G R A N D VA L L E Y L A N T H O R N
Putting music to motion Dance accompanists play live music to prepare students
“So magnetic it’s almost obnoxious” EDITORIAL - ranking Taylor Swift’s 1989 (TV) Vault tracks
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Former professional rugby player coaches GV club rugby team LAKER LIFE | A13
M O N DAY, O C TO B E R 3 0, 2 0 2 3 / / VO L . 5 8 N O. 6
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A2 | NEWS
OCTOBER 30, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS
LAKERS
GV Alumni come “home” for homecoming
BY MALLORY BURT LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
“Then and Now” campus tours invite Grand Valley State University alumni to return to campus, revisiting what it means to be a Laker in 2023. The tours focus on celebrating fond memories and the home the GVSU campus has come to be for alumni and current students alike during GVSU’s homecoming weekend on Saturday, Oct. 28. The “Then and Now” tour features stops at buildings and landmarks across the Allendale campus where GVSU alumni and retired staff members shared stories and personal anecdotes from their time in school. “Then and Now Tours celebrate what it means to be a Laker for a lifetime,” Ashlyn Leavitt, Assistant Director of Event Planning and Volunteer Management within the GVSU Alumni Relations Team and graduate of the class of 2020, said. Tours departed from the Alumni House and Visitor
Center at 9:50 a.m. before the homecoming football game and tailgate. The tour takes roughly two hours and stops at important campus locations such as Seidman House, Russel H. Kirkhof Center and Mary Idema Pew Library. After the tours, attendees were encouraged to join homecoming festivities like the “Reunion Row” tailgate and the football game against Michigan Technological University. “We’re at the point with our alumnus, which (there are) over a hundred thousand, that some are grandparents and some are people who are 22, 23, so the range of their experience at GVSU is like a timeline,” Andy Beachnau, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and graduate of the class of 1985, said. Beachnau said the decision to invite alums to explore campus through “Then and Now” tours was easy. “One of the things GVSU does really well is (instilling) a sense of belonging like this is a place that matters,” Beachnau said. Beachnau said the question for alumni is “When did
you know you were a Laker?” For some grads, they felt at home the first day they walked on campus. Others took longer, but all were able to identify a moment in which they knew they’d found their home at GVSU. GVSU alumna Megan Zack said she met her husband of six years while attending GVSU at a party in the apartment complex then known as Copper Beech Townhomes. They have taken their daughter Sloane to campus multiple times to “look at the beautiful fall colors and show Sloane where we (they) fell in love.” “My favorite memories on campus were riding the wrecking ball before it was taken down, meeting my husband, eating not-so-great food at Kleiner and taking naps in the library,” Zack said. Alums had the opportunity to talk about their experiences and the impact GVSU had on the people they are today. The “Then and Now” campus tour event connected alumni to current students while reminiscing about their shared college experiences.
CAMPUS TOURS: “Then and Now” campus tours walks alumnus through memory lane at central locations across campus that were integral to their experience as GVSU students. The tours give alumni a chance to connect with current students while revisiting impactful moments and sharing personal anecdotes to celebrate the formative years they dedicated to their education at GVSU. GVL | AIDA DENNIS
A3 | NEWS
OCTOBER 30, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS
CONTENTS LAKERS
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EDUCATION
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FIREARMS
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OPINIONS
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EDITORIAL
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ARTS
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PERFORMANCE
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GALLERY
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DISCOVERY
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COMPETE
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FOOTBALL
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SOCCER
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SPONSORS
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VOL. 58
EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief ELIZABETH SCHANZ Associate Editor LEA GAETTO News Editor EMMA ARMIJO Sports Editor NELSON HUBBELL Laker Life Editor ISABELLE ENGLAND A&E Editor HAILEY HENTZ Image Editor BETHANN LONG Multimedia Editor AYRON RUTAN
Videographer MUSA DOVE
N O. 6
Layout Editor REV BRONOWSKI Layout Designer CARLIE SHERWOOD PROMOTIONS Promotions Manager ELISE RAPEYKO ADVERTISING STAFF
DEMOGRAPHIC
Women outnumber men in higher education enrollment BY JOSEPH POULOS LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
Women now outnumber men at universities across the country and the same is true at Grand Valley State University. Some reasons for this can be attributed to women outperforming men in academics and the relatively higher returns on college education women receive. A Federal Reserve Study in 2022 echoed this, noting that on average, women saw a 5.3% greater return on investment in their education than men did. While men in this study saw a 63% increase in wages from earning a college degree, women benefited from an even greater return. This has to do with the work fields women and men typically enter and other factors regarding statistical differences in academic performance between the sexes. If a return on tuition investment is keeping men in more labororiented jobs that don’t require degrees, then it makes sense these differences are also reflected at the university level. For example, GVSU has experienced a higher ratio of female to male students in recent years. The Diversity Dashboard within the GVSU Division of Inclusion and Equity shows females make up roughly 60 percent of the 2023 student population. This leaves the other 40 percent as males, and many students on campus have taken note. Jackson Heiden, a Journalism, Broadcast, and Digital Media major at GVSU, said he noticed women outnumber men on campus but only if he “really thinks about it.” The reasons for GVSU’s unequal ratio of women to men are unclear at this time, but Heiden said he believes there may be some possible explanations upon closer inspections of the school’s strengths and weaknesses. “GVSU has a very well-known nursing program, and I feel like that degree path is a primarily woman-dominant field, but at the same time I’m sure that field in itself only makes up a small percentage of the campus’ population,” Heiden said. Heiden believes the difference isn’t functionally significant. “I don’t think it matters too much. I’m sure at one point it was a primarily dominant male campus and
things have just fluctuated,” Heiden said. “I personally am not affected either way.” Others insist they haven’t noticed the unequal numbers as much, at least not in class makeup. Morgan Weststrate, a major in Film and Video Production at GVSU, expressed similar sentiments. “Specifically in my classes, I have not noticed,” Weststrate said. “There tends to be more males in my major than females, but in my activities outside of academics, I have noticed there is a significant ratio difference between females and males.” Weststrate said educational alternatives such as trade school may be more popular amongst young men. “I think trade schools are desirable because they are more cost and time-effective than your average fouryear college,” Weststrate said. “Traditionally speaking, males find trades more appealing than females, although many women are involved with different trades.” Today, there are a wide variety of labor jobs for corporations available such as Amazon or even app-based side hustles like Uber and DoorDash in addition to traditional trade careers. “I think more people in general, not just males, are realizing they don’t need to attend a university or college to obtain a career,” Weststrate said.“Obviously there are plenty of factors of why someone may not attend college. It could be for financial reasons, poor performance in school or they’re pursuing a different route such as trades.” Weststrate said she doesn’t “think college would necessarily be better if the ratio was 1:1.” Weststrate said she believes if the current climate is good for the people involved then the ratio can stay as is. “If males are finding what works best for them, what they’re interested in and it’s benefiting the communities around them, then if anything, that should be celebrated,” Weststrate said. “However, females seem to now have the ‘advantage’ in college, but I think they still are still underrepresented in the workplace. In this case, I think it’s more about representation than anything.”
Advertising Manager LAUREN SCHOENHERR Advertising Design MORGAN MANN BUSINESS STAFF Business Manager BRENDAN BUTTERFIELD Distribution Managers DALLAS MATHEWS REAGAN RUD IT Operations Manager JOSHUA DANIELS
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
STUDENTS: Enrollment data reveals a higher number of women enrolled at higher educational institutions. The reverse was true less than 50 years ago. This showcases growth of equitable opportunity between the sexes and reflects the state of the job market today. COURTESY | GVSU
A4 | NEWS
OCTOBER 30, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS
EDUCATION
Proposed bill could change MI teacher evaluations
LEGISLATION: Michigan is one of 34 states utilizing student data, like test scores and standard exams, to determine the effectiveness of their teacher. COURTESY | BRIDGE MICHIGAN BY NATALIE BROOKS LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
Michigan Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia) introduced Bill 395 regarding the process of evaluating the performance of teachers in K-12 schools on June 15. The bill’s main focus is proposing the removal of students’ standardized test scores from consideration in the teacher evaluation process. Under the current state law, more than 40% of the teacher evaluation process and results rely on student data. At least half of said 40% is reliant on standardized test scores for those who teach common core subjects that are included in the standardized tests. Due to the high reliance on student data and test scores, the teachers’ evaluations do not include as many specific ways to improve their performance. The evaluations’ emphasis on student data cannot take into account the effects of uncontrollable variables such as sickness, stress, lack of sleep or other factors on a student’s performance. According to a Bridge Michigan article, teachers are generally getting positive evaluation scores due to the information skews. “Teachers receive one of four rankings: highly effective, effective, minimally effective and ineffective, but in practice, nearly all teachers are scored positively, making it difficult to identify those teachers who are struggling and get them the support they need,” Education Reporter Isabel Lohman said in the article. According to a 2019 data collection, Michigan is one of 34 states that takes student growth data into account for teacher evaluations. There is very little data on the effectiveness of teacher evaluations in states that do not require the consideration of student data. The state’s teachers unions are in support of this bill
along with future educators. Grand Valley State University’s Aspiring Educators of Michigan (AEM) vice president and representative Mickenzie Atkins said she loves the new bill and is excited about its implementation. “I guess the biggest thing is just the positive influence that it would have on teachers because I think at the end of the day like both sides of the issue want to see teachers improve,” Atkins said. “I just really think with the state of the world right now and the number of teachers that are leaving, like it would make a really big difference to have them not so heavily evaluated on things that are so heavily out of their control.” Other future educators believe that this bill is a step in the right direction. GVSU student Emelia Adam said the current system puts teachers at a disadvantage when it comes to student data being included in evaluations. “Some of the best teachers can be receiving the lowest scores because not all students learn at the same rate or do well on assessments. We are judging teachers on scores that are not reflecting on their classroom teaching,” Adam said. Adam said educators should be further educated on how to handle classroom environments. She thinks that the emphasis of educating future teachers should be placed more on the well-being of the child and the classroom environment. “Most of my current classrooms are all about classroom management, how to deal with certain situations, and how to be an educator for the child, not just the curriculum,” Adam said. “I feel like this is the way to educate our future teachers because it shows what becoming a teacher entails, it is not about how to get good test scores.” However, there are many people who oppose the implementation of the bill. Many see this bill as a
way to loosen teacher evaluations and fear students’ education will suffer. Michigan Senator John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs) said now is not the time to be holding teachers under less strict standards. “While I am open to exploring ideas like using tests other than M-Step to measure teacher success, the bills that have been introduced will only weaken accountability at a time we need to drive better results from schools,” Damoose said to Bridge Michigan. State Superintendent Michael F. Rice is also in opposition to the bill. In a memorandum that he sent out to local and intermediate school district superintendents and public school academy directors, Rice said while there are aspects of the bill that he supports, there are important parts that ultimately put him in the oppositional stance. “We will continue to oppose the bills as introduced, in the absence of a reasonable, locally determined growth component,” Rice said. “We know from experience that to do otherwise is to risk the next generation of students and staff being subjected to educator evaluation law and practice that takes time from children and doesn’t improve teacher practice.” Amy Shelling, GVSU’s Associate Dean of the College of Education & Community Innovation and Professor of Special Education, said there are aspects of this bill that she supports, but no inclusion of student growth data at all could potentially have a negative impact. “If the goal of evaluating students is to ensure teachers are engaged in effective instruction and students are learning, then including a measure of student growth and allowing districts to identify and use the student growth assessment data that best does this for them, should be a component of the evaluation system,” Shelling said.
A5 | NEWS
OCTOBER 30, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS FIREARMS
MI introduces gun legislation bills that would loosen gun control restrictions BY JOSEPH POULOS LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
State Rep. Gina Johnsen and Sen. Jonathan Lindsey have proposed two new bills that would make Michigan a gun sanctuary state. The two Republicans’ plan to make Michigan a state that protects the Second Amendment to a greater degree. So far, two bills exist, but have yet to be passed: House Bill 5132 and Senate Bill 584. In the strictest terms, they would grant the state license to enforce which federal regulations regarding firearms they would like to recognize. This would mean a lapse in universal background checks, red flag laws and any others that inhibit gun ownership in the state. The legislators see these obstacles as infringing upon the Second Amendment. Though this is a partisan matter, opinions on gun control are extremely varied across the state. Emma Long, the president of the Students Demand Action chapter at Grand Valley State University, believes that making the state “safer for guns” will make the state more dangerous for people. “Gun safety laws and regulations are solely for the purpose of keeping our communities safe, and watering down those regulations decreases public safety,” Long said. For Long, the natural consequence of ignoring regulations will be a loss of safety overall, especially in communities in
which gun violence remains an ever-present issue. “When gun laws become more relaxed and less strict, I think a lot of young communities feel like we aren’t being heard because we want rules and regulations that would keep us safe,” Long said. Long does appreciate the idea of states making their own decisions regarding gun control. However, she believes that less regulation is not the answer. “The firearm epidemic is a problem for the entire U.S., but it doesn’t always work to try to pass federal regulations only,” Long said. “If we can start with state-level regulations and work to limit gun violence as a state, there is good potential that we can expand those laws to the federal level.” School shootings remain a prevalent thought in many people’s minds, especially after the shooting on Michigan State University’s campus in East Lansing earlier this year. GVSU student and Communications Director for the College Democrats Ella Schavey believes that making the state a gun sanctuary state will potentially lead to safety issues for students specifically. “It would endanger students even more than the lack of our laws already has,” Schavey said. “Michigan should prioritize this country-wide issue as it does affect us all.” There have been about 560 mass shootings in the U.S. this year alone, a fact that Schavey feels is personal and present. “We should be reminded each day of the lives that were lost
and focus on keeping the places where we learn safe from the clear and present danger that guns are,” Schavey said. Schavey believes Bill 5132 and any other legislation making it easier to own a gun in the state is a step in the wrong direction. “The bill would take us two huge steps back from the small one we just made, prohibiting enforcement of gun control measures like background checks and the red flag law that our legislature pushed hard to pass,” Schavey said. “Supporters of the bill (House Bill 5132 and Senate Bill 584) and say these laws (gun control legislation) are impeding on the lawful gun owners, but our democratic controlled legislature argues that they help to prevent violence, which I do not see them backing down to stand up for.” As long as Second Amendment issues remain a vital and contentious talking point in America, these propositions will spark debate. Whitt Kilburn, a political science professor at GVSU recognized the legitimacy of the legislation being proposed but insisted it might not matter much, based on the current party makeup of the legislature. “With the Democrats in the state legislature in the majority, it has no chance of passing,” Kilburn said. “I would add, however, that I suspect this bill would not have an easy time passing even with Republican control of the legislature. Michigan is not Texas.”
SANCTUARY: Proposals for House Bill 5132 and Senate Bill 584 could make Michigan considered a gun “sanctuary state” creating more protection for firearms. COURTESY | GOP HOUSE
A6 | OPINIONS
OCTOBER 30, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS
Why permanent daylight savings time is needed
BY SAM NOWOTNIK LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
On Sunday, Nov. 5, the clocks will fall back an hour making our days feel shorter yet again. As we end our school or work day, it will most likely be pitch black outside and the dreaded dark winter season begins. For years there has been talk of changing this biannual clock change to a permanent daylight savings time. The bill is called the Sunshine Protection Act and has been around since 2018. After continuous years of proposed legislation, there has been no progress on the adoption of this law. Even after momentum was gained last year that gave much hope that things would change, no decisions were made, and we should
expect to be in the same position next year as well. It may seem like a biannual clock change is just a nuisance, but much more happens during the switching of the clocks back and forth than many believe. Researchers have found the change in daylight hours affects physical and mental health, car accidents, energy consumption, crime, economic activity, and school performance. All of this could be avoided with the implementation of a permanent daylight saving time, so we do not have to make this change every year. Losing an extra hour of daylight at the end of every day can really take a toll on someone over time. Especially in the midwest, when we are already trapped inside due to freezing temperatures. Mental health is greatly affected when you go home in complete darkness every day. When it is dark all the time, motivation to leave the house or stay productive is usually depleted leading to lower performance in school and work. Experts have compared drowsy driving following the time change to drunk driving since reactions are slower and the attention span is shortened. New research finds that fatal car crashes increase by six percent the week following daylight saving time. The altering of your sleep schedule will not only cause dangers on the road but lead to serious health conditions. The stress related to switching your sleep schedule and readjusting your routine has been linked to increased heart attacks the week following the time change. To think this happens yearly and the effects
have been researched is shocking to me since there has been no legal change to this law. Throughout my childhood, I would always ask my parents why the clocks would have to change because I always dreaded it. Before I had an iPhone that would automatically switch the time for me, I had to manually switch my alarm clock. More than once I ended up being late for school because I would forget. During the switch, I would always have the hardest time going to bed and would always feel terrible in the morning. It was always a rough week or two, and I wouldn’t really start to wake up until halfway through the school day. On top of that, it was always the worst to see the sun setting on my bus ride home from school. It felt easier to stay in because it was always dark out, and it seemed like it was always super late at night when it really was just early evening. Regardless of what schedule the clocks are on, it is still very hard to get through winter with the sun going down so early in the evening. This hour change is something to offset the very early dark nights. With the sun setting later people can drive easier and avoid accidents, be inclined to leave the house more and not go through a couple-week process of getting themselves adjusted to a new schedule. I can only hope to see a permanent time change soon, so the winter season is slightly easier to get through.
Hot takes: fashion trend edition
BY MADDIE ZIMMERMAN LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
We have all heard of “hot takes.” So what about some hot takes: fashion edition? I will be going over some fashion ticks and some fashion icks. To start off on a high note, I will be going over some current popular fashion trends that I love. First, this summer was the summer of jorts, aka jean shorts. Say what you want, but jorts are cute. This was the summer of long jorts. Jorts look great on everyone with any body type. They look great dressed up or dressed down. You can make them into a nineties look, Y2K or just a relaxed indie look. I practically lived in jorts this summer. As we are heading into fall, I have been loving the bow trend on TikTok. I remember being in third grade and my mom would always put bows in my little sisters and my hair and I would complain so much. Never in a million years did I think I would be asking her to bring me ribbons when she came to visit me at college. They look cute paired with everything. Shoes, sweaters, hair, you name it. They add a cute feminine touch to all outfits. The only thing is they are starting to be overdone a little bit. Here comes the hot take. Yes, I love the bow trend
and partake in it myself, but there isn’t a reason to have 12 bows included in one outfit. If bows are tied onto the belt loops of jeans, five in your bubble braided hair, bows on your book-bag, bows on your UGG boots, you have outdone yourself. If you wear bows in moderation, that’s perfect. Too many and it seems overbearing. Going along with another fall trend, I have been loving knit sweaters. You can probably picture the exact sweaters I am thinking of. The ones where they look hand-knit. The chunkier the better. We live in Michigan where the weather gets ugly fast. We need all the layers and warmth we can get from our clothes. If you are on TikTok and watch fashion and outfitrelated videos, you have probably heard of wearing the outfit and not letting it wear you. This essentially means when you wear an outfit, you are styling it towards your taste and body type. For example, you are wearing a pair of jeans, a white sweater and UGG Tasmans. That is simply putting on the outfit. In order to style the outfit, you have to add some pizazz. You can tuck the sweater up to make it cropped, roll the jeans at the bottom, add some cute jewelry pieces, tie your hair half up with a bow and wear matching white frilly socks to match the sweater. Now you have styled an outfit. I love this concept, and it has helped me so much when getting ready for class in the morning. Lastly, the most popular trend and new “in” thing at the moment is slicked-back hair. I have to say, I am a slicked-back hair hater but not for the reason that you think I may be. I think it looks adorable on literally everyone. Slicked back ponytails, buns, ponytails with braids, half up and half down looks- an absolute slay in my opinion. Where I hate the trend is because I have curly hair. I can never get my hair to stay slicked back no matter how much gel and product I use. I will never be able to master the perfect slicked-back hair unless I spend hours straightening my hair. Until I can master the art of this hairstyle on my curly hair, I am patiently waiting for the trend to die down, so I can not worry
about my baby hairs sticking out every which way. The best thing about fashion is that it is an artistic form of expression. Everyone is entitled to wear whatever makes them happy. This is in no way shape or form hating on anyone who does like the fashion trends I have pointed out that don’t always rock my boat. Everyone is free to dress and express themselves freely, so have fun and be yourself.
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 500650 words in length, and they are not edited by the Lanthorn staff except to fix technical errors or to clarify. Reader submissions on the opinion page appear as space permits. To make a submission, email editorial@lanthorn.com or drop your submission off in person at: 0051 KIRKHOF CENTER GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ALLENDALE, MI 49401 616-826-8276
A7 | EDITORIAL
OCTOBER 30, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS
EDITORIAL
“So magnetic it’s almost obnoxious”- ranking Taylor Swift’s 1989 (TV) Vault tracks BY LANTHORN EDITORIAL STAFF LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
On Oct. 27, Taylor Swift released her fourth album rerecording– “1989 (Taylor’s Version).” Originally released in 2014, the new release allowed Swift to own the legal rights to the album, which sold over a million copies almost a decade ago. According to Forbes, Swift “vowed to regain control of her music after Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings controversially acquired her back catalog in 2019 and later sold it to a private equity firm.” Swift described the selling of her masters as a “worst-case scenario” in a post on her official Tumblr account from 2019. Since losing control of her first six albums in 2019, Swift has re-recorded and released her “Taylor’s Version” albums: “Red (Taylor’s Version),” “Fearless (Taylor’s Version),” “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” and the newest, highly anticipated “1989 (Taylor’s Version).” “All 12 of Swift’s full-length studio albums and rerecorded projects from 2008’s Fearless, her second studio album, through 2023’s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) have debuted at No. 1,” Keith Caulfield wrote for Billboard. Caulfield noted the re-recording reached 250,000 copies sold on the day of its release. It is no surprise to us as big Swifties the album would perform so well on both the charts and financially. “1989” includes not just the re-recorded 16 tracks, but five new songs “From The Vault.” As with all of Swift’s released re-records thus far, these songs didn’t make it onto the original album’s tracklist. The vault tracks, written years ago, have been “locked” away since their creation. We have anxiously awaited the vault tracks’ release, and in honor of this occasion the Lanthorn editors have come together to rank the five vault tracks from “1989 (Taylor’s Version).” With big opinions in the room, this was a particularly painstaking process. After much deliberation, we have successfully ranked the recently released tracks to reflect our Top Five.
5. Suburban Legends
Coming in at number five, we have “Suburban Legends.” Now, just because we placed this track in number five does not mean we did not like it. We enjoyed this track but felt it was slightly lackluster compared to the other four tracks. The lyrics, which portray the passage of time, loss and longing, create a vivid image for listeners but sonically feel flat. The track is atmospheric, and we did enjoy lyrics like “So magnetic it’s almost obnoxious” but as a whole, the song doesn’t quite measure up to the concepts and innovativeness of the other songs “from the vault.”
4. “Slut!”
Prior to its release, there was much discourse around “Slut!” and speculation on what the song would sound like. As a result of this, “‘Slut!’ (Taylor’s Version)’ debuted in the U.S. at No. 1 with 5.2 million streams, and globally with 11.3 million,” according to Variety. The track depicts the media’s scrutinized coverage of her love life, and Swift’s recognition of the press’ ever-present eyes. While we think the content and concept of the song discuss an issue all too common for female celebrities, we expected an electric track to stop us in our tracks, which we didn’t necessarily feel we got with “Slut!”
3. Now That We Don’t Talk
When ranking the album’s vault tracks, the Lanthorn Editorial team was torn between “Now That We Don’t Talk” and “Slut!” for the third and fourth spots. In a three-to-one vote, we placed “Now That We Don’t Talk” in the third slot. While one opinion floating around was that the track felt uninspired and flat, the majority of us argued the track was reminiscent of some of our favorite songs from Swift’s tenth studio album, “Midnights.” With a steady methodical beat and hard-hitting lyrics, we think that the track deserves its third-place spot. A favorite lyric of ours is “Now that we don’t talk/ I don’t have to pretend I like acid rock/ Or that I’d like to be on a mega yacht/ With important men who think important thoughts.”
We really loved the pop sound of this song and the relatability of the lyrics in regards to a relationship you still think about even when you don’t talk anymore.
2. Say Don’t Go
In a unanimous decision, we awarded “Say Don’t Go” the title of second best vault track from the album. We feel the song is lyrically relatable and wellbalanced, between the song’s reflective moments and outpouring of emotion. After a vulnerable verse and pre-chorus filled with uncertainty about a relationship, Swift expresses a sentiment reminiscent of “Red (T.V.)”- how things would have changed with everything that was never said. With lyrics like, “Why’d you have to lead me on?/ Why’d you have to twist the knife?” This song was a stab in the chest that’s been stuck in our heads for days.
1. Is It Over Now?
In another unanimous decision between us all, we placed “Is It Over Now?” as our favorite vault track from the album. A fitting song to end the album, we felt the song was the strongest lyrically and sonically of all five “from the vault” tracks. In the piece, she writes, “Was it over when she laid down on your couch?/ Was it over when he unbuttoned my blouse?/ ‘Come here,’ I whispered in your ear/ In your dream as you passed out, baby/ Was it over then? And is it over now?” With a soft and slow intro, the song builds as the guitar and drums crescendo to create a beautifully desperate plea from Swift, mulling over a past relationship and questioning when the relationship really ended. Overall, we were blown away when we heard the vault tracks. “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” is truly a pop masterwork, and we thought the vault tracks seamlessly blended into the already distinct pop sound that is universally loved by Swifties. We will definitely be streaming the whole album for the foreseeable future.
TAYLOR’S VERSION: Although the rerecorded albums primarily have released songs, fan look forward to vault tracks which were never released with the initial album. GVL | EMMA ARMIJO
A8&9 | ARTS
OCTOBER 30, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLART
Moving the movers: live music accompanists inspire, influence GV’s dance program “In terms of like what I get out of being a musician, it’s really zero to do with like performing or getting my chance to shine or show people what I can do. It’s more being in service to something larger.”
STAFF: Alex Hamel has been a part of the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance for over 10 years and is accompanist for dance classes and theatre pits. COURTESY | GVSU MTD
up with friends and greet the professor as they enter. Silently, one more person enters the room: the accompanist. They walk to the back corner of the studio, which contains a piano and drums. They won’t be moving as the dancers do or verbally guide the students like the instructor, instead, the movement will take place as their fingers strike the keys of the piano or beat the drums. The music they play will shape the class at its core. GVSU’s dance program has two accompanists Alex Hamel and Ryan Blok who create, perform and partner with dance students and faculty within the program’s movement technique classes. Hamel, who has been a part of the program for over 10 years, most commonly accompanies the modern dance courses and Blok has been the resident ballet accompanist since 2017. The accompanists explore and create music for a collaborative process between movement and music. When Hamel accompanies modern dance classes he acts as a “one-man band” playing piano and drums individually
and simultaneously, a skill that he developed over time and from a young age. Hamel said often he plays both instruments at once because “neither one on its own seemed sufficient.” Hamel’s playing journey began with learning piano, which his grandfather gave him, at age six. His passion continued to develop with time. He started playing the drums in the school band at age 10 and taught himself guitar at 12. Continuing to play and learn, Hamel decided initially to minor in music at GVSU and was an art major. At the time he was not planning on pursuing a musical path, but rather graphic design or animation. But, after becoming more involved in music opportunities on campus, he decided to make the shift to becoming a music major. “I did marching band, stuff like that, to percussion major when I was a student here (GVSU), but I also got into the jazz program. My professors, actually, they were like ‘Seems like you want to be a musician,’” Hamel said. “I didn’t want to study music and not have it be my profession. I think that gave me the confidence
to sort of double down on everything I was doing here.” The decision to fully commit to music led Hamel to accompany the dance program for the first time as a student, a job he had for his last two years at GVSU. With very little knowledge about dance, Hamel took on the role and learned on the job. He learned that the work of the accompanist was largely based on improvisation, which Hamel had experience in as a music major with a jazz emphasis. He soon realized this path fit his passions and has guided the rest of his career. Now, Hamel primarily accompanies for dance classes and plays in theatre pits. He considers both of these positions “service-oriented, support roles” and feels that is where his heart is. “I don’t live for the spotlight at all. I actually quit piano lessons because I didn’t want to do recitals anymore,” Hamel said. “In terms of like what I get out of being a musician, it’s really zero to do with like performing or getting my chance to shine or show people what I can do.
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“Live music just feels more present. Tucked away in the back wing of Grand Valley State As loud as you turn up a speaker with University’s Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts is room 1600: the largest dance studio used canned music, it never feels as vibrant by dance program students. Starting at 9 a.m. the studio comes to life as dance students enter the space for the first in the space as the live music does.” movement class of the day. They begin stretching, catching BY ELIZABETH SCHANZ LANTHORNEDITORAL@GVSU.EDU
flexibility of changing tempos, measures and more but creates variety within the class. “(Blok) will find ways to keep it (the music) artistically interesting for the room. So there might be gentle shifts, like an octave change, or an additional rhythmic line added in. It just helps open up possibilities and ideas for ways to engage with the movement that we’re doing as well,” Rabbers said. Emma Buschle a senior majoring in Dance and Public Relations works with both Hamel and Blok in her modern and ballet courses. Buschle said before coming to college she had never been in a dance class with an accompanist before. She said the experience of having live music in her dance courses at GVSU is incredibly beneficial and rewarding. From interacting with both musicians, Buschle said Hamel has such a “unique style” in his musical pieces and Blok has a talent for knowing ballet “like the back of his hand.” She feels she has gotten to know the accompanists more as artists and as individuals. “There’s just a huge level of respect for each other (dancers, professors and musicians),” Buschle said. “At the end of each class, we do a huge round of applause of them and we have a ritual of smacking the floor and creating a bunch of noise to thank them.” Buschle said over her time at GVSU she has paid more “attention to what’s going on in the corner.” Buschle, and other dance program students and faculty, appreciate the artistry of accompanists. They feel that accompanists connect to everyone in the room at a deeper personal, passionate level than just hitting play.
It’s more being in service to something larger.” Hamel said the experience of being an accompanist shifts with the needs, wants and energy of the class itself and that the partnership between the music, dancers and professors is deeply intertwined. “I never think of it like I’m creating music that is to be danced to, like ‘here’s some great music now dance,’ you know,” Hamel said. “In a way, I’m like taking class with all y’all. Just trying to find the impulse within the movement that combination are based on and reflect that and really accompany the dance.” Dance Professor and dance curriculum coordinator Carrie Brueck Morris has been working with Hamel for over 10 years. She says Hamel’s contribution as a musician and artist allows students to learn more about music in their coursework: musical terminology, how to work with musicians and “understanding the layers” to musicality beyond counts. T Additionally, Morris said Hamel as UR O an artist and partner in dance classes is C extraordinary. K O “He knows how to look at dance and he knows how R YA N B L to respond to what is happening in the room,” Morris said. “It feels so easy to work with him and I feel like we’re reading each other’s minds.” Similarly, Blok’s work as the ballet accompaniment comes from years of development. One of Blok’s first musical memories was with a Fisher Price piano where he learned a couple of basic songs. He was then put into piano lessons at eight years old, percussion in band, choir and was involved in church music throughout his life. Blok, like Hamel, is also a GVSU alum who started at GVSU in 2013 after deciding he wanted to focus more on piano. During this time, he began to learn how to be a ballet accompanist. “I started with just that a couple books, I had like one piece of music for each combination,” Blok said. “Once I got the feel for the eight-measure phrases all the time and how each combination felt, it just became easier and easier. I’d say a year in I was 90 percent improvising.” After graduating, he began his accompanist career in the GVSU dance program, played classes at Grand Rapids INSTRUMENTS: Accompanists allows students to feel a stronger connection to both dance and music. GVL | BETHANN LONG
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RHYTHM: GVSU’s dance program accompanists perform music on drums and piano alongside students as a way to verbally guide their movements and shape the dances. GVL | BETHANN LONG
Ballet and opened a private piano and voice teaching studio. “My plan was always to somehow make a living in music in Grand Rapids and wasn’t planning on going anywhere,” Blok said. Blok said the presence of live music helps to shape dance classes in both atmosphere and structure. “Live music just feels more present. As loud as you turn up a speaker with canned music, it never feels as vibrant in the space as the live music does,” Blok said. “The biggest thing is the flexibility that a live musician can have. Often teachers want to do the same combination, one time at a certain tempo and speed it up for the second.” Blok values the ability to have a collaborative relationship with the professors and to provide an experience that is “active and vibrant” rather than just a rhythm for students to execute steps to. He enjoys the opportunity and freedom of improvisation and the ability to challenge himself with what he plays each day to better help aid the experiences of dancers in class. One of GVSU’s ballet professors Carolyn Pampalone Rabbers has worked with Blok since 2021. She feels he not only allows the pedagogical
A10 | ARTS
OCTOBER 30, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLARTS
PERFORMANCE
GV Theatre spotlights feminism in revamped “Dracula” BY RACHAEL GAGE LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
ACTING: “Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really” puts a twist on Bram Stoker’s classic story by featuring female leads instead of the traditional male characters. Throughout the play, the plot contfronts sexism and employs a modern feminist lens to the horror tale. COURTESY | ERIKA LBERG
Grand Valley State University’s theatre production, “Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really,” opened Oct. 27. The play spotlights female leads overthrowing stereotypes and patriarchal themes. GVSU’s theatre program chose the unique adaptation of “Dracula” for its positive take on modern feminism and the prominent roles that women play. The feminist revamping was written by Katie Hamil with the intent of confronting the sexism in Bram Stoker’s literary classic the original tale of “Dracula” written in 1897. Demetria Thomas, the production’s director, said she wants the audience to watch the performance with an open mind and enjoy the twist on the classic story. In the adaptation, traditionally male characters are portrayed as females with power and intellect. “(In the play) Dracula comes to England to find new victims,” Thomas said. “The men aren’t powerful enough to stop him.” The original story of “Dracula” portrays women as victims and side characters. Thomas hopes that this adaptation of “Dracula” gives women a voice and control, even in the face of horror and tragedy. “There’s a structure inside literature that makes women victims and does not allow them to have their own agency (and) their own power to be able to protect themselves,” Thomas said. “This adaptation of that story puts the (responsibility) for destroying Dracula into the hands of women.” Despite the production’s title, Thomas believes anyone could enjoy the performance.
“You don’t have to be a feminist in order to see that when women are empowered, problems have a greater chance of being solved,” Thomas said. Riley Begeman portrays Dracula in the production. Begeman said it is fun to play a “scary” villain on stage and feels that being a part of this production draws attention to wider societal issues. “The heart of the show is women,” Begeman said. “(The script) follows how (women) are impacted by sexism, misogyny and the patriarchy.” The performance presents an overall theme of female empowerment– a message that both Begeman and Thomas want the audience to hear. “Female empowerment is something that we as a society should be more focused on, especially empowering women in marginalized groups,” Begeman said. Thomas said it is important to depict powerful women through theatre in order to engage audiences in discussions beyond the performance. “I think it’s a really interesting conversation,” Thomas said. “It’s a great way to look at how powerful women actually are, and how susceptible even men are to faulty promises.” Thomas and Begeman both said everyone involved in the theatre program has been incredible and supportive during the production. Overall, they are proud of the work they have put into the performance. “I think (this performance) has set a high bar for us going forward,” Thomas said. There are two performances remaining of the production on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 in the Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts. Tickets can be purchased on GVSU theatre’s website.
PRODUCTION: The GVSU theatre program chose the “Dracula” adaptation as a way to encourage female empowerment and bring attention to societal issues. COURTESY | ERIKA LBERG
A11 | ARTS
OCTOBER 30, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLARTS
GALLERY
Villainous art and spooky costumes take over Calder Art Center BY DYLAN HOFFIUS LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
Grand Valley State University’s Department of Visual & Media Arts (VMA) hosted its sixth annual Halloween Spooktacular on Oct. 26 at the Stuart B. and Barbara H. Padnos Student Art Gallery in the Calder Fine Arts Center. Students, faculty and alumni were encouraged to participate in a costume contest and view the artwork on display from the Student Interest Group for Illustrators (SIGIL). The artwork, which included paintings, digital art and original comic books, drew inspiration from the night’s theme, “The Villains Win.” The event also featured other activities such as spooky karaoke, cornhole, a pumpkin drawing contest and a horror movie screening after the artwork reception concluded. Associate Professor of Illustration Guin Thompson helped organize the event with fellow illustration professor Durwin Talon and printmaking professor Brett Colley. Thomson said the Spooktacular tradition is an incredible “community building” event for students and the GVSU community. “This is a really good, seasonal opportunity to bring everyone together to celebrate art and creativity,”
ON VIEW: The GVSU Department of Visual & Media Arts hosted its sixth annual Spooktacular. GVL | SYDNEY LIM
Thompson said. “We had over 50 pieces in the gallery show this year and it just seems like it grows in popularity and is more awesome every year.” Thompson said a major contributor to the event’s popularity has been the costume contest. The contest features five different categories in which students were eligible to win prizes. The categories included best group costume, most creative, scariest costume, most ambitious and funniest costume. Many of the students in attendance spent considerable amounts of time putting together their costumes. Anna Sampier, an illustration student at GVSU, said she had been collecting pieces for her plague doctor costume for three years after being inspired at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. Sampier said her first year attending the Spooktacular was great for socializing with peers and meeting new people. “If you’re worried about how they (people) will perceive you, it’s a good reason to dress up and be perceived differently,” Sampier said. “If you’re not outgoing, this gives you a reason to be.” As part of “The Villains Win” art exhibition, Sampier displayed a piece titled “Full Moon Fury.” Sampier used
acrylic, graphite, alcohol marker and colored pencil in her drawing of a snarling werewolf in the forefront of a forest under a bloody, moonlit sky. President of SIGIL Briana Skerpan said she was particularly happy and impressed with the quality of the artwork on display this year in spite of new challenges. Normally, SIGIL begins working on art for the Spooktacular on the first day of the fall semester. Skerpan said because of SIGIL’s inaugural Laker Con event, preparation for the Spooktacular didn’t begin until the end of September. “Last year, this was the thing we were focusing on from the start of the semester,” Skerpan said. “Now (it was) like, okay, we only have a month to get everything prepared, so the turnaround was just much quicker.” Despite the extra work to prepare for the event, Skerpan said the Spooktacular was worth all of the effort because of what it meant to GVSU students. “Especially for freshmen and sophomores, it can be hard to find time to get out and connect with other students,” Skerpan said. “Having something to look forward to and being able to see what people outside of your class are working on is significant for both students and VMA.”
TRICK OR TREAT: Students snacked while participating in activities such as cornhole and karaoke. GVL | SYDNEY LIM
HALLOWEEN: Students a part of SIGIL, the Student Interest Group for Illustrators, displayed their eerie and ghostly seasonal artwork in a variety of media at the event. GVL | SYDNEY LIM
A12 | LAKER LIFE
OCTOBER 30, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE
DISCOVERY
Archeological Society “digs up” excitement
HISTORY: GVSU students who are a part of the Archeological Society learn more about how archeologists work to investigate the origin of the artifacts they uncover. GVL | ADAM SLAKES BY ANNE DAVEY LANTHORNEDITORAL@GVSU.EDU
The Archeological Society is a student organization at Grand Valley State University that hopes to bring together students who share an interest in archeology, the study of history through artifacts and physical remains. The Archeological Society also strives to raise awareness and educate students about the archeological and conservation sciences. The society meets monthly on Tuesday nights for their general meeting and hosts occasional events in between meetings on and off campus. This past week the society had a night of archaeological halloween-themed arts and crafts. The club members made their own Ancient Egyptian canopic jars, jars used by ancient Egyptians during the mummification process. Additionally, members of the GVSU Archeological Society were invited to an event to hear speakers from the Coffinberry Chapter of the Michigan Archaeological Society (MAS) talk about traditional pottery made in the Great Lakes Region. According to MAS’s website, they aim to promote “the education of the public toward understanding the importance of our cultural resources. To reach this goal, the MAS involves many people from all walks of life, degrees of interest and experience levels.” The GVSU Archeological Society hopes that their collaboration with the MAS will foster opportunities for deeper understanding and allow students to explore possible careers and projects in the field. The Archeological Society has plans to continue events and grow the organization. The Archeological Society’s President Rose Chiodo is an Anthropology major and Archeology minor. She said the society is open to people from any major or area of study. “(The society) is meant to be a space where all those interested in archaeology, not just those who are seeking to pursue a career in archaeology, can get together and participate in conversation, fun
activities and cool experiences,” Chiodo said. Chiodo joined the club for the opportunity to get some hands-on experience, as GVSU does not currently offer an Archaeology Major. However, GVSU does offer an Archeology minor of 22 credits. The society hopes to provide more opportunities to those who may be interested in expanding their knowledge and for people who have completed, or are on their way to completing, the courses that are currently offered for the minor. The Archeological Society hosts many opportunities for hands-on interactive learning. In addition to their monthly meetings, the society plans to be have museum trips, archival tours,
movie nights and club study groups for this year. Additionally, the club has previously collaborated with the Classics Society and Theta History Club to host the Annual Paleo-Olympics. The Annual PaleoOlympics is an immersive event showcasing medieval armor, a reenactment of medieval battle, cookie hieroglyphics painting and pottery reassembling to simulate an archeologists job in the field. While the society is more educational, Chiodo said she has been intentional with her leadership position and hopes to continue to foster in the club’s culture. “This club hopes to offer students friendship, opportunity and fun to all who are involved,” Chiodo said.
FUTURE: GVSU does not offer a archeology major, but members of the club hope they will eventually. GVL | ADAM SLAKES
OCTOBER 30, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN
A13 | LAKER LIFE
@GVLLAKERLIFE
COMPETE
Former professional rugby player coaches GV club rugby team BY SARA BAGLEY LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
While Grand Valley State University is well-recognized for its high-achieving DII football team, a much less widely known sport is gaining popularity as a club team at GVSU. Rugby, a close contact sport somewhat similar to football in score and objective, found a home at GVSU in 1998 and is still active on campus today. Back-to-back Great Lakes Conference Champions, the men’s rugby club team currently sits at No. 11 in the DII ranking done by National Collegiate Rugby, up from #15 at the beginning of the season. This season alone, they defeated the University of Notre Dame’s B side 47-15, thrashed rivals Central Michigan University with a final score of 36-5 and faced off against Ferris State University to clinch a playoff spot after winning the game, 54-12. Boasting in organization of around 40 players and climbing quickly up the ranks of the DII division, the GVSU men’s rugby club team has its eyes set on the prize. The team is energized and determined under the direction of new Assistant Coach Sam Motari. A graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in cybersecurity, Motari joined the technical bench to coach the club team in the winter semester of 2023, working alongside head coach John Mullet and assistant coach Randy McGregor. Motari is a lifelong rugby player, starting off young in his home country of Kenya. He represented Kenya on their national team multiple times, starting when he was in eighth grade playing for the under 19 team in 2011. Motari went on to play five international matches for the team and continued on, getting called up to play various times throughout 2011-2018. Motari played crucial roles in several international tournaments, including the Kenya Sevens, Dubai Sevens and South Africa Sevens. The team Motari was a part of won the Singapore Sevens championship with the Kenya National Team in 2016. “Playing at the highest level in Kenya is good,” Motari said. “We have a good community, a great support system, and a lot of professionals in the field; you’ll always have a backbone to rest on, and a good network of professionals you can rely on in your career.”
PLAYERS: The team faces tough competitors as they play other college teams. COURTESY | GVSU MEN’S RUGBY TEAM
COACHING: Sam Motari looks forward to coaching the club for the duration of the year. COURTESY | SAM MOTARI INSTAGRAM
During his time in school, Motari played with his college team and two club teams near his home. In late 2019, he sustained some injuries, and soon after, COVID-19 hit all over the globe. He decided to pursue his education and eventually came to the United States to obtain his master’s degree in cybersecurity at GVSU. Despite this life change, Motari said playing at that highest level in Kenya is an experience that will never be forgotten for him. “It’s different going to international tournaments and facing actual professionals and realizing that their level of preparation is different from yours,” Motari said. “We always put our best foot forward, but it was always a challenge. It was always good to try and challenge ourselves to bring the best out of the little resources we had and play the best at that high level consistently.” Motari started off as a player for the GVSU Men’s rugby club team. After the team dominated against CMU in a match in the fall of 2022, a formal complaint was submitted to National Collegiate Rugby by CMU about whether or not Motari could play. Following a lack of response from National Collegiate Rugby, he stepped down from his position on the field and looked toward how he could benefit the team in other ways by coaching. Being on the other side of the game has been a challenge for Motari. “I swallowed my pride and started giving back,” Motari said. “I’ve had to take time and digest a lot of the knowledge that I have and think of the best ways to put it across to the students. Hats off to the boys, they’re really fast learners.” Despite this adjustment, Motari adapted quickly. He strongly believes that in order to bring out the best in players, a coach must understand that they are not tools, but people and that you have to connect to them in a person. Motari feels the biggest accomplishment as a coach comes from passing knowledge to the next generation. “It gives me the satisfaction of, even if I’m not playing, (that) I’m building someone else to be a good player or have the opportunity that I never had. Rugby is a fast-growing sport in the U.S., and there’s a lot of opportunities out there,” Motari said. It further trains and pushes the team in the sport, Motari held running practice sessions once a week. Additionally, he pushed them to work with local
clubs in their home cities through the summer. “When they came back in the fall, the entire team was transformed. They’re playing at a different level,” Motari said. “We’ve leveled up to D1 ability now, it’s just unfortunate that we’re not playing at that level (in conferences). If you look at all the games we played in our conference, we’re whooping all the teams easily, fifty-plus. This is because we have skilled players, good coaching and good tactics.” Nicolas Delibero, senior and president of club rugby this year, has been playing rugby for six years. He started playing in his senior year of high school and joined the rugby club team his freshman year after hearing that the team was going to play Notre Dame. Though he’s not yet sure if he’ll continue with rugby past graduation, it has been life-changing throughout his college career. “My favorite thing about being at GV is being on the rugby team. All the guys are great, the coaches are great too. It’s just the camaraderie of being on the team,” Delibero said. “We have a great player development system here at GV, we can turn anyone into a capable player, no matter what sports you played before. We’re always looking for more guys to join the team because that’s just more guys to play and hang out with.” Delibero said working under Motari has been a major game-changer for the team. He said Motari’s system for play strategies has the team playing “not just above the other teams in our conference but to the point where we now have a program instead of just having a team.” “Having his experience at practice has shifted the landscape of the team,” Delibero said. “It’s very exciting to be a part of GV Rugby right now and one of the main reasons for that is Coach Sam (Motari).” Currently, Motari is hoping to move from a club team into a varsity team at GVSU. “That’ll make the sport grow in leaps and bounds. At this point, we are beating teams in varsity programs, easy,” Motari said. It’s unknown how long it would take to transform the club team into a varsity team at GVSU, or even if it’s possible, but both the players and coaches are crossing their fingers. “We never know how far we’ll go, so we just keep going,” Motari says. “We never know who’s watching.”
A14 | SPORTS
OCTOBER 30, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
FOOTBALL
GV football beats Michigan Tech 44-13 in homecoming win BY DREW BURLINGAME LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
The No. 2 ranked Grand Valley State University Lakers’ football team capped off homecoming week celebrations with a blowout 44-13 win over the Michigan Technological University Huskies. The Lakers were carried by rushing touchdowns from quarterbacks Cade Peterson and Avery Moore. GVSU Head Coach Scott Wooster said it makes his life a little easier with his two versatile quarterbacks in the backfield. “It’s a game changer. A cheat code having these guys. When things break down they both have the ability to run, you can really flip the script. We don’t just have quarterbacks but true ball carriers at the position with Cade and Avery,” Wooster said. MTU presented unique defensive matchups for the Lakers, but coach Wooster says the Lakers’ dynamic offensive performance is built on the backs of their offensive line. “The ability to run the football and protect the quarterback the way we did today. A huge part of that is our entire offensive line, and how they prepare. Kyler Blake Jones at the center position gets us in the right calls and IDs. He is
very valuable to this team,” Wooster said. Coming into the game, the Lakers were averaging 263 yards per game and continued their dominating ways by rushing for almost the exact same number, with 264 yards on 44 carries while averaging six yards per carry. Six total players for the Lakers had over 20 rushing yards. They were led by quarterback Cade Peterson who ran for 91 yards on 14 carries, scoring three touchdowns, while junior quarterback Avery Moore ran for 43 yards and two touchdowns of his own. Peterson also threw for 164 yards and a touchdown along with two interceptions. Peterson said his success is a testament to the high level the entire team is playing at. “The caliber of a team like us has offense, defense and special teams. The other team is going to throw things that you’re not always going to have a clear picture of. The worry you have as a quarterback when you have a defense and special teams like we have, there is none,” Peterson said. The Laker’s defense showed up and dominated in this game allowing the Huskies’ offense to rush for negative four yards on 22 carries and just 163 yards of total offense. Dominating the line from the beginning of the game forced MTU to change up its game plan. “They abandoned the run game rather
quickly, so we had to put pressure on them to get the ball out quickly, changing up their game plan, making our job easier,” Wooster said. GVSU senior linebacker Abe Swanson said the domination was a testament to the players doing their jobs and trusting each other. “It’s just our guys doing their jobs. No matter what it is, just locking into what the call is. Focus on that play, we’re just living in the moment,” Swanson said. Next week the Lakers look to continue their recent success when they take on their head coach’s alma mater, the Wayne State University Warriors. While at WSU Wooster played right tackle and left guard from 1996 to 1999. He served as a team captain in the final season of his playing career in 1999. “Not gonna lie, we get off of exit 214 and see Tom Adams field, and that’s what I remember the first time I went to Wayne State. It will hit a little hard. But like everything else, go one for one, take a deep breath, and let’s go play the game we love,” Wooster said. Wooster also coached for 11 seasons with the Warriors, climbing the ranks from 2009 through 2019, before joining the Lakers’ staff. The two squads will play on Nov. 4 in Detroit, Michigan at 1 p.m., as the Lakers are 18-1 in the last 20 years against the Warriors. GVSU won 42-14 in last season’s November match up.
STAR PLAYER: Tariq Reid (#2) showed out in a crucial win as he helped the Lakers to victory with 21 carries for four touchdowns and 119 yards on the night. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER
A15 | SPORTS
OCTOBER 30, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
SOCCER
GV soccer goes 1-0-1 on the weekend with a win over rival Ferris BY BRADY KEMMERLING LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
The No. 20 ranked Grand Valley State University Lakers women’s soccer team (8-2-6) went on the road and beat rival Ferris State University Bulldogs (5-74) with a 2-1 final score. The team returned home on Friday, Oct. 22 with a 0-0 tie against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers (5-7-3). It was the start of the Lakers final three games, all at home. Against the Bulldogs, the first goal was quickly scored by the Lakers. In only the fifth minute of play, junior midfielder Ryann Fetty was able to get her first goal of the season with a shot into the top right corner of the net. The goal was assisted by freshman midfielder Ella Kleiver, and from there, the team never looked back. “It was my first goal, so it felt really good to score,” Fetty said. “To get the early lead and putting us ahead gave us a lot of morale going forward. We knew we were in this and we just kept pushing.” Swiftly following their early lead, the GVSU Lakers would find themselves on the scoreboard again in minute 26 with a goal from graduate midfielder Avery Lockwood on an assist by sophomore defender Kacy Lauer. FSU would eventually cut down the lead with a goal of their own coming near the 68-minute mark off of a
corner kick that found its way into the back of the net. Although the gap was narrowed down to one point, it was too little too late, and the Lakers prevailed. After sweeping the Bulldogs in their two regular season matchups, GVSU moves to 35-3-5 in the series against FSU over the last 20 years. Coming from Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Rangers would travel nearly four hours to Allendale, Michigan to face GVSU. Even with the long transit, Parkside battled the Lakers from the start. Early on, the GVSU offense was getting opportunities and would test Parkside’s defense with multiple shots near the net. Back-to-back corner kicks came close to finding their way in, but none succeeded. At the half, the game remained scoreless. With the amount of close goals, fans were on the edge of their seats, anticipating in suspense for the first point to be scored. However, like the first half, the final 45 minutes went without a score despite the Lakers having 26 shots throughout the game. Even with the onslaught of attempts, the Rangers’ defense, along with their senior goalkeeper Izzy Guyer, held strong until the end. With the season nearing completion, senior forward Alicia White spoke on the team’s plan moving forward. “We keep saying that we are not the same team we were two years ago when we won the national championship,
so I think if we keep believing in each other and believe that we have what it takes, we can be the best team in the conference,” White said. “We need to take what we work on in training every week and apply it to the last two games that we have and all games we play afterward.” Prior to this game’s kickoff, GVSU would announce and honor the achievements of each senior on the team for this year’s senior night. White, Avery Lockwood, Mackenzie Jones and Taylor Reid were the four players recognized. Head coach Katie Hultin said she was extremely proud of the seniors’ personal growth and contributions to the program. “Over their careers and this season, they have been very impactful on and off the field. Jones and Reid are All-Americans through and through. White has battled injuries throughout her career, but has bounced back and has been incredible for us every moment she can,” Hultin said. “Lockwood is a transfer, but still every bit important, and she, along with all of the other seniors, have been impactful.” GVSU will welcome Davenport University (5-5-5) to the GVSU soccer field for their final regular season game on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. before the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) tournament that begins the following week on Monday, Nov. 6.
RIVAL: The GVSU women’s soccer team beat their rival Ferris State University with the help of a goal by midfielder Ryann Fetty that took the lead five minutes in. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER
A16 | NEWS
OCTOBER 30, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS
Coffee Guide
This list highlights some local coffee shops on or near GVSU campuses.
Coffee Off Campus
Coffee On Campus
Biggby Coffee. Lake Michigan Drive. Open Everyday. Starbucks. Lake Michigan Drive. Open Everyday. Tim Hortons. Lake Michigan Drive. Open Everyday.
Einstein Bros. Bagels. Holton-Hooker. Open Wednesday -Friday. GV Brew. Mary Idema Pew Library. Open Wednesday & Thursday. Java City. The Blue Connection, Kirkhof, and Kleiner. Open Everyday. Starbucks. The Marketplace. Open Wed.-Sat.
Allendale
Allendale Campus
Downtown
Biggby Coffee. Monroe Center. Open Everyday. Bitter End Coffee House. Fulton St. West. Open Everyday. Ferris Coffee. Seward Ave. Open Monday-Saturday. Madcap Coffee Co. Monroe Center St. Open Everyday. Midnight Express Cafe. Fulton St. West. Open Everyday. Morning Ritual Coffee Bar. Stocking Ave NW. Open Everyday. Outside Coffee Co. Wealthy St. SE. Open Everyday. Roots Brew Shop. 7th St. NW. Open Monday-Saturday. Starbucks. Monroe Ave NW. Open Everyday. Stovetop Coffee Roasters. Fulton St. East. Open Everyday.
Pew Campus
Einstein Bros. Bagels. DeVos Center Building C. Open Monday - Friday. Starbucks. Innovation Design Center. Open Everyday.
$3
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