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Planning for the future GV provost talks university challenges, goals for next 10 years at town hall meeting
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EXPLORING
GVPD sends first timely warning of semester BY JENNA FRACASSI ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM
BY EMILY DORAN EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
t her third town hall meeting in a series of four, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Maria Cimitile predicted challenges that will affect Grand Valley State University in the next 10 years and proposed solutions for them. During her presentation Monday, Sept. 18, in the Kirkhof Center, Cimitile identified changing demographics, declining enrollment and significantly decreased state funding as potential trials GVSU will face in the near future. More specifically, Cimitile discussed the cost competition between GVSU and other public Michigan universities that offer students more funding based on their ACT scores. Given that GVSU’s primary source of funding is tuition, a decline in state funding in the next 10 years would, without intervention, only increase this cost burden on students, assuming they attend GVSU in the first place. “Our sister institutions are buying students,” she said. Cimitile also identified the rising costs of textbooks and living expenses as potential educational barriers for students. “The cost to students is increasing, not just in tuition dollars, but in terms of room and board … as well as textbooks,” she said. “That’s a small amount of dollars that students can’t pay, so they drop out.” Michelle Rhodes, associate vice president for financial aid, chimed in to discuss the funding available to help students in need buy textbooks. “If I know a student needs a textbook, we’re going to find them a way to get money to buy a textbook,” she said. “We do have resources to help
SAFETY
DISCUSSING CHANGES: Maria Cimitile speaks at her third town hall meeting in the Kirkof Center Monday, Sept. 18. The provost predicted challenges that will affect GVSU in the next 10 years and proposed solutions. GVL | HANNAH ZAJAC
the students. That is what we do.” Students’ mental health was another focal point of Cimitile’s presentation, as well as the Q&A immediately afterward. “We know that student anxiety is increasing because of some of the factors that I mentioned,” Cimitile said. “The mental health issues that students are feeling are reported at a higher rate than their academic concerns. Now, we know that those two things go hand in hand often—not always, but often—so how are we addressing that? That’s something that we’re going to need to think about more carefully.” During the Q&A portion of the town hall meeting, Marlene Kow-
alski-Braun, associate vice provost for student affairs and inclusion, shared how GVSU community members can submit a non-emergency form to express concern about a student. The CARE Form is accessible on the website for the Dean of Students Office. “When a student shows up on one person’s radar, they show up on many, and so our goal always is to intervene at the appropriate level to help get them the care that they need,” Kowalski-Braun said. During her presentation, Cimitile also identified what she perceived to be GVSU’s strengths, including talented faculty and staff, “excellent teaching and fortified scholarship” and student prioritization. “At Grand Valley, students are
our first priority,” Cimitile said. “That is a huge asset for us. We always have—as long as I’ve been here—put students first, and so as long as we have the collective mindset, I think we are going to excel.” In the next 10 years, Cimitile hopes the university will be renowned for its high-quality, accessible education; innovation; and engagement of students, faculty and staff. She thinks these goals can be achieved through GVSU “telling (its) story,” making informed decisions and creating pathways for students. “I think we do fabulous things at Grand Valley already; I think we could do a much better job of talking at what we’re doing,” she said. “I would like to be a beacon of public impact.”
On Monday, Sept. 11, Grand Valley State University students were sent a timely warning email alerting them of a sexual assault that had taken place on campus between 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, and 12:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 10. According to the email, the GVSU Police Department received a call around 6:30 p.m. Monday regarding a sexual assault. The incident, which occurred near Hoobler and Frey living centers, involved a group of five to six male subjects. It was reported that the group of males approached a lone female subject and one of them sexually assaulted her. Capt. Brandon DeHaan of the GVPD said the assault would be characterized as a “fondling incident,” or the touching of a private body part by another person. The assailant was described in the email as a “white male approximately 6’1-6’2”, thin build, wavy brown hair, wearing brown shorts, red jacket and a hat.” “We want to make sure we put notice out to our community when this type of activity occurs,” DeHaan said. “We had asked for any tips, any information (and) silent observer tips. We have received some tips in relationship to that. Our investigation is continuing. We’ve been following up on tips.” The assailant has not yet been identified, and GVPD is calling on the campus community for help. “We are asking our community to help come forward and help identify the nature of this incident so we can resolve it,” DeHaan said. Anyone who has any knowledge or information specific to this incident is encouraged to contact the GVPD at 616-331-3255. In light of this incident, DeHaan also thinks it is important to highlight SEE GVPD | A2
CHARITY
Murray Scholar learns about privilege, culture abroad BY MEGAN WEBSTER MWEBSTER@LANTHORN.COM
Study abroad programs offer a unique opportunity for students, allowing them to step outside their comfort zones and get the most out of their foreign language education. However, pulling the trigger on a study abroad program can be one of the hardest decisions a student can make. Going to a foreign country is a journey that can be terrifying at first, but it can also give students the opportunity to see the world in a different light. Dashaun Ragland, a junior at GVSU majoring in biomedical sciences and minoring in Spanish, made the decision to study abroad, and he wishes that he could go back and do it all over again. Ragland began exploring study abroad programs his freshman year but was initially hesitant to make a final decision. His grandfather currently lives in Ecuador, and his parents have traveled in the past, but he had never been out of the country. At 20 years old, Ragland found the Chile study abroad program and knew it was the right program for him. He finalized his decision; packed up his belongings; and, for nine weeks this past summer from May to July, he lived in Chile. Even though he was a little nervous about having to use Spanish to get around, he had faith that he could do it. “That excited me, I think,” Ragland said. “Because I mean, I was nervous obviously about getting lost and all that, but at the same time I was confiSEE SCHOLAR | A2
COMPETING FOR A CAUSE: The BOTV trophy was presented during halftime as GVSU squared off against SVSU Nov. 14, 2016, in Allendale. “Battle of the Valleys” will start up again on campus Sunday, Sept. 24, and go through Friday, Sept. 29, leading up to a Laker football game Saturday, Sept 30. GVL | KEVIN SIELAFF
GV gears up for annual ‘Battle of the Valleys’ BY CELIA HARMELINK CHARMELINK@LANTHORN.COM
The annual “Battle of the Valleys” is about to begin. Not only will Grand Valley State University and Saginaw Valley State University be going headto-head out on the football field, but they will also be competing in the annual fundraising event. Battle of the Valleys will take place across campus Sunday, Sept. 24, through Friday, Sept. 29, leading up to the football game Saturday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. at Lubbers Stadium. All of the proceeds from this week-long charity competition will be going to the Laker Children’s Fund (LCF), an organization run by GVSU students that raises money for non-
profit organizations located in Kent and Ottawa counties that specialize in childhood growth and well-being. Donations will open at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 24, and will close at 11:59 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29. Since 2003, Battle of the Valleys has raised a total of more than $510,000 for children’s charities between the two schools. Some of the events during the week will include the Family Weekend 5k walk/run, a beach volleyball tournament, a car wash, an egg smash, “Pie Day,” “Grill Day,” water pong and sunset yoga at the Cook Carillon Tower. The money raised from all of these events will go toward the Laker Children’s Fund. Morgan Mattler, chair of public
relations for GVSU’s student senate, said the money raised is donated through the LCF toward a range of scholarships. “There are a wide variety of things this money goes to to benefit children, current Lakers and future Lakers,” Mattler said. The LCF began in 2014 when GVSU decided that instead of donating the funds to a charity of its choice, the money raised from Battle of the Valleys would go toward a single fund that the university could give to nonprofit organizations as needed. While money for the LCF was initially only raised during Battle of the Valleys, GVSU now has events all year long that contribute to it. This event would not be possible
without the efforts of the Laker Traditions team and the student senate, in addition to many other groups and organizations on campus that have helped to raise money for GVSU. “While it’s mostly a Laker Traditions event, it’s tradition that the student senate as a whole helps out through volunteering, helping, getting the word out, promoting it and all things necessary,” Mattler said. Mattler appreciates the community aspect of the annual event. “I believe the most important aspect of Battle of the Valleys is the coming together of the Laker community, student senate, Laker TradiSEE BOTV | A2