Grand Valley Lanthorn Vol. 58. No.17

Year in Review 2023-24

Campus housing overflow causes crowding, conflict

Time’s up: GV students of color demand change, equity from Senior Leadership Team

GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN

Campus housing overflow causes crowding, conflict

Murray Living Center does offer certain on-campus. Boone said sending students Many RA’s are preparing for morethan-usual disagreements between roommates, due the larger amounts of people living together in close proximity. Murray Living Center RA Carter Betchel said he had all of the students under his responsibility sign very detailed, specific roommate agreements in their first floorwide meeting during welcome week in hopes of mitigating as much roommate conflict as possible.

“The biggest challenge comes from the fact that we are extremely full and residents are now living in close quarters with their roommates, especially in the two bedroom, four person dorms. The combination of those two means that roommate conflict is more likely to come up and when it does we are significantly less able to offer room changes,” Betchel said. “I have been very clear that my residents need to start making a plan on how to live together peacefully.”

Boone said he doesn’t see the new freshman housing accommodations as an issue, but as an opportunity to lead students to personal growth.

“I have a lot of hope in my leadership, and I hope that students engage, I hope they see conflict as an opportunity to grow, that they will see differences as a chance to expand,”

Many students said they appreciate the adaptations GVSU has made in terms of housing accommodations. However, students expressed that in order to avoid an overpacked housing situation the university could have accepted fewer people in order to stay within the accommodations they had

Boone said he does not expect housing to receive any less interest in the coming years, though he cannot guarantee how the situation will continue to be handled in the future.

“I wish I had a magic ball,” Boone said. “Our occupancy strategy is the enrollment strategy. If they (campus recruitment) decide to bring more students in, we’ll

“I think that GVSU has an interesting challenge on their hands and I am very interested to see how the rest of the year will play out with all of these changes,” Hamilton said. “It’s something we have never experienced before and it’s a new challenge for everyone in housing and for students as well. I think it will be a

APRIL 15, 2024

@GVLANTHORN

@GVLANTHORN

Winter weather wreaks havoc on The Rapid’s routine

Grand Valley State University’s Transportation Services consists of a bus system that is commonly used by students. Whether students use the buses to get to and from their offcampus apartments to the Allendale campus, or to travel between the Allendale and Pew campuses, many students depend on the buses daily.

There are four different bus lines that service GVSU: the Laker Line that travels between the Allendale and Pew campuses, the 48 line (the South Campus apartment shuttle), the 37 (the North Campus apartment shuttle) and the 85 for weekend service.

Recent winter storms brought severe weather and high snowfall across Michigan. In lieu of the 1119 inches of snow Allendale and surrounding areas received, GVSU’s Rapid buses experienced difficulties and unpredictable situations on the roads.

Clare Meteer, a GVSU senior who uses the Rapid buses daily, had multiple scary experiences on the buses as a result of the inclement weather.

On Jan. 10, the 48 bus that Meteer rode got stuck in the snow at the four-way stop at the intersection of Pierce Street and 42nd Street. Meteer said the bus was fishtailing as the driver attempted to continue moving forward towards campus. She said this is not the only time this has happened at this intersection.

“I don’t know if he (the bus driver) had to pull off the side a little bit to get close to the sidewalk and got stuck in the snow, but he was like, flooring it and the bus was not going anywhere and just kind of fishtailing in place,” Meteer said.

On Jan. 16, Meteer rode the 48 bus

line to campus to get to her on-campus job at Mary Idema Pew Library for her opening shift. When the bus turned left to make its stop into Lot J, a parking lot on the Allendale campus, around 7 a.m., Meteer said the bus spun out on the ice and nearly slid into a plow truck.

“We were turning into the J-lot stop and the bus, like, lost control and the back of the bus started rotating,” Meteer said. “The driver was swearing, letting us know that he was scared and that made me scared because I’m like, okay, he obviously doesn’t have any confidence, so I was just kind of panicked.”

While not on the bus at the time, Meteer also said she heard about the 85 bus getting stuck at the GVSU Greek housing bus stop. A picture of the stuck bus circulated on the app Yik Yak, a social media platform in which users within a five-mile radius can share posts anonymously.

“(The bus) was like up on the sidewalk and the tow truck had to come to get it off the sidewalk,” Meteer said.

Additionally, Meteer takes the Laker Line to get to and from her class downtown at the Pew campus. Meteer said on Tuesday, Jan. 16, she could feel how the ice and snow were impacting the safety of the drive.

“One or two stops after the Meijer stop, we ended up behind another Laker Line,” Meteer said. “It was snowing and the roads were not super great. Every time we would come to a stop-- I think because the snow was built up along the platform, (the bus) would shake really bad.”

The GVSU Bus System Instagram account, @gvsubus, posts updates and comments about GVSU’s bus system. On Jan. 16 the account posted about a detour alert for the Rapid buses due to the winter storms.

“Due to icy conditions, Eastbound Laker Line will be detouring again today in GR: Monroe; stay straight on Monroe to Leonard (R) Leonard (R) College (R) Michigan; to service Lafayette station to regular route westbound. The EB Spectrum Health Platform at Michigan/ Bostwick will not be serviced,” said @ gvsubus in the post.

The account has also been posting rider safety tips to aid student riders, as the buses have no choice but to run throughout the winter season.

However, even with the social media updates from the GVSU Bus System Instagram account, apps that students usually rely on for bus arrival times and to track buses, like myStop or Transit, were not consistent or updated.

“The roads were too bad to drive, so I had to take the bus to my downtown job. I left an hour before my shift and was 45 minutes late, said Ellie Kerber, a GVSU senior. “The Rapid didn’t come for nearly an hour, but the app was still saying it was coming every five minutes like normal, so I was out waiting for the bus in sub-zero temperatures with no way to find out why the bus wasn’t coming.”

GVSU issues GVSUAlerts! to put the university on “remote status” when road and weather conditions are deemed too dangerous for the campus community. However, winter weather conditions continue to pose challenges, even when the weather conditions are not deemed severe enough for classes to be held remotely.

In order to alleviate problems caused by weather to the bus system, the Ride the Rapid website posts rider tools and has a Rapid Alert Guide to notify riders of line changes and delays.

GV’s YDSA hosts rally in support of Palestinians

BY ELIZABETH SCHANZ LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

Grand Valley State University’s Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) organized and held a rally for Palestine on Nov. 3. Titled “End the siege on Gaza,” and “Demand an end to genocide,” the rally started in front of the Cook Carillon Tower on the GVSU Allendale Campus and finished with a march through campus.

Organizers said the rally on GVSU’s campus aimed to draw attention to the military action and humanitarian crisis taking place in Gaza.

Israel declared war on Hamas, a militant, terrorist group, on Oct. 8 following Hamas’ killing of 1,400 people and taking about 240 others hostages in a cross-border attack on Oct. 7. Israeli military action in Gaza has escalated since. Now, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, as of Nov. 4, 9,448 people are dead and as of Nov. 2, the Associated Press reported 40% of the deceased are children. This has led many people in the U.S. and abroad to call for a ceasefire and advocate for further action to support Palestinians currently and on a long-term basis.

At the rally, the protesters chanted slogans that expressed their anger at politicians and the Biden administration for passing a $14.5 billion military aid package to Israel.

“Biden, Biden, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide,” they declared.  Another chant asked Israeli Prime Minister  Benjamin Netanyahu “How many kids have you killed today?” Other chants included “By the millions, by the billions, we are all Palestinians,” “Ethnic cleansing is a crime,” “Fight for our liberation, down

with the occupation,” and “Resistance is justified when people are occupied.”

GVSU Junior Minna Abdel-Moemen led many of the chants at the rally. AbdelMoemen is not a part of YDSA but wanted to come out and show her support for the message of the rally regardless.

“I haven’t heard many people speaking about it, kind of like what I did with what happened with Ukraine and Russia,” Abdel-Moemen said. “So we wanted to bring awareness to the students about the issue, maybe cause them to think like, ‘Oh, what is that?’ and then they’ll read about it, you know, kind of spark an interest to learn more about the topic.”

Although Abdel-Moemen is Arab, she feels the issue is not isolated to a certain nationality or ethnicity. She said all people are personally affected and connected to what is happening in Gaza.

“Any human being should see what’s going on and see that humans are dying,” Abdel-Moemen said. “That should be enough for people to realize and feel emotionally connected.”

Although this rally was the first proPalestine rally held on GVSU’s campus following the official declaration of war, many protests for Palestine or Israel have taken place across hundreds of colleges and universities in the U.S. Similarly, other protests, both in support of Israel and Palestine took place in Grand Rapids toward the beginning of October.

YDSA President and third-year student at GVSU Jessica Koerkel said YDSA decided to hold the protest as a way to “mourn the dead and fight like hell for the living.” She said the rally was a way to have a Palestinian movement on campus and to voice student perspectives.

“We came here to show our solidarity with Palestinians, to show that what’s happening isn’t right,” Koerkel said. “It’s (the conflict is) still ongoing, and to say that we don’t want our money to be spent funding that (Israeli military) and that we want change to happen.”

Koerkel invited Grand Rapids groups Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Alliance Against Racist and Political Oppression to take part in the rally. Additionally, Owen Frassetto, a sophomore at GVSU and YDSA Vice President, spoke at the campus rally.

“We must advocate for a single state in Palestine as well as the lands which are currently known as Israel,” Frassetto said. “We must advocate for a united Palestine where all of its citizens, Palestinian, Jewish, Christian, so on, they (can) all live in equality.”

No counter-protest was formed other than one GVSU student, sophomore Ryan Flynn, who sat opposite the rally with an Israeli flag taped onto the back of his computer. Flynn said he was not there to argue with the rally, but instead to condemn the actions of Hamas and defend Israel’s existence.

“We will continue to protest, quietly, peacefully, respectfully until every one of our hostages are returned,” Flynn said. “I don’t want to see or be subjected to the death of innocent Palestinians either. Genocide shouldn’t go either way. I stand for the people of both sides.”

Flynn said he sat in support of his “Jewish brothers” and community.

“The way I see it, if maybe just one Jewish kid is scared of what they’re seeing and they see me out here, see my star (on the Israeli flag), or my necklace (of the star

of David) and they feel a little safer, then it’s all worth it,” Flynn said.

Flynn and the protestors did not interact throughout the demonstration. The rally was peaceful, leading to discussions within the community about what was happening politically and emotionally abroad and in the U.S.

One person rode by the protest on a skateboard and said “F*ck Israelis, f*ck the Jews…. Well, not all the Jews, but like some of them.” The student was not affiliated with the rally directly, but the statement echoes Flynn’s concerns regarding antisemitism rising from the conflict.

Following the events of Oct. 7, antisemitism and Islamophobia are on the rise. Reuters reported data from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) “showed a 388% rise in antisemitic incidents in the U.S.” from Oct. 7 to Oct. 23 compared to last year. Additionally, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) “received 774 complaints of incidents motivated by Islamophobia and bias against Palestinians and Arabs” from Oct. 7 to Oct. 24.

As the war continues in Israel and Gaza, many people are advocating for individuals to stay up to date on the current events.

Abdel-Moemen said the issue in Israel in Gaza “doesn’t just go back to October 7” and that Palestinians have faced “75 years of occupation.” She wants people to continue to read the long history of the issue and where the issue is today.

“I think I would just encourage other students to really try and read about the topic, hear both perspectives,” Abdel-Moemen said.

ACTIVISM: The GVSU student organization Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), formerly known as YDSA held the first Palestine solidarity rally on campus. GVL | ELIZABETH SCHANZ

APRIL 15, 2024

Students express anger, confusion towards GV Police Academy relocation plan

BY MASON CORDELL LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

During the Grand Valley State University Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting on Feb. 23, it was announced the GVSU Police Academy will be relocated from the Allendale Campus to Holland’s Meijer Campus. This move was proposed to meet the demands for law enforcement training and education, and will cost almost $6.5 million in renovations.

The project includes the addition of classrooms, scenario rooms, a multipurpose room, a weight room, a mat room, locker rooms, a computer lab and an exterior driving course for instruction and performance evaluations. Relocating the police academy utilizes the space on the Holland Campus, which was closed to the public in 2020 and according to GVNext, had been utilized for COVID-19 vaccination clinics. However, some students are concerned about how University resources are being allocated to support this project.

The police academy was founded in 1974. The program averages 35-40 recruits per session which are eight weeks or 15 weeks in length. According to the

academy, it has a 99% licensure exam pass rate, a 96% completion rate and a 96% employment rate. In years prior, it has hosted only one 15-week academy, which took place during the summer. Last fall, however, GVSU Police Academy added another 15-week session to meet the increased need for officers in the area. There is also an eight-week session option for military police veterans.

BOT documents report that construction on the Meijer Campus is expected to begin in March of this year, with targeted completion projected by February 2025. The university plans to release more details about the project in the coming months. GVSU officials said the relocation and renovations will help accommodate the growth of the academy.

However, one potential problem of relocating the police academy is travel. Having to commute from Allendale or Grand Rapids to Holland could pose a challenge for students trying to schedule classes around their training, and the cost of gas.

While the University said the move will open opportunities within the police academy program, some GVSU students are displeased with these plans and feel

the millions of dollars allocated for the relocation should be utilized towards addressing student concerns currently taking place on campus.

Micah Colby, a member of GVSU’s Young Democratic Socialists of America/ Students for a Democratic Society (YDSA/ SDS) said there are issues on campus that students are facing and he is disappointed by the financial decisions of the university.

“It’s our tuition money going into it, you know. We’re already having a housing crisis. We need more housing,” Colby said. “We need more resources for mental health, for disabled students, that sort of stuff, but the school has decided that their time is better spent, and their money is ‘better spent’ on another police facility.”

Jessica Koerkel, president of YDSA/ SDS said she thinks the university should invest in bettering the quality of student life, not in the Police Academy.

“Student tuition should go into making our college a better place for those who live and study here, not for cops who will harass and harm the diverse communities Grand Valley claims to value,” Koerkel said. Colby was also skeptical of the

estimated cost.

“They’ll always start with a low estimate, like oh, it only costs like $5 to $10 million, and then they’ll claim inflation and claim they need more facilities. They’ll claim anything to increase the budget even more,” Colby said.

YDSA/SDS shared a post of similar sentiment to their Instagram page, pushing that the BOT should be more considerate of immediate student issues.

Members of YDSA/SDS encourage students to advocate for themselves and their needs, calling for better living conditions in the area. They do not think a larger police force is the answer.

“We have way too many police in this country. Every study that’s been done on policing has shown that an increased police presence does not lower crime,” said Colby. “If you actually want to lower crime and you actually want to make the community safer, you need to invest in housing, school, health care and food programs.”

The police academy’s future will continue to unfold in a new location with new resources. It remains to be seen if changes will have an impact.

: The Grand Valley Police Academy will be moving to the Holland campus for the University, to which BOT has allocated nearly

Media Monopoly: GV Athletics Media Interns Raise Concerns Over Intellectual Property

BY BETHANN LONG LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

In this age of technology, an image really does speak a thousand words. At Grand Valley State University, the Athletic Department media interns have helped paint the image of monumental athletic moments, but have plenty to say on what goes on behind the camera.

GVSU Athletics media interns have stepped forward with concerns surrounding an “unstructured work environment” and potential exploitation of their creative work without any written contracts. These concerns beg the question- who inevitably owns the intellectual property being created from the sidelines of these sporting events?

Media interns have been approached by their supervisors throughout the past few months, who have told them that they need to stop posting photos and videos they have taken on their personal social media platforms. Often these platforms are used as modern-day portfolios. This content was taken with photographers’ own equipment at GVSU sporting events they were assigned to cover. Allegedly, interns who posted GVSU sporting event photos on social media platforms received verbal threats from Grand Valley Athletics Deputy Director of Athletics- External Communications, Doug Lipinski who said they would be sent cease and desist letters.

According to a text thread between the interns and their supervisors Malik Ellis, the Director of Creative Services, and Zach Pierson, the New Media Director, these posts were considered “unauthorized content” and told them to stop posting for the time being until an alternate form of usage of their photos and videos becomes available.

intern said it “would make much more sense to have a meeting with the interns and have actual guidelines so we know what we can and can’t do. Rather than sending threats indirectly to scare us from doing things he does not like.”

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, which was sent from Lipinski to Ellis and Pierson, Lipinski stressed the importance that Ellis ensures his staff is “following all university guidelines and policies along with copyright law.”

exceptions such as ownership and right to use that is laid out in this section.

This is where the waters begin to get murky on where Grand Valley Athletics and their media interns stand. Under the ownership clause of the 4.10.2 section, it states that “all Intellectual Property shall be owned by its Creators when such Intellectual Property is not considered work made for hire, or expressly assigned or commissioned by the University.”

According to all interns, along with no contract being laid out to them at the beginning of their internship, there was no guidance put into place on whether this unpaid work they were doing for the department was under the terms and agreement of work made for hire or commissioned by the university.

This has been met with confusion as none of these interns were ever placed under a written contract with clear expectations on what can and can’t be done with the content they create. With no definite policies from the beginning, interns were unaware that the use of their content in a professional manner was not allowed.

Further into the email, during a conversation between Lipinski, Ellis and Zach Pierson, which occurred on November 30, 2023, the three seemingly agreed and came to an understanding as to what the interns were allowed and not allowed to do with this “university intellectual property.”

“As a freelance photographer, I own everything. Period. Per NCAA I can’t sell to players or give to them. But the NCAA does not regulate me posting on socials,” said the freelance photographer.

Policies for Faculty and Staff, section 4.1.10.2 breaks down the rights surrounding published materials.

According to these policies, the University strives to reinforce the “fairness of mutual commitment” and recognizes that these intellectual properties “are rightly the property of the Creator” except for a few

Beyond the unclear policies, the environment and dynamic of this internship have brought attention to the lack of guidance coming from supervisors and the expectation that interns will take on a bulk of the responsibilities.

Lipinski further stated in his email with Ellis and Pierson his expectations of the two directors, which included for them to “create, plan and execute a creative services weekly meeting. Where assistance in organizing event coverage, proper insight, and improved leadership could occur. However, according to all interns who have been willing to talk, there have never been weekly meetings with Ellis and Pierson put in place, and any scheduled meetings that were meant to occur have been continuously rescheduled.

Sean Figurski, one of the first interns to be hired in June of 2022, wanted to utilize his skills in videography for GVSU Athletics and reached out to them through multiple emails asking about potential positions that would be open for the upcoming school year. Within a month of his unpaid

internship under Ellis and Pierson, Figurski was asked to travel down to Indianapolis to cover a swim meet for GVSU, which was later followed by a job offer from Pierson for cover the same sporting event, a Google Document was created for interns to fill in when they’re available for events and sign up to cover what they want. However, this never guaranteed an intern was a shoo-in to be assigned.

Graham said she believes photographers in this position, who are devoting their time and equipment without being paid, at least deserve the right to show off their work.

“The least that they can do is let me show off my work. That’s the way I’m going to get noticed as a photographer and an artist.”

Communication between upper management and the media interns has been minimal to say the least.

When reached out to for a statement on these conflicts and allegations, Keri Becker, the Director of Athletics at Grand Valley issued this statement:

“At no time has any intern within the athletic department brought any worries or conflicts to our attention. Further, we would not discuss personnel matters with you as an individual nor in a public forum. It is unprofessional and inappropriate.

The appropriate resolution to potential workplace conflict is for the interns to speak directly to their supervisor, then proceed to the next leader within the organization-such as Doug Lipinski or myself. If this is not possible, the Student Ombuds, Takeelia Garrett, who I have cc’d on this email would be an appropriate avenue as well.  Taking whatever worry or conflict you have referenced to a newspaper article is an irresponsible way to resolve such issues.

I welcome the individuals to contact me with anything they would like to discuss, if they wish to find some resolution. My door is open, my contact information is below and easily found on our website staff directory.”

“I would sign up for things and then I wouldn’t hear back from anyone. So, I’m like am I supposed to show up? Am I supposed to not show?” Graham said.

The environment of GVSU Athletics has left the media interns feeling as though they can’t express their initial thoughts and feelings to supervisors in order to resolve these issues among the department.

Domestic violence is not funny, Matt Rife

BY MADDIE ZIMMERMAN LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

“Comedian” Matt Rife is rightfully under fire for clips in his new Netflix stand-up “Natural Selection” surrounding domestic violence.

For context, Rife said he entered a restaurant and the hostess had a black eye. He said he knew where the black eye came from, insinuating that someone purposely had given that to her. He then went on to make a joke about how he didn’t want someone with a black eye representing the restaurant, and she needed to go back to the kitchen so no one saw her. If that wasn’t already offensive and insensitive enough, Rife then continued on and made a joke saying if she knew how to cook in the kitchen maybe she wouldn’t have gotten the black eye in the first place.

Many people did not find this “joke” funny, so Rife quickly received backlash from viewers. After being under fire, he posted a public “apology” on his Instagram story stating, “If you’ve ever been offended by a joke I’ve told — here’s a link to my official apology,” which included a link to a medical site that sells helmets for persons with disabilities. Not only is Rife poking fun at domestic violence victims, but he is also blatantly making fun of people with persons with disabilities. Instead of doing

the right thing by apologizing and taking accountability for his actions, Rife created a bigger problem.

Now you can see why I put “comedian” in quotes. Where is the line drawn with people in this industry? Think of it, in today’s age, cancel culture is very prevalent, so I can see Rife becoming cancelled for his lack of sensitivity to both survivors of domestic violence and people with disabilities. If Taylor Swift made a totally insensitive comment about domestic violence, she would go under fire quickly, so why is it deemed okay for comedians to push the boundaries of what is funny and what is strictly offensive?

For Rife to have a comedy special be featured on Netflix, where millions of people can watch, I feel it is not okay to carelessly joke about domestic violence so lightly. It is just simply wrong. Why is he not being held accountable? Just because you are a self-proclaimed “comedian,” does not mean you can say whatever you want and think it will slide because that’s how your industry works.

My question is who approved of these jokes? Rife has to have a public relations and management team. Why were these jokes deemed “appropriate?” Also, why were these jokes allowed to be publicized and aired through Netflix? Truthfully, I believe Netflix is just as responsible for letting these “jokes” be televised as much as Rife and his team are for creating them. There is a reason that Rife’s team has refused to comment on multiple requests for comment- don’t you think?

Where will this careless behavior lead? I’m not sure, but I really do hope that he receives backlash from his audience and non-fans which leads him to care and take ownership of what he says in the future. As of now, Rife is acting a little too careless for my liking, which I believe is a shield against being canceled. I hope his shield eventually wears down and he apologizes to people affected by domestic violence as a whole and persons with disabilities for making these insensitive comments relating to these two groups of individuals.

OSU’s dance team took home the trophy, but at what cost?

BY CHLOE SCHRAM LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

The last few years, I have noticed the Universal Dance Association (UDA) College Nationals become increasingly popular because of the competition’s increased visibility on social media with many routines posted on YouTube and TikTok. The world of dance teams and competitions are not new to me, as I competed in UDA Nationals all four years of high school. However, the attention and popularity that the 2024 UDA College Nationals have gained among college students is undeniable.

During UDA Nationals, which took place the weekend of Jan. 1214, Ohio State University’s (OSU) dance team competed their Division 1A Jazz routine to “My Way” by

Frank Sinatra. The routine, which placed first overall in the category and division, was powerful and emotional. The work that goes into learning, perfecting and performing a competitive dance routine is nothing short of incredible and OSU’s dance team always shows up and shows out. However, the work of the team in my eyes is overshadow by the unfortunate truth that OSU’s jazz routine was choreographed by Travis Wall, a choreographer known for sexually harassing multiple dancers and peers, including minors.

The team’s routine won, but at what cost? OSU’s choreographer, Wall, was part of Break the Floor Productions (BTF), a dance entertainment company that organizes workshops, competitions, training, theatrical productions, video production and more. The company has toured the world since 1999 with various dance projects, conventions and other workshops. BTF has a dark side of allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct that most dancers are pretty aware of.

BTF removed Wall from their faculty in 2021 after multiple sexual misconduct allegations were made against him. Multiple choreographers at BTF have been accused of sexual assault and harassment since early on in the organization’s history including Mark Meismer and Danny Wallace.

I question why people continue to use choreographers like Wall on not only small-scale projects, but also routines that are shared with the

dance world and taken to national championships.

The dancers can not take the blame for their chosen choreographer, as coaches should be held accountable for the decision.

In previous years, OSU’s dance team worked with choreographer Shannon Mather, the owner and director of Mather Dance Company. Mather choreographed OSU’s jazz routine in both the 2022 and 2023 UDA Nationals. In 2022, the team took first place in jazz, but in 2023, they were runner-up. What made them switch choreographers this season? Was a second place trophy enough to choose a known predator over their previous choreographer?

As a dance major and a retired competitive dancer, I know the gravity of what you place at a dance competition. Especially at the collegiate level, sports are some students’ entire life. Student athletes dedicate their time outside of studying to training and perfecting their craft. Even so, I can not excuse OSU’s choice to use Wall as their choreographer. With the prominence and attention UDA nationals brings to choreographers and dancers, I am upset that Wall is being celebrated even with the knowledge of his sexual misconduct.

It feels necessary to acknowledge the idea of separating the art from the artist and recognizing that someone can create something incredible and still be a terrible person. This concept is a moral conundrum. I applaud OSU for their

success and performance, but can not disregard the difficult aspect of Wall’s involvement. Sexual assault allegations should never be taken lightly and it is unfortunate that the accused, like Wall, are able to work with new dancers constantly.

The goal of the Grand Valley Lanthorn’s opinion page is to act as a forum for public discussion, comment and criticism in the Grand Valley State University community. Student and columnist opinions published here do not necessarily reflect those of the paper as an entity.

The Lanthorn strives to be a safe vehicle for community discussion. With this in mind, the Lanthorn will not publish or entertain any forms of hate speech, but neither will it discriminate against any other views, opinions or beliefs. The content, information and views expressed are not approved by-nor do they necessarily represent those of-the university or its Board of Trustees, officers, faculty or staff.

Grand Rapids’ top 5 greatest bars

BY ELIZABETH SCHANZ LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

As a Grand Valley State University senior who turned 21 going into this school year, I now consider myself a connoisseur of the downtown Grand Rapids bar scene. I journeyed from my Allendale apartment by bus or Uber, and stood in the entry lines in the cold and rain, to concoct this list of five of the best places to go out.

5. Stella’s Lounge

Although not a traditional Grand Rapids Bar location, Stella’s has a special place in my heart for its nostalgic environment cultivated by creative wall art and arcade games.

The location, a restaurant during the day, turns into a 21+ venue after 9 p.m., creating a space for adults to channel their inner child with games like PACMAN (my personal favorite), pinball and other classic 25-cent games.

The activities, environment, food and drink make Stella’s the perfect location to connect with friends through competition and conversation.

4. Mojo’s

Mojo’s dueling piano bar is a gem in the Grand Rapids night scene.

The live music from the dueling pianos create a communal experience between the performers and the crowd. Although the demographic near the live performance tends to be older than college students, people like me who enjoy a variety of music from the ‘80s to today are in luck here.  Although there is a DJ upstairs, I much prefer the opportunity to move to the musicians who bring their all to the space.

3. Boot Night at New Holland Brewing Co.

“Boot Night” is a special held by New Holland Brewing Co. on Wednesday nights and it’s the epitome of the college experience. What screams college more than congregating at a bar in the middle of the week to get a one-liter stein, a.k.a. a boot, for 10 dollars or less?

The location has an open outdoor beer garden, even in colder weather, with space

heaters and fire pit tables, in addition to interior spaces with large communal tables. DJs bring the place to life, and if you’re like me and my friends, dancing is a must (even with a heavy glass stein).

Boot night breaks up the week and truly brings the community together.

2. Joey’s Tavern

Joey’s Tavern is like a reliable old friend; no matter what you do with them, you will always have a good time.

The location, incredibly intimate, allows you to mix and mingle-- I’ve seen larger shoe boxes. The bar’s slogan “advice and enlightenment” is a testament to the conversations initiated by the proximity and ability to connect in the chaos of a perfect dive bar setting.

It is also one of the most affordable options for a night out. One time, two friends and I each ordered a cocktail, shot, and shared a basket of tenders and fries (might I add, I am addicted to) and the bill was a little over $10 each.

Joey’s just does it right.

1. B.O.B. and Eve Nightclub

Unsurprisingly at number one, I have the B.O.B. (aka the Big ol’ building), a crowd favorite. Consistently the bar has lines wrapping around both sides of the building, bustling with a young crowd eager to explore the building’s four floors. The venue appeals to all of the people in your group with its basement cup pong,

live bands, and dance floors. You’ll have all of your options in one place.

Eve Nightclub, the top floor of the B.O.B., is a hot commodity and often is sold out later in the night. It’s the best for groups that love to dance and for screaming the most popular music at the top of your lungs.

The only downside to the B.O.B are the overpriced drinks; however, the atmosphere is well worth it, especially if you are up for an eventful night.

New NFL rules may change football’s dynamics

BY SAM NOWOTNIK LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

Many changes have been brought to the NFL’s games this offseason. Owners of the NFL voted to pass two game changing rules that will be in effect starting in the 2024 season. The first

rule change was to adopt a low-impact kickoff– previously used in the XFL. In addition, hip-drop tackles were banned and would result in a penalty if used.

I look forward to the new kickoff rule being implemented next season. The ball will still be kicked from 35yard line with the new regulation. Every player on the kicking team, other than the kicker themselves, will now line up with at least one foot on the returning team’s 40-yard line. During this new kickoff, no players can move until the ball is fielded by a returner.

This rule change has been needed, as the lack of attempted kickoff returns over the past few years have been very low. This will bring excitement back to kickoffs. It will introduce a safer, lowimpact approach, since kickoffs have been the most dangerous plays with high speed collisions. Safety aside, it will also be refreshing to see more kickoffs that do not result in a touchback. There will be newfound importance placed on having a great kick returner and being able to effectively stop a return.

On the other hand, the ban of the hip-drop tackle may cause more harm

than good to the NFL. A hip-drop tackle “occurs when a defender wraps up a ball carrier and rotates or swivels his hips, unweighting himself and dropping onto the ball carrier’s legs during the tackle.”

According to the NFL, the hipdrop tackle results in a lower risk to player health and safety. I am really glad to see player safety being a main priority and the reason behind the rule changes. I just hope this reduces injuries significantly. However, there is high risk associated with rule change. Players will be trying to find new ways to tackle, which might cause different injuries to take place during games.

Since the rule was officially passed, many current and former NFL players have taken their thoughts to social media. JJ Watt, former three-tie NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and other defensive players expressed frustrations over making it harder to tackle opponents. Many people joked that the game was turning into flag or “two hand touch” football.

“Just fast forward to the belts with flags on them,” Watt said on X. Miami Dolphins Safety Jevon

Holland also voiced his opinions about the new rule, posting on X, “Breaking news: Tackling Banned.”

The hip-drop tackle change could cause many issues and change the way the game has been played for years. The NFL has been criticized by fans for the amount of penalties called in game-defining situations. With this new rule, picking out a hip-drop tackle during a high speed play will be hard and may lead to false penalties.

It seems like NFL football is turning more into an offensive game, with an uneven playing field for defenses. Many recent rule changes have all been catered towards defense, which makes it harder to play and not cause penalties. It is no longer an even playing field on both sides, considering all of the restrictions defensive players have.

With this being said, I expect to see more missed tackles, defensive penalties and higher scoring games. All things considered, I eagerly look forward to seeing how these regulations are enacted in the 2024 season and the impacts the changes will have on the sport as a whole.

DOWTOWN: There are many options in Grand Rapids’ nightlife. COURTESY | WWMT

“So magnetic it’s almost obnoxious”- ranking Taylor Swift’s 1989 (TV) Vault tracks

BY LANTHORN EDITORIAL STAFF LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

On Oct. 27, Taylor Swift released her fourth album rerecording–“1989 (Taylor’s Version).” Originally released in 2014, the new release allowed Swift to own the legal rights to the album, which sold over a million copies almost a decade ago.

According to Forbes, Swift “vowed to regain control of her music after Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings controversially acquired her back catalog in 2019 and later sold it to a private equity firm.”

Swift described the selling of her masters as a “worst-case scenario” in a post on her official Tumblr account from 2019.

Since losing control of her first six albums in 2019, Swift has re-recorded and released her “Taylor’s Version” albums: “Red (Taylor’s Version),” “Fearless (Taylor’s Version),” “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” and the newest, highly anticipated “1989 (Taylor’s Version).”

“All 12 of Swift’s full-length studio albums and re-recorded projects from 2008’s Fearless, her second studio album, through 2023’s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) have debuted at No. 1,” Keith Caulfield wrote for Billboard.

Caulfield noted the re-recording reached 250,000 copies sold on the day of its release. It is no surprise to us as big Swifties the album would perform so well on both the charts

and financially.

“1989” includes not just the re-recorded 16 tracks, but five new songs “From The Vault.” As with all of Swift’s released rerecords thus far, these songs didn’t make it onto the original album’s tracklist. The vault tracks, written years ago, have been “locked” away since their creation.

We have anxiously awaited the vault tracks’ release, and in honor of this occasion the Lanthorn editors have come together to rank the five vault tracks from “1989 (Taylor’s Version).” With big opinions in the room, this was a particularly painstaking process. After much deliberation, we have successfully ranked the recently released tracks to reflect our Top Five.

5. Suburban Legends

Coming in at number five, we have “Suburban Legends.” Now, just because we placed this track in number five does not mean we did not like it. We enjoyed this track but felt it was slightly lackluster compared to the other four tracks. The lyrics, which portray the passage of time, loss and longing, create a vivid image for listeners but sonically feel flat. The track is atmospheric, and we did enjoy lyrics like “So magnetic it’s almost obnoxious” but as a whole, the song doesn’t quite measure up to the concepts and innovativeness of the other songs “from the vault.”

4. “Slut!”

Prior to its release, there was much discourse around “Slut!” and speculation on what the song would sound like. As a result of this, “‘Slut!’ (Taylor’s Version)’ debuted in the U.S. at No. 1 with 5.2

million streams, and globally with 11.3 million,” according to Variety. The track depicts the media’s scrutinized coverage of her love life, and Swift’s recognition of the press’ ever-present eyes. While we think the content and concept of the song discuss an issue all too common for female celebrities, we expected an electric track to stop us in our tracks, which we didn’t necessarily feel we got with “Slut!”

3. Now That We Don’t Talk

When ranking the album’s vault tracks, the Lanthorn Editorial team was torn between “Now That We Don’t Talk” and “Slut!” for the third and fourth spots. In a three-to-one vote, we placed “Now That We Don’t Talk” in the third slot. While one opinion floating around was that the track felt uninspired and flat, the majority of us argued the track was reminiscent of some of our favorite songs from Swift’s tenth studio album, “Midnights.” With a steady methodical beat and hard-hitting lyrics, we think that the track deserves its third-place spot. A favorite lyric of ours is “Now that we don’t talk/ I don’t have to pretend I like acid rock/ Or that I’d like to be on a mega yacht/ With important men who think important thoughts.” We really loved the pop sound of this song and the relatability of the lyrics in regards to a relationship you still think about even when you don’t talk anymore.

2. Say Don’t Go

In a unanimous decision, we awarded “Say Don’t Go” the title of second best vault track from the album. We feel the song is lyrically relatable and well-balanced, between the song’s reflective moments

and outpouring of emotion. After a vulnerable verse and pre-chorus filled with uncertainty about a relationship, Swift expresses a sentiment reminiscent of “Red (TV)”- how things would have changed with everything that was never said. With lyrics like, “Why’d you have to lead me on?/ Why’d you have to twist the knife?” This song was a stab in the chest that’s been stuck in our heads for days.

1. Is It Over Now?

In another unanimous decision between us all, we placed “Is It Over Now?” as our favorite vault track from the album. A fitting song to end the album, we felt the song was the strongest lyrically and sonically of all five “from the vault” tracks. In the piece, she writes, “Was it over when she laid down on your couch?/ Was it over when he unbuttoned my blouse?/ ‘Come here,’ I whispered in your ear/ In your dream as you passed out, baby/ Was it over then? And is it over now?” With a soft and slow intro, the song builds as the guitar and drums crescendo to create a beautifully desperate plea from Swift, mulling over a past relationship and questioning when the relationship really ended.

Overall, we were blown away when we heard the vault tracks. “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” is truly a pop masterwork, and we thought the vault tracks seamlessly blended into the already distinct pop sound that is universally loved by Swifties. We will definitely be streaming the whole album for the foreseeable future.

The possible death of Sports Illustrated is a sign of a bigger issues in journalism

BY LANTHORN EDITORIAL STAFF LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

The news of enormous layoffs at popular American sports magazine Sports Illustrated jumped out of nowhere for us. It was a shocking development for fans of the historic magazine, and yet another traumatic blow to an industry being torn apart at its seams.

Talk of the mass layoffs came after the news that The Arena Group, the publisher of Sports Illustrated, failed to pay “its licensing fees to the magazine’s parent company,” reported NPR.

It is the second time in recent years that major layoffs have hit Sports Illustrated. Back in 2019, S.I. laid off 30 percent of their staff when media conglomerate Meredith Corporation sold the company to Authentic Brands Group.

The term “media conglomerate” is one that makes news media employees shudder. Now, something that once

seemed to hurt small newspapers has begun to destroy legacy news media.

Many small newspapers across the country have been bought up and shut down by media conglomerates like the newspaper company Gannett. What Gannett is doing has created a phenomenon called news deserts, which has been a blinking red dot on the radar of journalists and other industry professionals for quite some time.

“One-third of American newspapers that existed roughly two decades ago will be out of business by 2025, according to research made public Wednesday from Northwestern University’s Medill School,” reported The Washington Post.

It is clear this is not just a Sports Illustrated issue, it is a journalistic news issue. With more and more reputable news outlets closing due to insufficient funding or being bought out and then shut down by these media conglomerates, the news landscape is becoming increasingly bare.

This egregious error from The Arena Group is disappointing to say

the least. We feel their poor financial decision making is now threatening an entire community of sports fans. Like a lot of people, many of us grew up reading Sports Illustrated and consider it an iconic publication within pop culture. To witness it being treated with such neglect is disheartening to us as a fellow news publication.

Today, magazines like Sports Illustrated have been reduced to ash, representing a forgotten time of serious and engaging short-form print journalism.

“Magazines used to be places that curated the world of information into something you could hold in your hand and now that role is filled by the likes of Google, Facebook and TikTok,” wrote Peter Kafka in Business Insider.

As prospective journalists, we find the grim reality that legacy publishing outlets are facing as worrisome. What does the future of our chosen

profession look like? How are we supposed to navigate this tumultuous landscape when the powers that be actively reject smart, passionate journalists? These questions are anxiety inducing and, as of right now, the answers are certainly unclear.

We worry these shutdowns are chipping away at the future of journalism. We value news in ways that money-hungry corporations care little for. Losing trusted local outlets and national brands that offer local, political, world, pop culture and sports news hurts everyone. These shutdowns create major media deserts that do not benefit anyone: readers, writers and publishers alike.

Media outlets serve an important purpose in keeping the general public informed, something crucial to the existence of a functioning society and healthy democracy. Keep your head on a swivel. If Sports Illustrated falls, who knows what company is next in line for the chopping block.

Elections and expirations: how old is too old to hold office? FEB.

BY LANTHORN EDITORIAL STAFF LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

As the presidential race comes closer and closer, we are getting increasingly concerned about the age and mental competency of the candidates proposed on the ballot.

This year, it is forecasted that 81 year old Joe Biden will be the Democratic elect and 77 year old Donald Trump will be the Republican president-elect. Biden is the oldest elected president in U.S. history, breaking the previous record set by Trump during the 2016 election. This means that both Biden and Trump are currently on track to break the record for the third consecutive election. Frankly, we’re sick of this. We don’t think records for the oldest politician are the ones that need to be broken.

Both leading presidential candidates are multiple years beyond the life expectancy of the average American male. Obviously speculation about the chances of a U.S. president possibly passing away in office due to old age exists, but more importantly the cognitive ability of former President Trump and President Biden absolutely must

be called into question.

Recently Biden had a public mishap where he mixed up the president of France with an ex-leader that had died several years prior.

The New York Post wrote, “During a campaign speech in Las Vegas, the 81-year-old president inaccurately recalled speaking to former French president Francois Mitterrand — who died in 1996 — during a 2021 meeting with world leaders.”

Regardless of where you land politically, we can’t ignore this mixup. Coming from any party leader, it is concerning.

Trump’s mental competency doesn’t look much better than Biden’s, either. Voters may recall that “Former President Donald J. Trump on Friday appeared to confuse Nikki Haley for Nancy Pelosi during a speech in New Hampshire,” reported the New York Times.

As we approach the upcoming November election, we are once again faced with the recurring issue presented by the American twoparty system: neither candidate is particularly likable, or necessarily qualified to represent young Americans and the contemporary problems of a digital society. Their age limits their ability to serve the

American people.

With a minimum age requirement of 35 years for prospective presidential candidates, we feel that it is imperative that a maximum age limit be set for candidates as well. Many Americans seem to agree.

According to the Pew Research Center, “82% of Republicans and 76% of Democrats support putting a maximum age limit in place for elected officials in Washington, D.C.” Additionally, the Pew Research Center also found that nearly half of Americans would prefer presidential candidates to be in their 50s, according to a 2023 survey.

That said, this is not an issue only limited to presidential candidates. Dozens of congress members are above the age of 70, and multiple are above 80 years of age. Most of these people will not be around to feel the impact of their policy-making (and often, lack thereof).

According to the National Institute of Health and the Journal of Gerontology, “Cognitive decline may begin after midlife, but most often occurs at higher ages (70 or higher).”

We believe any presidential or congressional candidate should not meet or exceed the age of 70 years by the day of the general election. Even if

this comes across as a drastic change, an age limit has to happen and it is not an entirely foreign concept.

Proposed solutions to the issue of age limits do already exist. Currently, the state of North Dakota has proposed legislation that would limit congressional candidates from taking office if they reach the age of 81 by the end of their term. Although we feel 81 is still far too old for potential elected representatives, we do think North Dakota is establishing a transferable baseline that can be applied to presidential elections.

We feel strongly that the executive and legislative branches of government should follow in North Dakota’s footsteps and set a maximum age limit of 70 for presidential and congressional candidates. This will not only result in representation that is more relatable for the majority of Americans, but will also help curb the obvious cognitive decline issues seen in a large portion of our elected officials holding office.

This type of legislation seems to have non-partisan support. Ultimately, it will be up to those in positions of power in Washington to make the right decision for the country’s future, even if it hurts them. To be clear, that is what they should always be doing.

Out of touch and out of our pockets: CAB’s spring concert disappointment

BY LANTHORN EDITORIAL STAFF LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU MARCH 25

With the upcoming Grand Valley State University Spring Concert on April 6, we are underwhelmed by the lineup of artists set to perform. Given previous concerts featured relevant and big-name artists like T-Pain, Yung Gravy, All-Time Low and Bo Burnham, this year’s lineup feels like a substantial step down in terms of quality and anticipation.

Headlined by former American Idol runner-up Lauren Alaina, GVSU’s Campus Activities Board (CAB) is taking a decidedly pop-country approach to this year’s concert. Joined by Julia Cole and the already famous yodeling Walmart kid, Mason Ramsey, Alaina will have big shoes to fill following last spring’s concert.

We don’t deny that Ramsey is talented, but his appearance as an opener seems more like a gimmick due to his past as a meme, rather than a thought-out choice on CAB’s part. At the same time, Alaina is arguably

a less interesting choice. None of us on the Lanthorn Editorial Board actually knew of her prior to the spring concert announcement, and many other students vocalized their disappointment on CAB’s initial Instagram post.

According to CAB’s website, the concert is “geared towards a collegeaged audience,” but it seems like CAB really missed the mark on picking an artist who adequately represents the student body’s interest. Maybe we would be more interested if GVSU was located in Georgia or Tennessee.

We don’t deny that there are many college students that are fans of country music, especially in a smaller rural town like Allendale, Michigan. But at the same time, if CAB picked someone who was at least more popular in country music, or a less polarizing genre, then there may be a lot more interest.

Compared to this year’s spring concert at Michigan State University, GVSU’s is noticeably less exciting. MSU’s concert in 2023 featured Hippo Campus and Detroit native Danny

Brown. This year’s concert features Waka Flocka Flame and Between Friends, which we feel are much better options. While GVSU is considerably smaller than MSU in terms of student population, we still represent the fourth-largest student body in the state.

Having not only a mostly unknown headliner with two openers seems like a waste of money and time for students normally excited about the event. We would like to see artists like the Wallows or Djo because they fit the culture and identity of a college campus more than the current performers.

We would have preferred that CAB sought out students’ opinions on artists they would like to see. That way, they could have had a better understanding of artists students would be interested in paying to see on campus.

The GVSU Board of Trustees allocated $200,000 through the Student Life Fund and the school’s Reserve Account to CAB’s overall budget. The likelihood that it comes at least in part from tuition dollars, and out of our pockets, makes the spring concert

lineup that much more frustrating.

Surely the concert is taking a big bite out of that funding, and it feels like a bit of a waste.

Instead of paying for three artists to come to campus, we wonder why CAB didn’t use the money they spent on Alaina, Julia and Mason, and put it towards a more well-known artist that people are actually excited about. Michigan artists like Mike Posner, Big Sean and Greta Van Fleet may be a little pricey to draw, but would be well worth the price.

Tickets for the concert are already on sale, but nobody on the Lanthorn Editorial Board plans on spending their hard-earned cash for a likely disappointing set. With rising tuition, GVSU and CAB should be putting on a show that a majority of the student body is interested in.

We are anxiously awaiting the concert. It will be interesting to see if the student body really does show up for Lauren Alaina, or if CAB wasted their money and our time.

APRIL 15, 2024

MARCH 25

Time’s up: GV students of color demand change, equity from Senior Leadership Team

BY DYLAN HOFFIUS LANTHORNEDITORAL@GVSU.EDU

Braving the wind and frigid air, concerned students at Grand Valley State University took part in a march around campus on March 18 to protest issues they feel contribute to an inequitable and non-inclusive environment for students of color at GVSU, particularly Black students.

Starting at the Cook Carillon Tower, the march led students to Mackinac Hall and across the bridge to the steps of James H. Zumberge Hall. Here, marchers held a demonstration outside of GVSU’s Senior Leadership Team’s offices. Making their message clear through call-and-response chants, hand-drawn signs and head-totoe black attire, students are concerned about GVSU’s declining retention rates for students of color and the lack of institutional support. These students are demanding that the Senior Leadership Team provide students of color with more resources to combat the plummeting retention rates, namely through an increase of faculty of color.

Alarmed by the 54.1% fall-to-fall retention rate of Black GVSU students in 2022, Antonio Green Jr. and Michael King, president and vice president of the Iota Epsilon chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., said the time for conversation about diversity and retention is over. Feeling used as a marketing tool by GVSU’s Senior Leadership Team to increase diversity on campus, Green and King helped organize the diversity retention march with other leaders and GVSU student organizations to demonstrate solidarity for students of color who feel similarly neglected.

“As African Americans, we need the support of other demographics to amplify the voices of the muffled,” King said. “Frustrated students around Grand Valley organized this event strictly because, for years, we have been seeing a lack of support for students, especially students of color.”

Determined to spearhead meaningful changes for students of color at GVSU, Green and King crafted a list of demands and grievances to give to the Senior Leadership Team. Included in the list were relevant figures regarding retention rates for students of color, and proof of limited faculty diversity. Pulled directly from GVSU databases, Green and King believe the evidence in their list of demands highlight the inequitable support for students of color at GVSU.

One of the key demands in the list given to GVSU’s Senior Leadership Team is for the increase in faculty of color. According to the most recent fall 2023 data, over 77% of GVSU’s benefit-eligible regular faculty are white, equating to 648 of 839 eligible faculty members. Despite students of color representing over 28% of GVSU’s record-breaking fall 2023 class of first-time college students, Green said there is a severe shortage of professors and faculty who look like him.

“How am I supposed to know that I deserve to be here? How am I supposed to know that I can be successful?” Green said. “Seeing someone that looks like you, you know their struggle, and some of the stuff you share is very similar because of where you come from. That’s why it’s so important to see somebody that’s very successful because if you don’t, how do you know you can do it (too)?”

Furthermore, Green and King cite the low six-year graduation rate of Black students at GVSU as particularly concerning. With less than 50% of Black students in GVSU’s 2016 cohort obtaining their bachelor’s degree by Aug. 31, 2022, Green and King said this is proof that GVSU is not helping students of color succeed.

Additionally, Green and King said students of color are tired of being overly used in promotional material to highlight GVSU’s diversity and inclusion. Included in the list of demands, Green and King are calling for change regarding the disproportionate use of students of color in branding and promotional material.

“This is not an arcade. This is not Dave & Buster’s, we (students of color) are not your token,” King said.

Capitalizing on the success of the diversity and retention march, Green and King helped organize a “Politics in Color” discussion panel on March 20. The panel brought minority speakers, including Michigan State Rep. Kristian Grant, Politicking CEO and cofounder Wen-kuni Ceant, Benton Harbor Area Schools Board President Dashauna Robinson and Greater Grand Rapids NAACP Youth Council President Ja’Von Fields, to discuss issues affecting minorities. Specific issues included voter literacy, access to clean water, the importance of policy reform and student engagement in politics.

King said events like the diversity retention march and the discussion panel are invaluable resources in Iota Epsilon’s mission to create an equitable environment. By calling on students, faculty and members of the GVSU community to take action rather than rehashing the same conversations that lead nowhere, King said they are laying the foundation for future generations to have more opportunities to succeed. A significant component in this call to action, King said, is educating people on the importance of policy.

With the upcoming primaries and general election, Green and King also recognize the importance of ensuring students of color are educated and ready to use their vote. Much of this education, Green said, pertains to making sure students know how and where to vote.

“We can march and rally all day long, but to have the opportunity to be in the faces of state representatives, legislators, senators and house speakers is extremely important,” King said. “They are the ones making these laws. They are the ones who can change our lives.”

In collaboration with other student organizations and leaders at GVSU, Iota Epsilon will host a town hall at the Kirkhof Center in Room 2266 on April 2 at 6 p.m. Members of the GVSU community are encouraged to attend and hear from students and faculty who will be sharing their personal experiences of inequity on campus. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to see the list of demands and grievances sent to GVSU’s Senior Leadership Team.

Green and King said they fully expect GVSU’s Senior Leadership Team to attend and be receptive in working together to create a more inclusive and equitable campus for students of color.

Congratulations Winter 2024 Graduates

Abigail Merchant

Congratulations Abi! We could not be prouder of you and all of your accomplishments!

We love you so much! Mom, Dad & Ella

Adrian Llanes

Adrian, after all your hard work and dedication you have achieved this huge accomplishment! We could not be more proud of you! We love you so much!!!

Love, Mom & Roel

Abby Svec

Enjoy this time you have certainly earned it.

We are so proud of you, Abby! Congratulations on this amazing accomplishment! We know you have only begun to do great things. We love you and always will through all the seasons of your life.

Alex Moyer

Congratulations, Alex! We love you and are so proud of you.

Alexandra Tenney

Style and Smarts from the very beginning! We are so proud of you! Love you so much!

Congratulations Alex!

With love from your family

Alexis Phillips

Work hard, chase your dreams and remember that I’m always here for you. I couldn’t be prouder of you! Love, Mom

Alexis, you’re turning into a beautiful, strong woman! Your kindness amazes me every single day. Never stop smiling and never stop being your wonderful self! Stay true to yourself, you are capable of whatever you set your mind to.

Alexis Swihart

Lexi, We are so proud of you! Keep working hard. Never give up on your dreams. We can't wait to see where life takes you!

Love, Dad, Mom, Jake, Emily

Alexis Good

Congratulations Alexis on all of your accomplishments during the past four years! Continue to persevere, dream big, work hard, embrace life with passion, and never stop believing!

We are so proud of you and love you the mostest, Mom, Brian, Evan, Ali, Kayleigh, & Allison

Alexis Vogt

We are so proud of you and can’t wait to see what your future has in store for you as you further your education.

Love Mom, Dad, Alex, Ben

Amber Beaudry

Love Mom, Ashley/Brett, Grandma Vickie/Lester, Everleigh/Emilia.

Amberella, We are so proud of you and all your accomplishments! Never stop shinning. Take pride in how far you've come and have faith in how far you can go. We hope you pursue all of your passions in life and always follow your dreams. We love you and congratulations. YOU DID IT!

Aneesah Qahwash

Congratulations Aneesah Qahwash

Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Psychology

You make your family and friends so very proud! Best wishes in your future endeavors. We love you.

Ann Krapohl

Congratulations Ann! We are so proud of you and all you have accomplished at GVSU! We love you so much!

Love, Mom, Dad and Emily

Benjamin Lafleur

Blake Kapron

So proud of you Blake! Yet another milestone achieved, as you continue on your path. Don't ever stop moving forward.

Love you,

Mom, Dad, Chase Grandma & Papa

Brennan Crevier

Congrats, B! It's been a road, and you persevered! So proud of you! This milestone is a big steppingstone for so much more success to come! We Love you!

Briana B. Drazek

Caitlin Ruth

Congratulations Caitlin in your achievements. We are all so very proud of you.

Love your family

Colleen Garcia

We are so proud of you! You worked hard, persevered, and embraced all opportunities available to you at GVSU! You are an amazing woman and the best daughter ever.

Collin Strepek

Congratulations Collin! We are all so very proud of you! You always give 100% and we know you will continue to be amazing.

Love Mom, Dad, Rogue and your family

Darian Yee

Your dedication to teaching and children is inspiring. You will be a huge success and your children will be lucky to have you! We are so proud!

Love, Mom and Dad

Damian Cole

Congratulations on all your hard work and dedication! I’m so happy to be here on this journey with you.

With love , Mom

Delaney Sacra

Congratulations, Delaney Sacra! You continue to impress. Best wishes for your big, bright future!!! We're all so very proud of you! Love, Mom, Gary, Samantha, Madison, Emily, Archer & Alex

Da'Janay Wiggins

YOU DID IT! Mommy loves you and is very proud of you. Love, Mom

Destynee Jones

Destynee M. Jones, your family is very proud of you! Keep trusting in God! Follow your Destynee in everything you’re designed to do!

Congratulations DesdaBest our Sunshine, Destynee Marie Jones!

Emily Bolthouse

DrewAnn Gladding

We love you to the moon and back, Mom, Grandma and Grandpa

Elizabeth Schanz

You have always been a shining star and we are so proud of the beautiful woman you are both inside and out!

Love, Aunt Nee Nee, Uncle Kelly, Moira, John

Elizabeth Schanz

To our lifelong dancer and dance major, your grace and passion have illuminated stages and hearts alike. As you pirouette into the next chapter, may your rhythm guide you to new heights of success.

To our accomplished multimedia journalism major, your dedication to truth and storytelling has inspired us all. Your words have power, and we eagerly await the narratives you'll craft next.

Your achievements are a testament to your perseverance and brilliance. As you step into the world, shine on, knowing that your potential knows no bounds.

We love you! Mom, Dad, Madelyn

Elizabeth Schanz

We Love You, Gray and Papa

Dear Elizabeth, Congratulations for reaching another milestone. Now, what? Abraham Lincoln said, ""The best way to predict the future is to create it."" Yes, Elizabeth, you can choreograph your future. You have the intellect, poise and talents to succeed at whatever you choose to do. Let the show begin!

Emma Eveland

Pray continually. We support you and we love you!!

Well, you did it. YOU. DID. IT. Yet another one of your goals accomplished. Everything you have achieved thus far has prepared you for the next step, the next challenge and the next chapter Chase your dreams, try new things, be the best version of yourself.

Evan Potter

Grant Newhall

Believe deep in your heart that you're capable of achieving anything you put your mind to. You will never lose. Love, Mom & Bonus Dad

Hannah Grimes

Congratulations Hannah! We are so proud of you and all that you have accomplished. You are going to make a fantastic teacher

We Love You!

Hailey Litwin

To our wonderful graduate, Hailey, your graduation is a testament to your hard work, dedication, and commitment. You persevered through many challenges to reach this milestone.Go into the world and do well, but more importantly, go into the world and do good.

Let your dreams be bigger than your fears, your actions louder than your words, and your faith stronger than your feelings. Congrats on your well-earned degree. Our hearts are bursting with pride!

Hailey Feudale

We are so very proud of the person you are!

Congratulations!

Love you more, Mom, Dad, Paige and Mason

Dearest Hailey, we wanted you to know how proud we are if you! Graduation from GVSU is a huge deal! Your whole life starts now! You will make an excellent nurse!

Haley Garcia

- Mom, Dad, Kelsey and Ashley

+ the love of all your pets!

Haley, our Bug, we could not be prouder of you and what you have accomplished. We are so enthusiastic for you and everything your future will bring. We love you and can't wait to see what success comes your way!

Mom, Joe, Lucas & Grammy

Jacqueline Nicole Gregory

Congratulations, Jackie! We are so proud of you and everything you have accomplished!

Love always, Mom, Dad and Joey

Jaden McCoy

Congratulations Jaden Christine McCoy! We’re immensely proud of the accomplishments you have made since being this little girl, also excited to witness your journey ahead.

Love, Mom and Dad

Jemma Kelly

Jemma ends with an A Kelly! We are PROUD of all that you have accomplished through the years. Your future is as bright as you are.

Love, Familia XO

Jenna Sitarski

Congratulations Boo Sitarski!!!!!

We are soo proud of you. Go make the world a better place by shaping minds & hearts of your future students.

Love, Mom, Dad, Josh, Jake, Joey, & Pepper

Jennifer Black

Jesse DeWeerd

Congratulations Jesse! Love your willingness to dive into new endeavors with such dedication and determination! So proud of your accomplishments at GVSU! Excited for your next chapter! Love, Mom & Dad

Joi Mays

Joi you did it! Congrats Munchie. Your hard work, determination and intelligence are paramount to who you are. Go and make your mark in the World. Love ya BabyGirl.

Jonathan Bolden

Jonathan, from pandemic to college graduate, your growth and resiliency in 4 years has us all so proud of the man you've become! The world is yours!

Love, your family

Jordan Bernal

Jordan Harris

Jordan, Congratulations on your success! You did it. We’re all so proud.

Love, Mom Tony & Family

Josephina Nicita

Julianna Kressner

Kathryn Arndt

As the sun sets on your college journey, remember that tomorrow will bring with it the promise of new beginnings. Over the years, your demonstration of grit and tenacity in reaching your goal has inspired those around you. We are extremely proud of all that you have accomplishments and the beautiful person you are.

Kayla Worthy

We are so proud of you.

Love, Mom, Dad and Raven

Congratulations, Kayla! Your graduation marks the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in your life. May your hard work and determination continue to lead you to great things.

Love, Your Family

Keegan Colcleasure Laenie Backus

Kyle Aughton

Congratulations! We are so proud of all your accomplishments Kyle. Your next adventure is waiting!

Love - Mom, Dad, Grant, Lauren, Coco & Kiwi.

Lauren Reno & Ciara Branigan

We are so proud of you both!

All our love, Mom, Dad, Chelcie and Papa

Congratulations Kylie! Wow! You used a very unique set of challenges to your advantage and rose above the adversity of a global pandemic to graduate with Honors.

Although it would have been easy to give up, you created opportunities to thrive by working at GVSU Rec Well and as the founder/president of GVSU Elite Dance Team. Your drive, determination, scholarship, creativity, and work ethic all came together, resulting in an amazing journey of personal growth and success.

We are so very proud of you Ky! Me Much!

Kylie McCaskill

Lauren Murray

Congratulations to our amazing daughter on all your accomplishments and achievements. We are so proud to be your parents.

We love you!

Love Mom and Dad

Lauryn Davis

Congratulations, Lauryn! We are so proud of you. Your intelligence and tenacious studying allowed you to graduate with honors in the School of Mathematics, EXCELLENT!

Love, Mom and Dad

Luke Ross

May your future be as outstanding as your years at GVSU.

Love, Your Family

Lucas Da Silva

Congratulations Lucas! We are so proud of you and excited to see all that you continue to accomplish in life!

Love, Mom, Dad, and Joseph

Megan Koenigshof

Congratulations Megan!! We are so very proud of you! Your future is so bright! Reach for the stars and keep chasing your dreams!!

Love you, mom and dad!!

Madison Bennett

Your Drive and Determination enabled you to complete a major goal in your life. You're graduating with honors. We are so proud of you and your accomplishments. There is no limit to what you can attain in life.

Congratulations Madison, You did it!!

4 years ago you were short changed out of your high school graduation. Not this time.

Madison McDonald

So proud of you and grateful to have a front row seat to your lifes story!

Love, Your Biggest Fans!

Mason Cordell

Mason Cordell: Journalist. GVSU Cheerleader. Parkour Enthusiast. Car Guru. Leader. Caring and Thoughtful Human. Exceptional son, brother, and friend.

Morgan Anne Ponchaud

We are so proud of you... congratulations!

Mitchell Tiell

Mitchell, Today we celebrate you. We are so in awe of your dedication, perseverance and your ability to overcome. You worked hard for and accomplished this amazing goal. You will be an amazing PA. The world is a better place because you are in it. We will always believe in and support you 100%. We love and are proud of the person you are.

Dad, Mom & Ryan

Love, your Family

Morgan Ferguson

Congrats Mo! So proud of all you have accomplished.

Congrats Mo!

So proud of all you have accomplished.

Love you so much, Tiny Dancer

Love you so much, Tiny Dancer

Morgan Ferguson

Dear Morgan, Congratulations on your graduation and best of luck at your great new job! Really proud of all you have accomplished in your short life.

Lots of love, Busha

Morgan Ferguson

Naod Fesseha Teklu

Naodi Bawdi, look at you!

Slightly taller, smarter and handsome. May God lead your path. Be blessed. Proud of you. Our precious jewel, you’re the best-est. We love you. Fesh/Shaye

Nina Petrykowski

Congratulations Nina! We are so proud of you and all of your accomplishments! May God continue to bless you on your path in Speech and Language!

Love Mom and Dad

Nina Alpers

Love you, Dad, Mom, Alyssa Muchos Besos y abrazos!

Nina we are so proud of your accomplishments. Your Mima and Pipa are watching over you and are proud.

Paige Fresh

Pumpkin, as you step into the world, remember to chase your dreams, embrace every opportunity, and never forget the strength within you. Congratulations on your graduation!

Love Mom and Dad

Payton Collins

Payton, we are proud and cherish every step of your journey. You're creating a beautiful future that we will love sharing with you!

WITH LOVE: YOUR FAMILY

Rebecca Bak

Congratulations Becca! We are proud of you, and your hard work & dedication! Follow your dreams! We can't wait to see where they take you!

Love, Mom, Dad & Noah.

Riley Mitchell

Ryan Durkee

Most remember their teachers for the rest of their lives. Mr. Durkee will be in their minds of many for years to come.

Sarah Palma

Sarah, you’re a ROCKSTAR IN FULL COLOR! Accept this lens upon you always, and may you soar with EXCEPTIONAL PEACE!

Sarah Elizabeth Palma has achieved her heart’s desire. Sarah’s zeal for education is sky high! Walking with a Double Bachelor’s Degree, clearly shows her gift of retaining, as well as gift of speaking with profound intellect.

A 28 | GRADUATION

Sydney Cangilla

We are so proud of your hard work graduating from GVSU and crushing it as a student-athlete!! Glad you get to have a graduation this time! Love Mom & Dad

Sydney Lynn

Congratulations Sydney Elizabeth Lynn!!

We are so proud of you and excited for you to step into this next chapter of life. Cannot wait to see what your future has in store!

Love, Jess and John

Sydney, We are so proud of all of your accomplishments and cannot wait to see what the future holds for you. The Criminal Justice world will be lucky to have you. Keep reaching for the stars and your goals. You can do anything you put your mind to.

Taylor Dohm

Congratulations Tay-Tay. We're very proud of you. Take a breath, spend some time with your favorite doggy, Stella, and then celebrate.

Love, Mom, Dad, Kelsey, Christian and Gabby

Taylor Seward

We are so proud of you! All of your hard work has culminated to this point. May God bless you and guide you on your journey and adventures after graduation!

Trinity Roodbeen

Congratulations to the new ENGINEER!! We are proud of the woman you have become: Intelligent, beautiful, driven, and full of life!!

Love you, Dad, Mom, Devon, Canyon, Ava, Kilo

Virginia Berger

Virginia, our wish for you is that this life becomes all that you want, your dreams stay big, and that you never need to carry more than you can hold.

Vincente Burgos

GVSU 2024! Congratulations on your graduation! We are so proud of you. We wish you nothing but the best.

Zachary John Veenstra

And more than that, we are proud of who you are as a person and the high level of integrity that you carry yourself with in all areas of your life.

Congratulations Zach! You stepped into GVSU four years ago, and you are now leaving with your Masters Degree in Computer Science. We are so proud of you for that!!

Love, Mom, Dad, Sam, Spike, Meadow and Kitty.

Elizabeth Schanz

Lanthorn Graduating Staff

Love you big time, Bethann Long Image Editor

Josie Gualano

Josie started her journey at the Lanthorn by joining our Promotions Team during the Winter 2024 semester. As a Public Relations major, Josie is passionate about event planning and building relationships with others.

Although Josie’s time at the Lanthorn was short, she gained skills in event planning and expanded on her knowledge of promotions work at the Lanthorn. Josie will miss the Lanthorn team, but we cannot wait to see what the future holds for Josie after graduation!

Alayna Cook

Alayna Cook joined the Grand Valley Lanthorn during the Winter 2024 semester. During her time as an Advertising Representative, she reached out to local businesses and determined what advertising opportunities suited them best.

Her lively personality created lasting customer relationships and increased overall sales for the newspaper. With her dedication and positive attitude, we can’t wait to see what Alayna accomplishes next. Please join us in wishing her luck in her upcoming adventure!

Chyna Miller

Chyna Miller started working for the Lanthorn during her senior year as an Advertising Representative. She developed new skills in graphic design and expanded upon her communication skills. Chyna created designs for our clients in addition to making TV sales for the newspaper. She fostered relationships with clients who will continue to work with the Lanthorn in the future. We appreciate her attention to detail and wish her success as she starts her next chapter!

Nelson Hubbell

Nelson is incredibly committed to everything he does inside of the Lanthorn and out. Nelson started with the Lanthorn at the beginning of the 2023-2024 year as the Sports Editor. When it was needed, he stepped up to the plate covering three to four stories for sports in a week, with no complaints, just saw what had to be done and did it. His work ethic is incredible but even more than that he is the most loyal friend. I know if I need someone he will be there. I am so happy to have gotten to know him and be his friend.

Rev Bronowski

Isabelle England

Isabelle has been committed to the Lanthorn for the last two years starting as a writer in the Laker Life section and moving into the Laker Life Editor position over the 2023-2024 school year. She is never afraid to voice her opinion, cares about her work deeply, and brings the energy to production every Sunday. She is an honorary journalism major and is so committed to learning everything she can (even to FOIA). So proud of how much she had grown and her dedication to this publication!

Colette Wright

Colette Wright began working as an Advertising Representative for the Lanthorn during her senior year. Focusing on client needs, she has always strived to exceed expectations and is passionate about connecting local businesses with the student demographic here at Grand Valley.

Colette’s dedication to her work at the Lanthorn shows through her commitment to personalizing services to various clients. With an upbeat and collaborative spirit, Colette has been a great addition to the team, and we wish her luck in her future endeavors!

Sandra Lopez

Sandra Lopez began her role as an Advertising Representative at Grand Valley’s newspaper, the Lanthorn, in the Winter 2024 semester of her senior year. During her time, she demonstrated an exceptional willingness to learn and collaborate with team members.

Sandra increased overall client contact for the newspaper and was dedicated to her work and the clients she connected with. We are so proud of Sandra and wish her all the best as she moves on to her postgraduate career!

Bethann Long

ar. She is such a

Nelson Hubbell

Nelson is incredibly committed to everything he does inside of the Lanthorn and out.

Dylan is the embodiment of kindness and intelligence. He is an incredible person and writer. Dylan joined the Lanthorn team at the start of the 20232024 school year as a writer for the Arts and Entertainment section and quickly moved into the role of Arts Editor.

Dylan will always step up to the task at the Lanthorn and the work he has done is nothing short of amazing. I am so lucky to have had him on the editorial team this semester. I can’t wait to see all he does and I know he will go far!

Nelson started with the Lanthorn at the beginning of the 2023-2024 year as the Sports Editor. When it was needed, he stepped up to the plate covering three to four stories for sports in a week, with no complaints, just saw what had to be done and did it. His work ethic is incredible but even more than that he is the most loyal friend. I know if I need someone he will be there. I am so happy to have gotten to know him and be his friend.

Moving the movers: live music accompanists inspire, influence GV’s dance program

BY ELIZABETH SCHANZ LANTHORNEDITORAL@GVSU.EDU

Tucked away in the back wing of Grand Valley State University’s Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts is room 1600: the largest dance studio used by dance program students. Starting at 9 a.m. the studio comes to life as dance students enter the space for the first movement class of the day. They begin stretching, catching up with friends and greet the professor as they enter.

Silently, one more person enters the room: the accompanist. They walk to the back corner of the studio, which contains a piano and drums. They won’t be moving as the dancers do or verbally guide the students like the instructor, instead, the movement will take place as their fingers strike the keys of the piano or beat the drums. The music they play will shape the class at its core.

GVSU’s dance program has two accompanists Alex Hamel and Ryan Blok who create, perform and partner with dance students and faculty within the program’s movement technique classes. Hamel, who has been a part of the program for over 10 years, most commonly accompanies the modern dance courses and Blok has been the resident ballet accompanist since 2017.

The accompanists explore and create music for a collaborative process between movement and music.

When Hamel accompanies modern dance classes he acts as a “one-man band” playing piano and drums individually and simultaneously, a skill that he developed over time and from a young age. Hamel said often he plays both instruments at once because “neither one on its own seemed sufficient.”

Hamel’s playing journey began with learning piano, which his grandfather gave him, at age six. His passion continued to develop with time. He started playing the drums in the school band at age 10 and taught himself guitar at 12.

Continuing to play and learn, Hamel decided initially to minor in music at GVSU and was an art major. At the time he was not planning on pursuing a musical path, but rather graphic design or animation. But, after becoming more involved in music opportunities on campus, he decided to make the shift to becoming a music major.

“I did marching band, stuff like that, to percussion major when I was a student here (GVSU), but I also got into the jazz program. My professors, actually, they were like ‘Seems like you want to be a musician,’” Hamel said. “I

didn’t want to study music and not have it be my profession. I think that gave me the confidence to sort of double down on everything I was doing here.”

The decision to fully commit to music led Hamel to accompany the dance program for the first time as a student, a job he had for his last two years at GVSU. With very little knowledge about dance, Hamel took on the role and learned on the job. He learned that the work of the accompanist was largely based on improvisation, which Hamel had experience in as a music major with a jazz emphasis. He soon realized this path fit his passions and has guided the rest of his career.

Now, Hamel primarily accompanies for dance classes and plays in theatre pits. He considers both of these positions “service-oriented, support roles” and feels that is where his heart is.

“I don’t live for the spotlight at all. I actually quit piano lessons because I didn’t want to do recitals anymore,” Hamel said. “In terms of like what I get out of being a musician, it’s really zero to do with like performing or getting my chance to shine or show people what I can do. It’s more being in service to something larger.”

Hamel said the experience of being an accompanist shifts with the needs, wants and energy of the class itself and that the partnership between the music, dancers and professors is deeply intertwined.

“I never think of it like I’m creating music that is to be danced to, like ‘here’s some great music now dance,’ you know,” Hamel said. “In a way, I’m like taking class with all y’all. Just trying to find the impulse within the movement that combination are based on and reflect that and really accompany the dance.”

Dance Professor and dance curriculum coordinator Carrie Brueck Morris has been working with Hamel for over 10 years. She says Hamel’s contribution as a musician and artist allows students to learn more about music in their coursework: musical terminology, how to work with musicians and “understanding the layers” to musicality beyond counts.

Additionally, Morris said Hamel as an artist and partner in dance classes is extraordinary.

“He knows how to look at dance and he knows how to respond to what is happening in the room,” Morris said. “It feels so easy to work with him and I feel like we’re reading each other’s minds.”

Similarly, Blok’s work as the ballet accompaniment comes from years of development. One of Blok’s first musical memories was with a Fisher Price piano where he learned a couple of basic

songs. He was then put into piano lessons at eight years old, percussion in band, choir and was involved in church music throughout his life.

Blok, like Hamel, is also a GVSU alum who started at GVSU in 2013 after deciding he wanted to focus more on piano. During this time, he began to learn how to be a ballet accompanist.

“I started with just that a couple books, I had like one piece of music for each combination,” Blok said. “Once I got the feel for the eightmeasure phrases all the time and how each combination felt, it just became easier and easier. I’d say a year in I was 90 percent improvising.”

After graduating, he began his accompanist career in the GVSU dance program, played classes at Grand Rapids Ballet and opened a private piano and voice teaching studio.

“My plan was always to somehow make a living in music in Grand Rapids and wasn’t planning on going anywhere,” Blok said.

Blok said the presence of live music helps to shape dance classes in both atmosphere and structure.

“Live music just feels more present. As loud as you turn up a speaker with canned music, it never feels as vibrant in the space as the live music does,” Blok said. “The biggest thing is the flexibility that a live musician can have. Often teachers want to do the same combination, one time at a certain tempo and speed it up for the second.”  Blok values the ability to have a collaborative relationship with the professors and to provide an

“(Blok) will find ways to keep it (the music) artistically interesting for the room. So there might be gentle shifts, like an octave change, or an additional rhythmic line added in. It just helps open up possibilities and ideas for ways to engage with the movement that we’re doing as well,” Rabbers said.

Emma Buschle a senior majoring in Dance and Public Relations works with both Hamel and Blok in her modern and ballet courses. Buschle said before coming to college she had never been in a dance class with an accompanist before. She said the experience of having live music in her dance courses at GVSU is incredibly beneficial and rewarding.

From interacting with both musicians, Buschle said Hamel has such a “unique style” in his musical pieces and Blok has a talent for knowing ballet “like the back of his hand.” She feels she has gotten to know the accompanists more as artists and as individuals.

“There’s just a huge level of respect for each other (dancers, professors and musicians),” Buschle said. “At the end of each class, we do a huge round of applause of them and we have a ritual of smacking the floor and creating a bunch of noise to thank them.”

Buschle said over her time at GVSU she has paid more “attention to what’s going on in the corner.” Buschle, and other dance program students and faculty, appreciate the artistry of accompanists. They feel that accompanists connect to everyone in the room at a deeper personal,

CLASS: Musicians collaborate in dance courses with GVSU students. GVL | BETHANN LONG

Harmony in motion: GV music ensemble, dance program perform at Frederik Meijer Gardens

BY RACHAEL GAGE LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

On any given day, visitors at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park stand in awe of the Garden Pavilion– an expansive room where portrait-like marble faces stretch across the room’s walls. These portraits comprise “Utopia,” an exhibition from Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. “Utopia” served as inspiration for a collaborative music and dance performance by students in Grand Valley State University’s New Music Ensemble and Dance Company on Feb. 25.

The collaborative performance titled “Utopia: A Music and Dance Ambient Experience” brought instrumental music and synchronized movement to the Garden Pavilion. The 82-minute musical piece was performed twice with four showings of the dance performance, allowing visitors to stop in and enjoy the performance at their leisure. The fusion of music, dance and the visual art of the space immersed performers and viewers in the atmosphere of the piece.

The four large portraits in “Utopia” were created specifically for Frederik Meijer Gardens by Plensa in 2020. With a different portrait on each wall stretching from floor to ceiling, the glowing white-marble faces display meditative expressions that symbolize humanity’s beauty. The white marble used to carve the faces was chosen for its subtle reactions to light and shadow.

The Garden Pavilion that houses the exhibit is flooded with natural light from the room’s skylight, which GVSU Director of New Music Ensemble Bill Ryan said was a major inspiration for the performance. Ryan said he spent considerable time in this space alongside Hannah Seidel, associate professor of dance at GVSU, in preparation for their collaboration. Ryan

said his composition was largely inspired by the natural light, walled textures and the pavilion’s mingling visitors.

“I decided to create a composition that is an extension of the sculpture (“Utopia”),” Ryan said. “(It is) almost as if (the composition is) an audio version of the sculpture.”

Ryan said the performance’s composition was designed to provide the audience with a sense of relaxation through ambient and meditative instrumentals. Ryan described the composition as a “slowly shifting landscape of sound,” brought to life by the seven students in the ensemble. The instruments featured in the composition included a flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, cello, keyboard and vibraphone.

Alongside the musicians were 12 students in GVSU’s dance program who performed four variations of choreography ranging from 15 to 17 minutes in length. Seidel described the piece as modern contemporary mixed with a sustained presence. She said the choreography was intended to reflect the space and music surrounding them.

Seidel said she was drawn to the texture of the room, specifically the rough marble surrounding the smooth faces jutting out from the walls. When creating the choreography for this piece, Seidel said she wanted to include these textures within the dancers’ movements, and also incorporate the emotional pull of the message behind Plensa’s exhibit.

“I honed in on working with the ideas of comfort for this (performance) largely because of the presence of the natural light and the large scale of sculptures in that space,” Seidel said. “Comfort (was important) because there’s a beautiful humanity in the sculptures that I’m trying to bring out in the dancers as well.”

Additionally, Seidel said the meditative and vibrant rehearsal space allowed the dancers to explore movement through their own emotions and ideas. She said the choreography was a combination of her own movement and a “collaboration with the dancers.”

“They were very much involved in creating some of the movement,” Seidel said.

Seidel also said the choreography was particularly unique because it was performed differently across the four performance variations, creating a challenge for the dancers and a unique experience for the guests. Alaina Hogan, a GVSU student and dancer in the performance, said each set included four possible sections, leaving the dancers guessing as to which would come next.

“There is a level of spontaneity such that we never know exactly what is going to happen until it does,” Hogan said. “There is no set musicality. We stay together by watching each other and feeling each other’s energy.”

Though they performed alongside each other in the final piece, the GVSU New Music Ensemble and Dance Company had separate rehearsal sessions. Despite not having shared rehearsals, Hogan said she felt adequately prepared because she had become familiar with the composition in the weeks leading up to the performance.

On the day of the performance, the dancers and musicians arrived at the Garden Pavilions a few hours early to familiarize themselves with their new surroundings. Before performing, the dancers led with two performance rituals: a chant to build energy and a quick breathing exercise to calm nerves.

During the performance, the large room echoed the musical composition,

enveloping the dancers and audience in sound. Hogan said this created a uniquely immersive experience that allowed the audience to join their “world” as active observers instead of passive viewers.

“While dancing, I feel the interpersonal connection between myself and the other dancers, which is reminiscent of the sculpture in the space that we are all connected (to),” said Hogan. “The reason why the audience is drawn to the piece is due to how it makes people feel rather than what it looks like.”

Hogan praised Seidel’s choreography and Ryan’s musical composition. She cited the harmonic synchronicity between the musicians and dancers as the reason for the performance’s success.

“Dancing to the composition is an ethereal experience,” said Hogan. “I feel like I am transported to another dimension.”

MOVEMENT: GVSU student dancers and musicians displayed their 82-minute piece for spectators at the Frederik Meijer Gardens “Utopia” exhibition. COURTESY | HANNAH SEIDEL

MUSIC: GVSU students played instruments in the show. COURTESY | AMANDA PITTS

MARCH 25

More than words: GV students celebrate art across multiple languages

BY JACKSON HICKS LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

On March 19, Grand Valley State University’s Department of Modern Languages and Literatures hosted an inclusive multicultural gathering titled “Medley: A Celebration of Languages and the Arts” at the CookDewitt Center.

The event brought students and faculty from various backgrounds together to experience the various cultures and languages present at GVSU. Musical performances, puppetry, poetry, film, dance, food and theatre were just some of the activities for attendees to take part in. English translations were provided for those who did not speak the language in the performances.

Students were encouraged to participate in activities specific to their culture and experience other cultures as well. With a variety of art and performances from English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Korean,

Latin and Italian cultures represented at the event, the wide array of cultural performances provided students with a strengthened global perspective.

Among the performers at the event was Qays Yaser Almallah, a sophomore at GVSU who studies Arabic. Almallah said the event provided an excellent outlet for students to become involved with culturally diverse programs and activities. Additionally, Almallah said this was a great opportunity for students to share pieces of themselves through performing.

Almallah recited a poem by renowned Syrian poet Nazar Qabbani. Almallah said he chose one of Qabbani’s poems because of his desire to spread love and generosity at the celebration, which are central themes in Qabbani’s poetry. Simultaneously, Almallah said it’s equally important to dismantle harmful stereotypes surrounding Arabic culture.

“More often than not, Arab culture is depicted with negativity in Western media, but love and generosity are

two of the most central themes that emerge in Arabic literature and poetry,” Almallah said. “I wanted to highlight the centrality of love that people celebrate in Arab culture, as it is something that is shared almost universally among cultures across the world.

Other students at the event, including sophomore Andy Hardgrave, who is minoring in French at GVSU, praised the various performances throughout the night, specifically the musical numbers. Hardgrave said culture-exposing events like “Medley” have been a crucial part of his education at GVSU.

“It’s a neat intersection for creativity and language, which makes for culture,” Hardgrave said. “It was also a really nice and inclusive celebration of diversity, with more than a handful of different backgrounds given time on the stage.”

Hardgrave said the event encouraged all people, not just those studying foreign languages, to

appreciate the melting pot of cultures.

“I was pleasantly surprised to see students from some of my other non-language classes at (the) foreign language event,” Hardgrave said.

Furthermore, Almallah emphasized the importance of events like Medley at predominately white institutions. Almallah said celebrations of languages and art help “broaden the horizons” of students who may not be exposed to cultures other than their own, which empowers them to embrace their differences.

“Being a minority at Grand Valley has been challenging at times, but having outlets to celebrate and embrace my culture, as well as other cultures, via events like Medley has been an incredible source of empowerment,” Almallah said. “The negativity and othering that culturally diverse students face is something we can combat by giving these students the opportunity to share and embrace the most beautiful aspects of their cultures.”

CULTURE: Attendees at the Medley event experienced a variety of performances throughout different cultures, with English translations available for all GV students.

APRIL 15, 2024

GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN

@GVLANTHORN

@GVLANTHORN

APRIL 1

A 36 | ARTS

Film rereleases lead nostalgic moviegoers back to theaters

BY LEE MARENTETTE LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

With the upcoming rerelease of “Shrek 2” and all eight live-action “Spider-Man” films in theaters across the country, movie studios hope to bring people back to the cinema with the power of nostalgia.

After the COVID-19 pandemic and the SAG-AFTRA strikes that halted countless productions, the film industry has made a noticeable shift to provide audiences with alternative viewing options. Driven by passionate cinephiles who yearn for the opportunity to see their favorite films on the big screen, the growing trend of movie studios and theaters rereleasing old films has exploded in recent years.

Spencer Everhart, adjunct professor of film & video production at Grand Valley State University, said movie studios and corporations with popular intellectual property, like Universal and Disney, have capitalized on this trend.

Additionally, independent film studio A24 partnered with IMAX this year to

bring back a number of popular titles, such as “Ex Machina,” “Uncut Gems” and “Hereditary.” At the same time, Disney and Lucasfilm are rereleasing all mainline entries in the “Star Wars” franchise on May 4 for the annual fan holiday “May the fourth be with you.”

However, Everhart said people rewatching old films in theaters is not necessarily new, but has become more widespread and accessible because of distribution from larger film corporations.

“Head to any major city with a thriving film culture and moviegoing community and you’ll find plenty of retrospective or repertory screenings of older movies playing all the time at smaller venues (and) arthouse theaters,” Everhart said. “For viewers, especially those who crave the theatrical experience, it can mean the chance to see something in a way that had never been available to them before.”

Alternatively, Everhart argues against the mass commercialization of this practice because of the challenges it provides smaller cinemas that show older films. Everhart said this can pose

a challenge for local theaters and venues. It can make it more difficult to foster and maintain their already established community of movie lovers. Similarly, Everhart said there are also fewer independent and low-budget options at national theater chains, as a result.

“By taking up space on multiple screens at movie theaters, combined with their new release titles, corporations like Disney are actively preventing independent, smaller, arthouse works from being shown on those screens,” Everhart said. “It crowds out the options available to the viewing public and moves them towards the product those companies want to sell, which makes it more difficult for other alternative offerings to get attention.”

In Grand Rapids, Everhart said Wealthy Theatre is a location many people go to satisfy their craving of the theatrical experience. Nicholas Hartman, operations & film coordinator at the Wealthy Theatre, said the cinema presents old films to preserve them in the digital age. Simultaneously, Hartman said this is an effective tool in

their effort to cultivate a thriving film community in Grand Rapids.

“When we run older titles, it gives a new generation an opportunity to see why these films are so good, and it also provides an opportunity for an older generation to revisit a classic,” Hartman said. “It can be a new experience for one and the 10th time for someone else, yet it’s still a new experience because they’re sharing it together.”

One of these avid filmgoers, Hannah Scout Dunaway, a senior at GVSU majoring in film & video production, emphasized the communal aspect of watching movies in the theater. Dunaway said she visits the Wealthy Theatre every Tuesday to attend their screenings of older movies, which she said is a much better cinematic experience than rewatching the same movies at home.

“There is beauty in experiencing a piece of cinema with a crowd,” Dunaway said. “Could I have watched these movies at home for a second time? Absolutely. But the community element of film is part of what I love so much about the art form.”

CINEMA: Wealthy Theatre regularly screens retro films every Tuesday night, bringing cinephiles and culture enthusiasts together to watch old movies with a crowd. GVL | BETHANN LONG

GV Recreation and Wellness hosts adaptive intramural sports, increases accessibility for disabled students

BY SITLALI PADRON LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

Grand Valley State University’s Recreation and Wellness program offers several adaptive intramural sports programs where disabled students can enjoy team sports by playing various adaptive versions. The programs are open to all students who want to participate.

Recreation and Wellness will be holding various adaptive sport events throughout the winter semester. The range of sports includes wheelchair basketball, football, tennis and goalball. Mitch Eastlick, the assistant director of Recreation and Wellness at GVSU, said the program offers an opportunity to engage the entire GVSU community.

“Inclusion is one of our core values we are trying to create. (We want to create) experiences that are accessible and adaptive and welcoming for everything. We thought this was one way we could do that,” Eastlick said.

The sports programs are a recent addition to Recreation and Wellness. The events began in the spring of 2023, and in the fall of 2023 the program had 35 participants. Eastlick said many ablebodied students participate in the events to learn how to use a wheelchair and gain perspective of what it’s like. They

emphasize that anyone can join the events and hope for it to be an environment full of excitement and learning for students.

Adaptive Sports Supervisors Olivia Driscoll and Samantha LaMantia hope to bring in more participants to the program and make it more wellknown within the GVSU community.

“For me, these events mean that we are making a difference,” LaMantia said. “Seeing these events happen and having people get excited to come and grow our program makes me feel excited about the future for adaptive sports at GV. I feel really passionate about being inclusive to everyone, and this does that, in a small way.”

A popular adaptive sport they host is goalball, which is a game designed specifically for athletes with visual impairments. The main objective of the game is to throw a ball, using a motion similar to a bowling throw, into the opponent’s net. At the same time, the opposing team’s players try to block the ball with their bodies. Adaptive sports partnered with the Michigan Blind Athletic Association for one of their goalball events.

Eastlick said having adaptive sports at GVSU helps to enhance and expand learning experiences.

“Our whole idea is that this is an educational institution, so there’s education in anything that you’re going

to get,” Eastlick said. “You’re going to get communication by participating in an event like intramural sports, specifically, our adaptive sports.”

Eastlick said the adaptive sports events have helped him gain a new perspective on how sports can be made accessible for everyone.

“For me, I get a whole different perspective on how it is to be able to (play adaptive sports). There is a way you can do this and there are rules set up so that it’s no different than basketball. There are

ways that you can adapt to any of these sports,” Eastlick said.

Eastlick also hopes to expand adaptive sports to a new level by making it a division sport and not just an intramural sport. For now, adaptive sports are still in the beginning phase.

“Looking back, we were hopeful that we could bring some excitement and fun towards members of our community through something that not a lot of people get the chance to participate in,” LaMantia said.

TEAMWORK: During the adaptive intramural sports events, students are encouraged to work together with their new teammates to create a str ong sense of community. COURTESY | GVSU

PLAY: RecWell offered students a variety of sports to try during the event. COURTESY | GVSU

FEB. 12

Beekeeper club promotes sustainability and awareness

BY ANNE DAVEY LANTHORNEDITORAL@GVSU.EDU

The Beekeepers club at Grand Valley State University strives to protect the local honeybee population and educate people about honeybees. Collaborating with the Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP), the group is able to harvest honey through hands-on experiences at the SAP facilities’ hives.

Sustainability and bee awareness are two focal points for the group, and the club strives to make opportunities for students to make a difference attainable on campus and in the local area.

“The purpose of the Beekeepers club is to spread awareness of the importance of pollinators while supporting Grand Valley’s honeybee population,” said Vivian Gaskin, Beekeepers club president.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, honeybees pollinate over $15 billion in crops, spanning across 130 different types of produce annually. With their endangered status, it is important to the club that they spread awareness about how to be conscious of the bees’ contribution to the ecosystem.

“Pollinators help to support healthy ecosystems,” Gaskin said. “We promote

pollinator-friendly practices such as planting native gardens and limiting use of pesticides.”

The club bottles honey from the hives they maintain and makes lip balm to raise money and awareness for their cause. One of Gaskin’s favorite events has been bottling honey for sale. Gaskin said she finds satisfaction in seeing how many bottles the club is able to produce.

“I find this work to be important because it shows students that making a positive impact on their local environment doesn’t have to be complicated,” Gaskin said. “By bringing our products to campus, we are increasing awareness of the Sustainable Agriculture Project and getting more people interested in sustainability.”

With the money they make from sales, the club makes an effort to help give back to the bees.

“Sales from the honey and lip balm go back into caring for the hives, which in turn benefits our local ecosystem,” Gaskin said.

Students who are not interested in being hands-on with the bees have other opportunities to be involved through educational and promotional aspects. Students who do want to be hands-on go through many precautionary measures when caring for the bees such as wearing protective suits and using a bee smoker to keep the bees calm.

“There are certain things we have to do to avoid upsetting the bees, but the chances of being stung are very low,” Gaskin said.

Holding bee-related events can be more difficult in the winter months, so instead the club meets and hosts different educational programs. One of these programs includes examining bee specimens under microscopes.

In the warmer weather months, the club has more opportunities to visit the hives and harvest honey.  They also do club hikes and hammocking to accommodate those who do not wish to be as hands-on. Gaskin said the club is working to coordinate events for this spring.

“This spring, we are looking forward to making seed bombs,

revisiting the hives and having some pop-up markets,” Gaskin said.

Gaskin had no previous experience of working with bees until an internship at the SAP, where she had the opportunity to do so and became fascinated. Shortly after, she got involved with the club. She was inspired to take on a leadership role after seeing the club’s mission and growth.

“I loved seeing the growth in members last year and (I) had a lot of new ideas that I wanted to bring to the club as it continues to grow,” Gaskin said. “I find my work as the leader of the club to be very fulfilling. It allows me the freedom to be creative and make a positive impact on the community.”

GVL | ARCHIVE

COURTESY GVSU BEEKEEPERS

COURTESY GVSU BEEKEEPERS

COURTESY | GVSU BEEKEEPERS

Filming outer space from partially underwater: a GV film student’s final thesis journey

BY SARA BAGLEY LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

Grand Valley State University film and video production majors have the option to create short films of up to 12 minutes as their senior thesis project. In student Tanner Hamilton’s case, this was an opportunity for him to bring life to a project he’d been thinking about for years- “Proteus.”

Hamilton aimed to create a film that suspends reality by turning a real submarine into a futuristic spaceship. During the filming process, Hamilton and his crew worked to overcome the confines of the setting to bring Hamilton’s creative vision to life.

Hamilton said “Proteus” is a sort of homage to his inspirations.

“It’s about two stranded astronauts who descend into paranoia and madness after a mysterious deep space accident,” Hamilton said. “I’m a huge fan of science fiction, horror and action (and) any kind of otherworldly genre. For my senior thesis project, I just wanted to make a tribute to the kind of movies that made me want to be a filmmaker.”

Hamilton’s first challenge, of course, was to find a spaceship. Or, at least, the closest thing he could, which ended up being the USS Silversides Gato-class submarine. The submarine is the featured exhibit at the USS Silverside Submarine Museum in Muskegon, Michigan.

The submarine sits half-submerged in the Muskegon Channel and is open for public tours through the museum. Hamilton had been tossing around the idea of using the submarine in a project for years after a childhood visit to the museum, but the opportunity had never come about.

“When I was much younger, I was in Cub Scouts and we did an overnight campout on the submarine, and it’s always been in the back of my head like, ‘Wow, that was a really cool place, I’d love to make a movie there some time,’” Hamilton said.

There were many challenges to film in this location: shooting video in a tight, enclosed space, transporting equipment down the submarine’s ladders and overnight shoots. Since the museum was open for its regular hours, Hamilton and his crew had to resort to filming in the space at night.

“Every set has its own challenges, and it’s a unique kind of problemsolving thing. You always have to figure out how to make things work,” Hamilton said. “This is definitely the most ambitious project I’ve ever done. I’ve been on a lot of interesting sets, but I haven’t done a ton of things at this scale (with) my own projects, so it was really a new experience.”

Michael Modugno, another senior in the Film and Video program and one of the student sound operators on the project, said the late-night shoots were difficult.

“I’ve done late night shoots before, but this was my first official overnight shoot, which was really grueling the first day because I had a long day of classes leading into the shoot and ended up staying awake over 24 hours,” Modugno said. “On the second day, because I had just woken up, we were in the submarine (so there wasn’t daylight) and I would forget the time. 3 a.m. felt like 3 p.m.”

Despite the filming challenges, crew members who were involved with “Proteus” created a comfortable environment throughout the process.

“We had those fun buzzwords of, ‘we’re shooting in a submarine,’ and ‘it’s an alien movie,’ so everybody was very excited about the idea. People were kind of willing to put up with some worse conditions than they might’ve if it took place in an apartment or something,” Hamilton said. “The crew we had really is what made (the project special). Everybody was so kind and had such positive energy, and really gave it their all with making it the best that it (the shoot) could be. I’m very happy that I got to work with everybody there.”

Similarly, Modugno took the obstacles associated with the project as a chance to grow.

“The submarine definitely forced me to adapt. Working in that confined space and maneuvering with the boom pole, making sure not to bump anything. I had to do a lot of problem-

solving and figure out how I was going to squeeze myself in the space without interfering with the scene, while also getting optimal sound,” Modugno said. “But the submarine was super convenient for sound because it was soundproof, so there could be some noise in the next room over and we wouldn’t hear it.”

On top of that, Modugno was given the chance to practice a new skill, timecode, a tool that works with syncing cameras and audio files. Much like Modugno, Hamilton said working on the project was a major source of growth. He said the project pushed him beyond his normal role of working behind the camera to wearing the hats of writer, director, producer, director of photography and editor.

Beyond the production of the film, Hamilton aims to increase the audience of the work by branching out into communities outside of GVSU.

“We’re hoping to submit to more film festivals in Michigan so more people can see it around the state,” Hamilton said. “That will also help with networking with other filmmakers.”

The “Proteus” crew and other senior thesis film crews are preparing for the Spring Showcase in April. Hamilton and other budding filmmakers in the program look forward to seeing their work showcased on the big screen and premiering their hard work for peers and mentors.

VIDEOGRAPHY: The cast and crew of the film “Proteus” COURTESY | TANNER HAMILTON

SETTING: The crew rigged lights inside of the submarine. COURTESY | TANNER HAMILTON

APRIL 15, 2024

APRIL 8

Country music returns to GV’s Spring Concert stage

BY NATALIE BROOKS LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

Country music artists fill the spring concert lineup docket at Grand Valley State University for the first time in eight years.

The Fieldhouse Arena, located on Grand Valley State University’s Allendale campus, welcomed four artists on Saturday, April 6 for the University’s annual spring concert.

The show started with a performance by GVSU student and American Idol contestant Reette Thorns, moved into a set from Julia Cole who was followed by a performance by Mason Ramsey, (also known as the viral “Walmart yodeling kid”), and finally the main act, country star Lauren Alaina.

This group of singers represent the first country act to perform for the GV spring concerts since the pop/country duet Dan + Shay and openers Joel Crouse and Ryan Kinder performed in 2016. The Campus Activities Board (CAB) within the Office of Student Life at GVSU plans, organizes and puts together the entire show.

Reette Thorns won GVSU’s 2024 GV’s Got Talent, providing her with the opportunity to open for the spring concert. Thorns was featured on American Idol season 21 in March of 2023.

The crowd welcomed Thorns to the stage with lots of cheering, something that continued throughout the rest of the evening. Her first song was an original song she wrote for her mother, a woman who battles addiction. Emotions rose amidst encouragement from the crowd, which would continue for the rest of night. Thorns moved on to a cover of Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb.” Flashlights waved in the air and

students sang along with every word.

Julia Cole is a rising country star garnering the title of being a CMT Next Women of Country. She has had songs go viral on social media and uses her platform to help individuals find community and shared experience. Cole released her album “Country Sugar” in July of 2023, and recently released her EP “Life After You” on April 5, 2024.

Cole started performance set interacting with the crowd, setting the tone for the rest of her set. “What’s up Grand Valley? Y’all ready to party tonight?” Cole said as she entered the stage.

Cole’s set was met with wooing and cheering, and many students sang along with her as she covered Luke Combs’ song “Beer Never Broke My Heart.” Students continued to stream into the fieldhouse as she sang, the crowd growing in population and noise.

GVSU student and concert attendee

Anna Wiegand said one of her favorite moments of the night was “when Julia Cole sang ‘Best Worst Ex Ever.’”

Mason Ramsey’s road to fame began in March of 2018 when he went viral for singing “Lovesick Blues” by Hank Williams in an Illinois Walmart. He dropped his “Famous” EP in 2018, with the title track going viral. Ramsey’s song “Twang,” off of his 2019 album “Twang,” brought him even more attention.

Ramsey was a clear fan favorite. Throughout Ramsey’s entire set the crowd went wild, starting from the moment he entered the stage. People were dancing and singing along throughout his entire set, namely when he sang his songs “Before I Knew It”, “Famous”, and “Twang.” He received outstanding cheers

from the crowd for his rendition of Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds.” Ramsey even made an appearance at the merch stand following his set to take pictures and sign autographs for students and fans.

GVSU senior Elyse Karasinski said, “meeting Mason Ramsey impromptu” was her favorite moment from the show. “I didn’t know that was going to happen,” Karasinski said.

The main act, Georgia’s own Lauren Alaina, released her first studio album “Wildflower” in 2011. Just like Thorns, Alaina was featured on American Idol. Alaina placed runner-up on American Idol’s tenth season. The title track from Alaina’s 2017 album, “Road Less Traveled,” was her first number one song on the country charts. The singer has opened for country stars such as Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan and collaborated on songs with the likes of HARDY and Kane Brown.

Alaina’s set filled the crowd with energy. Students were singing and dancing along with her. At one point, she borrowed someone’s HARDY hat for a song, further interacting with the crowd.

She performed some crowd favorites like Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls” and Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.’” Her rendition of her song “One Beer” with HARDY and Devin Dawson received a lot of attention for students and attendees.

Several students felt the choice of genre and singers for this year’s spring concert was shocking. Social media polls done by the Campus Activities Board as well as The Lanthorn revealed that most people in the campus community were not planning on attending.

Obtained under a Freedom of Information Act request (FOIA), the general spring concert budget

from the Office of Student Life this year was projected to cost $92,000. This is $2,000 dollars more than the previous two years’ concert budgets for overall expenses.

However, the “artist fee” for last year’s spring concert headliner, rap artist T-Pain, was drastically higher than the amount allocated for this years’ spring concert. CAB paid $125,000 in artist fees for T-Pain’s spring concert in 2023. Lauren Alaina received $77,500 dollars in allocated artist fees, almost exactly the amount the University made in ticket sales from last year’s performance. 2022 concert headliner Yung Gravy received only $50,000 dollars allocated in artist fees.

This gap was due to CAB using reserve funds’ from the pandemic to pay for a larger artist to headline the concert.

“In 2023 CAB reserve funds unspent over the pandemic provided the opportunity to support a bigger name artist but this was atypical due to normal budget limitations,” according to The Lanthorn’s official FOIA results.

DK Security costs nearly doubled to $4,200 dollars and “Event Support” for set up and tear down costs rose from $330 dollars to $1,800 dollars, an increase over five times as much as the previous year. It is important to note general inflation impacting costs, as well as improvements made based on student feedback, like the additional LED screen broadcasting a live video stream to increase visibility for guests.

Of those who came to the show, some were pleasantly surprised and became new fans.

“She had a really good vibe. She really knows how to entertain a crowd,” said recent GVSU graduate Elizabeth Hovest. “I knew who she was, I just didn’t actively listen to her music so I know her big hits. But I’m very impressed. She was really nice.”

SINGER: Country artist Lauren Alaina was the star of the concert. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER

STAR: The opener Mason Ramsey was a favorite of the crowds. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER

Shattering glass and hearts: GV men’s DI club hockey wins two thrillers over Toledo

BY GRIFFIN MISSANT LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

The Grand Valley State University men’s Division I club hockey team won two heavy-hitting and nail-biting games versus the University of Toledo Rockets. The first matchup was a 4-3 win at home for GVSU, then a second win in an OT thriller at Toledo 4-3.

In a home game at Griff’s Georgetown Ice Arena on Friday, Feb. 2, GVSU came out very aggressive and it paid off. Early on, the Lakers got a ton of great scoring opportunities and kept the puck on the Rockets’ end of the ice for much of the game.

GVSU scored two quick goals in the first 10 minutes of the first period, one from forward Carson Wood and another shortly after by forward Nick Sommerfield.

With about three minutes to go in the first, Toledo had a chance to get back in the game with a power play. GVSU was whistled for a high stick, the first penalty of the game on both sides, and the Lakers killed it with ease.

Shortly thereafter, GVSU captain Zach Borchardt was set up by Carson Korte for a missile of a one timer, making it three unanswered goals in the first period.

Lakers junior forward Braeden Fouchea emphasized the importance of scoring early in games, which has not been easy for the Lakers.

“We’ve had a tough time this year getting off to good starts,” Fouchea said. “A lot of games we didn’t get the first goal and we have to come back. (It) felt really good to get a good start.

After a relatively clean third period with just one penalty against GVSU, things got really chippy in the second period. Several violent collisions led to eight combined penalties between the two teams. Between a couple GVSU slashing penalties and a Laker

throwing an opponent’s stick, Toledo had plenty of opportunities to get back in the game, but failed to score on any of their four power play advantages.

As the second period progressed, Toledo was able to find multiple high quality scoring chances on the Lakers’ goaltender, Devin Naidow. To no avail, Naidow stopped every opportunity for the Rockets, including an open-ice breakaway. Then with just under 12 minutes left in the second period, GVSU forward and captain Shane Haggerty buried another goal, making it 4-0. The Lakers were dominating before heading into the second intermission.

After a slow start, Toledo came out and looked like an entirely different team in the third period, finishing on multiple scoring opportunities and owning the time of possession.

Toledo was finally able to get on the board with just under 15 minutes left to make it a 4-1 game, when just seven minutes later, they punched in another one. The score was now 4-2 with eight minutes to play in the game. The momentum had swung in the opposite direction and then four minutes later, the Rockets buried another goal to make it a one-score game.

GVSU then was helped by a power play with two minutes left, which helped to stave off the comeback and seal the dicey 4-3 win.

“We got the ‘W’ and we’re happy with that,” said Fouchea.

The second game of the matchups with the Rockets was a night game in Toledo, Ohio. There the Lakers found themselves playing from behind early, something Fouchea had mentioned was an issue for the team in other games.

Toledo carried over their strong finish to the previous night’s matchup, now on their home ice. Just two minutes into the game, GVSU was

whistled for a penalty. Toledo, who struggled to score on the power play the night before, capitalized on their first opportunity, making the score 1-0. However, GVSU remained aggressive and after some solid pressure they were able to get a goal of their own on a deflection to tie it up at 1-1.

GVSU defensive pressure remained a common factor the rest of the period leading to another goal off of a turnover, this time by forward Gage Thrall.

After taking a 2-1 lead to close out the first period, GVSU extended it to 3-1 after a goal by Haggerty just three minutes into the second.

Still, Toledo was able to answer GVSU’s three straight goals to make it a 3-2 game.

As displayed by the several penalties in both matchups, tempers flared on both sides. In fact, one collision was so hard that it even shattered the glass, causing the game to be delayed to make repairs.

After the delay, the scoring stalled

out until about nine minutes to go in the third period. Toledo tied the game at 3-3, ultimately sending it to overtime. After just two minutes of overtime, Sommerfield stole the puck in the Lakers’ own end and got a breakaway opportunity. He beat the Rockets’ goaltender between the legs for the win.

The Lakers’ head coach Matthew Sekosan was excited about the crucial win for better potential postseason seeding.

“We earned two league points with the OT win,” Sekosan said. “That helps us in pursuit of moving up the league standings.”

GVSU moves to 19-6-2 on the season and will play one of two games against Adrian College, first at home on Friday at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 8, they will travel to Adrian, Michigan for their final game of the regular season at 7:30 p.m. the following day-- the team’s Senior Night.

CLUB HOCKEY: The GVSU men’s DI club hockey team earned two hard-fought wins against Toledo, with a glass-shattering hit highlighting the physical play. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER

NARROW VICTORY: GVSU won both games by a score of 4-3. GVL | MACAYLA CRAMER

APRIL 15, 2024

MARCH 5

GV women’s basketball earns No. 1 seed in GLIAC Tournament, wins 3rd straight regular season title

BY DELANEY MILLER LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

The Grand Valley State University Lakers women’s basketball team (29-2, 17-1) won against the Northern Michigan University Wildcats (19-8, 13-) and the Michigan Technological University Huskies (15-11, 117), an eleventh straight victory for the team as they head into the tournament season.

The Lakers first faced the Wildcats on Thursday, Feb. 29, taking the victory 74-67 in an overtime battle, before facing the Huskies on Saturday, March 2 for a narrow 92-86 win.

With the win against the Wildcats, GVSU earned multiple accomplishments. The Lakers won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championship for the thirdconsecutive season. In the process, Lakers head coach Mike Williams became the winningest coach in GVSU women’s basketball history with 234 wins. Redshirt junior forward Rylie Bisballe also tallied her 1,000th career point in the

matchup with NMU.

Starting in the first quarter against the Wildcats, both teams came to play. GVSU scored the first basket of the game, with NMU following right behind, an early sign of a close matchup. At the end of the first the Wildcats had the advantage, leading GVSU 10-9.

Going into the second quarter, NMU took the first basket. GVSU then put up six-straight points to take the lead before NMU tied the score at 15-15 half way through the second. The Lakers and Wildcats were fighting to break the tie, but the Lakers finished the first half on top at 29-27.

After halftime, both teams continued to battle for the lead, trading runs in the third quarter. GVSU ended up pushing to an eight-point lead, heading into the fourth with a score of 46-38.

In the fourth quarter NMU came back to try and take the lead, using strong defense and offense to tie the game. The Wildcats scored 20 points to the Lakers 12 points. NMU scored on a 3-pointer in the last four seconds of the game by senior guard Makaylee Kuhn to

tie the score at 58-58 and push the game to overtime.

“We knew we needed to be a little tougher (going into overtime) and be relentless and do whatever we could to help each other get the win,” Bisballe said.

Half way through overtime the Lakers went on a six-point run, before icing the game in the last 18 seconds of OT with four made free throws. GVSU came out on top 6457 in a hard-fought victory.

“The level of intensity was at another level and it always is against Northern Michigan,” Williams said. “We didn’t feel that we lost momentum going into overtime. We felt that we were in a pretty good spot.”

Following the win against the Wildcats, the Lakers took on the Michigan Tech Huskies two days later.

The first quarter was a defensive slugfest. With GVSU holding an 8-5 lead at its conclusion, junior guard Abrie Cabana had scored four of the Lakers’ eight points.

The second quarter was a little bit higher scoring, yet still evenly matched. The Lakers went into the break up 22-17, clinging to their

advantage in a low scoring game.

Coming out of halftime both teams continued to battle, but GVSU began to take control.

Starting off the third quarter, MTU had scored two quick baskets before the Lakers responded with a seven-point run. GVSU finished the third quarter up 43-30, nearly matching their first-half output with 21 points in one quarter.

The Huskies outscored the Lakers 16 to 14 in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough for MTU to come out on top. GVSU maintained and won 57-46.

Following these two wins against two competitors in Michigan’s upper peninsula, the Lakers will host a matchup with Purdue University Northwest in the GLIAC Tournament Quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 6 at 6 p.m. in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.

Having won the regular season title, GVSU owns the highest seed in the GLIAC Tournament. If they continue to win they will host every game of the tournament that they play in. The semifinals will take place on Saturday, followed by the championship game on Sunday.

GV softball drops game one of DH, wins game two at Ferris State

BY DREW BURLINGAME LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

The Grand Valley State University Laker Softball (20-7, 3-1) team split their afternoon doubleheader against Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) rival Ferris State University Bulldogs (14-17, 2-4) as both games ended with a narrow 2-1 final score.

GVSU won one game of a doubleheader with the Lewis University Flyers 8-5 and lost the second game 2-1 on Wednesday, March 27. Following those games, the Lakers and head coach Dana Callihan hoped for two complete victories on Friday, March 29.

Callihan said that after Wednesday’s game against Lewis, the Lakers focused on “adjusting to what the pitchers are throwing so we can start executing better and getting some more runs on the board.”

Game one was a pitching duel from the get go. Lakers freshman pitcher Kylie Swierkos got the start in the circle  and did not allow a hit in the first two innings of play. She was matched by Bulldogs junior pitcher Aryn Gallacher, who was just as dominant.

After two empty innings, Ferris State got the scoring going in the

third, scoring the first run of the game on an error by the Lakers to take a 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs went up 2-0 later in the inning off of an RBI single to center field.

It took until the sixth inning for the Lakers to plate a run, where sophomore right fielder Jenna Ballard knocked a two-out single to left field to drive in senior outfielder Hannah Hollister to pull the Lakers within one.

Swierkos pitched a one, two, three bottom of the sixth, giving the Lakers a chance to even the score up in the top of the seventh. After a one-out Liberti Fair single in the seventh, the Lakers could not string any scoring together, losing the first matchup of the doubleheader 2-1.

After struggling in game one, GVSU junior shortstop Morgan Spicer knew that both her and her team needed to stay focused going into the second matchup.

“We have to keep a short term memory, wiping the slate clean and stay positive,” Spicer said. “Even though we struggled, knowing we can go in there and attack the next pitches in front of us and being confident (is important).”

Doing just that, Spicer and the Lakers strung some hits together in the fourth inning when she hit a twoout single to right. Flair followed that up with a monster double to left

center, driving in Spicer who scored standing up from first base.

Lakers’ starting pitcher for game two, senior Genesis Eggart, battled in the bottom half of the inning as the Bulldogs loaded the bases with oneout. Eggart pitched her way out of the jam, keeping the Lakers up by one.

In the fifth inning the Lakers bats stayed hot. Hollister laid down a bunt with one out and beat the throw to first base. The next batter, senior third baseman Megan Koeningshof, singled to advance Hollister. This was followed by a Ballard infield single that loaded the bases. But, like the Bulldogs, the Lakers left the bases loaded and failed to capitalize.

This opened the door for Ferris State to even things up in the bottom of the sixth. There, a Bulldogs’ single scored an unearned run that tied the game 1-1.

Neither team scored in the seventh as Eggart retired all three of the Bulldogs’ hitters in order to send the game to extra innings.

Spicer got her third hit of the game in the top of the eighth. She launched a lead off triple to right field to get into scoring position with no outs. She was driven home two batters later when sophomore second baseman MaryJane Goodman singled up the middle to give the Lakers a 2-1 lead.

Eggart, who dominated all

afternoon, came back out in the bottom of the eighth to close out the Bulldogs. This secured a 2-1 Lakers win. She threw 127 pitches in the outing.

After a dominant performance from Eggart, Spicer said the team needs to do a better job at giving their pitchers run support.

“Our pitchers have played phenomenal and it was nice to give them that back up in the second game,” Spicer said. “I think moving forward we have to do a better job of getting things moving in the entire lineup to give them better backup out there.”

Callihan said she was happy the Lakers pulled out game two, but she agrees the Lakers need to play better if they want to accomplish their season goals.

“We left the door open for them today, we have to learn how to finish these types of games,” Callihan said. “We just have to put all the pieces together and we didn’t do that to the level that we needed to today to win both. But we will keep working on it”.

The Lakers will play their 2024 home opener on Thursday, April 2 against Hillsdale College with first pitch of the doubleheader scheduled for 3 p.m. at the GVSU Softball Field in Allendale, Michigan.

RIVALRY: GVSU softball split a rainy, rivalry doubleheader against the Ferris State University Bulldogs. Dominant pitching resulted

MARCH 19

GV’s Josh Kenny wins wrestling National Championship in program’s first season since 1992

BY BRADY KEMMERLING LANTHORNEDITORIAL@GVSU.EDU

In their inaugural season, the No. 13 ranked Grand Valley State University men’s wrestling team (137) sent four wrestlers to compete in the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championships in Wichita, Kansas, as redshirt sophomore Josh Kenny won the National Championship for the 174-pound weight class.

The tournament was played on March 15 and 16, where Kenny, sophomore Chris Donathan, redshirt sophomore Wyatt Miller, and senior Seth Konynenbelt competed against the best wrestlers in the country for a national title. To qualify for the event, each wrestler placed top three in their weight class at the regional tournament on March 2 at West Liberty University in West Virginia.

The first wrestler to compete for the Lakers was the No. 3 seeded Donathan in the 149-pound class. Ranked third heading into the tournament, Donathan took on Devan Moore from Newberry College in the first round. Donathan battled for a close win by decision. For his second match, Donathan faced No. 6 seed Dylan Brown from the University of Central Oklahoma. Donathan scored first with a takedown, but a late turnaround by Brown led to Donathan’s second loss of the season.

However, this loss did not knock Donathan out of the tournament yet, as wrestlers are put in the “Wrestleback Bracket” after their first loss. Next for Donathan, he faced Dean Noble from Western Colorado University. Although another lowscoring match ensued, Donathan ultimately fell to Noble with a score of 9-3. Finishing the season with a 25-3 record, Donathan had lost just one game heading into the NCAA Championship Tournament.

The next Laker to compete was No. 4 seed Josh Kenny in the 174-pound class. He began his run with a win by major decision over Johnathan Parrilla from Millersville University. Kenny followed this win with a lengthy overtime match against Matt Ortiz from McKendree University. In this low-scoring match, Kenny came out on top with a late takedown, advancing him to the semifinals.

Closing in on the title round, Kenny said he focuses on himself and his mindset before each match.

“Winning was of course the biggest thing, but to do so, I just have to have fun,” Kenny said. “I choose to go into

each match without hate, but instead I trust in myself and just try and dominate. I wrestle because I love to do so and for no other reason.”

Kenny would next claim a 17-2 win by technical fall against eighthseeded Brody Hemauer from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. This win advanced Kenny to the final round. Kenny, a native of Grandville, Michigan, was the first Lakers to do so since 1988.

In the title match, Kenny faced Anthony Des Vigne, the second wrestler that a GVSU player faced from UCO. The first period would end up scoreless, with both wrestlers putting everything they had left into this match. Kenny went on to score four points early into the second period that put him narrowly ahead. As the second period was closing out, Kenny pinned Des Vigne to win the NCAA DII National Championship.

Kenny ended the season with a 32-5 record, as well as earning All-American honors on top of winning the national title in the 174-pound class.

After reaching the pinnacle of success, Kenny said he aims to continue to have high goals going forward.

“I definitely want to make it back next year, but I mainly want to focus on helping others,” Kenny said. “I have hit my biggest goal, so it is now my responsibility to try and help others hit their goals, and hopefully that is them winning a title. We are a team first and I will always put myself second to that.”

Kenny became GVSU’s first wrestler since 1988 to become a National Champion, when 118-pound Roger Singleton did so. The GVSU wrestling program, which had been disbanded in 1992, added another National Championship under their belt in its first season returning.

Still, two more Lakers were yet to compete for a title of their own. The unseeded Konyenbelt was up next for GVSU, representing the 184-pound class. He began his portion of the tournament against Cole Casilio from Gannon University. After a tough few minutes, Konynenbelt fell to Casilio, bumping him into the Wrestleback Bracket. He then took on No. 6 seed Bryce Fitzpatrick from St. Cloud State University for his second match. With another slow start, Konyenbelt also fell to Fitzpatrick, knocking him out of the tournament.

As the only senior on the roster for the Lakers, Konyenbelt wrapped up his career with a 27-16 record on the season.

The final wrestler representing GVSU was the 197-pound Wyatt

Miller. In his first match, he faced No. 5 seed Dakota Rodgers from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, where he lost 4-3 in a low-scoring battle.

Being bumped down to the Wrestleback Bracket, Miller first wrestled against No. 4 seed Caden Steffon from Southwest Minnesota State University to stay. Miller quickly scored three points on Steffon and held this small lead until the end of the third period, where Miller pulled away for the win.

No. 6 seed Tereus Henry from Fort Hays State University was up next, where a late overtime takedown gave Miller another victory. Following back-to-back wins, Miller’s next opponent was Max Ramberg from Augustana University. However, Ramberg quickly outwrestled Miller into a loss by major decision.

Miller, who finished in eighth place with a final record of 31-8, was also awarded as an All-American.

With four GVSU wrestlers competing in the tournament, head coach Joey Simcoe decided to bring along a few of the other members of the team who he thinks may also soon be competing for a national title.

“We had a few of the guys travel down to watch us at nationals and it was a great experience for them to see what it is like to compete on the biggest stage,” Simcoe said. “My goal is to make sure that everyone is ready for nationals once they make it, regardless of if they had been there before or not. We are going to keep our high standards and guarantee that we will be prepared for any match.”

With their first full season of competition behind them, Simcoe looks forward to what this squad has to offer down the road.

“Nothing can describe how proud I am of these guys,” Simcoe said. “It was by far the most fun ride from start to finish. Once we began growing not as a team, but as a family, that was when we really started to see our best wrestling.”

CHAMPION: GV finished ranked in the top 15 in return year. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS