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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27

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Women’s basketball playoff destiny on the line against FSU SPORTS, A7

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NEWS, A3

ALPHA TAU OMEGA TO WALK 160 MILES FOR MS FUNDRAISER

Cars broken into, items stolen at GV Perpetrators caught after fleeing from police, items to be returned to owners parking lot D while on patrol. An initial attempt was made to stop the vehicle with suspicion of drunk driving, but the vehicle continued to drive off campus, said Capt. Brandon DeHaan, assistant director of GVSU’s Department of Public Safety. As the vehicle continued toward Wilson Road, GVPD contacted Walker police and Grand Rapids police for assistance to stop it. The vehicle pulled into the

BY HANNAH LENTZ HLENTZ@LANTHORN.COM

On Feb. 22 around 1:30 a.m., several vehicles on Grand Valley State University’s Allendale Campus were broken into and items were stolen from inside. Stolen property included sunglasses, stereo face plates, electronic cords and a watch. At the time of the incident a Grand Valley police officer saw a swerving vehicle leaving

Standale McDonald’s where the passenger got out and fled the area. The driver was arrested for attempting to flee and elude Grand Valley police, Walker police, Grand Rapids police and the Grand Rapids k-9 unit. The missing passenger, who turned out to have several other warrants out for his arrest, was found in a nearby neighborhood by the Grand Rapids k-9 unit. During further

investigation of the vehicle, alcohol, marijuana and stolen goods were found and both the passenger and driver were determined to be intoxicated and under the influence of drugs. Both individuals have been charged with attempt to flee and elude police and steal items from motor vehicles. Additional charges are being decided upon by Walker police. The two individuals are

not GVSU students, but came to the university after being made aware of social gatherings through a social media outlet, DeHaan said. After attending several parties, they then broke into unlocked cars in lots D and H and stole random items from within the vehicles before driving off. So far, two individuals have been contacted and had their stolen items returned to them. GVPD is asking

students to check their cars if they were in the parking lot during the time of this incident and to report any missing items to the police station where they can identity stolen property. “We want to make victims whole by returning property to its owners,” Dehaan said. “Anyone wishing for additional assistance or with questions can contact us so we can solve the situation.”

Service learning a win-win at GV

Professor receives MCC award for ‘teaching by doing’ philosophy situation,” Carpenter said. “Students engage in Dr. Heather Carpenter, projects in a nonprofit a professor at Grand Valley setting which is mutually State University, believes beneficial for students and that learning is done the organization.” Carpenter started by doing. Her teaching philosophy earned her teaching at GVSU in 2012 the Michigan Campus as an assistant professor in Compact Faculty/Staff nonprofit management. “A l t h o u g h Community being with the S e r v i c e university a L e a r n i n g short time, her Award. passion and The biennial expertise in award is the ...her passion highest that and expertise this area are evident, and MiCC bestows we believe she on faculty and in this area will continue staff in the state are evident... to provide of Michigan. a valuable C a r p e n t e r VALERIE JONES perspective is a hospitality STUDENT LIFE and leadership and tourism management professor in this area,” said Valerie and teaches courses Jones, assistant director of to undergraduate and Student Life, Leadership graduate students at GVSU. and Service Initiatives. Jones said service She works to incorporate has several service learning into every learning benefits for students, class. more Carpenter partners her including students with nonprofit appreciation for diversity, organizations in West an ability to work with Michigan to act as advisers others, critical thinking through experiential based and a better understanding projects such as personnel of social issues. “These projects stretch manual reviews, nonprofit consulting projects, social students thinking about management media strategies and nonprofit practices and allow them fundraising plans. “I think it’s important to apply course concepts for students to apply what within local nonprofit they learn in the classroom organizations,” Jones said. to an organizational

BY CARLY SIMPSON

SEE MCC ON A2

COURTESY | KATHRYN CHRISTOPHER

NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Work pays off: Engineering students (Kathryn Christopher, Andrew VanDyke and Leah Bauer) and business students (Brittany Taylor and Briauna Taylor) took first place in the Michigan Collegiate Innovative Prize competition.

Students win innovation competition

Group takes home first place, $20,000 for engineering design BY PETER CHHUM PCHHUM@LANTHORN.COM

After a six-month intensive program, five Grand Valley State University students competed in the Michigan Collegiate Innovative Prize competition on Feb. 14. They didn’t just compete, though — they took first place in the undergraduate category and earned $20,000. The MCIP is a training program that grooms students from having an idea to launching that idea into their own business in just six months. The GVSU team consisted of three engineering students (Kathryn

Christopher, Andrew VanDyke devices, and Leah Bauer) and two business feedback students (Brittany Taylor and Briauna Taylor). The students formed Fluition LLC. The team created the They were “Sit-to-Stand Transfer Device.” The wining a very design is intended to motivated help patients in Intensive group. Care Units by making the process of standing up JOHN FARRIS and sitting down much PROFESSOR easier. “Unlike current

our prototype gives to the medical staff for tracking patient progress,” Christopher said. “The design of our device decreases patient recovery times, is easier for medical staff to use and only requires one medical staff member to operate instead of two, which saves money for everyone involved.” What originally began SEE MCIP ON A2

Homecoming theme contest now open for GV community

Event co-chairs get a head start in planning annual celebration, expanding events to all campuses BY CLARE FODELL ASSISTANTNEWS@LANTHORN.COM

n preparation for the fall 2014 homecoming celebration, the theme competition began this week at Grand Valley State University. Homecoming chair Amy Hallochak of the Laker Traditions Team said all ideas are welcome, and there are no specific requirements for a theme idea. However, her co-chair, Brandon Fitzgerald, advised students to “be creative, be honest and think Laker.” Even if the theme isn’t specifically Laker, Hallochak is certain that those who participate in homecoming activities will still feel the GVSU spirit. “I love the sense of community homecoming creates within Grand Valley,” Hallochak said. “Students, alumni, faculty, staff

and community members all come together to most of the events are held there. support being a Laker for a Lifetime.” “We really want to make sure everyone has Last year’s Wizard of Oz theme was the chance to show their Laker spirit during suggested by alumnus Marvis homecoming week,” he said. Herring through the contest. Fitzgerald also plans to try Other themes have been “sail to include students, alumni, away” in 2012, Halloween in 2011 faculty and staff members in the and Willy Wonka in 2010. of homecoming. ...community planning As homecoming plans are still This is the second year the in the early stages of development, members Laker Traditions Team will be Fitzgerald and Hallochak could all come taking over the planning of the not reveal any big surprises, but annual event. Hallochak said she there were a few details they could together... hopes it will be as successful as spill. 2013. For one, Fitzgerald said that in AMY HALLOCHAK “I hope to continue what has TRADITIONS TEAM 2014 there will be an effort to have previously been accomplished more homecoming activities on and expand on ideas and all GVSU campuses. In the past, the majority traditions within homecoming,” she said. of students who participate and compete in This is the first year that there are two the events are from the Allendale Campus, so students chairing the event, as Fitzgerald

said it was a lot for one student to be in charge of. Also different from years past, Fitzgerald and Hallochak were hired in December to start making plans in January — an entire semester before the event. Because of this factor, Fitzgerald said he and Hallochak will have more creative control since they will have been a part of the planning from the start. Students, staff, faculty and community members who would like to enter submissions for the homecoming theme must do so by March 12. The Laker Traditions Team and the Alumni Relations staff will narrow down the ideas to three for the student body to vote on. Ideas can be submitted by going to www.gvsu.edu/studentlife/homecoming and clicking on the paintbrush.

What are YOU doing this Spring Break? #Lanthorn #SpringBreak Your photos on twitter or instagram and weʼll share them with GV! *A select few will receive prizes for submissions!

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NEWS

FEBRUARY 27, 2014 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN

MCC CONTINUED FROM A1

MCIP CONTINUED FROM A1

“The service learning projects have helped her students to get jobs, promotions and improve nonprofit operations within the Grand Rapids community.” Carpenter’s recent contributions to campus include collaborating with the staff in the Community Service Learning Center to provide support for the 2013 Summer Summit by the Grand Rapids Collegiate Network. Outside of GVSU, Carpenter also participates on a variety of national nonprofit committees. “Service and community are integral to GVSU as COURTESY | KATHRYN CHRISTOPHER

as a project for their engineering class ended up having a much greater effect. ”We knew that the need was real. When (the group) talked to physical therapists, they said this is where the problem is. If they came up with a solution, it would have wider implications than just a class project,” said John Farris, a professor of engineering at GVSU. “They were a very motivated group, a very self-directed team, and because it worked out so well, I encouraged them to take it to the contest.” MCIP blends the areas of engineering and business along with technology and forces students to develop an idea into a business plan. “Our sponsors were two therapists from Spectrum Health’s Intensive Care Unit who were unhappy with the way their current sit-tostand devices worked. After visiting the Intensive Care Unit and watching several sessions with patients, we were able to come up with a solution,” Christopher said. The MCIP competition was an extensive process that began in October and ran through mid-February. The contest began by interviewing 90 teams. From

Creating innovation: Grand Valley State University students won the Michigan Collegiate Innovative Prize competition and, with it, $20,000 for their “Sit-to-Stand Transfer Device.”

there, only 29 were accepted into the competition. Throughout the six months, teams were required to complete

assignments and readings, presentations and research. They then were charged with creating business plans and a prototype, and then

Enjoy your Spring break Please remember to turn down your heat and unplug your electronics before leaving campus

speaking to more than 100 potential customers to get feedback on their ideas. “Talking to the many contacts, investor capitalists and competition judges really propelled me into a world that I was previously unfamiliar with,” Briauna Taylor said. “The MCIP competition, itself, walked us through everything you needed to know to start and run a business and how to effectively communicate.” Fluition LLC beat out teams from more than 16 colleges and universities, including Wayne State University, Michigan Technological University and Kettering University. “After the announcement we won came the shock and elation,” Briauna said. “The competition was so tough. Many of the groups already had sales, customers and final prototypes. A lot of teams had been working with an idea for years. We had worked so hard in such a short period of time to overcome these obstacles. This was the first competition we had entered, and throughout the process the idea grew, and we grew as a team. It was amazing to get the feedback that we did from the MCIP judges and panel.”

Coming Soon

an institution of higher education and are evident in the university’s strategic plan including its mission, vision and values, as well as themes within our Laker Values,” Jones said. “Servicelearning in general, and academic service learning in particular, supports key institutional values identified in GVSU’s strategic plan.” Carpenter was nominated for the award by the CSLC and the recommendation was supported by the President’s Office. Carpenter was honored Feb. 3 at the Civic Engagement Institute 2014 Awards Ceremony & 25th Anniversary Celebration held on the Pew Campus.

N E W S

BRIEFS Ravel/Unravel campaign seeks video participants The University Libraries and the Kaufman Interfaith Institute have collaborated to bring the nationwide Ravel/Unravel campaign to the Grand Valley State University community. The multimedia campaign encourages people to openly and respectfully talk about their identity, religion, spirituality and culture. The campaign sponsors are looking for participants who will be asked four questions on camera about their religious or spiritual identity and stereotypes that have impacted them. The testimonials will be uploaded to the Ravel/Unravel website and will be shown in the first-floor learning alcove in the Mary Idema Pew Library. Video booths will be set up on campus during the week of March 13. Locations can be found at www.gvsu.edu/interfaith/ravel-unravel-campaign-145.htm.

UCC hosts free, confidential eating disorder screenings In honor of today’s National Eating Disorder Screening Day, the University Counseling Center will be hosting free and confidential eating disorder screenings on both the Allendale and Pew campuses. Screenings will take place in Allendale in the Kirkhof Center lobby and Kleiner Commons from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., the Recreation Center lobby from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m., and room 204 of the Student Services building from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. On the Pew Campus, screenings will be held in the DeVos Center in Building C’s student work area and the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences lounge from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. Participants will receive a free stress reliever.

PACES hosts financial planning seminar for graduate students Grand Valley State University’s PACES program is hosting “Planning For the Future: Student Loans, Debt Management and Financial Planning” on March 1. The event will educate graduate students about financial planning and will feature members of the GVSU financial aid office and other experts. They will offer students practical advice and strategies to help manage debt and plan for the future. The workshop is free for all graduate students, and breakfast will be provided. It will take place from 9 a.m. to noon in the University Club at the DeVos Center.

Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell advises voters to raise tax for potholes In his most recent video blog post, Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell advised voters to authorize a city income tax to help fund road improvements. On May 6, the city’s ballot will include a proposal asking voters to extend an increase in income tax, which is set to expire, for an additional 15 years. The tax is estimated to generate $9.9 million per year to fund vital streets in the city. Heartwell admitted in the video blog that it has been too long since the city has invested in street improvement.

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.

3/ 3/ 17 3/ 24 St. 4/ 31 M Hou Pat 4/ 7 l on sin ric 4/ 14 ega ey g G k’s 21 Fin l M uid D Gr al pag at e ay ad s S es te rs ua ur ti vi on va Gu l ide

Lanthorn VOLUME 48, NUMBER 46 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, at $1 each, please contact our business offices. POSTMASTER: Please send form 3579 to: GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN, 0051 KIRKHOF CENTER GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ALLENDALE, MI, 49401

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EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief LIZZY BALBOA Associate Editor SARAH HILLENBRAND News Editor CARLY SIMPSON Sports Editor JAY BUSHEN Laker Life Editor AUDRA GAMBLE A & E Editor MARY MATTINGLY Image Editor HANNAH MICO Copy Editor ALEX LEMANS Layout Editor ALLISON SUPRON Layout Staff MORGAN GOULD ROSS TANNER Web Team COSTAS CIUNGAN T.J. ZIMMERMAN PROMOTIONS TEAM JEFF SORENSEN LINDSEY VANDENBOOM JENNA LADEMAN

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NEWS

FEBRUARY 27, 2014 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN

BY STEPHANIE BRZEZINSKI SBRZEZINSKI@LANTHORN.COM

Many students learn about black history through high school textbooks. Sculptor and designer Lena Newton learns by creating dolls. As part of the Black History Month celebration, Grand Valley State University students gathered in the Office of Multicultural Affairs on Monday to hear Newton speak about the history behind her dolls, which include Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., Barack Obama and Thurgood Marshall. Newton started making the dolls because she was interested in learning more about stories from black history, which is not always taught in schools. She uses her dolls to teach people that no matter what their race is, their history is important. “I want young people to understand that the unsung heroes that we don’t know about, and the heroes like Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, they made a sacrifice for us that we have the freedoms that we have today,” Newton said. “And so that’s my main reason for using the dolls is to teach the young people, to get them to understand that your education is important. Somebody paid a price for you.” Newton was one of the first African Americans hired to work for the government in Grand Rapids. She grew up in Tennessee in a time when racism, discrimination and segregation were

prominent. Everything from cause studying it gives people an schools to restrooms and drink- idea of how far they have come since ing fountains were labeled either the days of slavery and Jim Crow. “Colored” or “White.” “It is a constant reminder that “I went to segregated schools,” on the one hand too often America Newton said. “I grew up in the has failed to live up to standards of South and I know what it’s like democracy and equality,” he said. to get on the back of the bus. I’ve “On the other hand, individuals, been treated different because of especially African Americans, have the color of my skin.” struggled to ensure In response to her that justice and equalexperiences, Newton ity is for everyone.” started making dolls Moore explained in the 1980s after takthat Carter G. Wooding some sculpting and ...I know what son, the “father of doll-making classes. it’s like to get black history,” started Since then, she has crethe celebration first ated about 100 total. on the back of as Negro History She said the dolls are the bus. Week in 1926 and especially important then as Black Hisbecause 2014 marks LENA NEWTON tory Month in 1976 the 50th anniversary of DESIGNER because he wanted to the passing of the Civil show that blacks have Rights Act. made their mark on Bobby Springer, associate di- American history. Previously, rector of OMA, said black his- black history had not been taught tory is important because it is in most schools. American history and should be “The purpose of having Black treated as such. History Month is not to create a “We learn a lot from history,” segregated space in our minds or he said. “Blacks have played a play identity politics, but to fuel major role in the development further discussion and reflection,” of this country. Just like today, he said. “Celebrating black history sometimes you don’t know until was a way to change the future. you hear the story.” While we have seen great improveGVSU history professor Louis ments, blacks still struggle to battle Moore agreed that black history is against the structural racism of the American history. He added that past and fight against poverty, unthis history, especially the Civil deremployment, inferior schools Rights Movement, is important be- and mass incarceration.”

GVL | KEVIN SIELAFF

Designer tells black history stories with clay dolls

Life-life props: Historical doll sculptor and designer, Lena Newton, tells the story of important figures throughout African American history through her realistic, clay representations of them.

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COURTESY | SUMMITHTM240.WEEBLY.COM

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Preparing for the future: Grand Valley State University is hosting the Hospitality Summit at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids on March 28. For the past two years, more than 300 students have attended the professional development conference.

Students practice hospitality with industry professionals

GV puts on Hospitality Summit for students to work on skills developed in class BY HANNAH LENTZ HLENTZ@LANTHORN.COM

FR SO JR SR

2013 HTM ENROLLMENT BY CLASS STANDING

For the past two years, Grand Valley State University has hosted the Hospitality Summit for more than 300 students at the DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids. The summit is a professional development conference held for hospitality and tourism management majors, but it is open to all students. Participants have the opportunity to talk with different companies, get a professional LinkedIn headshot and network with professionals in the industry. The summit was designed by students in HTM 240: Introduction to Meeting and Event Management to meet with different people in the hospitality and tourism business. This year’s hosts are in the midst of putting the finishing touches on their program with registration for the event beginning on March 1. The event will take place March 28. “This is an invaluable opportunity for students,” said Gail Zemmol, a GVSU affiliate professor of hospitality and tourism management.

“They’re putting on a real event where they have to problem solve and be creative. When they move into their future careers, this experience will help them to have background that will prove useful throughout their life.” The summit will include presentations from Dave Lorenz, manager of Public and Industry Relations for “Travel Michigan,” and Brandon Solano, vice president of brand innovation at Domino’s Pizza, as well as many other guest speakers. The speakers will focus on the impacts of tourism across the nation and ways to keep ideas and representation fresh to the public. Last year, the summit “A Ticket to Tomorrow” featured a travel theme to express that hospitality is worldwide and that many guests can relate to the feeling of desire to travel, learn and explore. Students were given a chance to try out the elements taught inside of the classroom in a professional and real life scenario. Students dealt with problems regarding timing and budgets. “The hospitality and tourism management majors that take the class to plan summit get

hands-on experience working with a team to coordinate and execute a 200 to 400 person conference. That’s experience that’s great to get while in school to put on your resume,” said Sherri Anderson, last year’s student program manager. “Students also get to see the work that goes into putting a conference together and a feel for the hours a planner might actually work. Event planning is the main passion of most of the students in the class, so it’s fun.” In addition to providing students with a professional experience, the conference brings money to the GVSU hospitality and tourism program. Depending on the success of the program, the money left over goes toward student scholarships and helps to bring speakers from the hospitality industry to campus. “I am excited about having the opportunity to meet professionals in the hospitality industry and gain knowledge on unique topics,” said Shelbi Rushing, a hospitality and tourism major. “This is a great way to network and check out what hospitality tourism management is all about.”

GV fraternity to walk 160 miles for MS cause Alpha Tau Omega members go to Traverse City from Allendale during spring break for annual fundraiser BY AUDRA GAMBLE LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

While the vast majority of students at Grand Valley State University are preparing for a relaxing week off at home or enjoying warmer weather, the men of Alpha Tau Omega are beginning their 160-mile on-foot trek from Kirkhof Center up to Traverse City. The fraternity will walk along trails in the winter weather to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Last year, the fraternity raised just over $15,000. It has already surpassed its total from last year and has raised more than its goal of $25,000. As of Wednesday night, Alpha Tau Omega has raised $25,437.77. The 20 participating walkers will begin their

journey this morning at 10 a.m. in the Kirkhof Center with a kick-off event featuring a speaker from the Michigan chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and a couple that have written a book about their experiences with MS. This year will be the second year the fraternity participates in the MS fundraiser, and the members of the fraternity planned all aspects of the walk. “The timing of our spring break is in the middle of winter, so it took about three to four months of solid planning around the clock,” said Alpha Tau Omega member James Zyrek. “We had to grow from square one. A lot more went in to it than we thought, and the whole time we were flying by the seat of our pants, hoping that

we’d get good weather and all these things would work out.” The walk itself takes place over eight days, with the walkers averaging around 20 miles a day. After walking all day, the fraternity brothers sleep in churches and begin walking again the next morning. “We kind of just rough it out for eight days, no showers,” Zyrek said. Though the fraternity members are just walking, their bodies take a significant beating. “The walk itself, on paper it seems challenging, but not that hard,” Zyrek said. “Only five out of the 15 of us that walked last year made it the whole way without having to stop for injuries. Apparently your body can only take 60 to 80 miles of repetitive im-

pact, and we go 100 miles there’s quite a bit of struggle over that.” and pain, but at the same Several of the partici- time, it’s temporary,” he said. pants had to “People with MS, stop walking their symptoms due to injury, are not only evincluding a broery single day, ken foot and but they get promicro tears in That motivates gressively worse. another memThat motivates ber’s Achilles us to push us to push aside tendon. life’s struggles aside life’s “It’s very and have a posistruggles... much worth evtive attitude.” ery blister, cut, When tryZYREK hospital trip JAMES ing to create a ALPHA TAU OMEGA or whatever,” signature phiZyrek said. “I lanthropy event, was literally dragging my the members of Alpha Tau leg because I couldn’t bend Omega found that one of my knee without feeling their brothers’ mom had like a knife was in there. It’s been recently diagnosed not the easiest thing, but it’s with MS. worth it for every dollar we “One of our brothers that raise. graduated last year, his mom “We see this walk as was recently diagnosed with this eight-day journey and MS,” said philanthropy chair

Zack Amrein. “Through that, we learned that some other people in our chapter know people who are currently struggling with MS. It’s something we could all do together. We want to help bring something forward that people might not recognize every day.” The vast majority of the food and supplies for the trip are bought using the fraternity chapter’s money, along with donations from sororities and the GVSU community. “The support we’ve seen from the Grand Valley community is unparalleled,” Amrein said. “It’s something that shocked us, to be honest. We’ve been able to raise so much awareness about MS. I didn’t expect us to raise as much money as we have already.”

OPINION

FEBRUARY 27, 2014 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN

What we have to learn from ‘Twitch Plays Pokemon’ N

BY NIKKI FISHER NFISHER@LANTHORN.COM

At its best, the new viral Internet sensation “Twitch Plays Pokémon” suggests deep and pulsing answers to questions about social contract theory and how we as humans negotiate freedom in its most unbridled form: anarchy. At its worst, the massive multiplayer online game is a savage and cut-throat reflection of our

most barbarian nature. Probably, the nature of this beast lies somewhere in between. For those of you unfamiliar, let me take one step backwards. If you prefer, you may open up your Web browser and follow along at the following URL: www.twitch.tv/ twitchplayspokemon. Twitch Plays Pokémon is an online-platform for the popular game Pokémon Red, first released on the Nintendo Gameboy. The difference about this online game is that everyone can play at the same time. No, not simultaneous yet independent logins. Truly, every player helps control the game’s protagonist by typing

QUESTION OF THE ISSUE

commands into the chat box on the right side of the screen. This chat box is continuously scrolling with new commands, “up,” “down,” “right,” “left,” “A,” “B,” “start,” “anarchy,” or “democracy.” The first seven of these commands move the character and navigate the menu system. The latter two determine the game’s command setting. In the original anarchy mode, each and every command issued by a user affects game play. If the collective can garner enough votes for democracy mode, however, the game applies the most popular command given in a 20-second interval. Despite the whimsical, polyphonic background music

that accompanies game play, as you may well imagine, things can get brutal. Twitch averages about 80,000 viewers, with about 10 percent of those individuals (8,000) participating in gameplay. While many of these players are valiant, pushing the game forward to defeat gym leaders, collect ‘em all, etc., many other “trolls” do their best to quench any productive efforts by spamming “start” or other troublesome commands. Thanks to such rebellion, the players released two of their best Pokémon (a Charmander named “ABBBBBBK(”), nicknamed “Abby,” and a Rattata named “JLVWNNOOOO,” nicknamed “Jay Leno”). For those

VALLEY VOTE

WHAT ARE YOUR SPRING BREAK PLANS?

“Going home and spending quality time with family.”

DUANE CLAY

KATIE KOCHANOSKI Junior Exercise Science Trenten, Mich.

“Going to Florida with His House to volunteer.”

ASHLEY KORNOELJE Sophomore Exercise Science Bailey, Mich.

roughly one week ago. I am certainly not advocating for political anarchy, but with Twitch we find some completely human manifestation in the most unlikely of physical forms. Gameplay is riddled with assholes who do their best to interfere with greater goals, but nevertheless, other players pick up their slack and keep persisting. Perhaps optimism and persistence are easier to maintain in a virtual world with a clear end in sight and no real stakes. But in the real world, easier isn’t always better and high stakes only give us more to fight for. I guess we’ll just have to see who wins, the knights or the trolls, at the end of the game.

THIS ISSUE’S QUESTION:

Should administrators consider the opinions of immediate students when shaping the future of GVSU? YES - 68% NO - 32%

Do you devote any part of spring break to catching up or getting ahead on class work? LOG ON & VOTE LANTHORN.COM

Words are powerful, use them for good R

Senior Electrical Engineering Detroit, Mich.

“Job shadowing a physcial therapist to get more hours before I apply for graduate school.”

interested, many bloggers have more-thoroughly detailed annals of gameplay and have even drawn fan art (both of which I highly recommend if you’re in for a laugh). These histories detail the finer moments from gameplay including tales of “Bird Jesus,” “the all knowing Helix fossil,” and “Flareon the False Prophet.” Sure, Twitch Plays Pokémon provides a laugh, especially for children of the Pokémon generation. But there’s something deeper here as well. Despite the challenges presented by the game’s “trolls,” who play the game for the sake of causing chaos, the collective has made stark accomplishments since gameplay began

BY RICK LOWE RLOWE@LANTHORN.COM

On Monday I (you guessed it) went to the gym. I put my valuables and unmentionables in a locker and took my necessary gym accessories—water bottle, mp3 player, armband to hold mp3 player, and towel—over to a nearby shelf to set down while I strapped on the armband. I was greeted by someone I’d never met before and in a way that moderately startled me at first: “Hey, what’s your name?” A non-threatening sentence, but as I’m not used to striking up spontaneous conversations with strangers, it’s safe to say that I was taken aback. I recovered

quickly, telling the other guy my name and attempting to appear friendlier than I felt at that moment. You know… it’s not that the athletic, jock-looking dudes intimidate or frighten me by their stature. Maybe they did when I was in high school, but that’s ancient history. It’s more like: as a loner who pursues solitary activities like gaming or writing, I know that the jock/bro stereotypes are often boisterous, wild, a bit too friendly, and would probably rather play Madden NFL Pick-ayear-they’re-all-the-samegame than say, Tomb Raider or Minecraft. It’s an example of incompatible personality traits and likes/dislikes, not to mention the whole “partying” lifestyle, of which jocks are the epitome and me, the antithesis. Whether or not this guy actually fit that jock personality or was simply built like one, I’m not sure— like I said, I’d never met him before then.

That being said, he told me his name, which I’m withholding so he doesn’t get a bunch of people expecting kindness handouts from him. He proceeded to give me what I can only describe as an impromptu two minute pep-talk; I gather that maybe he’d seen me attempt to work out before. I don’t visit GV’s gym on a regular basis. It’s more of a Monday, Wednesday, Thursday thing. Suffice it to say that I ran over two miles in a halfhour immediately following this little encounter. You remember that stupid little saying parents dribbled out when they got sick of your whining? “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” What a mindless adage, implying that oration and rhetoric are powerless vibrations in the air. Obviously what this guy said did the opposite of hurting me, but what I’m trying to get across is that words are, in fact,

incredibly powerful things. You could use them for good or evil; it doesn’t matter. The words themselves have no morals or ethics. The best part? I wasn’t even having a bad day in the first place. I was a little stressed about the scads of homework I’m thinking about doing and not doing, but that had nothing to do with working out, and otherwise I was in a pretty decent mood. I had my music ready, I was gettin’ pumped about pushing myself to some new heights. Maybe I didn’t break any records today, but… I mean all he said was “keep up the good work,” among other things, and it kind of made my day. You know what, no, I’ve got something better: “This Monday was a very cold day, and this Act of Random Kindness warmed my heart.” There you go, there’s your Cards-Against-Humanity-mushy stuff for this week. Now get outta here.

GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON I CHRISTY SPIELMAN “Visiting my family and tons of homework.”

DAILYNN DIETZ

Sophomore Physics and Computer Science Holt, Mich.

Lanthorn Editorial Board Editor-in-chief Associate editor News editor Sports editor A&E editor Laker Life editor

Lizzy Balboa Sarah Hillenbrand Carly Simpson Jay Bushen Mary Mattingly Audra Gamble

GVL OPINION POLICY The goal of the Grand Valley Lanthorn’s opinion page is to act as a forum for public discussion, comment and criticism in the Grand Valley State University community. Student opinions published here do not necessarily reflect those of the paper as an entity. The Grand Valley Lanthorn aims to be a safe vehicle for community discussion. The Lanthorn will not publish or entertain any forms of hate speech, but will not discriminate against any other views, opinions or beliefs. The content, information and views expressed are not approved by nor necessarily represent those of the university, its Board of Trustees, officers, faculty or staff. Reader submissions on the opinion page appear as space permits, and are reserved for letters to the editor only, all other reader-generated content can be submitted to the

EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley Lanthorn’s YourSpace page by emailing community@ lanthorn.com. Letters to the editor should include the author’s full name and relevant title along with a valid email and phone number for confirming the identity of the author. Letters should be approximately 500-650 words in length, and are not edited by the staff of the Grand Valley Lanthorn outside of technical errors for clarity. To make a submission, email at editorial@lanthorn.com or by dropping off your submission in person at: 0051 KIRKHOF CENTER GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ALLENDALE, MI 49401 616-826-8276

Got something to say? We’ll listen. editorial@lanthorn.com

Student senator dishes on campus affairs

BY TIM LAYER

GV STUDENT SENATOR

The Campus Affairs Committee of the Student Senate has been very busy this year with many different projects around campus. To highlight a few we have been working hard on: helping with construction rerouting, expanding WI-FI in first year housing, serving on the rec-center expanding committee and pendulum committee. Other projects

include working on better accessibility for students with disabilities, working on parking expansion, and as projects are proposed the list continues to grow. Vice President Tim Layer has been working on a survey concerning smoking around campus. Everyone please take the survey at the following link before Friday, February 28, 2014 (https:// www.surveymonkey.com/s/ GVSmoke). Vice President Layer is helping the Disability Support Resources department and Student Environmental Coalition on special projects. He is also working on events with ExtravaGrandza this coming April. To add to Grand Valley’s sustainability, Senator Eric Cousins, has been working on adding compost bins to

the downtown campus and at the end of freshman year move out. Senator Calvin Snedeker has been working on a consistent plowing pattern down 48th and Pierce Street. This helps keep the roads safe to travel. Senator Danielle Pickett just finished housing TV guides and is working on adding a chapter of the Food Recovery Network to Grand Valley for leftover food from Campus Dining. Planning for the future, Senator Sean O’Melia is working on portable charging stations. These are stations for charging electronics and will be placed in higher traffic areas. Also there may be a possibility to place an organization or business logo on the side of the station. Senator Jewel Haji is working on a

cohesive app program for students that could include events, grades, campus dining, reservations, and other areas. She is also working on a coin machine in Kirkhof. Senator Sydney Tyus has been working on adding washers and dryers to first year housing. She has also been a strong advocate for printers in Kirkhof. Campus Affairs Committee hopes to continue their strong presence in the community and hopes to make a difference through many different projects and initiatives. We welcome everyone to come to the General Assembly Meetings at 4:30 on Thursdays in Pere Marquette Room of Kirkhof. Tweet at #LakersforLayer with any campus issues or more information.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

FEBRUARY 27, 2014 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN

Students on prejudice Dear Grand Valley State University Students, On behalf of the International Student Organization, we speak to you today about prejudice. As international students attending Grand Valley State University, it is with great pride to inform you that we have felt very welcomed into the academic, social, and professional community. As some of you may know, last week, there was an incident on campus involving prejudiced and hateful language. It deeply saddens us that this kind of cowardly and hateful behavior still exists in our society today, even worse, at our

university. We hope that the Grand Valley student population will recognize that these kinds of actions are hurtful, immature, and unacceptable. As international students, we have experienced acceptance from our peers. We believe that the same respect and kindness must be extended to all of the Grand Valley’s students, no matter the race, ethnicity, religion, or country of origin. We invite you to share our goal and to continue to create an accepting and diverse environment.

TICKET GIVEAWAY FOR

Sincerely, International Students Organization Board Members

Student on the purpose of GVSU Dear GVSU community, I want to share with you the story of Dr. Tyrone Hayes, a professor and researcher at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Hayes represented the type of faculty member any research university hoped to have: admired, published, and dedicated to the honest pursuit of knowledge. In a recent article in the New Yorker and in a segment on the independent news source Democracy Now!, Dr. Hayes reveals how after his research revealed the dangers of atrazine, a chemical common in many pesticides, he was threatened by the company Syngenta to have his funding cut if he did not retract his findings. Syngenta had funded Dr. Hayes’ research on the effects of the chemicals used in their products. Syngenta was also a major donor to the University of California. Dr. Hayes refused. So began a 15-year long battle in which Syngenta threatened to revoke funding, discredit Dr. Hayes, and physically threaten his family. The administration at Berkeley labeled Dr. Hayes a liability and refused to help. Last semester, a student

used her First Amendment rights to publish an opinion piece questioning the need for private donors to be recognized by having their names attached to buildings. In response, members of the administration threatened to have her scholarships revoked, a serious and cowardly threat considering GVSU’s ever-increasing tuition. To the administration: How dare you! How dare you, whose sole purpose it is to care for your students, threaten one for using her rights as an American citizen and human being to voice legitimate concerns over policies enacted by a school she pays thousands for yet has zero-say over how the school is run. What has been done about the threats. Have the administrators responsible been punished in any way. Have they made a formal apology to the students and faculty whom they are supposed to work for. Grand Valley is a public institution. We pay for it. As private donations from wealthy individuals and corporations become more important to the running of the university, it seems that what was once a house of

learning has become “a den of thieves.” Shame on the administration of Grand Valley State University. Shame on you for caring more about the reputation of “the University” than the rights of the students and faculty who are GV’s heart and soul. An administration that cares more about the feelings of private donors and corporations than it does the interests and rights of its students and faculty has no place in a public institution. Do not let our school fall victim to an administration that cares less about the rights of its students than it does their positions. Do not let our school become Berkeley, an institution that cares more about keeping donors happy than it does about justice and inquiry. We must use our First Amendment rights and voice our opinions over questionable policies! We must assert our rights as students and demand that the administration listen to us and act on our behalf! Without us, there is no university. Never let them forget that.

5 WAYS TO WIN:

(Enter all 5 ways for a better chance to win!)

Matthew M. Darnell Senior

IRISH ON IONIA WINNERS

RSVP as “Going” on our Facebook event: Irish on Ionia Ticket Giveaway.

Retweet our tweet. Make sure it’s the giveaway tweet.

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Fill out the form below and turn it in to the Lanthorn office.

1. Max McCain 2. Joel Francis Collins 3. Nichole Wood Please pick up tickets at the Lanthorn office *Must have valid ID 21 years or older There is still a chance to be a part of Irish on Ionia, participate in the Lanthorn’s other ticket giveaways for a chance to win!

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

FEBRUARY 27, 2014 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN

SPRING BREAK FOR WEST MICHIGAN

Belt it out: Heaters perform at a recent gig in Grand Rapids. As a psych rock band, Heaters look to perform at the House of Pancakes’ Michigan Psych Night on March 1.

Michigan Psych Night puts the spotlight on psych rock House of Pancakes to host bands for contemporary show BY MARY MATTINGLY

Sanderson said. “It’s fun music; the more exposure it gets in the basement scene, the hat is psych rock music? A tribute more people will be like, ‘hey, that’s cool’ and to the surf rock of the sixties? Or listen to it more.” So what exactly is this psych rock genre rather, has it become an umbrella term, encompassing everything that might that seems to be catching everyone’s eye? Today’s psych rock display influences from once have been considered garage music? The upcoming Michigan Psych Night may help the 1960s, when rock bands such as the Beatles and the Byrds started writing music meant attendees decide for themselves. “I really didn’t listen to psych rock until to emulate and enhance the effects of mindhanging out with (people who play psych altering drugs. Similar to grunge surfacing in rock),” said Matt Finch, a Grand Valley State the nineties as a response to the excess of the University student. “What it is for them…the eighties, today’s psych rock bands reject the music is about getting raw emotion out. The production of many popular tunes played on sounds of electric guitar through distortion, the radio. “I think there (is) a lot of electronic music you can’t always hear the words, the rhythms are catchy. It’s more about dancing and feeling (that is) produced and polished in terms of rock,” Krebs said. “I think psych rock is like and getting lost in the vibe.” Eastown venue, the House of Pancakes, taking a step backwards. Not in a bad way; it’s will host the first-ever Michigan Psych Night peeling back rock to its more raw form…you on March 1 at 8 p.m. The event is headlined by can see all instruments and tell where sound Bad Indians and Chit Chat, both of Ann Arbor is coming from. (It’s a) stripped-down, older and supported by Grand Rapids-based psych feel.” While the trend steadily gained attention rock bands, Heaters and Haunted Leather. The psychedelic rock showcase will cast even for some, others haven’t noticed much of a more of a spotlight on a trend that has steadily rise in interest. “I’m not sure of many bands around right been gaining traction in Michigan. The event will also donate a portion of the proceeds now that I’d consider psych besides Haunted toward restoring the Division Arts Avenue Leather,” said Jules Nehring, vocalist and guitarist for Bad Indians. “It just seems like Collective. Michigan Psych Night is the brainchild psych gets thrown around a lot these days. of Nolan Krebs, the bassist of Heaters, who I think people are just looking for a box to wanted to organize a concert to spotlight throw certain bands in. Since garage has been psych rock bands. Planning has been in the overused for the last decade, psych is catching on as a label that hardly ever suits the music works for about two months. “I started to become good friends with it describes.” While what exactly makes rock “psych Haunted Leather… they’ve been around for awhile,” Krebs said. “I talked to them and rock” may be subjective, the bands aim to put they were on board right away. I had an idea on a good show Saturday night regardless of of what would happen, what bands would labels. “GVSU students should make the effort play. I took it to Lindsay (Sanderson, concert organizer at the House of Pancakes) and she to get downtown and get to shows like this,” Finch said. “These shows are being put on was into it.” The House of Pancakes is part of a network by our age group. This is our generation and of houses in Eastown that have been open to what we are doing in the city. If you want to hosting house shows. Lindsay Sanderson, be part of our generation, it’s happening 30 herself a fan of the genre, was quick to agree minutes away...The community is huge, it’s exclusive, we want everyone a part of it and to play host. GVSU like Lanthorn Ad.qxp_Layout AM Page 1 everyone has with each other.” to share what “Just anyOH trend, it’s really1 2/20/14 catchy,” 10:08 ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

March 1, 8 p.m. Symphony with Soul Concert feat. Dee Dee Bridgewater @ The DeVos Performance Hall. $5 Student Passport tickets will be available for purchase beginning at 7 p.m. on the night of the concert. devosperformancehall.com. March 1-April 27 Dinosaurs Unearthed @ The Grand Rapids Public Museum. www. grmuseum.org. March 1- April 30 Butterflies are Blooming @ Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Admission for students w/ID is $9. http://www.meijergardens.org. March 1-March 9 Ice Skating on Rosa Parks Circle @ Rosa Parks Circle. Admission is $1 for 17 & under and $2 for 18 & up. March 1-23 Les Miserables @ Civic Theatre www.grct.org March 2 Winter Concert- GR Symphony Feat. Youth Orchestra @ The DeVos Performance Hall devosperformancehall.com March 3 & 5, 6-7:15 p.m. Yoga at the Downtown Market @ Downtown Market Grand Rapids. Pre-register $10, Drop-in $12 March 4, 4-9 p.m. Arena District’s 9th Annual Mardi Gras. Free street festival takes place on Fat Tuesday at several Arena District venues. Features drink specials, food and entertainment. For more information call 616-458-6600. March 4, 7-11 p.m. Karaoke at Aryana’s Restaurant & Bar. www.hiaryana.com. March 5, 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. Campus Karaoke @ Billy’s Lounge. $2 cover and 21+. www. billyslounge.com. March 6, 7:30 p.m. Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center performs “Emotion Unbound,” featuring works from the Romantic Period. $10 admission for students. http://www.chambermusicsociety.org/. March 6, 6 p.m. Laughfest Kickoff @ Rosa Parks Circle includes attempt to break the existing Guinness World Record for the most people wearing sunglasses in the dark. http://laughfestgr.org/. March 6, 5-9 p.m. Thursday Nights at the GRAM. $8 for non-members, free for members. www.artmuseumgr.org. March 7, 7 p.m. The Grand Rapids Griffins vs. The Iowa Wild @ The Van Andel Arena. Admission is $14-$32 in advance, with a $2 increase on tickets the day of the game. www.griffinshockey.com. March 7, 8 p.m. Laughfest presents Jim Gaffigan @ the Grand Rapids Community College http://www.laughfestgr.org/ See website for ticket details. March 8, 8 and 10 p.m. Laughfest presents: Maria Bamford @ Wealthy Theatre. http://www.laughfestgr.org/ See website for ticket details. March 8, 8 and 10:30 p.m. Laughfest presents:Todd Barry, Rory Scovel & NickThune @ The Pyramid Scheme. http://www.laughfestgr.org/ See website for ticket details.

GVL | HANNAH MICO

COURTESY | NOLAN KREBS

While some Lakers may be lucky enough to be jetting off to sunny Florida or the Bahamas for the next week, the rest of us get to celebrate this rather wintry “Spring Break” here in good ole West Michigan. Before you put Netflix on repeat and commit to wearing your favorite pair of sweatpants for an entire week, be sure to take advantage of some of the entertainment that downtown Grand Rapids has to offer.

Fight with words: The Cardboard Swords perform at Mulligan’s Pub. The band, which has two Grand Valley State University students, plays pop, midwestern emo and spoken word.

GV students showcase talent at Mulligan’s Pub The Cardboard Swords celebrates an unexpectedly large following BY DAVID SPECHT DSPECHT@LANTHORN.COM

I Chelsea, Cooley Student

Cooley Law School

Open House

Grand Rapids | Tues., March 11 | 6-7:30 p.m. Informal discussion with campus deans and professors Student and area alumni Q&A panel • Optional campus tour Information on academic programs, scholarships and financial aid Go to cooley.edu to register or for other Open House dates and locations. Can’t attend? View a Webinar ICG.0214.007.AD

Schedule a Visit|Tour

Attend an Info Session Visit cooley.edu

n 2003, The Intersection relocated from 1520 Wealthy St. to its current location, leaving its old neighbor, Mulligan’s Pub, with a goingaway gift: a vacant room that housed a stage outfitted for live performances. For the last six years, this small-scale venue — known as Mulligan’s Otherside — has been home to weekly performances ranging from indie to metal, and everything in between. Many of the artists featured at Mulligan’s Otherside are based out of Michigan. One such band is The Cardboard Swords, which celebrated its one-year anniversary at Mulligan’s on Feb. 22. TCS is a sad-pop trio consisting of two Grand Valley State University students, guitarist and vocalist Tyler DeCoeur, and drummer Ryan Stailey, along with Calvin College alumnus Mag Kim on bass guitar. The sound of TCS could fall under quite a few categories, in turn making it difficult to label. It is essentially comprised of pop, midwestern emo and spokenword. Lyrically, DeCoeur, the group’s songwriter, retells detailed stories of love and good times with friends. He often references specific landmarks in Grand Rapids such as streets and businesses that could only be appreciated by those familiar with the area.

Instrumentally, their guitar techniques are reminiscent of ‘90s alternative music, featuring keys that balance the wistful lyrics with an upbeat sound. Beginning shortly after midnight on Saturday, TCS performed a handful of tracks from its 2014 EP Remnants, including “Nickels,” “Cardigan” and “Flannel.” Also on the set list were tracks from the selftitled three-track album from 2013, such as “A Year From Now.” Based on the level of participation, it was evident that a large majority of the crowd was quite familiar with the music being performed. “When all of the people rushed the stage and were singing the lyrics, it was mind blowing,” DeCoeur said. “It felt really good to feel like we made a connection with people through our music.” Mulligan’s Otherside can potentially accommodate around 150 people, depending on how much those in attendance are willing to rub shoulders with one another. On Saturday evening, the venue was nothing less than packed — something that members of TCS did not anticipate. “For us, that was the biggest crowd that we’ve ever drawn,” DeCoeur said. “Definitely the most people that we’ve ever packed into a room.” According to a bar manager at Mulligan’s, the establishment had not been that busy since

St. Patrick’s Day of 2013. And while concertgoers were certainly enjoying Mulligan’s drink specials, they were also indulging in another treat – cupcakes. “We’re very grateful for the people that come to the shows and listen, so Tyler thought it would be great to make cupcakes for them,” Stailey said. “Tyler and a few friends worked together and baked over 200 cupcakes to hand out at the show. We also bought decorations and party hats. We wanted it to be a party where people who really liked our music came and listened to it.” Also performing Saturday was passion-rock group Moses, which traveled from Mount Pleasant to celebrate with TCS. In terms of musical style, Moses can be described as indie rock with somber, and sometimes ambient, vocals. During its performance, the quartet showcased a handful of songs off of its eight-track album Gush, which was released in 2013. According to Nate Zinzi, lead guitarist of Moses, the growing popularity of TCS can be attributed to its hard work and passion for music. “The Cardboard Swords write all of their own material, and they really care about their music,” Zinzi said. “They’re awesome people, and they’re in it for the right reasons.”

SPORTS

FEBRUARY 27, 2014 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN

B A S K E T B A L L

S P O R T S

SHORTS

The No. 4 Grand Valley State University softball team was tabbed as the favorite to win the conference championship this spring in the 2014 GLIAC Softball Preseason Poll. The league’s head coaches took part in the balloting but were not allowed to vote for their own team. The Lakers received six first-place votes and totaled 159 points in the poll. Wayne State University also received six first-place votes but finished second with 156 points. Ashland University, which had 147 points, came in third. The back-to-back GLIAC title-winning Laker squad was one of the final four teams remaining in all of the NCAA Division II last season at the 2013 College World Series in Salem, Va. GVSU (2-2) will return to the diamond for 12 games next week during its weeklong trip to the NTC Spring Games in Clermont, Fla.

G L I A C

STANDINGS M. BASKETBALL xy LSSU xy Findlay xy Walsh xy MTU x GVSU x Hillsdale x Northwood x Malone Wayne State Ferris State Ashland Lake Erie Tiffin SVSU NMU ODU

18-3 17-4 15-5 15-6 14-7 13-8 13-8 12-9 9-12 8-12 7-14 7-14 6-14 5-15 4-17 3-18

W. BASKETBALL x Wayne State x MTU x NMU x Ashland x Malone GVSU SVSU Northwood x Hillsdale Ferris State Findlay ODU Walsh Lake Erie LSSU Tiffin

16-5 16-5 15-6 15-6 14-7 12-9 11-9 11-10 11-10 9-11 8-13 8-13 6-14 5-16 5-16 4-16

x= tournament berth y= home quarterfinal

Goal seekers: Junior Darren Washington works for a rebound in a recent game against Ferris State. The Lakers will finish the season at Big Rapids, hoping to win against the Bulldogs.

Team play: Bailey Cairnduff (34) guards a Saginaw Valley State University player for Kayla Dawson (14).

Laker teams seek grand finales in

BIG RAPIDS

GV men’s and women’s basketball prepare to face Ferris for place in GLIAC tournament

BY JAY BUSHEN SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

he Ferris State University basketball teams will not qualify for either 2014 GLIAC Tournament, but that doesn’t mean the Bulldogs won’t be chomping at the bit for a chance to play spoiler against their playoff-seeking rivals. Playoff destinies will be on the line tonight as the Grand Valley State University teams make the hour-long bus ride north for their final regular season games against FSU at the Jim Wink Arena in Big Rapids, Mich.

The GLIAC Tournament reserves eight postseason berths: six for the top three squads in each division and two for wild cards teams. The GVSU men can clinch the fifth seed with a victory; the Laker women may need a win to get in. “Records are not important anytime you play the Bulldogs,” women’s head coach Janel Burgess said. “We know it’s going to be a dogfight, a good ole battle, and we’re excited to get up there.” The GVSU women (14-11, 12-9) will have an opportunity to clinch seventh place, but a loss could mean an early end to their 2013-2014 campaign if T R A C K

tiebreakers prove to be heartbreakers. Senior guard Dani Crandall probably won’t let that happen without a fight. Crandall, the team’s only senior, scored 9.9 points per game in the first half of the season but has been on a whole new level since while averaging 19.0. “I don’t think there’s words that can describe it,” Burgess said. “DC is just playing unbelievable. She’s definitely covering every definition of SEE BASKETBALL ON A8

F I E L D

GV to clash with Ashland at GLIAC Championship

Laker women enter as the top Division II team in nation, hope to keep title streak alive BY TATE BAKER TBAKER@LANTHORN.COM

here have been eight GLIAC Indoor Track & Field Championship trophies awarded in the last four years, and all of them belong to head coach Jerry Baltes and the Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams. Baltes and the Lakers will hope to keep that streak alive while seeking their 15th straight women’s title and fifth straight men’s title on Friday and Saturday at the conference meet at Hillsdale College. “This is what everyone has been looking forward to the entire year, what everyone has been working towards,” junior Nathan Fraeyman said. “We have full confidence that we can walk away with a championship, but it’s going to take a big effort from every group.” There are multiple factors that go into winning a conference championship. No single competition will decide this year’s champion. It’s the small details developed over the course of a season that often tip the scales. “A big factor in who finishes first really comes down to who takes the lower end spots in each event,” Fraeyman said. “The winners of fourth

through eighth places in each event really dictate the outcome. It can be a matter of inches between those places.” All eyes will be on the battles between GVSU and Ashland University, as all four teams enter the weekend ranked as a top five team in the USTFCCCA ranks. The No. 1 Laker women, who moved up to the top spot for the first time this season on Tuesday, will look to hold off an upset bid from No. 4 Ashland, while the No. 5 Laker men will try to pull of an upset of their own against the No. 3 Eagles. “Its going take a big effort from both teams,” Baltes said. “Last year we got a big swing in momentum Onward: Sophomore Casey Routledge, followed by fellow runner right off of the start which helped freshman Peter Tomkiewicz, runs the 5000 meter. us stay in front. It’s going to be outlasted GVSU 199-169. a good one on both sides. I know we’re all pretty “Everyone knows it’s going to be a battle with excited.” Ashland,” sophomore Darien Thornton said. The Laker men have some added motivation in “Specifically in throws, it’s 49-19 in projected the matchup after finishing as the runners-up to Ashland at the outdoor meet in 2013. The Eagles SEE TRACK ON A8 GVL | EMILY FRYE

Softball team predicted to win GLIAC

GVL | KEVIN SIELAFF

Fifth-year senior point guard Rob Woodson of the Grand Valley State University men’s basketball team was named the GLIAC North Division Player of the Week on Monday after a pair of impressive outings on Thursday and Saturday. Woodson, who was honored before the game at Thursday’s Senior Night, helped seal a 77-69 home victory for GVSU against Saginaw Valley State University by converting six consecutive free-throw attempts in the final 52 seconds. He finished with 15 points, six assists, four rebounds, three steals and zero turnovers. The Inkster, Mich., product also came up big in an 82-73 win at Wayne State University on Saturday. He racked up a career-high and GVSU season-high 29 points to go with five steals, four boards and zero turnovers. He also shot 9-of-10 at the foul line for the second consecutive game.

GVL | ROBERT MATHEWS

Woodson garners weekly GLIAC honor

B A S E B A L L

Oakridge product draws interest from MLB, NFL scouts BY PETE BARROWS ASSISTANTSPORTS@ LANTHORN.COM

The line of scrimmage is set at the 10-yard line, a wide-out flashes across the backfield in motion and the ball is snapped. A quarterback in blue, No. 5, collects the football and bounds back into a drop with his head on a swivel and arm cocked to throw, but before traversing the threshold into the pocket, in that one moment, he sees it – a chance to do something spectacular – and he takes it. The YouTube high school football highlight isn’t the grainy sort seen on the Internet in the 2000s, but when then 6-foot-3, 200-pound starring party Jamie Potts, listed as a QB/FS/K, sees it, the viewer does too. Instead of stepping up to throw, Potts swings out to his right with eyes patiently focused up field. At the last sec-

ond, a few steps from the sideline, he tucks the ball with int e n t , splits a POTTS pair of tacklers and meanders back against the grain, leaving eight defenders in his wake. The one defender he didn’t avoid is promptly and violently stiffarmed to the turf and the run concludes almost 30 yards down field. Check the related videos on the sidebar and there’s a clip of him stampeding across the outfield from right to left to make a diving catch at full extension in a high school all-star baseball game. Grand Valley State University saw it, too, like Central Michigan University, Oakland

University and a host of other GLIAC schools that also offered full rides. “I could have gone to a Division I school to play baseball or football, but it would have been tough to walk away,” he said. “The Division II school route afforded me the opportunity to do both sports that I love.” He enrolled at GVSU in the fall of 2011 upon completion of an enormously successful athletic career at Oakridge High School in Muskegon, Mich. Potts was named all-state in baseball, football and basketball -- all while compiling accolades across the board that overflowed box scores. Potts passed for 696 yards and 10 touchdowns while rushing for 1,561 yards and 24 touchdowns on 193 carries as a senior, converted 9-of-13 field goals and collected 64 total tackles, one sack, two interceptions, and four pass break-ups

VIP PASS GIVEAWAY

on defense. On the baseball diamond, Potts batted .584 with 38 RBI, 34 stolen bases and six home runs as a senior in leading his team to a conference and regional championship. On the court, Potts played two through four and terrorized opponents as a self-described ‘power shooting guard’. Whatever it was that Potts saw for his college career, though, his coaches at GVSU had their own vision, and quickly, they began to put his unique skill sets to purpose. Potts, a quarterback his entire career up until GVSU, obliged fully and embraced every new role he took on with equal vigor. “In the summer prior to his senior year, we had Jamie in to our camp and we were sold on him as an athlete and as a competitor,” GVSU head football coach Matt Mitchell said. “I

don’t think we ever thought he was going to be playing quarterback here, but we knew in the evaluation piece that he was going to be a hybrid-type tight end – a guy we could move around and do a lot of different things in our offense with.” A converted tight end, Potts now tips the scales at a very solid 225 as a junior and has learned to block while perfecting seam routes from the other end. The transition wasn’t an easy one, but he has excelled in the new position. “It was different, I’ll tell you that, and it was uncomfortable,” Potts said. “Coming in as a quarterback, I was pretty weak and I don’t think I ever blocked anybody in my whole career up until I got here. Going against guys who had 70-80 pounds on me, that was tough, and it was a transition that took SEE BASEBALL ON A8

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a while to make, but I’m happy I did it.” Potts was named a firstteam All-American last season – one of his proudest accomplishments to date — and set single-season records for a Laker tight end in receptions (54), receiving yards (899) and touchdowns (11) all while helping GVSU come within a game of the championship as a go-to playoff receiver. His role, which included

lining up on and off the line of scrimmage, in the backfield, out wide, at punter and brief stints at quarterback will expand even further next year as he is slotted to enter fall camp as the top receiving option. “Jamie has been in so many competitive situations growing up, even here at GVSU, that he doesn’t flinch,” Mitchell said. “When he’s in that moment, he rises to the occasion and makes a lot of plays – he’s unique that way. I don’t know that I’ve ever had an athlete that’s just clutch the way he is

in two sports. “We’ve just had a great twosport athlete in Matt Armstrong, but I’m not sure that by the end of his career here that Jamie won’t be one of the most heralded athletes we’ve had here at GVSU, not because of his overall athletic ability – he doesn’t run the greatest 40 or change directions as well as some of the other guys – but because he just makes plays. He’s a gamer.” On the diamond, Potts was named to the GLIAC AllTournament team after help-

FEBRUARY 27, 2014 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN

ing to lead the Lakers all the way to an NCAA Division II World Series semifinal, was honorable mention All-GLIAC and hit .379 with 31 runs, 66 hits, 12 doubles, two home runs, 38 RBI and 10 stolen bases – numbers that all inflated when it mattered most. This season, he’ll make the move from left field to right as he continues to grow. “Come playoffs last year, he was outstanding,” GVSU head baseball coach Jamie Detillion said. “Not many people can raise their batting average

50 points through the course of a postseason with as many games as we played. He did the same thing in football, and to his credit, he’s shown he’s a bigtime player when it counts.” What the future holds for Potts isn’t as easy to see as his transparent gifts that can observed in everything he does – from tackle-breaking runs preserved in YouTube archives to his school work as a student in the medical field to his college exploits compiled on a stat page. For now, he has aspira-

tions of redeeming semifinal defeats, enjoying his time as a student-athlete and expanding his mark into GVSU lore as he goes. The time will come to answer to both MLB and NFL professional scouts -- who have already shown interest and seen something in the two-sport star -- and when it does, he will have another difficult decision to make. And when he sees it, the right opportunity to play a roll beyond college – and he will see it – he’ll know.

Rowing club to shape up, bronze up at Vero Beach BY PETE BARROWS ASSISTANTSPORTS@ LANTHORN.COM

In realty, it’s no secret that location is everything. Although it turns out that in the realm of collegiate rowing, location, like each oar blade and every stroke, plays a role. The Grand Valley State University club rowing team will depart from Kirkhof Center circle Thursday af-

ternoon for sunnier Florida skies. It turns out churning through ice coated water is harder than it looks. The team won’t be asked to row down – it will pack into vans of 15 instead – but all participants will, for a sevenday period between March 1 and March 7, be asked to earn their keep in a place where other athletes were asked to do the same for decades.

“We’re very excited to be staying in Dodgertown,” GVSU head coach John Bancheri said. “Rowing is the oldest sport here at GVSU and is now going into its 50th anniversary year, so in a way, it almost seems fitting to begin the season in a place with so much history of its own.” The Brooklyn Dodgers began spring training in 1948, back when Ernie Harwell voiced the soundtrack for the

“Boys of Summer” squads of Roy Campanella, Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson, in a small town along Florida’s east coastline known as Vero Beach. Harwell took his talents from South Beach to Detroit, players came and went with the seasons, and the Dodgers flipped coasts from Brooklyn to L.A., but one constant remained: every spring for 60 years the franchise would begin its season with a trip to an old converted naval base that affectionately became known as Dodgertown. The Dodgers haven’t returned to Vero Beach since 2008 – the franchise has retired to host its spring training in Glendale, Ariz. – although the halls of Dodgertown will again facilitate a team’s ascension into the season upon the Lakers’ expected arrival on Friday. Just 15 minutes from the beach, the location is perfectly suited to allow GVSU to hone posture, timing, technique, touch, balance and control with double daily douses of rigorous training sessions throughout the week – and those days will begin before 7 a.m. Florida is also an ideal location to provide the Lakers an opportunity to get back in the water for the first time

since the fall. Ergometers, indoor rowing machines that measure work performed in ergometers, only go so far. “We spend a lot of time building strength and getting faster on the ergs in the winter, but going south gives us a chance to get out on the water, get back in the boat and remember what it feels like to row together,” junior and third-year rower Kaitlyn VanBoven said. “We have a lot of hard-working kids on the team this year, we’re determined, and I’m excited to see what we can do.” What began as a physical education activity in 1964 — back when Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale manned the mound for the Dodgers — has evolved into a varsity level club that not only competes with NCAA Division I programs, but often defeats them. The eight-woman varsity team for GVSU is typically one of the fastest boats not only in Division II ranks, but also in the entire country, and it might be even faster this year. The men’s team is equally accomplished. “In the fall, we work on technique and how to get as much power as we can from the boat through technique,” returning rower Shelby Welbaum said. “In the winter, we build up the

power and strength within ourselves, and in the spring, we put the power into the boat with technique and refine and remember how to move through the water together. “We’ll have to see how it comes together, but I have very high expectations for this season — we’ll be very efficient on the water this season, especially if the fall season was any indication. We’re going to have a fast first boat this year — and a fast team all the way down.” Tacked on the bottom of the PDF training itinerary for the week is a list of supplies each Laker must come equipped with for the trip — sun hat, shades, bathing suit, extra socks, sandals, water bottle, snacks, books to study, sun screen and alligator repellant — proving that no location is without flaw. Also listed is “a desire to continue to get faster.” To come together as a team, like the Dodgers squads before them, and enjoy a location where snow is replaced with sand. “These trips help us to find a new gear and bring us back together in the boat, but also as a team — the bonding is a big part of the experience,” Welbaum said. “The sunshine and weather is a nice perk, too.”

GVSU season-high 29-point performance in the men’s team’s 82-73 win at WSU. “We’ve been clicking,” junior guard Ryan Sabin said. “Rob has been playing phenomenal lately and we’ve got our bigs playing well. The biggest thing going into the tournament is just playing well as a team.” The Laker men (18-7, 14-7) have played well as a team in their last two games and have clinched a playoff berth, but they will be looking to avoid any tie-breaking scenarios on the road tonight. A victory secures fifth place; a loss likely leads to unfavorable leapfrogging in the standings. The most likely scenario is a third crack at the Huskies of Michigan

Technological University in the first round. MTU, one of the top shooting teams in all of the NCAA Division II, has taken both contests against the Lakers in 2014. “That game is a long ways away,” men’s head coach Ric Wesley said. “It’s not until next Wednesday and, after talking today, there’s a lot of different combinations. We could play Findlay, we could play Michigan Tech, we could play Walsh — you just never know what’s going to happen.” GVSU, which won the men’s and women’s games against FSU at home on Feb. 3, will get things going against the lady Bulldogs at 6:00 p.m. before the men’s teams square off in the nightcap at 8:00 p.m.

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leadership — from her play, to her energy, to her focus and just the motherly instinct she can show sometimes.” Crandall’s most recent heroics came at Wayne State University on Saturday when her old-fashioned three-point play with 6.7 seconds finished a 15-point comeback in a 6564 Laker victory. She is one of just two players in the GVSU program with four years of experience — and both players are playing like it. Fifth-year senior point guard Rob Woodson, who was named the GLIAC North Division Player of the Week on Monday, is coming off a

TRACK CONTINUED FROM A7 points in favor of Ashland right now. If we can all pull our weight, I think we narrow that margin, which will help the overall team points out a lot as well.” The Laker women will be the favorites to win this year’s indoor crown thanks in part to the long list of GVSU athletes in contention for individual titles. Some of those names include seniors Kristen

Hixson (pole vault), Kalena Franklin (60 meter hurdles) and the 4x400 relay team of Franklin, senior Andrea Kober, junior Brittney Banister and sophomore Brittany Terry. “The great thing about this team is that we can get points from really any spot on any given day,” Baltes said. “We really want a big performance across the board in hopes of qualifying more people to nationals. That’s one of our main goals.” The event will take place at the Margot V. Biermann Athletic Center on Friday and Saturday at 10:00 a.m.

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