Issue 49

Patty’s Parties B4

A tale of two tennis teams

Women undefeated, men struggle in Florida

A Grand Rapids guide to St. Patrick’s Day celebrations

Lanthorn

Sports | B1

Grand Valley

The STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT GRAND VALLEY

Thur sday, M arch 1 7, 2011

w w w. l a n t h o r n . c o m

Disposal decision: to compost or to landfill?

“We are making

By Molly Waite GVL Assistant News Editor

changes to the signage on all the trashes to keep up to date and reduce confusion.

”

-Ethan McCann Sustainability manager, Campus Dining

GVL / Nathan Mehmed

Confusion: Sophomore Amber Hendrick tosses a plate into the compost can in the Kirkhof Center.

Inside this issue

DPS urges safety as spring nears

By Chelsea Lane GVL Staff Writer

Student Artist Stephanie Neinhouse

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lanthorn.com

A Youth Alcohol Enforcement grant will allow the Grand Valley State University Department of Public Safety to increase patrols during highactivity times.

The grant is usually activated around dates of special events, such as sports games, dances and other schoolwide functions, when police anticipate there will be a high likelihood of drinking. Weekends with warm weather also usually point to an increased number of parties and drinking and therefore, an increased number of patrols.

If you take The grant underage program, from drinkers out of the Office of the equation, Highway Safety Planning, began you will often in 2002 in rereduce the sponse to a large other criminal and destructive activity. off-campus party that took place -Capt. Brandon DeHaan in 2001 and reAssistant director, DPS sulted in several fights as well as damage to nearby cars and buildings.

As well as monitoring potential on-campus conflicts, the stepped-up patrols are also intended to discourage students from driving while intoxicated.

Capt. Brandon DeHaan of DPS said past research shows that underage alcohol consumption can lead to larceny, violence and destructive behavior.

“We want our students to know that behavior is unacceptable,” he said. “If you take underage drinkers out of the equation, you will often reduce the other criminal activity.”

Mealtimes at Grand Valley State University campus dining locations are fast-paced and busy, with students rushing to eat before classes start, conversations at many tables, and the occasional frantic-looking person typing on their laptop without noticing that they’ve dropped ketchup on their textbook.

But after eating, many diners are forced to slow down. They must examine the signs on each pair of trash cans and decide whether or not to put their paper

plate, napkin and plastic silverware in the compost bin or send it off to the landfill.

Composting is still a fairly new practice on campus, and many students are still unsure what items can be composted and which must be thrown away. Ethan McCann, the sustainability manager for Campus Dining, said there has been some confusion about the compost bins, which are in every dining location at GVSU. “We are making changes to the signage on all the trashes to keep up to date and reduce confusion, hopefully going into Spring semester,” McCann said.

HOME As three catastrophes rock Japan, three Lakers wait out the storm abroad Dan Spadafora GVL Staff Writer

”

Men’s Hockey Lakers prevail 6-5 in overtime

Courtesy Photo / Onawa Gardiner

Notes From Abroad: Valparaiso, Chile Onawa Gardiner blogs about life in Chile

What’s Inside

A B

A3 Opinion A4 News B1 Sports B4 A&E B5 Marketplace

Bike Safety Reminders

The increase in warm weather days will likely also lead to more students bringing their bikes out of storage for the last few weeks of the school year.

DPS would like to remind bikers that in crossing a crosswalk, they must come to a complete stop and look both ways before proceeding are also advised to wear bright, reflective clothing when it is dark out or visibility is low due to inclement weather.

Students are also encouraged to register their bike with DPS so that in the event the bike is missing or stolen, DPS will already have detailed information on file. Bike registrations can be submitted online at www.gvsu.edu/ gvpd/bike.htm. clane@lanthorn.com

See Compost, A2

F in Japan hits

Natural disaster

“

GVL Archive / Nicole Lamson

Currently, each bin has images posted on it, illustrating what types of items can go in each container. Food waste and other compostable items are picked up by Sprout Industries, said Steve Leeser, operations supervisor from Facilities Services. Sprout Industries processes the waste and turns the material into something similar to topsoil, which can be used in gardens and on farms.

The Campus Dining Green Team, headed by McCann and comprised of students who aim to make campus dining more sustainable and to re-

ollowing the earthquake that registered a magnitude of 9.0, one of the largest in Japan’s history, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan has called the situation and its aftermath the biggest crisis in Japan’s post-war history, and in the middle of it all are three Grand Valley State University students.

Mark Schaub, executive director of the Padnos International Center, confirmed that there are three students studying abroad in Japan through the PIC, and they have all been reported safe. Although Schaub did say there could be more GVSU students in Japan, they are not aware of their activities.

“Our office got information very quickly from the host campuses of the three students, informing us of the current situation in Japan and their particular campus,” Schaub said. “And we have of course been monitoring the situation closely through a variety of sources.”

The three students are studying across the country in univerisities in Tokyo, Osaka and Hikone. The names and contact information of the three students have not been released because written consent by the students is required.

Although many may have trouble contacting the students in Japan, Schaub said GVSU can assist the students and Japan in various ways.

“Students can help Japan by donating to reputable relief agencies and helping any student organizations that may be helping in that regard,” Schaub said.

An earthquake, which struck Friday on the country’s northeast side, triggered tsunami waves that engulfed much of the coastal regions. The death toll following both the quake and the tsunami currently sits at 4,314 people and growing.

On top of these natural disasters, Japan may also face the world’s most serious nuclear accident since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station has had problems with

See Japan, A2

Courtesy photo / silive.com

Waves of destruction: Waves from Friday’s tsunami travel across Japan.

Friday’s earthquake and the tsunami that followed have created Japan’s largest disaster since an atomic bomb was dropped on the country in 1945.

Where are the Lakers

located?

Tokyo • Osaka • Hikone

GVL Photo Manipulation / Alana Holland

News

A2 Japan

continued from page A1

four of its reactors and has seen temperatures rise in two.

Prime Minister Kan urged people within 18 miles of the plant to remain indoors.

Bill Downey, communication representative for the Cook Nuclear Plant located in Bridgman, Mich., said he has sympathy people of Japan and the workers at the plant.

“Like everyone else in the country, we definitely feel for the Japanese people,” Downey said. “Wow, that’s a lot to deal with. I can only imagine what they are going through. This is a one-two punch. Not only was it a tremendous earth-

GRAND VALLEY

quake, but then the tsunami that followed knocked out the diesel generators and other support equipment.”

Downey said the support equipment is critical in supplying the cooling water to the reactor. If the reactor does not get cooled, it could cause a complete melt down. Total destruction of the containment structure, which houses the reactor, would be the worst case scenario.

It is this situation in Japan that causes people across the country to start questioning their local nuclear power plants. The Cook plant, located in Michigan’s southwest corner on Lake Michigan, is not far from GVSU. Downey

said the Cook plant is well prepared for any situation due to worker training and extensive drills.

“We make the health and safety of the public our number one priority,” Downey said. “I have to commend the Japanese workers for what they have done. They have gone to great lengths in these circumstances to try and keep this situation under control.

I’m sure they are relying on their training.”

Likewise, GVSU President Thomas Haas said his feelings and prayers will go out to the people of Japan. For Haas, this situation affects him on a personal level.

“It hits close to home

when my son was stationed in Okinawa,” Haas said. “I had a young lady who lived with us as an exchange student some years ago. She’s a math teacher now in Niigata, which is just on the other side of the coast where the earthquake took place.”

When it comes to how GVSU has responded to this situation, Haas said whenever these circumstances occur, GVSU responds very appropriately.

“I’m pleased with the leadership of Dr. Schaub, and the Padnos International Center in responding very quickly in communicating with our students,” Haas said.

Schaub said following this

Compost

far found that despite the monetary expense of composting, the environmental benefits outweigh the costs.

“Compostings are important primarily because they reduce our carbon footprint,” Bauer said. “Also, reusing materials helps to eliminate waste from entering our landfills, which have numerous problems of their own. The first step that students should take would be to reduce. If our waste volume was reduced even just a little, and students were aware and on board with the composting program, nearly all of our waste could be reused. It just takes time.”

McCann said, despite some confusion in the campus dining locations, the composting practices and efforts in recycling have been successful.

“I would say both composting and recycling have been very successful so far and will continue to grow as we create better practices,” McCann said. “Each year we have increased our recycling and composting numbers.”

Leeser said even though the composting program has only been in place for a year and a half, campus is generating 20,000 pounds of compostable waste per week. He added that Kirkhof has been the most successful location on campus so far.

continued from page A1

duce the university carbon footprint, have been working hard to educate GVSU about the composting program.

“The Green Team has done a nice job of trying to educate people in the eating areas regarding what can be composted,” Leeser said.

Senior Katherine Bauer is a member of the Green Team and has been very involved with the composting that is taking place on campus. Bauer is currently doing a benefit-cost analysis of the composting program.

Bauer, a natural resource management major, has so

Grand Valley Lanthorn Volume 49, Number 49 The Grand Valley Lanthorn is published twice-weekly by Grand Valley State University students 62 times a year. One copy of this newspaper is available free of charge to any member of the Grand Valley Community.

For additional copies, please contact our business offices.

POSTMASTER: Please send form 3579 to Grand Valley Lanthorn, 0051 Kirkhof, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI, 49401

EDITORIAL STAFF

Editor in Chief EMANUEL JOHNSON Managing Editor SAMANTHA BUTCHER News Editor ANYA ZENTMEYER Assistant News Editor MOLLY WAITE Sports Editor GREG MONAHAN Assistant Sports Editor DEREK WOLFF

Grand Valley Lanthorn Thursday, March 17, 2011

A & E Editor ELIJAH BRUMBACK Laker Life Editor SUSIE SKOWRONEK Photography Editor ERIC COULTER Multimedia Editor DAN KETCHUM Copy Editors SUSIE SKOWRONEK COREY FINKBEINER

Layout Editor ALANA HOLLAND Layout Staff KELLY GRANBACKA KENDALL GILBERT VALERIE WALDBAUER KAYLA KOENIGSKNECHT

Web Team

JON ROOST CATHRINE RAFTERY JOSH KOVACH ERIK VAVRO

ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager KEVIN HAUSFELD Advertising Reps Kim VERELLEN DANIEL TOMOVSKI AMANDA VILLARREAL Advertising Designers MATT TYNDALL VALENTINA VALDES Faculty Adviser LAWRENCE BEERY

crisis, little has changed at this time in terms of safety, but the issue will be discussed

by GVSU’s International Crisis/Safety Team in their upcoming April meeting.

As for the faculty led study abroad trip in Japan for this spring and summer, the program did not get enough applications to go. Although Schaub did say other programs not through GVSU will likely still make the trip.

“Natural disasters happen in every part of the world, including here in West Michigan,” Schaub said. “The best thing to do is always be as prepared as possible and to be aware of your surroundings.” dspadafora@lanthorn.com

“...Reusing

materials helps to eliminate waste from our landfills, which have numerous problems of their own.

”

-Katherine Bauer Green Team member Those numbers, along with other data about campus initiatives in recycling and composting, will be seen in the results of GVSU’s participation in an annual, national recycling competition called Recyclemania, which concludes at the end of the month.

But McCann and others who are involved in the composting efforts have stressed the importance of making an individual effort to compost and keep waste out of the landfills.

“It’s important to reduce the amount of waste by each individual,” McCann said.

“Recycling and composting help minimize the waste entering the landfills. The best practice would be to only use what you need and reduce waste in general.” assistantnews@lanthorn.com

BUSINESS STAFF

Business Manager KIM SANDER Assistant Business Manager DAVID FINK Distribution ADAM RASHID JEFF DIMITRIEVSKI MICHAEL VASILOVSKI Receptionists Carian White ANGILEENA GIBSON

BRIEFS!

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GV NEWS

Student Senate still accepting campaign materials

Students interested in joining Student Senate for the 2011-2012 academic year have until Monday to submit their election packets.

The election packets are available online at the Student Senate website, www.gvsu. edu/studentsenate, under the “Senate Documents” tab. Packets can also be found in the Student Senate office in Kirkhof. In addition to completing the election packets, students must turn in a petition for their election with 75 signatures, have their photo taken in the Senate office and take an online survey, which can also be found on the Student Senate website.

There are 44 positions available for graduate and undergraduate positions and six positions that are reserved for freshmen, transfer students or first-year graduates. All members of the Senate must be currently enrolled at GVSU and during the time the position is filled, and must maintain a minimum of 2.5 cumulative grade point average at all times. Once elected, members are expected to attend General Assembly meetings and serve two office hours in the Student Senate office each week. Members are also expected to attend meetings of, and complete work for, the assigned committee.

Election packets are due to the Student Senate office by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 21.

Voting will take place March 27 through April 2. For more information, please visit the Student Senate website.

2

Student Senate president visits Washington D.C.

The president of the Grand Valley State University Student Senate Jarrett Martus, visited Bill Huizenga, U.S. Rep. of the R-2nd district of Michigan, in his D.C. office on March 8. Martus spoke with Congressman Huizenga, whose district includes GVSU’s Allendale campus, about the concerns that many students have about proposed changes to the Pell Grants and federal loans. They also discussed Teach for America and Americorp, two programs which have proved to be valuable learning experiences for recent graduates and a resource for those in less fortunate areas of the U.S. Huizenga thanked Martus for his feedback and noted that the increasing national debt requires Congress to look carefully at the value of all federal expenditures.

The Grand Valley Lanthorn is published under the authorization of the GVSU Newspaper Advisory Board.

Corrections In the story headlined “Michigan sustainability efforts spread to Africa” in the March 14 issue of the Lanthorn, Dan Kuipers name was mispelled.

Grand Valley Lanthorn Thursday, March 17, 2011

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Opinion

EDITORIAL

... too soon?

The day that an 9.0-magnitude earthquake rocked the east coast of Japan, shifting the island by five feet and sparking a chain reaction of disasters that left thousands dead and thousands more unaccounted for, hundreds of thousands of people found it appropriate to make Godzilla jokes on Twitter.

On the afternoon of March 11 in Japan, an 9.0-magnitude earthquake rocked the east coast of the island country just outside of Sendai. The quake sparked a tsunami that engulfed entire cities, upended entire homes on their sides and tossed boats and cars like toys. To add to the devastation of such a natural disaster, some cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, as well as the backup power supplies that were to be used in case of emergency, were damaged during the quake, forcing residents to flee the area and workers to pump seawater into each of the plant’s six reactors in an effort to cool the fuel rods they hold. And, to add to an already complicated recovery process, rescue workers have been slowed down in their search for survivors by freezing temperatures and snowfall, which also adds hypothermia as a cause to increase an already rising death toll.

As of Wednesday, the toll sat at 4,314 with another 8,600 people missing, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Another half-million people who survived the incident were left homeless by the sweeping tsunami and are currently staying in shelters, mulling over how to rebuild their lost lives.

Does that sound like the punchline to a Godzilla joke to you?

The day that the disaster began, hundreds of thousands of users on Twitter made jokes about the incident, making allusions Japan was covering up a Godzilla attack with reports of the tsunami. #Godzilla was one of the top trending topics of the day.

The jokes continued Wednesday as users posted tweets like “Look at the bright side Japan. Now you know what Would happen if Godzilla actually existed” and “My thoughts regarding the current state of Japan: If the Japanese can survive Godzilla, they can survive anything!”

Of course, everyone is entitled to react however they want to any given occurrence, but ask yourself how you would react if someone outside of the U.S. made King Kong jokes on 9/11.

Not only are such remarks grossly inappropriate in content, but they are immensely untimely. They are akin to some of the inappropriate Holocaust jokes, which also poke fun at the loss of countless human lives, but the Holocaust happened more than 70 years ago. The person who immediately reacts to death and suffering by poking fun at it is no better than a kid that finds a dead bird and pokes at it with a stick just for fun.

The student-run newspaper of Grand Valley State University

Editorial Page Board

Emanuel Johnson Kim Sander Samantha Butcher Anya Zentmeyer

Editor in Chief Business Manager Managing Editor News Editor

Valley Vote Are you going to find a way to donate to the Japan relief effort?

Yes: 17% This week’s question: Is it easy enough to compost and recycle on campus?

No: 83% Vote online at Lanthorn.com

GVL OPINION POLICY The ultimate goal of the Grand Valley Lanthorn opinion page is to stimulate discussion and action on topics of interest to the Grand Valley Community.

Student opinions do not reflect those of the Grand Valley Lanthorn.

The Grand Valley Lanthorn welcomes reader viewpoints and offers three vehicles of expression for reader opinions: letters to the editor, guest columns and phone responses.

Letters must include the author’s name and be accompanied by current picture identification if dropped off in person.

Letters will be checked by an employee of the Grand Valley Lanthorn.

Letters appear as space permits each

see LANTHORN.COM

Your voice at Grand Valley

issue. The limit for letter length is one page, single spaced.

The editor reserves the right to edit and condense letters and columns for length restrictions and clarity.

All letters must be typed.

The Grand Valley Lanthorn will not be held responsible for errors that appear in print as a result of transcribing handwritten letters or e-mail typographic errors.

The name of the author may be withheld for compelling reasons.

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

to view Andrew Justus’ political blog >>THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUE NEWS MEDIA

and to view another >>LETTER TO THE EDITOR

EDITORIAL CARTOON

Courtesy cartoon / King Features

YOUR THOUGHTS

Is it appropriate to joke about natural disasters?

“I guess it depends on the context of the joke. Like if the joke says people deserve to be the victims of a disaster, that’s not okay, but if they are just airing out the situation, then that can be okay.”

“I say no. Not when there are a lot of people suffering and they have lost a lot. I’m sure they are not happy at this time.

It’s very immature.”

“There’s certain lines that comedians can and cannot cross, but when thousands of people lost their lives and there is a lot of damage, it’s very off color to joke about that.”

“No. It’s not funny because it wouldn’t be funny if it happened to us and people were making fun of it”.

“I don’t think it’s funny. I think at appropropriate times humor can heal situations. But if the shoe was on the other foot, you wouldn’t find that funny”.

Kristin Hartwig Junior Health Professions Canton, Mich.

Dennis Slogal Senior Pre CLS Grand Rapids, Mich.

Eric Corey Sophomore Political Science Jonesville, Mich.

Tyler Davis Junior Psychology Grand Rapids, Mich.

Jordan Cross Junior Psychology Grand Rapids, Mich.

GVL STUDENT OPINION

Free speech can make America’s parties such a bummer boro Baptist Church, an organization that pushes Chris the limits of First AmendSlattery ment rights. And I will atGVL Columnist tempt to do this using the least amount of expletives I will be the first perthat I can, despite how full son to point out that not of [excrement] I think the every single one of my church is. columns has a grand point Since the birth of the behind it. I mean, my last First Amendment — one was about welcoming especially the bit about people back from Spring free speech—people have Break. exploited it to the point Sometimes it can be difficult to come up with a where people begin to ask really good platform twice the question: “Eh, do we a week, knowing that tens really need free speech after all?” of fellow students will True, if organizations read it. Yet somehow, and individuals only used Glenn Beck manages to the First Amendment as make good points every a means for expressing single day. The man is words so fundamenlike a machine—a matally evil that Satan would chine sent from the future blush, then I could see the to scribble nonsense on argument.

However, our chalkboards like some fundamental freedoms academic Terminator. are also the reason that But hear me when I—and so many others I say that I do have a like (better than) me—can point today. It may not be have a job. controversial or groundOf course, when the breaking, but it will hopeWestboro Baptist Church fully provide a unique uses their protests to perspective on the West-

publicize their anti-gay agenda, it raises questions as to where the line should be drawn. Sure, Americans deserve some freedom of speech, but not when it gets this out of hand, right?

Alas, the First Amendment deserves an “all or nothing” treatment. Once a line gets drawn, there will be countless legal battles over moving it this way and that, which is not a distraction that our country needs right now.

I prefer to think of the U.S.A. like a giant party (thanks, Miley Cyrus) with the invitation saying that anyone is invited to attend. The Westboro Baptist Church is like that really annoying person whose only role at the party is to [female dog] about the music choice until everyone says, “Well, if you don’t like it, why the [fork] are you here?” Then they call your girlfriend a slut until she cries, and you can’t

help but to be [miffed].

Unfortunately, you don’t have the authority to kick them out because it is technically not your party.

Finally, after complaining about the host’s selection of beer, they leave, declaring, “Don’t worry, we’ll be back to ruin your merrymaking next weekend! What happened in Japan is God’s punishment for your lousy party!”

What can we do?

They know where we live, and we’re sure as [heck] not going to give these [butts] the satisfaction of not having a party.

The best option may end up being a passive one: simply understand the fact that the fight is 7 billion people against 70.

With this comical ratio, I think we can all sleep a bit better.

Although a Terminator could be more effective… cslattery@lanthorn.com

Excessive spending, not Gov. Snyder, to blame for budget cuts Dear Editor, I write to you after recently reading the editorial on Governor Rick Snyder’s budget proposal.

I find it interesting how many people are pointing fingers towards Governor Snyder and the cuts he is proposing in his budget.

This state is in a debt crisis. It has gotten this way from unnecessary spending at all levels in the government. Us, as citizens, allowed this to happen because we only cared about that extra dollar on our tax return or that bridge card we knew deep down inside we could have done without.

I’m not saying all programs enacted by the state have not helped people

out in a very positive way.

Many have helped and helped immensely. Let’s also be honest and recognize the out of control spending that has also gone on. Look around here at Grand Valley. For a state in as much debt as we are, is everything on this campus essential to our learning? We all need to cut back. On top of that, your telling me that by taking some money away from colleges that I can’t learn the same as an individual? If money is the key to my college education then something is wrong. These are desperate times because we are in drowning in debt. I don’t like all the sacrifices that are going to need to

be made to get out of that pile of debt but it has to be done. Michigan is just a small example of what is happening at a national level. Before you blame Governor Rick Snyder for cutting back all across the board, just think about how bad of shape our state government is truly in. Cuts have to come somewhere and we all have to take initiative. I’m up for the challenge of becoming innovative so that my children can, one day, live in a land that’s not slumped on it’s knees in debt. I ask everyone else: Are you going to do

nothing but point fingers at the governor for taking initiative and doing what unfortunately needs to be done or are you going to take the initiative yourself and dig out of decades of horribly mis-managed government? If we ever want a strong government again, there is only one solution to this question.; and we can’t keep spending money in this state the way we have. Look around this once greatly energized state. It just doesn’t work.

Sincerely Jacob Montgomery

Want us to publish your thoughts?

Email us at editorial@lanthorn.com

Grand Valley Lanthorn Thursday, March 17, 2011

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News GRAND VALLEY

Anya Zentmeyer, News Editor news@lanthorn.com

Senior project calls for student secrets

By Eric Higgins GVL Intern

If you could tell someone a secret, what would it be?

Grand Valley State University student Sara Zecman hopes to find out through her senior project “Grand Secrets,” in which Zecman will hand out and collect post cards on which students can divulge their secrets.

Zecman said she got the project idea from the misconceptions she sees on campus.

“I was doing some research for my women and gender studies and was noticing that there’s kind of a gap between what some students believe is happening on campus in terms of discrimination and biases and sexual assault and what is actually being reported and considered like statistics,” she said.

Danielle DeMuth, Zecman’s faculty adviser for the project, said Zecman is trying to gauge the climate of the university.

“She’s trying to get at some of the issues on

The P.O. Box that cards can be sent to is: Once collected, post cards can be viewed on Flickr at

campus about climate, really thinking about what being on campus is like for people,” she said.

Zecman modeled her project after Post Secret, a community art project in which people mail their secret anonymously on one side of a post card. For her ZECMAN project, Zecman has set up a post office box where students can send post cards that contain their secret.

“I know how popular it was, and I think it’s also important that it be very anonymous because if we’re dealing with issues such as sexual assault, harassment — I don’t want anyone feeling called out in their community, especially if we’re dealing with like LGBT issues, things like that,” she said. “I want to create a safe space, so I think by doing it in a creative way and just mailing it off to a P.O. Box, it’s really safe and anonymous and separated.”

GrandSecrets P.O. Box 696 Jenison, MI 49428

www.flickr.com/photos/grandsecrets

The D.J. Angus celebrates 25 years Lauren Ringger GVL Staff Writer

The D.J. Angus research and education vessel celebrates its 25th year of service at Grand Valley State University this year.

The vessel is docked on Harbor Island in Grand Haven and is operated by the Annis Water Resources Institute at GVSU. More than 12,000 students from GVSU have been on the D.J. Angus . The experience includes conducting hands-on-water-quality sampling and analysis.

“The D.J. Angus serves as both a research vessel and floating classroom,” said Dr. Alan Steinman, director of the AWRI. “The educational component serves both GVSU students and students in the fourth grade and up.

Aquatic science instructors guide participants in the use of sampling equipment and instruments to compile water quality data from Lake Michigan and shoreline water bodies.

Data from sampling stations are compared and contrasted to develop an understanding of Lake Michigan and inland lake or river ecology.”

The vessel was built and endowed in 1985, and it made

Courtesy photo / gvsu.edu

All aboard: A young exploration crew prepares to leave dock on GVSU’s D. J. Angus. The research and education vessel was endowed in 1985.

its first trip in 1986. Since then, it has offered several classes for GVSU and local K-12 students.

“Twenty-five years is a significant milestone,” said Dr. Janet Vail, associate research scientist. “We have been offering trips for GVSU classes and K-12 students since 1986. It is a tribute to the Angus family, all the donors who contributed to the endowment fund that helps subsidize the cost of the educational cruises, and to the hard-working educators, crew, and captains who make the trips engaging and informative.”

The Annis Water Resources Institute operates the vessel. The AWRI is a multidisciplinary research organization within the College of Liberal Arts and

Sciences.

“The D.J. Angus experience is part of the curriculum in school districts such as Grand Haven,” Steinman said. “The information and knowledge we have generated as part of our research activities on the vessel have contributed to better management decisions and improvements in water quality.”

“The D.J. Angus provides a unique experience that is long remembered by those who go on the vessel,” Vail said. “A trip on the D.J. Angus has helped to inspire students to pursue careers in science. In addition, the D.J. Angus carries the GVSU banner wherever it goes.” lringger@lanthorn.com

For the project, students can write poems or sentences. They can decorate the post card or do anything else they can think of to convey their secret the best.

DeMuth said students will be interested in Zecman’s project because it will give them a platform that they did not have before to voice their secret.

“I do think people will gravitate towards it,”

she said. “If you just think of how popular the Post Secret has been – this ability to say what’s on your mind, to reveal those things that you feel, that you don’t necessarily get a platform for, a voice for – people really like to do that thing.

So I think it actually will be really popular.”

For more information, contact Zecman at grandsecrets@gmail.com news@lanthorn.com

Grand Valley Lanthorn Thursday, March 17, 2011

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Sports GRAND VALLEY

LANTHORN.COM

MEN’S HOCKEY

Steals game in 6-5 overtime win

Greg Monahan, Sports Editor sports@lanthorn.com

SPORTS SHORTS GV Athletics

reveals ultimate bracket for March Madness A panel of sports junkies within the athletic department have unveiled the 2011 Grand Valley State University Ultimate Bracket, pitting former and current Laker standout athletes and teams against each other in the 64-team bracket. Fans can vote online starting Thursday for the first round match-ups. The 2002 national championship football team earned the tournament’s overall No. 1 seed, while the 2010 women’s soccer national champions are another No. 1 seed and tournament favorite. The regions for the brackets are named after GVSU presidents Arend D. Lubbers and Mark Murray, as well as GVSU’s first athletic director, Charles Irwin, and current director Tim Selgo. You can check out all of the match-ups and vote online at www.gvsulakers. com/ot/ultimatebracket.html.

Women’s golf

SWINGS BACK

Men’s golf

takes third at Tusculum Inivitational The Grand Valley State University men’s golf team finished tied for third at the 2011 Tusculum Invitational in Greenville, Tenn., after carding a twoday score of 587. The Lakers carded a 295 on the first day, followed by a 292. Host Tusculum narrowly won the tournament, carding a 580, while Lincoln Memorial carded a 583. GVSU tied with Findlay University for third.

Freshman Chris Cunningham tied for fifth with a 144 (73-71) while Nick Gunthorpe finished ninth with a 36hole score of 145. The Lakers will be back in action in the E-Z Go Spring Classic from Butler, Ky., this weekend.

GVL Archive / Eric Coulter

Weekend Schedule Softball

Today 3 p.m.: Softball at Olivet (DH) Saturday 12 p.m.: Softball at Malone in Urbana, Ohio Saturday 4 p.m.: Softball vs. Notre Dame College of Ohio in Urbana, Ohio Sunday 10 a.m.: Softball at Urbana Sunday 12 p.m.: Softball vs. Notre Dame College of Ohio

Men’s Tennis

Today 3 p.m.: Tennis at Hope College Today 7 p.m.: Tennis vs. Calvin at Ramblewood Friday 3:30 p.m.: Tennis vs.

Michigan Tech at Ramblewood Saturday 10 a.m.: Tennis vs. Lake Superior State at Riverview (GR) Saturday 3 p.m.: Tennis vs.

Aquinas at Riverview

Men’s Golf

Saturday: Golf at E-Z Go Spring Classic in Butler, Ky. Sunday: Golf at E-Z Go Spring Classic in Butler, Ky.

Men’s Lacrosse:

Today 5:30 p.m.: Lacrosse vs.

Davenport Sunday 1 p.m.: Lacrosse vs. Siena Heights

Rugby:

Friday 7 p.m.: W. Rugby vs. Calvin College Saturday 2:30 p.m.: M. Rugby vs.

Michigan State

Hot shot: Senior Allie Tyler swings in a past game. The team finished first at the Classic Club Invitational.

Team takes down Ashland and seven others at Classic Club Invitational in Palm Desert, Calif.

By Jon Adamy GVL Staff Writer

After a winter of practicing indoors, the Grand Valley State University women’s golf team got back into the swing of things and recorded its first team win of the year.

The team comes off a victory in its most recent contest at California’s Classic Club Invitational. The team shot well on the second day of the competition, which culminated in junior Sarah Hoffman taking the first-place individual title and the team taking first place overall with a score of 638. On top of the victory, the team came back to beat conference rival and secondplace finisher Ashland University for the first time this season, besting them by ten shots.

Hoffman said it was nice to see the team playing up to its potential in the second round of the invitational and noted freshman Veronica Ryan’s tournament low score of 74 in the second round.

“I think starting off on a good note is so important to just keep everyone’s confidence up and start our momentum high and just kind of roll with that,” Hoffman said.

Senior Allie Tyler said the team’s first-place finish at the Classic Club Invitational made a statement to the rest of the teams that GVSU has gotten better.

“I think that if we can just build off of what we did in California, I think we have a good chance of winning GLIACs,” Tyler said.

“Obviously Ashland again is our toughest competition there, but I think we can beat them again.”

The team was ready to get back outside after spending two months hitting in the Laker Turf Building without an official tournament since October.

Schools from states like Texas, Florida and California benefit from being able to play outside year round.

GVSU head coach Rebecca Mailloux said most of the teams that traveled to the Classic Club Invitational were from the north,

which meant a more level playing field for teams getting back to outdoor golf.

“It’s not the hardest competition that we’ll see all year, but it’s not smart for us to go down and play these southern schools that have been practicing all winter and go head-to-head against them right

“

I think starting off on a good note is so important to just keep everyone’s confidence up and keep our momentum high HOFFMAN and just kind of roll with that.

”

out of the gate,” Mailloux said.

The team looks forward to competing against its rivals when Ashland hosts the GLIAC championships in April. Along with the chance to defeat Ashland again, the team also aims for inclusion in the NCAA Division II National Championships to be held at Grand Valley State University’s home course, the Meadows. The team will need to record a finish in the top three at regionals to qualify for the Division II National Championships.

“Obviously it’s great to be hosting at the Meadows. You’d like to think it’s an advantage playing your home course,” Mailloux said. “I mean, we should know that course better than anybody. You know we’ve got to get there first though.”

Although it’s early in the season, Mailloux said she cannot complain when her team finishes first place coming into the spring season.

“To have four girls shoot in the 70s the second time out of the winter season – I mean, you really can’t ask for more than that,” Mailloux said. “If they continue to progress like they did there, I think we’ll be fine.”

The team will next compete when they travel to Perry Park, Ky., for the Northern Kentucky Invitational on March 26. jadamy@lanthorn.com

Women remains undefeated, men struggle in Florida

Laker women’s team wins all seven matches on trip, including 4-3 win against Division I Presbyterian; Men finish 1-4

By Zach Sepanik GVL Staff Writer

It was a tale of two performances for the Grand Valley State University tennis teams during spring break. Staying undefeated, the women’s squad racked up a perfect record while the men’s team stumbled against tough competition.

GVSU head coach John Black saw positives from both the men and women while they competed in Florida.

“Our spring trip went really well,” Black said. “The men picked up some wins here and there, and they have come together and, I think, will be pretty tough come conference play. The women are playing really solid, and it was good to get outdoors.”

In their first match of the trip, both teams faced Division I opponent Presbyterian College.

The women won a close match, 4-3, while the men were shut out, 7-0.

“Our match against Presbyterian College was a wake-up call for how difficult the competition would be while in Florida,” said senior Darylann Trout, who played at five singles and one doubles for the women’s team. “Also, our match against Rockhurst University was really important because if we beat them, then we would keep our No. 1 Regional ranking and be able to host regionals.”

The women continued their strong play over the next week as they picked up wins against Walsh University, Southern New Hampshire University and Upper Iowa University.

“Winning the matches showed us that we can basically beat anyone because we played some really good teams, and even though we were rustier than all of them, we still won,” Trout said. “We know how important every win and

GVL Archive

Ace: Grand Valley Senior Darylann Trout hits a backhand in a past match. The Laker women have a perfect 27-0 record.

every spot on the team is. Right now it is all about practicing and staying in shape to stay competitive for the rest of the season.”

Meanwhile, the men faced stiff competition with struggles against Florida Southern College, the seventh-ranked team in Division II, Rockhurst University and Vincennes University.

However, the team did pick up a 7-2 win against Walsh University.

“It was a great experience for our team, and we definitely learned a lot,” said junior Josh Kazdan, who plays at No. 5 singles and No. 3 doubles for the men’s team. “We played very good teams while in Florida – teams that are ranked higher than us – and it was good to match up against the tough opponents.”

With the sunny Florida weather and Walt Disney World behind them, it is back to reality in Michigan and preparing for the rest of the season.

“For the women, we want to stay sharp and keep our focus so that when we go to nationals, they will play their best tennis,” Black said. “And for the men, Florida was good preparation for conference play, which starts next weekend.”

The Laker men will play five games in three days spanning Thursday through Saturday this weekend with the conference opener against Michigan Technological University at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. The women will take a few weeks off before an April 8 match-up at Hope College. zsepanik@lanthorn.com

B2

Sports GRAND VALLEY

Grand Valley Lanthorn Thursday, March 17, 2011

MEN’S LACROSSE

Lakers to battle cross-town rivals 5-0 Lakers to take on undefeated rivals in Davenport Panthers today

By Derek Wolff Assistant Sports Editor

When the Grand Valley State University men’s club lacrosse team hosts cross-town rival Davenport University Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in a battle of unbeatens, the Lakers will look to avenge their quarterfinal loss in the 2010 postseason to the Panthers by handing them their

first defeat of the 2011 campaign.

GVSU is off to a quick 5-0 start after out-scoring opponents 106-41 in five games while Davenport has posted an equally impressive 6-0 start behind a major scoring advantage of 111-28.

Although Davenport has been a thorn in the Lakers’ collective side in the past, GVSU defeated defending champion University of St. Thomas on March 12, a game that has given the team a great deal of confidence going forward.

“Playing a team like St. Thomas, who have been the definition of a dynasty of our league and getting the upset victory has helped boost our confidence,” said Jack Dumsa, junior captain. “But it will take a lot more than that to beat (Davenport) on Thursday.”

Despite beating the Panthers in two of three games last season after winning a regular season match-up and again in the CCLA tournament, the quarterfinal loss to end the Lakers’ season still resonates amongst the team.

“When we lost to (Davenport) in nationals, it felt like they won the one that was really important,” Bielby said.

“Nothing stings more than that, so coming in and playing a solid game and sending them home with a loss on their record would be huge – not to mention staying undefeated against top10 teams.”

Dumsa said the team has an

GVL Archive / Nicole Lamson

Rivalry revisited: (Above) Senior Jeff Alexander looks downfield. (Below) GVSU sophomore CJ Scholl faces off in a past game. The upcoming face-off against Davenport is one of GVSU’s biggest rivalries.

“We definitely have a chip on our

shoulder coming in after they beat us ...

-Jack Dumsa Junior lacrosse captain added advantage of wanting the win more after last years’ heartbreaking loss.

“We definitely have a chip on our shoulder coming in after they beat us by a goal in the tournament in May,” he said.

“I think we have an advantage by being home, and our experience has helped us so far since we know we always have a target on our backs coming into each game.”

The Lakers have out-scored opponents by 10 or more goals in every game except their 1614 win over St. Thomas, but a defensive battle could likely ensue as two of the nation’s best offenses go head-to-head.

Senior Cam Holding said winning the game would come

”

down to hard work and passion.

“If we want to work and we come out with heart, we’ll win,” he said. “This is a big rival game, like Michigan against Michigan State, and it’s a game you want to win. It would be huge for our team and everyone would go home happy.”

Bielby said the Lakers would find success if they continue to execute designed plays and follow the systems that have made them successful.

“Our systems and what we’ve been doing on the field will be enough to win but we need to stay disciplined within those and execute throughout the game,” he said. dwolff@lanthorn.com

Sports

B3 FOOTBALL Football team and fans alike excited for Mitch-A-Palooza GRAND VALLEY

Grand Valley Lanthorn Thursday, March 17, 2011

By Brady Fredericksen GVL Senior Reporter

GVL Archive

Fan favorite: Mitch-A-Palooza, named for GVSU head coach Matt Mitchell (pictured) is in its second year. The event will feature a practice and giveaways.

The 2011 football season may be five months away, but Friday’s Mitch-A-Palooza at the Laker Turf Building will give Grand Valley State University fans a chance to catch their Lakers in action sooner rather than later.

The event, which begins at 11:45 p.m. Friday, will give fans a chance to see the team in a fun and different atmosphere similar to the basketball program’s Tip-Off Madness.

“The event is a great way for fans to get their ‘football fix’ while also previewing our 2011 team,” said second-year GVSU head coach Matt Mitchell, for whom the event is named.

Fan involvement will be a big part of the Mitch-A-Palooza festivities as the athletic department will offer t-shirt tosses and other activities throughout the hour-long practice. Organizers will also be keeping fans up to date on what is going on by introducing the fans to the team through interviews with coaches and players during the practice.

Fans will also be provided with food thanks to the involvement of Brann’s Steakhouse and Grille, Qdoba Mexican Grill and

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.

Food and fun aside, fans like junior Ray Callahan, who attended all of the Lakers’ home games last season, are excited to see the new-look team in action.

“I’m looking forward to going just to see what the team looks like early, given the change at quarterback,” he said.

“These are fellow students that we have classes with, so it is fun to see guys that you know from class.”

The team finished last season on a disappointing note in its 38-6 playoff loss to Augustana College, but the Friday’s MitchA-Palooza represents the first organized practice for the team since season’s end. Not only will the Lakers introduce fans to a new group of players competing for the starting quarterback job, but also to an array of other position battles throughout the roster.

“I think this is great for our students and fans to be able to get up close and personal with our players and coaches,” said Tim Selgo, athletic director.

“This is a chance for them to get to know the Lakers a little bit and have some fun as we kick off our spring football practice.”

Mitchell said the football portion of the event will be just

ROWING

‘Laker Navy’ prepares for busy April

By Kevin VanAntwerpen GVL Staff Writer

As classes kick back into gear at Grand Valley State University after a week off, the GVSU rowing team has found a new gear of its own after taking the entire team and crew – a total of 94 people – to Bentley’s Resort in Osprey, Fla., for two separate competitions during spring break.

The team practiced every day and participated in the Georgia Tech Dual in Gainesville, Ga., with the men winning one of three races and the women coming in second to Penn University in each of their four competitions.

“It was a scrimmage regatta. During the races, we had a chance to go back, make adjustments and move people around, so we really learned a lot from it,” said GVSU head coach John Bancheri. “It helped us develop a pecking order for who will be in the varsity boats this spring.”

The team tried to balance time off and time in the water, but the trip down to Florida is nothing new for the upperclassmen on the team.

“I love every second of it,” said senior rower Laura Marshall. “You’re with your best friends and you’re doing something you love, even if it tears at you sometimes. We

have enough time to do what we want, so we never feel like we’re giving up our spring break. But it’s still always focused enough to train.”

Most days the team rowed about 20-30 miles, Bancheri said. They also participated in psychological training, which included watching rowing videos and setting goals for the coming season.

“Both kinds of training are equally important,” Bancheri said. “It’s important to be both mentally and physically prepared.”

Moving the entire team from Michigan to Florida was no easy task. Bancheri said traveling makes him feel like P.T. Barnum of the famed Barnum and Bailey’s circus, transporting an enormous crew from place to place across the country.

Logistics coordinator Tyler Sellmer likened the rowing operation to a football team that moves its entire stadium when it travels. Even when all 94 members of the team and crew help in the packing operation, it still takes several hours.

“We pack up our entire boat house,” he said. “It’s like 25 boats and everything we need to take care of them. That also includes a couple motorboats for the coaches. We needed, like, an entire acre to store all our equipment on site.”

But in the end, Bancheri

Courtesy photo / John Bancheri

Stroke!: The GVSU crew teams practice during spring training in Florida.

said he thinks the hard work is worth it.

“I’m really proud of the program,” he said. “It’s just the best job in the world.

We’ve got all these great kids and great support – we have alumni support, parental support, institutional support. It’s just all around. But the best part about it is knowing the experience that all these student athletes have had. It’s not about the racing. In the end, we all want to win, yeah. But it’s all these experiences that they’ll talk about the rest of their lives.”

As the warm weather approaches in Allendale, so does the GVSU rowing team’s spring season. The rowers are slated to compete in four separate regattas in April, and the team will be in Michigan waters for the first time on April 2 when the Lakers host the Don Lubbers Cup Regatta. kvanantwerpen@lanthorn.com

like a normal practice starting at midnight. “(Mitch-A-Palooza) promotes a great atmosphere that helps our team get emotionally

ready to play,” he said. “I think it helps make the first practice more exciting than it would normally be.” bfredericksen@lanthorn.com

a &e

Grand Valley Lanthorn Thursday, March 17, 2011

Elijah Brumback, A&E Editor arts@lanthorn.com

entertainment

arts

Embrace Irish heritage, Drink some Guinness,

Eat some corned beef, but whatever you do,

Don’t forget to wear

GREEN

Patty’s Parties A guide to Grand Rapids St. Patrick’s Day Events

The B.O.B.

Brewery Vivant

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and LaughFest with an evening of Irish Comedy at The B.O.B. Admission is free; ages 18 and up welcome.

The new handcraft brewery on Cherry Street will celebrate it’s official grand opening with a St. Patrick’s Day Festival, along with additional events on Friday and Saturday. Festivities include live music, outdoor beer tents and food specials.

Flanagan’s A full day of Irish events March 17 kicks off with corned beef & hash for breakfast, beer & liquor promotions, bagpipers, green beer, specials shots, Irish food specials and live music with Rich Burkholder and Oregon Dreamchild.

By Elijah Brumback

F

GVL A&E Editor

Founders The downtown GR brewery won’t have green beer on St. Patrick’s Day, but they will have live music with Ann Arbor Bluegrass/Irish Folk band Back Forty. No cover.

GVL graphic / Val Waldbauer

Irish on Ionia

Spectrum Health

Hopcat, McFadden’s, Stella’s Lounge and Viceroy have teamed up to present the 1st Annual Irish on Ionia Celebration on March 17.

The event will offer guests Irish-inspired live music, craft beer, cocktails and food at four different bars, plus an outdoor beer tent. Required wristbands are $10 each.

Now in its 28th year, the Irish Jig at Reeds Lake has grown to become one of Michigan’s top 5K races and helps kick off the running season locally.

Top runners in each age group receive cash prizes. Registration is $17 to $22 per person and the races begin at 8 a.m. March 19, starting at Lovett & Wealthy St SE in EGR.

or being an Englishman, St. Patrick has made himself quite a legend with the Irish people.

After being captured by and enslaved by those same Irish, St. Patrick decided not to get even or just turn the other check, but instead gave the Pagan heathens Christianity. Not only did he repay the Irish with Christianity for all the lessons he learned as a 16-year-old slave, but he went ahead and banished all the snakes in Ireland for the people, though this might have been pretty easy, considering there are no native snakes in Ireland. Some people believe St. Patrick was a dragon slayer as well, having driven the Oilliphéist from the land as well as the Caoránach, the mother of all demons and devils. Lastly but not least, St. Patrick was said to have popularized the Copóg Phádraig, an important waterplantain that apparently posseses the power to ward of pesky fairies. All of these things, whether they hold a shred of truth or not, are probably still worth celebrating. Below are some places where you too can celebrate banishment of the Oilliphéist, probably without the Copóg Phádraig. arts@lanthorn.com

Visuals essays of local nature Ravines Revisited captures one of GV’s unique features

By Elijah Brumback GVL A&E Editor

The uncertainty of nature is continually present on a number of levels, sometimes devastating as in Japan and sometimes slow and gradual. Preventing and planning to avoid these disasters is almost entirely in reaction to the event, given sometimes there is nothing that could have be done. But in the case of the ravines at Grand Valley State University, it is possible to be proactive in approaching a possible blight and unsafe environment.

Ravines Revisited, a photograhpic essay exhibit by GVSU faculty artists Dellas Henke, Stanley Krohmer and Anthony Thompson opens tonight and will run through April, 15 in the GVSU Art Gallery.

The Ravines at GVSU have a rich geological history spanning back 15,000 years.

According to Assistant Geology professor Patrick Colgan, who wrote a brief history of the ravines in 2010, said the creation of the ravines were aided by the effects of the last Ice Age, among other factors.

Currently, sediment build-up has contributed to the reduction of the trees and other root bearing structures.

Where once the ravine bottoms were filled with trees and other foliage, there are no expanding meadows.

Two possible near-term futures exist for the ravines, according to Colgan.

One, they could reach a new equilibrium with the changing climate and imposed human impacts allowing for a well maintained forest and laboratory for students. Two, the ravines could become an unsightly, chaotic zone of un-

GVL / Eric Coulter

Natural art: Photographs of the ravines will be featured in an upcoming art exhibit. Three faculty members’ works will be on display until April 15.

stable and eroding slopes.

The artists’ work explores the beauty and complexity of the landscape as well as the effects of erosion and the complex relationship those here at Grand Valley have with the ravines.

Krohmer, whose photos were chosen from more than 2500 Tri-X and Fuji medium format film negatives made between fall 2005 and early Spring, 2007, said that his photographs are meant to reflect light and form as well as the spirit of the ravines.

He worked with black and white and color film photography and several vintage 1950’s Rolleiflex F Twin Lens Reflex cameras.

“They were designed to be used handheld with a neck strap, but I worked with them on a heavy duty tripod in order to make longer exposures,” Krohmer said. “The square format negative (2 ¼ x 2 ¼ ) was only critical to the extent that I did not have to decide on whether to frame the shot horizontally or verti-

cally in the viewfinder like one must do with a 35mm camera.”

He set out initially in 2005 to explore the Ravines land because, even though he had been teaching at GVSU for nine years at that point, he had never spent much time there. His only goal he said was to work on a long-term photographic landscape project, with the intent of making images that expressed something of what he saw and felt during that solitary time.

“At first, I made more traditional ‘grand’ landscape photos that were about the drama of the light, shadow and earth forms. Later, during 2006-07, I tried to work more with abstraction and less objective forms.”

Henke took three series of prints over the past 10 years. Some of the photographs being exhibited are more recent and are in digital format.

“I decided to use digital for two reasons, one, digital was new to me and was looking for excuses to see what it

could do and two, It made sense for this series because of the way I decided to shoot.”

Henke said initially he went down into the ravines and took the typical, broad cathedral-type landscape shots, but over the course of another summer he made some documentary-style photos including damage, erosion and vandalism. The vandalism he described were the painted trees and rocks of frats as well as vandalism he said the school was responsible for, with the decision to drain parking lots into the ravines.

In the latter digital series Henke said he didn’t want to deal with the grandeur or the political, instead opting to explore the wonderful experience when walking around the ravines.

“I tried to focus on small things that catch sometimes catch your eye.

I would set the camera near my feet and and shoot without looking through the viewfinder. Kind of like the way your eye wanders when you’re walk-

ing around, as unselfconscious as possible.”

When he made the political series, those that show the damage, vandalism and garbage, they were shown in the Siedman House.

“We were trying to draw attention to the fact that the ravines are used by many departments on campus. It might be the most valuable class room on campus and anyone who has spent time back there can see the neglect and garbage.”

Henke said back in the early 2000s during the mass building efforts on campus, the school built parking lots over two current scientific study cites, which effectively ended the science.

This caught some administrators’ attention, so Henke and others were asked to make some recommendations beneficial to the ravines, which they called the Trailways Committee.

“I don’t want to say we were ignored, but it seemed as if our suggestions just weren’t fully considered,” he said. “One suggestion was renaming the ravines, the Ravines Sanctuary, and make it a protected place.”

Plans to curb the drainage and erosion and make necessary reroutes on the trails have been considered, but are currently stalled as the project is expected to produce an expensive bill.

Approximately 7 years ago, Henke created the ravine archive, which documents how people use the ravines at GVSU. The archive contains everything from art to scientific research articles concerning the ravines.

“I would love this exhibit to drawn more attention to this archive,” Henke said. “It’s a record of our relationship with that piece of land, we can’t just keep congratulating ourselves on our sustainability efforts. Its a small piece of land that reflects a lot of problems we see elsewhere in society and its a phenomenal learning tool.” arts@lanthorn.com

B5

MARKETPLACE

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Announcements

Roommates

GV Car Show! April 9th from 2pm-6pm. GVSU Allendale Campus Lot H. Proceeds to benefit Companions in Courage. Free attendance but donations are encouraged.

My roommate and I are looking for 2 roommates for the 2011- 2012 school year. A 12-month lease with Campus West 4bed/2bath. Email at hubbarem@mail.gvsu.edu

St. James Church, Grand Rapids. Lenten Fish Fry Dinners, Fridays March 11 - April 15 from 4pm to 7pm. All you can eat!

Sub-leaser wanted. End of April to beginning of August.

Rent $433 per month plus utilities. Copper Beach. 3 bedrooms/3.5 bath. Email Allison perlina@mail.gvsu.edu if interested.

Mug Shots Burgers & Brews, Allendale. Come in March 17th for our St. Patrick’s Day Party! Green Beer, Guinness on draft, giveaways!

St. Luke University Parish, Allendale. Serving Allendale, Western Michigan, and GVSU. Check out our website for upcoming events during Lent! www.GVSUCatholic.org Take summer classes at Central Michigan University.

Undergraduate and graduate classes available online, evenings, and weekends. Apply before April 17 and $50 application fee is waived. Call 877-268-4636 or visit www.cmich.edu/summer for more information.

Want GVSU news now? The Lanthorn has it covered. Visit our website, Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter for the latest GVSU campus and sports news. www.lanthorn.com

Services Experienced Attorney 3 Miles from Campus. 616.895.7300. www.davidknoesterplc.com 616-895-7300 Ride the G.R. Hopper this weekend. Only $10 per person round trip from Allendale (reservation required). Ride includes unlimited bar hopping and other specials at downtown bars and restaurants. Call 616-606-0467 or email staff@grhopper.com

Opportunities Want a law degree from an affordabe and accedited univeristy? Wayne State University Law School in Detroit leads the way as a best Value Law School and with the most alumni in Michigan’s Super Lawyers and Rising Star Rankings. Apply at law.wayne.edu or call 313-577-3937

Wanted Employment Lanthorn Ad Designer Positions available beginning Summer & Fall 2011. Experience needed on Mac, Photoshop, and illustrator. Apply today in the Lanthorn office 0051 Kirkhof.

Call 616-331-2484 or email advertising@lanthorn.com with questions. Underclassmen preferred.

Lanthorn Advertising Sales Representative Positions available beginning Fall 2011.

Can be used as an internship. Real life experience with clients and good pay.

Apply now at The Lanthorn office 0051 Kirkhof Center.

Call 616-331-2484 or email advertising@lanthorn.com with questions. Underclassmen preferred.

College Pro is now hiring painters all across the state to work outdoors with other students. Earn $3k-$5k. Advancement opportunities.

1-888-277-9787 or www.collgepro.com Spend your summer in Maine at Tripp Lake Camp. Male and Female counselors needed June-August, Residential. Apply online at www.tripplakecamp.com Main Street Pub now hiring serving staff. Looking for outgoing, energetic, hard-working individuals to join our team. Open interviews this Sunday, March 20th, starting at 3:30pm.

Work on Mackinac Island.

Make lifelong friends. The Island House Hotel and Ryba’s Fudge Shops are looking for help in all areas this summer: Front Desk, Bell Staff, Wait Staff, Sales Clerks, Kitchen, Baristas. Housing, bonus, and discounted meals. (906) 847-7196. www.theislandhouse.com

Housing Grand Valley’s best kept deal. University Townhomes & Apartments guarantees the lowest price per person. Enjoy a quiet atmosphere with a variety of home styles to choose from less than 2 miles from campus. Call Tim today 616-477-5511

Look for Go Figure! answers online at

LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley Lanthorn

Grand Valley Lanthorn Thursday, March 17, 2011

B6

Arts & entertainment Culture at Grand Valley

STUDENT ARTIST PROFILE

Painting with babies on board

Courtesy photo / Stephanie Neinhouse

Canvases and kids: Neinhouse has worked on paintings such as “Landscape #1” (pictured) while raising a family.

Student artist Stephanie Neinhouse juggles family, preparations for B.F.A. show March 28 - 31

By Rebekah Young GVL Staff Writer

As Stephanie Nienhouse prepares to graduate from Grand Valley State University, she looks back on her unconventional college career and looks forward to her future.

“I have had an atypical experience as a college student,” said the 27-year-old student artist.

After attending both Muskegon Community College and Kendall College of Art and Design, Nienhouse enrolled at GVSU in 2006 as an Art Education major. In the summer after her freshman year, she married her fiancé, Matthew. In her junior year, she gave birth to her first child, a son named Isaac.

For Nienhouse, juggling classes and family life has proven to be quite a challenge.

Living with her family in Montague, Mich., she has to commute to campus and is unable to take a full 12-credit load.

“It’s hard because you feel guilty when you are away,” she said. “But it’s worth it. I would have been disappointed in myself if I gave up. I’ve had a lot of help from my family.”

Nienhouse had completed almost all her courses for her major when she had a change of heart. She decided to switch to a

Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting.

“I realized one day that I will only live once,” she explained.

“And if all I want to do is paint and be an artist, then why would I choose to do anything else?”

Nienhouse said she did not realize her love for painting until she was exposed to oil painting in her high school art class.

There, she was drawn to the unique qualities and textures of the medium.

“I chose painting as my emphasis because it best fit the kind of art I want to make,” Nienhouse said. “It is very free and fluid.”

Nienhouse focuses on portraying and manipulating landscapes. In her pieces, she offers abstract views of land through her use of layers and colors.

“I have chosen to focus on the landscape because I feel that it has a lot to offer,” she said.

“Everyone can relate to it, and it has a certain language of its own to engage viewers.”

Before graduating in April, Nienhouse’s paintings will be featured in a Bachelor of Fine Arts exhibit with fellow student artist Anne Gerlofs from March 28-31.

Five of Nienhouse’s oil paintings on canvas will be displayed in the show, which will be held in the Padnos Student Gallery. A

reception for the exhibit will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on March 31.

“I am very excited for the exhibit,” NEINHOUSE Nienhouse said. “I believe people should see art in person. A painting can give you a very different experience when seen in real life.”

After graduation, Nienhouse plans to enjoy motherhood as she is expecting her second child in September. Beyond that, she hopes to develop her body of artwork, participate in gallery shows and open a studio of her own.

“Painting is wonderful. I can’t imagine wanting to do anything else,” Nienhouse said.

“It’s an ideal situation. It’s perfect for me. It’s something you can do at home. You don’t have to go into an office or work a nine to five day. I can have a family.” ryoung@lanthorn.com

see LANTHORN.COM to view an exclusive Q&A >>PORTRAIT OF A PAINTER

Professor to discuss new book, public art

By Patrick Nothaft GVL Staff Writer

After serving the Grand Rapids art community for almost two decades, Lambert Zuidervaart, former board member and president of the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, will return to the city for a two-day lecture and symposium.

Currently a professor of philosophy at the Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto, Zuidervaart will host the free lecture, which is co-sponsored by the Grand Valley State University Department of Art and Design and the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM), today at 7 p.m. in the GRAM’s Cook Auditorium. It focuses on his new book, “Art in Public: Politics, Economics, and a Democratic Culture.”

The symposium, which takes place Friday at the UICA from 1 to 4 p.m., will

focus on what the arts need, conceptually and practically, to serve their public function.

Co-sponsors for the 3-hour event are the UICA, the GVSU Department of Art and Design and the GVSU School of Communications.

“In the lecture, I introduce the current debate on government funding for the arts and explain why debates like that don’t go anywhere,” Zuidervaart said.

In his book, Zuidervaart proposes an entirely new conception of the public role of art with wide-ranging implications for education, politics and cultural policy.

“National, state, regional and local governments all need to be involved in funding the arts, but each level has a different role to play,” he said. “In the symposium, we will discuss the role of the arts at the national level, and the role of the arts in Grand Rapids.” pnothaft@lanthorn.com

FRIDAY’S SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULE CENTRAL QUESTION: “What does art need (conceptually and practically) to serve its public function?”

1:00 - 1:05 p.m.: Welcome 1:05 - 1:10: Mayor George Heartwell Introduces Lambert Zuidervaart 1:10 - 1:30: Zuidervaart shares ideas that frame and shift the issues 1:30 - 2:15: NATIONAL condition report and discussion Condition Report: Evelyn Derico, Discussion Respondent: Anthony Stepter • What are the relevant theoretical, political, historical, and practical issues when considering the public function of art in a national context?

2:15 - 2:35: Break 2:35 - 3:45: LOCAL GRAND RAPIDS Condition Report and discussion Condition Report: Christie Westmaas, Discussion Respondent: Anna Campbell • How are we thinking of and representing art in public life in Grand Rapids?

• What are current and desired practical conditions for the production and presentation of art as an essential aspect of public life?

3:45 - 4:00 Concluding remarks