News briefs 11/30/17

Final day for ‘I am Grand Valley’ nominations

Thursday, Nov. 30, is the final day for nominations for Grand Valley State University’s “I Am Grand Valley” student leadership recognition campaign. Nominations can be submitted by students, faculty and staff. 

Nominators can select up to 10 students for recognition. The “I Am Grand Valley” reception will take place Jan. 24, 2018, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center Grand River Room. Nominations can be submitted at https://orgsync.com/62606/forms/287890.

GVSU to host lecture on German political climate

Nico Lange, director of the German Konrad Adenauer Foundation, will lead a discussion on the current political climate in Germany at Grand Valley State University on Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 5:30 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center, Room 2270. The discussion is titled “Germany in Crisis.”

Lange’s lecture will include discussion on current German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as the rise of far-right parties in German politics. Lange will address Germany’s place in the current European Union, as well as what the far-right groups winning seats in parliament means for the country. More information on the event can be found at www.gvsu.edu/events/germany-in-crisis-2/. 

KBEI to hold meeting on climate change advocacy

Grand Valley State University’s Koeze Business Ethics Initiative will hold a meeting on climate change advocacy Monday, Dec. 4, at 4 p.m. at the L. William Seidman Center, Room 4002. The meeting will involve West Michigan business leaders, as well as academic figures in the field.

Issues to be addressed at the meeting include carbon taxation, neighborhood efforts on education and raising awareness, as well as the future of climate change advocacy in West Michigan. More information on the event can be found at http://www.gvsu.edu/events/climate-change-advocacy-meeting/.

‘United for Puerto Rico’ event to take place at GVSU

United for Puerto Rico” will take place Friday, Dec. 1, at 6 p.m. at Grand Valley State University’s Laker Village Apartments.  The event is designed to educate attendees on the history of the island, the current hardship faced by those affected by hurricanes in Puerto Rico and the “uniqueness and diversity” of the island.  

The event is LIB 100- and 201-approved, and more information can be found at www.gvsu.edu/events/united-for-puerto-rico/.

Amazon.com reports record ‘Cyber Monday’ sales

Online retailer Amazon reported that it sold almost 140 million items from small businesses in online sales on Monday, Nov. 27, otherwise known as “Cyber Monday.” Adobe reported that Cyber Monday 2017 generated $6.6 billion in online sales. The figure represents a substantial rise from the $3.45 billion from 2016. Amazon reported that Cyber Monday was the biggest day in the company’s history.  

Both Grand Rapids and Detroit submitted bids to be the host city for Amazon’s second headquarters in October. An early ranking of potential cities placed Detroit at No. 22 and Grand Rapids at No. 60 of 64.