G R A N D VA L L E Y L A N T H O R N
Chipped and Cracked Space allocation fractures ceramics program
Faculty feel “powerless” in GV decision making: UAS NEWS addresses adult education expansion, intellectual property Queer Rave provides positivity for GV’s LGBTQ Community M O N DAY, F E B R UA RY 1 2 , 2 0 2 4 / / VO L . 5 8 N O. 1 1
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A2 | NEWS
FEBRUARY 12, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
ACCESSIBILITY
GV students promote inclusivity, awareness through free American Sign Language classes BY NOLAN MCKENDRY LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
ASL: The American Sign Language class is nearing its 13th session held. This course is projected to continue for the next two years. GVL | ELLA MCCLINTOCK
To support the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, Grand Valley State University is offering a free class dedicated to teaching American Sign Language. The course not only instructs attendees in American Sign Language (ASL) but also integrates educational material centered on the cultural dimensions of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. The class was organized by Matlis, a student at GVSU who has been signing his entire life, and Mae Zurita, a Graduate Assistant in the Office of Multicultural Affairs and a frequent participant in the course. Matlis, who teaches the class, was born to two deaf parents and is a freshman studying social work, an experience which he feels has taught him useful teaching skills. “I’ve learned how hard it is to live in a hearing and a deaf world, and using that experience, I’m here now,” Matlis said. ASL is the natural and primary language of over 500,000 Americans. It is estimated that 6.6 million individuals in the United States over the age of 12 have severe or profound hearing loss in one or both ears. While there are 250,000 to 375,000 signers classified as “prevocationally deaf ”-- individuals who lost their hearing before age 19, the overall number of signers was estimated to range from 500,000 to 642,000 individuals. In other words, there are between 250,000 and 267,000 hearing individuals who use ASL. Varied perspectives on the definition of deafness shape how individuals are classified as deaf, hard of hearing or having hearing loss, thus affecting their inclusion in these groups. Additionally, there are many variations between linguistic capabilities in the Deaf community and many
people who are not hearing impaired may decide to take up sign language. As a result, this influences how resources, support services and representation are allocated within each respective community. The ASL community class aims to provide accessible sign language instruction for individuals who may face challenges in accessing ASL resources, particularly for students whose studies do not include sign language and thus do not have the time or funds to acquire external services. They are working together to make sure that the class is low-pressure and its curriculum easy to engage. “This is a come-when-you-can, learn-when-you-can class, as opposed to following a sort of linear progression,” said Briana Skerpan, a student who is only able to attend Friday sessions. Matlis and Zurita have purposefully designed the curriculum so that anyone can join at any time without having to catch up on already covered material. “We try to make each class its own, self-contained lesson,” Zurita said. Matlis often begins the class with the alphabet or a word of the day. One of the previous sessions focused on interrelational cues, such as signing about family and friends. “We’re trying to (teach) in a way that is focused on having a lot of fun while learning about Deaf culture and Deaf issues,” said Zurita. The class is approaching its 13th session and is advertised to continue for the next two years. “I plan on doing it for a lot longer. I really hope you guys (the GVSU community) can learn about me, the language and the culture,” said Matlis. The classes are held in Lake Huron Hall in Room 117, with sessions scheduled on Tuesdays at 4 p.m and Fridays at 5 p.m.
TEACHING: Students have created an opportunity to teach others about American Sign Language and the prominence of ASL in the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. GVL | ELLA MCCLINTOCK
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FEBRUARY 12, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
CONTENTS ACCESSIBILITY
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REQUIREMENTS
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CONFLICTS
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OPINIONS
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EDITORIAL
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NEWS
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CINEMA
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WRITING
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POLLINATOR
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DANCE
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HOCKEY
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
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BASKETBALL
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VOL. 58
EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief ELIZABETH SCHANZ Associate Editor HAILEY HENTZ News Editor EMMA ARMIJO
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PHISHING
GVPD, GV Office of Student Employment warn of scam job offers BY MAX BUFKIN LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
February’s Student Employee Newsletter included a warning to Grand Valley State University students to be vigilant of phishing emails. The newsletter urged students to forward any suspicious emails to the Office of Student Employment to be investigated. According to the Department of Public Safety at GVSU, the number of scam emails has been consistent from semester to semester, with one new potential phishing email sent to the Student Employment Office about every week. “When a cybercriminal hacks a student account, they use their email to distribute more phishing messages to other universities,” said Morgan Hamlin, Information Security Analyst in the Office of the Vice President for Information Technology at GVSU. One of the most common types of phishing emails is job scams. The GVSU Career Center was notified of a sharp increase in job scams in which hackers posed as students, faculty or members of Handshake, a campus employment website. The GVSU Career Center advised students to use extreme caution when responding to a job opportunity email. The most common job scam that student employees are receiving is an offer for personal assistant positions. These scams typically offer students a job without needing a formal interview and give a short time limit to respond. “Never respond to or give out personal information to anyone via email unless you are absolutely sure the job offer is legitimate,” said Katelyn Johnson, Associate Director of Student Employment at GVSU. “If students are searching for a job, they can check Handshake for off-campus employment and Workday for on-campus employment. Both are safe and effective ways to find a job while attending GVSU.” According to GVSU’s Cyber Safety website, there are many ways to identify a phishing email. Some of the most common red flags include: - Generic greetings - Emails written with a sense of urgency
- Unexpected attachments - Grammatical or spelling errors - Requests for personal information Potential phishing emails and malware attacks can be reported through the GVSU Cyber Safety site. The Office of Student Employment has a similar feature that allows students to report potential scam emails. The emails are then investigated for signs of fraud, such as the sender offering a hefty paycheck for minimal work. If several indicators hint that an email may be a scam, it is sent to GVSU’s Information Technology (IT) office or Grand Valley Police Department (GVPD) for further investigation. “There have always been scams, but with email, you can reach out to anyone on the planet. Many times, in investigations, these email scams originate overseas or across the country,” said Leah Heaton, Assistant Director of Public Safety and GVPD Captain. GVSU’s IT team has worked to enhance cyber defense, educating students on how to be safe online and respond to reports of phishing. The Department of Public Safety has adopted similar protocols to ensure students are safe both on campus and online. “At Grand Valley State University, we understand that in today’s interconnected world, safeguarding sensitive information and digital assets is paramount,” according to GVSU’s Cyber Safety website. According to an information guide from GVSU’s Cyber Safety, 96% of scam incidents and breaches are conducted through email. The main goal of most hackers is to obtain confidential data such as financial information or access to bank accounts. Hackers often use email as a way to extract personal information by either requesting it or including malicious links. A majority of the time, hackers are looking to make money, either directly taking it from an account or selling personal information online. “The best way to stop these scams is to educate yourself on what these types of scams look like so you do not fall victim,” said Heaton. “If you receive these scam emails, reporting to Grand Valley’s IT department can help the compromised email address be unable to continue to be used to scam others.”
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At the Lanthorn, we strive to bring you the most accurate news possible. If we make a mistake, we want to make it right. If you find any errors in fact in the Lanthorn, let us know by calling 616-3312464 or by emailing editorial@lanthorn.com. The Grand Valley Lanthorn is published biweekly by Grand Valley State University students 17 times a year. One copy of this newspaper is available free of charge to any member of the Grand Valley Community. For additional copies, at $1 each, please contact our business offices. Help do your part by recycling or composting this paper after you read it, our paper is entirely compostable. POSTMASTER: Please send form 3579 to: Grand Valley Lanthorn 0051 Kirkhof Center Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI 49401
EMAILS: The most common scams circulating at GVSU are inauthentic emails with potential job offer proposals. GVL | ELLA MCCLINTOCK
A4 | NEWS
FEBRUARY 12, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
REQUIREMENTS
Lower admission standards lead to conversations, concerns at GV academic senate meeting BY DYLAN HOFFIUS LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
The Grand Valley State University Academic Senate (UAS) convened on Friday, Feb. 2 to discuss and review matters relating to the university budget, adult education programs, admissions and faculty course approval. The meeting focused on expanding university admission standards, such as a higher acceptance rate, which was met with considerable dissent from senate UAS representatives that are concerned with the quality of education that students are receiving prior to GVSU. The university has made it their mission to diversify and expand the student population in recent years, inadvertently contributing to a student body that some representatives feel is underprepared for college. Provost Fatma Mili, Ph.D., Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs at GVSU, began the meeting with a presentation on the university’s general fund expenditure budget for the 202324 school year. Operating with a budget of just over $370 million, with nearly 60% of that going toward university academic affairs, Mili said there is currently “little flexibility” within the available budget for expenses that don’t directly benefit the needs of GVSU students and faculty. Mili made clear in her presentation that the allotted budget for each college at GVSU depends on the relative size of that unit. Mili said this can be seen in the roughly $90 million budget for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, representing over 41% of the university’s total academic affairs budget. “The majority of our budget is bound in positions that we are committed to,” Mili said during her
presentation. “It is our responsibility to do whatever we can to make them (students and faculty) succeed.” Mili’s presentation also touched on GVSU’s increasing enrollment figures that are imposing additional challenges for faculty. Nearly 5,000 new students were admitted for the 2023 fall semester-a 3% increase compared to the number from last fall and a 25% increase compared to last year’s incoming class. Several UAS representatives said they felt stretched too thin as a result of the influx of students. Furthermore, UAS representatives said a lack of qualified instructors is exacerbating the issue. Representatives also cited the uncertain promise of faculty tenureship as being an additional worry. Additionally, a significant number of UAS members expressed concerns about the university’s declining admission standards that are creating an underprepared student population. With less emphasis put on high school GPA during the admission process, more students are now attending GVSU that are not ready for the demands of a postsecondary education. Some even argued that the university’s decision to admit underqualified applicants qualifies as “predatory behavior.” Coupled with the fact that 78% of the university’s funding comes from student tuition and housing, according to data from Mili’s presentation, many representatives feel the university is taking advantage of the incoming students that are ultimately providing the majority of funding. “In 2022, less than five percent of students with below a 3.0 GPA were admitted,” said Adrian Copeland, Assistant Professor of Legal Studies at GVSU. “Today, that number is over 20%.” Copeland’s comments align with the opinions of other UAS representatives, including Chris Pearl, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Graduate
Program Director for GVSU’s Biomedical Sciences Department. Pearl questions whether GVSU’s mission to diversify the student population is hindering their ability to adequately serve individuals coming in with varying levels of prior education. “I don’t think anyone is questioning the mission and value of equity, access and inclusion,” Pearl said. “Are we increasing our diversity at the expense of students who are not prepared to succeed, and thus doing more harm to the very individuals we are trying to help?” Others, however, recognize the commitment from the university’s Strategic Enrollment Management Plan task force to increase diversity through expanded enrollment. They believe that the decline in student retention rates at GVSU is negligible and likely to correct itself versus others who believe retention issues are a product of increased enrollment with lower admission standards. Kara Van Dam, Ph.D., Vice Provost of GVSU’s Office of Graduate and Lifetime Learning, noted that a college degree remains the most direct path toward escaping poverty. In her presentation on potential efforts to expand adult education at GVSU, Van Dam included data revealing that half of Michigan’s adult population (2.5 million people) lacks a postsecondary education. Van Dam points to the education desert that exists in Michigan as playing a significant role in the previous figure, with just 12 out of 83 counties in the state accommodating a four-year public university. Similarly, 50 of those 83 counties lack an in-district community college. Without proper resolutions to the issues raised during the meeting, the UAS and the Executive Committee of the Senate (ECS) agreed to hold a joint meeting on Friday, Feb. 9. The meeting will further examine the topic of minimum GPA requirements for admissions, and will cover remaining agenda items.
EDUCATION: The Executive Committee of the Senate agreed to hold a joint meeting to discuss Grand Valley State University admissions requirements. COURTESY / GVSU | GVL / ARCHIVES
A5 | NEWS
FEBRUARY 12, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
CONFLICT
Faculty feel “powerless” in GV decision making: UAS addresses adult education expansion, intellectual property BY DYLAN HOFFIUS LANTHORNEDITORAL@GVSU.EDU
Following last week’s Grand Valley State University Academic Senate (UAS) meeting that remained unfinished 15 minutes past their two-hour window, the UAS reconvened on Feb. 9 for an hour-long session at the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences. The Executive Committee of the Senate (ECS) also met prior to the UAS, in a closed-session hearing. In this shortened UAS meeting, representatives further expressed their dismay and frustration with administration about the lack of quality assurance regarding GVSU’s expansion of existing adult education programs. This frustration largely stems from the lack of transparency on behalf of GVSU concerning resource allocation for programs that will involve curriculum-based intellectual property created by faculty. By the end of the meeting, many UAS representatives walked away feeling as if they’re nothing more than an afterthought in the decision-making process about programs that will potentially involve their IP. Provost Fatma Mili, Ph.D., Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, also clarified several miscommunicated details surrounding the implementation of these programs. Mili said the unit being tasked with implementing the changes to GVSU’s adult education programs will be led by Kara Van Dam, vice provost for Graduate and Lifetime Learning. Mili also clarified that Van Dam is not introducing new programs to expand adult education, rather it will be an effort to improve existing initiatives. Van Dam will work alongside the Division of Academic Affairs to expand the modalities and locations of existing GVSU adult learning courses and programs, reporting
directly to President Philomena V. Mantella. Van Dam believes these efforts will address the current state of education deserts in Michigan, with increased access to higher education for adults throughout the state. “Adults want frequent stops and starts to their progress, flexible modalities and programs that align with industry and profession standards,” Van Dam said to Forum. Van Dam’s previous position as vice president and dean of the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) School of Arts and Sciences saw her make efforts to help adult learners achieve a postsecondary degree through a predominately online format. Concerns were raised, however, regarding the efficacy of Van Dam’s mission to expand adult education access at GVSU. With a student population of roughly 55,000 and a graduation rate just over 21%, some representatives questioned whether Van Dam’s adult education background at UMGC is applicable to GVSU. GVSU a student population of about 22,000 students, which is less than half of UMGC’s student population, but triple the graduation rate. Additionally, several UAS representatives expressed disappointment with the lack of input requested from faculty during the inception of Van Dam’s unit to expand adult education. Mili said Van Dam’s unit did not require approval via a Board of Trustees (BOT) vote, thus allowing Van Dam to start her work immediately. “We’re not feeling like we’re part of the decisionmaking models as of late,” said Salvador LopezArias, Ph.D., associate professor in GVSU’s School of Social Work. “That’s part of the frustration; that’s part of the burnout. We’re feeling powerless.” Questions were also raised about the protection of intellectual property within the context of faculty-created curriculum and course materials. According to BOT policy 4.1.10.2, GVSU has the right to use material created by faculty even after the individual has left the employ of
GVSU, so long as the person is given proper attribution. Furthermore, GVSU also reserves the right to modify this material, which several UAS representatives cited as a “major disconnect” between faculty and administration. Similarly, UAS representatives were equally troubled by the prospect of adjunct professors within Van Dam’s program that would be tasked with implementing IP that they had no hand in crafting. “What we know about good teaching is that we create curriculum, we teach it and then we revise it based on what works in the classroom,” said Amy Ferdinandt Stolley, Ph.D., associate professor of writing at GVSU. “What we’re really describing here is not really good teaching. We’re creating a sort of package of curriculum, and just sending it (the curriculum) off to other people who we don’t know and haven’t played a role in hiring to teach this curriculum to students in a modality or in a context that it wasn’t necessarily even originally created for.” Risk-assessment and the urgency of Van Dam’s program were additional factors UAS said were particularly troublesome. Chris Haven, Ph.D., professor of writing at GVSU said a report sent to UAS representatives about the details of Van Dam’s plan to expand adult education failed to address many legitimate concerns raised by faculty. “It’s a best-case scenario of how this program just inevitably seems like it’s going to work,” Haven said. “It appears as if a lot of these concerns that faculty have about risks were not in the report, and I’m concerned that they weren’t even considered. It seems like we have an opportunity with a little bit of a (budget) surplus this year, and I am afraid it is going to go to a program or programs that haven’t been properly vetted first.” The UAS will meet again on Friday, Feb. 16 from 3-5 p.m. to discuss and answer questions raised about university admissions during the Feb. 2 UAS meeting.
CURRICULUM : UAS representatives expressed concerns about the use of course materials created by professors that may potentially be used without their approval. Representatives also questioned whether administration is considering their criticisms of Vice Provost Kara Van Dam’s plan to increase future enrollment at GVSU. GVL / DYLAN HOFFIUS | GVL / ARCHIVES
A6 | OPINIONS
FEBRUARY 12, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
Lana Del Rey’s SKIMS collaboration was genius marketing
BY MADDIE ZIMMERMAN LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
If you’re a social media user, chances are, you’ve heard of SKIMS, the American shapewear and clothing brand co-founded by Kim Kardashian, Emma Grede and Jens Grede. SKIMS has taken over the internet, with people raving non-stop about their products, which range from T-shirts to undergarments. The brand is known for its iconic campaigns with popular organizations and celebrities, such as the NBA, WMBA, Patrick Mahomes, Coco Jones and many more. On Jan. 18, a SKIMS collaboration with a Grammy
Award-winning artist dropped for Valentine’s Day. The campaign features someone the public would have never guessed– Lana Del Rey. Del Rey is the perfect person to represent the Valentine’s Day collection because she embodies every aspect of its color scheme and portrayal of femininity. She didn’t have to go “out of character” for the collection’s photo shoot, which represents her image as much as it represents the products being marketed. Variety quoted Del Rey’s statement in which the artist said she has “been a big fan of SKIMS since the beginning,” and the SKIMS collection is so pretty and dreamy, which made collaborating with [Cohen] on the creative so fun.” The collection features a cream-colored set with tiny red hearts, bright pink and pale purple lace-lined tank tops. Robes, shirts, undergarments, pajamas, baby onesies and even a dog jacket are being sold. Promotional images show Del Rey wearing SKIMS from head to toe, while surrounded by big elegant heart props and white cats. My favorite image from the photo shoot is of Del Rey posing with the cats. She looks stunning, as always, and perfectly represents the femininity of Valentine’s Day. The initial launch photo, showing Del Rey peeking out of a velvet blue heart, has 481,000 likes and over 6,000 comments, with the post still receiving love from supporters. The unexpected nature of the collaboration added to the shock value of the announcement post. The post’s comments encapsulate fans being in favor of the collaboration. One of the many comments
reads, “The BEST marketing decision Kim ever did!!! HATS OFF TO MISS KIMBERLY.” Another user said the collection was the “BEST THING EVER.” Not only did Del Rey’s fans love the iconic photoshoot, but the company experienced huge financial returns from it. It was publicized that the collection announcement amassed $13.7 million in media impact value within four days. Del Rey’s own Instagram post earned SKIMS more than $4 million. The products’ launch sold out within minutes and the website crashed from so many page visits. Not only were SKIMS fans scrambling onto the website to purchase the collection’s items, but Del Rey’s fans, some of which might have been new to the brand, were as well. The collaboration was a great opportunity to reach another demographic and it was an incredible idea by SKIMS. Like one Instagram comment said, “Whoever thought of this deserves a raise.” When it comes to Valentine’s Day collections and the holiday as a whole, there is a common misconception that Feb. 14 is all about couples, dating, marriage and partnership. Instead of featuring a couple, I love that Kardashian’s creative team instead chose to embark on a campaign featuring solely one person. SKIMS chose the perfect person to collaborate with for the collection, which reflects not only the brand itself, but Del Rey’s passionate persona as well.
Review: The artistry of “Saltburn” prophesies its cult classic status
BY ELIZABETH SCHANZ LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
The film “Saltburn” has rightfully captivated viewers and has been gaining rapid recognition since its Nov. 17 release. Audiences have been flocking to watch it after seeing TikTok trends to “Murder on the Dancefloor,” a catchy pop-song featured in the film, and hearing extensive discussions around the sex appeal of Jacob Elordi, who plays Felix Catton, the son of an elite family that owns the Saltburn estate. However, the film is more than a blip in the endless stream of featured pop culture on social media. “Saltburn” stands on its own with aesthetic cinematography that intrigues viewers and furthers a well-developed plot to solidify the film’s place as a future cult classic. The storytelling in “Saltburn” emulates elements of surprise depicted in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction.” It’s shocking, and to some viewers, gory. Much like “Pulp Fiction,” various scenes in “Saltburn” are not ornamental, but rather fundamental to furthering the message and tone of the film. Similarly, the main character Oliver Quick, played by Barry Keoghan, is
an unreliable narrator that rivals Humbert Humbert in Vladimir Nabokov’s novel “Lolita” with his perverse, delusional and self-justifying traits. The structure of the film eases the viewer into the intense progression of events by craftily presenting bits of information to the audience throughout its runtime. For example, the clips presented at the film’s beginning are strategically placed-- revealing out of context moments that take place later. This gives the viewer subconscious images to recall, leading them to be a step ahead of the characters. This dramatic irony gives the audience insight to tie together plot twists before the ultimate reveal that drives home the scope of the ploy. The visuals of the film were nothing short of breathtaking, both in beauty and its ability to evoke emotions like fear, which literally causes shortness of breath. The primary settings of Oxford University and the Saltburn Estate are presented with great attention to detail and design. They demonstrate how the concept of wealth was infused throughout the film and left a solidified impression of how opulence was a valued vice. Additionally, the details and design cannot be boiled down to just showing riches. The specifics of the estate can be overlooked, as even the butler in the film says, “Lots of people get lost in Saltburn.” While this line is figurative and literal, I feel that the filmmakers wanted to prevent the viewers from “getting lost in Saltburn.” The visuals explicitly direct the viewers’ attention to symbolism and foreshadowing by utilizing a music box that depicts four characters and the diorama of the Saltburn maze. Above all else, lighting is a primary cinematography focus in “Saltburn.” In each scene, lighting is creatively and consciously curated. The variety of choices create contrast and connections to how the characters and audience perceive moments. The variety of shots include dimly lit scenes, saturated outdoor depictions and swaths of red light that paint intense tone shifts. The last example demonstrates how the film uses illuminant metamerism, or how different light can affect how color hues are
perceived. For instance, in one scene, red curtains are pulled over a window. This causes a glass of red wine to appear black. As the red wine is poured into the glass, the glass overflows both onto the table and the body of the person who drinks from the cup, creating black marks. This shows how the descent of darkness onto the Cattons dismantles the pristine and proud familial structure. “Saltburn” is a superb example of what thriller films should be– pieces of art that evoke the mind, employ the senses and engineer insanity for the audience.
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
A7 | EDITORIAL
FEBRUARY 12, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
EDITORIAL
Elections and expirations: how old is too old to hold office? BY LANTHORN EDITORIAL STAFF LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
As the presidential race comes closer and closer, we are getting increasingly concerned about the age and mental competency of the candidates proposed on the ballot. This year, it is forecasted that 81 year old Joe Biden will be the Democratic elect and 77 year old Donald Trump will be the Republican presidentelect. Biden is the oldest elected president in U.S. history, breaking the previous record set by Trump during the 2016 election. This means that both Biden and Trump are currently on track to break the record for the third consecutive election. Frankly, we’re sick of this. We don’t think records for the oldest politician are the ones that need to be broken. Both leading presidential candidates are multiple years beyond the life expectancy of the average American male. Obviously speculation about the chances of a U.S. president possibly passing away in office due to old age exists, but more importantly the cognitive ability of former President Trump and President Biden absolutely must be called into question. Recently Biden had a public mishap where he mixed up the president of France with an ex-leader that had died several years prior. The New York Post wrote, “During a campaign speech in Las Vegas, the 81-year-old president inaccurately recalled speaking to former French president Francois Mitterrand — who died in 1996
— during a 2021 meeting with world leaders.” Regardless of where you land politically, we can’t ignore this mixup. Coming from any party leader, it is concerning. Trump’s mental competency doesn’t look much better than Biden’s, either. Voters may recall that “Former President Donald J. Trump on Friday appeared to confuse Nikki Haley for Nancy Pelosi during a speech in New Hampshire,” reported the New York Times. As we approach the upcoming November election, we are once again faced with the recurring issue presented by the American two-party system: neither candidate is particularly likable, or necessarily qualified to represent young Americans and the contemporary problems of a digital society. Their age limits their ability to serve the American people. With a minimum age requirement of 35 years for prospective presidential candidates, we feel that it is imperative that a maximum age limit be set for candidates as well. Many Americans seem to agree. According to the Pew Research Center, “82% of Republicans and 76% of Democrats support putting a maximum age limit in place for elected officials in Washington, D.C.” Additionally, the Pew Research Center also found that nearly half of Americans would prefer presidential candidates to be in their 50s, according to a 2023 survey. That said, this is not an issue only limited to presidential candidates. Dozens of congress members are above the age of 70, and multiple are above 80 years of age. Most of these people will not be around to feel the
impact of their policy-making (and often, lack thereof). According to the National Institute of Health and the Journal of Gerontology, “Cognitive decline may begin after midlife, but most often occurs at higher ages (70 or higher).” We believe any presidential or congressional candidate should not meet or exceed the age of 70 years by the day of the general election. Even if this comes across as a drastic change, an age limit has to happen and it is not an entirely foreign concept. Proposed solutions to the issue of age limits do already exist. Currently, the state of North Dakota has proposed legislation that would limit congressional candidates from taking office if they reach the age of 81 by the end of their term. Although we feel 81 is still far too old for potential elected representatives, we do think North Dakota is establishing a transferable baseline that can be applied to presidential elections. We feel strongly that the executive and legislative branches of government should follow in North Dakota’s footsteps and set a maximum age limit of 70 for presidential and congressional candidates. This will not only result in representation that is more relatable for the majority of Americans, but will also help curb the obvious cognitive decline issues seen in a large portion of our elected officials holding office. This type of legislation seems to have non-partisan support. Ultimately, it will be up to those in positions of power in Washington to make the right decision for the country’s future, even if it hurts them. To be clear, that is what they should always be doing.
Join Our Internship Program Jacquelyn Molloseau: 2021-2023 Allen and Helen Hunting Summer Intern
“Working at the Annis Water Resources Institute has been the highlight of my time at Grand Valley State University. For the past three summers, I have participated in a variety of lake monitoring projects, including the Muskegon Lake LongTerm Monitoring Program. I was often working on the water, including going on research cruises aboard AWRI’s research vessel, the W.G. Jackson. Additionally, I conducted my own independent research projects with Dr. Alan Steinman on the effects of road salt pollution on a residential lake, which is now a peer-reviewed scientific publication in the Journal of Freshwater Ecology. As someone pursuing graduate school, the experience I have gained from this internship has been invaluable. I will always cherish my time at AWRI and hope to look back on it as the beginning of a fulfilling career in aquatic research.” The Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute at Grand Valley State University is committed to the study of freshwater resources, with a special emphasis on Michigan and the Great Lakes basin. Located in Muskegon, Michigan, the Institute’s mission is centered around three main programmatic areas:
• Research • Education and outreach • Geospatial analysis
Applications for Summer 2024 are being accepted now through Monday, March 4 , 2024. Visit www.gvsu.edu/wri/ and click on Internships.
PRESIDENT: With the election approaching, questions regarding the candidates’ ages and maximum age limits are being called into focus. COURTESY | AP PHOTO ANDREW HARNIK
A8&9 | NEWS
FEBRUARY 12, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
VMA programs are in a pinch for space BY EMMA ARMIJO & ISABELLE ENGLAND LANTHORNEDITORAL@GVSU.EDU
A quiet calm falls over the studio as students peacefully talk amongst themselves while spinning, sculpting and glazing their ceramic creations. However, the peaceful focus that many students find through ceramics is becoming harder and harder to spin. Large academic departments often share facilities, but at Grand Valley State University it seems the Department of Visual & Media Arts (VMA) is competing for space. The ceramics program at GVSU is navigating several issues after a portion of its allocated studio space was cut to make room for demands within other areas of VMA, lack of accommodations and long-term effects of a university department merger in 2018. In 2018 the arts and design department, including ceramics, merged with film and photography, creating the Department of Visual Media Arts. This made it so that decisions around studio space could be moved around between these programs. They now have to operate under one common administrative group within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), share facilities and share an overarching budget. The impacts of how the VMA resources are used are felt by VMA students, primarily individuals in the ceramics program, through lesser quality of space, more difficult experiences and a “stretched thin” resident professor taking on multiple roles. These effects seem to be exasperated by high enrollment, fewer resources and communication issues. Within the last year, the ceramics studio housed in the Alexander Calder Art Center building on GVSU’s Allendale campus, was nearly cut in half to build an additional classroom for the Film and Video Production program. According to VMA Department Chair Paul Wittenbraker, the university took a portion of the ceramics studio to create a “state-of-the-art” studio space now used by Photography and Film/Video Production classes. When Calder Art Center was constructed, the original ceramics area was meant to accommodate 40 students. Currently, there are around 315 studio art majors, roughly 70 of which are ceramics majors. The portion of the ceramics studio that was lost previously held storage for student projects, additional sink locations and personal student workspaces within walking distance of the kiln (a necessary tool to cure pottery). To remedy the workshops lost, GVSU administration placed ceramics students in a communal workshop shared with Jewelry/Metalsmithing and other studio art programs. The relocated workshop, however, does not have proper ventilation to safely support some student projects or an adequate drainage system for pottery. The communal workshop is also three hallways away from the kiln, which is a long walk for students carrying delicate and sometimes very heavy ceramic materials. “It was determined that the Photo and Film video courses using (Kirkhof studio) needed to be rehoused,” Whittenbraker said. “Renovating the Ceramics studio to accommodate this was determined by the (GVSU) administration to be the best solution.” There are conversations around the university’s “solutions” to solve student overflow issues in GVSU’s Film and Video Production (FVP) courses by sharing the original ceramics space. Ceramics Program Coordinator and Associate Professor Hoon Lee said he is concerned about the room adaptations, namely concern for the small drain trap, distance from the kiln and proper ventilation in the student studios. “The biggest challenge is, actually, (students) have to move all their pieces back and forth (from the student workshops to the kiln),” Lee said. “From the (workshop) space it’s not that far, but still they have to move their fragile pieces from the workshop space to the ceramics studio (when students’ pieces) need to get fired and glazed and other things, so that’s the kind of interesting challenge we have to face right now.” Lee said the relocated workshops lack ventilation to provide a safe environment for students working with a certain kind of clay while it’s dry. This means if students are working with silica clay, they must do the entire project while the clay is wet. However, the relocated student workshops don’t have the same size sinks or drain traps to accommodate working more frequently with wet clay. The communal workshop’s sink is part of a small kitchenette with a microwave.
It was designed for students who spend long hours in the space, not meant to be used for up to five people’s large-scale clay sculpting. According to Lee, students are transporting up to 150 lbs of wet clay on a wheeled cart back and forth from the workshop to the studio because there aren’t proper vents in the room to safely work. However, Whittenbraker assures students the ceramics site is perfectly safe because GVSU recently completed a site visit with the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). NASAD is the organization that determines accreditation for schools that meet safety, curriculum, finances and faculty standards as well as shows adequate support from the university. According to Lee, faculty were unable to weigh in on the decision for the room’s purpose, and the students, subsequently, didn’t have a choice either. “It’s not about film and video, (it’s not) their fault, taking the ceramics studio,” Lee said. “It’s like, why do I have to fight with colleagues about studios? The film and video, photography, are they happy? No, that space is too small for them already.” Lee said he was told that the university cannot build a new facility to accommodate film/video programs, and was told the only option was to use a pre-existing building on university grounds. When Lee asked “university administrators” if the changes to the ceramics studio would be reversible, he was told, “straight answer ‘No, that’s it.’ We’re gonna continue this way.” “That’s why I’m not happy about it, and the Film/Video faculty is not happy about it, the Photography faculty is not happy about it, you know, so nobody’s winning at this point,” Lee said. “I feel bad for the film and video photography students if somehow, they think they did something wrong. Still at least, my ceramics students, they’re doing great. Even though it is a small space, they’re sharing and they are working pretty good so I’m happy about that, and I’m proud of them.” Some students feared the change of ceramics space was indicative of budget or enrollment issues within the program. Once students understood what was happening, rumors circulated about the welfare of the program. VMA students have an understanding of how studio space can influence artists’ experiences. “I feel like the space you do your work in is crucial- just having that consistent and familiar area designated for focusing on projects is a must for me, and many others I know,” said Joslyn Hatcher, sophomore Art Education major. “I had heard about the downsizing of the ceramics studio last year, and I was very disheartened by this considering I had decided to go to GV for art after taking ceramics in high school and finding a passion for it. I never saw the studio before the reallocation, so in a way, I don’t really know what I missed out on, but I do have a lingering sadness for what could have been.” Students worried the current conditions could indicate issues in the longevity of the program. Whittenbraker argues that the ceramics program is “well-supported” and “well-received” on campus. “There is no connection between the space changes and department budgets. VMA is part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and is well supported by the College through regular budget allocations,” Whittenbraker said. “Ceramics is an essential part of our Studio Art Major. In these projects, it is important to consider everything at this stage to find the best solutions.” As GVSU continues to grow, several conflicts have arisen regarding support and accommodations for the influx of students. This became clear in early 2023 when the Lanthorn reported on-campus housing overflow following the largest freshman class in the university’s history. Many are questioning if there is simply not enough space or resources for the amount of students the university admitted. Advanced art students have expressed that they want to take additional ceramics classes, complete independent study projects, or develop advanced technical work within ceramics. Unfortunately, as coordinator and the primary professor in the program, Lee is the only person able to support these kinds of classes. Due to studio capacity, lack of support staff and multiple sections of courses full of students, Lee has to turn down students’ requests to take popular classes or do additional coursework because there is simply not a realistic way to make it happen.
“There used to be a full-time technician position slash instructor (who could) cover ceramics for all different things,” Lee said. “All the sudden the school got rid of that fulltime technician position, which means I have to deal with everything and then we have to cancel classes because we don’t have any person to teach any extra.” Lee is the only resident professor, associate professor and area coordinator, causing him to split his attention among many duties. He was able to convince the current part-time ceramics technician, Evan D’Orazio to become an adjunct and cover one class, but the rest of the curriculum is left entirely up to Lee to cover. “There are some other things faculty does, you know, either assistant chair positions or gallery director positions, but in my case I don’t even have a choice or opportunity because if I don’t teach class then we don’t have any other faculty members who can cover ceramics classes,” Lee said. “But in any other areas there will be at least two or more faculty members that can cover (classes). No, I’m the only one no matter what.” In response to the issue of studio space, a handful of students advocated for the ceramics program and the space it requires at a VMA department meeting. The students argued for a new course of action. Mary Lamson-Burke, a GVSU alum, is a studio art graduate in the class of 1997 and now works in art education in local school systems. She said facing adversity in the arts will only push students to learn about advocacy.
“It looks like you (students) have a learning opportunity to go and advocate for yourself through intelligent discourse, and make your voice known so that others will listen,” LamsonBurke said. “That is the practice of being a visual artist, we use many modes of communication, not only our artwork. Here is a real-world opportunity for those students to do that.” Lee said he hopes the CLAS administration considers students in every decision. Lee said students, who experience administrative changes first-hand, should voice their opinions and be recognized more by the University. “That’s why I keep telling students, ‘you need to speak up,’” Lee said. “Me, I am just one faculty (member) so even though I say things, they’re not gonna listen to me, but they better listen to the student when students say something, otherwise, there’s a big problem.” Whittenbraker said VMA aims to create open conversations between administration, faculty and students. “It is important to all of us as educators to be transparent about the institutional and political workings of a department so students can learn how administrative considerations intertwine with cultural operations,” Whittenbraker said. “We are a tight community in VMA so I hope (students) feel they can continue to be in dialogue with department and college leaders as questions arise.” The current issue surrounding the ceramics program under the umbrellas of VMA resource allocation is apparent, through the perspectives of faculty and students. The administration’s decision-making around programs continues to be a topic to be navigated.
“I never saw the studio before the reallocation, so in a way, I don’t really know what I missed out on, but I do have a lingering sadness for what could have been.” ART: GVSU students in Visual & Media Arts, particularly those in the ceramics program, are finding themselves in unconventional, unsafe conditions due to a lack of studio space. GVL | EMMA ARMIJO
A10 | ARTS
FEBRUARY 12, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
CINEMA
LGBTQ filmmaker brings personal experience, advice for GV student filmmakers BY RACHAEL GAGE LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
Women in Cinema, a Grand Valley State University film club, hosted independent LGBTQ filmmaker Wendy Jo Carlton for a series of class lectures and oneon-one consultations from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1. Carlton’s work, which features the LGBTQ community, spans multiple streaming platforms, including Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video. The Women in Cinema club aims to create a safe community for women and gender-nonconforming students interested in film. With Carlton’s experience as a female LGBTQ filmmaker, the club hoped she could inspire those that identify with the community, and teach GVSU students pursuing a career in the field about the realities of the film industry. During her visit, Carlton taught several independent-filmmaking workshops, with content ranging from starting an LLC, using social media to promote work, directing actors and writing effective scripts. She also held individual meetings throughout the week to give students personalized feedback and help them develop their skills. Caroline Hamilton, a junior at GVSU majoring in Film and Video Production and president of Women in Cinema, organized Carlton’s visit to GVSU. Hamilton said bringing Carlton to campus was an incredible opportunity for film and video production students to see firsthand what their degree could eventually lead to.
“The one thing people will tell you in the (film) industry is (that) no one story is the same,” Hamilton said. “I think hearing those different stories and learning that you’re not alone relieves a lot of stress for students who are excited to work in filmmaking.” Malcolm Kramp, a senior at GVSU majoring
in Film and Video Production, attended two of Carlton’s classes and met with her individually to discuss what entering the film industry is like after graduation. Kramp praises Carlton’s willingness to give insight and advice to GVSU students about the cut-throat nature of the film industry. Kramp said listening to Carlton’s experience was encouraging because of her refusal to submit to obstacles that would stall her success. “Being a film student at a university can deceive you with the support system and secure environment provided,” Kramp said. “I wanted to gain Carlton’s perspective as a person who has been working for years in the real world. Carlton is enthusiastic, witty and (possesses) the rare magical brand of crazy that understands the beauty and chaos that makes us human.”
Hamilton said the Women in Cinema club aims to continue reaching out to guests like Carlton. They hope to offer students the opportunity to make connections and learn more about the professional field of filmmaking. “There are so many ways to be successful and connecting with people in this industry is so important,” said Hamilton. “I think meeting with Carlton is a great first step for a lot of people who were a bit nervous about that (connecting with industry professionals).” Additionally, Hamilton said the industry can be intimidating for many film and video students. With Women in Cinema, Hamilton said she hopes that bringing professionals such as Carlton onto campus will make the industry more real and approachable. “The film industry is such a scary thing for me,” added Hamilton. “What I’ve figured out is that the more you talk to people who are involved in the industry, the more you feel like you can be successful when you graduate.” Similarly, Kramp said bringing professionals like Carlton to campus is important to the success and growth of film and video production students. “One day, we will enter the film industry ourselves and it is crucial we know what is out there,” said Kramp. “Guests like Wendy Jo (Carlton) help to demystify the industry.”
INDEPENDENT: Writer and director Wendy Jo Carlton visited GVSU for a series of in-person lectures and workshops about the ins and outs of the movie industry GVL | ELLA MCCLINTOCK
A11 | ARTS
FEBRUARY 12, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
WRITING
GV alum inspires creativity and storytelling with her publishing company BY RACHAEL GAGE LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
Grand Valley State University alum and author of a 2020 children’s book titled “Love is Powerful,” Heather Brewer has been busy since her graduation in 2022. Just a year after graduation, Brewer started Bracket Publishing, a publishing company specializing in creative nonfiction, fiction and children’s books. Brewer said she became fascinated with the idea of starting a publishing company during her time at GVSU. Largely influenced and inspired by the professors she studied under, Brewer said she felt compelled to take her career to the next level by creating something that would help others bring their dreams to life. Brewer founded Bracket with her friend and business partner Miranda Gardner in the fall of 2023. As a women-owned micro-publishing company based in West Michigan, Bracket aims to collaborate with authors that have powerful stories to tell. “We really focus on books that we’re passionate about and that we feel like we can help make a success,” Brewer said. “Being part of the creative process is really fulfilling, (and) it’s motivating (to be) creating something that lasts.” As an adult learner, Brewer said she was forced to return to school when she found herself unable to advance in the field of publishing.
Despite having two decades of experience in the industry, Brewer said the lack of a college degree limited her opportunities. However, Brewer said GVSU’s Integrative Studies Program gave her the opportunity she had been looking for. During her time in the program, Brewer said conversing with her professors and other faculty significantly helped motivate and encourage her to start a publishing company. Brewer specifically named her advisor Krista Benson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Integrative, Religious and Intercultural Studies, as being especially influential during this time. “Benson really encouraged my practicum, so all of my research was dedicated to publishing and writing,” Brewer said. Benson said Brewer took classes while at GVSU that gave her the creative liberty to apply a common set of skills to her personal interests (writing and publishing). Additionally, Benson said she was happy to hear about Brewer’s success after graduation, and encourages past students to keep in touch with their professors and advisors. “I’ve always found that students retain what they’ve learned more when they’re allowed to combine that learning with their own lives, the real world or their interests,” Benson said. “Whether a student knows what they want to do after graduation or not, they know what they’re interested in. We (faculty) often don’t see what
students do with what they’ve learned in college, so hearing from former students is always a wonderful way to see where they end up (and) who they end up being.” Brewer said it’s important for Bracket to prioritize making connections with booksellers, co-workers and people in the community, just as she did during her time at GVSU. Brewer said this has been essential to her success as an author, publisher and student. “Investing in relationships is important,” Brewer said. “Creating new ones (relationships) after graduation, getting involved in community organizations, and reaching back to your professors to see how they’re doing and updating them on your life progress (is important).” Brewer also emphasized that it’s never too late for adults to reach a goal or find an opportunity to start a career. She said there is an obvious importance in getting a degree to open up opportunities, but that everyone’s path looks different, which is okay. “Whatever you do next is not necessarily the rest of your life; it’s just the next thing,” Brewer said. “There’s always going to be a next thing if you want there to be a next thing, and you can always pursue it.” Bracket Publishing currently has three books published, including “Love is Powerful,” but Brewer said more are on the way. Bracket is currently working to publish a forthcoming children’s book about Genevieve Gillete, an important figure in the creation of Michigan’s park system.
AUTHORS: Heather Brewer has worked with many authors at Bracket Publishing to publish stories since her graduation from GV in 2022. COURTESY | BRACKETPUBLISHING INSTAGRAM
A12 | LAKER LIFE
FEBRUARY 12, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
POLLINATOR
Beekeeper club promotes sustainability and awareness BY ANNE DAVEY LANTHORNEDITORAL@GVSU.EDU
The Beekeepers club at Grand Valley State University strives to protect the local honeybee population and educate people about honeybees. Collaborating with the Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP), the group is able to harvest honey through hands-on experiences at the SAP facilities’ hives. Sustainability and bee awareness are two focal points for the group, and the club strives to make opportunities for students to make a difference attainable on campus and in the local area. “The purpose of the Beekeepers club is to spread awareness of the importance of pollinators while supporting Grand Valley’s honeybee population,” said Vivian Gaskin, Beekeepers club president. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, honeybees pollinate over $15 billion in crops, spanning across 130 different types of produce annually. With their endangered status, it is important to the club that they spread awareness about how to be conscious of the bees’ contribution to the ecosystem. “Pollinators help to support healthy ecosystems,” Gaskin said. “We promote pollinatorfriendly practices such as planting native gardens and limiting use of pesticides.” The club bottles honey from the hives they maintain and makes lip balm to raise money and awareness for their cause. One of Gaskin’s favorite events has been bottling honey for sale. Gaskin said she finds satisfaction in seeing how many bottles the club is able to produce. “I find this work to be important because it shows students that making a positive impact on their local environment doesn’t have to be complicated,” Gaskin said. “By bringing our products to campus, we are increasing awareness of the Sustainable Agriculture Project and getting more people interested in sustainability.” With the money they make from sales, the club makes an effort to help give back to the bees. “Sales from the honey and lip balm go back into caring for the hives, which in turn benefits our local ecosystem,” Gaskin said. Students who are not interested in being hands-on with the bees have other opportunities to be involved through educational and promotional aspects. Students who do want to be hands-on go through many precautionary measures when caring for the bees such as wearing protective suits and using a bee smoker to keep the bees calm.
“There are certain things we have to do to avoid upsetting the bees, but the chances of being stung are very low,” Gaskin said. Holding bee-related events can be more difficult in the winter months, so instead the club meets and hosts different educational programs. One of these programs includes examining bee specimens under microscopes. In the warmer weather months, the club has more opportunities to visit the hives and harvest honey. They also do club hikes and hammocking to accommodate those who do not wish to be as hands-on. Gaskin said the club is working to coordinate events for this spring. “This spring, we are looking forward to making seed bombs, revisiting the hives and having some pop-up markets,” Gaskin said. Gaskin had no previous experience of working with bees until an internship at the SAP, where she had the opportunity to do so and became fascinated. Shortly after, she got involved with the club. She was inspired to take on a leadership role after seeing the club’s mission and growth. “I loved seeing the growth in members last year and (I) had a lot of new ideas that I wanted to bring to the club as it continues to grow,” Gaskin said. “I find my work as the leader of the club to be very fulfilling. It allows me the freedom to be creative and make a positive impact on the community.”
COURTESY | GVSU BEEKEEPERS
GVL | ARCHIVE
COURTESY | GVSU BEEKEEPERS
COURTESY | GVSU BEEKEEPERS
PROTECT: The club looks after the bees housed in partnership with the Sustainable Agriculture Club, which is located just off campus. COURTESY | GVSU BEEKEEPERS CLUB
FEBRUARY 12, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
A13 | LAKER LIFE
@GVLANTHORN
DANCE
Queer Rave provides positivity for GV’s LGBTQ Community BY SARA BAGLEY LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
The Grand Valley State University’s Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA)/Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) club partnered with Whale Radio and the College Democrats club to host GVSU’s third Queer Rave event on Feb. 10. The YDSA/SDS aimed for the Queer Rave to be an event where students could connect with other individuals in the LGBTQ community through music and dancing. The event has seen an increase in participation which the organizers hope will carry on into the future as the Queer Rave gains a presence at GVSU. The Queer Rave was an event that Anthony Erlandson, a GVSU junior and the Queer Rave Committee leader, had dreamed of bringing to life since their high school days. “I got dragged to a YDSA/SDS meeting back in late March (2023) by my friend,” Erlandson said. “They (the club) were talking about potential things to do because there was a transphobic speaker coming to campus through the Libertarian club. They were trying to figure out a protest. I was like, instead of doing a protest where we can just be angry and stuff, let’s have a rave.” YDSA/SDS hosted the first GVSU Queer Rave in April 2023 on a Tuesday night. The club transformed the Promotions Office in Kirkhof Center with $10 Amazon disco lights, Erlandson’s own DJ kit and a borrowed PA sound system. While the event was small, it was a major stepping stone for what soon would grow to be a much bigger event. Claire Grob, a senior and member of the YDSA/SDS club, was one of the students in attendance at the first rave. “I went mainly because my club was putting it on. It was so small, probably less than 30 people. It was still really fun (and) I really liked the music. Electronic and fast,” Grob said. In August 2023, the second Queer Rave was hosted by
the YDSA/SDS, led by Erlandson. Unfortunately, the club had missed the event funding deadline unknowingly. The group pulled together $70 to fund the event and got only one new lighting device, ultimately still holding the event. Erlandson said hosting the Queer Rave in August allowed first-year students to find their community at GVSU. “If you’re a queer freshman on campus, you don’t know a lot of other queer people, so we purposely planned it for Welcome Week so queer people could find each other on campus,” said Erlandson. “We had probably 300 people show up to that one.” After the unexpected success of the second rave, it was a no-brainer for Erlandson and the rest of the team to ramp up preparations, planning and promotion for the next one. Grob joined the committee and worked to connect the organization to funding. Another member of the YDSA/SDS club created a set of promotional graphics to spread across campus. During one club meeting, a member of the GVSU Student Senate, who helps t0 allocate the Student Life Fund which supports student organizations, showed up and expressed interest in helping them get funding for the rave. “We didn’t know the scope of it (the funding), so we found these $100 Amazon lights and got two of them, and thought it was crazy and the most expensive thing we’re doing. We were gonna get a dance floor too, so it wouldn’t just be on carpet. We submitted it and said ‘this is our $500 budget,’” said Erlandson. “We were afraid we were going to get turned away because it was too expensive. They did tell us to go away-- and to come back asking for way more shit.” With new resources and support from Student Senate, the organization was able to purchase catering and brand-new, concert-style lighting-elements the Queer Rave was unable to get before. “The first two raves were a little bit thrown together,
GROWTH: This year there were an estimated 200 attendees over the course of the Queer Rave. COURTESY | THE WHALE
JOY: Attendees dance and have fun at the rave, enjoying a safe space to express themselves. COURTESY | THE WHALE
very much balling on a budget, but this was where we actually got support from GV to bring it to its full potential, and I’m so excited about it,” said Erlandson. Grob said seeing how hard work and coordination come to fruition in the final event is worth it. “It’s great to have the resources to do something like this: to have the funds for the food, for the lighting. It just makes me realize how much goes into planning an event,” said Grob. While the GVSU Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center holds lots of educational and bond-building events for queer students on campus, the YSDA/SDS expressed that the Queer Rave is aimed to be an event by students, for students. Grob said the mission of the Queer Rave is to create a comfortable and enjoyable environment. “The LGBTQ center is a great space, they do a lot of events that are really important. They’re a different vibe, more so conversations and small groups of people,” said Grob. “Queer Rave is a good space to just have fun and have an excuse to listen to some great music and dance and meet other queer people and have a community. That can be kind of refreshing.” Similarly, Erlandson said having a Queer Rave was a unique experience compared to other LGBTQ-geared events. “I love the LGBT center, but it was nice to have a queer event where it wasn’t just them putting it on. It was fully student-run,” said Erlandson. “A lot of the queer events are very lowkey. It’s good to have lowkey events, but there was definitely a gap in the market for something that was just a full-out, queer party on campus. From the queer community at GV, we’ve had so much support with that, and have had a very warm reception.” After the growing interest and success of the past three raves, Erlandson and the rest of the YDSA Queer Rave Committee look forward to continuing to put on the event every semester they can.
A14 | SPORTS
FEBRUARY 12, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
HOCKEY
No. 15 GV men’s DI hockey upsets No. 2 Adrian College on senior night after losing away BY GRIFFIN MISSANT LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
The No. 15 ranked Grand Valley State University Lakers men’s Division I club ice hockey team split home and away matchups versus the No. 2 ranked Adrian College Bulldogs. GVSU lost 3-1 on the road at Adrian in the first game on Thursday, Feb. 8, while the Thursday, Feb. 9 matchup was at Griff ’s Georgetown Ice Arena. At home, the Lakers came out victorious on senior night in another 3-1 final. Before the Feb. 8 game, the Bulldogs were announced as the Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League (GLCHL) Regular Season Champions with a record of 23-3-0. The Lakers, who shot up in the national rankings in the latter portion of the season, were tasked with playing in enemy territory against one of the best teams in the country. After a tripping penalty at center ice, Adrian was given a man advantage with 11:50 to go in the first. GVSU struggled to kill the penalty as the puck never left the zone, leading to the first points of the game. After four good scoring chances, the Bulldogs’ David Dell was able to bury a power play goal. There was only one goal in the opening period-making the score 1-0 at the first intermission. Just three minutes into the second period, the Bulldogs’ Nash Hatcher made a silky smooth move to beat the GVSU defense and then backhanded it into the net. Hatcher’s incredible goal put the Lakers
down 2-0, a deficit they were unable to surmount. “I think our start was poor,” said GVSU head coach Matthew Sekosan. “We seemed like we were deer in the headlights.” After the sluggish start, GVSU stole the puck in Bulldogs territory. After their first shot went behind the net, Lakers’ defenseman Bryan Clahassey was in a perfect spot to beat the Bulldogs’ goalie on the rebound. GVSU put the game right back in reach at 2-1. However, just two minutes later Adrian was able to extend the lead right back to two goals. After some solid pressure, they were able to score their own goal off of a favorable bounce. The third period didn’t contain any penalties, nor any goals, and the Lakers fell to the Bulldogs 3-1. With another shot at the number two team in the nation the very next night, GVSU opened the game honoring nine seniors: Bryan Clahassey, Devin Naidow, Nick Sommerfield, Sam Lechel, Gage Thrall, Eric Holford, Josh Suzio, Josh Kego and Aidan Mcaleer. Sommerfield admired the development of his team throughout the course of the season and his time at GVSU. “It’s meant a lot seeing us grow,” Sommerfield said. “Beating teams we used to lose to and now actually being a household name in the national standings, it’s been really cool.” The stagnant action in the first period of Friday’s game consisted of just one cross-checking penalty and no goals. It turned out to be the only penalty of the entire game, just a week after the
Lakers’ matchup with Toledo University hovered near double-digits in total penalties. Much of the second period was also rather uneventful until GVSU’s Jackson Collard was able to bury the first goal of the game just five minutes before the final intermission. Then just two minutes later, Adrian didn’t waste any time answering with a goal of their own. It was a tie game going into the third period of the final regular season game. After both teams struggled to score early in the period yet again, a Lakers senior stepped up and made a game-changing play. With four minutes left in the game, Sommerfield buried the game-winning goal, giving his No. 15 ranked Lakers an enormous end-of-season win over the No. 2 ranked Bulldogs. GVSU would officially put the game away with the help of an empty net goal scored by Chase Tallaire shortly thereafter. The final buzzer sounded to the tune of a 3-1 upset win on Senior Night. The victory had Sommerfield reminiscing about what he will miss when the season ultimately comes to an end. “Seeing the boys everyday,” said Sommerfield. “Knowing at the end of the night you’ll be hanging out with them and skating and having fun.” GVSU and Sommerfield will now play in the GLCHL Playoffs Quarterfinal, which begins at home on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. The Lakers moved to 20-7-2 to finish the regular season.
SENIORS: After upsetting No. 2 Adrian College on Senior Night, Grand Valley State University will face Davenport University in the GLCHL Playoffs Quarterfinals. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER
A15 | SPORTS
FEBRUARY 12, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
GV women’s basketball squeaks out win over Wayne State, blows out Saginaw Valley State BY GRIFFIN MISSANT LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
The Grand Valley State University Lakers women’s basketball team continued their road trip, squeaking by the Wayne State University Warriors 63-62 on Thursday, Feb. 8. The Lakers then dismantled the Saginaw Valley State University Cardinals 78-54 on Saturday, Feb. 10. With those two wins, GVSU improved their record to 20-2 overall and 11-1 record in conference play, while having a road record of 7-2. In the first quarter against WSU, the Lakers got off to a quick start with an 11-0 lead. Junior forward Rylie Bisballe scored the first four points of the game. Bisballe and the Lakers’ defense were dominant early as the Warriors struggled to get on the board. WSU scored nine points in the first quarter on 16% shooting and turned it over six times, while the Lakers scored 22 points on 60% shooting. Things flipped in the second quarter as GVSU struggled to score. The Lakers shot 30% from the field and allowed a 9-0 scoring run, dropping their lead to four. GVSU responded with a couple of baskets of their own before the Warriors made another rally and eventually took the lead for a short period of time near the end of the half. The back-and-forth play resulted in the Lakers leading 33-31 at halftime. Coming out of the break, both teams continued to battle in the third.
Lakers sophomore guard Nicole Kamin splashed home a 3-pointer, putting her team in front by three points with four minutes left in the quarter. GVSU clutched to a 49-45 advantage heading into the fourth. It was the same story in the fourth quarter with both teams once again going back and forth with each other, with Bisballe as a key difference-maker down the stretch. Bisballe scored a clutch seven points in the quarter and grabbed some key defensive rebounds in a tight matchup. With a minute left in the game, Kamin secured the victory for the Lakers with a layup. A Bisballe steal wrapped things up just before the buzzer, a 63-62 GVSU win. GVSU head coach Mike Williams was proud of his team for how they handled the close game. “We came out with great urgency and playing with confidence, and then I think we hit a bit of a lull in the second and third quarter,” Williams said. “I thought we were very hesitant on both ends of the ball. I thought defensively we were standing around and not rotating on the backside, but then I thought we finished the third quarter strong and then I thought in the fourth quarter we kind of willed it out.” Kamin felt that the effort the Lakers played with on defense made a difference. “I think we came out really aggressive and I think in the second and third quarter we kind of dropped off a little bit and kind of let them back in the game,” Kamin said. “But then we stuck with it ‘til the end. Defense ended up being huge for us, especially the last play of the game.” Kamin scored 19 points and dished out four assists in the win, while Bisballe had a monstrous double-double
as she scored 16 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. After a gritty battle with the Warriors, it was a different game against SVSU, as the Lakers controlled the vast majority of the game. It was a back-and-forth affair at the beginning of the game, with the Cardinals taking an early lead before the Lakers had an 11-2 run to close out the first. From then on it was all GVSU. The Lakers scored 26 points in the second quarter on 81% from the field and then scored 17 in the third quarter on 44% from the field, all while forcing the Cardinals into tough shots. SVSU shot 38% in the second and 30% in the third. Down over 20 points in the fourth quarter, SVSU outscored the Lakers, but the comeback attempt was futile as GVSU took home a 78-54 victory. Bisballe had another huge game, scoring 24 points on nine for 11 shooting while adding three 3-pointers. “I think we just had a difference of coming in and wanted to be more dominant and to be more confident with what we were all doing and I think that helped us tonight,” said Bisballe. “I think just being more confident on the offensive end has been helping. I think not just myself, but everyone has been. I think that we’re an unselfish team and we can find each other and get good looks.” Wrapping up their road stretch, the Lakers hope to keep a five-game winning streak alive as they take on the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on Thursday, Feb. 15 and Purdue University-Northwest on Saturday, Feb. 17.
NARROW WIN: The GVSU women’s basketball team got a close win over WSU with clutch offensive and defensive plays to seal it in the final moments. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS
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FEBRUARY 12, 2024 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
BASKETBALL
GV men’s basketball drops two conference road games as up-and-down season continues BY DELANEY MILLER LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
Following an almost 20-point win against Davenport University, the Grand Valley State University Lakers men’s basketball team headed back on the road to play the Wayne State University Warriors and the Saginaw Valley State University Cardinals. After two straight wins, things seemed to be looking up for the GVSU team that has had an inconsistent season, but their struggles returned while in the middle of a five-game road trip. The Lakers took on WSU in Detroit, Michigan on Thursday, Feb. 8 and were led in the first half by the play of redshirt junior guard William Dunn, but ultimately fell short in a 73-66 loss. Against the Cardinals, GVSU played from behind for much of the game and lost 78-62. Dunn scored 10 first-half points against the Warriors’ defense, as sophomore guard Britain Harris scored 11 points. The duo’s first-half success helped give GVSU a four-point lead heading into halftime, 33-29. Both Dunn and Harris have been key players for the Lakers’ this season, but their hot start to the game did not carry
over to the second half. Instead, GVSU redshirt sophomore forward Ethan Alderink emerged as a big-time scorer. Early in the second half, Alderink scored seven straight points in under five minutes to give the Lakers a nine-point lead. Following Alderink’s seven-point run, the Warriors answered with eight straight of their own to cut their deficit to one point. Alderink then hit two free throws and a layup to hold onto a five-point lead, 44-39. With just over four minutes left in the game, the Lakers and the Warriors traded leads and ties before the game reached 64-all with just 1:30 remaining. WSU had nine of the game’s last 11 points as GVSU crumbled down the stretch. “At the end of the day we just want to control what we can control, no matter who we play, and that just didn’t happen today,” said GVSU graduate assistant Caileb Brown. Looking to turn it around against SVSU, a slow start plagued the Lakers. The Cardinals took the first six points of the game before GVSU got on the board three minutes in. Throughout much of the early first half, the Lakers and SVSU traded baskets. That is until Alderink nailed two three-point shots back-to-back, making the
score 19-14 nine minutes into the game. That five-point lead was GVSU’s biggest of the game, as things fell apart from that moment forward. The Cardinals finished the first half leading 31-25 after a 17-to-six-point run propelled them for the remainder of the matchup. Throughout most of the second half, SVSU maintained a 10-point lead, with just two players reaching double digits for GVSU. Alderink put up 15 points and went three for three at the 3-point line, while Docks put up 18 and made three baskets of his own from beyond the arc. “The main thing about the whole game was just trying to get off the offensive glass and just rebounds in general and we lost that battle,” Docks said. “That’s really what hurt us in this game and it made a big difference.” With the two losses this week, the Lakers stayed at fourth overall in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), just above SVSU. GVSU is now 9-13 overall and 6-6 in conference play. Next week, the Lakers finish the road trip by playing the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on Thursday, Feb. 15 and facing Purdue University-Northwest on Saturday, Feb. 17.
STRUGGLES: The GVSU men’s basketball team lost a close game against WSU and was blown out against SVSU, moving the Lakers record to 9-13 overall. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS