GREEKS PREPARE FOR STROLLERS SHOW VERVE, B4
SOFTBALL TEAM LOOKS TO BETTER POST-SEASON PERFORMANCE SPORTS, B1
The Volante FEBRUARY 25, 2015
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Gender neutral housing arriving next semester Ally Krupinsky
Ally.Krupinsky@coyotes.usd.edu
Students are now able to opt for gender neutral housing at the University of South Dakota for the 2015-2016 academic year. A person who is non-binary identifies with neither the male nor female gender. This population is one that Todd Tucker, director of university housing, said has been previously neglected in the housing application process. “This is just a population that
we really were missing from a housing standpoint, of being able to provide an opportunity to live in an area where they feel comfortable with the people that TUCKER they live around,” Tucker said. “There’s stereotypes out there. There always will be, and so being able to
provide an area where students can feel confident and comfortable in and feel like themselves, that’s the kind of environment that we want to provide in housing.” Previously, students “just chose and were placed based on their visual identity,” Tucker said. Richardson Hall’s fourth floor will be the designated gender neutral floor in North Complex. Students in Coyote Village and McFadden Hall are also able to take advantage of the option. The number of non-binary rooms
will vary depending on student interest. Tucker said the process that led to gender neutral housing began a few years ago, before he arrived at USD. The Residence Hall Association put together a proposal for a gender neutral option in April 2013. Once it was approved by the President’s Council, it officially became housing policy Fall of 2014. Tucker said he is still in the process of building the RHA proposal research into the housing process and website.
BREAKING RECORDS
Like any other housing application, students can either choose their own roommate or have one assigned to them. All roommates have to sign a contract stating that they will any roommate. Tucker said so far, he has not experienced any criticism of the change, only questions. Jordan Catlett, a fifth-year senior and the president of SPECTRUM, said gender neutral housing is a great camSEE NEUTRAL, PAGE A6
VPD shops for body cameras to implement this summer Nathan Ellenbecker
Nathan.Ellenbecker@coyotes.usd.edu
MALACHI PETERSEN I THE VOLANTE
In just three years, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event at the University of South Dakota has increased its fundraising by more than 700 percent. This year, the event in the DakotaDome Feb. 21 raised $20,774.98, a record for the organization. “My exec team that I had this year, they were absolutely incredible,” junior Emily Jansen, Colleges Against Cancer president, said. “They were dedicated.... They were always so willing to work, and I am so proud of them. I hope that they feel half as good as I do right now because then they should be over the moon.“ Relay for Life raised more than $12,000 prior to the day of the event. Jansen said surpassing $20,000 came from the Vermillion community’s dedication and the strength of the event. Jansen also credited Bruce Fischbach, Relay for Life’s academic adviser and head athletic trainer for USD athletics, for coordinating the day’s set up.
The Vermillion Police Department expects to have all purchases, training and policies in place for on-duty officers to use body cameras this summer. VPD Chief Matthew Betzen said, assuming no backlog exists because of nationwide interest in body cameras, the more than $27,000 in-state funds VPD received in late January will be used to purchase the technology soon. “Me and the sheriff are going over our BETZEN options and dealing with vendors to figure out which exact camera system we are going with and arrange a purchase,” Betzen said. “There is not a delay. We’re just in no super hurry.” Betzen said that creating a policy for on-duty officers using the cameras will take some time. Vermillion is following the lead of other South Dakota towns. VPD has consulted Aberdeen’s police, who were among the first in the nation SEE CAMERAS, PAGE A7
Alumni Association focuses on personal identity Trent Opstedahl
Trent.Opstedahl@coyotes.usd.edu
Thousands of students graduate from the University of South Dakota each year. Kersten Johnson’s goal is to make sure those student are familiar with the phrase “Once a Coyote, always a Coyote.” As the executive director of USD’s Alumni Association since 2009, Johnson has been working to revitalize the association’s presence among alumni, current students and other university entities. “The collegiate years are really the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the university,” Johnson said. “Whether you attended or graduated from the university, we consider you to be an alum of
Association looks to change location, focusing on connecting students to alumni USD.” To raise awareness of what Johnson calls a “lifetime link” between alumni and the university, she has made it a priority to revamp the association’s outreach communications. The Alumni Association distributes a printed newsletter to alumni twice a year, but Johnson felt this wasn’t adequately keeping alumni informed of what was going on with their alma mater. So in addition to the printed newsletter, Johnson coordinated the distribution of an electronic newsletter that alumni receive
each month. The association’s social media presence has also been a focus for Johnson. “It keeps alumni engaged and informed throughout the year,” she said. Johnson’s main priority is to create a transition from student to alum that is “as seamless as possible.” Once a student has graduated, the Alumni Association tries to maintain its connection to the university, Johnson said. With a membership base of more than 2,600, Johnson said the SEE ALUMNI, PAGE A7
TRENT OPSTEDAHL I THE VOLANTE
Gretchen McLaughlin, a work study student for the Alumni Association, examines the adult-specific Coyote gear sold at the Wagner Center.