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Finding his ‘drive’ GV student attends Detroit auto show to sharpen journalistic skills
DRIVING TOWARD SUCCESS: Aaron Robert, a Grand Valley State University sophomore, poses in the parking lot outside of the Mary Idema Pew Library. Robert, a public relations major, was selected to attend the North American International Auto Show in Detroit as part of General Motors’ #Discoveryourdrive journalism program that was offered to only 13 participants across the United States. GVL | LUKE HOLMES BY KYLE DOYLE ASSISTANTNEWS@LANTHORN.COM
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he cars are the stars every January in Metro Detroit. The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) attracts people from every race, ethnicity, socioeconomic standing and walk of life to unite over one thing: automobiles. People pour into Detroit to see what new cars and technologies the world’s
biggest automakers have put out. Journalists and public relations representatives are no exception. Grand Valley State University sophomore and public relations major Aaron Robert was one of 13 journalism and communications students from across the country selected to participate in General Motors’ “Discover Your Drive” diversity journalism program from Saturday, Jan. 7, to Wednesday, Jan. 11, at the Cobo Center and other Detroit loca-
tions during the 2017 NAIAS. The 13 participants were tasked with making videos, tweeting, conducting interviews and creating content about the show using the hashtag #DiscoverYourDrive on Twitter. The participants used this hashtag from the moment they arrived at the Renaissance Center to the day they spent on the floor to the day they spent driving around the city in Chevrolet Volts. “A+,” Robert said about his experience with the program. “We did
so much and I learned a lot. Not just about the cars but also how to develop as a student journalist.” Robert learned about the competition at the beginning of a Public Relations Student Society of America meeting and jumped on the opportunity. He saw it as a good way to gain some experience and, being a public relations major, see things from a journalistic perspective. “(Journalism and public relations are) more similar than different,” Rob-
ert said. “We’re both telling stories, albeit my reasons are different than their reasons. But at the end of the day, we’re both writing, sharing information with others through creative means.” As someone who helped Robert find out about the event, Adrienne Wallace, assistant professor of advertising and public relations at GVSU, knew Robert would be a perfect fit. “Aaron is a gifted writer,” Wallace SEE DRIVE | A2
DIVERSITY
STUDENT ORG
More than 1,000 people attend Teach-In to explore difficult dialogue
TEDxGVSU to present inaugual event
and the transitional period they may go through in their educational journey, the Teach-In revolved around Throughout its Martin Luther creating safe, inclusive spaces for each King Jr. Commemoration Week, member of the campus community. Lexie Godfrey, a GVSU sophoGrand Valley State University hosted a variety of speakers, activities more, was part of the “Invisible Disand discussions in order to focus on abilities: Looking Beyond What You King’s legacy and his fight for an eq- See” Teach-In session, sponsored by Disability Support Resources (DSR) uitable society for all Americans. Following in King’s footsteps at GVSU. Godfrey was part of the to address social justice issues, the conversation about navigating camfourth annual Teach-In at GVSU, en- pus life with an invisible disability. Godfrey said speaking at the titled “Power, Privilege and Difficult Dialogues,” was comprised of libera- Teach-In session was wonderful, tion-based sessions and was attended as it helped her be part of the disby roughly 1,100 participants from cussion addressing disability isthe GVSU community Thursday, Jan. sues on and off campus. “It feels really good to just spread 19. This was lower than last year’s atawareness,” she said. “To even just tendance by about 350 people. Held at the Allendale and Pew talk (to) people who don’t even know Campuses from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., the me—it’s hard to talk about a disability, Teach-In was organized by the Uni- so I like it, I like speaking about it.” Other topics at the versity Academic SenTeach-In emphasized ate and the student power and privilege senate. The series of ses“It feels within an academic sions was led by groups really good setting, health dispariof students, faculty and ties within the health staff members. to just spread services industry, raMany of the panawareness...It’s cial and class bias in els and workshops at the Thursday event hard to talk about relation to food insecurity and homelessfocused on raising a disability, so I ness in Grand Rapids. awareness, fostering like it.” Ella Fritzemeier, the dialogue and action student senate presiwhen breaking down dent, who was part of LEXIE GODFREY stereotypes of differTEACH-IN PRESENTER the “Affirming Incluent topics—like race sion at GVSU” session, or disability—and desaid with language veloping a better understanding of always changing, a person needs to different cultural identities. “The theme of the Teach-In aligns adapt and listen to other individuals’ with MLK Week so heavily because experiences in order to develop honDr. Martin Luther King Jr.‘s work est and respectful relationships. Posing a question to the group was centered on leveling the power and privilege that was—and still session, she asked how one should is—heavily unequal,” said Brandon conduct dialogue when facing opFitzgerald, student senate vice presi- pressive and/or racist comments. “How do you frame it so that dent for diversity affairs. “Most of his work was also through dialogue with we are learning from one another those individuals who held power, as and they’re validating what you’re saying and you’re validating what well with those who held none.” Featuring sessions from sexual as- they’re saying?” she asked. In response, Karen Gipson, the sault and rape culture, which aimed to end the misconception that sexual chair of the University Academic Senassault is only a woman’s issue, to topics on first-generation college students SEE TEACH-IN | A2
BY EMILY DORAN NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
BY MEGHAN MCBRADY MMCBRADY@LANTHORN.COM
The Grand Valley State University community is filled with people who value creativity, design thinking and innovation. Some of those individuals are taking their interests a step further with the creation of TEDxGVSU, an organization intended to promote the dissemination of interesting and significant ideas. TEDxGVSU is run by volunteer GVSU students and graduates who have a passion for stimulating community conversation about important topics. This past semester, the group became an official GVSU student organization (under the name TEDx). It receives funding from Student Life and is also sponsored by various other university offices. TEDx groups, like TEDxGVSU, are local, nonprofit, independently organized TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) affiliates. Their events include live presentations, speakers and acts, as well as the broadcasting of prerecorded TED Talks. TEDx groups allow people from many different locations to organize their own community-based events. That way, a broader range of people can experience a TED-inspired event firsthand without having to travel to the annual TED Conference on the North American West Coast. TEDxGVSU will hold its inaugural event Friday, Feb. 24, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Cook-DeWitt Center. The theme of the event is “The Blueprints Between X and Why.” Event speakers and performers will use their own experiences and expertise to tie into the main theme of examining what happens when a strictly planned life or career path takes unexpected twists and turns or runs into roadblocks. Attendees will also be encouraged to examine their own life plans, scrutinizing their motivations for pursuing certain goals. “When you have to accomplish a goal, or when you have a large task at hand, you often come up with a plan to get from point X to point Y,” said LEAD: Jacob Molli leads an activity at the Teach-In Thursday, Jan. 19. There were 1,100 people who attended throughout the day. GVL | MACKENZIE BUSH
SEE TEDX | A2