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The Ferris State Torch NINETY YEARS OF ILLUMINATING THE TRUTH

Big Rapids, Michigan Week of March 24 - 30, 2021 www.fsutorch.com shooting prompts concern of rising anti-Asian bias Officials declining to declare shooting of six Asian women as racially motivated

Hyun Jung (Kim) Grant Daoyou Feng Suncha Kim Paul Andre Michels Soon Chung Park Xiaojie Tan Delaina Yaun Yong Ae Yue

Cora Hall in all eight killings – four counts of believed it to be targeting the Asian No one can speak to Long’s and that made it easier for him to Editor in Chief murder and one count of aggravat- American Pacific Islander commu- motivation, but if sex addiction do what he did.” ed assault for the attacks in Chero- nity and women, and that it’s being was fully to blame, Takitaki said The killing of the six Asian wom- There was no longer shock or kee County and four counts of ho- brushed aside as a deranged per- anyone could drive 10 miles from en is the peak of a rise in anti-Asian horror for political sciences profes- micide in Atlanta, according to the son’s actions instead of a systemic their home and find something racism in the past year. The Stop sor David Takitaki when he heard Washington Post. racial issue. that could be considered tempta- AAPI Hate National Report recorded about the shootings at three Atlan- Cherokee County Sheriff’s Of- “Giving an excuse, saying he had tions, but the places Long chose nearly 3,800 incidents from March ta-area spas on Tuesday, March 16. fice Capt. Jay Baker said in a press a bad day, it's offensive to the peo- were ones owned or populated by 19, 2020 to Feb. 28, 2021, with He felt a degree of sadness for conference last week that “[Long] ple who have died,” Parkasam said. . “I find it difficult physical assault making up 11.1% the eight people who were shot and was pretty much fed up and kind “It belittles [the victims] and the to believe that there wasn't a strip of all incidents. Verbal harassment killed, for the six Asian women who of at the end of his rope. Yesterday depth of the tragedy. Words matter bar somewhere near those mas- made up the largest category with were murdered and for the fact that was a really bad day for him and and ‘bad day’ is a very inappropri- sage parlors,” Takitaki said. “But 68.1% of all reports. The report shootings like this were not shock- this is what he did,” which sparked ate choice of words in that it comes that's what he chose. The fetishi- states that the number of hate in- ing anymore. “It's just sad; I just see backlash that led to Baker being across as an excuse.” zation of Asian women goes back cidents reported represent only “a the headline, and my heart drops,” removed as the spokesperson Pharmaceutical sciences pro- a long way.” fraction of the number of hate in- Takitaki said. for the case. fessor Qian Ding, who moved While the sexualization of wom- cidents that actually occur, but it Hyun Jung (Kim) Grant, Daoy- “The fact that the excuses were to the from China en in general is an issue, the sexu- does show how vulnerable Asian ou Feng, Suncha Kim, Paul Andre made is ridiculous on its very ba- when completing her graduate alization of minority and especially Americans are to discrimination.” Michels, Soon Chung Park, Xiaojie sis,” Takitaki said. “Anyone who degrees, said she does not agree Asian women has a different tone, While more obvious forms of “Emily” Tan, Delaina Ashley Yaun has any vague sensation of what's with the officials who are delcin- according to Takitaki. The direction, hate incidents have come to light and Yong Ae Yue were the eight been going on in this country be- ing to categorize the killings as content and victimization tends to recently, members of the AAPI people who were killed in Atlanta tween law enforcement and people racially motivated. be harsher when it comes to mi- community have faced more subtle by a 21-year-old white man, Robert of color across the board should “It's terrible for their families, it's nority women, he said. If the sexu- forms of racism for years. Takita- Long. Authorities called the killings look at something like that as a tragic. The families of those people al addiction was the driving factor ki, whose father is from the Island a premeditated trail of terror, ac- primer on how to not communi- are ruined,” Ding said. “If you just in the killings, Takitaki said that it of Tonga, was born and raised in cording to . cate with the public as a police look at the numbers, six of the eight would not surprise him if inherent Grand Haven, where his mother is Long told the police he was ad- captain who is spokesperson for were Asian woman and... there is in that addiction was “a concep- from. He said it was easy to be wel- dicted to sex and was on a mission their department.” a high possibility that it's target- tion of Asian American women as coming of the diversity that existed to eliminate the spas that he saw Office of International Educa- ing minorities and targeting these being both sexualized and sub- there, because the diversity posed as temptations. He was arrested tion director Piram Prakasam said Asian women.” missive or somehow less human, Wednesday, March 17 and charged when he heard of the shooting, he Atlanta shooting| see page 3

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2 News Week of March 24 - 30, 2021 Ferris State Torch NEWS Noah Kurkjian| News Editor | [email protected] A launch towards success

Photo by: Dylan Bowden | Torch Photographer Ferris’ new tuition program is launching just in time for Ferris’ fall return to in-person instruction Ferris now offering tuition-free Graphic by: Charlie Zitta | Production Manager education to low-income students Jerry Gaytan year taking 14 credits. Room and News Reporter board are around $10,724 for a Check us out online for exclusive school year. Ferris is now offering a program The program does not require that provides free tuition to stu- students to fill out a separate articles and photo galleries at dents with a higher expected need application to be eligible for the of financial aid. funding. Once their FASFA is sub- www.fsutorch.com The Ferris Launch program al- mitted, they will calculate the lows cost-free tuition to students student’s family income and their with a GPA of 3.0 or higher who expected monetary contribution to also have zero Expected Family the student’s education. Once this Contribution as determined by the process is complete and Ferris Tune in to our Podcast: students Free Application for Fed- receives it, they will automatical- eral Student Aid. The program also ly determine if there is applicable requires that this is the student's aid. first time attending college, the Launch will be mainly funded student is attending 12 or more by the discretionary dollars set the fire pit credit hours a semester and that aside by the university according they are taking these credits on to Mulder. the Big Rapids campus. The pro- “Students that qualify for Ferris gram will be available to incoming Launch are receiving a fund called freshmen starting the fall semes- Ferris Merit Grant,” said Mulder. hosted by: ter of 2021. “Current students have been re- This program will only be cover- ceiving various merit grants if they ing tuition. Other expenses such met the eligibility requirements Marissa Russell, Brendan Sanders & as housing, meal plans, books each year.” and other supplies are not cov- There is a difference between ered under the Launch program. the currently offered merit grants Noah Kurkjian Melanie Mulder, the university’s and the new Launch program financial aid coordinator is looking though as current students receiv- forward to the program. ing these grants were never prom- “I think it's an opportunity for ised fully subsidized tuition. new students that maybe wouldn't According to the Ferris Launch Scan the Spotify link t0 have considered Ferris an option website, the program is renewable for them in the past... to at least when the student reapplies for aid take advantage or consider it through FASFA. The student must listen to our Podcast now. So I think it's a good thing,” also be eligible for the Pell Grant Mulder said. each year as well as meet the In terms of qualifying, Mulder terms of Satisfactory Academic said that anyone that meets the Progress. GPA and EFC requirements will re- For more information visit the Fer- ceive the funding. ris Launch page on ferris.edu. Ferris’s tuition is $443 per cred- it hour or $13,160 for the school 3

NewsNews 3 Ferris State TorchFerris State Torch Week of March 24 - 30, 2021 THIS WEEK IN MICHIGAN NEWS Catch up on news around the state

Noah Kurkjian & Brendan Sanders News Editor, Sports Editor SPORTS WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Michigan got off to a hot start as the no. 1 seed when they WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Michigan State beat Texas Southern 82 – 66 on Satur- saw their season end in overtime against day, March 20. UCLA in the Round of 68 play in games on The Wolverines advanced to the Round Thursday, March 18. of 32 after blowing out Texas Southern, STATE NEWS count and tag the amphibians accord- Michigan State lost 86 – 80 to the who were looking to become the second ing to the Free Press. Bruins of UCLA after blowing an 11 point team ever to upset a No. 1 seeded team. halftime lead. The end of the first half was Senior guard Mike Smith scored 18 Marquette's Presque Isle Park clos- "We would see thousands and thou- punctuated by a tense verbal exchange points on the evening, leading the team in es road for a month to provide a safe sands of salamanders crossing the between Coach Tom Izzo and junior for- a well balanced attack that saw four play- place for the blue spotted salaman- street in just one night," he said. "It ward Gabe Brown that saw Izzo grab the ers score over 10 points. Freshman center ders. They typically spend their winters was really amazing — until we see cars Brown’s jersey as he ran to the locker Hunter Dickinson would be second on the underground in the UP but when spring zip by and squish salamanders. That room before the duo were seen screaming team with 16 points. rolls around, they all come out of their really troubled me — it kept me awake at each other. Sophomore guard Franz Wagner led winter hiding spots “almost in unison”. at night." Michigan State proceeded to be out- the team in both rebounds and assists The move to close the road came af- There are only mild grumblings scored 44 – 33 in the second half before with nine rebounds and six assists. ter over 400 of these amphibious crea- about this closure says Tyler Penrod, a being outscored again 9 – 3 in overtime. Michigan beat the No. 8 seeded LSU Junior forward Aaron Henry led the Tigers 86 – 78 on Monday, March 22 in tures were run over. That is between program manager with Superior Water- team in scoring with 16 points on the the Round of 32. They will face the No. 4 10% and 20% of the parks total pop- shed Partnership. night. He also led the team in assists with Florida State in the Sweet Sixteen 5 p.m. ulation of blue spotted salamanders. There have also been talks about seven while also tallying five rebounds. Sunday, March 28. Eli Bieri, a biology student at nearby making “eco-passes” which are under- Senior guard Joshua Langford was sec- Northern Michigan University, studied ground corridors that the salamanders ond in scoring with 12 points. the blue spotted salamanders as part can use to cross and not need the road UCLA then upset no. 6 seeded BYU 73 of his research, going out nights with closures, however, no formal plans – 62 to advance to the Round of 32. student volunteers in the spring to have been announced yet.

ATLANTA SHOOTING the language used when speaking tims of COVID-19,” Ding said. “The about the COVID-19 pandemic, es- Asian American community, they Continued from front page pecially by politicians and former are not the people who should take president Donald Trump. Members responsibility for this virus and they no threat to the community’s over- - ON THE RECORD - of congress called out Trump specif- are victims.” all white hegemony (dominance ically for his use of the terms “Chi- Takitaki feels that over the last A roundup of this week’s crime at Ferris State University of a certain social group over oth- na virus,” “ virus” and “kung several years there has been an ers). “The fact that a few people flu.” The accessibility Trump had to existing grievance of the “white, an- had interesting names and darker a national platform through Twitter gry hegemony” and the COVID-19 skin tones didn't seem to matter and his “ability to dominate a media pandemic has directed towards Hug it out much, because everybody kind of cycle by typing 160 words into [his] the AAPI community. There has fell into the same cultural ethos,” Noah Kurkjian cell phone” had “undoubtedly” influ- been a cultural shift away from Takitaki said. News Editor Hug it out ence conversations and opinions, white hegemony to something However, the racial microagres- March 20, 3:19 p.m., officers according to Takitaki. more inherently multicultural, and sions were still present, though they “President Trump knew that he “it seems of vitriol and violence High in the sky responded to reports of a female were more subtle. It meant getting could activate big portions of his comes from the fact that that he- March 17, 10:35 p.m., officers student following a male student included less frequently, or getting base and simultaneously defray his gemony is not just threatened, it's responded to a call from a Cramer while shouting insults about the moved from a front-and-center po- own culpability for a failed response losing,” Takitaki said. RA reporting the smell of marijua- man’s political beliefs. Officers sition at a watch and jewelry repair to the pandemic by pointing the fin- President David Eisler sent out a na. Upon arrival, officers discov- arrived and deescalated the sit- shop in high school because “older ger elsewhere,” Takitaki said. “He message to campus on Wednesday, white ladies who were frequently ered two women under the influ- uation which was reported to did so deliberately and repeatedly March 17 in support of the campus’ customers weren't quite comfort- ence and conducted a search. The have ended with a hug. No formal and without really realistically any AAPI community, calling on the Fer- able walking up to the large brown women were issued MIP citations charges have been filed. kind of forethought or shame. ris community to “call out and act kid to have these particular details and referred to student conduct. “So yes, absolutely, when you against all forms of racism.” attended to.” have someone like that, who is de- “Xenophobia and racism have “Over time you start to recognize liberately trying to recategorize and no place in our communities, patterns and I think it’s just like frame a tragic global pandemic, as and we stand firm in rejecting an- anyone who is a victim of blatant being something of Asian origin, ti-Asian sentiments, comments Torch Corrections racism, you can see a mile away,” you are going to see people in the and actions,” Eisler wrote. “Let us Takitaki said. “Anyone who is being United States reacting to that.” all play an active role in ensuring kind of just quietly and conscien- Ding believes that the in- we have a safe, welcoming and Did we make a mistake? tiously excluded starts to see the crease in reporting should inclusive community. To our Asian pattern, even if other people can't Let us know! catch the public’s attention as American and Pacific Islander stu- because it does happen over and a serious issue, because Asian dents, faculty and staff, we stand in over again.” Americans were victims of the solidarity with you.” Corrections can be submitted through email at One of the factors Takitaki be- COVID-19 pandemic, too. [email protected] or by calling 231-591-5978 lieves influenced the recent cre- “These are women, these are se- scendo of anti-Asian sentiment is niors, and those people are also vic- Student being investigated for alleged assault Honest & affordable car care Mufflers • Brakes Brendan Sanders another passenger earlier that morning. Several wit- Sports Editor nesses have been identified and are being inter- Struts • Shocks viewed. Undercarriage Specialist On Saturday, March 20, an alleged assault involv- Ferris State News Services and Social Media Man- foreign ing a Ferris student was reported to Big Rapids Depart- ager Sandy Gholston provided the following statement. and domestic ment of Public Safety. “Ferris State University is aware of a Big Rapids De- The Torch submitted a FOIA request to Big Rapids partment of Public Safety investigation of an incident DPS but it was denied due to the incident being an alleged to have occurred during the late-evening, ear- open investigation. However, Big Rapids DPS did state ly-morning hours of Friday, March 19, and Saturday, Certified Mechanics on Staff that an investigation had been launched and would March 20.” Locally Owned and Operated give more details when the investigation is completed. No charges had been filed and no arrests had been FREE ESTIMATES FOX 17 reported police responded to Spectrum made as of Monday morning. Health Big Rapids Hospital where a female individual This as a developing story and the The Torch will North End of Town 1204 N. State St. reported that she had been assaulted in a vehicle by update it as details become available. Big Rapids, MI 592-1204 4

4 News Week of March 24 - 30, 2021 Ferris State Torch Take care Saving an ecosystem Biotechnology students hope to find source of contamination

Jessica Oakes Recent graduate of biotechnology and News Reporter forensic biology Kassidy Vredeveld has worked with qPCR equipment on this proj- E. coli levels have been a consistent ect as well as in COVID research. problem for Billings Lake in Manton of Wex- “Basically, qPCR is just measuring the ford county over the years, causing multiple amount of the DNA in a sample based on beach closures every summer. its amplification,” Vredeveld said. After developments made in 2020 under With this method, researchers are able to the guidance of Assistant Professor of bi- split E. coli DNA into two individual strands. ological sciences Sky Pike, Ferris student From there, the sample is amplified and ob- researchers hope to “pin down” the source served through exponential growth. of E. coli within the next year. This process has prompted Pike to refer “We're hoping we'll find the cause. We to the qPCR machine as a “copy machine go step by step to figure out what's going for DNA.” on. We had a major step last year when we The qPCR testing method is much more figured out that all the E. coli is not origi- efficient than the traditional culture-based Photo by: Rebecca Witkowski | Tprch Photographer nating in the lake,” Pike said. “It's actually method, which takes about 24 hours to Students recieved $750, almost double the last grants. originating upstream, somewhere in Man- yield results. ton Creek, and it's originating after we get a “Some days we were able to run the en- rain event of greater than one inch.” tire process within the day and get results Because of this discovery, researchers either later that day or the next morning, so How the CARES Act helps students will focus their data collection on Manton that's pretty different,” Tippett said. Creek rather than Billings Lake once the Finding the source of this contamination Rebecca Vanderkooi She has received the grant the past project starts back up this summer. involves microbial source tracking. While News Reporter three times it was available. Sanocki ex- Students from Ferris, as well as several there is no difference between human E. plained that it’s been a huge help because The pandemic has been financially chal- in addition to day-to-day expenses, Sanocki other Michigan universities, were invited to coli and animal E. coli in terms of risk, the lenging for many students, so Ferris is of- has also experienced car troubles since the join this project in 2016 by both Michigan’s source will determine the solution. fering the CARES Act grant to provide extra pandemic began. She explained that being Department of Environment, Great Lakes “Let's say it is human, but what could be assistance. able to receive the CARES act has helped and Energy and the District Health Depart- the causes of that? Well, maybe there's a Between the fall and winter semes- her to put money towards fixing her vehicle. ment No. 10. leak in the sewer system. Or maybe there's ters of 2020 11,434 grants were given to “It has helped me tremendously with EGLE, DHD 10 and the Wexford County an old septic system there somewhere that students. The application for the spring meeting basic needs and taking care of es- Drain Commission have provided the team is not used, but it still has E coli growing in 2021 grant opened Monday, March 15. sential fixes. I’m not sure how I’d be able to of researchers with equipment for a quan- it, and when you get a big rain, it washes Joy Pulsifer, the dean of student life at make it through without the assistance of titative polymerase chain reaction testing out,” Pike said. “So that's a different situ- Ferris, has been involved with the grant pro- the funds,” Sanocki said. cess each time it’s available to students. Claire Belke is another student who has method. ation than, for instance, if you have high “During the two previous rounds of been the recipient of all three of the CARES “We were brought in because District levels of E. coli from deer or from birds or CARES grants, we had an average of under act grants. She’s a sophomore study- Health Department No. 10 didn't have the from cows.” 6,000 students apply for funding each se- ing Spanish and operations and supply expertise to be able to know how to use the While microbial source tracking is the mester. Thus, we determined we could in- chains managements. [qPCR] equipment,” Pike said. future of this project, one alternative, but crease the awards to $750 and still assist “I don’t have a job, because of COVID Biotechnology senior Ethan Tippett has ultimately unsatisfactory, method involved more than 6,000 students,” Pulsifer said. since I have immunocompromised family participated in this qPCR testing method canine researchers. She explained that the grant has been members. The CARES Act has helped me and described what an average day of re- “Two years ago, we actually had two funded through federal stimulus money, pay for rent and textbooks,” Belke said. search looks like. students that went out in a canoe and got and per federal regulations they prioritize Belke further explained that many of her the money to students with the greatest friends have received the grants as well and The team collects weekly water samples samples for dogs to sniff for human scent. need. it’s been a huge help for them in making from five to 10 sites, depending on condi- They paddled back and actually got stuck “We identified students based on data ends meet and not having to worry as much tions. From there, the samples are kept in the mud and weeds on the far end of the submitted through the FAFSA, giving prior- about finances. on ice and brought to the lab for DNA ex- lake for about an hour,” Pike said. ity to students with the greatest financial Pulsifer explained that some students traction. Tippet feels proud of the work he has need, including those whose out-of-pocket automatically received the spring 2021 “We would filter the water to concen- done on this project and would like to thank costs are the greatest compared to their grant, but the application is still open for trate all of the bacteria, including E. coli Pike for the opportunity. expected family contribution,” Pulsifer said. students who didn’t automatically get the that we're looking for. And then using filters “We're trying to make it safe for people Sarah Sanocki is in her final year in the grant. we would extract the DNA from each of the to swim and take their dogs and take their Master of Social Work program. She is one “We are excited to get these funds into of thousands of students who have benefit- the hands of our students to assist with their samples,” Tippett said. “After extracting the kids out to the beach and just enjoy a day ted from this grant. cost of attendance and/or emergency costs DNA, we would run qPCR, quantitative poly- in the summer,” Tippett said. “I live off campus and with the pandem- that have arisen due to COVID-19,” Pulsifer merase chain reaction, to determine the Research for the source of E. coli con- ic, I was off of work for quite some time, so said. amount of E. coli.” tamination in Manton Creek is set to re- I struggled paying rent and groceries,” Sa- sume in June and continue for 14 weeks. nocki said. Want to write for the Torch but don’t have the time every week? The Torch is now accepting freelance articles! Pitch your story idea to our Editor in Chief, Ferris State University TORCH Truth, fairness and Cora Hall. If we like your story, we’ll send accuracy since 1931 you out to report and write and if we publish it, you’ll get paid.

Email [email protected] for more information or to pitch a story! 5

Lifestyles 5 Ferris State Torch Week of March 24 - 30, 2021 LIFESTYLES Marissa Russell | Lifestyles Editor | [email protected] A Young take on wine From chemistry of pharmacy to the science of wine

Marissa Russell amount to grow. At the moment they have Lifestyles Editor about five and a half acres of blueberries and grapes. This is because they have been There are two reasons why someone gets fortunate to sell out of their vintage except into being a winemaker, according to Mark for in 2020. Young. They are either a romantic, who does Aside from wine, Young Farm sells bread, it for love, or a scientist, who does it for their oils and cheese crackers along with blueber- passion in chemistry; Young is the latter. ry jam. They also offer apparel for customers Dr. Mark Young is an assistant pharmacy to buy. professor who built up The Winery @ Young The Winery @ Young Farm had limited ca- Farms with his wife, Abby. Young is in charge pacity during the pandemic and that made of making and bottling the wine while Abby their jobs harder Young said. They had to hire runs the business side of the Winery. more staff to keep up with the cleaning and “It’s truly a family business, so we do in- all of the compliance that was mandated. volve our kids,” Young said. “Our daughter With that and the limited capacity it became and son pick blueberries, they help us har- tough because Friday nights and Saturdays vest grapes. You can see them cleaning up are busy times, and they had to turn a lot of glasses and mopping floors, and that kind of business away. But they were compliant and stuff.” Young thinks their clientele and customers Young Farm didn’t originally start out as a really appreciated that. winery. In 2008 the Young family had bought “We really hold true to this idea that the property that they currently live on that they backstory is as important as the wine itself,” wanted to grow and sell corn on. But after Young said. “I don’t sell our wine anywhere having a soil test they got told it was unlikely except right at our winery on purpose. If you it would grow sweet corn. But in good news, it buy a bottle of wine sitting on a shelf at Mei- was good for growing blueberries. jer, you judge it only on the wine. You know This started Young’s idea to have a blue- nothing about it really. You know nothing berry farm. After getting a good roll on having about the backstory whatever they put on the blueberry crop Young wanted to get into wine bottle, but I really want people to be closer grapes after investigating into the University to their food and closer to their drink so you of Minnesota selective breeding that allowed have to come out, almost force you to inter- the grapes to grow in the cold. act with us so we can tell the story about the “I said let’s plant a few grapevines and wine, about how it was made and the strug- just see if they grow up,” Young said. “And gles.” my wife said if you think you’re opening a Young is contacted at least once a week winery, just get it out of your head right now. during the season by a restaurant or distribu- I said okay. So, slowly she warmed up to the tor that wants to sell their wine. idea and eventually, once we started grow- A couple years ago, Young struggled with ing grapes, we had all these grapes, and we his white crop. There was rain when they needed something to do with them. So in didn’t need it, and no rain when they did. The 2017 we opened up the tasting room, and wine was not to their normal standard. Young Photo by: Dylan Bowden | Torch Photographer we’ve been open since then.” said that if he can’t communicate that to the While most people like wine for the romantic side, Mark Young enjoys it for the scientific side. Young’s personal perspective comes from customer, then they think, “Oh, this guy just the scientific side of it. Even his techniques makes bad wine,” but when the customers can be traced back to the science. An exam- understands the struggle, then those tastes ple of this is using French oak barrels be- come through. cause the amount of air that travels through Staff has to work the tasting room as well the barrel into the wine, or micro oxygenation, as help during the bottling process and that’s gives 90% of red wine its taste. Young trusts on purpose. While some wineries buy wine this process even though there is a push in from other wineries Young doesn’t partici- the industry to get away from them because pate in that. Everything sold is made on site, he has science to prove that it makes the and with that they are able to tell their story. wine better. “We want our staff to see the process so Young originally came to Ferris as a stu- that when they’re talking to customers, they dent in the pharmacy program. Young grad- really understand what that is,” Young said. uated from the College of Pharmacy in 2003 “After they actually put the hands on the bot- and practiced for 12 years before he decided tle and help bottle they then they become to come back and teach at Ferris. part of it too. For the whole experience.” Even during his early years at Ferris, Young When it comes to balancing being a pro- can remember making wine. fessor and owning a winery, Young makes “I could see the profession was chang- sure to have boundaries. From 9 a.m. to 5 ing and I wanted to be part of that change,” p.m. during the workweek, Young devotes his Young said. “I wanted to be part of educating time to Ferris, although that doesn’t mean a new generation of pharmacists.” there isn’t times he has graded papers after Wine and pharmacy share a lot of in 5. But typically he leaves nights and week- Young’s eyes. Young teaches sterile com- ends for the winery. pounding in his classes. The aseptic tech- “I’ve never had to worry about what I’m nique is very similar when you’re making going to do tonight,” Young said. “There’s food product, like wine, and intravenous always a whole bunch of friends in my front compound, like medication. The idea of yard hanging out ready to drink wine. That’s biochemistry and knowledge of biology and probably the best part is seeing and interact- chemistry is similar in pharmacy as it is in ing with people and talking about wine.” winemaking. Young said there’s a lot of sci- Because The Winery @ Youngs farm ence behind winemaking and a lot of art and doesn’t open until later in the year, Young lore surrounding it as well. doesn’t see many of his students since many There are currently eight wines sold at have already gone home for the summer. Youngs Farm and all of them are from grapes This year they open on May 19. grown by Young except for two, which they For more information you can go to their buy from local growers. Every year Young website https://www.thewineryatyoung- Photo by: Dylan Bowden | Torch Photographer plants more grapes trying to find the perfect farms.com. Mark Young and his wife, Abby Young, work together to run their winery. 6

6 Lifestyles Week of March 24 - 30, 2021 Ferris State Torch March Events calendar WEDNESDAY March 24 Horoscopes Leadership Lessons from the Greatest Marissa Russell Captains in Sports History Lifestyles Editor Contact: Lynn Miller [email protected] Location: Virtual Aries: March 21 - April 19 Time: 1 - 2 p.m. March has been a choatic time for this sign. Try and lay low to have a calmer end to the month. First-Gen Wednesday Workshops - Study Abroad Opportunities Contact: Dave McCall [email protected] Taurus: April 20 - May 20 Location: Virtual There has recently been an increase in your fininacial situ- Time: 2 - 2:30 p.m. ation. It would be best to start putting money away in your savings. LGBTQ+ Resource Center Coffee House Contact: Sarah Doherty Gemini: May 21 - June 20 [email protected] You have a constant battle going on inside yourself between Location: Virtual wanting attention and needing your own space. Learn to Time: 4 - 6 p.m. manage this and you will be happier in your relationships. Career Opportunity and Financial Advising Contact: Darnell Lewis Cancer: June 21 - July 22 [email protected] Because you have the tendancy of being loyal you will be Location: Virtual burned by people you thought you could trust. Time: 7 - 8 p.m. THURSDAY Leo: July 23 - Aug. 22 March 25 You are caught in a hard spot right now where you don’t Organization and Time know if you should stay where its comforatable and safe or to leave and try something new. Start taking small steps Managemen towards something different and your path will become clear. Contact: Karen Royster-James (231) 591-3771 Location: Virtual Virgo: Aug. 23 - Sept. 22 Time: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Keep your eye out. Group activites might be going around you. You will be surprised what will happen if you join in. Spring Book Club: Wisdom of the Animals Contact: Christine Labby [email protected] Location: Zoom Libra: Sept. 23 - Oct.22 Time: 12 - 1 p.m. You are constanly trying to find balence in life and can’t accept anything else. This will cause issues in different parts of your life. FRIDAY March 26 Scorpio: Oct. 23 - Nov. 21 Virtual Study Abroad There is a tendancy for you to lash out when you get stressed. Workshop Take a few minutes everyday to do something you enjoy and Contact: Megan Hauser-Tran relax. [email protected] Location: Virtual Time: 1 - 2 p.m. Sagittarius: Nov. 22 - Dec. 21 There are a lot of secrets you are holding onto about yourself and others, and it will make you struggle this month. Saturday March 27 Paper Airplane Flying Contest Contact: [email protected] Capricorn: Dec. 22 - Jan.19 Location: Rec Center New relationships are going to come to you this month. Time: 1 - 3 p.m. Allow them in and see the promise they have for you. Tuesday March 30 Aquarius: Jan. 20 - Feb. 18 Hardwork and dedication are the main aspects of your per- FSU Student Government Associ- sonality and you will be rewarded for that. ation General Assembly Meeting Contact: Allyson Faulkner [email protected] Location: Virtual Pisces: Feb. 19 - March 20 Time: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. There has been a sudden expansion in your mind and new intrests will be enticing you. For more events, check out calendar.ferris.edu Graphics made by Production Manager Charlie Zitta 7

Lifestyles 7 Ferris State Torch Week of March 24 - 30, 2021 Getting a degree for two How Andrea Carpenter has managed to juggle college, work and a child

Kendall Rooks out she was pregnant with her daughter Ril- bills get paid even if less things are for me ers.” Now that Carpenter’s daughter is also Lifestyles Reporter eigh. and more are for my daughter.” in school they share homework and study “I hid my pregnancy for six months afraid Carpenter explained that living off cam- time together. There’s no question that going to col- of what my family would think.” She said. pus has also saved her a large sum of mon- Being a single mom has caused Carpen- lege as a single parent can be challenging. Fortunately, now Carpenter’s family are ey. ter to miss out on normal teen and young Whether you are a single mom or a single some of her biggest supporters along with “At first, I was placed on a waiting list for adult activities, but she is overall grateful for dad, managing both your job and your kids her boyfriend Mike, in helping her raise Ril- my apartment, so I stayed with my parents what she has been able to do. One of these is no easy task. When you add college to the eigh. for a few weeks until I got my apartment off accomplishments being attending college. mix it may seem downright impossible. Even with her family’s support, paying for campus. On campus living was too expen- “I want to be able to better our lives and According to the Institute for Women’s college, bills and essentials has been one sive and I was not going to be moving out create more job opportunities for myself. Policy Research, nearly 2.1 million college of the hardest parts of being a single mom after each year or semester.” I want to show my daughter that no mat- students are single mothers. 19% of these in school. “When I first started at Ferris, I As Carpenter’s daughter has grown older ter what you can always fulfill accomplish- single mothers are attending public or pri- worked at a drug rehab recovery center in and more self-sufficient it has become a lot ments.” vate four-year colleges. Marne commuting to work from Big Rapids easier for her to stay in school. Carpenter advises single moms to hang Social work junior Andrea Carpenter is a for three 12-hour shifts a week. Then I got “In the beginning it was a struggle most in there for the long, exhausting, and bumpy part of the 19% of single moms attending a a job at Grand Oaks Nursing Center in Bald- days trying to get sleep, employment, and road. The walk across the stage in the end public university. In 2007, Carpenter found win working as a CNA,” said Carpenter. “My homework and I didn’t really have any will be worth it all. income is not the best, but I survive, and my friends I associated with besides co-work- From pandemic seniors to pandemic freshmen What is some important advice freshman would give to next year’s class?

Meghan Hartley Freelance Reporter

Graduating from high school and going into college is a right of passage for many, but when you enter during a pan- demic, it makes for an interesting first year. The class of 2024 has experienced an unprecedented time in the past year with school, from ending their senior year online to heading straight into college the same way, only partially attending classes in-person. While it seemed as though there was not a lot for fresh- men to look forward to, as everything was turning virtual, students were still able to create a good year for themselves and have learned a lot in just a few months. One thing they learned is that college is a lot more in- tense than they thought it would be. Computer information technology freshman Brendan Bender said there was a big difference in the workload he got when coming in. “I was used to the high school work load at first and didn’t really know what to expect with college,” Bender said. “In high school I got about an hour's worth of homework per week, now it’s more like three hours per day.” Bender has even spent eight hours straight on an English paper, making him realize college was a lot more serious than expected and he wishes that he would have been warned about it sooner so that he could be a little more pre- pared. His advice to incoming freshmen is to be prepared for what is ahead of them when they enter their first year in college as a lot can happen within a year. Photo by Cassidy Jessup | Multimedia Editor “Be prepared for a change,” Bender said. “Find ways to Computer information technology freshman Brendan Bender advises incoming freshman to be prepared for change, because a lot can connect to people similar to you, because having friends is happen in a year. a big part of having fun in college and can make the change a lot better.” “Both my resident hall and professors were trying their weight of it all, from feeling stress and loneliness to anxiety When moving into higher education there is a lot of best to make everyone still have that human connection and being unmotivated. change that can happen that one can try to be prepared for, during the spike of the pandemic.” The University of Michigan Medicine released a few tips such as dorm room essentials, school supplies and having Having built connections within her classes and resi- on how students going into college can make the best of the right technology on hand. dence hall Bearer said that the second half of her first year their year under such strange times. They suggest maintain- There are some things one just can’t be prepared for such has ‘definitely been a better experience’. Creating those ing a routine, taking breaks and most importantly keeping as the intensity of classes or having their entire first semes- friendships has helped her gain motivation and have fun connected with others. ter be virtual. making her own college experience. “I would’ve liked to have known that it’s okay to have days Journalism and technical communications major Devin Bearer also advises incoming freshmen to build connec- when you don’t want to do your homework or go to class,” Bearer said her freshman year has been anything but nor- tions with others around them, to make college more excit- Bearer said “Even though you’re in a pandemic, try to meet mal having fully online courses in the fall. ing to be at. some of the people you live with. They can help you through She said it was difficult at times to stay focused and mo- “Follow your passion, follow what motivates you,” Bearer it.” tivated when everything was online and thought it took a lot said. “If college is for you, then have fun with those around Of course all college experiences are different, but what out of the college experience many expect when they first you, study hard and you’ll do well.” has helped many students entering their first year has been arrive. There are many ups and downs that college can bring, the community they have been able to build with others, Bearer has learned to make the best of the situation as especially now during a pandemic students are feeling the finding their niche and things to keep them going when others around her have, even while socially distancing. things seem a bit dark. 8

8 OpinionsOpinions Week of March 24 - 30, 2021 Ferris State TorchFerris State Torch OPINIONS Cora Hall| Editor in Chief| [email protected] The Ferris State Torch is published on 27 Wednesdays throughout the academic year. This student-run newspaper EDITOR’S COLUMN: is printed by The Pioneer Group. By Cora Hall OUR LOCATION Alumni Building 013 410 Oak Street Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI 49307 fsutorch.com/letter-to-the-editor/

The Ferris State Torch welcomes comments on topics of interest to the general readership. Letters should not exceed 300 words in length and The Torch reserves the right to edit for length. Letters will not be edited for grammar, punctuation or spelling. The Torch will not print letters deemed to be libelous or obscene. All letters must be signed STOP by their authors and include his or STOP her phone number. Unsigned editorials appearing on this page are the opinion of The Torch and do not necessarily repre- sent the opinion of the university’s administration, faculty or staff. Signed columns represent the opin- ion of the writer. Inquiries regarding editorial content should be directed to the Editor in Chief at (231) 591-5978.

To advertise with the Torch, contact Danette Doyle at the Pioneer Group: (231) 592-8391 or ASIANASIAN [email protected]

Student media retain the same rights, responsibilities, privileges and protections afforded by the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution and under applicable state laws. The Torch and fsutorch.com, the student newspaper and its accom- panying online version focused on Ferris State University, are public forums for student expression. HATE It’s been a hard weekHATE in the Asian American to my face, and I have always failed to see the analysis of census data, 12.3% of Asian- Student editors have the authority Pacific Islander community. humor in this joke. Americans fall below the poverty line; U.S. and responsibility to make all con- Tuesday, March 16, the rise anti-Asian vio- The implications and roots of the hyper-sex- Census Bureau data from 2018 shows that tent decisions without censorship lence was tragically highlighted in Atlanta with ualization of Asian women is part of the white only 53.9% of Asian Americans over the age or advanced approval for both the print and online editions of the the shooting and killing of 8 people, 6 of which sexual imperialism that traces back to coloni- of 25 had a bachelor’s degree or any high- were Asian women. The 21-year-old white zation by european nations. If you have never er education; and there were only 555,262 student newspapers. man went to three Atlanta-area spas, all of heard of this before, I would encourage you to Asian-owned businesses in the United States them owned and run by Asian Americans. Yet do some research on it and understand the in 2016. the police are declining to say it was racially context of the treatment of Asian women. Not every Asian story is like “Crazy Rich - TORCH STAFF - motivated, giving the excuses that he had a My ethnicity has always been a point of Asians.” Not every Asian kid is a prodigy. bad day -- which is just laughable to say when humor to my friends growing up in all contexts It’s far past the time for us to speak up Editor in Chief Reporters Cora Hall Austin Arquette you’re talking about someone who murdered 8 and I never had the guts to speak up about about this. In this past year alone there were (231) 591-5978 Brody Keiser people, regardless of context. Police are saying it. I didn’t want to be that person, I wasn’t nearly 3,800 anti-AAPI incidents reported to Jessica Oakes Production Alyssa Hubbard that he may have been motivated by sexual being oppressed or harassed to an extreme. the Stop AAPI Hate Project. Elders and women Manager Kendall Rooks obsessions, and he saw the spas as “a temp- Everyone saw it as harmless jokes. Half the in the Asian community have been attacked Charlie Zitta Rebecca Vanderkooi Jeremias Gaytan tation for him that he wanted to eliminate,” time the jokes were about me being smarter and killed. Production Brandon Wirth according to the Washington Post. than others, or them assuming I’m good at The COVID-19 pandemic has been blamed Assistant - Freelance Reporters The fetishization and sexualization of Asian math, even though it was always been my on China and, consequently, most Asian Bailey Sergott women is inherently racist. The hyper-sexu- worst subject. Other jokes were about my eyes, Americans felt the brunt of this, due to the fact News Editor Justice Kobish Noah Kurkjian Matthew Miller alization of Asian women is nothing new. It’s ability to drive, mocking Asian languages and that most people don’t distinguish between Meghan Hartley subtle, but it’s always been present and I am saying that all Asians look the same. Asian ethnicities. We had a president calling Lifestyles Editor Melina Talentino Marissa Russell Trenton Carlson no stranger to comments that fall into this The stereotypes about me were typically it the “Chinese virus” and others calling it the category. positive, and I didn’t understand why I disliked “kung flu”, all of which contributes to anti-AAPI Sports Editor Managing Brendan Sanders Copy Editor It’s not flattering to me when men say it until I heard the definition of the official attitudes. This discrimination has been even Kaylin Johnson they’ve “never been with an Asian girl before.” term “.” It’s the myth or per- been directed at some of the highest profile Multimedia Editor Cassidy Jessup Copy Editors That’s not an appealing way to hit on me, and it ception that a minority group always achieves Asian Americans, such as NBA G League play- Alyssa Myers frankly just makes me uncomfortable, like I’m a higher level of socioeconomic success than er Jeremy Lin, who said he was called “corona- Social Media Brandon Newman Manager Hannah Kinlaw some prize for you to win. I’m not some exotic the average person, that Asian people are virus” on the court. Veronica Mascorro smarter or end up richer. This perception is not Enough is enough. We are not invisible, our Distributor specimen for you to explore. Podcast Manager Rebecca Vanderkooi It’s not funny in beer pong when people ask true across the board and it drives a wedge struggles are real and we are done standing Marissa Russell between minorities. It erases individuality and by while our ethnicity is mocked or degraded. Adviser to have the cups set up in a horizontal dia- Visual Content Garrett Stack mond and call it “Asian p-----.” I’ve always just makes others view all Asian Americans as the Because the little microaggressions breed divi- Dylan Bowden (231) 591 - 5869 laughed this off because, again, it’s incredibly same. It erases the racism against the AAPI sion and “otherness,” which turns into hate, Becca Witkowski uncomfortable to have people indirectly make community and makes us feel invisible. and hate eventually turns into violence. Special Editions a sexual comment about me like that for no Here are some facts to give a more accurate We are not a virus. We are not invisible. It’s Editor Noah Kurkjian reason. This has been said countless times, picture of the experiences of Asian Americans: time to stop Asian hate. according to a National Academy of Science’s 9

Opinions 9 Ferris State Torch Week of March 24 - 30, 2021 I shouldn’t have to be afraid because of my gender We need to teach others to be respectful; women shouldn’t have to live in precaution

with me at all times, I try to call a friend why I see so many of us carry pepper spray think less of ways they can defend them- Meghan Hartley while walking somewhere or pretend I am with us and sometimes a small weapon. selves, it all begins with teaching. Teaching Freelance Reporter on a call with someone and wear shoes That’s why I see my female friends' people how to properly respect each other. that will allow me to be agile when needed. lanyards, all with some sort of defense Instead of teaching people to be a dom- There are even times when I have run weapon attached. inator, someone who uses their strength, On March 3, Sarah Everard, a 33 year through my mind escape routes or scenar- As women we have been raised in a soci- we should be teaching them how to be old marketing executive, visited a friend's ios of how to get out of a situation when I ety to be cautious and afraid when we are respectful, that showing kindness and not home in Clapham, England. She reportedly am nervous out in public. by ourselves because we could easily be being forceful isn’t weak, instead it’s a sign left her friends home at 9 p.m. to walk 2.5 I shouldn’t have to make escape routes attacked. That it is our duty to stay vigilant, of equality. miles back to her own home in Kent. in my head; I shouldn’t have to be armed wear bright colors, talk to someone on the I don’t want to continue to feel nervous The next morning her boyfriend called and ready to defend myself; I shouldn’t phone (or pretend to) as we walk in the when walking anywhere, whether it be the police after not hearing from her to see have to be nervous walking back to my dark, but Everard did all of those things. during the day or night, nor when walking if she got home alright, as they had talked dorm in the dark after a night out. She walked home in a bright blue coat, into new situations. I shouldn’t have to feel on the phone the previous night as she Just last Friday, I was walking across called her boyfriend and even walked down that way, or always come up with a plan walked home. He filed a missing persons campus from an RSO event at 10 p.m. It very well lit streets. Yet, the young woman ready to escape at a moment's notice. report and a search party was conducted. was dark, barely any of the light posts were is gone. I don’t want to continue feeling that A week later, on March 10, Everard's lit and the university buildings were closed. It’s beginning to make us think, is it real- I have to leave some place early to get body was found in the woodlands of Kent, As I walked, I kept my pepper spray in my ly just the woman's responsibility to protect home or somewhere safe during the day- England in a builders bag. Officials assume hand, looking in every direction around me, herself? From my viewpoint it should have time because of the thought that someone she was kidnapped then murdered by a thinking of ways someone might sneak up never just been the woman's responsibility. might take advantage of me just because policeman. on me and how I could get away. Growing up in the 21st century, as a I am a woman. Since the revelation of her death and Granted I was on university property, young woman, I have been told to always I don’t want to continue to have my anx- the details that followed, there has been and not that far away from where I was be ready to protect myself or get out of iety high as I go to different places. I am a world wide response in how women staying, but still it ran through my mind a situation when need be. Why has that a person who shouldn’t always be looking shouldn’t have to be afraid to walk home as I was the only one walking around. I become our new normal? Why do we con- behind their shoulder. I hope that we all or simply be outside, in the daylight or at shouldn’t have been nervous, but to be tinue to teach women and young girls that learn from this, that it’s not a good thing to night. Frankly, I agree. honest, part of me was. is how we should be living? Why don’t we always be nervous when out in public alone As a woman I have been told I need to This isn’t the first time I’ve thought teach young people to be different? and it is something we need to do better to protect myself when I am alone, and hence about my safety while going anywhere, as I believe in this day and age, if we are create safer environments. have adopted a few methods I’m sure every I’m sure many other women have. That’s going to make the situation better, if we are female can relate to. I carry pepper spray going to help women feel more safe and

Crimes on campus can be reported to DPS at - 231-591-5000 -

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10 Sports Week of March 24 - 30, 2021 Ferris State Torch SPORTS Brendan Sanders| Sports Editor | [email protected] Getting one more chance Senior Ferris athletes decide whether to take advantage of extra year of eligibility

Austin Arquette Anderson have both expressed their desires Sports Reporter to return to Ferris. Huggins has fought injuries the past two With many different sports seasons being years and faced three surgeries in that disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, time. “I did not want to end my career like seniors have received the opportunity to this,” Huggins said. It was vital to Huggins to come back another season. end her career on a good note because she Athletes are beginning to rally around said that it means everything to her. the new rules and protocols that have been “Everyone does not get this opportunity placed for safety measures in order to con- and I did, so I am blessed for this opportuni- tinue to play. One of the new rules enacted ty,” Huggins said. by the NCAA was a competition waiver for While she weighed her options, Huggins fall and winter sports. Even athletes who said her mom was the ultimate supporter competed this past fall will be eligible for an for her to return to Ferris. Huggins had the extra year under the ruling. decision to make but her mom told Huggins Ferris State Senior Associate Athletic Di- that she had the full support and she wasn’t rector, Internal Operations, & Senior Woman alone as her coach and teammates had her Administrator Sara Higley said this year is back as well. Huggins said she is thankful looked at as a redshirt year and no one was she can continue finishing school on top of charged with a season of competition for the chasing her dream to play professionally one 2020 - 2021 seasons. day. “All seniors will be able to return next year Huggins teammate Anderson had also and use their last year of eligibility,” Higley been through surgery that forced her out of said. “Due to the financial implications this action. Anderson tore her rotator cuff her ju- year, the NCAA is allowing those seniors to nior year and was delayed returning due to return and not be charged to the NCAA lim- the surgery as she chose to sit out the entire its on financial aid and scholarships.” 2020 - 2021 season. The NCAA stated that student-athletes “I chose to come back for so many rea- who take advantage of this opportunity will sons. Academically, I’m a nursing student not count against team scholarship limits and I won’t finish the program until spring for the 2021 - 2022 season. As members of 2022,” Anderson said. “Also, because I had both men’s and women’s basketball teams the option to come back to a program and have taken hold of this chance. a team that I’m just in love with, I couldn’t For the men’s side of options, Ferris se- pass that up. The combination of all that led nior wing Walt Kelser on the Ferris men’s me to decide to stay.” basketball team has chosen to come back Anderson was also supported by her fam- to have another successful season with ily, friends, teammates, and coaches as she his team. Kelser said after he talked to the claimed to have the best support anyone coaches and his family about his options, it could ask for. As she talked to so many peo- just seemed like the clear choice. ple in her life Anderson’s parents have “My family helped me a lot by saying helped her every step of the way by offer- that it would be a good idea to come back ing her love, support and prayer. Anderson and have a more successful year,” Kelser is also thankful for her untouchable friend said. “They all told me that they would love and unmatched teammates support in this for me to stay an extra year and that it will decision. help both on and off the court.” “The ways they have shown support This past season Kelser played in 18 is enough to make me cry, in a good way. games and started in all of them, where he They really do the small things that mean averaged 20.6 points per game. Kelser land- the world and they have the most perfect ed on the All-GLIAC First Team for the sec- timing,” Anderson said. “Girls that wear the ond consecutive season after he had scored Ferris jersey or have before play a huge part 30 points or more three times this season. in my support. After explaining my situation Photo by: Cora Hall | Editor in Chief Kelser said his option to come back was im- and standpoint I got nothing but support Senior wing Walt Kelser is one of several players coming back next season. pacted by his teammates as well. and love.” “Just being around the guys every day and Both Anderson and Huggins expressed competing with them for a couple of years how their coaches have helped in the pro- “No one really knows what next year will “It means a lot to be able to end my vol- now I have formed a bond that is hard to cess of return and are eager to step on the look like but they’re supportive if people leyball career on my own terms instead of a leave,” Kelser said. “To be a part of the pro- court. Of course, to have to senior’s return want to come back,” O’Connell said. “They COVID year, but I think it helps all returning gram I love, I love everyone that is a part of is always helpful for a program that has asked me questions about how I want to end players to gain another year of experience it and I’m ready to have another amazing missed them due to injuries. my volleyball career and if it’s feasible with in the sport and enjoy another year of play- year.” Another Ferris athlete outside of bas- my classes. And they all helped me figure ing before entering the adult world,” O’Con- While Kelser is excited about his return, ketball has decided to return next fall as that out for myself.” nell said. “Next year is so uncertain but my he will also look to use this year to grow and well. Ferris senior outside hitter on the wom- Teammates and coaches alike helped coach was so reassuring that we would fig- work on his craft. Kelser said he wants to en’s volleyball team, Katie O’Connell plans O’Connell with her choice as she said even if ure that out as it comes.” come out next season and prove he can to return this fall. O’Connell said her main she did not talk with them the relationships Due to the changes, COVID-19 placed do more for the team by performing at his reason to return was the ability to compete and team atmosphere, they have would on the 2020 - 2021 season for volleyball best level. A few of Kelser’s fellow Bulldogs with her team for another year and that she make her want to stay one more year to they are in their season during the spring. on the women’s basketball team have also was fortunate to start a master’s program try and achieve something great. O’Connell Ferris women’s volleyball team will travel to elected to return to Ferris. this fall. O’Connell said everyone in her life said when she talked to her coach that all Wisconsin-Parkside to face off against the The Ferris women’s basketball senior all helped with her decision in one way or her coach wanted was whatever was best Rangers on Friday, March 26, and Saturday, guard duo of Shaniya Huggins and Adrienne another. and made O’Connell the happiest. March 27 over the weekend.

Volleyball Women’s Soccer Men’s Tennis WEEKEND March 19 - Ferris 1, North- March 19 - Ferris 1, Wisconsin March 19 - Ferris 4, Wayne wood 3 - Parkside 0 State 3 March 20 - Ferris 3, North- March 21 - Ferris 4, Purdue March 20 - Ferris 7, Ashland SCORECARD wood 0 Northwest 0 0 11

SportsSports 11 Ferris State TorchFerris State Torch Week of March 24 - 30, 2021 Volleyball attempts to rally Continuing to improve from recent slide Brody Keiser The two time All American recorded 41 kills, 49 Sports Reporter digs and eight blocks in the weekend sweep of the Eagles March 5 and 6, earning her national recog- They might have a solid 6 - 4 record on the sea- nition. son, but Ferris volleyball wants to be even better. For the season, O’Connell leads the team with Bulldog volleyball has found a way to continue 114 kills and 132 points, and is second in digs with their success from their 25 - 6 season a year ago 137. She also has 22 blocks. Her play has been a despite moving through an unusual offseason. Be- big part of Ferris’s success so far this season. cause the offseason was atypical, head coach Tia O’Connell agreed with her coach that she does Brandel-Wilhelm and her team are still working to not play for the accolades. improve their skill. “It was an honor,” O’Connell said. “It’s a big thing, A big part of Ferris’s success comes from their but I’m more focused on the success of the team mentality. They always look for ways to improve. and how we’re doing in practice and competing on “During the week, we’re just focused on getting the weekends.” 1% better each day,” senior outside hitter Katie She added that her teammates are the reason for O’Connell said. “We’re focused on getting 1% better her success this year, saying she “wouldn’t be here each day and working on executing our game plan. without them.” One of our mottos is ‘adapt and conquer,’ so we’re Following their 5 - 1 start to the season, the Bull- going to grow and do what we need to do to be suc- dogs lost back-to-back games against Michigan cessful in the future.” Tech on March 12 and 13 to fall to 5 - 3. O’Connell Brandel-Wilhelm said her team uses that motto compared those two losses to their early season to overcome difficult situations that come their way, wins. especially with COVID-19 this year. “It was all about what we did on our side,” O’Con- “I see a lot of coaches and leaders from athletic nell said. “We didn’t come out as focused and didn’t teams at Ferris and around the country really work- do what we were supposed to do in executing our ing hard to keep their team focused and mindset game plan. We have to take care of our side.” strong,” Brandel-Wilhelm said. “We’re just doing Senior libero Nina Gorgijevska said that her team what anyone would do in a situation like this-you must put their losses in the past, learn from them just adapt to what happens and you can’t control a and change their mindset going forward. lot of things, so you have to control the things you Gorgijevska has also been a key part of Ferris’s can. You do the best you can and get up the next success, leading the team in digs with 248. She day and do it again.” credited her teammates with her success as well The Bulldogs started their season 5 - 1, and but acknowledged that she has to prepare herself O’Connell’s play was a big reason why. Following too. their sweep of Ashland March 5 and 6, O’Connell “I really want to see my hitters get a sweet kill was named the American Volleyball Coaches As- or my setters get to the ball very easily, so I step in sociation player of the week. She became the fifth and make it easy on them,” Gorgijevska said. “Ob- Bulldog in history to record that feat. viously, I work on my skill every day in practice, but “To be the national player of the week is a pretty knowing the scout and watching film are things that unique and cool honor,” Brandel-Wilhelm said. “It get me ready too. My mental stae and physical pre- is certainly really well deserved, yet the first thing paredness are also very important, so I take care of Katie does when we tell her the honor is look at her those things as well.” teammates and tell them ‘I don’t do that without all On March 19, the Bulldogs lost to Northwood 3 of you.’ That’s what makes Katie really good is the - 1, but followed that up with a 3 - 0 win against fact that she plays for her team and does the best Northwood on March 20 to move their record to 6-4. Photo by: Brendan Sanders| Sports Editor she can. She never tries to win any kind of honors. The Bulldogs will head to Wisconsin-Parkside March I think that’s any incredible reflection of the kind of 26 and 27 before finishing up their regular season Senior outside hitter Katie O’Connell has been a leader in the team’s strong start to human being she is.” against Saginaw Valley State at home April 2 and 3. the season.

THIS WEEKEND’S SPORTS FOR FERRIS Wednesday, March 24 • Women’s Softball vs Northwood at 1 p.m. Friday, March 26: • Men's Tennis at Northwood at 1 p.m. • Women’s Tennis at Northwood at 1 p.m. • Women’s Soccer vs. Saginaw Valley State at 4 p.m. Grace VerHage • Women’s Volleyball at Wisconsin-Parkside at 8 p.m. Photo courtesy of Kevin McDermott

Saturday March 27: Brendan Sanders victory. She totalled five points on the day and also • Women's Tennis at Saginaw Valley State at noon Sports Editor totalled three shots on goal. • Women’s Softball at Grand Valley State at 1 p.m. Two goals already equal the amount of goals scored • Women’s Softball at Grand Valley State at 3 p.m. With wins this weekend against Wisconsin-Parkside throughout her 2019 - 2020 campaign, where she • Women’s Volleyball at Wisconsin-Parkside at 3 p.m. and Purdue Northwest, women’s soccer are off to a scored two goals and three assists, totalling seven hot start to the season. Seeing a dominant 4 - 0 victo- points of the season. Sunday, March 28 ry on Saturday, the team posted its best performance VerHage and the rest of the soccer team will take • Women’s Soccer vs. Ashland at 1 p.m. against Purdue Northwest. on Saginaw Valley on Friday, March 26 at 4 p.m. Then, Junior forward Grace VerHage led the team on on Sunday, March 28 at 1 p.m. the Bulldogs will take Saturday with two goals and an assist in the shutout on Ashland. 12

12 Sports Week of March 24 - 30, 2021 Ferris State Torch Bulldogs tee off for 2021 Bulldog golf teams begin new season with top five showing for both men and women

Photo courtesy of Ferris State Athletics Photo courtesy of Ferris State Athletics The men’s golf team poses for a photo at the SVSU Invitational in Lexington, Kentucky. The women’s golf team finished fifth overall in the first competition of the year.

Brandon Wirth Four days later, the Bulldogs women’s team joined the Eldred turned in her card following another +4 round Sports Reporter men’s squad to attend the Saginaw Valley State Invitational to finish tied for fourth, followed by Grevel with a +6, Der- in Lexington, Ky. last weekend. ose with a +9, Dale with +10 and Kempf with a +11. The After 373 days since their seasons were cancelled, the Both teams came out firing in Saturday’s opening round Bulldogs gained two spots in the final round, finishing only Bulldog men’s and women’s golf teams took to the course at Hermitage Golf Course, with the women landing in sev- behind Tiffin, Wayne State, Northwood, and Saginaw Valley for the first time in 2021. enth place with 329 and the men placing third with a 292. State in the 17-team field. The new season began slightly earlier for the men’s team, The Bulldogs women’s team were powered by a four-over “There were a lot of positives to take away from this as they travelled to Old Hickory, Tenn. for the Music City Invi- round from Alayna Eldred, which tied for fifth best individu- event.” Eldred said. “Going from the simulator to playing on tational on Mar. 15 and 16. ally in the field. Elaina Derose followed with an 11th ranked grass is quite an adjustment, especially the short game. The Day one of the invitational went well for Ferris, scoring a 78, with Abby Grevel (87), Mackenzie Dale (88), and Lauren more days we spend on the grass, the better it will get.” 294 as a team to tie for fourth in the men’s 17-team field. Kempf (90) rounding out the +41 team total for day one. For the men, Hursey finished third overall in the field fol- Thomas Hursey led the Bulldogs with a 71 (-1), followed by “It was a feeling of pure joy and appreciation.” Eldred said lowing a one-over final round, with Kraynyk right behind tied Trent Barth and Nathan Kraynyk both shooting a 74 (+2). regarding returning to competition. “The whole tournament, for fifth following his 73 round score. Madzri fronted the Bull- Mitchell Gelk and Daniel Shattuck rounded out the team I tried to take it all in and enjoy every moment.” dogs with a team best 71 final round to finish at two over on card with 75 (+3) and 78 (+6) round scores respectively. For the men, Hursey continued his sizzling start with a 68 the tournament, with Shattuck and Barth scoring +4 and +2 “Getting back to competition felt great,” Hursey said. “You (-4) to lead the entire field individually after the opening 18 respectively in the final 18. can’t simulate the feeling of pressure situations in tourna- holes. Nathan Kraynyk followed suit with a season best 70 After reflecting on the first tournament adjustments with ments, so getting that feeling was refreshing.” (-2), placing him tied for third in the individual standings. COVID-19 protocols, Hursey believes the team is focused The men elevated on their strong start in round two on Adam Madzri (75), Shattuck (79), and Barth (86) rounded beyond simply getting on the course. Saturday, posting a seven-stroke improvement (287) to out the Bulldog card. “Our team has done a great job of blocking out the neg- place third overall behind host Trevecca Nazarene and fel- “I was just staying patient and taking each shot for what ativity towards the COVID-19 situation and focusing on the low GLIAC competition Northwood. Dan Shattuck led Ferris it was.” Hursey said on his hot opening round. “The two PB tournament at hand. We know that this year is different with in round two with a 70 (-2), followed by Hursey (71), Kraynyk and J’s I ate during the round probably helped a few more the protocols but we’re still out there to win no matter the (73), Barth (74), and Gelk (79). putts go in.” situation. We’re still not satisfied and we’ll keep that mind- “I was really happy with our team’s performance.” Hursey Ferris finished strong day two, with the women moving up set the rest of the year.” said. “We have a lot of solid players on our team that I know to finish tied for fifth overall after an improved 317 round The Bulldogs will look to continue this great start in their are capable of doing big things this year.” and the men maintaining the third place finish following a upcoming contests at the Findlay Invitational for the women 291 score. on March 22 and 23, and the Cav Classic on April 5 and 6 for the men. FREEZING COLD TAKES: MARCH MADNESS Brendan Sanders I also picked Oklahoma State to Sports Editor make the Final Four. Who proceed- ed to lose to no. 12 seeded Oregon An article called “The Return of State in the second round of the March Madness” was published tournament. on the final page of last week’s Now, I’m not the only one who ’ edition. has seen their championship pick Can t COME In said article, I made the genius going out early. Iowa fell to no. 7 decision to pick Ohio State to win seeded Oregon on Monday, thus to a Ferris the NCAA men’s basketball tourna- also making Brody Keiser just only “CHAMPION: Ohio State “CHAMPION: Iowa ment. Little did I know at the time, slightly smarter than me. Call me biased, but Ohio In the Championship SPortING event? States offense is explosive but apparently I am terrible at mak- Brody would see his picks of Tex- game, I have Iowa beat- enough to win this champi- ing predictions. This was quickly as and Illinois also fall out of the ing Baylor. Luka Garza will onship, it’s just a matter of if proven to me on the first day of the tournament in the Round of 32, dominate this tournament WE’VE GOT YOU they are consistent enough. tournament. leaving only one of his picks still and leave Iowa with his If they are, they can beat Ohio State would become just competing for the championship. jersey hanging from Carv- COVERED anyone in this tournament. the ninth team to ever lose to a Austin Arquette and Brandon er-Hawkeye arena next to Ohio State wins it all and I no. 15 seed, losing 75 - 72 in over- Wirth both have three teams still a National Championship go home with a large grin on banner.” Follow us on twitter time. They would shoot just 21.7% competing for the championship. my face.” - Brody Keiser, March 17, @fsutorch for live up- from the field, and 50% from the The lesson that we’ve learned -Brendan Sanders, March 2021 dates on the game! 17, 2021 free throw line. here is that when it come’s to