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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT GRAND VALLEY
T H U R S d ay, S E P T E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 1
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Student debt on the rise
GV scholarships increase
Block tuition rates
By Samantha Butcher
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GVL Managing Editor
GVL / Eric Coulter
Campus Praise Rally Students sing, pray during Campus Ministry’s first monthly Campus Praise Rally of the school year in Lower Kirkhof Center.
Chasing the Sky Lanthorn columnist Andrew Justus discusses the ups and downs of playing in a moderately successful indie rock band. www.lanthorn.com/blog
Kevin Vanantwerpen GVL Columnist
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or Grand Valley State University junior Jon Garcia, money is a constant source of concern. Garcia, an English and secondary education major, currently carries $30,000 in student loan debt with at least two years left before he graduates. Each year, he takes out the maximum amount in Stafford loans while his parents help him pay for the remainder. “I am poor,” Garcia said of the impact of his student loans. “I’ve never been rolling in money or anything, but now I have negative money. ... I’m pretty bad.” Even paying rent poses a monthly challenge for Garcia, 20, who sometimes gets assistance from his family when funds run low. Garcia is just one of many students who face significant financial barriers when paying for school. The cost of college has skyrocketed across the state in recent years, leaving today’s college students struggling to make their educational ends meet. According to data from the Project on Student Debt, Grand Valley State University graduates in 2009 left school with an average debt of more than $24,000, slightly below the state-wide average of $25,458. That year, 70 percent of GVSU graduates carried some student loan debt with them into their professional lives. While GVSU increased its tuition by 6.9 percent for the 2011-2012 academic year – the university’s largest tuition hike in years – college costs have been climbing at a rate higher than inflation for decades. However, GVSU has remained one of the most affordable public universities in the state. In a nine-year period from 1998 to 2007, GVSU tuition increased by 84 percent, the secondlowest increase in the state during that
per semester GVSU 1995-2011
By Anya Zentmeyer GVL News Editor
See Debt, A2
GVL Graphic / Val Waldbauer
Students on campus hitting the books Numbers show despite growing technology, e-books not as popular as many may think By Anya Zentmeyer
… online?
GVL News Editor
Please Recycle
With classes in full swing, students at Grand Valley State University are crunching numbers when it comes to buying books this fall and pursing their options. E-books are an option, sold at both the University Bookstore and Brian’s Books, but at both locations’ store officials say numbers are not growing. In fact, Tony Glaab, textbook manager from UBS, said books sales are doing the exact opposite. “I don’t have any numbers for this semesters’ (sales) yet, but last year we actually sold half as many textbooks as we did the prior year,” Glaab said. He said the store’s most popular e-book title is a BIO 120 book, and out 571 total books sold, only 27 – about 5 percent - were e-books. “That’s by far my best selling
Net price calculator to simplify education expenses
GVL / Rane Martin
Easy reading: Junior Mitchel Spleet reads an e-book on his Kindle. Despite the low initial costs, e-books have seen decreased sales at both Brian’s Books and UBS.
book,” he said. “We usually only sell 2 to 3 in other classes.” E-books are even less popular at Brian’s Books, where storeowner Brian Page said there is very little demand for e-book versions of text. “We have a very small select number of e-books, but what we have found is that people really don’t
want them,” he said. Both Page and Glaab say many students they talk to prefer the hardcopy. “One student explained it the best to me,” Glaab said. “He said, we spend so much of our time online researching – I mean, how much of
See E–books, A2
On Oct. 29, the federal government will begin enforcing a new mandate that require all colleges to post a new tool on their websites that will aid students in calculating their total yearly costs, both direct and indirect. Called a net price calculator, the tool uses a short survey that asks about total number of family members in one household, household income and planned living accommodations, among other things, to generate a rough estimate of what a student can expect to pay at any given university. Grand Valley State University junior Bri Babbit started her freshman year out at Michigan State University, and said she could have used a tool like that when making her final decisions about college. “Perhaps I could have had a better idea what college was going to cost in the long-run,” she said. According to Fannie Mae, the average household income in Michigan is between $50,000 and $60,000. So the net price calculator estimates an average student paying in-state tuition and living in an on campus facility is expected to shell out $17,609 for their first year, with only $1,871 of that total from merit and need-based grant aid. Make that out-of-state, and the same student is paying $21,794 with $2,000 in grants. Move that out-of-state student off campus and the numbers top off at $22,977 with only $877 awarded in grant aid. GVSU got its net price calculator up about a month ago, but Michelle Rhodes, director of Financial Aid, said the use is intended mostly for potential freshman, and even juniors and seniors in high school who might use it for a more ‘big picture’ look at college costs. “I think it’s helpful if they’re considering an institution at Grand Valley versus an institution in California, and then you can see ‘this school in California will cost me $40,000 as opposed to Grand Valley costing $20,000,’” Rhodes said. “But as far as comparing Grand Valley to Michigan State or something close like that, it’s really not going to help you a year from now.” With many parents and students suffering from what has been termed ‘sticker shock,’ Rhodes said GVSU’s net price calculator does not try to over inflate or under inflate, but the difficult thing about estimators is that they are not designed for total accuracy.
See Net price A2
A2 NEWS
Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2011
Debt
NEWS BRIEFS
continued from page A1
period. Garcia said he worries about how the cost of college will impact him after graduation. “I’m going to be a teacher, and that means I am not going to make much money,” he said. “I will be struggling financially for a few years.” The university has increased its scholarship awards in an effort to help combat rising costs. In 2010, GVSU offered 275 scholarships, up from 50 a decade earlier. “I think students are becoming very creative in how to pay for college,” said Michelle Rhodes, director of the Office of Financial Aid at GVSU. “I think they are getting better at planning ahead and making sure they don’t overspend. I always encourage students to start a budget so they can plan accordingly.” According to the Project on Student Debt, the average national student debt increased 20 percent between 2004 and 2008. Only 24 percent of GVSU students who demonstrated financial need in 2010 had all of their financial needs met, leaving many to depend on help from their parents, wages or private loans to fill the gaps. Despite that, Rhodes said she has seen the number of private loans students take out decrease
Ebooks
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your time do you spend online socially with Facebook and other venues – he said the last thing he wants to do is read his textbook online.’” And as a former teacher, Page believes in books – the printed kind. “I have not seen one research project that demonstrates that e-books are better or even the same as the printed book,” Page said. “In other words, when people study – and this is not a learned thing, I think this is a physiological thing – people retain info better off a printed page than they
KCON Nursing Magazine recognized for excellence
GVL / Rane Martin
Nickel and dime: Junior Monica Yothers receives in-depth advice about her student loans from an advisor in the Financial Aid Office.
over the past three years, a finding that bucks the national trend. Private loans often have higher interest rates than Stafford loans issued by the federal government, and many do not offer a deferment period to students still in school. “I think [students] are starting to ask better questions to understand their costs,” Rhodes said. “I think making sure we communicate to our students all along about planning for their future, repayment
do off of a screen.” Learning retention aside, Glaab and Page both said for those looking to seek an immediate price reduction, ebooks can be a good option. In the long-term, however, buying your book and selling them back at the end of the semester will result in more total savings. “Some people simply shop price point, that’s it, that’s the single most important thing,” Page said. “And that’s why rental is getting popular, and that’s why e-books are finding a niche in the market, because they are cheaper. But more kids are taking the long-term approach, when they say ‘it’s
of loans, etc. is important. I think it’s critical that each student understands and makes sure they are only taking the loans they need and not just everything that’s offered to them.” In spite of the costs, Garcia believes that college is worth the financial burden. “Without college I could not do what I really want which is teaching high school English,” Garcia said. “I’ve grown so much as a per-
going to cost more now, but I’ll recoup that during buy backs.’” For students who want to save without going online, Brian’s Books is offering rentals, which have been growing steadily in popularity. But Page said it’s the same savings policy as e-books – you’re spending less upfront, but you’re not recouping as large of savings later. “It’s cheaper up front for the kids to get it, but the bad news is, if you rent something, there’s no buy back,” he said. “So if it’s a book that’s going to be used over and over and over again you actually pay more to use it than if you bought it new or used.” Glaab said instead of renting, UBS has turned to a ‘buy back guarantee’ that students can find on backer on selected books off the shelf cart. “It takes some of the guess work out of it and every time it’s going to a better deal than renting the book,” Glaab said. news@lanthorn.com
son that it can’t be given too much of a cost. The economy sucks and my economy sucks even more but at least I’ll be content with my life, money aside.” For information about student loans, scholarships and other financial questions, visit the Financial Aid Office online at www.gvsu. edu/financialaid. managingeditor@lanthorn.com
Net price
continued from page A1
“They best time to get an actual picture is after you’ve actually gotten the bill and once we’ve actually gotten your financial aid award and from there you sit down with a financial aid advisor and work out what you really need to take,” she said. Rhodes said when it comes down to total cost, GVSU has been upfront with how much students could expect to pay. “This is just an estimator, so the key points for students and parents, no matter what level – incoming freshman to graduating senior – once you get your bill and evaluate your award, take the time to make sure you’re only taking
what you need, especially when it comes to the loans.” Rhodes said. “And that’s not something a calculator or estimator is really going to help you with. That’s something you need to take the time to talk about. Make sure you know about loan limits and the loan eligibility you have left, those are things you definitely still need to talk to an adviser about and the net price calculator can’t replace that because financial aid is so confusing.” To read more about financial aid, and to check out the net price calculator online, visit www.gvsu.edu/financialaid, click on future students, and under quick links select ‘net price calculator.’ news@lanthorn.com
Grand Valley State University’s Kirkhof College of Nursing Magazine was the recipient of the APEX Award of Excellence in 2011. The APEX award is designed to recognize publications that demonstrate excellence in writing, and are used as resources for communication professionals. There were 3,329 submissions into the competition, which included newspapers, magazines, brochures, manuals, reports and electronic publications. Throughout the competition each entry was judged by a panel of writers, editors and publishers who chose 957 APEX awards of excellence winners. The KCON Magazine is produced twice a year by the Cynthia McCurren, dean of Kirkhof College of Nursing; Linda Bond, KCON professor; Jan Anderson of Beyond Words Publishing and Brad Hineline of Hineline Design. The group will receive their award in July.
Volunteers needed for Day of Caring The Community Service Learning Center is looking for Grand Valley State University volunteers to assist in the United Way’s Day of Caring. The events are on Sept. 9, beginning with two morning projects at 9 a.m. and ending at noon. The morning projects will be followed by an afternoon project starting at 1:30 p.m. and concluding at 4:30 p.m. The morning events include grounds work at Blanford Nature Center, located at 1715 Hillburn Ave. in Grand Rapids, and Stuff the Bus at Hillcrest School, located at 1300 Lyon St. in Grand Rapids. The Blandford Nature Center needs 12 volunteers and Stuff the Bus is asking for four. Afternoon volunteers will assist with Celebration on the Grand, located between Rosa Park Circle and Ahnabawen Park; 12 volunteers are needed. T ransportation will be provided for all volunteers to Blandford Nature Center and Rosa Park Circle, but not to Hillcrest school.
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICARTIONS Corey Martin’s name was misspelled on A1 of the Aug. 29 issue. His name appeared correctly in the article ,“Rapid Successes,” on A3. If you find any errors in fact in the Lanthorn, let us know by calling (616) 331-2464 or by emailing editorial@lanthorn.com
Lanthorn
Volume 46, Number 4
EDITORIAL STAFF
ADVERTISING STAFF
BUSINESS STAFF
Editor in Chief EMANUEL JOHNSON
Laker Life Editor HALEY OTMAN
Layout Editor VALERIE WALDBAUER
Advertising Manager KEVIN HAUSFELD
Business Manager ALEX HOUSEMAN
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
Managing Editor SAMANTHA BUTCHER
A & E Editor BRIANA DOOLAN
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News Editor ANYA ZENTMEYER
Image Editor ERIC COULTER
Layout Staff KENDALL GILBERT KAYLA KOENIGSKNECHT
Receptionists SHANTI COLLINS ANGILEENA GIBSON
Assistant News Editor DAN SPADAFORA
Assistant Image Editor RANE MARTIN
The Grand Valley Lanthorn is published under the authorization of the GVSU Newspaper Advisory Board.
Sports Editor BRADY FREDERICKSEN
Copy Editor HALEY OTMAN
Web Team JORDAN JANKOWSKI THOMAS LEE ERIC MATCHETTE TY BALLIE DANIEL HODGES
Account Managers MICHELLE SCHEFFERS RENAY SCHOENMAKER ERIKKA SIMPSON Ad Designers RANDI FORD LAUREN PURDY
Distribution THOMAS LEE
A3 NEWS
Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2011
NEWS EDITOR ANYA ZENTMEYER news@lanthorn.com
GVBoxCity to help students gain perspective on homelessness By Samantha Butcher GVL Managing Editor
Grand Valley State University’s service and advocacy groups are starting the year off with a bang with GVBoxCity, which will raise awareness of Grand Rapids’ homeless community while also raising funds. The overnight event, which will be held Sept. 9 and 10, will give students the experience of a night spent without a roof over their heads. BoxCity will kick off at 6 p.m. in the Pere Marquette room with a meal and panel of speakers, which
700-800 Homeless population in Grand Rapids on a given night
36 percent
Children in the homeless population
$28 million
Money spent on services to the homeless
$1.7 million
Money spent on early action and prevention Data collected by the Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness
DUCHARME
BARNARD
will include a woman who received a house from Habitat for Humanity and a representative from the Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness. Participants will move outside to the field located between the Performing Arts Center and the Murray-VanSteeland Living Centers for the night at 9 p.m. Throughout the night, participants will be able to make donations, which will benefit Grand Rapidsarea homeless shelters. In addition to monetary donations, students can bring cans that organizations can redeem for deposits or non-perishable food items. “Experiences like this don’t happen very often at Grand Valley,” said Molly Barnard, president of the GVSU chapter of Amnesty International. “This opportunity will give students the chance to actually experience sleeping outside in a cardboard box for a night, which is better than what some of our community’s homeless has to sleep in.” Barnard helped organize the event along with Aaron Ducharme, former Habitat for Humanity president, and Caitlin Stoltman, Alternative Breaks’ fundraising chair. BoxCity originated as a collabo-
STOLTMAN ration between GVSU service and advocacy groups Habitat for Humanity, Amnesty International, Alternative Breaks and the Hunger and Homelessness club, but it has since grown to include the College Democrats, College Republicans, Alpha Sigma Tau and Alpha Sigma Alpha. “The program’s goal is to educate on the realities of homelessness and raise money to help the fight against homelessness,” Ducharme said. “Also, it is giving a way for people to get involved and meet other people who are like them.” Ducharme said he hopes the event will also help combat the stereotypes associated with homelessness. For Barnard, the event’s appeal was in its relation to Amnesty International’s Demand Dignity campaign, which focuses on housing as a human right. “Every person deserves to have a home,” Barnard said. “This is a great way to bring the whole Grand Valley community together for a once-in-alifetime experience.” In case of rain, the outdoor portion of the event may be moved or postponed. For more information, look up GVBoxCity on Facebook or email gvboxcity@gmail.com. managingeditor@lanthorn.com
GVL / Anya Zentmeyer
Always moving: Movement science professor John Kilbourne (pictured) has posted signs near the elevators in North Campus buildings to encourage able-bodied students and faculty to take the stairs instead of the elevator. The signs are Kilbourne’s latest attempt to get GV moving.
Movement science professor encourages GV to ‘celebrate’ ability to climb stairs By Anya Zentmeyer GVL News Editor
Keeping with his theme of promoting physical activity, movement science professor John Kilbourne is back on campus this fall, and he is taking the stairs. “Monday, when I come back from sabbatical, again I see students waiting at the elevator to go up one flight of stairs,” Kilbourne said. “So I thought, ‘I’m just going to start a little thing here.’” Kilbourne’s ‘little thing’ consists of a pile of self-made signs that he has posted outside of elevators in Mackinac Hall, Padnos, Henry Hall and the Student Services building. The signs read: “Celebrate your ability to use the stairs and please give priority to those who need to use the elevator,” signed with his tagline, “Moving All Ways, Always Moving.” He got the idea while on sabbatical, traveling through London to get to Paris for a presentation. “In one of the museums we went to there was this saying, and I took a picture of it, and I just thought ‘that is
such a beautiful way to say what I’ve been thinking for all these years,’” Kilbourne said. According to the Lansing State Journal, the state of Michigan spends $9 billion a year to deal with diseaserelated sedentary lifestyles, including obesity, for which Michigan ranks tenth-highest in the nation. “Why are there students taking the elevator? We have perfectly healthy faculty and staff, you know, why aren’t we using the stairs?” Kilbourne said. “Because there’s so much now in terms of physical activity - it’s not that you need 35 to 40 minutes in one single dose, but if you got little bursts of it during the day - like walking up the stairs – you know, that’s perfect, that’s fine.” After sending his idea to some members of the sustainability staff and a few deans on campus, Kilbourne was met with pretty positive feedback. James Moyer, vice president of facilities planning, said although it is consistent with the University Wellness Program, which encourages all exercise, he thinks it may do little actual change at this time. “But how many of us complain
about the walk from the parking lot to our destination?” Moyer asked. “Adding the signs just adds to the visual clutter and I suspect that it will do very little to change behaviors.” Kilbourne said there has been a lot written as of late about stairways, and the idea that people might not use them simply because they’re not inviting. “But now, especially in the LEED buildings, it’s to make them more inviting, to have windows and things you look out upon,” he said. He added that he hopes with the construction of newer, more userfriendly stairways, people will start to use them more. Eventually, he’d like for the university to endorse permanent signs on all campuses to help not only encourage more stairway use, but raise awareness. “Be proactive,” he said. “Here’s a simple thing that we can do and it would be interesting to see, you know, just how many people follow– because I like the way it says ‘celebrate your ability to be physical’ rather than forcing people – just celebrate it.” news@lanthorn.com
Courtesy photo / Eric Cederholm
Aim high: Eric Cederholm (pictured), president of the Student Veterans Organization, served in the Air Force from 2005-09.
Veterans offered chance to make, share history at GV By Derek Wolff GVL Senior Reporter
Grand Valley State University is often promoted as a safety-conscious university, and with the number of military veterans on campus rising over the past three years, it’s likely to stay that way. Since the Veterans Network began tracking the number of veterans attending GVSU in 2009, the numbers have steadily risen, with almost 400 veterans attending the university during the Winter semester of 2011, said Steven Lipnicki, assistant dean of students. That number is expected to grow to about 450 this semester. Lipnicki cited the post-Sept. 11 G.I. Bill of 2009, among other factors, as crucial in bringing veterans of the Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts to GVSU after their tours of duty. “My gut feeling is that a number of people are going to keep coming back, and it’s pretty logical that if they’re eligible for funding, which the new G.I. Bill gives them, they will think of us in a favorable way,” Lipnicki said. “We are getting a reputation out there for being more military friendly.” GVSU was recognized as a top military-friendly college and university by Military Advanced Education in 2010 and by GIjobs.com in 2010 and 2011. The G.I. bill provides student veterans with a stipend of about $1,000 a month and between $500-$1,000 per year for books and supplies. The Student Veterans Organization at GVSU, headed by President Eric Cederholm, has also been helping to welcome veterans to campus and provide answers to challenging questions. The organization is made up almost entirely of military veterans. Cederholm, who served in the U.S. Air Force from 2005 to 2009 while primarily stationed in the Republic of Djibouti, a small country in the Horn of Africa, came back to GVSU and quickly became involved with the organization after receiving an email invitation. He initially had attended GVSU between 2003-05, but the incentives offered by the university made it an easy choice to come back to. “Grand Valley has a lot of resources geared specifically for veterans,” Cederholm said. “When you register for classes now, you can select if you are a vet. That’s fantastic. They have their own veterans page and have multiple offices with people willing to help you.” The SVO on campus is also affiliated with the larger group, Student Veterans of America, which has also helped provide resources and answers for veterans at GVSU. “It’s really conducive for support and people really band together,” Cederholm said. “Grand Valley has certain experts in the fields that are supportive of us.” Since 2007, GVSU has also made a concerted effort to document and record the interviews of veterans in the West Michigan area, as well as on campus. Led by James Smither, the GVSU Veterans History Project has worked with several faculty and student volunteers to preserve and store veterans experiences. Smither is optimistic that the rising number of student veterans will be willing to share their testimony sometime in the near future, especially once they know that they will not be called back into service for another tour of duty. “We’re very interested in interviewing student veterans when we can,” Smither said. “The catch is that most of them are not quite ready to share their stories yet.” While the initial goal of the project was to catch up with veterans from World War II and beyond, recently the project has been focusing more on the Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Smither is hoping that the rising numbers will influence a greater desire for new student veterans to share their unique accounts. “What I’d really like to do is interview more student veterans, so I encourage any veterans who are interested in adding to the project to get in touch with me,” he said. After a successful veteran’s kickoff event on Aug. 18, the Veterans Network, in conjunction with an estimated 30 GVSU departments and agencies, will look to help answer any and all questions by veterans at the second-annual Veterans Resource Fair on Sept. 20. There will also be booths for both the Veterans Network and Student Veterans Organization at Campus Life Night on Tuesday. dwolff@lanthorn.com
A4 OPINION LANTHORN OPINION ONLINE Visit LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2011
VALLEY VOTE
READ THE BLOG “Chasing the Sky” By Kevin VanAntwerpen GVL Columnist
Should AT&T and Verizon Wireless be allowed to merge into a single company? Vote online at lanthorn.com >> Should the Counseling Center limit individual appointments for students in favor of group sessions?
YES 100% NO 0%
GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON | BY DAN SILLS
EDITORIAL
Critical services While the Counseling Center at Grand Valley State University may not bring the same amount of prestige to GVSU as glamorous projects such as the new library being built on campus, it is an invaluable resource to students that deserves funding.
O
ne of GVSU’s greatest assets has always been the wide array of free resources it provides to students, the Counseling Center included. But when the Center announced that it would be eliminating walk-in hours and capping individual appointments at six per year, many students felt that they had been short-changed. The push toward group sessions may save the Center money, but the impact on the rapidly increasing number of students utilizing the Center will not be as beneficial. Of course, times are tough. Budgets are tight, and no one has enough money to make every end meet – universities included. Cuts have to be made somewhere, and in GVSU’s case, are being made across the board. On the same note, walk-in hours are expensive to run. Individual appointments cost the university more per hour than group sessions. But a service that has the potential to greatly boost students’ well-being and that has proven so popular should be preserved as much as possible, and that means preserving the option to talk to a counselor one-on-one, as many times as a student needs to, without having to jump through hoops. Justified or not, there is still a stigma associated with therapy, and a strong one at that. Even the need to dial the phone and make an appointment can be too intimidating for those who buy into the stigma, or who think that their problems aren’t “bad” enough for them to seek help. Walk-in hours provide a casual atmosphere for those who need to dip their toes in before diving headfirst into the pool. As for group sessions, there is a reason why the Center has had such a hard time filling them in the past. Discussing your life with somebody who has gone through extensive training and talks to people for a living can be challenging enough for those who struggle to discuss their problems; add in a handful of strangers and you may as well forget about it. While the Counseling Center has undoubtedly made these decisions out of some financial necessity, these policy changes have the potential to alienate those who need help the most but are least likely to seek it out. Services like the Counseling Center deserve to be funded well in order to best help the students who want to use them. After all, a healthy university is happy university.
dsills@lanthorn.com
Q: “Yes, because in the long run you will find a more successful career and have a better income compared to those who did not get the education.”
“Yes! If you do not go on to further pursue an education, it is nearly impossible to find a decent job in today’s society.”
“I feel that education quality has been degraded over time. Increase the quality before increasing the price tag.”
“Yes. I researched GVSU before I transferred here. Its education program is one of the best in the country and is, for me, worth every penny.”
“The benefits are worth the cost if you take advantage of them. GV offers hundreds of clubs and organizations for students to join ... it is a no-brainer.”
Amber Coy Sophomore Undecided Dexter, Mich.
Brit Thorp Senior Biomedical Sciences Montpelier, Ohio
Carol Nicholson Senior Allied Health Sciences Chicago, Ill.
Derek Laird Senior Social Studies Holland, Mich.
Zac Harmon Senior Broadcasting Ada, Mich.
GV gender ratio works for everyone
By Chris Slattery GVL Columnist
Lanthorn The student-run newspaper of Grand Valley State University
EDITORIAL PAGE BOARD EMANUEL JOHNSON ALEX HOUSEMAN SAMANTHA BUTCHER ANYA ZENTMEYER
Editor in Chief Business Manager Managing Editor News Editor
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 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.
Are the benefits of higher education worth the hefty price tag?
Hi! My name is Chris. I am 8 years old. I like skateboarding and my cat and Pokémon cards. I hate math and girls. They’re icky. They smell like flowers and put their hair in ponytails. Gross! As an 8-year-old genius, I have decided to go to Grand Valley State University. When I got here, I found out that it’s all girls! Why didn’t anyone tell me?! Now I have to sit next to Jeanie, who likes Lady Gaga and has a “weakness for guys with glasses” in my Biology class. I’m
sure glad that I don’t have glasses. Hey, there. I’m Chris, and I’m almost 14, which makes me twice as old as when we last talked. I still don’t like math, but I love girls! They’re so hot and they are really cute. And they’re hot. Because I took advanced courses in middle school, I decided that maybe GVSU would be a good college to go to. I made the right choice. For every guy, there’s, like, 20 girls! As soon as my voice drops, I’m going to try and talk to Leslie from my Geology class. She’s really into Dashboard Confessional, and that’s awesome because that band totally understands everything I’m going through. I think I’m in love. My name is Chris, and as an 18-year-old male going into his first year of college, the guy-to-girl ratio imbal-
ance should be a massive selling point. Instead, it has become a nuisance ever since I decided that a long-distance relationship with my highschool sweetheart is the right way to go. It has been weird, though, because I was expecting college to be this booze-filled sex romp. Rather, it has consisted of late nights on the phone telling my girl of all the reasons I love her, in reverse alphabetical order, starting with her obsession with zebras. She especially gets upset when I talk to Mallory from Archeology, who not only has seen the movie Garden State, but can quote all the lines with me. But I am not a cheater, so I guess I hate girls for now. Now that I’m 22 years old, it has become clear to me that the abundance of girls at GVSU is a good thing,
but isn’t really something to freak out about. For every one guy, there are over two girls (which looks sadistic when displayed in decimal form), but unless you find satisfaction in the whole polygamy deal, it’s really not that great of an upside. In a world where the ratio is almost 50/50, we can’t be surprised if a few schools around the country show some imbalance in the genders. Maybe it’s the proximity to Grand Haven that’s attractive to females. Maybe it’s the phallic landmarks around campus. I don’t know. What I do understand is that we have a larger pool of GFs for males and BFFs for the Jeanies and the Leslies and the Mallorys at GVSU. I think that’s something that even my 8-year-old self can get behind. cslattery@lanthorn.com
While you were out: summer politics
By ANDREW JUSTUS GVL Columnist
While you were out this summer hitting the pause button on life so you could throw footballs, kiss beautiful women, work on a tan, kiss questionable women and go to the ballet every Thursday, the world of politics kept right on doing its thing with no regard to your academic calendar. Here’s what’s down after we all lost our bridge cards last April. Congress: Our beloved
Body of the 535 smartest Americans, as picked by fellow Americans, has been keeping themselves busy figuring out more ways to disagree on a myriad of positions, including many that used to garner bipartisan support. The month of July was marked by gridlock and inability to raise the debt ceiling until moments before the nation was to default on its financial obligations. Republicans shied away from a proposal called the Grand Bargain which was worked out by Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and President Obama, leading to an abundance of last minute wrangling. There was also a bit of a fit surrounding reauthorization of the Federal Aviation
Administration. The agency that keeps planes from falling out of the sky was allowed to go offline for a few days because of differences over funding rural air services which require government subsidies. Michigan: The Great Lakes State won federal money originally shunned by Florida for high speed trains. The former Sunshine State monies will go toward cutting 30 minutes off a typical Detroit-Chicago train ride. Also partly in Detroit, plans for a new bridge to cross the Detroit River into Canada have spent the summer muddling along in the state legislature. Canada’s desire to build the bridge is so strong, our northern neighbor has
offered to pay Michigan’s share of the bridge costs in exchange for having more bridge workers come from Canada. Election 2012: Republican presidential candidates slugged it out in the Ames Straw Poll over the summer months, culminating in the actual poll on August 13. Tea Party favorite Michelle Bachmann (R-Minn.) beat out Ron Paul (R-Texas) by less than one percent and Tim Pawlenty (R-N.H.) announced his withdrawal from the race after finishing in third. Despite all the hype, the straw poll has only picked the eventual GOP nominee twice since its launch in 1979. ajustus@lanthorn.com
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Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2011
Photo of the Week
Clare Robertson
“Untitled”
Faculty Column
Liberal education: Provocations for freshmen By Peter Zhang
Communications professor
We do not automatically stand on the shoulders of giants. As your mind changes, the world looks different. Your mind is not inside your head. It lies between you and others. Mind whom you keep your appointments with. The importance of raising questions: therein lies our freedom. French philosopher Gilles Deleuze says, a problem posed is a problem solved. Each problem deserves its own solution - in the fashion it is posed. Hence the importance of condemning falsely stated problems. There is such a thing called an incompetent audience. Our task is to cultivate ourselves so we become worthy interlocutors.
Cross many boundaries. Cherish difference. Be the difference that makes a difference. As the French say, “Viva la difference.” The ultimate question is: What’s the good life? It’s THE ethical question. Life is a composition. Now is the time to develop our vocabulary, syntax, and style. It’s not what you study. It’s whom you study with. Liberal education is a sensibility. Learn a non-alphabetic language. Go study abroad. Learn by doing things with the “master,” by doing it differently, by screwing things up. Perfection, transparency – these are fallacies. Let each idea you learn have an afterlife in your life. Pick up the arrow, the dart, and launch it in another direction. Any institution of higher education today offers enough resources for you to piece together the best education you can ever hope to get. Do the hard work of seeking out those resources. A degree and a liberal education are two very different things. This is Deleuze again: We do not lack communication. Actually we have too much of it. What we need is resistance to the present. Pursue encounter, not mindless recognition. It takes artists to create a counter-environment, to make visible the invisible forces that shape and rule our life. Be that artist, that poet. There is a human seriousness in play. Have fun. We live in a control society. Surfing is a crucial skill. It’s a metaphor. If you don’t know what that means. Study with me. I’ll keep it dangling for now. Each wave is a different wave. The “same” wave varies moment by moment. Which wave do I ride? How can a master ever teach me how to ride it? How else can I ride it without intuitively reading and coping with it while on the go? It often takes way too long for people to realize that two sections of the “same” class are two different classes entirely. Therein lies an art of self-selection. When somebody tells you “It’s a good class,” or “So and so is a good professor,” you are supposed to ask: “Good how?” Lifetime learning is a curse for us who live in a control society. It’s a benign one, though. There is no education other than a
liberal education. There is such a thing called “trained incapacity.” There is a difference in kind between job training and a liberal education. As McLuhan puts it, “The trouble with a cheap, specialized education is that you never stop paying for it.” (Marshall McLuhan & David Carson, The Book of Probes, 531.) When is it a good time to ask questions? Any time. This very moment. When a professor does not have a ready answer, that doesn’t mean you have a bad professor. I would be honest about it: let me do my homework and get back to you. If an honor student is too GPA-oriented, what kind of honor is it? Therein lies the fallacy of perfect communication. Wisdom comes from screwing things up, from going through drama and struggle. Kenneth Burke calls it the poetic ideal, as against the semantic ideal. Therein lies an ethics, an ethics of insecurity and vulnerability. Given the time, I’d take a biology class, something about ecology, something about Einstein, something about non-Euclidean geometry, and whatnot. There is no such thing called a good professor. There are only good students – those who raise questions, their own questions. What I am telling you means nothing if you haven’t come here with a question to which this might be an answer. There is no correct answer. There are more useful answers or less useful answers. College learning must link up with what’s outside, with the existential problems that you own. The process of learning is a process of restating those problems. Swallow as much as you can and then ruminate. It works wonderfully well. When a student, or a fellow student, blurts out a brilliant line, I’d jot that down. Many express the need to be protected from emails. I write them arduously for a stoical reason: writing as physical exercise of the incorporation of discourse, correspondence as circle of subjectivation, as Foucault puts it. He’s talking about a stoical art of self-fashioning. Here’s why I do not do drugs. People do it to get some changes in the brain. Like many others, I find that books work just fine. The book as a drug, so to speak. (Both are mediums.)
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Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2011
B SPORTS
Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2011
SPORTS EDITOR BRADY FREDERICKSEN sports@lanthorn.com
FALL PREVIEW
SPORTS SHORTS GOLF Women’s golf pair participates in Hooters tournament
After last season’s sixth place finish in the NCAA Tournament, the Grand Valley State University women’s golf team entered the offseason with a taste of success. For senior Sarah Hoffman and sophomore Veronica Ryan, that success continued well into the off season as the duo teamed up to compete in the Hooters Women’s Division II Collegiate Team Championship in Dahlonega, Ga., in midAugust. Though the duo finished at 298 (+10), which placed them 27th overall, they saw success in the tournament’s second round with a 69 in the best-ball round.
FOOTBALL
GEARING UP FOR GLORY Lakers use playoff loss to fuel 2011 season By Brady Fredericksen GVL Sports Editor
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FOOTBALL Game day parking changes in place
SCHEDULES Football Today: vs. Western Oregon Soccer Friday: at Winona State Sunday: at Minnesota State-Mankato Volleyball Friday: vs. Shipppensburg at Saint Leo Classic in Saint Leo, Fla. Friday: vs. Saint Leo at Saint Leo Classic in Saint Leo, Fla. Saturday: vs. Rollins College at Florida Southern Classic in Lakeland, Fla. Saturday: vs. Florida Southern at Florida Southern Classic in Lakeland, Fla.
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PARKING
Fans excited for tonight’s season-opening football game against Western Oregon University will need to adjust where they park and how they get to the game. Administration encourages fans to ride the shuttle bus – which is free of charge – because parking on campus will be restricted. West Parking Lot C will be closed all day, and Lot F will be reserved for faculty. During the day, students will still be able to park. Lot C East and Lot F West will be open until noon, while incoming students will be directed to Lot J. Due to the influx of cars, residence lots will be available for commuter students on Sept. 1 without ticketing. Students taking evening classes should use the Campus Connector bus as the number of buses running from 5 to 11 p.m. will be doubled, and off-campus buses will run from Lot J to the Kirkhof Center, which will each be open. For downtown Grand Rapids football fans, parking will be free at the Pew Grand Rapids Campus and the university will provide free shuttles to and from the game from 5 to 11 p.m. The Irwin Lots will be open as normal.
Faculty parking:
GVL Archive / Eric Coulter
Eye on the prize: With help from a teammate, senior cornerback Chris Huley (right) foils his opponents pass attempt in a past game. Huley will be sidelined during the Lakers’ season-opener today due to a gunshot wound sustained in a drive-by shooting. The game, in which the Lakers will take on Western Oregon University, begins at 7 p.m. in Lubber’s Stadium.
Lot C West will be closed all day. Lot C East will be open 8 a.m. – noon. Lot F East will be reserved for faculty parking after noon.
Student daytime parking:
Lot F West will be open 8 a.m.noon Incoming students will be directed to lot J The residence lots will be available for commuter students on Sept. 2 and students who park there will not be ticketed.
ack to business is name of the game for the Grand Valley State University football team this season. After suffering an uncharacteristic 38-6 loss in the second round of the Division II NCAA Playoffs to Augustana College last season, the second year of the Matt Mitchell era (GVSU’s head coach) looks to return to the school’s winning ways. Although the Lakers finished 2010 with an 11-2 record, their early postseason exit is something that has stuck with the team all offseason - as made evident by the “38-6” billboard that hangs as a reminder in the locker room. The way the season ended last year wasn’t the way Mitchell had envisioned, but the team has moved on from the loss and is ready to get back on the field against visiting Western Oregon University tonight. “When you’re a part of this program, there is a tremendous amount of tradition,” said Mitchell, who also serves as the team’s defensive coordinator. “That (playoff) game last year keeps us humble, and I’m hoping it’s a learning experience, but we just have to come out and take this season one week at a time.” The vibe around the team is not one of defeat, but a feeling of quiet confidence with a hunger to get back on the field. That attitude has trickled all the way down to the practice field, where the team had a strong training camp. “This season is more intense, and our practices in camp have been amazing,” said junior running back Norman Shuford. “Grand Valley is not a team that loses, so when you have that nasty taste in your mouth - that nasty feeling in your heart and soul - you just know that you have to do whatever you can do to get it back.” Shuford will serve as one of the many pieces in the retooling of the GVSU offensive puzzle. The team will still look to move up and down the field at a rapid pace - shown by last year’s 36.1 points per game average - but will have to do it with new faces at key positions. While the team lost its senior backfield of quarterback Kyle McMahon and running back Justin Sherrod, the Lakers will still look to its backfield to ignite the offense, ignition that will come from new faces moving into prominent roles. Gone is Sherrod, but in steps a pair of juniors in Shuford and Hersey Jackson to help carry the rushing load. The duo saw time last year, but will be relied upon to give balance to the GVSU offense - something the Lakers will look for with sophomore Heath Parling taking over at quarterback. Despite being a red shirt sophomore, the first-year starter has a firm grasp on the offense and is looked at by teammates as the right player to take over at a position that, historically, has been a strong suit for the Lakers. “I say Heath is more like a senior, it doesn’t feel like he’s a sophomore. He’s been in the program for three years and he has experience with the offense,” said senior receiver Jovonne Augustus, who caught a team-high nine touchdowns last season. “We’ve got a lot of depth here at the skill positions, so we just need to focus on being mentally strong and staying healthy throughout the season.” The offense and defense had their moments of success last season, but both struggled in the playoff loss. The loss of seniors Chris Huley and Zach Breen on defense will be substantial. Breen was suspended five games by the NCAA for testing positive for a banned substance, while Huley is recovering from a gunshot wound to his elbow. The Lakers will look to their defensive front seven to alleviate those losses. That front seven, which features the return of All-American defensive end Danny Richard, will look to pressure the opposing quarterback and improve a run defense that allowed 159.6 yards per game last season. Improvement and consistency on defense will come with time, but it’s the tight games the Lakers learned to win last season that will help them the most going into this season. “When you have experience in tight games - something you don’t always get here at Grand Valley - that’s going to help this team tremendously,” said senior tight end Tony Carreri, a CDS Division II Preseason First-Team All-American. “It’s going to help guys who have experience in those games, but also gives guys like Heath - who is more than capable of doing the job - some guys to lean on.” Tonight’s game against Western Oregon will begin at 7 p.m. in Lubbers Stadium. sports@lanthorn.com
Student evening parking:
There will be an increased amount of buses on Route 50 running from 5 p.m.-12 p.m., students are encouraged to use the Campus Connector (Route 50) from the downtown campus. Lot J will be available; offcampus buses will run from lot J to the Kirkhof Center
Fan parking:
Fans are encouraged to use Route 50 from the downtown campus as well (5 p.m. – 12 p.m.) as well as Lot J. The Irwin lots will be open as normal for Irwin members only.
B2 SPORTS
Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2011
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
New faces complement returning stars for GV By Zach Sepanik GVL Staff Writer
It’s all in the numbers for the Grand Valley State University volleyball team. Last season was highlighted by a 26-7 record and an appearance in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. This year’s numbers to focus on: eight and 6-foot-9. Eight new players, six freshmen and two transfers will make their way onto the court for the Lakers this year, and one of them will be 6-foot-9 senior middle blocker, Allyssa DeHaan. “The freshman group is very competitive,” said Deanne Scanlon, GVSU head coach. “I think there is going to be a couple of them that are going to work their way into the lineup, the most obvious being Clair Ruhenkamp, our freshman setter. Right now everybody is in the mix. All of them have a shot at contributing.” The team still plans on running a twosetter offense with Ruhenkamp playing the bookend to junior setter and team captain Olivia Kohler. The two will be the base for the offense. Kohler is joined by sophomore libero Sacha Gill and senior outside hitter Courtney McCotter as team captains. The younger players will look toward returning starters for leadership in all circumstances. “We have two returning starters in junior Eno Umoh and senior Nicole Whiddon,” Scanlon said. “Even though they weren’t elected captains, we really look for them to lead by example and in tight situations their teammates can look to them to execute.” The defense will be a big part of the team’s game plan this year as well, especially with DeHaan’s size. “We have always focused on blocking as one of our main staples of our lineup,” Scanlon said. “[DeHaan] already can step in and help us at the GLIAC level. It is good to have her in the gym because she is competitive, a great teammate and will make us better in practice having to hit against a block like that.” After playing four years of basketball at Michigan State University – where she compiled 503 career blocks, a Big Ten record – she now must transition to volleyball after having not played since her senior year of high school. However, the team realizes it will take more than DeHaan for them to win a GLIAC championship and finish higher than last year’s Elite Eight appearance. “With everyone being able to contribute, my expectations are that we do just that
and everyone step up and do their part and not just look to one person,” Kohler said. “If everyone does that, I think we should definitely go far in the postseason.” Besides the expectations the team carries from their outstanding run last year, the name GVSU brings its own expectations as a program along with it. “The No. 8 ranking is nice, but we haven’t even played a game yet,” Scanlon said. “It puts a target on our back that everyone else in the country is looking at. We don’t talk about it. We just tell all our kids it is the expectation we have from our program, that we want to be a top ten program year in and year out and we have got to learn to expect everybody’s best.” The team does not discuss its ranking, and the pressure of being a top tier program really doesn’t have much of an effect on the players as they enter the 2011 campaign, Gill said.
“[The No. 8 ranking] puts a target on our back... ”
-Deanne Scanlon GVSU head coach
“Personally, I don’t put a lot of pressure because you just have to go out and play, not with a ton of pressure on yourself,” she said. “Grand Valley has a history of doing really well, and our title and ranking comes with playing here.” It will be a different, younger team that takes the court this year. Scanlon still is trying to find the best lineup she feels most comfortable with as the team prepares for their trip to Florida on Friday and Saturday to open the season. “I feel this team is the deepest team we have had in a long time,” Scanlon said. “I still don’t know the starting lineup and I mean that in a good way. I think I have a lot of options and there are a lot of people competing and fighting for spots that can play at a very high level. It will be a real asset to us all season long, that we can do a lot of different things.” The Lakers will begin their 2011 campaign with a weekend in Florida that will see them take on Shippensburg University, Saint Leo University, Rollins College and Florida Southern College as a part of two classic tournaments. The first game against Shippensburg will begin at 3:30 p.m. Friday. zsepanik@lanthorn.com
GVL Archive
Eight is great: Then-senior Rebeccah Rapin and current senior Nicole Whiddon block the spike from their opponent at a past match. The team recently added 6-foot-9 Michigan State basketball star Allyssa DeHaan to its roster.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Lakers look to reload, repeat as national champions in 2011 “Our biggest
By Jon VanZytveld GVL Staff Writer
This season, the Grand Valley State University soccer team has a great deal to live up to. Since 2005, the Lakers have won six GLIAC championships, five regional championships and two national championships. The Lakers posted a 22-1-2 record, winning every home game and yielding no postseason points en route to a second-consecutive national championship last season. With such a stunning reputation, many may ask themselves if this season’s team will be able to live up to the expectations of its fans. The good news: the Lakers have more than enough skill, determination and persistence to meet, and perhaps even exceed, their spectacular track record. “Our biggest goal is obviously to win the GLIAC championships again,” said GVSU head coach Dave Dilanni. “We want to defend the GLIAC, and we take great pride in doing that. Going from there, obviously, we’re defending regional champions; we want to do that as well. Then, ideally, if everything goes well, we want to try and defend the national championship.”
goal is obviously to win the GLIAC championships again. We want to defend the GLIAC, and we take great pride in doing that.
”
-Dave DiIanni GVSU head coach
GVL Archive
Defending champions: Current senior forward Ashley Botts (left) and then-senior forward Kayla Addison race past their opponents in a past game.
It is clear that Dilanni, now in his ninth year coaching at GVSU, pushes the players with just enough force and compassion to motivate them to excel. During his time at GVSU, Dilanni holds an impressive career record of 157-15-10 and shows no sign of slowing
down. Dilanni has practiced intensely with the players, and the results can be seen everywhere. The team’s chemistry and skill set has never been better; each pass and kick is controlled, yet powerful, throw ins are accurate and forceful and the players
seem to rarely tire, even after sprinting vast distances. Particularly notable are the team’s tri-captains, juniors Chelsea Parise and Alyssa Mira and senior Erin Mruz. On and off the field, the captains show captivating teamwork and spirit. With 20 of 2010’s let-
ter winners returning to the team this year, including eight of last year’s starters, this season’s Lakers have considerable experience on their side. However, the team did not neglect to add some new talent to the team. Six freshmen will be joining the team this year, as well
as transfer student Autumn Jacobs from Indiana State University. “We’re real excited about all the changes that have been made on our field, the lights and the benches, so we’re really excited to get going,” Dilanni said. “The girls have worked really hard through preseason and we’re going to try to put up a good product for the school to watch every day.” The team’s season begins Tuesday at Winona State University. Their first home game will be Sept. 11 at noon against Saginaw Valley State University. jvanzytveld@lanthorn.com
SPORTS B3
Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2011
Cross country looks to use depth and experience to build on success By Stephanie Deible GVL Intern
Behind 2010 National Coach of the Year Jerry Baltes, the Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s teams reached new heights last season. The women brought home their first NCAA National Championship, and the men finished third in the nation. Looking ahead to the 2011 season, Baltes said last year’s success has given the Lakers confidence and experience to build on their winning ways. “The expectation for both teams is to focus on the day-to-day process and work hard,” he said. “If we can do that, the rest will take care itself, and hopefully we’ll be competing for national titles on Nov. 19.” Despite ending the season on top of the proverbial mountain, the women’s team was ranked No. 2 in the Division II preseason poll, trailing Western State College. The men’s team, however, starts out the season right where they finished last year. The women’s team graduated some key contributors from last season’s national championship team, but has plenty of athletes who are ready to step up. Most notably, the team returns four runners who finished in the Top 32 at the national meet. “Anytime you lose seniors it’s hard, but we’re not going to dwell on what we lost,” Baltes said.
“We have ladies who did not finish in the top seven last year, but now they’re right there. They’re hungry to win.” As defending national champions, the girls know their opponents will come at them hard, but that’s just added motivation to keep improving. “I hope our team can expand on what we did last year,” said senior Monica Kinney. “We have a target on our back, that’s hard, but we have experience and confidence in each other. We know we have what it takes to win.” The men are coming off of their best finish in program history, and hope to improve on that mark in 2011. With virtually the entire team returning from last year, and a roster loaded with fifth-year seniors, expectations are high. Leading the way will be 2010 Midwest Region Player of the Year, Tyler Emmorey and fellow senior Anthony Witt. “This team’s strength is definitely our depth and experience,” Baltes said. “Hopefully we can use both to help compete for a national championship.” However, the men know that experience and depth alone are not going to be enough to win a national title. “My goals and everyone else’s goals are to improve individually and as a team each day,” said senior Paul Zielinski. “If we put in the work we can reach our goal to bring home a national championship.” Not only do both teams
Why do fans love sports so much? By BRADY FREDERICKSEN SPORTS EDITOR
GVL Archive
Dashing through the snow: Senior Rebecca Winchester runs towards the finish at last year’s Cross Country National Championship in Louisville, Ky.
have the goal to make noise on the national scene by competing at the national championships, but they also want bring home conference championships. Laker crosscountry teams have exhibited dominance over the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) in recent years.
The men and women have won nine and ten GLIAC titles, respectively. “Every year it’s our goal to compete and win conference, regional and national titles, but it’s important to remember we can’t focus on the end result,” Baltes said. sports@lanthorn.com
Love is a funny word. It’s something we throw around in all different aspects of our lives - sometimes meaning it, other times not. That is no different than love in the world of sports. From a favorite sport to a favorite team, as a sports fans you can always pick out something that you really do love about the game. I’m a writer, so I don’t necessarily love teams and players as much as I love the hardworking, competitive attitude they bring with them to a game. It’s the fact that competitiveness isn’t something that’s made, it’s not something you can just turn on and off. You’re either born with a competitive edge or you’re not. Tigers Wood and Michael Jordan were born with that edge. It’s similar to the childhood attitude that “anything you can do I can do better,” only it’s seen in the athletes that can actually do it better. One can be competitive, but that doesn’t necessarily make them a great player. Guys like Detroit Tigers’ third baseman Brandon Inge aren’t the greatest players in the world, but they work hard and have a competitiveness that you just can’t teach, which is why Inge’s jersey is owned by every 38-yearold woman in the Detroit area. It’s why football at the Division II level is great. It may not have as glamorous and publicity as its Division I counterpart,
but it’s so much more pure of a game. It’s not ruled by money and greed, it’s ruled by hard working, competitive players who just love to go out there and play football. Competitive people succeed. Period. Sports are very much a reflection of the real, everyday life that you or I live. If you’re in the business world and you strive to be the best, chances are you’ve ended up working hard to get to where you want to be. Sports are the same way. Lazy players rarely reach the promise land; it’s the guys with determination and the need to always improve who succeed. We teach our youth that sports are only a game and are just for fun. I hate that, I really do. I think you should teach kids at a young age that sports are about winning and building a competitive character. If you’re going to use sports as a teaching tool, teach them everything. I don’t see why a parent wouldn’t want to instill a sense of competitiveness in a young child’s mind. Athlete or not, everyone has competitiveness. You need competitiveness because you need success. Everyone knows the one who works hardest and strives to be the best is actually the best. I love that you can easily pick out who the competitive hard workers are because there are so few of them. So few athletes put in the time and effort to be the best off the field, that when the try to put it all together on the field they come up short. It’s a process, one that not everyone can master, but it is something that one can learn to appreciate - and we can all appreciate sports, right? sports@lanthorn.com
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Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2011
B4
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR BRIANA DOOLAN arts@lanthorn.com
Unreleased photos donated to GV
once upon a
dream
Koropp’s work on display for first time By Chris LaFoy GVL Staff Writer
A new exhibition in Grand Valley State University’s Red Wall Gallery shows onlookers that in the age of smartphones and Facebook, film and an imagination can still create art. A selection of prints from late photographer Robert Koropp, gifted from his daughter Daryl Fischer, are now on display in Lake Onterio Hall on GVSU’s Allendale Camus. Fischer donated all 94 of the previously unreleased prints to GVSU. The selection on display range from a stark image of a white egg on a white serving dish to a photo of Denver’s skyline that was shot with experimental uses of lenses and development techniques. The effects Koropp used on his prints are even more impressive considering he took some of the photos more than 30 years ago, long before digital editing, said Henry Matthews, director of Galleries and Collections for GVSU Art Gallery. “This collection shows the diversity and spirit of Koropp’s work,” Matthews said. Koropp’s work was often experimental, a trait from his scientific background. He began his career in science, but he later discovered a passion for photos and earned a Master of Fine Arts in photography from the Art Center School in Los Angeles. As principal of Musynergy, an exhibition consulting firm in Grand Haven, Fischer has seen and planned numerous art exhibitions and showings. She said she picked GVSU as the sole academic recipient of her father’s recently discovered works because of its prominent art displays. “Grand Valley seemed like the perfect place for the work with the galleries and other art around campus,” she said. “My dad would love the idea of students and faculty living with his artwork.” The prints GVSU received were a portion of work that Fischer recently recovered. Koropp left his equipment and remaining prints to a colleague from Denver after his death in 2008, but the colleague contacted Fischer and informed her that he no longer could use Koropp’s materials. During her family’s annual Colorado vacation, Fischer
Grand Valley displays collection of Warlpiri Aboriginal art on campus
F
By Chris LaFoy GVL Staff Writer
GVL / Rane Martin
Eye for art: The late Robert Koropp’s photography (pictured) is currently on display on the Red Wall Gallery in Lake Ontario Hall.
“This collection shows the diversity and spirit of Koropp’s work.” -Henry Matthews
Director of Galleries and Collections/ GVSU
and her husband emptied an entire storage unit filled with her father’s work. After the family returned to Michigan, the boxes and envelopes were opened. “When we opened up the trailer, we discovered everything that was in there,” Fischer said. “We found many envelops of signed and numbered prints that had never been matted or framed.” Upon this discovery, Fischer decided to donate many prints to GVSU for display. Matthews met with Fischer and picked a selection for the university. “We look for things we think will be of interest to students and faculty,” said Henry Matthews, director of Galleries and Collections. Instead of picking photos with a specific theme in mind, the GVSU representatives chose prints to display the broad array of Koropp’s subjects. This free showing of Koropp’s work will be open to the public until Oct. 14. A reception with special guest Phyllis Koropp, Robert’s widow, will be held next Thursday at 4:30 p.m. clafoy@lanthorn.com
GVL / Rane Martin
Cultural exploration: Examples of art from the Warlpiri Aboriginal culture (pictured) will be on display until Dec. 9.
aculty and staff can now soak up works from a different culture while they eat thanks to a display showcasing Aboriginal paintings in Room 0072 of the Kirkhof Center. The display showcases a number of pieces from Grand Valley State University’s Australian Aboriginal art collection, “Jukurrpa: Aboriginal Dream Paintings,” including several paintings on canvas and one painted on a slab of bark, all painted by Aborigine people. The Warlpiri Aboriginal people of the Northern Territory of Australia use the concept of dreaming in their art and in their culture, as it is ingrained in everyday life and present in many forms of communication. “Dreaming to the Aboriginals means storytelling,” said Henry Matthews, director of Galleries and Collections at GVSU. “It’s a way of communicating stories.” The works are made up of many different characters and symbols that represent things familiar to the artists’ communities, such as land, animals, ceremonies and people. Next to the exhibit is a plaque that translates some of the more frequently used symbols. “Many of these stories are sacred and their deeper meanings are understood only within the Warlpiri peoples,” said Paris Tennenhouse, GVSU Art Gallery exhibit designer. “However, there is ample room for interpretation of symbols used by artists as means of communicating an outside story to non-indigenous people.” Dreaming for the Warlpiri people is different from the traditional American concept of dreaming. Instead of impossible fairy tales or adventures, the Warlpiri communicate about life in the outback, Matthews said. “Many of the artists who painted these works actually live in the outback,” he said. “This makes them very connected to the earth and nature - connected in a way we just can’t conceive.” One major theme in their communication and art is walking. Matthews said since a Warlpiri person can walk thousands of miles in a lifetime, it resonates in their stories. Time is also present in the culture and the art as another difference between the Warlpiri and American cultures. “The work involves the past, present and future,” Tennenhouse said. “There is no distinction between the spiritual and the material or the natural and the supernatural. Time is not linear, but circular.” All of the paintings on display come from artists from the Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, a community center in the Northern Territory of Australia that focuses on representing local artists. In the 70’s these centers started to appear because of artists’ fear of exploitation and misrepresentation. These centers help ensure the artists interests are best met and the money gained from selling art comes back to the community, Tennenhouse said. Warlukurlangu means fire in the Warlpiri language, and also has a relationship to dreaming. This center is owned and operated by its more than 600 members. Both Matthews and Tennenhouse have visited Australia and purchased art there. This particular collection was purchased from the University of Virginia’s Kluge-Ruhe Museum, the only museum in the United States dedicated solely to Australian Aboriginal art. The exhibit is free and open to the public until December 9. clafoy@lanthorn.com
“Many of these stories are sacred and their deeper meanings are understood only within the Warlpiri peoples.”
-Paris Tennenhouse
GVSU Art Gallery exhibit deisgner
Now {that} takes ovaries...
Women’s Center to celebrate second decade with new play
By Lauren Ringger GVL Staff Writer
After 10 years of successfully producing the “Vagina Monologues,” Grand Valley State University’s Women’s Center will ring in its second decade with a new play: “That Takes Ovaries: Bold Women, Brazen Acts.” “‘The Vagina Monologues’ focused on sexuality and brought attention to violence against women at the local, national and international levels,” said Brittany Dernberger, assistant director of the Women’s Center. “‘That Takes Ovaries’ expands this dialogue by not only addressing sexuality, but also a wide array of real-life activist events, including everything from sex trafficking, leaving an abusive partner, to sky diving and a young girl creatively shaving her legs.” Like “The Vagina Monologues” before it, “That Takes Ovaries” will be a student-led production utilizing
DERNBERGER theatre as activism to showcase true stories of women and girls. The play will continue the Women’s Center’s tradition of using the production to raise money for local and international women’s and girl’s rights efforts and will rely on student activists to provide the leadership for the production. It will also expand the dia-
logue at GVSU by including stories written by our own students, faculty and staff. To make it happen, the Women’s Center has planned a campaign asking GVSU students, faculty and staff to submit their own personal stories this fall. The stories will then be integrated into the final performances, taking place on Feb. 9 and 10. Auditions for the production will be held the weekend of Nov. 11-13 in the Women’s Center. “‘That Takes Ovaries’ will provide a new, educational and engaging event open to GVSU and the community that highlights a wide array of issues effecting women,” Dernberger said. “We hope the production will be a catalyst for change and will empower audience members to take action in their own lives and in their communities surrounding gender justice issues.” GVSU junior Audrey Rosenau has worked with the production of The Vagina Monologues for two years.
“I think that productions like ‘The Vagina Monologues’ tell stories - the good, the bad and the ugly,” Rosenau said. “They are true stories written by real people and are not some madeup fantasies by people who are trying to explain a problem.” This year marks the 11th anniversary of the GVSU Women’s Center. The Center’s mission is to create meaningful learning about women and gender and to advocate for gender justice through the education, engagement, and empowerment of women students and the greater GVSU community. “The Women’s Center serves as a safe and comfortable place for all students, faculty, staff and community members to come together to discuss and advocate for women’s rights, issues and equality,” said Sarah Johnson, theatre chair for this year’s production. “From providing education on safe sexual practices and guidance and support for women and men facing abuse and violence to
the food pantry, theatre productions and outreach, the Women’s Center’s main goal is to enrich the GVSU community by promoting the welfare of all women within our reach.” During the past ten years, the Women’s Center obtained a new space, established several annual programs and events and has continued to grow service-learning opportunities while creating space for students to participate in advocacy and activism. “As we enter our second decade, we are excited to continue to raise money for community agencies, to bring the campus and larger community together to talk about gender justice through a variety of lenses, and to offer solutions for how to make the world a better, safer and more equitable place,” Dernberger said. “We hope ‘That Takes Ovaries’ will make a small deposit in making our community better 10 years from now.” lringger@lanthorn.com
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Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2011
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Catch up on campus events Wanted with The Lanthorn Looking for a babysitter 2 photo galleries at days a week, Lanthorn.com 9:40am-6:00pm. I have 3 Check out videos of events children; 12, 2 and1. Days can be flexible. Contact Leson campus at The Lanthorn YouTube Channel! Search l i e if interested, gvsulanthorn for the channel 616-886-9190. Come check out Boardwalk Subs in Standale and bring in your buy one get one free coupon from this issue to receive a FREE sub! Nothing beats a 15” free sub! Located at 4154 Lake Michigan Dr. Standale, MI 49504
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Grand Valley Lanthorn THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 , 2011
Grand Rapids show to showcase student work By René Rodriguez GVL Staff Writer
Most artists both here in Allendale and around the world understand the difficulties of making a name for one’s self. To make this feat a little easier, the Free Fall Radical Show in Grand Rapids will open an opportunity for unknown artists to make their work known. The show will display art around Grand Rapids in various venues, from businesses to sidewalks, all along South Division Avenue. James Kozakiewicz, a Grand Valley State University film and video student, said the show is a great chance for artists to showcase their work. “There’s a big difference between the internet and showcasing your stuff,” Kozakiewicz said. “On the internet it’s less likely to be seen.” The Free Radical looks for new work by Grand Rapids artists and tends to focus on unique pieces as well as new exploration pieces and fresh ideas. This year, the curative team is responsible for identifying emerging concepts and working with artists to create artistically-tasteful and thoughtful exhibits. The Avenue for the Arts in Grand Rapids is looking for artists to put in their venue for the Fall Free Radical Show. They are accepting art from students, professionals, selftaught artists and even hobbyists. William Hosterman, a GVSU art professor, strongly suggests that students submit their work. “Students should be taking the opportunity because it’s another side of their education,” he said. “It’s a great way of getting used to people asking questions, because that does take time getting used to.” However, it can be terrifying to some students to submit their work, even if they have done it before.
Malik Ming, a GVSU Film and Video major, said applying can still be scary. “I don’t put up anything if it’s not good,” Ming said. “There’s a big difference between showcase and the internet.” “If [a student] puts something out there, they are showing who they are to the rest of the world,” Hosterman said. “It’s just like music or writing. They should take joy in showing it to other people. That’s what art is.
Courtesy photo / therapidian.org
Making a name: A woman admires artwork at a past Free Radical Gallery. GVSU students can submit their work to the October show.
Want to work for the Lanthorn? Now hiring: • Sports writers • Videographers • Laker Life writers
For applications, visit our office at 0051 Kirkhof Center
This year’s Fall Free Radical Show will take place on Oct. 29 from 6 to 10 p.m. Those interested in applying should complete and submit an application along with three images of their work by next Thursday. For more information, contact the Avenue for the Arts at aveneuforthearts@gmail.com or contact Jenn Schaub at jschaub@dwellingplacegr.org. rrodriguez@lanthorn.com