Issue 44

Lanthorn

Findlay victory

Grand Valley

Men’s basketball team beats University of Findlay before falling to Wayne State University.

THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT GRAND VALLEY

Sports | B1 GVL / Eric Coulter

w w w. l a n t h o r n . c o m

M o nday, Februar y 21, 2011

Not just a lecture

Inside this issue

B1

Actors come together to portray former presidents in “Reagan’s Heroes,” the Hauenstein Center’s celebration of Ronald Reagan’s 100th birthday.

Laker Life | B6

Music students, midterms and practice room space

lack perfect harmony

GVL / Nicole Lamson

Hockey wins central region Laker men seeded No. 1 as they head to ACHA National Championship

A4

Courtesy Photo / Eric Coulter

Gen Ed program changes WRT 305 eliminated from GV’s general education requirements

lanthorn.com Chris Slattery’s column: GVL / Eric Coulter

Space issues: Sophomore Steven Borg uses a practice room in the Performing Arts Center. The number of rooms are limited, sometimes making it difficult for students to practice.

“...the times when

rooms are available don’t necessarily match up with one’s availability to practice.

”

-Adam Brennan Sophomore music education major

Concern surfaces over PAC practice room space

By Anya Zentmeyer

O

GVL News Editor

n the cusp of midterms, demanding academic schedules for music students at Grand Valley State University have many voicing concerns over the lack of available practice space in the Performing Arts Center.

“We have very few classrooms and spaces for class or rehearsal, and sometimes they aren’t sufficient facilities for our goals as a depart-

ment,” said Adam Brennan, a sophomore music education major. “And as more faculty are being recruited, practice rooms are being converted into offices, rooms for specific instrumentalists, etc. This makes it very difficult to be able to reach practice requirements or goals on a weekly basis, as the times when rooms are available don’t necessarily match up with one’s availability to practice.”

Danny Phipps, chair of the music department, said the conversion of practice spaces to faculty offices or other specialty rooms was not ideal, but still necessary.

Practice Rooms

17 9

in the PAC

in Murray

for

210

Courtesy Photo / Google Images

PCs vs. Macs

music majors

“Do I have any more plans to convert what we have in the PAC for more academic programs?” Phipps

See Practice rooms, A2

Sustainability initative active in all aspects of GV community SCDI team works across disciplines

Courtesy Photo / Google Images

A&E: Paranormal tour to explore Grand Rapids ghosts

By Molly Waite GVL Assistant News Editor Courtesy photo / Les Johnson

Scientific inquiry: Les Johnson hold a piece of solar sail material. He will speak at GV Feb. 28.

NASA scientist to talk space, energy Eric Higgins GVL Intern

Grand Valley State University students will get a chance to learn about space and how it can help the environment from NASA scientist Les Johnson.

Johnson, deputy manager for NASA’s Advanced Concepts Office, will hold a public talk, “How Space Development May Help Solve Our Energy and Environmental Problems on Earth,” at 7:30 p.m. next Monday

at the Loosemore Auditorium.

According to NASA’s website, the ACO “develops new and innovative concepts for subsystems, spacecraft systems, payloads, transportation systems, and mission and system architectures.”

Brett Bolen, an assistant professor of physics who has known Johnson for many years, said Johnson will visit GVSU to reach out to the students.

“Part of his job at NASA is to perform outreach to the general public, so he was very willing to come to

See NASA, A2

Sustainability has become a common word on the Grand Valley State University campuses. But despite the local and national recognition the university has received for sustainability efforts, many members of the GVSU community are still unaware of the people who do the work: the Sustainable Community Development Initiative.

The Sustainable Community Development Initiative (SCDI) was created in 2006 as part of the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies in an effort to provide university administration, faculty, staff and students, as well as the community, with the skills necessary to become better stewards of the environment and responsible global citizens in the work force, communities and family life.

GVL / Eric Coulter

Green team: The SCDI (pictured) began in 2006.

“I think the SCDI team has done an excellent job at spreading awareness about the importance of sustainable habits throughout campus,” said GVSU President Thomas J. Haas.

“Norman Christopher and his team of talented and driven faculty, staff and students do an astounding job at creating awareness and educating the campus about being sustainable. It’s so critical that Grand Valley’s community understands why and how to be sustainable and the team at SCDI accomplishes that by providing campus

See Sustainability, A2

View: Video of Men’s Basketball GV Lakers vs. Findlay Oilers

What’s Inside

A B

A3 Opinion A4 News B1 Sports B4 Laker Life B5 Marketplace

A2 Practice rooms continued from page A1

said. “No, but I didn’t in the first place. I would have never taken that space unless I had no other choice.”

Phipps said the growing concern is not unique to the student body – faculty in the music department as well as the administration have all been advocating for the same goal, but a hierarchy of construction needs and a lack of funding from Lansing has the issue of practice space at the PAC lower on the ladder than other building projects currently in the works.

“There’s been some building that if you’re a student here, it doesn’t seem like you are being considered,” Phipps said. “But the building that has been going on have been buildings with revenue, like dorms or places to eat.”

James Moyer, assistant vice president for Facilities Planning, said GVSU always considers student concerns.

“The University takes student concerns very seriously, as students are our reasons for existing,” he said.

With other building projects like the new William H. Seidman building fueled with private funding, and little to no money coming in from Lansing for building construction, Moyer said the university reviews current space conditions and notes the area of greatest need.

He said the current Mary Idema Pew Library construction projects caps the list of building concerns since replacing a current library designed for only 8,000 people has a wider impact on the student body.

With that said, Moyer said the PAC is certainly not on the bottom of the priority list.

“Providing and retaining student study space has been a priority in the Performing Arts Center and the university as a whole,” he said. “We will con-

News

GRAND VALLEY

tinue to work on solutions for the music practice space and continue to be extraordinarily proud of our student musicians’ accomplishment under what we know are less than ideal conditions.”

Although space under Murray Living Center has been designated for additional practice spaces, Brennan said the combination of cold weather and fragile instruments during the commute from the PAC to the practice rooms at Murray often leads to expensive damages.

However, Phipps said challenges like Brennan’s are among ones that musicians face on a regular basis.

“We give a lot of concerts in Cook-DeWitt, and it’s less of a distance to walk to Cook-DeWitt than it is to walk over to Murray,” he said. “I’m not denigrating what they are saying and I’m not demeaning it; it’s just that I can’t justify the university putting that ahead of something that they don’t have at all.

They can’t put a science lab in the basement of Murray, but it’s a nice space if they can let us practice there. And that’s what they’ve done.”

Currently, a first-come-firstserve scheduling system is in place for the practice rooms at the PAC in an effort to maintain as much efficient use as possible. Phipps said in the mean time, students who have the most difficulties with the Murray commute need to be mindful of the sign-ups to ensure a spot in the PAC. “If that’s the case then you need to be sure you’re first in line to sign up,” he said. “We have a policy for sign-up and the designated date on the first week of each semester; there’s a time and it begins at 8 a.m., and kids start lining up early so they can be sure they’re in the PAC.” With 92 percent of the music department contained in the PAC, Phipps said GVSU measures up well against many other universities that spread departments through more than just two buildings.

“So Grand Valley, they’re doing the best they can,” he said.

“It’s not perfect; it’s not what we want to have in the end, but for now it is at least affording them a space that’s a nice space to practice in. All I can keep doing is advocating.” news@lanthorn.com

Grand Valley Lanthorn Volume 45, Number 44 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

EDITORIAL STAFF

Editor in Chief EMANUEL JOHNSON Managing Editor SAMANTHA BUTCHER News Editor ANYA ZENTMEYER Assistant News Editor MOLLY WAITE Sports Editor GREG MONAHAN Assistant Sports Editor DEREK WOLFF

NASA

continued from page A1

GVSU to give an outreach talk,” he said.

Johnson, who has worked with NASA for 21 years, will give two talks at GVSU – one about solar sails for physics students and the other about space development and the environment for the general public.

Johnson said his discussion topics are important so people can know about what NASA is doing.

“I think it’s important for students to know what some of the cutting-edge technologies are and how what they’re studying directly applies to what were working on,” he said. “A big part of it is to basically go and interact with the students and let them know what were working on and why it’s important

Sustainability continued from page A1

events, like Sustainability Week.”

The SCDI team is comprised of 15 members, nine of whom are students.

“I enjoy being part of a team where others share my commitment to sustainability and leading a sustainable lifestyle,” said Emily Martin, the SCDI graduate assistant.

“It leads to great conversations and idea-sharing as we all continue on our journey to an ever-greater commitment to sustainability.”

The team has been involved with almost every aspect of the GVSU community, helping to establish many projects and programs to integrate sustainability into GVSU’s liberal education foundation.

“Sustainability can be applied to so many programs and majors at Grand Valley, and the team at SCDI has done an excellent job at shaping courses to coincide with a vast array of programs,” Haas said.

Some of the SCDI’s programs include the creation of a comprehensive campus recycling program, a commitment to LEED building design and construction, regular university-wide campus sustainability reporting using

A & E Editor ELIJAH BRUMBACK Laker Life Editor SUSIE SKOWRONEK Photography Editor ERIC COULTER Multimedia Editor DAN KETCHUM Copy Editors SUSIE SKOWRONEK COREY FINKBEINER

Grand Valley Lanthorn Monday, February 21, 2011

that what they’re doing will relate to how we do things in the future.”

Bolen said Johnson’s public talk at GVSU will be important for students because he will discuss subjects that affect the entire planet.

“Energy and the environment are two of the greatest problems facing the U.S. and the world today,” Bolen said.

“It is unreasonable to think that conservation alone will solve these problems. Technology will have to play a role if we are to seriously deal with these issues. NASA is attempting to propose some solutions to these seemingly intractable problems. I hope that Mr. Johnson’s talk will raise awareness in the GVSU community of both these problems and some interest in NASA’s proposed solutions.” news@lanthorn.com the triple bottom line performance indicators, and the development of a community garden and weekly farmer’s markets.

The project manager for the SCDI team, Bart Bartels, said that he is extremely pleased with the team.

“I am privileged to work with such dedicated individuals,” Bartels said. “Every day is a new adventure with interesting challenges, and I can count on the members of the team to give me insight from their unique perspectives.”

The biggest feather in GVSU’s cap for sustainability work is the considerable and wide-spread recognition that the SCDI team has received in the last few years.

GVSU was named as the only Michigan school in the 2009 Kaplan Guide of cutting edge green colleges and universities, received the 2008 U.S. Green Building Council’s Excellence in Green Building Curriculum Recognition Award and the 2008 National Sustainability Innovator Award from the Sustainable Endowments Institute and received the Energy Star designation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the Mark A. Murray Living Center. assistantnews@lanthorn.com

Layout Editor ALANA HOLLAND Layout Staff KELLY GRANBACKA KENDALL GILBERT VALERIE WALDBAUER KAYLA KOENIGSKNECHT Web Team JON ROOST CATHRINE RAFTERY JOSH KOVACH

ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager KEVIN HAUSFELD Advertising Reps Kim VERELLEN DANIEL TOMOVSKI AMANDA VILLARREAL Advertising Designers MATT TYNDALL VALENTINA VALDES Faculty Adviser LAWRENCE BEERY

BRIEFS! 1

GV to recognize National Eating Disorder Screening Day The Counseling Center will be offering free and confidential eating disorder screenings Thursday in conjunction with National Eating Disorder Screening Day. The screenings, which take less than 15 minutes to complete, will be available during drop-in hours across campus. Screenings on the Allendale Campus will be offered in Room 204 of the Student Services Building from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the Kirkhof lobby from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in Kleiner Commons from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m, in Room 137 of North C from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and in the Campus Rec Center from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Pew Campus screenings are available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the DeVos Center Student Project Area and the Center for Health Sciences Canepa lobby.

Online screenings are also available year-round on the Counseling Center’s website, www.gvsu.edu/counsel.

2

ACES Office launches alcohol and drug survey Last week, the GVSU Campus Education and Services Office (ACES) selected 4,000 students at random to receive an e-mail invitation to participate in a campus-wide survey on drug and alcohol-related issues.

The survey was created by the Core Institute at the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and is part of an outreach program by the Counseling & Career Development Center.

The CORE survey is anonymous and confidential in the hope that students will be honest and open about their experiences.

This is also the first time in several years that the ACES Office has asked students to help examine the climate of alcohol and drug use on campus. The results will be used to plan future programs and services on campus, as well as address areas of health

BUSINESS STAFF

Business Manager KIM SANDER Assistant Business Manager DAVID FINK Distribution ADAM RASHID JEFF DIMITRIEVSKI MICHAEL VASILOVSKI Receptionists Carian White ANGILEENA GIBSON

GV NEWS

and safety for the campus community.

Once the survey is completed, students may enter a prize drawing for one of four Wiis or iPod Nanos.

The survey will remain open until March 4 and the results will be released by late April.

For further information or questions, contact Eric Klingensmith in the ACES Office at 616-331-2537 or klingene@gvsu.edu.

3

Student organization recognition awards The Office of Student Life is now accepting nominations for the 2011 Recognition Awards. The awards recognize student organizations, individuals, and programs for effort and making an impact on campus. Nominations will be accepted up until March 18 at 5 p.m. To nominate someone or an organization, go to www.gvsu.edu/ studentlife/.

Winners will be honored at the April 21 Awards Banquette at 4 p.m. in the Grand River Room in Kirkhof Center. If you have any questions, please visit the Student Organization Center in 008 Kirkhof Center or www.gvsu.edu/studentlife/ soc. You can also call or email at (616) 331-2360 and soc@ gvsu.edu.

4

Writing Center now accepting applications The Fred Meijer Center for Writing and Michigan Authors is now hiring writing consultants. Students of all majors are invited to apply to join the Writing Center staff for the 2011-2012 school year.

The Writing Center offers flexible scheduling, and on-campus employment that accepts work-study.

Undergraduate writing consultants earn $8.60 per hour and graduate consultants earn $10.50 per hour.

Applications are due March 18 at 5 p.m. The application, along with frequently asked questions, is available online at www.gvsu.edu/ wc. All applications must be accompanied by a faculty recommendation and two writing samples.

For questions or more information, visit the Writing Center in Lake Ontario Hall 120 or call 616-331-2922.

The Grand Valley Lanthorn is published under the authorization of the GVSU Newspaper Advisory Board.

Corrections CML materials will be consolidated above Steelcase Library at Pew Campus in the DeVos Center CML. Coach John Bancheri and Carey Mankin’s names were misspelled in the rowing story of the Feb. 17 issue.

Grand Valley Lanthorn Monday, February, 21, 2011

A3

Opinion Editorial and your opinion

see LANTHORN.COM to read a letter to the editor >>MEET THE GREEKS

EDITORIAL CARTOON

EDITORIAL

Well-balanced growth As the university continues to extend throughout Allendale and Grand Rapids, students’ needs should remain the top priority in expansion efforts.

Like established universities that have come before, Grand Valley State University has made a dedicated push for expansion in recent years.

The university has focused much of that expansion on large-scale projects, such as the Pew Campus, the Niemeyer building, the South Campus Apartments and GVSU’s latest endeavor, the Mary Idema Pew Library. These projects, some of which were privately funded, filled holes and impacted large numbers of students, but they also carry a hefty price tag.

After Gov. Rick Snyder announced a proposed 22-percent budget cut in Michigan for public education funding, it seems likely that the administration will hold off on lower-priority projects. It also seems likely that revenue-producing projects, such as dorm buildings, will take precedent.

The university has a responsibility to its students to provide the services they need as well as the responsibility to solve problems when they arise. GVSU has done an excellent job of initiating projects with big, campus-wide impacts – new living centers have expanded on-campus housing options for students, new Pew Campus buildings have expanded classroom availability and the new library will expand both library capacity and accessibility.

However, it’s easy for smaller, less profitable projects to get lost in the shuffle of budget crunches and cutbacks.

Smaller-scale projects, such as the expansion of practice rooms for music majors in the Performing Arts Center or the establishment of a larger space available for the Language Learning Center, may not give the university a monetary payback, but they will make a noticeable difference in the university climate. Happier students and stronger programs will draw more people to GVSU, and isn’t that really the point?

With Snyder’s budget cut, we will all have to make sacrafices in order to ensure that the university can continue to educate and prepare students for their future, and anyone unwilling to cope with such sacrifices ask too much of a university that has already done a great deal in order to cater to the financial needs of its students through willingly adopted pay freezes for faculty and staff and freezes on housing rates for the 2011-12 school year, a first at GVSU. At the same time, GVSU has a responsibility to all of its students, not just those with the loudest voices. While the university’s large-scale projects have been and continue to be successful, it will be important to find a way to keep budget setbacks from cutting off improvements that keep students happy with the university.

The student-run newspaper of Grand Valley State University

Editorial Page Board

Emanuel Johnson Kim Sander Samantha Butcher Anya Zentmeyer

Editor in Chief Business Manager Managing Editor News Editor

Valley Vote Does Campus Dining have enough healthy options?

Yes: 39% This week’s question: Should expansion be a priority for GVSU?

No: 61% Vote online at Lanthorn.com

GVL OPINION POLICY The ultimate goal of the Grand Valley Lanthorn opinion page is to stimulate discussion and action on topics of interest to the Grand Valley Community.

Student opinions do not reflect those of the Grand Valley Lanthorn.

The Grand Valley Lanthorn welcomes reader viewpoints and offers three vehicles of expression for reader opinions: letters to the editor, guest columns and phone responses.

Letters must include the author’s name and be accompanied by current picture identification if dropped off in person.

Letters will be checked by an employee of the Grand Valley Lanthorn.

Letters appear as space permits each

issue. The limit for letter length is one page, single spaced.

The editor reserves the right to edit and condense letters and columns for length restrictions and clarity.

All letters must be typed.

The Grand Valley Lanthorn will not be held responsible for errors that appear in print as a result of transcribing handwritten letters or e-mail typographic errors.

The name of the author may be withheld for compelling reasons.

The content, information and views expressed are not approved by nor necessarily represent those of the university, its Board of Trustees, officers, faculty and staff.

GVL / Jacob Bowen

YOUR THOUGHTS

What should the university focus on in future expansion projects?

“They should probably work on getting more housing”.

“A building dedicated to computer labs.”

“Another food place, like a known restaurant”.

“They need to expand the Rec Center. The Rec Center gets really packed between 4-7 when everyone has time to go”.

“Given the e-mail that T.Haas just sent out, we don’t need any more buildings right now”.

Claire Victory Senior Elementary Education Byron Center, Mich.

Daina Salayon Senior Public Relations Ferndale, Mich.

Alysa Gregory Freshman Pre-Vet Grand Rapids, Mich.

Blake Wickerham Junior Athletic Training Belding, Mich,

Austin Bekken Junior International Relations Hudsonville, Mich.

GVL STUDENT OPINION

Kevin VanAntwerpen GVL Columnist

Oh yeah! None of this is my fault!

Last Friday, I was in the middle of a very bad week. First my Republican memorabilia John Baehner pumpkin came in the mail all smushed. Then my dangerously obese cat, Simba-the-Hutt, escaped his cage and ate the neighbor’s puppy. But all my self-pity was eradicated when I heard about what’s been going on in the life of entertainer Billy Ray Cyrus and his daughter Miley Cyrus.

Despite disadvantages stemming from a drastic case of chinlessness, Miley has managed to make a notable career for herself in both television and music. But when photos of Miley smoking salvia from a bong exposed what she really meant when she sang “Party

in the U.S.A.”, Daddy Cyrus was obviously unhappy.

During an interview with GQ Magazine, Billy Ray said he “definitely” thought his daughter’s antics were in part the result of an attack by none other than the infamous Satan.

That’s when I got to thinking – maybe Satan was also causing the problems in my life. After the landslide Republican victory during the last election, I’m sure Nancy Pelosi unleashed whatever hellish force she hides behind those cold, glassy eyes. And as for Simba-theHut? Everyone thought that cat was possessed by the devil in the first place. It just makes sense.

But then, to my horror, I read that Billy Ray’s theory about the devil’s conspirators. The atheists. He told GQ that every morning, on the way to the Hannah Montana set, he and Miley would pass an Adopt-a-Highway bllboard sponsored by Atheists United. He called it a “physical

sign” that could’ve said his family would be attacked by Satan.

I agree the Hannah Daddy! The only highway Atheists United wants you to adopt is the highway to hell!

Although, I’ll admit - until Billy Ray mentioned it, I had no idea that the forces of evil posted “impending doom” notifications through commercial advertisements. But now that I do know, I keep out a watchful eye for signs of potential omens – such as the Twilight poster I saw in the theater the other day.

It’s an obviously sign that the devil will soon attempt to convert me to a lonely, malcontent soccer mom.

Good news people! Billy Ray Cyrus has shown me the light. Now I know that not even the bad grades or the destruction of my Farmville farm were my fault. It was all the devil.

Unless this was all just a cheap way to avoid taking the blame. Man, that’d be a shame, wouldn’t it? kvanantwerpen@lanthorn.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Campus Dining not responsive to student requests Dear Editor, Thank you for your article on Thursday, February 17 regarding dietary restrictions and food allergies.

As a graduate student, much of my time is spent on Pew Campus and having food allergies makes eating on campus is not only a challenge, but a risk as well. I have 14 different food allergies including wheat, soy, some nuts and a variety of different fruits and vegetables. At least a handful of these could kill me. In high school, I went into anaphylactic shock after taking a bite of pineapple. It was terrifying. Mom was out of town, and Dad’s “Um, take an aspirin?” didn’t help the swelling of my tongue, throat and face or make the rash go away. It felt like I had a butcher knife in my lungs and was breathing through a coffee filter because I was going into respiratory arrest. A quick call to the neighbor, a nurse, identified my symptoms as anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction. She advised that I take antihistamine and go to the emergency room. I ended up drinking an entire bottle of children’s liquid allergy medicine and sleeping for about 14 hours instead.

I have since learned to strictly avoid the many foods I am allergic to, but it is not easy. I mostly try to avoid eating on campus because I honestly don’t trust the kitchens.

I’ve seen workers cross-contaminate spoons and knives at different dining locations on campus, including the

smoothie shop in Kirkhof, and I can’t imagine what they are doing where I can’t see them. Whenever I have asked staff to check ingredients or if an allergen is in something, I generally get blank stares. When I explain I am allergic to whatever I am asking about, they either don’t take me seriously or are confused but try to find out. At this point, I’ve pretty much given up. I have worked in food service myself for over a decade and learned a lot over the years. It’s not a matter of laziness or not caring; it’s about education and proper food safety.

Last year, I wrote a letter and hand delivered it to a manager at Pew Campus Dining which expressed my issue and asked that they please put labels on items, noting that food allergies and Celiac disease are serious and becoming more and more common. I got an email saying it was a matter they took seriously and would look into or something like that. Nothing was ever done.

I’ve written comment cards, too, but at this point I don’t feel like anyone cares. I do not understand why on earth it would be so challenging to have labels on food items. Or how about a sign by the soups with an ingredient list—I’ve asked this of numerous staff and every time they react like they’ve never heard anyone ask that before.

What the faculty and staff at Campus Dining, as well as most of the world, don’t realize is that their

lack of food safety or inattention to detail in food preparation and labeling could literally kill people like me.

A friend in my program has Celiac disease and she is terrified of eating on campus most of the time.

I’ve met other students with allergies or gluten intolerance that simply avoid buying food on campus. But being on campus for hours at a time makes bringing enough food for the day a challenge and let’s be honest, a side salad really doesn’t cut it for dinner before a three hour class. The campus dining representative quoted in the article made it sound like we never speak up—either the people we talk to don’t share our concerns with Campus Dining or those you interviewed are out of touch. Maybe there is a difference between the campuses? Don’t get me wrong, the staff at Pew do a great job in other areas; I love the chicken and rice soup and those sandwiches and wraps look tasty, even though I can’t eat them. I just wouldn’t trust them with my life.

For more information on Celiac Disease and food allergies, check out these websites: http://www.celiac. com/ and http://www.foodallergy. org/

Want us to publish your thoughts? Email us at editorial@lanthorn.com

Grand Valley Lanthorn Monday, February 21, 2011

A4

News GRAND VALLEY

Anya Zentmeyer, News Editor News@lanthorn.com

GV changes junior-level requirements for Fall 2011 WRT 305 dropped from general education curriculum in attempt to simplify graduation requirements for students

By Anya Zentmeyer GVL News Editor

As of fall of 2011, Grand Valley State University students will no longer be required to take the junior-level WRT 305 class, with the exception of students graduating in the spring/ summer semester of this academic year.

Chair of the general education committee Roger Gilles said with the change in the curriculum, the committee did not intend to devalue the role of writing in the general education program but to simplify the general education experience for students.

“I’m in the writing department and I believe strongly that we’re not doing that because we are going to, I believe, improve the instruction of writing within the general education program and make more rigorous the assessment of writing in the general education program,” Gilles said. “So we are eliminating a requirement but we’re building up the writing component of general education. And in the end, everyone agreed on that. “ Zach Conley, a Student Senate representative for the gen-

eral education committee, said he is in full support of a change he believes reduced demands on students without sacrificing the quality of education.

“Essentially, the junior level writing requirement is no longer a useful tool,” Conley said.

“The path to graduation is difficult enough without having unnecessary requirements placed upon students. So it has been discarded, the responsibility of evaluating student writing proficiency instead couched comfortably in the curriculum of each discipline.”

Gilles said the change has caused some ripples of frustration among students who completed the course or are currently completing the course.

“I’ve been thinking it’s kind of like having a tax cut go in place and your saying, ‘Well I wanted the tax cut last year.

Why didn’t you reduce taxes from last year, give me a refund on the taxes I paid last year?’” he said. “But you know, you have to move forward, and we’re trying to deal with this requirement now and in the future.”

Although it will no longer be a general education requirement, WRT 305 will still remain in the curriculum as an elective.

“The path to

graduation is difficult enough without having unnecessary requirements placed upon students.

”

-Zach Conley Student Senate representative

As a WRT 305 instructor, Gilles said he and the rest of the writing faculty agree on the importance of the class and hope that the new focus allows for WRT 305 to better mirror its original intentions – to work in tandem with the majors and try to help prepare students for the writing demands that they might face there.

“The WRT 305 course is seen as valuable by people who have taken it,” Gilles said. “It’s often not seen as valuable by people before they take it because they think of it as an external requirement. But I’m hoping it has a new life as an elective.” news@lanthorn.com

GVL / Eric Coulter

Class cut: Junior Brittany Obetts works on a paper. Obetts and other Grand Valley State University students will no longer be required to take WRT 305 to graduate because of changes in the general education program at GVSU.

Michigan Film Festival founder hopes to combine entertainment, activism

By Lauren Ringger GVL Staff Writer

If the Michigan Film Festival sounds familiar, it is only because Grand Valley State University senior Jen Pider created it.

Scheduled to graduate from GVSU in August of this year, Pider is pursuing a liberal studies degree with an emphasis on international planning and social justice. Pider started the Michigan Film Festival in 2009.

The festival finished its second successful year last November.

“The festival, as it stands today, is a collaborative effort between many individuals, though born from an idea which originated in me,” Pider said.

“Because of my work with the

Waterfront Film Festival, I was attracted to the idea of having a film festival in downtown Grand Rapids. Waterfront generally has a ‘Michigan Film House,’ a venue dedicated to showing Michigan-made films.

Still, with the film incentives taking hold, the need for community building amongst Michigan filmmakers was growing.

By bringing together university professors, filmmakers, entrepreneurs and institution representatives to plan the event, we were able to fill that need.”

The mission of the Michigan Film Festival is to promote the Michigan perspective in film and the Michigan filmmaking community by sustaining an event that includes educational workshops, panel discussions and lectures, exhibition ven-

“For me, a dream

job would include the entertainment industry and creative people working toward peace, justice and equality.

”

-Jen Pider GVSU student ues displaying recently crafted Michigan-made works, and partnerships between local entities involved in supporting the Michigan film industry.

“I worked steadily toward the mission and relied heavily on those who believed in it,” Pider said. “Vision casting and asking for help definitely aided in assembling the right committee members.”

Pider’s goal is to work toward producing international festivals for social justice issues.

“Even more than this, lately I’ve been considering ways to use the funds raised from these festivals,” Pider said. “I’ve been considering graduate work in sustainable territorial development. With this, I could use the festivals as a way to create awareness and raise funds for

Courtesy photo / gvsu.edu

Festival founder: Senior Jen Pider started the Michigan Film Festival two years ago. The Grand Rapids-based festival aims to build a sense of community.

refugees, using the money to develop sustainable practices in term of infrastructure, agriculture and economics. For me, a dream job would include the entertainment industry and creative people and working toward peace, justice and equality.”

Pider is fulfilling her theme

requirement in a study abroad trip in Meknes, Morocco. This will be her third trip to Africa.

In November of 2007 and 2008, she traveled to Algeria to visit the Saharawis, a refugee population of the Western Sahara (now occupied by Morocco).

“These visits to a Muslim people in desperation trans-

formed my ideas about global justice,” Pider said. “My role was to support American musicians as they perform for and played with the Saharawi refugees. The experience taught me many cultural and logistical differences in our societies. Learning to discern what aspects of my thoughts and daily routines are cultural from those that are universally human has proven to be a great skill which I will carry forward in my studies in Morocco.”

The American dream is to make money and be wealthy, but Pider’s priority is following her dream. While Pider attended Lake Michigan College, she changed majors from business to computer information technology, and then to general studies.

“It was difficult for me to follow my life’s vision of being an international festival planner when I was younger because there was a lot of pressure to make money, and my parents couldn’t see how I would do this in the entertainment industry, said Pider. “Still, I’m glad I learned more administrative skills during my younger years as I heavily rely upon them.

Eventually, I switched majors to pursue the liberal studies program because of his advice to follow passions instead of the money.” lringger@lanthorn.com

Grand Valley Lanthorn Monday, February 21, 2011

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Sports GRAND VALLEY

Greg Monahan, Sports Editor sports@lanthorn.com

Women’s soccer nabs 7 recruits

B3

Lakers seeded MEN’S HOCKEY

SPORTS SHORTS

No.1

in national tournament

By Greg Monahan GVL Sports Editor

GVL Archive

Women’s

Gymnastics

F

earns First-place finish at Flash Bash The Grand Valley State University club gymnastics team kicked off its 2011 season last weekend with a first-place finish in the Flash Bash Invitational at Kent State University.

The Lakers beat Kent State along with the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Buffalo in the team’s first meet since Dec. 11.

Freshman Amy Burke took first place in the vault with a score of 9.55 and was joined by junior Alexa Kitson, whose 9.0 score was good for fourth place.

The Lakers dominated in the uneven bars at the tournament, where four Lakers finished in the top six. Junior Alyssa Borgman won the event, Kitson finished third and underclassmen Bethany Ryder and Sarah Harlow finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

The Lakers will compete against nine other teams this weekend at the Clover Classic at the University of Notre Dame.

Track and Field Tune-Up gives GVSU last meet before GLIAC indoor championships The Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s track teams hosted the Laker Tune-Up on Friday night, their last home indoor meet of the season.

For the No. 8 men’s team, the distance medley relay team of Larry Julson, Chris Teitsma, Eric Phillips and Tyler Emmorey earned first place with a time of 9 minutes and 56.65 seconds. For the No. 1 women’s team, Lauren Buresh earned first place in the shot put and automatically qualified for nationals after a toss of 49-6 1/2. Both teams will travel to Saginaw, Mich., to compete in day one of the GLIAC Indoor Championships on Friday, starting at 3 p.m.

GLIAC Standings Men’s Basketball:

1. Ferris State (16-2, 20-5) 2. Findlay (14-3, 21-3) 3. Hillsdale (14-3, 20-3) 4. Wayne State (13-4, 18-6) 5. GVSU (13-5, 18-7) 6. Michigan Tech (9-8, 14-10) 7. Lake Superior State (8-9, 14-10) 8. Saginaw Valley (8-9, 12-12) 9. Northwood (7-10, 10-16) 10. Ashland (6-11, 12-12) 11. Tiffin (5-12, 7-17) 12. Northern Mich. (3-14, 8-16) 13. Lake Erie (2-15, 6-18) 14. Ohio Dominican (2-15, 5-19)

Women’s Basketball

1. Michigan Tech (16-1, 21-2) 2. GVSU (13-5, 20-5) 3. Lake Superior State (12-5, 15-8) 4. Findlay (11-6, 16-8) 5. Hillsdale (10-7, 16-7) 6. Ashland (10-7, 15-9) 7. Northwood (10-7, 14-9) 8. Tiffin (8-9, 14-10) 9. Wayne State (7-10, 8-16) 10. Ferris State (7-11, 11-13) 11. Northern Mich. (6-11, 11-13) 12. Saginaw Valley (4-13, 7-17) 13. Ohio Dominican (4-13, 6-18) 14. Lake Erie (2-15, 3-20)

see LANTHORN.COM to view an online slide show >>MEN’S HOCKEY

GVL / Nicole Lamson

Top of the mountain: Freshman Dylan Dault shoots a pass during this weekend’s games against Northern Michigan University. The Lakers were victorious in both games.

or the fifth-straight season, the Grand Valley State University men’s hockey team is headed to nationals, with arguably its best shot ever to capture the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II National Championship.

The ACHA released its final regional rankings Friday, and for the first time in program history GVSU (19-10-1) finished the season with a No. 1 ranking in the Central region.

After playing their way into nationals by winning the regional tournament last year, the Lakers get to skip regionals this year after receiving an automatic bid to the national championships in San Jose, Calif. on March 15. GVSU now gets three weeks off and will enter the tournament with a No. 1 seed, which gives it an easier schedule than those of years past.

“Having that No. 1 seed for the first time ever in my career is something we have to take advantage of,” said fifth-year senior Grant Lyon. “When we go down there we have to be ready from the first drop of the puck and stay focused, and if we play how we know how to play and take care of our business, there’s not doubt in my mind we’ll come back with the National Championship.”

Though they had already clinched the No. 1 spot in the region, the Lakers still had two games to play this weekend. The team closed out the regular season with two drubbings of Northern Michigan University, winning Friday’s game 6-0 before a 12-0 onslaught on Saturday’s Senior Night.

Senior defenseman Jake Ochsner, who started playing with the team in 2007, said it was hard to believe he had played his last game at Georgetown Ice Arena.

“There was definitely a sense of nostalgia; it kind of went by quick,” he said.

“Seems like just yesterday that I was a freshman coming in here with a lot of these guys, and now it’s already over along with school, and it’s sad to see it go.”

The games were never close. The Lakers scored at least two goals in each of the weekend’s six periods, and senior goalies Josh Lavigne and Lyon recorded their first and second shutouts of the season, respectively.

Senior forward Jeff Anonick said when playing an inferior opponent, the team simply tries to make sure they avoid getting anyone injured or suspended.

“It’s almost not about getting better, it’s about not getting worse,” said Anonick, who had two goals and an assist on the weekend. “Trying not to make bad habits and instead playing our game. We just wanted to keep things going, make sure we stay healthy and not lose anyone to a team like that, because it’s just not worth it.”

With three weeks off before nationals, the Lakers will get plenty of practice time to work on several facets of their game, including the always-struggling power play which has been nonexistent for the majority of the season.

The team does not yet know who it will first face off against, but with years of national tournament experience for a majority of the players, the Lakers will know how to handle themselves when they travel to California in mid-March.

“We’re very confident and we’ve been playing well,” Ochsner said. “But at the same time you need to respect your opponents and come ready to play no matter who you’re playing. We have to put our best games together, and every game on the ice, it’s a hard go. It’s 5 games in 5 days; it takes a toll, and we have to be ready for every team.”

GVSU will fly to San Jose on March 12, three days before the tournament starts. The Lakers’ first game will be on March 15, and the tournament will end with the National Championship round on March 19. sports@lanthorn.com

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Lakers beat Findlay, lose to Wayne State

By Brady Fredericksen GVL Senior Reporter

For a team that had won only three of its last six games, the Grand Valley State University men’s basketball team’s matchup with No. 3 University of Findlay represented a breaking point for the Lakers’ season - win and grab an NCAA Tournament berth, or lose and be on the proverbial tournament bubble.

The Lakers (18-6, 13-4 GLIAC) seized the former and extended their home winning streak to 13 games by defeating the visiting Oilers (21-2, 14-2 GLIAC), 72-66.

Paced by junior guard James Thomas’ 18 points, GVSU fought punch-for-punch with the vaunted Oilers throughout the first half. After starting flat offensively in their last game against Lake Erie College, the Lakers pounded the glass and used crisp ball movement to find early momentum.

“I’ve been doing my role on the team, and that‘s just to shoot, score, rebound and play good defense,” said Thomas, who also had five rebounds. “With the injuries, I‘ve had to pick that up more, and I just knew in my mind that I was capable of doing that.”

Rebounding proved to be one of the biggest differences in the game for the Lakers as they outboarded Findlay 38-26, including 16 boards from the GVSU guards.

As the first half came to a close, senior forward Justin Ringler missed a 3-pointer with the clock was winding down, but the shot was put back in by sophomore guard Tony Peters and gave GVSU a 28-27 lead going into the half.

“Rebounding is a big thing for us, and we’ve been harping on that the last few weeks- we’ve got to rebound the best we can,” said Peters, who scored 11 points off the bench. “I just went in there and crashed on the last possession and it landed in my lap and put

it back in.”

Coming out in the second half, the Lakers broke the game wide open with a 15-2 scoring run that put the Oilers in a position they’ve been in only once this season- a 91-68 loss at Wayne State University on Jan. 8.

“It’s always a game of runs, and that was our run,” said GVSU head coach Ric Wesley. “But certainly they showed character by fighting right down to the end.”

The Lakers’ run was fueled by hot shooting from their guards and defense from their big men. Juniors Wes Trammell (10 points) and Alvin Storrs (9 points) carried the bench scoring with Peters while the front-court duo of Asauhn Tatum and Nick Carreri combined for seven blocks.

“I thought the combination of Asauhn (Tatum) and Nick Carreri did a great job of protecting our basket,” said Wesley, whose career record at home with GVSU is now 105-10. “It‘s hard to win without having a big guy to protect the basket.”

Despite the magnitude of the game, the Lakers kept their cool throughout the game and did their job defensively on Findlay’s starting guards.

Oiler senior Nathan Hyde scored 22 points while fellow guard junior Kyle Caiola added 18 points. At one point late in the second half, the duo almost single-handedly cut a 12-point GVSU lead to 1 point, but the combined effort of the entire Laker roster was enough to overcome Findlay’s two-man show.

Unfortunately for GVSU, the good times lasted only two days as the Lakers fell in a defensive struggle to Wayne State University (19-6, 14-4 GLIAC) on Saturday, 59-52. The game, which was senior night for starting forward Justin Ringler and walk-on guard Josh Roberson, was a low-scoring affair from the opening tip.

The Lakers began the game slow offensively, trailing by as many as seven early, but they rallied to

GVL / Eric Coulter

Striking oil: Junior James Thomas brings the ball up the court during Thursday’s match up against the Findlay Oilers.

pull within three multiple times in the half.

“I don‘t think we had a hangover from the Findlay game, but the way Wayne State plays, they’re going to muddle you up a bit,” said Ringler, who scored 16 points in his final regular season game at Fieldhouse Arena.

GVSU will look to shake off this loss in its regular-season finale at Ferris State University Saturday. bfredericksen@lanthorn.com

Sports

B2

GRAND VALLEY

Grand Valley Lanthorn Monday, February 21, 2011

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Senior night delight Van Tiflin, Lakers nab 20th win of the season in OT thriller

By Derek Wolff Assistant Sports Editor

It was a night that Grand Valley State University senior guard Elizabeth Van Tiflin likely will not soon forget.

Before knowing that she would pull down the biggest offensive rebound of the contest and then ice the game with two crisp free throws to give GVSU a 62-58 win - its 20th of the season - in overtime, it started the same as any other game for “Biz”.

Van Tiflin, the only graduating senior on the 2010-11 Laker women’s basketball team, was honored before Saturday afternoon’s final home contest of the regular season against Wayne State University with a senior night

ceremony. But as the night wore on, it seemed like the Lakers (20-5, 13-5 GLIAC) wouldn’t be able to muster a win for their senior captain.

GVSU trailed Wayne State by 11, down 41-30 with 7:34 remaining in the second half.

However, something clicked during a late timeout as the Lakers rattled off a 15-5 run in six minutes behind several crucial baskets from junior guard Jasmine Padin, sophomore center Alex Stelfox and sophomore guard Briauna Taylor, who added two old fashioned 3-point plays within the span to ease the deficit to 46-45.

Down 48-45 with 10.2 ticks left on the clock, Padin was fouled while attempting a 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds

left on the game clock.

Padin, an 80.5-percent career free throw shooter, coolly knocked all three down to send the Lakers into overtime tied at 48.

“It was a bunch of mixed feelings,” Padin said. “When the foul happened, it was a good thing. We were all excited, and then I was like, ‘oh, snap, I’ve got to hit all three.’

My teammates had confidence in me though and when we were in the huddle they told me, you’ve got this Jaz, one step at a time.”

The beginning of overtime saw Stelfox score five of her career-high 26 points on the afternoon before Van Tiflin drained a 3-point shot with 2:53 remaining to make it 5650 in favor of the hometown

“It’s senior day

but it’s also just a game of fun, to celebrate my four years here...

”

-Elizabeth Van Tiflin GVSU senior guard Lakers.

But the Warriors came back and the Lakers found themselves up 60-58 with seven seconds remaining in the overtime period. A foul brought Padin to the line again, but a missed free throw could have been costly if Van Tiflin had not grabbed the rebound. After an immediate foul by Wayne State, the senior captain made both of her free throws to ice the game at 62-58 and give the Lakers their 20th victory of the season, as well as their first home overtime win since 2006.

Despite knowing that it would be her last game on her home court and the varying emotions of the pre-game festivities, down to the wire game and on-court elation after the victory, Van Tiflin tried to keep it cool.

“I didn’t let the emotions get me,” she said. “It’s senior day but it’s also just a game of fun, to celebrate my four years here and my teammates and coaches were encouraging me, saying, this day’s for you, you’ve earned it. It’s just

GVL / Eric Coulter

Senior stud: GVSU forward Elizabeth Van Tifflin battles a Findlay defender during Tursday’s game. She had five points and six rebounds in the win.

a lot of fun to go out there and play one last time on your home floor.”

The ramifications of the win, which put the Lakers into the 20-win category for the second time during head coach Janel Burgess’ fouryear tenure at GVSU, were significant.

“You just look at (Van Tiflin) and she’s such a great kid,” Burgess said. “She’s everything you can ask for in a kid; she’s the hardest worker, she’s a driven kid, she’s the most coachable in the sense that she’s had to play a variety of roles since she’s been

here and she’s played them to a tee. She’s the only senior and she’s taken that role extremely well and we’re very proud of her.”

The Lakers issued a 58-41 drumming to the University of Findlay on Thursday night, in which sophomores Stelfox and Briauna Taylor both had double-doubles in points and rebounds. GVSU will close out their regular season with a trip to Big Rapids, Mich., to visit rival Ferris State University on Saturday. dwolff@lanthorn.com

MEN’S TENNIS

GVL Archive / Andrew Mills

Defeated doubles: Junior Josh Kazdan warms up during practice. Kazdan walked away with the only singles victory of the weekend after he and his doubles partner Ben Delgado-Rochas lost to Southern Indiana University.

Men fall in weekend matches

By Kevin VanAntwerpen John Black. “They’re a very GVL Staff Writer

On the first of their twoday trip to Illinois last weekend, the Grand Valley State University men’s tennis team battled it out with Southern Indiana University, falling victim to the team by a score of 8-1.

In the second half of the weekend Saturday, the team lost 5-4 against Lewis University.

“I don’t think we played bad,” said GVSU head coach

experienced team. Their entire team is juniors and seniors, and it definitely showed. We played pretty solid but we couldn’t quite take them.”

Black attributed the loss against Southern Indiana to a crushing defeat in the three doubles matches that were played that evening. Two of the doubles teams lost by a score of 8-2 , the first comprised of Marc Roesslein and Bryan Hodges, the second comprised of Josh Kazdan and Ben Delgado-Rochas. A third doubles team, Philipp Claus and Andrew Darrel, lost 8-3.

“Our team is very young,” Black said. “The doubles are a work in progress. We’ve been improving but we’ve got a lot of work to go. Most of the college players back in high school only played singles, with limited exposure to doubles. In high school the best players on the team played singles. To be a good doubles player, it almost takes instinct – you have to play with your partner a lot. It’s so quick that you don’t have time to think of what to do. You just need to play with your partner a lot and you need to play a lot of doubles to get it. “ Senior player Phillip Claus agreed with Black, explaining that doubles as a craft took more time and effort to hone.

“The first two years I was on the team, I actually didn’t

“To be a good

doubles player, it almost takes instinct.

”

-John Black GVSU head coach play doubles,” Claus said. “It took me probably a whole season to get used to doubles.

I hope as we play a little more and go into the next season, they’ll be a little more well adjusted.”

The singles matches were a slightly different story.

Kazdan managed to pull off the only victory of the evening with scores of 6-3 and 7-5. Both Kazdan and Black called the match one of the best of his career.

While there were no other victories, none of the defeats were as drastic as in the doubles. One of the most notable matches was the neck-andneck competition between Claus and Southern Indiana’s Juan Quiraz, who won 3-6, 6-2 and 10-7.

“I thought we played pretty well, we just ran into an experienced stronger team,” Black said. “Now we’ve just got to take what we learned and put it into play throughout the season and keep improving a little bit at a time.” kvanantwerpen@lanthorn.com

Sports

B3

GRAND VALLEY

Grand Valley Lanthorn Monday, February 21, 2011

WRESTLING

Just one match at a time After stumbling upon the GVSU wrestling team at Student Life Night as a freshman, Corey Melinn has evolved into an elite heavyweight in the NCWA

“Right after a win, I move

on and think about the next match. After a loss, I have to have a short term memory just like any other athlete.

By Zach Sepanik

”

GVL Staff Writer

Just as in any other sport, wrestlers are supposed to have short memories.

Getting too high after a win or too low after a loss can disrupt an entire season, and senior heavyweight wrestler Corey Melinn has learned to exercise this philosophy in his time as an athlete.

“Right after I win, I move on and think about the next match,” he said. “After a loss, I have to have a short-term memory just like any athlete. You don’t want to dwell on a bad golf shot or a bad shot in a basketball game. You just want to move on and forget about it.”

After graduating in 2007 from Coopersville High School, Melinn did not earn much recognition from any college for his talents as a wrestler. He chose to attend GVSU, and on Campus Life Night, something caught his attention.

“My freshman year I walked around the different booths and I saw wrestling,” he said. “It was what I wanted to do so I signed up. I got beaten up a lot my freshman year because the guys were bigger and stronger than me.”

He spent countless hours in the weight room his freshman year looking to improve, and when the first-string heavyweight got injured, Melinn’s opportunity came - and he hasn’t looked back.

“One weekend we went to Ohio State University, and I beat a kid who was pretty good,” said Melinn. “On the way home, [GVSU head coach] Rick Bolhuis said if I keep it up I was going to give some people a hard time at nationals. That he thought I could make it gave me the push for the rest of the year.”

-Corey Melinn GVSU senior heavyweight wrestler

GVL / Eric Coulter

Eyes on the prize: Senior Corey Melinn, 21-3, hopes to win the heavyweight National Championship, held March 10-12.

At the National Collegiate Wrestling Association’s nationals in his freshman year, Melinn won his first three matches to reach the semifinals, earning him All-American recognition.

He lost two of his final three matches, but still earned fifth place.

Since then, the National Championships have become a natural setting for Melinn.

“The preparation in practice leading up to nationals is harder and harder because you want to hit your peak at the right point,” Melinn said. “Mentally, I try to prepare myself the same. In terms of preparation for the national meet, I pretty much do everything the same as in any other meet.”

Melinn’s sophomore year saw him improve two spots to third place. However, his junior

year took a downward spiral following a match Melinn lost against a heavyweight from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville at the national qualifying tournament.

“It placed a seed of doubt in my mind,” Melinn said. “I let all the talk and hype that people were saying get to me subconsciously. I let myself think that I was better than I really was; and it all really got to me after a while, and I didn’t notice it until it was too late.”

Former teammate junior TJ Sobeck always felt that Melinn’s passion for wrestling was evident at all times, even during the tough patches.

“He was a leader in how he carried himself and how he performed on the mat,” Sobeck said. “He was always a very motivated person

and he never got mad at anyone about things.

Last year he went to the American Airlines Challenge in Texas and he was the only one on the team to go. That just shows that he is one of the hardest workers on the team.”

Like all great athletes, Melinn moved on from his disappointing junior year. He learned from his mistakes and took nothing for granted heading into his senior season.

“This year I have focused on one match at a time and try not to think too far into the future,” Melinn said. “I think about training harder than other guys. I am just focusing right ahead of me instead of thinking down the road.”

Sophomore wrestler and Melinn’s workout partner, Frank Bastien, who wrestles in the 197-pound weight class, has witnessed Melinn progress as a leader and noticed his desire for a title.

“He is a natural leader,” Bastien said. “He has been wrestling for four years, which is something not all people do with their schedules. He is constantly improving and he always puts the time in to get better.”

Once again, nationals are where Melinn has set his sights, only this time he hopes he’ll be taking home a national championship.

“You get to see all the work you put in and if it was equal or greater than the work they put in,” Melinn said. “It’s going to take a lot of work to win. I’m going to have to have a good month of practice and stay healthy.” zsepanik@lanthorn.com

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Women’s soccer reloads with seven new recruits Back-to-back national champions land five athletes from Michigan, two more from Canada

By Jon Adamy GVL Staff Writer

It is said that defense wins championships, but for the Grand Valley State University women’s soccer team, signing another top-notch recruiting classes certainly can’t hurt.

After winning back-to-back NCAA Division II National Championships, the soccer team is adding seven recruits to its roster. Of the seven, five are from Michigan and two hail from Canada. GVSU head coach Dave DiIanni said this is one of the bigger recruiting classes from the past few years, which will help alleviate depth issues the team has faced due to injuries in previous seasons.

One unique aspect of this year’s group of recruits is that they all come from schools that have provided GVSU with talent in the past.

“It’s the first class that we’ve had multiple student athletes coming from high schools or clubs that we’ve had success with recruiting in the past,” DiIanni said. “I think that that bodes for why some of them signed with Grand Valley because maybe their teammates in the past that are in the program currently are having a good experience.”

An example is Portage Central High School forward Charlie Socia, who follows in the footsteps of several former classmates, including GVSU freshman midfielder Shelby Humphries and senior defender and recent Division II player of the year Jenna Wenglinski.

Socia said she is excited to get the opportunity to play with

Humphries for another three years, and there was no competition with GVSU when she made her college decision.

“Grand Valley was always my first choice,” said Socia. “I knew I wanted to come here since the beginning of high school, but when I was asked to play I was really excited.”

Though Socia was the leading goal scorer in Division I high school women’s soccer in both of her last two seasons, playing college soccer was not necessarily something she expected to do early on in her high school career.

“I didn’t really think I was able to play college soccer,” she said. “I really wanted to, but I didn’t really think I was like at that level. But I knew either way I wanted to come to Grand Valley.”

Lake Orion High School defender Alyssa Wesley said she also had no problems figuring out where she wanted to go to college. Wesley has a family connection to GVSU with her uncle, GVSU head men’s basketball coach Ric Wesley.

“Knowing the girls is one thing on a personal level, but being able to play with them, their talent is so high it’s something else,” she said. “Something I’ve never experienced.”

DiIanni said it is a competitive situation for athletes to be chosen to play for the team but described the process of recruiting as a two way street.

“In recruiting it’s about building relationships and finding the right fit for each student athlete,” said DiIanni.

“So as much as it is the coach or the institution looking for

“Grand Valley was always my first choice. ” -Charlie Socia GVSU soccer recruit

the right player that fits their program based on personality and skill level, it’s also about the student athlete finding the right fit in the university.” jadamy@lanthorn.com

GVL Archive

Rookie recruits: GVSU head coach Dave DiIanni instructs his team. Seven new players will join the team ranks.

Grand Valley Lanthorn Monday, February 21, 2011

Susie Skowronek, Laker Life Editor lakerlife@lanthorn.com

lakerlife Having the one-on-one

B4

Your life at Grand Valley

Campus to explore real beauty with Conversations on Loving Your Body

“Historically, a

W

By Marc Maycroft GVL Staff Writer

omen today are bombarded with media images of beauty ideals and what it means to be a woman. While not a new phenomenon, body issues, particularly women’s body issues, have become a central topic among advocacy groups.

The Women’s Center, in coordination with several departments on campus, is sponsoring Conversations on Loving Your Body, a series of events to bring attention to the issues of a woman’s beauty in the world today.

Ashley Nickels, assistant director of the Women’s Center and coordinator of the event, said while issues such as eating disorders and self-esteem are important, Conversations on Loving Your Body goes beyond.

“We recognize that for us, the conversation is bigger,” she said.

Nickels added the event will not only have discussions on women’s issues but also provide resources for dealing with them.

“Historically, a woman’s way to achieve success was with her looks,” said Kathleen Underwood, director of women and gender studies at Grand Valley State University. “Body image issues are not new.”

The series will feature several events aimed at “raising awareness of body image issues, how to address them, and how to feel empowered through recognizing personal beauty,” accordin to the Women’s Center website. Events include information on eating disorders, documentary films about body image issues today and a keynote address from Stacy Nadeau, a model for the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty.

Dove, one of the most prominent beauty product manufacturers in the country, began the Real Beauty campaign with the goal of creating a world where confidence and self-esteem were not hindered by issues of conventional beauty. The Dove website contains tools for women of all ages to focus on remaining healthy and happy with their bodies instead of developing destructive behaviors for the sake of self-image.

“It’s important to realize that while the Dove campaign should be lauded for their actions, it is still a marketing

woman’s way to achieve success was with her looks. Body image issues are not new.

”

-Kathleen Underwood WGS director

GVL Photo Illustration / Kate Kaurich

Image issues: A Grand Valley student examines her reflection. Conversations on Loving Your Body event will focus on the body image issues that plague many students, faculty, and staff.

campaign,” said Julia Mason, assistant professor of Women and Gender Studies at GVSU. “The key is media literacy and recognizing that it is still marketing, no matter how the campaign appears.”

Mason praised Dove and other companies who have embraced the idea of changing the ideals of beauty from a restrictive culture to one that offers more options for women.

“Studies have shown that the economy shifts the ‘ideal body type,’” she said. “When times are good, like in the 1950s, you get a curvy ideal like Marilyn Monroe or Jayne Mansfield. When the economy is bad, a slimmer body becomes the higher ideal.”

Underwood said she wants the Conversations to spark discussions.

“We want to expand the ideas of the possible, to critique popular culture

and help women claim an identity that isn’t so determined,” she added.

Women in the U.S. spent $7 billion on beauty products in 2008, according to a study by the YWCA. “We’ve seen it in history,” Underwood said. “With the advent of advertising in the 1920s, the men’s ads were, ‘Go to college.’ The women’s ads were, ‘How will you look when he brings you to meet his mother?’”

Underwood added while women’s body issues are more publicized, men have just as many negative ideals, including problems in their diet and over-exercising to achieve the ideal of “manhood.”

According to Mason, Hollywood has not played a helpful role in establishing identities for young women.

Characters like the Disney princesses have given young girls ideas that revolve around things like love at first sight and a male-dominant society.

“I try to make sure my four-year-old sees that there are good things about the princesses that don’t involve being pretty,” she said.

The Women’s Center will host events throughout the month in conjunction with National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Students are encouraged to attend the events to both learn about the dangers of a negative body image and learn to deal with body issues in a constructive way. For more information about this and other events sponsored by the Women’s Center, visit www.gvsu.edu/women_cen/. mmaycroft@lanthorn.com

Career experts prepare students for Winter Careerfest

TUESDAY

3 - 4:45 p.m. in the Grand River Room of Kirkhof Center Drunkorexia Individuals will skip meals to save the calories they spend on binge drinking.

An interactive discussion will explore the risks and the influence of the media.

WEDNESDAY

Noon - 4 p.m. in the Women’s Center in Kirkhof Center Love Your Body Jean Swap Exchange an old for a newto-you pair of jeans and earn a chance to win prizes.

1 – 2 p.m. in Room 2270 of Kirkhof Center How to Approach Someone You Think May Have an Eating Disorder Dr. Shari Bartz, athletic training program director and assistant professor of Movement Science, will give a presentation for students who have roommates or friends with possible eating disorders or for faculty who may want to approach students regarding health concerns.

7 p.m. in Room 119 of the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences America the Beautiful, film screening and discussion A documentary will look at America’s unrealistic and unhealthy images of beauty, which can lead to low selfesteem and eating disorders.

A panel will answer questions about eating disorders, beauty and the film following the screening.

THURSDAY

4 – 5:30 p.m. in the Grand River Room of Kirkhof Center Embracing Real Beauty: Stacy Nadeau Stacy Nadeau, a 2005 Dove Campaign for Real Beauty model, will give her keynote speech on embracing real beauty. She will speak about how to change people’s perceptions of beauty.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

BEFORE YOU GO

Some information to research about employers before Career Fair:

Size of an organization in an industry Potential growth Product line or services Competition Background information on top management Geographical locations Location of corporate headquarters General number of plants, stores, and outlets Type of training program Promotional path Marketing and Promotional Material Typical career path in your field History of organization

By Susie Skowronek GVL Laker Life Editor

The Winter Careerfest and Health Career Day will take place from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday in the DeVos Place Convention Center, located at 303 Monroe Ave. NW. The fair has more than 140 employers already registered, including 40 health care employers, and each employer usually brings at least two representatives. Career Services expects about 1,200 students to attend.

“This is really biggest event we have throughout the year. It allows students to connect with many, many employers,” said assistant director of Career Services Megan Riksen. “There are a lot of great local companies as well as companies throughout Michigan.”

She added this event is not just for health careers students, it is for students of all majors.

Rachel Becklin, assistant director of Career Services and internship specialist, told students at the Feb. 16 prep day what to wear, what to bring and how to network with employers.

Becklin said the career fair is a networking event with an emphasis on recruitment. Networking she defined as “purposeful chit-chat,” and said around 80 percent of jobs are filled through networking. Students should prepare to both ask and answer questions.

A mini-interview with an employer should proceed with a handshake and self-introduction. Students should give their names, majors, years, interests and career goals. They should tell employers about their interest in the organization and engage in conversation.

A map will lay out the location of the employers at the fair, and Becklin suggests students plan their attack ahead of time.

“If you have the option to get there at the beginning of the event, try and do that,” Becklin said. “That’s when you’re going to get employers at their freshest. That’s when they’re going to be the most anxious to talk with people and meet with people.”

Becklin suggests students make three lists of employers: A-list or I-have-to-see, B-list or I’d-really-like-to-see, and C-list or it’d-be-

EVENTS

GVL / Rane Martin

First impressions: GVSU senior Ellen Rhein and alumni Sarah Bontinen practice their introductions at the Careerfest Prep Session last week.

cool-if-I-could-see.

She said students should start with the B-list employers until they are comfortable with marketing themselves.

To prepare for the fair, students should research on the employers ahead of time. Refer to the information box for a list of some information to know.

After the conversation, which can last two or three minutes, the student should collect information from the employer, a name or business card, to follow up after the business fair.

However, Becklin said to avoid “trick or treating” at the tables.

“Each table is going to have a lot of stuff on it,” she said. “Some of the stuff is pretty cool. They may have water bottles, they may have some candy and all sorts of stuff on their table. But you’re there to talk with them about internship and job opportunities not necessarily to take the goodies off the tables.”

Becklin said students should bring copies of their resume to leave with employers and a pen and paper to take notes.

“The best thing about a career fair is that you’re getting your face in front of employers,” Becklin said. “Just remember that now you have a face to go along with that application you submit online, and they might still be able to take your resume.”

Senior Julie Maag, a health professions major, wants to find an internship through the career fair to get more experience in a specific area and narrow her range of options for professional employment.

“My major is so I can go into Occupational Therapy and get my Master’s, and I want an internship following them around and making sure that’s exactly what I want to do because Master’s is a big investment,” Maag said.

Although students might only have time to drop by the fair between classes, they should still make an effort to dress to impress, Becklin said.

“Even if you’re there real quick between classes – maybe you don’t have a suit – I still wouldn’t recommend wearing jeans or a sweatshirt – things like that,” Becklin said.

She suggests students wear dark colors, and if they want to stand out, use shirt or a tie to add a dash of color. lakerlife@lanthorn.com

B5

MARKETPLACE

Monday, February 21, 2011

Announcements No spring break plans? Make planning easy at Lanthorn.com. Click the “Travel” tab and check on prices to the best spring break destinations with only a few clicks. www.lanthorn.com Want GVSU news now? The Lanthorn has it covered. Visit our website, Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter for the latest GVSU campus and sports news. www.lanthorn.com

Services University Bookstore. Shop online anytime with the University Bookstore. www.ubs.gvsu.edu

Wanted Bartenders wanted. Up to $250/Day. No Experience necessary. Training provided.

Age 18+ Okay. Call 1-800-965-6520. ext. 226.

Receptionist position available at The Lanthorn beginning Fall 2011. Training to begin this semester. Possibility for advancement to Business Manager/Assistant Business Manager positions.

Apply now at The Lanthorn office, 0051 Kirkhof Center.

Knowledge of general office work and business skills a plus. Underclassmen prefered.

Work on Mackinac Island.

Make lifelong friends. The Island House Hotel and Ryba’s Fudge Shops are looking for help in all areas this summer: Front Desk, Bell Staff, Wait Staff, Sales Clerks, Kitchen, Baristas. Housing, bonus, and discounted meals. (906) 847-7196. www.theislandhouse.com

Employment

Grand Valley’s best kept deal. University Townhomes & Apartments guarantees the lowest price per person. Enjoy a quiet atmosphere with a variety of home styles to choose from less than 2 miles from campus. Call Tim today 616-477-5511

The Lanthorn is looking for an Assistant Business Manager. Should be available up to 15 hours and on Fridays.

The interview process will continue until the position is filled. Freshman to Junior status is preferred. Must have Excel knowledge. Will be assisting with budgeting, payroll, accounts payable and account receivable.

Cover letter, resume, and references are needed. Stop in to the Lanthorn office to apply.

Grand Valley Lanthorn

Housing

Lofts 45 offers 1 & 2 bedroom lofts with 1 to 12 month lease terms. We are formerly known as Heritage Towne Square. 6101 Lake Michigan Drive. 616-895-2500 New digs at Loft 45. 1&2 bedroom lofts. 10-12 month lease terms. Find yourself here! www.heritagetownesquare.com.

616-895-2500 48 West is now leasing for Fall 2011. Rates start as low a $395 per month. There is variety with 1, 2 and 4 bedroom units. 616-895-2400 www.48west.com

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Strange but true

(616) 331-2460 Lanthorn

By Samantha Weaver

• It was English biologist Thomas Henry Huxley who made the following sage observation: “There is no greater mistake than the hasty conclusion that opinions are worthless because they are badly argued.”

• In 1955, a woman in Italy gave birth to a baby who weighed 22 pounds, 8 ounces.

• Two United State first ladies ran away to get married: Florence Harding, future wife of President Warren G. Harding, eloped with her first husband when she was 19, and Anna Harrison eloped with the future ninth U.S. President William Henry Harrison (also known as “Old Tippecanoe”) when she

Look for Sudoku answers online at

LANTHORN.COM

was 20 and he was 22.

• The substance now known as cat litter was originally designed to be used as nesting material for chickens.

• Early in the history of the Christian church, tea was considered to be a dangerous intoxicant.

• Louis Diat, chef at the New York City Ritz-Carlton in the early 20th century, is usually credited with first creating the soup known as vichyssoise.

He based the recipe on one his mother and grandmother used to make, but he had to change the name to something a bit more fancy; it seems that “Mama’s Potato-Leek Puree” didn’t fit in with the other menu items.

• The blood of the icefish has no color.

• Have you ever noticed that there’s a pale crescent of flesh at the base of each of your fingernails? If you want to be technical, the word to describe it is “lunula.” *** Thought for the Day: “Animals have these advantages over man: They never hear the clock strike, they die without any idea of death, they have no theologians to instruct them, their last moments are not disturbed by unwelcome and unpleasant ceremonies, their funerals cost them nothing, and no one starts lawsuits over their wills.” -- Voltaire (c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.

Grand Valley Lanthorn Monday, February 21, 2011

B6

Laker Life Your life at Grand Valley

History in action

Historical performance revives past presidents

By Marcus J. Reynolds GVL Staff Writer

GVL / Nicole Lamson

Reagan: Paddy Morrissey performs as former President Ronald Reagan in Tuesday’s “Reagan’s Heroes” event.

This is not your average history lecture.

The Hauenstein Center produced an original historical play for the celebration of former U.S. President Reagan’s 100th birthday at the Gerald R. Ford Museum on Tuesday. Four lazy boy-style chairs set the stage and left space for a fifth recliner. With the auditorium lights low, Hauenstein Center Director Gleaves Whitney narrated the stories of the four American presidents who most influenced Reagan.

Thomas Jefferson, played by Bill Barker, was the first American president to take the stage.

From his black, tight-fitted trousers to his long coat, from his broad ship-shaped hat to his curled white wig, Barker looked the part.

Barker transported the audience back to the times of the 1700s with perfect Virginian dialect.

He spoke of the invention of the steam engine, a precursor to a more important invention: democracy.

“Never forget the invention of the principles that created this nation,” Jefferson said. “We found a nation of democracy, in the midst of a diversity of opinions, where men can freely express opinions. These principles brought together thirteen individual nations, who put aside their differences for the common good of all.”

Jefferson took the first seat onstage, then entered Calvin Coolidge, Jr., the 30th president, portrayed by Jim Cooke. Cooke said Coolidge, a man of small stature, became president after the sudden death of Warren G. Harding.

Reagan admired the man of few words because of his economic and tax reform policies.

Franklin Roosevelt, played by John Hamant, came onto the stage in a wheel-chair. The 32nd president, paralyzed from the waist down due to polio, influenced Reagan because of optimism and leadership during wartime.

Hamant spoke about the challenges Roosevelt overcame – unemployment, farmers losing their farms and people beginning to doubt the merits of democracy.

“We all love America,” Roosevelt said. “It doesn’t matter party affiliation. We must be able to combat these crises by joining hands and working together. That’s the secret of America: joining hands together to do the work. Future generations will look back and not repeat the same mistakes.”

Roosevelt joined Jefferson and Coolidge Jr. on

the stage as actor Brian Hilton stepped up to portray John F. Kennedy. The youthful, dark-haired and charismatic impersonator focused his address to the youth. Kennedy wanted to inspire youth to enter public leadership, so he created the Peace Corps.

“Leadership is needed from a chief executive, not salesmanship,” Roosevelt said.

Although a democrat, Kennedy’s tax cuts and tough stance against communism influenced Reagan.

Finally, Ronald Reagan, played by Paddy Morrissey, moved the crowd in tears with his Reaganlike voice and humorous sound-bites.

“I stumbled upon doing Ronald Reagan,” Morrisey said. “I was watching him on the TV immediately after he was elected, and a mirror was directly behind the TV. I looked up and saw myself mimicking his facial movements. I then bought a ladies’ wig from the Salvation Army, cut it and sprayed it thoroughly with hair spray and went on stage that night and started doing him. That was in 1981 – 30 years now of doing Reagan.”

Morrisey’s character elaborated on Reagan’s philosophy – he wanted the government off the backs of the people and get them working again.

“Some people think that government is the solution, but they are the problem,” Reagan said.

“The things you most admire, you work the hardest for.”

Audience member Ryan Richert of Spring Lake, Mich., enjoyed the historical accuracy of the costumes and characters.

“I know that Reagan was one of the best presidents but didn’t know he wasn’t a Republican till age 51,” Richert said.

Although Richert was one of the very few young people at the event, he posed an adult question concerning leadership, the core subject of the production.

“Does man have the ability to govern himself?” Richert asked.

During the Q&A session at the conclusion of the event President Thomas Haas’ question to the interpreters helped bring Richert’s doubt to contemporary light.

“What advice would you have for President Obama?” Hass asked.

“To be successful you must never do in private, which you would never do in public,” President Jefferson said. “The true art in government is simply being honest.” mreynolds@lanthorn.com

GVL / Nicole Lamson

Roosevelt: John Hamant discusses politics as President Franklin D. Roosevelt Tuesday night during “Reagan’s Heroes.”

Final Five to compete in comedy contest GV’s funniest to compete for last laugh Friday

By Samantha Arnold GVL Staff Writer

Laughter is expected to fill the room this weekend as the final five compete in Last Laker Standing.

Spotlight Productions, a student-run programming board for campus entertainment, is sponsoring the fifth-annual Grand Valley State University Last Laker Standing comedy competition. The finals will take place at 9 p.m. Friday in the Grand River Room of Kirkhof Center. Doors will open at 8:30 p.m.

“Every year we get a bigger response with

more and more students and faculty competing,” said senior Alyson Greenwell, comedy and speaker chair of Spotlight Productions.

“It’s really going to be a great show—it’s unlike any other show at GVSU.” Pete Dominick, warm up comedian for Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report,” will host the show.

Dominick also hosts XM Satellite Radio’s “Stand Up with Pete Dominick.”

The five finalists, chosen by the audience and judges, will compete for the top three places and prizes. The first prize is worth $500, second prize is $300 and third prize is $150.

“This competition gives (the students) a lot of exposure and lots of good prizes for the top three,” Greenwell said. “It’s just going to be awesome. This year, especially, the semifinals were amazing.”

Glimpse at past jokes

“Hey dude, you

wanna come over and jam? What do you play? Guitar, a little keyboard? Bell tower. You would win every Battle of the Bands you were in if you had a bell tower player in your band.

”

KORT

Comedians Jason Flannery, Greg Kort, Ryan McKernan, Greg Monahan and Laura Wizniuk have made it to the final stage of Last Laker Standing, and the finalists highly recommend the event.

“Students should come out to the Last Laker Standing because all of the cool kids will be there,” Kort said.

Greenwell added students might find some humor from unexpected characters.

“It’s really great – not only do students come together and support each other, but you laugh a ton,” Greenwell said. “You don’t expect a person in your class to be that funny.”

Auditions were held in mid-January. For more information on auditions and future competitions, e-mail comedygv@gmail.com. sarnold@lanthorn.com

GVL / Eric Coulter

Stand-up talent: (From left to right) GVSU students Laura Wizniuk, Jason Flannery, Ryan McKernan, Greg Monahan and Greg Kort pose for a picture after being named finalists in the Last Laker Standing competition. The finals will be held Friday.