G R A N D VA L L E Y L A N T H O R N
Ganging up on the Gorillas GV Football makes 24-21 comeback in win over Pittsburg State
Domestic violence is not funny, Matt Rife
COLUMN | A6
Practice, performances, precision: GV Pompon’s dance legacy in motion
LAKER LIFE | A14
M O N DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 7, 2 0 2 3 / / VO L . 5 8 N O. 8
@GVLANTHORN
LANTHORN.COM
A2 | NEWS
NOVEMBER 27 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS
ACCESSIBILITY
Questions arise surrounding injury care at GV BY GRACE SMITH AND EMMA ARMIJO LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
For many students, college is the first time they find themselves independently navigating the healthcare system. Many factors can make seeking healthcare to be complicated and expensive which adds additional challenges when experiencing an illness or injury. When compounded with the fast-paced environment of academic demands, many students have struggled with the conflict of maintaining their academic schedules and obtaining urgent or emergent care. Accidents and injuries become more frequent to student-athletes or those involved in physically demanding studies. Grand Valley State University Dance major, Haley Rosendale’s recent injury experience caused her to question how students access healthcare services. Due to conflicts with accessibility to healthcare services, many students feel stranded when it comes to addressing injuries that are urgent but don’t necessarily require a trip to the emergency room. Rosendale said she sustained a minor injury while in dance class which caused her to experience enough pain to leave class early and seek care at GVSU’s Injury Care Clinic. Although she was present within the clinic’s posted hours both online and physically at the clinic, the door was locked and the lights were off. After she was unable to visit the Injury Care center, Rosendale went to the Campus Health Center, which was also unable to see her. This caused her to delay seeking care for her injury until the next day, when Rosendale had to leave campus to meet with a third-party healthcare provider because GVSU’s resources were not available. “I wish the injury care clinic was open for better hours. 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays is tough because that is the prime time for classes, and I know that I am in class at those times, so if I do get injured, I am unable to get to that clinic,” Rosendale said. “I also wish there was a resource where the injury care clinic could update their hours depending on the day, and how busy they are (or) how long the wait is going to be.” Many students can identify with these issues, as the afternoon time slots when majority of campus health resources are open are some of the most high-traffic
times around campus. Rosendale feels the Injury Care Clinic is a valuable opportunity for students’ healthcare, but not an accessible resource. “The injury care clinic is free, so not having that resource and having to go someplace off campus and spending money sucks,” Rosendale said. For students who sustain injuries outside of movement based classes, such as students involved in recreational sports or those who participate in evening recreational activities, the Injury Care Clinic and Campus Health Center’s hours of operation are closed after 5 p.m. This puts students who have experienced issues similar to Rosendale scrambling to find a solution, or delaying their care until campus resources are open the next day. Senior dance major Clare Meteer, however, feels that though the ICC’s hours are limited she has had good experience with accessing its resources during open hours. “They are only open in the afternoons but they are always open when I have gone,” Meteer said. “Sometimes they have to close early or something but they are very good at posting the changes in advance on their website and in the fieldhouse.” Many students are advocating for improvement of campus health resources to avoid these issues. For Rosendale, GVSU’s limited campus health resources draws attention to the resource gaps between sports and science related fields versus arts on campus. “The dance department though definitely does not have even close to the same amount of resources as athletics does. Dancers still get injured, but we have to wait to get help when athletes can get help right away from their athletic trainer,” Rosendale said. “I definitely think having someone, for example, an athletic trainer, could have helped in that instance (event of the injury) and maybe reduced the pain I was in.” Senior dance major Carly O’Donohue has used the Injury Care Clinic’s resources on multiple occasions. O’Donohue was experiencing a calf injury about two years ago and was frequently in and out of the clinic. She said her experience was somewhat helpful, though she felt she should have been transferred from the clinic to a physical therapy sooner than she had been. “Two years ago when I had a lot of my calf problems, I couldn’t, like, jump (at all and) standing and sitting would hurt,” O’Donohue said. “I was there
(at the ICC) all the time, I had appointments twice a week and I was there for so long and like they should’ve recommended me to a (specialized) physical therapy place earlier than they did, so that was more like kind of annoying and like put off my recovery.” However, O’Donohue recently went back to the ICC for a shoulder injury and had a positive experience. “When I was having issues with my shoulder earlier this year I just went there and they gave me exercises and TheraBand (exercises) to do,” O’Donohue said. “Like that helped but I just did like most of that on my own.” Meteer said she has had many positive experiences at the ICC, though she wished more students were aware of the resources available and that the clinic had longer operating hours. “The physical therapists have been amazing in understanding my injuries and giving me the support I need. The PT that is most often there encourages me to come back as often as I need and is always very kind,” Meteer said. “I love that this service is at no additional cost to students and I wish more students knew about it because I have found it very beneficial.” O’Donohue, Meteer and Rosendale were able to identify with the importance of injury care and treatment available to students. With the current resources for student healthcare on campus, students can take proactive steps to plan for their care in the event of injury. Becoming familiar with available resources both at GVSU and near campus will help identify immediate options in the event of inevitable illness or injury. The GVSU Health Hub has shared a list of nearby healthcare clinics, urgent cares, emergency rooms and pharmacies as a guide for students to use when campus resources cannot properly address their needs, and even outlined which bus routes will take students to which locations. However, it should be noted that the GVSU Family Health Center will be permanently closing its doors on Nov. 30. The center announced this in a callout on their website, the expanding resources available to students in downtown Grand Rapids making their services more obsolete. While all ailments may not require urgent, emergent or medical attention at all, it is important for students to know they can count on the resources available to them in the event they need them.
RECOVERY: Students report varied experiences at the ICC on campus. Many have conflicts accessing health care due to the clinic’s hours of operation being in the middle of the day. COURTESY | GVSU
A3 | NEWS
NOVEMBER 27, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS
CONTENTS ACCESSIBILITY
| A2
EXPERIENCE
| A4
MEDICINE
| A5
OPINIONS
| A6
EDITORIAL
| A7
SPORTS
| A8-9
PERFORMANCE
| A10
MUSIC
| A11
EXHIBITION
| A12
ATHLETICISM
| A13
FIERCE
| A14
CROSS COUNTRY
| A15
BASKETBALL
| A16
VOL. 58
EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief ELIZABETH SCHANZ
N O. 8
Layout Designer CARLIE SHERWOOD PROMOTIONS
Associate Editor LEA GAETTO
Promotions Manager ELISE RAPEYKO
News Editor EMMA ARMIJO
ADVERTISING STAFF
Sports Editor NELSON HUBBELL Laker Life Editor ISABELLE ENGLAND A&E Editor HAILEY HENTZ Image Editor BETHANN LONG Multimedia Editor AYRON RUTAN Layout Editor REV BRONOWSKI
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
FUNDING
GV’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Voyage Program receives $2 million grant BY JOSEPH POULOS LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) at Grand Valley State University received a $2.2 million grant to support the growth of the CLAS Voyage Program. The grant, awarded to the Center for Experiential Learning in the CLAS, will fund multiple projects to increase equity of opportunity within the college and specifically benefit the CLAS Voyage Program. The program’s main goal is to allow every learner to engage in career-centered education and to better function in their chosen field when they graduate. These opportunities include field work, volunteering, internships, apprenticeships and study abroad programs. All are geared towards giving the student an easier transition into a paying job when they leave GVSU through the CLAS Voyage program, which is set to launch in the 2025 academic year. Funds from the grant will be used to develop a fuller, more well-rounded educational experience for students within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, particularly through the development of the CLAS Voyage Program. Kris Pachla, Director of CLAS Center for Experiential Learning said he is excited about the new grant and hopes it will set students up for success in the future. “The grant will be used to improve student support systems in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences,” Pachla said. “It will fund the people, pilots, and students experiences needed to launch the CLAS Voyage, a commitment to students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) of an empowered educational experience through handson, career-connected learning across the college.” Pachla is determined to put the grant into use as soon as possible, with clear plans for exactly how the money will be allocated. “We’ll fund two new faculty positions to oversee the revision and alignment of curriculum and create better data visualizations,” Pachla said. “We’ll test models of embedding peers into first-year courses, and we’ll pay faculty for the work necessary to get this work done over the summer.” Additionally, Pachla’s plans include a provision for an endowed account to help students deal with additional costs of top learning experiences. The amount seeded into the account from the grant will be matched by CLAS and other fundraising from the university, according to GVNext. “Almost $250,000 will seed a fund to reduce barriers to participating in things such as internships, undergraduate research and scholarship, and
community-based learning,” Pachla said. Pachla said some of the many benefits of the grant would strengthening the college’s efforts to give students the training they need through further and deeper course development. “First it builds up the student support systems, like peer mentors in first year courses and hands-on learning in all majors within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to ensure that all students get the benefits of the high quality educational experience,” Pachla said. “Those dollars will eventually go directly to students and to departments to run these courses.” Pachla believes longterm benefits of the grant money will take time to physically present themselves due to the several channels of approval and overhead necessary to move funding of this size. “We will begin seeing results next semester, Winter 2024, by kicking off conversations around the first-year experience at GVSU and with the hiring of our two faculty members to oversee the work,” Pachla said. The CLAS Voyage Program, the college’s “main vehicle for achieving the strategic priorities of the college,” will vastly benefit from the grant. “The CLAS Voyage is our commitment to an empowered educational experience within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, highlighting the many opportunities that liberal arts and sciences students have to apply their learning outside the classroom and ensure that all students, in all majors participate in hands-on, career-connected high-impact educational activities such as internships, undergraduate research and scholarship, and student learning communities,” Pachla said. CLAS faculty and staff has worked closely with university partners to launch the CLAS Voyage Program. Receiving this grant showcased a culmination of work done to coordinate and begin to implement the program, and the opportunities it will bring to students within the college. According to a press release from CLAS, “Beginning in Fall 2025, all undergraduate students in CLAS will be guaranteed five hands-on, career-connected experiences, including the Embarking Experience (a resource-rich first-year-experience course), and an ePortfolio that helps them connect their curricular, extra/co-curricular, and work-based learning.” Pachla said many core tenets of the program are currently being utilized at the college. “Many of the pieces of the Voyage are already in place in CLAS, and we are working now to build it out to ensure that all students in all majors realize the benefit of this great education.”
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
DEVELOPMENT: Grant money received will fund more educational experiences like student research & internships. COURTESY | GVNEXT
A4 | NEWS
NOVEMBER 27, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS
EXPERIENCE
GV communications students, faculty attend 2023 NCA Convention BY NATALIE BROOKS LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
Every year, the National Communication Association (NCA) holds a convention that provides opportunities for learning, career development and educational advancement. At the 2023 NCA convention, which was also the organization’s 109th year running the convention, two Grand Valley State University graduate students presented their papers regarding social issues through the lens of communication and media. According to their website, the National Communication Association “advances communication as the discipline that studies all forms, modes, media and consequences of communication through humanistic, social scientific and aesthetic inquiry.” The 2023 NCA convention took place from Nov. 16 to Nov. 19 just outside of Washington D.C. in National Harbor, Maryland. One of the GVSU graduate students who attended the event and presented her paper during a panel discussion was Taylor Deschaine-Hurd. Her paper discussed the media’s racial framing of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. “I looked at two news organizations, Fox News and CNN, and I looked at how they covered not only the murder (but also) the protests and the trials,” Deschaine-Hurd said. Deschaine-Hurd really enjoyed the NCA and
said her faculty advisor was helpful in navigating the “overwhelming” experience. “What made it really special was that my advisor, my professor, Dr. Anthony Spencer was there with me so he was able to kind of walk me around (and) introduce me to people because it was my first year going,” Deschaine-Hurd said. The other GVSU graduate student who attended the conference was Rheyna Bui. Bui presented two papers, one in panel form and the other in a poster session. The first paper discussed “Jane Crow” and the intersectional experience of women of color. The second paper discussed the censorship of Black content creators on social media. “The theme of the panel was intersectionality and highlighting difference and then the conference theme was freedom, and so I got to experience things that you always wanted to talk about,” Bui said. One of the benefits of the NCA conference, was the opportunity to network. “Networking is huge,” Deschaine-Hurd said. “Ph.D. programs are really difficult to get into, so if you make those connections of like, ‘Hey, we met here,’ and there’s like an anecdote or whatever, that will just do nothing but help you get into these programs.” Bui echoed Deschaine-Hurd’s statement. Bui said the conference opens up possibilities to meet new people. “It’s very much not what you know, it’s who you know. So going there was really fun because I’m
extroverted,” Bui said. In addition to the two GVSU student presenters, five GVSU professors were in attendance. Corey Anton, one of the GVSU professors who attended the event, said the convention is inclusive of a lot of different specific aspects of the communications field. “It does represent the largest swath of very different groups that are affiliated with communication, so it’s not as if it’s just one group. It has different hosting subsections and divisions and sponsor groups,”Anton said. The other professors who attended the event were Anthony Spencer, Imran Mazid, Richard Besel and Peter Zhang. Anton also discussed how important this convention is for students. “From my own perspective, it’s not as much an important convention for scholars in the field to go to. It’s probably more essential or basically, maybe vital for graduate students, for many masters students or even undergrads. This is a place to shop for a graduate program,” Anton said. Anton said the conference can have a very positive impact on those who attend it. “It’s a rare opportunity to bring so many different scholars who you respect all into one place, so it is fun,” Anton said. “When somebody whose work you’ve read is there presenting it, sometimes it can be just a rocket blast in the arm, and you’re like ‘wow.’”
PRESENTATION: Two grad students and some faculty traveled to Maryland, representing GVSU’s COM program at the 2023 NCA conference. COURTESY | GVSU SCHOOL OF COM
A5 | NEWS
NOVEMBER 27, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS MEDICINE
Lecture addresses health struggles within “unhoused” GR community BY MAX BUFKIN LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
Accessing medical aid while experiencing homelessness can be challenging. On Thursday, Nov. 16, Beth Makowski, the Medical Director for Michigan State University, hosted a lecture at the DeVos Center at Grand Valley State University about providing healthcare for those experiencing homelessness. Alongside Makowski during the presentation, “Street Medicine: Caring for the Unsheltered,” were MSU medical students Christa Schafer and Victoria Moaddel. The presentation was a part of MSU’s “Your Health” lecture series. The presentation’s main emphasis was on street medicine, which brings medical treatment to those experiencing homelessness, hosted in conjunction with GVSU and Grand Rapids Community College. Grand Rapids Street Medicine started when the need for a community-centered, student-run clinic became apparent. Mel Trotter Ministries, Corwell Health and the City of Grand Rapids have been some of the major financial supporters of street medicine in the area. Grand Rapids Street Medicine has rapidly grown due to gaining
funding, donations and partnerships. Currently, they have four clinic locations with two hundred and seventyfive medical students working alongside healthcare professionals. Fifty-plus patients are being treated per month by Grand Rapids Street Medicine services. These services are conducted through pop-up clinics, community partner clinics and “street runs.” Street medicine can provide unhoused individuals with services such as medication refills, wound treatment, pregnancy tests and more. Through the Grand Rapids Street Medicine initiative, the unhoused community benefits as well as the medical students involved. Street medicine is a fantastic opportunity for many students to get crucial, hands-on experience while engaging with the community. Unsheltered community members are very vulnerable to ailments due to their exposure to the elements and lack of medical access, which decreases their life expectancy. The presentation highlighted that treatable conditions such as diabetes can become difficult to manage when experiencing homelessness, especially with products like insulin that must be refrigerated. The National Health Care for the Homeless Council estimates that “5,800 to 46,500 deaths among people experiencing homelessness per year,” which highlights the
scale of deaths from various conditions unhoused people face. Violent crimes against unhoused people are commonly prevalent and pose a risk to unsheltered people’s health. “Unhoused individuals are more likely to be victims of violence than to instigate violence,” Makowski said. Differing state Medicaid policies and other administrative barriers make providing healthcare to these individuals challenging. Street medicine is critical because, for some, it is their only way to access medical attention. “Community members experiencing homelessness can have more need for access to healthcare yet can face greater barriers to getting that care,” Makowski said. Street medicine is primarily done by healthcare professionals, medical students and volunteers. However, all people can get involved with helping unhoused people in their community. A simple yet effective method mentioned during the lecture was the use of “person-first language,” which means using words such as “unhoused”, “unsheltered community members,” or “person experiencing homelessness.” This switch in vocabulary can help destigmatize and humanize our neighbors.
COMMUNITY: The Grand Rapids Street Medicine program addresses health issues within the “unhoused” community in downtown Grand Rapids. COURTESY | KENDRA STANELY-MILLS
A6 | OPINIONS
NOVEMBER 27, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS
The complexity of a cartoon about a talking horse
BY CHLOE SCHRAM LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
“Bojack Horseman” is a show about a talking horse with a human best friend, a cat manager and a golden retriever co-star. One of the most ridiculous shows I had ever heard of until I found out that these cartoon characters deal with deep human issues like depression, heartbreak, death, addiction and so much more. The six-season Netflix show with Will Arnett and Aaron Paul was completed in 2020, and Bojack Horseman is a series of complexity and sarcasm, to say the least. On the surface, it appears to be an immature adult cartoon. But after giving in to my own curiosity and binge-watching the entire show, I discovered that it is so much more than just that.
Bojack Horseman, the main character voiced by Arnett, is a famous actor wrestling with alcoholism and depression. He makes some terrible, unforgivable decisions throughout the series, much as a result of a bad childhood. Bojack’s character shows the unfortunate truth that some people never change, or when they finally do change, it’s too late to save their past relationships. Diane Nguyen, voiced by Alison Brie, is one of my favorite characters. She is an introverted writer with relatable insecurities and depression. Diane plays a constant game of tug of war with her friendship and professional relationship with Bojack as she works behind the scenes in Hollywood. Diane is Bojack’s ghostwriter for his memoir, and soon after the memoir’s release, Diane finds herself feeling guilty for allowing people like Bojack to think they can continue as they are, rather than taking accountability for their actions. The same feeling of guilt washes over Diane as she helps write for a movie about a problematic detective named Philbert who is played by Bojack. As the audience of Philbert comes to adore him, despite his problematic actions, the audience of “Bojack Horseman” is able to realize the parallels to the character of Bojack and their experience of watching the character in the Netflix show. Bojack Horseman sarcastically displays the toxicity of Hollywood, or “Hollywoo” in the series, and makes fun of just about every aspect of it. It is, what I believe to be, one of the most witty ways to expose a toxic environment. Bojack’s desire in life is to be loved by everyone. Yet, when he receives love and praise, he pushes it away. Towards the end of season two, Bojack’s friend and roommate, Todd
Chavez, who is voiced by Paul, realizes a hard truth. He tells Bojack, “Maybe I just need to stop expecting you to be a good person so that way, I won’t get hurt when you’re not.” This early in the series, the audience can already see how Bojack has constantly let down the people in his life, throwing them on the back burner and often getting into inappropriate relationships with them. I find this show to be humorous, depressing and profound all in one. As I watched the series and saw what others had to say about it, I found myself frustrated at those who said Bojack’s behavior should be excused because of the hardships and emotional abuse he endured as a child. This creates a sort of moral questioning for not only the characters in the show but also the audience. The concept of someone being a good person versus being a bad person is debated in everyday life, media and cancel culture, but there is not always a simple answer. The series features a constant play on words and references to actual celebrities and pop culture. It includes a variety of different episodes, featuring one that is entirely underwater, titled “Fish Out of Water,” with no words and one that is solely a eulogy given by Bojack, “Free Churro.” The second to last episode, “View from Halfway Down,” is by far a fan favorite and one of the most introspective in television that I have ever seen. The very last episode, “Nice While It Lasted,” completes the entire experience of watching the show and wraps it all together. This is a series that I believe to be full and complete from beginning to end, no more and no less is needed. Although Netflix is constantly canceling widely loved shows and disappointing users with abandoned series, I believe that Bojack Horseman makes up for it and it is a must watch for everyone.
Domestic violence is not funny, Matt Rife
BY MADDIE ZIMMERMAN LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
“Comedian” Matt Rife is rightfully under fire for clips in his new Netflix stand-up “Natural Selection” surrounding domestic violence. For context, Rife said he entered a restaurant and the hostess had a black eye. He said he knew where the black eye came from, insinuating that someone purposely had given that to her. He then went on to make a joke about how he didn’t want someone with a black eye representing the restaurant, and she needed to go back to the kitchen so no one saw her. If that wasn’t already offensive and insensitive enough, Rife then continued on and made a joke saying if she knew how to cook in the kitchen maybe she wouldn’t have gotten the black eye in the first place. Many people did not find this “joke” funny, so Rife quickly received backlash from viewers. After being under fire, he posted a public “apology” on his Instagram story stating, “If you’ve ever been offended by a joke I’ve
told — here’s a link to my official apology,” which included a link to a medical site that sells helmets for persons with disabilities. Not only is Rife poking fun at domestic violence victims, but he is also blatantly making fun of people with persons with disabilities. Instead of doing the right thing by apologizing and taking accountability for his actions, Rife created a bigger problem. Now you can see why I put “comedian” in quotes. Where is the line drawn with people in this industry? Think of it, in today’s age, cancel culture is very prevalent, so I can see Rife becoming cancelled for his lack of sensitivity to both survivors of domestic violence and people with disabilities. If Taylor Swift made a totally insensitive comment about domestic violence, she would go under fire quickly, so why is it deemed okay for comedians to push the boundaries of what is funny and what is strictly offensive? For Rife to have a comedy special be featured on Netflix, where millions of people can watch, I feel it is not okay to carelessly joke about domestic violence so lightly. It is just simply wrong. Why is he not being held accountable? Just because you are a self-proclaimed “comedian,” does not mean you can say whatever you want and think it will slide because that’s how your industry works. My question is who approved of these jokes? Rife has to have a public relations and management team. Why were these jokes deemed “appropriate?” Also, why were these jokes allowed to be publicized and aired through Netflix? Truthfully, I believe Netflix is just as responsible for letting these “jokes” be televised as much as Rife and his team are for creating them. There is a reason that Rife’s team has refused to comment on multiple requests for comment- don’t you think? Where will this careless behavior lead? I’m not sure, but I really do hope that he receives backlash from his audience and non-fans which leads him to care and
take ownership of what he says in the future. As of now, Rife is acting a little too careless for my liking, which I believe is a shield against being canceled. I hope his shield eventually wears down and he apologizes to people affected by domestic violence as a whole and persons with disabilities for making these insensitive comments relating to these two groups of individuals.
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
NOVEMBER 27, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLNEWS
A7 | EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL
NY opens path for prison reform and others should follow suit BY LANTHORN EDITORIAL STAFF LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
On Nov. 16, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation that will offer a “clean slate” to up to two million people with criminal records in the state. According to the New York Times, under new legislation deemed the “Clean Slate Act,” convicted criminals “who complete their sentences and remain out of trouble for a set period — three years for misdemeanors, eight for eligible felonies — will have their convictions sealed.” While this legislature does not include the possibility of automatic conviction sealing for offenders of more serious crimes including sex crimes, murder and most other Class A felonies, the new law should open doors to several members of the community and offer them a fresh start. This is a huge step forward for some degree of reform to the U.S. criminal justice system, which we feel is something strongly overdue in United States. However, the Clean Slate Act, we feel, is a progressive move towards acknowledging the prisoners’ human rights. In the NYT article, Hochul said, “The best crimefighting tool is a good-paying job.” We strongly agree, and as policies currently sit in most of the country, well-paying jobs for convicted criminals can be hard to come by. We are excited about the doors this new law will open up for designated offenders reintegrating into society and are hopeful that it is a first step towards some major changes nationwide. Not only does it begin a step towards helping formerly incarcerated people, but it brings to light a reminder
that we have a long way to go to improve and reform the current criminal prison system. We feel very strongly about the importance of making these reformations. That said, the structure of the U.S. criminal justice system may not be conducive to other wholesale changes that could negatively affect the money-makers involved. “What many have called the prison industrial complex represents an interconnection among the prison system, the political system and the economic system,” according to the Center for Juvenile and Criminal Justice. The “iron triangle” encourages incarceration, and in turn, the financial gain of politicians and companies that benefit from putting people behind bars. This is also relevant to the number of private prisons in the United States, as compared to state-run institutions. The National Institute of Corrections reported, the number of people in private prisons has grown by 32% since the year 2000, while the total prison population has risen just 3%. The National Institute of Corrections added, “There are more than 10.35 million people incarcerated throughout the world with the most being in the United States- more than 2.2 million.” When people think about the criminal justice system, they find it hard to imagine a society without the permanent fixture of prisons. The Center for Juvenile and Criminal Justice says, “such a system may not be legally a form of government, but nevertheless may exert greater influence than more formal structures of the government.” Prison reform is not a new idea by any means and often is brought up in terms of combating the prison-
industrial complex, but changes must be made. What New York State is doing can be considered a simple and logical step in the right direction. Prison reform is an important issue as we believe that rehabilitation is where lawmakers should be focusing their attention, rather than punishment. Those convicted of crimes should be offered the ability to maintain stable lives after they reclaim their freedom through rehabilitation programs. It is important to note that rehabilitation looks different for varying types of crime. We would hope that lawmakers push for more rehabilitation programs to help prisoners serving a non-life sentence. On the other hand, we also believe that offenders serving long sentences should also have improved living conditions, access to mental and physical healthcare and education while incarcerated. Despite the crimes committed, we strongly believe that the conditions behind prison walls should continue to improve until they are humane. Moving forward, we are hopeful that other states will follow New York in creating legislation that helps to give second chances to offenders who have already served their time and proven they can be reintegrated into society again. We are strong believers in calling for reform to help not just people who are now out of prison, but also for currently incarcerated people as well.
POLICYMAKING: New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to give up to two million people convicted of crimes and misdemeanors a “clean slate.” COURTESY | CINDY SCHULTZ
A8&9 | SPORTS
NOVEMBER 27, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
GV football uses comeback to beat Pittsburg State with late touchdown
SURVIVE AND ADVANCE: GVSU football has now won 11 straight games en route to the NCAA Division II Playoffs quarterfinal, beating two top five teams this postseason. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER BY NELSON HUBBELL LANTHORNEDITORAL@GVSU.EDU
COMEBACK: GVSU scored on a game-winning rushing touchdown by QB Avery Moore with 35 seconds left to win 24-21, advancing to play No. 1 seed Harding University. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER
Walking into another top 10 NCAA Division II playoff battle, the Grand Valley State University Lakers’ football team stared into the eyes of defeat before they stole a win from their opponent. The No. 2 ranked Lakers took down the No. 5 ranked Pittsburg State University Gorillas 24-21 with the help of a late fourth-quarter comeback, taking the lead with just 35 seconds remaining. It was the first time that the Lakers played behind since a 57-49 double overtime win at home in the second week of the season against Colorado State University-Pueblo. After being outgained throughout the entire contest, the Lakers found a way to win with the help of three interceptions and a fumble recovery. The Lakers head coach, Scott Wooster, admired the way that his team responded to adversity against the Gorillas. “So proud. There’s something about this football team that I’ve never been around. 37 years in the sport, 24 years coaching- been around some awesome teams, awesome human beings, awesome dudes- but there’s something about this football team that’s special,” Wooster said. After both teams traded punts to begin the game, a 36yard completion from Pittsburg State quarterback Chad Dodson to wide receiver Kolbe Katsis got things started for the Gorillas. It was then immediately followed by an 11-yard completion to Katsis that allowed running back Antwan Squire to take it in from one yard out. Nearly five minutes and 87 yards later, the Lakers’ defense was on their heels. GVSU went three and out on the ensuing drive and the game was looking bleak for the Lakers as Dodson returned to the field. That was until GVSU defensive end and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Defensive Player of the Year, Christian McCarroll, batted a ball high into the air that was intercepted by sophomore linebacker Anthony Cardamone. It gave GVSU the ball at the Gorillas’ 47-yard line. Moments later, GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year, GVSU’s QB Cade Peterson, threw a 39-yard pass to Kyle Nott that set up a short touchdown run by running back Tariq Reid. Both teams eventually traded scores, ending the first half at 14-14 before Pittsburg State took a 21-14 lead late in the third quarter.
Dodson chucked a deep shot to his favorite target, Gorillas’ tight end Devon Garrison, who reeled in a 30yard score with less than five minutes remaining in the third. Garrison was targeted 13 times, catching five balls for 75 yards and a score. He was the game’s leading receiver. The Lakers would continue to struggle offensively, settling for a field goal in the fourth quarter, until safety Ian Kennelly made what might have been the play of the game. Kennelly, who had just been beaten by Garrison moments earlier for a touchdown, picked off Dodson to give the Lakers the ball back with 3:21 remaining. “They tried to throw it at him (Kennelly) again, and he (Kennelly) just goes and takes the football. Winners win, man. Winners win, and we’ve got a lot of those guys,” Wooster said. Kennelly’s interception allowed Peterson and the Lakers to slowly and methodically march down the field, which included a fourth down conversion, to take the lead in the game’s waning moments. Lakers’ Avery Moore scored the game-winning touchdown on a power run to the right from five yards out with just 35 seconds left. Peterson said the Lakers trusted their past experience on the game’s final drive. “You just have to trust your preparation,” Peterson said. “We’ve been there before against a high-quality opponent in (Colorado School of ) Mines. The cool thing about playoff football is that it doesn’t matter how you get it done, if you get it done.” Dodson and the Gorillas failed to get into field goal range as a sack from the Lakers’ Colton Hyble sealed the game on an attempted Hail Mary from the Pittsburg State 49-yard line. Pittsburg State and GVSU both sit in the NCAA Division II Super Region 3, which has five of the top seven teams in the nation. It is arguably the toughest region in the nation year in and year out, making it that much harder to win and advance. Following the loss, the Gorillas’ third-year head coach, Brian Wright, struggled with the NCAA’s reasoning for the structure of the playoffs and its regions. “I don’t understand it. You know, 18 out of the last 24
national championship football games has had at least one program from these two conferences (GLIAC and MIAA) in it so not sure why you meet up that early,” Wright said. GVSU now moves on to the NCAA quarterfinals, their regional final, to play the No. 1 seeded Harding University Bisons. It will be the Lakers’ first road game of the playoffs and will be played in Searcy, Arkansas at 1 p.m. If GVSU comes out on top, they will return home for the NCAA semifinal game to play either No. 4 seed Slippery Rock University or No. 3 seed Kutztown University.
A10 | ARTS
NOVEMBER 27, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLARTS
PERFORMANCE
Senior dance concert stirs reflection of students’ journeys
BY DYLAN HOFFIUS LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
Eight Grand Valley State University senior dance students will present their original pieces in the senior dance concert on Dec. 8 and 9. The concert, titled “Boundless,” will take place at the Haas Center for Performing Arts in the Dance Studio Theatre. The concert, which is part of the Senior Project capstone course for dance majors at GVSU, is entirely student-produced. This semester, each student chose to choreograph a solo and ensemble piece that requires them to utilize their knowledge and experiences from GVSU. Students are given free range and complete control over their capstone project, provided that it relates to what they have learned. As part of the process, the dancers have to learn how to correctly light the concert, come up with logistics for the show, get in touch with videographers and photographers and set contracts. They are also encouraged to incorporate other elements they feel will help them transition into the professional world post-graduation. “We take off a lot of the guardrails on this (the capstone project) and turn them (senior dance students)
loose,” said Carrie Brueck Morris, Dance Curriculum Coordinator and Professor of Dance at GVSU. “It’s a lot of work, but for most, I think it’s very rewarding in the end for them to see what they’ve accomplished.” Preparation for the concert began at the beginning of the semester. Students were required to submit a project proposal and host auditions, followed by weekly rehearsals. The weekly rehearsals, which only last for two hours, are linked to the success of the ensemble piece. Emma Buschle, a senior Dance and Advertising and Public Relations major, is setting a her ensemble piece, titled “And Still They Move,” on six dancers. In the press release for the concert, Buschle wrote that the performance “captures how resilience and community (are able to) forge stability.” The idea of resiliency, Buschle said, was partially inspired by her dance journey at GVSU, which started during the COVID-19 pandemic. Buschle said she felt isolated from her peers and disconnected from the dance program during lockdown. “It’s (the senior dance concert) representative of where I started as a freshman and will end as a senior,” Buschle said. “I’ve grown to appreciate the community aspect of dance because it’s hard to enjoy when you’re isolated.” Another senior dancer in the concert, Kaylynn
Betts, said that initial experience at GVSU started out much different than she expected. Betts recalled the awkwardness of rolling up her dorm room carpet to dance for her virtual freshmanyear ballet class and standing in taped boxes on the f loor during rare studio sessions. “I didn’t realize how much better (dance classes were) until sophomore year when things started to slowly go back to normal,” Betts said. “(Although), we still had to wear masks. Nothing was truly ‘normal’ until my junior year.” On the cusp of presenting her own choreographed and produced performances, Betts said she is proud of how far all of her peers have come. “Seeing everyone’s personal artistry come through in their work is so inspiring, and (it’s) amazing to see how far we’ve come since starting as freshmen in (taped boxes due to COVID-19 precautions),” Betts said. The first performance of the show will take place on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m., while the Dec. 9 concerts will be performed at both 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. The GVSU dance seniors encores the public and GVSU community to attend the free concert and support the student-produced dance performances.
CAPSTONE: Preparing for the senior dance concert gave capstone students the opportunity to reflect on their accomplishments in the GVSU Dance Program. GVL | ELIZABETH SCHANZ
A11 | ARTS
NOVEMBER 27, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLARTS
MUSIC
Whale Radio provides students a creative outlet
ON AIR: GVSU students are able to host their own Whale Radio shows. They are able to play their favorite music, host a talk show, sports broadcasting and more. GVL | BETHANN LONG BY NATHAN RICH LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
Grand Valley State University’s student-run radio station, WCKS or Whale Radio, has given students of all majors the opportunity to host their own radio or talk show for decades. The Whale was founded as the GVSU radio station in the late 1960s under the call letters WGVU. The radio station signal was originally only accessible to those who could connect to the building’s power grid. In the 1980s, the station became public, garnering off-campus listeners. After a brief period off the air, the student station was revived in the latter half of the 1990s, where it has since been located in Kirkhof Center Room 0055. Whale Radio President and Station Manager Ayron Rutan grew interested in radio by taking JBM - 265 Introduction to Radio. He wished to continue being on-air by joining Whale Radio and expressing himself through his own show. “For me, it’s keeping the art form and what I would describe as the culture of radio alive,” Rutan said. “(It’s not just a) place where people can have a voice and share
music, but it’s also something for students to tune in to.” Rutan and several other students use the station to be creative and produce their own shows using the station’s resources. Having a community of students with a passion for radio allows for collaboration and motivation. “This (Whale Radio) is a form for expression. I think that’s extremely important,” said Len O’Kelly, GVSU professor and faculty advisor for Whale Radio. “It’s a more communal way of doing what podcasting has made kind of a solo, by-yourself activity.” Many students over the years have had various ways of expressing themselves with the station, from playing the music they are interested in, to doing sports broadcasting. Rutan also reflected on hearing about how a prior student created their own show, during which they would narrate “Seinfeld” episodes they were watching in the studio. “We, as a station, want to be a center for music on campus,” Rutan said. “(We are trying to) provide this place for people to go to and have a voice and share ideas.” Faculty help to maintain the studio by updating and replacing broken or outdated equipment. A recent addition to the station is a professional-grade table that houses some of the equipment used in producing
a show. It also is large enough to seat multiple people, in the event people are hosting a talk show. In addition to on-air shows, Whale Radio is hosting a benefit concert for the DAAC, a local performing arts venue facing closure, on Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. GVSU students will be headlining the show. All proceeds will go towards supporting the DAAC. “The goal of the benefit is to raise money and bring awareness (to) the DAAC and help them stay afloat,” said Anthony Erlandson Whale Radio’s Promotions Director. “We thought doing a concert would be a great opportunity for students (to) perform in a setting where they can play whatever they want to.” As a club, Whale Radio hosts weekly meetings on Monday nights at 9 p.m. in Lake Ontario Hall Room 174. No experience is required and training will be given to anyone who expresses interest. All that is asked is that participants like radio and pass a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulation quiz. For listeners, the radio station can be streamed through the RadioFX app or the Whale website.
A12 | ARTS
NOVEMBER 27, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLARTS
EXHIBITION
Senior graphic design show envisions impactful products BY DYLAN HOFFIUS LANTHORNEDITORAL@GVSU.EDU
BRANDS: The show aimed to encourage people to be more “sustainable, conscious and connected.” GVL | AIDA DENNIS
An exhibition, “Envision: A World Aligned,” created by senior Graphic Design majors at Grand Valley State University opened at the Art Gallery in the Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts on Nov. 13. The exhibition will remain on display through Nov. 21. The 2023 senior show uses studentcreated graphic design projects to address issues relevant to students and people around the world. A reception for the show was held at the gallery in the Haas Center for Performing Arts on Nov. 16. Those in attendance were encouraged to observe the work and speak with the student designers about their creations. The 10 students who contributed to the exhibition created hypothetical brands and mission statements for displays ranging from golf apparel to non-alcoholic beverages. The students used different elements of graphic design to promote their brands by creating business cards, display products, stickers and other items. Students used their hypothetical brands to solve a problem of their choice and visually communicate their solution through graphic design. The result was a wide variety of infographics, apparel, package and postage designs. “We really try to push the students to look at the larger landscape of culture and what’s going on in the world,” said Lindsey Peterson, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design and User Experience at GVSU. “We do quite a bit of research to try to identify areas of interest, but also where there’s a gap.” Some of these gaps and areas of interest were inspired by issues students saw happening at GVSU and universities throughout the country. Lauren Walsh, a graphic design student, created a line of non-alcoholic mocktails called “Levy.” In her accompanying mission statement, Walsh included statistics from the Alcohol Rehab Guide,
revealing that nearly 80 percent of college students consume alcohol. Furthermore, they estimate that 50 percent of those students also binge drink. “There’s such a big pressure on college campuses to drink, and there’s also a stigma on choosing non-alcoholic beverages,” Walsh said. “My goal was alleviating that peer pressure and societal norm of binge drinking.” Another student, Brooklyn Graham, created a line of skin and hair care products named “Eaze” to treat eczema and dermatitis. Graham said developing a product that people could use to feel comfortable in their skin was her inspiration. “I’ve struggled with it (eczema) since I was little,” Graham said. “I didn’t want it (Eaze) to be super feminine or masculine because everybody deals with these issues.” Both Graham and Walsh said the process for their designs did not come without challenges. Along the way, Graham and Walsh said they experienced printing errors with their labels and stickers. They also said working within the capacity of what’s available as a student was another challenge. However, Graham and Walsh said the entire creation process for the exhibition was very collaborative. With specific days scattered throughout the semester for feedback and critique, each student had the opportunity to give their perspective on each other’s work. Graham and Walsh said the collaborative nature and inspiring creativity amongst the designers pushed everyone to create their best work. Peterson said she hopes people walk away from the exhibition with a better understanding and appreciation of the work that graphic designers do. “(With this exhibition) we wanted to show people the breadth of what our graphic designers can do and the systems that they’re building,” Peterson said. “There’s multiple mediums that are happening and understanding how those mediums can bridge between digital and physical spaces (is) something a lot of students might not think about.”
ON DISPLAY: Students created products, ranging from non-alcoholic beverages and skin care products to golf apparel. Products focused on resolving important issues. GVL | AIDA DENNIS
NOVEMBER 27, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE
A13 | LAKER LIFE
ATHLETICISM
GV’s D1 men’s club ice hockey team highlights importance in balance BY ANNE DAVEY LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
The Grand Valley State University Division 1 men’s club ice hockey team plays at the Griffs Georgetown Ice Arena, a short five-minute drive from GVSU’s Allendale campus. Their schedule consists of 28 regular season games, The Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame (GRSHOF) Tournament and playoffs. This year the team’s goal is to outperform themselves from their run in the tournaments last year and make a competitive run at both the end-ofyear tournament playoffs and the GRSHOF tournament. The team this year is led by captains Shane Haggerty, Gage Thrall and Zach Borchardt. The schedule is lengthy but according to the captains, the team is confident. Currently sitting on a 9-7 record, almost exactly halfway through the season, they seem to be taking the season one game at a time. “We have weekly goals of getting better each week and for each upcoming game,” Thrall said. To prepare the team for each game, the captains not only lead on the ice, but they also make an effort to lead by example by encouraging their peers off the ice as well. “I feel like this (leading by example) helps everyone else step up their game when it comes to the hard work they put in on the ice and to try and better themselves each and every practice,” Thrall said. To all three captains, collaboration for them and the team is a must. “We have a lot of different leaders on the team and guys will speak up when they need to,” Haggerty said. Open communication is important to the team because it allows for a better playing environment and helps the team strengthen the bonds between players. For many of the people on the team, ice hockey has been an integral part of their lives from a young age. Players like this have had a lot of time to perfect their communication on and off the ice. Both Haggerty and Thrall have been playing hockey since they were three years old and did not want to lose the sport they loved with the transition into college. Thrall, who had his sights set on GVSU, reached out to the coach about an opportunity to try out. Haggerty, who
LEADER: One captain, forward Gage Thrall, showcases his skills on the ice as the team practices drills. GVL | BETHANN LONG
played for the Metro Jets Hockey Club before coming to GVSU, came here to take advantage of the club hockey team and open doors for more educational opportunities. Prospective players can either go through the formal recruitment process with the coaches or attend tryouts in the first couple weeks of the fall semester. It is important that players understand what they are signing themselves up for because the intense schedule can make it difficult to balance the time commitment of both school and practice. Being able to handle the college curriculum, practice five nights a week, the team’s travel schedule and personal lives can be a challenge. Thrall said for him a typical day as a student athlete includes early classes downtown, work, other student organizations and homework. Thrall then heads to the rink at 8 p.m. for the team’s practices. He is not the only one on the team with a packed schedule and it is typical of players on the team. During daily life, the team invests a lot of time working together at the rink and putting in effort to improve on the ice. Off the ice, many of the teammates live together and spend time outside of designated practice time hanging out or studying. One of Thrall’s favorite memories was from the team’s trip to Boston,
Massachusetts for a tournament last season. “The bus ride was close to 20 hours- if not more. When we were about an hour out from the hotel, we hit a massive snowstorm that delayed our arrival by an extra two hours. I remember each time I checked Apple Maps, the time to the hotel kept growing,” Thrall said. “The guys on the team really got to hang out and have fun during this time (on the bus).” Although the team lost in the quarterfinals, they put in their best effort and had the opportunity to bond as a team, setting them up for even more success for their current 2023 season. This deep bond between players contributes to the team’s culture and atmosphere, which feeds back into the program and the players’ relationships. “The guys really try to incorporate everyone and make sure everyone feels welcome in the program and that no one is left out,” Thrall said. “I believe that since we are such a close team, it relates to the play that we have and the success we have as a program as well.” The GVSU D1 men’s hockey team next matchup will be back-to-back games against Western Michigan University on Dec. 1 and 2. The remainder team’s competition schedule can be found on the GVSU club sports’ website.
KEY PLAYERS: Team members work together on and off the ice to create strong bonds to continue to build teammate relationships, which helps the team succeed. GVL | BETHANN LONG
A14 | LAKER LIFE
NOVEMBER 27, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE
FIERCE
Practice, performances, precision: GV Pompon’s dance legacy in motion BY SARA BAGLEY LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
Since 2006, Grand Valley State University’s club Pompon team (also known as Grand Valley Pompon or GVP) has represented GVSU in a number of arenas outside of Allendale. From competitions such as the Mid-American Pompon Championships to performing at local sports games for teams like the Grand Rapids Gold, Grand Rapids Griffins and the West Michigan Whitecaps, GVP proudly represents GVSU in blue, black and white uniforms. Macey Dunn, GVSU senior and president of Grand Valley Pompon has spent her last four years at GVSU on the team. She has danced her whole life, starting at three, exploring multiple dance styles and continuing into a competitive varsity dance team through high school. Dunn joined the GVP team her first semester at GVSU, soon after joining, she got involved with the Eboard and worked her way up to president halfway through her third year on the team. “Coming to college, I knew I wanted to continue dance and pom. After looking at all of the different types of dance-related clubs GVSU has, I found out about GVP and decided to try out my freshman year,” Dunn said. “GVP does traditional pom, which is much different from what I was used to, so it was a little bit of an adjustment when I joined the team, but I love it, and it has become one of my favorite styles to perform.” Hannah Lee, a fellow senior on the team and the secretary for GVP, has also loved her experience as part of the team. However, her background in the pom style of dance runs deep. While it is her fourth year on the team, she’s been doing pom for ten years overall, beginning in seventh grade. Lee
was determined to continue pom in college, not only out of her love for it, but because her high school pom coach was a GVP alumni. “My favorite part of Pom is easily the people and the relationships. Girls who started as simply my teammates are now my closest friends, my future bridesmaids,” Lee said. “Some of my most trusted mentors were at one point just my coaches; now I go to them for advice, recommendation letters and everything in between.” Recently the team attended the 2023 Mid American Pompon Hip-Hop and High Kick Championships, placing second in the collegiate division for the first time in ten years. “It (the Mid-American Pompon Hip-Hop and High Kick Championships) truly was a historic day for our program,” Lee said. “We worked so incredibly hard on that routine, and to put on such a great performance and have the scores reflect that was undeniably rewarding.” Dunn said these competitions build the team’s confidence. She said the team feeds off the support and recognition they garner after working so hard on their routines. Dunn said it is important to her to be able to inspire the next generation of pompon performers. “Performing at competitions is truly a unique experience,” Dunn said. “All of the middle school and high school teams sit at the front of the floor to watch the collegiate division, and the crowd is huge! Being able to receive so much love and support from the Pom community never gets old, and I love that our team is given a chance to not only show off our hard work but also inspire these girls to keep doing what they love and to never give up.” Overall, the team values a passion for pom and works to cultivate a strong team culture and work ethic. The team’s choreography is a combined effort from both coaches and members of the team, requiring
meetings and choreographing sessions on top of their typical three practices a week that run for about two to two and a half hours. Despite these rigorous rehearsals, the team members said the hard work is worth it and pays off in many different ways. “Being a part of the pom team at GV has allowed me so many wonderful opportunities,” Lee said. “From traveling across the state to compete with the best of the best, attending philanthropy events and giving back to the community and performing for the amazing crowds at Grand Rapids sporting events to growing as a leader, athlete and student. This team has given me so many amazing experiences that I am grateful for every day.” The team has more performances coming up during midst of hockey and basketball season. They are looking forward to their performance at a Grand Rapids Griffins game coming up soon. Additionally, they said they are excited for their traditional pompon-style states routine, which they’ll compete in February. Overall, though it is their last year at GVSU, Dunn and Lee happily look forward to the remainder of their time on the team and the impact the organization will have on them beyond college. “It is not very often you get a chance to be a part of something so special, to be able to do what I love with a team that I love is something I will hold on to forever,” Dunn said. “GVP has also helped me come out of my comfort zone and become a stronger leader. I truly would not be who I am without this team, and I am so grateful for every experience this team has given me.”
DRESSED UP: Club team members are decked out in full costume, hair and makeup as they preform in the Mid American Pompon Championships. GVL | Grand Valley Pompon Facebook
NOVEMBER 27, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
A15 | SPORTS
CROSS COUNTRY
GV women’s XC win national championship, men place 7th overall BY GRIFFIN MISSANT LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
The Grand Valley State University cross country season wrapped up for both the men’s and women’s teams on Nov. 18 at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Cross Country National Championship in Joplin, Missouri. After winning their twenty-second straight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic (GLIAC) championship on Oct. 21, the GVSU women’s cross-country team took home their seventh national championship. “An outstanding day for our program,” said head coach Jerry Baltes. “I’m happy that our seniors, our upperclassmen, who finished second the last three years at the NCAA championship on the women’s side finally got to pass that runner-up finish and earn a championship.” One of those seniors was Natalie Graber, who finished third place in the event with a personal record of 19:50.3. “It’s a lot to take in,” Graber said. “I wake up every morning and think ‘Did that just happen?’” Graber said she and the other seniors put their heads down and were determined to bring home the national title. While redshirting her freshman year, she previously had watched the Lakers’ women at that
time capture a national title of their own. Ever since then, Graber has been chasing the same glory. “It’s the perfect ending to (my) cross-country career,” Graber said. “To find a way to win the title and go out like that in my senior year, it’s incredible.” Graber was joined by Klaudia O’Malley as a top 10 finisher, with O’Malley placed eighth with a time of 20:07.6, just two of the many Lakers runners who contributed to the championship season. “We really did become a family,” Graber said. “When you’re out there running with girls that you put miles and miles of hard work in together, it’s easy to go out there and run hard. It’s very special, and I don’t think a lot of teams have what we have, so I feel very lucky to be part of it.” The men’s team also had a successful season ranking in seventh place at the event and having won the GLIAC championship. Baltes reflected on the team’s season and accomplishments with pride. “The men competed tough,” Baltes said. “It was a pretty deep field, probably one of the deepest fields that we’ve ever seen in a national championship. Still very proud of their efforts and performance.” With 25 years at the helm, Baltes has been around this track countless times, he says that he found himself leaning on his years of experience to
help guide both teams to championship heights. “You try to draw on your past experiences. What’s worked from a training standpoint, what’s worked from a preparation standpoint and the mental side of things,” Baltes said. According to Baltes, another reason for the success this season has been the depth of the program’s roster. He says that having depth is extremely valuable, especially when some runners are struggling while others may be in a groove. “In our sport, if someone isn’t having a good race you can’t call timeout. You put seven athletes on the line and hope you put the right seven out there,” Baltes said. Luckily for GVSU, getting seven good runners is not a problem. According to the Lakers’ head coach, the willingness to adjust and rotate while sticking together led them to another national championship. “With our program, we’ve got 10 or 12 or 14 really good runners. (It) just shows the depth of our program. No matter who the seven are toeing the line, we are all in this together,” Baltes said. “We are all competing with each other for each other.”
CHAMPIONS: The GVSU Lakers’ women’s cross country team won their seventh overall national championship, led by Natalie Graber’s third place finish. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS
A16 | SPORTS
NOVEMBER 27, 2023 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLANTHORN @GVLSPORTS
BASKETBALL
GV women’s basketball skates by Northwood 75-71 BY BRADY KEMMERLING LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU
Following a blowout win against Central State University and an undefeated start to the season, the No. 2 ranked Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team (5-0) traveled to Midland, Michigan, where they faced the Northwood University Timberwolves (2-2). GVSU would sneak out a close win, 75-71, in a tight match where they were led by five players who scored in double digits. Lakers head coach Mike Williams has amassed a 214-44 record, along with taking the team to numerous NCAA Division II National Tournaments, and knows what it will take to be as good as his past teams. “We accept every day as a new opportunity to continue getting better,” Williams said. “We preach to just be your best. We want to make sure we are doing the little things in practice, so they become a habit for us.” Out of the gate, redshirt sophomore guard Nicole Kamin would put up a quick eight points, keeping GVSU ahead in the opening minutes of the game. “Scouting our opponents we need to know our personnel and going over how we are going to guard. We knew Northwood could shoot the ball and push it up the floor,” Kamin said. Both teams traded the lead back and forth early on. With Kamin’s help, the Lakers would still be ahead 16-15
over Northwood at the end of the first quarter. Despite GVSU’s top ranking, the Timberwolves would keep the score close throughout the entire match forcing many late turnovers and getting crucial rebounds. The Lakers, however, would still win the rebound battle with the presence of redshirt junior Rylie Bisballe. At 6’2”, Bisballe would account for 10 of her team’s 37 rebounds. She was also one of the five players that scored at least 10 points in the match. In the closing seconds of the first half, the Timberwolves would find themselves trailing by five, but a halfcourt buzzer-beater by Northwood’s Taylor Maizie shortened the Lakers’ lead. Going into the half, GVSU was up just 38-36, their closest match of the year thus far. GVSU would start to pull away with a 6-0 run out of the half, but Northwood responded with a three-pointer of their own. Once one team would begin to control the game, the other team would find ways to turn the tides. The Lakers would maintain a six-point lead after three quarters, but Northwood was every bit still in it. Heading into the final quarter, GVSU would hold a 9-point lead. Northwood would continue to battle for the lead, and eventually, would take it with a three-pointer with two minutes left on the clock. Now, being down 69-68, the Lakers would take charge and score seven straight, giving them the late lead and finishing the game off at 75-71. With a roster that returned several players from last year’s elite eight-team, GVSU was able to hang
on late in a gritty game against the Timberwolves. Williams believes the growth of the Lakers’ returning players, particularly the upperclassmen, will help lead this edition of his team going forward. “Our upperclassmen have really grown over the years. They are the epitome of what our program embodies. They are learning to not only lead by example but vocally as well. I believe they have the respect of our younger players,” Williams said. With the win, GVSU has now begun their season 5-0 for the third consecutive season, and for the fourth overall time under Williams. “Our players are grinding it out and finding ways to win against good competition. We are hoping to finish in the top half of our conference, which is never easy because of the good teams in the GLIAC,” Willaims said. After playing in much closer early season games than last season’s squad, Kamin said it is important to stay focused. “The expectation for this season is to take it one game at a time. Play every game our hardest and grow as a team each game. We have a lot of potential but that doesn’t guarantee us anything. We need to buy into the little things,” Kamin said. The Lakers will now return home to Allendale, Michigan for their next match against D’Youville University (1-3) on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. as they will look to improve to 6-0.
BATTLE: The No. 2 GVSU women’s basketball team narrowly beat the Northwood University Timberwolves 75-71 for a fifth straight win to begin the season. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS