G R A N D VA L L E Y L A N T H O R N
A symbol of racism or pride? Community reacts to calls for Civil War statue removal
Alumna gives Indigenous peoples a voice in Vogue LAKER EFFECT | A8
GV slated to play conference-only schedule for fall sports, club sports games on hiatus SPORTS | A10
M O N D A Y, A U G U ST 1 0, 2 02 0 // VO L . 5 5 N O. 1
@ GV L A N T H O R N
LANTHORN.COM
A2 | NEWS NEWS BRIEFS SMART BRICK INVENTOR WINS GV INNOVATOR AWARD
On July 30, Pete Hoffswell, who works at the Holland Board of Public Works, won the second annual Lakeshore Innovator of the Year Award, presented by Grand Valley State University’s Muskegon Innovation Hub. His winning invention, a low-cost wireless plastic brick temperature sensor, can be built into the sidewalk snowmelt system which feeds back to the Board of Public Works to help plant managers optimize the cost of operating the snowmelt system without having to send employees out into the field. Hoffswell was inspired to create the temperature-sensing brick after speaking with employees about how to improve their system, and thought a sensor would be useful when he learned only visual reports were used.
GV MASTER OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM EARNS NATIONAL ACCREDITATION
Grand Valley State University’s Master of Health Administration program, offered through the College of Community and Public Service, has received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). Programs with CAHME accreditation take part in a quality improvement process with participation from leading academics and practitioners. Nicolette Keller, who earned an MHA from GVSU in April and works as a revenue cycle analyst in capacity management for Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, said that the program helps to find new opportunities in the healthcare system and improve patient care. Over 200 health care professionals have MHA degrees from GVSU, and about 70 students will be pursuing their MHA degree this fall. MHA classes at GVSU are offered in hybrid format, mixing online and in-person instruction.
PULSE SURVEY SHOWS STUDENT, STAFF CONFIDENCE IN UNIVERSITY COVID-19 RESPONSE
The most recent Pulse survey results revealed that most respondents are confident in Grand Valley State University’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly half (48%) of faculty and staff responded to the July 6 pulse survey, while 36% of incoming and returning students responded to the mid-July survey. Among staff and faculty, 53% of respondents agree or strongly agree GVSU has a clear plan of action regarding health-informed policies and protocols for on-campus environments, and 76% of respondents agree their unit head or supervisor keeps them informed about decisions. With student responses, 56% of respondents said they feel very comfortable or comfortable with returning to campus in the fall, and 69% of respondents said they want to take a hybrid combination of in-person and online classes, 21% want all in-person classes.
AUGUST 10, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
FINANCE
University leadership holds sessions to discuss tuition increase amid public outcry BY NICK MORAN EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
Student leaders around campus were invited to a series of informational sessions led by Grand Valley University Leadership July 28-29. The sessions explained the tuition increase of 3%, which was approved by the Board of Trustees and featured dialogue and student perspectives. After opening thoughts from Loren Rullman, Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, the first bulk of the meeting followed a presentation from Associate Vice President for Business and Finance Craig Wieschhorster that outlined budgeting decisions and context for the tuition increase. “I want to be upfront and say I recognize the frustration,” Wieschhorster said. “COVID has really fundamentally altered the way we do business here at the university and really changed the phase of life in general. It’s really impacting every phase of our lives as we move forward.” Wieschhorster went over revenue factors for the university, including tuition (which makes up 78% of the $356 million budget for 2019-20) and state funding (which makes up about a fifth of revenue). He noted that over time, state appropriations have decreased, largely resulting in an increase in tuition to make up for lost revenue. Additionally, Wieschhorster noted that throughout the state, there is a decrease in high school graduation rates,
SHARING THEIR TWO CENTS: Student leaders and university administrators joined together for informational sessions dicussing this year’s tuition increase of 3%. GVL | MEGHAN LANDGREN
resulting in dipping enrollment over the past few years. For each 1% decrease in enrollment, there is a $3-3.5 million decrease in revenue for the university, he said, and expenses are unmoved. To compensate, the university eliminated about 35 positions and cut $10 million from the overall budget over the past few years. “We’ve done so through some pretty smart budgeting moves,” Wieschhorster said. “We really tried to lessen the impact to the university experience for the students.”
This year and next, it seems there will be a dip in state funding, which the university is preparing for. That means that in short, between budget cuts and COVID-19 losses, there was a $42 million shortfall the university had to make up for this year. If the tuition increase was never considered, it would increase the shortfall to about $52 million. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
CAMPUS
GV conducts COVID-19 wellness survey BY AUDREY WHITAKER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
Among the numerous surveys Grand Valley State University students may find in their inbox over the course of the semester, one in particular will shape the coming year at GVSU for both students and staff. The COVID-19 Wellness Survey was sent to student emails July 1 through GVSU’s Public Health Department. GVSU professor Ranelle Brew, who is chair of the Department of Public
A BARREN STATE: As campus looks to reopen, students filling out surveys will shape the upcoming year. GVL | MEGHAN LANDGREN
Health and Program Director, said it was created with the goal of providing students with the resources they need most to be successful at GVSU this year amid a global pandemic. “The goal was to facilitate a survey that could give us data-driven, evidence-based research that would help us to look at resources for students and other ways that we can support them,” Brew said. “For example, we have a food pantry on campus. If some of our data shows that there’s more food insecurity than we saw before, that’s something that we can then share to folks on campus and those who are working on the food pantry so that we can increase the resources there.” The survey was also designed to encompass the eight dimensions of wellness, said Katie Jordan, Student Health Promotions Coordinator. “(The eight dimensions of wellness) is really a holistic view of wellness, that students can be well in many areas,” Jordan said. “We’re using those eight dimensions to help drive our wellness programming, so I think as the public health faculty we’re real-
ly looking at how COVID-19, in particular, impacts those areas for GVSU students because it can impact people in different ways.” Brew said that the 75-question survey returned approximately 1,600 responses. “It was basically a set of questions on each of the eight dimensions,” Brew said. “We looked at those dimensions and gave everybody an area to consider and when we broke that down within the faculty, everybody had their own interest area that fit the dimensions.” Brew said that the team of seven fulltime faculty members in the public health department worked with peers in human resources, faculty and staff wellness and student wellness. “We brought them in as well because obviously those are important arms of the university, they’re also doing work in regards to wellness for students and faculty and staff,” Brew said. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
AUGUST 10, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
CONTENTS FINANCE
| A2
EDITORIAL
| A4
FINANCIAL AID
| A5
ALLENDALE
| A8
EDUCATION
| A9
FALL UPDATE
| A10
FOOTBALL
| A11
SWIMMING
| A12
VOL. 55
NO. 1
Lan thorn EDITORIAL STAFF
Layout Editor VIVIANA RUBIO
Editor-in-Chief NICK MORAN
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 ZACH GOODROW Laker Life Editor YSABELA GOLDEN
FINANCE L ET T ER TO T H E EDITOR
Mantella responds to student open letter
| A6-7
LAKER EFFECT
Associate Editor KELLEN VOSS
A3 | NEWS
BY PHILOMENA MANTELLA GVSU PRESIDENT
Dear Lanthorn Editor, Your paper recently published an open letter to me from GVSU student Chloe Harpst, which outlined her concerns and questions that other members of our community likely share. I want to applaud the stated goal of the letter to help us unify and be stronger together and address all the issues and questions I can. We all have to remember that the virus’ path is unpredictable, and governmental regulations are not ours to make, so we must be watchful and flexible, and unite to keep our campus as safe as possible during this pandemic. Harpst rightly points out that there is a good bit of misinformation about COVID-19 that people share on social media platforms. It is important to note that the university is
following the best health and safety guidelines available to us, and we would like our community to access the same information. Here are credible sources for information to keep our community informed: - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - The State of Michigan Coronavirus website - The GVSU Lakers Together Fall 2020 Handbook The Lakers Together site is continually updated as decisions are made and requirements change. It’s also been a priority for us to communicate regularly through email, social media and town halls, and by providing answers to questions sent to coronavirus@ gvsu.edu. Yet, we understand in uncertain times, concerns and questions remain. It’s important for all students to take advantage of the options you have in course delivery. If you have concerns about faceto-face, choose online. If you prefer to be in-person, choose face-to-face and hybrid courses. Faculty have worked hard to maximize opportunities for students, and advisors are available to assist with schedules. This is a dynamic situation, so if your circumstances change, reach out, and we will do our absolute best to help you. Here is information addressing the questions posed in the letter, keeping in mind conditions may change and policies may be updated:
1. What will happen if you do not fill out the self assessment every day? It is required that all faculty, staff and students fill out the self-assessment daily beginning August 17, 2020. Just as with face coverings, we will start with care and curiosity, move to educate, then look for a remedy, which could include a failure to comply report to Student Affairs or Human Resources. It would be considered a violation of university policy and would be actionable. 2. If a professor tests positive for COVID, are they required to quarantine for 2-3 weeks? Is their sick leave covered, paid? Anyone who tests positive needs to isolate for a minimum of 10 days. Faculty would be paid while isolating. 3. What happens if a teacher/classmate tests positive? How will students and professors be notified? If someone in a class tests positive, the class would receive a “may have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID” notice. If someone is considered a close contact, generally defined as being within six feet for 15 minutes or longer, they will be contacted by the local health department and instructed to be tested and quarantine for a minimum of 14 days. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
BUSINESS STAFF
A&E Editor MARY RACETTE
Business Manager RACHEL MCDOWELL
Image Editor MEGHAN LANDGREN
Asst. Business Manager DAYTON HAMMON
LAKER EFFECT
How GV has been sanitizing campus during COVID-19 BY KELLEN VOSS ASSOCIATE@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
CLEANING: A facilities employee cleans a countertop in Kirkhof. Many spaces, like the Kirkhoff Center, will be sanitized daily. COURTESY | GVSU
While most Grand Valley State University students have spent their time off taking classes, working summer jobs or eating s’mores, GVSU Facilities Services has been hard at work at an Enhanced Cleaning Program, continuing its thorough cleaning and sanitation procedures to provide a healthy campus environment for students, staff and faculty. Most spaces where students and staff will frequent every day, like classrooms and conference rooms, will be sanitized daily. Disinfectant spray and hand towels will be available for use during the day as needed. For Facilities Services, in order to properly clean campus, there will be
many more shifts during the day, instead of the traditional night shift, as Associate Vice President of Facility Services Tim Thimmesch said. “In creating the enhanced cleaning program, we have shifted 80% of our custodial operations to be completed during the first and second shift, especially in Academic space where most of the cleaning was performed on third shift,” Thimmesch said. “The change to first shift will allow staff to be more readily available to handle issues or emergencies that come up during the day. This also allows an opportunity to clean touchpoints, restrooms and common spaces more frequently when there are more people in those spaces.” LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
A4 | OPINION
AUGUST 10, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
By Katie Cussans
GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON
EDITORIAL
Partying in a Pandemic: Be COVID-conscious as students return to college social life
A 08/10/20
editorial@lanthorn.com L E T TER TO T H E ED I TO R
Letter to the Editor: An open letter to Philomena Mantella regarding COVID-19, misinformation
BY CHLOE HARPST STUDENT EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
President Philomena V. Mantella, I, Chloe Harpst, a Grand Valley student, would like to draw attention to ways in which this pandemic has divided the student body, and present my input on how to unify and make it through
COVID-19, stronger together. I want Grand Valley to be aware of the way some of their students are representing the university, and reacting to conversation about the pandemic. Each and every one of your students has the potential to go out into the world and be a leader. Whether that is as a healthcare professional, a manager, a CEO, a city council member, or a teacher, all of the leaders in the country right now have choices to make, and a responsibility to ensure their patients or employees or neighbors are taken care of. Leaders have a responsibility to have the interests of their people in mind. Leaders have a responsibility to be selfless and advocate for the common good of our society. Grand Valley State University is the vessel in which we are navigat-
ing to enter the world and workforce as independent people. The world is hurting a lot right now. You have the power and responsibility to steer each of us into making the world a better place. Recently, a GV student posted on the GVSU Class of 2021 Facebook page about his concern of the danger of returning to in-seat classes. In came comments arguing the validity of the shutdown, and the reality of the severity of this illness. One could argue that the lack of strong leadership of the country has led some of the public to believe misinformation about COVID-19. It is not “just like a common flu” LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
Our wounds run deep, but we are not as divided as it may seem
BY ELI ONG ALUMNUS CLASS OF 2020 EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
Over the past couple of weeks, I have been able to experience firsthand the racial and systemic unrest that has exploded like a powder keg all across the United States. A few weeks ago, I took to the
streets to document the first largescale protest in Grand Rapids, which inevitably escalated from many fronts into a riot. I did not stay long enough to be tear gassed or witness the chaos and destruction that occurred all through the late night and early morning, but I was able to catch up with some of my journalistic colleagues and fellow students who were impacted. In hindsight, it was an impactful experience unlike anything I have ever experienced. The next day I was able to document the cleanup, which showcased the ability of humanity to come together in positivity and stood in stark contrast to the disappointing events that had unfolded the night prior. In the days that followed, I was able to witness community mem-
bers voice their frustrations over the racial and systemic injustices consistently faced by people of color in this country, while also documenting the arrival of the National Guard to fortify downtown Grand Rapids. More so, I was able to capture Grand Rapids’ first Black Chief of Police kneeling with protestors while chanting “I can’t breathe” with them in remembrance of George Floyd. A few days later I was even able to talk to artists around Grand Rapids, as they created murals supporting the Black Lives Matter movement on the boarded-up windows of businesses and restaurants damaged during the riots. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
ugust is oftentimes seen as the most exciting month of the year for GVSU students: you move into a new apartment or return to a beloved one, summer classes have been completed as of last week, and most importantly, GVSU students reunite with friends that have become during their college experience. Seeing these old friends come back to Allendale and Grand Rapids gives students a much needed sense of normalcy amid the stress of this pandemic. Having a drink while catching up with friends and attending social gatherings is part of what makes the college life so great in the first place. With the blunt insight that these house parties and tailgate gatherings will be upheld as a pillar of college life — despite the pandemic — it is important to keep health in mind when invited to social gatherings of all kinds. College students have been dragged through mud over this pandemic, as most of the viral videos going around feature young people, even in Michigan, drinking and partying in large groups with no masks in sight. Of course, the unequivocal smart thing to do is not to party, but this is rhetoric away from the holier-than-thou university messaging to students who will do it regardless, who we all know exists. We understand many students will wisely opt-out of party life, but there will be some dedicated to it despite warnings. Instead of the university message being “don’t party,” realistically, it makes more
sense for the message to be “here’s how to party responsibility,” with helpful tips like these: -Try to avoid large gatherings where you don’t know a lot of the people, as you have no way of knowing who they have come into contact with. If there is any doubt, the safer option is stay home and watch Netflix where the virus can’t get you. -If having people over, keep crowds small, try to stay socially distant, or even move the party outside to prevent being in a compact space where the virus can spread more easily. -That vape your friend might have might look enticing, but don’t use it. Avoid sharing drinks and participate in activities that can be executed while abiding by social distancing guidelines. In fact, regulation beer pong is played on an eight-foot table, so it can be played while being distant, as long as you’re of legal drinking age and drink responsibly, of course. As is the case with most things in life, try to use logic and reasoning in these situations. It’s foolish to assume every college student will willingly opt-out of traditional university drinking, but if that is important to you as a student, be considerate of the circumstances. As nice as it is to see old friends and feel a return to normalcy, nobody wants to see someone they love in the hospital because they shared a red solo cup or hugged an old roommate. It could be your professor, an essential worker or yourself.
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
AUGUST 10, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
A5 | NEWS
FINANCIAL AID
Alumnus offers student loan help via Zoom BY OLIVIA FELLOWS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
Attending a college or a major university comes with a lot of challenges, and for many students, one of those hurdles is managing student loan debt during and after their time in school. One GVSU alumnus decided to take his skills in finance and put them to work, helping students understand their student loan options in online Zoom meetings, completely free of charge. Zach Dzialowski, a 2020 GVSU graduate, said he got the idea to reach out to students after hearing from many of his friends and his girlfriend about their struggles to manage their student loan debt. “After seeing how much my girlfriend struggled to understand her options and seeing just how many there were, I realized that if she needed my help to understand her options, then others might too,” Dzialowski said. “We learned a lot just working with the two of us, and saw that there are options and ways to configure things to speed up the paying-off process a lot, and I wanted to be able to share that knowledge with other students.” Dzialowski graduated from GVSU with a bachelor’s in business administration in accounting and finance and went on to complete an internship with New York Life before starting his own financial practice this year. He said that his time working at his internship helped him to realize the good he could do for students through his own practice. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dzia-
lowski felt it was an opportunity to connect with even more students considering the increase in usage of online services. Currently, he is offering meetings with clients through Zoom. He is also available upon request for in-person, socially-distanced meetings. Dzialowski decided to make his services free to students because he felt like charging them for help with understanding student loan debt might not look great, and he wanted to have as positive and helpful interactions with clients as possible. “I saw that a lot of students just don’t have the resources, or don’t know how to reach out to for help, and I wanted to put my name out there,” Dzialowski said. “I felt that it would be beneficial and faster for both me and other students if I reached out through Facebook, it’s been giving me more practice in my field and helping people learn about their loan payment options at the same time for free, so it’s really a win-win.” In terms of what services Dzialowski offers, he explained that he has extensive knowledge of a number of student loan programs and what options they offer for students. Dzialowski said that the struggle that many students have is understanding every part of what taking a loan means, and he can help explain in more simple terms what each loan program payment timeline is and what loopholes exist that can help you pay off your loans faster. The average debt load for Michigan public university graduates rose by more than $10,000 between 2007-08 and 2017-18. Even after adjusting for inflation, that is a 24% increase. According to student debt loan sta-
GIVING BACK: Alumnus Zach Dzialowski reached out to students to offer help with financial aid and student loans via Zoom meetings, especially amid the pandemic. COURTESY | ZACH DZIALOWSKI
tistics from The Institute for College Access & Success, an estimated 20% of student loan borrowers were behind with their payments. Dzialowski said that having even one resource, like his financial services, can help take a lot of the weight off of your shoulders. His main goal is to help people feel more at ease in their understanding of whatever program they are paying through and get more students free from the burden of loans. Dzialowski said that for students who want help, the easiest way to contact him
is to find him on Facebook and send him a message. “I have a whole process that I take my clients through, it’s step by step and I’ve gotten great feedback from people and friends I’ve worked with already,” Dzialowski said. “I do a lot at my practice outside of helping with student loan debt so I can also consult for other financial questions that people might have, all you need to do is reach out and I am happy to help.”
MENTAL HEALTH
Student anxiety levels on the rise as classes resume BY MACKENZIE KELLER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
NERVES: Students say they are anxious about returning to campus, especially amid rising health risks. COURTESY | THE WASHINGTON POST
With the state of the world being as uncertain as it is these days, the student population of Grand Valley State University is no exception to the chaos. In a voluntary Lanthorn survey, 44 returning students shared their thoughts on stress levels and safety regarding returning to campus this fall. When asked about their mental health, over 90% of students responded that they felt their anxiety levels have been higher, and 78% responded that they felt that their mental health had been suffering. Recognizing the decline in one’s mental health can be challenging and many people struggle to cope with the changes. Many respondents said that they turned to friends, family and especially pets as a sign of comfort. Others found that therapy was a good way to calm their thoughts. Over half of the students responded that at one point in their time at GVSU, they utilized the services at the counseling center. However, most indicated that they were not planning on continuing to use those services.
“Yes, I am aware of the Campus Counseling Center, but I have had poor experiences with them,” said one sophomore, who preferred to remain anonymous. “I prefer to seek therapy outside of the school.” “Over the phone counseling (was) super helpful at the start of COVID,” said junior Melissa Smith. While it may not be right for everyone, the GVSU counseling center is available for students to make appointments. Along with individual counseling, they also offer a variety of group sessions. Currently, sessions are conducted virtually, but the Center hopes to move to hybrid counseling sessions as the semester progresses. The matter of returning to physical classes is another source of anxiety for many students. While comfort levels for returning to physical classes creates almost an even split, more than 75% of respondents reported that they were most comfortable taking classes that were hybrids or completely online. “I’m immunocompromised, and it’s ridiculous to expect us to go back to in person classes with where Michigan is today — we aren’t even close to slowing the spread,” said junior Katherine Park-
er. “I’m not going into a classroom. That would be the absolute worst thing we could all do right now.” Online learning is not ideal for other students. It is harder for some people to learn virtually and they often require face-to-face interactions to comprehend the material fully. “I have hybrid classes anyway, and I feel that with a limited exposure to people and a few weeks in between every in-person meeting, that we should be able to recognize if we are having COVID symptoms,” said junior Lauren Mroczek. “I also think in-person classes are important for learning purposes, but to decrease the spread of COVID, hybrid classes are the best options for learning and health safety.” Overwhelmingly, most students are concerned with the health-related dangers of returning to physical classes and the motivational issues of online learning. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
A6&7 | NEWS
AUGUST 10, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
Allendale statue controversy reopens history’s old wounds BY OLIVIA FELLOWS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
In recent weeks, following the brutal murder of George Floyd while he was in police custody, protests have erupted in all 50 states and around the world. Along with protests, several states have seen community outrage and calls for removal memorials and statues that have historical ties to the Confederacy. In June, at least 22 cities either removed or approved removal of Confederate monuments, and locally, the Allendale and GVSU community opened up the debate further after several residents raised concerns over a statue located in Allendale Community Park. The statue, dedicated July 5, 1998, was a part of Allendale’s 150th founding celebration, and is in the Veterans Garden of Honor in the park. Its sculptor is Joyce Sweers of Holland, who has reportedly done other sculptures in West Michigan. The statue depicts a Union soldier and a Confederate soldier standing over a crouching slave child holding a sign that reads “freedom to slaves.” Initially, the controversial statue was brought to the township’s attention by the Michigan Association of Civil Rights Activists (MACRA) and member Mitch Kahle. a wellknown Muskegon civil rights activist who cited the statue as racist, offensive and insensitive towards the Black community. MACRA and Kahle proposed to the Township Board that the Confederate soldier, the Confederate flag, and the African slave boy be removed entirely from the display, and the statue of the Union soldier holding the American flag should remain, along with the other individual statues of veterans representing each of America’s wars. “Symbols of white supremacy and racism have no place in any public ‘Garden of Honor’ or veterans’ memorial.” Kahle said, “There is currently a nationwide movement to remove Confederate flags and other racially insensitive images and symbols of the Confederacy from public property. By removing the racially insensitive statues, the township will send a clear message of inclusion to the entire community.” Kahle also noted that the statue has a glaring historical mistake; the statue date on the plaque
that the slave child is holding lists a June 5 1863 date, but Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863, and slaves were not freed until June 19, 1865. Kahle says that the statue should have been re-assessed long ago due to this blatant inaccuracy, and that changes need to be made to correct it. Many in opposition to the statue cite the issue with the glorification of the Confederacy as a historical reference when the institution only lasted five years, from 1861 to 1965. Another major issue brought to light was that the Confederacy fought the Civil War to retain their right to own slaves, a fact which some think shouldn’t be memorialized. Those fighting for the statue to remain point to the erasure of history as a reason to avoid complete removal. A June 27 protest at the community park was attended by both those in support for removal and those defending the statue’s right to remain. In response to calls for removal, Township Supervisor Adam Elenbaas organized meetings and a vote to determine the statue’s fate. Elenbaas said he wanted to give everyone in the community a chance to voice their opinion on the issue, and that he received thousands of emails from both students and residents that he read fully and individually. “There are passionate viewpoints all around the issue, and different perspectives on what the Civil War statue represented in the past and what they mean today,” Elenbaas said. “Many people want the statue to stay, saying it is a Civil War statue with both sides shown and that it is not a celebration of the Confederacy, and others want it to come down, saying that it represents support of slavery. When adding new statues, the township wants to make sure they are inclusive.” During the township meetings, several ideas for improvement and adjustment were proposed, including creating plaques to describe each statue — including all of the other statues in the garden — an interactive experience where people could share their thoughts about the different statues and adding new more inclusive statues. Following the meeting, several armed residents who defended the statue stood to protect it from those who might try to deface or remove it by force.
PROTESTING IN WAVES: Protestors and counter-protesters alike gathered in Allendale Community Park over the summer to share their stances on the controversial statues. COURTESY | MICHIGAN RADIO
OVERCOMING CONTROVERSY: The Allendale statue controversy arose amid a national movement to reconsider the public display of Civil War era statues and memorials. Allendale’s statue was brought into the spotlight by long-time activist Mitch Kahle who claimed that the statue was racist, offensive and intensive to the Black community. The critique ignited a passionate community conversation. COURTESY | ELI ONG
As news of the statue controversy spread to the Grand Valley State University community, many students acted by emailing the township and calling for action or sharing on Facebook. One anonymous group of students chose to physically protest the statue by covering it with plastic and notes highlighting its racist roots. Following the large outpour student response, on June 2,5 GVSU President Philomena Mantella issued a letter to the Township Supervisor, urging the removal and relocation of the statue, and focusing on looking towards more inclusive historical memorials and education for the community. “I believe a position, absent options to move us forward, is insufficient,” Mantella said in a letter to Elenbaas, “The harm and symbolism the statue represents to our Black and underrepresented community is real, no matter the intentions of the artist. I would request consideration of relocating it within the township to a space that would allow for proper historical context and dialogue. We offer to be a part of deepening and understanding about the Civil War, slavery, inclusion and why statues such as this arouse passion and pain.” Mantella and Jesse Bernal, GVSU Vice President for Inclusion, Equity and Presidential Initiatives, said that they will continue to work with the township to find solutions to community issues that affect both the Allendale residents and the GVSU community. During the township’s June 30 meeting and vote, the ultimate decision was made to allow the statue to remain where it stands in the community park. The decision followed more public outcry, both positive and negative, towards the statue remaining in the park. While some see the decision as a win for preserving and documenting history, others see it as an example of political and social turmoil. Users on social media platforms called out township leaders for not following proper COVID-19 social distancing guidelines at their meetings, including wearing and requiring masks for attendees and board members. The meeting vote was attended by over 50 people, and Michigan state health guidelines at the time highlighted the risks of holding in-person town meetings with large crowds. Many cited the immediate danger this poses to the Black community in Kent county regarding COVID-19. Today, 19.16 percent of Grand Rapids is African American, and nationally, African-American deaths from COVID-19 are nearly two times greater than would be expected based on their share of the population. Eli Ong, a GVSU multimedia journalism program alum who has been documenting the social unrest and protests in Grand Rapids over the past months, said that the statue controversy is part of a larger whole in terms of issues surrounding racism and civil rights. Ong said that covering the issues as a student journalist has opened his eyes to a lot of the issues that have been being neglected, and that making small community changes like removing a controversial statue is important to contributing change and education on a larger basis. “Any statue signifying anything related
to the Confederacy should have a clear definition or purpose of what it is there for, and since the statue does not clearly do that, it should at the very least be moved to a different location where it can be,” Ong said, “It should also include a plaque accurately describing the roles that each side played, the Confederacy was and will always be a group of treasonous racists who deserve to be remembered for exactly just that.” As for continued efforts to remove or relocate the statue, Mitch Kahle said that he and MACRA will continue to fight for its removal and advocate for appropriate education of historically controversial issues. Both Kahle and Elenbaas said they encourage people to voice their opinions on this and future issues, and that the community outreach helps the township know what next steps to make based on public comment. “The diverse student body and faculty at Grand Valley State University should demand removal of the offending statues in the name of civic decency and fair treatment by government in the public square,” Kahle said, “By supporting removal of the offending statues, students and residents alike can affirm their solidarity as anti-racists in 2020 who will not tolerate the degrading and demeaning treatment of African Americans or other minorities and people of color.”
STANDING PROUD: Some voices found both soldiers worth venerating. Others vehemently disagreed with the stance. COURTESY | ELI ONG
A8 | ARTS &ENTERTAINMENT
AUGUST 10, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS
LAKER EFFECT
Alumna gives Indigenous peoples a voice in Vogue BY MARY RACETTE ARTS@LANTHORN.COM
After graduating from Grand Valley State University in 2011, photographer Rosa Maria Zamarron has not backed down from a challenge as she pursues her career in documentary photography in Southwest Detroit. Recently, her work was featured in Vogue, one of America’s top fashion and lifestyle magazines. As four indigenous women stood in the place of what once was the Christopher Columbus monument, Zamarron snapped a photograph that moved Vogue writer Christian Allaire enough to reach out to her for an article. “What I’m working towards is making meaningful work that gives a voice to those who need the platform,” Zamarron said. “If an editor reaches out with interest, that’s great, but it doesn’t stop me from creating the work that’s important.” While she sees having work featured in a prominent publication as an accomplishment, she primarily values her work as an outlet for underrepresented people to share their voice. Before the colonization of the area that is now known as Detroit, the land was named Waawiiyaatanong. The women in Zamarron’s photo are part of the Waawiiyaatanong Resurgence and one of the goals of the movement is to decolonize spaces. By being published in Vogue, the movement has been given a broader platform to be heard. The photo featured in Vogue is part of an
ongoing project that focuses on decolonization. More of her work related to the lives and advocacy of Native Americans can be found at her website rosamariazamarron.com. In addition to her documentary photography, Zamarron works with local nonprofits in Southwest Detroit to teach photography to the youth. “I want to be a resource for young photographers,” Zamarron said. “It’s important to give back to the community that raised you and has supported you. I also love seeing what the youth can create, And I learn a lot from them. We need to provide our youth with the tools to be able to take control of their own narrative and expression especially in these historical times. I believe photography is a great medium for that.” As a woman of color, Zamarron said it has not been an easy road, but she valued her time at GVSU because of the friends she met and the professors she was given the opportunity to work with. One of her favorite classes was Social Eye with professor Anthony Thompson because she learned how to create a complete visual narrative. Zamarron said Thompson was a major influence at GVSU as well as her thesis advisor. “What I remember most about Rosa Maria as a student was that she would challenge herself to overcome her fears and situations where she was uncomfortable — she didn’t take an easy path if the challenging one would make better work,” Thompson said.
DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY: GVSU alumna Rosa Maria Zamarron has not backed down from a challenge in her field, which has earned her a spot in Vogue. COURTESY | ROSA MARIA ZAMARRON
Zamarron turned in environmental portraits of people in a neighborhood of Detroit for an assignment in Thompson’s class. He still shows his students this work because he said it shows her ability to establish a rapport with her subjects. Other than the photography courses she took at GVSU, Zamarron said there were many communication and other general electives that
set the program apart. “I think being able to take all of these classes and learning as much as I can really has helped shape my career in terms of my documentary and photojournalism work,” Zamarron said. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
ART
Grand Rapids Art Museum welcomes guests once again BY MARY DUPUIS ARTS@LANTHORN.COM
After being closed for months for the health and safety of staff and visitors, the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) has reopened to the public. The museum held a soft opening for GRAM members July 25, 28 and 30, and a public reopening Aug. 1. Director and CEO Dana Friis-Hansen was thrilled to welcome guests back to the museum. But, she is aware that now, more than ever, safety is of the utmost importance. “The well-being of our staff, volunteers, and guests remains our top priority, and we’re excited to reopen our doors with en-
hanced precautions and limited hours so our visitors can safely enjoy the transformational power of art,” Friis-Hansen said. Some of the new precautions GRAM is taking include changes to ticket sales, new safety protocols and enhanced cleaning of the museum. As of now, all guests are encouraged to reserve their admission tickets online prior to their visit. According to a news release on GRAM’s website, when tickets are purchased, online members receive free admission and all non-members receive a 10-percent discount. While purchasing their tickets online, guests can select their 30-minute
entrance window for their visit. GRAM asks that once guests arrive, they limit their stay to two hours. Before guests are able to enter the museum, their temperature is taken. Face masks are also required for everyone over the age of two inside the museum. Masks are provided if a guest does not have one. Capacity is limited by the online ticketing system, however, guests are still asked to social distance from one another. In order to limit the crossing paths of guests as well as the number of physical touchpoints throughout the museum, there is a oneway traffic flow for visitors to follow. As for cleaning, GRAM has hand sani-
tizing stations accessible for visitors at all entrances as well as in common gallery spaces. The museum has also increased their normal cleaning to include routine cleanings of high traffic areas and touchpoints, and daily deep cleans when closed to the public. Bag check has been suspended and GRAM asks that guests do not bring large bags to the museum. Some areas and furniture will also be unavailable. The museum does not plan to resume normal programming and interactive activities now that it has reopened. However, it may begin to offer special programs that can be done at a safe distance from one another. Before GRAM closed, their exhibitions “A New State of Matter: Contemporary Glass” and “Useful Beauty: Design Highlights from the Permanent Collection” were on display. According to a press release from GRAM, these exhibitions have been extended to Oct. 4 and Nov. 1, respectively, in order to allow more visitors to have a chance to see them. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com
PRETTY IN PAINT: This wall is one of the many art exhibits that visitors of the Grand Rapids Arts Museum (GRAM) can see, as the GRAM is welcoming guests for the first time this summer. The public reopening of the museum took place last Saturday and doors are now open. GVL | MEGAN LANDGREN
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A9 | LAKER LIFE
AUGUST 10, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE
A LOOK AT LIFESTYLE
EDUCATION
GV PROFESSOR OFFERS VIRTUAL CAMP TO HIGH SCHOOL MUSICIANS
Making the move to virtual research
Being a musician in 2020 has definitely had its ups and downs. Despite having more time to practice their instruments, musicians have not had the opportunity to perform collaboratively with other musicians or in front of a live audience due to COVID-19. Assistant professor of piano at Grand Valley State University Sookkyung Cho offered a virtual piano experience for high school students who have already had a significant amount of piano training under their belt. The 2020 GVSU Virtual Piano Camp provided 18 high school musicians with the opportunity to engage in virtual piano lessons from Cho and nine other guest artists from around the world.
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LowellArts decides to celebrate the Fallasburg Arts Festival in a new way LowellArts is not letting the pandemic keep them from holding the tradition that has been held since 1968. The Falladburg Arts Festival will go on, but this year, it will be virtual. The festival is typically a fundraiser for LowellArts and other community non profits. Typically, the outside festival involves fine arts, food vendors, crafts and life music. Organizers of the festival are currently developing the finalized plans for the virtual experience that will take place Sept. 19-20.
CARES ACT OFFERS AID TO STUDENTS DURING PANDEMIC HARDSHIP
Are you or a student you know struggling financially because of circumstances caused by COVID-19? If so, Grand Valley State University is one of many schools benefiting from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act in order to prevent pandemic-created student hardship. The university has been granted $9 million from the $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill, so students in need of aid shouldn’t hesitate to reach out for assistance. Those interested in applying for a Financial Hardship Grant can do so by visiting the Financial Aid page at gvsu.edu/lakerstogether or by calling the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at (616) 331-3234.
STUDENTS MOVE BACK TO CAMPUS HOUSING
As the beginning of fall semester approaches, Grand Valley State University’s previously closed campus is becoming more and more active with those planning on living in Allendale for the upcoming academic year. This August, however, move-in is going to be a little different than normal, as will life in campus housing. In order to facilitate social distancing, Campus Housing has scheduled specific move-in dates and times for incoming residents. Masks are a must, as well as limiting the number of people helping students move in as much as possible; after move-in, the only guests allowed in GVSU living centers will be other housing residents. In addition, Housing is expecting students to clean common areas like bathrooms and kitchens more frequently,
BY KATHERINE ARNOLD LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM
Throughout the nation’s experience with COVID-19, university organizations and programs across the country have been forced to halt operations in favor of keeping their members safe during the ever-changing minefield of a global pandemic. While many would have preferred to find an online alternative, many groups were forced to recognize that their work wasn’t easily transferred to a virtual setting. Internships were cancelled, research paused and everyone forced to take a close look at what it means to work in an online format different from one that we have ever had to work with before. For GVSU organizations like McNair Scholars and Student Summer Scholars, the question wasn’t if they could translate their work to a virtual model, but rather how. These and other programs are typically based on students conducting research that they are passionate about, whether this means they are in a wet lab, library archives, or out in nature. Office of Undergraduate Scholarship Director Susan Mendoza categorized the decision to go digital as one of necessity. “These programs pay students’ wages and provide invaluable opportunities to conduct independent scholarship,” Mendoza said. “In a time of disruption and chaos, continuity provides a semblance of normalcy. We wanted to provide the summer research experience, albeit a bit modified.” The first step in the transition from
SHARING AND LEARNING: Students share research as part of the Student Summer Scholars program. The program translated to a virtual model this year. COURTESY | STUDENT SUMMER SCHOLARS
in-person to virtual for students, professors and faculty was making sure that the research could be performed without access to a lab or in the field. For most, this meant taking a week to reevaluate the research they wished to do and how they could do it within their current limitations. From this shift, the start date was adjusted, the program requirements changed, and the program schedules shifted to accommodate the sudden change in research strategies. For Mendoza, much of the shift wasn’t as bad as it seemed. “Many of the decisions we made about going virtual were easy in retrospect,” Mendoza
said. “Shifting programs, managing Zoom breakout rooms, realigning expectations, those tasks are tangible and manageable. There were challenges in implementation, but the greatest challenges presented themselves in areas we could not easily control.” Those areas were the changes in mandates concerning COVID-19, and how they could safely open wet labs with new mandated restrictions of social distancing and sanitation. Additionally, technology was required to keep every research participant in contact with one another. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
CURRICULUM
Art faculty adapts to remote instruction BY YSABELA GOLDEN LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM
As the community at Grand Valley State University awaits the beginning of the fall semester on Aug. 31, many students are wondering how previously face-to-face methods of instruction will transfer to hybrid classes — and many faculty members are preparing for the possibility that a spike in COVID-19 cases could force their partially in-person lesson plans to go fully online. For the subjects of certain classrooms, like
MAKE A HOUSE A HOME: Art curriculums are shifting to online classes. GVL | XAVIER GOLDEN
art, lab science or physical education, digital instruction may not even seem like a sufficient stand-in for the more ideal experiences of previous years. How is an art student supposed to learn metalsmithing techniques like fabrication or embellishment without studio time in the workshops of Calder Fine Arts Center? How do geology students learn how to identify rock specimens without physical access to samples or microscopes? These are problems that many GVSU faculty had to solve on the fly when on-campus classes were abruptly cancelled March 12. One such faculty member, professor Hoon Lee, was faced with the challenge of teaching a ceramics class when his at-home students no longer had access to a kiln. His solution? An artistic medium more traditionally exercised in the home than in the studio. One student’s “gingerbread cookie project.” “The gingerbread cookie project was an assignment for my remote ART 275 Introduction to Ceramics class,” Lee said. “Students researched multiple traditional and contemporary ceramics, then developed ideas and concepts from their own research to create a
project using gingerbread cookie materials and processes instead of ceramics. The goal is to get the students to think differently about the relationship between material and process – between food and ceramics.” Even before the winter semester shifted online, Lee had discussed the connection between the two disciplines with his ceramics students. “There are plenty of similarities between the ceramic and culinary arts,” Lee said. “There are commonalities in the process of making and the tools used. Kneading dough and wedging clay; baking and firing; icing and glazing. “When you make a dish, you should always think of the food that will be in the dish and the dish that contains the food. The dish must not overshadow the food it contains. The food dictates all aspects of the dish. There is an old proverb that states ‘be unpretentious but not unattractive.’ This proverb applies well to dishes. Another states ‘be luxurious but not flashy.’ This proverb applies well to food. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
A10 | SPORTS QUICK HITS
AUGUST 10, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
SPORTS
CASSIDY BOENSCH RECEIVES GLIAC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD
GVSU woman’s basketball alumna Cassidy Boensch has received a high honor for her success on the court and in the classroom. The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has awarded Boensch the female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. Boensch earned her bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences this year with a 3.92 GPA. Her excellence in the classroom is matched by her dominating presence on the basketball court. Last year, Boensch helped lead the Lakers to a 28-3 record. She averaged 19.9 points, 9.3 rebounds and shot 58% from the floor. Unfortunately for her and the team, the season was tragically cut short before Boensch could truly take off in the NCAA tournament. Regardless of what transpired at the end of the 2020 season, Boensch has left her legacy at GVSU. She ends her tenure as a Laker as the all-time leader in games played at 129. She’s scored 1,826 points and brought in 989 rebounds.
MAC CANCELS FOOTBALL SEASON
The Mid-American Conference (MAC) has canceled the fall football season for 2020. Not only were concerns about player and coach safety factors at the forefront of this decision, but there were financial concerns as well. With no out-of-conference games on the schedule and championships canceled, there simply wasn’t enough money to sustain the football season. For example, the MAC games played out of conference, like in the Big Ten, can bring in millions of dollars to the program. Without this extra cash flow, the MAC is the first Division I conference to cancel its football season. Other dominos are sure to fall soon with other conferences, including the fate of GLIAC and GVSU’s football season. MAC and other conferences who decide to cancel will look towards spring to play once again.
SAFETY FIRST: Due to financial constraints and safety concerns, Division II fall sports, including GVSU football among others, will not have championships this season. Head coach Matt Mitchell thinks this has underlying effects for the upcoming football season too. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS
GV slated to play conference-only schedule for fall sports, club sports games on hiatus BY ZACK GOODROW SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State University sports took a hiatus earlier this spring, but word has finally broken about sports resuming play in the fall. On Friday, July 24, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) voted to play only conference games for the fall 2020 season. After uncertainty about the restart of GVSU sports over the past few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, it looks like football, volleyball, soccer, cross country and women’s tennis will compete once again. Playing an conference-only schedule will give Laker athletes extra time to get
practices and in-game attendance will likely be severely different. The safety of players and coaches has been the main priority for GLIAC athletic directors and trainers for the past several months. With NCAA and CDC recommendations, the group has updated schedules and created safe competition protocols. These protocols include consistent COVID-19 testing, safe training for teams, and precautions for travel. “We recognize that student-athletes are anxious to return to campus and their teams,” said GLIAC Commissioner Kris Dunbar. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
FALL UPDATE
Presidents Council cancels seven fall sport championships
HUNTER RISON JOINS LAKERS FOOTBALL
Hunter Rison is the newest addition to the Lakers’ wide receiver corp. He is the son of Andre Rison, former Pro Bowl star wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs. In 2017, the younger Rison played at Michigan State University and caught 19 passes for 224 yards. After the season, he transferred to Kansas State. After sitting out of 2018 because of transfer rules, Rison found himself in legal trouble as the 2019 season began and was arrested for domestic battery, in which he pleaded guilty. Kansas State suspended him and he transferred to Fullerton College in California. At the junior college, he recorded 36 catches for 604 yards and seven scores. A Michigan native, Rison is on his way back home announcing late last month he would be a Laker. When the time comes to get back on the field, Rison can be used as a new weapon for the team.
back to campus, go through COVID-19 monitoring protocols, and the ability to hold preseason contests. “At this time we felt like moving to a conference only schedule would allow each of our GLIAC member institutions the opportunity to take more time and evaluate the health and safety concerns of our student-athletes, coaches and athletics personnel,” said GVSU Athletic Director Keri Becker. “We will continue to gather information on the best and most practical protocols that need to be administered on a sport-by-sport basis and that is an ongoing process.” This is great news for athletes and Grand Valley State fans alike, but as while fall sports will resume, the conditions of
BY ZACK GOODROW AND KELLEN VOSS SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
FALL SPORTS IN LIMBO: With fall championships cancelled, Coach Mitchell is not optimistic about the fall season happening. GVL | ARCHIVE
More sad news has developed regarding Grand Valley State University’s fall sports for 2020. As of Aug. 5, the Division II Presidents Council has decided to cancel all seven fall sport championships. Championships may be postponed until the spring to ensure the health and safety of players, or be outright eliminated. While he has been trying to stay optimistic for most of the Summer, GVSU football head coach Matt Mitchell has been coming to grasps with the somber news. “I do not think we’re going to be playing this year,” Mitchell said. “You try to stay optimistic, but it feels like the writing has been on the wall.” There were several factors that affected the difficult decision the Presidents Council made. One of the most important aspects was the logistical side
of maintaining player and coaching staff health during the season. Division II teams were required to apply the resocialization principles set by the NCAA to sustain player safety as the COVID-19 outbreak surges. These principles include daily self-health checks, wearing masks, social distancing, outdoor practices and individuals with highrisk exposure quarantining for 14 days. The league also dictated that if 50% of the conferences decided to suspend their seasons, no championships would take place. As it stands now, 11 of the 23 Division II conferences have concluded they will not compete in the 2020 seasons. With less than barley half of the conferences postponing fall sports, the Presidents Council went forward to revoke championship games. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
AUGUST 10, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
A11 | SPORTS
FOOTBALL
GVSU Football reacts to Black Lives Matter protests, gettting closer in tough times BY KELLEN VOSS ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM
When Grand Valley State Football coach Matt Mitchell saw the video of George Floyd being killed at the hands of Derek Chauvin and the three officers who watched it happen, he was shocked, disgusted and appalled. He felt similar feelings in the early hours of May 31, when he saw Grand Rapids, a city that himself and many of his team members call home, become covered in broken glass after riots. “The video was shocking, and the destruction of Grand Rapids was tragic, but it was great to see the city, including our players and coaches, helping to clean up the city,” Mitchell said. There hasn’t been a lot of talk about football over the past few weeks, as Mitchell has focused his energy on helping his players through this tough dialogue while making his voice heard. He joined his family and players in protests this past Saturday, June 6. He and his players have kept in touch through group chats, where the young men could speak freely about their feelings during this tumultuous time in American history. Mitchell has made sure to reach out and
FaceTime every player of color on the team from June 3-5, checking up on their mental being personally, with scheming for the upcoming season being the last thing on his mind. “This has been a tough time for our country these last few weeks, but our players have been responding beautifully,” Mitchell said. “I’ve learned a lot from their thoughts and experiences” Mitchell and his staff have taken the time to make sure to have a dialogue about the current issues in the country, which he believes has helped to bond the team in a COVID-19 world where face-to-face contact is limited. “We’re bringing a few guys to talk to the team, including (counselor) Anthony Adams and (special associate to the athletic director) Damon Arnold to talk to the guys about their thoughts on this,” Mitchell said. “In a weird way, I feel like everything happening has brought our team closer together — honoring not just Floyd, but the unjust killings of Breanna Taylor and so many others” At this point in the summer, all workouts are voluntary, as players are on their own to stay in shape for the next month. Mitchell and his staff are allowed to bring players on campus in limited groups starting July 6,
and the whole team won’t be back together fully until team camp starting August 10. While Mitchell believes it could be weird to possibly play football games in the fall with no fans in stands, he believes that getting back into football soon can help his players’ mental health. With the proper health precautions in place, football can be a way to take their minds off of what has been a year that has so far felt like it has lasted a decade. “I think that getting back to playing football in the fall will be good for our players and
coaches mental health,” Mitchell said. “We will take every proper safety measure of course, and the idea of playing with no fans in the fall is a little jarring considering we’ve led D2 in attendance for 10 years now. At the same time, it goes back to the true competitors mentality, and will test whether or players can feed off their own energy rather than the crowd. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com
RALLYING TOGETHER: GVSU Head Coach Matt Mitchell and several GVSU Football players have participated in Black Lives Matter protests across Michigan this Summer. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS
WOMAN’S BASKETBALL
Women’s basketball head coach Mike Williams receives BCAM Coach of the Year award BY HOLLY BIHLMAN SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
COACH OF THE YEAR: GVSU’s Mike Williams has collected many accolades, with this award being the latest addition COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS
Despite the ongoing challenges that athletes and coaches have faced this year, Grand Valley State University’s women’s basketball team has found a silver lining in the midst of a shortened season. The Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan has named Mike Williams winner of the Women’s College Coach of the Year award. This award comes as little surprise considering the team’s outstanding performance in the 2019-2020 season. The season ended with a 28-3 overall record as well as a shot at winning a game for the GLIAC championships that was unfortunately canceled at the last minute. Williams has made quite the impact on GVSU’s women’s basketball program in the five years he has been head coach, with no plans of slowing down coming into his sixth season. Before his impressive track record with GVSU, Williams has coached for around 35 years at all levels from junior high to the big ten. His resume includes assisting on the coaching staff at the University of Michigan and taking over the Davenport program before returning to GVSU for the head coach
position. His first year was the 2015-2016 season, in which he took the team to the Final Four in the GLIAC Championships. Williams’ love for the sport stems back to his time as an athlete on the court. He always knew coaching was his calling. “Since I was a little kid I wanted to coach, I didn’t know what, but it was going to be football or basketball,” Williams said. “I just wanted to coach, and basketball happened to be the sport I ended up playing after high school.” One of the most important pieces of coaching is building a team atmosphere and creating relationships of trust and friendship both on and off the court. Those relationships are critical to GVSU’s overall success. There’s another important factor in the roots of GVSU’s success. “Building a team with this much success relies on creating an enjoyable atmosphere,” Williams said. “It’s a catch-22, you have to tie in hard work and you’ve got to be disciplined, but you also have to enjoy what you’re doing. We try to foster and develop self-motivation, whether academically, athletically, or just being a better person. We’ve got five rocks and number one is just be your best. You don’t have to be the best, but you have to be your best.”
This past season left both Williams and the players disheartened. At the same time, however, it opened up his perspective on the opportunity his athletes get once a year to succeed. Knowing that the seniors this past season were robbed of their last chance to bring home a trophy for GVSU stung a little more than a regular season loss at the end of a senior’s last game. It wasn’t just difficult for senior players, but for everyone involved in the great team last year that didn’t see the finish line. “You always kind of assess your chances of how far you can go as a team, and this was a great team,” Williams said. “The thing that struck me the most was, when it’s your last game, when the players are done, they’re done. As a coach you still have another shot at competing. This year it was like, I didn’t lose, but the players are done. It hurt more this year than any other year. We lost this opportunity, and we don’t want our players moving forward to take for granted the opportunities you have.” LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
AUGUST 10, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
A12 | SPORTS SWIMMING & DIVING
Jesse Goodyear continues training in Australia BY ZACK GOODROW SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
The summer of 2020 has been filled with turmoil for student-athletes at Grand Valley State University. With campus closing down in the middle of March and the start of quarantine in Michigan, the remainder of spring sports were suspended. Athletes were forced to leave campus, unable to train or practice with their teams. Until recent news was released on conference only schedules for fall sports, many athletes were left in limbo about the fate of the upcoming sports seasons. While it was extremely difficult for athletes to go home and be isolated from their teams and coaches, the challenges were greater for students who live outside the United States. One of those students, junior Jesse Goodyear, was forced to return to his home in Australia as the COVID-19 pandemic played out. Goodyear returned home on March 16. He lives just outside of Sydney, the largest city in Australia. The COVID-19 situation in Australia has arguably been managed better than here in the U.S. With significantly fewer cases than the United States, and even Michigan for that matter, Goodyear may be in a safer situation back at home. Regardless, he is still almost 10,000 miles away from his teammates
SWIM FOR SANITY: GVSU junior Jesse Goodyear swims to take his mind off the pandemic, as the athlete has been staying in shape in his home country of Austrailia COURTESY | JESSE GOODYEAR
and coaches and has dealt with his own country’s second surge of cases. “New South Wales, the state that Sydney is in, is seeing about 15 new cases a day,” Goodyear said. “However we border Victoria, which is currently going through a second wave. Masks are now mandatory and they’re recording up to 700 cases a day. Our border is now shut down, but fears are it may be too late to contain the crisis. It’s the worst we’ve seen in Australia. People in my city are becoming a little nervous. Sydney-siders are
being very careful and social distancing even though most restrictions have been lifted and most activities like schools are back.” Goodyear and his family have fortunately not been severely affected by the virus, even with the new breakout. Everyone is safe and healthy, and his parents have been able to work. This pandemic has left people feeling isolated and stressed, without support and contact with friends. Luckily for Goodyear, he has been able to isolate with his family and find comfort. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t experienced stress
and loneliness away from his teammates and closest friends. “I am always in contact with friends in the States and Europe,” Goodyear said. “I talked with my coaches just to keep in touch, which I found really helped me during the lockdown.” Goodyear has also found relief from the weight of the pandemic in what he does best: swimming. Even though it seems that the world has shut down, for the time being, training never ends for last year’s GLIAC Male Swimmer of the Year. Fifty minutes away from his home, Goodyear trained in a rock pool off the south coast of Sydney. With easy access to the pool, Goodyear has been able to prepare for GVSU’s upcoming season unlike many of his other teammates. Swimming back home in Australia didn’t come without challenges, however. “Due to the pool being hit by waves and coastal weather constantly, I couldn’t really do actual sessions,” Goodyear said. “I instead did 5 kilometers of straight swimming, which got incredibly boring. I would always remember how fortunate I was to have this luxury in these times...” LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
VOLLEYBALL
Lakers volleyball members eager to return for conference only play BY JOSHUA CARLSON SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) announced that fall sports are moving forward but with a twist: a conference-only schedule. Grand Valley State University Women’s Volleyball team will hopefully be returning to campus for competition soon, and questions are still yet to be answered due to the looming concern of COVID-19. Junior outside hitter Abby Graham knows that although the ability to play outside of the conference won’t be possible this season, the competition within the GLIAC will be at the same high-level it always is. “Personally, I was originally disappointed to find out that we were only having a conference schedule this season,” Graham said “We had some fun pre-season tournaments scheduled, and the crossover in Indiana is always great competition. However, considering everything going on, I think it is the safest and best option. I totally understand why they don’t want teams traveling far. The circumstance has made me grateful that we have such great competition within the GLIAC.” Junior Ali Thompson, a 2nd team All-GLIAC member and leader in kills for the Lakers in the 2019 season, is relieved
that there is a chance at playing this season. “I love that we are able to at least play our conference games this season, so I’m really hoping it continues as planned,” Thompson said. “It’s been a long time since we were all in the gym competing together, and I can’t imagine not being able to compete this fall. The message from the coaching staff has been, ‘be prepared.’ This is the motto that the army uses. They explained how we don’t know exactly when we are going to go into battle, so we need to be training hard to be prepared for whenever the time comes.” The coaching staff for the volleyball team has expressed to all players to just be prepared. All players plan to train hard and be battle-ready for whenever competition returns. Even though preparation is on the forefront of the players mind, they still have concerns about the upcoming season. “I have two main concerns going into the season,” Thompson said. “First, how is everyone going to be physically after so much time off? It’s been several months since we have all been together, so it’s hard to know if people really are in shape and strong. How are people doing with past injuries? How will people be able to perform skill-wise on the court? “My second concern is if we will have games or not. If we do have games, what will happen when somebody on our team or the
other team tests positive for COVID?” Sophomore Alyssa Torres, a Western Michigan transfer and new middle blocker for the Lakers, echoed Thompson’s concerns for how the time off will affect their play this season. “I am concerned not only for our team, but for our competition as well,” Torres said. “We won’t be nearly as well-rounded as we could be, had we had the adequate amount of time to be together in person as a team. We need time to strengthen our cohesiveness mentally and improve our physicality both individually and as a team on the court.”
Along with a conference-only schedule for athletes, there will be further unfamiliarity regarding education with the switch to hybrid and online-only classes for the fall semester. While not only adjusting to the new form of learning, they will also be handling the new normal as student athletes. “It is going to be a lot of time management and holding myself accountable.” LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
TEAM ON THREE: The GVSU Volleyball squad looks forward to moments like this in practice again, as they prepare for a conference-only schedule for the Fall 2020 season. GVL | MEGHAN LANDGREN