Student Life
YFL and SFRR spark abortion debate on campus
Yotes For Life (YFL), an anti-abortion student organization at USD, took to campus sidewalks with chalk on Oct. 20 for “National Pro-Life Chalking Day” to spread anti-abortion messages. Students for Reproductive Rights (SFRR), a pro-abortion rights student organization at USD, coincidentally chalked their own beliefs on campus sidewalks later that night. Both organizations provided argumentative […]
Graduate student holds community composting survey
USD is home to over 2,000 graduate students — many of them with big goals for post graduation. One specific graduate student, Jacinda Maassen, has intentions on making the Vermillion community a healthier environment. Jacinda Maassen completed her Masters degree for Sustainability Development in Sweden and is currently working on her PhD in Sustainability here […]
Prospective students view campus virtually and in-person
In March, USD first shut down due to COVID-19 and virtual college tours became the only way potential students had an opportunity to visit the university. The virtual college visits are still available today, though in-person college visits resumed on Aug. 3. Ethan Young, a junior nursing major, has been a student ambassador for a […]
SGA passes resolution to encourage time off for voting
The USD Student Government Association (SGA) hosted Jessica Preister and Jared Heiden of university financial services at this Tuesday’s meeting. SGA also passed a resolution encouraging the South Dakota Board of Regents to cancel classes on future federal election days and introduced a resolution regarding the Green Initiative Fund. Preister, Assistant VP at USD Financial […]
USD offers additional COVID-19 testing
USD’s Sentinel Testing program is now allowing up to 100 volunteers per week to participate in COVID-19 testing in addition to randomly selected students, faculty and staff. The change to the program came in response to numerous requests for volunteer testing, according to an email sent to the student body. Anyone who is asymptomatic, has […]
UNA hosts UN Day, aims for sustainability education
A relatively new club on campus, the United Nations Association of USD, is hosting its second “UN Day” event to promote sustainability and raise awareness of the club. The event will showcase student-led sustainability projects and include presentations about recycling on campus from Anna Moore and Caitlin Reimers, an online sustainable fashion business from Brigit […]
USD to host October commencement for spring 2020 graduates
On Saturday, Oct. 24, USD will host a commencement ceremony for students who graduated in the spring of 2020 and would have walked if not for the pandemic. The ceremony will be held for both undergraduate and graduate students and will take place at 9 a.m. in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. Laura McNaughton, chief […]
USD, Department of Health partner to monitor COVID-19 cases on campus
As of Oct. 20, the USD COVID-19 dashboard was reporting 41 active cases among students and faculty, with 174 individuals in quarantine or isolation. All statistics provided in the dashboard are self reported, and there are no requirements in place for USD students to report if they have contracted or been exposed to COVID-19. Kevin […]
Survey shows approval for USD COVID-19 response
A USD survey of students who tested positive for COVID-19 or spent time in isolation or quarantine showed students have had a positive experience with the university’s response to the pandemic this semester. The survey, conducted between Sept. 14 and Sept. 28 by the USD COVID-19 Task Force, showed almost unanimous approval of the university’s […]
Making internet connections: Honors common read event moved online
Incoming freshmen in the honors program each year participate in the honors common read event. For this, the class is assigned a book to read over the summer and then meet for an event usually during the first few weeks of class to have a discussion with honors professors and peer mentors on the book. […]