W E D N E S D AY
CAB announces spring concert
MARCH 5, 2014
THE VOLANTE
Timeflies will perform at the University of South Dakota Mon. March 31. A venue has yet to be chosen for the concert. Read USD students' reaction to the announcement.
News, A8
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Abbott alters job after VP resigns Megan Card
Megan.Card@coyotes.usd.edu
MICHAEL GEHEREN AND TRENT OPSTEDAHL I PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
POPPING PILLS TO MAKE THE GRADE
Illegal Adderall use surfaces as 'study drug' at USD Trent Opstedahl
Trent.Opstedahl@coyotes.usd.edu
Professors are piling on the homework before spring break. Midterms are underway, which causes sleepless nights of studying for exams. Stress levels are running high, and as sophomore Elizabeth Jensen, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, tries to assess how best to accomplish all that needs to be done. Her friend turns to her and says, “I’ve got you covered.” Out of a little orange bottle, sophomore Rachel Thompson, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, pulls out two tablets labeled “Adderall XR.” Thompson and Jensen quickly look around, and
"My close friends are the ones who usually come to me, but during midterms and finals week, a lot of people I don't know always come to me asking for it." -Rachel Thompson , sophomore without hesitation, pop the pills into their mouths. Now they wait, knowing it’s only a matter of time before the “study drug” takes effect. The prescription drug is an amphetamine used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which is how Thompson obtains the drug, but the illegal pillpopping trend is more commonly happening among college students age 18 to
22, according to a 2009 study by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Adderall works by increasing the levels of dopamine — a chemical in the brain associated with pleasure, pain and attention — in the body, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse. “If my friends are ever like, ‘Oh, I need this because I have so much to do,’ I’ll give them one,” Thompson
said. “My close friends are the ones who usually come to me, but during midterms and finals week, a lot of people I don’t really know always come to me asking for it.” While Thompson said she only has three or four “close friends” to whom she distributes Adderall regularly, she admitted to selling pills to students for money. Lauren Schuur, coordinator of prevention services for the Student Counseling Center at the University of South Dakota, is among the counseling staff that treats students who have been caught either distributing and/or ingesting prescription drugs. “It really varies as to SEE PILLS, PAGE A6
President James Abbott is reconfiguring some of the University of South Dakota’s administration positions after the recent resignation of the vice president of Marketing, Enrollment and Student Services. Jeff Baylor submitted his resignation letter Jan. 21 after joining the university in 2008, Abbott said. Baylor’s resignation was a “personnel matter,” and Abbott declined to BAYLOR comment on the reasons leading to the vice president’s departure. The Volante was not able to reach Baylor by phone or email for comment. In his absence, Abbott said the university will be seeking a vice president of Enrollment, Marketing and University Relations. Dean of Students Kim Grieve’s position will be elevated to the newly-created vice president of Student Services. “I have long felt that because students are the reason (the university) exists, Student Services should report directly to the president,” Abbott said. There is no one currently filling in at an interim position for Baylor, but Abbott said Grieve, Director of Communications and Media Relations Tena Haraldson and Dean of Enrollment Mark Petty are all handling work overseen by Baylor. Each is directly reporting to Abbott. The university is also working with a separate consulting firm to fill the vacant position, Haraldson said. Williams and Company Consulting, Inc., a separate firm from the one searching for USD’s next provost, was hired because Abbot said it has “significant experience in enrollment and student services.” Follow reporter Megan Card on Twitter @meg_card
Tax deadline coming, "Onward" set for public launch VITA assists students Nathan Ellenbecker
Nathan.Ellenbecker@coyotes.usd.edu
Josie Flatgard
Josie.Flatgard@coyotes.usd.edu
With spring break on the horizon, it is only a matter of time before taxes are due April 15. Though taxes may seem daunting, there are methods to make the process a bit easier. Tom Davies, an accounting and finance professor at the University of South Dakota, has a primary teaching area in tax. Davies said more than 50 percent of the public use paid tax preparers, so there are many who have a fear of not filling them out correctly and paying the consequences. He said the tax returns college students file are not
MALACHI PETERSEN I THE VOLANTE
SEE TAXES, PAGE A7
USD basketall readies for Summit League Sports, B1
The University of South Dakota Foundation’s capital campaign, “Onward South Dakota,” has raised just under $95 million to date, said Foundation President Steve Brown. Brown said the Foundation and USD administration have scheduled a public launch event for the campaign Oct. 10, 2014 — the Friday of Dakota Days. During the event, it the campaign's fundraising success will be announced, as well as any adjustments to the ultimate goal of $250 million. “The idea of a campaign is you try to raise half of your goal in a very targeted way, speaking with individuals you hope would make the largest gifts to
usually overly complicated, so they could more than likely do them on their own. “These returns are going to be fairly simple,” Davies said. “Most students’ returns are not all that complex.” Davies suggests taking advantage of the assistance provided by the IRS Volunteer Tax Assistance (VITA). It is one program that provides assistance to taxpayers with an income below $52,000, students included. The program is offered in local communities across the country at libraries, schools and other locations accessible to the public. Volunteers, a total of 12, The "Onward South Dakota" capital campaign will host an event to celebrate its public launch Oct. 10, 2014.
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SEE FUNDS, PAGE A8
Sorority member encouraged to run Verve, B4