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LAKER LIFE
NOVEMBER 12, 2012 Grand Valley Lanthorn
Students explore their options at GVSU Majors Fair
ARCHIVE | GVL
Getting guidance: GVSU students were given the chance to quiz Grand Valley State University faculty and staff about what to expect when trying to find a job in any of the fields offered by GVSU. BY PAIGE PLATTE GVL LAKER LIFE EDITOR
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xploring the possibilities is what the college experience is all about, and the Grand Valley State University Majors Fair offered a multitude of possibilities to students. The Grand River room in Kirkhof was filled with faculty and staff from every department on campus. Students were able to ask faculty members questions about anything related to the different majors offered at GVSU. “I really appreciated how well the faculty answered my questions,” said freshman Taylor Cassidy. “It really helped me narrow things down.”
Faculty members from all disciplines mentioned that one of the greatest aspects of their respective fields is the chance to work with and help people. “I would say with an undergraduate in psychology you can do so many things working closely with people and the mind,” said Bill Rogers, GVSU psychology professor. Psychology is not the only major that offers a chance to work with people - human biology also offers a chance to help people in many aspects. “It’s such an intrinsic way of helping people,” said human biology faculty member Patricia Matthews. Matthews said that working in the health field has been a wonderful opportunity to use her knowledge of science to help others
culturally, physically and mentally. Cell and molecular biology may not involve direct work with people, but often the discoveries in this field make great strides for humanity. “The best thing about cell and molecular biology is that there is a research project required for the major,” said Margaret Dietrich, associate professor. “It gives students the opportunity to get a lot of one-onone time.” A major that may not be widely known is comprehensive science and arts for teaching. Many students in this major are preparing for a career in special education. “People in this major prepare to help very fragile populations,” said Regina Smith, faculty. “Students in this major genuinely want to help people.”
Smith said that students in comprehensive science and arts for teaching are very patient and very caring people who really want to help make a difference. Smith also said that often times this major focuses on working with people who have disabilities. Business-related fields also offer a chance to help people. Marketing majors get the opportunity to bring ideas to life. “The best thing about marketing is working with people taking their ideas and turning them into something tangible,” said Emily Roeser, a GVSU graduate. For more information about GVSU majors, email premajors@gvsu.edu or call (616) 331-3588 to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor. lakerlife@lanthorn.com
Creators of Found Magazine visit GV BY NATE SMITH GVL STAFF WRITER
Davy and Peter Rothbart are two brothers that have developed a love for things that are “found.” The siblings collect everything from grocery lists to birthday cards, displaying their collection in their appropriately titled “Found Magazine”. The brothers came to Grand Valley State University on Nov. 7 as part of the 10th anniversary tour for their magazine. The tour also served as promotion for Peter Rothbart’s new album “You Are What You Dream” as well as his brother’s new memoir “My Heart is an Idiot”. Davy Rothbart is a writer for This American Life, and his memoir is a candid look into both the man himself, as well as his childhood.
As Davy began explaining the first excerpt from his new book, he shifted uneasily in his vibrant red pants, adjusting his houndstooth cap as he spoke. “This story is called ‘Bigger and Deafer’, it’s about my mom,” Davy said. “Promise me you guys won’t hate me after I read this.” In addition to reading excerpts from his book, Davy also shared some of his favorite “finds” from around the world. He shared everything from awkwardly worded love letters to strange grocery lists, all found by people besides the original creators of the items. “This one is a good one, I’m guessing it’s from a University of Texas student,” Davy said, while reading from the disheveled stack of papers. “It goes ‘Jenna, can I give you a sensual massage? Then I will talk about Jesus.’”
“This was a love note to a deceased parent. It’s finds like these that mean the most.” DAVY ROTHBART
CO-FOUNDER, FOUND MAGAZINE
While promoting his new album, Peter also shared some of his favorite finds in song form. Standing on stage with his acoustic guitar, Peter had the same jovial and casual attitude of his brother as he began to sing songs based on some of his favorite finds. “This song is based on a page of a love letter that was never delivered,” Peter said. “Even from the one page you can tell the guy had been holding this back for a long time, and that it took finding his passion to get the courage to say anything.” Peter Rothbart went on to sing the love song “The Baddest Nissans in the Northwest”. The lyrics of the song consisted of an amalgamation of Rothbart’s own lyrics and excerpts from the lost love letter. Davy read a letter that was found attached to a tangled, deflated tree in a cemetery, then went on to explain its significance. “This was a love note to a deceased parent,” Davy explained. “It’s finds like these that mean the most.” nsmith@lanthorn.com
KAITLYN BOWMAN | GVL
My Heart is an Idiot: Davy Rothbart, co-creator of Found Magazine shares some of his personal essays from his memoir last week in Grand Valley State University’s Cook DeWitt auditorium.
Cloudy with a chance of Sonny BY MEGAN BRAXMAIER GVL STAFF WRITER
Students filtered into the Grand Valley State University Cook-Dewitt Center to listen to members of the Comedy Club and a special guest speaker in “Cloudy with a Chance of Sonny.” This open mic event is the second that the comedy club has put on this semester and the first for guest comedian, Sonny Pandit, to attend. Pandit has been in comedy for about a year and a half, since he got started by performing stand up at Louie’s Trophy House Grille in Kalamazoo. Since then, he hasn’t been able to shake the act and comedy is now a large part of his life. He usually centers his bits on growing up
as an Indian, his romantic life, every day occurrences and working at a liquor store. “I have a really strange, weird-ass life,” Pandit said. “I try to even make the dark situations funny. Comedy is like a therapy.” Pandit enjoys fellow comedians Louis CK and Russell Peters, but enjoys listening to local talent such as his friend, and GVSU alumni, Casey Stoddard, who won the Funniest Person in Grand Rapids competition in 2011. “We’re really excited to have Sonny here,” said Comedy Club Vice President, Jarrett Weber. Many members of the comedy club opened for Pandit, along with Stoddard, including club president Aric Pike, who has been doing comedy for three years, Jarrett Weber, Joe Stahura, Dan Schindler, Luis Valencia and Vince Persichetti performed. Per-
sichetti already made his comedic reputation known by being the creator of the infamous Grand Valley Meme’s Facebook page. The comedians talked about subjects all across the board from sex to partying to romance to politics. Members waited backstage with their notes ready for the show to begin. Pandit opened his bits by interacting with members of the audience in silly conversation followed by his anecdotes such as his bucket list, racial profiling, weight loss, adventures with his girlfriend and Facebook pranks gone bad. Students doubled over in their seats laughing at every anecdote that was told. “I thought Sonny did a really stellar job,” Pike said. “He did awesomely as usual and did not disappoint. He is a great guy and a better comedian and we were thrilled that he
would come to Allendale to perform for us. I hope everyone else enjoyed him.” The comedy club was created last winter and became an official club in January. Pike says that students can expect a lot more from the club in the future including more open mic nights. “We are hiring comedians to come in and entertain the students, which will cost the students nothing,” Pike said. “Also, next semester, we are planning on having a huge event so keep your eyes peeled for that.” For more information visit the club’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GVSUComedy and be sure to keep your eyes open for fliers for upcoming performances from the comedy club. mbraxmaier@lanthorn.com