Editorial revision 9/4- The original article stated Ottawa County Commissioner Joe Moss denied having any knowledge of an article published by the Lanthorn and Ottawa News Network about him carrying a weapon on GVSU’s campus. According to a video of Moss at Campus Life Night, he said, “I think some people sent it to me,” when asked by a Lanthorn representative if he had seen the article.

Thousands of students gathered last Sunday at Parking Lot H1 for Campus Life Night. Between a record number of groups tabling, students hunting for “Lakerbubus,” elected officials visiting campus and an individual being detained for trespassing, the night was full of commotion and activity.

The annual event, which featured over 400 student organizations, campus departments, and local businesses and nonprofits was held on the Valley Campus, in a lot across from the Mary Idema Pew Library. Students and University departments tabled for free, while community members were eligible to purchase tabling space.

Students made their way to the event in droves, filling up sidewalks and waiting for traffic conductors to signal their safe passage across the road. Administrators and staff were also present, including President Philomena Mantella and new GVPD Chief Daniel Lindstrom.

“Every physical table we had rented was used,” said Assistant Director of Student Organizations Bri Slager. “This year was the most student groups we’ve had attend, which really shows me our communication is working well with students.”

Prior to Campus Life Night, the Office of Student Life (OSL) posted they’d be giving away mystery Lakerbubus, animal keychains named after the slightly bizarre, yet endearing trinket “Labubu.” The little animals wore miniature Laker memorabilia, and came in many varieties– including frogs, bears and elephants. There were different odds to obtain each character, which was rewarded after a student scanned QR codes placed around the lot.

Students passionately pushed their way through crowds to win a Lakerbubu, with an Instagram user named hayleyfernn commenting on the OSL post, “I’ve never wanted anything more than I want a Lakerbubu.”

Aside from students partaking in the gathering, local community members popped up in the sea of people, including Ottawa County Commissioners Joe Moss and Sylvia Rhodea.

Earlier this year, the Lanthorn and Ottawa News Network reported that Moss brought a concealed firearm to campus, despite University policy. Moss, who did not appear to be carrying a firearm, tabled with the Ottawa County Republican Party, posing for photos with students. When asked by a Lanthorn staff member about the previous violation, Moss said, “I think some people sent it to me.”

Near the event’s end, GVPD Sergeant Andrew Dusendang and Officer Marco Rojas detained an individual for trespassing. 

According to Lindstrom, the officers had contact with the individual this spring over disorderly conduct at a party. Lindstrom said the individual, not a student, refused to provide verification of identity earlier this year, resulting in him being trespassed. Linstrom added that GVPD contacted the individual to let him know he would no longer be allowed on campus.

Recognizing the individual from this spring, Dusendang and Rojas approached the individual at Campus Life Night, escorting him to a parked police car and writing him a trespass citation.

“This individual was never violent, he was simply there watching a performance by one of the dance teams when officers recognized him,” Lindstrom said. 

While the individual was being escorted from the event, a small crowd gathered, with some students recording the incident and spearheading anti-police chants.

“To the crowd’s point, they didn’t witness him doing anything that would have warranted police escorting him out,” Lindstrom said. “From their perspective, I certainly understand why they think that might have been an overreach or they didn’t understand why that occurred, and from their viewpoint, that’s reasonable.”

Shortly after, students and community members packed up their tabling supplies for the night, and attendees headed back to their residences with arms full of freebies.