On The Cover 6 10 14 Hall of Fame
Cherry Festival
Summer Film Project
Features 5 11 12
.................... Mock college day Women’s Center brings high schoolers to campus
..................... Music in Kenya
Alum David Jagusch teaches music in Kenya
..................... Picnic perfection
Executive Chef Paul Mixa shares grilling secrets
Diversions 3 13
.................. Summer diversions Area events and entertainment
.................... Crossword
Sports 8
................ Summer sports camps
Laker athletes and coaches run camps for area youth
News 4 7 11
................. Sustainability site Recreational fields project proposed
.................. Board meeting Board of Trustees to approve 2010-11 budget
.................... News briefs
Marketplace ...15 Grand Valley Lanthorn Volume 45, Number 1
The Grand Valley Lanthorn is published under the authorization of the GVSU Newspaper Advisory Board.
The Grand Valley Lanthorn is published twice-weekly by Grand Valley State University students 62 times a year. One copy of this newspaper is available free of charge to any member of the Grand Valley Community. For additional copies, please contact our business offices. POSTMASTER: Please send form 3579 to Grand Valley Lanthorn, 0051 Kirkhof, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI, 49401
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 of fact in the Lanthorn, let us know by calling (616) 331-2464 or by e-mailing editorial@lanthorn.com.
Corrections
DIVERSIONS
Grand Valley Lanthorn
July / August 2010
Summer Diversions Best Night of Your Life - This show promises
July 10
Hit the Decks - Local musicians perform in an
to be “The Best Night of Your $!@# Life!” with go-go, drinks, burlesque, jokes and other talent acts. The doors open at 8 p.m. and the show will start at 9 p.m. Admission is $5 at the Sazerac Lounge in Grand Rapids.
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electronic musical festival, “Hit the Decks.” The event will take place in Rosa Parks Circle from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The event is free.
August
Trumpet Seminar - The sixth annual
GVSU international trumpet seminar will take place in the Louis Armstrong Theatre in the Performing Arts Center. Jens Lindemann will perform at 8 p.m. on July 17. Lindemann was recently named “International Brass Personality of the Year” by the Brass Herald. Admission is $12 at the door. On July 18, Karl Sievers, principal trumpeter of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, will share his talents. Sievers has also played lead trumpet for a number of Broadway productions. Admission is $5. The final installment of the trumpet seminar will take place July 22-24. More information can be found at www.gvsu.edu/ artscalender
PIC Pics - The PIC Pics Study Abroad photo
17-18
Taste of Grand Rapids- The “Taste of Grand
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Rapids and Barbecue Competiton” invites 25,000 people to come eat and enjoy great music at a two-day event. About 25 local restaurants will provide samples of their food while various artists perform on the entertainment stage in John Ball Park. The barbecue competition portion draws at least 50 teams to compete for the title of “State of Michigan Barbecue Champion.” Admission to the event is free, though some restaurants charge $1-$5 for their samples.
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contest will begin accepting entries. All current GVSU students as well as alumni who have studied abroad are eligible. The submissions will be displayed on the Red Wall Gallery in Lake Ontario Hall through Dec. 1, 2010. The public is invited to cast their votes from Oct. 15-30 for the best photo. For complete contest rules and information about photo categories, visit www. gvsu.edu/studyabroad. All submissions are due by Oct. 1.
Unity Christian Music Festival -
Muskegon will host the Unity Christian Music Festival where three stages will feature a variety of Christian artists including Casting Crowns, Third Day and Jeremy Camp. Passes are available for one to three days for $10-$30. A complete line-up for the festival can be found at www.unitychristianfestival.com.
12-14
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4 July / August 2010
NEWS
Grand Valley Lanthorn
GVSU joins pilot program for Sustainable Sites Initiative Proposed recreation fields project would include track, picnic area, athletic fields plus wetland area By Molly Waite
irrigation system. Future issues at the university.” walking trails and overlook More than 150 pilot Grand Valley State structures within the wetland projects such as the GVSU University’s proposed complex will provide student recreation fields recreational fields project recreational opportunities for project are participating in was accepted in May as one students and the surrounding the two-year Sustainable of the first landscapes to community. Sites pilot project.According participate in the Sustainable “As GVSU has transitioned to their Web site, these Sites Initiative, a program to into a more residential projects represent a diverse create national guidelines for campus, there has been an cross-section of project sustainable land design. increase in the amount of types, sizes and geographic According to the student life activities,” Moyer locations in various stages Sustainable said. “This of development from Sites Initiative t r a n s i t i o n design to construction and “The proposed Web site, the has placed maintenance. project is designed a burden on program is an The Sustainable Sites interdisciplinary all existing pilot will be the first to address the effort by the in the United States recreational needs fTa c i lhi t i e se. program A m e r i c a n and abroad to demonstrate a Society of of students ...” p r o p o s e d four-star rating system that Landscape project is works on a 250-point scale. JAMES MOYER A r c h i t e c t s , ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT designed to Based on achieving all 15 the Lady address the of the prerequisites and at OF FACILITIES PLANNING Bird Johnson least 100 credit points, a Wildflower pilot project will become Center at the University recreational needs of the Pilot Certified. GVL / Eric Coulter of Texas at Austin and the students as well as address mwaite@lanthorn.com About 56 acres of land west of the soccer fields on the Allendale Campus will be used for the United State Botanic Garden storm water management proposed recreational fields project as part of the Sustainable Sites Initiative. to create voluntary national guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable land design, construction and maintenance. “The proposed student recreation fields project at GVSU encompasses approximately 65 acres of development, with several athletic fields and a large storm water treatment wetland project,” said James Moyer, assistant vice president for Facilities Planning. “The three-phase project includes a new rugby field, lacrosse field, 300-meter track, two softball fields, track throws area, picnic shelters and a concessions building.” The proposed project location is to the west of the existing soccer fields, Moyer said. The project is still pending approval by the university. According to a GVSU press release, a 44-acre wetland complex will be constructed for treatment of storm water runoff generated from the project and the surrounding campus. Captured storm water in the underground detention, as Courtesy Graphic / Facilities Planning well as the wetland complex, will be reused in the campus The proposed recreational fields project would add a lacrosse field, rugby field, two softball fields adn a 300-meter track in addition to other features. GVL Senior Reporter
Grand Valley Lanthorn
FEATURES
July / August 2010
5
Local high school girls to sample GVSU life
The grant was used to start a group at GVSU called GVL Editor in Chief NIARA, which provides The act of enrolling a mentoring program in college brings with between professional it an intimidating list of women of color and demands including filing minority undergraduate for financial aid, putting students. NIARA, in turn, together a class schedule reaches out to members and buying the necessities of the a student needs for life on community his or her own. All of this i n c l u d i n g comes before the actual Girls Inc., stress of setting foot on which is campus and attempting to a program start a new life there. designed For one group of to address local high school girls, i s s u e s the transition to college f a c i n g life should be a more y o u n g Nickels manageable process women. after they experience Members of NIARA a mock college day will sit on the panel to coordinated by the Grand answer the girls’ questions Valley State University during their college visit. Women’s Center, Office “It is intended to of Multicultural Affairs benefit all involved,” and YWCA organization Nickels said. She said the Girls Inc. undergraduate students The mock college day will have a chance to give will bring about 12 girls back to the community, from inner-city schools share their personal stories to GVSU’s campus in and network. the middle of August The Girls Inc. for a campus tour, dorm participants will see that visit, meal the college at Fresh “The girls are having experience Food Co., their eyes opened to isN accessible, a sample i c k e l s of a college something they’ve said. class, an “Anytime never experienced ice-cream we bring before.” social and a students out discussion KRISTEN MOSS here ... it’s w i t h YWCA YOUTH fun to watch panelists COORDINATOR the young from the women and Women’s Center. girls see campus,” she The event is sponsored said. “I’m willing to put in through part of the the work to make it happen Michigan Women’s so I can sit back and take Foundation Young Women it all in.” for Change grant, which She added it is inspiring the Women’s Center to hear current students received in fall of 2009. share their stories. “We (in the Women’s One student who Center) have a long- will share her story as standing relationship with a member on the panel Girls Inc.,” said Ashley is Susana Villagomez, a Nickels, assistant director senior who has worked in of the Women’s Center the Women’s Center for who has helped organize four years and is also a the mock college day. “It member of NIARA. was a natural extension to Villagomez has helped use the grant for this.” on similar panels in the past
By Lauren Fitch
and said she looks forward to answering questions about the minority experience in college, her goals and obstacles she has encountered. “As a minority at a college like Grand Valley, sometimes you feel left out,” said Villagomez, a health professions major. She also said as a first generation student it can be even harder to figure out the whole college process, which is why Villagomez feels it is important to reach out to younger girls as they prepare for college. “I want to be a mentor to them so they are more educated,” Villagomez said. “A lot of them don’t have college on their mind. We want to show them it is an option.” The emphasis on education is an important part of Girls Inc. Kristen Moss, the youth coordinator at the YWCA in Grand Rapids, agreed with Villagomez’s goals for the program. Moss said the YWCA tries to maintain relationships with the colleges in the Grand Rapids area to give the girls a glimpse of what college life is like. The girls involved in the Girls Inc. camp are juniors and seniors in high school who will soon decide if they want to apply to colleges. “Most girls don’t think about the college period, so to show them they can be independent without going far from their families – Grand Valley is a good candidate,” Moss said. “The girls are having their eyes opened to something they’ve never experienced before. We want to show them college is an option.” editorial@lanthorn.com
Courtesy Photo / Women’s Center
Members of NIARA gather after a past panel discussion. In August, the group will host local high school girls involved in Girls Inc. as part of a mock college experience on campus. The event is coordinated by the Women’s Center, Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Grand Rapids YWCA.
6 July / August 2010
SPORTS
Grand Valley Lanthorn
Inside the hallowed Hall of Fame
Lanthorn editor reflects on summer internship at the Baseball Hall of Fame Cody Eding
GVL Sports Editor
I have met some great personalities in my time as a writer, but these days every interview has become a new and exciting experience. It has been more than a month since I packed my things and headed out of Michigan. My final destination: Cooperstown, N.Y., and a summer internship in the public relations department at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. When my office phone rang Tuesday afternoon, it was not surprising my boss was on the other end. His words, however, caught me off guard. “Dante Bichette is in the research library. Do you want to interview him and write a blog?” At least, I believe that is how he phrased
it. My mind stopped after hearing Bichette’s name, and again after “interview.” Dante Bichette is not a household name, but most baseball fans will recognize him as the former power-hitting outfielder from the 1990s. So off I went across the museum to the research library. With less than a minute to prepare, the only questions coming to mind were basic. There was no time to do better. Former athletes lose their shape shortly after retiring — or so I thought. Even sitting down, Bichette seemed large in front of me. Besides for two bad knees, the former Colorado Rockies slugger appeared ready to take batting practice. And with those thoughts on my mind, the interview started. Not more than 10 minutes later, the impromptu meeting came to a successful end with a handshake and a thank you. Bichette headed off to coach his son’s baseball game, and I scampered back to my desk to write. It was just another day at the office. Work has never been a pleasant experience. Work is a necessary evil: a summer job instead of going to the beach, a 10-page paper due tomorrow when you want to relax tonight. It is boring, time consuming and does not
make a person happy. Yet, this quaint little town of 2,000 people has provided me with a job about which I cannot complain. Living and working in rural New York is not what I had mind when casually sending off internship applications last fall. Sometimes I am amazed my GPS could even find this tiny place. Still, here I am, one of 22 interns selected out of a group of almost 500 applicants — I count my blessings constantly. Working at the Hall is a never-ending learning experience. Not only have I learned plenty about public relations, the amount of baseball crammed into my head has grown exponentially. For someone obsessed with the sport, this is heaven. The Hall has an incredible collection of more than 38,000 3-D artifacts, and I have seen and touched some of the best of them: gameused bats from Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams and Ken Griffey Jr., a gameused glove and jersey sweater from Ty Cobb, first base from Armando Galarraga’s “perfect”
game, baseballs signed by Jackie Robinson and, weirdly, a bottle of Tris Speaker-branded whiskey. I met almost 30 former major leaguers, including seven Hall of Fame members — in just one weekend. In case you were wondering, Ozzie Smith is extremely quiet and Bob Feller likes to talk. But for all of the amazing things I have done in my time here, there is one experience that tops all others: solitude. There are days when I arrive early to work to walk through the plaque gallery without the waves of tourists. If the weather is nice, the sun shines through the skylights and creates a picturesque scene among the almost 300 baseball heroes. For a short time, it is just me and the best to ever play America’s pastime. The experience is unforgettable. Some visit Cooperstown only once in their life. I have 10 full weeks. I consider myself lucky. sports@lanthorn.com
GVL / Cody Eding
Cody Eding holds a bat used by Babe Ruth. Ruth hit 28 home runs with it before it cracked.
GVL / Cody Eding
Tourists fill the plaque gallery at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
NEWS
Grand Valley Lanthorn
Board to vote on first online program, new budget By Lauren Fitch GVL Editor in Chief
The Grand Valley State University Board of Trustees will vote on the university’s first completely online program at its next board meeting at 11 a.m. on July 16. Other topics to be covered at the meeting, which will take place on the second floor of the Eberhard Center on the Pew Campus, will include finalizing next year’s budget and deciding on the proposed tuition rate. The online program pending approval will be a master’s program to teach students in the College of
Education how to conduct not confirmed yet because an online class. Though of uncertainty about how GVSU currently offers a much aid will come from variety of online courses, the state government. this will be the first time “We will continue to the university features keep increases mitigated,” an entire Haas said. “We will continue program “Continuing entirely to invest to keep increases online. where we mitigated.” Work on can is still developing priority.” the program H a a s started in said some THOMAS HAAS 2007 and cuts may be GVSU PRESIDENT the final n e c e s s a r y, version but the has already board will passed through all prioritize where the committees of faculty available funds should governance, said Maria be spent to maintain Cimitile, a philosophy GVSU’s standards for professor and former services available at the associate dean for students university. and curriculum in the College of Liberal Arts editorial@lanthorn.com and Sciences. Cimitle said the program will be geared toward students interested in K-12 education. President Thomas Haas said the new tuition rate is
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President Thomas Haas sits with the Board of Trustees at a previous meeting. The next board meeting is on July 16 in the Eberhard Center. They will vote on a new online program.
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8 July / August 2010
SPORTS
Grand Valley Lanthorn
Camps develop young Laker athletes By Emanuel Johnson GVL Managing Editor
Summer vacation has long since begun at Grand Valley State University, but some of the school’s coaches and athletes have been busy preparing not only themselves for upcoming seasons but aspiring collegiate athletes as well. In service to the community and as a means to earn some fundraising
GVL / Eric Coulter
Young softball players develop their skills during a camp on GVSU’s campus on June 29-30.
gain, several GVSU athletic teams have begun hosting summer camps geared toward improving younger athletes’ skills in a specific sport. Altogether the school offers instruction in 12 different sports plus a multisport camp for elementary and junior high students. Each sport is broken down into several concentrated facets for each session of each camp. Some camps, such as the GVSU baseball camp, are only offered to young children (in this case ages 7-12). Coordinated by GVSU assistant baseball coach Jamie Detillion and run by current and former players, the baseball
camp is designed to teach participants only the basic skills and technique necessary to participate effectively in the sport. “Our focus is not on competitiveness and it is not on developing collegiate athletes,” Detillion said. “Our focus is more so on having fun, enjoying the game, skill development and some of the finer points of the game. The kids that we have at the summer camps are just too young to get caught up into winning and losing.” Other sports, such as football and volleyball, offer more concentrated aid to older participants with the intent of developing a skill set for future collegiate
SPORTS
Grand Valley Lanthorn athletes. The football team offered an offensive and defensive lineman camp on June 28 for high school students and has planned for two specialized sessions offered only to high school seniors on July 11 and 14. As for the volleyball t e a m , variety is the key word. The team has planned several oneday position camps as well as a few sessions of team camps for July. There will even be a two-day elite camp on July 12 and 13 designed to test highly-skilled players in the same manner as that of GVSU players. “This year, the variety in our camps is unparalleled,” said Camp Director Craig Vlietstra on the camp Web site. “We have added a ball control and scrimmage camp along with a beach volleyball camp. In a nutshell, we are passionate about volleyball and simply want to share this love with as many summer campers as possible.” This sense of passion and service can be seen in most of the camps. GVSU head softball coach Doug Woods, who will head up two days of skill-driven camps in late July, said he is glad to reach out now that the school year is over. “During the school year it’s a little bit tough to get to reach out to the community,” he said. “We have both our season and our academics to worry about. But during the summer, it becomes easier for our players to find the time to work with younger athletes.” While the GVSU athletes running the camps gain an opportunity for community service and a minor financial boost for their program, Detillion said what they gain in teaching fundamentals to young athletes is far more valuable in developing their own skill set. “We typically have some of our older players help out with the camps,” he said. “They learn to absorb
the game a lot better when they’re teaching it than when we’re teaching them. It forces them to think about their own skill development when trying to teach it to a younger athlete.” Several sports have already held sessions designed for a specific group of athletes and are preparing for a second r o u n d
of sessions for July. The women’s lacrosse clinic, which has been slated as a Fall 2010 clinic, has yet to release complete details. For more information about all of GVSU’s summer sports camps, go to the Laker athletics Web site. managingeditor@lanthorn. com
GVL / Eric Coulter
Softball is one of the many sports holding summer camps run by GVSU coaches and athletes for younger local athletes.
July / August 2010
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FEATURES
10 July / August 2010
Grand Valley Lanthorn
GV lauds ties to Traverse City at Cherry Fest By Lauren Fitch GVL Editor in Chief
For 84 years, the Traverse City Cherry Festival has provided millions of cherries and a variety of entertainment to hundreds of thousands of people all in an effort to “bless the blossoms.” Forty years ago, the festival became a different sort of blessing for Grand Valley State University’s President Thomas Haas, and this year a group of alumni, faculty and students will participate in the festival to show their support for the extended GVSU community. Blossoming romance In 1970, Haas, then 19, was stationed in Mackinaw as part with his Coast Guard unit. He and some fellow guardsmen were invited to attend the Cherry Festival as escorts for Cherry Festival queen’s court. It was when the guardsmen met up with their partners at a dock at
Cherry Festival that Haas “by random circumstances” paired up with Marcia, who he is still escorting years later as his wife. “I take my responsibilities as escort seriously,” Haas said with a smile. “I’ve been escorting my best friend for 40 years.” For this reason, the Cherry Festival holds a special place in the memories of Haas and his wife, who are excited to join the group from GVSU in the parade on July 10. Coordinated by the Alumni Association, the dance team, marching band, cheerleaders and various alumni and faculty will travel to Traverse City for a reception on July 9 before the parade the following morning. Alumni action By July 1, about 169 people total had signed up to participate in the event,
according to Kim Schmidt, associate director of the Alumni Association. “It’s a great group of people and should be really fun,” Schmidt said. Aside from being the event that sparked the Haas romance, the 2010 Cherry Festival also has significance as marking the 15 year anniversary of when GVSU began offering classes in the Traverse City Regional Center.
“We see ourselves as a university supporting West Michigan,” Haas said. “Traverse City is an important part of that.” He described the festival as a community celebration of the region, for which cherries provided a venue. For a complete schedule of events and more history on the Cherry Festival, visit http://visit.cherryfestival. org. editorial@lanthorn.com
Courtesy Photo / cherryfestival.com
GVSU alumna Angela Sayler was crowned 2009 Cherry Queen.
FEATURES
Grand Valley Lanthorn
July / August 2010
11
Recent alum teaches ‘magic’ of music in Africa By Haley Otman GVL Laker Life Editor
He grew up in Hartland, Mich., and had a pretty normal upbringing in a pretty normal Midwestern state. But after his December 2009 graduation from Grand Valley State University, David Jagusch turned everything he had known upside down when he moved to Kibera, Kenya to embark on the next chapter of his life. Jagusch graduated from GVSU early and with honors, but instead of using those resume-boosters to land a highpaying job, he packed up his world and crossed the Atlantic Ocean to a village of slums and poverty. He knew he wanted to help the people in suffering, so he landed in Kibera with a plan to help the village while he taught fourth through eighth grades at Olympic Primary School. Jagusch taught a trimester in Kibera and also participated in parts of a crosscultural volunteer program. “If you know me, you know why I desire(d) to teach in area such as this,” Jagusch said on his Web site. He described his deep-seeded desire to “constantly provide care, support, aid and comfort to
Courtesy Photo / David Jagusch
David Jagusch sits with some of his students.
anyone in need.” He expected to learn a lot about the culture and community there, but what he
did not expect was to be so impacted by speeding up their progress, wanting me their love of music. As a musician, wheels to teach them as much as possible in the started turningn in Jagusch’s head when short amount of time for each lesson,” he he witnessed the way music is weaved said. Jagusch would not only teach music into every part of Kiberan life. to students but also to “the wandering He decided a formal artist that frequents the school “Bringing the music education program grounds, the security guard, was necessary in Kibera the groundsman and also some instruments to so the children could interested teachers.” the school was really learn the craft of Jagusch is now back in the the music that impacts U.S., but the time he spent in the closest thing their lives so much. Kibera and surrounding areas to magic I’ve ever Jagusch started “Kibera in Africa will affect the rest of experienced.” Sings” so he could his life. DAVID JAGUSCH bring music classes to “Bringing the instruments GVSU ALUMNUS the poverty-stricken to the school was the closest children. thing to magic I’ve ever He has raised enough money so far to experienced,” he said on his blog. bring a set of instruments to two separate His co-workers, family and friends programs in Kibera. They teach beginning have been the largest supporters of Kibera music theory and classes to learn the Sings so far, but anyone can help by new instruments. The classes receive visiting his blog to learn more. a keyboard, percussion instruments, Jagusch said on his blog, “A place that woodwinds, guitars and more. originally was going to be a few brief Jagusch described the great response moments of time has become a permanent from the people of Kibera to his blog part of my life.” followers, saying he would usually have To keep updated with Jagusch’s journey, at least 20 students each day show up for visit http://kiberasings.wordpress.com. his guitar classes. lakerlife@lanthorn.com “Their eagerness acts as a catalyst
NEWS IN BRIEF GVSU Education Talent Search receives more funding
names Michael Moody nation’s first chair of family philanthropy
The U.S. Department of Education recently awarded the Grand Valley State University TRIO Educational Talent Search program $327,499 for the 201011 school year. The Talent Search program focuses on students in grades six through 12 who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. The fund is used to offer them extra assistance to graduate from high school and attend college.
The Dorothy A. Johnson Center has selected Michael Moody as the Frey Foundation Chair for Family Foundations and Philanthropy. Moody’s position is the first in the nation to focus on family philanthropy. Moody will work with a group of national advisers to conduct research and other projects to encourage family philanthropy in the U.S. The Frey Foundation, based in Grand Rapids, has given $1.5 million to the
Johnson Center
Johnson Center to fund the work. Currently, Moody is the president of Moody Philanthropic Consulting in Richmond, Va. “I am honored to be named the first Frey Chair for Family Philanthropy -- the very first chair for family philanthropy,” Moody said. “With such a rich and long tradition of philanthropy, it is appropriately in West Michigan, here at the Johnson Center. I am grateful to the Frey Family for this wonderful opportunity.”
GVSU to host its first health science camp
The GVSU health science program will hold a camp for local eighth and ninth graders for the first time on July 12-15 and July 19-22. The Summer Health Activities and Professions Exploration will take place at the CookDeVos Center for Health Sciences in Grand Rapids. Participants will have the chance to do science experiments, visit labs and see simulations. The students will also learn about different ways to exercise, how to make nutritious meals and treatments for various injuries and disabilities. The goal of the camp
is to help the students decide at an early age if they are interested in the health science field. sHaPe is sponsored by the Regional Math and Science Center as well as faculty from the College of Health Professions, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Kirkhof College of Nursing. For more information about the program, contact Ranelle Brew of at 616-331-5947.
Granholm announces new trustee appointments Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced on July 7 two more
appointments to the Board of Trustees, effective Jan. 1, 2011. The potential new members are Douglas Crim of Haslett and Mary Kramer of Detroit. Both are graduates of GVSU. Unless the state Senate rejects Granholm’s appointments, Crim and Kramer will take the place of Dorothy Johnson and Lucille Taylor. The Senate has 60 days to reject Granholm’s latest appointments. Granholm’s first round of board appointments was rejected by the Senate. Crim was also one of the original appointees.
FEATURES
12 July / August 2010
Picnic perfection Executive Chef Paul Mixa shares insider tips on making the most of summer meals By Lauren Fitch GVL Editor in Chief
The smell of charcoal and burgers cooking wafts across campus. As you wander closer to the white tent set up by Zumberge Pond, you can hear brats sizzling on the grill as well. A variety of salads is set out and cookies and brownies are arranged on a side table to finish out the meal. The warm weather and bright sun call you to the outdoors and with a couple hours off between classes, it’s the perfect time for a Picnic by the Pond. The Picnic by the Pond events, put on by Classic Fare Catering, take place on one Thursday every month. The entire campus community is invited to stop by between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., with admission to the buffet-style meal costing $7. “(Picnic by the Pond) makes the whole summer experience ... a little more exciting, a little more fun,” said Chuck Brown, Campus Dining senior food service director. “It provides a break
a more personal experience between him and the diners. “It’s kind of nice to get out of a building,” Mixa said. “It’s nice in the s u m m e r. Yo u ’ r e more in front of people; you get to talk to Courtesy Photo / Campus Dining them.” Paul Mixa has worked at GVSU for almost six years. Mixa for everybody and a nice has worked with Campus meal in the outdoors.” Picnics for the rest of the Dining for almost six years summer are set for July 8 and has been planning the and August 12. Brown said menu for Picnic by the Pond the turnout at the last few for about three years. He picnics has been around 100 said has to take into account people, making this summer what the weather will be one of the most popular like, what foods are easy in the six years since the to grill and what seasonal produce is available when program began. For Executive Chef Paul selecting dishes for picnics. “I like the freedom to Mixa, Picnic by the Pond offers an opportunity for work with different menus,”
Mixa said. “I try to work with different foods that otherwise I might not buy.” While Classic Fare Catering offers more highend options, Mixa said college students can easily do their own grilling as long as they take the time to do it right. He said it is important to have a good grill and be aware of the type of meat being used because each type requires a different heat intensity and amount of time to cook properly. He added vegetables require the same type of care. Mixa listed a number of different meal options for college students, though he said the most popular choices at the Picnic by the Pond have been the ethnic foods. “People like something with a little different culture than our own behind it,” Mixa said. For more information about the Picnic by the Pond and Classic Fare Catering, visit www.gvsu.edu/ catering. editorial@lanthorn.com
Grand Valley Lanthorn
Paul Mixa’s tips to better grilling • Use 25 to 30 charcoal briquets per pound of meat to be grilled for direct cooking. • To prevent food from sticking, the cooking grate should be lightly oiled before grilling. • To ensure best flavor, make sure briquets are ashed over before you begin grilling. • If flare-ups occur, close lid to minimize oxygen to flame • Use tongs or a spatula when grilling poultry and other foods. Flavorful juices are lost when poultry and meats are pierced by a fork. Start with one set of tongs for raw food and switch over to clean tongs to handle cooked foods.
• Know what kind of meat or vegetables you are cooking. Does it require slow and low heat cooking methods or high heat with short cooking time? • Always place grilled foods on a clean plate, not the one that has previously held raw meat, fish or poultry. Bacteria from the raw food can migrate to the grilled food and cause food poisoning. • Remember to store your charcoal in a dry area. Keep the bag tightly closed. • Most important —do not leave hot grills unattended after cooking. Make sure they cool down completely!
Grilled portobello sandwich with basil mayo 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar 1/4 cup olive oil 1 tablespoon minced garlic 6 portobello mushroom caps 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard d eat an 1 teaspoon lemon juice um h lsamic i d e s a m 2 tablespoons chopped tion the b l for r gril together l bowl. Direc o o fresh basil d t al sk ou . Whi at an n a sm gill6 kaiser rolls, split, toasted Prehe l the grate d garlic i shrooms the i n u a o 1 tablespoon butter m ush y il lightl ar, olive o ortobello sheet. Br r mixture 6 leaves lettuce p g vineg range the or bakin the vinega tes. 6 tomato slices f ay inu r Ar o t e a on som or 3 to 5 m s on p h u t i e m s w inate f sid rill shroo r room f mush low to ma rinated mu e down. G th sides o l d o a a i , b s e m d g l d n l e n a a th hi in , gi Place ated grill nder, brus ining mar e a e t h m l e i e r mon the p ooms unt with the r de. rd, le r i a s h s t s s h m u u c o a m on e ushro ijon m er the the m 4 minutes onnaise, d owl. Butt the b t abou x the may n a small read with shrooms, i sp l Mi i mu n y to s e a h db e the ices evenl es. ls, t n d l a i o v r e i c r sl ch se .D jui d kai ndwi mato ixture toaste nnaise m uce and to ake six sa m lett mayo GVL / Eric Coulter
DIVERSIONS
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July / August 2010
13
See answers: page 15
Strange, but true Royal hair: Jam made from Princess Di’s hair
LONDON (AP) — The royal hair? Jam made from one of Princess Diana’s hairs has been selling strong at an art exhibition in London. Sam Bompas, who founded catering company Bompas and Parr, says a piece of the late princess’ hair has been infused with gin, then combined with milk and sugar to make the preserve, which tastes like condensed milk. Bompas says he bought the hair off eBay for $10 from a U.S. dealer who collects celebrity hair. He said Sunday that the product, called “occult jam,” aims to provoke people into thinking about food marketing and what they eat. The jam is an exhibit at a surrealist art show at the Barbican Art Gallery and in the first week 500 of the 5-pound ($7.60) jars have been sold.
Husband, wife win at pit spitting in SW Michigan EAU CLAIRE, Mich. (AP) — A husband and wife took top honors for the second straight year at the annual cherry pit spitting competition in southwestern Michigan. Rick “Pellet Gun” Krause, of Tuba City, Ariz., spit a pit 51 feet, 3 inches Saturday for his 16th win at the International Cherry Pit Spitting Championship. Organizers say Krause entered on a motorcycle, dropped to his knees in the spitter’s box and ejected the winning pit. His wife, Marlene, took first place in the women’s contest, spitting a pit 34 feet, 6 inches. It was her seventh win. The Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm, just north of the Indiana border, hosts the event. Orchard owner Herb Teichman launched the competition as a lark
37 years ago, but it now attracts competitors from the U.S. and beyond.
Mass. school janitor finds 3-foot python in locker NEWTON, Mass. (AP) — A custodian cleaning out lockers at a Massachusetts high school was so shocked when a 3-foot-long snake fell at his feet that he didn’t even think it was real. Ed Reardon tells The Daily News Tribune that at first he thought it was a change purse. Then he thought it was a rubber snake. Then it coiled into attack mode. Reardon didn’t panic. He grabbed it behind the head as he had seen on nature TV shows. When he got off work at Newton North High School, he brought it to a local pet store, where workers identified it as a ball python. Reardon thinks a student left the snake in the locker as a prank.
FEATURES
14 July / August 2010
Grand Valley Lanthorn
Students, professionals race clock to produce film GVSU summer film project begins 12-week production on ‘Horizontal Accidents,’ written by alumnus Michael Salisbury By Elijah Brumback GVL A&E Editor
Courtesy Photo / Mary Pirkola
“Horizontal Accidents” will be a 25 minute film.
Grand Valley State University’s summer film project began production recently on “Horizontal Accidents,” an adaptation of a short story written by GVSU alumnus Michael Salisbury. Written while Salisbury was an undergraduate, the story was first published in GVSU literary journal, the “Fishladder,” and later published in the national publication, “Black Warrior Review.” The film, which is to be shot as a 25 to 30 minute short follows the story of a graverobbing funeral worker, Boeve, and his aimless partner, Brandon, who encounter existential troubles and insurance companies to find out that some policies only cover “horizontal accidents” after a suicide jump lands on Brandon’s car. The story was written for film by GVSU writing major Tom Castillo, who worked
closely with Salisbury and the film’s director Tom Seidman, son of GVSU founder L. William Seidman. With more than 20 years of media experience, Seidman is mostly notably known in the Directors Guild of America for his work as first assistant director on Peter Weir’s “The Dead Poets Society,” Robert Redford’s “Ordinary People” and Clint Eastwood’s “Honkytonk Man.” Seidman’s latest project, a film titled “The Bunny Lady” featuring Florence Henderson, was shot in Grand Rapids in February. Seidman also won an Emmy for his documentary piece “Lost Angeles,” which aired on PBS. GVSU film student Greg Kort works directly under Seidman on the summer film project as the first assistant director. Kort’s job is laden with crucial time management and production flow, which Kort said is where the valuable experience lies. Kort also mentioned the difference in directing styles between Seidman and last year’s
Courtesy Photo / Mary Pirkola
Tom Seidman, director of “Horizontal Accidents,” addressed the crew via Skype from Los Angeles. The film will be produced in 12 weeks.
project director Eric Yang, who produced “The Darkroom.” “Getting to work with another person who has a new style of directing is great because that’s how work goes in the industry,” Kort said “It’s a chance to follow two different processes in film making.” Senior Dan Campbell is the unit production manager. He also worked on “The Darkroom” and he agreed with Kort about the importance of the experience. “The project is the closest reality to a full professional production,” Campbell said. “Students are working alongside industry professionals; new and veteran students to the program all learn together in this setting.” Work on the project is rigorous and organization is key to the whole process considering the film is produced in a maximum of 12 weeks. Kort, Campbell and Jake Bowen, the production designer, all stressed the crucial time element of the project. “Time management is definitely the most challenging thing about this project,” Bowen said. “Making decisions and getting people together is always an issue. Some people have second jobs and some people have to commute a bit of distance, but it’s all part of filmmaking and it’s still exciting.” Bowen said his next major task is meeting with the entire art department to discuss props, wardrobe and some set design. This year the art department has been allotted a budget of $3,000. “My goal is to make it look as good as it can for as little as possible,” Bowen said. He added that he enjoys the artistic side of production design and wants to really try and stretch his budget. Kort and Campbell have been entrenched almost entirely in location scouting and casting. Kort looks forward to getting involved in storyboarding and developing a shooting schedule as filming will begin in late July. “It falls to me to keep the ball rolling on this (project) and I want to do the script justice because it is really good,” Kort said. “I’m looking forward to the second round of casting and call backs, after that we’ll probably have pretty good idea of what we need going ahead.” Bowen said casting for extras is open to the public; those interested can e-mail the production at horizontal_accidents@ hotmail.com with contact information. arts@lanthorn.com
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