Laker Life Briefs

University Counseling combats eating disorders

According to the National Eating Disorder Association, eating disorders in female college students have risen from 23 percent to 32 percent over the last 13 years, and from 7.9 percent to 25 percent in males. As a result, they emphasize the important of having college health services that assess and treat eating disorders on campus. This year, Grand Valley State University is acknowledging National Eating Disorder Awareness Week by holding free and confidential screenings for students, faculty and staff.

On Wednesday, Feb. 26, those interested in this service can head to several locations on both the Pew and Allendale campuses. Kirkhof Center is holding screenings from 12-6 p.m., the Center for Health sciences is from 1-3 p.m., the Eberhard Center is from 3-5 p.m., and the Rec Center and the DeVos Center are both from 2-6 p.m.

LGBT Center holding talk on religion

Many arguments against same-sex marriage — legislative and otherwise — are rooted in appeals to religious freedom. Grand Valley Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Political Science Department Darren Walhof is addressing these arguments in his talk, “Religious Liberty, Same-Sex Marriage, and the Bigotry Anxiety.”

The talk, which will take place in Kirkhof Center room 2215/2216 at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25, focuses on the anxiety of Americans who are against same-sex marriage that their beliefs are regarded as bigoted instead of religious. Waldorf frames this conflict with two different moments of religious liberty in history: proposed Religious Freedom Restoration Acts before and after the legalization of same-sex marriage, and the religious claims to defend racial segregation during the Civil Rights movement.

Get registered to vote before the March 10 election

Time is running out for students who aren’t yet registered to vote but want a voice in the upcoming presidential primary. Both Republicans and Democrats have Michigan primary ballots on March 10, voters being able to choose which party’s ballot they want to fill out. The party ballot selected during the primary has no bearing on what party a voter can vote for during the August and November elections.

GVSU Votes is helping members of the Grand Valley State University community vote by hosting one more Voter Registration Drive before March 10. The next drive will be hosted by the Panhellenic Council on Feb. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Kirkhof Lobby. Those who can’t make it can also register to vote online at the State of Michigan Voter Information Center, mvic.sos.state.mi.us/RegisterVoter.