University Mourns Loss of Artist, Musician
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Grand Valley State University ScholarWorks@GVSU Volume 43, July 10, 2008 - June 7, 2009 Lanthorn, 1968-2001 11-24-2008 Lanthorn, vol. 43, no. 28, November 24, 2018 Grand Valley State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/lanthorn_vol43 Part of the Archival Science Commons, Education Commons, and the History Commons Recommended Citation Grand Valley State University, "Lanthorn, vol. 43, no. 28, November 24, 2018" (2008). Volume 43, July 10, 2008 - June 7, 2009. 27. https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/lanthorn_vol43/27 This Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Lanthorn, 1968-2001 at ScholarWorks@GVSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Volume 43, July 10, 2008 - June 7, 2009 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@GVSU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Dig in to Thanksgiving, A7 Photo slideshow of the Splash Bash at Lanthorn.com (Brant) mllepKantfjorn Grand Valley Stale University www.lanthorn.com Monday, November 24, 2008 University mourns loss Voice of untenured of artist, musician faculty in After discovering deaths of two students, Grand Valley State University students, faculty remember, honor Brown, Ward question By Jenny Whalen his phenomenal talent as a musician. By Chelsea Ponstein (iVL Managing k'ditor “Doug was nothing less than wonderful to me GVL Staff Writer in my time with him,” said Matt Brunner, fellow Though the world may never realize its loss, For the past week, faculty musician and friend of Ward. "His enthusiasm members have had the opportunity members of the Allendale Campus will remember about music was contagious and he was a great the student artists whose lives were taken to participate in a survey focused on mentor on the trombone to me. I will miss him the issue of whether or not untenured prematurely. greatly.” Douglas William Ward. 26, and Amber Rose faculty members should be allowed Ward and Brown were found deceased in a to vote on personnel actions and Brown, 20. will be missed by many, having touched sport utility vehicle parked in a wooded area in the lives of friends and strangers alike in their time decisions. Muskegon County ’s White River Township shortly According to an e-mail sent to at GVSU. after 9 p.m. Wednesday by relatives of Brown. “I never knew who he was, but I always heard all faculty members from Kristine Mullendore, chair of the Executive him practicing by the lake,” said Devon Neumann, See Loss, A2 Courtesy Photo / Facebook.com sophomore nursing major. "I never paid a whole lot Blooms: Brown was an aspiring artist. This is one of her works. Committee of of attention, but I got to expect to the University see him there playing.” Academic Senate, Though not recognized by the personnel name. Ward was a familiar sight actions would for many GVSU students as he involve contract often practiced his trombone renewal, tenure in different locations around and promotion of campus. He was especially tenured faculty. fond of playing outside the “This was Performing Arts Center and in a proposal by the arboretum. the (Faculty “His music will be missed, ” Personnel Policy Neumann said. “He made me Committee) smile as I walked to class.” during the winter A graduate of Interlochen term 2008 to Center for the Arts, Ward was revise the policy a resident of Aiken, S.C. and of whether would have graduated GVSU in untenured April with a bachelor’s degree in (faculty) could music. vote, ” Mullendore A native of Montague, Mich., said. “The Brown was a junior at GVSU essential question pursuing a degree in psychology. is who should “Her real dream was to be a writer and a painter,” be eligible to said Deanna Cullen. Brown ’s mother. “She was so vote in personnel smart, so intelligent. She was one of those people actions. ” who could fit any career because she was good at The question everything.” was brought to Brown had recently been accepted to GVSU’s UAS from the art program. FPPC and a Whatever career she ended up pursuing, she recommendation always wanted to write and paint, Cullen said. to gather more qytfttwn “I will always remember Amber for the ambition data by sending out a survey to all faculty members (she had) and the hard worker she was,” said Katie Grimes, friend and roommate. “She was an amazing was made. artist, anything she drew, it was always beautiful.” “The purpose of the survey is to really understand how first-year Friends and family remember Brown as independent, intelligent, creative and ever-ready to faculty feel about being involved in the personnel process and to laugh or smile. “Whenever her friend Doug (Ward) was over understand what the attitude and you could hear them laughing all night,” Grimes opinions of the tenured faculty are,” said Teresa Beck, chair of the FPPC. said. ”1 would do anything just to hear it again. We all miss you Amber and would give anything to The survey was broken down into three different parts: Tenure, have you back here with us.” Trombone professor Mark Williams said Ward tenure-track and first was “a fixture in the music department, ” whose Courtesy Photo / Facebook.com year, and “The essential caring and sensitive personality was reflected in Forever remembered: Friends, family and the greater GVSU community mourn the loss of Amber Brown (pictured) consisted question is of 14 to 18 questions who should be per part. eligible to vote Some Community benefits from local man's prerogative questions in personnel included actions.” Free Downtown Grand Rapids Thanksgiving Feast were: “I feel brings community together for urban experience comfortable voicing my KRIS opinion ” The event was one of several put on by MULLENDORE By Ellen Hensel and “I feel Rob Bliss, a man who began organizing UAS CHAIR 617. Staff Writer pressured monthly urban experiments starting in by tenured Thirty rows above the Deltaplex September. The Free Downtown Grand faculty to racetrack where a lone miniature semi Rapids Thanksgiving Feast was held vote in a certain way." Answers were truck sat abandoned after a weekend of in the Grand Rapids Deltaplex located based on a ranking from strongly races, a community of people from all at 2500 Turner Ave. NW on Sunday. agree to strongly disagree. different backgrounds joined together Organized similartoa potluck,attendees “I thought the survey instruments over an early Thanksgiving feast. shared food and tables. were problematic in the way it was “I’ve always found the whole idea of constructed, ” said David Rathbun, community and bringing people together photography professor and former fascinating, ” Bliss said. “I like the idea chair of UAS. of someone who is 8 years old sitting There was not a distinction about at the dinner table with an 18 year old who is considered untenured because (who) are complete strangers. And that it could include tenure track, adjunct the leftovers are being given out to the or visiting faculty, Rathbun added. homeless.” There is the principle of whether or The event differed from previous GVl / Ellen Hensel not they participate in the life of the events, which included a September Thanksgiving feast: (left to right) Maxine Smith and Joy Burlmeyer enjoy a Thanksgiving meal at university, he said. pillow light and an October Zombie the Deltaplex This was the first event they attended that was one of Rob Bliss’ urban experiences “Even though it may be difficult Walk. Five days before the event was to do this well, I think it matters scheduled to occur. Bliss received word I thought it would be a good idea to loophole. During the event, volunteers to aim for equality, and those who that his original location. Calder Park, host a feast that people from the entire were packing boxes with sandwiches live with the outcome of the vote was no longer available, sending him community could come to. ” and any leftovers to then be hand should participate in the vote and scrambling for a new location. When With people of all ages sharing delivered to the homeless of downtown the long range commitments and Deltaplex offered to host the event stories and food, the event also had a Grand Rapids. consequences. ” Rathbun said. indoors, Bliss took the offer gladly. charitable purpose. All food not eaten “We contacted Rob (Bliss) and asked As of now, every faculty member “I was about to cancel the event but was donated to the homeless of Grand him what was going to happen to the has the opportunity to vote on every I was happy to hear that they would Rapids, mostly due to the work of other member. host it,” he said. “It was difficult to citizen Charlie Snedeker. See Community, A2 In discussions between members come up with an (event) for the month Food pantries are not allowed to of the committees, conflicting views of November because of the weather. accept food that is not prepackaged. See more: Visit Community meal: A local resident enjoys a Since we weren ’t able to hold it outside However. Snedkekcr was able to find a Thanksgiving meal at the Deltaplex this Sunday Lanthorn.com for a video See Faculty, A2 News...................................................................... A3 Sports ....................................................................... B1 Nation/World ........................................................A4 A&E...........................................................................B5 TLatuhoin Opinion ...................................................................A6 Marketplace........................................................... B7 Laker Life................................................................A7 Advertisement .......................................................B8 INDEX PhotoPage ..............................................................A8 A2 Monday, November 24, 2008 NEWS Grand Valley Lanthorn Loss camp on property owned by Gayle Berntsen will officiate. Brown ’s family near Indian Donations can be made to the continued from page A1 Bay Road and Meinert Road. Arts Council of White Lake at Friends at GVSU reported Police said preliminary 8701 Ferry St.