Opinion
Society paints beauty in an unrealistic light
The emphasis on beauty and fashion for women has reached outrageous proportions over the past few years and has gotten a bit out of hand. Companies have been called out on editing photos of women and molding them into something they think is more aesthetically pleasing to produce a better profit, erasing the physical imperfections of the […]
Same-sex marriage ban denies humans their basic rights
On Jan. 12, U.S. District Judge Karen Schreider declared the same-sex marriage ban in South Dakota to be unconstitutional after six couples filed a lawsuit in May 2014 in Sioux Falls. The lawsuit challenges a 1996 state law and a voter-approved 2006 constitutional amendment that banned gay marriage. “The plaintiffs have a fundamental right to […]
Protecting schools, offices before a gunman ever gets to the door
It was barely a week ago that shots were fired at a car near the Empire Mall in Sioux Falls. Its driver, an 18-year-old local, later died at the hospital after being shot in the head. While this incident may not be considered a mass shooting, the attack itself was one that initiated a level […]
“50 Shades of Grey” promotes sexual violence in relationships
The book “50 Shades of Grey” has brought many people to believe their ideal relationship must include a handsome CEO whose sexual preferences include Bondage, Submission, Sadism and Masochism (BDSM), and this is dangerous because the book does not exemplify what a healthy, consensual relationship should look like. To sum up, the book not only […]
Head-to-head: deciding to get the flu shot
Get the flu shot Column by Michael Geheren Protecting yourself from Influenza with a vaccine is one of the most important things you can do for preventative health. Many Americans seem to have a false sense of complacency with the flu. Since 1970, flu deaths per season have ranged from 3,000 to 49,000 in the U.S., according to the […]
Consider all options when selecting a job
Looking for a job post-graduation is scary. It’s like choosing which weapon to carry with you in the case of a zombie apocalypse. Pardon the overused zombie-phenomena metaphors, but it really is. In terms of zombie-slaying weaponry — the job you choose can either be a gun or a sword. On one hand, a job […]
Tracing family roots exciting, important
Once, when I was a child, I was flipping through my school yearbooks and noticed people with my last name whom I had never met before. When I asked my mother about it, she described a split in the family that had happened sometime about a century ago. It was a bit like the Montagues […]
Editor’s column: Volante launches web show
For more than 125 years, The Volante has been bringing you news about the University of South Dakota that students need to know. It’s come a long way since then, and sometimes it’s hard for us as a staff to believe that there was a time when the publication was produced without the use of […]
USD should offer more minority-based scholarships
Minority-based scholarships have been offered for many years, and it seems the debate as to if they are fair or not still arises today. Furthermore, universities should offer more scholarships that directly assist minority students because they, too, deserve a chance to attend their school of choice and succeed like any other student. Minorities are not only defined […]
Students should exercise right to free speech, but do so responsibly
As Americans, we have our First Amendment right to free speech. As it says in the Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition […]