Issue 53, March 29th, 2018 - Grand Valley Lanthorn

GRAND VALLEY

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

T H U R S D A Y, M A R C H 2 9, 2 0 1 8 // VO L . 52 N O. 5 3

EVENTS

Raising up voices

GR mayor to speak on campus BY SARAH HOLLIS SHOLLIS@LANTHORN.COM

BREAKTHROUGH: Marisa Kwiatkowski, Indianapolis Star reporter, speaks during a Q&A session in the Linn Maxwell Keller Black Box Theatre on Monday, March 26. Kwiatkowski, a 2005 graduate of GVSU, was part of the IndyStar team that broke the USA Gymnastics/Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal. GVL | EMILY FRYE

GV alumna Marisa Kwiatkowski returns to campus to discuss USA Gymnastics/Nassar investigation BY JENNA FRACASSI ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM

“T

here’s this public perception of stranger danger, … but the vast majority of sexual abuse cases, the person knows their perpetrator; they know the person who’s doing it to them,” said Marisa Kwiatkowski, Grand Valley State University alumna and investigative reporter for The Indianapolis Star (IndyStar). Kwiatkowski, alongside two of her colleagues, produced an immense investigation into USA Gymnastics and Larry Nassar that has garnered national attention. On Monday, March 26, Kwiatkowski was welcomed back to GVSU to participate in two separate talks. The earlier talk was held at 1 p.m. in the Linn Maxwell Keller Black Box Theatre. This event, part of the Robert Mayberry Comm-Unity Series, was co-moderated by multimedia journalism professor Jeff Kelly Lowenstein and recent GVSU

graduate Kelly Darcy. The session was formatted as an intimate Q&A, allowing students, staff and faculty alike to chat with Kwiatkowski. Prior to receiving the tip on USA Gymnastics, Kwiatkowski had been working on an investigation in failures to report sexual abuse in schools. The same day she received the USA Gymnastics tip, she flew to Georgia to pick up almost a thousand pages of documents. What those documents showed was the USA Gymnastics policy in how they had, for many years, been handling allegations of sexual abuse. According to Kwiatkowski, what her team found was that USA Gymnastics dismissed a lot of allegations of sexual abuse as hearsay unless those complaints were signed by a victim, a victim’s parent or an eyewitness of the abuse. “If you know anything about sexual abuse, you know that first of all, there’s very, very rarely an eyewitness to the abuse that has happened and that it’s also incredibly rare to get a survivor who

would be willing to come forward and sign documents, especially when you’re talking about in some cases an 8- or 9- or a 12-year-old gymnast,” Kwiatkowski explained. The next step was finding out how often the USA Gymnastics policy came into play and what the impact of that policy was on the safety of the children in that sport. The team requested records from all over the country, got background information on hundreds of coaches nationwide and also connected with survivors face to face to hear their stories. One of the things the team found was that USA Gymnastics had sexual misconduct files compiled for about 54 coaches in just under a 10-year period. “In some cases they would get a complaint about a predatory coach, they would look at it, and they wouldn’t investigate it, they wouldn’t report it, they would just file it away into that system,” Kwiatkowski said. The first story the team produced—which went through 13 different editors—was published in August of 2016 and

was focused on the USA Gymnastics policy. Within hours of publication, the team received tons of emails from individuals alleging misconduct against various gymnastics officials. However, one email in particular stood out: Rachael Denhollander explained that she wanted to share her story, but that the person who had abused her was not a coach, but rather a doctor, Larry Nassar. Within a few weeks, the team received two more reports of allegations against Nassar. The first one was initially from a Jane Doe who has since become public, Olympic medalist Jamie Dantzscher, and then a third individual as well, who has now become public, Jessica Howard. Kwiatkowski described Nassar as “a beloved figure in the sport of gymnastics” at the time they were looking into him. He was still working at Michigan State University, had never been charged, never been publicly accused, and was running for a local school board. SEE VOICES | A2

Grand Valley State University has been honoring the memory of Kenneth R. Venderbush since 1999 with an award in his name and a series of annual leadership lectures. This year, instead of bringing in three speakers for the Venderbush Leadership Lecture, GVSU will be hosting Grand Rapids’ first female mayor, Rosalynn Bliss. The Venderbush Leadership Lecture will take place Wednesday, April 4, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Pere Marquette Room of the Kirkhof Center. The event will feature Bliss speaking about her leadership experiences and how they brought her to where she is today. “She has a very good background; she’s done a lot of things,” said Tyler Clark, a graduate assistant in the GVSU Office of Student Life (OSL). “She’s been on a bunch of different improvement boards for around the area; she advocates for a lot of groups out there; and even just in her work, besides being the mayor, she’s a pretty extraordinary woman, and we’re really interested in hearing what she has to let us know. It’s not often we can get somebody as busy as she is to be able to come down for a talk.” After Bliss’ presentation, students will have the opportunity to submit any questions they have for her. “Basically, what she’s doing is she’s coming in and talking about her leadership experience throughout her life and how she ended up where she is today and all of the things that she’s involved in,” said Autumn Jager, leadership intern for the OSL. “She’s actually involved in a lot of different things. She does some health-care stuff, and she has been really involved with the GR 101 program.” OSL officials believe it’s important for students to attend this event to broaden their leadership skills and learn about how to use their leadership skills to achieve their goals. “She’s mayor of the second-largest city in the state of Michigan, she just has a lot of really good life lessons for people to hear, and I think that there’s a lot to take away from her being able to talk about the journey that she’s been on to get to where she is,” Clark said. SEE BLISS | A2

CLASSROOM

Students learn Spanish through puppetry class BY EMILY DORAN EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

On any given Monday or Wednesday afternoon this semester, in the D wing of Mackinac Hall, you can find 12 students spread across their classroom and the neighboring Language Resource Center rehearsing original Spanish scripts and acting with homemade puppets. In the background of the classroom, associate professor Jason Yancey plays lively Spanish pop music while moving from group to group to check in on students’ rehearsals and answer questions. In the LRC, students practice performing behind the curtain of a puppet stage, seemingly uninhibited by any anxiety of rehearsing in front of students there for other classes. This is Spanish Laboratory Theatre, a 300-level hybrid elective for students who want to improve their language skills in a unique way, replacing academic papers with creative scripts, puppet building and live performances in front of elementary and college students. “For me, this is not a theater class,” Yancey said. “This is not about making them puppeteers. It’s not about making them actors. It’s about helping them overcome the anxiety that they might feel when they have to speak to

someone in Spanish.” When Yancey first started teaching the class at Grand Valley State University in 2010, he discovered that the props and resources immediately available for his students to use were practically nonexistent. Drawing on his own unique expertise in theater, including behind-thescenes building and production, he brought in his own props, which he continues to use, including the stage for performances that he has modified and updated over time. During rehearsals, students are also able to use puppets from his personal collection as stand-ins before building their own. Over the years, Yancey has amassed a collection of more than 200 homemade puppets. “I don’t usually buy puppets,” he said. “It’s like buying somebody else’s kid. … Many times I build puppets because I want to try something new, because I have a new idea.” As part of the class, students create their own puppets that they later use to perform in front of students at local Spanish-immersion elementary schools. Despite the students only spending about a week putting their puppets together, the final products are remarkably detailed and well-constructed. “I spent 12 hours five days a week

over spring break making this,” said Kendra Marckini, holding up her wide-mouth foam puppet. “I put my heart and soul into this guy.” Felipe Gonzalez III, a baker in a white button-down shirt and red gingham apron, is made from foam and fabric and held together by stitches and glue.

“This was my first time sewing ever,” Marckini joked. “My mom had to show me how to use a sewing machine and how to do stitches. I burned my hand on glue. I’ve been stabbing myself all over.” Yancey said the benefit of requiring the students to build their own puppets is that the hard work they put into

the process ensures that they are personally invested in the overall project. “I find that having them build a puppet means that they care,” he said. “If I just had them buy a puppet or rent one, I don’t think they’d care as much. I think they’re proud to share the work SEE PUPPET | A2

¡TITIRITERO!: Alison Keaser and Katie Zerkle practice their puppet skit on Wednesday, March 21, to prepare for an upcoming performance. Both students are members of Jason Yancey’s Spanish Laboratory Theatre class at GVSU. GVL | EMILY FRYE

MARCH 29, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A2 | NEWS

VOICES

NEWS BRIEFS

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DATES, LOCATIONS OF PROSPECTIVE DEAN PRESENTATIONS ANNOUNCED

On Tuesday, March 27, Grand Valley State University announced the presentation times for the final four candidates for the dean of students and vice provost position. The candidates are Brandon Miller, associate vice chancellor for enrollment management at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Loren Rullman, former associate vice president for student life at the University of Michigan, Gary Dickstein, interim vice president for student affairs at Wright State University and Marlene Kowalski-Braun, assistant vice president for inclusion and student affairs at GVSU. Miller will present on Friday, March 30, at 1:30 p.m. in Kirkhof Center (KC) Room 2215. Rullman will present on Tuesday, April 3, at 1:30 p.m. in KC Room 2204. Dickstein will present on Thursday, April 5, at 1:30 p.m. in KC Room 2215. Kowalski-Braun will present on Friday, April 6, at 1:30 p.m. in KC Room 2204. The presentations will last 30 minutes and are open to the public. Each candidate will present on a topic concerning student services.

NASSAR SURVIVOR SPEAKS AT GV

On Monday, March 26, Grand Valley State University was host to Marisa Kwiatkowski, a reporter for the Indianapolis Star who was among the lead reporters in breaking the Larry Nassar/USA Gymnastics scandal. Kwiatkowski participated in a Q&A session with GVSU professor Jeff Kelly Lowenstein in the first installment of the Robert Mayberry Comm-Unity series. During the event, she described her process from getting the first lead on USA Gymnastics to breaking the story. At the event, Sterling Riethman, a survivor of Nassar’s abuse, was in attendance. She spoke and thanked Kwiatkowski for her work. “You have given so many women their lives back,” Riethman said. “And I hope you understand that.” For full coverage of the event, visit www.lanthorn.com.

GAS LINE TURNED OFF AFTER LEAK AT KISTLER LIVING CENTER

There was a small gas leak at Kistler Living Center on the Allendale Campus Tuesday, March 27. The leak was from a one-inch line outside the building and possibly related to a water leak. Residents were evacuated as a precautionary measure only. DTE was on the scene to turn off the line. No one was injured as a result of the incident. Residents were allowed to re-enter the building on the same day after DTE turned off the line.

The first piece of the Nassar investigation was published Sept. 12, 2016, and within a few weeks of that, Kwiatkowski said, more than 20 other people came forward with allegations against Nassar. Today, more than 250 survivors have come forward to tell their stories. “Larry Nassar didn’t just groom the survivors: He also groomed his entire environment around him,” Kwiatkowski said. “So he portrayed himself and really cultivated this image as this medical expert, this pelvic floor expert, and he was very deliberate about conveying this. … We’re talking about a guy who was known as ‘the guy’ for gymnastics sports medicine, and when you have somebody like that who’s telling you that this procedure is necessary for you to get relief from this pain you’re suffering from, for you to be able to compete in the sport that you love, they trusted him.” In her time as a reporter, Kwiatkowski said, she naturally gravitated toward sharing stories of those who couldn’t share their own, who didn’t have a voice in the community, or whose voices weren’t being heard by people in the general public. This was a mentality she carried over in this particular investigation, in sharing the stories of the survivors. “Many of the people that we interviewed had tried to tell someone before that something was wrong, and they were either discouraged

from reporting or they were told that they had misunderstood his medical treatment, or in some cases they weren’t believed by various people they talked to,” Kwiatkowski said. “And so for us, it was important to up front explain exactly what we were working on, why we wanted to speak to them, how their stories would be used, and why we were going to be asking certain detailed questions about their experiences. “I think you saw throughout this investigation and throughout that sentencing hearing the power of someone having a voice because there weren’t supposed to be 156 survivors that testified at that sentencing hearing, but every time that someone lent their voice and shared their story, it gave somebody else the strength to come forward and share their own.” Another important voice heard during this event came from a parent of a survivor, Kristen Chatman. “I was one of those parents, and my child was one of those children that didn’t realize what had happened to her,” she said. “When the story first broke, I was very concerned and (thought) surely they must have made a mistake. … Throughout all the sentencing, hearing the stories, that’s when my daughter got her voice. … It took a voice to raise up other voices.” Chatman believed that one point of view that was missing in this narrative was that of the parents. To remedy this, she wrote a letter that was then published in the IndyStar. “There (were) so many vile

PERSPECTIVE: A mother of a survivor of Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse speaks at GVSU on Monday, March 26. GVL | EMILY FRYE

statements being made about the parents, blaming the parents. … We were so blessed to have the best of the best in the state. How in the world can we now be the victims of blaming and shaming?” Chatman questioned. “Victims of betrayal, not victims of sexual assault personally, but I was betrayed—I entrusted my child to him. And so that point of view was a perspective that I hadn’t seen a lot of, so I wrote a letter. My recommendation: … Don’t be afraid to use your voice.” As a result of the IndyStar investigation, Congress passed a bill making it a federal crime for national governing bodies to fail to immediately report sexual abuse allegations.

PROFESSOR TO LECTURE ON LGBTQ EXPERIENCES IN LEGAL SYSTEM

On Tuesday, April 3, Grand Valley State University professor Carrie Buist will present a lecture titled “Queer Criminology.” The event will take place at 4:30 p.m. in Kirkhof Center Room 2266. Buist, winner of the 2016 American Society of Criminology, Division on Critical Criminology Book Award, will present on the experiences that LGBTQ individuals face as victims, offenders and professionals in the criminal legal system.

DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE TO SPEAK ON CAMPUS

The Grand Valley State University Public Health Society will host Abdul El-Sayed, a democratic candidate in Michigan’s governor race on Thursday, April 5. El-Sayed spoke on campus as recently as Wednesday, March 14. El-Sayed will speak at noon in the DeVos Center Room 109D, located on GVSU’s Pew Campus. At the event, he will discuss his history in the field of public health as Detroit’s health chief. To RSVP for the event, visit https://docs.google.com/ forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScANvlGC4DZQN2UHioluqNOTVLdk 4M32RjxYSPofOYYWZtVuw/viewform.

VOL . 52

NO. 53

Lan thorn EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief EMILY DORAN Associate Editor JENNA FRACASSI

PROMOTIONS Promotions Manager SHAYNA KOZKOWSKI ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager

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IAN BORTHWICK

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KATARINA ZOMER

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EMILY FRYE

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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. 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 GVSU community. For additional copies, at $1 each, please contact our business offices.

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DISCUSSION: Marisa Kwiatkowski (left) speaks with GVSU multimedia professor Jeff Kelly Lowenstein and a GVSU student Monday, March 26, for the Robert Mayberry Comm-Unity series. GVL | EMILY FRYE

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This event, while of particular interest to political science majors and those heavily involved in politics, is potentially relevant to all students due to its focus on building leadership skills. “There’s definitely a little bit for everyone, and she’s talking about how her experiences got her to where she is today,” Jager said, “So, I think that can apply to whatever people are doing, whether that’s politics or not, because she is going to connect it to how her life experiences related into her later professional role.” Clark believes that those who choose to attend the event will get the chance to see how Bliss’ impact in Grand Rapids has influenced the GVSU community. “Mayor Bliss is someone who was just interested in

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that they did. … They’re making all these creative choices.” While building the puppets was no easy task, the most challenging part of the creative process for some students was writing scripts that would appeal to young audiences. Alison Keaser had to modify her script so that it wouldn’t be “too childish.” “Kids actually don’t like when you are kind of talking down to them,” she said. “They like violence. Things you wouldn’t think the kids like, they want in a play.” One of the benefits of learning Spanish through

helping out in her community, and she got involved on the city council, and now she’s where she is, but it’s more than just politics,” Clark said. “There’s all sorts of these different avenues in

which people such as Mayor Bliss work to make the community a better place, and although we do sit out in Allendale, we’re still largely affected by what happens in Grand Rapids. I know a lot

On top of that, Nassar is now in prison, and the president and board of directors of USA Gymnastics have resigned. “It’s important to know that as much as we talk about Larry Nassar and the attention that the Larry Nassar case has gotten, he is one guy and one example of a broader systemic problem,” Kwiatkowski said. “And so it’s really about how people are going to move forward, whether they’re going to report and how they’re going to handle these allegations when they come up, because they will come up.” Kwiatkowski also emphasized that child sexual abuse is not a gymnastics-specific problem, nor a youth sports problem—it’s everywhere. As community members, Kwiatkowski believes we can change the narrative by both believing those who come forward with allegations and reporting incidents as required by law. “I hope that we’re in a climate now and we’re moving forward as a society in a way that if you do come forward, that you will be believed and that there are people who want to hear what you have to say,” she said. To view the full investigation, visit http://interactives. indystar.com/news/standing/ OutOfBalanceSeries/index2. html. For coverage of Kwiatkowski’s downtown talk, visit www.lanthorn.com.

of our students live there, or they go there for leisure activities, so I think that there’s more than just the political aspect for sure.” This event is also LIB 100and 201-approved.

LEADERSHIP: Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss. Bliss will present at the Venderbush Leadership Reception on Wednesday, April 4. The event is both LIB 100- and 201-approved. COURTESY | GVSU.EDU

puppetry, Yancey said, is that the puppets shoulder the blame for grammar mistakes and other errors, not the students. “If they can do a silly voice in front of a whole group of kids, then all the sudden, talking to someone on the street and asking directions is not such a big deal, and the puppet becomes kind of a stunt double that takes all the heat and all the criticism,” he said. “If I don’t conjugate a verb correctly, it’s the puppet’s fault. It’s not my fault.” Yancey’s students agree. “Honestly, I think it’s way easier to be behind a curtain because … it is the puppet making any grammar mistakes or going in

the wrong direction or doing things wrong—it’s not you,” said Caitlin Hennessy, a student in the class. For student Katie Zerkle, working with puppets is helping her prepare for a much bigger enterprise: studying abroad. “(Yancey) talked about, well, if you want to study abroad, this is one way to boost your confidence,” she said. “If you can change your voice and make a presentation with a puppet in Spanish, if you’re abroad, you can easily go up to someone and start a conversation. And I plan on studying abroad in Spain next winter for six months, actually. … This will help me be comfortable speaking.” Yancey said the university

has been overwhelmingly supportive of the class and has funded equipment for it as well. “I’m very, very fortunate that Grand Valley likes what I’ve been doing and has financially supported it for years,” he said. “As much work and as much headache and stress as it is, it’s why I do what I do. And I’m very fortunate that Grand Valley sees that, too.” The Spanish Laboratory Theatre students will be performing their eightminute shows at GVSU on Friday, April 6, at 7 p.m. in Manitou Hall 122 and again on Monday, April 9, at 1:30 p.m. in the Linn Maxwell Keller Black Box Theatre. The shows are free and open to the public.

MARCH 29, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

NEWS | A3

OPPORTUNITIES

GV students reflect on Stanford innovation fellows program BY JAMES KILBORN JKILBORN@LANTHORN.COM

Four Grand Valley State University students traveled to Stanford University over spring break to participate in the University Innovation Fellows (UIF) program at the Stanford design school (d.school). The four students, Dean Geschiere, Madalyn Slubowski, Meredith Filter and Haley Jennings, were selected as part of a rigorous training program leading up to the event and were among the 250 students taking part in this year’s events. Geschiere, a freshman majoring in finance and entrepreneurship, found the experience at Stanford rewarding in that he was able to connect with other students and forge relationships with people from all across the country. “I would have to say meeting new people was the part I enjoyed the most,” Geschiere said via email. “I find that there is something that is just exhilarating meeting many

new people who you can call your friends and new connections allowing for an increase in opportunities.” The event offered students a unique learning experience, as it gave them an inside look at Stanford’s prestigious d.school. Its location within Silicon Valley also allowed students to tour local corporations, such as Google, that are leaders in technology and innovation. Slubowski, a sophomore studying biology, said that touring the Google campus was a great opportunity but that Stanford’s d.school was just as impressive. She highlighted the intermodal nature of the furniture within the school as an inspiration and hopes to see similar designs implemented on GVSU’s campuses. “We spent some time at the Googleplex, but the majority of our time was spent at Stanford at the design school,” Slubowski said via email. “The Stanford campus was absolutely gorgeous, and all of the furniture at the design school was modular and com-

pletely mobile, which allowed the small building to serve a variety of functions and adapt to student needs. I would love to see more flexibility incorporated into our classrooms.” The University Innovation Fellows event also featured lessons for students. Slubowski spoke about how a dance class was used as a means of offering leadership advice, emphasizing physical movement’s role in conveying information. “My favorite part of the trip was a dance workshop that was taught by a professor from the design school,” Slubowski said. “She related physical movements to leadership styles and allowed us to practice adapting to the pace of different situations. My explanation of the event doesn’t do it justice, but it was such a unique way to explore leadership concepts and the most memorable part of the weekend.” Given that the students had the opportunity to view both a university and local tech companies that are on the cutting edge of design innovation,

INNOVATORS: GVSU students and prof. Paul Lane during the University Innovation Fellows summit at Stanford University. The group traveled to Stanford over spring break. COURTESY | MADALYN SLUBOWSKI

they hope to apply what they learned in California here in West Michigan. After listening to experts within the field and forging relationships with other like-minded students from other parts of the world, students who attended the event are looking to improve the

future of student life through campus involvement and creative design principles. “During the conference I got the chance to talk to many students who were implementing different innovation projects on their campus,” Slubowski said. “Moving for-

ward, although we do not have a specific project picked out at the moment, I think it is important to keep Grand Valley students at the heart of our design. We really want to create a project that the students truly want and will keep empathy at the center of our work.”

FUTURE

Alumni to speak on life after graduation BY ITA TSAI ITSAI@LANTHORN.COM

As the end of the winter semester draws near, many students are readying to take the step from being a student to becoming Grand Valley State University alumni. In order to prepare the soon-tobe graduate students, a panel of recent alumni will come to GVSU to talk to students about upcoming changes that will take place in their lives.

The event, titled “Life After Graduation? Navigating Your Personal, Professional and Civic Life After GVSU,” will take place Tuesday, April 3, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Glenn A. Niemeyer Learning and Living Center. The panel was organized by Danielle Lake, GVSU professor of liberal studies. “We value general education and what it means to prepare students for their life,” Lake said. “This proj-

ect is about how their liberal education really did help prepare them, or not, for their life after they graduate in every way. Not just their professional life, their experiences navigating the next step and getting a job, but also prepare them for their personal life after they graduate, what it means to be a citizen of our society today.” The meeting will consist of various small round tables for different alumni. It will

MAKING THE WALK: Kailee Harris celebrates during the GVSU Commencement on Dec. 9, 2017. On Tuesday, April 3, an event focused on life after graduation will take place for grads. GVL | EMILY FRYE

also allow for small group dialogues, as alumni will show how their level of education has been helpful to them. “I hope that students can learn directly from alumni the merit and the limitations of a liberal education in life today, and start to envision what their life could look like once they graduate,” Lake said. “Also, I hope that they get ideas how they can use their time in GV to make a difference in our community and prepare themselves for their next step. For example, think about the major they want to have, what organizations they want to be involved in, extracurricular activities and community engagement opportunities that are valuable to them.” Lake hopes the event can give those approaching graduation something to relate to. “I think the biggest problem students face is the lack of sharing our struggle,” she said. “Once we graduate, no matter what, there are always a lot of bumps on the road and roadblocks. Maybe you don’t get hired for your dream job. Maybe you do get hired, but it’s not what you thought it would be. “Life comes with twists and turns, and leading to suc-

cess is a series of struggles. If we don’t reveal these struggles to others, we think that it’s all our fault, that maybe we’re not cut out for this.” Lake also shared some advice for seniors. “The secret for students after graduation is about tenacity, flexibility and humility,” she said. “You need to believe in yourself. You need to have courage to think up and keep going. We also have to be flexible and humble enough to work through what goes your way.” Panelists will talk about making the most of opportunities as they come up and being willing to put yourself out there and work hard. There will also be encouragement for those who might be considering non-traditional routes and risk-taking, too. One of the panelists will be Annie Taccolini Panaggio, a graduate student at the University of Michigan who studies social policy and evaluation and currently works as a refugee resettlement policy researcher at U of M. “I was unsure of a set career path. I was worried about not knowing where to look for a job and what type of job,” Taccolini Panaggio

said. “It took me a while to realize that I didn’t need to have a set path figured out.” She recommends that students without a clear idea on their short-term future plans get engaged with their community and close group of friends and acquaintances. “I wish students learn to be patient and hard-working and to also build relationships with different kinds of people to keep their eyes open for general experiences,” she said. “It’s easy to be anxious about what your immediate job after graduating is, and students get competitive with each other instead of getting to know each other, so I want to combat the idea that you have to figure everything out right after graduation.” Like Lake, Taccolini Panaggio recommends taking life after graduation one step at a time. “After graduating, everything feels a lot more peaceful,” she said. “It took some time, though. The first year is especially difficult. However, since then, I have understood not so much what I want to do with my career, but that the process is complex and you have to take things one step at a time.”

ARCHITECTURE

Grand Rapids city designer speaks at GV BY DREW SCHERTZER DSCHERTZER@LANTHORN.COM

The city of Grand Rapids can expect major changes in the next few years. To talk about the city’s master plan, Suzanne Schulz, managing director of design and development for Grand Rapids for 13

years, gave a presentation at Grand Valley State University. The event, “Grand Rapids by Design,” took place Tuesday, March 27, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center. “Our work is to explain what the vision of the future is and think it through with dialogue with the community,” Schulz

said. “We try to make new ideas tangible to the public.” Schulz said the current master plan was created in 2002. The central focus is on engagement with the community of Grand Rapids. The plan has five parts: community values; vision; grey, green and blue infrastructure

(GGBI); context and investment; and housing and equity. First, GGBI is a process set in motion to increase tree canopies covering the city of Grand Rapids by 40 percent, utilize the Grand River better and redesign streets. Schulz spoke of how trees currently cover most of the city. She said that in the

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future the Grand River could also be changed to accommodate recreational activities such as kayaking and whitewater rafting. Twenty-two million dollars for 15 years is in the plans for bike paths, bus lanes and other safety features to be added to the streets. Storm water runoff is also a large problem, Schulz said. To combat this, bio retention islands have been placed between roads to help catch a lot of water. Joe Taylor Park in Grand Rapids has also been designed to carry a 270,000-gallon infiltration station underneath the park to filter water before it goes into the Grand River, Schulz said. As for investment, Schulz said $4 billion has been invested since 2000 in construction value. This amount of money from six anchor institutions

has allowed the city of Grand Rapids to see tremendous growth and improvement. Schulz said the difference with the future currently set for Grand Rapids is that the community members have gotten to contribute. Schulz’s team has created self-led initiative guides to help the community, too. These guides feature a board-game design. The games allow community members to select what they want changed in their communities and where. One example is in one neighborhood, tenants selected areas where they wanted to plant more trees and explained that they wanted a grocery store. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

CITY: Suzanne Schulz speaks about city planning at the ‘Grand Rapids by Design’ event Tuesday, March 27. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT

A4 | OPINION

MARCH 29, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

EDITORIAL

The importance of lending your voice

O

n Monday, March 26, Grand Valley State University alumna and investigative reporter for the Indianapolis Star Marisa Kwiatkowski returned to campus to deliver two separate talks about her part in breaking the USA Gymnastics/Larry Nassar story. The first talk, held in the Linn Maxwell Keller Black Box Theatre, was a more intimate gathering that featured students’ questions. The later, more public event was held downtown in the Richard M. DeVos Center Loosemore Auditorium. In both talks, a mother of a survivor came forward to speak. In the later event, a survivor took the stage

to bravely share her story, too. One of the things that was heavily discussed in both sessions was the power of voices. Everyone has a right to hold those in control accountable, to be inquisitive and to ask for answers. Kwiatkowski spoke about her personal motivation to tell the stories of those who feel they don’t have a voice, or whose voices are not being adequately heard by the public. In her investigation into USA Gymnastics and Nassar, Kwiatkowski was careful to ensure the survivors were comfortable bringing their stories to light with such an explicit level of detail. In this particular investigative case, more than 250 women have now come for-

ward as survivors of Nassar’s abuse, with 156 of these women bravely confronting Nassar in his public trial. The findings of the IndyStar investigation, coupled with the many powerful testimonies heard around the world, were enough to enact some major changes. As a result, Congress passed a bill making it a federal crime for national governing bodies to fail to immediately report sexual abuse allegations. On top of that, Nassar is now in prison, and the president and board of directors of USA Gymnastics have resigned. Former Michigan State University President Lou Anna Simon also resigned amid the fallout of the Nassar

By Natalie Schunk

BY YSABELA GOLDEN FRESHMAN UNDECLARED MAJOR EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

editorial@lanthorn.com

GV L E DITO R IAL BOA RD EMILY DORAN JENNA FRACASSI ARPAN LOBO ROBBIE TRIANO TY KONELL ANNE MARIE SMIT

Editor-in-Chief Associate editor News editor Sports editor Laker Life editor A&E editor

It turns out the U.S. public doesn’t like it when you let shady political data firms who brag about having “a long history of working behind the scenes” harvest the personal data of 50 million people in order to predict voter behavior. At least, that’s what Mark Zuckerberg discovered when Facebook stocks dropped by 10 percent after just a week of controversy. Zuckerberg’s been pretty busy in the weeks following Britain’s Channel 4 News broadcast of the discoveries of a reporter who went undercover as a Sri Lankan businessman to investigate Cambridge Analytica, a charming organization that claimed to be able to discredit its political rivals by staging encounters with prostitutes or faking evidence

A lanthorn is a lantern that was used in mid-to-late 16th-century Europe. It was constructed of leather and a single lens made from a thin

piece of ox or steer horn. It was used for illumination and as a beacon. The Grand Valley Lanthorn slogan is “Give light and the people will find their own way.”

GVL OPINION POLICY The goal of the Grand Valley Lanthorn’s opinion page is to act as a forum for public discussion, comment and criticism in the Grand Valley State University community. Student and columnist opinions published here do not necessarily reflect those of the paper as an entity. The Lanthorn strives to be a safe vehicle for community discussion. With this in mind, the Lanthorn will not publish or entertain any forms of hate speech, but neither will it discriminate against any other views, opinions or beliefs. The content, information and views expressed are not approved by—nor do they necessarily represent those of—the university or its Board of Trustees, officers, faculty or staff.

victim blaming, people should firstly believe those who come forward with allegations, and secondly report the incidents as required by law. Kristen Chatman, the mother of a survivor, explained why she regrets having that skepticism at the evening event. “In all honesty, we were those people that denied (the allegations against Nassar),” she said. “They must be confused, they must have got it wrong. ... My daughter was able to really embrace what had happened to her because of the survivors. “That voice is so important.”

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

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of bribery. The organization also bought user data from the creator of a personality quiz app (and “research tool for psychologists”) that asked users for permission to access their Facebook information—and, notably, the data of their Facebook friends as well. Though Facebook says they told them to delete this information, and Cambridge Analytica claims to have complied with this demand, former Analytica employee Christopher Wylie alleges that instead they kept the data and used it to create psychological profiles of U.S. voters as part of their services for President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Regardless of what Cambridge Analytica’s services to the Trump campaign actually entailed, Facebook has already suffered the consequences and is desperately trying to save face in the aftermath, the latest of which is revamping their privacy settings (an update which has been in the works for months, they swear). Whether Zuckerberg actually deserves to win our respect back, however, is another matter entirely—as is the question of whether he ever deserved it in the first place. Considering that the cinematic depiction of Zuckerberg starting his social media

empire by cheating his friend and cofounder won both three Oscars and significant media attention, I assume we were all aware of his propensity for betraying people for money off the bat and just mutually decided it wasn’t going to be predictive of his future behavior. That one’s on us, really. And in his defense, I bet all billionaires-to-be have lawyers advising them to abandon common decency to make as much money as possible. Most of them just don’t have critically acclaimed movies made about the experience. What isn’t on us is the fact that Facebook has been data mining us and selling our information to advertisers for years. Facebook accounts are free; Zuckerberg’s $61.3 billion net worth had to come from somewhere. Concerns about the extent to which Facebook is legally required to respect your privacy long outdate the 2016 election, and the need to constantly boost their revenues to meet shareholder expectations doesn’t motivate them to be more respectful than they have to be. Various features added over the years, from timelines to more in-depth profiles to “likes,” have given Facebook massive amounts of information about which demographics go where, watch which media, like which

brands and, yes, have which political leanings. The idea that this information might have been sold in the name of politics instead of consumerism was the last straw for many Americans. Even “Fox & Friends”—whose target audience I would have assumed to be the most likely, had they been asked, to willingly give the Trump campaign the information in question— has broadcasted multiple segments critical of Facebook’s conduct and even advising viewers on how to take back their personal data. My problem with this perspective, however, is that it implies that the current situation is somehow uncharacteristic of how we should expect Facebook to behave. This is Facebook. Their platform is uniquely capable of gathering information like this on a massive scale, and so much of that information has been collected since the site went public in 2006 that it’s honestly hard to believe this is the first time it’s been used for something less innocuous than sponsored posts about scented moisturizer. Maybe Facebook won’t be found culpable for this particular disaster—that doesn’t mean they’ve been respecting your privacy, and it definitely doesn’t guarantee that they will in the future.

Why health insurance should be a priority

WHAT IS A LANTHORN? Lant • horn, n. [Old English]

forward if they do not feel comfortable doing so, as all of their stories are their own, no one else’s. This is also important to understand. No one should be forced to relive the traumas they have already been put through; survivors should only share their stories if they think that doing so is the right decision for them. When survivors do come forward, Title IX laws mandate that educators have a responsibility to report the allegations. And allegations should never be met with skepticism, as it is well-documented that coming forward isn’t an easy thing to do in the first place. Kwiatkowski told attendees of the first event that in order to change the narrative of sexual abuse and

Who has to buy your personal data for selling it to be wrong?

GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON

3/29/18

case. Even more important in this is the fact that the board (sadly) voted to keep her on; it was the powerful and seemingly unanimous public cry for her resignation that forced her to step down. In all of these decisions following the USA Gymnastics/Nassar investigation, it was ultimately the voices of those who didn’t hold positions of control that created lasting, impactful change. For every person who lent their voice, another person gained the courage to lend theirs, too, eventually creating a community of voices far too loud to ignore. During her two talks, Kwiatkowski also spoke about not pressuring survivors to come

BY SHAE SLAUGHTER SENIOR ENGLISH MAJOR EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

As the self-proclaimed greatest country in the world, the United States is still falling short on a handful of things

that any great country should provide. One of those things is universal health care. Fortunately, in 2010 with the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, our government made an effort to make health care accessible to all. The problem is even with this signed into law many people still find health care to be unaffordable and unrealistic. That has to change. There are various reasons for choosing to not purchase health care including the cost, the inaccessibility or even thinking that you just don’t need it. The first two make sense to me, but I disagree

with people who believe that they don’t need it at all. Even if you feel as healthy as a horse, tomorrow you could get in a car accident and you’d face ballooning expenses. If you by chance had a lot of money saved up you might be fine, but in reality medical expenses are the biggest cause of bankruptcy in the U.S. Health care is expensive, there’s no ifs, ands or buts about it. In Kaiser Health Foundation polls taken since 2015 there is clear evidence of an increase in an inability to afford health insurance. 31 percent of people polled said that they had trouble paying copays and prescriptions let

alone premiums and deductibles. Clearly our health care system isn’t working. When the Affordable Care Act was introduced the number of people without health care dropped. Of course, that was the goal and it is something great to see, but the bill also had plenty of unintended consequences. While some people received greater access and lower payments other people (with higher incomes) oftentimes saw their own payments raise. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

VALLEY VOTE

THIS ISSUE’S QUESTION

QUOTE

Did you attend the “March for Our Lives” in Grand Rapids on Saturday?

Who do you think will win March Madness?

“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.”

Yes No

LOG ON & VOTE www.lanthorn.com

38% 62%

QUESTION OF THE ISSUE

-Malala Yousafzai

WHO IS YOUR PICK FOR THE FINAL FOUR?

WESTON LOHMAN

AMBER GERRITS

“Kansas over Michigan.”

“Michigan.”

YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Hospitality HOMETOWN: Montague, Michigan

YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Education HOMETOWN: St. Clair, Michigan

KYRAH ROSS

JANELLE SHANKIN

“Kansas.”

“Loyola, just because no one else is picking them.”

YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Writing, women and gender studies HOMETOWN: Detroit, Michigan

YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Human resources, finance HOMETOWN: Walled Lake, Michigan

MARCH 29, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

NEWS | A5

GOVERNANCE

Student senate president reflects on year BY RACHEL MATUSZEWSKI RMATUSZEWSKI@LANTHORN.COM

As the Grand Valley State University student senate wraps up its last meetings before welcoming next year’s senators and cabinet members, senate president Jonathan Bowman recalls the goals that have been accomplished this year and what changes he hopes will continue to be pursued when he leaves his position.

“I think everyone still has things they might want to work and ideas, but I think (we’re now) trying to pass those things on to people who will be on senate next year,” Bowman said. One of the most anticipated policies student senate has been pursuing is the implementation of a fall break. Bowman said that senators have made good progress through the task force’s 44-page analysis of a fall

break’s impact and possibility. A government conference was also hosted by student senate to discuss state funding. Public universities from across the state, including Saginaw Valley State University, Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, and University of Michigan Flint and Dearborn, took part in the conversation. “We’re going to be do-

ADDRESS: Senate president Jonathan Bowman during Convocation. Bowman, who has been a member of senate for three years, highlighted some of this year’s accomplishments. COURTESY | GVSU.EDU

ing a letter drive; we’ve been doing online petitions and trying to advocate for state funding,” Bowman said. In addition, more time has been invested in hearing students’ opinions on the topics of education, inclusivity and what they would like to see change. “We’ve been trying to do a lot of outreach to students more this year, which has always been a challenge,” Bowman said. “It’s kind of hard to talk to students and get students to come to senate or vice versa, so our public relations committee started the new Outreach Research and Engagement surveys. We’ve contacted at least over 700 students on campus this year. We are trying to end up (talking to) 1,000 by the end of the year.” Student senate is densely populated by freshmen and sophomores, so senate has created a mentor program to make the transition easier. Younger senators are paired with upperclassmen or senators with a year’s experience. Through this relationship, the questions of what can be accomplished and how have been answered. “This year in particular we’ve done a really good job

of integrating freshmen, firstyear and even transfer students,” Bowman said. “We’ve actually seen a lot of our newer senators jump in and start working on things (right away). A few of our first-year senators are working on the American Sign Language program to see how we can try and get a minor or to get it to count as a B.A. cognate.” For Bowman, boxes left unchecked regard inclusivity, campus safety and open education. In terms of inclusivity, working with the Division of Inclusion and Equity and the social justice centers has helped senators inform students about competency. Aside from creating a sexual assault awareness week and holding a town hall meeting last year, Bowman said educating students about the resources available through GVPD, the Title IX coordinator and the University Counseling Center is crucial. “I think continuing those types of campus dialogues is really important,” he said. Welcoming students, informing them on reporting sexual assault and influencing professors to use a costfriendly textbook-purchasing

system will be in the hands of the new student senate. “Open access and open education is really important,” Bowman said. “We’ve been trying this year to advocate for professors and faculty members to utilize online textbooks that may be free or cheaper than a physical textbook, or some books are offered in the library on the course reserve. We’re trying to encourage faculty members to use that instead of purchasing $100 books you’re never going to use again.” As Bowman finishes his last year as a senate member, he recalls the impact he has made on the university, what he has learned and what advice he has for the next generation of senators. “It’s been really interesting to become more educated on what’s happening at Grand Valley and having a better understanding of what Grand Valley’s about,” Bowman said. “Student voice matters. There are so many ways faculty, staff and administration are looking for student input on. I think (it’s important to) make sure you never stop advocating for the things students really care about.”

STUDENT LIFE

Author speaks on ‘leading imperfectly’ BY ANNIE GIFFELS AGIFFELS@LANTHORN.COM

At Grand Valley State University, there are students who have made this campus their adoptive home. To many, this might mean becoming a member of the Greek community, joining a campus organization or making friends with your

neighbors in your dorm. To speak on this topic and the multiple other things that college life involves, the GVSU Greek Life Council brought in James Robilotta, author and professional speaker, for a speech called “Leading Imperfectly: The Value of Being Authentic for Leaders,

Professionals and Human Beings” on Tuesday, March 27. Robilotta used humor and energy to deliver his motivating speech on the memorable qualities of authentic leaders. His speech centered heavily on how people, as leaders, can use their flaws and stories to create more of a connec-

SEE ANSWERS | A10

P U CH T A C

tion with the people who surround them. To him, this connection is essential in creating an atmosphere of comfort and security in the more complicated times of one’s life, like being in college. “The man that you see before you today showed up to my first year of college and was absolutely miserable,” Robilotta said. “Academics weren’t enough to make college feel like home.” Robilotta told stories of his past that described how he pushed through the tougher times. Born and raised in New York, Robilotta chose to attend college in North Carolina. Like many other college freshmen, he suffered months of loneliness and homesickness until he found his calling: getting more involved on his college campus. He went on to join a fraternity and also became a resident assistant. With the knowledge that he gained in those positions, Robilotta created his own acronym to describe what he calls “authentic leaders”: PEORM (Purposeful Empower Own Real Moral). “Authentic leaders are purposeful in their actions, they empower others, own who they are, are real people and are moral,” he said. Robilotta went through each word and explained the importance of each of them. He asked the audience different questions and had them get into pairs to discuss them.

K C A TR N O Y A • ST

After a few minutes, Robilotta would recapture their attention with a humorous story from his college life that strengthened his point that perfect leaders do not exist. To him, it is the authentic, real people who make the most meaningful connections and impact the most lives. “We can’t learn from people who are perfect; we can only learn from those who are imperfect,” he said. Among members of the audience were groups of people who were in different sororities and fraternities wearing their letters proudly. The audience laughed with Robilotta as

he used his sense of humor to drive his point home. Those who attended the event found it useful and eye-opening. “It made me more motivated to get and stay involved with campus organizations,” said Kelly Pierce, a junior at GVSU and a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha. “You’re only here for four years, so you have to make it count.” Those looking to get involved in student life at GVSU can join one of over 400 registered organizations. These organizations can be found through OrgSync.

AUTHENTIC: Author and speaker James Robilotta speaks at GVSU on ‘leading imperfectly’ on Tuesday, March 27. GVL | HANNAH ZAJAC

D A E AH T E •G

Register for spring/summer classes now! ON CAMPUS • ONLINE • HYBRID

gvsu.edu/summer

A6 | LAKER LIFE ARTS AT A GLANCE

MARCH 29, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

OPERETTA PRESENTATION TO BE HELD FRIDAY, MARCH 30

Grand Valley State University professor Lisa Feurzeig, who teaches music history, literature and world music, is set to report on research she conducted while on a Fulbright grant in Austria, focusing on different styles of performance in Austria, Hungary and Germany. She will give her presentation Friday, March 30, in the CookDeWitt Center from noon to 1 p.m. Operetta is a type of musical performance pre-dating the modern musical, and the performers are typically trained in operatic performance. During the presentation, Feurzeig will show video examples to illustrate the different performance styles found in the European countries she studied. For more information, contact Feurzeig at feurzeil@ gvsu.edu.

WORLD CUP GALA DANCE SET FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 30

The Grand Valley State University Latino Student Union (LSU) will host its annual winter dance, which will have the theme of a World Cup Gala, on Friday, March 30, from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center Grand River Room. The World Cup, which is set to be held over the summer, is an international soccer competition that facilitates unity, community and celebration. Taking its cue from the event, the LSU is hoping to recreate the positive atmosphere for its own dance event, which will feature performances by various other GVSU student groups. All are invited to attend. For more information, contact the LSU at gvsulsu@ gmail.com.

PERCUSSION DUO TO PERFORM MONDAY, APRIL 2 Two veterans of the Grand Rapids music community, Greg Secor and Josh Dreyer, will perform for a night of contemporary percussion pieces at Grand Valley State University on Monday, April 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the Haas Center for Performing Arts’ Composition Studio, Room 2757. This is set to be the inaugural performance for the duo, called the Sightlines Percussion Duo, and the performance event is free to the public. For more information, contact Bill Ryan at ryanwi@ gvsu.edu.

HUMAN RIGHTS MOVIE SET FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 3 The Grand Valley State University human rights program is set to host a movie and pizza night on Tuesday, April 3, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center, Room 2263. The film being shown is “Witness.” “Witness” tells the story of a young Amish woman and her son after they get caught up in the murder of an undercover narcotics agent. Following the murder, their safety is the responsibility of John Book, played by Harrison Ford, a Philadelphia detective. The film is a story highlighting contemporary cultural tensions and a forbidden love story. For more information, visit the human rights program’s website at www.gvsu.edu/humanrights.

GV students sweep Outdoor Weber Idea Competition BY TY KONELL LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

Two Grand Valley State University students placed first and second in the Outdoor Weber Idea Competition on Friday, March 23. The first-place team, consisting of Jordan Vanderham and Jared Seifert, created the Orindi Mask, which allows wearers to breathe warm air even in cold temperatures. Taking second place was Katarina Samardzija, who created Locker Lifestyle, which allows wearers to take small valuables with them while being active. The first-place winners took home $30,000 to put toward the capitalization of their products, while second place took home $7,500. Vanderham said the $30,000 that the Orindi Mask won is going toward executing the alreadyhigh demand for masks. Vanderham also said he and Seifert were flabbergasted when it was announced that they won. “Well, we were shocked. We were really surprised. It was fourth, third, second, then were were like, ‘Is it us?’” Vanderham said. “Because we didn’t know who the top competitor was or what their product was. We weren’t confident that we won, but they called our name, and we just kinda awestruck walked up and smiled and shook all of their hands and stood up on the stage.” The Orindi Mask uses the wearer’s own breath to make breathing in cold environments easier on the lungs. “It is a cold endurance mask that allows you to breathe warm, regulated, comfortable air in the cold-

est of environments,” Vanderham said. “We have proprietary humidity and temperature regulation that captures the heat from your breath when you breathe out, so it captures the heat and humidity from your breath and holds it so that when you breathe back in, that cold environmental air is warm and reheated, allowing your lungs to breathe in a really comfortable environment.” The creators of the Orindi Mask made the product to assist those who engage in cold-weather sports, as well as people who suffer from asthma, which the entrepreneurs have experience with. “The main reason the mask was made is because I

suffered from asthma when I was young, cold-induced asthma, so I couldn’t really go outside,” Vanderham said. “But my partner Jared (Seifert) experienced some of the same symptoms while exercising and pushing himself outside in the cold, so we did have the asthmatic approach and the sport approach.” In addition to the prize money, Vanderham said the connections made at Outdoor Weber were exceptionally valuable. “It was so much fun,” he said. “He (the keynote event speaker) really cared about the commercialization and execution of our product. He wanted to add value. They wanted to sell our mask in their stores. So beyond the money and the

mentorship, we got a great connection.” GVSU students took first, second and fourth place at the competition, giving the winners a strong sense of school spirit. “I’m proud of Grand Valley,” Vanderham said. “I know all the teams that competed, and they’ve all been growing up and progressing so well. The guy that got fourth place is really fresh into the entrepreneurship network, and it’s just neat to see validation happening for them. “I was overjoyed. I knew we were going to do well because we have a great entrepreneurship program, but sweeping the competition at that capacity was just a blessing.”

WINNERS: GVSU students Jared Seifert (left) and Jordan Vanderham pose next to their idea pitch at the Outdoor Weber Idea Competition, where the students placed first. COURTESY | JORDAN VANDERHAM

ADVOCACY

Intersections Ambassadors seek social justice on campus BY TAYLOR CROWLEY TCROWLEY@LANTHORN.COM

Intersectionality is defined as the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class and gender as they apply to a given individual or group of people. Grand Valley State University’s Intersections Ambassadors focus on inclusion and social justice for all students attending the university. The Intersections Ambassadors have recently finished their planned events for the winter 2018 semester, but the

organization continues to meet and discuss new ways to get more students involved moving forward. The organization is planning for big things to come in the upcoming fall and winter semesters. In past events, the ambassadors held a panel discussing how students take on diversity and understanding how faculty and staff help students adjust to college life, specifically focusing on marginalized groups. Another presentation focused on intersectionality and how it applies to a solid foundation for leadership. The Intersections Ambas-

sadors group is a student-led peer-education organization that focuses on social justice issues. Social justice at GVSU can be defined as advocating for people who cannot advocate for themselves, and working toward equity and equality for people who have remained unheard because of their personal identities and systems of oppression acting against them. Jarred Daniels, active Intersections Ambassador, is most passionate about social justice issues and how they affect everyday life. He said because he majors in women, gender and sexuality studies at GVSU, he

can apply his knowledge and skills to educate other people in the community. “I’ve met a lot of faculty and staff that I’ve had really meaningful connections with,” Daniels said. “I wouldn’t have met a lot of great people if I hadn’t joined Intersections Ambassadors.” Intersections Ambassadors dedicate their passion to educating students on social justice in the community. The ambassadors work with students who have been marginalized, including people of color, people from lowereducation backgrounds, and queer and trans people.

The organization focuses on teaching how these marginalized groups intersect with one another and how they can work collaboratively to further social justice. One guarantee from the organization is passion. The organization thrives on passion, and this trait continues to keep the group members excited about the message they put out to GVSU. “I’ve found that when people go into social justice advocacy, it’s fueled by passion for it. It really bonds people,” said Ty Konell, active Intersections Ambassador. Konell said she feels very

safe being a part of this group. She said that even though the students might be from different majors or have different interests, they all have the same goals, which fosters friendship and camaraderie. There is an underlying theme of social justice work and caring about oppressed communities. Daniels and Konell both hold their passion and drive for social justice advocacy in high regard. The organization has plans to grow and expand, inviting more GVSU students who are interested in social justice to apply to join the organization.

DIVERSITY

Documentary on Vietnamese re-education camps offers learning opportunity BY TASMAN MATTOX TMATTOX@LANTHORN.COM

There are many untold stories about armed conflicts worldwide, and the Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project aims to tell those tales. GVSU students are invited to join them for a showing of “Unforgotten,” a documentary about Vietnamese survivors of re-education camps. The showing is set for Monday, April 2, at 6:30 p.m. in the DeVos Center Loosemore Auditorium. “We’re ultimately looking here at a piece of history most people don’t know much about,” said James Smither, the director of the GVSU Veterans History Project. “South Vietnamese often get characterized as ineffective, but you talk to these people who suffered a lot, and this gives them a

certain amount of voice.” “Unforgotten” was directed by Diem Thuy, whose father was in one of the reeducation camps. “When I was working for Vietnamese TV, I met a lot of Vietnamese veterans, and I heard a lot of stories about re-education camps,” she said. “I did not begin working on the documentary until one person whose story I promised to share passed away. I told myself I had to do it because I don’t (want) everyone to pass and their story never be told. After the wartime, it seemed to me no one talked about it and ignored it, so I thought it’s my duty.” Being involved was a difficult decision for many of those interviewed. “I selected from 200 to 300 stories to 14 because most of some passed away, and some were afraid to

share because family in Vietnam could be harmed,” Thuy said. “When I said, ‘Can I put you on camera?’ they would back off and say no because they felt if they traveled back to Vietnam, they don’t want any problems. It’s sad because people feel panicked. In Vietnam, you can still disappear.” This film will give the audience a wider perspective on the Vietnam conflict and its consequences. “I think one of the big things people learn ought to be a deeper understanding of how bad war itself can be and all the consequences of it,” Smither said. “It’s important to understand really what different things help make the world what it is and what brought us to where we are. We also have a population of Vietnamese here because of that war and what came out of it. So, just in a way to put a hu-

man face on that experience and part of history is good.” The GVSU Veterans History Project ultimately works to curate stories of veterans. “What we do here is conduct oral history interviews with military veterans from World War II to present. We record those interviews and put them on a website,” Smither said. “We have over 1,100 posted right now and more in progress. In addition to talking to veterans, we also talk to foreign nationals and civilians that have stories to tell.” Thuy believes not enough people are aware of what happened after the conflict. “I would love Americans to understand the Vietnam War and how after the war affected us,” she said. “It’s a big scar and it’s not easy. We don’t have democracy or freedom, and the story is never told.”

SURVIVOR: A re-education camp survivor in the film “Unforgotten,” being shown Monday, April 2. COURTESY | UNFORGOTTENFILM.COM

SPORTS | A7

MARCH 29, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

QUICK HITS

BASEBALL

GV MEN’S TENNIS SOPHOMORE JACK GEISSLER EARNS GLIAC ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

For the first time in his young collegiate career, Grand Valley State men’s tennis sophomore Jack Geissler was named the GLIAC Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week per a release by the league office on Tuesday, March 27. At the No. 2 singles and doubles position, Geissler had himself quite the performances against Michigan Tech and Lake Superior State, winning all four of his matches. In singles action against Michigan Tech, Geissler won 6-1, 6-0, while adding another 6-2, 6-0 win against Lake Superior. In doubles, Geissler paired up with D.J. Colantone, as the duo won 8-2 against Michigan Tech, followed by an 8-6 win against Lake Superior. On the season, Geissler has a 13-6 overall record in singles, going 8-4 in dual matches (2-0 against conference opponents) and 5-2 in tournaments, while going 13-6 in doubles, with a dual record of 10-4 and 3-2 in tournaments. The Lakers are currently 10-4 (2-0 GLIAC) this spring season. The remainder of the team’s regularseason record will be against GLIAC opponents, including Northwood on Friday, March 30, and Ferris State on Saturday, March 31.

GV RIFLE CLUB FINISHES THIRD IN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Continuing their year-long conquest, the Grand Valley State rifle club sent nine participants to travel down south to Columbus, Georgia, to compete in the ninth annual NRA Intercollegiate Rifle Club. The event kicked off Friday, March 23, and concluded Sunday, March 25. In a competition against 17 other schools, the Lakers finished third overall with a 4,321-point aggregate score—the best finish in program history and a 252-point improvement from last season. In the smallbore competition, the team of sophomores Alexander Straith, Alexander Ryan, Ethan Potts and Joseph Lentine finished third overall with a total score of 2,121 (out of 2,400). Straith finished 10th individually after posting a score of 539 (out of 600), while Ryan finished in 12th place. During the air rifle competition, the Lakers saw similar results, placing third overall as a team with a score of 2,200 (out of 2,400). Senior captain Christian Yap carried his team, placing fourth overall with an overall score of 575 (out of 600), his career personal best. Lentine was the second-best Laker, posting a score of 546 for 28th place. To wrap up his collegiate career, Yap was named to the NRA Intercollegiate Club Rifle All Star Team as a member of the 1st Team Air Rifle. This is the first time a Laker has earned those honors.

WELCOME HOME: GVSU senior catcher/third baseman Austin LaDoux swings at the ball during the team’s doubleheader against Tiffin on April 1, 2016, at the GVSU baseball field. The Lakers will host their home opener in a doubleheader against the Tiffin Dragons on Thursday, March 29, and Friday, March 30. GVL | LUKE HOLMES

Preview: GV baseball to face GLIAC foe Tiffin in home-opener series BY ROBBIE TRIANO SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

W

hether you think it’s warm enough or not, it’s officially baseball season. Although the Grand Valley State baseball team is already 23 games into its season, the Lakers (13-10 overall, 2-2 GLIAC) will finally hold their home opener against the Tiffin Dragons (8-10 overall, 2-2 GLIAC) in the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday, March 29. GVSU will also play another doubleheader against Tiffin on Friday, March 30, starting at 1 p.m. The original schedule had the Lakers playing Friday through

Sunday, but poor weather predictions forced the coaching staff to move the four games to doubleheaders on Thursday and Friday. For a team that has been patiently awaiting its home opener, the Lakers have only been able to practice outside on their own field four times this season. For GVSU head coach Jamie Detillion, he’s more than ready to say his farewells to the lingering winter weather. “I sometimes will look down and realize I have around seven layers on and ask myself, ‘What am I doing on a baseball field?’” Detillion said. “It’s been so cold that nobody can really hit or even want to be out there to hit. It’s been a headache trying to act out the

duties of a weatherman to decide when to play these home games.” These contests against GLIAC rival Tiffin will be their only meetings of the regular season. While Tiffin currently has one of the worst overall records in the conference, the GLIAC has just become a more even playing field, according to Detillion. “With a bunch of teams leaving to GLIAC to the GMAC, it’s going to be a pretty competitive league this year,” Detillion said. “It used to be really top heavy, but now teams that haven’t been traditionally dominating are climbing up to the top. “It’s going to be a dog fight.” Even with limited practices, the Laker bats have been promising.

Collectively, the Lakers are hitting a combined .299 batting average, along with 224 total hits—enough for third in the GLIAC. Leading the hitting brigade have been the Lakers’ three and four hitters in the batting order in first baseman Ryan Blake-Jones and right fielder Jacob Gleason. Blake-Jones is currently leading the GLIAC in RBIs (28), fourth in batting average (.420), and leading the Lakers in hits (35) and home runs (4). Gleason is not far off, sitting in second in the GLIAC in RBIs (24), eighth in batting average (.391) and batting a team high in slugging percentage (.609). SEE BASEBALL | A8

SOFTBALL

GV WOMEN’S ROWING COMPETES IN SAN DIEGO CREW CLASSIC REGATTA

To open up the spring season, the Grand Valley State women’s varsity eight+ rowing team made a 2,200 mile trek to California to compete in the San Diego Crew Classic Regatta in the Women’s Collegiate Varsity DII/III/Club event from Thursday, March 22, through Sunday, March 25. The Lakers finished the weekend regatta with a second-place finish, improving from their third-place finish in the same regatta last season. In the final heat on Sunday, the Lakers placed second with a time of 7:27.1 behind University of California San Diego, which took first with a time of 7:24.4. The Lakers’ next regatta will be their annual host event: the 23rd annual Don Lubbers Cup Regatta on Spring Lake. The event will begin Friday, April 13, and conclude Sunday, April 15.

VARSITY SCHEDULE BASEBALL Thursday 1 p.m. vs. Tiffin (doubleheader) Friday 1 p.m. vs. Tiffin (doubleheader) SOFTBALL Friday 2 p.m. at Tiffin (doubleheader) Saturday 1 p.m. at Wayne State (doubleheader) WOMEN’S LACROSSE Thursday 7 p.m. vs. Indianapolis (home opener) Saturday 1 p.m. vs. McKendree

LEADING BY EXAMPLE: GVSU senior third baseman watches a pitch sail by during the Lakers’ victory over Saginaw Valley State on Sunday, March 25, at the GVSU softball field. In her final season, Shomin is currently batting .319 with 53 hits, 32 runs, 11 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 17 total RBIs. GVL | EMILY FRYE

‘Happy accident’ BY KELLEN VOSS KVOSS@LANTHORN.COM

In the world of collegiate and professional athletics, young men and women usually improve their abilities as they advance through their respective sports. However, when it comes to Grand Valley State softball player Teagan Shomin, she has experienced a lot more growth mentally than physically as she reflects over her time here at GVSU. The senior has emerged as a source of leadership among her teammates and coaching staff. More importantly, Shomin said she’s ready to lead this team to another conference title and a deep postseason run, all while playing her favorite position: third base.

“It’s a position where I can do more and think less, and that’s the kind of person I am,” Shomin said. “I have so much respect for pitchers, catchers and outfielders because I could never do that.” Shomin broke out for the Lakers in 2017, finishing her season batting .319 with 53 hits, 32 runs, 11 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 17 RBI. She really is a prime example of what it means to be a student athlete, as she has made the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team two years in a row. One would think that with all this softball success, Shomin has been in love with the game of softball her whole life, but that is simply not the case. Despite being the daughter of a high school softball coach, Shomin’s

GV softball senior Teagan Shomin making most out of final season

favorite sport growing up was hockey. “I learned how to skate when I was young, and I was very passionate about it,” Shomin said. “I stopped playing my freshman year of high school because none of the kids I played with went to my school, so I couldn’t really hang out with them.” From there, her athletic focus shifted away from the ice and toward the ball field. She played all of high school, and despite growing up here in West Michigan, she never expected she would end up at GVSU. “I wanted to get away and out of West Michigan, but then around my junior year, there was a softball camp going on at GV,” Shomin said. “My dad convinced me to go. After the camp,

the previous coach offered me a spot, and everything felt right. So I went for it, and it’s been one of the best decisions of my life. “You could say it was very much a happy accident.” Shomin is picking up right where she left off last season. In 24 games—all of them starts— she’s already accumulated 34 hits, 15 RBI, seven doubles and three home runs. But when asked how she has improved here at GVSU, Shomin didn’t mention any statistics or any of the technical skills she’s learned. Instead, she gladly spoke of her improvement mentally on SEE SHOMIN | A8

MARCH 29, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A8 | SPORTS M. GOLF

Alex Scott carries GV men’s golf to secondplace finish at Findlay Spring Invitational BY D’ANGELO STARKS DSTARKS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State men’s golf team was on the road once again this week, facing off in the Findlay Spring Invitational in Lexington, Kentucky, on Monday, March 26, and Tuesday, March 27. The Lakers finished in a second-place tie with Maryville University, finishing with a total stroke count of 590 for +14 shots over par. Earning the top of the leaderboard was Indianapolis, which finished with a team score of 574—16 strokes fewer than the Lakers. Entering the first day ranked in the top 25 in the GCAA national rankings, the Lakers were very much still within striking distance of first place. GVSU shot a score of 291, only three strokes over par and seven strokes behind first-place Indianapolis. Alex Scott was the most impressive individual performer for the Lakers. Scott shot a 69 (-3) on Monday, good enough for a firstplace tie after day one. It’s been no surprise to GVSU head coach Gary Bissell to see his top golfer compete this well on day one. “Alex Scott keeps taking top five in every event he tees it up in,” Bissell said. “When you have a guy taking top five in the field, as long as everyone else doesn’t totally collapse, you’re going to be there. He’s really been carrying us so far.” Senior Domenic Mancinelli shot only one stroke over par, totaling a 73. Freshman standout Eric Nunn had a solid round, finishing one stroke behind Mancinelli with a 74.

BASEBALL CONTINUED FROM A7

“For the most part they’ve been pretty steady,” Detillion said. “They really bring some offensive upside with speed and overall hitting ability. But most importantly, they do a great

SHOMIN

CONTINUED FROM A7

this team and how satisfied she has been during her time here. “I’ve improved as a person more than anything else,” Shomin said. “In terms of mental skills and handling difficult situations, I’ve grown so much as a person. One day, I’m not going to be able to hit

Mitchell White followed directly behind him with a 75, while Andrew Stevens rounded out the fifth spot with an 80 (+8) on the day. Day two would finish nearly the same for GVSU, as the team shot a stroke total of 299, which gave them a two-day total of 590 for the second-place finish. Only one GVSU golfer improved upon their score from the day before. Scott remained solid af-

ter shooting a 73 on day two, giving him a two-day total of 142 for an individual second-place tie with Indianapolis’ Ian Carroll. Mancinelli had the secondbest weekend of the five GVSU golfers, finishing with a 75 on day two for a two-day total of 148. White shot a 76 on day two, bringing the tournament total to 151. Nunn shot an 80 on day two to raise his score to 154, and Stevens brought

down his previous 80 to a 75 to finish with 155. Despite a solid performance by his team, Bissell knew that day two was the Lakers’ Achilles’ heel of the invitational. “Day two, the weather was a little bit worse, and to put it in simple terms, Indy just handled it better,” he said. “We had a couple high scores that really hurt us, and we didn’t handle the bad weather well. So, toughness is something that we are going

to talk about going forward and also the ability to adapt.” With the team and individuals racking up second-place finishes, Bissell is beginning to transition his team to crossing the threshold into achieving first-place finishes. “All five of Indy’s guys finished in the top 10 in the field. We only had one guy finish top 10,” Bissell said. “So, when another team’s five man is finishing top 10, it’s going to be tough for them to lose. We are going

to continue to work with our guys, and we are also making a change in the lineup. We are going to put Bryce Messner back in the lineup this week and see if he can give us a boost.” GVSU travels to Columbus, Indiana, this weekend to play in the Wisconsin-Parkside Spring Invitational starting Sunday, April 1, and ending Monday, April 2. This will be the secondto-last invitational before the GLIAC Championships.

LEADER OF THE PACK: GVSU golfer Alex Scott looks out over the golf course while head coach Gary Bissell watches the rest of the team during a team practice on Sep. 19, 2017. Scott paved the way for the Lakers at the Findlay Spring Invitational, finishing in second overall individually with a two-day stroke count of 142. GVL | MATT READ

job spreading the ball over diamond when they hit, which the best hitters in the world need to be able to do.” On the pitching side, senior right-handed pitcher Ryan Arnold has been nearly perfect this season. Currently posting a 4-0 record in five starts and a 2.76 ERA—currently

fourth in the GLIAC—Arnold has earned the spot as GVSU’s No. 1 pitcher in the rotation. The 6-foot4-inch pitcher transferred to GVSU last season from Lincoln Land Community College. Since then, he’s been a pleasant surprise for coach Detillion. “He finished last year re-

ally strong, and his pitching has just continued to remain at that same level,” he said. “He’s a smart pitcher and know how to work his hitters. He really has a lot going for him right now.” Although the Lakers are getting their big bats and ace in rhythm early, it’s been a process to find the

true identity of what Detillion wants from his team. “It’s a matter of gaining some consistency,” Detillion said. “It feels like this time of year we’re just trying to figure out who we are before the postseason tournaments. It’s been a hard process to see who we are, mainly because we’ve

only had a handful of outdoor practices. “The consistency factor comes out when we can get out of a batting cage and onto the baseball diamond. We have some great depth with our pitching and lineup. We just need some guys to click.”

a ball, but I’m still going to be a decent person. I’m okay with that. I’m definitely a different person than I was four years ago.” When she finally hangs up her glove and cleats forever, Shomin will remember all the time she spent with her teammates and will take away many important life lessons as she transitions into the “real world.” “I tell this to the freshmen as

much as I can: Relax, it’s just a game,” she said. “Remember to smile, good vibes only, and enjoy it. You won’t remember the stats; you’ll remember how you felt being a part of a team and having a family of teammates. It’s a great feeling.” This season is a little less than halfway through for the Lakers as they head into the thick of conference play. The GVSU softball team has gotten off to

an impressive 19-5 start, highlighted by a current 11-game winning streak. Just like the rest of her teammates, Shomin has a lot of confidence in her team. With that confidence and the realization of her impending graduation, she knows there are still many things she wants to accomplish as a team, including winning the GLIAC conference tournament and the rings that elud-

ed them last season. “Right now we’re doing well, and everyone is a leader in their own way since we’ve established such a positive mindset and family culture here,” Shomin said. “I want another conference title and the conference tourney, which we are very capable of. I can’t wait to make that race and hang with all my friends on this team, soaking it all in and

not getting wrapped up in the little things.” GVSU looks to stay undefeated in conference play this weekend, as they travel to Ohio and Detroit for doubleheaders with Tiffin and Wayne State this weekend. Games at Tiffin are at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday, March 30, while the games on Saturday, March 31, at Wayne State are at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

NATIONAL

ALCOHOL

SCREENING DAY

APRIL 5, 2018

For times & locations visit: www.gvsu.edu/counsel

MARCH 29, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

SPORTS | A9

COLUMN

Lanthorn staff predicts March Madness Final Four Robbie Triano:

Final Four winners: Michigan and Kansas Champion: Michigan What a March this has been. Not only has this been the most electric tournament in recent memory, but I also picked up a nasty—yet dangerously fun— gambling addiction. I’ve lost nearly every single bet I’ve placed in heartbreaking fashion, whether due to last-second buzzer beaters, avoidable overtimes or players just not fouling down four with 10 seconds left (looking at you, Florida State). My biggest learning lesson is that you should never bet on the spread. Ever. My betting mind has convinced me that either Vegas has a crystal ball or the entire NCAA is rigged. If you’re thinking of betting, you’re better off just burning your money. Mom, if you’re reading this, please don’t look at my bank account statement. Also, don’t bring up why I sold my kidney during family dinner on Easter Sunday. But, I did have a few glorious victories against

Louis Ricard:

Final Four winners: Michigan and Kansas Champion: Michigan My bracket is ruined, which means my credibility for this piece is compromised. This year’s tournament has been nothing less than maddening for people across the country. No, I did not see LoyolaChicago making a run this deep. No, I did not see Kansas getting past Duke, as I had Michigan State going all the way in the Midwest region. No, I did not see Villanova slipping through the cracks of the Eastern region. The only thing going my way this tournament is Michigan. The Wolverines have this “je ne sais quoi” when it comes to March. Actually, that “it” factor has a name. I present to you the most underrated coach in all NCAA men’s basketball: John Beilein.

Jenna Fracassi:

Final Four winners: Michigan and Kansas Champion: Michigan College basketball isn’t the sport I’m most knowledgeable about, but to be fair, I did pick UMBC to beat Virginia. So, case closed. Michigan’s momentum throughout this tournament has been incredible, and it’s majorly owed to their strong defensive play. Michigan has what it takes to win it all, so now we just wait to see how they play ball. Final score: Michigan 80, Kansas 76.

the boys in Vegas, all coming from one team: the Michigan Wolverines. I’ve been a Michigan State fan my whole life and have publicly stated how I really don’t like the Wolverines. At all. But being a fan of really good basketball, it’s hard not to marvel at how Michigan has been playing of late. It hurts me to say this, but coach John Beilein has been making Tom Izzo look like a fraud with the way he has his team prepared to play. Not only has this team improved on their infamous 3-point-heavy offense, but their defense has become the strongest point of their game. Sorry human-good-luckcharm Sister Jean and the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers. You’ve had yourselves a fun little run, and you have nothing to be ashamed of. On another note, Grand Valley State should really think of investing in its own version of Sister Jean. My suggestion is to bring back T. Haas post-retirement to attend every home game in a Hawaiian shirt. We would never lose a game again. Lastly, sorry Kansas. You should just be proud of defeating Villanova and Duke. Talent-wise, you are simply better than the Wolverines, but I’m trying to ride this gambling hot hand one last time before I have to resort to selling my other kidney. Final score: Michigan 74, Kansas 71. Michigan’s head coach can do wonders with his players, taking their potential and making the most out of it as the season goes on. But the Wolverines cannot solely rely on their coach if they want to go all the way. Their center Moe Wagner has to be the uncontested leader on the court. In their Final Four matchup, Michigan will top Loyola-Chicago 57-48. On the other end, I expect the Jayhawks to breeze through Villanova 70-53. The Wildcats aren’t a bad team, but Kansas has Devonte’ Graham, Malik Newman and dominating center Udoka Azubuike, who can grab rebounds with his teeth if he has to. Now we move on to the final game. Michigan is not the favorite to win this kind of game. However, the Wolverines excel when being labeled underdogs. If this year has proven anything, underdogs are successful (if you don’t believe me, ask the Philadelphia Eagles on how life is going right now). I do see Michigan coming out on top in the last seconds with a desperate three, and I am hoping it’s Jordan Poole who takes it from the same angle with the same leg split that has been working for him since high school. Final score: Michigan 65, Kansas 63.

Arpan Lobo:

Final Four winners: Michigan and Villanova Champion: Villanova First things first, I for one am just glad Grayson Allen isn’t in another Final Four. That alone might have kept me from watching. I’m going with Michigan for a couple reasons. One, Michigan is the total villain-type school to bounce America’s sweetheart Sister Jean. If anyone’s going to do it, it’s going to be them.

THIS IS MARCH: After weeks of tournament action, full of upsets, thrillers and buzzer beaters, the Final Four has been determined. Michigan will face off against Loyola-Chicago Saturday, March 31, at 6 p.m., while Villanova plays Kansas around 9 p.m. COURTESY | NCAA

Brady McAtamney:

Final Four winners: Villanova and Loyola-Chicago Champion: Villanova The Final Four is here. In other words: This weekend is going to be awesome. On one side of the bracket, we have a one-two battle in the Elite Eight and a onethree in the other with both one-seeds advancing to the Final Four. That’s about as chalk as chalk gets. Then we look on the other side. Loyola-Chicago, an 11-seed, against the nine-seed Kansas State? With Loyola-Chicago dancing into the Final Four? If you say so. Looking down, it’s a bit more sensible, but not much, as three-seeded Michigan topped the nineseed Florida State. So here we are. It’s Michigan versus Loyola and Villanova versus Kansas. It’s madness on You think Mo Wagner cares about a 98-year-old chaplain? Absolutely not. Secondly, I think John Beilein has Michigan playing excellent basketball at this time of year. His work with the team should be commended. I like Villanova over Kansas, mostly just because I can’t wait to see Kansas fans freak out on Bill Self again. I’m picking Villanova to win it all because of the pure talent on their squad. Mikal Bridges is a stud, Jalen Brunson is an NBAlevel guard, Omari Spellman is a beast in the paint and Donte DiVincenzo has a fantastic name. Let’s go Villanova 73, Michigan 62 in the title game.

one end against dominance on the other. I’ll start with the chalk side: Villanova was my champion when I filled out the bracket a few weeks ago, and I haven’t really lost much confidence in the ‘Cats. They made the East region look silly while rolling over Radford, Alabama, West Virginia and Texas Tech all by double digits. Meanwhile, the Jayhawks had a bit of a rougher ride, but one could argue they had a tougher route. Nobody will argue that Texas Tech is tougher than Duke. Regardless, Villanova will beat Kansas. It probably won’t be easy, but it might not be by single digits, either. Looking across the bracket, I sincerely think the Ramblers have what it takes to defeat Michigan. Both teams play similar styles of disciplined basketball with solid defense and good offense. While the Wolverines definitely have a talent advantage, Loyola-Chicago has Sister Jean and a glass slipper. But then the clock strikes 12 and everything ends in ugly fashion for Cinderella, and Villanova clobbers them for their second national title in three years. Final score: Villanova 82, Loyola-Chicago 67. Sorry, Chicago. At least you have deep-dish pizza.

Kellen Voss:

Final Four winners: Michigan and Villanova Champion: Villanova My heart says yes, but my head won’t let me do it. I’m supposed to be an unbiased Big-J journalist, but I have been a Michigan fan my entire life. I sang the praises of this Michigan team in this very paper last week and how they can be a team of destiny this season. But this Villanova team may just be too good. They have been arguably the most dominant team in col-

D’Angelo Starks:

Final Four winners: Michigan and Villanova Champion: Michigan and Villanova The Final Four is here! It’s so exciting to be able to say that, and it’s two times more exciting to say it since Michigan has made it. In the first matchup, the Wolverines take on the Cinderella story that is LoyolaChicago. The Ramblers and Sister Jean have been a wonderful story, but I cannot pick against my beloved Wolverines—for now. In the second matchup, Villanova takes on Kansas in a matchup of the last remaining No. 1 seeds. In my eyes, this Kansas team is the embodiment of the word “eh.” Meanwhile, Villanova likely has the national player of the lege basketball all year long. They are an experienced squad that has practically everything: a roster that features two future top-20 picks in this year’s NBA draft (Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson), a slew of defensive players from the 2016 title team, a coach who knows how to make a run and, most importantly, a ginger (like myself) who can dunk (shoutout to Donte Divincnezo!). All of these reasons are why I picked Villanova to make it all the way in my bracket, and I’m not going to change my prediction now. At the end of the day, this matchup is really a win-win for me. If I’m right, I’ll climb to the top of my bracket pools and finally get a prediction right in this newspaper. If I’m wrong, I’ll probably shed tears of joy, call my dad as soon as the game is over, and celebrate with John Beilein and the Wolverines as

year in Jalen Brunson and a surefire lottery pick in Mikal Bridges. Villanova wins this one and moves on to take on my beloved Wolverines. Here’s where things get tricky. I’m going to commit a cardinal sin here. I’m picking both Villanova and Michigan. Here’s why: I’ve been a Michigan fan my entire life, and this is my second time seeing them in the Final Four. The first time was taken away from me when Trey Burke’s block was called a foul on Peyton Siva (it was so clearly not a foul). So, obviously, my heart goes to Michigan. Things get tricky because every March I do this crazy thing where I think I’m smart and have a general idea of what’s going to happen in the tournament. Naturally, that leads to me putting my money into a bracket pool, and this year was no different than the others. In my bracket pool, I picked Villanova to beat Arizona (ha), so my only chance to win money is Villanova winning. So, for clarification, my heart picks Michigan and my wallet picks Villanova. Go Blue!

they claim their first basketball title since 2013 (my bad, I mean 1989, I’m still bitter). I can’t wait to watch this exciting game, and I’ll predict that Villanova will win a high-scoring shootout 84-78. However, I pray that I am wrong yet again.

On another note, GVSU should really think about investing in its own version of Sister Jean. My suggestion is to bring back T. Haas postretirement.” ROBBIE TRIANO SPORTS EDITOR

MARCH 29, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A10 | SPORTS COLUMN

GETTING YOUNGER: Detroit Tiger third baseman—now right fielder—Nicholas Castellanos points out to some fans at Comerica Park after hitting a home run during the 2017 season. After the front office decided to rebuild by trading their top players for future success, the Tigers enter the 2018 season with a lineup full of new faces yet low expectations for any hopes of a winning season. COURTESY | DETROIT FREE PRESS

Season preview: Expectations not high for Detroit Tigers’ 2018 campaign BY BRADY MCATAMNEY ASSISTANTSPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Opening Day is a celebration unlike any other. We have been waiting since Nov. 1, 2017—yes, that’s right, November—to get back to baseball, and we have finally reached the finish line. From this day forward, we will have at least one game to watch every single day until the 2018 World Series concludes. Think about that. Isn’t it beautiful? What might not be as beautiful is the season the Detroit Tigers are primed for. They entered the 2017 season hopeful, but things went, well, poorly. A disastrous campaign triggered the trades of Justin Verlander, J.D. Martinez, Justin Upton, Justin Wilson and Alex Avila during the

regular season, and then Ian Kinsler in the offseason. On the bright side, they acquired a healthy amount of strong prospects to boost an anemic farm system and locked themselves into making the first overall pick in June’s MLB Draft, so that’s something. This year is going to be different in the sense that nobody expects the Tigers to sneak into the postseason (though it’s not technically impossible). But, that doesn’t mean that this team won’t be worth watching. Here’s a breakdown of who and what to look out for and why. Team MVP: Nicholas Castellanos Every spring for the last 10 years, Detroit fans came into the season expecting Miguel Cabrera to absolutely dominate everything and everyone

in his path, and he did—until last year. In 2017, Miggy put up career lows in a Tigers uniform with 16 home runs, 60 RBI and an uncharacteristic .249 batting average. The big man was dealing with chronic injuries, an alimony case and political unrest in his home country of Venezuela all season long. Do I think he’s going to be better this year? Absolutely. Will he return to his triple crown ways and capture another AL MVP award? Probably not, but it wouldn’t necessarily shock me. However, 24 isn’t my pick to be the Tigers’ most valuable player in 2018. That honor goes to the third-baseman-turnedcorner-outfielder Nicholas Castellanos. The 26-year-old was far and away the most productive hitter that played the whole season in Detroit’s line-

up last year, blasting 26 home runs with 101 RBI and a .272 batting average while leading the league with 10 triples. And being that young, he still has room to improve. Now that Castellanos doesn’t have the pressure of locking in a postseason spot and is away from playing third base (where he struggled mightily defensively), he has more time to focus on hitting and strengthening his approach at the plate instead of dedicating massive chunks of time to fielding the hot corner. While he still needs to become at least a league-average outfielder, early reports indicate he’s almost there. Team Cy Young: Michael Fulmer Do I even need to say it? It’s Michael Fulmer or nobody.

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Lak e Mi ch igan Co ll ege: L earn at the Th e Lak e With location in Benton Harbor, Niles, and South Haven Enroll for summer classes at lakemichigancollege.edu/apply For any questions call or text (269)927-8626 or email admissions@lakemichigan.e du

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Grand Rapids Community College offers easy transfer, quality education, and saving on tuition. Get ahead on your degree this summer starting May 7 to August 15. For more information visit grcc.edu/summer G V S u m m e r : V i e w spring/summer classes now! Registration begins March 19, GV offers on campus, online, and hybrid classes. For more information visit gvsu.edu/summer Catch up, Stay on track, or Get ahead! Summer Help Wanted at Coral Gables on the water in Saugatuck, MI. Wait Staff,line cooks, kitchen staff, dock crew, and security staff. For more information email maj@datawise.net or call 269-857-2162

Applications are curretntly being accepted for Summer 2018! Visit wwww.gvsu.edu/wri Wenger's Bowling! A westside tradition for over 75 years! Only 5 minutes away from the downtown campus. Located on 629 Leonard ST NW Special events: Wild Wednesday from 9:30 to close they have $1 games, shoes, and more. On Fridays after class from noon to 5pm they offer $1 games, shoes, and miller high life. For information give them a call at (616)454-4482

Remember it's RECYCLEMANIA time until March 31st!!! Reduce-Reuse-Recycle

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VOTED?! VOTING IS MARCH 26 - APRIL 1 gvsu.edu/studentsenate/elections

Jimmy John's Where fresh and fast meet! Visit JimmyJohns.com to find a location near you. Grand Valley Theatre presents The Pulitzer-Winning Modern Drama On The Misery And Hope Of The Contemporary World: JB See the show March 23-31!!

Student Leaders Wanted! Run for a position on GVSU Student Senate! For more information on Student Senate and the election process, go to gvsu.edu/ studentsenate/elections!

Brian's Books: the better bookstore! Now carrying new and used books for purchase and rent! Located near the water tower, it's worth the walk! Guaranteed to save you money! National Alcohol Screening Day: April 5, 2018 For times & locations visit www.gvsu.edu/counsel It's Time to register for classes! If you do not know your registration date check gvsu.edu/register

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Making a difference through research, education, and outreach! Student Highlight: Maria Scarborough 2017 Annis Foundation Intern

All-Star selection and possible AL Cy Young consideration. One thing I do fear is that Fulmer may be traded at the deadline, but until then, enjoy him while he’s here. I’d also like to give an honorable mention to Shane Greene. The closer has been one of the better bullpen pieces the Tigers have had in years, and he gives the fans some comfort when he comes in to seal games that players like Francisco Rodriguez (shudder) and Joe Nathan (vomit) don’t attribute. If Greene can spin another season with a sub-three ERA and earn a decent amount of saves, he could fetch the Tigers some hearty prospects come July.

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When: Monday April 9th and Tuesday April 10 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm

Even though the staff ace is inexplicably not the Opening Day starter, guys like Jordan Zimmermann and Mike Fiers are simply not good enough to have an above-average season, let alone be the best on a team. That’s why the Tigers will need reigning All-Star and former Rookie of the Year Fulmer to carry the weight of this staff. While 2017 might not have been the best season that Fulmer will have, he did improve on some statistics, including innings and walks. He threw five more innings in one less start, indicating that he was going deeper into ball games, while walking two fewer batters in those increased innings. If the new ace can combine the best parts of his 2016 and 2017 seasons, he’s looking at a second consecutive

Conveniently located at the 48th Avenue entrance to Grand Valley State Universityʼs Allendale campus. Schedule a tour today and experience the best off- campus, GVSU apartments in the Allendale rental market! Sublease at Enclave 2 bedroom town home looking for a female to sublease by room for summer 2018. My rent is $698 per month, includes parking, internet, utilities, etc. but I will negotiate. Available end of April/May 1 through July. Text Nicole at 616-893-1252 Looking for a sublet in 48 west. 4 bedroom 4 bath, Rent is $465, Move in MayJuly. Willing to pay the utilities for the rest of the lease. Contact Morgan at (248) 463-0404 if interested. Sublease needed for 1 bedroom apartment at Enclave for May 2018 thru August 2018. Apartment is conveniently located next to gym, pool, community center, grills, and fire pit. Contact sarah for more d e t a i l s a t cartesar@mail.gvsu.edu. Looking for a summer sublease at Copper Beech. Private upstairs bedroom with full bathroom and 3 female roommates. Contact Haley for more information at (231) 286-4952. Text message preferred! Please feel free to contact with any questions! Kelly has a sublet available now at Meadows Crossing apartments. Enjoy the single life...currently NO roommates! Text her at (248) 219-9405 for details!

Puzzle Answers

616-331-2460