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The hunt is over: COVID-19 cancels spring athletic seasons
Coronoavirus pandemic cuts study abroad programs short
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The Summit League and NCAA cancel spring sports as the sports community comes to a screeching hault in efforts to reduce large masses of people in light of COVID-19. Read more about how this impacted Coyote Athletics on page B3.
With COVID-19, international travel has become difficult and has ended all study abroad programs. Read more about how USD and the Gallagher Center have helped students navigate what to do next on page B1.
NEWS (A1-A3, A6)
Classes move to online for duration of semester due to global pandemic
VERMILLION FOOD PROGRAMS ADAPT TO CONTINUE SERVING CITIZENS
Lexi Kerzman
Lexi.Kerzman@coyotes.usd.edu
Miles Amende
Miles.Amende@coyotes.usd.edu
In the wake of COVID-19, meal providers such as the Vermillion Food Pantry and the Vermillion Welcome Table have been forced to close their physical doors. Despite the drawback, these food services are continuing to provide meals to people in need. The Vermillion Food Pantry ceased walk-in services after the Community Connection Center of Vermillion — the building in which the pantry is located — closed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. On March 16, the pantry began delivering boxes of food to families in need, Theresa McDowell Johnson, director of the pantry, said. The boxes are prepared based on family size and contain nonperishable food items, as
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‘I have not been coping with this very well’:
In a press release sent from the Board of Regents on March 24, all South Dakota public institutions will finish the semester online. The semester will still conclude as scheduled on May 8. This decision, according to the press release, was made as state officials anticipated an increase in COVID-19 cases in South Dakota. “The public universities’ priority is to ensure that instruction continues through the remainder of the spring semester,” the release wrote. “No tuition or fees will be adjusted unless a student withdraws completely from the university on or before March 28, or the institution is unable to deliver a course online.” In addition to classes moving online, all graduation ceremonies have been postponed until further notice. In an email to all USD students, USD President Sheila Gestring said the decision to postpone graduation was not made lightly. “(It) was determined based on the recommendations of public health authorities and with the health and safety of the entire Coyote family and community in mind,” Gestring said in her email. “Although we are all extremely disappointed in this disruption to normal campus life, this is an opportunity for Coyotes to serve others in an impactful way.” Gestring also restated in her email the importance of staying home and practicing social distancing. “To put this simply – we are asking you to stay home. What we do today will affect our friends, neighbors and families tomorrow. This is a temporary response to an extraordinary situation,” Gestring said. “With proper action today, we know life will return to normal.” According to the email, students who have a housing contract, meal plan and parking pass will receive a prorated credit to their account. Students with unused flex will also receive a refund for the total amount of unused flex. These refunds will automatically be received by the end of April. The BOR press release stated students living on campus will have to schedule a time to move out between March 25 and April 8. Gestring said students will receive further instructions via email later today on the move out procedure. According to her email, Gestring is asking for patience during this complicated time as the university continues to work towards answering every question. “We ask for your patience as we work through these complex issues to find the best solutions for our students, faculty and staff,” Gestring said. “Your educational experience is of the utmost importance to us, and we urge you to stay connected and continue your progress toward graduation.” Gestring said she shares students’ disappointment in this time, but said she is proud of how the Coyote community has handled this challenging situation. “I could not be more proud of the selfless way our Coyote community has rallied together to make the best of an unpredictable situation … We already miss each and every one of you. Vermillion is not the same without our students,” Gestring said. “Our Coyote community is strong. We are resilient. And we are here for you – always.”
Students prepare for online learning in hands-on majors Lexi Kerzman
Lexi.Kerzman@coyotes.usd.edu
USD President Sheila Gestring announced on Tuesday that USD and all South Dakota public institutions will finish the spring semester online. While universities across South Dakota and the nation make the switch to online learning, students in a variety of majors find themselves questioning how their studies would fit an online format. “We know it is frustrating to have uncertainty about the next few months on campus,” Gestring said in an email sent out to all USD students. “We appreciate your patience as we work together to find solutions that ensure our students continue to progress toward graduation.” According to Gestring’s email, the extended spring break was a way to prepare for the transition to online learning. “I urge our community members to remember the extended spring break and temporary transition to online learning should not be treated as a vacation,” Gestring said.
Dental Hygiene
For students in the dental hygiene program, like junior Jessica Schuldt, she’s still unsure how online learning will work for her program. Schuldt said she’s worried moving classes online for the rest of the semester will put her and the rest of her class behind. “This late into the semester, we are finally starting to go hands-on with more of
the challenging things, like administering local anesthetic and nitrous oxide/oxygen,” Schuldt said in an email interview with The Volante. “We need to know these things for our summer rotations and not being in the clinic is taking this precious time away from us.” Faced with questions on what the future for her program will look like, Schuldt said she used her extended spring break to get ahead on homework. “Some instructors are wanting to do two weeks of course work at a time,” Schuldt said. “Our courses are very difficult and on top of every instructor doubling our work, we now have to teach it to ourselves essentially.” Jaida Anderson, junior dental hygiene major, said she’s worried online learning will put her entire class behind on the skills they need to be successful dental hygienists. “I am most nervous that I am missing out on the experience I need to gain the clinical skills needed,” Anderson said in an email interview with The Volante. “This program is extremely difficult.” Anderson said she knows this was the right decision, but it’s still hard for her to process. Moving to online learning, Anderson said, will be challenging for her as she is someone who needs to be around people, but she knows the professors will help through the transition period. “I have not been coping with this very well ... It is hard to step away from it all and think about happy things,” Anderson
said. “I am stressed out, anxious, scared and sad … But I know the dental hygiene professors will have our back no matter what happens.”
Art Students
For Jenae Porter, a senior art major, her senior showcase has been canceled along with all other events on campus until April 30. Porter said she and fellow show-mates were devastated. After overcoming many obstacles in her college career — like multiple friends passing away, a studio accident that resulted in hand surgery and months out of the studio — Porter said she didn’t know if she would be able to graduate for while. “My thesis show was something I have put a lot of weight on, knowing that it was proof for myself that I could overcome all obstacles and defy odds,” Porter said. “Now, I won’t have that closure for myself.” Jessica Westerdahl, a fifth year ceramics major, said she knew there was a possibility their senior shows would be canceled, but when the possibility became reality she was devastated. “I have been stressing over the anticipation of my senior show for five years now and then to have it canceled is hard to put into words all that I am feeling,” Westerdahl said in an email interview with The Volante. “I feel like my senior year has been taken away from me, but I also know that the university has made these See ONLINE, Page A3
Heidi Schneider| The Volante