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Gilbertson talks about retention, financial aid changes in welcome back address

By: Blake Allen, Vanguard Staff Writer

President Eric Gilbertson addressed faculty, staff and students at his annual Welcome Back remarks.

He spoke about the largest class in years, with an increase from 10,058 to over 10,600 students. The University has seen a 1.3 percent increase in enrollment since last fall.

“SVSU once again enters the academic year with strong enrollments,” Gilbertson said. “We expect more that 2,700 to live on-campus, which includes the some 73 percent of our entering freshmen class.”

He said that the main focus now is not getting students into the door, but in keeping them.

“The academic success of our students must never be achieved by lowering our expectations for them,” he said. “It must come … Read More…

August 29, 2011 | Permalink

New faculty, staff come to SVSU with wealth of experience

By: Blake Allen, Vanguard Staff Writer

This fall, students can expect to see 38 new professors and new staff all around campus.

They were introduced at President Eric Gilbertson’s welcome back address on Aug. 25.

There are 15 new faculty in the college of Arts & Behavioral Sciences, four in the College of Business & Management, three in the College of Education, nine in the Health and Human Services, six in the Engineering & Technology Departments.

Some of the new faculty and staff include:

· Craig Aimar, Assistant Vice President Director of Retention who worked as Associate Director of Admissions.

Aimar received his Bachelor’s degree in secondary education, Master’s degree in educational leadership and Specialist Degree of athletic directorship from … Read More…

August 29, 2011 | Permalink

Large freshman class brings energy

By: Justin Brouckaert, Vanguard Sports Editor

After following up a trip to the NCAA playoffs in 2009 with a disappointing early exit in the GLIAC quarterfinals last year, Coach Drago Dumbovic’s Cardinals found out how much things can change in a year.

The team is hoping that 2011 will also be a year of change – back in the right direction.

“The biggest difference [between 2009 and 2010] was the leadership and energy level on the team,” said junior defender Megan Morad, who was a freshman during the 2009 season, when the Cardinals posted a 14-3-3 record. “We were so excited because the upperclassmen had these hopes for us: We were making it to the NCAA playoffs.

“That was what … Read More…

August 29, 2011 | Permalink

Young players to play important role

By: Justin Brouckaert, Vanguard Sports Editor

This summer, four Cardinals led the Canton Celtics men’s team to the USASA U20 National Championship.

With the 2011 season kicking off in just a few days, head coach Cale Wassermann is hoping that those same players will be able to help lead the team to a GLIAC championship this fall.

Young players such as sophomores Zach Walega, Lachlan Savage, Morley Burns and junior Mitchell Reinhart, members of the national title-winning team, may prove valuable assets in 2011 as the Cardinals attempt to rebound from the loss of four seniors, including two all-GLIAC selections in 2010.

“We’ve had about three to four freshmen starting in both our preseason games and a couple of transfers … Read More…

August 29, 2011 | Permalink

New stadium, new atmosphere in 2011

By: Justin Brouckaert, Vanguard Sports Editor

With renovations at Wickes Stadium now complete, SVSU now has new turf, new lights, a new scoreboard and the attention of the national media.


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Now the only thing left to do is play football.

After reaching the playoffs in 2009, the Cardinals followed up with a disappointing 4-7 record in last year’s campaign. The expectations for 2011 are much higher.

“I really like the mentality of this team,” said fourth-year head coach Jim Collins. “I think we’ve got chemistry right now and it’s competitive, which is what you want to see, especially in this part of the year.”

After finishing at the bottom of the GLIAC North in 2010, SVSU was picked to finish … Read More…

August 29, 2011 | Permalink

Renovations offer fresh start for fitness

By: Lisa Coffell, Vanguard Staff Writer

If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.


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The renovations made to the Ryder Center since January may have SVSU students and the community rethinking this well-known cliché.

The changes made over the past eight months have added a new wing to the building and additional equipment for students. The additions include three multi-purpose courts, a second-floor fitness room, an additional weight room, a suspended track and a student lobby.

In the past, Trevor Hoskins, a finance junior, had a difficulty time finding open court time for basketball.

“Before we had to work around conflicting schedules with the volleyball team and class schedules,” he said. “But now there should be more availability.”

Director of Campus … Read More…

August 29, 2011 | Permalink

Excitement stirs for theatre season

By: Blake Allen, Vanguard Staff Writer

The theatre department is buzzing with excitement with three shows and opportunities for the student body.

Ashley Schaar, a theater and computer information systems freshmen, said, “How excited am I about this new year? On a scale of 1-10, I think eight billion.”

The first show is directed by Richard B. Roberts, associate professor of theatre, and written by Suzan Zeder. It is the bi-annual children production “Wiley and the Hairy Man,” which was originally an African-American folktale in nature brought to America by the French Creole.

This show takes place in Louisiana in the deep swamps of the Tombigee featuring the protagonist Wiley who is a fatherless young boy, his imagined mother, his … Read More…

August 29, 2011 | Permalink

Hot rods and art come together in first Car Art Show

By: Brandy Abraham, Vanguard Campus Editor

Saturday, hot rods and art came together.


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The Magic Bean Cafe in Saginaw Township hosted a hot rod and art show for the first time. It brought in dozens of car enthusiasts, artists, and Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) supporters and raised money to help kids go to summer camp through MDA.

Five artists entered in the contest. They had to produce a piece of art about hot rods or the car industry in a time limit of three hours.

The artists worked under the tent while the car show surrounded them in the parking lot for inspiration.

Dennis Martin Jr. of Davison was inspired by a Cheasis owned by Jeffrey Drake, a participant in … Read More…

August 29, 2011 | Permalink

Quidditch for muggles

By: Tyler Brady, Vanguard Staff Writer

Quidditch used to be off-limits to non-wizards, but thanks to some muggles, this high-flying sport has the potential to be an RSO.

This game involving broomsticks, snitches and bludgers has been brought to reality in student organizations across college campuses.

However, Kim Brandimore, director of Student Life, said there is no registered organization at SVSU that was started from the Harry Potter series.

Brandimore said that she’s heard of other campuses across the nation that have a Quidditch organization, including Harvard University.

Founded last year, the Intercollegiate Quidditch Association (IQA) has chapters at ten Michigan universities that includes Grand Valley State University, the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University.

If an RSO like … Read More…

August 29, 2011 | Permalink

“Born This Way” to March

By: Kirsten McIlvenna, Vanguard Staff Writer

The football players aren’t the only ones who will benefit from the new stadium. Marching band members will also get to stretch their legs on the new synthetic field.

“It looks good and is good to march on too,” said William Wollner, associate professor of music and band director.

He said that the new field will make it much easier for the band to navigate. The lines on the field won’t fade or disappear or be affected by weather.

He said it will be nice because “there isn’t a sousaphone marching out there hoping not to step in a pothole.”

The band got a chance to march on the new field for the first … Read More…

August 29, 2011 | Permalink