Grand Valley Lanthorn vol. 57 no. 7

So

Saginaw

GV football seals decade-long win streak

Grand Rapids Jewish Theatre explores culture, engages all

TRUMP STUMPS FOR MI GOP CANDIDATES IN MACOMB COUNTY

Former President Donald Trump traveled to Michigan on Oct. 1 to rally support for the Republican party’s nominees for office.

Gathering at Macomb Community College in Warren, Republican hopefuls for various state and congressional offices hoped to energize a base in the state’s third most populace county and one that supported Trump in both his races for the presidency.

Nominees in attendance included gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon, attorney general nominee Matthew Deperno and secretary of state nominee Kristina Karamo.

While speaking, Trump and fellow Republicans took aim at growing concerns among the electorate including increased inflation under Democratic control in Washington and heightened crime rates in Michigan since Democrats took control of statewide offices in 2018.

Trump also reiterated false claims of voter fraud altering the outcome of the 2020 election that he said stripped victories from himself and others like then-U.S.

Senate candidate John James, now running against Democrat Carl Marlinga to represent Michigan’s 10th U.S. Congressional District.

The rally came as Dixon, Deperno and Karamo all trailed their Democratic opponents in their races for statewide office, according to the most recent EPIC-MRA polling.

GV CAMPUS HEALTH CENTER HOSTS OPEN HOUSE FOLLOWING NEW PARTNERSHIP

Grand Valley State University’s Campus Health Center hosted an open house on Sept. 27 to commemorate the university’s new partnership with local healthcare provider Trinity Health Medical Group.

The open house welcomed any and all members of the GVSU community who wished to meet Trinity staff and explore the Campus Health Center and its offerings.

According to GVNext, the event featured a ceremonial ribbon cutting by officials including GVSU President Philomena Mantella and an introduction of Trinity staff to community members in attendance.

GV AREA GAS PRICES RISE AFTER WEEKS OF DECLINE

Following an extended period of steady declines in local gas prices, areas surrounding Grand Valley State University are again seeing rising costs at the pump reminiscent of the past summer.

According to the national gas price analysis organization GasBuddy, prices in the area surrounding GVSU were set between $4.03 and $4.19 as of Oct. 1.

The increase coincides with a national and statewide uptick in gas prices in recent days.

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the current national average for gas sits at $3.80 per gallon as of Oct. 1 – up from $3.70 a week prior. In Michigan, the average price sat at $4.16 per gallon on the same day compared to $3.89 one week prior. This currently makes Michigan the 10th most expensive state in the nation in terms of current gas prices.

GV commuters cite growing concerns with overcrowding, wait times on Laker Line

BY GRACE SMITH NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

This fall, Allendale and Grand Rapids have been buzzing with conversations about concerns regarding Grand Valley State University’s transportation system.

High prices of on-campus parking and the frequent distribution of parking violations have dissuaded students from investing in on-campus parking passes. As a result, many students rely on GVSU’s bussing system as their primary means of transportation.

The growing number of concerns being raised by students regarding the bussing systems have centered around overcrowded buses running late or less frequently than the years before.

“Whenever I get on between 12:00 and 5:00, the bus is always full and there’s barely any room to stand,” said student commuter Kate Lewis.

Lauren Gutierrez, another GVSU student commuting to campus, said that the slightly longer wait times between buses have impacted her commute to class this semester.

“I miss when it was 10 minutes between buses and not 15,” said Gutierrez.

“It’s a long wait if you just miss the bus, especially if you have another class to get to.”

According to GVSU Public Transportation Manager Chris Swank, however, such extended wait times came at the request of the service provider.

“The Rapid, who provides our bus service, asked for the Laker Line to run on a 15-minute frequency as that is consistent with the highest frequency on their other routes,” Swank said. “This allows for better connectivity between bus lines.  The change added five minutes between bus schedules.”

Swank said that GVSU Transporta-

tion Services is aware of potential issues of overcrowding on the buses, and they will continue to monitor for potential adverse effects of this change as time goes on.

“We’ve been watching ridership numbers compared to last year’s,” Swank said. “Most days, they have been less than previous years’ ridership.  We continue to monitor ridership and will work with The Rapid to make appropriate changes to bus frequency if demand exceeds capacity.”

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BY CAMRYN SNIDER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

On Sept. 23 Grand Valley State University’s Student Senate passed legislation recommending that the university’s Parking Services clearly state policy changes and notify the campus community in a “visible” manner.

Student Senate Vice President of External Affairs, Zach Schmidt, wrote the legislation to ensure students are properly informed.

“My job is to bring the concerns that the students are having to the ad-

ministration, and try to get those concerns addressed,” Schmidt said.

To further tackle parking concerns, Schmidt said he is working with Parking Services to get student representation on the Parking Committee. He also collaborated with the department to update its website to provide more clarification on the parking violation appeal process.

“We’ll be following through on oversight with the Parking Committee and making sure that Parking Services is being more transparent with the students on how they’re enforcing parking lots,” Schmidt said.

To stay up to date, Schmidt said students should attend the Student Senate’s general assemblies. Dates are listed on the Student Senate webpage.

“I think it’s extremely important for students to have a voice,” Schmidt said. “We’re one of the main sources of revenue for the university, and we’re also, in my opinion, what the university is built around.”

Looking ahead, Schmidt said he

hopes to discuss the location of the GVSU Farmers Market to reduce its impact on parking.

“It takes up 27 spots in lot G, which there’s already a lot of competition for spots as it is, and the farmers market takes up those spots during peak hours,” Schmidt said. “I think it would be prudent for the university to move the Farmers Market out of the student lot to where it would be less of a nuisance for students and commuters.”

GVSU senior Jillian Greene said she opted out of purchasing a parking pass after hearing about the limited parking availability on campus.

“I’ve never commuted to campus because I’ve had roommates and classmates who did and they always said that there are no parking spots, so they have to drive around a lot to find one,” Greene said.

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BUSES: GV offers transport between Allendale and Grand Rapids. GVL | JOSH ALBURTUS

PARKING

GV

Student Senate passes parking legislation as concerns over violations, availability persist

VIOLATIONS: GV’S Student Senate seeks to provide more awareness of parking policy changes. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

Lanthorn

Top policy issues for MI voters identified, GV voters split on importance of each

BY JACOB WELCH NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Every election cycle has new issues which voters use to guide their electoral decisions. According to recent EPIC-MRA polling, voters in Michigan are now evenly split between ranking inflation and abortion as their top issue.

The two topics, which were both cited as the top issue for 24% of voters in EPIC-MRA’s poll, are ones that have similarly found their way to Grand Valley State University as the campus community prepares for the upcoming midterm elections.

GVSU junior, Taegan Byers, places abortion access at the top of her electoral priorities.

“Right now, the issues for a lot of voters, especially progressive voters, are inequities in healthcare,” Byers said. “One of those inequities is the lack of reproductive healthcare, racial equity, equity for the LGBTQ community, inflation is a big one and COVID is also still a big one.”

Byers created Students for Choice, a registered student organization at GVSU formed in response to anti-abortion rhetoric on campus. The club is dedicated to being a place for

EDUCATION

those in the community who support access to abortion services.

In contrast, senior and GVSU College Republicans Vice Chair Zachary Schmidt is among those who place concerns regarding inflation at the forefront of their political decisions.

In addition to what he sees as demonizing rhetoric from national Democrats and a weaponization of federal agencies, Schmidt said inflation is one of his top concerns going into this year’s elections.

“Paying $4 or $5 at the gas pump, it’s hurting me in the wallet and hurting my

ability to buy groceries,” Schmidt said.

While abortion has played a role in Schmidt’s outlook heading into the midterms, he views the issue as one that merits less consideration than other concerns.

“Abortion is an important issue to me, but it’s not the biggest issue for me this election cycle,” Schmidt said.

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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

LGBTQ training videos spark backlash, GV area educators and students respond

BY PAYTON BRAZZIL NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has received criticism in recent weeks after releasing a series of training videos regarding LGBTQ students. The videos explained how instructors should provide support and approach issues regarding their LGBTQ students.

Short clips from the training videos were shared on social media, sparking debates about teachers’ roles in LGBTQ students’ lives.

According to reporting done by Bridge Michigan, one of the project leaders informed training clip viewers that teachers have a legal requirement to report if a student has suicidal thoughts, but teachers don’t need to reveal students’ sexual orientation or gender identity in the process.

This statement received bipartisan backlash, including Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration.

help young kids transition (in terms of gender identity) and instructing them not to tell their parents, even if they are suicidal,” said Dixon in a news conference held outside the Department of Education building.

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Dixon called for the resignation of State Superintendent Michael Rice, referencing that the LGBTQ training videos coach teachers to hide information from a student’s parents – specifically when the student is suicidal.

“The Michigan Department of Education is actively training staff to

After Dixon’s statement, Whitmer’s Chief Operating Officer Tricia Foster also expressed concern over the videos in a letter to Rice. According to reporting from the Detroit News, the letter served as a reprimand to Rice and his department that, in the administration’s view, should instead place additional emphasis on parental involvement in education and core instructional subjects.

In response to the controversy, MDE defended the training videos in multiple press releases.

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ELECTIONS: Abortion access and rising inflation are galvanizing voters on either end of the political spectrum to vote in the Nov. midterms. GVL | JOSH ALBURTUS

By Donovan Lopez

Mar-a-Lago probe highlights need for government transparency

Following the Aug. 8 search by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Mar-a-Lago, the Florida home of former President Donald Trump, transparency on the part of government operations has been called into question.

related to a lack of transparency from the Trump legal team have muddied the process and slowed a final determination from federal authorities as to the extent of any potential crime.

Column: Allendale offers plenty of options for fall fun

weather is 80 degrees on Tuesday and on Wednesday it’s raining and 50 degrees.

Changing leaves, colder weather and cozy blankets come out of hiding along with visits to pumpkin patches and apple orchards. There are plenty of options for those looking for the best way to spend a cool, fall afternoon, both at home and around Grand Valley State University.

BY MADDIE ZIMMERMAN JUNIOR ADVERTISING AND PR EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

The weather is slowly shifting from the warm summer months to the chilly breeze and changing fall leaves -- unless you’re living in Michigan, where the

First, my favorite, watching a tv show or movie and cuddling up with my pet cat and a blanket. Fall is a cozy season. Grab your favorite blanket, snack and if you have a pet, grab them too. Take some time for yourself during the school week. Watch your favorite Halloween movie and eat some

candy. You need to prioritize yourself as the weather starts to drop and school starts to pick up.  Secondly, a classic apple orchard day. Grab some friends, your significant other or go by yourself. Go pick some apples. Get all dressed up with your friends. I personally love to take some Instagram pictures. Grab some warm apple and pumpkin donuts and cider. On my list of places to visit this fall is Robinette’s Apple Orchard, I have heard from other GVSU students that it’s worth visiting.

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Column: Combatting xenophobia through education

focused on people of color. Xenophobia focuses on immigrants or descendants of immigrants.

Now, this has always been around; however, it has always been something difficult to point out, unless you were a victim of xenophobia. Historically, the U.S has been discriminatory towards many populations of immigrants who migrated to the U.S.

thing that is experienced by many people. It is something that goes unnoticed. It is something that is barely talked about.

The saga has since continued through a myriad of legal actions designed to stall the Department of Justice’s evaluation and investigation of documents seized from the property.

Such has resulted in the appointment of a special master for the case, barring the Justice Department from using any seized documents until they are reviewed. From the nature of the classified documents, this potentially prevents the documents from being revealed publicly. The issue that remains is how our organizations provide information accurately and in a timely manner.

Other complications

OPINION POLICY

Instances like this contribute to uncertainty among the public as well as to the stability of our democratic institutions and order. By providing the public with the proper information, individuals can try to maintain faith in institutions and make informed decisions.

A 2022 Gallup Poll found that confidence in all three branches of government has dropped in the past year. The lack of faith comes from a combination of factors including misinformation, lack of information and various issues across the nation such as inflation, COVID-19 and social issues.

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or staff.

BY HOPE LEINEN JUNIOR BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES, ENGLISH EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

Xenophobia. It’s the term used to describe the discrimination or prejudice against people from other countries. It is something that has always been around but is rarely given the attention it deserves.

There is a difference between racism and xenophobia. Racism is discrimination towards a certain race, and even this definition gets more narrowed to be

There was a spike in microaggressions when COVID-19 hit the U.S. People were calling it the ‘China virus,’ which may seem minor, but in reality it was detrimental to Asian Americans living in the U.S. and contributed to a rise in violence against Asian Americans.

Now, you may be thinking, what does this have to do with me, a student at Grand Valley State University? The answer to that question is everything. Xenophobia is not some distant ideology that holds no weight on this campus. It is some-

I am half Filipina and my mom was an immigrant from the Philippines. I have experienced microaggressions that range from subtle to shocking. My mom has experienced microaggressions far worse than I. In my experience, a lot of the educational programs lack the foundation to talk about the microaggressions experienced by immigrants and their descendants.

There is no excuse for the lack of representation in educational institutions, especially in programs focused on educating people about equity and diversity.

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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.

To make a submission, email editorial@lanthorn. com or drop your submission off in person at: 0051 KIRKHOF CENTER GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ALLENDALE, MI 49401 616-826-8276

VETERANS

State investment in veteran suicide prevention draws praise from GV veterans

BYJOSEPH POULOS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

On Sept. 21 Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a $1.2 million investment in veteran suicide prevention programs.

The programs are aimed at supporting and improving the health of hundreds of thousands of Michigan military veterans and their families.

This new investment, the largest in veteran suicide prevention outreach since 2000 according to Governor Whitmer’s office, seeks to provide benefits for veterans’ mental and physical health, while also offering economic and educational assistance as well.

Whitmer was quick to vow her support for the men and women that protect this country and state.

“Veteran suicide remains a persistent problem in Michigan and nationwide, and we must use every resource and tool we have to protect the lives of our former service members,” Whitmer said in a statement released on Sept. 21. “Today’s investment will expand funding for suicide prevention efforts in Michigan and build on the ongoing efforts of the Mich-

igan Veterans Affairs Agency to keep veterans and their families safe and healthy.”

Jill Hinton Wolfe, Director of GVSU Military and Veterans Resource Center, said she is pleased to see the state’s latest investment into the welfare of Michigan’s veterans.

“I think the state is doing an excellent job of supporting veterans,” Wolfe said. “In fact, the problem isn’t that there isn’t enough support or resources, it’s communicating all the programs and initiatives that are available. There’s almost too much information, and if vets aren’t connected with someone who can help them wade through all your options, it’s easy for them to feel overwhelmed or just shut down.”

Wolfe appreciates the support for veterans once they leave the service of the country but recognized that issues still remain in the system.

“The problem is that many veterans either don’t think they qualify for benefits, or genuinely don’t want them,” Wolfe said. “Military service can be as traumatic as it is transformative. I don’t have all the answers, but I believe this is a systemic problem that begins when service members are still serving.”

Wolfe further stressed the responsibility she feels the military has to take care of its active service members as well.

“The military needs to do a much better job of focusing on mental health while service members are still serving, especially for female veterans, disabled veterans and veterans of color,” Wolfe said. “That way when they are discharged, veterans understand that they absolutely qualify for these benefits and that it’s not a sign of weakness to take advantage of them.”

For Wolfe, the individual veteran needs to advocate for themselves if they really intend to take advantage of these latest resources.

“It’s largely incumbent upon the service member to realize that they need help, and then be brave enough to reach out and ask for it,” Wolfe said.

FINANCE

GV students express confusion over debt relief process as application period approaches

BY MICHAELA TRIEMSTRA NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Following the Biden-Harris administration’s announcement of a Student Debt Relief plan targeted toward lowand middle-income families, students at Grand Valley State University have been given the opportunity to receive up to $20,000 in student loan debt relief.

As the October introduction of debt relief applications approaches for GVSU students and the approximately 1.3 million Michiganders eligible to receive student loan debt relief, members of the campus community have expressed concern regarding what they believe to be a confusing application process.

As part of the plan, the U.S. Department of Education will provide up to $20,000 to those who have received a Federal Pell Grant of any amount at any time, and up to $10,000 to people who have not received a Federal Pell Grant.

However, some students said they do not feel prepared to fill out the application, or even know if they are eligible. The Department of Education provided information about the process, but some aspects of the application are not clear according to some students.

“To be honest, the process is really confusing,” said GVSU sophomore Anthony Erlandson. “I feel underprepared to fill out the application.”

To ease potential complications, the Department of Education has sought to provide borrowers with a bounty of information pertaining to eligibility and the application process.

Students can check if they have received a Pell Grant by logging into studentaid.gov and going to “My Aid” on the account dashboard.

Before the application becomes available, loan recipients are encouraged to

check their eligibility and prepare for what the application will entail. People are eligible to apply for student debt relief if their annual federal income was below $125,000 as an individual or $250,000 as a couple filing jointly.

For students who want to apply for debt relief and have filed as a dependent student between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022, their eligibility is based on their parent’s income.

RESOURCES: In addition to funding provided by the state, veterans at GVSU can access resources through GVSU’s Laker Military Resource Center and corresponding programs. GVL | MEGHAN TRIPP

PAYMENTS: Student loan borrowers are often faced with the burden of paying off their loans in large payments for extended periods of time following their graduation and entrance into the professional workforce. GVL | MEGHAN TRIPP

BY BRIAN BLOOM SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University men’s football is now 5-0 after their first conference win against Saginaw Valley State University in the annual Battle of the Valleys this past weekend, winning the game 29-10. The Lakers are now 20-3 against this opponent since the 2002 season and are 12-1 since head coach Matt Mitchell took command of the coaching staff in 2010 (10th-straight win against SVSU).

“I don’t count consecutive victories, I’m just trying to lead the program and put these guys in the best position to win games,” Mitchell said. “There are other opponents that I don’t have that record against, so there’s a lot of humility and we’re going to come in and try to get better.”

Although GVSU came out on top, the start of the game was one to forget. After the Lakers went three-and-out on the opening possession, a 49-yard run by the Cardinals set up an eight-yard touchdown pass to give SVSU a 0-7 lead with plenty of time left in the opening quarter.

On the next possession, junior quarterback Cade Peterson fumbled the ball deep in GVSU’s own territory. However, even with their backs against the wall, the defense responded in a big way as they forced a missed field goal to keep the deficit at 0-7.

“In the first quarter we didn’t get off to a great start offensively,” Mitchell said. “We gave up the touchdown drive and then we turned the ball over, but we didn’t flinch. Our defense came out and got the stop to force the missed field goal after a turnover deep on our end.”

Later in the quarter, sophomore wide receiver Cody Tierney scampered 32 yards on a reverse play to put the Laker offense on the Saginaw four-yard line. This led to a four-yard touchdown on a touch pass from Peterson to sophomore wide receiver Jahdae Walker. After a missed extra point by kicker Kollin Kralapp, the score sat at 6-7 at the end of one quarter of action.

The Cardinals’ offense looked like they would respond once more in the opening minutes of the second quarter after driving the ball down into field goal territory. However, SVSU faced a fourth-and-ten at the GVSU 28-yard line and elected to go for it on fourth down, only to turnover the ball after an interception by sophomore defensive back Nyzier Fourqurean to give the Lakers’ offense another shot at scoring.

Later in the quarter, the GVSU’s running game found momentum as Peterson led the team on a nine-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off by a 20-yard touchdown run by sophomore quarterback Avery Moore, 13-7 in favor of the Lakers.

Just before the game went into the halftime break, Kralapp booted a field goal attempt through the uprights, giving GVSU a 16-7 lead heading into the locker room.

“I think Saginaw was doing a good job taking things away,” Mitchell said. “We went into halftime and I told everybody on offense that we have to lean on the running game because we were having some more success doing that.”

The second half began with both offenses struggling to find a groove in all of their sets. It wasn’t until just under six minutes left in the third quarter that GVSU picked up the pace again.

Facing third-and-eight and a potential punt on the next play, Peterson rolled out to his right and found senior wide receiver Jacob Miller for a 58-yard touchdown, extending the Laker lead to 22-7.

“(The play) broke down, it was third down and we wanted a conversion,” Peterson said. “I scramble to the right and when I’m scanning the field I see a hand go up about 50 yards downfield and a defender not there; I trusted that (Miller) was going to continue

his path and I let it fly and he made a great play.”

On the next possession, the Cardinals’ offense faced a third down situation at the Lakers’ 27-yard line. After a failed pass attempt, SVSU was forced to settle for a field goal and cut into the Laker lead, 22-10 with four minutes and some change left to play in the quarter.

“(The dropped pass) built a lot of momentum for this defense,” senior linebacker Abe Swanson said. “Obviously it didn’t feel good that they were in a position to catch the ball, so thankfully (they) dropped the ball. It’s a huge play, builds momentum, gets our offense back out there.”

On the ensuing offensive drive, Peterson connected with junior running back Tariq Reid and sophomore wide receiver Darrell Johnson for 19 and 11 yards respectively to set the Lakers up with a chance to score. Uncharacteristically, however, Moore elected to pass the ball instead of running it and had it intercepted.

The momentum built by SVSU after the forced turnover was quickly drained, as the relentless pressure by the GVSU defensive line forced another failed pass attempt that fell right into the hands of Swanson, giving the Lakers the ball back at the Cardinals’ 36-yard line.

“Getting an interception is cool, but it’s a huge credit to all of the guys in front of me,” Swanson said. “If (junior defensive lineman) Christian McCarroll isn’t bringing pressure all game and (senior defensive lineman) Nate Umlor isn’t getting back and getting them scared, that ball isn’t going to come out quick.”

Six plays and 32 yards later, redshirt freshman running back Syone Usma-Harper put the nail in the coffin, powering his way into the endzone for a 15-yard touchdown to make the score 29-10. After an SVSU punt, Peterson led the offense on a methodical, 12-play, 67-yard drive spanning nearly eight minutes to drain the rest of the game clock and secure the victory.

GVSU dominated the ground game, recording 235 rushing yards while gaining 399 yards of total offense. Usma-Harper paced the ground attack with 59 yards and a touchdown on seven carries, while Reid had 15 carries for 57 yards.

Moore posted 39 yards and a touchdown on six carries, and senior running back Jack Provencher had 28 yards of his own on 3 attempts.

“That’s the great thing about preparation throughout the week and in fall camp is that we know all (the running backs) are very good and they can execute what they need to do,” Peterson said. “It’s a really comforting feeling for everyone on the team to know that you have a group of guys in a room that can get the job done and do it well.”

In the passing game, Peterson played efficiently with a limited number of attempts. He completed 11 of 16 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Miller had one catch for 58 yards and a touchdown, while Tierney and Walker both had three receptions for 32 and 21 yards respectively with Walker adding a fourth touchdown on the season.

Defensively, GVSU was led by Swanson as they held the Cardinals to 106 rushing yards, nearly 200 yards less than their per-game average.

“We knew that they would be a run-heavy offense, we knew that they were almost leading in rushing yards per game and we knew we had to do our job,” Swanson said. “With how our defense is set up and executed, no team should be able to run the ball on us.”

Swanson had his best performance of the season, recording 12 tackles, including a tackle for loss, intercepting his first pass of the season and recording two quarterback hits. McCarroll recorded seven tackles, two for loss and a sack, while redshirt freshman linebacker Anthony Cardamone recorded four tackles and a sack himself.

The team will look to extend its win streak to six games in an out-of-state matchup against American International on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 12 p.m.

PERSPECTIVES

BY KATHERINE RAUHUT NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Studying abroad is an opportunity offered by many universities in which students can take advantage. Programs run all over the world, giving students a chance to travel outside of their home country, often for the first time.

On Wednesday, Sept. 28 Grand Valley State University hosted a Global Laker Story Slam event to promote its own programs and students connected to studying abroad.

Speakers at the event dove into their own experiences traveling abroad while detailing what such experiences taught them.

Anton Fenik, a GVSU alumnus and assistant professor in the Marketing Department of the Seidman College of Business, spoke at the event and shared his story of going to Dubai, where he went to a trade show for equine supplements and feeds.

Cities such as Dubai have different social customs from the United States. One of the men with which Fenik was signing a contract at the trade show walked around with him while holding hands, a sign of trust and friendship between men in Dubai.

“Even though I studied up on the culture as much as I could have, I guess it wasn’t

PRESENTATIONS

enough,” Fenik said. “It was definitely a learning moment for me. I encourage you to try as much as you can because you really just learn from traveling so much.”

Facilitating the event for current students and alumni, International Programs Coordinator for the Padnos International Center, Alissa Lane, said she hoped to use the event as a way to share anecdotes about community members’ experiences when traveling abroad.

“I think another important aspect of the event is that it gives students who haven’t been abroad the chance to start thinking about what that experience might be like,” Lane said.

BY EMMA ARMIJO NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University hosted its 11th annual James W. Carey Memorial Lecture on Sept. 28 to address potential disconnects between experts and everyday citizens when presenting complex, scientific information.

The lecture, which took place in GVSU’s Loosemoore Auditorium on its Pew Campus, featured Dr. Bruce Kirchoff as its keynote speaker.

Dr. Kirchoff has studied the communication of detailed scientific information to audiences for the last several years. Working in partnership with The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Speaking Center, Kirchoff helps scientists share their work in meaningful ways.

The lecture focused on honoring a new way to think about communication and the pillars of transforming dense data and content into easily understandable information for the average person.

Scientists are not often perceived as warm or approachable, Kirchoff said. This, he added, contributes to a discon-

nect from the audience when conveying difficult or dense information.

Kirchoff said that scientists - or any public speakers - should discuss their content in the same way they think about their work and not necessarily how other scientists or the media might present it.

Kirchoff’s research has shown that sharing personal elements have been extremely effective in the engagement and understanding of content from the audience. He advised using language like “I am puzzled by this problem,” or “My observations have led me to...” to speak from personal experience as well as create a level of trust with the audience.

PLACES: GVSU’s Global Laker Story Slam featured depictions and stories of various global destinations. GVL | BETHANN LONG

VENUES: GVSU’s School of Communications hosted the annual lecture at the Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium. COURTESY | GVSU

LAKER LIFE BRIEFS

PREPARE FOR THE CAREER FAIR

There are two chances this week for students to prepare for the career fair being held on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at the Pew campus and Wednesday, Oct. 5 on the Allendale campus. Events will help students get the resources they need to foster connections with potential employers.

The first event will take place in the Siedman Forum from 5-7 p.m. The second is in the Career Center from noon-2 p.m.

At the events, students will be taught elevator pitches and be given information about what to include when making introductions to potential employers. There will also be three-minute walk-up interview tips.

Much of the prep is going to be focused on the interviewing process. Students will also be able to get new headshots taken to pass along with their resumes as well as resume reviews. Students who attend the events are asked to wear business casual clothing for their headshots.

The career fair is the following week on Tuesday, Oct. 11 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the DeVos Convention Place. This is its first time being held in person since the pandemic, so students will be able to make a face-to-face impression with professionals in the fields they’re interested in.

GET CONNECTED WITH STARS FOR MAKE-A-WISH

Stars for Make-A-Wish is having its second meeting of this school year this Tuesday, Oct. 4 from 7-7:45 p.m in the Kirkhof Center in room 2259.

At the meeting, the club will be going over some events they hope to hold for the semester. The group fundraises for the Make-AWish charity to help children with serious illnesses.

The group meets biweekly with the next meeting will be held on Oct. 18. For more information students can email the club at gvsustarsmaw@gmail.com.

BUY BOOKS FROM THE BOOK CLUB

GVSU’s Book Club is hosting a book sale this Thursday from noon-4 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center lobby.

The club will be selling popular books, fantasy, mystery, fiction and more. Books will be $5 each, regardless of the title. The sale is being held to help fundraise for future club activities.

Those interested can join the book club by attending their meetings on Thursdays in the Kirkhof Center in room 2270 at 8 p.m.

INFORMATION

Honors students make connections at Honors Life Night

BY MELIA WILLIAMS LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

The Frederik Meijer Honors College at Grand Valley State University hosted an Honors Life Night for both honor students and students who might be interested in honors college this past week. The event was created with the intention of helping students connect with various resources on campus.

“We’re hoping to sort of target towards first and second year honors students who might not know about all the different things at Grand Valley that they can take advantage of,” said Kary Wickham, the Honors Academic and Enrichment Advisor.

Various important organizations from around campus had tables set up in the Niemeyer lobby that evening to offer advice, answer questions and support a variety of students. One organization was a brand new organization, The Professional Society of Minorities in Honors.

“We have a growing number of students in honors that are coming from all kinds of diverse backgrounds and they do need support and encouragement,” said Melba Velez Ortiz, a professor in the honors program. “There needs to be a cohort and a network of people who understand the pressures that they’re under and can help each other thrive,” Ortiz said.

COMMUNITY

Ortiz said it can be harder for students of color to be in an honors program at a predominantly white institution, but the sense of community that comes out of the organization makes a big impact.

As feeling both mentally and physically comfortable is important for student success, the Wellness Information Team (WIT) attended the event to voice their support for students.

Eva VanWyck, one of the honor students at the wellness cart, said the team has helped her in the past.

“It’s nice as a student to be able to talk to other students and answer questions they have,” VanWyck said.

Josie Kasmauskis, a GVSU student at the RecWell table, said the event was beneficial for students to connect with one another.

“I feel like it’s just a fun way to come and talk about important things while also having a good time and getting cool things like stickers,’’ Kasmauskis said.

The GVSU Career Center had a table at the event and aids students in making those first connections to careers outside of GVSU.

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GV students celebrate Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur with Hillel

BY LEA GAETTO LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

The past two weeks have been full of celebration for the Jewish community. In honor of their religious beliefs, many Lakers who are members of the Grand Valley State University Jewish community have been celebrating their New Year from Sunday, Sept. 25 to Tuesday, Sept. 27, and the Day of Atonement beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 4, and lasting until the following evening.

A group at GVSU where students

have the opportunity to join together and embrace their culture is Hillel. This organization welcomes all Jewish students, bringing them together with events like weekly Shabbat dinners, challah and hamantaschen making, various holiday parties, Jewish learning and Israeli awareness and education.

Hillel holds most of its events at the Kirkhof Center from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. However, during their holiday seasons, the organization expands its typical meeting schedule so all members have the opportunity to celebrate their traditions, even while away from home.

Senior Eleanor Yerman is beginning her fourth year as a Hillel member and has been on the e-board for two consecutive years. This year, Yerman’s role as Vice President of Educational Programming consists of planning events related to education on their heritage and festivities during the holidays.

Hillel gathered to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, as well as Yom Kippur, the holiest day where a person will atone for their sins as well as complete a twenty-five-hour fast. This ended with a breakfast for the group.

“(We) meet in a more meaningful way

during the holidays and high holidays, which are considered the holiest days during the year,” Yerman said. “Some examples of the high holidays would be Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.”

Aside from what would occur at usual meetings sophomore student Mandi Fealk, Vice President of Social Programming, said it’s important for the group to talk about holidays and do the traditions associated with them.

While the days of Rosh Hashanah are full of synagogue gatherings, special prayer services and Torah readings, the Jewish community will soon practice deep repentance. During these times, Yerman and Fealk said how blessed they felt to be a part of a community that understands their Jewish culture and ceremonies.

“I love having a community to go to and have a place that I feel welcomed on campus,” Fealk said. “I grew up in a very Jewish area, so being Jewish has always been a huge part of my life with my background considered, it is amazing that I get to be a part of this community of the GVSU campus as well.”

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RESOURCES: The Grand Valley Frederik Honors College hosted Honors Life Night, a night for students to talk to clubs on campus and gain insight on different resources. GVL | BRI CONWAY

CELEBRATIONS: Members of Hillel at Grand Valley State University were busy the past two weeks due to celebrations. Jewish students gathered to celebrate Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah. COURTESY | GVSU HILLEL

ARTS AT A GLANCE

GRAM JIM HENSON EXHIBIT

The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) is featuring a new exhibit entitled “The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited” which highlights Henson’s legacy in many popular projects such as “The Muppets Show,” “Sesame Street,” “Fraggle Rock” and other productions.

The exhibit contains over 170 objects related to Henson’s career including puppets, costumes, behind-the-scenes footage and documents that give insight into his career. Within the exhibit, there are interactive experiences in which visitors can design original characters and try puppeteering on camera.

The program is aimed at all ages and admission to the exhibit is an additional cost to the general admission to the museum. This gallery will run from Oct. 1 to Jan. 14.

HIPPO CAMPUS PERFORMANCE

Hippo Campus, an indie rock band, is set to perform at GLC Lie at 20 Monroe in downtown Grand Rapids on Oct. 4 at 8 p.m.

The band’s music blends stylings of garage rock, African-influenced rhythms and synthpop. Some of Hippo Campus’ well-known songs include “Buttercup,” “Way it Goes” and “Bad Dream Baby.”

The venue requires that attendees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to the event. Ticket prices begin at $27 and range to about $50.

GV SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

The Grand Valley Shakespeare Festival is scheduled to perform “The Merry Wives of Windsor” from Oct. 7 through 9 and Oct. 14 through 16. Performances will be held at the Louis Armstrong Theatre in the Haas Center for Performing Arts on the GVSU Allendale Campus.

“The Merry Wives of Windsor” is a comedy created by William Shakespeare that focuses on Sir John Falstaff and his attempt to court two wealthy Windsor wives. The “Windsor wives,” Mistress Page and Mistress Ford, act ahead of Falstaff’s plan developing the action of the performance.

This production was directed by guest director Timuchin Aker who wanted to give the original play a “modern twist.”

The performance is open to all individuals. Tickets are $7 to $17 and are available online.

GRAND RAPIDS CIVIC THEATRE PERFORMS “THE REVOLUTIONISTS”

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre will hold the last showings of their production of “The Revolutionists” from Oct. 5 -8 at 7:30 p.m. and on Oct. 9 at 2:30 p.m.

The production highlights four women in a “girl-powered” comedy that is set in the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution. The performance centers on themes of feminism, activism, sisterhood, art and violence.

The performance is rated R due to adult themes and violence in the play. Tickets can be purchased in advance online.

Additionally, the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre is presenting many different shows in their 2022-2023 performance season including upcoming shows that include “Marry Poppins” and “Once on This Island.”

DRAW

First GV Chalk Art Symposium brings research to the streets

BY OMARI SEABERRY ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarships (OURS) hosted its first annual Chalk Art Symposium that showcased student research through chalk art writing and pictures.

At the event, each student participant presented their research through the medium of chalk art to share their work and progress with the rest of campus in a creative and unique way.

OURS provides advising, programs and grants that support faculty-mentored undergraduate research, scholarship and creative work. Additionally, they connect with faculty researchers to think about possible topics for research.

OURS wanted to give students who have participated in research projects to be able to share their findings in a visual way and expose the student body to new opportunities to get involved.

“We were looking for creative and non-traditional ways to engage the larger GVSU community in research and scholarship,” Director and Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement, Dr. Susan Mendoza said.

OURS’ inspiration for this idea

PERFORMANCE

came from a similar approach from the University of Colorado-Boulder. Since 2017, CU Boulder has put on its own “Sidewalk Symposium” through its Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) where students are able to create visual presentations of their work with the help of a professional artist.

Similarly, Emily Miller, a teacher, artist and GVSU alumni, worked with students, faculty and research teams to translate research from traditional posters and oral talks to the sidewalk.

“We were excited to bring Emily out for the event as she loved the idea

of connecting research to the visual arts,” Mendoza said.

Miller began exploring chalk art in 2020 and worked to create drawings, quotes and puns to lift her neighbor’s spirits during a difficult period. Someone has even left her a box of chalk on her porch for her to continue her work.

“Some of my designs I began drawing in college,” Miller said. “My style is inspired by a few Vera Bradley designs and now it has become my style.”

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Grand Rapids Jewish Theatre explores culture, engages all

BY ALLISON BLAIR ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Rapids Jewish Theatre kicked off its performance season last week with a performance of “Crossing Delancey.” The play navigates Jewish themes that help connect the performers, audience and community to diverse ideas.

GRJT’s slogan, “You don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy Jewish culture” means that productions include all

interested individuals, not just those who are Jewish. Anyone interested can volunteer, join a production, or act and direct the shows that center around the Jewish community.

“Crossing Delancey,” written by Susan Sandler, is a play about Isabelle “Izzy” Grossman, played by Kristin Tomlin and her “Bubbie” Idela Kantor, played by Frances Gentile. In the performance Bubbie pays a matchmaker, played by Rosanna Steffens, to set Izzy up with a future husband, the pickleman.

The play contains plenty of Yiddish verbiage commonly used by Jewish communities to immerse the audience into part of the Jewish experience. Ian Grell, the director of this production said he worked to accurately present these elements.

“We didn’t know how to pronounce it all (the Yiddish words) but I brought a Jewish friend in and she helped us figure out the meaning and how to say it,” Grell said.

This production is part of the running history of GRJT. The theatre

started small in the surrounding community during its inaugural season in 1994-95. Judy Subar, the founder of GRJT, Don Herman, Judy Krell and Linda Albert worked together to put on small productions at Congregation Ahavas Israel and Temple Emanuel. During GRJT’s third season, Herman reached out to the founder of Actors’ Theatre Grand Rapids, Fred Sebulske, who agreed to move GRJT to the Spectrum Theatre.

Although the company mainly holds productions at Spectrum Theatre, GRJT occasionally revisits Temple Emanuel and Congregation Ahavas Israel.

The original spirit of this theatre carries on in the company’s productions today. Grell said he loves Grand Rapids because of the diverse culture and GRJT’s ability to celebrate culture and the ability to involve and educate people of different faiths.

SIGNS: The event took place outside the Mary Idema Pew Library on the GVSU Allendale campus on the surrounding sidewalks to display the chalk art. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

STAGE: The Spectrum Theatre is home to Grand Rapids Jewish Theatre, a Grand Rapids Community College student organization called the GRCC players and Grand Rapids Actors’ Theatre. GVL | MEGHAN TRIPP

QUICK HITS

GV SWIMMING AND DIVING TEAMS SET TO MAKE A SPLASH THIS WEEKEND

Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s swim and dive program will commence its season in the Blue and White Intrasquad Invite this weekend.

Last season, the men’s team won the 2021-22 GLIAC Championships as the women’s team fell just short of the conference title themselves, going on to place third overall.

The Lakers will begin their season at home this Saturday, Oct. 8 starting at 1 p.m. at the GVSU Fieldhouse pool.

VOLLEYBALL SWEEPS BACK-TOBACK GLIAC OPPONENTS

GVSU women’s volleyball finished a two-game homestand this past weekend as they defeated the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Purdue University-Northwest (PNW).

The Sept. 30 matchup saw the Lakers beat the Parkside Rangers in a 3-0 sweep, as GVSU finished the regular season series against Parkside 2-0 overall. The sets finished 25-18, 25-17 and 25-20.

Junior middle blockers Sarah Wight (15) and Jaelianna Primus (8) led the team in kills as freshman setter Jordyn Gates followed close behind with seven of her own. Gates led the team in assists (18) as junior setter Rachel Jacquay followed it up with 17 assists.

GVSU added another win to the season on Oct. 1 after defeating PNW 3-0 as well; 25-12, 25-19 and 25-17.

Gates (10), freshman setter Meghan O’Sullivan (7) and junior outside hitter Karlie Kucharczyk (6) led the team in kills freshman setter McKenzie Johnson (14) and sophomore libero Julia Blaney (11) led the team in assists.

The Lakers are now 12-5 and their next match will be at home against Ferris State on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 2 p.m.

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S XC RETURN HOME AFTER LIVE IN LOU CLASSIC

GVSU’s cross country programs continue to assert themselves as contenders for the national championship, as the men’s team secured first place in the 8k Gold and the women’s finished third overall in the 5k Gold.

Senior Tanner Chada led the men’s team individually, finishing first out of 301 runners as redshirt freshman Koby Fraza (15th) and junior Andrew Hylen (16th) were the next two Lakers to finish in the top 20.

Junior Natalie Graber was the first Laker for the women’s team to finish (sixth-place) out of 373 runners, followed by freshman Lauren Kiley and junior Klaudia O’Malley finishing 13th and 35th respectively.

In their final regular season meet of the season, the Lakers will travel to Peoria, Illinois to compete in the Bradley Pink Classic on Friday, Oct. 14.

SOCCER

GV soccer dominates Panthers, extends win streak to six-straight

BY GABRIELA GARBEY SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State University women’s soccer team took on their crosstown rivals this past weekend as they defeated Davenport University 5-1 in a collective effort.

Sept. 30 saw five different Lakers tally a goal on the scoreboard, as sophomore midfielder Nina Ferraro opened up the match just before the sixth minute (5:45) after lacing a shot attempt past multiple defenders to make it 1-0.

Soon after, a solid floating cross from fifth-year forward Kennedy Metzger found its way to senior forward Kennedy Bearden who put the ball into the goal at the 11:14 marker to give the Lakers a commanding 2-0 lead as the home crowd erupted in celebration.

The Panthers attempted to respond to the rather quick goals by GVSU, but were unable to take advantage of three corner kick opportunities that ended with saves by sophomore goalkeeper Kendall Robertson.

Robertson commented on her efforts to protect the net as she continues to limit opponents from scoring often, mentioning that the individual efforts of her teammates instill a great deal of confidence into the team as a whole.

“Just as I do for the team, they do the same for me,” Robertson said. “When I’m calm and collected it eases them and bringing that confidence, that brings confidence to the team as well.”

The remainder of the first half had the Lakers’ name written all over it as GVSU controlled the offensive pace with multiple shot attempts on goal (10 in the first half, four corner kicks). However, the scoreboard still read 2-0 in favor of the Lakers as the match went into halftime.

Both teams came out of the half with

aggressive efforts as one side attempted to force a comeback while the other looked to put the match to bed.

Several shot attempts by the Lakers came up short, and it wasn’t until just past the 59th minute (59:06) that GVSU was able to put together a successful offensive attack as sophomore midfielder Emma Chudik found the inside of the goal after a resilient effort on an assist by junior forward Taylor Reid, 3-0.

Women’s golf team finishes in second place in 13th Annual Laker Fall Invite

BY MADELEINE SMITH SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley women’s golf team was at home for the 13th Annual Gilda’s Club Laker Fall Invite this past weekend, finishing second overall out of 15 teams.

Hosting the two-day invite at the Meadows Golf Course, the Lakers had a bit of an advantage over their opponents as they prepared themselves to compete on a familiar course for the first time this season.

“It’s always nice to play at your home course where the girls feel the most comfortable and know the intricacies of the course,” head coach Rebecca Mailloux said.

After 18 holes on the first day of shooting, the Lakers were tied for third with Walsh University (score of 306, +18) as they sat five strokes behind second-place Tiffin University (301, +13) and first-place Uni-

versity of Findlay (297, +9).

Sophomores Paula Badino and Megan Miron led the team after day one as they sat one stroke away from one another; Badino in a three-way tie for sixth (74, +2) and Miron in a three-way tie for ninth-overall (75, +3).

The remaining sophomore Lakers helped to keep the team within striking distance as Olivia Stoll (eight-way tie for 16th place) and Julia Sanchez (three-way tie for 39th) continued to find their footing with scores of 77 and 80 respectively.

Heading into the second round of the tournament, the Lakers stayed poised to close it out as a top-two finalist with a score of 617 (+41) and all players finishing in the top 20 of 86 golfers.

“It always stings a little to not come out with the win,” Mailloux said.

GOLF

HOT STREAK: GVSU’s women’s soccer team had a shaky start to the season but have made an incredible rebound as they dominate GLIAC opponents. GVL | BETHANN LONG

CLUBS HIGH: GVSU has placed in the top10 of the first three invitationals of their fall season. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS

BY JASON MILLIS SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University’s men’s golf team traveled to Grand Haven to face off against fierce competition at the Folds of Honor Invitational this past week as they finished 11th overall of 18 teams.

Rain and wind gusts were significant factors in how the Lakers performed over the three-day tournament as they also faced unfamiliar NCAA Division I teams, including Florida State, Kansas, Michigan State, Clemson and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

“The weather was absolutely horrific,” head coach Gary Bissell said. “It was raining and windy and cold all three days. We didn’t play our best, but a lot of that comes from the weather and course conditions.”

However, GVSU was able to place above four Division I teams in the tournament; Air Force Academy, Navy Academy, Army West Point and Texas Southern University respectively.

Although the Lakers weren’t able to extend their first-place streak to three-straight tournaments in a row, Bissell was pleased with how the team performed against opponents that are nationally ranked at the highest collegiate level.

“It’s a good confidence boost going forward,” Bissell said. “We hung right in there with UCLA and even Clemson (which is) a top-25 program in Division I. We didn’t play our best, but we still hung with some of the best teams in the country.”

At the end of round one on Sept. 26, GVSU sat in ninth place after shooting a score of 296 (+8) and placing themselves right in the middle of the leaderboards.

Sophomore Charles DeLong has stood out tremendously in individual play so far this season, and was once more a huge contributor to the first 18 holes as he tied for second (70, -2) to finish round one. Sophomore Drew Coble showed promising signs in the opening round as he found himself in a five-way tie for 12th place with a score of 72, even with par.

Although the Lakers were able to maintain their ninth-place position at the end of round two on Sept. 27, DeLong began to drop on the leaderboards as he was tied for sixth overall and Coble managed to move up a position to tie for 11th. GVSU would finish the second day with a score of 596 and +20 par.

The Lakers fell behind on the third and final day as they would ultimately

finish with a +40 par (score of 904).

“We could have played a lot better, but at the same time, we hung in there,” Bissell said. “There is a pretty big gap between us and the rest of the teams.

BY ERMIAS STEWART SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University’s tennis teams participated in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) DII Midwest Regional Championships over the course of the past two weeks (Sept. 17-26), as the men’s team traveled to Indiana and the women’s hosted their tournament at home.

The women’s team experienced a significant delay in their tournament due to inclement weather and were ultimately forced to play indoors instead of outdoors as the tournament is typically played.

In the Draw A women’s doubles bracket, sophomore Estefania Hernandez and freshman Rachel Sam paired up as senior Taylor Barrett and junior Vasileia Griva partnered to face off against opponents in the round of 32.

Both pairs advanced to the quarterfinals, however, Hernandez and Sam fell 5-8 in the round as Griva and Barrett continued on and advanced to the final round, ultimately falling in a tough 1-6 match.

“Team chemistry is very important for us, especially with having a big group of freshmen,” Barret said. “They did amazing by the way, and I believe in us with all my heart. I love this game and my team, so I think the sky’s the limit.”

Griva commented on the outcome of the double’s tournament, mentioning the adjustments the team had to make while giving praise to her double’s teammate for keeping her calm in tough moments.

“(The competition) was fun,” Griva said. “The weather was hard and tough, and we had to adjust to that. I was a bit anxious, but Taylor was a big help.”

BALANCE: This is the first time GVSU has placed outside of the top-10 of all competing teams so far, as they have secured two first-place finishes this season. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS