Issue 30, December 7th 2017 - Grand Valley Lanthorn

ST U D E N T- R U N P U B L I C A T I O N S // T H U R S D A Y, D E C E M B E R 7, 2 0 1 7 // VO L . 52 N O. 3 0

GRAND VALLEY

FALL 2017

SEMESTER IN REVIEW

A2–A8 B1–B4 A9 A10 A11–A14

NEWS/OPINION GRADUATION SPECIAL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LAKER LIFE SPORTS

A L L E N D A L E & G R A N D R A P I DS , M I C H I G A N

A2 | NEWS

DECEMBER 7, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

INCLUSION

Student senate votes in favor of Indigenous Peoples Day

BY JOSHUA VISSERS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

SEPT. 24 The resolution to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day was passed at the Thursday, Sept.

21, general assembly of the Grand Valley State University student senate. The vote took place after several community members stood to speak during the public comment period, as well as several minutes of statements of support from senate members.

“As a white woman, I’ve had the privilege of thinking of Columbus stumbling on this land as a discovery,” said Kristen Green during public comment. Green attends a local Native American regalia class, and her two daughters are Native American. Her 10-yearold, Jade Green, also stood at the podium and spoke in favor of the resolution.

“As I see it, this issue is elementary,” she said.

Megan Chivis, a member of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band

of the Potawatomi, also voiced her criticism of Columbus Day. “If there was an ISIS Day, would you be okay with it?

Would you be okay with a Bin Laden Day?” Chivis asked the assembly, after describing acts committed by Christopher Columbus.

Several more community members also voiced their support, including concerned students and also William Cadreau, the father of student senator Joe Cadreau, the senator who proposed the resolution. The elder Cadreau recounted oppression he had experienced in boarding schools growing up and hardships on the reservation.

“I appreciate the time here today. It’s all in your hands. It’s time to rename it,” he concluded.

The vote was called out by voice with one abstention and at least one opposed, but the large majority was in favor of the resolution.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

CELEBRATION: Indigenous Peoples Day at Grand Valley State University on Monday, Oct. 9. On Thursday, Sept. 21, GVSU student senate voted in favor of recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day as opposed to recognizing Christopher Columbus Day at GVSU. GVL | HANNAH ZAJAC

GOVERNANCE

GV students, administration respond to Trump’s DACA announcement

BY JENNA FRACASSI AND THERESA MUELLER ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM

SEPT. 11 On Tuesday, Sept. 5, the Trump administration announced its plan to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) pro-

gram in six months. In light of this announcement, members of the Grand Valley State University and Grand Rapids communities expressed their support for DACA and DACA students with meetings, statements and demonstrations.

Roughly 300 people gathered together in Grand Rapids

that Tuesday and paraded the streets in support of DACA. According to MLive.com, protestors walked across the Blue Bridge and along Pearl Street and ended with a candlelight ceremony at Calder Plaza. During the ceremony, many DACA recipients expressed their concerns and described how they

benefitted from the program.

That evening, GVSU President Thomas Haas sent out a mass email to the entire GVSU campus community.

In his email, he addressed the concern caused by the declared six-month remainder of the DACA program.

His email in part read,

ACTION: GVSU President Thomas Haas speaks to student senate during their first session Thursday, Aug. 31. In September, GVSU released a statement in response to the Trump administration’s announcement to end the DACA program in March 2018. GVL | SPENCER SCARBER

“It is worth reinforcing that Grand Valley State University has a history of providing a quality education with inclusion as a steady value.

This is unchanged.”

On Wednesday, Sept. 6, GVSU’s Latino Student Union (LSU) held an emergency meeting to discuss the confusion and upset surrounding the previous day’s announcement.

LSU members explained that the change in the DACA policy does not only affect DACA and undocumented students, but it affects all students at GVSU. The DACA program was established by the Obama administration in 2012 to give children of undocumented immigrants the opportunity to receive schooling, a work permit and a driver’s license. It is not, however, a means to citizenship.

LSU opened its emergency meeting to all GVSU faculty, staff and students. Members of LSU offered information on what DACA is, who it affects, and how and why students at GVSU should care.

Noemi Jimenez, LSU member and president of Laker Familia, shared a personal story of her family member who is DACA recipient, explaining how the Trump administration’s actions affect both her

family member and herself.

Jimenez stressed the importance of sharing personal stories, as they humanize the issue.

To show support, multiple members of GVSU’s administration attended the meeting, including Jess Bernal, vice president for the Division of Inclusion and Equity, who took a moment to personally respond to the issue.

Bernal assured students of the continuous campus support and protection of all students at GVSU, regardless of status. Additionally, he explained, GVSU administration is undertaking many actions behind the scenes. But, for the sake of students’ privacy, they are hesitant to relay specifically what these actions are.

Bernal reminded students that the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) is open to not only undocumented or DACA students who may need assistance with resources, but to any student who may want to discuss details of the recent changes in the DACA policy.

“We are here to answer questions,” Bernal said. “We want to take the lead from those impacted.”

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

PERFORMANCE

GV releases 11th annual Accountability Report Numbers show high enrollment, retention rates

BY KARINA LLOYD NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

NOV. 9 The 11th annual Grand Valley State University Accountability Report, released Friday, Nov. 3, at the GVSU Board of Trustees meeting in the Kirkhof Center, revealed a steady rate of strong performance.

The purpose of this report is to assess what students are getting out of their education and how successful the university is at delivering its promise of a quality education at GVSU. The results of this report were measured based on the seven core values of GVSU’s 2016-21 strategic plan: excellence, integrity, inquiry, inclusiveness, community, sustainability and innovation.

According to the report, GVSU continues to rank ex-

ceptionally well in the areas of retention rate, graduation rate, degrees awarded in critical skills, Pell-eligible students and accessibility by qualified students.

For the fourth year in a row, GVSU has enrolled more than 25,000 students, and for the sixth consecutive year, GVSU has seen more than 4,000 freshmen alone join the GVSU community. This year’s enrollment number is 25,049, in comparison to Michigan State University’s 49,042, University of Michigan’s 45,846 and Wayne State University’s 27,089. Even more significant, the freshman-tosophomore retention rate holds steady at 84 percent, ensuring the likelihood that GVSU’s incoming classes will be Lakers for a lifetime.

“What we’ve been able to do over the years is create a

place where students want to be, (where) they want to come ... to get their degree and experience a program that’s going to be helpful to them in their future,” said GVSU President Thomas Haas. “And I think we’ve been able to ... create a university students want to be a part of because we’re focusing in on their success.”

The university has seen a slight increase in the diversity on campus as a record number of students of color (4,344) joined GVSU’s campus in 2017.

“Diversity is an intellectual asset for a university, and when we have individuals that have their own backgrounds and values, we create a much more robust and vibrant learning community,” Haas said. “When we create that type of university, people want to join us (and) students want (to) experience

DOING WELL: GVSU graduating student Lyndsie Hosang pictured during commencement on Saturday, April 29. GVSU’s 11th annual Accountability Report was released Friday, Nov. 3. GVL | EMILY FRYE

what we have here because we’re providing great value.

“I am very, very pleased that we are attracting people

from different parts of the state, different parts of the nation and the world, and with those different backgrounds they bring, we (be-

come) a better university.”

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

DECEMBER 7, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

NEWS | A3

TITLE IX

Weighing the evidence

BY ANNE MARIE SMIT NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

OCT. 9 The U.S. Department of Education announced in September that there were going to be some revisions to the Obama-era regulations for sexual assault policies on college campuses. Betsy DeVos, secretary of education, voiced that the handling of reported sexual assaults favored the alleged victim without the presentation of sufficient evidence, which too often resulted in an unfair determination.

Theresa Rowland, the Title IX coordinator and equity officer at Grand Valley State University, said representa-

tives of the Division of Inclusion and Equity immediately began to discuss the implications of DeVos’ changes on GVSU’s current policy.

“Concerns around the 2011 guidance were noted earlier in September, so it was widely suspected that changes would be forthcoming,” she said via email. “We quickly convened those involved in Title IX reports to review the interim Q&A.” Currently, the interim Q&A gives universities the choice between utilizing preponderance of the evidence and clear and convincing evidence standards. However, DeVos has not definitively stated the flexibility of the revisions, whether campuses will be forced to adopt the

clear and convincing evidence standard in the future, or whether they will be given the option to decide.

Jesse Bernal, vice president for inclusion and equity at GVSU, said the university operates under the preponderance of the evidence standard and that it has worked well in the GVSU community. He distinguished between the preponderance of the evidence standard and the clear and convincing evidence standard that Betsy DeVos is proposing that university campuses adopt.

“The preponderance of the evidence standard is slightly above a 50 percent threshold that there’s been a violation of policy,” Bernal said. “In most cases, it means ‘more likely than not.’ The clear and convincing

evidence standard means the violation is substantially more likely than not, but it’s not as absolute as the ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ standard of the criminal justice system.”

When asked if there have been complaints about GVSU’s policy, Bernal noted that there will always be someone, in any given report of sexual assault, who will be unhappy with the outcome. GVSU recognizes that fact and strives to be fair in all of their investigations.

“Going through an investigation is a difficult experience for everyone involved, particularly for someone who has been a victim or survivor of sexual misconduct,” Bernal said. “We aim to support our student who has had a negative experience while also ensuring that we do

GV to review sexual assault policies after national changes to Obama-era regulations

our due diligence to uphold due process for everyone involved and are equitable in that process, both when someone is reported and when someone gives us a report of sexual misconduct or harassment.”

Since the preponderance of the evidence standard set by the Obama administration in 2011, there has been a national rise in the number of assaults reported, and women continue to report in greater numbers. Rowland said GVSU is in alignment with this national statistic.

“We continue to encourage reporting,” she said.

“The university takes campus safety and federal guidelines very seriously.”

On the Division of Inclusion and Equity website, GVSU administration states its re-

sponse to DeVos’ proposed revisions, writing that the only changes the university plans to adopt moving forward are crafting a more detailed letter for the respondent and removing the 60-day time limit on investigations. However, Bernal noted that GVSU administration will not move forward on a decision without the input of the campus community.

“There’s a statement on our website that we will be sending out in our newsletter to the campus next week,” Bernal said. “We want the community to share feedback with us.

What should our evidentiary standard be? What should our timeline look like in terms of completing an investigation?

We want to hear from folks before we go forward.”

DEBATE: Jesse Bernal (center), vice president for inclusion and equity at GVSU, speaks at a University Academic Senate meeting in the DeVos Center on April 8, 2016. This September, the U.S. Department of Education announced that there were going to be revisions to the Obama-era regulations for sexual assault policies on campuses. In response, GVSU decided to review its current policies. GVL | SARA CARTE

POLICE

Brandon DeHaan steps in as GVPD acting director

BY EMILY DORAN EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

OCT. 16 Following Renee Freeman’s recent retirement as the Grand Valley State University Police Department chief, Acting Director Brandon DeHaan is stepping in to run the department until an individual is selected to fill the position permanently.

D. Scott Richardson, acting vice president for finance and administration

at GVSU, anticipates that a search for a new chief will begin in January 2018. Both internal and external candidates will be considered.

“There won’t be any rush to do a search, but we’ll certainly do a search when it’s time to refill the job and hire a new chief, just like we normally do with any vacancy,” he said.

Richardson said whoever is hired as the new chief will have to be skilled in both police work and community relations.

“All of the things that the

previous chief was in charge of and had us in really good shape need to continue,” he said. “The people who live in our housing ought to view campus police as their allies, as people who are there to make their life secure and good, so it’s not all just about enforcement: It’s about having the kind of force that does things the right way.”

In the meantime, both Richardson and DeHaan are confident that the department’s staff will continue to perform their jobs well.

“I’m very confident in the

individuals working at this department to provide the services necessary for our community,” DeHaan said.

“We’ve got good people here.

We are (going to) continue to serve our community.”

Richardson anticipates that any short-term restructuring in the department will be minimal.

“I think in the short term there’ll be a little bit of restructuring just to cover all the jobs that need to get done as Brandon moves up, but I don’t think overall,” he said. “One of the

things that we’re going to take a look at is really what’s a best structure for the future.

Like everything we do here, we have limited resources and we want to do more than we have funding for, so … what’s the best organization we can have to do that efficiently and hopefully wind up with some funds that we can redirect into community police officer kind of work so students really know that they’re safe out here.”

Until a new chief is selected, Richardson is confi-

dent in DeHaan’s abilities to hold down the fort.

“Certainly, the president (of GVSU) and I have lots of confidence in Brandon to step in and be acting chief,” he said. “He did an exceptional job (when he did this previously), so we got complete confidence that we aren’t going to miss a step, we’re going to keep moving forward and this is going to be as safe a place as it ever could be, ever was, under his leadership.”

IN CHARGE: GVPD Acting Director Brandon DeHaan coordinates with those participating in the Martin Luther King Jr. Silent March to ensure a smooth transition into the Fieldhouse on Jan. 20, 2016. DeHaan stepped into the role this semester. D. Scott Richardson, acting vice president for finance and administration, said he anticipates the search for a permanent chief will begin in January 2018. GVL | KEVIN SIELAFF

DECEMBER 7, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A4 | OPINION

BY ATHENA JASMAN NOV. 16

BY KAYLEIGH VAN OVEREN OCT. 26

RESTRUCTURE

GV should be cautious when reviewing sexual assault policies

BY LANTHORN EDITORIAL EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

OCT. 9 This past month, the U.S. Department of Education announced a rollback and restructuring of Obama-era regulations for reporting and investigating sexual assaults on college campuses. While the guidelines are not yet set in stone for each university— there is still some leeway for what type of evidence will serve to convict an alleged offender at the individual university level—the overall push is to establish a greater degree of certainty when convicting or acquitting the accused party.

In response to these changes, Grand Valley State University administration is cautiously reviewing its own policies and preparing to survey the university community for its opinion.

Currently, GVSU utilizes the preponderance of the evidence standard to determine guilt—that is, the accused party is determined guilty if it is more than 50 percent likely that they are. DeVos’ proposed changes would move this standard to the more robust clear and convincing evidence standard, which implies a greater degree of certainty before the conviction is made.

GVSU administration is

wise for cautiously reviewing its policies and not jumping to any drastic changes before these regulations are officially settled at the national level. After all, with its current policy, GVSU has made significant strides in terms of encouraging victims to report sexual assaults.

Changing the standard of evidence may make this number drop again, which would be detrimental to victims.

The university is also planning to reach out to the GVSU community to establish what students, faculty and staff think before they make any official changes. Although this decision positively reflects the administration’s commitment

to put its community members’ interests first, the responses should be taken with a grain of salt. After all, students in particular have a lot at stake in how this policy is altered (if at all), and their answers will of course be colored by how they might be affected.

To generalize broadly for the sake of example, female students will likely favor the preponderance of the evidence standard since it offers a lot of protection for alleged victims.

Male students on the other hand, may prefer the clear and convincing evidence standard because it better protects accused perpetrators, of which the majority are men.

Consider how often the safety notices issued by the GVSU Police Department include generic perpetrator descriptions that could apply to a large portion of the male population at the university.

One could argue that these generic descriptions put a lot of innocent men (particularly members of minority groups who are more likely to experience racial profiling) at risk or at least unease if they could easily be confused for a nondescript attacker.

On the flip side, as the current policy at GVSU has shown with a general upward trend of reported sexual assaults in the area, victims need

to feel comfortable when reporting acts of sexual violence and need to be uninhibited by fear that their attacker will go free due to a lack of sufficient evidence and attempt to retaliate. GVSU’s current policy effectively accounts for this, and changing it might drastically reduce the number of women who come forward about experiencing sexual violence and who ultimately receive justice.

How a university investigates and acts on reports of sexual assault is a serious issue and should not be taken lightly. GVSU administration is right to act cautiously and carefully when reviewing these policies.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Bystanders need to take responsibility for sexual assault

BY LANTHORN EDITORIAL EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

BY ATHENA JASMAN OCT. 23 HOLIDAY

GV doesn’t need to ‘replace’ Columbus Day

BY LANTHORN EDITORIAL EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

SEPT. 18 At the Grand Valley State University student senate general assembly Thursday, Sept. 14, senators who favored replacing Columbus Day at GVSU with Indigenous Peoples Day were met with unexpected resistance from their peers.

One of the arguments against “swapping out” Columbus Day was that doing so would have no effect on the status of the federally recognized holiday and that any local consequence would also be irrelevant because, well, GVSU doesn’t officially recognize Columbus Day to begin with.

Aside from the very real and very relevant debate about Columbus Day’s merit (or lack thereof), the university’s avoidance—as a public institution—of a federal holiday is an interesting issue in itself.

GVSU’s evasion of Columbus Day is likely an example of the university trying to stay one step ahead of Columbus Day protests from Native American groups and sympathizers.

By refusing to celebrate Columbus Day, GVSU is likewise refusing to condone

what the holiday stands for.

Individuals who believe the university should take a more explicit stance by actively supporting Indigenous Peoples Day might believe the exact opposite—that GVSU’s evasion of the holiday is either a weak response or even a tacit nod of approval.

But let’s be realistic: As a university, GVSU is already doing what it reasonably can do, given that Columbus Day is still a federally recognized holiday. There isn’t a need for GVSU to swap out holidays when they aren’t even recognizing one in the first place.

Avoiding the holiday altogether is the university’s way of calmly and cautiously weighing in on this debate, which at times a state university has to do. The argument to swap holidays on a national level is by no means without merit, but GVSU shouldn’t be expected to take a side, as the real fight exists outside the university’s walls and control.

However, GVSU still has a responsibility to make all students feel comfortable on campus. This is why administration should continue to encourage student groups to celebrate the diversity of different cultures and events like Indigenous

Peoples Day. This doesn’t have to involve officially implementing a new school holiday— that seems a bit drastic and unrealistic. Rather, GVSU can continue to promote diverse programming and support free speech on campus for groups to express their opinions on issues like this one.

This also calls upon GVSU community members to educate themselves on issues that affect portions of our student body more than others. We—students, faculty, staff and administration alike—have a responsibility to stay on top of these issues and encourage open dialogue about them.

Replacing Columbus Day on a national scale may not be a topic that directly impacts the vast majority of GVSU members, but that does not mean it is any less important. We, as a campus community, can support the students most affected by this debate by continuing to foster discussions and encouraging individuals to voice differing perspectives. That being said, there isn’t anything else GVSU can reasonably do about the Columbus Day debacle at the local level.

SEPT. 25 In the past few weeks, Grand Valley State University has sent out both a timely warning email and a safety notice email, alerting community members of an oncampus sexual assault and an attempted off-campus sexual assault, respectively. Both of these alerts described the perpetrators as groups of men, not lone predators. Perhaps more shockingly, in the case of the first timely warning, only one of the men was accused of assaulting the victim in question, while the rest of the men were merely observers who later ran away.

With so many individuals involved, one has to wonder why no one intervened in either of these cases. Surely someone could have persuaded the group to leave without assaulting anyone.

But no. Call it peer pressure or, more accurately, scumbaggery, but it seems that none of the witnesses or participants stopped the assaults in either of the incidents.

This is exactly why GVSU places such a heavy emphasis on bystander intervention training. The university recognizes the power of active bystanders, whose intervention could drastically alter the outcome of a situation in which sexual violence is an imminent threat.

In fact, the Division of Inclusion and Equity just sent out a campus-wide email with an online training module about bystander intervention.

In addition, numerous programs at GVSU, including “It’s on Us” and ReACT!, focus on equipping GVSU students with the tools and

information they need to be active bystanders. With their numerous educational events held through the academic year, these organizations serve the GVSU community by spreading information and awareness.

This is another reason why it’s notable that GVSU dedicated a significant portion of its 2017 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, released today, to providing information about sexual crimes, resources and bystander intervention.

Recognizing students’ concerns and striving to create a safe campus environment, the authors of the report chose to highlight some of GVSU’s most notable sexual violence resources, including the Victim’s Rights and Options (VRO) website.

The VRO website offers information about different campus resources, options

BY ATHENA JASMAN SEPT. 25

and initiatives, including the campus victim advocate, definitions, police response options, bystander intervention training, risk reduction tips and more. This is a valuable tool for all students, staff and faculty, as the information is updated regularly.

As the GVSU community is forced to confront these group assaults, we must ask ourselves if we are doing everything we can as a collective community and as individuals to confront sexual violence. When you see someone aggressively hitting on an intoxicated individual at a party, do you intervene, or do you turn the other way?

When your group of buddies decides to assault a lone individual walking at night, do you stand by and do nothing, or do you jump in to stop the assault?

DECEMBER 7, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

NEWS | A5

SCHEDULE

Student senate votes in favor of fall break

Academic calendar still unlikely to change for next year

BY ANNE MARIE SMIT NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

NOV. 6 After hearing about the possibility of a fall break at Grand Valley State University, students may be wondering if any action has been taken and whether they can look forward to a fall breather next academic year. Student senate gathered for its general assembly Thursday, Nov. 2, to discuss whether or not the university should make room for a fall break in the calendar, how long the break would last and when it might go into effect.

Jonathan Bowman, president of student senate, proposed the amendment for a fall break. Bowman displayed his proposed amendment to the fall calendar with fall break occurring the week after midterms, giving students a Thursday and Friday breather. Bowman pointed out that this change would require the fall semester to begin two school days earlier on a Thursday

instead of a Monday.

“This is something that student senate has been working on for a few years now because there is no break between Labor Day and Thanksgiving, and that is a very long time period for students,” Bowman said.

“It’s just a draining time period. It’s long and exhausting, and mental health is very important to us.”

The addition of a fall break to the calendar would affect several aspects of campus life, Bowman noted. Transitions, freshman move-in, convocation, new faculty training and resident assistant training would all have to be moved if a fall break were added to the calendar. Under this calendar change, freshman movein would likely be Friday through Sunday instead of Monday through Tuesday.

“It might be better because parents wouldn’t have to take off work if move-in is on the weekend,” Bowman said.

In response to this, the vice president of student senate, Dan Ziegenfelder, voiced that

certain vendors and events have already been booked for the 2018-19 year and that adding a fall break to the calendar for next year might cause an uproar among those people.

In addition, several senators mentioned that students might not be aware of the process of making a fall break a reality. First, it must be voted on by the student senate, and then it must pass through several departments before it can go into effect. The university might agree to a fall break, but the proposed break as set by the senate might not be accepted.

The process may not be as smooth or quick as some students expect.

“It might not be possible for it to happen next year,” Bowman said. “If it does make it through the University Academic Senate and is approved by the provost, that is going to take a lot of time, and it most likely won’t be approved for next fall.”

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

TAKING A BREAK: Students walking on GVSU’s Allendale Campus on Wednesday, Oct. 11. Despite efforts from student senate, the academic calendar is unlikely to change for next year. GVL | EMILY FRYE

GREEK LIFE

Banned

BY ANNE MARIE SMIT NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

NOV. 27 Greek Life organizations have gained negative attention nationwide recently, with many universities cracking down on behavior that doesn’t

align with its values. After a number of conduct violations over several years, Sigma Phi Epsilon (Sig Ep), Grand Valley State University’s oldest fraternity, was banned from campus for the next five years.

The ban wasn’t the first punishment for the frater-

Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity expelled for five years following incidents of hazing, alcohol use nity. Last year, Sig Ep went on probation in response to underage drinking and hazing incidents, but soon after the fraternity went off probation, other incidents were reported. The decision to ban the fraternity was made after an investigation

of an incident in September where a student consumed too much alcohol, hit their head and was hospitalized.

Stephen Glass, acting vice provost for student affairs and dean of students, said the probation was a time for the fraternity to pause and take stock

BROTHERHOOD: Sigma Phi Epsilon was expelled for five years following incidents of hazing and alcohol use. The decision came after an investigation of an incident where a student consumed too much alcohol, hit his head and was hospitalized. COURTESY | SIGMA PHI EPSILON

of their values and the consequences of their actions, but it wasn’t successful, which made investigators realize that more action needed to be taken.

“Being a registered student organization is a privilege on this campus, and part of the privilege is you follow the rules and you don’t do any activities that would be dangerous or demeaning to any Grand Valley State University student,” Glass said. “We’re not talking about one or two incidents—we’re talking about widespread activity, and we can’t have that organization here.”

Glass said when students apply to be members of a Greek Life organization at GVSU, they are expected to meet certain standards and expectations, the most important being that it upholds the values of the university. “(Underage drinking and hazing) certainly doesn’t match the values of Grand Valley State University,” Glass said. “If they’re a registered student organization, then we, of course, expect them to not break the law and to not do behaviors that would put

any of our students at risk.

That should be a given. If they can’t do that, something’s wrong, and it needs to be addressed.”

Robbie Triano, a senior at GVSU and member of the Sig Ep fraternity for the past four years, said the main violation of the fraternity was the underage drinking. He said many underage students drink in college, but because Sig Ep members are expected to maintain certain values, they are more heavily scrutinized than other students.

“People drink in college all the time,” Triano said.

“You don’t see people who aren’t affiliated with an organization getting in the same trouble that we (are), but because we wear the letters, we take the cost.”

The purpose of Greek Life organizations, Glass explained, is to promote strong leadership skills and foster a sense of belonging for students, not to place them in situations that may humiliate them or threaten their safety.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

CHANGES

GV to launch preferred-name option in Banner in February

BY ANNE MARIE SMIT NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

NOV. 20 For various reasons, people may want to be identified by a name other than their legal name. Starting in February 2018, Grand Valley State University students, faculty and staff may request a preferred name through “myName” on Banner.

Sue Korzinek, the associate vice president and chief information officer for information technology at GVSU, said the university has been pushing for a preferred-name option for more than 10 years and that it will benefit many people at the university.

“There are many reasons (for a preferred name),” Korzinek said. “For instance, my name is legally Susan, but I go by Sue. So, every place I go at Grand Valley, unless you know me, people are going to call me Susan because if they had to pull up any information about me at Grand Valley, that’s what’s going to pop up.”

Korzinek pointed out that some faculty members may opt to go by their maiden name, for example, because that is how they are recognized in the professional world. Or, they may want to keep their personal lives separate from their professional lives.

“Let’s take somebody that might go by their maiden name,” Korzinek said.

“They’re married to another faculty member at Grand Valley, they might not want that to be known, maybe, or because they’ve published articles by that name and now they’re married. So, their professional name, they want to keep that, and they have not been able to do that in our system.”

With the preferred-name option, GVSU will also give transgender students the opportunity to express their gender identity without having to change their legal name.

Jen Hsu-Bishop, director of the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center at GVSU, believes the preferred-name option will make the GVSU

community more inclusive.

“Our names are an important part of who we are,” HsuBishop said via email. “Addressing people by the name and pronouns they use helps to create a more inclusive, safe

and welcoming campus for transgender students.”

Once students request a preferred name on Banner, it will show up on most GVSU locations, including Blackboard, housing,

student IDs, email, people finder and EAB student success collaborative. A legal name would still show up on other documents, such as accounting and taxes, admissions, em-

ployment, federal requirements, healthcare benefits and official transcripts.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

TIME FOR A CHANGE: Darryl Shongedza serves a customer at the campus dining Lobby Shop wearing his name tag on Sunday, Nov. 19.

Starting in February 2018, GVSU students, faculty and staff may request a name change through ‘myName’ on Banner. GVL | EMILY FRYE

DECEMBER 7, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A6 | NEWS INCLUSION

GV expands pre-university programs with new Pathways to College Office

BY ANNE MARIE SMIT NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

NOV. 2 Applying to college is an overwhelming process for many high school students who may feel intimidated by the heavier workload, financial questions and the decision of where to enroll. By recently opening the Pathways to College Office under the Division of Inclusion and Equity, Grand Valley State University hopes to expand its pre-college programs to provide guidance for middle and high schools throughout the state of Michigan.

Through the Wade H. McCree, Jr. Incentive Program and the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), GVSU is striving to connect with ambitious middle and high school students in the state of Michigan and help them achieve their goals and become bet-

ter acquainted with university life. The Wade McCree program is for students particularly interested in GVSU, while GEAR UP exposes students to GVSU among other Michigan universities.

Bobby Springer, director of the Pathways to College Office, said the office will allow GVSU to connect with a diverse set of students with its programs reaching out to schools all throughout Michigan. By connecting with more communities, GVSU will reach more students and pique their interest in the university.

“When we’re working with diverse schools and those students come to Grand Valley, the number of diverse students is going to increase,” Springer said. “We want all students to have the opportunity to come to Grand Valley, not just a certain population of students, and to do all the things they need to do to make it happen.”

Under these programs, Springer visits local middle schools and high schools that select students with academic promise and an interest in going to college.

Students under the Wade McCree program are assisted with ACT and SAT tests and must satisfy certain academic requirements, such as a minimum GPA of 3.3.

“They have to stay at a certain level in order to make this a reality,” Springer said.

“There’s work to be done.

That’s why we want those students who will reach for those levels. … We’re here to work with them through this process with group meetings, one-on-one meetings, campus visits, SAT preparation. We’ll do all of those things to make sure that they have the opportunity to be successful.”

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

PATHWAYS: From left, Bobby Springer, Nyasia Montgomery and Edith Reyes Justo. GVSU opened the Pathways to College Office to support underrepresented prospective students. GVL | ANNE MARIE SMIT

EXPANSION

GV celebrates dedication of expanded performing arts center

BY JOSHUA VISSERS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

BRAND NEW: The new portion of the performing arts center on Sunday, Aug. 27. The performing arts center was dedicated in a ceremony on Friday, Aug. 25, after recent renovations. GVL | EMILY FRYE

AUG. 28 Grand Valley State University’s newly renovated performing arts center was officially dedicated and named after university President Thomas Haas and his wife, Marcia Haas, at a ceremony Friday, Aug. 25.

The renovations, which began last year, include new rehearsal space, refinished dance floors, three new ensemble rooms, a new conference room, an enlarged lobby and reception area, and a state-ofthe-art black box theater. Pioneer Construction finished the work on time and within the $20 million budget, according to Vice President for University Relations Matt McLogan.

Danny Phipps, chair of the music, theatre and dance department, was the first to make

his remarks in front of donors, administrators and alumni in the Louis Armstrong Theatre.

“Providing desperately needed production and performance space, this new facility will allow our growing programs to expand their positive impact on students,” Phipps said.

The black box theater, which will be dedicated in October, is a flexible and reconfigurable performance space, equipped with a hybrid tungsten-LED lighting system, digital audio mixing equipment, and both wired and wireless networks. It seats a maximum of 150 people.

Seth Burton, a senior in both the theatre and communications programs, was acting as an usher at Friday’s ceremony in full costume for the upcoming production “The Tempest.”

“Words cannot describe my

excitement,” he said. Burton and other theatre majors will have rehearsals as often as six days a week in the new spaces.

“This building never sleeps; there’s always something going on,” he said.

The new ensemble rooms— one each for jazz, contemporary and classical music—are each equipped with a suite of classroom technology and are also specialized for music with high ceilings, better speakers and adjustable sound damping on the walls.

“The whole complex is going to inspire students,” said Tim Froncek, affiliate music professor and director of jazz ensembles. Froncek has worked at GVSU for 12 years and has never had a dedicated room for jazz before.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

REMEMBRANCE

GV community mourns the death of Helen DeVos

BY ARPAN LOBO NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

OCT. 23 Longtime supporter of Grand Valley State University Helen DeVos passed away Wednesday, Oct. 18, at the age of 90.

The wife of Amway cofounder Richard DeVos, Helen DeVos was born in Grand Rapids in 1927. She married Richard DeVos in 1953, and together, the pair had a long-

standing impact on GVSU. The DeVos couple played a pivotal role in the expansion of GVSU’s Pew Campus in Grand Rapids in the 1990s.

The Richard M. DeVos Center was named in recognition of the family’s efforts to secure both land and funding for the project, according to a GVNow article.

As well as the DeVos Center, the DeVos family also played a key role in fundraising for the Cook-DeVos Center

for Health Sciences in Grand Rapids, as well as making the lead gift toward the creation of the L. William Seidman Center on the Pew Campus.

The Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, also located in Grand Rapids, bears her name after her four children, Dick, Dan, Cheri and Doug, combined to donate $50 million in their mother’s name. The facility opened in 2011 and treats thousands of children per year.

Helen DeVos also served

MEMORY: Helen DeVos, 1927-2017. DeVos passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 18, in Grand Rapids at the age of 90. DeVos and her husband, Richard, made many donations to GVSU. COURTESY | WZZM 13

as a member of the advisory cabinet for the Grand Valley University Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships and grants for students, as well as other financial needs for the university to develop academic programs.

The university gave her an honorary Doctor of Arts degree in 2010, and she was honored by GVSU with the naming of the Helen DeVos Presidential Scholarship in 2011. In that same year, GVSU recognized her as grand steward of the uni-

versity. In 2014, she was inducted into GVSU’s Hall of Fame and received an enrichment award from the university.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

DECEMBER 7, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

NEWS | A7

CITY

Grand Rapids considered for Amazon headquarters location

BY MEGAN WEBSTER MWEBSTER@LANTHORN.COM

OCT. 26 Whether they’re buying books, clothing or kitchen utensils online, almost everyone is familiar with the online shopping superpower Amazon.com. As of right now, there is only one Amazon headquarters, which is located in Seattle.

However, that is scheduled to change as the online shopping giant is currently in the process of evaluating different locations for a second home, and Grand Rapids is a potential contender.

Amazon announced this groundbreaking news in early September. The final bids from cities were due Thursday, Oct. 19, which means that the Grand Rapids team had somewhere between three and four weeks to compose a document stating why West Michigan is a prime candidate for this lofty project.

This team was composed of approximately 12 different individuals from organizations all across Grand Rapids, including, but not limited to, The Right Place, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Michigan

Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

The final proposal submitted totaled 108 pages and contained different kinds of information that Amazon required. This information included workforce numbers, demographic information, quality of life information, a general overview of Grand Rapids and possible locations for Amazon’s building.

Tim Mroz, vice president of marketing and communications at The Right Place, explained that if Amazon were to decide on Grand Rapids for its second headquarters location, the current image and definition of West Michigan would be flipped entirely.

“The best way to describe if Amazon were to decide to locate ‘HQ2’ in West Michigan, it would be to redefine the term ‘game changer,’” Mroz said. “Depending on where they were to locate in the area, you could see a dramatic increase in the development of new areas of our community. You would see a huge investment in development of our downtown area.”

There are at least 140 cities that submitted bids to Amazon. But according

NEW HEADQUARTERS: As of right now, there is only one Amazon headquarters, which is located in Seattle. That, however, is expected to change, and Grand Rapids has submitted to be a potential contender to host Amazon’s second headquarters. COURTESY | GEEKWIRE.COM

to Mroz, West Michigan offers a few different things the other cities don’t: the ability to collaborate with other organizations and companies to meet a common goal, the ability to get from one side of the city

to the other without major transit issues, and the overall quality of life that the residents of West Michigan experience.

“Everybody has a quality of life in their community,” he said. “The advan-

tage that West Michigan has is the wide variety that if offers. You have a very family-friendly community, but you have opportunities outdoors-wise. You have some of the best lake-front beaches in the country;

you’ve got a bikeable community; you’ve got great places to hike and fish. The list goes on and on and on.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

DEMONSTRATION

Protests break out at Grand Rapids Bridge Walk Busing contracts, union issues spur conflict

BY JOSHUA VISSERS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

CONFLICT: People gather for Grand Rapids’ Bridge Walk on Monday, Sept. 4. The event started at AhNab-Awen Park in downtown Grand Rapids and covered a five-mile-long route. GVL | JOSHUA VISSERS

SEPT. 7 After a one-year break, the Grand Rapids Labor Day Bridge Walk returned Monday, Sept. 4. The event started at Ah-Nab-Awen Park in downtown Grand Rapids at 10 a.m. and covered a 5-mile route, which included the crossing of the signature Blue Bridge.

The event began in an interesting way, as protesters supporting the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) in its contract struggle with The Rapid disrupted the 2017 Bridge Walk.

About 20 people holding signs and chanting slogans supporting local unions interrupted Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss during her opening remarks.

They then proceeded to follow her along the walk’s route until she relented and left the event near the corner of Scribner Avenue and Bridge Street.

“How dare she speak on

Labor Day at Labor Fest as a ‘union supporter’ when she is, in actuality, fighting against unions every step of the way,” said Phil Snyder, branch organizer for Socialist Alternative and a 2012 graduate of Grand Valley State University.

The group chanted slogans such as “union busting is disgusting” into a megaphone and held signs reading “Bliss is a Union Buster.”

“We wanted to be sure that point was made and that she wasn’t allowed to speak on behalf of unions today,” Snyder said.

Bliss is on the Board of Directors for The Rapid, which has been in contract negotiations for more than two years with ATU, the union of mechanics and bus operators working for The Rapid. The negotiations are over retirement plans, overtime policies, health care and punitive attendance measures.

The tensions around those negotiations have come to a peak recently as, according to Snyder, health care costs for work-

ers threaten to surpass $800 a month.

Louis DeShane, a member of ATU Local 836 who was arrested for disrupting The Rapid’s board meeting Wednesday, Aug. 30, was also at the Bridge Walk to protest Bliss.

“Call it what you want, it’s Labor Day,” he said.

“She’s a union buster; she does not belong here.”

Barbara Holt, chairperson of The Rapid’s Board of Trustees, declined to be interviewed but offered a prepared statement.

“We do not believe these agitators represent the sentiments of the majority of local ATU members,” the statement reads.

The board asserts that the union leadership has withheld information about a tentative agreement from its membership and will only let those current in their dues vote to approve it.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

DOWNTOWN ARTS

GV professor showcases pen collection at ArtPrize

BY KARINA LLOYD NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

SEPT. 28 Grand Valley State University marketing professor Maria Landon utilized her signature collection of pens to create a work of art for this year’s ArtPrize competition in Grand Rapids.

GVSU senior Gabriella Mencotti recalls the class she had with Landon, Marketing 350, very fondly. Every day during the last fall semester, Landon walked into the room with a bright smile, an enthusiastic attitude, and a bright or decorative pen that matched her outfit.

“Every time we came to class, she always had a different pen, and (the class) would always ask what the meaning behind it was or who it was from,” Mencotti said. “She’d explain to us how she loved to have pens that matched her outfit, that just expressed her feelings, anything like that. So, every day she’d spice (class) up with a new (pen), and I was just so amazed by how

many ones she had.

“I always thought she was kidding when she had that many, but she obviously wasn’t.”

When Landon first began her teaching career in 1985, she also began collecting pens. For 27 years Landon has gathered pens of all shapes, sizes and colors to bring to her classes at GVSU. With every pen Landon would bring to class, there would be a different story attached.

“I wouldn’t go looking (for pens),” Landon explained. “I would go into a store, see one and buy it. It was fun. I’d buy them different places I traveled, (such as) Ireland, England, Greece. That would be kind of like my souvenir.”

The pens served to connect Landon with her students.

“Students got interested in it and would buy me pens,” Landon said. “Even after they graduated they would send it to me. It got to be a big thing in every single section. It’s all about my relationships with my students.”

Many of the students looked forward to seeing which pen she would bring to class. The pens became a conversational piece and sometimes worked as a segue into that day’s lesson.

“For one of our first exams ... we have to market something and use marketing terms on the exam,” said senior Sarah Lile, one of Landon’s former marketing students. “So the day before the exam, she held up the pen and told us to market the pen (as exam prep). It helped a lot.”

Landon’s students were able to get to know her through the pen collection, and in turn she was able to get to know them.

“I think it really gives the students a glimpse of who the professor is as a person,” Lile said. “I feel like I do better in classes where the teacher isn’t like ‘school work, school work, school work.’ I just like how open and honest she was about her personal life.”

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

TAKING IT IN: People gather for ArtPrize’s opening-day festivities in downtown Grand Rapids on Thursday, Sept. 20. One GVSU professor showcased her pen collection in the annual event. GVL | MATT READ

DECEMBER 7, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A8 | NEWS ENVIRONMENT

GV recognized as top performer in sustainability

BY KARINA LLOYD NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

NOV. 16 The 11th annual Grand Valley State University Accountability Report, released Friday, Nov. 3, details the university’s overall performance. One area in which GVSU has been nationally recognized is sustainability.

This year alone, the university has received extensive attention for the progress made with sustainability on campus.

These achievements include being named a top performer by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and being dubbed “One of America’s Environmentally Responsible Colleges” by the Princeton Review.

The AASHE is the organization that the GVSU Office of Sustainability Practices reports to annually. The organization looks at the university’s work and progress in sustainability based on data measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS). The categories that are analyzed include education and research, operations, planning, and administration. The process of participation is tedious, as there are 900 questions to be answered based on the STARS data system.

“It’s a really great process to go through so we can do a gap analysis and see where our strengths and weakness are, and then we can address some of our weakness,” said Yumiko Jakobcic, campus sustainability coordinator at GVSU. “Our first time doing it was around 2009, and we (received) silver (status), and ... we have steadily increased our scores since then.”

This year, GVSU improved its score from 66.05 to 70.80, maintaining its highly acclaimed gold status. In 2013, GVSU was the first Michigan university to receive the highly acclaimed status. The Prince-

GREEN: Students make their way to class on Wednesday, Sept. 6, on GVSU’s Allendale Campus. The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education named GVSU as a top performer in sustainability. The Princeton Review also named GVSU as “One of America’s Environmentally Responsible Colleges.” GVL | HANNAH HILL

ton Review as well as the Sierra Club, an environmental organization in the U.S., will then use this status to rank GVSU against other schools in Michigan in their publications.

GVSU was also recognized in the AASHE 2017 Sustainable Campus report. “(The SC report) looks at individual categories and some of the high performers there,” Jakobcic said. “So we were recognized in the waste minimization category. ... They also rank some of the top performers overall, and we were ranked seventh in the nation in the Master’s Institutions category.”

GVSU’s journey to become aware of sustainability issues as a school began in 2005

when former university President Mark Murray began the discussion about sustainability with GVSU staff and faculty.

Murray made the decision to conduct a sustainability assessment to see what could be done to further this idea.

“That really started us on our journey, which now is in our 12th year,” said Norman Christopher, executive director of the Office of Sustainability Practices. “It was really based on the full triple bottom line of sustainability, which means there are metrics around economic factors, environmental factors and social factors. So, the distinctive piece here was we did not choose to look at sustainability with the term

‘green’. ... We looked broader.”

In 2009, GVSU did another report looking into progress that had been made in sustainability practices since the initial discussion.

“I think (how GVSU looked at sustainability) really changed about 2009 when sustainability became a core value to the university,” Christopher said. “So then it became not an activity or a program but really a lifestyle.”

Sustainability became the seventh core value of GVSU. Along with this came more incentives and programs through student organizations and the Office of Sustainability Practices. As a result of this change in focus, today the office has a vast amount of re-

sources to keep sustainability a priority at GVSU. One area the office is focusing on is education. GVSU offers a series of classes that offer education on this topic. The classes not only focus on issues of sustainability, but they are also based in business and liberal arts that incorporate aspects of sustainability to widen the audience learning about sustainability practices.

“We try to incorporate (sustainability) through all aspects of the campus,” Jakobcic said.

“Our belief is if we are going to have people make lifestyle changes for sustainability, we really have to help them understand why those changes would be important. We try to weave sustainability into all areas of

the curriculum.”

As a result, students who are not studying sustainability for their degree are able to gain a basic understanding of the subject by taking classes related to their own course of study. According to Christopher, there are more than 250 courses related to sustainability currently available at GVSU. Often, including it in the education can then result in a lifestyle change for all students involved in these courses.

To get involved with the Office of Sustainability Practices, GVSU community members can visit the office at 260 Lake Michigan Hall on the Allendale Campus or email the staff at sustainability@gvsu.edu.

POLICY

IT dept. cracks down on copyright violations

BY THERESA MUELLER TMUELLER@LANTHORN.COM

OCT. 5 Upon acceptance to Grand Valley State University, every student is given a GVSU email account and access to the GVSU network. With this access come many policies that students must uphold, including conformity to the GVSU copyright policy.

GVSU’s Information Technology department sent out a mass email Tuesday, Sept. 26, to all currently enrolled students regarding the copyright laws and policies at GVSU.

On average, about four students per week violate copyright laws using a GVSU network. The IT department sees the cases of copyright violation increase slightly every year, but the email was part of the annual effort to remind students what they are and are not entitled to do.

“The challenge is finding the best place to notify students,” said Sue Korzinek, associate vice president and chief information officer for IT. The timing is strategic since at the beginning of the semester students are usually bombarded with emails that usually find

their way to the “trash” without even being read. Korzinek said IT sends the notification out in late September in hopes that students will actually open the email and take it seriously and not disregard it.

The email states, “It has always been against the law to copy someone else’s work without permission, and downloading songs, movies or software from the internet for personal use without permission and/ or without paying the owner is considered theft.”

The recording, software and movie industries are constantly monitoring various

networks, including GVSU networks, to watch out for illegal activity pertaining to impermissible downloads.

As other companies monitor the activity of GVSU networks, the IT department is notified if any copyright laws have been violated on a GVSU network.

“We get notifications because they have a ‘@gvsu’ assigned to them,” Korzinek said.

Notifications from other companies include the time of day, the Internet Protocol (IP) address and what the user downloaded illegally. Then, IT searches network logs to find

out who had the connection at the specified time of day.

“Once (IT) absolutely determines the user, we lock the student out of their account and notify them that they violated copyright,” said John Klein, associate director of academic services for the IT department. “Then, (the user) gets a notification letting them know they’ve been locked out and need to contact HelpDesk.”

As students are directed to the HelpDesk for a first offense, they are required to fill out paperwork acknowledging the copyright policy and confirming they will not violate in

AT WORK: IT HelpDesk worker Cody Chinn assists students in the Mary Idema Pew Library on Tuesday, Aug. 29. In September, the IT department sent out a university-wide email reminding GVSU students of the current policies and laws regarding copyright in response to an increase in illegal downloads from GVSU accounts. GVL | SARA CARTE

the future. If students commit a second offense, they are directed to the dean of students.

A third offense involves the GVSU judiciary.

Since 2001, there have been thousands of complaints about GVSU copyright violations, but Klein recalls only one or two students’ violations reaching the campus judiciary.

“Some students have gone to the dean of students, but usually the first offense takes care of it,” Korzinek said.

In correlation with copyright violations is the sharing of accounts. For a student enrolled at GVSU, it is against campus policy to share account information. These actions can lead to contention with situations of copyright violation when the account owner is not the offender but the student with whom they shared their account information is.

In the end, the student responsible for the violation is whoever owned the account.

“Ultimately, they’re the ones responsible for (the violation),” Korzinek said. “We wouldn’t have any other choice but to work with that student, whether they did it or not. If the logs prove it, we have the electronic footprint, so it’s hard to negate.”

The main offenses reported to the GVSU IT department include illegal downloading of music or movies, usually through the use of a BitTorrent application (a medium for large file transfers). Considering the necessary steps for these downloads, the IT department is certain these offenses of copyright are intentional.

IT offers more information regarding copyright policies on their department page, www.gvsu.edu/it/policies-andprocedures-43.htm. There are multiple legal entertainment resources available, and the IT department highly encourages students to choose this route.

DECEMBER 7, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN

GRADUATION SPECIAL | B1

Congratulations, graduates!

DECEMBER 7, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN

B2 | GRADUATION SPECIAL

Samantha selvig

Shayla siburt

Congratulations Samantha! We’re so proud of all your hard work and accomplishments. We can’t wait to watch you shine in the next chapter of your life.

That’s right Shayla; you got this! You dreamed; you reached; you succeeded! We are so proud of you!

Love, Dad, Mom, Grandma, Chase, Candice, Alexandria, Nick, Rachelle, Scott, Alex

Love, Mom, Dad and Sidney.

Lee Anderson We are very proud of the man you have become. Your ability to visualize your goal and realize the path which will get you there are fine attributes to have.

Love, Mom

Kenneth zalar Congratulations, Kenny.

Since the beginning, you have been relentless in meeting all the challenges set before you. Your dedication and hard work have brought you to this wonderful day of graduation. We watched as you persevered, always aspiring to do your best. You have done an amazing job. Follow your dreams, stay on that path which you have chosen.

Strive to be the best Kenny you can be. We are so proud of you. We love you so.

brian griggs Congratulations Brian!

Graduation Day is here!!!

Follow the glory road.

The one that will take you to reach the stars.

We are proud of having you as our son.

Love, Mom, Dad, Kevin, and Julian

Love, Mom, Dad, Kristen, Rachel, Lexi, and Meghan

Anthony Larosa cailey thompson Cailey, Congratulations on your graduation. We are so proud of you and all your hard work.

Whatever life may bring, may God’s hand guide your every step.

Love, your family

Congratulations!! I am so proud of you for all of your accomplishments!

Being your mom has been such a rewarding journey! I love you, & look forward to the next chapter of your life! Follow your heart and dreams!! I will always be cheering you on! Love you higher than the sky, and bigger than the ocean!

DECEMBER 7, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN

GRADUATION SPECIAL | B3

brody helms

Congratulations, Tyler!

Congratulations. Your hard work and persistence has paid off. Perseverance, kindness, and imagination are your greatest assets and will take you far.We are so proud of you.

We are so proud of you and all that you have accomplished! Your diligence, determination, work ethic, and passion are what got you here. You can do whatever you set your mind to! We wish you nothing but the best as your journey continues!

Love, Mom and Dad We love you!

Mom, Dad, and Brady

tyler wilson

Jamie sadler

brant morgan Brant, Words cannot express how incredibly proud Jake and I are of you!

All of your dedication and hard work has paid off. You followed your dreams and succeeded.

You will be an awesome teacher and we are excited to see you in your element.

Your classroom will be filled with joy and excitement everyday as you have a gift in teaching.

Congratulations Jamie!

We’re so very proud of you. You persevered through it all. Continue to be a leader; not a follower and success will follow you! Our little Modies is a college grad!!

Love you forever, Dad, Mom, Tommy, Charlie & Chloe

We love you with all of our hearts!

Zakiah and Jakers

mckenna raymond You wanted this, you deserve this and GIRL YOU WENT FOR IT!! We are so proud of you!

The world is out there for you!

Love you more!

Mom and Dad

Josh, always remember you’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you know. We’re all so very proud of you!

Joshua moore

Congratulations Stephen!

We are so proud of you!!

Work hard and love life.

Your future is as bright as the Sun.

Stephen chang

Love and Best Wishes, Dad, Mom, Allen, & All people care about you.

DECEMBER 7, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN

B4 | GRADUATION SPECIAL

allison dexter With grateful hearts for using your talents wisely to get to this day! So excited to see the road God has laid out for you!

With Love, Mom & Dad

brandon wackerle Brandon, Seems like yesterday we were buying your first backpack for Kindergarten...now here we are watching you graduate a Laker. You have grown and achieved so much these past 4 years. Hope you know how proud we are of you. Congratulations on your accomplishments, hardwork and dedication. Never stop learning, exploring and challenging yourself to be your best....Love You!!!

Jamal Robinson stallings sean and chris calvano Sean and Chris, Mom, Angela, Matt, Jake, Danny and I are extremely proud of you both! We look forward to all the Lord has in store for you!!

Congratulations Jamal!

Josue Rigueiro Congratulations Josue!

You are an achiever, smart, caring and wonderful.

All of the hard work you have put in has paid off.

You have made us all very proud.

T’estimem Molt

Today you will receive your degree and we are so proud of your achievements. We search our emotions for the appropriate words and find ourselves wishing for the gift of prose possessed by luminaries more suited to the task. Suffice it to say that we take pride in your determination and perseverance - like that exemplified in Maya Angelou’s “Still We Rise”, and our love for you is as strong as that expressed in Toni Morrison’s “Beloved”.

We can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds.

Love, Your family.

DECEMBER 7, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | A9

STUDENTS

‘Five Chapters’ exhibits artists’ photography, transition from college life

BY NICK MORAN LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

NOV. 27 As seniors at Grand Valley State University select their classes for the final time, the oncoming steps of a new life become a reality, shifting students into the professional world. For photography students Jordan Barnett, Sean Barr, J.J. Butts, Brittany Patrosso and Kasey Reno, these transitions are captured through their own lens in the “Five Chapters: Photography Senior Thesis Exhibition.”

The exhibit, which will take place weekdays in the Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts starting Tuesday, Nov. 28, is all about growth and the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of graduating students, Barr said.

Open until Saturday, Dec. 9, the day of the students’ graduation, each portion of the exhibit aims to highlight the photographers’ theses differently.

“The thesis is a completely open project, so we all come up with our own ideas,” Barr said.

Barr said that with the immense freedom in creating a thesis project, each artist took different liber-

PORTRAITS: The GVSU ‘Five Chapters: Photography Senior Thesis Exhibition’ in the Haas Center for Performing Arts on Tuesday, Nov. 28. The exhibit, which depicts the artists’ different transitions from college life, opened Tuesday, Nov. 28, and is set to close Saturday, Dec. 9, coinciding with their graduation date this semester. GVL | HANNAH ZAJAC

ties. Barr, along with some of the other artists, took the opportunity to try a new form of photography for their final project.

“Some people have stepped out of their comfort zone; I know I did,” he said.

“Mine are nighttime photos, and I usually don’t shoot at night at all. Before this semester, I actually don’t recall ever shooting at night.”

For Patrosso, she kept her series within an area of comfort, instead focus-

ing on depth and mastering portrait photography.

“Portrait photography is what I’ve loved to do throughout my photography career at Grand Valley,” Patrosso said. “I really like taking pictures of peo-

ple, so I knew that for my last project at Grand Valley I wanted to do something that I really enjoyed.”

The flexibility of the thesis is critical in nature due to the vagueness of the prompt.

The thesis class motives the

flow of ideas, Patrosso said, but there is an intense individual dialogue in exactly how to share those ideas.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

GRAND RAPIDS

Local poets go on ‘Unpacking Tour’

BY TASMAN MATTOX TMATTOX@LANTHORN.COM

NOV. 20 Grand Valley State University students do not have to look far to find exciting new performers and artists to discover. Grand Rapids has

a growing art scene, and two artists are at the forefront with their national spoken-word tour. Calling it the “Unpacking Tour,” the Michigan natives are traveling all over the nation, including places as far as Texas, Colorado and Washington.

“People can expect a fresh

new look at poetry,” said Marcel Price, also known as Fable the Poet, one of the two performers and creators of the tour. “They’ll see that poetry can touch their hearts and be interactive and help them navigate through what they’re going through.”

Price said that although poetry was not always a personal calling, experiencing a poetry event changed that and gave him inspiration.

“It was an English teacher in high school,” Price said.

“I actually hated poetry and English and was failing

SPOKEN WORD: Fable the Poet (left) and KFG pose against a mural. The poets set off on their ‘Unpacking Tour’ in July and have traveled all throughout the U.S. to perform their poetry, much of which is geared toward mental-health awareness. GVL | MICHIGANRADIO.ORG

school, and they sent me to a poetry slam. They showed me that poetry could be anything I wanted it to be, and I’ve been hooked on it since.”

The tour has been on the road since July, and they are about halfway through.

“It’s been much more than I could have possibly expected,” said K. FosterGoodrich, who goes by KFG, the other poet involved.

“I’ve gotten people who have come forward with their own stories and people who just silently appreciate.”

For Foster-Goodrich, performing live is a reminder of personal growth.

“Both Fable and I have gotten to this point where we’ve gotten used to telling certain stories of ours,” Foster-Goodrich said.

“These are things we’ve already processed, but having people come talk to us and saying they could never do it is a reminder, personally, of how far I’ve come.”

The tour is currently in full swing but is still searching for support.

“Being a traveling artist

is humbling, especially realizing how much is needed,” Foster-Goodrich said. “We have a GoFundMe, we have a merchandise campaign, and that’s how we’re fueling this whole thing. There’s a raffle, which is cheesy but cool. It’s not just about the money support: It’s about getting people engaged with what we’re doing and creating connections.”

The two said they hope the Unpacking Tour helps show people the cathartic nature of poetry.

“I think poetry takes all of these thoughts and feelings that, maybe in a typical sense, aren’t able to be expressed through words,” Foster-Goodrich said. “It takes these things outside of your head to actually look at it and make it something tangible and not something that just bounces around your head.

It makes it something that can be worked with.”

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

VISUAL STUDIES

BFA students host ‘Ironically Untitled’ art exhibit

BY TAYLOR CROWLEY LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

NOV. 13

After spending endless hours trying to create the perfect masterpiece, four Grand Valley State University students will finally showcase their talent in the Bachelor of Fine Arts Senior Exhibition “Ironically Untitled.” Students who specialize in illustration and jewelry and metalsmithing will show GVSU community members the pieces they have spent months creating.

The exhibition will take place Thursday, Nov. 16, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The artists will be in attendance, and there will be a reception held between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. It will be hosted at the Haas Center for Performing Arts in the Art Gallery. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

For GVSU students Miles Felsenfeld, Katelyn Johnson, Katrina McVay and Jennifer Ochoa, this is the final “hurrah.”

PROMOTE: The promotional materials for the BFA senior show ‘Ironically Untitled,’ pictured above. The student art show, which featured illustrations, as well as jewelry and metalsmithing, was hosted Thursday, Nov. 16, in the Haas Center for Performing Arts. The artists drew inspiration from their feelings and experiences. COURTESY | GVSU.EDU

These students have applied the knowledge they have learned, skills they have been taught and passion they have developed to the pieces that will appear in a senior showcase for all GVSU students to see.

Felsenfeld and McVay are unmasking their stories through the art of illustration, and Johnson and Ochoa will present their work and artistic development through jewelry making and metalsmithing.

“Everything has been lead-

ing to this,” McVay said. “We have been working on this all semester. It’s really terrifying, but I’m a little more unconventional; this is kind of the milestone that says, ‘I made it.’”

The four students’ art ranges in different styles that will all be highlighted at their exhibit.

From personal journeys, medical history and feelings of nostalgia, this exhibit was created with many forms of inspiration.

The students got paired together, by choice and by chance, and ended up cre-

ating stories through their art that serendipitously related to each other.

For McVay, finding her style was a task. She struggled with finding a topic that would hold her interest entirely until she was assigned a “weird” assignment during the summer of 2017.

“We were doing (recreating) music album covers, and I chose an album cover

by Anamanaguchi, which is a band that plays retro, videogame-like music,” McVay said.

“My mentor really pushed me to go with what I like doing, this really weird style, and it finally clicked after two years.

That project made everything make sense to me.”

As for another artist being featured in the exhibit, Ochoa has always had a passion for jewelry and metalsmithing. For Ochoa, this exhibit will be the first time she has shown her work to an extended audience.

“For me personally, and all artists, it’s scary because

that’s something of you,” she said. “That’s a piece of you that you made, and you’re saying, ‘Hey, I did this. This is me.’”

Ochoa said she expresses her feelings through her art. She explained that, as a person, she is not an open book, but her art contains her emotion and history about her life.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

A10 | LAKER LIFE

DECEMBER 7, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Red Shoes Project brings awareness to gendered violence

BY TY KONELL LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

OCT. 19 It is a harrowing truth that human trafficking and other forms of gendered violence are still occurring in the world. To bring awareness to this, Spanish professor Zulema Moret, in conjunction with several Grand Valley State University departments and community organizations, has brought the “Red Shoes Project” to GVSU. The Red Shoes Project is an art installation that started in Mexico and has since spanned the world. Shoes are collected, painted red and installed in a public space where the project has the opportunity to garner a lot of attention. GVSU’s version of the installation will be located at the Pew Campus and is set to take place Saturday, Oct. 21, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“In 2009, Elena Chauvet installed 33 pairs of shoes at the border because around that time, approximately 500 women were killed in the area,” said Moret, who spearheaded bringing the project to campus. “After that installation was finished, she repeated the project in different cities.”

Moret said the interest

in the project began for her while she was doing a research project.

“I was doing research for my sabbatical, writing about the role of memory in different artifacts, art, artistic representations,” Moret said.

“Then I discovered that project, and I have written articles on four different projects of art in South America, and as I am teaching a new course on art in Latin America, and I like to share projects with my students, and I thought, ‘Well, why not do this project with my class and perhaps the artist would like to come?’”

Other people involved with the GVSU version of the Red Shoes Project said the public installation may bring awareness, empathy and anger to the topic of gendered violence.

“It is easy in the contemporary moment to understand ourselves in Balkanized and binary terms; I think this work will help in exercising both empathy and outrage,” said Anna Campbell, an associate professor in the GVSU art department. “I hope that it influences the GVSU community to continue to take steps towards policies and cultural norms on campus in which our identities

INSTALLATION: A woman and her daughter do their part to help with the ‘Red Shoes Project’ by placing their own painted shoes Saturday, Oct. 21. The GVSU chapter of the worldwide art installation was sponsored by campus and community members. GVL | EMILY FRYE

as ethical, global and engaged citizens are put into practice.”

A major aspect of the project comes before the installation in the form of painting the donated shoes red.

“The symbol of the shoes is important and why we paint them red,” Moret said. “Previ-

ously, part of the artist’s contract said we need to paint in a community, because talking with other people and sharing with other people about why we’re here is the point of the project; it raises awareness.”

Moreover, Campbell said having the installation

completed will create a stark contrast with the fun environment of collecting and painting the shoes.

“When we install the shoes, there will be an almost imperceptible transition from the shoes being the generous donations of people in the

community to being symbols and stand-ins for people who have been the victims of femicide and trafficking,” Campbell said. “I think it will be a very solemn transition.”

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

ACTIVISM

Helping Flint brick by brick

BY JESSICA HARSEVOORT JHARSEVOORT@LANTHORN.COM

POSING: GVSU alum Fabian Haywood poses above with his kickstarter materials. COURTESY | FABIAN HAYWOOD’S FACEBOOK PAGE

SEPT. 7 With the nation’s focus on Hurricane Harvey, many have forgotten there is an ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan. However, Fabian Haywood, an alumnus from Grand Valley State University, knows there is still work to be done in Flint. Because of this, he is currently attempting to aid the community by developing stable housing.

“Sometimes we get trapped in moving from one tragedy to the next because there’s new information and new events going on all the time,” Haywood said.

Moving forward in Flint, Haywood founded Haywood Property Management with the intention of increasing homeownership, redeveloping a sense community and raising the standard of living for city residents.

“Fabian’s passion for his hometown at Flint has helped him figure out his future, which is creating this business,”

said Shelby Bruseloff, a GVSU alumna. “Because of his education, I think he’ll really thrive.”

Haywood left GVSU in 2016, having completed his public administration major and Intercultural Training Certificate. Despite being a recent graduate, he is already well on his way to starting his first business.

In fact, Haywood recently celebrated the launch of his Kickstarter campaign for Haywood Property Management Saturday, Sept. 2. At the party, he introduced himself and his business to the citizens of Flint and revealed the goal to raise $50,000.

The money raised will be used to buy and renovate a multi-unit residential. When that property provides enough income, Haywood will strive to produce additional housing so more people can own a home.

Reflecting on what inspired him to start Haywood Property Management, Haywood looks back on a childhood memory of when his mother received an eviction notice.

GV alum hopes to aid city with new housing company

At that time, the Salvation Army was offering stipends to help people pay rent, but the line of people seeking aid would wrap around the building. So, Haywood waited with his mother outside all night in the freezing cold to receive a stipend and remain in their home.

“I remember never wanting to be in that situation again,” he said. “After that situation occurred, I wanted to run away from Flint.”

Yet he felt the pull to go back to his hometown after graduating from GVSU. “He always talks about home, and he always talks about his family and how important they are to him,” Bruseloff said. “So, it was easy for him to decide on going back.”

Haywood returned to Flint only to experience culture shock. Among some of the differences he found, compared to the city of his youth, were a lack of camaraderie and less access to healthy foods.

He also came back to

Flint’s water crisis, where those in the area still don’t have access to clean water.

Plus, the effects of lead are not just in homes, but in churches and workplaces, impacting day-to-day operations for every individual.

“I’ve always wanted to do something that would benefit the community, whether it be some sort of scholarship or creating more opportunities,” Haywood said.

Now more than ever, Flint needs aid.

Because of this, Haywood decided he could help by developing affordable housing.

With his business, he hopes to address homeownership amongst minorities, millennials and impoverished persons. In turn, he hopes people will stay in the area and help the city flourish.

“I hope they see value in the city of Flint and find a way to do the things they love, while also enriching the community,” Haywood said.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

ADVOCACY

More than 250 people march at Hope College in support of DACA

BY JESSICAN HARSEVOORT

JHARSEVOORT@LANTHORN.COM

NOV. 2 Chants of “Say it loud!

Say it clear! Immigrants are welcome here!” filled the streets of downtown Holland, Michigan, Tuesday, Oct. 31, during a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) march and rally planned by students at Hope College.

From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., almost 300 local students and community members participated in the protest to support DACA recipients and to advocate for the implementation of a clean Dream Act and comprehensive immigration reform.

“We are marching because we feel it’s important to support both community members and students who have been affected by the DACA decision,” said Julia Fulton, a Hope College student involved in organizing the event. “We’re using our voices, our time and our energy to stand up for what we believe in and show support in the most visible way we can.”

Protesters walked on the sidewalks from Pine Grove, at the center of Hope College’s campus, to Holland

City Hall. Event coordinators contacted Hope College’s Campus Safety Department and the Holland Police Department to ensure the safety of attendees crossing two intersections.

At their final destination, the participants were greeted with snacks and speeches addressing the cause of the march. The speakers at City Hall included Nancy DeBoer, the mayor of Holland; Cady Short-Thompson, the provost of Hope College; Roberto Jara, the executive director of Latin Americans United for Progress; Gordon Wiersma, a co-pastor at Hope Church; and Alejandra Gómez Limón, a student at Hope College.

“What we really want out of it is not only to give people an outlet to take action but also to give people information from different viewpoints, which is why we have a variety of speakers,” said Gómez Limón, another student leader who coordinated the event.

Despite the cold, the atmosphere at the DACA community march was energized and positive. The protest was strictly non-violent, so hostile words and actions were not tolerated.

Attendees were told to stick to the message and respect the privacy of other participants,

especially those impacted by the DACA decision.

The DACA program has protected more than 700,000 undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children. The DACA decision will impact many people, such as college and university students.

“My family had a smooth

transition through moving from Mexico to England to the United States,” Gómez Limón said. “It seems unfair to me that someone else can’t have that as well. DACA, specifically, impacts people who didn’t even have a choice in immigrating. All of the opportunities taken from these students, when they are granted to

others, like me, is really what drives my investment in this.”

Moving forward, Fulton and Gómez Limón said it is necessary for people to take action at a local level. They hope the DACA march and rally will be a starting point for change.

“People in this country have a way of polarizing

and dividing and making our differences seem bigger than our similarities,” Fulton said. “We want to empower students to be the change in this country because that’s how things are going to improve.”

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

IN ACTION: Jocelyn Gallegos, sophomore at Hope College and president of the college’s Latino Student Organization, marches in support of DACA Tuesday, Oct. 31. The march and rally lasted from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. with over 300 attendees. COURTESY | HOLLAND SENTINEL

SPORTS | A11

DECEMBER 7, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS FOOTBALL

GV football team all smiles at Media Day

BY BRADY MCATAMNEY

BMCATAMNEY@LANTHORN.COM

AUG. 28 It may be hard to remember at times, but football is a game, and games were created to be fun. One annual event that can always be counted on to be fun for Grand Valley State football players, coaches and journalists alike is Media Day, which was held Tuesday, Aug. 22, at Lubbers Stadium.

The day began with the entire team grouping up in the stands at Lubbers for their annual team picture.

With the sun in their eyes and hardly a cloud in sight, the group was all smiles as photographers snapped the highly touted Laker squad.

Following the fullteam picture, the seniors, dressed in road white jerseys while the rest of the players wore their black tops, gathered on the field to take their yearly senior

class picture. However, the class of 2017 went a different route than any other group in preceding years.

Equipped with tables, ladders and chairs, the players arranged themselves in a professional wrestlingstyle setup, and the antics did not disappoint from an entertainment standpoint.

Head coach Matt Mitchell had just a hunch on who came up with the idea.

“I think maybe (wide receiver) Brandon Bean because there’s been some stuff coming out of team breakdowns where he and one of the defensive backs have been doing some of the pro wrestling maneuvers,” Mitchell said of the comical photoshoot. “I don’t know where the genesis of all that is. It’s just like, ‘All right, you guys ready to practice? Let’s go.’”

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

ROUGH AND ROWDY: The entire Grand Valley State football team’s senior class poses like old-school WWE wrestlers during the team’s Media Day photo shoot on Tuesday, Aug. 22, on the Lubbers Stadium field before the fall 2017 season started. GVL | EMILY FRYE

VOLLEYBALL

GV volleyball blocks out Ashland in home-opener victory

BY ROBBIE TRIANO SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

BLOCKING: GVSU volleyball players Sydney Doby (left) and Katie Olson (right) jump together and block an incoming spike during the team’s loss against Wayne State Tuesday, Sept. 19. GVL | EMILY FRYE

SEPT. 17 For a team that got off to a slow 3-5 start, the Grand Valley State women’s volleyball team was more than excited to finally play in front of their home fans and family.

GVSU didn’t disappoint the home fans, as the Lakers played their most complete game of the season to defeat GLIAC-rival Ashland 3-1 Friday, Sept.15.

The Lakers excelled in their work on the front line of the net, using the tall and athletic bodies of Sydney Doby, Jayci Suseland, Hannah Murdock and Staci Brower to accumulate eight blocks and 55 kills to stiffen

the Ashland offensive attack.

However, the start of the game didn’t go the way the Lakers had planned, as Ashland took advantage of seven attack errors and misplaced sets by the Lakers to secure a 25-23 victory in the first set. GVSU senior Katie Olson believed the home crowd jitters got the best of the Lakers during the first set.

“We’ve played so many games (away from home), like when we were in Italy and away for two tournaments,” Olson said. “So for us to finally be on our home court, I think we were just a little too nervous.”

GVSU head coach Deanne Scanlon came into the first break with one simple, but effective, piece

of advice for her team.

“Breathe,” Scanlon said to her team after the first set. “I thought we were a little bit jittery in the first set.

You could tell we couldn’t control the ball, so I told them to calm down and remember to breathe.”

Scanlon’s advice seemed to be the remedy for the Lakers’ issues, as GVSU cruised to a 25-8 victory in the second set. With improved passing and attacking, the Lakers began to keep the ball away from Ashland’s key hitters, including No. 5 Shelby Woycik. Woycik leads the GLIAC in kills and kills per set.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

SOCCER

Defensive powerhouse

BY ARPAN LOBO SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

SEPT. 21 Joining a program that carries as much prestige as Grand Valley State women’s soccer can bring a lot of pressure. After all, the team has won 12 straight GLIAC championships and has been to four consecutive national championship games.

However, freshman Cecilia Steinwascher sees things differently.

The freshman center back is excelling in her role on the team early in the season. For Steinwascher, the allure of joining an elite program like the Lakers’ was too much to pass up on.

“I wanted to be a part of a successful program, not just an average one,” said Steinwascher, a native from Sterling Heights, Michigan. “I didn’t care about (Division) I or (Division) II.” Steinwascher had the opportunity to play soccer at several NCAA Division I schools. Her top four ultimately came down to GVSU, Western Michigan, the University of Dayton and Butler. Steinwascher said academics also played a huge role in her decision to become a Laker.

“I want to be a physical therapist, so I’m going to go into exercise science,” Steinwascher said. “I chose to come to Grand Valley because they have a really good PT program.”

In terms of competitive

Soccer freshman Cecilia Steinwascher already making her mark on team

nature, Steinwascher believes the Laker soccer program is a natural fit for her.

“I’m a competitive person,” she said. “Being a part of something competitive is what I prefer.”

Steinwascher has been playing soccer for most of her life. Being a daughter of two soccer coaches, the sport is ingrained in her family.

The freshman defender has settled well into the GVSU team. She plays center back alongside senior Shannon Quinn, and the duo’s play has been key to a Laker team that has kept four straight shutouts.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

DEFENSE WINS: GVSU standout freshman defender Cecilia Steinwascher prepares to pass the ball inside during the team’s win over Tiffin University on Saturday, Nov. 11, in Allendale. GVL | EMILY FRYE

CLUB ROWING

‘Mileage makes champions’: GV club rowing preview

BY BRIANA LEWIS BLEWIS@LANTHORN.COM

WATER WARRIORS: Members of the GVSU women’s club rowing varsity team prepare to compete and race in the annual Lubbers Cup Regatta on April 9, 2016, in Holland, Michigan. GVL | KEVIN SIELAFF

SEPT. 11 As the Grand Valley State University rowing club kicks into gear this season, its focus has shifted. Head coach John Bancheri understands the importance of the varsity team, but the focus for this season is rebuilding and preparing for future years.

“The focus really this year is in the rebuilding,” Bancheri said. “We’re rebuilding the Laker Navy, rather than ‘do you pull from the top or do you push from the bottom?’

There’s different ways that

you can rebuild a team, and we’re talking about rebuilding from the bottom.”

The Laker Navy is made up of four groups: novice men, novice women, varsity men and varsity women.

Walk-ons make up 90 percent of first-year novice rowers.

Coaches, staff and veterans of GVSU rowing are the guides to rebuilding the Laker Navy in support for future years. The Lakers recently made a change to the team with the new addition of Dan Martin as varsity assistant coach and novice women’s coach.

The past few weeks, the rowing club was busy participating in GVSU events, starting with the RecFest

that took place Sunday, Aug. 27, and finishing on the night of GVSU’s Campus Life Night, held Tuesday, Sept. 5.

“Every single day for at least three or four hours we’ve been out and just kind of drumming up interest,” Martin said. “We’ve been specifically tracking down people who at least have the physical attributes that signals good rowing.”

GVSU club rowing is not a limited sport, as they offer positions on the team for anyone, no matter their skill level.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

DECEMBER 7, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A12 | SPORTS SOCCER

Setting the standard

BY ROBBIE TRIANO SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

OCT. 30 There’s a certain pride that comes with wearing Laker blue and having the Grand Valley State logo placed on every student athlete’s chest.

When GVSU athletic programs begin their recruiting search, there’s a consensus on the three distinct qualities that separate Lakers from athletes in any other program: dominating in their sport, going above and beyond in the classroom, and being willing and passionate about giving back to the community.

Recently graduated GVSU soccer player Clare Carlson not only checked all three boxes, but she did so in fashion as she was recently awarded NCAA Woman of the Year Top 30 Honoree in Indianapolis, Indiana, Sunday, Oct. 22.

The list of accolades include being a three-time

NCAA Division II National Champion, earning GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2015 and 2016, graduating with a degree in biomedical sciences, earning a 3.91 cumulative GPA, and being an active volunteer with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

So when nominations opened up for the 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year, which recognizes exemplary graduating female student athletes, it was a no-brainer to add Carlson’s name into the mix. But if it wasn’t for Walter Moore, GVSU associate director of athletics-compliance, Carlson’s recognition would not have been heard.

“I really didn’t know much about it or that it even existed,” Carlson said. “Walter called me right before the end of the application deadline and told me I should really look into it ASAP.” After being selected as one of the 117 Division II nominees, Carlson’s name

went through another month of the selection process to narrow down the list of nominees. On Wednesday, Sept. 6, the list of the top 30 finalists was released, with Carlson being named one of 10 Division II student athletes selected. Although she was clearly qualified, Carlson was still shocked she made the list.

“It just hit me how there has been so many successful athletes here at GV,” Carlson said. “I wasn’t really sure if I would make the top 30 as it came down to the wire, but hearing the news was just an incredible honor.”

GVSU Athletic Director Keri Becker believes that Carlson is the ideal representation of what she expects out of every GVSU student athlete and recruit.

“She’s the type of product we want to bring out of our athletes,” Becker said. “(Carlson) played defense, which meant she wasn’t really a scor-

Former GV soccer player Clare Carlson awarded NCAA Woman of the Year Top 30 Honoree

er that got the highlight and glory. She understood that the picture of being a good teammate on and off the field was bigger than herself.”

Along with Carlson being handed her award, the NCAA invited her and the rest of the 30 honorees to a weekend-long stay in Indianapolis. Starting Saturday, Oct. 21, the NCAA held a conference about careerbuilding with panel discussions about current issues and life post-graduation.

To follow along with the strong message about community service, the honorees went to the NCAA national office to volunteer.

Shortly after, Becker made the trip down to watch Carlson accept her award, a moment that ranks highly during her second year as the athletic director.

LOG ON TO:

WINNING: GVSU soccer legend Clare Carlson stands with the NCAA Woman of the Year Honoree trophy. COURTESY | CLARE CARLSON

www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

M. CLUB WRESTLING

From the mat to the octagon

BY ROBBIE TRIANO SPROTS@LANTHORN.COM

FROM GVSU TO UFC: Former GVSU student and member of the wrestling team Kevin Lee wins one of his matches during the 2011 season. Lee is currently fighting in the UFC. COURTESY | GVSU WRESTLING

OCT. 9 Here are some numbers: Since 1963, more than 710,000 students have enrolled at Grand Valley State University according to the GVSU Office of Institutional Analysis.

In the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), home to the world’s greatest mixed martial arts (MMA) competitors, there are currently 556 fighters, 86 of whom compete in the lightweight category (capping out at 155 lbs), arguably the most talented category in the UFC. While the correlation between the number of GVSU students and UFC competitors may seem completely unrelated, there’s another statistic that GVSU fans may not know: There are two former GVSU students who currently compete in the UFC—Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson (23-3 MMA, 13-1 UFC) and Kevin “The Motown Phenom” Lee (16-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC)—both of whom are former members of the GVSU club wrestling program.

To top off this unlikely scenario, both of the former

Former GV club wrestlers compete in UFC 216 for Interim Lightweight Title

GVSU club wrestlers faced head-to-head in UFC 216 for the “main event” Interim Lightweight Title Saturday, Oct. 7, in Las Vegas.

Having coached both fighters “up close and personal” at GVSU, head wrestling coach Rick Bolhuis was put in a weird spot on which former talent to root for on Saturday.

“It’s a really cool spot for me to be in as their former coach, but it’s definitely strange,” Bolhuis said. “My hope is that the fans of UFC get an awesome fight. It’s a win-win situation for me as a coach, and I’m excited for them to highlight their multiple years of experience leading up to this moment.

“I’ve been with Grand Valley wrestling for 16 years now as a player or coach, and I’ve been around wrestling since I was five years old, and I’m 36.

These are two of the toughest human beings I’ve ever met. I can’t even describe the absolute toughness that they have.”

After the two had an on-air altercation months before the planned fight, buzz formed around the UFC world about the possibility of the two actually squaring off in the octagon.

Luckily for fans, UFC President Dana White answered the fans’

demands, arranging for the two to fight in the main event of UFC 216 in a press release Tuesday, Aug. 29.

Whether due to the “smack talk” screaming matches at press conferences to promote the match or their breathtaking combat skills in the octagon, UFC fans weren’t disappointed with the overall battle between the two former Lakers.

After a lethal triangle choke, the 33-year-old Ferguson forced the 25-year-old Lee to tap out late in the third round, claiming his 24th career victory and first title belt in the UFC Saturday, Oct. 7.

The lightweight title belt was previously held by worldrenowned fighter Conor McGregor, but McGregor had to relinquish the title after deciding to head into the boxing ring for one fight against the undefeated Grand Rapids-native Floyd Mayweather.

But before the spotlights and the headline-making fights, both Ferguson and Lee had one thing in common: they both started their fighting dreams on the mats of GVSU club wrestling.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

W. TENNIS

Perfect ending

BY D’ANGELO STARKS DSTARKS@LANTHORN.COM

OCT. 30 The Grand Valley State women’s tennis team traveled to Midland, Michigan, this weekend to participate in the GLIAC Tournament. For the second time in program history, the Lakers took home the GLIAC Tournament title after sweeping the competition Friday, Oct. 27, through Sunday, Oct. 29.

GVSU women’s tennis coach John Black knew his team had to enter each matchup with a certain mental toughness coming into the weekend tournament.

“Our game plan was to be ready for an extremely tough match every single match,” Black said. “Go hard in doubles, play aggressive and hopefully get a lead, then continue that strong play into singles, and this team did a great job this weekend.”

In the quarterfinals Friday, the Lakers took on Ashland University. The Lakers dominated their matchup, winning 5-0. On the doubles side, the No. 1 pairing of Allie Sweeney and Aimee Moccia defeated the No. 1 doubles team from Ashland 8-2. The

No. 2 doubles team for GVSU, Madi Ballard and Nicole Heiniger, won their matchup 8-3.

Rounding out the doubles was No. 3 Abby Perkins and Liv Christman, who won their matchup in 8-0 fashion.

On the singles side of the competition, Perkins won her match in two sets, 6-1 and 6-2. Heiniger also won her matchup in two sets, 6-2 and 6-0, respectively.

The Lakers moved on to the semifinals Saturday to take on Tiffin University. The Lakers continued their strong weekend, winning this matchup 5-2.

In doubles, the duo of Sweeney and Moccia won the matchup 8-4. Ballard and Heiniger lost a tight match 9-8, and Perkins and Christman won the finals double match 8-1.

It was much of the same for GVSU in the singles matches.

Ballard won the first match for the Lakers in two sets, 6-3 and 6-2. Moccia dominated her match in two sets, 6-0 and 6-0. Perkins went all three sets but won her matchup 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. Christman dropped the last matchup for the Lakers, 6-2 and 6-1.

The Lakers moved on to play in the finals Sunday for the GLIAC Championship.

They took on Wayne State

and won 5-3 to become GLIAC champions.

GVSU continued their big weekend in doubles. Sweeney and Moccia won the first doubles match 8-3. Ballard and Heiniger won their match 8-4.

The duo of Perkins and Christ-

GV women’s tennis wins GLIAC Tournament, finishes fall season undefeated

man lost a close match 9-7.

In the singles bracket, Sweeney lost her match in two sets, 6-3 and 6-4. Perkins won in two sets, 7-6 and 6-3. Liv Hanover lost in two sets, 7-6 and 6-1. Heiniger dominated her matchup in two sets, 6-1 and

6-0. In the final match for the Lakers, Moccia dropped the first set in her match 6-3 but managed to fight back and win the next two sets 6-4 and 6-2.

This match was the clincher for the GLIAC Championship.

Although there is much to

give praise about, Black knows there’s still certain things the team must fix to reach their true potential.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

GLIAC CHAMPS: The entire Grand Valley State women’s tennis team poses with their medals and the GLIAC Championship Tournament trophy after going undefeated during the GLIAC season and Tournament Sunday, Oct. 29, in Grand Rapids. COURTESY | GVSULAKERS.COM

DECEMBER 7, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

SPORTS | A13

SOCCER

GV soccer wins 11th straight GLIAC Tournament Championship

BY ROBBIE TRIANO SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

SINCE 2005: The entire Grand Valley State women’s soccer team huddles together in celebration with their GLIAC Tournament Championship trophy and medals after the Lakers dominated Saginaw Valley State on the GVSU soccer field Sunday, Nov. 5. GVL | EMILY FRYE

NOV. 6 Since 2005, there has only been one women’s soccer program that has been crowned the GLIAC champion.

That program is the Grand Valley State women’s soccer team, which was once again crowned champion of the GLIAC Tournament after a physical 3-0 victory over Saginaw Valley State at home Sunday, Nov. 5.

With his team having won the past 11 GLIAC Tournament Championships while also competing in the past four NCAA National Championship finals, there’s one word head coach Jeff Hosler uses to define how his program has been so successful during that stretch of time.

“Culture,” Hosler said.

“Throughout the different coaches we’ve had, a lot of the same fundamental concepts have worked. It’s about establishing culture at the forefront and not sacrificing short-term results.

“It also helps to have great kids.”

Seeded No. 1 in the tournament, the Lakers (18-3, 9-0 GLIAC) faced the No. 6-seeded Cardinals (10-7-2, 4-4-1 GLIAC), who surprisingly upset No. 3 Ferris State 2-1 Tuesday, Oct. 31, and No. 2 Ashland University Friday, Nov. 3.

The Lakers had a seemingly easy trip to the championship contest, defeating the No. 8-seeded Michigan Technological University Tuesday, Oct. 31, and blowing out the No. 4-seeded Tiffin University Dragons 8-0 Friday, Nov. 3.

Although GVSU came into the contest outscoring GLIAC Tournament opponents 130, SVSU surprised the Lakers with early physicality and stingy defense after the opening whistle. The Cardinals found themselves maintaining the possession for a greater part of the first half—a rarity against the Lakers’ strong defensive line this season.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

FOOTBALL

Bittersweet victory

BY BRADY MCATAMNEY

BMCATAMNEY@LANTHORN.COM

NOV. 13 The Grand Valley State Lakers sent their seniors out of Lubbers Stadium with a decisive win over the Tiffin University Dragons 45-7 Saturday, Nov. 11. The victory brings GVSU’s final regular-season record to 8-3 (7-2 GLIAC), while Tiffin ends up at 6-5 (5-4 GLIAC).

Following the delivery of the game ball by paratroopers draped in red, white and blue in celebration of Veterans Day, the Dragons opened up with an early advantage following a 1-yard run by JaQuan Hardy.

The Lakers’ run game was slow to take off in the absence of starter Martayveus Carter and took another blow in the first quarter when Bryce Young-Walls left the game with a broken clavicle.

The lead lasted for more than a full quarter before a long punt return by Brandon Bean set him up to

catch an 8-yard touchdown from quarterback Bart Williams to tie the game at 7.

Running back Dre’on Kemp scored from 4 yards out with two minutes left in the first half to give the Lakers a 14-7 advantage they would bring into halftime. Heading into the break, GVSU had only 184 total yards of offense—compared to Tiffin’s 169—with 47 yards rushing and 137 through the air.

“At the beginning of the game, they came out and ran kind of a different front,” said head coach Matt Mitchell. “We were struggling a little bit to run the ball and get some clean pockets, so we weren’t too effective offensively at the beginning of the game. Our defense kept hanging in there and kept battling.”

The second half was all Lakers. They outscored the Dragons 31-0 in the latter half while finishing with a total of 450 yards and holding TU to 192.

While Kemp rumbled

GV football win over Tiffin not enough to secure playoff spot

home another touchdown from 25 yards out and kicker J.J. McGrath knocked in a 24-yard field goal, the protagonist of the game was Bean.

Heading into the half with six catches for 51 yards and a touchdown is good for most receivers. It wasn’t enough for No. 3, who would go on to catch eight more passes for 113 yards and three touchdowns in the second half alone to finish with a school record 14 receptions, 164 yards and four scores (tied for most in GVSU history).

In typical Bean fashion, he refused to take credit for the dynamite day: “It’s just Bart Williams. All our quarterbacks, they just put the ball away from the defense, and they make our receiving room, all of us, they make our jobs so much easier. You really see how phenomenal Bart is, and I’m lucky to have him.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

ONE LAST GAME: GVSU senior wide receiver Brandon Bean shares a smile after scoring one of his four touchdowns of the day during the team’s victory over Tiffin on Saturday, Nov. 11. GVL | EMILY FRYE

CROSS-COUNTRY

GV men’s cross-country places second in NCAA National Championship, women place sixth

BY BRIANA LEWIS BLEWIS@LANTHORN.COM

NOV. 20 After dominating the NCAA Regional Championship, the Grand Valley State

cross-country teams were all set to travel to Evansville, Indiana, in hopes of claiming the NCAA National Championship this past Saturday, Nov. 18.

Both the women’s and men’s teams were sent off to

compete against top runners in Division II, but the experience was nothing more than the Lakers could handle.

The men’s team put up a tough fight throughout the race, coming in second place

ON THE PODIUM: Five GVSU men’s runners, who all placed in the top 35 overall, stand on the podium after running in the Division II National Championship race Saturday, Nov 18. COURTESY | AL STEIBLE

overall with a team score of 64 points. Adams State took home the first-place trophy with a team score of 44.

GVSU placed two runners from the team in the top six male finishers. Junior Zach Panning came in second overall with a time of 30:52.8, leading the team. Teammate Enael Woldemichael finished in sixth place overall with a time of 31:07.0.

Senior Wuoi Mach, who had arguably the strongest season for the Lakers, took 11th place overall with a time of 31:19.6, and senior Brady Selner came in 26th place at 31:43.4. Freshman Abe Visser finished out the five runners for GVSU, placing 34th with a time of 31:49.3.

Although the runners didn’t redeem themselves with a trophy for last season’s close finish, GVSU head coach Jerry Baltes couldn’t be upset with his team’s performance.

“I thought that the guys did a great job at the regionals,” he said. “Staying in control, being patient, not pressing it throughout the race. They were able to come out feeling a little fresher ready to go for yesterday.”

Baltes was impressed with how his men’s team performed during the meet, recognizing the strong fight the Lakers had in them.

“It was back and forth for awhile there, real close throughout the whole race,” Baltes said. “I thought our guys competed at a very high level and gave it a great effort.”

The women, meanwhile, had a team score of 185, placing them as the sixth team overall.

Senior Kelly Haubert was the first to cross the finish line with a sixth-place finish at 21:05.1. Senior Allie Ludge took the 35th place overall with a time of 21:40.0, followed by junior Gina Patterson, who crossed the finish line in 39th with a finish time of 21:42.9.

Freshman Megan Caltagirone finished 48th with a time of 21:52.0. Rachel Bendewald was the final scoring runner for the Lakers, finishing the race 82nd overall with a time of 22:19.0.

After the women won the National Championship last season, their performance on Saturday left a bitter taste for the ride back home for senior Kelly Haubert.

“It’s hard to leave not

knowing that you didn’t have the best finish that you could,” Haubert said. “But I know that each step of the way, everyone was trying their hardest for the goal of the team. The heart was there; it’s just that maybe the day just wasn’t our day.”

Coming into the race as defending national champs, the Lakers didn’t let that affect them one bit. However, having a younger team came with some difficulties the GVSU women were not necessarily prepared for.

“Since we’re a young team, I think there were a lot of people that didn’t know what to expect and how to handle the situation,” Haubert said. “Maybe it was just a little bit nerves. I truly believe we were adequately prepared from (Coach) Jerry’s standpoint.”

Even though this is Haubert’s final year with the crosscountry team, she is more than positive that every runner will be able to take something away from Saturday’s match that will help them for next season.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

DECEMBER 7, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A14 | SPORTS FOOTBALL

Laker football falls short despite strong season

BY BRADY MCATAMNEY

BMCATAMNEY@LANTHORN.COM

NOV. 20 With frigid air blowing through the quaint, little college town known as Allendale, a wealth of Grand Valley State seniors gathered with what was left of the student section following a 45-7 trouncing of the Tiffin University Dragons on Saturday, Nov. 11, at Lubbers Stadium.

Though some of the Laker football players knew it would be their last time setting foot on the field as players, there was also the creeping suspicion it could be their last time gearing up as Lakers.

They were on the outside looking in on the playoff picture, after all. With three losses in hand, they sat in ninth place in Super Region Three, and now that they had won their final regular-season game against Tiffin, they needed some help from the teams in front of them to get into

the playoffs. First, No. 8 Harding University beat No. 7 Arkansas Tech University. That was good, as it put two three-loss teams in front of the Lakers. Everybody else won their final games, though, and it became time to wait.

All three of GVSU’s losses were to some of the top Division II teams in the country—University of Indianapolis (11-0), Ashland University (10-1) and Ferris State University (9-1, only loss to Ashland)—with all three losses coming on the road by a combined 8 points.

The Lakers knew that no three-loss team was better than they were, but the question remained: Would the playoff committee recognize that, or would they slot Harding (or even Arkansas Tech) ahead of them?

When the official announcement was made, Laker fans knew the worst had come: The selection committee opted for Harding and left GVSU out of the playoffs for the first

time since 2014.

“You’re going to be hardpressed to tell me that there’s a better 8-3 squad in the nation,” said head coach Matt Mitchell after the win against Tiffin “We had our opportunities, I understand that, but (we lost) all three games on the road by a combined total of 8 points. I think today kind of showed you even with a lack of depth the quality of the football program we have. Being 8-3, if there are other 8-3 squads that get in our region and we don’t, that’s a travesty.”

Strong words for certain, but now the Lakers must sit home watching their rivals play for an opportunity to take the NCAA National Title. Just because it ended prematurely does not mean the season wasn’t a pleasure to experience with the players, coaches, fans and game-day staff. This was my first season covering GVSU football, and it was everything I could have hoped it would be and more.

I remember the very first

OUT OF REACH: Grand Valley State senior wide receiver Brandon Bean watches a pass by quarterback Bart Williams sail out of bounds during the loss to Ferris State on Saturday, Oct. 21. GVL | EMILY FRYE

press conference I walked into.

It was at a media luncheon at the Uccello’s Ristorante on Lake Michigan Drive in Standale.

The first people I saw were Mitchell, wide receiver Brandon Bean and linebacker Gar-

rett Pougnet. I sat down, asked the three guys questions and then went up to the all-youcan-eat buffet for an Italian lunch. It became a weekly routine. I’d be lying if I said those moments when the players

could just be themselves without pads on weren’t some of my favorite parts of football season.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

SOCCER

GV soccer eliminated after NCAA Elite 8 classic against Central Missouri

BY ROBBIE TRIANO SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

LAST TIME: Grand Valley State soccer senior Gabriella Mencotti is hugged by senior defender Shannon Quinn during the team’s win over Tiffin on Saturday, Nov. 11, at the GVSU soccer field. GVL | EMILY FRYE

NOV. 20 After last year’s senior soccer class graduated from Grand Valley State as “the greatest class in Division II soccer history,” according to head coach Jeff Hosler, those outside the program had already dismissed the team’s chances heading into this year.

“People wrote us off and thought we could never return to the standard that we were used to,” Hosler said.

While the team did have unique obstacles to overcome at the start of the season—they had to quickly adapt 12 freshmen and two transfers to their culture and recover from losing their first two games—those preseason naysayers were promptly proven wrong.

The Lakers responded to the early losses by winning their next 15 games, captur-

L A K E R E XC H A N G E

ing the GLIAC regular season and tournament championship, earning the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region, the Midwest Regional Championship and making it to their last stop: the Elite 8 of the NCAA Championship Tournament.

Sadly, the Elite 8 was the Lakers’ final destination after the No. 1 team in Division II, the Central Missouri Jennies (24-0-0), eliminated No. 4 GVSU (20-4-0) by a 3-1 final score Sunday, Nov. 19, at Central Missouri’s home field in Warrensburg, Missouri.

With the loss, this will be the first time in nine seasons that GVSU soccer will not be in the Final Four of the NCAA Championship Tournament and the first time not being in the National Championship Final since 2012. But against the top team in the country, there was not much coach Hosler could

hang his head about.

“We just competed hard against the No. 1 team in the country at their home turf and in front of their own hometown fans,” Hosler said. “They were the best team we’ve played all year.

Well-coached, well-organized, and not only are their players talented, but they also have great athleticism.”

That athleticism showed early in the contest as Central Missouri’s defense immediately began pressing GVSU’s offense with their speed and relentless pursuit.

It became clear early on that the Lakers would be playing an opponent unlike any they had seen this season, but GVSU quickly adapted to the challenge by countering with their experienced defensive and midfield core, holding the Jennies to zero shots in the first 18 minutes.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

FREE CLASSIFIEDS FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF some restrictions apply email lakerexchange@lanthorn.com for more info on restrictions FOR COMMERCIAL RATES EMAIL

lakerexchange@lanthorn.com OR CALL

616-331-2460

Announcements

Employment

Housing

Housing

Housing

Announcements

$15,000 Study Abroad Scholarship! Apply by February 15, 2018 for the Barbara H. Padnos scholarship at www.gvsu.edu/myscholarships.

For information call 616-331-3898 or email studyabroad@gvsu.edu

Are you looking for a job that doesn't take up too much of your time? Apply to be a distribution associate for the GV Lanthorn! The job consists of delivering papers to each of the stands on one of the campuses just once a week! If you are interested, please submit your resume, class schedule, and cover letter to distribution@lanthorn.com.

Boltwood Apartments has affordable housing for GVSU students!Located 4657 Lake Michigan Dr. Allendale, MI 49401 Boltwood offers 1 and 2 bedroom apartments that are pet friendly, has free internet, bus stop located right in front, and easy access to pay rent online.

For more information you can contact them at 616-895-5875 or visit their w e b s i t e www.boltwoodgvsu.com

American Reality: It's easier to see a house as a home!

Call today 616-913-9004 to schedule a showing of their grand selection of Grand Rapids homes.

Mystic woods located at 5386 Pierce St Allendale, MI. Is a community of cottage-style duplexes in a quiet wooded setting. They offer large porches, basketball courts, beach volleyball court, free garages, cable, and internet all Free! For more information call 616-886-8535 or visit www.mysticwoodscommunity.com

Pennzoil gives all GVSU students and staff $5 dollars off any full service oil change with no appointment needed.

Visit your local Pennzoil!

Tallarico's Boardwalk Subs is voted the best stubs in Grand Rapids.They have locations in Standale, Wyoming, Kentwood, and Byron center, with a Variety of jersey style subs, soups, and salads. Visit the Tallarioc's Boardwalk subs near you.

GVSU has 15% wind contract that last all the way to the year 2036. This is just one of many long term contracts for utilities at GVSU and includes steam, electric, and natural gas. Do your part!

The Alpine is now leasing for fall 2018. Located at 10452 Lodge Drive Allendale, MI 49401 Brand New student apartments! For more information call 616-920-1001 or visit thealpine@achliving.com No time for a part time job?

Bio Life can help!They have multiple locations in Grandville, Walker, an d Grand Rapids.This applies to new donors only. To learn more please visit BIOLIFEPLASMA.com

Meadows Crossing is the best off-campus housing in Grand Valley apartments.

Our townhomes and Allendale apartments in Allendale offer modern amenities, comfort, privacy, and a great location.

Conveniently located at the 48th Avenue entrance to Grand Valley State Universityʼs Allendale campus. Schedule a tour today and experience the best off-campus, GVS U apartments in the Allendale rental market!

SM communities located at 4477 Lake Michigan Drive, suite E5 Allendale, MI. SM operates Sutter's Mill, Northridge, Hightree, and Sailor's cove! For more information you can call 616-719-0170 or visit www.smnrproperties.com CopperBeech town homes Now leasing for fall 2018.

Located at 10295 48th Ave. Allendale, MI 49401.

CopperBeech is pet friendly, has 24-hour fitness center, on site tanning, high speed internet, private bedrooms and bathroom for each resident, and garage parking is available. Text "CBALLENDALE" to 47464 for more info on current leasing specials! You can also call at 616-895-2900 or v i s i t LiveCBeechAllendale.com Enclave has Brand New Cottages and Town-homes that come fully furnished with concierge services. For more information contact Enclave at 855-789-7782 or www.enclavenow.com Sublease at Copper Beach available immediately. 4 bedroom, private bath, 3 other guys live there. $482 per month including utilities.

If interested,email me: thompst2@mail.gvsu.edu.

Live at Campus West! Rate starting at $375 with many amenities like free Wifi, fitness room, study lounge, cookies, free tanning, 24/7 on-site maintenance and security , and much more!

For more information visit campus west at 4832 West Campus drive suite A100 or their website www.CAMPUSWEST.net LIVE LIKE A LAKER! Live on campus. Reserve your place for next year at gvsu.edu/liveon LIVE DOWNTOWN with The Lofts 5 Lyon located at 200 Ionia Ave NW Grand Rapids, MI 49503. They offer studio, 1, 2, 3, and 4 bedroom apartments with Gas, Electric, Water, Trash, andInternet INCLUDED! For more information you call them at 616-285-7560 or visit their website www.5lyon.com.

The first 10 students will receive a $10 voucher for Campus Dining. In the next few weeks facilities services will provide two questions and the answer are in the Accountability Report.

Submit your answers at deryked@gvsu.edu to receive a voucher!

Brian's Books will always save you cash, guaranteed!

Rent or buy in store or online at BriansBooks.net If any questions call (616) 892-4170