Grand Valley Lanthorn
Grand Valley’s student-run newspaper
www.lanthorn.com
Vol. 45 issue 10: Sept. 27, 2010
ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME SHOT
DISCOVER THE PAST
APPLES TO APPLES
>> See B1
>> See A4
>> See B4
FIRST GOLF ACE IN GVSU HISTORY
PROFESSOR DIGS RUINS IN GREECE
GUIDE TO APPLE SEASON
Staff members opt for voluntary pay freeze By Anya Zentmeyer GVL Assistant News Editor
In the wake of a wage freeze that affected the staff members at Grand Valley State University, the Clerical, Office and Technical Association have decided in a historical vote to join the rest of the staff by taking a voluntary pay freeze that will forfeit a raise scheduled for Oct. 1, the last in a three-year contract. “I believe everyone still believes we did the right thing,” said Coreen Pelton, chair of the bargaining committee for the union. “We have generated positive energy - such good will.”
The COTA, affiliated with the Michigan Education Association and first organized in 1979, represents 353 employees at GVSU. Out of the 263 members that voted, 240 voted for the contract, 22 voted against and one abstained. PELOTN The COTA was the single bargaining unit on campus in the middle of a contract when the pay freeze was invoked for the other employees – a fact that would have made the university legally
obligated to pay the Oct. 1 scheduled raise had membership not voted to join their colleagues. Pelton was optimistic about the decision and, despite the frozen pay, said that “everyone wins with this decision.” “The students and the university win by holding down costs and having unity amongst the employees with everyone freezing their pay,” Pelton said. “The university will reallocate these funds and the students will benefit from it.” The COTA members will now receive a ratification extending the contract past some turbulent financial years with a new expiration date of 2014, Pelton said. She added that the
decision will also protect COTA’s defined benefit retirement and provide a minimal increase to wages from Oct. 1 of 2011 to Sept. 30 of 2014. “The COTA members understand the financial burden placed upon our students,” she said. “We wanted to do our part. We wanted to stand together with all employees. We are united in our mission.” Pelton, who admittedly marveled at the support staff at GVSU, is not alone. Standing among her in appreciation is Student Senate President Jarrett Martus.
See Pay, A2
Celebration hosted by Future Alumni Association, Student Senate commemorates first day of classes at GVSU, leads into upcoming month of activities
College Democrats to host local candidates
By Derek Wolff
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GVL Staff Writer
he Nov. 2 elections will be critical for both Democrats and Republicans, and Grand Valley State University’s College Democrats are doing their part to introduce students to local candidates. The College Democrats will host a Meet the Candidates event Wednesday in the Pere Marquette Room in the Kirkhof Center from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Three local democratic candidates will be in attendance: 75th State House District candidate and Kent County Commissioner Brandon Dillon, 29th State Senate District candidate and Grand Rapids City Commissioner David LaGrand and 2nd Congressional District candidate Fred Johnson. There will be a question and answer session followed by a meet and greet with the candidates. “Everyone will have a chance to ask their questions to these guys, no filters – if you want to get your ideas out there to your future leaders, it’s a great way to do it,” said Paul LeBlanc, president of the College Democrats at GVSU. Dillon, similar to many other candidates, said his emphasis would be on repairing Michigan’s government and its economy. “Everyone knows the system is broken and we’ve got to shake things up,” he said in a press release. “As a lifelong resident of Grand Rapids and a parent who is
rand Valley State University’s Future Alumni Association and Student Senate are teaming up to throw GVSU students, faculty and alumni the party of the semi-century. The celebration for the 50th anniversary, nicknamed Louie’s 50th Birthday party, will be held from 3 p.m to 6 p.m. today on the west lawn of the Kirkhof Center by Lake Zumberge. The party will commemorate the first day of classes held at GVSU, which started on Sept. 26, 1963. Free food from Classic Fare Catering and lawn games such as hillbilly golf and corn hole bags will be available while general socializing and celebrating are encouraged. Mindy Earley, GVSU’s assistant director of Alumni Relations, said a multitude of attractive reasons should influence people, particularly new students, to come to the party. “Students should come to enjoy free food, conversations about GVSU and the history of the university,” she said. “The event has been designed to be open, informal and social while inspiring conversations about what the 50th means to everyone.” For FAA, the event not only commemorates the first day of classes but also marks the starting point of event planning. Earley said the goals of the FAA base of 75,000 alumni are to help current students and share their experience, advice and success stories. Ultimately, Earley said, the current students that make up and embody GVSU are the main focus for Courtesy Photo / waymarking.com the party. “The Future Alumni Association is hoping (students) Celebrate: The 10-story Carillon Tower is a well-known landmark of GVSU. The community is will enjoy the event and reflect on what it means to be invited to celebrate the university’s 50-year existence with a party today outside Kirkhof.
See Democrats A2
See Birthday, A2
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By Samantha Butcher GVL Senior Reporter
UBS ensures no official GV apparel made in sweatshops Brian’s Books, other university stores join efforts to help promote workers’ rights in foreign countries, U.S. By Lauren Fitch GVL Editor in Chief
Workers crowd into a small room where the door is locked behind them. They each hunch over their own sewing machine where they will stay for the next 12 hours, working to earn less than minimum wage. This is their reality seven days a week, all to produce hundreds of hoodies embroidered with the logos of American universities so students miles away can show off their school pride. Thanks to one student hired on behalf of the Workers Rights Consortium by the University Bookstore, Grand Valley State University students can rest assured their university apparel will never be produced in such a manner. Ryan Comeau, a fifth-year senior, has been the WRC liaison for GVSU and was hired by UBS two years ago. The position has been in place at UBS for more than five years. The WRC is an independent organization monitoring workers’ rights in factories around the world, especially in the garment industry. WRC partners with numerous universities to make sure
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the apparel they sell is not produced in sweat shops. Thanks to one student hired on behalf of the Workers Rights Consortium by the University Book Store, Grand Valley State University students can rest assured their university apparel will never be produced in such a manner. Kyle Douglass, assistant store manager of UBS, explained that Comeau helps cross check products with their vendors to get contact information and location for specific factories where the apparel is produced. Comeau then reports the information to WRC who can follow up with the international factories and conduct further investigations into working conditions as necessary. “It’s a pretty thorough practice,” Douglass said. “It guarantees we never sell something that comes from a sweat shop.” In the first year that UBS hired an employee to focus solely on working with the WRC, Douglass said they uncovered a lot of questionable working conditions where their apparel was produced. Since dealing with those issues, UBS has mostly been double checking the factories of their suppliers as new orders come in.
See Sweatshops, A2
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GVL / Eric Coulter
Inspection: Senior Ryan Comeau documents a UBS shirt to follow up on contact information for the factory where it was made. The WRC uses the information to check on working conditions in the factory.
News........................................................................A2 Opinion.........................................................A3
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Sports...........................................................B1 Laker Life..........................................................................B4 Marketplace......................................................B5