Latest news with #GrandValleyStateUniversity
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Ancient donkey sacrifice ritual unearthed in Israel sheds light on Egyptian trade links
The donkeys, found buried under a Bronze Age house in ancient Gath, near Tell es-Safi, were determined to have originated from ancient Egypt. A team of archaeologists has made a groundbreaking discovery in Israel, uncovering the remains of four donkeys that were ritually sacrificed over 4,500 years ago. The donkeys, found buried under a Bronze Age house in ancient Gath, near Tell es-Safi, around 20 km. northwest of Hebron, were determined to have originated from ancient Egypt. According to a new study published in the journal PLOS One, the donkeys were likely used for agricultural labor and trade, and their sacrifice may have been a display of wealth and social status. The researchers found that the donkeys were all female, in their prime age, and had been buried with their legs tied together. The discovery of the donkeys' remains has shed new light on the ritual practices of the ancient Canaanites, who inhabited the region during the Early Bronze Age III (circa 2900 to 2550 BCE). The researchers believe that the donkeys' Egyptian origin may indicate that their owners were merchants and traders who had connections with Egypt. Donkey remains have been consistently found at ancient Gath. After finding a decapitated donkey in 2010, with its head having been 'fully cut off and carefully placed on the abdomen facing in the opposite direction' according to the study, researchers continued searching for other donkeys in the area. Using chemical analysis and testing isotopes and the donkey's tooth enamel, researchers determined the donkey was originally from the Nile Valley. These results were also published in PLOS One in 2016. Researchers added that the choice to sacrifice a donkey, rather than any other animal, at the time was likely a sign of power and wealth, based on the demand for the animal in such a critical transportation role. Donkeys and similar animals were used in the ancient world primarily for hard agricultural labor. This included, but was not limited to, plowing and pulling heavy loads, as well as transportation of goods. These donkeys were also female, which was particularly valuable, and were believed to be replaceable by the sacrificing parties, according to the recently published study. All of their skulls pointed eastward, and their front and back legs had been tied together. Finding the four sacrificial animals depicts the mules' vital roles in both ritual practices and the economy. 'This finding highlights the importance of donkeys in the ancient world, not only for economic and trade purposes but also for ritual practices,' Elizabeth Arnold, an anthropologist and environmental archaeologist at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, told LiveScience. The researchers used isotopic analysis to help determine the origin of the donkeys, and the results revealed that they had lived in the Nile Valley. This discovery suggests that the donkeys were brought to ancient Gath from Egypt, likely as part of a trade or economic exchange. The study's findings provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of ancient animals and their role in human society. As the researchers continue to study the remains of the donkeys, they hope to learn more about the complex relationships between humans and animals in the ancient world.
New York Post
05-07-2025
- Health
- New York Post
I'm a neuroscientist — the ‘genuinely terrible' research that scares me the most about caffeine
Do you take your coffee with cream, sugar — or a side of brain damage? 'Caffeine in the neuroscience literature is genuinely terrible when combined with other drugs,' warned Dr. Natashia Swalve, a behavioral neuroscience professor at Grand Valley State University, in a recent TikTok. One drug in particular has her especially alarmed, with early research suggesting it may pose hazardous risks when mixed with even small amounts of the stimulant. Advertisement 5 Coffee is the most common source of caffeine for US adults. Izabela Magier – Roughly 90% of US adults consume some form of caffeine daily. The natural stimulant revs up the central nervous system, boosting alertness, focus and energy levels. The FDA considers up to 400 milligrams a day — about four or five 8-ounce cups of coffee — safe for healthy adults. Advertisement But that safety threshold flies out the window when caffeine starts interacting with other drugs in your system. 'Caffeine actually increases the toxicity of blow, and it potentially increases the toxicity of ADHD meds,' Swalve said. 'When combined with molly, it is particularly dangerous.' 5 Molly acts as both a stimulant and hallucinogen. blackday – Advertisement Molly — also known as MDMA or ecstasy — is a synthetic psychoactive drug that floods the brain with serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, triggering euphoria, sharpened senses, increased sociability and a rush of energy. In recent years, MDMA has gained attention as a potential therapeutic tool, but it's still widely used recreationally at music festivals, nightclubs, raves and house parties. National surveys estimate that 7.5% of Americans over the age of 12 have tried molly at least once. But the feel-good high comes at a cost. The drug can bring on a host of adverse effects, including rapid heartbeat, muscle cramping and nausea. Advertisement It also disrupts the body's ability to regulate temperature — essentially cranking up its internal thermostat — which can lead to a dangerous and sometimes fatal condition known as hyperthermia. 5 Consuming molly raises your core body temperature — and caffeine can intensify the effect. dragonstock – 'In animal and cell studies, caffeine makes the hyperthermic effect of molly … far worse,' Swalve said. While caffeine alone doesn't typically affect body temperature, research in rats shows that combining it with MDMA significantly increases both the peak temperature and the duration of the hyperthermic response — making users much more vulnerable to overheating. 'Caffeine also can increase the other problematic effects of molly,' Swalve said. 'It can actually make the drug more neurotoxic, killing off those serotonin neurons in your brain.' Serotonin plays a wide range of important roles in the body, supporting mood, sleep, digestion, appetite and even blood clotting and wound healing. Animal studies show MDMA has the potential to inflict long-term damage on serotonin neurons, which may lead to memory issues, cognitive decline and mood disorders. Advertisement 5 Caffeine amplifies the effects of molly, potentially leading to dangerously high serotonin levels. Anusorn – 'Caffeine combined with molly might be even worse for those neurons, but the problem is that none of these studies have actually been translated into humans,' Swalve said. And it doesn't take much to trigger the reaction. Swalve notes that the interaction between caffeine and molly can occur at very low doses — like the amount in a chocolate bar or a third of a can of Coke. Advertisement 'We think these things might interact in very dangerous ways, but we can't actually really tell,' she said. 'Right now we have no research in humans, and that is what actually scares me.' Other potential risks of combining molly and caffeine include an increased risk of cardiovascular issues, depression, anxiety and serotonin syndrome — a life-threatening condition marked by confusion, high fever and a rapid heart rate. In one study, mixing caffeine with molly increased the party drug's lethality from 22% to 34% in rats. Advertisement 'This is a huge problem,' Swalve said. 'Barely anyone is thinking about the Red Bull they're having while driving to that festival and how that might interact with the drugs they're taking later.' 5 Molly is one of the most well-known and frequently used club drugs. Yuri Arcurs/ – Although several studies have looked at caffeine-MDMA interactions in animals and cells, researchers have run into roadblocks when attempting to test the combination in humans. Among them: molly is considered a Schedule I substance under federal law. These drugs are considered to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. Advertisement That has made it difficult for researchers to not only obtain molly, but also secure the funding and approvals necessary for such studies. Ethical concerns also come into play. The potential dangers of combining two powerful stimulants raise major red flags about participant safety in clinical trials — and make recruiting test subjects even harder. So, as scientists work to understand the short- and long-term consequences of mixing caffeine with other drugs, Americans will continue to sip, sniff, smoke and swallow a cocktail of prescription and recreational substances — often with little clue about the risks. 'I can't guarantee that any of those together are safe,' Swalve said. 'You probably are not even considering those interactions.'
USA Today
17-06-2025
- General
- USA Today
LGBTQ+ students seek social networks, safety in fraternities and sororities
LGBTQ+ students seek social networks, safety in fraternities and sororities When Dylan Mason was an incoming freshman at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan, his mom dropped him off at his dormitory with three earnest admonitions. 'She told me: Don't get a tattoo, don't get your ears pierced and don't join a fraternity,' chuckles Mason, 20, who recently finished his second year of college and his first year as a member of the fraternity Phi Kappa Tau. Mason, who identifies as gay, had never planned to join a fraternity. He changed his mind when he overhead members of another frat laughing at him. 'During winter recruitment, I was walking through the student center and heard a comment about me rushing. They thought it was funny. At the time, that really affected me,' Mason says. 'I wanted to prove them wrong. So, I made it my goal to join Greek life.' From that initial spite came genuine fellowship. 'My fraternity brothers are people who probably wouldn't have hung out with me in high school, but now they're some of my best friends,' says Mason, who is vice president of his fraternity. 'That's the beauty of diversity … even though I'm so different, I'm part of this community now — this brotherhood — and that's something I think a lot of gay people are lacking.' Greek inclusion growing Although fraternities and sororities have a history of homophobia, Greek life today is more diverse and inclusive than ever, observes Douglas N. Case, former coordinator of fraternity and sorority life at San Diego State University and an initiate of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. In studies of Greek life that he published in 1996 and 2007, Case observed a 'remarkable' shift in LGBTQ+ representation: In 1996, just 25% and 19% of LGBTQ+ men and women, respectively, said they were out to their Greek brothers and sisters. By 2007, 79% of LGBTQ+ participants in Greek life said they were out. 'Now it's 2025, and things have continued to evolve,' Case says Although she's careful to note her small sample size, Chana Etengoff found similar evidence of inclusion in a 2022 study of 50 LGBTQ+ students: 66% of LGBTQ+ participants in Greek life said their Greek experience was positive and 88% said Greek life contributed positively to their overall college experience, she reported. 'It was different than I would have expected,' says Etengoff, an associate professor of psychology at New York's Adelphi University. 'To me, the takeaway is that LGBTQ+ individuals are more complex than just their sexual or gender identities … just because you're LGBTQ+ doesn't mean you can't also be motivated to participate in Greek life.' 'A built-in community of lifelong friendships' A fraternity that perfectly embodies the benefits of Greek life for LGBTQ+ students is Delta Lambda Phi (DLP), which describes itself as a 'Greek organization started by gay men for all men.' Inclusive by design, founder Vernon L. Strickland III established it in 1987 to create an alternative social space for Queer men whose relationships were often predicated on sex. 'In the gay world, bars and hookup culture are very pervasive. And that's not a bad thing, but sometimes people want a little bit more,' says Brosnan Rhodes, who joined DLP in 2017 and currently serves as its trustee. 'Delta Lambda Phi offers a built-in community of lifelong friendships and bonds that you can plug into at any time in your life, anywhere you go.' And because DLP is Queer, the relationships its members create — for purposes of friendship, mentoring or professional networking — are inherently benign. 'In our community, it can be hard to get close to people because we don't always know who is safe,' Rhodes says. 'I love the fact that within our brotherhood, we can form bonds and connections without worrying whether a space is safe. Because we have a shared experience, I know that my brothers in every situation are going to treat me with the same kindness and respect that I'm going to give them.' Nearly 40 years after DLP's founding, other fraternities and sororities are carrying its torch of inclusion. At Indiana's DePauw University, for example, the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association recently drafted a joint statement of inclusion to which all fraternities and sororities have committed themselves, says Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students John Mark Day. The statement reads: 'The best version of Greek life is a community where everyone feels not just tolerated but welcomed to exist as their authentic self.' 'This is deeply personal for me,' Day says. 'As someone who is both gay and a member of a fraternity, I know that these spaces can be welcoming of students who are both figuring out and fully living their LGBTQ+ identities … I also know there's a business case for this. As students become more diverse and inclusive, the organizations that will thrive will be the ones that truly live their values of brotherhood and sisterhood.' DePauw's inclusion statement is a sign of progress across the Greek system. 'It used to be the case that maybe you had a gay-friendly chapter of a fraternity or sorority that folks would gravitate to. Now, inclusion is becoming more of a priority throughout the Greek community,' Day says. For pioneers like DLP, that progress is a 'double-edged sword,' according to Rhodes, who says DLP has only eight active chapters in 2025 along with three groups currently seeking chapter status as prospective brothers find acceptance in other, larger fraternities where they previously weren't welcome. 'When Delta Lambda Phi was formed, it was because gay men could not join traditional fraternities,' says Case, an honorary DLP member. 'That's not true anymore.' What about trans and nonbinary students? Clearly, organizations like DLP are no longer necessary for some LGBTQ+ students. For others, however, they're more relevant than ever. 'More organizations are accepting, but they may not be wholly accepting,' notes Rhodes, who says DLP membership among individuals who are gender-nonconforming, nonbinary and trans has 'dramatically increased' in recent years. 'There are many parts of our community that are still underrepresented in Greek life because they aren't the 'typical' gay person. But at DLP, we're still a safe space for those people. Given the high rates of suicide among transgender and nonbinary youth, safe spaces in the Greek system can be 'lifesaving,' according to Case. 'Homophobia, heterosexism and transphobia still exist, and they're even more prevalent in single-sex organizations. So, there's still work to be done,' he says. 'But we've come a long way, and I find that to be reassuring.' Progress is evident in individuals like D. Perez-Sornia, who was one of the first trans nonbinary members of the sorority Delta Phi Epsilon when they joined it in 2019 as a junior at Cal Poly Humboldt, in Arcata, California. 'Our core values as a sorority were justice, sisterhood and love. So being in a sorority exposed me to a group of women who were into the same things I was into and had the same values I had, and that gave me an opportunity for self-growth and identity formation that I really needed at that time,' explains Perez-Sornia, who says Greek life can be rewarding for people of all gender and sexual identities when they're fortunate enough to have inclusive brothers and sisters. 'You have to be smart and do your research to find out where you'll be accepted. But if I could join a sorority as a girl with a mustache, I think anybody can.'
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Symposium offers blueprints for success of Black men
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A national conference focused on the success of Black boys and men is taking place in Grand Rapids this week. The fourth annual Black Boys & Men National Symposium hosted by Grand Valley State University brought together educators, leaders and students to share strategies and build connections. 'We are grateful to have a record number of participants at the symposium,' B. Donta Truss, GVSU vice president for enrollment development and educational outreach, said. 'Through the past four years, we have worked to foster conversations, such as those that begin at this symposium, to bring community leaders together to identify solutions for success of all and bring those to their communities.' Hundreds of people gathered at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel downtown to discuss the tools young Black men need to succeed. Among the many people absorbing the wisdom in various breakout rooms was Leroy Harvey, a 10th grader at Battle Creek Central. 'We are going to different sessions learning about what it means to be a Black male and how to help Black males around schools,' he said. 'The more I know, the more I can help my friends around in school and I can help people learn about how it is as a Black man in school.' Harvey has set big goals for his future. He said hearing from inspirational speakers has given him a clear vision of what is possible. 'I see a lot of Black men that have high positions and have a lot of power, so it's cool to see Black males where I want to be,' he said. 'Knowing they've had the same or similar background to me, coming from a small town and seeing where they are now, it's cool to see where I could go and how I could get there.' The goal of the symposium is to create long-term change by tackling the real-life challenges Black boys and men face every day. One attendee, a school counselor Brandon Weddle, works with students returning from long-term suspensions and said the conversations at the event hit close to home. He said the keynote speaker on Wednesday, Detroit native Judge Greg Mathis, gave him new tools to break generational cycles. 'Just seeing his story definitely impacted me to know that I'm on the right path and we can give other people what the blueprint should look like,' he said. Judge Mathis gives keynote address at symposium While ensuring a good academic standing was a big focus, one educator said the biggest focus is what happens outside the classroom. Marques Johnson, a paraprofessional at Lincoln Consolidated in Ypsilanti, said student success starts with understanding what's going on at home. 'Just focus on that so we can then conquer the educational part,' he said. 'Meeting the kids where they are right now and then bumping them up slowly but surely as we navigate through their lifestyle and then coming back to the educational part.' He said he hears directly from students about the stereotypes Black men and boys face. The conference is helping to dismantle them. 'Getting to know the Black young men and not just having a stereotype is important,' said Johnson. The symposium continues to grow year after year and for many who attend, it's a step toward building something better. 'There's just a lot of good things going on, a lot of powerful people sharing and informing people on how they can connect and network,' Harvey said. 'They need to do this more frequently.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
GVSU holds fourth annual Black Boys & Men National Symposium
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Grand Valley State University is holding its fourth annual Black Boys and Men National Symposium Wednesday through Friday. Wednesday's event was held at the JW Marriott Hotel in Grand Rapids. Thursday's and Friday's events will be at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. Judge Greg Mathis gave a keynote address on Wednesday and spoke with the media beforehand. He addressed his experiences and how they played a pivotal role in shaping the message that he wanted to share with the audience. 'This is an issue that is dear to me,' Mathis said. 'Having been a street youth, in and out of juvenile and tried for carrying a gun as an adult at age 17, I know the life that many of our young people are subjected to living in poverty. And having their education fail them. And so, I think I am uniquely qualified to talk about this.' GVSU to hold third Black Boys and Men Symposium Mathis, a Detroit native, said a piece of his message was focused on keeping children on the best path possible, regardless of the challenges they may face in the household. 'We can't let the child fall through the cracks,' he said. 'That's one of the things I've always advocated for and that is we must save the child even if we can't save the household. And that's part of what we're going to be discussing. Solutions to keep a child from falling through the cracks. And particularly as it relates to black boys and black men who have an additional burden based on the stereotypes that have been perpetuated that we are typically angry criminals.' Mathis noted his professional challenges, such as running for judge, going to law school and becoming a lawyer as opportunities he used to his benefit, rather than being deterred. 'My obstacles, each one of them I flipped,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
