On Saturday, March 15, Grand Valley State University’s Indian Association celebrated Holi with an evening of music, dance and rejuvenation. The free event, which was supported by the Asian Student Appreciation Program (ASAP) and the Kaufman Interfaith Institute, was open to all

students and their families, and encouraged participants to increase their awareness of the traditional festival.

Holi, which has roots in Indian culture, was first mentioned in historical texts that date as far back as the seventh century. The holiday primarily signifies the end of winter and the beginning of the spring season, which has associations with renewal and the end of conflict. Joy and love are the central themes of this celebration. Another important aspect of Holi is the idea of play. Colored water and powder are thrown by those who engage in the holiday, which puts a focus on happiness within the community. Holi is a time of carefree togetherness.

Read more of Christina Bilko’s coverage of the GVSU Holi celebration here.

GV Camp Kesem chapter supports families with cancer

Kesem is an organization that aims to provide support for over 9,000 children age six-18 that have parents diagnosed with cancer. Through their primary service, Camp Kesem, counselors and campers take part in a summertime experience that gives children the tools they need to successfully navigate difficult times. Grand Valley State University’s chapter of Camp Kesem fundraises, provides resources to families and hosts a camp for children living in the Grand Rapids area.

Camp Kesem provides a summer camp experience for children, and includes many classic activities, such as arts and crafts, archery, swimming and other games. The interpersonal and practical skills children learn during their time at camp help them both during and after the processing of their parents’ illnesses. However, it’s different from a traditional summer camp, as time is cultivated for campers and counselors to bond through nightly cabin chats. By centering mental health, counselors aim to support the children of cancer patients. The bonds that children form with each other through living and learning together expands Kesem’s community, which results in a continuous stream of relationships.

Read more of Christina Bilko’s club spotlight on Camp Kesem here.

Students traverse Global Language and Culture Festival

On Thursday, March 20, the Modern Languages and Literatures Department at Grand Valley State University held its annual Global Language and Culture

Festival. The event, which celebrates international diversity through music, food and educational booths, served as a chance for students and faculty to learn about global cultures and experiences that are available to them through the University’s Study Abroad program.

Students who attended the event had the opportunity to check in at the entrance, and were given a small “passport” booklet. As they visited different booths and learned about unique cultural elements, they were able to collect stamps. One way to earn a stamp, for example, was to say a tongue twister in Chinese. The festival’s cultural immersion experiences highlighted how international experiences can shape personal and professional growth, and leave lasting impressions for years to come.

Read more of Abbie Suarez’s coverage of the Global Language and Culture Festival here.

President’s Forum highlights evolving education, industry dynamics

Kristen Fox, the managing director of the Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF) addressed a packed Loosemore Auditorium during Grand Valley State University’s annual President’s Forum. On Tuesday, March 25, GVSU President Philomena Mantella introduced Fox and later joined her on stage for a wide-ranging dialogue about the future of higher education, partnerships with business and shifting workforce dynamics.

BHEF is a national nonprofit that unites corporate and higher education leaders to address skills gaps and workforce readiness. Fox’s presentation, which was grounded in national data and years of BHEF research, examined how colleges and universities can better serve students and regional economies by embedding real-world skills, building partnerships and embracing flexible, lifelong learning pathways.

Read more of Abbie Suarez’s coverage of the 2025 President’s Forum here.

Grand Valley State University Department of Music, Theatre and Dance students kicked off the semester with an end-of-summer outdoor performance in Grand Rapids. The Summer Dance Festival was hosted by Grand Rapids Ballet (GRB), giving West Michigan dancers the opportunity to showcase their talents to their local community.

“It was so nice to be around people who wanted to celebrate dance because that is what we all love,” said Eliana Weinert, a GVSU dance major who choreographed a number for the GVSU dance program to perform at the festival. “There was such a wide variety of who (was) performing, like hip-hop groups and ballet groups.”

GRB is Michigan’s only classical ballet company, and frequently collaborates with the local dance community. The Summer Dance Festival took place Aug. 23-24.

Read more about Lacie Hoffman’s coverage of the summertime festival here.

Grand Rapids Woodstock Fest supports family in Gaza

Woodstock Fest, a benefit concert held in Grand Rapids on Oct. 5, supported the ElMassry-Sahmound family’s survival in Gaza, as well as local artists and musicians. The festival, which was held at Heritage Hill, was co-organized by Grand Valley State University Professor James Champion, and is held annually in an effort to garner exposure and donations to specific causes.

This year, Woodstock Fest partnered with Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids, a political organization that organizes in the Grand Rapids area for the liberation of Palestine. Partnering with Woodstock allowed the organization to help raise donations for the ElMassry-Sahmound family, which is trying to escape devastation in Gaza and relocate to Egypt. The money sent to the family in need will be used for supplies including food, water and sanitary items until they are able to evacuate from Gaza.

The festival featured 14 local artists, including GVSU student Anthony Erlandson. Performers played a variety of musical genres including folk, hyper pop, punk and more.

Read more of Lacie Hoffman’s story on Woodstock Fest here.

GV improv group promises laughter for just two dollars

“Improv Type Stuff” was a fitting name for the monthly performance of Subject to Change, Grand Valley State University’s improv club. The show, which had an only two dollar cover charge, was held Friday, Nov. 8, at the Kirkhof Center.

Like many improv shows, Subject to Change decides on a variety of “games” that they will play during a show. The scenes that play out have certain rules or gimmicks that the group’s participants, and the audience, are expected to interact with. Beyond the game rules, everything is completely improvised and set up to invoke audience suggestions, participation and laughter.

“What goes into it is not what the games will look like, it’s what games we’re going to play,” said Jacob Jahshan, Subject to Change’s Promotions Officer. “Because it is still improv, we don’t know what the (audience) suggestions are going to be. That’s the fun of it.”

Read more of Lee Marentette’s coverage on the GVSU improv group here.

GV students get thrifty by shopping second hand

Thrifting is a more sustainable and affordable option for obtaining clothing pieces, which is why so many college students acquire their wardrobe second hand. Many Grand Valley State University students have found thrift shopping to be a fun way to put together outfits that aren’t cheaply made or associated with fast fashion apparel and accessories.

GVSU student Lauren Elias explained that she doesn’t buy clothing from high-end stores anymore due to the cost. Elias shops at the Goodwill Outlets in Grandville and Muskegon. These outlets are often called “the bins” because they feature large, blue bins filled with stacks of clothes that customers can peruse and purchase by the pound. While further away from GVSU than some local Goodwill locations, many students make the trek to the bins for better deals.

“I just can’t pay 20 bucks for a shirt that I could get for three or four dollars at Goodwill,” Elias said.

Read more of Sofia Ellis’ coverage on the thrifting habits of GVSU students here.

GV alumna performs in Academy Award-winning “Anora”

On Sunday, March 2, the Academy Awards took place in Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, and the feature film “Anora” swept the floor. The 2024 film, which showcased a forbidden romance between an escort from Brooklyn and a Russian oligarch, won five of the six awards it was nominated for, including Best Picture. Celebrating among the cast and crew as a supporting actress was Grand Valley State University alumna, Lindsey Normington.

Normington graduated from GVSU in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Theatre. She spent her time as a student involved in a number of campus theatre productions and projects. One of these programs was ReACT!, a peer education theatre group that provided support to sexual assault survivors and prevention programs at the University.

Read more of Jada Dobbins’ coverage on Normington’s Hollywood role here.

GV alumna’s film screening advocates for birth justice

On Thursday, March 20, Grand Valley State University’s Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies welcomed alumna Amanda Rostic back to campus for a showing of her documentary film “Delivering While Black.”

Through the screening, Rostic, who graduated from the University with a Master of Public Health degree, brought attention to racial disparities in maternal and infant birthing outcomes. Specifically, the film focuses on the inequalities Black women have faced within the healthcare system in Grand Rapids. The event ended with a group Q&A and panel discussion, where community members were able to engage in conversation with the film’s cast. The panel also included healthcare specialists, who shared their personal experiences within the healthcare and delivery system.

“I hope my film creates spaces where people from different backgrounds can come together and learn,” Rostic said. “I hope students and faculty feel encouraged and inspired to use their voices and influence to change the world around them in positive and meaningful ways.”

Read more about Jada Dobbins’ coverage of the film documentary here.

LGBT Faculty Association survey reveals deadnaming, pronoun disregard at GV

In their end-of-year newsletter, members of the LGBT Faculty and Staff Association (LGBT FSA) at Grand Valley State University reflected on LGBTQIA+ issues in the campus’ culture. A member survey illustrates trends in opinion regarding the University’s inclusivity, revealing persistent issues among faculty and staff with disregard of pronouns and identifiers. Several responses called out the University’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT) for lack of cooperation and communication, including denying LGBT FSA a mechanism for advocacy work.

LGBT FSA is an affinity group at the University that works to foster a safer and more inclusive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender faculty and staff members. The group analyses policies and practices at GVSU, and promotes programs that support LGBTQIA+ workers. 

Their newsletter included results of a survey that was sent out to LGBT FSA members, which allowed faculty and staff to express their successes and challenges of existing on campus. 52 members of the LGBT FSA responded to the survey, 80% of which advocated for a more inclusive and equitable campus climate. The results show a strong desire for more inclusivity among staff toward LGBTQIA+ individuals. Significant grievances expressed in the survey regarded faculty being “deadnamed,” using someone’s birth name rather than their preferred name, and the misuse or disregard of pronouns.

To read Max Bufkin’s full story about the FSA survey, click here.

Federal deportation threat prompts protest, anxiety in West Michigan

As part of his first day in office on Monday, Jan. 20, President Donald Trump signed 26 executive orders that reversed 78 bills from the Biden administration, declared energy and immigration emergencies, withdrew the U.S. from various alliances and attempted to end birthright citizenship, among various other actions.  For the Latinx community in Kent and Ottawa Counties, the president’s actions stirred upset and brought citizens to their feet in protest.

Trump halted immigration asylum until further notice, shutting down the CBP One app, which allowed immigrants to submit information and organize travel through customs and border control virtually, as well as canceling thousands of appointments and flights that were already scheduled for refugees. However, Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge. 

These orders have major implications for undocumented immigrants in the United States, as well as those seeking asylum from the persecution they may face in their home countries. The growing concerns spurred an active response from Kent and Ottawa County residents.

During Trump’s inauguration, more than 100 activists marched through Grand Rapids in protest of Trump’s immigration orders. The protest was organized by two local immigration advocacy groups, Movimiento Cosecha and GR Rapid Response. 

To read more about deportation concerns in West Michigan, click here.

Federal aid uncertainty strikes fear among GV community

On Monday, Jan. 27 President Donald Trump announced that all federal financial aid would be temporarily frozen, which sent students and federal aid-reliant organizations into an uproar. The executive order was then blocked by the U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan, temporarily pausing Trump’s effort to freeze funding. 

Trump’s push to freeze aid would mean that any program federally funded, excluding health insurance, social security and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, would not receive funding. Matthew Vaeth, the acting director of the government’s Office of Management and Budget, wrote in an official memo, “The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equality, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a water of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve” 

Despite the freeze being paused, Grand Valley State University did not waste any time ensuring students that, at the time, they would be unaffected by Trump’s action. An email, which was signed by the University’s Vice President of the Division of Enrollment Development & Educational Outreach, B. Donta Truss, stated GVSU was carefully monitoring actions from federal officials. The email also confirmed that Pell Grants and other federal student aid loans would not be impacted by any administrative order or memo.

To read more about federal aid concerns, click here.

Religious artwork causes controversy at GV

A painting displayed in the Russel H. Kirkhof Center has ignited controversy at Grand Valley State University due to its depiction of Christian religious figures. The piece, titled “Pétalos De Cambio” (“Petals of Change”), was created by Irlanda Beltran for her graphic design senior thesis exhibition, and bought by the University for $1,800. The controversial piece of artwork, which has caused a stir among students and state lawmakers, was taken down on Thursday, Feb. 6 for relocation.

One of three panels in the 8-by-10 foot installation depicts a gun pointing toward Our Lady of Guadalupe, a Catholic apparition of the Virgin Mary. According to the GVSU Art Gallery, the piece’s supposed intention is “to raise awareness around issues such as gender-based violence, mental health, gun control and homophobia,” especially in Mexico.

Christopher Knape, the assistant vice president of University Communications, gave some insight into the University’s decision to purchase and display Beltran’s piece.

“Our museum staff have conversations on every piece of artwork that comes into Grand Valley’s collection,” Knape said. “There is a collections committee that reviews every piece that comes into the collection, including student work.”

To read more about the removal of this painting, click here.

Federal guidelines cue GV leadership to shrink Title IX, DEI protections

In adherence to federal policy changes, Grand Valley State University’s People, Equity and Culture Division (PECD) released a new version of the University’s Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment and Misconduct (SLT 9.1) on Wednesday, Feb. 19. The new policy reverts the University’s Title IX protections back to a precedent set in 2020.

GVSU’s current policy grants more protections to those accused of sexual misconduct, minimizes LGBTQ+ protections and is in line with a federal ruling that deemed the requirement of identity-affirming behavior to be a violation of free speech.

During President Donald Trump’s first administration, former Secretary of Education and West Michigan native Betsy Devos made revisions to Title IX federal law that were seen as controversial. Devos expanded protections for students accused of sexual misconduct in efforts of “ensuring a fair grievance process.” The revisions minimized definitions of sexual misconduct and required cross-examination of the accuser for statements in a case to be considered. 

The University’s policies have continually aligned with each presidential administrations’ Title IX changes. Under former President Joe Biden, the University’s 2022 policy included “unwelcome conduct based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or pregnancy” within definitions of misconduct. Those specific definitions remain largely intact in the current policy but are now subject to change.

To read more about changes to University policy, click here.

GV community members push back against anti-trans speaker

On Thursday, March 13, Grand Valley State University’s chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) hosted a speaking event featuring Chloe Cole, a political activist who opposes gender-affirming care.

The event, which was titled “Exposing the Trans-Agenda: A Talk With a Detransitioner,” was held at the Russel H. Kirkhof Center. The speaking event’s title and guest garnered outrage from many University students, especially those who identify as transgender. Several counter-demonstrations were held on campus, and attended by students and community members in order to show support for the transgender community.

The University’s TPUSA chapter claimed on Instagram that the event was not an attack on the transgender community, and that their actions were protected under the First Amendment. GVPD officers were present at the talk, as TPUSA requested security. Photographers, including Lanthorn staff, were barred from entering the event.

The talk outlined the views of both Cole and TPUSA, which are that transgender people pose a threat to femininity, the government and children. During the talk’s Q&A section, Cole expressed opposition to gender-affirming care for all transgender individuals, including adults, and described being transgender as a “choice.” Several students who were in attendance felt Cole’s evidence was primarily based on personal anecdotes, and not factual information. 

To read more about this event and the response, click here.

Federal investigation launched into GV scholarships

On Friday, March 14, the U.S. Department of Education announced it is launching investigations into 52 universities as part of a large-scale initiative targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. Grand Valley State University was listed as one of seven schools being investigated specifically for “alleged impermissible race-based scholarships and race-based segregation.” The University received notice from the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) regarding the investigation.

The investigation into GVSU is in response to a federal complaint filed in January by the Equal Protection Project (EPP), which alleged that 11 University scholarships for BIPOC students violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. 

GVSU President Philomena Mantella released a statement on Friday in response to the investigation.

“Our legal team is currently reviewing this communication from OCR and gathering information to inform the university’s response and next steps,” Mantella said. “GVSU will continue to lean into its values while maintaining compliance with the law.”

To read more about the federal investigation, click here. 

Reports: Ottawa commissioner concealed firearm at GV, despite policy

An Ottawa County commissioner brought a concealed firearm onto Grand Valley State University’s Allendale campus earlier this month. Although administration and staff were notified quickly, the University’s response time to the incident is questionable, despite a firm policy that prohibits such behavior.

Commissioner Joe Moss was one of many community members who traveled to GVSU on Thursday, March 13, to hear a speech given by Chloe Cole, an anti-trans activist. During the time Moss was on campus for the event, which was held by the GVSU chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), multiple complaints were made to University administration and the campus police department stating that Moss was carrying a concealed firearm, which violates the University’s Weapons Policy. 

Those who reported Moss to GVPD said the University did not act quickly enough, nor appropriately, in addressing the policy violation. Although University leadership, including public safety officials, claim immediate action was taken, Moss remained on university property for over half an hour before he was told by a GVSU official to leave campus. 

The incident raises questions about how GVPD procedure is set up to respond to reports of weapons on campus, even if they aren’t active threats.

To read more about this incident, click here.

Students react to CAB Spring Concert cancellation

On Thursday, March 27, Grand Valley State University’s Campus Activities Board (CAB) announced on Instagram that the annual spring concert, which was set to take place in April, is canceled.

The concert is a favorite tradition of many GVSU students, as it first began in 2009 and has been a highly-anticipated event ever since. The post, which reads as follows, expresses CAB’s apologies and disappointment in the event’s unfortunate turn, and highlights efforts made to book artists despite implied multiple rejections.

“After careful consideration, we regret to announce the difficult decision to cancel the 2025 Spring Concert,” the statement declared. “We are sorry, and we acknowledge the disappointment that students may experience with this decision. We’re feeling it too. Multiple offers to a variety of artists were made, and despite our efforts, none of them were accepted. It is also important to note that while the Campus Activities Board is a student-led programming body within the Office of Student Life, there are times that decisions like these are made outside of students’ control.”

To read more about the Spring Concert cancellation, click here. 

Jackson, Vanlerberghe set to lead Student Senate

Grand Valley State University’s Student Senate announced the results of their recent election on Friday, March 28. Evan Jackson and Ty Vanlerberghe were elected to serve as the next president and vice president. 20 at-Large senators were also elected, along with 19 college-specific senators. 

Prior to being elected president, Jackson joined the senate at the end of his second year at GVSU and has held the chief of staff position. Vice President-elect Vanlerberghe joined as a freshman and has served as both a general senator and public relations chair. As they prepare to step into their newly elected positions, they hope the student body sees their love and commitment for the University.

“As soon as we got the email with the official election results, we called each other as fast as we could to celebrate,” Vanlerberghe said. “The feeling was indescribable, knowing that all of our hard work had paid off and that we (have) the opportunity to lead the organization we love.”

To read more about Jackson and Vanlerberghe’s election, click here.

Homeland Security revoked two international student visas, GV says

On Monday, Grand Valley State University announced that two international students had their visas revoked by the federal government. According to the Division of People, Equity and Culture, University staff members discovered the revocation when reviewing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reports. GVSU says they were not informed of the decision prior to their own review.

“That review was prompted by media reports about visas being revoked for students at other universities around the country,” said the announcement. “GVSU has not been contacted by DHS about the reasons for the visa revocations.”

 To read more about student visa revocation, click here.

Air pollution reached an all-time high for the city of Grand Rapids over the summer of 2023. Reaching a peak point in late June, the city held the worst air quality in the United States. Visible smog and haze blanketed the entire state for multiple days, caused by chronic pollution issues and the rampant wildfires in Northern Michigan and Canada.

One particular wildfire, near Staley Lake, Michigan, began as an unconfined campfire that burned over 2,400 acres of land. The smoke from this and Canada’s wildfires made their way across the Great Lakes to settle in the air. The wildfires created a perfect storm of hot temperatures, low precipitation, dirt and dust that coalesced into a remarkably poor season for air quality. Many experts in the scientific community feel the uptick in negative natural phenomena has a direct correlation to the effects of years of climate change.

According to Elena Lioubimtseva, a Professor of Geography and Sustainable Planning at Grand Valley State University, extreme wildfires and record-breaking air pollution are just the beginning of what could be the future effects of climate change. Acute causes in air quality change can be attributed to the wildfires, though the greater sum of these forest fires can be followed back to man-made causes.

To read more of Joseph Poulos’ story about record-low air quality in Grand Rapids, click here. 

Campus housing overflow causes crowding, conflict

With more than 7,000 incoming students and even more returning students coming to Grand Valley State University this fall, Housing and Residence Life is facing new on-campus housing challenges.

GVSU’s residence halls are over capacity. The influx of students signed to campus living contracts caused GVSU’s Housing and Residence Life to make adjustments to existing housing structures to increase room occupancy. This meant putting students in make-shift rooms in converted halls and lounges and housing more than 100 students in off-campus apartments leased by the university. How the university has addressed and managed the issues related to overcrowding has created new challenges for life on campus.

Residents who were either willing or required to live on campus are feeling the effects of the increased student population.

To read more of Elizabeth Schanz and Emma Armijo’s coverage of overcrowding in campus housing, click here. 

Ottawa County budget meeting ends with slashed funds, legal uncertainty

After weeks of deliberation, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners reached a decision about the budget for the Ottawa County Department of Health for the upcoming fiscal year. While the meeting was happening, the Chair Commissioner Joe Moss electronically served Health Officer

Adeline Hambley’s legal team notification of his filing for her removal.

During the seven-hour session that lasted until nearly 1 a.m. on Sept. 27, county representatives spent over two hours listening to residents’ opinions on the budget cuts. Many of these commenters came directly from a community rally against the cuts which occurred outside the health department prior to the meeting.

The final budget passed several hours later in a 7-to-3 vote, a figure $1.6 million lower than the initial general fund request from the health department of $6.4 million.

To read more of Grace Smith and Emma Armijo’s coverage of the conflicts surrounding the Ottawa County Department of Health and the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners, click here.

Bioethics professor overcomes challenges, immunocompromisation

Meegan Zickus is a professor of Biomedical Ethics (bioethics) at Grand Valley State University who suffers from a rare autoimmune disease called Necrotizing Autoimmune Myopathy (NAM). NAM is a disease characterized by “necrosis, or cell death, in the muscles, which causes weakness and fatigue.”

Though this condition has altered the way Zickus is able to interact with students, her passion for teaching and appreciation for learning contribute to her continued perseverance and her ability to be asset to her students on campus. Zickus spends her time teaching bioethics courses online, connecting with students and helping the law community through events like, “Know Your Rights” on campus.

Zickus began working at GVSU eighteen years ago, teaching both biology and bioethics. Zickus, a GVSU Alumna with a history in law, said she never pictured herself where she is today.

To continue reading Mallory Burt’s profile on Zickus, click here. 

Sticker shock: why are GV C-Store prices so high?

Grand Valley State University’s campus stores sell products to students at heavily inflated rates, sometimes as high as about 360% more then the item’s original market value.

Clare Meteer, a Grand Valley State University senior majoring in Business Management and Dance, recently noticed she needed allergy medication. Meteer does not have a car and had very little time in between classes, so she decided to go to the Kirkhof Center C-Store, a convenience store on campus that is part of GVSU’s Laker Food Co., formerly known as Campus Dining, to buy some Claritin.

In a hurried state, Meteer grabbed the only box of Claritin. The register rang her up $5.29 before tax; she paid and went on her way. Later, she opened the box to find only one tablet. Meteer was shocked that she spent $6 on a single tablet of medicine that she had no other way to access on campus.

Frustrated, Meteer decided to look on Amazon. A ten-pack of Claritin costing about $10 equated to about $1 a tablet, versus the $6 she paid at the C-Store on campus.

To read more of Elizabeth Schanz’s coverage of campus stores inflated prices, click here. 

How GV is Navigating NIL for Student Athletes

Two and a half years ago the groundbreaking Supreme Court ruling, NCAA v. Alston, prompted the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to establish policies allowing college athletes to profit off of their name. Ever since the NCAA opened the floodgates of the Name, Image, and Likeness world, there has been open-ended possibilities of NIL are evident to college athletes at all divisions.

The benefits of NIL agreements are apparent for many Division 1 college athletes. For instance, Livvy Dunn, a gymnast at Louisiana State University has accumulated an estimated $3.5 million annually as of 2023 through NIL agreements. However, that’s not the reality for all student-athletes, especially those below Division I who are navigating this new environment in search of ways to stand out.

Grand Valley State University golfer Charlie DeLong has burst into the world of NIL by signing a total of three agreements within 2023 that have netted him an estimated $13,000 so far for his services. Although a pittance compared with Dunne’s haul, DeLong’s earnings account for more than a quarter of all NIL money earned by GVSU athletes.

To read more of Bethann Long’s coverage of the reality of NIL agreements for student-athletes at GVSU, click here. 

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 off-campus 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 11-19 inches of snow Allendale and surrounding areas received, GVSU’s Rapid buses experienced difficulties and unpredictable situations on the roads.

To read the rest of Natalie Brooks’ story about riding The Rapid in extreme winter weather, click here. 

Report reveals health fields dominate GV’s most popular majors

Data from Grand Valley State University’s Division of Enrollment Development and Educational Outreach revealed the most popular majors on campus this semester are health driven. Despite the popularity of business-related fields, the division’s Winter 2024 Enrollment Report shows students are more interested in giving back to the community.

The report breaks down GVSU’s student body by class standing and focus of study. These numbers help guide GVSU in its growth and provide insight to student life. According to the report’s data, the top five studied undergraduate majors at GVSU are psychology, nursing, exercise science, education and marketing. The most popular of these majors is psychology, with over 1,000 students enrolled in the major this semester. 

“The reason that people are so interested in psychology is because psychology is about understanding humans, human thought, human emotion, human behavior. All of us want to understand ourselves better and understand people that we care about in our life,” said Mary Bower Russa, Department Chair of Psychology at GVSU. 

To read more of Eva Ortiz’s story about the most popular majors at GVSU, click here. 

VMA programs are in a pinch for space

A quiet calm falls over the studio as students peacefully talk amongst themselves while spinning, sculpting and glazing their ceramic creations. However, the peaceful focus that many students find through ceramics is becoming harder and harder to spin.

Large academic departments often share facilities, but at Grand Valley State University it seems the Department of Visual & Media Arts (VMA) is competing for space. The ceramics program at GVSU is navigating several issues after a portion of its allocated studio space was cut to make room for demands within other areas of VMA, lack of accommodations and long-term effects of a university department merger in 2018.

In 2018 the arts and design department, including ceramics, merged with film and photography, creating the Department of Visual Media Arts. This made it so that decisions around studio space could be moved around between these programs. They now have to operate under one common administrative group within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), share facilities and share an overarching budget.

To continue reading about Emma Armijo and Isabelle England’s story on the VMA department’s classroom crossover, click here.

GV students promote inclusivity, awareness through free American Sign Language classes

To support the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, Grand Valley State University is offering a free class dedicated to teaching American Sign Language.

The course not only instructs attendees in American Sign Language (ASL) but also integrates educational material centered on the cultural dimensions of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

The class was organized by Austin Matlis, a student at GVSU who has been signing his entire life, and Mae Zurita, a Graduate Assistant in the Office of Multicultural Affairs and a frequent participant in the course. Matlis, who teaches the class, was born to two deaf parents and is a freshman studying social work, an experience which he feels has taught him useful teaching skills.

“I’ve learned how hard it is to live in a hearing and a deaf world, and using that experience, I’m here now,” Matlis said.

To read more of Nolan McKendry’s coverage of free ASL classes on campus, click here. 

Admissions aftermath: GV faculty feel pressure to aid underprepared students

For the third consecutive week, the Grand Valley State University Academic Senate (UAS) met to discuss ongoing matters concerning GVSU admissions. The two-and-a-half-hour meeting on Feb. 16 at the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences gave UAS representatives the opportunity to engage in an open dialogue about the effects of GVSU’s increased admission of underprepared students.

GVSU faculty members that serve on UAS detailed their experience of acting as the first responders for students who are ill-prepared to succeed at GVSU. Since they are the ones on the front lines in classrooms and lecture halls across campus, UAS representatives have seen firsthand the consequences of GVSU’s increased admission of students with GPAs below 3.0. This has led faculty to change curriculum, introduce competency based-grading systems for courses and increase office hours to accommodate struggling students.

In the consideration of time and organization, the meeting was structured into three sections. A 30-minute period was given to UAS representatives to lay the foundation for admissions discussions followed by a 30-minute response from Strategic Enrollment Management Plan (SEMP) faculty and leadership. The remaining hour and a half was set aside for a question-and-answer session that was open to all.

To continue reading Arts & Entertainment Editor Dylan Hoffius’ coverage of admissions fallout in UAS meetings, click here. 

Students express anger, confusion towards GV Police Academy relocation plan

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.

To read more of Mason Cordell’s coverage of student reactions to relocating the GV Police Academy, click here. 

Violence against trans community sparks LGBTQ activism

Protests and vigils have been held to support the safety of transgender individuals nationwide. On Sunday, March 31, a vigil was held at Grand Valley State University’s Cook Carillon Tower for Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old non-binary student from Oklahoma who lost their life due to transphobia. The vigil was organized by GVSU’s Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) to commemorate Trans Day of Remembrance.

The day honors the lives that have been lost due to transphobic aggression and legislation. GVSU students attended the vigil for Benedict and the “Out! Loud” assembly on March 26 at the Cook Carillon Tower to advocate for trans safety.

“To honor the lives of those who have died because of trans violence, such as Nex Benedict, our movement needs to carry their names and spirits forward, to not forget them and to demand that those who commit violence against trans people face severe consequences,” said SDS Vice President Owen Frassetto. “When that small section of society who hates trans people see that their violence is met with justice, they will be scared off.”

To read the rest of Max Bufkin’s story about trans activism on campus, click here.

GV student death, lack of University response voiced at student-led town hall

A student-led town hall called “Retention, Representation, and Racism” was held on April 2 focusing on issues of discrimination and diversity at GVSU. The town hall gave students who identify as Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) a chance to share their concerns with University leadership. With the ability to share stories with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), other campus concerns were voiced.

One story came from GVSU student speaker Zuri Caldwell who spoke about a friend, Carrington Johnson, who attended GVSU and recently passed away. At the town hall, she told Johnson’s story and expressed her frustration towards the University for not acknowledging her friend’s passing.

Caldwell said she received little to no support or accommodation from the school during her time of mourning.

To read more of Max Bufkin’s story, click here. 

To celebrate GVSU’s annual Faculty and Staff Campaign on Feb. 14, students had the opportunity to write letters of appreciation for their favorite faculty members. Hosted by GVSU’s Development Office, the event brought droves of students to the Kirkhof Center to show support for faculty and staff that often go unrecognized for their efforts. 

Cheyenne Koenigsknecht, a GVSU, said she chose to write a letter to thank her criminal justice professor for always checking in on the well-being of his students. Koenigsknecht said her professor’s patience and attitude contribute to a positive learning environment for her and her students. 

“They (GVSU professors) work so hard, and they don’t have to care about us, but they do,” Koenigsknecht said. “They always look out for us to make sure we’re getting the most out of college, and I really appreciate that about all of our professors here.”

Click here to read Jackson Hicks’ story.

GV production of “The Birds” highlights morality, paranoia

From Feb. 22 to 25, Theatre at Grand Valley State University presented their production of “The Birds” at the Linn Maxwell Keller Black Box Theatre in the Haas Center for Performing Arts. 

The production featured a specifically designed seating arrangement for attendees that surrounded the stage, and created an immersive experience. Sydney Hartman, the play’s assistant director and student at GVSU, said this allows the audience to sympathize with the characters as they are trapped in the house.

“Their structure of society is gone, so the way they act and fight for things (is) immensely different,” Hartmann said. “I want them (audiences) to think about how far they would actually go to get the things they want when all bets are off.”

To read the story from Lee Marentette, click here.

GV dancers use spring break for improvement at ACDA Conference

27 students in Grand Valley State University’s Dance Program kicked off their spring break by attending and performing at the annual American College Dance Association’s (ACDA) East-Central Conference. The conference, which was held from Feb. 28 to March 2 at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, featured classes and performance opportunities for college dance students.

GVSU brings dancers to the conference every year to take a variety of classes from a diverse array of teachers and present GVSU pieces in showcases. The conference provided students with a variety of classes that specialized in expanding their movements, styles and performances. With the goal of supporting and establishing dance at the collegiate level, ACDA instructors presented dancers with the opportunity to receive professional feedback on their choreography and technique.

“I think it’s important to realize that dance is art and not everyone is always going to understand art,” said Julian McKenzie, a senior dance major at GVSU . “My goal was to make something that was different and thought-provoking, which I think we accomplished.” 

To read the rest of Rachael Gage’s story, click here.

GV hosts award-winning pianist for presentation, performance of Beethoven

Vietnamese pianist Nhi Luong lectured and performed Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 27 in E-minor, Op. 90 at Grand Valley State University’s Sherman van Solkema Recital Hall on Jan. 11. 

Luong began the evening by speaking on the history and composition of the sonata. Demonstrating sections of the piece during her lecture, those in attendance were able to follow along to her presentation with printed sheet music. Luong also took time after her presentation to answer any questions from the audience, which consisted primarily of undergraduate GVSU piano students. 

“GVSU was the best audience that any performer could have asked for,” Luong said. “Everyone gave me such warm and welcoming feelings, and the genuine curiosity and thoughtful questions made the interaction truly special.”

To read the rest of Rachael Gage’s story, click here.

On Oct. 7, the 27th annual Grand Valley State University Renaissance Festival occupied the Kirkhof Center lawn. Students, vendors and community members alike socialized and produced a flashback to the past amidst the modern campus with their medieval garb. 

Hannah Bekius serves as the president of the club and the site director for the event. She has been a part of the GVSU Renaissance Festival Club (GVren) since the Fall of 2020, and was thrilled to see another year of Renaissance tradition and festivities. The club had to halt putting on the fair due to COVID-19 and only just started hosting the event again last year.

The Renaissance Festival club, which was founded in 1995, dedicates nearly all of its meeting time to planning the faire. Just as soon as they celebrate the success of one year’s faire, it becomes time to start working on the next. Bekius said the organization has to first plan the dates of the event, then finer details such as theme, vendors and entertainment, aren’t planned until about the nine-month mark out from the event.

Read more of Sara Bagely’s coverage of the Renaissance Festival here. 

Practice, performances, precision: GV Pompon’s dance legacy in motion

Since 2006, Grand Valley State University’s club Pompon team (also known as Grand Valley Pompon or GVP) has represented GVSU in a number of arenas outside of Allendale. From competitions such as the Mid-American Pompon Championships to performing at local sports games for teams like the Grand Rapids Gold, Grand Rapids Griffins and the West Michigan Whitecaps, GVP proudly represents GVSU in blue, black and white uniforms.

Macey Dunn, GVSU senior and president of Grand Valley Pompon has spent her last four years at GVSU on the team. She has danced her whole life, starting at three, exploring multiple dance styles and continuing into a competitive varsity dance team through high school. Dunn joined the GVP team her first semester at GVSU, soon after joining, she got involved with the Eboard and worked her way up to president halfway through her third year on the team. 

“Coming to college, I knew I wanted to continue dance and pom. After looking at all of the different types of dance-related clubs GVSU has, I found out about GVP and decided to try out my freshman year,” Dunn said. “GVP does traditional pom, which is much different from what I was used to, so it was a little bit of an adjustment when I joined the team, but I love it, and it has become one of my favorite styles to perform.”

Read more of Sara Bagley’s coverage of the Club Pompon team here. 

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

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 held 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. 

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

Read more of Siltali Padron’s coverage here. 

Beekeeper club promotes sustainability and awareness

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. 

Read more of Anne Davey’s coverage here. 

GV PR organizations emphasize networking, education beyond the classroom

Grand Valley State University’s chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America (GVPRSSA) and GrandPR, GVSU’s first and only student-run integrated communications firm, collaborate with the aim of helping students build professional networks and work through real-life situations while in college. 

According to their website, GVPRSSA focuses on “preparing students for their future careers in the public relations and communications industry.” 

For many students, the organization serves as a way to network and jumpstart their careers while in college and prepare them for the future. 

Read more of Sitlali Padron’s coverage on GVPRSSA here. 

Decisions and dilemmas: GV men’s DI and DIII club hockey teams share budget

Grand Valley State University offers 38 club sports for women’s, men’s and coed teams. Men’s club ice hockey is currently the only club sport that has both a Division I and Division III team of the same sex. The unique situation led Club Sports to force two teams to share a singular budget. 

The presence of two hockey teams under the GVSU club sports umbrella has led to questions about how the budget is and will be allocated between the two teams in regards to spending, fundraising and donations. Before 2020, the two teams had separate budgets. When the teams began playing after some COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, the budgets were combined. Mike Przydzial, acting director of Recreation & Wellness said one of the major reasons the budget was combined was “to level the playing field” in regards to how much money each club sport received from the Club Sports Department. He said GVSU has “no other club sports, same gendered, that existed as two separate organizations” like the men’s hockey organization.

“So when you look at things from an equity lens we had the men’s ice hockey program, basically receiving double the resources (from club sports) as the women were,” Przydzial said. “Ultimately (by combining the budgets) we were getting them to a level playing field, to align with every other club sport we have.” 

While GVSU Club Sports helps fund club sports to a certain extent, the majority of the budget is funded through club members’ dues, fundraising and ticket sales from the games. Since the whole budget is shared between the DI and DIII teams, where the money comes from and how it is spent can be a point of contention for the players of both teams.

Read more of Isabelle England, Bethann Long and Anne Davey’s coverage here. 

Beaver Island trip aims to teach environmental studies students sustainability 

In 2022, Dr. Kelly Parker, professor of philosophy and director of environmental studies at Grand Valley State University, organized and led the first Beaver Island Field School trip, which is part of a hybrid spring/summer class.

This will be on the course catalog this upcoming semester for the third consecutive year. The hybrid course includes a one-day orientation at GVSU’s Allendale Campus, followed by a week of online learning and concludes with a week’s stay on Beaver Island. The class allows students to research the island’s environment and sustainability, and put together a report and proposal based on their findings.

More of Sara Bagley’s coverage on the Beaver Island Field School here.

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

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.

To read more of the Lanthorn Staff’s editorial, click here.

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

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).”

To read more of the Lanthorn Staff’s editorial, click here.

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

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.

To read more of the Lanthorn Staff’s editorial, click here.

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

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.

To read more of the Lanthorn Staff’s editorial, click here.

Columns

Domestic violence is not funny, Matt Rife

“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.

To read more of Maddie Zimmerman’s column, click here.

Grand Rapids’ top 5 greatest bars

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.

To read more of Elizabeth Schanz’s column, click here.

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

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. 12-14, 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.

To read more of Chloe Schram’s column, click here.

New NFL rules may change football’s dynamics

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 35-yard 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.

To read more of Sam Nowotnik’s column, click here.

Grand Valley State University’s Pew Campus is a venue for ArtPrize 2022, an independent art competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan. GVSU aims to connect to the wider Grand Rapids community through hosting art pieces.

GVSU has participated as a venue since the first ArtPrize event in 2009. This year, the university is hosting the work of Scott Froschauer, an experimental artist based out of Los Angeles, California. His work explores the idea of typical street signs and what new messages they could present through art.

Joel Zwart, Curator of Exhibitions and Collection at GVSU’s Art Gallery, said he is excited for the university to be able to work with Froschauer. Zwart said that Froschauer’s unique art style and message are both “surprising and uplifting.”

“He takes the visual language and form of street signs, and then shifts the traditionally negative messages in them towards a hopeful and positive direction,” Zwart said. “His work makes viewers consider the role of signage and points them toward positive forms of communication.”

To read more of Steven Lawrence’s coverage of Art Prize at GVSU, click here.

Professional dance company performs and teaches at GV

As a part of the Grand Valley State University Arts Celebration, South Chicago Dance Theatre (SCDT), a professional dance company, performed their show titled “Energy | Power | Grace” at the Haas Center for Performing Arts.

In addition to her company’s performance, Executive Artistic Director of SCDT Kia Smith taught classes for the GVSU dance program students and hosted an audition for spots in her company.

Smith began her dance career at age 16, later than most professionals do. She said ever since she was a kid, she was drawn to dance and knew she wanted to have a dance company.

Smith pursued her dance journey and attended Western Michigan University where she obtained her BFA in dance. Later, Smith founded her dance company in 2017 while working towards her Master’s degree.

“I knew I wanted to call my company ‘South Chicago Dance Theatre’ for a long time because my company has a long history on the south side (of Chicago),” Smith said. “My family came to the south side of Chicago during the Great Migration, so my family has been here for a long time so I just feel very tied to it.”

To read more of Allison Bair’s coverage of SCDT at GVSU, click here.

Barrier-breaking art exhibit opens on campus

“Convergence: Cracks in the Glass Ceiling,” is an exhibit on display in the Haas Center for Performing Arts at Grand Valley State University that encourages students to push boundaries and engage in the conversation of racial injustice. It is co-curated by Muse GR, an art gallery in Grand Rapids that fosters an inclusive and passionate creative space.

The display includes the work of eleven artists, including Grand Valley State University alumni. They use a wide range of media and styles to create a vibrant portrayal of art and culture. The contemporary art in the exhibition fuses together pop, street and graffiti, fiber and urban genres in its presentation.

According to a learning guide provided to visitors by the GVSU Art Gallery, “Artists in this exhibition engage directly and indirectly with social and racial justice and economic issues. Stylistically, their works embody both joy and anxiety, while embracing the angst and excitement of living in 21st-century America.”

The artists come from various locations such as Detroit, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and London to piece together a narrative of experiences and community. Three themes prevalent throughout the exhibition are “Breaking Barriers,” “Pushing Boundaries” and “Activism in Art.”

To read more about Convergence: Cracks in the Glass Ceiling by Hailey Hentz, click here.

Ignite Dance Co. wins GV’s Got Talent

“GV’s Got Talent,” put on by the Campus Activities Board (CAB), is an event where students can show off their talents for an opportunity to win first, second or third place, receiving cash prizes. The winner of the competition is awarded the opportunity to be the opening act for CAB’s spring concert. This year, the event was held on March 15.

“GV’s Got Talent is an opportunity for GVSU students to showcase their talents, whether it is singing, dancing, poetry, comedy, playing an instrument,” said CAB member Chad Novak.

Novak helped to plan and set up GV’s Got Talent. He said it took CAB around a month to prepare for the talent show.

“About a month out, we host auditions and do logistical work for preparing for the talent show – reserving rooms and equipment, purchasing supplies, reaching out to judges, putting in promotions requests for graphics and photo and video coverage,” Novak said. “The day of, we start to set up five hours before the event. We set up the stage, chairs, balloon arch, decorations, etc. Three hours before the show, we have rehearsal for the performers.”

To continue reading Haley Rosendale’s coverage of GV’s Got Talent, click here.

GV Baton Twirler joins TEAM USA for international championship

Grand Valley State University’s Feature Twirler, student Emelia Adam, will be traveling to Liverpool, England to compete with Team USA at the Nations Cup for baton twirling.

Being Feature Twirler means that Adam performs routines at GVSU’s sporting events alongside the marching and pep bands to provide entertainment and school spirit. At games, she can be seen spinning her way through routines on the court or field. The act of baton twirling is a culmination of many facets and determination – it’s considered an art form in its own regard.

Adam began baton twirling at the age of 5 when she was inspired by twirlers at the Hamburger Festival, a local event in her hometown of Hamburg, Pennsylvania. Since then, she’s known that twirling is her calling.

“From that moment on I knew I wanted to twirl,” Adam said. “I knew this was going to be my sport. 15 years later, I can proudly say it has been everything and more than that 5-year-old girl could have wanted.”

To continue reading Hailey Hentz’s coverage of Emelia Adam’s twirling story, click here.

Guest speaker advocates for diverse and indigenous art in VMA dept

This past week, the Grand Valley State University Visual Media Arts Department (VMA) welcomed design anthropologist and Dean of Faculty of Design at Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD) University, Dori Tunstall. OCAD University is the largest art and design institute in Canada and the fourth largest in North America.

Among these things, Tunstall is also a writer and educator. Her visit was centered around her new book, “Decolonizing Design: A Cultural Justice Guidebook.”

Tunstall’s book discussed important topics around the gentrification of art and its persistence through many centuries. It highlights key factors within diversity and inclusion on any school campus.

Tunstall made an appearance at a few events for GVSU during her visit, the first of which was a VMA luncheon held at Calder Art Center Atrium on the Allendale campus. This event was open to all GVSU students and faculty. The next event was a panel discussion with Tunstall over the topics of decolonizing design, academia and business.

To continue reading coverage by Omari Seaberry regarding Dori Tunstall, click here.

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturned the federal protection of nationwide abortion access college students across the country have attended political demonstrations, signed petitions or used their platforms to voice their opinions regarding the matter.

Regardless of whether individuals found themselves mourning or celebrating the decision, many Americans found themselves experiencing a renewed sense of political activism.

Grand Valley State University’s student groups in support of and against abortion rights are no exception. Although the university has not released an official position on the matter, this has not stopped groups on campus from advocating for either side of the issue.

To read more of Grace Smith’s coverage of the overturning of Roe V. Wade, click here.

GV commuters cite growing concerns with overcrowding, wait times on Laker Line

This fall, Allendale and Grand Rapids have been buzzing with conversations about concerns regarding Grand Valley State University’s transportation system.

High prices of on-campus parking and the frequent distribution of parking violations have dissuaded students from investing in on-campus parking passes. As a result, many students rely on GVSU’s bussing system as their primary means of transportation.

The growing number of concerns being raised by students regarding the bussing systems have centered around overcrowded buses running late or less frequently than the years before.

To read more of Grace Smith’s coverage of the GVSU’s transportation system, click here.

GV alum reflects on vintage scene following recent business opening

In December 2019, Austyn Daggett graduated from Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. Three years later, he celebrated the grand opening of Betteraged, his vintage clothing shop near Grand Rapids’ Eastown district, joined by hundreds of eager customers.

Daggett, 26, said that he had dreamed of opening his own shop for the last five years.

“When I was in school, I would tell my professors about the idea. They would say stuff like ‘You know, online shopping is the new thing,’ or that a physical location would just die out. In the back of my head, I’m thinking, ‘I’m still going to open up a shop – no matter what.’”

To read more of Jacob Kirn’s coverage of  Daggett’s business, click here.

Inspired by legislation introduced by Grand Valley State University’s Student Senate as well as conversations among friends and peers, GVSU’s Young Democratic Socialists for America (YDSA) chapter launched a petition to raise wages for student employees.

The petition calls on the GVSU Board of Trustees to “increase student wages per department, remove the current wage rate classification system” and conduct a labor market analysis to “determine the floor of student wages.”

In addition to collecting signatures, the petition calls on students to email the GVSU Board of Trustees with their demands.

To read more of Audrey Whitaker’s coverage of the student wage petition, click here.

Shooting, stabbing at GV area apartment complexes continue semester-long violent crime trend

Following a string of violent criminal activity at apartment complexes in the Allendale area, students and residents encountered another incident in the early hours of Sunday morning, Oct. 29.

Around 2:45 a.m., reports of a stabbing at 48 West Apartments came through to which Ottawa County deputies responded while on patrol.

The victim of the stabbing was not on the scene at the time of law enforcement’s arrival, but many vehicles were seen exiting the apartment complex.

To read more of Emma Armijo’s coverage of off-campus violence, click here.

Blue Wave: Democrats sweep Michigan offices in history-defying midterms

Multitudes of electoral polls in the run-up to Nov. 8’s midterm elections signaled what was expected to be what many referred to as a “red wave” that would usher the Republican Party into wide margins of control on Capitol Hill and ensure comfortable victories in key races throughout the country. With a floundering national economy, dismal approval ratings for President Joe Biden and historical precedent that routinely spells danger for the party whose president is experiencing their first midterm elections in the White House, such large Republican gains were projected as all but certain.

However, the opposite proved to be true in the battleground state of Michigan, where Election Day saw Democrats sweep offices across the state.

A number of critical victories granted the Democratic Party control of not only the three statewide elected offices of governor, secretary of state and attorney general, but also majorities in both the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate.

To read more of Josh Alburtus’s coverage of election results in Michigan, click here.

GV hosts event promoting discussion of intersectional feminism

On Nov. 15, Grand Valley State University hosted a Talk Back Tuesday event in the university’s Kirkhof Center, with speakers Shayna Akanke Marie and Mariah Arnold leading discussions about intersectional feminism.

The event welcomed people of all genders and backgrounds to join the conversation, and each person was encouraged to share their experiences.

The speakers began the discussion by introducing themselves and sharing information about their experiences. They also introduced their podcast, “You Reachin,” to the group.

To read more of Chloe Schram’s coverage of the intersectional feminism discussion, click here.

GV students respond to Ottawa County’s conservative changes

On Jan. 3, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners made several changes to the county’s leadership and implemented conservative messaging. Some of their initial actions include dissolving the county’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and changing their motto from “Where You Belong” to “Where Freedom Rings.”

Eight of the 11 commissioners are backed by Ottawa Impact, a conservative political action committee that has been campaigning for these changes for two years.

The newly-elected board members also voted to immediately replace multiple administrative leaders, such as the county’s top leader and health official. Ottawa County Administrator John Shay was fired and replaced by John Gibbs, who is the former acting assistant secretary under Donald Trump’s administration.

To read more of  Payton Brazzil’s coverage of Ottawa County Board of Commissioners, click here.

GV alumna becomes first Black woman to serve on MI Supreme Court

Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Grand Valley State University alumni Kyra Harris Bolden to the Michigan Supreme Court, making her the first Black woman, and one of the youngest, to serve on Michigan’s highest court.

Bolden graduated from GVSU in 2010, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in English.

Bolden said after touring the university, learning about smaller class sizes and eating a taco bowl from Fresh, her decision was made.

To read more of Payton Brazzil’s coverage of Kyra Harris Bolden, click here.

Vigil, rally held at GV following shooting at MSU

Following a shooting at Michigan State University that killed three students and left five in critical condition, students across the state have responded with displays of support for MSU students and calls for gun reform.

As Grand Valley State University president Philomena Mantella said in a statement, many in the GVSU community were impacted by the “horrific violence” at MSU as “terror was inflicted upon” friends, loved ones and relatives.

In the week following the tragedy, GVSU students organized both a vigil in honor of the victims and a rally for legislative action against gun violence.

To read more of Audrey Whitaker’s coverage of the vigil held for MSU, click here.

GV professor creates microscope to help understand complex concepts

Joshua Veazey, an assistant professor of physics at Grand Valley State University, has developed a microscope that can help students better understand concepts in physical science.

Veazey designed the prototype of the microscope with his students. The idea of the project was to give students a better understanding of atomic particles. He hoped the microscope would give them a more practical, physical representation versus the traditional graphs and abstract representations.

The microscope helps students understand the idea of quantum tunneling, the phenomenon of an electron passing through a traditional energy barrier.

To read more of Joseph Poulos’s coverage of Veazey and student’s microscope project, click here.

GV holds safety briefing following shooting at MSU

The heads of emergency response of Grand Valley State University’s Department of Public Safety met with GVSU President Philomena Mantella over Zoom on Feb. 23 to review the university’s safety response plans.

Following the shooting at Michigan State University, staff and students alike have felt sadness, unease and grief for those affected by the tragedy. Many feel the university should increase preventative measures and have plans in place to promote security on campus.

The safety briefings were open to all GVSU community members. Originally scheduled for two in-person meetings on the Allendale and Pew campuses, the safety briefings were instead held on Zoom and Youtube Live due to the university’s remote status following inclement winter weather.

To read more of Emma Armijo’s coverage of GV’s safety briefing, click here.

GV Board of Trustees meets for first time in 2023

On Feb. 24, Grand Valley State University’s Board of Trustees (BOT), the body responsible for the governing and management of GVSU, held its first meeting of 2023.

The meeting covered student employee wage concerns and ideas for improvements for the GVSU campus called the “Campus Master Plan” which outlines potential changes for both the Allendale and Pew campuses.

Board of Trustees Vice Chair and member of the Finance and Audit Committee, Elizabeth Emmitt,detailed the “Campus Master Plan.” Emmitt said the plan reflects the university’s goals and provides a roadmap for its capital resources and any efforts in the future.

To read more of Jack Blake and Elizabeth Schanz’s coverage of the GVSU Board of Trustee meeting, click here.

GV faces backlash for graduation celebrations, officials respond

National news outlets including Fox News and the New York Post accused Grand Valley State University of “segregating graduation ceremonies by race.” These claims were sparked by conservative political commentator Matt Walsh.

Host of “The Matt Walsh Podcast” and columnist for The Daily Wire, Walsh said in a tweet that GVSU was “holding five segregated graduation celebrations, singling out Asian, black, LGBT, Hispanic and Native American graduates. There will be no special celebrations for straight white people, of course.”

GVSU officials said the ceremonies are a supplemental way to celebrate graduation outside of the commencement for the entire school. The university and students feel the claims and attention from national outlets undermine the purpose of the graduation celebrations.

To read more of Elizabeth Schanz’s coverage of the GVSU graduation celebrations, click here.