Lanthorn April 9, 2009 : Page A1

Special Easter package, A6 LANTHORN now on Grand Valley State University Grand Valley Lanthorn Dean’s offi ce recognizes GVSU’s ‘very best’ www.lanthorn.com Thursday, April 9, 2009 By Chelsea Lane GVL Staff Writer Grand Valley State University GVL / Bri Goodyear Idea swapping: Michele Heriford presents for her master’s in nursing during Student Scholarship Day, held in the Kirkhof Center Grand River Room on Wednesday. Scholarship Day features 300 research projects Student, faculty work presented in Student Scholarship Day By Lauren Fitch GVL News Editor A year-round training plan for 400-meter sprinters, an analysis of fossil beach sands and a study on the reaction time to different colored lights were all topics of research among the hundreds of displays at Student Scholarship Day on Wednesday. Taking place in the Kirkhof Center and Henry Hall, 600 students and faculty mentors gathered to present more than 300 research projects throughout the day. Janet Vigna, a co-director of Student Scholarship Day, said this is the highest number of presentations the event has seen since its beginning in 1995. “Primarily the goal is (to) celebrate the scholarly and creative activities students have been doing all year,” Vigna said, who has been involved in planning the event for the past three years. W h i l e “ ... the goal is (to) celebrate the scholarly and creative activities students have been doing all year.” JANET VIGNA STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP DAY CO-DIRECTOR S t u d e n t Scholarship Day is an annual event, Vigna said some of this year’s unique f e a t u r e s included three fi lm presentations, an outdoor presentation on early weapons technology and the expansion of oral presentations to the Kirkhof Center. Vigna said the new location of Kirkhof should increase the visibility of the event on campus and encourage more people to participate next year. “Anything students do, we will support them in anyway we can,” Vigna said. She said students benefi ted from the experience of presenting their research by giving them practice communicating in a professional activity and feeling the support of the scholarly community. Students and faculty including Jeff Chamberlain, director of the Frederik Meijer Honors College, wandered through the event observing the numerous displays. “It’s a marvelous display of what students are doing across the board,” Chamberlain said. “There is research from every department.” Chamberlain said the event is important for students to experience self authorship, going beyond the textbook to create and present their own information. He said the support and display of camaraderie centered around learning is what education is about. Steve Asiala, a fi fth-year senior, presented for the fi rst time his research for a Chemistry 499 class. Students participating in the event are required to make a poster or oral presentation of their research and then be present for one hour during the day to answer questions from any observers. Professors and faculty members help students develop their research throughout the year. See Scholar, A2 Courtesy Photo / www.deviantart.com Speak out: To Write Love on Her Arms is an organization to support and encourage people who struggle with issues of self-harm. Students at GVSU held a protest in regards to a rule in the student code limiting the number of calls allowed to the self-harm hotline. students and faculty gathered together with family and friends to celebrate the Dean’s Offi ce Awards Banquet on Monday. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Gayle Davis presided over the ceremony and described the event as a chance to honor GVSU’s best and brightest. To help kick off the festivities, Movement Science Professor John Kilbourne delivered the keynote address, “Creating your playful path to infi nity and beyond.” Kilbourne received GVSU’s nomination for the Michigan 2009 “You respected the individuality of others and you embraced your own creativity. You represent JOHN KILBOURNE GVSU PROFESSOR Distinguished Professor Award and recently garnered attention in the local press for his research on the use of exercise balls as classroom seating. In his speech, Kilbourne stressed the importance of not just hard work but taking time out to play and express creativity as well. He also recalled his some of Grand Valley State University’s very best.” experiences as a pre- kindergarten teacher in inner-city Los Angeles and urged students not to lose touch with the open and accepting attitudes they had as young children. “Each of you are being honored today because you have demonstrated an incredible openness,” Kilbourne said. “You respected the See Dean, A2 GVL / Lindsey Waggoner Excellence: Nicolas Hamadanchi accepts an award from Dean H. James Williams at the Dean’s Offi ce Awards Banquet on Monday. The Awards Banquet honors students who have excelled in their respective fi elds in the 2008-2009 school year. More than 100 awards were distributed. Student code forbids self-harm Student code requires suicidal students to sign contract for ‘disorderly conduct’ after fi rst crisis call By Amanda Lechel GVL Staff Writer While suicide, assault and stalking are different matters, they are all viewed as “disorderly conduct” and subject to the same consequences under the Grand Valley State University student code. When a suicidal student places a crisis call, it is standard procedure for the Department of Public Safety to be among the university groups that respond to the call. Julie Carbine, dispatch coordinator of DPS, said if the student is still in the stage of considering harm, the dispatcher will keep the caller on the line and send an offi cer to check on his or her well-being and possibly involve the Counseling Center. If the student has intimidates or endangers the health, safety, or welfare of any person, including ones self.” The behavioral contract entails “Every situation and student is different. We put a student on a behavioral contract because we believe it is in the best interest of the student.” already caused harm to his or her body, a call is issued for an ambulance in addition to sending an offi cer. Carbine said dispatchers complete training on how to respond to suicidal calls. “The ultimate goal is to keep the caller safe and to get them the help they need,” Carbine said. Another part of the procedure if the student has caused harm to his or her body is to require the student to sign a behavioral contract under the context of “disorderly conduct” because they are in violation of acceptable behavior as defi ned in the student handbook. Section 206 of the handbook defi nes assault as, “No person shall physically abuse or assault any member of the university community nor shall a person engage in conduct which threatens, BART MERKLE DEAN OF STUDENTS the student refraining from repeating similar behavior under possible penalty of suspension. Barbara Palombi, director of the Counseling and Career Development Center, said the contract can be described as a self-care plan designed to help the student remain in the university community. “The behavioral contracts are designed to assist the student in developing additional and more effective coping tools,” Palombi said. “Usually as part of the document, there is a recommendation for the student to meet with someone in the Counseling Center.” Palombi said most problems occur when students are forced to sign the contract without receiving any information concerning the purpose of the contract. “When I am involved with a student and a possible behavioral contract, we spend time talking about the behavior that needs to stop, identify better coping strategies and provide a support network for the student,” Palombi said. “I also ask the student to be involved in the development of the contract. If a student feels uncomfortable with any aspect of the contract it is talked about until some See Contract, A2 See more: Go to the editorial on A5. The Whale waits for FCC approval to broadcast on FM Student-run station WCKS The Whale available only online, pending OK for FM By Ellen Hensel GVL Assistant News Editor If you want to listen to the student- run radio station, WCKS The Whale, for now, you will have to go online as approval for an FM frequency and tower is still pending from the Federal Communications Commission. When WCKS decided to switch from an AM signal to an FM signal, they fi rst had to approve the money and then request the change from administration within the FCC. This was done last summer and the station continues to wait for approval, in the meantime broadcasting only online. “We want FM for a lot of reasons,” INDEX A said WCKS President Justin Minor. “Although we still haven’t gotten the tower we want, if we go to FM we will have a broader range to reach more people who want to listen to us both on and off campus. The AM signal only worked on campus. We just have to wait until it is approved.” Minor said he thinks the reason for a delayed approval stems to an FCC change in administration and a priority News......................................................A3 Opinion...........................................................A5 Laker Life.............................................................A6 change. “We have been waiting all year and I think some of that is due to a new administration not seeing approvals like these as an approval,” Minor said. “I have heard from other people that they are doing these approvals in bursts where they will approve a bunch and then not. I think the switch to digital television has been the highest priority for them.” B Courtesy Photo / www.thewhale.org Waiting online: GVSU’s student-run radio station WCKS The Whale can currently broadcast only online, pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission for a change from AM to FM. The station requested to change signals last summer, but has yet to hear from the FCC. In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, WCKS broadcast on an FM frequency. However, the FCC switched them to AM after repeated incidents of swearing and references to alcohol and drugs. Supporters of the station said it is different now and they should get this approval as soon as the FCC has the opportunity to review it. “We are a completely different station See The Whale, A2 Sports...........................................................B1 A&E.........................................................B4 Marketplace................................................B5

Dean’s office recognizes GVSU’s ‘very best’

Chelsea Lane

Grand Valley State University students and faculty gathered together with family and friends to celebrate the Dean’s Office Awards Banquet on Monday.

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Gayle Davis presided over the ceremony and described the event as a chance to honor GVSU’s best and brightest.

To help kick off the festivities, Movement Science Professor John Kilbourne delivered the keynote address, “Creating your playful path to infinity and beyond.”

Kilbourne received GVSU’s nomination for the Michigan 2009 Distinguished Professor Award and recently garnered attention in the local press for his research on the use of exercise balls as classroom seating.

In his speech, Kilbourne stressed the importance of not just hard work but taking time out to play and express creativity as well.

He also recalled some of his experiences as a prekindergarten teacher in inner-city Los Angeles and urged students not to lose touch with the open and accepting attitudes they had as young children.

“Each of you are being honored today because you have demonstrated an incredible openness,” Kilbourne said. “You respected the individuality of others and you embraced your own creativity. You represent Grand Valley State University’s very best. We will be watching and cheering you on as you soar to infinity and beyond.”

During the awards portion of the ceremony, more than 100 university students and faculty members received honors and accolades.

Departmental Honors Awards were given to one student in each of GVSU’s 96 different academic programs. To be considered for the award, students were required to complete at least 85 credits with a GPA of 3.5 or above.

Student Services Awards, consisting of the Kenneth R. Venderbush Leadership Award and the Thomas M. Seykora Awards for Outstanding Contribution, were also handed out at the ceremony.

The Kenneth R. Venderbush Leadership Award is given annually to a student who demonstrates a significant contribution to student life through volunteering, committee involvement, student organization or residence hall leadership or athletic achievement.

A select committee of GVSU staff and faculty votes on who receives the award. This year’s recipient was political science major Jeanine Anderson.

The Thomas M. Seykora Awards were presented to eight seniors nominated by student organizations and members of the Student Services Division. The recipients were Anne Marie Carson, international relations and French major; Katherine Cross, English major; Fatema Husaini, biomedical science major; Courtney Jones, biomedical science major; Kacie Kauzlick, exercise science major;

Student code forbids self-harm

Amanda Lechel

While suicide, assault and stalking are different matters, they are all viewed as “disorderly conduct” and subject to the same consequences under the Grand Valley State University student code.

When a suicidal student places a crisis call, it is standard procedure for the Department of Public Safety to be among the university groups that respond to the call.

Julie Carbine, dispatch coordinator of DPS, said if the student is still in the stage of considering harm, the dispatcher will keep the caller on the line and send an officer to check on his or her well-being and possibly involve the Counseling Center.

If the student has already caused harm to his or her body, a call is issued for an ambulance in addition to sending an officer.

Carbine said dispatchers complete training on how to respond to suicidal calls.

“The ultimate goal is to keep the caller safe and to get them the help they need,” Carbine said.

Another part of the procedure if the student has caused harm to his or her body is to require the student to sign a behavioral contract under the context of “disorderly conduct” because they are in violation of acceptable behavior as defi ned in the student handbook.

Section 206 of the handbook defines assault as, “No person shall physically abuse or assault any member of the university community nor shall a person engage in conduct which threatens,

intimidates or endangers the health, safety, or welfare of any person, including ones self.”

The behavioral contract entails the student refraining from repeating similar behavior under possible penalty of suspension.

Barbara Palombi, director of the Counseling and Career Development Center, said the contract can be described as a self-care plan designed to help the student remain in the university community.

“The behavioral contracts are designed to assist the student in developing additional and more effective coping tools,” Palombi said. “Usually as part of the document, there is a recommendation for the student to meet with someone in the Counseling Center.” Palombi said most problems occur when students are forced to sign the contract without receiving any information concerning the purpose of the contract.

“When I am involved with a student and a possible behavioral contract, we spend time talking about the behavior that needs to stop, identify better coping strategies and provide a support network for the student,” Palombi said. “I also ask the student to be involved in the development of the contract. If a student feels uncomfortable with any aspect of the contract it is talked about until some solution is found.”

Dean of Students Bart Merkle said the main goal of the university is to help students to be successful and to make sure students are safe and healthy.

“There are times when students experience difficulty which causes us to be concerned,” Merkle said. “Sometimes this is when students inflict harm on themselves. This is when the university comes up with a contract that is used as guide to help students stay safe and healthy.”

If the student enters a second crisis call, thereby breaking the contract, Merkle said the university tries to find ways to help the student, whether it be a revision of the contract, a disciplinary case or an involuntary withdrawal from the school.

“Every situation and student is different,” Merkle said. “We put a student on a behavioral contract because we believe it is in the best interest of the student. We are concerned about the student’s health and safety.”

Merkle said he wants students to know they are not having students sign these contracts because the university is out to get them.

“It is just simply that when a student acts in a way that concerns us, we have to respond,” Merkle said. “We would rather respond with too much than too little.

The Whale waits for FCC approval to broadcast on FM

Ellen Hensel

Student-run station WCKS The Whale available only online, pending OK for FM

If you want to listen to the student run radio station, WCKS The Whale, for now, you will have to go online as approval for an FM frequency and tower is still pending from the Federal Communications Commission.

When WCKS decided to switch from an AM signal to an FM signal, they first had to approve the money and then request the change from administration within the FCC.

This was done last summer and the station continues to wait for approval, in the meantime broadcasting only online.

“We want FM for a lot of reasons,” said WCKS President Justin Minor. Although we still haven’t gotten the tower we want, if we go to FM we will have a broader range to reach more people who want to listen to us both on and off campus. The AM signal only worked on campus. We just have to wait until it is approved.”

Minor said he thinks the reason for a delayed approval stems to an FCC change in administration and a priority change.

“We have been waiting all year and I think some of that is due to a new administration not seeing approvals like these as an approval,” Minor said. “I have heard from other people that they are doing these approvals in bursts where they will approve a bunch and then not. I think the switch to digital television has been the highest priority for them.”

In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, WCKS broadcast on an FM frequency.

However, the FCC switched them to AM after repeated incidents of swearing and references to alcohol and drugs.

Supporters of the station said it is different now and they should get this approval as soon as the FCC has the opportunity to review it.

“We are a completely different station than during that time, “ said volunteer Alex Yee. “The problems that the FCC had with us then, they won’t now.”

Junior Summer Kearns volunteered for WCKS her freshman year and said approval of this tower is a long time coming, despite any mistakes made by the station in the past.

“I think that there were times when we as a station took it too far, but that is all part of being able to freely express our views,” Kearns said. “I don’t think that we should be penalized further for that. It is a new station now with new people, new administration and if we get this FM frequency, it will only continue to grow.”

AM radio currently attracts mostly talk radio and news broadcast.

There are also less strict FCC regulations than FM radio, and in general, there are more controversial figures such as Rush Limbaugh on the AM frequency.

“Right now the only realistic way for us to broadcast is online, but we just want the option to broadcast on FM,” Minor said. “I think it would be good for (our) promotion.

Scholarship Day features 300 research projects

Lauren Fitch

Student, faculty work presented in Student Scholarship Day

A year-round training plan for 400-meter sprinters, an analysis of fossil beach sands and a study on the reaction time to different colored lights were all topics of research among the hundreds of displays at Student Scholarship Day on Wednesday.

Taking place in the Kirkhof Center and Henry Hall, 600 students and faculty mentors gathered to present more than 300 research projects throughout the day.

Janet Vigna, a co-director of Student Scholarship Day, said this is the highest number of presentations the event has seen since its beginning in 1995.

“Primarily the goal is (to) celebrate the scholarly and creative activities students have been doing all year,” Vigna said, who has been involved in planning the event for the past three years.

While Student Scholarship Day is an annual event, Vigna said some of this year’s unique features included three film presentations, an outdoor presentation on early weapons technology and the expansion of oral presentations to the Kirkhof Center.

Vigna said the new location of Kirkhof should increase the visibility of the event on campus and encourage more people to participate next year.

“Anything students do, we will support them in anyway we can,” Vigna said.

She said students benefi ted from the experience of presenting their research by giving them practice communicating in a professional activity and feeling the support of the scholarly community.

Students and faculty including Jeff Chamberlain, director of the Frederik Meijer Honors College, wandered through the event observing the numerous displays.

“It’s a marvelous display of what students are doing across the board,” Chamberlain said. “There is research from every department.” Chamberlain said the event is important for students to experience self authorship, going beyond the textbook to create and present their own information.

He said the support and display of camaraderie centered around learning is what education is about.

Steve Asiala, a fifth-year senior, presented for the first time his research for a Chemistry 499 class.

Students participating in the event are required to make a poster or oral presentation of their research and then be present for one hour during the day to answer questions from any observers. Professors and faculty members help students develop their research throughout the year.

Asiala said he had one professor criticize his poster, but he said it was good to get the experience of what feedback in the real world would be similar to.

Overall, Asiala said Student Scholarship Day was a good experience because it helps students understand a lab much better when they have to explain it to someone else.

He said the student support was good as people stopped by to ask questions about his display.

Among the student observers was junior Laura Phillips.

Phillips attended to earn extra credit for her Statistics 312 class. She had a list of questions and suggested displays to examine for their statistical data.

“It’s a good way to see what other people are doing,” Phillips said.

Presentations began at 8 a.m. and lasted until 5 p.m. Jennifer Blackmer, assistant professor of theater and dance at Ball State University, was the event’s keynote speaker with her lecture on encouraging practical, “meaning-making” methods of learning for undergraduates.

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