GRAND VALLEY
EXCLUSIVE PG. 4 Letter from former GVSU quarterback Bart Williams
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, N OV E M B E R 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 // VO L . 52 N O. 1 5
POLICY
Proposed Title IX changes could affect how GVSU responds to assault BY LAUREEN HORAN ASSOCIATE1@LANTHORN.COM
On Friday, Nov. 16, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos proposed an overhaul to the rules regarding campus sexual assault. The new rules, which could go into effect as soon as spring of 2019, could affect the way Grand Valley State University addresses certain sexual misconduct allegations on and near campus. These rules would be the first regulations to determine how schools should meet their legal obligations under Title IX, the 1972 law which prohibits sexual discrimination in federally funded academic institutions. The proposed regulations are now facing a 60-day public comment period before they will be finalized. The proposal aims to reduce the the liability of colleges and universities for investigating sexual misconduct claims and reinforce the due process rights of defendants, including the right to cross-examine their accusers with an attorney. However, use of mediation was determined by the Obama-era guidelines, the Campus SaVE Act, to be harmful to the accuser, even when voluntary. The power dynamic between the victim/survivor and the accused could cause the survivor to feel victimized again. The use of mediation tactics in these situations would turn campus conference rooms into courtrooms. One of the most significant changes that would go into effect include the very definition of sexual harassment, in the context of campus-related incidents. The Campus SEE TITLE IX | A2
STRUCTURING SEQUENCES: Members of Grand Valley State University’s Frederik Meijer Honors College showcase proposed changes to the curriculum to students during one of several public forums. Curriculum changes generally revolve around required classes and reworking sequence requirements. GVL | BEN HUNT
Honors College fields public opinions in reworking honors curriculum BY SHILOH REYNOLDS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
G
rand Valley State University’s Frederik Meijer Honors College is currently in the stages of proposing changes to the honors curriculum. If adopted, revisions to the curriculum could be seen in the fall semester of 2020. The current honors curriculum includes a First Year
Interdisciplinary Sequence (12 credits), Disciplinary Courses to satisfy additional remaining General Education requirements, a Junior Seminar (three credits) and a Senior Honors Project (one to four credits). Over the past summer, members of the Honors Curriculum and Development Committee met to draft ideas for possible revisions. Forums were held in October and November to receive
student and faculty feedback and gain new ideas, the latest of which was held on Tuesday, Nov. 20. “We got to answer questions that people had, as well as gauge support for various parts of the curriculum,” said Chair of Honors Faculty Coeli Fitzpatrick. “We were happy to hear support from faculty for the Problem Based Learning course and the Colloquium course. We were also delighted to see that departments
are keen to develop courses that can be offered in our program.” One proposal seeks to retain the First Year Sequence Course and the Junior Seminar, but incorporate a more defined Second Year Experience by requiring the completion of community or campus engagement (such as tutoring, research assisting or interning), as well as take a problem-based learning course. SEE HONORS | A2
GOVERNANCE
Student Senate looks into expanding transportation throughout Allendale BY MCKENNA PEARISO ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State University’s current transportation system operates through the Rapid bus system that connects several apartment complexes to both Allendale and Pew campuses. At a recent Student Senate meeting, the idea for expanding transportation into more parts of Allendale was discussed. Currently,
the furthest west the Rapid bus can go is its stop at Becker and University drive. Student Senate President Rachel Jenkin and several local businesses are hoping to provide transportation for students that goes further west into Allendale. “Having available transportation to the community that we live in is crucial for us to continue to grow as a university,” Jenkin said. “The majority of our students are
not aware of the local businesses or cannot utilize them due to transportation. Because of this, we are not helping our community grow or teaching our students to explore what is around them.” Allendale has many restaurants, businesses and services that currently only benefits students with their own vehicle. Students that depend on the bus system miss out on local resources like dentistry, coun-
seling, Family Fare and more. There are also several apartment complexes and housing units that fall beyond 48th avenue where many students reside that currently lacks bus transportation to campus. Student Senate and several local businesses are looking into developing a type of transportation so students can have access to services and resources in Allendale. An increase in students being able
to access these local businesses would also be a possible increase in Allendale’s local economy. Ottawa County and Student Senate have recently been putting forth effort to improve university and county relationships, with the most recent Ottawa County Commissioners meeting being held on GVSU’s campus. This recent effort to better community relations may assist Student Senate in developing transportation in Allendale. “If we were to have transportation expanded through Allendale, I think it would have a huge impact on our students and the economic growth of our surrounding township,” Jenkin said. At the Student Senate meeting on Nov. 13, Jenkin explained the parameters and possibilities to developing transit in the Allendale area. The idea for transportation in Allendale had been proposed at several Student Senate meetings prior. However, the timeline to plan, develop and administer a system will likely be prolonged. Jenkin told her fellow senators that purchasing another Rapid bus that would operate further west in Allendale could cost the school between $86,700 to $400,520 depending on the route. A bus system was tested in Allendale approximately 10 years ago, but did not satisfy the township organizers and was quickly shut down. Even today, another Rapid bus route still may not be
REWORKING ROUTES: Idling at the Kirkhof Center bus stop, a bus awaits to bring students to off-campus housing. Student Senate discussed ideas to move forward with combating a lack of public transportation throughout Allendale. Student Senate President Rachel Jenkin said the bussing issue is not a new one. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT
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SEE TRANSPORT | A2
NOVEMBER 26, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
A2 | NEWS
TITLE IX
NEWS BRIEFS PRESIDENT THOMAS HAAS TO HOST SECOND-TOLAST TOAST WITH T. HAAS
Grand Valley State University President Thomas Haas will spend Thursday evening celebrating the accomplishments of this semester’s graduating class with graduates. Toast with T. Haas recognizes the journey students have taken while at GVSU and congratulates them as they move onward. The event, which is sponsored by the Alumni Association, also highlights students’ involvement as Lakers for a Lifetime, the ideology that GVSU alumni will always have a place at the university. The event is free for all graduating students. Students can RSVP through the Laker for a Lifetime website.
GOODWILL OF GREATER GRAND RAPIDS CEO TO SPEAK AT GV
CEO of Goodwill of Greater Grand Rapids Kathy Crosby will be presenting the story of her personal and professional life to the Cook Leadership Academy Fellows and the community. The event will be hosted at 4 p.m. in GVSU’s Loosemore Auditorium on Friday, Nov. 30. Crosby, who began working at Goodwill as an office clerk as early as 1980, began her college career in her 30s before winning a scholarship to complete her Executive MBA. Throughout her education, Crosby stayed with Goodwill, eventually becoming the Greater Grand Rapids area CEO in 2006. During the presentation, Crosby will also touch on local accomplishments, including earning the ATHENA Award from the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce in 2011. To RSVP for the presentation, visit the Hauenstein Center’s website.
FILM DISCUSSION SERIES FOCUSES ON INEQUALITY, HEALTH
Grand Valley State University’s University Counseling Center is continuing its new social justice film series on Thursday, Nov. 29 with a viewing of “Unnatural Causes.” The documentary series explores “racial and socioeconomic differences in health” according to “Unnatural Causes’” website. The GVSU film series is incorporating the documentary into a broader discussion, which also included gender and geographical differences among other lenses. Throughout the post-film discussions, participants are encouraged to find an answer to one question: is inequality making us sick? For more information, contact shelbym@gvsu.edu or call 616-331-3266
CONTINUED FROM A1
SaVE Act offered a broad definition of sexual harassment as “unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature.” DeVos’ language in the proposal defines sexual harassment as “unwelcome conduct on the basis of sex that is so severe, pervasive
HONORS CONTINUED FROM A1
In addition, this proposal would slightly alter the traditional Senior Honors Project by allowing a major’s capstone project or independent study to count for it. The proposal also includes new prep courses for the Senior Honors Project. The draft outline on the Honors College website states that the reasoning behind this is to “ensure that all seniors have direct guidance in thinking about and preparing a successful senior project.” Honors students expressed mixed opinions on different aspects of the potential revisions. Freshman honor student Nicole Haberkamp, a biomedical sciences major, is currently taking Theory and Practice of Rights for her sequence. While she said that she enjoys the class and thinks that First Year Sequences are a good thing to keep in the curriculum, she said she wished they could be more tailored to specific students.
and objectively offensive that it denies a person access to the school’s education program or activity.” If the proposed changes do go into effect, the way students report sexual assault at GVSU could change as well. Under the proposal, schools will only be held accountable for formal complaints filed through proper authorities. If a stu-
dent reports an incident to their professor or resident adviser and that person fails to act, the university can’t be held liable because those individuals don’t formally handle complaints. Students would have to make reports to the Title IX coordinator or campus police to ensure that their case will move forward. Under the proposal,
“I think they should take your major and interests into account more with the sequence,” Haberkamp said. “I think they do to some extent, but not enough.” Junior honors student Kayleigh Thomas said she felt the sequence courses were overall beneficial and that it instilled strong academic habits in her. “I won’t lie, my sequence was a lot of work,” Thomas said. “The professors expect a lot from honors students... I learned a lot about how to succeed as a student... and because it is a year-long class, the opportunity to build strong bonds with professors and fellow honors students was one of my favorite parts.” However, like Haberkamp, Thomas felt the desire to focus more on her major, and welcomed the chance during her sophomore year to be able to take more courses for her major instead of focusing so much time on honors requirements. As a result, she said that she isn’t sure that implementing stricter second year requirements is a good idea.
Once moving toward classes specific to her major, Thomas she connected with the honors program through means besides required classes. “I found other ways to be more involved in the honors community through being a mentor for incoming freshmen, and studying abroad through an honors-based program to Haiti,” Thomas said. “I understand that not everyone would want to or be able to become involved in the ways I did, but I still believe the year ‘break’ provides more room to adjust and move around your schedule to balance honors and major requirements.” According to Fitzpatrick, if the proposals to change the curriculum starting in 2020 pass, current honors students will be “grandfathered in” and will only have to meet old requirements. While changes to the curriculum would not affect any current honors student, freshman Sydney Ford said that she supported the revision of the Seniors Honors Project to allow a major capstone project or in-
fewer claims would be considered sexual misconduct and GVSU would only be responsible for investigating incidents that are part of campus programs and activities and that were formally reported to campus officials. As the proposal receives feedback from the public and victim advocacy organizations, the language of the proposal is subject to change.
My sequence was a lot of work... I learned a lot about how to succeed as a student... and because it’s a yearlong class, the opportunity to build strong bondswith professors and honors students was one of my favorite parts.” Kayleigh Thomas Junior honors student dependent study to count for it. “Senior Project is a big part of being in the Honors College,” Ford said. “Everyone tells me about it. But if you can get the credit for the project interning or doing something for your major, that’s great.”
FALL SUSTAINABILITY SHOWCASE HIGHLIGHTS ENVIRONMENTAL CONVERSATIONS
The 2018 Fall Sustainability Showcase will take place Friday, Nov. 30 in the Kirkhoff Center, with poster showings and presentations scheduled throughout the day. The showcase aims to issues and conversations surrounding environmental sustainability. Presentations and poster subjects from GVSU faculty will include topics ranging from honey bees to environmental problem solving. The showcase is free and open to the public. For more information, contact ens@gvsu.edu.
VOL . 53
NO. 15
Lan thorn EDITORIAL STAFF
Layout Designer
Editor-in-Chief BRADY MCATAMNEY
MAX GELDHOF
Associate Editor MCKENNA PEARISO
VIVIANA RUBIO
Associate Editor LAUREEN HORAN News Editor NICK MORAN Sports Editor KELLEN VOSS Laker Life Editor AMY MCNEEL A&E Editor JENNY ADKINS Image Editor SHEILA BABBITT Layout Editor RACHEL SPRING
Layout Designer PROMOTIONS Promotions Manager HOLLIE PICKELMAN ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager JESSE BECKER Advertising Manager RACHEL MOORE BUSINESS STAFF Business Manager ALEXIS LAMB Asst. Business Manager RACHEL RUTGERS
LANTHORN CORRECTION We apologize for misspelling the last name of Dr. Edward Aboufadel in the Nov. 19 issue.
GILLES GUIDANCE: Presenting different curriculum layouts, Honors College Director Roger Gilles provides insight on courses within the honors college. Gilles was one of many members of the college’s faculty that listened to student voices during various public forms. GVL | BEN HUNT
TRANSPORT CONTINUED FROM A1
able to serve enough students to balance out the costs. “This is an ongoing conversation that has been happening for over ten years,” Jenkin said. “All parties in the conversation agree that transportation would be greatly beneficial for students and the community, but it is costly and if Grand Valley wants to continue to stay with our free transportation for all
students, a project like this needs outside funds.” Several off campus apartments including Campus View, Trio Apartments and Enclave have purchased their own shuttle buses that drives students to and from campus or directly to the nearest bus stop. Jenkin referenced these shuttle buses at the Nov. 13 Senate meeting, citing the possibility of utilizing a shuttle bus similar to these apartments for bussing students around Allendale. These shuttles can
accommodate as many as 16 to 25 passengers and can reach higher speeds than a Rapid bus. However, there is the question of how many students will utilize the Allendale transit, which could be a higher demand than a shuttle bus could provide. A system of transportation in Allendale is still in the early stages of brainstorming and research, with no definitive plans currently in the works. Assuming community relations with Student Senate continue to be devel-
oped, GVSU students may eventually see an Allendale transit system to connect them to local resources. “I’m confident that this will be a big year in regards to getting the idea from paper and conversation, to action and planning,” Jenkin said. “I think with the hard work on all ends this can definitely come into fruition in the future, and I’m really grateful that the community sees how important this is to our students and the potential in this project.”
At the Lanthorn, we strive to bring you the most accurate news possible. If we make a mistake, we want to make it right. If you find any errors in fact in the Lanthorn, let us know by calling 616-331-2464 or by emailing editorial@lanthorn.com. The Grand Valley Lanthorn is published weekly by Grand Valley State University students 31 times a year. One copy of this newspaper is available free of charge to any member of the GVSU community. For additional copies, at $1 each, please contact our business offices.
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NOVEMBER 26, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
NEWS | A3
TECHNOLOGY
Coursicle tackles course registration issues, rapidly grows at GV BY NICK MORAN NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
What started as an independent project and has since expanded to 830 universities has added Grand Valley State University to its roster, and is now exponentially growing its user base. Coursicle, an application created to ease the course registration process, has quadrupled its user base at GVSU from last semester to now, with numbers still rising. Coursicle offers two services to students at GVSU: providing a user-friendly layout during initial schedule creation and notifying students when seats open up in full courses. Both a webbased and phone application, Coursicle is fully compatible with all courses offered at GVSU. Co-founder Joe Puccio said that between the two services, the app’s ultimate goal is to tackle stress. “We really wanted to reduce the stress and tedium around the registration process,” Puccio said. “Specifically, we set out to create an intuitive, simple course search with built-in schedule planning, so students wouldn’t have to plan out their schedule by hand or in Excel. An important secondary goal was to create a product that people would truly enjoy using.” Puccio, a University of North Carolina graduate, said that the creation of the app stemmed from his own difficult experience with getting into classes, a problem he found he
SLEEK SCHEDULE: Displaying a mock schedule, Coursicle developer Kiran Aida organizes a series of Grand Valley State University spring semester classes using the website. Coursicle has two main functions: revamping non-intuitive schedule layouts online and notifying mobile application users right when course spaces open up. COURTESY | JOE PUCCIO
shared with other students. “When I was an incoming first-year at UNC, I spent several hours trying to plan out my class schedule, and then when I finally went to register for my classes I got into only one of the five I needed to take,” Puccio said. “So that night, I started working on a program that would text me when a class I wanted had an available seat.” Following the creation of the application’s course notification functionality, Puccio said he was approached by friend and co-founder Tara Aida, who suggested the duo
work to solve another issue pertaining to most college students: schedule creation. The duo said the nature of most university scheduling websites make it difficult to coherently create a schedule that doesn’t overlap. “Part of the reason this task is so arduous is because the software the university provides to search for classes is usually very outdated and tedious to use,” Puccio said. “So, Coursicle really came out of a pain that we as well as our friends were experiencing while we were students.” Puccio said that word of
mouth quickly grew users from just his team to nearly 2,000 students after the app’s first two semesters. From there, he said Coursicle’s expansion to other universities, like GVSU, has been over overwhelming, but encouraging. “We started sending so many texts Verizon started blocking us,” Puccio said. “(So) due to increased demand for our text service last year, we had to switch over to an iOS and Android app to send push notifications.” Currently, Coursicle includes GVSU as one of its 830
compatible universities and colleges, but Puccio said that because there are still over 5,000 requests from students to integrate their school, there is plenty more work to do. At GVSU specifically, Puccio said that new functionality to have users earn a premium account for free through using a sign-up link is key to spreading Coursicle and ultimately combating stress surrounding course registration. While goals for Coursicle include expanding its user base and incorporated schools, Puccio said he is still
pleased with what the formerly small project has become. “I think we’ve succeeded in reducing some of the stress and a lot of the tedium, but of course we still have many more schools to add support for,” Puccio said. “Our goal with the app is to give students a better shot at getting into classes that fill up quickly, without having to refresh a website constantly over the course of months. I think our focus on these goals is really what has led to so many students using Coursicle.”
CAMPUS
Student Senate, GVPD review student safety with night walks BY RACHEL MATUSZEWSKI RMATUSZEWSKI@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State University desire to ensure its students’ safety is a top priority in both on and off campus housing. Although GVSU’s campus does not have the notable blue phones most first division universities have, there are multiple resources available to students who need protection when walking at night. “For on campus, (the blue phones) simply don’t work” Student Senate President Rachel Jenkins said. “They don’t make anything safer. Just because of how they work, if we were to get them, we’d also have to pay to get them downtown, at the Traverse City location, at
the Detroit location and, at all the satellite campuses, people just wouldn’t be using them.” Although the blue phones could be an option for off-campus areas, Grand Valley Police Department Captain Jeff Stoll says it is up to the landlords, as it is their property to manage. For on-campus resources, students can call for a student cadet to walk with them at night, but with 12,000 beds occupying students who live off campus, many are concerned about their after-dark safety. Members of Student Senate and faculty administrators addressed these needs by taking a walk around campus. They found most of the lighting to be up to par, only having a handful of suggestions. Solutions are being imple-
mented in terms of changing the yellow street lighting to LED or for areas where the lighting is as bright as it can be but still renders pedestrians uncomfortable, asking GVPD to patrol those areas more frequently. “That night walk was a huge thing for us (in figuring out) where people feel the most unsafe.” Jenkins said. “It’s up to us to strategize what would make this area feel safer.” Another resource available for everyone is the Rave Guardian app. This app allows students to set a timer and clock how long it will take them to get to their destination. They can add guardians to watch their walk, including friends, family or GVPD dispatch.
While they are walking, a GPS tracks their location at all times. If the student does not get to their destination within the time they’ve allotted, their guardians will be alerted automatically. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be a crime, it could be a medical issue,” Stoll said. “It tells us exactly where you are so we can respond to that location to determine what, if anything, has happened. Even if you don’t have someone walking with you, it’s like a virtual partner. Our dispatch has access to that information 24/7 if a student chooses to use it. You can use it off campus as well.” As for students living off campus, Absolute Security, the security group which facilitates
off-campus housing, will bring students to campus where GVPD can finish students’ safe walk off campus. For more safety measures, Jenkins mentioned their frequent conversation revolving around sexual assault. “We are really trying to focus on education and preventative measures.” Jenkins said. “(We are) trying to make people more aware of what our Title IX office does and how that works. This semester we are going to be doing our own campaign with condoms. We’re trying to encourage people to be educated more than anything else.” The Student Senate Sexual Assault Committee meets in the Student Senate office every other Wednesday
night from 6 to 8 p.m., and the Mental Health Committee meets on the opposite weeks. Students are welcome to attend these Student Senate gatherings to provide ways to improve education. “The conversation (usually starts) when we get (safety) alerts, but safety is a lot bigger than that,” Jenkins said. “It’s making sure you don’t leave your laptop unattended in the library and making sure you don’t have your headphones in at (1 a.m.) when you’re walking across campus. (We want to make sure) you’re paying attention to your surroundings.Yes, we are a safe campus, but there is also ownership in being a safe citizen and taking responsibility for yourself.”
PROTECTIVE PHONE: An emergency phone sits installed outside an entrance to Holton-Hooker Living and Learning Center. These phones are one way GVSU strives to make students feel safe. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT
A4 | OPINION EDITORIAL
NOVEMBER 26, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON
By Xavier Golden
Finding resources during prominent S.A.D. months
T
he coming winter months bring more than just snow to west Michigan. The cold winds, blistering snow and absence of the sun contribute to the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which over 10 million Americans experience. SAD, known more commonly as seasonal depression, causes fatigue, decreased activity and feelings of hopelessness. With Grand Valley State University being located in an area of the United States that sees minimal amounts of sunlight during the winter months, it is important that students are aware of how weather conditions can affect their mood and productivity. Finding resources and a support system that work are essential to students who may be battling seasonal depression. It is important that GVSU as an institution promotes counseling and mental health resources to ensure their students are receiving the support they need. On top of the effects of SAD, the month of December is also a time of holiday stress and final examinations for universities. Students are likely to feel this added weight of responsibility that can contribute to a loss of motivation and poor marks in the final stretch of the semester. More than 10 million Americans suffer from SAD, yet many associate the effects to stress rather than a seasonal disorder. The first step to tackling this issue is spreading awareness about SAD and how it may be affecting students in the coming months. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), SAD is diagnosed in women four times as often than in men and is more
prominent in young people. GVSU students are highly susceptible to SAD thanks to the majority enrollment of young adults, the high percentage of female students as well as the location of the university. Falling so far from the equator, Michigan sees an average of six sunny days in the month of December, which is a serious lack of sun for residents. While there is not a cure for seasonal depression, there are forms of therapy that can relieve symptoms. One form is light therapy, which provides patients with daily exposure to an artificial light to replace diminished sunlight during the winter months and treat the effects of SAD. Increasing Vitamin D consumption can also provide SAD patients with the crucial supplements that are usually facilitated through sun exposure. GVSU’s counseling center is a great resource for learning more about SAD and the possible treatments available. NIMH cites counseling therapy as an effective treatment for SAD that targets the negative thoughts associate with the winter months. The university counseling center offers individual and group counseling all year for students. Their website also has an online anonymous mental health screening for students looking to determine if they need mental health assistance. Facilitating informative resources to students can assist those struggling during this time of the year. As a university and as a student body, we all must be looking out for ourselves and for each other when SAD months are most prominent as well as year round.
editorial@lanthorn.com
A letter to Laker Nation BY BART WILLIAMS GRADUATE STUDENT FORMER GVSU QUARTERBACK EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
Editor’s note: With the career of GVSU football’s all-time leader in pass yardage and touchdowns coming to a close, Bart Williams sends an exclusive farewell to the community he spent six years with. The expectation of my college football career coming out of high school was highly surpassed by my football experience. Becoming the leading passer of touchdowns and yards in Grand Valley State school history is an unbelievable honor, but the records are not what made my experience so special; the feeling of putting on the pads
Editor-In-Chief Associate editor Associate editor News editor Sports editor Laker Life editor A&E editor BY KENDALL POLIDORI SOPHOMORE MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
WHAT IS A LANTHORN? Lant • horn, n. [Old English] A lanthorn is a lantern that was used in mid-to-late 16th-century Europe. It was constructed of leather and a single lens made from a thin
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Letters to the editor should include the author’s full name, relevant title and a headshot, along with a valid email address and phone number for confirming the identity of the author. Letters should be approximately 500-650 words in length, and they are not edited by the Lanthorn staff except to fix technical errors or to clarify. Reader submissions on the opinion page appear as space permits. To make a submission, email editorial@lanthorn.com or drop your submission off in person at:
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when we were successful. We learned how to play and act as a cohesive unit. We learned to attack the things that we HAD to do, so we could someday have the opportunity to do the things that we WANTED to do. We learned to be unselfish, and sacrificed personal interests for the betterment of the team. Everything that we endured throughout our time was to go out and get a win on game day - especially at Lubbers Stadium. Some of the best moments of the film study would be when we scored a touchdown and, in the background, the entire student section would erupt in collective euphoria. That is what made our experience special; extra motivation to earn our opportunity to play in front of all of that. Personally, I would like to shout out a select few. Trenden, Collin, Blake, Brett and Nathan – you guys made it special for me. The painted chests, the number six jerseys, the signs (Bartholomew 6:16 was a classic), everything you guys did for game days was
phenomenal. All of Laker Nation was incredible and personally I would like to thank that particular group. The support from my family and close family friends... thank you from the bottom of my heart. There is no way that I can repay you guys for everything you have done for me over the years. Also, a special thanks to my girlfriend, Chelsey, who has stuck it out for four seasons. Who sacrificed doing a lot of things to accommodate the life of a college athlete, and thank you for so much more. We are going to miss it. There is no place in life where anyone can simulate the experience that we all went through. There are plenty of things that we wish we could have done better, but the great things that we were able to accomplish collectively and individually outweigh any failure we had in our time. The brotherhood we developed, the skills we have learned and connections we have made will be with us forever. Thank you, Laker Nation. - Bart
What Is “fake news?”
GV L ED ITORIA L B OA R D BRADY MCATAMNEY MCKENNA PEARISO LAUREEN HORAN NICK MORAN KELLEN VOSS AMY MCNEEL JENNY ADKINS
with a hundred of my closest brothers to go win a football game was most satisfying. The joy that my family and extended family got to experience through tailgates, watching in the stands and (mainly) Facebook posts is what made playing so special. Developing a relationship with the coaches from being a lost 18-year-old freshman to an almost 24-year-old senior closing in on a Master’s degree has been incredible. The lessons that Coach Matt Mitchell has taught us through his words and actions have given us tools to be successful for the rest of our lives. All of us seniors have left better men than we were when we came into the program, whether that be a six-year process or only a few months. Not everything was perfect, but we could never question the intentions. Football is the ultimate team sport, and here at GVSU we learned to trust and depend on one another. We learned how to bring each other up when we struggled. We learned how to praise those around us
In the last two years we have seen numerous changes in the work of journalism and news reporting. There has been a ride in the coverage on politics, headline stories revolving around it in some way or form each day. With this change in news coverage, we have also been introduced to a new phrase, “fake news”, that is heavily used and discussed by many politicians, journalists
and viewers today. The term “fake news” has become so familiar to our society that people often do not even know what it truly is or why it came up. In the age of social media, and the advancements we see daily, the idea of fake news has snowballed greatly. Textbook definition of “fake news” states that it is a type of “yellow journalism or propaganda that consists of deliberate disinformation or hoaxes spread via traditional print and broadcast news media or online social media.” Now, we have definitely seen real cases of “fake news” through the use of social media, as it is made extremely easy for anyone to publish something or put something online for everyone to see and it is not always reliable. With social media there is no clear line as to who is a reliable source and who is not except for some sites such as Twitter
that verifies some professional faces. In 2016 we saw a random sprout of this term yet again when the presidential election rolled around. We saw extreme changes in media coverage, as Americans took a great attention shift toward the political movement. During this presidential election, Facebook received more engagement than any other election and was said to host “fake news websites.” The term thought didn’t see much light until Donald Trump, after his election into office, popularized it when describing negative press coverage of himself. And without much explanation to his use of the term, people did not quite understand that this news that he was talking about was not actually “fake”, but just was not of his liking. There are definitely certain circumstances in which
the news may fabricate the details within an event, which is unethical and has been acted upon if it was done. Donald Trump’s claims of these news stations covering stories that were “fake” were never proven to be true and it was also a confusing accusation since he called out only specific news stations for this and showed support to others that seemed to show support towards his campaign, such as Sinclair Broadcast Group. It is a sticky situation as nothing has been proven within these new “fake news” claims, but that also means it is not something that we should cancel out. As a society right now, the United States does not have a clear and concise definition of the term and it has lost its true meaning in the ride of a political news era. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
VALLEY VOTE
THIS ISSUE’S QUESTION
QUOTE
Do you plan on watching the presidential inauguration?
Do you think winter weather affects your mental wellness?
Food Family Football Other
“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
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QUESTION OF THE ISSUE
— Albus Dumbledore
DO YOU THINK WINTER WEATHER AFFECTS YOUR MENTAL WELLNESS?
JESSICA FAYLOR
JENNA RASTIGUE
“Yes, 100%.”
“For sure. I just want to stay inside and do nothing.”
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Nursing HOMETOWN: Alpena, Mich.
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Hospitality and Tourism Management HOMETOWN: Macomb, Mich.
TIFFANY WOJTAS
WIL NEADY
“Yes.”
“Absolutely.”
YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Biology HOMETOWN: Kent City, Mich.
YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Philosophy and Psychology HOMETOWN: Washington D.C
NOVEMBER 26, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
NEWS | A5
BUSINESS
‘Checkers’ sets sights on possible Allendale location BY ALEXANDRA LOYD NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
Popular fast food chain restaurant Checkers may soon be coming to Allendale within the next year. For Grand Valley State University students and the community, this means another dining option, more opportunities for student employment and readily-available comfort food. Checkers’ Director of Franchise Development Bruce Kim said that Checkers already has a wide variety of locations, many of which are in the greater Grand Rapids area. The spread to Allendale is a result of franchising interest in the new location, providing accessibility to GVSU students. “We currently have 882 stores in total, with six being in the metro Grand Rapids area such as Holland and Muskegon,” Kim said. ‘We have room for at least 10 more new stores in the Grand Rapids area. We’re franchise-driv-
en, so what happens is when finance approves of franchising in a certain area, our real estate team will start working with them on locations. Franchising gives us a general idea of where they want to be, and as long as it makes sense, then we’ll look within that trade area for a suitable site. We have somebody who has expressed interest near (GVSU) in Allendale.” Kim said that while nothing is finalized because the company is still in the lengthy process of negotiating, Allendale can most likely expect a new restaurant sometime within the next year, as it takes about nine months to find a solid building, get permits and to open the store. Once established, Kim said that Checkers will play a valuable role in giving students a bang for their buck when dining out. “We like being near colleges because we’re actually a value brand,” Kim said. “Being a value brand, our food is delicious
and affordable. Grand Valley State University has a lot of kids that love our food because for five bucks, you get more food than anybody else.” The new restaurant will be made in the new modular 4.0 style, meaning it will be built quicker, cheaper and more environmentally friendly. “We have several ways to build a store,” Kim said. “We can take an existing building that used to be a restaurant and convert it and renovate it — put lipstick on it, make it look nice – or we can scrape off a building and build a new building, or, on a blank piece of land, you can plop a modular building, which is kind of cool.” The modular 4.0 style building is constructed in Florida and shipped to the restaurant site where it will be constructed. The ease of building means that the process of completing the restaurant will be a rapid one. “It’s like a giant Lego set,” Kim said. “It’s built off site in a
REVAMPED RESTAURANT: Checkers may bring a location to Allendale, providing affordable food and jobs to the community. It will also utilize a modularly constructed building. COURTESY | DETROIT FREE PRESS
warehouse, and then shipped to the site when the foundation and utilities are ready. The crew, with cranes, puts the restaurant together with four pieces, into one, and it’s cool. It’s a pre-built building –and we’re not talk-
ing trailer homes, these are really sturdy, commercial grade, 120,000 lb. buildings. It’s faster, cheaper, and more convenient than building it new.” Kim said that with over 20,000 students in attendance
at GVSU, there are sure to be a lot of students looking for something like Checkers — whether it comes from the great, value priced food or the new job opportunities that its opening will create.
HEALTH
West Michigan faces prime weather conditions for Seasonal Affective Disorder BY JAMES KILBORN JIKILBORN@LANTHORN.COM
SAD SEASON: A student sits alone outside. Gloomier winter weather may lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). GVL | SHEILA BABBITT
As crisp fall days with blue skies give way to the cloudy, snowy days of winter, some people in west Michigan begin to feel the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Estimated to affect over 10 million Americans, symptoms are most common during winter months as sunlight becomes increasingly scarce. Also known as seasonal depression, it often causes oversleeping, feelings of hopelessness, fatigue and decreased physical activity. Women are most affected by symptoms of SAD, as three out of four people with the disorder are women. Geography plays a major role in the prevalence of SAD, as locations farther north in the United States generally receive less sun-
shine during the winter. Seasonal Affective Disorder is rare in southern states such as Florida and parts of Texas, as their winter months are much warmer and often feature clear skies. During December, Miami has an average of 22 days with sunshine while Grand Rapids only has six days of sunshine. Grand Rapids’ proximity to Lake Michigan is a major factor in producing these cloudy days, as weather systems moving from the west pull moisture from the lake, creating the drab grey skies that are characteristic of winter in west Michigan. While often attributed to sunlight exposure, the direct causes of Seasonal Affective Disorder are unknown. Psychology professor Lawrence Burns cited an article that suggests different theories. One theory states that the decreased amount of
daylight causes the body to create more melatonin, a hormone that induces sleep. Another theory suggests that those experiencing SAD may have difficulty producing Vitamin D, causing fluctuations in their serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter that influences mood. These theories illustrate the challenges of treating the disorder, as the specific root cause remains unknown. Some universities in Michigan are working to address these symptoms however. Both Northern Michigan University in Marquette and Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant offer sunlight therapy, a form of treatment that involves being near a bright light source for 30 to 60 minutes. Most universities, including Grand Valley State University, also offer counseling
that can be utilized by those suffering from the disorder. For those suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder, some proactive measures can be taken to minimize its symptoms. Taking advantage of available sunshine is one measure, as well as planning physical activities. Staying active during the winter can be difficult, but numerous on-campus option s such as swimming, climbing, basketball and volleyball can be found at the campus recreation center. While those suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder have difficulty during the winter months, resources for mitigating its effects are available. Ensuring that these resources are utilized as well as remaining physically active during the season is important in reducing the disorder’s draining symptoms.
A6 | ARTS & ENTERTAIMENT
NOVEMBER 26, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS
EVENTS
ARTS AT A GLANCE VISUAL AND MEDIA ARTS STUDENTS TO SHOWCASE CAPSTONE WORK THROUGH VARIOUS EXHIBITIONS Starting Monday, Nov. 26, visual and media art students have the opportunity to showcase their work to faculty, staff and students. Approximately 20 students from the Visual and Media Arts Department will display their work that represent and reflect on their educational experiences at Grand Valley State University. Several of the exhibits will include creations on graphic design, metals, as well as photography, illustration and visual studies. There will be five exhibits overall and each one will contain work from at least two students. Those interested can find the senior displays in the GVSU Art Gallery in the Thomas J. Haas and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts, the Padnos Student Visual and Media Arts Gallery located in the Calder Arts Center, as well as The Nomad Galleries located on 74 Monroe Center Northwest, Grand Rapids and Spiral Gallery located 44 Division Ave. South, Grand Rapids. The exhibits will be on display from Nov. 26 and will continue through Dec. 7.
SEASONAL CONCERT PREVIEW: FALL ARTS CELEBRATION TO HONOR “THE MANY MOODS OF CHRISTMAS” On Monday, Dec. 3 beginning at 7:30 p.m., conductor Craig Jessop will direct the Grand Valley State University Chorale and local high schools as they perform a seasonal concert to welcome this Christmas season. Jessop specializes in teaching music, and he is the founding dean of Cain College of the Arts at Utah State University. He is also known for leading the ensemble as a featured conductor during the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics located in Salt Lake City. The concert will take place at the Fountain Street Church located in downtown Grand Rapids and will include Robert Shaw’s “The Many Moods of Christmas.” This collection of music includes 18 pieces of the most traditional Christmas carols from composers such as Handel, Bizet and Bach. The concert welcomes audiences of all ages being free and open to the public. For more information, visit gvsu.edu/fallarts.
ARTS AT NOON SERIES: BRASS HOLIDAY
On Wednesday, Nov. 28, as part of the Arts at Noon series, the Grand Valley State University Brass Quintet will conduct the Annual Holiday Concert. The concert featuring the Quintet is known to be among one of the most popular music events of the year for GVSU. The Quintet is comprised by faculty members within the Department of Music including Alex Wilson (trumpet), Richard Britsch (horn), as well as Mark Williams (trombone), Paul Carlson (tuba) and visiting performer Paul Hardaker (trumpet). The ensemble will include outreach concerts, master classes and coaching sessions for local high school students participating. The event will take place in the Cook DeWitt Center Auditorium located on the Allendale campus. The event is free and open to the public, and guests are highly recommended to get there early to reserve a seat.
FALL DANCE CONCERT
The Grand Valley State University Dance Company and the Freshman Dance Company will host the Fall Dance Concert on Saturday, Dec. 1 and will continue through Sunday, Dec. 2. The event will be composed of a diverse collection of works performed by students within the program. The concert will take place in Haas Center for Performing Arts in the Louis Armstrong Theatre and is free and open to the public. If students, faculty or staff can’t make this weekend’s concert, there will be a Fall Senior Dance Concert on Friday, Dec. 7. This event will showcase new works created by students for their capstone projects.
RESPECT
RECIPROCITY
JUSTICE
Spring / Summer 2019
SEMESTER IN
GRAND RAPIDS
ACTION: The Urban Insitute of Contemporary Arts showcased a one-time screening of The Incarnation as part of the Local Directors Series. The film was produced by a GVSU alumnus, and GVSU is the driving force behind Campbell’s film career. COURTESY | HOUSE OF ROSE LLC
GVSU alumnus-produced movie featured at UICA BY JENNY ADKINS ARTS@LANTHORN.COM
As part of the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA), the Local Director Series is a reoccurring event that is sure to bring in crowds from all over west Michigan. Each year, the UICA hosts the Local Director Series to showcase feature-length films created by independent directors who reside and work within the Grand Rapids community. On
Wednesday, Nov. 28, the UICA featured a one-time screening for “The Incantation,” directed by Grand Valley State University alumnus Dan Campbell. The Local Director Series is a platform for directors to showcase their work publicly, as these films illustrate the advancement of the west Michigan film industry. The intention of hosting the series is to increase public awareness about independent film-making and how Grand Rapids
serves as an established location for just that. Before the film became a reality, Campbell graduated from GVSU in 2010 while working in freelance film for the last decade. He averages about two films per year, occasionally acting as a film production manager. “This is my first film I produced from start to finish,” Campbell said. “Typically when I work on films, I work on a limited time capacity
but mainly during production. I’ll break off and go from project to project; it’s all about how you get involved.” “The Incantation” is a horror film and is considered a paranormal-thriller. The film is the first to be branded as complete original content by Blue Falcon Productions, the studio behind the project. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
CAMPUS
Grand Valley to showcase largest collection of Mathias Alten works BY SARAH EDGECOMB ARTS@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State University owns the largest public collection of Michigan painter Mathias Alten’s work, which is now available to students via digital library. The collection includes paintings, letters and various personal items and photos that students can browse from home. The George and Barbara Gordon Gallery has been reserved solely for Alten’s work since its opening in 2000. The addition of a digital library intends to expand the gallery’s reach. GVSU said that the library will make the collection “easier to access and learn directly from a collection of primary and secondary resources.” The website for the Alten gallery includes essays and interviews by GVSU professors and experts about Alten’s legacy. Students can also access
an interactive timeline that details Alten’s life, travels and artwork. The digital library provides a complete history to accompany his content. A traveling exhibit will take place in 2021 during the 150th anniversary of Alten’s birth. The exhibit will visit several museums in Michigan to “share GVSU’s collection and some of what we’ve learned from this collection,” according to Assistant Director of Galleries and Collections Nathan Kemler. The gallery is devoted to Alten due to his strong connection to west Michigan. Alten immigrated from Germany to Grand Rapids where he stayed until his death in 1938. He taught evening art classes and produced over 3,000 paintings, many of which depict life in Grand Rapids. “Looking back on Alten’s life and his works tells us a lot about not only what happened in the world during his life, but
OBSERVING: GVSU represents the largest collection of Mathias Alten’s work through a digital library. COURTESY | GVSU.EDU
also significantly helps us to understand our own life experiences,” Kemler said. He also explained that art can change our perspective and help us to “not only grow as individuals but also to learn empathize for those around us.” In 2015, GVSU President Thomas J. Haas spoke about Alten’s work and its ability to
shape perspectives. “It creates a different mindset, a pathway,” Haas said. “Maybe you see things differently because the art has created in you the opportunity to think differently.” LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
MUSIC Experience the city’s history, people, and promise.
GV professors co-direct seasonal jazz concert JACOB CRESWELL ARTS@LANTHORN.COM
Join us for an informational lunch! Wednesday, November 28 12:00 - 1:30 PM Kirkhof Center, Room 1104 Free pizza while supplies last!
gvsu.edu/sigr
On Tuesday, Nov. 20, Grand Valley State University professors Michael Drost and Tim Froncek organized a jazz concert that took place at the Louis Armstrong Theatre located in the Haas Center of Performing Arts on the Allendale Campus. The performance contained both a jazz orchestra and smaller-scale jazz combo performances, directed by Froncek and Drost. In order to organize the concert, the two combined their many years of experience with their respective directorial positions to help assist with directing, teaching and performing in every aspect of the event. During the performance, Froncek directed students within GVSU’s jazz orchestra. Drost directed the jazz combos, which are smaller bands
comprised of approximately three to four performers. Drost, who has over fifteen years of experience instructing and performing jazz music, believes that live performances are crucial in helping students perfect their technique. While Drost mostly performs jazz guitar, Froncek is noted as being one of the busiest drummers in west Michigan. Froncek directs the jazz orchestra, performs lectures on the history of jazz and privately tutors students on drum performances. Froncek preforms in two bands, the Muskegon based “Truth In Jazz Orchestra” and the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra. Along with personal experience, he also directs the jazz program at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. Students were given first-
hand experience watching two renowned professors perform, as well as fellow GVSU orchestra students. GVSU’s Large Jazz Ensemble performs both traditional and contemporary jazz music, along with original works that were written for the concert to preform. The Small Jazz Ensemble
aims its focus toward mastering jazz tunes. With the Small Jazz Ensemble, including the aforementioned Jazz Combos, there is more of an emphasis on improvisation, according to the GVSU Jazz website. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com
FESTIVE: Members of the GVSU Small Jazz Ensemble performed on Nov. 20. Their latest gig included holiday classics. COURTESY | GVSU
SPORTS | A7
NOVEMBER 26, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
QUICK HITS
W. SOCCER
BART WILLIAMS NAMED GLIAC JACK H. MCAVOY AWARD WINNER
Former Grand Valley State senior quarterback and all-time GVSU passing yards leader Bart Williams has been selected as the 2018 Jack H. McAvoy Award winner by the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) football coaches. The award is presented annually to the GLIAC football player who best combines outstanding character and leadership on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. Williams is the third Laker football player to earn the honor, joining Alton Voss (2016) and Jeff Fox (1998). The award is annually awarded to a GLIAC football player who is an exemplary character, as well as someone who shows great leadership and service within their community. Williams, who currently holds a post-graduate GPA of 4.0 in marketing, is active in community service projects, such as Timberwolf Lake Young Life Camp, Allendale Public Schools Anti-Bullying Campaign and the Grand Valley State Relay for Life.
SARAH BERGER NAMED THE MIDWEST REGION ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced its Regional Athletes of the Year for the 2018 NCAA Division II Cross Country season and Grand Valley State’s Sarah Berger was selected as the Women’s Midwest Region Athlete of the Year. Berger was named the winner of the Midwest Regionals after posting a 21:06.0, as she helped pace the Lakers to their 18th consecutive regional title. After capturing the regional crown earlier this season, Berger was named the GLIAC Women’s Athlete of the Year and led the Lakers to their 18th straight conference championship and 19th overall title. Berger and the rest of the GVSU Cross Country National Championships on Saturday (Dec. 1) as the teams will travel to Pittsburgh, Penn.
MEN’S GOLF INKS FOUR NEW GOLFERS FOR 201920 SEASON
Grand Valley State men’s golf head coach Gary Bissell announced the signing of four newcomers for the 2019-20 season. The incoming class features Drew Coble (Lake Orion, Mich.), Charles DeLong (DeWitt, Mich.), Alex Jordan (Mason, Mich.) and Nick Krueger (Spring Lake, Mich.), who will join the team next fall. When asked about DeLong, Bissell said that the DeWitt native reminds him of current GVSU golfer Alex Scott, as he sees great potential in DeLong and the rest of the incoming class. “Charlie reminds me of Alex Scott in the aspect he is outrageously competitive,” Bissell said. “He carries a chip of his shoulder which we absolutely love in this program. Charlie’s intrinsic drive to be great is going to carry him a long way, and we strongly believe he can be a premier player.”
DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW: Grand Valley State sophomore defender Makenna Schoolman looks to move the ball upfield earlier this season in the playoff game vs. Rockhurst on Friday, Nov. 9 at the GVSU Soccer Field. The talented soccer team has yet to lose a game during the 2018 season. GVL | KATHERINE VASILE
Preview: GVSU women’s soccer prepares to compete in Final Four BY KADY VOLMERING SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
The No. 1 Grand Valley State women’s soccer team is headed to Pittsburgh, Penn. on Thursday, Nov. 29 to play in the last stretch of the NCAA tournament. Now in the final four with the No. 1 seed, there is some heightened pressure on the Lakers, but they are handling it well and taking it day by day. With nearly two weeks between the Lakers’ last game against Central Missouri and their Pittsburgh match-up against Lee, head coach Jeff Hosler said they are preparing slightly different than past tournament practices. “We’re taking advantage of the opportunity to let the kids get home and spend some time with family and friends over Thanksgiving,” Hosler said. “It
gives them a couple days to get their minds off soccer.” GVSU ended on a high note two weeks ago with a 6-1 victory, sending them in a positive direction heading into the last final matches of the national tournament. “I think the game gave us additional confidence and belief,” Hosler said. “It definitely reinforced the idea that if you start matches effectively and take it a step further and have a dream start with two goals in the first ten minutes, it can be very debilitating to your opponent.” The Lakers’ current record stands in good shape compared to Lee’s, as they have 6 losses already, but the team is still maintaining the mindset they’ve held all season. “It’s not really any different for us, to be honest,” Hosler said. “We’ve been in the same mindset all season, nothing really changes there. Just some additional
excitement just because of how cool the fall festival is.” Records aside, GVSU is not overlooking their competition this week. “You’ve got to be really good to still be playing this time of year,” Hosler said. “Our opponent has been very consistent all year having success, and playing their best soccer in the national tournament.” This year will be the Lakers ninth appearance in the Final Four match-ups in the last ten years, and the Lakers are focusing on maintaining their style of play just as they have all season. The team is working to continue dictating their style of play, not letting outside pressures or opponents impact the way they play. The Lakers are also looking to be in a good position to defend the high press, something they’ve previously struggled with throughout this season. With two good train-
ing sessions already under their belt, the team is looking good to keep up the hard work and intensity to find success against Lee. “They’re super excited,” Hosler said. “That game is a long way off, and they just need to be really excited. In comparison to years past, our last session was the best it’s ever been, largely because of the focus and energy they brought.” The Lakers’ starting lineup contains quite a few underclassmen, and for some this will be their first appearance in the Final Four. Hosler said that with the help of some already experienced seniors and coaching staff, the team should be well prepared and ready to play their best game in the final matches of the tournament. The Lakers will face off with the Flames on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. to start off the Final Four match-ups.
VARSITY SCHEDULE WOMEN’S SOCCER Thursday, Nov. 29, 8 p.m. vs Lee, game in Pittsburgh (Final Four) MEN’S BASKETBALL Thursday, Nov. 29, 8:30 p.m. @ Wisconsin-Parkside WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Thursday, Nov. 29, 6:30 p.m. @ Wisconsin-Parkside MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY Saturday, Dec. 1, M: 11 a.m., W: 12:15 p.m. @ Pittsburgh (National Championships)
PROTECTING THE NET: Freshman defender Hailey Wentzloff looks to clear the ball from Grand Valley State territory and tries to find a teammate upfield to get the ball to in the snow. Wentzloff and the rest of the Lakers dominated Rockhurst in the playoff game on Friday, Nov. 9, beating the Hawks 7-0. GVL | KATHERINE VASILE
NOVEMBER 26, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
A8 | SPORTS M. BASKETBALL
JUMP FOR JOY: Several GVSU basketball players, including Steve Lloyd and Jake Van Tubbergen, celebrate together with the rest of the Lakers in a 2017 game at Fieldhouse Arena. GVSU was showing that same excitement on Wednesday, as five made threes from Hunter Hale and four made threes from Demetrius Lake helped propel the Lakers to a win on Wednesday, Nov. 21, against Grace Christian GVL | ARCHIVE
GVSU men’s basketball uses hot shooting to beat Grace Christian BY KELLEN VOSS SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
While of the student body was at home visiting family for Thanksgiving break, the Grand Valley State men’s basketball team was busy adding another win to their record, beating Grace Christian 87-70 in a home match-up. With Grace Christian running a two-three zone for the majority of the game, the Lakers started out with a lack of energy, but got ah old of how to handle the defense as the game went along. “This is the most zone
we’ve seen all season, and in that first half, they got us standing around a bit,” said head coach Ric Wesley. “In the second half, we worked the ball a little better, got the ball in the high post, and we just got better shots since we were willing to work more.” Being patient and not settling for shots helped GVSU find and make open threepoint shots, as the team combined to hit 13 threes, including shooting 46.2 percent from deep in the second half. Five of those key threepointers came from Hunter Hale, who led the team with 17 points to go along with five assists and four rebounds.
“I’ve been getting a lot of shots up outside of practice,” Hale said. “It’s not surprising since I work on it so much and I expect that success. I expect myself to shoot well, I just keep pushing myself to keep shooting well like that.” While Hale did lead GVSU in scoring, he was far from the only Laker to find offensive success. Jeremiah Ferguson followed right behind him with 14 points, as Justin Greason and Demetrius Lake were both able to score 12 points each off the bench. It’s safe to say this will be a game that Lake will remember, as the four three-pointers he hit were the first points
Lake put up in his young Laker career. Lake took a very humble approach when asked how that offensive success felt, crediting his teammates for making it happen. “My teammates got me open and got me in the right spots,” Lake said. “My teammates were able to move the ball and help me get wide open shots in the two-three zone, and it felt good.” Lake is far from just a sharpshooter for GVSU, as his defensive hustle, knowledge of his role and ability to talk on defense really helps his teammates on the other side of the court. “We need to communicate
on defense, because defense is one of our biggest priorities on this team,” Lake said. “Coach stresses that a lot, we just got to communicate on defense to win games, and with me coming off the bench, I just try to bring energy and be the glue guy.” With the win, GVSU improves to 4-1 on the year. The team deserves a holiday break just like the rest of the students on campus, so they’ll have eight days off before their next game against Wisconsin-Parkside. While the break will be nice to help the team recharge their batteries, Wesley wants them to avoid
complacency, as they still need to improve in a lot of areas before conference play. “We were working pretty good, our guys were communicating well, we just got to extend the amount of time where we play at a high level, particularly when we get into conference play,” Wesley said. “A lot of guys played and a lot of guys had success tonight, so hopefully we can build on that when we get back.” GVSU heads to Wisconsin-Parkside on Thursday, Nov. 29 for a road matchup with the Rangers. Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m.
W. BASKETBALL
Lakers’ women’s basketball routs Concordia-Ann Arbor BY BRADY MCATAMNEY EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
While students were wrapping up their short Thanksgiving break and preparing for the two-week spring leading to finals, the No. 18 ranked Grand Valley State women’s basketball team blew out the Concordia Cardinals 8642 on Saturday, Nov. 24 at GVSU’s Fieldhouse Arena. Center Cassidy Boensch was the star of the Lakers’ show, scoring 24 points on 12-15 shooting while pulling down 16 rebounds and swatting three blocks while obtaining her double-double before halftime. Despite being the game’s leading scorer and rebounder, the six-foot-fourinch junior was quick to attribute the win to the team. “Just our teamwork, we got a lot of easy passes down low on the block, and that makes my job really simple, so I think we just had our eyes up a little bit and really saw things,” Boensch said. “I think we’ve really been working hard, we had a great four days of practice, we really came in with a lot of intensity, and we worked
well together.” Guards Jenn DeBoer and Victoria Hademark contributed 14 and 10 points, respectively, while each dishing five assists and shooting a combined 10-16. Defensively, the Lakers never allowed more than 13 points in a single quarter, holding the Cardinals to as few as six points in the first 10 minutes. They forced CUAA to shoot 29.1 percent from the field, including a measly 16 percent from three-point range. “I thought we played well inside at times,” said head coach Mike Williams. “They’re a fast team. We talked about them trying to get to the basket and just ramming into that rim, and they’re quick and fast, and a couple times they caught our players off-balance and went by us, but for the most part I thought we did a good job with that.” Coming into the game, the Cardinals were 0-6 against NAIA competition with only two single-digit differentials compared to the 3-1 Lakers who had two victories of 20-plus points. A blowout was hardly unexpected, but GVSU knew
that they still had to be locked in mentally and compete, even if the competition was not comparable to that which they’ve seen previously. “We talked about being our best every time we stepped on the floor,” Williams said. “We try not to look at scores, we just try to say ‘be your best’ and I thought that the players that came in that second half did a good job. I know they got some easy baskets on us, but that’s things they’ve been used to in a lot of game action, so for the most part I thought we did a nice job with that score being what it was.” With the Lakers’ next four games coming against GLIAC opponents, Williams and the players want to improve their confidence, communication and teamwork in order to start conference season on a high note. Now 4-1, GVSU will tour the Midwest with games against the Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers (1-3) on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 6:30 p.m. in Kenosha, Wis. and the Purdue-Northwest Pride (2-3) on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 4 p.m. in Hammond, Ind.
TIME FOR TIPOFF: Grand Valley State Cassidy Boensch leaps off the ground and attempts to win the opening tip-off against Maryville on Friday, Nov. 9 at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. GVL | DAN PACHECHO
NOVEMBER 26, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
SPORTS | A9
DII CLUB HOCKEY
The stalwart pipe protector BY ELI ONG SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
“Goalies almost never get credit for winning a game, but they always get blamed for losing a game,” once said Steve Carrell, an avid hockey fan and actor best known for his role as Michael Scott on “The Office.” That much is true for the average sports fan. Common sense would dictate that the team with the fastest pair of skates and best puck handlers should win, right? The statistics may surprise you. During the 2017-18 NHL season, the team with the best record in the eastern and western conferences, the Nashville Predators and Tampa Bay Lightning, both finished in the top five in goals allowed against in their respective conferences. The formula would not only appear to point toward
How GVSU goalie Jared Maddock found his way to hockey and has helped the Lakers find success being able to bang the biscuit past the goalie, but to also have a guy in goal that’s good at not letting that happen to your own team as well. Enter Jared Maddock, the senior in charge of stopping the puck for the GVSU DII men’s club hockey team. In his fourth year navigating the net for the Lakers, Maddock has helped lead the team to a 9-3 record and while he has been a stalwart in goal for the past three-plus years, he said that his hockey career all started at the age of six and took off from there. “I started playing hockey around when I was six years old in local leagues,” Maddock said “Then as I got older I got more
and more involved and started playing in travel leagues in and around the Detroit area.” What led Maddock to play goalie was a lack of skill out on the ice at forward or back on defense, and also a natural interest in the nuances of the position. “I wasn’t that great at forward or D,” Maddock said. “Plus I really liked the equipment a lot. I was really obsessed with all the pads and stuff as a little kid and I thought it would be cool to be that guy.” Although he had an obsession with hockey growing up and loved the sport, Maddock was on the dean’s list all four years at his alma mater, Plymouth
High School in Detroit, and chose to prioritize academics over sports when choosing a college. “I wasn’t recruited [by GVSU],” Maddock said. “I chose to just go to school instead of playing junior hockey and I had some academic scholarships here, so hockey was just an added bonus.” Out on the ice this year, Maddock has been the security blanket for the Lakers when they have struggled with penalties out on the ice. Maddock, who gave up only 11 goals in GVSU’s first six games, feels that some of the team’s recent struggles can be attributed to a lack of focus, which he believes they will
address as time moves on. “I think the season has gone pretty well so far,” Maddock said. “I think recently we’ve been having some issues with consistency and coming in with the same effort every time from game to game.” Maddock also felt that it was not a big issue to worry about moving forward. “We’ve had some splits where we just need to come to play the second game of every weekend,” Maddock said, “We’ve played some tough teams lately but it’s not really bothering the guys and if we can maintain our focus throughout each weekend the rankings will reflect that come playoff time.”
Apart from trying to help his team constantly improve, Maddock has enjoyed his last four years in the club hockey program and said that he will always look back on his time at GVSU fondly. “I’d say going to nationals the first two years I was here was probably the most fun I’ve ever had playing hockey,” Maddock said. “That and just Grand Valley in general has been a blast. It’s been a lot of fun and I’ve made a lot of friends that I’ll have for a very long time.” When Maddock finally hangs up his skates for good, he plans on putting his double major at GVSU in finance and supply chain management to good use.
NOT IN MY HOUSE: Grand Valley State starting goalie Jared Maddock attempts to save an errant shot from a game earlier this season at the Georgetown Ice Center. In his fourth year with the team, Maddock’s stellar net play and excellent leadership has led the Lakers to a hot start, as they post an impressive 9-3 record early this season and look to improve upon that this season. COURTESY | GVSU CLUB SPORTS
SEE ANSWERS | A10
GUARD OF THE GOAL: Maddock watches the ice rink, awaiting to hinder the opposing team as they try to attack the net in a game at Georgetown Ice Center earlier this season. GVL | ANDREW NYHOF
NOVEMBER 26, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
A10 | SPORTS
Brower’s powers VOLLEYBALL
GVSU volleyball legend leaves lasting legacy BY JEROD FATTAL SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
In a player survey handed out before the season, GVSU volleyball head coach Deanne Scanlon asked her players who came to mind when they heard the words “respected, hardworking and great teammate.” “(Staci Brower) was the first person who came to the forefront and that is a great way to gauge her character,” Scanlon said. Brower recently finished up her career at Grand Valley State on Wednesday, Nov. 8 in a loss to the Michigan Tech Huskies in the GLIAC Tournament, serving as a bittersweet ending to what has been an illustrious career for the Lakers filled with a myriad of accomplishments. What exactly does Brower have on her resume? How about a 2017 GLIAC South division title, two American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region Honorable Mentions and a Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) AllMidwest Region Second Team nomination as a sophomore? “I think it shows a lot about the teammates I have had here,” Brower said. “Volleyball is not a single player
sport. It takes an entire team.” Maybe the most impressive accolade is the four consecutive All-GLIAC First Team honors Brower has been awarded. She is the only player in the program’s 49 year history to do so. “It’s a huge honor,” Brower said. “It makes me think back to all of the times I went to the gym when it was freezing out and how it was all worth it.” Four years ago when Brower first stepped foot on campus as a Laker, Scanlon knew she was going to be special. “I saw similarities to former talented middle blockers we had in the past like (2017 GVSU Hall of Fame Inductee) Sabrina Bird,” Scanlon said. “She just bloomed when she got to college.” Brower’s volleyball talent has always been there, but her love for the sport was something that wouldn’t come until later. “I was planning on playing collegiate basketball my whole life, but I started having problems with my knees and couldn’t play anymore,” Brower said. “So in my sophomore year (of high school) I started giving volleyball my full attention and I fell in love with it.” That passion and love led Brower to a great career, but
it couldn’t have been possible without her parents who rarely missed a game, even when the Lakers played in the Upper Peninsula. In early November, Brower’s time wearing a Laker uniform drew to a close, and although Scanlon will miss her presence in the gym and on the team bus, where she said she has a laugh that echoes throughout that will leave you crying, Scanlon is more excited to see what she does next in her career. Following her final year of schooling next year where she intends to graduate with a degree in recreational therapy, Brower is excited to focus on her career where she hopes to one day help others for the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Center in Grand Rapids; a fitting career choice for someone Scanlon described as a “nurturing, caregiving person.” Brower’s talent and character will surely be missed in the GVSU volleyball program, but she will not be forgotten any time soon as Scanlon believes her legacy will last long after she leaves campus. “She will be someone that I am going to reference to the next generation (of players) when I start talking about former greats and what it takes to be successful.”
YOU’VE BEEN SERVED: Former Grand Valley State volleyball player Staci Brower serves the ball in a volleyball game at GVSU’s Fieldhouse Arena vs Wayne State on Nov. 15, 2017. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT
SISTER OF THE SPIKE: Standout Laker Staci Brower has helped lead the Grand Valley State’s volleyball to many wins, such as this one from a year ago, where GVSU dominated the Tiffin Dragons during their second home game of the season on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017 at Fieldhouse Arena. Brower’s volleyball career has come to a close, but she has left a lasting legacy with the program and the university. GVL | ARCHIVE
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