Grand Valley Lanthorn vol. 55 no. 6

Will Venues Survive?

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

Grand Rapids venues plead for aid to keep doors open

Racist ‘Zoom bombing’ incident prompts GV Zoom updates POLICE | A2

Professional athletes around the country affect GV athletes ACTIVISM | A10

M O N D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 2 8 , 2 02 0 // VO L . 5 5 N O. 6

@ GV L A N T H O R N

LANTHORN.COM

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

Since GVSU began conducting random testing on campus Aug. 27, the cumulative total COVID-19 cases since August 1st is 897. The university’s update of data used for this brief was from Friday, Sept. 25.

Through testing results, GVSU’s Virus Action team have so far reported 2 faculty/staff, 43 on-campus students, 108 “off-campus Ottawa” students, and 28 “off-campus Kent” students, 9 “off-campus other” students 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 8,793 tests overall since August 21, for a positivity rate of 0.68% from the latest update as of last week.

NOTE: from Sept 23, 2020: In a check of previously reported data, a few duplicate reports and a few cases that were not GV community members were found. A total of ten cases were removed from the count, from the following dates: 9/2, 9/4, 9/6 (3 cases), 9/9, 9/13, 9/16, and 9/21 (2 cases).

GV CANCELS SPRING BREAK, ADDS WEEK ONTO CHRISTMAS BREAK

SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

POLICE

Racist ‘Zoom bombing’ incident

prompts GV Zoom updates

BY OLIVIA FELLOWS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Following a racial incident during a group meeting of Grand Valley State University’s new Black Male Scholars group, the GVSU Information Technology Division is issuing updates and changes to the virtual Zoom app many professors utilize for remote learning.

The incident, which occurred on Sept.

25, included racist language and images being shared via computer abruptly during the meeting, prompted the Information Technology (IT) department and the university to begin investigating immediately. The IT department has been able to turn over suspect leads to GVPD, and the investigators are pursuing it as a criminal case. The university stated that the virtual attack came from a non-university-affiliated account.

GVSU President Philomena Mantella issued a statement to students in regards to the incident, labeling it a reprehensible act and one that GVSU administration will not tolerate.

“It has been determined the reprehensible racial incident reported during a Zoom meeting of our Black Male Scholars group last night did not come from people within our university community. That fact in no way diminishes our resolve to fight racism at every turn,” Mantella said in the statement.

“The values of Grand Valley State University

On Sept. 25, Grand Valley State University announced that in an effort to take additional COVID-19 protection steps for students, they will be modifying the Winter 2021 academic calendar.

The revised academic calendar starts on Tuesday, January 19, the day after the Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration, eliminates spring break, and ends on May 1. This results in a 15-week semester, consistent with past semesters, and instructional time is unchanged.

The registrar’s statement said that courses for the Winter 2021 semester will continue to be a mix of in-person, hybrid, and online. Units, colleges, and the Registrar’s Office are working together to make the necessary changes to the existing Winter 2021 course schedule, which was put in place before COVID-19 was affecting GVSU.

INVESTIGATION: Multiple departments, including the Grand Valley Police Department, are investigating a racist “Zoom bombing” that occurred during a Black Male Scholars meeting. GVL | ARCHIVES

call us to be a model of an inclusive and affirming community. We will not tolerate any behavior of this nature. We are committed to each member of our community and their well-being.”

The statement also said that during the evening, it was reported that three other GVSU student groups also experienced apparent “Zoom bombings.” These events are also being investigated.

Vice President for GVSU’s IT division,

Milos Topic, has already begun working on additional protocols and training to improve security.

Some of the changes already being made to all GVSU Zoom accounts are that all meetings will now require a waiting room for non-GVSU participants, and all scheduled and instant meetings will require a passcode.

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PUBLIC HEALTH

GVPD continues to educate students during ‘Staying in Place’ order

BY ADAM TROMBLEY NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

EMPTY: A desolate campus is the result of the issued Staying in Place order, which GVPD is monitoring. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

As Grand Valley State University and Ottawa County combat the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases, they have established a “staying in place” order for all students in Allendale in order to slow the spread of the virus.

The order, which began on Sept. 17, is being enforced by the University, and while the circumstances change for students, they also change for the people trying to enforce the rules while keeping students safe.

“Our approach is very similar to any other crime, if we don’t have to arrest people and write people tickets then that’s a good day because then they’re following the rules. If they’re following the rules, and the guidelines, and the order, then there’s no reason for us to have any negative interaction,” said Grand Valley Police Department Capt. Jeffrey Stoll.

GVPD has been at the forefront of keeping students and staff safe from normal incidents

that can occur, as well as those that occur in relation to the pandemic. Their goal is to inform and educate students on the rules and guidelines rather than be combative with them.

“It’s a different case from where we’ve had people who tested positive, are supposed to be in isolations and then continue while they’re infected – to go out and interact with people and go to parties or host a party – that’s on the different level on the spectrum,” Stoll said. “I think we’re looking at the severity of the action result in a more severe type of punishment” The order set forth by GVSU and the county states that students who do not adhere to these guidelines can lead to them getting misdemeanor charges, fines or judicial follow-up with GVSU administration and student sanctions including the possibility of expulsion.

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SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

CONTENTS POLICE

| A2

EDITORIAL

| A4

GOVERNANCE

| A5

MUSIC

A3 | NEWS CAMPUS

Ottawa County ‘Staying in Place’ order sparks mixed feelings within the GVSU community

| A6-7

DOWNTOWN

| A8

MENTAL HEALTH

| A9

ACTIVISM

| A10

FOOTBALL

| A11

BASKETBALL

| A12

VOL. 5 5

NO. 6

Lan thorn EDITORIAL STAFF

Layout Editor VIVIANA RUBIO

Editor-in-Chief NICK MORAN Associate Editor KELLEN VOSS

Layout Designer KHOI TRAN PROMOTIONS

Associate Editor XAVIER GOLDEN News Editor OLIVIA FELLOWS

Promotions Manager ALEX DAGASTINO ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager SHANE MCATAMNEY

Sports Editor ZACK GOODROW Laker Life Editor YSABELA GOLDEN

BUSINESS STAFF

A&E Editor MARY RACETTE

Business Manager RACHEM MCDOWELL

Image Editor MEGHAN ANDGREN

Asst. Business Manager DAYTON HAMMON

FLUSTERED FEELINGS: GVSU students have mixed opinions about the new order, but some see no new action being taken. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON 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

BY TREVOR HUBERT NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University is midway through its “Staying in Place” order mandated by Ottawa County. The order for Allendale students to stay at home was handed down after a concerning spike in COVID-19 cases in the county, especially with GVSU students living in Allendale, which account for 661 of 897 of GVSU’s total COVID cases, according to the school’s data dashboard.

Even with GVSU getting its active case number down to a much more manageable 189, which is around half of what it was during its highest point around two weeks ago, the Staying in Place order is still a point of contention around the GVSU community.

Some have criticized the school for not taking more drastic measures, while others feel that the order is too much.

One student, a senior who chose to

remain anonymous, voiced their concerns about enforcement of the order, citing the fact that violations of the order happen frequently.

“If this order was enforced equally across all members of campus we would have record expulsion and an overwhelming number of misdemeanors written to faculty, staff and students,” they said.

They went on to note that the order does not directly apply to faculty and staff, even though they are still expected to follow GVSU’s safety protocols. They also cited a personal account where a GVPD officer was dismissive of the order.

“I was pulled over the other night on campus for an out headlight,” they said. “When I asked GVPD if they would like me to put my mask on the officer said ‘it doesn’t matter, but I will put mine on.’”

Numerous students have voiced their frustrations online about what they are see-

ing on campus, noting that students are still going out of town and not following mask-wearing and social distancing rules on campus. Others have placed blame on the school, stating that bringing thousands of students back to Allendale for in-seat classes would make a spike in cases inevitable.

One GVSU alum, who only chose to be identified as a “Reddit user” was critical of the school during an online discussion about the order.

“From what I see on campus, pretty much nothing changed,” Reddit user said. “There are students not wearing masks on campus, there are groups of students shopping at the bookstore, there are students congregating on campus. (The students) know that GV won’t expel or fine them because they can’t afford the students not coming back for the winter semester.”

Whether students are following regulations or not, the order is still in effect until Oct. 1.

A4 | OPINION GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON

SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

By Xavier Golden

EDITORIAL

Megan Thee Stallion shooting prompts outlets to stand boldly or give in to demands

A

9/28/20

editorial@lanthorn.com

The Notorious R.B.G will be remembered fondly after making waves for gender equality

BY OLIVIA FELLOWS SENIOR MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

As the world reacts to the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, people are celebrating ways that represent her impact on the country with songs, murals and writing.

One of the most profound of these celebrations depicts R.B.G. donning a crown quaffed off the center of her head; an homage to the late George Latore Wallace, also known as the Notorious B.I.G. It’s a superficial connection, but the representation of Ginsburg as a titan among Supreme Court Justices is appropriate– Ginsburg earning her a rightful crown as the country reflects on her memory.

Ginsburg championed gender equality while also being described by many as the Thurgood Marshall of

women’s rights.

Ginsburg served on the Supreme Court for 27 years and quickly became one of its most prominent members.

Even though her tenure with the highest court in the land didn’t start until 1993, she started to make waves in the 1970s, back when discrimination against women was sanctioned by law. She fought long and hard to reverse that treatment.

She first made her mark in 1971, when she wrote her first Supreme Court brief in the case of Reed v.

Reed. Ginsburg represented Sally Reed, who thought she should be the executor of her late son’s estate instead of her ex-husband.

The all-male Supreme Court concluded that a state could not automatically prefer men over women as an executor of state, and it was the first time that the court struck down a state law because it discriminated on the basis of gender.

In her tenure, Ginsburg faced to Chief Judges who determined that sex decriminalization was not of Constitutional concern. But in 1975, she represented a young widower who was denied benefits after his wife died in childbirth, setting a precedent to give Social Security protections to single parents.

We feel the RBG effect here on campus and in our lives apart from it. Female students of GVSU don’t

need a man present to sign the leases to their apartments, which was another one of the many stipulations Ginsburg fought so hard to correct.

Ginsburg also shouldered an incredibly unfair burden; with her gone, parties are already waging a partisan war to seed a Supreme Court with a political lean. Even in her passing, there is a call to take action.

As the country observes a brief moment of silence for her passing, the conversation will shift to how we can continue to fight for the betterment of the country and the preservation of democracy like Ginsburg.

This week is National Voter Registration Week at GVSU, and National Voter Registration Day is nationally celebrated Sept. 22. People around the country are fighting for causes like social equity, voting accessibility and defending Constitutional rights.

Honoring Ginsburg’s legacy may come in the somber, remorseful and reflective tone we’re used to, but students and beyond can carry on her torch where she left off.

With a full life of challenging the status quo, fighting against pushback and striving for equality, Ginsburg’s crown was shifted and shaken but never removed. May we have the drive to pick it up where she left it. Rest in power, R.B.G.

s is the case with any other musical artist, rappers love to express their true feelings through their music, and will oftentimes address allegations against them in their songs, rather than air them out to the media.

This is exactly the case for one 28-year-old Canadian rapper who released an album this weekend denying that he shot iconic Black rapper Megan Thee Stallion in the foot this past summer.

This is far from the first time that rappers have denied allegations of this magnitude in their music, but the way that this young rapper approached the release and message in this music is understandably making listeners’ skin crawl.

After denying allegations all summer long, the young rapper went on to promote this new album via Instagram Live, using the allegations in the incident in a way to promote this album.

The dropping of this album is especially poorly timed, as the artist released this music trashing a successful Black woman and denying his abuse of her one day after a Kentucky jury brought no charges against the Louisville Police department for the death of Breonna Taylor.

Members of the rap community are rightfully angry at the young Canadian rapper for pulling this stunt, including Mississippi rap legend Rick Ross.

“Poor decision brother,” Ross said to the young rap-

per on his Instagram stories.

“Dropping that project... Just outta respect for Breonna Taylor, bruh, we gotta respect these sisters. That ain’t how you address the accusations you facing. That was a poor choice, homie. You ain’t getting no money with that shit.”

The conversation about the artist picked up steam when Highsnobiety, an entertainment news outlet, announced Sept. 25 that they would no longer cover him. Vowing to completely ignore an artist in their entirety is seldom done like this, and the only similar action ties to new outlets not releasing the face or name of domestic terrorists. It is not a small, casual decision.

This action sends two very important messages that are especially pertinent as people all over the country continue to flock the streets to protest police brutality and continue to support the Black Lives Matter movement.

In one vein, Highsnobiety is saying that Black lives do matter, and shooting a triumphant black celebrity for individual clout creates a culture that reinforces how society has devalued Black lives, and especially those of Black women. The artist is claiming Megan Thee Stallion’s life is an expendable tool to promoting his music, and this bold stance is a direct refutal in stripping him of the attention he so desperately wants.

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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 500-650 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 ALLENDALE, MI 49401 616-826-8276

SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A5 | NEWS

GOVERNANCE

Student Senate elects Kelly Dowker as 2020-2021 president

BY KELLEN VOSS ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM

Back when she joined the body Grand Valley State University’s Student Senate in 2018, social work major Kelly Dowker set a lofty goal for herself: she wanted to one day be elected president to lead her fellow senators.

That goal was attained on Thursday night, as on Sept. 24, Dowker was officially elected to represent GVSU’s student senate for the 20202021 school year.

“This has been a dream of mine – I knew that I loved this body the second that I was appointed my freshman year,” Dowker said. “I’d like to say I knew this day was coming, but I’ve always been a bit nervous.”

Former GVSU Student Senate President Rachel Jenkin knew this day was eventually coming too, as after working with Dowker during her presidency, she knew that Dowker would one day be captain the ship.

“Her tenure on Senate has allowed her to build strong relationships with the administration, but her courageous and ambitious personality will not stop her from challenging them when needed,” Jenkin said in a statement endorsing Dowker that was read in public comment. “She has seen Student Senate through several different climates and I trust she can

whether whatever twists and turns this unique year will bring. All of you should not only vote for senator Dowker, but be excited for her leadership and dedication to the growth of this university, and more importantly, the growth of all of you.”

Last year was quite the year for the GVSU Student Senate, as they made headlines both locally and nationally after temporarily removing the Pledge of Allegiance from their agenda.

After making that decision and receiving a lot of criticism for it, much like a football coach leading a team through a losing streak, Dowker was one of the voices who helped weather the group through the media storm, while learning so much about leadership and her fellow senators in the process.

“We learned so much last year, and I learned when to delegate, when to ask for help and how to rely on those around me while they relied on me as well,” Dowker said. “I think we honestly all learned how to work better as a team. That’s something that this cabinet is going to need because we have so man varying opinions, but I’m really confident we can do it.”

Some of those varying opinions have already led to arguments and disagreements in student senate meetings, and as the year goes along, Dowker is hoping to improve communication within the body to better cultivate

change around campus.

“Last year, there were some issues of transparency, so I want to make (improving) that a big goal this year: I want everyone to be in the loop and have the whole body be on the same page to be successful,” said Dowker.

Transparency was a large part of Dowker’s platform, and during her presidency, she hopes to hold the administration accountable in their decision-making and asks them to factor in student’s opinions, especially during a pandemic.

“I think that really depends on what the pulse surveys keep saying, and the majority of students still say they want to be in person or (have) a mix of online and in-person,” Dowker said when asked if she feels GVSU should go online. “Regardless of my personal views on it, I think we have to do what’s best for the student body... If cases spike and we start to see other universities shut down I think we really have to consider it then.”

When the presence of COVID-19 within the GVSU community eventually decreases and the university switches back to in-person classes, Dowker would like to see the university make strides within the Division of Inclusion and Equity in order to make students of all races and nationalities feel welcome at GVSU. “This campus is overwhelmingly white and we need to educate our peers on these kinds of

PROUD PRESIDENT: Incoming Student Senate President Kelly Dowker has been dreaming of this since freshman year. COURTESY | TWITTER

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LAKER EFFECT

Outgoing Student Senate President Szczepaniak reflects on tenure, passing the torch to new body

BY NICK MORAN EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

With the election of Kelly Dowker to Student Senate presidency, the book is pretty much closed for outgoing President Eric-John Szczepaniak. The past few weeks, his role has shifted from leading Student Senate’s momentum to supporting a transition of power amid a strange year.

As elections closed last Thursday, Sept.

24 and new leadership was locked in, Szczepaniak was focused on enabling a new cabinet to be ready to carry on the torch and do their jobs effectively.

“All of us outgoing cabinet members have tried to really queue up the next group for success,” Szczepaniak said. “So we have processes where we all write transition reports, and then work with that person for a short time to kind

LOSING A LEADER: As outgoing Student Senate President Eric-John Szczepaniak reflects on a memorable leading tenure, he has one word to leave with the new Senate body: grace. COURTESY | GVSU

of orient them to the job and talk about expectations we might have for them, and then really encourage the next group to set expectations amongst each other.”

Looking back on the body’s actions under his leadership, Szczepaniak said that despite the tumultuous year, there are several actions that he’s proud of his team for initiating. Through promotion of open access resources for classes, Student Senate saved the body nearly $1 million in textbook costs. While pushes from Senate to eliminate class attendance requirements this year and other fall preparation are tangible, Szczepaniak said the biggest impacts are the ones that aren’t discussed.

“I think I’m most proud of – which is not something that is widely publicized, it’s not a big glory, front page type of thing – (creating) the mission and the vision (statements) for Student Senate,” Szczepaniak said.

“We ended up building a mission and a vision statement that really helps charter our work and our path forward... I think I’m go-

ing to remember that for a long time because it’s something that I’m really proud of.”

The highs were only met by the lows, and often times Szczepaniak had to push through having difficult dialogue within Student Senate and with the bodies they work with. Being able to get uncomfortable to address issues head-on was a point of growth for him.

“We’re all learning, we’re lifetime learners, and it’s okay, that some things we didn’t get 100% right,” Szczepaniak. “But what I have walked away with is great practice in having tough, proactive conversations about issues that are important to our community before they become something unmanageable, or before all of vitriol.”

But when the going got tough, it was reassuring to Szczepaniak that he could rely on a cast of supporters.

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SEPTEMBER 28,2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

A6&7 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT from venues like The Intersection.

“The pandemic itself and the safety protocols required to operate during the pandemic have definitely impacted our business volume,” said Chief Operating Officer Brad Stevenson. “The reduced capacity and change in how customers interact with us, combined with the elimination of all the entertainment events have dropped our customer volume significantly.”

Tami VandenBerg, co-owner of The Pyramid Scheme, said a venue itself is a testament to the culture of its home city.

When a venue closes, the city loses a core piece of its history.

“I think people don’t understand how important and also unique venues are.

When you think about different cities, each venue is so different. They bring so much culture to each area and each one is different and they help build the character of any given city,” VandenBerg said.

Maintaining a strong ecosystem of independent venues is at the forefront of NIVA’s motives as they seek government assistance.

As NIVA launched with nearly 2,000 char-

ter members from all 50 states — 80 of them being from Michigan — one positive thing that has come out of this crisis is the solidarity throughout the entertainment industry.

“Another great thing is a lot of venues, you know, we compete against each other sometimes, but we’re all working together right now,” Hammontree said. “When we get out of this, I’m going to have a different attitude. I just want our musical ecosystem to be strong. If I don’t get a certain show, I’m okay with it. So let’s just get back to work.”

NIVA encourages people to share their voices with Congress through signing and addressing the letter provided on their website, www.nivassoc.org. NIVA is also accepting donations and selling merch to contribute to their general operating budget.

“This is a smaller segment of the economy but nonetheless an important one,” VandenBerg said. “We just need them to hear us and understand what this means to everyone. I understand we may not be the emergency that everyone is thinking about. Just don’t forget about us.”

LOCKDOWN: Until public health improves, venues are forced to stay closed. GVL | KATHERINE VASILE

WILL THEY FALL?: The Stache at the Intersection in Grand Rapids is one of many independent venues in the city that is feeling the pressure of COVID-19. With no opportunities to host live music under current regulations, venues around town are forced to find ways to stay afloat. Without government aid, some say they will be forced to shut down before they have a chance to reopen. GVL | KATHERINE VASILE

Endangered independent venues seek government assistance to stay open

BY MARY RACETTE ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

Since venues shut down in March, thousands of workers have been unemployed, artists have been stripped of vital parts of their career and music lovers have been deprived of the joys of live music. If government aid is not received soon, the stages may remain dark as many independent venues will have no choice but to permanently close.

The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) formed when venues were forced to lock their doors in March, and since then, venues across the nation have joined NIVA as they collaborate to save the ecosystem of the independent entertainment scene.

Eleven of Grand Rapids’ music venues and promoters have joined NIVA, including The Intersection and The Pyramid Scheme.

Owner of The Intersection Scott Hammontree is a Michigan State Captain for NIVA.

In a study conducted by NIVA, 90% of independent venues reported that they will never be able to open again if six months go by and they are still shut down and left without federal aid.

However, venues are not letting their industry suffer in the dark. On a Tuesday night at the beginning of September, independent venues across the country signaled red lights to call attention to the financial emergency many of them are facing. Multiple Grand Rapids venues participated in this “Red Alert Restart.”

NIVA’s main efforts to save endangered independent venues involve pushing Congress to pass legislation that will keep the industry alive. The Save Our Stages Act, introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar and John Cornyn, and The Restart Act, introduced by Senators Todd Young and Michael Bennet, are both designed to offer aid to independent venues that the existing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is not able to provide. Hammontree said venues

need more support than PPP because the program is not effective for businesses that do not have jobs to bring their employees back to.

“The Restart Act and the Save Our Stages act are both meaningful pieces of legislation that if they were enacted, would help us get to the other side of it where we can reopen,” Hammontree said. “It will keep a lot of venues alive because a lot of venues are not going to make it.”

While venues wait for Congress to pass legislation on the Save Our Stages Act, NIVA has launched the Emergency Relief Fund to bring aid to some of the nation’s most vulnerable independent music venues. Beginning Sept. 24, struggling venues can apply for aid from the Emergency Relief Fund, which will be administered through the non-profit, The Giving Back Fund. The fund’s goal is to keep independent music venues alive as time passes and they fall deeper into debt.

Venues’ main source of income has been

eliminated since they have been unable to hold shows. In addition to this hiatus in revenue, they have had to refund ticket buyers for canceled shows. The Intersection had a quarter-million potential ticket refunds to give.

Fortunately, many understanding ticket buyers decided to hold on to their tickets, which Hammontree said helped save the venue.

While the cancellation of live shows has been painful for the entertainment industry, independent venues are not the only businesses suffering. Whether it is dinner before the show, transportation to the concert or drinks after, ticket buyers often spend money at businesses throughout the city when they go out for a concert. A study by the Chicago Loop Alliance showed that for every dollar spent on a concert ticket, an additional $12 goes into the community through expenses spent at surrounding businesses.

Founders Brewing Co. is one of the downtown restaurants that consider themselves a “stop-in” location for people attending events. Founders sits less than a half-mile

UNPLUGGED FOR GOOD?: Independent venues like the Listening Room, which are known for their close, intimate concerts, are forced to adapt to a new way of life where live music has been silenced amid the pandemic. GVL | KATHERINE VASILE

PINNED AGAINST THE WALL: Some venues, like the Pyramid Scheme, are asking that fan be understanding as venues struggle to reopen. GVL | KATHERINE VASILE

A8 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTS AT A GLANCE HEARTSIDE RESIDENTS WRAP UP POP-UP PERFORMANCE SERIES

Local talent has been showcased throughout September as musicians from the Heartside Ministries community have been holding pop-up performances throughout the city. The first pop-up performance of the series was held during the opening of the Pillowcase Project in Ah-Nab-Awen Park on Sept. 10. The rest of the pop-up series took place on Monroe Center through the month of Bridge GR. The final performances were on Sept. 25 during lunch and dinner in one of the city’s designated Social Zones.

The purpose of these pop-up performances is to not only give Heartside residents an opportunity to use their talents to earn a wage, but it is intended to send the message that everyone in the community has something valuable to contribute.

GRAND RAPIDS ASIAN-PACIFIC FESTIVAL SEEKS TO ENTERTAIN, EDUCATE

For years, the Grand Rapids AsianPacific Festival has been a lively opportunity for the Grand Rapids Asian community to celebrate their culture.

For this year’s GRAPF Mid-Autumn Festival, the community is invited to learn and rally together to fill the community with kindness and respect. The event will take place on the Blue Bridge with a max capacity of one-hundred masked attendees at a time.

In Chinese culture, the full moon is a symbol of reunion. Therefore, The MidAutumn Festival takes place Oct. 3, the day which the moon is said to be the fullest of the year. All ages are welcome 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., but after 8 p.m. attendees must be 18 and up. Admission to the event is free, however, Humane Society of West Michigan donations will be accepted.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

DOWNTOWN

Grand Rapids celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month online for first time

BY CHAVALA YMKER ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept.

15 to Oct. 15 and is a time for Latinx and Hispanic communities to celebrate their cultures and share their experiences with others.

This year, the Grand Rapids Public Library (GRPL) and the Grand Rapids Latin American Film Festival (GRLAFF) both shifted their events to coincide with Hispanic Heritage Month for the first time.

From Sept. 12 to Nov. 2, the GRPL will be celebrating Hispanic heritage and the Mexican holiday Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The GRPL has always celebrated Día de Los Muertos, but this year, they expanded their programming to celebrate the heritage of not only the Mexican populations but also Hispanic and Latinx communities. This expansion allowed the GRPL to include more local partners.

A group of Hispanic and Latinx GRPL staff helped local organizations like LINC UP and Grandville Avenue Arts and Humanities bring their ideas to life for Hispanic Heritage Month. Those two partners will be holding online bilingual storytimes throughout the time of celebration.

In a typical year, the GRPL invited patrons into the library to celebrate Día de Los Muertos with food catered from local Hispanic and Latinx owned restaurants. Last year, 1300 people attended.

CELEBRATING LA FAMILIA: Members of Grand Rapids’ Hispanic community are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month virtually this year from Sep. 12 to Nov. 2. COURTESY | GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY

The library wanted to continue to support those restaurants, many of which are struggling in the current economy, so between Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, GRPL patrons will be able to show their library card at select restaurants and receive a free sample platter of food. This experience is key to understanding other cultures. And if you don’t have a library card, the GRPL is allowing you to create an e-card online.

Other Día de Los Muertos events include a screening and panel discussion of the classic film “Marcario” and an art & history lecture with local artist Rolando Mancera where he will discuss folk art and motifs connected to the holiday.

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ART

Senior art show blends artificial intelligence with human emotion

BY MARY DUPUIS ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

COMMUNITY UNITY FESTIVAL ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY REFLECTION Music, spoken word and visual art will be showcased at The Community Unity Festival in Grand Rapids. The Bridge GR event will take place Oct. 2 from 6-8 p.m. in Rosa Parks Circle. George Davis III will lead the event and musical performances will be featured by Avalon Cutts-Jones, Tom Cutts and more. This cross-cultural experience is free and food will be sold at food trucks.

In addition to the musical performances, spoken word will be featured at the event. One of the performers will be Grammy-nominated spoken-word artist Gha’il Rhodes Benjamin. The GR community to welcome to learn, listen and enjoy the art and music at The Community Music Festival.

SENIOR PROJECT: For his senior project, Ryan Hafer created “Thoughts in Me,” blending art and artificial intelligence COURTESY | RYAN HAFER

Studying at the Alexander Calder Fine Arts Center to earn his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture, Grand Valley State University student Ryan Hafer’s senior show sprung into full-time production in March and has not stopped since.

The project, entitled “Thoughts in Me,” began with his desire to create “something unique on a curiously different level” for the show. Within the project, Hafer experiments with how well artificial intelligence can comprehend human thoughts and emotions.

The process begins on the website Hafer designed and hired a contractor to program, www.thoughtsin.me.

Here, the site asks the participant if they would like to share a thought of no more than 170 characters. Once they do, they must choose from one of six emotions they feel this thought conveys, those being: fear, anger, disgust, happiness, sadness or surprise.

The participant can also choose if they

wish to include the location they are sharing the thought from or remain anonymous.

Once the participant submits their response, it is sent to the IBM Watson Studio where artificial intelligence analyzes the thought using sophisticated natural language processing and understanding techniques.

It determines if the wording has positive or negative emotion and sentiment, and uses that in order to come up with whichever one of the emotions the artificial intelligence believes the thought is portraying.

The participant is then shown the emotion the artificial intelligence has pegged their thought to be representative of. Following this comes a presentation of all of the different thoughts sent in from across the country, along with what the artificial intelligence believes they represent.

The website will continue to collect these thoughts until mid-November when the senior show is scheduled to take place.

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A9 | LAKER LIFE

SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

LOOK AT LAKER LIFE OMA AMPLIFIES AFRO-LATINA VOICES Every year, Grand Valley State University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) hosts a Hispanic Heritage Celebration in recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, a period of thirty days between September and October dedicated to recognizing the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture and achievements of the United States. This year, the OMA has dedicated the celebration to the Afro-Latinx community and the Black Lives Matter Movement.

In this vein, the first event kicking off the celebration will be “Amplifying AfroLatina Voices,” a collaboration with the Latina Network of West Michigan intended to highlight the lived experiences of Afro-Latinas in our community. The presentation, which will take place from 7-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29, will be hosted virtually on Zoom. Those interested in the event can RSVP on the OMA’s website at www.gvsu.edu/oma.

LEARN ABOUT STUDENT SENATE

Through their “Democracy 101: A Series of Critical Conversations” program, Grand Valley State University’s Community Service Learning Center has made it their mission to get students invested in using their civic voices. Their event this week hits close to home, focusing on GVSU’s own student government.

The event, a Student Senate panel encouraging students to make the changes on campus that they’re passionate about, will run from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Hosted by the CSLC virtually on Zoom, those interested can RSVP on LakerLink at www.gvsu.campuslabs.com/ engage.

MENTAL HEALTH

Counseling Center expands virtual drop-in sessions

BY AUTUMN PITCHURE LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

The quarantine brought on by the global pandemic has required everyone take certain precautions for the sake of public safety, but some people have found themselves more isolated than others. This is especially true in the wake of the stay in place order issued for Grand Valley State University students, asking them to stay in their own residence and not take part in any group gatherings.

With not many places open, there is little freedom of what people can do or who they can see. As a result of little to no connection with others during the pandemic (among other difficult adjustments), the depression and anxiety of some students has risen immensely. In response, the GVSU Counseling Center is taking action.

“We wanted to provide a space for students to express their diverse concerns, thoughts, reactions and feelings associated with being placed in quarantine and isolation due to COVID-19,” said Abraham Eapen, Psychologist and Coordinator of Group Therapy Services.

Recognizing the struggle of students in isolation, the Counseling Center has created a way to help by offering drop-in sessions of virtual quarantine/isolation support. These are held from 10-11 a.m. on Mondays and 2-3 p.m. on Thursdays. Eapen says that online drop-in sesLEADERSHIP

DELIGHT MINISTRIES LOOKS TO SERVE KIDS FOOD BASKET On Saturday, Oct. 3, Delight Ministries will be looking for assistance with making birthday cards, decorating lunch bags and writing thank you’s for the children at Kids Food Basket. Those interested in helping out can come drop by between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. underneath the tent by Zumberge Pond on the Allendale Campus.

Masks are required for those who come to volunteer.

Those interested can RSVP for the event on LakerLink at www.gvsu.campuslabs.com/engage. If volunteers are unable to meet physically on Saturday, a Zoom meeting will be held to create individual items to donate, which will then be collected by the Delight Ministries Service Leader.

KEPT INSIDE: As GVSU students are kept indoors following the county’s new health order, the Counseling Center is meeting students where they are: online. COURTESY | COMMON WEALTH FUND

sions are an open space students can get their stressors and challenges out and off their plate.

“You can contact the University Counseling Center to sign-up and to receive a link to join the drop-in (session),” Eapen said. “Outreach drop-ins meets via a secured Telehealth platform to maintain privacy.”

The Counseling Center offers various virtual general therapy, skills, identity and support groups so students don’t feel alone through this

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Virus Action Team encourages community to self-assess

BY KATHERINE ARNOLD LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

A-OK: A student passes their COVID-19 self-assessment, which the University said they should complete daily. GVL | BRITNEY WATKINS

journey. These virtual groups can be utilized as a safe place for prevention, management and processing of various personal concerns related to isolation and quarantine. More information on all the available programs can be found on their website at gvsu.edu/counsel.

At Grand Valley State University, the Virus Action Team has quickly become a group that every student, faculty and staff member has come to know during this time of COVID-19 uncertainty. Recently, they cooperated with the Ottawa County Department of Public Health (OCDPH) when OCDPH issued the Staying in Place order Sept. 17. Another reason everyone might recognize their name is because of the financial incentive announced on Sept. 18, which stipulates that students who fill out their daily assessments at least 90 of the 95 days left in the semester will be eligible for $200 towards the winter semester.

The Virus Action Team replaced the work done by the Incident Management Team in early August, and have taken charge of GVSU’s health and safety monitoring phase as students head into their second full month of classes. Their job is to monitor the health and

safety in the Grand Valley community, as well as the surrounding region, in order to report to the Senior Leadership Team. These two groups work together in order to create and design new health and safety strategies whenever new pandemic information arises and new information is gained through the pulse surveys, daily self-assessments, contact tracing and testing.

“The self-assessment enables GVSU to provide intentional outreach to students,” said Greg Sanial, Vice President of Finance and Administration and Interim Director of the Virus Action Team. “This is why it is very important for students to fill it out daily. The information we gain through the self-assessment allows us to address student-specific concerns.”

VAT oversees the administration of COVID-19 interventions and initiatives, and monitors the spread of COVID-19 in the community.

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A10 | SPORTS QUICK HITS ATHLETES RETURN TO TRAINING

After Grand Valley State University sports were put on hiatus on March 12, 2020, sports teams have finally resumed training. During the summer, players and coaches were forced to train in isolation and over Zoom calls. Now that students have returned to campus for the fall 2020 semester, athletes are finally allowed to train as a team.

The initial criteria to begin practicing began with GVSU testing over 600 athletes and coaches, followed by a 14-day acclimation period. Teams hit a roadblock however, when the Ottawa County ordered to GVSU students made every Laker stay in isolation unless attending class or getting food. In order to resume training, several GVSU teams obtained licensed physicians to oversee practices.

While coaches and players have worked remotely and in isolated fields and gyms to train, the resumed training isn’t without its drawback to the GVSU sports landscape.

GVSU athletics is projected to lose over one million dollars without fall sports on the schedule.

The athletic department will have to get creative to deal with this loss of income, including eliminating some positions and not filling vacant jobs. Most of this loss of revenue will continue into the new fiscal year in 2021.

If sports do return for the winter semester, it’s most likely going to be conducted in a conference-only schedule, further leading to a loss of revenue.

RELAY FOR LIFE DATE SET

The Relay for Life event at Grand Valley will take place on April 2, 2021. Even during these uncertain times with the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Cancer Society will still bring the community together in April. Relay for Life will continue next year with hopes of strong support from the GVSU community. Students can sign up on the American Cancer Society’s website.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORE UPDATES

Hudsonville defeated Grand Haven 53-0.

Grandville beat East Kentwood 54-42. West Ottawa lost to Jenison 35-25. Rockford took down Caledonia 49-7.

Other high school football scores from last week include, Byron Center 41, Grand Rapids Christian 6. Forest Hills Central beat Forest Hills Northern 28-13. Allendale beat Hamilton 24-14. Schoolcraft beat Saugatuck 47-8.

NEED HELP WITH FANTASY FOOTBALL?

For fantasy football advice every week, make sure to check the Lanthorn’s website every Saturday night, where we will publish a start em’-sit em’ guide ahead of Sunday’s slate.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

ACTIVISM

Professional athletes around country affect GV athletes

BY HOLLY BIHLMAN HBIHLMAN@LANTHORN.COM

Four years after Collin Kaepernick was blacklisted by the world for his stance against racial injustice, the sports world is now surrounded by similar players — but this time, they’re national heroes. The most recent spiral of abominable crimes involving the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Jacob Blake has reignited the fire that Kaepernick started. The NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL have all been actively supporting the Black Lives Matter movement since the revamp of their seasons.

Professional athletes across all platforms have found themselves in a new and unusual spotlight. With the whole world celebrating the little victories in this time of quarantine and desperation for entertainment, the sports channels have been hot with attention, but shockingly for different reasons.

Some of the first teams to kneel for the anthem, as Kaepernick did during the 2016 season, began with the New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz in the NBA, and the Houston Texans in the NFL. Once these protests started to engulf the media’s focus on sports, sports fans are finding it harder and harder to focus on anything else. Now teams are taking it one step further, sitting in the locker rooms during the National Anthem; the Texans are even playing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” alongside the National Anthem.

The shooting of Jacob Blake on Aug. 23 2020, pushed these athletes beyond their capacity to “shut up and dribble,” as Lebron James was instructed to do back in 2018. His murder ignited a series of walkouts across several leagues.

“Are we not human beings?” said Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, “Is Jacob Blake not a human being? He deserved to be treated like a human being and did not deserve to be shot.”

At this point, no one would put it past James to take to Twitter for an explicit message to President Donald Trump: “WE DEMAND CHANGE. SICK OF IT.” These players are leaders, and now, a younger generation of athletes are using their voices to shape the change they wish to see in America, and it’s working.

Talking to NBA players across the league, a sociologist famous for his study in the 1967 Olympics, Harry Edwards said, “You’re not involved in a boycott against basketball. You’re involved in utilizing and leveraging the spotlight, the platform you have to make it crystal clear, not just to make a statement of protest but to send a message demanding change concerning these shootings.”

The people are talking more and more

BLACK LIVES MATTER: A pair of BLM protesters hold up a sign during a peaceful protest in downtown Phoenix. Pro athletes across America have taken part in these protests. COURTESY | PBS

about these protests, and with every day it seems like BLM is growing. It isn’t being treated like a trend; people won’t stop talking about it and it won’t stop until real change is implemented.

On a local level, some of the athletes at Grand Valley State University are feeling inspired and empowered by the actions of these celebrity figures. Junior football defensive back Antonio Strong believes the football team would be participating in these protests at GVSU. “If we were playing we’d most definitely take part in some type of action or some type of protest as a team,” Strong said. “People are actually getting to learn things now and they’re bringing awareness to voting; there’s just a lot of good changes going on in sports.”

Hearing childhood idols speak out about these changes is motivating. Having more and more professional athletes participate in these protests is spreading the word and educating people at a larger scale than it ever has before, especially four years ago. Not only is it spreading awareness, but it is focusing people’s attention to the BLM movement in a much more serious tone.

“They’re on one of the biggest platforms in the world, like Lebron James for example,” Strong said. “He’s the biggest NBA athlete in the world, so for him to speak up and bring awareness to the situation, a lot of people are going to follow in his actions and whatever he says and they’re going to be become more aware and start learning the actual process of these things.”

The hurt the country is facing doesn’t end with a hashtag and a tweet – it ends

with political turmoil and immediate action. Athletes with such a great influence on young kids have been pushing for voting with initiatives to rent out theaters and venues for registration, as well as access to political information.

There are also numerous members of the local GVSU community helping students register to vote. There is a beauty in the idea of democracy, but it all depends on who wants to utilize their right to a choice in the leadership of the country.

The issue that lies within this predicament is that a country that doesn’t support all of its constituents is not going to benefit from the democratic future the writers of the constitution had envisioned.

“It’s amazing to me why we keep loving this country and this country does not love us back,” said Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers.

For now, protests for the BLM movement will continue, but the hope is that this isn’t a lasting matter. As people sit here, reading articles and watching the news, it we must remember that nothing is achieved doing this. Use the pathways these athletes and celebrities across all walks of life are creating for those with less of a voice, and do the things that make a difference. The best way to create change is starting as small as possible, and eventually toppling the structure of systematic racism and dirty politics that those in power have spent so long building.

As the New York Mets player Dominic Smith said in an interview with the Washington Post, “We showed tonight we’re not just going to shut up and dribble, shut up and play ball. We stand up for what we believe in.”

SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A11 | SPORTS

AWARD

GV Football’s Tyler Bradfield named to 2020 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team

BY KELLEN VOSS ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM

For his exemplary performance on the field, work ethic in the classroom and donation of time to community service, Grand Valley State senior linebacker Tyler Bradfield has been named by Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) to the 2020 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.

Bradfield is the first GVSU student-athlete to this honor, as he’s part of a 22-man team that includes Clemson University quarterback Trevor Lawrence, University of Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger and Oklahoma State University running back Chuba Hubbard.

“I’m really excited and really thankful,” Bradfield said on the honor. “I take a lot of pride in all facets of being a student-athlete and helping others, (and) I also want to thank Allstate and the AFCA for recognizing the 2020 team.”

Bradfield is no stranger to winning awards both on and off the field, as he is a two-time reigning CoSIDA Academic All-American, earning first-team honors in 2019 and second-team plaudits in 2018. He is the first Laker football player to earn back-to-back Academic All-America honors.

Double-majoring in accounting and finance,

CELEBRATE WITH A SMILE: Senior linebacker Tyler Bradfield (10) celebrates a play with his teammates. Bradfield can now celebrate another accomplishment with his award. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT

Bradfield is a two-time All-GLIAC honoree and a three-time GLIAC All-Excellence performer.

Bradfield had a career year last season, as he was named 2019 GVSU Skill Defensive Player of the Year, Bradfield ranked second on the team and eighth in the GLIAC in total tackles

with 81 stops, while recording 10.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, three pass breakups, three QB hurries and two forced fumbles.

Over his career with GVSU, Bradfield not only has some impressive defensive statistics (214 career tackles, 21.5 tackles

for loss and 7.0 sacks) but has also earned a good reputation as one of the hardest working student-athletes at GVSU. “This is an awesome honor for Tyler and he is so deserving,” said GVSU head coach Matt Mitchell. “Tyler is the consummate student-athlete who is one of the most respected student-athletes at GVSU. He cares about his fellow teammates more than he cares about himself and is a mentor to those younger players in our locker room. In addition, Tyler is so giving of his time to help others and is involved in every community service project that our football team participates in, while also helping with other projects outside of football.”

Just like many college football players across the country, Bradfield’s fall semester feels a lot different, as he misses spending weekends with his teammates playing the game he loves.

“It’s definitely a weird feeling sitting on the couch on Saturday,” Bradfield said. “You’ll see a Snapchat memory from a year ago today, and it’s a Saturday and you’re on the bus going on a road trip. It’s definitely a different feeling, but there’s not much we can do about it right now.”

Bradfield will earn his undergraduate degree in December and will look to enroll in a master’s program at GVSU to retain his final year of eligibility with GVSU football.

LAKER EFFECT

Women’s basketball resumes training under health guidelines

BY ZACK GOODROW NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

OFF THE COURT: Getting back into practice season is looking different for the Lakers women’s basketball team. GVL | MEGHAN LANDGREN

Grand Valley State University sports are finally getting back to training on the field and in gyms, but some athletes may have reservations with training once again.

The University has not been an exception to the COVID-19 resurgence in West Michigan, as new cases still spread everyday. Students have concerns with their own health over attending classes and socializing. While that extends to student athletes, there hasn’t been much concern from the women’s basketball team.

GVSU has specific guidelines for a return to play for every sports team. Before practices resumed, there were over 600 tests for players and staff. There was a two-week acclimation period as well during which no teams were allowed to train. Now teams can train again, but coaches must implement social distancing and sanitary protocols.

The GVSU women’s basketball team has been a model for safe practices and training.

They have been having small workouts – only four players on the court together – and staggering practices to have less people in the gym.

They do skill work drills every week day, and switch between conditioning on the field and

lifting in the Recreation Center. Even with health concerns during the pandemic, Laker athletes have been excited to get back to together and train again.

“This whole summer we had to workout outside,” said junior guard Brooke McKinley.

“We couldn’t get into the gym and lift or do anything. It definitely feels good to be back inside in the gym with normal hoops. It’s exciting to be practicing with the team again.”

Last year, the GVSU women’s basketball team finished their season with a record of 28-3 before tournament play was canceled.

The team looks different this year, with many seniors graduating.

In order to find success on the court like the team usually has, they will have to build chemistry and train as much as possible.

That recipe to success may be difficult with the pandemic, but the women’s basketball team is up to the challenge.

“We’re a young team and everyone is excited to get back to training,” said head coach Mike Williams. “After sitting around for awhile with quarantine, the players have been working hard together.”

Coming back together after an abundance of time off has led to great practices with players putting in enormous effort. Williams

has had to monitor the team, making sure his players don’t push themselves too hard as the season is still extremely young.

With all the obstacles in the team’s way, the Lakers are up for the challenge and have little concerns over their safety as they train together, since the coaching and training staff have implemented a safe environment to bring comfort to the players.

“It’s definitely an adjustment but it’s nothing terrible,” McKinley said. “We’re working out in the Rec Center now. All of our normal practice times and drills that we do have switched up.

Everyone has been fine.”

Lakers of every sport will continue to practice the next few months. New guidelines have mandated that a licensed physician be present in training sessions to ensure the safety of players. The women’s basketball team will continue to work with aspirations of their winter season commencing.

There are still looming questions for all GVSU teams, not just women’s basketball.

What if seasons during the winter semester are cancelled as well?

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SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A12 | SPORTS MEN’S BASKETBALL

COMMITTED: Making a name for himself at Carman Ainsworth High School, Ja’Kavien Lewis officially transferred to Grand Valley State University over this past summer. A standout guard in his tenure at Northwood University, Lewis brings consistency, playmaking and defensive energy to this Lakers squad, who will look to improve off their 23-7 record from last season. COURTESY | GVSULAKERS.COM

Northwood transfer Ja’Kavien “JK” Lewis chooses GV Lakers

BY JOSH CARLSON SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Fans of Northwood Basketball saw some sad news Sunday, May 10, when starting point guard Ja’Kavien “JK” Lewis announced he is transferring to Grand Valley State University. Lewis will have three years to participate in two seasons of eligibility, but is trying for immediate eligibility to participate in the upcoming season this year for the Lakers.

When transferring from school to school as an athlete, in most cases, players have to sit out a year and continue eligibility the following year from the transfer. However, the Lakers are hoping to be granted immediate eligibility for Lewis.

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” Lewis said. “I would like to play right away, but if not, this will be a chance for me to grow as a person on and off the court.”

Lewis is excited to get to work with the team, although uncertain he will be able to immediately this season. After entering the transfer portal, he felt at home with the Lakers and head coach Ric Wesley.

“As soon as I entered the transfer portal, the (coaches) have been real with me, and I have been talking to a lot of the team, and they have been treating me like family already,” Lewis said. “There are a lot of benefits to coming to this program.”

Lewis decided to enter the portal and evaluate his options after Jeff Rekeweg, the head coach of Northwood while Lew-

is was being recruited out of high school, decided to resign this April.

“I knew Grand Valley was the one when I kept talking about them to my friends,” Lewis said. “I remember talking to one of my friends, and he said, ‘You keep talking about this school, but you haven’t talked about any other school that’s talking to you.’That’s just when I knew. The feeling was great; it’s always been great. I’ve always liked Grand Valley.”

The Lakers will be receiving one of the top point guards in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) for the last two seasons. Lewis led the GLIAC in assists as a freshman while also receiving GLIAC Freshman of the Year award in the 2018-2019 season. Also a floor general on offense, JK doesn’t take breaks on defense, ranking third in the conference in steals as a sophomore with 52.

Looking towards being a Laker, Lewis said he loves the atmosphere when playing at the Fieldhouse Arena.

“It was just tough,” Lewis said. “The environment was tough; the fans were loud; everyone just gets after it. The team brings that defensive tenacity, and that’s what I love to do, this school really fits my style of play.”

Lewis also said he is looking forward to playing with such a star-studded team, which compliments his play.

“One thing about Grand Valley is they bring a lot of great players in.”

Said Lewis, “They are bringing back an

BOOK IT TO THE BUCKET: JK Lewis (20) tries to evade a defender with a quick move and dribbles towards the basket as a member of the Carmen Ainsworth High School Cavaliers. COURTESY | MLIVE

All-American (Jake Van Tubbergen), and an All-Conference player (Christian Negron). So just playing my game, trying to make a play, and if not, give it up, cause at the end of the day if you give it up, nothing bad is going to happen because you’re playing with great players.”

Right now, you can catch Ja’Kavien outside, of course, basketball in hand, continuing to perfect his game, working out and staying ready for the next time he gets to hit the hardwood — this time as a member of the GVSU Men’s Basketball team.