February 2014
Local entrepreneurs develop video games
Students and faculty at the University of South Dakota aren’t just playing video games anymore — they are developing their own. Collin Hover, an assistant professor who teaches graphic design courses at USD, has been developing a video game to teach elementary students biology. Hover received a $20,000 interdisciplinary grant to work on the project, which […]
Country act to take stage in Slagle
Scarletta, an up-and-coming country music band out of Nashville, will be taking the stage at Aalfs Auditorium 8 p.m. Feb 5. The band is composed of fiddle player Nathan Stoops, guitarist Benji Harris and lead singer Emilee Allan. They have been together for about two years and have been working on an album in Nashville […]
FASHION BLOG: Color not bound to season
Almost everyone’s heard not to wear white after Labor Day, but do we really have to abide by it? Are colors really bound by seasons? Let’s face it: Even though the saying has been around for ages, we don’t follow it. Sure, when spring and summer come around, we’re more likely to be drawn to […]
Nontraditional student returns to school after 30 years
At 55, Vicki Weldon is not a traditional student at the University of South Dakota. Weldon, who is taking two undergraduate classes, currently has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work. Weldon said since the degree is now 30 years old, it doesn’t mean anything in the work force. Weldon had originally applied to […]
This Week in Entertainment: Best and Worst of Music, Movies and More
Best of: Puppy Bowl The furry animals provided an entertaining and cute alternative to the Super Bowl. Add in the halftime show starring kittens, and it’s easily the most adorable night on television, along with more competition than the actual Super Bowl. Super Bowl Commercials Some brought tears, others brought laughter and others groans. But […]
COLUMN: Event shows racism still prevalent against Native Americans in South Dakota
It’s easy, as a white person, to say “Racism isn’t a problem” because you yourself have not experienced it. However, you are in the minority. Racism is far from dead, especially in South Dakota, and you yourself may unknowingly be perpetuating it without intention. My first example is when I was pulled over last summer. […]
EDITORIAL: Access to public records is a must
Last week, The Volante sent four reporters to Pierre for annual Newspaper Day. One element of their trip they brought back to the newsroom was conversation about the failure of an open government measure that would have boosted access to public records last year. House Bill 1113 would have required public boards to treat electronic […]
‘State of the Union is a blueprint for the president’s hopes to accomplish’
On Jan. 28, the President of the United States, Barack Obama gave his fifth State of the Union address. The State of the Union is basically a blueprint for what the president hopes to accomplish in the coming year. The president gives proposals on what he would like to see the country move forward. He […]
South Dakota has the ‘it factor’ in government
Although I grew up in the state capital, the South Dakota Legislative session really didn’t mean a whole lot to me. I certainly wasn’t concerned with gay rights laws, South Dakota’s fiscal state, or affairs of legislators. The two months of session in Pierre really meant two things to me: getting closer to spring and […]
Private prisons: Exchanging humanity for profit
The United States of America tends to pride itself on its privatization of businesses, claiming that the free markets will incentivize healthy competition and create an economic environment in which corporations strive to outdo one another. This struggle for superiority would, in turn, create better service and increase the quality of their products or commodities. […]