Our students have begun their annual charitable fundraising competition against their counterparts from Grand Valley State University. This year marks the 10th edition of “Battle of the Valleys.” Over the past nine years, SVSU has raised $223,089 for regional charities. This year’s selected beneficiary is the Great Lakes Bay Miracle League,  a non-profit organization is devoted to improving life for disabled children and their families by offering opportunities to take part in recreational programs, especially baseball. Games are played on a barrier-free diamond in Bridgeport.

Led by Student Association, our students have a number of events and activities to raise money this week, including many aimed at faculty and staff. A full schedule is available online at http://svsu.edu/battleofthevalleys/.I encourage you to support our students in this effort.

Congratulations to our men’s soccer team and women’s cross country team, as each of them qualified for NCAA national competition. Our women’s soccer team holds hope of continuing their season, as well.

• The men’s soccer team defeated Notre Dame College (Ohio) 1-0 at SVSU yesterday to win the GLIAC championship and an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.
• Women’s cross country took 2nd place at the NCAA Division II Midwest Regionals in Wisconsin Saturday and qualified for the NCAA National Championships for the second straight year; they will race again in Joplin, Mo. Saturday, Nov. 17.
• Our women’s soccer team advanced to the GLIAC championship game and is in the running for an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament field. Selections are announced tonight.

Given the seemingly endless political advertisements, I’m sure it has not escaped your attention that tomorrow is Election Day. In addition to the partisan races, there are six statewide ballot proposals of significant consequence. Please take the time to inform yourself on the candidates and questions, and please exercise your right to vote.

Our theatre department’s production of “Buried Child” opens Wednesday and runs through the weekend. Written by Sam Shepard, the play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1979. A thought-provoking play for our time, it is a macabre look at an American Midwestern family with a dark, terrible secret, set during a rural economic slowdown that coincides with the breakdown of traditional family structures and values.