Pierre
Student Federation works with SDBOR institutions, legislature
The Student Federation is a group of students from the South Dakota Board of Regents institutions who oversee numerous issues affecting students. Issues discussed at Student Federation meetings range from legislation like Senate Bill 103 to campus issues such as the concealed carry debate. The group represents higher education in South Dakota, and they vote […]
Senate Bill 103 proposal could prohibit undocumented students from attending state universities
In reaction to the introduction of a sanctuary campus resolution in Student Government Association by former SGA senator Josh Arens last year, a state Senate bill has been proposed. Senate Bill 103, which could potentially prohibit undocumented students from attending South Dakota Board of Regents schools and receiving in-state tuition and financial aid was introduced by Sen. Stace […]
USD student announces candidacy for state House of Representatives
Brett Ries, a sophomore political science and criminal justice double major, announced his candidacy for a seat in the South Dakota House of Representatives for District 5 on Saturday morning. A press release from the Ries campaign said he’s running to put South Dakotans first. “I am excited to begin my campaign for the South […]
Need-based financial aid program in the works for South Dakota
South Dakota is one of the only states that doesn’t offer a need-based financial aid program. The South Dakota Board of Regents has been working on a program, Dakota’s Promise, to change that. Dakota’s Promise is a five phase, state-funded aid program that could support 6,000 students once fully implemented. SDBOR has sent a recommendation […]
Looking back: Daugaard grateful for time as governor
Alumnus Dennis Daugaard is in his final term as governor of South Dakota. Daugaard grew up on a farm between Garretson and Dell Rapids, SD. Daugaard said he went to a small, one-room country school for elementary school before going to high school in Dell Rapids. He decided to come to USD after some persuasion […]
Marijuana policy advocates gather signatures for 2018 ballot initiatives
Legal marijuana use may be a possibility for South Dakotans in the near future if two ballot initiatives aiming at both recreational and medical access are passed. Melissa Mentele, vice chair of the Hansen County Democrats and a leader for New Approach South Dakota, is working towards compassionate cannabis education, she said. “We focus on compassionate ballot initiatives and […]
New law aims to make it easier to prosecute sex traffickers
It’s about to be easier for prosecutors to take on sex-trafficking cases in South Dakota. House Bill 1118, signed by Gov. Dennis Daugaard on March 10, will eliminate “the need to prove the use of force, fraud or coercion in the human trafficking of minors” when prosecuting cases. Before the bill was passed, victims of trafficking […]
No more S.D. travel for San Francisco city employees
In response to the passage of SB 149 in Pierre, a law that extends legal protection to religious adoption agencies, the city of San Francisco has decided it will no longer do business in the state of South Dakota. South Dakota’s passage of this law brought it into the crosshairs of a 2016 San Francisco […]
House Bill 1072 would move S.D. to ‘Constitutional carry’
A bill that would eliminate the concealed carry permit process for South Dakota residents is scheduled for a hearing in the state Senate Wednesday. House Bill 1072 passed the state House of Representatives last Thursday by a vote of 37 to 30. In South Dakota, no state permits are required to possess a gun. According […]
USD professors denounce recent science bill
A bill that allows school teachers to teach the “strengths and weaknesses” of scientific theories in classrooms, titled “An Act to protect the teaching of certain scientific information,” passed in the South Dakota Senate last month. The bill, which hasn’t yet been enacted into law, has sparked controversy as a possible defense of teaching creationism in public schools. […]