Student Life
Wellness Center launches new fitness app to provide easy access to services
For students looking to stay informed and in shape on campus, the Wellness Center is offering a new resource. The USD Fit App launched on Aug. 12, and is a way for students, faculty and local community members to be aware of the daily events and activities going on at the Wellness Center. Steve Mayer, […]
New CARE Team collects research to aid in USD’s, South Dakota’s COVID-19 response
USD’s School of Health Sciences has created the Community Action Response Epidemiology (CARE) team to partner with the South Dakota Department of Health and the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board to provide contact tracing, health promotion and comprehensive services to the state of South Dakota. Susan Puumala, the project director of the CARE team, […]
Unauthorized personal routers, hotspots interfere with campus internet connection
When USD students move back into the dorms, hundreds of computers, phones and gaming systems move with them. Over the weeks, these devices have caused slow and sometimes inaccessible internet for students in their dorms. The Information Technology Service (ITS) desk sent an email to students on Sept. 2 addressing the issue. The email said […]
‘Something special’ planned for Dakota Days
With no sporting events and all the safety guidelines that come with the pandemic, Dakota Days week is shifting to alternative means to celebrate USD homecoming. Doug Wagner, advisor to the Dakota Days executive committee, said the biggest difference this year is that large events have moved from the Muenster University Center to either Aalfs […]
USD Veterans Club looks to expand membership
The USD Student Veterans Club is looking to rebuild their club after the graduation of old members and their executive team last year. Currently, the club has six active members but are hoping to get more students involved before the end of the year. Two weeks ago, Wyatt Harwood, a sophomore business administration major, took […]
‘The eyes say a lot’: Masks change communication between students, faculty
With new procedures and precautions on USD’s campus, wearing a mask at all times in an indoor setting for professors and students has caused communication in the classroom to be different than previous years. Lori Costello, an assistant professor of Strategic Communication, said mask-wearing, muffled voices and a lack of face recognition have been an […]
USD SERVE adopts new methods to lend a hand to community
Students Enhancing Resources for Vermillion Enrichment (SERVE) has continued to provide assistance to the Vermillion community, despite COVID-19. SERVE allows USD students to get involved in the community by volunteering their time to one of the organization’s service branches. The service branches include Adopt-a-Grandparent, Adopt-a-School, Big Pal Little Pal, Bridges, Heroes, Variation of Volunteering and […]
USD library expands digital resources in the age of streaming
I.D. Weeks Library contains rows of shelves filled with movies and music on VHS and CDs — formats students may no longer have the technology to play. To keep up with an increasingly digital world, the library has increased access to digital databases in recent years. Danielle Loftus, USD’s Fine Arts & Technology Librarian, said […]
Environmental Club and Sustainability Department see growth, aim for more involvement
A year after changing its name, the USD Environmental Club hopes to make sustainability inclusive and possible for all college students. Holly Black, president of the Environmental Club, said the organization was formerly known as SUST, or Students Understanding Sustainable Tactics, Club before it changed its name in the fall of 2019. “I think that […]
USD Esports opens new gaming arena
Two years ago, the Esports Club had five members. Now, the club has grown to around 120 members and has opened a new gaming arena in McKusick Hall. The arena has 24 PCs, two TVs and three game consoles. Derek Biersbach, president of the Esports Club, said the arena was built after Dean of Students […]