Vermillion
The Future of Enrollment and Housing at USD
As the 2022 academic year wraps, USD has seen continued heavy enrollment trends coupled with limited housing options both on and off campus. Mark Petty, the Dean of Enrollment at USD, expects another increase in freshman enrollment similar to Fall 2022. “We’re pretty optimistic that our freshman class will be larger than it was last […]
USD Housing Renovations over Summer Break
The 2023 spring semester is coming to an end, which means summer renovations for USD housing will be underway. Three residence halls will be closed for the summer due to emergency roof repair, electrical repair such as electrical panel repair, and plumbing lines installation. Director of Housing, Cody Burggraff, said there will be renovations starting […]
UPD Student Program Implemented on Campus
The University Police Department (UPD) is transitioning into a new program for student workers. Within the past year UPD has taken initiative to start a program called the student security officer, or better known as SSO. The SSO program is for any student who is interested in working for UPD. Bryant Jackson, the UPD police […]
All Applicants Pass Water Safety Course
Three students have passed the annual Red Cross instructor course this weekend that was hosted at the Wellness Center. The Water Safety Instructor Course is a weekend long course where students or community members can demonstrate their skills in the water to, later, become a Red Cross instructor. Applicants who pass the water course will […]
Men’s Standpoint on Sexual Assault on Campus
By: Thomas Pemrick and Jozie Kumm [email protected] [email protected] While sexual assault is mostly associated with women; anyone can be a victim of sexual assault. According to the National Sexual Assault rates, around 8-10% of men will be a victim of sexual assault. These rates are higher for men when they’re on campus rather than off. […]
Title IX Office: A Free Resource for On-campus Assaults
Many students don’t know that USD has an office dedicated to ensuring that every student is protected against discrimination on campus. Title IX is a section of U.S. law that protects students on college campuses from discrimination based upon race, sex, religion and other factors. In particular, Title IX extends the discrimination upon sex to […]
UPD Speaks about Sexual Assault on Campus
USD has sent two timely warnings since Jan. 1, 2023, regarding sexual-based violence. There is concern whether these acts are getting more frequent. However, Bryant Jackson, the UPD Chief of Police, said that these occurrences are rare for USD. However, sexual assault can be confused with sexual abuse and rape. Jackson describes someone being physically […]
Toxicity Sold as Love: How the Media Affects Perceptions of Love
While romantic comedies may be a favorite for many, they do not always portray love in an accurate or healthy way. According to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), of the 118 movies that they counted from major studios, 18.6% of the movies contained someone that identified as LGBTQ. Many popular films follow […]
South Dakota: Second Highest Rape Rate
Since 1960, the rape rate in South Dakota has been steadily increasing according to the South Dakota Department of Health. However, in the last 30 years, South Dakota has exceeded the national rate and most years placed in the top five states for highest rape numbers per 100,000 inhabitants in the United States. In 2021, […]
Are Verm Cats Minimizing their Appearance on Campus?
Members of the USD community have taken a Keen interest in cats around campus. In consequence, they have named them Verm Cats. But with the weather, Verm Cats have altered their appearance throughout the community. Judy Zwolak, a concerned community member and a volunteer associated with The Heartland Humane Society in Yankton. She has spent […]