G R A N D VA L L E Y L A N T H O R N
State of the City Grand Rapids mayor outlines 20-year plan
GV students compete in composition LAKER LIFE competition | A9
GV baseball continues streaking ahead of conference SPORTS | A11
M O N DAY, M A R C H 2 7, 2 0 2 3 / / VO L . 5 7 N O. 2 6
@GVLANTHORN
LANTHORN.COM
A2 | NEWS NEWS BRIEFS GVSU RECEIVES NEGATIVE NATIONAL ATTENTION FOR INCLUSIVE CELEBRATION
Recently, national news outlets accused Grand Valley State University of “segregating graduation ceremonies by race,” bringing GVSU’s upcoming commencement celebrations into national and local attention. Fox News and the New York Post have been the largest publishers of the claims that the ceremonies are split by different groups of identities such as Black, Asian, LGBTQ, Native American, Hispanic and Latino groups. However, GVSU said this is not the case. GVSU stated the university holds “unified Commencement ceremonies for all of its graduates” while the smaller ceremonies held by different student organizations and faculty leaders are an extra opportunity to honor graduates. “These more intimate celebrations are a complement to GVSU’s Commencement and are open to all students and their supporters,” said Chris Knape, the GVSU communication coordinator in the university’s statement. “The vast majority of graduating students who participate in these celebrations also choose to participate in our larger Commencement ceremony where degrees are conferred.” Knape also said the smaller commencement ceremonies for various groups of students are not new. The ceremonies began in 2007 with the Lavender Ceremony which recognizes LGBTQ students. In an interview with MLive, Knape said smaller graduation celebrations often commemorate students’ involvement during their time at the university and their self-identity. He said other student groups like veterans and foster children also have held their own events.
MARCH 27, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
POLICE
GVPD highlights the need for students to prioritize mental health BY CHLOE SCHRAM NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State University Police Department has consistently reported mental health calls, disorderly calls - including arguments between parties - and minor in possession (MIP) cases. Sergeant Leah Heaton said Saint Patrick’s Day commonly leads to more activity for GVPD’s officers. “We did end up with quite a few minor in possession citations and some juveniles who were also cited for drinking underage,” Heaton said. “We put on a couple extra patrols on Friday and Saturday, which we usually do on our busier weekends like St. Patrick’s Day, so we did have some extra officers around as did Ottawa county off campus.” Aside from alcohol-related issues, GVPD has seen a continuation of mental health calls for a variety of different reasons. “If someone is feeling overwhelmed we have a lot of resources on campus,” Heaton said. “We can be one resource, but there’s also a student services counseling center, housing representatives and more.” Heaton encourages those struggling to reach out to the GVSU’s Counseling Center. The Counseling Center’s mission is to enhance the well-being of the GVSU community through mental health ser-
vices including prevention, education and various types of counseling. Students can call their number at (616) 331-3266. Additionally, the Division of Student Affairs offers various recreation and wellness resources to help students during difficult times. This includes aiding students with emotional, physical, social and intellectual wellness. Similarly, the Recreation and Wellness Center at GVSU has a mission to empower and support students to pursue their overall well-being. The Lakers Together Mental Health and Well-Being Index also provides over 100 resources and organizations for students to get involved with in regard to wellness and mental health. GVPD receives an increase in mental health-related and crisis calls each time midterms and finals approach. It’s important that students take proactive steps to care for their mental health in anticipation of these stressful events, as well as for their long-term well-being. “When finals are coming up, we usually have an uptick in mental health-related calls,” Heaton said. “If somebody is struggling with mental health, they are always free to call us, but we also refer to the other services as well if it’s not an immediate concern.” Students are encouraged to reach out to these other resources not just when needed,
but prior to stressful times in the semester. “Finals always sneak up on me and it feels like a daunting thing I have to do when I have exams,” said GVSU junior Caroline Carlson. “However, I realize I need to take breaks and reach out to friends during these times.” Carlson said it can be difficult to find the time or find support systems that prioritize mental health, but she finds different activities that help her manage stressors. “Mental health is not always focused on, especially during intense times for different majors, so going on walks always helps me,” Carlson said. Heaton said that especially with the change of seasons and the end of the semester approaches, GVSU students should continue to prioritize their wellness and take proactive safety measures. “With the nicer weather coming out there’s going to be more people outside, maybe people are going to be outside late at night because the sun sets later,” Heaton said. “Just be safe about what you’re doing. If you’re with a group of friends don’t leave anybody behind and have a plan for the night.” Heaton said people should be diligent and aware of their surroundings and if they have any safety concerns they shouldn’t hesitate to contact GVPD.
LARGE AMOUNT OF FENTANYL SEIZED BY AUTHORITIES WHILE BEING TRANSPORTED FROM GRAND RAPIDS
Federal agents have confiscated more than 40 pounds of fentanyl, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency, which the feds say would be enough to kill every person in Michigan. The fentanyl was found during a traffic stop of a vehicle traveling from Grand Rapids to Detroit. Although the exact location of the seized drugs was not announced, the DEA says that the drugs originated from Mexico. According to the Detroit Free Press, Kent County investigators notified the DEA of the drugs shipment allowing for authorities to wait to stop the delivery. REACHING OUT: Mental health calls from students jump up in anticicpation of final projects and exams. The pressure of the impending workload combined with already low-energy seasonal depression makes the end of the semester difficult for students. GVL | SYDNEY LIM
MARCH 27, 2023
A3 | NEWS
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
CONTENTS HEALTH
| A2
OPINION
| A4
EDUCATION
| A5
GRAND RAPIDS
| A 6-7
ENVIRONMENT
| A8
INVOLVEMENT
| A9
AWARENESS
| A10
BASEBALL
| A11
GOLF
| A12 VOL. 57
EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief MARY DUPUIS Associate Editor AUDREY WHITAKER Associate Editor JACOB KIRN
N O. 26
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
ADVERTISING STAFF
A&E Editor EMMA ARMIJO Image Editor MEGHAN TRIPP Multimedia Editor JAMES HERRICK
Advertising Manager MARGO DZURKO BUSINESS STAFF Business Manager MORGAN JOHNSTON 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
AWARENESS
Lansing-based nonprofit expands into Grand Rapids, promotes period equity BY ASHLEY MOUBRAY NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
A Lansing-based nonprofit called Helping Women Period (HWP) recently expanded into the Grand Rapids area. For eight years the organization has advocated for period awareness and equity by providing Michigan women with necessary period products. HWP was founded in 2015 by Executive Director Lysne Tait, a Lansing local. Tait said the development of HWP as an organization came out of a decision to help those in need in even small ways. After reading an article revealing the lack of menstrual products available to homeless or low-income individuals, she planned a small breakfast with friends to collect money and supplies to help collect menstrual products. Soon enough, what started out as a Facebook post turned into a larger effort. Four days after Tait’s initial
FAIRNESS: The Helping Women Period nonprofit initiative not only encapsulates the necessity of having menstrual productions and health education relating to it, but also brings awareness to those who suffer from various insecurities that make it far more difficult to have access to products and other resources. GVL | AIDA DENNIS
post, it had gained so much traction that Tait filed nonprofit paperwork. Today, HWP partners with over 200 nonprofits and schools to provide free pads and tampons. Tait said young girls in low-income communities often miss school because their families lack the funds to supply menstrual products. When these products are readily available at school, young
girls are no longer forced to put their education on pause. “We provide schools with pads and tampons, but that’s just dealing with the symptom,” Tait said. “We also provide education with our Menstrual Product Petting Zoo, where we advocate for period equity.” LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
HISTORY
Frederik Meijer Honors College hosts seminar series event that explore unheard voices BY GRACE SMITH NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
The Frederik Meijer Honors College (FMHC) hosted its secondto-last seminar for the winter 2023 semester last Thursday. Thursday’s honoree, Ellen Adams, is an associate professor of art history within the FMHC. Her courses within the program include “Dangerous Ideas,” “Art and Money” and “Modern Art and Modernity.” Over the last few months, four different FMHC faculty members have given presentations in their areas of expertise. The talks were designed to connect with the faculty member’s area of scholarship, share new projects or both. Invited faculty members each delivered an informal 30 to 45-minute presentation with an opportunity for discussion at the end of each seminar. Currently, Adams is writing a book about women artists who worked within the Works Project Administration following the New Deal which led her to the topic of her seminar, “Cultural Patronage in the New Deal: Georgette Seabrooke and the Harlem Hospital Murals.” Adams said several years ago she was teaching a course on feminist art history and had sent a student to find a book on women artists who worked in the WPA.
Much to Adams’ and her student’s surprise, they couldn’t find one. “I started to think about it and ways to ask interesting questions about why women were not included when it (WPA projects) started,” Adams said. The topic of Adams’ talk surrounded a mural entitled “Recreation in Harlem” created by WPA artist Georgette Seabrooke in 1937. At the time of creation, Seabrooke and other artists’ projects were a subject of controversy in the Harlem community. The mural was set to be created by minority artists and the art itself depicted strong African American themes. Originally, the project wasn’t approved by the Hospital Superintendent. However, the Harlem Artists Guild and Artists Union were able to advocate for the project, leading to its initiation and completion. Over the years, environmental conditions have led to damage to the mural. In 2004, Harlem Hospital decided that the work would be removed, restored and reinstalled in the new Harlem Hospital Center Mural Pavilion, where the project remains underway today. LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
LECTURE: Associate professor Ellen Adams of the Frederik Meijer Honors College highlights the need for more educational resources relating to feminist art history and the “Recreation in Harlem” mural conflict. GVL | AIDA DENNIS
A4 | OPINIONS
MARCH 27, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN By Abby Haywood
GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON
EDITORIAL
Unique celebrations, not segregation
G
3/27/23
editorial@lanthorn.com
Column: 8 years of ‘TPAB’: How Kendrick Lamar shaped the future of hip-hop
BY AYRON RUTAN SOPHOMORE MULTIMEDIA JOURALISM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
In the world of hip-hop, it can be extremely risky for mainstream artists to experiment with different genres, provocative
themes and controversial subject matter. For many artists, moving away from popular convention only causes demonization from fans resulting in the artist’s collective demise. But for Kendrick Lamar, the exploration of jazz, race and politics created one of the most powerful and important albums of the 21st century. Released in 2015, “To Pimp a Butterfly” is an album that has been hailed as a masterpiece of modern hip-hop by fans and critics alike. The third studio album in Lamar’s discography, it has received critical acclaim for its thought-provoking lyrics, musicality and social commentary. The record just recently
celebrated its eighth birthday, and its power has truly stood the test of time. In 2016, the album garnered 11 Grammy nomination with four wins. The album is a reflection of Lamar’s experiences growing up in Compton, California, and his observations of contemporary Black culture in the United States. It addresses themes of systemic racism, poverty and police brutality. Lamar skillfully uses his music as a platform to highlight social injustice and racial inequality. LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com for the full article
Column: What to know if you are a dual-degree seeking student
BY HOPE LEINEN JUNIOR BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES, ENGLISH EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
As a student at Grand Valley State University pursuing two vastly different degrees, I’ve found it very difficult to manage what you need to know and what classes you have to take. I am a double major in biomedical sciences and English language and literature who is also in the honors college, which basically means I have a lot of classes to complete and a lot of advisors to meet with.
Now that I’m in my junior year at GVSU, it’s been really important for me to try and figure out what I need to do to make sure that I am graduating in four years with both a bachelor of art and science. Being a double major is great due to the variety of classes and information you learn about, but it can be easy to lose track of what requirements are being met. There are a few things I’ve learned along the way that’ll help anyone else looking to get two degrees in different fields. First of all, you need 150 credits to graduate, not 120. While this is a 30-credit difference, it’s honestly not too difficult to obtain depending on the programs that you’re doing. In addition, it’s important to note that you need to take a language for a bachelor of arts degree. GVSU requires three semesters if you don’t take a language placement exam or carry over
credits from high school. It can be overwhelming at times trying to meet with all of the different advisors and figure out what classes you need to be taking each semester. I recommend trying to sort your classes on your own and then making a checklist so you’re prepared when/if you decide to meet with your advisors. In terms of whether you have general education requirements or honors requirements, you’ll also need to fulfill those as well. While I can’t speak on general education requirements (because I don’t have them), honors is a whole different story. One of the best ways to fulfill your honors requirements is studying abroad. While it’s expensive, it ends up being worth it for the amount of classes it counts towards. LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com for the full article
rand Valley State University was back in the national news cycle last week in relation to GVSU’s Office of Multicultural Affairs’ annual graduation celebrations that are held in relation to the university commencement ceremony. OMA’s graduation celebrations are “an opportunity to come together and acknowledge Laker accomplishments in the spirit of traditions of our diverse identities and cultures,” according to an email sent out by the office to students who registered for graduation this semester. The celebrations are intended to harmlessly spotlight the accomplishments of the entire student body planning to walk in annual commencement ceremonies. GVSU, OMA and other organizations involved also make sure to note that these separate celebrations are open to all students, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. A Fox News article
detailed each celebration while claiming the university was “coming under fire.” The article also featured a tweet written by a conservative commentator, Matt Walsh, who tweeted “Ridiculous. (GVSU) is holding five segregated graduation celebrations, singling out Asian, black, LGBT, Hispanic and Native American graduates. There will be no special celebrations for straight white people, of course.” GVSU’s response to the baseless claims stated, “(GVSU) holds unified commencement ceremonies for all of its graduates. GVSU is not ‘segregating graduation ceremonies by race,’ as some people and outlets have said… (These) celebrations are a complement to GVSU’s Commencement and are open to all students and their supporters.”
OPINION POLICY
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 500-650 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 or staff. Letter to the editor should include the author’s full name,
LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
0051 KIRKHOF CENTER GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ALLENDALE, MI 49401 616-826-8276
MARCH 27, 2023
A5 | NEWS
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
Meet the Candidates for Student Senate Stop by the Kirkhof Lobby from 6-8pm on Monday, March 27th to meet the candidates running for election for the 2023-2024 Student Senate body! Beginning on March 27th at 8:00am, visit the Student Senate website at gvsu.edu/studentsenate to cast your vote for up to five candidates. Voting will close at 11:59pm on Sunday, April 2nd. Reach out to GVStudentSenate on Instagram and Twitter or email senates@gvsu.edu with any questions about the elections process. EDUCATION
Local history event encourages students to learn about the past, improve the future BY MADISON STEIGERWALD NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
The Grand Valley State University’s Kutsche Office of Local History aims to highlight the histories of underrepresented populations in West Michigan through community connections, storytelling and preservation of documents and archives. Their mission is to provide a platform to diverse communities through history. Throughout the school year, the Kutsche Office hosts events and invites guest speakers to educate students and staff on topics regarding West Michigan history. This past week, they held their Local History Roundtable, an annual event that aims to create discussions about the history of different races, genders and communities. The focus of this year’s event was “Our
West Michigan Histories.” Guest speakers discussed historic poor houses in Ottawa and Van Buren County and Civil Rights pursuits in Grand Rapids and Muskegon. The keynote presentation included a discussion with Dr. Delia Fernández-Jones, a Michigan State University professor and Grand Valley State University graduate who recently released a book called “Making the MexiRican City: Migration, Placemaking and Activism in Grand Rapids, Michigan.” Fernández-Jones discussed the history of Mexican and Puerto Rican identity in Grand Rapids, including their origins and the values placed in community. She addressed how traditions helped to shape the role “MexiRicans” play in West Michigan today. Fernández-Jones said she became acquainted with the Kutsche Office after her graduation from GVSU and was interested in helping contribute to their office’s mission of
“trying to uncover the voices of people who are not typically showcased in our local history and the way we imagine local history.” “I feel like my work really aligns with their mission, and I am always looking for a platform to tell this story about Latinos/ Latinx in this community, so it was an honor to talk at the Kutsche Office’s Annual Roundtable,” Fernández-Jones said. During the presentation, Fernández-Jones talked about discrimination, imperialism and displacement as precursors to both Mexican and Puerto Rican migration north throughout the 20th century, seen as early as the 1920s. “Mexicans and Puerto Ricans are often referred to as ‘new,’ but there is evidence of us being here for the last one hundred years, at least,” Fernández-Jones said. LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
REPRESENTATION: Opportunities such as the one provided by Kutsche Office of Local History gives students, faculty and everyone in attendance the chance to learn more about the rich history and cultures on a more local level. GVL | SYDNEY LIM
PREVENTION
Cyber Threat Range helps GV students prepare for careers in cybersecurity BY JACK BLAKE NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
SAFETY: The cybersecurity program is part of the 145 degrees offered at GVSU. GVL | SAMUEL NELSON
Grand Valley State University’s School of Computing offers four degree programs and eight minors for students to specify their degrees in. The cybersecurity bachelor’s degree is the newest program of the four that are offered. Within the cybersecurity major, students study techniques to “protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data, information and computer systems against attacks.” The cybersecurity program offers state-of-the-art labs and technology for hands-on learning and emphasizes theoretical and practical applications to prepare students for the real world. Earlier this month, GVSU’s Applied Computing Institute (ACI) partnered
with the Michigan Cyber Threat Response Alliance (MiCTRA) to create the Cyber Threat Range. The Cyber Threat Range is a computer lab located on GVSU’s health campus. Its utilities will be offered to students in the School of Computing, providing them with a “sandbox-like” environment to practice cybersecurity skills and perform drills. The computers in the Cyber Threat Range are linked to a closed network that’s separate from all other computers at GVSU to provide a safe place for students to practice cybersecurity skills without the risk of damaging the GVSU network. Students within the program are excited to take advantage of this opportunity, especially as the cybersecurity pro-
gram at GVSU continues to grow. “The addition of the Cyber Threat Range is a huge step for the cybersecurity program,” said Brendon Werner, an undergraduate student studying cybersecurity. “It offers students to start getting hands-on practice that many universities don’t offer.” Werner said cybersecurity jobs are needed for nearly every industry to keep information secure, and as technology evolves so does the need for cybersecurity professionals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment for cybersecurity is expected to grow 35% from now until 2031. LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
MARCH 27, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
BY JOSEPH POULOS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
On Tuesday, March 21, Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss gave her State of the City address. Key features of the speech included plans to better the city of Grand Rapids based on certain criteria including police brutality, local tourism and housing. “From policing to housing to our local economy and our environment, we are genuinely working to address root causes of issues that have simmered under the surface for generations,” Bliss said. “Now we’re not doing it by hastily pushing top-down solutions. We are working to build from the bottom up – our community coming together, shaping real solutions that actually work in our local context.” Bliss was optimistic about the union contract approved in December with the Grand Rapids Police Department and said the new agreements make it harder for officers to conceal past incidents of misconduct. Nikolas Tompkins, a secondary education major at GVSU, agreed with Bliss’ assessment that the previous conduct of police officers should be on the record and be available to view. “I believe that the more transparency within the police department the better,” Tompkins said. “While many officers have equipment that helps with keeping their activity transparent (such as body cams), these things are not always in use or are intentionally removed to perform unethical tasks.” Matthew Mauren, a general business major at GVSU, said accountability is what helps keep officers honest and prevent unnecessary hardship in the community. “I think that police officers need to be held more accountable so that people have more faith in our police force,” Mauren said. “That puts the police in the best position to do their jobs correctly.” Bliss announced that a small number of
A6&7 | NEWS GRPD officers have started taking mental health professionals on calls with them. This change comes as an effort to de-escalate potentially violent interactions. Even with these changes, Tompkins said he feels there are other ways to improve how the police force engages with the diverse communities they serve. “Officers should also have to partake in implicit bias testing to determine the amount of unintentional or intentional bias they may have towards various groups,” Tompkins said. “If these tests show that they have too much negative bias they should either not be allowed to serve or they should receive training towards adjusting these biases.” Additionally, Bliss discussed housing and how she would like to continue to see the city grow. Bliss said there’s an explicit need for more housing - both affordable and market rate. The mayor also mentioned the net benefit both from the growth of Grand Rapids and West Michigan. Earlier this year, a study concluded that the city needs 14,000 new units of housing by 2027 to keep up with the burgeoning population growth, with an additional 20,800 additional homes needed in the county and surrounding areas. Tompkins is looking forward to seeing the city continue to grow. “I believe that population growth is good for residents,” Tompkins said. “When the population increases there are countless other factors that increase as well. The most notable being tax revenue, while most people don’t enjoy paying taxes, there are a lot of benefits that come to the city as a whole, such as better roads, education, public transportation and other public services.” Similarly, Mauren was excited about potential growth, but believes a deeper dive may be needed in order to decide the benefits this could have for Grand Rapids. “I think that a city’s growth can be seen as a relatively good thing to have, but I would be
interested in looking into more statistics than just housing,” Mauren said. Bliss seemed to agree with Mauren, pointing out that it’s not as simple as coming up with vague numbers and ideas. Bliss had said that both city officials and residents must have realistic expectations and find ways to get projects done. “The city does not build housing,” Bliss said. “We need our private and nonprofit home developers, many who are in the room tonight. We need to work with them closely.” Mauren said although increased housing and population growth is typically a good thing, it’s something that will need to be continually monitored by the city. He also said higher incomes and more job opportunities could be beneficial for growth. Bliss said one of her goals had been to restore the Whitewater Rapids on the Grand River near the downtown area. She said preserving natural areas can add to the scenery of the city and provide potential tourism revenue. This objective will require a new plan and agreement to be in place in order for funding to be secured properly. However, Bliss is optimistic for future planning projects. “Just as you can count on the Grand River flowing to Lake Michigan, you can count on our efforts to achieve a design that meets many, many of our initial objectives and delivers a transformational project for our entire community,” Bliss said. “When this entire project is completed, not just the first phase but the entire project, when it is completed I believe we will have rapids back in Grand Rapids.” Tompkins said he liked the idea of restoring some of the natural features of the region both for tourism and the culture of the city. “The name Grand Rapids comes from the rapids themselves,” Tompkins said. “Restoring the rapids could bring back some of the cultural identity that was lost.”
GRAND RIVER: Mayor Bliss shared an optimistic outlook for the Restore the Rapids project which would restore the city’s namesake rapids and boost tourism. GVL | MEGHAN TRIPP
A8 | NEWS
MARCH 27, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
ENVIRONMENT
GV Sustainability Showcase shows the potential of a greener future BY JONATHAN CARROLL NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State University hosted its winter semester Sustainability Showcase, a week-long event in March that highlights the environmental impacts in the West Michigan area, along with creative solutions and ideas. The event featured trivia nights with questions centered around sustainability, talks from professionals in the field and introduced new sustainability courses coming to GVSU. The work from many organizations and students have brought hope for a greener future. On March 25, the final day of the Sustainability Showcase, students, community members and companies across West Michigan gave presentations about issues impacting the state of Michigan and communities across the country. Students set up tables with information they’ve been studying over the course of the semester. Projects included both in-person and online posters, games and interactive ideas on how people can get involved to make their communities more sustainable. GVSU student Abby Gratton, who is taking the “Principles of Sustainability” course, created a game with her group that highlighted the need to clean up pollution on the Grand River. “We want to bring people in to not only enjoy the river, but help keep it
clean for the environment and other people to enjoy it too,” Gratton said. Gratton was one of many students from various environmental science classes presenting at the event. Another presentation came from a group committed to sustainability. A local organization called the New City Neighbors, a youth program that teaches its members how to grow crops in the community, aimed to bring awareness of sustainable farming and eating to students. The group runs the New City Cafe where people can enjoy their fresh produce. Avery Smith, a representative from New City Neighbors who attended the in-person showcase event, spoke about the impact it’s had on the surrounding community. “People from anywhere can come and see we are growing without pesticides and other chemicals,” Smith said. “We can bring fresh food without harming the surrounding environment.” On top of the classes and community organizations, companies and political groups were in attendance. The Michigan League of Conservation Voters said in a statement that people should push for legislation that promotes environmental protection. LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION: Grand Valley held its winter sustainability showcase to highlight and bring awareness to environmental issues in Grand Rapids. They spoke about what needs to be done to create a greener future within the community. GVL | SAMUEL NELSON
Vote in Student Senate Elections Voting opens March 27th at 8:00am and will close on April 2nd at 11:59pm Visit gvsu.edu/studentsenate to cast your vote Stop by the Kirkhof Lobby from 6-8pm on Monday, March 27th to Meet the Candidates!
A9 | LAKER LIFE
MARCH 27, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE
LAKER LIFE BRIEFS BOND THROUGH VOLUNTEERING WITH HELPING HANDS
Helping Hands is holding an event based on a recently conducted group survey where members voted in a nearly split decision on whether they should hold a trivia night or a volunteering event that had to do with coloring. With the results so close, the group decided to combine both into one event and hold a 15-question trivia game followed by a Color a Smile sheet. There will also be free pizza and prizes. The meeting will be held on Monday, March 27, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center room 2266.
PARTICIPATE IN RELAY FOR LIFE
On Friday, March 31 the American Cancer Society will be holding their Relay For Life event. Before the fundraiser, they will be serving dinner to honor cancer survivors and caregivers. This will take place in the Fieldhouse from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Cancer survivors and caregivers will be served for free. Following the dinner is the overnight fundraiser. This will run for 12 hours from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. The cost to attend is $15 and all proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. Throughout the night there will be games, performers and activities to keep attendees awake and entertained.
INVOLVEMENT
GV offers space for students backstage in the theatre program BY ISABELLE ENGLAND LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM
This theatre season at Grand Valley State University has been busy, with shows like “The Merry Wives of Windsor” presented by GVSU Shakespeare Festival and “A Minister’s Wife” presented by GVSU’s Opera Theatre. This March, students are performing, “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde directed by Diane Machin. The show runs March 24, 25, 30, 31 and April 1 at 7:30 p.m. and March 26 and April 2 at 2:00 p.m. in the Linn Maxwell Keller Black Box Theatre in the Haas Center for Performing Arts. In addition to the student performers, other students like Happy Battjes find a place behind the curtain working in the scene shop. “I got interested in the work because I was looking for a job that involved me doing something, I’m one of those people who can’t really sit still and stay at a computer for hours on end,” Battjes said. Battjes found their job through handshake as part of GVSU’s work-study program. Handshake offers several postings of similar opportunities for students to work in backstage positions that also satisfy their
work-study requirements if applicable. “My role in the theater shop is to build sets for the different theater events,” Battjes said. “I build walls and paint them before putting them where they need to go, whether it be in the main theater or the Black Box. Sometimes I’ll even go up in the catwalks above the theater and help hang or set up lights for the various shows.” Battjes and other students that work behind the scenes often work closely with Christopher Mahlmann, the technical director for the theatre. Mahlmann got his start at GVSU in 2008 after earning BA and MFA in theatre.
Mahlmann manages the theatre, keeps technical systems working and up to date, works with the scene shop manager to construct the scenery and assists the students with design and technical work on the various productions. In addition to his help in the technical aspects, he also enjoys letting out his creative side by helping with scenic design, lighting design and projection and media design for shows. LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
MUSIC
GV students participate in Art Gallery Composition Competition BY SABRINA RIHTARSHICH LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM
ATTEND VSA’S ANNUAL PHO NIGHT
The Vietnamese Cultural Association (VCA) is hosting their annual pho night on Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. in the Niemeyer Multipurpose Room. VCA will be donating a portion of the earnings to The Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation. Attendees can purchase a bowl of pho for $8, pandan waffles for $5 and Vietnamese coffee for $2. Those who spend $10 on one order will also be entered in a giveaway raffle, with three potential winners This event is BYOB (Bring Your Own Bowl) but there will be bowls available for those who cannot bring one. Attendees can also compete in an eating competition. The first person to finish a large bowl will be crowned “pho king.” Only ten people can compete in this challenge. Besides food, there will also be karaoke, new e-board members will be revealed and VSA stickers will be sold for $2 each.
BEHIND THE SCENES: Students can get involved in productions in many different ways. For every production the theatre department needs help with building the scenes to set the stage. COURTESY | GVSU MTD
ENSEMBLES: Grand Valley students took part in this year’s composition competition. Students anonymously submitted their 60 second pieces in hopes to take home the $250 prize. GVL | BETHANN LONG
On Monday, March 20, Grand Valley State University held its annual Art Gallery Composition Competition. Students who are part of the GVSU New Music Ensemble performed a 60-second piece in a competition against one another. Each student performing was directed to respond to an exhibition in the Art Gallery show titled Convergence: Cracks in the Glass Ceiling. This exhibition was co-created with MUSE GR and was curated by Stephen and Taylor Smith. The exhibition represents the “pushing of boundaries into spaces to cultivate growth and coordinated expansion.” The exhibition also encouraged viewers to operate out of purpose and passion in order to be released from the confines of their comfort zones, allowing them to experience a proverbial cracking of the glass ceiling. The compositions were submitted anonymously for this competition and then performed by the New Music Ensemble among the art that inspired the music. A panel of judges determined the three winners and the audience got to pick their favorite piece. The judges included former Director of the Grand
Rapids Public Museum Timothy Chester, GVSU Associate Professor of Piano Sookkyung Cho, GVSU Provost Fatma Mili, former GVSU Professor of Music John Schuster-Craig and Director of the MUSE GR Gallery Stephen Smith. All winners received a cash prize, with first place getting $250, second place winner and audience favorite receiving $100 and third place receiving $50. The first-place winner and audience favorite was Christian Glascock, who was both the composer and a member the ensemble group. “I had to try extra hard to keep my composure and not give away which piece was mine when rehearsing them,” Glascock said. Glascock’s piece was titled “Bugs Bunny Noir” which he said was inspired by his childhood and growing up watching “Tom and Jerry” and “Looney Tunes.” “I’d have to say my favorite part of the performance this year was finally coming clean that ‘Bugs Bunny Noir’ was written by me,” Glascock said. “The other members of the New Music Ensemble had no idea that I had written the piece they worked so hard on, and seeing the smile on their faces was priceless.” LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
A10 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTS AT A GLANCE GV DANCE MARATHON RAISES MONEY FOR CHILD LIFE PROGRAM
The GVSU Dance Marathon ran their marathon fundraiser over the weekend, beginning on Saturday March 25. The Lakerthon is a weekend event held every winter semester where students, staff and community members meet to play games, dance and raise money for local Miracle Hospitals. The Miracle Network Dance Marathon is a nationwide movement throughout the United States. The Grand Valley State University branch donates all money raised to the Child Life Program at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids. The Child Life Program is dedicated to making children’s stays in the hospital as enjoyable and comfortable as possible. The six hour fundraiser concluded this past weekend, raising over $18,000 for benefit of the sick children in Grand Rapids. Participants were able to hear first-hand accounts from families in the Child Life Program, learn group dances, play games and more to celebrate the success of the fundraiser, while logging volunteer hours for participation. To follow GV Dance Marathon, learn about involvement and see the behind the scenes, find the Lakerthon on LakerLink or follow @GVLakerthon on Instagram.
DANCING FOR A CURE
The GVSU Dance Troupe is putting on their end-ofthe-semester dance showcase this weekend. GVSU Dance Troupe is a large student group committed providing Lakers with dance aspirations a place to continue dancing in college. The showcase features three performances between March 31 and April 1. These performances highlight the Dance Troupe’s culmination of work though the entire semester, in support of GVSU’s American Cancer Society chapter. GVSU’s chapter of the American Cancer Society is an organization with an agenda to combat cancer through advocacy, research and patient support. In partnership with the GV Dance Troupe, both groups are dedicated to ensuring the opportunity for everyone to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer. The Dance Troupe has collected donations from a variety of organizations in the past, including The Alzheimer’s Association and The Sierra Club of Michigan. The performances will be held at Allendale High School in the auditorium this weekend. For more information, visit “Dance Troupe Presents: ‘Dancing for a Cure’ Winter 2023 Recital” on the GVSU events calendar.
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
@GVLARTS
AWARENESS
Guest speaker advocates for diverse and indigenous art in VMA dept. BY OMARI SEABERRY ARTS@LANTHORN.COM
This past week, the Grand Valley State University Visual Media Arts Department (VMA) welcomed design anthropologist and Dean of Faculty of Design at Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD) University, Dori Tunstall. OCAD University is the largest art and design institute in Canada and the fourth largest in North America. Among these things, Tunstall is also a writer and educator. Her visit was centered around her new book, “Decolonizing Design: A Cultural Justice Guidebook.” Tunstall’s book discussed important topics around the gentrification of art and its persistence through many centuries. It highlights key factors within diversity and inclusion on any school campus. Tunstall made an appearance at a few events for GVSU during her visit, the first of which was a VMA luncheon held at Calder Art Center Atrium on the Allendale campus. This event was open to all GVSU students and faculty. The next event was a panel discussion with Tunstall over the topics of decolonizing
DECOLONIZING ART: Dori Tunstall opens discourse surrounding the production of art from diverse sources, advocating for the same treatment as more “typical” creators. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON
design, academia and business. The following night Tunstall gave a formal public lecture for her book and ideas at the Loosemore Auditorium & Regency Room on the Pew campus. As a dean at OCAD University Tunstall has many responsibilities, but enjoys her work. “Basically, I have an opportunity to understand the future before it happens,” Tunstall said. “OCAD University has a very diverse student body and we have built an extremely diverse faculty body over the last six years.” Tunstall believes OCAD University is one of the few institutions at the forefront of figuring out how to decolonize
design. They are working towards creating a space for indigenous sovereignty within the design institution. At her formal public lecture, Tunstall decided to focus on the first and third chapters within her book. The first chapter of her book is titled, “Decolonizing design means putting indigenous first.” The third chapter is titled, “Decolonzing design means dismantling the racist bias in the European modernist project.” Tunstall chose these specific chapters to go over because of the context they provide the reader. LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
TELEVISION
GV student advances on ‘American Idol’ BY HAILEY HENTZ NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
Reette Thorns, a Grand Valley State University theatre major, is advancing to the next round of “American Idol.” In an episode aired on March 12, Thorns received the votes needed at her audition to move further into the 21st season of the American singing competition. After singing at tryouts via Zoom,
Thorns’ audition was filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada in September 2022. The celebrity judges, Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, listened as Thorns performed “I Believe” by Fantasia Barrino, a previous “American Idol” winner. Receiving the votes needed to advance, she is set to sing in the show’s next round. “I was invited to Las Vegas to audition for the celebrity judges and I was there for like four or five days,” Thorns
TRANS VISIBILITY WEEK: GV DOES DRAG
The LGBT Resource Center is working with the GV Men’s Volleyball team to put together a drag show to advocate for Trans Visibility Week. The show is hosted by La Reine Divine and will feature local drag performers to help spread awareness for Trans issues. The show will be held on the Allendale campus in the Cook Dewitt Center Auditorium. According to the GVSU Events calendar, the event is intended for college students and college-aged individuals. The event is $10 at the door this Wednesday, March 29. For more information about involvement for the Drag Show, visit the campus events calendar.
MARCH 27, 2023
said. “I had lots of things to do (such as) interviews, photoshoots, media videos, radio recordings and rehearsals. It was an insane process and very tiring but the moment was so worth it.” As a child in Madison, Wisconsin, Thorns watched “American Idol” with her mother, who inspired her to pursue singing. In her audition, Thorns described her adolescence in foster care as her mother struggled with addiction. Throughout difficult times, she has remained close with her mom through their shared love of singing. “What inspired me to start singing was my mom,” Thorns said. “She sang all her life (and) we still sing for fun. She is one of my biggest inspirations.” According to an article by The Cap Times, Thorns described how growing up, singing came naturally, which led her to perform at her eighth-grade graduation and at a talent show. LOG ON TO:
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Thorns will continue on the next episode of American Idol, with the next competitive episode’s filming taking place in Las Vegas at the end of the spring. COURTESY | REETE THORNS
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
A11 | SPORTS
MARCH 27, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
QUICK HITS WOMEN’S GOLF CONTINUES SPRING CAMPAIGN After opening their spring season with a victory in the Augustana Spring Fling March 9-10, the Grand Valley State University women’s golf team finished in seventh place in the UF Spring Invite with a score of 930 (+66). The Augustana win featured seven teams in total as the Lakers would finish 16 strokes ahead of second place (Augustana-SD) with their final scorecard tallying 596 points. Sophomore Olivia Stoll (equal to par) led her team with the individual title victory, followed by sophomores Paula Badino (tied fourth, +6), Julia Sanchez (tied sixth, +7), Megan Miron (tied ninth, +8) and junior Kay Zubkus making her 2022-23 season debut with a three-way tie finish for 14th overall (+10). March 20-21 consisted of the UF Invite as 18 teams fought for the title. Although a far different outcome than the one previous, all five Lakers managed to place in the top-40 of 95 golfers: Sanchez (tied 11th, +10), Stoll (tied 26th, +19), Miron (tied 30th, +20), Badino (tied 38th, +23) and Zubkus tying for 40th place (+24). GVSU will hope to rebound as they travel out of state to play in the North Georgia Event April 3-4. MEN’S LACROSSE CLUB OPEN UP HOME ACTION GVSU men’s lacrosse club is one of many spring sports looking to add a potential conference, regional and even national title to their history books as the team is heading home to Allendale to continue spring ball. However, the team is still feeling the effects of the global shutdown after all this time. Prior to their last two home games March 24 and 26, the team had only played one home game in 1,453 days. With that, the victory against the University of Dayton made it that much sweeter for the Lakers to be back on their home pitch and continue their illustrious play for the 2023 spring campaign. Just four games remain in their schedule, with two of those matches being at home this week. The Lakers will host Missouri State University (March 31) and the University of St. Thomas (April 2) in their final home games of the season. SOFTBALL BACK ON THE WINNING SIDE Women’s softball added their 18th victory of the season after a successful doubleheader against Parkside University that finished 2-0 for the Lakers, placing the team at No. 1 in the GLIAC standings. March 24 consisted of GVSU shutting out the Rangers in the first game, 10-0, in just six innings, followed by another 10-2 blowout that ended in five innings to add to the excitement of their home-opening weekend. GVSU will continue a stretch of home battles as they host two doubleheaders against Lewis University (March 29) at 3 p.m. and Ferris State (April 1) at 1 p.m.
BASEBALL
GV baseball continues win streak ahead of starting conference action BY BREANNA HAMMER SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
The Grand Valley State University men’s baseball team continued their impressive start to the season as they earned their seventh-straight win against Hillsdale College in an 11-3 finish. Although the team is currently 11-4 overall and streaking, junior Nathan Logan noted the March 21 victory was the first complete win of the year for the Lakers in all facets, spotlighting the potential they have this season. “From hitting, to pitching, to defense, we had contributions across the board,” Logan said. “This win speaks to the depth we have on this team, and how we all pull for each other.” Going the distance of nine innings, Logan, senior Spencer Nelson, junior Kyle Nott and sophomore Carter Rohman all led GVSU with two runs each. Sophomores Logan Anderson, Brendan Guciardo and junior MacArthur Graybill would also follow it up with a single home run each. A slow beginning to the season after three-straight losses to UIndy dug the Lakers into a hole that seemed as though it would be hard to get out of.
HEATING UP: GVSU opened the season with a rough patch of a three-game skid, but have since turned the momentum in their favor to create a seven-game win streak. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS
However, a tremendous 9-1 turnaround in the RussMatt Invitational ended in a five-game streak after their only loss of the tournament and their fourth of the season to Minnesota State-Manko. Head Coach Jamie Detillion described how it was a challenge playing the fifth game (Minnesota) the morning after two double headers, but was proud of how the team bounced back to start their seven-game winning streak. One game that really stood out
to Detillion was the bout against Wilmington University as GVSU would tally just two hits to the Wildcats’ five, but still managed to walk away with a 2-0 victory. “The two-hitter game; if you only get two hits in a game, you have about a 90% or higher chance of losing that game,” Detillion said. LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
LACROSSE
Women’s lacrosse above .500 after first GLIAC victory BY ZOË MURPHY NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State University women’s lacrosse made the trip to Minnesota to battle Concordia St. Paul last week, winning 17-10 and adding the fifth win to the Lakers’ record just past the halfway point of the regular season (5-4). With this being the first test in conference action, Head Coach Mackenzie Lawler said she told her players to come out with intensity from the start in order to walk away with a win. “It’s our first conference game; I think that this game sets the tone
for (more) conference play coming up,” Lawler said. “We have two other conference games this week and I think it would be great to get a win to start strong but also know that those other games are going to be competitive and those teams have gotten a lot better over the years.” Having the right balance of confidence was of utmost importance to the Lakers going into their first conference game March 24, with familiar veterans setting the tone for their team to add another tally to the win column. Fifth-year senior Maggie Hammer echoed the thoughts of her coach, mentioning that although she
and her teammates are confident, injuries and other unforeseen circumstances can add to the extensive list of challenges any team has to face throughout the course of a season. “I’m feeling really good,” Hammer said. “I think this year overall has had a lot of challenges, with injuries and such, but I’m really excited for this match in particular because I know we’re going to do well.” The first quarter consisted of the Lakers following the exact game plan Lawler mentioned as the team went into the second quarter with a 5-1 lead and no signs of slowing down. GVSU wouldn’t let their foot off the gas for the next 15 minutes with the team extending their lead to 11-4 going into the halftime break. GVSU saw their typical list of players adding to the scoreboard with senior Molly Bursinger leading the pack with three goals, but another notable Laker amongst the heavy list was junior Hailey Crittenden with two goals at the half and an assist. LOG ON TO:
VICTORY: The Lakers are back in the win column after an outing in Minnesota. GVL | GVSU ATHLETICS
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
A12 | SPORTS
MARCH 27, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
GOLF
Men’s golf claims second spring title in Ralph Hargett Invite BY MADELEINE SMITH SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
SPRING: After an extensive offeseason that lasted roughly five months, the Lakers are back in action and in the win column after two successful outings in the month of March. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS
Grand Valley State University’s men’s golf team brought home another invitational title at the Ralph Hargett Invite last week to claim their second win in their first two invites of the spring season following a victory in the Buccaneer Classic March 6-7. Shooting one under par as a team, and finishing 19-strokes ahead of the runner-up, the Ralph Hargett win (March 20-21) was led by senior Charles DeLong who clinched his 10th career win with the Lakers and is now ranked No. 2 in the nation out of the 150-total players listed in the GolfStat NCAA DII individual rankings. With three rounds played in total, the Lakers maintained a six-shot lead (+4) over the then second-place Shorter University after round one of action, and would still hold the lead after round two as they extended their cushion to an 11-stroke advantage (+1) over the once tied Flagler College and Wingate University (second place, +12). Overall, day one featured solid placing by the Lakers across the board with DeLong in second place after the first two rounds (-6), trailing only one point
TENNIS
GV tennis extending win streaks, searching for rhythm BY BRIAN BLOOM NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State University tennis recently began conference action with the women’s team playing against Saginaw Valley State in a 6-1 victory, as well as both teams hosting Wayne State University with the women’s side winning again (4-3) while the men’s team lost in a tough showing, 1-6. Prior to their second home match of the spring season on March 25, the day previous featured the women’s team playing against the Cardinals in Saginaw with the teaming sweeping doubles (3-0) and nearly completing the clean sheet on the day with a 5-1 finish in singles matchups.
MATCH: GVSU hosts PNW and Ferris State in their next two home matches. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER
As two of the four veterans on a fresh-faced roster, junior Vasileia Griva and senior Taylor Barrett (swept doubles matchup, 6-0) look to set an example for the rest of their team through their fluidity on the court. “We have great communication and we compliment each other well,” Grvia said. “When I’m not playing great, she (Barrett) has my back and vice versa.” Moving ahead to the next day at home, the women’s side continued to add to their win streak while the men’s continued looking for answers to get back on the winning side. Head Coach Samantha Schall said even while in the midst of a five-game skid, the men’s side is remaining confident in their ability to make a positive turnaround. “For the women, it was a great team win,” School said. “(Wayne State was) ranked No .9 and it’s one of the best wins we’ve had in our program so far this year. For the guys, we’ve had to rebound for the past few games and we haven’t been able to. There’s a little bit of disappointment, but we had a good conversation about the things we need to improve upon.” LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
behind the tournament leader. Sophomore Nick Krueger (ranked No. 21 by Golfstat) found himself in a four-way tie for fifth place (-1), and freshman Bryce Wheeler helped keep the team in the running as he placed in a three-way tie for 11th overall (+1). As the momentum seemed to be in favor for GVSU heading into day two and the third and final round of the invite, sophomore Drew Coble (No. 102 overall in GolfStat ranking) said the mindset for the entire tournament was to focus on each individual hole as they came. “I wouldn’t say our game plan changed at all this week,” Coble said. “We have stuck to one shot at a time and just focus on what you can control.” Head Coach Gary Bissell knows better than to believe a comfortable lead is safe, especially when it comes to a technical sport like golf. Bissell said that even with a high-stroke lead like the one GVSU had going into the final round, the pressure actually intensifies when it comes to closing out the match with a victory. “A ten shot lead in golf is a really tough lead to play with because it’s big enough to make you feel somewhat safe,” Bissell said. “But it’s also a lead that can diminish in a matter of three
or four holes quite honestly.” Day two would finally arrive, and after the final round, GVSU would ultimately secure their second title of the spring after four of the five Lakers either improved or tied their best performance out of all three rounds. DeLong matched his second-round score with another 68 on the scorecard, Krueger shot his best round with a score of 69, Wheeler dipped below his average with 79 (71 best score, second round), Coble tied his second-round score (75) and Cooley saved his best for last with a score of 74 in the third round. Overall, all five Lakers would finish in the top 50 of 95-total players: DeLong (first, -10), Krueger (tied third overall, -4), Wheeler (five-way tie for 25th overall, +8), Coble (five-way tie for 33rd place, +10) and freshman Charlie Cooley (tied 43rd, +13). “It takes great play top to bottom (to win),” Bissell said. “You need a horse up front, which we definitely have in Charlie DeLong. (However) at this level, you can’t win with just two or three guys - you need five good players.” LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE