Issue 9, September 22, 2011 - Grand Valley Lanthorn

Housing Guide

Lanthorn G r a n d Va l l e y

section

C

www. lanth o rn . co m

T H E S T U D E N T - R U N N E W S PA P E R S AT G R A N D VA L L E Y T H U R s D AY, s e p t e m b e r 22, 2011

Gender neutral housing

Inside this issue

passed at GVSU

Fall 2012 housing app to reflect new option By Derek Wolff

GVL Archive

Football Preview

GVL Senior Reporter

B1

Joining a growing trend on campuses across the country, Grand Valley State University will offer a gender neutral housing option on the 2012 housing application. From Harvard to Stanford, gender neutral housing has been popularized across the U.S. in response to a rise in activism in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students. GVSU students will now have the opportunity to choose a transgender option, not just male or female, when applying for student housing. A box at the bottom of the housing application will also ask applicants if he or she requires gender neutral housing in addition to the applicant’s gender choice. The Student Senate initially passed a resolution on

lanthorn.com Online slideshows

GVL Graphic / Val Waldbauer

GVL / Eric Coulter

Troy Davis Vigil Amnesty International, NAACP hold a candlelight vigil for death row inmate Troy Davis, who was executed late Wednesday night after several delays.

Back to School Blog Education isn’t a guarantee, so make the most of it while you can. ED HOLMAN GVL Columnist

www.lanthorn.com/blog

What’s Inside

A B C

A2 News A4 Opinion A5 Downtown B1 Sports B4 Laker Life B5 Marketplace C1 Housing Guide

Buses remain crowded despite ridership decrease By Lizzy Balboa GVL Staff Writer

Although officials at Grand Valley State University said the university has made appropriate accommodations to prevent bus overcrowding this year, there have still been complaints of overcrowding despite the significant decrease in ridership since last fall. Conrad Venema, Rapid planning manager, said GVSU added another bus to its contract with the Rapid to prepare for a swell in ridership. However, Pew Campus Operations recorded a 5.97-percent overall yearly decrease in bus riders when comparing the third week of 2011 to the third week of 2010. This decline disrupts an increasing trend from 2002 to 2010 that saw ridership grow by the thousands every year. Even though the busses have fewer users, some students still feel that they are too crowded. “At least for 30 percent of the time I have gone on the bus, I had to stand,” said senior Melissa Ostrowski, who said she was late for a clinic downtown once while waiting more than 35 minutes for a bus. Ostrowski said even if her bus has sitting room, it is always crowded and sometimes too full to pick up more students at other stops. Ostrowski is not alone. Sophomore Chris Benedict

See Buses, A2

GVL / Emanuel Johnson

Breathing room: Students crowd a Rapid Route 50 bus during peak busy hours. Students have complained about overcrowding despite a decrease in ridership and an additional bus in the GVSU rotation.

Jobs Act could kickstart economy BY THE NUMBERS

98%

Businesses whose payroll taxes will be cut in half for their first $5 million in payroll

100%

percent of expensing that will be extended through 2012

4,000 $50

Please Recycle

See Gender, A2

billion

Total tax credits given to a business that hires workers who have been out of work for over six months Total planed investment into modernizing highways, transit, rail and aviation

$35

million

proposed money to invest in preventing layoffs of 280,000 teachers and keeping cops and firefighters on the job Courtesy Photo / 3.dp.blogspot.com

By Dan Spadafora GVL Assistant News Editor

When President Barack Obama unveiled his plan to put Americans back to work two weeks ago, he knew for many citizens the speech had little to do with politics. “The millions of Americans who are watching right now: they don’t care about politics,” Obama said. “They have real life concerns. Many have spent months looking for work…

The purpose of the American Job Act is simple: to put more people back to work and more money in the pockets of those who are working.” The five-section American Jobs Act proposal presented by Obama on Sept. 8 aims to get America back to work by creating tax incentives for small businesses and provide pathways for the unemployed to get back to work. Although many of the proposed incentives look to improve the state of the small business

See Jobs, A2

A2 NEWS Jobs

continued from page A1

owner and the economy, Mark Richards, political science department chair and associate professor at Grand Valley State University, said he sees the possible incentives for Michigan but that the entire bill may not be passed. “It is unlikely that the bill will be passed as a whole,” he said. “Given Michigan’s dismal state of employment, provisions such as the payroll tax cut, business tax cuts and extension of unemployment benefits could have some positive effect. In addition, Michigan would be eligible for funds for rehiring teachers and first responders.” Estimates from officials at the White House say that such incentives from the American Jobs Act would support around 12,000 jobs in Michigan. Section one of the American Jobs Act is devoted towards helping small businesses hire and grow by proposing a temporary elimination of employer payroll taxes on wages for new workers or raises for existing workers. The president is proposing a full holiday on the 6.2 percent payroll tax for any growth in a small businesses’ payroll up to $50 million for the prior year. The Congressional Budget Office is calling this proposal “the most effective of all tax cuts in supporting employment.” Also highlighted in section one is a proposal extending 100 percent expensing into 2012, which would be the largest temporary investment incentive in history. In reaction to the president’s speech and proposal, Governor Rick Snyder urged leaders in Washington, D.C., to continue to follow Michigan’s lead by balancing the budget, reduce debt and begin to save for the future. “Half of all Jobs lost in the entire United

Buses

continued from page A1

said he has had similar experiences. “Sometimes it skips the later stops,” said Benedict, who rides the Route 37 bus from his apartment at 48 West to campus each day. Benedict said his choice to ride the bus over biking or using his roommate’s car is a practical one. “Cars are expensive and bikes won’t work in the winter,” he said. However, Route 37 is one that showed a significant decrease in riders since this time last fall with a decline in more than 3,400 users for the third week of school. Representatives from the Rapid said they did not know why buses

Grand Valley Lanthorn Thursday, September 22, 2011 States over the past decade were lost right here in Michigan,” Snyder said. “We are in a crisis and cannot afford to waste time on unproductive political posturing and partisan fighting. It’s time to make the tough decisions needed to reinvent Michigan and reinvent the United States.” Besides providing tax breaks for small businesses, the American Jobs Act also looks to prevent layoffs of teachers, firefighters and police officers. In section two, $30 billion is proposed to prevent layoffs of up to 280,000 teachers while $5 billion is proposed to support hiring of firefighters and police officers. Also in Section two is a proposed $25 billion to be used on modernizing school infrastructure of at least 35,000 public schools. “The bill wouldn’t impact GVSU directly but it could indirectly benefit students or families of students who have been affected by the current economic malaise,” Richards said. “The bill would benefit students through retention or rehiring of public school teachers, as well as funds made available for renovation of public schools and community colleges.” In section three of the American Jobs Act, Obama proposed tax credits for hiring long-term unemployed. The tax credit will be up to $4,000 for hiring someone who has been looking for a job for over six months. “These are difficult years for our country,” Obama said. “But we are Americans. We are tougher than the times that we live in, and we are bigger than our politics have been. So let’s meet the moment. Let’s go to work and show the world once again why the United State of America remains the greatest nation on Earth.” The full proposal of the American Jobs Act is available online at americanjobsact. com. assistantnews@lanthorn.com

remained so full despite the drop in ridership. Jalyn Kamp of Pew Campus Operations reported a 7.63-percent decrease in riders for the first week of school, a 1.95-percent decrease for the second week and a 17.43-percent decrease for the third week. While this decline is reflected more drastically on Routes 48 and 51, ridership numbers for the Campus Connector and Weekend Connector have increased since last fall. So far, the Weekend Connector has seen about 4,000 more riders this year compared to last year. But even with that increase, ridership has not been as high as the university predicted it to be.

Gender

continued from page A1

March 31 in favor of gender neutral housing on campus, while a student-led Gender Neutral Housing Coalition had been actively seeking equality since early 2011. That equality was brought about a few weeks ago when GVSU announced its decision. Previously, GVSU Housing Director Andy Beachnau said that gender neutral housing wouldn’t be a consideration at GVSU without significant student support. Student Senate President Natalie Cleary explained that since the resolution was passed, the senate has been meeting with the administration as well as students on campus in an effort to raise awareness about what gender neutral housing is and how it will serve GVSU students. “Our diversity affairs committee on senate will work with the Gender Neutral Housing Commission and the administration to ensure that the changes that have been made to help students who want gender neutral housing are effective,” Cleary said. The changes made to the housing application are a direct response by the administration to take action to the need expressed by LGBT students as well, said Colette Seguin Beighley, director of the LGBT Resource Center. “The Gender Neutral Housing option at Grand Valley came about as a result of

Factors contributing to the high estimation include an increase in the student body population, as well as a decrease in car drivers. The number of oncampus parking permits remains fairly steady with only a 2 percent decrease over the last year, said Lisa Garringer, Parking Systems Coordinator for the Department of Public Safety. The department sold 10,400 parking permits this year, about 100 fewer than was issued last year. Students looking to purchase a parking permit should contact the Department of Public Safety at 616-331-3255. For more information on bus routes and pick-up times, visit www.gvsu.edu/bus. ebalboa@lanthorn.com

our LGBT students expressing their housing needs to administrators,” she said. Gender neutral housing will also provide a supportive roommate situation for LGBT students. “It’s important for our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students to be able to live with people they feel are accepting and supportive,” Seguin Beighley said. “The last place a student should feel that they have to educate others or fight for a space to be accepted is the place where they sleep. Gender neutral housing allows our LGBT students to create a living environment that will best support their personal growth and educational achievement.” Any suite-style room on campus in one of the residence halls has the potential to be gender neutral for students applying. While initial feedback to the changes has been positive, Cleary said that Student Senate will continue to meet with the administration and Gender Neutral Housing Coalition in order to continue to provide satisfactory living options for students. “As feedback continues to come in we’ll continue to make sure that students get the results that they need,” she said. “We want to be a voice for students that need gender neutral housing and make sure that afterword students feel comfortable living at Grand Valley.” dwolff@lanthorn.com

NEWS BRIEFS University introduces compliance website

GVSU is introducing a website that will serve as a centralized guide to initiatives related to compliance with federal, state and local laws. The new University Compliance website, www.gvsu. edu/uco/compliance, will be maintained by the University Counsel Office. The website includes a description of the university compliance program as well as a directory of all faculty and staff members responsible for key compliance areas.

CSCE office comes to Allendale

To add to ease of access for faculty and staff, the Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence will open and staff an additional office on Grand Valley State University’s Allendale campus. The new CSCE office will be housed in Mackinac Hall, B-4-231 and be staffed Monday through Thursday every week. CSCE oversees areas like research protection, sponsored programs, undergraduate research and research and development. Faculty members are eligible to meet with Robert Smart, executive director, on Tuesdays and Thursdays; a Human Research Review member on Mondays, and Christian Chamberlain, director of Sponsored Programs, on Wednesdays. The center encourages those who wish to meet with the above to schedule appointments with the CSCE office at 616331-2281.

Engineering program accreditation renewed Grand Valley State University’s engineering program and all contained engineering majors have earned reaccreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineers and Tchnology, Inc. The accreditation is based on an assessment of each program’s objectives and outcomes versus how they are met. It takes nearly a year, and ends with the ABET touring the facilities and meeting with faculty, students and staff. Each accreditation cycle lasts for six years total. In a press release, engineering professor and coordinator of the reaccreditation process, Chris Plouff, said accreditation helps with validating curriculum and programs the school employs, as well as making graduates of the program more attractive to employers.

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICARTIONS 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

Lanthorn

Volume 46, Number 9

EDITORIAL STAFF

ADVERTISING STAFF

BUSINESS STAFF

Editor in Chief EMANUEL JOHNSON

Laker Life Editor HALEY OTMAN

Layout Editor VALERIE WALDBAUER

Advertising Manager KEVIN HAUSFELD

Business Manager ALEX HOUSEMAN

The Grand Valley Lanthorn is published twice-weekly by Grand Valley State University students 62 times a year. One copy of this newspaper is available free of charge to any member of the Grand Valley Community. For additional copies, please contact our business offices. POSTMASTER: Please send form 3579 to Grand Valley Lanthorn, 0051 Kirkhof, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI, 49401

Managing Editor SAMANTHA BUTCHER

A & E Editor BRIANA DOOLAN

Asst. Advertising Manager KIMBERLY VERELLEN

News Editor ANYA ZENTMEYER

Image Editor ERIC COULTER

Layout Staff KENDALL GILBERT KAYLA KOENIGSKNECHT

Receptionists SHANTI COLLINS ANGILEENA GIBSON

Assistant News Editor DAN SPADAFORA

Assistant Image Editor RANE MARTIN

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

Sports Editor BRADY FREDERICKSEN

Copy Editor HALEY OTMAN

Web Team JORDAN JANKOWSKI THOMAS LEE ERIC MATCHETTE TY BAILLIE DANIEL HODGES

Account Managers MICHELLE SCHEFFERS RENAY SCHOENMAKER ERIKKA SIMPSON Ad Designers RANDI FORD LAUREN PURDY

Distribution THOMAS LEE STEPHEN PRATT STEVEN MERDZINSKI

A3 NEWS

Grand Valley Lanthorn Thursday, September 22, 2011

NEWS EDITOR ANYA ZENTMEYER news@lanthorn.com

Twitter, Facebook new course ‘requirements’ By Jessie Miller GVL Staff Writer

In March 2011, the Grand Valley State University Social Media Committee surveyed faculty, staff, alumni and students on campus in regards to their social media habits and practices. The results, released in early September, suggest that as social networking has become an increasingly prevalent mean of information in society, and teachers are slowly incorporating it into GVSU classes. Brian Bowe, a journalism professor and social media committee member at GVSU, came up with the idea for the Social Media Survey with a colleague, D. Yvette Wohn, in his doctorate program in Media and Information Studies at Michigan State University. “The idea for the survey arose out of their desire to discover what it means when people read news not strictly from a news network but filtered through their social network friends,” Bowe said. “They are continuing to comb through the data and hope to produce even more results within the next few months.” Bowe is an advocate of using social networking in classes. He tweets, updates and checks in (he has Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare accounts) — and he makes sure his students do too. In one of his classes, Art and Music Criticism, Bowe had his students create a Twitter account to follow prominent art critics and have discussions about the arts.

“I think it’s really important to try to communicate with students in ways that are meaningful to them... It’s very clear to me that social media is a powerful way of interacting with students,” Bowe said. According to the GVSU Social Media Survey results, 94 percent of participants have Facebook accounts, whereas only 31.4 percent have a Twitter account. In the survey, 88 percent of participants said they use social networking at least once a day, and of those who use Twitter, only 13 percent use it for professional networking. “I think that people who use Twitter tend to think that more people use it more than they actually do,” he said. “I find there’s still a significant amount of people that don’t use Twitter or don’t know how to use it. I think I need to spend more time on that. I have units planned on techniques for using it.” Bowe, who has been teaching at GVSU for 11 years, learned early on in his teaching career the importance of connecting with students on a social level. Over the years, he has adopted several uses for social networking in classes. “One of the things I’ve noticed right away is that it allows me to stay in contact with students in a less formal way and it’s really cool to have students tweeting things about class back to me without me even saying anything,” he said. Bowe said there are some noticeable drawbacks to social networking in classrooms, though. When he has classes in lab settings, he notices that many students are on Facebook the whole time. “I try to not blame the technology. What I try to do is instead ask myself: ‘Is there

“...It’s really cool to

have students tweeting things about class back to me...

”

Brian Bowe GVSU professor

a research task we can use this technology source for since it’s sitting right there?’” he said. Other professors at GVSU do not have such a willingness to incorporate social networking into their classes. Michael Webster, an English professor, is one of many professors that uphold the viewpoint that social networking belongs outside the classroom. “Social networking is just that: social,” he said. “A class, on the other hand, has more serious goals than just making connections and posting updates. Moreover, social networking, while social, seems too cumbersome and electronic to me. I prefer the give and take and human interaction that occurs with face-to-face discussion in a classroom full of people who can see one another’s facial expressions and hear tone of voice.” Despite the potential drawbacks for using social networking in class, Bowe still advocates it and believes social networking holds value in enhancing the dialogue between teacher and students. “By the time we get to a college level,

GVL / Kate Kaurich

Plugged in: Professor Brian Bowe listens intently to guest speaker. Bowe is one of a growing number of professors to include social media in his classroom.

learning takes place best when it happens in dialogue and social media provides one avenue where it’s all about dialogue,” he said. “So when you can have some good interactions going back and forth, both the student and teacher are co-creating this learning space.” In the debate between the benefits and drawbacks of using social networking in class, Bowe provides a happy medium. “Technology is neither inherently good nor bad—it’s what you do with it,” he said. jmiller@lanthorn.com

Help is a phone call away GVPD, Counseling Center work together to help suicidal students By Chelsea Lane GVL Staff Writer

For many Grand Valley State University students, college is an exciting chance at new friends, new experiences and newfound independence. But for some, the change in surroundings and the stresses of college life can become overwhelming. Capt. Brandon DeHaan, assistant director of the GVSU Police Department, said the department often experiences an increase in calls regarding students with depression, suicidal ideation, suicidal intent or students attempting suicide around midterms and the holiday season. Last year, the GVPD responded to nine such calls during the midterm season. Since Aug. 22 of this year, the department has responded to two such calls. Students experiencing suicidal ideation are those who seriously consider suicide and may talk about wanting to end their lives. The term “suicidal intent” means the student has gone so far as to create a specific suicide plan, which may then lead to a suicide attempt. Warning signs of depression or suicidal ideation and intent include lethargy, giving away possessions, stockpiling medication, losing a loved one to suicide and talking about feelings of low selfworth. In the history of the university, four students have committed suicide on campus, the most recent suicide occurring in 2005. Three of the students jumped off of the Little Mac Bridge and two died from selfinflicted gunshot wounds. When responding to a suicide or depressionrelated call, the department partners closely with the GVSU Counseling Center to help assess the student’s mental state and determine the best course of action for the student’s well-being.

The Counseling Center also trains officers on how to respond to a depression or suicide call. “We kind of support each other,” said Barb Palombi, Counseling Center director. “They work from the legal point of view and we provide the mental health support that is needed. We have a good relationship.” Together, the officers and counselors determine if the student is at immediate risk in his current environment. If the student is believed to be in life-threatening danger, they will be transported to the hospital for psychiatric evaluation or to receive medical attention. If the student does not voluntarily agree to undergo psychiatric evaluation, the court system can place the student under a 72-hour involuntary psychiatric hold, although both DeHaan and Palombi said this measure is less common than the student going to the hospital voluntarily. A counselor will then follow up with students at their residences or at the hospital to check on how they are doing and discuss possible counseling options. In some cases, students are asked to sign a behavioral contract with the university. Behavioral contracts can include an agreement not to self-harm, a promise to attend counseling or bans from high-risk on-campus

areas like the Little Mac Bridge. “I think sometimes students see them as a punishment and they’re really not meant that way,” Palombi said of the behavioral contracts. “We want you to be successful and these kind of behaviors are preventing that.” In most instances, the student is asked to attend counseling. The Counseling Center recently changed its walk-in hours in favor of 50 standing one-on-one appointments each week, which students can schedule over the phone or in person. Palombi said the changes were made to ensure each student received longer, quality sessions with a counselor instead of a walkin session that may only last 20 minutes. Students may schedule up to six one-on-one appointments, then are asked to join group therapy or a long-term process group if they would benefit from additional counseling. Palombi said for the average student using the counseling center, three or four visits is usually sufficient. Palombi also estimated that approximately 90 percent of in-crisis students are able to successfully complete their degrees without leaving the university. “We’ve had a number of students in crisis,” she said. “Every year it seems

to increase more… I really enjoy working with students and the fact that right now may not be the best time for the student (to seek treatment) doesn’t mean they’re not welcome.” Palombi credited the increase in students using the Counseling Center to greater awareness of certain warning behaviors and the fact that college students often face an increase of stress coupled with a loss of familiar at-home support systems. However, Palombi also believes more students book appointments or voice concern to an at-risk friend because they feel GVSU will respond to the situation and offer proper support. If a student feels a friend or roommate may be experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts, Palombi recommends asking the friend about any feelings or problems or contacting a resident assistant. Offering to help book a counseling appointment or accompany the friend to his first

“When in doubt, call the police. You’re not going to see us show up and be upset... Students should not hesitate to call whenever there is a concern.

”

Capt. Brandon DeHaan Assistant director, GVPD

counseling session can also be helpful, she added. Counseling center appointments can be scheduled either in person at the center itself, located inside the Student Services Building, or over the phone at 616-331-3215. In the event of an emergency or a student posing an immediate risk to themselves or others, dial the GVPD at 616-3313255. “When in doubt, call the police,” DeHaan said. “You’re not going to see us show up and be upset… Students should not hesitate to call whenever there is a concern.” clane@lanthorn.com

Counseling Center at GVSU Visit the office Located in the Student Services Building or call 616-331-3215 To schedule an appointment gvcounsl@ gvsu.edu

A4 OPINION LANTHORN OPINION ONLINE

Visit LANTHORN.COM

READ THE BLOGS “Back to School” By Edward Holman GVL Blogger

Grand Valley Lanthorn Thursday, September 22, 2011

VALLEY VOTE

Did the U.S. Supreme Court make the right decision in the Troy Davis case? Vote online at lanthorn.com

EDITORIAL

Last issue’s question: Was Floyd Mayweather’s knockout against Tito Ortiz a cheap shot?

YES 20% NO 80%

COURTESY EDITORIAL CARTOON I KING FEATURES

Open ears Grand Valley State University’s inclusion of a gender neutral housing option for Fall 2012 proves the university’s responsiveness to student requests.

T

he recent adoption of a gender neutral housing option at Grand Valley State University should leave every GVSU student appreciative that they attend a university that listens to its students. In the spring of 2010, a Lanthorn reporter asked Andy Beachnau, director of Housing at GVSU, whether the university would consider adopting gender neutral housing option. At the time, Beachnau answered with an unequivocal “no,” but a year and several letters to the editor later, the university announced this month that gender neutral housing would be available at GVSU in 2012. The decision was made with the university’s LGBT community in mind, but last year students from all years, majors, political affiliations and sexual orientations banded together to demand a more inclusive housing policy. Some students formed the Gender Neutral Housing Coalition, which set up meetings with GVSU President Thomas J. Haas, Housing and the LGBT Resource Center, while others voiced their support through petitions and letters to the editor. Resident assistants organized events to spread the word while the Student Senate passed a resolution in favor of it. Major kudos go out to university administration for demonstrating flexibility and a willingness to listen to students and make appropriate changes to meet their expectations of the university. Acknowledging the swell of support student showed last year is an encouraging symbol of GVSU’s commitment to its students as well as to embrace new traditions that foster an inclusive, tolerant atmosphere. But even more kudos go out to members of the GNHC for making their voices heard and seeing the issue through to the end. The GNHC worked tirelessly toward its goal despite considerable obstacles, such as Housing’s initial unwillingness and the conservatism of West Michigan. Its continued work, even from senior members who would not be impacted by the decision, is yet another sign of the inclusiveness of the GVSU community. Gender neutral housing only compliments the university’s previous inclusion and equality initiatives, which include the development of the Women’s and LGBT Resource Centers and a bias incident protocol. Their continuing recommitment to that goal — as well as the campus community’s demonstrated willingness to take up the torch when the administration does not — is an encouraging sign that the university puts its students before everything else.

Lanthorn The student-run newspapers at Grand Valley State University

EDITORIAL PAGE BOARD EMANUEL JOHNSON SAMANTHA BUTCHER ANYA ZENTMEYER KEVIN HAUSFELD

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Advertising Manager

GVL OPINION POLICY

The ultimate goal of the Grand Valley Lanthorn opinion page is to stimulate discussion and action on topics of interest to the Grand Valley Community. Student opinions do not reflect those of the Grand Valley Lanthorn. The Grand Valley Lanthorn welcomes reader viewpoints and offers three vehicles of expression for reader opinions: letters to the editor, guest columns and phone responses. Letters must include the author’s name and be accompanied by current picture identification if dropped off in person. Letters will be checked by an employee of the Grand Valley Lanthorn. Letters appear as space permits each issue. The limit for letter length is one page, single spaced. The editor reserves the right to edit and condense letters and columns for length restrictions and clarity. All letters must be typed. The Grand Valley Lanthorn will not be held responsible for errors that appear in print as a result of transcribing handwritten letters or e-mail typographic errors. The name of the author may be withheld for compelling reasons. The content, information and views expressed are not approved by nor necessarily represent those of the university, its Board of Trustees, officers, faculty and staff.

Q: Have you had any problems with the bus system at GVSU?

“There should be a direct 50 to the Pew Campus because you have to get on the 50 so early so you’re not late.”

“The worst is when you wait 30 minutes for a bus when it’s right in front of the same bus.”

“There needs to be another 37, there is usually a pretty long wait and it’s generally packed — not very safe.”

“Yes, I have — who hasn’t? But what can you do?”

“No, the busing system at Grand Valley is stupedous.”

Adam Wernette Junior Biomedical sciences Frankenmuth, Mich.

Jake Moench Junior Biomedical sciences Grand Rapids, Mich.

Dylan Runions Junior Clinical engineering Davisburg, Mich.

Regina Robinson Junior Biomedical sciences Grand Haven, Mich.

Brooke Bukowski Junior Radiology Bay City, Mich.

Dear Taylor Lautner, where are you?

By Chris Slattery GVL Columnist

Last year, I wrote a column about how awesome it would be if you made good on your ambitious claim that you would like to attend Grand Valley State University to receive your higher education. You being the famous and perpetuallyshirtless star of the Twilight saga, your celebrity could have made a difference in some Freshman’s life by rooming with him. The column was humorous and heartfelt, and the fact that I won no major awards for the piece continues to baffle me.

But that is beside the point, Mr. Lautner, as I am beside myself with anger. Please note that this is not enough anger that would necessitate any legal actions on your part, yet I am still very upset. Since your announcement that you would like to attend college after wrapping on the Twilight movies — and more specifically, this institution — there has been no further word on what you wish to do with your education. That, sir, is what we call a _____tease. Because this is a classy periodical, I can only reference the second part of the word. Just know that the first part isn’t good. I was a Team Jacob man, sir, and it breaks my heart for you to “tease” us like this. And now the media is bombarding us with advertisements of your new film, “Abduction,” with

Sigourney Weaver and that guy from that movie. That wasn’t the deal, Mr. Lautner. It almost makes me wish we had sealed some kind of deal with a pinky promise. I was naïve to think that you could put your career on hold for a few years to get a degree. That’s what I did with my job as a model. Do you know how disheartening it is to expect something on this massive scale and then suffer an insufferable letdown? It’s like asking Santa that you want a Lego Millennium Falcon for Christmas and then getting a Jar-Jar Binks plush toy. You probably don’t know that disappointment since you’re this big movie star now about could probably buy Christmas if you wanted to. As a committed student who wishes to showcase GVSU in the most proactive ways possible, you would

have been our ace in the hole in increasing our enrollment (which we totally need right now, am I right?). Who do we get now, if we still want a celebrity here? Dakota Fanning? Let me tell you something: there is no way that I want anything to do with you after this passive slap in the face. If, for some impulsive reason, you feel the need to further your education, I insist that you find another institution, sir. Whatever relationship that you conjured up in your mind that we had has been severely severed, so you mull that over in between reading scripts for a twelfth Twilight movie (part 6). And if this column does not win me some kind of editorial award, you better watch your back (but in a non-threatening way). cslattery@lanthorn.com

Rick Perry is the Republican ringer By Andrew Justus GVL Columnist

In the cutthroat world of recreational sports, the ringer is that new guy who shows up out of the blue and whops on everybody else. This person usually garners much animosity from his opponents and sometimes must suffer their ill will and dirty play. In the field of presidential candidates today, that person is Rick Perry. After starting his campaign only weeks ago, the current Texas governor is trouncing his opponents and relegating Tea Party favorite Michele Bachmann to near obscurity. Just like ‘that guy’ who shows up with the other soccer team on game day

only to score three goals in the first few minutes, Perry has drawn criticism from his opponents as they have scrambled to erase his early momentum. The other GOP candidates have taken aim on his former endorsements of Democrat Al Gore and record as governor, including an executive order to have school-aged girls vaccinated for human papillomavirus, commonly known as HPV, which stirred emotions among Christian conservatives and those skeptical of his political ties to the vaccine’s manufacturer. What has upset the other candidates less is his economic record as governor of Texas, something Perry has trumpeted as “great

success” (to quote Borat). Despite the perception that Texas’ pro-business atmosphere has made it an oasis of jobs in an otherwise bleak American economy, reality is quite different. The Lone Star state’s economy ties Mississippi for the highest percentage of hourly workers earning minimum wage. The large number of working poor in Texas strain resources such as food banks that also serve the destitute and unemployed. Despite the prevalence of low-wage jobs in his state, Texas’ unemployment is at eight percent, slightly lower than the national average but still far from full employment. Low wages, coupled with lax regulation and a

pro-business climate have combined to make Texas not the economic miracle Perry’s campaign claims it is but more like the gilded age of the late 1800’s, where tremendous wealth was created for a relative few on the backs of the poorly paid working people, and where the gap between rich and poor is cavernous. The questions the other candidates should be raising about Perry is whether we want an economy like Texas’ in the rest of the country. If we want to see increased low wage employment and pooling of resources at the expense of the rest of society whose own upward mobility and quality of life are sacrificed. ajustus@lanthorn.com

A5 your space Social stigma surrounding depression unjustified

Grand Valley Lanthorn Thursday, September 22, 2011

Photo of the Issue: “Untitled”

By James Hinkson GVSU Student

For years now I’ve struggled with not only depression and the medical implications of it, but also the social stigma of being classified into a group of people that are called overly emotional, inappropriately disenfranchised, and a chore to be around in general. I know so many people who feel depressed and are hesitant to seek treatment because they feel that it would classify them as being freaks or having something wrong with them, there is such a stigma attached to taking a Prozac in the morning. But the more I think about it I find it confusing that more people aren’t depressed in the society and peer groups that we are all a part of in this day and age. We’re raised with these basic notions of right and wrong, fair and unfair, etc, and the longer that an individual lives in this world the more likely they are to feel disillusioned with the fact that everyone isn’t going to have a chance to fight Lord Voldemort in a battle for the world with clear opponents, the enchantment Sleeping Beauty is under is a coma and we’re not all going to grow up to be movie gods, or rock stars. The western culture is contaminated, it’s rife with the notions of throwing a friend under the bus for a promotion, for the priority of immediate happiness rather than lasting relationships or consideration of if a decision is the least difficult or the least wrong. Can anyone really be blamed? Is there truly anything wrong with having the desire to prod on your own success? After all it’s something implicit in existence, the idea of continuing your own success. Now this lack of correlation between idealistic values and ambition is truly a sad thing, because most people in the world today are just trying to succeed in any way possible, and after all, the values learned in daily life are infinitely more bold than those in Disney’s classics. And when almost everyone in the world is reminded on a semi daily basis that ambition is prioritized over empathy it’s no surprise. Having contempt for this truth is not only a natural reaction for those raised on Nickelodeon and the Lifetime channel, but also I find it shocking that more people don’t fully embrace how difficult the contrast can really be. So how do these emotions of discontent manifest? So many different ways but the one that I see most often is depression. To feel helpless, lonely in crowds of others that have accepted the rat race ideology and embraced it with vigor. So is it weak to feel generalized depression, does it make you a freak, something to be looked down upon? Or does it make you a human being, an analog individual in this increasingly emotionless digital world? More than anything, I want to stress that those undergoing depression are not alone, not freaks, not helpless. There is help out there for everyone and the longer you wait to take advantage of the resources available to you as a GVSU student, the farther you are from something different, something that can be worth it.

“

Caley Faulkner

Chatter box:

The following comments were taken from a blog focuses on science, reason, free speech, critical thinking, post from the Lanthorn website, www.lanthorn. and tolerance of everyone.” — 9:46 p.m. Sept. 20, 2011, by Ellen Lundgren com, in which News Editor Anya Zentmeyer described her personal perception of Friday’s scene during Jed Smock’s visit to GVSU. “If you claim that the students were disrespecting Jed, “Respectfully stood at the sidelines? It is respectful to watch as people deride and taunt a man for his beliefs? And hold signs expressing care and compassion while they watch him be treated without any regard to his worth as a person whatsoever? I agree with the sentiment of this article that people were behaving terribly, a mob mentality arose though to Brother Jed you who stood on the sidelines with disgust in your heart were just another member of the large crowd and at the very least complicit with the debasing displays of contempt with your silence and inaction. As for all but threw tomatoes, I was there as well at the high point of derision and people were actually throwing pennies at the man, some hitting him. That’s when I stepped it, that’s when I said enough. I feel bad it wasn’t sooner and wonder what else would have been done if I wasn’t there.” — 11:12 p.m. Sept. 18, 2011, by Brandan Bilski “Personally, I felt that there was a tremendous amount of respect shown towards Brother Jed. Students asked him questions, talk about his points of view, and shared their own ideas. Sure it was a bit heated, but when you have an irrational man shouting over you, you have to yell to get your point across. One beautiful side effect I noticed is that when Jed wouldn’t listen anymore, students would turn and talk to each other. I witnessed many diverse and intelligent students, previously strangers to each other, now engaged in dialogue about religion, free speech, individual rights, and more, and I don’t think that discussion can ever be a bad thing. For those who think that Jed was disrespected, I think he would beg to differ. His whole purpose is to get us riled up and debating him. He’s done this for 37 years and if having college students shout back at him hurt his feelings, he wouldn’t still be doing it. He considers what happened at GVSU a successful day for him. While I consider it a successful day for Center for Inquiry, and organization that

then you must concede that he disrespected many of us with his spewing words of hate toward young people and homosexuals. Free speech goes both ways/ He was allowed to speak his mind and the students responded in kind.” — 10:00 p.m. Sept. 20, 2011, by Shaun Carter “Well yes there was respect shown after it was demanded. Before I stepped in there was no dialogue between the students and Jed or discussion between students, it was Jed versus a crowd. People were not attempting to argue against him but rather they were making disrespectful jeers and taunts and mocking what he was saying. Watch the video, the mentalitiy when I got there: ‘But its fun to give him shit’ and “YouTube loves this stuff” it was a show of ridicule and ridiculousness to everyone besides Jed. Look at this article, the writer of it was there and depicts well how bad it was getting. The Center for Inquiry were the only ones not considered to be assholes … that doesn’t seem like there was respect shown towards him. After I started to stand in the Middle with him sure, a dialogue began but it wasn’t prompted by the Center for Inquiry with signs and silence. This sort of thing probably rarely ends in such a positive manner as neither side will gain any ground because those who are passionate enough to make an arguement are usually completley convinced of their view and unwavering in their defense of it. It is not a dialogue but alternation of declarations that is condusive to nothing but agitation. Reason is rarely found at events like this nor is respect.” — 10:13 p.m. Sept. 20, 2011, by Brandan Bilski “I do concede that what he was saying was blatantly offensive and hurtful to many though I cannot grant that the response was in kind. His comments stemmed from his belief with the ultimate intent to invoke fear and illicit change with the final result being a changed perspective that he deemed as key to the ultimate good. He wasn’t pointing at the homosexual and saying those things

just because he wanted to offend. The responses by the crowd, were eye for an eye revenge seeking smites, full of attitude and angst meant to inflict the same offense they were feeling. How is that dialogue? Reasonable people, or people who maintain dignity and act according to the love and respect they claim to have for others would not spew things back as was done, they would stay silent or walk away.” — 10:31 p.m. Sept. 20, 2011, by Brandan Bilski “I am a student at southeast Missouri state university, I came across this article. Brother jed came to my campus last semester. like this article says he was very offensive to our student body as well. We, however, were not rude or had a “mob like” mentality. We wanted to have an intellectual conversations about why he thought “ we are all going to hell.“ Any peers would try to reason with him again and again, but he refused to listen. He may have appreaded to be more or less a victim at this campus, but i can assure you that it is whole different case entirely. His ideals are generations outdated, and he shouldn’t be preaching to us telling us were going to hell. It’s wrong, offensive, and outdated.” — 3:44 a.m. Sept. 21, 2011, by me semo “The students of GVSU gave Brother Jed respect. Many students throughout the day asked questions and talked with him in a civil manner.There were a few people that crossed the line by throwing things, but I do not believe that anything would have gotten out of control. Throughout the day many students would talk and rationalize with the people that crossed the line, it was not just one person. Also, I do not feel Brother Jed was showing respect to us, GVSU students. By saying that we are all going to hell for being sinners, homosexuals, fornicators, etc. He is insulting us, our friends and our peers. Of course people are going to get defensive and argumentative. If anything, I am proud of GVSU for standing up for what they believe in. Our community, society and our world need to show and feel more compassion, and Brother Jed’s message was anything but compassionate. Staying silent or ignoring the problem does nothing, we have to stand up against hate.” — 9:27 a.m. Sept. 21, 2011, by Lynsey Marcellus

A6 NEWS

Grand Valley Lanthorn Thursday, September 22, 2011

DOWNTOWN

Seidman College of Business students adopt honor code Higher standards, integrity at forefront amid national business school criticism By Elijah Brumback GVL Staff Writer

The cat is out of the bag on big business and its practices, and while many cling to their britches as scandal after skeleton comes flying out of the corporate closet, business schools across the country are also taking some of the rap. In part a response to such criticism, Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business announced Monday that it would be introducing an honor code in addition to the Student Code, under which the entire university already operates. Seidman school students initiated the idea and wrote the code as well. “Having a university-level student code is absolutely critical,” said H. James Williams, dean of the Seidman School of Business. “Still, in creating the code of honor the students made a profound statement that they intend to hold themselves to higher level of ethics and social responsibility.” A study at the Center for Academic Integrity at Duke University found 56 percent of MBA students acknowledge cheating, compared with 54 percent in engineering, 48 percent in education and 45 percent in law school. As for undergraduate cheating, Sachar reported that earlier studies have found high incidences of cheating among business students. Donald McCabe, professor of management and global business at Rutgers University and author of the Duke University study, found that 84 percent of undergraduate business students said they cheated at least once, compared with 72 percent of engineering students and 66 percent of all students. Williams said that while this study may have reported those finding, others have found different results. In May 2007, news broke on Dukes’ Fuqua School of Business after nearly 10 percent of its students were either suspended or expelled after a final exam cheating scandal that spring. In trying to reconcile the issue, student leaders elected “honor representatives” for each class section and created about a dozen student task forces to raise the visibility of the school’s honor code. Many schools across the country have honor codes, but many still believe there are issues that go past simply adopting one. “Sometimes students take shortcuts and I’m not sure how to explain that,” Willams said. “A lot of that blame has been heaped on the business schools around the country.” Many critics attribute problems to the success-at-all-cost attitudes some business students exhibit. “In business schools students seem to feel increased pressure to attain grades that attract recruiters,” Willams said. “I think a lot of students studying business view business as more cutthroat than it is and bring that attitude with them to college.” While Williams’ premise appear to echo that of McCabe, Williams said at GVSU the business school wants to disabuse students of the notion that the bottom line is all that is important, and so far the records indicate that success. According to data provided by Ginger Randall, associate dean of students, in the past five years there have only been seven total academic dishonesty cases that went through the GVSU judicial system, four of which were deemed plagiarism. “It’s not been a widespread problem during the years I have served as dean,” said Williams, who is in his eighth year. “Any of those incidences must be reported to my office. We have not had a disproportionate number.” Seidman Business College is the first department at GVSU to adopt a separate honor code, but what sets it further apart from other institutions is what Melissa Vegter, a business analyst for BDO Seidman who worked on the honor code, called “aspirational language.” In a GVSU News and Information Service press release,

GVL Archive

Upright citizens: H. J. Williams, dean of the Seidman College of Business, addresses the crowd during the Seidman Business School ground breaking. Williams worked with students to develop an honor code for the Seidman College, the university’s first college-specific code.

Vegter said the code is meant to be in the affirmative and not focused on punitive measures. She said the code comes not because there is a problem with Seidman students, but because they want to “generate a culture that embraces ethical behavior.” Senior marketing and management major Andrew Mills, who also worked on code’s development, said there was a consensus that the code was a necessary action. “I think there was before the project was started, and definitely as we got underway and started doing some large surveys of the graduate and undergraduate student bodies,” he said. “The response was overwhelming in favor of having the code, but students went further and included lengthy comments on what they wanted it to look like.” Mills said the code makes a statement about who the students are in the College of Business and, by extension, the students at GVSU. For now it remains to be seen if the code will affect the level of integrity within the business school, but this will take time. “I sincerely hope it does, but I would still be excited if it just started conversations about ethical behavior,” Mills said. “We realize that the honor code won’t change things overnight. However, if it could help long-term affect behavior or maybe make a student think twice, I think we would call this a success.” At any rate, having an honor code is something those involved agree only improves the atmosphere of the university. “On a couple of levels, in the student population it really provides some impetus to creating a culture of ethical business leadership,” Williams said. “It’s good for the culture of the college. It’s a message students are sending that, it is incumbent on them as future leaders to promote social responsibility and ethics.” The Seidman Student Code of Honor does not create a different set of penalties for those found to have broken the code. Instead, the Honor Code defers the process outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. Williams said there is a new code of honor board for judiciating violations, which was also created by the students and is available on the Seidman College website. ebrumback@lanthorn.com

POLICE BLOTTER Police seek owner of stolen property GVSU police are currently searching for the owner of a stolen GPS unit they have recovered. The unit is believed to have been stolen at the start of August. Anyone who thinks he or she may be the owner of the GPS unit is advised to contact the GVPD at 616-331-3255.

On-campus graffiti will cost $800 to repair On Sept. 9, police were notified about graffiti on the football stadium walls and on the sidewalks near the north on-campus housing units. The graffiti occurred sometime last week be-

tween Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. There are four markings in all, each reading “U party.” Capt. Brandon DeHaan, assistant director of the GVPD, said the damage will cost a total of $800 to repair. “This type of activity is senseless on a university campus,” DeHaan said. “The cost to repair this unfortunately is borne by all the students on the campus.” The damage to the football stadium will be painted over and the graffiti on the sidewalks will have to be sandblasted or ground off, DeHaan said. Anyone with information regarding the graffiti is asked to contact DPS at 616-331-3255 or leave an anonymous tip using Silent Observer at 877-887-4536.

Two injured in bicycle crash Two individuals, one student and one non-student, were injured Saturday afternoon when a bicyclist struck a pedestrian at the South Campus Drive and Calder Drive crosswalk. Both individuals were taken to the hospital and received treatment. The crash took place at approximately 4:17 p.m., and both the traffic and crosswalk lights were operational at the time. As of press time, GVSU police did not plan on further investigating the crash, as it did not involve a motor vehicle, and there is no identification as to who was at fault in the accident.

“We realize the honor code won’t

change things overnight. However, if it could help long-term affect behavior or maybe make a student think twice, I think we would call this a success.

”

Andrew Mills GVSU senior

B SPORTS

Grand Valley Lanthorn Thursday, September 22, 2011

SPORTS EDITOR BRADY FREDERICKSEN sports@lanthorn.com

OIL WA TE R

GAMEDAY PREVIEW

D N A

GRAND VALLEY LAKERS vs. FINDLAY OILERS Saturday, 7 p.m. Lubbers Stadium GVL / Archive

Urgency aplenty as Lakers look to rebound against Findlay By Brady Fredericksen

W

GVL Sports Editor

ith an increased sense of urgency, the Grand Valley State University football team is going back to work — and they’re not changing a thing. Despite suffering back-to-back losses for the first time since 2004, the Lakers (1-2, 0-2 GLIAC) aren’t changing their ways and routines, but they are changing their mentality both on and off the field. “It’s just more of us fighting harder, fighting though tough times,” said Andre Thomas, senior defensive end. “Nothing’s going to be easy for us, so the whole defense just has to step up their level because nothing’s going to be given to us.” With both losses coming in the final seconds, the team knows the sky isn’t falling, but they know there is work to be done. That work will begin Saturday against the University of Findlay at Lubbers Stadium. The Oilers (1-2, 1-1 GLIAC) enter the game coming off their first win of the season in a 5027 romp of Tiffin. Despite their subpar record, Findlay has shown some talent on both sides of the ball, exemplified by their 30-23 doubleovertime loss at GLIAC-leading Northern Michigan University. Offensively, the Oilers will look to put the ball in running back Monterea Williams hands as much as possible. The junior’s 436 rushing yards lead the GLIAC, and he will team with junior quarterback Clay Belton and tight end Jaryd Brown to lead the Findlay offense. On the other side of the ball, the Oilers will lean on junior linebacker Brandon Butler. His 31 total tackles rank third in the GLIAC, and the Findlay defense will look to disrupt GVSU from all angles.

GVL Archive

Time to get up: The University of Findlay offense and Grand Valley State University defense line up at a past game. The Lakers will enter Saturday’s game against Finlday having dropped two straight GLIAC contests on last-second scores, including a heartbreaking 34-33 loss to the University of Indianapolis last week.

While the Oilers have been focused on the Lakers all week, GVSU has had issues of their own to deal with. The 1-2 start is their worst since 2000, when they started 1-4 before winning their final six games en route to a 7-4 record. “Everything has changed since we got the second loss, so now everything is more seri-

ous, it’s focus-focus,” said junior running back Hersey Jackson “We just need to get back to business, execute and try to pull out a win.” The Lakers’ offense will look to continue to mature this week against an Oilers’ defense that has been up-and-down in the early going. A key to watch will be whether or not quarterback Heath Parling and running back Norman

Shuford can build on their performances in last week’s loss at the University of Indianapolis. Parling threw for 226 yards and four touchdowns, while Shuford ran for 170 yards – both career highs. Despite the positives shown by the offense, the GVSU defense will need to improve in

See FOOTBALL, B2

WHO TO WATCH

Heath Parling Quarterback

Andre Thomas Defensive End

Charles Hill Defensive Back

Clay Belton QUARTERBACK

Brandon Butler Linebacker

Monterea Williams Running back

The sophomore put together his best game as a Laker last week and will look to continue his progress against a Findlay pass defense that has allowed only 153 yards per game this season.

An anchor on the defensive line, Thomas is the team and GLIAC leader in sacks with 3.5. His pressure on Findlay quarterback Clay Belton will be a key.

The sophomore struggled in his first game against Western Oregon, but after recording 10 tackles against Indianapolis, his improvement has been important for the Lakers.

The 6-foot-6 junior transfer from the University of Maryland has started the season slow, but his ability to move in the pocket will prove to be a challenge to the GVSU defense.

His 31 total tackles rank third best in the GLIAC, but Butler’s play at linebacker will be important if the Oilers’ hope to contain the Lakers’ run game.

The GLIAC’s leading rusher, Williams is the cog that makes the Findlay offense work. He ran 19 times for 149 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Tiffin last week.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

SPORTS

SHORTS

GV LAKERS

Kids Free Day this Saturday The chances that you’re 12 years old or younger and are reading this may be slim, but Saturday’s home football game is Kids Free Day, and all kids 12 and under get free admission. In order to get your tickets, you must go to kidsfreeday. com, then select section 1 or 8 and your seats and enter the promo code kidsfree. For those of you who don’t have kids 12 and under, the first 1,000 fans will receive bam-bam sticks courtesy of PNC Bank, while the first 1,000 GVSU students will get a free “GV” hat courtesy of Campus West apartments.

Botts selected as GLIAC Soccer Athlete of the Week After leading her team to a pair of wins over the weekend, Grand Valley State University soccer player Ashley Botts was chosen as the GLIAC Soccer Athlete of the Week. After scoring four goals in the Lakers two shutout victories this week, Botts put on a show, scoring two goals in each victory. The soccer team returns to action Friday at Lake Erie at 5:30 p.m. in Painesville, Ohio.

W. Tennis Friday vs. Lake Superior, 3:30 p.m. Saturday vs. Michigan Tech, 10 a.m. Saturday vs. Davenport, 2:30 p.m. Sunday vs. Hillsdale, 10 a.m. Soccer Friday at Lake Erie, 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Ashland, 2:00 p.m. Volleyball Friday vs, Wayne State, 7 p.m. Saturday vs. Findlay, 4 p.m. Sunday vs. Hillsdale, 2 p.m.

M. Tennis Friday at ITA Regional Tournament, TBA Saturday at ITA Regional Tournament, TBA Sunday at ITA Regional Tournament, TBA Football Saturday vs. Findlay, 7 p.m. W. Golf Saturday at Ferris State Invitational, All Day Sunday at Ferris State Invitational, All Day M. Golf Sunday at NCAA Midwest Regional Fall Invitational, All Day

B2 SPORTS

Grand Valley Lanthorn Thursday, September 22, 2011

MEN’S RUGBY

ROWING

‘Rent-a-Rower’ program helps students in and out of the water By Kyle McMillen GVL Staff Writer

GVL Archive

Get out the way: A member of the men’s rugby team powers through defenders. The team entered its 14th season this year and is 2-0.

Club rugby rising in popularity at GVSU By Jon Van Zytveld GVL Staff Writer

Few Americans know much about rugby other than its resemblance to a more violent football, but it’s becoming harder to ignore as a growing number of athletes choose rugby over more traditional sports. The Grand Valley State University men’s club rugby team, now in its 14th year, is gearing up for another season. Coming off of last season’s third-place finish in the Midwest Rugby Championships, the Lakers started their season with a 28-0 victory against Hope College, and followed it up with a 16-5 victory over Western Michigan University. Head coach John Mullett, who has coached the Lakers since the team’s inception, described the sport as a game of stamina, saying that the team that wins is the team that reacts better under pressure. “It’s a constant action game,” Mullett said. “There are only a few stoppages of play, and it’s exciting to watch. It’s physically challenging, there are two 40-minute halves, and if people get hurt, they get treated right on the field and the game goes on around them. It’s a little bit culturally different from what people are used to with American sports.” While most universities do not have varsity rugby programs - as it is not a mainstream sport - it is on the rise, and as senior fullback Matt It’s a constant Orrico said, there is no reason why football fans action game. and sports fans in genThere are only a eral should not enjoy the sport. few stoppages, “I played football for four years,” Orrico said. and it’s exciting “It’s kind of like football, to watch. so I thought I’d give it a John Mullett shot and I ended up loving it.” GVSU head men’s rugby coach As a club sport, rugby is open to everyone, even those who have no experience. This just adds to the deep sense of community that the 22-man team has. “We’re a very close club, and we have a lot of fun together,” Orrico said. “There’s very good sense of team camaraderie, and I personally really like that about our team. Rugby is pretty simple, you can pick it up just by playing, and it’s pretty inexpensive compared to many other sports.” Like his teammate, senior lock/8-man Mario Zambito got into rugby through football and friends. After playing football for many years before college, Zambito almost joined the GVSU football team, but opted for the rugby club instead; he said he has not regretted the decision. Like all things, Zambito said, getting into rugby is only a matter of giving it a chance. “Most people that come out and watch their first game find it interesting, even if they didn’t know anything about it before,” he said. “Everyone should definitely check it out and come see it for themselves.” With a 2-0 record under their belt, the Lakers are setting their sights high this season. “This year we’re hoping to repeat what we did last year and then go further,” Zambito said. “Looking at the numbers and the work ethic we have, it’s a definite possibility. We just have to show up on game days and put in our time in practice and I think we’ll be good to go.” The team’s next game will take place at 4:30 p.m. Saturday against Wayne State University. jvanzytveld@lanthorn.com

“

”

The Grand Valley State University club rowing team has been generating attention in recent years because of its work in the water. However, it is the team’s work out of the water that is bringing a lot of local attention to the Lakers this season. The team’s Rent-a-Rower program allows people from the community “rent out” team members for different services in order to make money for new boats and other costs the rowing club incurs, including individual athletes’ dues. The Rent-A-Rower program has turned into a large fundraising expedition for the club. “I have worked through the Renta-Rower program over 20 times since joining the rowing club,” said Alese Garstick, varsity rower. “Rent-a-Rower has paid for all but one of my semesters of rowing.” One of the main outlooks for the Rent-a-Rower program, other than the financial aspect, is the outreach to the community. It not only helps out those members of the community with the help that they need, but it also raises awareness of the rowing program at GVSU. “It helps spread the word about the team, and I notice more fans at the races we have here at Grand Valley,” Garstick said. This increased community awareness helps to not only bring in fans, but also makes repeat customers of the Rent-A-Rower program. Since the program is not limited to a specific period of the rowing season, rowers are able to earn money for their new boats during the season, but continue additional fundraising all year round.

GVL Archive

Athlete for sale: A rower gathers some oars before a race. Through the Rent-A-Rower program, individuals can “rent” an athlete hourly for jobs ranging from yardwork to painting.

“Many kids have had repeat customers come back each year, and some of those even lead to summer jobs outside of the Rent-a-Rower program,” said head coach John Bancheri, who in his seventh season coaching the team. “A majority of the students that participate in rowing pay for their dues through the Rent-A-Rower program.” Not only does the program help the rowers financially, but it helps the rowers by strengthening their work ethic when they are back in the water. “The program teaches the rowers

to work for what they want, which is a very valuable lesson,” Bancheri said. “It teaches the kids that you have to work hard for everything, and those that work hard will be the ones that succeed.” That success, combined with the accomplishments of the team on the water, make the Rent-A-Rower program an important part of GVSU rowing. “It helps bring a sense of ownership and accomplishment to the rowers,” said rower Marco Benedetti. sports@lanthorn.com

FOOTBALL PREVIEW CONTINUED FOOTBALL

continued from page A1

order for the Lakers to break out of their current funk. After being gashed through the air last week to the tune of 344 yards, the defense will need to pressure Findlay’s Belton into mistakes through the air and contain Williams on the ground. That pressure and run defense is going to have to come from the defensive line, and Thomas said he feels the increased urgency will bring increased leadership from the players on the field. “I just try to lead by example,” Thomas said. “I try to lead by my actions and just listen to the coaches and doing what they tell me to do. [As a team] We just have to fight harder, that’s the thing about it, we just have to fight harder.” The Lakers have had time to analyze and dissect what they didn’t do in Saturday’s loss, and that renewed sense of ur-

gency is something that they will apply this weekend against Findlay. “The way we’ve practiced and done things hasn’t really changed, but I do think our sense of urgency has changed,” said head coach Matt Mitchell. “If you’re a defensive back in man coverage, it can’t be a 75 percent or 50 percent thing, it has to be an every-down deal, it’s that simple.” That every-down commitment is something the team hopes to see more of this weekend against Findlay. Defining roles has been a process for the team, but having 15 seniors has helped to keep the Lakers afloat. “They’ve done a good job of showing up and trying to keep guys focused and working on the right path,” Mitchell said. “It’s natural when you start losing a couple games that people start questioning things and there’s some division, but I think our seniors have fought to keep

“It’s natural when

you start losing a couple games to start questioning things ... Our seniors have fought to keep things moving in the right direction.

”

Matt Mitchell GVSU head football coach

things moving in the right direction.” GVSU hopes to continue that move on Saturday at 7 p.m. The game can be heard on 107.9 WMUS and seen on Comcast channel 900/901. sports@lanthorn.com

Inside the Opponent FINDLAY UNIVERSITY OILERS Head Coach Rob Keys Defensive scheme 2011 Record 1-2 (1-1 GLIAC) Points per game Points allowed Offensive scheme Spread

4-3 27.7 23.6

STAT BOARD GVSU STAT LEADERS Passing Rushing Receiving Tackles Sacks Interceptions

Heath Parling Norman Shuford Charles Johnson Jarrod Cox Andre Thomas Erik Thompson

40/76, 625 yards 47 rushes, 330 yards 16 rec, 321 yards 13 ast, 13 solo 3.5 sacks 1 int

9:5 (TD:INT) 3 TDs 5 TDs 26 total 18 yards lost 43 return yards

49/99, 495 yards 70 rushes, 436 yards 14 rec, 158 yards 15 ast, 16 solo

3:5 (TD:INT) 3 TDs 2TDs 31 total

FINDLAY STAT LEADERS Passing Rushing Receiving Tackles Sacks Interceptions

Clay Belton Montrea Williams Jaryd Brown Brandon Butler 3 tied with one 3 tied with one

SPORTS B3

Grand Valley Lanthorn Thursday, September 22, 2011

GOLF

Inconsistent play leads to seventh-place finish By Joe Maher-Edgin GVL Staff Writer

GVL Archive

Smooth shot: Senior Sarah Hoffman tees off at a past match. The team won the Michael Corbett Classic with a 603.

Lakers head east, grab first place in New York tourney By Zach Sepanik GVL Staff Writer

The Grand Valley State University women’s golf team opened their fall season on Sunday and Monday with a first-place finish at the Michael Corbett Classic in Clymer, N.Y., at Peek’n Peak Golf Resort. “I try not to have too many expectations coming into the first tournament,” said GVSU head coach Rebecca Mailloux. “We haven’t been tearing it up during qualifiers, but The Meadows is a very difficult course. I try to just take it as it is, but we definitely superseded any expectations I may have had.” The Lakers shot a team total of 299 on the first day of competition. With colder temperatures and tougher conditions, the ladies followed that up with a 304 on day two. The fact that an 80 represented the highest individual score on the team on day two helped sealed the win. The total score of 603 left GVSU looking down from the top at the rest of the field. They defeated runnerup St. Edward’s University of Texas by 13 strokes, a

team they lost to by three strokes at the 2011 National Championships. Senior Sarah Hoffman paced the Lakers, finishing the tournament with a score of 148, four-over par. Her scores of 72 on day one and 76 on day two was good enough for second place overall individually. Meanwhile, freshman Kelly Hartigan, playing in her first collegiate tournament, also made some heads turns with her play. She shot a 75 on day one and 76 on the second day, a start that even her teammates noticed. “This year we are playing for each other a lot more, than say, individually,” Hoffman said. “We have really good team chemistry and we are going out there to play well for ourselves, but to play well for the team too.” Sophomore Veronica Ryan and juniors Ashley Beard and Marni Weinstein rounded out the top five for GVSU. Ryan shot a 79 and 74 on days one and two, respectively, while Beard shot a 72 and 80 and Weinstein shot an 85 and 79. “One of our goals this season is to go undefeated,”

Ryan said. “We knew we would be in the top two, but it was really great to win. There was still doubt in our mind heading in because one of the teams beat us at nationals. It was a huge win for us that we finally got back the pride from the team that beat us on our home turf.” The team returns four starters from last year’s squad. Although young, with only one senior on the roster, the experience is definitely a huge asset. And with the promising play of Hartigan, the team is poised to make a run at improving their sixth place finish at last year’s NCAA Women’s Golf National Championships. “We always take it one tournament at a time,” Mailloux said. “It is always good to beat top teams. We don’t look too far ahead and we’ll obviously going to build off the success that we had this weekend and roll with that.” The Lakers head to Katke Golf Club in Big Rapids, Mich., on Saturday and Sunday to compete in the Ferris State Invitational looking to make it two-fortwo in tournament wins this season. zsepanik@lanthorn.com

The Grand Valley State University men’s golf team dropped from a firstround fifth place to a final seventh-place finish in the Northwood University Invitational Sunday. Despite a seven-stroke improvement from the opening round, the Lakers finished with a total score of 609 at Currie West Golf Course in Midland, Mich. “We need to improve our course management decision-making and our abilities on the green,” said head coach Don Underwood. “We didn’t putt very well and we were too aggressive off the tee. Unfortunately, what it did was it led us making a lot of big numbers — double bogeys and triple bogeys — and that’s not an easy way to play the game.” Underwood said there were some positives in the less-than-desirable finish. “It was nice to see Nick Gunthorpe play well in the second round,” Underwood said. “He played fairly well in the first round and kind of slipped away late in the round, but in round two I was happy to see him shoot 70 and see him move up in the individual standings.” Though Gunthorpe, a senior, tied for fifth place in the final individual results, he was also disappointed in the overall team performance. “We got ourselves in a hole early and couldn’t really dig ourselves out of it,” Gunthorpe said. “It was kind of a struggle — we never really had a good round for all four or five of us playing at the same time.” Sophomore Chris Cunningham, last season’s GLIAC Freshman of the Year, believes the team has what it takes to bounce back strong and is hopeful of what is to come this year.

CROSS COUNTRY

Teams wash cars for Make-A-Wish Foundation By Stephanie Deible GVL Intern

Competing for championships is a yearly expectation for Grand Valley State University’s athletic program, but what Laker fans do not often realize is being an athlete at GVSU involves more than just game play. Each year Laker athletes spend countless hours away from sports to participate in community service projects. On Saturday, the GVSU men’s and women’s cross country and track and field teams hosted a car wash and donated the proceeds to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “When we do events like this, it shows everyone that we’re not just all about sports, we’re involved the community too,” said Jocelyn Kuksa, senior pole vaulter. The two teams are comprised of 188 athletes, with 150 of them taking part in the community fundraiser. The car wash took place at four different locations, including McDonald’s in Allendale, Arby’s in Standale, Advanced Auto Parts in Jenison and Walgreen’s in Grandville. The athletes raised about $1,300 for charity. “We used to do a car wash as a fundraiser for our team, but two years ago we decided to give back to Make-aWish Foundation,” said GVSU assistant coach Steve Jones. “Overall, it was a very successful day. You can’t always judge an event like this by its monetary outcome because it’s something that our athletes embrace and love doing together.” Jones said community service is integral to Division II athletics, because it helps with character building. “It’s not just [the cross country and

Courtesy Photo / Steve Jones

Wax on: Members of the track and cross country teams solicit customers for a car wash. The teams held four car washes throughout Standale and Allendale to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

track] teams, all the teams do something,” he said. “[Women’s] basketball went down to Alabama to help with tornado relief and football volunteers at a camp.” Aside from benefiting the Make-a Wish Foundation, the car wash helps GVSU athletes improve team chemistry, build character and prepare for life after their playing days are over. “We are a big group, so an event like this allows us the chance to bond and get the chance to [know] each other a little bit better,” said Tyler Emmorey, senior distance runner. “I like doing things like this because I actually get to see it pay off

in the community.” For some student athletes, giving back to organizations means helping out a cause near to their hearts. “I have some family and friends who are sick, so to take time out of my day to give back to people who need it is good,” Kuska said. At the same time, Kuksa knows that giving back to the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the team bonding are the two main goals, but they also gain new fans and bring positive publicity to GVSU by working in the community. sports@lanthorn.com

GVL Archive

Second day struggles: Senior Nick Gunthorpe follows through and watches his shot at the Ardenson last year. Gunthorpe shone in the second round despite his team’s loss.

“From last year’s team we only lost one senior, so we have a lot of experience from a pretty good team last year,” Cunningham said. “We’re hoping to have some success this year starting with hopefully winning the conference tournament and making it to nationals in the spring.” The Lakers will travel to South Haven, Mich., on Saturday, where GVSU will host the NCAA Midwest Regional Fall Invitational at Hawkshead Golf Course. “It’s extremely important for us to play well wrapping up a three-tournament stretch,” Underwood said. “We need to be accumulating wins in the

head-to-head record ... so we’re going to get back to work and we’ll be prepared for this weekend.” Gunthorpe said he is looking forward to playing on a course his team knows pretty well. “This counts more towards getting into postseason play,” Gunthorpe said. “Based on how our team has done there in the past, it should be a good tournament... Travis Shooks shot a school record of 66 last year, I’ve played well there in the past and so has Chase Olsen, so I think the course is set up well for how we play the game and I think we should do well.” jmaheredgin@lanthorn.com

a &e

B4

Grand Valley Lanthorn Thursday, September 22, 2011

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR BRIANA DOOLAN arts@lanthorn.com

This is OurPrize

University community takes part in ArtPrize curation, creativity, performance

Courtesy Photo / garrettdennert.com

Literary break: Self-published author and GVSU senior Garrett Dennert reads from one of his books, ”Coffee Stains and Bread Crumbs.”

Two books, one summer GV senior makes writing debut GVL Archive

Footloose: GVSU dancers practice choreography. The dance and writing departments paired up to create a cohesive work for ArtPrize.

By Lauren Ringger

A

GVL Staff Writer

rtPrize is one of Grand Rapid’s largest events, and this year, Grand Valley State University students, faculty and alumni are playing a noticeable role. Charles Jurries, a 2010 GVSU alumna, will be featuring his piece, “64 Workers Lose Jobs.” The piece is created to look like a newspaper front page. The main headline reads “64 Workers Lose Jobs,” and the rest of the front-page story is 64 silhouettes. “The point of this piece is to remind people that sometimes, when there is a news story that talks about a large number of people, that not all those people may be represented,” Jurries said. “You may get to briefly know one or two names, a sound byte here and there, but, even those people may blend in with the other nameless, faceless people.” Jurries’s piece will be on display at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Division Avenue, right at the foot of the Grand Rapids Community College campus. “The weird part of this all is I am trying to figure out how much time I want to spend being by my piece to answer any questions people might have, and how much time I want to spend seeing the rest of ArtPrize,” Jurries said. “I walked around parts of downtown on Sunday, and, seeing what sculptures were out there already was so much fun. There’s this monster

emerging from the bricks outside the Van Andel Arena that’s so cool, a dinosaur right near it that’s funky, that tall person by the Blue Bridge — I am definitely looking forward to seeing the rest of ArtPrize.” GVSU’s Pew Campus is a main venue for ArtPrize, showcasing 31 exterior works of art. Visitors can enjoy a sculpture walk from the DeVos Center to the Eberhard Center, and the pedestrian Blue Bridge over the Grand River. Henry Matthews, GVSU’s director of galleries and collections, curated the project. He selected the 31 artists who are participating, two of whom will actually being making art as a daily function during ArtPrize, ending with a complete sculpture and painting. “I think that this shows GVSU’s participation it its community projects,” Matthews said. “It shows us being a player with the rest of the community. One of the things that I tried to do when choosing the pieces is I remembered that we are a university and I try to remember that our audience is diverse and we have everything from students to faculty and alums and visitors, so I tried to relate to the diversity of our audience. We have two projects that involve Grand Valley charter schools projects, so that involves younger kids. On the other end we have international artists.” On Sept. 30 at 3 p.m., GVSU’s dance and poetry departments will become an active part of the sculpture walk. Shawn Bible, assistant professor of dance, and Sean Prentiss, assistant

professor of writing, teamed two of their classes together to create an audiovisual art piece to compliment the sculptures. “Through the GVSU art gallery, the poetry department and the dance department together create a piece of art,” said Shawn Bible, assistant professor of dance. “A poet writes a poem and a dancer creates choreography and dances. So at the site of one of the sculptures they’re inspired by, they perform this dance and poetry reading.” There is a numbered map that navigates itself so that as participants walk through all of the sculptures, performances will happen along the path. The dancers, who are a part of the GVSU’s dance department, have choreographed dances that correlate to pieces of art along the sculpture walk. “I’m performing in front of a piece of art titled ‘Shattered,’” said Briana Block, who will participate in the project. “It’s a window literally shattered but it looks really cool. I really thought this piece of art was unique and could leave an impression on our audience. As one of the choreographers and dancers, I’m looking forward to performing in front of such a unique piece of art and working with such a talented poet, as well.” The GVSU Art Gallery has participated in ArtPrize all three years. ArtPrize began Wednesday and will run through Oct. 9 all around Grand Rapids. Voting is open to anyone who attends. lringger@lanthorn.com

By Briana Doolan GVL A&E Editor

While many of his colleagues logged hours at work or by the pool, Grand Valley State University creative writing major Garrett Dennert self-published two books during the summer. “Laying a Foundation: A Beginner’s Guide to Golf” and “Coffee Stains and Bread Crumbs” were both published during the summer of 2011, as Dennert also prepared to begin his senior year at GVSU. Dennert has been playing golf since he was 10 years old, hence the inspiration for his first book, which was finished in late June. “I have a great passion for the sport and a great respect for the people who play it,” he said. Dennert said he was testing the waters of publishing when he decided to put the book together. “Without going into specifics, I discovered how hard it really is to [publish].” Dennert said he had to first write and edit the material. Then, he had to design the cover and write the descriptions for thousands or Marketing millions of people to see, followed by marketing. is by far the “Marketing yourself may not seem so tough, but it’s pretty hard toughest doing it on a college kid’s budget,” aspect of Dennert said. “Marketing is by far the toughest aspect of it, because it, because really, who cares what you have to really, who say? You have to figure out how to sell yourself on top of making cares what sure the writing is exactly the way you want it.” you have to “Coffee Stains and Bread say? Crumbs,” Dennert’s second book, was finished in late July Garrett and consists of Dennert’s college Dennert work. Author, “It’s a collection of fictional short stories and flash pieces, as GVSU senior well as researched and personal essays that I like to describe as one man’s views on the world and the characters that inhabit it,” Dennert said. “There is no continuity from piece to piece and I never intended there to be. But what the reader would get is a sense of where I am as a writer and where I’m going. It’s basically a reflective collection on what I’ve done so far, so I can see where I’m headed.” Dennert offered some advice for his colleagues. “If you’re considering it, quit thinking about it and go for it. There’s no use to just let it pass, then regret it later,” he said. “My other advice is that while you’re writing, or in the early stages of self-publishing, make sure to create a marketing plan for yourself so that when your book is finished and out on the market, it makes money right away.” Dennert is currently in the process of revising a novel. And he says he has plenty of ideas for more short stories and more novels. “My family and friends are the best support group I could ask for — it’s not often that a kid comes home and says, ‘I want to be a writer,’ and in this day and age, have their parents fully support them,” Dennert said. “I learned a lot and I’m making money off of something I love to do and want to do for the rest of my life. It’s worth it.” As for his future, Dennert said he has no definite plans. “Ideally I’d be able to do sit back, write what I want, and have people flock to read my stuff, but unfortunately it doesn’t happen that way,” he said. “As for definitive career goals, I’m not really sure, just (have to) go with the flow.” Both books are available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble online and www.createspace.com. Links to the books can be found through www.garrettdennert.com. arts@lanthorn.com

“

”

GVL / Eric Coulter

United we stand: Amnesty International GVSU president Molly Barnard and junior Jon Garcia hold hands as Barnard reads death row prisoner Troy Davis’ last statement aloud at a candlelight vigil, held with Amnesty International GVSU and GVSU NAACP members at the Cook Carillon Clock Tower Wednesday. Davis was sentenced to death in 1991 for the murder of an off-duty police officer based on the testimony of nine witnesses, seven of whom have since recanted their testimony. Wednesday was Davis’ fourth execution date. Davis was pronounced dead at 11:08 p.m. Wednesday after more than four hours of deliberation in the U.S. Supreme Court, which denied him a stay of execution.

B5

Grand Valley Lanthorn Thursday, September 22, 2011

Announcements

Housing

Catch up on campus events with The Lanthorn photo galleries at Lanthorn.com

Female roommate needed for house in Standale. Rent is $375/month (utilities included). Please contact Amy at sturrusa@mail.gvsu.edu if interested.

Check out videos of events on campus at The Lanthorn YouTube Channel! Search gvsulanthorn for the channel Interested in a service fraternity that is Co-ed? Join us on our facebook page to learn more about the great opportunities. GVSU Alpha Phi Omega

Roommates 3 male roommates seeking 4th roommate. No gender preference. For Winter 2012 semester. Campus West Apts. Will pay sub-let fee and deposit. Contact delagans@mail.gvsu.edu

For Sale 1997 Pontiac Bonneville 157,000 original miles, one owner, dark purple, tan leather, $2000. Call/text (231) 225-6704 or email mcdonahe@mail.gvsu.edu Got something to sell or a lease to get rid of? GVSU faculty and staff get FREE classifieds in print and online with The Lanthorn! email classifieds@lanthorn.com Motmans is now open serving the Allendale area. Come enjoy the great tasting apples and great prices. Students and Staff receive 10% off wiwth GV ID. See a picture you like in The Lanthorn? You can buy that and many more at the Lanthorn Photo Store, buy prints, t-shirts, mugs with the picture! Just click the photo store tab at Lanthorn.com Use The Daily News Classifieds

Have More Fun for Less Money at Campus View. Super Early Bird Special! Sign a 2012/2013 lease and get a $200 discount! *restrictions apply. Call Today! 616-895-6678 or visit www.campusviewhousing.co m Lease at Copper Beech! Be entered in a drawing for an IPAD with all new leases signed before 9/30. Individual and 9 month leases available. Call Today! 616-895-2900 or visit www.copperbeechtownhomes.com Premium student housing at Meadows Crossing apartments. The place to be. Enjoy full furnishings, private bathrooms, individual leases, swimming pool, and much more! Call 616-892-2700 or visit www.meadowscrossing.net Today! The first 99 people to apply at 48 West will receive $25 off their rent for each month! *restrictions apply. Call Today! 616-895-2400 or e-mail leasing@48west.info University Townhouses. GVSU’s best kept deal. Located just 2 miles from campus. Free parking, free laundry, free heat. New units still available. (616) 447-5511. Visit ShowMeTheRent.com to find student housing in Allendale. Search dozens of listings updated daily. Why live in a box when you can live in a home! Check out Mystic Woods cottage style duplexes. FREE cable and Internet, 2,000 sq ft and much more! Go to www.mysticwoodscommunity.com for more information.

Internships Muskegon Lumberjacks Hockey Club Job Title: 2011-2012 Night Operations Intern Location: Grand Rapids, MI Salary Level: Unpaid Hours: 10-15 hrs. For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ Oliver-Tolas Healthcare Packaging Job Title: Intern Chemist Location: Grand Rapids, MI Salary Level: $11-$12 depending on class status Hours: 20-40 hrs. For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ Grand Valley State University Job Title: On Campus Web/ Internet Internship in Intercultural Competence Location: Allendale, MI Salary Level: Unpaid For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ TheCelebrityCafe Job Title: News Writer Salary Level: Unpaid Hours: 10 hrs. For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ United States Attorney's Office for West Michigan Job Title: Law Enforcement Coordination/Training and Victim/ Witness Assistance Interns Location: Grand Rapids, MI Salary Level: Unpaid For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/

T.E.A.M Job Title: Fraternity or Sorority Campus Manager Location: Newport Beach, CA For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ Advantage Health Physician Network Job Title: Human Resource Internship Location: Grand Rapids, MI Salary Level: Unpaid Hours: 10-20 hrs. For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ Licensing Resource Group Job Title: Accounting Intern Location: Holland, MI Salary Level: $10-13/hr. depending on qualifications For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/

Nucraft Furniture Company Job Title: Graphic Design Intern Location: Comstock Park, MI Salary Level: Paid Hours: 20 hrs. For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ 93.1 Doug-FM/96.3 WDVD Radio J o b T i t l e : Communications/Public Relations/Radio Broadcasting Intern Location: Detroit, MI Salary Level: Unpaid Hours: 15-20 For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ The Stow Company Job Title: Engineering Intern Location: Holland, MI Hours: 40 hrs. For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/

Meijer Inc. Job Title: Multiple Summer 2012 Internships Location: Grand Rapids, MI Salary Level: Paid Hours: 40 hrs. For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ Nestle Purina Job Title: Audit Internship Location: St. Louis, MO Salary Level: $18/hr. Hours: 40 hrs. For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids Job Title: Aquatics Intern Location: Grand Rapids, MI Salary Level: Unpaid For more information visit http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/

Lost & Found I am looking for the owner of a mint green, Dodge truck. Please contact me at amccolman@hotmail.com

Miscellaneous Do you play Go or Chess? Join the Go and Chess Club! Mondays and Fridays, 5 PM in the Kirkhof southeast lounge.

Stay up to the minute with Lanthorn social media. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, & RSS Feeds!

Opportunities Become a bartender. High income potential. Training courses and equipment available. Call 1-800-965-6520 ext. 226 Free To Good Home. A male and female Vet checked English Bulldog puppies for adoption, if interested, contact me at rbradley987@hotmail.com

Horoscopes

B6

a &e

Grand Valley Lanthorn Thursday, September 22, 2011

Student works with ‘The Situation’ on web series By Rene Rodriguez GVL Staff Writer

One Grand Valley State University senior may have a “Situation” on his hands after working on the newest YOBI.tv web series, “New Stage.” GVSU student Tyler Howe had an acting role and played his own music in the series, which starred Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, made famous on MTV’s “Jersey Shore.” The first episode of “New Stage” will be shown at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday on www. YOBI.tv. “It was an awesome experience,” Howe said. “I worked with musicians and actors from all over Utah, Idaho, Georgia and even the Bahamas. I had no idea how much went into making something like this.”

YOBI.tv is an online talent network that creates a web series each year to give aspiring performers the chance to go head-to-head in new and inventive talent competitions, with the prize of exposure to a global audience via the Internet. Each year the series feature young Hollywood stars, such as Sorrentino and Audrina Patridge from MTV’s “The Hills.” Howe said he felt intimidated on set at first, but that the director did a great job making everyone feel both comforable and productive through the duration.

“It was a lot of hard work but everyone was really awesome and it made the whole experience amazing,” Howe said. Director Joshua David Evans worked on the first web series by YOBI.tv, “Dream Maker with Audrina Patridge,” and for this project amped up his participation by co-writing “New Stage,” as well. Sorrentino’s show, “New Stage,” is a spoof on the judged talent TV programs such as “American Idol” and “America’s Got Talent.” “‘The Situation’ is the judge and the show is scripted but we have real musicians playing their real music for the show, and I have an acting role in it as well as playing music,” Howe said. Howe said it was a great experience to meet Sorrentino, saying that his “Jersey Shore” persona translates to real life.

“He was awesome. He’d come sit with us and talk about everything from life to showbiz,” Howe said. “He and his brothers would tell us about their life and how they started out. He would tell us about ‘Jersey Shore’ and he encouraged us all to follow our dreams.” “It’s great exposure for an artist, especially from a show that has someone well known from it,” said Michael Lihan, a musician. “It’s different getting music out now than it used to be because of social media sites. It’s easier now but exposure like that is still awesome for the artist that can use it,” he said. “I would definitely check it out,” said Christina Choriatis, a GVSU junior. “It’d keep my attention more than an hour-long episode because [as a student] I don’t have that much time to sit and watch every week.” rrodriguez@lanthorn.com

GVL / Kate Kaurich

Shore-side: GVSU senior Tyler Howe plays guitar on the bank of the Zumberge pond. Howe recently acted and played music in a Internet webisode starring Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, of “Jersey Shore” fame.

Shakespeare Festival:

Alumna’s photography displayed on GV parking permits

‘Where’s Will?’

By Chris LaFoy

By Briana Doolan GVL A&E Editor

GVL Staff Writer

The Grand Valley State University parking permits for 2011-2012 feature a photo taken by alumnus Brandon Stickel, on what he said was a random winter night that ended up yielding a good picture. Stickel, a 2010 management information systems graduate, had his photo selected off of GVSU’s website in the student Flickr section. Lisa Garringer, parking systems coordinator for GVSU’s Public Safety Department, saw the photo while thinking of how to design the new permits. “Part of my duties here at GVSU includes designing the parking permits,” Garringer said. “I personally love photography so I was clicking through the student Flickr photos and found Brandon’s.” Garringer has been in the GVSU public safety department since 2003 and has designed multiple parking permits. She had not specifically planned to use a photo for the background of the permits, but decided after seeing Brandon’s photo that it would be a nice change. This is the first GVSU permit that includes a photo, while last year’s 50th anniversary permit was the first to include any creative image at all. Stickel said that the evening he took the photo was quite ordinary. “I had nothing to do so I grabbed my camera and headed out,” he said. Stickel recognized the spot, the arched entrance to the Allendale Campus, as a good place to take a photo earlier in the week. Finally, on this Friday evening he had the time to go out and frame his image. “It was late January or early February,” Stickel said. “I remem-

GVL / Rachel Itturalde

On display: GVSU alumnus Brandon Stickel’s image was used on this year’s parking passes.

ber it wasn’t too cold out and there wasn’t any snow so I thought the picture would turn out nice.” To get the trail of traffic lights in the shot Stickel had to be patient. “I would wait and watch the stop lights,” Stickel said. “Once a few cars were lined up I knew I could get ready to shoot. I was out there for about an hour.” Stickel uses photography as a hobby, but has never taken photographs professionally. “I worked in a camera store for five years to get through college,” Stickel said. “I guess that’s where my interest in photography came from.” He now works for Steelcase as an applications engineer, but said he still tries to get behind the camera when he can. “It’s a passion,” Stickel said. “When I can find time I still take

pictures. I absolutely love to do it.” Garringer contacted Stickel over the summer to get his permission to use the photo on the permit. “I was surprised just to find out the photo was on GVSU’s webpage,” Stickel said. “I couldn’t believe they wanted to use it for something else.” After the permits were designed, Garringer and GVSU wanted to present Stickel with something to commemorate his work. “The only thing I asked for was one of the passes,” Stickel said. “Just to have and keep for the future.” Stickel was presented with a commemorative frame featuring four passes by the GVSU Police Department. “It was very nice,” he said. “Far more than I was asking for.” clafoy@lanthorn.com

The Grand Valley Shakespeare Festival is the oldest and largest Shakespeare festival in Michigan. Every year GVSU’s theatre department puts on events celebrating Shakespeare. In its 18th anniversary this year, the festival will take place Sept. 30 through Oct. 9. Faculty and staff organize the festival and strive to involve their students with aspects of festival planning. Each season, they also strive to connect festival activities to important areas of university life outside of dramatic art. The main stage production this year is “Twelfth Night.” The production cast includes students, community actors and guest professionals. One of the new promotions this year is the “Where’s Will?” campaign. A William Shakespeare doll will be hidden in various places around campus. The first person to find the doll should take a picture of it and post it to the Shakespeare Festival Facebook page, where every day that Will is hiding, a clue to his whereabouts will be posted. Whoever finds him first gets a T-shirt and/or tickets to see Twelfth Night. To follow the festival, visit www.facebook.com and search “Grand Valley Shakespeare Festival.” To learn more about the festival, visit gvsu.edu/shakes. arts@lanthorn.com

‘Twelfth Night’ performances: Sept. 30, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1, 2 p.m. Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2, 2 p.m. Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9, 2 p.m.