G R A N D VA L L E Y L A N T H O R N
Year in Review 2022-23
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APRIL 10, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
NOV. 14
Blue Wave: Democrats sweep Michigan offices in history-defying midterms BY JOSH ALBURTUS NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
Multitudes of electoral polls in the run-up to Nov. 8’s midterm elections signaled what was expected to be what many referred to as a “red wave” that would usher the Republican Party into wide margins of control on Capitol Hill and ensure comfortable victories in key races throughout the country. With a floundering national economy, dismal approval ratings for President Joe Biden and historical precedent that routinely spells danger for the party whose president is experiencing their first midterm elections in the White House, such large Republican gains were projected as all but certain. However, the opposite proved to be true in the battleground state of Michigan, where Election Day saw Democrats sweep offices across the state. A number of critical victories granted the Democratic Party control of not only the three statewide elected offices
of governor, secretary of state and attorney general, but also majorities in both the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate. This marked the first time in nearly four decades that the party has been able to claim both the governorship and the legislature simultaneously. Incumbent Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer addressed supporters on election night following the first projections released in the race revealing her victory. “We have come a long way, Michigan,” Whitmer said. “We are thrilled, thrilled at the unexpected high turnout. We are thrilled that the three ballot initiatives got passed.” In laying claim to her second term, Whitmer emphasized a commitment to bipartisanship in her first term that she indicated she intended to carry into the next. “The prospect of leading this state for four more years is something for which we are incredibly grateful and excited about,” Whitmer said. “Regardless
GOVERNMENT: The resuts of the November election, in factor of a democratic majority, have shaped many policies within Michigan. Democrats have pushed for gun reform packages, codified abortion protections and repealed “right-to-work.” GVL | JOSH ALBURTUS
of who is in office, we will always work with anyone who actually wants to solve a problem because there’s nothing more important than the people of this state to us – all of the people of this state.” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel, who polls had indicated was in a tight race against Republican challenger Matt DePerno for weeks ahead of the election, also won their races to continue in the positions for another four years.
In addition to the creation of the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission that oversaw the state’s redistricting process mandated by the 2020 census and ensured fairer legislative districts, a higher-than-average turnout from young and college voters in the state has also since been credited for Democrats’ numerous victories. At Grand Valley State University, hundreds of students utilized the university’s Allendale Satellite Clerk’s Office to vote and
FEB. 20
Vigil, rally held at GV following shooting at MSU BY AUDREY WHITAKER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
COMMUNITY: GVSU students pray in front of the Cook-Carillon Clock Tower on the GVSU Allendale Campus. Many people gathered in front of the clock tower to honor the victims of the shooting that occurred on Feb 13 at MSU. GVL | ELIZABETH SCHANZ
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 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, in-
cluding 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 referenced the shooting at Oxford High School, near Detroit, LOG ON TO:
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APRIL 10, 2023
A3 | NEWS
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
CONTENTS NEWS
| A2
OPINION
| A6
LAKER LIFE
| A8
ARTS
| A10
GRADUATION
| A12
FEATURE
| A28
SPORTS
| A32 VOL. 57
EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief MARY DUPUIS Associate Editor AUDREY WHITAKER Associate Editor JACOB KIRN
N O. 28
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
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JAN. 17
GV students respond to Ottawa County’s conservative changes BY PAYTON BRAZZIL NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
On Jan. 3, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners made several changes to the county’s leadership and implemented conservative messaging. Some of their initial actions include dissolving the county’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and changing their motto from “Where You Belong” to “Where Freedom Rings.” Eight of the 11 commissioners are backed by Ottawa Impact, a conservative political action committee that has been campaigning for these changes for two years. The newly-elected board members also voted to immediately replace multiple administrative leaders, such as the county’s top leader and health official. Ottawa County Administrator John Shay was fired and replaced by John Gibbs, who is the former acting assistant secretary under Donald Trump’s administration.
DISCOURSE: Changes made by the Ottawa County Commissioners have led to conversations in the local community and on GVSU’s campus about inclusion within the county. Many feel that the change in slogan can misrepresent the community as a whole and could potentially deter people from feeling welcome. GVL | MEGHAN TRIPP
In response to these sweeping changes, President Philomena Mantella issued a statement to the Grand Valley State University community via email addressing Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the recent removal of the county’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Mantella shared her concern about the efforts to dismantle
structures and support for equity and inclusion in Ottawa County. “Inclusion is critical to the economic and societal well-being of the region, and we will engage in discussions with local leaders and others to share this belief,” Mantella wrote. LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
APRIL 3
GV faces backlash for graduation celebrations, officials respond BY ELIZABETH SCHANZ NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
National news outlets including Fox News and the New York Post accused Grand Valley State University of “segregating graduation ceremonies by race.” These claims were sparked by conservative political commentator Matt Walsh. Host of “The Matt Walsh Podcast” and columnist for The Daily Wire, Walsh said in a tweet that GVSU was “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 officials said the ceremonies are a supplemental way to celebrate graduation outside of the commencement for the entire school. The university and students feel the claims and attention from national outlets undermine the purpose of the graduation celebrations. GVSU senior Ethan Carino is heavily involved in various cultural clubs on campus, such as the Asian Student Union, Filipino Club, the Filipino American Student Association and the Vietnamese Cultural Association. Carino is planning to go to the Asian graduation ceremony run by the Asian Student Achievement Program. He said the event is a great opportunity for
students to come together to celebrate graduates and their future goals. “It’s a way we can come together, celebrate our culture, celebrate our achievements,” Carino said. “The intent of this is to give these small groups a way to shine, to feel connected and just to celebrate things on their own time.” Carino said celebrations like these are important to make students feel welcome and connected to other people who share a similar background at a predominantly white university. He said these events do not take away from commencement, but help to celebrate individual experiences. Christopher Knape, director of communication for GVSU, said the spread of misinformation took the ceremonies out of context and created many false ideas about what graduation celebrations are. He said the celebrations are open to all people and supporters of the recognized groups are not segregated, as Walsh and the news outlets claimed. Knape said the individual graduation celebrations are not new or unique to GVSU, an example being the Lavender Ceremony honoring LGBTQ students, which was first held in 2007.
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CONTROVERSY: GVSU officials attribute much of the national backlash to misinformation spread by news outlets. Knape says he encourages people to look beyond headlines and to ask questions. He said this will help people understand the graduation ceremonies. GVL | ARCHIVES
A4 | NEWS
APRIL 10, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
AUG. 1
GV prepares for post-Roe return to campus BY GRACE SMITH NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturned the federal protection of nationwide abortion access college students across the country have attended political demonstrations, signed petitions or used their platforms to voice their opinions regarding the matter. Regardless of whether individuals found themselves mourning or celebrating the decision, many Americans found themselves experiencing a renewed sense of political activism. Grand Valley State University’s student groups in support of and against abortion rights are no exception. Although the university has not released an official position on the matter, this has not stopped groups on campus from advocating for either side of the issue. GVSU’s Gayle R. Davis Center for
Women and Gender Equity (CWGE), made clear their position on the matter following the ruling. “In the wake of this decision, the Center for Women and Gender Equity (CWGE) stands with the GVSU community during this challenging time and offers additional information,” CWGE wrote on their website. “Our office will always be a safe space for students, staff, faculty and the community to be heard and supported. Please reach out to our center for support should you need it during this time.” Leah Short, the Interim Associate Director and Violence Prevention and Education Coordinator of the CWGE, shared that one of the efforts to support students after the overturning of Roe V. Wade included holding a processing center. “We did hold a processing space a week after the overturning was announced,” Short said. “We partner
with the LGBT resource center (on campus), so there was a lot of solidarity messaging going on, kind of like, ‘How can we help you?’ So, we decided to do a processing space, where people can just come into the space and feel heard and supported.” Short also acts as the staff advisor for the Students for Choice organization on campus, and is attempting to direct the group to advocate for individuals from all walks of life this fall. “This is healthcare, and this is not just a cis person’s issue,” Short said. “This very much affects trans people, especially when we think of trans men. When we forget about people, or exclude them from our dialogue, it creates more division. We are so much more powerful when we work together.” LOG ON TO:
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POLICY: Since the initial overturning of Roe V. Wade, leaving abortion rights up to the states, Michigan has protected abortion rights in many ways. In November, voters voted in favor of Prop. 3 which would keep abortion legal. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed bipartisan legislation that repealed the state’s 1931 law that banned abortion without exemptions. GVL | MEGHAN TRIPP
FEB. 27
GV Board of Trustees meets for first time in 2023 BY JACK BLAKE AND ELIZABETH SCHANZ NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
PLANNING: The Board of Trustees discussed many goals for the future of Grand Valley State University. The plan outline proposed infrastructure changes to both the Allendale and Grand Rapids campus and expanding resources. GVL | BETHANN LONG
On Feb. 24, Grand Valley State University’s Board of Trustees (BOT), the body responsible for the governing and management of GVSU, held its first meeting of 2023. The meeting covered student employee wage concerns and ideas for improvements for the GVSU campus called the “Campus Master Plan” which outlines potential changes for both the Allendale and Pew campuses. Board of Trustees Vice Chair and member of the Finance and Audit Committee, Elizabeth Emmitt, detailed the “Campus Master Plan.” Emmitt said the plan reflects the university’s goals and provides a roadmap for its capital resources and any efforts in the future. Gregory Sanial, the vice president of finance and administration at GVSU, said the ideas as of now are to create new academic programs, replace older on-campus housing units and “reupholster” the life on campus through student life and commitment. One of the goals for the Allendale campus is to improve pedestrian areas. Additionally, they proposed making Campus Drive, the central road on campus, to be designated for pedestrian and bus traffic. Most car traffic
would be diverted to Laker Drive, located on the West side of campus. The plan includes a “phased replacement” of the original living centers on the Allendale campus built in the 1960s: Kistler, Robinson and Copeland. This replacement would make the facilities more modern. Similarly, there is a plan to renovate and expand Kirkhof Center and continue to enhance athletic facilities. The plan also includes many changes for the Pew Campus. Sanial said the board wants to create that “walking campus feel” that some argue the Pew Campus lacks. This would be done by creating more “green space,” student centers and a student store of some kind. Updating classrooms and technology is also a large goal in the plan. “What we are really looking to do is position the Pew Campus for innovation and digital learning,” Sanial said. One major project in the “Campus Master Plan” is the “Blue Dot” which would expand the facilities of the Eberhard Center located on the downtown campus. The Blue Dot is planned to include 3D fabrication labs, audio and visual production labs, research and design labs and community and study spaces for students. Similarly, there is a plan for changes to the Health Campus to improve upon the classrooms and technology for nursing and health sci-
ence curricula. Earlier this month, two new trustees were appointed by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Governor and were approved by the Senate. They were welcomed to their first meeting as GVSU BOT chairmen. The first new trustee, Ron Hall, is the CEO of Bridgewater Interiors, L.L.C., in Detroit. During his opening statements, Hall said he’s “thrilled to be appointed to the Board.” Executive Vice President of PADNOS and attorney, Shelley Padnos, is returning to the BOT after a hiatus, having previously served from 2007 to 2014. The board meeting opened with public comments from students. A member of GVSU Young Democratic Socialists of America, Owen Frassetto, said he thinks student employees should have higher wages and the “accommodations for student workers at Grand Valley are currently inadequate.” He said there are many policies in place for student workers which he feels show the university doesn’t advocate or care for the study body as well as it should. LOG ON TO:
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APRIL 10, 2023
A5 | NEWS
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS OCT. 17
GV alum reflects on vintage scene following recent business opening BY JACOB KIRN NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
In December 2019, Austyn Daggett graduated from Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. Three years later, he celebrated the grand opening of Betteraged, his vintage clothing shop near Grand Rapids’ Eastown district, joined by hundreds of eager customers. Daggett, 26, said that he had dreamed of opening his own shop for the last five years. “When I was in school, I would tell my professors about the idea. They would say stuff like ‘You know, online shopping is the new thing,’ or that a physical location would just die out. In the back of my head, I’m thinking, ‘I’m still going to open up a shop – no matter what.’” Opening a physical location in the age of same-day delivery could be considered a risky endeavor. However, while some saw a fading, congested market amidst more than 20 vintage, thrift and antique shops in Grand Rapids, Daggett saw a unique opportunity. “I think I was one of the first men’s-curated shops,” Daggett said.
Currently, a majority of his brickand-mortar competitors offer limited value for men, despite reports of a booming market for vintage menswear. Still, Daggett said, Betteraged has options for everyone. “While I don’t sell dresses, skirts or women’s-only items, it’s all pretty unisex. Everyone wears t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets – I think Grand Rapids was missing a store like this.” Since opening its doors in July 2022, Betteraged has enjoyed continuous success, thanks in part to an owner who lives and breathes all things vintage. When describing his hobbies, Daggett cited his collection of clothing, traveling to clothing events and learning about clothing history. In school, he used campus computers to print out shipping labels. “I paid my entire tuition with vintage,” Daggett said, crediting resale platforms such as eBay, Grailed and Depop. In recent years, a number of industry giants such as Gucci, Ralph Lauren and Burberry have partnered with said platforms to gain control over the “secondary” market. Sometimes referred to as “archival
GRAND RAPIDS: Daggett is able to apply his knowledge from his GVSU marketing degree to his work within his business. He is able to pursue his lifelong passion of selling vintage clothing by establishing a brick and mortar store within the community. GVL | JACOB KIRN
fashion,” this marketspace is synonymous with the sale of vintage clothing. At the same time, these companies run advertisements for what they describe as conscientious, environmentally sound partnerships and reimagined, circular economies, despite wasting around 715 gallons of water to make a single t-shirt. Although Betteraged’s Instagram mentions “sustainable fashion,” Daggett prefers to focus the bulk of his
messaging on the clothes. “When places really target their environmental efforts, it’s like, ‘Yeah, but you’re just using that for marketing,’” Daggett said. “I know that what I’m doing is a good thing, but I shouldn’t use that to sell clothes. It’s kind of fake, in a way.” LOG ON TO:
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JAN. 30
GV alumna becomes first Black woman to serve on MI Supreme Court BY PAYTON BRAZZIL NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Grand Valley State University alumni Kyra Harris Bolden to the Michigan Supreme Court, making her the first Black woman, and one of the youngest, to serve on Michigan’s highest court. Bolden graduated from GVSU in 2010, earning a bachelor’s degree in
psychology with a minor in English. Bolden said after touring the university, learning about smaller class sizes and eating a taco bowl from Fresh, her decision was made. “I came home from the tour, and I had applied to a ton of different colleges, but I told my mom that I’m going to Grand Valley and I did,” Bolden said. Bolden said she enjoyed her overall experience at GVSU, but especially enjoyed her involvement in her soror-
LANSING: Bolden attributes much of her success to the help she received from her mentors at GVSU who supported her dreams of being a practicing lawyer. She is intrinsically motivated by the opportunity to pursue justice and help the community. COURTESY | GVNEXT
ity, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc., in which she served as community service chair. One of her favorite memories was when her sorority collected cans and donated them to a women’s center. Bolden said she was thankful for the supportive professors at GVSU, including English Professor Kathleen Blumreich, who attended Bolden’s wedding. Bolden said Blumreich helped her personally and professionally. “There was a point when I didn’t know if I wanted to go to law school,” Bolden said. “There’s that conversation that you have to have with yourself, ‘Is this a good idea?’ And she was one of the people that really encouraged me to go to law school and pursue that.” After graduating from GVSU, Bolden earned her degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. “It was a very different experience, being in a busy metropolitan area versus a secluded campus,” Bolden said. “Both experiences were very different, but I think they were very good for the place that I was in life.” Bolden is also the only justice on the bench to have served as a state lawmaker. After UDM’s law school, she worked as a judicial law clerk, a civil litigation
attorney and worked on legislation reforming the criminal justice system. Bolden has always centered her career around justice due to experiences of injustice within her family history. “When I was at Grand Valley, I was fortunate enough to have my great-grandmother who told me about my great-grandfather, who was lynched in Tennessee in 1939,” Bolden said. “That turned my eye towards being in the justice system and going to law school. Even though that was the direction, of course, you lean on mentors and your family to help you to guide your career, so that’s where Kathleen Blumreich was very helpful.” Bolden knew she wanted to make the transition into the Michigan Supreme Court. When she decided to run for a justice position, Bolden was in her second trimester of pregnancy. “I didn’t want my daughter to ever look up at me and think that she prohibited me from an opportunity or that I didn’t do something because of her,” Bolden said. LOG ON TO:
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A6 | OPINIONS EDITORIAL JAN. 30
The balance between humans and technology exists on a fine line. Intelligence, whether organic or artificial, seems to be merging into one as the power of AI programs like ChatGPT comes to the forefront of discussion. Fear and concern around AI can come in many forms: taking human jobs, mimicking creative endeavors or eliminating the ways in which we synthesize information independently. There are some publications (e.g., CNET) already utilizing AI assistance to write articles. However, companies are unable to rely on this technology for 100% of the reporting, due in part to a number of errors in posts made by AI. With this technology still being fairly new, it’s impossible to cut out the human. If AI is going to be utilized full-scale, there needs to be a physical body to catch the mistakes. Other companies, like Buzzfeed, have announced plans to use this technology as well. The company will be partnering with ChatGPT to make content for its users, moving artificial intelligence into the core of its business model. However, Buzzfeed Co-Founder and Chief Executive Jonah Peretti warned that companies could use this for cost savings, publishing low-quality SEO articles just to get clicks. This will likely result in mass layoffs. However, we must view the benefits of AI as a tool that can assist humans, rather than an existential replacement of their minds, personalities and creativity. According to the Knight Foundation, AI has become an appealing resource in the journalism industry, helping to check gen-
GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON
1/30/23
APRIL 10, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
The Human Difference der and racial biases in stories, among other use cases. Using AI to template stories, transcribe interviews, automatically fact-check information and route engagement with social media users would reduce time spent on tasks that are tedious and costly for journalists and editors. Financial assistance in the newsroom from AI is an additional draw, as some major news companies are using synthetic systems to record and predict engagement among their audiences and create dynamic paywalls based on subscription predictions. According to journalism.co.uk, advances in text and image generation from artificial sources suggest that AI is becoming more accurate, reliable and creative. Still, pushing beyond the initial value of this technology and applying it towards the enhancement of human activity is a conscious choice that people must make daily. There is an irreplaceable value to what human emotion and intellect can offer to readers. As content consumers, we must obtain a new level of digital literacy, refusing to believe that everything created by AI is superior to the work of humans. AI will continue to expand, making its claim as a better, more intelligent alternative. However, its strengths come from those who use it; it is up to us to decide how and why we implement it into our lives, both personally and professionally. It is tempting to take the easy route - especially in a media landscape driven heavily by views, efficiency and profit maximization. In turn, we value quantity over quality; we become miniature content factories rather than experiencing and engaging deeply with information in the world around us.
In recent years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly prominent tool for journalists. As technology advances, the role of AI in journalism continues to evolve and expand, offering new opportunities for reporters to tell compelling stories and reach new audiences. But what exactly is AI, and how is it changing the world of journalism. AI refers to the development of computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way journalists gather and report the news, making it easier and faster to identify relevant information, analyze data, and generate content. One of the biggest advantages of AI in journalism is its ability to automate routine tasks, freeing up reporters to focus on more complex and creative work. For example, AI can be used to analyze large amounts of data, such as financial reports or public records, to identify trends, patterns, and connections that might not be immediately obvious to a human analyst. This type of analysis can be particularly useful in investigative journalism, helping reporters uncover stories that might otherwise go unnoticed. AI can also be used to generate news articles and reports, freeing up reporters from the time-consuming
By Abby Haywood
editorial@lanthorn.com
task of writing and editing. For example, AI can be trained to analyze large amounts of data and generate summaries or articles based on that information. While this type of content may not be as in-depth or nuanced as a piece written by a human journalist, it can still provide valuable information to readers, and it can be published quickly and inexpensively, making it a valuable tool for news organizations. Of course, there are also concerns about the potential for AI to undermine the role of journalists. Some worry that AI could lead to the production of low-quality, unreliable news, or that it could be used to spread misinformation or propaganda. In order to address these concerns, it is important for journalists and news organizations to be transparent about the use of AI and to ensure that the technology is used ethically and responsibly. In conclusion, AI has the potential to revolutionize journalism, offering new opportunities for reporters to gather and report the news in new and innovative ways. But as with any new technology, it is important to use AI responsibly and ethically, and to ensure that it serves the interests of the public and supports the important role that journalists play in society.
OPINION POLICY The goal of the Grand Valley Lanthorn’s opinion page is to act as a forum for public discussion, comment and criticism in the Grand Valley State University community. Student and columnist opinions published here do not necessarily reflect those of the paper as an entity. The Lanthorn strives to be a safe vehicle for community discussion. With this in mind, the Lanthorn will not publish or entertain any forms of hate speech, but neither will it discriminate against any other views, opinions or beliefs. The content, information and views expressed are not approved by-nor do they necessarily represent those of-the university or its Board of Trustees, officers, faculty or staff. Letter to the editor should
include the author’s full name, relevant title and a headshot, along with a valid email address and phone number for confirming the identity of the author. Letters should be approximately 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: 0051 KIRKHOF CENTER GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ALLENDALE, MI 49401 616-826-8276
APRIL 10, 2023
A7 | OPINIONS
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN By Donovan Lopez
GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON
EDITORIAL FEB. 20
What are we supposed to do?
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11/28/22
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Column: Awareness of world events matters as protests erupt in Iran
BY HOPE LEINEN JUNIOR BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE, ENGLISH EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
The women’s rights movement in Iran has surged to a whole new level since the death of Mahsa Amini. 22-year-old Iranian woman Mahsa Amini was arrested by morality police and sent to a “reeducation center” after wearing “inappropriate” attire on Sept. 13. The
circumstances for her “inappropriate” attire was too much hair protruding from her hijab. Amini died in a hospital in Tehran on Sept. 16. Police said that she collapsed from a heart attack while in custody; however, Amini’s family, witnesses and injuries report evidence that she was beaten. These sorts of targeted injustices have been prevalent in Iran for decades. Though the rules have changed over time, now allowing women’s hair to be visible, the country has required all women to wear hijab since 1983. This came following the 1979 Islamic Revolution when the new conservative ruler, Ayatollah Khomeini, made it compulsory in order to follow the teachings of the Quran. Even when it was first decreed, women took to the streets in protest and were met with violence.
Artists bring abortion rights to center stage
BY AYRON RUTAN SOPHOMORE MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM
In the wake of the United States Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade numerous artists across all areas of the musical landscape have voiced their support for women’s reproductive rights.
These verbal protests have come in the form of social media posts, interviews and, to the most controversy, live shows. The most notable of responses came in late June at Glastonbury, an annual music festival held in Somerset, England. During the festival, artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish and Pheobe Bridgers voiced their distaste for the court’s ruling onstage during each of their sets. Lamar graced fans with a fierce performance of “United In Grief,” a song about deep personal pain off of his long-awaited album “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers,” which was released in May to critical acclaim. At the track’s peak Lamar broke into a powerful chant, repeatedly rapping the
10/24/22
These women, who are protesting for rights that we take for granted every day in the U.S, are being arrested or murdered for their dissent against the Iranian government. Mahsa Amini wasn’t the first and certainly wasn’t the last to become a victim of this regime, as over 200 protestors have been killed since protests erupted in September. The women of Iran are fighting for something that we all desire and deserve: bodily autonomy. It’s important to note that this issue is not with Muslim culture or religious beliefs. This is about a woman’s right to govern their own bodies and practice their beliefs freely. LOG ON TO:
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8/1/22 phrase “Godspeed for women’s rights, they judge you, they judged Christ” before dropping the microphone and walking off-stage. Olivia Rodrigo had a less cryptic response, but it was just as powerful. During her set, the 19-year-old singer had choice words for the Supreme Court. “I’m devastated and terrified that so many women and so many girls are going to die because of this,” said Rodrigo. “I wanted to dedicate this next song to the five members of the Supreme Court who have showed us that at the end of the day, they truly don’t give a s*** about freedom.” LOG ON TO:
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Eight 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. Ar ielle Anders on, Alexandria Verner and Brian Fraser were the three students killed in the shooting on Mond ay n i g ht . Stu d e nt s John Hao, who is now p ar a l y z e d f rom t h e 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 prayers, calling 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). “Run, hide, fight,” is the course of action students are expected to take whenever a mass shooting occurs on campus as mandator y lockdown drills throughout primary and even secondary schooling have been the common theme in American school districts. Instead of focusing on their education and their social lives, students are also expected to live with the constant fear and anxiety of “this could be our school next.” However, the laws or restrictions of purchasing guns, more specifically semi-automatic rifles, have appeared to remain stagnant. Students, and even civilians, are far too desensitized to an American-based epidemic that lawmakers and politicians alike are seemingly brushing off with each instance. T he M SU sho ot ing hits far too close to home. How many more senseless acts of violence have to happen before a change is made? As college students, we grieve with our peers at MSU and anybody affected by a mass shooting. However, we’re angry, tired and confused at the fact that innocent lives are being lost in senseless acts of violence while seemingly nothing is done to stop it. As college students, we should not be expected to come up with the solution(s) to this prolonged issue. We need legislation and action, not just thoughts and prayers.
A8 | LAKER LIFE
APRIL 10, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE
OCT. 10
GV Renaissance Festival brings students to the past BY CLEMENCE DANIERE LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM
This past weekend Grand Valley State University held its yearly, and much anticipated, renaissance fair. The grassy area around the clock tower was overrun by tents and people who share their love for the event. Merchants, entertainers and visitors gathered to immerse themselves in the renaissance era for just a few days. This event, which was held by the GVSU Renaissance Festival Club, was the 26th annual festival. Throughout the club’s time, it has shrunk in size some years and grown in others, but the tradition of the festival has continued on despite attendance levels. This year, the club has about 20 active members, which allowed them to set up a sizable festival. Members of the club, merchants, entertainers and other event-goers were dressed up in renaissance clothing for the occasion. People sported armor, classic renaissance era dresses and corsets. Dressing the part is a big aspect of the renaissance festival and allows everyone to express themselves in a way they don’t usually get to on a day-to-day basis. “I am looking forward to the experience of being able to take on a different persona and put on a costume,” said Aaron Kumpula, a GVSU student and member of the Renaissance Festival Club. “It’s a cool way to immerse yourself in a different time period and it feels like you’re a part of something bigger.” The merchant director of the club created a space for vendors to set up
tents and sell merchandise related to the festival’s theme. Anything from clothing, to jewelry, to chainmail and leather goods were available for purchase. A museum was also set up which featured information about warriors from different time periods and locations around the world. Artifacts, such as swords and sickles, were put on display to educate visitors and emulate the weaponry that was used throughout the time periods. A merchandise tent, Oma’s Costume Closet, provided event-goers with clothing that fit in with the renaissance theme. Corsets, skirts, dresses and other accessories were available for purchase. Dark Goddess Leather Pleasures, a leatherworking and clothing merchant tent, was run by Diane Kowalski, a GVSU Alumni. Before her time as a merchant, she was involved in the Renaissance Festival Club from 1999 to 2003 as a student. After being involved in 23 fairs over the years, she has made her mark on the renaissance festival. “I stuck around and I help as a mentor or as a go-to person if they have questions or if they need anything,” Kowalski said. In addition to being a merchant, she has recently gotten involved with Her Majesty’s Royal Guard as a squire. This community goes through intense training to grow as a knight in a historically accurate way and put on shows as entertainment for attendees of the event. Marshal Hywel, a member of Her Majesty’s Royal Guard for 25 years and GVSU Alumni, was one of the original members of the GVSU Re-
FESTIVAL: The Grand Valley Renaissance Festival Club gathered this past October for their annual Renaissance festival. Attendees saw a knighting ceramony and fight. There was also hand-crafted gear made of metal and leather for purchase. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON
naissance Festival Club. Now, he comes back to the festival to perform combat with fellow knights. Each knight is protected with a hand-crafted and uniquely molded armor, which they learn to build and shape themselves. They are then equipped with a sword and battle one another in the arena that was set up in the middle of the tents. Attendees watched the show as sparks flew when swords collided with one another. Before this is possible for knights however, they spend their time as a squire learning to fight, crafting their own armor, choosing a persona and a
desired time period. “Part of their squirehood is making that armor, so they cold-steel hammer everything into place and just start building their armor on piece at a time painstakingly,” Hywel said. “It’s very customized to the person because if it doesn’t fit you exactly it hurts you very badly.” Later in the day on Saturday, a knighting ceremony was held where a squire of eight years was officially knighted, which is an event that only happens every few years. LOG ON TO:
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MARCH 20
GV professor sends a poem to space BY SABRINA RIHTARSHICH LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM
MOON: GV professor and former poet laureate Patricia Clark is sending her poetry into space to be stored on the moon in 2023. COURTESY | PATRICIA CLARK
Patricia Clark, a professor emerita of writing at Grand Valley State University and former poet laureate of Grand Rapids from 2005-2007, is having one of her poems sent to the moon in a time capsule as part of the Lunar Codex project sent by NASA. The time capsule is set to launch to the Moon’s Nobile Crater Nov. 2024. Clark said there were several editors for the project, each being assigned to particular continents so the program could include poems from around the world. The poem being sent to the moon, which is available on her website, is titled “Astronomy in Perfect Silence,” as
all poems in the time capsule had to be about the moon, the stars or the sun. When deciding what she wanted to write her poem about, Clark said she thought about her college experience, specifically about an introductory astronomy class she took that left a lasting impact on her. “I was always intrigued just why I had saved the textbook from that class as I moved around the country,” Clark said. “I got rid of other books. Why save a textbook from a science class? I never forgot the professor and I wanted to celebrate him in some way with this poem.” While the poem was inspired by her class, it ended up representing much more. “The poem is about the experience
of taking his class and also the comments he made about going out at night, looking up at the stars and reminding yourself about your own insignificance as a way of centering yourself,” Clark said. “It still makes sense to me.” Clark is one of 30,000 other artists with writing, music, art and books being sent to the moon in a Lunar Codex. “It’s amazing,” Clark said. “I would never have thought such an opportunity would come up. It took nearly a year for them to read all the poems and make their choices. I was thrilled to be the author of a poem they wanted to include.” The poem is also published in The Polaris Trilogy: Poems for the Moon available on Amazon.
APRIL 10, 2023
A9 | LAKER LIFE
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE MARCH 20
GV hosts Last Lecture event on campus BY ISABELLE ENGLAND LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM
Earlier this month, Grand Valley State University’s Student Senate held its annual Last Lecture event. This event gives professors an opportunity to talk about what inspired them to become a professor and continue their teaching careers at GVSU. The event showcased the ever-changing human culture at universities and highlighted the relationship professors have with their students and their field of study. This year, the professors nominated were Michelle Miller-Adams and Melba Velez-Ortiz, accompanied by her guide dog, Professor Chad. “Last Lecture is held at universities across the nation, inspired by a speech delivered in 2007 by a cancer-stricken Carnegie Mellon University professor Randy Pausch titled ‘The Last Lecture,’” said Lina Haas, vice president of educational affairs for the Student Senate. “It focused on celebrating the
life he had always dreamed of instead of concentrating on death. He died at age 47, almost a year after giving the speech. This event is a student nominated event where professors give what would be their last lecture.” First to take the stage was Miller-Adams, who has been teaching at GVSU for 17 years and previously worked as a senior researcher at the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. Her research consists of social policy issues and focuses on tuition-free college. She has also written three books. Miller-Adams teaches classes in poverty and inequality, in addition to senior seminars for Political Science and International Relations majors. She has a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a PhD in political science from Columbia University, as well as a master’s of international affairs, also from Columbia University. “My talk touches on a few themes – first, life is not what you expect it
SPEECH: The Last Lecture event is an opportunity for professors to share their experiences with the GVSU community. The event allows attendees to better connect with educators and to recognize how professors became professors. It allows professors to share more of their personal lives, struggles and interests with students. COURTESY | GVSU STUDENT SENATE
to be,” Miller-Adams said. “It’s fine to plan, but lots of things are out of our control, and seemingly random choices and events will shape your direction more than you might imagine. A second theme is how societal attitudes toward differences, including neurodiversity, have changed in my lifetime, in the direction of greater acceptance.
Throughout, I’ll be talking about my daughter, who has a disability. Accessing services on her behalf has given me a whole new level of insight into how our society approaches assistance for those in need.” LOG ON TO:
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NOV. 7
GV student broadens knowledge on healthcare in Italy BY MELIA WILLIAMS LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM
Many students choose to study abroad over the course of their time at Grand Valley State University. One student who took advantage of this opportunity is pre-physician assistant senior Lauren Carabio, who traveled to Milan last May for two weeks to shadow doctors in a hospital while being a part of a fellowship. This fellowship, Doctors in Italy, was a program established in 2018 with the intent for students from all over the world to learn from medical professionals with a hands-on shadowing experience in fields such as surgery, medicine, orthopedics, cardiology, oncology, pediatrics, emergency medicine and more. “Throughout the time that I was there, I was able to rotate amongst different specialties within the hospital,” Carabio said. “So I was assigned to emergency, ophthalmology, OBGYN and endocrinology.” With the healthcare systems being different in different countries, resources like these helped expose Carabio to different forms of healthcare. This sentiment is echoed by CEO and co-founder of Doctors in Italy, Nadia Neytcheva. “The European healthcare system is very interesting to someone who is not fa-
miliar with the concept of socialized medicine and leaning towards public health care and support for everyone,” Neytcheva said. Neytcheva also emphasized how students are shadowing in top-notch hospitals full of doctors that have the background and experience in different countries in both clinical and research settings. One of the biggest advantages to this fellowship is that students are fully immersed into what they could potentially be doing as a career. “They are really standing right next to the doctors, the nurses and the medical professionals,” Neytcheva said. “So they get to experience what a day in the life of these doctors is and how medicine is practiced in a different healthcare environment.” Prior to this experience, Carabio had never traveled alone or out of the country. She said taking part in this fellowship has given her a much broader cultural perspective. “Every aspect of Europe and Italy, in general, is so different from the US, especially comparing the healthcare systems,” Carabio said. This program specifically places students with doctors or residents in Italy that speak English, however there can be a language barrier in some cases. “The language barrier was tough at times, but I feel like some words are very similar and also with just like, manner-
EDUCATION: Fellowship opportunities allow students to get hands-on experiences that can expose new ways of working in a particular field or area of study. Additionally, international fellowships allow students learn about different cultures. COURTESY | MARTINA CONTE
isms and body language, you were able to pick up on what they were saying,” Carabio said. “For the most part, I was able to communicate effectively both with the patient and the doctor.” If students are interested in this program but are worried about the cost there are scholarships and financial aid available. “We also do have some scholarships in term for students who are worried of not being able to afford it because we found a few scholarships for every program to make sure that we give access also to students who have financial needs and support,” Neytcheva said. Applications for this program are always available on a rolling basis at shadow.
doctorsinitaly.com. Spots are filled based on the availability of the programs. “We have programs running during the summer and winter and we also have some special programs throughout the year,” Neytcheva said. “We also have a new program for future veterinarians.” The experience as a whole is beneficial to students in terms of exposure to new cultures and pushing them outside of their comfort zone. “I definitely think it’s a phenomenal program,” Carabio said. “It definitely changed my life, so I definitely would encourage students to seek out studying abroad.”
A10 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
APRIL 10, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
@GVLARTS
NOV. 14
Professional dance company performs and teaches at GV BY ALLISON BAIR ARTS@LANTHORN.COM
As a part of the Grand Valley State University Arts Celebration, South Chicago Dance Theatre (SCDT), a professional dance company, performed their show titled “Energy | Power | Grace” at the Haas Center for Performing Arts. In addition to her company’s performance, Executive Artistic Director of SCDT Kia Smith taught classes for the GVSU dance program students and hosted an audition for spots in her company. Smith began her dance career at age 16, later than most professionals do. She said ever since she was a kid, she was drawn to dance and knew she wanted to have a dance company. Smith pursued her dance journey and attended Western Michigan University where she obtained her BFA in dance. Later, Smith founded her dance company in 2017 while working towards her Master’s degree. “I knew I wanted to call my company ‘South Chicago Dance Theatre’ for a long time because my company has a long history on the south side (of Chicago),” Smith said. “My family came to the south side of Chicago during the Great Migration, so my family has been here for a long time so I just feel very tied to it.” SCDT is in their 6th season as a company and Smith emphasizes that she has barely “scratched the surface” of where they hope to go and what the
future holds for the company. Smith said SCDT is very diverse and that she looks to find the best dancers she can get. She values each dancer’s professional artistic freedom rather than having all over her dancers look the same in both appearance and dance style. SCDT’s work emphasizes community both within company and the surrounding area. The company aims to build relationships and uplift one another. “We do work locally and internationally and I think it’s kind of the same thing,” Smith said. “We worked in different countries, and yes, we go there to dance, but we really go to build community with people and to get to know people and spend time with them and to just bring light wherever we go.” SCDT brought 12 dancers to perform at GVSU on Monday, Nov. 7. The performance consisted of one contemporary ballet piece, one contemporary piece and two jazz pieces. “The company had not only an incredible performance, but a very versatile one as well,” said senior dance major Megan Vernier. Additionally, Smith taught six different classes during her time at GVSU including ballet, modern and choreography. Smith also held her company auditions on Friday, and approximately 50 dance students auditioned. The GVSU dance curriculum coordinator, professor and event coordina-
EXPERIENCE: Dance program students were able to learn from the SCDT artistic director and audition for future positions within the company. COURTESY | GVSU DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC, THEATRE AND DANCE
tor Carrie Brueck Morris wanted to bring Smith in to work with students and chose to reach out to Smith after attending a concert in which SCDT performed. Smith accepted the invitation to come to GVSU almost immediately. “I think it’s important for our dancers to see professional companies and really consider both what it takes to be at that caliber and also the opportunities that are out there in the professional concert dance world,” Morris said. Morris said that Smith brought
new energy to the classroom. She emphasized that this offered a “refreshing” change of pace for students. “Kia’s class was incredibly fast-paced and kept us moving the whole time,” Vernier said. “Class was a breath of fresh air and included some things I have never done or have not done in a while.” LOG ON TO:
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JAN. 30
Barrier-breaking art exhibit opens on campus BY HAILEY HENTZ ARTS@LANTHORN.COM
INJUSTICE: GV Alumni and Muse GR created art installations commenting on social and racial issues in various artistic genres, speaking to larger conversations of change. GVL | BETHANN LONG
“Convergence: Cracks in the Glass Ceiling,” is an exhibit on display in the Haas Center for Performing Arts at Grand Valley State University that encourages students to push boundaries and engage in the conversation of racial injustice. It is co-curated by Muse GR, an art gallery in Grand Rapids that fosters an inclusive and passionate creative space. The display includes the work of eleven artists, including Grand Valley State University alumni. They use a wide range of media and styles to create a vibrant portrayal of art and culture. The contemporary art in the exhibition fuses together pop, street and graffiti, fiber and urban genres in its presentation. According to a learning guide provided to visitors by the GVSU Art Gallery, “Artists in this exhibition engage directly and indirectly with social and racial justice and economic issues. Stylistically, their works embody both joy and anxiety,
while embracing the angst and excitement of living in 21st-century America.” The artists come from various locations such as Detroit, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and London to piece together a narrative of experiences and community. Three themes prevalent throughout the exhibition are “Breaking Barriers,” “Pushing Boundaries” and “Activism in Art.” “Some artists were connected through working together for years. 3-4 artists we have been art friends with, sometimes collaborating and the remainder were sought out after we admired their work,” said Muse GR co-creator Stephen Smith. Smith is a GVSU alum and teaches as an adjunct professor. “We like working with what we call “neo-artists,” or new artists to help them get their start,” Smith said. “We also cultivate talent and skills in people interested in art by providing classes and workshops.” The GVSU Art Gallery describes inspirations of the exhibit drawing from trailblazing artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and David Hammons. Com-
bining their contribution to culture with the evolving field of pop art creates a colorful and thought-provoking perspective represented in the galleries. “Of course the Picassos, the Van Goghs, we all know those,” said Andre Ray, an artist in the exhibition. “When I was younger, I didn’t know that there were people doing what I like on a high level.” The artists featured in the exhibition are breaking the barriers between art styles, using the result to reflect on injustice in society and representation in the art world. According to the gallery’s learning guide, “91.7% of North American artists in museum collections born after 1944 are white.” “We’re breaking that barrier of what is fine art versus street art,” said GVSU illustration alum Jasmine Bruce. “One of the pieces I created was (from) when I was attending Grand Valley.” LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
APRIL 10, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS
A11 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
MARCH 27
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 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 said 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, “Declonzing 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. “These two chapters work well to-
gether to first provide context for understanding how race operates in a place like the United States or even Canada and then chapter three is how racial structures get embedded within design, excluding certain bodies,” Tunstall said. Tunstall identifies a hierarchy of design as a stepping block for other indigenous forms of art and design. She said she feels this type of art gets less exposure and respect than European or Japanese art. “We normally refer to the story of design as something that happened in 1800’s Europe and everything else is craft or whatever else,” Tunstall said. Tunstall got into art and design because of how the space broadens the mind and can adjust how people think. “Art and design broadens the imaginations of people, therefore expanding what is possible,” Tunstall said. “Art focuses in some ways on asking difficult questions about who we are and how we engage in this world. That process of expansion and possibility is the joy that art and design brings.” Students had positive reactions to the conversation that Tunstall had offered, highlighting her enthusiasm and in-depth research on the topic.
DECOLONIZATION: VMA students broadened their bias awareness through discussions of racial operations and cultural exposure in design with visiting speaker Dori Tunstall. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON
MARCH 20
Ignite Dance Co. wins GV’s Got Talent
BY HAILEY HENTZ ARTS@LANTHORN.COM
“GV’s Got Talent,” put on by the Campus Activities Board (CAB), is an event where students can show off their talents for an opportunity to win first, second or third place, receiving cash prizes. The winner of the competition is awarded the opportunity to be the opening act for CAB’s spring concert. This year, the event was held on March 15. “GV’s Got Talent is an opportunity for GVSU students to showcase their talents, whether it is singing, dancing, poetry, comedy, playing an instrument,” said CAB member Chad Novak. Novak helped to plan and set up GV’s Got Talent. He said it took CAB around a month to prepare for the talent show. “About a month out, we host auditions and do logistical work for preparing for the talent show – reserving rooms and equipment, purchasing supplies, reaching out to judges, putting in promotions requests for graphics and photo and video coverage,” Novak said. “The day of, we start to set up five hours before the event. We set up the stage, chairs, balloon arch, decorations, etc. Three hours before the show, we have
rehearsal for the performers.” The first-place winner of GV’s Got Talent was Ignite Dance Co. The group is now the opening act for GVSU’s spring concert, the headlining performer is American rapper and producer T-Pain. Ignite Dance Co. is a recreational commercial dance team at Grand Valley State University. Ignite specializes in Jazz Funk, Heels and Hip Hop. They are led by GVSU sophomore Andre Glover, who’s the president, head choreographer and founder of the club. Glover said opening for T-Pain will give Ignite Dance Co. the opportunity to gain the recognition they’ve been working towards. “It felt amazing to win the talent show, the whole team has been working really hard this semester and to see the hard work pay off is an undeniable feeling,” Glover said. “We are super excited to be the opener for T-Pain and we are very thankful and honored to be a part of something this huge, we will cherish this forever.” Last year’s spring concert performer was Yung Gravy, the opening act a DJ who goes by the name Ederz. Ederz has been a DJ for eight years now, working many jobs at clubs as well as opening concerts. Ederz said
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: In the first year of student organization Ignite Dance Co, Andre Glover, Kynndel Johnson and Brooklyn Smithers danced to first place in GV’s talent contest. COURTESY | CAMPUS ACTIVITIES BOARD
he is thankful for the opportunity to open for a big artist at the 2022 GV spring concert as a smaller DJ. “Finding out I was opening for Yung Gravy was unreal and amazing,” Ederz said. “An absolutely incredible experience.” Ederz said there were many benefits for performing as the opening act at such a large campus event. “(Opening the concert) definitely gave me a little boost on the social platforms,”
Ederz said. “You build a little credit by opening for someone as big as Yung Gravy, which is awesome when you are trying to pursue more opportunities as a DJ.” These opportunities for GVSU students are opening up a wider path for any Lakers’ future career. The spring concert is coming April 1, 2023. For more information, those interested can visit the GVSU Campus Activities Board website under “Spring Concert.”
A12 | GRADUATION
A13 | GRADUATION
Congratulations To the The Graduating class of 2023!
Ashley Teltow We are so incredibly proud of you! The best is yet to come! We love you! Mom, Dad, Matthew and Lauren
A14| GRADUATION Aaron McNair
Abagail Boyd
Congratulations Aaron! What an outstanding accomplishment, all your hard work paid off! We are SO proud of you! May God guide and bless your next chapter.
Our sweet sassy Abby Shay. We are so proud of you and can wait to see where you will go next. We love you more than the most. Love, BAGDM
Love, Mom and Dad
Alexa Morello
Anthony Steenbeke Anthony Steenback
Alexa Morello, Congratulations to you Alexa, in attaining a Bachelors of Science Degree! We are all so proud of your high academic achievements and your dedication as a student athlete. Your determination, effort and relentless spirit has allowed you to excel both in the classroom and to have been part of Grand Valley's 2021 women's soccer national championship team.
Congratulations! We are so proud of you! Love, Mom, Dad, Sarah and Troy.
Amy Garcia Congratulations Daughter!! We are so proud of your great achievement, we love you Amy! Always Forward!! God Bless!! Love Dad,Mom and Bobby
Continue to aspire to achieve your dreams. There is no limit to your potential. Love, Dad, Mom, Gabrielle, Dominic, Grandpa Jerry, Grandma Helen, Nana and Papa
INTRODUCING AMY GARCIA YAY !!
A15 | GRADUATION Brett Wallace Congratulations Brett. We are so very proud of you. Your dedication, hard work, and perserverance has paid off. Grandpa is smiling down on you! All our love, Mom, Dad, and family.
Brendan Beauchamp Brendan: "An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest" Benjamin Franklin You have been given many great opportunities in your undergraduate and graduate studies at GVSU and you have truly mastered them. Highlights include publishing several academic papers, representing GVSU at the IEEE convention and earning a best paper award, President of the Biomedical Engineering Club, and the honor of speaking at commencements. We are so very proud and happy for you! You never stopped dreaming big, Congratulations on this big day! Love Mom & Dad
Brendon Steinbrecher Congratulations, Brendon! We are so proud of you, of all your hard work, and of the young man you have become! Love, Mom and Dad
Caroline O’Grady Congratulations Caroline! We are so proud of you! You overcame the obstacles in your path to achieve your goals. We appreciate your efforts and dedication to reach this goal. You can accomplish anything you set your mind to and do it with a smile on your face. We look forward to your next endeavor. Love you bunches, Your family and friends. Mom, Dad, Patrick, Grandma, Grandpa, Mema, Bot and your aunts, uncles and cousins.
A16 | GRADUATION Deja Shipp Congratulations Deja, We are so proud of you completing your journey at Grand Valley State University! We wish you so much happiness and success for the future! Love, Dad and Mom
Chloe Nicholas
Daniel Mondejar Daniel Mondejar
Mart, Congratulations! I am so proud of you! -Nanay (Philippines)
Daniel Mondejar
Daniel Mondejar
Proud of You Manong Mart! CONGRATS! From MATTY Chloe Mae Nicholas, we are so proud of you! All of your hard work and perseverance has led you to this proud moment! Your bachelors degree in Clinical Exercise Science from Grand Valley State University has prepared you for your next chapter! The children that you work with every day are fortunate to have you! Great job (especially while planning your wedding at the same time)! Love, Mom, Kevin, and Carly
Congratulations! Follow your dreams! - Mom
Elizabeth (Liz) Francis Congratulations Liz on your Graduation! You are starting your new career of Cell Molecular Biology. You've got this! We are very proud of you. Love you, Mom, Dad, and David
Ella Beringer When people say you'll do great things, take it in, then just....BE. Happy, healthy, secure, yourSELF. And everything will work out beautifully. Proud of you, Love you, Mom, Dad,Tyler
A17 | GRADUATION Ella Nauta Congratulations, Ella! All of your hard work & dedication paid off and we couldn't be more proud of you. We love you! Mom & Dad
Emily Hockemeyer Congratulations Emily!!! You did it!! The world is blessed to have a social worker with your heart and drive to find empowerment and dignity for all people. Love Mom & Dad
Eva VanWyck A rare combination of intelligence and humor drives your adventurous spirit. Never stop exploring and learning. Congratulations Eva Marie VanWyck, we are immensely proud of the woman you have become.
Ezra Roerig Ezra, Congratulations on your graduation from GVSU! We are so proud of all your hard work. We can’t wait to see what the future brings! Love, Mom, Dad & Lorenzo
Eric Stallmann Congratulations on your Bachelors in Exercise Science. Your future is wide open, with many opportunities now waiting for you. May God's love and guidance be with you. Love, Mom and Dad
Erin Magennis Congratulations, Erin! You've worked hard over the years and it shows. We're proud of you and can't wait to see what happens next. Love, Mom & Dad
Gabe Watson Congratulations Gabe! You did it! 5 and out with a Masters! What an accomplishment. Mom, Ava and Dad are super proud of you and you should be too! We Love You!
Hannah Ruff Congratulations Hannah, We are so proud of you and your accomplishments. Your dedication, perseverance, hard work and caring spirit have paid off. Follow all your dreams. Much Love, Nono and Poppy
A18 | GRADUATION Helena Hansen
Holden Green Holden, We’re so proud of you and how far you’ve come. We’re impressed with your hard work and persistence to earn your degrees. We’re so excited to see where you’ll go from here. Wishing you all the best!
Congratulations Lanie! We are so proud of you and your achievements! Let your creativity and perseverance help paint your bright future We love you so much!
Imani Lee Imani, We are So Proud of you, and are truly honored to Celebrate graduation day with you! You are a Star in the making! The most Beautiful thing about Learning is that No one can take it away from you.
Once you leave, don't forget why you came. Go CONFIDENTLY in the direction of your dreams, & live the life you have imagined! The most rewarding things in life are often the ones that look like they cannot be done. WE LOVE YOU IMANI! LOVE: YOUR MOTHER,JAYDEN, JORDEN & JAIDA!
Love, Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa
Izzat Fesseha Teklu Zatiye, our precious son, you did it! Congratulations! We are so proud of you. May the Lord continue to be your guide in all that you do. Love Shaye & Fesh
Jacob Brownell Congratulations buddy, you've made it to the playing field. Proud of you, love mom Congratulations Jake on your graduation. Time for your next chapter of life, proud of you. love dad
A19 | GRADUATION Jada Jennings
James Herrick
Jada we are beyond proud of YOU! Your graduation is a testament to all of your hard work, dedication and commitment. Keep learning, growing and chasing your dreams.
Congratulations James on your accomplishments. We are very proud of you, Mom, Devin, Grandma, and Grandpa
Love, Mom Dad
Jalen Kyles Jalen you did an amazing job both academically and as a student athlete. Continue to follow the dream that is right for you. Love Mom, Dad and Breanna.
Isabelle Beeker
Joseph Ohaeche With great delight, we announce the graduation of Joseph Ohaeche an international student from Lagos - Nigeria, who recently received his master's degree in Cybersecurity from Grand Valley State University.
Jenna Willis
It is with great pride and pleasure that we announce the graduation of our daughter, Isabelle Beeker, from the Grand Valley State University School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies with a Master of Science in criminal justice degree.
Here’s to all the late nights spent in the library. Your hard work has paid off! Congratulations, we are so proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished.
Love Mom, Dad, Kelly and Madison Isabelle is a graduate of Lakeland High School and holds a BS in Criminology from Butler University.
A20 | GRADUATION Julia Janicek Congratulations on your accomplishments! Your future in speech pathology is bright! All of our love and support as you continue your education at Elmhurst University!
Kajene Thompson Kajene Thompson Kaje, We are so proud of you!
Mom, Dad, Bradley, & Pebbles
Justin Arambasich Justin, I want to express how incredibly proud I am. Your hard work, determination, and dedication have paid off, and I couldn't be happier for you. I've always believed in you and your ability to achieve great things. Seeing you reach this milestone is a moment of joy and pride for me. Know that I love you and support you. I have no doubt you will continue to do amazing things and make a positive impact on the world around you. I can't wait to see what the future holds for you. Love always, Mom
Katie Solomons Katie, How blessed we are to have seen you grow from a beautiful baby to an awesome young woman...you bring such joy. How proud we are of you and all your accomplishments. Congratulations! We love you very much! Your Pap will be watching over you. Love, Nana
Katie, We are so proud of you and what you have accomplished! You have such a big heart always having time for family and friends. We love you to the moon and back! Congratulations! Love, Mom and Dad
A21 | GRADUATION Katie Reed
Katie Reed Congratulations, Katie, on earning your Doctorate in Physical Therapy! We are so proud of you. Your intelligence, dedication, and caring will take you far! Love, Mom, Dad & Justin
Kimberley Quinn Anchor up LAKER ! Off to your next adventure . We are so absolutely proud of you and can't wait to see everything you do. LOVE ALWAYS, Your FAMILY.
Logan Schumacher Congratulations, Logan! Four years of hard work to achieve this accomplishment. We are so incredibly proud of you. We love you and wish you the best. YOU DID IT!
Maddison Jane Medler Congratulations, Maddison Jane Medler! Your determination and hard work paid off. We are so proud of you! Now off to PA graduate school. Love, Mom, Dad, Taven, Rowen, Nana, Bumpa
Madison Raymond Madison Ann Raymond, Congratulations, You have worked so hard for this day. We are so proud of you! Love, Mom and Dad
Madison Szczepanski Congratulations Madison!! We couldn’t be more proud of you!! You will always have our unconditional love and support!! We love you tons!! Love, Mom, Brian, Grandma, Ella, and Brady
Makayla Nadeau Today is your day! You have fought hard and persevered every step of the way. We couldn't be more proud of you! Love you, Dad, Mom Chloe, and Ryder.
Megan Addis Congratulations Megan on your college graduation! We are so proud of you for this great achievement and excited to see what you accomplish in the future! Love, Mom and Dad
A22 | GRADUATION Micheal Edwards Michael, because your dreams are realistic and you work hard for them, they will come true. I can't wait to see what your next chapter reveals. I love you, Mom
Patrick Ayala On your first birthday, you were ready to conquer the world and all throughout the years, you had proven that there was nothing you couldn't achieve. Now you are a college graduate with a promising future and we know you will succeed in life in whatever you do.
Morgan Johnston You have always reached for the stars and now you are soaring among them! So proud of all you have accomplished - never stop reaching! Love Dad & Mom
Nick Stevenson We are so proud and excited to see where your path and journey leads you. We know it will be magnificent. Be The Change. We love you, Mom, Brooke, and Landon
Riley Snider WE ARE PROUD OF YOU! Your grandma and grandpa want you to know that they are so proud of you and love you dearly. Congratulations Patrick on graduating from GVSU class of 2023. YOU DID IT!!! Love: Mom, Dad, Kelly, Grandma, and Grandpa
Riley, our son, congratulations on your accomplishment of achieving your degree! We love you and are so proud of you! You are a great leader and a better son! Congratulations!
Samantha Hockey We watched you work so hard for this, all through some pretty big life changes. Congratulations on your incredible achievements, we're so very proud of you! Love, Mom & Michael
A23 | GRADUATION Kasey Kanka
Trenton & Emily Priester
Congratulations to our Fearless & Artistic Kasey! We’re all so very proud of you! What an accomplishment! You did it! We can’t wait to see the Fantastic things you will do in life! We love you so much!
Congratualtions to our amazing Irish Twins on the completion of your Bachelors Degrees! Words cannot express just how PROUD we are of you both! Love, Dad, Mom, Hana & Brady
Samantha Slezak Congratulations, Sami! To say we are proud of you would be an understatement! Your creativity shines through in all you do, and touches people. Your hard work and remarkable work ethic will open doors and
Love, Bran, Mom, Bree, Parker & Presley
Danson William Francis Congratulations Danson, We are so proud of you as an amazing young man. We have watched you grow from day one, and look at you now! All of your hard work and dedication will carry you to the bright future you deserve. God's love and blessing always.
Mom, Grandma, Grandpa, Dad, and the entire family.
countless opportunities for you. We can't wait to see what the future holds for you and are honored to be on this journey with you! Lots of love and best wishes for you on this incredible day! Love, Mom, Joey, Kaila, Nala and Jeter
v
A24 | GRADUATION
Congratulations To Our Graduating Staff!
Chris McConnell
Christopher McConnell – graphic designer extraordinaire! Chris leaves a legacy of several polished creative works from posters to housing guides to client ads. He impacted both the advertising and public relations departments during his time at the Lanthorn. (He even designed the buttons for prize wheel giveaways.) When he’s not doing the heavy lifting on the Lanthorn’s creative designs, you’ll find him pumping iron at the local gym. Chris, the entire Lanthorn business team wishes you the best in the future now that you have reached the finish line in your GVSU undergraduate studies!
Grace O’Brien
Grace O'Brien, Promotions Manager at Grand Valley University's school news, the Lanthorn. She demonstrates exceptional talent in event management and content creation. She ensured that Lanthorn was present at every key moment in students' lives, from Student Nightlife to football and basketball games, and even commencement. Her commitment to building meaningful relationships and expanding horizons made her an outstanding member.
A25 | GRADUATION Anthony Clark Jr.
Audrey Whitaker
Anthony Clark Jr. began his time at the Lanthorn as a news reporter in January of 2022 and would be promoted to Sports Editor later that April. Since then, the opportunity to be at the forefront of this publication’s sports section covering nationally-renowned teams and clubs exceeded his expectations in all areas. He hopes to continue his passion of sports journalism and broadcasting at the collegiate and professional levels.
Donovan Lopez
Donovan Lopez is a graduating senior in the Graphic Design program. When he wasn’t working on a project, he was at the Lanthorn where he laid out the paper weekly. His time there was amazing- this is mostly due to the wonderful friends he made who always found ways to make work fun and ensured every Sunday was a highlight of his week.
James Herrick
James began working for the Lanthorn in the Fall of sports section. In his time as a variety of sports including Women’s Lacrosse, Swim and Dive, Track and Field, Tennis, and much more. For the 2022-23 school year, James became the Lanthorn’s Multimedia Editor. In that role, James hosted the Lanthorn Loop podcast and worked in social media. Overall, in his time with the Lanthorn, James worked to share the stories of interesting and intriguing students at GVSU through writing and podcasting.
A26 | GRADUATION Margo Dzurko
Morgan Johnston
Margo started as the advertising manager in her senior year, and has since grown the Lanthorns advertising space drastically. She works hard to meet all client needs and expectations, and has an amazing work ethic. Margo always has a positive attitude and brightens the day of anyone she talks to. The Lanthorn will miss her tremendously.
Jacob Kirn
Madelyn Diegel
Maddy, thanks for your hard work this year, and good luck as you move into your post grad career. We know you will do great things!
A27 | GRADUATION Meghan Landgren
Sabrina Edwards
Meghan has been with the Lanthorn since 2019 then, she’s been our photo editor and has loved every second of it. Meghan will miss the fun dynamic of working at the Lanthorn, but will cherish the friends and memories made in the
Mary Dupuis
Mary began her time with the Lanthorn at GVSU her freshman year Arts and Entertainment Section. Since then, she has been the Arts and Entertainment Editor, the News Editor and is closing out her time with the paper and with GVSU as the Editor-in-Chief. She is proud of all of her work with the Lanthorn and excited to continue on in her future endeavors.
Zach Plisko
Zachary Plisko was a student who explored many avenues of multimedia and wasn’t afraid to try new things. Any time a new project was given, he took time to learn while applying his own creativity. For the Lanthorn, he helped update the social media pages with new graphics and animated videos. His various experiences will allow for future success.
OCTOBER 26, 2022 APRIL 10, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE @GVLLAKERLIFE
A28&29 A6&7| |LAKER LAKER LIFE LIFE
GV CELEBRATES HOMECOMING WITH A WEEK OF SPIRITED EVENTS BY MELIA WILLIAMS LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM
This past week Grand Valley State University prepared for its homecoming game against Northern Michigan University (NMU). There were a variety of events to help increase school spirit for the game at the conclusion of the week led by the Campus Activities Board (CAB). “Some of the events are traditional events like the pep rally, but we also tried to come up with some additional activities to introduce the whole Homecoming court,” said Katie Garrett, the programming coordinator for CAB. Homecoming week kicked off with a lip sync battle in the Fieldhouse Arena. The five different teams that competed were from various sorority and fraternity organizations along with some others, like the hockey team. Every year this battle has a theme announced a week in advance that the teams must follow. This year, it was “Y2K” or “Year 2000.” Each team choreographed a dance and lip-synced to a song that came out in the 2000s. In between performances, the host of the event, Bridie Tolley, had the Homecoming court come to the stage so she could ask the crowd silly questions. “If you were a kitchen utensil, what would it be and why?” Tolley said. Each member of the court gave entertaining answers that had the crowd laughing. “I would be a fork, because everyone needs a fork,” said senior court member Nieya Thompson. In addition to each organization, both the Laker Dance Team and the Move to the Beat hip-hop dance club got the opportunity to perform at the event. After the performances, winners were given awards which
were given to all teams ranking from first to fourth place. In fourth place were Sigma Kappa and Sigma Pi, Tri Sigma Pi Kap took third, Delta Zeta took second and the reigning champs of the lip sync battle Phi Mu and the hockey team pulled off another win. The Homecoming week continued into Monday with pumpkin painting. With 100 pumpkins available to students in attendance on a first come first serve basis. This event had a large turnout, filling multiple rooms in the Kirkhof Center. “I wanted to attend because it’s something creative and I figured since our room doesn’t have many decorations that this was the perfect opportunity to get a fall decoration,” said GVSU student Cameron Layson. CAB went through supplies quickly as many students turned up to paint their own pumpkins. Tuesday started off with the car decorating to help students show their school spirit. Students could pick up supplies from the office of student life to get started. Unfortunately, there were not many students who participated due to inclement weather. Of those that did participate, the whole Homecoming court painted cars and students got to vote for their favorite on the CAB Instagram page. Tuesday evening concluded with the annual GVSU Homecoming pep rally in the Kirkhof center lobby. The first 100 attendees of the event got the chance to receive a limited edition GVSU Homecoming t-shirt. Apple cider and donuts were available while supplies lasted. As students entered the Kirkhof lobby, the GVSU cheerleaders and Laker Dance Team lined the building from door to door, performing with the band. Multiple songs were played, including the GVSU fight song. When the band was done performing, each Homecoming court member got
an opportunity to say what they loved most about Homecoming week. “I love the unity; being able to make connections with old and new people,” said senior court member Sierra Gulli. Head coach of the GVSU football team Matt Mitchell then went on stage to thank the band, cheerleaders and the crowd. “We have one of the best crowds in the country,” Mitchell said, on the crowd support at football games this season. It was highlighted at the event that the football team has had a good season thus far, including beating Ferris State University for the first time in eight years. Going into Homecoming undefeated made GVSU a likely candidate for the playoffs. “We hope that you stick with us, we have a long season ahead of us,” said quarterback Cade Peterson. Starting off early Wednesday morning CAB set up a campus-wide scavenger hunt across the Allendale campus. Students could look for small cardboard boxes placed at random spots around campus. In the box was a number that students could take back to the office of student life in order to claim a prize. All day students poured into the office one by one to claim their prizes which ranged from mini fans to small fall decorations. The football team capped off a successful Homecoming week with their victory over NMU, 56 to 3 on Saturday.
APRIL 10, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS
A30&31 | NEWS
In s pi re d by legislation int ro duce d by Grand Valley State University’s Student Senate as well as conversations among friends and peers, GVSU’s Young Democratic Socialists for America (YDSA) chapter launched a petition to raise wages for student employees. The petition calls on the GVSU Board of Trustees to “increase student wages per department, remove the current wage rate classification system” and conduct a labor market analysis to “determine the floor of student wages.” In addition to collecting signatures, the petition calls on students to email the GVSU Board of Trustees with their demands. Launched less than two weeks ago, the petition now has over 300 signatures. YDSA President Foster Thorburn said that in addition to flyers and signs around campus and posting on social media, the club collected signatures at the clocktower over the course of three days. Thorburn said he is encouraged by the number of signatures and support for the petition he has seen on campus thus far. He surmised that many GVSU students, regardless of their feelings towards YDSA or the university, care about student wages. “If we just have a sign that says, ‘raise student wages petition,’ people will stop and sign that,” Thorburn said. Assistant Director of Student Employment Katelyn Johnson said GVSU employs over 3,000 students over the course of the academic year. Being former GVSU student employee and now working for the university full time, Johnson said she recognizes how important student employees are. “I can guarantee there’s no way the university could run without our student employees,” Johnson said. “They’re the best people to help other fellow students on campus because they know exactly where the buildings are, they know what that student is experiencing and they know what’s going on in BY AUDREY WHITAKER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
their student life and they can really relate to them.” Currently, GVSU student employee salaries are based on a classification scale. The scale ranks pay by the difficulty and supervision required for different roles, and students may earn anywhere from $9.87 per hour to $17.47, with a $0.23 raise for all positions scheduled for the winter 2023 semester. “(State) minimum wage is the lowest we pay students on campus, but we always encourage supervisors to pay higher if they’re able,” Johnson said. “What it comes down to is each department is given a specific amount of funding and then from that funding, there’s a percentage that they can put towards student wages.” The petition echoes legislation introduced earlier this fall by Student Senate Vice President for Diversity Affairs Larbi Al Moutaa. Both the legislation and petition take aim at the current wage classification scale. Al Moutaa said he wants there to be a defined wage for student employee roles that is comparable to similar off-campus positions in the area. “If we get a more comprehensive chart with every single position that fits a labor market analysis, and we get the flexibility to the employees to pay whatever they can based on their budget, we’re making it equitable and flexible,” Al Moutaa said. While Al Moutaa said he is confident that the bill will pass in the student and faculty senate, the university administration will ultimately decide its fate, according to Associate Vice President for Business and Finance Craig Wieschhorster. “Is the board the ultimate place that approves it? Yes,” Wieschhorster said. “But the board is going to kick that back to the administration, and then to student employment and to the budget office to look at it and say if this is feasible.” Wieschhorster said that the GVSU administration will take a serious look at any proposed legislation about increasing student wages, however, he said it would be a part of a “balancing act” with
LOCATIONS: Multiple food service options at GVSU like Ciao have returned following years of virus protocols, opening positions for many more student workers than in recent years. GVL | ANNABELLE ROBINSON
other areas of the university that require funding. According to Wieschhorster, a pay increase for students working in campus dining, for example, would require an increase in the cost of meals. “You can’t just raise student employee costs, without a corresponding increase in revenue, so you’d have to probably raise food costs,” Wieschhorster said. “So, again, it’s that balancing act.” Johnson said that while she and Student Employment support raising student wages, the decision to do so is ultimately coming from a higher level within the university administration. “Student employment is supported in support of our student employees, and we really want them to feel like they’re being supported,” Johnson said. “While I’m more than happy to advocate for them, I’m more than happy to push for higher student wages in meetings I’m in, it’s not something that student employment itself is able to do. It’s something that Grand Valley has control of at a higher level.” In the meantime, Johnson encourages students to use the current classification scale to advocate for pay raises. “Take a look at the classification chart, take a look at what responsibilities you have, how much supervision you’ve been given,” Johnson said. “If you think the work that you’re doing and the hours that you’re putting in and the amount of independent work that you’ve been doing requires higher pay, absolutely ask for it.” Ultimately, students like Thorburn will continue to advocate for higher wages for student employees across the board as a solution to issues like food insecurity that college students face. “First and foremost, people are going to live better lives if they have better wages,” Thorburn said. “The only way (the increase) is going to go through is if we can successfully build a number of students who care about the issue and then take action based off of it.”
EMPLOYMENT: Student workers on the GVSU campus have been raising concerns over current wages and a pay scale system that they feel do not adequately represent the value of their work. GVL | AIDA DENNIS
A32 | SPORTS
APRIL 10, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
JAN. 30
Scott Wooster leads GV football into next chapter as head coach BY ANTHONY CLARK JR. SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
Grand Valley State University’s football program welcomed their eighth head coach in program history, Scott Wooster, during an introductory press conference this past week. Wooster served as the offensive line/ tight end coach and offensive coordinator for the Lakers over three seasons prior to his promotion to head coach as he stated enthusiasm to continue the success the team has achieved in recent seasons. “Obviously the biggest part of it was the opportunity to grow, build and serve these guys that were right out here (at this press conference) – it’s just such a special group,” Wooster said. “To be able to be the leader of this group of men, that was the most exciting part going through this week and the most honoring part.” Both GVSU Director of Athletics Keri Becker and Vice President for Finance and Administration Greg Sanial gave opening remarks about the hiring process as they both addressed the thought of how quick it may seem on the surface, their philosophies for who should be hired and what influenced the final decision. “What’s important is that we focus on the student-athletes moving forward,” Sa-
nial said. “Coach Wooster was our best choice to position our athletes with success both on and off the field moving forward. What’s (also) important to note is a lot of times when you (a team) have coaching changes, it’s because you need to rebuild – we don’t need to rebuild at all.” Becker echoed the statements by her colleague while mentioning even though the process was swift, the search committee was not hasty in their decision. Becker mentioned that the university also sought counsel from a search firm to help find strong candidates for the position. After conducting 14 total interviews, a selection was made. “I was looking for someone that articulates their vision in three ways: one; their vision of being a CEO of the program – all facets that go into a football program,” Becker said. “Someone who’s a man of character, integrity and would really care about (the) student-athletes beyond the gridiron. I then considered our football program: where was it today?” Coming off one of the best seasons in program history, Wooster helped to lead the team to winning the GLIAC regular-season title, the 2022 GLIAC Championship (first since 2016) and also was part of an offense that finished top-10 in the nation for scoring (37.9 points per game),
NEW HIRE: Wooster took over the number-one coaching position for the Lakers after his predecessor Matt Mitchell moved on from the program following his 19 seasons as an assistant and head coach for the Lakers. Prior to the promotion, Wooster served as an offensive coordinator for three seasons. GVL | BETHANN LONG
total offense (449.8 yards per game) and rushing offense (228.7 yards per game). After falling to their conference rival Ferris State in back-to-back national playoffs the last two seasons, Wooster made sure to share his ambitions to be crowned as the national champions in the upcoming campaign. “When I came to Grand Valley State (in 2020) that path, that trajectory we’re on, that ain’t gonna change,” Wooster said. “We’ve already had some
in-depth conversations about what are those moves, what are those edges that are going to get us over the top. That’s why we’re waking up in the morning and will probably have sleepless nights making sure that those things are in place to do what we want to do and what we need to do. LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
JAN. 23
Men’s DI hockey club ices Davenport, extends win streak to seven BY BREANNA HAMMER SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
The Grand Valley State University’s Division I men’s hockey club continued their seven-game winning streak against Davenport University this past weekend after two blowout matches that finished 5-1 and 11-1. Now ranked No. 10 in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Men’s 1 division with a record of 22-5 (255 overall), Head Coach Matt Sekosan had a lot to say about his upperclassman setting the pace for the winning streak.
“We have a strong class of upperclassmen,” Sekosan said. “They sort of lead the way in terms of self-policing and getting everybody on task; the guys listen to the system that we implement, and do the best they can to play.” Senior forward Shane Haggerty, one of the team captains, said he believes he and his teammates wouldn’t be so successful if it weren’t for the coaching staff. “We have to give a lot of credit to our coaching staff, they implement a system, but then let us get creative,” Haggerty said. The Jan. 20 match-up between
ICE COLD: The Lakers’ hot streak during this stretch of games added to the club’s great season that saw the team fall short in the second round of the GLCHL Playoffs and the M1 ACHA Playoffs. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER
the Lakers and the Panthers quickly showed just how effective these systems are when executed correctly, with Haggerty and senior forward/captain Zach Borchardt leading the way. In the first period, Haggerty scored the first goal in a power play (12:32), assisted by senior defenseman Andrew Dundas and Borchardt to put GVSU up 1-0 on the scoreboard. Less than a minute later, Borchardt answered with a goal of his own (13:15) to put the Lakers ahead two goals as the remainder of the period went scoreless. The majority of the second period saw little action until just over five minutes remained when GVSU began to ramp up the aggression, taking shot after shot on goal. Eventually, junior forward Gage Thrall was able to find the back of the net (5:46) with an assist from freshman defenseman Enzo Tarducci and sophomore forward Joshua Suzio, ending period two with a score of 3-0 in favor of the Lakers. Considering how hot GVSU has been in their win streak, it was no surprise to see their momentum continue in the third period. Answering again in a power play, Haggerty scored his second goal of the night (1:37) with a second assist from Borchardt and senior forward Zachary Kippe (4-0).
Having previously scored and now providing his second assist to Haggerty for the night, Borchardt said that it’s of course a good feeling to provide scoring for your team, but an even better moment when he is able to set up his teammate(s) for success. “Even though it’s fun to see the puck go in for you, it’s even more fun to see your buddy doing it,” Borchardt said. DU finally managed to secure a goal early in the third and final period (2:57) to finally get on the scoreboard, 4-1. However, the scoring didn’t stop there as the game’s final goal came from Kippe (11:09) assisted by Tarducci and Haggerty to secure the 5-1 win for the Lakers. Reflecting not only on the goals and assists that Haggerty and Borchardt were able to contribute in the win, Sekosan also said leadership of these two captains has impacted their effective streak and the season overall so far. “They both have Cs on their chests for a reason,” Sekosan said. “They know what it takes to win, they take their job(s) seriously and lead by example – that’s what makes the team follow suit.” LOG ON TO:
www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
A33 | SPORTS
APRIL 10, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS JAN. 30
Strutz headlines Bill Clinger Classic with new record for indoor track and field BY MADELEINE SMITH SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
The Grand Valley State University’s men’s and women’s track and field teams hosted the Bill Clinger Classic last weekend. The Lakers performed at a high level, marking personal and program records. One of the highlights from this meet was junior Lindsey Strutz’s performance, setting program record for the women’s pentathlon with a score of 3615 – a record that also ranked Strutz No. 12 in the nation for the event. “It feels absolutely amazing to break my old school record by so much,” Strutz said. “The past few years at GVSU I’ve had a lot of setbacks because of COVID and mental health issues. I’m glad that today everything fell together and I was able to perform as well as I did.” This five-part event consists of separate competitions in 60 meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and an 800 meter dash. Strutz outperformed her previously held scoring record of 3361 from the 2022 indoor season as this past weekend she managed to take first place
in all five events. The women’s distance team proved their resiliency in the 3000m invitational on the track, taking four of the top five spots. Junior Kayce Rympa led the pack as she finished in first place (personal best of 9:51.85) as the third through fifth place were all Lakers: graduate student Grace Pagone (9:59.48), junior Sarah May (10:00.28) and sophomore Madison Ebright (10:03.98). Three Lakers would also headline the women’s one mile invite as junior Natalie Graber (4:44.98), sophomore Lauren Kiley (4:51.46) and junior Maria Mitchell (4:53.04) finished first through third respectively. “I’m so proud of all of my teammates, especially Destini (Dorkins) for (hitting a personal record) twice in the sixty meter hurdles today,” said sophomore Ashtyn Gluck. “She is progressing so well this season and I can’t wait to see everything she accomplishes.” Dorkins, a freshman this season, finished fifth-overall for the women’s 60m hurdles with a time of 9.2 seconds. This meet also featured great personal achievements for many members of the
HISTORY: Junior Lindsey Strutz not only broke the program and her previously-held record from the season before in the pentathlon, the showcase gave her national recognition for a No. 12 spot. GVL | MEGHAN TRIPP
men’s team. The men’s long jump event was won by sophomore Caleb Taylor with a 6.96m jump with junior Chanse Setzke finishing second (6.84m), while junior Nathan Spitzley took the win for the men’s shotput invite with a 16.07m distance. Senior Jackson Blanchard also shined in the men’s 60m hurdles as his time of 8.10 seconds (NCAA DII provisional mark) secured first place.
“There weren’t a ton of surprises (at this meet), just a ton of great races,” Gluck said. “A lot of people today had season PR’s as well as lifetime PR’s, which is not surprising to me given how hard each and every person works everyday.” LOG ON TO:
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MARCH 27
Women’s lacrosse above .500 after first GLIAC victory BY ZOË MURPHY NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
HOT STREAK: The victory against Concordia St. Paul brought the Lakers above an even record and started positive momentum for the team as a threegame streak ensued. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS
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. An offensive barrage would continue for the Lakers as their defense would allow just one goal scored in the third quarter, separating the teams by 10 goals (15-5) with just 15 minutes left in the match.
However, the comfortable lead created a brief mindset of complacency for the Lakers as their guard was let up just enough to let the Bears outscore them 2-5 and closing the final gap to 17-10 in favor of GVSU. No matter how dominant the team might have played, moments like this are what Lawler takes notice of and harps on going forward in the season in order to avoid unnecessary mistakes, and even losses. “Our shooting percentage got pretty sloppy in the second half,” Lawler said. “We did a great job in the first half but just missed some easy opportunities in the second.” At the same time, the NCAA rules require a “running clock” situation, meaning if a team is leading by 10 points or more, the game clock must continue running (outside of timeouts made by a team) regardless of the game being in the first or second half – something Lawler believes contributed to the Lakers falling back a bit on their intensity on both ends of the pitch. LOG ON TO:
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A34 | SPORTS
APRIL 10, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
FEB. 20
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 four-straight 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’Connell won the 400yard individual medley (4:21.55) and freshman Lucy Hedley won the 200yard freestyle finishing at 1:48.50. The 400-yard medley relay team was highlighted by the same quartet of the 200yard 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
CHAMPIONS: The Lakers participated in four grueling days of competition as the hosts of the 2023 GLIAC Championships, with both teams maintaining and securing first place throughout. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER
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:
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OCT. 17
Men’s golf wraps up fall season with another team title win
STREAKING: Competing in a total of five invitationals in just two months, the Lakers would come out on top for the most part as they took home four of those five titles in stellar fashion. GVL | BETHANN LONG BY JASON MILLIS SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
In their fourth first-place finish in the fall season, the Grand Valley State University men’s golf closed out a successful fall season with a win at the Motor City Invitational. The Lakers found themselves in a tight match after day one, holding only a six-stroke lead over Tiffin University, with Wayne State and Ferris
State not far behind. GVSU shot a 296 on day one, eight strokes above par. Sophomore Charles DeLong led the Lakers on the individual leaderboards once more after 18 holes as he sat in second place (71, -2). Sophomore Nick Krueger (fifth) and freshman Charlie Cooley (tied-sixth) were as influential in the first round as they held a score of 73 and 74 respectively. Being one stroke behind the first
place leader after round one (Hurtubise; Wayne State), DeLong was familiar with this type of situation and used his versatility to take charge. “When you’re a couple points behind, especially when you’re trailing someone who’s never been in that position before, you just have to put your foot down and come out strong,” DeLong said. “And that’s what I did. I birdied a couple of holes and kind of applied the pressure on him, and that allowed me to take the lead.” Heading into day two and the final 18 holes, the Lakers still continued to dominate but dialed back their performance levels a bit as their team score would ultimately finish at 590 (+14) and only three strokes above Wayne State – their second-poorest scoring finish this season. With another team win, GVSU saw DeLong finish the invite with his third individual win of the season (score of 72, -1) while Krueger and sophomore Drew Coble finished in a three-way tie for eighth-place (+4 over par) and Cooley dropped to tie for 14th (+7). Junior Alex Jordan fell into a fourway tie for 29th (+13) and freshman Andrew Gwilliams secured a top-40 positioning as finished in a three-way tie for 35th place (+15).
With another individual victory this season, DeLong earned his ninth career win as a Laker, setting a new GVSU record for most individual wins by a men’s golfer. “It’s just been steady progress over the last few years,” DeLong said. “I’ve learned how to position myself at the top of the leaderboard and how to pull out a win. To have the most wins of anyone in the program is pretty cool.” GVSU has now finished the fall season undefeated against other Division II teams, and even during invitationals against DI schools, the Lakers competed well as they defeated seven of the 17 teams they faced in the NCAA DI Folds of Honor Invitational. Despite GVSU’s success thus far, head coach Gary Bissell said there is still a lot of room for improvement prior to the start of the spring season. “We’ve had tremendous success this season, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things that we need to clean up and work on,” Bissell said. “We’ve got quite a bit to tackle this offseason, so we’re looking forward to that and to getting better for the spring.” LOG ON TO:
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A35 | SPORTS
APRIL 10, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS JAN. 30
Emily Spitzley talks hoops, milestones and team culture for women’s basketball
BY ANTHONY CLARK JR. SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
Westphalia, MI is a small village roughly 55 miles east of Grand Rapids with a population of about 1,000 residents. Those who didn’t grow up in the community may not think anything more of it besides a farmers’ town. For fifthyear guard Emily Spitzley, it’s the place where the game of basketball all started. Grand Valley State University women’s basketball would eventually be the landing spot for Spitzley after high school. Like many true freshmen joining a team, Spitzley didn’t see a lot of action on the court as she adjusted to her new environment. Averaging just 4.8 minutes of playing time in her 24 games played in the 201819 season, Spitzley figured the best solution of gaining respect from her peers and herself most importantly would be to put her head down and grind. “I came in like a nervous little kid not stepping on anybody’s toes, kind of stay in your own lane (and) do your thing,” Spitzley said. “Over the last five years, I’ve been able to find that confidence, find that voice for myself overall. And that kind of comes with
getting better overall as a basketball player.” “At first I didn’t have too much to offer and I really had to work hard, had to battle injury and I had to (get) stronger, faster,” Spitzley said. “So finding some way to add to the team in that way was really important for me. Once I got going with that I felt like things kind of started falling into place which was special.” Suffering an injury is a fear for just about any athlete. Even with the advanced physical therapy and medicine available today, there is no guarantee that a player will return and play the same after being injured, especially after an ACL tear. The knee injury was not only a physical struggle for Spitzley, but the young guard at the time had to find a way to stay motivated mentally and emotionally in order to battle back to where she wanted to be after losing the majority of her second season. “It was tough because I had a really good summer before that (injury) and was getting some momentum in the sport,” Spitzley said. “(In a different lens), overall I think that was good for me. It was a way for me to find myself and who I am outside of basketball for a while.” Having a trivial moment like this in the earlier parts of her career have now allowed
LEADERSHIP: The fifth-year guard saw herself grow in all areas of the game as Spitzley highlighted her opportunity to be a mentor both on and off the floor. She also made sure to note a large amount of maturing came from the recovery process of a huge knee injury that grew her desire to compete. GVL | BETHANN LONG
Spitzley to give back to her teammates that deal with significant injuries or are freshfaced as incoming freshmen. “When people on our team have gone through ACL injuries that’s something I understand extremely well and (I have) been able to be there for people that need that,” Spitzley said. “It’s always good to see people come back from that injury too because we have had so many of them.”
“Overall I have had a lot of experience to share and if people are receptive to it, they can see that even if you start at the bottom of the totem pole; if you work hard and stay the course, you can figure it out,” Spitzley said. LOG ON TO:
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OCT. 3
GV tennis programs compete in ITA Regional Championships BY ERMIAS STEWART SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
COMPETE: Although both tennis teams finished the ITA Regional Championships a bit differently than they would have hoped, the men’s and women’s squads show promise. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS
Grand Valley State University’s tennis teams participated in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) DII Midwest Regional Championships over the course of the past two weeks (Sept. 17-26), as the men’s team traveled to Indiana and the women’s hosted their tournament at home. The women’s team experienced a significant delay in their tournament due to inclement weather and were ultimately forced to play indoors instead of outdoors as the tournament is typically played. In the Draw A women’s doubles bracket, sophomore Estefania Hernandez and freshman Rachel Sam paired up as senior Taylor Barrett and junior Vasileia Griva partnered to face off against opponents in the round of 32. Both pairs advanced to the quarterfinals, however, Hernandez and Sam fell 5-8 in the round as Griva and Barrett continued on and advanced to the final round, ultimately falling in a tough 1-6 match. “Team chemistry is very important for us, especially with having a big group of freshmen,” Barret said. “They did amazing by the way, and I believe in us with all my heart. I love this game and
my team, so I think the sky’s the limit.” Griva commented on the outcome of the double’s tournament, mentioning the adjustments the team had to make while giving praise to her double’s teammate for keeping her calm in tough moments. “(The competition) was fun,” Griva said. “The weather was hard and tough, and we had to adjust to that. I was a bit anxious, but Taylor was a big help.” Women’s singles also had several Lakers participating in the Draw A individual championships; senior Olivia Huang, junior Sophia Hanover, freshmen Ana Soteras, Leonie Leister and Ana Romero-Gonzalez. Huang was the only player to lose in the first round, as the remaining four players each managed to reach the round of 16. Romero-Gonzalez fell to her opponent in the round of 16 as the remaining players moved on to the next round. Leister and Hanover ultimately faced one another in the quarterfinals with Hanover advancing to the semifinals where she would face Soteras as well. Soteras went on to defeat her teammate to advance to the final round where she defeated her opponent in a 6-2 match and was crowned as the Draw A individual women’s champion.
The Lakers had three pairs in the doubles Draw B bracket, Soteras and Huang, Diaz and Hanover, and Leister and Romero-Gonzalez teamed up with one another as Leister and Romero-Gonzalez were the only pair that was unable to get past the first round. However, the remaining two pairs would fall to their opponents in the second round as Diaz and Hanover lost 8-4 and Soteras and Huang lost in an undeclared final score match. The Draw B singles bracket consisted of Huang, Leister, Hanover, Soteras and Romero, all of which besides Huang managed to get past the first round. In the next round, all players besides Romero managed to get past their second opponent as Leister and Hanover faced one another in the quarterfinals (Hanover winning 7-5) to face Soteras in the semifinals. The freshman would get the best of her teammate this time around as Soteras defeated Hanover in a 6-1 match, pushing all the way to the finals and defeating her opponent 6-2 to be crowned the second individual women’s champion for the Lakers. LOG ON TO:
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A36 | SPORTS
APRIL 10, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
OCT. 17
Late touchdown lifts GV football over Ferris on the road BY BRIAN BLOOM SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM
The now 7-0 Grand Valley State University football team defeated the defending NCAA DII National Champions in Ferris State University in the annual Anchor-Bone Classic to end the regular season six-game losing streak against the opponent. With the win, the Lakers were able to avenge two losses from the previous season and dealt the Bulldogs its first regular season loss since 2017. “(The games left a) very bad taste in our mouth,” junior linebacker Abe Swanson said. “We went a whole season thinking about the playoff game and how much that loss hurt us, and it gave us fuel going into this one. There’s still a lot of season left, but it was so satisfying to get that win.” GVSU started the game flawlessly, as junior quarterback Cade Peterson led the offense 60 yards in six plays on the opening drive, capped off by an 18-yard touchdown connection from Peterson to senior running back Jack Provencher to put the Lakers up a touchdown, 7-0. Ferris State responded three drives later, as quarterback Mylik Mitchell found running back Marcus Taylor who scampered 31 yards for a score to knot the score at seven points each with 5:54 left to play in the first quarter. On the ensuing GVSU possession, the offense alternated between their run game and short passes to go on a six-minute drive
that saw the team run 16 plays for 63 yards. However, the drive would ultimately stall out and led to junior kicker Josh Gorball sending a kick through the uprights from 35 yards away to give the lead back to GVSU, 10-7 with plenty of time in the first half. Ferris once again didn’t hesitate to respond as Taylor hit paydirt on a 31yard run for his second touchdown of the day, putting the lid on a four-play, 73-yard drive to make the score 10-14 in favor of the defending champs. A few drives later, the Laker defense forced a punt and Peterson again led the offense down the field, setting up a first down and goal just eight yards from the endzone. A run for no gain by junior running back Tariq Reid, followed by an incomplete pass intended for sophomore wide receiver Jahdae Walker, put the offense in a third-and-goal situation. Peterson found sophomore tight end Drew Peterson for five yards that left the offense facing a fourth-and-goal situation at the three-yard line and a crucial decision to make; go for it and face the potential of no points, or play it cautiously and elect for a field goal. With bragging rights on the line, the offense stayed on the field, but to no avail, as Peterson’s pass intended for senior tight end Scott Cooper fell to the turf, giving the ball back to FSU and taking a four-point deficit into the locker room as the game clock trickled down to zeros, signaling the halftime break. The second half began as a defensive
VICTORY: Following a dissapointing stretch of losing to Ferris State University in six-straight meetings in both the regular season (5) and playoffs (1) since 2016, GVSU came out on top. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS
stalemate. Both offenses struggled to move the ball and as a result, no points were scored until the 1:20 mark in the third quarter as FSU’s redshirt quarterback Carson Gulker powered his way across the pylon, making the score 10-21. Head coach Matt Mitchell understood that facing an 11-point deficit against a team like Ferris is not an easy feat to overcome, but the veteran coach kept the team in line. “(I told the team to) rely on what we’ve done,” Mitchell said. “We didn’t fracture and continued to run the ball. I told the team at halftime that they played a really good half and that we needed to continue
to run the ball and be physical, and then continue to shut them down defensively.” At the start of the fourth quarter, it appeared as though FSU would increase its regular season winning streak to 44-straight games and defend its perch atop the DII rankings. However, the Lakers had other plans and took matters into their own hands. The offense gained 65 yards on ten plays, ending in a one-yard touchdown run by junior running back Johnt’e Crawford to cut the deficit to five points.
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