Grand Valley Lanthorn Vol. 57 no. 23

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G R A N D VA L L E Y L A N T H O R N

How many more? GV responds to MSU shooting

GV professor creates microscope to help understand complex concepts NEWS | A8

GV swim and dive secures GLIAC titles SPORTS | A11

T U E S D A Y, F E B R U A RY 2 1 , 2 02 3 // VO L . 57 N O. 2 3

@ GV L A N T H O R N

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A2 | NEWS NEWS BRIEFS GV TO HOLD “QUEST SERIES” CENTERED AROUND CHAT GPT

On Feb. 22, GVSU’s Division of Academic Affairs will hold a Quest Series event that will feature the ChatGPT panel to discuss the technology of the program. The Quest Series is designed to create a forum in which the GVSU community can reflect and discuss timely issues. This panel will specifically focus on what ChatGPT is and is not, and what people could potentially expect in the future. This panel is in collaboration with GVSU Information Technology. Panelists include Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Digital Officer at GVSU Milos Topic, Professor of Communication Studies Corey Anton, Associate Professor of Computing Jared Moore, Director of the Meijer Center for Writing Patrick Johnson, Associate Professor of Writing and Director of Digital Studies Laurence Jose and Associate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Ben Rapin. The event is taking place in person in Kirkhof Center Pere Marquette Room 2204 from 10-11 a.m.

MI PARENT GROUP ENCOURAGES PARENTS TO OPT STUDENTS OUT OF SEX ED PROGRAMS

Great Schools Initiative, a nonprofit organization based in Michigan, has coordinated a new campaign and opt-out form to have their students excluded from sex ed discussions. This movement comes as an attempt by parents who say they want to “shield students” from school lessons and conversations about sex, sexuality, gender and abortion. The Michigan Board of Education is pushing against this movement. The board has no enforcement methods to stop the campaign, but they hope to make recommendations against the campaign. On Feb. 14, the board voted along party lines to request that local school boards require that parents who want to exclude their children from sex education in MI public schools use existing methods. Existing laws already require parents to be notified before sex ed discussions and assure that students can be opted out without consequences. The Great Schools Initiative is connected to the Thomas More Society, a conservative law firm that has previously attempted to influence laws relating to abortion, prayer in school and LGBTQ rights. The movement comes out of a growing movement across both Michigan and the nation surrounding debates over what parental rights look like in the scope of existing laws and practices.

FEBRUARY 21, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

SHOOTING

Isolated shooting near GV leads to safety discussions BY PAYTON BRAZZIL NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Feb. 11, multiple law enforcement agencies responded to a reported shooting at Campus View Apartments near the Grand Valley State University Allendale campus. Around 11:30 p.m., officers were notified of a potential shot suspect and found evidence of a shooting at a large party. Although police discovered no injuries, someone did arrive at the hospital with a bullet wound later that night, said Grand Valley Police Department Sergeant Leah Heaton. The Ottawa County Police Department, along with GVPD, investigated the incident and determined there was no ongoing threat to the community. Throughout the school year, students have received GVSUAlerts when a violent incident occurred on or off campus which includes shootings, robberies and assaults. However, the university did not send out a GVSUAlert for the shooting on Feb. 11.

SAFETY: The shooting on Feb. 11 at Campus View Apartments adds to yet another incident in the 2022-23 academic year as a shooting has now taken place at The Alpine and Canvas Townhomes Apartments with a stabbing incident at 48 West. COURTESY | MEGHAN TRIPP

Heaton said no GVSUAlert was sent out because the department felt that there was no ongoing threat to students on or off campus. Some students, like GVSU student Madison Marshall, were concerned about the lack of information from law enforcement. “Since I live near where the shooting happened, I guess I wish I heard about it somewhere other than social

media,” Marshall said. “Everyone was talking about it on Yik Yak, which is anonymous, so I didn’t really know what was going on.” Yik Yak, a social media site that shows posts from users within a fivemile radius, is used by many college students across the country. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

SUPPORT

GV community holds vigil, encourages support for Turkey and Syria after earthquake BY CHLOE SCHRAM NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

DATA: The analysis of various sources of data allows GVSU professors to better gauge how information about health care and the economy can impact West Michigan. This allows officials to better understand what choices would benefit the community and help people to make beneficial decisions. GVL | CHLOE SCHRAM

On Feb. 6, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria. According to Reuters, the natural disaster resulted in the death of over 46,000 people between Turkey and Syria. Thousands of others have been left homeless, freezing or in critical condition. On Feb. 15, the Grand Valley State University community gathered for a vigil at the Cook Carillon Tower on the Allendale campus to honor the victims of the earthquake and all those affected by it. GVSU President Philomena Mantella was unable to attend the vigil in person, but had other community members share her words in regard to the natural disaster. “Let us all recognize those in our community who have been personally affected by this tragedy as well as those who are stepping in with love and support for friends, families and strangers, all joined together,” Mantella’s statement said. “I stand in solidarity with you, GVSU community members, survivors and aid workers, in all impacted areas.” Mantella’s statement also said the community should recognize those who have lost their lives so suddenly and to provide love, support and donations to the families in need. Staff and students at GVSU spoke at the

vigil. Additionally, an engineering student from Central Michigan University spoke. Yusuf Basmaci was born and raised in Syria. He is currently a CMU student who studied and lived in Turkey for ten years before coming to the United States. During his speech at the vigil, he emphasized the importance of community during difficult times. “I believe nothing is more humane than standing together through dark days,” Basmaci said. Basmaci told the GVSU community that we need to make people aware of tragic events happening internationally. He said these moments can help to “raise awareness and provoke empathy in international solidarity.” Basmaci also addressed the problems with the international response to the disaster. He said the people of Syria were left alone to fend for themselves after the earthquake until about the 10th day. “Very limited humanitarian aid and medical supplies entered the affected Syrian areas,” Basmaci said. “Local teams were left alone to handle such a disaster with only basic equipment and very limited resources.” LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE


FEBRUARY 21, 2023

A3 | NEWS

GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

CONTENTS SHOOTING

| A2

OPINION

| A4

HEALTH

| A5

MSU

| A 6-7

SCIENCE

| A8

PHILANTHROPY

| A9

UNCONVENTIAL

| A10

SWIM

| A11

LACROSSE

| A12 VOL. 57

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief MARY DUPUIS Associate Editor AUDREY WHITAKER Associate Editor JACOB KIRN

NO. 23

Videographer ZACH PLISKO Layout Editor DONOVAN LOPEZ Layout Designer REV BRONOWSKI PROMOTIONS

News Editor ELIZABETH SCHANZ

Promotions Manager GRACE O’BRIEN

Sports Editor ANTHONY CLARK JR

Promotions Assistant ELISE RAPEYKO

Laker Life Editor SABRINA EDWARDS A&E Editor EMMA ARMIJO

ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager MARGO DZURKO BUSINESS STAFF

Image Editor MEGHAN TRIPP

Business Manager MORGAN JOHNSTON

Multimedia Editor JAMES HERRICK

Graphic Design CHRISTOPHER MCCONNEL MORGAN MANN

At the Lanthorn, we strive to bring you the most accurate news possible. If we make a mistake, we want to make it right. If you find any errors in fact in the Lanthorn, let us know by calling 616-331-2464 or by emailing editorial@lanthorn.com. The Grand Valley Lanthorn is published weekly by Grand Valley State University students 31 times a year. One copy of this newspaper is available free of charge to any member of the Grand Valley Community. For additional copies, at $1 each, please contact our business offices.

The Lanthorn is published on recycled paper and is printed with soy bean ink. This means that our newspaper is entirely compostable. Help us do our part to be kind to the environment by recycling or composting this newspaper after you enjoy reading it.

POSTMASTER: Please send form 3579 to: Grand Valley Lanthorn 0051 Kirkhof Center Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI 49401

GOVERNMENT

New co-op program assures employment post-graduation BY ASHLEY MOUBRAY NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

The Laker Accelerated Talent Link is a new program launching in August. It aims to provide students with an opportunity to establish themselves professionally while still attending Grand Valley State University. The Laker Accelerated Talent Link “enhances” GVSU’s current co-op program and creates a new co-op opportunity for interested students at GVSU. The program provides students with an opportunity to get hands-on experience to develop their professional skills while guaranteeing post-graduation employment for at least a year. The current co-op program is a work-training program for GVSU, particularly for students majoring in engineering or hospitality and tourism management, in which students have at least two full or part-time paid work experiences for a whole semester. What differentiates Laker Accel-

OPPORTUNITY: With the new program coming to the university the next academic year, incoming and returning GVSU students can expect to see a different style of coop opportunities as opposed to programs that are currently offered. GVL | AIDA DENNIS

erated Talent Link from a typical co-op and internship program is its post-graduation work agreement. As an intern for their employer sponsor, students agree to work for the employer for one year after graduating if they are offered a full-time position. There are three main components of the program. After students are accepted into the program, they will receive an employer-sponsored scholarship to help students complete a

certificate program within the bachelor’s degree. The four certification programs include project management, applied data analytics, business fundamentals and technical sales. Additionally, students in the program must complete a one-semester paid internship with their employer sponsor before graduating. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

LEARNING

GV offers new degree program to promote access to higher education BY JACK BLAKE NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Starting in the fall of 2023, a new online degree program called Bachelor of Applied Sciences (BAS) will be offered to the student body at Grand Valley State University. There are four new majors under BAS that are designed for students who have completed an associate of applied science degree (AAS) and want to further their education and skill set. These programs are flexible and offer students, especially adult learners, the opportunity to further their education and careers. Melanie Shell-Weiss, an associate dean for Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies, said this degree program is aimed towards individuals who already have training in a variety of specialized technical skills, most often in the form of an applied associate degree. “We want to support students to be able to advance in their current professions or explore new opportunities that build on their technical skills but will provide them with greater job security, more flexible career options and removing the glass ceiling that many individuals face without a bachelor’s degree,” Shell-Weiss said. Melanie Shell-Weiss led the Provost-appointed Task Force that de-

veloped the new programs. This program allows students to build on their pre-existing skills by strengthening their communication, critical thinking, reasoning and research abilities. Shell-Weiss said instituting the BAS program aligns with the university’s mission to “increase access to higher education” and help meet the needs of community members. The four new majors offered in the BAS program will be housed under Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Padnos College of Engineering and Computing and Seidman College of Business. Some of the majors in the BAS program offer accelerated, 6-week curriculum classes and all feature a predominately online format. The new majors that fall under BAS are Professional innovation, Leadership and Business Fundamentals, Technology Project Management and Web Design and Development. According to GVSU, the Professional Innovation major, housed in the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies, is versatile, allowing students “to pursue a flexible array of customizable emphases.” LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

EDUCATION: With 145 degrees currently being offered at GVSU, this expansion of degree opportunities allows for students at the university to gain more experience in the applied science fields through distance learning, especially students with busy schedules. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER


A4 | OPINIONS

FEBRUARY 21, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN By Abby Haywood

GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON

EDITORIAL

What are we supposed to do?

E

2/21/23

editorial@lanthorn.com

Column: A GV Journalism Student’s View on MSU Shooting

BY SARA COLLINS SENIOR MULTIMEDIA JOURALISM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

This is a feeling we have felt before. Walking onto Grand Valley State University’s campus the day after a school shooting,

much too close to home, feeling the sun shining on a day that doesn’t feel as warm and bright as it normally does, looking at classmates sitting beside us and knowing they are thinking the same thing that continues to repeat itself over and over again in our own minds. The day after the mass shooting at Oxford High School, I sat on the main floor of Mary Idema Pew Library staring at the door. My friends sat in their classrooms in Au Sable, Lake Superior, Lake Ontario, visualizing their exact escape routes if need be. We enter into our first day of classes each semes-

ter with these exact thought processes. Escape routes, safety plans, thoughts of how we would strategically take down a murderer if they ever stepped foot on our campus. It is February 14, 2023 as I am writing this. We are 45 days into 2023 and there have been 67 mass shootings in the United States this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The Michigan State University shooting was far too close to our home base. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

Column: Tattoos are not unprofessional

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

The United States, much like other countries, has a stigma surrounding tattoos. They are oftentimes seen as taboo and improper in the workplace. It’s recommended that you make sure your tattoos can be covered, or that you cover them for interviews. While the United States is not the worst when it comes to this, it’s still highly stigmatized in the workplace.

I’ve found that people don’t really have an argument beyond that it looks “unprofessional.” I could argue, though, that covering up one’s tattoos could be seen as untrustworthy, and just as unprofessional. Isn’t the idea of telling someone to cover up their ink a means to deceive and alter the perception of that person? Isn’t the idea of “covering up” more distasteful than letting them be seen? Tattoos, much like any other art, are a form of expression, a way to carry a statement with them forever. While not everyone gets ink for a specific reason, it can universally be deduced that they’re a form of expression, be it meaningful or not. I’ve never understood why tattoos have become so stigmatized in today’s culture. If anything, I think they provide an insight as to who an individual is and what they may value. I also don’t believe that tattoos make any individual

less intelligent than another. There has always been this idea that tattoos and intelligence are mutually exclusive; however, that has never made any sense to me. How can something I decide to put on my body be linked to a measure of intelligence? However, it’s such a prominent point made by teachers, professors and parents. In school, you’re always told exactly what looks “professional” depending on what you plan on going into. If you have a tattoo and it’s visible, you’ll often hear that they hope you plan on covering it up for any job interviews you have in the future. This can also be said about relatives and parents. I am not saying that people should show up in tank tops and spaghetti straps to work. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

ight students, three of which were killed with the remaining five in critical condition or intensive care, were victims of a mass shooting at Michigan State University last week. Two were killed with five others critically wounded inside of their classroom where the shooting began, another shot and killed in a separate campus building minutes later. Arielle Anderson, Alexandria Verner and Brian Fraser were the three students killed in the shooting on Monday night. Students John Hao, who is now paralyzed from the chest down, and Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez are the only two of the five critically wounded victims whose names have been released. The term “mass shooting” has become a part of weekly rhetoric in the United States, and the overwhelming statistics are trending toward the hundreds just a month

and a half into 2023. Since the start of the year, over 70 mass shootings have occurred in the nation. Between Feb. 13-19 alone, at least 14 people were killed with over 59 wounded in mass shootings that occurred at MSU, Arkabutla, Mississippi and as recently as early Sunday morning in Memphis, Tennessee. Mass shootings continue to be a norm in society. The U.S. is in a cycle where a mass shooting occurs, millions that aren’t physically involved (if at all) share thoughts and pr aye rs , c a l l i ng for more gun control flares up on social media and then silence until the next shooting. In this editorial board’s lifetime, a mass shooting has occurred at every level of education (elementary school to college).

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

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

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FEBRUARY 21, 2023

A5 | NEWS

GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS HEALTH

GV reports cluster of chickenpox cases BY GRACE SMITH NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

On Feb. 6, Grand Valley State University notified students, staff and faculty about a “small cluster” of chickenpox cases at both Allendale and Pew campuses. The threat of chickenpox cases was minimal. The GVSU Health Team took action to make sure that the cases were isolated. Thus far, the cluster of cases has remained limited to only three individuals, Director of Student Health Services Edward Jones II said. “The COVID public health emergency is likely coming to an end, but GVSU remains vigilant as there are some concerns on the tail end of the pandemic,” Jones said. “We also have strong relationships with both the Kent and Ottawa County Health Departments.” Recently, childhood immunization rates have reached a 30-year low, globally. Healthcare limitations during COVID-19 lockdowns resulted in a stall of routine care such as vaccinations for children, creating an increasingly vulnerable population. Likewise, pre-existing healthcare inequities among marginalized groups were amplified during lockdown. Coupled with Michigan’s declining vaccination rates in pre-pandemic years, the community could be more susceptible to diseases. According to GVSU, those infected with chickenpox have received treatment and their close contacts have been notified. However, the cases have been a sub-

DISEASE: Grand Valley notified students that there has been a cluster of chickenpox cases in West Michigan. So far only three people have contracted the illness, but with immunization rates at a low, the illness could continue to spread throughout the community. GVL | AIDA DENNIS

ject of concern for some GVSU students. Chickenpox is highly contagious and spreads easily between people living in close quarters, like dormitories. According to the CDC, as many as 90% of susceptible individuals will contract the virus if in contact with a person infected with chickenpox. For those who are unsure about their vaccination status, Jones said they should first have a conversation with their parents to ensure that they have gotten the vaccine and see if they have had chickenpox in the past. He also said

that individuals can also reach out to their primary care provider or one of the campus health centers. The chickenpox vaccine, in addition to many other vaccinations, is available on campus for people who wish to receive it. Since its development, the chickenpox vaccination has prevented over 3.5 million cases of chickenpox annually in the United States. Before, the virus reached around 4 million Americans each year, according to the CDC. The efficacy of the vaccine shows that vaccination can be a highly effective way for students to prevent

the contraction and spread of the virus. Those who have already received the vaccine or have experienced chickenpox at some point are considered to be immune to the virus. “Some will choose not to receive the vaccination; this could be for religious or other philosophical reasons,” Jones said. “However, the prevention of communicable disease is more of a community endeavor.” LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

COUNSELING

UCC event fosters conversations around mental health and community issues BY JONATHAN CARROLL NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

HELP: UCC held a conversation about mental health issues at GVSU. GVL | SAMUEL NELSON

The University Counseling Center (UCC) at Grand Valley State University is hosting an event series focused on social factors that impact the health and healthcare of people in the United States. The event will discuss how inequality in health plays a role in people’s lives. This event is a seven-part video series that takes place in Kirkhof Center, and has been held once a month since September. During the event, student staff from the UCC play portions of a PBS documentary titled “Unnatural Causes: is inequality making us sick?” which covers a range of topics based on inequality such as race, gender, socioeconomic status and geography. Emily Murray and Bella Griesmaier were the two student presenters from the UCC at the Feb. 16 event. Murray and Griesmaier spoke about how public and mental health should be looked at from the perspectives of the

communities people live in. Their presentation tied into the topics discussed in the documentary, which focused on how policies and investment decisions can harm or enhance communities. After watching episode five of the documentary called “place matters,” students gathered into groups to talk about discussion questions relating the material back to their own communities and at GVSU. The UCC hopes to use the program to offer more opportunities for students to get involved. “If anybody’s interested in a certain club or anything like that about this topic, we do have outreach requests on the counseling center website so that any group can request to have us come in and maybe do something with these videos like we would do at this event,” Murray said. The UCC aims to create a healthy environment for student growth through various mental health services, offering even those beyond typical mental health resources.

“We want to collaborate with the entire GV community and show like, ‘Hey, high stress can be caused by the area you’re living in,’” Griesmaier said. “Reach out to us, reach out to the other offices around GV and hopefully coordinate a larger movement of well-being.” The UCC continues to hold these events so students understand the factors that impact their own health and recognize when help is needed. They want to cover topics that aren’t typically addressed in order to create change on campus. They hope students can use these events to have the space to focus on learning and build a supportive community. The UCC has two more events in this seven-part documentary series within the next two months. The center will also hold other outreach events like yoga and “Let’s Talk” events which give students the opportunity to talk to counselors one-onone and seek professional advice. Other events can be found on the UCC website.


FEBRUARY 21, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

BY AUDREY WHITAKER ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM

Following a shooting at Michigan State University that killed three students and left five in critical condition, students across the state have responded with displays of support for MSU students and calls for gun reform. As Grand Valley State University president Philomena Mantella said in a statement, many in the GVSU community were impacted by the “horrific violence” at MSU as “terror was inflicted upon” friends, loved ones and relatives. In the week following the tragedy, GVSU students organized both a vigil in honor of the victims and a rally for legislative action against gun violence. The vigil, organized by the GVSU Student Senate, took place on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. Emily Bucon, Student Senate vice president of public relations, said the senate immediately felt the need to show support for students at MSU and GVSU following the tragedy. “Even though we’re at a different campus, it’s undoubtedly students who are also affected by these tragedies,” Bucon said. “Whether they know students or not, it’s still just a horrifying experience.” Jackson Hicks, who attended the vigil, said it was important for both MSU and GVSU students to honor victims and have a moment of reflection as a community. “For students at MSU, it shows that we are with them, that we are here in support of them, that we have friends, we have family that go there,” Hicks said. “For Grand Valley students, it’s a good reminder that even when things happen off campus, we can still come together and have a moment of respect and peace with each other.” Hicks said he’s aware that some of his hopes for gun reform in the US are lofty, and likely will never become reality. However, he still

A6&7 | NEWS

feels that it’s something worth fighting for. “So long as there are people out there who are willing to fight for it and fight for a change where, one day, we don’t have to look around our shoulders when we go to class, then we have to continue fighting that fight because it is good and it is right,” Hicks said. Political science major and rally co-organizer Nancy Hoogwerf said she reached out to GVSU College Democrats’ President Jacob Welch the day following the shooting at MSU, hoping to dispel the feeling of hopelessness. The rally was held at the Cook Carillion Tower at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18. Organizers encouraged GVSU students and community members to bring signs and speak in support of MSU students and gun reform. In addition to students, several Michigan legislators spoke, including Congresswoman Hillary Scholten and state representatives John Fitzgerald and Carol Glanville. “It means a lot to see state legislators come out and speak on how they hear us and they support us,” Hoogwerf said. “It feels like I’m not screaming into an empty box anymore, it feels like I’m actually being listened to.” Scholten, Glanville and Fitzgerald all spoke about the changes newly elected democrats would bring to the state regarding gun reform. “We made a huge difference in who we send to represent us in Lansing and in Washington, DC and we’re seeing the impact of that difference every single day,” Scholten said in her speech. “We have so much more that we can do. I take my responsibility to keep you safe.” Hoogwerf said in addition to showing up for vigils and protests, it’s important that students – and all voters – keep tabs on decisions their representatives make in office. Many who spoke at the rally talked about the worry they felt for friends at MSU, their safety on their own college campus and ref-

erenced the shooting at Oxford High School, near Detroit, Michigan, in November of 2021. Jackie Adema, a freshman at GVSU, was a senior at Oxford High School when the shooting took place. Adema said it was upsetting to think of her friends who had to experience a school shooting twice in their lives in such a short period of time. “Having another experience like this, just throws them off their course,” Adema said. “You’re already doing something so hard. It’s really upsetting to me.” While Adema said the news is deeply upsetting and disheartening, she hopes students across the state will learn how to talk to survivors about their experiences and support them as they begin to heal. “Going through something like this is really hard and a lot of people don’t know what to say to try and make it better, or try and make it easier,” Adema said. “I think they need to know it’s safe to come to you to talk about it if they want to.” Adema said as someone who experienced a school shooting, seeing support from people both in and outside of her community had a powerful impact on her. She hopes that in addition to posting on social media, people will support organizations fighting for gun reform. In addition to supporting students, Bucon said the Student Senate is dedicated to working with GVSU administration regarding safety on campus. In her statement to the GVSU community, Mantella said GVSU’s Critical Incident Response Team is evaluating the university’s current protocols and has offered support to MSU’s Student Affairs Division in the wake of the tragedy. GVSU’s University Counseling center and employee assistance program were also highlighted by Mantella as resources for those struggling with their mental health in the wake of the tragedy.

VIGIL: Grand Valley State University students, staff, faculty and administration gathered in the snow at the Cook Carillion Tower in Allendale to support and honor the three Michigan State University students killed on the evening of Febuary 13. The vigil was organized by GVSU’s Student Senate. GVL | ELIZABETH SCHANZ


A8 | NEWS

FEBRUARY 21, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

SCIENCE

GV professor creates microscope to help understand complex concepts to create a tool that could communicate the quantum process better and visualize the complex concept. “I have always been passionate about education, from the time I was an undergraduate myself,” Veazey said. “As I gained experience with many modern tools in solid-state physics during my research activities in graduate school and beyond, I realized that tunneling experiments were largely inaccessible in the undergraduate curriculum. I began thinking of a way to simplify and reduce the costs of a famous research instrument that is near and dear to me: the scanning tunneling microscope.” The scanning tunneling microscope is the typical equipment used for quantum tunneling research. However, this tool is often costly and inaccessible for many programs. Veazey’s microscope, which he calls the “z-axis tunneling microscope” or ZTM, acts as a simplified, less expensive and effective tool. Even though the microscope was Veazey’s idea, he said he couldn’t have accomplished the task without support from the university and student involvement. “I first conceived of the idea about 10 years ago,” Veazey said. “When I became a tenure-track faculty member in 2017, the physics department and the Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence at GVSU provided funding for me to devel-

BY JOSEPH POLOUS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Joshua Veazey, an assistant professor of physics at Grand Valley State University, has developed a microscope that can help students better understand concepts in physical science. Veazey designed the prototype of the microscope with his students. The idea of the project was to give students a better understanding of atomic particles. He hoped the microscope would give them a more practical, physical representation versus the traditional graphs and abstract representations. The microscope helps students understand the idea of quantum tunneling, the phenomenon of an electron passing through a traditional energy barrier. “Imagine that you had the ability to walk through walls,” Veazey said. “There is a vanishingly small probability that you’d be able to if you tried. But for electrons, the probability is higher, and there are so many electrons in conductive materials that it is happening constantly. One of the reasons it is difficult to observe is because it generally just happens with subatomic particles.” Quantum tunneling hasn’t been readily observed by students in the past. To help students better understand this occurrence, Veazey worked

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NEW LENS: GVSU Assistant Professor Joshua Veazey hoped to add to the college experience for students by introducing a new microscope that allows for students to have more handson learning as opposed to the traditional style of labs and lectures. COURTESY | AMANDA PITTS

op the instrument with my students.” Veasey said students helped on multiple parts of the projects in order to create the final product. “I very much enjoy working with students,” Veazey said. “Randy Lindgren constructed the initial prototype during his senior capstone project. Wesley Kozan improved the delicate process of safely bringing a sharp tip close enough to the sample without touching it. Douglas Knapp and Noah Fuerst acquired the first datasets in a classroom setting.” Veazey said sometimes the road to completing the project was difficult, but his team was able to solve problems together. “It is typical for challenges to arise in the

middle of developing a new instrument,” Veazey said. “Randy and I worked together to iron out many of the finer details in the design over the course of a couple of years.” While these students assisted him, they kept a common goal in mind: showing real evidence of actual quantum tunneling. They wanted to show the concept in a way that diagrams and visual aids could not. “Science is more than diagrams, theory and textbooks,” Veazey said. “It’s real life.” Veazey said physics concepts like tunneling have real-life applications that are seen in day-to-day life. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

Making a difference through research, education, and outreach

R.B. ANNIS FOUNDATION INTERN KATHRYN GELLER Making a difference through research, education, and outreach

Student Highlight

“I could not be more grateful for the internship I got through AWRI. I have had the chance to work under Dr. Charlyn Partridge for 3 years now and it has been nothing short of incredible. I have had so many well as helping with a variety of projects. I have worked on projects pertaining to gene expression in invasive Hemlock Wooly Adelgid insects with eDNA. I know the work I do makes a difference and whether itʼs hiking through Huron Manistee National Forest or learning lab skills that will help me far into the future – I love every day Iʼm there. The professors, graduate students, so pleasant and knowledgeable. I couldnʼt imagine being anywhere else, nor did I think that a summer internship would turn into such an integral part of my time at Grand Valley State University.” Kathryn Geller 2020 R.B. Annis Foundation Intern “I could not be more grateful for the internship I got through AWRI. I have had the chance to work under Dr. The Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute at Grand Valley State University is comCharlyn Partridge for 3 years now and it has been nothing short of incredible. I have had so many experiences with worked projects pertaining both to lab work field sampling, well as helping with aresources, variety of projects. I have mitted theandstudy ofasfreshwater with aonspecial emphasis on Michigan and to gene expression in invasive Baby’s Breath flowers and am currently monitoring Hemlock Wooly Adelgid insects with eDNA. ILakes know the work I do makes a difference and whether it’s hiking through Huron Manistee National the Great basin. Forest or learning lab skills that will help me far into the future – I love every day I’m there. The professors, graduate students, and even the powerhouse ladies in the main office are so pleasant and knowledgeable. I

couldn’t imagine being anywhere else, nor did I think that a summer internship would turn into such an integral Located in atMuskegon, Michigan, the Instituteʼs mission is centered around three part of my time Grand Valley State University.” main programmatic areas: • Research • Education and outreach • Geospatial analysis

Applications will be accepted for Summer 2023 now through Monday, March 6, 2023. Visit www.gvsu.edu/wri/ and click on Internships.

HELPING HAND: Veazey received assistance on the project from his students over the course of the last decade, and was finally able to receive funding from Grand Valley State University’s Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence in order to fulfill to build the microscope. COURTESY | AMANDA PITTS


FEBRUARY 21, 2023

A9 | LAKER LIFE

GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

LAKER LIFE BRIEFS BECOME AN ORIENTATION LEADER

GVSU is looking for orientation leaders for the fall 2023 semester to welcome and assist new students as they transition into college life. Orientation leaders must commit to working all freshmen orientation sessions for the duration of the summer, all orientation training sessions leading up to freshman orientation and following up with incoming Lakers throughout the upcoming summer and fall. Orientation leaders are expected to be able to assist with orientation group activities and also communicate general education requirements to incoming students. In order to apply, students must be a current GVSU undergraduate student and a full-time student for the fall 2023 semester. Some required activities for this role are attending Convocation during Welcome Week as well as attending the Title IX event. Orientation leaders also have to attend at least one in-person activity during the extended orientation. Mandatory work days are May 1-5 for orientation training. The freshman orientation sessions are on May 8-11, 16-19, 22-25 and 31 and June 1-2, 5-8, 13-16, 20-22 and 28-30. There are also additional orientation dates July 24-26 and Aug. 10 and 11. Orientation starts at 8 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m. but orientation leaders are required to be there at 7:30 a.m. Orientation leaders will be paid $15.70 per hour. Payment is biweekly and students must use Ultra Time to track their hours worked. Workers will also receive a stipend for all work done outside of orientation hours. The deadline to apply for this is March 1 at 5 p.m. Applications need to be turned into the Admissions office or emailed to Mike Eichberger at eichbem@ gvsu.edu.

PHILANTHROPY

Mary K. Hoodhood speaks at Wheelhouse Talk BY SABRINA RIHTARSHICH LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

On Friday, Feb. 17, the Hauenstein Center hosted a Wheelhouse Talk featuring Mary K. Hoodhood, the founder of Kids Food Basket. During this talk, Hoodhood shared how she overcame a significant obstacle through her values and the lessons she was taught, with the help of others. Kids Food Basket was founded in 2001. The program was started in response to a story she heard about a fiveyear-old child who was looking for food to take home in the school cafeteria. The event opened up with Abby Sachs, the program manager for the Peter C. Cook Leadership Academy, who called Hoodhood’s story “a breath of fresh air.” Sachs said the Peter C. Cook Leadership Academy is lucky to be connected with Hoodhood. “Our Wheelhouse Talk speaker series is an opportunity for CLA students and the GVSU community to hear from local leaders, and Mary stands out as someone who has created a legacy - not through her desire to be seen as a leader but as someone who made an impact through living her values,” Sachs said. Sachs welcomed GVSU senior Emma Loveland to the stage, who has worked with Hoodhood for the past two years as an attendant, helping her in any way she can. Loveland shared a

defining moment in Hoodhood’s life. “Mary was in a car accident when she was 27, leaving her paralyzed,” Loveland said. “Since then, she has been in a wheelchair, so Mary relies on others for help. I am honored to be one of many people who get to assist Mary in doing things we take for granted.” Loveland then spoke about Kids Food Basket and said that in the beginning, meals were given to around 25 children at three Grand Rapids public schools. Today, 1.6 million meals are given out each year. In addition to this area of work, Hoodhood also advocates for those with disabilities. “Despite having those daily limitations, Mary has always been able to ac-

complish what she puts her mind to,” Loveland said. “Her ability to inspire those around her has made Mary K. a leader who prioritizes the needs of those who are often marginalized in society.” Before welcoming Hoodhood to the stage, Loveland acknowledged two major accomplishments, one being the Presidential Citizens Medal from Barack Obama Hoodhood was awarded in 2010 and the other being her memoir titled “What I Can Do,” which talks about all of the hardships Hoodhood had to deal with in her lifetime and how she has overcome them. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

AWARDS

GV honors outstanding professors BY MELIA WILLIAMS LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

CANDLELIGHT YOGA AND LIP SCRUB MAKING

On Thursday, Feb. 23, Recreation and Wellness is partnering with the Campus Activities Board to hold a candlelit yoga and lip scrub-making event. Yoga will run from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. followed by lip scrub making until 8 p.m. Yoga participants must RSVP on Mindbody and bring their own yoga mat. This event will take place in the Library Multipurpose room.

SPEAKER: Grand Valley welcomed Kids Food Basket founder Mary K. Hoodhood to speak to the community about her life with charity and her personal struggles. GVL | SYDNEY LIM

CONVOCATION: Grand Valley held the Faculty Awards Convocation awarding professors, all who were nominated by students, who have shown outstanding teaching throughout the school year. GVL | BETHANN LONG

This year the Faculty Awards Convocation was held in the Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium on the Grand Valley State University Pew campus. At the event, they recognized a wide range of awards from service awards for professors that have been at GVSU for many years, to mentoring awards and even university awards. Professor Matthew Hart received one of the top teaching awards, the Outstanding Teaching Award. With this being his 18th year teaching organic chemistry at GVSU, he believes this award is a reflection of all that he has poured into his students. “I think what helps me stand out is that I really try to get a rapport with my students and I think having that connection helps them buy-in for what I’m trying to do in the class,” Hart said. He explained how the innovative new things he’s implemented in his classroom such as lightboard videos or “flipping the classroom” has made teaching different for both him and the students. Hart’s use of lightboard videos posted on Youtube has received anywhere from

400 to 44,000 views, ultimately helping students all over the country. “I put a lot of work into teaching and my students motivate me to be a better teacher,” Hart said. “To get that kind of recognition from my peers means an awful lot to me.” Kay Losey, a professor in the writing department at GVSU, received the university-distinguished contribution to a discipline award, which she views as incredibly humbling. “I know there are many other equally worthy candidates across the faculty here at GVSU,” Losey said. “I would encourage departments, all departments to nominate faculty for this award and other awards like this award.” Losey’s vision for what a professor is supposed to look like aligns well with the award she received as she was noted at the convocation for her “drive to change the educational landscape for multilingual writers” and “commitment to rigor, quality and equity in classrooms.” LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE


A10 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTS AT A GLANCE GR BALLET OPENS ROMEO AND JULIET FOR THE WEEKEND

The Grand Rapids Ballet opened its rendition of the famous ballet, “Romeo and Juliet.” The show opened over the weekend, with the company performing on Feb. 17, 18 and 19. Artists Director James Sofranko composed the choreography for the show based on the iconic classic play written by Shakespeare in 1597. The music variations and scores were composed by Sergei Prokofiev and were set to complement the tragic scenes and drama of the ballet. The Grand Rapids Ballet company performed this rendition of Romeo and Juliet exclusively, only performing the ballet for three shows the weekend after Valentine’s Day. For more information about Romeo and Juliet, photos of the ballet and details of upcoming performances from the Grand Rapids Ballet, visit the GRB website.

FOUR STAR THEATER IN GR COMES BACK TO LIFE The Four Star Theater in Grand Rapids hosted their first open house on Saturday, Feb. 11. The theater had previously operated from 1938 to 1969. The Four Star was last owned by B&J Theaters in Grand Rapids, also operating the Wealthy Theater and the Eastown Theater at the time. The nonprofit organization, “Friends of Four Star,” are behind the renovations and re-opening of the Four Star Theater. The organization is turning this previously unused theater into its own, believing in the potential for the space to bring the community together. Friends of Four Star hosted the open house on Feb. 11, showing the movie Black Panther and featuring live music from local bands. The nonprofit hopes to raise more money to continue their renovations, with goals to fix the marquee, update accessibility for the theater and add a green room space. To follow the story about the Four Star Theater, visit the Four Star Theater website or read the Fox17 article online.

GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN

@GVLARTS

UNCONVENTIONAL

VMA students break the rules of the art gallery experience BY HALEY ROSENDALE ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

The Space Studio class (ART 295) hosted an opening reception for the student exhibition “Würfel” Thursday, Feb 16. “Würfel” is happening now at the Padnos Student Gallery in the Calder Arts Center. “Würfel” is a German word that translates to cube or dice, a common phrase used by artists to describe an art gallery setting. The “Würfel” project is about approaching the white cube with a different perspective from other classmates, highlighting the uniqueness of each students’ ideas. First-year professor at Grand Valley State University Max Spitzer mentioned his studio spaces class has been working on this project since the beginning of the winter semester. “’Space Studio’ puts on different exhibitions in different forms, but this exact exhibition does not occur every year,” Spitzer said. Every art class at GVSU is different depending on the professor, the unique curriculum and the students in

IMAGINATIVE: Visual arts students came up with creative, interactive and intuitive art to compliment the traditional expectations of an art gallery. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON

the class. The Studio Spaces class doing the “Würfel” exhibition is an example of the students’ and faculty members’ creativity and a great opportunity to support Grand Valley State University’s students in the arts. Liv Chow, a senior student in the studio spaces class, said “Würfel” is a project showing how different perspectives can view a space. “So our exhibition is commenting on the gallery space itself, and the as-

pects a gallery space tends to have, and tends not to have,” Chow said. “Each of our projects are commenting on at least one aspect of a gallery space.” “Würfel” allows students to express themselves in their own ways. Chow made her project more personal, deciding to play with the viewer experience in a gallery setting. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

EDUCATION

MTD guest artist features up-andcoming composers in performance BY OMARI SEABERRY ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

GV FEATURES ADAM KHALIL IN THREEDAY ART CELEBRATION EVENT

Grand Valley State University Art Celebration presents a three-day informative series with renowned artist and filmmaker Adam Khalil, focused on “Segaajigewin.” The word Segaajigewin translates to the way of expression in art, in Ojibwe dialect Anishinaabemowin. This public series includes a lecture, open classroom visits with Khalil and discussions with students, faculty and community members. The series includes multiple events, starting on Monday, Feb. 20 with a lecture by Khalil titled “How to Commit Crimes Against Reality” at the Wealthy Theater. Other events located at the BlackBox Theater on the Grand Valley State University campus will continue over the following Tuesday and Wednesday. This event was curated by multiple representatives from GVSU Administration and student leaders across the Visual Media Arts Department, as well as the Multicultural Affairs Office and the Native American Student Association. More information on the Arts Celebration series, individual events around Adam Khalil’s visit, and other GVSU events visit the GVSU events calendar.

FEBRUARY 21, 2023

INSPIRATION: GVSU guest artist Martin Van Klompenberg is a professional bassoonist and composer who performed a collection of works from various female-identifying and conventionally young composers to show students success isn’t far away. GVL | OMARI SEABERRY

The Grand Valley State University Department of Music, Theatre and Dance hosted Martin Van Klompenberg as a guest artist for the music program. Klompenberg is a professional bassoonist and composer who has played in multiple military bands across the United States and studied composition under award-winning composer Jenni Brandon. Kompenberg’s performance took place on Feb. 16 at the Sherman van Solkema Recital Hall on GVSU’s Allendale campus. GVSU Bassoonist instructor Victoria Olson recruited and welcomed Klompenberg, having both attended school together in the past. As this was Klompenberg’s first time performing for GVSU, he performed all new music highlights including, “Sunflower Sea Star.” This piece was commissioned by Klompenberg himself. Pianist Christina Krause performed alongside

the guest artist in concert. Klompenberg is not the first bassoonist to showcase their talents through the GVSU guest artist program. “In addition to the upcoming recital, we have had two guest artists give masterclasses to the bassoon students of GVSU,” Olson said. “Eric Stomberg recently gave a wonderful masterclass with the students at the Cook DeWitt Center. Last semester, we had University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory bassoon professor, Leigh Munoz, visit. In her masterclass, she worked with each student in a collaborative, lecture-like setting.” The connections between guest artists and the faculty help to give students more professional exposure while learning about their instrument. “Imagine if you wanted to become a quarterback for an NFL team, but you had never seen a football game,” Olson said. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE


A11 | SPORTS

FEBRUARY 21, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

QUICK HITS GV BASKETBALL TEAMS FIND SUCCESS ON THE ROAD The Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s basketball teams traveled to the East side of the state to face off against Saginaw Valley and Wayne State University on Feb. 16 and 18. In total, the teams collected three wins as the women’s team finished the weekend with a perfect record to close out both the regular-season series at 2-0 as they beat the Cardinals 72-53 and the Warriors 79-60. The wins have now guaranteed the Lakers a share in the GLIAC regular season title no matter the outcome of their final two games as their record stands at 24-2. For the men’s team, a tough 8093 loss against Saginaw Valley was followed up by a much-needed 71-67 victory against Wayne State to help clinch a playoff berth in the GLIAC postseason with an overall record of 16-10. Both squads will host Lake Superior State (Feb. 23) and Ferris State (Feb. 25) in their final games of the regular season as the women’s tips off each game at 6 p.m. and 1 p.m. respectively with the men’s team following shortly after on both dates. TRACK AND FIELD PREPARING FOR INDOOR POSTSEASON After 11 historic and action-packed meets during the regular season, the GVSU track and field teams are preparing for the GLIAC Indoor Championships this upcoming weekend. The team has proven to be a fierce postseason matchup for all competing schools this season after several program, conference, invitational and national records were set by a large number of Laker competitors. With their most recent and final regular season meet being a success in the GVSU Tune Up, the teams are squaring up for a repeat of last year’s postseason as both the men’s and women’s squads are the defending conference champions. HOCKEY CLUB CELEBRATES UPPERCLASSMEN DURING SENIOR NIGHT With a large amount of success found throughout their individual regular seasons, the GVSU men’s DI hockey club held their Senior Night to reflect on the success of their veteran athletes. Seniors Evan Chomachai (forward), Cam Beckwith (defender), Andre Dundas (defender), Zach Kippe (forward), and captains Tyler Hofmann (defender), Zach Borchardt (forward) and Shane Haggerty (forward) were all recognized during the ceremony as family members, coaches, teammates and fans showed their appreciation. The ceremony was capped off by a dominating 11-0 shutout against Western Michigan and was followed by another matchup the next day with an 8-4 win against the Broncos. GVSU is now preparing for the GLCHL playoffs starting Feb. 23 at home against an undetermined opponent. Junior Klaudia O’Malley, freshman Kate Zang, sophomore Taryn Chapko and Graber hit the trifecta record for the program, Kelly Family and the Big Meet for the women’s 4000m distance medley relay (DMR) with a time of 11:18.68.

SWIM

Swim and dive secure GLIAC Championship titles BY BRIAN BLOOM SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University swim and dive secured the GLIAC Championship titles after fourstraight days of competing. With the wins, the women’s team has won its second conference title in the last three seasons (2020-21 champions) with a total score of 969.5 points. The men’s team continued its dominance in the GLIAC as it has now won nine consecutive championships after scoring 942 points, winning by nearly 400 points above second-place Northern Michigan. “Both teams performed incredibly well,” said Head Coach Andy Boyce. “Our relays broke school records, we had a couple of athletes win conference awards, Lucy Hedley won freshman and swimmer of the year. All week long, our athletes stepped up.” Individually, both teams saw several Lakers crowned as conference champions in their events as many of them set GVSU and GLIAC conference meet records over the four-day period (Feb. 15-18). On day one for the men’s side, junior Eric Hieber won the 1,000-yard freestyle (9:04.47) and graduate student Keegan Hawkins won the 200yard individual medley (1:47.84). For the women’s, the 200-yard medley relay team scraped by with a win (1:42.56) that was secured by freshman Angelica Angilletta, senior Delaney Wihebrink, junior Alysa Wager and senior Rebecca Farber. Day two saw several swimmers capture individual championships as Wager won the 100-yard butterfly (54.60), freshman Katie O’Con-

WINNING: With this victory, the men’s team has not lost the conference championship in nine-straight seasons with the women’s regaining the crown. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER

nell won the 400-yard individual medley (4:21.55) and freshman Lucy Hedley won the 200-yard freestyle finishing at 1:48.50. The 400-yard medley relay team was highlighted by the same quartet of the 200-yard relay the day previous (Angilletta, Wihebrink, Wager and Hedley) as they captured the conference title (3:45.04). Hawkins took victory in the 400yard individual medley (3:52.12) for the men’s team as sophomore Matt Bosch won the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:35.56 to cap off day two. Day three of the meet yielded more of the same for the GVSU teams. Hieber (4:24.19) and Hedley (4:50.80) each won the men’s and women’s 500-yard freestyle, sophomore Jon Kantzenbach won the 200-yard butterfly (1:47.70) and Wager won the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:03.57. “It’s very rewarding to see us winning so much because we’ve worked

so hard all season as a team,” Hieber said. “To have that hard work pay off is such an incredible feeling.” The 800-yard freestyle relay team consisting of sophomore Austin Millard, Hawkins, Hieber and senior Roger Miret Sala won a conference championship as well, finishing at 6:32.78. Feb. 18 was the fourth and final day of action as both teams finished strong. Hieber won another individual championship in the 1650-yard freestyle (15:15.03) with Hedley continuing her dominance in the 100-yard freestyle to secure the victory (50.96). “(Winning so many events) is a very overwhelming feeling,” Hedley said. “I just soaked up the atmosphere of everyone wanting to win, it was so lively and everyone came together to support each other as a team.” LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

SPLASH: A handful of Lakers for both the men’s and women’s team achieved individual championship titles with their stellar performances during the four-day stretch of action. Over the course of the regular season, the women’s team secured 12 victories with just two losses as the men’s team finished with eight wins and three losses to cap off a great conference season. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER


A12 | SPORTS

FEBRUARY 21, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

LACROSSE

Women’s lacrosse finishes 1-1 during road trip to start season BY BREANNA HAMMER SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University women’s lacrosse traveled to Florida this past weekend to face off against the Flagler Lions (14-12) and Rollins College (11-15) as the team split the road trip 1-1. Senior attacker Kate DeYoung said the team was highly motivated going into the start of the season as the honors they received during the preseason added to their desire to win. “Coming in with the highest national ranking (No. 5 in preseason poll) in GVSU program history has been a big part of our motivation,” DeYoung said. “Practicing against each other and being some of the best players in the country gives us the confidence to control the pace of games.” Feb. 16 saw the Lakers come out with strong offensive control throughout the game against Flagler as four players contributed to the final score. Junior attacker Maddy Champagne set the pace with the first goal of the match just 52 seconds into the first quarter. This goal would open the floodgates as a battle to stay out in front would ensue with Flagler finally able to knot up the score 1-1 several minutes later (6:23). The tied scoreline wouldn’t last for more than a minute as graduate student

midfielder Maggie Hammer scored 35 seconds later (5:57) to put the Lakers back on top, 2-1. Just under two minutes later, Flagler would tie the score at 2-2 to finish out the first quarter. In the second, Flagler had a quick goal to take their first lead of the match, 2-3, but a huge surge by GVSU on both sides of the pitch saw the Lakers score six-unanswered goals (8-3) by the end of the quarter that was led by three players; Champagne (three), DeYoung (two) and junior midfielder Sydney Stone (one). Three more goals throughout the third quarter (two by DeYoung, one by Stone) responded to the four goals scored by Flagler as the opponent attempted to regain control of the match heading into the final quarter, 11-7. After DeYoung scored her final goal of the match, Flagler cut into the deficit with two-straight goals with 8:50 remaining in the match. However, the Lakers didn’t waiver and would ultimately put their opening match of the season to rest with a close victory, 14-12. Leading the team with six goals, DeYoung said her time spent paying attention to the scouting report allowed her to find several openings on the goal. “I knew going into the game that their low defense was lacking (and) this gave me a lot of opportunity to help lead

OPENER: With a five-game road trip to start out the 2023 season, the Lakers are hoping to continue their win streak as the two-time conference champ. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS

our team to victory,” DeYoung said. Champagne was the second-leading scorer (five goals) and said her motivation going into this match stemmed from the adversities she dealt with last season. “After suffering back-to-back injuries and health issues, I wanted to start this season by returning stronger as a player and as a leader,” Champagne said. “Flagler was a well-rounded team, but with the help of my teammates, I was set for success in beginning my season strong.” Coming off a strong win, GVSU faced tough competition against the No.

10 ranked Rollins College on Feb. 18 in their second of two road matches. Rollins would strike first on the scoreboard just over halfway into the first quarter (8:32), but Stone was quick to answer with a goal of her own (7:27) to tie up the match. Unfortunately for the Lakers, the next four goals scored were all awarded to Rollins, finishing the first quarter with a score of 1-5 and starting an offensive landslide for the remainder of the first half. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

TENNIS

GV tennis teams continue win streaks on the road BY MADELEINE SMITH SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

ADAPTIVE: Since dropping their first match of the spring season, both tennis teams have found their footing on the courts as both Laker teams are riding a four-match winning streak in out-of-conference action. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS

The Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s tennis teams traveled out of state to face Illinois Springfield and Lewis University as the teams swept both opponents in fashion. GVSU played the opponents in backto-back days as Feb. 17 was dominated by both Laker teams with the men’s team finishing 4-2 and the women’s 6-1. The following day was another victory against Lewis with the women finishing 4-3 and the men 6-1 - their overall season records now standing at 4-2 and 6-1 respectively. Against Illinois Springfield, the men’s doubles went 2-1 overall in their matchups with seniors Sean Miller and Unai Gonzalez sweeping their opponent 6-0 at the No. 1 position, senior Jack Dausman and junior Freddy Cossio won 6-4 (No. 2) as senior Martin Matov and freshman Patricio Sepulveda finished with no result. For men’s singles, many Lakers continued to hit their stride this past weekend: Dausman won in three sets (2-1) for No. 3 singles with Matov and Sepulveda winning their matchups in two sets (No. 4 and 5 positions respective-

ly). To wrap up the day for the men’s, senior Sebastian Arce (1-2) and Miller (02) lost their matchups at the No. 1 and 2 positions respectively while sophomore Ignasi Garros finished with no result. Martov commented on how this match presented new challenges as far as the late start time due to the fact that they usually always have early morning practices, forcing the Lakers to persevere and amplify their energy. “The circumstances of the match today were difficult,” Martov said. “A very short warm-up combined with a rushed dinner meant the experienced players of our team really had to step up and adapt. They were a solid team who came out hot, but we as a whole responded well by putting the heat right back on them.” On the women’s side of things against Illinois Springfield, the team was just one singles and doubles matchup away from finishing the match undefeated. Senior Taylor Barrett and junior Vasileia Griva won their doubles match 6-1, with sophomore Estefania Hernandez and freshman Rachel Sam winning 6-4 and junior Sophia Hanover and freshman Amanda Diaz losing their matchup 1-6. For singles, Hernandez would be the

only Laker unable to win her individual matchup that went to a three-set decision (1-2) while the remaining five Lakers finished in two sets; Griva 2-0 (No. 1 position), Barrett 2-0 (No. 2), Sam 2-0 (No. 3), Diaz 2-0 (No. 5) and freshman Leonie Leister 2-0 (No. 6). The following day was against Lewis with both sides able to pull out a victory. Griva and Barrett led doubles with a nail-biter matchup that finished 7-6 as Hanover and Diaz rebounded and took the win this time around, 6-2. However, Sam and Hernandez would drop their doubles matchup 3-6. To finish, three of the six singles matches were secured by the Lakers; Griva (2-1), Barrett (1-2), Sam (1-2), freshman Anna Soteras (2-0), Hernandez (2-0) and Diaz (0-2). On the men’s side, the team was one game away from a clean sheet but all matchups were won by the Lakers. Gonzalez and Miller finished 6-2 in doubles as they were followed by Dausman and Cossio (6-4) and Arce and Sepulveda (6-3). LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE


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