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M O N D A Y, F E B R U A RY 4 , 2 0 1 9 // VO L . 5 3 N O. 2 2

STUDENT LIFE

FINANCE

Evacuate the dance floor GV cancels President’s Ball amid severe weather conditions

GV leaders set sights on Lansing for additional funding BY JAMES KILBORN JKILBORN@LANTHORN.COM

know if the dance will be rescheduled, especially because this President’s Ball was to be GVSU President Thomas Haas’ last. “Extreme weather?” one student tweeted. “The weather on Friday was near the same as it was a couple weeks ago. Same temperature. People spent hundreds on this night and are now out that money.”

With a new congress sworn in this past January, members from Grand Valley State University will travel to Lansing to make a case for receiving additional state funding. GVSU President Thomas Haas and Student Senate President Rachel Jenkin plan to testify before the Michigan House of Representatives’ Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee on Thursday, Feb. 14. Funding for state institutions is contingent on a number of factors, such as graduation rates, research and development expenditures, undergraduate degrees in certain fields and percentage of students receiving Pell Grants. Vice President for University Relations Matt McLogan states that while GVSU is often at the top of these ratings, the amount of state funding is often non-proportional. “For the past seven years, the Snyder administration used a process by which selected performance data — such as retention, graduation rates and administrative efficiency — play a small part in the process, and Grand Valley has ranked first or second in each of those enactments,” McLogan said. “Unfortunately, the highperformance ranking hasn’t come with much new money. We don’t know yet if Governor (Gretchen) Whitmer will retain or change that model.”

SEE BALL | A2

SEE FUNDS | A2

BLUE BROTHER: Dawning his fedora and sunglasses, GVSU President Thomas Haas performes a number from “The Blues Brothers” during President’s Ball in 2016. What would have been Haas’ final President’s Ball on Feb. 1 was canceled due to severe weather conditions. The event is not intended to be rescheduled. GVL | ARCHIVE BY OLIVIA FELLOWS OFELLOWS@LANTHORN.COM

On Thursday, Jan. 31, the decision was made by Grand Valley State University’s Office of Student Life to cancel this year’s President’s Ball. The decision followed five consecutive snow days — a campus record. According to Associate Director of Student Life LeaAnn Tibbe, it was a difficult but necessary decision.

“I hope students understand that this was a tough decision and everyone at Student Life is disappointed,” Tibbe said. “However, due to campus being closed and classes canceled, we were forced to cancel the President’s Ball for students’ safety. Our view of the cancellation was that it was better to be safe than sorry with such bad weather and roads.” The President’s Ball is the second most student attended event

at GVSU outside of football games, and many students took to Twitter to express their disappointment in the canceling of the dance. With many expressing that they believed the dance still could have taken place despite the weather conditions and some students expressing frustration over purchasing appropriate clothing for the dance that they won’t get money back for. Others were desperate to

SNOW

GV cancels week of classes due to Polar Vortex, sets school record BY ALEXANDRA LOYD ALOYD@LANTHORN.COM

In the last week, Michigan has faced its coldest days since 1996, rightly claiming the week’s weather forecast title of Polar Vortex 2019. The temperatures hit record lows for the last two decades, with highs below zero and wind chills hitting 50 below zero in some parts of the state, making conditions dangerous for anyone that spends more than five minutes outside. This and the nearly two feet of snow were enough to close Grand Valley State University for the entire school week, breaking all kinds of records. “To my knowledge, this is unprecedented at GVSU — but then again, so is this weather,” said Associate Vice President for Facilities Services Tim Thimmesch. “The last time campus closed for two days in a row was back in the 1978 blizzard. (Closing for) five is a record.” When the university is closed, all classes are canceled and all buildings are closed except for those where essential staff work. Essential staff include the Department of Public Safety Services, Facilities Services, Food Service, Housing, Information Technology and

Fieldhouse Management. On Monday, Jan. 28, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency in order to address threats to public health and safety related to forecast. “It’s challenging because we’re looking at 25,000 students, and it’s hard to identify a solution that’s going to be the best for everybody,” said Assistant Director of Public Safety and Grand Valley Police Department Capt. Jeff Stoll. “A lot of it is looking at safety on the roads, because we don’t want to expose anyone to unnecessary danger. Walking to class in bad snow isn’t hazardous — it can be frustrating, but it isn’t hazardous. Commuters, though, are put more at risk in this weather.” Monday, Jan. 28 was the first snow day of the week for GVSU students and was declared on Sunday night before the predicted 11 inches of snow began to fall. Stoll said that closing the night before is rare, but that it speaks to the university’s desire to be proactive in making sure that all students are safe. Monday morning commuters may have been put at risk if they had waited until the morning to cancel classes, as the university

CABIN FEVER: Students pass the time indoors following a school day. Due to the Polar Vortex, GVSU canceled five days of school, setting a school record. The last time more than one consecutive school day was canceled was during the blizzard of 1978. GVL | KATHERINE VASILE

usually does. “It is certainly unusual to make the decision to close the night before, so I can’t remember when the last time that occurred, but the goal is always safety,” said Vice President for Administrative Services Scott Richardson. “We don’t want students, faculty or staff to take undue risks getting to campus.” Richardson said that the decision to close GVSU campuses is overall determined by his position, but that the decision

is a big discussion consisting of people from campus housing, facilities, public safety, GVPD and the president’s cabinet. “The two biggest players in the decision are (public safety) and facilities,” Stoll said. “Facilities services of course, is responsible for all of the maintenance staff, the custodial staff and most importantly for (bad weather), the grounds staff — those that are out plowing and cleaning up the snow.” Stoll said that GVPD and

public safety are responsible for not only focusing on the information related to GVSU’s campus, but the weather information for all surrounding cities, as students commute from all over the place. “When we’re looking at closing, it’s impacting all of west Michigan, not just our little spot in Allendale, so we’re pretty plugged into all the surrounding sheriff ’s offices and road commissions around,” Stoll said. “We see what information they’re pro-

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viding for us through the national weather service — we use a lot of open source media that we have available, that we condense and present to the president’s cabinet, where they make the final decision.” Most if not all K-12 schools and various universities in the Lower Peninsula closed for at least Wednesday and Thursday during the record low temperatures, but many universities in the Upper Peninsula remained open all week.

for students, faculty, & staff

FEBRUARY 4, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A2 | NEWS

BALL

NEWS BRIEFS COAT DRIVE ORGANIZED TO KEEP STUDENTS WARM IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES

With the below freezing temperatures that hit GVSU last week, it’s important to remember those who may be in need during some of the coldest months of the year. A coat drive is being held throughout winter semester as a helpful measure for student. The coats are being kept in room 133 in Lake Michigan Hall for those looking to make a selection. The drive is organized by the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Department of Movement Science as well as the student resource pantry, Replenish. Boxes have been placed around campus to accept gently used coats. Donations can be brought to the following locations: Lake Michigan Hall room 133, Kindschi Hall of Science room 4400-A, Mackinac Hall room C-1140, Steelcase Library, South D lobby and Recreation Center room D135. Those in need of resource assistance can reach out to the Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity.

GV SENIOR NAMED NEWSMAKER OF THE YEAR FOR BUSINESS STARTUP

A Grand Valley State University marketing and entrepreneurship student was named one of the “Grand Rapids Business Journal’s” Newsmakers of the Year. Katarina Samardzija, a senior at GVSU, was selected during an event on Friday, Feb. 1 for her business “Locker Lifestyle.” She started athletic accessory business nearly three years ago, with it winning the “startup” category at the event. Samardzija is also the winner of $10,000 during the 2017 Dolphin Tank event held at GVSU’s L. William Seidman Center as well as its “Best in Tank” award of $1,000. To view Samardzija’s products, visit www.lockerlifestyle.com.

DISABILITY SUPPORT RESOURCES MOVES TO THE CONNECTION, INCREASES SPACE

Grand Valley State University’s Disability Support Resources (DSR) moved offices to the Lynn M. Blue Connection Monday, Jan. 28. The new location provides more accessibility for students and faculty with its increased parking and access to a bus line nearby. DSR was formerly housed in the fourth floor of Zumberge Hall. The new location in the second floor of the Connection will provide DSR extra space for students to conduct exams or study as needed, said DSR Director Shontaye Witcher.

GV ECONOMIC ANALYST REVEALS SURVEY FINDINGS, PREDICTIONS FOR 2019

CONTINUED FROM A1

“I’m really bummed it was canceled because of weather, I think it was a possibility despite that,” another tweeted. “They should really just reschedule it — it’s T. Haas’ last year!” DJ Mark Witz, who was set to DJ the event alongside DJ Cool Breeze, said he was both shocked to see President’s Ball cancelled and sad to not work it for his ninth year in a row. Despite that, he said that he understands the university’s decision, but is especially sympathetic toward those who planned an event that was never realized. To give students an opportunity to have some sort of dance, DJ Mark Witz said he will be hosting an event at The Atrium in Grand Rapids at 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8. While he said it won’t be as large as President’s Ball, the duo of DJs will try and provide students with a night of music and dancing to make up for the cancellation. “I started looking at the social media posts online saying exactly what I thought they would,” DJ Mark Witz said. “It was heartbreaking and I had to help. Also, this was the first year I was going to share the stage with another cool DJ. We were undergrads together, but he now DJs primarily in the Detroit area. This was our chance to work a large GV event together. So we said ‘let’s

FUNDS

CONTINUED FROM A1

McLogan states that the governor’s upcoming budget proposal will outline her plans for higher education

still try to do something.’ That way, we still get to share a night and hopefully give a couple hundred students another event to look forward to.” As for ticket sales, Tibbe stated that both dance and dinner tickets will be refunded electronically to students in the coming days. Prior to the dance, the Office of Student Life had sold 500 dinner tickets within the first week of them going on sale, and around sold 4,000 dance tickets. As a reaction to the cancellation, the Office of Student Life boxed up more than 500 hot meals from the planned dinner and handed them out free of charge to people in need around the Grand Rapids area. Members of GVSU’s student senate were involved in the dance’s planning along with Laker Traditions, which helps in putting on the big events including President’s Ball and Battle of the Valleys. Student Senate Executive Vice President Morgan Mattler explained that members within student senate and Laker Traditions were very disappointed in having to cancel the dance, as they had planned an amazing evening for students. “I hope people will remember the incredible servant leadership that was exemplified in both President Haas as well as Student Senate President Rachel Jenkin in making this event possible,” Mattler said. “This night in general was supposed to be about making memories

with your fellow Laker community. I don’t believe it will be rescheduled, however I hope that a similar kind of event can still be put on at some point this school year.” Mattler also said that another major loss due to cancellation was the planned honoring of professor Star Swift with the S.A.F.E. (Student Award for Faculty Excellence) Award that was to take place at the dance. The award honors a faculty member who has consistently gone above and beyond to contribute to the wellness and success of GVSU and its students. Nominations were public until student senate chose the ultimate recipient. Swift was nominated by student senator Christina Dekoekkoek because of her dedication in the classroom and beyond. An associate professor of management in the Seidman College of Business, Swift is a pioneer of an open access curriculum, has created websites full of educational resources and pushes for increased accessibility on campus. Dekoekkoek said that Swift has acted as a “second mom” for many students and has worked hard to help make GVSU a better place. Due to the cancellation, Mattler said that there will most likely be some kind of event to recognize Swift and other award winners for their dedication to the university community and that more information will be provided when details have been decided. Nobody was more disap-

pointed in the cancellation of the dance than Haas himself, who would have had his final President’s Ball. Haas explained that the President’s Ball is more than just a dance, but a chance to continue a wonderful tradition that started years ago in Allendale, and has grown significantly over time. “I always look forward each year to the dinner and dancing, as we are all one together celebrating our great university,” Haas said. “I believe we have strong relationships with students, faculty and alumni and that is who we are.” Following cancellation, Haas wanted to share the reason why being GVSU’s president has been so meaningful to him, as well as some advice for current and future students. Haas said he hopes that students will focus on the positives that GVSU has instead of focusing on the unfortunate cancellation of the dance. “The best part of being president is interacting with our students and then seeing them when I travel as alumni,” Haas said. “I am so proud of all of our students who have chosen to be Lakers for a Lifetime. Enjoy all the opportunities at the university and continue to grow in leadership, in your relationships with faculty, mentors and coaches. We are trying our very best to create an environment where students can succeed.”

appropriations. With the governorship being held by Whitmer, a democrat, and Congress retaining a slight republican majority, a decision will have to reach a bipartisan consensus. “The governor’s budget

proposal will be released in March and then the House of Representatives and State Senate will conduct legislative hearings,” McLogan said. “Budget bills will emerge, be debated and voted upon by

lawmakers, and sent to the governor for her signature — or if she and lawmakers are in disagreement, veto.” Advocates for additional state funding at GVSU cite the university’s high performance rankings

Following a predictably strong 2018 economy, Paul Isely, professor of economics and associate dean in the Seidman College of Business, announced the results of his local survey and predictions for 2019 on Thursday, Jan. 31. Overall, Isely predicts that the local economy in 2019 will continue to grow, but at a lesser rate than it saw in 2018. The main thing holding the local economy back will be business owners pulling back on their investments, which may affect trade.

VOL . 53

NO. 22

Lan thorn EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief BRADY MCATAMNEY Associate Editor MCKENNA PEARISO Associate Editor LAUREEN HORAN News Editor NICK MORAN Sports Editor KELLEN VOSS Laker Life Editor AMY MCNEEL A&E Editor SARAH EDGECOMB Image Editor SHEILA BABBITT

CHEESING: GVSU President Thomas Haas poses for a photo with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Haas and Student Senate President Rachel Jenkin will be traveling to Lansing to lobby for higher state funding, especially directed at a widely new body. COURTESY | GVNOW

Layout Editor MAX GELDHOF Layout Designer VIVIANA RUBIO PROMOTIONS Promotions Manager HOLLIE PICKELMAN ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager JESSE BECKER Advertising Manager RACHEL MOORE BUSINESS STAFF Business Manager ALEXIS LAMB Asst. Business Manager RACHEL RUTGERS

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.

SEE ANSWERS | A10

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FEBRUARY 4, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

NEWS | A3

LAKER EFFECT

Grand Valley student cited as top Buzzfeed quiz maker, second-most driver of website traffic NICK MORAN & MCKENNA PEARISO NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Millions of users flocked to Buzzfeed’s website due to the work of a Grand Valley State University sophomore’s quiz-making prowess. Rachel McMahon, a communications studies major, was cited as Buzzfeed’s second largest driver of worldwide website traffic due to her nearly 700 quizzes she made for the website. McMahon said her quiz making started as a way to pass the time during her yearbook class at Hudsonville High School. When she discovered the ability to make quizzes in April 2017, she said she was hooked. “I used to have free time where my friend and I would take Buzzfeed quizzes our-

selves, and one day I came across the feature where I found out anyone could be making these quizzes and I thought it was so cool,” McMahon said. “I had to try it.” After creating several a week, the popularity of her quizzes took off, with some reaching over half a million views. While never in direct contact with Buzzfeed, her collaboration with some workers through a Facebook page both inspired her with quiz ideas and rewarded her with small gifts, such as Buzzfeed merchandise. Despite this, McMahon discussed that the only people who knew of her quizmaking talent was her family and close friends. But McMahon surfaced publicly following controversy

STIFLED STAFF: Former Director of Quizzes Matthew Perpetua cited McMahon’s prowess in his recent blog post. COURTESY | MUCK RACK

surrounding Buzzfeed layoffs that included the firing of Matthew Perpetua, its director of quizzes. Perpetua mentioned in a blog post that McMahon was a key example of community creators, which are a crucial, unpaid proponent of Buzzfeed’s quiz popularity. Perpetua noted that McMahon had a special insight for what Buzzfeed’s audience is entertained by, which explains her popularity. “I was aware that (McMahon) was one of the top-performing writers on the site, including staff,” Perpetua said. “I think Rachel just really understands the core appeal of a BuzzFeed quiz and knows how to entertain the audience. She also has an incredible work ethic, so the sheer volume of quizzes she made contributed to her being a traffic juggernaut and her getting better as a writer all the time.” The mention of McMahon’s widely unpaid labor drove her and other community contributors into the spotlight, with some claiming their work was a factor in the layoffs. While Perpetua said that Buzzfeed is making it clear that community is going to be their key player in quiz creation, McMahon said that she still feels partially responsible. “When I heard about the director of quizzes being laidoff after reading his blog post, I felt this giant weight on my shoulders,” McMahon said. “I had felt that I was a big contributing factor to why all these quiz-related Buzzfeed workers got laid off. Thankfully, I have

CONTENT CREATOR: GVSU student Rachel McMahon gained national attention following a blog post that credited her quiz creation with over one percent of Buzzfeed’s traffic. COURTESY | RACHEL MCMAHON

been receiving endless support on Twitter from people, from random strangers to even Buzzfeed workers, who have reassured me not to put the blame on myself because it isn’t my fault.” Perpetua said that McMahon’s potential was on his radar and wanted to give her a paid position, but was ultimately unable to. “I was looking into finding a way we could pay her, and my superiors and I were

trying to figure that out, but it stalled out,” Perpetua said. “I think in retrospect it’s obvious why that didn’t happen. The community had been used as a recruiting tool for a long time, and many, many people I worked with (were) hired through it. I was hoping that would work for her.” Following her time in the limelight, McMahon said she has decided to take a break with making quizzes and to reflect on the layoffs and new-

found opportunities. “It’s hard to say what my next steps are (going to) be at this point because I’ve just been flooded with notifications, interviews and even job offers,” McMahon said. “I do enjoy making Buzzfeed quizzes, but at least for now, I am taking a break from making them. I feel horrible for the employees who were laid off and with all these opportunities coming at me, I for sure need to take time to look into all of them.”

DISCUSSION

Seidman College of Business shares alumni insights through speeches BY SHILOH REYNOLDS SREYNOLDS@LANTHORN.COM

According to a 2017 report by Jeffrey Selingo at the Washington Post, business is currently the most popular major for college students in the United States. In fact, every year, almost 20 percent of all degrees given out by higher education institutions are in a business-related field, such as economics, finance or accounting. In the Fall 2018 semester at Grand Valley State University, 4,090 undergraduate students and 273 graduate students were enrolled in the Seidman College of Business, proving the statistics true. On Monday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m., these students, as well as non-business majoring students interested in business, are invited to attend the

ERP Speaker Series located in the Forum L. William Seidman Center. This event, which takes place twice per semester, is put on by GVSU’s Career Center, the Seidman ERP Program and the Enterprise System Student Union (ESSU). In the past, speakers have included businesspeople from Steelcase, Marathon, Spectrum Health and Stryker Inc. In addition, many speakers are alumni of the Seidman College of Business. This year, the main speaker is Tim Emelander, who graduated from GVSU in 2013 and now works at Priority Health as a project management and business analyst specialist. ESSU President Abby Matheson has been involved with the program for three

years. She was eager to join after finding the atmosphere of the group to be supportive. She noted that her involvement with ESSU has helped her to grow her resume and land an internship in the summer of 2018 at The Dow Chemical Company, where she worked on creating a Robotic Process Automation analytic bot. As president, she said that she now helps organize the ERP Speaker Series, as well as other business-related programs. “The ESSU and ERP programs go hand in hand when it comes to connecting students with people in the industry,” Matheson said. “(Faculty advisor Meagan Lutten-Knoll) or the ESSU president will reach out to various companies to see who is available to speak,

then we promote the event through our email updates and encourage management professors to tell their students about it.” Matheson believes that it is crucial for students interested in business to hear from professionals in the field because it allows them to gain exposure to a variety

of career paths. “I think that it’s very important for students to have the opportunity to connect with business professionals in a comfortable setting like the ERP Speaker Series,” Matheson said. “Our hope as an organization is to give students the tools to be able to build their personal network

with students and industry professionals, get an internship and then a full-time position by the time they graduate. Every event we host is in hope that we can give students exposure to different career paths in hopes that it will help them find their own.”

DO YOUR PART to conserve energ y Did you know that energy contests have a real effect on our campus costs?

Since the start of the Housing energy contest, the students have saved approximately $107,599!

CONSERVE ENERGY STARTING TODAY Facilities Services Energy Department

HOST WITH THE MOST: GVSU’s Seidman College of Business worked with GVSU’s Career Center, its ERP program and ESSU to host alumni presentations for its business students to learn from. GVL | ARCHIVE

FEBRUARY 4, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

NEWS | A3

LAKER EFFECT

Grand Valley student cited as top Buzzfeed quiz maker, second-most driver of website traffic NICK MORAN & MCKENNA PEARISO NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

selves, and one day I came across the feature where I found out anyone could be making these quizzes and I thought it was so cool,” McMahon said. “I had to try it.” After creating several a week, the popularity of her quizzes took off, with some reaching over half a million views. While never in direct contact with Buzzfeed, her collaboration with some workers through a Facebook page both inspired her with quiz ideas and rewarded her with small gifts, such as Buzzfeed merchandise. Despite this, McMahon discussed that the only people who knew of her quiz-making talent was her family and close friends. But McMahon surfaced publicly following controversy

STIFLED STAFF: Former Director of Quizzes Matthew Perpetua cited McMahon’s prowess in his recent blog post. COURTESY | MUCK RACK

surrounding Buzzfeed layoffs that included the firing of Matthew Perpetua, its director of quizzes. Perpetua mentioned in a blog post that McMahon was a key example of community creators, which are a crucial, unpaid proponent of Buzzfeed’s quiz popularity. Perpetua noted that McMahon had a special insight for what Buzzfeed’s audience is entertained by, which explains her popularity. “I was aware that (McMahon) was one of the topperforming writers on the site, including staff,” Perpetua said. “I think Rachel just really understands the core appeal of a BuzzFeed quiz and knows how to entertain the audience. She also has an incredible work ethic, so the sheer volume of quizzes she made contributed to her being a traffic juggernaut and her getting better as a writer all the time.” The mention of McMahon’s widely unpaid labor drove her and other community contributors into the spotlight, with some claiming their work was a factor in the layoffs. While Perpetua said that Buzzfeed is making it clear that community is going to be their key player in quiz creation, McMahon said that she still feels partially responsible. “When I heard about the director of quizzes being laidoff after reading his blog post, I felt this giant weight on my shoulders,” McMahon said. “I had felt that I was a big contributing factor to why all these quiz-related Buzzfeed workers got laid off. Thankfully, I have

CONTENT CREATOR: GVSU student Rachel McMahon gained national attention following a blog post that credited her quiz creation with over one percent of Buzzfeed’s traffic. COURTESY | RACHEL MCMAHON

to figure that out, but it stalled out,” Perpetua said. “I think in retrospect it’s obvious why that didn’t happen. The community had been used as a recruiting tool for a long time, and many, many people I worked with (were) hired through it. I was hoping that would work for her.” Following her time in the limelight, McMahon said she has decided to take a break with making quizzes and to reflect on the layoffs and newfound

opportunities. “It’s hard to say what my next steps are (going to) be at this point because I’ve just been flooded with notifications, interviews and even job offers,” McMahon said. “I do enjoy making Buzzfeed quizzes, but at least for now, I am taking a break from making them. I feel horrible for the employees who were laid off and with all these opportunities coming at me, I for sure need to take time to look into all of them.”

DISCUSSION

Seidman College of Business shares alumni insights through speeches BY SHILOH REYNOLDS SREYNOLDS@LANTHORN.COM

DO YOUR PART to conserve energ y Did you know that energy contests have a real effect on our campus costs?

Since the start of the Housing energy contest, the students have saved approximately $107,599!

CONSERVE ENERGY STARTING TODAY Facilities Services Energy Department

A4 | OPINION EDITORIAL

FEBRUARY 4, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON

By Athena Jasman

The true ‘Laker Effect’? GVSU makes the best of a bad week

n the wake of a polar vortex, subzero temperatures and snowy, slick roads forced the Grand Valley State University campuses to close for days on end last week. The hazardous outdoor conditions prompted officials at GVSU to cancel the entire week of events and classes for the first time ever and, while the community was urged to stay inside, many had no choice but to face the cold. In fact, university essential staff (which includes dozens of student workers) still reported to campus last week to shoulder the work between groundskeeping, maintenance, student resources, and dining. Winter Storm Jayden may have disbanded classes for the week but it did not demobilize the positive, collective impact of the “Laker Effect.” Quite the contrary, GVSU’s sense of community only seemed to be emphasized by the poor weather conditions, with essential staff helping students, students helping staff, Laker helping Laker. The mass accumulation of snow, which continued to blanket most of Michigan from Monday to Friday, proved difficult to plow and drive through. GVSU groundskeepers worked hard to remove the snow as quickly as it came, eventually asking for assistance from on-campus students to move their cars from the overcrowded, under-plowed lots. Students in lots across campus could be seen digging each other out of the compact snow, with large groups teaming up to push out trapped cars. Indoors, students working for the Mary Idema Pew Library and at the IT desk were on call and on reserve to assist the needs of the community. From blackboard issues to computer malfunctions, they were prepared to lend a hand. The full week of snow days also resulted in the cancellation of President’s Ball, much

to the dismay of the Laker community and the Office of Student Life. “Due to campus being closed and classes canceled, we were forced to cancel the President’s Ball for students’ safety,” said Associate Director of Student Life LeaAnn Tibbe. “Our view of the cancellation was that it was better to be safe than sorry with such bad weather and roads.” While many students took to social media to express their disappointment, all was not lost. Campus dining and residence life managed to team up and put on ‘Res Ball’ in the Kleiner Commons on Allendale campus. The small, spontaneous event gave students on campus a little taste of what President’s Ball could have been. Several groups of students also attempted to make up for the lost event, by hosting small gatherings in their own homes or heading to downtown Grand Rapids for a night of fun and dancing. Due to the cancellation, more than 500 hot meals meant for the dinner at President’s Ball could have been wasted. However, the Office of Student Life boxed up the meals and distributed them for free to people in the Grand Rapids area affected by the polar vortex. While the disappointment for the event’s cancellation is still being felt, GVSU’s ability to make the best of a bad situation has eased much of the tension. In the end, GVSU officials made the smart call to cancel classes to keep students and faculty safe, inside and off the roads. The week off also posed an opportunity for the community that they accepted without question: a chance to help a fellow Laker in need. From plowing from dawn till dusk to pushing cars out of the snow, GVSU proved that even in the worst circumstances, the Laker Effect is still intact.

2/4/19

editorial@lanthorn.com

LBGT representation: is it changing?

BY YSABLEA GOLDEN SOPHOMORE UNDECLARED EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

On Thursday, Jan. 31, actress Ellen Page gave a powerful interview on The Late Show with Steven Colbert about the harmful effects of hateful leadership in our country and around the globe. Page hadn’t been on the show since shortly after coming out as a lesbian in 2014, and though ostensibly she was there to promote her new Netflix show The Umbrella Academy, interviewer Stephen Colbert’s questions jumped almost immediately to the challenges still facing the LGBT community even in today’s “more accepting” America. Though the interview quickly escalated to discussion of the recent assault of actor Jussie Smollett and the

Editor-In-Chief Associate editor Associate editor News editor Sports editor Laker Life editor A&E editor

WHAT IS A LANTHORN? Lant • horn, n. [Old English] A lanthorn is a lantern that was used in mid-to-late 16th-century Europe. It was constructed of leather and a single lens made from a thin

piece of ox or steer horn. It was used for illumination and as a beacon. The Grand Valley Lanthorn slogan is “Give light, and the people will find their own way.”

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:

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protagonist. Hollywood and television networks alike are reluctant to put LGBT representation into media that isn’t marketed as “adult.” If creators have already jumped into the realm of mature audiences with sex and violence, they’re freer to have characters in same-sex relationships or (even less likely) transgender characters. But in media intended for children, any representation is an uphill battle that risks torches and pitchforks in response. In 2018 the kid’s cartoon Steven Universe featured the first same-sex marriage proposal to ever appear in the medium, a taxing achievement that took showrunner Rebecca Sugar years of fighting and negotiations that started with the two characters being unable to so much as kiss onscreen. Even once she won permission for hand-holding and cheek kisses in 2014, she was faced with the barrier of censorship in other countries, which resulted in many scenes being edited or cut entirely. The issue of foreign censorship has the same effect on Hollywood as it does to international TV networks. In the modern era of cinema, counting on domestic audiences to make a blockbuster

is a risky experiment few executives are willing to make. But including openly LGBT characters in a movie mean domestic audiences are pretty much all you’re going to get, thanks to censors in countries like Russia and China that otherwise bring in the big bucks for American movie makers. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) avoided the subject of Dumbledore’s sexuality for exactly that reason. Beauty and the Beast (2017) narrowly avoided being censored in Russia for a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shot of two men dancing that was hardly even considered representation in the U.S. It’s wonderful that adults in the LGBT community have representation in the media (to some extent, at least). But networks restraining that representation to “mature” media is at best no help to younger audiences struggling with their identities, and at worst actively associates the LGBT community with graphic, inappropriate material. Unless Hollywood stops banking on foreign markets to inflate their fortunes, even that representation won’t be making it to the summer blockbusters anytime soon.

College Crocks: Sleep.... When? How? Why?

GV L ED ITORIA L B OA R D BRADY MCATAMNEY MCKENNA PEARISO LAUREEN HORAN NICK MORAN KELLEN VOSS AMY MCNEEL SARAH EDGECOMB

legislative homophobia of Vice President Mike Pence, it started with an interesting question about Hollywood progressiveness. Though Page said that though Hollywood has changed — even in just the five years since she’s been publicly out — it hasn’t changed nearly enough. She doesn’t go into too much detail (Colbert has many questions and it’s a short interview) but she touched on an important point. Sure, it’s wonderful that we in 2019 have mainstream gay representation in the media, including Orange is the New Black, Riverdale and what have you, but the mere existence of gay representation is hardly an invention of the past five years. Love, Simon (2018), for example, got a lot of hype and press as a film that prominently featured both gay characters and gay issues. It certainly wasn’t the first to do so - The Birdcage (1996) and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) were both comedy/ dramas with gay themes (and arguably better writing) that came out over twenty years ago. The progressiveness of Love, Simon wasn’t just that it had a gay protagonist — that’s been done — but that it was an all-ages family film with a gay

BY BRENDAN ULANCH SOPHOMORE MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

The very first thing that I think about after I wake up in the morning is when will my head hit this pillow again. Is that selfish? Is that concerning? Is that normal? In today’s college lifestyle, yes it is. In high school, I averaged about five hours of sleep per night and, when I got to GVSU, I planned on trying my hardest to increase that awful

number. However, we all have things that have to get done. Not only do I have school, but also work, clubs and the all-too-real urge to fall asleep whenever I have a split second of calmness. Yes, I count my drowsiness as a task because it makes everything else take twice as long to accomplish. Now, what is sleep and do we really need it? Truthfully, I wish we didn’t need it at all. I could get so many more things done without having to shut my eyes every night, but I have to admit that getting under a bunch of blankets in a freezing cold room is the closest to complete comfort I think I’ll ever get in life. Unfortunately, we cannot go that long without it. Anyone that has been in school for at least a couple of weeks completely understands this, and, believe me, I have tried to go without it. One all-nighter is

enough for me in my college career, but I know that there are many more ahead. According to healthline.com, not only does sleep directly affect physical performance, but it also greatly affects emotional responses, stress levels, social interaction, caloric intake and can even increase risk for heart disease. In short, if you want to survive this whirlwind called college, get some sleep. Throw that phone somewhere far away from your bed. Complete darkness is beneficial. Make sure that wherever you sleep is comfortable. It’s simple, but important. Time management is key. Try not to push assignments off until the last second. If you do not need to do something, then don’t. Doing extra things when they are not necessary and losing sleep as a result makes simple tasks much

more difficult to accomplish. For example, staying up all night to finish the reading assignment when you know for certain that the book will not be talked about in class or even tested on. In return, one may completely forget about a club meeting the next day. I am guilty of this. Get that extra hour of sleep instead. Trying to accomplish everything is important, but sleep needs to be top priority. Try to go by the phrase “work smarter and not harder”. Sleep seems to be the mortal enemy and also the most desired prize to any college student. I am here to inform you that it doesn’t have to be either. Sleep is very important and can be the difference maker between a healthy college life and a terrible one. It can not only affect yourself, but also everyone around you. Sleep, after all, isn’t a crock.

VALLEY VOTE

THIS ISSUE’S QUESTION

QUOTE

What was your first impression of GVSU’s new president?

Did the President’s Ball cancellation affect you?

“The cold never bothered me anyway”

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QUESTION OF THE ISSUE

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CANCELLATION OF PRESIDENT’S BALL?

ALEXIS SCHWEINZGER

CASSIDY MCDONELL

“I didn’t plan on going so it didn’t really matter to me.”

“I wasn’t going to go but I feel bad for the people who were.”

YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Nursing HOMETOWN: Elkhart, Ind.

YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Nursing HOMETOWN: Bay City, Mich.

CLAUDIA MARTIN

DEVOREN WESLEY

“It was a loss out on money because I was supposed to work it.”

“I wasted my money and had already bought my outfit, but I’m glad they didn’t waste the food and gave it out to people in Grand Rapids.”

YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Social Studies and Secondary Education HOMETOWN: Lincoln Park, Mich.

YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Human Resource Manager HOMETOWN: Brownstown, Mich.

FEBRUARY 4, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

NEWS | A5

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

FBI agents answer questions, educate students on field BY ALLISON RAFFERTY ARAFFERTY@LANTHORN.COM

On Tuesday, Jan. 25, students from any academic area interested in working for the FBI were able to get a glimpse of what that future would hold for them at the 2019 FBI Collegiate Academy held in the Loosemore Auditorium in the DeVos Center on Grand Valley State University’s Pew Campus. This was the first time that GVSU’s School of Criminal Justice hosted the event, and they “hope to bring it back in the Fall of 2019,” according to the school’s Director of Criminal Justice Training Williamson Wallace. The day-long workshop involved many activities. From seminars, to a recruitment presentation, to a “Lunch and Learn,” students in attendance were offered a variety of inside looks into the life of an FBI agent. The seminars, which were presented by agents and staff from the FBI Detroit division’s Grand Rapids Resident Agency included actual cases and investigation examples. These examples included Domestic and Counterterrorism, Cyber Intrusions, Counterintelligence, Special Weapons and Tactic, Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking, Gangs, Cellular Call Detail Records Analysis, Hate Crimes and Identity Theft. The agents brought with them a variety of equipment and showed students in attendance the newest tactical equipment used by the FBI. The “Lunch and Learn” portion of the workshop was a question and answer session involving approximately 20 FBI agents and

EMERGING EQUIPMENT: Showing off cutting-edge tools, members of the FBI Detroit division’s Grand Rapids Resident Agency meet with criminal justice students. The event was a day-long affair, with students sharing lunch with agents during a “Lunch and Learn” session. The day also included seminars and recruitment presentations. COURTESY | GVNOW

curious students. David Bageris, one of the students in attendance, said that “the meet and greet at lunch” was the highlight of the day. Bageris said that he had some interest in joining the FBI, but ultimately decided to attend the workshop because it was a “free expansion of knowledge.” The “Lunch and Learn,” along with the FBI’s recruitment presentation, were ways in which the

agents encouraged the recruitment of students in attendance while also sharing testimonials of what life in the field is like. Wallace addressed the success the “Lunch and Learn” and recruitment presentation had on students’ interest in joining the FBI, noting that it played a key role in getting Lakers to become more involved in the FBI. “Many students expressed interest,” Wallace said. “I believe that their

interest in eventually joining the FBI was the motivating factor in registering for the majority of the attendees.” Bageris also acknowledged the impact the FBI agents’ recruiting strategies had on him, and while he admitted that he wasn’t entirely sure of joining the agency, he said that he could “maybe” see himself as an FBI agent in the future. Wallace also addressed the overall goal of GVSU’s School

of Criminal Justice’s decision to put forth the event. Wallace said that supplemental education on federal crimes and investigations was a key factor in the reasoning behind the event. He continued by adding that community engagement was another important component. By including students from all academic areas, as the event was open to students of all majors, more student involvement was guaranteed.

Assisting GVSU students who are interested in working with the FBI was another overall goal of the workshop. Students who expressed a strong interest in joining the FBI, along with students like Bageris who were unsure of joining, were both able to get a first hand experience at what it would be like to be an FBI agent. This inclusion helped these students determine whether or not they think that joining the FBI is the right career path for them.

CAMPUS

Snow week means snow work for GVSU essential staff LAUREEN HORAN ASSOCIATE1@LANTHORN.COM

Michigan winters, though beautiful, are frigid and hazardous. Snow days are not uncommon — in fact, they’re considered a rite of passage for those who endure these subarctic conditions year after year. Grand Valley State University is known to permit the occasional snow day in exceptionally bad weather, but last week, the brutal temperatures and continuous snowfall broke records all over the Midwest and caused the most consecutive snow days in GVSU history. “There’s only ever been two consecutive snow days, never three in a row, and there’s certainly never been five. This is

unprecedented and honestly may never happen again in campus history,” said Grand Valley Police Capt. Jeff Stoll. While many students and staff members had extra time off, GVSU’s essential staff, which includes dozens of student employees, still had to report. Stoll said that the efforts of the student employees helped keep things running as smoothly as possible throughout the week. Lauren Hight is a biology major at GVSU and a service assistant in parking services. Hight explained that though she was grateful to get her hours in last week, the dangerous conditions posed challenges for her commute to work and back. “It was tough for me to get to work. I was late, but

I got here! I had to call dispatch to come and get me. I do live on campus, but normally I’d have to walk about 20 minutes to get here… I was here three out of the five days, I got a ride each day because it was too unsafe to be outside. ” Hight said. In last week’s temperatures, a 20-minute walk could have created the onset of frostbite. Because ice-melting salt is ineffective below 10°F, last week’s bitter temperatures made roads and campus walkways slick and too hazardous for use. Though road conditions are heavily considered before closing campus, GVPD says timing is a big factor as well. “If the storm hits at 10 or 11 at night, we can get things cleaned up by the morning.

When the worst of it is coming through at 10 or 11 in the morning, though, that’s a different story,” Stoll said. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s declaration of a state of emergency was also considered in the decision to stay closed for so long. The Polar Vortex of 2019 is the first time campus has closed for an entire week for any unplanned reason. Hundreds of schools and businesses throughout the state closed as well. White-out conditions made for dangerous driving, but GVPD said that a lack of people out on the roads led to few accidents over the duration of the blizzard. Now that the storm has passed and temperatures are increasing, clean-up is the main priority of GVPD and campus maintenance crews.

DRIVING ON THIN ICE: Pushing snow off the road, a plow tries to clear the streets of Grand Valley State University’s Allendale campus. A week of temperatures below zero made for unsafe commuting conditions for essential staff that worked during the week. GVL | KATHERINE VASILE

While commuter lots went unused and are in decent shape, resident lots are another story. “The issue has been temperature because there’s a lot of snow that’s frozen to the ground. As temperatures rise, that will be easier to remove. We are hoping to clear resident lots over the weekend and clean it up in time for classes to start again on Monday,” Stoll said. After five days of being snowed in and the cancellation of what would’ve been GVSU President Thomas Haas’ last President’s Ball, many students are over the weather and ready for spring to arrive. Stoll addressed rumors that the week off could cancel spring break, but clarified that last week’s storm has nothing to do with other events on the academic calendar.

“There is no intention to change spring break, this was an act of God and doesn’t affect future campus events. The campus calendar is set up, and we adjust around that in cases of inclement weather. Unlike K-12, we are not required to make up days,” Stoll said. Though thermometers are rising a bit now, they will drop again and the freezing of slushy, messy snow could pose another issue for commuters. Campus is not likely to close again soon according to GVPD, but it’s not impossible either. “It’s hard to tell now, but challenges are foreseen with the temperatures rising this weekend and then dropping again,” Stoll said. “This is going to inevitably refreeze water on the roads and we will have to deal with that.”

A6 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTS AT A GLANCE

FEBRUARY 4, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

CULTURE

GUEST PIANIST TO PERFORM MASTERCLASS

On Thursday, Feb. 7, pianist Dr. Clara Christian will perform a solo recital followed by a masterclass in piano technique on Friday, Feb. 8. Christian is a professor at College of the Ozarks and coordinates the school’s piano program. She is an active performer, regularly playing in North America as well as Russia, and collaborates with other musicians in the group “Fuse Trio.” Christian received the Chicago Area Musician’s Club of Women top scholarship in piano and emphasizes the importance of music education by providing children of low income families with piano lessons. Both of the events will be held in the Sherman Van Solkema Hall in the Haas Center for Performing Arts, with the recital at 7:30 p.m and the masterclass at 7 p.m.

GV THEATRE PRESENTS ‘WONDERFUL TOWN’

Beginning Friday, Feb. 8, the Grand Valley State University opera theatre will debut their production of “Wonderful Town.” With music by Leonard Bernstein, the musical tells the story of two sisters, Ruth and Eileen, transitioning from their life in Ohio to bustling New York City. While their plans don’t turn out as expected, hilarity and show tunes create an entertaining performance. Directed by 2009 GVSU alumnus Chris Carter, the production offers student acting, singing and comedy. “Wonderful Town” will occur each weekend, Feb. 8-10 and 15-17 in the Louis Armstrong Theatre.

STUDENT-DIRECTED ‘GOD OF CARNAGE’ TO HIT THE STAGE GVSU’s Performance Studio Series, which gives students the opportunity to direct their peers in smaller productions, will feature “God of Carnage,” directed by Ron Boudreau. The Performance Studio Series allows theatre students to sharpen their skills in every aspect, including directing, acting, producing and designing. “God of Carnage” involves two sets of parents meeting to talk after their children get in a dispute in a public park. What begins as a civilized discussion turns into a childish debate. The performance will take place in the Linn Maxwell Keller Black Box Theatre Feb. 21-23 at 7:30 p.m., with an additional 2 p.m. showing on Sunday, Feb. 24.

“STORIES OF SUMMER” EXHIBIT FEATURES LOCAL HISTORY The Kutsche Office of Local History at GVSU received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. With this grant, a Saugatuck-Douglas history exhibit will occupy the Mary Idema Pew Library Exhibition Space starting Monday, Feb. 4. The exhibition, “Stories of Summer,” focuses on the history of tourism along Lake Michigan beaches, specifically the history of Saugatuck and Douglas as a safe space for minority and LGBT communities. The exhibit features photos of beach-goers throughout history and will remain in the exhibition space until Thursday, March 14.

ENGAGING: Dance group K-pop Group Evolution performs a routine to Korean pop music. K-GE aims to educate audiences and members about Korean culture and K-pop’s influence. The group will perform four songs at the Asian New Year Festival on Feb. 9. COURTESY | FACEBOOK

GV K-pop group to perform at Asian New Year Festival

BY SARAH EDGECOMB ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

With Grand Valley State University’s Asian New Year Festival around the corner, participating student organizations are eager to prepare. For dance group K-pop Group Evolution (K-GE), this means rehearsing dances and assembling presentations about Korean culture. K-GE formed in 2013 when members of the Asian Student Union branched out to create a Korean-focused group, welcoming Korean members as well as those interested in Korean culture, according to president Alyssa Spafford. K-GE’s first president, Jay Park, gathered other students in hopes of spreading more information about K-pop, which is Korean

pop music that features dancing, rapping and singing alongside stunning visual themes. Meeting three times per week, the group reserves every other Monday for educational presentations from their e-board. “We learn about Korean culture through cultural presentations, which is history of Korea and how it came to be, how K-pop influences the economy there and other stuff like that,” Spafford said. Spafford cited popular groups that they draw inspiration from, choosing a wide variety of genres to correspond with members’ interests. For the members of K-GE, Korean music is more than something to listen to. “Most of our goals are just spreading knowledge about Korean culture and showing

that music doesn’t have to be the language you understand for you to appreciate it,” Spafford said, adding that they also strive toward “having fun and dancing and just learning more about the culture.” For first-year member Morgan Rose, joining K-GE was an easy decision. “I had liked K-pop my entire high school career and I had never really been able to talk to anyone about it,” Rose said. She recalled finding the group on GVSU’s student organizations page and planning to join once she began classes. “There was a whole bunch of people that understood what I liked and weren’t gonna make fun of me about it and that’s kind of what drew me to it,” Rose said. In preparation for the

Asian New Year Festival, K-GE has rehearsed four dances to showcase. “It just brings awareness and shows all the different Asian identities there are here at Grand Valley,” Spafford said. “For us to be included in that and make these relations is like a one of a kind experience. Yes, we are just performing there, but it’s on a deeper level.” K-GE will hold their annual showcase called “K-pop Unleashed” on Thursday, Feb. 28 where they will perform and present about K-pop as well as Korean culture as a whole. The Asian New Year Festival will take place Saturday, Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. While the event is free to attend, those interested should RSVP online by Saturday, Feb. 2.

PERFORMANCE

Improv group Subject to Change provides free performance BY MARY RACETTE ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

Subject to Change, a Grand Valley State University improvisational comedy team, performed at the Black Box Theater in the Haas Performing Arts Center on the Allendale campus on Friday, Jan. 25. The free performance was held during Sibs and Kids Weekend. Students were invited to bring their siblings and children to the family-friendly improv show. The team offered an entertaining two-hour performance that encouraged audience participation. The show consisted of a series of several short-form improv scenes and wrapped up with a long-form improv scene. Subject to Change president Marion Jamot differentiated the two styles of improv. She explained that short form “involves smaller themes with more audience suggestions,” while long form has more of an expansive storytelling format.

During their performance, the 10 members showed the chemistry within the team as they broke into smaller groups and performed various short form scenes. Each scene involved new characters and themes created by the performers. Before many of the scenes, the performers asked for a suggestion from the audience to prompt the rest of the scene. “Performing at Sibs and Kids Weekend was especially fun because the kids in the audience were much more inclined to give us suggestions throughout the performance,” Jamot said. Jamot shared Subject to Change’s general goal to provide family-friendly content, especially for their Sibs and Kids Weekend performance. Jamot said that creating content that can appeal to people of any age is an exciting challenge for the team. Subject to Change holds performances once per month. This month’s performance was the first held at

the Black Box Theater. Jamot shared that the group was excited to perform in this space because of its greater capacity and better sound quality. Prior to the Jan. 25 performance, the team attended a workshop with the Second City improv company in Chicago. Jamot said they “learned so much” and they were excited to bring what they learned to campus as they continue to grow as improv performers and create higher quality entertainment. Among other aspects of their performance, Subject to Change learned the long form improv scene “Montage” from Second City, which concluded the Sibs and Kids show. Along with their shows, Jamot said the improv team likes to expand their community presence by collaborating with other organizations around the GVSU campus and the Grand Rapids area. Jamot said the team collaborates with the Student Nurs-

HILARIOUS: GVSU improv comedy group Subject to Change poses after a performance. The group performed during Sibs and Kids Weekend, sharing family-friendly, interactive comedy. COURTESY | FACEBOOK

es’ Association each fall for the Comedy for a Cause event. This event raises money for a different charity each year. Jamot, who has been a member of Subject to Change since her freshman year in 2015, highlighted the benefits

she has gained and observed throughout her collegiate improv career. Her list included a boost in confidence, improved listening skills, a greater connection to other people and much more. “Improv has helped me

grow as a person so we want to do the same for others,” Jamot said. “Our goal is to bring laughter and fun on campus.” Subject to Change will continue to hold performances each month for the rest of the year.

EXHIBIT

Grand Valley students, faculty, alumni featured in WSU exhibit BY SARAH EDGECOMB ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

ONE OF A KIND: GVSU alumna Emma Hoekstra submitted her jewelry for WSU’s metalwork exhibit. COURTESY | RENEE ZETTLE-STERLING

Grand Valley State University’s jewelry and metalsmithing program submitted artwork to represent the university in Wayne State University’s “Metals 2019” exhibit. The collection was comprised of metalwork done by students, professors and alumni from 10 universities in the Midwest region. The exhibit was sponsored by the Michigan Silversmith Guild, an organization that was formed in 1949 to help metalworkers promote their art, share information and form a community. WSU sculpture and metals professor Katie MacDonald organized the event, calling upon local uni-

versities with metals programs to submit work for the exhibition. While a majority of the participating universities hail from Michigan, students from campuses in Ohio and Pennsylvania also sent in artwork. GVSU Professor of Art and Design Renee Zettle-Sterling said that she selected the participating artists through their expertise and previous work. Five students and two alumni were chosen to submit work for the exhibit, along with Zettle-Sterling and fellow professors Peter Antor and Caitlyn Skelcey. While the exhibit didn’t have a theme, choosing instead to showcase general metalsmithing, it gave students, staff and alumni an opportunity to network and gain exposure. “It’s just a representa-

tion of the work produced at each school,” Zettle-Sterling said. The exhibition displayed jewelry, sculptures and other metalwork. Emma Hoekstra, a 2018 fine arts graduate who specializes in jewelry making, said that receiving the invitation from her former professor was exciting. She submitted work from her senior show that included a necklace composed of triangular metal pieces and a ring that featured a gemstone encompassed by jagged metal. Hoekstra said that she received an inquiry to purchase one of her pieces, saying that the experience was “encouraging.” “This exhibition was my first time exhibiting my work since I graduated,” Hoekstra said. “I think it

is so important to get your work out there in as many ways as you possibly can.” While Hoekstra shares her work through social media and her website, she said that exhibitions can “draw a new type of audience” that artists would not otherwise have, adding that GVSU offers students and alumni ample occasions to showcase their work. “What I love about my college education is the network of people that came from it and the many opportunities that have been presented to me since. They really want to see you succeed,” Hoekstra said. The exhibit was on display at the Wayne State University Art Department Gallery between Friday, Jan. 11 and Friday, Feb. 1.

SPORTS | A7

FEBRUARY 4, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

QUICK HITS

W. BASKETBALL

GVSU SOFTBALL RANKS NO. 16 IN NFCA DII PRESEASON COACHES POLL The Grand Valley State softball team was recently ranked No. 16 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Preseason Poll. Defending national champion Southern Indiana was the unanimous No. 1 selection. The Lakers posted one of the top seasons in program history last season, finishing the year 44-9 overall and 24-2 in GLIAC play, earning the regular season and postseason tournament crowns. Fifth-year head coach Dana Callihan, who has posted a 15257 record at GVSU, returns 13 letterwinners and eight starters from last season’s squad that includes four All-GLIAC performers, two All-Region honorees and one All-American. The Lakers open their season on Friday, Feb. 22, where they’ll travel to Rosemont, Ill. to play Lindenwood at 12 p.m. and Winona State at 4:30 p.m.

GVSU’S MIKAYLA KARASEK NAMED GLIAC DIVER OF THE WEEK

Announced by the league office on Friday, Feb. 1, Grand Valley State junior Mikayla Karasek has been named the GLIAC Diver of the Week. Karasek, a four-time NCAA DII All-American and defending GLIAC Champion on the 1-meter board, capturing a pair of first-place finishes and hit the 2019 automatic qualifying mark for the NCAA DII Championships at the 2019 Grand Valley State invitational. Karasek tallied a 11-dive score of 460.95 on the 1-meter board to claim top honors, while her 467.05 11-dive score on the 3-meter board also resulted in a first-place finish. GVSU will next be in action Feb. 20-23 at the GLIAC Championships in Cleveland, Ohio.

TRACK & FIELD’S TIARA WIGGINS NAMED GVSU STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Earlier this week, track & field athlete Tiara Wiggins was named GVSU’s student athlete of the week. A senior competing in sprints and hurdles, Wiggins was named All-Region in the USTFCCCA in the indoor 60M hurdles and the outdoor 100M hurdles. She also earned GLIAC honors with a second place finish in the 100m hurdles during the GLIAC Outdoor Championships. Wiggins also earned GLIAC Honors with a third place finish in the 60M hurdles at the GLIAC Indoor Championships last season, also setting a PR in the 60M hurdles (8.65) during the GVSU Open and posting a season best in the 100M hurdles (13.83) at the GLIAC Outdoor Championships. Wiggins and the men’s and women’s track & field teams will compete again at the GVSU Big Meet, which will take place all day this Friday and Saturday at the Kelly Family Sports Center.

VARSITY SCHEDULE VARSITY SCHEDULE MEN’S BASKETBALL Home, Thursday, Feb. 7, at 8 p.m., Purdue-Northwest Home, Saturday, Feb. 9, at 3 p.m., Wisconsin-Parkside WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Home, Thursday, Feb. 7, at 6 p.m., Purdue-Northwest Home, Saturday, Feb. 9, at 1 p.m., Wisconsin-Parkside MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD Home, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 8 and 9, All Day, Kelly Family Sports Center

POST-TO-POST PASSING: Passing from the high post, Grand Valley State forward Maddie Dailey ducks and weaves her pass around a Saginaw Valley State defender to try to hit a cutting Anja Smith on the low block in a game on Thursday, Jan. 10 at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. GVSU won the game 64-46 GVL | SHEILA BABBITT

Twice is nice

GVSU women’s basketball sweeps season series with No. 3 Ashland, Wayne State BY BRADY MCATAMNEY EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

For the second time this season, the No. 15 Grand Valley State women’s basketball team has taken down the No. 3 Ashland Eagles in epic fashion. On Thursday, Dec. 6, the Lakers defeated then-top ranked AU by 33 points in Allendale. On Saturday, Feb. 2, though, GVSU had to travel to Ohio as part of a spur of the moment back-to-back after taking out Wayne State 73-42 the day prior after the game was rescheduled from Thursday to Friday due to the polar vortex. “It is tough to play back-to-back,” Williams said after beating WSU. “We’re traveling tonight, Ashland is at home but they played as well. I think our kids are looking at it as a good test. If you want to play in the GLAIC tournament you have to play back-to-back, if you want to play in

the regional tournament, you have to play back-to-back. I think they really embraced it. No excuses, no nothing. That’s been really good.” That positive attitude led to a last-second shot from guard Natalie Koenig that buried the Eagles with just over one second left in the fourth quarter on Saturday following a steal and timeout from guard Victoria Hedemark to stalwart the Ashland attack. Koenig’s bucket led to obvious excitement in front of the packed Eagle crowd, but Williams took pride in the way his team stayed focused ahead of the final possession. “Our kids are just so locked in,” Williams said. “We made the shot, they were excited for it like they would have been any other basket, and they said ‘okay, let’s get a stop.’ They kind of talked through the timeout; ‘we’ve got this, let’s do it, we’ve got this.’ They were listening, but

they were talking. I think the excitement was like ‘this ain’t over yet, let’s finish this’ and they did.” Center Cassidy Boensch dominated, scoring 31 points with 13 rebounds and seven blocks for the Lakers. Guard Jenn DeBoer tallied 18 points with seven assists while forward Maddie Dailey added 11 points. Both DeBoer and Dailey played all 40 minutes. “I thought offensively, we were really sharp,” Williams said. “We didn’t turn the ball over, I thought our kids did a good job of not playing downhill. I thought we stayed with plays. There were probably three or four times we missed shots, stayed with it and got the basket which was good to see. “Defensively, the first half, I don’t know what we were doing. We couldn’t guard them. The second half, they made their shots a little tougher, we didn’t let them get to the rim, we just couldn’t rebound it. They had 19

offensive rebounds and that really kept them in the game.” The victory snapped Ashland’s 50game home winning streak. While not as headline-making, the win over Wayne State counts just as much as any other victory. Six different Lakers scored in double digits against the Warriors: Boensch (21), guard Taya Andrews (13), DeBoer (12) and Koenig, Dailey and Hedemark (10). Williams attributed the weekend success to the team staying focused as a unit and adjusting to whatever curveball they were thrown, be it the scheduled day of their game or any scheme their opponents showed them. Now at 19-2 (12-1 GLIAC), the Lakers will return home for the first time in nearly one month to host the Purdue Northwest Pride (2-17, 0-13) on Thursday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. and the Wisconsin Parkside Rangers (8-11, 6-7) on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 1 p.m.

M. BASKETBALL

Lakers upset seventh ranked Ashland, split road trip BY KELLEN VOSS SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Despite losing their past six road games before Saturday, Feb. 2, the Grand Valley State men’s basketball team was able to dig themselves out of a 14-point halftime deficit to upset the No. 7 ranked Ashland Eagles at Kates gymnasium, 60-53. Solid defense in that first half helped the Lakers hold the Eagles to 27 points despite only scoring 13 of their own in the first 20 minutes, but Hunter Hale’s 19 points in the second half helped the GVSU offense come alive, as they outscored Ashland 47-26 to close the GLIAC game. “It’s a great win for us and a tremendous effort by our guys,” said head coach Ric Wesley. “We’ve been struggling a bit on this road trip, so to make that comeback and have the fight that we had really makes you proud of our guys, and it shows we still got good things in store for this team. “To win on the road, you always have to make free throws, and our possessions weren’t always fundamentally sound, but we maximized our chances on change of possession,” Wesley said. “Our defense was rock solid from the very start, and we finally started finding our rhythm and got better shots in the second half. I thought it was the best win we’ve had all year.” SEE MBBALL | A8

FINISHING THROUGH THE CONTACT: Grand Valley State junior forward Shaquan McArthur drives to the rim and looks to finish a layup over a SVSU defender in a game on Thursday, Jan. 10 at GVSU’s Fieldhouse Arena. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT

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A8 | SPORTS

MBBALL CONTINUED FROM A7

What makes the comeback even more impressive for the Lakers in the eyes of Wesley is the fact that they were able to bounce back after losing their last four games, including being defeated at the hands of the Wayne State Warriors one day prior, 86-78. “They’re playing very well right now, but we did a lot of good things,” Wesley said about the Wayne State loss on Friday, Feb. 1. “It just didn’t quite break the right way at the end of that one, but to come back from that loss with the effort we showed today speaks well of our guys.” Hale combined for 50 points and five rebounds on the week, including knocking down eight threes en route to

a career-high 31 points in Friday’s loss to Wayne State. With as hard as Hale has worked to improve his offensive game this season, Wesley and the rest of the coaching staff expected to see him shine. “He’s had a great year as an outstanding shooter/ scorer, and he’s a real team leader for us,” Wesley said. “He sure has responded well in these past two games, but he’s been grinding all year, so we’re not surprised with what we’ve seen from him. He’s one of the top players in our conference.” After splitting the games this week, the Lakers move to 12-9 on the year with a 6-7 record in the GLIAC. Despite what’s been a bit of an up-anddown season for GVSU, Wesley feels that they will build off this big win and that the Lakers

should not go unnoticed by the rest of their conference. “I’m encouraged that we’re starting to play the game better,” Wesley said. “It’s like chess; you’ve got to keep doing the right thing each and every possession, and the more right moves we make, the better opportunity we have to win the game. We showed out way more today than we have in our previous games.” GVSU looks to keep the good momentum from this big win rolling, as they face Purdue Northwest on Thursday, Feb. 7, before playing Wisconsin Parkside on Saturday, Feb. 9. Both games will be played at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena, with Thursday’s game starting at 8 p.m. and Saturday’s game tipping off at 3 p.m.

KEEP YOUR HAND IN THE COOKIE JAR: Grand Valley State guard Demetrius Lake holds his followthrough on a three in a game from earlier this season at GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT

TRACK & FIELD

READY, SET, THROW: Grand Valley State sophomore and track & field athlete Hunter Harding plants his left foot in the ground and puts all his power in his hips as he looks to launch the shotput in a meet from 2017. Harding and the rest of the GVSU throws team have had a fairly successful time so far in the 2018-19 indoor season, and look to improve their marks at the GVSU Big Meet this weekend. GVL | ARCHIVE

Polar Vortex doesn’t stop GVSU track & field teams from success BY JERROD FATTAL SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The 2019 Polar Vortex may have shut down Grand Valley State’s campus this past week, but it couldn’t stop the Grand Valley State men’s and women’s track and field teams. Split squads competed in the Hillsdale Open and Meyo Invitational Friday, Feb. 1 and Saturday, Feb. 2. Before GVSU traveled to Hillsdale, Mich. or South Bend, Ind., the Lakers battled frigid temperatures, two feet of snow, freezing rain and a good deal of adversity for both teams. “Mentally and emotionally it’s totally different,” said head coach Jerry Baltes. “You’re not in your normal schedule and you tend to fall out of rhythm, but on the other hand, anytime you can step out of your comfort zone, that’s a good thing.” The Meyo (Notre Dame) Invitational featured some of the toughest competition GVSU has faced all year. Numerous Division I schools such as Michigan State, Notre Dame and Iowa participated. Despite GVSU’s Division II status, the Lakers proved they could run with the bigger schools. “They train the same way we train,” Baltes said. “We just needed to be ready to compete to the best of our ability and

we would be fine.” A couple of career bests started things off on the right foot Friday for the men’s team. In the 800M, Nick Salomon finished seventh and Dennis Mbuta finished with a personal record, finishing in 4:07.70 in the mile. On Saturday, the 4X400 relay team of Daniel Walker, Thomas Capers, Alexander Porter and Andrew McFarland finished in fifth place despite missing usual relay member (Jaylen Hasan) due to injury. On the women’s side, Rachel Walters started things off on Saturday with a second place finish in the 800M dash, with a time of 2:06.93. “Everyone stepped up really well and competed,” Baltes said. “(Walters) ran very well and that was really good for us to see at this point in the season.” Walters also ran on the fifth place finishing 4x400 team with Jessica Eby, Sarah Buella and Heather Johnson. Similar to the men, the women’s team was also down a runner due to injury but still clocked in with a time of 3:46.94. Baltes was very pleased with both team’s performances in the highlycompetitive environment. “It was just the experience this group needed,” Baltes said. “We all raced well and placed well.” The Hillsdale Wide-Track Classic included the vast

majority of the GVSU track and field athletes, including sprinter Jordan Johnson, who took home a silver medal in the 200M dash, with a time of 22.10 on Friday. The following day, Johnson also medaled in the 60M dash, where he earned a bronze with a finishing time of 6.90. In the 60M hurdles, Tyler Kirkwood finished second, crossing the line in 8.24. On the men’s side, it was in the field events where the only gold medal of the day was claimed, as Jacob Battani finished first in pole vault, with a jump of 5.02M. The women’s pole vault continued to be a strong point Friday, where six of the top eight finishers were Lakers, headlined by Elli Kimes (3.92M) and Kassidie Stimmel’s (3.82M) second and third place vaults. “Our pole-vaulters had a bunch of improvements on their season and lifetime bests,” Baltes said. “They just continue to feed off of each others success and progress together.” Saturday brought continued success to the GVSU women’s team, with three different first-place finishes. Early in the day, Anna Obi won the triple jump with a combined leap of 11.71M. Tiara Wiggins followed with a strong performance in the 60M hurdles. She finished

.06 seconds ahead of the rest of the field with a time of 8.74. Angelica Floyd culminated the Lakers’ performance by winning the 60M dash in an impressive fashion, crossing the line in 7.57 seconds. “All three had very satisfying performances,” Baltes said. “We are definitely go-

ing to be looking to build off of them going forward.” Following the hectic practice schedule and Saturday’s meets, both teams are looking forward to getting back into the flow of things “This weekend’s home meet is going to give us a great chance to compete against

some great competition,” Baltes said. “And that way we can keep progressing towards our goals.” Both the men’s and women’s teams are back in action at the Kelly Family Sports Center Friday, Feb. 9, and Saturday, Feb. 10 for the GVSU Big Meet.

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SPORTS | A9

MEN’S CLUB HOCKEY

CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES, COME ON: A slew of Grand Valley State DII hockey players, including Austin Koleski, Cameron Dyde and Thomas Luzynski among others, celebrate after a goal from earlier this season at the Georgetown Ice Center. Each of the players on the team were impacted by teammate Lucas Little, whose leadership, execution and poise left an obvious impact at GVSU. GVL | KATHERINE VASILE

All-Star Lucas Little brought leadership, poise and execution to GVSU hockey BY ELI ONG SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Nicklas Lidstrom was once called the perfect hockey player for his offensive wizardry, defensive capabilities, calm demeanor and situational awareness on the ice. These are the skills every hockey team looks for in a defenseman, no matter what level or age, and is true for the Grand Valley State University men’s DII club hockey team as well. “You obviously need guys who can play in our own end. We want guys who pride themselves on that,” said head coach Carl Trosien. “Then being able to skate, be mobile, the ability to move the puck and make smart choices with the puck and finally the ability to jump into the play and create offensively.” These were all boxes Lucas Little checked off when he checked in on the ice for GVSU and were a big reason why GVSU had as much success as they did in the threeand-a-half years that Little played in Laker blue from 2015 up until the end of 2018. “Lucas excelled in these areas,” Trosien said. “He

was a phenomenal skater, saw the ice really well and loved to create offense almost too much at times.” Little would agree, who commented that one of his favorite parts of the game was creating plays for teammates when out on the ice. “I always viewed myself as an offensive defenseman,” Little said. “One of my favorite things when I was out on the ice was having the puck on my stick and stepping up to help lead the rush.” Little, who has helped lead GVSU to two deep runs in the ACHA national tournament, an 89-19-8 record in threeand-a-half seasons and made an ACHA All-Star Team his junior year at GVSU, was also a player who led by example for his teammates. “Lucas brought skill, experience, leadership, work ethic and was a great teammate,” Trosien said. “He wasn’t a vocal leader by any means, but when he did speak, his teammates listened.” Beside his play, Little believed that buying into the GVSU tradition played a big role in the success of the teams he played on. “I think what always really

helped us was that everyone kind of bought in and believed in playing as a team,” Little said. “Coming in, I knew that GV had this reputation where we went to the national tournament like 13 or 14 straight times so we always felt like we had to come together and keep that winning tradition going.” Looking back on his experience as a Laker, Little believed the best part about playing hockey at GVSU was the brotherhood and friendships he developed with his fellow hockey players. “It’s probably the highlight of coming to Grand Valley for me,” Little said. “There’s the national tournaments, the wins and stuff, but the best part about it was definitely the friendships and having 20 best friends year in and year out that I got to play hockey with.” When asked what advice he would give to future club hockey players at GVSU, Little followed the same sentiment. “I would just say enjoy it,” Little said. “This has been the best nearly four years of my life and now that I’m graduated I just sit in the stands with a suit on and I really miss it, so definitely enjoy your time out on the ice while you have it.”

SEE ANSWERS | A10

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DEFENDING THE GOAL: Senior Grand Valley State defenseman Lucas Little positions himself on the defensive end of the ice to defend the goal in a game from the 2017-18 season. GVL | ARCHIVE

FEBRUARY 4, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A10 | SPORTS M. BASKETBALL

Column: GVSU men’s basketball needs to stay consistent on offense to contend in the GLIAC BY KELLEN VOSS SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

If the casual college basketball fan were to describe the Grand Valley State men’s basketball team in one word, that word would not be ‘consistent’. It appears that the Lakers are starting to right their losing ways, as they earned arguably their biggest victory of the season this past weekend, going on the road to beat No. 7 Ashland 60-53. However, despite that, big wins haven’t come often this season for GVSU. Before Saturday’s win, the Lakers had previously lost five of their last seven games, including a winning drought that lasted nearly two months, with their last road victory coming against Quincy on Saturday, Dec. 16. When looking at the GVSU roster on paper, the one thing it doesn’t lack is talent, as the roster boasts a bevy of former DI players, seniors with in-game experience and individual basketball talent flowing out their ears. The issue that has plagued GVSU basketball all season long has been the fact that these individuals struggle to play well as a team. When watching the men’s team, one doesn’t see a consistent offensive flow with unselfish basketball. GVSU’s offense features way too many bad shots in the form of contested mid-range jumpers, with poor shot selection rivaling that of mediocre NBA teams who are the reason why diehard college basketball fans hate the NBA. Let’s make one thing clear: I’m not saying this basketball team is boring to watch. Jeremiah Ferguson driving to the basketball for and-ones, Hunter Hale and Zach West hitting clutch

threes, Jake Van Tubbergen’s combination of skilled interior moves and a fine looking jumper and big men Justin Greason and Isaiah Brock hitting jump hooks and catching alley-oops makes for an entertaining performance on the offensive end. That said, when looking at past GVSU losses, a recurring trend seems to be that when this team loses, they often have more turnovers than assists. In the last four L’s, GVSU has posted at least five more turnovers than assists, with recent losses to Wayne State and Northern Michigan featuring the Lakers having twice as many turnovers as assists. These losses often feature a lot of ‘iso-ball’: one Laker tries to get past his man while the other four players space the floor and watch him make his move. With reigning NBA MVP James Harden not being on this roster, that kind of offensive gameplan is simply not going to work, especially with the physical, helpsideheavy defenses that are used throughout the GLIAC. What this team needs to improve upon is playing better as a team, which comes down to little things like more effective, better offensive vision from the guards and physical screens from the big men on and off the ball. The team should try to model their offense to be like that of the San Antonio Spurs, who have been an NBA juggernaut for the maturity of the 21st century. Through an offense that gets the most out of each player’s individual talents through vigorous movement and more than a few passes out of each possession, head coach and future NBA hall of famer Gregg Popovich used

REACH FOR THE SKY: Grand Valley State starting center Isaiah Brock jumps as high as he can to win the opening tip-off against rival Saginaw Valley State forward Fred John Jr. in a game played on Thursday, Jan. 10, at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT

his team-first offense to get the most out of talented offensive players, such as Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli, Boris Diaw and Matt Bonner to name a few. The Lakers need to adopt an offense similar to this. This college basketball season has proved that teams who share the ball often,

such as the Tennessee Volunteers, Gonzaga Bulldogs and Michigan Wolverines get the most success on the offensive end. In fact, if this basketball team needs inspiration for how to play better together as a team on offense, look no further than the team they share the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena with. The 19-2 women’s bas-

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The win against Ashland this past weekend proves that the Lakers have the capability of going off on offense, with a 47-point offensive explosion in the second half leading to victory, but if this team wants to keep those winning ways going, they have to share the ball on offense consistently in order to compete in the GLIAC come tournament time.

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ketball team runs their offensive like clockwork, with Jenn DeBoer controlling the pace, Nataie Koenig and Victoria Hedemark hunting for open shots, Maddie Dailey picking-and-popping and Cassidy Boensch flexing her muscles, controlling the paint and continuing to be one of the best players in Division II.

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