SGA receives grant for smoking ban, philanthropy

The University of South Dakota’s Student Government Association has drafted a letter regarding a Good Samaritan law that would protect underage drinkers in emergency situations.

The letter will be sent to the South Dakotan legislature in November.

“The letter basically outlined how we would like the law to be changed,” SGA President Alissa VanMeeteren said.

The letter then asks legislators to rank on a scale of one to 10 on how interested they are with the proposed change in the law.

“If they express disinterest, then that is a sign for us to call them,” VanMeeteren said. “When we know why (they are disinterested) we will move forward.”

SGA has also received a $5,000 grant regarding the recently approved smoking ban on campus, along with a philanthropy project, USD United Gives Back.

The project, which is still in the planning phase, will have the university working together with Vermillion’s United Way. It would be in the form of a competition, with students and faculty striving to complete more hours of volunteer work. A $7.25 donation will be counted as a volunteer hour. The hours will be tracked online, with a winner announced in April.

“This is meant to bring attention to the number of volunteer hours students are bringing in,” VanMeeteren said. “Students volunteer a ton and they don’t always get recognition for all those hours.”