GRAND VALLEY
EXCLUSIVE LETTER from the Office of Student Life — Greek Life sanctions
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
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POLICE
GVPD educates students with rape aggression defense course BY SHILOH REYNOLDS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
“Oftentimes, they’re pretty good looking people... Athletic looking. Sometimes, they can be pretty charming... They aren’t just trolls under the bridge.” These words are from Grand Valley State University Sergeant Nate Dornbos during a Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) class held on Monday, Nov. 5, as he explained the difficulties of trying to profile sexual assault attackers. According to Dornbos, there are no true physical profiles to serve as warnings, and only potential behaviors to look out for. Additionally, in approximately 75 percent of sexual assault incidents, the victim knows their attacker — whether from a class, party or other association. Exclusive only to female participants, the introductory R.A.D. class was a three-hour-long seminar that provided knowledge on sexual assault crimes and basic self-defense training to women. The Grand Valley Police Department said that the intent of the program was to “empower (women) through self-awareness and discussions about basic fundamentals of prevention and self-defense.” First-year student Marissa Morey said that she wanted to attend the seminar to learn more about the subject. “I just think it’s really important to have these conversations, and recent events have made me want to educate myself on this subject more,” Morey said. Data from the Office on Women’s Health of the U.S. Department SEE RAD | A2
Higher Learning Commission visits GV, strives to renew accreditation BY JAMES KILBORN JKILBORN@LANTHORN.COM
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embers of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) visited the campuses of Grand Valley State University recently in order to reaffirm the university’s accreditation, a process that occurs every ten years. This audit ensures the university is maintaining its commitment in educating the next generation of college students and is preparing
REVIEW: Students walk past the Cook-Carillon Clocktower. COURTESY | GVSU
them for the workforce. University accreditation follows a structured process and is integral to maintaining a university’s reputation as a higher learning institution. In order to become accredited, a university must apply for accreditation, then draft a self-evaluation assessment that is then reviewed by the Higher Learning Commission. The HLC then evaluates the university through a comprehensive visit, creating a report illustrating their findings
following the visit. This process is integral to a university’s wellbeing, as a loss of accreditation results in the institution losing state and federal funding, a crippling blow to schools that rely on such funding to operate. GVSU was first accredited in 1968 and has maintained this for over fifty years. Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs Chris Plouff said that the selfevaluation assessment requires five criteria to be addressed, and although the language of core
components has changed slightly, the major criteria have largely remained the same since 1968. “Our (assessment) was approximately 130 pages,” Plouff said. “Each of the five criteria has several core components. The five criteria ensure that the institution’s mission is clear and articulated publicly, the institution acts with integrity, and its conduct is ethical and responsible. The institution provides SEE ACCREDIT | A2
CONSTRUCTION
Ferris Coffee and Nut facility to become Innovation and Design Center
REDESIGN: The old Ferris Coffee & Nut Co. building will be developed into the newest addition to Grand Valley State University’s Grand Rapids downtown campus: The Daniel and Pamella DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health. COURTESY | WKTV JOURNAL
BY MCKENNA PEARISO ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM
For the past several years, Grand Valley State University has been expanding its facilities on both Allendale and Pew campuses. Most recently, the university broke ground on the newest addition to its medical campus, The Daniel and Pamella DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health. GVSU is now turning its efforts toward its computing and laboratory facilities with the development of the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing Design and Innovation Center on Pew Campus. The former Ferris Coffee and Nut facility on GVSU’s Pew Campus is currently being renovated to become the new Design Center as part of the College of Engineering and Computing. The ability to renovate an existing space allows the university to avoid the delays and expenses that come when constructing a new building. The center will offer more collaborative spaces and development labs for engineering students. “The Innovation and Design Center is an additional facility to support the growth and enrollment in the school of Engineering,” said Padnos College of Engineering and Computing Dean Paul Plotkowski. “The undergraduate engineering programs use a great deal of project-based learning.” This emphasis on project-
based learning has helped shape the spaces in the new Innovation and Design Center to support the engineering curriculum. These developed spaces include a rapid prototype lab, a machine facility and three digital design studios that can serve as classrooms and computer labs. The facility will also have a power mobility lab to support the College of Engineering’s work in assisting children with physical disabilities. “We have an ongoing effort in helping young children with mobility issues, children in wheelchairs with physical and cognitive challenges,” Plotkowski said. “For a number of years we have been developing devices to assist them.” Some spaces in the center will be available for use as soon as January 2019 and the projected completion of the facility is set for August 2019. It will additionally serve as a space for graduate assistants and project work for the engineering masters program. Beyond engineering students, the Design Center’s outreach space is set to be a resource for students of all disciplines including the arts. “The outreach space is not just for engineering students, it’s for the whole university,” Plotkowski said. “Our art collection, most of it is on the walls, but we need a place to receive, prepare and store artwork as it’s getting ready to be used SEE EXPANSION | A2
NOVEMBER 12, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
A2 | NEWS
RAD
NEWS BRIEFS ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR NAMED ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SCHOLARLY JOURNAL
Associate Director of Area and Global Studies Tracy Flemming was appointed associate executive editor of “Africology: The Journal of Pan African Studies,” a journal dedicated to “the intellectual synthesis of research, scholarship and critical thought on the African experience around the world” according to its website. The Journal’s editorial board includes professionals and educators from all around the world. Executive Editor Itibari Zulu said that Flemming’s first assignment in the new position will be working with him to edit 27 different articles for an anthology titled “Africology 2.0: Engaging Disciplinary Approaches.”
CAREER CENTER WRAPS UP APPLICATION PROCESS FOR W.O.W. CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAM
Grand Valley State University’s Career Center’ World of Work (W.O.W.) Career Exploration Program closes its application process on Monday, Nov. 12. The program encourages students to gain a better understanding of the workplace environment across a variety of career opportunities ranging from Legal Services to Nonprofit Management to Accounting and Finance. Students involved in the program will be able to select partnered employers throughout the week. Following preparation in the CareerLab until the end of November, students will visit their workplaces on Nov. 30. Applications require an updated resume, cover letter and application form. For more information, contact riksenm@gvsu.edu.
GV HOSTS 8TH ANNUAL VETERAN’S DAY BREAKFAST, CELEBRATES SERVICE
Students, faculty, staff and guests gathered in the Kirkhof Center on Nov. 9 to celebrate the contributions of the many GVSU-connected veterans during the university’s 8th Annual Veteran’s Day Breakfast. The breakfast included a performance of The StarSpangled Banner by GVSU’s acapella group, Eurphoria, amongst speakers and recognitions. GVSU President Thomas Haas, who served as a captain in the U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga both thanked veterans and highlighted the support system offered at GVSU between veterans. GVSU’s Native American Advisory Council member Steven Naganashe Perry presented a feather to Haas at the breakfast, a symbol of honoring veterans.
CENTER FOR ADULT AND CONTINUING STUDIES EXPANDS PROGRAMMING INTO DIGITAL MARKETING Grand Valley State University’s Center for Adult and Continuing Studies (CACS) announced a new digital marketing program that will include certifications in a variety of industry-recognized platforms and hands-on work with industry professionals. The program, which was piloted in the fall, will officially launch Jan. 15. The program is a partnership with professional development company GreenFig and will feature virtual, small group and networking opportunities. Executive Director of CACS Simone Jonaitis said that the new program reflects a demand in the industry’s focus on professionals with updated skills in a fluid, dynamic industry.
VOL . 53
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Lan thorn EDITORIAL STAFF
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of Health and Human Services estimates that one out of every five women in college will experience some form of sexual assault. However, of these cases, about 60 percent are unreported. Dornbos attributed this to multiple factors, including the victim’s desire to avoid negative publicity and confrontation, feelings of guilt over their own behaviors (such as if alcohol was involved) and general distrust of the police. In addition, if the attacker was an acquaintance, the victim may feel hesitant to report the crime, brushing the incident off as “just a mistake.” A 2018 sociological report titled “‘I Didn’t Want to be That Girl’: The Social Risks of Labeling, Telling and Reporting Sexual Assault” also identified interpersonal risks of reporting as a major deterrent of why so many victims opted to not go to authorities. The social scientists from Columbia University provided one example of a college student who was sexually assaulted by a friend of her roommate and did not report what had happened because she was “worried that if her roommate found out, it would lead to conflict between her and the roommate.” The R.A.D. seminar focused largely on types of survival strategies, including verbal strategies like yelling in order to draw attention to the situation, avoidance strategies such as keeping distance from suspicious activity and avoiding isolation while at parties and compliant resistance strategies such as vomiting or telling your attacker you have a sexually transmitted disease. The R.A.D. Continuum of Survival Codes is colorbased and has three distinct levels ranging from yellow (based on awareness of surroundings) to orange (where avoidance measures are necessary) to red (where defen-
ACCREDIT CONTINUED FROM A1
high quality education, wherever and however its offerings are delivered. The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments and support services, and it evaluates their effectiveness for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement. “The institution’s resources, structures and processes are sufficient to fulfill its mission, improve the quality
SEXUAL ASSAULT SAFETY: GVPD officers speak to the crowd about how to protect themselves against rape and sexual assault in a hands-on, three-hour course held on Monday, Nov. 5. GVL | SHILOH REYNOLDS
I just think it’s really important to have these conversations, and recent events have made me want to educate myself on this subject more.” Marissa Morey First-year student sive measures are necessary). In addition to educating R.A.D. seminar participants on these strategies and as to where they can get help or report any incidents, officers instructed them in some selfdefense skills. Participants practiced defensive stances, kicks and punches. Officers also demonstrated tactics to get out of choke holds.
of its educational offerings, and respond to future challenges and opportunities, (otherwise) the institution plans for the future.” In many ways, the university’s Assurance Argument describes the current state of education on campus as well as forecasting future demands. The Higher Learning Committee’s job is then to ensure these statements are accurate, which is accomplished through a campus visit. Assessment Specialist within the Office of the Provost Taylor Boyd said that this was a process that not only involved university leaders, but consults
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DEFENSIVE DRILLS: GVPD Officer Nate Dornbos demonstrates to students on how to escape a choke hold. GVL | SHILOH REYNOLDS
with students and other staff to ensure the university is achieving these goals. “The HLC visit is a multiday process in which trained peer reviewers verify the content of what is written in the assurance argument by meeting with faculty, staff and administrators on a college campus,” Boyd said. “Their role is to affirm the evidence provided in the assurance argument is accurate and meets the criterion set forth by the Higher Learning Commission. Often times reviewers visit campus facilities, meet with students, and conduct meetings with various staff and administrators
to ensure the university does what it says it’s doing”. While this process is perhaps overshadowed by other on-campus events, it remains one of the most important in the eyes of the university’s administration. GVSU’s status as a public institution means federal and state funding remains contingent on being in compliance with the criteria outlined by the Higher Learning Commission. The university’s commitment to not only achieving these goals but exceeding them will ensure GVSU’s continued contributions in higher education.
EXPANSION
discipline so we are seriously outgrowing our capability to deliver that.” This need for computing space is why the university has recently requested funds from the State of Michigan for a computer information systems building on the Allendale campus. Each year, the State of Michigan requests universities to put forward a capital outlay plan outlining how it would utilize state support should funding become available. If approved by the state, GVSU would receive $50 million to construct the computing facility which could help the university meet demand for the growth in computer information training. “The number one priority on that plan is a building to support computing for the university,” Plotkowski said.
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by the university. There will be a technology showcase approach in that space, to work with students on campus and the community in giving them experience with art.” Plotkowski believes the Innovation and Design Center can offer spaces to all students, not just those in engineering programs. The need for this center comes from Grand Valley’s increasing enrollment and the need for computing and design spaces on campus. “One of the challenges we’ve had as the enrollment has grown has been (having) enough space to work that project based learning,” Plotkowski said. “Computing is becoming pervasive and you’re using it in every
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NOVEMEBER 12, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
NEWS | A3
HEALTH
UAEM educates, promotes accessible medicine in week-long campaign BY RACHEL MATUSZEWSKI RMATUSZEWSKI@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State University’s Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM) chapter hosted an Access to Medicines week from Nov. 5 to 11 to promote easier access to medications. UAEM’s main goal for the week was to receive signatures for the Global Access Licensing Framework, a document the entire corporation collaborates on to help start conversation about creating transparencies in access to medicine in the university setting. UAEM students hope to receive 160 signatures by the end of November in order to present the petition to the Student Senate and university. “The goal of Access to Medicines Week isn’t necessarily to give all the students at GV a fully deep, comprehensive understanding of all these issues,” UAEM at Grand Valley State Vice President Collin Trainor said. “We just want to bring these issues to light and help them have a voice and a say in what their opinion should be on how the issue should be resolved.”
While GVSU is considered a research institution where professors have the freedom to conduct research, there is not a policy in place that ensures professors publish these findings. UAEM at Grand Valley State President Haley Sullivan explained that if a professor is developing a pharmaceutical, there is no policy which says they need to publish these results or be transparent. Because there is no transparency, there is a high probability another professor could be researching the same thing and these projects often never reach completion. “If they do progress and develop into a pharmaceutical, they they can patent that drug, and that essentially means no other generic developing company can touch it,” Sullivan said. “There’s nothing in the patent that says people abroad in developing countries can access that information either, which means nobody can produce it except for someone he allows to under the patent, which means the drug will be very, very, very expensive.” This makes a variety of
medications inaccessible to patients in all countries. Trainor said that one of the week’s activities included UAEM students tabling in Kirkhof and asking students to lay in a coffin when they couldn’t pay off their fake health payments. UAEM students took this opportunity to inform students about insulin, diabetes and multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB). “MDRTB is the leading cause of death from an infectious disease around the world,” Trainor said. “We’ve known a cure for approximately 70 years, but still every year over a million die, and the reason for that is because they don’t have access to the right antibiotics. TB is drug resistant to a certain kind of antibiotic, but there’s other kinds that have recently been researched and developed that if people had access to those medications, that number would be a lot lower.” Activities also included mindfulness yoga and a showing of the documentary “Bending the Arc.” “(‘Bending the Arc’ direc-
tor Paul Farmer) got a really unique story when it comes to global health because he was able to recruit a lot of donors for his projects because he’s very smart and people believed in his cause,” Sullivan said. “He brought healthcare to so many people, it’s incredible. I think a documentary like that can be very inspiring and can educate you at the same time. It’s really a global health crisis that we’re having.” GVSU’s UAEM chapter is made up of a variety of majors. They include but are not limited to biomedical sciences, nursing and criminal justice. “A lot of the patent laws have to do with pre-law students and even business students because they are the ones who are going to start working for the pharmaceutical companies because it’s written like a business,” Sullivan said. “We’re actually seeking members from diverse majors.” UEAM will also have a conference in the spring about access to medicines for students who are interested in understanding how the UEAM movement works.
ESSENTIAL CONVERSATIONS: A UAEM member speaks to a student during Access to Medicines Week on Nov. 6. GVL | EMILY MODLOFF
CAMPUS
Kirkhof Center considered for possible renovations BY ALEXANDRA LOYD NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State University’s Student Senate discussed a possible expansion to the Kirkhof Center, including building upgrades and a bussing rework. Although nothing is official yet, GVSU acknowledges that there are a number of concerns raised by student organizations regarding the center’s current size and layout. “Right now, it’s just the beginning; it’s baby steps,” Assistant Dean for Student Life Bob Stoll said. “There’s a new provost, and we’ve got a new dean, and we’re all talking about space now. It’s really a matter of assessing what the needs of everybody are, and defining the purpose of the Kirkhof Center as a student space.” Stoll said that the subject of space was integral to conversations about the Kirkhof Center, with a demand for more large, collaborative rooms and event spaces being explored. “With all the activities that go on and all the programming that goes on, we’ve got a continued growth in student organizations, so we’re trying to keep up with all those programs,” Stoll said. “We don’t have any really big event spaces like ballrooms that can hold 1,200 or 1,500 people; there’s not enough room for anything big to oc-
cur in the building because it’s landlocked by the library on one side and the pond on the other, so it’s something we’re working on.” In the past 20 years, the Kirkhof Center has had two major renovations, but GVSU knows its necessary to stay up to date with the needs of students. Stoll said that to begin this process, those involved must redefine, revisit and confirm the purpose and mission of the Kirkhof Center as a whole. Right now, the building’s mission is to provide students with an inclusive space to gather, create and engage through quality facilities, programs and services. To create moments that aim to enrich students’ lives, compliment them individually and enhance their academic experiences. It is GVSU’s vision to create an environment that encourages collaboration among campus groups while building a strong sense of community – and this is something GVSU must step back and reflect on often. There are no concrete timelines as of yet, but GVSU is in agreement with Student Senate that changes must be made to accommodate all students. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
COLLABORATION STATION: Conversations about the Kirkhof Center include how to increase program space. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT
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A4 | OPINION EDITORIAL
NOVEMBER 12, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON
By Xavier Golden
The weighty outcomes of reporting sexual assault
W
hile living in the #MeToo era, more and more people feel empowered to use their voice and stand up for themselves when they are assaulted and are feeling more safe to be vocal about their past experiences. Law enforcement officials, schools and authority figures everywhere are taking sexual violence claims far more seriously than they used to, even in recent years, and reputable establishments know they will be lynched if they don’t appropriately address allegations of this nature. The fact that more victims/survivors feel liberated now and are able to come forward and hold their abusers accountable is undoubtedly a great thing. The more victims/ survivors who come forward, the more abusers who are held responsible for their actions and justice can be brought to the victims/survivors. Reporting is important. The outcome of reporting an incidence of sexual violence can affect the abuser’s life long-term. Jail or prison time, misdemeanor or felony charges, tons of fines and they could potentially be put on the sex offender’s list as well. Whether or not a crime is reported or if an abuser is brought to justice is always up to the victim. The consequences of false reporting, keep in mind, are just as severe.
The Michigan penal code 750.411a details the law for false reporting, and the consequences for the false reporter can be very extreme, depending on how much this false report affected innocent people. The code states that the false report of a misdemeanor can lead the person who reported to be charged with a misdemeanor, up to 93 days in prison and a hefty fine. If the false report is of a felony crime, the person who reported could not only receive felony charges, but face five to 15 years in prison, along with thousands of dollars in fines depending on the severity of the situation. Last weekend, a GVSU student reported to police that they woke up in an apartment after a party and suspected that they had been drugged and raped. The Grand Valley Police Department sent out an alert to students and faculty reporting this, noting that there was no suspect and that the attacker could be on the loose. A few days later, the Ottawa County Sheriff ’s office determined that the drugging and assault never happened. It is unclear whether this student lied outright about the situation or whether they had reason to think they’d actually been assaulted. Regardless, the situation reminds us that making reports can have serious implications for everyone involved.
GV L ED ITORIA L B OA R D BRADY MCATAMNEY MCKENNA PEARISO LAUREEN HORAN NICK MORAN KELLEN VOSS AMY MCNEEL JENNY ADKINS
Editor-In-Chief Associate editor Associate editor News editor Sports editor Laker Life editor A&E editor
WHAT IS A LANTHORN? Lant • horn, n. [Old English] A lanthorn is a lantern that was used in mid-to-late 16th-century Europe. It was constructed of leather and a single lens made from a thin
piece of ox or steer horn. It was used for illumination and as a beacon.
editorial@lanthorn.com L ET T ER TO TH E EDITOR
Letter to the Editor: Greek Life
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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instead read: “Greek Life organizations vote to go dry as they address a way to break the national trend” or “Fraternities, Sororities at GV self-impose sanctions as they take time to address alcohol abuse within their community.” The town-hall meeting where the Assistant Dean of Student Life Bob Stoll announced the sanctions was originally intended to be a meeting addressing a proposal for a self-imposed alcohol ban by these organizations. Presidents and members had gathered to discuss what steps should be taken and what the best strategy moving forward should be in addressing the issue of alcohol within our community. This would have been a proactive movement from a self-governing body that GVSU never let self-govern, but instead, they stepped in unexpectedly and left the organizations to pick up the pieces. The shock and anger that followed is of no surprise. It seems that whenever a negative event occurs, the media swoops in and covers it with zeal, yet the same people are nowhere to be seen covering stories about the incredible amounts of money and time these organizations donate every year for charities and social causes. These people are nowhere to be seen covering positive examples of brotherhood and sisterhood within the Greek community.
BY TYVIN JAY WHITTAKER IFC V.P. OF PUBLIC RELATIONS SOPHOMORE DOUBLE MAJOR IN LEGAL STUDIES AND PHILOSOPHY BROTHER IN PHI GAMMA DELTA
On Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, The Lanthorn ran with the headline “Hung out to dry: GV imposes sanctions on Greek life, cite issues within the community.” This article mirrored similar headlines that have spread like wildfire over the past few days. These articles all have led with the indefinite alcohol ban as their headline. If you ask any Greek member at Grand Valley, these articles and news reports spread a false narrative that Greek Life is full of irresponsible behavior and reckless, out of control students. The headline itself is not false — indeed, the university has enacted an alcohol ban on Greek organizations — however, the circumstances of this ban have been misconstrued. Had the university delayed its decision by even a single day, the headlines could have
The hypocrisy is evident and is frustrating for all of us who feel attacked and labeled as the “trouble community.” Yet, something about the reaction from my fellow Greek brothers and sisters disturbed me. The passion and drive I was seeing from people promoting the positive effect Greek Life has was amazing; however, it illustrated a bigger problem within my community. We clearly do not know how to market ourselves effectively. Twitter was a firestorm of snarky responses from those of us who felt personally attacked. Tweet after tweet was thrown at the university and media outlets, tagging them in philanthropy events and statistics. Very few of the responses went without some sort of attitude or angry undertone. Responding in an entitled and victimized manner after losing our ability to party achieved exactly the opposite of what we wanted to do. I do not believe for a second that Greek Life is about partying, but when we respond most strongly and passionately after losing that ability, it adds to the exact stereotype we’re trying to break. The Greek community at large is stuck in an echo chamber. We know how much good we do and what we bring to the community. However, we often find ourselves in rooms full of other Greek members and we
forget the need to illustrate this to the other 90 percent of the student population, and to our broader community. When you form a community that prides itself on moral values, you are also creating a standard of character for yourself and your fellow members. The Greek community reacted the way anyone with strong values would react when attacked. We acknowledge that there does exist a culture of drinking not only within our own community, but within our generation and our university as a whole. We also understand that we have a higher standard for our behavior, both because there are more eyes on us and because we hold ourselves to higher expectations. Nevertheless, we make mistakes, we learn and we grow. I do not doubt for a moment the passion and drive my fellow Greek members have to make our community prosper and to promote a safer and healthier environment for all. We see the issues within our community more than anyone, and we are the best equipped at fighting it. I’m not perfect, nor are any of my fraternity brothers. What we are is a close group of men who are willing to accept that we don’t do everything right, but are still actively working to improve ourselves and become the leaders of the next generation.
From the silent voter: “I Voted” stickers met with bipartisan backlash
The Grand Valley Lanthorn slogan is “Give light, and the people will find their own way.”
GVL OPINION POLICY The goal of the Grand Valley Lanthorn’s opinion page is to act as a forum for public discussion, comment and criticism in the Grand Valley State University community. Student and columnist opinions published here do not necessarily reflect those of the paper as an entity. The Lanthorn strives to be a safe vehicle for community discussion. With this in mind, the Lanthorn will not publish or entertain any forms of hate speech, but neither will it discriminate against any other views, opinions or beliefs. The content, information and views expressed are not approved by—nor do they necessarily represent those of—the university or its Board of Trustees, officers, faculty or staff.
11/12/18
BY NICK MORAN JUNIOR MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
I’m taking the names of who I vote for to the grave. In the political world, I’ve always lived by one rule: keep your political opinions and who you vote for to yourself. Growing up, my dad had a list of things you don’t talk about with others, including personal finances, religious views and politics. Prior to this year’s midterm elections, I followed that list, and I did so out of both privacy and courtesy. But it took this round of elections to change why I did that. While the issue has been around for a handful of years, it’s recently been picking up
as a result of our currently hyper-political climate. If you’ve been online at all either before or after the midterms, you’ve probably seen the same rhetoric that I’ve been seeing. “If you don’t agree with me, I don’t want you following me.” “I don’t get how people believe this shit.” “If you vote for this asshole, you’re an asshole too.” Posts like these turn digital discourse into a minefield. Timelines are flooded with both parties pushing citizens to wield their votes like pitchforks and rush to the polls to stomp out their opponents. Friends and family who were quiet for the rest of the year finally speak up about what they see as right, and celebrities use their influence disseminate their affiliations. This rhetoric forces you to walk a tightrope, with one side accusing the opposition of supporting hatred and the other saying they’re leaving this country to rot. And the thin rope below you: silence. It’s a difficult line to walk when everyone is encouraging you to jump off, vehemently pick a side and be
politically active. Those who are proudly and publicly political try to crack the silent open in hopes that you’re on their team. Better yet, you may disagree and they have a chance to change your thinking or mindlessly scold you. It depends on the day. Yet, the moment you open your mouth and make a stand on your own, half of the country is at your throat. You’re called a coward for being silent, but you’re called worse by some for speaking out: unamerican. To many like myself, election season is like being handed a loaded gun, with each party anticipating we shoot the other. Quite honestly, I admire the politically confident. Those of you who vote every election and understand the issues – and potentially educate others – are flexing their constitutional rights in the way they were designed. There’s a boldness that’s inherently respectable, and I often times see people with political zeal have it with the best intentions. But the vocal and the brash aggressively criticize Congress
for not working together, hope for conversation that leads to building fair legislation and support the First Amendment with bipartisan fervor – but the moment someone opens their mouth with an opposing opinion, their courage to speak is labeled as ignorance. They should have just stayed quiet in the first place. We’re seeing these conversations turn into echo chambers. Social media accounts are purging followers of opposing viewpoints and circling declarations of biased truth like moths to a flame. Those of us who see this unfold are quietly watching from the sidelines, threatened to keep our tongues in our mouth in fear of losing them with one slip of a conflicting opinion. The nation’s definition of democracy is shifting from discussion to being a yelling match, leaving many of us without a seat at the table because we reserve our right to speak out of fear. So, before you get on my case for standing silently, ask yourself this: Who’s the unamerican one here?
VALLEY VOTE
THIS ISSUE’S QUESTION
QUOTE
Should GVPD alert students every time they respond to sexual violence reports?
Are you going to Lakers’ playoff football game this Saturday?
“What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is is the most powerful tool we all have.”
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NOVEMEBER 12, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
NEWS | A5
GREEK LIFE
Changing the narrative: Greek Life reflects on image, aims to highlight pledged values BY NICK MORAN & AMY MCNEEL NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
From the outside looking in, Greek Life is often branded in a hostile and adverse manner. Nationally, Greek Life is largely associated with alcohol and parties, and news headlines place many chapters in a negative spotlight. However, at Grand Valley State University, Greek Life members have been working hard to push against the national trend and preserve the higher morals they swore themselves to. On Wednesday, Oct. 31, Greek members met with GVSU’s Greek Life Board and Associate Dean for Student Life Bob Stoll for a Greek Life Town Hall, where Greek members planned to set
their best foot forward. At the meeting, the Interfraternity Council (IFC) planned to pitch a self-imposed dry period in attempt to remove themselves from the national trend and consider more sustainable solutions to alcohol abuse within the Greek community. However, once gathered at the Town Hall, the GVSU administration acted swiftly and decided to impose multiple sanctions on the entirety of GVSU Greek chapters. “The university said that they want us to see more selfgoverning, and they implied that we should do that more, but they haven’t ever given us that ability; everything just goes right over our heads,” said IFC Vice President of Public Relations Tyvin Whittaker. The meeting was go-
ing to be a decisive step in their endeavor for selfgovernance and independent decision making, but in complete contradiction, GVSU administrators ended up taking matters into their own hands. The imposed sanctions — which included a ban of alcohol, expansion and further progress on a relationship agreement, as well as creating a task force to investigate issues — were a shock to the GVSU Greek community, leaving many members frustrated and hurt. “It’s kind of like the rug was just ripped out from under us,” Whittaker said. “It was unexpected.” Results of the Town Hall meeting have since left members of Greek Life wondering
what exactly the university wants to come out of the imposed sanctions. Whittaker said that administrators talked a lot about the sanctions themselves, but did a poor job of communicating the intended outcomes. While the results of the meeting were unexpected and frustrating to many members, they have also had a positive effect by bringing the Greek community together. Relationships between chapters are now stronger than ever, in contrast to the relationship between Greek Life and the university. Whittaker said that many Greek members feel personally attacked, which has severely weakened their connection with GVSU. Additionally, the Greek community feels that the
administration lacks appreciation and promotion of the good things they do, such as philanthropy. “The university just hasn’t done a tremendously great job in the past of promoting what we do good,” Whittaker said. “They only focus on the negatives.” Whittaker also said that the university has sent mixed messages in relation to governance, which muddies their relationship. While there is a need for collaboration, Whittaker said that the IFC wants to be able to enforce rules within the community, which requires some trust from the University. “(The Judicial Affairs chair) is one of the most important positions on the IFC, but he almost never gets to do anything because the university always
POSITIVE PERCEPTIONS: Members of GVSU’s Greek community are looking to support efforts that publicize their positive initiatives following surprise sanctions imposed on Greek Life during a Town Hall. IFC Vice President of Public Relation Tyvin Whittaker said that the public often focuses on the wrongdoings of Greek Life. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT
steps in,” Whittaker said. “Recently, he didn’t even know about some of the situations going on because the university did not tell him. They did not tell the people in the community what was going on. So that’s something we want to fix: we want to be able to self-govern.” While GVSU hasn’t supported Greek Life in the way members wish, Whittaker did explain that the Greek community does have some responsibility in the hindered relationship between the two. While the Greek community does do great things, Whittaker believes that they do not market themselves in a proactive way. In attempt to rekindle ties with the university and progress through the sanctions, Greek members are planning to take steps that will improve their image and make the community more transparent. “Going forward, we’re in the process of creating a committee, kind of like a public relations task force, across the fraternities and sororities, hopefully, to make more of a unified message and a strategy to market ourselves better; mostly to people who aren’t in Greek Life,” Whittaker said. Whittaker said that this crossroads is an opportunity for the Greek community to reform their image. While the public image of Greek Life tends to include drinking, Whittaker said that their new approach is to make the good work they do apparent to those outside the community. “We really want to change the narrative,” Whittaker said. “Right now, the narrative is that Greek Life is bad; the university is looking down on Greek Life for our bad partying scene. I think what everybody in our community wants to do is we want to change the narrative. This is a community that has flaws — like every community does — but these are some of the best kids I know and trust. I’m proud to be a Greek every day.”
EXCLUSIVE
Fraternity and Sorority Life administrative actions Editor’s note: The following is a letter sent to Greek Life among all of Grand Valley State University immediately following the Town Hall on Oct. 31 which imposed sanctions upon the community. The letter was penned by Associate Dean for Student Life Bob Stoll. Dear Members of the GV Fraternity/Sorority Community,
T
his evening I had the opportunity to attend the Town Hall Meeting sponsored by the Greek Life Board to follow up and discuss concerns raised in my letter to the fraternity/sorority community. I was pleased to see student leadership initiate a call to action and organize a town hall meeting to address issues.
In the past week another national governing body has pulled a fraternity charter for alcohol and risk management violations. There continues to be a pattern of behavior within the larger fraternity and sorority community that we believe endangers student welfare and undermines the University’s objectives. Nine (9) different GVSU chapters have been sanctioned, suspended, or removed over the past five (5) years for alcohol, drug, property destruction, hazing, and other policy or law violations. Significant and fundamental reform within the GVSU community is required While I appreciate the initiative of the student led town hall meeting tonight, university administrators see a critical need for more immediate action. Earlier today I received notification from the dean to immediately implement the following administrative actions and communicate to students and advisors associated with the fraternity and sorority community: 1: All fraternity and sorority events with alcohol are suspended until further notice, and until such time as we have confidence that student welfare and institutional obligations can be achieved by removing this suspension. 2: Additional chapter expansion efforts are suspended until a new framework for evaluating expansion requests is in place and approved. (The two chapters previously approved to accept new members, but not yet chartered, may continue their chartering plans: Alpha Epsilon Pi and Delta Gamma). 3: The Relationship Statement document, which is currently in development, will not be signed or implemented until discussion about expectations have occurred and are appropriately incorporated into the document. 4: An institutionally approved Task Force of students, faculty, and staff will be formed as soon as reasonably feasible to examine issues within and expectations of the GVSU fraternity and sorority community. It is the university’s expectation that the Task Force will include students, staff, and faculty; will consult widely with those who have a stake in the university’s mission; will result in stronger student leadership and staff oversight for the fraternity and sorority community; and will assure deep reflection about both what must change and the fundamental reform necessary to assure the pattern of problematic issues we’ve experienced is ameliorated. This University supports the values, purposes, and existence of positive Greek Life, and we have an institutionally-charged responsibility to assure that GVSU is an exemplar in achieving it. In the days ahead, we will talk more about the formation of the Task Force. I appreciated the great attendance and standing room only crowd tonight. Many comments and concerns were presented at the town hall meeting, I look forward to partnering with student leadership and addressing these challenges facing our community. Sincerely, Bob Stoll Associate Dean for Student Life
A6 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTS AT A GLANCE
NOVEMBER 12, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS
DOWNTOWN
VIDEO SCREENING SHOWCASED MEMORIES AND EXPERIENCES FROM HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS
On Thursday, Nov. 8, Grand Valley State University was planning to welcome Henry Greenspan and his play, “Remnants.” Remnants recreates moments and experiences from Holocaust survivors that Greenspan has collected over the last 40 years by conducting various interviews based on what survivors lived through and what trauma they endured. Due to unexpected events, Greenspan was unable to attend the performance at GVSU. Rob Franciosi, coordinator of the event and English professor at Grand Valley said, “(Greenspan) provided a video, which I did a screening for students.” The event was sponsored by the Joseph Stevens Freedom Endowment and Frederik Meijer Honors College.
THE GRAND RAPIDS CIVIC THEATRE PRESENTS DISNEY’S “THE LITTLE MERMAID”
Starting Friday, Nov. 16, the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre invites guests of all ages to come check out the iconic play “The Little Mermaid” for the first time ever. The classic musical will feature songs from Academy Award-winning Alan Menken, creator for “Kiss the Girl” and “Under the Sea.” With songs like this, The Little Mermaid is destined for success, as it was a huge hit on Broadway. The show begins on Friday, Nov. 16 and will continue through Sunday, Dec. 16. Tickets will range from $17-39 depending on the seating arrangement. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.grct.org.
CALLING ALL ACTORS AND ACTRESSES: HAAS CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS TO HOST AUDITIONS FOR UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
On Tuesday, Nov. 13 and Wednesday, Nov. 14, GVSU’s Department of Music, Theatre and Dance is hosting auditions for E.B. White’s “Stuart Little” as well as Christopher Durang’s “The Actor’s Nightmare.” Auditions will be held from 6-8 p.m. in the Haas Center for Performing Arts (HCPA) in room 1506. Students are expected to bring a memorized contemporary, monologue or cold reads. Students can sign up at the box office in person or via phone at (616) 331-2300. Both shows will begin Thursday, Jan. 17 and will continue through Sunday, Jan. 20. In addition, beginning on Thursday, Nov. 29 and continuing on Friday, Nov. 30, GVSU’s Haas Center for Performing Arts will be hosting auditions for “God of Carnage” by Yasmina Riza. On Nov. 29, auditions will be from 6:30-8 p.m., and auditions for Nov. 30 will be from 1-3:30 p.m. Both sessions will be held in the HCPA in room 1506. Students are not required to memorize a monologue, but they are encouraged to prepare one if need be. Call backs are to be expected on Monday, Dec. 3.
DRESSED UP: Guests participate in cosplay, the main component of Grand Rapids’ third annual Comic-Con convention. GVL | NICK MORAN
Grand Rapids welcomes third annual Comic-Con convention JENNY ADKINS ARTS@LANTHORN.COM
Celebrities, artists and experts on all things pop-culture flocked to Grand Rapids this during the weekend of Nov. 9 for the third annual ComicCon. Comic-Con is a national convention that showcases multi-genre entertainment as well as everything from the gaming and comic realms. Comic-Con returned to the DeVos Place on Friday, Nov. 9 and continued through Sunday, Nov. 11. Fans were lined out the door, bearing Grand Rapids’ first snowfall of the season as they waited in anticipation to enter. The guests who attended were fans with a passion for superheroes, an-
ime, collectible merchandise, gaming and comics. The crowds of Comic-Con filled the convention center for a variety of different reasons. For some, it was a chance to meet a celebrity. Others wanted to explore an area of interest. Most claimed it was an oasis of z for gamers, comic enthusiasts, artists and cosplayers alike. Randy Reynolds, creator of a life-size replica of the scare floor in “Monsters, Inc.,” has been to Grand Rapids ComicCon several times over the years, and the event has become a place for him to interact with the kids while honoring an important friend. “Monsters, Inc. is a project I’ve been working on recently,” Reynolds said. “A
good friend of mine, who was a teacher in the Lansing Schools District, wanted to put on a Monsters, Inc. (play) for the children. He asked me to help him out, which resulted in me building Mike, Randall and Sully in four weekends. He started to do shows with me; however, last May he passed away unexpectedly. “I built the scare floor dedicated to him, and I reached out to his previous students to see if they wanted to get involved. Right now in the scare room, the walls are bare; I’m hoping students will create artwork, and I can then hang it on the walls inside.” A prominent factor of Comic-Con, and the most ob-
vious when walking the floor, is cosplaying. Swaths of guests participated by dressing up as their favorite superhero, Disney princess, comic book character, movie character or other kind of character. Four students anticipated Comic-Con’s arrival as it took them approximately four months to finish some of their costumes. Megan Korff, Alison Farmer, Annika Gibson and Morgan Peckham feel that cosplay is what brought them together, being one of the most underlying and important aspects of Comic-Con as a whole. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
THEATRE-DANCE
Grand Valley opera and visual arts students collaborate for audiovisual performance ARIE NIENHUIS ANIENHUIS@LANTHORN.COM
SPOTLIGHT: GVSU students partnered with the Grand Rapids Ballet School for an unforgettable performance. COURTESY | GVSU.EDU
Throughout history, art and music have gone through a multitude of changes along with the progression of technological and cultural advancements. Music has shifted far from the classical styles of hundreds of years ago, and art has quickly transitioned into a highly dynamic and electronic landscape. However, with “Masquerade: A Baroque Extravaganza”, a group of music and art students at Grand Valley State University have proven that classic musical styles and highly modern forms of art can combine to form something truly new and beautiful. “Masquerade” was a production born out of a collaboration between the GVSU Early Music Ensemble and Department of Visual and Media Arts as well as the Junior
Company of the Grand Rapids Ballet School. Headed by GVSU Opera Theatre director Dale Schriemer and Julie Goldstein, assistant professor of film video production, the performance combines music from composers such as George Frideric Handel and Henry Purcell with layered 3D projections. The performance took place three times during the weekend of Nov. 9. Schriemer is incredibly proud of the event, comparing the experience to the Disney film “Fantasia” and other audiovisual works of art. In particular, he is hopeful that students appreciated the production’s older works of music more in such a modern artistic context. “(The performance) is an opportunity and an experience to think and work outside of the box,” Schriemer said. “The reason for doing it is that ba-
roque music doesn’t always have a new audience. I have to bring old things and show a new generation how incredible these things are and recontextualize them. (Goldstein) has been very receptive to this.” The production was notable for the way at which it forms something truly new out of two very different artistic mediums. In a similar method to Disney’s fusion of animation and music in Fantasia, Schriemer sees Masquerade’s fusion of baroque music and 3D design as a presentation truly intriguing artistic expression. “Out of opposites, we create a new thing,” Shriemer said. “We’ve taken (the ideas of Fantasia) and blown them up times twenty, and moved them forward. What kid hasn’t seen Fantasia? It still has play.” For a multitude of GVSU students, in and outside of
art, Masquerade was surely a highly valuable experience. Music students experienced important works of baroque composition, artists saw forward-thinking applications of 3D projection, and the average viewer was surely inspired by the imaginative nature of the production, overall. “The power of imagination is underrated,” Schriemer said. “How to solve problems in business, for example, comes from imagination. It isn’t formulaic…In the context of business, engineering, or medicine, imagination is key.” GVSU students should remain on the lookout for wonderful performances like this. For those hoping to get involved with similar projects, Schriemer shared some advice. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
EVENTS
Haas Center for Performing Arts to Host Performance of “The Jungle Book” JACOB CRESWELL ARTS@LANTHORN.COM
The Haas Center for Performing Arts, located on GVSU’s Allendale campus, will be hosting several performances of “The Jungle Book” throughout November. These performances will be put on by students within the the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance. The performances will be held at the Linn Maxwell Keller Black Box Theatre, located on GVSU’s Allendale Campus at The Haas Center for Performing Arts. The Department of Music, Theatre and Dance’s website discusses the setting and plot of the play, highlighting, “The Law of the Jungle rules Mowgli’s adventures while growing up with a wolf pack. However, when Mowgli’s
identity is challenged after realizing his human origins, his quest to master the laws becomes more complicated... and much more dangerous.” Students and faculty within the department emphasize that this play, adapted by Monica Flory, is much darker in tone than the commonly known Disney movie. The
website warns families that while children are welcomed, the thematic elements and themes are much darker than one might expect, reminding parents that certain scenes of the play may be frightening to younger children. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
TAKING CENTER STAGE: Grand Valley’s HCPA prepares to host a nontraditional rendition of The Jungle Book. COURTESY | GVSU
SPORTS | A7
NOVEMBER 12, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
QUICK HITS
FOOTBALL
GVSU MEN’S BASKETBALL REMAINS UNDEFEATED AFTER BEATING DAVIS & ELKINS The Grand Valley State men’s basketball team remained undefeated on their young season on Sunday, Nov. 11, as they beat Davis & Elkins in West Virginia 85-68. Sophomore Jake Van Tubbergen shined off the bench, leading the team in scoring with 18 points while also posting six rebounds and two blocks in the game. He wasn’t the only Laker to reach double digits, with Hunter Hale pouring in 16 points and Jeremiah Ferguson contributing 15. The Lakers were able to top Davis & Elkins in most important statistical categories in the contest, including fast break points (15-2), bench points (39-24) and points in the paint (30-20) With the win, GVSU improves to 2-0 on the year will play Lewis at home on Friday, Nov. 16 before facing Indianapolis at home on Sunday, Nov. 18. Friday’s game starts at 7 p.m. while Sunday’s contest tips off at 1 p.m.
STACI BROWER EARNS FOURTH STRAIGHT ALL-GLIAC HONORS While the Grand Valley State volleyball team had its season come to end on Wednesday, Nov. 7, the GLIAC announced Friday night that senior Staci Brower was named to her fourth straight All-GLIAC first team. Freshman Ali Thompson was also named an honorable mention. Brower is the first player in the program’s 49-year history to be named to the All-Conference First Team in each of her four years at GVSU. Brower’s career as a Laker was highlighted by her dominant play in 2017, when the then-junior helped lead GVSU to a GLIAC South Division title. Brower was not only honored in the conference awards, but she has also been named a two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region Honorable Mention. To go along with these honors, she was also named to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-Midwest Region Second Team as a sophomore. This season, Brower was the most consistent source of offense for the Lakers, as she led the team with 330 kills, 3.30 kills per set, and a .344 attack percentage. She also had a knack for the defensive side, leading the team in solo blocks (24), assisted blocks (56) and total blocks (80).
GVSU DII MEN’S HOCKEY SPLITS WEEKEND DUEL WITH LINDENWOOD
The Grand Valley State men’s DII hockey team split their match-ups with Lindenwood, beating the Lions 5-3 on Friday, Nov. 9 before falling to LU 6-4 the next day. GVSU got the scoring started early on Friday, scoring three goals in the first period and scoring the first five goals in the game, jumping out to 5-0 lead just 15 minutes into the second period. Tommy Carey got the scoring started for the Lakers, with Evan Newel, Cameron Dyde, Lucas Little and Ryan Hein each scoring quickly after. GVSU didn’t fare as well on Saturday, Nov. 10, and while Newel, Zach Resnick, Trevor Zenas and Matthew Schaumburger each found the back of the net in the contest, the Lions still prevailed by a 6-4 margin. After the split, the Lakers are now 8-2 on the season and look to pick up two more wins during a doubleheader with Adrian College this weekend. Friday, Nov. 17’s game at home starts at 7 p.m, while the away match the following day starts at 5 p.m.
VARSITY SCHEDULE
CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES: Grand Valley State running back Chawntez Moss celebrates with an energetic GVSU fan after scoring a touchdown on Saturday, Nov. 10 at Lubbers Stadium. That touchdown would be one of many for the Lakers on the day, as they beat Wayne State 45-21 to close the regular season. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT
Terrific ten
GVSU ends season comfortably with win over Wayne State BRADY MCATAMNEY EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
O
ne of the special parts of football in Michigan is the unpredictability of weather. To begin the season, the No. 8 ranked Grand Valley State Lakers played in temperatures over 80 degrees. On Saturday, Nov. 10, that same team entered the same stadium in subfreezing temperatures with snow on the ground and beat the Wayne State Warriors 45-21. With the victory, the Lakers finish the regular season 101(8-1 GLIAC) and will now prepare for the NCAA Division II postseason. GVSU honored their senior class before the game, and many of those seniors contributed to the trouncing, including quarterback Bart Williams who completed 20 of 26 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Nick Dodson caught seven passes for 104 yards and one touchdown. Several seniors on defense, including Tyree Horton, Dylan Carroll and Brendan McMahon made impact plays by finishing
tackles and forcing turnovers. “I think it was nice getting the recognition,” Williams said. “You remember all the senior days leading up to this point and seeing all the seniors ahead of us that are graduated, but I think we’re at a point in the season where this wasn’t a finale to Lubbers Stadium and football in general. I think we have a lot to look forward to and it starts with good prep this week and we’re really excited for the opportunity ahead of us.” Running back Chawntez Moss took 12 carries for 100 yards and two touchdowns, one of which was from 52 yards out. Jack Provencher had 10 carries and six catches for 91 total yards and one touchdown. The Lakers played one of their cleanest games of the season, committing zero turnovers and only one penalty for five yards. They forced four turnovers – all in the second half – rounding their regular season turnover differential to 20-10 in their favor. This victory will quickly hit the rearview mirror, though, as GVSU will now prepare to host a playoff game for the first time since 2016. “Everybody’s excited,” Williams
For all we know, if we didn’t show up today, this could have been the last time we got to play football. Any time we get an opportunity to play football, whoever it’s against, whatever the weather is like, it’s huge.” BART WILLIAMS STARTING QUARTERBACK
said. “We obviously had goals since we got the team together and we want to win as many games as possible. We’re fortunate enough to be in a situation where we get to continue our season. For us seniors, that’s huge. For all we know, if we didn’t show up today, this could have been the last time we got to play football. Any time we get an opportunity to play football, whoever it’s against, whatever the weather’s like, I think everybody on the team is too.” The Lakers were placed as the No. 3 seed in NCAA’s Super Region three and will host the No. 7 seeded Northwest Missouri State on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. While the Lakers did not know who they would play until over 24 hours after the conclusion of the WSU game, Mitchell knew exactly how they would pass the time in-between the final whistle and the bracket reveal. “We do our banquet, so we’ll have our banquet tomorrow to recognize our seniors, kind of take a deep breath. Then we’ll watch the selection show and when we’re done with that, we’re going to hit the weight room and we’re going to lift.”
FIGHTING OFF BLOCKERS: GVSU linebacker Dylan Carroll attempts to get free of a Wayne State lineman in order to pressure the quarterback and create chaos. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT
FOOTBALL Saturday, Nov. 17., 1 p.m. (Playoffs Round One) Home vs Northwest Missouri State SOCCER Friday, Nov. 16., 2 p.m. (Third Round, Midwest Regional), Home vs Ferris State M. BASKETBALL Friday, Nov. 16, 7 p.m. Home vs. Lewis Sunday, Nov. 18, 1 p.m. Home vs Indianapolis W. BASKETBALL Friday, Nov, 16, 8 p.m. at Lewis Sunday, Nov. 18, 1 p.m. at Indianapolis
STICKY FINGERS: Grand Valley State wide receiver Nick Dodson evades a Wayne State defensive back to secure the catch before looking to make a move upfield. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT
GUNSLINGER: Senior Laker quarterback Bart Williams throws on the run and shows off his guns in the process GVL | SHEILA BABBITT
NOVEMBER 12, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
A8 | SPORTS W. SOCCER
GVSU soccer posts two more shutouts en route to third round BY KADY VOLMERING SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
As the GLIAC champions for the 14th consecutive year, the Grand Valley State women’s soccer team earned the No. 1 seed to start off the NCAA tournament. Their first game was against No. 8 seed Rockhurst on Friday, Nov. 9. The Lakers shut out the Hawks, earning a 7-0 win over them in a game both physically and mentally demanding, as the first snow of the season fell all throughout the match. “I think the girls were a little too consumed with the conditions, and not focusing on what needed to happen in between the lines,” Hosler said. “It’s just one of those moments where I wish soccer had a time out. I think their minds were on that more than the match.”
Even with a soggy field and temperatures near freezing, the Lakers were able to dominate the majority of the first half, scoring five goals before heading into halftime. The first goal came from sophomore defender Cecilia Steinwasher, with an assist from junior Riko Sagara just before the 15-minute mark. The next four goals came in a matter of ten minutes, with the Lakers’ second goal from freshman Chelsea Graves in the 24th minute. Redshirt sophomore Corey Sawall, freshman Timia Robinson and sophomore Ava Cook added three more goals to bring the score to 5-0 going into the second half. “I don’t think it had to do with energy, but creating more imbalance over our opponent,” Hosler said. “I think we were really predictable the first twenty minutes or so, and then we
started having more depth and layers in our attack.” With such a lead on the Hawks, the Lakers had to dial in to keep up the level of intensity that led them score so many goals in the first half. “The second 45 minutes is an opportunity to grow and get better,” Hosler said. “We want to use that as an opportunity to improve because we have a really good Walsh team on Sunday, and it’s important that we continue to learn ways how to break down opponents.” The Lakers were able to continue their momentum through the end of the game, scoring two more times before the 90 minutes was up. The sixth goal came from freshman Madeline Becker and freshman Raemi DeWent earned the Lakers’ final goal in the 63rd minute with a breakaway run. The team continued their
winning ways as they faced off with Walsh on Sunday, Nov. 11 in the NCAA semifinal game. The Lakers dominated the field once again, shutting them out 5-0, and advancing to the Mid-West Regional semifinal game on Friday, Nov. 16. The Lakers took some time to warm up in the first half, battling through a tough defensive line. However, the Lakers were able to wear down their opponent, and in the 30th minute, Cook put GVSU on the board. Not two minutes later, sophomore Olivia Trombley added another goal. A few minutes before halftime, Walsh had a slip up and ended up scoring on their own goal off a corner kick, leaving the Lakers with a 3-0 lead at halftime. The Lakers scored 12 total goals in two games to open up tournament play, a statistic that
Hosler is proud of. “To score 12 goals in the opening weekend of NCAA play, and then going back to last weekend and scoring seven, I think that’s huge,” Hosler said. “In those championship rounds, things are clicking and it’s because we’re executing better and more focused on those minutes.” Once in the second half, it didn’t take long for Cook to snag another goal for the Lakers, rushing past several defenders to score unassisted in the 46th minute of the game. The final goal was also had by Cook in the 71st minute of the game, also unassisted. The Lakers had a total of 14 shots on goal, allowing only one for Walsh. “They take a lot of pride in their defending. Shutouts mean a lot to us, this is, in terms of goals scored, the best attacking
offense we’ve played this season,” Hosler said. “We’ve got a lot of capable players, so I think our kids our wired that way. They’re competitive, they want to play their best, and when you do that you’re always going to find ways to score.” The Lakers match up with Ferris State for the third time this season in the third round of the NCAA tournament at GVSU on Friday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. “I mean whoever the opponent is, it’s about focusing on ourselves this week,” Hosler said. “They’re a very good team obviously, anyone still playing in this Round of 16 is capable, and we know that they are, but I think we have some good ideas on how to play on Friday and we’re excited to get back to work on Tuesday. “
SNOWY CELEBRATION: The Grand Valley State women’s soccer team celebrates a goal in the snow on Friday, Nov. 9 at the GVSU Soccer Field. GVSU throttled No. 8 seed Rockhurst in the opening round of the NCAA tournament, shutting them out 7-0. It was more of that same dominance on Sunday, Nov. 11, as GVSU shut out Walsh 5-0 to advance to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. GVL | KATHERINE VASILE
W. BASKETBALL
Starting strong GV women’s basketball starts off the season with two wins BY KELLEN VOSS SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
The Grand Valley State women’s basketball season opened their season on Friday, Nov. 9 and Saturday, Nov. 10 and picked up two wins at home, beating Maryville on Friday 74-50 before throttling MissouriSt. Louis 87-44. GVSU was able to shake off the first game jitters with a solid win over the Maryville Saints to open their season 1-0. Senior guard Jenn DeBoer led the Lakers with 21 points on 9-12 shooting, with center Cassidy Boensch and guard Natalie Koenig chipping in 18 and 13 points, respectively. Despite winning the game by a large margin, the Lak-
ers struggled to score in the first half, only putting up 30 points. That offense finally came alive in the third quarter, as the Lakers’ offense exploded to score 24 points in the third quarter. Head coach Mike Williams loved the adjustments his team were able to make in that second half. “I thought we were deferring a little bit in the first half, trying to turn corners, trying to get to the basket. I thought we did a better job of that in the second half getting Cassidy (Boensch) some deeper touches on that block where she’s able to turn and score it instead of going through contact,” Williams said. “I just think we were more relaxed the second half. We were so wound up that
OWNING THE PAINT: Grand Valley State starting center Cassidy Boensch finishes an easy layup for the Lakers. GVL | DAN PACHECHO
first half. At halftime we got a chance to get a deep breath and I feel we played that way.” Keeping their opponents off the free-throw line is a signature of GVSU’s defense, as they held the Saints to only five trips to the charity stripe. Williams is proud of how his team played physical, controlled defense in Friday’s contest. “We just don’t foul. That’s one of our things in practice,” Williams said. “We preach it all the time, we keep spaces, we get our hands off, we don’t try to block shots because teams shoot 75 percent from the free throw line and they shoot 34 percent from the floor so they’ve got double the chance to make it from the free throw line, so we just don’t want them there. We really work on that.” GVSU’s leading scorer in the game thought confidence was a big key to the Laker victory, as a few made shots in the second half helped the Lakers open the floodgates and drown the Saints defensively. “As coach was saying, we’re more confident on the offensive end and we just had our defense lead to more offense,” DeBoer said. “So I think when we started making more shots it just kind of spiraled.” It was more of the same for GVSU the following day, as the Lakers almost doubled Missouri-St Louis’ score, beating the Tritons 87-44. Boensch lead that game in scoring, pouring in 24 points, including 16 in the first half. DeBoer, Koenig and Taya Andrews also
STARTING OFF STRONG: The Grand Valley State women’s basketball team gets rowdy and cheers on junior Maddie Dailey as she is introduced as part of the starting lineup pregame. GVL | DAN PACHECO
scored in double digits. Williams thought the Lakers looked even better on Saturday compared to Friday, playing like “Energizer bunnies” and driving more aggressively on offense. “We were a little more assertive on the offensive end than we were in our opening game, which was good,” Williams said. “I thought defensively, we tried to keep them in front and off the free-throw line and we did a pretty good job of that, we played with more energy and we were more vocal.” Although the Lakers did have to play twice in the span of 30 hours, that didn’t stop them from picking up two wins, as Boensch said the adrenaline of opening weekend kept the team going. “We were really excited about this opening weekend and got to play at home,
which is a lot of fun,” Boensch said. “We were just excited to come out and play a couple games, especially in the second half when we brought more intensity.” With the pair of wins, the Lakers begin the season 2-0. Despite the hot start, Boensch still feels like the team needs to improve in a few more areas. “We need to start out with that same intensity, and just try to hit it right from the beginning,” Boensch said. “I think we can totally do that, we just we need to make sure we’re always at that same level.” The Lakers look to pick up two more wins this weekend, as they hit the road to play Lewis on Friday, Nov. 16 before facing Indianapolis on Sunday, Nov. 18. Friday’s game is set to tip off at 8 p.m., while Sunday’s contest starts at 1 p.m.
We were a little more assertive on the offensive end than we were in the opening game. I thought defensively, we tried to keep them in front and off the freethrow line, and we did a pretty good job of that, with more energy.” MIKE WILLIAMS HEAD COACH
NOVEMBER 12, 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
SPORTS | A9
M. BASKETBALL
Five Lakers score in double digits as GVSU men’s basketball starts 1-0 KELLEN VOSS SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
Most good seasons are jump-started by a strong start, and that may be exactly the case for the Grand Valley State men’s basketball team as they traveled to West Virginia on Saturday, Nov. 10 to pound the Alderson Broaddus Battlers 96-74. The season opener for the Lakers was highlighted by a hot start and a balanced scoring attack, as winning the first half by a margin of 54-32 helped carry GVSU to victory. Justin Greason led all Lakers in scoring with 18 points, while four other Lakers hit double digits. Jake Van Tubbergen poured in 17 points, Hunter Hale chipped in 16, and new transfers Jeremiah Ferguson and Kindred Williams helped with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Head coach Ric Wesley is happy to get this season started on a high note, and loved the scoring spurts that helped the Laker offense erupt throughout the first half. “In the first half, I really though we played well and
got off to a great start,” Wesley said. “I think we were up 20 at one point, we had a few good scoring spurts and we’re happy to be 1-0.” Despite the hot start, GVSU took their foot off the gas pedal in the second half as the Battlers matched them in scoring. While Wesley is proud of the team’s first half, he feels they need to avoid complacency and keep grinding out until the end for a complete team victory. “We were pretty good offensively, but we were a little sloppy all around in the second half,” Wesley said. “Our defense was strong in that first half, and it made it tough for (Alderson Broaddus) to score, but we need to play with that intensity for the entire game.” Although Wesley hates picking out a player-of-thegame in this team sport, if he had to pick one, he said he’d pick Greason, whose combination of size and speed helped him contribute 18 points on seven-for-seven shooting with nine rebounds and three blocks to help lead the team to victory. “It’s a team game, and we had a lot of guys play well, but
Greason really had a strong performance,” Wesley said. “He was able to score the ball deep in the paint, was great on the boards, and made his presence felt on the defensive end. He’s worked really hard in the offseason and in the lead-up to the game, and that showed today.” While a 1-0 start is always ideal for a team looking to make a postseason run, Wesley reiterates that his team played far from a perfect and would like to see them share the ball more and play more consistently as the season goes along. “I think we need to play with more consistency, which is what everyone strives for this time of year,” Wesley said. “We got to move and share the ball, and when we do that, we got enough talent to carry us. There’s obviously still some things we need to work on, but at least we got this season off to a good start.” GVSU looks to keep the good times rolling as they head back home for a match-up with Tiffin on Friday, Nov. 16 before facing Indianapolis on Sunday, Nov. 18. Friday’s game is set to tip off at 7 p.m., while Sunday’s game is set to start at 2 p.m.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: The Grand Valley State men’s basketball team always try to include scrimmages in their practices to prepare them for the speed of GLIAC Basketball. GVL | SHEILA BABBITT
CROSS COUNTRY
Pair of GVSU runners awarded GLIAC cross country honors JEROD FATTAL SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
Zach Panning and Sarah Berger were crowned GLIAC Runners of the Year following the conclusion of the 2018 GLIAC cross country season on Nov. 3. If you asked the two about what this accomplishment means to them, though, it becomes apparent what type of teammates they are. “It’s obviously really cool to win,” Berger said. “But even more importantly is bringing home the team win and finishing as the top one through four runners was really fun for our team.” Panning had a similar mindset, and is more proud of his team’s winning streak than his own personal accomplishments. “It means much more to me that we got it done as a team honestly,” Panning said. “Keeping our winning streak
alive at the meet was special.” Despite Berger’s laundry list of accolades, including 2018 Cross Country National Champion, 2017 Cross Country National Runner-Up and 11 total All-American awards, it is her off-the-course character that truly impresses head coach Jerry Baltes. “She’s a first class individual who does everything the right way and she is a competitor as well,” Baltes said. “She does that while going through grad school on top of it all.” In the meantime, Panning has compiled quite a list of awards as well, including 2017 Cross Country National Runner-Up, three AllAmerican awards and four first team all-GLIAC honors. Similar to Berger, Panning’s leadership cannot be measured solely with a stopwatch. “Zach is one of the best leaders I have seen in my 20
years here at Grand Valley,” Baltes said. “He’s a great role model that leads by example and he holds his teammates accountable.” Panning and Berger have amassed quite a trophy case during their careers as student athletes, but it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the two. Three years ago, Panning was forced to sit out of the national championship meet due to a leg injury, an setback that took him an entire off-season to return from. “Not being able to go out on a run with the guys was tough,” Panning said. “I try not to take it for granted anymore and I have made it a point to come to practice excited every day, because it truly is a privilege.” Elsewhere, Berger had an interesting come-up to running, as she wasn’t even running cross country in her early college years. In-
stead, she was playing soccer for Walsh University. “I really just love spending time with my teammates and coaches,” Berger said. With conference meets wrapping up and nationals less than one month away, both of their future goals are reflected
by their team’s aspirations. “I just want to continue to grow as a leader to the rest of our guys so that we can be at our best when the time comes,” Panning said. “We would like to win the national championship and bring it home. It really is
the sole goal of our team.” Before worrying about nationals, Panning, Berger and the cross country teams look to shine at regionals in Hillsdale on Saturday, Nov. 17. The men’s meet will begin at 10:30 am, and the women will immediately follow at 11:45 a.m.
RUNNING WITH A PASSION: GLIAC Men’s Runner of the Year Zach Panning pushes down to the home stretch to finish the race and attempt to score points for Grand Valley State. COURTESY | A. STEIBLE
SEE ANSWERS | A10
EMBRACE THE GRIND: GLIAC Women’s Runner of the Year Sarah Berger counts on her off-season training and love for running to push through this race and finish in good time. COURTESY | A. STEIBLE
NOVEMBER 12 2018 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
A10 | SPORTS VOLLEYBALL
UNITY: The Grand Valley State volleyball team stands together before a game from earlier this season at Fieldhouse Arena. Despite some stellar freshmen performances and the dominance of four-time All-GLIAC first-teamer Staci Brower, the 2018 GVSU volleyball season came to a close this past week, as they lost in the first round of the GLIAC tournament to Michigan Tech on Wednesday, Nov. 7. GVL | DAN PACHECO
GVSU volleyball caps off year with loss to Michigan Tech BY D’ANGELO STARKS SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
The Grand Valley State University women’s volleyball team traveled to Houghton, Mich. to take on Michigan Tech in the first round of the GLIAC tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 7. The match saw the Lakers take the court for the last time this season as they lost in three sets 25-15, 25-23 and 25-23. The Huskies dominated the first game hitting .485 with 18 kills and two errors to GVSU’s .231 hitting percentage, 13 kills and four errors. Set two would fare
a little better for GVSU, as they rallied back but came up short to lose 25-23. Michigan Tech hit .175 with 15 kills and eight errors compared to GVSU, who hit .150 with 12 kills and six errors. In game three, Michigan Tech hit .209 with 15 kills and six errors, while GVSU hit .190, 13 kills and five errors. Head coach Deanne Scanlon talked about the final result of this match, detailing how she was proud of her Lakers for fighting hard. “When we would come out of timeouts we would have some decent leads or decent gaps in the game,
but when we got to the 20 point mark, they would call a timeout and our serve receive broke down at crucial times,” Scanlon said. “Our serve receive was good all night long and it seemed like when we would come out of timeouts that they would score those quick points that would close that gap or help them take the lead.” MTU finished the match leading in every major statistical category, scoring 62 points to GVSU’s 47. MTU also had 48 kills to GVSU’s 38, as well as tallying five aces to GVSU’s four. The Huskies also bested
the Lakers in blocks (9-5), totaling 46 assists as a team to GVSU’s 34 and finishing with 64 digs to GVSU’s 44. Staci Brower, Jillian Butsavich and Alexandra Thompson led the Lakers in kills with 11, eight and seven kills, respectively. Ashlyn Kartes led the team in assists with 31, while Thompson, Kaylene Norris and Kendall Yerkes each contributed on the defensive end, totaling 28 digs between the trio. Despite the Lakers losing this match, Scanlon was able to focus on the positives in the contest.
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her team displayed over the course of this season. “We started off with high hopes after we had a couple good opening weekends, but we faced a lot of injuries this year. We had five concussions and a couple of knee injuries that never allowed us to settle in and I think that got the kids down for a while,” Scanlon said. “I think they lost some confidence when things didn’t fall in place, but I think once we focused on battling through it. Once the kids started focusing on only controlling what we could control that made it easier to go and compete every night.”
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“I feel like the kids went up there against a very good Michigan Tech team and they played hard,” Scanlon said. “It would have been very easy for them to say we’re done, but I feel like they gave it their best shot. We just had some match-up problems against a talented team.” The loss brought the team’s season record down to 13-15, with a 6-10 record in the conference. The final result saw the Lakers finishing the season earlier than they had planned, and although the record wasn’t what they had hoped, Scanlon still praises the fight
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