Issue 42, February 13th, 2017 - Grand Valley Lanthorn

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GRAND VALLEY

A L L E N D A L E & G R A N D R A P I DS , M I C H I G A N ST U D E N T- R U N P U B L I C A T I O N S // P R I N T · O N L I N E · M O B I L E // L A N T H O R N . C O M

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

TECHNOLOGY

Fighting a new wave of attacks GV adds cybersecurity concentration to CIS master’s program BY DREW SCHERTZER DSCHERTZER@LANTHORN.COM

A new digital age brings about its own unique problems. There are countless innovations coming out every year for the better and for the worse. Cyberattacks online, for example, can come in the form of phishing emails or malware trying to take over a computer. To combat virtual dangers such as cyberattacks, a new concentration in cybersecurity has been added to Grand Valley State University’s School of Computing and Information Systems (CIS) master’s degree program. “Online security is really important after the election since a lot of cyberattacks and email attacks are happening,” said Vijay Bhuse, a GVSU CIS professor who will help implement the new program changes. “These attacks are bad for everyone, so I strongly agree with strengthening the curriculum so our graduates are prepared.” Bhuse warned this is just the beginning. He said there might be bad attacks in the future since everything from electronic hospital records to bank account information is online. To combat the new era of hackers, Bhuse and his colleagues have added four CIS classes. The purpose of the classes is to improve students’ knowledge of what hackers are trying to do, Bhuse said. Students will learn about physical forensics, writing secure code and more. Sue Korzinek, the director of information technology at GVSU, is very SEE SECURITY | A2

NATIONAL DEBATE: Protesters and supporters gather in front of Planned Parenthood on 425 Cherry St. SE in Grand Rapids Saturday, Feb. 11. Although the demonstration was started by anti-abortion protesters, there were many pro-abortion rights demonstraters on the scene. GVL | KEVIN SIELAFF

Defend vs. defund Grand Rapids protesters debate federal funding for Planned Parenthood BY EMILY DORAN NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

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cross the United States, anti-abortion demonstrators congregated Saturday, Feb. 11, to demand the federal defunding of Planned Parenthood, and pro-abortion rights advocates responded in kind with their own counter-protests to express their support for the organization. Grand Rapids was no exception to the list of cities in which these demonstrations occurred. As part of the nationwide protests to defund Planned Parenthood, Grand Rapids Right to Life hosted a demonstration outside the Planned Parenthood on Cherry Street. The anti-abortion demonstrators were vastly outnumbered by pro-abortion rights advocates, however, who showed up with signs, chants and ‘pussy power hats’ reminiscent of the Women’s March on Washington in support of Planned Parenthood.

Hundreds of protesters and counter-protesters lined both sides of the street, sometimes mingling closely together and occasionally engaging in debate. The protests were monitored by the police and did not become violent. Meanwhile, car drivers enthusiastically honked their support for the pro-abortion rights demonstrators, who held signs defending what they believed to be an issue of women’s bodily autonomy and right to specific

forms of health care. Some of the signs read, “Defend, not defund” and “Family planning saves lives.” The pro-abortion rights demonstrators often erupted into loud chants, as well, declaring, “My body, my choice” and “Women’s rights are human rights.” The anti-abortion demonstrators came with their own signs, some of which read, “Stop abortion now” and “Defund Planned Parenthood.” Kate Bleeker, a GVSU graduate

OUTNUMBERED: Anti-abortion protesters at a demonstration outside of Grand Rapids’ Planned Parenthood Saturday, Feb. 17. GVL | KEVIN SIELAFF

holding a “Defund Planned Parenthood” sign, countered the bodily autonomy argument by defending the rights of human embryos and fetuses as unique individuals. “I am for choices, but not for the choice to end the life that’s inside of you,” Bleeker said. “I do realize that you do have your body and that you are having to carry that child to term—that’s our hope for you and for that child—but the child is a unique human being, 100 percent unique DNA. From the time that the egg is fertilized, it has its own bodily autonomy, in my opinion.” Bleeker said she wanted to promote a positive image of the anti-abortion movement and dispel common misconceptions about the makeup of the group. “I want there to be awareness that the pro-life movement is a loving group,” she said. “It’s a group of young women, not old white males, as the cliché goes. (They’re) people that love women and love the unSEE DEBATE | A2

SECURE: IT Help Desk worker Grant Miller helps out. GVL | SARA CARTE

FUNDING

GOVERNANCE

Student senate elects Maddie Rhoades as new vice president of diversty affairs BY JESS HODGE ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM

AWARE: Tiny, foldable buses are being given out. COURTESY | ALISSA LANE

Raising money Padnos International Center holds campus-wide fundraiser for study abroad scholarships BY DYLAN GROSSER DGROSSER@LANTHORN.COM

The Padnos International Center is trying a new way to raise money for its many study abroad scholarships. Tiny, foldable buses that resemble Grand Valley State University’s Route 50 Campus Connector buses are being given out to raise awareness for the current study abroad scholarships, as well as the newest one. The fundraising campaign will run through Monday, Feb. 20. The Global Programs Fund is a new scholarship aimed at helping students who wish to study abroad for shorter periods of times. Students who have work, or are studying abroad for the first time, are more inclined to study abroad with shorter programs. In fact, the majority of study abroad students participate in brief, facultySEE MONEY | A2

On a normal day, the Grand Valley State University student senate is led by the president, the executive vice president and seven vice presidents, who all chair their respective committees. However, following a sudden, mid-year resignation, the seat for the vice president of the diversity affairs committee (DAC) has sat empty for the past two weeks. During their meeting Thursday, Feb. 9, the senate body heard nominations, a speech and voted on whom

to fill the spot. Maddie Rhoades, a senator from DAC, was voted in as the new vice president of DAC. “Every member of DAC has fully shared the same passion of advocating and working to make sure that those who have systematically been left behind and face discrimination both in the educational system and in life have an opportunity,” Rhoades said in her speech. Rhoades was not the only candidate to run. Brianna Pannell was also nominated as a candidate during the senate’s general assembly meeting last week. Each candidate was allowed a

five-minute statement, 15 minutes or five questions for senators to ask the nominees questions and then 10 minutes for open discussion. Rhoades opened up her speech with a story of Martin Luther King Jr. she said inspired her and reminded her of the work she hopes to accomplish on senate. “I feel like the past few months have been a very challenging time,” she said. “And its during those periods that it really reminds me that even though we are continuously struck down in our work, that we need to get up and continue to push past it and so I

really carried that in my heart.” However, during her speech, Pannell threw her support behind Rhoades as a candidate and subsequently withdrew her candidacy in running for the vice president position. “Senator Rhoades, she has time, she has diligence, the perseverance and determination to be the best vice president for diversity affairs,” Pannell said. “Her heart is so sincere (and) she always stays positive.” Rhoades was allowed to answer five questions before the body would SEE SENATE | A2

ELECTED OFFICIALS: Student senate convenes inside the Pere Marquette Room Thursday, Feb. 9. Grand Valley State University’s student senate voted on and elected senator Maddie Rhoades as the new vice president of the diversity affairs committee after the previous vice president resigned mid-year. GVL | HANNAH ZAJAC


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Issue 42, February 13th, 2017 - Grand Valley Lanthorn by Grand Valley Lanthorn - Issuu