2013 COMMENCEMENT ISSUE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5
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CORPORATE PRESENCE RISES ON CAMPUS GV offers room-naming opportunities to university donors
Slugger: DTE Energy was one of the sponsors of the Mary Idema Pew Library, and its donations earned it the “DTE Energy Innovation Room” on the third floor of the building. At Grand Valley State University offers many donors naming opportunities. BY CARLY SIMPSON CSIMPSON@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State University has earned a reputation for being ‘born’ by the West
Michigan community and its business leaders. Although the university is past the bottle and diaper stage, corporations continue to nurture it.
“As a community asset, we know the corporations in the area feel that this is an excellent investment of their philanthropic dollars so that Grand
Valley can continue to attract, educate and retain the best and brightest talent for West Michigan’s future,” said Karen Loth, vice president of University
Development. State funding has steadily decreased since 1997, and with little money coming from the government, the university relies on tuition and donations to sustain its budget. Since 2009, University Development has raised around $1 million to $1.5 million each year from corporations, Loth said. In 2012, monetary gifts from corporations represented 11 percent of total private giving. “In the last 20 years, the state has not had much money for construction,” said Matt McLogan, vice president for University Relations. “Of necessity, we asked business leaders to help us produce graduates. Grand Valley is no different from any other college. From day one, we’ve solicited gifts. We were born with them.” Students and professors see proof of this as they walk past the campus buildings and rooms named after top donors, which has earned the university another reputation. As mentioned in a previous Lanthorn article, “Roasting Lubbers,” GVSU alumnus and
Warming up for the final walk
Ionia Mayor Dan Balice joked about having a toilet dedicated in his honor. “If you’ve ever been to Kistler Hall, go to the fourth floor, men’s lavatory, third stall, it’s the Balice toilet,” he said. “Cost me 50 bucks, and Tom Haas tells me tonight there are still naming opportunities for the urinals.” Although bathrooms on campus remain untouched by corporations, a growing trend is being seen at GVSU as students’ study spaces are being transformed by corporate undertones. This year alone, 31 rooms on campus have been named after corporations. The L. William Seidman Center has 18, the Robert B. Annis Field Station has 10, and the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons has three. “Corporations give to nonprofit organizations, like Grand Valley, to support their desire to be good corporate citizens and community partners,” Loth said. Along with the warm, fuzzy feeling of philanthropy, though, these corporations are SEE SPONSORS ON A2
GV buys student Seniors prepare to take the stage and receive diplomas football tickets graduation, said Sue Willemsen, administrative assistant in the As the semester comes to an Dean of Students office. The student composition end, many graduating seniors are preparing for their long-an- at commencement will differ ticipated walk across the stage slightly from years past. While the number of underto receive their digraduates who chose ploma from President to walk is down from Thomas Haas during last year, the number the commencement of students graduatceremony. ing from Master’s pro“It’s a huge accom- ...after doing plishment for the stu- it for so many grams has increased. “I am just lookdents and the faculty ing forward to seeing and staff to be able to years, I still all the students walk celebrate that mile- get excited. again this year,” Wilstone with the stulemsen said. “It’s an dents,” said LeaAnn SUE WILLEMSEN exciting time, and Tibbe, assistant direc- ASSISTANT even after doing it for tor in the Office of so many years, I still Student Life. Though there are around get excited.” The speaker for commence1,820 students who are eligible to graduate, only slightly more than ment will be Hank Meijer, co1,000 students will be walking in chair and co-chief executive offi-
BY SARAH HILLENBRAND ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM
cer for Meijer, Inc. Meijer started at the company as a clerk when he was 11 years old and later worked as a reporter, ediMEIJER tor and publisher for newspapers in Detroit. He came back to Meijer in 1979 as the assistant advertising director. Tibbe said that there is a process through the President’s Office for finding and reviewing candidates and finally choosing a speaker for commencement. At the ceremony, Cyril Lixenberg—a contemporary artist known for his sculptures and graphic prints who has donated many pieces to GVSU—will receive an honorary degree. Tibbe added that she believes
it is important for graduating seniors to participate in commencement so they can be recognized for all the hard work they’ve done. “It’s a sense of pride, not only in themselves but also in the university,” she said. “… They have worked very hard to achieve this, and it is a mile marker. It’s one of those things that you can always look back on and remember.” Willemsen said GVSU students should be proud of their accomplishments and their dedication to complete their degree. “Graduates are now able to see that the hard work that they’ve put into their studies for the past four or five years has finally paid off,” she said. “They can now go forward and look toward a bright future. We wish them the best.”
Program engages students in community education GV students spread knowledge to prison inmates, Job Corps students BY ERIN GROGAN EGROGAN@LANTHORN.COM
Students at Grand Valley State University are most likely used to sitting in classrooms multiple times a week to learn material from their professors, whether it be through lectures or group discussions. One group of students, however, takes learning to another level. The Community Working Classics program allows GVSU students to engage themselves in the community by teaching subjects that interest them to locals who might not have the same educational opportunities. Students enrolled in the program this semester are teaching courses at the Gerald R. Ford Job Corps Center, a facility that provides its students with vocational trade skills. In the past, participants have also taught classes at the Muskegon Correctional Facility. “The mission is two-fold,” said Michael DeWilde, an associate professor of philosophy who has run the program for about 15 years. “First, it gives Grand Valley students the opportunity to test what they learn by attempting to teach it in a community. It also provides them with the opportunity to see the value of
g llin i b d aye Del - for - aid l cia n a fi n
what they might bring to the community.” example, they may work with community stuThe CWC program was awarded the 2013 dents who live in poverty or those who have Community Partner of the Year Award by the to deal with inequalities present in the educaGerald R. Ford Job Corps. In the past, the tion system. program has also received awards from the Along with teaching their own class once American Philosophical Association and the a week, GVSU students in the program meet Michigan Campus Compact. with DeWilde, who leads them in discussion GVSU students emphasize a and reflection-based classes. Durliberal arts education in the coursing these classes, he talks with es they teach, which average at a them about what they’ve learned class size of around 12 community and gives them guidance with isstudents. Though the age of the CWC is about sues they may have come across community students varies, they in their classrooms. tend to be young adults, said Joe service and DeWilde said many students Hogan, a GVSU student in the engaging in who go through the CWC proprogram. Hogan, a film and Enggram continue working with the issues... lish major, is teaching IntroducGerald R. Ford Job Corps or other tion to Film Studies to a group of JOE HOGAN places where they may be able to about 10 students. provide educational opportuniGVSU STUDENT “CWC is about service and enties to those who don’t have them. gaging in issues, not just learning Abigail DeHart, a junior dual about issues,” he said. “It provides a nuanced, majoring in philosophy and classics, said she more internal understanding of social issues.” first participated in the CWC program as an While teaching these classes, students independent study her freshman year at GVSU. often come face-to-face with social issues they’ve learned about in the classroom. For SEE COMMUNITY ON A2
LOW TEXTBOOK PRICES MEANS MORE MONEY IN YOUR POCKET
BY RYAN JARVI
NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
Unlike the first playoff game against Saginaw Valley State University, students at Grand Valley State University looking to attend the Laker football game on Saturday will be able to go for free. “Our students never have really paid for tickets,” said Tim Nott, associate athletic director at GVSU. “The game against Saginaw was one of the first ones.” Nott said there have been times when GVSU used to let the first 500 students into the game for free, then the rest would have to pay the ticket price. But most of the time, students didn’t have to pay for playoff admission. There are no rules that say the Athletic Department can’t purchase the tickets for students, but there typically isn’t money set aside to do so. For that reason, the university as a whole is picking up the tab. Nott said GVSU isn’t sure how much it will have to spend for the tickets, as it depends on the number of students who attend. “We see how many students come to the game, then we pay the NCAA for those tickets,” Nott said, adding that the cost will ultimately be $3 per student. Student attendance at playoff games varies with weather conditions and holidays, but Tim Selgo, athletic director at GVSU, said he was happy with the amount of student support over the years. “Playoffs are governed by NCAA rules, which require that tickets be purchased,” Selgo said. “But playoffs are a special time, and President Haas has asked us to take some special actions to show appreciation to our student fans. At the last game, we provided hot chocolate and warming stations. For the game this Saturday, we are providing students with free tickets that have been purchased by the university on their behalf.” GVSU’s football team will play West Texas A&M at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Lubbers Stadium. For more information, call 616331-3200, or visit www.gvsulakers. com/tickets/grva-tickets.html.
Go across the
water tower to RIAN’
BO OKS