Tag Archives: Grand Valley State University

GVSU economist: More growth, pace improves

October 5, 20183-bottom, Citizen JournalismBrian G. Long, Grand Valley State University, GVSU, Supply Management ResearchJoanne

By Dottie Barnes

GVSU

The economic pace for West Michigan picked up in the month of September, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.

Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of September.

The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) edged up to +28, from +21. The production index rose sharply to +29, from +16. The index of purchases edged higher to +21, from +15, and the employment index improved to +29, up from +21.

Long said growth remains positive for most sectors in the West Michigan economy.

“Although auto sales continue to soften, the decline has, so far, been very orderly. Business conditions for the local auto parts suppliers remain positive,” Long said. “Although the office furniture business plateaued last year, the new tax incentives have continued to boost many segments of the industry. Local firms producing capital equipment are also continuing to benefit from the tax incentives enacted in late 2017.”

Long said the tax cuts will continue to move the U.S. economy in a positive direction, but uncertainty about the trade talks will limit future economic growth.

“Recessions have historically occurred when a proverbial ‘bubble breaks.’ The problem is identifying the bubble,” Long said. “After the collapse of the housing market, it was obvious that the banks buried themselves in sub-prime loans. Today, we have several bubbles that are starting to form, but none of them appear to be great enough to upset the current economic momentum.”

Long added the recent report of a new trade agreement with Canada and Mexico relaxed some of the fear of an international trade war.

The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”

Snapshots: Kentwood, Wyoming weekend news you need to know

September 28, 20183-bottom, Citizen JournalismArtPrize, Blue Courage, Grand Rapids African american Museum, Grand Valley State University, Switch Inc., WKTV VOICES, Wyoming K-9 UnitJoanne

WKTV Staff

joanne@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“The prize and the voting are really just mechanisms. It comes back to building a creative culture in West Michigan.”

        ~ Rick DeVos in a 2011 speech about ArtPrize

Don’t Forget to Vote!

If you haven’t made it downtown to ArtPrize, there is lots to see including the WKTV VOCIES trailer which is recording artists’ stories for the next two weekends near the corner of Lyon and Monroe. Local filmmaker and longtime volunteer Rose Hammond is showing a trailer of her upcoming documentary “Between the Trees,” about the communities of Woodland Park and Idlewild at the Grand Rapids African American Museum, which is on the short list for best venue. Also check out Kentwood resident Meochia Thompson’s “Hugs” near the city center and Nidal Kanaan’s “Blue Courage” at Flanagan’s Irish Pub, which features the Wyoming K-9 unit. Round 1 voting ends tomorrow at midnight with the Top 20 Public Vote announced on Sunday. ArtPrize runs through Oct. 7.

Keeping it Real

Self-run cars. Robots taking care of the children. It all sounds a little sci-fi, but it is quickly becoming a reality. On Wednesday, Oct. 3, Switch, Inc. Chief Information Officer Missy Young will discuss artificial intelligence in her presentation “Artificial Intelligence: Keeping the Human in Humanity,” which is part of the Grand Valley State University’s Peter F. Secchia Breakfast Lecture. The program, which is at 7:30 a.m., is at the L. William Seidman Center on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus.

The Leaves Are Changing – Yea!

Henderson Castle and Winery in Kalamazoo

Weather gurus are predicting that the leaves will change later this year with our area being in prime color around Oct. 20. With that in mind, now is the time to start planning that fall color tour. The West Michigan Tourist Association has a plethora of bed and breakfasts ideas in West Michigan that can make any weekend trip a special adventure. So it doesn’t matter if you stay in Kalamazoo’s Henderson Castle Inn and Winery or Saugatuck’s Sherwood Forest Bed and Breakfast, you are certain to see Michigan in full color.

Fun Fact:

1.32 Acres

That is the size of the average football field, which is 120 yards in length and 53 and half yards in width. Times the two numbers together and the total square feet is 57,600. One acre equals about 43,560 square feet, making a football field about 1.32 acres. Now that you know this little fun fact, go out and enjoy some football as many local teams will be squaring off tonight. WKTV will be at the Kelloggsville vs. Godwin Heights game, which is certain to be a good match up.

GVSU to host documentary, panel discussion about patient safety

September 19, 20183-bottomGrand Valley State University, GVSU, Michigan State University, patient safety, To Err is HumanJoanne

By Michele Coffill

GVSU

Following heart disease and cancer, medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death in the U.S.

Cynthia McCurren, dean of the Kirkhof College of Nursing at Grand Valley State University, put it another way: the third leading cause of death in the U.S. is its own health care system.

To raise awareness of patient safety, particularly among emerging nursing and health professionals, KCON will host the first West Michigan screening of a new documentary, “To Err is Human,” followed by panel discussions in two locations for specific populations on Tuesday, Sept. 25, from 6:15-8:30 p.m. The events are free and open to the public.

• KCON alumni and community members: L. William Seidman Center on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus. A reception will precede the event at 5:30 p.m. RSVP online at gvsu.edu/kcon/edevents. Continuing education credits are available to registered nurses.

Panelists at the community screening will be Bret Jackson, president of the Economic Alliance for Michigan; Julie Klausing, vice president of product, integration and operations for Great Lakes Health Connect; Thomas Peterson, vice president of quality and safety for Munson Healthcare; and Mary Kay VanDriel, president of Spectrum Health Big Rapids & Reed City hospitals.

• Area students, faculty and staff members: DeVos Center, Loosemore Auditorium, Pew Grand Rapids Campus. A reception will precede the event at 5:30 p.m. RSVP at gvsu.edu/kcon/edevents.

Student panelists will be represented by KCON, Grand Valley’s College of Health Professions, and Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.

“To Err is Human” is produced by Tall Tale Productions and directed by Mike Eisenberg, son of the late Dr. John Eisenberg, who was a pioneer in patient safety. The documentary reports medical mistakes lead to as many as 440,000 preventable deaths every year, features interviews with a family who endured two deaths due to preventable errors, and highlights employees who are creating a new path to patient safety.

McCurren said the documentary is a follow-up to a 1999 report by the U.S. Institutes of Medicine, “To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System,” which detailed medical mistakes and made recommendations to build a culture of safety among health care workers that would decrease the number of errors made. She said progress has been made, but “there’s a long way to go.”

“By shedding light on the realities of our progress and the urgency for action, we hope professionals will set the tone for constant awareness and the significance of patient safety cultures,” she said.

New GVSU Veterans Upward Bound program director on WKTV Journal: In Focus

September 18, 20183-bottom, Area Education, Community Health, Education, Local Faces, VeteransGrand Valley State University, GVSU Veterans Upward Bound, Tim MarroquinJoanne

WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal: In Focus, we continue our efforts to assist local veterans, this time with a new higher eduction program based out of Grand Valley State University.

In Focus is Tim Marroquin, the Director of GVSU Veterans Upward Bound program. The program provides academic and other services to military veterans with the goal of supporting their enrollment and success in postsecondary education. The program is new to the university and to Michigan, but there is a clear need of this service for our veterans.

The Upward Bound program is part of GVSU’s Division of Inclusion and Equity, so our first question is why veteran inclusion as important to GVSU as other “minority” groups?

“WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel. But all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.

GVSU’s Fall Arts Celebration spotlights the arts during multiple free events

September 17, 2018Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Upcoming EventsFall Arts Celebration, Grand Valley State University, Matthew MakowskiJoanne

By Matthew Makowski, Grand Valley State University

For the past 15 years, West Michigan audiences have enjoyed a series of six free events every fall at Grand Valley that celebrate the positive impact of the arts. President Thomas J. Haas said these events are offered as gifts to the local community that has supported the evolution of the university.

“Each year, these six diverse and free events provide us with the opportunity to thank the West Michigan community for its continued support of the performing arts at Grand Valley, and the university as a whole,” said Haas. “The arts lift us up, make us think and provide an endless variety of entertainment and enrichment, and we hope others will join us in celebrating the richness of the worlds of poetry, dance, art, music and more this fall.”

Here are the upcoming Fall Arts Celebration events for October. For more event details, go here.

What is Art in the 21st Century?

Lecture presented by William Deresiewicz
Oct. 1, at 7:30 pm
Location: L.V. Eberhard Center, 2nd floor, Pew Grand Rapids Campus

In today’s world, creativity is a necessity for successful collaborations in business and to develop and expand vibrant cultures. As business and the arts draw closer together, how are they changing each other? Expanding on his viral essay for The Atlantic, “The Death of the Artist—and the Birth of the Creative Entrepreneur,” award-winning essayist, critic and best-selling author William Deresiewicz will answer that question by addressing the understanding and practice of creative work and the creative life. Deresiewicz is the author of Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Harper’s, The Nation, The New Republic, The American Scholar and The London Review of Books.

An Evening of Poetry and Conversation with Ada Limón and Carl Phillips

Oct. 18, at 7:30 pm
Location: L.V. Eberhard Center, 2nd floor, Pew Grand Rapids Campus

Two unique poetic voices will share their work with the West Michigan community during an evening of poetry and conversation. Ada Limón is the author of five books of poetry, including her new book, The Carrying (2018). Her volume Bright Dead Things was named one of the top 10 poetry books of the year by The New York Times. Limón currently serves on the faculty of Queens University of Charlotte’s low-residency Master of Fine Arts program.

Carl Phillips is the author of 14 books of poetry, including his most recent works, Wild Is the Wind (2018) and Reconnaissance (2015). The latter won the PEN USA Award and the Lambda Literary Award. A four-time finalist for the National Book Award, Phillips’ honors include the Los Angeles Times’ Book Prize for Poetry, the Kingsley Tufts Award and fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, Library of Congress and Academy of American Poets. He is currently a professor of English at Washington University in St. Louis.

Acclaimed authors to discuss their craft during annual GVSU writers series

September 14, 2018Citizen JournalismArunava Sinha, Chris Haven, Gale Marie Thompson, Grand Valley State University, GVSU, Kaveh Akbar, Lindsey Drager, Marian Crotty, Michele Morano, Paige LewisJoanne

By Matthew Makowski

GVSU

The Grand Valley Writers Series has a long history of enlisting distinguished and emerging writers to visit the campuses of Grand Valley State University to read from their work for the community, visit classes to interact with students and discuss their career paths.

This year’s Writers Series will feature eight acclaimed authors, two of which are Grand Valley writing faculty members, during multiple events between September 17, 2018 and April 9, 2019.

Author Marian Crotty will kick off this year’s Writers Series on September 17 when she discusses her craft of fiction writing. Crotty is the author of the short story collection What Counts as Love, which won the John Simmons Award for Short Fiction.

She has received fellowships from the Yaddo Corporation, The Camargo Foundation and the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creating Writing, and also received a Fulbright research grant to the United Arab Emirates. She currently serves as an assistant professor of writing at Loyola University Maryland and as an assistant editor for The Common.

Her fiction work has appeared in Kenyon Review, Southern Review and Alaska Quarterly Review, and her personal essays have appeared in various journals, including Guernica, Gettysburg Review and New England Review.

Below is the full schedule of this year’s Writers Series events. For more information, visit the Writers Series website, or contact Todd Kaneko, Writers Series coordinator and assistant professor of writing at kanekot@gvsu.edu.

Fiction Craft Talk and Reading with Marian Crotty
Sept. 17, 2018
Fiction craft talk: 1:30-2:45 p.m., Kirkhof Center, room 2270, Allendale Campus
Reading and book signing: 6-7:30 p.m., Mary Idema Pew Library Multi-Purpose Room, Allendale Campus

Fiction Reading and Q&A Session with Distinguished Visiting Alumna Lindsey Drager
Oct. 4, 2018
Reading and book signing: 2:30-3:30 p.m., Mary Idema Pew Library Multi-Purpose Room
Q&A session: 4-5:15 p.m., Kirkhof Center, room 0072

Nonfiction Craft Talk and Reading with Michele Morano
November 15, 2018
Craft talk: 4-5 p.m., Kirkhof Center, room 2270
Reading and book signing: 6-7:30 p.m., Kirkhof Center, room 0072

Grand Valley Faculty Reading with Chris Haven and Gale Marie Thompson
February 5, 2019
Reading: 6-7:30 p.m., Mary Idema Pew Library Multi-Purpose Room

Author Arunava Sinha wraps up the series on April 9.

Poetry Craft Talk and Reading with Kaveh Akbar and Paige Lewis
March 14, 2019
Craft talk: 6-7 p.m., DeVos Center, room 203E, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
Reading and book signing: 7:30-8:30 p.m., DeVos Center University Club, Pew Grand Rapids Campus

Translation Craft Talk and Reading with Arunava Sinha
April 9, 2019
Craft talk: 4-5 p.m., Kirkhof Center, room 2270
Reading and book signing: 6-7:30 p.m., Mary Idema Pew Library Multi-Purpose Room

ArtPrize artist and Army veteran to discuss her journey from soldier to artist during GVSU event

September 14, 2018Citizen Journalism, EntertainmentArtPrize, Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity, Grand Valley State University, GVSU, Kimberly Walker, Veterans Upward BoundJoanne

By Matthew Makowski

GVSU

After retiring from the United States Army in 2015 following 17 years of service, Kimberly Walker began searching for her purpose as an artist, which she eventually found in the form of sharing stories of sexual assault in the military through art.

During this year’s 10th anniversary of ArtPrize, Walker’s piece, “Locked and Loaded,” will be the sole entry located at the Eberhard Center on Grand Valley State University’s Pew Grand Rapids Campus.

The piece will consist of 46 military-issue duffle bags representing 46 cases of sexual assault in the military. Walker, an Ohio-based artist, said through her research, she discovered that none of the cases were disclosed to the general public.

Walker will discuss her ArtPrize entry, as well as her journey from soldier to artist, during a special presentation on Thursday, Sept. 20. “Finding Your Purpose With Art” will take place at 6 p.m. in room 716 in the Eberhard Center. A reception will precede remarks at 5:30 p.m. outside the Veterans Upward Bound office.

Following Walker’s remarks, Tim Marroquin, director of Veterans Upward Bound, and Krystal Diel, Victim Advocate in Grand Valley’s Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity, will discuss resources on campus available to veterans, current students, victims and survivors of sexual assault, and advocate community members.

“Locked and Loaded” was chosen by members of Grand Valley’s Art Gallery staff during an ArtPrize Pitch Night in May. These events provide artists in five different cities an opportunity to present to judges an idea for a piece of artwork that would be on display at a high-profile venue in Grand Rapids during the competition. The selected artists each received a $5,000 grant to bring their ideas to life.

ArtPrize takes place September 19-October 7.

For more information about this event, visit gvsu.edu/artgallery.

GVSU researchers investigate biological, chemical effects of microplastics

September 13, 20183-bottomAlan Steinman, Grand Valley State University, GVSUJoanne

By Nate Hoekstra

GVSU

An international group of scientists led by a pair of Grand Valley researchers is exploring the biological and chemical impact of microplastics in a West Michigan lake.

Alan Steinman, the Allen and Helen Hunting director of Grand Valley’s Annis Water Resources Institute, is leading an exploratory research study to find out what kinds of toxic chemicals and bacteria are attracted to tiny pieces of plastic that are increasingly being found in lakes and oceans worldwide.

“When a piece of microplastic winds up in the water, it generates a biofilm, a consortium of different organisms that tends to form on almost any surface that spends time in the water. Chemicals, which we refer to as persistent organic pollutants or POPs, can be either taken up by the microorganisms in the biofilm or attach to the biofilm layer. As the biofilm is eaten by other organisms, such as fish, they can work their way up the food web. We’re doing genomic and chemical analyses on what is associated with three different types of plastics that are often found in microplastic waste to see what kinds of materials they are absorbing and attracting,” Steinman said.

Evaluating three stages of plastics in the lakes

Plastics are becoming more controversial in communities across the U.S. as a handful of municipalities are taking small steps to ban certain plastic products from use, like shopping bags and straws, and as information about the global plastic problem in oceans becomes more widely known.

“Microplastics are a hot topic here in the Great Lakes and in our oceans, so we’re gathering information from three different kinds of plastic that we’re letting incubate underwater for periods of one month and three months at two different locations and two different depths in Muskegon Lake,” Steinman said. “We hope to see what kinds of organic chemicals attach to these plastics because that can be a source of toxicity for fish and other aquatic organisms.

“We also want to know what kind of organisms colonize these tiny plastic spheres because that kind of information is simply not known at present. We’re really going to see what’s attached to plastics, as opposed to most studies that sample the water or sediment to see what plastics are present.”

The team pulls out samples from the water.

Charlyn Partridge, the molecular ecologist at the Annis Water Resources Institute will perform genomic analysis on the samples, while samples will be sent to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for chemical analysis. Other samples will be sent to researchers in the United Kingdom for additional analysis.

“This experiment will help tell us what kinds of plastics are more toxic than others, and where that toxicity is coming from. Right now, we know they are a problem, but we don’t know the mechanisms by which they are a problem,” Steinman said. “There are direct impacts from plastics where animals might ingest them and clog their internal systems, or there can be indirect impacts where they’re taking up the plastics but the plastics have toxic chemicals attached to them, and it’s the chemicals that are actually impacting the animals. This will tell us how important those chemicals are that are attached to different kinds of plastics.”

Steinman said this study is attempting to build a baseline of understanding of the problem rather than testing a specific hypothesis. The study is being funded by the Allen and Helen Hunting Innovation Fund.

“We’re fortunate that we have the Allen and Helen Hunting Research and Innovation Fund to support this work because this kind of exploratory research is very difficult to get funded by traditional agencies,” Steinman said. “We’re trying to see what’s out there and from that information, we can generate testable hypotheses. That will allow us to pursue funding from more traditional sources, such as the US EPA, MDEQ, and NSF.”

Steinman is assisted in his research by Maggie Oudsema, research assistant in his lab at AWRI. Chemical analysis for the project is being completed by John Scott, senior analytical chemist at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

GVSU free concert to take audience on musical tour of Italy

September 12, 2018EntertainmentFall Arts Celebration, Grand Valley State University, GVSU, Tesla QuartetJoanne

Tesla Quartet performs a free concert Sept. 17.

By Matthew Makowski

GVSU

Inspired by numerous enjoyable escapes from harsh Russian winters, composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s love of Italy is reflected in his “String Sextet in D Minor, Op. 70 ‘Souvenir de Florence.’”

This musical tour of Italy will be performed by the internationally acclaimed Tesla Quartet and Grand Valley State University music faculty members during this year’s Fall Arts Celebration.

“An Italian Journey: Tesla Quartet performs Tchaikovsky’s ‘Souvenir de Florence’” will take place Sept. 17, at 7:30 p.m., in the Cook-DeWitt Center on the Allendale Campus.

The Tesla Quartet will open the program with “Quartet in B minor, Op. 33, No. 1” by Franz Joseph Haydn, and then be joined by Paul Swantek, affiliate professor of viola, and Pablo Mahave-Veglia, associate professor of cello and Early Music Ensemble director, to perform “Souvenir de Florence.”

Best known as a master composer of symphonies and ballets, Tchaikovsky crafted this work through a rich blend of well-known Italian street songs and melodies.

“The music of Haydn is timeless and the music of Tchaikovsky opens us up to the romantic century which defined his compositions,” said Danny Phipps, chair of Grand Valley’s Music, Theatre, and Dance Department. “Having both of these masterpieces performed with a new and fresh perspective and vision will be an extraordinary treat.”

Formed at The Julliard School in 2008, members of the Tesla String Quartet include Ross Snyder (violin), Michelle Lie (violin), Edwin Kaplan (viola) and Serafim Smigelskiy (cello). The quartet regularly performs across North America and internationally, with recent appearances in Austria, Canada, China, Germany, Hungary, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

“What I think will stand out to our audiences is how much they love what they do,” said Phipps. “Their playing is virtuosic and brilliant, and they are very personable. All of this is apparent when they perform, adding to the audience’s enjoyment.”

The quartet has won numerous awards and prizes at international competitions, including the 2017 John Lad Prize; the Gold Medal at the 2012 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition; and Second Prize, Haydn Prize, and Canadian Commission Prize at the 12th Banff International String Quartet Competition.

The quartet’s first album, “Haydn, Ravel, Stravinsky,” debuted on September 7.

Community involvement and outreach are integral aspects of the quartet’s mission as they perform inspiring music at children’s hospitals, soup kitchens, libraries, retirement communities, schools and more.

For more information about Fall Arts Celebration, visit gvsu.edu/fallarts. All events are free and open to the public.

GVSU Economist: West Michigan economy returning to normal

September 10, 20183-bottomBrian Long, Grand Valley State University, GVSUJoanne

By Dottie Barnes

GVSU

After a minor scare from July’s reading of -3 for new orders, the West Michigan economy has returned to a normal pattern of slow growth, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.

Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of August.

The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) came in at +21, up significantly from -3. The production index tapered to +16 from +23. The index of purchases edged higher to +15 from +13, and the employment index came in unchanged from last month at +21.

“After last month’s lackluster report, slow growth has returned to most sectors in the West Michigan economy,” said Long. “At least some of the fears of the trade war have been moderated, and the automotive sector appears to be exempt from some of the tariffs.”

Long said auto sales continue to soften in the traditional sedan sector, but the light truck/SUV segments are doing well. He said the office furniture business continues to benefit from the new tax structure, so the outlook for most firms remains positive. The local firms producing capital equipment are also back on track after last month’s hesitation, Long said, and business conditions for industrial distributors remain seasonally flat.

For over 28 years, Dr. Brian Long has edited a survey of local purchasing managers for both the Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids areas, which has proved to be a major indicator of current and future business conditions. This survey appears in many local newspapers and national business publications, including the Grand Rapids Press, MiBiz, and the Grand Rapids Business Journal. The survey is also a component of the Federal Reserve’s bimonthly survey of business conditions.

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood news you need to know

September 7, 20183-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of WyomingBohemian Rhapsody, Godfrey Lee Schools, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Valley State University, mars, Queen, Rebels, Wyoming Lee footballJoanne

WKTV Staff

joanne@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

"You get to a certain age, where you know you can’t go over the wall, but I’ll never get to the age where I can’t go through it." - Actor Burt Reynolds, 1936-2018

Lending a Hand

Local nurses were on a hike at Dead River Falls, in the U.P.’s Marquette, but their day hike became a case of being in the right place at the right time. (Supplied)

When a group of local emergency nurses on vacation in Marquette, Mich., learned of an injured hiker they did what anyone with their training and background would do: they went to help. “I fully believe God placed nine ED nurses on that trail for a reason,” said Rylee Kuiphoff, one of the nurses in the group.

Are You Ready for the Challenge?

FIRST Power Up, the theme for the 2017 FIRST challenge, was based on a Mario game.

Hundreds of young technology enthusiasts will gather at Grand Valley State University September 8 to celebrate the beginning of the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Tech Challenge season. The event is set for 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Eberhard Center and Keller Engineering Lab building on the Pew Grand Rapids campus. Competitions will take place in the winter.

The Rebels Who Are Turning it Around

Wyoming Lee faces NorthPointe Christian this Friday. The Wyoming Lee team has struggled in years past but last year, Coach Tom DeGennaro credited much of that success to the students: “It’s just the kids buying into the system, working out in the weight room and committing themselves to being here every day. It has nothing to do with coaching. All of the success goes to the kids.”

Killer Light Show

Well you have about a month and a half until “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the film about epic rock band Queen and its frontman Freddie Mercury, hits the theaters. Until then, the Grand Rapids Public Museum has got your Queen-fix as it will be opening “The Queen Light Show: From Mercury with Love” Sept. 15. The show will feature laser lights dancing to 10 of Queen’s greatest hits. And yes, that does include “Bohemian Rhapsody.” For more, visit grpm.org/Planetarium.

Fun Fact:

33.9 Million Miles

Or 54.6 million kilometers. That is the closest Mars and Earth come to each other. Still the distance has not discouraged a love affair with the red planet, which Grand Valley State University explores in its new exhibit "Mars: Astronomy and Culture." The exhibit is set to open Sept. 13 and will feature 140 photographs, drawings, movie posters, book covers and more spotlighting Mars.

The mysteries of Mars to be explored during GVSU art exhibit

September 7, 2018EntertainmentFall Arts Celebration, Grand Valley State University, GVSU, mars, The Red PlanetJoanne

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

By Matthew Makowski

GVSU

Throughout the years, Mars has been depicted in multiple forms as societies around the world have gazed at the Red Planet.

During this year’s Fall Arts Celebration at Grand Valley State University, the “Mars: Astronomy and Culture” exhibit will bring together 140 photographs, drawings, movie posters, book covers and more spotlighting Mars. The exhibit will also include a showcase of Martian-themed toys and collectibles from a private collection based in Chicago.

A special exhibition reception will take place September 13 from 5-7 p.m. in the Art Gallery (room 1121), located in the Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts on the Allendale Campus. The exhibit’s time at Grand Valley will conclude on October 31 with a Martian-themed Halloween event where guests are encouraged to dress as their favorite Martian.

During the reception, guests will be able to use a virtual reality simulator for an immersive experience on the surface of Mars. The “Mars 2030” experience was produced by Fusion Media Group in partnership with NASA and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s AeroAstro Lab. “Mars 2030” allows users to wander around 15 square miles of the Red Planet’s landscape while planting a flag on the surface, picking up rocks, driving a rover and visiting a habitat.

Joel Zwart, Art Gallery curator of exhibitions, said the exhibit is the perfect blend of astronomy and popular culture.

“A visitor can learn about the geographic features of Mars and history of its exploration while at the same time discover how Martians have become such a huge part of science fiction, literature, film and culture,” he explained. “Where else can you engage with beautiful panoramas of the Martian landscape, ‘War of the Worlds’ memorabilia, a historic photo of the first landing on Mars, an alien drinking cup, an image of the largest known volcano in the solar system and a Mars VR experience?”

Portions of the exhibition will be hosted at both the Center Art Gallery at Calvin College and the Holland Museum. The exhibit will be on display at Calvin College through October 20, and the Holland Museum September 20-December 29.

This exhibition was curated by the Pasadena Arts Council for the Williamson Gallery, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, California. It is a project of the Pasadena Arts Council’s EMERGE Fiscal Sponsorship Program.

For more information about Fall Arts Celebration, visit gvsu.edu/fallarts. All Fall Arts Celebration events are free and open to the public.

Multiple free events will occur in the Art Gallery in conjunction with this Fall Arts Celebration exhibit.

Curator Talk and Reception

September 13, at 2 p.m.

Visiting art and astronomy curator Jay Belloli will talk about how the “Mars: Astronomy and Culture” exhibit was created to foster an understanding of Mars’ impact in societies around the world.

“The War that Never Was: The 1938 Radio Broadcast of ‘The War of the Worlds'”

October 17, at 1 p.m.

This presentation will explore the impact of H.G. Wells’ science fiction classic within the historical context of the infamous radio adaptation and how it continues to be popularized in film, television and music.

“Confronting the Martian: Humanity’s Changing Concepts about Life on the Red Planet”

October 18, at 1 p.m.

Deana Weibel, professor of anthropology and religious studies at Grand Valley, will take an anthropological look at humanity’s fascination with life on Mars, from ancient civilizations to popular culture, and explore what this reveals about societies around the world.

For more information about exhibition-related events, visit the Art Gallery website.

Hundreds to attend FIRST Tech Challenge kick-off at GVSU

September 7, 20183-bottomFIRST Robotics, Grand Valley State University, GVSU, Tech ChallengeJoanne

By Leah Twilley

GVSU

More than 400 area middle school students will gather on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus to learn about this year’s spaced-themed challenge and game, Rover Ruckus.

FIRST — a national program founded in 1989 — challenges teams of students to work together to design, build, program and test robots to play a floor game. Teams are guided by coaches and mentors while developing STEM skills and practicing engineering principles. The kick-off event at Grand Valley is one of 13 events in Michigan taking place on Saturday.

FIRST Tech Challenge Kick-off

Saturday, September 8

9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Eberhard Center and Keller Engineering Lab building, Pew Grand Rapids Campus

At noon, the challenge will be revealed in the Eberhard Center, room 215. After the reveal, students will head to the Keller Engineering Laboratories building see a replica of the game arena and network with other teams. In the morning and afternoon, students will participate in several workshops to discuss planning and strategy for this year’s competition.

Sara Maas, outreach coordinator for Grand Valley’s Padnos College of Engineering and Computing, said the event is an opportunity for students to experience what it’s like on a college campus.

“For some, it may be their first time on a college campus, and for others, it allows them to see and work in a real-life engineering space,” she said.

The West Michigan teams will compete in regional tournaments in November and December to advance to the national championship in Detroit in April.

‘Mars: Astronomy and Culture’ kicks off GVSU 2018 Fall Arts Celebration Sept. 13

September 6, 2018Citizen Journalism, EntertainmentArt, Fall Arts Celebration, Grand Valley State University, mars, Music, Tesla QuartetJoanne

By Grand Valley State University

Fall Arts Celebration opens this year when Grand Valley State University’s Art Gallery showcases the historical fascination surrounding the planet Mars during the Mars: Astronomy and Culture exhibit. This exciting exhibit brings together photographs, drawings, movie posters, book covers, and video projections to show the impact of the “Red Planet” on popular culture, even before the 20th century.

Also, the internationally acclaimed Tesla Quartet partners with Grand Valley music faculty to perform a reflection of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s love of Italy through the composer’s famous String Sextet in D Minor, Op. 70 Souvenir de Florence.

Art–The Mars: Astronomy and Culture Exhibit reception is Thursday, Sept. 13, 5-7pm at the Art Gallery, Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts on the Allendale Campus. Exhibit dates: Aug. 24-Oct. 31.

Music–An Italian Journey: Tesla Quartet performs Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence on Monday, Sept. 17 at 7:30p at the Cook-DeWitt Center on the Allendale Campus.

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood you need to know

September 4, 20183-bottom, Citizen JournalismCity of Kentwood, food trucks, Grand Rapids Symphony, Grand Valley State University, GVSU, Hank Meijer, Hauenstein Center, Ken SmithJoanne

WKTV Staff

joanne@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

"Life is like riding a bicycle. In order to keep your balance, you must keep moving."- Albert Einstein

Love to Ride His Bicycle

Kentwood resident and avid bicyclist Ken Smith, 70, whose father was a fireman and son is a fireman, is riding from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean — Seaside, Oregon, to Boston, Massachusetts — in hopes of raising $30,000 to provide for possible care of and therapy for his grandson Jakob. He returned home last week, riding more 2,500 miles. He is set to continue the journey soon. Ken Smith has set up a Facebook page (facebook.com/rideforjake/) and a GoFundMe page (gofundme.com/ride-pacific-to-atlantic-for-jakob) to detail his journey and raise the funds.

Food for Thought

Meijer Chairman Hank Meijer, along with Richard Norton Smith, will be the featured lecturer this Friday for the Grand Valley State University’s Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies. The topic is “Mackinac Conference at 75,” which will be presented at 7 p.m. at L.V. Eberhard Center, Room 215, 301 W. Fulton St. The series, which continues through Dec. 5, will feature eight speakers who will encourage meaningful discussions about leadership and the search for common ground at a deep level, without the heated political rhetoric of the day.

And While We’re Talking Food

You might want to put a big food truck doodle on Sept. 15 as that is when Kentwood will be hosting its third annual End of Summer Food Truck Festival. Nearly 30 trucks are expected to participate at this year’s event. We know it will be the end-of-summer celebration you won’t want to miss because Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma is still talking about last year’s event and all the food choices. Oh, and for the beer lovers, there will be a beer tent running from noon to 10 p.m. featuring a selection of craft beers.

Fun Fact:

88 Years Old

And the Grand Rapids Symphony is still going strong. Started in 1930, the orchestra kicks off its 88th season on Sept. 14 and 15 with the classical concert "Beethoven, Barber, and Bernstein" - which is quite the mix of music. For more on the Symphony's season, visit grsyhphony.org.

Hauenstein Center to host eight events during fall speaker series

August 30, 20183-bottomDebra Furr-Holden, George H. Nash, Grand Valley State University, Hank Meijer, Hauenstein Center, Heather K. Gerken, Richard Norton SmithJoanne

By Nate Hoekstra

Grand Valley State University

Speakers hosted by Grand Valley State University’s Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies will generate meaningful discussions about leadership and the search for common ground at a deep level, without the heated political rhetoric of the day.

The Hauenstein Center will feature eight speakers on topics ranging from contemporary politics to history to public health, featuring authors, policy experts, journalists and historians to explain many facets of public leadership and political difference.

The events are a cross-section of the Hauenstein Center’s two main speaker series: Wheelhouse Talks and the Common Ground Initiative. Wheelhouse Talk speakers will focus on leadership experiences while Common Ground Initiative speakers will cover history and the shifting terrain of American civic life today.

The series kicks off with Debra Furr-Holden, Director of the Michigan State University Flint Center for Health Equity Solutions, who works on structural and policy interventions to improve public health for the city’s residents following the Flint water crisis.

Other speakers will include noted West Michigan historians Hank Meijer and Richard Norton Smith, who will discuss the enduring significance of the GOP Mackinac Conference 75 years ago; Dean of Yale Law School Heather K. Gerken, who will discuss how, in a polarized political environment, members of the left and right can use federalism to address their differences productively; and George H. Nash, a presidential biographer and historian who will address “American Conservatism and Populism in the Age of Trump.”

The full fall schedule is as follows. Event descriptions and free registration are available at www.gvsu.edu/hc/events

Debra Furr-Holden: Leading for Public Health in Flint

A Wheelhouse Talk event

Friday, August 31, 4 p.m.

Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium, Richard M. DeVos Center, 401 Fulton Street West, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Hank Meijer and Richard Norton Smith: The Mackinac Conference at 75

A Common Ground Initiative event

Friday, September 7, 7 p.m.

L.V. Eberhard Center, Room 215, 301 Fulton Street West, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Heather K. Gerken: Federalism in the 21st Century

A Common Ground Initiative event

Tuesday, September 18, 7 p.m.

Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium, Richard M. DeVos Center, 401 Fulton Street West, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

William Deresiewicz: What is Art in the 21st Century?

Partnership with Grand Valley’s Fall Arts Celebration

Monday, October 1, 7:30 p.m.

L.V. Eberhard Center, Room 215, 301 Fulton Street West, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Joe Jones: Empowering Grand Rapids

A Wheelhouse Talks event

Friday, October 5, 4 p.m.

Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium, Richard M. DeVos Center, 401 Fulton Street West, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

: American Conservatism and Populism in the Age of Trump

A Common Ground Initiative event

Tuesday, October 16, 7 p.m.

Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium, Richard M. DeVos Center, 401 Fulton Street West, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Kathy Crosby: Leading to Build Goodwill

A Wheelhouse Talks event

Friday, November 30, 4 p.m.

Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium, Richard M. DeVos Center, 401 Fulton Street West, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Gleaves Whitney: Seeking Common Ground: A Dumb Idea — or the Best Hope for America?

A Common Ground Initiative event

Wednesday, December 5, 7 p.m.

Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium, Richard M. DeVos Center, 401 Fulton Street West, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

All events are free and open to the public, but registration for each is requested at gvsu.edu/hc/events.

For more information, visit gvsu.edu/hc

GVSU’s Fall Arts Celebration to spotlight the arts during multiple free events

August 13, 2018Entertainment, Upcoming EventsFall Arts Celebration, Grand Valley State University, mars, Matthew Makowski, Tesla String QuartetJoanne

Mars: Astronomy and Culture (photo supplied)

By Matthew Makowski, Grand Valley State University

Here are the upcoming Fall Arts Celebration events for September. For more event details, go here.

Mars: Astronomy and Culture

Exhibition Dates: Aug. 24-Oct. 31
Exhibition Reception: Sept. 13, from 5-7 pm
Location: Art Gallery, Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts, Allendale Campus

Throughout the years, Mars has been depicted in multiple forms. The “Mars: Astronomy and Culture” exhibit will bring together photographs, drawings, movie posters, book covers and video projections spotlighting the Red Planet, as well as feature a showcase of Martian-themed toys and collectibles from a private collection based in Chicago. During an opening reception on September 13, guests will be able to enjoy a virtual reality simulator for an immersive experience on Mars. Portions of the exhibition will be hosted at both the Center Art Gallery at Calvin College and the Holland Museum. This exhibition was curated by the Pasadena Arts Council for the Williamson Gallery, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, California. It is a project of the Pasadena Arts Council’s EMERGE Fiscal Sponsorship Program.

An Italian Journey: Tesla Quartet performs Tchaikovsky’s “Souvenir de Florence”

Sept. 17, at 7:30 pm
Location: Cook-DeWitt Center, Allendale Campus

Inspired by numerous pleasurable escapes from harsh Russian winters, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s love of Italy is reflected in his “String Sextet in D Minor, Op. 70 ‘Souvenir de Florence.’” Best known as a master composer of symphonies and ballets, Tchaikovsky crafted this work through a rich blend of well-known Italian street songs and melodies. The internationally acclaimed Tesla Quartet will open this program with “Quartet in B minor, Op. 33, No. 1” by Franz Joseph Haydn, and then be joined by Grand Valley music faculty members Paul Swantek (viola) and Pablo Mahave-Veglia (cello) to perform “Souvenir de Florence.” Formed at The Julliard School in 2008, members of the Tesla String Quartet include Ross Snyder (violin), Michelle Lie (violin), Edwin Kaplan (viola) and Serafim Smigelskiy (cello).

GVSU Charter School Office to provide free professional education programs

August 9, 20183-bottomGrand Valley State University, GVSU, school officials, teachers, workshopsJoanne

By Nate Hoekstra

GVSU

Starting in September, Grand Valley State University will offer free workshops and seminars to any public or private school teachers and personnel in Michigan, opening the possibility of savings on professional development for schools across the state. These learning opportunities will be provided through the university’s Charter Schools Office.

“All Michigan educators work hard to help students learn, and they need a place where they can share their results with each other and gain new tactics for success,” said Rob Kimball, associate vice president for charter schools at Grand Valley. “We fully believe in our state’s teachers and school leaders, and we’re stepping up to support them like never before. We know that doing so will help them achieve more for the kids their schools serve.”

Grand Valley has been chartering public elementary, middle and high schools since 1995, and this fall Grand Valley’s 78 charter schools will educate approximately 37,000 students. Kimball said the university’s approach to chartering has been based on the belief that a strong partnership between the university and the schools will result in the best learning environment for students. The GVSU CSO professional education offerings are an outgrowth of that partnership.

School teams can take part in these workshops free of charge. All workshops will be made available in Grand Rapids and Detroit.

“We are seeing recommendations for more high-quality professional learning from Michigan’s business leaders and K–12 advocates,” Kimball said. “At Grand Valley, we’re responding to that call in an innovative way — by offering tested, effective programming to schools and educators across the state.”

Kimball said the change demonstrates how the university is thinking differently about the ways it can impact public education.

“When we offer free programming, we offer choices. Schools can take advantage of this high-quality programming and use existing funds for other essential purposes,” Kimball said.

The Grand Valley Charter Schools Office has ramped up its support for educators over the past decade. During the 2017–2018 school year alone, the Grand Valley CSO provided approximately 6,300 hours of free professional education to charter school teams.

While new professional education workshops are being added all the time, past session topics have included:

• NWEA™

• Technology Tools and Tricks

• Synthetic Phonics

• Google Suite

• English Language Learners (ELL)

• Reading and Math RTI

• Coding in the Classroom

• Science and STEAM

• Culture and Climate

• Improving Student Writing

In addition to these public offerings, teachers at schools chartered by GVSU will also have access to enhanced professional education opportunities, including GVSU-only cohort programs and tuition support for master’s degrees offered by the GVSU College of Education.

Educators interested in learning more about GVSU’s free professional education programs can visit www.gvsu.edu/cso/learn.

GVSU economist: Summer still on solid footing

July 17, 20183-bottomBrian Long, Grand Valley State University, GVSUJoanne

By Leah Twilley

Grand Valley State University

The local economy continues to maintain solid growth, while some area business leaders express concern about an impending tariff war, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.

Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of June.

The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) came in at +33, up from +30. The production index rose to +39 from +37. The index of purchases also increased to +27 from +19, and the employment index remains strong at +30.

“Many local manufacturers are worried that this tariff war is going to come down in the form of higher prices and lack of availability of some of the key commodities, like steel and aluminum, that are needed by local businesses,” said Long. “The office furniture industry, which uses a lot of steel, and the aerospace industry, which uses aluminum, could be especially impacted by the new tariffs.”

Long said local farmers who sell produce like blueberries and cherries worldwide are also worried about tariff wars. He also said local business owners feel positive about the future.

“Unemployment is down to 2.9 percent in Kent County and 2.7 percent Ottawa County, which is the county with the lowest unemployment in all of Michigan’s 83 counties,” he said.

Grand Valley State University and Grand Rapids collaborate on affordable housing

July 17, 20183-bottomBelknap, Grand Rapids, Grand Valley State University, GVSUJoanne

Rendering of the development for Belknap area.

By Mary Eilleen Lyon

Grand Valley State University

A project to bring new affordable housing to a Grand Rapids neighborhood is one step closer following action by the Board of Trustees of Grand Valley State University. At their July meeting, trustees authorized the university to lease property on its health campus in Grand Rapids to a developer who intends to build affordable housing compatible with the Belknap Lookout neighborhood.

Grand Valley’s Community Relations Director Patricia Waring presented the resolution to the board. She and others from Grand Valley worked with representatives from the City of Grand Rapids and from the Neighbors of Belknap Lookout (NOBL) to create a Memorandum of Understanding after the university purchased land to expand its health campus north of Michigan Street. The MOU required the committee to prepare a request for proposal and choose a developer.

The board’s action authorizes Grand Valley to lease .85 acres to Three CPK, which is a joint venture of Third Coast Development and PK Housing, for development of the affordable housing project, which is a provision of the MOU. The housing will be built on the south side of Trowbridge, between Lafayette and Prospect, in the Belknap area of the city of Grand Rapids.

“Moving forward with this project represents steady cooperation between Grand Valley, city officials and those representing the Belknap Lookout neighborhood,” said Waring. “We have shared a goal of providing the best quality of life for those who live, work and attend classes in this busy area of the city. There are many details to projects like this one, and I’m pleased we had bright minds and wonderful attitudes around the table. We’re looking forward to the addition of this housing project in the neighborhood with our health campus.”

An aerial view of the proposed develoment

The project will have a housing mix of 70 percent affordable and 30 percent market rate. CPK will submit an application for low-income housing tax credits in November, and if successful, the project could be completed as early as fall 2019. The university will not use tuition revenue or any of its funds for the construction of the project, operating expenses or any future repairs or renovations.

“This collaborative effort should serve as a model for development within the city,” said Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss. “This project is consistent with what the residents of the neighborhood want, and it’s consistent with the strategy outlined by the city commission, which calls for preserving affordable housing, encouraging mixed-income neighborhoods and supporting our vulnerable populations. Progress can truly be good for all involved.”

Other board action:

— The trustees also adopted the university’s FY 2019 budget and set tuition rates for the academic year. Trustees approved a $245 per semester increase in tuition, bringing the annual tuition to $12,484 for a full-time undergraduate Michigan resident. The budget includes $52.4 million in financial aid for students, which is an increase of $5.1 million to be awarded in the form of scholarships and grants.

Grand Valley is expected to receive $72.1 million in state funding, some of which is awarded based on the university’s superior performance in key areas such as retention and graduation rates. Grand Valley ranks third in retention and fourth in graduation rates among the 15 public universities in Michigan.

— The board approved a resolution to name the Student Services Building on the Allendale Campus for President Emeritus Arend (Don) Lubbers and his wife Nancy Lubbers.

Don Lubbers served as president of Grand Valley for 32 years, and with Nancy worked to build Grand Valley from a small college to a regional university. Both have been leaders in the creation of Grand Valley’s Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus, the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences on Grand Rapids’ Medical Mile, The Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute in Muskegon, the Meijer Campus in Holland and the Traverse City Regional Center.

— The board also approved a resolution for authorization of Martin Luther King Jr. Education Center Academy (Detroit), approval of an extended start date for Saginaw Covenant Academy to February 1, 2019 (Saginaw), and appointment or reappointment of charter school board members to GVSU-authorized public school academy boards.

— The board also selected a new chair and vice chair. Mary Kramer will serve as the next chair of the Board of Trustees; Megan Sall will serve as the next vice chair. The board also approved a resolution thanking outgoing chair John Kennedy for his service to the board for the last two years.

New position at GVSU to study diversity, equity issues in nonprofit sector

July 3, 20183-bottomDorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, Grand Valley State University, GVSU, Juan OlivarezJoanne

former Aquinas College president Juan Olivarez

By Nate Hoekstra

Grand Valley State University

Leaders in the field of philanthropy from across the country have noticed a shortcoming in how the nonprofit sector applies principles of diversity, equity and inclusion throughout its critically important and economically substantial work.

The nonprofit sector is a $1.6 trillion industry in the United States, and 1 in 10 American workers are employed in the field. However, people of color and other minority populations tend to be underrepresented in leadership positions in the industry.

Monumental demographic shifts taking place in the U.S. necessitate that the nonprofit sector adapt to changing needs in communities to ensure equitable access to healthcare, education and the workforce.

With this need in mind, the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University is adding former Aquinas College president Juan Olivarez to its ranks to help study, understand and share knowledge about how to improve inclusive practices in the nonprofit sector.

Olivarez will serve as the Johnson Center’s Distinguished Scholar in Residence for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for a three-year term, and will advance the center’s work on building capacity in the nonprofit sector while incorporating principles of equity.

The Distinguished Scholar in Residence position is funded in part by recent grants from the Frey Foundation, the Wege Foundation, the Kate and Richard Wolters Foundation as well as support from the center’s founder, Dorothy A. Johnson. The gifts are part of Grand Valley’s Laker Effect campaign.

Part of the work Olivarez will take on is developing a prototype talent pipeline initiative in the West Michigan area that seeks to better understand the role of employment in inclusive community development. A portion of the initiative will include research and conversations with thought leaders on diversity, equity and inclusive practices, as well as focus on how to make those principles integral to nonprofit work. This research will be shared on a national and global scale to widely advance equitable practices across the sector.

“Philanthropy has the potential to touch all Americans, yet we still have the sense that we’re not truly reaching and assisting all communities enough,” Olivarez said. “So the need is to study, to look at best practices and determine how we can influence the advancement of diversity, inclusion and equity efforts.”

Olivarez brings nonprofit leadership and higher education experience to the position, having served as president of Aquinas College for six years and Grand Rapids Community College for almost 10 years. He also served several years as the president and CEO of the Kalamazoo Community Foundation where he championed innovative community initiatives that focused on improving education opportunities for all people.

“Juan Olivarez is highly respected and experienced in the fields of higher education and philanthropy and will be able to spark the kinds of meaningful, probing conversations this work needs,” said Mark Van Putten, president and CEO of the Wege Foundation. “With the research and convening power of the Johnson Center behind him, we expect to see great outcomes.”

The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy is a well-regarded center of excellence at Grand Valley State University and a vital resource for the charitable sector both locally and globally, with engagements in Michigan, across the United States, and internationally in Canada, Australia, Europe, and Saudi Arabia.

For more information, visit johnsoncenter.org/residence

School News Network: Students explore many ways of worship

June 29, 20183-bottomBaha’i, Christian, Grand Valley State University, Hindu, Kaufman Interfaith Institute, Mulsin, School News NetworkJoanne

West Michigan Hindu Temple “pracharak,” or outreach minister Fred Stella listens as Forest Hills fifth-grader Krishna Mano talks about his family’s faith

By Erin Albanese

School News Network

Brothers Vishnu and Krishna Mano spoke of Hindu faith traditions they observe with their family: lighting a lamp in the evening to symbolize good luck, and praying in the morning and before bed.

The boys, eighth- and fifth-graders, respectively, who attend Forest Hills Public Schools, know a lot about Hinduism, and told 19 peers about the religion during the first-ever Interfaith Service Day Camp. They complemented Fred Stella’s lesson on the faith during a tour of the West Michigan Hindu Temple. Stella is “pracharak,” or outreach minister, at the Ada-based temple.

“I liked that I was educating other people about my faith,” said Vishnu, adding that Hinduism is a minority religion in the U.S. that not everyone knows much about. “Hinduism is not just religion, but the culture and way of life that follows it.”

The four-day summer opportunity brought together West Michigan students representing several religious and non-religious backgrounds to explore faith, get to know one another, enjoy food and culture and volunteer. Students toured and met faith leaders at the Dominican Center at Marywood, Temple Emanuel, Masjid At-Tawheed, The Sikh Society of West Michigan Gurdwara, and West Michigan Hindu Temple. They provided service as well, such as volunteering for Habitat for Humanity.

Students learned details and histories covering Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Sikh religions.

“I experienced a lot of new things that were good for me,” Vishnu said. “I made new friends who are not in my faith. I feel like in these last four days I learned a lot about religion, not just through textbooks, but by experiencing it in their places of worship.”

West Michigan Hindu Temple “pracharak,” or outreach minister Fred Stella talks about Hinduism inside the temple

Forming Interfaith Friendships

Representatives from Kaufman Interfaith Institute, at Grand Valley State University, hosted the camp to connect students from different faith backgrounds, build relationships and add youth voices to interfaith conversations.

“The overall mission (of the institute) is to promote mutual understanding, respect and dialogue across different faith traditions and world views in West Michigan,” said Kyle Kooyers, program manager for Kaufman Interfaith Institute, which has a theme this year of interfaith friendship.

Forest Hills student Vishnu Mano talks about Hinduism while Xander Brown listens

Campers represented Christian, Baha’i, Muslim and Hindu faiths and included atheists and those with no religious affiliation. To culminate the week, they shared ideas about what comes next for students in the area of interfaith work and what camp could include next year.

Highlights were participating in meditation; observing Muslim prayer, during which five Muslim campers joined; and learning about holy books, like the Torah, students said.

“I didn’t know a lot about that religion,” said Jenison High School sophomore Kate Boutell of Sikhism. “They are very inclusive and they recognize diversity of religions.”

Grandville Middle School eighth-grader Radi Rashid said he enjoyed exploring other religions and comparing it to his own, Islam.

“It’s cool learning about all the other religions, and learning that a religion I really didn’t know about is not that different than my own.”

Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.

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Public Museum opens exhibit focused on local leader Ralph W. Hauenstein

June 28, 2018Citizen Journalism, EntertainmentGrand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Valley State University, Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies, Ralph W. HauensteinJoanne

By Christie Bender

Grand Rapids Public Museum

The Grand Rapids Public Museum will be opening a brand new exhibition this summer, titled: Ralph W. Hauenstein: A Life of Leadership. The exhibition will open on July 21, and run through January 2019.

A Life of Leadership will explore the extraordinary life of Grand Rapidian Ralph W. Hauenstein. COL Hauenstein was a leader in the West Michigan community, remembered for his role as a journalist, his military and intelligence service, his dedication to the Catholic faith, his entrepreneurship, and his philanthropy in Grand Rapids. Hauenstein left a lasting legacy in the United States and around the world.

The exhibition will highlight Ralph’s extraordinary life, his contributions to our nation and community, and his legacy of leadership. Interactives will allow visitors to test out writing a headline for the newspaper on an antique typewriter and try their hand at cracking a secret code. Photography from around the world bring visitors face-to-face with Ralph’s impact globally.

“The family is thrilled to share Ralph’s rich history with our West Michigan community,” said Brian Hauenstein. “We hope his proactive lifestyle will encourage all generations to consider their lasting impact on their community and the environment around them.”

“On behalf of the Grand Rapids Public Museum, it was an honor to work with the Hauenstein Family and the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University to share the important story of COL Hauenstein’s life in public service and leadership,” said Andrea Melvin, Collections Curator at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. “The many artifacts and images gifted by Ralph himself to the GRPM and the Hauenstein Family will fascinate and inspire all who visit.”

Ralph W. Hauenstein: A Life of Leadership will be included with general admission to the Museum, and will be located on the Museum’s third floor.

This exhibition is made possible through the generous support of: The Hauenstein Family and The Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University. Images and objects on loan courtesy of Brian Hauenstein unless otherwise stated. The images in this exhibition were first digitized for public display by the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University. Thank you also to the National Cryptologic Museum, NSA, Washington D.C.

Ralph W. Hauenstein

Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1912, Ralph’s family moved to Grand Rapids when he was 12 years old, where he graduated from Central High School in 1931. He was a public servant from his early years starting as a boy scout. Ralph was curious, inquisitive, and an exceptional storyteller, which led him to his first job as a police reporter for the Grand Rapids Press and later as a city editor with the Grand Rapids Herald.

Ralph joined the U.S. Army in 1935, serving first with the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1941 he began working as an intelligence officer in Iceland and rose to the rank of colonel. During World War II, he was promoted to Chief of Intelligence for the European Theater of Operations under General Dwight D. Eisenhower. An important part of his experience was the liberation of the German concentration camp at Dachau. His WWII experiences opened his eyes to the need for ethical, effective world leaders.

Ralph saw first-hand that many countries face food shortages. After the war he returned to Grand Rapids and became an entrepreneur in international trade and food equipment manufacturing, designing equipment to make Goldfish Crackers. His success in business allowed for substantial philanthropic contributions in Grand Rapids. He gave generously to many local causes and established the Grace Hauenstein Library at Aquinas College, Mercy Health Hauenstein Neuroscience Center and the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University.

GVSU concert series to feature carillonneurs from around the country

June 28, 2018EntertainmentBeckering Carillon, Cook Carillon, Grand Valley State University, GVSUJoanne

GVSU’s Beckering Carillon (Photo by Amanda Pitts)

Carillonneurs from around the U.S. will travel to Grand Valley State University this summer to fill the air around both campuses with music during the International Carillon Concert Series.

The 24th annual Cook Carillon International Concert Series will take place on Sundays at 8 p.m. on the Allendale Campus, beginning July 1.

Cook Carillon Concerts

July 1 – Student recital and open tower tours

July 8 – Lee Cobb (Cape Coral, Florida)

July 15 – Joey Brink (University of Chicago)

July 22 – Helen Hawley (Grand Rapids)

July 29 – George Gregory (San Antonio, Texas)

August 5 – Sally Harwood (Michigan State University)

August 12 — Carol Anne Taylor (Dallas, Texas)

August 19 – Dennis Curry (Birmingham, Michigan)

The Cook Carillon bells (Photo by Bernadine Carey-Tucker)

Named for major donors and longtime Grand Valley supporters Peter and Pat Cook, who died in 2010 and 2008 respectively, the Cook Carillon Tower contains 48 bronze bells created in the Netherlands. The bells range from 7.5 inches to more than 51 inches, and weigh from 14 pounds to nearly 3,000 pounds. Arranged in a chromatic series, a carillonneur plays the bells after climbing 61 steps to the playing cabin, just below the bells and clock mechanism. Cables connect the bells to a keyboard and pedal board that permit loud or soft tones through a variation of either hard or soft strikes by fists and feet. The size and weight of each bell determines the individual tones.

The 18th annual Beckering Family Carillon International Concert Series brings five concerts to the Lacks International Plaza located at the DeVos Center on Grand Valley’s Pew Grand Rapids Campus. These concerts will take place on Wednesdays at noon, beginning July 11.

Beckering Family Carillon Concerts

July 11 – Lee Cobb

July 18 – Joey Brink

July 25 – Tiffany Ng (University of Michigan)

August 1 – Duet: George Gregory and Julianne Vanden Wyngaard, Grand Valley university carillonneur

All concerts are free and open to the public, and last approximately one hour. They will take place rain or shine. For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/music, or call Grand Valley’s Music and Dance Department at (616) 331-3484.

GVSU economist: Summer looks strong

May 7, 20183-bottomBrian Long, Grand Valley State University, GVSU, GVSU EconomistJoanne

By Dottie Barnes

Grand Valley State University

The stronger-than-usual performance of the West Michigan economy has continued into the opening of the second quarter of 2018, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.

Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of April.

The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) retreated to +28 from +34. The production index edged lower to +28 from +31. The index of purchases eased to +34 from +37, and the employment index rose to +23 from +19.

“Most capital equipment manufacturers continue to be positive, but there are some exceptions,” said Long. “Local automotive parts producers are still modestly expanding despite the slight downtick for the industry as a whole.”

Long said the office furniture industry is holding steady, but signs indicate the peak for the current business cycle has been reached. He said most industrial distributors reported a good month, much as they have since the beginning of the year.

The latest numbers reported by the Department of Technology, Management and Budget pegged Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March at 4.7 percent. Long said from March 2017 to March 2018, payroll jobs in Michigan increased by 61,000 or 1.4 percent. The estimated unemployment rates range between 3.2 percent for Ottawa County to 4.2 percent in Barry County, all well below the state average.

The national U-6 unemployment rate, which includes various discouraged and marginally attached workers, has now fallen to a 17-year low of 7.8 percent.

GVSU, Beaumont Health developed medical device for people with neuromuscular diseases

May 4, 20183-bottom, HealthBeaumont Health, cough assist, Grand Valley State University, GVSUJoanne

Sam Oostendorp, Jake Stephens, Jordan Vanderham and Austin Williams with the cough assist device they developed.

By Leah Twilley

Grand Valley State University

A group of engineering students from Grand Valley State University partnered with Beaumont Health to create a medical device that has the potential to improve the quality of life for people with neuromuscular diseases.

The cough assist device was created to help clear the airway of individuals with diseases such as muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis. The device, about the size of a stack of textbooks, is patent pending and was recently licensed to be commercially manufactured in China, making it the first commercial licensing agreement for Grand Valley’s engineering program.

“We designed the device to be used for people of all ages who have pulmonary problems — from child to adult,” said Jake Stephens, one of four students who designed and built the device. “We aimed to make it simple and easy to use and are thrilled with how it turned out.”

Jordan Vanderham, a member of the student team, said several cough assist devices exist, but they are heavy, expensive and require electricity to operate. This new device is portable, lightweight and made out of plastic and vinyl. It includes a tube attached to a face mask and two valves to control air pressure and volume. It requires no electricity to operate.

Bassel Salman with the cough assist device

Through a collaboration agreement between Beaumont Health and Grand Valley’s School of Engineering, students majoring in product design and manufacturing engineering were tasked with designing and building a prototype of the device under the guidance of engineering professor John Farris.

The idea for the invention came from, a pediatrician who specializes in critical care at Beaumont Health in Royal Oak. He noticed a need for his patients to have a cough assist device that is more affordable and portable.

“I am hopeful this device will impact patient care by offering patients worldwide a better quality of life by decreasing the cost of more intensive therapy,” Salman said. “Compared with other cough products on the market, our device does the same at less cost.”

The Beaumont Commercialization Center negotiated a license with TechBank Medical, a Shanghai-based medical commercialization organization.

“For developed markets, like the U.S., this technology will provide a truly portable device that is small, lightweight and does not require electrical power. For developing markets, like China and India, the design allows for those previously unable to afford a cough assist device to finally get relief from their disease, as the technology has a simple and low-cost design,” said Brad Yang, founder and CEO of TechBank Medical.

This is the first time Grand Valley has worked with Beaumont Health, but it’s not the first time students in the engineering program have given life to medical device ideas. The university has several similar collaboration agreements with area health care providers to identify needs and build medical devices. Engineering students have worked with Mercy Health and Spectrum Health, among others.

“These collaborations bring together clinical and engineering expertise,” said Linda Chamberlain, of Grand Valley’s Technology Commercialization Office. “We want the student engineers to have a valuable experience and the clinical teams we work with to have solutions. It’s a great way for us to work together to solve a problem.”

The students completed the project as part of a one-semester class; the group includes Sam Oostendorp, Austin Williams, Jake Stephens and Jordan Vanderham.

School News Network: Students seek ways to attract more people into teaching

April 16, 20183-bottomGrand Valley State University, GVSU, Kent Innovation High School, KISD, School News NetworkJoanne

11th graders Payton Bidwell (left) and Mirabella Witte share some of their group’s brainstorming results about the problem of declining enrollment in teacher preparation programs (photo by Natalie Tomlin)

By School News Network

“How might Grand Valley State University increase the supply of students in the College of Education?”

This was the driving question students were given on the launch of a project at Kent Innovation High School this winter. Other questions included: “How do markets respond to changes to supply or demand? How might the college positively impact supply and demand in the marketplace? What does the data suggest about the supply of teachers?”

Teams of students were challenged to research the causes of the shortage and formulate a possible way for GVSU’s College of Education to address the problem. Their final product, a website, needed to include key data related to the teacher shortage, interpretation of data and a solution, as well as a supply and demand graph. Students also presented their ideas to a panel of GVSU education staff.

This project was designed by facilitator Rachel Haddad, who teaches English language arts and facilitator Jeff Bush, who teaches social studies and economics, in collaboration with two student teachers from GVSU.

Anastasia Motta, 11th grade, presents “Requirement Tailoring”

At first, Mirabella Witte and one of her teammates, Payton Bidwell, thought the problem seemed huge. But as they delved into the six-week project, their perspective changed. “By the end, we began to see our worth. We realized that we are where the problem is,” said Mirabella, a junior at Union High School.

Dedicated to project-based learning and collaboration, students at Innovation High work on real problems, researching and seeking solutions. Often, students present their ideas to authentic audiences, like the panel from GVSU.

As part of the project, several guest speakers visited to share knowledge of the teacher shortage from different perspectives: Dr. Kelly Margo, assistant professor from GVSU; Char Firlik, retired Kent ISD education consultant; and Coni Sullivan, assistant superintendent for HR and legal services at Kent ISD.

According to Paula Lancaster, director of teacher education at GVSU, “Statewide, since 2008, Michigan has seen an approximately 50% decline in the number of individuals enrolling in teacher preparation programs. At GVSU the decline has been nearly 30%. Over the past three years we have seen a stable uptick.”

Exploring How Supply & Demand Affects Teacher Job Market

Bush explained that one of the goals was to connect students to the concept of supply and demand as it applies to the job market. Students discovered that in part, fewer people are choosing to become teachers because of stagnant teaching salaries in comparison to STEM fields. But students also found that the shortage had to do with more than just money.

Silas Hinkle, 11th grade, presents “Advertising: Encouraging Future Educators”

Research showed a number of teachers left the field because “they didn’t feel supported.” In response, teams proposed developing mentorship programs to support incoming teachers, or setting up programs through parks and recreation departments.

After researching and pooling possible solutions, Payton Bidwell’s group focused on students who might have a passion for teaching, but were not being recruited during high school. They decided to propose a new program that could involve Kent Career Tech Center helping connect potential educators to GVSU. She said this idea could help high school students get exposure to the field of education and find those with a passion for it.

John Shinsky, associate dean for community impact at GVSU, was a member of the panel and said he was impressed by the rich conversation that resulted. The panel asked students follow-up questions, such as how they came up with their ideas or about alternative ways of implementing their solutions.

“Students did a tremendous job,” Shinsky said. “They brought a pure point of view to the issue. This is just one more example of the capabilities of our young people today. It was also fantastic to see K-12 and higher education coming together.”

Students also gained a new perspective after they presented to an audience.

“It was surprising how realistic our solution was and how serious the adults took us,” said Payton, a junior at Forest Hills Central High School, adding she appreciated the chance to connect with the teaching field. “I learned that every profession has benefits that you may not have known without looking deeper into the profession itself.”

Bush explained that student projects were judged in three areas: Communication and Collaboration, Research and Information, as well as Creative and Critical Thinking.

“It was exciting to give students the opportunity to connect with a local partner that affects them directly,” Haddad said. “Students did an excellent job being professional when grappling with a real world problem.”

Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.

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GVSU cancels Lubbers Cup Regatta due to potential storm

April 13, 20183-bottomGrand Valley State University, GVSU, Lubbers Cup, National Weather Service, regattaJoanne

Action from the annual Lubbers Cup Regatta. (Supplied/Lubbers Cup)

With portions of West Michigan under a winter storm watch, including Kent and Ottawa counties, Grand Valley State University officials announced that they have cancelled the Lubbers Cup Reggatta for this weekend.

According to organizers the main issue is the winds that are expected to be up to 40 miles an hour. That makes any body of water unprovable, organizers stated in a letter to the teams. On top of that the National Weather Service is calling for a cold hard rain that could turn into ice. With temperatures dropping into the 30s as a high and not enough shelter, it was decided by organizers to cancel the regatta event.

From the National Weather Service as of 9:30 a.m. Friday, April 13: Active weather from a slow-moving storm system is expected through Monday. Substantial disruptions to commerce and weekend activities will be possible from the snow, ice and wind, especially in central to northern portions of Michigan. Travel may become dangerous in portions of northern Michigan from heavy snow as well as blowing and drifting snow. Ice pellets (sleet) or rain freezing on contact (freezing rain) is likely Saturday into Sunday in a large portion of Central Lower Michigan. The ice accumulations and strong winds may create multi-day power outages. Grand Rapids and Lansing could become cold enough for a portion of Saturday or Saturday night for a period of freezing rain.

GVSU world trade conference focuses on global success

April 11, 20183-bottomGrand Valley State University, Student Global Awareness, West Michigan World Trade WeekJoanne

During West Michigan World Trade Week, May 7-10, area business leaders will come together to celebrate international trade and business growth in the West Michigan region.

In conjunction with West Michigan World Trade Week, Grand Valley State University’s Van Andel Global Trade Center will host a business conference May 9. The event, in its 33rd year, will focus on how to achieve global success.

This year’s keynote is a panel of three speakers who will discuss global talent in today’s environment. Speakers include Debra Auerbach Clephane from Murray Law Group, Lisa Hanning from Pridgeon & Clay, and Tami D. Vincent from EJ Group Inc.

West Michigan World Trade Week Business Conference

May 9 from 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Noon-1:45 p.m. Luncheon panel speakers

L. William Seidman Center, 50 Front Ave., Pew Grand Rapids Campus

Register at www.gvsu.edu/wtw

Several breakout sessions are planned on a variety of topics including:

• Finding Global Partners

• Cyber Security and Data Protection

• Understanding India’s Market

• Michigan Exporter Tools

Student Global Awareness held May 2 at Grand Valley

A key component of West Michigan World Trade Week is the Student Global Awareness program. Volunteers have reached more than 1,400 middle school students in Grand Rapids since the program began in 2005. Volunteers work in the classroom to provide students with practical information on what makes world trade work, how the global economy affects their daily lives and how to prepare for an increasingly global job market.

Students from Harrison Middle School will attend a capstone event May 2 at the L. William Seidman Center, where they will interact and connect with professionals in the international trade community.

For a full schedule or more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/wtw or call 616-331-6811.

Progressive/Conservative Summit to tackle difficult political climate, discussions

April 9, 20183-bottomGrand Valley State University, GVSU, Haustein Center, Mark Lilla, Molly Worthen, Patrick Deneen, summitJoanne

By Nate Hoekstra

School News Network

Patrick Deneen associate professor of constitutional studies at Notre Dame and author of “*Why Liberalism Failed”*

Americans’ political positions are bitterly divided, driven apart by identity politics, partisan news coverage and algorithm-driven social media echo chambers. Meaningful, well-reasoned political discussion can be hard to find in this political climate.

With that difficulty in mind, the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University will provide substantive conversations about history, political thought and policy without the partisan rhetoric at its annual Progressive/Conservative Summit on April 13-14.

The two-day event will cover a wide variety of topics presented by authors, journalists and academics from various fields. Topics will range from the culture wars and identity liberalism to teaching empathy in a post-truth, pro-feelings age.

Presenters will include Mark Lilla, a contributor to the New York Review of Books and humanities professor at Columbia University; Patrick Deneen, associate professor of constitutional studies at Notre Dame and author of Why Liberalism Failed; and Molly Worthen, op-ed columnist at the New York Times and assistant professor of history at UNC-Chapel Hill; and many others.

Progressive/Conservative Summit 2018

April 13, 6 – 8:15 p.m. and April 14, 8:15 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.

Loosemore Auditorium, GVSU Pew Grand Rapids Campus

401 Fulton Street West, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Event is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are requested at gvsu.edu/hc

Molly Worthen, op-ed columnist at the New York Times and assistant professor of history at UNC-Chapel Hill

“The big aim of the program is to share knowledge with the hope of improving understanding, not necessarily finding one side that can ‘beat’ the other. We want to help people explore a variety of viewpoints,” said Scott St. Louis, program manager at the Hauenstein Center.

Progressive/Conservative Summit 2018 is presented in partnership with the Kate and Richard Wolters Foundation, the Progressive Women’s Alliance of West Michigan and the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal.

For more information, visit gvsu.edu/hc.

GVSU students to depict that ‘hell is other people’ during performances of ‘No Exit’

April 5, 2018EntertainmentGrand Valley State University, GVSU, Jean Paul Sartre, No Exit, Performance Studios SeriesJoanne

From left to right: Jacob-Miller as Cradeau; Emily Cobb as Inez; and Rachel Renaud as Estelle.

By Matthew Makowski

Grand Valley State University

Three people, who have never met before, are brought into a strange room by a mysterious Bellboy who gives them barely any information about their situation except for the knowledge that they will be in that room together for the rest of eternity.

All three characters only have one thing in common: they’re all dead.

This is the foundation of the plot for the upcoming play, “No Exit,” which will be produced and performed by Grand Valley State University theater students as a part of the annual Performance Studios Series.

The P.S. Series gives upper-level theater students the opportunity to use the practical skills they have learned in the classroom. During P.S. Series productions, students have creative control over directing, acting, backstage production, set design and costume design.

Performances of “No Exit” will take place April 6, and 7, at 7:30 p.m. and April 8 at 2 p.m. All shows will take place the Linn Maxwell Keller Black Box Theatre, located in the Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts on the Allendale Campus. General admission tickets will be $6, and tickets can be purchased through the Louis Armstrong Box Office by calling (616) 331-2300, or by visiting Startickets.com.

In “No Exit,” Cradeau, a French journalist; Inez, a Spanish secretary; and Estelle, an American socialite, quickly discover that the mysterious room they have entered is actually hell.

“This show is an exploration of why those characters find themselves in hell, what mistakes they made in the past and how living a fake life can lead you to ruin,” said Bruno Streck Rodrigues, a senior majoring in theater and communication studies who will sit in the director’s chair for “No Exit.” “Having to accept the fact that they are dead, unable to touch the outside world and slowly being forgotten, is a big part of the show.”

Expecting to find some kind of torturer in the hellish venue, the three characters quickly learn that the real torture is spending eternity with each other.

“They have to learn to ‘live’ with each other, but the problem of ‘living’ with each other, as the show itself says, is that ‘hell is other people,’” said Streck Rodrigues. “They can’t stand the thought that the other two people in the room are judging them for every little thing they do, and that is the real torture.”

“No Exit” marks Streck Rodrigues’ directorial debut, and the São Carlos, Brazil, native said it is his favorite play primarily because of the diversity of the characters.

“The show was written in 1943 by French philosopher Jean Paul Sartre, and yet one of the main characters is a lesbian, which is groundbreaking,” said Streck Rodrigues. “The male character in the original version of the play is Brazilian, like me, so I also really like my country being represented in theater.”

Grand Valley’s production of “No Exit” will be adopting the translated version by Paul Bowles in which the nationalities of Cradeau and Estelle were changed to French and American, respectively.

Emily Cobb, who plays Inez, said she looks forward to audiences reflecting on the themes of death, freedom and judgement found in “No Exit.”

“I believe this show will get people to think about life and death and it will leave an impression on them,” said Cobb, a sophomore majoring in psychology and theater. “A lot of great people put in the work to make this come to life and the results are spectacular.”

GVSU economist: 2018 ‘bounce’ continues

April 5, 20183-bottomBrian G. Long, Grand Valley State University, GVSU, Seidman College of Business, Supply Management ResearchJoanne

By Dottie Barnes

Grand Valley State University

For West Michigan, the first quarter of 2018 has started on strong footing, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.

Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of March.

The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) rose to +34, slightly better than last month’s +32. The production index held steady at +31. The index of purchases jumped sharply to +37 from +22, and the employment index edged up to +19, from +16.

“The bounce we reported last month has continued and the general mood remains optimistic,” said Long, “but the pricing pressure brought on by the recently announced tariffs has added a new dimension of stress to many purchasing offices. We have not seen this level of price pressure in several years.”

Long said the “floodgates” of new orders were opened immediately after the corporate tax cuts were signed into law. He said the recent bounce in auto sales appears to have quelled the fears that local automotive parts producers may be starting to slow.

Despite the shortage of labor, Long said several companies are still growing. “The strength of the economy has resulted in the office furniture industry holding steady,” he said. “Although there are a couple of exceptions, most of our industrial distributors are participating in the uptick of business and almost all of the manufacturing firms still cannot find enough new workers to fill open positions.”

GVSU visual and media arts seniors to showcase capstone works during multiple exhibitions

April 5, 2018EntertainmentCalder Art Center, Grand Valley State University, GVSU, Haas Center for Performing Arts, Padnos Student GalleryJoanne

The “x-height” exhibition runs April 9-12.

By Matthew Makowski

Grand Valley State University

More than 50 students from the Visual and Media Arts Department will showcase works that represent the culmination of their educational journeys at Grand Valley State University.

“x-height” is just one of these upcoming exhibits. Kendra Smith said the senior graphic design exhibition is meant to represent the starting point of the future careers of the eleven participating students.

“Graphic design is not always featured in shows, so it is even more beneficial that we learn the process through this experience in school,” said Smith, a senior majoring in graphic design. “I personally had no idea about all of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into creating and promoting an exhibit. Everyone has really used their skills gained in the program to step out-of-the-box and create work they’re really passionate about.”

Smith’s contribution to “x-height” includes branding elements for a fictional design museum called the Grand Rapids Institute of Design (GRID), including visitor guides, tickets, membership cards, a mock website and more.

“From a young age, I have always enjoyed visiting museums and gaining more knowledge,” said Smith. “I also have not had the opportunity yet to create design work for a public space, so I wanted to challenge myself to try something new.”

The “Control and Creativity (100 Questions I Asked Myself)” exhibition runs April 9 -12.

Justin Nienhuis, a senior studio art major with an emphasis on jewelry making and metalsmithing, said his solo exhibit revolves around 100 questions he asked himself while contemplating his showcase.

“I just wanted to be aware of what I was thinking about while I was creating my work,” said Nienhuis, from Holland. “In my show, I explore how a vessel could be formed in metal versus ceramics.”

“Control and Creativity (100 Questions I Asked Myself)” will showcase 20 works by Nienhuis, mostly consisting of pieces created from copper, brass, bronze and nickel silver.

Nienhuis said the Visual and Media Arts Department helped him develop the skills necessary to succeed in his future career.

“GVSU has some amazing professors, like Beverly Seley, the head of the jewelry and metalsmithing program,” said Nienhuis. “The art program has really been formed to help students learn how to not only make art, but also prepare us for being professional artists in the future by teaching skills like how to build a resume, website, and professional portfolio, and how to apply for grants.”

Below is a full list of upcoming senior thesis exhibitions:

x-height
Senior graphic design exhibition
Exhibition dates: April 9-12
Art Gallery, Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts, Allendale Campus
Reception: April 12, from 5-7 p.m.

Control and Creativity (100 Questions I Asked Myself)
Senior BFA thesis exhibit by Justin Neinhuis, jewelry and metalsmithing major
Exhibition dates: April 9-12
Padnos Student Gallery, Calder Art Center, Allendale Campus
Reception: April 12, from 5-7 p.m.

Emerge
Senior illustration thesis exhibition
Exhibition dates: April 14-May 18
Nomad Galleries by Richard App, 74 Monroe Center Street NW, Grand Rapids
*Hours by appointment
Reception: April 14, from 5-9 p.m.

Teammates How Do/The Wall is Not Solid/how to ollie
Three senior visual studies exhibitions
Exhibition dates: April 16-22 (Monday-Thursday, from 5-9 p.m.)
106 Division Avenue South
Receptions: April 20, from 6-9 p.m.; April 21 and 22, from 2-5 p.m.

Fractal
Senior photography thesis exhibition
Exhibition dates: April 17-27
Art Gallery, Haas Center, Allendale Campus
Reception: April 19, from 5-7 p.m.

Film and Video Spring Showcase
April 24, from 7-10 p.m.
Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus

For more information, contact the Visual and Media Arts Department at (616) 331-3486.

GVSU’s Sigal Lecture: ‘Social Justice as a Faith-based Imperative’ set for April 10

April 4, 20183-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Politics, Upcoming EventsGrand Valley State University, GVSU, Matthew Makowski, Sigal Memorial Lecture, Social Justice, Susan Henry-CroweJoanne

The Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe (photo supplied)

By Matthew Makowski, Grand Valley State University

An upcoming lecture at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) will explore the importance of social justice in various religious communities around the world.

The Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe, general secretary of the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church, will be the featured speaker during the 2018 Rabbi Phillip Sigal Memorial Lecture. In her role, Henry-Crowe oversees the church’s response to issues including civil and human rights, economic justice, environmental justice, health and wholeness, peace with justice, and women and children.

The free event will take place April 10 from 7-9 pm in the Eberhard Center (room 215), located on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus (401 Fulton St W, Grand Rapids, MI 49504). To register for this event, visit the Kaufman Interfaith Institute website, or call 616.331.5702.

During her presentation, Henry-Crowe will primarily touch on the importance of social justice in the Abrahamic traditions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam), but her points will apply to many different religious, secular and spiritual traditions.

“With the rise of activism and an increase of literature on how religious, secular or spiritual traditions impact this activism, this lecture will be a good time to reflect on how social justice is imperative,” said Kevin McIntosh, Campus Interfaith Resources coordinator. “Susan will move from what justice means in these traditions to what social justice means now, and will focus on current issues, such as food, immigration and religious oppression.”

Two additional respondents will also participate in the lecture. Marlene Kowalski-Braun, assistant vice president for inclusion and student affairs at Grand Valley, and Muaz Redzic, Imam at the Bosnian Culture Center in Grand Rapids.

Kowalski-Braun will examine the definitions of the terms “social justice” and “inclusion and equity”, while Redzic will discuss how his Islamic faith pushes him to participate in social justice.

The annual lecture is named for Rabbi Phillip J. Sigal, a pioneer of the interfaith movement in West Michigan until his death in 1995. Aside from his duties at Ahavas Israel Synagogue, Sigal was instrumental in opening the lines of communication among several religions in the area. After his death, a group of local academic and interfaith enthusiasts established the Sigal Memorial Lecture in his honor. Since that time, the event has brought some of the most important voices in religion and social movements to churches, schools and other venues in West Michigan.

This year’s lecture is sponsored by Campus Interfaith Resources and the Kaufman Interfaith Institute.

GVSU will host 20th annual pow wow April 7-8

April 4, 20183-bottom, Community Health, Education, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Local History, Upcoming EventsGrand Valley State University, pow wowJoanne

The 20th annual Celebrating All Walks of Life Traditional Pow Wow will be at GVSU’s Fieldhouse on the Allendale campus. (Supplied)

Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State University will host a series of events to celebrate, and learn about, Native American traditions and culture through dance and song on Saturday and Sunday, April 7-8 at GVSU’s Allendale campus.

The 20th annual Celebrating All Walks of Life Traditional Pow Wow will take place in the Fieldhouse on the Allendale campus. Hundreds of people are expected to attend, including many traveling from Native American communities in the Upper Peninsula and Great Lakes region.

The event will celebrate traditional Native American dancing and music with Grand Entry performances at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., on April 7, and at noon on April 8. Doors open at 11 a.m., both days. There will be Native American handmade crafts and food vendors, as well as a silent auction to raise funds for Grand Valley’s Native American Student Association.

This year, the co-coordinator of the first Grand Valley pow wow will attend the celebration. Scott Herron, a Grand Valley alumnus and biology professor at Ferris State University, coordinated the first pow wow in 1998.

The celebration is free, family friendly and open to the public. It is sponsored by the Native American Student Association, Office of Multicultural Affairs and Division of Inclusion and Equity at Grand Valley.

For more information, visit gvsu.edu/oma/powwow or contact NASA at gvsu_nasa@yahoo.com or the Office of Multicultural Affairs at 616-331-2177.