one button studio

Speaking on the 1918 pandemic, USF History Professor Dr. Jackson reflected that “college campuses across the United States were deeply affected by the 1918 pandemic, which only compounded the challenges of managing through the First World War. Sioux Falls College actually shut down completely for a few weeks.” Quarantining is most definitely not a new idea, as well as shut-downs and precautions. Morale and ideas surrounding pandemics can shift from century to century, but Jackson shared how some are relatively the same. “Pandemics have had devastating impacts on human societies throughout history, and there are some recognizable patterns. Fear, isolation, and ‘scapegoating’ are unfortunately typical reactions to pandemics. Pandemics have a way of exposing pre-existing fault lines within societies, and of hitting the most vulnerable and marginalized groups hardest. In that broad sense, the Covid-19 pandemic and the 1918 Flu outbreak are similar.”

Sternburg also shared many documents regarding morale around the pandemic of the time, some with differing opinions on how to handle it. Medically, however, the response to COVID-19 is different from the 1918 Flu pandemic. Jackson said that because of an improvement in medical technology and knowledge, “effective treatments can be developed far more rapidly and spread more broadly than ever before…and then to have wildly effective vaccines within about a year of the initial cases is an astonishing feat of modern medical science, unrivalled in history.” Sternburg and Jackson both agreed about the importance of documenting history, including the history we are living through. “I have been so conscious of this over the past year where it was crystal clear that we were all living through a historical moment of change. Understanding how everyone--and I do mean everyone, not just so-called ‘important’ or ‘influential’ people--dealt with the immense challenges posed by Covid-19 is vital for an accurate representation of the past.” Jackson then shared something that everyone can do to preserve and be a part of history. “Help out future historians, and safeguard your journals, correspondence, and any other documents you can!”

Libraries are not dead. USF Mears Library upgrades for 21st Century learning.

story by Apolonia Davalos

For those keeping score, Annie adds, USF has two One Button Studios and “Augie only has one.” Annie advocates how “libraries are a resource and not a building of books.” She boosts, libraries are “not a dead thing, it’s a living thing.” And “it’s there for the whole community to use to succeed.” A reception is being held for all mid-October. An email invitation will be released for further details. USF looks to the future as the ultimate resource for learning.

Ashley Fink snaps a pic before recording Director of Library Services, Annie Sternburg, won USF a $50,000.00 grant from the South Dakota State Library. Her request consisted of two video recording studios from One Button Studios. Both are installed on the first level and available for students, faculty, and staff to use as a resource.

Mrs. Sternburg reveals, “About 90 students are already scheduling to use them because they have assignments from classes.” The One Button video recording studios are as easy to use as it sounds. No previous technological experience is required. Any person can reserve Studio A or Studio B, plug in their USB, step in front of the camera, press one button, record, and go. It’s that easy! Mrs. Sternburg champions a lot of use for this service. Especially, for USF staff, i.e., non-faculty and non-students, who may not have access to video technology to introduce themselves and connect professionally with the USF community and beyond. Zoom correspondence is also accessible through the One Button system. No more fear for students recording their speeches for class. High quality audio and video resolution is for all.

UNTITLED

There she goes again Sorting the candy, the fruit, our lunch by color “Because I’m a brat” she says But I think it’s beautiful We find a home by the tulips And the family of squirrels Who almost trust us She bends, twirls, and spins herself in the grass next to our plot Back in my romper again Little sunshine ruby girl

raf

THIS LOVE

this love doesn’t think I’m too curvy this love takes my emotional layers and melts them into one simple and beautiful at your throne there is mercy there is a love so powerful it covers all

you approve you offer your love, unchanging every minute and I can stop searching for a love that fills because yours overflows and I am complete in you

muse

usf student poetry

Medusa

You’ve heard of the story Of the woman with coils from her crown

Once she was desired by all Before damned with a deafening gaze Yet I ponder If it truly was a curse Or instead a gift

For the woman who was once devoured by the men around her Tarnished and stained by the one from the heavens Could now eliminate the hunger from their eyes with her own

-pkw