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PHARMACEUTICALS
United Church of Christ welcomes community through outreach
& FELONIES: STUDY DRUGS AT USD
PAGE B1 Reverend Steve Miller has been United Church of Christ pastor for the last 25 years. The Church focuses on serving the Vermillion community. Read more about their outreach efforts on B1.
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Women’s golf team gears up for spring season
Miles Amende
Miles.Amende@coyotes.usd.edu
The term “study drugs” may evoke images of Adderall and all-night study sessions, but for one time users and repeat users alike, there may be consequences for using these substances to cram for the next big test. “Study drug” is an unofficial term referring to any substance used to increase energy and focus while studying. Melanie Boysen, who is pursuing a master’s degree in clinical psychology, said students typically use prescription drugs to focus during last-minute study sessions. “The most common ones are usually any drugs for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) medications, such as Ritalin or Vyvanse,” Boysen said. “It gives (students) a burst of energy so they don’t have to worry about falling asleep. Usually it’s because they don’t plan it out and they think it’s easier to cram the night before, which doesn’t always work out, but seems easier in the moment.” One USD student who wished to remain anonymous — who the Volante will refer to as John — started taking Adderall and Vyvanse to write a paper for his independent study. John said the drugs helped him focus and sort through his workload. “You feel really good, you are hyper-focused, you feel like you can get your (work) done,” John said. “You feel powerful.” John obtained study drugs from his friends. He said these drugs are more casually obtained than other illicit substances. “It’s not like a drug dealer, where
it’s all very much under the table,” John said. “I had a coworker who told me she didn’t take her prescribed Adderall. I asked her for some, and she just gave them to me. I didn’t have to pay or anything.” John would take study drugs three times a week during his independent study. When he ran out, he would wait for two weeks to obtain more. “I think I had enough space between binges where I wasn’t ever at a point where I needed more,” John said. John also said he didn’t consider his use recreational, and that he only ever used study drugs for studying. “If I don’t have a mountain to climb with it, there’s no reason for me to be that stimulated,” John said. Matt Lavin, owner of Davis Pharmacy, said prescription drugs like Adderall, Vyvanse and Ritalin are meant to treat diagnosed cases of ADHD by overstimulating the brain. “Essentially it overstimulates to the point where it’s gotten rid of what’s causing the inability to focus and inability to function at a normal level. By overstimulating those areas, they essentially drain everything out and bring you down to a normal level,” Lavin said. For a person who does not suffer from ADHD, these drugs provide increased sensitivity and acuity. Prolonged use, however, may result in a dependency on the drugs and an eventual energy crash. “In most cases it allows somebody to focus and stay up longer. You’re able to cram a lot more into a shorter period of time,” Lavin said. “Eventually you don’t get the same results if you’re using them continuously. You’ll hit a wall and
your body will just crash. You become nonfunctional until your body can essentially reset, and even then, that dependency will still be there.” There is no legal definition of “study drug.” Bryant Jackson, assistant director of the University Police department, said possession of prescription medicines without a valid medical prescription will probably be classified as a felony. “It’s definitely a case-by-case basis; we have to look at the facts and circumstances and then see which statute specifically is violated,” Jackson said. “There’s always room to look and see what meets what. More often than not, there will be felony charges, whether it’s possession or distribution.” Possession of study drugs violates the student code of conduct in the South Dakota Board of Regents policy and may result in academic probation, loss of academic privileges, fines, sanctions, suspension and/or expulsion, according to the student code of conduct. “There are a lot of negative ramifications for the possession of study drugs, both university-wise and in the criminal justice system,” Jackson said. Ben Severson, prevention coordinator at the Student See DRUGS, Page A6
Sara.Cappiello@coyotes.usd.edu Lexi.Kerzman@coyotes.usd.edu
Sara Cappiello
Sara.Cappiello@coyotes.usd.edu
Sara Cappiello | The Volante
The Center for Diversity and Community hosted a Professionals of Color Panel last Thursday. The panel discussed their expierences in the professional world. a lawyer, Islam said shw was one of the few Muslims in her class and in her work. She said one of the most important things to remember, especially in the professional world, is to be self-aware. “Always be reflective of your own ‘isms,’ or your own biases. Be self-reflective,” Islam said. One of the goals of the panel, Dabbour said, was to allow students to form connections with people from their backgrounds and races and be able to ask questions. “I related with almost everyone on this panel today,” Dabbour said. “With Taneeza, I realized, ‘I’m Muslim and no one in my family does the same thing I do. All of them are engineers, doctors, architects. They really have a different path than I do.’” The panel consisted of students and other attendees asking questions about the experiences the panelists had to get where they are, challenges they might’ve faced along the way and how they dealt with those challenges. Kimberly Craven, legal director for the ACLU of South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming and a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
‘Words do hurt’: Racist tweet sparks a conversation of Strollers’ impact Sara Cappiello & Lexi Kerzman
CDC hosts first Professionals of Color Panel Students and faculty from all backgrounds gathered in the Center for Diversity and Community (CDC) for the first Professionals of Color Panel last Thursday evening. Professionals from USD, as well as other areas of South Dakota, came to speak about their experiences and success in the professional world. The panel included five professionals: Anshuman Chandra, Taneeza Islam, Tiffany Graham, Timothy Peterkin and Kimberly Craven. Each individual brought their own personal perspective on what it’s like to be a person of color in their professions. Saeed Dabbour, a recent USD graduate and CDC intercultural program coordinator, helped organize the panel, along with CDC director Laura Chandler and graduate assistant Roma Trivedi. Dabbour said he was excited to see so many students in attendance. “This is something students have been asking for around three or four years,” Dabbour said. “We’ve never really had a panel like this. Even when I was a student, I always wanted a panel that included people of color and professionalism. This is very uplifting.” Each of the panelists offered their own unique thoughts based on their experiences. Taneeza Islam is the executive director of South Dakota Voices for Peace and an immigration and civil rights lawyer based in Sioux Falls. She said this panel was important to show students the professional opportunities available after college and provide guidance. “It’s really important to share our common experiences when it comes to the good and the bad,” Islam said. “So to be in a setting which is open to hearing (about how) maybe we have been discriminated against, or maybe there have been positive things that have come through different races of mentors.” Throughout her journey to becoming
PAGE B3 See how women’s golf prepares for the upcoming spring season. Flip to B3 to read about how the Coyotes picked up preseason Summit League accolades and a look ahead at their season.
tribe, was another one of the panelists. She said she has faced many challenges in her professional career, but always knows how to keep herself going. “I have a strange motivation and I say it when something really bad happens and when I’m in the depths of despair,” Craven said. “I say to myself, out loud, ‘this is the best thing that ever happened to me,’ because I found that we really don’t know what is going to be the outcome of some action.” Along with Craven, each panelist shared how they motivated themselves to continue their professional journeys. Nybol Kur, a sophomore nursing major who attended the Professionals of Color Panel, said she took this advice as inspiration for her future career. “Diversity is really a big thing in the professional setting,” Kur said. “Sometimes I don’t have motivation when it comes to school. But seeing them talk about their setbacks and how they accomplished their goals made me think, ‘okay, I can do this.’”
In preparation for their 97th annual show, USD Strollers introduced their emcee via Twitter. The tweet, which included racist slurs relating to the black community, was taken down early Friday after the organization received backlash. Since the tweet, USD community members have questioned the value of Strollers as many of the jokes push the line between comedy and offensive. The Center for Diversity and Community hosted a student forum in response. Aeron Peters, Strollers co-president, said at the forum this experience has made him realize how powerful the organization’s jokes are. “Strollers has been around for 97 years and all of those years we have pushed the envelope on what comedy is, most of it has been offensive,” Peters said. “It makes me so sad that it took tonight to realize the jokes we make have an impact.” The forum was originally scheduled to be held in the CDC. Due to the large crowd in attendance, the event was moved to the Muenster University Center Ballroom. The forum was an open conversation for people on both sides to share their thoughts and feelings. The night started with statements from Laura Chandler, CDC Director, Lamont Sellers, associate vice president of diversity and members of the Union for African American Students (UAAS) — Sophia Lima, Ashley Charlie, Marcus Destin and Savana Ramsey. Sellers said after this incident, he hopes students, faculty and community members realize their words have consequences. “That little poem that goes ‘sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,’ isn’t true at all,” Sellers said. “Words have impact and words do hurt. What we put out there has an impact. And it reaches much further than we ever could imagine.” Chandler, in her opening remarks, apologized that this incident happened during the midst of celebrations for Black History Month. Destin said he’s tired of having the same conversation over and over. “This is hurtful. This sucks. It’s tiring. I just want you to care compassionately and genuinely,” Destin said. “I’m not here to bash you, I am here to educate you.” Once the conversation opened up for audience members, attendees were able to See STROLLERS, Page A3