The event commemorated over 50 years of global feminist theory and progress. Speakers facilitated a variety of seminars discussing gender politics of the United Nations, intersectional feminism, reproductive rights, economic disparities and international women’s suffrage. 

Thursday’s first keynote speaker was Jallicia Jolly, a writer, poet, reproductive justice organizer and professor of American studies and Black studies at Amherst College. Jolly gave a presentation titled “Black Feminist Futures: Care, Community and Transnational Reproductive Justice.” Later that afternoon, Jocelyn Olcott, a professor at Duke University, facilitated a talk on the 1975 International Women’s Year Conference in Mexico City hosted by the United Nations. Olcott discussed the conference’s integral role in feminist advocacy worldwide.

On Friday, Carmen Diana Deere continued the conversation regarding the International Women’s Year Conference. She is a professor of Latin American Studies and Food & Resource Economics at the University of Florida, and is also a distinguished professor in Quito, Ecuador. Deere’s research has focused on gender in Latin American agriculture, women’s property rights and wealth inequality.

“You can’t look at women’s issues without considering class and dependency,” Deere said. “Feminism didn’t enter my consciousness at all until the 1970s. I never had a female professor, and was in a sorority where the norm was (to) get engaged by senior year. I was an odd duck to get my (master’s degree) and go to Latin America.”

Directly following Deere’s presentation, Heather Switzer spoke on “Girls in Development: Discovering Girls, Producing Girl Effects.” The seminar delved into ‘the girl child’ phenomenon and the vulnerabilities of violence, malnourishment and infanticide against young girls on a global scale.

“(Asking) Africa as a whole, and girls in particular, to create their own salvation under ongoing conditions of externally imposed austerity (is) like asking a caged mouse to scramble to freedom,” Switzer said. “No matter how active (a person is), (they are) still confined in a cage.”

Also on Friday morning, Durba Mitra discussed feminism in the Global South and the paradox surrounding the United Nations’ Year and Decade for Women. Mitra is an associate professor of women, gender and sexuality studies at Harvard University, and brought attention to the integral nuances of the global feminist conversation.

During Friday’s afternoon sessions, Anna Gollub, the policy analyst of economic institutions within the Economic Empowerment section of UN Women, spoke on “Becoming UN Women.” To conclude the conference, a seminar titled “Feminism Remains Foreign: Ideals vs Practice for Gender Justice” was given by Kavita Ramdas, a senior strategic advisor at International Planned Parenthood. Ramdas is globally recognized for her advocacy in global gender equity, and from 2023-2024, was the activist in residence at the Global Fund for Women. The talk reflected on the various lessons Ramdas learned during her residence and why feminism, as an ideology and aspirational set of ideals and values, remains unintegrated in policies both at home and abroad.

The symposium wrapped up on a hopeful note, and reiterated how the women’s liberation movement has developed throughout history and around the globe.

In compliance with the Trump administration’s latest orders, 37 Michigan USFS employees who protected the Huron-Manistee and Ottawa National Forests were affected by layoffs. Additionally, 12 to 15 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees, who protect native fish from invasive sea lamprey, were laid off. The Trump administration slashed USFS’s annual budget nationally, which means USFS will not only be understaffed, but also underfunded. 

Michigan is home to five national forests and the largest reserve of freshwater in the world, which makes the state pivotal to many ecosystems. USFS employees manage forests, protect wildlife and oversee national resources. The agency also conducts research to determine best practices to best maintain and sustain parks and wildlife, through advising on infrastructure and protecting accessibility to park systems. 

“Forest Service workers are so important because they manage national forests, which belong to all Americans,” said Jennifer Moore, an associate professor of biology at Grand Valley State University.  “(Forest Service workers) are essential stewards of our public lands, (and) play a crucial role in preventing environmental degradation.” 

According to Central Michigan University, an estimated 3,400 USFS employees were laid off in the first few weeks of February. In other words, 10% of the USFS workforce has been cut in less than a month. Several USFS employees were notified of their termination over the phone on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. leading some to dub the date as a “Valentine’s Day Massacre.” Although the workers were told they had been laid off due to performance issues, many had positive reviews and solid work records. 

“The U.S. Forest Service, in particular, employs some of the hardest working people in the Nation,” Moore said. “These people are doing incredibly important work managing wildlife and our public forests, while conserving wildlife and other natural and cultural resources. Most of this work is done as a labor of love, and not for the financial gain.”

While wildlife firefighters have generally been spared by layoffs, many of the workers that were let go were also certified in fighting fires and often participated in control burns. The mass layoffs have incited concerns regarding USFS’s ability to effectively fight off invasive species and fires nationwide. Environmental disasters such as oil spills, air quality issues and water contamination pose additional concerns.

“Natural ecosystems provide (resources) that people don’t typically think about, like clean air, clean water, medicine, hardwood floors, furniture, paper towels, Amazon packaging and many others,” said Alexander Locher, a professor of natural resource management and wildlife biology at GVSU. “Ultimately, we all are accountable for conserving natural ecosystems and all the beings within them because they literally are our backbone for survival.” 

The layoffs have prompted several unions to file a lawsuit against the Trump administration for wrongful termination, and have inspired many to protest across the country. The union that represents USFS workers, the National Federation of Federal Employees’ Forest Service Council (FSC), has filed a lawsuit, alongside multiple other unions. The lawsuit claims the Trump administration’s orders are unconstitutional for the following reasons:

• Using deferred resignation to pressure employees into voluntary resignation 
• Firing probationary employees
• Use of large-scale reductions in force (RIFs)
• Undermining Congress’s authority 

The Trump administration and DOGE have claimed the layoffs were necessary to cut back on government spending; however, only an estimated 5-6% of total government spending contributes to the salaries of federal workers. It is unclear how the layoffs have affected government spending, as DOGE continuously posts discrepant and inaccurate data on the issue. 

“The courts must intervene and hold this administration accountable for violating federal laws before it is too late,” said Randy Erwin, the president of the National Federation of Federal Employees. “Federal workers are your friends and neighbors who have dedicated their careers to serving our country. We cannot let the President disrupt their lives and dismantle critical services relied upon by the American people.”

The unpredictability of climate change prompts questions from researchers and uncertainty from climate change deniers. However, irregular weather events have spurred many to look to climate change as the source. Erratic events like rampant fires in Los Angeles, blizzards in Southern states and even inconsistent Michigan winters are all signs of climate change, but it’s not the sole culprit.

A recent story published by The Atlantic warns of unforeseen effects of climate change and pollution, stating the “coming decades may be far worse, and far weirder” than even the most advanced technology can illustrate.

Robert Hollister, a professor of biology at GVSU, draws from 20 years of experience as an educator in environmental science to insist on a different conclusion. Hollister said current erratic weather events were predicted, to some degree, almost 30 years ago.

“I can say with great confidence that the events happening now (sea level rise, hurricane intensity, drought, flooding and fires) were predicted in the 1990s,” Hollister said. “You can go back, read the literature and find, in broad terms, (that) it (the literature) was accurate.”

Though historical predictions offer only generalizations about climate change’s impacts, an argument can be made that some predication is enough indication to rebuke the claim spotlighted by The Atlantic. According to Hollister, the more pertinent issue climate models have trouble predicting is the amount of greenhouse gasses being put into the atmosphere.

“In the broadest terms, the biggest uncertainty (is) about what emission of greenhouse gasses will be,” Hollister said. “We (environmental scientists) understand the impact of greenhouse gasses on the climate at broad scales.”

Laura Schneider is an associate professor of political science at GVSU. As a specialist in environmental policy, Schneider said climate change measurements are a complicated issue.

“All we have ever had to ‘predict’ climate change is computer models,” Schneider said. “Depending upon the data the computer analyses, we get different projections on what might happen to the climate.”

Schneider said that scientists have never been able to predict the future with certainty.

“What scientists are now seeing is that some of our worst-case scenarios are coming true,” Schneider said. “Some changes are happening faster than anticipated, so (climate maps) need to be adjusted with what we’re seeing now to better assess what might happen in the future.”

There are aspects of certain geographical areas more susceptible to certain events, like California’s hot, dry biome. However, Hollister said climate change still contributes to disasters’ severity. According to the World Resources Institute, “unusually severe weather conditions” led to the Palisades and Eaton fires having been some of the deadliest wildfires in California history.

“Climate change makes wildfires more likely, and more likely to be worse,” Hollister said. “But any given fire is a result of the weather at that moment in time, and other factors like land use and fire suppression (play a role).”

Schneider agreed, pointing to the contribution of industrial factors like zoning and building codes to the already prominent fire risk in Southern California.

“The wildland/urban interface and the geography of the region made it a bad situation when fire erupted,” Schneider said. “It wasn’t one or two fires, it was a handful, (which was) beyond expected. Climate change is, in part, about the unprecedented, (and) we certainly see that here.”

In Michigan, changes in precipitation, extreme temperature swings and intense storms are the result of global warming. Inconsistent, unpredictable weather patterns have caused a slew of issues in agriculture. One of the most distinct effects of climate change here is sparse ice coverage on the Great Lakes.

Other obvious conditions are visible on ”ozone action days” during Michigan summers, when residents are advised to limit outdoor activities for health reasons.

“Warmer air is more likely to have ozone and other unhealthy compounds,” Hollister said. “That said, fires in Canada have greatly impacted Michigan summers due to smoke.”

Consequences will persist and conditions will worsen if there is not more aggressive legislative action from the U.S. government. Governmental orders addressing the root of climate change at state and federal levels are inconsistent and incomplete, according to Schneider.

“We do not have a federal policy that directly addresses the problem of climate change,” Schneider said. “We have policies at the federal level that address pieces of climate change, like investment in renewable energy, (but) if we are serious about combating climate change, we need to do better.”

GVSU ranked 27th  in this year’s list, following the University of Connecticut and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. This recognition highlights the University as an established leader for sustainability in higher education– a feat set through infrastructure, practices and campus organizations advocating for eco-friendly action.

According to the Princeton Review, institutions are chosen through analysis of school-reported data and student opinion gathered from institutional and student surveys. The website also states that schools on the list share “superb sustainability practices, a strong foundation in sustainability education and a healthy quality of life for students on campus.”

Yumiko Jakobcic, the director of the Office of Sustainability Practices at GVSU, said she was not surprised by the ranking, due to the University’s prolonged efforts to foster sustainability. 

“There are so many people here (at GVSU) who are committed to sustainability and who do this work quietly behind the scenes,” Jakobcic said. “For that reason, I wasn’t especially surprised to hear that we made the list, but I was very grateful. To me, this list position is an acknowledgment of all the collective work everyone does to support sustainability at Grand Valley, including our students.”

Though he is happy to see GVSU on the list, Mark Schaub, the dean of the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies, said it is more important to continue making the University’s campuses greener through increased initiatives. 

“GVSU has historically shown well on those lists, and of course, I am delighted to see us there, but I also do not put great value on these kinds of lists,” Schaub said. 

Jakobcic and Schaub highlighted the importance of the Department of Facilities Planning in creating sustainable infrastructure at GVSU. One example of such infrastructure are the rooftop gardens found atop multiple campus buildings, including the Mary Idema Pew Library, The Blue Connection, Mackinac Hall, Frederik Meijer Honors College and the Kindschi Hall of Science.

These gardens do more than just provide pretty scenery. The rooftop plants absorb rainwater that’s released back into the atmosphere– a process that can reduce rainwater runoff by up to 90%. Less rainwater runoff reduces the pressure on storm drainage systems, reduces erosion in the ravines surrounding campus and protects Allendale’s plant life.

The multitude of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) projects at the University also contribute to GVSU’s sustainability successes. According to Jakobcic, functions like heating, ventilation and air conditioning, lighting, materials and water efficiency are all operations that students might not realize are actually coming from sustainable sources. For example, part of the energy GVSU uses to perform essential functions comes from a solar garden south of Pierce Street. 

Jakobcic said green cleaning programs and monitoring energy use, among other projects, are supervised by the University’s Facilities Services.

“One thing I really love about Grand Valley is that students are often engaged in sustainable practices without realizing it because it’s become so ingrained in our way of life as Lakers,” Jakobcic said. “When you walk, bike, board, take the bus or carpool with friends, you’re utilizing more sustainable transportation options.”

In addition, campus organizations educate GVSU community members on sustainable practices. The Office of Sustainability Practices hosts events, such as volunteering with the Sustainable Agricultural Program (SAP), thrift swaps, and are working toward “zero waste football games” and other campus cleanup initiatives. 

“We have student organizations doing really amazing things,” Jakobcic said. “For example, GVSU Beekeepers, Farm Club, the Student Environmental Coalition and so many more. Everyone in our office is happy to speak with students about ways to connect to more sustainable practices.”  

While progress in cementing green practices has been made, Schaub said there is still room for improvement. 

“Campus-wise, lots could be done to cut our collective carbon footprint, but also to return the lived environment to a more diverse ecosystem,” Schaub said. “We could do with fewer expanses of fertilized, mono-culture grass that needs mowing with two-stroke engines, and more mini-prairies and habitats for insects, birds, snakes and all our other friends.”

Addressing students interested in sustainability practices, Schaub said any effort is a step in the right direction. 

“Educate yourself, and then try (to make a difference),” Schaub said. “None of us are or will be perfect, but each of us can be better.”

The Just Baked vending machine was brought to the library to accommodate students during long study sessions. As student schedules vary, the new machine is an attempt to fill the demand for accessible, round-the-clock dining options. The Just Baked machine is accessible to students and library patrons during all open hours, and provides more meal options for students while studying.

The new machine offers a number of hot meals like potstickers, mac and cheese and cheese-filled soft pretzels. 

“The decision was based on feedback from students and staff requesting more food options, especially during late hours,” said Glen Behan, the food service director for GVSU’s Laker Food Co. “The library is a central hub for studying, and we wanted to offer a way for students to access hot food without having to leave the building.”

Prior to the new installation, the only option for fresh food service at the library was the coffee and tea shop GV Brew. GV Brew primarily offers different beverage options and a small selection of light snacks, but has very specific and limited hours.

Some students expressed that previously, they didn’t eat in the library due to the lack of food options.

“I normally get the sushi from the dining area in Kindschi Hall, but I’ll try any food on campus,” said GVSU senior Ian Rant. “I normally don’t eat inside the library, but I like the idea of having food and snack options there so when I’m studying, I don’t have to leave my spot to find food.” 

However, some students have questioned the quality of the vending machine’s meals, as a handful of the meals are made with perishable ingredients like meat and eggs. Since the machine is able to serve hot food, many students speculate the meals must be pre-made, and have questioned their freshness. Behan said students shouldn’t worry because the food is properly managed and prepared in a made to order fashion. The new machine also sends real-time data to the machine’s supplier, Day One Vending, to allow for accurate and efficient restocking.

“The meals are sealed and stored in temperature-controlled compartments within the machine,” Behan said. “The machine uses smart technology to heat the meals to the ideal temperature when selected, ensuring freshness and optimal taste.”

Behan assured that each meal has an expiration date that is followed strictly, and that food is removed from the machine prior to its expiration. 

“Inventory is monitored closely to minimize food waste, (and we) adjust the supply based on consumption patterns,” Behan said.

According to Behan, more popular locations on campus are being considered for the addition of even more machines. GVSU’s Pew Campus downtown Grand Rapids is expecting to welcome three Just Baked machines in the near future.

The statement was originally attributed to Sydney Smith, John Ball Zoo Communications Strategist, and was information from the John Ball Zoo as a whole. 

Additionally, the original article referred to “John Ball Zoo’s mission statement,” but the information about community collaboration was instead part of the conversations around the 2023 Amendment to the master plan.

On Thursday, Jan. 25, the Kent County Board of Commissioners approved a proposal by John Ball Zoo that would add 900 new parking spaces to its parking lot. This expansion would mean the green space surrounding the zoo, known as John Ball Park, would be paved over. The zoo’s 110-acre green space has been used as a neighborhood park for outdoor recreation since it opened in 1891.

John Ball Zoo’s expansion plan includes constructing a road and several new parking spaces that would extend over the park. It’s estimated the expansion will cost $10 million to $11 million and will be completed within the next two years.

A revised expansion plan was presented to the Board and has a focus on eco-friendliness. The proposal by John Ball Zoo is being reviewed to reduce parking from 12 acres to 10 while preserving as many trees as possible. If approved, the revised plan would also ensure the hillside trails surrounding the zoo will be maintained.

“The 2023 Amendment includes protections for existing wildlife and the environment through the incorporation of pollinator gardens, trees, rain gardens, grass fields and usable green space. The zoo is currently in the planning and design stages of the project and is exploring the possibility of including solar lighting, electric car charging stations and other green infrastructure,” said Sydney Smith, John Ball Zoo Communications Strategist.

CEO of John Ball Zoo Peter D’Arienzo and County Commissioner Ben Greene support the proposal on the basis that the zoo is growing and needs to accommodate increasing visitation. John Ball Zoo’s parking system hasn’t been expanded since 1963, even though the number of visitors has steadily increased over the years. An estimated 50,000 additional visitors will come to the zoo in 2024, adding to its 700,000 visitor average.

There has been some pushback from county residents and environmental activists. Residents have been protesting the parking lot expansion since 2015 when the proposal was initially approved with a plan that included paving over the park. After the plan went public, the “Save John Ball Park” slogan was created, which residents used to urge the board to reject the request. Some of the “Save John Ball Park” group’s efforts include creating petitions, producing Save John Ball Park T-shirts and proposing alternative parking locations to the Board of Commissioners. However, 11 out of 17 county commissioners approved the expansion despite the group’s efforts. 

When discussion arose over the 2023 parking plan, the Save John Ball issued a petition saying, “It is unacceptable to make changes that impact our neighborhood so significantly without meaningfully engaging with us.”

The Save John Ball Park group had requested a district designation from the City of Grand Rapids in order to preserve the green space surrounding the zoo. The petition currently has 1,321 out of 2,000 signatures against the expansion. 

“There is no shortage of surface parking lots in Grand Rapids and in our neighborhood,” said Amy Hinman, a member of the Save John Ball Park group. 

John Ball Zoo’s mission statement highlights community engagement, saying, “We’ve engaged with our community through a series of public workshops and meetings since 2018.” As a result of community conversations, the zoo created the “revised 2023 plan that improves the park to meet the needs of the westside neighborhood while serving Kent County as a whole.”

Amy McFarland, Global Studies professor at Grand Valley State University, feels John Ball Zoo is making efforts consistent with their environmental principles.

“John Ball Zoo can work to balance the need to expand with the environment by implementing other projects that will help manage negative impacts,” McFarland said. “They have already done much of this work over the years, especially with the recent installation of a living building with their pygmy hippo habitat, and it is likely they have plans in place to do so.”

In 2024’s report, Johnson Center Program Director Aimée Laramore and Research Associate Crisol Beliz wrote an article titled, “Financial Stress and Philanthropic Influence: The Precarious Promise of Generation Z.” According to Laramore, the article discusses the general phenomenon of Generation Z (people born from 1997 to 2012) having more philanthropic desire than previous generations. However, Gen Z has less capacity to contribute to philanthropy due to the financial stress that they have inherited. 

“I certainly care about whether or not Gen Z is generous, whether or not Gen Z gives back and whether or not Gen Z serves on the board, but I think we cannot have that conversation out of context,” Laramore said. “Without asking what is Gen Z paying for education? What types of jobs are Gen Z individuals looking for? What are the implications of what Gen Z has seen in their lifetime?”

Dr. Raymond Higbea, Director of the School of Leadership and Development and the Director of the Master of Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership graduate program at GVSU, said the article shows the difference in philanthropic desire between generations. 

“The Gen Z’s have less capacity to give because they have less money,” Higbea said. “They’re not making the same kind of money that the baby boomers made. They have less capacity to give, but it’s flipped with a higher desire to give back.” 

Many students at GVSU feel they can make little difference because they don’t have the same access to financial resources. Leah Stawara, a junior at GVSU, said she does what she can with what she has. 

“I try to be mindful about my actions and make whatever decision is best for the greater good in my judgment,” Stawara said. “Money is always on my mind.” 

Laramore said while the article is general, she made sure to take into account as many individual factors as she was able to. 

“I try to ensure that in the article we don’t paint Gen Z as just one demographic or one group, so even as we talk about the financial complexities, we know that there are individuals who are of high wealth in addition to those that are struggling and relying on the help and support of a family to make a difference,” said Laramore. “We try to help individuals that respond to a soundbite or one characteristic of a generation without looking at the fullness of who they are and who they aspire to be.” 

Laramore said she recognizes the importance of Gen Z as a generation of people and their capacity to make change. 

“I had a mentor who said you should always be surrounded by people who are younger and wiser,” said Laramore.

As a whole, the list of 11 philanthropic trends to watch for covers several different areas of focus. Higbea pointed out that the articles “With Thousands of Incarcerated Students Enrolled in Higher Education, How Do We Measure Success?” and “Affordable Housing is a National Crisis with a Distinct Local Impact” are incredibly important to consider as well. 

Higbea said the report by the Johnson Center at GVSU is unique because it is not a common document to find within the nonprofit sector. 

“You need to know where your industry is moving, so (the report is) helping you keep abreast of what’s going on,” said Higbea. “This is unique in the nonprofit world. It’s created by the Johnson Center.”

Higbea said he thinks the field of philanthropy is one that everyone should look further into. 

“I think it’s a growing field. It’s a fascinating and very giving field. It’s a chance to give back to the community and I would encourage anybody to look into it,” said Higbea. “Whether it’s a full-time job position or as a volunteer, it’s always good to give back to your community in any way you can.”

GVSU regularly expresses the importance of student health and wellbeing, however, many students feel this is inconsistent with the university practices, particularly regarding attendance. Students recently received a campus-wide email from Student Health Services earlier in the month warning of the impending cold and flu season. The email outlined the potential risk of sickness as well as basic practices to keep students health. This email, among many others of a similar construct from different university resources, blatantly asked students to refrain from attending class if they are feeling under the weather, preaching the overall health needs of the community in a fashion reminiscent of COVID-19.

“If you’re sick, please stay home,” wrote Director of Student Health Services Edward Jones in the email, linking the Communicable Disease Prevention page on the GVSU website.

The page states that the campus attendance policy supports students staying home from classes if they are sick, however, that is not true of campus faculty, staff or any university student employment organization in practice; nor is it actually addressed in said policy. Student experience speaks to this, as well as a general consensus among students of missing the less-strict attendance options post of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“(During the COVID-19 pandemic) I feel like it (attendance) was lenient, all you had to say was ‘I have COVID,’” said Grand Valley State University student Lauren Gilmore.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the university implemented rules from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the goal of lessening the spread of COVID-19. At the time, masks were required of all students, staff and faculty on all campus property. Free COVID-19 testing at Kleiner Commons for students, and there was a required quarantine period for all students if a student did have a positive test result. 

According to the GVSU academic policies and regulations, “Faculty members will make reasonable accommodations for students when an absence is excused.” However, to get an excused absence students must either get a doctor’s note for class or be missing class for a reason that falls under the excused absence list, which for some of the student population can be difficult and not accommodating for their situation. During COVID-19, many of the university policies regarding attendance were less stringent when it came to what constituted an excused absence. 

Students who don’t have cars also often find it difficult to make appointments to get a doctor’s note in order to receive an excused absence. 

“I do think we have to realize for some people it’s not possible, either they don’t have transportation, they don’t have insurance, they are unsure about going to the health office,” said GVSU Professor Meegan Zickus. 

According to an article by GV Next, “There is a low uninsured rate in Kent County, about one in five people surveyed still reported a difficult time affording medical care and/or prescription drugs.”

GVSU senior Alayna Hope recently experienced some difficulties with attendance due to COVID-19. Hope said a classmate believed their grades had been affected due to COVID-19 absences.

“The student I heard this from was missing for two days and said they got knocked down points in their attendance even though (the student) sent in proof of their positive test,” Hope said. “But then I also was missing for Covid the same week and I didn’t miss anything for my attendance grade so I’m not sure if their grade was lower from something else (or if it wasn’t properly communicated).”

There is a reason for such policies on campus, however. Zickus said some students may take advantage of a more lenient attendance policy. 

“I don’t think there’s room for any other policy, because unfortunately, you have people that abuse it,” Zickus said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many students noticed the university and professors were more lenient when it came to attendance. Roughly a year ago, the university transitioned back to its original, pre-pandemic attendance policies. 

“There is a growing consensus that the extreme flexibility of the COVID years does not promote the student success outcomes that all desire,” said Ed Aboufadel, the Senior Associate Vice President for Student Affairs at GVSU.

There are fewer opportunities for students to make up classes with the attendance policy back to normal. Some professors feel that students would be able to stay home when sick and prevent the spread of illness if there were more resources available if an absence was necessary. 

“I would be a much stronger advocate for having more options to make up class sessions, whether the class sessions be recorded,” Zickus said. 

Some GVSU professors have options for students to make up class, such as video recordings of the lecture or other ways to earn participation. For the majority of students, once they miss a class for sickness or other reasons, they simply miss out on that day of learning. 

Although COVID-19 is still around, it is not longer classified as a global pandemic or a worldwide health concern. College lectures and sickness policies have found themselves back to where they were before the pandemic. However, some questions still remain about how fair the academic policies and regulations are to students.

More information about academic policies and regulations at GVSU can be found in the Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog on the GVSU website. Jones invites students to bring any questions or concerns with the attendance policy enforcement to him via his office phone number or through the Academic Grievances Procedures.

As a state with a large number of lakes and fishing as a popular hobby, this is something Michigan Cares for Tourism (MC4T) believes that we need to be extra aware of. MC4T is a 100% nonprofit, 100% voluntary organization that serves to give back to Michigan’s cultural, natural and historical sites. 

About a year ago, MC4T began a project to create monofilament recycling tubes to be placed in the water at each of the over 1,100 different boat launch sites across the state. According to an MC4T press release, this is part of the National Boat Foundation’s initiative to put these receptacles in every state. 

Patty Janes, PH.D., a Grand Valley State University professor in Hospitality and Tourism Management and founder of MC4T, said these receptacles provide an easy opportunity for people to protect the water. 

“That was to help protect water, the environment that fisherpeople would take, or anybody, would take any monofilament that they had extra line after fishing, and instead of throwing in the water, these tubes would be readily available at these launches, so you could in turn just put the filament there,” Janes said. 

According to the press release, MC4T mobilized the final round of volunteers to finish constructing the receptacles on Sept. 29. These volunteers are made up of faculty, staff and students from GVSU’s College of Education and Community Innovation, one of MC4T’s partners for this project. MC4T also worked closely with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for this project.

Janes said the monofilament receptacles will be emptied frequently.

“I don’t know how often they all are checked, but the DNR is at their sites every day, so it depends on the season,” Janes said. 

This project was one of two that MC4T completed this year. The other initiative involved a trip to the Porcupine Mountains State Park to help complete service projects. Adam Prielipp, a graduate assistant for MC4T, says a group of about 160 volunteers took a bus up to the mountains for a two-day experience. 

“We did, I wanna say, like 16 different service projects. While we were there we split up into groups and the park rangers said that we got like four or five months of work done in just a couple of days so that was awesome,” Prielipp said. 

According to another MC4T press release, “There was a myriad of service projects that included, repainting park facilities, replacing old guard rails, reroofing park yurts and graveling nature trails.”

MC4T plans multiple events a year that directly give back to Michigan communities. Their website has resources to learn about more events, donate to the cause and volunteer to assist in projects.

The event description explains that tensions quickly rise in many school board meetings across the U.S., frequently turning what is intended to be a civil conversation into “shouting matches” and “threats of violence.” As this escalation often goes hand in hand with the political polarization of communities, the discourse symposium seeks to examine how to engage in productive dialogue and show respect for all voices.

During the panel discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to hear remarks from four educational professionals with ties to GVSU as well as Endowed Professor of Civil Discourse and former Michigan school superintendent Gregory Warsen. Individuals can take the ideas they learned from the panel by participating in moderated roundtable discussions with eight to nine other participants. 

“(Conversations have) really progressed from healthy disagreement to, you know, death threats. It’s issues like that (which) certainly motivated me to apply for the position but that’s also, I think, some of the motivation for the symposium itself,” Warsen said. “There’s got to be a better way and there is a better way, and that’s really what we want to put on display, November 16.”

Panelists will include the retired superintendent of Forest Hills Public Schools Dan Behm, Treasurer Rick Dernberger of the Ottawa County Board of Education, Taylor Preparatory Academy Dean Dominique Rickett and Grandville High School teacher Alexia Youngman. Warsen will be moderating the panel.

“There’s plenty of research and literature on disagreeing well and what that looks like,” Warsen said. “Hopefully symposiums like this kind of put some of that work on display so people get a sense of what that can look like.”

The Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse is also a member of the Listen First Coalition. This program works to bridge together traditionally polarized groups of individuals by encouraging them to listen and understand each other to find common ground. By doing so, the initiative seeks to increase social cohesion, promote identification and solve common challenges. 

“These issues are so charged right now because education and schooling is so politicized,” said Lisa Perhamus the Director of Civil Discourse Center. “I really think there’s a need to have this symposium and to have this conversation in a way that’s sort of structured and constructive to show all of us that it’s possible.”

The symposium is projected to have one of the largest audiences yet, with around 200 attendees currently RSVP’d for Thursday night. Previous years’ events have also been well-attended, providing an opportunity for insightful conversations about art, science, and current events. 

“​​The mission of the (Civil Discourse) Center is to engage people in difficult yet necessary conversations with the goal of increasing mutual understanding and deepening community,” Perhamus said. “We envision an inclusive set of communities where multiple perspectives are welcome, and every person feels respected and a sense of belonging. So, in this symposium, we’re going to be bringing a lot of different people together.” 

For GVSU students currently taking integrative studies or honors courses, the event is approved for INT 100, INT 201, and HNR 201 credit. The symposium is free and open to the general public, but individuals must register to attend. Light refreshments will be provided before the talk begins.