G R A N D VA L L E Y L A N T H O R N
T-Pain Takeover GV Spring Concert draws thousands
GV faces backlash for graduation celebrations, officials respond
NEWS | A2
GV celebrates Trans Week of Visibility LAKER LIFE| A9
M O N DAY, A P R I L 3 , 2 0 2 3 / / VO L . 5 7 N O. 2 7
@GVLANTHORN
LANTHORN.COM
A2 | NEWS NEWS BRIEFS NEW FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION APPROVES NARCAN SALES WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION On March 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved naloxone, commonly known by the name-brand Narcan, for use without a prescription. The drug can be used to treat narcotic overdoses in the form of nasal spray. This change could make naloxone accessible for overthe-counter purchasing and at various locations like gas stations and grocery stores. Michigan seemed to already have naloxone available for over-the-counter purchases without a prescription due to a blanket prescription that was in place signed by the state’s chief medical executive. This was similar to the blanket prescription set in place for the flu shot. One public concern about no longer requiring a prescription for naloxone is that the cost of the drug in Michigan may not be covered by insurance and could have a large out-of-pocket cost. Typically the out-of-pocket cost is $127.77 according to a University of Michigan survey. Officials say it may take months for costs to go down. However, naloxone does remain available by prescription in Michigan. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT SHOWCASE FEATURES COMMUNITY PROJECTS On April 6, the Civic Engagement Showcase will feature 35 exhibits representing various academic disciplines, campus and community initiatives and university centers that support civic engagement work on campus. This is the first time the event has taken place in three years. The event aims to feature different projects, research and activities that people have worked on in their fields and interests. Some of the presenters include Grand Valley State University Sustainable Agriculture Project, Rally with the Rapids, John Ball Zoo Travel Zoo, Pipeline Scholarship Program and GVSU professors. Proposals for the showcase were due on March 3. The application included the abstract of the project, technology and spacing needs and whether or not the presenter would want to bring a community partner to participate in the development and presentation of the project. The event will take place in the Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall in the DeVos Center on the GVSU Pew campus from 4 to 7:30 p.m.
APRIL 3, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
CONTROVERSY
GV faces backlash for graduation celebrations, officials respond BY ELIZABETH SCHANZ NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
National news outlets including Fox News and the New York Post accused Grand Valley State University of “segregating graduation ceremonies by race.” These claims were sparked by conservative political commentator Matt Walsh. Host of “The Matt Walsh Podcast” and columnist for The Daily Wire, Walsh said in a tweet that GVSU was “holding five segregated graduation celebrations, singling out Asian, black, LGBT, Hispanic and Native American graduates. There will be no special celebrations for straight white people, of course.” GVSU officials said the ceremonies are a supplemental way to celebrate graduation outside of the commencement for the entire school. The university and students feel the claims and attention from national outlets undermine the purpose of the graduation celebrations. GVSU senior Ethan Carino is heavily involved in various cultural clubs
GATHERING: The GVSU commencement ceremony is held at Van Andel Arena in downtown Grand Rapids. Graduates attend different ceremonies for their respective colleges that house their areas of study. Smaller celebrations for different groups can be less formal and are held in addition to the main commencement. GVL | ARCHIVES
on campus, such as the Asian Student Union, Filipino Club, the Filipino American Student Association and the Vietnamese Cultural Association. Carino is planning to go to the Asian graduation ceremony run by the Asian Student Achievement Program. He said the event is a great opportunity for students to come together to celebrate graduates and their future goals.
“It’s a way we can come together, celebrate our culture, celebrate our achievements,” Carino said. “The intent of this is to give these small groups a way to shine, to feel connected and just to celebrate things on their own time.” LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
ALUMNI
‘Toast’ celebrates grads’ time at GV and beyond BY GRACE SMITH NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
Alumni Relations will be hosting a celebration for 2023 graduates on Thursday, April 13 called “Toast to the class of 2023.” This event will give graduating students an opportunity to catch up with friends, enjoy light refreshments and take home a commemorative Laker for a Lifetime champagne flute. All students who will be attending upcoming winter or summer commencement ceremonies are invited to attend the event. The event has been sponsored by Alumni Relations since 2013 and provides seniors with a chance to celebrate their pending graduation with President Philomena Mantella. “Toast to the Class of 2023 is a celebration of your journey as a student, your graduation and what it means to be a Laker for a Lifetime,” said Alumni Relations Assistant Director of Events and Volunteer Management Ashlyn Leavitt. “Students will enjoy music, photo opportunities, dessert, sparkling punch and a glass of champagne (or a non-alcoholic variety), before raising their glasses to Toast the Class of 2023.” Alongside remarks from Mantella, GVSU Alumna and Alumni Rela-
tions Board of Directors Member KJ Tucker will speak at the event. The toast is part of a series of additional complementary commencement events held by various groups across campus. The events are designated to be smaller, more intimate celebrations of graduates from student organizations and similar organizations. Leavitt said turnout is looking promising for the Taste event. “It seems like students are excited about the return of the event,” Leavitt said. “Our goal was to have 500 students participate this year and we have already surpassed that.” The Toast event was originally called “Toast with T-Haas,” after the then GVSU President Thomas J. Haas. In its inaugural year, roughly 120 students attended the event. By the next year, the number of attendees doubled and has only increased since. “I’m so proud to represent the GVSU Lakers within the community, state and across the nation,” Haas said during the inaugural toast. “When I come back to GVSU, I come back to family.” LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
COMMUNITY: The ‘Toast’ event aims to connect graduating students to their friends and other people in their class before they become alumni. The keepsake of the champagne flute acts as a remainder of the graduates’ time at GV. COURTESY | GVSU
APRIL 3, 2023
A3 | NEWS
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
CONTENTS CONTROVERSY
| A2
OPINION
| A4
GOVERNMENT
| A5
CONCERT
| A 6-7
INVOLVEMENT
| A8
LGBTQ
| A9
AWARENESS
| A10
BASEBALL
| A11
LACROSSE
| A12 VOL. 57
EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief MARY DUPUIS Associate Editor AUDREY WHITAKER Associate Editor JACOB KIRN
N O. 27
Videographer ZACH PLISKO Layout Editor DONOVAN LOPEZ Layout Designer REV BRONOWSKI PROMOTIONS
News Editor ELIZABETH SCHANZ
Promotions Manager GRACE O’BRIEN
Sports Editor ANTHONY CLARK JR
Promotions Assistant ELISE RAPEYKO
Laker Life Editor SABRINA EDWARDS
ADVERTISING STAFF
A&E Editor EMMA ARMIJO Image Editor MEGHAN TRIPP Multimedia Editor JAMES HERRICK
Advertising Manager MARGO DZURKO BUSINESS STAFF Business Manager MORGAN JOHNSTON Graphic Design CHRISTOPHER MCCONNEL MORGAN MANN
At the Lanthorn, we strive to bring you the most accurate news possible. If we make a mistake, we want to make it right. If you find any errors in fact in the Lanthorn, let us know by calling 616-331-2464 or by emailing editorial@lanthorn.com. The Grand Valley Lanthorn is published weekly by Grand Valley State University students 31 times a year. One copy of this newspaper is available free of charge to any member of the Grand Valley Community. For additional copies, at $1 each, please contact our business offices.
The Lanthorn is published on recycled paper and is printed with soy bean ink. This means that our newspaper is entirely compostable. Help us do our part to be kind to the environment by recycling or composting this newspaper after you enjoy reading it.
POSTMASTER: Please send form 3579 to: Grand Valley Lanthorn 0051 Kirkhof Center Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI 49401
ENVIRONMENT Temporary closure of Kent County recycling plant leads to sustainability conversations BY JACK BLAKE NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
Kent County’s Recycling and Education Center is the primary location for recyclables and recovery of materials for most of West Michigan. On March 20, a wall in the building collapsed, making it impossible to carry on with normal recycling as scheduled. The facility closed for three days and sent items to an incinerator. The center reopened on March 24 and since has returned to normal operation. In a press release, the Department of Public Works said the damage to the building occurred “when bales of cardboard recycling built up and pushed through the building’s sidewall, damaging the exterior wall and a roof support beam.” No one was injured in the incident. In 2017, the Recycling and Education Center managed 58 million pounds of recyclables and is central for much of the recycling in the
RESOURCES: Recycling helps to create less waste in landfills and allows materials to be used in new ways. In order to make recycling effective it is important to separate the waste in a way that corresponds with signage. Other ways to manage waste is to reduce waste produced and to reuse any items that can be. GVL | AIDA DENNIS
surrounding area. While Grand Valley State University’s Office of Sustainability Practices is responsible for all recycling, efficiency and resource-related operations on campus, the waste that comes from the campus is ultimately sent to the Kent County facility. GVSU promotes sustainability as one of the university’s core values.
They aim to use resources in “a manner that allows us to thrive without infringing on the ability of future generations to do the same” and “promote economic vitality, environmental conservation and social equality.” LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
ENGAGEMENT
Event highlights connections in sociology, environmental justice BY JOSEPH POULOS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
On March 30, Associate Professor of Sociology at Central Michigan University Dr. Cedric Taylor held a virtual seminar for the GVSU community. The seminar focused on environmental justice, which seeks to end the pollution of the environment, especially in marginalized communities. “Environmental issues don’t happen randomly in society,” Taylor said. “The production in (chemical and waste) facilities benefits our society as a whole, but what kind of communities accept the risks of these operations?” Taylor discussed the connection between public sociology and environmental issues and how it can be used to navigate discussions around these topics. “Public sociology is the application of sociological research and insights to engage with and address social issues in the public sphere,” Taylor said. “For me, public sociology is searching for opportunities to inform debate and shape policy around environmental injustice issues.” One way in which Taylor has used public sociology to further inform communities is through documentary filmmaking. His 2018 film “Nor Any Drop to Drink” showcased some of the citizens and lawmakers who lived through the Flint Water Crisis.
“Many of us by now are familiar with the flint water crisis,” Taylor said. “We know the state-appointed emergency manager used the flint river as a source of water for the city. They did this as a way to save money. The people there had no meaningful control over the decisions that had an impact on their health. Many of these affected citizens are yet to be made whole again.” Taylor aims to educate and help show the severity that some of these environmental injustices have had in communities through “Nor Any Drop to Drink.” He wishes to raise awareness and prevent future mishaps from taking place. For Taylor, this is just another in a long line of events that have showcased the environmental hazards that have plagued minority communities around the country. The Raleigh chemical dump of 1982 is one specific incident that Taylor believes shows the pattern of marginalized communities suffering from environmental hazards. When the company that dumped waste in this area was found culpable, the government proposed putting a PCB landfill, a landfill that contains industrial products or chemicals, in the predominantly Black community. LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
SPEAKER: The combination of sociology and environmental justice is what Taylor emphasizes in his studies and often speaks about during events. He advocates for these areas to be connected to help combat and stop environmental injustice. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON
A4 | OPINIONS
APRIL 3, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN By Abby Haywood
GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON
EDITORIAL
Grand Valley Lanthorn embraces change
B
4/3/23
editorial@lanthorn.com
Column: Finishing the year strong
BY MADDIE ZIMMERMAN JUNIOR ADVERTISING & PR EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
We are all approaching that time of year when we are over the cold, doing assignments, taking tests, trying to have a social life and also attend classes. We are slowly but surely almost done with the winter 2023 semester. This means spring is coming, flowers are blooming, the sun is peeking out of the clouds again and it is finally not snowing here in Michigan. There are still sadly
assignments, tests, exams and papers left to complete. How do you get those done when you’re counting down the days till summer? I’m here to help. Use a reward system. Do you like Starbucks before class? Do you like to visit Tea Time for an appetizer? Do you like to buy sushi from Bento? Reward yourself by doing some form of self care in return for getting the task done. For example, I like getting Starbucks before classes or study sessions at the library. Before I end up spending $7 on a drink, I have to get a paper done, then I can get Starbucks as my reward. Not only does this motivate you to get your tasks done and can benefit your grade for turning the paper in, it also gives you something to look forward to after you finish your paper. You can use any form of reward system. You don’t have to go out and
buy food, you can go for a walk, visit with friends, workout, etc. Make the reward something you like, and remember that eating and sleeping enough, along with other basic forms of self-care, should always be on the top of your mind as well. I highly suggest a planner/Google Calendar of some sort to keep yourself organized. You can make it fun with color coding or whatever works for you personally. This is the easiest way to not get overwhelmed and forget assignments. This helps me so much when finals are approaching when everything from every single class seems to be due during the same week of the semester. This way you are ensured to not miss an assignment because you forgot it, and can visualize the workload for each week. LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com for the full article
Letter to the Editor: Gun violence - When is my time? BY JONATHAN MCCABE GVSU STUDENT
Numbers are too binary for the anguish caused by the swift removal of life that I have witnessed over the course of my life as an American. Statistics are too monotone to display the sorrow that families have been pulled into due to the bullets that breached their communities. Numerical quantities cannot define the fear that I have walking to class knowing nothing will stop a rogue individual’s random spite from killing me. But this will subside, just like the last shooting. We will go back to
class with doors open. We will return to the common areas with nowhere to hide. We will be blissfully unaware of our part in the next tragedy of the new American epidemic. I used to ask questions. How can we prevent this? Why would this happen? Why have the societal structures built to protect me allowing this to happen? Why wouldn’t politicians enact laws to save my life? But this is quickly met by a more visceral question. As the bullets ripped through those victim’s tendons, tissues, ligaments and lungs - were they asking the same questions? If
their pleas for answers are going unheard or ignored, then my fears will surely be as well. The only question I have left is: When is my time? My words will be lost, discarded like the lives lost at a politician’s willful ignorance. This is normally where I would say “wait there’s hope” but I see no pillar supporting my claim. Again, this will subside, and we will wait for carnage to begin one more. I’m not sure if this a call for action or a call for help, but the dread and anxiety I feel are, I’m sure, not just individual.
eing a part of a publication on a campus as large as Grand Valley State University is a commitment, as each week that we publish content, we have to decide whether or not we are representing the community to the best of our ability. This year was no different. With a majority of our editorial staff finishing out their final semesters, this paper will look a lot different next fall. As many of us are graduating, this is a farewell to GVSU, the Grand Valley Lanthorn and the community we’ve served for the past few years. For those of us who will continue the paper next semester, our paper will take on a new form. While still providing new content on our website each week, we will shift the print edition to a bi-weekly schedule. The newspaper stands located throughout campus will still ornament the newest print edition of The Lanthorn and will continue
to remind the community of the access they have to our work online. These changes will not take away f rom any of the coverage The L ant hor n do es, or our ability to cover the same amount of stories each week. The bottom line is printing is expensive. Through implementing these adjustments we’re hoping to continue to provide readers access to new information regarding local and campus-wide news in a way that is more sustainable for us. The paper is still going to cover the community and continue to serve GVSU, just in a new way. While change is scary, it’s also a good thing. We believe that making this switch will allow us to create more in-depth coverage. Readers can expect to see more timely coverage online, every week.
OPINION POLICY
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:
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. Letter to the editor should include the author’s full name,
LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
0051 KIRKHOF CENTER GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ALLENDALE, MI 49401 616-826-8276
APRIL 3, 2023
A5 | NEWS
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS GOVERNMENT
Student Senate holds election for upcoming school year BY MADISON STEIGERWALD NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
While Lakers across campus prepare for exams and the end of the school year, Grand Valley State University’s Student Senate is planning for the fall 2023 semester with the election of new Senators. Last week, all students at GVSU were able to vote for up to five candidates to represent the 2023-24 student body. Voting closed on Sunday, April 2 at midnight, with results posted on the Student Senate website. The Student Senate functions as the student government at GVSU, working to ensure the voices of students are heard by the university. The senate is composed of 50 students, who each serve on one of six committees that focus on different aspects of student life, academics and overall experiences at GVSU. According to the Student Senate’s website, they aim to provide “collaborative working relationships between GVSU faculty, staff, administrators, students or or-
ganizations to make the Laker experience equitable, accessible and sustainable.” This year, 44 positions in the Student Senate were available. 21 students across various majors and disciplines ran on the 2023-24 ballot. Although the senate is made up of 50 students, six positions are reserved for students in their first year at GVSU. These positions are filled at the beginning of the fall semester by an application and interview process administered by the Senate Resources Committee. In order to get on the ballot, students had to circulate a petition and collect at least 100 signatures from members of the student body and two signatures from current faculty members. Once on the ballot, candidates must receive no less than 100 votes to be elected to the Student Senate. Students also have the option to write in candidates who are not on the ballot, however, these candidates must also receive at least one hundred write-in votes to be elected to the Senate. Mallory Everly, a sophomore majoring
in Multimedia Journalism and minoring in Political Science, ran for her second Student Senate term. She said there are many opportunities for learning and involvement on campus as a senator. “I just love all of the extracurricular learning opportunities that it provides to people,” Everly said. “Student Senate, in my opinion, is very interesting because it is a combination between a university department and a student organization. Because of this, we hear from a lot of interesting people and we receive a lot of different information that truly teaches you a lot about GV as an institution, which I don’t feel like I would get if I was not in Student Senate.” Magdalyn Hallead, a freshman biomedical science major, said the senate provides students with many skills, resources and opportunities for future careers, even for those who are not pursuing a career in politics or government. “I think a great benefit is the leadership skills, learning how to talk to people, job interviews have been so easy for me now,”
Hallead said. “Personally, I learned a lot about the university, how it works and how the administration deals with things.” Hallead said students don’t need to be a political science major to join the senate. Everly and Hallead said they encourage students to look on the Student Senate website and reach out to the contacts provided for both general information about the senate and how to apply for the Student Senate. “If you are even thinking about it, maybe you’re not sure or you’re on the fence, just try it, you never know until you try,” Everly said. “We have various committees that people can sit on, so chances are there’s something for everyone.” The newly elected Student Senate will be sworn in during the general assembly meeting on Thursday, April 6 at 4:30 p.m. in the Pere Marquette River Room in Kirkhof Center. LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
STUDENT LEADERSHIP: Grand Valley State University’s Student Senate holds elections every year and are meant to represent the goals of the student body. They work closely with administration and organizations at GVSU in an attempt to initiate change. Student Senate encourages people from all backgrounds to get involved either as a student or an elected position. Student senate meeting are open to the study body. GVL | BETHANN LONG
APRIL 3, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS
BY I HAILEY HENTZ ARTS@LANTHORN.COM
Campus Activities Board (CAB) welcomed artist T-Pain to Grand Valley State University for the annual Spring Concert on Sat. April 1. The performance was held in the Fieldhouse Arena on campus with more than 5,000 tickets sold. Originally scheduled to perform at the Spring Concert in 2020, the rapper’s visit to GVSU was canceled due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Saturday’s event marked T-Pain’s appearance on stage three years later. “We are always looking for ways to diversify our artists and the genre of music for (the) Spring Concert,” said Programming Graduate Assistant in the Office of Student Life Chad Novak. “We recognized that T-Pain would be an excellent fit and would give us the chance to honor the concert that never happened because of COVID.” T-Pain began making music in 1999 as a member of the hip-hop group Nappy Headz. He transitioned into a solo career, releasing his debut album in 2005 and popularizing the use of Auto-Tune to enhance singers’ voices. Since then, T-Pain has become a staple in 2000s R&B, totaling 12 Grammy nominations and two award wins. He is most well known for his songs “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin’)” and “Bartender,” as well as his collaborations with hip-hop artists Pitbull and Flo Rida. T-Pain performed a setlist with his greatest hits for the packed venue. In the glow of the stage lights, audience members recorded their favorite songs and sang along with friends. “(My favorite part was) when he got introduced,” said Aaron Veliu, a who attended the concert. “The video they put in the background was dope.” Veliu and his friend group said they were excited they got to hear “Best Love Song” live. According to CAB, the organization sold 500 more tickets than last year’s Spring Concert with Yung Gravy, making it the largest yet. Tickets were priced at $15 for students, $25 for staff, faculty and alumni and $35 for the public. CAB first hinted at the artist through a series of Instagram posts. The posts showed sunglasses, the shape of Florida, a white suit and a Mini Coupe. The first five students who guessed correctly that T-Pain was performing received free tickets to the concert. The organization encouraged students to attend GVSU’s annual talent show for the reveal of the headlining artist at the end of the event. “We wanted to try something new this year with a live reveal,” said Assistant Director of Programming in the Office of Student Life Katie Garrett. “We got a great turnout for GV’s Got Talent and got to showcase some amazing student talent, but also, we got to see the live reaction of students finding out who the Spring Concert artist was.” Two performers opened Saturday’s event. DJ Q89, an entertainer from Greek Life’s NPHC Icebreaker, was brought back to GVSU. NandoSTL, an up-and-coming artist who collaborates with T-Pain, also opened the show. T-Pain wanted to introduce him to GVSU and CAB agreed that the concert was a perfect opportunity to include new artists. Organizing the event wasn’t a quick task. Novak said a large amount of work went on before students entered the Fieldhouse for the show. “The week leading up to the concert is always hectic, in a good way,” Novak said. “We are working on finalizing last-minute details, meeting with all of our stakeholders, and ensuring we have all of our supplies and equipment ready for the concert. The day of the concert is the busiest with setting up the venue, stage, lighting, sound, signage and security measures.” Behind-the-scenes work goes into making the Spring Concert one of the most popular annual events at GVSU. “Events like the Spring Concert can be some of students’ favorite memories of college,” Garrett said. “We hope that students can come together, and just have fun. There are a lot of challenges in college and we hope our events help students put down some of the heavy parts of college to take a break and enjoy time with their friends.”
A6&7 | ARTS
A8 | NEWS
APRIL 3, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
INVOLVEMENT
Student Life Awards recognize student organizations’ accomplishments BY CHLOE SCHRAM NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State University’s Student Life Awards will be held on April 14. The awards aim to highlight the uniqueness and leadership of different organizations, students and university entities for their dedication to the GVSU community. Olivia Witsaman is the student organizations and leadership development graduate assistant in the Office of Student Life. Witsaman is one of the main points of contact for the hundreds of student organizations on campus. For the Student Life Awards, she worked with the Assistant Director of Student Life, Bri Slager, to plan the event. “Programming the Student Life Awards allows me to connect with a variety of campus partners,” Witsaman said. “Without their support, this special recognition event would not be possible. Bri and I work with Facilities and Athletics to ensure we can transform the Field House into an awards ceremony space. We share our vision of the event aesthetic with The Promotions Office, who then creates the marketing materials and graphics for the event, bringing our vision to life.” The Office of Student Life has put on the Student Life Awards for over 30 years. The awards are meant to cele-
brate the efforts of registered student organizations and students’ willingness to “explore their passions, create communities of care and develop as leaders throughout the entire year.” “We had over 200 nominations for events, individuals and organizations this year,” Slager said. “I also work with our partners in the Division of Student Affairs to collect their nominations and materials to assist in presenting their awards. This year, additional campus departments will be represented at the awards.” The Office of Student Life wants to honor the impact the GVSU community makes on the campus environment. “Our team’s intention is that the Student Life Awards reminds student organization members of their value and what they contribute to GVSU,” Witsaman said. “Without student organizations, our community would not be as vibrant, and students deserve to know that.” One organization nominated for a Student Life Award this year is American Cancer Society (ACS) Relay for Life. The organization is nominated for the “Care for Community” award. “Relay is a community-based fundraising event for the ACS,” said Olivia Iafrate, a junior at GVSU and a member of ACS. “All of the proceeds go towards improving cancer survival, decreased incidence of cancer and
RECOGNITION: This year, over 200 student events, individuals and organizations received nominations for the Student Life Awards, emphasizing the increased level of engagement and participation in GVSU’s variety of unique campus communities. GVL | ARCHIVES
improving the quality of life for cancer patients and their caretakers.” Iafrate said ACS is “a group of college students who work together to fight against cancer.” The organization plans events, connects with cancer survivors and shares information about cancer. Iafrate has family members who had lost their battle against cancer, so she’s thankful for an organization that helps her honor them through events and actions. “My favorite part about Relay is the
Luminaria ceremony to remember and honor those we have lost from cancer, those who are still fighting and those in remission,” Iafrate said. The Student Life Awards highlight the work of student organizations like ACS and honors the unique aspects of each GVSU organization. “(The Student Life Awards) really is an event to celebrate all the work student organization leaders put into creating a vibrant campus community,” Slager said. “We truly believe that student organizations are the heart of GVSU.”
SPOTLIGHT: The “Care for Community” award is given to recognize important work by student organizations to benefit the lives of communities beyond GVSU.
GVL | ARCHIVES
A9 | LAKER LIFE
APRIL 3, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE
LAKER LIFE BRIEFS LESSONS FROM GHANA
On Tuesday, the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies will be presenting Dr. Richard Amfo-Otu and Dr. Anthony Amoah from the University of Environment and Sustainable Development, both of which are visiting from Ghana, Africa. They’ll both be sharing their lessons they’ve learned while studying in a different country and from their time in their research in the field of environment and sustainability studies. After the presentation there will be a Q&A session for attendees. This talk will take place in the Kirkhof Center room 2263 from 9-10:30 a.m. It’s open to all faculty, staff and students.
RECOGNIZE SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and because of this the Center for Women and Gender Equity (CWGE) will be holding a “Plant Your Power” event in the Kirkhof Center. This is to symbolize healing and growth. Participants will be able to plant a heart-shaped seed paper in a small nursery pot that they will then take home to grow. On Wednesday, April 5, CWGE will be hosting a Community Resource Fair in the Kirkhof Lounge from noon to 3 p.m. This will feature both onand off-campus resources to help support survivors of sexual assault in their healing. There will be tables to answer questions about their services as well as share any opportunities they have to get involved. On Thursday, April 6, there will be trauma-informed yoga in the Kelley Sports Center room 002BC from 4-5 p.m. This session will be led by GVSU yoga instructor. In order to attend this session register through the MindBody app. Participants must bring their own yoga mat or towel to use. To close out the week, CWGE asks students to wear teal on Friday, April 7 to help raise awareness and show support.
HUNT FOR EASTER EGGS
On Wednesday, April 5 the GVSU Laker Store will be hosting an Easter egg hunt at 11 a.m. inside of the Laker Store. Those who find an egg can bring it to the service desk to win candy, special prizes and discounts on items in the Laker Store.
LGBTQ
GV celebrates Trans Week of Visibility BY ISABELLE ENGLAND LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM
This year, Grand Valley State University celebrated Trans Week of Visibility with several events aimed to raise awareness of the LGBTQ community. The week of events ended with the celebration of National Transgender Day of Visibility. To start the week of events, the Milton E. Ford LGBTQ Resource Center hosted the “Femme Queen Chronicles,” a comedy series about the lives of three Black trans women navigating their lives in the city of Detroit. The movie screening was accompanied with a discussion with the film creator, Ahya Simone, followed by a feature harp performance from Simone. The center’s mission is to advocate for institutional equity, promote community-building and provide educational opportunities. Further, they aim to create an informed and cohesive campus where community members of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities feel supported and welcomed. During the week, the center, in collaboration with the GVSU men’s club volleyball team, held a drag show co-hosted by Drag Queens La Reine Divine and Cherry Poppins. La Reine Divine is better known around GVSU as Marcus John, the head coach of the D1 men’s club volleyball team. Amongst the Grand Rapids natives were queens Nani, Zaria S. Zion, Asio Aviance, Jane and special guest Cocky Define. The show aimed to bring entertainment and acceptance to GVSU and also acted as a fundraiser for the volleyball team. “When I was going here in 2011, I didn’t even know what a trans individual was or what they looked like, but the LGBTQ center makes a big difference and a big push to get people who identify anyway they identify to feel safe,” said Marcus John, head coach of the D1 men’s club volleyball team. Paden Rousseau, the president of the men’s club volleyball team, partnered with John to draft the idea in the fall semester where they held the first GVSU-sponsored drag show. The first event last November had a large turnout. This time around, the queens, several of which are GVSU alumni, offered up their time and talents for free. They were looking to support the community and help bring trans and queer people to the forefront of the week. “A huge part of our club and culture is accepting everybody and Marcus sat us down in the beginning and just kind of talked about that,” Rousseau said. “How volleyball was his way of expression and coming out and that kind of stuff. That is a core value of our program. It is something we are definitely not afraid of and want to embrace everybody. That’s the
INCLUSION: GV students got together this week to highlight the LGTBQ community in a week of events that lead up to National Transgender Visibility Day. There were talks, drag shows and more. GVL | SYDNEY LIM
main reason why I love this program, and do this work is because they accept everybody.” After the show, the queens sat down and offered comments on their work. “Drag for me was definitely an escape because I didn’t have to deal with Marcus’s issues, she (La Reine Divine) was definitely an escape, and she saved my life in a sense,” Johns said. “I used to see them as two separate entities, and now I see them as one person now so it’s been quite the journey that I have been on.” When asked about how drag has affected their lives, queen Nani commented on how she found her identity through the art and how it has helped her feel more represented in her own cultural roots. “Drag helped me find my transness, and I’ve been doing drag for like maybe three years now, I’m noticing there is not a lot of Latin representation so I did a show out in Lowell and I did a Hispanic song,” Nani said. “The kids came to me and told me how important it was to see me represent this whole space of Michigan that I don’t think it very represented. I love the applause and feeling like a star.” With the ongoing controversy surrounding the art of drag, it’s important to the center to continue to spread the message of acceptance on campus. Both gender identity and gender expression are protected under the university’s policies including the GVSU Board of Trustees policies on Sex and Gender Based Harassment. Harassment and discrimination on the basis of gender identity and/ or gender expression is continually protected by the university’s Title IX office. “When I was going here, I’m a pretty introverted person, so finding the courage to go to the LGBTQ center was really hard,” Nani said. “But there was actually a drag club here and I participated in that and that was a lot of fun.” “For our trans members of the community, visibility is crucial,” said D.L. McKinney, Director of the Milton E. Ford LGBTQ Resource Center. “This is a
space for trans and non-binary people to feel seen through positive realistic representation. This also gives space for allies and advocates to learn more about the wealth of talent in our community and how to stand in solidarity for justice and celebration.” Students can get involved with the many center-sponsored student groups for all identities. The center also has a wide range of trans-specific resources like scholarship opportunities and resources on everything from how to go about making a legal name change in Michigan to gender-inclusive housing at GV. “I was one of the first student workers when the LGBTQ Resource Center opened in 2008,” McKinney said. “This was the first time I felt like I had a voice that mattered and that I was more than a Black queer person. I was able to do roundtable talks as an activity in my position and I did a leadership round table because even though young in my professional career, I knew that leading and boldness mattered to engage in change and make way for others like myself to soar.” To close out the week’s celebration, GVSU welcomed Jey’nce Poindexter, a Michigan-based trans activist and community pioneer for a togetherness event. “Don’t be scared to use your voice, because I can’t speak for trans individuals because I’m not one, but just from being an outsider looking in you can see how our trans brothers and sisters are really scared, just to go outside,” Cherry Poppins said. “Our allies have the power to use their voices to stand up for our trans brothers and sisters, don’t stand in the shadows because that is part of the problem.” For more information about how to get involved with queer-based activities on campus, students can visit the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center located on the first floor of Kirkhof center or contact the center through their email at lgbtcenter.gsvu.edu.
A10 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTS AT A GLANCE GV COMMUNITY MEMBERS PRODUCE & PREMIERE ENVIRONMENTAL FILM
Grand Valley State University faculty and alumni have created a film telling stories of climate action from all across the state. The film, “Climate Sisu: The stories of climate resilience from Northern Michigan,” takes viewers into the lives of scientists, farmers, urban planners and other climate activists in Michigan. Throughout the film, the audience is taken through the stories and personal experiences of local Michigan residents that are working to find meaningful solutions to the bigger issues of climate change. It’s a call to action, raising awareness for the impacts of environmental injustices through optimistic, point-of-view style storytelling. The GVSU community involved in the development, filming, writing and production of Climate Sisu hope to stir a sense of resilience within the audience. They said they hope to instill that individuals shouldn’t be discouraged by the overwhelming nature of the climate change, but instead feel motivated to make small changes in everyday life to make a difference. GVSU is holding a premiere for the film on the Pew Grand Rapids campus this Thursday, April 6 as part of the Civic Engagement Showcase.
GV HIGHLIGHTS GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES IN CAMPUS EVENTS
Grand Valley State University is celebrating African voices and culture in different capacities through the “One Africa” celebration this Friday, hosted by the African Student Council. This is an event for anyone identifying with or interested in the celebration of vibrant African culture. “One Africa” is set to bring participants into different aspects of traditions, art, music, dance, food and more within African heritage. They will feature a runway show, dance performance, workshop class on rhythms and moves of African dance and free cuisines from both Western and Southern Africa. Additionally, GVSU writing professor Dr. Oindrila Mukherjee is holding a presentation and book talk as part of the campus Global Express series. In the novel, “The Dream Builders,” Mukherjee speaks about the societal differences in class, gender and identity between the Midwestern American versus India. The presentation is expected to cover topics ranging from infrastructural development, globalization and how to navigate a transition between the two countries. Both events celebrate rich and diverse cultural heritage outside of the United States, providing students and community members that are interested an opportunity for engagement with global African enrichments and exposure to Indian cultural dynamics. For more information on both events, visit the GVSU events page under “One Africa” and “Global Express Series.”
APRIL 3, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
@GVLARTS
AWARENESS
GV, Grand Rapids Public Museum showcase GR women’s work in public health BY HALEY ROSENDALE ARTS@LANTHORN.COM
The Grand Rapids Public Museum and Grand Valley State University have teamed up to create an exhibit featuring the historic public health work done in Grand Rapids. On Wednesday, March 29, the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) debuted its presentations and program to the public. The GVSU students involved with the program were interns at GRPM and were able to conduct their own research for their presentations. The exhibit is a part of the “GR Stories” series, centered on the history of public health in Grand Rapids. “GR Stories” are short stories about the history of Grand Rapids, an ongoing series at the museum. Multiple stories are happening at once, and each one has a corresponding in-person or virtual program presentation. Each GVSU intern conducted indepth research about different topics in the public health history of Grand Rapids. Each got to showcase their conclusions through a presentation at the exhibit’s debut. There was also a panel discussion about public health history moderated by GVSU history professors. Hannah Krebs, a sophomore history major at GVSU and GRPM intern, researched whooping cough for the exhibit.
WOMEN’S HISTORY: Three Grand Valley students created an educational and informative exhibit that highlights the groundbreaking contributions of women in public health at the GRPM. GVL | ARCHIVES
“The theme for this one was public health in Grand Rapids, so I did a presentation on the creation of a whooping cough vaccine in Grand Rapids during the Great Depression by mostly female scientists,” Krebs said. “I focused on women’s involvement, including Dr. Pearl Kendrick, Dr. Grace Eldering, lab technicians and public health nurses because of the significant barriers to scientific fields that they faced during that time.” Callie Dzurisin is a junior at GVSU and GRPM intern majoring in biomedical science. Dzurisin worked on the exhibit alongside the other interns. “My project was titled ‘The Evolution of the Cough Plate Medium:
How Pearl Kendrick and Grace Eldering’s Work in Grand Rapids Contributed to the Standardization of this Diagnostic Technique,’” Dzurisin said. “My goal was to bridge the gap between medicine and history. I wanted to explain what was going on in the labs that Drs. Pearl Kendrick and Grace Eldering worked in. These two women’s research right here in Grand Rapids allowed them to develop a whooping cough vaccine that saved thousands of lives.” LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
ENTERTAINMENT
GV Theatre Program examines LGBT history with “The Importance of Being Earnest” BY OMARI SEABERRY NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: As a gay man and playwright in the 1900s, Oscar Wilde wove Victorian society’s closed-mindedness towards LGBTQ issues into the nuances of the play. COURTESY | LAUREN SEYMOUR
This past weekend, the theatre program at Grand Valley State University held its final showing of “The Importance of Being Earnest,” originally written by Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde in 1895. The play is about a young man named John Worthing. In the story, he creates the fictitious character of “Earnest,” whose vile ways give John a chance to leave the country from time to time and travel to London. In London, John stays with his close friend, Algernon. In GVSU’s rendition, Oscar Wilde was also a character in the play. The play is a societal satire that brings to light the many flaws of society back in the 1900s, some still relevant today. It’s also a commentary on the absurdity of the high class during the Victorian period. Diane Machin helmed the director’s seat for this production. Machin has worked with many theaters, universities
and festivals throughout North America and had a lot of enthusiasm about this specific piece. As the director, she was in charge of many things like scripts and rehearsals. Machin said she had a dedicated team to help her make this story and performance possible. “We have a phenomenal dialect coach whose name is August Rain Stamper,” Machin said. “Oscar Wilde intended for the play to be spoken in a kind of highbrow English accent. I then have my stage management team and that is separate from my creative team like designers and things like that.” Machin’s supporting cast made sure this play was aesthetically and visually captivating, opening the door for enjoyment and expansive thinking for the audience. Rehearsal is always an integral aspect in show business. Without it, staying on track with the things that proceed on stage would be difficult. LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
A11 | SPORTS
APRIL 3, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
QUICK HITS MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TENNIS DOMINATE GLIAC OPPONENTS Grand Valley State University’s tennis teams are both in the win columns after successful outings on the road against Davenport University (March 31) and at home against Purdue Northwest the following evening. The women’s team is now 11-5 with the men’s record improving to 10-6 after snapping their five-match losing streak and shaking off a rough March schedule that featured zero wins by the men’s side. March 31 consisted of both GVSU team’s defeating the Panthers 5-2, as the team’s beat PNW 6-1 (women’s) and 4-3 (men’s). The women’s only loss against PNW last Saturday was the No. 2 doubles matchup for freshman Rachel Sam and sophomore Estefania Hernandez (5-7) as both players and their teammates cleaned house in the singles matchups (6-0) and wrapped up the remaining two doubles matchups in their favor (2-0). For the men’s side, a much closer battle took place as the six singles matchups were split between the teams (3-3) with the overall match coming down to the Lakers taking two of the three doubles matchups (2-1) to take the victory. Both teams will host Ferris State University at home April 8 starting at 5 p.m. TRACK AND FIELD PARTICIPATE IN LONG WEEK OF ACTION GVSU’s track and field program was on the road this past week as the teams split up to take on opponents in various meets, including the Texas Relays, Bobcat Invitational, the Spartan Invite and the Vert Klasse Meeting. The first two of the four meets listed began March 30 and stretched into April 1, with the other two invites consisting of single day events on March 31 (Spartan Invite) and April 1 (Vert Klasse Meeting). The full lists of results of the Laker performances can be located at gvsulakers.com
BASEBALL
GV baseball adds third GLIAC win, drops a pair on the road BY BRIAN BLOOM SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State University baseball completed their lengthy stretch of 20 road games since their season opener Feb. 25 after their recent matchups against Purdue Northwest University (1-1) and Davenport University (0-1). The March 27 double-header against Purdue Northwest (PNW) consisted of the Lakers winning the first game, 7-3 and dropping the second, 2-7 followed by a 4-16 loss against the Panthers the next day - bringing their undefeated conference record to 3-2. “We were pretty disappointed, we’ve been playing really well, but we just have to shake it off and focus on the next game,” said junior pitcher Nick Rutkowski. Game one against PNW saw GVSU’s pitching and hitting work cohesively to capture the first game. Sophomore third baseman Logan Anderson and sophomore catcher Brendan Guciardo helped propel the Lakers’ six-run third inning with two RBI’s each, while senior starting pitcher Rylan Peets and redshirt freshman pitcher Josh Schell held the Purdue Northwest offense to three runs. “We have a unique combo of young and old guys,” Rutkowski said. “We have freshmen playing important roles and our pitching staff is older and experienced. We feel like we
CONFERENCE: Although the Lakers suffered two dissapointing losses against Purdue Northwest and DU, the team is still above .500 for their overall conference record. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS
can always get out of a jam.” Peets allowed just one earned run on nine hits, with three strikeouts in six innings on the mound. Junior left fielder Kyle Nott went 2-4 on the day with two runs and one RBI, Guciardo went 1-2 with two RBIs and two walks, and Anderson got a pinch-hit, two RBI single in the win. “After last season, our emphasis was to stay consistent, just trying to make sure that we take care of everything and simulate game situations in practice,” Logan said. “The coaches have put us in great positions to succeed. Hitting is contagious, so when our guys are doing well, we feed off of that.” The script flipped on the Lakers in game two, however, as the offense sputtered and was only able to mus-
ter two runs in the loss. On the other side, PNW crossed home plate early and never looked back as they scored seven runs on 12 hits. Nott and senior center fielder Spencer Nelson recorded the only RBIs of the game for the Lakers, while sophomore right fielder Justin Mansager and junior catcher MacArthur Graybill scored. Despite the shaky pitching performances by the Lakers, junior pitcher Logan Wynalda allowed just one run and struck out six batters in his three innings on the hill. The following day, the team finished their road trip against crosstown rivals Davenport University. LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
WOMEN’S RUGBY BACK HOME NEXT WEEKEND GVSU’s women’s rugby club will continue their spring campaign as they host the GVSU Classic next weekend. The team will play Apr. 8 at Rec Field #1, with the GVSU Alumni Game a few weeks after on April 22 at the same field location. More information relating to the club’s scheduled matches and more can be found on the club’s page at gvsu.edu/clubsports. SOFTBALL DOUBLEHEADER CANCELED AFTER MIDWEST STORM Due to the inclement weather the Midwest region of the country experienced over the weekend, GVSU softball had their second doubleheader of the season canceled that was initially scheduled against Lewis University March 29. Barring any other cancellations or postponements, the team is looking forward to getting back into action with a heavy slate ahead of them: a doubleheader at home against Ferris State (Apr. 3) starting at 3 p.m., on the road in a doubleheader against Davenport Apr. 7 starting at 3 p.m. and another road doubleheader against Saginaw Valley Apr. 8 with a 1 p.m. start time for the first of two games.
SWINGING: GVSU’s extesnive 20-game road trip has stemmed from their very first matchup of the 2023 season which dated back to the end of February - marking the road campaign at a total of 36 days overall. However, the Lakers are also on the positive side of their overall record which rests at 15-6 overall. With more GLIAC and home appearances in the near future, the team will look to remain positive on the season. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS
A12 | SPORTS
APRIL 3, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
LACROSSE
Women’s lax grabs second GLIAC victory against NMU BY BREANNA HAMMER SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State University’s women’s lacrosse won their first home game of the season against Northern Michigan University (16-8) to extend their record to 6-4 on the season and 2-0 in the GLIAC. Although a familiar matchup against the Wildcats, this game was recognized as the “Morgan’s Message” game which is created to help eliminate the stigma around mental health within the sports world, highlighting the need for student athletes to reach out and access the many resources catered toward mental and physical health. Senior midfielder Molly Bursinger demonstrated the importance of the Morgan’s Message game as one of the top-three offensive players, while stating that this match fueled her to perform at a high level. “The stigma related to mental health is something that affects so many student athletes, and I want to do my part in raising awareness for that,” Bursinger said. Alongside the idea of making a difference, freshman attacker Gracie Bancroft also spoke to the importance that Morgan’s Message has had on the entire team. “Through the season we’ve had so far, our team has been faced with challenges and adversity already,” Bancroft
said. “Playing in the game today put our team into a perspective of playing for a bigger cause and shedding light on playing for mental health.” On top of this initiative, Bancroft mentioned the importance of sticking to the game plan has been to the team not only in the recent bout against NMU, but throughout the season thus far. “Our team came out with the start of the game with confidence and poise, knowing the game plan and executing it,” Bancroft said. Overall, it was a solid game played offensively and defensively. Junior attacker Maddy Champagne led the Lakers with five goals, followed by Bursinger and graduate student midfielder Maggie Hammer (three), sophomore midfielders Zoe Ziegler and Ashleigh Rothe (two) and Bancroft (one). “Offensively, we worked really well as a unit to get everyone on the field involved,” Bursinger said. “This means finding the right looks and executing the shots we were taking. Defensively we communicated through everything, and adapted as mistakes were made.” The boxscore displayed exactly what the Lakers stressed as the team out-paced the Wildcats 29-14 for shots on goal attempts as junior goalie Audrey Maloney
WIN: After another successful outing against Nothern Michigan University March 31 and another victory on the road against Notre Dame College, the Lakers are now riding a four-game winning streak and have evened out their GLIAC record to 2-2 ahead of their meeting against Concordia. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS
saved six of those 14 attempts. GVSU came out of the gates hot as they led by three goals at the end of the first quarter (5-2), adding three more goals to their total while only allowing the Wildcats to score once throughout the next 15 minutes as the Lakers took an 8-3 into the halftime break. “As we adapted, we were able to become more aggressive when the ball was on the ground, allowing us to gain extra possessions,” Bursinger said.
Much of the same continued over the remaining 30 minutes of the match with the Lakers outsourcing NMU 8-5 to take a dominant 16-8 victory. With the month of April consisting of their final matches of the regular season, GVSU will face off against Notre Dame College on the road April 2 to kick off their six-game stretch this month. LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
The Grand Valley State University Chemistry Department invites you to
THE ARNOLD C. OTT LECTURESHIP IN CHEMISTRY APRIL 13 AND 14, 2023
Presented by
Tom Guarr, Ph.D. Director of Research and Development Michigan State University Bioeconomy Institute Public Lecture
Chemistry Seminar
Thursday, April 13
Friday, April 14
Can Organic Batteries Power a Sustainable Grid?
Electrochemical Trickery: Turning Organic Macrocycles into Conductive Polymers and Supercapacitors
Reception — 5 p.m. Lecture — 6 p.m. Grand River Room Russel H. Kirkhof Center Allendale Campus
Hosted by
LEADERSHIP: The Lakers’ offensive success comes from sound connectiveness on the pitch led by their seasoned upperclassmen like Bursinger, Champagne and Hammer. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS
1 p.m. Pere Marquette Room Russel H. Kirkhof Center Allendale Campus
Free and open to the public gvsu.edu/chem