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November 18, 2012 Janet Mendler Michigan Press Association Foundation 323 E.

Grand River Howell, MI 48843-2322 Janet: I very strongly endorse Anya K. Zentmeyer as Grand Valley State Universitys candidate for a 2012 MPA Foundation Community Journalism Scholarship. She is pursuing a journalism major bachelor of arts with German as a language. She meets all scholarship award criteria. Anya is the current editor-in-chief of Grand Valleys twice-weekly, student-run newspaper, the Grand Valley Lanthorn (lanthorn.com). In addition to having overall responsibility for all content, she also is expanding multimedia presentation of news via lanthorn.com (see iTunes for free Lanthorn mobile App) and various social media. Anya has demonstrated a very high aptitude for reporting, writing, editing and ethics, and she is very eager to gain further experience and enjoy the future company of journalism professionals. She will become a productive member of any newsroom or newsgathering organization that has a mission of community journalism and a focus on public affairs reporting. As a journalism faculty member and as adviser to the GV Lanthorn, I have watched Anya further develop her deadline writing and leadership skills while addressing enormous challenges and responsibilities. Anya is eager to learn, and she has demonstrated the skills and heart to become a superior journalist. She has earned statewide reporting/writing awards through the Michigan Collegiate Press Association and national awards (two years in a row) through the Associated Collegiate Press. Shes also a fine photographer. Finally, Anya is a very personable individual with high standards of appearance and organization. She has a great sense of humor. Contact me at 616-331-3512 for further information or clarification. Best, Lawrence Beery Larry Beery Faculty Adviser, GV Lanthorn Associate Professor, School of Communications

Dear Michigan Press Association Foundation, It is my pleasure to professionally recommend Anya Zentmeyer for the Michigan Press Association Foundations Community Journalism Scholarship. Anya came to be a beat writer for REVUE by reference of a colleague of mine who had previously worked with her. This colleague praised her work ethic and reporting skills, so when it came time to hire a writer for our film beat, Anya was at the top of the list. Since her hire date, Anya has impressed me with her thorough reporting skills and to-the-point writing. She initially admitted film was not part of her expertise, but was confident in her ability to network and report with the people in the business. She succeeded in doing so and as a result, has become extremely knowledgeable in the field. She learns quickly and is always open to constructive criticism. If you have any questions regarding Anyas qualifications, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Lindsay Patton-Carson Managing Editor, REVUE Magazine Lindsay@revuewm.com (616) 608-6170

Dear MPA Foundation members, Its with great pleasure that I recommend Anya Zentmeyer for the Michigan Press Association Foundations 2012 Community Journalism Scholarship. In my time getting to know Anya as one of my students at Grand Valley State University, I have been impressed by her academic drive, but as a journalist Ive been even more proud to see her diving into all our industry has to offer. In her work with the Lanthorn, GVSUs student newspaper, shes set herself apart as a leader among her peers. Shes curious. She questions. And if shes not satisfied with an answer, she goes back at an issue again. I love this because its the hallmark of a true journalist, and its what I hope to see in my staff every day. To see it in a college student is not only refreshing, it shows me the future. Anya has the qualities the MPA stands for as it continues to push for, and celebrate, the truth that journalism provides. By selecting her for this scholarship, you help one more writer on her path to achieving this goal. Thank you for your time, TandaGmiter Managing Producer MLive Grand Rapids / The Grand Rapids Press Contact: (616) 914-7432

T H E S T U D E N T- R U N N E W S PA P E R S AT G R A N D V A L L E Y. W W W. L A N T H O R N . CO M S P O R T S S L I D E S H OW S O N L I N E : M./W. BASKETBALL, M. cLUB HOcKEY, INDOOR TRAcK AND FIELD


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M O N DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 01 2

Dropping out to Drop back in


FaLL 2007 FaLL 2008 FaLL 2009 FaLL 2010 FaLL 2011

# of dropouts* % of total enrolled (undergrad)

1,184

1,154

1,117

1,126

1,110

6.0

5.7

5.4

5.4

5.3

* The term dropout also includes students who did not drop out permanently, but were either taking
a semester off, doing study abroad or internships or transferred to other universities or colleges.
Figures provided by GVSU Institutional Analysis

GV faculty, student discuss what its like to toe the line between college, career and the pressures that come with the challenge
BY ANYA zENTMEYER
GVL MANAGING EDITOR

rand Valley State University visiting professor Ruth Butler was going to be a nun when she first started college at what was then called Mercy College of Detroit, now University of Detroit Mercy. My first year of college I was in a convent I was going to be a nun, Butler said. So I wised up about that, and then transferred to Eastern (Michigan University) and dropped out after my second year of college. That was the first time she dropped out of school, followed by another semester or so at Eastern and then a second drop out. A few years later, she returned to University of Detroit and double-majored in English and religious studies. Id been in school all these years, 14 years by then, and always doing what I

Id been in school all these years, 14 years by then, and always doing what I was supposed to do and following the plan, the structure youre supposed to follow.
RUth bUtlER
PROFESSOR

You know, I dont have to do what people want me to do, I can do what I want. Even if its nothing. And it was one of my top five first grown-up decisions. She ended up going back to college a fourth time for her teacher certification, all-in-all taking her just short of nine years to complete her education. Dropping out at GVSU According to records kept by Institutional Analysis, of the 20,818 students enrolled for the Fall 2010 base term (with a Winter 2011 follow-up term), GVSU saw 5.4 percent, or 1,125 students, drop out. Phillip Batty, director of Institutional Analysis at GVSU, said the term dropout is not exclusive to students who dropped out of college completely or SEE DROP OUT, A4

was supposed to do and following the plan, the structure youre supposed to follow, Butler said. I remember sitting during the summer and I just said,

DROPOUT

continued from A1

permanently. The term, as used in the universitys records, also constitutes students who are taking a semester off, doing study abroad or internships or sometimes transferring to other colleges or universities. For fall of 2011, the estimated number of dropouts at GVSU (based on data as of Thursday) is marginally lower than fall of 2010 at 5.3 percent, or 1,110 of the 21,124 students enrolled. About 200 (17 percent) of each years dropouts were dismissed or in jeopardy of dismissal status due to poor grades, Batty said. Also, previous years data have shown that 20 to 25 percent of the dropouts re-enrolled at GVSU within a year. Senior Tayler Keefer made it through nearly three years at GVSU before taking a semester off, a decision that, much like Butlers, was an expression of freedom in a time of confusion. I went for three years, and I guess I felt like I was pushed on this path that everyone was supposed to follow out of high school, especially coming from Forest Hills, said Keefer, who attended Forest Hills Central High School in the suburbs of Cascade, Mich. I mean, I went to school and I liked it, but I guess after awhile it just got really stressful, because it was like, Why am I doing these classes if I dont know exactly what Im doing? In August, Keefer got a fulltime job at Spectrum Health as a registration specialist, and took the semester off before returning this winter. Stuck on the fence of what she felt she should do, and what she felt like society wanted her to do, Keefer took a leap of faith. (I dropped out) because I guess I just decided that, at

the time, there were more important things to focus on than school, she said. But Ive never had to say that to myself before, you know? No one usually says there are more important things than school. For both Butler and Keefer, the constantly-posed questions of major completion and concrete career plans were, and continue to be, intimidating. Its not hurting you, but its just another reminder that youre either on the track or youre not on the track, Butler said. So, who cares what Aunt Sally thinks in your day-to-day life? Its just like society calling up and saying, Hey, where are you, what are you doing, what are your plans? And I know that puts pressure on them I see it in my kids, I see it in students you know, What am I supposed to be doing? You kind of measure yourself, not even consciously even, but its there. I think its expecting a lot of us at an age when were just not ready to declare our life goal. For Keefer, coming back to school was synonymous with anxiety. She worried about the logistics of picking up where she left off; what old professors would think about her absence, if she would be able to handle due dates and deadline pressure the second time around. I went to my first classes and I realized no one cared that I hadnt been in school I was the only one who cared, Keefer said. You see all these people viewing you and thinking you have to go to school, you have to stay on track but sometimes you may go off track a little bit. It doesnt ruin things as much as you think its going to. The financial aftermath Though problems with financial aid werent a factor for Keefer, Michelle Rhodes, director of financial aid at GVSU, said there can be dif-

GVL / Anya Zentmeyer

Hitting the books: GVSU senior Tayler Keefer, studies her notes once again after taking fall semester off of school to work.

ferent repercussions for students who drop out, depending on the situation. If they drop out during a semester, financial aid must do a calculation to see if the federal government requires the university to return any of the financial aid the student was receiving, and can result in a bill for the student following assessment. If a mid-semester drop out impacts their academic progress, they may not be eligible for aid when or if they return. Likewise, if a student was receiving scholarships, there is no guarantee those scholarships will be reinstated upon return, Rhodes said. If a student takes enough time off, their loans could go into repayment. I would encourage any student who has questions about this to contact our office before they drop any classes to talk about their specific situation, Rhodes said. Making sense and pressing on All money matters aside, Butler said looking at college from an alternative perspective can help make the transition easier. There are a couple ways to look at a post-high school education, she said. One is to become a more well-rounded better person. The more

you learn about the world the better youll understand it and the better citizen of life youll be. Most people do get a job. Thats a fact. And sometimes a degree is a minimum thing to get your foot in the door. Keefer said shes excited to have a clear goal again now that shes back in school. Shes not sure if shell drop out again, but she has made peace with uncertainty. Im still trying to work out if I want a college degree, but I think thats just because Im still growing up and I dont know what I want, Keefer said. No one knows what they want. I think, though, at the end of the day, Im going to want a college degree. Butlers advice to students like Keefer is simple: keep your chin up. A lot of people are in this situation, its a very rare person who when they were a senior in high school says Yes, I want to be this and Im on the four-year plan to be this, she said. Its a wonderful gift to have that, but its not unusual not to have that. So, just do the best you can, youre not by yourself. And if youre going to do it, youll go back to it if you are meant to, if its what you really want to do. managingeditor@ lanthorn.com

T H E S T U D E N T- R U N N E W S PA P E R S AT G R A N D V A L L E Y. W W W. L A N T H O R N . CO M READ THE ARTICLE: HOLiDAY OPEN SETS TONE fOR TRAck AND fiELD TEAMS www.lanthorn.com/sports INSIDE THIS ISSUE: A HEALTHiER 2012: GET fiT iN THE NEW YEAR LAkER LifE i B4 READ THE ARTICLE: GV ALUM SHARES DATiNG HiTS, MiSSES iN JOURNAL www.lanthorn.com/lak erlife

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M O N DAY, JA N UA RY 9 , 2 01 2

SIZE ISNT EVERYTHING


he Michigan legislature might finally be on to something. As the suits in Lansing begin establishing the executive budget for the 2013 fiscal year, cash-strapped public universities might finally feel some relief from the legislature as they explore new funding models that would make state appropriation less enrollment-based and more performance-focused. If the Michigan legislature follows through with its plans and establishes a new funding model that looks at performance over enrollment factoring in graduation rates, production of highly-paid majors and Pell Grant recipients GVSU could find itself in a much better place come 2013. As the system currently stands, the funding for public universities in Michigan is awarded per-pupil according to outdated

EDITORIAL

New formulas for state appropriation more fairly represent universities academic achievements

student enrollment figures, and therein lies the problem. Grand Valley State University, for example, has seen a 44.4 percent rise in enrollment over the last 10 years the most dramatic increase out of any of Michigans 15 public universities. Despite the boom in enrollment, its somehow only managed to decrease in state funding to its current status as the lowest-funded public university in Michigan, with only $2,365 per student in government appropriations. Legislators have been asking universities to do more with less, even going as far as to penalize universities that raised tuition by more than 7 percent for the 2011-12 academic year with lower funding, but have yet to actually reward those who heed the call. Despite its low funding, GVSU has the fourth-highest six-year graduation rate of the 15 Michigan public universities at

61.1 percent, and GVSU President Thomas J. Haas accountability report shows that GVSUs nursing program, which Gov. Rick Snyder identified as a key growth area for the state, has a 100 percent pass rate for graduates and a 93 percent pass rate for undergraduates. The most successful universities in the state are innovating, making do with less and keeping graduates employed in the state (84 percent for GVSU alumni), and those are the qualities that the state should be recognizing. GVSU is in a unique position as a still-budding university, the per-pupil equation neglects to account for rapid growth, and the funding needed to accommodate that growth. Low funding has prevented the university from hiring additional faculty members to teach popular courses and

limited GVSU to 123 square feet of nonliving center buildings per student, half of the state average, former VP of Development Maribeth Wardrop told students in a presentation last semester. If the Michigan government wants to see college graduates succeeding in a less-than booming job market, then it only makes sense for the state to support its institutions in a way that is conducive to growth and quality education. Giving larger universities more money per student just because theyre bigger makes as much sense as giving a massive check to Warren Buffet just because hes rich. If Michigan wants to attract young people to the region and retain its graduates, revamping the current higher education funding system to reward quality over quantity is an important first step.

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M O N DAY, O C TO B E R 18 , 2 01 2

EDITORIAL

THE GREAT DEBATORS

If two men debate and nobody hears it, did they debate at all? On the cusp of the last presidential debate, its time to get engaged.
discuss politics - and thats true. Policy issues have become so polarized between parties, and so attached to social stigmas, that it can be hard for students to voice their opinion without fear of making an enemy of either side. In fact, in can be hard for students to surmize an opinion at all. But heres the thing: we, as students, have the power to create that forum. We have the power to call eachother to action, to hold eachother accountable - some people even say we might have the power to swing the vote. So, when you think that your one vote doesnt matter, think about the big picture; and as the election draws near and President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney take the stage for the final debate before the polls open, take the time to tune in - even if baseball seems more important at the time.

n a guest column by Associate Professor Danielle Leek published today on the front page of the Lanthorn, Leek wrote that a U.S. presidential debate should give us a reference point to start conversations about politics, the candidates, policy and our society. But at Grand Valley State University and college campuses nationwide - theres one big problem: not everybody is willing to engage in those conversation. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagements most recent numbers on youth voter turnout, 42 million people ages 18-29 are eligible to vote, making up 21 percent of the total eligble voting population in the U.S., while seniors - who tend to retain more extreme conservative policy views than

younger voters - total at 39 million. In the 2008 election, 84% of those youth 18-29 who were registered to vote actually cast a ballot. Statistics on Project Vote, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated that works to works to empower, educate, and mobilize low-income, minority, youth, and other marginalized and under-represented voters reports that as of November 2008, fewer than half (49 percent) of the 3.7 million 18-year-old citizens were registered to vote. Thats 22 points lower than the general population. Though a product of an arguably broken voting system, the reality is that there is only one day to cast your ballot for president, and it only happens once every four years; and the only thing worse than no vote is an uninformed vote, so arm yourself with knowl-

edge on the candidates, and the proposals also included on the ballot. GVSUs own President Thomas J. Haas took a commendable step earlier this week with a campuswide email addressing students, faculty and staff about their thoughtful participation in the Nov. 6 election. I encourage all members of the Grand Valley community to vote, Haas wrote. This most fundamental of our rights is, to me, a sacred undertaking. In too many places around the globe, citizens seeking to vote confront intimidation, danger or other obstacles crafted to limit participation. We should never take for granted the free and safe exercise of our right to vote. Danielle Leek made an argument that it wasnt neccesarily apathy, but the lack of an appropriate forum in which students can

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M O N DAY, O C TO B E R 18 , 2 01 2

THE YOUTH VOTE

GETTY IMAGES | COURTESY

Agree to disagree: President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney discuss topics during the most recent presidential debate at Hofstra University.

Students gather at GV to watch round two of the presidential debates


By ANyA ZeNTMeyeR
GVL EDITOR IN CHIEF

ith the second of three presidential debates leading up to the Nov. 6 election behind us, both President Barack Obama and his republican opponent Gov. Mitt Romney turned up the heat on Tuesday nights debate, while around 70 Grand Valley State University students gathered in the Kirkhof Centers big-screen theater to watch. The viewing, sponsored by Speech Lab, was spearheaded by the same associate professor of communications that helped to kick start the Speech Lab earlier this year. My area of research is young adults and politics so thats what Im most passion-

ate about is how do we encourage young people to be involved in talking about political issues and politics and elections, said Danielle Leek, associate professor in the School of Communications. She said the presidential debates are not only a chance for students, like the rest of the country, to see the candidates in action, but also a chance for them to thing about how their issues translate to issues and aspects in their own lives. By getting people together to watch the debate, afterward they can say hey remember when Obama interrupted Romney, or when Candy Crawely said, sorry, Mr. President, were going to have to move on, Leek said. I think whats interesting about this

is its not that young adults or collegeage students dont care. Its that we dont ever create opportunities for people to talk about these issues. We act as if talking about politics is something that is taboo. People are afraid to try out the way something sounds. Brendan Bilski, who works at the Speech Lab as well as in North C living center as a resident assistant, agreed. He thinks that its not apathy thats keeping many students from actively engaging in the election process, but a lack of understanding. We just dont talk about politics anymore, so we dont know what direction to look in, much less to actually pin down. So, SEE VOTE, A2

ERIC COULTER | GVL

Taking in the debate: Grand Valley students watch the presidential debate in the Kirkoff Theater on campus. The event was sponsered by the Speech Lab and attracted about 70 GVSU students.

VOTE

CONTINUED FROM A1

when you dont understand, Bilski said. (This event) will start helping students to actually put into more concrete detail what they believe and how that translates to politics. Bilski, who has been interested in politics in high school, said hes not an undecided voter, and developed his political ideology over a long period of time. But for the students who havent, he said he thinks part of the issue is the perception of an individuals role in the elec-

tion process. The underlying assumptions of our culture are that we dont need to worry about politics, that its not our responsibility, Bilski said. And I think that once people start to see that they do have a responsibility and that they can make a difference, then they will be much more likely to not be so apathetic. Leek, however, said that its not so much apathy from college-age voters, but the absence of a comfortable forum in which to talk about politics thats holding students back from

actively engaging. I think whats interesting about this is its not that young adults or college-age students dont care, Leek said. Its that we dont ever create opportunities for people to talk about these issues. We act as if talking about politics is something that is tabooThat restriction on people being able to talk about politics, I think is what makes it difficult to learn what they really think about it, and thats what were trying to do. Erika King, a GVSU political science professor, said that although the impact of

the youth vote may not be quite as formidable in this election as it was for Obama in 2008, student participation still has the potential to make or break the candidates especially in battle ground states. I think that if we look to 2008, students were an important part of Obamas constituency, King said. Students alone did not cause him to win the election, but they were part of a coalition of different kinds of groups and he very much targeted college students and other young people, especially college students.

In regards to students stake in the November election, King said to keep an eye on candidates positions on federally funded financial aid, access to higher education and issues surrounding healthcare and insurance policies. My best projection is, given what we know from public opinion polling about attitudes of college-age students, that they will still trend toward Obama but I dont think its going to be such a big gap as it was in 2008, King said. The final presidential debate will air at 9 p.m. ET,

and cover issues surrounding foreign policy. As youth, we can influence each other, but we can also influence a wider square, Bilski said. I mean, the fact that we are going to a university means that were learning about what many, if not most Americans, dont have the opportunity to. So, we have the time to sit down and think things through, and we could use that to go out and talk with people who arent a part of university. We can be the change that shifts the mindset. editorial@lanthorn.com

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EDITORIAL

rtPrize 2012 competition will close its final round of voting at midnight, and one lucky artist will take home the $200,000 grand prize. With so much money at stake something GQ magazine called a colossal sum in the world of art competitions in an article published in their September issue critics of the competition and art lovers alike have voiced concern over the fairness of the voting process. To help quell the outcry, this year ArtPrize added a separate Juried Awards, where a panel of art experts will award the grand prizewinner $100,000 and five other artists $20,000 each. The argument is that the general public, with no formal training behind them in art

FOR ThE LOvE OF ART A


techniques or values, vote for the flashiest pieces rather than the ones that require the most skilled artist. This has validity, and to a community of members who have spent years cultivating insight on a very beloved craft, it makes sense that the whole process might seem unfair. But when you think about ArtPrize in those terms, you let the rhetoric dominate a conversation that wasnt ever intended to turn political. ArtPrize is, essentially, a massive investment by the DeVos family in the long-term development of the city of Grand Rapids. Its a way to bring people to the city, garner their business, and keep them coming back. The event has given Grand Rapids

national attention, with stories featured in news outlets from the aforementioned GQ magazine and the Detroit Free Press, among others. While GQ magazine referred to ArtPrize event-goers as appraising works of art like fairgoers sampling sideshows at a carnival, Detroit Free Press business writer John Gallagher hit at the heart of what Grand Rapids locals and ArtPrize officials have been trying to say all along. ArtPrize, the annual public art competition drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors to Grand Rapids, (shows) that cultural events can support the bottom line as well as the mind and heart, Gallagher wrote in a Sept. 27 article. Despite pumping an estimated $10.1

million in net new-visitor spending into the local economy last year, when its ArtPrize season, something about the city comes alive with a sense of wacky comradery. So, call it what you will art, entertainment or blasphemy but let ArtPrize be something good. Let it be movement in the midst of complacency, a vehicle for laughter in a too-serious world; or, if you will, a light in the night. As you cast your vote for your favorite top 10 piece, dont let the politics of ArtPrize bleed into its purpose; which can be, depending on who you are and where youre coming from, something as simple as a feeling. Something as simple as a reminder that there still are simple things in a world as complex as ours can start to feel.

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M O N DAY, N OV E M B E R 8 , 2 01 2

BATTLE OF THE VALLEYS


SPORTS, B1

FORWARD

GETTY IMAGES | COURTESY

Full speed ahead into four more years: US President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden celebrate on stage after Obama delivered his acceptance speech on Nov. 7 in hometown Chicago.

Battleground states snag Obama 303 electoral votes, second term


BY ANYA ZENTMEYER
GVL EDITOR IN CHIEF

resident Barack Obama was greeted warmly by his hometown of Chicago Tuesday night after news organizations began declaring his victory over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential race around 11:20 p.m., carrying Americas first black president into his second term. Tonight in this election, you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back, Obama said. We know in our hearts that for the United States of America, the best is yet to come. Predictions of a close race came to fruition, with the New York Times most recent numbers at time of publication totaling Obama at 50.4 percent (60,514,893) of the popular vote while Romney trailed behind with 48.1 percent (57,710,818). Republican and democrats nationwide watched nervously as electoral votes most notably in the battleground states topped out at 303 for Obama, and 206 for Romney, leaving 29 currently undecided. Obama swept Colorado, Iowa, Ohio, New Hampshire, Virginia and Wisconsin, also taking all 16 of Michigans electoral votes Romneys birth state as well as his home state of Massachusetts. This is an affirmation for the Obama presidency, said Roger Moiles, affiliated professor of political science at Grand Valley State University. It was a hard-fought battle, of course, but it was an affirmation. I think its a good thing for the country that we had a clear popular vote winner and electoral vote winner; the fact that Governor Romney could concede within a few hours after the polls had closed, that we had a clear definition on that. Whit Kilburn, also from GVSUs political science department, said Obamas victory was not a surprising one. Howev-

er, much like 2008, his victory was much bigger than himself. I think its also a victory for the kinds of politics we think America should have, Kilburn said. While theres no doubt that the campaign was at times shrill and negative, this is really nothing new in American politics. But the election, the exit polls, and the pre-election polls showed that ideas and demographics still mattered. It was not enough for Romney to campaign as the anti-Obama. He had to put together a compelling plan for how he would govern, but the results show that most Americans did not find it compelling enough. CLOSING THE PARTY GAP At 51, Obama faces a still-shuddering economy, record levels of national debt and a polarized congress. Republicans will still have control of the U.S. House of Representatives, with 209 versus 155 democrats and 71 undecided. Democrats still have Obamas back in the Senate, however, with 52 democrats versus 44 republican seats something Moiles said might help Obama in the long run, though it may be a very difficult and painful process. What Obama and democrats want is some tax increase to go along with spending cuts, and thats what more or less, the Tea Party has resisted, he said. With their particular power in the House and the republican majority, I think maybe with some support from some Senate republicans not all of them, certainly senate republicans will still hold to their principles and positions but, I do think he may be able to put together a little bit of a coalition that will put some leverage on that House majority. Gov. Romney and Obama both expressed strong sentiments of bipartisanship in their concession and acceptance speeches, respectively, Obama reminding SEE FORWARD, A2

We know in our hearts that for

the United States of America, the best is yet to come.


BARACK OBAMA
US PRESIDENT

ELECTORAL COLLEGE

303

BARACK OBAMA

206
MITT ROMNEY

NEW YORK TIMES I COURTESY GRAPHIC

FORWARD

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reminding the country on more than one occasion we are all in this together. I think its a little idealistic that its going to continue that way; its a good start, its a good direction to go into, Moiles said. The President talked about meeting with Mitt Romney and talking about ways to bring things together, there was a suggestion of compromise and cooperation on these sorts of things from Mitt Romney in his concession speech and I think that opens the door.

HITTING THE GROUND GAME RUNNING Moiles said Obamas ground game played an essential role in his victory over Romney, especially when it came down to getting out the vote with targeted demographics like women, youth ages 18-29 and Latino voters, who with 70 percent of the demographic voting in his favor, gave Obama perhaps his biggest popular A CHANGING LANDSCAPE vote advantage in the battleground states. Moiles said the tone of politics might also This was something really defined by the have an effect on public attitude and the Presiground game, thats an advantage theyve dents approval ratings in his second term. The tone of the politics whether peohad all along, Moiles said. Its when they really shifted it into gear in the last several ple feel that their government is working for weeks of getting those populations. them or if its a matter of bickering for po60 percent of the youth vote went to litical gain I think thats something that he Obama, versus 37 percent to Romney; which, came into office with this view of post-parat 19 percent of the total electoral, indicates tisanship, that we can get past all of that, and a one-percentage I think he made point increase from efforts to do that, the 2008 election. to an extent, he Danielle Leek, 2012 may show that young said. But I think associate professor they have to find a voters will reshape the of communications way to rise above party line assumption at GVSU, said this that. They have election proves that to accept certain about politics. realities on all young voters will sides and be able remain a consistent feature of contemDANIELLE LEEK to come to that porary American PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATIONS compromise. Kilburn said elections. that this election A lot of people proves the need argued that the for Republicans shine would wear off after the hoopla of social media and a to do some serious soul searching to stay first-time African American president in in the game in upcoming elections. It cant continue to win elections if its 2008, Leek said. That lot of people was wrong. demographic base is overwhelmingly white, Amanda Hogan, a GVSU senior and old, and male, he said. Demographics journalism major, said she isnt surprised matter, because characteristics such as race, gender, ethnicity, and age are all markers of either by the outcome of the race. The media and the polls have painted this a shared cultural experience and set of valelection as frighteningly close, but I never ues. The country as a whole is becoming thought Mitt Romney had a chance, espe- rapidly more diverse. Though voters cannot control the tone of cially when it came to the youth vote, Hogan, who assisted Leek on Tuesday night at politics in the White House, they can control the WZZM newsroom doing voter data entry. it on the ground floor, and Leek said young The Obama campaign did an interesting job voters might just be push republican and of making the campaign more about what democrats need to meet in the middle. 2012 may show that young voters will Romney cant do, and why he is wrong for the presidency, than focusing on what Obama reshape the party line assumption about has done and will do for the next four years. politics, she said. In a number of races, ReHogan said she never felt like Romney publicans won Congressional house & sentried to appeal to younger voters, coming off ate seats in the same districts where Obama won the presidency. This means more votas a stiff elitist. I think that the younger generation would ers are willing to split their ticket, and I behave been more accepting of a Republican can- lieve that a number of those voters are young didate if the right one had been chosen, espe- Americans who are willing to think outside cially since, as college students, we know how the traditional frames of political parties. high the stakes are going to be to find a job in editorial@lanthorn.com

this economy, and we are becoming more conservative with our money, Hogan said. The economy, Moiles said, will be Obamas toughest obstacle in gaining back voter support especially from the youth demographic namely college students, who are looking ahead apprehensively toward a still unstable job market. If the economy shows progress there now, thats going to mean avoiding setbacks, problems with the budget, things that will make investors nervous but if he can accomplish that, if he can work out these deals, then the Presidents approval rating will go up out of that and I think thatll be tied very closely to the economy, Moiles said. Don Zinman, assistant professor of political science, said in his second term, one of Obama will have to convince the younger and more idealistic voters of 2008 that change does not come quickly and without resistance.

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M O N D AY, D E C E M B E R 5, 2011

Dont be afraid to tell


GV officials urge student body not to let false allegations deter future victims from reporting
By Anya Zentmeyer and chelsea Lane
GVL Staff

While students at Grand Valley State University are still trying to make sense of the two recanted allegations of an attempted assault and attempted sexual assault on the Allendale Campus Little Mac Bridge last month, university officials are urging the rest of the student body not to let those incidents deter victims of a sexual assault or attempted sexual assault from reporting in the future. We want to definitely get out the message that this should not deter students from coming forward, said Marlene Kowalski Braun, director of the Womens Center at GVSU. The Womens Center has seen an increase in discussion, dialogue, concern that you have, and what that says is that this issue is a very relevant issue on college campuses, and because we know so many people are suffering, we hope that these stories will actually just heighten awareness that there are places for people to go. According to a report by the U.S. Department of Justices Na-

KoWALSKI BRAUN tional Institute of Justice, 35 of every 1,000 women on a college campus are victims of sexual assault or rape in a given nine-month academic year. Kowalski Braun said that in an earlier 2006 survey, reported numbers showed GVSU was in line with national statistics, with about one in five to one in six students reporting a sexual assault on campus. In the recent myGVSU campus climate survey, 120 to 122 stu-

See Assault, A2

Assault

continued from A1

dents reported they had been sexually assaulted while at GVSU. Most of the reported victims were undergraduate women who said the assault took place during the first six weeks of their first semester. Rather than report the assault to police, most respondents indicated that they told a friend and felt embarrassed or responsible. The overwhelming vast majority of criminal sexual misconduct cases occur between individuals who know each other, said Capt. Brandon DeHaan, assistant director of the Grand Valley Police Department. ... We know these cases are underreported. These instances that occurred in November should not deter people from reporting these cases. By and far, alcohol or drugs are used as a tool dare I say a weapon in committing these crimes. We encourage individuals that have been sexually assaulted to report to police so we can investigate and assist them to become survivors, not just victims. Kowalski Braun said the university is battling with a societal norming around who is to blame for sexual assault, something that undercuts the amount of reported incidents not only on campus, but in general. So, what we want people to know, is that because you were drinking, because you feel like you shouldnt have gotten yourself in this situation there are no excuses for violating someone, she said. We may talk about people making different choices so like, in hindsight, maybe I wish I hadnt drank so much but that is not a reason for victimization. The best determiner for those questioning whether they should report an incident? Kowalski Braun said it is as simple as following your gut, an action underrated by societys shortfalls in defining what sexual assault is. Most students cannot talk

about what consent is and is not, so if were waiting for people to sort of have this definition, then were really having an uphill battle, she said. If you feel like something happened that didnt feel right, we welcome you to come in and talk about it. She said the university has a very connected system, utilizing the Counseling Center, the Womens Center, the police department and community resources to create an environment where students can come forward and have a variety of options and choices to report an assault or attempted assault. In addition, the Womens Center received its first threeyear grant from the U.S. Department of Justice in October 2010 for $265,129 to create and implement programs and resources to raise awareness and prevent acts of sexual assault and violence on campus. Theresa Rowland, the grant coordinator for the Violence Against Women grant, said the multi-faceted approach to both prevention and education is the best part about the grant, allowing the Womens Center to run a whole host of programs for students to utilize both on- and off-campus. This grant allows us to continue our work closely connected with the Department of Public Safety, the Counseling Center and community resources like the YWCA and the Center for Women in Transition, Rowland said. Were also training judicial officers, so its very comprehensive. The core team for the grant, called the Campus Violence Prevention Team, includes membership by those community members from the various on- and off-campus departments, with eight to nine working groups under the team, and between 25-30 members in total. GVSU was one of only 23 schools to receive the U.S. Department of Justice grant in 2010. The goal is to not let anything fall through the cracks, Kowalski Braun said. What are all of the places that could potentially deter someone after they report from the officers to the security to the judicial process to what we do in counseling to how we connect students to the community and then how the

DeHAAN community connects students back to us. Because we recognize that sometimes, students may go right to the nurse examiner program, which makes a lot of sense. But now we know that the nurse examiner programs in both communities would say, Here are places you can go back on GVSUs campus. Students also work under the grant to raise peer awareness and education, such as the group ReACT, an anti-violence peer theater education group and the recently-created college mens group, which has six to eight faculty and staff members and about 10 student names signed up so far. Weve been doing this for, you know, decades, and its mostly been women doing the work, Kowalski Braun said. But, in order to really end violence, we have to change culture and in order to do that, you have to look at men and masculinity. How are men socialized, what are mens roles in this, how do their leadership and involvement change the dialogue? And it is pretty incredible what were seeing. Were really excited. Rowland and Kowalski Braun said the VAW grant is a transformational one, and it was designed with that expectation when the Womens Center first began writing it. I think were actually seeing the fruits of that labor, Kowalski Braun said. It is touching so many aspects of the institution. Change comes so slowly when you can only do one thing at a time, and thats the benefit of the grant when you have the dollars to be doing it... Its the synergy that you get when youre doing that work one step at a time, you dont have that kind of synergy. news@lanthorn.com

Professor seeks support for Haitian student fund


By Anya Zentmeyer
GVL News Editor

If you ask Peter Wampler, he will tell you the students of Haiti are not very different from the students you might find at Grand Valley State University. They write out calculus problems on chalkboards, dream of being engineers and spend their Saturday afternoons studying for big exams. If you ask Wampler, he will tell you the image of Haiti depicted by the media is not quite the same one he spent the last few years discovering. The Haiti Ive seen has people that are hopeful, people that are ambitious and people that are really amazing, he said. I was just impressed with the fact, you know, that its not that different than any high school you have here. Its just that they dont have a real clear route to get anywhere else from here. However, as an associate professor of geology at GVSU, Wampler believes he has the tools to help Haiti heal their land through the Empowering Haiti through Education Fund, which is still in the early stages of its creation. Wampler, alongside GVSU admissions offices Chris Hendree and students Jared Kohler and Andrew Sisson, spent some time during the month of March traveling to Haiti to talk to students and administrators to try to get a better grasp on how to get students ready for the still-budding scholarship. We often hear about stories of students in U.S. that struggle to pay for college but in Haiti, even going to college is not really an option, Hendree said. I mean, theres just no

Courtesy Photo / Peter Wampler

Hope for Haiti: Grand Valley State Universitys Jared Kohler, Andrew Sisson, Chris Hendree and Peter Wampler are pictured above in a classroom in Haiti.

thats the thing - a lot of people go there and they do this kind of stuff, but then they forget. And so Im convinced that Im not going to forget.
- Peter Wampler Associate professor of Geology

Because

money there at all, theres no financial aid or anything like that. So providing this

Courtesy Photo / Peter Wampler

Laker pride: Haitian middle schoolers flash Grand Valley State University swag outside of a grade school in Haiti.

opportunity for Haitian students will give those students the skills that they can use to help rebuild their country. The Empowering Haiti through Education Fund has two main goals. The first goal of $30,000, which Wampler hopes will be met by January, would make the scholarship permanent, but it will take $250,000 to bring the first Haitian student to GVSU. I would like to have some of the Haitians come here and see our students have them get to know the Haitians so they can see a different side of Haiti, Wampler said. So, I think it would benefit our students and it would benefit them. Its almost equally beneficial on both sides. Ideally, he said, there would be a contingency of

Haitian students every year and when they complete their four-year degree at GVSU like any other international student might they would return to Haiti to help the next generation of students. And though skeptics might argue that these students wont return, Wampler has faith. Most of the students weve talked to, we asked them personally would you go back if you got this education? And almost all of them said yes, he said. They said that they really wanted a healthy, strong Haiti that can be there home. And they realize that the only way they can do that is to have help like this and bring that back to Haiti to change Haiti so its not stuck in this rut of dysfunction. They know that its dysfunctional and not

working and they know that it needs to change, and I think they see this as a way that can help them. He said he through his visits to Haiti, he has come to understand the promise and ambition of the people there and believes it can be a place of great beauty and promise if Haitians are empowered with the skills and tools to make it flourish. Wampler recalls the day he and his team left a meeting with administrators, when one of the English teachers pulled him aside and told him that he was excited about what they were doing he wanted to be a better English teacher, he told Wampler, but there was no way he could get the training. Before we left, he looked me in the eye and he said, Dont forget about us. Dont go away and forget about us. Ill always remember that forever I think, Wampler said. Because thats the thing - a lot of people go there and they do this kind of stuff, but then they forget. And so Im convinced that Im not going to forget. Visit www.gvsu.edu/Haiti to learn how you can help. news@lanthorn.com

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HAVE HEART L
ast week, College Measures, a partnership of the American Institutes for Research and the consulting firm Matrix Knowledge, released a report that aims to shed some light on the darkest corners of higher education: is your degree worth it? With every year the U.S. job market still shakes and shudders toward recovery following the crushing economic downturn, the value of having a college degree in a post-grad world has been routinely questioned by educators, politicians, pop culture icons and most desperately, the students carrying the burden of astronomical loan debt on their shoulders after graduation. While some analysts praised the report for using hard facts on education and employment to produce revealing insights, some look at

EDITORIAL

With the emphasis on the value of a college degree shifting toward post-grad payoff, remember why you came to GVSU
to economic prosperity, but as a lens to look through that broadens horizons and challenges students to make connections within the big picture and thats what it should be. Of course, there is that reality of life in the information age. Especially in the field of journalism, we rely on numbers to tell us whats working and whats not working. So, information optimists are looking at this data set as a way to cater education to societal demands, which largely lies in reinforcing the job market. And while the idea that colleges should begin to cater to programs that turn the most profit after graduation makes sense, it only makes sense if you think of college as a business. This emphasis on what college is worth signifies a dangerous trajectory in higher education. This only works to further the emerging school of thought that college is not to be seen as an experience that puts you in both a financial and mental position to handle the big, bad real world, but rather as nothing more than a transaction between a business and their target consumers. As students on the cusp of this paradigm shift, in some ways, we control the outcome. Thats not to say students shouldnt be present of mind when deciding their major, and where that might put them after they walk across the stage at commencement having one foot in reality is crucial but it doesnt mean that knowledge for knowledges sake is foolish. Having a heart for what you do might not make you a titan of industry, but the payoff? Thats priceless.

the numbers as an ominous symbol of the changing times, and the place of Higher Education in todays society, especially liberal arts institutions. So, here at Grand Valley State University, were on the bum end of all of this social science. As a liberal arts institution, GVSU operates under the notion that having a strong liberal arts foundation, as stated on their website, benefits students by fostering critical thinking, creative problem solving, and cultural understanding. And though GVSU is not shy about highlighting the economic relevance and post-grad success rates of our engineering, nursing and business programs, we pride ourselves first and foremost on our liberal education. The idea on our campus is that college education is not only a gateway

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M O N DAY, S E P T E M B E R 17, 2 01 2

Tye Dye Thom gives lessons on listening


BY ANYA ZENTMEYER
GVL EDITOR IN CHIEf

hances are if you take classes on Grand Valley State Universitys Allendale Campus youve seen, bought something from, and most likely debated with Tye Dye Thom. He didnt want his real name published in the story, but between his patchwork pants, long hippie hair, and a tent tricked out in tye dye and reggae swag, hes hard to miss. He co-owns a company, called Enchanted Planet, which is based out of Tennessee, and for the last 14 years hes travelled to college campuses across the United States to pitch up his tent, and try to make a living and an impact at the same time. His story, like most cartoons college-aged kids hold dear to their development, began in the late 90s. A University of West Florida graduate with a degree in history, he was living in New Orleans when a dishwasher walked into a friends restaurant and shot

ANYA ZENTMEYER | GVL

Forever young: On-campus vendor, Tye Dye Thom, stands in front of his tent on GVSUs campus.

three people an $800 hit that claimed the lives of three of Tye Dye Thoms close friends. It was a restaurant that I went into every day, and they were people that I cared greatly for, so I said I couldnt live in New Orleans anymore, he said. Departures and arrivals He started in the southern

states, and after his mother became ill and he moved her to Bowling Green, Ohio, he started exploring the Midwest. He made it to GVSU in the mid-2000s, and right away, he said he knew it was a place that he could get used to. You might think its lip service, you might think Im just trying to politically correct, but I came

here and the people who work the (Office of Student Life) Kellie and Fred and Michelle and Bob and all those people it just was so easy to fall in love with this place, he said. Its one of those things where, they give you enough rope to hang yourself. So if you come and you dont do a SEE TYE DYE THOM, A3

TYE DYE THOM


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good job, or if youre rude to the students, or if you dont pay them, then you cant come back. Basically, they give you the opportunity to pass or fail on your own accord, and Ive done well enough to be invited back. GVSU likes him, too. Bob Stoll, director of the Office of Student Life, said Tye Dye Thom has been a fixture of campus life at GVSU since he came. Thoms been coming for a lot of years, and he brings stuff that people are interested in, but he also brings a sense of engagement in the sense that often well talk to students about world affairs and issues, Stoll said. He has a good way of talking about philosophy and helping students feel better as the day goes on. Philanthropy and politics From Alternative Breaks to fraternities and sororities, Tye Dye Thom has donated a part of his earning to a multitude of student groups at GVSU; right now, hes raising money for the Crones and Colitis Foundation, and he thinks of the donates as an important part of his mission on campuses he vends at. He says he chooses what he donates to based off its impact he wants to donate to inclusive groups that support people from all walks of life, which makes sense if you consider his role as a campus conversationalist. Sparking discussion that has been known to start heated debates between both patrons and bystanders, its not about winning favor for his particular point of views. For him, its about opening the floor up to debate itself. I find that students who are the most troubling

Its important to have an opinion.

Its important to make sure you can change your opinion, because the only thing consistent in this world is change.
ON-CAMPUS VENDOR

TYE DYE THOM

to me are the ones who think they already have the answers, he said. To compare it right now to the political arena, there are people that believe in Barack Obama and there are people that believe in Mitt Romney youre 20, you should believe both of them. You should try and be able to filter through the information. His goal in bringing up hot-button social and political issues, he said, is to see if students can argue without being argumentative and disagree with someone without being rude. Facilitating civil discussion and encouraging thoughtful inquiry is really all that Tye Dye Thom is after. For the most part, at this school, Ive really never had a student be rude about it, they just may believe differently about it, he said. And thats what makes the strength of our country, is that we believe differently from each other Im trying to see if they will let me make a point, if they will let me allow them to make a point the idea of, you know, listen I just spoke, now you speak, now I speak. Because right now, he said, it seems like everybody is just talking over each other theres just too much noise.

In his opinion, the only way to be a good leader is to be a good listener, and discussing politics is just a perk for his larger mission, dedicated to openness to fallibility. Its important to have an opinion, its important to make sure you can change your opinion, because the only thing consistent in this world is change, he said. He said working with college kids keeps him young, on the edge of whats hot in both his products and in the music world. Oh, and for the record, he did follow the Grateful Dead for 10 years, which is how he got into the vending business in the first place. And though tragedy led him to where he is today, its that sense of adventure and the consistency of change that has kept him there. So, understand that life is too mysterious to take serious, he said. You have to have a little fun in your day, and college kids keep me fun. He wont be back on campus until November and in the interim, hell continue vending at colleges nationwide. And though Tye Dye Thom has spent the last 14 years setting up camp on the campuses of most of Americas colleges and universities, he said

theres no place quite like GVSU. You can actually see the promise of America being fulfilled in these students. Thats not republican, thats not democrat, thats just human. editorial@lanthorn.com

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