Grand Rapids hospital costs, growth on the rise

by Shiloh Reynolds

The 2019 Health Check Report by Grand Valley State University and Tulane University determined that both the cost of hospital admissions and health care employment rates in west Michigan are higher than the state averages. The report, which analyzed public health trends in Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon and Allegan counties, found that the average cost of a hospital stay in Grand Rapids climbed from $19,700 in 2005 to $29,900 in 2016. This is approximately $3,000 dollars more than costs in Detroit. The study cited the average hospital stay length in both cities at just under five days.

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GV leads pack in mental health resource expansion

by Allison Rafferty

With mental health concerns rising across college campuses nationwide, universities are providing the resources, facilities and expertise to aid in this increasing demand for mental health care, and Grand Valley State University is no exception.  According to the Center for Collegiate Mental Health Annual Report (CCMH) in 2016, the average demand for counseling services across college campuses nationwide grew at least five times faster than average institutional enrollment from 2009-2015. 

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As GVSU grows, GVPD expands patrol in downtown Grand Rapids

by Laureen Horan

As the Laker community continues to grow in the big city, Grand Valley Police Department recognizes the subsequent need for increased security. GVPD now has two officers on duty near the Grand Rapids campuses, the first step in their plan to establish a downtown GVPD unit.  Upon the opening of Finkelstein Hall in fall 2018, GVPD assigned officer JP West to patrol the Grand Rapids campuses weekdays between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Starting this week, officer Andrew Dusendang will start his new job patrolling in the evening.

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GV tackles waste issues with RecyleMania

by Rachel Matuszewski

Spanning from Feb. 4 through March 30, Grand Valley State University will compete in RecycleMania for another year. RecycleMania is a nationwide competition challenging all colleges and universities to bring awareness to recycling.  “Recycling (should be a) part of your life, it’s not just a one-time thing,” said Janet Aubil, waste management leader of the campus sustainability advisory council. 

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Laker Guardian hosts app logo design contest

by Laureen Horan

In an effort to increase the utilization of Grand Valley State University’s “Laker Guardian” app, Grand Valley Police Department is running a logo design contest open to all current GVSU students.  “This contest will allow our students to showcase their talents — not only for those going into visual arts and media, but those students who design or draw as a hobby,” said GVPD Sgt. William O’Donnell. 

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Student senate resolution puts meal plan reform in spotlight

by James Kilborn

For many students living on campus, meal plans represent their access to breakfast, lunch and dinner. While there are a variety of meal plans, members of Grand Valley State University’s student senate view the costs of these plans as a barrier for some students and seek to address the issue, entertaining the idea of an income-based meal plan for future semesters.  Student senator Darwin Harris, a proponent of the income-based meal plan, states that the idea stemmed from past encounters with Replenish, the campus food pantry that services students suffering from food insecurity. He cited a lack of resources and funding as a limiting factor for the food pantry, as it relies on donations and other charitable events in order to remain operational. 

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GV promotes vaccinations without requirements amid national conversations

by Allison Rafferty

With an anti-vaccination movement on the rise, the possession of accurate information on vaccines is becoming increasingly in demand across college campuses.  The student senate’s Student Health and Wellness Taskforce reported that while Grand Valley State University’s vaccination rates have had an increase since 2014, they still fall below the national average. 

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Haas addresses campus community following New Zealand mosque shootings

by Nick Moran

Grand Valley State University President Thomas Haas sent out a campus-wide statement via email responding to the mass shooting in New Zealand March 15. Haas sent his thoughts and prayers to those affected and offered on-campus support to students. In a statement on the Division of Inclusion and Equity’s website, the university condemned the shooting, stating that it will “unapologetically educate to interrupt intolerance.”

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GV's Annis Water Research Institute formally partners with MSU

by McKenna Peariso

Research into water-related issues and threats continue to be a primary concern for Michiganders, whose identity is rooted in the Great Lakes; this is what makes Grand Valley State University’s Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI) so essential to ongoing discussions about water. Recently, AWRI has partnered with Michigan State University’s Institute of Water Research (IWR) to collaborate on future water research projects. 

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