Talk:Grand Valley State University
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[edit] Liberal arts university
why take out "liberal arts univeristy"? have any of you read how the university describes itself? read:
"Grand Valley features a rich academic environment focusing on excellent faculty, outstanding students, hands-on research opportunities and nationally ranked graduate programs. Grand Valley offers over 200 areas of study, including 68 undergraduate majors and 25 graduate programs. A LIBERAL ARTS EMPHASIS teaches students critical thinking and problem resolution. Grand Valley's strong academic focus creates a challenging and rewarding educational experience."
From GV's own web site. Get a grip, this is suppose to be real not your opinion of things - this is suppose to be a reference source. This is the origin of gvs"c".
I'm removing the designation "liberal arts university;" can anyone think of a good reason to keep it? GVSU doesn't seem very much like a liberal arts university to me. In fact, I thought "university" and liberal arts ____ were mutually exclusive. Euphoria 21:38, 2 Dec 2004 (UTC)
I agree that "liberal arts university" doesn't make a lot of sense, because too many people go to GVSU without studying any of the usual "liberal arts" subjects for it to be categorised as such. I wouldn't quote the definition in liberal arts college though, as it jumbles together structure, post-grad degrees, size, ownership, etc. when the only thing that really distinguishes "liberal arts" colleges (as a class) from other kinds of post-secondary schools is the subject matter they teach: the liberal arts. But I'll take that up on that page, not here. Tverbeek 22:40, 2 Dec 2004 (UTC)
Actually, the university, at least internally, has billed itself as a "liberal arts university, and with the Theme system many students are indeed required to take classes that may not fit their majors, especially if their majors are in business or "hard science" fields.
I think the trend is just to put Michigan, and assume people either (a) know where Michigan is or (b) can click the link to find out. I would like to take the US bit out, but I'll ask for comments first to be polite. Comments? Euphoria 00:45, 8 Dec 2004 (UTC)
- Well, I'm not sure what trend you see. I always try to put "in the U.S. state of state". This was in reaction to people who come along and add a comma-stacked place-name, Michigan, USA. I very much prefer the U.S. state formulation. But the trend I see is for people (usually non-Americans) to stick USA into anything from the U.S. saying something or other about this having an international readership. Actually, I agree with you that if someone doesn't know where Michigan is, they can click the link and find out. But I've come across numerous folks who are insistent on doing whatever they can to de-emphasize the perception of americentric bias. older≠wiser 03:09, Dec 8, 2004 (UTC)
- The trend I see is that every college in Category:Universities and colleges in Michigan lacks the "US state" designation, except those edited by you. Euphoria 03:54, 8 Dec 2004 (UTC)
- It's been my experience (as a Michigander who's spent a fair amount of time abroad) that to most non-Americans the word "Michigan" means nothing (i.e. they not only don't know where it is, they don't know what it is). So it comes across a bit like using local terminology (e.g. "the upper west side") with the presumption that anyone would understand it. Suffixing it with the country, or identifying it as a division thereof, is definitely more reader-friendly, like writing "Michoacán, Mexico" or "the Deeside region of Scotland" for the sake of those who have no clue where Michoacán or Deeside is. Tverbeek 04:01, 8 Dec 2004 (UTC)
- A third party, excellent. Alright, then I suppose I'm in favor of keeping the US designation then (or at least not opposed) Euphoria 04:13, 8 Dec 2004 (UTC)
why remove the liberal arts designation? it is, after all, a LIBERAL ARTS college (at least it was founded as one). The more notable professional schools have only recently grown into what they are today.
I think that the liberal arts designation is to remain. That is one of the distinctives about GVSU, it is both a "university" and a "liberal arts" institution. What is more the university claims the label of liberal arts itself and it is such in its curriculum structure. Mattvm (talk) 23:29, 17 December 2007 (UTC)
- I agree. While not a liberal arts college in the purest sense (and what institution is?), GVSU places a considerable emphasis on the liberal arts, and fits the definition and characteristics of a liberal arts institution reasonably well. If there's a better, more accurate description than "liberal arts university" that someone has in mind, then I'd probably support changing it, but until then, it should stay as it is. Lightforce (talk) 04:12, 8 March 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Pictures
This article needs some pictures because (a) it doesn't have any, and (b) the entire right side is blank. I'll see what I can do about finding some usable ones (or taking them myself), but I wouldn't mind help :) Euphoria 19:35, 9 August 2005 (UTC)
- I'll help out with the pictures. I was going to start taking pictures when I returned to campus in a couple of days but it might be a better idea to post pictures taken in the spring. Either way they can be changed whenever.Kuba425 02:04, 5 January 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Disambiguation
Hi - I'm cleaning up links to the Development (disambiguation) page and notice that there's a link to that page in this article under the Community Outreach section. I'm unclear as to which of the other pages on Development would best fit here; could someone edit the link so it points to the most appropriate page? Thanks. Chidom 03:21, 25 July 2006 (UTC) Since I didn't get a response, I'll just delete the link. Thanks.—Chidom talk 06:30, 8 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Dealing with vandalism?
It seems that there is a repeat offender vandalizing this page (from an on-campus IP address, no less). Would a request for protection or semi-protection be warranted? Lightforce 09:48, 8 December 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Louie the Laker
I happened on the Louie the Laker page, which was heavily vandalized. I reverted it back to the most correct revision, but I also think that a merge is in order - there is just not enough information for its own page, and what information is there could easily be put here. - CosmicPenguin (Talk) 15:37, 22 February 2007 (UTC)
It wasn't vandelized. That's what it originally was when I created it. Check the history. Plus it's true
- Uh-huh. I suppose you have sources for all that nonsense? - CosmicPenguin (Talk) 04:25, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Carillons
I'm not sure this is relevant so I've moved it to talk:
===Carillon===
Grand Valley has two carillons.
- Beckering Family Carillon (2000): Located in the Pew Campus, adjacent to the Steelcase Library.
- Cook Carillon (1994): Located on the Main Allendale Campus, near Kirkhof Center and Cook-DeWitt Center. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by RJFJR (talk • contribs) 16:27, 16 May 2007 (UTC).
[edit] notable alumni
Proposal: if they aren't notable enough for a wikipedia article then they aren't notable. Propose we delete all entries that don't have a blue link. RJFJR 16:37, 16 May 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Criminal Justice
GVSU has the most outstanding Criminal Justice program with some of the best professors in the industry. Notable professors such as William Crawley and Kathleen Bailey provide an excellent learning environment and are great mentors.
This sounds perhaps a bit too much like a advertisement, and not so much like a encyclopedia. Why should the CJ program get special recognition? I'm sure it's a great program, but unless we want to have a special section on every program, I don't think this section is necessary.--Tjonp 21:18, 12 July 2007 (UTC)
GVSU is not known for their criminal justice program. Grand Valley is currently in cooperation with Ferris State University to improve their program and model it after the nationally recognized program that Ferris is known for. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.36.53.36 (talk • contribs) 03:28, February 27, 2008
[edit] Section on Growth of the school
I would like to add a sction which would provide a timeline on how the University has grown over the years. I am planning on including when buildings were built or added on to, the size of the campus population over the years, and the average incomming gpa over the years. I just dont feel that the current article has much on the history of the Universite and I think that adding that information would be a good start. I am going to be over at the school in 2 weeks, and I will obtain the information from the school's administration. As I obtain the information I will post it here for comments on formating and layout. --Cooleymd 01:14, 18 July 2007 (UTC)
[edit] History of the school
It was originally named Grand Valley State Colleges (plural). This reflected that it consisted of four distinct colleges (CAS, WJC, TJC, and College 4). College 4 was so-named because, although Mr. Seidman had agreed to bequeath money to the school upon his death, he hadn't actually died when the school opened, and there was always the risk that he would change his will. After his death, the money appeared, and the name was changed to the Seidman School of Business.
Eventually (I'm not clear on the year), the plural name was dropped in favor of the singular Grand Valley State College. Still later, the school became a University.
Although the school was originally founded as an alternative (quite hippyish) Liberal Arts school, the current institution has completely shed this philosophy and is quite conservative in its orientation. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.219.215.86 (talk) 08:30, 21 December 2007 (UTC)
- If I have the time, I'll try and stop by the University Archives and see if I can verify the plural in the name and the date it was dropped. As for your comment on GVSU's "liberal arts" image, I think you misunderstand the term. "Liberal arts" concerns curriculum, not politics. Lightforce (talk) 04:03, 8 March 2008 (UTC)
Although the above is just my opinion, it comes from firsthand experience there from way back in the early days of Willie J -- I was present at classes and faculty meetings there starting around age 3. I later became the youngest graduate of GVSC (singular) at age 18. There has been quite a shift in the place from back in the heydays: back then it was students dropping acid with the faculty in plywood geodesic domes out in the back parking lots past Lake Michigan hall, crossing the grand river in a giant plastic bubble, building huge "tinkertoy" structures in Woodland Mall out of 4" PVC piping, and painting the giant nipple on the fieldhouse pink. Nowadays it is bible study under the carrilons, and the fieldhouse has had a mastectomy. Calling it a Liberal Arts school only shows a lack of understanding of what the term really means, regardless of what the school's propoganda calls itself. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.231.31.162 (talk) 04:05, 29 December 2007 (UTC)
