GVPD finalists for
“Together for Safer Schools” program

The “Together for Safer Schools” grant program has named the
Grand Valley State University police department a finalist in the competition
to receive all new security equipment from STANLEY Security.

With all new STANLEY Security products, GVPD will be able to
improve on-campus security and increase safety for students and faculty.
Equipment includes video surveillance systems, fire and intrusion systems and
security threat assessment.

The winner of the competition will be chosen through votes
submitted by students and faculty online. The top prize is $200,000 worth of
STANLEY Security equipment with a runner-up prize of $75,000.

Voting opened on January 19 and will stay open until February
13.

To vote, go to www.stanleysaferschools.com.

GV authors to
headline Writers Series

Authors Beth Peterson and Todd Kaneko are set to headline
the latest Writers Series at Grand Valley State University to talk about their
most recent pieces of work.

Todd Kaneko, assistant professor of writing at GVSU, is an
author and poet known for his contributions to the Los Angeles Review along
with his book “The Dead Wrestler Elegies.”

Beth Peterson, assistant professor of writing at GVSU, is a
non-fiction writer that is set to finish her first book of lyrics centering on
a disappearing glacial landscape in Normandy.

For more information on the event, get in touch with
Oindrila Mukherjee at (616) 331-8034.

Grand Rapids Mayor to
incorporate feedback from GV students

Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell plans to incorporate
feedback given from Grand Valley State University students on how to draw in
and preserve talent in the city.

Heartwell mentioned the students’ contributions during his
2015 State of the City address. The mayor noted that he will put into action
three of the 10 recommendations he received from students in December.

An example of an idea presented was a smartphone application
that will contain information about Grand Rapids such as local restaurants,
tourist locations and shops, among other things.

The mayor plans to take it a step further by creating a
Millennial Advisory Board that will provide young and experienced
representatives the chance to contribute ideas for the Grand Rapids community.

Alfred Mele and the concept of free will

Alfred Mele, the Werkmeister professor of philosophy at
Florida State University, will give a presentation where he discusses the
concept of free will and why the arguments against it are not entirely true.

“Free: Why Science Hasn’t Disproved Free Will,” which is
hosted by the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies, aims to argue that a
person’s consciousness creates decisions throughout the day and that people tend
to make worse decisions when they do not believe in the idea of free will.

The event is free to the public and will take place on
Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. in the Loosemore Auditorium.

For more information, go to www.hauensteincenter.org.

Candidate for Vice
President of Inclusion and Equity gives speech

Carmen Suarez, one of three candidates up for vice president
of Inclusion and Equity at Grand Valley State University, gave her presentation
for consideration on Jan. 20.

Suarez, chief diversity officer and associate vice provost
for Student Affairs at the University of Idaho, shared some of the ideas she would
implement if she were hired for the job.

Suarez discussed new ways of giving stakeholders enduring
multicultural education to expand cultural competency, cultivating a center for
cultural advancement, and creating new structural initiatives for the
surrounding community.

For more information, contact Michelle Coffill at (616)
331-2221.