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ADMINISTRATION
VP for enrollment development, longtime GV employee retiring BY RACHEL MATUSZEWSKI RMATUSZEWSKI@LANTHORN.COM
Other requirements include having a “demonstrated record of leading a large complex organization at the most senior level,” as well as advanced degrees. Bowman, a GVSU senior, is the lone representative from the student body. During Haas’ retirement address, Bowman said that “it has been an honor for me this past year in my position working with him and directly seeing the legacy he will leave behind.” Bowman believes that Haas’ eventual replacement has large shoes to fill. “The legacy that President Haas has will carry on beyond his time here,” he said. Haas will retire after
Lynn “Chick” Blue, vice president for enrollment development at Grand Valley State University, announced her intention to retire from the university at the end of 2018. Her retirement will conclude a 50-year journey at GVSU. “I’ve lived my whole life here and (have) effectively (grown) with the university,” Blue said. “The university’s needs changed with each decade. I effectively matured with the school, trying to bring along all the good stuff and apply (it) going forward.” One of Blue’s biggest projects at GVSU involved taking cashiering from Lake Michigan Hall and combining it with records at the Student Services building to create the one-stop service areas. Her team also updated databases to increase convenience for students, and she helped implement TouchTone Registration, making GVSU the first university with an automated registration system before it was accessible online. Yet, helping to improve the environment of student life never stopped her from looking at a student’s first priority: their education. Blue worked as an adviser for students who attended a new charter school in Detroit. As the students she mentored began applying at GVSU, she became familiar with the Robert and Ellen Thompson Foundation stationed in Plymouth, Michigan. Blue and Ellen Thompson created a scholarship for Michigan high school graduates coming from working families. This year, Blue has brought 100 new freshmen to GVSU on the Thompson Scholarship. Next year, the scholarship will extend to 400 students. Blue’s own scholarship, the Blue Working Family Scholarship, has already brought two freshmen to GVSU. Blue is from a working family herself, giving her firsthand knowledge of the working-family ethic. “I’ve found it incredibly rewarding to help a person who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford to come to college,” she said. Blue’s support of students has left an impression on other administrators, too.
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REPLACEMENT NEEDED: GVSU President Thomas Haas speaks during his retirement address on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Following his retirement announcement, the GVSU Board of Trustees named 14 individuals to the presidential search advisory committee. The committee consists of 18 members. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT
Big shoes to fill Search committee for President Haas’ replacement named BY ARPAN LOBO NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
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s Grand Valley State University President Thomas Haas announced his impending retirement in February, the GVSU Board of Trustees announced that the search for his replacement was underway. On Tuesday, March 20, the members of the presidential search advisory committee (PSAC) were announced. The committee consists of members of GVSU faculty and administration; administrative and professional staff; and a representative from each of the bargaining units, the student body,
alumni and the public staff. The new members will be joining Board of Trustees Chair John Kennedy, Mary Kramer, Megan Sall and Kate Pew Wolters. The members of the committee are as follows: Felix Ngassa, professor of chemistry and chair of the University Academic Senate; Majd Al-Mallah, professor of modern languages and literatures; Sean Lancaster, professor; Samhita Rhodes, associate professor of biomedical engineering; Deborah Bambini, professor of nursing; Kate Remlinger, professor of English; Ellen Schendel, assistant vice president for academic affairs; Diana Lawson, dean of the Seidman College of Business; Kyle Caldwell, executive director of the Johnson
Center for Philanthropy; Daniel Hurwitz, assistant vice president for community giving; Cheryl Bouwman, assistant in the office of University Communications and member of the Association of Professional Support Staff; student senate president Jonathan Bowman; alumna Selma Tucker; and Grand Valley University Foundation member Mitchell Watt. Kennedy will chair the committee, whose members were selected by the Board of Trustees. The committee has several leadership criteria listed. The university is seeking an individual who can be described as a visionary, academic leader, effective administrator, community developer, resource acquirer and role model.
FEATURES
IndyStar reporter who broke Nassar scandal to speak at GV BY JAMES KILBORN JKILBORN@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State University will host the return of journalism alumna Marisa Kwiatkowski, who will share her experience breaking the Larry Nassar/USA Gymnastics story while working as an investigative reporter with The Indianapolis Star. Kwiatkowski will speak Monday, March 26, at 6 p.m. in the DeVos Center Loosemore Auditorium, located on GVSU’s Pew Campus. The same day at 1 p.m., she will participate in a Q&A session at the Keller Black Box Theatre in the Haas Center for Performing Arts. The talk is titled “Local Reporting, National Impact: Marisa Kwiatkowski on Breaking the USA Gymnastics Story.” The event is sponsored by the GVSU School of Communications. The story has dominated all facets of media and resulted in the USA Gymnastics board resigning, as well as Michigan State University’s athletic director and president stepping down. “The impact on this project has been tremendous,” said Jeff Kelly Lowenstein, assistant professor of multimedia journalism at GVSU. “You’ve seen it in the impact statements of more than 150 young women and some of their family members made in the conviction of Larry Nassar, the resignation of the president and the athletic
director at Michigan State, the resignation of the board of USA Gymnastics, the passage of legislation—the list goes on and on. “This has been an incredibly impactful investigation that is really the result of Ms. Kwiatkowski staking out investigative territory where she’s very committed to bringing the voices of vulnerable people out.” Kwiatkowski’s breaking of the story has shaken up the world of athletics, bringing to light a scandal that might have otherwise gone unknown. “If it had not been for Ms. Kwiatkowski’s investigation, would we have ever known?” said Len O’Kelly, assistant professor of multimedia journalism. “Think of some of these big stories just in Michigan that have broken: the Nassar case, the Flint water crisis, things that happen in schools that we never find out about. If there’s nobody there to tell the story for those people, the story’s never going to be told.” Kwiatkowski, as well as the rest of the team at the IndyStar, had to work arduously to break the story. “Here’s a story that Marisa came upon via a tip about some legal filings happening in another state, and she jumped on it,” said Eric Harvey, assistant professor of multimedia journalism. “Her and her colleagues acquired a lot of material that they were worried would be sealed after a particular lawsuit was filed.
“Getting this information, slowly poring over it, figuring out what the stories are, and responsibly contacting and talking to victims, it’s exactly the type of thing journalists should be doing, which is holding people in power accountable, speaking up for people who might not have a voice. It really checks every box of what you want with good investigative journalism.” Harvey sees Kwiatkowski’s message as an opportunity to encourage students to pursue their stories even if there are difficulties along the way. “As a professor, you want students to understand that things don’t happen immediately, that stories like this take a lot of time and work and probably involve a lot of dead ends along the way,” he said. The professors within the multimedia journalism program see Kwiatkowski’s talk as an opportunity for students to hear from a professional within the field who has experience breaking a huge journalistic exposé. “She went to Grand Valley, she took journalism and other humanities classes, she worked for the Lanthorn, she had an internship and then got a job with the Grand Haven Tribune, ... so it’s definitely possible to do that type of highly impactful work,” Kelly Lowenstein said. “It takes a lot of discipline, it SEE INDYSTAR | A2
PROFILE: Marisa Kwiatkowski, GVSU alumna who helped break the Larry Nassar/ USA Gymnastics scandal, will speak at GVSU. COURTESY | HUB.KELLEY.IUPUI.EDU
MARCH 22, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
A2 | NEWS
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NEWS BRIEFS
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DEMOCRACY 101 EVENT TAKING PLACE THIS WEEK Grand Valley State University’s Community Service Learning Center will host another edition of the Democracy 101 series this week. “Democracy 101: Periods Gone Public” will take place Friday, March 23, at noon in the Holton-Hooker Living and Learning Center. The discussion will center on menstrual equity for women in today’s society. Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, lawyer and author of “Periods Gone Public: Taking a Stand for Menstrual Equality,” will speak at the event. Democracy 101 events are LIB 100- and 201-approved.
13 years at GVSU on June 30, 2019. Haas has said in the past that the student body has re-
mained his priority. Bowman expects the PSAC to find a replacement who can fit the various needs of the student body. “All students have different needs,” Bowman said. He also added that being
the lone student representative was a “huge honor.” The PSAC will hold listening sessions with both the GVSU community and the general public about the qualities desired in
GVSU’s fifth president in April. The sessions will take place on both the Allendale and Pew campuses, but exact dates and times have yet to be announced.
STUDENT SENATE GENERAL ELECTIONS STARTING MONDAY, MARCH 26
Elections for Grand Valley State University’s student senate will begin Monday, March 26, at 8 a.m. and go until midnight on Sunday, April 1. In order to vote, users must have a GVSU login. Each student may vote for up to 10 senators.
SEMINAR ON MEDICAL ETHICS TAKING PLACE
The latest segment of DeVos Medical Ethics Colloquy will focus on the ethics of genome editing. The event will take place Monday, March 26, at 5:30 p.m. in the L.V. Eberhard Center, located on Grand Valley State University’s Pew Campus. The event will also be available via webcast on www.gvsu.edu/colloquy. Speakers for the event include Alta Charo, a professor of law and bioethics at the University of Wisconsin Law School, and Matthew Porteus, associate professor of pediatrics at Stanford University. Jeff MacKeigan, professor of cancer biology and public diseases at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine, will moderate the event. Jean Nagelkerk, GVSU vice provost for health, and Paul Farr, chair emeritus of Mercy Health Saint Mary’s Foundation, will deliver welcoming statements. To RSVP for the event, visit http://bit.ly/2G1hINq.
GRAND RAPIDS DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT TO SPEAK AT GV
Suzanne Schulz, managing director of development and design for the city of Grand Rapids, will speak at Grand Valley State University on Tuesday, March 27, for an event titled “Grand Rapids by Design: Shaping a Premier City.” The event will take place from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center Pere Marquette Room. Schulz, who also serves as the president of of the Michigan Association of Planning, will discuss the efforts made by Grand Rapids officials in planning for the city. The event is open to the public, and is LIB 100- and 201-approved.
OPIOID CRISIS PANEL TO TAKE PLACE THURSDAY, MARCH 22
RETIREMENT: GVSU President Thomas Haas dances during Presidents’ Ball on Feb. 3, 2017. After Haas announced his retirement (effective June 30, 2019), the GVSU Board of Trustees approved a presidential search advisory committee to find his replacement. GVL | EMILY FRYE
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“What I admire most about her is she will go to every length possible to support somebody who needs support in our community,” said Jesse Bernal, vice president for inclusion and eq-
uity. “Whether that’s a student, faculty, staff or even somebody (who is) a member of the community, she’ll do whatever it takes to support these individuals. Her compassion in those moments is something that I hope we can sustain once she is not in the role any longer.” As Bernal heads the search
for GVSU’s new vice president for enrollment development, he is keeping an eye out for Blue’s admirable qualities. “I’m really hoping we find someone who has the passion for our mission,” he said, “someone that understands what it means to be studentcentered and someone who
Grand Valley State University’s Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will co-sponsor a panel on the opioid epidemic taking place in the U.S. The panel will take place Thursday, March 22, at 6 p.m. in the DeVos Center Loosemore Auditorium. The event is both LIB 100- and 201-approved. The panel will feature individuals from various backgrounds and fields. During the discussion, the panelists will discuss their experiences working with those affected by the opioid crisis.
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Lan thorn EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief EMILY DORAN Associate Editor JENNA FRACASSI
PROMOTIONS Promotions Manager SHAYNA KOZKOWSKI ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager
News Editor ARPAN LOBO
IAN BORTHWICK
Sports Editor ROBBIE TRIANO
KATARINA ZOMER
Laker Life Editor TY KONELL A&E Editor ANNE MARIE SMIT Image Editor
Campus Accounts Manager
Account Executive RACHEL MOORE Ad Designer LIAM CARTER BUSINESS STAFF
EMILY FRYE
Business Manager SHELBY CARTER
Digital Editor MATT READ
Asst. Business Manager ALEXIS LAMB
Layout Editor RACHEL SPRING
Distribution Manager MEGHAN FITZGERALD
Layout Designer MAX GELDHOF WEB TEAM Web Manager JUSTIN GREEN
At the Lanthorn, we strive to bring you the most accurate news possible. If we make a mistake, we want to make it right. If you find any errors in fact in the Lanthorn, let us know by calling 616-331-2464 or by emailing editorial@lanthorn.com.
PROFILE: Lynn ‘Chick’ Blue, GVSU VP for enrollment development. Blue announced her intention to retire at the end of 2018 after starting at GVSU as a typist clerk back in 1968. COURTESY | GVSU.EDU
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takes a lot of precision, it takes a lot of dedication, and it takes a lot of willingness to believe the people that you’re talking to and then get the other information that can verify what
they’re talking about.” O’Kelly believes that Kwiatkowski can bring relevant, real-time information to students pursuing journalism or investigative work. “Any time they can hear someone working in the field and successful who’s willing to share about what it takes, I think there’s a big value right
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there,” O’Kelly said. “I worked in media for years—a lot of people in this program worked in media for years—but we’re not still working in it every day, and it’s changing so rapidly. “It’s always good to get the perspective from someone who’s in the trench right now and can tell us really what’s going on.”
demonstrates going above and beyond to support individuals who need that support. ... “Lots of people have that subject-matter expertise, but (it’s the) passion and dedication to the work (that) would be really important for the next person.” As advice for her replacement, Blue suggests working outside the office. “Get out there and learn,” she said. “Be with the people. To do the work I do, you have to know what’s going on. You can’t just be in this office sitting at this desk 100 percent of your time. ... You have to be with students (and) hear what faculty are saying because it changes and sometimes very rapidly. “If you’re not connected with that movement, then I don’t think you can make especially good decisions. You have to know what’s going on.” Although Blue’s plans for retirement are few, she looks forward to visiting family in the Upper Peninsula and on Beaver Island. Still, she will miss the connections she has made at the university. “I’ve known hundreds and hundreds of people,” Blue said. “When you work someplace as long as I have, they come and go. I will surely miss my scholarship students. They mean a lot to me. Grand Valley has been a fine employer. I don’t think I could have picked a better business to be in than higher ed. “Working with young people keeps you pretty young, and you always are in (the) know about what’s new, and it’s fun.” Both of the events on Monday are free and open to the public. Attendance for the Q&A session is limited due to the size of the space, so it will be first come, first served. To RSVP for the talk downtown, visit www.facebook.com/ events/167028970761514/.
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MARCH 22, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
NEWS | A3
PHILANTHROPY
BIG CONTRIBUTION: The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthrophy at GVSU is receiving a generous gift from namesake and co-founder Dorothy Johnson (pictured). Over the years, Johnson has consistently been active in the betterment of the center, and her latest contribution will pour nearly half a million dollars into the creation of the Dorothy A. Johnson Philanthropy Innovation Fund. COURTESY | GVSU.EDU
Johnson Center receives gift for innovation fund BY DEVIN DELY DDELY@LANTHORN.COM
The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University is receiving a generous gift from namesake and co-founder Dorothy Johnson. Over the years, she has been consistently active in the betterment of the center, and her latest contribu-
tion will pour nearly half a million dollars into the creation of the Dorothy A. Johnson Philanthropy Innovation Fund. According to Executive Director Kyle Caldwell, this fund is designed to support innovation and exploration in philanthropy and to develop future programs. “Dottie’s leadership in philanthropy is really reflected in this gift,” he said. “She worked
as a transformative leader in philanthropy, so what her gift is designed to do is identify any challenges or opportunities we see in philanthropy and develop innovative new programs to address them.” The center was founded by Johnson and her husband in 1992 and has grown enormously since then. As an academic center within GVSU’s College of Community and Public Ser-
GRAND RIVER CORRIDOR
vice, the center has seen many changes over the years, but it has always remained committed to helping nonprofits be more effective and building a culture of philanthropy. “The Johnsons have been early-on supporters of GVSU dating back to Paul Johnson, a former trustee of the university,” Caldwell said. “When you look at this gift and others Dottie has
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undoubtedly have a significant impact on the development of new programs and the culture of giving in West Michigan. “What we’re doing right now is listening to what the local needs, challenges and opportunities are,” Caldwell said. “This is structured as an innovation fund, and it wasn’t structured about any particular activity, but (about what) philanthropy needs right now.”
Grand Rapids city planner speaks at GV BY DREW SCHERTZER DSCHERTZER@LANTHORN.COM
CITY: Students listen to Jay Steffen at the Grand River corridor planning event on Monday, March 19. A new plan is being designed in Grand Rapids to remove the Sixth Street Dam. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT
been instrumental in helping secure, she has been the center of all the transformative work that we’ve done here at the Johnson Center. It’s in keeping with her long-standing and thoughtful commitment to Grand Valley, and specifically the Johnson Center.” Though the effects of this latest gift from the Johnson family remain to be seen, it will
A new plan is being designed in the city of Grand Rapids to remove the Sixth Street Dam and five other smaller dams. The idea is to create whitewater rapids by installing boulders and cobble. Then, a new adjustable structure would be created to control rowing waters, boat passage and non-native sea lamprey from migrating into the area. Jay Steffen, assistant planning director for the city of Grand Rapids, detailed the specifics of the new plan at the “Grand River Corridor Planning” event that took place Mon-
day, March 19, in Mackinac Hall. At the event, held by the Grand Valley State University Urban Planning Association, Steffen dug into every detail of the project. “For the last 150 years, the Grand River has been ignored and has literally been used as a sewer,” Steffen said. “People see the Sixth Street Dam and smaller dams downtown, and people think those are rapids. The real rapids were drowned out years ago by the installation of these dams.” Steffen has been working with a team on a complex new design for the Grand River. The plan is to restore 47 acres of boulders and substrate. According to Steffen, the project will improve the habitat, connectivity, water quality and riparian functions. He believes this project will bring benefits socially, economically and environmentally. Steffen also discussed how communities will make better use of the Grand River with the changes, as they will have recreational access and increased opportunities. He thinks the changes will prompt more people to use the river, leading to positive effects on the economy. The Anderson Economic Group’s 2014 study “Economic Benefits of the Grand Rapids Whitewater Project” estimated that $15.9 to $19.1 million in revenue would be produced annually from recreational activities such as rafting, wading and more. With these changes, sea lamprey, a harmful nonnative fish that feeds off
other fish, could potentially be stopped. This would be possible through an adjustable hydraulic structure that could inflate or deflate bags to control the water level. Sea lamprey migrate at different times from fish they prey upon, and Steffen thinks this would help control the population of this fish. While Steffen believes the plan is bulletproof, there are many concerns. For one, the project would cost $44 million just to begin, per his estimation. People at the event also expressed concern over the possibility of the project working. To begin with, 37 land owners must be convinced to allow the project to take place. Land owners along the river own the land to the center of the river, athough the city owns the water on top, Steffen said. This means that for any changes to be made, each owner would have to give the city their consent. Another concern that has been brought up pertains to fishing. Fishermen are some of the main users of the Grand River currently, and there is concern that the project would greatly hurt fishing in the area. The Grand River spans 252 miles and is the largest river in Michigan. It has been around for many years and is one of the biggest symbols of Grand Rapids. The Grand Rapids Whitewater revitalization project has a lot planned. Though the plan is controversial and still in development, the city of Grand Rapids can expect eventful changes to the Grand River in the future.
A4 | OPINION EDITORIAL
Finding the next face of GV O n Tuesday, March 20, Grand Valley State University announced the members of the president search advisory committee (PSAC) tasked with finding President Thomas Haas’ replacement. Made up of faculty, administration, one student representative and others, the committee will assist a hired search firm to find the institution’s next president. The individual who will be filling the presidential position following Haas’ retirement will have big shoes to fill, as Haas is an extremely beloved leader at GVSU. The president represents the goals of the university, and the impact that individual has on the campus community cannot be understated. Understanding this, the committee has to be incredibly thorough in its search for the next face of GVSU. The importance and impact of the role of university president was particularly exemplified early this year when Michigan State University’s thenPresident Lou Anna Simon was called on by students and alumni alike to resign. The mistrust and disgrace brought by the Larry Nassar scandal, and ultimately Simon’s presidency at MSU, has now stigmatized the university for years to come. Not only was Simon’s involvement and knowledge of the Nassar scandal unpalatable, but on top of that, she fully intended to stay on as the head of MSU, and the board backed her continuation, too. It wasn’t until the unanimous—and notable—public outcry calling for her resignation that Simon made the de-
cision to step down. Simon’s treatment of the situation following its publicity was extremely inappropriate, the opposite of what it should have been considering her role as the leader of MSU. It’s inevitable that when looking for the next president of GVSU, the committee will factor in what occurred at MSU this year, as well as the positive, progressive stance Haas has taken when addressing the topic of sexual assault. One of the most important things to look for in Haas’ replacement is that the next president is equally mindful of the GVSU community. Haas has, since his beginning, strived to create an inclusive, uplifting campus environment for all. This is something that should be in the forefront for the committee members when the presidential candidates are interviewed. In his time at GVSU, Haas has made it clear that the students are his focus. Whoever the PSAC finds in its search would do well to make sure that students remain a priority of the university president. Through Haas’ steadfast commitment to students, GVSU has expanded in square footage and stature. The university consistently finds itself named in top regional college lists. Jonathan Bowman, the PSAC’s student representative and student senate president, said he expects the replacement to be able to meet the various standards of the student body, adding that “all students have different needs.” The PSAC is faced with a difficult task. It may not be easy to find a replacement for Haas, but GVSU’s fourth president can serve as a template for its future leaders.
MARCH 22, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON
3/22/18
editorial@lanthorn.com
Mississippi needs to reevaluate which lives matter
BY SHAE SLAUGHTER SENIOR ENGLISH MAJOR EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
Just recently, Mississippi passed a bill that gave the state the strictest abortion laws in the U.S., banning most abortions after 15 weeks. (A day after the bill was signed, a judge temporarily blocked it until more arguments could be heard.) Besides being considered unconstitutional by many, this bill represents nothing but an arbitrary limitation on women who need help. Proponents of this agenda like to claim they are protecting the unborn and that these little lives matter, but I would argue
Editor-in-Chief Associate editor News editor Sports editor Laker Life editor A&E editor
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GVL OPINION POLICY The goal of the Grand Valley Lanthorn’s opinion page is to act as a forum for public discussion, comment and criticism in the Grand Valley State University community. Student and columnist opinions published here do not necessarily reflect those of the paper as an entity. The Lanthorn strives to be a safe vehicle for community discussion. With this in mind, the Lanthorn will not publish or entertain any forms of hate speech, but neither will it discriminate against any other views, opinions or beliefs. The content, information and views expressed are not approved by—nor do they necessarily represent those of—the university or its Board of Trustees, officers, faculty or staff.
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that they are missing the bigger picture. Before the passing of House Bill 1510, also known as the Gestational Age Act, Mississippi was one of many states that banned abortions after the 20-week mark. This time marker is still multiple weeks before the fetus would be viable and able to survive on its own. However, the one and only place in Mississippi that was able to perform abortions, the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, refused to perform abortions after 16 weeks anyway. Given this information, it is clear that this bill’s passage was more useful as propaganda than it was as a legitimate policy. Mississippi lawmakers were celebrating becoming the “safest place for an unborn child,” but that seems to be at the cost of their state’s female population. At face value, women would only be losing one week of time if they were seeking an abortion, which is a minuscule change at best. However, the bigger problem
is what this means about our priorities as we move forward. With Mississippi as an example, it is clear that while we spend time worrying about the lives of the unborn, we’re letting those who are already living down. According to Talk Poverty, Mississippi has the highest poverty rate in the entire country. That means that nearly 21 percent of the state’s population was living in poverty as recently as 2016. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also reports that Mississippi had the third-highest teen pregnancy birth rate in 2016. If these facts are true, which they are, it seems absurd that Mississippi would prioritize limiting abortions instead of making sure the babies who are born grow up with an opportunity to succeed. By forcing women to have children they either cannot care for or don’t want, lawmakers are ensuring that the poverty rate will only grow, that a cycle will be created and that there will be no chance to improve their standard of living.
The same holds true when it comes to the choice to not focus on the causes of teen pregnancy, whether it be lack of education, lack of contraceptives or something in between. There will only be more women looking to get abortions. Many of these women who are forced to become mothers will also be forced to raise their child in poverty, and so once again the cycle continues. Right now, Mississippi and many anti-abortion people are trying to eliminate the result of the problem instead of the cause. If issues such as women’s health care, access to contraceptives, reproductive education and other causes of unwanted pregnancies were addressed, maybe abortion would not be such a prominent problem. Though I believe that women have the right to do what they please with their bodies, I also believe that placing importance on these areas would do a world of good not only for anti-abortion individuals but also the women dealing with pregnancy.
Why it’s better to focus on workout performance than aesthetic
GV L E DITO R IAL BOA RD EMILY DORAN JENNA FRACASSI ARPAN LOBO ROBBIE TRIANO TY KONELL ANNE MARIE SMIT
By Alison Hunt
BY AMY MCNEEL SOPHOMORE COM. & WRITING MAJOR EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
From youth sports to weight training, I have always been interested in fitness. To me, working out is like therapy; the gym is where I go to push my personal boundaries and to better myself. Of course, a very important part of fitness is setting goals, and to be perfectly honest, I wasn’t very good at goal setting until just recently. For most of my life, I was completely focused on appearance. My goals were solely ones that I could see in the mirror: I wanted to have a
flat stomach, toned arms and a better waist-to-hip ratio. It took me a long time to realize that these goals weren’t getting me anywhere. Instead, they held me back and limited my motivation. In the past few months, I decided to change my mindset: My goals are now performance-based instead of appearance-based. Since conducting this change, I have noticed tremendous improvements in my workouts, my motivation, my overall fitness and my mental mindset. The thing is, appearance takes a very long time to change. You see yourself every day, so you don’t usually notice the small changes that take place in your appearance. For me, when I didn’t notice big changes day to day in my physique, I felt disappointed and lost motivation to work out. As a result, this plateau eventually made me reconsider why I was going to the gym, and I realized that I was working out for some of the wrong reasons.
After this discovery, I decided to focus on my performance. I wanted to try new things at the gym and master more complex moves. I made my goals very specific. I wanted to be able to do pistol squats; master pull-ups, chin-ups and tricep pushups; and continue to heighten my maximum squat weight. Focusing on these core movements have helped me tremendously, and I am seeing more results than I ever have. In the past few months, I have learned how to do pistol squats. I went from being able to do one pull-up to eight, and zero tricep pushups to multiple sets and reps. Focusing on performance goals has made me stronger and also more motivated. Unlike with the appearance-based goals I used to have, I am now constantly seeing results. Ultimately, focusing on performance has helped me become a better athlete, and while I have
been checking off boxes on the moves I set out to master, I have consequently unlocked some other achievements, too. I feel physically stronger, and I am now truly seeing physical results as well. My previous appearance-based goals are actually being met simultaneously as I focus on becoming stronger. Today, I feel stronger and more motivated than ever. There was a point when I didn’t think I would ever be able to do more than one pull-up, but now I’m doing more every day. Seeing myself improve and add new skills to my arsenal is more fulfilling than waiting and searching for changes in my physique. Sure, there is nothing wrong with having aesthetic goals, and if they work for you, then by all means keep working with them. But if you’re looking for a change, try switching your goals from aestheticbased to performancebased, and you’ll see both sets of goals flourish.
VALLEY VOTE
THIS ISSUE’S QUESTION
QUOTE
Have you ever heard of the Design Thinking Academy at GVSU?
If you were president of GVSU, what would you work on first?
“Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions.”
Yes No
LOG ON & VOTE www.lanthorn.com
43% 57%
QUESTION OF THE ISSUE
-Harold S. Geneen
IF YOU WERE PRESIDENT OF GVSU, WHAT WOULD YOUR FIRST INITIATIVE BE?
DAISUKE JIMENEZ
UZOAMAKA ECHEGWO
“We should definitely have a Taco Bell on campus.”
“Qdoba needs to have meals.”
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Film and video HOMETOWN: Lincoln Park, Michigan
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Pre-law HOMETOWN: Chicago, Illinois
ADRIAN HARRELL
JUSIN KANKONEN
“We need a frozen yogurt place here.”
“We need a nicer swimming pool.”
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Computer Science HOMETOWN: Warren, Michigan
YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Biomedical sciences HOMETOWN: South Lyon, Michigan
MARCH 22, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
NEWS | A5
ISSUES
Chris Vargas delivers keynote on Transgender Day of Remembrance BY ANNIE GIFFELS AGIFFELS@LANTHORN.COM
Possibly unbeknown to many, the contributions to art and popular culture created by those who identify as transgender are often swept under the rug and left unreported. On Tuesday, March 20, Grand Valley State University welcomed Chris Vargas, an interdisciplinary artist and video maker. With humor and irony, Vargas delivered a keynote speech highlighting the difficulties and trials that transgender people face in terms of lack of representation in popular culture. This event was part of GVSU’s Transgender Day of Remembrance. In his speech, Vargas described in detail the efforts, ideas and work that went into his fabled Museum of Transgender Hirstory & Art (MOTHA). Vargas also talked in depth about a second project currently in the works, his exhibition called “Trans History in 99 Objects.” Vargas’ imaginary museum is, in fact, just a series of autonomous events that aim to fight for more representation in popular culture for those who identify as transgender. Throughout the complicated and violent history of this umbrella term, many artistic contributions have been buried by the contributions of those who
are considered more privileged. “MOTHA started from a broadside poster,” Vargas said. Founded in 2013 by Vargas himself, this institution builds on old concepts to create something new. Taking inspiration from other major movements, like “herstory” (a termed coined by feminists in the ‘70s), Vargas uses the term “hirstory” to talk about the history of those who are transgender. This term is gender-neutral and is inclusive to anyone who does not conform to a certain gender identity. “The museum takes an inclusive and expansive approach,” Vargas explained. “It is still and forever under construction.” Though “forever under construction” may suggest a certain level of failure, that is not the case in this situation. Vargas uses this statement on purpose. Just like how the movement surrounding those who are transgender is constantly changing and evolving, so is Vargas’ museum. Vargas’ other project, an exhibition called “Trans History in 99 Objects,” is scheduled to be public in July 2018. This exhibition is the collection of objects and pieces of art that reflect the hardfought battle for the rights of those who are transgender
HIGHLIGHTS: Chris Vargas delivers the keynote for Transgender Day of Remembrance on Tuesday, March 20. In his speech, Vargas elaborated on the trials transgender artists face. GVL | DYLAN MCINTYRE
or gender non-conforming. Through donations, Vargas has been collecting a wide array of different objects and materials that show the existence and prominence of the transgender community throughout popular culture. Featured at the exhibition will be a book signed by Christine Jorgensen (a transgender woman who is
considered the first person to become famous in the U.S. for having a sex reassignment surgery), a stiletto signed by a particularly famous transgender woman and other relevant objects. At the end of the speech, the floor was opened for questions for Vargas. An attendee asked lightheartedly, “Why do you turn to
humor so often and consistently? What do you want to achieve by using humor?” “I’m drawn to using humor as a strategy for talking about difficult things,” Vargas responded. “It’s disarming. You think that you’re to come and laugh, but instead you leave with an important message and lesson.” With his humor, Vargas
was able to create an atmosphere of comfort and ease while still delivering a message he believes is important. With his ongoing, alwaysevolving museum and upcoming exhibition, Vargas has created a new and creative movement meant to provide representation for a group he believes has been otherwise underrepresented.
DISCOURSE
Visiting professor to lecture on changing US social order BY ITA TSAI ITSAI@LANTHORN.COM
PROFILE: Professor Rubén Martinez, director of the Julian Samora Research Institute at Michigan State University. Martinez will speak on how American political stances are changing. COURTESY | WKAR.ORG
As the U.S. political divide continues to stretch further and further, questions can be asked about where political stances are heading. A lecture on the changing U.S. social order, titled “From Social Democracy to Neoliberalism,” will take place Friday, March 23, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center, Room 2263. This lecture, organized by the Grand Valley State University Sociology Department, will cover the polarization that is taking place in the U.S. in contemporary politics. The presentation will be given by guest speaker Rubén Martinez, professor of sociology and director of the Julian Samora Research Institute at Michigan State University. The lecture will highlight the events that have led the U.S. to a state of political polarization, linking it to a shift from social democracy to a neoliberal social order as well as placing the ideological struggle between individualism and collectivism as the core of the country’s polarization. The lecture will also identify the ideological dimensions of neoliberalism and discuss how they currently influence policy emphases.
“The presentation will provide historical context on free-market policies and their effects on social inequality and contemporary political conflicts in our society,” said Joel Stillerman, GVSU professor of sociology and one of the organizers of the event. “It’s important for students to understand that recent political events and conflicts result from long-term policy changes in the U.S. “The lecture will examine how U.S. social policies shifted from the post-World War II era, when government attempted to reduce social inequalities to the recent era when supports for the poor have been reduced. It will also explore how these policy changes have led to intensified conflicts between conservatives and liberals in politics.” This process of polarization takes place when two major political parties are less willing to work together and make compromises to pass laws. In turn, voters tend to view those from the opposing party as enemies rather than people with whom they just disagree. This hostility between voters and politicians makes it more difficult for policies to be developed that benefit everyone in society. Martinez has conducted research on neoliberalism
and Latinos, diversity leadership in higher education, institutional and societal change, education and ethnoracial minorities, Latino labor and entrepreneurship, and environmental justice. He is the editor of the “Latinos in the United States” book series with the MSU Press. He has co-authored three publications, “Chicanos in Higher Education” (1993), “Diversity Leadership in Higher Education” (2007) and “A Brief History of Cristo Rey Church in Lansing, MI” (2012). Martinez has also co-edited two volumes, “Latino College Presidents: In Their Own Words” (2013) and “Occupational Health Disparities among Racial and Ethnic Minorities: Formulating Research Needs and Directions” (2017). “Sociology brings in outside speakers during the year to educate members of the campus community on sociological issues,” Stillerman said. “This speaker is addressing current social and political issues that we thought would be of interest to a wide range of students and faculty. I hope they’ll develop a framework for understanding social and political change in the U.S. that will allow them to more effectively interpret current events.”
Remember its Recyclemania time until March 31st!!! Reduce-Reuse-Recycle
A6 | LAKER LIFE
MARCH 22, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE
ADVOCACY
ARTS AT A GLANCE
Library exhibit raises awareness about sexual assault
FEMINIST HISTORY CELEBRATION SET FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28
Student organization showcases survivors’ clothing to fight victim blaming
The Grand Valley State University women, gender and sexuality (WGS) studies department is set to host a celebration in honor of March being Feminist History Month on Wednesday, March 28, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center, Room 2270. The event, which will feature feminist conversations, giveaway prizes and Mediterranean-themed food, is the annual WGS event to celebrate Feminist History Month. All are invited to join in the celebration with students, faculty and staff. For more information, contact Justine Kibet at wgs@gvsu.edu.
BY TY KONELL LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM
Like many universities, Grand Valley State University has seen its fair share of sexual assault. First-year organization It’s on Us as Lakers is striving to bring attention to the issue and eradicate victim blaming with the implementation of the “What Were You Wearing?” exhibit. The exhibit is made up of outfits that represent what women were wearing at the times of their assaults with the intention of conveying that clothing, however much or little a woman is wearing, does not matter when it comes to assault. The exhibit is being featured in the Mary Idema Pew Library Exhibition Space until Sunday, April 1. The exhibit is based on the University of Arkansas’ traveling exhibit going by the same name. It’s on Us as Lakers member Madeline Vervaeke said the inspiration came from social media as well as other Michigan
‘YIKES 2’ SHOWING SET FOR THIS WEEKEND
Grand Valley State University’s student-run entertainment organization STAGE is set to host a sequel to their skit comedy show “Yikes!” on Friday, March 23, and Saturday, March 24, at 8 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center, Area 51. STAGE students write, direct, produce and perform in all of their pieces. The upcoming sequel, called “Yikes 2: Electric Boogaloo,” will feature the same skit-based content as the original “Yikes!” performances. The event is free to attend, and all members of the GVSU community are invited. The event will be featuring adult content, so interested students should attend the event at their own risk. For more information, contact STAGE at stage@mail. gvsu.edu.
‘LAKERTHON 2018’ TO BE HELD SATURDAY, MARCH 24
The Grand Valley State University Dance Marathon is set to host an inspirational and fundraising dance event for the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital called “LakerThon 2018” on Saturday, March 24, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center Grand River Room. The event will feature stories from families whose lives have been impacted by the hospital, craft-based activities, Zumba, dancing, and raising money for the hospital and the children and families who rely on the services it offers. For more information, contact GVSU Dance Marathon at dancemarathongvsu@gmail.com.
universities, most notably the University of Michigan. After seeing other universities partaking in the initiative, the members of It’s on Us as Lakers decided to bring the exhibit to GVSU but with a focus on West Michigan statistics. “No matter what campus you’re on, unfortunately
(sexual assault) has happened or it’s going to happen,” said Michelle Roldan, founder of It’s on Us as Lakers. “I think people don’t know how truly prevalent it is. That’s why we wanted more West Michigan data because it’s like, this could be one of your fellow Lakers.” To gain a perspective on the western region of the state, It’s
on Us as Lakers invited nine universities to contribute data and statistics from their own cities. Institutions that replied and contributed include Cornerstone University, Aquinas College and Hope College. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
EVENTS
Kavi Ade to share poetry at GV
THEATER PRODUCTION OF ‘J.B.’ SET TO OPEN FRIDAY, MARCH 23
BY TAYLOR CROWLEY TCROWLEY@LANTHORN.COM
The Grand Valley State University Department of Music, Theatre and Dance is set to present the West Michigan premiere of “J.B.” on Friday, March 23, at 7:30 p.m., with a second show on Saturday, March 31, at the same time, in the Louis Armstrong Theatre in the Haas Center for Performing Arts. “J.B.” is a retelling of the Biblical story of Job using today’s terminology. The piece has won a Tony Award, and it won a Pulitzer Prize in 1959. “J.B.” attempts to convey the misery and mess of our modern society, but uses hope and confidence to do so. For more information, contact the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance at lanejack@gvsu.edu.
grand
DISPLAY: The GVSU ‘What Were You Wearing?’ exhibit features outfits that were worn by sexual assault survivors, bringing light to the fact that clothing plays no part in sexual assault cases. GVL | EMILY FRYE
Spoken-word poet Kavindu (Kavi) Ade will be bringing their talent to Grand Valley State University on Thursday, March 29, at 6 p.m. The event will be held in the HoltonHooker Learning and Living Center Multipurpose Room. The event is being presented by the GVSU QTPOC (Queer and Trans People of Color) student or-
ganization, which decided to invite Ade because the poet’s work centers on identity and social justice. Ade’s “Mending Masculinity” tour has been running since February and will continue until July. The poet was a recipient of the 2016 Leeway Transformation Award, Brave New Voices and The Watering Hole Poetry fellowship. Ade’s work focuses on the intersections of topics such as race, gender, street harassment, sexuality, love and relation-
ships while also confronting the manifestations of violence against the black trans and queer body. The poet has performed at more than 50 colleges and universities worldwide, including Yale University, Michigan State University and Penn State. Jarred Daniels, vice president of QTPOC, is helping put the event together. Daniels said the organization wanted to bring someone to campus who would speak truth to
valley
the people at GVSU. The organization as a whole agreed on a shared love of poetry and spoken word. After some brainstorming on what kind of event they wanted to put together, they decided to invite Ade. The group was looking for someone who would represent what the group is about in full form. Ade’s work deals with social identity as Ade identifies as a queer and trans person of color. Their experiences are expressed in their work and may be relatable for someone who is in the queer community, particularly if they are also a person of color. The organization wanted to invite somebody who would connect with the audience. “Kavi talks about being queer, trans and black in their poems and how they all come together,” Daniels said. “As a black queer person, I relate to a lot of their experience.” LOG ON TO:
Open Auditions For: Grand Valley 2018 Shakespeare Festival’s 25th Anniversary presenting
King Lear And our touring Bard To Go Where: Haas Center for Performing Arts, Room 1721 When:
Mon. April 9
Tues. April 10
5:00pm to 7:00pm 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Call Backs: TBA Performance Dates:
September 28 - October 7, 2018
Roles for males and females Opportunities for backstage duties Casting open to all students regardless of major or minor Academic credit available for cast and crew positions
POETRY: Spoken-word poet Kavi Ade will be visiting Allendale to perform Thursday, March 29. COURTESY | DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
GV students advance in pitch competition BY TASMAN MATTOX TMATTOX@LANTHORN.COM
In early January, four Grand Valley State University students submitted their ideas to the Outdoor Weber Idea Pitch Competition, hosted by Weber State University. All four of them are now headed to Ogden, Utah, to present their ideas to a series of mentors and judges who will then determine a winner. The winner, chosen from a pool of 10, will get $30,000 to bring their idea to life. “Outdoor Weber Contest is a contest sponsored by our
business entrepreneurship program,” said Ross Rosier from Ogden Peak Communication. “What they’ve intended to do is drive attention to the entire program by hosting the event.” The competition is an opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to compete for funding for their innovative ideas. “This shows that big companies and people care about entrepreneurs and small business, and are putting their money where their mouth is and support the best of us,” said Jordan Vanderham, one of the four GVSU students moving on
Rehearsals to be held on weekday evenings and weekends depending on schedule Seven public performances
1. Attend audtions by signing up at Louis Armstrong Theatre box office in person, call 616-331-2300 or email lanejack@gvsu.edu 2. Please prepare a 1 minute monologue and 16 lines of a Shakespeare play, preferred. 3. Attend final casting “callbacks” on TBA, if notified
to the top 10. His product, Orindi, is a cold-weather mask that protects the face from frostbite, hypothermia and more. The Outdoor Weber Competition is unique from other competitions, and GVSU students are preparing accordingly. “It’s a mentoring session as well as a pitch competition,” Vanderham said. “Usually, it’s ‘Come to the pitch competition and come be mentored by industry experts and stuff.’ This competition has been much more ‘Make sure you bring the questions you need answered.’ This is really atypical.” Rosier elaborated more on why the competition’s unique format benefits students. “They’re going to be spending quite a few days meeting with mentors who will help them work on their product and business pitch for Friday,” he said. “Their time here is gonna be spent refining their plans and learning how to network with potential investors. It will help provide them with skills they’ll need as entrepreneurs.” LOG ON TO:
BUSINESS: The Siedman Center. GVSU students are using their business savvy to compete in a pitch contest. GVL | KEVIN SIELAFF
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
SPORTS | A7
MARCH 22, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
QUICK HITS
SOFTBALL
GV WOMEN’S GOLF WINS SVSU SPRING INVITE
The Grand Valley State women’s golf team can cross winning a spring invitational off its list after claiming a first-place finish at the two-day Saginaw Valley State Spring Invite in Georgetown, Kentucky, on Saturday, March 17, and Sunday, March 18. The Lakers shot a two-day total of 578, a shot total 57 strokes lower than second-place SVSU (635). Their score of 578 is a new 36-hole school record. GLIAC rival Northwood finished tied with Walsh for third with 640 total strokes, and Ashland finished in fifth with 641. This is the Lakers’ fourth firstplace finish of the school year. They have yet to finish outside fifth place in any tournament yet. GVSU golfers took first, second, third, fourth and tied for fifth place individually. Olivia Reed captured first place after shooting a daytwo 69 to bring her total strokes to 143. On Wednesday, March 21, Reed was named GLIAC Golfer of the Week for her performance. Samantha Moss was just behind her with a total of 145 to take second place. Katie Chipman and Maria Sol Pose took third and fourth place after shooting 147 and 148, respectively, while Mackenzie Blomberg tied for fifth after shooting 151 throughout the invite. The Lakers brought two more golfers, Abbey Pierce and Morgan Janke-Wolff, who competed as individuals. Pierce shot an impressive 154 to tie for ninth place, while Janke-Wolff tallied a 158 to finish in a tie for 16th place. GVSU will have a few weeks off before heading to Tucson, Arizona, for the West Texas A&M Desert Invite on Monday, April 2, and Tuesday, April 3.
GV WOMEN’S TENNIS RANKED NO. 18 IN THE ORACLE AND ITA RANKINGS
After winning the GLIAC Championship during the fall season, the Grand Valley State women’s tennis team is already earning some national recognition to open up the spring season. Their first sign of national success came after The Oracle and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced their first computerized NCAA Division II national rankings on Wednesday, March 21, with the GVSU tennis team coming in as the No. 18 ranking. The Lakers are currently 18-3. In addition, the Lakers are ranked third in the Midwest Region, only behind Indianapolis and Drury. The computerized rankings publish the Top 50 men’s and women’s teams, and national rankings will be released every Wednesday for the remainder of the 2018 season. Prior to the shift to computerized rankings, a national rankings panel voted on the Top 25 teams. GVSU will be on the road this week, as they will travel to Michigan City, Indiana, for two neutral site matches against Division I opponents University of Nebraska Omaha and Valparaiso on Saturday, March 24, and Sunday, March 25.
GV MEN’S TENNIS POSTPONES MATCHUP AGAINST AQUINAS
The Grand Valley State men’s tennis team’s home match against Aquinas on Wednesday, March 21, at 11 a.m. has been postponed due to a scheduling conflict. The Lakers and the Saints will try to make up the event later in the season.
VARSITY SCHEDULE BASEBALL Saturday 1 p.m. vs. Purdue Northwest Saturday 3:30 p.m. vs. Purdue Northwest SOFTBALL Saturday 1 p.m. vs. Northwood Saturday 3:30 p.m. vs. Northwood WOMEN’S SOCCER Saturday 1 p.m. vs. Western Michigan
QUEEN OF THE HILL: GVSU junior pitcher Allison Lipovsky watches her pitch prepare to cross the plate during a Laker victory on April 18, 2016. Whether it’s been throwing a perfect game, striking out double-digit batters or already acquiring seven wins, Lipovsky has had quite the start to her junior year. GVL | LUKE HOLMES
Allison Lipovsky’s pitching leads GV softball on hot start to season BY KELLEN VOSS KVOSS@LANTHORN.COM
If a softball team is only as good as its starting pitchers, then Grand Valley State should be in great shape for this 2018 season. The Lakers’ solid pitching has led their team to an impressive 15-5 record, including two shutouts in their pair of wins against rival Ferris State on Sunday, March 18. One of those shutouts came from pitcher Allison Lipovsky, who is having a dominant season so far. In the nine starts, the junior has already posted seven wins, three being shutouts. On the other side, Lipovsky has
also knocked three home runs. Lipovsky is an experienced pitcher as she heads into her third year with the squad. This isn’t her first rodeo, as she started her ball career playing teeball at age four before moving on to softball when she was six. Allison started pitching almost as soon as she stepped onto a ball field after her dad convinced her to give the position a try. “In the small town where I’m from, we didn’t really have anybody that got into pitching, so my Dad asked me, ‘Why don’t you give it a shot?’” Lipovsky said. “We’d always go out in the yard and rip up my mom’s
grass, and it just kind of stuck.” From there, Lipovsky quickly grew to love pitching at Harrison High School as she developed into a college-caliber pitcher. When it came time for her to pick a school, she picked the one she hadn’t heard of until she participated in a tournament there. “I didn’t really know about (GVSU); I had never heard of it since everyone where I’m from goes to either Central (Michigan), Ferris or Northwood,” Lipovsky said. “I ended up going down there for a tournament, and I was amazed at how big the campus was. That really sparked my interest. Af-
ter my official visit here senior year, I said to myself, ‘This is where I wanna go.’” In addition to softball, Lipovsky also played basketball and volleyball growing up. However, after tearing her ACL in volleyball practice, she took time to rethink her future and focus on softball. As she has advanced through her college career, Lipovsky has improved drastically and now has a signature move that always keeps opposing batters on their toes. SEE SOFTBALL | A8
BASEBALL
LONG BALL: GVSU outfielder and recent transfer Jacob Gleason swings and makes contact with a pitch during the Lakers’ victory over the spring break. To start his first season with GVSU, Gleason already leads his team in batting average, hits, runs, walks and on-base percentage. COURTESY | GVSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Transfer outfielder Jacob Gleason tearing it up for GV baseball BY BRADY MCATAMNEY ASSISTANTSPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
Simply put, if a team can’t hit the ball and bring runners home, that team will not win ball games. Luckily for Grand Valley State baseball, they’re not in that position, and outfielder Jacob Gleason is a major reason why. “I just want to keep hitting the ball hard; that’s what I try to do—go up there and get my job done,” Gleason said. “Just help the team in any way possible.” As a junior college transfer from Jackson Community College, the 6-foot-3-inch junior out of Grand Blanc, Michigan, has been raking in his first season as a Laker. He currently leads the team in batting average (.443), runs scored (18), hits
(31), extra base hits (12, including seven doubles, three triples and two home runs), slugging percentage (.714), walks (13) and on-base percentage (.535). He also has the second most runs batted in (22). Without his bat in the lineup, the GVSU lineup would be left with a canyon in the three spot. Because of that, GVSU head coach Jamie Detillion has found consistency in the best order of his lineup. “He gives us a true three-hitter, and usually when you have a quality guy there in the middle of the lineup, it gets a little bit easier for the guys around him to feed off of him, and right now it’s really helping out,” Detillion said. “We have a 3-4-5 that we certainly haven’t had the last couple of years that give us some stability right now. It’s early in the season, but hopefully this continues. It gives us a really
productive middle of the lineup with some power threats.” Gleason made his way to Allendale after his head coach at JCC, Rick Smith—a GVSU baseball alumnus—told the Lakers about his hot-hitting outfielder and that they might want to give him a look. The coaching staff paid him a visit and fell in love with what they saw. “I love it here, can’t complain about much,” Gleason said. “We’ve been putting a lot of hard work in as a team and feed off the energy from my teammates, and that just helps me get in a groove going out there.” While certainly on the right track, Gleason wants to become the most complete ballplayer he can possibly be. With that comes two areas of improvement: consistency and emotion.
“With him being a three-hitter, the biggest hope for a coaching staff is to get consistent productive results,” Detillion said. “For him to come to practice every single day to become a better hitter, and to show up every day with something to prove and hit like a three-hitter, and put those results up so your teammates can feed off it, that’s what a quality middle-ofthe-lineup guy does.” While the 2018 season has started off hot for Gleason, whether he can keep up the production is a major key for him. If his bat continues to translate from his junior college to the upper levels of Division II, he is in for even more success. The Laker baseball team will next face GLIAC opponent Purdue Northwest in a four-game road weekend series starting Friday, March 23, and ending Sunday, March 25.
MARCH 22, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
A8 | SPORTS COLUMN
MAGIC OF MARCH: University of Michigan’s basketball freshman forward Jordan Poole (right) screams and runs away from a chasing Moritz Wagner after hitting a buzzer-beating, game-winning 3-pointer to top the No. 6 seed Houston University on Saturday, March 17. The Wolverines will next face Texas A&M in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 22. COURTESY | ASSOCIATED PRESS
Column: Michigan’s NCAA Tournament heroics bring flashbacks of 2013 run BY KELLEN VOSS KVOSS@LANTHORN.COM
As sports fans, we all have highlights from our favorite teams that we will remember for the rest of our lives. We all have those moments where we will remember exactly where we were sitting and who we were with when we witnessed them. As a loyal Detroit sports fan, I’ve experienced more heartbreak than the pleasure of witnessing those moments in the past five years. But what I will remember for a long time is exactly where I was on the night of March 29, 2013.
It was a Friday night, which for an eighth-grade me usually meant hanging out with my friends and playing video games. But this Friday night was different, as I watched the four-seeded University of Michigan Wolverines take on the No. 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks in the Sweet 16 of the greatest tournament in modern sports. I sat next to my dad on the couch and watched as it looked like Michigan’s run was coming to a close. The Jayhawks looked dominant and were up by 14 with seven minutes left in the game, and my dad and I had all but given up on the team. But when all
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of Saturday, March 17, when Michigan’s Jordan Poole pulled up from deep and chucked up a buzzer beater to send the Wolverines to this year’s Sweet 16. After seeing that shot and the passion on the players’ faces as they chased Poole around that Wichita court, I truly bought into this team being able to make a run again. I have always been a big believer that to win a National Championship, every college basketball team needs three things: a little bit of NBA talent, lockdown defense and the ability to heat up from 3-point range at any moment. This is the formula that has been the most successful in the past 10 years, just like when UConn rode the momentum of Kemba Walker and Shabazz Napier to two championships in the past seven seasons. When it comes to this year’s tournament, this Michigan team follows that formula almost perfectly. Beilein’s spacing on offense—along with the shooting of Poole and Duncan Robinson— makes Michigan dangerous from 3-point range every game. New assistant coaches DeAndre Haynes and Luke Yaklich have finally gotten this team to play defense this season as they can pressure ball handlers and protect the rim much better than teams
in years past. And while this team may not have the sheer NBA talent the 2013 team did, the prospects are still there. If big man Moritz Wagner leaves for the draft, he’s a definite first-round lock in the draft. And upperclassmen guards Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Charles Matthews not only lead this team emotionally, but they also have the scoring ability to earn small roles on an NBA roster one day. After a very wild first weekend in this year’s NCAA Tournament, No. 3 seeded Michigan is now the highest seed in their region. To make it back to the NCAA Championship game, they will not have to face a team seeded higher than they are, which is an exciting yet scary thought to think about with how mad this March has been. But deep down, this team feels like a team of destiny to me. They won the Big 10 Tournament for the second year in a row. Yes, they didn’t play up to their standard during the first two tournament games against Montana and Houston. They also needed overtime to beat the lowly Iowa Hawkeyes in their first game in the Big 10 Tournament a month weeks prior. After this hump, they were able to dominate Nebraska, Michigan State and
Purdue, proving that while this team may start off tournaments slowly, they can get hot in a hurry and have the ability to beat the top teams in the country. Tim Hardaway Jr., Mitch McGary, Glenn Robinson III, Nik Stauskas, Caris Levert, Jordan Morgan, Spike Albrecht, Burke. These are the players who made the 2013 run possible, and they will all hold a special place in my heart. But this 2018 team can do something those guys never did: finish the job and win the championship. And in a year full of NCAA scandals, FBI investigations and many sketchy characters, wouldn’t it be poetic justice for Michigan to win it all this year? Louisville’s 2013 banner was taken down earlier this year, as many Michigan fans cheered and believe that banner should now hang in the Crisler Center. Winning a banner of our own this season just feels like the next logical step on this lengthy path of destiny, to avenge those heroes of the 2013 team previously mentioned. And after seeing this year’s team dominate contenders this season with great defense, solid coaching and a few miraculous shots, I’m left with only one question: Who’s stopping them?
SOFTBALL
grown immensely,” Lipovsky said. “I think back to high school when I would just get on the mound and throw the ball, and here I have learned much more about hand positioning and my mindset towards different batters. I’m able to think more critically about how I’m supposed to throw a pitch and how it’s supposed to feel when I land.” Lipovsky proves `to be a very humble team player. She credits her team for her hot start this season. “I just do my job on the mound, and if the ball is hit, I have my defense around behind me to get
the ball, so I have a lot of trust in them,” Lipovsky said. “And our offense this year is so explosive. ... I’ll have confidence they’ll get on base every time, and we’ve gotten really close. “This team feels more like a family than (any) other team I’ve been on.” As GVSU currently sits with a 2-0 record in the conference and first place in the GLIAC, Lipovsky is confident her team can make a long postseason run. “I have never been more excited about a season before,” Lipovsky said. “I know what to expect from my
teammates. We’re off to a great start, and I truly believe we can only beat ourselves. We can play like the best team in the country, and when we put it all together, we’re very dominant.” GVSU looks to continue its hot start this weekend, as they have four in-conference home games. They play Northwood on Saturday, March 24, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. before ending the weekend with two games against Saginaw Valley State at noon and 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 25. All games will take place at the GVSU softball field.
CONTINUED FROM A7
26 - 01 STUDENT SENATE
UP H C T A C
hope was seemingly lost, National Player of the Year Trey Burke happened. Down 76-73, Burke ran off a weak screen, followed by center Mitch McGary setting what may have been a very illegal yet powerful screen on Elijah Johnson, knocking him to the ground and allowing Burke the space he needed to pull up right next to coach John Beilein and hit one of the most clutch 3-pointers the NCAA tournament has seen in the past 10 years to tie the game. Michigan proceeded to dominate in overtime and upset the Jayhawks to continue their tournament run. It wasn’t until that shot from Burke that I truly started to believe this basketball team could go all the way, as they continued on their magical run, beating Florida and Syracuse before losing to the Louisville Cheaters—I mean Cardinals (sorry, I’m still bitter)—in the National Championship. That rather wordy anecdote all boils down to one fact all sports fans know to be true in their hearts: Every magical championship run usually features one lucky yet clutch shot along the way that causes the fans to truly believe in destiny and that their team can make a run. I may have felt that same lucky feeling again the night
“I really like to rely on my rise ball just because I have really good command of it,” Lipovsky said. “I can throw it in the zone, and it’s by far my best pitch.” The biggest difference she has seen in her pitching since high school is how she thinks about the game, as Lipovsky has realized that softball is more of a mental game than she initially thought. “We work so hard on our mind game, and I think my mental side of playing ball has
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MARCH 22, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
SPORTS | A9
SWIM & DIVE
FREESTYLE: A member of the men’s swimming team performs in the freestyle competition during the team’s final day at the GLIAC Championship meet on Saturday, Feb. 17, in Jenison. GVL | EMILY FRYE
THROUGH THE WATER: A member of the men’s swimming team competes in the freestyle competition for a first-place finish in the Lakers’ GLIAC Championship meet Saturday, Feb. 17. GVL | EMILY FRYE
READY TO FLY: GVSU men’s swimmer Gonzalo Rodriguez-Villasonte prepares to jump off the diving block during the Lakers’ GLIAC Championship meet victory on Saturday, Feb. 17. GVL | EMILY FRYE
SCHOOL SPIRIT: Members of both GVSU men’s and women’s swimming teams stand poolside cheering while they compete during a relay at the GLIAC Championship on Saturday, Feb. 17. GVL | EMILY FRYE
Season in review: GV swimming & diving BY LOUIS RICARD LRICARD@LANTHORN.COM
It’s hard to pick a defining moment of this past swimming and diving season at Grand Valley State. This year’s season came to a close after the men’s team finished 11th at the NCAA National Championships, while the women finished 15th. However, if there is one word that defines the GVSU team, it’s family. Senior Rachel Eaton recalls her experience in the water as if she never left the pool. During her one-mile race, she felt her limbs tensing up and fatigue setting in. But she remembers that she just kept swimming to the finish line, motivated by the voices outside the pool cheering her on. “When I was breathing every time, I would see my team screaming,” Eaton said. “It makes you want to swim that much faster.”
GVSU proved to bring a mentality that is fairly rare in an individual sport like swimming, but that mentality highlighted how tough it is to beat someone who is racing for something more than themselves. The men won another GLIAC Championship, which was their main goal for the season. The women finished as the runner-up, losing to Wayne State on the very last day, but still qualified to compete in the NCAA National Championship. However, the competition was too much for the young group of athletes from GVSU, as the men placed 11th and the women finished 15th overall. “It’s a very competitive meet,” said head coach Andy Boyce. “We did not place as high as we wanted, but we swam well and dove well. The competition was intense.” It was not the ending the seniors wanted, but with a team filled with first-year students,
GVSU represented Laker Nation to the best of their ability. “We were nervous because they almost take half of our team,” Eaton said. “All of them bring something different to the team, but watching them blossom has been a very cool experience.” Another word that defines this team is resilience. According to Boyce, his swimmers and divers never quit, and they never shied away from the challenges ahead of them. No matter how early the practices started or how late they would end, Boyce’s team never gave up, always giving everything they had. “We always push through,” Boyce said. “Some of the meets are long: Conference and nationals are both fourday meets. Even if they had a bad swim, they would get back and improve their time. We still won a conference title for the men, runner-up for the women, and we qualified 22 athletes for nationals,
SEE ANSWERS | A10
which is a pretty big group.” The future looks bright for this young GVSU team, and after a season like the one they’ve had, it is time for the Lakers to put their name on the national stage. For that, they will need to keep their values intact and
their work ethic as strong as they’ve done in the past, but at the end of the day, there is nothing like being a swimmer or diver for GVSU. “We always say our goal is to win conference, and we set our expectations really high, and
I don’t think it’s a bad thing,” Eaton said. “Every single dual meet, just watching everyone come together and push through the mental and physical exhaustion, it really makes you proud to be a Laker.”
MARCH 22, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
A10 | SPORTS M. GOLF
COACH’S ORDERS: GVSU men’s golf head coach Gary Bissell talks to his team during a practice on the greens at The Meadows Golf Course on April 5, 2016. During the Lakers’ trip to Lexington, Kentucky, to compete in the SVSU Spring Invitational, the men’s team finished second overall with a stroke count of 571, one short of tying first-place finisher and host program Saginaw Valley State. GVL | LUKE HOLMES
GV finishes second in controversial SVSU Spring Invitational result BY D’ANGELO STARKS DSTARKS@LANTHORN.COM
The Grand Valley State men’s golf team recently traveled to Lexington, Kentucky, to participate in the Saginaw Valley State Spring Invitational. The two-day tournament— held Saturday, March 17, and Sunday, March 18—serves as a good measuring stick for the team moving forward against several GLIAC rivals for the first time this spring. By the end of the event, GVSU wound up finishing in second place with a team to-
tal of 571—one stroke behind first-place (and host school) SVSU. The Lakers didn’t get the best start to their first day, sitting in fifth place after shooting a 287 as a team. The team was led by the trio of Alex Scott, Domenic Mancinelli and Mitchell White, who shot 68, 69 and 74, respectively. After day one, the Lakers found themselves tied for fifth with Maryville University, looking up at GLIAC rivals SVSU and Tiffin University, and non-conference opponent Trevecca Nazarene University. Luckily, the Lakers saw a big
increase in performance from their fourth and fifth golfers, allowing them to shoot a lower score on Saturday to put themselves back in prime position to win the tournament. Scott had another big round, finishing with a 71, while Mancinelli followed suit and posted a 71 himself. Andrew Stevens improved upon the 76 he finished with on Friday and scored a 70, and freshman Eric Nunn had a solid round for the Lakers, shooting a 72 on the round. GVSU men’s golf coach Gary Bissell was pleased that his team stepped up
their overall performance from day one to day two. “Day two, I thought we were more competitive,” Bissell said. “Sometimes, we’ve had an issue with coming out flat on day one. We’ve kind of always been a team that seems to finish strong rather than start well, but we need to start doing both.” Their second-round team total added up to 284 on the day, catapulting them from fifth place to a second overall finish in the tournament. The tournament did, however, end with a bit of contro-
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at the positives that come with a good team performance. But coach Bissell still sees areas where the team needs to improve. “The two things moving forward are we need to come out a little more focused and aggressive in round one, and we still need some better play out of our four and five,” Bissell said. “They played good on day two , but we need them to continue to improve.” The Lakers will travel back to Lexington, Kentucky, this weekend to play in the Findlay Spring Invitational.
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versy for the Lakers. White, one of the Lakers’ top three golfers, finished with a score of 0 on Saturday. White’s secondround score was disqualified because he signed an incorrect scorecard. When the scores were being added up, there was a miscalculation at some point, and because White signed it when turning in his card, his score was disqualified. If White’s score had counted, GVSU’s total score would have pushed the Lakers into the first-place position over SVSU. Still, after a big performance like this, it is easy to only look
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