Issue 55, April 5th, 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

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SCIENCE

Chemistry lectures taking place on campus BY ITA TSAI ITSAI@LANTHORN.COM

hir believes this anonymity gives people a platform to say harmful comments with no repercussions. While older generations may think of bullying in terms of physical abuse, cyberbullying introduces new issues. People who get bullied can see physiological effects. Depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and many other mental problems can develop for people being bullied, according to www.stopbullying. gov. This, in turn, can create academic barriers for students, making it harder for them to be successful in the classroom. GVSU maintains a policy of collegiality, which reads, in part, “In order to foster a healthy and diverse environment, we will act with integrity, communicate respectfully and accept responsibility for our

The Arnold C. Ott Lectureship in Chemistry series of presentations is returning to Grand Valley State University. The first lecture, titled “Chemical Reactions: What Lies Under the Arrow?” will take place Thursday, April 12, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Devos Center Loosemore Auditorium. The next lecture, “Studies of Radicals, Catalytic Intermediates and Transition States by Slow Electron Velocity-Map Imaging of Cryogenically Cooled Anions,” will be held Friday, April 13, at 1 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center Pere Marquette Room. The lecture this year will be given by Daniel Neumark, professor at the University of Califorina, Berkeley. Neumark earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Harvard University in physical chemistry. His research interests include physical chemistry, molecular structure and dynamics. In the lecture, Neumark will talk about fundamental problems in chemical physics, such as reaction dynamics, cluster spectroscopy and ultrafast x-ray science. “The Ott lectures offer an excellent opportunity for our GVSU students to be exposed to cuttingedge research in chemistry in particular and science in general,” said Felix Ngassa, GVSU professor of chemistry. “Not many of our peer institutions can boast of the quality of speakers we have brought to GVSU thanks to the Ott lectures. “In the past 10 years, we have had two Nobel laureates in chemistry present as Ott lecturers. ... GVSU students may not be exposed to such high-profile scientific minds if not due to the opportunity provided by the late Dr. Ott and his wife, Marion.” Every year, a group of select lecturers from the Chemistry Department Communications Committee request names from all of the chemistry faculty to potentially select them as Ott lecturers. The committee is comprised of Ngassa and chemistry professors Andrew Korich, Dave Leonard and Steve Matchett. “To me, anything that adds value to the education of our students at

SEE BULLYING | A2

SEE LECTURE | A2

STRUGGLE: A student reacts to being harassed online on Wednesday, April 4. Cyberbullying can take numerous forms across social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat. As sites continue to expand and evolve, further opportunity to engage in harmful language arises. GVL | EMILY FRYE

Social media sites open door for bullying, even in college BY DREW SCHERTZER DSCHERTZER@LANTHORN.COM

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ullying can take many forms, including harmful comments, physical abuse or other degrading actions toward a person. Victims of bullying can feel isolated from their peers and suffer from stress. As more social media platforms develop every year, there is an increasing number of places to be in contact with others. One downside of this, however, is the increased potential for online harassment. “I was harassed for years in middle school after telling students I would attend a different high school than them,” said a Grand Valley State University student who asked to remain anonymous. “Every day, people would make fun of me and even go as far to ignore me completely.” The stress this GVSU student

faced was so immense that they often thought suicide would be the only way out. Facebook made it possible for people to send harmful messages, even when the student was at home. Cyberbullying is something that prior generations did not have to worry about. Currently, more than one billion people use Facebook. Millions of people use other forms of social media, such as Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. These sites all give people access to message others directly. This has done a lot to enhance communication, but it isn’t always a good thing. “All of my friends have social media,” said GVSU student Elise Snyder. “It’s easy for people to be ganged up on online, especially if they say something unpopular or voice a different opinion.” Snyder said she has been on Facebook and Twitter for as

long as she can remember, and she has seen many accounts of students being put down by negative messages online. Snyder said it’s hard to make everyone happy, and you often see a lot of negative things on your feed. With the rising popularity of online video games like Fortnite, millions of players also have the chance to communicate with each other anonymously. Players have the option to communicate through typing or by talking to each other through their microphones. “I’ve played most games, from League of Legends to Fortnite,” said Matthew Jawahir, GVSU student and avid gamer. “People take things too far sometimes. It’s just a game.” You’d be surprised how toxic gaming communities can be, Jawahir said. Online video games allow players to hide their real identities with usernames. Jawa-

INSPIRATION

‘You have the opportunity to make a difference’ Grand Rapids Mayor Bliss talks about leadership at GV BY ARPAN LOBO NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University students had the opportunity to learn about effective leadership from the chief of the secondlargest city in Michigan. Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss spoke at GVSU on Wednesday, April 4, for the Kenneth Venderbush Leadership Keynote. Bliss, who in 2016 became the first woman to become mayor in Grand Rapids, shared advice on believing in others, finding balance and making the most out of transitions in life. The Venderbush Leadership Keynote is an annual program at GVSU designed to recognize exceptional leadership as well as honor the memory of the late Venderbush. Bliss shared her journey from growing up in Northern Michigan to becoming Grand Rapids’ mayor. She told the audience, which included GVSU President Thomas Haas, various members of student senate and GVSU students, that her ability to lead has

been improved by building relationships over time. “If you keep relationships at the heart of what you do, you will be successful,” Bliss said. “Really honor the relationships, even with people that disagree with you. It’s important that you try to have empathy ... or maybe just listen. There’s nothing that I’m able to do as mayor on my own.” Bliss cited her relationships with other leaders, such as her predecessor George Heartwell, former Grand Rapids Mayor John Logie and various women in other positions of power, as ways to constantly evolve in her role. “(Leadership) is a journey; it’s never over. I’m learning all the time,” she said. “One thing that I’ve learned (is) that relationships are critical to success.” Bliss, who described herself as an overachiever, also highlighted the importance of transitions in everyday life. She explained that we often fear change but that it’s during those moments that the biggest personal growth can take place. “Transitions are really opportunities for transformation,” she

said. “When we’re not really sure what’s coming next, taking a risk, stepping out there can be terrifying. Transitions in life are like being on trapeze bars.” Bliss said graduating college is a great example of being in transition. “Some of you are getting ready to let go of the trapeze bar of college,” she said. “You have this safe place, this bar that you’re holding onto, and you’re getting ready to let go. You might not know where you’re going to be, what job you’re going to be at. “If we let our fear hold onto us, we often miss out on opportunities.” Bliss, who is in her third year in office, also reminded students that their voice is valued. “Regardless of your age, you have the opportunity to make a difference because of the power of people,” she said. “The most important things in this country happened because of the power of people.” This is especially true in the greater Grand Rapids community, according to Bliss. She said SEE BLISS | A2

JOURNEY: Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss speaks on leadership during the Venderbush Leadership Keynote at GVSU Wednesday, April 4. GVL | EMILY FRYE

APRIL 5, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A2 | NEWS

BULLYING

NEWS BRIEFS

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SEARCH FIRM SELECTED FOR HAAS’ REPLACEMENT The Grand Valley State University Board of Trustees has selected search firm Storbeck, Pimentel and Associates (SPA) to aid the presidential search advisory committee (PSAC) in locating a replacement for GVSU’s fourth president, Thomas Haas. The PSAC, along with SPA representatives, will conduct listening sessions on Thursday, April 12, and Friday, April 13, for GVSU community members to voice their opinions. On Thursday, April 12, a pair of sessions will take place on GVSU’s Pew Campus. The first will take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the L. William Seidman Center Forum (1008 SCB) for students, faculty and staff. The second session will take place from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the same location for alumni and the general public. On Friday, April 13, the PSAC will hold sessions in Allendale. The first will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center Grand River Room for students, faculty and staff, followed by another session for faculty and staff from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the same room. The sessions are designed to allow the PSAC to hear the GVSU community’s desired qualities in Haas’ replacement. Haas will remain GVSU president until June 30, 2019.

words and actions.” The policy recommends that students having issues with other students first try to resolve the issues with their counterpart. If that is not possible or too difficult, the student should then seek assistance from the Dean of Students Office. “Sometimes, people think that cyberbullying is just related to high school, which isn’t the case,” said

Sgt. Jeff Stoll of the GVSU Police Department. “We as a police department see things that we are concerned with, namely threats of harm or harassment.” Stoll said conflicts can often be resolved before an individual has to turn to the GVPD, however. He said students can turn to their resident assistants (RA) when they first start having issues, as he believes the GVPD does a good job of informing RAs

about how to recognize when students’ conflicts are going too far. As part of their training, RAs are available to help mediate conflicts between students. Stoll advises students experiencing conflict such as cyberbullying to stop communicating with the other party. Blocking people on social media or blocking someone’s phone number can be effective ways to reduce the problem. The line between negative comments and harassment

is fine, Stoll said, adding that the GVPD is always available if someone’s behavior turns into harassment or threats. Stoll said students feeling unsafe can also call the GVPD to be escorted from any place on campus to another. Students can also access other departments, such as the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center, Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity, Division of Inclusion and Equity, etc., for help.

GV CARILLONS TOLL 39 TIMES FOR MLK ANNIVERSARY

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, both the Cook Carillon Tower and Beckering Family Tower at Grand Valley State University tolled 39 times on Wednesday, April 4. King was assassinated in Memphis at the age of 39 on April 4, 1968. The GVSU towers were a part of a national commemoration, which took place at 7 p.m.

CAMPUS SIRENS TO BE TESTED FRIDAY, APRIL 6

Grand Valley State University’s Allendale Campus will conduct monthly Ottawa County tornado/outdoor siren tests on Friday, April 6, at noon. In the case of actual inclement weather, the tests will be postponed. Those on campus should continue in their typical manner. For more information on university safety policies and shelter areas, visit www.gvsu.edu/shelter.

PLATFORMS: Social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram open up avenues for cyberbullying. Some students at GVSU have even found that cyberbullying can take place in games like Fortnite, where users can speak anonymously. GVL | EMILY FRYE

RELAY FOR LIFE TAKING PLACE ON CAMPUS

Grand Valley State University will host Relay for Life, a 12-hour event to raise awareness of cancer. The event will begin Friday, April 6, at 6 p.m. and continue until Saturday, April 7, at 6 a.m. in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.

OFFICE OF MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS HOLDING POW WOW

The Grand Valley State University Office of Multicultural Affairs will hold a “Celebrating All Walks of Life Pow Wow” on Saturday, April 7, and Sunday, April 8. The Saturday session will commence at 11 a.m. and end at 8 p.m. The event will go from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The event will feature Native American dancers and drummers, crafts, traditional Native American food and a silent auction.

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

PROMOTIONS Promotions Manager SHAYNA KOZKOWSKI ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager

News Editor ARPAN LOBO

IAN BORTHWICK

Sports Editor ROBBIE TRIANO

KATARINA ZOMER

Laker Life Editor TY KONELL A&E Editor ANNE MARIE SMIT Image Editor

Campus Accounts Manager

Account Executive RACHEL MOORE Ad Designer LIAM CARTER BUSINESS STAFF

EMILY FRYE

Business Manager SHELBY CARTER

Digital Editor MATT READ

Asst. Business Manager ALEXIS LAMB

Layout Editor RACHEL SPRING

Distribution Manager MEGHAN FITZGERALD

Layout Designer MAX GELDHOF WEB TEAM Web Manager JUSTIN GREEN

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Grand Valley is of utmost importance,” Ngassa said. “Personally, I am looking forward to meeting with Prof. Neumark and hoping that our many undergraduate students involved in research can be inspired by his many accomplishments.” This lectureship was founded by Ott and his wife to bring national recognition to the GVSU chemistry department. Ott received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, physics and math from Central Michigan University and earned his Ph.D. in chemistry, physics and bacteriology from Michigan State University in 1943. Working with his longtime associate William Seidman, Ott played a role in the founding of GVSU back in the early 1960s. He was a charter member of the University Board of Directors and served in that capacity for 28 years. Ott passed away in 2008. “This scholarship was left as a legacy of his commitment to quality education and his love of the chemical sciences,” Ngassa said.

BLISS

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that diversity, whether age, race or gender, contributes

PROFILE: Daniel Neumark, professor of chemistry at the University of Califorina, Berkeley. Neumark will speak at GVSU for the Arnold C. Ott Lectureship on Chemistry. COURTESY | CHEMISTRY.BERKELEY.EDU

positively to the city. Having young members of the Grand Rapids community become vocal and involved improves the city,

Bliss said. “We need to hear from you: What is it about the city that you love? What should we change?” she

said. “We want you to stay in Grand Rapids when you graduate. And we don’t know that if you don’t use your voice and speak up.”

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.

The Lanthorn is published on recycled paper and is printed with soy bean ink. This means that our newspaper is entirely compostable. Help us do our part to be kind to the environment by recycling or composting this newspaper after you enjoy reading it. POSTMASTER: Please send form 3579 to: Grand Valley Lanthorn 0051 Kirkhof Center Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI 49401

POWER IN PEOPLE: Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss speaks at the Venderbush Leadership Keynote on Wednesday, April 4. Bliss spoke on the importance of sustaining relationships with others, finding balance during the transitional points in life and more. GVL | EMILY FRYE

APRIL 5, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

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PROGRAMMING

TOGETHER: Students and faculty march together during the MLK Silent Walk on Monday, Jan. 15. Campus diversity remains a priority for GVSU going forward, and striving to improve working conditions for minorities and people of color is the goal of a new program being launched next fall. Cultivate is a program geared toward GVSU faculty that will work to educate staff on social justice. GVL | DYLAN MCINTYRE

Faculty diversity-training program launching next fall BY JAMES KILBORN JKILBORN@LANTHORN.COM

Campus diversity remains a priority for Grand Valley State University going forward, and striving to improve working conditions for minorities and people of color is the goal of a new program being launched next fall. Cultivate, a program geared toward GVSU faculty, will work to educate staff on social justice issues and improve awareness of diversity both on and off campus. Relando Thompkins-Jones, social justice educator and coordinator with GVSU, is working to promote the program and sees it as an opportunity to question systems that perpetuate social injustice, identify sources of inequality and use this information to improve leadership on campus. “Cultivate is an acknowledgment that discourse about leadership that does not implicate the systems that contribute to inequity offers an incomplete contextual picture of the forces that impact the lives and outcomes of the people we serve,” Thompkins-Jones said via email. “We want to engage

participants in thinking critically about their own identities and experiences with bias ... and how those experiences impact the decisions they make and their understanding of systems of inequity that affect themselves, the members of their teams and the students we all serve.” Scott Ayotte, equity officer and director of Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity on campus, sees programs like Cultivate as increasingly important in a rapidly globalizing world. “The goal of Cultivate is to equip leaders and future leaders with the tools, knowledge and experiences necessary to lead for equity,” Ayotte said via email. “As the demographics of higher education and U.S. workforce continue to evolve and become more global, it is imperative for our leaders to do so as well. “Cultivate is a model for leadership development with social equity at the core. For example, taking leadership competencies such as ‘team building’ or ‘change management,’ Cultivate will address issues such as ‘how to build inclusively diverse teams’ and

‘leading practices for managing change across cultures.’” Cultivate is meant to educate GVSU faculty on improving equity on campus and will work to promote individual development through reflec-

GVSU and the Division of Inclusion and Equity is committed to advancing social justice; equity; and inclusion for students, faculty, staff and the greater communities we serve." SCOTT AYOTTE EQUITY OFFICER AND DIRECTOR OF AA/ EEO AT GVSU tion of cultural background and values. The program will feature a dynamic curriculum constructed with the help of the GVSU Division of Inclusion and Equity, Human Re-

sources and the Pew Faculty Teaching and Learning Center. Cultivate will also work to improve relationships between faculty members by recognizing each individual’s unique perspectives and the value their perspectives have in improving campus diversity. “Although Cultivate is in its infancy, our learning outcomes include gaining knowledge and understanding of social justice foundational theories and models as applied to leadership in higher education, ways to better understand how to foster an employee’s growth and development by recognizing their social and cultural context, among others,” Thompkins-Jones said. “We will regularly evaluate participant feedback to make improvements for future cohorts. As the program continues, with additional cohorts, we will also track the impact in a longitudinal way, identifying successes and needs for changing directions.” As Thompkins-Jones said, the program allows for introspection on what areas of GVSU can be affected. “Participants will be asked to identify a specific program,

policy, practice or initiative that might be impacted by an area of focus, including equity and structural diversity, inclusion and campus climate, and learning and development, and will work to apply what they are learning directly to advancing an area of inclusion and equity within their unit,” he added. “Tracking those developments over time will give us a clearer picture of the program’s impact.” GVSU’s Division of Inclusion and Equity works to create a campus where people of all viewpoints and backgrounds are welcome, and Cultivate’s role in improving diversity education and leadership amongst faculty is an important goal for the department. Ayotte sees the role of the department as crucial in providing for the needs of an increasingly diverse campus community. “GVSU and the Division of Inclusion and Equity is committed to advancing social justice; equity; and inclusion for students, faculty, staff and the greater communities we serve,” Ayotte said. “The definition of inclusion and equity evolves with the emerging needs as

a result of intrinsic cultural facets and extrinsic changes in our society. Cultivate was created in response to the needs articulated and opportunities identified from our campus community.” Although Cultivate is focused on improving faculty leadership development, Thompkins-Jones encourages students to share ideas and thoughts on potential topics for the program. “Although the Cultivate pilot program will be utilized by faculty and staff, students are ultimately centered in the work, as their interactions with faculty and staff can play a role in how they experience the university more broadly,” Thompkins-Jones said. Any GVSU student interested in sharing ideas or thoughts on topics or areas they believe educators could benefit from exploring can contact Thompkins-Jones at thomrela@gvsu.edu. GVSU faculty interested in the program are asked to submit an application prior to Monday, April 30. Classes for the program begin Sept. 7 and will be held once a month on Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

SNOW DAY?: A GVSU student stands on campus, upset that the April spring weather was suddenly disrupted by winter flurries on Wednesday, April 4. Still, GVSU classes were in session, and students all over campus broke out their winter gear once again. SEE ANSWERS | A10

EMILY FRYE GVL

A4 | OPINION EDITORIAL

APRIL 5, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON

By Natalie Schunk

Cyberbullying still an issue for college students

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yberbullying is not an issue that stops in middle school. It is happening right here and now among college students. Though the discussion of cyberbullying is generally centered on middle and high school students, college students are the most frequent users of social media and digital technology sites, according to CNN. With so many digital platforms to choose from, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, cyberbullies are able to spread negative messages easily with little culpability. People are also more likely to spew hate when hiding behind a computer screen or a username that protects their anonymity. There is no direct retaliation, and people can often skate by without being held accountable for their cruel words. One example that comes to mind is the app Yik Yak, which featured an anonymous, location-based feed. At first, this app was just a fun way for people in the same area to share news and silly comments. However, as most good things do, this quickly turned bad. People started using the app as an anonymous way to say terrible things about other students, and even professors. According to the Psychiatric Times, cyberbullying among college students may be representative of a continuation of behaviors from middle and high school but in new contexts. Per the same source, aggressors may use more subtle attacks that are meant to exclude or leverage power over others rather than being overtly aggressive. These more passive forms of cyberbullying can often fly under the radar of those not involved, but the victim is still greatly affected. In a college setting,

too, it is easy to brush off cyberbullying as a nonissue. This is because, for the most part, college students are autonomous in their handling of cyberbulling. Parents and professors are not commonly involved, and students feel a personal responsibility to handle things on their own. Still, college campuses should have policies in place to deal with cyberbullying, as it very much exists in this stage of students’ education and lives. Grand Valley State University maintains a policy of collegiality, which reads, in part, “In order to foster a healthy and diverse environment, we will act with integrity, communicate respectfully and accept responsibility for our words and actions.” This policy advocates that students having issues with other students should first try to resolve the issues with the offending person. If that is not possible or too challenging, the student should then seek assistance from the Dean of Students Office, where a representative can also recommend other available resources. If this process does not help fix the matter or the student so decides, they may file a complaint using the appropriate process in the Student Code. If students would feel more comfortable seeking assistance from other organizations on campus, such as the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center, Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity, Division of Inclusion and Equity, or others, they can do that, too. So let’s keep it classy online, Lakers. Cyberbullying and mental health are serious issues, even at GVSU, and the university provides several resources to help students out in these areas. Let’s do our part and be supportive of others online.

4/5/18

editorial@lanthorn.com

When are we old enough to have an opinion?

BY SHAE SLAUGHTER SENIOR ENGLISH MAJOR EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

In the last few weeks, we have seen an uprising in opinions, demonstrations and protests by the youth of this country. To me, this change is both welcomed and encouraged, but to others, these new voices seem to be disruptive and useless. Children, teenagers and young adults have finally decided to speak up, and instead of being commended for doing so, they are told they are just too young to have an opinion. So, my question is, what age is the right age to start speaking up? A lot of the young voices that have arisen over the last month or so are attempting to combat gun violence or are

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

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

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:

0051 KIRKHOF CENTER GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ALLENDALE, MI 49401 616-826-8276

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every person advocating for increased gun control knows every gun make and model or exactly which gun laws each state enforces or every minute detail about gun laws in general, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t allowed to speak up. Of course, I don’t advocate for vocalizing opinions that are completely unfounded, but we also can’t expect people to know every single little detail about every single cause before they can weigh in. The world just doesn’t work like that. People should do research about things they really care about, especially if they want to push for change, but age is not a discriminating factor in the ability to do this. There are plenty of people who are considered old enough to have an opinion who also spew false or misinformed sentiments. A lot of the kids speaking up now have taken time to research what they want to say, or they’ve actually lived the experience they’re trying to stop from happening, evident in the case of the Parkland school shooting survivors. The thing is, we could all always be older. We could

have had more experiences, more education and more knowledge, but for where we are right now, our views make sense. Yes, they might change as time changes, but the same could be true for anyone. Personally, I know that a lot of my life experiences have contributed to how I view the world today, and though I’m only 22, I can speak to a lot of our country’s problems. No, I am not a trained politician or government official who might know the ins and the outs of all of our political actions, but I can still tell you when I think that something is wrong. Ultimately, some of the “grown-ups” in this country need to stop pretending that anyone under the age of 25 can’t have a valid opinion. They should also stop acting like young people can’t understand the Second Amendment just because they’re young. It’s only 27 words, for crying out loud. Having a voice and being able to use it is a crucial part of this country’s foundation. Eliminating our young adults’ ability to speak up is the last thing we should be doing.

Advertisers need to ditch the age-old sexism

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

urging for more gun control, but those topics, though important, are not the point of this particular question. They do represent a perfect example of the problem, though. I am much more interested in the “adults” who are telling the teenagers to basically “shut up” because they’re too young. Or, if they’re not being told to shut up, they’re being told that they’re being manipulated to have the views that they do. I’ve experienced this problem firsthand and more than once. I’ve been told that once I get older and pay taxes, I’ll stop being “so liberal.” Of course, this statement was incorrect when it was made because I had already been paying taxes for a few years, and I have had no qualms about losing some of my money if it means helping people. Even now that I am supposedly “older and wiser,” the greater good of society still matters to me, whether that’s infrastructure, social programs or some other cause. So maybe, just maybe, these kids and young adults actually have opinions and maybe, just maybe, they know what they’re talking about. I’m not saying that

BY AMY MCNEEL SOPHOMORE COM. & WRITING MAJOR EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

Recently, I came across a campaign series by Saint Hoax, a Syrian artist and sociopolitical activist. The campaign, called “Making America Misogynistic Again,” is a collection of old, sexist advertisements whose original headlines have been replaced by quotes that President Donald Trump has said about women. All of the advertisements are classic examples of the misogynistic advertisements of the 1950s and 1960s, and Trump’s quotes fit them almost

immaculately. In one ad for Van Heusen ties, a woman is kneeling down in front of her husband, who is in bed, setting a fully prepared dinner in front of him. Hoax paired this ad with the quote, “Must be a pretty picture, you dropping to your knees,” which Trump said live to a female contestant on Celebrity Apprentice in 2013. Hoax’s series is incredible and very eye-opening, but what surprised me most is that Trump’s quotes, however disgusting, actually aren’t far off from the original headlines of the advertisements. The ad I mentioned above was released by Van Heusen in 1951 and was originally headlined, “Show her it’s a man’s world.” As I continued my research, I realized that sayings and advertisements like this were not atypical during that time, and many advertisements did indeed represent a power deficit between men and women. Another ad that caught my attention was a 1953 Alcoa Aluminum advertisement

for twist-off bottle caps. The advertisement is a picture of a surprised-looking girl holding a bottle with the words, “You mean a woman can open it?” written across the bottom. Other popular themes of ads during that time were women in the kitchen, women sewing, women being beaten by their husbands and women being looked down upon by their husbands. These advertisements made me feel angry and astonished, and I know that today they would be nowhere near acceptable. However, these advertisements made me think a lot about present-day marketing. While sexism isn’t as blatant as it was in the 1950s, I believe it is still a marketing strategy used in a lot of advertisements today. This phenomenon is particularly apparent in the old adage “sex sells.” Female bodies are regularly sexualized in advertisements; their bodies are there for no other reason than to be ogled. An example of this sexual

objectification of women in ads is a 2007 Dolce & Gabbana advertisement where a woman is being restricted by a man, surrounded by three other half-dressed men. This advertisement not only degrades and objectifies women, but it also glorifies sexual abuse. When I look at this advertisement, I do not see marketing for a fashion company: I see an advertisement for sexual assault. Furthermore, today’s advertisements often contain some of the same stereotypical conventions of the 1950s. In April 2017, Co-op released an advertisement for its chocolate piñata egg that said, “Be a good egg. Treat your daughter for doing the washing up.” This advertisement exemplifies the outrageous conventions our society is accustomed to seeing; throughout the years, misogynistic advertisements have become normalized. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

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DO YOU THINK CYBERBULLYING STILL HAPPENS IN COLLEGE?

KATIE HOPPA

CAMRYN DERKETZ

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Nursing HOMETOWN: New Lenox, Illinois

YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Biology HOMETOWN: Jeddo, Michigan

SIDNIE JACKSON

ANGEL MOORE

“If you’re still being cyberbullied, take means to cut it out.”

“No, because we’re a lot more mature in college.”

YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Biochemistry, Spanish HOMETOWN: Detroit, Michigan

YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Nursing HOMETOWN: Chicago, Illinois

APRIL 5, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

NEWS | A5

PERSPECTIVES

Professor lectures on LGBT issues in justice system BY RACHEL MATUSZEWSKI RMATUSZEWSKI@LANTHORN.COM

On Tuesday, April 3, Carrie Buist, assistant professor in the school of criminal justice, spoke to Grand Valley State University students on her co-authored book “Queer Criminology.” Buist’s original research was on policing, but through her interviews she learned many of her participants identified as lesbian. Her interest from these encounters marked the shift in her focus on LGBTQ issues within the criminal justice system. Buist stressed to the audience that there are numerous issues members of the LGBTQIA or “queer” community must face on a daily basis. Crimonology, which asks why people commit a crime, is answered through a number of platforms. Buist said mainstream criminology is research done by, for and about white males. Critical criminology was developed by college students in California who focused on class and race. Feminist criminologists said gender was the number-one predictor of crime and researched the experiences had by both girls and women. Buist asked students how they identified themselves. Students’ answers were athlete and male or female. She then asked

BREAKING DOWN THE ISSUES: Carrie Buist, GVSU professor of criminal justice, lectures during the ‘Queer Criminology’ event on Tuesday, April 3. Buist lectured on the issues that LGBT individuals face on both sides of the criminal justice system, being prisoners or officers, such as discrimination and misrepresentation. GVL | DYLAN MCINTYRE

students how they would feel if they were arrested for these qualities. Through this example, she explained that sometimes people who identify as queer are arrested for no reason other than who they are. “Queer criminology examines the experiences of LGBTQ folks as victims, offenders and criminal legal professionals,” Buist said.

The remainder of Buist’s discussion was about the unfair arrests individuals who identify as LGBTQIA experienced. She reminded students of incidents such as the arrest of lesbians for dressing in a traditionally masculine way in 1957, transgenders taking part in the Stonewall riots of 1969 against the police and a gay club that was detained by police in Highland

Park, Michigan, in 2003. Another issue Buist discussed was bills that dictate who can use which restrooms. Although these laws were put in motion to protect others from inappropriate behavior, Buist said there have been more issues with politicians sexually assaulting people in public bathrooms and none regarding transgenders.

“(I want students to know) the greater understanding of the issues that LGBTQ folks face,” Buist said. “The more we know, the more we can move towards not only tolerance but acceptance and justice.” As a student who identifies as queer and a millennial who is regularly flooded with similar stories on her social media feed, Lucretia Dunlap

was familiar with a few of the cases Buist described. “I (think) hearing about the inequalities (queer students face) would make (students who do not identify as queer) confront the truth,” Dunlap said. “I hope (the examples we learned) would bring (this topic) to their attention (to see) just how unequal it is.”

MEDICINE

Panel to explore state of mental health in Michigan BY ANNIE GIFFELS AGIFFELS@LANTHORN.COM

As awareness of mental health issues continues to grow, Grand Rapids is keeping pace. On Friday, April 6, the Office of the Vice Provost for Health and Midwest Interprofessional Practice, Education and Research Center at Grand Valley State University will be hosting their monthly health forum for the community of Grand Rapids. This month’s topic: mental health. The Health Forum of West Michigan is a forum that takes place on the first Friday of each month during the school year. Every month, the forum tackles a specific topic, though some do repeat when they are especially pertinent to the Grand Rapids community. On average, four panelists are brought in to give presentations and discuss that month’s topic. Free and open to the public, this event will begin at 7:30 a.m. with a light breakfast. Presentations will start around 8 a.m. Held in the DeVos Center Loosemore Auditorium, the forum will begin with a brief welcome from Jean Nagelkerk, the vice provost for health at GVSU. Nagelkerk and the coordinator from the same office, Diane Dykstra, both play a large role in choosing the topic and speakers for each forum. “Diane and I usually get to-

gether to decide the topic and look at the different speaker options,” Nagelkerk said. This month’s group of panelists includes three health professionals who will discuss mental health and how it relates to the Grand Rapids community. Dykstra and Nagelkerk were able to invite Mark Eastburg, the president and CEO of Pine Rest; Scott Gilman, the executive director of Network 180; and David Blair, the president of Affinia Health Network and a physician. Dykstra and Nagelkerk are confident that this group of panelists will be perfect for the forum. “We hope that the panelists will bring different perspectives,” Dykstra said. “This month, we have a public health perspective, a private health perspective and a physician perspective.” After the welcome, the panelists will each give a presentation. The presentations will last about 20 minutes each and will touch on mental health and other topics that go with it. The forum, titled “The State of Mental Health,” is a way for members of the Grand Rapids community to learn more about how this topic relates to them. “Our panelists will speak on the different types of mental health issues that people face,” Nagelkerk said. “We also plan to speak on the resources that

DISCUSSION: A student talks to Brett Eiseler, a recruiter from Spectrum Health, on Feb. 23, 2016. On Friday, April 6, the GVSU Office of the Vice Provost for Health will host the Health Forum of West Michigan, which will focus on the state of mental health. GVL | LUKE HOLMES

are available and the different treatment options.” She expects between 175 and 250 community members to attend the event. Among the crowd of attendees will be other health professionals, health educators, providers and even students from surrounding colleges. Given that admission

for the event is free and mental health will be the focus, Nagelkerk believes students should consider attending. “We think it’s really important that students come, especially students in the medical field,” Nagelkerk said. “They’ll be able to learn more about mental health from experts in the community.”

After the presentations are completed, attendees will have the chance to ask panelists questions. Dykstra and Nagelkerk hope that those who attend the forum will leave with a new perspective. “Everyone will leave with some statistics,” Nagelkerk said. “We hope they’ll understand how big the problem

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is and the things that we are doing as professionals to provide care to those in need.” The forum is open to the public and free to attend. There is free parking available in the GVSU Seward Parking Ramp. For those interested in attending, registration is available online.

A6 | LAKER LIFE ARTS AT A GLANCE

APRIL 5, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

DIVERSITY

‘SPRING THING’ EVENT SET FOR SATURDAY, APRIL 7 The Grand Valley State University Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP) will host its annual spring open-house event, this year called “Spring Thing: Exhale,” on Saturday, April 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the HoltonHooker Learning and Living Center Multipurpose Room. “Spring Thing: Exhale” will offer yoga and meditation, live music, door prizes and more to those who attend the event. The event is a celebration and welcoming of the spring season and an opportunity for relaxation during the last weeks of the semester. Different organizations will be represented at the event. For more information, contact Ashley Fox at foxashle@gvsu.edu.

OPEN AUDITIONS FOR SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL 2018 Plans for the 2018 season of the Grand Valley State University Shakespeare Festival are already underway. This year’s performances will be “King Lear” and “Bard to Go.” There are casting opportunities for all students regardless of major or minor. Backstage duties are also available. Open auditions will be held Monday, April 9, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Tuesday, April 10, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Room 1721 of the Haas Center for Performing Arts. To attend an audition, please sign up at the Louis Armstrong Theatre box office, call 616-331-2300 or email Jack Lane at lanejack@gvsu.edu.

ERIN SCHRODE LECTURE TO BE HELD MONDAY, APRIL 9 Erin Schrode, an environmental activist, is set to visit Grand Valley State University to give a speech on Monday, April 9. The keynote will take place at 7 p.m. in the Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room. Schrode, who has been described as a leading voice on sustainability and social impact, will discuss turning passions into actions. Schrode founded her nonprofit, Turning Green, before she was the age of 18 and has traveled the world to assist with various human rights causes. For more information, contact Zoë Kaufman at 847727-3705.

Grand Rapids to host annual Latin American Film Festival BY TAYLOR CROWLEY TCROWLEY@LANTHORN.COM

For Grand Valley State University community members interested in other cultures, the Grand Rapids Latin American Film Festival (GRLAFF) may offer an exciting and entertaining means of learning. The festival runs from Friday, April 6, through Sunday, April 8, at the Wealthy Street Theatre in Grand Rapids. Along with diverse films, there will also be authentic Latin American food. The festival is LIB 100- and 201-approved. The Wealthy Street Theatre has presented GRLAFF since 2010 and has continued to host the festival on an annual basis. The theater brings films that represent diverse perspectives, origins and themes to show the community.

This year’s festival will present films from many different countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay and Venezuela. After the films, there will be panels as well as time for Q&A sessions. Two directors have been invited as special guests to talk about their films with the community. Catalina Mesa, from Colombia, will present her film “Jericó: The Infinite Flight of Days,” which visualizes a love poem for a small town in Colombia. Gustavo Rondón Córdova, from Venezuela, will present his film “The Family,” which shows a single father trying to protect his young son from life in the streets. Both of these directors are award-winning international filmmakers. “This is a unique opportu-

nity to watch award-winning films that are not easy to find in a theater near you,” said Medar Serrata, associate professor of Spanish at GVSU and member of the organizing committee for GRLAFF. “I heard somebody say that watching a movie is the closest thing to traveling.” Serrata said these films bring viewers closer to a different culture and give them a taste of what life is like in a different culture. Serrata also said he firmly believes that this festival is great for the community. He encourages the community to attend not only for the experience, but also because it is a free event. “In the case of the Grand Rapids Latin American Film Festival, our hope is that students, and the Grand Rapids community as a whole, will be able to appreciate that Latin Amer-

ica is a vibrant, diverse region, a region of people with different linguistic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds,” he said. Not only will the festival feature award-winning filmmakers, but associate professor Jason Yancey’s Spanish students will be performing puppet shows as a new addition to the children’s program. The committee wanted to target families this year, so they invited the students to perform their shows. Yancey’s students will be performing in the Wealthy Street Theatre’s microcinema on Saturday, April 7, at 1:30 p.m., followed by a film. Yancey will also perform his own puppet show. GO TO: www.grlaff.org FOR MORE INFORMATION

‘MENSTRUATION CELEBRATION’ SET FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11

A group of Grand Valley State University students is gearing up to host an event about menstruation and access to menstrual hygiene products on Wednesday, April 11, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Glenn A. Niemeyer Learning and Living Center Multipurpose Room. The event is also serving as a fundraiser and product drive to donate menstrual products to people in K-12 schools. During the event, attendees will be able to put together menstruation bags for the students, engage in various feminist activities and learn about sustainable menstrual products.The event is LIB 100- and 201-approved. For more information, contact Emily Zerenner at zerrenne@mail.gvsu.edu.

PUPPET MASTER: GVSU students Kendra Marckini and Caitlin Hennessy practice their puppet skit Wednesday, March 21, for their upcoming performance at the Grand Rapids Latin American Film Festival, to be held from Friday, April 6, through Sunday, April 8. GVL | EMILY FRYE

ADVOCACY

GV hosts annual Sexual Assault Awareness Week BY TY KONELL LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

SURVIVOR: A sexual assault survivor shares his story on Monday, April 2, at the Survivor Speak event at GVSU. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT

For the last nine years, April has been Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Taking advantage of that awareness and applying it to Grand Valley State University, a consent education and sexual assault prevention student organization implemented Sexual Assault Awareness Week, which has been observed at GVSU since 2009. A myriad of events pertaining to sexual assault, consent and bystander intervention are taking place now through Friday, April 6. Two consent education organizations, Campus for Consent and It’s on Us as Lakers, have each lined up several interactive events, discussions and keynote speeches for the week. Sexual Assault Awareness Week was brought to frui-

tion by a GVSU student organization during the same year that April was named the national month for sexual assault awareness. “President Obama was the first to declare Sexual Assault Awareness Month in 2009, and our organization, under its previous name, Eyes Wide Open, actually created Sexual Assault Awareness Week at GVSU that same year,” said Jessica Goodwin, vice president of programming for Campus for Consent. At GVSU, observing Sexual Assault Awareness Week may be a catalyst for dialogue and understanding. “Honoring Sexual Assault Awareness Week at Grand Valley offers the potential to bring in a lot of students who otherwise might not know a lot about the prevalence of sexual violence on campus and get them to start tough dialogues that they continue after the events are over,” Goodwin said.

“We’ve had a lot of different reactions from attendees throughout the years that really let us know that this stuff needs to be talked about.” Goodwin said the toughest part of being involved in the organization is watching her peers at GVSU lose the drive to make change because of the demands of being a college student. “The hardest part is seeing a lot of passion for sexual assault prevention when something bad happens and watching people just kind of forget about it rather than getting involved,” she said. “Getting people active and involved is really tough because it is hard work emotionally, and people are already dealing with that just being in college.” However, being a college student means more than learning just academics, and members of sexual assault prevention groups say learning consent education and bystander intervention

is of utmost importance at all universities. “It doesn’t only matter at GVSU. It matters on every college campus,” said Madeline Vervaeke, member of It’s on Us as Lakers. “I dream of a student body that is constantly looking out for each other, and I think that Sexual Assault Awareness Week will help impact those students who are participating with us. Bystander intervention is a huge aspect of preventing sexual assault, and if everyone was trained in this, or mostly everyone, then I feel like a lot of sexual assaults would be prevented.” The members of these sexual assault prevention organizations strive to provide students with information about sex and sexual assault that may not have been provided in their K-12 school years. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

SPEAKER

Alex Jenny discusses healing in keynote BY TASMAN MATTOX TMATTOX@LANTHORN.COM

Alex Jenny spoke softly, but every word they said hit

with intention in the Kirkhof Center Monday, April 2. Jenny is a therapist, model and actor who runs various social media with their part-

SEE ANSWERS | A10

ner, Effee Nelly. They came to speak at Grand Valley State University for Sexual Assault Awareness Week. Jenny was brought to GVSU by Campus for Consent, an organization that is holding various events throughout the month. “Campus for Consent is a sexual assault peer education group,” said Jessica Goodwin, Campus for Consent vice president. “We do educational events and present for organizations on campus. I joined two years ago and really just wanted to get involved with something about sex assault.” Goodwin said she had actually heard Jenny speak before and was motivated to bring them to campus. “I actually saw them speak right after I joined Campus for Consent at a sexual violence conference, and they were fantastic,” she said. “It was really inspiring. I hope

that feeling that I got after I heard them speak will encourage other people to get involved. They work as a trauma therapist with a focus on queer and trans youth and people of color. They have a perspective that doesn’t get shared so much.” Jenny accepted the offer to speak with enthusiasm. “I couldn’t say no. What an amazing opportunity,” they said. “It’s humbling every single time. There’s a lot of cognitive dissonance. I feel like a trash human, but all these people seem to really admire me. I was particularly excited because it was my hometown. My family came to see me. That was a first time they had ever seen me be that raw and authentic.” The keynote resonated for each person uniquely. “I think the best part of the event was when Alex talked about their feeling towards healing, how they were going

through healing, and afterwards how they addressed other people’s questions about healing and said it’s more of a process than something that’s going to happen right now,” said Kelly

McCormack, a GVSU freshman who attended the event. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

HEARTFELT: Alex Jenny started off GVSU Sexual Assault Awareness Week in a presentation on Monday, April 2. GVL | DYLAN MCINTYRE

SPORTS | A7

APRIL 5, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

QUICK HITS

BASEBALL

GV MEN’S GOLF PLACES FOURTH AT UW-PARKSIDE SPRING INVITATIONAL

The Grand Valley State men’s golf team earned a fourth-place finish at the UW-Parkside Spring Invitational down in Columbus, Indiana, after carding rounds of 286 and 293 for a two-day total of 579 (+3). The event started Sunday, April 1, and ended Monday, April 2. McKendree took the title after shooting a 574 (-2), while Bellarmine (577, +1) and Tiffin (578, +2) finished just ahead of the Lakers. Alex Scott, Mitchell White and Bryce Messner all tied for 16th place overall with carded scores of 145, +1. Domenic Mancinelli was just behind his teammates with a 146 (+2) to finish tied for 25th, while Eric Nunn tallied a 147 (+3) to finish tied for 27th to round out the Lakers’ team score. Andrew Stevens traveled with the team playing as an individual and finished tied for 53rd with a +8, 152, in the two-day invite. The Lakers will have just a few days off as they are scheduled to head down to Noblesville, Indiana, for the Indianapolis Spring Invitational on Sunday, April 8, through Tuesday, April 10, in their last tournament before the GLIAC Championships.

GV WOMEN’S GOLF PLACES FIFTH AT WEST TEXAS A&M SPRING INVITATIONAL

The Grand Valley State women’s golf team earned a fifth-place finish at the West Texas A&M Spring Invitational after carding rounds of 313 and 300 to finish with a +37, 613, at the two-day event. St. Mary’s University and host school West Texas A&M (600, +24) tied for first place in the event and were followed by Lynn (606, +30); CSU-San Marcos (606, +30); and GVSU to round out the top five schools in the 17-team field. Katie Chipman and Mackenzie Blomberg both carded totals of 151 (+7) to tie for ninth place overall to lead the Laker squad. Olivia Reed shot a 158 (+14) after rounds of 76 and 82 to tie for 29th, while Samantha Moss finished tied for 35th with a +15, 159 (82, 77). Maria Sol Pose rounded out the Laker team score with a 165 (+21) to tie for 53rd place. GVSU will be back on the course Monday, April 9, for NC4K Classic two-day tournament hosted by Ohio Dominican in Columbus, Ohio.

GV WOMEN’S CLUB VOLLEYBALL TO COMPETE IN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT

From Tuesday, April 10, through Sunday, April 15, the Grand Valley State women’s club volleyball team will be in St. Louis, Missouri, to compete in the NCVF National Championship Tournament with 450 other teams from around the country. The club has attended the National Championships consecutively for over two decades. The club consists of two teams of 26 students playing all together, including seven seniors graduating soon after Nationals. The National Championships have been the focus for the club since teams were selected in the beginning of September. Both teams have traveled around the Midwest over the past year in preparation for this tournament. The A team has won our home tournament and the U of M Tournament. The B team just recently won the silver bracket at Ball State and won first place in Bronze at Purdue. For more information and tournament updates, visit their Instagram account @gvsu_vbclub.

SLUGGING: GVSU first baseman Ryan Blake-Jones prepares to swing at a pitch during the Lakers’ 13-3 victory over the Tiffin Dragons on Thursday, March 29, at the GVSU baseball field. The sophomore is currently batting .433 with four home runs, 42 hits and 35 RBIs to lead his team in those categories. COURTESY | BLAKE-JONES

GV baseball’s Ryan Blake-Jones dominating early at the plate BY BRADY MCATAMNEY ASSISTANTSPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

They say that hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports. It’s harder than throwing a spiral, swishing a jumper or stopping a slap shot. To a hit a round ball with a round bat squarely at upwards of 90 miles per hour with less than half a second to react should not even be possible, but it is. If hitting is an art, consider Grand Valley State’s Ryan BlakeJones an artist. In 2018, the catcher-turned-first-baseman is tearing the cover off the ball through 24 games, as evidenced by his .414 batting average, 36 hits, four home runs and 29 RBI—all of which are team highs. “Just changing my mentality from previously being pretty passive to being more aggressive in the batter’s box (has helped),” Blake-Jones said. “Looking for fastballs early, I’ve just been seeing my pitch and getting it. It’s just been an aggressive mindset.

I think it’s really fun to compete, just you versus the pitcher one on one. It’s fun to see who’s better in that moment.” At 6-feet-3-inches and 219 pounds, the imposing sophomore out of Ann Arbor, Michigan, got a late start getting his name out there for college coaches to see, which wasn’t until GVSU head coach Jamie Detillion caught wind of him thanks to his teammate Brett Nearing, who had already committed to GVSU for baseball. “We didn’t know a lot about him at the time; we didn’t know him,” Detillion said. “We had one of the Nearings from his school, so their coach had been in contact with my assistant at the time. We went over and saw him and definitely thought there was some upside there. After, we talked and decided we wanted to bring him in and give him a chance.” It was just as easy for BlakeJones to make the decision to join the Lakers as it was for them to offer him a spot on the squad. “I signed late here, and I really just came on a visit and liked the feel of the

campus,” Blake-Jones said. “It just kind of felt like home here, and the coaching staff were all really great guys, and a friend from high school was already committed here from my team, so it was really a comfortable fit.” Despite Blake-Jones coming in as a catcher and playing there for a good amount of his freshman year, Detillion gave him the opportunity to move out from behind the plate to the first baseman position after a handful of players graduated and left a void there heading into 2018. While his glove at first is still a work in progress, Blake-Jones has done plenty to hold down his fulltime starting spot with only one error through 24 games—good for a .995 fielding percentage. One major part of his game that is not as apparent as his thunderous bat or steady glove, though, is his mind. “I think we can break down any part of the game and he would have something that I would say is an intelligent baseball comment,” Detillion said. “If we ask a question, he always has a solid answer for anything. If we talk about mechan-

ics or we talk about approach, he’s pretty in tune with what it should look like and what it does look like.” The first baseman humbly agreed with his coach, citing his older teammates and coaching staff as sources of knowledge to soak up from as well as the load of baseball he watches in his free time. “I watch a lot of baseball,” he said. “One guy whose swing I really like is Gary Sanchez of the Yankees. He’s just this big power right-handed bat. I really like his swing and how simple it is.” Like Sanchez, Blake-Jones’ poise and confidence from the right side of the plate often translates into success for his team and headaches for opposing pitchers. Detillion cites his presence in the cleanup spot as “stressrelieving,” and that his teammates are able to feed off of him. As long as the weather eventually warms up in Allendale, Blake-Jones and the rest of the Laker lineup could be queued up for big things. GVSU begins a four-game series with Davenport (15-11, 5-3 GLIAC) on Friday, April 6, at 4 p.m.

VARSITY SCHEDULE WOMEN’S LACROSSE Friday 7 p.m vs. Davenport BASEBALL Friday 4 p.m. at Davenport Saturday 1 p.m. at Davenport Sunday noon at Davenport SOFTBALL Friday 3:30 p.m. at Davenport (doubleheader) PROTECTING HIS GROUND: Ryan Blake-Jones keeps an eye on the pitch while holding down first base during the home-opener game against Tiffin on Thursday, March 29. Since converting from catcher to first base in the offseason, Blake-Jones has a .995 fielding percentage, committing only one error. GVL | EMILY FRYE

APRIL 5, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A8 | SPORTS SOFTBALL

QUEEN OF THE HILL: GVSU softball coach Dana Callihan meets with pitcher Allie Grys and her catcher during a mound visit in a home game against Saginaw Valley State on Sunday, March 25. Grys finished with 10 strikeouts, allowing only five hits and one run in a complete game win. The senior is currently 7-1 on the year with 61 strikeouts and a 1.40 ERA in 60 innings of work on the mound for GVSU. GVL | EMILY FRYE

Know your Lakers: GV softball pitcher Allie Grys BY KELLEN VOSS KVOSS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State softball team continues to dominate this season behind excellent pitching, picking up two more wins against Wayne State on Monday, April 2. The Lakers held the Warriors to only two runs total in the doubleheader. The second game of the doubleheader was won by GVSU pitcher Allison Grys. She pitched another solid outing, giving up only one run, two walks and four hits to Wayne State. With the win, Grys improves to 7-1 on the year. The senior has been throwing a softball around for a long time and can’t wait to help this team reach its full potential and lead them to postseason success. “I tried out all the po-

sitions growing up,” Grys said. “I played infield, outfield—basically, I’ve played every position except catcher. But when I played, my number one position was always pitcher.” Grys has always considered herself as someone who lives in the moment, and she loves the game of softball today because she basically gets to play it every day. “I’ve always said that the sport I was in was always my favorite sport,” Grys said. “When it was basketball season, I loved basketball, and when it was softball season, I loved softball.” Not only does Grys love being on the mound, but she excels at the position and has the statistics to prove it. During her first season at GVSU in 2017, she threw three complete games, posting eight wins, two saves and a 1.93 ERA in her 16 appearances. Op-

posing batters had a rather pitiful .253 batting average against her. Before transferring to GVSU, Grys played two years at Lansing Community College, where she had similar success on the mound. During those two years, Grys accumulated a remarkable 92-22 record, 940 total strikeouts and 45 total shutouts. Majoring in clincal exercise science with a focus in physical therapy, Grys felt the need to transfer to GVSU for academic reasons and has loved every minute of her time here. “We played at GV a few times when I played at LCC, and I always liked the school,” Grys said. “I wanted to transfer to a bigger school for education, and GV was close to home. I love the people, and I love everything about Grand Valley.” Grys’ love for her school

is very evident, and she is thankful for all the great coaches who have helped her grow tremendously as a pitcher and a person. “My time here has been short, but I would say from last year that I have improved,” Grys said. “I’ve learned a lot from my coaches here, and I learn from the players around me daily.” When looking back at her time here at GVSU, Grys’ favorite Allendale memory is winning the conference with her team last year, as the Lakers showcased their ability to quickly improve. “Winning the league was pretty cool,” Grys said. “How we started out the year last year was kind of rough, so showing people that we had improved and made it to regionals was awesome.” What makes Grys a pitcher for batters to fear is her multitude of pitches. She doesn’t have just one

go-to pitch. Instead, with her experience, she may even have three. “Before I came here, my drop curve was number one, but now I’ve worked so hard on my jump curve, and I rely on that pitch a lot,” Grys said. “When it comes to my best pitch, I don’t think I could pick between my jump curve and my change-up.” In her senior season, Grys has stepped into a leadership role for the Lakers. She likes to lead by example, as her teammates feed off of her consistent pitching performances. “As a pitcher, everyone feeds off you in a game, and I try to be a leader both on the field and in the dugout,” Grys said. “I like to lead by example. I’m not the biggest talker, but when I’m in a zone on the field, I know people feed off of me even though I’m quiet.”

As the postseason gets closer and closer for this softball team, Grys has a lot of faith in her team, along with a lot of things she wants to accomplish before she hangs up her cleats as a Laker. “I want to win conference again, I want to make regionals again and hopefully we can make it to the World Series,” Grys said. “Doing all that would be an awesome way to end my senior year.” That path to World Series continues this weekend, as the 21-5 Lakers look to pick four more road wins in doubleheaders with Davenport and Purdue Northwest. The games on Friday, April 6, in Grand Rapids are at 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., with the games on Saturday, April 7, in Hammond, Indiana, taking place at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

WHERE

FRESH & FAST MEET ®

STARTING LINEUP: The starting lineup of the GVSU softball team shares a laugh as the rest of the players are introduced during the Lakers’ 8-2 victory over SVSU on Sunday, March 25. GVL | EMILY FRYE

WE DELIVER! VISIT JIMMYJOHNS.COM TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU GO FLEX: GVSU softball players Nikoma Holmen (left) and Rachel Terwilliger (right) each flex their muscles before their 8-2 victory over Saginaw Valley State on Sunday, March 25. GVL | EMILY FRYE

APRIL 5, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

SPORTS | A9

W. LACROSSE

VICTORY HUG: Members of the GVSU lacrosse team gather to hug Meghan Datema after scoring a goal during their 17-10 victory over No. 8 ranked Indianapolis on Thursday, March 29. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT

I’M OPEN!: GVSU senior Meghan Datema runs to an open part of the field during the team’s 17-10 win against Indianapolis in the home opener at GVSU on Thursday, March 29. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT

Meghan Datema leading GV women’s lacrosse in strong senior season BY D’ANGELO STARKS DSTARKS@LANTHORN.COM

Meghan Datema has been, in a word, incredible for the Grand Valley State women’s lacrosse team this season. In the team’s first nine games, Datema scored an impressive 26 goals to lead her team. More specifically, Datema scored in six consecutive games, netting 22 goals in that span. The Lakers have won each of those games. Lacrosse found its way into Datema’s life when she was in sixth grade because it was the first year that a team was offered at Rockford High School. She became interested not only because of her love for sports but because her brother had also played lacrosse. Datema said she always mimicked what her brother did, and from then on, lacrosse stayed in her life and became something she was very good at.

In high school, Datema was a four-year varsity player and won back-toback state championships her junior and senior years. She gives all of the credit to the program they had in place at Rockford. “I was under some great players who really pushed me to be the best lacrosse player that I can be,” Datema said. “And we had a great coach leading the program.” When it came time to look for colleges, continuing her lacrosse career wasn’t initially in the plans. Datema knew she wanted to stay in the state of Michigan and had considered schools such as the University of Michigan and Michigan State before visiting GVSU. That visit is what ultimately swayed her decision. “I came here on a visit and just fell in love with the school,” Datema said. “I thought about how much I did really love lacrosse and

Media presale Thursday at 10am use code:LAKERMEDIA PLAYMAKER: Meghan Datema sets up a play during a victory over Northern Michigan on April 15, 2017, at home. GVL | KEVIN SIELAFF

how it really could help me through these four years and help me make a bond with my teammates and have a great time while studying as well.” Coming into a university and joining a team with people who are older and more experienced can be daunting for an 18-year-old. Datema found herself in a position where she was the quiet, shy player on the team. She credits the captains and seniors on the team for being great leaders, but it was the freshman class that she entered with that helped her feel more comfortable. Women’s lacrosse coach Alicia Groveston has seen a lot of progress from Datema in her time at GVSU. “She was one of the ones who filled a big void for us,” Groveston said. “She stepped up when it came to scoring and in the draw circle. This year, there has been a lot more strategy involved when it comes to the draw circle, and she has been a major part of that.” Datema has been a contributor on the lacrosse team since her freshman year, but she has taken her game to a new level this year. “I think our team chemistry has helped us go a long way this year,” Datema said. “We have a lot of selfless players, so we have meshed well together. Our coaches are very invested and having their knowledge and scouting reports really help us. I think knowing it’s my senior year and this is all I have means I have to give it all I’ve got.” The friendships she has made with her teammates constitute some of Datema’s favorite Laker memories. “We have girls from places (like) Maryland and Texas, and I would have never known them had I not played lacrosse,” she said. “We all have the same schedule, and even though we all hate the 6 a.m. practices and lifts, we all do it and get through it together, so it’s fun.”

APRIL 5, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A10 | SPORTS COMMUNITY

GV’s SAAC to host 2nd annual Anchor Awards BY LOUIS RICARD LRICARD@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) is hosting the second annual Anchor Awards Celebration on Thursday, April 12, at 8:30 p.m. The event is designed to recognize the achievements of GVSU student athletes while fundraising for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Last year, the Anchor Awards generated around $4,500, bumping the SAAC’s fundraising effort to $10,000 for the first time in over four years. But the SAAC is much more than a fundraising organization: It is the voice of all GVSU student athletes. “GVSU SAAC committee is made up of student athletes assembled to provide insight on the student athlete experience and offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student athletes’ lives on campus,” said Erika Wallace, GVSU associate athletic director. Established in 2001 at GVSU, the SAAC has been working closely with the athletic department to ensure that student athletes enjoy their experience to the fullest. According to Wallace, the committee helps provide feedback and insight into athletic department issues, build a sense of community within the athletics program involving all athletic

teams, and organize community service with the kids. “We’re making a big difference,” said Adrienne Kihn, SAAC president. “I’ve seen what we’ve done with Make-A-Wish. I’ve met some of the kids, and we are doing great things. We are a great way to bring the athletic department as a whole, so it’s a great way to give back to the program that’s given us so much.” According to Kihn, the GVSU SAAC struggled to hit its goal of fundraising $10,000 in the past. Since the launch of the Anchor Awards, the committee has reached that goal once already and is on pace to reach it again this year. In previous years, the committee hosted a talent show where they auctioned gear to get as much money as they could. The show did not generate enough money, and the SAAC struggled to find a way to replace it until one of its members— Matt Williams—went to a national SAAC convention. According to Williams, several schools had launched their own version of the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards (ESPYs), a national event designed to recognized professional athletes’ accomplishments. GVSU decided to start its own event, calling it the Anchor Awards. “The SAAC e-board does all of the planning by splitting duties,” Wal-

ANCHOR UP: GVSU athletic director Keri Becker talks with the track and field teams after they won the GLIAC Championship title for men’s and women’s on Sunday, Feb. 25. The GVSU SAAC will hold their second annual Anchor Awards on Thursday, April 12. GVL | EMILY FRYE

lace said. “For example, someone is responsible for decorations, someone is on food, others are on registration and payments.” Once the coaches submit their nominations, the SAAC e-board narrows it down based on the description of the award and proceeds to vote. “Last year, it took us two four-hour meetings because we wanted to be super fair, so we gave everyone a chance,” Kihn said. The awards are fairly similar to the ESPYs, including a player of the year award, a team

of the year award, among others. However, some are original to GVSU, such as the seniorlegacy award for example, one of the most difficult to vote on, according to Kihn. Last year, the Make-AWish Foundation granted 450 wishes thanks to the GVSU SAAC $10,000 contribution. This year, Kihn hopes to be able to grant at least as many wishes, but the main goal is to reach that same amount of money for a second year in a row. Although fundraising is one of the main focuses of

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Meadows Crossing is the best off-campus housing in Grand Valley apartments. Our townhomes and Allendale apartments in Allendale offer modern amenities, comfort, privacy, and a great location.

SUBLEASER Needed! Campus View 4 bedroom 2.5 bathroom townhome with a garage for $400 a month. Lease runs 2018-2019 school year. This space would be shared with 3 awesome girls. The place comes unfurnished but the 3 girls plan on to decorate a lot to make it very stylish. If interested email Annie at anneseyfried7@gmail.com

Boltwood Apartments has affordable housing for GVSU students!Located 4657 Lake Michigan Dr. Allendale, MI 49401 Boltwood offers 1 and 2 bedroom apartments that are pet friendly, has free internet, bus stop located right in front, and easy access to pay rent online. For more information you can contact them at 616-895-5875 or visit their w e b s i t e www.boltwoodgvsu.com

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

Schedule a tour today and experience the best off- campus, GVSU apartments in the Allendale rental market!

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!

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 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

LIVE LIKE A LAKER! Live on campus. Reserve your place for next year at gvsu.edu/liveon

Campus View offers affordable housing with tons o f a m e n i t i e s r i g h t n e ar Grand Valley's Allendale campus!Go online and check us out at www.campusviewhousing.co m, or call (616) 895-6678 to schedule a tour!

Conifer Creek Townhomes Has the lowest cost in town!! $415 a month with cable, internet, and laundry in every unit. Walking distance from Main St. Pub and bus stop. For more information call 616-780-1234 or checkout their website.

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. Ottawa Creek brings together spacious and affordable living with friendly and helpful staff. They offer spacious 2 bedroom apartments for $780 and free parkings, high speed internet, cable, water, and trash. For a LIMITED time residents will receive $200 off their first full months of rent.

Live at Campus West! Rate starting at $375 with many amenities like free Wifi, fitness room, study lounge, cookies, free tanning, 24/7 on-site maintenance and security , and much more! For more information visit campus west at 4832 West Campus drive suite A100 or their website www.CAMPUSWEST.net

to have a simulation training for all student athletes attending GVSU. The GVSU committee has helped the university with initiatives and projects that help maintain the level of success the university is striving for athletically. However, the SAAC’s success off the field, court or anywhere, for that matter, is just as important. The Anchor Awards will be located at the Fieldhouse Arena on Thursday, April 12. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. and tickets are $15 per person.

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Conveniently located at the 48th Avenue entrance to Grand Valley State Universityʼs Allendale campus.

the committee, its student athletes’ well-being is a top priority. Kihn and her eboard hosted the first Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) training session this year with more than 300 student athletes in attendance. The goal is to help athletes with suicide prevention and in recognizing the symptoms before it’s too late. According to Kihn, mental health is a big issue for student athletes, and the SAAC is finding new ways to tackle this problem. Next year’s project is

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Lak e Mi ch igan Co llege: 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 OPEN AUDITIONs FOR: Grand Valley 2018 Shakespeare Festival's 25th Anniversary presenting Kind Lear and out touring Bard To Go. Where: Haas Center for Performing Arts, Room 1721

Mystic woods located at 5386 Pierce St Allendale, MI. Is a community of cottage-style duplexes in a quiet wooded setting. They offer large porches, basketball courts, beach volleyball court, free garages, cable, and internet all Free! For more information call 616-886-8535 or visit

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

Accelerate your academic progress at Lawrence Technological University this summer! Check out there summer programs a ltu.edu/summer

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Jimmy Johnʼs serves from-scratch food made with excellent ingredients. At Jimmy John's, our food is simple; itʼs clean, and itʼs fresh! We use locally purchased produce, which is brought in fresh and hand sliced daily. Come in or order online to enjoy our freaky-fast subs!

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!

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Enclave has Brand New Cottages and Town-homes that come fully furnished with concierge services. For more information contact Enclave at 855-789-7782 or www.enclavenow.com LIVE DOWNTOWN with The Lofts 45 Lyon located at 200 Ionia Ave NW Grand Rapids, MI 49503. They offer studio, 1, 2, 3, and 4 bedroom apartments with Gas, Electric, Water, Trash, andInternet INCLUDED! For more information you call them at 616-285-7560 or visit their website www.5lyon.com.

Making a difference through research, education, and outreach! Student Highlight: Maria Scarborough 2017 Annis Foundation Intern Applications are curretntly being accepted for Summer 2018! Visit wwww.gvsu.edu/wri

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

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