Lakers host lovelytheband
CAB hosts first fall concert
GIn their Nov. 4 meeting in Detroit, Grand Valley State University’s Board of Trustees voted to renew President Philomena Mantella’s employment contract through June 2029.
According to a news release from the university, the renewed contract will feature a 4.2% raise for Mantella, increasing her yearly salary from $480,000 to $500,000 beginning in July 2024.
The Board’s unanimous decision came months ahead of the deadline to consider the renewal, signaling confidence in Mantella’s leadership among Board members who expressed gratitude toward the president for her leadership on matters including navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and implementing the university’s new strategic plan, ‘Reach Higher 2025.’
With the renewal of her contract, Mantella will oversee the university’s operations through the decade as it seeks to not only rebuild enrollment and normalcy following COVID-19, but also navigate additional challenges on the horizon, including the possibility of an economic recession occurring in the next year.
FINAL POLLS SHOW MAINTAINED LEAD FOR MI DEMS AS PARTY SEEKS UNIFIED CONTROL OF LANSING
The latest polling prior to Election Day shows thin advantages for Democrats as recent redistricting has energized the party’s hopes of achieving victory in executive and legislative races.
In the latest gubernatorial poll released from the national polling organization Cygnal, Governor Gretchen Whitmer maintains a 4-point lead over Republican challenger Tudor Dixon. An average of polling samples collected from the race by FiveThirtyEight shows Whitmer with an average lead of 4.8% over Dixon.
Other statewide Democrats have maintained slim leads as the party hopes to keep control of the offices of governor, secretary of state and attorney general.
The narrow yet sustained leads for statewide Democrats in Michigan are widely seen as imperiled as the evaporation of advantages for Democrats around the country has begun to signal a shifting tide in races to control various offices.
However, with the state’s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission having redrawn state lines ahead of the election to ensure a fair electoral map void of partisan influence, Michigan’s political outcome may prove unique and detached from the country at large.
With new lines having been drawn for state districts, control of the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate, both currently controlled by Republicans, is also seen as having the potential to change hands.
Should Democrats win majorities in the chambers and maintain their positions in executive offices, it would be the first time the party has controlled the Legislature and the governorship simultaneously since 1983.
CRIME
Shooting, stabbing at GV area apartment complexes continue semester-long violent crime trend
BY EMMA ARMIJO NEWS@LANTHORN.COMFollowing a string of violent criminal activity at apartment complexes in the Allendale area, students and residents encountered another incident in the early hours of Sunday morning, Oct. 29.
Around 2:45 a.m., reports of a stabbing at 48 West Apartments came through to which Ottawa County deputies responded while on patrol.
The victim of the stabbing was not on the scene at the time of law enforcement’s arrival, but many vehicles were seen exiting the apartment complex.
News Channel 3 reported the male victim arriving at a local hospital with non-fatal stab wounds shortly after. The victim is in stable condition.
No arrests have been made in the case, which is still under investigation.
48 West Apartments is largely populated by GVSU students. They cater mostly to the commuter student population on campus, many of whom are feeling concerned after the events of the weekend.
48 West addressed residents in an email following the incident, in which the complex alleged the suspect involved in the stabbing incident has been arrested. There has been no news coverage or announcement from Ottawa Police to corroborate that, however.
The email acknowledged the stabbing
as a “police response to an assault” that occurred on the premises. 48 West stated the incident did not involve residents of the complex and extended a request for local law enforcement to visit the complex community more frequently.
A property manager of 48 West, who requested to remain anonymous, said the email was sent to residents within a 24-hour window of the events that took place the previous morning. He was hopeful that the 48 West community reaching out to residents would provide some closure and additionally some preventative structure for further events of the like.
“We did already have (the security system) enhanced or upgraded, and a security presence that allows more control, more people walking around,” the manager said. “We’re also looking into a couple of other things, but nothing is set in stone.”
The manager said the complex takes safety very seriously, explaining 48 West is taking the necessary steps to make sure the events are not repeated, especially following a string of similar events happening in the area.
Bella Roselli, a GVSU student and 48 West resident, said she feels scared to walk around after dark following the events of the weekend.
“It’s getting freaky around here, and I don’t want to walk to my car across the
lot after 10 p.m., let alone go to a party by myself,” Roselli said. “I hear shouts and arguments outside my apartment every night from Thursday to Sunday.”
From her apartment, Roselli has a vantage point to multiple other units that often throw parties on the weekends.
“As for the stabbing, I’m worried about guns, knives and all types of (violence) around here,” Roselli said. “I also have some of the main party houses right across from my apartment, so I get to witness the events, front row.”
The use of firearms has been a recurring issue in the multiple different housing complexes surrounding GVSU this semester.
Around 12:30 am on October 23rd, emergency crews responded to reports of multiple gunshots in The Alpine Student Living.
Fox 17 reported that no suspects have been located, but law enforcement says there is not an ongoing threat. One person was hospitalized with non-fatal injuries.
GVSU’s Department of Public Safety issued a statement to students via a GVSUALERT!, stating a non-student victim was taken to the hospital following a shooting at the privately owned off-campus apartment complex.
On Nov. 6, Grand Valley State University community members found themselves resetting their clocks and grumbling about winter’s looming presence, despite last week’s abnormally mild weather. Although setting back the time is indicative of holidays and winter activities, it can also mean the beginning of the dark months for others.
Experts say that roughly 10% to 20% of people will find themselves being affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), more commonly known as seasonal depression. It’s currently known in mental health fields that women are much more likely to suffer from SAD as well as people older than 20. Some of the many symptoms individuals may experience include feeling sad or down, hopelessness, tiredness, difficulty sleeping and difficulty concentrating.
Because of the lake effect, many GVSU winters can be harsh, especially for first-year students coming from places with milder winters. With grey and windy days for months on end, coupled with the additional stress of
mid-year burnout, it’s important that students are prepared to manage their mental health in the coming months.
“If students know that seasons changing impacts them, make a plan,” said GVSU University Counseling Center (UCC) Psychologist Nick Debernardi. “With any transitions, what we’re going to recommend is ways to manage some of the symptoms that come along with seasonal affective disorder.”
One of the ways students can prioritize their mental health this winter is
DRIVES
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by utilizing options offered by GVSU’s Recreation and Wellness program. First, students have the option of receiving free wellness coaching. Although it is not designed to be a replacement for therapy, students are able to receive three months of goal-setting and strategizing with a certified wellness coach. This can prove to be a beneficial tool for initiating and sustaining healthy behaviors to manage one’s mental health.
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On-campus, off-campus entities partner with GV to encourage blood donation
BY KATHERINE RAUHUT NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
Against the background of turbulent times for the United States’ blood supply, entities both on and off campus have partnered with Grand Valley State University to offer opportunities for the campus community to donate blood.
On Nov. 1, GVSU partnered with Versiti of Michigan, a blood donation organization that strives to “improve the
health of patients as the national leader in innovative transfusion solutions for healthcare systems,” according to their website. At the blood drive, students could stop by the clinic to donate blood in a sterile, safe environment. Donors must pass a brief eligibility screening, and if they are cleared to proceed, the student donates about one pint of blood along with a few small test tubes for blood testing in the labs.
Other blood donation entities at GVSU have striven to have the same impact.
Emily Murray, the president of GVSU’s American Red Cross Club, has helped lead efforts to encourage campus blood donation.
“During past GVSU blood drives, about 30 to 40 units of blood are collected each time,” Murray said.
Once blood is collected from the donor it’s processed, tested for blood type and diseases, stored in secure refrigerators, then shipped to hospitals that require it. The blood collected from pa-
tients can either be transfused as whole blood, red blood, plasma, or platelets. Blood donation is a streamlined, easy process on the side of the donors that holds the opportunity to help save lives.
According to The American Red Cross website, “every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. It is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses and traumatic injuries. Whether a patient receives whole blood, red cells, platelets or plasma, this lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation.”
Murray offered advice for students who are considering donating at the next blood drive.
“I would say to stay hydrated, wear comfy clothes and try to relax,” Murray said. “You can bring music to listen to during your donation, too. Also, it is completely safe to donate.
EDITORIAL
Political violence contradicts democracy
ith a rise in political division in the leadup to the Nov. 8 midterm elections, the corresponding rise in threats and political violence has proven to be a growing and very real threat to democracy.
editorial@lanthorn.com
Column: The death of rapper Takeoff is a grim reminder for America
stories strikes a familiar bone.
BY MALIK HARVEY SENIOR MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COMKirshnik Khari Ball and Thomas Lamar Harris are two people who never met, grew up in different eras and led different lives. But the tragic end to both of their
Ball and Harris grew up nearly a thousand miles apart - Lawrenceville, Georgia and Romulus, MI, respectively. Ball grew up in a single-parent household (alongside his uncle, Quavious Keyate Marshall, and cousin, Kiari Kendrell Cephus) and began making beats and rhyming words in the seventh grade. Harris grew up in what was to become a single-family household once his parents divorced when he was 11. In seventh grade, Harris chose football to express himself and soon began showing promise as a running back.
Eventually, Ball encouraged his uncle and cousin to start taking their craft more seriously - leading to them forming a rap group together called
“Migos,” with each group member assuming an alias. Ball became known as “Takeoff,” Marshall as “Quavo” and Cephus as “Offset.”
Though Harris had the characteristics of being a leader, he seemed to always find himself in trouble: fights, selling weed and poor grades. In his senior year, with less than six months left to graduate, Harris was expelled from Romulus High School after starting a brawl during a basketball game. Without a high school diploma, Harris dove deeper into drug dealing and moved his nascent operation to Grand Rapids, MI.
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Column: Grief comes in many forms, so does overcoming it
believe grief would be better defined as something of high value suddenly missing.
BY ALLISON BAIR JUNIOR ENGLISH EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COMGrief. n. Deep sorrow, especially caused by one's death.
Only the luckiest of us have never experienced this emotion.
Though the definition highlights death, you don't have to go through the death of a loved one to experience it. The loss of a car, moving away from your childhood home, a breakup. I
I really struggled with this week's column until it finally clicked. My grandfather is dying. I also am hurting from the loss of a friendship. I've lost some pets along the way and classmates who never got to graduate. Although I don't have the most tragic past, I would like to say I'm fairly familiar with the feeling in your heart that something is missing.
There's a few types, in my experience, that I can name.
The first is the most obvious one. Death of a loved one can be so lonely at times, yet you know people are there for you. Yes, this one hurts probably the most, but it brings us closer together. The closeness heals, whether temporary or permanently.
The second would be the classic
breakup. This can be of a significant other, a friend or even family. I'd like to put this one up there with the death. Although not gone forever, you lost someone close to you. You experienced the end of such a large emotion that you don't know where to go next. But again, usually there's support. Although you may have to step back from certain mutual friends and family, you can always start over. There is always the chance of having someone better in your life.
The third kind, I would say, is the loneliest kind of grief. This is the loss of something sentimental to you. Your childhood bedroom is no longer yours, the house is emptier. You miss a place that was always yours and now it's gone.
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Recently, the attack against Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul Pelosi in their San Francisco home has led to conversations surrounding the prominence of political violence and its entrance into the realm of legitimate discourse.
According to TIME, there were 9,600 recorded threats against members of Congress last year which, reportedly, was ten times the number of threats in 2016. In addition to those on the national level, threats toward local political systems are surfacing, such as individuals harassing school board members, municipal health organizations and other local government entities.
The need to not only address, but also combat, instances where people
OPINION POLICY
The goal of the Grand Valley Lanthorn’s opinion page is to act as a forum for public discussion, comment and criticism in the Grand Valley State University community. Student and columnist opinions published here do not necessarily reflect those of the paper as an entity.
The Lanthorn strives to be a safe vehicle for community discussion. With this in mind, the Lanthorn will not publish or entertain any forms of hate speech, but neither will it discriminate against any other views, opinions or beliefs. The content, information and views expressed are not approved by-nor do they necessarily represent those of-the university or its Board of Trustees, officers, faculty
use violence to attack political enemies, further their own political gain or intervene with the democratic process grows ever more apparent in the current political climate. To ensure that these vitriolic and reprehensible efforts are properly dealt with, there must be consequences for those who partake in or initiate violence.
While some of the speech circulating as the election nears may be protected under the First Amendment, threats against officials can have a detrimental effect on mental health and confidence in political institutions and the public. Seeing these actions as commonplace can demonstrate to other members of the public that these actions are necessary and the new normal.
This is something that has been seen in Michigan as well. In 2020 there were credible threats to kill Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the State Attorney
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GV Office of Multicultural Affairs observes Day of the Dead
BY ZOË MURPHY NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is a holiday originating in Mexico that is celebrated throughout the world. At Grand Valley State University, the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) held its annual celebration the first week in November.
The OMA’s mission is based on observing, encouraging and engaging in collaboration between the different cultures of students on campus. The OMA holds various cultural heritage celebrations throughout the year, like Día de los Muertos.
The Day of the Dead is a holiday rooted in historical significance and the celebration of ancestry. The basis of the holiday is acknowledging the death of loved ones and honoring their lives. People often gather with family members and remember those who are no longer with them through music, games, prayer and food.
“The Day of the Dead, el Día de los Muertos, is a Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief re -
union that includes food, drink and celebration,” said Assistant Director of OMA Thalia Guerra-Flores. “(It is) a blend of Mesoamerican ritual, European religion and Spanish culture. The holiday is celebrated each year from Oct. 31 through Nov. 2.”
At GVSU, the Día de los Muertos celebration is made up of multiple distinguishing aspects.
“There is an altar put up, with pictures of family members, homemade decorations, food and music and there was a showing of the movie ‘Coco’ in the office,” said OMA employee Jocelyn Medina.
The altar is a dedication to family members and friends who have passed away. It’s a “celebration of life,” according to GVSU junior Mayra Sedano-Rodriguez, who’s part of the OMA.
Sedano-Rodriguez said other members of the OMA have set up photos of their deceased relatives and placed items of remembrance to accompany their photos. This gives the altar a personal element, putting a physical face to those who are being honored.
The altar, known as an ofrenda, is a colorful display including things
like framed photos of deceased family members, flowers, artwork, colorful skulls and even some of the deceased’s favorite things like candy or musical instruments.
“We celebrate by having our OMA ofrenda up through the week and giving out Pan de Muerto, Bread of the Dead, on Nov. 1 along with hot choc -
olate and coffee,” Guerra-Flores said. The altar was constructed on Monday, Nov. 1 ahead of the observance of the Day of the Dead on Nov. 2. GVSU students, faculty and staff are encouraged to come, pay their respects and observe the celebration.
This past week Campus Activities Board (CAB) held its fall concert with a performance from Indie-Pop band lovelytheband. The event took place in downtown Grand Rapids at GLC live at 20 Monroe, with an estimated turnout of about 700 people after only one week of ticket sales.
This was CAB’s first official fall concert outside of previously putting on various homecoming events in past years. The last concert CAB hosted was the spring concert in April 2022 with a performance from Yung Gravy, which took place at the fieldhouse on the Grand Valley State University Allendale campus.
lovelytheband was originally formed in 2016 and consists of three members: lead singer Mitchy Collins, drummer Sam price and guitarist Jordan Greenwald. The group had its first hit in 2018 with their song “broken” topping the Billboard Alternative Songs hart for seven consecutive weeks and the Billboard Rock Airplay chart for nine consecutive weeks.
Originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan, Collins said during the set that he was excited to be back in Michigan. Throughout the set, he connected with the audience about his time in Michigan, noting that during his time in Grand Rapids he went to the Woodland Mall in Kentwood and asked the crowd for bar recommendations in Grand Rapids. Collins also took a BeReal post for an audience member.
The band’s performance consisted of songs from previous and newer albums. They opened with their song “loneliness for love” and continued with “these are my friends,” a cover of The Killer’s “Mr. Brightside” and wrapped up the night with “broken.”
CAB director of headliners Erin Gallaher said
CAB’s choice of bringing lovelytheband was to bring in artists that have a least a couple of songs that the “vast majority” of students are familiar with in order to appeal to the student body.
“We wanted a band that would bring a good show and good energy at a time in the year when there is not a lot going on,” Gallaher said. “Our events are to lift students’ spirits and lovelytheband has a set list that felt appropriate for that goal.”
CAB announced the artist only about a week prior to the event. Leading up to this announcement the organization dropped hints on its Instagram including graphics of a pool, the venue “The Roxy” and an image of three members. Students were able to comment their guesses of who the group was, and those who guessed correctly had the chance to receive free tickets. After the concert was announced, CAB held a raffle for a meet and greet with the band.
GVSU senior Rory Jones won the meet and greet and was excited, as she is a long-time lovelytheband fan, previously seeing the band a couple of years before the COVID-19 pandemic in Detroit.
“I was in the library studying because I had an exam, then I got a DM on Instagram from CAB saying ‘Hey you won a meet and greet,’” Jones said. “I freaked out a little bit and I was really excited.”
Jones said she started listening to lovelytheband in high school at the time they released their first album. She said that their music has gotten her through difficult times. This was a message that the band shared with the audience during their performance advocating for mental health and support.
Jones said the band was very friendly, sociable and seemed just as excited to see her and her friends as Jones was to see them.
Along with the meet and greet, Jones said one of her favorite moments of the concert was Collins’ interaction with the audience, jumping into
the crowd, singing and dancing with attendees. She said that this experience was something that will have a lasting impact on her.
“The pandemic hit freshman year of college, I’m a senior, I’m graduating from GV - I think there are a lot of little moments I don’t realize I missed,” Jones said.
“That was one of those moments that I know I know I’m going to remember for a long time.”
Jones had previously attended the Yung Gravy concert in 2022 and said that she had a better experience overall at the lovelytheband concert. She said she enjoyed the smaller atmosphere and appreciated the venue.
The venue change from an on-campus location in previous years to an external location was a choice that Gallaher said was to “switch things up.” She said that this change was to connect all members of the GVSU community, especially students who are downtown and may have fewer opportunities to attend events. Additionally, she said those living on and around the Allendale campus could have gotten to the venue with “free, safe and reliable” transportation from the Laker Line bus system.
Concessions were available at the venue in addition to alcoholic beverages for attendees 21 and up.
The performance was supported by opener DJ Comp, who has previously worked with both GLC 20 Monroe Live as a venue and partnered with CAB on events such as the silent disco held on-campus earlier this year.
“I love being able to connect with the students year after year and y’all always put on great events,” Comp said. “I’m just happy to be part of it and bring a little bit of joy and some good times to the folks at Grand Valley.”
CAB is still planning on having its spring concert in the 2023 winter semester. The artist and location are to be determined.
GV area voters identify top issues ahead of Election Day
BY JOSEPH POULOS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
With polls across Michigan set to open this week on Nov. 8, major issues of contention have become clear motivators for voters.
While statewide polling has been able to identify which issues are most salient for voters, including issues regarding inflation and reproductive rights, such polling is unable to target the feelings and motivations of voters in specific areas.
In one such area, student voters at Grand Valley State University as well as community members in the area are all looking to have their voices heard on a multitude of issues at the top of their minds.
Many issues are at stake this year, including women’s reproductive rights, voter rights and transparency for elected officials.
Grand Rapids Community College student Sabian Makepeace is looking forward to voting on many issues.
“I will be voting to protect freedom of thought and speech, protecting the unborn and for the decline in power of pharmaceutical companies,” Makepeace said.
For Makepeace, less government interference is better, and having their hands out of citizens’ personal lives is a must.
“I feel closer to the Republicans and Libertarians for many reasons such as
protection of the unborn,” Makepeace said. “Getting rid of unconditional gun bans is important. Opening up school choice allows parents to teach rather than forced public schools. We need to regulate transition surgery for children at an age around 18 to make lifelong decisions which may end up leading to suicide and unknown effects to the children taking hormone blockers.”
Nik Tompkins, a GVSU student, is more interested in women’s rights and freedom. For him, the decision was easy.
“I will be voting Democrat,” Tompkins said. “While I don’t align with either party, I find that, especially this election cycle, the Democratic Party is pushing for more ideas that affect me and that I support. (This is) in comparison to the Republican Party, whose only goals currently seem to be to oppose the Democratic Party and restrict the rights of many.”
Tompkins said he has paid special attention to the proposals being offered and considered for enshrinement in law.
“The issue this election cycle that I care the most about is Proposal 3 and ensuring that reproductive rights are protected and upheld,” Tompkins said. “With that, I am also in support of Proposal 1 and 2, and helping to create a more fair, accurate and inviting political atmosphere within Michigan.”
FUNDING
Drew Jones, a GVSU student, is looking more toward policy than one individual candidate.
“This November, the primary issues I am voting on are criminal policy and environmental policy,” Jones said.
Jones said he is concerned about the environment and the state of Michigan, and said his interests align with those of the Democratic Party.
“I am voting for the Democratic ticket because of their stances on abortion law and small crime prosecution,” Jones said. “I
also support their environmental initiatives as the Great Lakes are of utmost importance and must be protected from pollution.”
Women’s reproductive rights remain a hot-button issue as both parties fight to assert their dominance.
While many students and citizens are excited to get through the elections this week, most citizens already know which way they will be voting.
MI offers new scholarships, stipends to college students pursuing teaching
BY MICHAELA TRIEMSTRA NEWS@LANTHORN.COMThe state of Michigan recently announced fellowships and stipends through the MI Future Educator Fellowship Program aimed at supporting future educators and student teachers.
In addition to a $10,000 scholarship, the MI Future Educator Student Teacher Fellowship is a program that supports Michigan’s student teachers as they continue their journey toward being in the classroom full-time. This stipend provides up to $9,600 per semester to cover student teaching expenses.
Rick Vandermolen, an associate education professor at Grand Valley State University and a former principal, described the effects the fellowship and stipend may have on the field of education.
“From a talent management standpoint, we need to attract more candidates to the field,” Vandermolen said. “If we believe in public education, we must have a strategy to ensure that the ‘pipeline’ for quality educators is strong.”
There are many advantages to the program, according to officials. The
teacher shortage in Michigan in recent years has brought fewer people to the education field. These initiatives are meant to attract future educators and make the field more appealing.
“Upsides are the possible attraction of more students to the field of education. More candidates are looking at the possibility of this profession as a career,” Vandermolen said. “(Benefits could include) some debt relief for students in this area of study and recognition that a strong school system in our communities across Michigan is connected to economic wellbeing. Investing money like this has the potential to attract high-quality candidates to the field.”
The fellowship and stipend offered by the new program have given some students like GVSU junior and history education major Lily Camp hope that they will be able to sustain themselves in their desired career path.
“They can help me afford to live and pay for things I need because, during your student teaching, you cannot have a job,” Camp said.
Students entering the education field may feel a financial burden.
Camp said these initiatives could help to provide support for students when they experience a financial burden in their journey to the classroom, such as when they are student teaching.
“(The stipends and fellowships are) more like recognition for the choice they made,” Vandermolen said. “It is affirming and recognizing that costs are a burden in this career choice. Depressed salaries in many places for teachers make it hard to pay loans on a salary that in most places cannot keep up with the cost of living in Michigan. It really is a relief package on some of the debt they are incurring while completing their degree program and certification.”
With Michigan continuing to face a growing teacher shortage, some future educators are discouraged from entering the education field. The goal of these initiatives is to encourage future educators and student teachers to continue on their career paths. Still, for some, it may not be enough.
A 9 | LAKER LIFE
LAKER LIFE BRIEFS
GIVE BACK TO THOSE WHO SERVED
From now through Nov. 11, Alpha Kappa Psi is collecting donations of non-perishables and pet food for veterans and their families.
There are drop-off locations on campus at the Blue Connection and Kleiner Commons. There are also two drop-off locations in the Kirkhof Center, those being room 0072 and the Veterans Affairs Office. Donation boxes will be out until 5 p.m. during the week.
HELP MAKE A BANNER FOR VETERANS
On Tuesday, Nov. 8 from 3 to 5 p.m. the Campus Activities Board (CAB) will be in the Kirkhof lobby making a thank you banner to hang on Veterans Day (Nov. 11).
There will be apple cider and donuts provided to those who stop by to help with the banner.
PARTNER WITH HELPING HANDS
Helping Hands is holding its November meeting this Wednesday from 8-9 p.m. in Kirkhof Center room 2263.
The group is collaborating with the Social Work Club to make dog toys to donate.
The group is asking that those who do attend bring old shirts to use to make dog toys. These can be thrifted or from personal closets but they must be clean.
The group will provide some shirts but is also looking for donations.
MEET WITH THE CHINESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE CLUB
The Chinese Language and Culture Club will be meeting in the Language Resource Center in Mackinac Hall on Nov. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. to play Chinese sports games.
Those who attend will be asked multiple-choice questions about the sports. Depending on their answer, they’ll either shoot at a close basketball hoop if correct or a further one if they’re incorrect.
The event is open to anyone regardless of their knowledge of the language, history or culture.
COFFEE CRAWL WITH CAMPUS MINISTRY
On Nov. 12 Campus Ministry will be hosting a coffee crawl downtown.
The group will be meeting at 9 a.m. at the University Club in DeVos C by the Starbucks on the Pew Campus. The group will be visiting various coffee shops in Grand Rapids and doing tastings of the coffee at each one. There will also be donuts provided.
The crawl is free to attend and will run until noon.
FELLOWSHIP
GV student broadens knowledge on healthcare in Italy
BY MELIA WILLIAMS LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COMMany students choose to study abroad over the course of their time at Grand Valley State University. One student who took advantage of this opportunity is pre-physician assistant senior Lauren Carabio, who traveled to Milan last May for two weeks to shadow doctors in a hospital while being a part of a fellowship.
This fellowship, Doctors in Italy, was a program established in 2018 with the intent for students from all over the world to learn from medical professionals with a hands-on shadowing experience in fields such as surgery, medicine, orthopedics, cardiology, oncology, pediatrics, emergency medicine and more.
“Throughout the time that I was there, I was able to rotate amongst different specialties within the hospital,” Carabio said. “So I was assigned to emergency, ophthalmology, OBGYN and endocrinology.”
With the healthcare systems being different in different countries, resources like these helped expose Carabio to different forms of healthcare. This sentiment is
echoed by CEO and co-founder of Doctors in Italy, Nadia Neytcheva.
“The European healthcare system is very interesting to someone who is not familiar with the concept of socialized medicine and leaning towards public health care and support for everyone,” Neytcheva said.
Neytcheva also emphasized how students are shadowing in top-notch hospitals full of doctors that have the background and experience in different countries in both clinical and research settings. One of the biggest advantages to this fellowship is
RESOURCES
that students are fully immersed into what they could potentially be doing as a career.
“They are really standing right next to the doctors, the nurses and the medical professionals,” Neytcheva said. “So they get to experience what a day in the life of these doctors is and how medicine is practiced in a different healthcare environment.”
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Students explore options at annual Majors Fair
BY JACOB KIRN LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COMOn Nov. 2, Grand Valley State University students, faculty and alumni gathered in the Grand River Room in Kirkhof Center for the annual Majors Fair.
The event included representatives from all 96 undergraduate degree programs, as well as the Career Center, each offering valuable insights and networking opportunities for students looking to explore new fields.
Emily Davis, a College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS) advisor and member of the Exploratory Study advising team, said the event was designed for potentially-undecided students to connect with faculty from a broad range of departments, interact with advisors and
explore future career paths.
According to the Exploratory Study website, over 1,000 students begin their journey at GVSU without declaring their major each year. However, several faculty members said that the event was equally valuable for students looking to switch from their current major.
“I can speak from personal experience,” said Associate Professor of Anthropology Dr. Elizabeth Arnold. “I came into university with one major in mind, and decided very quickly that it wasn’t for me.”
This is perhaps due to a lack of exposure, Arnold said, as lesser-known degrees are often dismissed as irresponsible financial investments.
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ARTS AT A GLANCE
GV ARTS CELEBRATION FEATURES PROFESSIONAL DANCE COMPANY
PERFORMANCE
As part of the GVSU Art Celebration, South Chicago Dance Theatre is set to perform on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Louis Armstrong Theatre in the Haas Center for Performing Arts.
The performance is entitled “Energy | Power | Grace.” The company will be performing recently commissioned works that fuse classical and contemporary dance styles.
Those interested in information are welcome to contact Carrie Brueck-Morris at morrcarr@gvsu.edu.
GUEST ARTIST RECITAL FEATURES
PIANIST OLIVER JIA
On Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. GVSU’s Department of Music, Theatre and Dance will be hosting a Guest Artist Recital featuring pianist Oliver Jia.
Jia is a performer, teacher and researcher. Some groups he has performed with include the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, the Fort Worth Symphony and the China National Symphony.
Over two decades, Jia also has taught both solo piano and chamber at his private studio. Additionally, he has worked as a professor at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley and currently is an assistant professor of piano at Bilkent University.
The event will take place in the Sherman van Solkema Recital Hall in the Haas Center for Performing Arts.
NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE CONCERT
Undergraduate group New Music Ensemble will perform on Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the Louis Armstrong Theatre Lobby.
The performance consists of commissioned works inspired by natural features such as the Great Basin National Parks, the Rocky Mountains, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon and Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
The performance also features compositions from GVSU students Noah Bradley, Christian Glascock and Connor Piotrzkowski in addition to other composers.
NEW MUSIC INITIATIVE CONCERT
The New Music Initiative Concert will take place on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. in the Louis Armstrong Theatre in the Haas Center for Performing Arts.
This performance presents the work of a student-founded project that features three student chamber ensembles premiering the new pieces composed by Logan Rutledge, Adam Cuthbert and John Jansen.
Each composer worked alongside the performers throughout the course of the semester to prepare for this performance.
For more information contact Steph Bueche at bueches@mail. gvsu.edu or Christian Glascock at glascocc@mail.gvsu.edu.
SHOWCASE
GV Visual Media Arts Department opens interactive exhibit
BY OMARI SEABERRY ARTS@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State University’s Visual and Media Arts Department debuted a new gallery entitled “Image Studio Interactive.” This exhibit works to showcase how art can be created and viewed in a unique way.
The exhibit introduced the use of several projection devices to create large images, patterns and colors on the walls of the gallery. This form of art explores the creation, use and presentation of images through the use of current image creation and presentation technologies.
The creation of this project was led by art students Blake Mathews and Dustin Galarneau. They worked with several other students from ART Image Studio along with Department Chair Paul Wittenbraker in creating an interactive experience for all students, faculty and visiting art educators.
Wittenbraker said he’s excitement to show the GVSU community how images in art can be portrayed in many different ways.
“It looks quite dramatic, like some of those Van Gogh deep experience projects, but we do it using old overhead projectors and simple materials that teachers have access to in their schools,” Wittenbraker said.“These are great and fun to photo-
graph, so we hope people get involved in making images with their mobile devices.”
Setting up for the exhibit was a cooperative effort from the VMA department and the students leading the exhibit.
Mathews said they were delighted to lend her experiences to the project. As a studio art major with an emphasis in visual studies, Mathews felt that this project would allow them to delve into their prior knowledge. Through this digital art project, they wanted to encourage audiences to think more broadly as they engage with their work.
“In my education career, I am creating my own path to merge graphic design
and fine arts practices into one,” Matthews said. “I love creating images for people to decipher while also providing a sense of involvement for them.”
Galarneau said they kept the audience’s experience in mind when creating a figurative road map for what to convey. He said this project also helped to keep an end goal in mind throughout the process.
“I feel that this is a good learning experience for everyone involved,” Galarneau said. “It also helps us with our goals of being more resourceful with our work.”
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BY STEVEN LAWRENCE ARTS@LANTHORN.COMOn Nov. 4 Wealthy Street Theatre held its first “Pass the Mic” event. The event highlighted diverse artists including BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals.
Pass the Mic’s goal is to give space to these groups and present the different mediums of art that each artist uses. The event showcased community artists through an open mic format where performers brought dance, music, poetry and other performance styles to the stage.
Pass the Mic, in its current form, has developed over the course of a year. The idea for the event was originally created by an artist that was unable to continue the project after losing their venue and stepping away to focus on other projects.
Shayna “Akanke” Marie picked up the project and is now the curator and host of the event. She partnered with Grand Rapids Media Initiative & Film Incubator, a non-profit dedicated to narrative justice, to help bring the showcase to life.
“It is a very eclectic and diverse showcase of talent from people from diverse backgrounds in non-tradition-
al ways,” Marie said. “It emerged from the idea of giving BIPOC and LGBTQ performers a chance to express themselves in whatever way they wish.”
The showcase highlighted 15 different artists who all had their own performance styles. Some of the performances included a guest DJ, visual artists, poetry readings, musical performances both instrumental and vocal, dancing and a rap cipher.
“Our hope with the showcase is to uplift artists and focus on organic and grassroots talent to be showcased. Giving them a platform for their message and art styles,” Marie said.
The showcase was run by volunteers with the Grand Rapids Media Initiative and Film Incubator, which made it so that all proceeds could go back to the artists. Marie also said that artists were able to sell their own merchandise at the show in order to help them expand their connections in the community.
Additionally, the showcase had tables with information about similar events and other artists in the community.
Wealthy Theatre creates space to share art and voices
QUICK HITS
XC TEAMS CROWN THEMSELVES AS CONFERENCE CHAMPS
Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s cross country finished in first place in the 2022 GLIAC Championships with scores of 15 points (Women’s 6k) and 28 points (Men’s 8k).
On the men’s side, five Lakers dominated the top-10 positions of the individual leaderboard; senior Tanner Chada first overall (23:56), sophomore Caleb Futter third place (24:30), redshirt freshman Brock Wooderson (24:38), sophomore Scott Spaanstra (24:48), junior Andrew Hylen (24:53) and sophomore Daniel Lambert (24:55) in seventh through 10th place respectively.
For the women’s team, seven individual runners finished in the top-10 leaderboard; junior Natalie Graber (21:04), freshman Lauren Kiley (21:25), junior Klaudia O’Malley (21:27), freshman Abby Vanderkooi (21:39) and sophomore Taryn Chapko (21:44) followed one another for first through fifth place respectively - with Kayce Rympa (21:45) in seventh and redshirt freshman Madison Ebright (21:54) finishing 10th.
Both teams haven’t lost the conference title since the 2001 season (with the exception of the 2020-21 season canceled).
The Lakers will now prepare themselves for the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship in Kenosha, WI on Saturday, Nov. 19 with a yet to be determined start time.
DIII MEN’S HOCKEY FACES TWO OPPONENTS AS WOMEN’S HOCKEY CLUB GAINS FIRST WIN
After a rough start to their season, the GVSU women’s hockey club gained some confidence in a road win against Maryville University and won the matchup 5-3.
The win was one of two games against Maryville as the first one was taken by the opponent, 1-3.
Snapping their ice-cold five-game losing streak with their first win of the season (1-5), the Lakers will hope to continue to expand on the newfound momentum as they play in their own arena for the first time this season against Aquinas College.
The two-game series will be played on Nov. 12-13 at the Griff’s Georgetown Ice Arena, with puck drops being at 7:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on the respective dates.
In other arenas, DIII men’s hockey club defeated Calvin University in a two-match series (3-2 Nov. 3, 3-0 Nov. 5) that was split by a match against the University of Notre Dame (2-4) on Nov. 4.
The loss against the Fighting Irish was the first of the season for the Lakers as their record now stands at 7-1.
GVSU’s next two matches will be this week against Ferris State (Nov. 8) and Adrian College (Nov. 11). The first match will begin at 9:30 p.m., with the second puck drop at 8 p.m.
SWIM AND DIVE TEAMS ON THE ROAD THIS WEEK
The men’s and women’s swim and dive teams are traveling to Oakland University this weekend as they have yet to lose a matchup this season.
GVSU’s regular-season record sits at 3-0 as their last win was against both Northern Michigan (men’s 187-101, women’s 175-143) and Saginaw Valley State (women’s 248-52, men’s 179-115).
This week’s meet is on Friday, Nov. 11 at 5 p.m.
BASKETBALL
Women’s basketball flattens Warhawks in exhibition match
BY GABRIELA GARBEY SPORTS@LANTHORN.COMGrand Valley State women’s basketball tipped off their season with a blowout win at home against the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater that finished 84-33.
The exhibition was the first time out for the Lakers as the Warhawks would open up the game with a layup exactly one minute into the game, but this would be the first and last time the opponent was on top of GVSU.
Redshirt sophomore Joslyn Brennan added the first points for the Lakers with a layup of her own to tie the score 2-2, ultimately leading to her first free throw attempts to take the lead, 4-2.
Even with a full-court defensive set with man-to-man pressure, GVSU’s offense wouldn’t be fazed as a few substitutions and a strong run led to the first quarter ending 18-6 in favor of the Lakers.
GVSU didn’t hesitate to expand on the lead with their offense, but their ramped-up defensive efforts played a huge factor in containing Whitewater as a full-court press allowed them to rack up seven steals.
HOCKEY
However, the fast-paced efforts led to multiple empty possessions as the Lakers ended with 10 and the Warhawks with nine themselves.
One of the costly turnovers by Whitewater would come with just five seconds left to play in the quarter from a steal by senior guard Emily Sptizley who found senior forward Hannah Kulas. Kulas pulled up just before the buzzer and cashed in the three, sending the Laker bench into a frenzy and capping off a dominant
39-19 lead heading into the break.
In an effort to hopefully swing momentum into their favor, Whitewater started the second half with substitutions as GVSU looked to close out the exhibition in their favor.
Intense pressure by the Lakers forced an early over-the-back turnover as the home crowd and GVSU bench electrified the arena.
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GV DI men’s hockey club defeats crosstown rival in two games
BY JASON MILLIS SPORTS@LANTHORN.COMGrand Valley State University Division I men’s hockey club capitalized on their season with a pair of wins against Davenport University this past weekend and pushed their record to 12-3.
Ranked No. 3 overall in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), the Lakers are now riding a six-game winning streak.
“We’re ranked higher than Davenport, so those were games we needed to win in essence,” said first-
year head coach Matt Sekosan. “It’s another step in our succession of what we’re trying to accomplish as a team. We want to continue to build on that killer instinct and be mentally prepared for those tough games.”
The Nov. 4 match was a close battle as the Lakers hosted the Panthers in their home arena.
In a sluggish start, DU managed to slip the puck past junior goalie Devin Naidow (15:05) and take a 0-1 lead as neither side was able to put together a successful run for the remainder of the period.
The Panthers would add yet another goal to their tally to put themselves up 0-2 (8:01) and controlled the pace of the period until roughly four minutes left.
Senior defensive player Tyler Hofmann was the first player to put GVSU on the scoreboard, 1-2 (17:27) assisted by junior center Nick Sommerfield and senior forward Zach Kippe.
However, Sekosan knew that being down a goal heading into the final period is never a position the team wants to be in.
“After the second period, I sat them down to calm them down and do a sort of reset,” Sekosan said. “We were dominating the game possession but we got
into some self-inflicted penalty trouble, which kept it tight. I reiterated we needed to play for each other and to stay under control, which set the tone for us to have a strong third period.”
Kippe started the third period off with a bang, tying the game 2-2 just over 90 seconds into play (1:36) as neither team managed to jump out in front for roughly another 12 minutes.
A costly slashing penalty by the Panthers set up the Lakers for a power play. Sophomore forward Carson Korte took advantage of the opponent being down a player as he scored just over a minute into the power play and put GVSU in the lead for the first time, 3-2 (13:22).
However, Davenport tied the game 3-3 less than two minutes later (15:12). Time would eventually expire and send the game into overtime.
Over four grueling minutes of not being able to score from both sides created the sense of a second overtime period, but junior forward Eric Hulford became the match hero as he slapped the sudden-death shot into the opponent’s net with seven seconds left to put the Panthers to bed, 4-3.
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GV football finishes home record undefeated in regular season
BY ANTHONY CLARK JR. SPORTS@LANTHORN.COMGrand Valley State University’s football team dismantled Wayne State University 42-14 in their last home game of the regular season to defend their current undefeated record (10-0).
The Nov. 5 matchup was the second time the Lakers faced the Warriors as the first meeting was in Detroit and resulted in a win for GVSU (48-9). In this game, however, wind conditions were a significant factor in the overall pace of the game.
The opening drive was a slow and steady effort by the Lakers as it would eventually result in a forced punt.
Six plays and 18 yards later, WSU saw itself punting the ball back to GVSU with just over 10 minutes left in the quarter. The Lakers didn’t waste their opportunity this time as their offense couldn’t be contained.
GVSU saw an effort from several players as sophomore quarterback Avery Moore (14-yard rush), junior quarterback Cade Peterson (30-yard pass to senior tight end Jayk Slager), junior running back Tariq Reid (12-yard rush) and another five-yard run by Peterson set up the Lakers at the WSU eight-yard line.
The two-minute, 45-second drive
(69 yards) was finally capped off by an eight-yard run from sophomore wide receiver Kyle Nott to put the Lakers on the board first.
With the ball back in their possession, the Warriors looked to knot up the score with a successful drive of their own.
GVSU looked as if they would expand on their momentum after sophomore defensive back Nyzier Fourqurean picked off a pass attempt by WSU, but the celebration would soon be cut short as a holding penalty on senior linebacker Damon Wesley saved the opponent’s possession.
Even with the extra opportunity, the possession would prove to be fruitless as the Warriors ultimately were forced to punt once again after five plays.
The Lakers ran down the remainder of the game clock as the start of the second saw GVSU in a third and two situation at the WSU 39-yard line, only to end up as a forced punt after a six-yard loss on the third down conversion.
Five failed possessions later (three WSU, two GVSU) dwindled the game clock down to just 43 seconds as the Lakers started the final possession of the half at their own 20-yard line.
Situations like this don’t necessarily produce results for the most part,
VOLLEYBALL
but Peterson’s well-versed leadership came in handy once more.
With an explosive 52-yard rush, Peterson set up the Lakers at the Warrior’s 28-yard line and a timeout to stop the game clock that read 31 seconds.
A completed pass by Peterson to sophomore wide receiver Cody Tierney for 15 yards and an offsides penalty by the WSU defense pushed the chains forward to the opponent’s five-yard line.
Two downs later, Peterson was able to scamper wide left, stiff-armed a WSU
defender to the turf and dove forward to knock the pylon marker down to secure a second touchdown for the Lakers and resulting in a 14-0 lead going into the break.
“The score by Cade before the half was a huge boost for us,” said head coach Matt Mitchell. “It separated us a little more from them (Wayne State) and allowed us to come out of the break with a little more energy.”
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GV volleyball splits final two home games
BY MADELEINE SMITH SPORTS@LANTHORN.COMGrand Valley State University’s women’s volleyball rounded out the last weekend of regular-season play in a competitive loss against Wayne State University (1-3) and a rebound match against Saginaw Valley State University (3-1).
The Nov. 4 match was Senior Night for the Lakers as five players were recognized prior to the start of the match; outside hitters Savannah Thompson, Karlie Kucharczyk and Camille Hurta, middle blockers Jaelianna Primus and Mattie McCabe.
When asked about what these players have meant to the program, head coach Jason Johnson said he’s impressed with everything these girls have endured throughout their time with the Lakers.
Having to navigate college and being a student-athlete throughout all of the protocols, and then for them to transition from one head coach to another (isn’t easy),” Johnson said. “They’ve done an amazing job of bringing positivity to the floor as well as being positive influences for our younger players as well.”
GVSU began the first set with a 3-0 lead against the Warriors, but would soon lose their momentum with Wayne
State taking control in a 4-12 run as GVSU wouldn’t be able to regain the lead and dropped the set, 15-25.
Wayne State expanded on their momentum and broke out the second set with a 3-10 run prior to the Lakers making a substitution in hopes to prevent the deficit from getting completely out of hand. The sub seemed to be effective as GVSU went on a strong 9-5 run of their own to cut the deficit to within three points. However, the energy spurt wouldn’t last as the Warriors regained control and didn’t allow the Lakers to come within four points (14-18) as they eventually went up 0-2 with a 15-25 win.
With the potential of being swept for the second meeting of the season (0-3 Sept. 24), the Lakers came together in the third set with a small turnaround.
The set was once more taken over by the Warriors as they built a 2-6 lead, but GVSU was able to persevere and make a valiant 6-1 run to take an 8-7 lead of their own as the remainder of the set would be a back-and-forth clash.
Wayne State held a 17-21 lead as they sat four points away from closing out the match entirely, but the Lakers wouldn’t allow themselves to be swept on their home court and overcame a resounding
8-2 push (25-23) to force a fourth set.
GVSU would once again start the set with three unanswered points but would soon be figured out as the Warriors regained the lead at the 5-6 marker and never lost it.
As the Lakers made several attempts to make a heroic comeback, Wayne State never allowed their lead to dwindle down to three points and was able to close the match on a 2-4 run and take set four, 20-25.
Freshman outside hitter Kendall Stover led the team in kills with 18 and nine digs as freshman setter Jordyn Gates was the only other Laker to finish in double digits for kills (11, 24 assists, six digs).
With the potential of finishing the regular season on a higher note and close out the season series at 2-0 against the Cardinals, the arena was buzzing with anticipation on Nov. 5.
A 3-7 run by SVSU would be the largest lead created by the opponent as the Lakers came back and forced a back-and-forth battle all the way down to the wire.