2026
John Banasiak retires after 46 years at USD
After more than four decades, the University of South Dakota is saying goodbye to one photography professor. For 46 years, John Banasiak has helped shape generations of students at USD. Banasiak grew up on the south side of Chicago and attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of Chicago. While […]
Summer 2026 movie preview
Here are some quick previews of notable films coming out this summer, along with a list of other films to keep an eye on. “Backrooms” (May 29) Inspired by a series of popular internet horror stories, this film follows Clark (Chitwel Ejifor) as he discovers a seemingly never-ending series of yellow rooms in the back […]
Sensory garden: A mindful space
In a world with constant stimuli, activating the senses in a controlled environment might be just what people need to relax. The Southeast South Dakota Activity Center’s (Sesdac) new sensory garden is set to open to the public on Thursday, May 28, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. “We have visual art installations that are going […]
Essential albums for the summer months
“Exodus” by Bob Marley “Exodus” is a reggae album with hints of electric guitar that accelerate the listening experience. It’s a classic album released in 1977 with some of Marley’s greatest hits. The first song of the album, “Natural Mystic,” feels like summer with the iconic bassline and Marley’s vocals. “Exodus,” an almost eight-minute song, […]
Social Justice Choir: Activism through music
All songs tell a story and some of these stories come together to raise awareness against injustice. The Social Justice Choir in Vermillion seeks to use the art form of music to fight discrimination. On Thursday, May 7 at 7:00 p.m., the choir will host their LGBTQ+ Rights Concert at the First United Methodist Church. […]
Nunca dejamos de decir “adiós”.
Una vez en clase de español, mi maestro, el Profe Siefker, nos dijo que le encantaba la manera en que los latinoamericanos nos saludábamos al pasar. Generalmente, cuando nos cruzamos con alguien, simplemente le decimos adiós porque no vamos a entablar una conversación, ya que los dos vamos de paso. Pero aquí en Estados Unidos […]
We never stop saying “goodbye”.
Once in Spanish class, my teacher, Professor Siefker, told us he loved the way Latin Americans greet each other when passing by. Generally, when we cross paths with someone, we simply say goodbye because we’re not going to start a conversation, since we’re both just passing through. But here in the United States, it’s different: […]
Opera puts on one last performance
On May 2 and 3, the USD Opera Department performed the Broadway musical and opera “Light in the Piazza.” The opera is set in Italy in the 1950s, where a southern woman named Clara Johnson meets a young Italian man, Fabrizio Naccarelli and they fall in love. Although “Light in the […]
From Earth Day to Earth Month
Greening Vermillion kicked off Earth Days starting April 18 with the annual Volunteer Day at Spirit Mound Historic Prairie, and runs until April 26. Vermillion Earth Days are free community wide events and activities hosted across town and on campus. Geoffrey Gray-Lobe is the Clay County Commissioner and is the community organizer for the Sierra […]
USD Hosts Dance Marathon Fundraiser
The Children’s Miracle Network hosts a fundraiser called the Dance Marathon, in which many universities and other organizations participate in the fundraiser. The University of South Dakota was one of the many universities to host. Dakotathon lasts twelve hours, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. In the SCSC, Dakotathon hosted a variety of events, alongside […]