Grand Valley Forum, Volume 034, Number 04, September 21, 2009 Grand Valley State University
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Grand Valley State University ScholarWorks@GVSU 2009-2010, Volume 34 Grand Valley Forum, 1976- 9-21-2009 Grand Valley Forum, volume 034, number 04, September 21, 2009 Grand Valley State University Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/forum34 Part of the Archival Science Commons, Education Commons, and the History Commons Recommended Citation Grand Valley State University, "Grand Valley Forum, volume 034, number 04, September 21, 2009" (2009). 2009-2010, Volume 34. 4. http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/forum34/4 This News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Grand Valley Forum, 1976- at ScholarWorks@GVSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in 2009-2010, Volume 34 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@GVSU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MONday, SepteMber 21, 2009 a NewSletter fOr the graNd valley State uNiverSity commuNity published by News & information Services Seidman legacy will continue at Grand Valley It was appropriate that on the day the Grand tribute and honor to him.” Valley community gathered to remember founder L. William Seidman, an More than 600 people attended announcement was made that his legacy will the service. Tom Seidman continue at the university. welcomed the audience and said the only regret he had was President Thomas J. Haas announced that that his father was not there. Richard and Helen DeVos made the lead gift “He would have enjoyed this to launch efforts to construct a new building more than anyone else in the for the Seidman College of Business. The room,” Seidman said. “He loved announcement was made on Friday, being with his friends and September 11, at the Seidman memorial, held family, and as much as anything, in the Performing Arts Center on the Allendale he loved Grand Valley.” Campus. Seidman died May 13 at age 88. Many stories and memories “Rich and Helen would like to do something were shared that recalled directly memorializing Bill and holding up Seidman’s service to his the Seidman legacy very high, and with high country, his family and Photo by Amanda Pitts hopes, to keep the memory of Bill Seidman the work that helped Tom Seidman speaks during the memorial service for his father, L. William and his accomplishments alive,” Haas said. establish Grand Valley. Seidman. Behind him are, from left, President Thomas J. Haas, Richard M. The building will be located on the Pew Grand DeVos, President Emeritus Arend D. Lubbers, Birge Swift Watkins, Roger Rapids Campus, at a location to be determined. President Emeritus Arend Porter, Board of Trustees Chair Kate Pew Wolters and Sue Herera. D. Lubbers said his life DeVos, co-founder of Amway, also spoke at changed when Bill Seidman Lubbers said. “His lifetime of good deeds will the memorial service. “We are honored to came to Iowa to recruit him as president always be with us.” contribute to this old tradition of keeping this for this new college in West Michigan. school good and helping make it better,” DeVos said. “Plans are underway for this “When his life touched you, yours changed,” continues on page 4 Across Campus Naming ceremony Ron made with his family to this great that has been ranked as one of “America’s university.” 100 Best College Buys” for 13 consecutive honors VanSteeland years. “We’re really building on what he VanSteeland’s fiscal leadership helped build has contributed with his service,” Haas When Ron VanSteeland, retired vice president, the financial backbone of the university said. “We’re really building on his legacy.” spoke at the dedication of a living center that bears his name, he addressed the future President Emeritus Arend D. Lubbers Grand Valley students who will live there. remarked on the more than three decades that he and VanSteeland worked side-by-side. “To those who will follow, I hope you will “It was a great run we had together,” Lubbers enjoy, appreciate and even treasure your said. Grand Valley experience as much as I have treasured mine. If you give Grand Valley Lubbers added that it is appropriate to have your all, it will repay you many times over,” a building named for VanSteeland because VanSteeland said. of the instrumental role he played in the construction of the university’s facilities. South Living Center was renamed the Ronald F. VanSteeland Living Center during a “I don’t think there is any university that ceremony September 15. VanSteeland served received more for its money than Grand Grand Valley for 35 years before retiring in Photo by Amanda Pitts Valley when it came to construction 2001. Speaking at the ceremony, President Ron VanSteeland addresses the audience at the of buildings, and a good deal of credit Thomas J. Haas said it offered the opportunity dedication of a living center in his name on for that goes to Ron,” Lubbers said. to honor “the service and commitment that September 15. 2 Forum | September 21, 2009 Across Campus program. “Grand Valley has been a valued partner, whether it is Stuffing the bus providing tutors, helping design our Strategic Tutoring sessions or constructing our tutor database,” said Fritz Crabb, director of literacy initiatives for Heart of West Michigan United Way. Vice President for Inclusion and Equity Jeanne Arnold served as a tutor at Sibley Elementary. “It’s just so rewarding to know that you can spend as little as a half hour a week and help make a significant improvement in a student’s reading scores,” she said. Esther Ricco, executive secretary for Finance and Administration, also volunteered at Sibley last year. “Participating in the Schools of Hope program this past year not only allowed me to help a young child build their reading skills, but it also made me more aware of just how much this program is needed in our public schools,” she said. Photo by Amanda Pitts Now in its ninth year, the Schools of Hope Heart of West Michigan United Way volunteers join Grand Valley program has matched more than 6,000 volunteers to stuff a Grand Rapids Public Schools’ bus full of supplies individuals who provide tutoring to more than 5,000 early elementary in front of the Kirkhof Center on September 11, the national day of caring. Also, in response to a TRiO back-to-school event, the Financial students during school hours. There is currently a waiting list of Aid, Housing, Records and Admissions offices collected more than children who are hoping to be matched with reading volunteers, 600 items for that drive. but administrators at participating schools say the program offers tremendous results. United Way program focuses on Two training sessions are scheduled in October for prospective tutors, literacy, looks for volunteers with the goal of increasing the number of faculty and staff tutors for this year by at least 20 percent. Individuals who are interested in tutoring For the second year in a row, Grand Valley is encouraging faculty and should speak with their supervisors first. Volunteers must be staff members and students to volunteer for a United Way program willing to spend at least 30 minutes each week tutoring a child aimed at helping improve literacy among students in Grand Rapids (if time doesn’t permit, two volunteers may share a child). Public Schools. Tutoring sessions are held when school is in session. Grand Valley is Heart of West Michigan United Way is focused on closing the reading focusing on Stocking Elementary, though volunteers may chose any achievement gap between urban and suburban students through of the 15 participating GRPS locations. Volunteers must clear both tutoring programs. Michigan State Police and Child Abuse and Neglect background checks and attend one two-hour training session. Interested One of those programs, Schools of Hope, is an in-school reading participants should contact Sue Sloop at x12215 or [email protected] . tutor program. More than 150 Grand Valley faculty, staff and students participated in the 2008-09 United Way Schools of Hope Across Campus continues on page 3 fORUM volume 34, Number 4 GVFaces The GVSU Forum is published by the News and Information Services Office. The submission Kim Patrick, director, Patrick has many deadline is Tuesday noon. Send publication items new ideas he wants to Michele Coffill, editor, c/o [email protected]. Procurement Services to introduce to Grand Telephone: 616-331-2221. Fax: 616-331-2250. Valley. One is to Faculty and staff members can find an online Are you out of computer paper? Does your enhance the Purchasing “Sketches” submission form on the Web at department need more testing materials? The www.gvsu.edu/forum . Card Program, “P-card” Office of Procurement Services is responsible for short, which News and Information Services Staff: for purchasing about 90 percent of everything simplifies and reduces Mary Eilleen Lyon, assistant vice president the university needs, from automobiles to cost during the Sherry Bouwman, NIS assistant printer ink. Dottie Barnes, communications specialist purchasing process. Brian J. Bowe, communications specialist Kim Patrick Michele Coffill, communications specialist Kim Patrick is the director of Procurement “I hope to grow the Mary Isca Pirkola, communications specialist Services, which is located in Lake Michigan P-card program Bernadine Carey Tucker, photography manager Hall. He joined Grand Valley’s staff in May. and make it a platform and revenue Elizabeth Lienau, photography coordinator He is also the deputy mayor of Ionia. In that generator for Grand Valley,” he said. Amanda Pitts, photographer capacity he visits and speaks with city Heather DeWitt, student writer organizations and stands in for the mayor Patrick said he believes continuous Abby Hartig, student writer when the mayor is unavailable. Leah Zuber, student writer learning is very important.