Grand Valley Lanthorn vol. 57 no. 5

Mental

Matters

GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN

NEWS BRIEFS

MI SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE TO STEP DOWN BY END OF YEAR

Democratic Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget McCormack has announced her plans to retire from the bench before the end of 2022.

Serving on the Court since 2013, McCormack ascended to the role of chief justice in 2019 and most recently was reelected to her seat with 32.3% of the vote in 2020 in a field of seven candidates.

McCormack has presided over a number of landmark rulings throughout the last session, including the Court’s 5-2 decision in late July that ruled that the state’s existing Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act does prohibit discrimination in multiple areas of public life on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. She similarly joined the majority opinion in the 5-2 decision earlier this month that ordered the state’s Board of Canvassers to include the Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative on the midterm election ballot after the abortion rights measure gained approximately 150,000 more valid signatures than needed to qualify.

Departing just two years into her second eightyear term, McCormack is one of only 13 women to have served on the court out of the 115 justices in its history and, according to MLive, hopes to pass the Court along to a new, diverse generation.

GV ORGANIZES CLEANUP EFFORT FOR GRAND RIVER

Grand Valley State University has begun efforts to clear debris from a stretch of the Grand River in the West Michigan region.

The cleanup strategy, happening throughout the week of Sept. 18, will span the length of the river between the university’s Allendale and Pew campuses and will include a myriad of different tactics to remove foreign contaminants.

According to GVNext, efforts will include the use of garbage pickers, nets, kayaks and a motorized boat traversing the river as cleanup participants make their way from downtown Grand Rapids downriver toward Allendale.

The cleanup, which collected a total of over 500 lbs. of garbage last year, is sponsored by the Making Waves Initiative and a grant from GVSU’s Office of Sustainability Practices.

GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE TUDOR DIXON UNVEILS $1 BILLION POLICE PLAN IN GRAND RAPIDS

Republican candidate for Michigan governor Tudor Dixon gave a public appearance outside the Grand Rapids Police Department on Sept. 13 to lay out a police funding plan that would include $1 billion in spending over a four-year period.

According to the Dixon campaign, the plan would fund thousands of public safety officials including those in emergency medical services and local and state law enforcement.

Dixon has been ardent in her support of law enforcement officials, including the officer involved in the fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya in Grand Rapids in April that sparked another wave of public fury over the issue of police brutality.

MONEY

Following the recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in the U.S. Congress and its enactment by President Joe Biden, the Grand Valley State University community waits to see its local impact as state officials have moved to implement Michigan’s share of the $750 billion in funding meant to combat climate change and lower the cost of healthcare, prescription drugs and energy.

On Sept. 6, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive directive to order the usage of IRA funds throughout the state.

Proponents of the IRA have portrayed the legislation as one that takes steps toward reducing the effects of climate change and lowering the costs of healthcare for millions of Americans.

Experts also believe that GVSU families, often drawn to the university by its relatively low tuition rates compared to other large state universities, could see the benefits of its passage trickle down.

“There are a few provisions of the new Act that will help low- and mod-

POLITICS

BY MICHAELA TRIEMSTRA NEWS@LANTHORN.COM BY JACOB WELCH NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Following the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act in the United States House of Representatives, members of the LGBTQ community at Grand Valley State University are questioning what its potential passage means for them.

Passed by the House on July 19, the act seeks to codify into law the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark

erate-income families,” said GVSU professor of political science Michelle Miller-Adams. “The most important of these are policies that lower the price of prescription drugs and expand Affordable Care Act subsidies.”

According to statistics compiled in a press release from Governor Whitmer’s office, the expansion of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies will result in three million people retaining their insurance and 300,000

Michiganders saving around $800 a year on insurance premiums.

Although the IRA does not target areas unique to the American collegiate experience, GVSU students and families may feel the relief of some financial burden with lowered costs of expensive necessities.

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decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Given the Supreme Court’s decision in June to overturn its decision in Roe v. Wade, some lawmakers are hoping to secure congressional protections before the Supreme Court has the chance to overturn nationwide same-sex marriage in the future.

With reinvigorated debate about the legislation as midterm elections near, negotiators in the U.S. Senate have expressed hopes to pass it with bipartisan support to send to President Joe Biden for a signature.

“The Respect for Marriage Act is a simple but important step which provides certainty to millions of Americans in loving marriages,” Senators Tammy Baldwin, D-WI, Susan Collins, R-ME, Rob Portman, R-OH, Kyrsten Sinema, D-AZ and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said in a joint statement on Sept. 15. “Through bipartisan collabo -

ration, we’ve crafted commonsense language that respects religious liberty and Americans’ diverse beliefs, while upholding our view that marriage embodies the highest ideals of love, devotion and family.”

Some LGBTQ advocates, however, are signaling a different view of the legislation.

At GVSU, a university that has received a multitude of accolades in recent years for its welcoming environment and resources for the LGBTQ community, Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center Director D.L. McKinney said the Act falls short of substantial equality.

“This bill is a small blip in a system of oppression,” McKinney said. “When we think about even Grand Valley State University, this is only hitting a portion of queer folks.”

FUNDS: As rising inflation has exacerbated financial burdens included in college living, GVSU families may feel relief through lowered everyday costs. GVL | JOSH ALBURTUS

DIVERSITY: GVSU has been hailed for its LGBTQ resources, including its LGBT Resource Center. GVL | MEGHAN TRIPP

GV LGBTQ Center director: Marriage Act is a step, but not far enough

Lanthorn

JAMES HERRICK

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GV

Center offers QPR among resources during Suicide Prevention Month

BY CHLOE SCHRAM NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

As September is recognized throughout the United States as National Suicide Prevention Month, Grand Valley State University is seeking to combat suicide-related stigma and barriers through programs and resources.

Given the prevalence of mental health strains commonly identified in collegiate environments, ending the stigma and undereducation associated with mental health has been a priority for the GVSU’s University Counseling Center as it prepares a year-long suicide prevention and awareness training program known as Question Persuade Refer (QPR).

QPR is a nationally recognized program used by schools and organizations across the country.

Offered through the University Counseling Center, QPR training will consist of multiple meetings designed to teach GVSU students and staff how to recognize the signs of suicide, know how and when to aid others around them and to reach out for help when necessary.

According to the University Counseling Center’s website on QPR, the program not only seeks to show how to

recognize and understand suicide from a social perspective but also attempts to incorporate a multicultural perspective.

The training also aims to teach community members how to refer someone in need of help to the right sources that will be patient and efficient in assisting them.

The first QPR Suicide Prevention Training took place on Sept. 13 in the university’s Kirkhof Center.

Led by the University Counseling Center’s Coordinator of Master of Social Work Training, Les White, the

training covered how to ask someone who is struggling if they are considering suicide, persuade the person to get help and show them empathy and refer them to a phone number or resource so they can receive immediate aid.

With the heavy and solemn nature of the topic of suicide, the training had many key points that related to the mechanics and triggers of suicide.

POLICE

Criminal incidents near GV Pew Campus raise concern among students

BY PAYTON BRAZZIL NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State University community received two GVSUALERT! emails within hours of each other over the weekend of Sept. 10 and 11. Both incidents occurred on the Blue Bridge located near GVSU’s Pew Campus in downtown Grand Rapids, sparking concerns from students over the ability of local law enforcement to maintain safety.

The first incident involved a reported sexual assault on Saturday night, with the second incident occurring around 3 a.m. on Sunday morning with multiple shots being fired.

Grand Rapids Police Department Chief, Eric Winstrom, said an illegal party began Friday and Saturday night on the bridge with more than 100 people in attendance.

Early Sunday morning, the police responded to the complaint of multiple shots fired and found four adult males injured. The injuries were reported as non-life threatening and the men are expected to recover.

The party went on from Saturday night to early Sunday morning with police making arrests, towing cars and responding to the large gathering.

Chief Winstrom told WGVU that he believes the pandemic is partly to blame for the recent surge in disorderly conduct downtown.

“I think what we are seeing in

downtown areas across the country is that they have sort of been abandoned – for lack of a better word – of employees, diners, of just regular foot traffic,” Winstrom told WGVU. “I think it became kind of a playground for criminals, and they thought it was more and more allowable to have these impromptu parties, to do disorderly behavior, because there were less eyes, less people complaining. So, I think now that we are in a post-COVID world, it is time to get back to normal.”

GVSU student Abby Haney said she disagrees with Winstrom.

“As a student, I am very aware of this scary situation, but I don’t think the pandemic is completely to blame for downtown’s violence,” Haney said.

RESOURCES: With many stressors being native to collegiate spaces, GVSU’s

LANDMARKS: Multiple crimes were recently reported on the Blue Bridge in Grand Rapids. GVL | MEGHAN TRIPP

CARTOON

By Peyton Murney

Caffeine

editorial@lanthorn.com

Considering the things forgotten after Queen Elizabeth II’s death

idential elections, countless wars, Beatle-mania and the invention of color television during her reign as monarch. When the queen was coronated, my relatives living in Little Rock, Arkansas didn’t even have a refrigerator in their home.

BY MALIK HARVEY EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

As you might have heard, Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022, after being only the sixth female monarch and the longest to reign in British history. She witnessed 14 U.S. Pres -

Nonetheless, much like my relatives in the South, Queen Elizabeth II appeared to have made the best out of what she was given.

Upon hearing about the queen’s passing, I took to Twitter for insight into how the rest of the world was reacting to this news. Blame my naivety, but I was surprised by what I came across. On one hand, you had people expressing their grief

and sadness about the queen’s passing, and on the other, you had people digging her grave before the announcement of when and where the funeral was even made.

Becoming aware of this dichotomy in opinions piqued my interest enough to figure out what exactly was her role as a sovereign and her relationship with acts of violence and suppression carried out by the British government.

To understand the present, we must first understand the past.

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EDITORIAL

A Your voice matters in the voting booth

bortion is rising to be one of the most prominent issues for voters in the midterms as Michigan officially put the right to have an abortion on the November ballot. This creates a new urgency and emphasis on the value of a single vote for a collective decision.

With abortion coming to the forefront of the ballot and the growing need to determine what lies ahead for those for or against it, people are being put in the position to use their votes for action.

In a year that many political analysts expected to be a major opportunity for Republican gains in Congress, counterpoints on social issues have swayed several major constituencies toward candidates with progressive social policies.

Where conservative advocates have stressed the financial woes imposed on many Americans by rising inflation and America’s handling of the economy,

liberals have stressed the implications of the overturning of privacy rights.

Polls now show the gap closing between these two issues that have consistently ranked as the top matters on the minds of voters heading into November.

In an NPR poll taken between Aug. 29 and Sept. 1, inflation was the primary concern for 30% of voters, followed by abortion at 22%. As NPR notes, this is a much narrower gap compared to similar polling in July that had inflation and abortion at 37% and 18%, respectively.

Further polling from CNN found that 66% of Americans did not want the Supreme Court’s landmark 1973 ruling Roe v. Wade, in which the Court established the nationwide right to abortion, overturned. In CNN polling dating back to 1989, the amount of Americans that wanted

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a world where basic human rights are being regulated, I would have laughed. This is a case that protects women. It is a case that protects our right to our body.

BY HOPE LEINEN EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

It is not news that Roe v. Wade (1973) was overturned by the Supreme Court this summer. A case that has had a prominent space in U.S history. A case that provided the foundation for numerous other cases that fought for rights pertaining to the LGBTQ community and birth control. Gone.

If you had asked me if I ever thought that I would be living in

Am I saying that everyone has to be on the same page with the morally controversial topic of abortion? No. What I am saying is that people should respect those who want to exercise their right to their body. Roe v. Wade does not mandate that anyone has to go and have an abortion. It is saying that everyone has the right to choose what happens to their own body.

One argument I have encountered from people who are “ProLife” is that their religion does not support abortions and that is totally fair. However, there is a difference between practicing one’s religion and forcing that religion on other people. It is a First Amendment right to prac -

tice one’s own religion. It is not a right for people to force their beliefs on others and expect them to adhere to them.

The right to an abortion has nothing to do with religion at all. It is a medical procedure that should be a right for women to have. At the end of the day, these are rights pertaining to women. They are rights pertaining to their bodily autonomy and no one should have a say in that but the woman herself.

The overturning of this case does not necessarily mean that abortion is outlawed from the entire country and that one would have to fly to another country to have an abortion.

However, it is now up to each individual state to vote on the matter.

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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

or staff.

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:

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GV Student reflects on what Roe v. Wade reversal means for her

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HEALTH

Flu season, endemic COVID-19 prompt renewed virus prevention efforts at GV

BY GRACE SMITH NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

For the last two years, Grand Valley State University has experienced mild cold and flu seasons as a result of public health measures such as social distancing intended to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Although many in the campus community were vocal as to what they saw as multiple downsides to such preventative measures, others took solace in the ability to avoid the common cold.

The 2022-23 cold and flu season is shaping up to be something different this year.

Experts are beginning to acknowledge that, although vaccines have made the virus significantly less lethal than it was at the onset of the pandemic, COVID-19 has earned its place in the annual onset of cold and flu season.

Many experts, including those at Yale University’s School of Public Health and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, have already concluded that COVID-19 will

begin to largely shift more toward endemic models. They stated it will become something similar to the flu that will persistently ebb and flow with the seasons, becoming significantly more prevalent in colder months.

White House officials have also referred to COVID-19 vaccination as something similar to the flu vaccination, requiring an updated booster each fall to protect oneself against the most common and mutated variants. The newest booster this fall stands to protect against the Omicron variant, which is shaping up to be the newest wave of the COVID-19 virus.

As a result, GVSU students may face a collision of both COVID-19 and a revived cold and flu season as the university is expected to remain at COVID Alert Level Zero for the foreseeable future.

Students are encouraged to be aware of their options as the colder months approach.

One option for students will be the upcoming flu shot clinics hosted by the GVSU Family Health Center to help the community get protected. The first of these

ADMINISTRATION

clinics will be held Sept. 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center on the university’s Allendale campus.

GVSU’s Community Health Advisory Team will also be hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Oct. 14 from 12 to 5 p.m. in Kirkhof Center. Event leaders request that attendees bring their GVSU student IDs and their vaccination cards.

GVSU students are also preparing to keep themselves healthy during cold and flu season in a variety of ways. Senior Aaron Pope said that staying healthy during the school year is one of his priorities for the fall.

“Regular handwashing is definitely a must,” Pope said. “Try to limit large gatherings during COVID season and have fun in open environments.”

Senior Ally Bayes also shared her strategies for managing her health during the winter. Bayes said that she will be focusing on maintaining a good diet and exercising regularly.

New GV Student Health Services director begins first school year as vi rus threats loom

BY ZOË MURPHY NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

As Americans begin to return to “normal” life following the COVID-19 pandemic, university communities have attempted to give their student bodies and staff a normal experience while keeping health officials and those concerned about the virus at ease.

At Grand Valley State University a new director of Student Health Services, located in the Division of Student Affairs, will coordinate virus prevention measures and ensure the wellbeing of the campus community.

The former site manager for the Wyoming Community Health Center and U.S. Navy veteran, Edward Jones II, came into the position in July with the hope of ascertaining measurable progress related to improving the health of students and faculty on campus.

Leading GVSU’s Student Health Services, Jones said, is a broad position with a myriad of important duties.

“(I lead) the day-to-day administrative responsibilities for Student

Health Services including supervision of the Campus Health Center,” Jones said. “I oversee leadership and oversight with strategic planning, budget and implementation and evaluation of services and programs. I assist in developing strategic guidance for student wellbeing at GVSU and will advise senior administrators on student and public-health related matters.”

In his three months on the job, Jones has

already made efforts to improve accessibility to health-related resources and safeguard the community from potential health risks. These efforts have ranged from crafting updated COVID-19 precautions, collaborating with local health departments and updating GVSU webpages and communication plans.

VIRUSES: As the GVSU community sees a long-anticipated relaxation in masking and COVID protocols, such creates opportunity for a number of other seasonal viruses to make resurgences. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

LEADERS: Edward Jones II, a former health center manager and U.S. Navy veteran, has taken the helm on student health issues at GVSU as its newest director of Student Health Services.

COURTESY | GVSU (AMANDA PITTS)

Members of multiple organizations at Grand Valley State University took part in special events to promote students’ mental health with Mental Health Awareness Week.

From Monday Sept. 12 to Friday Sept. 16, this student-led event focused on a different topic every day in order to spread awareness of mental health. Monday began the week with ‘Mindfulness Monday.’

“We are encouraging students to come and take resources, we have a little ‘braincation’ QR code that takes you to University Counseling Center, meditations and mindfulness practices,” said Isabella Griesmaier, who was handing out information at the event. “We’re also inviting students to go into the LGBTQ Resource Center to relax, spend some time in their probably busy day and look over some of these tips we have.”

The QR code that was available for students to scan had a video definition of what mindfulness is and a number of videos on meditation. Multiple online and audio tools are still available on the website to help students with whatever they are struggling with whether that is anger, anxiety, self-confidence or grief.

“I think that you can never be too adamant about advocating for people’s wellness,” Griesmaier said.

“It’s really easy to forget, especially with the semester already being underway. We really wanted to just make an effort in the beginning of the school year.”

The week carried on with ‘Self-Care Tuesday,’ where over 300 mental health stickers were handed out.

“Students were happy to be seen and heard,” said Cameron Lindsay, organizer of Mental Health Awareness Week.

Students were excited to see the therapy dogs at the event along with the numerous journal prompts that were offered. This event gave students a chance to voice their feelings to their peers. Lindsay said it was encouraging to see how many students were using the tools they provided to check in on one another.

On Wednesday Lindsay and her peers, Maddie Olsen and Megan Hieronymus, were back at the clocktower welcoming students with music, stickers and more fliers to approach the table as part of the Community Resource Fair.

“The goal for today was to get as many people as possible to show the most amount of care for the students as possible,” Lindsay said.

Lindsay said it’s important that organizations on campus such as the LGBT Center, the University Counseling Center, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and RecWell are all implementing mental health and holistic health practices so that students know that they are supported in each of these areas.

A large part of the community resource fair was to help students find options on what to do and who to go to if they feel like their mental health isn’t in the best place.

“(The community resource fair) also gives you the resources and the knowledge to equip yourself so that if your mental health is in a challenging state, and you’re looking at it and you’re thinking to yourself, ‘maybe I need some more help,’ you know who to go to and who to ask,” Lindsay said.

Students were given resources to help both on and off campus. It was emphasized at the event that mental health is something that constantly needs work.

“Mental health is like pulling weeds and planting seeds,” Lindsay said.

Mental Health Awareness Week continued on into Thursday with the art showcase in the Grand River Room of Kirkhoff Center from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. GVSU students were given the opportunity to submit any form of artwork that could tell a story about their mental health whether it is a painting, poem, drawing or anything else of that nature.

“Tonight, none of us are alone,” Lindsay said in her introduction speech before the show. “None of us are ignored. None of us are unseen or heard. Tonight, we are joined by art.”  However, because there were not enough student reservations, the gallery was canceled. Event planners shifted their focus to the final event.

Mental Health Awareness week wrapped up on Friday with a ‘Spread the Word’ event at the clocktower. Students were given the opportunity to write letters of encouragement and positivity to hand out to fellow students. Students also spoke about what mental health means to them.

“Just letting people know that there’s somebody who cares because a lot of the time in college you feel so isolated,” said GVSU student Illy Taylor. “Knowing that someone is in your corner is such a great thing, it’s much needed to check in more than we do.”

WELLNESS: Grand Valley students took advantage of Mental Health Week events, learning to cope with poor mental health, finding different resources to support them and connecting with their community. GVL MELIA WILLIAMS

BY EMMA ARMIJO NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State University Recreation & Wellness Center, in partnership with the Ottawa County Department of Public Health (OCDPH), is hosting monthly testing for the new school year for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that is free for students.

The first of these monthly events took place on Wednesday, Sept. 14 in the Holton Hooker Living Center.

Students that stopped in at the testing location were greeted by registered nurses who were prepared to provide an STI test kit and answer any questions the students may have.

GVSU Student Health Promotions Coordinator Katie Jourdan said Recreation & Wellness saw a need for sexual health services on campus following the National College Health Assessment data in 2018. Since she was hired in 2019, the visibility of such services has increased with more marketing, additions to peer educator programs and GVSU’s continued partnership with OCDPH.

Jourdan said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National College Health Assessment (NCHA) data point to college-aged individuals being the most at risk for contracting a sexually transmitted infection.

“Statistically, half of all sexually active individuals will get an STI before the age of 25, and many times individuals do not have symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is by getting tested,” Jourdan said. “Besides abstinence, using condoms or other barrier methods and regularly getting tested for STIs are some of the best ways to protect oneself from STIs.”

The testing process typically takes around five minutes. In the event of positive test results, students can expect communication from one of the registered nurses on site around a week after they got tested.

This is a resource that is fully open and available to the entire campus community. There is no charge, the process is painless and no insurance is required. In the event that a student would need antibiotics, the student and an Ottawa County Health facilitator schedule a private meeting on campus to exchange the medicine for free.

Leanna Kermeen, a registered public health nurse for OCDPH, explained at the STI event that having STIs like chlamydia – the most common STI for the Ottawa County and GVSU communities – and not knowing it can have serious consequences.

“Chlamydia is a bacteria that can grow inside of a person’s reproductive tract, and that’s a really damaging bacteria if it’s left there untreated,” Kermeen said. “So, if you’re having sex, particularly sex with multiple partners or without condoms or with people that you don’t know what risks they might be bringing to you, then you yourself could have a bacteria in your body and you might not even feel it or know it.”

Kermeen explained that the free STI testing on campus aims to protect students and prevent such infections. Getting tested is not something for which anyone should feel shame.

“What we really want to do is just to protect your reproductive organs from that long-term harm that could come from an infection,” Keerman said. “We also love the idea of treating infection that we find because that means that fewer people will spread it and our numbers

will hopefully come down.”

Heather Alberta, a certified sexuality educator at the STI testing event, believes that the stigma around the subject of sexual health is doing no one any good.

Having the STI testing available in an area on campus that students can access, Alberta said, is one way that the Recreation & Wellness Center, GVSU and OCDPH can work to break down those barriers and put the community’s health first.

“It helps to break down the stigma and the barriers in regards to people accessing sexual health services, as well as breaking down the stigma about who actually is getting tested for sexually transmitted infections,” Alberta said. “It’s not like a certain person or a certain population that needs to be tested, but anyone who is engaged in sexual behavior is going to be at risk for a sexually transmitted disease.”

Free STI testing on GVSU’s Allendale campus will continue to take place on the second Wednesday of each month through the semester from 4-7 p.m. in the Holton Hooker Living Center.

The Recreation & Wellness Center also offers at-home STI testing for students more comfortable with that option. A QR code can be found on the website as well as at the testing site for individuals to order an at-home testing kit.

The kind of accessibility and awareness around sexual health in college provided by this program, Keerman said, is providing a climate for students to be proactive with their health without feeling shame, financial stress or the impression that such should be anything but guaranteed.

“It’s free, it’s anonymous and it’s your right as a human being,” Keerman said.

RESOURCES: GVSU’s free STI testing event at its Holton-Hooker Living Center featured a number of additional educational resources made available to students. GVL | EMMA ARMIJO

TESTING: In addition to the STI testing events held by GVSU, at-home STI testing is also made available by the university’s Recreation and Wellness Center. GVL | EMMA ARMIJO

DEPARTMENTS: GVSU partnered with the Ottawa County Department of Public Health to facilitate the free STI testing event and continue doing so once a month. GVL | BRI CONWAY

LAKER LIFE BRIEFS

ICE CREAM SOCIAL WITH PSYCHOLOGY CLUBS

On Wednesday, Sept. 21, students who are interested in learning more about psychology can attend the program’s ice cream social.

The event will run from 6-7 p.m. in room 2270 in the Kirkhof Center. There will be multiple psychology organizations there for students to get to know including Psi Chi, the Psychology Club and Psych Friends.

Psi Chi is the oldest psychology group on campus and is the International Honor Society in Psychology.

The event is free for those who are interested. Besides ice cream, there will also be trivia and information about each club.

REGISTER FOR RECRUITMENT

For those interested in joining a sorority registration for 2022 Panhellenic Recruitment is live now through the end of the week. The registration period will be ending on Sept. 23 with formal recruitment beginning that day. In order to join a sorority, those interested must preregister online through campus director at gvsu.mycampusdirector2.com. This signs students up for all sorority recruitment options and costs $30.

As well as the Panhellenic recruitment, there are three other councils that will be recruiting: the Interfraternity Council, the Multicultural Greek Council and the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Each of these groups has its own ideals alongside supporting different charities to give students who join a chance to give back to the community.

GVSU Greek Life focuses on aiding in the development of leadership skills through social and philanthropic activities.

DONATE BLOOD TO HELP SAVE LIVES

Versiti Blood Center of Michigan will be holding blood drives this week for students.

All donations go to hospitals nearby to help save patients’ lives. The first will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday Sept. 20 at the Kirkhof Center in room 2263. The following day there will be one in the Kirkhof Center in room 2215/2216 at the same time.

GET TO KNOW CAMPUS MINISTRY

On Friday, Sept. 23 Campus Ministry will be holding multiple events for students.

There will be pizza at John Ball Park from 5 to 7 p.m. followed by ultimate frisbee at GVSU’s field #1 from 7 to 10 p.m.

MARKET

BY CLEMENCE DANIERE LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

On Sept. 17, Grand Valley State University students gathered on the Kindschi lawn to put on display their art, jewelry and other creative skills. The Student Business Market invited 25 students this year to decorate their own tables and showcase their creative work.

The students were selling their hand-crafted items from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., garnering attention from people walking by. Every student had their own creative spin on their items.

Maisha Marriott, a freshman, sold handcrafted jewelry made by wire wrapping crystals and other small items into necklaces. She started making this jewelry when her grandmother handed down a lot of her vintage jewelry to her. She upcycled the pieces to give them a modern twist, which caught the attention of her friends and family and has been making jewelry ever since.

Another jewelry vendor, Clare Mcfarlane Parrott, said she has been finding joy in making jewelry for years. She began making jewelry in elementary school when an entrepreneur fair helped her discover her love for creating it.

“Making jewelry is about connecting with people,” Parrott said. “When I meet someone new I bring out all of my supplies and ask them to make something together.”

Some of the vendors said they fostered their passion during the pandemic when they suddenly had more time on their hands and their creative hobbies evolved into a business rather than a pass-time.

However, juggling school with a business has proven to be hard for some vendors.

Marriott said she increased her productivity by doing school work, reading and even eating while working on her wire wrapping. Maximizing the time she spends on school work and crafting has allowed her to keep her passion alive while also focusing on her degree.

For others, school has actually been a way to help their business grow.

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DANCE

Divine Nine showcase their skills at yard show

BY MELIA WILLIAMS LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

Fraternities and sororities are a large part of student life at Grand Valley State University.

Every year the National Pan-Hellenic Council of GVSU presents a yard show where the nine historically black sororities and fraternities, the “Divine Nine,” each perform a step show. This year the event took place at the Amphitheater at the Mary Idema Pew library.

Step is a type of dance that focuses on footwork. Limb movements and styling are restricted or not as important. An example of this would be doing clog dancing. To those involved, the yard show is about so much more than just the step show that everyone loves to see.

“It’s about Greek unity when it comes to showcasing what their organization is all about and having a good time,” said Ja’lyn Goolsby, a member of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority.

The event kicked off with the president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council at GVSU, Sade Hall, introducing herself to the crowd of hundreds of people. She began the event by introducing the first organization to perform, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

The organization performed along with giving engaging historical information about what their colors are (in this case black and gold), the year they were founded, the organization’s motto and the bylaws they live by. This was followed by another step show.

Kiara Walker, a member of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, said their routine took about two weeks to learn with practices every day.

The next performances were by the Omega Psi Phi fraternity and the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. While all of these Greek houses are part of the Divine Nine, Delta Sigma Theta was the first of the Divine Nine to be founded at GVSU.

There was a brief intermission where students spoke about why, to them, the yard show should be attended regardless of involvement.

“I wanted to show support to my black community, there aren’t many of us here so when we have events it’s a great way to bring us together,” said sophomore Taryn Williams.

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STUDENT-RUN: During Family Weekend GVSU hosted the Student Business Market where students were able to sell their homemade crafts and jewelry. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

PERFORMANCE: The National Pan-Hellenic Council performed their annual yard show doing their step routines by the “Divine Nine,” the historically Black sororities and fraternities at GVSU. GVL | MELIA WILLIAMS

ARTS AT A GLANCE

GRAND RAPIDS FILM FESTIVAL SCREENING AND EVENTS

The Grand Rapids Film Festival will take place from Sept. 23 to Sept. 25.

The event will begin with a free kick-off party on Sept. 23 at MUSE in Grand Rapids.

On Sept. 24 the events will take place at Black Pigeon in Grand Rapids. These events include camera and acting workshops and a 24hour film challenge for a prize. For those events, there is a registration fee to participate.

Additionally, a free screening of film festival submissions will take place on Sept. 25 at Studio Park in downtown Grand Rapids. The showing starts at 10 a.m. and will continue throughout the day. Submissions include films, shorts, music videos, commercials and one-minute micro-films.

The festival will conclude with an awards ceremony following the showing starting at 5 p.m.

CONFLUENCE FEST GRAND RAPIDS 2022

Confluence Fest will take place on Sept. 23 and 24 in downtown Grand Rapids.

This festival aims to highlight a combination of art, music, science and technology.

The event features a music showcase that will take place at the Listening Room at Studio Park with performances from Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers on Friday and Tall Tall Trees on Saturday.

Other events include the Innovation Showcase, which highlights technology from local companies, Maker Expo, to show the work of crafters, artists and other creators. There is also an event with hands-on children’s activities. This program is free and open to the public.

ART WORKSHOP AND LECTURE WITH REB

On Sept. 24, Grand Rapids artist and GVSU alumni REB will hold three art-making sessions as a part of ArtPrize activities.

Individuals can bring recyclable materials to the program to create art pieces they can take home or donate to a sustainable art exhibit at the KDL library.

This event is at KDL Library in East Grand Rapids and will start at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Each session will last for one hour.

FOLK MUSIC SHOW AT ARTRAT GALLERY

“Grace Notes: A Celebration of Marginalized Identities in American Folk Music!” will take place on Sept. 25 from 5 -6 p.m. at the ArtRat Gallery in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The event features Gray Reynolds, Nic Gareiss and Ruby John, who will perform traditional folk music and dance. This show expands on the “Grace Notes” project currently on display at ArtRat.

This event is free to attend.

“THE HAI-CUU EXPERIENCE” AT ARTRAT GALLERY

“The Hai-Cuu Experience” hosted at the ArtRat Gallery in Grand Rapids, Michigan will run from Sept. 22 to Sept. 29 and will take place from 6-8 p.m.

This free event features works of poetry, music, performances and visual projects and works to feature marginalized communities and new artists.

COMPETITION

GV hosts ArtPrize pieces

BY STEVEN LAWRENCE ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University’s Pew Campus is a venue for ArtPrize 2022, an independent art competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan. GVSU aims to connect to the wider Grand Rapids community through hosting art pieces.

GVSU has participated as a venue since the first ArtPrize event in 2009. This year, the university is hosting the work of Scott Froschauer, an experimental artist based out of Los Angeles, California. His work explores the idea of typical street signs and what new messages they could present through art.

Joel Zwart, Curator of Exhibitions and Collection at GVSU’s Art Gallery, said he is excited for the university to be able to work with Froschauer. Zwart said that Froschauer’s unique art style and message are both “surprising and uplifting.”

“He takes the visual language and form of street signs, and then shifts the traditionally negative messages in them towards a hopeful and positive direction,” Zwart said. “His work makes viewers consider the role of signage and points them toward positive forms of communication.”

Zwart is also looking forward to helping the GVSU community engage with different artists and ideas.

“ArtPrize always brings new artists

and new ideas, so it’s a great opportunity for members of the GV community to engage with art,” Zwart said. “I’m hoping Scott’s pieces will surprise viewers.”

Froschauer’s “The Word on the Street” is a piece of reimagined street signage. Froschauer creates street signs using the same materials and formatting that is seen in the street signs designed by the Department of Road Safety; however, he changes the meaning of the signs with new wording and messaging. His goal is to transform the signs from being negative and aggressive to having a positive message that is meant to inspire. The display consists of ten total installations.

One work in the collection is a group of signs titled “Peace Signs.” At first glance, the signs appear to be six “No Parking” signs on top of one another, but with a closer look, the words display a poem by Lao Tzu about world peace. On each sign, the poem is written in a different language.

The reasoning behind having the signs in six different languages, according to Froschauer, is to help validate and show people who may have immigrated that they do belong and are welcome.

PLACEMENT: Those interested in the art can learn more through the QR codes and descriptions placed next to the pieces. The variety of artworks are showcased across campus. GVL | BRI CONWAY

COLLECTION

BY OMARI SEABERRY ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University Art Gallery’s collection consists of over 25,000 unique works of art, making it the second largest art collection in the state of Michigan. The gallery staff works to create a cohesive display of artwork throughout all GVSU campuses - both in and outside of the buildings.

According to the gallery’s website, the gallery team’s main goal is to “empower our community to engage with visual narratives that align with university values.” They incorporate this way of thinking into planning exhibits, learning events and choosing art pieces. Art pieces in the GVSU collection include various topics, artists and mediums to reflect GVSU’s values of a liberal education.

Project Manager and Curator of Public Spaces, Alison Christensen, said there is a process behind the placement of artwork on campus. During the curation process,

the team looks at what educational departments are in each building and places art that reflects what programs will be in that space.

“We display everything with museum quality standards so that the presentation of everything allows each work of art to be special on its own,” Christensen said.

Christensen also meets with deans and directors to talk about objectives for programs in order to get a better grasp on what art should be displayed. This process helps Christensen learn more about what happens within the buildings and gauge what type of art a department is looking for. After that, she sends a digital set of pieces from the database of GVSU’s art collection to the leadership of the departments to vote on.

SIGNS: The artwork is positioned outside the walkway of L.V. Eberhard center. This gives those passing by the opportunity to see the campus and the display. GVL | SYDNEY LIM

QUICK HITS

GV MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TENNIS TEAMS COMPETING FOR ITA REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

With only four scheduled events for the fall season, the Grand Valley State University men’s tennis program headed to the University of Indianapolis to begin the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II Men’s Midwest Regional Championships.

In previous seasons the Lakers have struggled to pull together a run for the championship title as they currently have lost six years in a row, the longest losing streak for this title in the program’s history.

Most of the troubles stem from being on the road, as GVSU’s away record stands at 3-6 while they remain undefeated when hosting the tournament on their home court (2-0). This season’s championship run commenced Saturday, Sept. 17 and will close out Monday, Sept. 19.

The women’s team has seen just as much of the same results as the men’s program as far as overall records, posting an 8-6 overall win/loss record for the ITA Regional Championship, and having lost in the past seven years.

Last season was a tough exit for the Lakers as they were unable to string together any type of momentum, ultimately being blown out 0-7 by Indianapolis.

However, the women’s program has yet to lose in this tournament as the hosts, maintaining a 3-0 overall record.

The championship battle is set to commence on Saturday, Sept. 24, and will be the first of three remaining home events for the women’s fall season.

WOMEN’S GOLF SET TO TRAVEL TO BIG RAPIDS FOR BULLDOG INVITE

GVSU’s women’s golf team will compete against conference rivals in a 36-hole event at the Ferris State Bulldog Invitational this upcoming weekend.

Sept. 24-25 will consist of familiar opponents for the Lakers as they dominated in fashion in the same invite last season, finishing in first place with a 14-stroke advantage and shooting a 598 overall (+22).

The women’s team will look to repeat the same level of success in this year’s invitational as they are currently coming off a fifth-place finish in the Indianapolis Fall Invite, shooting a 900 for the entire 54-hole tournament.

The upcoming battle for GVSU will be the second of five tournaments scheduled for the road, with only one tournament offering a home-course advantage for the Lakers.

Saturday’s invite will tee off in Big Rapids at the Katke Golf Club.

CROSS COUNTRY

BY ERMIAS STEWART SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s cross country teams had a successful start to their fall season in the Spartan Invitational as the men’s team placed first and the women’s finished second overall.

GVSU head coach Jerry Baltes was pleased with the results of his teams, stating that both sides of the cross country program are “focused on training at a high level” in order to compete for a back-to-back championship.

The men’s team finished with a score of 45 points, dominating their opponents and overcoming three NCAA Division I opponents: Cincinnati (second place, 89 points), Michigan State University (third place, 115 points) and Kent State University (fourth place, 162 points).

Senior Tanner Chada was the first of 279 runners to cross the finish line in the men’s 8k, posting a time of 24:03. Junior Andrew Hylen (eighth place) and redshirt freshman Koby Fraaza (ninth place) were also major contributors for the men’s team, crossing the finish line with Fraaza on the heels of Hylen and finishing times of 24:49.22 and 24:49.50.

In his second season with the

Lakers, Fraaza was a part of the roster that competed and secured the 2021 NCAA Cross Country National Championship. Even though a handful of the champions that were staples for the success of the men’s program are no longer on the team, Fraaza believes this instilled a competitive spirit amongst this year’s roster.

“We lost a lot of good guys last year, so I think this was a big confidence booster and proving that we have depth,” Fraaza said.

Other notable men’s runners were redshirt freshman Brock Wooderson

(15th), sophomores Samuel Martens (16th), Scott Spaanstra (23rd), Caleb Futter (27th), Jason Millis (30th) and senior Samuel Baustert (24th).

The women’s team also put forth a solid performance in their second meet of the season, running away with a second-place overall finish (71 points) in a 19-team invite that consisted of 231 total runners.

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BY GABRIELA GARBEY SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University women’s soccer team rose above the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in a 2-1 win over the Rangers, making it their second win in conference play this season.

The Lakers took control of the pace early as their offense hounded the Rangers’ defense, amassing a 13-5 advantage of shots on goal.

Sophomore midfielder Ryann Fetty was able to score the only goal of the first half for GVSU (18:34) on an assist from senior defender Cate Brown and sophomore defender Stephanie Sturgeon, as neither side of the ball was able to string together another effective offensive attack prior to the halftime whistle.

First-year assistant coach Mario Zuniga-Gil said it’s the players’ ability to fulfill their individual roles that helps to create success for the team overall.

“The girls are beyond amazing and

care for each other,” Zuniga-Gil said. “They are willing to do anything they can to help their teammates to help themselves be better for the team.”

Although the first half only saw one goal by GVSU, the Rangers came out with a chip on their shoulder as they amassed 12 fouls and were given two yellow cards within 17-minutes of each other (30:04, 47:39). This aggressive play continued as soon as the opening second half whistle was blown and the official handed out a third yellow card to Parkside just six minutes into the half (51:24).

Noticing that their opponent was reeling a bit in, staying focused on minimizing errors, the Lakers attempted to take advantage of the field position and got off several more shot attempts on the goal only to come up short each time.

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SOCCER

CHAMPIONS: GVSU has carried their success from last year to start this season, hoping to be crowned as national champions for both teams. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS

PACE: GVSU’s current record now sits at 5-1-2 after complete domiance over Purdue Northwest Sept. 18. GVL | SYDNEY LIM

GV women’s soccer wins secondstraight match against GLIAC rivals

BY BRIAN BLOOM SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University men’s football obliterated Lincoln University in commanding fashion as they won 66-7, totaling the most points and the most yards accumulated by the team while holding their opponent to the least amount of points and yards in a game so far this season.

“Our defense pitched a shutout, only gave up 148 yards and they did a great job flying around,” head coach Matt Mitchell said. “The offense did a great job mixing up the play calls, there were a lot of spots we were attacking and a lot of guys touched the ball; it was a good win.”

The Lakers started out hot and never looked back as senior linebacker Abe Swanson forced a fumble near Lincoln’s 29-yard line and set up the GVSU offense with great positioning to attack. Three plays later, junior quarterback Cade Peterson found sophomore wide receiver Jahdae Walker for a seven-yard touchdown to produce the first points of the game.

“I was just trying to get off to a fast

start,” Walker said. “So when I saw it was a back shoulder (throw), I knew I had it in the bag and I caught it and celebrated with my teammates.”

However, Lincoln quickly sucked the air out of the stadium on the ensuing kickoff, returning it for 98 yards to even the score 7-7 with 12:43 left to play in the opening quarter.

GVSU was unable to answer the monstrous play, but the defense forced a threeand-out on the next Lincoln possession and a botched punt set the Laker offense up with great field position once more. A face mask and defensive pass interference penalty pushed the chains forward and the Lakers were able to convert a twoyard touchdown run by Peterson to give the Lakers back the lead, 14-7.

Later in the quarter, GVSU drove the ball 68 yards in just six plays which was ultimately capped off by a five-yard touchdown run by junior running back Tariq Reid, bringing the lead to 21-7 and scoring the final points of the first 15 minutes.

The Lakers began the second quarter the way they left off in the first, taking advantage of crucial mistakes by the Lincoln

defense, as Peterson connected with Walker again, this time for a four-yard touchdown to extend their lead to 28-7.

Although Walker put up video game-like numbers this time out, he emphasized that personal accolades aren’t his focus when on the field, but instead putting his team in a position to win by any means necessary.

VOLLEYBALL

BY MADELEINE SMITH SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

In a dominant sweep over two conference rivals, the Grand Valley State University women’s volleyball team defeated Purdue University Northwest (PNW), 3-0 and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, 3-1.

The Sept. 16 face-off against PNW ended in three sets in favor of the Lakers, as each set finished 25-12, 25-22 and 25-18.

During the first set, the Lakers were able to go on several unanswered scoring runs that prevented PNW from building a comeback with several Lakers making their presence known.

In the second set, GVSU quickly gained a 5-0 lead and would soon increase it to 11-2. However, this is when PNW was able to mount a comeback as they forced a 5-12 run against the Lakers, creating a back-and-forth affair that would ultimately be ended by GVSU with two kills by senior outside hitter Savannah Thompson and freshman setter Jordyn Gates.

“I don’t want to focus on having too many touchdowns, I just want to focus on being the best person I can be,” Walker said. “If the touchdowns come, they come, but if they don’t, they don’t. I really don’t care about touchdowns.”

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Expanding on the newfound momentum from the second set PNW came out on a quick 1-4 lead in the third set. However, once the set reached a 14-15 score in favor of PNW, the Lakers came together and rallied back with a vicious 10-3 run to close out the match in three sets.

“We had to make some lineup changes late in the match on Friday which also carried over to Saturday,” head coach Jason Johnson said. “With these changes, our players adapted well.”

Freshman outside hitter Kendall Stover (12) led the team in kills, as both Thompson (11) and Gates (nine) followed closely behind. Junior setter Rachel Jacquay (21) and Gates (20) also controlled the offensive attack by leading the team in assists.

The following day consisted of a match against the Parkside Rangers, as each set finished 25-19, 25-23, 2325 and 25-18.

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ROLLING: The women’s volleyball has added to their win column to push it to nine wins overall (9-3). GVSU’s last three games have been extremely successful against conference opponents, as they have only dropped one set in a total nine sets. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS

DOMINANCE: GVSU is currently undefeated on the season, hoping to force themselves into playoff contention as momentum continues to be in their favor. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

GV volleyball sweeps GLIAC rivals, extending winning streak to three games straight