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
T H U R S D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 1 4 , 2 0 1 7 // VO L . 52 N O. 7
GV student population by the numbers, fall 2017 Total enrollment again surpasses 25,000 BY MEGAN WEBSTER MWEBSTER@LANTHORN.COM
W
ith a new freshman class navigating the hallways at Grand Valley State University comes an updated set of statistics on the study body enrollment. Released just this week, the numbers show GVSU has done it again: More than 25,000 students are enrolled at the university, and out of the 25,049 individuals who make up the student body, more than 4,000 of them are first-time students—a goal GVSU has hit in the past six years. Along with the 4,185 new freshmen, there are 1,625 transfer students, more than 400 international students, 4,344 minority students and 2,108 students from out of state. Philip Batty, director of institutional analysis at GVSU, said the numbers reveal that the university remains stable and healthy each passing year. “It’s more a story on continuity than change,” Batty said. “We continue to be a large and healthy public university. We have enrolled more than 25,000 students that continue to be very well-qualified to pursue
4,135 1,625 400+ 4,344 2,108
higher education.” Stephen Glass, acting vice provost for student affairs and dean of students, also commented on the health of the university, saying these growing numbers signal a healthy, adapting institution, rather than a stagnant one. “A university that is healthy and adapting is creating new programs, creating other opportunities, has a lot of students on campus, has student groups of all types,” he said. “That’s all sign of a healthy, growing university.” According to Glass, GVSU has the best of both worlds: a large campus feel yet intimate, hands-on classrooms. He thinks these numbers reflect the value of what the university offers to current and prospective students all across Michigan and the Midwest. “Students are wise,” Glass said. “Parents are wise. You don’t spend money needlessly. You put your money where you’re
FRESHMEN STUDENTS TRANSFER STUDENTS
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS MINORITY STUDENTS
OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS
going to get value. I think what the numbers are showing is that we have value.” Glass said GVSU has programs that match the needs of students and that the university is adapting to what is
going to make those students successful. This ability to adapt to all the different students on campus makes GVSU a fierce competitor in college retention and graduation rates across the state of Michigan.
GVL | BECKY OPPMAN
“We’re graduating students at a better rate than most of the other universities in this state,” Glass said. “Our six-year graduSEE STUDENTS | A2
HOUSING
RENOVATIONS
Bulletin boards vandalized in Murray, VanSteeland living centers
GV construction continues with Student Services addition, plans for learning spaces
RAs send out community-wide email notification
BY THERESA MUELLER TMUELLER@LANTHORN.COM
Three weeks into the fall 2017 semester, Grand Valley State University students, faculty and staff are back in full swing for the academic year. As the masses of students occupy the campus grounds again, construction
crews consequently follow. Likewise, the facilities planning department at GVSU is always in full operation. Every school year, there are new opportunities to address improvements for the functioning of campus. The facilities planning department attempts to complete the bulk of its construction dur-
ing the summer months when fewer people are around. However, with the consistent need for improvement for GVSU facilities, working during fall and winter semesters is unavoidable. “University capital improvements is an ongoing process,” said James Moyer, associate vice president for facilities planning,
via email. “Each year, we undertake more (than) 70 projects of various sizes and costs. This level of effort is necessary to keep the university on pace with the technology growth; the demands of the student population; to avoid building (obsolescence); and to SEE PROJECT | A2
BY CELIA HARMELINK CHARMELINK@LANTHORN.COM
Incidents of vandalism have recently occurred in the Mark A. Murray and Ronald F. VanSteeland living centers on Grand Valley State University’s Allendale Campus. Schae Maynard, the assistant living center director for the Murray and VanSteeland Apartments, said this is the second time this semester this type of vandalism has occurred to the bulletin boards of the Murray Living Center. Two resident assistants, who were on duty at the time, were the first to notice this had happened. “During move-in week, or the week right after, was the first incident of vandalism to (the third floor RA’s) boards specifically,” Maynard said. “Then it kind of cooled down for a little bit, and then I think last week we noticed that it wasn’t just this building. Both Murray and VanSteeland noticed that the same pattern happened.” An email was sent out to South Campus residents informing them of this incident and asking them to contact the living center director if an act of vandalism were to be witnessed. The person(s) responsible have yet to be found. Joon Park, a resident of VanSteeland, received the email about the RA boards being vandalized. “The RAs put in a lot of time and effort to make this place feel like a home away from home and that by destroying its property, we’re essentially disrespecting our house,” Park said. “When it’s specifically something that someone created and not just something that they have, I think that’s like SEE VANDALS | A2
ADDITIONS: Construction begins on the Student Services building Tuesday, Sept. 12. The new expansion includes a 5,500-square-foot addition on the southwest side of the building, and features include a larger meeting room for prospective students and their families, which will now seat 112 occupants. GVL | HANNAH HILL
SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
A2 | NEWS
STUDENTS
NEWS BRIEFS
CONTINUED FROM A1
GV TO HOST BIKE FAIR
Grand Valley State University’s Campus Recreation will host a two-day bike fair Friday, Sept. 15, and Saturday, Sept. 16. The event will include local biking resources and a variety of different activities, including races. For more information, contact Joe Bitely, assistant director of Campus Recreation, at bitelyj@gvsu.edu or 616-331-2597.
ation rates are third or fourth behind U of M, Michigan State, Michigan Tech. We’re right up there with all the big universities on graduation rates, on retaining students, so you come here, you stay
here and you graduate. That’s what we want to do. A healthy university keeps its students and graduates its students.” GVSU’s status as a healthy university is not only evident in these newly released numbers, but also in the other designations it has received. GVSU has been
named one of “America’s 100 Best College Buys” by Institutional Research and Evaluation, a “Best Value” and “Best Public Regional University” by U.S. News and World Report and a member of the “Best in the Midwest” by the Princeton Review. Even though these numbers and designations alone
give GVSU a positive image, Glass said GVSU is not done adapting. “We’re in good shape,” he said. “We’re looking for ways to be in great shape anywhere we can and in any way that’s possible. That’s where we’re focused: adding more value to students.”
SPOTLIGHT PRODUCTIONS TO HOST FIRST OPEN MIC NIGHT OF SEMESTER
Spotlight Productions at Grand Valley State University will host its first open mic night of the semester Friday, Sept. 15, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center Lounge. Individuals who wish to participate in the open mic night should email Spotlight Productions in advance at spotlight@gvsu.edu. Snacks will be provided. For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/events/ open-mic-night-17/.
CAMPUS RECREATION TO HOST ROADSIDE MAINTENANCE WORKSHOP
Grand Valley State University’s Campus Recreation will hold a hands-on roadside maintenance workshop to teach attendees how to change and patch a flat tire and address other mishaps that can happen on the road. The event will be held Monday, Sept. 18, from 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. For more information, contact Joe Bitely, assistant director of Campus Recreation, at bitelyj@gvsu.edu or 616-331-2597.
STUDY ABROAD FUNDING 101 WORKSHOP
The Padnos International Center will be hosting a study abroad funding 101 workshop specifically covering funding options for spring and summer programs. The workshop will take place Friday, Sept. 15, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Room 130 of Lake Ontario Hall. The workshop will provide students with information about financial aid, scholarships, grants, loans, fundraising, deferred payment options and affordable program options. For more information, contact Meaghann MyersSmith at myersmea@gvsu.edu or 616-331-3898.
EXPLORE GRAND HAVEN
For students interested in exploring areas of West Michigan beyond Grand Valley State University, Campus Recreation will be hosting a trip to Grand Haven Sunday, Sept. 17, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This event is the first in a series designed to get GVSU students off campus and visiting other areas of West Michigan. The day trip will include both a planned hike and time for students to spend as they like, such as visiting Lake Michigan or exploring downtown Grand Haven. To learn more about available activities, visit www.downtowngh.com. The attendance cost is $15. Participants should arrive at the Fieldhouse by 10:45 a.m. to ride in the van to Grand Haven. Recommended items to bring along include a small backpack, water bottle, a hat and sunglasses, a swimsuit and beach towel, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, snacks, and money to spend. For more information, contact oac@gvsu.edu or 616331-3226. CAMPUS GROWTH: Students walk by the Cook Carillon Tower on GVSU’s Allendale Campus. According to campus statistics, over 25,000 students are enrolled at GVSU, and more than 4,000 of the 25,049 individuals enrolled are first-time students. GVL | JOSHUA VISSERS
VO L . 52
NO. 7
Lan thorn EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief EMILY DORAN Associate Editor JENNA FRACASSI
PROMOTIONS Promotions Manager SHAYNA KOZKOWSKI ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager
Sports Editor ROBBIE TRIANO
IAN BORTHWICK
Laker Life Editor TY KONELL
KATARINA ZOMER
Digital Editor MAITLYNN MOSSOLLE Image Editor EMILY FRYE
Campus Accounts Manager
Account Executive RACHEL MOORE Ad Designer LIAM CARTER BUSINESS STAFF
Layout Editor BECKY OPPMAN
Business Manager SHELBY CARTER
Layout Designer RACHEL SPRING
Asst. Business Manager ALEXIS LAMB
WEB TEAM Web Manager JUSTIN GREEN
Distribution Manager MEGHAN FITZGERALD
At the Lanthorn, we strive to bring you the most accurate news possible. If we make a mistake, we want to make it right. If you find any errors in fact in the Lanthorn, let us know by calling 616-331-2464 or by emailing editorial@lanthorn.com. The Grand Valley Lanthorn is published twice-weekly by Grand Valley State University students 62 times a year. One copy of this newspaper is available free of charge to any member of the GVSU community. For additional copies, at $1 each, please contact our business offices.
The Lanthorn is published on recycled paper and is printed with soy bean ink. This means that our newspaper is entirely compostable. Help us do our part to be kind to the environment by recycling or composting this newspaper after you enjoy reading it. POSTMASTER: Please send form 3579 to: Grand Valley Lanthorn 0051 Kirkhof Center Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI 49401
VANDALS CONTINUED FROM A1
an attack on someone’s intellectual property, so that’s disrespectful.” Maynard described the damage done to the bulletin board on the third floor: “They ripped off the bulletin board paper, the poster board, they scratched on it, they took off huge chunks of it and just completely messed it up. It wasn’t just like a big ‘X’ or something that might be a little more subtle; it’s literally like they were going to destroy this board. I don’t know what
PROJECT CONTINUED FROM A1
keep the campuses an attractive alternative for existing and potential students, existing and potential faculty/employees and other potential employees.” When it comes to determining which projects to undertake on campus, there are no “nice-to-have” projects, as Moyer refers to them. The size of each project often varies. One considerable project that began last week includes additions to the Student Services building on GVSU’s Allendale Campus intended to aid the recruitment process. Over the last 20 years, the Admissions Office has functioned out of a small room, which allows for 40 occupants. Since 1995, the meeting room in the Student Services building was built to accommodate what was then 1,860 incoming freshmen. Despite the growing numbers of GVSU’s incoming classes (4,380 students in 2016 and 4,185 in 2017), the office space available to prospec-
their reasoning is.” When an act of vandalism occurs, Maynard said the first thing they do is file a report about it to let the staff know what has happened and to alert them to keep an eye out for possible incidences in the future. “That would be the first step after me sending out an email—holding floor meetings—and if that doesn’t seem to remedy the issue, we would have to take a step further,” she said. “This is my first year as the grad for this building, so I really haven’t heard too much of it being an issue in the past, but I’m sure that it happens.”
Maynard said they are still trying to figure out who did it and if their actions were intentional or if they just didn’t like the board. “That shouldn’t be a reason for students to vandalize the work of the RAs because (their) job is to make sure people feel like this is their second home,” she said. “So, we can’t tolerate behavior like that. We’re trying to get to the bottom of that as quickly as possible.” The bulletin boards in the living centers are meant to provide information to the residents, and the community is potentially put at a dis-
advantage if they are ruined. “We work very closely with our RAs to make sure that if need be, they will hold a floor meeting to speak to their residents one-on-one and say, ‘Hey, we’re noticing this is a pattern; we’re trying to stop this behavior because it really doesn’t benefit anybody,’” Maynard said. In accordance with GVSU’s Student Code, any damage or destruction to the property of the university or other people is prohibited. Any knowledge of misconduct or vandalism should be reported immediately to the university.
tive students and families has remained the same. The number of visitors exceeds 10,000 on an annual basis. To accommodate the large mass of prospective students, GVSU admissions staff often move beyond the walls of the Student Services building by occupying whatever classrooms may be available. Increasing numbers of prospective students and a lack of centrality for visitors have brought various challenges over the years, as classroom availability during the school year is increasingly limited. “Having a well-defined space to support the student visits allows the university staff a better platform to address the students, their parents and advisers,” Moyer said. “It also provides an opportunity for interaction with the many potential students at any age level.” The project for the Student Services building includes a 5,500-square-foot addition on the southwest side of the building. Features of the addition include a larger meeting room for prospective students and their families, which will
now seat 112 occupants. There will also be a reception lobby with interactive displays, a pre-function area and two breakout meeting rooms for private meetings. The expected completion of the project is the end of January 2018 or early February 2018. In the meantime, admissions staff will carry on the strategic planning with little disturbance from the construction process. “The university does a great job of limiting (interference) with working staff,” said Jodi Chycinski, director of admissions. The construction is unlikely to inconvenience campus-goers too much, as it occupies a large green space with only one closed-off sidewalk; pedestrians can easily maneuver their way around. There are other upcoming and recently completed projects at GVSU as well:
for any deficiencies. Thus far, the project has proved to be sufficient, as it has withstood several summer rains.
Ravines reconstruction under Little Mac Bridge This project was completed in the summer to address issues of erosion but continues to be monitored
Additional learning space This project will not begin until the spring of 2018. The 180,000-square-foot project will include expansions on the library, additional classrooms, specialized labs, research spaces, student study spaces and computer labs. It will be funded by the state of Michigan and GVSU. Once this project is underway, it will not be completed until May 2021. As these projects continue, campus concerns stay the same: safety and disturbing learning activities as little as possible. “Our biggest concern is always safety,” said Scott Whisler, facilities planning project manager. “We need to keep the campus population safe while still allowing construction traffic to access the site.” “We alter our project sequences to avoid as much student impact as possible,” Moyer said.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
NEWS | A3
INITIATIVE
Grand Rapids implements pedestrian safety campaign
SAFETY FIRST: Officer Andrew Hintz assists GVSU students Robbie Triano and Becky Oppman across the street Wednesday, Sept. 13. Officials from Grand Rapids introduced a pedestrian safety campaign Monday, Sept. 11, at a press conference in Wilcox Park. GVL | EMILY FRYE BY JOSHUA VISSERS JVISSERS@LANTHORN.COM
Officials from Grand Rapids introduced the city’s first-ever pedestrian safety campaign Monday, Sept. 11, at a press conference in Wilcox Park. The first stage of the campaign focuses on 21 enforcement
zones around Grand Rapids that will be marked with bright orange signs. “At these locations, Grand Rapids police officers will observe pedestrians and motorist behavior and their interactions with each other,” said Chris Zull, the traffic safety manager for Grand Rapids. The zones will be active through Friday, Sept. 22.
“The officers will not be there to issue citations,” Zull said. “Rather, as necessary, they will provide warnings and education about the pedestrian safety laws in Grand Rapids.” The campaign is being funded with a $120,000 grant from the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning and is intended to help shape regulation, pol-
icy, engineering, education and enforcement surrounding the safety of people walking in Grand Rapids. “Information that we gather during this first phase will help the city develop a comprehensive plan that will achieve significant, lasting improvements in pedestrian safety,” said City Commissioner Ruth Kelly.
She highlighted the need for the program by quoting annual crash statistics compiled by the state that show the higher-than-average rate of crashes involving pedestrians in Grand Rapids. “It’s just slightly below Oakland County’s 866 crashes, despite Kent County having roughly only half of Oakland County’s population,” she said, citing statistics taken between 2012 and 2015. Kent County recorded 790 pedestrian-involved crashes. “We chose these locations for the high-visibility enforcement based on their high rate of motor and foot traffic,” said Lt. Dave Schnurstein of the Grand Rapids Police Department. The intersections are scattered around the city, with some placed in each of the three wards. “When my classes get out, some people just walk in front of cars,” said Katelyn Kuenzel, pointing at the crosswalk between Secchia Hall and the Richard M. DeVos Center on Grand Valley State University’s Pew Campus. Kuenzel is a senior at GVSU enrolled in the nursing program. “College kids don’t pay attention,” she said.
Lindsey Wabeke, GVSU senior who is enrolled in the elementary education program, takes the bus to and from class as often as possible. “The only place I worry about is the Garfield stop,” she said. The bus stop near the corner of Fulton Street and Garfield Avenue is not in one of the enforcement zones. State Reps. Winnie Brinks and David LaGrande, both members of the Democratic Party, each voiced their support for the new project. Brinks highlighted the past success of the “Driving Change” bicycle safety program; LaGrande focused on potential driver responsibility laws and introduced different technologies that could be used to aid pedestrian safety. “Our signals tend to be car-centric, and they don’t give pedestrians all the information they need,” he said. Ron Van Houten, a psychology professor and traffic and pedestrian safety expert at Western Michigan University, implored drivers to work to change their behavior to be more safe on the road. “You don’t hit what you’re looking for,” he said. “You have to train yourself to start looking for all the road users.”
COMMUNITY
GV to host annual Family Weekend Three days of events coincide with Grand Rapids ArtPrize BY DREW SCHERTZER DSCHERTZER@LANTHORN.COM
Every year, Grand Valley State University celebrates Family Weekend, a three-daylong celebration where families of GVSU students can come visit the university for a series of events and activities. This year’s weekend festivities will begin Friday, Sept. 22, at 6 p.m. and run through Sunday, Sept. 24, at 8 p.m. The theme is “Valley of Colors,” since it will take place during the same time as Grand Rapid’s ArtPrize. “It’s a great experience to explore different areas for people that aren’t from here,” said Madalyn Slubowski, Laker Traditions event coordinator. “This makes the campus feel more like home for students as well.” Slubowski believes Family Weekend is a time for families to connect. She said it’s a good opportunity for students to show their families what they’ve been doing and go to different events.
The activities will begin Friday with a multitude of sporting events. GVSU’s men’s lacrosse will go up against Oakland University at 6 p.m. in the Kelly Family Sports Center, and GVSU’s men’s DIII ice hockey will play University of Michigan Flint at 7 p.m. in the Georgetown Ice Center. There are numerous other sporting events taking place that Friday, but the main event of the evening will be the dueling pianos. The dueling pianos will be a time for families to enjoy refreshments while seeing if they can sing along with the piano players. This will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. in the Grand River Room of the Kirkhof Center. Melaura Rice, another Laker Traditions event coordinator, thinks this event will be an opportunity for families to really enjoy themselves. “We’re getting to the point of the year where freshmen are getting homesick,” Rice said. “It’s nice to have your family come see you, and your parents like to
know what you’re doing.” Rice said spending time with family and going to events like the dueling pianos with them is a good way for students to relieve homesickness. More events will begin Saturday, with a Family Weekend 5K Walk/ Run. This will begin at 9 a.m. on GVSU’s Allendale Campus. Later that day, the Family Weekend Tailgate will kick off at 5 p.m. at the Fieldhouse Arena. Rice and Slubowski expect about 500 or more people to show up. Here, families can help themselves to burgers and other grilled foods, though a ticket is required for entry. Sunday will be the last day of Family Weekend. On this day, families can visit the Laker Store, drop by the Grand Rapids Art Museum or visit The Well. This year, there will be a strong emphasis on creative activities, Rice said. There will be interactive art pieces, inflatables and other creative pieces. ArtPrize tours will be given throughout the weekend, and
FUN TIMES: People hold a snake at the petting zoo that was set up in GVSU’s Kirkhof Center for Sibs and Kids Weekend Jan. 29, 2016. The petting zoo was put on by Valley Exotic Zoo. GVL | LUKE HOLMES
Rice thinks families should certainly check out the exhibits. Further, Slubowski said Shakespeare plays will be performed throughout the weekend at the Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center
for Performing Arts. She hopes the plays, as well as numerous other crafts and activities, will contribute a lot to Family Weekend. Hotel rooms have been reserved for GVSU families
visiting for the weekend, and they will be able to receive a discount during their stay. GO TO: http://bit.ly/2y6C6Jk FOR MORE INFORMATION
PLANNING AHEAD: Allison Roman (left), Jessica Campbell (middle) and Sharalle Arnold (right) of the Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity meet Tuesday, Sept. 12, to discuss the center’s upcoming event “Fostering Laker Success” Thursday, Sept. 14. HANNAH HILL GVL
MOBILE EYES Call 911 when: • someone is drinking while driving. • a car is swerving or • someone is visibly intoxicated; walking to his/her car to drive.
What to do next: • explain the reason for the call. • give a vehicle description and the license plate number. • give a location (e.g. North on US 31).
www.miOttawa.org/SAP
A4 | OPINION EDITORIAL
Pedestrians need to be safer on campus
T
t Grand Valley State University, several precautions are made to ensure pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists stay safe as they pass through campus. During peak traffic hours, there are crossing guards who direct and stop traffic to ensure pedestrians cross the street safely. In addition, there are clearly delineated walking and biking paths through the Allendale Campus on one side of the road to ensure that pedestrians and bicyclists don’t collide. Nevertheless, some pedestrians at GVSU continue to engage in unsafe walking practices on campus, practically canceling the university’s efforts to keep them safe. A theme we see more often than not at GVSU is students taking the “rightof-way” mentality too far. We’ve all seen it: people crossing the street without even looking, glued to their phones and completely zoned out from their surroundings. Too many students assume that cars will stop for them, so they walk with little regard for the dangerous situation they are creating. This mentality not only puts the crossing pedestrians at risk—it also endangers people who are driving. Walking across any busy intersection without at least looking up to see oncoming traffic is never a good idea. Cars need sufficient time to stop, so whether or not a pedestrian has the right of way is ultimately irrelevant in a situation where they cross the street when a car clearly does not have time to stop safely. At that point, the pedestrian is putting everyone in the situation in danger. Another issue we see all too often are students engaging in unsafe walking practices by the buses that run
through campus. Despite the automated bus voice explicitly warning pedestrians not to walk in front of the bus after exiting, some students do just that, forcing bus drivers to slam on the breaks to avoid hitting them. One possible explanation for many pedestrians’ careless behavior is the pervasive myth perpetuated with every incoming class that if a student gets hit by a bus, they “automatically” get free tuition. For all those actually considering this possibility, please know doing this will in fact not get you free tuition. Of course, motorists too have a huge responsibility in creating a safe campus environment. People operating motor vehicles need to be extremely observant of their surroundings, and oftentimes they are not. Speeding through campus is unsafe for everyone, especially since GVSU pedestrians are prone to exercise their right of way with little regard for oncoming traffic. Recognizing the desperate need for traffic education, officials from Grand Rapids instituted a pedestrian safety campaign Monday, Sept. 11. The campaign will focus on 21 enforcement zones around the city, and at these locations, police officers will observe motorist and pedestrian interactions. According to Chris Zull, traffic safety manager for Grand Rapids, officers are not present to issue citations but are instead there to educate about the pedestrian safety laws in Grand Rapids and issue warnings. This is a wise initiative, considering many people aren’t aware of—or just simply ignore—the very necessary rules of the road. Perhaps the powers that be at GVSU should consider implementing a similar campaign on campus.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON
9/14/17
editorial@lanthorn.com
Sexism in sports fandoms
BY SHEA SLAUGHTER EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
I was born and raised a Detroit Lions fan, and let me tell you, it’s been a long 21 years. I was also raised a University of Michigan fan, so at least my life hasn’t been a total disappointment. For as long as I can remember, I had a jersey in my closet for some professional sports team. I’d throw it on whenever my family went to a game. I loved painting my face and cheering loudly when I was little, and I love doing so now, too. Here’s the catch: I was raised primarily by my
Editor-in-Chief Associate editor Sports editor Laker Life editor BY AMY MCNEEL EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
WHAT IS A LANTHORN?
*0ƫđƫ$+.*Čƫƫn. [old English] Lanthorn is two syllables, pronounced Lant-horn. It is a lantern that was used in midto-late 16th century Europe. It was constructed of leather and a
single lens made of 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.”
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mother, and I grew up with two sisters. My love of sports came from them. That’s a lot of estrogen in one house, but that didn’t stop Sunday Night Football from showing up on the TV every week. My mom encouraged my love of sports, and I didn’t know there was any other way to be. I played soccer with the boys at recess instead of sitting on the tire swing with the girls. It was fun, and I liked the competition. As I grew older, my eyes focused in on basketball, one of the true loves of my life. ESPN’s “SportsCenter” became my favorite program during high school, and I loved watching every game that was played. It was then that I began to realize my adoration for sports seemed odd to some people. It appeared there was a lot of judgement passed around for a girl who was a little too much of a “jock.” When I started relaying the newest Miami Heat lineup to my male classmates,
they questioned me and pushed back. They seemed to think there was no way some girl was going to outsmart them at basketball. I never pretended to know it all. I’m not an ESPN analyst, after all. However, I knew the game, the rules, the strategy, the players and all of the important details, yet I was often treated as ornamental during my discussion of a game that I loved. This attitude didn’t stop after high school, though, as I see it follow me now during my adult life as well. A few years ago, I was at work when I commented on a basketball discussion taking place between my male coworkers. I received a dumbfounded look, and I plainly replied with, “What? I know basketball.” This simple statement made one of my coworkers feel the need to quiz me, as if I were lying: “Oh, yeah? How is the game split up? Quarters, halves, periods?” I felt annoyed at this trivial question, and I answered by flipping the ques-
tion around, saying, “Do you mean in high school, college or the NBA?” All of the levels have different answers, and even this girl knew that. It seems that whenever a woman mentions her affinity for sports, she is questioned. Some of these questions are ridiculously easy and some are obnoxiously hard. Yes, I know there are four quarters in an NBA basketball game. No, I don’t know who the fourth-string center from the ‘98 Boston Celtics team was; why would I? The problem is that this attitude has no real basis in today’s society. We have plenty of women who are professional athletes or work for ESPN or play basketball. Their gender does not diminish their ability to love the game, or to know the game, for that matter. Sure, I’ll play sports like a girl, and I’ll watch sports like a girl, because that’s what I am. But just know I’m still in the game.
The dilemma of choosing a life path
GV L ED ITORIA L B OA R D EMILY DORAN JENNA FRACASSI ROBBIE TRIANO TY KONELL
By Kayleigh Van Overen
When we are children, our elders tell us to follow our dreams. They tell us to do what we love and to not worry about the money. However, most of the people who tell us this practice the opposite. People tell us to do what we love, yet they have an occupation they strongly dislike. Due to this, we are often surrounded by hypocrisy. We are told to do one thing but shown to do the other.
Either way, most people have a goal to make money. We want to be able to support ourselves, to indulge and to flourish. It takes money to do these things, and money is often found doing what we are good at. With this in mind, a new question arises: Should we pursue what we love or just what we are good at? In a perfect world, what we are good at would go hand-in-hand with what we love. An example would be an author saying, “I love writing because I’m good at it. I’m good at writing because I love it.” However, this world is not a perfect place. Sometimes we are not good at what we love. Most of the time, we do not love what we are good at. When this issue arises, it is hard to figure out what path to take. I’m sure we are all very aware of the Confucius quote, “Choose a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life.” As cliché
as this line might be today, I still believe it to be true. Some argue that pursuing a career in something you love will make that certain thing become a chore. But if it’s that easy for you to get tired of your passion, then it doesn’t seem to be a passion at all. Furthermore, some argue that you should do what you are good at instead of what you love because you will undoubtedly succeed if you are good at what you do. They say your occupation will be more fulfilling and achievement will come more easily. However, is this immediate gratification worth the boredom it takes? If you do what you love, you will not only find fulfillment in the outcome but in the process. When you love something, you don’t have to be an expert on it. That’s because if you love it, you are more than willing to learn about it, to progress and to ruthlessly
work until the job is done to the best of your ability. In this sense, doing what you love is an open forum for exploration. Altogether, it seems the achievements made from hard work and passion are much more fulfilling than those made from stark talent. Yes, I may be an idealist, and I may not specifically know what I want to do yet, but I do know that there are things I am good at that I would never consider pursuing in the workforce. I know that I do not want to sit in wrinkly work pants as I type away in a scrunched up, fluorescent cubicle. I’m not saying that’s not right for you, but I know for a fact it’s not right for me. I encourage you to follow your dream, and I promise I will follow mine. In doing so, let’s each start making a life out of what we love.
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QUESTION OF THE ISSUE
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DID YOU ATTEND THE TEACH-IN?
CAITY VAN ESSENDELFT
BRIANNA BOST
“If I’m the pedestrian, no. If I’m the driver, yes.”
“If you’re not on the crosswalk, look out for cars.”
YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Elementary education HOMETOWN: Farmingville, New York
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: WGS and social work HOMETOWN: Clarksville, Michigan
MCKENNA SGROI
CONNOR CARLSON
“Yes. A lot of people cross the street when they shouldn’t.”
“No, it’s a school campus. Be more careful in a car.”
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Graphic design HOMETOWN: Dexter, Michigan
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Film and video HOMETOWN: Grand Blanc, Michigan
LAKER LIFE | A5
SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE
ACTIVISM
ARTS AT A GLANCE NINTH ANNUAL PALEO-OLYMPICS TO TAKE PLACE FRIDAY, SEPT. 15 Grand Valley State University students with an interest in history, archaeology, anthropology or other aspects of the past are invited to attend GVSU’s ninth annual Paleo-Olympics, where they will learn how to play ancient games, spin yarn, make hieroglyphic cookies and more. The event, taking place from noon to 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, on the North Lawn of the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons, is an interdisciplinary event that features interactive activities and demonstrations. For more information, contact Melissa Morison at 616331-3231.
STAGE AUDITIONS
The Grand Valley State University Student Theatrical Arts Guild for Entertainment (STAGE) is set to hold auditions Thursday, Sept. 14, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 15, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Auditions for the organization’s sketch comedy series are open to students regardless of acting experience. Students who choose to audition aren’t required to have a piece prepared. For more information on STAGE auditions, email stage@mail.gvsu.edu.
YBBW ANNUAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL PICNIC
You Beautiful Black Woman (YBBW) will be holding the organization’s annual back-to-school picnic Saturday, Sept. 16, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the lawn of the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons. The event’s theme this year, a throwback to the ‘90s, is titled “Blast from the Past.� The picnic is open to all students and will focus on having current YBBW members interact with the campus community to spread the word about YBBW. Apart from providing food, the event will also feature games and prizes. For more information, email ybbwbeta@gmail.com.
GV public health program to hold benefit for hurricane victims BY TY KONELL LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM
Although local students at Grand Valley State University may not have to worry about natural disasters during the school year, the rest of the country is not as fortunate. Following the destruction of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, the GVSU master of public health (MPH) program is teaming up with Grand Rapids-based Creston Brewery and SEARCH Homeless Services to raise funds for those who have been affected by the storms. The event, happening Thursday, Sept. 14, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Creston Brewery, will focus on curating and putting together hygiene kits and fundraising. “Many people in Texas, Florida and the Caribbean have been greatly affected by these large-scale weather events in
the last two weeks,� said Ranelle Brew, associate professor for the public health program, chair of the department of public health and program director. “Public health students wanted a way to reach out and help with relief efforts from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and get the community involved, too.� Brew said this event would be an opportunity for those who want to help but may not know how. “Many people are asking and wondering how they can help,� Brew said. “While large non-profit organizations are collecting donations, such as the American Red Cross, this is a local event that will have a direct impact. It allows Grand Rapids residents and GVSU students to come together for a common cause in providing aid to hurricane victims.� At the event, coordinators will be collecting toiletries, such
as travel-size shampoo, bars of soap and body wash, toothbrushes, toothpaste, socks, hand sanitizer, lip balm, Kleenex and quart-size Ziplock bags. “People should attend if they want to help out in some way, if they feel like they don’t know what to do or what is helpful,� said Samantha Radecki, a public health student and one of the event coordinators. “It’s easy: We are putting together hygiene kits to serve the homeless. A little can go a long way and SEARCH, the organization we are partnering with, is so grateful.� The GVSU MPH program, along with its student organization, Public Health Society, coordinated the event. “Students in our program will be donating items for personal hygiene kits and assembling them at the hurricane relief event on Thursday, Sept.14, at Creston Brewery,� Brew said.
“Public Health Society and Creston Brewery have both made a financial contribution to this effort as well.� From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Creston is hosting an event to assemble the kits, while one dollar for every beverage sold will go toward the effort. Radecki said it may be easy to get caught up in the most recent news pertaining to drastic weather but that it is important not to forget about the victims in Houston living with the after-effects of Hurricane Harvey. “Though Hurricane Irma has stolen the recent headlines, Harvey’s victims are still suffering and need help and support,� Radecki said. “This is about showing compassion and helping others when faced with tragedy. That, to me, seems pretty important.� For more information on the event, contact Creston Brewery at 616-805-4523.
VMA ARTPRIZE PREVIEW RECEPTION
A group of Grand Valley State University students have entered wearable art into ArtPrize 2017 and have opened up a preview reception event, being held Saturday, Sept. 16, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The group of current and recent students entered six pieces representing different approaches to bodily adornment while also highlighting the intent of the artist behind the piece. The pieces are shown in the context envisioned by the artist, being used or worn in a way that is representative of the artist’s vision. For more information, contact the GVSU Art Gallery at 616-331-2536.
HELPING HANDS: The event photo for Creston Brewery, GVSU public health and SEARCH Homeless Services’ collaborative event benefiting Hurricane Harvey victims in Texas, set to be held Thursday, Sept. 14. COURTESY | HURRICANE HARVEY RELIEF BENEFIT’S FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE
FACULTY
Breaking down the ‘Yooper’ accent GV prof to discuss identity, dialect in the UP BY NICK KONDYLES NKONDYLES@LANTHORN.COM
This week, Grand Valley State University’s Kutsche Office of Local History is bringing in Kathryn Remlinger, professor of English at GVSU, to speak about dialect and identity in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. All students are invited to attend the LIB 100/201-approved event in Room 2270 of the Kirkhof Center Thursday, Sept. 14, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. “We work with a variety of on-campus and off-campus partners to support our mission of giving voice to diverse communities through histo-
ry,� said Kimberly McKee, director of the Kutsche Office. “Dr. Remlinger’s book captures the cultural diversity of the Upper Peninsula.� During the event, Remlinger will read from her book, “Yooper Talk: Dialect as Identity in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula,� and afterward, attendees will be invited to participate in an open-forum discussion. Copies of Remlinger’s book will be available for sale in the back. “The book focuses on identity, what it means to be a Yooper and how it sounds to be a Yooper,� Remlinger said. The professor will delve into topics such as the term “Yoopanese,� the origin of
souvenirs and tourism in the U.P., research in studying vowel sounds, and the dialect’s close relationship to the southern Canadian accent. “It’s such a popular topic,� Remlinger said. “People are interested in Michigan and language, our badge of identity. My hope is to create language awareness, give examples from my book of language prejudices and linguistic stereotypes. Awareness makes changes. I’ll talk about my research methods, speak and use anecdotes to show that words change in identifiable regions.� Remlinger works across the Holland area, focusing on the topic of Michigan’s local
history. This fall, she will continue with a new project in collaboration with students, focusing on connections in language and dialect in Holly, Michigan, within the field of applied linguistics. In addition to the event held in the Kirkhof Center, the Kutsche Office of Local History is hosting a variety of events this fall. The events will focus on diversity in terms of cultural and religious identity and dialect. There will be a panel screening and discussion of the Emmy-nominated documentary “We the 7th,� which explores West Michigan’s Native community and
LECTURER: Kathryn Remlinger, above, will lecture about dialect and identity in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. COURTESY | GVSU.EDU
the largest Native gathering since Wounded Knee, in the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons Tuesday, Sept. 26. “We’ll also be hosting a screening and discussion of
‘Race, Riot and Reconciliation’ in the Cook-DeWitt Center in October,� Mckee said. “These events are important in thinking in terms of belonging in a local context.�
ADVOCACY
Lakers take ‘It’s on Us’ pledge to end sexual violence BY JESSICA HARSEVOORT
JHARSEVOORT@LANTHORN.COM
Like at many colleges, sexual assault is a reality at Grand Valley State University. With that in mind, the Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity hosted “It’s on Us: Take the Pledge� to get more GVSU Lakers involved in bringing an end to sexual violence on campus. Founded in 2014, It’s on Us is a nationwide movement to end sexual assault. The goal of the organization is to educate people about sexual assault, consent and bystander inter-
vention. It’s on Us asks everyone to join the conversation and to create a safe environment for survivors. Students, faculty and staff gathered Tuesday, Sept. 12, by the Cook Carillon Tower for the event, which was scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. During the event, flyers were handed out to passersby filled with It’s on Us mission statements and helpful resources, such as the contact information for the GVSU Police Department, the victim advocate and the Title IX coordinator. Participants at the event
CAMPUS SAFETY: Students take the pledge to end sexual assault on GVSU’s campus Tuesday, Sept. 12. GVL | SPENCER SCARBER
were given the option to take a photograph with a blue frame covered with anchors, GVSU logos and It’s on Us lettering. The individuals or groups that took pictures were then invited to post the photos on social media in order to spread awareness for the cause. Attendees were also asked to take the “It’s on Us as Lakers! Pledge,� a personal commitment and acceptance of responsibility to support others; to intervene in harmful situations; and to help prevent sexual, interpersonal, and gender-based violence on campus. “I took the It’s on Us pledge because I believe it’s the responsibility of every member of the GVSU community to shape the culture of our campus,� said Faith Ureel, a GVSU student. “We need to foster an atmosphere in which all students feel safe.� While the It’s on Us movement spreads with every pledge, the Laker-specific campaign is growing as well. There is now an official group of student representatives for It’s on Us at GVSU. Michelle Roldan, the campus coordinator,
and her new team all tried to attend the Sept. 12 pledge event to spark conversation. “I want people to realize we are taking this seriously,� Roldan said. “There are services on campus that we do have, that we do provide and that do we want to be utilized.� Moving forward, Roldan and her team will meet often to examine the progress It’s on Us has in the community. To work on spreading awareness, they will discuss introducing resources, collaborating with other student organizations, and planning more events and activities. Furthermore, Roldan said it is important for people to understand the concept of consent and understand how sexual misconduct can still impact GVSU, a campus that strives to be inclusive and respectful. Through various events such as the pledge event, more people at GVSU can get involved and help stop occurrences of sexual misconduct. Roldan explained that when more people are educated about the issue, more people can recognize in-
stances of sexual violence, speak out, and protect themselves and each other. “The community is coming together to tackle a very relevant issue that affects all of us,� Ureel said. “It is on us to prevent sexual assault, and people are rising to the challenge to do just that.� Take the Pledge will be the first of many It’s on Us programs at GVSU, in ad-
dition to P.E.P. Talks and ReACT! performances. The next event, a discussion about healthy relationships, will be held Tuesday, Sept.19, from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Room 2215/2216 of the Kirkhof Center. For more information or to take the pledge, visit www. gvsu.edu/itsonus.
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A6 | SPORTS QUICK HITS
SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
FOOTBALL
V. SOCCER PLAYER NAMED GLIAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
After an 0-2 start to the season, the Grand Valley State women’s soccer team bounced back by recording two straight shutouts in their 2-0 victories over Cedarville University and Minnesota State-Mankato. Being rewarded for her work on the defensive end is freshman Cecilia Steinwascher, who was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Defensive Player of the Week Monday, Sept. 11. The freshman attended Henry Ford High School and was named All-Academic, All-Conference, All-County and All-District in each of her first three seasons. In 2016, Steinwascher was named to the All-State Dream Team, one of the highest recognitions for a high school athlete in Michigan. Steinwascher was rewarded with the GLIAC award for her excellence in the air, ball tackling and decision making during the team games this past weekend. GVSU women’s (2-2) soccer will continue its season against Ashland at home Friday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m.
Preview:
Lakers face tough road test at Michigan Tech
GV RIFLE CLUB WINS PAIR OF VIRTUAL MATCHES
The Grand Valley State rifle club participated in two Orion Scoring System Monthly Virtual Matches, where both of GVSU’s teams placed in first and second. The competition consists of two separate categories: air rifle and smallbore rifle shooting. The air rifle competition consists of 60 shots fired from the standing position, while smallbore consists of 60 total shots from the prone, standing and kneeling positions. GVSU dominated the air rifle event, carried by senior Christian Yap, the Lakers’ top performer who posted a score of 586.0 (out of 654) for third place overall. Sophomores Joseph Lentine and Alexander Straith also helped the team out in posting an overall team score of 1729.3 for first place overall. Lentine finished fourth individually with a score of 575.2, while Straith finished sixth with a score of 568.1. In the smallbore category, Yap finished second individually with a score of 523 (out of 600), marking a personal best. With senior David Cantillon’s score of 512 for third place and head coach Cameron Zwart’s 543, the team came in first overall with a total score of 1578.
TALK TO THE HAND: GVSU football running back Marty Carter deflects the tackle with a stiff arm during the Lakers’ 48-0 blowout victory against Davenport Saturday, Sept. 9. The Lakers emphazised that the biggest key to defeat the Michgan Tech Huskies is to establish their running game early in the game. GVL | SPENCER SCARBER BY BRADY MCATAMNEY BMCATAMNEY@LANTHORN.COM
T
he 2017 football season started off on a low note for the Grand Valley State Lakers when they hit the road and lost to the University of Indianapolis. Luckily, the rough waters settled for the Lakers, and their faithful fans anchored up at Lubbers Stadium for a decisive victory in the team’s home opener, defeating Davenport University 48-0. Now, No.12 ranked GVSU hits the road again, but this time the Lakers head up north to take on
Michigan Technological University (1-1) in Houghton, Michigan. It is the first time the two teams will have played in the Upper Peninsula since 2014, when the Huskies beat the Lakers 35-14. It will be the second home game for MTU, as they defeated Truman State 38-14 in week one before dropping a game to former GLIAC foe Hillsdale on the road the following week by a score of 31-27, despite leading 27-10 heading into the fourth quarter. “I’m sure Michigan Tech is very upset with what
happened on Saturday because it’s very un-Tech-like having a lead in the fourth quarter and surrendering 21 straight to lose,” said GVSU head coach Matt Mitchell. “That’s not Michigan Tech football. You have to imagine they’re going to be upset about that result and be very motivated.” Mitchell emphasized MTU’s ability to play solid defense, citing their lack of penalties and consistent fundamentals as an obstacle the Lakers will have to overcome. Additionally, the Huskies have been known to play a physical brand of football, especially in the
secondary, to try to assert their dominance over the opposition’s receiving corps. However, Laker wide receiver Brandon Bean is not worried about the physicality getting into the heads of his teammates. “We have some really big receivers who aren’t afraid to get physical,” Bean said. “Even guys like Jon-Marc (Anderson) and Jalen Bryant, they’re gritty; they’ll get in there and get the job done. Also Urston Smith, Austin Paritee. They’re really talented guys who don’t mind getting bumped around because they’ll push back. It’s a challenge that
we’re looking forward to. We’ll show up, and we’ll set the tempo.” The grind-it-out style of defense is not the only challenge the Lakers will face from the Huskies. One issue GVSU has been faced with early this season is stopping the opponent’s run game, most notably when Indianapolis ran for 326 yards on the Lakers in week one. Michigan Tech running back John Williams currently sits 10th in Division II with 265 yards through the first two games. For the Lakers to head home with a victory, SEE FOOTBALL | A7
M. GOLF
GV DANCE TEAM ANNOUNCES 2017 FALL CLINIC The Grand Valley State Laker Dance Team will be hosting a fall dance clinic Saturday, Oct. 14, at the GVSU Recreation Center. Prior to the clinic, the team will be hosting a meeting for all prospective 2018-19 members and their parents. The meeting will introduce those interested to the coaches and captains, who will be answering questions about the program and discussing expectations and anything regarding the college dance team experience. This event is set to attract high schoolers who are thinking about attending GVSU, future transfer students and anybody currently at GVSU who would want to be a part of the team. The team stresses that the event is not mandatory and no commitment is required from any participant of the clinic. Clinic participants will have the opportunity to work on jazz and pom dance techniques, hip-hop tricks, choreography and other skills essential in the art of dance. All levels of skill are welcomed, as dance experience is not required.
VARSITY SCHEDULE FOOTBALL Saturday 1 p.m. at Michigan Tech WOMEN’S SOCCER Friday 7 p.m. vs. Ashland Sunday 1 p.m. vs. Tiffin VOLLEYBALL Friday 7 p.m. vs. Ashland Saturday 4 p.m. vs. Tiffin MEN’S TENNIS Friday through Sunday TBD vs. ITA Regional Championship
HOLDING THE HARDWARE: The GVSU men’s golf team stands and poses with the various trophies, including the first-place trophy that they captured at the Al Watrous Invitational Sunday, Sept. 10. The Lakers dominated the competition, defeating second-place Hillsdale by a whopping 18 strokes. COURTESY | GVSULAKERS.COM
GV men’s golf dominates seasonopening invitational by 18 strokes
BY ARPAN LOBO ALOBO@LANTHORN.COM
The Grand Valley State men’s golf team had a record-setting start to the 2017-18 season. Competing in the Al Watrous Invitational in Bay City, Michigan, Saturday, Sept. 9, through Sunday, Sept. 10, the Laker golf team shot a combined two-day score of 560 (-16). The score not only gave the Lakers a victory in their first outing of the year, but it also set a new record at the tournament. Hillsdale finished second, scoring a 578 (+2) to fall a whopping 18 strokes behind
GVSU. Host Saginaw Valley State shot a 579 (+3), ending the weekend in third place. GVSU head coach Gary Bissell was happy with the team’s performance but recognized that it is up to the team to build on it. “That’s all it is: It’s a start,” said Bissell, referring to the Laker’s opening outing of the season. “You don’t want your first tournament to be your best tournament, so now it’s just trying to build on that and just stick to what we do and get better every week.” The Lakers were led by junior Mitchell White, who was the weekend’s individual winner. The Muskegon, Michigan, native shot an
impressive 12-under, winning the tournament by four strokes. White’s effort was commended by his head coach, who was impressed with his outing. “Winning is such a hard thing in golf,” Bissell said. “You’re talking about a hundred guys at a time, so being the best over two days out of a hundred guys, it’s not easy to do.” White’s efforts set another GVSU record, as he scored the school record for strokes under par, besting a 6-under-par performance set by Josh Orler in 2009. Bissell credits White’s great weekend to the junior’s experience with the team.
“Part of that is putting yourself in position to win,” Bissell said. “Mitchell’s won some, not college events, but he’s won some other big tournaments in his life. You’ve got to put yourself in that position all the time. It takes a little while. Freshmen typically don’t win (college) golf tournaments. It’s a grind, and it’s a long weekend. Mitchell’s just been through it enough now that (he) knows how to close it out.” Other Laker notables include freshman Eric Nunn, who shot 2-under for the tournament, placing him in a tie for sixth. Junior Alex Scott also managed to finish in the
top 10, shooting 1-under on the weekend to secure ninth place. Redshirt junior Andrew Stevens shot even for the tournament, finishing in 12th. The Lakers can now look ahead to the GVSU Fall Invitational, hosted by the school in South Haven, Michigan. The tournament will take place Saturday, Sept. 16, and Sunday, Sept. 17. “It’s a course all our guys are familiar with,” Bissell said. “It will be a good experience. We’ll see some different competition down there.” The head coach thinks the familiarity will be helpful to SEE M. GOLF | A7
SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
SPORTS | A7
VOLLEYBALL
Laker player profile: GV volleyball player Shannon Winicki BY JAKE CARROLL JCARROLL@LANTHORN.COM
Being a redshirt freshman is not always easy. Sometimes there’s doubt put into an athlete’s mind. Other times, an athlete truly thrives. Shannon Winicki, a junior for the Grand Valley State women’s volleyball team, was redshirted during her freshman year. Being redshirted means an athlete is still considered part of the team, but they are ineligible to play in games. In most situations, redshirt athletes either deal with an injury or use the extra year to perfect their game in practices. In Winicki’s case, she still traveled with the team, practiced with the team, even dressed for games, but she was not allowed to actually step onto the court. “Shannon came in and had some pretty good experience, and we knew we wanted to use her,” said GVSU women’s volleyball head coach Deanne Scanlon. “There was a good deal of talent with the girls in her position already, so we thought it would be a good idea to let (Winicki) gain some experience both in the classroom and on the court.” Winicki said she is glad she was redshirted as a freshman. She thinks it helped her transition into college-level volleyball. Not only did it help her become better suited in the sport of volleyball, but it also helped her figure out what it would be like to be a student athlete
JUMP LIKE JORDAN: GVSU volleyball player Shannon Winicki (18) tips the ball high over the net during the Lakers’ 3-1 victory over Ohio Dominican Oct. 3, 2015. After being redshirted during her entire freshman season, the junior outside hitter has established herself as one of the leaders on the floor for the Lakers. GVL | KEVIN SIELAFF
without the stress of games every weekend. She was able to manage her time correctly and ultimately earned two All-Academic team honors her sophomore and junior years. “It’s all time management,” Winicki said. “Sometimes you’ll be on the bus and just want to sleep, but you have to make yourself do homework or study. It might make you a little
more tired the next day in class, but that’s what you have to do.” The discipline in classes for Winicki seems to transfer onto the volleyball court. Performance-wise, she finished fifth on the team last season in kills with 95, while adding on 28 digs and 22 blocks. Scanlon spoke to how she is an all-around athlete, saying she is able to kill a ball in so many different ways that it’s re-
ally a sight to see. This season, Winicki has shown that she is capable of big things. In the games against Cedarville and the University of Indianapolis, Winicki totaled 14 kills. Nine of those kills came from the Cedarville game and five from Indianapolis. Both games were the only two regional games so far this season, and Winicki showed
up to play—even more so than other games. Every season, Winicki is looking to the top. “I say this every year, but I want to win a national championship,” Winicki said. “I want to wear that ring. Obviously, it’s a big goal, but why not? Why not think big?” “Shannon will try her hardest to accomplish anything she sets her mind to,” said Kourtney Wolters, former teammate
at GVSU and good friend of Winicki. “She always thinks big, as all athletes do.” Winicki’s determination and big-picture thinking is how good athletes become great ones and how great ones become superstars. Winicki will be in action Friday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m. for the GVSU women’s volleyball home opener at the Fieldhouse Arena.
M. BASKETBALL
Preview: GV men’s basketball confident in new additions, upcoming season BY LOUIS RICARD LRICARD@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State football may be the sport currently getting the most attention from Laker nation, but behind the scenes, the work never stops for other teams here at GVSU. One of those teams quietly grinding to get better before the start of the season is the GVSU men’s basketball team, which has been preparing since last spring.
The biggest motivation for the Lakers to get better comes from the team’s season-ending loss against the University of Findlay in the quarterfinals of the GLIAC tournament last winter. Head coach Ric Wesley reflected on how that loss has affected his team. “You never want to end your season with a loss,” Wesley said. The Lakers will have some gaps in their lineup to fill, as the team lost three of its five starters from the past season, in-
cluding one of the leading scorers, forward Trevin Alexander, who averaged 11.1 points per game last season. Although the loss of veteran experience will be felt this year, the program has been actively recruiting, acquiring five new players. One of the two young, promising guards GVSU recruited is Central Michigan transfer Hunter Hale. The sophomore guard from Kalamazoo, Michigan, has three years of eligibility remaining with the
team, which gives promise for the upcoming future. “He’s a good shooter and can play both guard position(s),” Wesley said. The 2015 All-American nominee’s offensive abilities will help GVSU in setting the tone early in games and possibly help close out tough games down the stretch. Wesley also mentioned the addition of freshman point guard Brett Lauf, an All-State point guard who averaged
26 points per game as a senior last season at Napoleon High School in Napoleon, Ohio. The 6-foot-1-inch point guard has shown a lot of potential through his skills as a playmaker and passer at the point guard position. These additions give Wesley a lot to think about for his lineup. “We have pretty good competition at all five spots,” Wesley said. However, the GVSU head
HOOP DREAMS: GVSU men’s basketball head coach Ric Wesley huddles with his players as the Lakers defeated Ferris State 78-69 Feb. 25, 2016. After being eliminated in the GLIAC quarterfinals to Findlay last season, the Lakers recruited two young guards in Hunter Hale and Brett Lauf, the proclaimed future of the program. GVL | LUKE HOLMES
FOOTBALL CONTINUED FROM A6
stopping the rushing attack must be a priority. “We knew after the UIndy game that that wasn’t Grand Valley defense; it wasn’t up to championship-level football,” said GVSU linebacker Garret Pougnet. “We responded well to that as a defense, and it took everyone (against Davenport) to get better and work on their craft individually. On Saturday, we had to put that all together, and I think we did a lot better as a complete defense, but I think there’s still a lot of room for im-
provement to be more physical overall in our run defense. You’ve got to continuously work on that each week.” The nearly nine-hour drive to a football environment that Mitchell described as “unique” does not make the trip any easier. Despite having an attendance of only 2,920 against Truman State (compared to GVSU’s second-highest football attendance in school history of 16,734 against Davenport), Tech holds a distinct home-field advantage, from its animated band to cannon blasts to lengthy walks from the locker room to the field.
Another major key to victory for the Lakers will be their kicking game. Between their first two games, GVSU kickers left eight points on the board (two missed field goals and two missed extra points). Both kickers—redshirt sophomore Bryce Lovelace and junior JJ McGrath—are zerofor-one on field goal attempts. Lovelace is three-for-five on extra points, and McGrath has made all five of his pointafter-touchdown attempts. Fellow redshirt sophomore kicker Avery Echols, who has been sidelined with an injury, has returned to practice and
will be given the opportunity to earn the currently vacant starting kicker job. “It’s not at a championship level,” Mitchell said. “We’ll see how this week moves forward. ... Somebody’s going to have to earn the right to go out there and kick. It’s starting to limit the options of this football team. It’s a concern that we’re going to have to continue to work on and address moving forward.” Kickoff in Houghton is set for 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16. The game will be available for streaming on ESPN3 or can be heard on ESPN radio 96.1.
M. GOLF CONTINUED FROM A6
the team in a tournament that will feature several talented teams. “No doubt, it’s an advantage to be at your home course,” he said. “I would say golf has the biggest home-field advantage. At the end of the day, I guess crowds make a big difference, but basketball courts and football fields have the same dimensions. When you go to someone’s golf course that they play every day, they know every little break on that green and where to hit off every tee.”
coach is not too worried about basketball right now, as the season does not start until early November. The main focus of this offseason is to get everyone better physically. “Let’s get back in the swing of things and be in the best shape we can be,” Wesley said. Senior Chris Dorsey, who ranked second on the team in assists last season, explained what Wesley expected from him as he began training in the offseason. The Troy, Michigan, native guard averaged just below seven points per game and is looking to improve in that area. “He wanted me to become stronger and continue to improve my shot,” Dorsey said. As much as Wesley enjoys the competition for a starting position, he will have to make a choice sooner than later before the start of the season. “It will be interesting to see who emerges,” Wesley said. “Everything is up in the air as to what the lineup will look like and who’s going to be in that rotation.” Although the lineup hasn’t been decided, Dorsey has big plans this season. “The program has been in the middle of the pack for the past four years,” Dorsey said. “We hope to change that and become the top dog in the GLIAC.” For their first game, the Lakers will play at the University of Michigan Friday, Nov. 3. This is one challenge Wesley is looking forward to. “It’s going to be a great experience, and hopefully we get to show what we’re all about,” he said.
Despite the comforts of a known course, Bissell knows the tournament still has to be played. “At the end of the day, you still have to execute,” he said. “Just because you know where to hit it doesn’t mean you will.” Bissell and the Lakers will hope to make it two wins in two weekends at the GVSU Fall Invitational in South Haven. “Our goal is the same as it always is: We’re just going to go down there and play the best we can and see where we’re at and make the adjustments we need to after the event,” Bissell said.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
A8 | SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY
GV women’s cross country places first in opening invitational, men place second BY BRIANA LEWIS BLEWIS@LANTHORN.COM
The Grand Valley State men’s and women’s cross country teams managed to begin the season with successful races under their belts at the Calvin College Knight Invitational Saturday, Sept. 9, in Grand Rapids. The women’s team placed first in the 5K race, leaving the meet with 63 total points. For the men’s 8K race, GVSU placed second with 109 total points. The Lakers claimed three spots in the top 10: Sophomore Theresa Mueller finished third with a time of 18:04.5, followed by freshman Megan Caltagirone who came in fourth at 18:05.1, and senior Jenna Klynstra finished in 10th at a time of 18:21.0. “There was a solid group of us up front,” Mueller said. “For most of the race, there was about three of us, myself included, who were up front. It was kind of spread out at the very front of the race, but for a little bit, Megan and I were able to work together a little bit.”
The Lakers usually train solo for most of the summer. The women’s team has been with each other for only about a month. This first race at the Calvin College Knight Invitational was an advance in the season for the women’s side. “You never really know how your training is going to translate into racing, so to have the opportunity early on in the season to race is good, and then it’s just a big learning experience, too,” Mueller said. “So, those of us who did have the opportunity to race, we’re racing again this Friday, so we kind of have that advantage of being able to learn from the race, what worked, what didn’t work.” On the men’s side, they put up a strong fight against the Knights, placing three runners in the top 25. Sophomore Joe Renner finished 12th with an ending time of 25:42.4, followed by freshman Mitchell Towne who placed 14th at a time of 25:49.8. Tim Osborne finished 18th with a time of 25:57.4. Renner felt upbeat about how his team competed in the first race after a long
summer of training. “We’ve put in a lot of work this summer, and it’s good to get on the starting line again and kind of string it all together for a race/risk,” Renner said. “Across the board, it wasn’t all great, but it was a good ‘rust buster,’ good start to the year, and I think we’re all ready to get it going again at MSU on Friday.” For the GVSU women’s team, the race went at a slower pace than they expected. The race allowed the Lakers to evaluate their performance and make note of what to work on for the next race. The Lakers were able to bond early on during the preseason at Camp Douglas Smith in Ludington, Michigan. GVSU spent five days in August at the camp in preparation for this first invitational. Even though the men’s cross country team is close, the camp extended the relationships among the team. “At the start of the year, we have a preseason camp at the end of August,” Henner said. “We all just bond and go to (a) campground up north, just a bunch of dudes being dudes.
KEEPING PACE: GVSU runner Jenna Klynstra runs around the track Jan. 31, 2015. The women’s team earned first in the Calvin College Knight Invitational Saturday, Sept. 9. GVL | KEVIN SIELAFF
Not all the team got to race this weekend, but it was nice to have them all come out and
cheer us on. (It) made it easier for the guys who were racing.” GVSU men’s and women’s
cross country take on Michigan State at the Spartans Invitational Friday, Sept. 15.
W. GOLF
GV women’s golf shows promise in first invitational, finishing fourth overall BY D’ANGELO STARKS DSTARKS@LANTHORN.COM
The Grand Valley State women’s golf team opened its 2017 season at the University of Indianapolis Fall Invitational. The Lakers
started off the season strong, finishing fourth in their first tournament of the year. The invitational was a two-day tournament, taking place Monday, Sept. 11, and Tuesday, Sept. 12. The Lakers turned in a
score of 306 as a team Monday and improved that number by shooting 298 during the Tuesday competition, adding the two totals to a stroke count of 604 (+28). GVSU finished behind UIndy, the University of Missouri-
EYEING HER SHOT: GVSU women’s golf senior Samantha Moss crouches down and lines up her putt during the Davenport Invitational at the Blythefield Country Club Oct. 26, 2015. GVL | SARA CARTE
St. Louis and Dallas Baptist. Freshman Olivia Reed performed the best individually for the Lakers, shooting a 76 Monday and a 74 Tuesday for a total score of 150 (+6). The total was good enough to finish tied for 15th for the tournament. Coach Rebecca Mailloux talked about the positives she could take away from the team’s opening tournament. “One of the things we’ve been doing for the last weekand-a-half in practice is course management, hitting a number of different shots and trying to strategize our way around the golf course better and smarter,” Mailloux said. “I felt like they all did that well the last few days. “When we did mess up, it was just because of a bad shot, which sometimes you just can’t help. It wasn’t because of poor decision-making or any mental errors, just a missed shot here and there.” Mailloux then looked at the flip side of things and spoke about the areas in which they need to improve as a team. “I think our weakness is birdie conversion,” she said. “We had a lot of looks at
L A K E R E XC H A N G E
birdies, but we didn’t make a lot. Our putting average was probably one of the weaker areas of our game over the last two days across the board.” Mailloux talked about the goals this year’s team has set for itself. “They want to be a top competitor for a national championship, and we’d like to make it back there,” Mailloux said. “We competed there last year and didn’t have our best performance. The players who were here last year want a chance to improve on that this year.” Another goal Mailloux spoke about for her team going forward is to win the GLIAC title. Last year was the first time the GVSU women’s golf team didn’t win the GLIAC title in eight years. The Lakers are looking to get another streak like that one going. Freshman Olivia Reed talked about her performance in her first collegiate tournament, saying, “I was super nervous. Usually, before the first hole I get nervous. I try to use that nervousness to my advantage to make me play better. Once I get through the
first holes, I’m usually fine and feel normal after that.” Reed went on to talk about what she felt was going right for her in this tournament. “I would say my putting was really positive,” she said. “I trusted the line and feel like I can keep going with that. “Another thing would be not getting upset when things didn’t go as planned. I stayed positive and reassured myself that I can make it up later in the round.” Although Reed was the team’s top performer and a top-15 finisher in the tournament, she still saw some things she needed to fix going forward in the season. “With my second shot onto the green, I was kind of all over the place, and I want to get a little bit more consistent,” Reed said. “I want to get closer than 30 feet from the hole every time.” The GVSU women’s golf team travels to Big Rapids, Michigan, this weekend to play in the Ferris State Bulldog Fall Invitational Friday, Sept. 15, through Saturday, Sept. 16.
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Daily Deals Food Outlet recently opened on June 12th in Allendale on Lake Michigan Drive. Name brand groceries at overstock price! Visit this locally owned and operated business for your grocery needs. Looking for a job? They are hiring as well. Visit www.ddfoodoutlet.com for more information.
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The GVSU Sailing Team is hosting the annual family weekend golf outing this year! Get your family and friends together for a fun event at Meadows Golf Club on September 23rd. For more information check out https://goo.gl/Pvn2EN or c o n t a c t u s a t sailing@mail.gvsu.edu.
Coptic Fellowship Lecture Series Presents: Embracing Inner Peace - Gathering of L i g h t w o r k e r s . S a t u r d a y, September 16th 9am-5pm, room #2004 at the Kirkhof Center. Lectures, gift shops, crystals, spiritual books, jewelry, silent auction, fee-based healers, intuitive readings. To register, go to www.thecopticcenter.org
Did you know that in the last 15 years GVSU has decreased usage of electric, gas, and water? In the past fifteen years: electric usage has dropped 29.8%, gas usage has dropped 34.3%, and water usage has dropped 44.6%. If you have any heating, cooling, or water concerns please contact Facilities Services at www.gvsu.edu /facilitiesservices/. If you are interested in learning more about GVSU's strategic plan https://www.gvsu.edu /accountability/.
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In search of one individual to sublease at Hightree Townhomes. It is a 3 bedroom townhouse, with two easy-going male students as roommates. Rent is $250/month. Contact me at feltl@mail.gvsu.edu or 231-343-9142 for more information.
Campus Ministries at GVSU is happy to invite you to their Sunday "The Well" services. These services are every Sunday at 7pm or 9pm in the Cook DeWitt Center. Plan on having a great time and enjoying lots of food, music, teaching, discussion, and more.
Do you want to have an engaging, enriching, and enhanced education? Then the College of Community and Public Service is the place for you. Discover the rewarding majors in GVSU's College of Community and Public Service at gvsu.edu/ccps/engage
Jimmy Johnʼs serves from-scratch food made with excellent ingredients. At Jimmy John's, our food is simple; itʼs clean, and itʼs fresh! We use locally purchased produce, which is brought in fresh and hand sliced daily. Come in or order online to enjoy our freaky-fast subs!
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