Shared Experiences
G R A N D VA L L E Y L A N T H O R N
GV students share personal experiences with covid-19
Office of Student Life releases guidelines for student organizations, Greek Life STUDENT ORGS | A2
GVSU Professor Emeritus joins the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences FACULTY| A8
T U E S D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 8 , 2 02 0 // VO L . 5 5 N O. 3
@ GV L A N T H O R N
LANTHORN.COM
A2 | NEWS NEWS BRIEFS GVSU COVID-19 CAMPUS DATA UPDATE
The cumulative total COVID-19 cases since Aug. 17 is 271, with 261 current active cases. The university’s update of data used for this brief was from Sept. 7, as posted on its Data Dashboard page. GVSU has cumulatively reported 2 faculty/staff, 16 on-campus students, 253 “near-campus” or “other” students. This means 0.93% of the GVSU community is COVID-positive as of the report. “Near-campus students” are those living within a mile of either the Allendale or Grand Rapids campus locations when this can be determined. “Other students” includes students who live farther than a mile from the campus and those whose location was not determined. Testing and Incidence: GVSU’s own testing program has performed 2,557 tests in the past 7 days with 85 positive results, for a positivity rate of 3.48%.
GV NAMED NO. 1 PLACE TO WORK IN FORBES’ MICHIGAN RANKINGS
In its second annual ranking of “America’s Best Employers by State,” Forbes ranked GVSU at No. 1 in the state of Michigan for 2020. The list included the best 75 employers around Michigan, and is divided into 51 lists: one for each of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, and is compiled of surveys of 80,000 Americans working for businesses with at least 500 employees. GVSU has about 1,760 faculty members, more than 2,050 support staff members, and attracts more than 24,000 students with high-quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities. Over the years, the university has become dedicated to individual student achievement, going beyond the traditional classroom experience, with research opportunities and business partnerships. GVSU offers programming and classes from outreach centers in Battle Creek, Detroit and Traverse City; the Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute and the Muskegon Innovation Hub, located in Muskegon, among many others. Other Michigan employers ranked high on the list include Steelcase, DTE Energy, Consumers Energy, Wayne State University and JPMorgan Chase.
GV TRIO PROGRAMS RECEIVE $4.5 MILLION IN GRANTS
Three GVSU TRIO programs at Grand Valley received federal grants totaling $4.5 million over five years to continue supporting students who are first in their families to attend college or have limited incomes. There were three programs that received grant funding, the Classic program which supports students from any major; the STEM-Health Sciences and Teacher Preparation programs which support students from those specific disciplines.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
STUDENT ORGS
Office of Student Life releases guidelines for student organizations, Greek Life BY KELLEN VOSS ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM
The start of September is usually a vibrant time of year at GVSU: the campus is buzzing for the first football game, freshmen are settled into their dorms and returning students are excited to reunite with old friends from fraternities, sororities and other student organizations. But this school year won’t be like any other for Greek Life and student organizations. Freshmen can’t attend Campus Life Night in person to join these groups, while returning students can’t recruit in person and hold physical events. According to Eric Stevens, Assistant Director of Student Organizations at GVSU’s Office of Student Life, all student organizations have to abide by a uniform set of rules located on the Office of Student Life’s main page. “The expectations are the same for all organizations,” Stevens said. “They must follow all university COVID policies, State mandates and regulations, and CDC recommendations. This may effect an organization differently based on what their purpose is or how they typically operate. Student groups like esports or an honors group can continue to meet virtually or even in-person in small groups to accomplish their goals. However, more physically active groups like dance teams or musical organizations will have
STUDENT LIFE: Grand Valley State fraternities and sororities, like the Epsilon Kappa house featured above, will look a lot different in 2020 with the new COVID-19 guidelines. GVL | KATHERINE VASILE
to be more creative in how they operate as dancing or exercising presents a higher risk of spread to the participants.” While student organizations meeting in person is permitted, it is not recommended by the Office of Student Life. Any group that wants to meet in person must follow the standard procedure as if they were in class: face coverings are required at all times and the space needs to be big enough to allow for social distancing.
Student organizations are allowed to make reservations on campus, however new room capacity reductions will severely restrict the number of members who can be in a space for face-to-face meetings. Student organization leaders are required to reserve these spaces at Check-In and Event section of the Student Organization Support page. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
INVOLVEMENT
GV kicks off first virtual campus life night sessions BY OLIVIA FELLOWS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
Each year at the beginning of each semester, many individuals on campus enjoy attending the Office of Student Life’s (OSL) Campus Life Nights, also known as the Laker Involvement Fairs. This year amid COVID-19 and the governor’s crowd-size gathering regulations, the OSL decided to hold the multiple evening sessions virtually through Zoom meetings. Each night of the event focused on specific organizations and had meeting times for
attendees to choose from based on what they were interested in. Across the 3 fairs we had 220 orgs sign up, and 665 students attend. According to Eric Stevens, Assistant Director of Student Organizations at the OSL, attendance was steady across all three events. “We had less student participants than I would have hoped for,” Stevens said. “The first weekend on campus is a busy one after settling in and students have a lot of activities to choose from. We are hoping that our next round of fairs will drum up more student participation
VIRTUALLY INVOLVED: Student organizations are pitching themselves to all students over Zoom while at home with the Laker Involvement Fairs COURTESY | GVSU OFFICE OF STUDENT LIFE
since they will be more established at that time.” The three nights split up organizations into categories including academic and professional, professional fraternities, honor societies, interfaith, cultural, service & advocacy, student senate media, performing arts, special Interest, fraternities & sororities. For many student organizations, the virtual format of the events presented new opportunities to engage with students, and even though most would have preferred in-person meetings they felt that prioritizing student and staff safety was pertinent. RaKya Collins, President of the GV chapter of The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), said that the virtual platform was still engaging and productive for many students and organizations despite the disruption of the pandemic. The NSLS is the largest leadership-focused honor society in the country, it has 717 chapters and over 1 million members. The GV NSLS chapter has been active since 2017. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
A3 | NEWS
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
CONTENTS STUDENT ORGS
| A2
EDITORIAL
| A4
HEALTH
| A5
EXPERIENCES
| A6&7
FACULTY
| A8
WEB
| A9
SWIMMING
| A10
FOOTBALL
| A11
SOCCER
| A12
VOL. 5 5
NO. 3
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
MARCHING BAND
Laker Marching Band steps into a season of their own BY AUDREY WHITAKER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
As Grand Valley State University students head to class this semester, it may feel like a new campus. One thing, however, will be familiar. The Laker Marching Band (LMB) is on the practice field, and their season is in full swing. It may surprise many GVSU students to see the 180+ member band on the field four nights a week, but LMB director Dr. John Martin said that preparations for a safe 2020 season began in the spring. Martin said that the College Band Directors National Association and the National Federation of High School Associations commissioned a study on aerosols produced by wind instruments. Martin used the recommendations given in the study to guide the LMB practice model for the year. “When everything shut down the first time and we moved online, the CBDNA and the NFHSA immediately went into action because they knew this [COVID-19] was going to be an issue in the fall,” Martin said. Brooklyn Chaffee, trombone section leader and third-year LMB member, said that safety was a major concern for many members.
Business Manager RACHEL MCDOWELL
Image Editor MEGHAN LANDGREN
Asst. Business Manager DAYTON HAMMON
fourth-year LMB member, said that seeing the precautions taken by the LMB and GVSU has reduced his concerns about safety. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
GV students provide aid for local small businesses during pandemic BY ADAM TROMBLEY NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
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
“We were waiting on some big studies to come out and see if there was a way we could work around it, and we found a way that’s worked for us,” Chaffee said. “Anytime we’re not playing we wear masks, and we were able to buy horn covers, so there’s a little thick material like a mask for your instrument.” Levi Barry, mellophone section leader and FINANCE
BUSINESS STAFF
A&E Editor MARY RACETTE
STANDING IN FORMATION: With their masks at the ready, the Grand Valley State marching band stands in proper formation and practices on GVSU’s Allendale Campus. GVL | OLIVIA FELLOWS
HELPING THOSE IN NEED: GVSU students are helping local small businesses in the pandemic. COURTESY | GVSU SEIDMAN COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
As COVID-19 is sweeping across the United States, many businesses have been affected as the economy and society went on lockdown. Many small businesses felt the financial impact from the pandemic, some right here in West Michigan. The Michigan Small Business Development Center and students from Grand Valley State University are trying to help out these local businesses get back on their feet, while also finding their passion in helping others. Qi‘Shaun Coyle, Program Coordinator for the SBDC, said that when she started working in her position at the SBDC, it was important to her to have a direct impact in the work she was doing and for her to be a lending ear to businesses to help them flourish and grow. “This is their livelihood, and this is how they maintain their lives and the wellbeing of their families,” she said. “Seeing the widespread effect of what we’re doing has been really impactful on me.” Small businesses provide services and products to many cities throughout the Unit-
ed States and many have been hurt during the economic shutdown. Programs like the SBDC allow college students as well as other staff to help them locate funds and other services to help get economic grounding. Kyle Bezy, Lead Student Office Assistant at the West Michigan branch of the SBDC, has been able to learn skills for the future by helping the local businesses and community through the work he has done. “I’ve had so many interactions with clients, and I think that all really helped me with dealing with different businesses and clients when I’m a CPA,” Bezy said. “Even though I’m not the one who is helping them apply for programs, just to say yes there is something available and someone who can help you, let’s get this scheduled for you. I’m not the business consultant but I’m still helping them get in touch with the resources they need.” Along with learning good work habits and experience throughout his time with the SBDC, his position showed him what these small businesses mean to the communities they are in. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
A4 | OPINION
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS By Xavier Golden
GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON
EDITORIAL
Stoll’s tenure set the bar high, created a new GV culture
W editorial@lanthorn.com
9/8/20
Loyola Phoenix backlash far too familiar, reignites need to support student journalist
BY NICK MORAN SENIOR MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
The world of student journalism is never uneventful, but for Loyola University’s Phoenix, the school’s student newspaper, it’s been a hell of a few weeks. Amid student-led protests on and around campus against the University’s relationship with the Chicago Police Department, six students were arrested. As they were being taken into custody, the Phoenix, which had been reporting on the protests since they began, posted videos to their Twitter. Following the arrests, the reporters followed police back to the station to gain more information on the arrests. What followed this reporting was a statement on Instagram by Our Streets LUC, the protest organizers, regarding the Loyola Phoenix and its coverage. In it, they claimed that they asked the Phoenix not to publish the videos because it created unnecessary trauma for protestors. They claimed their practices were aggressive and invasive. Ironically, the organization stated it would no longer be conducting interviews with the Phoenix. Further, like the bastion of First Amendment
adherents they are with this statement, they disabled comments, cutting the discourse there. Seeing this as a student journalist who has had to make difficult decisions on publishing stories, it’s infuriating to watch this dangerous precedent be set – especially as it demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of how the media works and its responsibilities to the public. To be perfectly clear, the job of the media is to seek out truth and report it, as explicitly stated in the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics. We focus on what’s important to our communities, which is typically restricted to campus communities for student journalists. When students are displaying their First Amendment rights through assembly and speech, student journalists listen. When that right is challenged, you report on it. When students are quietly escorted away in police vehicles, you seek truth and report it for. Journalists owe that to your audience, who is sitting there concerned and with questions. When the Phoenix published the arrest information, including the names of those arrested (which the Our Streets LUC also shared on Instagram, as is public knowledge through police reports), they frankly did exactly what any journalist should do. They did not let these protestors become faceless, but they shined light on their plight. The truth isn’t always pretty, but when it isn’t, it’s all the more important to share it so that communities can reflect and act. We experienced this first hand with our coverage of former football offensive
coordinator Morris Berger and his comments about Adolf Hitler. We were confronted with removal requests, accused of ending Berger’s career and received national attention. I would be lying if I didn’t stress about ensuring every detail was correct, with days where I would crash on my couch after sitting in the basement of Kirkhof for hours on end handling the breaking news that week. It was wading through emails and comments of distaste. It was the criticism and lack of understanding for journalistic values and practices that permeated cries against the Lanthorn. We saw that in the case of the Phoenix here. From protest organizers to spectators, it seemed like the student journalists could do nothing right. I’ve been in those shoes. It’s not easy to handle, but something many of us will face as journalists. But while a handful of comments dissuaded the Phoenix by repeating that this coverage perpetuated student trauma, the Phoenix’s coverage helped reignite a conversation that needed to be had regarding the protest as well as the relationship between CPD and the University. It would be repetitive to say we’re facing unprecedented, tumultuous times as a country while we grapple a swath of national issues. It’s not going to be easy for reporters, who have been unabashedly challenged on their craft by parties who simply disagree with the truth they’re reporting. We owe it to ourselves, as news producers and consumers alike, to support the media that goes the extra mile to get things right – especially student journalists, who will continue to shape the industry.
hile it is often an overused saying in yearbooks, there is a quote from legendary American poet Maya Angelou that perfectly encapsulates Associate Dean of Student Life Bob Stoll’s reputation at Grand Valley State University. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” When it comes to being the face of student organizations at GVSU from an administrative position, it’s not just about making sure clubs follow the rules or making sure dues are paid on time for fraternities – it’s about making students feel welcome from campus when, especially for freshman, when it’s often the first time they are away from home. The retirement of Bob Stoll reminds us that GVSU’s Office of Student Life will be facing a massive shift, but there will be a “Bob Stoll” effect in place for years to come. While the conversation around mental health is often stigmatized with older generations, Stoll did the opposite. He was always willing to check on students to make sure they were feeling okay before handling the paperwork. Back in January this year, this very newspaper made international headlines after a former football coach said he
admired the leadership strategies of a dictator who was responsible for the death of over six million people. That was a stressful time for the Lanthorn, from its leadership to reporting staff. The article with the initial quotes had volatile comments underneath praising Berger and attacking us for publishing. We had to keep the door to our newsroom locked at all times. Our sports editor at the time and current associate print editor, Kellen Voss, received anonymous phone calls from people claiming that they knew where he lived and would get “justice for Coach Berger.” Being that some of the people at the center of the controversy were young college kids, they were rightfully stressed out with how to handle everything. It was a situation seldom seen, nevertheless experienced by a student organization on campus. Stoll was one of the people that helped ease that stress. Before members of our editorial staff had to speak to University officials regarding the quotes and the situation, Stoll met with leadership personally to make sure we were feeling okay about the media tornado going on around us. It was a human moment that put the students before the university. 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 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 8, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
A5 | NEWS
HEALTH
Flu vaccines remain crucial during COVID-19 pandemic BY MACKENZIE KELLER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
National Immunization Awareness Month is celebrated throughout August as children prepare to return to school. With COVID-19 cases still rising, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services emphasizes the importance of vaccines in our daily lives. With flu shots and other vaccines keeping various serious but preventable diseases at bay, the focus of medical staff can remain on COVID-19 patients. “Vaccinating on time and following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommended schedule is the best protection against serious diseases like measles, hepatitis A, whooping cough, cancers caused by HPV, and influenza,” said Dr, Joneigh Khaldun, Chief Medical Executive and deputy for health at MDHHS. To encourage students to get their flu shots, Grand Valley State University hosts annual flu shot clinics. Students are able to get their vaccinations through the Campus Health Center.
Though it used to be a walk-in event, students are now required to call ahead for an appointment. The vaccine offered by GVSU is the quadrivalent flu vaccine. It offers protection against four different strains of the virus: two influenza A viruses and two influenza B viruses. According to the CDC’s website, the flu vaccine prevents thousands of flu-related hospitalizations every year. For example, during 2018-2019, flu vaccination prevented an estimated 58,000 flu-related hospitalizations, according to their website. A 2018 study done in New Zealand showed that among adult flu patients who had been vaccinated, nearly 60% were less likely to be admitted into the ICU. Of the patients who ended up in the ICU, vaccinated patients were spent, on average, about four days less than unvaccinated patients. Not only does being vaccinated protect you, but it protects others around you. Not everyone can handle being vaccinated and they rely on others to keep them safe from these deadly diseases.
MORE THAN COVID: As campus opens and flu season approaches, health officials are pushing for more students to get vaccinated for the flu. GVSU is offering a vaccine on campus. COURTESY | GVSU
Only about 50% of Americans get the flu shot annually. Due to this lack of vaccinations, the flu continues to claim the
lives of tens of thousands of people while inflicting illness upon millions of others.
LAKER EFFECT
GV launches MyBlueLaker virtual assistant app BY JACOB DEWEERD NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
GET INFORMED: GVSU’s new MyBlueLaker app will be a tool for students new and old navigating campus. GVL | KATHERINE VASILE
Grand Valley State University has launched MyBlueLaker Virtual Assistant, an app that gives users personalized answers to GVSU-related questions. The app can answer questions regarding class schedules, student account balances, on-campus dining locations and hours, on-campus events, bus routes, building hours, and countless other subjects. “It can be helpful when one needs a quick answer or when offices are closed,” said Miloš Topić, Vice President for IT & Chief Digital Officer on MyBlueLaker development. “This is intended to be yet another option to our students and helps them navigate complex systems and dispersed information.” Using MyBlueLaker is very simple. All users have to do is ask a question like ‘what are my classes for tomorrow’ and the app will retrieve that information and present it in an easily readable message. For personalized information like class schedules and student account balances,
users will need to sign into their GVSU account in MyBlueLaker and allow the app to access that information. “Integrations (after logging in) allow for access to information that is not freely available via a search engine,” said Topić. “MyBlueLaker answers questions instantly, which means users will be able to access important information much faster than if they were to use Google or log in to Banner and search around for what they were looking for.” Depending on the specificity of a search, MyBlueLaker will try to guess the question users are asking. For example, searching ‘register for classes’ will bring up options for how/where to register for classes, registering for closed classes, the last day for registration, etc. If a user wants to save an answer to a question or an entire series of answers, they can tap the mail icon in the app and send a transcript of their chat with MyBlueLaker to their GVSU email inbox. MyBlueLaker is a great tool for students that are new to GVSU who may not know the best places to find answers to everyday
questions. Information that may be buried under menus in Banner is now easily accessible with a simple search in MyBlueLaker. “I think it will be helpful for students trying to find their classrooms and knowing what’s going on around campus,” said one 3rd-year student. “I bet it will be super useful for new students that haven’t been around campus very much and don’t know where to go for help.” The more users utilize the app, the more it will learn about what information they need, and the more accurate MyBlueLaker’s answers will be. As it learns more about what users are searching and how to provide more efficient responses, MyBlueLaker could become a vital part of GVSU’s digital ecosystem. “We plan to continue improving the app based on usage and feedback from our community,” said Topić. “We are open to ideas and creativity from our students on how to continue improving this app.” LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
A6&7 | LAKER LIFE
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE
Students journal their COVID-19 experience BY AUTUMN BABAS LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM
Feeling Betrayed (Hannah Swain, Senior)
After working so hard and diligently for four years in college, it feels as though I’m being betrayed by the coronavirus. My hard work feels insignificant, as I’m unable to do some of the things that this hard work was supposed to be paid off for. Although I’m grateful to have so many people care about my safety that they’ve taken to ensure I’m okay. But to be honest, this just outright sucks. My plans after college, my final semester at GVSU, my employment, my sanity: they’ve all been taken. But I’m trying to look at this in a positive light. Yes everything is shutting down, I’ve had to file for unemployment for my first time and I’m not sure when life will return to normal. Or if it will even return to normal. All I can do right now is try to reflect what time is giving and teaching me, rather than what I’m missing out because of COVID-19. For example, I’m currently curled up on a couch at my parents’ cabin, up north, with my whole family to celebrate my little brother turning 16. No, we can’t go out to dinner or immediately get his license. But, instead, we’re taking this time to be with one another. Music is blaring through our surround sound throughout the living room. My brother and his friends are playing video games and my parents are drinking coffee while starting up our four wheelers and dirt bikes. Without the spread of the coronavirus, I wouldn’t be here right now. I actually would be in New Orleans at the BUKU Music Festival. As it has rescheduled, I
am instead getting to play Yahtzee and do puzzles with people I love most. So yes, this is a very scary and chaotic time to be alive. But in order to survive all of this, we have to just get through it. We have to be there for one another and reach out to the people we love. There is nothing else to do but reconnect. To rekindle, to review, to make sure what we do, do, during this time is very significant. It’s loving, it’s productive, it’s time to dedicate to the passion you may have felt too busy to work on. Finish that book, learn to knit, practice your instrument, binge watch a documentary, research something you want to know about. Be the person you were craving to be when you were “too busy.”
An Abrupt Ending to Freshman Year (Sean Deward, Freshman) I closed the last chapter in my freshman year of college, but 44 pages short. It’s the 19th, just a couple days ago Mom and Dad celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and your gift to them was telling them you were going to be home for the rest of the year. Thankfully they’re doing great. The trick right now is who’s gonna see Lizzie, since she’s only about 2 1/2 at this time. Nana and Terry are a little worried about watching her since they are a bit older. Thankfully me, Mom and Pop are still able to help. If only they weren’t moving away so far, but at least it’s only an hour. I just hope the school system is good where they’re going, and not just because Dan’s making Erika happy since the house looks like a Victorian mini-mansion, but I digress. Everyone’s healthy right now, but we’re being cautious for the most part. Mom’s still bummed out about their trip,
but Dad’s being his optimistic self and balancing it out. I’ll be honest, I’m worried. Not for myself — I’ve never been. More so everyone else. I could get it and not even know that I’m being a risk to my family’s lives. Would it be my fault? Not necessarily, but could I prevent it? That’s what I couldn’t live with if something happened. It’s so weird how the whole world can change in a couple of days! It’s almost funny in an ironic way because right before 2020 started, I saw the most optimism in the people I know than ever before, but it was soon replaced with the same “Well if I die, I die” attitude I see in a lot of people after being scared of a possible WW3, the Australian wildfires, and so many other things, it’s just wild how right after all that we get this virus crisis spurring the world. Then again, this kind of things makes the brightest senses of humor shine. During Saint Patty’s, there was a man in Ohio doing a one-man parade for the holiday with a sign on his back saying “Stay 6 feet away,” while also saying he was “Protesting the coronavirus.” Hahaha! I hope you still have that video we got of it! I just sent out a long story on Snapchat reaching out to anybody with a personal story to use in that documentary that hopefully went well, so future Sean, if you see the snap story, you’ll also see the old freshman dorm that you had to leave yesterday. I hope you still remember that place. I hope you still remember that feeling when you locked the door for the last time and had that vivid memory pop up when you got it. All the possibilities, the uncertainties, started and ended with that key. We did run into that brown-haired girl we saw all the time right before we left and asked her out, so the timing could never have better am I right? Haha!
Adaptation (Leah Kerr, Junior) It’s been four days since my last entry — seems much longer. Being isolated indoors can make days seem like weeks and weeks seem like months. I miss my routine of waking up and going to class or waking up and going to work. I thrive off of routines and structure; without both, I feel like I could lose my mind. Although, I have been going to work. However, since I work at Outback, things have changed... drastically. We are only operating with takeout orders as well as delivery. The restaurant doesn’t even seem like a restaurant anymore. All the chairs are stacked on the tables, the bar is barren and dry, and the process of getting customers their food seems to be a bit more depressing. My coworkers are trying their best to adapt to the quietness of the store; they keep inviting me to group calls over Facebook. (They are quite entertaining, I will give them that). The pay from working in to-go or delivery is not the same as working as a waitress, however. The tips are minimal and are split between 5-10 people who are working together to get orders out. Last time I worked, I made $30 in tips and quite frankly, $30 is not enough to pay bills. I have been trying to file for unemployment but the website is so slow that I can’t get past the page to create an account. I have been consistently trying for two days now... nothing. A friend of mine told me to log on around 2 a.m. to avoid people manically refreshing the webpage, thus, slowing down the server. Overall, I am in the process of adapting. It’s a hard one but very do-able. I have been trying to convert my anxiety into motivation to work harder in my online courses. It’s all a process... a tedious one at that.
My grandpa was a funeral director, and he got sick in late March from meeting with a family who was arranging a funeral for their family member that had died because of COVID-19. He was sick at home for a week before he moved to the hospital for a little over a month, before he passed away from complications that the virus had caused. He had no preexisting conditions, ran every day and was the healthiest person I know. The virus caused him to have heart problems and eventually pulmonary fibrosis, which was the cause of his death. At the same time he was in the hospital my uncle was diagnosed with COVID-19 as well. I graduate in December, so I lost the last half of my senior year by going online. To be honest this virus has taken family members from me, my senior year of college and most job opportunities I would have had after graduating.”
EMILY KAATZ Senior, Finance and Management Major
I haven’t been able to really have a great transition going into college because of COVID-19. I don’t mean that through partying or anything like that — I mean not being able to have face to face classes! I feel as if I won’t be able to make new friends and if I do, it will be very difficult six feet apart. My first day definitely wasn’t like I expected. I had two online classes on Blackboard, and it was very confusing on what the expectations were for the classes and how my professors were going to try and help us through difficult transitions. I can only hope for the best; that I will become accustomed to my new methodology of what the school system offers.”
NICHOLAS WEHBY Freshman, Mechanical Engineering Major
As a freshman, I’ve had to adapt to being away from home. During the first week of being here, I had to figure out ways to keep me active and on top of school. COVID-19 ruined my experience in college classrooms because I have three online classes and one hybrid. This means I have to focus more on being proactive than normal and constantly checking on my school workload, making sure I don’t miss anything.”
ALEX FLANNERY Freshman, Computer Science Major
It was hard working this summer since many people weren’t hiring new people. It was such a bummer because I stayed in Allendale only to find out my internship was going to be postponed. Paying rent was a challenge. Also, it has been hard to balance all of the different types of classes. I have hybrid, online and in-person classes. It’s kind of a challenge figuring out how to balance all the different forms that my classes are in. It’s hard to lay out a plan for the week since every class is laid out differently. Also, I worry about my grandparents and my mom because she is a high school teacher. It’s weird with how different things are now, but there is not much I can do because it’s a pandemic.”
HANNAH BOWEN junior, Communications Major
My study abroad trip to Greece was canceled due to COVID-19 and it affected my job. I work at a nursing home, so I was still able to work as an essential worker. However it is a high stakes environment, so we had to be especially careful. Health screenings, temperature readings and lots of PPE. I am so disappointed about school with the study abroad cancellation, all my classes being moved online and my clubs only being able to meet virtually. It is definitely a different experience asking questions by pressing a “raise hand” button. I am nervous about getting the same quality of learning online versus in person. However, I totally understand the circumstances and want all my friends and peers to stay healthy.”
KARLIE CHAMPION Junior, Communication Sciences and Disorders Major
A8 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTS AT A GLANCE SUBJECT TO CHANGE ADAPTS FOR NEW SEASON It seems as though everyone is feeling the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the entertainment industry, and entertainers here at Grand Valley State University are no exception. Without the possibility of a live audience, performance groups such as the university’s improv comedy team Subject to Change have no choice but to alter nearly every aspect of their club. President of Subject to Change, Leah Erben, described the planning process for the club’s 2020 season as “immensely stressful.” Erben explained that she’s been quite worried about the safety of her teammates and audience members, but has been working very hard to continue the club despite how often rules and regulations are being changed.
FREE LESSONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY
The City of Grand Rapids is making it easy for residents to stay fit while still maintaining social distancing. With gyms and dance studios unable to hold outside classes, instructors and local organizations are adapting to the regulations by holding socially distanced classes outside. Free instruction around the city includes yoga, dance, kickboxing and more. Relaxing through Free Yoga on the Blue bridge is one of the options available. The community is welcome weekly to partake in yoga with instructor Sara through September 9. To add a little skip in the cities step, swing and line dancing instruction will be offered Sept. 8 and 15 from 7-9 p.m. The event in Rosa Parks Circle will require masks and will abide by social distancing regulations.
A GLIMPSE OF AFRICA TO TAKE PLACE IN ROSA PARKS CIRCLE
Saturday, September 12, Flora’s Elegance Event Decor will be hosting A Glimpse of Africa in Rosa Park Circle. The event will showcase some key elements of the diverse African cultures including food, music, fashion and more. The event will have a line up of artists and DJ’s to entertain the attendees of the event. DJ Lyon and DJ KoolBreeze will be playing African music, RNB, reggae and more. The event will be taking place from 12-8 p.m. and will be taking precautions and following social distancing guidelines.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS
FACULTY
GV Professor Emeritus joins the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences BY MARY DUPUIS ARTS@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State University Professor Emeritus Deanna Morse was a professor in the School of Communications’ film and video program from 1979 to 2013 before she retired. Although she is no longer a professor, she is far from taking it easy in her retirement. Morse is an independent filmmaker who specializes mostly in animation and personal short films and videos. Her work has won awards at festivals, been screened internationally and is represented in permanent collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Along with this, her films for children have been broadcast on Sesame Street and her experimental films have been on PBS and cable. She has been cited in numerous articles and books on contemporary animators, some of which including Experimental Animation by Starr and Russett and Women In Animation edited by Jaden Pilling. Morse is currently a Vice-President of the Association Internationale du Film d’Animation (ASIFA), the largest and oldest international animation organization. She has also continued to teach animation, although now to children, through Animation Workshop Educators. Most recently, Morse was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
FANTASTIC FILMMAKER: GVSU professor emeritus Deanna Morse, a professor within the school of com. for 30+ years, joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science. COURTESY | GVSU
where she will get to view films in her category, judge the student academy awards, and weigh in on the finalists for the Oscars. In addition to this, Morse will also attend discussions of the future of film, motion picture film, theatrical distribution and representation. Morse’s road to the Academy began in the 1970s while she was studying animation at Iowa State University. She used her evenings and weekends to create her
own animations on an animation stand on the third floor of an old building. “When I saw the cutouts move it was magical. I was hooked. I am still hooked when I see my characters move through move-click-move. They come alive. It is amazing,” Morse said. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
GRAND RAPIDS
The Bridge GR: Bringing the community together BY CHAVALA YMKER ARTS@LANTHORN.COM
Three months ago, with the canceling of ArtPrize, the future of art in the Grand Rapids (GR) community was unclear. But the innovative minds at the Grand Rapids chamber of commerce and partners in the City, Experience Grand Rapids, and Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. joined together to create a new umbrella event called Bridge GR.
Running from August 28 through October 3, events include pop-up concerts with Circle Theatre and several festivals such as the Asian Pacific festival, Fiesta Mexicana, and A Glimpse of Africa. Richard App--Retail, Retention & Attraction Specialist at the Chamber--came up with the name. “(It) represents the many rivers and bridges in Grand Rapids, but also the bridge between canceled events and the absence of ArtPrize.”
The Bridge GR’s four pillars are art, community, culture, and music. While the crowds of ArtPrize couldn’t be sustained safely, the organizers felt that it was important to continue supporting local artists and businesses. In this unique time, the hope is that the Bridge will not only bring business to downtown GR and provide people with a way to experience the community in a time of social distancing but that it will be used to continue the conversations about social justice and equity. As the event developed, the Bridge GR reached out to local organizations that had formerly applied to be a part of ArtPrize, were already hosting reimagined events, and any groups that might support the event’s four pillars. Organizations that were interested, applied to the Bridge with extensive plans that involved how the event would be held safely. LOG ON TO:
BIG, BLUE AND BEAUTIFUL: The City of Grand Rapids, Experience Grand Rapids, and Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. joined together to create new umbrella event ‘Bridge GR.’ COURTESY | PINTEREST
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A9 | LAKER LIFE
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE
A LOOK AT LIFESTYLE RECFEST GOES ONLINE
With much of Grand Valley going online for the fall semester, Club Sports and the Department of Recreation and Wellness have decided to host their annual celebration of the ways Lakers can get engage with exercise virtually on LakerLink. The remote RecFest, which will take place on Sunday, Sept. 13 from 4-7 p.m., will offer students a way to get connected with these campus resources despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will be split into four different categories: Fitness Services from 4-4:30 p.m., Student Wellness from 4:30-5 p.m., Outdoor Adventures from 5 -5:30 p.m and Sports Programs from 5:30-6 p.m. For the final hour of the event, the fair will be live with the nearly 50 Club Sports at Grand Valley Valley State University. Those interested in attending can register online at gvsu.edu/rec/recfest.
WEB
Faculty undertake virtual transition BY KATHERINE ARNOLD LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM
This year, faculty and staff have been working hard to prepare for a fall semester that will be unlike any we have had before. With COVID-19 and issues of online preparation, the past summer has been a busy one filled with class restructuring, schedule reorganizing, and an overall reevaluation about what we do together as a university. While the transition from in-person to online classes hasn’t been an easy one, faculty and staff have been working hard to make it the best it can be. The decision to transfer a class from in-person to virtual isn’t simple. There are many factors that go into it; the type of class, its balance within a major or department, the teaching strategies it uses, whether the faculty member is a part of an at-risk population, the needs of the university as a whole, and the student’s
needs too. It’s a complex process, and students are learning how the online environment works just as much as their professors. “Taking online or hybrid classes may very well be new to some students,” said Christine Rener, the Director of the Robert and Mary Pew Faculty Teaching and Learning Center. “It takes some adjustment and an ability to be motivated and self-directed. Learning how to learn in various class formats is an important skill, one that takes some practice. I would encourage all students taking online and hybrid classes to spend some quality time with the Online/ Hybrid Orientation that you will find now as part of your Blackboard site.” Meanwhile, many professors have been learning better strategies for online teaching, reorganizing their class structures for better virtual learning, and taking the time to review and improve both their own approaches and those of their colleagues. Robert Talbert,
STUDENTS DISCUSS YOUTH IN POLITICS
On Wednesday, Sept. 9, the Frederick Meijer Honors College is hosting a virtual discussion about civic engagement and running for office at a young age. The conversation will feature Student Senate President EricJohn Szczepaniak, who is currently a candidate for the position of Alpine County Clerk, as well as GVSU junior Katherine Parker, a current candidate for Allendale Township Trustee. The event will be moderated by Grand Rapids Mayor and Honors College faculty member Rosalynn Bliss. The event will be hosted at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Those interested can find the link on the event page on Facebook or on GVSU’s event calendar.
ALLENDALE CAMPUS HOSTS SCAVENGER HUNT
This September, Grand Valley State University has put together a free outside activity that doesn’t require participants to get closer than six feet to each other: a campus scavenger hunt. Open to students, faculty and staff alike, those interested can register for access to the activity at gvsu. edu/rec/outdoors. The hunt consists of QR codes hidden across the Allendale campus, with each code leading participants to online content leading to the location of the next clue. The hunt is already on, and the Department of Recreation and Wellness plans on updating the course with new clue locations and themes every couple weeks. Those who enjoyed a previous run of the game can sign up again to play the updated versions, so long as they register for each individual hunt.
Professor of Mathematics, stresses the importance of the work that has been put into preparing for this fall semester. Developing a course for virtual learning takes more than simply moving it onto Blackboard, and there are two key things that must be used in order to create an effective online class. “One of those key things is structure,” Talbert said. “Research on online learning shows that having a coherent, strong structure for an online course is one of the main things that makes it effective or not.” This structure defines a courses clear learning objectives, and fully outlines the learning activities, assessments, the grading system, and anything else in the course related to those objectives. “The other one is social presence,” Talbert said. “In an online or hybrid course, social interaction is radically different and can feel extremely dehumanizing.” For professors, it is important that they include their own face in their lectures and presentations to make students feel more welcome and comfortable — though many are understandably worried about the difference between familiarity in an online format what could normally be fostered over a semester of in-person meetings. “One of our concerns has been that we don’t meet with the students face-to-face, which helps develop relationships,” said Dr. Lori Houghton-Rahrig, Professor of Nursing. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com
A WHOLE NEW WAY TO TEACH: Most GVSU faculty and staff have had to transition to teaching online, which has its pros and cons for teachers and students alike. COURTESY | BO ANDERSON
FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
CAMPUS LIFE
Q&A: CAB adapts to COVID restrictions on campus life BY KATHERINE ARNOLD LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM
During this fall semester, students have come to expect new and unforeseen trials that they have never experienced before. Amongst living and dining changes, student life events have made the transition into new formats and health precautions. The Campus Activities Board, as one of the primary hosts of student life events across Grand Valley State University’s campus, has begun to use new planning strategies in order to safely bring student life events to the community. Teri Jones, CAB’s co-director of Special Events, has helped us answer a few of the most pressing questions about what students can expect from this semester’s activities. Will I still be able to have a student life experience this fall? The short answer is yes. We’ve outlined below the ways that students will be able to participate in events this semester to whatever comfort level they are ready for. No matter your preference, there are events planned for those who want a virtual experience and even some
for those who would prefer in-person. Will all the student events be virtual now? Actually, no. There will be in-person and virtual options depending on the type of event that is being held. While a majority of the events will be virtual, there will still be some events available in either in-person or virtual formats. For virtual events, students will be able to join through Zoom. For in-person events, there will be a limited number of seats that students will be able to RSVP for in advance. What students can expect is new and creative ways for events to be held safely. For in-person options, how can I safely attend? Making the decision to attend an event in-person doesn’t necessitate putting yourself at risk. Following health precautions such as wearing a mask and practicing the six feet social distancing protocol will help to make your experience a safe one. By putting a limit on the number of students attending, CAB is limiting the exposure students have with one another. We want to ensure that everyone can keep laughing and smiling
throughout this uncertain time. How do I find out about upcoming student events? Students can learn more about upcoming events by visiting CAB on social media @gvsucab. Zoom links can be found on CAB’s Instagram account, for students looking for a virtual student life this year. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
MASKED UP: In order to slow the spread of COVID-19, students on campus wear masks. COURTESY | MLIVE.COM
A10 | SPORTS QUICK HITS
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
SWIMMING & DIVING
ALL-TIME RUNNING BACK SIGNS WITH DETROIT LIONS
The Detroit Lions have added another running back. Adrian Peterson signed with the Lions late last week after he was cut from the Washington Football Team. Peterson, 35, has made his case during his long career as one of the best running backs in NFL history. Peterson has 14,216 career yards on the ground and 117 total touchdowns. Peterson joins a very crowded backfield with starter Kerryon Johnson and rookie D’Andre Swift. All the running backs will have to compete for playing time, but Peterson may see touches early on in the year. Johnson and Swift have struggled with injuries during training camp and Peterson looks to be healthy. In 2019, Peterson rushed for 898 yards and five touchdowns. He currently sits at fifth all time in the NFL in rushing yards and is less than 1000 away from Lions legend Barry Sanders. Will Peterson pass Sanders on the list in a Lions uniform? Time will tell.
CURRENT, FORMER LAKER FINISH TOP FIVE
At the 103rd Turtle Creek Casino Michigan Open at Grand Traverse Report, former GVSU Laker Alex Scott finished in second place. Scott, a now professional golfer, finished the course with only 281 strokes and finished seven under overall. Current GVSU freshman, Charles DeLong, placed fifth. He totalled 285 strokes and finished the open at one under par. His placement at fifth was the highest among any amatuer golfers competing. Another current GVSU golfer competed at the open. Senior Matt Orwig finished tied for 41st place. He shot nine over with 297 strokes. Former Laker Domenic Mancinelli finished tied for 23rd place. He shot over four with 292 strokes. Bryce Messner, another GVSU alum, finished the open tied for 61st place and made the cut. Messner finished 14 over with 302 strokes.
TWO NEW LAKER SWIMMERS COMMIT Michigan native Kayley Gallagher has verbally committed to join the Lakers swimming and diving team next year. Gallagher has competed in long distance freestyle and breaststroke events. At the Michigan Open earlier this year, she placed 15th in the mile and 23rd in the 200 meter breaststroke. Her best times in long distance races include 10:43.33 in the 1000 meter and 17:58.28 in the 1650 meters. Her breaststroke times include 1:08.06 in the 100 meter and 2:25.85 in the 200 meter. Samantha Weigel also committed to GVSU. The Illinois native has been a freestyle sprinter and backstroker. Weigel competed last year in the 20o and 500 freestyle races at the Illinois State Championships. Some of her best freestyle times include 1:54.31 in the 200-yard freestyle and 5:03.37 in the 500 meter freestyle. In backstroke races, Weigel’s best time in the 100-meter is 59.74 and 2:05.43 in the 200-meter.
LONG DISTANCES: Bartels, one of the GVSU swimming and diving team’s best swimmers, has decided to stay home in Germany this semester. He can still train back home for his long distance races, but that means he is also a long way from his teammates and friends. COURTESY | MORITZ BARTELS
Swimming’s Moritz Bartels decides to stay in Germany in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic BY ZACK GOODROW SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
One of Grand Valley State University’s most prominent long distance swimmers has made a huge decision regarding the 2020 fall semester. Senior Mortiz Bartels chose to stay in Germany this semester, with the COVID-19 pandemic still surging as colleges around the country reconvene. “I decided to stay at home in Germany after the admission office at GVSU said that they will offer most of the classes online,” Bartels said. “There are two main reasons why I made this decision. Firstly, I told myself that if 20,000 students from around the world come together, the chances that people will get sick is very high and I didn’t want to be one of them. Secondly, I am able to practice under really good conditions at home with my club and I don’t know yet what practice at GV will look like.” His choice of remaining to stay home and safe is a smart one based on statistics. Germany has been experiencing north of 1,000 cases a day, while the U.S. has had tens of thousands of new cases everyday. Bartels has been back home in Germany since the middle of March this year and has enjoyed this time with his family. Being home is a bright spot in this pandemic for Bartels, but he has missed out on some great opportunities this summer as COVID-19 spreads. “Originally, my coach Andy Boyce, my teammate Jesse Goodyear and I had planned to compete at the US Open Water Nationals in Fort Myers at the end of April,” Bartels said. “Afterwards, Jesse and I wanted to travel to Australia to practice and to race at the Australian Olympic Trials in June. Unfortunately, all of this got canceled.” Bartels was undoubtedly disappointed with these missed opportunities, but he
understands there are worse situations to be in. He’s been safe, healthy and grateful to practice in Germany once again. He and his club team have been working hard, but when he first returned home, he had to get creative with his training. “For the first ten weeks back home, pretty much all pools were closed,” Bartels said. “I was able to swim a little bit in my neighbor’s small pool and I did a lot of dry land practices like running and lifting in my parent’s basement. Since the end of May, my club team is able to practice again and I am really happy about that. We have strict rules to make sure that everyone is safe and so far it worked out very well. Hopefully, we will have the same at GVSU soon.” Soon, the GVSU pool will reopen for practice. Boyce and assistant coach Eric Murray have been working hard to create a safe environment for their swimmers to practice once again. In order to have fewer people in the pool at the same time, they will likely hold three separate sessions a day for swimmers. Boyce and Murray have also done their best to keep the team together with Zoom calls and relaying any new information to the team. Bartels and the rest of the team know the risks posed by having a swimming and diving season this year. When it comes to fall sports being suspended, Bartels understands the reasoning for the season being in limbo but is still disappointing for him and the team potentially not having meets. “For me, swimming at meets is a big part of sports,” Bartels said. “It not only keeps me motivated for regular training during the week, but it is also a reward for all the hard work. However, I believe that it is the right decision to postpone the meets because they could easily become a super-spreader event.” For now, Bartels will remain at his home in Germany with his family and
ALL SMILES: Bartels and his family are safe and healthy back home. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS
take his classes online. Time will tell what happens with the GVSU swimming and diving season and if Bartels returns to the United States. He prefers to be on campus, but under the circumstances he’ll have to focus virtually on his classes and to remain in touch with his friends and teammates. “Obviously, I would prefer to be at GVSU right now,” Bartels said. “I miss my friends, my teammates, and the U.S. in general. I actually like going to lectures and I know from the last winter semester that it won’t be easy to take a full course load remotely from a place that is thousands of miles away. I have to manage my time really well and can’t procrastinate on my assignment too much. Despite all of that, I am glad that I am able to take
A11 | SPORTS
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS FOOTBALL
Hunter Rison looking to escape Dad’s shadow, make name for himself with GVSU Football BY KELLEN VOSS ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM
Not many people get a chance to meet NFL superstars as a kid, but being the son of 5-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Rison, GVSU wide receiver Hunter Rison got the unique experience to meet some of the football stars he idolized. “I got to meet a lot of cool guys,” Rison said. “I got to meet Brett Favre and Torry Holt, and I grew up watching these guys. The fact that I was able to shake their hands and and you know get information from them was just mind-boggling, so I’m definitely grateful for that experience. Much like the sons of other famous athletes like Ken Griffey Jr., Steph Curry and Donovan Mitchell, Rison took the advice he learned from those pros to help him excel on the football field. After dominating in high school at Ann Arbor Skyline and brief stints at MSU, Kansas State and Fullerton College, Rison has found a home back in his home state, where he can be closer to those he loves most. “Family, really,” Rison said when asked what motivated him to come back to his home state. “I spend a lot of time in Michigan and it was just calling my name.” Once he hung up his Fullerton College cleats and entered the transfer portal, GVSU
coaches were some of the first to reach out to Rison, who knew he wanted to be a Laker as soon as his official visit ended in Allendale. “Grand Valley (has) got a lot of prestige and holds a lot of weight to their football program, so as soon as they hit my phone, they automatically were at the top of the list,” Rison said. “So they flew me out for the official visit and I got to look around the campus and meet the coaching staff and honestly, I just fell in love with it. I called (head coach Matt Mitchell) a day later and we got on the process.” Rison learned a lot of lessons from his dad over the years, and he plans on using those lessons at GVSU to improve as both a football player and as a man. “As a man, (he said) just to stay diligent in what you do, take pride in your work and maintain professionalism throughout everything that you do — how you do one thing should be how you do everything.” Rison said. “As for on the football field, I could go on and on. He’s taught me so many things from different releases to different route technique, just so many things that I’m very appreciative of and I take into my game now.” This has been far from a normal off-season for Rison and the rest of the Laker football team. While they haven’t been able to practice and have had a staggered weight lifting schedule, Rison has been able to catch passes from GVSU quarterbacks to build chemistry
FRESH START: Rison (left) uses his quick feet to escape from a Notre Dame defender. Rison now brings his talents to GVSU and is excited to be a Laker. COURTESY | DALE G. YOUNG, DETRIOT NEWS
and return to a sense of normalcy. “We’re getting into a rhythm already,” Rison said. “I can’t even explain how good it feels just to be outside and do what I love. Any chance we get to work on that stuff is great, because whichever team handles this COVID process safely and effectively is going to come out with an upper hand.” With his final two years of eligibility,
Rison is hoping to make a name for himself as Hunter, not just Andre Rison’s son. “That was definitely part of the decision making process when I came here,” Rison said. “Coach Mitchell let me know that he’s recruiting me, he wants me as a man and as a football player. The fact that they put that trust in me that faith in me, I’m just ready to get out there. I’m just ready to go to work.”
SWIMMING & DIVING
Senior Oscar Saura-Armengol reflects on a potential season with no meets BY HOLLY BIHLMAN SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
With all Grand Valley State University fall sports being put on hold this year, some international athletes are facing another set of challenges brought on by the Coronavirus. Senior Oscar Saura-Armengol is heading into his last year at GVSU, and there is a lot up in the air about whether there will be a swim season at all. Practicing, communicating with head coach Andy Boyce, and flying back and forth between Spain
and the U..S has finally brought Saura back to campus. After quarantine in mid-March of 2020, he’s ready to get back in the pool. The travel aspect of being an international athlete is hard enough as it is, and on top of the stress that comes with being far away from home and the cost of flights, Saura-Armengol had an especially difficult time. “Being international, my parents had to spend lots of money changing my flights over and over again as so many of them were getting cancelled constantly,”
TIGHT RACE: The GVSU swimming & diving team have a close finish at a meet from the 2019-20 seasons. Saura-Armengol and the team hope to have meets again this year. GVL | KATHERINE VASILE
said Saura-Armengol. “It also looks like we won’t even have face-to-face classes this year, which is unfortunate as it is my last one here.” On top of very few in-person classes being offered this semester, Saura-Armengol hasn’t been able to get in a pool yet either. The lost time that the GVSU swim team usually spends practicing and training over the summer has yet to be made up once the pools open in the U.S. For now, the swimmers are on their own to maintain their stamina and train as best they can without their coaches or teammates. “After a couple of months back in Spain, pools opened and I could practice with my team from back there,” said Saura-Armengol. “As far as I know pools aren’t open in the U.S. yet and we are not sure on when they are going to open. After taking a couple of weeks away from swimming and working out (the two weeks of quarantine that I did here in the US) since last summer, I will get back to exercising the first day of class.” Saura-Armengol has actually had an advantage over his teammates from the U.S.
since he was able to practice back home. Boyce encouraged his swimmers to train in safe places where there wouldn’t be many people, prioritizing their health over any concerns about their practice schedule. Even so, Saura-Armengol and his teammates are still missing their sport. “It feels bad as competing is one of the things that I enjoy the most about swimming,” said Saura-Armengol. This is my last year and it feels like it has been taken away from me without me being able to do anything. Although it is frustrating and it will be hard to practice without a short-term objective, I do understand that it is a prevention measure, so I can’t complain much.” Without any competitions or tournaments to train for and look forward to, student athletes are finding ways to stay motivated despite the unfortunate circumstances they’ll have to adapt to. Saura-Armengol and his teammates are hopeful that their season will pick back up soon with a sense of normalcy so that they can get back in the game and fulfill their last season together.
A12 | SPORTS
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
SOCCER
Ava Cook remains motivated despite no fall soccer season BY JOSHUA CARLSON SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
Ava Cook was coming off a historic junior season for the Grand Valley State University Lakers, one that every athlete works hard for in the off-season. Cook gained recognition with a unanimous first-team All-American selection, leading the nation in goals (29) and points (70), an All-GLIAC first-team selection, an All-NCAA Tournament team member, and of course, a National Championship. That euphoric 2019 season may be the last time Cook suited up in a Lakers uniform due to the GLIAC suspending all Fall sports, but she is glad to have her team behind her during this unruly time. “Personally, at least for me, it’s pretty tough,” Cooks said. “It’s always going to be tough to have a sudden change like we have right now. However, none of us have ever been through something like this, so it’s nice to have all these other girls who are going through the same thing.” Cook believes this challenging time is something that she and the team can grow stronger from. With the entire fall to focus on aspects that may not get to develop with a busy season, the Lakers may be even scarier
if they can compete in spring 2021. With what happened in the 2018 season, and now with what is happening in the 2020 season, Cook firmly believes it made last season that much more special. “We went from losing in the 2018 National Championship to then coming back and winning it in 2019,” Cooks said. “I think that if we would have done anything else, then it would have made not playing this fall a lot harder. I think that really does help, we ended on such a fantastic note last year. That’s fresh in our minds, it’s the last soccer-related thing we’ve been able to do together was winning that game. It’s a nice reminder for why we are putting in the work this fall, for the spring, and be the best we can be.” With nothing being official when it comes to fall sports being able to compete this year, Cook is using goals as a motivator to continue her training as well as keep her team’s spirits up. “We always set goals and I think that having that mindset now and knowing how we are going to prepare for a potential spring season is a lot easier to do than just saying, well we don’t know what we are going to do.” Cook said. “It will give us the motivation to push through the fall, work on ourselves, and work on our team. I always think it’s good to have something to look forward to, and that’s what we are doing with
SLOW START: With the suspension of fall sports, Cook will continues training. Last year may have been her last time on the fiekd for GVSU, but she hopes a season comes in spring. GVL | ARCHIVE
this potential spring season.” A mindset like this shows the underclassmen what it takes to win national titles and continue the winning tradition that Cook has contributed to her entire career. As a senior leader, this fall has brought more than just the hardships of not being able to compete but
also with how to lead still. Cook and her fellow seniors have had to get creative to continue to push their message of hard work. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
ONLINE
Rec and Wellness create new virtual opportunities for students BY ZACK GOODROW SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
Since the suspension of fall sports for the 2020 season, the Grand Valley State University Recreation and Wellness Center has been hard at work creating safe activities for students to participate in. There have been changes to special events, club sports, and intramural sports this semester. Throughout the summer before students returned to campus, the Rec and Wellness department focused on their fitness activities being complacent with state and national guidelines for COVID-19. This includes expanding virtual activities to lessen contact
between students, placing new cleaning and social distancing requirements, and training their staff and students on these new conditions. Club sports have been canceled for fall 2020. While teams can meet remotely and student-athletes won’t suffer any consequences from not participating, some teams can meet up to twice a week under special circumstances. While few clubs have decided to meet up again this semester, several have already decided to opt-out from activities. “Men’s rugby, ultimate frisbee, and golf have already opted out this semester,” said the associate director of Recreation and Wellness Mike Przydzial. “We are still waiting on a few clubs
OPEN UP: With the okay from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D), the recreation center at Grand Valley State in Allendale is set to open up again soon to students. COURTESY | GVSU
to get back to us as they may just delay starting back up activities until later in the semester.” The fate of individual club sports will be decided by team presidents and student-athletes. Other activities available to the GVSU populous have already been approved and will start up shortly. The climbing center and recreation center will open up again soon on campus. Rec and Wellness will be offering virtual and contactless events in the coming weeks. RecFest 2020 will take place on Sept. 13 virtually. Students can use LakerLink to socialize with others who are interested in physical activities, find new opportunities to join club sports, or learn about future events to participate in. Some of these events include the GV Laker Strong Virtual 5k. The weekend of Sept. 18-20, anyone in the Laker community can run, jog, or walk their favorite 5k route and post it to the Lakers twitter page. Other events during the beginning of the fall semester include the GV Laker Strong Daily Activity Challenge. This event runs from Sept. 8 through Oct. 23. Rec and Wellness are challenging students to work out for 30 minutes a day and post their workouts to #GVLakerStrong. The department
is also offering outdoor scavenger hunts through the end of September. Students can find QR codes hidden around campus that will lead to a link online for further clues to the next location. Rec and Wellness plan to update these during the coming weeks. All of these events put on by the Rec and Wellness department are safe and follow the university guidelines for COVID-19. They hope students will continue to stay active and socially connected even though they are distant. While club sports have been shut down for the remainder of the fall semester, some intramural sports are still available. Cornhole, kickball, sand volleyball, spikeball, tennis, and e-sports are all available to signup for on the Rec and Wellness web page. Normally it costs students $15 to join a league, but not this semester. “Two of our larger programs that typically charge students for participating, group exercise and intramural sports, are being offered for free,” Przydzial said. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE