The weekend of February 23 through 25, the Coo Cinema Club participated in the 54FilmFest, a short-film festival based out of Nashville, Tennessee. According to the 54FilmFest website, the festival “is a timed film competition where participating teams take on the challenge of creating a short film all the way from conception to completion within 54 hours.” The Coo Cinema Club’s film, Incident_ Report_313.mp4, was nominated for eight awards, including best student film, best student score, best student genre, best student elements, best student editing, best student curveball, best student action, and best action overall; the club and their film ended up taking home the award for best student action.
Club president and the film’s director, Elliot Dickson, shared about the film-making process through which the ten members of the club who were available for the weekend went. “On Friday at 5:00 (PM), they have what they call their inception meeting. That’s when all of the teams will join a zoom meeting and play a round of like white elephant for our genre.” Each of the teams were given a number and when their number was called, they could either choose an available genre or steal another team’s genre. Dickson says she would have liked the psychological thriller genre, but it was already stolen and the club ended up with found footage as their genre. They also were required to include a prop, a line of dialogue, and an action which respectfully turned out to be a ball, “I wish you had…”, and rising and falling. Each film team could incorporate these elements however they saw fit.
Friday evening, postinception meeting meant it was time for the club to plan, scriptwrite, and get whatever else together they may need for the weekend of film-making ahead. Saturday morning at 6:00 AM came the scheduled twist. Each film team was informed they must include an extreme close-up shot within their film.
The Coo Cinema Club’s film is about two students who are making a film and are in the process of planning it. Those students are scouting out locations and creating a documentary-like behind the scenes sort of thing. Dickson mentioned a trend she
likes that the club incorporated into their film. “The Uncanny Valley is where something at first glance looks normal. And then the more you look at it, it settles in that something’s not right…it kind of creates this really eerie gut feeling.” Throughout the film, there is a person following the students, getting closer as the film creeps by.
The crew of ten USF students wrapped up editing and any additional shooting on Sunday and submitted their film by midnight. “It was really stressful because the past times that I’ve participated, I wasn’t the president. I wasn’t the director. I wasn’t the producer. I wasn’t the one in charge; I was going along with the flow so I didn’t have the stress of planning for it,” Dickson reflects. “So that was scary but actually everything ended up working out perfectly fine…I really really liked it because I’ve never been able to direct something before. That was a really cool experience to be able to do that.” Dickson is planning on orchestrating the 54 Film Festival next spring, in 2025, and wants to put the word out there. “If you’re seeing this and you’re interested, you should join. You should do it because it’s a lot of fun.”
If you are interested in watching the Coo Cinema Club’s four minute and sixteen second short film, Incident_ Report_313.mp4, it can be found on YouTube. Just search for “Coo Cinema Club” or “@coocinemaclub” and it should not be hard to find.
BY: AIDAN DEBOER
Photos by Karina Poirier
Plans can change depending on the weather, and the Residence Hall Council for the University of Sioux Falls found this out first hand on March 25.
When a snowstorm hit the Sioux Falls area that Sunday, it covered the roads and city in a blanket of white. The plans for a Pizza Ranch fundraiser for the university were canceled due to safety concerns of patrons.
Devin Wolthuizen, the leader of the student life Residence Hall Council on campus, stated that “since the Pizza Ranch said they were booked up till summer, we can try again for this plan around this upcoming fall semester.” All is not lost though for the Residence Hall Council, because even though the big plans are dashed, small ones can still emerge.
Every Residence Hall Council has their own events, with even Wolthuizen mentioning that “North has an upcoming Fast and Furious marathon and fondue event coming up.”
Posters for your specific Residence Hall event can be found all over your Residence Hall from the lobby to the elevators. So for those looking for some fun things to do over the semester, keep your eyes peeled.
Photo by Marc Kleen
MARCH 24-25TH
BY: REGAN LARDY
South Dakota received a second winter this March. The winter storm impacted students both on and off campus in positive and negative ways. Here’s what a few students thought about the storm that blew through.
Shantay Waldron, Junior
“It wasn’t much of a storm this weekend, it was just a lot of rain. I enjoyed running in the weather honestly. I wasn’t inconvenienced.”
Daniel Newman, Junior
“I am a bit worried about school being canceled because I needed to do things on Monday.”
MK Schuelke, Senior
“It’s South Dakota, it’s what we do. Driving into class is going to be a much longer trip.”
Philip Leneaugh, Junior
“Due to the conditions outside, certain things have become more difficult, as I rely on others to drive me. When the weather is bad, it may be the difference of me getting general necessities.”
Neveah Schreiber, Senior
“I would like the weather to be more decisive, but it was nice to have the moisture.”
Photo by Regan Lardy
Photo by: Dustin VanHunnik
MOVING, MOVING, MOVING; An experience seen every year come August and May at many college campuses. The University of Sioux Falls is no stranger to the chaos of several hundred students moving in and then out again in nine months. Students pack anything and everything they believe will be needed in that nine months spent on campus as some live hundreds of miles away and are unable to visit home frequently.
Reflecting on his experience, senior Elliot Dallmann said, “Living four hours away had its challenges, but with the help of my family and the dedicated moving team, the transition was always so smooth.”
Recognizing the importance of easing this transition, USF provides a dedicated support team to assist students with moving details and getting settled in the dormitories. Comprising resident assistants, campus ministry assistants, and enthusiastic student volunteers, this team ensures that students feel welcomed and supported from the moment they arrive on campus.
As students progress into their junior year, they are presented with the option of exploring offcampus living arrangements, whether that entails commuting from home or securing their own independent living space. Senior Paris Whalen shared her perspective, expressing newfound independence and appreciation for the added space and amenities that off-campus living affords. “I felt so much more independent moving off campus. I had so much more space to myself and have really enjoyed the feeling of being fully unpacked.”
However, the allure of on-campus convenience holds strong for many students. Alumni Tori Frahm emphasized the ease of rolling out of bed and strolling to morning classes without the hassle of parking or traffic delays. “Adding an extra 3045 minutes to my morning routine for traffic and parking is not worth it to me. Especially considering how easily I can run back to my room in between activities.”
Regardless of their housing choice, students receive unwavering support from the university. The goal is simple: to alleviate the burdensome task of moving and ensure that students can focus on their academic pursuits with peace of mind.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) went to their annual retreat in Rapid City from March 8-10. The FCA college retreat is now in year 3 where student-athletes from all different universities of the state of South Dakota get together as a united congregation to grow in their faith, share testimonies, and create new relationships with one another. Augustana University, the University of South Dakota, and South Dakota State University also made an appearance along with the University of Sioux Falls. All these schools came together with one another to fellowship and worship with other students. The FCA college retreat is meant for students to grow in their personal relationship with God and most of all to have fun.
Many who participated in the college retreat found it very fruitful, Ian Clewley who plays on the men’s basketball team for the University of Sioux Falls being one of them. “I loved it man, and I got so much inspiration for my faith out of it. To see so many people my age with the same fire for the
Lord gave me so much motivation to pursue the Lord further. I also made some great friends and branched out of my comfort zone and learned to not hide my faith or be scared to share my faith.” Ian also stated that he was grateful to learn so much from his time there and that he will continue to use the lessons that he has learned in his daily life.
Olivia Baumbeger, another student-athlete who participates in track and field also had nothing but good things to say about the retreat. “The South Dakota FCA college retreat is one of the greatest things I have ever invested my time into. It not only allows you to improve your relationship and walk with Christ, but it also allows you to build community with everyone who attends. Some of my best friends have been met through the retreat, and I could not be more grateful for that.” She also expressed how much she recommended the retreat for others and how it is so much fun. She also thinks that anyone who attends will make memories that will last a lifetime.
University of Sioux Falls Cougars basketball point guard Jack Thompson took an unforgettable buzzer-beating shot that secured a victory for his team in the first round of the NSIC tournament on February 28, 2024. This shot caused a frenzy from the USF crowd at the Sanford Pentagon and propelled the team into the next round.
The game was a hard-fought battle from the beginning. Despite numerous obstacles throughout the season, including two losses to Bemidji state, the Cougars were confident going into this game. “This season has been a roller coaster,” Thompson admitted. “We’ve faced a lot of adversity this year, the depth league overall was great this year. We were extremely confident going into this game even though we were 8th seed.”
Thompson said, “It was a really back and forth game, we had played a game just like this with them earlier in the year,” reflecting on a previous matchup with BSU. “They hit a buzzer beater to beat us at home, and we knew it was going to be a close one.” As the game ran down to the wire, USF found themselves in a position to win the game on a last second shot. “They hit a shot with ten or so seconds left to tie it up; Coach Johnson didn’t call a timeout so I knew that I could just bring it up and try to make a play.” In a previous interview with head coach Chris Johnson, he said the play call was, “Give Jack the ball and get out of the way.” Thompson drove down the right side of the court, eventually getting into the lane and
sinking a contested left handed layup. He has built a reputation for making big shots during his tenure at the University of Sioux Falls and he lived up to it once again.
Thompson’s game-winning shot caused a surge of USF fans to storm the court in excitement. “The support was amazing, lots of other athletes came out to watch the game. Then being at the bottom of the dogpile of fans is something I will never forget. My freshman year roommate Jake Kettner and I were just smiling at each other; A moment that’ll last forever.” This moment was the capstone to a season of ups and downs, but proves that the struggle is worth it. Moments like this are only possible if you can handle adversity and use it to make you better, as the Cougars did throughout this season. Thompson’s buzzer-beater will undoubtedly be remembered in USF Cougars basketball history for years to come.
Photo by Jurgens Photography
Photo by: Tessa Haag
The Student Theatre Activity Board, more commonly known as STAB, organizes monthly group events for the theatre department. With so many talented writers in its department, STAB decided to organize a poetry morning to give students a platform to show off what they have written. Students were invited to read an original poem to a crowd of their peers on March 28 in the Jones Theater. Many people came to the event, both to read poetry and support others as they presented their work. One student, Annika Leewarner, read poem titled, “The Ballad of the Beach Bikers”
“I rode my bike along the beach When Covid reigned supreme, My dad and I went every day To make the boredom flee.
The newscast said “The beach is closed, Do not venture outside,” We thought, “we won’t touch sand or sea, By the rules we’ll still abide.”
And once upon the open road I at last was feeling free. How should I’ve known that close behind Was a jeep full of police?
They shouted out for me to “STOP!” And full of fear, I froze: I had to choose ‘tween fight or flight –“So pedaling on, I’ll go!”
I finally caught up to my dad: “The cops, they’re coming for me!” He said, “let’s take the back road home, That way we won’t be seen.”
And now this song is fully sung, We made it home in peace. At twelve miles an hour, my dad and I Evaded the police”
Hope Dunkle shared her poem, “He Sends the Rain As a Comfort,” at the event.
“He sends the rain as a comfort. It awoke me after a restless night of grief and said ‘Happy birthday, my daughter. I am still with you.’
The sky cried with me on the day I felt alone. The cold enveloped my skin yet warmed my heart.
As I head to my car and drive to the theatre on opening night it rains. It’s His way of saying ‘Go forth and use the talents I’ve given you.’
When my heart was broken the rain slammed hard against the pavement cloaking my screams of rage from the world. He still heard me though.
At the funeral where I needed to be strong for my mother, and I had no tears of my own, the sky wept in my stead and sent cool breezes to calm the fury in my thoughts.
On restless nights soft pitter-patters outside my window give me peace, His lullaby for His distraught child.
‘Send me a sign,’ I yelled at the heavens one night, desperate for tangible comfort that none on earth could give me. And a torrent burst from Hi s domain.
Photos by: Abigael Olson
He sends the rain as a comfort— it speaks His words in a language I understand and says ‘I am with you always.’”
Students were also encouraged to not stray away from lighter tones, with Ryan Presler’s, “That Special Someone,” making the room erupt in laughter.
“She says she likes my smile
She’s the reason that it’s there
And these feelings that I’m feeling
Have gone too long without the air
When she walks into the room
My diction seems to disappear
Every consonant gets tangled
Out of nerves or out of fear
I guess she leaves me speechless
But she has the words to say
To get me started, when she tells me “Open up,” I say, “OK.”
“When I’m with you, I feel
Like it’s the real thing, not a drill
You perfect my imperfections
Every hole I have, you fill”
But I feel a sort of dread
Whenever she walks in the room
Because suddenly I realize that I might get hurt, and soon
It’s not because she’s trying
She just wants the best for me
I mean, she’s always the one working I lie back and watch TV
It’s just that every time I leave her
There’s a lie I always toss
As I’m walking out the door, I say, “I won’t forget to floss”
Then I do and she gets angry
I’ve got crowns but she’s the queen
When I beg her for forgiveness
She hands me Listerine
But the next time that I see her I just know that I’ll surprise her I’m brushing hard to get the plaque
Off of my right incisor
Maybe then I’ll make it up to her
Maybe I won’t get denied
With luck, I’ll even get to pick
My flavor of fluoride
She’s a nine of ten (well, one of nine)
When recommending Crest
Here’s what I can tell you
Even if I can’t predict what’s next
She still sees me once a year
She knows my molars are a mess
She’s the reason for my smile
That special someone, DDS”
While some wrote poetry specifically for the event, many students brought poems that they had previously written with no outlet to perform it. The event ran for about an hour, filled with original poetry by USF students, and has been regarded as a success.
Curious about the craze that is March Madness? Heard about it but never got the chance to give it a try? Well, over the past several weeks, students have participated in the March Madness Bracket Challenge hosted by Devin Wolthuizen, the Resident Director of Kroske, Collier Baker, and Burgess dorm halls. The bracket challenge gives students a chance to enter March Madness, both experienced and inexperienced, for a chance to win a prize!
What exactly is March Madness? It is the NCAA division one basketball tournament in which the top 64 teams are selected and put into brackets based on their strength of schedule and record. There are four different brackets, each consisting of sixteen parts. In the end, one team will be selected as champion. Wolthuizen loves March Madness, so he thought it would be a good idea to create a men’s and women’s group through ESPN’s tournament challenge website.
It’s very easy for students to participate. “It’s just very simple, you have to have an ESPN account.” says Wolthuizen. “On the student end, what they do is click on the link I send them to join the group, make sure they have an account made and then fill out a bracket by just clicking on which team they think is going to win.” Wolthuizen encourages students who don’t know much about basketball to choose the teams with their favorite colors or mascot!
Wolthuizen explains how students can win. “The tournament challenge website has its own point system that they give out for making the correct choices.” Wolthuizen continues, “The most points are given for choosing the correct champion of the tournament. If you happen to be the number one person in our group, you have the most points, you get a $75 gift card to cougar central.” The winners will be able to stop by student life to pick up their gift cards!
On the evening of April 9, University of Sioux Falls alumni Miranda Basye could only wait and see if her campaign for the Northeast District Sioux Falls city council seat was successful. As time ticked by, votes were counted and it was not long before Basye was declared the winner, bringing in 68% of the vote and defeating her opponents, Neil Jeske and David Zokaites, and victoriously concluding her campaign that started back in October of 2023.
Basye graduated from USF in December of 2016 with a degree in Media Studies with a marketing concentration and a Spanish double major in the honors program. She kept busy on campus and along with her double majors was a member of the Cougar softball team her first two years on campus and was editor for the Vessel(then called College Monthly) for two and a half years. “With being a part of so many different factions of the University, and the Spanish department being so different from the Media department being so different than the School of Business where I substituted in a lot of my classes, and also being involved in the world of softball.” Basye says she realized while at USF, “Wow, everything is so interconnected and USF does a really good job of exposing you to the community at large.”
WINS SIOUX FALLS NORTHEASTERN DISTRICT CITY COUNCIL SEAT
Basye attributes her time at USF to helping her realize for the first time there is so much more to the inner workings of the city she has called home forever. However, she says if you asked her if she would ever run for an office while she was still in school, she probably would have laughed at you. Post-graduation, Basye grew in her knowledge of the inner workings of Sioux Falls while working with Regional Economic Development nonprofit and through her husband, who was a middleschool special education teacher. She found herself asking more questions, and when she learned the city councilor from her district was terming out, the next step just felt natural. “If not me, than who?” Basye asked herself.
Before the official announcement would come in October, Basye utilized her marketing skills learned at USF to build up a media suite. “We spent a little bit of time up front, so by the time the press release went out
and information went out to the public that I was running, we had our website, we had our logo, and our branding.” She reflects, “It was pretty important to me that people knew I was serious, that I really wanted to do this and I was in it for the long haul.”
The preparation and six month campaign paid off, as Basye secured her seat on the city council for the next four years, after she was sworn in on May 21 of this year. As for what is coming over her term, Basye says, “The most immediate plan is to be curious to listen and learn…I’m not somebody who is gonna come with this predetermined agenda. My motivation is to serve and a lot of that comes with having eyes wide open, paying attention, and asking questions.”
Photo provided by Miranda Basye
Abigail Holmes and Elliot Dallmann’s senior project, Silent Sky, was presented on May 4 in the Jones Theater at the University of Sioux Falls. Written by Lauren Gunderson, the show follows the story of the real astronomer Henrietta Leavitt as she navigates deep space and human relations. “...It’s a story of her discovering a very important thing about space and how we map the sky, how we know the distance between the stars,” says Dallmann. “It’s about her discovering that along with other women of her time in a very chauvinist, patriarchal society and how she has to jump over all of those hurdles to get there.”
The show features Abigael Olson as Henrietta Leavitt, Abigail Holmes as Annie Cannon, Alex Jacobs as Peter Shaw, Faithanne Rukavina as Margaret Leavitt, and Ashley Forte as Willamina Flemming. “My one true love is being on stage and being in a cast, so I knew that I wanted to be in that aspect.
“In our troubled days it is good to have something outside our planet, something fine and distant for comfort.”
-Annie Jump Cannon
Photos by Tessa Haag
Especially in Silent Sky because it is such a wellwritten show,” says Holmes. “To be able to say Lauren Gunderson’s words and be authentic to that character has really changed how I view acting as well.” As Holmes acted in the play, Dallmann was given the chance to direct it and have full creative control over the set and lighting. “When I read it for the first time, there were a lot of moments that I thought of right away as beautiful moments. Using lighting and using pace and using scene transitions, I really focused on the stage picture and how everything else revolved around each picture in the show.” The show filled the Jones Theater and was well received by those in attendance. With a passionate cast and crew and a profound story to tell, Silent Sky reminded the audience to be curious and insist on the exceptional.
The University of Sioux Falls Athletic Department announced the hiring of new Head Athletic Director Jon Hart in October of 2023. Hart began his duties as AD and on the president’s management team on January 1, 2024. Prior to USF, Hart was the athletic director of Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU) in Mitchell, South Dakota for seven years. “Dakota Wesleyan University was definitely a special place for me and my family,” Hart shared, “I was there seven years as athletics director, four years prior to that I was the associate AD, so I was there probably 11 years as a staff member. And then even prior to that I was a student athlete there for four years…in a lot of ways I was there for half my life.” During his time at DWU, Hart was able to help grow the student-athlete population, win conference championships and national titles, as well as facility renovations and additions.
“There’s a lot to be proud of there overall,” Hart said, “but I think the thing I was most proud of was the culture we had and built within our athletic department that extended into the Mitchell community.”
With that being said, choosing to leave DWU was no easy decision for Hart. “I think the biggest thing was family,” he shared. Hart’s wife has been working as a nurse in Sioux Falls for the past several years, and had been commuting from Michell, SD. With three kids under three, the Hart’s have their hands full at home. “My wife and I got to really talking and decided that moving
to Sioux Falls was going to be the play here, and simultaneously, coincidentally, the University of Sioux Falls AD job opened up,” Hart explained, “I had a conversation with Dr. Bradfield shortly after and the rest was history, things really fell into place.”
So what does Hart have planned for the future of USF athletics? “The University of Sioux Falls, specifically the athletic department, has a lot of potential…there’s no reason that we can’t be one of the premier division two athletic departments in the country…I feel like we have a lot of the tools, a lot of the pieces in order to do that,” Hart shared. Hart hopes to develop athletic programs through resourcing, which “comes with reallyhittingthefundraisingtrailandmakingsome things happen from a resource perspective that enhances our facilities, budgets, booster clubs, sponsorships,and partnerships,” Hart explained. Resources are going to be key in getting USF to where Hart believes it should be, “You know we couldbethebestdivisiontwoathleticdepartment in the country. We compete in a tremendous conference, if we’re competing at a high level in our league, then we’re competing at a high level nationally. There’s just so much upside and so much potential here,” Hart said. Hart is looking forward to getting to work here at USF and bringing Cougar athletics to its full potential!
Photo provided by Madie Brink
Eric Chilson, a Spearfish High School Alum and 6th year coach at the University of Sioux Falls has been given the honor of accepting the new role as the Head Coach for the Track & Field/ Cross Country teams. In total, Eric has been coaching for nine years and counting and loves what he does. Before Chilson was a coach at USF, he was first hired to work at Spearfish High School in the spring of 2015 as he worked with the outdoor track athletes. 2018 was the year Eric started his coaching career at USF which involved the 400-meter hurdles and combined events. Focusing on coaching sprints, pentathlon, long sprints, and long hurdles was on his main agenda while in the second year of him being at USF.
December 16 was the official start date of Chilson’s new position as head coach. “I would say I felt nervous and high excitement, I mean every time you step into a new role like that there are going to be mixed feelings,” said Chilson. Selecting him as the new head coach was important for the teams as they wanted to have a natural transition from their former head coach, Doug Peterson. The difference in coaching versus becoming the head person in charge was a big jump for him as he said, “You don’t realize the amount of work that goes into it - it was a shift having to work the administrative side and working with both office work and practice groups.” Taking a bigger role took a little getting used to with not only keeping track of the athletes but the staff involved as well. “There is a beauty in the simplicity of showing up and making connections with your athletes,”
said Eric, while talking about his passion for coaching.
So far, Eric has loved the switch into his new position as head coach even though it has been a huge adjustment with the addedon responsibility. For now, he is working with the Track & Field/Cross Country athletes and getting them qualified for the NSIC and NCAA Outdoor Championships as well as continuing to better his athletes’ progress within the sport in the future.
PIZZA AND PROFESSIONALISM: SIOUX FALLS LEADER PANEL
In the heart of Sioux Falls, where ambition meets opportunity, a diverse group of leaders gathered on Thursday, April 11, at 7:00 pm, in Little Z. What drew them together? Well, besides the promise of invaluable insights from some of Sioux Falls’ finest minds, there was an irresistible lure — FREE pizza! But make no mistake, this wasn’t just any pizza party; it was a symposium on success, a forum for forging futures, and, yes, there was pizza. So, what do pizza and professionalism have in common? The panel consisted of five distinguished speakers, each offering a unique perspective on professional success and community engagement.
Dr. Brett Bradfield, President
of the University of Sioux Falls, kicked off the event with a poignant reflection on the evolution of Sioux Falls. He shared a personal anecdote, reminiscing about the transformation he has witnessed, from rural beginnings to the vibrant city it is today. “Things change,” he remarked, emphasizing the importance of community support and service in this transformation. Dr. Bradfield proudly shared some staggering statistics, showcasing the success of the University of Sioux Falls graduates in the workforce. “99% of the Class of 2023 were employed or attending graduate or professional school within 6 months of graduation,” he revealed. “83% found
employment within South Dakota, with 93% of those working in Sioux Falls or within 30 miles of the city.”
Natasha Smith, Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Sanford Health, shared her remarkable journey to Sioux Falls. Despite a turbulent background, Smith found solace and opportunity in South Dakota. “SD changed my life for the best,” she proclaimed, expressing her love for the community that supported her. Smith, a non-native, spoke passionately about her commitment to helping others from similar backgrounds find their place in the healthcare field.
Vicki Stewart, a disability advocate and Founder of Cetera Services, emphasized the importance of giving back to the community. Stewart, who has Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), also known as brittle bone disease, recounted her journey from a disability beauty pageant winner to a community leader. “It’s a genetic fluke,” Stewart explained, “but it’s my purpose to help others in similar situations.”
Angela Lammers, Founder and Managing Partner of Cetera Services, underscored the power of manners in achieving career success. “The power of manners can get you far,” Lammers asserted, reflecting on her own journey to success. Inspired by the other women on the panel, Lammers shared
a personal story of facing discrimination during job interviews. “I had interviewers who clearly had a different person in mind,” she revealed. This story had students who attended in the crowd leaning forward.Her story resonated with the attendees, sparking a discussion about the importance of addressing biases in the professional world.
Jon Thum, Sioux Falls Chief of Police, rounded out the panel with his unique perspective on teamwork and connected with student athletes. A South Dakota native and former University of Sioux Falls football player, Thum shared a personal story of overcoming regret and guilt for not sharing skill sets on the field when his team needed him. “Don’t focus too much on
by Dustin VanHunnik
your trajectory,” he advised the audience. “Others may see your potential in something greater.” Thum’s dedication to teamwork, forged on the football field, now shines in his role as Chief of Police.
Overall, the Sioux Falls Leaders panel proved to be an inspiring event, reminding attendees of the power of education, community, and professionalism. As Lammers aptly stated, “You are responsible, you are able.” So, seize the opportunity, make the most of your education, and let Sioux Falls be the place where your skills grow and thrive no matter the background.
Photos
BY: LEVI SMITH
In the fast-paced world of journalism, newspaper editors stand as pillars of integrity and accuracy. Newspaper editors are the architects behind the scenes, crafting each edition to inform, engage, and challenge their readers. Their responsibilities extend much further than just proofreading each story, creating the layout, and making sure the entire newspaper flows together.
The editors of the USF Vessel, Tessa Haag, and Raelee Voss, have the newspaper editing process dialed in. The two have their roles split perfectly between each other as Haag does most of the design and layout and Voss does most of the editing, making any corrections needed. “I will put my two cents in on her editing
portions and I always have her look over my design to make sure it looks good from another perspective,” said Haag. Each article has to be meticulously edited and designed, which can take hours for just one story. Each design has to convey a specific mood that matches with the story and catches the eye of the audience. Along with editing, Haag and Voss rely on the writers to turn their stories in on time. A delay on one story can delay the entire magazine and put a dent in the editing process. “It does take a lot of time and effort and it is not as easy as it might seem,” said Voss.
Outside of the editing process and the stressors that may come, Haag and Voss enjoy being the editors for the Vessel. “I have
been able to meet a lot of new people and gain experience in the design field,” said Haag when asked about her favorite part of being an editor for the USF Vessel. When asked about her favorite part of being an editor, Voss said “I love reading everyone’s stories. We get such a diverse background of stories and I learn a lot about what happens in different areas on campus”. The two enjoy what they are a part of and take pride in what they have been able to create with The Vessel. Overall, Haag and Voss want people to enjoy the magazine and appreciate the art forms of writing and design. There are hours of hard work that they pour into The Vessel and they are the unsung heroes of this newspaper.
For the past couple of years, Student Life here on the University of Sioux Falls campus has been holding an event called Coopers Career Closet. Not only is Student Life contributing to this cause, there are items donated from Coo Thrifts too as they collaborate together on this project. Students and faculty are also welcome to donate items such as casual and business casual clothes, dresses, shoes, hats, and jewelry which are accepted all year long and can be given to the Student Life office in the McDonald Center on campus.
This year alone, there were a total of four of these same events that were held. Every time this event is open to the students, more and more individuals have been participating and collecting items that are being laid out.
“Throughout the past year the attendance has been pretty good, I think the numbers are consistent to around 100 items being taken each time,” says Angel Martinez. If students would like
to take up the opportunity to collect free items, they are welcome to check out the racks and tables set up in Cooper’s Café in the McDonald Center. The initiative of this event is giving students the opportunity to find clothes for their future.
“Getting people to have clothes for careers whether that is immediately after graduation or even right now for internships,” said Kristin Kotas. Sometimes when they host these pop-up events, they work with the Academic Success Center, the ASC, and set up the ability for students to get a free headshot for their resume as well.
Since starting this event, members of Student Life have loved getting individuals involved and being a part of their journey in their future careers or internships and hope that in the following events people will want to participate. “This event honestly wouldn’t be possible without the students and staff donating clothes and other items to Student Life,” said Martinez.
Photos by Kyndra Wonnenberg
BY:
REGAN LARDY
Late Night Boomin is a local talk show created and hosted by former USF student Jack Unruh. The show brings on guests to interview and they even play a few games together, all with a live studio audience. Late Night Boomin has just been renewed for season two. The full show is recorded at the Washington Pavillion. They tend to have a show once every month so check out their Instagram or Facebook page to stay up to date. A couple of students from the University of Sioux Falls are also a part of the crew for the show.
STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR YEAR, AND YOUR MAJOR.
ISAIAH: “I’m Isaiah Henderson, I am a Senior, and I am a Theology and Biblical Studies major.”
EDDIE: “My name is Eddie Unruh and I’m a Sophomore English Major.”
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO BE A PART OF THE SHOW?
ISAIAH: “I am really good friends with both Jack and Eddie who created Late Night Boomin. Jack went to USF during his freshman year about five years ago. I’m really tight with them so when I saw that they were doing such a cool thing, I wanted to be a part of it because I’ve really enjoyed just being creative in any way possible lately and so this has been another outlet for that. Being able to write scripts for skits and just for the show in general has been super fun.”
EDDIE: “So my brother came up with this idea back in 2019 and at the time I wasn’t as involved, but as I kind of saw the vision for it, him and I started coming up with some stuff and I actually fell in love with the idea and now I’m a part of it and it’s been awesome so far.”
WHAT IS YOUR JOB ON THE CREW?
ISAIAH: “I am a part of the writing team. I help write skits and just for the show in general like technical things like when this person is on stage at a certain time. I also MC the show so I prep the crowd because we have a live studio audience when we film. I prep the crowd before we film and the show split because we shoot two episodes in one night, so I will prep the audience in between the shows as well.”
EDDIE: “On the crew, I’m the first assistant director so I’m making sure that all of the wheels are greased on show day, and then in between shows I’m just making sure that all of the content is coming together and everyone is on the same page.”
HOW DO YOU JUGGLE YOUR SCHOOLWORK AND YOUR WORK ON THE SHOW?
ISAIAH: “Honestly Jack and Eddie make it really easy because Late Night Boomin is pretty low commitment. We meet once a week and we only have shows every so often, once a month at max. I guess it’s not that hard because I enjoy it so much and it’s just a fun thing to be able to do when I’m not working on school.”
EDDIE: “It’s nice because this semester I’m taking a lot of online classes which gives me a lot of flexibility to be able to focus on the show when I need to. To go along with that, having my brother there as the main person I’m working with, we’re able to carve out some time that normally other people wouldn’t be able to carve out whether it’s late nights on Zoom or Sunday afternoons.”
Photos by Regan Lardy
In the busy world of college sports, where passion and competition collide, there is a podcast that offers listeners an exclusive inside look at the University of Sioux Falls athletics. The Cougar Sports Show, hosted by Abby Whittington, is a dynamic podcast that goes beyond the boundaries of typical sports coverage. Week after week, this podcast serves up a blend of behind-the-scenes insights, in-depth interviews, and spirited discussions, providing fans with a glimpse into the heart of Cougar sports.
For Abby Whittington, an athletic communications intern at USF, the driving force behind the podcast is her love for sports. She interviews players and coaches from all 19 of USF’s sports programs. Even as a soccer player at USF, when asked about her favorite sport to cover, Abby Whittington chose football. “I really enjoy talking to the football coach, Jim Glogowski, he’s hilarious. Any of the ones with Glo are my favorite,” Whittington said. She brings a blend of enthusiasm and expertise to every show, ensuring to get good answers out
of each interview. However, Whittington cannot do it all alone. Alivia Tindall, a teammate of Whittington on the USF women’s soccer team, assists with reaching out to the coaches, drafting some interview questions, and ensuring audio levels are perfect during the podcast.
Something that sets Whittington’s Cougar Sports Show apart from a typical sports podcast is her commitment to diversity and inclusion, making sure every sport is covered and has a chance to be heard. “I have talked to every coach at least once,” Whittington stated about her dedication to covering every sport. So, whether you’re a die-hard Cougar fan or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of athletic competition, tune in to the Cougar Sports Show and join Abby Whittington, every single Thursday. After all, in the world of sports, every story is worth telling.
To listen to previous Cougar Sports Show podcasts, go to the USF Athletics webpage, click Fan Zone, then Cougar Podcast.
photo by Levi Smith
The University of Sioux Falls has many opportunities for students to express themselves, from an art degree to joining either the theater or band. One opportunity that isn’t as well known is the University’s Jazz Band.
Known as the PB&J ensemble (Pop, Blues, and Jazz), it’s a big band format that covers a wide range of popular music of those genres. Led by the Band Director, Dr. Jonathan Neiderhiser, they strive to have an opportunity to perform more than the usual classic repertoire seen in the regular Wind and Orchestra ensembles. When asked about the repertoire for PB&J, Dr. Neiderhiser replied, “It’s fun to play lots of different styles of music but it’s also great to have an opportunity to practice these pieces, as well as improvisation, ad-libbing, and the elements you don’t get to do in a larger ensemble.”
Not only is it fun for the conductor, but for the students as well. Philip Leneaugh, one of the drummers for the PB&J ensemble enjoys being a part of this jazzy group. “I get to play with all
my friends in a more fun ensemble setting in comparison to wind ensemble.” He said while also saying that the percussionists use the trap set or the percussion usually seen for rock bands, which he is very passionate about and doesn’t get to use in regular wind ensembles. “The opportunity to play drums like that…I don’t get that in any other ensemble, so it provides more of what I am wanting to play than anything else.”
Although the semester may be almost over and with two more concerts around the corner, May 4 and May 11, Dr. Neiderhiser is always looking for students who want to join the ensemble. They meet on Monday’s and Friday’s at 3:00pm and run until 4:00pm. If you’d like to join the ensemble, talk to the registrar’s office and Dr. Jonathan Neiderhiser to get you started on your smooth journey.
Photo by Daniel Newman
Students across campus gathered in Cooper’s Café for some painting and fellowship on April 15 from 7 to 9 p.m. Hosted by CAB, the Cougars Activities Board, Paint Night is meant to be a relaxing night for students as the pressure of finals week nears.
“Painting night is a night for students to come out and enjoy painting and hanging out with friends to relax,” states Kylee Miller, a member of the Board. As students walked into Cooper’s Café, students were welcomed with a table full of paint, canvases, mason jars, flower pots, and wooden paint outlines.
Laughter filled Cooper’s Café as many students settled in to begin painting. Students painted different designs such as mushrooms, watermelons, and flowers while
engaging in conversation with friends. Paint Night is a huge hit for USF students. “The students love to attend this event and it is always very popular,” says Miller. A total of 70 students showed up to participate in the event that evening.
At the end of the night, students were able to walk away with their freshly painted flower pots, mason jars, canvases, and paint outlines. “We do not have another paint night for this semester, but you can bet your bottom dollar that we will have one next year!” states Miller. The future of Paint Night looks bright at USF!
