believes that the NCAA allowing Annese

to attend the game is something novel.

“In terms of the suspension, I am quite surprised that the NCAA allowed someone who’s been suspended in the venue. To me, in my 27 years, that’s never happened,” Becker said.

Becker said she had previously “asked a question” to the NCAA and had gotten “clarification” on the suspension and Annese’s potential presence in the stands during Saturday’s playoff game.

Annese’s punishment is clearly complicated and Pierce stresses that the specifics of such a suspension, is rare if not unheard of.

“I asked around the office today and no one that I spoke with can recall an instance where a Division II coach was suspended from an NCAA tournament game due to misconduct,” Pierce said. “Definitely not saying that it hasn’t happened previously, but the people I spoke with can’t recall.”

Pierce’s unfamiliarity with the ruling as a whole and the practice of allowing Annese into the stadium brought up questions regarding possible concern for violations of the suspension and any additional punishment for doing so.

“Ferris State officials have been told that he is not to communicate with the team. They have also been told that should it be discovered that he has been in contact during the game future penalties could be issued,” Pierce said.

The specifics of what a violation would be considered were not mentioned beyond communication, but Becker is not worried about Annese’s possible attendance.

“It’s not a concern. We’re gonna go play the games,” Becker said. “I want all of our fans to have a good experience in the game and so I don’t welcome any distraction from that. It’s a non-issue, and we’re not spending any more energy on it.”

Annese, who cannot physically travel with the team but could stay in their hotel, is still mulling over his attendance as recently as his regularly scheduled media availability (posted on YouTube) on Wednesday, Nov. 15.

“I guess I’ll just check with my two granddaughters to see what they’re doing, and maybe I’ll just hang with

them and watch the game from the TV,” Annese said. “I, technically speaking, can be at the game. I just gotta buy my own ticket and stuff like that, so I don’t know if that’s a good idea, so I still haven’t sorted it out.”

Ferris State appealed Annese’s suspension, but it was upheld by a subcommittee for appeals and finalized on March 23, 2023.

The reasoning was because the NCAA determined it “was not an isolated instance given the program has committed multiple cases of misconduct recently.”

Pierce pointed to a previous incident from earlier in the 2022 postseason versus GVSU as one of the “multiple cases” in reference.

After the playoff game on Dec. 3, 2023, Bulldogs’ sophomore wide receiver Tyrese Hunt-Thompson struck an individual with his helmet” in a postgame scuffle, which later factored into suspension issued following the national championship in McKinney, Texas. Hunt-Thompson missed the remainder of the postseason for his actions that later contributed to the suspension of his head coach.

As of Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 10:19 p.m. Pierce was unsure of Annese’s intentions, but if he were to go to the game, an individual would likely be assigned to watch him to ensure compliance with the terms of his punishment.

“As far as I know, no one has been assigned to coach (Annese) as we have not been told if he will attend the game,” Pierce said.

For the rivalry matchup on Nov. 18, Annese will be replaced on Ferris State’s sideline by Assistant Head Coach and Quarterbacks coach Brian Rock.

Rock is in his fifth season with the Bulldogs and has 27 years of Division I coaching experience, including most recently under Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State University as an offensive analyst in 2018.

Ferris State associate director of athletics Rob Bentley did not have any further comments regarding Annese’s suspension and possibility of attending the game beyond pointing to the YouTube video from the HC’s media availability.

SUSPENSION: Annese, who cannot physically travel with the team but could stay in their hotel, is still mulling over his possible attendance as recently as Wednesday, Nov. 15. COURTESY | FOX 17

A7 | OPINIONS

DECEMBER 4, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS

Domestic violence is not funny, Matt Rife

BY MADDIE ZIMMERMAN LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

“Comedian” Matt Rife is rightfully under fire for clips in his new Netflix stand-up “Natural Selection” surrounding domestic violence.

For context, Rife said he entered a restaurant and the hostess had a black eye. He said he knew where the black eye came from, insinuating that someone purposely had given that to her. He then went on to make a joke about how he didn’t want someone with a black eye representing the restaurant, and she needed to go back to the kitchen

so no one saw her. If that wasn’t already offensive and insensitive enough, Rife then continued on and made a joke saying if she knew how to cook in the kitchen maybe she wouldn’t have gotten the black eye in the first place.

Many people did not find this “joke” funny, so Rife quickly received backlash from viewers. After being under fire, he posted a public “apology” on his Instagram story stating, “If you’ve ever been offended by a joke I’ve told — here’s a link to my official apology,” which included a link to a medical site that sells helmets for persons with disabilities. Not only is Rife poking fun at domestic violence victims, but he is also blatantly making fun of people with persons with disabilities. Instead of doing the right thing by apologizing and taking accountability for his actions, Rife created a bigger problem.

Now you can see why I put “comedian” in quotes. Where is the line drawn with people in this industry? Think of it, in today’s age, cancel culture is very prevalent, so I can see Rife becoming cancelled for his lack of sensitivity to both survivors of domestic violence and people with disabilities.

If Taylor Swift made a totally insensitive comment about domestic violence, she would go under fire quickly, so why is it deemed okay for comedians to push the boundaries of what is funny and what is strictly offensive?

For Rife to have a comedy special be featured on Netflix, where millions of people can watch, I

feel it is not okay to carelessly joke about domestic violence so lightly. It is just simply wrong. Why is he not being held accountable? Just because you are a self-proclaimed “comedian,” does not mean you can say whatever you want and think it will slide because that’s how your industry works.

My question is who approved of these jokes? Rife has to have a public relations and management team.

Why were these jokes deemed “appropriate?” Also, why were these jokes allowed to be publicized and aired through Netflix? Truthfully, I believe Netflix is just as responsible for letting these “jokes” be televised as much as Rife and his team are for creating them. There is a reason that Rife’s team has refused to comment on multiple requests for comment- don’t you think?

Where will this careless behavior lead? I’m not sure, but I really do hope that he receives backlash from his audience and non-fans which leads him to care and take ownership of what he says in the future. As of now, Rife is acting a little too careless for my liking, which I believe is a shield against being canceled. I hope his shield eventually wears down and he apologizes to people affected by domestic violence as a whole and persons with disabilities for making these insensitive comments relating to these two groups of individuals.

How to lose a guy in 10 days girls want to define relationships too early on. Pressure them after hanging out for two days. Keep asking them until they give you an answer. Tell them they don’t care about you because they don’t want to put a label on what you guys are. Gaslighting is your friend.

BY HOPE LEINEN LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

I am sure we all know and love the movie “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” In the film, there is a hilarious dynamic between Andie Anderson (played by Kate Hudson) and Benjamin Barry (Matthew McConaughey), both of whom have hidden agendas of their own.

While the movie primarily focuses on the relationship between these two main characters, I was always fascinated by the article Anderson originally intended to write but that she never really got to finish.

Instead, she wrote an introspective piece revealing more information about herself than anything else.

Yes, it was the perfect way to conclude the movie, but I couldn’t help but wonder what a modern-day list could have looked like had she written it.

So, I decided to create my own. Below is a list of things to get rid of a guy in 10 days or less. Disclaimerthis article is purely for fun and based on a movie I love, so try not to take anything too seriously.

1. Ask to put a label on it This question, in itself, is probably one of the fastest ways to repel a man. Nobody ever wants to define something they just got into. A few dates are never enough to really know someone, and men hate it when

2. Creating composites of what your future kids will look like While I can’t say that I have ever done that, I can assure you that this will surely scare away someone you just met, especially if you are not doing it in a joking manner.

Planning what your future kids look like before you have even reached 10 days can be overwhelming, depending on the person. I know I would feel taken aback if someone did this to me. Make sure you make enough copies to give them to his friends, roommates and parents. You must make sure you put their future due date as well.

3. Get angry every time he doesn’t respond immediately to your texts It’s something so small but so effective. If he isn’t texting you back within two minutes, blow up his phone with texts until he does. Then, ask him why he didn’t respond to your text faster. If you’ve only known each other for less than ten days, this behavior is almost a surefire way of getting rid of him.

4. Be clingy When I say clingy, I don’t mean just asking them to hang out. People want you to be interested in spending time with them, so that will not get you anywhere. It might make them like you more.

Your best bet is to ask them every second what they are doing. Put stuff in his apartment to mark your territory.

When he mentions anything about going out, ask: “With who?”

“How many people will be there?”

“What time are you getting back?”

“Can I come?”

Slam them with questions, and then any time he mentions a girl, immediately act like he doesn’t

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SEP. 5 care about you. Tell him, “Have fun with your new girlfriend.” He will really love that.

5. “Chick-Flick” movie marathon Now, I’m not saying this is foolproof for all relationships, but I believe this could be a good stepping stone if you’re trying to lose a man. It’s something subtle but also something that drives some men crazy. Nobody wants to sit for hours and see “Mean Girls,” “Legally Blonde,” “Pride and Prejudice”... the list is endless.

In reality, you probably can just cut things off by saying it to their faces, but sometimes it’s difficult to be the one to end things.

OPINION POLICY The goal of the Grand Valley Lanthorn’s opinion page is to act as a forum for public discussion, comment and criticism in the Grand Valley State University community. Student and columnist opinions published here do not necessarily reflect those of the paper as an entity.

The Lanthorn strives to be a safe vehicle for community discussion. With this in mind, the Lanthorn will not publish or entertain any forms of hate speech, but neither will it discriminate against any other views, opinions or beliefs.

The content, information and views expressed are not approved by-nor do they necessarily represent those of-the university or its Board of Trustees, officers, faculty or staff.

Letter to the editor

should include the author’s full name, relevant title and a headshot, along with a valid email address and phone number for confirming the identity of the author. Letters should be approximately 500650 words in length, and they are not edited by the Lanthorn staff except to fix technical errors or to clarify.

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To make a submission, email editorial@lanthorn.com or drop your submission off in person at: 0051 KIRKHOF CENTER GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ALLENDALE, MI 49401 616-826-8276

A8 | OPINIONS

DECEMBER 4, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS

The complexity of a cartoon about a talking horse

BY CHLOE SCHRAM LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

“Bojack Horseman” is a show about a talking horse with a human best friend, a cat manager and a golden retriever co-star. One of the most ridiculous shows I had ever heard of until I found out that these cartoon characters deal with deep human issues like depression, heartbreak, death, addiction and so much more.

The six-season Netflix show with Will Arnett and Aaron Paul was completed in 2020, and Bojack Horseman is a series of complexity and sarcasm, to say the least. On the surface, it appears to be an

immature adult cartoon. But after giving in to my own curiosity and binge-watching the entire show, I discovered that it is so much more than just that.

Bojack Horseman, the main character voiced by Arnett, is a famous actor wrestling with alcoholism and depression. He makes some terrible, unforgivable decisions throughout the series, much as a result of a bad childhood. Bojack’s character shows the unfortunate truth that some people never change, or when they finally do change, it’s too late to save their past relationships.

Diane Nguyen, voiced by Alison Brie, is one of my favorite characters. She is an introverted writer with relatable insecurities and depression. Diane plays a constant game of tug of war with her friendship and professional relationship with Bojack as she works behind the scenes in Hollywood. Diane is Bojack’s ghostwriter for his memoir, and soon after the memoir’s release, Diane finds herself feeling guilty for allowing people like Bojack to think they can continue as they are, rather than taking accountability for their actions. The same feeling of guilt washes over Diane as she helps write for a movie about a problematic detective named Philbert who is played by Bojack. As the audience of Philbert comes to adore him, despite his problematic actions, the audience of “Bojack Horseman” is able to realize the parallels to the character of Bojack and their experience of watching the character in the Netflix show.

Bojack Horseman sarcastically displays the toxicity of Hollywood, or “Hollywoo” in the series, and makes fun of just about every aspect of it. It is, what I believe to be, one of the most witty ways to expose a toxic environment.

Bojack’s desire in life is to be loved by everyone. Yet, when he receives love and praise, he pushes it away. Towards

the end of season two, Bojack’s friend and roommate, Todd Chavez, who is voiced by Paul, realizes a hard truth. He tells Bojack, “Maybe I just need to stop expecting you to be a good person so that way, I won’t get hurt when you’re not.” This early in the series, the audience can already see how Bojack has constantly let down the people in his life, throwing them on the back burner and often getting into inappropriate relationships with them.

I find this show to be humorous, depressing and profound all in one. As I watched the series and saw what others had to say about it, I found myself frustrated at those who said Bojack’s behavior should be excused because of the hardships and emotional abuse he endured as a child. This creates a sort of moral questioning for not only the characters in the show but also the audience. The concept of someone being a good person versus being a bad person is debated in everyday life, media and cancel culture, but there is not always a simple answer.

The series features a constant play on words and references to actual celebrities and pop culture. It includes a variety of different episodes, featuring one that is entirely underwater, titled “Fish Out of Water,” with no words and one that is solely a eulogy given by Bojack, “Free Churro.”

The second to last episode, “View from Halfway Down,” is by far a fan favorite and one of the most introspective in television that I have ever seen. The very last episode, “Nice While It Lasted,” completes the entire experience of watching the show and wraps it all together. This is a series that I believe to be full and complete from beginning to end, no more and no less is needed. Although Netflix is constantly canceling widely loved shows and disappointing users with abandoned series, I believe that Bojack Horseman makes up for it and it is a must watch for everyone.

Companies should not abruptly force a mandatory back-to-office policy

BY SAM NOWOTNIK LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

Working remotely or doing school from home is something we all collectively see as normal now, despite it being very weird years ago. In 2020, when we were all sent home for COVID-19 lockdowns, there was a lot of learning and navigating happening. We all had to find a way to make things work the best we could on very short notice. Now, working from home isn’t a foreign concept and has even become the preference for

many workers for various reasons. This is a new normal for many workers, and they have gotten comfortable with their new schedules and work situations. Things, however, may be taking a turn in this next year, as 90% of companies plan to implement return-to-office policies by the end of 2024. Of the companies that plan to implement back-to-office policies, 30% say their company will threaten to fire employees who don’t comply with in-office requirements.

Some of the reasons that people prefer to work remotely are flexible scheduling, healthy work-life balance and saving time. Remote work may allow workers to work a more personalized schedule that permits them to get work done at the best time for them. Also, working from home reduces the amount of travel time and time preparing to leave to go to the office, which leaves more time for your own interests. With remote work, people from all over the world are able to get connected and pursue a common goal. It allows people seeking work to not be confined to a single geographical region. Also, top talent globally would be available for employment, which could help many companies. Many people are unable to pack up everything and move to a new place for a job, but remote jobs can give them the chance they always wanted to have.

Productivity concerns are a major factor in bringing people back to the office. This is something I completely understand, but research has shown that productivity was not affected as much as many people believe. In 2023, labor productivity rose 3.7% during the second quarter, and is up 1.3% compared to this time last year. Workers have shown they are able to work productively from home and have been increasing productivity over the years as well. Those

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who have been working effectively and have shown no signs of decline in quality of work should continue to have the option to work where they think is best for them.

It is worth noting that all jobs require different settings and are operated differently. Some jobs are unable to run their business with employees working from home for many reasons. On the other hand, the companies who do have the availability for remote work should really weigh the benefits and pitfalls of applying the back-to-office policies so abruptly. It could lead to more change that people aren’t looking to go through yet again after finally feeling comfortable working where they are.

As much as people were skeptical about remote work, it has shown benefits that we weren’t aware of before.

It is hard to believe that the COVID-19 lockdown was almost four years ago, but some things have yet to go back and may forever be changed. I don’t think this is a good decision by company executives to abruptly force back-to-office policies because they could lose many employees in the process. Some employees have been with companies for years before being sent home, and now may be at risk of losing their jobs if they want to continue to work remotely. Employees who have not caused any issues working from home may also be upset leading to a lack of trust between employees and management.

There needs to be compromise and an open line of communication between employees and managers for something like this to not have negative effects.

A9 | EDITORIAL

DECEMBER 4, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS

“So magnetic it’s almost obnoxious”- ranking Taylor Swift’s 1989 (TV) Vault tracks

BY LANTHORN EDITORIAL STAFF LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

On Oct. 27, Taylor Swift released her fourth album rerecording– “1989 (Taylor’s Version).”

Originally released in 2014, the new release allowed Swift to own the legal rights to the album, which sold over a million copies almost a decade ago.

According to Forbes, Swift “vowed to regain control of her music after Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings controversially acquired her back catalog in 2019 and later sold it to a private equity firm.”

Swift described the selling of her masters as a “worst-case scenario” in a post on her official Tumblr account from 2019.

Since losing control of her first six albums in 2019, Swift has re-recorded and released her “Taylor’s Version” albums: “Red (Taylor’s Version),” “Fearless (Taylor’s Version),” “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” and the newest, highly anticipated “1989 (Taylor’s Version).”

“All 12 of Swift’s full-length studio albums and rerecorded projects from 2008’s Fearless, her second studio album, through 2023’s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) have debuted at No. 1,” Keith Caulfield wrote for Billboard.

Caulfield noted the re-recording reached 250,000 copies sold on the day of its release. It is no surprise to us as big Swifties the album would perform so well on both the charts and financially.

“1989” includes not just the re-recorded 16 tracks, but five new songs “From The Vault.” As with all of Swift’s released re-records thus far, these songs didn’t make it onto the original album’s tracklist. The vault tracks, written years ago, have been “locked” away since their creation.

We have anxiously awaited the vault tracks’ release, and in honor of this occasion the Lanthorn editors have come together to rank the five vault tracks from “1989 (Taylor’s Version).” With big opinions in the

room, this was a particularly painstaking process.

After much deliberation, we have successfully ranked the recently released tracks to reflect our Top Five.

5. Suburban Legends

Coming in at number five, we have “Suburban Legends.” Now, just because we placed this track in number five does not mean we did not like it. We enjoyed this track but felt it was slightly lackluster compared to the other four tracks. The lyrics, which portray the passage of time, loss and longing, create a vivid image for listeners but sonically feel flat. The track is atmospheric, and we did enjoy lyrics like “So magnetic it’s almost obnoxious” but as a whole, the song doesn’t quite measure up to the concepts and innovativeness of the other songs “from the vault.”

4. “Slut!”

Prior to its release, there was much discourse around “Slut!” and speculation on what the song would sound like. As a result of this, “‘Slut!’ (Taylor’s Version)’ debuted in the U.S. at No. 1 with 5.2 million streams, and globally with 11.3 million,” according to Variety. The track depicts the media’s scrutinized coverage of her love life, and Swift’s recognition of the press’ ever-present eyes. While we think the content and concept of the song discuss an issue all too common for female celebrities, we expected an electric track to stop us in our tracks, which we didn’t necessarily feel we got with “Slut!”

3. Now That We Don’t Talk

When ranking the album’s vault tracks, the Lanthorn Editorial team was torn between “Now That We Don’t Talk” and “Slut!” for the third and fourth spots. In a threeto-one vote, we placed “Now That We Don’t Talk” in the third slot. While one opinion floating around was that the track felt uninspired and flat, the majority of us argued the track was reminiscent of some of our favorite songs from Swift’s tenth studio album, “Midnights.” With a steady methodical beat and hard-hitting lyrics, we think that the track deserves its third-place spot. A favorite lyric of ours is “Now that we don’t talk/ I don’t have to pretend I like

acid rock/ Or that I’d like to be on a mega yacht/ With important men who think important thoughts.” We really loved the pop sound of this song and the relatability of the lyrics in regards to a relationship you still think about even when you don’t talk anymore.

2. Say Don’t Go

In a unanimous decision, we awarded “Say Don’t Go” the title of second best vault track from the album.

We feel the song is lyrically relatable and well-balanced, between the song’s reflective moments and outpouring of emotion. After a vulnerable verse and pre-chorus filled with uncertainty about a relationship, Swift expresses a sentiment reminiscent of “Red (T.V.)”- how things would have changed with everything that was never said. With lyrics like, “Why’d you have to lead me on?/ Why’d you have to twist the knife?” This song was a stab in the chest that’s been stuck in our heads for days.

1. Is It Over Now?

In another unanimous decision between us all, we placed “Is It Over Now?” as our favorite vault track from the album. A fitting song to end the album, we felt the song was the strongest lyrically and sonically of all five “from the vault” tracks. In the piece, she writes, “Was it over when she laid down on your couch?/ Was it over when he unbuttoned my blouse?/ ‘Come here,’ I whispered in your ear/ In your dream as you passed out, baby/ Was it over then? And is it over now?” With a soft and slow intro, the song builds as the guitar and drums crescendo to create a beautifully desperate plea from Swift, mulling over a past relationship and questioning when the relationship really ended.

Overall, we were blown away when we heard the vault tracks. “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” is truly a pop masterwork, and we thought the vault tracks seamlessly blended into the already distinct pop sound that is universally loved by Swifties. We will definitely be streaming the whole album for the foreseeable future.

NY opens path for prison reform and others should follow suit

BY LANTHORN EDITORIAL STAFF LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

On Nov. 16, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation that will offer a “clean slate” to up to two million people with criminal records in the state.

According to the New York Times, under new legislation deemed the “Clean Slate Act,” convicted criminals “who complete their sentences and remain out of trouble for a set period — three years for misdemeanors, eight for eligible felonies — will have their convictions sealed.”

While this legislature does not include the possibility of automatic conviction sealing for offenders of more serious crimes including sex crimes, murder and most other Class A felonies, the new law should open doors to several members of the community and offer them a fresh start.

This is a huge step forward for some degree of reform to the U.S. criminal justice system, which we feel is something strongly overdue in United States. However, the Clean Slate Act, we feel, is a progressive move towards acknowledging the prisoners’ human rights.

In the NYT article, Hochul said, “The best crime-fighting tool is a good-paying job.” We strongly agree, and as policies currently sit in most of the country, well-paying jobs for convicted criminals can be hard to come by. We are excited about the doors this new law will open up for designated offenders reintegrating into society and are hopeful that it is a first step towards some major changes nationwide.

Not only does it begin a step towards helping formerly incarcerated people, but it brings to light a reminder that we have a long way to go to improve and reform the current criminal prison system. We feel very strongly about the importance of making these reformations.

That said, the structure of the U.S. criminal justice system may not be conducive to other wholesale changes that could negatively affect the money-makers involved.

“What many have called the prison industrial complex represents an interconnection among the prison system, the political system and the economic system,” according to the Center for Juvenile and Criminal Justice.

The “iron triangle” encourages incarceration, and in turn, the financial gain of politicians and companies that benefit from putting people behind bars. This is also relevant to the number of private prisons in the United States, as compared to state-run institutions. The National Institute of Corrections reported, the number of people in private prisons has grown by 32% since the year 2000, while the total prison population has risen just 3%.

The National Institute of Corrections added, “There are more than 10.35 million people incarcerated throughout the world with the most being in the United States- more than 2.2 million.”

When people think about the criminal justice system, they find it hard to imagine a society without the permanent fixture of prisons. The Center for Juvenile and Criminal Justice says, “such a system may not be legally a form of government, but nevertheless may exert greater influence

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than more formal structures of the government.”

Prison reform is not a new idea by any means and often is brought up in terms of combating the prisonindustrial complex, but changes must be made. What New York State is doing can be considered a simple and logical step in the right direction.

Prison reform is an important issue as we believe that rehabilitation is where lawmakers should be focusing their attention, rather than punishment.

Those convicted of crimes should be offered the ability to maintain stable lives after they reclaim their freedom through rehabilitation programs.

It is important to note that rehabilitation looks different for varying types of crime. We would hope that lawmakers push for more rehabilitation programs to help prisoners serving a non-life sentence. On the other hand, we also believe that offenders serving long sentences should also have improved living conditions, access to mental and physical healthcare and education while incarcerated.

Despite the crimes committed, we strongly believe that the conditions behind prison walls should continue to improve until they are humane.

Moving forward, we are hopeful that other states will follow New York in creating legislation that helps to give second chances to offenders who have already served their time and proven they can be reintegrated into society again.

We are strong believers in calling for reform to help not just people who are now out of prison, but also for currently incarcerated people as well.

A10 | EDITORIAL

DECEMBER 4, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS

GV students need to show more support for women’s sports

BY LANTHORN EDITORIAL STAFF LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

Support for women’s sporting events has often been dwarfed by that of their male counterparts. At Grand Valley State University there are currently nine men’s and eleven women’s varsity sports active within the athletic department. Soon, women’s wrestling will be added to the athletic department in the fall of 2024.

On Nov. 10 the women’s and men’s basketball seasons will begin, with the GVSU women opening their season at home against the University of MissouriSt. Louis at 1 p.m. in the Fieldhouse Arena. Just last season, the women’s home opener against Tiffin University had nearly 400 fewer fans in attendance compared to the men’s squad when they lost to the University of Indianapolis (1,012 in attendance).

It’s not for a lack of entertainment value, as the Lakers’ women went on to have a 31-3 record and just two regular-season losses in 2022. They also made a run into the Elite Eight of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament.

Lakers women’s basketball head coach Mike Williams has won over 80% of his games and has his team playing a fast-paced, high-energy, three-

point-launching style of basketball that naturally excites fans. He should have another stellar team this season with plenty of key players returning.

The men’s 2022 team went 18-12 and missed the NCAA Tournament. It is no disrespect to now second-year Lakers’ head coach Cornell Mann, who was in his first season and is rebuilding the program back to national prominence.

Although the general feeling around the program is excitement about Mann’s squad, they were simply not as good as Williams’ womens team.

The question begs to be asked: why do students, staff and alumni not support women’s basketball in the same way that they do for men’s?

The GVSU women’s basketball team had an average of 557 fans to the men’s 939 for the 2022 season. The near 400-person differential from the home opener proved to be true for the final game of the season against Ferris State University, where 1,120 people showed up for the women’s game compared to 1,624 for the men’s. Many of these games were played backto-back on weekends or weekday nights. We are more than disappointed in this difference in viewership.

We are not going to sit here and tell you the product that each team puts out on the court is the same because it is not. What we will say is that they are different styles of play and the physical

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component of the game shapes that. You will still see both men and women accomplishing athletic feats or making impressive plays in their own right, and we can acknowledge that difference.

To treat them as the same and to compare the product in that way does not do either men’s or women’s basketball justice. However, there is no reason one team should receive more hype than the other, especially when the women’s teams might be even more successful than men in particular seasons.

Historically, there has been a large gap in viewership in the crossover between men’s and women’s sports.

According to TIME Magazine, “both interest and participation in organized sports is still a predominantly male thing,” however “when any culture makes the effort to level the playing field of opportunity, female participation rises dramatically.”

The women on these teams are just as dedicated as their male counterparts. They are our classmates, our roommates and our friends. We believe women in sports deserve just as much support as the male teams, especially when they have been performing better. We would like to see the Laker student body make the same effort by showing up and showing out for our women’s sports just as much as they do for the men’s.

SPORTS: The women on these teams are equally as dedicated as their male counterparts. They are our classmates, our roommates and our friends. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS

Sticky Situation: NHL bans Pride gear

BY LANTHORN EDITORIAL STAFF LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

When it comes to major corporations, hypocrisy is often bountiful. The National Hockey League (NHL) proves to be no exception, as the league that brands itself with the slogan “Hockey is for Everyone” banned both the use of Pride Tape and the players from wearing “any specialty sweaters during a game, in warmups or at an official practice,” according to ESPN. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman expressed concerns over the pride warm-up sweaters becoming a “distraction,” after allowing the use of the tape and pride sweaters for roughly seven years.

In defense of the NHL’s decision, Bettman said the organization’s action to move away from affirmative involvement in any cause “doesn’t make (the NHL) a bigot.”

“You know what our goals, our values and our intentions are across the league, whether it’s at the league level or at the club level,” Bettman said. “But we also have to respect some individual choice, and some people are more comfortable embracing themselves in causes than others.”

No, Gary, we do not know what your goals, values and intentions are. Flip-flopping between policies and then settling on this decision does not bring us any clarity on the league’s purpose regarding any support for LGBTQ communities or lack thereof.

Instead, Bettman has created a greater spectacle of himself and of the issue.

The NHL’s decision to ban specialized warmup jerseys that support various causes came after several players refused to wear a pride-themed jersey, the first of which was Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov back in January.

According to ESPN, Provorov did not “take the pregame skate Tuesday night because he refused to wear the team’s LGBTQ+ Pride Night warmup jersey, citing his religious beliefs.”

Throughout the 2022-2023 season, a handful of other players followed Provorov’s lead.

San Jose Sharks Goalie James Reimer issued a statement in which he said he “always strived to treat everyone with respect” and that members of the LGBTQ community should be welcome in hockey. However, he also refused to participate in wearing the themed gear.

“In this specific instance, I am choosing not to endorse something that is counter to my personal convictions, which are based on the Bible, the highest authority in life,” Reimer said.

We understand the intention behind respecting individual choice regarding religious decisions, but those individual players do not have to participate in the themed nights. The league is taking away the players’ choice to show support for a cause including support of the LGBTQ community.

Every team in the NHL hosts a variety of “theme

OCT. 16 nights,” and although the LGBTQ-themed jerseys are no longer permitted to be worn by any player, the “theme nights they represent, including Pride, Military and Heritage, will continue” according to The Athletic.

We are disappointed in the NHL’s decision regarding themed jersey use, and equally let down by the NHL in what feels like a pointed attack on the LGBTQ community.

According to section 10.1 of the official NHL rulebook, accessible on the NHL’s website, “Adhesive tape of any color may be wrapped around the stick at any place for the purpose of reinforcement or to improve control of the puck.”

We feel the decision to ban pride-themed hockey tape directly conflicts with these written rules.

The decision to ban Pride Tape and themed sweaters is exclusionary. Players should have their own choice in the matter. Instead of supporting the players’ choice, the NHL has effectively oppressed all players by taking away the option of using Pride Tape and/or themed sweaters on-ice altogether. After all, they already tape their own sticks and are often extremely particular about it.

The stance the league has taken creates confusion amongst many different organizations. Fans and teams alike are now concerned about their ability to support the social causes they are passionate about in the context of a hockey game.

The NHL league office needs to reverse this policy change and allow players the freedom to choose how they express themselves on the ice.

A11 | ARTS

DECEMBER 4, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLARTS

OCT. 23

Local performing arts venue facing closure

NON-PROFIT: The Division Avenue Arts Collective (DAAC) provides local artists a space to perform. Many performers have their first shows at the DAAC. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

BY RACHAEL GAGE LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

The Division Avenue Arts Collective (DAAC) is a non-profit located in Grand Rapids that has provided local artists an outlet to showcase their talents for the past twenty years. However, recent challenges may prevent the organization from staying open.

The DAAC is a volunteer-run music venue, art gallery and “creative incubator” for people of all ages to showcase their talents. The space caters to artists who are just beginning their creative journey, the DAAC has served as a safe space for people to express themselves.

On Sept. 1, the DAAC issued a statement about its current operation model and volunteer needs that would allow the venue to keep its doors open.

“The DAAC will stop existing if we can’t find a better way forward,” the open letter said to the community.

The DAAC held a public meeting on Sept. 17 to address the statement, where they put out a call to action within the community. The meeting also discussed the needs of the DAAC in order to keep their facility from closing down.

Lorenzo Aguayo, one of the core committee volunteers of the DAAC, helps with fundraising and

grants for the non-profit. Aguayo helped promote the DAAC’s call to action and said people are signing up to volunteer as a response. Aguayo said even with this engagement, DAAC needs more help.

“I’m hopeful for everything here,” Aguayo said.

“Everything’s not perfect yet, but the community answered our call and we’re very appreciative (of) that.”

The DAAC’s primary need is volunteers, as the venue is a non-profit organization. For all of those involved, Aguayo describes the work they do as a “passion project” that exists alongside their full-time careers. The DAAC encourages the community to come out and volunteer alongside them to help make local artists’ goals come to life.

“We can make your dreams a reality,” Aguayo said. “(However), it takes a high level of commitment and time to do that.”

The DAAC often serves as a performer’s first show or an artist’s first gallery. If the venue were to close, the Grand Rapids community would lose one of its only free, all-ages creative spaces.

“I cannot recommend the DAAC enough,” said Anthony Erlandson, a student and aspiring musician at Grand Valley State University. “They’ve truly been one of the best resources I could ever have as a small artist.”

Aguayo said the DAAC would love to see GVSU

students involved in the organization through performances, showcases or volunteer positions. He said there is something for everyone.

“I see a great opportunity for students,” Aguayo said. “I don’t think we should ignore that (the opportunity) at all.”

Aguayo is looking forward to working with Whale Radio, GVSU’s student-run radio station, which will be holding a benefit show for the DAAC on Dec. 2. The benefit show will host the radio station’s programming, a live performance from Erlandson and more. All of the money raised will go directly towards the DAAC. More information will be announced closer to the event day.

Aguayo said the show will provide GVSU students the chance to play music in a different venue and that he is excited about the partnership.

Erlandson, also the promotions director of Whale Radio, agrees. They said the benefit show will give students a place to show their creativity while helping out the venue.

“I’m super excited for the show because I really want to give back to them (the DAAC), and I’m also looking forward to performing (alongside) other students,” Erlandson said.

The DAAC continues to encourage students and community members to volunteer in order to save the venue and keep opportunities open for musicians and artists who want to get involved.

A12&13 | NEWS

DECEMBER 4, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN

HOUSING

@GVLNEWS

SEPT. 11

Campus housing overflow causes crowding, conflict

81%

OF THE SPACE LEASED FROM CAMPUS WEST BY GVSU IS CURRENTLY OCCUPIED

“It’s something we have never experienced before and it’s a new challenge for everyone in housing and for students as well. I think it will be a really interesting year.”

BY ELIZABETH SCHANZ & EMMA ARMIJO NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

USING

With more than 7,000 incoming students and even more returning students coming to Grand Valley State University this fall, Housing and Residence Life is facing new on-campus housing challenges.

GVSU’s residence halls are over capacity. The influx of students signed to campus living contracts caused GVSU’s Housing and Residence Life to make adjustments to existing housing structures to increase room occupancy. This meant putting students in makerooms LEASED in converted halls and lounges and housing OF THEshift SPACE FROM more than 100 students in off-campus apartments leased CAMPUS WEST BY GVSU IS by the university. How the university has addressed CURRENTLY OCCUPIED and managed the issues related to overcrowding has created new challenges for life on campus.

87%

70%

According to GVSU

OF GVSU FIRST YEAR STUDENTS LIVED ON-CAMPUS 2022-2023

LIVING AND LEARNING: Grand Valley State University signed more students to on-campus housing contracts then there are beds to accommodate them, causing changes. GVL | BETHANN LONG

However, he sees mainly positives from his experience.

“I get free parking here, which is a thing I didn’t expect.

I thought I would have to leave my vehicle at home because I wasn’t really anticipating on paying $200 for parking (as an on-campus resident),” Corneanu said.

Corneanu also noted the student housing units at Campus West do not have RAs assigned to them as all locations on campus do. Hamilton said because the university is now renting the units at Campus West the Grand Valley Police Department (GVPD) is able to patrol this area as an added measure of safety.

HOUSING

70% OF GVSU 6,012 BEDS WERE CONTRACTED TO FRESHMAN

Residents who were either willing or required to live on campus are feeling the effects of the increased student population. First-year student Katie Wheeler felt the impact even before she moved onto campus.

2021 Wheeler was originally assigned to Kistler Living Center, a traditional style dormitory located with the designated freshman-only accommodations on the north campus.

2022 However, upon hearing from her resident assistant, Wheeler learned she was assigned to a study room that 2023 was converted to a quad (a four-person room) and her accommodation would not be what she expected.

“Basically, (the RA) told us they were study 2024 rooms like when she had moved in. They put kids in students’ rooms and like four people with all the furniture2025 and everything in there,” Wheeler said.

After hearing about their assignment, Wheeler called

0

GVSU Housing “every day” to attempt to switch her person might become a five or a six-person or a tworoom and was eventually reassigned to Murray Living person might become a four-person, I think that’s Center, one of the apartment-style dorms located on the most common one. It’s just physically adding the south campus. There she was assigned to a two- more beds into spaces that are not designed for it.” bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, which typically GVSU Housing had to place some students, would only house two students. However, this year her primarily upperclassmen and transfer students, that room has four students, two students per room. applied for on-campus housing into an off-campus “It kind of stinks because we can’t unloft our beds, housing complex called Campus West. and it’s pretty tight. The kitchen table has two chairs, it Kyle Boone, director of Housing and Resident Life doesn’t have four so it kind of makes it hard when we at GVSU confirmed the university does not own the all want to eat or like you know, just having like people space but has a leasing agreement with the complex, over or anything like that,” said GVSU freshman renting 130 beds (about 105 filled) reserved for Marissa Diotte, one of Wheeler’s roommates. overflow of individuals signed on-campus. Boone Both Wheeler and Diotte said that Murray Living said sending students off campus and converting Center does offer airE R lounge areas was not the first option they considered O F Gcertain V S U 6benefits, , 0 1 2 B Elike DS W E conditioning and close proximity to many other when revamping freshman housing.

CONTRACTED TO FRESHMAN freshmen in the living center. Additionally, Diotte “I think enrollment did a phenomenal job securing said she is paying the same amount to live in Murray interest. It was our job to take that information and say, as she would in a suite-style because of the meal plan if you are interested in living on campus we’ll find an she chose when signing with campus. option,” Boone said. “The issue is when you do that, you According to GVSU’s website, the university has may displace some people so we had to look off campus for 6,012 beds on campus, including both freshman some options, we have at least some 100 beds off campus and upperclassmen housing accommodations. This that we’re leasing to accommodate some students.” year there are 4,200 freshman students with campus Roman Corneanu is a junior transfer student who housing contracts alone which fills many of the was placed in Campus West. Originally, Corneanu previously allotted number of beds on campus. applied for campus housing to live in a two-person unit The situation is compounded by a 2021 policy in Laker Village, the townhomes on campus, and was instituted by GVSU requiring first-year non-transfer placed at Campus West into a four-person unit instead. students to live on campus. First-year students Corneanu said there are some downsides of getting who do not wish to stay in on-campus housing moved to Campus West: more people in his unit than he accommodations must apply for an exemption. originally requested and a further commute to classes.

If an exemption is not complete, students who are “not in compliance” will be charged a “NonCompliance fee” that costs the same as “traditional style housing and a basic meal plan,” which is approximately $5,085. Exemptions from living on campus as a first-year are only guaranteed if a student is two or more years out of high school, has primary or joint custody of a minor child or children, is married, will commute from the residence of a parent or primary guardian, or is a veteran. Other requests can be made but are not guaranteed.

GVSU Senior Tanner Hamilton, an RA at South Apartments on campus, said the requirement to have firstyear students live on campus is meant to help students have an easier transition to college life, and the university is making changes to accommodate the influx of students.

“We just don’t have the space,” Hamilton said.

“What I have heard from other RAs is that there are just extra beds being put into rooms like a four-

10 0

81%

20 0

30 0

40 0

50 0

OF THE SPACE LEASED FROM CAMPUS WEST BY GVSU IS CURRENTLY OCCUPIED

Boone said GVPD is an asset to the housing office, and that even though some residents might be physically off campus they are still valuable members of the on-campus community.

“I share that housing can’t operate only within housing.

So any decision we make impacts the greater campus community,” Boone said. “So once we decided or thought there may be an off campus relationship, we had to involve Chief DeHaan (of GVPD) in our conversations.”

In addition to housing concerns, students have felt the effects of overcrowding on campus in other areas like parking and dining.

“I’ve seen people come into class late because in years past they were able to, you know, make it to Panda Express on time or something and they haven’t been able to now because there’s just so many extra people waiting in line,” Hamilton said.

Many RAs are preparing for more-than-usual disagreements between roommates, due the larger amounts of people living together in close proximity.

Murray Living Center RA Carter Betchel said he had all of the students under his responsibility sign very detailed, specific roommate agreements in their first floor-wide meeting during welcome week in hopes of mitigating as much roommate conflict as possible.

“The biggest challenge comes from the fact that we are extremely full and residents are now living in close quarters with their roommates, especially in the two bedroom, four person dorms. The combination of those two means that roommate conflict is more likely

to come up and when it does we are significantly less able to offer room changes,” Betchel said. “I have been very clear that my residents need to start making a plan on how to live together peacefully.”

Boone said he doesn’t see the new freshman housing accommodations as an issue, but as an opportunity to lead students to personal growth.

“I have a lot of hope in my leadership, and I hope that students engage, I hope they see conflict as an opportunity to grow, that they will see differences as a chance to expand,” Boone said.

Many students said they appreciate the adaptations GVSU has made in terms of housing accommodations.

However, students expressed that in order to avoid an overpacked housing situation the university could have accepted fewer people in order to stay within the accommodations they had on campus.

Boone said he does not expect housing to receive any less interest in the coming years, though he cannot guarantee how the situation will continue to be handled in the future.

“I wish I had a magic ball,” Boone said. “Our occupancy strategy is the enrollment strategy. If they (campus recruitment) decide to bring more students in, we’ll prepare for more students.”

“I think that GVSU has an interesting challenge on their hands and I am very interested to see how the rest of the year will play out with all of these changes,” Hamilton said.

“It’s something we have never experienced before and it’s a new challenge for everyone in housing and for students as well. I think it will be a really interesting year.”

A14 | ARTS

DECEMBER 4, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLARTS

OCT. 2

GV students debut collaborative short film

BY DYLAN HOFFIUS LANTHORNEDITORAL@GVSU.EDU

A short film created by Ravines Film Collective, a film production organization at Grand Valley State University, was released on the organization’s YouTube channel on Sept. 15.

The short film titled “Threshold” blends elements of science fiction and surrealism to bring the story to life. The work originated from GVSU film student Tanner Hamilton and his brother Tate Hamilton’s ideas, and the film draws from works like “The Matrix” and “Spirited Away.”

The film follows the character of Ian Forsythe, an office clerk who helps customers “cross” into different realities or “thresholds.” Trouble begins when a mysterious figure with a dark cloak and reflective face starts pursuing Forsythe in the office and eventually into the woods. While in the woods, Forsythe discovers an eerie tunnel that alters his journey and leads him somewhere unexpected.

The short film allowed the brothers and their friends to collaborate to make the story come to life visually.

“The point was to make something fun together with my friends and Tate,” said Tanner Hamilton. “Everyone brought their own personality and input to the project.”

Tanner Hamilton said that inspiration for his projects often comes from physical locations where he can see a story taking place. The idea for “Threshold’’ began when he sent Tate Hamilton a picture of a tunnel

located in the woods at Provin Trails Park located in Grand Rapids, Mich. Tanner Hamilton asked him to write a script based on what he saw. As a result, the same tunnel and woods are featured in the short.

After weeks of discussing the script with his brother, Tanner Hamilton started to assemble his crew to begin the filming process during the Fourth of July weekend. He reached out to GVSU film student Hannah Dunaway to serve as the production designer– a position responsible for the film’s visuals.

As the production designer, Dunaway was responsible for the art and creative visuals in the film, which included props, hair, makeup, costumes and special effects. When starting the project, Dunaway discussed the script with Tanner Hamilton scene-by-scene and looked for what they needed to be prepared for.

“We had a pretty small budget, which is typically the case for these types of projects,” Dunaway said. “We (had) to find creative solutions to create the director’s vision.”

One of the creative solutions Dunaway has to come up with is how to create the look for the entity that chases Forsythe. Dunaway said she acquired a used bridesmaid dress that she “flipped upside down” and made alterations to for the entity’s cloak.

Joel Potrykus, an Assistant Professor of Film & Video Production at GVSU, said he tells his students that budget restraints should never dictate the scope of a film. He noted that filmmaking is about working around certain restrictions that come about during the creation process.

“Solving problems with your brain rather than your wallet is the most important thing an independent filmmaker can do,” Potrykus said. “Getting in the trenches and on set is what separates those who think they know how to make a movie (from) somebody who actually knows what they’re doing.”

Tanner Hamilton said he is waiting to hear back from 10 different film festivals that “Threshold” was submitted to, most of them being local festivals.

Announcements regarding the festival runs for “Threshold” will come throughout the next year.

Potrykus also highlighted that film festivals provide incredible opportunities for GVSU film students to expose their work to an audience. The students in Potrykus’ FVP 321 and FVP 421- “Fiction Filmmaking” courses can debut their work at showcases that occur at the end of the fall and spring semesters. GVSU students are encouraged to attend these showcases at the Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium located on GVSU Pew Campus to support student filmmakers.

Tanner Hamilton said that since the release of “Threshold,” support has been overwhelmingly positive. He hopes that GVSU student filmmakers can use “Threshold” as an example of what students can do when they try something new and use their creativity.

“Grand Valley is a creative community,” Tanner Hamilton said. “If people are inspired by this (“Threshold”), then that’s incredible, but I also hope that people just have fun watching it.”

CINEMA: Ravines Film Collective’s newest release, “Threshold,” is available on the group’s YouTube and follows the journey of an office clerk into different realities. GVL | SAM NELSON

A15 | ARTS

DECEMBER 4, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLARTS

OCT. 30

Moving the movers: live music accompanists inspire, influence GV’s dance program

BY ELIZABETH SCHANZ LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

Tucked away in the back wing of Grand Valley State University’s Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts is room 1600: the largest dance studio used by dance program students. Starting at 9 a.m. the studio comes to life as dance students enter the space for the first movement class of the day. They begin stretching, catching up with friends and greet the professor as they enter.

Silently, one more person enters the room: the accompanist. They walk to the back corner of the studio, which contains a piano and drums. They won’t be moving as the dancers do or verbally guide the students like the instructor, instead, the movement will take place as their fingers strike the keys of the piano or beat the drums. The music they play will shape the class at its core.

GVSU’s dance program has two accompanists Alex Hamel and Ryan Blok who create, perform and partner with dance students and faculty within the program’s movement technique classes. Hamel, who has been a part of the program for over 10 years, most commonly accompanies the modern dance courses and Blok has been the resident ballet accompanist since 2017.

The accompanists explore and create music for a collaborative process between movement and music.

When Hamel accompanies modern dance classes he acts as a “one-man band” playing piano and drums individually and simultaneously, a skill that he developed over time and from a young age.

Hamel said often he plays both instruments at once because “neither one on its own seemed sufficient.”

Hamel’s playing journey began with learning piano, which his grandfather gave him, at age six.

His passion continued to develop with time. He started playing the drums in the school band at age 10 and taught himself guitar at 12.

Continuing to play and learn, Hamel decided initially to minor in music at GVSU and was an art major. At the time he was not planning on pursuing a musical path, but rather graphic design or animation. But, after becoming more involved in music opportunities on campus, he decided to make the shift to becoming a music major.

“I did marching band, stuff like that, to percussion major when I was a student here (GVSU), but I also got into the jazz program. My professors, actually, they were like ‘Seems like you want to be a musician,’” Hamel said. “I didn’t want to study music and not have it be my profession. I think that gave me the confidence to sort of double down on everything I was doing here.”

The decision to fully commit to music led Hamel to accompany the dance program for the first time as a student, a job he had for his last two years at GVSU. With very little knowledge about dance, Hamel took on the role and learned on the job. He learned that the work of the accompanist was largely based on improvisation, which Hamel had experience in as a music major with a jazz emphasis. He soon realized this path fit his passions and has guided the rest of his career.

Now, Hamel primarily accompanies for dance classes and plays in theatre pits. He considers both of these positions “service-oriented, support roles” and feels that is where his heart is.

“I don’t live for the spotlight at all. I actually quit piano lessons because I didn’t want to do recitals anymore,” Hamel said. “In terms of like what I get out of being a

musician, it’s really zero to do with like performing or getting my chance to shine or show people what I can do. It’s more being in service to something larger.”

Hamel said the experience of being an accompanist shifts with the needs, wants and energy of the class itself and that the partnership between the music, dancers and professors is deeply intertwined.

“I never think of it like I’m creating music that is to be danced to, like ‘here’s some great music now dance,’ you know,” Hamel said. “In a way, I’m like taking class with all y’all. Just trying to find the impulse within the movement that combination are based on and reflect that and really accompany the dance.”

Dance Professor and dance curriculum coordinator Carrie Brueck Morris has been working with Hamel for over 10 years. She says Hamel’s contribution as a musician and artist allows students to learn more about music in their coursework: musical terminology, how to work with musicians and “understanding the layers” to musicality beyond counts.

Additionally, Morris said Hamel as an artist and partner in dance classes is extraordinary.

“He knows how to look at dance and he knows how to respond to what is happening in the room,” Morris said. “It feels so easy to work with him and I feel like we’re reading each other’s minds.”

Similarly, Blok’s work as the ballet accompaniment comes from years of development. One of Blok’s first musical memories was with a Fisher Price piano where he learned a couple of basic songs. He was then put into piano lessons at eight years old, percussion in band, choir and was involved in church music throughout his life.

Blok, like Hamel, is also a GVSU alum who started at GVSU in 2013 after deciding he wanted to focus more on piano. During this time, he began to learn how to be a ballet accompanist.

“I started with just that a couple books, I had like one piece of music for each combination,” Blok said. “Once I got the feel for the eight-measure phrases all the time and how each combination felt, it just became easier and easier. I’d say a year in I was 90 percent improvising.”

After graduating, he began his accompanist career in the GVSU dance program, played classes at Grand Rapids Ballet and opened a private piano and voice teaching studio.

“My plan was always to somehow make a living in music in Grand Rapids and wasn’t planning on going anywhere,” Blok said.

Blok said the presence of live music helps to shape dance classes in both atmosphere and structure.

“Live music just feels more present. As loud as you turn up a speaker with canned music, it never feels as vibrant in the space as the live music does,” Blok said. “The biggest thing is the flexibility that a live musician can have. Often teachers want to do the same combination, one time at a certain tempo and speed it up for the second.”

Blok values the ability to have a collaborative relationship with the professors and to provide an experience that is “active and vibrant” rather than just a rhythm for students to execute steps to. He enjoys the opportunity and freedom of improvisation and the ability to challenge himself with what he plays each day to better help aid the experiences of dancers in class.

One of GVSU’s ballet professors Carolyn Pampalone Rabbers has worked with Blok since 2021. She feels he not only allows the pedagogical flexibility of changing tempos, measures and more but creates variety within the class.

“(Blok) will find ways to keep it (the music) artistically interesting for the room. So there might be gentle shifts, like an octave change, or an additional rhythmic line added in. It just helps open up possibilities and ideas for ways to engage with the movement that we’re doing as well,” Rabbers said.

Emma Buschle a senior majoring in Dance and Public Relations works with both Hamel and Blok in her modern and ballet courses. Buschle said before coming to college she had never been in a dance class with an accompanist before.

She said the experience of having live music in her dance courses at GVSU is incredibly beneficial and rewarding.

From interacting with both musicians, Buschle said Hamel has such a “unique style” in his musical pieces and Blok has a talent for knowing ballet “like the back of his hand.” She feels she has gotten to know the accompanists more as artists and as individuals.

“There’s just a huge level of respect for each other (dancers, professors and musicians),” Buschle said. “At the end of each class, we do a huge round of applause of them and we have a ritual of smacking the floor and creating a bunch of noise to thank them.”

Buschle said over her time at GVSU she has paid more “attention to what’s going on in the corner.”

Buschle, and other dance program students and faculty, appreciate the artistry of accompanists. They feel that accompanists connect to everyone in the room at a deeper personal, passionate level than just hitting play.

INSTRUMENTS: Accompanists performing alongside students allow the dancers to feel a stronger connection to both the dances and the music. GVL | BETHANN LONG

A16 | ARTS

DECEMBER 4, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLARTS

NOV. 13

GV hosts author to discuss climate, indigenous teachings

BY DYLAN HOFFIUS LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

Best-selling author Robin Wall Kimmerer gave a presentation on biodiversity and sustainability to Grand Valley State University students on Nov. 8 to kick off the 2023 GVSU Teach-In, an event intended to spark discussions and “improve inclusion and equity.”

Her presentation encouraged the audience to consider “what does the earth ask of us?” a question Kimmerer said we need to consider, as we find ourselves on the brink of climate catastrophe.

Kimmerer cited a 2019 report from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) that reveals nature on Indigenous land is declining less rapidly than on other lands.

Kimmerer, a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, discussed indigenous teachings, scientific knowledge and the knowledge of plants, which she says are key for answering her question. The relationship between these teachings is at the heart of her book “Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants.”

Kimmerer said the collaboration of these ideologies allows people to better care for the earth and to “see with both eyes.”

Julia Mason, Ph.D., Associate Professor in GVSU’s

Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies Department, helped bring Kimmerer to campus in collaboration with the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies.

Mason said the event aimed to examine GVSU’s responsibility as a public institution in being stewards of the community and carrying on indigenous messages.

“Robin’s work in particular really speaks at this intersection of thinking about indigenous knowledge and the importance of community,” Mason said. “It’s a really exciting time to bring marginalized voices (here) and amplify and really listen to them.”

Kimmerer’s presentation also touched on her experience of being the only indigenous woman studying botany at university. Kimmerer said when she was a student, she was discouraged from incorporating indigenous teachings and the knowledge of plants with the scientific ideology.

At GVSU, the Native American Advisory Council (NAAC) is working to create an environment that supports the needs of indigenous students in and out of the classroom.

Carsyn Brunette, a junior at GVSU independent from NAAC but works to assist native students, said it was difficult to find her place within her major and among her peers. Brunette said she would often feel “too Native” around her non-Native friends and “not Native enough” around her Native friends and family.

“I just transferred last semester, and it was actually really difficult not having (a) Native community,” Brunette said. “I want to help other students feel

more accepted and know that this is a welcoming space for Native students because, without a sense of community, you feel like you don’t belong anywhere.”

A large part of the NAAC’s work has been focused on cultural and environmental sustainability. Belinda Bardwell, NAAC member and Assistant Director in the Office of Multicultural Affairs said sustainability for the student body and campus is a process GVSU is working on.

“We can’t touch on other aspects of sustainability if our human beings aren’t sustained,” Bardwell said. “(We need to) realize the apparent shortcomings of our funding (to be sustainable).”

Bardwell said the NAAC recently visited Arizona State University to learn more about methods that other universities with a large Indigenous student population are using to create sustainability. Bardwell said two of the biggest takeaways from the trip were the curriculum and language used at ASU, something that Kimmerer also touched on.

“What she (Kimmerer) gave us yesterday was a roadmap to a better society,” Bardwell said. “Grand Valley, with an increase of indigenous faculty and staff, can start really embracing that ‘two-eyed’ seeing that Robin talks about.”

Kimmerer’s presentation is available on the GVSU YouTube channel. Students interested in learning more about the NAAC can complete an online form to receive information about the council.

SUSTAINABILITY: Robin Wall Kimmerer encouraged students to see GVSU’s responsibility in being stewards of community and to carry on indigenous messages. COURTESY | GVNEXT

DECEMBER 4, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN

A17 | LAKER LIFE

@GVLLAKERLIFE

NOV. 6

GV Esports changes the playing field with new team promoting inclusivity

BY SARA BAGLEY LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

The Grand Valley State University’s Esports club announced the launch of their three Premier Teams: Rocket League, Valorant and Valorant Game Changers.

While playing competitively at this level is new for GVSU Esports, the club is also breaking ground in other ways. The Valorant Game Changers team is the first Esports team focused solely on women and marginalized genders at GVSU. Riot Games, the creator of Valorant, coined the term “Game Changers”’ and created a competitive circuit for specifically women and marginalized genders to compete on. The overall initiative aims to invite more inclusivity into the Esports world, a historically maledominated environment. GVSU was eager to follow.

“It was a unique opportunity for us to elevate some of our women leaders within our program,” Riley Long, the coordinator and assistant director of Esports at GVSU, said. “It’s a way to really start to pave the path forward for gender equity within our program.”

While Riot Games has introduced other Game Changers leagues over the past few years with games such as League of Legends, the addition of Valorant was new this year, and so is the adoption of that movement to university Esports clubs and teams.

“This was a unique opportunity for Grand Valley to stand out nationally, because it isn’t very common, especially to elevate a Game Changer’s team to somewhat of a varsity team- it’s one of the first of its kind,” Long said.

Currently, there are only a few existing Game Changers teams at the collegiate level. Having this type of team at GVSU is a special opportunity for any gamers who identify as female or otherwise non-masculine identities

and are interested in playing at a competitive level. Other universities, such as Ferris State University, are now also looking toward creating their own Game Changers teams.

The team consists of five members who typically meet three times a week for practice, with the exclusion of weeks where they have matches. Each member went through the two days of tryouts and played a total of five games to make it to the final round, in which they played alongside the other students who would soon become their teammates.

While the Game Changers team is relatively new to the GVSU Esports club, Sydney Lim, a member of the Valorant Game Changers team, has had nothing but a positive experience.

“I’ve been on varsity teams in high school, but this is completely different. I never thought that I’d get the chance to play competitively for the school,” Lim said. “I hope that the team shows that there are women who are playing for the school and that they’re comfortable coming into the center, even though it’s predominantly male (players) in there.”

Lim, who has been a part of the Esports club since they opened the Laker Esports Center (LEC) in 2021, has felt the stigma of being a woman interested in Esports. However, that hasn’t stopped her.

“I definitely think when I was first there last year, I was definitely nervous. When I think of video games, I think of guys being guys in a space that feels like it’s theirs,” Lim said. “But as soon as I’ve been making friends in the club, I realize that it’s not that. I just needed to put myself out there a little more.”

The Esports club holds many popular events, such as the weekly Smash Bros meetup, but one special event they do is their women’s gaming nights. Held once a month, it’s a time for the women and other non-male-identifying gamers to explore the state-of-the-art technology in the

PRACTICE: The Esports club space is stocked with high quality gaming equipment for all members. GVL | ALENA VISNOVSKY

LEC. When Lim began attending these events, she would see only a handful of other attendees. Now, the group has grown, and Lim expressed she is thrilled.

Cameron Houtman, the president of the Esports club, has noticed how the events have developed and more individuals are comfortable in the Esports space.

“There’s kind of a stigma around Esports, of it being a bunch of men playing video games and yelling at each other. Men are aggressive, they yell at each other, and that can deter people,” Houtman said. “The more women and marginalized genders that come into play, the less deterring it is and the more relaxed it is because you see more likeness of people that are similar to you and have similar interests, so it feels more welcoming.”

Lim’s teammates Sydney Markey and Mary Scher are new to Esports at GVSU and have loved the experience so far. Both started playing video games when they were much younger, starting off with Minecraft and eventually growing into first-person-shooter games and Valorant. Markey brought her love for video games to college. She felt welcomed into a community with shared interests and where she could develop new skills.

“I wanna learn more. The reason why I did this is because of the coaches, so I hope I get more experience, but also just to play with my teammates more,” Markey said.

Scher said the club has been inf luential during her time at GVSU, and she has forged friendships during their time on the team.

“I had friends back home at Rochester who were in Esports, so that’s how I found out it was a thing at colleges.

So, as soon as I got here, I sought out our club at the freshman fair,” Scher said. “A lot of other teams, it feels like it can be stressful to be on, with us, yes we try, but we also know that we’re doing our best while we’re having fun. I hope we win, but I also just hope we keep bonding.”

Sadie Doctor, the in-game lead for the Valorant Game Changers Premier Team, has had a positive experience.

Doctor is going into her second year as a part of the Esports club at GVSU and has noticed more structure and funding for the club which has led to many benefits.

During her time as an in-game lead, she has felt her role and time in the organization have been rewarding.

“I don’t think there’s any effort that I’ve put in that hasn’t been matched by an equally satisfying reward, in a way, like seeing it come to fruition in a game or something like that,” Doctor said.

Despite the efforts to increase inclusivity in the Esports scene at GVSU, that doesn’t mean everything’s perfect. As president, Houtman continues to work towards inclusivity in the Esports scene at GVSU: addressing norms and stereotypes as well as creating a more equitable environment.

“You’ll occasionally have guys that will make comments that I don’t even really think they understand are sexist or misogynistic or unkind,” Houtman said. “It really opens my eyes as far as why that needs to change, and how much better we can do as a community. Again, it does have that stigma where it’s very male-dominated, it’s very competitive, it’s very aggressive- it’s all true. But you can still do a better job. It’s just a bunch of kids playing video games anyway. There’s not really a reason that we have to exclude people for what they believe or identify as.”

While the GVSU Esports team continues to shape an inclusive organization, Long and many others look ahead optimistically.

“This is an opportunity to start breaking down those barriers and say that we are investing in the competitive talent of the women and marginalized genders we have at Grand Valley, and creating a space for them to thrive,” Long said.

A18 | LAKER LIFE

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OCT. 16

The Asian Student Union fundraises for the Grand Rapids Asian Pacific Foundation

BY ANNE DAVEY LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

The Asian Student Union (ASU) hosted its annual Taste of Asia fundraiser on Oct. 6 in the Chamberlain Multipurpose Room Niemeyer Multipurpose Room in the Niemeyer Living and Learning center. The room was transformed into an immersive dining experience: paper lanterns hung from the ceiling, streamers wrapped the banisters and tables were decorated with paper cranes.

Co-President Brianna Lee described the event as an opportunity “to introduce members of Grand Valley to authentic Asian Cuisine.”

Over a hundred attendees lined up with their fundraising tickets, wrapping down and around the hallway leading into the room. The members of the club prepared traditional Asian dishes such as miso soup, bulgogi, stir fry, curry and more. The fan favorite of the evening was the tteokbokki, which is a Korean chewy rice cake in a spicy gochujang sauce.

Attendees came to support friends in the club and enjoy good food. Besides the food that the club prepared, lots of students attended the event in anticipation of the Spicy Ramen Challenge the club hosts annually, which Lee noted was her favorite part of the event.

The object of the contest is to finish a bowl of extra spicy ramen and boiled egg first, and then avoid drinking milk after finishing for at least three minutes.

In addition to the title of “Spice Lord,” the winner also received a stuffed animal prize and ramen to take home. “(The event aims) to bring our members, alumni, family and friends together,” Event Coordinator Sarah Parrish said.

Parrish said it was important to the club to have “the opportunity to share our culture and talk to the Grand Valley community.”

The club said they look forward to the event each year mainly for the fundraiser element. The club uses the event as a means to fundraise for the Grand Rapids

SPICY: The club held a spicy ramen challenge that students enjoyed partaking in at the event. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

Asian Pacific Foundation (GRAPF). According to the GRAPF website, the organization is a nonprofit organization that aims to help promote cultural awareness and provide resources to support the AsianPacific American community in Grand Rapids.

ASU strives to bring awareness to Asian culture on campus. They also hope to be a space for students to come together to feel supported and connected. The annual fundraiser is one way they work to achieve that goal.

“It (the Taste Of Asia Fundraiser) is like a big family, everyone can get together and share a meal and have a great time,” Lee said. “As someone who grew up in a dominant white community, I feel like I’ve learned more about Asian culture and the Asian American experience by interacting with other Asian American students. I feel like I learned more about myself and helped me connect more to GV.” While “Taste of Asia” has been the club’s biggest fundraiser event in the past years, the club also

works hard throughout the year to put on its other annual event, the Asian New Year Festival.

“There are local Asian performers, Asian cuisine and admission is free,” Parrish said. “There is always a great turnout from ASU members, the GVSU community and even local communities from around Grand Rapids.”

When they are not throwing events, the club strives to collaborate with other cultural clubs on campus such as the Vietnamese Student Association, Filipinx American Student Association, Nepali Student Association and Delta Phi Lambda, a sorority that seeks “eradicate Asian stereotypes” and set an example in their community. These organizations work together each year to host the Asian Night Market where traditional Asian street food is sold.

ASU plans to continue its philanthropic and social events throughout the year to raise awareness and community. They hope to continue establish deeper connections in the club and across the GVSU campus.

VARIETIES: The Asian Student Union offered several different dishes at the event like miso soup, bulgogi, stir fry, curry and a few other options for students. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

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A19 | LAKER LIFE

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OCT. 23

CHAARG empowers GV women through wellness

BY SITLALI PADRON LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

Changing Health, Attitudes and Actions to Recreate Girls, more commonly referred to as CHAARG, is an organization with chapters found at more than one hundred universities across the nation and aims to empower women on their wellness journeys.

Grand Valley State University’s CHAARG chapter wants to show women that working out doesn’t have to be just hopping on the treadmill or elliptical. The organization aims to create a space where women are supported, encouraged and feel safe during workouts.

“CHAARG is important to have at GVSU because it gives women on campus a safe space to try new workouts and connect with each other,” said Chloe Bower, president of CHAARG at GVSU. “Not only does it motivate girls to try new ways to work out, but it gives women the opportunity to explore new workouts in a safe environment where everyone around you wants you to succeed and be the best version of yourself.”

GVSU’s CHAARG holds two workout sessions every Monday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and another from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The organization partners with

local businesses once a week for various workouts including CrossFit, dancing, Pure Barre and yoga.

These events bring in a new skill set for the members that they get to learn at the end of each meeting.

Aside from the physical activity-based meetings the group hosts each week, CHAARG also emphasizes helping its members form influential and strong female friendships.

“CHAARG has been such a large part of my life for the last three years and has been such an essential part of my college experience. I’ve met my closest friends and roommates through this organization, and I would not have changed a thing,” Bower said.

In addition to helping members learn fitness skills, CHAARG helps students grow socially.

“Some skills I have learned being part of this organization are being open and trying something new by meeting new people,” said Emma Penney, a member of CHAARG. Aside from the Monday workout classes, the organization also hosts “small groups” that members can sign up for. These groups are made up of four to six people with meetings once a week that aim to help the members get to know each other and offer a space to hang out and decompress from

the busy college semesters. Additionally, CHAARG introduced “bolt babes” a program where members are partnered with someone who shares similar interests in the hope that members can make friends and have partners to try out new things with.

CHAARG also puts on a few social events throughout the year such as apple picking or movie nights.

“Some of my favorite events that I have done in the past for CHAARG are yoga, boxing and cycling,” Penney said. “Some of my favorite socials were apple picking, ice skating and going to the John Ball Zoo.” Bower said CHAARG has been an important and influential part of her time at GVSU. “CHAARG has empowered me to stay active and try new workouts,” Bower said. “It has given me the motivation to continue to find new and exciting ways to move my body and stay active.”

Students who interested in the organization can visit the CHAARG Instagram, which is filled with group pictures from many of the events and even individual member highlights.

The workouts are routinely posted through the CHAARG socials as well as on LakerLink.

COLLABORATE: CHAARG members meet up at their weekly workout meetings each Monday and try out a new routine to start the their week on a positive note. COURTESY | CHAARG

A20 | LAKER LIFE

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SEPT. 11

New honors college course defies traditional expectations

BY SARA BAGLEY LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

“Earth Matters” is a new first-year sequence, a course, available to students in Grand Valley State University’s Frederik Meijer Honors college starting this fall.

In this non-traditional full year course, students will go out to a local sustainable agricultural farm every Friday amongst other community outreach projects.

Professor Peter Wampler and Professor Melba Vélez Ortiz are teaching the course this year and are looking forward to changing student’s lives and perspectives.

“Last year I taught a prototype of the class.

Students created press releases for different environmental events. They created a visual campaign about awareness for river and cleanliness.

They created public service announcements. They wrote to congress,” Vélez Ortiz said. “These are things that in a normal ecology class, you don’t do!”

Wampler said that as the year progresses, they have plans to talk about the Flint Water Crisis with the aid of the book “What The Eyes Don’t See,” a popular book by author Mona Hanna-Attisha. The professors also plan to do some local community work regarding the PFAS chemical issue that has been spreading in Rockford and all around western Michigan.

However, their work does not stop with conversations in the classroom or learning about the PFAS contamination issue around western Michigan.

In February of last year East Palestine, Ohio had a train derailment, and various chemicals and toxins were spilled into the environment. Vélez Ortiz said she has been working throughout the summer to get in contact with residents of East Palestine and ask them how they are handling the situation.

“They’re not doing well and the Environmental Protection Agency is not doing much to help them,” Vélez Ortiz said. “They’re coming out and testing the soil, but they’re not even giving the results to the residents. They post the results on a website. The problem is, the way that they’re communicating the test results is so obtuse, not even a water expert like my colleague Dr. Wampler can read them easily.”

One of major topics the class focuses on is

ACADEMICS: The class is part of the Frederik Meijer Honors College on the GVSU campus. GVL | Annabelle Robinson

taking the findings that the students come up with and the things they learn and translating them better so everyone can understand them.

“They’ll be interpreting scientific data, understanding environmental issues, and also understand both how those issues are being communicated about and how to communicate about them,” Wampler said. “We want them to understand how complicated it is to solve environmental problems and how complicated it is to help people hurt by environmental problems: it’s not quite what you think.”

Vélez Ortiz said this seminar in particular challenges students mentally. Right now, she has plans to challenge students to create a meme about climate change. There will be a vote and a grand prize winner, but that’s not her main focus.

“It takes a tremendous amount of creative energy to take something that is so multifaceted and put it into this one image that will hit people,” Vélez Ortiz said. “You’re going to have to understand the science, there’s no shortcuts. But at the same time, you’re gonna turn that around and

turn it into messaging everyone can understand.”

This seminar is specifically designed for freshman honor students, which makes both professors even more excited for the outcome of the class and what the students will walk away learning.

“We’re hopefully instilling in students a passion for advocacy and getting involved. I hope the students will get others involved (in community service projects) in their free time because they think it’s valuable,” Wampler said.

The students will be learning teamwork and communication skills, much like in any other class. Both professors look forward to watching students gain appreciation for how important those skills are outside of just finishing a paper.

“My students get to do good in this world and they also get to understand that environmental crises are human crises,” Vélez Ortiz said. “We’re learning about the environment, but we’re helping each other and helping other people, right now.

No need to wait until you graduate, people need you right now. Mutual aid, that’s where it’s at, and we gotta teach students how to do it.

HONORS: The new “Earth Matters” class is first of its kind at GVSU. Both professor Wampler and Vélez Ortiz hope to continue the class in semesters to come. GVL | Annabelle Robinson

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OCT. 16

No. 4 GV Football topples reigning back-to-back national champs in No. 1 Ferris

BY NELSON HUBBELL LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

Two archrivals and titans of the college football world met on Saturday, Oct. 14 as the No. four ranked Grand Valley State University Lakers (5-1) defeated the reigning national champions, the No. one ranked Ferris State University Bulldogs (4-2), 49-28 at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale, Mich. The game was one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the Anchor-Bone Classic’s rivalry history.

The hype surrounding the matchup was palpable as GVSU students posted all over Yik Yak, an anonymous social media platform where people in the same area, college or university can post with each other. Throughout the preceding week students were posting FSU hate: “me: f*** ferris. cashier: sir this is a Wendy’s,” and “Absolutely no red tomorrow down to your underwear bro, do not wear red at lubbers.”

Yik Yakers even posted on game day commenting on the rainy weather conditions and the FSU rivalry, “smells like wet dog. oh wait, Ferris…,” and “Rain?

Snow? Mf tornado?? Nah nothing stopping me from going to this game #F*** FERRIS #GETWETLAKERS.” The two programs have now played in 12-straight ranked matchups, as the Lakers won in the 2022 regular season meeting, toppling top-ranked FSU 2221 in Big Rapids, Mich. before falling at home to the Bulldogs 24-21 in the second round of the playoffs.

Beating the reigning back-to-back national champions has not been easy in the past for the Lakers.

“This rivalry, through the decades, has been very one-sided decade by decade and we wanted to make sure that the 2020s got off to this start,” Lakers’ head coach Scott Wooster said. “We talked about a belief, something just outside of your grasp that you haven’t quite done yet, and that’s what you just saw.”

Wooster now moves to 5-1 in his career, winning his inaugural game against FSU as GVSU’s head man, while Bulldogs’ legend Tony Annese lost just his nineteenth game, falling to 119-19.

“We all believe in the guy (Wooster), we’ve always believed in him. We knew we were going to come out and play our game,” Lakers’ junior quarterback Avery Moore said. “We knew what we had to do and we were following a good leader.”

Out of the gate, GVSU was extraordinarily aggressive on both sides of the ball, with several key components of the bold game plan coming to fruition. After a shanked FSU punt, the Lakers made their mark with an aerial attack on their first play from scrimmage. Cade Peterson took a deep shot to wide receiver Cody Tierney, who hauled in an over-the-shoulder grab from the veteran quarterback, a gutsy play call on the 36-yard score.

“We knew the whole week that the first play was gonna be that play, and I was excited that he pressed the first time, and I knew that Cade was gonna give me a dot. I just went up and grabbed it, and it was awesome,” Tierney, who was the team’s leading receiver with four catches for 74 yards and two touchdowns, said. “Growing up, I mean, I’ve always known about the Anchor-Bone Classic. Having big plays in those moments and this game- it was one of those dreamcome-true kind of things, and it just felt amazing.”

Tierney made multiple big plays in the game, but the ‘X factor’ was Moore, who led the Lakers in rushing with nine carries for 131 yards and two touchdowns.

All three of his scores were from 30-plus yards out, tacking on a 30-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver

Kyle Nott in the first quarter. Nott made a “Sportscenter Top 10” worthy highlight-reel grab, snagging the ball with one hand as he fell backward into the endzone.

“That’s a play we were working on all week. Safety came down, so right when he came down I knew the ball was gonna go to me. I ran my route, Avery threw a good back-shoulder ball, and at the end of the day, I just went up and got it and did what I do,” Nott said.

There was a theme of scripted play calls that worked to a tee for GVSU. Multiple players in the postgame press conference praised the coaching staff ’s game plan, saying that they just “executed.”

After going up 21-0 early in the second quarter with a 37-yard touchdown run by Moore and the 30-yard Nott touchdown grab, the Lakers pulled a rabbit out of their hat with an early onside kick. It was highly unconventional, to say the least, but it worked, and the aggressiveness of the Lakers’ proved to be a crucial difference in the game. Wooster attributed the play calling to his team’s mindset and his coaching staff: defensive coordinator Jim Louis, offensive coordinator Matt Vizthum and special teams coordinator Jacob Studdard.

“Yeah, we went to work on that (the onside kick). Again, taking advantage of a schematic thing there. We’re aggressive, we’re aggressive by nature. Calculated aggressiveness,” Wooster said.

Moments later a pick-six from Cardamone deep in FSU territory kept the momentum moving for GVSU, who was now on top 35-0 versus the number one team in the nation. In a matter of one and a half minutes, the score had gone from 14-0 to 35-0.

“I’m in awe every time our defense goes out there just because I’m thankful I don’t have to face them,” Peterson said.

The Lakers knew that FSU would not go away quietly and knew that going forward it would be about hanging onto their lead.

“There was a piece of me that knew, get to the fourth quarter. We’ve still gotta go to work on these second and third quarters, but I knew who we were in the fourth quarter and that was a big part of it. I think there was a calmness and a presence on the sidelines,” Wooster said.

After benching starting quarterback Mylik Mitchell, FSU stormed back to make it a two-score game before the half with the help of quarterback Carson Gulker. The Lakers surrendered 21 points

in the second quarter, but Gulker’s time on the field would be somewhat short-lived. Gulker, the highly successful quarterback, known as a runner but who passed on all of his scores, was pulled for Mitchell who led the Bulldogs on a touchdown drive late in the third quarter. Suddenly, it was 35-28 and a one-score game.

Mitchell and the Bulldogs struggled for the rest of the night on offense, failing to score in the fourth quarter. The Lakers, however, put up two touchdowns in the final 13 minutes. Moore stepped up huge yet again, this time breaking through a massive hole at the line of scrimmage, hitting the sidelines and accelerating through two tackles en route to a 44-yard rushing score early in the fourth. From then on, FSU struggled to move the ball and a late Peterson touchdown pass to Jordan Johnson sealed the game 49-28.

In a night full of big plays, GVSU pulled off touchdowns of 30, 36, 37 and 44 yards on offense. Wooster felt that the attention on the Bulldogs’ offense undermined his own.

“I got a thousand questions this week about ‘Ferris State’s offense,’ ‘Ferris State’s offense,’ and I’m not gonna talk badly about that because they are a good offense. But, we came into this game (ranked) number three in the country (on offense), and they came into this game number 12. I’m just hoping that question got asked over there (to FSU) too because what Coach Vitzthum does, he’s the best play caller in the country.

You just saw that tonight,” Wooster said.

Following his first win over the Bulldogs, Wooster had his mind set on greater heights.

“Obviously I’m not gonna downplay the rivalry, but it was week seven and we went one-for-one and it puts us one step closer to what we wanna do,” Wooster said.

Following the game, GVSU players were not devoid of confidence as the victory was no surprise to the Lakers.

“That was completely what we expected to happen,” Cardamone said.

Moore reiterated the same sentiment.

“Whole week of practice everyone was just locked in, practice was going well. We knew what we were going to do, we just executed our stuff,” Moore said.

GVSU will head to Marquette, Mich. to take on 0-7 Northern Michigan University at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21. For now, Lakers fans will continue to celebrate their huge victory over despised FSU, that is until these two rivals may inevitably meet again in the playoffs.

RIVALRY: GVSU football beat the Bulldogs with the help of four touchdowns of 30-plus yards. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER

A22 | SPORTS

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NOV. 6

GV men’s wrestling makes return after three-decade hiatus in a win over Cornerstone

BY BRADY KEMMERLING LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

Following a 30-year hiatus, the Grand Valley State University Lakers varsity men’s wrestling team made their long-awaited debut on Wednesday, Nov. 1 with their home opening match against the Cornerstone University Eagles. In their first match back, the Lakers would pull away victorious with a 30-12 win.

After disbanding in 1993, the program was revived with the help of a three million dollar donation from former GVSU wrestling alumni.

Former Laker wrestler John Harris (class of 1977) and his wife Diane Harris’ huge donation funded a massive chunk of the revival.

Leading the way for the Lakers is head coach Joey Simcoe. Previously, Simcoe found success at Tiffin University, where over his 11-year span with the Dragons, he earned four Great Midwest Athletic Conference Coach of The Year awards and coached two players to NCAA Division II National Champions, including 15 All-Americans.

Simcoe said he took his career to GVSU after looking at positions at the Division II level and feeling that GVSU was a perfect match.

“Grand Valley has every quality that I was looking for in an institution,” Simcoe said. “We have all the opportunity here for students to get their degree and wrestle. Knowing that we would be able to have a really nice facility and support, this decision was more of a ‘why not?’”

Being tasked to start a new program, the Lakers’ head coach also went into the process of putting the team together.

“We got connected into the community quickly.

I was able to get out and meet other coaches and continued to put ourselves out there and recruit,” Simcoe said. “It was a fun and crazy year leading up to this. We got to redefine who we were as a team and got to figure out who we want to be. We have a team of not just great athletes and wrestlers, but phenomenal humans, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Beginning the new season for the Lakers was 125-pound freshman Aaron Lucia who faced junior Trevor Marsman from Cornerstone. Despite scoring early in the match, Lucia would fall to Marsman, giving the Golden Eagles the lead and their first win of the meet.

After Lucia’s loss, GVSU quickly rebounded when 133-pound freshman Collin Twigg would take the win with a pin against his opponent. Now ahead

with a 6-3 score against Cornerstone, the Lakers would fight to maintain their lead through the next few matches.

Still, the Lakers struggled to find their footing early as junior Jak Keller in the 141-pound weight class fought back and forth against his opponent.

With the point lead shifting each way, Cornerstone would take the match in a win by decision.

Looking to put GVSU ahead after a tough start for the Lakers, sophomore and 149-pound Chris Donathan, a transfer from Tiffin University who came to GVSU with Simcoe, dominated his match.

Within the first few minutes of the match, Donathan would get a swift 20 points, giving him the win by technical fall.

Cornerstone would rebound before the halfway mark with a win in another contested competition.

Wrestling at 157 pounds for the Lakers was Caden Jacobs. Jacobs fought back and forth but ended up losing by decision.

Heading into the final five matches GVSU led 119, but Cornerstone took the next one in a battle to make it 12-11.

In spite of Cornerstone now possessing the lead six wrestlers in, they would not find themselves with another point the rest of the event, as GVSU would dominate the last four matches.

Sophomore Josh Kenny, who previously wrestled at Muskegon Community College and NCAA Division I Campbell University, started the snowball effect to close out the meet for the Lakers. He was a national champion with MCC just a couple of years ago and exploded out of the gate, scoring 15 straight points to give him a huge win.

With a strong second-half lineup, GVSU would show no signs of slowing down for the remainder of the competition.

The Lakers’ only senior, 184-pound Seth Konynenbelt, dominated in the same way that Kenny did. Konynenbelt led GVSU to another win by technical fall, 15-0.

Sophomore Wyatt Miller, a transfer from NCAA Division I Appalachian State University, looked to secure the win for the Lakers in his match in the 197-pound weight class. Miller went on to pin his opponent just a couple of moments in, giving his team six points and a 27-12 lead with one match left.

Miller’s dominance needed no scouting, and although he won his match, his expectations for the youthful team fell just short.

“I don’t scout my opponents, I just go out. As for the team, my expectation was to win all ten, but

DOMINANT: GVSU won 30-12. GVL | ALENA VISNOVSKY

obviously, they didn’t do that, but we’ll get better,” Miller said.

Closing out the meet for GVSU in the heavyweight was freshman Owen Hawley. A low-scoring match would ensue, but Hawley fought hard for a 5-4 win by decision after slipping out of a late takedown attempt.

“We came in knowing Cornerstone has a lot of good guys and that they are on a winning path. We knew they would come out and fight hard, but we had to impose our will and fight tough,” Kenny said. “We have a really young team, but the few upperclassmen helped guide the way. We found a way to get it done in the end.”

Donathan also acknowledged the youth of the team and felt like some of the difficulties showed because of that.

“A lot of young guys. We strive for greatness, it’s all we want, so it was a little disappointing tonight but we will bounce back,” Donathan said.

Still, ending their first match in multiple decades with a win was a boost for the Lakers’ program as they look to continue their success throughout the season.

A NEW BEGINNING: GVSU reintroduced a DII men’s wrestling team following a 30-year hiatus. After a slow start, the Lakers dominated most of their matchups. GVL | ALENA VISNOVSKY

A23 | SPORTS

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OCT. 9

GV volleyball moves to 14-1 after sweeping two GLIAC opponents

BY DREW BURLINGAME LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

The Grand Valley State University women’s volleyball team (14-1) finished out the weekend with convincing wins against Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) opponents Saginaw Valley State University Cardinals and Wayne State University Warriors in two dominant 3-0 sweeps.

Lakers’ head coach Jason Johnson was impressed with how his team played this weekend with both his offense and defense playing at high levels.

“Our serving and passing was fantastic this weekend.

We never allowed either team to feel comfortable; we were always putting them on their heels,” Johnson said.

The Oct. 7 match was a “Battle of the Valleys” against rival SVSU at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. The Lakers opened the set fast, taking an 8-2 lead before winning the set 25-16.

The second set began with a tug-of-war battle before the Lakers went on a run. With GVSU leading 10-8, Johnson called a timeout, looking to find the same momentum that the Lakers had in the first set. Coming out of the timeout, redshirt

freshman Brianna Stawski had an explosive kill reenergizing the Lakers who went on a 15-7 run, ultimately winning the set 25-15.

The Lakers came out to a 13-8 lead to open the third set before SVSU battled back, tying the score at 13 apiece. The two teams rallied back and forth throughout the set until the score was tied at 23-23 all. Then, Lakers’ sophomore Meghan O’Sullivan had a massive kill, helping her squad to a 25-23 victory, a match win of 3-0.

Looking to extend their win streak to eight in a row, the Lakers came out strong against WSU. The set opened with back-and-forth rallies to be tied 4-4 before the Lakers went on a 15-4 run taking control of the set and winning it 25-12. From then on, it was all GVSU. The Lakers came out strong with a 9-1 lead to open the second set, forcing a WSU timeout. A monster kill by opposite hitter and middle blocker Sarah Wight coming out of the timeout kept the Lakers on track- something that has been a theme for her team after a break. GVSU never let the Warriors back in the game and won the set 25-11.

Looking to avoid the sweep, WSU opened the set with a 6-2 lead before GVSU battled back, tying the game at 9-9. After regaining the

momentum the Lakers took an 18-12 lead before a late surge from WSU brought the game closer.

GVSU then closed out the set winning it 25-20, ending the game at 3-0 and 6-0 on the weekend.

Jordyn Gates led the Lakers with 15 kills, 16 assists, six digs and four total blocks. Wight also had eight kills and four blocks, with Stawski having seven kills and five blocks against WSU. Wight was proud of the way that her team has played at home all season and said “Defending our home court has been an emphasis this season.”

The wins over the weekend extended the Lakers win streak to seven in a row and moved them to 14-1 on the season.

Johnson said it was the culture they have developed as a team and has made a difference for the Lakers so far this season.

“We have worked on the culture and the connectivity and relationships, which help us on the court as well,” Johnson said.

The Lakers look to continue their recent success when they head to Hammond, Ind. to participate in the Midwest Regional Crossover Tournament on Oct. 13 and 14.

SWEEPS: The GVSU volleyball team swept both conference opponents that they faced with the help of players Jordyn Gates, Sarah Wight and Brianna Stawski. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER

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NOV. 6

GV soccer heads into GLIAC tournament with back-to-back wins

BY DELANEY MILLER LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

The Grand Valley State University Lakers women’s soccer team finished their regular season at home with wins against the University of PurdueNorthwest Pride and Davenport University Panthers.

GVSU dominated in both matches, outscoring their opponents by a combined 6-1 as they beat the Pride 4-1 on Sunday, Oct. 29 and the Panthers 2-1 on Thursday, Nov. 2.

Against PNW, the Lakers’ grabbed their first goal and an early lead just 43 seconds into the game from a penalty kick by sophomore defender Kacy Lauer. It was Lauer’s fourth goal this season.

Near the end of the first half, PNW’s Kaci Pampreen knocked in her fifth goal of the season, but the Lakers’ defense stifled the Pride the rest of the way.

In the second half, the Lakers took the lead by scoring three unanswered goals. The second goal of the game was by junior midfielder Ryann Fetty. It was only her second goal this season since playing at Ferris State University the week before.

Junior midfielder Ella Kleiver knocked in the third and senior forward Alicia White scored the fourth goal of the game. It was White’s first tally this year.

GVSU had previously beaten them 6-1 this season, totaling 10 goals to one in the two matchups combined.

Like the Pride, GVSU swept the season against the Panthers with 2-1 wins in both of their matchups.

The Lakers got off to another fast start, scoring a goal in the first minute of the game and again 13 minutes into the game. Both goals were scored by senior forward Taylor Reid. After the game, Reid reflected on the team’s preparation for the game against Davenport.

“Just work on our craft and work on moving the

STREAK: The Lakers are looking to go on a winning streak heading into tough tournament play. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER

ball quickly and not letting them get a touch on the ball. Just being able to deny the long ball,” Reid said.

GVSU’s strategy of playing keep-away worked for the vast majority of the game until the Panthers were able to get a goal with just 46 seconds remaining in the match. Davenport sophomore forward Haley Diekevers kept her team from putting up a goose egg, her seventh goal of the season.

The Lakers now sit at 10-2-6 overall and 8-15 in the conference, going 3-2-4 at home during the regular season.

GVSU is the two seed in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) with Northern Michigan University having won the regular season title.

The Lakers will face Davenport again, the seventh seed, on Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. for the GLIAC tournament’s quarterfinal. The game will take place

at the GVSU Soccer Field in Allendale, Michigan.

Head Coach of the Lakers women’s soccer team Katie Hutlin explained the difficulties of playing Davenport back to back.

“Physicality alone and their style of playing has been a challenge. So we just need to make sure that we value the ball and take care of what we need to take care of,” Hultin said. “I feel pretty confident about it. We just need to get some players healthy and ready to play on Monday.”

Reid, who has scored at least one goal in every GLIAC tournament that she has played in, is looking forward to the game on Monday.

“We’re really excited. I think tournament time is where you can play your best soccer,” Reid said. “So our team is really motivated to do well and play our game. It’s always challenging to play a team back to back, but I think we can do it if we play our game.”

MOMENTUM: GVSU soccer has built lots of momentum with two straight wins going into the GLIAC tournament. HC Katie Hultin has her team at 10-2-6 overall. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER