Grand Valley Lanthorn vol. 56 no. 14

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

Campus Dining Employee Shortage Off-campus options compete for student workers

Global supply chain disruptions impact the GV community ECONOMICS | A3

GV students contend with new parking enforcement at off-campus housing M O N D A Y, N OV E M B E R 2 2 , 2 02 1 // VO L . 5 6 N O. 1 4

POLICY | A5

@ GV L A N T H O R N

LANTHORN.COM

C O U R T E SY O F GVS U

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

The GVSU community has had a cumulative total of 4,305 cases since Aug. 1, 2020.

The university’s update for this brief was from Friday, Nov. 19.

Through testing results this past week, GVSU’s Virus Action team have so far reported 190 current active cases including four faculty members, 23 staff members, 19 on-campus students, 77 “off-campus Ottawa” students, 57 “off-campus Kent” students and 10 “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 10 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.

Vaccination: GVSU encourages all students, faculty and staff to receive the COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible.

All students, faculty and staff are required to be fully vaccinated, barring a medical or religious exemption or postponement.

According to the COVID-19 data dashboard, an 80% vaccination rate in the GVSU community is required to reach herd immunity and minimal virus transmission.

Currently, approximately 83% of students report being fully vaccinated, while approximately 84% of faculty and staff reports being fully vaccinated.

There are currently 2,115 students and 144 faculty/staff with approved vaccination exemptions.

Testing and Incidence: GVSU’s own testing program has performed 108,468 tests overall since Aug. 1, 2020, for a cumulative positivity rate of 1.45% from the latest update as of last week. A total of 1,995 tests were performed over the last seven days.

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

PROTESTERS GATHER IN GRAND RAPIDS

A group of protesters gathered at Rosa Parks Circle on Saturday, Nov. 20 following the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict. Rittenhouse was found not guilty of intentional homicide, reckless homicide, attempted homicide, and two counts of endangering safety. Another charge for possessing a weapon as a minor was also dropped by the judge.

Justice for Black Lives (JFBL), a nonprofit organization founded in Michigan, organized the protest via posts on social media, calling on Grand Rapids residents to join the group.

According to FOX17, 5o people were in attendance, including two armed protesters. The event remained peaceful.

NOVEMBER 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

DINING

GV Student Senate approves campus dining action plan

BY JOSH ALBURTUS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Following months of campus outcry, Grand Valley State University’s Student Senate laid out a plan of action to ramp up their response to the issue of campus dining.

On Nov. 18, Student Senate approved the creation of a pair of announcements regarding the issue to be sent to different segments of the campus community. Both a statement from Student Senate as well as a memorandum from Senate President Autumn Mueller will be crafted and sent to the campus community and members within the university’s administration, respectively.

The move comes after a semester-long effort by student activists to prompt officials to alter campus dining conditions and terminate the university’s ties to Aramark, the food service company that GVSU has a contract with until 2028. Mueller stated in her report that, as the University Food Committee had learned, the contract is subject to revision each year, a point that yielded questions from senators and clarification from Mueller as to the contract’s permanency.

“So, (Aramark doesn’t) have to be our vendor until 2028,” Mueller said. “We re-sign onto that agreement every single year, so we adjust and we change certain aspects of the agreement every single year.”

ACTION PLAN: Student Senate approved the creation of two announcements to the GVSU community and university administration in response to issues raised with Campus Dining. GVL | MAX RITCHIE

No indication was given during the meeting, however, to suggest that the university is considering termination.

According to GVSU’s contract with Aramark, which was obtained via FOIA request, if either party (GVSU or Aramark) are considering terminating the contract, they must provide a written statement with “sufficient specificity” as to why they are considering termination. In the following

30 days, both parties “discuss, in good faith” why they wish to terminate the agreement in an effort to prevent such action. If the party considering termination is not satisfied following the 30 day discussion period, they may submit a 90 day written notice of LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

FACILITIES

Mary Idema Pew Library construction nears completion

BY JAMIE WILSON NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

For many students, the Mary Idema Pew Library (MIPL) is the heart of Grand Valley State University’s campus. The MIPL offers a quiet study space for students with views of the GVSU campus and the wooded areas surrounding it. This aesthetic aspect of the library has been temporarily compromised with the glass replacement project.

The project, which began in May 2021, is scheduled to end in Jan. 2022, according

CONSTRUCTION: Glass replacement on the Mary Idema Pew Library is scheduled to be complete in Jan. 2022 after nine months. GVL | SYDNEY LIM

to the library glass replacement site management plans. In November, the project is focused on the south side of the building, blocking the walkway between the MIPL and Kirkhof Center and preventing entering and exiting through the south entrance.

The walkway and south entrance will reopen in December, as the project shifts to the east and final side of the building for repair. Foot traffic will be re-directed south during this time.

The MIPL has remained open throughout the entire duration of the project. However, despite the efforts of the facilities department, the construction has caused minor disruptions for students utilizing the library.

The Knowledge Market, which offers peer-to-peer collaborative services to students, is particularly affected by the construction. AJ Zylstra, a junior studying behavioral neuroscience who works in the Knowledge Market as a research consultant and receptionist said that the sound from the construction is often distracting.

“There is a constant, shrill sound because they are using multiple machines at the same time,” Zylstra said. “They start work-

ing before the library even opens and go until around 6 p.m.”

The Knowledge Market offers virtual appointments in addition to the in-person appointments and drop-ins they offer. This is beneficial for any student wanting to avoid distractions.

With finals approaching, the Knowledge Market is preparing for more consultations with students. Zylstra said they hope that construction does not deter students from seeking help.

“Around mid-terms and finals, professors tend to assign more work, so we get an influx of students,” Zylstra said. “The construction lasts all day and there is constant background noise, but it doesn’t hurt our consultations too bad.”

Beyond the Knowledge Market, students who study independently in the library are excited for construction to end. Mya Wielgosz, a junior at GVSU, said she loves the reading room located on the third floor of the MIPL. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

NOVEMBER 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

CONTENTS

A3 | NEWS COVID-19

GV students and VAT weigh in on winter masking

DINING

| A2

BY PAYTON BRAZZIL NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

OPINION

| A4

POLICY

| A5

Grand Valley State University’s GVSU Alert Level for COVID-19 remained at level two throughout the fall semester, indicating a “medium alert” level. As the winter semester approaches, GVSU students are beginning to question whether the mask mandate will remain in effect.

The Virus Action Team (VAT) has yet to make a decision on upcoming regulations, according to VAT Associate Director of News Dottie Barnes.

“There is no way to predict right now whether face coverings will be required in January,” Barnes said. “Grand Valley’s face covering policy is tied to the GVSU Alert Level. Each alert level includes several key indicators, like community spread of the virus.”

Level two alert is a medium alert level and requires face coverings indoors unless eating or drinking.

The VAT oversees the administration of COVID-19 related interventions and health initiatives, such as testing, vaccinations, the data dashboard and mandates for GVSU. The VAT said the GVSU community has been very compliant to the current mask mandate on campus.

“We believe the mask requirement this semester has contributed to keeping our numbers low,” Barnes said. “The Grand Val-

| A6&7

SPREAD SHELTER

| A8

INTERNATIONAL

| A9

RECITAL

| A10

FOOTBALL

| A11

CROSS COUNTRY

| A12

VOL. 5 6

NO. 14

Lanthorn Layout Editor VIVIANA RUBIO

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief ZACK GOODROW Associate Editor MARY RACETTE

Layout Designer KHOI TRAN PROMOTIONS

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ECONOMICS

Laker Life Editor BUSINESS STAFF SABRINA EDWARDS Business Manager A&E Editor RACHEL MCDOWELL

BY GILLIAN HANTON NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

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Asst. Business Manager DAYTON HAMMON

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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.

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ley community has much lower numbers than the region or the state, and we want to continue with that trend.”

According to the Ottawa County COVID-19 data hub, there was an average of 307.48 cases reported per day over the last week, Nov. 14-20, and the level of community transmission is “high.”

Although students have been wearing their masks on campus, the number of

COVID-19 cases among the GVSU community are rising. In an email sent to the campus community on Nov. 18, the VAT said there has been an increase in cases both in the GVSU community and across the state of Michigan.

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Global supply chain disruptions impact the GV community

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, shortages and increased prices of products such as food, gas and household items have caused distress for people around the world. These stressors are largely due to issues in the supply chain industry, which is facing large demand postCOVID-19 lockdown.

The Grand Valley State University community is no exception to these struggles, as business owners and students face difficulties related to these supply chain shortages.

The industry is taking a big economic hit as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate the world. It’s estimated that global disruptions within the industry were up 638% during the first half of 2021, almost

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.

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PREVENTION: Despite a recent spike in COVID-19 cases at GVSU, there are still fewer cases than reported in fall 2020. The VAT credits compliance with mask and vaccines mandates. GVL | ARCHIVES

SHORTAGE: Individuals and businesses are facing shortages and increasing prices as global supply chains recover from lack of demand during COVID-19 shutdowns. GVSU students have been effected this year. COURTESY | DELISH

half of which occurred in North America.

In addition, Resilinc, one of the global leaders in supply chain risk management, marked COVID-19 as a “severe” event, a level of impact which has never been assigned to an event before.

“The big change from lack of demand during COVID to a ton of demand afterward is a huge factor, and probably the primary factor in why we’re seeing global shortages,” said Daniel Pellathy, Assistant Professor of Management at GVSU. “Companies right now are trying to deal with this imbalance between supply and demand.”

As companies struggle to increase product availability, the West Michigan population continues to cope with limited resources. One of the biggest challenges has been providing food for students in the school system.

Georgetown, Jenison, and Hudsonville Public Schools have all reported shortages in their usual lunch items and have had to make replacements and accommodations.

College students are also being impacted by supply chain shortages and increased prices, especially those who’re working to pay off student loans or save money for the future.

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A4 | OPINIONS GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON

NOVEMBER 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

By Xavier Golden

EDITORIAL

Rittenhouse verdict sets unfortunate precedent

T

11/22/21

editorial@lanthorn.com

Taylor Swift makes directorial debut with “All Too Well”

BY MARYBETH STANZIOLA SENIOR MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

“Time won’t fly, it’s like I’m paralyzed by it” resonates with me as a 22-year old less than a month away from graduation more than it did as a new teenager in 2012.

It feels like just yesterday I was dancing to “22” in my room, an age that felt light-years away – now I’m living it. I’m sure many other GVSU “Swifties” relate as they’re reliving their “Red” excitement for a second time.

While all of “Red (Taylor’s Version)” has been highly anticipated since the singer announced her plan for re-recordings in 2019,

it’s safe to say that the ten-minute version of “All Too Well” is the highlight for many.

After a year of wondering if she would ever release the extended version, Taylor granted all of our wildest dreams (pun intended) by not only dropping the song, but an accompanying short film as well. Full of tension and Easter eggs alluding to the relationship it reflects, Taylor once again successfully translated her storytelling skills to video. Without ever explicitly stating who the track is about (unlike “Dear John”), she makes it more than obvious through wardrobe choices, an upstate New York setting, and most importantly, through the casting choices.

Fulfilling the roles of “Him” and “Her” are “Teen Wolf ” and “Stranger Things” stars Dylan O’Brien and Sadie Sink. The pair drew attention not for their pre-existing fame, but for the obvious age difference between them.

Their jarring eleven-year age gap was quickly tied to that of Taylor and her then boyfriend, mirroring their relationship in an uncomfortable, yet ingenious way.

O’Brien and Sink’s chemistry feels scarily natural; scenes of hand-dropping and passionate kisses, while well-acted, are purposely unnerving. As I watched

the events unfold during the film’s premiere, I often found myself viewing their interactions from between my fingers.

Each detail, from Her red lipstick and His beard-beanie combo to the scarf draped over the stairwell, played a vital role in accurately bringing “All Too Well” to life. Swift’s decision to shoot on 35mm only adds to this; the short film plays out like an old memory to Her, Taylor herself, and the fans who initially fell in love with the song almost a decade ago.

Most people don’t have to deal with heartbreak with millions of eyes glued to their every move.

Even though her relationship was riddled with publicity and invasiveness, she brings it to film through universal scenes and situations: weeping in a party bathroom, feeling alone in a room full of people, losing sight of who you are, the list goes on and on.

Known for her close-knit relationship with “Swifties,” “All Too Well” (the extended song and short film) isn’t only a present to them, but to Taylor herself. After years of speculation and mystery surrounding both the relationship and track, it finally seems as though the self-appointed hopeless romantic gets to tell her entire truth, same as Her in the short film’s closing scene.

he GVSU community, along with what feels like everyone in the United States, has been enthralled by the results of Kyle Rittenhouse’s trial; an event that speaks to the legal system, the future of the country and the culture that’s been created in places like West Michigan.

On Aug. 23 2020, police responded to a domestic-violence call from the mother of Jacob Blake’s children; police arrived on the scene, and shot Blake in the back, paralyzing him. (The context of the shooting, however, was not known to the public until later.) Later that night, a crowd gathered, the tire of a police cruiser was slashed, a molotov cocktail was thrown on the ground; and a divide started to form among the protesters.

The next day, Tucker Carlson covered the events in Kenosha on his show on FOX, using inflammatory language. This called the attention of several militia groups to the city and Carlson’s phrasing all-but demand extra-judicial, civilian intervention.

Vicki McKenna, a radio show host, pushed a similar narrative; and McKenna and Carlson weren’t the only conservative commen-

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.

tators adding fuel to the fire. That day, Rittenhouse arrived in Kenosha at the home of Dominick Black, who bought and kept the gun that Rittenhouse would use in the shooting.

On Aug. 25, Rittenhouse joined the many groups of armed men patrolling Kenosha, with the alleged purpose of protecting the city. Rittenhouse was isolated from his group, and came across Joshua Ziminski, who fired a gun in the air. In response, Rittenhouse shot Ziminski, killing him; a group of people approached Rittenhouse and he stumbled; the crowd converged, and Anthony Huber swung a skateboard at Rittenhouse. Gaige Grosskreutz reached for his handgun, and Rittenhouse shot them both, killing Huber. Grosskreutz was the only survivor of the shooting.

15 months later, on 11/19/21, Rittenhouse was found not guilty on all counts, cleared on five charges: First-degree reckless homicide, two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, first-degree intentional homicide and attempted first-degree intentional homicide.

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Letter 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

A5 | NEWS

NOVEMBER 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

TECHNOLOGY: Instead of receiving “boots” on vehicles violating parking polices, Absolute Security is attaching Barnacles to vehicles. The Barnacle is suction cupped to the windshield with 1,000 pounds of force. Some GVSU students claim to have been unjustly “barnacled” when they are parked with the appropriate pass. A $62 fee and $100 hold fee is charged to the owner of the vehicle. GVL | MAX RITCHIE

POLICY

GV students contend with new parking enforcement at off-campus housing

BY EMMA ARMIJO NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Off-campus housing complexes surrounding Grand Valley State University are changing their parking policy enforcement, and students are taking notice. In the past, “boots” on car tires and occasionally towed vehicles were used to dissuade and punish those parked at the apartments without the appropriate passes.

This year, however, new technology is being put to use instead. Students in violation of such parking policies are reporting their cars being “barnacled.” The Barnacle is a new alternative to the boot being used to enforce parking policies.

The Barnacle attaches to the windshield of a car using commercial-grade suction cups with over 1,000 pounds of force, according to the company website. The Barnacle blocks the driver’s view, so it must be removed by paying a fine either online or on a mobile device, following instructions on the Barnacle.

According to a message sent to Campus View Apartments residents on Aug. 27, there is a $62 fee and $100 hold to ensure that the

Barnacle device is returned in good condition within 24 hours. If the device is not returned within 24 hours or is damaged, the $100 hold fee is charged. Once the Barnacle is removed, it must be returned to one of its drop-off locations in Allendale.

Absolute Security, a non-GVSU-affiliated security company, is contracted by surrounding apartment complexes to enforce parking and other security concerns. Absolute Security is the company that has introduced the Barnacle system and phased out the older technology.

An Absolute Security Representative, said using Barnacles removes the need for having a guard come and physically remove a boot from a vehicle, and are more convenient for everyone involved.

“It can be removed quickly and there isn’t a face to face contact due to the pandemic,” the representative said. “It just makes things a lot more convenient and easier for the people that are getting the parking violations.”

Campus View Apartments and Townhomes is one of the complexes that use Absolute Security’s services, and have since switched to using Barnacles for parking violations.

Campus View Office manager at Jenny Hall said that Campus View doesn’t have any say as to the method of dealing with parking violations because enforcement is handled by Absolute Security. Hall said Campus View requires guests to have parking passes on their vehicles during the weekday service hours and that many students also get parking violations for parking in the wrong areas.

“We’ll have people who are parked in the grass or not in a parking spot, (and) they are in violation as well,” Hall said. “If you have a friend stopping over for a short amount of time, you’re usually able to just throw hazards on if it’s going to be less than 10 minutes, and (Absolute Security) will not do anything.”

Campus West is another off-campus housing complex that contracts services through Absolute Security. Leasing agent Breana Orman said the most common way that people can get parking violations at Campus West is not having parking passes or parking in the wrong area.

“If they have their regular tenant pass that needs to be in the window visible,” Orman said. “So that’s the most common violation, just like vehicles parking here without having

the correct pass.”

GVSU student Sarah Corder recently found a Barnacle on her car despite having a parking pass. Corder is a third-year resident at Campus West Apartments who was given a parking violation because even though her parking pass was inside of her vehicle it wasn’t visible from the outside. Corder said she was charged $162 to remove the Barnacle, but not the $100 since it was returned within 24 hours.

“I tried to work with them to get the charge removed since I had a pass, but the Barnacle company and the Campus West office weren’t any help, and Absolute Security sent me a not-great photo ‘proving’ that my pass wasn’t visible,” Corder said.

The best way for GVSU students to avoid getting fined for parking violations and barnacles getting put on their cars is to make sure to leave parking passes fully visible and to park in the designated locations. If there is any confusion about what is considered a parking violation, communicating with complex management is the best way to avoid getting fined.

A6&7 | NEWS

NOVEMBER 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

Campus dining competes with offcampus jobs for student workers

BY JACOB DEWEERD NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University students have dealt with campus dining issues like location closures, long lines and limited menus since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of which can be attributed to the ongoing student employee shortage.

A year and a half later, despite campus dining’s efforts to attract workers, there are still not enough employees to staff many on-campus dining locations. If campus dining cannot attract more employees, these issues seem likely to stay.

GVSU sent out an email on Sept. 8 that said campus dining had only employed around 30% of the usual number of student workers and 70% of full-time staff. Since then, incentives like wage increases during certain shifts and bonuses for working through the end of the semester have been offered to entice students to work for campus dining.

Some students feel that those incentives are not enough.

In response to a question about this matter on r/GVSU, a Reddit forum for GVSU-related posts, students aired their frustrations with the limited incentives being offered by campus dining.

“As a campus dining employee, I feel I should state that the bonus system isn’t even as lucrative as you state,” said user u/lesbianclarinetnerd. “You have to work a minimum of eight hours a week, not an average, a minimum (so if you get sick and miss a shift

you’re out of the running for the bonus). I’m personally only scheduled 6.5 hours each week and I am not allowed to stay longer to get to that point, (so I’d have to pick up another shift to receive the bonus). The scheduling is absolutely awful.”

Regarding wage increases, the current wage for campus dining employees is listed at $9.87 per hour on Handshake. Currently, campus dining employees earn an extra $2 per hour if they work after 3 p.m. or on weekends, but that wage still pales in comparison to other food service jobs in the area.

Grand Rapids Brewing Company is offering $1000 sign-on bonuses and kitchen staff wages starting at $17 per hour, and Grand Coney in Allendale is hiring part-time line cooks for wages from $14 to $17 per hour.

User u/JaySeebricks said campus dining wages are not at all competitive.

“Off-campus jobs (within bus distance) offer far superior wages and seemingly better conditions,” u/JaySeebricks said. “I feel really bad for campus dining employees sometimes.”

Campus dining also has to compete with job opportunities at other on-campus locations that pay just as well or better than they do, and also offer the opportunity to complete homework or work at their own pace.

Student positions like office assistants, tour guides and major-specific positions like clinical assistants and tutors offer similar or better pay and work environments compared to campus dining positions.

“I worked for campus dining before the pandemic and I wouldn’t go back even

EMPLOYMENT: GV campus dining is suffering through an intense employee shortage. COURTESY | MLIVE

with the incentives they’re offering,” said u/ teach_sped. “The library is offering equal pay to what (campus dining) has listed on Handshake and I get to do my homework there and not work in a hectic environment with a lot of COVID policies.”

Still, student workers are necessary to keep campus dining operations open for all students on campus.

“Obviously the campus dining workers (especially the student workers) are doing all they can and I’m grateful for their hard work so I can get lunch and dinner in between my busy schedule times,” u/teach_sped said.

Students with allergies, vegan or vegetarian diets and other dietary restrictions or preferences are faced with a diminished number of options for where they can safely eat on campus. Multiple dining locations that offered vegan or allergy-safe options like Which Wich have been closed all year, which leaves students with far less variety for what they can use meal swipes on.

“My (significant other) had extremely limited options last year with her allergy and half the time would experience mild-to-moderate reactions due to cross-contamination,” u/JaySeebricks said.

Another student echoed concerns about cross-contamination for those with specific diets, saying they had experienced difficulties with allergies at campus dining locations as well.

“Cross-contamination happens at every location, as well as already very limited allergy-friendly options,” said user u/dvd-player.

“Your best bet is the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at Fresh or just spending your dining dollars at the pod stores to buy food you know you can eat.”

One student complained about a lack of proper training due to staff shortages. Failure to properly train food service employees can lead to issues like cross-contamination and the potential for allergic reactions.

“The training is near non-existent,” u/lesbianclarinetnerd said.

As COVID-19 continues to affect labor availability, there’s currently no concrete expectation for when dining at GVSU could see a return to normalcy.

“That’s difficult to predict given that this is a state, regional and national situation,” said campus dining marketing manager Deb Rambadt. “As people apply and are hired/ trained, additional openings could occur. On Nov. 8, 42nd Street Deli inside Kleiner reopened and with a continued applicant pace, more stations will follow.”

For students looking to share their thoughts with Campus Dining, www.yourdiningvoice.com offers surveys that share feedback with managers of on-campus dining locations. Responses can be provided anonymously, or users can provide contact info for follow-ups and sweepstakes entries.

QR codes are posted in dining locations all over campus for easy access, and there is a link at www.gvsu.edu/campusdine/.

DIETS: Students are concerned with cross-contamination at campus dining locations. COURTESY | MLIVE

INCENTIVES: Current employees find it difficult to reach the bonuses, like an extra $2 an hour after 3 p.m., that campus dining is offering due to the way their scheduling system works this year. GVL | ARCHIVES

JOBS: Campus dining is losing employees because of other job opportunities on and off-campus. On-campus jobs like working at the library may be more enticing, while off-campus jobs pay more. GVL | ARCHIVES

A8 | NEWS

NOVEMBER 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

SHELTER

New winter shelter for unhoused Grand Rapids residents

BY KAY KELLER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

When the weather gets colder and the snow hits the ground, staying outside can become dangerous, very quickly. But Grand Rapids has a large community of unhoused residents who don’t have the means to escape the frigid winter.

The Grand Rapids City Commission is pairing with Mel Trotter Ministries in order to help solve that problem. The Commission approved a $330,000 agreement to improve and expand current overnight shelters.

“We have more room for support for this because the truth of it is this shelter is not in the Mel Trotter budget, but we know we have to do this because we feel a responsibility to make sure anyone seeking shelter in the winter finds it,” said Mel Trotter Ministries President and CEO Dennis Van Kampen.

This agreement will help to increase access to overnight shelters, include storage areas for belongings and run daily operations. In addition, the shelter will be “low barrier,” meaning some traditional shelter rules are removed and more accommodations will be made.

They’ll also be adding in laundry facilities and quiet rooms. In addition, the ministry will be providing a range of programs and services they said will help their guests out of homelessness.

GRAND RAPIDS: The Grand Rapids City Commission approved a $330,000 agreement with Mel Trotter Ministries to improve and expand overnight shelters in the downtown area. COURTESY | MLIVE

“We will provide storage for anyone that’s on the streets that doesn’t have a place to store their stuff, even if they aren’t staying here overnight,” Van Kampen said. “We will have lockers and bins where they can store their stuff so they don’t have to carry it everywhere. That’s new this year and we are excited about that.”

Lockers allow guests to have a locked space to put their belongings that traditional shelters don’t offer. There will also be a personal belongings storage program that the facility is piloting.

The program will provide secure storage carts in a safe and guarded area.

Grand Rapids’ Homeless Outreach Team

(HOT) was the group to pitch the idea of adding storage. As an organization that interacts with the unhoused population regularly, they’ve realized that storing possessions is a huge issue for people with nowhere to go.

Having to leave their belongings unattended makes many people uncomfortable, housed or not. It discourages people from going to work, going inside or even staying in shelters that don’t have the space for them.

The ministry is hoping that the addition of secure storage will change that.

This shelter will be able to host 75-100 people at a time and the city is working with Mel Trotter Ministry to make sure there’s enough space and beds for all residents. The facility will also encourage more people to not only come inside, but stay as long as they need.

“What happened last year with the pandemic, we knew going into winter due to social distancing, there would not be enough space for everyone who wanted shelter during the winter,” Mel Trotter Ministries President and CEO Dennis Van Kampen said. “So we had to go in search of an overflow shelter.”

The new space is already under construction and is expected to open within the first two weeks of December. Aiming to be closer to the people who need it the most, the shelter’s location will be 200 S. Division Ave. near Cherry Street in downtown Grand Rapids.

EMPLOYMENT

Lakers face impacts of pandemic on life after graduation

BY GRACE SMITH NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

GRADUATION: COVID-19 continues to impact students as they apply for jobs GVL | ARCHIVES

Students, faculty and staff at Grand Valley State University have seen a return to some normalcy on campus. Along with masks and mandatory vaccines, the GVSU community has returned to in-person classes, sports and activities on campus.

The graduation ceremony is one important tradition for all college studentsand GVSU students are no exception.

In-person commencement is returning this semester. Students are allowed to bring up to four guests and must be masked per the GVSU alert level two guidelines. While there is no procession, students will be able to walk across the stage and receive their diplomas in person.

While there is a lot to celebrate for graduates, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted plans beyond graduation as Lakers leave the university.

Senior Lauren Mroczek said the pandemic continues to impact her life as she leaves GVSU. Like many others, she has been forced to alter her post-graduation plans as a result of the consequences of the pandemic.

“Attending college has not been as easy, so when I decide to go back to

school to earn a professional degree, I would like the pandemic to not affect my education as much,” Mroczek said.

When COVID-19 shut down schools and moved classes online, internships and volunteer opportunities that students rely on for resumes and graduation requirements were impacted as well. Due to nationwide closures and cancellations, students of all academic standing lost out on vital experiences which are important rites of passage towards settling on a career after graduation.

The GVSU Career Center has helped students ways to explore career options and build their resumes despite the challenges, career advisor Meghan Veltri said. Although many students were not able to do traditional internships, job shadowing or volunteer hours, the Career Center has worked to still prepare students for post-graduation life through other methods.

“I’ve just been telling students to try and do what they can despite it,” Veltri said. “For example, if you can’t do job shadowing, can you do informational interviews with people in the field.”

Advisors like Veltri help students build proficient resumes cover letters and other job application materials during their time as GVSU students despite the challenges of COVID-19. Through their

services, students were directed to alternative ways of gaining experiences that are important for future employers or graduate schools to see when considering applications.

The Career Center has also hosted many virtual events over the last year to help students explore job and internship opportunities in the Grand Rapids area as well as potential higher education resources, Veltri said.

The Career Center has also assisted many students with their virtual interviewing skills, Veltri said. As an increasing number of employers now use Zoom or similar video conferencing platforms in their repertoire, applicants must learn or relearn skills for virtual interviews.

Veltri said that there are many resources with tips and information available to students through the GVSU Career Center. Although many perceive the current job market as struggling following the height of the pandemic, Veltri said there are ample opportunities for GVSU alumni to find a job.

“There’s a lot of content out there right now,” Veltri said. “I would encourage (students) to still connect with our office, however, I know a lot of people think the job market isn’t good, but a lot of employers are looking for students and alumni right now.”

A9 | LAKER LIFE

NOVEMBER 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

LAKER LIFE FILL OUT THE ADVISING SURVEY

Student Senate in partnership with Grand Valley State University Academic Advising has created a survey to hear feedback about students and their experiences with advising on campus. All undergraduate students have received the survey via their emails.

The survey is quick and will be open for the week until Wednesday Nov. 24. The collected data will help guide the advising office to improve the experiences of anyone who uses the advising services. If students have any questions about the survey they can email gvsuadvising@gvsu.edu.

HELP THE PRE-VET CLUB WITH THEIR FUNDRAISER Monday Nov. 22 the Pre-Vet club is partnering with Tea Time Cafe to help fundraise for their club. 20% of the total from orders will be donated back to the club. The Pre-Vet is a student is an academic student organization that aids students in finding careers as veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

The Pre-Vet club also helps the surrounding community by volunteering. By supporting this fundraiser the club will continue to help provide students support. Those who attend the fundraiser just have to let the cashier know that they are dining on behalf of the Pre-Vet club. The fundraiser will take place from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tea Time cafe is located near Meadows Crossings Apartments on 48th Ave.

REHEARSE WITH VOICES OF GVSU

Members of the Voices of GVSU are coming together to sing and rehearse Monday Nov. 22. Voices of GVSU are celebrating their 34th year and they meet every Monday.

This will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center room 1410. During their practices Voices of GVSU start with a prayer and a mindful activity before they start singing. After they practice the songs they intend to perform, the group then ends with a prayer to wind down. Voices of GVSU is a gospel choir. Anyone who is interested is able to join the choir.

INTERNATIONAL

GV alum gives philanthropy presentation

BY YSABELA GOLDEN LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

In the United States, white households hold approximately 83.9% of the nation’s wealth (though make up 76.3% of the population). As a natural result of this allotment, white Americans are deciding where the vast amount of philanthropic donations go. To explore what this means for American charity, on Nov. 16 the department of Integrative, Religious, and Intercultural Studies hosted Allison Stephens Shook for her presentation “What White People Give: Observations in International Philanthropy.”

“Allison is a graduate of Grand Valley’s Honors College, where she spent a good portion of her senior year working in Ghana on the problem of the labor trafficking of children and their rehabilitation,” sociology professor Joseph Verschaeve said. “Following her graduation, she was accepted to the UofM school of social work, the highest-graded social work program in the United States.”

Since then, Shook has become the development director for Hope For Life, a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to empowering Rwandan youth to escape homelessness.

“My job is fundraising,” Shook said. “Nonprofits and charities, they rely on the donated dollars of people like you and me. Bigger groups like corporations will sometimes make donations. A philanthropist is really anyone who makes donations or donates their time, but when we hear that word what we think of is more like the people who have their names on Grand Valley buildings.”

In the United States, philanthropy today was popularized during the 19th cen-

CHARITY: Allison Stephens Shook, development Director for Hope For Life, hosts “What White People Give: Observations in International Philanthropy” on GVSU’s campus. COURTESY | HOPE FOR LIFE

tury, when a combination of weak government power and a swarm of newly rich industrialist businessmen led to many public services being funded as charity by millionaires. Men like George Peabody, Andrew Carnegie and John Rockefeller codified American philanthropy by creating permanent foundations that supported schools, libraries and hospitals.

“The industrial revolution really skyrocketed income inequality, and part of the way to quell the anger around that inequality was these men creating private foundations for philanthropy,” Shook said. “Carnegie and Rockefeller did a lot of philanthropy, but

they both had extremely questionable business practices. American wealth is built on stealing resources, all the way back to colonization. The question becomes, can we ask people for money knowing that the way they got it isn’t ethically sound?”

Ethical concerns about wealthy donors aren’t just about keeping a clean conscience.

“Most philanthropists want to help, but at the end of the day they’re not going to touch the underlying system of inequality, because that’s what gives them power,” Shook said.

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RESEARCH

Geology class presents projects on invasive species in the Great Lakes

BY STEVEN LAWRENCE LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING WORKSHOP On Tuesday Nov. 23 the office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution is holding an online work shopping session to help students navigate conflicts. Many times students are told to do ‘what’s right’ but often many don’t know how to figure out the right things to do. This workshop will explore a variety of thoughts and ideas to help with ethical decision-making. This is a reoccurring event with the next taking one place on Dec. 8. The online event will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. Students who are interested in attending can register online via LakerLink.

For more information visit www.gvsu.edu/ osccr.

PRESENT: The GVSU great lakes class showcases their research topics. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

For many, the first things that come to mind when thinking about Michigan are the lakes that surround the state’s borders. The Great Lakes are Michigan’s most prominent natural features, and yet not many know about the invasive species that plague them.

The students in Peter Riemersma’s geology 105 class, however, are acquainted with the threat.

Riemersma’s “Living with the Great Lakes” course gathered 120 students in the multipurpose room in the Mary Idema Pew Library, showcasing their projects discussing the lakes’ invasive species. This was done in part to show that there are many different invasive species, but they also highlighted what is being done to fight against these different species.

At the beginning of the semester, Riemersma had the students read “Pandora’s Locks,” which dives deep into the invasive species of the Great Lakes. Afterward, he assigned a project to

discuss a certain topic presented in the book in depth. After weeks of research, the students got to spend the day with their projects hanging up, presenting to each other and anyone else who walked through the showcase.

“Basically, all we do is pick a topic, and then we get the freedom to do whatever we want in order to present it to everyone,” said GEO 105 student Chloe Hernandez.

Once presentation day came around, each student sets up their station and then they all voted on which projects are the most educational and which one is the most creative.

“This helps students be able to communicate creatively and visually, which is a very important skill that a lot of people just can’t do,” Riemersma said.

Both Riemersma and his students enjoy this project because it reinforces their knowledge base and strays from typical final exams and papers.

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A10 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTS AT A GLANCE GV MUSIC DEPARTMENT HOLDS NUMEROUS CONCERTS AS SEMESTER COMES TO A CLOSE Students in Pablo Mahave-Veglia’s chamber music class as well as the GVSU Early Music Ensemble will be performing their fall semester concerts in coming weeks.

The Chamber Music Recital will be held in the Sherman van Solkema Recital Hall on Monday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m.

The Early Music Ensemble Concert will also take place in the Sherman van Solkema Recital Hall, but on Thursday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m.

WEALTHY THEATRE IN GRAND RAPIDS TO HOST THANKSGIVING MOVIE NIGHT Wealthy Theatre in Grand Rapids is showing the film, “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” in their Wege Auditorium in celebration of the holiday season.

On Tuesday, Nov. 23 doors will open at 7 p.m. and the John Hughes’ 1987 film will begin at 8 p.m.

The classic comedy features Steve Martin who plays Neal Page, a high-strung marketing executive, alongside John Candy who plays Del Griffith, a kind hearted (but annoying) shower curtain ring salesman.

The two spend three days together encountering one issue after another in an attempt to get Neal home to Chicago in time to spend Thanksgiving with his family.

The film is rated R and has a run time of an hour and a half.

It is $8 for general admission and $6 for CMC and Wealthy Theatre members.

GV ART GALLERY INSTALLS ARTPOSTS ON PEW CAMPUS The Grand Valley State University Art Gallery recently installed Artposts on the Pew Campus in Grand Rapids.

Artposts are outdoor, miniature art galleries that will remain on campus through 2022 and feature new artwork every few months.

The Artposts were organized in collaboration with the Avenue for the Arts, and will feature art curated by the students of GVSU’s Fall 2021 ART 392 Curatorial Studio course until Dec. 5.

GRAND RAPIDS DOWNTOWN MARKET BRINGS BACK OUTDOOR EATING HUTS The Grand Rapids Downtown Market is home to more than 20 food merchants for indoor and outdoor dining.

Recently, the market brought back their outdoor huts for the public’s winter dining desires.

The huts are heated and available for use downtown throughout the winter months. Visitors are welcome to use the huts as their own private outdoor space under the Market shed.

The market is open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

No reservations are needed to use the huts.

RECITAL

GV Dance Troupe performs for heartfelt cause

BY ALLISON RAFFERTY ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

For the first time in two years, Grand Valley State University’s Dance Troupe (GVDT) hosted an in-person recital.

On Friday, Nov. 19 and Saturday, Nov. 20, GVDT put on their show, “Dance Among the Stars” at the Allendale High School auditorium.

Each semester, the dance troupe uses the recital to help fundraise for a local cause.

In previous semesters, they have helped fundraise for Harbor Humane Society, the environmental justice organization The Sierra Club and a safe house for domestic violence victims called Resilience.

This semester, the troupe decided to fundraise for North Star Reach, a camp for children who are typically unable to attend summer camp due to life-threatening illnesses. North Star Reach is Michigan’s only barrier-free, fully-accessible medical camp.

Kaitlyn Holloway, GVDT Secretary and double major in communications sciences and disorders and Spanish, said this cause hits especially close to home for GVDT. Holloway said a GVDT alumni dancer who recently passed was closely affiliated with North Star Reach as an organizer and former volunteer, and that the organization was very important to her.

“Unfortunately, she passed away over the summer and we thought it would be a wonderful way to honor her legacy, by bringing awareness and raising donations for their cause,” Holloway said.

In a typical semester, GVDT’s HR representative researches multiple charities and organizations that are located across Western Michigan. The representative then presents their

FUNDRAISE: The Grand Valley Dance Troupe recently held “Dance Among the Stars” to raise money for North Star Reach, an organization close to the hearts of those in the troupe. GVL | ARCHIVES

findings to the club and they vote on which organization to represent.

Due to the personal nature North Star Reach has with the troupe, this semester they collectively decided to fundraise for the organization instead of going through with the traditional selection process.

This semester the recital consisted of 18 dances that included solos, group dances of various styles and a finale that highlighted all of the troupe’s dancers. Each number was intimately choreographed by its choreographer and displayed a range of skill sets, and emotions.

Holloway said she hopes those in attendance embraced the range of emotions each number brought forth.

“Some of the dances were sensitive in na-

ture, with personal tributes to loved ones who have passed or in solidarity with those who have suffered from domestic abuse,” Holloway said. “We hoped the audience would cheer at the upbeat hip-hops, clap for the incredible pirouettes in advanced jazz routines, and embrace the emotions of lyrical ballads.”

Given that this was the troupe’s first in-person performance since the beginning of the pandemic, most of its members had never performed with the troupe live.

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MURALS

The Diatribe, GRPM hold panel to discuss “The Why”

BY MARY DUPUIS ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

The Diatribe, a Grand Rapids group that uses the performing arts to encourage younger generations to inspire change in their communities, recently partnered with the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) to host a panel discussing The 49507 Project

DOWNTOWN GRAND RAPIDS INC. INSTALLS NEW ARTWORK Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. recently installed a new statue at the corner of Lyon and Monroe.

The statue, created by international artist Jaume Plensa, required a construction crew of workers to assemble and install it.

NOVEMBER 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

LISTENING: The Diatribe discusses The 49507 Project. COURTESY | TWITTER (@grmuseum)

The panel was called, “The Why” and was held on Nov. 17 at the Center for Community Transformation in Grand Rapids.

G Foster is a co-founder, teaching artist, and donor experience manager at The Diatribe, and said The 49507 Project was born in response to the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.

When artists in the Grand Rapids community were invited to paint boarded-up windows of businesses during the Black Lives Matter protests, Foster said there were restrictions on what could, and could not, be painted.

The goal of The 49507 Project, he said, was to open the door to creating artwork without specific guidelines.

“We’re tired of being policed,” Foster said. “We just wanted to do an unapologetic art project.”

He said during the thick of COVID-19, in partnership with the Garfield Park Neighborhoods Association, The Diatribe found that many people in the 49507 zip code were missing out on necessities.

Whether a person needed someone to go to the grocery store for them, or help to pay their

bills because they were laid off from work, The Diatribe gathered emails and phone numbers and was able to come up with nearly $30,000 to help the members of the community.

Through this, the idea for beautifying and celebrating the community with artwork was born.

“We wanted to turn the 49507 into a multicultural art district,” Foster said. “We want people to be proud of where they’re at and where they’re from and this is just one of the steps.”

To create murals that were the best reflection of the community they would reside in, The Diatribe held community listening sessions in these neighborhoods and took feedback on and about the artwork from those living there.

The Diatribe initially only planned to do one mural but received enough funding for seven due to the support of individual and local donors.

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A11 | SPORTS

NOVEMBER 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

QUICK HITS GV VOLLEYBALL SEES FIVE PLAYERS MAKE ALL-GLIAC AWARDS The Grand Valley State University volleyball team (10-4) wrapped up their postseason play last week Tuesday, Nov. 16 against Davenport and now awaits NCAA Championship picks.

Coming out of the 2021 season, senior outside hitter Ali Thompson and junior setter Rachel Jacquay both made All-GLIAC First Team honors. Thompson’s fourth year included 288 kills, which makes her sixth in the conference, and a total 1.214 digs in her career. Jacquay totaled 1,036 assists this season, making her third in the conference and was selected All-Tournament team for the Midwest Region Crossover.

Making All-GLIAC Second Team was senior outside hitter Abby Graham and junior middle blocker Sarah Wight. Graham and Thompson made a great pair this season with Graham’s 288 kills and 307 digs on the season, while Wight saw 80 blocks this season for fifth in the GLIAC for blocks per game.

The Honorable Mention went to junior middle blocker Jaelianna Primus for her 166 kills, 64 blocks and 58 digs. Both Primus and Wight were selected for the Oredigger Classic All-Tournament Team while Graham and Thompson were both GLIAC Player of the Week this season.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WINS ON THE ROAD AGAINST FINDLAY The Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team (3-0) continued their winning streak on Sunday, Nov. 21 against the University of Findlay (1-3). The Lakers began the first quarter strong, starting the excitement of the game with a fast break started by senior guard Quay Stanton for a layup and then a three pointer from junior guard Emily Spitzley. The Lakers were up 7-2 and never let go of the lead for the remainder of the game.

Heading into the second quarter, the Lakers went on a 10 point run, advancing their lead to 27-12 before Findlay could catch up. The Lakers maintained their lead to be 38-27 by halftime. An early jumper by Stanton started off the scoring for the Lakers before a steal by Spitzley allowed a fast break for junior forward Hannah Kulas to score on a jumper, followed by a three pointer from Kulas and Spitzley to advance their lead to 53-31.

Findlay went on a 7-point run to try and regain some momentum but was kept off by the Lakers for the remainder of the game.

Kulas and Stanton both raked in 16 points each and Stanton had 11 rebounds at the end of the game. Freshman Riley Bisballe also contributed 11 points to the game from the starting line.

This week, the team travels to Florida to play the Rollins Classic on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 26-27 against Rollins College and Embry-Riddle University before they begin GLIAC play after Thanksgiving break.

FOOTBALL

GV Football advances in playoffs

BY SHAWN ROBINSON SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The no. 4 ranked Grand Valley State University (10-1) defeated Lindenwood University (9-3) in the first round of the NCAA Division II football playoffs 20-3 on Saturday, Nov. 20 at Lubbers Stadium. This meeting marked the first matchup ever between the two teams.

In the first quarter, GVSU came out on a hot start, driving down the field on their first offensive drive. On third-and-four at Lindenwood’s 22-yard line, sophomore running back Bryce-Young Walls was able to find a hole and rush for 13 yards, putting the Lakers on the Lindenwood nine-yard line.

After failing to score the game’s first touchdown, freshman kicker Kollin Kralapp made a 21-yard field goal to open the game for GVSU 3-0.

After a quick three-and-out for Lindenwood, the Lakers started their next drive on their own 33-yard line. On secondand-four, junior running back Aryuan Cain-Veasey rushed for 17-yards, putting GVSU at the 50-yard line.

Later in the drive on fourth down, the Lakers looked to convert when sophomore quarterback Cade Peterson passed to junior receiver Kordell Hoover on the left side of the end zone. Lindenwood was called for pass interference which then set the Lakers on the Lindenwood two-yard line.

Peterson then connected with a wide open Young-Walls for the two-yard touchdown and extended their lead, 10-0 with 2:04

PLAYOFF WIN: GV Football advances to the second round of playoffs after their win against Lindenwood to face Ferris State again after their tough loss earlier in the season. GVL | RACHEL SLOMBA

remaining in the first quarter.

“We executed our fundamentals,” YoungWalls said. “They did a lot of different things we didn’t see on tape, but I feel like they played hard. They weren’t giving us anything and when that big play happened, all eleven guys executed and did their job.”

GVSU started the second with the ball.

On first-and-ten at the GVSU 38-yard line, Peterson passed to junior wideout Hunter Rison for 44-yards to put the Lakers in the red zone. A play later, Peterson then threw the ball into traffic and the pass was intercepted by Grady Daniels.

After the interception, the Laker defense was able to force another three-and-out, giving their offense excellent field position.

Three plays and three yards later, GVSU was forced to punt as well, marking its first threeand-out of the night.

With 4:26 remaining in the half, Lindenwood had a total of 18 yards and couldn’t get their offense rolling.

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SOCCER

No. 1 seed GV soccer advances to Regional Championships

BY JOSH CARLSON SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State University (20-1-2) women’s soccer team survived the first week of the NCAA Tournament, advancing to play Saginaw Valley State University (14-5-3) in the Regional Championships. With home-field advantage and the no.1 seed in the Midwest region, the Lakers took on the Cedarville Yel-

NO. 1 SEED: The Lakers advance to play Saginaw in Regional Championship. GVL | ARCHIVES

low Jackets and the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds last week.

The first game against Cedarville on Thursday, Nov. 18 started off slow for the Lakers who couldn’t seem to get anything going offensively in the first half of play. However, coach Jim Conlon said a change in demeanor from the team lifted the Lakers into another gear.

“Our women have lots of different talents,” Conlon said. “They went into the locker room and just decided to go to a different basket of talents and just come out ready to go in the second half.”

After being held scoreless in the first half, the Lakers finally found a seam in the defense on a cross from sophomore defender Brooke Russell to sophomore forward Kennedy Bearden’s head that assisted senior defender Cecilia Steinwascher in finding the Lakers first goal of the game making it 1-1.

Heading into overtime, tensions were high

for the no. 1 seed Lakers, but all was relieved in the 98 minute-mark as junior forward and GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year Greta DeLoach sent a pass to Bearden who-- just outside of the 18-yard box-- sent a rocket over the goalkeeper’s head for the golden goal, sending the Lakers on to the Regional Semifinal against the University of Indianapolis.

After hitting the game-winner, Bearden was excited, keeping her season alive and embracing her teammates.

“Greta played me a great ball,” Bearden said. “I took an iffy touch but at that point, I knew I just had to shoot and see if it goes in, and it did. It was an awesome feeling; my teammates hugged me and everything it was great. Now it is on to the next.”

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A12 | SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY

NOVEMBER 22, 2021 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

GV Cross Country brings home National Championship

BY BRIAN BLOOM SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS: The men’s team scored first for the second year in history and the women’s team made runner up. GVL | ARCHIVES

The Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s cross country teams traveled to St. Leo, Florida to run the NCAA National Championship meet on Saturday, Nov. 20.

The men’s team won the 10k race, scoring 43 points, nearly doubling Adams State University, who finished in second place. The women’s team fell just short of first, taking runner up and finishing the meet with a total of 79 points.

“Going one and two in both races definitely helped our cause,” said coach Jerry Baltes. “All seven of our runners on both sides competed well.”

The men’s team saw four runners secure their places in the top 15. Senior Isaac Harding won the race, taking the individual National Championship title, crossing the finish line with a time of 29:58.3. “(Winning both individually and as a team) is the best thing I could ask for,” Harding said.

“The team was really good all year long. I’m super excited that Tanner (Chada) and I could go one and two. It’s the best it could’ve gone.”

Joining Harding at the top of the leaderboard was Chada, who placed second in the race, finishing with a time of 30:07.1. Sophomore Andrew Hylan placed 12th, running a

time of 30.45.7, and senior Enael Woldemichael finished 14th with a time of 30:48.9.

For the men, this was their second National Championship in program history, repeating their success from 2018. “(Preparation for this meet) was not too different,” Harding said. “It’s Nationals, so it carried more weight than the regular season. We had tapered practices and the mileage was tuned down. The meet started aggressively; we had to get out fast. Tanner and I had to tactically play the race differently than we had all season long.”

In the women’s race, three Lakers placed in the top 15. Junior Hannah Becker won the race, finishing with a time of 20:22.0 for the individual win. Not far behind Becker was sophomore Klaudia O’Malley who placed second in the meet, running a time of 20:26.9. The third Laker in the top 15 was freshman Taryn Chapko, finishing with a time of 21:00.3.

“I’m super excited,” Becker said. “My goal all season long was to win the National Championship; it’s hard to believe that I got to make it happen. I’m grateful for the opportunity to run and that I stayed healthy.”

Despite coming up just short of the National title, the women’s team is determined to compete during the indoor track and field season and next cross country season.

“We all ran hard; I’m proud of all the girls,” Becker said. “We have a competitive nature and we want to win. We’re ready for the indoor season. Remembering that we aren’t on top of the nation gives us that competitive fire that will prepare us to compete during the indoor season.”

According to Becker, the warm Florida atmosphere had an effect on the way that the team ran.

“Overall, it was a good day,” Becker said. “It was a little cooler at the beginning, but it warmed up throughout the meet and got muggy. Warm weather always plays a factor in meets, but as a team, we started strong and smart.”

Baltes says that there is a lot to look forward to going into next season.

“We have a lot of talent,” Baltes said. “We’ll be good again, so that’s very exciting. We have a lot of super seniors graduating this year, so they have to figure things out in their lives. We’re going to take this win in and celebrate it. We’ll be really good during the indoor season and next year during the outdoor season.”

The Lakers look forward to a few weeks of rest and relaxation over the holidays before their track and field season kick-starts with an early Dec. 3 GVSU Holiday Open and then a long month off.

BASKETBALL

Men’s Basketball wins home opener

BY HOLLY BIHLMAN SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The no. 4 ranked Grand Valley State University (2-0) men’s basketball team’s first home game of the regular season tipped off in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena on Saturday, Nov. 20.

With fans in the stands to pump up the players and nostalgic game-day energy in the arena, the Lakers were able to defeat the Cedarville Yellow Jackets (1-3) after a close game in the end of the second period.

After last week’s victory at University of Indianapolis, the Yellow Jackets also won their matchup against UIndy, creating an even more competitive atmosphere for the two teams.

“I thought they’ve got a really solid team,” said coach Ric Wesley. “They’re a little bit like us; they’re a veteran team, they changed defense, they were difficult to play against. We thought we had a good win at UIndy last weekend, and then these guys turned around and did the same thing on Thursday (Nov. 18) which really caught our attention.”

The start of the first period was Cedarville’s, with a few turnovers and some good shots, the Yellow Jackets held on to their lead for the first six minutes of the game. The Lakers were quick to their rebuttal when senior guard Jordan

Harris grabbed a defensive rebound for senior forward Christian Negron to take all the way down the court for his first dunk of the game.

As the crowd was set ablaze with energy, junior guard Ja’Kavien Lewis contributed another quick steal and passed it to freshman guard Trevor Gunter who came off the bench and stole the lead for the Lakers with a layup, making the score 12-15. Once the Lakers found their game against Cedarville, they never let go of the lead.

“Our defensive intensity really improved,” Wesley said. “All of a sudden we had a couple steals, loose balls, Christian got a run out dunk, Trevor was in there somewhere with his andone layup, we had two or three breakout opportunities, and when you’re playing a good defensive team, man, those are good. We want our defensive to be better than their defense, and certainly, for that stretch, I thought it was.”

The first half of the game started off slow for the Lakers as they trailed with a five point deficit, but that was eliminated early enough to get all the way up to a 42-30 lead by halftime.

The second half started and the Lakers kept that momentum going for the better part of the half, starting with a six point run. Negron found his second dunk of the night when senior guard Issac Gassman passed him the ball after a de-

fensive rebound for Negron to start a fast break in the paint to advance their lead 62-44.

The Yellow Jackets started to feel the pressure from the Lakers and began to play a tougher defensive game, dwindling the Lakers’ lead to a nerve-wracking 5 points by the time the 1:30 mark hit the scoreboards.

“When one team gets the lead as the game gets going on, it’s always a challenge to maintain your aggressiveness without being reckless,” Wesley said. “And then the team that gets behind starts throwing caution to the wind, so they get more aggressive, and that’s why you see these big runs in the game. Against theses good teams you have to play 40 minutes. They don’t go away after 20, 35, 38 minutes; you have to go right into the last minute.”

As the Yellow Jackets handed over three free throw opportunities to the Lakers in the last few moments of the game, Cedarville was unable to regain their momentum and the Lakers came away with a home-opener win 80-71.

“I was just trying to pick my spots, get to the foul line, and get some easy passes,” said senior forward Jake Van Tubbergen.

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WIN STREAK: The Lakers advance to a threegame win streak after their home opening win against Cedarville. GVL | LAUREN SEYMOUR