Grand Valley Lanthorn vol. 55 no. 18

G R A N D VA L L E Y L A N T H O R N

America’s Soundtrack How Black artists shaped today’s music

The Delta Project aims to change narrative on young Black life COMMUNITY | A3

GV Men’s Basketball moves to 7-5 with victory over NMU BASKETBALL | A11

M O N D A Y , F E B R U A RY 1 5 , 2 02 1 // VO L . 5 5 N O. 1 8

@ GV L A N T H O R N

LANTHORN.COM

A2 | NEWS NEWS BRIEFS GV COVID-19 CAMPUS DATA UPDATE

The GVSU community has had a cumulative total of 2,275 COVID-19 cases since Aug. 1.

The university’s update for this brief was from Friday, Feb. 12.

Through testing results this past week, GVSU’s Virus Action team have so far reported 35 current active cases including 1 faculty member case, 3 staff members, 3 on-campus students, 16 “off-campus Ottawa” students, 9 “off-campus Kent” students and 3 “off-campus other” student with active COVID-19 cases.

“Current active cases” is the count of positive cases reported to the Virus Action Team over the past ten days. This is an estimate of those currently in isolation, assuming a ten-day symptomatic period following the reporting of a positive test result. Actual periods of isolation are specific to the individual and determined by the county health department.

Testing and Incidence: GVSU’s own testing program has performed 48,094 tests overall since August 21, for a cumulative positivity rate of 1.72% from the latest update as of last week.

“GV Surveillance” includes the GV/ Spectrum administered programs of: randomized testing, regular testing of high-risk groups, and invited testing of individuals connected to potential clusters. A calendar is available. “GV Total” includes surveillance testing plus all symptomatic/exposure tests administered by Spectrum.

VIRUS ACTION TEAM UPDATES ON CAMPUS COVID-19 CONDITIONS

Due to another lull in new COVID-19 cases, GVSU has moved back to Alert Level 2. Level 2 is labeled the “Moderate Level.”

At this level, the virus impacts GVSU’s systems and resources, however, support services, testing and contact tracing capacites are capable of meeting demands. The Virus Action Team is also able to now expand their testing and contact tracing program.

In their most recent update, The Virus Action Team thanked the members of the community who have followed guidelines in effort to limit the spread of the virus. The team asks for the community to continue wearing masks, completing the self assessment and avoiding large gatherings. The community is also encouraged to participate in on-campus testing.

GV COUNSELING CENTER OFFERS SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR BLACK STUDENTS

The University Counseling Center is holding one of their “Let’s Talk: Black Mental Health & Wellness” events for the GVSU community Monday, Feb. 15 from 5-6 p.m.

The event is on a drop-in basis and invites students to attend as many as they would like, whether it is once or weekly.

The purpose of the drop-in events are to provide a safe space for Black students to talk about their educational and personal experiences. The University Counseling Center aims for the event to be a supportive atmosphere for students to be brave about talking about things they might not be comfortable talking about in other spaces.

FEBRUARY 15, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

BUSINESS

West Michigan SBDC hosts webinar highlighting resources for local Black-owned businesses

BY JACOB DEWEERD NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

The West Michigan branch of the Small Business Development Center hosted a webinar highlighting local resources for Blackowned businesses on Tuesday. Speakers at the event included members from local organizations focused on providing Black business owners with advice and resources they can use to grow and sustain their businesses.

The webinar covered many resources from organizations like Start Garden, S.C.O.R.E, Rende Progress Capital (RPC) and the U.S Small Business Association that all have programs specifically geared towards Black business owners. These resources aren’t just for people that are new to the business world, either. Experienced Black business owners can also take advantage of programs to help with finances, promoting their business and other needs.

Kevin Davis, Opportunity and Lending Officer for RPC, was one of the speakers at Tuesday’s webinar. He spoke about what kinds of resources exist around Grand Rapids for Black business owners.

“Michigan Women Forward is a great entity; they have a statewide reach,” Davis said.

“Start Garden is another great resource to be aware of that helps businesses that are just getting started.”

Michigan Women Forward provides

AIDING BUSINESS: The SBDC virtual event featured information for local Black business owners on how to expand their resources and utilize them to improve their business models. COURTESY | GVSU

many services to business owners, including loans and exposure. They also offer funding opportunities and connections to advisors and mentors through the WomanUp & Pitch Business Plan and Pitch Competition.

Start Garden has some unique offerings that new businesses can utilize, such as a workspace for business startups to work on their ideas. Start Garden also hosts events that cover useful information for business owners.

One of those events, 5x5 Night, allows businesses to pitch their ideas for the chance to win a $5000 investment from Start Garden.

Davis also discussed what RPC does to help bolster Black business around West Michigan.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

LAKER EFFECT

GV announces new program for service members MACKENZIE KELLER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

In the wake of the October death of philanthropist Peter F. Secchia, his family has given a significant gift to the Grand Valley State University community. This generous donation goes directly to the Peter F. Secchia Military and Veterans Program, which recently announced the GVSU Veterans Promise. The GVSU Veteran Promise guarantees that all 2021 Michigan high school graduates — public or private — who

OPPORTUNITIES: The Veterans Promise helps students educate and serve. COURTESY | MIBIZ

have signed enlistment papers to serve in the U.S. military for at least two years are reserved a spot at GVSU upon exit of their service.

Secchia, who was a service member himself, became a well-known philanthropist and entrepreneur in the Grand Rapids area in his later years. His support of GVSU will increase initiatives and offer support to not only service members but their families as well.

“Dad would have been pleased that our family can support these men and women who have given so much for all of us,” said Charlie Secchia, Peter’s son. “We are excited about Grand Valley’s plans for the future and excited to be a part of it.”

The new program was announced in November and automatically grants admission to high school graduates of 2021 who enlist for and complete at least two years of military service. Both officers and enlisted members are eligible for this program.

Eligibility extends to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserves, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard granted that they meet a few requirements. Included in those are having either a six-year service

obligation in the Selected Service or are an officer in the Selected Reserve who agreed to serve six years in addition to their initial service obligation.

GVSU is the first university not only in Michigan, but perhaps the entire nation to offer such a program aimed at service members.

“As a university, we are committed to removing barriers to enrollment for a wide variety of populations and our veterans are no different,” said President Philomena V. Mantella in a release.

This program grants additional support and resources to both active-duty service members and veterans. It will provide career support, assistance in the transition from military to civilian careers and support the development of multifunctional spaces.

The program is not a financial aid program — it is simply a guarantee that Michigan’s 2021 high school graduates who serve in the military will be guaranteed admission to the university, once they’re ready to apply.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

FEBRUARY 15, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

CONTENTS BUSINESS

| A2

EDITORIAL

| A4

HONOR

| A5

MUSIC

| A6&7

LEADERSHIP

| A8

THEATRE

| A9

CONVERSATION

| A10

BASKETBALL

| A11

SOFTBALL

| A12

VOL. 55

NO. 18

Lan thorn EDITORIAL STAFF

Layout Editor VIVIANA RUBIO

Editor-in-Chief NICK MORAN Associate Editor OLIVIA FELLOWS

Layout Designer KHOI TRAN PROMOTIONS

Associate Editor XAVIER GOLDEN News Editor MARY RACETTE Sports Editor ZACK GOODROW Laker Life Editor YSABELA GOLDEN

Promotions Manager ALEX DAGASTINO ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager SHANE MCATANEY BUSINESS STAFF

A&E Editor MARY DUPUIS Image Editor MEGHAN LANDGREN

Business Manager RACHEL MCDOWELL Asst. Business Manager DAYTON HAMMON

At the Lanthorn, we strive to bring you the most accurate news possible. If we make a mistake, we want to make it right. If you find any errors in fact in the Lanthorn, let us know by calling 616-331-2464 or by emailing editorial@lanthorn.com.

The Grand Valley Lanthorn is published weekly by Grand Valley State University students 31 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.

The Lanthorn is published on recycled paper and is printed with soy bean ink. This means that our newspaper is entirely compostable. Help us do our part to be kind to the environment by recycling or composting this newspaper after you enjoy reading it.

POSTMASTER: Please send form 3579 to: Grand Valley Lanthorn 0051 Kirkhof Center Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI 49401

A3 | NEWS COMMUNITY

The Delta Project aims to change narrative on young Black life

BY OLIVIA FELLOWS ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM

For Cole Williams, fatherhood has always been a central part of his life and his work.

The CEO and Founder of Son To A Father and Cole Speaks – both programs that work to empower and restore relationships between teens and their parents – Williams has utilized experience with his own fatherless childhood and adolescence, becoming a single teenage father, reuniting with his biological father, to finally fostering and adopting fatherless son’s into his own family in order to educate other young men on the terrain of parenting.

Williams founded The Delta Project along with the help of Joel Van Kuiken, a passionate advocate, creative and adjunct Grand Valley State University communications professor, and Eric Scott Johnson, a founder of Gorilla, a creative studio focused on human-centered storytelling.

The Delta Project is an organization based out of Grand Rapids whose content aims to break the generational cycle of incarceration by reconnecting youth of color and their families to community relationships through mentorship, resource connections and storytelling, often through the eyes and experiences of young Black men.

Van Kuiken, who formerly worked in marketing and communications at Amway, left to co-found The Delta Project with Williams after he realized the job would allow him to utilize his creative design thinking skills learned while studying for his masters in communications at GVSU, which he earned in 2008.

The two quickly got to work on the Delta Project’s mission, which was answering the question: “how do I become what I don’t see?”

From this question, the Delta projects mission was born: a platform which would connect Delta Project students with community leaders who could empathize with their circumstance, offer insight through one-on-one conversation, and create and provide positive role models.

“This work all stems from my background as a young man longing to have a relationship with my father, and finding myself looking for fathers in other men,” Williams said. “I want to create positive role models for the kids, and be able to utilize my nurturing nature in my work to help them be successful.”

Williams’s most recent work has been dedicated to providing fatherhood training, support and materials for the Michigan Adolescent Pregnancy and Prevention Program (MI-APPP), as well as penetrating the culture of the Kent County Juvenile Detention Center, where he provides life skills and leadership development to incarcerated youth.

Williams said that his education on the poor treatment of Black men historically really opened his eyes to the treatment of the black

INSPIRE CHANGE: The Delta Project works with students in juvenile detention and teaches them media and camera skills to create content that helps tell their stories. COURTESY | THE DELTA PROJECT

community in the country, and also where he lived, inspiring him to want to work with youth education and incarceration.

In his work with The Delta Project, Williams mentors several students and helps

them to create content that helped them viscerally tell their own stories.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

Making a difference through research, education, and outreach

2020 R.B. ANNIS FOUNDATION: MAGGIE BRENNEMAN “The opportunity to intern at AWRI has been a fully immersive, hands-on experience that has been fundamental to my education at GVSU. Working in the Rediske Lab has given me opportunities I would not otherwise have had to learn and grow as a scientist and student. I’ve been blessed with the chance to not just observe, but immerse myself in techniques and research that directly impact myself and those I love—from water contamination studies to wastewater COVID testing. But more than that, I’ve been able to see the impact of environmental science on a community. Even in the midst of a global pandemic, I was warmly welcomed from my first day and have thoroughly enjoyed being able to jump in and learn during my time here as an intern. I’m incredibly grateful to all those who made this experience the highlight of my undergraduate career.”

The Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute at Grand Valley State University is committed to the study of freshwater resources, with a special emphasis on Michigan and the Great Lakes basin. Located in Muskegon, Michigan, the Institute’s mission is centered around three main programmatic areas:

• Research • Education and outreach • Geospatial analysis Applications will be accepted for Summer 2021 during Winter semester. Visit www.gvsu.edu/wri/ and click on Internships.

A4 | OPINION GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON

FEBRUARY 15, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

By Lauryn Syrba

EDITORIAL

Impeachment case closure leave clean

O

2/15/21

editorial@lanthorn.com

Self Love, Self Care: Crappy weather means crappy motivation

BY MADDIE ZIMMERMAN FRESHMAN BIOLOGY EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

Picture this: as you look outside, you notice the snowflakes continuing to fall onto the snow-coated ground. The wind rips around the buildings and you hear it howl into the night. All you can do is pray for a plow truck.

You decide, yet again, that you should skip the gym and just snuggle up in bed and watch Netflix. Oh wait… that’s me.

If you’re anything like me, you procrastinate literally anything. Assignments, going to the gym, making plans, etc. When the weather gets worse outside, so does your motivation.

I’ve noticed that due to quarantine, my motivation is lacking. As winter gets worse, my motivation most days is almost nonexistent. I’m here to help you get over the crappy weather and help you with your even crappier motivation.

My first tip is to find a hobby. I know it sounds dumb that finding a hobby will push you to go to the gym, but in a way it does. You need a break from always stressing out about the things you aren’t doing — the homework that’s due tonight at midnight, your parents

nagging you to get a campus job, and of course, the most common one, not wanting to go to the gym but knowing that you should.

You need to find something that you love to do. For me, it’s making jewelry or reading (I know I sound like a grandma, but it’s fun I promise). This will put you in a good mood. If you’re in a bad mood, the last thing you’re going to want to do is homework. A hobby to start that good mood can go a long way.

The second is to not let the weather get the best of you. This is obviously easier said than done.

Seasonal depression kicks in and all you want to do is lay in bed and watch TikTok. Trust me, we’ve all been through it.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

Chrome must tackle faulty security as it dominates market

BY FABIAN SEGURA SENIOR FILM & VIDEO, MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

This past week, the web browser that is nearly ubiquitous at 64% of the entire market has faced a few security incidents.

First there was a malicious extension called the “Great Suspender” that had been downloaded over 2 million times from the Chrome store. Shortly, after there was a zero-day exploit that prompted Google to issue an update outside its normal release schedule. In that same week, a security researcher discovered malware that abused Chrome’s sync feature to bypass firewalls.

With how much of the market Google’s Chrome browser commands, it makes for a prime target for bad actors to circumvent its security. As such, it’s important for Google to take steps to protect its ecosystem, especially as its competitors such as Microsoft Edge use the same underlying platform now. Even with all their tech-savviness and precautions, all it takes is a simple mistake or rogue update

to break that chain of trust.

To that end, I had the misfortune to be part of that malicious campaign both before with another extension I used regularly in October and last week with “The Great Suspender”. In both cases, the lead developer had sold the rights to a third party after many years of maintaining the extension. With the way Chrome handles silent updates to extensions, I was unaware of the sudden change of hands until the news broke out and/or Google remotely deactivating the extension.

In the case of the extension from October, the malicious update was an unfortunate turn of events.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

n Saturday, former President Donald Trump was acquitted of a second impeachment attempt

by House and Senate Democrats. The acquittal saved him from the fate of the first-ever conviction of a current or former U.S. president, but it doesn’t save him from the countless lawsuits and criminal trials that could be in his future as a private citizen.

The trial spelled out in clear terms what led to the Jan. 6 Capitol riots by thousands of angry Trump supporters. Following rebuttals of Republicans highlighting the Democrats’ many uses of the word “fight” in defense of Trump’s use of it, they voted and reached a verdict. 5743, the outcome was plainly the largest number of senators to ever vote to find a president in their own party guilty of an impeachment count of high crimes and misdemeanors, with a total of seven, including former president and current senator Mitt Romney.

The two-day trial was the second attempt by House and Senate Democrats to indict the reality-star-turned-president on his crimes, but they were only the first in a long list of people looking to sue and defame the now-former president Trump. Several of Trump’s enemies he’s made in the financial and real estate sectors have been preparing lawsuits. To us, it seems as though this man’s troubles are just beginning.

The newest resident leader of the country, President Joe Biden, has been markedly silent about the recent proceedings. Citing a laser focus on the COVID-19 pandemic relief plan, Biden has consistently dodged questions about Trump’s impeachment trial.

Biden’s silence, while disappointing to some, is not necessarily unexpected. In November of last year, it was rumored that he was hesitant to pursue investigations into Trump’s behavior, worried that it would further polarize the country. Biden has been openly pushing for unity and reconciliation since the beginning of his campaign, and not intervening in attempts to hold Trump accountable might be what that looks like.

However, Biden has been productive in his first 100 days thus far, and better liked than his predecessor, according to early surveys. Nearly a month after President Biden’s inauguration, he’s signed 30 executive orders – 14 more than President Obama in 2009, and 18 more than Trump in 2017.

Notably, these executive orders have been fairly popular, with his orders prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, committing to a focus on racial equity, and requiring masks on federal property all being supported by the majority of Republicans.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

GVL OPINION POLICY The goal of the Grand Valley Lanthorn’s opinion page is to act as a forum for public discussion, comment and criticism in the Grand Valley State University community. Student and columnist opinions published here do not necessarily reflect those of the paper as an entity.

The Lanthorn strives to be a safe vehicle for community discussion. With this in mind, the Lanthorn will not publish or entertain any forms of hate speech, but neither will it discriminate against any other views, opinions or beliefs. The content, information and views expressed are not approved by— nor do they necessarily represent those of—the university or its Board of Trustees, officers, faculty

or staff.

Letters to the editor should include the author’s full name, relevant title and a headshot, along with a valid email address and phone number for confirming the identity of the author. Letters should be approximately 500650 words in length, and they are not edited by the Lanthorn staff except to fix technical errors or to clarify. Reader submissions on the opinion page appear as space permits.

To make a submission, email editorial@lanthorn.com or drop your submission off in person at:

0051 KIRKHOF CENTER GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY

FEBRUARY 15, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A5 | NEWS

HONOR

Social work professor presented with outstanding teacher award

BY HAILEIGH HUBER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Tuesday, Feb.9, Grand Valley State University held its annual Faculty Convocation. Each year GVSU faculty members are presented with awards for University excellence. All award recipients are influential members of the community for the ways they lead students and other faculty members both in and out of the classroom.

Receiving the Outstanding Teacher Award was social work professor Sally Pelon. Pelon has been an adjunct for 8 years and has taught for over 20 years. Originally, she started as an elementary education major but switched her focus to social work after working with kids. She wanted to do more for kids than just teach them.

Pelon aims to create a classroom environment that’s comfortable and welcoming. She strongly believes that students learn better when they feel safe. It’s the enthusiasm and energy that her students bring to class that makes her love teaching.

“I wanted to be involved in making their lives better,” Pelon said. “When I work with my students and watch them day to day come to know themselves is what my job is all about.”

Junior Grace Zeppi has professor Pelon this semester as well as last semester. Zeppi enjoys all of Pelon’s classes because she is an attentive and helpful professor.

Professor Pelon shares her personal experiences in the social work field with her students and is constantly trying to become the best professor she can be. Zeppi believes that teachers who care about their student’s emotional and mental health help to enhance their learning.

“She cares for all her students, she’s constantly checking on them, communicates openly, and makes herself available to any questions,” Zeppi said. “Professor Pelon is one of the kindest professors I have ever had and has made a huge impact on my education here at Grand Valley.”

Another one of Pelons admiring students, Katherine Ringlein, appreciates how professor Pelon goes the extra mile to make personal connections with her students.

“She deserves the Outstanding Teacher Award because she is exactly that, outstanding,” said Ringlein.

Professors are trained in a particular area of research and it’s their job to share their knowledge and experiences with their students to prepare them for the real world.

Professor Pelon gets her students excited for their careers after college.

“She is understanding to all circumstances and pays attention to the little details,” said Ringlein.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

RECOGNITION: Social work professor Sally Pelon was recognized for her classroom impact with this year’s Outstanding Teacher Award, presented at Faculty Convocation. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

HEALTH

GVPD works through hiring process with new officers

BY ADAM TROMBLEY NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

While the Grand Valley Police Department is responsible for keeping the Grand Valley State University community safe, it is also important for them to find and train the best candidates who want to become part of their team. In doing this, the candidates must go through comprehensive and robust training to be considered for a position within the department.

“Our new officer will spend every day with a field training officer for about four months and they go over a large number of what we call training tasks,” GVPD Captain Jeffrey Stoll said. “They will do things like crash investigation, drunk driving, sexual assault, stalking, death investigations — a whole list

of types of incidents that we normally will encounter. We want the community to feel comfortable and confident that when we get a new officer they will only be put out in the field after they met a long list of expectations” The candidates must be certified upon completion of an academy or must be certified from another agency before they apply.

Stoll says it is important to note that the newly hired officers are only allowed in the field when they are done training. The department must also feel confident in the abilities and skills of the officers to fulfill the duties and expectations that come along with the job before they are sent out on their own.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

A6&7 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

FEBRUARY 15, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

SUPER BOWL SOUND: The Weeknd gets inspiration from iconic pop stars like Michael Jackson, R. Kelly and Prince, whose unique voice created new sounds that many had never heard before. Prince also headlined his own Super Bowl show back in 1993. COURTESY | BIOGRAPHY

American music is Black music

BY MARY DUPUIS ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

For the first time in quite a while, the Super Bowl’s halftime show was led by a single artist — that artist being Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd. Tesfaye is of Ethiopian descent, and much of his music style is taken from other Black artists.

Claiming two of his main musical inspirations to be Michael Jackson and Prince, Tesfaye’s pop-infused R&B style is not uniquely his own. He has drawn upon many different artists, particularly those who are Black, throughout America’s history to create his own voice.

In retrospect, America has done the exact same thing. It is impossible to fully understand and describe the history of American music without examining the Black music that created it.

Eric Harvey, assistant professor in the school of communication at Grand Valley State University and editorial adviser of the Grand Valley Lanthorn, has been a music critic since 2007 with a doctoral degree in Communication and Culture and Ethnomusicology. He also recently wrote a book about hip hop which is set to be released in October.

Harvey said to explain music in America without first realizing the influence that

Black people have had on its creation is entirely unrealistic.

“The easiest way to say it is there is no popular music in the United States of America without African Americans,” Harvey said. “Point blank, 100%, I’ll take it to the grave. I will fight anybody who disputes this. Popular music really reflects the degree to which African American cultural traditions have contributed so much toward what we love.”

Jack Hamilton, Associate Professor of Media and American Studies at the University of Virginia and author of, “Just Around Midnight: Rock and Roll and the Racial Imagination,” said he agrees with Harvey in that American popular music and Black music are, and always will be, bonded together.

“It’s literally impossible to imagine the music industry of today without the influence of Black artists and Black culture,” Hamilton said. “The history of American popular music and the history of Black American music are essentially inseparable — there isn’t a single genre of contemporary popular music that isn’t fundamentally rooted in Black musical traditions.”

The Black American experience is one full of hope, struggle and determination, much of which can be felt and heard through their music and the genre being examined.

When slaves were first brought to America, they did their best to bring their beloved music and cultural traditions with them. As the slaves were converted to Christianity, European classical music and Black musical tradition fused to create a new form of spiritual music.

This spiritual music did not just serve as a way of sorrowful worship, but as a code used to coordinate escapes or rebellions.

Spiritual songs soon died down, but not without resurgences throughout the Civil Rights Movements.

Many historians consider Black spiritual music to be folk music, and it is known to be an unsullied legacy of African oral tradition.

Next up came the 1920s, where the influence of work songs, spiritual music and Black tradition created blues music. In order to cope with the violent, cruel realities of the Jim Crow laws in the South, the blues tunes offered an escape for the Black community who sang them.

Being able to be played by readily available, or even homemade, instruments, blues was a form of music that was accessible to anyone regardless of their economic status or race.

Another genre born out of the fusion of different styles, jazz is a melting pot of the musical traditions of French-speaking Creoles, African Americans and white Eu-

ropeans in New Orleans.

Segregation laws in 1894 divided the dark-skinned Creoles from their lighter-skinned brothers and sisters, hence giving Black Creole musicians more of a desire to associate themselves with Black

ICON: Michael Jackson, a pop legend. COURTESY | THE GUARDIAN

people who spoke English, mixing their musical styles.

Soon enough, Black workers on riverboats spread jazz to Missouri and Kansas, and later the nightclubs in Southern Chicago.

Although it may come surprisingly to some, many of the origins of rock ‘n’ roll come from the Black community in America as well.

The most direct evolution into rock ‘n’ roll came through the rhythm and blues type songs played during the 1940s and 1950s which the record companies called “race music.”

The first rock music was created with a Black audience in mind, the songs being linked with the migration of Black Americans to other parts of the country as part of the war effort during the industrial boom taking place at the time.

The music was well received by white teenagers for its new, edgy sound, soon leading it to be rebranded as a white genre.

Born out of Black communities in the 1970s, hip-hop has come to represent Black American culture. Referring to more than just rap music, hip-hop’s birthplace of the Black urban community has led it to represent deejaying, breakdancing and graffitti.

Hip-hop’s creation was heavily drawn from Caribbean immigrants who brought mobile DJ units and forms of rap to the neighborhoods. It was also inspired by soul, R&B and funk hits in past decades.

No matter what decade it was performed in, hip-hop has continuously proven to be an important vessel for Black empowerment and social commentary.

All of this has led to popular music today to have an intense, undeniable Black influence. Yet, this influence still fails to be recognized on a daily basis.

Hamilton said he feels that recognizing the contributions Black Americans have made to the music industry is the historically correct and responsible thing to do.

He said that failing to do so means you simply do not understand American musical history.

“The history of American music has largely been defined by white people really loving Black music while mistreating and dehumanizing the people who make that music in all sorts of ways,” Hamilton said.

“So, I think that recognizing those contributions more fully is a form of redress for a very long history of injustice. I don’t think it’s a remotely sufficient form of redress just on its own, but it’s still important.”

Langston Wilkins, the Director of the Center for Washington Cultural Traditions, a program of Humanities Washington and the Washington State Arts Commission, said the appreciation of American music today should stem from the appreciation of the Black people who helped to create it.

“You cannot understand American music without acknowledging and understanding the influence of Black Americans,” Wilkins said. “Yet, Black musical contributions remain under appreciated.

That’s such a shame. Music is innovative, but it also typically builds from prior forms. Lack of appreciation for Black musical contributions will be a detriment to future music production and reception.”

INSPIRING: Aretha Franklin (right), Louis Armstrong (center), and Chuck Berry were icons in early Black music, and made jazz and rock ‘n’ roll shine in popular culture and music. COURTESY | THE GUARDIAN

SUPER SOUND: Abel Tesfaye, known as The Weeknd, headlined this year’s Super Bowl LV, Tesfaye said he gets his music inspiration from historical Black musicians like Michael Jackson. COURTESY | USA TODAY

FEBRUARY 15, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A8 | NEWS LEADERSHIP

Michigan Senate denies approval of nominees to GV Board of Trustees

BY ZSOLT PALMER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Last week, the Michigan Senate voted on the approval of seven gubernatorial appointees chosen by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The Senate voted along party lines, with the Senate GOP voting against Democrats 20-14 to reject the approval of five of the nominees.

Two of the blocked appointees included positions on the Grand Valley State University Board of Trustees.

The rejected GVSU appointees were Noreen Myers and Mikyia Aaron. Both are GVSU alumnae and now work as accomplished attorneys in East Grand Rapids and Detroit, respectively.

Aaron would have been the replacement for John Russell, and this would have been her first time as a member of the GVSU Board of Trustees.

Myers graduated from GVSU in 1972, and in 2005, served her first term on the GVSU Board of Trustees when she was appointed by former Gov. Jennifer Granholm. She would have been the replacement for Mary Kramer.

“Noreen Myers has a long history of commitment to the University,” said Senator Winnie Brinks, representative of the 29th District. “She was previously on the Board of Trustees, so she’s certainly more than capable of serving on the position, and is passionate about the success of GVSU.” Brinks gave a speech in the defense of Myers

UNAPPROVED: The GVSU Board of Trustees chose to deny approval of five nominees for gubernatorial appointments, two are former GVSU alumnus. COURTESY | GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

after her appointment was rejected by the senate. In the speech, she highlighted Myers’ qualifications for the job.

Speaking with the Lanthorn, Brinks stressed her conviction of Myers’ fitness for the role, as well as bringing up Myers’ role at GVSU’s Hauenstein Center, where she chairs the Common Ground Initiative.

“I mentioned that, in part, because we were in the midst of a rejection, not because of her qualifications, but because of partisan differenc-

es,” Brinks said. “In my speech, I spoke about her role in the Hauenstein Center because I find it ironic that here is a highly qualified appointee who has dedicated her life to encouraging conversations, despite difference, across party lines, whose appointment was being rejected for political reasons.”

According to MLive, Senator Mike Shirkey, the majority leader of the Michigan Senate, characterized the vote to deny the appointees as “political gestures” to pressure

Gov. Whitmer on the issue of executive overreach by the office of the governor.

“Yesterday’s action on appointments was a purposeful political gesture,” Shirkey said in an interview with MLive. “Not a gesture to score points, but a gesture to make a point.

Until this governor stops acting unilaterally and invests in and encourages and invites in the Legislature to be a part of some of these decisions, not all of them, then we’re relegated to using the tools given to us in our Constitution and our statutes.”

Despite the stand-off, the GVSU Board of Trustees is confident that their vacant positions will be filled soon.

“Members of three university Boards of Trustees were denied confirmation because of unrelated disagreements between the Governor and state legislature,” said Matt McLogan, Vice President for University Relations and Secretary of the Board of Trustees. “We are optimistic that these disagreements will be resolved, that Grand Valley’s appointees will be re-nominated and that the State Senate will consider them consistent with its advice and consent responsibilities.”

Senator Brinks is similarly optimistic, indicating that she has hope for a resolution.

“I’m not exactly sure what the procedure will be, going forward. My hope is that Myers has a second shot at becoming a member of the Board of Trustees at GVSU because there’s really no one better for the position,” said Brinks.

LITERATURE

GV encourages lifelong learning by introducing ‘Read with Lakers’ series

BY KYLIE ELWELL NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Beginning in January 2021, the Read with Lakers series was introduced in an attempt to give alumni the opportunity to connect with one another through reading books. This opportunity encourages lifelong learning for Grand Valley State University Alumni. There is no cost to sign up and participate in the book reading program.

The first book, “Educated” by Tara Westover, was introduced to participants during the second week of January. Readers are given a two month time period to spend time reading and analyzing their books at their own pace.

The University Alumni office faculty and staff had discussed this series for a few months before introducing it to the Laker community. The purpose of this series is to promote learning, engagement and fun between alumni members.

“In the office of Alumni Relations, we strive to provide Grand Valley alumni with a sense of community and pride, as well as lifelong learning opportunities,” said Courtney Geurink, As-

sistant Director of Alumni Relations. “We do this by engaging alumni with student support activities, social and professional development events, communications, ways to give and academic resources.”

The university has always had a strong drive to support learners and their learning journey, even after graduation. This new series has become another way for them to support that journey. The next books for May through July and September through November have not yet been chosen. They hope to involve the participants more in choosing a book for the upcoming months.

“It is our hope and plan to have the Laker community help us select the book they would like to read next, through an online poll which will be conducted in late March,” Geurink said.

“Thus, the variety of books that we choose to read will be vast. There are so many genres, we don’t want to limit ourselves to just one.”

For the first read of the series, there are two related events that the Laker community are encouraged to join.

The first event is the webinar, “The Power of Education.” During this webinar, attendees will

READ UP: GVSU has created the Read with Lakers series to encourage connecting and reading with books across west Michigan, the new initiative features a book by Tara Westover. COURTESY | GVSU

look at the value of education, the liberal arts model, access to education and its impact on first-generation students, and more. This event will take place on Feb. 16.

The next event will be focused on “Educated,” the first book being read in the series. This event will be a discussion of the book between readers. Participants will be put into breakout

groups with a discussion leader to help them take a better look at the themes of the book and their reading experience.

For more information regarding the series or the related events, individuals are encouraged to visit www.gvsu.edu/alumni/read or contact Alumni Relations with any questions they may have.

FEBRUARY 15, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

ARTS AT A GLANCE NEW GRAND RAPIDS WELCOME CENTER GETS HUNGRY GUESTS OUT OF THE COLD A brand new enclosure called The Welcome Center by City Built Brewing Company in the Monroe North neighborhood has made its debut.

This public space for dining and drinking is partially enclosed by a tent and includes seats, tables and a heating mechanism to keep guests warm and toasty. There is also an outdoor seating area available for those who are willing to face the cold.

Tables for The Welcome Center are on a first-come, first-serve basis and guests are required to wear masks when not seated at their table.

GRAND RAPIDS CELEBRATES VALENTINE’S DAY WITH BILLBOARDS, SCREENS AROUND TOWN

A new project spanning the month of February has led to love-themed billboards and screens popping up across Grand Rapids.

The project, titled “Elevated Love Language,” was created by Grand Rapids Poet Laureate Kyd Kane and uses billboards to display short poetic expressions about love by local artists.

Some of the artists featured are previous Grand Rapids Poet Laureate Fable The Poet, Sprout, Lady Ace Boogie and more.

Poetry is featured on billboard posters peppered throughout town and also featured on the WOOD TV 8 ticker at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, the ticker at The Bob and 20 Monroe Live, and on the screen at Studio Park.

VALENT-ICE, INTERACTIVE SCULPTURES ARE LATEST WORLD OF WINTER INSTALLMENTS IN GRAND RAPIDS There are now over 80 professionally carved Valent-ICE sculptures placed throughout Downtown Grand Rapids for the public to view and enjoy.

Some of the sculptures feature Star Wars stormtrooper masks, a gumball machine, the cityscape of Grand Rapids, and the list goes on.

A digital map can be found to locate all of the ice sculptures at WorldOfWinterGR.com The Lamplighter sculpture is also now available at 555 Monroe.

This art installation is an interactive display powered solely by the viewer. Visitors must sit on the stationary bikes placed around the piece and start pedaling to power the sculpture and become part of the art themselves.

GV CAMPUS ACTIVITIES BOARD IS SET TO HOLD A VIRTUAL OPEN MIC NIGHT The Grand Valley State University Campus Activities Board (CAB) will be hosting a virtual Open-Mic Night where students are welcome to showcase their music, dancing, poetry, comedy, acting or other talents.

Throughout the night there will also be special performances featuring the members of Anchored in Poetry and other student organizations.

A9 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT THEATRE

P.S. Series a collection of short plays, student talent

BY ALLISON RAFFERTY ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University’s Theatre Department will be hosting a group of virtual plays called, “P.S. Series: A Night of One Acts.” The performances will be held over Zoom and there will be a short intermission between each play.

Taking place on Feb. 18 and 19, the three productions were each chosen by the student who directed them.

“Ten Minute Life” by Elaine Smith and directed by Chavala Ymker is about a playwright who is writing a 10 minute play only to be interrupted and discover how life can change in the course of those 10 minutes.

“The Door” by Paul Elliot will be directed by Tay Shull is about a grandmother who finds comfort and courage in talking with her dead grandson who was beaten to death because his attackers questioned his sexuality.

“Dr. Evil and the Pigeons with Lasers”

by Brian D. Taylor and directed by Connor Zondervan is a comedy featuring a new evil plan to subdue the world by Dr. Evil. His plan involves — as you may have guessed by the title — arming pigeons with lasers.

Jim Bell, Theatre Area Coordinator and Associate Professor, said the idea for this show came about when students from the

VARIETY: The Performance Studio Series is a night of virtual plays directed by students. From Feb. 18-19, plays range from somber to comedic tones. COURTESY | GVSU MUSIC, THEATRE, AND DANCE

fall directing class mentioned being interested in another directing opportunity.

“We wanted to give our student directors an opportunity to direct and our student actors some production opportunities,” said Bell.

Bell said all of their rehearsals have taken place over Zoom, and the students have been working hard to develop performances that will work well when streamed.

“It’s been a fun process,” said Bell.

Ymker said that her play has been especially exciting to direct because in the span of 10 minutes that it is being performed the play deals with love, anxiety, self-doubt, and family struggles — all while remaining hopeful in the end.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

OUTREACH

Theatre Day returns in virtual setting Lansing for additional funding

BY PARKER LEARMAN-BLAAUW ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University’s Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance held its fourth annual Theatre Day on Zoom on Feb. 13, refusing to let the event be canceled due to COVID-19.

High school students wanting to pursue a major in theatre were invited to participate in a variety of activities online with current students and staff members, including workshops, facility tours and auditions for scholarships.

Jim Bell, Theatre Area Coordinator, said Theatre Day has become integral to the students and faculty that participate in theatre at GVSU, and it was important to them that it still took place.

Bell said although they were still able to talk to many people, Zoom made the event, “less of that welcoming environment,” for the potential students attending, and that it’s the environment that makes Theatre Day such a meaningful affair for those involved.

EVENT: Theatre Day welcomes high schoolers.

COURTESY | GVSU MUSIC, THEATRE, AND DANCE

Bell, who has played a key role since its inception, said the community aspect of theatre is significant in these events and something that has only increased in importance since things like social distancing and quarantining have become so commonplace.

Those first steps to building relationships with new theatre members are key to what makes a great show, Bell said, so it was essential that the department figure out a way to contin-

ue despite the COVID-19 restrictions.

Even though he loves to connect with the incoming thespians, Bell’s personal favorite activity of the day typically resides with the parents.

While the students are participating in a workshop with current GVSU enrollees, Bell coordinates a meeting that the parents can take part in as well.

“A lot of parents have questions about the major, so it’s nice to be able to talk with them and ease their worries,” said Bell.

Much of the challenge this year was found in the process of transitioning such a dynamic event into an online one. This year’s Games for Actors activities were done in virtual breakout rooms rather than physical ones, and the visitors were only able to watch a pre-recorded show, rather than a live one.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

A10 | LAKER LIFE

FEBRUARY 15, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

CONVERSATION TRIO STEM OFFERS HELP WITH FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms are due Mar. 1, so Grand Valley State University’s TRIO STEM Student Support Services is hosting two days of workshops this week to assist those who haven’t finished theirs yet; whether they need assistance in filling it out or just a little external motivation to get it done.

The event will take place both virtually and in-person from 12-1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 15 and from 4-5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16, when a financial aid representative will be available to help students with the process.

Those interested can register through the link at www.gvsu.edu/events. Due to social distancing protections, only ten people can attend the event physically at 200 Lubbers Student Services Center, so if you feel like in-person instruction would benefit you, better to RSVP sooner than later.

LGBT RESOURCE CENTER, CAB PARTNER FOR VALENTINE’S DAY DRAG SHOW Technically speaking, the romantic holiday has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean that celebrations have to be over.

This Wednesday, Feb. 16, the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center and the Campus Activities Board are teaming up to present a show from Grand Rapids drag queen Ginger Ambrosia, with appearances from other performers like Cyber LaRose, Christi Da Vinci, La Reine Divine and Yolanda Del Fierce.

The show will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/gvsucab. Those who want to secure their spot can RSVP for the event on CAB’s LakerLink page.

PRESIDENT’S DAY: LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP

Thomas Jefferson is a controversial historical figure, known both for penning “all men are created equal” in the Declaration of Independence as well as having children with a woman he kept as a slave, Sally Hemmings.

The Peter C. Cook Leadership Academy at Grand Valley State University’s Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies is looking to examine that legacy this President’s Day, and on Thursday, Feb. 18 they’re inviting Bill Barker, a historical interpreter from the Jefferson Estate in Monticello, to play the part of the founding father.

The event will be held from 7-9 p.m. virtually over Zoom, and those interested in attending can find the Zoom link and RSVP on LakerLink at the Leadership Academy’s page.

GV asks ‘How to talk to your neighbor?’

BY KATHERINE ARNOLD LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

Is it possible to have nuanced, civil conversations about controversial topics? On subjects from COVID-19 restrictions or gun control, many find that talking to those who have opposing beliefs can be stressful and anxiety-inducing. Bridging the divide between people and allowing for open communication is a difficult endeavor to take on, but there’s one group that has dedicated itself wholeheartedly to tackling the issue.

“We are an organization whose mission is to eliminate toxic polarization in the U.S.” said Chandra DeNap Whetstine, the Vice President of Programs and Operations for the One America Movement (OAM). “It is important that we one, build relationships through those important conversations, and two, by doing so, work together on the country’s most pressing problems like homelessness, the opioid crisis, and more. We need everyone so we can tackle these challenges.”

On Feb. 10, Grand Valley State University’s Kaufman Interfaith Institute partnered with Calvin University and OAM to offer a 90-minute training about “How to Talk to Your Neighbor.” Two hosts from OAM led the training: Whetstine and the Michigan Regional Outreach Manager, Rabbi Sam Englender.

“Conversation across difference, and during this political atmosphere are becoming more and more difficult. Why is it so hard to have conversations across difference?”

Englender said. “When we think of having those difficult discussions, people will mention being anxious, scared, sweaty, and people are clearly uncomfortable.”

COME TOGETHER: GVSU welcomed members from the One America Movement to lead a workshop on having tough conversations about politics, beliefs and more. COURTESY | ONE AMERICA MOVEMENT

He explained the topic as one stemming from a basic misunderstanding about how we react to a different opinion. A metaphor

by Dr. Jonathan Haidt of an elephant and rider is one way of thinking about how our minds work. We have the conscious element, the rider, coupled with the emotional and instinctual elephant. Sometimes it can be all too easy for the elephant to take control and lead us into a heated argument that feels overly personal and insulting.

After the initial talk, Whetstine walked the participants through a guided discussion in paired breakout rooms. Their formula of introductions, open-mindedness and careful listening paved the way for over forty attendees to try

out the OAM system of conversation.

It started with each participant choosing a topic to discuss, stating why they are passionate about this issue, what their thoughts about it are, and what they hope the future to be like for that problem. While many felt initial trepidation, other attendees described how much better they felt formally talking through their beliefs. For those who didn’t see eye to eye, it felt like they were able to truly hear someone rather than walk away feeling angry, ashamed, or sad.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

HOLIDAY

Historic Grand Rapids farm looks back on romantic beginnings for Valentine’s Day

BY AUTUMN PITCHURE LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

Love was in the air last week at the Ed Dunneback and Girls Farm Market in Grand Rapids. With Michigan restaurants regaining the ability to open their doors, the market is once again open for indoor dining from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays

LOCAL: Love is on the menu at this farm. COURTESY | ED DUNNEBACK AND GIRLS FARM MARKET

and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

Its namesake, Edwin Dunneback, purchased the farm in Alpine Township in 1922. He farmed 170 acres of apples, peaches, corn, hay and a herd of dairy cows. Edwin had four sons and one daughter. He and Joseph continued on with the farm adding strawberries and the cold storage, now known as the farm market.

“My family has farmed this land for nearly 100 years with four generations,” said Stephanie Ginsberg, a fourth-generation family farmer. “My mom, sister and I currently run the farm. We offer a full menu, great drinks, you-pick in season, events and festivals throughout the year.”

The barn is home to their own fresh produce market, gift shop, bakery, kitchen and taproom. In October of 2019, they opened Pink Barrel Cellars, serving their own hand-crafted beer, wine, hard cider and seltzers. Since then,

they have started to host live musicians on Friday nights to create a more energetic and fun atmosphere for their customers to enjoy.

“We are excited to bring this back now that we can have some indoor seating,” Ginsberg said. “We hope to have live music every Friday night for the rest of the year along with our Farm Concert series. This is a ticketed event that will bring bigger bands once a month to the farm starting in May.” The bands on Fridays are usually solos or duos that play on the original stage built with the barn in 1938. Local musicians play from 6-9 p.m.

This tradition started before the restaurant when Ed and his family would host dances and hayrides every Saturday night in the barn, which is now home to the farm market.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

A11 | SPORTS

FEBRUARY 15, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

QUICK HITS GVSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL EXTENDS WINNING STREAK TO EIGHT GAMES

#11 ranked GVSU women’s basketball team (12-1) swept Northern Michigan University (7-6) this weekend. GVSU is now on an eight game winning streak but they are still tied with Michigan Tech University atop of the GLIAC standings.

In the first game of the weekend, the Lakers beat the Wildcats 61-34. Their dominant win was led by freshman Rylie Bisballe who scored 16 points and grabbed five rebounds. Freshman Ellie Droste finished with 12 points. Juniors Hannah Kulas and Samantha Gehrls also added eight points each.

The Lakers bench was on fire in this game, outsourcing the Wildcat’s bench 35-8. GVSU also showed up on the defensive side of the ball, forcing NMU to commit 21 turnovers.

They also limited NMU to shooting 27.9% from the field and 21.1% from deep.

In the second game of the weekend, GVSU had another assertive win, outscoring NMU 58-32. Droste scored 12 points and made two 3-pointers. Junior Brooke McKinley added another ten points in the contests.

11 players from GVSU scored points in this matchup.

The Lakers offense and defense were both working well in this game. This was the lowest point total the Lakers have held a team to since last year. After a slow start to the game, the Lakers offense picked up and went on an 11-0 run. GVSU entered the second half leading 29-14. The Lakers had 11 steals and forced the Wildcats to commit 18 turnovers. They forced NMU to shoot 27.9% from the field and 21.1% from three.

GVSU TRACK AND FIELD MAKES D2 HISTORY AT BIG MEET

BASKETBALL

GV Men’s Basketball moves to 7-5 with victory over NMU

BY JOSH ROCHETTE SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State University’s men’s basketball team prepared for their game against Northern Michigan University as Lakers, but they won as Sawyers, 77-72. In honor of what was nearly the school’s replacement mascot, the team donned new jerseys for their last game at home this season, sending the Wildcats back home with two losses after this weekend’s games.

Saturday, Feb. 13, saw both teams enter the court with tension in the air following a narrow 81-75 overtime win on Friday in GVSU’s favor. The Sawyers started out with an early by going on a 14-point lead. GVSU held onto that lead for the rest of the game, but things swayed back in NMU’s direction as fouls piled up against the Sawyers early in the first half.

“It was the second game of a back-to-back and guys are tired,” said Coach Rick Wesley.

“We came out with good energy, but it’s hard to sustain. We had some foul trouble, they made their run later in the first half and from that point on it just was back and forth.”

By the end of the half, GVSU was up 37-30, and it seemed that though they were ahead, the battle had only just begun. The previous game showed the NMU’s ability to stay in the games, so it was clear that a seven-point lead was everything but a curtain

MAKING A STATEMENT: Senior Christian Negron (11) puts on a show for onlooking Northern Michigan defenders during their Feb. 13 game. GVSU trumped NMU 81-75. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS

call for the Wildcats.

The second half showed much of the same with the Sawyers holding their lead as NMU clawed their way back up just to get snuffed back out by key GVSU players. Seniors Christian Negron, Jake Van Tubbergen, Jordan Harris and Deleon Brown all had pivotal performances in the Sawyer’s victory.

GVSU held onto a three-point lead in the

final minutes of the game, leaving this game’s outcome to the last couple of possessions.

First up was Van Tubbergen, who hit both of his free throws at the line, followed by a defensive stop by Negron. Then, GVSU scored four more free throws from both Brown and Harris to close out the game.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

HOCKEY

Men’s club hockey team uses extra time off to smooth out D1 transition

Both of the Laker’s distance medley relay teams broke school records last weekend at the Big Meet. The women’s DMR team consisting of Klaudia O’Malley, Nicole Sreenan, Taryn Chapko and Allie Ludge finished with a time of 11:21.12. They beat the GVSU record by over two seconds.

The men’s DMR team not only beat the GVSU and Kelly Family Sports Center field record, but they also broke the D2 record for the race. The team consisting of Dennis Mbuta, Jackson Blanchard, John Groendyk and Caleb Futter finished the event with a time of 3:39.38. They beat the previous record set in 2017.

Other top finishers from the event include Corrina Courser (8.95) in the 60 meter hurdles, Marcedes Chandler (24.96) in the 200 meter, and Franesha Robinson-Mitchell (17.40m) in weight throw. For the men’s team, Hunter Harding (19.48m) won in the weight throw competition.

HOLLY BIHLMAN SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

MOVING UP: GVSU Hockey is preparing for their shift to D1 soon. COURTESY | GVSU CLUB SPORTS

While some of Grand Valley State University’s sports teams have been getting their seasons back up into full swing again, the men’s club hockey team has been on hiatus for the past year while waiting out the COVID-19 pandemic.

As hard as it has been for student athletes to maintain their physical strength and motivation without competing in a season, the hockey team has had a strange and coincidental advantage taking this year off.

After last season, they made the jump up to the D1 league with an influx of new players.

Now, they have nothing but time coming into the 2021-2022 season with a whole new group of guys ready to play.

Despite all of the obvious setbacks and disappointments that come with missing out on a whole year of playing, the players,

as well as coach Carl Trosien, have kept their heads up and set their minds to the future. With a team made up of freshman and sophomores right now, Trosien is excited to be able to get the guys practicing together and getting to know each other.

“This was a perfect time for us to have a pause, have a year and reevaluate some things,” Trosien said. “We were able to sit down with the administration and Rec and Wellness and make some big overhauls to the hockey program.”

This season started off as an exciting leap forward for the GVSU hockey team as they were moved to D1. This news was then accompanied by some of the disadvantages caused by COVID-19. The rinks were closed for the first few weeks of the fall semester, only to open back up and close down again just five weeks later.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

FEBRUARY 15, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A12 | SPORTS SOFTBALL

GV softball looks to pick up where they left off as new season approaches

BY JOSH CARLSON SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

It’s been a long time since the Grand Valley State University softball team has been able to step back on the diamond and compete. Before the season was canceled in 2020, they seemed poised to have a successful year and were cut off with an 11-game win streak and a 13-3 record.

They will finally get back to playing on Feb. 20 at the Lewis Dome Tournament, entering with a preseason ranking at number 25 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason poll. The Lakers are returning a slew of hitters who all hit above .350 during their 2020 season—priming the Lakers to pick off where they left off almost a full year ago.

Junior Nikoma Holmen was among the hitters above the .350 average (.448 average, 2 HR, 17 RBI) and is a key returner for the Lakers’ batting arsenal. She was one of five Lakers to start every game her sophomore season and is eager to get back into the batter’s box and lead the Lakers to more success.

“My goal is just to trust myself and trust my abilities,” Holmen said. “The second I start to try too hard is the second things go downhill. After three years of being here, I’ve realized that I just need to trust myself and my team and do what I need to do for the team and not focus on myself. I’m just excited

HUDDLE: GVSU’s softball team was on a fierce run last season before the pandemic cut it short. This year, the team is “hungry,” with their eyes set on another run toward a national title. GVL | ARCHIVES

to see what this year brings, and I think it’s going to be really good.”

Another critical returning member on the pitching side for the Lakers is redshirt sophomore Hannah Beatus. Beatus was a force during their short 2020 season with a 6-1 record, 0.57 ERA, and 54 strikeouts in 49 innings for the Lakers.

Returning as well is sophomore pitcher Samantha Gehrls. Due to playing softball and basketball at GVSU, Gehrls was unable to appear in a game during the 2020 season.

Gehrls was the No. 2 pitcher as a Freshman on the Laker team who finished third in the College World Series in 2019 — ending with a 10-2 record and a 3.49 ERA with 60 strike-

outs in her 16 games that season.Although it was tough that the Lakers were cut-short of their potentially special season in 2020, coach Dana Callihan and her team are just happy they finally are back on the ball field “The players are hungry,” Callihan said. “By our count, it’s been about 350 days since we last suited up. They’re ready, and they have wanted to play for a long time. They’re just hungry. We are just going to take it one pitch at a time, just like we have preached for the past years, and take care of business as it comes. They’re ready. They have been for 350 days.”

Through the long wait, the Lakers softball team have had to find ways to carry any momentum they could from the hot start a season ago. Beatus says nothing has changed from last year when it comes to what this team wants.

“The fact that we haven’t played in so long is such a motivating factor given that we were off to such a hot start before we got cut-short and the world was flipped upside down,” Beatus said. “ Every year it’s a new season with new faces, but that goal never changes, and that’s to get to that national championship and win that national title.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

FOOTBALL

Column: Breaking down the Matthew Stafford trade

BY ZACK GOODROW SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The 2021 NFL offseason marked the end for a Detroit Lions legend. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for two future first round picks, a 2021 third round pick and QB Jared Goff. It felt like a long time coming, but Stafford will play his thirteenth season in a new city and with a new uniform.

Stafford’s legacy with the Lions can’t be understated. He has broken 30 Lions passing records in his time with Detroit.

Stafford leads the team in career passing yards (45,109), career passing touchdowns (282), passer rating (99.3) and in career fourth quarter comebacks (31).

Stafford’s time with the Lions will likely be tainet by leading the team to the playoffs only three times and failing to even win a game. However, Stafford has consis-

LEAVING THE LIONS: Detroit’s beloved Matt Stafford is parting ways with the franchise, marking a critical shift into rebuilding under new quarterback Jared Goff. COURTESY | SIDELIONREPORT.COM

tently been surrounded by subpar talent and coaching. Even though the Lions haven’t experienced much success during his tenure with the team, he is still arguably one of their best players of all time.

Stafford leaving Detroit after a decade of play in the city isn’t the only thing changing for the franchise. They have a new coaching staff, led by head coach Dan Campbell and offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn. The 2021 season marks a huge transition for the team, which is most likely shifting into rebuilding mode.

Retooling this roster is an excellent idea, especially since the Lions have been disappointing for the past several seasons. The defense is filled with holes, most of the Lion’s pass catchers are heading to the open market and the team is now without their leader.

Enter Goff, who will assume the starting QB position with his absurd four year $134 million contract.

Goff has had a rough past couple of years with the Rams, led by offensive guru Sean McVay. Goff was even benched in the

playoffs because the organization thought they had a better chance to win with him off the field. If the Lions think Goff will be more successful in cold weather, with a new head coach and subpar roster in Detroit, they’ll be sadly mistaken.

The biggest part of Detroit’s return in the Stafford trade is obviously the draft picks. The Lions are going to need to bring in several young players over the next few years to build this roster. Two first round picks, even though they’ll be projected in the 20s, should be extremely valuable for the team. If they don’t use their own first this year on a quarterback, they may end up using one in the coming years with their new draft picks.

The Lions are going to have a rough season in 2021. Even with Stafford, Detroit went 5-11 and didn’t look like a playoff team. Even with a new culture after coach Matt Patricia was fired, there’s hardly any scenarios where this team improves.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE