Editorial Revision 3/27- The original article wrongly stated that GVPD Interim Chief Leah Heaton claimed officers’ arrival time of 16 minutes was acceptable. Officers’ arrival time to the scene is unknown.

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.

The GVSU Weapons Policy says no person, other than University police or authorized personnel, shall possess any firearm or weapon. Moss, who does not fit any of the aforementioned exemptions, did not notify University officials before he brought the firearm on campus, according to GVPD Interim Chief Leah Heaton.

When the Lanthorn reached out to Moss, he noted that he wasn’t aware of the incident and had no comment.

Moss, along with fellow Commissioner Sylvia Rhodea, founded Ottawa Impact, a far-right advocacy organization and political action committee, in 2021. The group has taken firm stances on gun rights, sided with anti-LGBTQ proposals and slashed funds to the county’s Department of Public Health.

During board of commissioners’ meetings at the county’s Fillmore Complex, Moss frequently carries a pistol on his hip. While going door-to-door on the campaign trail in 2022, homeowners reported to police they observed Moss’ holstered gun and felt threatened. On March 19, 2024, Moss also posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, a photo of a GLOCK G17 pistol, asserting “it’s not always easy to conceal a full-size (GLOCK G17), but it’s a wonderful firearm.”

It was at least the second visit Moss has made to GVSU since the beginning of this year, with his attendance at the TPUSA event being his most recent known trip to the University. However, this is the first documented time he violated the campus weapons policy.

Moss visited GVSU in February to scrutinize “Pétalos De Cambio,” a painting that has since been removed from campus by University leadership, as some community members felt the artwork was blasphemous to Catholicism. 

After Cole’s talk on March 17, Moss and Rhodea exited the Russell H. Kirkhof Center just before 7 p.m., according to witnesses, where a transgender rights vigil was taking place to protest the TPUSA event. 

During the Cole event, there had previously been officers stationed near the outside demonstration, but they had left by the time Moss and other attendees went outside.

Moss hung around the clock tower, and engaged in conversation with students and community members. However, while he was doing so, a number of local residents noticed what they perceived to be a firearm peeking out under the hem of Moss’ jacket.

In photos time-stamped at 7:08 p.m., Moss is pictured interacting with students with a concealed firearm on his right hip.

Heather Martin, of Zeeland Township and parent of a GVSU student, said she was near the University’s Cook Carillon clock tower when her friend Sheila Dettloff, of Holland Township, said, “‘Oh, look, he’s carrying.’”

“I turned and I said, ‘Oh, that’s not good,’” Martin described. “We turned back to the top of the stairs where campus security had been during the whole thing. But everybody had already filed out and sort of dispersed.”

There was no security nearby, Martin said, as stationed security dispersed after the Cole event.

She said she went into the Kirkhof Center and reported it to an administrator she was familiar with: Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center Director DL McKinney.

“When I turned around, they (security) weren’t where they had been, but I saw the director of the LGBTQ Center who I know enough to go speak to, and I said, ‘Hold on. I know someone,’” Martin said. “I went to the top of the stairs and approached them (McKinney) and said, ‘Hi, remember me? Tell me, is open carry allowed on campus?’ They did a deer in the headlights and said, ‘Who?’ I said, ‘Commissioner Moss is at the bottom of the staircase, facing the clock tower, and you can clearly see it on his hip. After I spoke to them (McKinney), I came back to the bottom of the stairs.”

Meanwhile, Dettloff took photos to document what she saw — Moss with a gun on his right hip. The photos were time-stamped at 7:14 p.m.

That was the first of three attempts by vigil attendees to alert University staff and police of the policy violation. 

Charlie Zickus, of Allendale, was attending the vigil with his wife Meegan, a lawyer and biology ethics professor at GVSU. He also noticed the concealed firearm and took photos, time-stamped at 7:21 p.m.

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“Charlie took the pictures, and I went back and was kind of standing there because he and I were trying to figure out, ‘Okay, who has called, who hasn’t and where are we at here?’” Meegan Zickus said. “Some girls nearby said, ‘Oh my God, that man has a gun.’ I said, ‘Okay, guys, it’s okay. It’s under control. We’ve reported it. If you need to leave, then just get up and go, but you don’t need to be worried.’”

Charlie Zickus and lawyer Pete Walsh, of Grand Rapids, reported the situation to two student workers at Kirkhof’s 2020 Information Desk at about 7:20 p.m.

An ONN reporter has filed a Freedom of Information Act request to determine if the second report led to authorities being alerted.

Charlie Zickus then observed Moss walk west to Campus Drive with a group of people. Meegan Zickus said a GVSU officer pulled in, but was quite a ways away from Kirkhof and the clock tower, so they walked over to him.

“’Hey, we need to make a report of somebody with a gun on campus,’” Meegan Zickus told the officer. “He (the officer) took the report. He never called anybody, didn’t do a thing and was like, ‘Well, the most we can do is trespass him and tell him that he has to leave if he has it (a firearm).'”

The police report, the third attempt to notify staff and administration, was filed as of 7:25 p.m., according to the result of a Freedom of Information Act request.

Meegan Zickus said the officer made no move to approach Moss. At this time, Moss and the group he was with drifted further away from Kirkhof and the clock tower.

“He (the officer) didn’t even ask for a description of what he (Moss) was wearing or anything,” she said. “He just took the report, and was like, ‘Well, it’s technically not against the law.’ Pete and I were like, ‘Well, you better check on that, because you got two lawyers standing here, and we’re pretty sure that Grand Valley says we have a weapons-free campus.’ The cop was like, ‘No, no, that’s our policy, but all we do is trespass them and tell them to leave.'”

Pete Walsh, a retired attorney who attended the vigil with a group of community members, stated that while he found University police to be respectful of their concerns, he was perplexed by their response time.

“We thought it was reported,” said Walsh. “We stood around outside and no police officer showed up for like 10-15 minutes.”

Meanwhile, McKinney contacted Vice President of Student Affairs Jenny Hall-Jones, as McKinney felt a higher-level administrator should approach Moss. Hall-Jones approached Moss, who at this point was leaving of his own accord at about 7:30. 

Hall-Jones declined a request for comment by the Lanthorn. 

Martin said she was in the parking lot when she observed Moss reach his vehicle nearby at 7:36 p.m., which she noted in a text to Dettloff.

The incident report states at 7:41 p.m. that Moss had already left the clock tower by the time GVPD personnel arrived. According to Heaton, she does not have an exact time of the officers’ arrival.

Heaton claimed the arrival time was acceptable, considering the situation didn’t escalate into a direct threat, despite the three separate reports. Due to the incident not warranting an emergency response, according to Heaton, GVPD personnel obeyed all traffic laws on their route to the clock tower.

“We didn’t have any reports of the weapon being pointed or anything to escalate to an emergency response,” Heaton said. “At this point, we were responding to what is a Grand Valley policy violation.”

A University statement, which was forwarded to Lanthorn staff by the Assistant Vice President of University Communications Chris Knape, vouched for GVPD’s handling of the incident.

“Safety on our campus is our top priority,” read the statement. “GVSU has a policy prohibiting weapons on campus, and as happened in this case, the University took immediate action to assure conformance with our policy when made aware of a violation. At no time was the University aware of the person posing a threat.”

GVPD considers Hall-Jones’ interaction with Moss to be an enforcement of policy, as the commissioner left after talking with a University official. Heaton said the incident is considered “closed.” Had Moss remained on campus and not complied, the act would have been considered a trespassing violation.

“It was enforced because he was approached, informed and asked to leave,” Heaton said. “That (interaction) kind of ends that contact.”

Heaton said now that a warning is on record, the matter could be treated differently if Moss were to violate the policy again. 

Dettloff said she believed Moss to be deliberate in bringing the concealed firearm to campus. 

“For him to be an elected official who should have known (the policy), and to still do it anyway tells me that he had a motivation, and that he was trying to send a message,” she said.

Meegan Zickus said a number of community members she was with are long-term concealed pistol license (CPL) holders. However, those with licenses had all left their firearms at home, and Zickus felt that Moss shouldn’t have been treated any differently due to his commissioner title.

“Just because someone’s elected doesn’t mean they get to skirt the rules that are in place,” Zickus said.

According to Michigan law, concealed firearms are only prohibited in campus dormitories or classrooms. The legislation leaves gaps on campus, prompting many universities, including GVSU to adopt “weapons-free” policies on campuses. 

GVSU’s Student Senate voted against allowing concealed firearms on campus in November 2015. The University’s Weapons Policy has largely been the same since the senate’s decision. The policy is based on legal precedent, both in Michigan, and federally.

However, a case is currently facing the U.S. Supreme Court that could possibly challenge the ability of higher education institutions to enforce their own weapons bans. Wade v. University of Michigan is challenging UMich’s on-campus weapons ban. The Michigan Court of Appeals upheld the university’s firearm ban, and the Michigan Supreme Court denied the appeal. The case is being further disputed by SCOTUS. If the Court were to rule in favor of Joshua Wade, colleges and universities nationwide, including GVSU, would be forced to reevaluate their policies.

Steven Dulan, the attorney representing Wade, is part of the Michigan Coalition for the Responsible Gun Owners’ board of directors. Dulan believes GVSU is on “extremely weak ground” with its policy, much like UMich, although the latter is afforded certain protections compared to GVSU because it is chartered in the Michigan Constitution. 

“The legality of (campus firearm bans) is questionable because it’s being litigated right now,” said Dulan. “I honestly feel that most of the colleges and universities are on extremely thin ice legally because the state statute just says clearly that (you) cannot carry concealed in a dorm or a classroom.”

Dulan added that he feels the University’s policy is “sort of hollow,” and that he doesn’t think it has “any teeth.” 

Touching on the implications of carrying in places of education, Meegan Zickus expressed that she previously had students who had witnessed the 2021 school shooting at Oxford High School.

“(Students) were freaking out, and you know that’s where the issue is,” Zickus said. “If people aren’t clear on the rules, then it causes an alarm in the students.”

Zickus said she doesn’t believe the University’s procedure for handling weapons reports is well known among students and community members. 

“I’d like there to be some type of clear policy that this is what we do when somebody reports a person with a gun on campus, and I don’t feel there’s a clear policy,” Zickus said. “We all had to go looking for the rules.”

Zickus believes the policy and procedure, which from her perspective aren’t fully fleshed out, are cause for alarm if an emergency situation were to occur at GVSU.

“When you don’t take something seriously then all of a sudden it becomes an issue when there is an (emergency),” Zickus stated.

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. 

Cole has advocated for the passing of several laws that restrict youth gender-affirming care. Generally, for a child to receive gender-affirming services, they must have parental consent and undergo several psychological assessments to be diagnosed with gender dysphoria. Although regulations differ from state to state, most children have to be at least 15 years old to start hormone therapy, and at least 18 years old to undergo gender-affirming surgery. At the age of 13, Cole began her female-to-male transition but later regretted her decision after an LSD trip, during which she claims a female voice told her she was not a boy. Following that experience, Cole converted to Christianity and has since used her faith to oppose the transgender community, and to advocate against access to medical care.

“I think Cole’s story should be heard, but I don’t think that stories like that should be twisted and contorted to paint a bleak picture of what gender-affirming care is,” said GVSU student Ren Carlson. “In my humble opinion, the local chapter of Turning Point USA on campus is not treating me and the trans community with the dignity and respect that everyone deserves.”

Several students reported the TPUSA event to the Dean of Students Office through the University’s Campus Climate Concerns system, believing the event was offensive and harmful to the transgender community. In an Instagram statement, the Progressive Student Union at GVSU urged community members to submit reports in order to protest the speaking event. However, according to a University statement published by WZZM 13, free speech is protected at GVSU so long as it’s “lawful and non-disruptive.”

“As a public university, GVSU upholds the First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly without viewpoint-based restrictions,” said the statement. “GVSU will not restrict anyone’s ability to use their voice in a lawful and non-disruptive manner that is in compliance with the Grounds and Facility Use Policy and all other applicable university policies.”

Several other campus political organizations began posting on social media in opposition. The GVSU College Democrats released a statement, acknowledging that an individual’s choice to detransition is valid, but that personal choices should not prevent others from accessing medical care. According to the National Institute for Health, roughly 1-8% of individuals choose to detransition, either temporarily or permanently. The main reasons for detransitioning include parental or societal pressure, as well as discrimination or oppression.

Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at GVSU gave an impromptu presentation titled “Exposing the Anti-Trans Agenda” during the same time as TPUSA’s event. SDS’s event centered on transition access and resources, and featured conversations with transgender students who discussed their experiences. 

“To go to their (TPUSA’s) events and debate with speakers like Chloe Cole, who is paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by far-right groups to advocate against trans healthcare, is to agree that their arguments are based on logic, which we know they aren’t,” said SDS Queer Activism Committee Chair and Financial Officer River Koehler.

A vigil in support of trans students was also held at the Cook Carillon Clock Tower that evening. The University’s Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center helped organize the event, and reserved the space for students to gather. GVPD officers were also lined up outside near the vigil.

According to the Williams Institute, transgender individuals are over four times more likely to be victims of violent crime compared to cisgender individuals. The vigil was held to honor those who have lost their lives to transphobic-related violence, such as Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old transgender man who was tortured and killed in February.

“People are obligated, especially cisgender people, to stand up for trans people,” said GVSU student Jayce Carr. “I do it not only for my trans girlfriend and trans brother, but for the countless other trans people that have been subject to discrimination and prejudice.”

Community leaders from across America urged the public not to buy from major retailers like Walmart, Target and Amazon as part of the boycott. Protesters attempted to showcase the power of the consumer against “corporate greed” and companies in alignment with President Donald Trump’s efforts to terminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. If protesters did have to spend, they were encouraged to use cash and support only small, locally owned businesses. Professors in Grand Valley State University’s Department of Economics deemed the boycott only slightly successful. 

USAToday tracked the boycott’s origination and its influence on companies across the United States. Despite the inconclusive data due to the narrow time frame, there was a slight impact on Feb. 28’s market. Data collected from digital marketing intelligence company Similarweb showed that overall online traffic from the top 100 e-commerce sites dropped 4% on Feb. 28 when compared to the previous Friday, Feb. 21. Data from marketing intelligence firm Placer.ai found foot traffic in-store at Walmart locations to have dropped 6.3% when compared to the previous five Fridays. Placer.ai data also showed Target’s foot traffic in-store dropped 10.7% compared to the previous five Fridays.

Daniel Giedeman, an economics professor at GVSU, said the protest was unlikely to have much impact since participating consumers likely switched the timing of their purchases to Feb. 27 or March 1. Giedeman said he also expected there to have been at least some consumers who deliberately chose to spend money on Feb. 28 because they did not agree with the protest. 

“The only way that a protest like this could really work is if consumers were willing to change their spending patterns for a much longer period of time or to permanently switch their spending toward small businesses (or businesses that were more aligned with consumers’ values),” Giedeman said. 

While short-term boycotts and protests usually don’t have the momentum or impact to make a lasting difference, they are a step in the right direction. Giedeman said similar protests, like not purchasing gasoline on certain days in an attempt to lower gas prices, are rarely successful. However, when customers collectively target where they spend their money or what businesses they support for a sustained amount of time, the effects can be much bigger.

“Such protests would work if large groups of consumers targeted their boycotts against specific goods or companies, and were prepared to maintain these boycotts indefinitely,” Giedeman said. “Given the one-day nature of the (Black Out Friday) protest, there were no meaningful impacts on corporate profits or stock market prices.”

Christopher John Cruz, an associate professor in the Economics Department, agreed with Giedeman’s conclusion. Cruz reiterated that a one-day spending freeze would not be successful; if protesters want to create a larger impact, then boycotts have to be on a more sustained basis.  

“An alternative strategy for these protesters is (to) totally switch (the) stores where they shop,” Cruz said. “For instance, there are reports of some consumers cancelling their Amazon membership,” Cruz said. “With the DEI rollback from Walmart, perhaps some consumers might strictly prefer Costco (to) Sam’s Club, (which is owned by Walmart).”

Cruz recommends that anyone interested in participating in a boycott research the businesses they frequent. If a company’s values do not align with personal views, then an alternative can be found. According to Cruz, while that alternative isn’t always a local business, they can often be a better option than chain retailers.

“Not all local businesses share the views of these protesters,” Cruz said. “In fact, some of them might have voted against the very principles and programs these protesters are fighting for.” 

While the Black Out Friday protest had only minimal effects on the market, the boycott could potentially inspire consumers to further consider their morals and ethics when shopping.

“If a sizeable number of consumers switch to local retailers, including small businesses, (that) they believe are doing business that is more aligned with their morals and principles, then the impact might be more meaningful,” Cruz said.

On Tuesday, Jan. 21, Trump revoked standing policies that had limited where and how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can carry out arrests. Since Trump’s action allows ICE to enter schools and churches, the policy’s revocation has spurred many concerns among staff at GVSU.

Trump’s removal of safeguards for ICE operations led several faculty members to reach out to the University for guidance. 

GVSU professors within the Philosophy and History Departments sent messages of concern to various University figures, including Grand Valley Police Chief Brandon DeHaan, Acting Provost Jennifer Drake and the Director of People, Equity and Culture, Robert Shorty. The University’s answer was the same across the board– concerned parties should reach out to the Office of General Counsel or GVPD, and follow Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) guidelines.

“I was wanting something (communication) a little bit more forceful (from the University) when the Trump administration took over,” said Mike Huner, a GVSU history professor that reached out to Drake.

Neither DeHaan nor Shorty responded to the Lanthorn’s request for comment on the subject.

Under FERPA, no professor is legally allowed to disclose information about a student without written consent, which would apply to ICE agents in the classroom. Should the situation arise, professors are advised to direct any in-classroom conflict with ICE to the Office of General Counsel for their expertise with legal issues. The Office of General Counsel was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.

Huner credits Drake for her response, but persists that GVSU should do more to respond to immigration-related concerns.

“I would appreciate if a more generalized statement from the upper administration speaking to those matters (ICE presence) would be circulated,” Huner said.

Huner considers Grand Rapids Public Schools’ response to recent federal policy effective. The school district issued a detailed guideline in January advising teachers how to respond if ICE comes into their schools. 

Huner recommends those with immigration concerns attend a Know Your Rights presentation, which provides information on immigration law to students and faculty. The University’s Inclusion and Equity Institute will be holding a presentation on Friday, Feb. 28.

Campus response to ICE presence has also been a topic of conversation within both GVSU Housing and Residence Life and the University’s Tutoring and Reading Center. Faculty and staff received the same, aforementioned guidelines– to contact the Office of General Counsel if a situation with ICE should arise on campus.

“My chief concern will first and foremost always just be the safety of our students,” said Keigh-Cee Bell, director of Tutoring and Supplemental Instruction at the Tutoring and Reading Center. “I want the Tutoring and Reading Center, and all of our tutoring centers, to be a safe and healthy learning environment for everybody.”

On Feb. 3, the University launched a webpage to share information and guidelines related to any changes connected with federal policy actions. This page posted the same guidelines sent to faculty and staff. Beyond the brief message, no further guidelines or protocols have been shared by GVSU.

It seems faculty and staff concerns spread past immigration policy and response. Many faculty members feel there is not enough communication from the University regarding a number of the Trump administration’s actions.

“If you ask around, it’s not just this (ICE-related policy),” stated a GVSU professor, who asked to remain anonymous due to the issue’s sensitivity. “It’s other issues concerning executive actions coming from (President Trump). If you ask around, you’ll find concerns from other faculty about why there isn’t more forceful statements coming from the upper administration of the University.”

Grand Valley State University’s Police Department sent out an email alert on Friday, Feb. 21 updating the campus community of the most recent incidents of vehicle-related crime at GVSU. Additional vehicle break-ins and two stolen vehicles have been added to a growing streak of vehicle-related crime at GVSU. Police believe the instances may be connected.

The Feb. 21 alert was a follow up to a similar notice sent to students on Tuesday, Feb. 11, warning the University community of multiple reports of vehicle-related crime. Throughout February, a total of three stolen vehicles, numerous break-ins and several attempted break-ins have been reported to GVPD. All incidents occurred in parking lots that serve on-campus residence halls. All of the crimes were allegedly committed not by students, but people from neighboring cities who came onto campus.

One stolen vehicle, two confirmed larcenies from vehicles, several overnight break-ins and multiple attempted break-ins occurred over the week of Feb. 3, which prompted the initial alert. Six vehicles also sustained damaged or broken windows throughout that week.

Almost all larceny reports associated with the first alert came from Lot D, a parking lot that serves North campus housing residents. A few initial reports also came from Lot P, which serves students on South campus and in the Honors College. According to the update, the most recent incidents of crime occurred in residential parking lots D, K, P and R on campus, expanding the previous scope of targeted lots. 

According to GVPD, individuals who commit vehicle-related thefts often travel to campus in stolen cars. GVPD has determined the suspects are now traveling in a vehicle without a license plate. A stolen vehicle used by a suspect broke down in Lot D on the Allendale Campus. The vehicle was recovered by GVPD, and its plates were traced back to Kentwood.

GVPD Captain Kourosh Khatir said vehicle larcenies are most often crimes of opportunity, committed when a vehicle is left unlocked. He said the vehicle that was stolen from campus had a spare key in the glove box.

“It’s amazing to me how many cars are left unlocked,” Khatir said. “Just lock the doors, make sure high value items are not in plain sight and if you see something suspicious, just give us (GVPD) a call.”

GVSU student Maddie Pope parks overnight in Lot D. She discovered her vehicle was broken into when she found one of its doors wide open.

“I walked to my car (and) my door was open,” Pope said. “I looked inside, and all my stuff from my middle console and dashboard were all over the seat.”

Fortunately for Pope, nothing was stolen from her vehicle. She said she plans to be more vigilant in the future.

“I definitely don’t want to be alone, walking at night knowing there’s people out there that are trying to cause harm,” Pope said. “(I am) also just making sure I’m locking my car and not leaving anything valuable in it.”

Khatir said there had been a significant drop in on-campus larcenies since October 2024, following a similar report that alerted students to be more vigilant about locking their vehicles. However, the last few weeks’ larceny spike seems to continue a larger trend in which larceny at the University has tripled since 2021. Khatir couldn’t definitively speak on what is driving the trend upward beyond the issues he’d previously mentioned.

“Perhaps word spread that you can just go into (lots) and (that) you’ll be successful (because) a lot of cars are left unlocked,” Khatir said.

In addition to sending out email alerts, GVPD is working with the University’s Housing and Residence Life to educate staff on preventative measures they can share with students living on campus.

“The biggest thing we can do is educate our campus community,” Khatir said. “Certainly, no spare keys should be in (vehicles).”

All vehicle theft incidents have taken place between 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., according to GVPD. Khatir said the police department is considering enhancing security camera systems in affected areas.

No information regarding arrests was available at the time this article was published.

The first episode was released on Tuesday, Feb. 4, and featured History Professor Matthew Daley. Daley is an urban historian who has been a member of GVSU’s faculty since 2004. His work focuses on U.S. history and important topics such as affordable housing and the impact of race, class and labor on communities. The conversation included what inspires him as a historian, his approach to student engagement and his current research focus.

Chirs Knape, assistant vice president of University Communications, said Mantella is excited to highlight knowledge within the faculty community.

“This (the podcast) was just one more way for her (Mantella) to shine a light on the work that they’re (faculty) doing and to build closer relationships with them (faculty),” said Knape.

Podcast guests are chosen based on suggestions from each college’s dean.

“This is actually something that we’ve worked with the deans of each college (on),” said Knape. “The deans of the colleges were asked to bring forward candidates for the podcast, and President Mantella is choosing from among the pool of who’s available based on who’s interested and who’s recommended.”

So far, the project seems to be welcomed by staff members at GVSU. Philosophy Professor Andrew Spear thinks the podcast is a great way for professors to share their passions and educate others.

“I think the podcast is a nice way to spotlight what some faculty are doing at GVSU,” Spear said. “In general, professors at GVSU feel appreciated when (their) passions and work are recognized and valued. The podcast is new, and it will be curious to see how it develops, but I think it is a nice step.”

Upon listening to the podcast’s first episode, Spear admires the thoughtful questions, focus and attention given to little details, such as the theme being composed by the University’s Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance.

“I appreciate little touches like that (the theme), as they highlight the richness of talent and expertise that GVSU has to offer,” said Spear. “I’ll be curious to see how it develops.”

Len O’Kelly, associate director of GVSU’s School of Communications, shared similar sentiments regarding the new faculty podcast.

“I think it’s a nice way to connect on an informal level,” said O’Kelly. “It’s (the podcast) got great potential. I think it’s a nice way to get to know people across campus that we may not necessarily cross paths. There are many interesting people in the GVSU community that we might not otherwise meet.”

However, O’Kelly also offered critiques of ways the podcast format could be improved. O’Kelly feels the podcast is targeted toward other faculty members and administrators.

“Honestly, I think the target audience here is wrong,” O’Kelly stated. “A podcast aimed at students to get to know people they work with on their educational journey might be more useful.”

He feels the podcast’s tone is very “work-centric,” and that asking professors more about their personal lives might help build stronger bonds between faculty and students.

“There’s an opportunity, I think, to showcase the people that make up the GVSU community as people and not just as researchers,” said O’Kelly. “It might greatly benefit faculty to have another means to connect on a personal level with a changing student population.”

In addition to these critiques, O’Kelly also expressed hope for future student involvement in the podcast.

“I’m wondering, are any students involved in the production of this podcast?” O’Kelly questioned. “This seems like a great opportunity for a particular major program to have students gaining practical experience by using skills they already possess.”

The State of the Student Senate address was held at the University’s Cook-DeWitt Center. The address highlighted various updates from each of the Senate’s five committees, along with updates from the Senate president and vice president. In addition to discussing each committee’s policies, reestablishing faculty-student relationships and solidifying responsibilities of the new “chief of staff” position were central focuses.

Senate President Quinten Proctor opened the address by providing updates on his recent work, which included reestablishing relationships between faculty and students. To do so, Proctor has worked closely with the University Academic Senate (UAS).

“Generally, faculty care a lot about the student experience and want to ensure students are successful, so student and faculty interests are aligned in many ways,” Proctor said. “I’ve worked very closely with Courtney Karasinski, the chair of (UAS), which has helped us both have a greater understanding of student and faculty perspectives on issues.”

In March, Proctor said he plans to introduce a new bill to the Senate focusing on learning disabilities, alongside Senator Brin DeVries.

“(The bill) will for sure be asking Inclusion and Equity and the (Pew) Faculty Teaching and Learning Center to create module(s) highlighting disabilities, and also (how) communication challenges can impact students’ experience and ability to engage in class,” Proctor said. “This would be a resource available to faculty seeking to better support students, and this bill will encourage faculty to use (the) module.”

The bill proposal may also call to shift a portion of mandatory staff “core competency” training to focus on inclusivity, though Proctor said the bill is still in the developmental stage.

Chief of Staff

Following Proctor’s speech, Senate Chief of Staff Evan Jackson was introduced. His position is a brand new role to Student Senate, and was established in the organization’s restructuring last year. Jackson said building the position from the ground up has been “both rewarding and challenging.”

“Since this was the first time Grand Valley’s Student Senate had a Chief of Staff, I had the unique opportunity to define what the role should be,” Jackson said. “My focus has been on three key pillars: efficiency, accountability and communication. That meant ensuring committees and executive leadership were aligned, holding senators accountable to their commitments and creating stronger communication between (the) Senate and the student body.”

Jackson said he has worked to simplify the Senate structure to make it easier for the general public to understand his position. He has also assisted senators with 193 events, and

addressed results from a mid-semester survey, which highlighted successes made by the Senate. Survey findings show that 97% of senators felt engaged during General Assembly meetings, and spotlighted a rise in organizational diversity.

Advocacy & Policy

The chair of the Senate’s Advocacy Committee, Genna Wright, shared information about multiple events that the Advocacy Committee recently helped make possible. These events include teach-ins, service opportunities honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and spreading awareness about breast cancer in October.

Wright teased the introduction of a new event in the works titled “Multicultural Night.” The event will be held on Thursday, March 29 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in Kirkhof’s Grand River Room. The event’s focus is to highlight the diverse culture found throughout the University’s campuses.

Policy Chair Alec Palumbo shared that the Policy Committee has been working to build relationships with on-campus services, such as Housing and Residence Life, Parking Services, the Office of Sustainability Practices and the University Libraries. He also shared further information about a holiday bill for international students that was passed in January by the Senate.

Other legislative updates included the introduction of a new bill to provide Narcan, menstrual products and other health-related resources to students in an accessible manner. Vice President Paris Lawson further addressed the initiative in her closing remarks.

Allocation Address

Allocations Committee Chair Nancy Boyd said the committee was able to utilize a $100,000 fund from the Office of Student Life to help 50 different student organizations.

“Student Senate is honored to support student organizations (that) have members dedicated to engaging the campus community,” Boyd said. “Allocating $100,000 to diligent and enthusiastic student organizations has been an absolute honor. They (student organizations) are the backbone of this campus.”

For any allocation of funds to be given, a registered student organization can request funding on LakerLink, which will then be reviewed by the Senate’s Allocations Committee. Following this, requests can be denied, approved or adjusted.

The committee was also able to use a portion of the reserve fund to renovate the Russel H. Kirkhof Center by upgrading audiovisual systems in several rooms of the building. The $200,000 allocation to upgrade these systems improves convenience for faculty and students. Of the 12 rooms in Kirkhof that have or are in the process of being renovated, three have received equipment to become “Zoom rooms.”

“This allocation upgrades incredibly outdated technology (in Kirkhof), and allows these rooms to accommodate events and clubs that require such technology,” Boyd said.

Public Relations Address

The Public Relations Committee’s main focus has been improving its social media engagement and collaborations with other on-campus services.

Ty Vanlerberghe, public relations chair, shared that there has been a 250% increase in the Senate’s Instagram engagement.

“Aside from collaboration, this year, I am especially proud of our expanded social media presence with an increased professionalism across our accounts,” Vanlerberghe said.

Health Vending Bill

Lawson closed out the address talking about the focus of her work in the Senate. Lawson shared that she has facilitated the Senate’s legislative process, worked on dashboard documents and recently passed a bill to add health vending machines to areas of the University’s Allendale, Pew and Health Campuses.

The machines will provide free Narcan, emergency contraception, condoms, over-the-counter medication, menstrual products and pregnancy tests.

The bill is a great pride of many senators, and Proctor said he is very proud of the Senate’s work.

“The Vice President, Paris Lawson, spent a lot of time and effort to write this bill and garner support from stakeholders across campus,” Proctor said. “I also think this bill will be impactful to students.”

Overall, Senate Events Chair Karen Theakston feels one of the most promising developments of late has been the building of unity between senators.

“I’m deeply proud of how our Student Senate has significantly ramped up its involvement in various events and activities, particularly in (its) volunteering efforts,” Theakston said. “We’ve seen a noticeable increase in collaboration among senators, (which has) fostered a sense of unity and teamwork that has been truly heartwarming.”

The bill was proposed by former Senator Immaculata James, who graduated in December 2024. James was appointed to the international student seat, a newly minted position, following the Senate’s restructuring in 2024.

“Senator James was already incredibly passionate about helping the international student community in any way she could,” said Senate Chair of Policy Alec Palumbo.

There are 600 international students at GVSU. Palumbo said the bill will further welcome students to campus, no matter where they come from, and provide a safe space to connect with others.

“Supporting international students is one of the most important ways to establish a rich culture of inclusion, in which we all feel the benefits,” Palumbo said. 

James was inspired by a previous University program that used to focus on hosting gatherings for those who remained on campus. In past years, the program provided a space for international students to connect with one another when many students went home. Over the Fall 2024 semester, James communicated with other Michigan universities that have similar programs in order to compile the bill. From introduction to editing, James’ bill went through the regular policymaking process.

“One week is used to introduce the bill, answer questions and consider constructive criticism from our members,” Palumbo said. “The next week, the Student Senate body is allowed to vote on the bill. After (that’s) done, the bill is directly charged to the University Academic Senate, which is responsible for considering ways to implement bills across campus.”

Siddhartha Poudel, a senior international student from Nepal, noted the bill means a lot to him.

“It signifies that the University is finally taking action to support international students who can’t go home for American holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Poudel. “Many international students face difficulties during the holidays, as they are the only ones that stay on campus.”

Poudel remembers spending Christmas 2023 on campus with two international friends. They made the most of their time by cooking meals that reminded them of home, and spending time together. However, with most students not at the University, Poudel said their group felt isolated.

“With no family nearby and no one else on campus, we felt isolated and vulnerable,” Poudel said. “Being so far from home heightened our feelings of homesickness, especially when we saw pictures of our American friends with their families, reminding us of what we were missing.”

Poudel is hopeful the bill will provide international students with on-campus programming over academic breaks.

“As someone who has been actively involved in the international community at Grand Valley, I feel incredibly happy and proud that Student Senate is, once again, advocating for us and striving to make the lives of international students better than before.”

Upheld by the Supreme Court in a unanimous decision on Friday, Jan. 17, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, was forced into an ultimatum: to either sell the company by Jan. 19 or be banned. Contrary to the U.S. government’s position, people across the nation, including at Grand Valley State University, expressed upset at the loss of the digital community, platform for expression and exposure to small businesses. This allows ByteDance more time to find and approve a buyer for the platform, should they decide to sell the application. 

There was speculation that users who downloaded TikTok prior to the ban would retain access but would be unable to update the app, eventually rendering it nonfunctional. Once the ban took effect, users who opened the app were faced with an apologetic message that announced content had been restricted within the United States. With the app functioning once again, it remains unclear if the content creation platform is here to stay for the future.

The ban legislation was approved in compliance with the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), an act passed in April 2024 by then-President Joe Biden. The act stated that certain apps can be banned over national security concerns. However, Biden announced he would not enforce the TikTok ban, stating he would leave it up to the Trump administration. Even without direct action from Biden, host services like Apple or Google face large fines should TikTok remain listed on app stores with the law in effect. 

President Trump ordered a ban of TikTok during his first term, which was ultimately blocked. It seems he has since changed stances on the app, and is expected to take executive measures to revert the ban during his second term. 

“I strongly suspect there’s going to be a flurry of executive orders in the second Trump administration that simply exists to undo things done in the Biden administration, whatever they are,” said Len O’Kelly, associate director for GVSU’s School of Communications and professor of journalism. “I don’t think it’s (the ban) going to be very long lived.” 

Many GVSU students are upset at the thought of losing the app. GVSU student Brooke Van De Burg expressed concern over the ban. She said she’s spent a large amount of her free time on TikTok.

“It’s very upsetting,” Van De Burg said. “I feel like we have bigger issues to deal with (in America) than banning an app.” 

Students were also skeptical about TikTok’s potential replacements. RedNote, a similar video sharing platform, has emerged as a quick substitute. 

“RedNote is a Chinese app, and I downloaded it for when TikTok gets banned,” Van De Burg said. 

Some students said they downloaded RedNote out of curiosity but doubt it will achieve TikTok’s level of success.

“I feel like everyone’s not really gonna join it (RedNote),” said GVSU student Logan Welch. “I only got it because a bunch of people on Twitter (X) were getting it, and I was like, ‘let me see.’” 

The ban raises growing concerns over freedom of the press, freedom of speech and combating misinformation. While the Supreme Court ruled the ban was not unconstitutional, the decision could have implications in the future. 

“This ban could have significant consequences for media freedom and government oversight,” said GVSU Advertising and Public Relations Professor Sera Choi. “It might open the door for more extensive intervention in what we can access or share online. While addressing harmful content is essential, there’s always a risk that such actions could lead to overreach.”

O’Kelly raised an important distinction between social media and the First Amendment.

“We don’t really have any freedom of speech on social media platforms,” O’Kelly said. “We are subject to the provider of that service. Where this does get tricky is this idea that the government can come in and decide, ‘this is acceptable, this is not.’ The blanket of using national security is something we’ve seen before.” 

It is expected that Trump will address the ban further, as he begins his first 100 days in office. 

Stuck in her bathroom, Lumley said she underwent intense discomfort and anxiety from the workers entering her space. The incident sparks questions regarding both safety procedures and the privacy of on-campus living centers.

Over break, GVSU students were given the option to stay in their on-campus residence. Lumley chose to stay in her dorm, located on the Pew Campus. She went through the typical process to obtain winter break accommodations, including submitting a digital contract and signature on her Banner housing portal.

The University informed students staying on campus that maintenance employees would be working on fire alarms in dorms, and Lumley was given a five day window to expect the repair. Multiple maintenance workers, escorted by a resident assistant (RA), first arrived to Lumley’s unit on Dec. 17. The group knocked loudly multiple times and announced themselves before entering Lumley’s room, following common procedure.

When the group returned the following day to continue repairs, Lumley, about to shower, claims they didn’t announce their presence.

“The men didn’t announce who they were, and only knocked once before entering my dorm,” Lumley said. “It was just a really, really weird situation (that) shouldn’t happen to anyone.”

Startled, Lumley alerted the workers to her presence. From the bathroom, she yelled, “Hey, I’m in here.” The three maintenance workers then acknowledged who they were, and explained what they were doing. After the men apologized to Lumley, she was under the impression they were going to return, allowing her the privacy to get dressed. However, that was not the case.

“One man started yelling through the door, ‘It’s gonna be loud in here for a few minutes, if you’ll just close the door,’” Lumley said. “Then, I was even more confused because I thought they would have given me the privacy to not be naked on the other side of (the) door while there (were) three men standing inside my dorm.”

The fire alarm began going off as the men continued to work. Throughout the encounter, Lumley said she was confused and fearful. She recorded the situation, which was shared on her TikTok account, and has since received over a thousand views. In the video, viewers can hear the maintenance workers talking to Lumley moments before the fire alarm was triggered. Many students commented on the post, sharing similar instances that have happened at GVSU, and their frustration that nothing had been done about it.

“Housing (staff) know when residents will be on campus based on responses received from the email sent before break, which (asks) residents to indicate if they will be on campus,” said Adam Tate, the facilities manager for Housing and Residence Life. “This list of residents is also provided to Grand Valley’s Police Department (GVPD) and Facilities for their usage.”

This reporting process is designed to ensure the safety of students staying on campus, and to help staff know which rooms have active residents. When students stay on campus over break, Housing provides signs that read, “STOP, This unit is occupied.” Signs are taped to the doors of applicable units.

“Multiple GVSU representatives have reached out to the resident (Lumley) to apologize,” Tate said. ”We hope to collaborate with the resident to learn more about this incident, and find ways to prevent this from happening in the future.”

However, it appears representatives only reached out to Lumley following the publication of an article by local news organization WZZM 13 on her experience. A formal apology has also since been issued to Lumley by the University.

GVSU Housing staff have coordinated a meeting with Lumley in an effort to find safer ways of maintenance working on rooms. Lumley said one of her suggestions will be adding chain locks to students’ doors. To push for change, Lumley plans to talk about what went wrong in, not only her situation, but others’ similar experiences.

“43% of campus crimes are sexual assault,” Lumley said. “25% of female college students will report sexual assault, and those are just the ones brave enough to speak up. It was a very eye-opening situation that it was so easy for someone to enter my dorm, and make me feel like I was overreacting (about) them invading my privacy while I was showering. It shouldn’t be that way.”