GRAND VALLEY
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 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, F E B R U A RY 1 2 , 2 0 1 8 // VO L . 52 N O. 4 2
SPOTLIGHT
GV alumna running for state representative BY DEVIN DELY DDELY@LANTHORN.COM
A recent Grand Valley State University graduate is hoping to effect change in the state of Michigan by running for public office. Melina Brann, who holds a master’s of social work (MSW) from the College of Community and Public Service, is currently campaigning to be a part of the Michigan House of Representatives for District 68, which encompasses much of the Lansing area. Brann graduated from GVSU with an undergraduate degree in psychology in 2015, and completed her MSW just last year. “I think we need more young people in our government representing the people we serve,” Brann said. “That’s why I felt compelled to run as a person of color, a young person. We need more people like that.” Brann is running as a progressive Democrat on a platform strongly focused on social issues, as well as Michigan’s crumbling infrastructure and troubled economy. One issue she’s heavily focused on is criminal justice reform. She is a big proponent of ending prison privatization, saying that “it makes more sense to invest in jobs and mental health services than incarceration.” Brann also discussed the importance of implementing serious change in the Michigan educational environment—both in public schools and in college. “I want to work to lessen the student debt load,” she said. “We need more support for our public schools and help for our college graduates.” Perhaps the issue closest to Brann’s heart is that of health-care reform. She said her own family’s experience with the healthcare system frustrated her and prompted her to take action. “I got into social work because when my sister was 17, she needed emergency brain surgery,” she said. “My family had to navigate health services with little help, so I got into social work and saw firsthand how the system wasn’t working for those people. I decided to make a change, and the biggest change I could see was becoming a representative. SEE REP | A2
RECORDS: On Thursday, Feb. 8, GVSU presented Radio Hall of Famer John Records Landecker with a diploma making him part of the graduating class of December 2017. Landecker was surprised by Dean Fred Antczak of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and GVSU professor Len O’Kelly. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT
‘Walking out a graduate’ Renowned radio host honored with GV diploma 50 years after transferring BY RACHEL MATUSZEWSKI RMATUSZEWSKI@LANTHORN.COM
G
rand Valley State University recently invited John Records Landecker to campus to bestow him with a surprise diploma. Len O’Kelly, assistant professor of multimedia journalism at GVSU, invited Landecker to speak about his new book, “Records Truly Is My Middle Name,” to an audience of students, guests and faculty on Thursday, Feb. 8, in the Kirkhof Center Pere Marquette Room. Though most radio hosts coin different names on the air, once Landecker made his way to his own show, he used his real name, with his middle name being his mother’s maiden name. Landecker’s book is a collection of stories following his life from his time at GVSU to his communication studies at Michi-
gan State University to the many jobs he has held since. Landecker could always be found with a tape recorder in hand. His first fascination with radio came from his father, who was from Germany and worked as a college professor. Although he did not share the same interests in pop culture and sports that Landecker did, the two held the basis of Landecker’s career in common. “I tape recorded everything,” Landecker said. “(My dad) had a Dictaphone, which was a very early form of recorder. (He) brought it home and he let me play with it. (When) I spoke into it and I heard my voice come out of it, that was one of those, ‘Oh how’d that happen?’ (moments). I think being attracted to a radio had some connection of trying to bridge a connection with him.”
Landecker’s book also has some stories from his high school days as a graduate of the University of Michigan High School, one of which involved him not wanting to write a term paper and deciding to make a tape instead. “I went to a local radio station in Ann Arbor,” Landecker said. “The man on the air in the afternoon was also the program director. He said, ‘Go in that room and when that light comes on, read it.’ And I never left.” Landecker has worked in numerous radio stations, including The Big 89-WLS/Chicago and WERX in Wyoming, Michigan. He has also worked in Ann Arbor, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Toronto. At the event, Landecker told the class of 2018 to pursue what motivates and resonates with them. “No matter what, whether it’s a daytime AM station back
then or (if ) it’s coming out of a satellite or on the internet or however it’s distributed, there’s something a certain people like me, and probably like you, have this weird fascination with the idea of being able to sit down, talk into (a microphone) and it comes out over there,” Landecker said. “I think that the big deal about it is that if you really, really want to do it, then you will do it. Nothing I will tell you will make or break it. Only to tell you if it’s (something) you really want, you’ll get it. Be willing to do anything.” Landecker’s advice resonated with attendees. “It’s definitely inspiring, the advice that he gave us to just keep going for it,” said Marin Smith, GVSU student and mulSEE GRAD | A2
GOVERNANCE
Student senate looks at credit structuring, upcoming elections BY SARAH HOLLIS SHOLLIS@LANTHORN.COM
At its general assembly Thursday, Feb. 8, the Grand Valley State University student senate discussed the current credit block at GVSU, a potential partnership with the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts and the upcoming Student Senate Week. After seven years of the 12-15 credit block at GVSU, student senate is beginning to investigate changing it back to a 12-16 credit block. “It’s more research now,” said Eric-John Szczepaniak, chair of the educational affairs committee. “I found out it was the Board of Trustees’ decision that took effect in fall 2011, so it will probably have to be the Board of Trustees that ultimately changes it back. “I guess the first step is finding out how much money the university makes from this 16th credit and students that are taking 16 credits, and seeing how much money it is
generating for the university, then seeing if we can help alleviate that somewhere in the budget.” In addition to changing the credit block to make scheduling easier for students, senate is in the early stages of setting up a partnership between GVSU and the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA) in downtown Grand Rapids. This would enable GVSU students to have free entrance into the UICA with their student ID. “All I did was email them,” said Rachel Jenkin, chair of the campus affairs committee. “I asked about, on average, how much it costs per month for these universities, how many students are coming and how long the partnership has happened. They said that they had just created the partnership with GRCC (Grand Rapids Community College) a month ago, so they’re fairly new to all of it. Then they explained how it’s $5, and they just contact the university at the end of each month, and the university pays $5. SEE SENATE | A2
MEETING: Student senate meets for general assembly on Thursday, Feb. 8. At the meeting, senate discussed changing credit structuring at GVSU and the upcoming student senate elections for the 2018-19 academic year. GVL | DYLAN MCINTYRE