Inside A2
Inside A4
Inside A3
News: Peer Advocacy Center opens in Wickes
Review: They/Them horror film
Sports: Cardinal football continues to win
Monday, Sept. 12, 2022
Vol. 55 No. 2
Saginaw Valley State University’s student newspaper
thevalleyvanguard.com
Job fair connects students with employers
Students learn about different job opportunities, including the Disney College program during the first job fair of the school year held on Sept. 7. Vanguard Photographer | Capri Kloha
Trinity Sullivan
S
A&E/Opinion Editor
VSU’s Career Services office held its first job fair of the year on Sept. 7 in the President’s Courtyard. The event, which lasted from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., aimed to help connect students on campus with both local and nationwide businesses looking for new talent. At the event, students of all class standings got to meet with potential employers, discussing current employment opportunities for some and insights to future job markets for others. Employers present at the event ranged from Nexteer Automotive, to Unique Bridal Boutique and the National Guard. Laura Breault, a representative for H&R Block, opened up
about what employers are looking for. “We’re looking for people who are outgoing,” Breault said. “We can teach a position, but we can’t teach the ‘love of life’ that you need in a job like this. Taxes are long and frustrating sometimes, that’s why we need people who have that love for life to interact with clients with.” Breault went further into the opportunities that employers like H&R Block are willing to provide to potential employees. “We’re looking to fill positions from the bottom secretaries to top office officials. You don’t need a degree, or even prior experience. We will give you all the training you need,” she said. “We can work around any schedule – part time, full time, anything. We’re global, so no matter where you want to go, we can give you an oppor-
tunity to transfer there.” Some employers went even further to try and reach out to students, like Jackie Liequia of ProMedical Hospice, one of many job recruiters offering interactive games and prizes to students walking by. “The turnout is great,” Liequia said. “There’s a lot of nursing students, and some teachers gave their students an assignment to come here. I think that’s a really great thing to see.” Breault also mentioned the campus engagement at Saginaw Valley. “I like coming to SVSU and Delta College, [I like] getting our faces out and making contact,” Breault said. “There’s definitely been a generational switch, life has changed, and it can be a bit of a challenge keeping up while maintaining professionalism.”
Students such as Baylee Cloudman, a freshman special education major, expressed similar goals in their attendance. “I’m mostly just introduc-
ing myself because I’m only a freshman this year, and I don’t have the qualifications yet,” Cloudman said. “I’m just saying ‘hi’ to school districts so they know I’m here.”
Students learn about The Fowler Center for Outdoor Learning. More job fairs will be held throughout the year. Vanguard Photographer | Capri Kloha
‘Tiny Beautiful Things’ to kick off SVSU theatre season Alyssa McMillan Vanguard Editor-in-Chief
SVSU’s drama department will be putting on its next show on Oct. 5-8. The show being put on this fall is, “Tiny Beautiful Things.” The play, which is based on the book, follows a struggling writer who is asked to take over an unpaid position of advice columnist. The author, Cheryl Strayed, used her own life experiences to give others advice for a variety of problems and situations. Dana Samalik, secondary education major, is in the play as Letter Writer number three.
“This show is about a woman who takes over an advice column under the name Sugar,” she said. “We go through her journey responding to the letters she receives and how she responds to them. The show serves as a reminder to those in need that they are not alone. It brings people together to show us all that we are loved.” Director Dave Rzeszutek picked the play because of the topics it deals with. “The show grabbed me from my first read - it’s an honest play about topics that we are all aware of, but hesitant to discuss,” he said. “It is based on
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real letters written to an online advice column, entitled “Dear Sugar.” Some people might be familiar with the title of the play as it was also a New York Times bestseller. It’s a newer play (2018) adapted by Nia Vardalos (creator of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) and I am excited to introduce it to the Great Lakes Bay community.” The show features a small cast and has a quick turnaround time. However, Rzeszutek said the cast is doing well so far. “The cast is fantastic. This show has the shortest rehearsal process in our season and the four actors are giving it their
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all,” he said. “There are some great opportunities for the actresses as three of them play multiple roles.” Samalik was excited to audition for the show. “I auditioned because I wanted to join SVSU’s theatre department so badly,” she said. “When I saw last year ’s production of “Animal Farm”, I knew that I wanted to perform for this school one day. I am so glad that I get to be a part of this extraordinary and heartfelt production with some of the most amazing and talented people.” Rzeszutek said the story is one that needs to be shared. News..............A1-A2 Opinion...............A3 Sports..................A4
“It’s a show about bravery, vulnerability, and love. It is triggering at times, but the truth in life sometimes is,” he said. “It’s a beautiful reminder and story that should be shared.” Samalik agreed that the shows message means a lot. “This show means a lot to me,” she said. “There were many times in my life where I had felt alone, trapped and scared to reach out for help. The play teaches the audience that vulnerability is not a weakness and reaching out is OK. The unconditional love that this show has is so powerful. It’s a show I believe everyone should see.”
News
Page A2 | Monday, Sept. 12, 2022 | thevalleyvanguard.com | The Valley Vanguard
Peer Advocacy Center opens in Wickes POLICE BRIEFS Domestic assault
On Sept. 1, officers responded to the VIP parking lot west of the football stadium referring to a domestic assault that occurred. A male non-student was taken into custody for domestic assault and malicious destruction of property. The male was transported to Saginaw County Jail without incident.
Property damage
On Sept. 2, officers responded to parking lot G-2 for a call for a minor two-car property damage accident that had just occurred. Neither driver was injured.
Vehicle damage
On Sept. 2, officers responded to parking lot-F for reported vehicle damage. It is unknown at this time how the damage occurred.
Property damage
Retention specialist for first-year programs Sarah Ward welcomes students to the Peer Advocacy Center with a smile. Vanguard Photographer | Sarah Brege
Emma Urbaniak
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Vanguard Reporter
his semester, the Academic Advising Center is introducing a new space to SVSU called the Peer Advocacy Center. The Peer Advocacy Center is a space in the Office of Academic Advising that students can visit when they have questions or need help navigating college. The idea of creating the center was first presented by Sarah Ward, retention specialist for First Year Programs. “We wanted to have one landing location on campus that was just for students to walk in and ask any questions about college, resources, how to study, how to manage time, etc.,” Ward said. She emphasized that the center is a judgment-free zone open to helping anyone with questions about college life at SVSU. “This new space is an outward representation telling students that we’re here to help,” she said. “We will always do our best to answer questions, and if we don’t know the answer, we will connect
them with the resource that they need here on campus.” The space is staffed by peer advocates, who are SVSU students. Peer advocates previously only taught the CT100 introduction to college classes for freshmen, however, the new center allows peer advocates to be accessible to all students in an easy-to-locate space. Gary Brasseur, director of the Academic Advising Center, spoke on the importance of peer advocates. “[Our peer advocates] have the ability to sit down and tell students that it’s okay not to know what you’re doing,” he said. One of the center ’s peer advocates, social work senior Mckenzie Van Slambrook, talked about why she became a peer advocate. “Having peer advocates gives students an opportunity to see an actual representation that college is not a linear experience,” she said. “When I had the opportunity to apply for this job, I really wanted to act as a resource for students, so that they could see that it is good to utilize your resources and ask questions
around campus.” Psychology senior Brooke Kilyk also spoke on what being a peer advocate means to her. “[Being a peer advocate] allows us to share our own experiences and put our own personal twists on helping students,” she said. “I think it’s really great because you get to share your own unique experience while helping a student that will also have their own unique experience.” Graduate Assistant for First Year Programs and Retention Tyler Hanna elaborated on this. “The center is giving students the help we wish we had on our first day, first week, or first semester on campus,” he said. The center is open to helping all students, whether you are a freshman or nearing graduation. It is in Wickes 121. Students are welcome to stop by for a free water bottle and planner as well as to ask any questions. Students are also invited to drop off RSO fliers and posters to advertise them to students in the center.
On Sept. 2, officers responded to Bay and Freeland referring to a property damage accident. Neither party was injured in the accident.
Human trafficking
On Sept. 5, officers spoke with an SVSU resident student in the SVSU Police Department lobby referring to a suspicious situation. The student advised an iPhone charger was left on their passenger side door handle sometime over the weekend and were worried it might be human trafficking activity. No other reports have been made regarding similar activity, but students are encouraged to contact the police if they experience a similar activity.
Stalking
On Sept. 7, an SVSU Detective met with an SVSU employee to discuss a potential stalking situation involving SVSU employees. This case has been turned over to Human Resources for investigation. If the situation continues, criminal charges may be sought.
Valley Nights and Program Board combine to join forces Faith Howell Vanguard Reporter
Over the years, organizations like Valley Nights and Program Board have provided free events for all students. These two organizations in specific have brought some of the most popular and student-loved events. Valley Nights specialized in weekend events and Program Board provided other events during the week. In a new and collaborative partnership, the two student-led organizations have decided to combine. Currently, Program Board and Valley
Nights are one organization, referred to as just Program Board now. Andrew Giglio, fourth-year Marketing major and Program Board president, spoke on the motive and goals behind this decision. “The main goal is to create a more general platform for two organizations with a similar goal.” Finances and budget allocations had influence on the decision as well, Giglio noted. “We were also able to combine our funds to create a more refined and productive allocation system.” Allison Hummel, sophomore supply
chain management major, is the new allocation manager for Program Board. This role stabilizes the funding process so that the events on campus still remain free without putting the stress on the RSO to figure out the budget. In similar fashion to previous years, Program Board plans to continue both the Coffee House and Pinterest Night events this year. Each of these will occur more than once throughout the year, as they are series events. In addition, a new event called Valley Nights Gaming will make its debut this fall. This is an attempt to commemorate Valley Nights and its newfound home
under Program Board. Program Board will also continue special events like Halloween Bash and Stuff-a-Critter this year. Giglio told The Vanguard he was looking forward to seeing what other events the team comes up with throughout the semester. “I’m so excited to be able to work with such an amazing e-board. This is a new experience for all of us, and being able to lean on such hardworking people is so great.” The first Valley Nights Gaming event took place on Sept. 8 in the Student Life Center.
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Opinion
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Review: “They/Them” is more than a movie Alyssa McMillan Editor-In-Chief Psychology anmcmill@svsu.edu
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hen I first heard that Kevin Bacon was going to be in a movie about the problems with gay conversion camp, I was intrigued. Especially once I found out it was meant to be a horror movie. The whole idea seemed so crazy that it might work. And it did. The movie “They/Them” (don’t worry, there won’t be any spoilers. Seriously, who does that?) is about a group of teens who are sent to a gay conversion camp for the week. Kevin Bacon plays the camp leader, who at first seems actually kind of nice and understanding. Slowly, though, things start to
take a turn for the worse, and when counselors start getting killed, the true horrors of the place are uncovered. Now, that’s all I’ll say about the plot. But I will say a topic like that can be a lot to handle properly. It’s a topic that strikes close to home for a lot of people. Some people have even lived through events like this. It’s important to make sure these things are handled properly and don’t cross over into the line of being insensitive. That was something I thought was handled really well. The story works in a way that makes sense for a slasher movie but also handles the things it wanted to. It almost has a Jordan Peele feel to it. In that, the movie is scary, and funny in parts, but also is tackling a big topic in a way that is easy for the audience to understand. Some things in the movie may seem like a crazy extreme
but they’re not. They’re things that happen to real people in the United States every day. The acting specifically was amazing. Now Kevin Bacon is no stranger to horror films. One of his first big films was “Friday the 13th.” But I wasn’t sure how he would handle something so political. I didn’t know where he fell and if his delivery of the character would feel genuine. He didn’t disappoint. The movie also had a very diverse cast that made sure everyone was represented. Something I rarely see in movies is a good racially diverse cast. This movie had that. On top of that, they also represented the LGBTQIA+ spectrum very well. It wasn’t a movie that was still made for the male gaze and only featured a lesbian couple. This made sure all ends of the spectrum were covered. There was indeed a lesbian couple but
also a bisexual girl, a gay man of color, and a non-binary main character. Hence the title, “They/Them.” The movie handles the big overarching theme of conversion camp but also deals with some of the struggles the LGBTQIA+ community faces on a daily basis and the struggles they face coming from an unsupportive family. It shows a girl struggling because her family doesn’t accept her. Because of this, she doesn’t want to be gay and is at the camp willingly. She thinks she can change who she is to get the acceptance of her family. Overall, the movie was 10/10 and I recommend that everyone watch it. It can help those who maybe don’t understand the struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community understand a little bit better but it can also help members of the LGBTQIA+ community who are also struggling
College expectations leaves too little free time Alyssa McMillian Editor-In-Chief Psychology anmcmill@svsu.edu
As a college student in my final year, something I’ve heard a lot is, “You have to get involved on campus!” And while this might seem like valuable advice, it’s a lot harder than it seems. The average student takes at least 12-16 credits a semester. That’s four to five classes, if not more. In my case, five. Which means I’m in class from 8:30 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon. On top of that, most students have to work to pay for books, food, living off campus or even just to have spending money. In a lot of cases,
students also have to work to pay for tuition. I also work. So, when that’s factored in, I’m completely busy until at least 5 most nights. I have an oncampus job but also obviously work for the newspaper. When I get home, the last thing on my mind is going out to a tie-dye event to support resident housing or whatever program is going on. I have to spend whatever free time I have studying and doing homework for the classes I was just in all day. This is less about the organizations holding events and more about all that college students are expected to be able to get done. I’ve talked about it before but every semester it seems to get worse. The credits keep getting higher and with that the hours of work I have to put in
gets higher and higher. SVSU recommends two hours of studying for each credit. The lowest credit level I’m taking is four. That’s eight hours of studying for one class. That equals at least 32 hours of studying each week. I get that it’s a full course load but that’s almost as many hours as a full-time job. How am I ever supposed to find the time to work, go to class, study and go to events? I’d love to be able to go to every event that’s being held on campus. They plan all these great things to be able to meet new people and have some fun, but if I want to be able to do well in my classes, all of my free time has to go to that. Not to mention they encourage you to join clubs on top of going to events. Now, I know I’m in The Vanguard,
which could be classified as a club, but that’s the most I can handle. Even if I wanted to join something else, I don’t have the capacity. In my major, I’m also expected to work on a research project at some point in my college career. But I don’t know when they expect students to be able to find the time. Yes, adults work 40 hours a week and have social life but they aren’t also expected to attend events, work on research and study for four hours every night. It’s not full of homework and trying to get ahead for the next week. Their time off is actually time off. Yes, college is important and so is studying, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of student’s mental health. Equating school with a full-time job is something that needs to change.
Society confuses nurturing and neglect parents Trinity Sullivan Opinion/A&E Editor French Education tdsulliv@svsu.edu
When I was growing up, things were very hectic in my household. My parents were in the middle of a divorce and had too little time and energy for the too many kids they had in the house, leaving us to fend for ourselves most of the time. As a result, my siblings and I grew up pretty stunted in emotional maturity, while constantly hearing the adults around us exclaim, “Oh, they’re so grown up for their age!” The truth is, the quiet children are not grown up for their age. The children who do as their told and always people-please are not just “well behaved’ The children who are so ‘grown up’ are the children who have to be their own parents, their siblings-parents, and even their parents-parents at times. The children who are not children are
the children of emotional neglect, and somehow we live in a world where that is something they are praised about. I find that I can’t process my frustrations properly sometimes. I was never taught how to. When I’m angry, I feel so absolutely guilty and worthless because I don’t think that my emotions are allowed to be negative. I don’t feel like I’m allowed to take up space if it’s not benificial to those around me. My siblings have trouble working through their emotions too. Instead of confronting negativity in our lives, we drown it out, push it away, and bury it down until we can’t take it anymore. We can’t set boundaries in our lives because we were never allowed to. We had to be the ones that kept the peace between the adults, maintained the house, and even paid the bills sometimes, but we were always praised for it as being “so responsible”. There’s a big difference between childhood responsibility and emotional neglect. My oldest nephew, for example, is a
child who has been emotionally nurtured with childhood responsibilities. Since he could walk, his parents have made a game of him picking up the toys from the floor and putting them away, helping him as they go. When he’s mad, they don’t just tell him to go away and calm down. They sit with him in a quiet room, help him to understand his anger, and even apologize to him when they’ve made him upset. They speak to him like a person, not like a child, but they do not withold the grace we give to children when they have big emotions. My sister and her husband have been amazing parents to that little guy, and he is an amazing child as a result. My 7-year-old nephew (usually) calmly removes himself from upsetting situations. He constructively verbalizes his feelings, and he sets firm but polite boundaries with his siblings before something turns into a fight. He’s not always perfect about it, and he doesn’t have to be, in fact, he shouldn’t be. He’s only 7 years old.
But he’s been given and taught how to use tools to help him understand and work through some of his big emotions. He knows it’s his responsibility to try and use them, but he knows he’s not alone. If there’s an issue, emotional, physical, or otherwise, he knows he can count on his parents or the other adults in his life to help him through it. He and his siblings are emotionally nurtured into emotional maturity, not emotionally neglected into it, and the difference is amazing. We need to stop blurring the lines between responsibilities that come from nurturing environments and neglectful ones. My siblings and I are still learning the skills my nephew already has mastered, but we’ve lost a big portion of our lives to not having them. It’s time for everyone to start speaking up about the damage that happens when you let children raise themselves. As we inherit this world, it is our responsibility to take responsibility while raising the next generation.
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The Valley Vanguard is published by the students of Saginaw Valley State University weekly in the fall and winter semesters, with one issue published in the summer. Our office is located in Curtiss 110a on the campus of SVSU, at 7400 Bay Road, University Center, MI, 48710.
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Sports
Page A4 | Monday, Sept. 12, 2022 | thevalleyvanguard.com | The Valley Vanguard
Football wins second consecutive game 40-12
On Saturday, the football team prepares to storm the field before the game prior to winning its second consecutive game, 40-12, against Bowie State University. Vanguard Photographer | Anna Alexander
Cameron Brown
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Vanguard Sports Editor
lthough the opposing programs were seen competing within the white lines, Saginaw Valley State University and Bowie State University utilized the past few days to shine a light on the history and experience of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This past Thursday, the collaboration began with a documentary screening and panel discussion of the film “Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.” Amongst the panel were HBCU alums Karen S. Carter, Arik Smith, Marcelle Smith, Dawn Hinton and Tiffany Torain. The following Friday, within the Malcolm Field Theatre, SVSU hosted a step show and spoken word performance. Other events included an HBCU historical exhibit in the Zahnow Library, youthfocused STEM activities and tailgating activities prior to the football game. To close out this unique collaboration, Bowie State’s Symphony of Soul Marching Band united with the SVSU Marching Band for a halftime performance during Saturday’s game. SVSU built on its strong home opener with an impressive 40-12 win over the
9th-ranked Bowie State Bulldogs. The Cardinals compiled 417 total yards of offense and continued to showcase its ability to establish the run game. Leading rusher Dante Barthwell ran for 98 yards on 12 carries and added a rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Fellow running back Tyler Amos found his way into the endzone an additional two times while managing 33 yards on the ground. Dual-threat QB Colby Newburg proved once again that his mobile skillset has the ability to impact the game on all levels. His 34-yard touchdown run ignited the home crowd and extended the Cardinals’ lead early in the third quarter. QB Andrew Brito threw for 94 yards while completing 12 of his 20 passing attempts. Directly after a Cardinals’ defensive takeaway, Brito connected with Earnest Sanders IV on a 5-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the endzone. Sanders hauled in the Cardinals only receiving score of the game; continuing to cement himself within the offense. Veteran WR Casey Williams had 71 yards of his own. The Cardinals’ defense held its own against Bowie State’s air raid offensive attack. Linebackers Micah Cretsinger and Trevor Nowaske combined for 21 total tackles as well as two tackles for loss.
Nowaske came away with his first interception of the season early on in the first quarter, which set the momentum for the rest of the game. Along the line, JaJuan Blankenship and Leonard Henry IV both came away with a sack.
The Cardinals remained sharp on both sides of the ball from beginning to end. With an elite run game and a defense with a nose for the football, the Cardinals have a special season ahead. SVSU heads to Northwood on Sept. 10 at 1 p.m..
Wide receiver, Kevin Swift, poses during the winning game. Vanguard Photographer | Anna Alexander
Volleyball rounds out the weekend as winners Faith Howell Vanguard Sports Editor
In an intense and rewarding two games, Saginaw Valley State University volleyballrounded out the weekend with two new wins added to its record at home. The Cardinals defeated Lake Superior State on Sept. 9 in three matches. The first match had spectators on edge as the final score finished at 26-24. The second and third matches led to a more breathable standing of 18-25 and 22-25. Outside hitter Madison Thompson led the Cardinals with an unbeatable 12 attacks. Rylee Zimmer, middle hitter, aided in Saginaw’s offense with 8 attacks. The Cardinals kept a strong offense and their defense quickly followed suit. In the back row, the team held up a consistent defense all around. Sarah Veale finished the game with a solid 13 digs and nine kills. Rylee Zimmer did not let the team down with an impressive nine digs and one back row assist. Sept. 10 also held a lot of promise for Car-
dinal volleyball. In a swift and exciting three matches, SVSU defeated Parkside at 25-19, 2519, and 25-18. Parkside struggled to keep up with SVSUin yet another fast-paced offensive couple of matches. Reese Rossnagel led the Cardinals with 14 attacks. Veale also continued her kill streak with a total of 11 attacks. Zimmer had nine. Peyton Gerstacker, captain for the Cardinals, praised the performance of her hitters these last two games. “As the setter, my favorite part of these last two games has to be the execution of our hitters. We are putting the ball away efficiently, and that is what is helping us win.” This has been true for SVSU’s volleyball team throughout a lot of its season so far. The Cardinals have a solid group of players to back this up. “Over the last two weeks we have really improved our intensity while being intentional with everything we do on the court,” she said. “This season, we have a solid core group of returners but also quite a few newcomers.
The team prepares before their match against Parkside. Vanguard Photographer | Anna Alexander
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Rylee Zimmer gets ready for the opposing team to serve. Vanguard Photographer | Anna Alexander
Sports Editor Cam Brown | E-mail cbrown14@svsu.edu | Office 989-964-4482 | Instagram @TheValleyVanguard
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