SVSU TODAY

Week of October 2, 2023

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Battle of the Valley, the annual fundraising competition to benefit a local nonprofit, was a great success! At last Saturday's SVSU-Grand Valley football game, the SVSU Student Association presented a check for $23,292.59 to Camp Fish Tales, a year-round camp, conference and retreat center for people of all ages and abilities.

Saginaw Valley State University has once again claimed the top spot in Niche's Best Dorms rankings.  

For the fifth straight year, SVSU residence halls have been named No. 1 among the nation’s four-year public universities on the Niche list of best dorms in America for 2024. The university’s dorms are ranked No. 3 in the nation among all colleges and universities, public and private.

In addition, SVSU was named the No. 1 college campus in Michigan for the fourth straight year.

Student satisfaction is the most significant factor in Niche’s Best College Dorms ranking. The following factors are considered for ratings: student surveys about campus housing (70%), average housing cost (10%), housing capacity (10%) and housing crime rate (10%). 

A respected cultural and media historian will step into a symbol of Saginaw’s past as she explores the relationship between writing and the future of culture in a talk at the childhood home of acclaimed Saginaw poet Theodore Roethke.

Devon Powers, a professor of communication and media at the University of Michigan, will present “Future Tense: On Writing the Future of Culture” on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Roethke House, 1805 Gratiot Ave., Saginaw. The talk is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Because of space limitations at the Roethke House, the lecture will also be accessible via Zoom.

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. On Thursday, Oct. 12, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will offer a cybersecurity presentation and answer questions on how to protect your personal information. The presentation will be held from 10-11 a.m. in Ott Auditorium.

SVSU will host a Fall Open House on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m..  

The open house gives prospective students and their families an opportunity to tour our beautiful campus and top-ranked dorms. Students can also meet with faculty, tour classrooms and learn about our comprehensive resources designed to support student academic and personal success.

SVSU’s department of theatre will tell a tragic tale with joy and wit with its production of “Burning Bluebeard” Oct. 24-29.

Inspired by the true story of Chicago’s 1903 Iroquois Theatre Fire, “Burning Bluebeard” is the story of six singed clown performers who, seeking a happy ending, attempt to recreate their Christmas stage spectacle, which was cut short by tragedy. Each performance is a vaudevillian romp that excavates the poignant remains of a piece of Chicago’s rich history. “Burning Bluebeard” is produced by special arrangement with the playwright Jay Torrence.

SVSU has selected John Lewandowski to join the university as its next Director of Athletics, following a national search. Past colleagues spoke to his leadership and his ability to build relationships.

Tom Izzo, men’s basketball head coach at Michigan State University: “John Lewandowski brings 40 years of experience in college athletics to Saginaw Valley State. For 20 years, I worked closely with John as he oversaw all communication efforts for Michigan State athletics, contributing to the Spartan brand during some of the highest peaks in department history, including a Rose Bowl Championship and College Football Playoff appearance in football and a national championship and multiple Final Fours for men’s basketball. In a profession where relationships are key to success, John has a proven track record of developing connections with student-athletes, coaches, and donors."

Rachel Pollock, women’s golf head coach at the University of Louisiana-Monroe: "John is highly regarded in the field. Not only does he bring a wealth of experience, he approaches the student-athlete experience with passion and dedication. The way that he has gone above and beyond to showcase our program, players, and championship run has been noteworthy. Although ULM women’s golf is sad to see him go, we are excited to support John on this new journey."

Kirk Cousins, quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL: "I worked with John for five years while an undergraduate student-athlete at Michigan State. While at MSU, I observed John working diligently to build a personal connection with every student-athlete on the football team, from the starting quarterback to the last walk-on on the roster. He even worked to establish relationships with players’ families. These are challenging times in intercollegiate athletics. John is a skilled listener and will provide steady leadership. He will always make the best decision with both the student-athletes and the institution in mind."

The SVSU men's basketball season begins in November. Get a preview of the team at the annual Red vs. White Scrimmage in O'Neill Arena Saturday, Oct. 21 at 10 a.m. Admission is free of charge. View full 2023-24 season schedule.

Sarah Fredrick had a successful week for the Saginaw Valley State University women's soccer team with five points over their two wins. First, an assist of the game-winning-goal in a 1-0 win against Parkside on Friday and then she scored both of the goals against Purdue Northwest when the team won 2-0. Fredrick now has three goals on the season tying Madi Bajis and Stephanie Strong for the team lead. The Cardinals are on a three-game win streak and head to Ferris State on Friday.

Former Michigan State associate AD John Lewandowski takes over as SVSU AD

Q&A: New SVSU President George Grant Jr. talks the future of higher education

Roethke house in Saginaw site of Thursday talk about writing’s impact on culture

Before Saginaw was Saginaw: Powwow, ceremony to honor land’s Anishinaabe heritage

If you have suggestions, comments, or something to share with us, please e-mail us at svsutoday@svsu.edu

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