Issue 31, December 11th 2017 - Grand Valley Lanthorn

GRAND VALLEY

FINALS SURVIVAL GUIDE

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

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ST U D E N T- R U N P U B L I C A T I O N S // P R I N T · O N L I N E · M O B I L E // L A N T H O R N . C O M

M O N D A Y, D E C E M B E R 1 1 , 2 0 1 7 // VO L . 52 N O. 3 1

COMMEMORATION

GV announces speakers for 2018 MLK week

BY DEVIN DELY NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Haas said, quoting the late Robert K. Greenleaf. “He warns us, don’t assume because you are intelligent, able, well-motivated that you are open to communication since you know how to listen.

“The fact you are here today, ready to cross this stage, we know you are intelligent, well-motivated, but we are counting on you to listen and lead in the service of others.”

Each January, members of the Grand Valley State University community attend events for Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Week, a celebration of the life of King and his work in the civil rights movement. The keynote speakers for January 2018 are April Reign and Bree Newsome, both of whom made waves in 2015 for their efforts to initiate social change.

Bobby Springer, director of the new Pathways to College Office at GVSU, has been working closely with Grand Rapids Community College and Davenport University to host these speakers. According to Springer, Reign and Newsome are in high demand across the country. Newsome first caught his attention two years ago when she made national headlines after climbing to the top of a flagpole to remove a Confederate flag in Columbia, South Carolina.

“We wanted her (Newsome) last year as the Monday speaker, but she felt she needed to stay home and be present in her own community,” Springer said. “Someone—another school—had already picked her up for this year, but when I talked to her contact person, we were able to get her for the Wednesday event.”

Reign, who created the viral hashtag #OscarsSoWhite in response to the lack of people of color represented at the 88th Academy Awards, will be speaking Monday, Jan. 15, at the Fieldhouse.

“We keyed in on April because of the hashtag,” Springer said. “She’s an individual making a statement about something we needed to take

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HARD WORK PAYS OFF: Graduate Alexis Mencotti accepts her diploma from GVSU President Thomas Haas during commencement on Saturday, Dec. 9, in the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. Mencotti was one of more than 1,000 students to receive a graduate or bachelor’s degree during commencement. GVL | EMILY FRYE

Laker send-off More than 1,000 students graduate at fall 2017 commencement

BY ARPAN LOBO NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

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rand Valley State University saw another class of students become Lakers for a lifetime.

On Saturday, Dec. 9, GVSU held its commencement ceremony for the fall 2017 semester at that Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. More than 1,000 students received either their bachelor’s or graduate degrees. Gayle Davis, former provost of GVSU, re-

FACILITIES

ceived an honorary degree for her contributions to the university.

The opening reflection was made

by Robert Stevenson, adjunct instructor for the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies. Stevenson reminded graduates of the journey they had taken to reach commencement, as well as the journey they were embarking on as Laker alumni.

“You’ll be leaving behind an institution that has dedicated itself for your success,” he said. Stevenson also told graduates that their status of

degree-receiving alumni isn’t something all-too-common.

“You are about to enter a very elite group of people,” he said, stating that only 21 percent of Americans have received at least a bachelor’s degree.

When Stevenson concluded his opening remarks, university President Thomas Haas addressed the graduates, reflecting not only on their accomplishments, but also on their duties as alumni.

“Leadership must, first and foremost, meet the needs of others,”

GOVERNANCE

Parking Services changes lot hours, policies for exam week

BY SARAH HOLLIS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

All-night study sessions, lastminute cramming and excessive amounts of coffee—these are some of the many signs that exam week is starting. To help reduce some of students’ stress during this time, as well as help students prepare for their holiday departures, Parking Services at Grand Valley State University has made some changes to its normal procedures and policies.

The biggest change Parking Services has made is instituting overnight hours for several parking lots near the Mary Idema Pew Library to accommodate drivers who want to take advantage of the library’s extended hours.

“With the library being open 24 hours now, we need to accommodate students who are using the library and accommodate them and their parking,” said Olivia Caton, parking enforcement supervisor for GVSU’s Department of Public Safety. “We have opened up Lot H, right across from the library there, to allow students to park in there overnight. Typically, we don’t allow parking in those lots from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m.

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TEAMWORK: GVSU student senator Morgan Mattler gives another senator a fist bump during the weekly general assembly on Thursday, Nov. 9. On Thursday, Dec. 7, student senate voted on which faculty members would receive the Laker of the Year award as well as the Student Award for Faculty Excellence. GVL | MATT READ

Student senate votes on faculty awards

BY ANNE MARIE SMIT NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

At its general assembly on Thursday, Dec. 7, Grand Valley State University’s student senate gathered to vote on the Student Award for Faculty Excellence (SAFE) and the Laker of the Year award. Guest speakers Kristen Evans and Sue Korzinek also addressed the assembly.

Each year, GVSU students nominate faculty for the SAFE award, which recognizes professors who go above and beyond

for their students both in the classroom and individually.

Vice President Dan Ziegenfelder read students’ personal statements for each of the nominated professors, and then some senators discussed their personal experiences with the professors.

The majority vote for the SAFE award was for David Clark, assistant professor of mathematics. Senator Carly Aller spoke about Clark’s teaching style and how it has impacted her learning experience.

“He’s one of the best professors I’ve

ever had in my life,” Aller said. “He has a different style of teaching, so it’s not just based on tests. You can retake anything, basically. So you can (redo) your homework to get the grade you want. So, really, in his class you get the grade you put into it. He has surrounded his whole career on this teaching style, which is revolutionary.

“I really enjoy my classes with him, and he definitely deserves this award.”

For the Laker of the Year award, the majority voted for John Martin, associate professor and director of

the Concert Band, the University Band and athletic bands. Senator Cameron Jones said Martin is deserving of the award because of the scholarships he has started to help students pay for their tuition.

“The fact that he started scholarships to pay for students’ education, the fact that they can be at this school because of him, I’m going to be voting for him,” Jones said. “Starting scholarships, to me, it’s the best thing to do because (otherwise) poor students SEE SENATE | A2

DECEMBER 11, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

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GVSU RECEIVES $1 MILLION STEM GRANT

Grand Valley State University received a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program.

The grant allows GVSU’s Retaining and Inspiring students in Science and Engineering (RISE) to create a system of at least 50 progressively increasing scholarships for students who would not be able to afford a college education otherwise. The grant also creates a cohort between the prospective students and GVSU faculty members, as well as opportunities for summer internships and other career-focused training.

The RISE project will be overseen by Deborah Herrington, chemistry department associate chair; Paul Plotkowski, dean of the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing; Charlie Standridge, associate dean of Padnos College; and Jerry Johnson, associate professor of social work.

GVSU NAMES NEW DIRECTOR OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT Grand Valley State University named a new director of civic learning and community engagement on Monday, Dec. 4.

Travus Burton, who currently works as the experiential learning coordinator at Oakland University, will assume his role as director on Tuesday, Jan. 9. Burton is replacing former Director Ruth Stegeman, who retired in August.

Burton also has experience as the service learning coordinator for Central Michigan University and as the president of the Isabella County Restoration House Board of Directors. He received a bachelor’s degree in sociology and communication from Saginaw Valley State University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from CMU. GVSU will hold a reception to welcome Burton to campus on Tuesday, Jan. 30, at 4:30 p.m. at the L.V. Eberhard Center.

OFFICE OF MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS HOLDING FINALS WEEK RELAXATION

Grand Valley State University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) is holding finals week relaxation throughout the week to combat stress.

Students can visit the OMA to do relaxing activities such as coloring, crafts, movies and board games from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday, Dec. 11, to Friday, Dec. 15.

Students are encouraged to stop by the OMA located at 1240 Kirkhof Center next to the Women and Gender Equity Center.

GVSU RECEIVES NEARLY $40K IN SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION FUNDING

The state of Michigan awarded nearly $40,000 to Grand Valley State University as part of its Campus Sexual Assault Grant Program.

A grand total of $381,929 in state funding was awarded to Michigan public institutions, Michigan First Lady Sue Snyder said in an announcement on Monday, Dec. 4. GVSU received $39,472 for its Peer Education Through Green Dot Bystander Intervention project.

Haas, like Stevenson, told graduates that their careers and professional lives were only just beginning.

“This is a day when your dreams are realized,” he said.

“This is, after all, a commencement, not an ending.

But it’s also a day when you embark on those new dreams, and those dreams, if worthwhile, will again require extraordinary effort as it was to get you here today.”

Davis, former GVSU provost and executive vice president for academic and student affairs (2002-2017), served as the commencement speaker.

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a look at. It doesn’t have to take a specific kind of person to make a difference like that.

It can be anyone. She saw where she could make a difference and did just that.”

Springer has worked in the GVSU Office of Multicultural Affairs for more than 17 years, consistently devoting his efforts to bettering the Commemoration Week each year.

“I’ve been doing the MLK program since I started here, and I’ve had the opportunity to be in front of some dynamic people over the years,” Springer said. “This has always been one of my favorite times of the year.”

In addition to the keynote presentations, GVSU will hold other events throughout the week, including a Shabbat dinner, a day of service and solidarity, and the traditional silent march.

“Silent March has been going on since way before I got here,” Springer said. “It’s a callback to the time when there were civil rights marches. We make this one silent so people can reflect and think. Speakers on campus are always very taken aback by how amazing the experi-

In her time at GVSU, Davis was integral in maintaining university academic operations while the university saw unprecedented growth in enrollment.

She also received in honorary doctoral degree in education.

In her address to the graduates, Davis encouraged graduates to continue personal growth as they progress through their professional lives.

“Some social sciences (and) academics loosely define getting a college degree as entrance into a liminal stage of life,” she said. “The word liminal comes from the Latin-root word meaning threshold. If you are standing on an actual threshold in a house, you are neither in one room nor another.

“Just so, if you’ve started college but you haven’t fulfilled its degree requirements yet, you’re in an intermediate stage between your former educational status and that which you seek in completing a new degree.

The concept is that during this in-between stage, the more thoroughly one disengages from both comfort and the distractions of the familiar, the greater the likelihood that you will make more space for transformational thoughts, insights, discoveries and growth.

“So now you’re about to finish your degrees. As we proceed through our graduation ceremony and you walk across the stage to the president, you will symbolically

emerge from your educational liminality, cross your educational threshold. You will be ready for life’s next thing.”

The final distinguished honoree of the ceremony was Carolyn Ulstad, recipient of the Young Alumni Award, presented by the GVSU Alumni Association.

Ulstad, a 2011 graduate from GVSU in geography in planning, was recognized for her work with the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council.

With the MACC, Ulstad has overseen the quality of roads in the area and supported the Macatawa Watershed Project, designed to reduce the amount of phosphorus that enters Lake Macatawa.

ence is. They know we’ll have a march, but they’re not prepared for the way we do it.”

To many people, the third Monday in January might be just another day off to kick back and not worry about school.

Springer said the importance of this day of remembrance can often get lost amid the relaxation but that GVSU’s shift in recent years to a full week of events has helped fix that.

“Multiple meaningful events throughout the week give more people an opportunity to participate and be educated,” Springer said. “It’s a good thing because we all need to grow. The goal is for us not to stay the same. These events make such a thing possible.”

As the week approaches, he hopes that students will be in attendance in great numbers, whether that means attending

the keynote speeches or another event on campus.

“I want to encourage others to reflect on Dr. King’s dream and what he has done,” Springer said. “I hope the events will encourage others to reflect on his dream. I want to continue the legacy for which he gave his life and take this opportunity to ask ourselves the question of what we’ve done to help it along.”

ADDRESS: Kevin Powell speaks in the Fieldhouse Arena on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 16. In 2018, Bree Newsome and April Reign will speak for MLK Commemoration. GVL | LUKE HOLMES

UBEREATS IS NOW IN GRAND RAPIDS

The popular food delivery app UberEATS recently launched in Grand Rapids on Thursday, Dec. 7. The app allows users to order food to be delivered by their Uber drivers. Users can use the code “MICHIGANEATS” to receive their first two deliveries free until Thursday, Dec. 21.

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NEW WHIP: GVSU’s car-share vehicle sits in the Kirkhof Center parking lot on Nov. 29, 2015. As harsher weather approaches, GVSU Parking Services has initiated new policies to ensure that on-campus parking continues to run as smoothly as possible. GVL | KEVIN SIELAFF

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“In Marketplace, we have changed that a little bit to open up some additional parking for students during exam week, and we are not requiring payment in that lot from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m.”

Julie Carbine, GVSU public safety customer service representative, added that the lot near the Marketplace will have “normal enforcement throughout the day” but that from 6:30 p.m. to 7 a.m., students can park in lots H and C without a permit.

In addition to the new

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wouldn’t be college-bound.”

Guest speaker Evans, assistant director of recruitment and training in housing, addressed the assembly about resident assistants (RA) at GVSU. She spoke about student experiences at GVSU compared to other colleges and universities.

“What we know from our research is that the students at Grand Valley are very happy with the facilities, they generally feel very safe on campus, and they feel like there are a lot of services and resources available to them compared to

parking lot hours, the Parking Services front desk will also have extended hours for exam week. These new hours will continue into the winter 2018 semester as well.

“We’ve expanded our hours a little bit,” Carbine said. “Right away the last couple of weeks we’ve been open on Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Then, starting when everybody returns from break on Jan. 8, we will have extended hours Monday through Thursday in the evening until 10 p.m., and those Sunday hours from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.”

Aside from exam cram changes, Parking Services has several ways to help students

move items and get their things packed to leave campus for winter break. Caton wants to remind students that parking in front of doors, on walkways or in the grass is still not permitted. Students who wish to move something particularly heavy can call Parking Services, and they will help to make special arrangements.

Parking Services also wants to remind students of other housekeeping items as winter weather has officially arrived.

According to both Caton and Carbine, it is vital that students have their parking permits on the lower driver-side corner of their windshield.

If it’s not placed in the cor-

rect spot, students run the risk of getting a citation because only the lower driver-side corner of the windshield will be cleared of snow to check for a permit. They also strongly encourage students to take their bikes home over winter break.

Bikes not taken home will be tagged for pickup.

Those who want more information can call Parking Services at 616-331-3325 or visit their website at www. gvsu.edu/parking/. An updated parking map with all parking lots color-coded is available at www.gvsu.edu/ homepage/files/pdf/maps/allendale.pdf.

peer institutions,” Evans said.

“What we do find, however, is that students at Grand Valley tend to be more homesick and feel less of a feeling of engagement and belonging than students at peer institutions.”

Evans said one of the roles of an RA is to help combat student loneliness on campus by keeping students engaged in community activities.

“One of the primary roles of an RA is to ensure that everybody that is living with us feels a sense of engagement and belonging as a community,” Evans said. “The No. 1 job is to make sure that students aren’t just going to their room,

going to class, going to their room, going to class. We want them really embedded in the culture at Grand Valley.”

Evans then announced that RA applications for next year are open and due on Wednesday, Dec. 20. She asked the senate to encourage their friends and classmates to apply for an RA position.

From there, Korzinek, the associate vice president and chief information officer for information technology at GVSU, spoke about the initiation of “myName” on Banner starting in February 2018.

“We’ve been after the vendor, the student information

systems, to do this since 2005,” Korzinek said. “I’m going to say that I believe the transgender issues actually pushed the vendor, finally, into offering something like this.

“Besides the transgender reasons, there are other reasons. There are people who might be married who want to use their maiden name, pen names, nicknames, all kinds of reasons. I think it’s a great opportunity.”

Student senate will not meet next week or during break. The next general assembly will be Thursday, Jan. 11, at 4:30 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center Pere Marquette Room.

DECEMBER 11, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

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FAREWELL

GV professor to retire after more than 40 years at university Faite Mack to continue work for foundation in Thailand

BY KARINA LLOYD NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

As the semester comes to a close and Grand Valley State University students prepare to head home for winter break, they will also be saying goodbye to a longtime faculty member. GVSU professor Faite Mack will retire from the university on Sunday, Dec. 31, after more than 40 years of teaching.

Mack, an education professor and the first African-American to be promoted to the full rank of professor at GVSU, spent years learning his craft.

As the son of a Tuskegee Airman and a nurse, he grew up in a household that encouraged him to work hard no matter what challenges lay ahead.

His parents taught him that being a minority “was not an excuse” to be held back or not to strive to do great things. Leading by example were his parents, as well as his late mother’s grand uncle, the distinguished scholar Carter G. Woodson. Woodson was known as the father of the African-American studies movement and the second African-American to earn a Ph.D. degree from Harvard University.

Mack made similar strides throughout his career, not letting the fact that he was a minority become an obstacle but instead something to be proud of. He became the sixth African-American to earn a doctorate in any field at the University of Illinois at Urbana. Mack became a professor at GVSU in 1972. As one of the founding faculty members of the College of Education, he

strived to bring diversity to GVSU’s campus and into the education field through the Dr. Faite Mack and Dr. Thomas Jackson African American Teacher Education Scholarship.

Mack shared that one of his hopes for the future is to see more minorities in the field of education. He is also content with the way the College of Education has grown throughout the years.

“It still makes me very happy that (the college) was successful,” Mack said. “We overcame many barriers to success for starting the master’s program at Grand Valley in teacher education. We were denied funding for the first years, so we operated on grant funding. But we were able to garner a federal grant of millions of dollars that allowed us to function very well and to refine our programs of study.”

Mack has published three books, four book chapters, 42 journal articles, a commercial school readiness test for young children, and numerous scholarly papers presented nationally and internationally throughout his career. His resume is extensive as it includes serving as a consultant for multiple school districts and agencies, maintaining a series of educational and professional memberships, and working within the Grand Rapids local government.

“It’s one thing to teach education at the university,” Mack said. “It’s another thing to go out there and practice successfully what you’re teaching your students at the university.”

Mack was able to balance all these different roles throughout his career, which would be un-

thinkable for many.

“I don’t know how I was able to do it,” he said. “I am a tenacious individual, and once I get started on something, I like to put full energy into it to make it successful.”

Mack’s true passion lies with his work as president of the Education for Humanity International Foundation in Thailand. More than 21 years ago, Mack went on a trip to Thailand as a keynote speaker for the Department of Education. After visiting the rural part of the country, he was exposed to poverty unlike any he had seen in the U.S. This trip would later inspire his work with the Humanity International Foundation.

After its creation, the foundation became one of the first foreign non-profit foundations to be approved for operation in the Nong Khai Province. This is extremely noteworthy as the foundation needed to be approved by the Royal Thai Foundation, a process that took more than three years. “(We were able to accomplish this) by being tenacious, by constantly pushing the system to grant us permission,” Mack said as he recalled almost deciding to move the foundation to a country where it would be easier to establish. “It took a lot of sweat, heartache and tears to reach that point.”

Although education is free in Thailand, the children he saw could not afford supplies such as uniforms, sandals and other resources to attend classes. He recalled learning that some of the children would each take turns throughout the week wearing the one uniform

GOODBYE: Faite Mack has been a professor at GVSU since 1972. He is also the first African-American in the history of the university to be promoted to professor. COURTESY | GVSU.EDU / AMANDA PITTS

they owned as a group so they could each attend class at least one day a week.

The foundation gives educational grants to orphaned and abandoned children in an effort to educate while battling against child trafficking.

It supports the deeply impoverished children and orphans by offering them uniforms, shoes and medical resources so they are able to attend the schools and stay in school.

“If you are in Thailand and you don’t go to school and you’re poor, it is very likely that you will be sold (into child trafficking),” Mack said. “Child trafficking is very high in the rural parts of Asia.”

As president of the foundation, Mack works to raise money for the cause while staying in contact with the three-person staff located in Thailand and working with the local schools and government

in Thailand to make accommodations for the children.

Based on donations, the foundation has been able to provide scholarships for more than 800 children in the Nong Khai Province in 2017.

“Once they have the primary education, there are technical programs and college programs for several students,” Mack said. “Some become teachers, (and) several become nurses.”

The foundation has a vast amount of educational resources for the children and is now working with four different Thai schools. The main issue the foundation faces is the financial restriction.

“It makes me very sad when I have to tell a needy individual that there is not enough money to provide you with a scholarship,” Mack said. “It’s very hard. I have people bring me kids. ...

They are destitute, they have no parents, they’re living on their own. So, often what I do is take money out of my own personal pocket to try and help out, way beyond what our foundation is able to supply. ... We are trying to squeeze as much out of our dollar to help children, and that’s my goal.”

Word of Mack’s passion for this cause and his hard work for the foundation spread far and wide from the GVSU community to the king of Thailand, who learned of the foundation’s work after a misunderstanding about gathering items for the foundation’s fundraiser. Luckily, the situation was resolved, and as a result, they were given support by the Thai royal household.

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INTERNATIONAL

GV to offer new study-abroad program in Namibia next year

BY TYLEE BUSH TBUSH@LANTHORN.COM

WILDLIFE: A trio of giraffes in the wilderness. GVSU will travel to Namibia in spring/summer 2018. COURTESY | STEEVE BUCKRIDGE

Grand Valley State University’s Padnos International Center will offer students a new and unique study-abroad program in 2018—Namibia: African History, Cultures and Environment. This program will give students an exclusive opportunity to explore the wilderness of southern Africa, encounter wildlife, camp in the desert and discover indigenous cultures.

The program is open to students of all majors and minors, and it is set to run from April 29, 2018, to June 22, 2018. This is a sixweek experience offering students a total of six credits at the end of the trip.

Steeve Buckridge, history professor and the director of area and global studies at GVSU, is the leader

and facilitator of this new study-abroad experience.

He is excited to offer students this opportunity and to show them his favorite part of Africa.

Buckridge is a seasoned traveler with many intercultural experiences, and he has traveled to Namibia several times. His initial excursion to Namibia was out of sheer curiosity, and he said this first trip was “a dream come true.”

“Namibia is famous for so many things, and their environment is just pristine,” he said.

He added that Namibia is known for having the largest sand dunes in the world, being home to the greatest population of cheetahs and being a leader in wildlife management.

Buckridge said this trip would be great for anyone interested in wildlife, the environment and camping, as two weeks of the program will be spent camping in the des-

ert. In addition, this trip will introduce students to African history, cultural issues and environmental management.

Students on this trip will tour historical sites as well as countless nature parks and wildlife reserves. Buckridge said that students will encounter more elephants, lions and cheetahs in Namibia than on any other trip to any other destination. Other optional excursions available on the trip include dune surfing, sea kayaking and whale watching.

Buckridge has led many student trips in the past, including a program to Jamaica, and he said this trip would be suitable for any level of traveler.

“Namibia is a very safe country and is known for having very little crime,” he said.

Given his frequent travels and familiarity with the area, Buckridge is confident that students will feel comfortable navigating the country with him.

“There are amazing

things in this country,” Buckridge said. “The history, culture and environment are all connected, and that is the most important part.”

The trip cost includes all meals, accommodations, field trips, airfare and more. Students’ financial aid can be applied directly to their trip expenses, and there are also scholarships available for this program, including the Faculty-Led Program Grant (up to $1,500) and the James F. and Virginia L. Goode Global Programs Scholarship. Additional study-abroad scholarships can be found at www.gvsu.edu/ studyabroad/scholarships.

For more information about the Namibia studyabroad program and to fill out an application online, students should visit www.gvsu.edu/ studyabroad and search “Namibia.” Students can also contact Buckridge with any questions at buckrids@gvsu.edu.

INITIATIVES

Resource fair educates on safe, healthy sex

BY THERESA MUELLER TMUELLER@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University held its first peerled sexuality-education resource fair, “Get Sex(Ed),” on Monday, Dec. 6.

Over the course of the fall 2017 semester, students from LIB 326: Sexuality, Justice and Advocacy have been researching and planning for Get Sex(Ed), a sexual health and advocacy event allowing students to openly discuss sexual health.

The event was held in the Kirkhof Center where students from the class set up multiple tables to present on various topics, including “kinks” and “fetishes,” benefits of sexting, contraception usage, sexual pleasure, health benefits of sex and more.

Jae Basiliere, GVSU professor of women, gender and

sexuality studies, attended the event as a “sexpert” and expressed excitement about the students’ work.

“It’s a great way to raise awareness and allow people to consider what the gaps in their knowledge might be,” Basiliere said. “Because it is student-run, it is very relaxing and non-threatening.”

Each of the student groups presenting aimed to educate or clarify some misunderstanding related to sexuality.

Proper condom usage and its importance were discussed.

A major issue the students were trying to address was the fact that many people tend to misuse condoms, which decreases their effectiveness. The students wanted to educate their peers on the proper usage to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections, or STIs. Ashley Rapp, a GVSU senior, was one of the students educating on the

health benefits of sex.

“We are trying to educate about the fun health benefits that can come out of having sex because a lot of the sexual education is ‘gloom and doom,’ so we want people to understand the benefits that can come out of it, too,” Rapp said.

The students leading the event were passionate about their topics and expressed their appreciation for the course.

“It’s very interesting; I actually look forward to coming to class, especially since it is very open and you can freely express yourself as long as you remain respectful,” said Tenasha Allen, who spoke about contraception usage. “You get all points of views, especially since everyone has a story to tell surrounding sexual orientation.”

The semester course was taught and written by Marilyn Preston, assistant professor of liberal studies, who empha-

sized the effectiveness of relaying information through peer advocacy.

“The idea is that, on a personal level, students are able to talk to their friends or their roommates about sexuality in a healthy way so they’re spreading awareness,” Preston said.

Preston thinks this approach to discussing sex and sexuality helps combat rape culture.

“We have situations with sexual assault going on around campus and rape culture impacting our campus and students,” Preston said.

“I think this is a good way to combat that without it being a dismal, punitive approach where everybody just gets scared about sex and thinks that they should never engage in sexual behavior.

“You should approach (the discussion) from a positive standpoint and say you can

talk about (sex), and you can talk about (sex) in a really good way and fun way, and doing so helps eliminate that gray area that rape culture lives in.”

Students who attended the event enjoyed the opportunity to engage openly with their peers, play educational games and eat snacks.

“I feel like there is a lot of stuff they’re covering that is not talked about in sex-ed classes,” said Alivia Johanek, a freshman at GVSU. “Like, they have the female condom demonstration and talking about AIDS while feeding you food.”

The students thought the positive and open approach to discussing sexuality was more effective than the sex education they received in high school.

“My school taught abstinence only, so this is so much better than that,” said Hannah Kelly, a freshman at GVSU. “It’s so much more informational.”

Additionally, repre-

sentatives from the Ottawa County Department of Public Health, Planned Parenthood and The Grand Rapids Red Project were there to answer students’ questions. The Ottawa County Department of Public Health also offered free STI testing.

GVSU student Sean Foster, who helped plan the event as part of his senior capstone project, was excited about the turnout and hoped the event would spark more conversations around campus about healthy and safe sex.

“I hope they genuinely start having a dialogue about these things because it’s a natural thing,” Foster said. “Just start talking about it because that’s how we can change things. That’s how we can actually get better sex-education programs and better results.”

A4 | OPINION EDITORIAL

DECEMBER 11, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON

By Kayleigh Van Overen

12/11/17

editorial@lanthorn.com

Why professors should replace cumulative exams

F

inals week is “finally” here, and as a result, students of all class standings and majors are finding themselves thoroughly stressed out, indulging in large amounts of coffee and simply trying to make it through the next week without going completely insane.

One of the most intimidating things about finals week is the “make-it-orbreak-it” nature of the assignments.

Generally, final exams account for the highest percentage of points for the entire semester for any given class, so performing poorly on just this one test can really hurt a student’s overall grade.

Unfortunately, not everyone excels under the pressure of test-taking. In fact, there are plenty of students who suffer from test-taking anxiety and have difficulty getting good grades on exams no matter how much they study.

Because of this, it doesn’t seem entirely reasonable that students’ GPAs rely so heavily on this end-of-theyear cram session.

Students can do well all semester long and work their tails off to get that “A” only to watch it all disappear when they turn in their Scantron forms and get their results on Blackboard. During finals week, students also tend to have several final exams “stacked” on top of each other in a single day, which makes it even more challenging for students to spread out their studying and prepare for each test.

Preparing for multiple cumulative exams, especially when they stack up on the same day, leads to all-night cram sessions, erratic sleep and eating schedules, and physical and mental exhaustion.

Students’ retention of final-exam information

is low, too, meaning they are more likely to forget everything they memorized right after turning in their test.

For these reasons, professors should seriously consider whether assigning a final cumulative exam is worth it for their class. There are other ways to measure how much information from the course students have retained that don’t involve forcing them to mindlessly memorize information but instead make them synthesize it creatively in a way that more firmly cements the concepts in their brains.

Rather than scheduling end-of-the-semester tests, professors should consider assigning final projects or papers instead. Not only are these assignments usually easier for students to balance, but they also require a more comprehensive, well-rounded, profound understanding of the material, whereas cumulative exams often just encourage rote learning. Final projects and papers allow students to think more critically, creatively and analytically, and put what they’ve learned from a course more into practice.

In addition, having to produce a significant piece of work in the form of a paper, PowerPoint presentation or other project is much more representative of the types of work students will encounter in their careers after graduation. Solid papers can also be used as writing samples in certain job or gradschool applications.

Luckily, a significant portion of professors seem to be phasing out cumulative exams in favor of tests that aren’t cumulative, papers, presentations and group projects. Cumulative exams are slowly starting to vanish from many professors’ syllabi, and with good reason.

Why appearance shouldn’t define capability

BY SHAE SLAUGHTER SENIOR ENGLISH MAJOR EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

We’ve all heard the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover.” As a population, we are notorious for judging people based on their appearance, whether it be clothing, age, race or something even more minute. We do this in our own lives, but we also do this to people of power. The problem is that appearance has very little, if anything, to do with capability.

Not too long ago, I saw a perfect example of this in

Editor-in-Chief Associate editor News editor Sports editor Laker Life editor

WHAT IS A LANTHORN? Lant • horn, n. [Old English] A lanthorn is a lantern that was used in mid-to-late 16th-century Europe. It was constructed of leather and a single lens made from a thin

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The Grand Valley Lanthorn slogan is “Give light, and the people will find their own way.”

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

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

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

Letters to the editor should include the author’s full name, relevant title and a headshot, along with a valid email address and phone number for confirming the identity of the author. Letters should be approximately 500-650 words in length, and they are not edited by the Lanthorn staff except to fix technical errors or to clarify. Reader submissions on the opinion page appear as space permits.

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those ways. A dress that’s just one inch too high or an outfit that isn’t fashionable enough are grounds for being mocked and discredited. This can happen in job interviews where certain business wear is considered appropriate and the rest is just unprofessional. The difference between a blue tie or an orange tie could persuade interviewers one way or another.

This can also be seen in politics with the constant mockery of Hillary Clinton’s pantsuits and Donald Trump’s hair. Realistically, these things don’t factor into their capability at all.

I think it is safe to assume that a pantsuit doesn’t remove Clinton’s Yale Law School degree. Trump’s hair doesn’t negate his business prowess, either.

Their actions should be the deciding factor in whether or not they are deserving of credibility.

First ladies are often critiqued in this way, too.

These women are constantly attacked for their outfit choices. I still remember Michelle Obama being criticized for wearing a sleeveless outfit as if her arms were completely inappropriate. Melania Trump has also received criticism for wearing stiletto heels in the wrong situation. In my mind, there’s no problem with them wearing what they want if they can get the job done. If Michelle can fix school lunches with her arms showing, and if Melania can help hurricane victims in heels, more power to them.

Yes, there are limits to this mindset, and some semblance of professionalism is required in certain aspects of life. But do these little differences make someone any less qualified?

No, not really. It is useless to judge people on these little things. Peoples’ outfits and their abilities have no correlation, so don’t just judge their cover.

Why physical textbooks are better than their online counterparts

GV L E D ITO R IA L BOA RD EMILY DORAN JENNA FRACASSI ARPAN LOBO ROBBIE TRIANO TY KONELL

my own life. I was searching for a dress to wear to a work-related holiday party, and I could not find one that I liked. This wasn’t because I was short on dresses (trust me, I have plenty). It was because I was worried of what people might think.

I wanted my dress to be of the cocktail variety, a dark color, professional and appropriate. I tried on dress after dress, fearing that one or all of these were a little too short or too tight or had the wrong sleeves. The list goes on and on. I explained this to my boyfriend, and as I did so, I realized what I was actually afraid of. I was afraid of not being taken seriously. I was afraid that my appearance wouldn’t translate to my intelligence and my capability within the position that I hold.

From there, I realized just how silly it is to be afraid of something like that.

Still, our world works in

BY AMY MCNEEL SOPHOMORE COM. & WRITING MAJOR EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

There are currently six textbooks sitting atop my bookshelf. Some of them are old and worn; some of them are brand new; and, if I’m being honest, a lot of them haven’t been opened in a while.

I wouldn’t consider a textbook to be my friend, and only sometimes would I even consider one to be helpful. They are long, boring and difficult to read, let alone comprehend.

While I feel this way about all forms of textbooks,

I do think online versions of textbooks make reading even more tedious. While technology has evolved tremendously and taken over most print forms, hard copies are still much better than online textbooks.

I strongly dislike online textbooks. Now, don’t get me wrong: I understand the benefits. Oftentimes, they are cheaper than paper books; they contain built-in learning tools; and a student can easily read them whenever they want, as long as they have a laptop or smartphone on hand.

Yet, with these advantages there are also disadvantages. First, online textbooks invite distraction. It is so easy to open another tab or go onto another app when you’re reading on a phone or computer, and this easy access to other sites not only prolongs procrastination, but it also plays a part in comprehension. Information can also be easily lost or not

absorbed in the first place when students take frequent social media breaks.

In this sense, paper books are much better for learning and reduce temptations to look at other things.

From personal experience, I can say that my time spent reading online books is actually about 30 percent reading and 70 percent surfing the web.

Furthermore, the fancy tools available for online textbooks simply aren’t as effective as a physical pen or highlighter on paper. When a student is given a hard copy, they are able to highlight, fold important pages, and annotate and write in the margins.

This is so much better for learning and studying. It’s true that online books allow you to highlight and mark important parts, but in my experience, the online tools are nowhere near as effective as the real thing. For students busy studying, it’s much easier to flip through pages of a text-

book and find information than clicking a button and trying to find the right page on the screen.

In addition, studies have shown that online reading reduces comprehension of the information. This shouldn’t be surprising given the aforementioned distractions and flashy interactive tools. According to Anne Mangen, researcher at Norway’s University of Stavanger, in her study “Reading Linear Texts on Paper Versus Computer Screen: Effect on Reading Comprehension,” reading “on a computer screen leads to poorer reading comprehension than reading the same texts on paper.”

Because comprehending and retaining information is extremely important when it comes to reading a textbook, I think that schools and classes should stop utilizing online versions. I think we could all use a break from staring at screens from time to time, and paper books are a very plausible option.

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QUESTION OF THE ISSUE

Nelson Mandela

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE STUDY SPOT ON CAMPUS AND WHY?

MATTHEW HARTWELL

CHASE KELLEY

“The library because it’s aesthetic and quiet.”

“Downstairs Kirkhof because besides finals, it’s usually dead.”

YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Biomedical engineering HOMETOWN: Grand Rapids, Michigan

YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Statistics HOMETOWN: Rochester, Michigan

SARAH WALTERS

CHRISTIAN REASONER

“Lower-level library, the different types of seating.”

“Atrium. We use the TVs for memes during study breaks.”

YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Economics and finance HOMETOWN: Macomb, Michigan

YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Exercise science HOMETOWN: Goodrich, Michigan

DECEMBER 11, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

NEWS | A5

LAKERS ABROAD

Office of Multicultural Affairs director reflects on trip to Japan

BY ALEX SIXT NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Connie Dang, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs at GVSU, traveled to Japan this October to connect with Asian American leaders around the world.

As part of the Kakehashi Asian American Leadership Program, Dang traveled to the cities of Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo in an effort to build connections with Japanese leaders in government, business and other communities. The program is in its fourth year and has helped leaders from all around the world interact and learn new ideas from one another.

Throughout the week-long program, there were panel discussions held by leaders about the importance Asian American leaders have in their respective roles.

The program aims to strengthen U.S.-Japan relations through deepening participants’ global understanding of Japan’s society, history, culture, government system, politics and helping Japanese leaders better understand the American experience.”

CONNIE DANG DIRECTOR, OMA “The program aims to strengthen U.S.-Japan relations through deepening participants’ global understanding of Japan’s society, history, culture, government system, politics, foreign policy and helping Japanese leaders better

understand the American experience,” Dang said via email. “It also builds a mutual trust between the U.S. and Japan to build a base for friendship in the future.”

Throughout the event, Dang learned about a variety of topics such as the U.S.-Japan security treaty, Asian geopolitics and women’s empowerment.

By serving as a commissioner on the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission, Dang was chosen to participate in the 2018 program sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Other participants came from various states around the country, including Ohio, Oregon and Colorado. They all came together at the program with the same goal in mind: to further their global understandings of Japan and its many aspects while also aiding Japanese leaders in gaining a better insight of the American experience.

A couple of her memorable experiences were a meeting with the minister of foreign affairs and a visit to the U.S. embassy. Her other travels during the event included visits to the Myoshinji Temple, a Sake brewery, a formal tea ceremony and a Zazen meditation. Dang cites her visit to the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial as the most impactful. Amidst the current global state concerning nuclear weapons, it was a visit that caused Dang to reflect on both the past and present.

“As I reflected on the story and studied the history preserved in the museum, I felt a deep sense of remorse for what happened to the people and the city but at the same time recognizing that humanity at its very core is capable of withstanding these things … and be able to move forward and learn from the mistakes of the past,” Dang said. After the

memorial, she was also able to meet one of the survivors of the bombing.

Aside from the many panels and historical site visits, her favorite personal excursions included waking up before 5 a.m. to watch the daily fish auction of tuna and packaging of seafood to be distributed to other markets all around the globe.

Dang was also able to take her first ride on the Shinkansen Nozomi, the world’s fastest bullet train.

Following the recent trip, Dang has future plans to bring Japanese culture to GVSU. “This year, in honoring the annual Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration, I hope to bring to campus an ArtPrize artist and storyteller to tell her story and experience with the Japan internment camp as well as facilitate a crane-folding workshop,” she said.

OVERSEAS: Connie Dang poses during her trip to Japan. Dang visited the country as a part of the Kakehashi Asian American Leadership Program from Oct. 9 to Oct. 15. COURTESY | CONNIE DANG

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE: Participants of the 2017 Kakehashi program pose. The program aims to foster a stronger bond between the U.S. and Japan by giving participants a stronger understanding of the other country’s history and culture. COURTESY | CONNIE DANG

ENGAGEMENT

GV professor discusses rising cost of tuition, food at Democracy 101 event

BY DREW SCHERTZER DSCHERTZER@LANTHORN.COM

Students could pay for their college tuition in about 2.6 months working part time and making minimum wage in 1968. Now, students face crippling debt, have more difficulty affording healthful food and find that they can’t stretch their money as far.

As part of the Community Service Learning Center’s Democracy 101 series, Grand Valley State University sociology professor George Lundskow discussed the reasons behind the cost of education and healthful living rising so dramatically.

Lundskow shared his research with approximately 50 attendees on Wednesday, Dec. 6, in the Kirkhof Center. The talk lasted about an hour and was followed by a 20-minute Q&A session.

“Tuition has gone up nationwide because of government cutbacks and lack of support for higher education,” Lundskow said. “If government provided higher-level support, tuition would be $4,872 right now at GVSU.” Lundskow pointed to the University of Michigan’s data for their tuition in 1968.

Students at that time paid $210 a semester or $420 for an academic year, Lundskow said. If the rate had stayed the same, considering mon-

etary changes, U-M’s tuition would be $2,918.27 today, according to Lundskow. Instead, the average in-state tuition is $15,433. Lundskow again pointed to the lack of support for higher education and government spending as reasons for the tuition increase.

“I hear every day all day about student debt implications for the future,” said Troy Farley, director of the Career Center at GVSU. “If students miss one or two (tuition) payments, they won’t be able to get that advertised rate for a car or for a mortgage.”

Lundskow also addressed the difficulties students face in buying healthful food.

“The more money you make, the better your health is,” he said.

Income is the No. 1 predictor of obesity and health outcomes, Lundskow said. He pointed out a two-tier food system in the U.S. and listed cheap, high-calorie, low-nutrition food as the first tier. He said more expensive, high-quality food is the second tier.

Lundskow said about 21 percent of white households, 30 percent of black households and 27 percent of Latino households have zero or negative net worth.

This means it is very hard for poorer families to have access to healthier food, according to Lundskow.

Lundskow used the

CON-GRAD-ULATIONS: Two GVSU graduates celebrate after receiving their diplomas on Saturday, Dec. 9, during GVSU’s fall 2017 commencement. More than 1,000 students received either bachelor’s or graduate degrees and joined a network of more than 110,000 Laker alumni worldwide.

EMILY FRYE GVL

example of hamburgers to show the changes in food production in the U.S. Hamburgers used to be 85 percent meat with the rest water and fat, but today, meats are mostly water with bits of meat, ligaments, tendons, blood vessels and nerve tissue.

Hens, cows and pigs are born to live in a tiny cage or area their entire lives, according to Lundskow, mainly because it is cheaper. Lundskow also pointed out the poor living conditions for these animals, saying that they often live in their own feces. Because of this, animals are treated with bleach or formaldehyde to sterilize the meat.

Lundskow believes this method of producing cheap, unhealthy foods filled with chemicals is bad for people. He said it costs about three times as much money to instead buy meat that has been raised in a good environment.

“The point of this is to create public discourse and to get you thinking,” Lundskow said. He told the audience that democracy can’t function unless people are actively engaged in every issue all the time.

He believes the only way to end high tuition and lowquality food is for people to discuss the issues and go out and vote for people who will create a change.

A6 | FINALS SURVIVAL GUIDE

DECEMBER 11, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN

Tips For Acing Your Finals At long last, it’s that time of the semester: Only one more week of exams, projects and essays stands between you and your bed back home, your family and three weeks of freedom. Here’s how to finish off finals week strong, regardless of which type of final has you stressed or how badly you’ve procrastinated.

If you have a group project and/or presentation...

Assign tasks to each person. Ideally, you should try to take advantage of each group member’s talents to knock out your project. The charismatic, talkative individual should probably take the lead presenting the project, while the design major could put together the slides and the English major could write and edit them. There are plenty of ways to split up the work, but your project will turn out the best if everyone is utilizing their strengths.

Once you’ve divided the tasks, make sure you are all in agreement about what you need to do. You don’t want to show up to your final with unfinished work because expectations weren’t clear or there was a disagreement about who was supposed to finish the last slide.

You should also agree on a dress code for the day of the presentation. If you don’t discuss this beforehand, one person might show up

in a suit and another might show up in jeans or pajama pants. Agree beforehand on what level of formality the presentation warrants, and dress accordingly.

When you’re giving your presentation, try not to read from a script. Bring notecards instead of a fully typed sheet of paper so your speech sounds more organic and you can maintain regular eye contact with your audience and be engaging.

To conclude your presentation, finish with a slide labeled “Questions?” and maybe add a fun graphic. Not only will this slide engage the audience and encourage active participation (always a plus), but it will also signal to your classmates that you’re wrapping up so you can avoid that awkward 30-second interval where you wait for people to figure out that you’ve finished before saying, “… that’s it!”

If you have a cumulative exam...

Study smarter, not harder.

This is especially important when you only have a few days to go over a semester’s worth of material. So, before you start trying to read through a 500-page textbook from beginning to end to “review” the material (or, you know, read it for the first time), go back and review your own lecture notes and your professor’s PowerPoint presentations. If your

professor has also given you a study guide for the exam, you should use it as a reference for what to look for.

Then, if there are concepts or terms on the study guide that you can’t find in your notes or the PowerPoints, search for them specifically in your textbook. This approach will save you a lot of precious studying time.

On the day of the exam,

bring more pencils than you think you need. You don’t want to be that person who breaks their pencil and has to ask the professsor if you can borrow theirs. Also make sure you wear comfortable clothing, even if you follow the “dress well, test well” advice. You don’t want to wear an uncomfortable blazer that restricts all your arm movement during a test.

Find a compromise between

looking polished (which can help you feel confident) and feeling comfortable.

crastinate. If you’ve been doing just that, though, there’s still hope. If you haven’t written an outline, write one and try to follow it as you whip off the actual paper. Outlines help you stay focused and keep from rabbit trailing, which can be easy to do when you’re desperately trying to meet the required word limit or page count.

submit your paper electronically or print it to bring to class. If your computer’s going to crash or all the printers in the Kirkhof Center and Mary Idema Pew Library are going to spontaneously combust, you want to find that out sooner rather than later so you can find an alternative solution.

Finally, bring a water bottle and make sure you don’t go to your final exam on an empty stomach. Few things are as distracting during a test than hunger pangs. Eat a filling meal or snack beforehand so you can focus on the task at hand.

If you have a final essay…

Visit the Writing Center, the Knowledge Market or a librarian on campus who specializes in the field you’re studying. The Knowledge Market consultants can help you conduct research and find sources for your paper, while the Writing Center staff can help you brainstorm, polish your draft at any stage and cite sources. Librarians are another valuable resource if you’re having trouble finding ac-

ceptable sources to include in your bibliography. They know all the places to look for scholarly, peer-reviewed articles, books, etc. You can search for the “liaison librarian” who connects the University Libraries system with your field of study and make an appointment to meet with them.

The best advice for cranking out an essay, though, is to get started early and not pro-

If at all possible, try to leave yourself a cushion of time to

Coping With Finals Week Stress By: Arpan Lobo news@lanthorn.com

Finals week can be the most stressful time during the entire semester. It may feel like 16 weeks of hard work come down to a handful of tests, papers and presentations. It’s this stress that often causes students to struggle. The pressure coming from classes, extracurriculars and other outside factors can make finals week a nightmare if it’s not properly addressed. The University Counseling Center at Grand Valley State University offers several events for its co-sponsored, semesterly “Exam Cram.” The events on the schedule are designed to relax students, and they will run through Wednesday, Dec. 13.

Being able to reduce stress is important for academic success. Nick Debernardi, a licensed psychologist in the University Counseling Center,

said the center is a resource for all GVSU students to utilize. “We tend to see the students where their stress is interfering with their ability to concentrate, to study, or they’re finding it difficult to cope to succeed in school,” he said. Students may perceive a negative stigma associated with visiting the counseling center, but Debernardi said the counseling center can help in a number of ways.

“It can be uncomfortable and we understand that,” he said.

“I think the one thing I’d like to make sure people know is that sometimes people think you have to have very serious mental health concerns, (but) we help students in a variety of ways. That can just be stress, relationship conflict, academic stress, just some simple coping. “I think the idea of really normalizing what we offer, and it can be everyday life that’s building (stress) up. We work with you to find a way that’s most

comfortable.” Outside of visiting the University Counseling Center, Debernardi said self-care and treating your body right is another useful step toward reducing stress.

“Eat, sleep, take care of yourself (and) keep it very simple,” he said. “We all know what the effects of sleep deprivation on the brain are. It does have a severe impact. When you talk about trying to do your best with recalling information or applying information on exams, it clearly does have an effect.” According to a 2010 study published in the Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, sleep deprivation has a significant negative correlation with academic performance, meaning that a lesser amount of sleep generally leads to a poorer academic performance. “It’s very common for people not to get a lot of sleep now,” Debernardi said. “So, I think it’s knowing yourself, knowing what you can handle. Try

to get as much sleep, six to seven hours. The big thing is to try to get in to a deep sleep.” Debernardi added that sleeping in blocks, or sleeping for short periods at a time throughout the day, isn’t as helpful as falling into a prolonged deep sleep. One factor outside of sleep that can have a negative impact on students who are stressed and possibly thinking about self-harm is social media and, more specifically, negative posts on social media.

A quick Twitter search of the terms “exams,” “kill” and “myself” will pull up an entire timeline filled with tweets with suicidal language. Even if the language is hyperbolic, seeing a post like this can be harmful. “I think it can (be) very triggering for somebody, especially if they’re using it in a joking manner,” Debernardi said. “It can be kind of dismissing and invalidating to see somebody

joke with that when you’re struggling and you maybe thinking of that.” According to a 2015 report done the Pew Research Center, social media users tend to be more aware of stressful events in the lives of others.

Discerning what is jest and what are serious thoughts of self-harm can be difficult.

“The biggest thing is if you don’t know if somebody is joking is to ask,” Debernardi said. He also brought up the Question, Persuade, Refer outreach topic sessions at GVSU that aim to help students recognize warning signs of suicide, which is the second-largest cause of death for college students.

The University Counseling Center will maintain its normal hours during the week of finals from Monday, Dec. 11, to Thursday, Dec. 14. Students are also encouraged to participate in the many Exam Cram sessions to reduce stress as well.

DECEMBER 11, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN

FINALS SURVIVAL GUIDE | A7

Shows You Shouldn’t Start Watching During Finals Week Save these binge-worthy programs for when you actually have free time

As one of the top shows on Netflix right now, this American science-fiction/horror series will demand your attention all day long. Every episode draws you in and leaves you on a major cliffhanger, making it nearly impossible not to click “play next episode.”

And because every episode is about an hour long, you could easily use up all of your precious studying time catching up on season two. Don’t do it—save this one for winter break.

What college student hasn’t binge watched “The Office” at least once? Sometimes it’s necessary to take a break from all the stress of school and get in a good laugh, but once you start watching this show, you’ll have a difficult time stopping. With punch line after punch line, Steve Carell will have you sitting on your couch all day indulging in this fan-favorite comedy series. Don’t watch this show during finals week. Your grades will thank you.

Almost everyone has seen a rerun of “Friends” at least once in their life. Despite the show ending over a decade ago, it is still one of the most popular series ever made.

This feel-good show is super relatable, too—so much so that you almost feel like you’re sitting alongside the crew at Central Perk, sipping on a coffee and avoiding going to work. If you start watching this show during finals week, odds are you won’t “go to work” and get your studying done, so save it for winter break.

If you aren’t already obsessed with “Game of Thrones,” it’s probably because you haven’t watched it yet. Now is not the time to give in to the hype and buy an HBO cable package, though, or you might wake up in a daze two weeks later still glued to your coach, speaking only Dothraki and having missed all your finals. Save this epic, medieval fantasy for after exams. You’ll be thankful you did.

Absolutely do not start watching “Gilmore Girls” during finals week, or you might just fail all of your classes. The cast of quirky characters, the witty banter and dizzying fast talk, and the enviable mother-daughter relationship between Lorelai and Rory Gilmore are enough to draw you in and keep you watching for hours. For the sake of your grades, save this one for winter break.

Who doesn’t love Amy Poehler? Witty, hilarious and determined, Poehler’s character Leslie Knope keeps you coming back for more. In fact, the entire cast is made up of comedic superstars, each of whom fits perfectly in their respective role. This show is the definition of “binge worthy,” so make sure you finish your studying and papers before starting it.

Office of Multicultural Affairs hosts ‘exam cram’ relaxation events By: Jessica Harsevoort jharsevoort@lanthorn.com

Just hearing the words “exam cram” can be enough to stress out college students. At Grand Valley State University, students scramble to write papers, finish projects and study for tests during the last two weeks of the semester, which creates a lot of pressure.

“I don’t think students always realize the importance of taking a break,” said Juanita Davis, assistant director at the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA). “Sometimes they get so focused on everything they need to do.”

With this in mind, the OMA is hosting exam cram relaxation, a week-and-a-half-long program to help students combat finals fatigue. All of the activities are free and open to everyone.

“The goal is for all students to be able to utilize our space,” said Adriana Almanza, another assistant director at the OMA. “We have a little bit of every-

thing for everyone.”

The event started Wednesday, Dec. 6, with salon appointments courtesy of the Empire Beauty School. A total of 40 slots were available from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., so those who signed up went to Empire Beauty School in Standale and received either a free manicure with a hand massage or a free hairstyling.

Almanza said coordinating with this local business was mutually beneficial since Empire Beauty School students could gain clinical experience and GVSU students could easily access the location due to its close proximity to both Allendale and Pew campuses.

The OMA also partnered with Campus Recreation as part of their collaborative effort. From 10 a.m. to noon, more than 20 students were given free chair massages on a first-come, firstserved basis.

Moving forward, people can still participate in a variety of smaller activities to help themselves unwind. The ac-

tivities were introduced Friday, Dec. 8, and will continue from Monday, Dec. 11, to Friday, Dec. 15, in Room 1240 of the Kirkhof Center.

The office will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., during which time there will be ongoing games, movies, crafts, coloring and snacks. Students can come in and play cards, Monopoly, Taboo, Jenga and more. There is also a TV mounted on the wall, so students can stay in the main room to eat and watch videos on DVD, cable, Netflix or YouTube.

These pastimes give visitors the opportunity to cope with stress by encouraging them to take a break and socialize with others. Overall, the atmosphere is open, which makes exam cram relaxation with the OMA fairly different from other finals week programs.

“Grand Valley as a whole does an amazing job in providing support to different students and their needs,” Davis said. “Yet, one of the things that is unique, I feel, to our (exam cram event) is that

it is not a quiet zone.”

Davis said there tend to be two types of studiers: Those who do not want background noise and those who do. Because of this, the OMA is willing to manage sound level based on student preference but is not regularly enforcing strict silence.

Furthermore, GVSU students are more than welcome to take advantage of the OMA’s services while they are there for exam cram relaxation. The OMA offers cultural programming for GVSU, but office staff also provides advising sessions about scheduling, searching for jobs and internships, obtaining financial aid, and building resumes.

“It’s a chance for our students to refocus their energy and destress their minds and really prepare for finals week,” Almanza said. “It gives them the opportunity to clear themselves mentally, emotionally and physically in a lot of different ways.”

A8 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTS AT A GLANCE COMEDIAN DAPHNIQUE SPRINGS TO VISIT GV

Comedian Daphnique Springs will be visiting Grand Valley State Univeristy to perform Tuesday, Dec. 12, starting at 8 p.m. in the Cook-DeWitt Center. Springs is being brought to campus by Spotlight Productions as a part of GVSU’s “exam cram.”

Springs’ comedy been called intelligent, dark, honest and relatable, which may offer GVSU students a wellneeded night of laughs during exam week. Springs has been on comedy tours with comics such as Kat Williams and Martin Lawrence. She has also been featured on television shows like “How I Met Your Mother,” “Jimmy Kimmel” and “Laughs on Fox.” For more information, contact Spotlight Productions at spotlight@gvsu.edu.

‘THE SANTA CLAUSE’ BEING SHOWN AT BIG SCREEN THEATER

Grand Valley State University’s Big Screen Theater will be showing the holiday-themed movie “The Santa Clause” until Thursday, Dec. 14. The Big Screen Theater, located behind the 2020 Information Desk in the Kirkhof Center, will be closing its movie showings for the semester with the classic Christmas film starring Tim Allen.

The story of how an average man finds himself transitioning into Santa Claus leading up to Christmas, “The Santa Clause” is a family favorite for the holiday season.

Showings are daily at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

For more information, contact Spotlight Productions at spotlight@gvsu.edu.

EXCELLENCE SERIES EVENT BEING HOSTED TUESDAY, DEC. 12

The Human Resources Department at Grand Valley State University will be hosting an event surrounding the topic of tough conversations on Tuesday, Dec. 12, from 10 a.m. until noon in the Kirkhof Center, Room 2270.

The workshop, titled “Mastering Tough Conversations,” is a part of the GVSU Excellence Series.

The event will cover situations ranging from family tension to workplace rifts while illustrating how to effectively engage in those hard conversations.

For more information, contact GVSU Human Resources at hro@gvsu.edu.

DECEMBER 11, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

EVENTS

Dance seniors perform their final show at GV

BY TAYLOR CROWLEY LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University seniors Sarah Byington, Coral Howard, Mackenzie Matyn, Leigha McDaniel and Hannah Suydam hosted their final dance show on Saturday, Dec. 9. From holding auditions for dancers, choreographing the routines and styling the costumes, these performers had a part in all of it.

The show was held in the dance studio theater in the Haas Center for Performing Arts. At the door, every guest received a program that listed the titles of the routines, names of the dancers and a detailed description of the background of the dance. The choreographers had been working on these routines since the beginning of the fall semester.

The dancers performed in choreographed group pieces that each featured different styles. From modern dance to hip-hop, ballet and jazz, the show featured an expansive range of genres. The variety of the show kept the crowd engaged and entertained.

“I’m glad people came out and enjoyed some free entertainment and got away from finals for a few hours,” McDaniel said. “I hope they enjoyed the variety of the show because we worked really hard on it.”

In McDaniel’s piece, there were props used for abstraction, and mini trampolines made a cameo in her routine, too. However, McDaniel said it took the dancers quite some time to figure out how to use the trampolines in a way that kept them

looking clean and precise.

Other routines featured portrayals of disordered thinking patterns, the disconnection between mind and body as a result Parkinson’s disease, learning self-acceptance, and reaching an alternative reality through dreaming.

Most of the lighting used in the routines was dark, setting the tone for the eerie performances. The dancers were fluent in their movements and hit each move with precision, making it obvious that they had been working day and night to guarantee a smooth performance.

“Ever since we were freshmen, we’ve known we had to do this, so we’ve spent the past four years kind of thinking about what we wanted to do, and it changed a million times,” Suydam said.

Suydam expressed her joy in getting to spend the last four years with the seniors she danced alongside. However, she said it was bittersweet that it was coming to an end. The seniors will be parting ways after graduation with plans to pursue their dreams in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.

The attendance of the event was high. Before the doors closed at 7 p.m., there were people still lined up at the door. Some of the attendees even took a seat front row on the floor to make sure they could see the show.

At the end, the five senior choreographers performed one last dance together, a piece portraying the enjoyment of each other’s company and the enjoyment of the simple things in life.

STUDY-ABROAD FIRST-STEP MEETING TO BE HELD WEDNESDAY, DEC. 13 The Grand Valley State University Padnos International Center is set to host a study-abroad first-step meeting from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13, in Lake Ontario Hall, Room 130.

The study-abroad first-step meetings cover foundational study-abroad topics such funding, picking the right program and academic information. Meetings are held every Wednesday during the semester from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and every Friday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in Room 130 of Lake Ontario Hall.

For more information, contact the Padnos International Center at studyabroad@gvsu.edu.

STORYTELLERS: GVSU dance seniors rehearse on Thursday, Nov. 30, for one of their recitals. The dances from the senior showcase held Saturday, Dec. 9, were choreographed to tell stories of life’s struggles and finding enjoyment in life’s gifts. GVL | EMILY FRYE

VOCALISTS

GV Varsity Men’s Glee Club brings semester ‘full circle’ with winter concert

BY NICK MORAN LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

PERFORMANCE: The Varisty Men’s Glee Club, pictured above, performed Saturday, Dec. 9. The concert consisted of three themes and closed the evening with timely holiday music. GVL | HANNAH HILL

MUSIC

GV Symphonic Wind Ensemble performs in Haas Center

BY TASMAN MATTOX TMATTOX@LANTHORN.COM

The Haas Center for Performing Arts was host to the Symphonic Wind Ensemble’s concert on Friday, Dec. 8., for the enjoyment of the Grand Valley State University community. The musicians played a variety of pieces to showcase the nationally recognized group.

The ensemble is part of GVSU’s music program for undergraduates.

“At Grand Valley, it’s a smaller department,” said Amy Zuidema, a clarinetist. “We can really get to know each other better and make the best of the ensembles. It’s also an undergraduate-based program, so you have more opportunities to play and perform.”

The experience can be daunting for students at the start, but members of the ensemble say it is an ultimately rewarding experience.

“In my case, coming from a small-town high school, the environment is really different here,” said Jacob Bleeker,

a fellow clarinetist. “The expectations are really high, and everybody just comes in and knows their part and just plays and makes really nice music.”

Each student in the music department at GVSU gets the opportunity to perform in a group.

“We’re performance majors, but even if you were an education major, having an ensemble is part of the requirement,” Zuidema said.

“It’s such an excellent group that you’d want to be a part of it. You learn so much from Dr. Tutt; he’s a really great teacher.

He not only conducts really well, but he pushes us to be the best he can be.”

Kevin Tutt is the conductor of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and Bleeker and Zuidema said he has many wise words that have impacted all of the students.

“He’s said that if at least one person doesn’t come in and have their life changed, we haven’t done our jobs,” Bleeker said. “If someone is having a rough time, our responsibility is to take their mind off of that.”

Bleeker thinks he has improved a lot from working with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble.

“It’s just made me better playing with a group,” he said.

“Playing as a soloist is different.

Here, you really have to think about intonation, style and matching with the section.”

The students agree that music itself is highly impactful no matter who you are.

“Music goes beyond what you could do in different disciplines because it’s such an emotional thing but also mentally stimulating,” Zuidema said. “To be able to do that working so hard together with a group of people, ... you’ll never be able to sit down with that group of people again. It will never be the same as it is in that moment.”

The impact of the group on students shows in the emotion with which they play, and Zuidema said it really is a team effort.

“Everyone wants to help,” Zuidema said. “We, as a group, can get better and make each other better.”

Opening with the celebratory Quaker hymn “How Can I Keep From Singing” and closing with “Praise His Holy Name,” the Grand Valley State University Varsity Men’s Glee Club concert was all about coming “full circle.” The concert, which took place Saturday, Dec. 9, was held in the CookDeWitt Auditorium.

The concert was centered on three musical themes, including Americana, songs of reflection and holiday music.

While songs like “Deck the Halls” and “Praise His Holy Name” were seasonal, the other songs performed were an accumulation of work and concerts the group had performed prior to this concert, baritone Max Elkiss said.

“We do a lot of concerts throughout the year,” Elkiss said. “Essentially, this final concert that we have at the end

of the semester is the culmination of all of the music we’ve prepared throughout the semester. It’s like a wrap-up.”

For Elliott Jones’ song “Under the Wide and Starry Sky,” bass Lewis Russell played a flute to accompany the group alongside accompanist Brian DeYoung.

Russell said his time in the limelight was intimidating but important.

“It’s a little nerve-wracking at first because you’re obviously someone who is being singled out and everyone is looking at you in that moment, but it’s really exciting at the same time,” Russell said. “You get to be featured (and) add a different color to the ensemble that wouldn’t normally be added just by singing.”

Elkiss’ favorite moment was performing “What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor?” to cap off the Americana section of the concert. Elkiss said with the song, which was high-ener-

gy and complex, he was able to let loose around his peers. “‘What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor?’ is just hysterical,” Elkiss said. “It’s like you’re with your buddies and you’re being funny on stage, you’re singing and you’re just having a good time. It’s also a difficult piece, so it’s not just fun to do, but it’s very impressive to do.”

Closing the night with holiday music, the men dropped their music and swayed to Keith Hampton’s “Praise His Holy Name.” After the men clapped through the song and filed out of the auditorium, there was one resounding hope, Russell said: that the audience had fun.

“I hope they just had a good time and enjoyed the music,” Russell said. “I’m one for believing that music can be interpreted in multiple ways. …

Although the final song was a gospel piece, we wanted people to think of everything in their lives that they were happy for and feel blessed.”

Remember! By participating in these contests you’re not just competing to have fun, you’re learning about GVSU!

SPORTS | A9

DECEMBER 11, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

QUICK HITS

W. BASKETBALL

GV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL’S TAYLOR PARMLEY EARNS GLIAC WEEKLY HONORS

Although it’s still early in the season for both Grand Valley State basketball programs, the women’s team has come out to an especially strong start in their season and GLIAC play.

A major reason for that success has been senior forward Taylor Parmley, who was recently named the GLIAC North Division Player of the Week after two breakout performances against GLIAC opponents Wayne State on Thursday, Nov. 30, and Davenport University on Saturday, Dec. 2.

This is the first time in Parmley’s career that she has been awarded the GLIAC weekly honors, and she is the first Laker to receive the honor this season.

Against Wayne State, Parmley posted a career-high 31 points and 11 rebounds for her first-ever career double-double in the team’s 73-67 overtime victory for GVSU’s first conference win.

Out of her 20 attempted shots, Parmley hit 14 at a 70-percent clip. One of those makes included her layup that sent the game into overtime with two seconds remaining in regulation.

Two days later, Parmley scored 16 points and accumulated six rebounds to help the Lakers defeat Davenport by an easy 75-41 victory. Out of her nine shot attempts, Parmley hit five, plus six free throws.

The Lakers (8-2, 3-1 GLIAC) now head to Hammond, Indiana, to face Purdue Northwest on Saturday, Dec. 16.

GV SOCCER EARNS FIVE ALL-AMERICAN NODS, MENCOTTI GRABS D2CCA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

The final stage of the fall awards and recognition are here, and the Grand Valley State women’s soccer team will be experiencing their fair share of All-American recognition for their stellar play this season.

For the second straight season in a row, GVSU senior forward Gabriella Mencotti has been named D2CCA Women’s Soccer Player of the Year after scoring 30 goals and 70 points this season. This is the third straight season that a GVSU women’s soccer player has captured Player of the Year honors (Marti Corby in 2015). Mencotti also earned All-American honors to go along with her other accolades from this season (GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year, HERO of the Year and GLIAC Tournament MVP).

The other four All-American nods from GVSU come from senior defenders Dani Johnson and Shannon Quinn, junior midfielder Tara Lierman, and freshman defender Cecilia Steinwascher. Since 2006, the Lakers have had 55 total D2CCA All-American nods.

The Lakers won their 13th straight GLIAC regular-season title and 11th consecutive tournament title. Their quest for a ninth straight Final Four appearance was denied in an Elite 8 loss to the eventual National Champion Jennies of Central Missouri, who finished the year undefeated.

GV CLUB WRESTLING COMPETES AT MOTT BEAR CLASSIC

The season has been heating up for the Grand Valley State men’s club wrestling team as they competed in the Mott Bear Classic on Sunday, Dec. 3, in Flint, Michigan.

The Lakers sent nine participants to the event, claiming nine top-four finishes, six finalists and three titles. Senior Nick Reddy won the title in the 141-pound weight class; junior Jake Sobeck won the 165-pound weight class; and senior Nick Verran won the 197-pound weight class. Also placing were Nico Martini (third, 149); Nick Chapman (third, 174); and Langston Mitchell (fourth, 285).

VARSITY SCHEDULE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Saturday 1 p.m. at Purdue Northwest MEN’S BASKETBALL Saturday 3 p.m at Purdue Northwest Monday (Dec. 18) 7 p.m. vs.

Lawrence Tech

HARD IN THE PAINT: GVSU senior forward Taylor Parmley dribbles around her defender in the paint in pursuit of a layup during the Lakers’ double overtime win 66-59 over Northern Michigan University on Saturday, Dec. 9, at the GVSU Fieldhouse. With the win, the Lakers improve to 8-2 (3-1 GLIAC) so far this year. GVL | MATT READ

GV women’s basketball takes down Northern Michigan in double overtime

BY BRADY MCATAMNEY BMCATAMNEY@LANTHORN.COM

T

he Grand Valley State women’s basketball team defeated the Northern Michigan Wildcats 66-59 after the contest went into two overtime periods on Saturday, Dec. 9. With the win, the Lakers improved to 8-2 (3-1 GLIAC), while the Wildcats fell to 6-5 (2-2 GLIAC). It was the first time the Lakers had played at the Fieldhouse Arena since Sunday, Nov. 19, remaining undefeated in Allendale this season.

Things started slow for GVSU as the Wildcats jumped out to a 15-10 lead after the first quarter, but the Lakers were able to hold their opponents to a mere 7 second-quarter points as they put up 12 before halftime to have things tied at 22 headed into the break.

The second half could not have been more balanced. Both teams scored exactly 12 points in the third and fourth quarters, sending the matchup into its first overtime tied at 46. However, they did not get there without a little bit of drama.

Trailing 46-43 with just 24 seconds on the clock in the fourth quarter, the Lakers came out of their timeout with a drawn-up play to get a shot from the right wing.

Senior center Korynn Hincka got a shot off but could not convert, although sophomore guard Jenn DeBoer was in position for the rebound on the weak side. She corralled the miss and passed the ball out to the top of the key where junior guard Natalie Koenig knocked down a triple to tie the game.

“I knew that we were going to get a shot on the right side, so I just kind of filled in hoping to get a rebound or just kind of be there if anyone needed a kick-out,” DeBoer said. “So when she shot it, I just thought, ‘Oh, this is perfect.’ I passed it out to Natalie (Koenig), and she hit the three.”

Both teams put up 9 points in the first overtime, with NMU’s ninth coming on a jumper with two seconds left to tie the game.

The Lakers were unable to get a last shot attempt, and the second overtime was summoned.

Luckily for the Lakers, stifling defense led to easy offense in the last five minutes of the game, and

they were able to pull away easily with an 11-4 advantage in the second overtime and claim the win.

In a game that featured 12 ties and nine lead changes, both teams had their vices: GVSU shot 6 for 22 from 3-point range, while NMU committed 21 turnovers.

“Northern is a tough defensive team,” DeBoer said. “They’re tall, they’re long, so it’s hard to score over them at times, but I also think we weren’t making the shots that we normally make. We were missing some layups, some threes. I think early in the game we missed a couple of threes that we probably should have hit, so it was probably just a combination of things.”

Senior forward Taylor Parmley led GVSU with 23 points and

also grabbed five rebounds. DeBoer was close behind, scoring a career-high 18 with five rebounds and four assists.

With this having been the second straight overtime game in three days, one would assume the Lakers would have slowed playing on heavy legs toward the end of the game. According to head coach Mike Williams, that was hardly the case.

“I thought they did a good job,” Williams said. “I don’t think they gave in. We stayed tough. Our mantra was to not give in, and I don’t think we did once. The kids are fine.

I thought they fought through it.

They showed some resilience; they showed some toughness. I don’t think they were bothered at all.

“It’s a testimony to these kids.

They were ready to play.”

Three players — DeBoer, Koenig and Hincka—played over 40 minutes for the second straight game.

Luckily for the Lakers, they have a week until their next game as they prepare for final exams, giving them plenty of time to rest and rejuvenate.

“It’ll be good for them,” Williams said. “They’ve got finals. We’ll take a couple of days off of practice, let their bodies heal, let their minds heal. Sometimes the mind is most important. Then, we’ll pick up the pieces again on Tuesday.”

GVSU will be back at it on Saturday, Dec. 16, when they travel to Hammond, Indiana, to take on the Purdue Northwest Pride (1-7, 1-3 GLIAC) at 1 p.m.

DECEMBER 11, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A10 | SPORTS M. BASKETBALL

PREGAME PUMP UP: The GVSU men’s basketball team huddles together for their pregame pump-up speech before facing off against the Michigan Tech Huskies on Thursday, Dec. 7, at the DeltaPlex Arena. After the Lakers’ 71-68 overtime loss to the Northern Michigan Wildcats on Saturday, Dec. 9, at the GVSU Fieldhouse, GVSU’s record (3-7, 0-4 GLIAC) dipped with their sixth consecutive loss. GVL | ROBBIE TRIANO

Coming up empty GV men’s basketball falls to North Michigan in overtime despite strong showing

BY ROBBIE TRIANO SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Frustrating.

That’s the one word Grand Valley State men’s basketball coach Ric Wesley used to describe the Lakers’ final score as they dropped their game against Northern Michigan 71-68 in overtime Saturday, Dec. 9, at the GVSU Fieldhouse.

What was most frustrating to Wesley wasn’t how his team performed, but rather that their allaround solid play didn’t result in stopping their losing streak, which now sits at six straight games.

“I just feel bad for our guys because we went out there and played hardnosed basketball,” Wesley said. “We had moments

where we showed our good play but just didn’t get the stops we needed at the end of the game.”

Well before heading into the contest, the Lakers knew they had to come out strong with energy and drive in the first half. In the previous four games, GVSU had entered the halftime break trailing due to difficulties finding their offensive rhythm.

GVSU finally got it done, as the team came out ready to play on both ends of the floor. A major factor to finding their rhythm early came from their newly implemented “small-ball” starting lineup, highlighted by freshman forward Jake Van Tubbergen starting at the center position. The decision opened up spacing for the offense while high-

lighting more athleticism and skill with their defense.

The Lakers took a narrow 29-28 advantage over the Wildcats heading into halftime. Sophomore guard Hunter Hale led the offensive attack, leading the team with 8 points (2 of 4 for 3-point FG) and four rebounds. Senior teammate Myles Miller was a pest defensively, grabbing two early steals to add to his 5 points and three assists.

“Coming out smaller was something newer for us, but it all worked out because we came out playing pretty hard and aggressive from the start,” Hale said.

That strong start carried through into the second half as the Lakers took a seemingly commanding 11-point lead with 12:49 remaining in regulation. Se-

FADEAWAY: GVSU senior point guard Myles Miller takes a fadeaway, mid-range jump shot during the Lakers’ 71-68 overtime loss to the Northern Michigan Wildcasts Saturday, Dec. 9. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT

nior center Drake Baar led the outburst with his scoring in the paint, pulling out 10 second-half points and finishing the contest with a team-high 16.

But the Wildcats didn’t quit, as they attacked the Lakers to draw eight second-half free throws to NMU’s Naba Echols off some questionable foul calls. Echols converted all eight of his chances.

“That was 8 points down the stretch that we just couldn’t afford to give up,” Wesley said. “Hats off to Echols for getting those chances, but some of those calls allowed him to do that.”

With the game tied at 55 with 3:34 remaining, both teams battled for the lead until GVSU junior Zach West fought two Northern Michigan defenders to grab

a Hunter Hale miss. He then made a layup to give GVSU a 3-point lead with 1:05 remaining. West finished the contest with 9 points and a team-high 12 rebounds (six offensive, six defensive).

Echols continued to be a pain in GVSU’s side, as he hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 63 to force overtime.

Overtime didn’t go GVSU’s way, as the Wildcats found holes in the Laker defense to give themselves a 71-68 lead with two seconds remaining. GVSU had the chance for a gametying 3-pointer, but a pass to an open Van Tubbergen sailed over his heads and out of bounds. With the loss, GVSU’s record drops to 3-7 (0-4 GLIAC), while Northern Michigan improved to 7-3 (4-0 GLIAC).

Although the pain of the

loss remained, the Lakers knew their play was an immediate improvement from their efforts earlier this season. For a team whose top talent graduated last season and now requires newly added transfers and freshmen to play heavy minutes, the fruit of their labor is finally looking in the right direction.

“I was disappointed that we didn’t win the game, but I wasn’t disappointed with our team,” Wesley said.

“We just need to work on what’s next and build on this performance.”

GVSU will next head to Hammond, Indiana, to face recently added GLIAC foe Purdue Northwest on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 3 p.m.

MR. WEST: GVSU junior forward Zach West scans the floor looking for an open-pass opportunity against the Northern Michigan Wildcats Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Fieldhouse. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT

DECEMBER 11, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

SPORTS | A11

W. BASKETBALL

Technical difficulties GV women’s basketball drops first ‘Downtown Thursday’ game against Michigan Tech

BY BRADY MCATAMNEY

BMCATAMNEY@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State women’s basketball team fell to the No. 18-ranked Michigan Tech Huskies 8581 in overtime on Thursday, Dec. 7, dropping the Lakers to 7-2 (2-1 GLIAC) while MTU improves to 9-1 (3-0 GLIAC). The game was played at DeltaPlex Arena in Grand Rapids for the first of three “Downtown Thursday” events this season.

The women’s basketball game was the second of a doubleheader following the men’s basketball loss to Michigan Tech, but when the Lakers took the court for their shoot around, they soon realized that one necessary factor was missing—a working clock.

Once player introductions concluded, there was no shot or game clock above either backboard, resulting in a technical foul against the home-team Lakers even though the game wasn’t played on campus. MTU guard Lindsay Winter sank both technical free throws, giving the Huskies a 2-0 advantage before the tip-off even happened.

For GVSU head coach

DOWNTOWN: GVSU sophomore forward Maddie Dailey runs back down the court after one of her teammates made a 3-pointer during the Lakers’ 85-81 loss in overtime to the Michigan Tech Huskies on Thursday, Nov. 30, at the DeltaPlex Arena as a part of the GVSU athletic department’s ‘Downtown Thursday’ promotion. GVL | ROBBIE TRIANO

Mike Williams, those early freebies were a big deal.

“When you’re playing one of the best teams in the conference, you surely

don’t want to be at a disadvantage to start the game, but that’s the way it was,” Williams said. “You’ve got to battle out of it, dig out of

HEAD COACH: GVSU women’s basketball head coach Matt Williams watches his team compete during the Lakers’ 85-81 loss to Michigan Tech on Thursday, Nov. 30, at the DeltaPlex. GVL | ROBBIE TRIANO

it. It’s two points. In a game like that, every—every— basket counts. ... So yeah, it’s a tough deal.”

Despite being down at tip-off, the Lakers came out hot and took an early 20-14 lead heading into the second quarter before the Huskies rallied to a 21-14 period before the half, carrying a 1-point lead into the break. It was nearly a 4-point advantage as MTU banked in a half-court heave at the buzzer, but it was erased due to a clock malfunction.

The second half could hardly have been closer: Each team tallied 23 in the third before the Lakers earned a 17-16 edge in the fourth quarter before senior center Korynn Hincka’s last-second shot swiveled out of the cylinder to send the game into OT where the Huskies prevailed.

“I thought our kids—

they’re young, Tech’s a veteran team—they battled,” Williams said. “I thought we competed. I thought we didn’t give in. We had a bad stretch in the first half and one to start the second half. We got down, but the kids continued to battle out of it, and I thought they showed toughness.

“Tech’s a really good team; if you let them get shots off, they make them. They had to shoot 57 percent for the game.

They’re a good team.”

Down by as many as 9 points in the second half at a time, GVSU was galvanized by a multitude of one buckets that quickly carried them back into immediate contention. The Lakers found themselves at the line often, converting on 20 of 24 free-throw attempts with senior forward Taylor Parmley serving as the frequent flyer, hitting 11 of 12 from the charity stripe on her way to

a team-high 21 points.

In addition to her offensive contributions, Parmley snatched up 11 rebounds— six of which came on the offensive end—to give the Lakers a third straight game with a doubledouble. Hincka added 19 points and seven rebounds with Jenn DeBoer, Natalie Koenig and Cassidy Boensch putting up double-digit scoring nights as well.

Overall, Williams was satisfied with his team’s performance against one of the top teams in the nation.

“I thought our team played really well,” he said. “Hats off to Michigan Tech. They’re a really good team. They played really well tonight.”

As for his thoughts on the team’s tenure at the DeltaPlex Arena, though, the coach sang a different tune.

“No comment,” Williams said, predated by an uneasy chuckle.

M. CLUB HOCKEY (DII)

Still going strong

BY KELLEN VOSS SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Christmas came a little bit early for the Grand Valley State men’s club Division II hockey as they returned from the Goggin Ice Center at Miami University in Ohio with two victories. The Lakers won Friday, Dec. 8, by a score of 3-1 and again Saturday, Dec. 9, by a score of 5-1.

Goalie Jared Maddock had a great weekend for the Lakers: He only allowed two goals all weekend, holding Miami scoreless for the first two periods on Friday.

We played a much better game and a much more balanced game.

It was a pretty convincing win today, as there wasn’t a lot of open ice for Miami for the majority of the game.”

MIKE FORBES GVSU HEAD COACH “We had a great night in goal from Maddock in net

on Friday,” said GVSU head coach Mike Forbes. “We were severely outplayed in the first two periods, but he basically saved our bacon in goal with his strong play.”

These two wins push GVSU’s overall record to 14-3-2. With that, the Lakers continue to solidify their spot in the top 10 of the Division II ACHA standings.

The two wins also push GVSU’s winning streak up to five in a row, as they haven’t lost since Friday, Nov. 17.

“We got off to a rough start in the beginning of Friday’s game, but we survived,” Forbes said. “Thanks to our improved goaltending and consistent scoring, we got out of there with the win.”

After missing nearly a month with a knee injury, forward Tommy Carey returned to the lineup and made an instant impact for this hockey team.

“Having Carey back in the lineup was good for us,” Forbes said. “He had a goal and an assist for us. That really helped, and he certainly helps stabilize our offense a little bit.”

Saturday’s game was more of the same thing for the Lakers, whose 5-1 win included getting out to a 4-0 lead in the second period.

Coach Forbes was impressed with his team’s improvement over the weekend.

“We played a much better game and a much more balanced game,” Forbes said. “It was a pretty convincing win today, as there wasn’t a lot of open ice for Miami for the

majority of the game.”

Forbes said he was impressed with how the team has progressed since the beginning of the year, particularly in the discipline department. The Lakers only had five penalties on Saturday, which is a huge improvement from the double-digit penalty games earlier in the season.

GV men’s DII club hockey sweeps Miami of Ohio

“We’ve corrected a lot of the little things the past couple weeks,” he said. “Our discipline has been better since we’ve been getting less penalties, which allows (us) to use our whole lineup more.”

While this team has improved drastically over the past couple weeks, they still have areas they need to work on. That focus will be in full

effect against Davenport University next weekend.

“We just need to keep up with our consistency and make sure we’re focused these next two games against Davenport,” Forbes said. “It’s important that we beat them to advance and move up, as it’s just a matter of keeping focus and staying on track, and I think we’re moving in the right direction.”

GVSU looks to keep this momentum going and increase their current streak, as they have two matchups next weekend against the Davenport Panthers. They play Friday, Dec. 15, at the Georgetown Ice Arena, then travel Saturday, Dec. 16, to the Patterson Ice Center at Davenport. Both games are at 9 p.m.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS: GVSU freshman forward Evan Newel fights to keep the puck away from his defender during the team’s victory over Indiana University of Pennsylvania Friday, Sept. 22. The Lakers swept both of their weekend games over Miami of Ohio. GVL | EMILY FRYE

DECEMBER 11, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A12 | SPORTS W. CLUB HOCKEY

GV women’s club hockey beats Aquinas 5-0

BY BRIANA LEWIS BLEWIS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State women’s ice hockey club team finished up the semester with a successful win against Aquinas College on Friday, Oct. 8, at the Georgetown Ice Center.

The Lakers had a slow start to the game but made sure to defensively protect their territory throughout the entire game. GVSU finished the game with a final score of 5-0, not allowing the Saints to make a single point.

GVSU head coach Sean McKernan is in his seventh season with the coaching staff and has taken over as a co-head coach for the women’s hockey program.

He was able to share his thoughts on the women’s well-deserved win.

“To put 5 on the board definitely was a sign of relief for the girls to get the puck in the net, to gain some confidence that the hard work they’re putting in in the games, in the system they’re running, is efficient and creating scoring opportunities,” McKernan said.

Although the Lakers managed to score five goals yesterday, all 5 points were made in the second period. About seven minutes into the second quarter, GVSU outshot Aquinas 79-18, meaning the women went goal-less in the first and third periods. Coach

SKATING ALONG: GVSU women’s club hockey player Katie Gialloreti scans the ice for the puck in her strong defensive showing against Michigan State on Saturday, Oct. 14.

The Lakers took care of business against Aquinas College, earning a dominating 5-0 victory on Friday, Oct. 8, at the Georgetown Ice Center. GVL | HANNAH ZAJAC

McKernan believed the ladies could have continued to shoot with purpose and be on the lookout for open shots.

“Our biggest issue has been we watch the puck and we watch the puck carrier,” McKernan said. “So, I’m teaching them the style to move with and without the puck, create open ice

and not only themselves to catch passes, but the other shooter or the puck carrier to getting to the open area.

“So we’re moving and finding the open person, and we’re creating highquality scoring chances.”

Speaking of finding an open person to create a goal, junior forward player Taylor

Lampar was a key player for the Lakers in Friday’s game.

She put two scores on the board, showing the girls her leadership skills.

“She’s a leader by example,” McKernan said. “She doesn’t really say a lot, but her plan is very noticeable. She takes and competes at a high level.”

The Lakers played a

good game and were able to show much strength gained throughout the season that contributed to the successful win. Assistant captain Lampar believed GVSU played well but wanted to see a little more from her team.

“I think we had a lot of good puck movement, especially on our power place,”

Lampar said. “We moved more without the puck, so that’s what created those opportunities for us, but overall I think it’s just knowing where each other is.”

Despite the 5-0 blowout, the Lakers had a few pointers they wanted to touch on before stepping out on the ice again.

“I think we could have done a lot better,” Lampar said. “We struggled playing downward competition, so we just got to keep up our intensity and how we know how to play.”

Going into next semester, the Lakers will still have more tough games ahead, but they plan to stay focused and make it all the way to the end.

“If we continue to build with our young forwards and gaining their confidence and continue to execute at a high level like we have, then the last three weekends of games that we play we should be fine,” McKernan said.

The Lakers have a few weeks off before heading to Illinois for a conference game at Robert Morris University on Friday, Jan. 12, through Saturday, Jan. 13.

RACE TO THE GOAL: Two members of the GVSU women’s club hockey team dash toward the puck on offense in hopes of tacking on another scoring opportunity during the team’s matchup victory against rival school Michigan State on Saturday, Oct. 14, at the Laker’s home Georgetown Ice Arena in Allendale, Michigan. GVL | HANNAH ZAJAC

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