WINTeR 2012 Grand Valley magazine Students are fierce about rugby, 50 other sports clubs Contents GRAND VALLEY MAGAZINE Vo Lume 11, IssuE 3, WINTER 2012 Features 14 Sports clubs turn heads Newcomers, seasoned veterans comprise 50 teams on campus 17 Finding your path and career passion Unique tool helps guide, challenge students through college 20 Moving beyond stereotypes 2012 Year of Interfaith Understanding 24 Students engage in life-changing research on Medical Mile 2 WINTER 2012 | www.gvsu.edu Editorial Staff Mary Eilleen Lyon, M.S., ’05 Assistant Vice President for News and Information Services, Executive Editor Michele Coffill Contents Editor and Writer Dottie Barnes, M.S., ’05 Contributing Editor and Writer Nate Hoekstra, B.S., ’06 Contributing Editor and Writer Mary Isca Pirkola Contributing Editor and Writer Leah Zuber, B.A. ’10 Contributing Editor and Writer Bernadine Carey-Tucker, B.A., ’99 Photography Services Manager and Contributing Photographer Elizabeth Lienau, B.S. ’05 Photography Coordinator Amanda Pitts, B.S. ’05, M.S. ’10 Photographer Abigayle Sloan ’07 Alumni Editor Sherry Bouwman Editorial and Circulation Assistant Matthew E. McLogan Vice President for University Relations Design Staff Jacqueline Cuppy, B.F.A., ’87 Creative Director Christine Parkes-Schaw, B.S., ’06 Graphic Designer Contact Us Grand Valley Magazine is a publication of Departments News & Information Services. Comments and suggestions are welcome. E-mail [email protected] 4 Letters & Books Write Grand Valley Magazine Grand Valley State University 5 Campus News 1 Campus Drive, 133 LMH Allendale, MI 49401 10 Arts Grand Valley State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution 11 Athletics 12 See the entire magazine online at Donor Impact www.gvsu.edu/gvmagazine. 27 Photo Feature Connect with students, faculty, staff and alumni 28 Q&A | Jeff Chamberlain through Grand Valley’s official social media channels. On the cover: photo by Bernadine Carey-Tucker 30 Research The women’s rugby team is one of 50 sports club teams on campus. Read more on page 14. 31 Sustainability On these pages: photo by Bernadine Carey-Tucker Work on the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and 32 Alumni News Information Commons continues through the winter. The library on the Allendale Campus and the new L. William Seidman Center on the Pew Grand Rapids 38 Off the Path Campus are set to open in 2013. The Grand Valley Magazine is printed on FSC-certified paper manufactured with electricity in the form of renewable energy (wind, hydro, and biogas). The cover includes a minimum of 10% postconsumer recovered fiber. GRAND VALLEY MAGAZINE 3 BOOKs Bookmarks Looking for a good book? Check out these recommendations from Grand Valley faculty and staff members: Convergence Culture: Where Old and In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Big History and the Future of New Media Collide Manifesto Humanity (New York University Press, 2006) (Penguin Press, 2008) (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010) by Henry Jenkins by Michael Pollan by Fred Spier Kim Roberts, associate professor of film “I recently saw a magazine ad for frozen Craig Benjamin, associate professor and video, enjoys the way Jenkins provides waffles, with smiling children and the of history, said this little book by one of examples of how consumers of media are words: ‘Nutrition has never had a tastier the world’s finest big historians offers a leaving behind their passive ways and opting disguise,’” said Jo Miller, associate professor breathtaking overview of the history of the to engage in the story worlds being created of English. “I thought of this book, in which cosmos, Earth, and humanity in just 250 through a variety of media. “He touches Pollan exposes the role of ‘nutritionism,’ an pages. “By placing human history in the on several facets of how communities ideology that has transformed food in our context of the great sweep of cosmic are built around these worlds and what it culture.” Miller said the author encourages history, Spier is able to show us where means to grassroots activism, media literacy, people to think of food as a delivery system we have come from, where we are now, corporate branding, politics and popular for nutrients, rather than as a social occasion and what the future might hold for culture,” she said. “He writes in a style that is or an important part of cultural identity. This humans, our planet and the universe,” approachable and fun, whereas other books ideology strips food of its important social Benjamin said. on this complex topic can be overwhelming role in our lives that leaves us, Pollan writes, and intimidating. It made me want to jump vulnerable to the whims of food experts, in and join up!” who have things to sell us. Special order these books at University Bookstore and receive a 20 percent discount. An archive of past Bookmarks is now online at www.gvsu.edu/gvmagazine/books. The website also offers a page to submit a book for recommendation and a listing Contact: [email protected] of previous Community Reading Project books. or (616) 331-3521. Land purchase will expand health care programs Grand Valley purchased workers, and 5,000 students land in downtown Grand currently study in one of Rapids for $3.25 million to the university’s health care allow for future expansion of programs. CHS opened in its health care programs. 2003. It is full to capacity, The Board of Trustees and officials said additional approved the purchase in laboratories and classrooms November. The 1.6 acre site are needed to accommodate is adjacent to the university’s enrollment demand. Cook-DeVos Center for Health Officials are working to Sciences on Michigan Street, identify which health-related Grand Rapids’ “Medical programs would be placed Mile.” Rockford Development in the new building on the Group will manage the site Lafayette-Hastings site, until the university is ready which is bordered by Hastings photo by Amanda Pitts to begin construction. and Trowbridge streets and Students in the Radiologic and Imaging program work in a lab in the Grand Valley is the region’s Lafayette and Prospect avenues. Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences. Grand Valley purchased land No. 1 provider of health care that will allow for expansion of health care programs. 4 WINTER 2012 | www.gvsu.edu CAMPUs NEWs Aging population dominates health care forecast Grand Valley released its Hari Singh, professor of third edition of “Health Check: economics, said the report Analyzing Trends in West shows a significant increase Michigan” on January 5. The in the number of individuals report, supported by a grant in the 45-64 and the over 65 from by Blue Cross Blue Shield age groups, and a drop in the of Michigan and Blue Care number of individuals in the 18- Network, identifies significant 34 age group in West Michigan. health-related issues facing Singh said if the trend continues, Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon and the community will face a Allegan counties. substantial burden of chronic Paul Isely, professor and health problems and, as a result, chair of economics, said an increase in health care demographics is one of the expenditures. biggest stories coming out of the “The good news is we can report. “The aging population change some of the bad trends is one reason why we’re seeing by modifying our behavior,” said increases in obesity, which is Singh. “For example, exercising leading to increases in diabetes would reduce obesity, which and asthma,” said Isely. “The would bring down health care health care needs of the baby costs. Another focus is low birth photo by Adam Bird boom generation will change weight babies. These babies Paul Isely, professor and chair of economics, leads the audience dramatically.” tend to have a lifetime of health through the third area Health Check, which analyzes health care trends Isely said caring for the issues. Better prenatal care in West Michigan. large number of people with would reduce health care costs asthma and diabetes totals about significantly.” nurses are being trained than $800 million, more than the Other challenges include a needed. On the positive side, View the report online compensation costs of the continued nursing shortage. the report shows that cancer at tinyurl.com/7d4ql3a. entire furniture industry in The report shows that each year rates, strokes, heart disease and West Michigan. in West Michigan, 900 fewer smoking are all down. GVSU remembers many campus contributions of Meijer People at Grand Valley and in A member of the Advisory Michigan mourned the passing Cabinet for the Grand Valley of Frederik “Fred” Meijer, who University Foundation, Meijer died on November 25. was a university supporter since Meijer, chairman emeritus the early days of the college. He of Meijer Inc., was a successful generously gave to help create businessman and generous the Meijer Public Broadcast philanthropist who cared deeply Center and Frederik Meijer about the Grand Rapids and Honors College. See more on West Michigan community. page 28. Throughout his life he made After donating land to help many contributions that helped create the Meijer Campus in local medical institutions, Holland, he became a member educational facilities and nature of the “Land Barons.” Under preserves. He was 91. the leadership of Richard M. “Mr. Meijer’s generosity, from DeVos, this small group of the beginning of Grand Valley’s philanthropists helped secure history, has been critical to our land and funding for expansion Frederik ‘Fred’ Meijer, pictured at the WGVU studios, was a tremendous success and has helped make us of Grand Valley’s Grand Rapids supporter of Grand Valley and the West Michigan community. He died on the university that we are today,” campaign. November 25 at age 91. said President Thomas J.