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Grand Valley State University ScholarWorks@GVSU Volume 44, July 8, 2009 - June 7, 2010 Lanthorn, 1968-2001 2-8-2010 Lanthorn, vol. 44, no. 40, February 8, 2010 Grand Valley State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/lanthorn_vol44 Part of the Archival Science Commons, Education Commons, and the History Commons Recommended Citation Grand Valley State University, "Lanthorn, vol. 44, no. 40, February 8, 2010" (2010). Volume 44, July 8, 2009 - June 7, 2010. 38. https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/lanthorn_vol44/38 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 44, July 8, 2009 - June 7, 2010 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@GVSU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Presidents' Ball proves 'much to celebrate as Lakers' By Nadira Kharmai GVL Staff Writer It was not a typical night for college students Friday. Instead of clubbing or going to house parties, more than 4,000 students put on their formal wear to attend this year’s Presidents' Ball hosted by Student Senate. The 24th annual dinner and dance, themed “A Night of Crystal Elegance,” impressed students with chandeliers and ice sculptures. The theme of elegance carried through with many students and their attire. Though most GVL Photo Illustration / Eric Coulter Lakers refer to themselves as “poor college Thus far, GVSU has avoided the students, ” guests who attended this year’s growing issue of online class fraud. event called the night a “special occasion” to justify their splurge. Some students dusted off their old suits GVL / James Brien or prom dresses while others ventured to the More than 4,000 students danced the night away at the 24th annual Presidents' Ball on Friday night. Online class mall to make a special purchase for a new extra money for their night; not only on and once in awhile, it doesn’t hurt to spend a outfit. clothing but also on transportation. Martin little more,” he said. “Presidents ’ Ball is a good excuse to and 19 of his friends rented a party bus for Saturday ’s gala also exceeded expectations enrollment, buy new clothes and make memories with the dance. with faster service. friends, ” said Levi Martin. “We wanted the night to be unforgettable He and his friends did not mind spending See Presidents' Ball, A2 fraud rises By Samantha Butcher GVL Staff Writer As the number of students enrolling in online courses increases across the country, the potential for fraud follwos Won't wait for Michigan suit. Criminals target distance education programs at colleges, posing as students Trustees vote to pursue library project without state aid to collect financial aid refunds. Mary Mitchelson, acting inspector general at the U.S. Department of Education, By Chelsea Lane The approved plan calls for a site for the library sits at the The project’s cost will also said the department has investigated GVL News Editor five-floor, 140,000-square-foot intersection of West Campus and include renovation of the existing building, which will hold 150,000 Campus drives. Zumberge Library, which will 29 cases of potential fraud since Reacting to years of denied books on its shelves and 600,000 Assistant Vice President for be used for new purposes once 2005. Nineteen of those investigations capital outlay requests, the Grand more available through a storage Facilities Planning James Moyer, the Library and Information occurred in the past two years. Valley State University Board ordering system. who presented the plan to the Commons is completed. The Grand Valley State University of Trustees has officially and The library will also have Board of Trustees, said the area building is currently scheduled currently offers 58 courses online, unanimously approved to proceed 1,500 seats, multiple reading was chosen to create a “lively to open sometime in spring of but so far has not had any problems with plans for the estimated $70 and collection rooms, a “genius location” where students can 2013. w ith students taking advantage of the million Mary Idema Pew Library bar, ” cafe, art display and gather. Moyer added while the The board has discussed and system. and Information Commons poetry reading area, designated library will hold a prominent voted on the project during the Targets of fraud schemes are more without state aid. The project study spaces, an outdoor terrace location on campus, he believes past seven years. likely to be community colleges, will rely solely on private and and green roof technology. In it will not disrupt existing student In addition to the approval of where tuition is cheaper and financial university funds. addition, the facility will meet the foot traffic routes as students the new library, the board also aid eligibility requirements are The approval was met with U.S. Green Building Council's walk to and from class. heard reports from the Housing less vigorous. Between April and applause and some standing LEED Platinum specifications, “We have a flow of students and Enrollment departments. September 2009, Axia College at ovations from the audience. the highest possible standards of that we don’t want to interrupt The board members approved the University of Phoenix, Dallas Requests for funding through their rating system. and we want to maintain,” he a proposed housing and dining County Community College in Texas Michigan capital outlay process, and Lansing Community College in The chosen construction said. See Trustees, A2 which allocates tax dollars for Michigan were all victims of fraud. the construction and renovation In 2009, 65 individuals at Rio of facilities at the state’s Salada College were indicted on 130 public universities, have been counts after posing as phony students consistently denied by the state, and pocketing $539,000 in financial forcing the library project into aid reimbursements. stalemate. To prevent the abuse of financial Original plans called for $40 aid institutions, the Department of million in state aid with a $30 Education announced a new program million match by the university. that would analyze financial aid records With Friday ’s decision, GVSU for red flags, such as a high number of has elected to take on full funding invalid Social Security numbers, which responsibility for the project. could trigger further investigation. “This is an outstanding project Robert Shireman, deputy under that will greatly enhance our Secretary of Education, said the mission to create the graduate program does not involve collecting who will be able to thrive in new information. today’s economy,” said GVSU “The joint project with the inspector President Thomas J. Haas. general involves no new collection or Haas also noted the use of individual data, ” Shireman said. construction plans will have “no “It is focused on analyzing information direct impact on an increase in GVL / Brian B. Sevald about institutions to help guide tuition.” President Thomas J. Haas applauds the Board of Trustee's approval to pursue the $70 million library without state aid. further monitoring, program reviews and other appropriate follow-up.” The government also expanded the Higher Education Act that requires GV explores adding religious studies major accreditors to monitor how colleges verify the student who is enrolled It is for this, and a slew of great opportunity for fruitful Den Dulk noted almost every By Anya Zentmeyer is the same student who completes other reasons, professors and interaction among these two one of GVSU’s peer universities GVL Assistant News Editor coursework. The stipulation caused students alike have called on each areas,” Kopperl said. and colleges has some sort of concern from some community “Religion dates back about other and the administration to Although there are currently religious studies major in place. colleges that they would be required 5,000 years,” said Grand Valley create a religious studies major, classes focused on religion, “As an institution committed to purchase expensive monitoring State University student Joseph something there is no complete major to to both the liberal arts and equipment, but currently secure Jordan. “When has there been attempted accompany them. professional education, it is huge passwords satisfy the requirement. something nearly 5,000 years old before but never Associate professor of gap to have no formalized way for In fall 2008, 4.6 million students that has never been studied? ” successfuIly political sciences Kevin den students to explore intensively an took all of their courses online, a carried out. Dulk said consequently, many area of human experience that is 17 percent increase from the year Professor students decide to piece together so fundamentally important in before, according to an annual study Sheldon a religion-focused major through every corner of the globe,” den TLanthovn conducted by the Sloan Commission. K o p p e r I Liberal Studies. Dulk said. These numbers are only expected to attributed this Jordan is one of the religious- He also said the program would increase. lack of major studies-major hopefuls, cutting not be limited to “traditional” Research institution Ambient to the inability Den Dull and gluing pieces of GVSU’s liberal arts areas, but also to areas Insight recently found 11.9 million INDEX Liberal Studies program to create such as health professions and to find a sound students took at least some of their place in GVSU’s structure to put his major. business, where religion-themed classes online in 2009 and predicts that News ........................ A3 the program, but said he thinks “I was given an opportunity courses are in the works. number will increase to 222 million Nation/World ............ A4 given the events of the past 10 to live my whole life abroad Douglas Kindschi, professor by 2014.

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