Staying single isn’t radical, it should be embraced
Once upon a time, I wrote a column on this exact same subject matter. It’s been over three years now. I’ve become a very different person since then. I think it would do me well to revisit this idea, given the circumstances I find myself in now. The issue at hand is the radical notion […]
A secret to ‘happiness’ would be helpful
Since some time last August, I’ve been on a quest for personal happiness. This is not a journey for the faint of heart. It involves a lot of failure, a lot of trial and error, and a whole lot of picking yourself up after you fall down. The key is to be painfully honest with […]
Embrace your unique body style, beauty
A couple months ago I started working in a special occasion dress shop. This unnamed corporate entity specializes in weddings, but also carries dresses for prom, homecoming and any other event one might need to purchase a lovely dress for. As a fashion-loving feminist, I have found this experience enlightening in a variety of ways. […]
Mental illness not to be overlooked
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect the most up to date version. When I was 16, I was diagnosed with Type II Bipolar disorder. At first, I did not understand the stigma surrounding my illness. It never occurred to me that I was different or that my illness was something society looked […]
Future of Native Studies brighter than observed
As a graduate student pursuing Native Studies as part of my degree, I find it unfortunate the Native Studies program at USD gets so much bad press. The bulk of the problem really seems to be a lack of interest, and nobody wants to come to a place they’ve only heard bad things about. Has […]
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. […]
COLUMN: Feminism activists still have progress to make
When I tell people I’m a feminist, the response is pretty scattered. The most recent response I have gotten from people is, “We don’t need feminism anymore. We as human beings are all equals. It should be called humanism.” Well, yes, this is very true, and I do agree with you. However, there are many […]
COLUMN: Dating the enemy turns into fun
As both a jazz enthusiast and devoted fan of 20th century poet Langston Hughes, I was very excited when I found out Ron McCurdy was coming to the University of South Dakota to present Hughes’ epic poem “Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz.” I had been contemplating a date with Blaine since he mentioned […]
Columnist says goodbye
For those of you who may not know, I’ll be graduating on Saturday. That means this is the last time I will ever write for The Volante. Needless to say, I’ve spent the entire semester planning this column. I knew early on I wanted to say something important to the women on this campus. I […]
Column: Frat traditions offend women
The chant began as a toast between three guys, but it didn’t take long for every guy in the house to join in. It seemed pretty harmless at first. It was just another one of those songs about the fraternal bonds of manhood. Yeah, you know the kind. Suddenly the song took a dark turn. […]