The Volante
THE STUDENTS’ VOICE SINCE 1887 VERVE (B1, B2)
W E D N E S D AY, F E B R U A R Y 2 3 , 2 0 2 2
Men’s basketball secures two home wins
USD hosts the 27th annual Truran Piano Competition USD’s fine arts department’s Truran Piano competition was held with guest judge Dr. Agustin Muriago.
VOLANTEONLINE.COM SPORTS (B3, B4)
Coyotes celebrate Native American Heritage Day with wins over Summit Leage rivals.
NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENT ATHLETES RECOGNIZED AT BASKETBALL GAME
Madison Martinez | The Volante
USD honors Native American heritage with celebration of culture and recognition of 11 Native American student athletes. Madison Martinez
Madison.Martinez@coyotes.usd.edu
Native American Heritage Day was held in recognition of the nine South Dakota tribal nations with the 11 native athletes on campus at the Dakota Dome on Saturday, Feb. 19, during the men’s basketball game against Western Illinois. The director of native student services Megan Red Shirt-Shaw and director of native recruitment and alumni engagement John Little invited schools with high native populations to attend the event. The high schools participating were Crow Creek, Todd County, Red Cloud and Flandreau high school. The students were greeted with an activities fair to see the resources available on campus. They
were able to listen and ask questions at the student panel with the admission counselor Tse Chi “Chad,” native students and athletes on campus. Freshman Trinity Redday is the chair of Tiospaye Student Council and was one of the students highlighting her experiences on campus. “My first tour here was in March. The Native American Cultural Center is a good place. It feels like a home away from home. That’s what sold it for me.” said Redday. Colette Jade, a graduate student on the panel, discussed her history at USD, including her involvement with the Native American Cultural Center (NACC) and the importance of staying involved. She said the NACC was her community that she found on campus.
“I think a big part of coming to college, especially for first generation students, is to find a way to build or find a community here or a support base or foundation. It helps you find your grounding here and you have a support system for when school gets tough,” Jade said. After the panel, the visiting students and alumni were seated in the same section at the basketball game. Before the start of the National Anthem, the Lakota Honor Song was sung by some of the native students on campus and the alumni drum group. This was followed with the Lakota Flag Song, originally composed and created by Ellis Chips who is a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation. The song was to honor the thousands of native veterans returning home from World War II.
Junior guard Mason Archambault was given his tribal flag to wear around him in honor of his tribe Standing Rock while the national songs were being performed. At halftime, the six native students who were attending lined up on the court to be recognized with their families. The five athletes who were unable to attend due to sports conflicts, put together a video prior to the event stating their name and tribe. The video was shown on the screen while all the Native American student athletes were being recognized. The drum group of alumni and native students were playing Intertribal Song while student and alumni men and women fancy dancers and women’s jingles were on the court performing a native traditional dance. With an attendance of over 600 Native
American students, alumni and friends, Red Shirt-Shaw said she was excited with how the event turned out. “I felt a tremendous amount of pride… seeing how much everybody came together and showed up and showed out, it was an amazing day,” Red Shirt-Shaw said. Red Shirt-Shaw said she hopes the event will bring more Native American students to campus and having this event become an annual one to bring recognition to the Native American athletes attending the university in the upcoming years. The NACC will be hosting the 10th Annual Alumni dinner on April 1. Then the 48th Annual Wacipi powwow on April 2 and 3 with students and alumni attending both events.
SGA Presidential Candidate team prepares for upcoming election Bailey Zubke
BaileyZubke@coyotes.usd.edu
Bailey Zubke | The Volante Caleb Weiland and Reagan Kolberg seek SGA executive office to increase student health accessibility and advocacy.
Sophomore Caleb Weiland and junior Reagan Kolberg are the lone candidate team standing for the USD Student Government Association’s Presidential Election that will take place March 8-9. Weiland, a political science major and spanish, civic leadership studies double minor from Beresford, South Dakota is running for president after serving as the president pro tempore and governmental affairs chair. Weiland also serves as the chair of the Student Federation. Kolberg is a health service administration major and a legal studies in business minor from Yankton, South Dakota. Kolberg is serving as the chair of finance and has served on the finance and student affairs committees and is Weliand’s running mate as vice president. Weliand and Kolberg’s platform, with the slogan “All in for USD” is built on three pillars: Student Health, Accessibility and Advocacy. “It’s really important that SGA as an institution, as senators, we do more with outreach and understanding that there are a lot of different perspectives,” Weiland said. “I think you’re going to see under our administration, a lot more focus on campus issues.” The first pillar, student health, is multifaceted, focusing on both mental and physical health. Kolberg said that having mental health resources available to students is very important to them. “Fortunately, the Cook House has received increased funding and we really want to work with the student body and make sure that funding is going to things that are actually going to cause that Cook House to have much more outreach,” Kolberg said. Weiland and Kolberg are planning to get clarity on student health through Sanford and getting that information out to students, as Kolberg said not a lot of students know how
student health works or how their insurance and student health work together. The second pillar, accessibility, includes getting ADA accessibility to buildings across campus. Weiland also said that accessibility extends to a syllabus bank for students, which passed through SGA last semester. “If you can go on before you even register for a class, you can go see what the course work is like, what the schedule is like (and) what the textbook is like,” Weiland said. “That is good for our students and then they can best tailor their schedule to best fit their needs.” The final accessibility factor is Weiland and Kolberg’s plan to bring back Safe Rides for students. Safe Rides provides students the ability to get a safe ride from downtown or other places to their homes. As for advocacy, Weiland and Kolberg understand that USD has a broad student base and students come from different backgrounds, and they want SGA to represent all of USD. A big topic with advocacy is the new Opportunity Center and the changes to the Center for Diversity and Community. “Reagan and I are advocates for diversity and inclusion, we both were prime sponsors of legislation to stand for the CDC last semester,” Weiland said. The team said they want to listen to the student organizations most affected by the changes and see what SGA can do to help. “That’s what’s so disheartening about the dismantling of their space, they have the largest impact, more than most student organizations,” Kolberg said. “...We want them to be able to make the impact that they were making, and I think we’re just going to work as hard as we can to make sure they still feel that they have that level of support.” With the election two weeks away, the team will continue to campaign to get enough approval votes. Two other candidate teams were unable to gather the signatures needed by SGA’s deadline, forcing them to drop out of the race. Therefore, the election for Weiland and Kolberg will be a yes or no vote on March 8-9.
News The Volante I volanteonline.com Coyote men’s basketball player commemorates Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
A2 Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Sydney Johnson| The Volante
Junior guard Mason Archambault shows his Native heritage during the Native American day celebration at the men’s basketball game versus Western Illinois.
CITY OF VERMILLION POLICE BLOTTER HIGHLIGHTS
2
traffic crimes
1
Feb. 13
Feb. 13
An officer initiated a traffic stop when they observed a vehicle traveling without any headlights or taillights. Following a roadside investigation, the driver, who was under the age of 21 years old, was taken into custody for a zero tolerance/.02 DWI.
Officers were called to a residence to investigate a report of an assault with a knife. The investigation was concluded and it was determined that no crime had been committed.
Feb. 13 Officers responded to a report of a disturbance near a residence. The caller reported hearing shouting in the area near their home. Officers located and interviewed several people in the area and determined that a crime had not occurred. Alcohol was a factor. Feb. 13 While an officer was conducting parking enforcement during the early morning hours, an intoxicated man approached them and offered to move his vehicle to avoid a parking ticket. The officer pointed out the fact that the man was inebriated and offered to have them find someone sober to move the vehicle instead.The man didn’t accept this as an option, and shouted obscenities at the officer. The officer continued with parking enforcement.
2
medical emergency
Feb. 13 Officers responded to a report of suspicious activity near a residence. A caller reported that someone appeared to be peering into their parked vehicles. Officers were unable to locate anyone in the area. Feb. 14 Officers took a report of a burglary at an apartment complex. A caller reported several items taken from her vehicle. Investigation continues. Feb.14 Officers received information of possible fraudulent activity. The case is under investigation. Feb. 15 Officers responded to a report of fraud at a local business. Officer’s investigation found the suspect wrote a fraudulent check. The suspect has been identified and charges are pending.
>> Feb. 13 - Feb. 19
reports of thefts
Feb. 16
Feb. 16
While on patrol an officer located a suspicious person who fled from the officer on foot. The suspect was later located, detained and issued a citation for an alcohol offense. Officer’s subsequent investigation found the suspect may have committed other crimes before law enforcement involvement. The case is under further investigation. Charges are pending. Alcohol was a factor.
Officers responded to a report of a deceased person. The case is under investigation. At the time of this writing there is no indication of foul play.
Feb. 16 Caller reported that an intoxicated male was creating a disturbance in a store. Officers located the male nearby and he was removed from the property.
Feb. 16 Officers responded to a report of shoplifting from a local business. The suspect was still on scene. Officers arrived on scene, detained the suspect, and investigated the situation. Officers investigation found a theft occurred and arrested the suspect. Charges are pending. Feb. 17
Officers assisted a person in need by providing a housing voucher from the Salvation Army so the person in need could have a warm place to stay.
A local hotel requested officer assistance with an intoxicated subject refusing to leave. Officer contacted the subject who lied about his name and provided a false ID. The subject was arrested for trespassing, false impersonation, and possession of an altered identification.
Feb. 16
Feb. 17
Officers received a traffic complaint of a school bus stop violation. The suspect vehicle has been positively identified. This case is under investigation.
Caller was concerned because a person she had let sleep on the couch and then told to leave the next day was now claiming they were going to call the police. The subject is
Feb. 16
claiming they could not get some of their stuff out of the caller’s house. The officer made several suggestions on how to return the items and end the contact between the two subjects. Feb. 18 Officers received information of a threatened shooting from a social media post. The case is under investigation. Feb. 18 Officers responded to a call of a dispute between persons. Officer investigation found no crimes had been committed and the dispute was civil in nature. No charges or arrest were made. Feb. 18 Caller reported having heart problems. An officer responded and provided care until the ambulance arrived and took over. Feb. 19 While on routine patrol an officer made contact with a subject with an outstanding warrant for their arrest. The subject was arrested for the warrant without incident. No other charges are pending.
The Volante Volume 148, No. 1 February 16, 2022 www.volanteonline.com Al Neuharth Media Center 555 N. Dakota St. University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD 57069 Adviser Kyle Miller Mission statement The Volante covers issues relevant and interesting to USD students. Faculty, staff and community members are welcome readers, but the newspaper is written and presented for a diverse community of students from the students’ point of view. The paper should provide a variety of information, entertainment and educational opportunities for the readers. The Volante encourages everyone to write letters to the editor. The Volante wishes to be viewed by students as respectable, objective, accurate, fair and trustworthy. If you have comments, concerns or questions, please contact The Volante at 677-5494. The Volante is distributed Wednesdays during the academic year free of charge locally with the cost of $1 for each additional copy. One year subscription rates are $40, which solely covers the mailing costs. The Volante does not endorse, promote or encourage the purchase or sale of any production service advertised in this paper. Advertisements are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. The Volante disclaims all liability for any damage suffered as the result of any advertisement in this newspaper. The Volante reserves the right to refuse any advertising.
Allison Horkey news editor
Keeley Thomas news assistant
Rachel Thompson news designer
Madeline Knau verve editor
Rachel Pechous verve designer
Chloe Fullenkamp sports designer
Emma Daggett opinion editor
Jozie Hunter opinion designer
Bailey Zubke photo editor
Maddi Kallsen copy editor
Maddi Kallsen social media director
Kaitlyn Kumm advertising manager
Sydney Johnson editor-in-chief
Bennett Clary
managing editor
News The Volante | volanteonline.com Dispatches from the CDC: Community in all colors
A3 Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Allison Horkey
Allison.Horkey@coyotes.usd.edu
This is the third installment of a series recording the experiences of students and faculty involved with the Center for Diversity and Community (CDC). The series seeks to highlight why this organization was so impactful on the USD community and why the CDC was more than the sum of its parts. “When I was (in the CDC), it was always a really great environment, even if we weren’t meeting as a group, just to see each other more regularly. Obviously, we see each other in the (Munster University Center) but when we were (in the CDC), it was almost like a more casual place to be. Not necessarily more open because I think people are still open when they’re downstairs, but more unapologetic,” Isabel Young said. Young, a junior at USD, is the president of a group on campus called Spectrum: Gender and Sexuality Alliance. Young said Spectrum is a community and safe space for people who identify as LGBTQ. “I would say our main goals with Spectrum are to create a community on campus where LGBTQ people can get together, where we can learn about current issues or things going on in the community, and where we can promote LGBTQ cultural lifestyle,” Young said. Identity is an important part of Spectrum. Young uses she/her and they/them pronouns to describe themself.
“It’s, more or less, me just letting you know that I conceptualize my gender without boundaries,” Young said. Identity, and being able to express identity, whether it was sexuality, gender, ethnicity or race, was also a large part of the CDC. With the removal of the CDC, many Spectrum members felt the loss, ultimately as apathy towards the university, Young said. “The ethos the CDC had of promoting self-identity … and just (allowing people) to be themselves and do it without fear, and knowing this campus at least cared enough about them to let them have a space,” Young said. “But the fact that it doesn’t exist anymore definitely placed a lot of negativity in our group members (and) apathy towards the university.” Having a place to express identity was not the only benefit of the CDC’s physical space. An important part of the CDC, for Young, was being able to connect with other members of groups. “Since we were having regular meetings there and our office was there, it was such a convenient space for all of our things,” Young said. “People were hanging out in the normal CDC area, we always like let (people) hang out in our office. It was a really great space.” Since Young would spend time in the CDC everyday after class, she not only became closer friends with her executive staff, but made a lot of friends with people in other groups too, like Latino Hispanic Student
Organization(LaHSO), whose office was next to Spectrum’s office. She remembers spending time helping to set up an event for LaHSO, even though it did not have anything to do with Spectrum. “I didn’t know anything really about Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)… but just the fact that I didn’t know anything about this, but I cared so much about my friends and the events they were putting on. With that, it meant so much to me to actually be able to help them get everything working, to set up the ofrenda and to learn about this. But also, genuinely being a part of creating something,” Young said. “Actually I forgot, but I had done (someone’s) makeup for the Day of the Dead because I just like to do makeup,” Young said. “It was definitely a very organic. I was just chilling in office, they had this makeup, and they were like, ‘hey, I know you’re good at makeup. Do you want to help us with that?’” The CDC was an ideal place for learning because everything was so accessible. Young could just go into any office and learn something new and meet new people. “It was really great to just meet everyone, as opposed to knowing one person and nothing really about the group, (people could) actually go into their office and see their space and ask questions and learn about them not just as organization members, but as people too,” Young said. Although she is still doing her best as the president of Spectrum,
it’s hard being so isolated from all the other groups now. It’s harder to plan and the meet others. “I feel like my biggest change in from when I was president was last semester (to this semester) because … we couldn’t really use the space at all during COVID. So, it feels more like we’ve gone back to (how it was during) COVID, a more isolated, a more alienated group, as opposed to something that was a part of something (else),” Young said. Young said she definitely feels the loss of the CDC and the community among different groups because they do not have the same opportunity to interact with each other as they did. “The mission of the CDC to bring people together. They always went out of their way to make sure the groups within the CDC (communicated),” Young said. “They used to have meetings where we would all get up together and talk about things going on with our events. Now it’s like I’m trying to create events for our group, but I don’t want to step on the toes of other groups like what they’re doing.” It was how the CDC was about learning about other, their experiences, their cultures. Young said it was about unity and togetherness. “When people say they want to be open minded, and they want to learn and they want to grow from other people, this was the place to do it,” Young said.
Submitted | The Volante
President of USD Sectrum: Gender and Sexuality Alliance Isabel Young talks about her experiences in the CDC.
It’s a Trip! exhibition features student artists
USD students involved with the SAA share their artwork with the Vermillion community at the Coyote First Dakota Gallery. Maddi Kallsen
maddilynn.kallsen@coyotes.usd.edu
USD’s Student Art Alliance (SAA), composed of fine arts majors and USD artists, curated the “It’s a Trip!” exhibition in the Coyote Gallery located next to the Coyote Twin movie theater. Senior Dakota Wilson the SAA president, helped organize and curate the show. The exhibition featured 17 pieces from 10 artists. Wilson said the SAA is an important resource for USD student artists and this event is one of many affiliated with the SAA. “A lot of the time, in the art
department, you get stuck in your one specific studio, so painting majors only really interact with other painting majors. Same with graphic design. (“It’s a Trip!”) is a good way for everybody to get together and actually talk to each other and build some connections,” Wilson said. “We do lots with local artists in the area so you really get some good resources for when you’re trying to be an artist.” Wilson said student art is everywhere on campus, in every building. Many of the artists featured around campus will take part in the senior art shows which are approaching.
“If students are interested in seeing other student art all they have to do is look around because everything in the building and in every building at USD is done by a student commission or donated. So that’s pretty cool,” Wilson said. “In the next two or three months, March, April and May, are when we do our senior graduation shows for our BFA students and then for masters students, so those will be open in the gallery.” The faculty advisor for SAA is assistant art professor Amber Hansen. The SAA has been around for more than a decade, serving students here at USD, Hansen said.
USD hosts annual Giving Day Celebration Allison Horkey
Allison.Horkey@coyotes.usd.edu
Dennis Warner, a singersongwriter from Minnesota, performed at the National Music Museum (NMM) on Feb. 17. Warner is from Clearwater, Minnesota and came to USD for his Friday performance. Warner said he likes to play and write positive music because he recognizes how powerful music is and how it affects people. “I believe both from just watching my own life and how music has affected me and then watching other people too, that music is a powerful force in our lives, whether we recognize it or not is kind of always running in the background. I think what we listen to can affect our daily lives and can affect our attitudes and our happiness ultimately,” Warner said. Michael Suing is the Deputy Director of the NMM and oversees the public programming as well as special projects for the museum. Suing said Warner is a familiar face to the NMM and welcomed him back to perform for the community again.
“(Warner) has been performing not only across the country, but in this part of the world his whole career,” Suing said. “Earlier in his career he had, I think one time, it would have been years ago, played at the museum. So, he was an audience favorite then and as much as we do try to have different people come in, it’s also really nice to be able to revisit our old friends.” Warner mostly plays folk music and plays six and 12-stringed guitars. Warner grew up during the 1960s and 1970s and his music taste was influenced by the popular artists of the time. “That was the real heydays for singer-songwriter music. You know, Gordon Lightfoot, John Denver, James Taylor, Harry Chapin, Janis Ian, nearly all these people were folk singers. And then in later years, people like Mary Chapin Carpenter and Kathy Mattea contributors and on the female side, continued the folk legacy. It’s all about the songs and the songwriting in the genre,” Warner said. Folk music as a genre is about telling stories, Warner said. He also said an important part of the genre, which differs from more mainstream music, is folk music is generally longer
“The group was formed by past art students and has been ongoing for over a decade now and it’s a great way for students to meet each other and for them to learn from each other and to share ideas,” Hansen said. “It’s a very supportive open group. The show that they installed here is a great example of their work and collaboration.” Hansen said the SAA is open to all USD students and welcomes everybody, regardless of major. Junior Luci Hudson specializes in photography with three pieces featured in the “It’s a Trip!” exhibition. “It was pretty exciting because
it’s a great way for the community to kind of get involved with the SAA,” Hudson said. “I think (the show) is a great way for the community of Vermillion to come in and see what USD students are creating.” Senior Madison Ervin attended the show and said she appreciated the flow of how the pieces came together with the theme. Ervin encourages everyone to support local artists. “It’s very abstract and as I was thinking about it, I think all the pieces reflect light in some way. I am very impressed with the show,” Ervin said. USD alumnus Justin Pray also
Maddi Kallsen | The Volante
attended the show. Seeing what USD art students are doing is an important part of being involved with the USD community, Pray said. “I think it’s cool. The variety of different mediums that are used really adds to the show,” Pray said. “They’re all like pictures, paintings and different materials are used like the drawings with dark pencils, somebody used reflective paper in the eyes of one of the drawings and some people put collages and prints together. It’s cool being able to see people express themselves in so many different ways.”
and not constrained to three and a half minutes, so his songs can tell more personal stories about what happens in peoples’ lives. “It’s a pretty specific genre as far as storytelling. In the songs, with folk music, it’s about the lyrics, it’s about the stories (and) it’s about the messages. That’s the history of it. And folk can also encompass some blues or get a little bit of country depending on the type of country,” Warner said. Suing said he enjoys the opportunity to have more local artists play on the stage of the NMM as well as people from other parts of the country because the region is so often overlooked. “You know, in the Northern Plains region, there are so many talented musicians and artists. It goes on, not just in the humanities and fine arts, but there are talented people here. And to be able to provide a showcase and a stage for them, I think is really important,” Suing said. “My thinking, when I approach the lineup for the year, is I’m not only trying to lift up and recognize those successful Submitted | The Volante regional artists or up-and-coming artists but also to bring people in from Dennis Warner performs at the NMM. Warner, a Minnesotan artist, plays folk music farther afield to diversify the program catered to all ages. lineup.”
Opinion
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2022
THE VOLANTE
VOLANTEONLINE.COM/OPINION
EDITORIAL
Editorial: There’s no “right” way to self-care Scrambling to complete assignments, skipping meals to make it to your next class and losing sleep trying to study for upcoming midterms – college life is far from the dream. You might find yourself getting a coffee for breakfast or skipping a workout to make room in your busy schedule. It’s not a bad thing, but it shouldn’t become a habit. Students everywhere have sacrificed free time, healthy habits and sanity in exchange for an education. Despite the long days and endless to-do lists, it’s crucial we take time
for ourselves. There are hundreds of ways to make your body and mind happy. The ‘workaholic’ lifestyle doesn’t help. If anything it decreases productivity. You deserve a break. Making time for yourself can help to prevent a slump or burnout. It’s essential to replenish your physical and emotional energy. Try to relax and find something you enjoy doing. Self-care can look different for everyone. It is not being selfish. Self-care means taking care of yourself so you can be healthy, do your job, help others and accomplish everything
you want. Social self-care is important. Humans are social creatures. Even if you prefer to be by yourself most of the time, grabbing lunch with a friend or classmate could help take your mind off that big assignment. Physical self-care is just as important. If you didn’t get a good night’s rest, take a nap. Exercise is also important to a person’s well-being. It doesn’t have to be running or going to the gym. Doing yoga or even going for a short walk could be helpful. Give yourself the chance to take your
Shakespeare is still relevant today EMMA DAGGETT is a sophomore majoring in English.
William Shakespeare died more than 400 years ago, but we are still required to study his plays and sonnets. High school and university students alike study Shakespeare’s life and work. Why is he still relevant today? As a teenager, I might not have appreciated Shakespeare’s work, but it doesn’t mean it is irrelevant. No matter when it’s read, Shakespeare’s plays can ring true for modern audiences and readers. For example, take the plague in “Romeo and Juliet.” It isn’t a main plot point for
the play, but it might remind someone of what is going on now with COVID19. Not to mention, Shakespeare lived his life while the bubonic plague swept across England. Some recent movies, plays and books are loosely based on plot lines or characters of Shakespeare’s work. Everyone has heard “The Lion King” is similar to “Hamlet” or the Weird Sisters in the “Harry Potter” series is based on the witches in “Macbeth.” Shakespeare’s work can fit easily into today’s society because the plays have an openness to them. It inspires ideas that can be replicated throughout time. Even if people don’t enjoy Shakespeare’s work, they are sure to be affected by parts of it. They might
remember lines from some of the more famous plays, from Hamlet’s soliloquy “To be or not to be…” or Juliet’s “O Romeo, Romeo wherefore art thou Romeo…” The famous lines aren’t the only thing people quote. Shakespeare was a genius when it came to writing and he coined a bunch of phrases we still use today. Things like “neither rhyme nor reason,” “in my heart of hearts,” “what’s done is done,” “break the ice” and so many other phrases were first penned by Shakespeare. Shakespeare is still relevant. His works can evoke emotion. Humans still experience love, loss, humor and tragedy and this will forever make it so Shakespeare is relevant.
Jozie Hunter|The Volante
means taking care of “Self-care yourself so you can be healthy, do your job, help others and accomplish everything you want.”
mind off things. Mental self-care is essential to being a healthy person. Read a book for fun, put a puzzle together, watch a movie or play a video game. Find something that stimulates your brain but isn’t for school or work. Self-care isn’t just spa
days, exercise, vacations and skincare. It’s about being truthful to yourself when you need a break. Find something you enjoy and do it. College is a balancing act and it’s important to make time for yourself along with classes, homework and work.
The Volante Sydney Johnson, editor-in-chief Bennett Clary, managing editor Tavin Carncross, sports editor
EDITORIAL BOARD
Madeline Knau, verve editor Emma Daggett, opinion editor
THE STUDENTS’ VOICE SINCE 1887
CONTACT US The Volante welcomes letters to the editor in regards to campus, local, state and national issues. Letters will be edited for clarity and length and will be printed as space allows. Please limit letters to 300 words or fewer. The Volante reserves the right to hold letters for publication in a later issue. Submissions must include the author’s name, address, telephone number, year in school and major or job title. Letters must be exclusively for The Volante. We will not publish anonymous letters.
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Polls • Overheards • Columns
Opinion
The Volante I volanteonline.com
Wednesday, February 23, 2022 A5
Social media has more positive impacts than negative ELIZABETH AREND is a sophomore majoring in English education.
In a time where the digital age has been rising, there has been an ongoing debate on whether or not the implementation of social media in daily life is a good thing or if it can be harmful. When used in healthy amounts and consumed in a positive manner, social media can be very beneficial. Waking up first thing in the morning and immediately
checking your social media platforms, sitting on your phone while hanging out with friends and family or letting social media consume your time rather than the company of others is when the impacts of social media begin to become negative. However, not everything is negative. Social media can have so many positive impacts on daily life, whether that be keeping in touch with friends and family, being informed on current issues going on in the world or engaging in new relationships with others. For those who may be feeling lonely, social media helps provide one with a place to relate to others and consume content that
W h a t ’s yo u r f avo r i t e m e a l ? 41%
Lunch
29%
Dinner
24%
Dessert
6%
around the world will be able to tell certain things about who you are as a person. This can help lead you to many opportunities as millions of people have been starting their careers based solely off social media content. Now, I am not encouraging everybody to try to become a social media influencer, but I am saying social media can help improve many different aspects of your daily life, depending on the purpose of your consumption. Social media has the potential to cause negative impacts on a person but for the most part, it is beneficial and has positive impacts.
IT ’S A NUMBERS GAME
WEEKLY POLL:
Breakfast
helps fill certain voids. With the number of social media users in today’s society, one is bound to be able to find someone else who may be going through certain situations and help them to realize they are not alone. Social media can help you find your own voice. There are so many different ways to show self-expression and there are various types of social platforms that allow for creative content creation and consumption. This can help boost your confidence or even inspire others to embrace their special qualities as well. Another important role of social media is the connections you can build. When creating your own social profile, it is important to note that others all
From timely.md/college-students and studyfinds.org
88%
The percentage of college students who think college campuses are facing a mental health crisis.
67%
The percentage of people who feel more productive after self-care
*Out of 17 voters Let us hear your voice by voting in @VolanteOpinion weekly polls on Twitter.
51%
The percentage of college students who have said they have more stress than they did last January.
69%
The percentage of people who did more self-care exercises in 2021 than 2020.
72%
The percentage of people who like to use self-care as a reward after a long week.
64%
The percentage of college students who plan to seek emotional support from friends and family to manage their stress.
“Euphoria:” the 410
OVERHEARDS
Here you’ll find the weirdest, funniest and stupidest things we’ve heard during the week. Context is for suckers.
“That’s not supposed to be there, somebody got too excited about freedom.”
IZZY BAKER is a sophomore majoring in Business Management.
— Old Main
“My friend... well he isn’t my friend because we’ve never met.” — Old Main
“I didn’t know I was becoming a hand model today.” “No becasue I’ve always been told I’d be good at that!” — Al Neuharth
“Who doesn’t wanna talk about syphilis?” — Al Neuharth
“Nietzsche is so much more than a meme.” — Old Main
“I thought your mom looked methier than your dad.” — Elm Street
“He looks like he just wants to own a pizza shop and ask for feet pics.” — Al Neuharth
“You might think he looks like he is off his rocker, he is.” — Old Main
“I thought it said drunk contest.” — Al Neuharth
“I’m gonna fart, it’s nothing personal.” — Al Neuharth
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I don’t know if it’s just in my circle of friends, but “Euphoria” seems to be taking the world by storm. From Instagram to Twitter, people are posting their opinions on the show and its infamous characters. Now I’m not a big fan of social media so I am going to get into some of my controversial opinions on here. This is just for fun and there will be spoilers. I started watching the show this year because my friends made me and I was shocked at the accuracy of some of the scenes and the incredible acting
of the cast. Zendaya, , has been putting her heart and soul into Rue’s character and it’s apparent. Her character deals with drug addiction and we have watched her fail to stay clean repeatedly. Honestly, as heartbreaking as her character can be, she is one of my favorite characters. Rue, Fezco and Maddie are my top three characters at the moment. They have the perfect combination of humor and don’t care what other people think. On the opposite spectrum, Nate and Cassie are easily two of my least favorite characters. Nate’s actions for the majority of the show are despicable and cruel: blackmailing Jules, pulling a gun on Maddie and snitching
on Fezco. He has twisted morals to whatever he deems right. Cassie on the other hand, is a train wreck. Last season her character had morals and n ow s h e h a s t h r ow n t h e m o u t t h e w i n d ow. He r c h a r a c t e r ’s trauma simply does not excuse her actions in my opinion. The show is so complex and they seem to make ever y detail and ever y second on screen matter. They have me excited ever y time Sunday rolls around to watch a new episode with my friends. Whether you like the show or not, nobody can deny how cool it is to see a TV show bring so many people together.
News
A6 Wednesday, February 23, 2022
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Unite for USD takes over the MUC pit to raise money for 23 campus initiatives. The event raised nearly 1.9 million dollars during the two day event.
Karlee Phillips
Karlee Phillips | The Volante
USD hosts annual Giving Day Celebration
Karlee.Phillips@coyotes.usd.edu
Unite for USD took place on campus Wednesday and Thursday last week and is known as the university’s annual Giving Day. Students, alumni and community members gathered to celebrate the founding of the university and could enjoy a variety of events throughout the week. Swag items and free food and beverages were also offered throughout the duration of the event. The university’s annual giving day and the 1,862-minute fundraiser commemorates the university’s founding year: 1862. The fundraiser is heavily based on reaching out to alumni and students to donate to
different organizations. Several initiatives are supported and recognized including Charlie’s Cupboard. President of Charlie’s Cupboard Nathan Popp said he wanted others to know the importance that donating to Unite for USD has on the campus body. “I wanted to organize a team to spread the word about what Charlie’s Cupboard is and why donating to Unite for USD is so important. This event is how we get a majority of our money so we can afford food and personal hygiene items. We don’t get any funding and it’s all non-profit, so this fundraiser is really important for us. We love meeting with new people and showing them how they can get the word out about
Charlie’s Cupboard,” Popp said. Participants were able to enjoy the celebration and honoring of USD for a variety of programs. Sophomore Alayna Falak, an accounting major, shared her appreciation of the donations gifted to the Beacom School of Business. “As a business student, Unite for USD can really help provide some of the business students with more networking opportunities, scholarships and hopefully even more options for classes,” Falak said. Other initiatives included in the fundraiser were athletics, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Coyote Legacy Scholarship program. The event also
encouraged everyone to become a Giving Day champion by participating in the fundraising activities. “To be a Giving Day champion, we asked that you simply participate in Unite for USD. It helps spread the word of what Unite for USD is and how you can show support. A donation must be made to be considered a Giving Day champion, but it can be anywhere from five dollars to over one thousand. The goal is to really just spread the word,” Popp said. This year was Popp’s third time experiencing the Unite for USD celebration. He mentioned the opportunities students and campus organizations were granted with
by having the event each year. “I think Unite for USD is a really great networking opportunity. It’s a great way to not only connect with students, but to also connect with the foundation and alumni,” Popp said. The USD foundation was established in 1922 and now consists of several individuals striving to provide support for the university and its students. The foundation also offers an array of programs and activities for alumni. At the conclusion of the two-day event, it was announced a total of nearly 1.9 million dollars was raised. Over 1,400 contributions were made to help 23 campus initiatives.
Black achievements being recognized during Black History Month at USD Bennett Clary
Bennett.Clary@coyotes.usd.edu
Since 1976, February has been recognized as Black History Month. This month is to celebrate the achievements of Black people in the U.S. According to History.com, the month originated from Negro History week, which was sponsored by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) in 1926. Eventually the week was celebrated across the nation in schools, communities and clubs. After the week became popular, every U.S. president since President Gerald Ford has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. In 2004, the South Dakota Board of Regents’ Factbook said 1.2 percent of USD enrollment was Black students (source, an old The Volante). This year, USD has 261 Black students enrolled, 2.76 percent of the campus population. A previous The Volante issue from Feb. 16, 2005 shared stories of Black students from USD. It said, “The Daniels brothers, Cliff and Jim, were both two-time All North Central Conference selections for the USD basketball team during the 1956 –57 and 57-58 seasons. They were also two of the first black athletes and led their
squad to the only National Championship title in USD history.” Not only did USD have the Daniels brothers, but Jamel White is a USD alum that played in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns and played for the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts. Today on campus, there are multiple Black students excelling in their passion projects. Senior Jaxon Thorson has his own business, Jaxon Photo & Video to help individuals and businesses have quality content. Senior Ashley Charlie has her business Eats with Ashley to provide different cultural foods for people to enjoy. Freshman Moe Bridgen was a finalist in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2021 World Junior Track and Field Championships and won gold in the 400-meter hurdles at the Central Championships. Even beyond individual people, organizations like the Union of African American Students (UAAS) and African Student Association (ASA) celebrate Black achievements every day. Recently, UAAS held the Beyond the Color event, which had speakers Megan Red ShirtShaw and Marcus Destin talk about what life means for people beyond their skin color.
Bailey Zubke | The Volante
The International Club hosts International Mother Language Day in appreciation of all languages and cultures.
USD’s International Club hosts International Mother Language Day Madeline Knau
Madeline.Knau@coyotes.usd.edu
The International Club hosted an event in the MUC in celebration of International Mother Language Day to not only teach students about the holiday but also to promote it as well. The idea to celebrate International Mother Language day also known as Matribhasha Diwas was an initiative by Bangladesh and was promoted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) general conference in Paris on Nov. 17, 1999 and was declared an international holiday to be celebrated every year on Feb. 21 according to the United Nations’ organization. The international holiday is celebrated by promoting the awareness of multilingualism and the diversity of cultures and linguistics as well as celebrating the preservation and protection of languages used by people around the world. The United Nations as well as UNESCO have multilingual and multicultural societies that exist throughout the languages that transmit and help preserve the traditional knowledge and cultures in a sustainable way according to UNESCO. International Mother Language Day also recognizes that languages and multilingualism can advance inclusion as well as the sustainable development goal focused on leaving no one behind. Mantasir Mamun, the president of the International Club, said the club is always looking for something that shows diversity and is able to teach something new about another country’s culture and international diversity. “So basically our main goal and focus is to know everybody and about every country’s language and how they talk and the history of International Mother Language Day. So, this kind of general knowledge and some diversity (is something) we want to introduce to
everyone at USD,” Mamun said. Many countries celebrate International Mother Language Day differently. For instance, Bangladeshis celebrate the holiday by placing flowers at the Martyrs’ Monument, which is the national monument of Bangladesh set up in memory of those who have passed away in the Bangladesh War of Independence and its replicas according to National Today. In the United Kingdom, they built a replica of Dhaka’s Shaheed Minar, a national monument in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which establishes and commemorates those killed during the Bengali Language movement in London, where members of the community can go to lay wreaths and sing songs. The United States celebrates the international holiday with the Mother Tongue Film Festival in Washington, D.C according to London Remembers. Mamun said they plan on having two presenters from the language department as well as a guest speaker from Bangladesh to discuss the holiday. “The international holiday originated from Bangladesh and they will present the history of the holiday because the story came from Bangladesh so that’s why we will have someone from there talk,” Mamun said. The International Mother Language Day event will also include food, decorations and quizzes on languages and the history of the holiday with prizes students could win along the way. The International club has two events planned after the Mother Language Day event which are the Festival of Nations which will be on April 10 and the Kites Festival which will be April 20.
AD must be in this box. can be slightly taller or shorter, but no wider
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USD HOSTS THE 27TH ANNUAL TRURAN PIANO COMPETITION
Madeline Knau | The Volante
Niu Niu Zhang is a tenth grader from Vermillion high school that placed first in her division at the Truran Piano Competition. Madeline Knau
Madeline.Knau@coyotes.usd.edu
“We get students from Omaha or into Iowa and not usually
people play I think,” Zhang said.
terribly far away. They can be from all over the state of South Dakota.
Gray said the competition is named after Genevieve Truran,
We do sometimes get students coming from Rapid City, but not
a professor who taught piano at USD and in the area for more
always, usually more from Sioux City or Sioux Falls. And then, like I
than 60 years. When Truran passed away, her family gave money
said, Omaha or down in Nebraska and around in Iowa,” Gray said.
to USD which was used to help with the expense of running the
of the music department. She said they accept applications from
“Teachers in the area know about this competition and for them, it’s
competition and the scholarship. Majorie Rawlins studied alongside
students eighth through twelfth grade, with each grade level having
a real positive because it provides a performance opportunity for
Truran at USD and made a donation to help continue giving out the
different expectations.
their students and particularly their more talented students.”
Truran Piano scholarship to twelfth grade students.
Eighteen contestants from South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa met this year for the 27th annual Truran Piano Competition. Alessandra Feris, an assistant piano professor, said the goal of the competition is to get young pianists to come to USD and be a part
“So each (student) competes at a different level,” Feris said
Niu Niu Zhang, a tenth grader who participated in the piano
“There was a story that she didn’t know how much money
“Let’s say the eighth graders are going to be in a specific level while
competition and received first place in her grade level, said she was
she had in her fund, and in her bank account or something when
the twelfth graders are going to be in another level and for the
excited to hear the other contestants compete and to be able to
she died. So she gave the money to USD and then it ended up
twelfth graders. They can consider the competition as a scholarship
perform her piece in the new Colton Recital Hall.
being more than she thought,” Gray said. “Marjorie Rawlins studied
“I’ve been practicing every day and I’ve been practicing
with Miss Truran and also made a huge donation to the Trojan
Professor Susan Gray said that the competition was judged by Dr.
performing at home so I’ve been running through my pieces in
scholarship account. So that really increases the amount of money
Agustin Muriago and students who participated have come from all
order and that kind of thing. I’m excited to hear the other contestants
in the account so we’re able to forward scholarships from that
over the region.
and see how they’re doing and it’s going to be fun to listen to other
account, as well as the expenses for running this competition.”
audition to join our piano program.”
Rachel Review: “Uncharted” brings nothing new to the treasure hunting genre Rachel Thompson
Rachel.R.Thompson@coyotes.usd.edu
On Feb. 18, the movie inspired by Indiana Jones and the game by the same name, “Uncharted,” was released to theaters. Starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg, this lost
search fortune
for is
a an
500-year-old easy
watch.
for a new film franchise. I don’t really
the impression it wasn’t going to
doubt Sony will get at least three
be anything spectacular and my
movies out of this story. Like myself,
assumptions were correct. The movie
people will flock to the theaters
goes through the motions of a regular
for Holland. After watching this
treasure hunting movie and uses action
movie, I understand this is going to become another cash grab storyline. The movie received mixed reactions from critics, regular audiences and
The movie follows Nathan Drake, original fans of the game. I never played by Holland, whose brother Sam, played by Rudy Pankow, abandoned him when he was following an incident looking for a lost fortune. A grown up Nathan Drake is approached by Sam’s former partner Victor Sullivan, played by Wahlberg, to continue the search
played the video game before but
sequences to take up time. The story is surface level and gives the talented actors little to work with. It felt like everyone was told this was a cash grab and everyone was fine with it. There are some great action
considering most video game movies scenes mainly carried out by Holland flop, this wasn’t too bad. It isn’t exactly a step back or forward, it is what it is. Holland takes on most of the action in this movie and proves he doesn’t need the Spidey Suit to make
that help show off the budget of the movie.
“Uncharted”
takes
every
chance to show off what it has and who it has, but never shows off a script with depth or originality.
for the 500-year-old lost fortune. Along
it in an action film. Wahlberg and
the journey, the pair ran into others
Holland show some good chemistry
with more resources in search for
on screen through Victor and Nathan.
out of the house and do something
the lost gold. Nate and Victor have to
The movie is full of jokes and funny
casual and fun with your friends or
find a way to trust each other in this
quips at each other. It almost seems
family, “Uncharted” is just an easy
double crossing world to get the gold.
like a tradition when setting up a duo.
action adventure. It’s nothing special
It’s very clear this movie is reaching
I went into this movie with
and I don’t think it really wants to be.
I think if you’re looking to get
Press Photo | Sony Pictures
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T. Wilson King is inducted into the Iowa Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame
Submitted photo | The Volante
Dubbed the “King of Guitar,” T. Wilson King performed in front of a live audience at Jazz Fest in Sioux Falls. Rachel Thompson
Rachel.R.Thompson@coyotes.usd.edu
T. Wilson King, the famous guitarist dubbed the “King of Guitar,” will be inducted into the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame in September. King received the news around Thanksgiving about the inductions. The ceremony will be held in Okoboji Sept. 1-4 where inductees will perform and be a part of the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame. To be in the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame, you need to be nominated, be rock ‘n roll based, be formed for at least 25 years
King said being inducted into the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame
About two years into practicing, he started searching for gigs
was something that came up and was never something he thought
and playing on the streets of Santa Cruz for tips. King never had
of.
an agency, so he was the one who made all of his gigs at bars, “It’s a great honor, really. I’m really proud of it. I like that my
those people,” King said. King has performed in numerous concerts over the years, from Saturday in the Park in Sioux City to Jazzfest in Sioux Falls. He also opened for B.B. King. “Opening for B.B. King was probably the highlight of everything
and have done significant things like open for national acts and
because he’s been an idol of mine since I first saw him on the
having original music. Nominees are then verified and decided on
Fillmore in San Francisco in 1970,” King said.
by the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Music Association Board of Directors. Don Bourret, a regional consultant at the Hall of Fame, was one
restaurants and hotels.
grandkids can see it and my kids. It’s really cool to be here with all
King discussed playing all types of music throughout his journey from folk music to rock ‘n roll, but jazzy blues is what he liked the most. The style wasn’t the most popular, leaving him to mostly do solo work, King said. “If it’s good music it’s good music. I really kind of like a jazzy blues kind of sound with horns. That’s one of my favorite sounds,” said King. King continues to play guitar everyday and plans to record
King taught himself how to play the guitar following his exit from the Army. King said he practiced relentlessly, even falling
more music and shares it on his Facebook and Youtube. “People say it’s luck, but really luck is when opportunity meets
of the people who nominated King. Bourret was a member of the
asleep with the guitar in hand. King was inspired by Mississippi
band The Velaires, one of the first to be inducted into the Hall of
John Hurt for finger picking, Robert Johnson and many more
preparation. If you’re prepared and you get the opportunity there’s
Fame. King said he never met Bourret before being inducted.
guitarists.
your luck,” King said.
Carncross Commentary: What happened to the NBA Dunk Contest? Tavin Carncross
Tavin.Carncross@coyotes.usd.edu
The NBA Dunk Contest was the worst part about the Saturday Feb. 19 events. The contest was the last event following the 3-point contest which saw Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns win and the skills competition which was won by team Cavs who had guard Darius Garland, center Jarrett Allen and power forward Evan Mobley who play for the Cleveland Cavaliers. New York Knicks power forward Obi Toppin,
Anthony put on a pair of Timberland boots and
Green was the last to go and I honestly just
tried to do a windmill dunk from his father Greg
wish he didn’t go at all. It took him nine tries to do
failed to recreate it fully. The Richardson dunk saw
Anthony who was holding his ball. It took him a
one single dunk. He scored the worst out of the
Toscano-Anderson put on Richardson’s Golden
couple tries but he eventually got it. He received
first round and didn’t move on.
State Warriors jersey from his dunk contest
a 40-point score from five judges which was very generous.
In Toppin’s second dunk he threw it off the backboard, then went in between his legs and
Next was Toscano-Anderson who tied for the
reverse dunked. This may sound like a lot, but it
highest score in the first round with his dunk over
was probably the best dunk of the evening. No
teammate and All-Star Andrew Wiggins. He got a
one else stood out or were even good.
score of 44-points which was basically where the dunk belonged. It was not good nor was it great. Toppin was next as he jumped over someone
All four of them went seven-for-25 on their attempts. That is a 28% from four people. Not a single person made it on the first attempt.
The Carter dunk was the honey dip dunk, but he
victory. He failed to recreate the dunk but at least the jersey was cool. Toppin just had to do some simple things to win the event which is all he really did. He was definitely the best person in the contest by a mile. He did not do anything fancy compared to Toscano-Anderson, but he really didn’t need to. This was probably the worst dunk contest of
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green, Orlando
who I didn’t know, but I thought it was Fat Joe
Magic guard Cole Anthony and Golden State
and one of my friends said “I thought Fat Joe was
Toscano-Anderson and Toppin which was a very
all time. It was the first time since 2001 that none
Warriors guard Juan Toscano-Anderson were the
dead.” I don’t blame him for thinking that. Toppin
lack luster finale.
of the competitors got a score of 50.
competitors in the most lack luster dunk contest
scored a 44-point dunk that took him a couple
ever.
tries but he might’ve gotten a higher score on the
where he did two throw back dunks to former
dunk contest? Why was it so bad this year? The
first attempt.
NBA players Vince Carter and Jason Richardson.
world may never know.
It started out with the coolest part when
Netflix
The final round was between underdog
Toscano-Anderson went first in the final round
I just want to know what happened to the
Sports
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MEN’S BASKETBALL SECURES TWO HOME WINS Sydney Johnson
Sydney.G.Johnson@coyotes.usd.edu
The men’s basketball team came out with two wins this week after battling St. Thomas and Western Illinois in front of the home crowd. The Coyotes took on St. Thomas Feb. 17 in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center (SCSC). They went into the game 8-6 in Summit League play and added another win to their record after 81-60 victory of the Tommies. St. Thomas couldn’t keep up after USD went 17-0 to begin the game. Junior guard Mason Archambault led the Coyotes with 21 points, five assists and four rebounds. He was followed closely in scoring by sophomore guard Kruz Perrott-Hunt with 19 and redshirt sophomore forward Hunter Goodrick with 17.
Senior guard Riley Miller led the Tommies with 17 points, only three of those points coming in the second half. In the Coyotes’ final home game on Saturday against Western Illinois, the Coyotes came out with another victory (78-65), making them 10-6 in Summit League play. Unlike the St. Thomas game, the Leathernecks kept close to the Coyotes throughout the entirety of the game, causing 16 lead changes. The score was tied at 35 going into halftime. Going into the second half, neither team was able to pull away until the 10:45 mark when the Coyotes went 10-0 and took the lead for the rest of the game. Sophomore forward Tasos Kamateros led the Coyotes in scoring with 24 points, which also amounted to his career-high. He was followed by Perrott-Hunt who made 18 points, Archambault with 12
and junior guard Boogie Anderson who scored 10 in just 20 minutes of play. The Leathernecks were led in scoring by junior guard Trenton Massner who amounted 18 points and graduate forward Luka Barisic and junior guard Colton Sandage who had 16 and 15 points, respectively. USD’s junior guard Damani Hayes tied his career-high for minutes played in the match-up against the Leathernecks, where he competed in 30 minutes of game play. After securing two victories this past week, the Coyotes are now heading into the final week of the regular season ranked fifth in the conference standings. They will be on the road this week to take on Kansas City (Feb. 24) and Oral Roberts (Feb. 26), both teams are currently ranked higher than USD in Summit League play.
Sydney Johnson | The Volante The Coyotes ended the week with two wins at home aginst the St. Thomas Tommies and the Western Illinois Leathernecks. The men are gearing up for their final week of Summit League play on the road against Kansas City on Wednesday.
Eerik Haamer needed an Instagram DM Tavin Carncross
Tavin.Carncross@coyotes.usd.edu
Eerik Haamer, a native of Tartu, Estonia, is one of the top pole vaulters in the nation. He currently sits in seventh in the NCAA with his season best jump of 18-1 (5.51m). It didn’t start with just track and field for Haamer, as his parents let him have the opportunity to try other sports out. “My parents gave me a lot of chances to try out different sports like swimming, soccer and karate,” Haamer said. “But what stuck out to me most was track and pole vault specifically.” Even though Haamer is top in the nation, it did not start out that way as he struggled throughout his first couple years of trying the sport out. “The first years were kind of rough. I just didn’t really understand the vault,” Haamer said. “But I am really not a person to give up, and I thank God I didn’t because it really paid off.” Haamer was getting a lot of interest on his pole vaulting skills from schools such as the University of Minnesota and University of Georgia. He had his mind set on Akron until associate director of track and field and threetime Olympian Derek Miles sent him a direct message on Instagram. “What really made a difference was when Derek Miles messaged me on Instagram a few days before I decided to commit to Akron,” Haamer said. “For some reason, when he talked, I loved everything he said. His transparency and him just being very sincere overall.” Haamer also said that he could not have
made a better choice coming to USD. Haamer has found himself getting recognized by the Summit League being named Summit League Field Athlete of the Week twice this season. “I am not used to that great honor but definitely really happy about it,” Haamer said. “I think that it is good motivation for the entire program and not just pole vaulters. I think it also shows the quality of our team as well.” Being seventh in the nation comes with a lot of pressure but Haamer does not see it that way and goes into every meet the same way, Haamer said. “I always like to go into every meet being the underdog and then surprising everyone because that’s usually when I preform the best,” Haamer said. “I have no pressure in those terms. My main concern was to solidify my place at the national rankings and to make it to Nationals.” USD has had a long list of pole vaulters and most recently Olympic silver medal winner Chris Nilsen. Haamer is striving to be as good as Nilsen both on the runway and with the mentality Nilsen holds. “I really look up to him, especially on the mental side of things,” Haamer said. “His ability to go to the track and just give his all and not care about anything and preform at his best every time. It is something that is hard to find and that is what separates the semiprofessionals from the professionals and that is what I’m striving for.” Haamer will continue training and competing throughout the spring track and field season, with the hopes to make it to Nationals.
Submitted Photo | The Volante Native Estonian Eerik Haamer, is ranked as one of the top pole vaulters in the nation. His season best jump of 18-1 is ranked seventh in the NCAA.
Sports
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Esports on the rise at USD; looks to expand team Luc Bouchard
Luc.Bouchard@coyotes.usd.edu
It has been two years since the USD Esports arena opened and in that time the team has only gotten bigger. Since the launch of the USD Esports Club in 2018, membership has tripled according to junior social media manager Isaac Entinger. “It’s one of the fastest growing industries…it’s only going to get bigger,” Entinger said. The Esports arena boasts 24 gaming computers, alongside a lounging area with 65-inch smart TVs and consoles such as Xbox One X, Playstation 4 Pro and a Nintendo Switch. Teams in the Esports club compete against other colleges in tournaments and collegiate leagues through games like Overwatch, Call of Duty, Rocket League, Apex Legends, CSGO and League of Legends.
Many of these tournaments include a cash prize. Recently, the Apex Legends team placed fifth in a tournament on Feb. 11 which had a prize of $500. The Rocket League team was in action Feb. 21 against the South Dakota School of Mines and Stephen A. Austin in the first week of the Rocket League CCL. They beat both teams 3-0. The Call of Duty team was also in action on the 21 competing in the sixth week of the Call of Duty CCL. They competed against St. Ambrose and Iowa State. They swept the Fighting Bees 3-0 in their first match. Iowa State pushed USD to go into the fifth round. USD eventually came out on top winning 3-2 and moving their record to 6-4. Ross, an Apex Legends player, said his favorite part of the club is being a part of a team, even though it requires some commitment. “The fact that I can use one of these machines here, they’re pretty darn expensive…that I can play on them and know I can
have a good experience. I only joined this club playing for fun but eventually I got hooked into playing on a team,” Ross said. Throughout the month, the Esports club also hosts Super Smash Bros tournaments and other regional events. The Esports arena is open to all students interested in gaming and has its hours listed online. “Besides the cost of all these computers, it’s very cheap and easy to get into Esports. It’s highly profitable at the pro league level and I think that there’s good things to come for this club, provided that we play our cards right. I think once the Esports scene gets a little bigger, we’ll start to get some eyes on it from the community and legit big money as well,” Ross said. Students interested in competitive gaming are encouraged to reach out to the club at esports@usd.edu. The club is also active on Twitch, which the club uses to stream matches and games against other universities.
Luc Bouchard | The Volante Located in the McKusnick Building, the Esports arena features 24 gaming computers and mulitple different types of gaming consoles. The Esports team is looking for new students to join their competion teams.
Swim and Dive captures seven wins in Summit League Championship Tavin Carncross
Tavin.Carncross@coyotes.usd.edu
Fargo, North Dakota hosted the Summit League’s Swim and Dive Championships inside of the Hulbert Aquatic Center. The four-day event started Wednesday, Feb. 16 and went through Saturday, Feb. 19.
Wednesday
Coyote men’s 200-medley relay team consisting of freshmen Adam Fisher and Jack Berdahl along with juniors Aidan Gantenbein and Zachary Kopp, finished in second place with a time of 1:27.69 beating the previous school record of 1:29.43. Another 200-medley team finished in third place with a time of 1:43.83. The group of women consisted of freshmen Emma Clark, Meghan Atwell, Christina Spomer and the lone senior Cassie Ketterling. An additional women relay team made it into second place in the 800-free relay. The group of freshmen composed of Sara Meyer, Mairead Powers and Emily Kahn along with their lone senior Kristen Quigley captured second place touching the wall at 7:29.31. The last team to place on Wednesday was a team full of seniors. Charlie Bean, Jake Leichner, Stephen Johnson and Jacob Wong capped off the men’s 800-free relay with a third-place finish, hitting the wall with a time of 6:42.70.
Thursday
Women’s 400-medley relay composed of three freshmen Isabel Fairbanks, Ketterling, senior Madilyn Sindelar and Kahn finished
in third place. They also set a new school record with their time of 3:45.42. Ketterling was not done breaking records on Thursday, as she broke the school record in the 200-IM in the morning prelims with her time of 2:03.31. Coyotes had two individuals retain their league titles. Kopp was the first after touching the wall in the 50-freestlye with his time winning time of 20.35. Sophomore Stella Fairbanks was second as she captured the women’s 1M diving with her new personal record of 281.45. This also moved her into fourth all-time in Coyotes history. The last event that the Coyotes placed in was the men’s 400-medley relay. The team was the previously mentioned Fisher, Berdahl, Kopp and Bean who finished in first place. Along with gold, they broke the school record finishing with a 3:14.75 time.
Friday
Ketterling touched the wall first in the 400-IM with her school record time of 4:24.04. With this win, she was crowned Summit League Champion, being the third woman in Coyote history to ever do so in an individual event. Coyotes also took home a second Summit League Championship in the 200-free relay. The team of Kopp, Bean, senior Brady Torborg and junior Mack Sathre captured the title with a finishing time of 1:20.47. Mayer, Spomer, Kahn and Ketterling captured second place in the 200-free relay. Their 1:32.39 time was a new school record. Coyotes had five-individuals finish in third place on Friday. Kopp, Bean, Kahn, Sathre and Leichner all finished in third in the 100-backstroke, 200-freestyle, 200-free, 100-butterfly and 440-IM,
Madison Martinez | The Volante After their seventh win in the Summit League Championship, both the men’s and women’s Swim and Dive teams placed second behind Denver.
respectively.
Saturday
Coyotes saw two swimmers place in the final women 100-IM. Ketterling took home the gold in the event with her school record time of 56.92. Ketterling is the second Coyote to win a double gold medal as Elizabeth Hoffman was the only other one. Fairbanks finished right behind Ketterling grabbing the second-place medal with her personal record of 57.73. USD had another Summit League Championship. Sathre defended his title from last season in the 100-IM. He also broke the school record in this event as he put a 49.74 time on the board. Coyotes grabbed eight silver medals on the day not including Fairbanks’ 100-IM. These silver medals came from 200-backstroke: Fisher- 1:49.21, 100-freestyle: Kahn- 50.20 (personal record), 100-freestyle: Bean- 44.69, 200-breaststroke: Ketterling- 2:19.12 (school record), 200-butterfly: Won- 1:51.45, 3-meter dive: Fairbanks- 285.20, 400-freestyle relay: Ketterling, Spomer, Mayer, Kahn- 3:24.45 (school record) and 400-freestyle relay: Bean, Kopp, Gantenbein, Sathre- 2:59.71. Fairbanks was also named the Women’s Diver of the Championships. She is the third Coyote to ever do so. Both the Coyote men’s and women’s teams finished in second place in the Summit League, sitting behind Denver in both. They finished with 723 and 748 points, respectively. The Coyotes will have some time to rest before they go to the NCAA Zone Diving Championships held in Madison, Wisconsin on March 6-9.