May 09

Volume 2 - Issue 8

Dorm renovations displace students For more opinions, see page 4

Students speak out: Sophomores Abby Carda and Steph Bjustrom believe that the dorm renovations are good for the school.

They are planing on living in an apartment together, but have not yet found one. Photo by Tyler Armbruster

Tips for success

Starting internships or full-time jobs

By Darrell Sawyer Career Center This summer many Mines students will be starting an internship or co-op. Others who are graduating seniors will be starting their first full-time job in their career field. These are exciting stages in students’ career development.

Regardless of whether you are an intern/co-op student or a graduating senior, making a successful transition from school to the workplace is crucial. Just as making a good first impression is important when interviewing for a job, “getting off on the right foot” when starting a new job also is very important.

To assist students in making that transition, the Career Center recently asked some students who have co-op/internship experience to share their advice with students who will be starting an internship or co-op this summer. Communication, positive attitude, and networking were common themes. Advice offered by the co-op/intern students included the following tips: 1. Ask Questions - Don’t be hesitant to ask your supervisor for information or clarification of a project you have been assigned. New employees aren’t expected to know everything about the company’s procedures. Most supervisors prefer that you ask questions instead of making incorrect assumptions that result in needing to go back and do something over.

2. Show Enthusiasm- Keep

a positive attitude about your work and the company. Smile.

Be friendly and show interest in the work that you are doing and in learning about the company.

3. Introduce Yourself to Others - Get to know your coworkers and introduce yourself to other employees who work in a different unit.

4. Understand your Company’s Culture - Observe the actions of your supervisor and your coworkers. Ask about the organization and its internal procedures. Be aware of the company’s dress code. Expectations for attire on “Casual Friday” or “Jeans Day” can vary greatly depending on the organization’s culture or your position within the organization.

5. Communicate - Keep your supervisor informed of progress on a project and demonstrate that you can be counted upon to follow through and complete assigned tasks on time. If you need help or anticipate a delay in completing a project, let your supervisor know. Try to avoid giving “last minute surprises” to your supervisor.

6. Be a Good Team Member - Take responsibility for your actions and support the work of your colleagues. Offer to help others when needed and also remember to thank coworkers for their assistance. Treat everyone with respect.

7. Participate in Activities Show up for company events or

Academic Affairs VP retiring

By Katie Aurand Editor in Chief Dr. Karen Whitehead has been working at the School of Mines for over 20 years, the last 12 of which she has served as the Vice President of Academic Affairs. However, just as the seniors walk across the stage for the last time, Whitehead will be walking across the halls of O’Harra for the last time, as she is retiring.

Why did you decide to retire now?

A lot of the other administrative positions are opening up, so this would be a good chance for a reorganization of administration under the Dr. Wharton, the new president. It just suddenly seemed to me that it was going to be good for me and it was going to be good for the school. The timing seemed right.

How has the School of Mines changed since you’ve been here?

When I came we had a main frame computer and it wasn’t until 1986 that we put in the first computer lab in the McLaury building. The world wide web really began to develop in the mid 1990s- that isn’t that long ago. That has had a dramatic impact on everything we do. People expect t instant responses to your e-mails. In the dark ages when we had to put things in writing and send things by mail, you would have a few days’ breather. However, the Internet has opened up a whole lot of opportunities with the access to information. Also when I came in 1981 we were strictly and definitely an undergraduate institution where people were encouraged to develop research and development, but today we are in the midst of a shift where we want to keep the quality of undergrad education but we also understand that to

SHH!

All the solutions to your final tests!

Page 9

Mines trashes USD in recycling competition Page 3

An army of music reviews Page 5

See WHITEHEAD Con’t on page 2

Slow Down!

MSG: Deadly or delicious?

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Summer boredom? Find the cure on

Page 4 The last image you will see: Cars blazing through campus pose an ominous threat to student pedestrians. Just remember- look both ways before crossing the street! Photo by Tyler Armbruster

By E.M. Daniels Raver Staff One particular nice day, my friend and I began our trek across campus. I stepped onto the cross walk between Palmerton Hall and Peterson. I heard a revving engine, one working to keep speed, and turned my head to find the noise. My friend yanked me backwards right before a car sped by. If the driver realized he’d almost run someone over, he showed no sign of it.

Unfortunately this has happened in several variations, and I’m sure I’m not the only one to nearly be run over by a fellow student.

The parking lots here on See SUMMER campus have a speed limit of 15 Con’t on page 6 m.p.h., but it’s painfully obvi-

ous that many choose to ignore this. People may think they have right-of-way when driving a car, but tell that to the group that you nearly ran over on the crosswalk when you were going 30 m.p.h., or the car you hit when it was backing up.

People need to slow down, and obey the speed limit. They need to show consideration for pedestrians by slowing down and actually keeping an eye out for them. Stop for those using the crosswalk, and stop for cars backing up.

Just a little alertness, consideration, and slower speed can prevent so many accidents and people from getting hurt.

So people: please, please slow down.

Free Wi-Fi at

Cafe Latte Page 7

INDEX Opinion................. 2 Lifestyle................ 4 Entertainment...... 5 Food...................... 6 Health................... 7 Fashion................. 8

NEWS

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Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor, I feel that it is time to take a stand. For too long I’ve been witness to the obscene nature of the “Sexytime” column and been silent. I must admit that reading “Sexytime” is not one of my highest priorities. Usually it’s not worth the attention, but last month I noticed that the topic happened to be Plan B, the “Emergency Contraceptive.” I was curious as to what the writer had to say about the topic. As was expected, the writer faithfully supported the use of Plan B. After all, that is the most ‘scientific’ choice, but there are several problems with the arguments presented in the piece.

Immediately, the writer begins by saying that in order to understand the Plan B controversy one must realize that women are by nature more caring and compassionate than men. On that note, I wholeheartedly agree with the writer, but I fail to make the connection between being compassionate and dispensing the morning after pill. Maybe true compassion should come from the words of the mothers and elders of these women asking for the pill.

Maybe instead of prescribing a pill to make problems go away, we should be teaching these women to have the wisdom and self respect and to know that they do not need to reduce themselves to being a mere object for the sake of ‘love’.

Another flaw in the writer’s arguments is apparent when she attempts to support Plan B by citing from an unknown source

that teenage pregnancies have dropped 34 percent in white females from 1990 to 2002. This statistic may indeed be correct, but there is another question that I must ask. Why were unwed teenage pregnancy rates much lower in 1966? According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), unwed teenage pregnancies rose 144 percent from 1966 to 1994. The Pill was only made available to women in 1960, and at that time contraception was not yet standard issue for high school students. Perhaps the reason for the low pregnancy rates was due to compassionate parents and teachers teaching students virtue rather than vice.

The boldest misrepresentation in the article can be found in the statement that Plan B is not an abortifacient. According to the writer, Plan B “keeps the sperm from fertilizing the egg and/or attaching to the uterus.”

This statement is absolutely true; Plan B prevents a woman from ovulating and therefore prevents fertilization from taking place. However, if fertilization has already taken place, Plan B prevents the fertilized egg from attaching to the uterine wall. Most scientists will agree that human development begins at fertilization. Starting from this premise and knowing that an abortion is the termination of this development, the only conclusion one is left with is that Plan B is an abortifacient.

Now, I know some might dismiss these arguments and

Editor-in-Chief

The Raver is published monthly by students at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 501 E. St. Joseph St., Rapid City, S.D., 57701 as a forum where students read about and express views on school, local and world events and issues.

The Raver staff recognizes that with the right of freedom of the press comes the responsibility to be accurate, fair and objective, and will not print any material which the editors consider obscene, libelous or an invasion of privacy.

The opinions expressed here are those of the writers and not the administration, faculty or the student body. The Raver welcomes signed letters to the editor, but reserves the right to reject letters or edit for length, grammar or libel.

Katie Aurand

Managing Editor Erica Kjar

Web Editor

Matt DesEnfants

Staff Writers Erica Daniels Megan Mallett Louisa Burden

Staff Photographers Tyler Armbruster

Faculty Advisor Dr. Kathy Antonen

raver.sdsmt@gmail.com Office located in SALC

say, “It’s just an embryo”, or maybe not even an embryo, but a ‘pre-embryo’. After all, the term embryo sounds much too human. All biologists have used the term embryo to describe animals in the earliest stages of development; it is only very recently that the term pre-embryo has been introduced for purely political reasons rather than scientific ones.

Despite frequent use of the term ‘science,’ many of those who support Plan B really do not want to look at the science of the issue. What is the zygote, scientifically speaking?

Is it its own creature, less than human, minutely different than an amoeba or pond scum? Or is the zygote a human in the earliest stages of development?

Why does the stage of life we’re in determine the extent of our humanity?

Finally, the writer ends the piece by asking, “Which is the greatest burden to society, teenage mothers or contraception?”

To answer this question, I have to ask another question: why is it that we must allow both of these problems to continue?

Perhaps through real compassion for our fellow human beings, both young and old, and some courage from those of us who know the truth, we can change our society from within.

We can move away from being concerned only about our “burden,” and become more concerned with the dignity of every human being regardless of their stage of development.

Sincerely, Andy Downs

May 2009

VP’s final year at SDSM&T WHITEHEAD Con’t from page 1 be competitive in today’s world, we need to have graduate programs and funded research.

What have you done to help change the School of Mines?

I think the whole university has changed in the last 12 years, and there are a lot of things that we’ve done, but we do things as a team of administrators so I don’t think I can take sole credit. I think our decision to remain focused on solely math and science was a good one but a difficult one. Also I think it was good to raise our admission standards. Instituting the tablet PC program even with all of its little bumps was also a good thing.

What are some things you wish to change?

One thing that has bothered me is amount of females in our programs. At one time about 40 percent of our computer science majors were female. Now there just seems to be a declining interest in the degree programs that we offer. The percentage of women in our engineering programs is slowly going up, but since the numbers for the institution are going down, the actually amount of females in the programs are going down too.

What has been your favorite experience?

A year ago I helped organize the Yellowstone coursethat was a fantastic experience.

As VP I also got to go to China and India and those were very special experiences.

How has this job changed your perspective on things?

It’s a different kind of job because you are successful when other people are successful. Any administrative position

Dr. Whitehead retires after over 25 years at Mines. has that component- your job is really to help other people succeed. Also I have gotten to understand the whole state perspective, and to some extent the national perspective, more by working with other administrators.

How do you see the School of Mines in the future?

I think the University is really on the cusp of some really exciting developments, particularly with DUSEL coming down the line. That’s going to take a few years, but looking like 10 years down the road there are possibilities we can’t even imagine right now.

If you look at other places where national labs have been placed, they have changed the area completely. I look to see this place to be the center of some very vibrant intellectual activity.

What are you going to miss the most?

Hands down, the people.

You couldn’t ask for a better group of people to work withstudents, staff, and faculty.

That’s really what I’m going to miss.

We’re Hiring!

The Raver is looking for motivated individuals to fill several open positions on next year’s staff.

No Experience Necessary!

Web Manager Finance Manager Writers Photographers Advertising Representatives Graphic Design Artists Interested? Send an email to: raver.sdsmt@gmail.com

NEWS

May 2009

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School of Mines student lobbies U.S. Congress on behalf of fraternities and sororities

Positively presidential: Making donations to fraternities and sororities for housing and infrastructure improvements taxdedectible would improve safety across the nation. Photo by Melanie Satchell

By Melanie Satchell Guest Writer In December an opportunity presented itself to apply for the Capital Fraternal Caucus’ Congressional Hill Visits in conjunction with the North American Inter-fraternity Council’s annual meeting.

Students who are members of a fraternity or sorority and who have experience in student government, specifically student body president, chapter president, or involved in legislative affairs were encouraged to apply. I sent in my application assuming I would hear nothing back only to receive a congratulatory email a month later.

My trip actually began on Saturday, April 18, when I ar-

rived at the Rapid City airport at 5:30 a.m. A few too many plane changes and hours later I arrived in Washington, D.C. Reagan International airport. I stayed at the Doubletree Hilton Hotel which is right across the freeway from the Pentagon.

Despite the lush accommodations we kept busy all day out and about the District. Sunday and Monday there was no time for sightseeing and playing the normal tourist part, but rather we took time for training and preparation.

The purpose of the trip was to lobby our congressional delegation to support the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act (CHIA H.R. 1547/S.781) which would allow for donations made

to fraternities and sororities for housing and infrastructure improvements to be made tax deductible. This bill appeared in the 110th congress and received a large amount of support, garnering 210 co-sponsors in the House and 40 in the Senate, it passed the House but unfortunately wasn’t attached to the right ‘vehicle’, or large breath legislative, and it did not pass.

Since contributions would be made tax deductible with the passage of the CHIA, the federal government would no longer receive that tax revenue. The ‘score’ or the cost to the federal government has been calculated at $148 million over a ten year period. To you and me that seems like a lot of money, but to the federal government who operates on over a trillion dollar budget, then a couple hundred million doesn’t even make a drop in the bucket.

During my visit I met with over ten legislative offices and told the story of the importance of safe housing for the Greek community. The House and Senate both have a large majority of Greek members but just because they have affiliation with a fraternity or sorority does not guarantee their support for this bill. During each congress there are over 14,000 bills put forth and only a few hundred of those bills are ever signed into law. Which makes the challenge even greater to

Letter from the SDSM&T President Dear Students, We are closing in on the end of the 2008-2009 academic year, and what a year it has been!

Your hard work and determination has seen you through a

Dr. Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D. complete cycling of the seasons, from the hot sun and mud baths of M-Day, through recent blizzards and mountains of snow, to the warm days of spring once again.

I, too, will complete an important academic year in my life on May 9 when I will be invested as the 18th President of this outstanding school.

Over these past ten months,

my respect for the students of the School of Mines has deepened with every new illustration of your creativity and innovation. Most recently, I saw these attributes on display at the Design Fair. Your projects, your teamwork, and the articulate manner in which you explained them to me and others made me very proud.

Individual student accomplishments also reflect positively on the entire student body. Adam Dell, president of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) chapter for SDSM&T was recently elected to represent all AISES chapters in the region. This is a big step into prominence for campus AISES involvement. Deanna Shoup, an Interdisciplinary Sciences major, was one of ten students nationwide to receive a scholarship from the Association of American Medical Colleges to advance her aspiration to attend medical school. Please join me in congratulating Adam and Deanna.

New outlets for student creativity and innovation are coming online with the recent Board of Regents’ approval of new graduate programs in

physics, robotics and intelligent autonomous systems, and construction management. The beginnings of the new Paleontology Research Center would be hard to miss for anyone passing by the King Center. With new programs and new buildings coming to campus, this is clearly an exciting time to be part of the School of Mines family.

To capitalize on the opportunities created by all this change, the academic administrative structure of the university is being reorganized with the aim of optimizing enrollments while strengthening academic programs and building our research enterprise. While you won’t see changes in your academic program, I believe you will see improvements as the department heads are given more resources, responsibilities, and latitude to make program improvements and better meet student needs.

To those of you who are graduating, I extend my heartfelt congratulations! I look forward to shaking your hand on the commencement stage on May 9.

Sincerely, Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D. President

make your voice heard and tell your personal story.

The coolest part of my trip was lobbying Senator Thune, of South Dakota, to sign on as a co-sponsor of the bill while walking through the tunnels under the capital and walking right pass Senator John McCain and exchanging quick,’ hellos’.

The best news of the day was that Senator Thune agreed to be a co-sponsor and South Dakota is hence working toward improving the relationship between universities and Greek organizations as we all realize the important balance of housing provided through each entity.

Nationwide the Greek community houses over 250,000 students and 61% of the houses do not have fire sprinklers. Universities already have a difficult time providing housing to students, what if Greek housing didn’t exist? Or if a fire were to destroy a Greek house, how would the university make space for the dislocated students? The answer is that universities need to work in close relationship with Greek housing to provide safe and affordable housing options. The average dorm costs $21.5 million for 350 students; whereas this bill would serve

over 250,000 students for just $14.8 million a year.

School of Mines campus is typical when considering its amenities. Only one house on campus has fire sprinklers, and they are only located in the kitchen. Most of the Greek housing is between 50-100 years old and have old electrical wiring prone to fires or other ailments. Greek organizations operate in similar organization to say a university foundation. It has an alumni base, there are over 9 million Greek alumni nationwide; and the largest Greek foundations have endowments of upwards of $30 million. However, donations for housing improvements are not tax deductible, therefore it is unlikely for a donor to give to this cause.

Since contributions would be made tax deductible with the passage of the CHIA, the federal government would no longer receive that tax revenue. The ‘score’ or the cost to the federal government has been calculated at $148 million over a ten year period. To you and me that seems like a lot of money, but to the federal government who operates on over a trillion dollar budget, then a couple hundred million doesn’t even make a drop in the bucket.

USD gets trashed by School of Mines SDSM&T emerges victor in RecycleMania Compiled by Raver Staff The final results of the RecycleMania competition are in.

SDSM&T came in ahead of USD in the per capita classic, bottles and cans, and cardboard categories. USD was ahead of Mines in the paper recycling category, but that may be due to the overall lower usage of paper on the SDSM&T campus, thanks to the tablet program, on-line paperless initiatives, ect. The SDSM&T sustainability committee thanks everyone for their increase in recycle efforts.

SDSM&T had 1.01 pounds of aluminum cans per person

for the eight week competition period. This amounts to 17 cans per person, which equates to about 34,700 cans total for the entire campus during the competition period. This saved enough energy to run a 100 watt bulb or a television for about 104,100 hours.

During the eight week competition period, 3.54 pounds of paper were recycled per person.

This equated to about 354 sheets of paper. There are 500 sheets in a ream. SDSM&T recycled about 3.6 tons of paper total during this eight week period, which saved about 61 trees.

Note from the Dean of Students Congratulations to the May 2009 graduating class and thank you for your contributions over the years. Please keep in contact, visit the campus frequently and promote the school to prospective students where ever you may be!

Graduation

May 9, 2009 Rushmore Plaza Civic Center 9:00 a.m.

Returning students, we look forward to your involvements in the coming year. Thank you for funding the renovations for the Surbeck Center; upon your return in the fall this project will

be complete!

As you all prepare for finals week—please remember that you are invited to the late night study break breakfast: May 3, 2009 “SALC Dining Room” 9:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

If you have suggestions or recommendations for the next academic school year that I can assist with, please let me know.

Sincerely, Patricia G. Mahon, Ph.D. Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students 605-394-2416 Patricia.Mahon@sdsmt.edu

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LIFESTYLE

May 2009

May 2009

ENTERTAINMENT

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FOOD

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MSG: Not as bad as depicted

By Evan Waddell Raver Staff Chinese restaurant syndrome (CRS) is perhaps the most widely-associable phenomenon to monosodium glutamate, also called MSG. However, this negative association may not be founded on actual causality.

For instance, in a double blind placebo-controlled study analyzed by Geha et al1 in 2000, no significant responses to MSG administered with food (as it would be in practice) were detected in a group of 73 healthy individuals. The Geha paper goes on to list several other instances of double blind studies showing no results.

Conscious readers should also realize what MSG is. As seen from its chemical formula, monosodium glutamate is merely the sodium salt of the amino acid, L-glutamate, one of the 20 common building blocks of human protein. In addition,

humans have specific taste receptors for MSG, which are linked to the fifth primary taste known as umami (savory). The alotment of taste receptors and the acceptance of glutamate for biosynthesis indicate that MSG is not an outright toxin.

The World Health Organization, UN FAO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives, and the United States Food and Drug Administration agree. All three health organizations list MSG as equivalent to generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status. Of course, any chemical can become an antagonist to health when ingested in massive amounts, so by no means are these studies and points intended to approve MSG overconsumption. These points are meant to show, however, that responsible intake of MSG is not a hazard to health in general.

By E.M. Daniels Raver Staff Summer is just around the corner, and people will be dusting off their grills for cookouts.

Soon the smell of charcoal and burgers will permeate the air.

One person may be grilling steaks down the street, while his neighbor is busy barbequing. Many people mistakenly believe both methods of cooking are the same, but they are in fact different.

Grilling is when the food is cooked over a high heat. This high heat sears the outer food, sealing in those precious juices. Most grills use either gas (usually propane) or charcoal.

Some people prefer a charcoal grill, because as the meat cooks above the coals it absorbs a “smoky” flavor. There are also many ways to spice up something on the grill. Favorites of my family always included either Lawery’s seasoning dashed on top the meat during cooking or meat marinated in Italian dressing before throwing it all on the grill. BBQ sauce can be used during grilling, but it is best to apply it to the meat when it’s almost done. This is because the high temperatures of the grill will dry out the BBQ

New internship and job advice SUMMER Con’t from page 1 activities outside of your regular work. Volunteer to help with service projects. Get involved in community organizations or activities that your company supports.

The manner in which you start a new job and how you handle yourself during the first weeks or months can have a big impact. The impressions you

Common flavor enhancer to be avoided

By E.M. Daniels Raver Staff Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is used as a flavor enhancer in a variety of foods; such as those at restaurants and processed foods. MSG naturally occurs in some foods; however, it is also being artificially produced to be used by the food and restaurants industries.

Many people wonder why MSG considered a bad thing.

Well, for one, flavor enhancement can lead people to consume more of a food when they shouldn’t. A continual cycle of this can lead to unhealthy weight gain and eating habits.

There is a portion of the populace that is more sensitive to MSG than others. For these people, consuming just a small amount of MSG can trigger unpleasant symptoms. In 1995, FASEB (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) was contracted to assess this issue. FASEB’s report found that MSG can cause some of the following symptoms: • Burning sensation on the sauce along with the meat, burn back neck, the forearms, and the BBQ sauce, or in the case chest of sweeter sauces, it will caramelize and leave a hard inedible casing on the meat.

Popular in the south, barbeque is when food is cooked over a lower heat for a longer time, often hours or the whole day. Although barbeque can be By Melanie Satchell achieved with a grill, tradition- Guest Writer Graduation is upon us, you alists use firewood or charcoal. Meat prepared in either have a job, are going to graduate school, or you are this way will always have that slight “smoky” flavor. Because looking around trying to figure barbeque involves cooking the out what to do with yourself. meat slowly, BBQ sauce can be It’s a big world out there, and applied to the meat right away regardless of your path after and throughout the cooking pro- graduation, there are three main cess. Besides BBQ sauce, other tools you need to have in your treatments of the meat include a belt so you can hit the ground running. Each of us is faced marinade or a spice rub. A skilled hand barbe- with different decisions; maybe you’re not even graduating but quing can produce a very are trying to get a leg up on the succulent and delicious feast, often using closely guarded competition by preparing now, family secrets. The most popu- if that’s you, more power to ya! lar type of meat to cook in the If you’re in the boat with 95% of the rest of us who don’t have barbeque style is pork.

Whether someone’s grilling a clue of what to expect, please or barbequing, there’s usually a keep reading.

1. Have a plan gathering of people lining up for the food. Family reunions or Whether you’re going to be making $50,000 or $50 next year block parties, all enjoy the results of a good meal cooked you need to have a plan set in place. A budget is a scary thing in their favorite fashion. for most of us because we still don’t have an understanding of our money, and more frightening is that we don’t have respect for our money. There are lots of books and resources to teach make on your coworkers and you about money and how it can the perceptions they develop of work for you, but until you can you will play important roles in respect your money, there is no your long-term success within point in having any. Respectthat company. Starting an in- ing your money I the conscious ternship or a new job can be an realization that it is more than exciting springboard to a suc- safety, more than meal ticket cessful career. Although good and more than your next house supervisors will help you, keep party. It’s about how quickly it in mind that making the transi- can be gone and how hard you tion a success is your responsi- have to work to get, and to keep bility—it is your career! it. Just putting it in the bank or

Grilling v.s. Barbequing

May 2009

• Numbness of neck, arms, and back • Tingling, warmth, and weakness of face, back, neck, and arms • Facial pressure or tightness • Chest pain • Migraines • Nausea • Rapid heart rate and difficulty breathing MSG also acts as an excitotoxin, much like aspartame.

Excitotoxins will “overexcite” nerve cells causing them to break down. This could be the reason behind many of the symptoms suffered in relation to MSG. However, the FDA’s complete study of MSG labeled the food additive as simply “generally recognized as safe”, and required that foods containing MSG be labeled that they have MSG within the product.

Even with the support of the FDA, MSG should be avoided for the side effects alone. After consuming just a little of MSG, some people have been known to get a migraine almost immediately. If you find that you are

one of this people, change your eating habits. Scan through the ingredients on the label of what you’re about to eat, and look for monosodium glutamate. Try to pick foods with no MSG. Check out fast food restaurants’ websites; many are required to list detailed ingredients of their menu items. KFC practically had MSG from several sources in every one of their menu items.

Unfortunately, MSG cannot be completely avoided, as it appears in some foods naturally.

But with just a little awareness of what we’re eating, we can avoid a good majority of MSG.

The Real World: Post Graduation in a mutual fund doesn’t mean respect. Each individual has a different definition of respecting their money and a different level of money awareness. Do some research and then get out a piece of paper and write down your definition of respect for your money.

2. Have a partner in your plan Life is difficult and dollars come and go as those difficulties are met. But where we really run into trouble is generally the everyday temptation.

The morning Starbucks Mocha Latte Double Espresso Frappuccino or the Thick Burger from Hardees; that’s where your money goes. It’s call the ‘Drip Effect’ (Thrivent Financial), and it is how our money slowly leaves our wallet never to be seen again. One way to think about is that money has the potential to return the investment if used properly. That latte will only add inches to your waist, whereas a gym membership, if used, will help promote good health and keep you healthy, which will save you thousands later on in life. That’s just one example there are thousands out there which are just as diverse as each individual. While these everyday temptations can destroy your financial future, the best way to protect yourself is to have a partner, or partners in your plan. A financial advisor is the first partner, he or she will help you set your goals and give you tips on how to achieve

them, but more importantly are the other partners: your family, your friends and coworkers who know your goals and will help you stay on track.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help There are more and more dangers out there just waiting for you plus more and more specifics in financial management. Its’ a big scary world but you can navigate through it as long as you aren’t afraid to ask for help. Whether that is just for information and understanding, or its for a small loan from your parents, no matter how difficult or embarrassing the ask may be.

Keeping on track and staying out of debt, no matter how challenging it may be, is the healthiest practice you can adapt. Warren Buffet once said, “When you combine ignorance and leverage, you get some pretty interesting results.” Remember that knowledge bares no price unless it is disregarded, then it is worth everything.

These are just three short tips seem like common sense but they are disregarded thousands of times each day. Stick to these principals, adapt more as you gain experience and you will go far. Financial freedom isn’t about making millions, it’s about respecting and managing the resources you have to pay dividends in the future. Good luck to all of you as you embark on your future endeavors and never be afraid to ask for help – Warren Buffet wasn’t afraid,

HEALTH

May 2009

Sexy Time Dr. L Thumos This column has received a lot of attention this semester. I can count on one hand the positive comments I have heard, and yet the comments in disgust that this topic exists in a newspaper of a conservative school in a conservative state are unlimited. They claim the information found here is inappropriate and immoral, but as you will find in the following paragraphs, the information provided here is anything but inappropriate. The truth of the matter is that it is at this school in this state where this topic needs to be confronted the most. Here’s why.

Sexual health is about knowing the dangers, consequences and rewards of sexual intercourse. Sex Ed in high school, for some of us, served its purpose. It taught abstinence first, basic human anatomy, along with methods of contraception and it mentioned the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases.

What your high school Sex Ed

class taught you, at least what you heard when you weren’t dozing off, were the basic concepts of sexual education; what they didn’t teach are the emotional issues you will face regardless if you choose abstinence or lead a sexually prolific life style. These are the things that need to be addressed when you reach a certain age, and college age in South Dakota seems like the best opportunity. In college you are confronted with new viewpoints and new found freedom, sex education through a newspaper that people actually read, may be the best avenue for this topic. The truth alone is not just in my words, but rather through the facts. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that in 2007 South Dakota recorded higher rates of chlamydia than all surrounding states at 335 cases per 100,000; all surrounding states had less than 300 cases per 100,000.

Pennington County alone has

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The Importance of Sex Education

one of the highest rates in the state at over 400 cases per 100,000.

According to a study conducted

by Planned Parenthood, “Research has proven that comprehensive sexual health education does not increase sexual activity, nor does abstinence-only education delay sex…evidence shows that comprehensive programs that provide information about both abstinence and contraception can help delay the onset of sexual activity among teens, reduce their number of sexual partners and increase contraceptive use when they become sexually active. Conversely, research shows that abstinence-only education may keep teens from using contraception, leading to an increase in unintended pregnancies and STDs.” It’s not just about educating people on when they have sex or whom they should have sex with, it’s about dealing with situations that could lead to an unhealthy or unsafe practice. If you plan to wait until marriage to have sex then you should surround yourself with individuals

who have similar feelings and avoid high risk behavior such as drinking or doing drugs, as these can lead to dangerous sexual encounters. If you choose to be sexually active then you need to know how to protect yourself, both physically and emotionally. It’s these things that you don’t learn in school, and where this column comes into play.

While abstinence is a decent concept in theory, it’s outdated and unrealistic. In a study conducted in 2002 by Lawrence Finer, PhD, the numbers came forth to show, “… that by age 20, 77% of respondents had had sex, 75% had had premarital sex, and 12% had married; by age 44, 95% of respondents (94% of women, 96% of men, and 97% of those who had ever had sex) had had premarital sex.” Therefore, if virtually every individual has premarital sex at some point in their life, it is detrimental that each individual receive education on contraception and STDs, not just abstinence.

While I have the right to defend my place in this paper, this edition isn’t about me. The

Avoid sunburns this summer

Know a Born Scientist or Engineer?

When you were younger, don’t you wish there was a camp that helped you understand what engineers do? Well, it might be too late for you, but it’s not too late for your siblings or other kids you know. Students have a variety of camps to choose from and nost of the camps are week-long adventures in which the students stay in the dorms and also learn about life on campus.

Distance Running Camp - June 9-12 (Grades 7-12) Explosives Camp - June 29 – July 1 (Grades 10-12) Socket to Me! Computer Camp Girls: June 7-12 (Grades 7-10) Boys: June 14-19 (Grades 7-10)

Space Adventures! Camp July 19-24 (Co-ed, grades 6-8) July 26-31(Co-ed, grades 9-12)

STEPS Engineering Camp

June 7-12, July 5-10, or July 19-24 (Boys, grades 6-8) June 14-19, July 5-10, or July 12-17 (Girls, grades 6-8) June 21-26 or July 26-31 (Boys, grades 9-12) July 12-17 or July 19-24 (Girls, grades 9-12)

Super Science Camp -- July 12-17 (Co-ed, grades 6-8) Youth Geology Field Camp June 7-10 (Co-ed, grades 6-8) June 14-19 (Co-ed, grades 9-12)

For more information, please visit http://sdmines.sdsmt. edu/learn/youth. To add someone to the camp mailing list, please call (605) 394-2693 or e-mail eppc@sdsmt.edu. Be sure to check the Web site often for additional youth programs!

By Megan Mallet Raver Staff With spring ending and summer approaching, many people find themselves actively enjoying the outdoors. Whether it be hiking through the hills or tubing down a river, summer time was made to be enjoyed. Yet, despite the natural appeal to play outside, summertime has some pretty harmful side effects. One of the main problems during summer is sunburns.

Growing up, the majority of people had family members nag them to wear sunscreen, wear sunglasses, or even cover up or take off so that tan lines weren’t as obvious. Despite these precautions, sunburns still happen daily. In order to enjoy the summer months while dealing with sunburns, here are a few practical suggestions on how to help the body heal.

1. Drink plenty of water and sleep.

2. Keep the skin moisturized with 100% aloe gel or lay the inside of an aloe leaf on the burn. Aloe contains natural elements that help soothe burns.

3. Take a warm-cool bath or shower, but never cold. Cold water can cause shock within the body.

4. Put water mixed with squeezed lemon puree on the burn using a wash cloth or a spray bottle. The lemon will clean the skin of impurities and aid in the process of healing faster.

5. Soak tea bags, especial-

ly mint or chamomile, in boiling water. Once the water cools, apply the tea with a wash cloth or spray bottle gently. Chamomile is anti-inflammatory, and has a reputation of helping out skin problems. Mint in particular is a stimulant which will help the body cells replace themselves and will also reduce swelling.

6. Take aspirin or ibuprofen. This will help reduce the swelling and achiness of the burn.

7. When taking a bath, pour some oatmeal in the water and soak for a few minutes.

When done, air dry. The oatmeal will naturally calm the skin and acts and an anti-inflammatory agent.

8. If blisters occur, DO NOT POP! This can lead to infection and scars, and is more painful to deal with when popped, especially when salt gets into the blister due to sweat.

9. If the sunburn doesn’t start to heal within a few days, or a fever and sickness arises because of the sunburn, see a doctor.

10. When peeling starts, let it happen naturally! Keep plenty of lotion on the peeling skin, and peeling off the burn will only agitate, not relieve.

These are just a few ideas to help out when sticky, or uncomfortably hot, situations arise.

Remember to take care of your skin. It will last a lifetime if treated right.

topic of sex education is bigger than a little girl writing for a small school newspaper, it’s about our children’s health, their children’s health and how it impacts our future. Africa is a prime example; lacking even the basic principles of reproductive health education there are 12 million women with AIDS and in 2007 an estimated 1.5 million people died from AIDS. While we’re all well aware of the AIDS epidemic in Africa, very few of us understand the battle against sexually transmitted diseases right here in our own back yard.

In passing I asked a student what his thoughts were on the importance of sex education.

His response was that only women needed sex education because they are the only ones who can get pregnant. The CDC also reports that, “Genital HSV2 [Herpes] infection is more common in women [almost 1 in 4] than in men [almost 1 in 8]. This may be due to maleto-female transmission being more likely than female-tomale transmission.” STDs are out there and the fact that men are more sexually prolific than women is all the more reason for men and women alike to be educated in reproductive health.

While women are the only sex that can reproduce, the fact of the matter is that males are the common carriers of STDs and therefore it is more important for males to have sex education than women. Not just for health reasons or moral reasons of spreading a STD, but the law is now involved. For example, in 2000 the Missouri Court of Appeals “held that girlfriend who alleged that boyfriend’s actions were the direct and proximate cause of her medical conditions and that she suffered emotional harm and pain from continuing medical treatment stated cause of action for negligent transmission of a venereal disease.”

While it is difficult for a court to determine the damages to be paid, in most cases it is a total for medical expenses incurred given the medical ailment passed on by the individual held responsible.

Regardless of age, race, sex, or sexual orientation; sex education can and will improve the health of individuals in the United States and around the world. To some, a Utopian society would be marked by all citizens maintaining abstinence until marriage but the reality is abstinence-only is not sensible.

Only when both abstinence and contraception are taught in schools and at home (which is key), can we best prepare our youth for the dangerous world of sex that awaits them.

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NEWS

May 2009