G R A N D VA L L E Y L A N T H O R N
Hands-on Health Interprofessional simulation center receives accreditation
Kent County warming shelters open doors to community amidst NEWS winter storm GV CHAARG offers fitnesscentered community for female LAKER LIFE students M O N D A Y, J A N U A RY 9, 2 02 2 // VO L . 57 N O. 1 7
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A2 | NEWS NEWS BRIEFS OTTAWA COUNTY REMOVES DEPARTMENT OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, CHANGES SLOGAN AND IMPLEMENTS NEW CONSERVATIVE FIGURES On Jan. 3, Ottawa County Board of Commissioners removed the county’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the county’s motto was changed from “Where You Belong” to “Where Freedom Rings.” According to MLive, these changes come with the new, right-leaning majority of Ottawa County Commissioners, many of whom campaigned on the idea of “shaking up the county’s status quo.” Other changes within the organizational meeting included personnel changes. The board demoted the county’s Administrative Health Officer Adeline Hambley to the interim administrative health officer. Her role is set to be replaced by Nathan Kelly, granted that he’s confirmed for the position by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, the board transitioned the county’s in-house law attorney to a law group called Kallman Legal Group that notably promotes conservative causes including defending two businesses investigated for denying service to LGBTQ people due to religious beliefs and challenging COVID-19 shutdowns. REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY WINS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE On Jan. 7, after 15 days of voting and negotiations, representative Kevin McCarthy was elected Speaker of the House. The vote was divided by conservative representative Andy Biggs of Arizona who held the remaining GOP votes in order to secure a majority. To receive the majority of votes to secure this position, McCarthy and his allies made concessions with a group of far-right conservative lawmakers who did not feel that McCarthy was conservative enough and refused to support him. According to CNN, some of the agreed-upon concessions include more Freedom Caucus representation on committees, including the House Rules Committee, 72 hours to review bills before they come to the house floor, that House will hold key votes on conservative bills and more. Notably, one of the agreed-upon concessions allows any member to call for a motion to vacate the speaker’s chair, which would make it easier to make a “no confidence vote” in the speaker. This was fought for by conservatives but sparked concerns around how this could reduce the Speaker of the House’s power. McCarthy was able to secure a narrow 50.5% with 216 votes on the 15th ballot while New York democrat Hakeem Jefferies secured 49.5% of the votes with 212 representatives.
JANUARY 9, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
LGBTQ
Federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriage leads to future goals BY CHLOE SCHRAM NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
On Dec. 13, 2022, President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act, which federally protects same-sex and interracial marriage for citizens in all U.S. states and territories. The Respect for Marriage Act officially nullifies the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman. Many members of the LGBTQ community are celebrating the security that the new act provides for marriage rights. “The Respect for Marriage Act gives me a sense of security,” said Grand Valley State University junior Samantha Rahm. “Since I’m a lesbian, it’s nice to know I have the same (marriage) rights as everyone else.” Rahm, among other members of the LGBTQ community, feels the bill provides a sense of relief and hope.
“I believe this act will lead towards more progressive changes in the future,” Rahm said. “I hope for better laws for adoption, healthcare access and overall better treatment of people in the LGBTQ community.” D.L. Hollowell, assistant director of the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center at GVSU, said this act is only a small step towards equality and attention to other issues that people in the LGBTQ community are advocating for. “Our marriages will be respected (by law), but not our youth’s access to trans-affirming support networks in states like Florida or Texas without parents and providers risking possible imprisonment, ‘’ Hollowell said. Research shows that when transgender youth have supportive families, there is a 46% decrease in suicide attempts. However, many states like Alabama and Texas have bans on gender-affirming care for youth which may pose additional concerns for transgender people.
According to The Hill, no fewer than 20 bills have been pre-filed for 2023 across at least nine states that target transgender medical care. Within 2022, over two dozen states proposed measures to restrict or ban gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth. “This (lack of protections for trans-affirming medical care) makes me feel like lawmakers ought to prioritize addressing the urgent needs and enumerating the rights of the most vulnerable members of our community,” Hollowell said. The Respect for Marriage Act has created a new sense of safety and security for the marriages of many LGBTQ people and interracial relationships. However, many people are looking to further federal protections for other LGBTQ issues in the future. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
CENTER: GVSU has different resources and support systems available for the LGBTQ community. The Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center located in Kirkhof Center on the Allendale Campus is open for students to visit or attend events. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER
JANUARY 9, 2023
A3 | NEWS
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
CONTENTS LGBTQ
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OPINION
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POLICE
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HEALTH
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GOALS
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SISTERHOOD
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TRADITION
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BASKETBALL
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BASKETBALL
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VOL. 57
EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief MARY DUPUIS Associate Editor AUDREY WHITAKER Associate Editor JACOB KIRN News Editor ELIZABETH SCHANZ Sports Editor ANTHONY CLARK JR
Laker Life Editor SABRINA EDWARDS A&E Editor
NO. 17
Videographer ZACH PLISKO Layout Editor DONOVAN LOPEZ Layout Designer REV BRONOWSKI PROMOTIONS Promotions Manager GRACE O’BRIEN
Kent County warming shelters open doors to community amidst winter storm BY PAYTON BRAZZIL NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
As characteristic harsh winter conditions arrive in West Michigan, warming centers open their doors to those looking for shelter from storms and freezing temperatures. After the blizzard and low temperatures recorded at the end of December 2022, shelters and transitional housing continue to promote the resources they offer throughout the winter season. Seven warming centers across the Kent County area provide vulnerable individuals with relief from the cold. Most centers have additional purposes, such as Alano Club of Kent County. Alano Club is a nonprofit organization that primarily provides an alcohol treatment program with 13 different recovery support groups and meetings. However, the club said that its doors are open to anyone looking for warmth. “Anyone that would come in, we would offer them coffee and let them hang out for as long as they needed to,” said Chris Back, a manager at Alano Club.
Back said that the snow storms and weather brought in people looking for shelter. “We definitely had a handful of people that came in just to get out of the storm,” Back said. “Basically anybody that would come in, regardless of what time they came in, would stay until the time that we locked up at nine.” Since Alano Club is not open throughout the night, Back said that people in need of shelter or warmth throughout the night should contact Mel Trotter Ministries, a shelter that’s open 24/7. Mel Trotter Ministries opened their 75-bed overflow shelter and day center in December 2021, according to MLive. The overnight shelter also acts as a warming center, along with a division of Mel Trotter Ministries, Heartside Ministries. Other shelters and treatment programs have also opened their doors as warming centers. Primarily open to men, Exodus Place offers transitional housing, re-housing and rehabilitation for those facing hardship. “We help men get back on their feet again, whether it’s from homelessness, getting out of jail or pris-
on or just down on their luck,” said Chris Krobron, Exodus Place Facilities Manager. Krobron said that Exodus Place’s warming center is open, but he didn’t see a lot of people coming from the storm. “We are a warming center, open from seven to seven,” Krobron said. “We’re kind of off the beaten path here, so we don’t get too many people coming in for the warming center.” Warming centers commonly serve vulnerable individuals that might take temporary outdoor shelter, which could lead to damaging health effects. Without sufficient protective layers and access to warmth, exposure to harsh weather can pose serious danger, including frostbite and hypothermia. “Everybody needs a chance to survive, you know,” Back said. “We can’t control these storms, and I think it’s only fair that we do whatever we can and use whatever resources that we have available to assist people who don’t have those resources or a roof over their head.” LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
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Business Manager MORGAN JOHNSTON
Image Editor MEGHAN TRIPP
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JAMES HERRICK
WEATHER
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RESOURCES: Freezing temperatures and harsh weather conditions are common in West Michigan winters. People who are exposed to these conditions are vulnerable to health and safety concerns. Warming shelters help to keep individuals from the dangers of winter storms. The various Kent County warming shelters serving the Grand Rapids area help the community. GVL | ARCHIVES
A4 | OPINIONS GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON
JANUARY 9, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN By Abby Haywood
EDITORIAL
The rise of social media crime solvers
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Review: Epic performances carry “Babylon”
BY JOSEPH POULOS JUNIOR MULTIMEDIA JOURALISM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
The word “epic” has been used to describe many movies over the last few years. Whether that means a historical adventure with a wide scope, long
runtime or an imaginative fantasy world that immerses the audience, few films have actually earned this classification. One film that does seem worthy of the “epic” moniker is Damien Chazelle’s latest entry, “Babylon,” which is a Golden Age Hollywood story starring Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt and Diego Calva. As far as historical adventures go, this one takes place in the late 1920s and early 1930s just as Hollywood is making the transition from silent films to “talkies.” For this purpose, “Babylon” utilizes enamoring cinematography, period-specific costumes and enthusiastic performances to cement the viewer
into the Hollywood of that time. Brad Pitt plays a fictionalized version of himself named Jack Conrad. That is, if he was to live during the early 20th century as he exists now, a famous and world-renowned actor. Margot Robbie plays Nellie LaRoy, a charismatic yet wild young woman whose only dream is to make it big in the ever-growing movie business. Diego Calva plays Manny Torres, a young Mexican man who acts as a fixer for the local studios but eventually makes it all the way to the top of the ‘biz. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
Column: Avoiding overcommitment in 2023
BY MADDIE ZIMMERMAN JUNIOR ADVERTISING AND PR EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
I’m sure you’ve seen the resolutions of others blasted all over social media. Some may want to go to the gym or do yoga every single day, drink less coffee or study for tests 3 weeks in advance. With seeing all of these amazing ambitious goals, it’s hard to distinguish what your goals are and which ones are actually obtainable. Try
not to get caught up in other people’s goals. Everyone has different incomes, time management skills and lifestyles. It’s important that you don’t overcommit yourself this year. The perfect way to start picking out your goals is to reflect over your past year. What were fun things you did, things you accomplished, things you want to improve upon, things that may have gone differently than you anticipated? This is an easy way to pick out a few skills to work on. I would pick out three to five main goals. By not making a running list, you’ll be able to dedicate more time to the goals you have picked out. This makes it more likely that you’ll be able to accomplish your goals this year. A “mood board” is a fun way to visualize your goals and serves as a fun activity and reminder to keep on display throughout the year. Collect pictures and words digitally
or physically and create a collage. A perfect place to find cute and aesthetically pleasing pictures is Pinterest. You can make boards for each goal or just make a board for your goals for 2023. You can make the board digitally on Canva, which is free and super easy to use, or you can print out the pictures you have found and glue them onto a piece of poster board. This is a great way to also use your inner creativity to enhance your mood board. For example, for making meals at home, I would find pictures of good-looking meals and make a board on Pinterest. I could also include pictures of written-out recipes, meals I have personally made before, pictures of cute kitchens, etc. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
eing exposed to true crime media is seemingly inevitable as docu-series on Netflix are trending for millions to view, television networks formatted specifically for true crime stories are ever-present and social media users as young as preteens are dedicating their time to be “crime solvers,” even more so on TikTok. Having the ability to stretch the truth or spread misinformation in an instant on platforms like TikTok can make it hard to separate the truth from false accusations. It’s easy to be drawn in by theories created by people with no real connection to the actual events with faulty background knowledge. These posts can mislead not only the public, but even authorities working on the case. More recently in the case of the murders of college students in Moscow, Idaho, people online theorizing about these cases have spread false claims while
authorities actively investigate the murders. Before Brian Kohberger’s arrest on Dec. 30 following a six-week investigation by Moscow Police, people came to their own conclusions, many of which went viral. According to an article by USA Today, some people blamed the surviving roommates and the owner of a food truck where some of the victims were last seen in public. Others accused murder victim Kaylee Gonclaves’ ex-boyfriend Jack DuCoer. There are instances of social media users aiding in the arrest of murders and solving seemingly cold cases, as in the 2019 Netflix documentar y “Don’t F**k With Cats.” By and large, however, social media users cause more harm than good by making false accusations that have real-life impacts.
OPINION POLICY
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:
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
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JANUARY 9, 2023
A5 | NEWS
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS POLICE
GVPD receives national accreditation for law enforcement standards BY JOSEPH POULOS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
The Grand Valley State University Police Department recently received a prestigious accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), becoming the only college police force in Michigan to earn such a distinction. The governing body of CALEA strives to meet a strict set of criteria, auditing practices and files for police departments that apply for certification. Captain Kourosh Khatir of GVPD said the accreditation is indicative of the “high quality” of GVPD’s best practices. “I think (the community) can know that even though we are a campus law enforcement agency we are fully accredited and in line with any municipality that might have the same standard,” Khatir said. “Currently, we are the only college or university in Michigan that has met this standard. I know some others have state-level accreditation through Michigan, but this is the national standard.” GVPD’s Accreditation Manager, Ser-
geant Brian Hedberg, worked to pursue this certification. Hedberg said the accreditation is the “gold standard of law enforcement.” “The accreditation is a certification for law enforcement,” Hedberg said. “It is, basically, national and international best practices for law enforcement agencies. They have a set of standards that they require law enforcement agencies to meet.” To be considered for accreditation, CALEA must audit and assess the law enforcement agencies’ practices, which include policies and procedures, administration, operations and support services. If an agency’s policy meets these standards, they continue through the process in order to become accredited. Hedberg said there are over 180 standards set by CALEA the law enforcement agency must meet. “Literally anything you can imagine a police station has to do, they have a standard for it,” Hedberg said. The initial award from CALEA lasts for four years. Hedberg said cooperation with CALEA is a continuous process that extends during those four years and beyond. This helps to ensure good practices are being im-
plemented for future considerations as well. “During those four years, they audit our files (annually) to make sure we are continuing with compliance and make sure we are trending in the right direction,” Hedberg said. “We go through an onsite assessment every four years to make sure everything is good. They will talk to the community members to make sure we are in compliance with this.” Khatir said Hedberg was committed throughout the CALEA certification process. Additionally, Khatir said he’s proud to be a part of a department with such high standards. “It is a real milestone for our department and I think it gives credibility to our department,” Khatir said. “Especially in relation to our peers around the state, I think it goes to affirm our commitment to do the best job we can for the university community. Brian did a tremendous job and got us accredited in less than two years, which is impressive, given that it is usually a longer process.”
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PREPARATION: The accreditation process focuses on how the force works within operational aspects and procedures. GVPD followed the outlined goals. GVL | ARCHIVES
TEAMWORK: Although Hedberg took the leadership role in pursuing accreditation, all of GVPD working together ultimately lead to receiving this recognition. COURTESY | GVNEXT
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PROCEDURES: GVPD patrols the Allendale and Grand Rapids campuses to assist and protect community members. They work to make a safe environment for all people. GVL | ARCHIVES
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JANUARY 9, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
A6&7 | NEWS
include mission and governance, program management, research management, human resources, program involvement, integrity and expanding the field. Grand Valley State University’s Inter“They (the accreditation body) make professional Simulation Center recently sure that simulation centers are practicreceived first-time accreditation from ing at the top of their game, making sure the Society for Simulation in Healthcare that learners are getting the best possible (SSH), the largest healthcare simulation experience,” Branch said. “We have gone accrediting body in the world. This five- through that accreditation process and year accreditation stands until 2027. shown that we meet those standards.” Part of the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Branch said some of the other standards Center for Interprofessional Health Sci- that must be met include evidence-based ences on the health campus, the 68,000 teaching and appropriate use of associated square foot simulation center houses a technologies. To assess policies and teachvariety of “state of the art” technology ings, the SSH conducted an on-site review aimed at improving the skills of students, of the GVSU Interprofessional Simulation faculty and healthcare professionals. Center in the fall of 2022. Simulation center director Katie The simulation center utilizes “manBranch said to achieve accreditation the ikin” based technology, where life-sized SSH examines many different standards patient simulators allow students to divided into five categories called the practice a wide range of skills such as Core-ARTS model. The sections include taking vitals, medication delivery, IV core, assessment, research, teaching/edu- placement, resuscitation and patient cation and systems integration. assessment. The manikins can be proIn the “core” section, SSH looks for grammed to have a wide variety of mediseven core operational standards. These cal conditions and even respond to medBY GRACE SMITH NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
LOCATION: The Interprofessional Simulation Center is part of the health campus located in Grand Rapids. It gives students the space to practice, learn and explore. GVL | ARCHIVES
ical mistakes. This promotes situational judgment and accuracy from students. One of the main goals of the center is to provide students and healthcare providers with a safe space to learn and make mistakes in a less consequential environment. “They make these simulations so well, and they know what we might see in the hospital and they kind of gear it towards that,” said nursing student Dunya Kizy. “Even doing the little things, you start to gain confidence in doing other things as well.” Kizy said having the opportunity to work hands-on in the simulation in addition to her traditional classroom education has been beneficial for learning the process of patient care. “I don’t feel as fearful,” Kizy said. “Even stepping into a patient’s room, it’s very nerve-wracking, because they’re real people who are sick. At the end of the day, having simulation in the curriculum is really, really nice. It enables us to just be able to learn more and learn from our mistakes so that we can be better nurses in the future.”
EDUCATION: GVSU’s Kirkhof College of nursing is a program that works to prepare students for their future careers through hands-on experience in combination with traditional work within the classroom. GVL | ARCHIVES
A8 | NEWS
JANUARY 9, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
GOALS
GV students set New Year’s resolutions for 2023 BY ZOË MURPHY NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
Resolutions for the New Year usually have to do with bettering oneself in some way, whether it be mentally, physically or undergoing a lifestyle change. Commonly, people aim to work out more, eat cleaner, have less screen time or spend more time with friends and family. Many students and staff at Grand Valley State University have set new goals for 2023. “I want to start working out consistently,” said Lexi Geraci, a staff member at the Kelly Sports Center. “I want to obtain a routine and overall be nicer to myself.” With the increased concern for mental health awareness in the United States and other countries, New Year’s resolutions focus on more mentality-based goals rather than physical ones. A recent survey conducted by Forbes Health found that close to 50% of Gen Z respondents said “improving mental health” is a part of their New Year’s resolution. “I would say my New Year’s resolution is to be more optimistic,” said Kyleigh Valentine, a third-year student at GVSU. “(I want to) look at the bright side of things and not always expect things to go wrong.”
Although New Year’s resolutions are wildly popular, they are not a new concept. According to research, the ancient Babylonians were the first people to come up with New Year’s resolutions and are noted to be the first to hold recorded celebrations of the new year. This tradition has been carried on as many people see the new year as an opportunity for progress. New Year’s resolutions can take effect in many ways. Valentine said her resolutions have changed because of personal growth. She said in the past, her resolutions weren’t always so emotional and deep. “Most of the time they’re not that serious,” Valentine said. “Last year’s resolution was that I wanted to get a full arm sleeve of tattoos and I did that. So normally, they’re not that sentimental and based on self-improvement.” Resolutions can vary widely from person to person. According to Western Governors University, the top six New Year’s resolutions for college students in 2021 were to focus on learning and not just grades, find ways to save money for tuition, create a good balance between education and living, ask experts for help, eat healthier, get better sleep and take classes that will lead to a dream job. As the GVSU community takes their goals into the new year and semester, resolutions can potentially lead to healthier habits.
IMPROVEMENT: As students enter winter semester, resolutions are a good tool to create healthier mindsets. GVL | SYDNEY LIM
DEVELOPMENTS: New Year’s resolutions give individuals the opportunity to break negative habits both physically and mentally. It can be difficult to keep these goals, however the plans that are set can have a positive impact on peoples’ lives. GV offers resources to help people stick to resolutions such as the Recreation and Wellness Center. GVL | SYDNEY LIM
JANUARY 9, 2022
A9 | LAKER LIFE
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE
LAKER LIFE BRIEFS KICK OF THE SEMESTER WITH YOGA On Jan. 9, GVSU students can unwind from their first day of the semester with yoga. Every Monday, Recreation and Wellness will be holding a yoga session in partnership with the Counseling Center for students to take part in. The sessions aim to help students focus on their mental and physical health by using yoga to improve their concentration, aid in emotional stability, reduce stress and anxiety and increase their sense of peace. The sessions will take place in the Fieldhouse dance studio in room 160 and run for an hour starting at 4 p.m. Classes are typically held in the same place and time, but are subject to change. Those interested in attending can double-check the Mindbody app for updates.
GET CONNECTED AT CAMPUS LIFE NIGHT
On Friday, Dec. 13, different groups on campus will be gathering in the Fieldhouse to give students the opportunity to find their communities on campus. With over 300 different on-campus groups and clubs in attendance, students can go from table to table to find a group that fits their interests. Different sororities and fraternities will also be present, giving students a chance to get to know the mission of each Greek life group to find the right fit for them. In addition to student organizations, there will be different campus departments in attendance such as the career center and counseling center. There will be several local businesses and nonprofits attending as well, giving students a chance to win free swag and other prizes.
SISTERHOOD
GV CHAARG offers fitnesscentered community for female BY ISABELLE ENGLAND LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State University’s CHAARG chapter, which stands for Changing Health Attitudes and Actions to Recreate Girls, aims to create a safe space for women to broaden their fitness experience with different methods of working out, while building a strong community of women to support each other. “The organization was founded by Elisabeth Tavierne at Ohio State University in 2012,” said CHAARG Secretary Katie Finley. “She noticed a divide between men and women in her campus gym. A majority of the women were on treadmills and ellipticals while men dominated the weight room. She wanted to create a place where women could experiment with different methods of working out and founded the first CHAARG group on her college campus.” Since then, CHAARG has spread to over 110 different universities around the country and continues to grow as one of the largest health and wellness communities on college campuses today. The group as a whole hopes to cross borders and reach beyond the US to other countries to help wom-
en all over the world foster a sense of community while staying active. The group sponsors several events on campus including weekly workouts, social events and other bonding opportunities. In the past, CHAARG has hosted several events for their members to try out different ways of staying physically active like Pilates, kickboxing, cardio, dance and yoga. They also put together movie nights, game nights and craft nights for the members. “CHAARG encourages finding
new ways to stay active which helps improve physical and mental health,” said CHAARG Ambassador Chloe Bowyer. “CHAARG is a group that makes women feel empowered and encourages trying new things. This resource creates a safe place for people to try new workouts without feeling any judgment.” LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
REPRESENTATIVE
Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse select new endowed professor BY MELIA WILLIAMS LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM
BOWL WITH BEST BUDDIES
Best Buddies will be gathering this Saturday at Hudsonville Lanes to bowl from 12:45 to 2:30 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend this event. All that is required to join is that those planning on going bring their best friend. The goal of the group is to form one-on-one connections with another person. The group serves those with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and other undiagnosed disabilities. There is an $11 fee to bowl.
EXERCISE: CHAARG creates a space for female students to learn new exercises. They work together along with instructors from different gyms and fitness centers. COURTESY | CHAARG
DISCUSSION: The Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse announced their new endowed professor, Greg Warsen. With this, he will be teaching a new class looking at political division in schools. COURTESY | GVSU
At Grand Valley State University, students are introduced to diversity and inclusion through courses and class discussions. However, Professor Greg Warsen plans to take that further in the next school year after becoming the fifth professor to be named the Padnos/Sarosik Endowed Professor for Civil Discourse. Every two years, a new recipient is chosen to teach a civil discourse class and lead the fall symposium. The symposium is an evening event lasting 90 minutes, with hors d’oeuvres provided in addition to a presentation and activities. The event’s planning will be in the hands of Professor Warsen. “The theme this year is political polarization, so it’ll focus primarily on what the politics look like in this country and how they are polarized or separated between the right and the left,” Warsen said. Warsen said this polarization has different impacts on different areas of society, especially in a traditional K-12 context. The IDS 350 Civil Discourse class will now be taught by Professor Warsen as part of the endowment.
“I think the course will give us a snapshot of what political division looks like in American society right now, and how that political division impacts different areas in American society,” Warsen said. Once a public school superintendent, Warsen witnessed political polarization and its impact on the relationship between K-12 schools and communities firsthand. He now intends to narrow in on what happened to cause these shifts. Although it tends to be a very competitive process, the Advisory Board for Civil Discourse unanimously agreed that Warsen was the one for the role. “(His application) really stood out for being a timely and pressing issue,” said Director for the Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse Lisa Perhamus. Warsen said his application stood out because of its “practical nature.” “I had a specific idea for groups that I wanted to work with, namely superintendents and boards of education, to give them concrete skills about how to achieve a better civil discourse,” Warsen said. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
A10 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTS AT A GLANCE GR WORLD OF WINTER FESTIVAL KICKS OFF
On Jan. 7 World of Winter in Grand Rapids held a Circus Wonderland event with over 10,00 people engaging with the Facebook announcement. Sponsored by Planet Fitness, the City of Grand Rapids arranged aerialists, stilt walkers, LED performers and fire breathers to perform near the international House of Cards installation at Calder Plaza. It is one of the six international art pieces Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc. has brought to Grand Rapids.
GVSU TO ATTEND A CAPELLA-OFF THIS WEEKEND
Allendale High School has worked with the Mu Alpha chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota to organize a singing competition. The a capella-off is to take place on Saturday, Jan. 14 at Allendale High School in the Allendale Ceglarek Fine Arts Center. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. A capella groups from GVSU, WMU and MSU as well as other area universities are coming to compete.
‘EXTREMOPHILIA: A G’NATURAL HISTORY’ EXHIBIT OPENS AT THE UICA
The Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts is welcoming a new exhibit exploring the process of unearthing a story. The exhibit is a science fiction autobiography by Natalie G’NAT Wetzel and Mark Andrus, told through various art mediums. Featuring sculptures, illustrations, photographs and a feature-length film, the project examines the characters’ psychological motivations. The exhibit is a free event on display until Feb. 11.
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
@GVLARTS
TRADITIONS
Frederik Meijer Gardens wraps up annual holiday exhibit BY OMARI SEABERRY ARTS@LANTHORN.COM
Frederik Meijer Gardens’ 28th annual holiday exhibit, “Christmas & Holiday Traditions,” recently concluded with the holiday season. In partnership with the University of Michigan Health-West, Frederik Meijer Gardens put together an event showcasing 46 unique displays of holiday traditions from all over the world. Running from Nov. 22 to Jan. 8, the festive collection is exclusive to the holiday season. Holidays such as Ramadan, Diwali, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah were celebrated throughout the exhibit, spanning across 158 acres of botanical gardens. At the exhibit, visitors could enjoy the holidays while also learning more about how cultures from around the world celebrate the season. Vice President of Horticulture Steve LaWarre said the displays were placed on the grounds along with 350,000 lights. He said the staff was meticulous in their decorative process. “We wanted to make sure that we were representative of the whole community,” LaWarre said. “We based our selections on the diversity that each brings to the exhibit.” Giving exposure to unique tra-
DISPLAY: Frederik Meijer Gardens “Christmas & Holiday Traditions,” display brings exposure to global traditions through festive holiday decor and arrangements. GVL | ARCHIVE
ditions was important for Frederick Meijer Gardens, as they hoped to represent not only the diversity of the cultural traditions around the world, but the diversity of the many communities within Grand Rapids. “One of the things I love to do is listen to people as they walk through the exhibit and hear them call back to their past after being reminded by some of our art,” LaWarre said. “I love the feeling of giving people a sense of comfort when they are away from their usual settings.” This event was correlated with the Meijer Gardens’ Seasonal Light Experience, which showcased the ways in which diverse cultures use light to uplift hope,
remembrance, gratitude and prosperity during the time of the year when it gets darker earlier in the day. The head curator for the Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibit was Suzanne Ramljak. Along with others, she made sure that the trees, art and sculptures were up to par with the theme of the event. “The holidays bring people together in distinct and memorable ways that are difficult to capture in a display, so we wanted to make sure that our displays really captured the essence of togetherness and the joy that the holidays bring,” Ramljak said. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
CONCERT
GV values Carillon holiday concert tradition
AILEY SCHOOL GUEST ARTIST BEGINS RESIDENCY AT GVSU DANCE DEPARTMENT
BY HAILEY HENTZ ARTS@LANTHORN.COM
Dance artist Ronaldo Maurice is beginning his week-long residency at the GVSU Dance Department. Auditions take place on Monday, Jan. 10 for dance students on campus. Maurice studied dance at The Ailey School as well as the Martha Graham School of Contemporary. He is an active member of the Ailey II dance company in New York City, as well as co-artistic director of Indiana’s South Shore Dance Alliance. Maurice’s choreography for the GVSU Dance Department will be performed at the end-of-year Spring Dance Concert.
GRPM HOLDS TUESDAY NIGHT SWING DANCE EVENT
Grand Rapids Swing Dance Inc. is working with the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) to bring indoor, east coast swing dance classes to the city. The class will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 10 from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at GRPM. Open to dancers of all ages, classes will continue every Tuesday until March 28. Locations alternate between the GRPM and the Masonic Temple. Those interested are encouraged to visit Grand Rapids Original Swing Society’s website for more information.
JANUARY 9, 2023
CANCELED: GVSU’s annual Christmas Eve Carillon concert was canceled due to inclement weather conditions. Carillonneur Julianne Vanden Wyngaard cherishes the performances. GVL | Meghan Tripp
As part of their Christmas Eve celebration, spectators gathered to hear music streaming from the Cook Carillon Tower on the Pew Campus. Grand Valley State University carillonneur Julianne Vanden Wyngaard cherishes performing for listeners each year on Christmas Eve from the bell tower. Due to the winter storm that upended holiday plans for many, Vanden Wyngaard’s performance this year was canceled. Despite the cancellation, she reminisces on previous shows and the importance of the tower at GVSU. “I have played a concert every year on December 24 since December 2000,” Vanden Wyngaard said. “I have learned over time that these carillon recitals on Christmas Eve have become an integral part of the holiday celebration for many people in the greater Grand Rapids area.” The addition of the Cook Carillon Tower in 2000 ushered in the custom of Christmas Eve concerts. Prior to its construction, Grand Rapids residents
didn’t have the opportunity to attend bell tower performances. “We have the only carillons in town, and if folks want to hear music of the season played on bells, our concerts are the only source,” Vanden Wyngaard said. “These concerts are often the only time some of the audience comes to our campus. That is definitely worth the effort.” Vanden Wyngaard said that while the Christmas Eve concerts have become a tradition, she aims to vary the musical selections each year. The program consists of religious and popular music that encapsulates the festive spirit of the season. Vanden Wyngaard played an integral role in the creation of a carillon program at GVSU. She joined the music department faculty in 1965 as a pianist and professor. She continued her musical education by studying carillon at institutions including the Royal Carillon School in the Netherlands. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
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JANUARY 9, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
QUICK HITS TRACK AND FIELD PREPARES FOR SECOND COMPETITION OF SEASON Following a restful break after their season-opener on Dec. 9, the Grand Valley State University track and field team will host the GVSU Bob Eubanks Open this upcoming weekend. The Lakers are coming off a huge 2021-22 season as the defending 2022 NCAA Indoor Track National Champions and will hope to continue this triumphant feat this season. GVSU’s upcoming competition will be held in Allendale on Jan. 14 starting at 2 p.m. THREE LAKER FOOTBALL PLAYERS NAMED TO DIVISION II ALL-AMERICAN LISTS After a historic 11-0 regular season and an upsetting quarterfinals loss in the NCAA DII Playoffs, the GVSU football team continues to be recognized for their dominant play on the turf in the 2022 season. Sophomore corner Nyzier Fourqurean, who recorded three interceptions in the second round of the playoffs against Northwest Missouri State (the last being the game-sealing turnover), was named to the D2Football.com Second-Team AllAmerican list. Fourqurean also recorded 37 tackles throughout the season while adding a team-high 14 pass break-ups. Junior linebacker Abe Swanson and Senior offensive tackle Quinton Barrow were both named to the website’s FirstTeam All-American list as Swanson was also deemed GLIAC Defensive Back of the Year while Barrow was attributed the GLIAC Offensive Back of the Year title. MEN’S AND WOMEN’S HOCKEY CLUBS FOCUS ON RETURN TO REGULAR SEASON ACTION With a two-week hiatus behind them, all three programs have different goals in mind in order to make a strong push to the second half of the season. In their first 15 matches, the women’s club has just four wins under their belts as they look to snap their ice-cold losing streak of three games against either McKendree University on Jan. 12 or Maryville University on Jan. 14. Both matches will be hosted by the Lakers at the Griff’s Georgetown Ice Arena. The DIII men’s club is also facing similar issues as they face Concordia University Ann Arbor in a back-to-back matchup starting Jan. 13-14. Even though the club is currently riding a three-game losing streak as well, their current regular-season record still shows promise as it stands at 14-5. Lastly, the DI men’s club has continued excellent play on the ice this season with a 21-5 record and a familiar opponent up next in a back-to-back matchup as well (Calvin University). The team’s last win was against this opponent (4-2 Dec. 10) as they managed to tie the season series 1-1 after an upsetting 0-5 shutout put on by the Knights on Oct. 15. The Lakers will play their two-game stand against the Knights Jan. 13-14.
BASKETBALL
Women’s basketball tallies 14th win at halfway point of regular season BY MADELEINE SMITH SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
The Grand Valley State women’s basketball team steered themselves back into the winning column after two road wins this past week against Wisconsin-Parkside (83-73) and Purdue Northwest (62-54). After a commanding 12-0 start to their season, the Lakers took their first loss against Lewis University at home that finished 63-69. With their perfect record soiled by the upset from the Flyers, GVSU went into the game against the Parkside Rangers with something to prove, more importantly senior guard Emily Spitzley. Spitzley not only recorded a career-high 31-point effort to lead her team to an overtime victory, but the dominant effort on the offensive end also led to Spitzley scoring her 1,000th career point. In his eighth season as the head coach for the Lakers, Mike Williams explains how a player like Spitzley is always impacting the team on and off the court. “She’s really become a defensive player, (but) she’s a rebounder, communicator, leader and she hits big shots when we need ‘em, and has what it takes,” Williams said. “That’s kinda who she’s become (as a player).” A quick 4-0 jumpstart by GVSU would soon be taken over by Parkside as the Rangers managed to score five unanswered points and maintain the first period leading up to the buzzer (12-17). Parkside continued to hold onto their lead that reached up to eight
DEFENSE: GVSU allowed the Rangers to shoot a 50% clip in the first half, but their defense in the next two periods would force seven of the Rangers’ 16 turnovers in the second half. GVL | BETHANN LONG
SCORING: The monstrous 31-point performance by Spitzley was pivotal for the Lakers as the team shot 46.6% overall and just 40% from behind the arc. GVL | BETHANN LONG
points just under the halfway marker of the second period (16-24), but an individual 5-0 run from redshirt freshman guard Nicole Kamin cut into the Laker deficit after a true three-pointer and a pair of free throws. No matter how many quick spurts GVSU put together, wouldn’t allow the Lakers to take control of the lead as the halftime buzzer sounded and Parkside still held a six-point lead going into the break, 29-35. The Rangers continued to expand on their offensive momentum as a 3-11 run built the opponent’s largest lead of the game, 35-46. GVSU wouldn’t allow their poor shooting efforts to determine the outcome of the game just yet as they managed to pull together an offensive run of their own to make the deficit 43-50 going into the fourth quarter. GVSU’s defense would allow Parkside to go back up by 10 points
(43-53), but this would be the largest deficit the Lakers would endure in the remainder of the dogfight. A 7-0 run sparked by Kamin and redshirt sophomore forward Rylie Bisballe would be capped off by a huge three-pointer from Spitzley to bring the Ranger lead down to just three points (50-53) with plenty of game left to play. The following seven minutes and 29 seconds would be a back-andforth affair between both offenses with the largest lead being four points in favor of Parkside (65-69) with just under 90 seconds remaining in regulation. Down three points and just 27 seconds remaining, Spitzley came up clutch once more and drained another three-point jumper to knot the scoreboard at 70-apiece. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
TEAM CHEMISTRY: The win against Parkside translated into the second matchup of the week against PNW as three Lakers scored in double figures. GVL | BETHANN LONG
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JANUARY 9, 2022 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
BASKETBALL
Men’s basketball goes 3-1 over break, pushes record to 8-7 BY BRIAN BLOOM SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State University men’s basketball is now 8-7 after two outof-state GLIAC battles that ended in a 72-81 loss against Wisconsin-Parkside on Jan. 5 and a 74-62 win against Purdue-Northwest (PNW) on Jan. 7. Although the Lakers have been plagued by injuries and continue to work on building a sense of identity, the victory against PNW makes it their fifth win in their last six games. “Injuries have been an issue and chemistry is a huge component,” said Head Coach Cornell Mann. “When the guys come back (from a long break), we have to reconvene and we have to get the chemistry back.” Coming off of a 72-69 nail-biter against McKendree University on Dec. 18 and a dominant 93-45 victory over Aquinas College on Dec. 31, the Lakers came into De Simone Arena and kept the game close all throughout the first half. After a quick 0-6 run by the Parkside Rangers to take a 9-11 lead over GVSU, true freshman guard Jalen Charity drilled a three-pointer to swing the lead back to the Lakers with 15:12 left to play in the first half. Later in the half, GVSU began to pull away as graduate student forward Chinedu Kingsley-Okanu scored four quick points, and redshirt freshman guard Trevor Smith stole the ball and scored it on the other end to extend the Lakers to a 21-15 lead. The remainder of the half saw both offenses trade buckets as a pair of made jump shots coupled with GVSU
misses on their end of the floor helped the Rangers close out the first half on a 2-5 run, taking a slim two-point lead into the locker room at halftime, 31-33. The offenses carried the momentum they found at the end of the first half into the second, as the teams traded points each trip down the court. Following a layup by junior forward Marius Grazulis that put the GVSU deficit to one score (44-45), the Rangers’ defense began to turn up the intensity as they held the Lakers to just two points in the next three minutes while adding eight of their own, making the score 46-53. Turnovers and missed shots would allow GVSU to insert themselves back into the game as they managed to cut the lead down to just three points (54-57) with nine minutes left in the game. However, Parkside turned up the intensity on both ends of the floor in an effort to seal the game officially, outscoring the Lakers 18-24 to make the final score 72-81. The Lakers also struggled to match the favorable offensive output of the Rangers as the opponent shot 57% from the field overall (55% 3 PT) while GVSU shot a collective 45% from the field in a shooting night they looked to move past. “Our ball-screen defense was not where it needed to be, their point guard got downhill too easily and we couldn’t get consistent stops,” Kingsley-Okanu said. “That’s not good enough (to win games on the road).” Kingsley-Okanu led his team in the box score with 12 points, four rebounds and five assists while sophomore guard Trevon Gunter added 11
HARDWOOD: GVSU’s current record of 8-7 doesn’t reflect their strong efforts on the floor, as five of their seven losses this season were within eight points or less. GVL | BETHANN LONG
points and three steals followed by nine points each from senior guard Luke Toliver and redshirt freshman forward Parker Day off the bench. The matchup against Purdue-Northwest later in the week was a bounceback game for the Lakers as the first of just under eight minutes of play consisted of both teams trading buckets to make the score 14-13. In a neck-andneck battle, baskets by Grazulis, Charity, Smith and Day helped the team create a sense of fluidity as four-straight free throws made by Toliver would ultimately put the Lakers up 35-32 going into the halftime break. The second half saw the Lions take control of the lead as they managed to build their largest lead of the game of just four points (37-41), but would soon lose control as a triple from junior guard Austin James put GVSU up one
with 15 minutes remaining. The team’s upperclassmen leadership on the offensive side would close the game in a win for the Lakers, 74-62. Although the offensive output from James and redshirt senior forward Isaiah Carver-Bagley allowed the team to go on their final offensive run, Mann said the grit showcased by the younger Lakers will only bring positive results for the team entirely. “The freshmen, even though they’re young, they have a chip on their shoulder,” Mann said. “I think they compete well for freshmen, (and) as we move on in the season they shouldn’t be considered freshmen they have that experience.” LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
PERSISTENCE: With 13 games left in the regular season, all of which will be played against GLIAC opponents, GVSU will hope to find itself in playoff contention in March. GVL | BETHANN LONG