SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN A 2 | NEWS
NEWS BRIEFS
ABORTION PROTEST DRAWS CROWDS AT GV’S CARILLON COOK TOWER AS LEGAL FIGHT CONTINUES
The protest came one day after the Michigan Board of Canvassers, in a 2-2 vote, rejected adding the Michigan Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative to the November ballot.
The rejection came following a Bureau of Elections recommendation to make the addition, verifying that the initiative contained over 596,000 valid signatures – about 150,000 more than required.
Although on-campus advocacy groups like Students for Choice and Pro Life at GVSU as well as the Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity have been vocal on their stances regarding abortion access, university administration has taken no public position on the matter.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION UNDER SECRETARY VISITS GV FOLLOWING STUDENT DEBT FORGIVENESS
U.S. Department of Education Under Secretary, James Kvaal, visited GVSU on Aug. 30 to meet with students and hear their experiences with GVSU and the education system.
The visit came less than one week after the Biden administration, working through its Department of Education, announced a plan to forgive up to $20,000 in federal student loans for student borrowers depending on their previous loan history.
The move is expected to relieve debt for thousands of GVSU students who are expected to be able to begin applications for forgiveness in October.
GV AREA GAS PRICES CONTINUE TO DECLINE AS SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS
Gas prices in the Allendale area have continued to decline in recent weeks, allowing much needed relief for students and commuters returning to GVSU.
Neighboring Kent County, home to GVSU’s Pew Campus and Michigan’s second largest city of Grand Rapids, recorded an average of $3.65 per gallon.
Michigan’s average stood at $3.80 per gallon that same day, down from its peak average of $5.22 in mid-June.
Although these decreases have occurred uniformly across the nation, prices in many areas remain higher than those prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February that disrupted supply lines and coupled with rising inflation to produce record-high fuel prices.
POLICE
Anger, concern persist at GV over handling of Lyoya murder caseFormer Grand Rapids Police Officer, Christopher Schurr, is charged with second-degree murder after shooting and killing 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya on April 4 during an altercation at a traffic stop in Grand Rapids. Preliminary hearings in the Patrick Lyoya murder case are delayed again by Kent County Court officials due to a second adjournment requested by the defense.
Meanwhile, advocates at Grand Valley State University are continuing to voice concern over the judicial process of the case.
Lyoya was a refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo living in Michigan. He was pulled over for improper vehicle registration and had an outstanding warrant out for his arrest. There was a struggle that ended with Schurr restraining Lyoya on the ground, and then shooting him in the back of the head.
The twice-postponed hearings will determine if there is sufficient evidence that Schurr was acting with probable cause, and subsequently, decide how the defendant will stand trial.
According to MLive, the original hearing, set for July 18, was rescheduled to Aug. 30 as requested
DEPARTMENTS: The Grand Rapids Police Department came under fire over its initial handling of disciplinary action for Officer Christopher Schurr. GVL | MEGHAN TRIPP
by Schurr’s defense team in order to retrieve police procedure documents from the city of Grand Rapids.
The probable cause hearing was again postponed by Schurr’s defense team due to a large amount of discovery, according to WOODTV.
The Lyoya family has expressed outrage over the postponements, saying that the delays prolong their journey toward closure.
This instance of violence has commandeered national attention, renewing again discussion about police bru-
SAFETY
As students at Grand Valley State University celebrated Welcome Week festivities ahead of the new school year, a shooting incident at an off-campus apartment complex has brought party-related safety concerns into the community spotlight.
Just after 2 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department and Grand Valley State University Department of Public Safety officers received reports of multiple gunshots fired at the Canvas Apartments complex near GVSU.
No injuries were reported in the incident. However, one of the buildings was hit with gunfire. Witnesses said that the unknown suspects fled the scene once the authorities
tality in the United States.
Grand Valley State University released a statement acknowledging the tragedy when it occurred in April, however, the shooting has struck close to home for many on campus.
GVSU’s Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) is an organization that works to support the success of historically oppressed communities.
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arrived at the complex.
The GVSU Department of Public Safety issued a GVSUALERT! Safety Notice about the incident to keep students informed on the situation.
The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department is the primary law enforcement on the case, but GVPD is providing assistance. They are following up with witnesses and any other information they have found.
As of Sept. 2, the investigation remained ongoing.
Grand Valley State University’s Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse is attempting to tackle the issue of proliferated polarization through a newly introduced series centered on community dialogue.
The program, titled “Talking Together,” is designed to be a remedy for the affliction of polarization through discussion between people and forming common ground despite partisanship.
“It’s inspired by how many students and community members I talk with who are seeking ways to connect to one another,” said Padnos Center Director Lisa Perhamus. “87% of people in the United States say that political polarization is a threat to America. 70% of people in the United States say instability is at crisis levels. 88% of students think that universities should encourage students and professors to interact respectfully around differences and perspectives and opinions.”
The program seeks to do just that by fostering a forum between Grand Valley State University community members. It has partnered with the Kaufman Interfaith Institute, Hauenstein Center for Presi -
CONVERSATION: Students at GV today have been witness to
dential Studies and WGVU Public Media to best achieve this goal.
The program will consist of an event each month produced by the coalition of university entities designed to encourage civil discourse, decrease animosity and bridge divides.
“We have the invitation to respond to what students are asking for,” Perhamus said. “It’s the opportunity to both learn how to have these conversations across differences but have them actually happen. We have events planned all through the year, we really need
people from all different perspectives participating.”
When it comes to getting people talking together, Perhamus believes it is harder when there’s a preconceived notion.
“It’s really hard to get people who are really polarized to come into the same place and engage,” Perhamus said. “There’s a lot of uncertainty and fear. People worry about conflict, and there’s a whole list of reasons why it happens.
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Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI 49401
Dr. Fatma Mili began her first full academic year as the fourth provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs at Grand Valley State University at the beginning of the Fall 2022 semester.
Mili was chosen from a national pool of candidates and was among a group of three other finalists last February. Those who were able to listen to Mili’s speech may recall her deep-rooted passion for education and academic affairs.
Mili shared that she was drawn to GVSU for many reasons. However, she most emphasized her admiration of GVSU’s commitment to its students and the community.
“One of the aspects of GVSU that was appealing to me before I came was the genesis of this institution,”
Mili said. “This institution was created by the community, so this is a community that understands and appreciates the value of education and understands the value of scholarship and sees it as an integral part of the growth of a community.”
A French native, Mili initially earned degrees from Universite Pierre & Marie Curie and Universite de Villetaneuse. She then moved to the United States and studied informatics and computer science along with mathematics and engineering.
Mili recently served as a professor and dean of the College of Computing and Informatics at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, one of the largest colleges of computing in the country, before coming to GVSU.
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On the evening of Sept. 2, U.S. President Joe Biden delivered a primetime address on the state of American democracy outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
BY MADDIE ZIMMERMAN JUNIOR ADVERTISING & PUBLIC RELATIONS EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
Your parents may nag you to “be safe” before heading to campus in the fall. You may brush them off and think that they are being overprotective and paranoid - but what they are saying is true.
When mentioning safety there are several things that come to mind. I feel that there are two main categories: personal safety and environmental safety.
When it comes to personal safety, I think of things in your personal life that you should be doing to keep yourself safe. Whether that is going to bed early enough to get a good night sleep, eating a snack in between classes to keep your energy up or even something as simple as drinking water to help with dehydration.
You may think that those things are no-brainers, but when you get to college and are tasked with managing a heavy class schedule along with taking care of yourself, it can be challenging to stay on top
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of everything.
College is all about time management.
You are alone for (more than likely) your first time. You need to make your personal safety a priority.
College is also very busy. You may have multiple assignments due per day, you have to cook yourself meals, you have to do laundry, you want to spend time with friends.
You need to make sure that you are making time for yourself to do your day-to-day tasks and also take care of your physical and mental health.
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to do what you got to do.”
Besides, delivering food has provided me with some entertaining stories along the way.
Every delivery driver (and civilian) knows that McDonald’s drive-through lines are like waiting to get on a roller coaster at Cedar Point - your best option is to get your steps in for the day and go inside to pick up an order.
reminded me of those worn by “Men in Black” agents. With the addition of the futuristic-style headphones he wore, it led me to think this could be the FBI agent who keeps tabs on my cellular activity, approaching me about my Google search history.
Flanked by members of the U.S. Marine Corps, Biden arrived to give his speech against the backdrop of continued mistrust for elections among segments of the populace and growing calls for political violence from ideological extremists.
Throughout his address, Biden portrayed those engaged in election misinformation as threatening facts and principles at the foundation of the nation’s democratic system of governance.
A president whose speeches have typically been characterized by light-hearted overtones instead emitted an aura of sobriety in giving what The Atlantic described as “The Speech No President Should Have to Give”and rightly so.
The disinformation
peddled by conspiracy theorists and fringe groups has now made its way into mainstream political discourse as public figures and prominent entities have echoed claims that American elections and democratic processes are rife with voter fraud aimed at ensuring that one major political party remains out of power.
To this day, such claims remain without evidence to support them.
Irrespective of the political affiliation of those who spread such misinformation and other veins of mistruths, such must be repudiated as the burgeoning digital age brings with it the mass dissemination of conspiratorial fallacies.
In the digital age, it’s important to be informed when consuming media. With hundreds of millions of Americans having the capabilities to post online, it’s harder to discern what is factual to what is fiction.
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or staff.
BY MALIK HARVEY SENIOR JOURNALISMTo help keep my head above the overflow of bills I have, I engage in a few money-making ventures: I resell shoes and clothes, write columns for your enjoyment and deliver food through Uber Eats.
Delivering food is the job I enjoy the least, but as a wise man (or woman) once said, “You got
As I walked toward the door, I noticed an older gentleman approaching the door at about the same pace.
He was an inch or two taller than me (5’7” or so), bald, with a peppered mustache and a slim physique; however old he was, it was clear he took pretty good care of himself.
His choice of clothing was casual (t-shirt, blue jeans and gym shoes), but the style and density of this gentleman’s sunglasses
I quickly dismissed this thought under the pretense that it’s improbable someone around my dad’s age could work a computer that well. I thought it would be kind to open the door for him, FBI agent or not.
As he got near he said, “How’s it going, young man?”
“Not too bad, sir,” I replied. “How about you?”
“Everything is everything,” he responded.
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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
Letter 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 500650 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.
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0051 KIRKHOF CENTER GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ALLENDALE, MI 49401 616-826-8276
BY JOSH ALBURTUS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
For Grand Valley State University, Sept. 1 marks the anniversary of a unique connection between its Allendale campus and a pivotal historical event that shaped the future of the United States and the global community at large: the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Leading students across the Little Mackinac Bridge and onto the campus’s Great Lakes Plaza on Sept. 1, GVSU Senior Affiliate Professor of German, Mitchell Place, took groups on excursions throughout the day to present against the backdrop of GVSU’s portion of the Berlin Wall. The piece of the wall is located outside Zumberge Hall and was installed exactly 30 years prior.
Detailing the history of the Wall and its dismantling as he distributed photos of his past travels to those watching the presentation, the professor sought to immerse his pupils in the significance of the piece.
Place said his motivation behind the annual excursions is rooted in a desire to keep history alive.
“Mainly, the reason I do it is because I just want students to be aware,” Place said. “I don’t know whether these
facts of history are always taught continually. I don’t know how much these students know about the Berlin Wall and it’s a passion of mine to have them know about that because it was something that really shaped my identity as an undergraduate.”
While Place typically conducts such excursions in November of each year to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall, Sept. 1 of this year marked the 30-year anniversary of GVSU’s installation of its fragment of the historic barrier.
Having the opportunity to instill his students with a personal immersion in history, Place said, compels him to keep up the yearly outings.
“I want to try to convey that sense to my students, and I want them to know what it all means,” Place said. “I want them to keep that understanding going so people don’t forget over time.”
Alongside Place, a member of the Edelweiss Club of Grand Rapids, an organization dedicated to the celebration of German culture in the local community, offered students firsthand perspectives on the state of Germany both before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The representative’s upbringing in Southern Germany beneath the specter
of the Wall and Soviet oppression was evident as they wished to remain anonymous in the Lanthorn’s reporting.
“If you had asked me, would I, in my lifetime, see German reunification, I would’ve told you, ‘Not in my lifetime, but eventually,’” the representative said. “You can’t keep the human spirit down.”
The fall of the Berlin Wall, the representative said, served as a microcosm of the larger truth that oppression would never stand against the free will of the people who oppose it.
“You can do it for one, but you cannot do it forever because people want to be
free,” the representative said. “They want to have a good life and they just want to be in control of their own lives.”
Hope, Place said, compounds other feelings of optimism each time he comes to see a piece of the Wall.
“I just remember being awestruck,” Place said. “After the awestruck kind of wore off, then I thought it was kind of a joyful time.”
In the aftermath of serving their country, many veterans harbor invisible scars for the rest of their lives.
However, Grand Valley State University has made it an objective to provide resources for all veterans to remind them they are not alone while fighting their post-war, personal battles.
These efforts are being recognized as the university has again been deemed a top-tier collegiate destination for veterans seeking higher learning.
GVSU was awarded Gold status by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency in late August for the eighth consecutive year.
This highly regarded recognition indicates that GVSU has created a supportive and accommodating environment for veterans on campus.
For veterans who decide to pursue an education at the university level, GVSU entities have been visibly and vocally stalwart in their efforts to provide accommodations for the needs of the United States military veterans.
One such entity, the Peter Secchia Military and Veterans Resource Center, centers its efforts around fostering inclusive environments and support systems for veterans at GVSU.
Jill Hinton Wolfe, a United States Army veteran and GVSU alumnus serving as its current Military and Veteran Resource Manager, describes the program’s mission as having an “overarching, highminded goal of helping those with military service reach their highest potential.”
Assistance from the program can range from financial support to mental health and academic conquest.
“Our goal is to ensure their success,” Wolfe said. “If there is ever anything or anyone they need to go to for help, I will always be that person for them.”
Regarding GVSU’s status as a model for veteran support, Wolfe said that the success of the university’s efforts and Gold recognition has been the result of multiple individuals who contribute to supporting campus veterans.
“From her first days on campus [GVSU President Philomena Mantella] has shown a nuanced appreciation of both the struggles these students face and the diverse value they bring to campus,” Wolfe said.
Various other people and organizations at GVSU contribute to the recognized success of the university’s veteran support system.
Dr. Ernest Park, associate professor of social psychology at GVSU, has spent time coaching veteran students that applied to graduate school.
Aside from university staff, GVSU has also implemented policies and protocols designed to ease the admissions process for veterans and establish resources to help them navigate the collegiate environment.
Veterans who graduated from high school in Michigan and served in the U.S. military for at least two years can receive pre-approved admission to the university. This admission can be deferred until each veteran is ready to begin their college journey.
As to her own efforts, Wolfe has worked to ensure that military veterans are receiving the opportunities and aid they need. Wolfe has been especially vocal regarding her advocacy for underrepresented military veterans like women, disabled veterans, veterans of color and those belonging to the LGBTQ community.
GVSU, Wolfe asserted, also has some of the most hard-working and involved veterans on campus.
“Nationally, they have higher (grade point averages), higher
graduation rates and they take on more difficult majors than their civilian counterparts,” Wolfe said.
Travis Snyder, a veteran sergeant of the United States Marine Corps and a current GVSU student who serves as the president of Laker Vets, affirmed that the Veterans Program offers the aid Wolfe mentioned.
“GVSU is definitely vet-friendly, which strongly influenced my college decision,” Snyder said. “This program helps me, and many others, fight any intimate battles we are experiencing post-service with the variety of resources they provide us.”
In addition to assisting retired soldiers in areas where they may be struggling, GVSU’s veterans support apparatus also helps them rekindle a sense of community they may have lost since they returned home.
“The military will always be a community in itself,” Wolfe said. “At GVSU, we try to rebuild that by establishing that all veterans have aspirations they want to reach outside of war and combat.”
Snyder agreed with Wolfe that the program makes him feel like he has a veteran family at the university.
Given the sacrifices veterans have made while serving and those made in order to continue their education at GVSU, Wolfe said the university’s strives to provide help through whatever means necessary.
Wolfe said the university hosts many events with the goal of not only offering support, but also making the college experience enjoyable and fun.
“We host several veteran-related events throughout the year, including three separate events on Veteran’s Day to commemorate their service,” Wolfe said. “Also, last year we sent nine military-connected students to the Student Veterans of America’s National Conference and we provide veterans with flexible opportunities to work on campus via the [U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs] Work Study program.”
Snyder said that veterans have the opportunity to join the GVSU chapter of Student Veterans of America, Laker Vets.
“We try to find ways and events to get involved with the community of GVSU and the military community,” Snyder said. “Essentially, we aim to bridge generational gaps between veterans and other Lakers on campus.”
Snyder explained that veterans tend to be older than one another, even in their own military community, as everyone serves their time differently. So, not only does the Laker Vets society strive to connect from within, but they also yearn for connections with other members outside of their chapter beyond any potential age gap.
The success Wolfe and her colleagues have had with the program, she said, has been on an expedited track.
“I was hired at GVSU in the middle of the pandemic, and there was not a vets center at this time,” Wolfe said. “We veterans had very little support pre-COVID, but then we received a generous donation from the Secchia family.”
With their contribution and the support of President Philomena Mantella, Wolfe explained how it was possible for them to develop the best program in the state.
“Before, all we had was a hallway in Kirkhof,” Wolfe said. “Now, we have opened the door to many possibilities to build a thriving community and have since opened two whole rooms dedicated to our veterans; one located in Kirkhof at 0072 and the other at the downtown health campus.”
Those interested in exploring the full range of benefits offered by the university to student veterans can visit GVSU’s website.
As Grand Valley State University returns to regular operations there has been a boost in enrollment and on-campus living.
Not only did the pandemic affect enrollment and on-campus living, but GVSU experienced a steady downward trend in enrollment during each fall semester since 2017. This fall, enrollment is now on the incline, with more than 200 more students living on campus compared to last fall.
Director of Housing and Residence Life, Kyle Boone, said that more than 5,400 students are planning to live on campus for the fall semester, according to MLive.
“We have residence halls again, we have a new student class that’s larger than the last couple of years and even more diverse,” President Philomena Mantella told MLive. “So, it’s just really thrilling to have everybody back.”
With more students living on campus, GVSU encourages students to attend its orientation programs and classes to learn more about the school, along
with in-person events such as Campus Life Night and Convocation.
Those coming to campus for the first time are set to experience a college environment almost entirely removed from COVID-era protocols.
GVSU freshman Francesca Petrucci said the transition from home to school has been positive.
“Living on campus has been good so far,” Petrucci said. “I’m really happy to be living in Holton Hooker because it’s in the middle of everything. Everyone has been super nice and welcoming.”
Petrucci also said she liked the variety of things to do on campus like the transition events and Convocation. When it came to academics, however, she said she felt unprepared.
“I wish they had a session where they taught us about Blackboard,” Petrucci said.
Online learning can be difficult for some students to pick up, so Petrucci said she wished there could have been more direction.
In addition to complications with Blackboard, some students experience difficulties with online classes as a whole.
Many students came back to GVSU once they knew in-person classes were
EMPLOYMENTfully returning, including Jaden Hags.
“I came to Grand Valley in 2020, so in the thick of the pandemic,” said Hags. “I couldn’t learn online through Zoom or Blackboard, so I decided to take a gap year.”
Although Hags lived on campus her first year, she didn’t feel like she was a part of the campus community.
“Everything online was really hard,” Hags said. “I went through sorority recruitment online, went to class online and could
eat at basically one place. Now, campus has way more food options and in-person events, so I could see myself coming back.”
Due to fewer COVID-19 restrictions, GVSU is offering more in-person events and dining options as students that had previously encountered virus-related cancellations return to on-campus housing.
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Forbes Magazine has recognized Grand Valley State University as one of the top employers in the state of Michigan in 2022.
According to Forbes, the list was constructed through input from 70,000 individuals working for organizations that employed at least 500 workers.
Ranking no. 33 on Forbes’ list of Michigan employers for 2022, GVSU has received the same honor in previous years.
In 2020, the same Forbes ranking put GVSU as no. 1 on its list of Michigan employers. It similarly ranked GVSU within the top 25 employers in 2021.
In addition to its thousands of faculty and support staff, GVSU also employs a large number of students through on-campus job opportunities.
GVSU has various job openings around its campuses such as positions in campus dining, student services and recreation and wellness.
Within these sectors, university employees like Mary Idema Pew Library employee Emma Sampley echo Forbes’ assessment of GVSU’s working conditions.
“I would definitely agree with Forbes Magazine,” Sampley said.
The university’s scheduling parameters for students, Sampley said, allows them to continue handling the responsibilities and experiencing the benefits of a collegiate lifestyle.
“The school only allows you to work a total of 25 hours a week,” Sampley said. “This allows a lot of extra time to get schoolwork done and to have a social life. The majority of students on campus end up working 10 to 15 hours a week anyways. The scheduling is very flexible and the staff knows that you are students.”
Sampley said the staff hired by the university is part of why she enjoys her job working for GVSU.
“It is a very nice job and the staff are the friendliest people I have ever worked with,” Sampley said. “I would recommend it to anyone.”
However, other employees had differing opinions about working at the university. Such opinions echoed months-long concerns over working conditions experienced by those in the university’s campus dining system – one of the most popular forms of
student employment at GVSU.
Many first-year students get their meals primarily on campus, making campus dining an important aspect of the university and its employment opportunities.
One of the busiest places to work when it comes to campus dining is the Starbucks located in GVSU’s Marketplace.
This Starbucks is constantly flowing with students eager to be caffeinated during their busy lives as college students. Employees at this Starbucks are hardly ever standing still.
An employee who wished to remain anonymous reminisced on what it has been like working for this business in recent years, citing concerns they had with discrepancies between typical Starbucks locations and those on the campus of GVSU.
“I like working for Starbucks, but not for GVSU,” the employee said. “At the university Starbucks, employees are paid 33% less than we would get at a corporate Starbucks for doing the same job.”
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If students are interested in being a part of planning events on campus, they can attend the Campus Activities Board (CAB) meeting this Tuesday, Sept. 6 from 9 to 10 p.m.
This meeting will take place in the Kirkhof Center in room 0008. Some of the events CAB hosts are Homecoming, Sibs and Kids Weekend and the Presidents’ Ball.
Those who wish to attend don’t have to be on the board for CAB, all are welcome to participate.
Grand Valley State University’s field house is partnering with Bear Creek Climbing Co. to upgrade their climbing wall on campus.
Bear Creek is upgrading the wall with new, real rock grips rather than the current plastic holds. These grips simulate what climbing outdoors would be like.
An ambassador from the company will be visiting GVSU to share information about rock climbing on Sept. 7 in the Field house room 170 (the climbing center) from 5 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 7.
There will be snacks and giveaways at the meeting while supplies last.
On Wednesday, Sept. 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. there will be free food and games available for students to play and eat on the Clock Tower lawn.
This event is being held by GVSU’s Campus Ministry and all students are welcome to attend regardless of their faith who wish to participate.
There will be multiple different chances for students to explore a potential career in audiology and learn more about the Doctor of Audiology program.
On Sept. 9. the open house will run from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall or 12 to 1 p.m. on Zoom. Other dates for the open house include Sept. 23 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in the Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall and Oct. 28 from 10 to 11 a.m. on Zoom or 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall.
At the open house, students will learn more about the three-year accelerated program as well as all the advantages of enrolling in the course.
The early admission deadline for the program is Oct. 15.
About one of every nine college students struggles with food insecurity daily.
However, the stigma that arises with the mention of food pantries tends to worsen students’ ability to meet their needs, which in turn can lead to a mental and physical health decline on top of academic success.
Grand Valley State University has been trying to combat food insecurity and the stigma associated with getting help through Replenish- a food pantry that also provides students with essentials such as toiletries, kitchen appliances and even laptop loans.
As the Fall 2022 semester begins at GVSU, Replenish has been raising awareness of its services, marketing itself as an accessible place to help students meet their needs.
Replenish events, held Monday through Wednesday during the first week of classes, brought traction to its cause. Replenish workers said they noticed that, by being in plain sight, students were more likely to approach them and ask for help, especially if other students were doing the same.
“We work so hard to make sure we sustain shelves and meet everyone’s needs,” said Lariesha Lee, the Assistant Director of the Center for Women and Gender Equity Staff. “About 1,000 students utilized Replenish between Aug. 2019 through Jan. 2020 only at the Allendale location.”
In addition to the Allendale location, students are now able to acquire meals on
demand at the Pew Campus and the Cook DeVos Center for Health Science. These locations exist to bring the reassurance that anyone who needs the additional help will be able to access it easily.
Post-pandemic, the need for extra help has increased greatly among students. There has been a spike in the use of Replenish’s food services as well as the need for more basic items. Selected students this year are creating wishlists to help Replenish broaden their reach and cater to what students are lacking day-to-day.
The destigmatization of food pantries is a big focus for Replenish this year. They are tuning their approach to be more student-centered in hopes that it will entice more students to visit their location on any campus.
“We try to meet students where they are and we hope to keep passing out those basic need items, care bags, food bags,” Lee said. “We’re visible and in spaces that students would usually be in and it helps to destigmatize the idea of a food pantry.”
Students are welcome to get involved with Replenish’s cause as they are always accepting volunteers to do different tasks such as donation drives, food drives, essential needs drives, deliveries, pick up and stocking.
Every bit of help and exposure creates a safer and more accepting environment for students who need the help that Replenish offers.
The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) is hosting a gallery chat on Sept. 6 from 1 to 2 p.m. Led by museum docents, the event will highlight works of art created by women on display at the museum.
The event aims to showcase the unique perspectives of women and their stories. The gallery chat is free with the cost of admission and there is no registration required.
The 49th annual Eastown Street Fair will take place on Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and feature arts, crafts, food and music from throughout the Eastown Neighborhood.
The event is held on Wealthy Street between Giddings Avenue and Lake Drive. The fair aims to bring the Eastown community together and show what the area has to offer.
There will be live music from bands such as PotatoeBabies, Lynn and the Moonshine runners, Low Phase and more. Pets are not allowed at the street fair.
Every Tuesday, Flanagan’s Irish Pub in Downtown Grand Rapids hosts an open mic night from 9 p.m. to midnight.
People can bring their own instruments and interact with other musicians and performers. Those who wish to perform are encouraged to arrive early to sign up for a performance time.
The event is free and there will be food and beverages available for purchase.
The GVSU dance program is set to perform at the Detroit Dance City Festival on Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the college showcase.
The dancers will perform a piece entitled “Just” that was choreographed by guest artist Paul Singh during the college showcase.
The festival will take place Sept. 9-11 in downtown Detroit and will have various performances, celebrations and dance films. The event will have over 94 artists performing from 12 states and 15 countries.
Pup Returns is a punk band from Toronto, Canada that will be performing at The Intersection in downtown Grand Rapids on Sept. 6 at 8 p.m.
They will play from their new album that was completed in the summer of 2021 entitled “THE UNRAVELING OF THE PUPBAND.”
Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door.
River City Improv is set to have their first performance at the Listening Room in downtown Grand Rapids on Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
The group was founded by Calvin College graduates in 1993. They perform improvisational comedy inspired by audience suggestions.
This is the first of four events the group will perform at the Listening Room and they will return with performances in October, November and December.
Grand Valley State University opened a new exhibit entitled “As is: Beauty and the Body in Contemporary Art” at the GVSU Art Gallery in the Haas Center for Performing Arts. The art gallery features pieces created by a total of 20 different artists.
The gallery explores the human body through the artist’s interpretations of the body’s role as both a personal object and its role in a shared space. The art tackles ideas of identity and beauty through presentation of the human form.
Joel Zwart, the Curator of Exhibitions and Collections at GVSU, said the exhibition was selected by the GVSU Art Gallery from a private gallery in Chicago. Zwart wanted to bring the art and its message to the GVSU community.
“Our bodies are complex entities where concepts of beauty, self, gender and identity intersect,” Zwart said. “We felt that an exhibition that could explore these and other topics within the gallery’s learning environment at GVSU would be beneficial for our audience.”
Those who visit the gallery will have the opportunity to see how artists combined art with the human body. The exhibit will feature various art mediums including drawing, photography and painting.
“Visitors to the exhibition will be able to see a variety of methods that artists use to represent the human body and a variety of ways in which they use
artwork to ask questions about age, race, gender and status,” Zwart said.
Zwart said the different types of art within the exhibition can be very different yet still evoke emotion from the viewers.
Featured in the gallery are Nicholas V. Sanchez’s ballpoint pen drawings of people he meets. Zwart describes these images as “small, quiet and beautifully rendered.” Additionally, an oil painting created by Ruprecht von Kaufmann and a charcoal painting made by Clio Newton will also be shown.
Each piece of work on display has a label that describes the topic and meaning of the art. The collectors of the art have also given statements in the gallery so that their perspectives can be provided for others.
“Working with the collectors in Chicago who own the artwork, we wanted
the exhibition to emphasize the work of contemporary artists engaging the body and questions that arise about how we see ourselves and how others see us,” Zwart said. “We also wanted to reflect the vision of the collectors who have put time and energy into collecting it.”
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, artists had to find new ways to share their art with others.
As restrictions are lifted, many members of the art community are excited to showcase their work to others. The GVSU Art Gallery had made adaptations during restrictions such as a virtual 3D gallery on their website to help create a sense of an in-person experience.
Grand Valley State University’s film and video production program’s podcast, “Alumni Live,” is airing its second season as the fall 2022 semester begins. This season will explore film and video related issues.
The podcast connects current GVSU students to alumni working in the field who are able to share relevant, career-focused information.
The first season of the series totaled 14 episodes, each about an hour long, that discussed the film and video major.
GVSU alum, “Alumni Live” Board member and television production specialist, Randy Strobl, hosts the podcast where he interviews and explores topics with GVSU alumni and faculty who have succeeded in the entertainment industry.
partment decided that in order to bridge this gap in resources they would create new opportunities virtually.
The podcast originated as a livestream where viewers could ask questions to featured speakers and receive answers in real-time.
GVSU film and video alum, professor and campus liaison Suzanne Zack said since college life can be fast paced and hard to schedule around the board decided to repackage the sessions as a podcast to expand their viewership.
“We turned all of the content we had created thus far into podcast episodes and we’re going to begin creating more podcast episodes this year,” Zack said.
The podcast works to connect listeners both to information about specific areas in filmmaking and to alumni spotlights who work in the entertainment industry.
LISTEN: The information in the podcast helps connect what students learn in the classroom to their future careers. Listeners are able to expand their knowledge about their profession. GVL | ARCHIVES
The series started during the COVID-19 pandemic when many students were forced to go remote, canceling many workshops meant to help them work toward their future career goals. The film and video de-
The Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s cross country teams will head to Calvin College to compete in the Knight Invitational Saturday, Sept. 10 to commence their 2022 season.
In the 2021 season both men’s and women’s programs were able to crown themselves as GLIAC Conference Champions, NCAA DII Midwest Regional Champions, and the men’s team was able to finish in first place for the NCAA National Championship, while the women’s team fell just short of securing the national championship themselves with a second place finish.
Eager to continue what seemed to be an insurmountable measure of success, the men’s and women’s teams were also announced as the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II Program of the Year during this past off-season.
Two Lakers, Hannah Becker, Isaac Harding, were also named GLIAC ScholarAthletes of the Year. The award recognizes student-athletes throughout the course of an academic year for their hard work in the classroom and on the field.
The Knight Invitational is scheduled to begin at 10:45 a.m. on Sept. 10.
Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s tennis teams are set to compete against Davenport University this upcoming weekend in a two-day invitational.
Both Lakers programs found success throughout the 2021-22 regular season, as the women’s team finished at the top of the GLIAC standings, had a 15-7 overall record (7-1 in conference) and were undefeated at home with an 8-0 record.
However, the Lakers were unable to continue the same level of play in the postseason, falling to Wayne State University 2-4 in the GLIAC Tournament semifinals and losing to the Southwest Baptist Bearcats 2-4 in the NCAA Regionals.
The men’s program was more or less much of the same, as the Lakers finished their regular season 17-6 overall, maintained a 5-2 conference record and were very successful at home with an 8-1 record.
Although the men’s team was able to advance to the GLIAC Tournament finals, the team would ultimately fall to Wayne State University as well in a 1-4 finish. Hoping to shake off the conference title loss and focus on the NCAA Regionals, the Lakers faced Wayne State once more in the second round of regionals but this time were swept in a 0-4 loss.
The Davenport Invitational is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Sept. 9.
Grand Valley State University men’s football defeated the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers in a close 25-22 nail-biter as the Lakers improved to 1-0 to start the season.
With the win, GVSU improved to 20-1 in home openers since 2001.
“Obviously it’s good to get a win, we’ll grow and we’ll get better for this,” head coach Matt Mitchell said. “(They’re a) heck of a football team, I have to give Colorado School of Mines a ton of credit. You can see why they’re a semifinalist, their team had a lot of heart.”
In a first quarter defensive slugfest that prevented any success on either side of the offense, the Orediggers gave the Lakers a rude awakening as junior quarterback Cade Peterson was sacked twice on the opening drive. However, GVSU’s defense forced a three-andout on the next possession as both defenses held each other scoreless leading into the second.
Sophomore defensive back Ian Kennelly gave the Lakers’ momentum as he forced and recovered a fumble that opened up a promising offensive drive for the Lakers (19-yard run by sophomore wide receiver Darrell Johnson, 37-yard reception by sophomore receiver Jahdae Walker), only to
soon fall short of a score in an incomplete pass on fourth down.
“Our execution on offense just wasn’t where it needed to be in the first quarter,” Peterson said. “That’s what having a couple of big plays will do for you, so with guys like Jahdae, those are difference makers and it just takes one play.”
After the Lakers’ defense forced a three-and-out, a methodical drive was produced on offense that saw two costly pass interference calls against the Orediggers. Junior running back Tariq Reid pounded the ball into the endzone from one yard out to put the first points on the scoreboard with 4:57 left to play in the first half.
The following possession saw another forced three-and-out by GVSU. On the other end, Walker continued to make his presence known as he pulled in an astonishing 45-yard catch with a defender draped all over him.
“(Walker) is tall, but he’s quick and fast just like the other receivers,” Peterson said. “So Jahdae and the rest of the guys on the squad, they’re difference makers in a game like this.”
However, the Orediggers defense came alive with a fourth down stop and 1:52 remaining on the clock that gave them a shot on offense. In what looked like a promising drive, senior defensive back Denzel Williams forced a fumble and would lead to a score of 7-0 heading into the break.
Though the first half of the game
saw struggling offensive performances by both teams, the second half was a much different story. On the first possession of the half, the Lakers’ stout defense delivered another three-and-out and a blocked punt by sophomore wide receiver Kyle Nott gave the offense the ball in excellent field position.
Peterson was able to connect with Walker once more to produce a 37yard pass play, and after a 15-yard scramble by sophomore quarterback Avery Moore, Peterson finished the drive himself, rushing for a five-yard touchdown to make the score 14-0.
After yet another stop by the Laker defense, GVSU took the ball back down to the opposite redzone as sophomore kicker Kolin Kralapp sent the ball through the uprights from 31-yards away to extend the lead, 17-0.
In the next offensive drive, the Orediggers were finally able to find some momentum with a 49-yard touchdown pass, though the special teams would miss the extra point that brought the score to 17-6 with 5:18 left in the third quarter.
The momentum continued for School of Mines after GVSU failed to convert on a fourth and one in their own territory as the Orediggers ended the third quarter inside of the GVSU ten yard line with the score 17-6.
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Grand Valley State University women’s volleyball team traveled to Indiana for the UIndy Invitational Sept. 2, ending the two-day road trip with a 3-1 record.
The Lakers closed the first day with a perfect record (2-0), as they swept Bentley University 3-0 and defeated regional opponent Ohio Dominican University 3-1.
In the match against Bentley, the Lakers were able to control the pace early with a 25-14 first set win. However, the Falcons began to show a bit more promise in the next two sets, but would ultimately fall short as both the second and third finished 25-22 in favor of GVSU.
Freshman setter Jordyn Gates and freshman outside hitter Kendall Stover led the team with nine kills a piece, as junior middle blocker Sarah Wight followed with seven kills of her own. Junior setter Rachel Jacquay also contributed to the offensive pace with 20 assists and sophomore libero Julia Blaney led the defense with 17 digs.
“We had a little bit of a chip on our shoulder,” Gates said. “We wish we could have handled the game against Gannon (University last week) a little better. To-
day, we focused on getting one point at a time and we came out on top.”
The Lakers kept their momentum into their match against Ohio Dominican, taking the first two sets 25-7 and 2515. Ohio Dominican was able to prevent another GVSU sweep, taking the third set 20-25 before the Lakers took the match 25-13 in the fourth.
Head coach Jason Johnson felt the Lakers showed improvement from the previous week, but still have work to do. The further into the match, the more errors the Lakers made, which Johnson thought cost them the third set in the Ohio Dominican match.
“We’re starting off really well in the first sets, but then our hitting efficiency goes down in each set,” Johnson said. “That needs to get better. Our opponents are figuring out the things we’re doing and that makes things more difficult for our side of the net.”
Junior middle blocker Jaelianna Primus credits the chemistry between her teammates for recovering from the lost set and putting the match away.
“Even when things are going sideways, chemistry helps us lean on each other,” Primus said. “We trust each other to pull us out of any ruts we get into. Our
connections and our relationships are what help us be successful.”
Stover, Primus and Gates led the Laker offense with 12, 11 and 10 kills in that respective order. Blaney totaled 25 digs in the second match, followed by Gates with 13 and Stover with nine.
On the second day of the road trip, the Lakers opened their first of two matches with a 1-3 loss to Minnesota Duluth, an opponent that now sits at 7-0 on the season. The sets finished 20-25, 19-25, 25-16 and 18-25.
Even in the loss, Stover, (11) Wight (9) and senior outside hitter Savannah Thompson (9) led the offensive attack in kills as Jacquay (21) and Gates (16) put forth effort in the assists column to give the Lakers a fighting chance.
GVSU would turn their loss around within a matter of hours against the Minnesota State Mavericks in a threeset sweep.
Blaney once again led the team in digs (12), as Stover (14) Gates (10) and Primus (9) would seal a .75% win percentage in back-to-back invites for the Lakers.
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SOCCERThe Grand Valley State University women’s soccer team held their home opener on Sept. 2 against the University of Central Missouri (UCM) as the match came to a close with a 2-2 draw.
Although both sides of the offense struggled to find a consistent rhythm, the Lakers would be the only team to score in the first half with eight total shot attempts. However, GVSU hounded the UCM Mules’ defense throughout and demonstrated aggressive offensive plays near the opponent’s goal.
GVSU’s first goal came from senior forward Kennedy Bearden about four minutes before the half (41:20) on an assist by fifth-year forward Kennedy Metzger.
“My strategy was to change the point of attack and switch the ball
from side to side,” Metzger said. “With my assist, I couldn’t find the back of the net but I can always count on Kennedy to be there to put the ball to the back if I can’t.”
Sophomore goalkeeper Kendall Robertson, who played all 90 minutes in the UCM matchup, was able to fend off the Mules from scoring in the first half as the scoreboard read 1-0 in favor of the Lakers heading into the halftime break.
Just under nine minutes into the start of the second half, UCM was able to tie up the game 1-1 on a free kick attempt (53:49). The Mules’ offense would prove effective once more (69:20) as they were able to put the ball back into the net during a corner kick resulting in UCM taking a 1-2 lead.
However, the Lakers didn’t allow the momentum shift to dominate the rest of the match. GVSU found their groove and were able to tie the
match back up 2-2 with a goal from Metzger (75:09) that was assisted by sophomore defender Stephanie Sturgeon and sophomore midfielder Ryann Fetty.
After the Lakers’ second and final goal of the entire match, defensive stops continued for both GVSU and the Mules as each side totaled four shot saves a piece. Though both opponents showcased stellar defense, each side struggled to stay out of the official’s attention as the Lakers raked in 10 fouls total, eight coming from the Mules.
Head Coach Katie Hultin commented on the overall outcome of the match, stating that the opponent’s defensive presence and overall athleticism both made it tough for the Lakers to find success when attacking UCM’s goal.
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LEARNING