SGA encourages syllabus bank, discusses parking

Student Government Association passed Senate Resolution 10 and introduced Senate Resolution 12 and Senate Bill 69. Several organizations also reported to SGA. Senate Resolution 10 encourages the Faculty Senate, the faculty representative body for the university, to support a syllabus bank. Senator Caleb Weiland, the chair of Government Affairs, introduced the bill. “This is just […]

3 mins read

Opportunity Center stakeholder meetings held, planning for Opportunity Center continues

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Volante’s Bennett Clary and Miles Amende contributed for this article. The third and final Opportunity Center stakeholder meeting was held Oct. 25, in which members of the Opportunity Center Task Force met with the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Environmental Club to gather input on how the center should operate.  Laura McNaughton, university President Sheila Gestring’s chief of staff, said the plan is for the […]

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90th year of the Fine Arts program calls for a Celebration of Excellence

The first Celebration of Excellence honored 10 people in categories including outstanding alumni, friends and educators, as well as a special recognition award to Oscar Howe. Bruce Kelley, Dean of Fine Arts, was one of the organizers of the Celebration of Excellence.   “So we have three general categories: outstanding educators, outstanding friends and outstanding alumni. […]

6 mins read

Brothers collaborate to DJ, produce for EDM group

When USD student Liam Mechling was introduced to dubstep by his older brother, he had no idea where it would take him. One year ago, however, he was asked to DJ a private Halloween party at Terry Peak in the Black Hills, and the rest, he said, is history. Liam Mechling is now a DJ […]

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Yappin’ Yotes offers learning opportunities for to USD and Vermillion

Toastmasters is an international organization focused on developing their members’ public speaking and leadership skills. Although Toastmasters International is nearly 100 years old, the Vermillion-Area Yappin’ Yotes Toastmasters began in 2015. Ulrike Dosdall has been the president of Yappin’ Yotes since September of this year. Dosdall said she started her membership with Yappin’ Yotes in […]

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Dakotathon exceeds goal during push week

The 25-year anniversary of Dakotathon is this year, and with that came a push week goal of $25,000 raised for the week of Oct. 18-21, including a $15,000 goal for Thursday, Oct. 21. Dakotathon, a campus organization that raises money for the Children’s Miracle Network and the Sanford Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls, raised $26,791 […]

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USD Professor to present to Doctors Without Borders chapter

Richard Ekstrom, a professor of physical therapy at USD, is giving a presentation to the USD chapter of Doctors without Borders Nov. 1. Ekstrom is presenting on his experiences in Dominican Republic and Haiti, where he traveled for Medical Mission Trips. The presentation is scheduled for 8 p.m. in Room 133 of the Beacom School […]

1 min read

Cases stay low, on-campus COVID-19 testing remains available

There are currently six active cases of COVID-19 at USD as of Oct. 19, but COVID-19 testing is still available daily as the virus remains on campus. USD had a peak of 25 cases in early September, but hasn’t seen the case total climb above 15 since Sept. 8. There are currently nine individuals in […]

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Climate change’s impact on South Dakota

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, September was the third warmest September on record for North America. The climate of South Dakota is changing and will continue to change in the coming years. The Earth is beginning to see the effects of pumping fossil fuels into the air, and with that, the entire […]

5 mins read

Founders Park construction underway next to Inman House

At the 2021 State of the University Address, University President Sheila Gestring announced the construction of one of USD’s newest projects, the Founder’s Park. Assistant Vice President of Facilities Management Brian Limoges is managing the project for the university. In an email interview with The Volante, he said this park will be located next to […]

1 min read