State/Local
2025 Coyote Carnival Kicks off 111 Annual Dakota Days
On Tuesday Sept. 30, the USD Dakota Days Kickoff Carnival marked the start of the 111 Dakota Days. The Carnival was from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. located on campus at Coyote Alley and had a variety of activities, including balloon darts, bull riding, putt golf and a dunk tank. Different student organizations held booths […]
What Does a Government Shutdown Mean for College Students
On Oct. 1, the U.S. Government shutdown resulted in the closure of various agencies, workers being suspended or unpaid and a halt in many government actions. The effect it will have on colleges and universities may start small but could grow to be a serious concern. At the start, federal student aid and payments will […]
Dakota Days Week Comes to an end With Homecoming Crowning
Following a week of school spirit, festivities and fun, the final event of the 2025 Dakota Days celebration had students and fans on the edge of their seats while they awaited the crowning of the homecoming royalty. Griffin Peterson and Zena Aragon were crowned this year’s King and Queen, respectively. “I was pretty surprised, because […]
QnA With New Owners of Outside of a Dog
Local book and board game store, Outside of a Dog, had its grand re-opening on Sept. 25. After the previous owners moved out of state, Nova and Elias Donstad purchased and refurbished the store over the summer. The day after the re-opening, Elias Donstad sat down for an interview with The Volante to answer some […]
South Dakota Lawmakers Sign Off on New Men’s Correctional Facility
During a special session on Sept. 23, South Dakota lawmakers passed a bill to establish a new men’s correctional facility in Minnehaha County. The project will allocate $650 million towards a site located Northeast of Sioux Falls. The new prison will add 1,500 additional beds and will replace the current state penitentiary. The bill was […]
Charity Cyclist Visits USD’s Campus
This past week, Ex-Royal Navy Submariner George Barks paid a visit to a University of South Dakota classroom to promote a Charity Cycle Across the USA to Build Futures Ghana. Barks is attempting to ride his bike across as many U.S. states as possible with the aim of raising awareness and donations to help remote […]
Sobriety Checkpoints Make Their Way Through Clay County
During the month of September, South Dakota Highway Patrol implemented a number of sobriety checkpoints throughout the state including Clay County. These checkpoints were a part of an ongoing statewide initiative to reduce drunk driving through increased mandatory checkpoints. Sobriety checkpoints also operated in neighboring Lincoln County and Minnehaha County. A group of 13-15 counties […]
Vermillion Welcomes New Music Club
Earlier this month, it was announced that Vermillion’s own AV Lounge would be the setting for a brand new album club that invites music fans of all types to come together and talk about the different kinds of music. The first meeting, hosted by AV Lounge owner Joseph Raiche, will be on September 30th at […]
Celebrating 10 Years of Siouxpercon
From Sept. 19-21, Siouxpercon will be hosted at the Sioux Falls Convention Center and will feature 48 guests, over 100 vendors, 57 events as well as board/card game contests, Panels/presentations, demonstrations and silent auctions. Tickets for the event will range anywhere from $20 for a single day, or $50 for a three day weekend pass. […]
USD Professor on Leave Over Political Comments
A University of South Dakota faculty member has been placed on administrative leave due to public statements made regarding the death of American political activist Charlie Kirk. Phillip Michael Hook, a longtime professor within the College of Fine Arts made comments on Facebook calling Kirk a “hate spreading Nazi” and said that Kirk’s family deserved […]