GR101 College Week

College Week in Grand Rapids is kicking off Monday, Sept. 11, with a lineup of discounted events for college students in West Michigan.

Students will be treated to discounted cultural venues, local restaurants and a free outdoor screening of “Wonder Woman” in the Student Plaza. There will also be a networking event where students can connect with employers for internships or jobs down the road. 

The full event lineup can be viewed at www.grcollegeweek.com. 

Gaming convention coming to downtown Grand Rapids

The GrandCon Gaming Convention and the West Michigan Tabletop Gamers are inviting all those interested in board, card and role-playing games to come to the DeVos Place Friday, Sept. 15, where the annual tabletop games convention will kick off. 

The family-friendly convention celebrates tabletop games from Dungeons & Dragons to Monopoly. According to the Facebook event page, GrandCon will allow attendees to shop from vendors, play games, meet industry celebrities and attend seminars, where attendees can even learn how to make games. 

The GrandCon website said the event “creates opportunities (and is) a place to make new friends and see old friends and (is) a gateway to discovering a world of creative gaming.” The website also encourages attendees to dress up as their favorite characters. 

One-day passes for Friday and Saturday, Sept. 16, sell for $30 for non-registered attendees and $15 for Sunday, Sept. 17. Three-day passes will cost $45 for non-registered attendees.

Vandalism in Murray, VanSteeland living centers

Bulletin boards have been torn down, destroyed and graffitied in Grand Valley State University’s Mark A. Murray and Ronald F. VanSteeland living centers, according to an email sent out to South Campus residents by resident assistant Alison Martin.

In the email, Martin said the acts of vandalism were “incredibly disrespectful and disappointing.” Both incidents took place within the first two weeks of classes. 

The RA called on residents to take responsibility for guests coming into the living centers and to contact the living center director if an act of vandalism is witnessed. 

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to speak at opening of MSU research building

According to an article written by the The State News at Michigan State University, MSU’s College of Human Medicine is inviting Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to speak at the opening ceremony for the new MSU Grand Rapids Research Center.

The opening ceremony, where DeVos will be speaking Wednesday, Sept. 20, is not open to the public or students. 

The vote to confirm DeVos as education secretary in the Senate ended up in a tie, which had to be broken by Vice President Mike Pence. DeVos is a controversial figure in U.S. politics due to her views on the privatization of public education. 

The research building has been in the works for two years and will be open for the public to view Friday, Sept. 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.