Grand Valley State University ScholarWorks@GVSU Volume 50, July 13, 2015 - June 6, 2016 Lanthorn, 1968-2001 12-10-2015 Lanthorn, vol. 50, no. 30, December 10, 2015 Grand Valley State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/lanthorn_vol50 Part of the Archival Science Commons, Education Commons, and the History Commons Recommended Citation Grand Valley State University, "Lanthorn, vol. 50, no. 30, December 10, 2015" (2015). Volume 50, July 13, 2015 - June 6, 2016. 30. https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/lanthorn_vol50/30 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 50, July 13, 2015 - June 6, 2016 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@GVSU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SPECIAL ISSUE I COMMENCEMENT LAKERS TO FACE SHEPHERD IN NCAA SEMIFINAL ON SATURDAY STUDENT-RUN PUBLICATIONS // PRINT ONLINE • MOBILE // LANTHORN.COM SEE A7 ALLENDALE & GRAND RAPIDS. MICHIGAN VOL. 50 NO. 30 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10 NEWS State funding group looks at appropriation ‘OH, THE PLACES Student senate recently created a state-funding advocacy group to talk about strategies to change how money is allocated to universities YOU’LL GO!’ SEE A3 LAKER LIFE Comedy group helps students fight stress Subject to Change improv group is Toast with T. Haas hosting comedy shows during the end of the school year as a way for sends latest Laker students to relax before exam week alums on their way SEE A6 BY JESS HODGE SPORTS [email protected] Junior racks up stats ou have brains in your head. You have for women ’s hoops feet in your shoes. “Y You can steer your­ Grand Valley State center Piper self any direction Tucker has become a key cog for the you choose.” Lakers, contributing with shooting, The wise words of Dr. Seuss rebounding, defense and passing rang true for the newest addition SEE A9 to the Grand Valley State Univer­ CELEBRATION: President Thomas Haas and student senate president Maddie Cleghorn toast the graduating seniors. sity alumni at the end-of-semester Over 300 graduating GVSU students gathered in the Eberhard Center to toast to their graduation. GVL | LUKE HOLMES Toast with T. Haas event. ONLINE Dozens of champagne bottles Students had 45 minutes to State University’ Haas began. “Each one of you because you made (this) were popped, hundreds of glasses talk amongst themselves until the one of you in this room, and now choice,” Haas said. “I’m hopeful that See West Virginia clinked together and many congrat­ speeches began. When GVSU Presi­ over 100,000 alums, has their own at the end of the day, you realized through @GVLSports ulations were in order for the more dent Thomas Haas stepped on stage story that they’re still telling.” that this was the right place for you than 300 students that filtered into and greeted the almost-alums of This event has turned into a bi ­ and that you will continue to excel. Keep tabs on the GVSU football the L.V. Eberhard Center at Grand GVSU, the chatter died down and annual tradition since April of 2013. “This is part of your home, (we) team in Shepherdstown, West Valley State University on Wednes ­ everyone settled in to listen. The aim is to show gratitude for the will always be a part of your home.” Virginia on Saturday by following day night. All were there to celebrate Before congratulating the stu ­ graduates in their persistence to fin­ Haas was only one of three speak- @GVLSports for live tweets themselves, the students, who in a dents, he thanked them. ish college, and, most importantly, matter of days, will graduate and be ­ “Thank you for making the graduate from GVSU. SEE TWITTER.COM come alumni of GVSU. choice to be part of Grand Valley “I so appreciate each and every SEE TOAST | A2 DEMOGRAPHICS ADMINISTRATION Less than 4 percent of Laker Changes within Provost’s Office announced at GV faculty are African American Aboufadel, Benet named as new associate vice presidents GV calls for increased minority representation BY MEGHAN MCBRADY Movement Sciences, decided to MMCBRADY@LA N THORN. COM leave their positions in my of­ BY DREW HOWARD With the University of Missouri in mind, more comfortable,” Newton said. “Not fice and the new people hired ASSISTANTNEWSmANTHORN.COM students and faculty members at GVSU saying that diversity or mixture among uilding itself upon as assistant vice presidents will are also calling for an increased represen­ other cultures is not important or uncom­ the foundations of replace them,” Davis said. “I am mid the controversy con­ tation of black faculty members. fortable - it’s just nice to know others like talent and leader ­ thrilled to welcome the new cerning the lack of response Jasmin Newton, a junior studying you are around you and near.” ship needed once AVP’s and the new confidential to racist incidents from offi­ criminal justice, is in her first semester at According to research done by the students gradu ­ assistant as I helped make those cials at the University of Mis­ GVSU since transferring from Michigan GVSU Office of Institutional Analysis, ate, the Office of the Provost hiring choices.” souri, students at Mizzou State University. As a black student on a black students account for 5.2 percent of at Grand Valley State Univer­ Edward Aboufadel, a math­ have made demands for the institution to predominately white campus, Newton the student population - higher than the sity prides itself on fostering ematics professor, and Suz- increase its black faculty to 10 percent by said an increase in black faculty would faculty ’s 3.8 percent. academic excellence and ac­ eanne Benet, a professor of the 2017-18 academic year. create a more comfortable atmosphere. Louis Moore, professor of African tive involvement marketing, have At Grand Valley State University, the “I just think being in an environment throughout their — been named as latest data from 2014 showed that only 3.8 where more people are like you and look community in the new assistant percent of all faculty members were black. like you makes everyone feel a little bit SEE FACULTY | A2 their students. “I am thrilled to vice presidents While there welcome the new in Academic and Student Affairs. have been re­ AVP’s and the cent changes in Aboufadel, the office - with new confidential who has over a Mary Albrecht assistant... ” decade of aca­ being promoted demic leader ­ to special associ­ ship at GVSU, ate to the provost GAYLE DAVIS including work and Jan Aussick- PROVOST AND EXECUTIVE as a department VICE PRESIDENT FOR er being hired to chair and serves STUDENT AFFAIRS replace Albrecht on the faculty as the confiden­ senate, will focus tial executive on faculty issues, assistant - more personnel primarily with personnel poli­ changes are on the way. cies and practices. Gayle Davis, provost and “I will be working with the executive vice president for faculty senate and associated Academic and Student Affairs, committees on questions re­ indicated that there was an in­ lated to personnel policies and ternal search conducted for the procedures, ” Aboufadel said. “I two new associate vice presi­ will also be involved in the ad ­ dents within the office. ministration of the new LIFT “Associate Vice President surveys (laker Impressions of Jon Jellema, retiring, and Nan­ TALKING NUMBERS: Louis Moore speaks during a panel discussion. At GVSU, the latest data shows that 3.8 percent of faculty members are black. According to Institutional Analysis, black students account for 5.2 percent of the student population. GVL I Kevin sielaff cy Giardina, return to faculty of SEE PROVOST | A2 Check Us Out Online BriansBooks.net Or Give Us A Call $ TEXTBOOKS Allendale: 616.892.4170 Grand Rapids: 616.454. BOOK RENT ii BOV 2 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU! BRIAN'S BOOKS WILL ALWAYS GVSU Allendale: Across the street from the water tower. SAVE YOU CASH GUARANTEE!) On Fulton in Downtown GR. • • • • • ♦ v f DECEMBER 10, 2015 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN A2 | NEWS a GVL NEWS # NEWS BRIEFS are always a Laker for a Lifetime. are always here for you.” IHINNIIIIIIHIIINNIMimiNNNINIIinmilllllimilimillllHIlHllimMlINNNIIMNIIimillimillHI TOAST “In just a few days you guys are going to They also had a social media pres­ CONTINUED FROM A 2 be rocking that Laker Blue cap and gown ence this year, which was different from NEXT DEVOS MEDICAL ETHICS COLLOQUY TO FO­ as you anticipate what to come,” she said. years prior. Collver called it a “live so­ CUS ON MARIJUANA ers who stood in front of the students “Celebrate all the memories that you’ve cial media wall,” where students at the Experts in the field of substance abuse and addic­ that evening. had at Grand Valley so far and figure out event could #thaastoast and their post tive disorders will debate the pros and cons of legalizing Maddie Cleghorn, GVSU student how to take that with you as you go onto could be shown on the projection slides marijuana for medical and non-medical use during the next senate president, also gave her congrat­ the next step of your life.” around the room. DeVos Medical Ethics Colloquy. ulations on making it through the end ­ The third speaker was Brandon Er- The nearly 1,000 new graduates will An argument in favor of legalizing marijuana will less amount of classes, homework and hart, a member of the Young Alumni walk across the graduation stage at Van be given by Kevin Hill, director of Substance Abuse exams. She reflected on the years lead ­ Association at GVSU. He gave his con­ Andel Arena in Grand Rapids on Dec.