W E D N E S D AY
APRIL 9, 2014
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Students showcase academic research, interests at IdeaFest Josie Flatgard
Josie.Flatgard@coyotes.usd.edu
April 8 brought undergraduate and graduate students of various disciplines together for the first day of IdeaFest 2014. The annual event allows students to display their research, creativity and academic engagement through oral and poster presentations, live performances, readings and exhibits. Poster session 1 of IdeaFest took place 1:30 – 3 p.m. Tuesday. Graduate student Michelle While collaborated with Chris Chiller and Angela Alanson Chiller on a project. Their presentation, called "Low Background Assays at Sanford Underground Research Facility," involved a low-background counter stored at almost
ONLINE ONLY Read about other students featured in IdeaFest 2014, and learn about what projects they are showcasing.
Find a schedule of today's events featured at IdeaFest.
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a mile underground to count radiation at the Homestake mine in Lead. “We ended up with a factor of 10 improvement on sensitivity which makes this detector one of the most sensitive in the world,” While said. “We’re the first and only ones who have ever done it.” The primary use of the detector is for rare events, Ward said. Copper and lead bricks were placed around the detector to stop neutrons from getting into it and to stop any radiation from occurring. Chair of the IdeaFest planning committee Brian Burrell said the event is a chance for students to learn and excel in a different way than usual. “The whole benefit of doing research or whatever kind of scholarship you’re doing, is it’s a greater, more in-depth educational experience than it is just sitting in a class,” Burrell said. He said there are set to be 224 presenters both days with a total of about 400 people helping with the projects and research, each who have benefited from the event. MALACHI PETERSEN I THE VOLANTE
SEE IDEA, PAGE A8
President of the International Students' Club Didarul Islam Manik serves traditional Bangledesh cuisine at the Festival of Nations event in the MUC April 6.
Dakotathon breaks history, raises $56,205 for CMN Volante Staff Volante@usd.edu
The University of South Dakota’s Dance Marathon event raised more than $56,200 this weekend for Sanford Children's Hospital in Sioux Falls, the region's only Children's Miracle Network hospital. This was nearly $6,000 more than last year’s fundraiser. The 24-hour event at USD, known nationally as Dance Marathon, is a student-run philanthropy held around the country that raises money for the Children's Miracle Network. USD Dakotathon is the largest student-run philanthropy in the state and is in its 17th
Festival of Nations serves as 'bridge' to cultural exchange
year at the university. Junior Allie Buss, a morale captain for the fundraiser, is in her third year of participating in Dakotathon. "It's a day to celebrate all the kids and what they've overcome in their lives. We get to hear the families' stories — it's moving," Buss said. For senior Ashley Nelson, co-overall chair of philanthropy, the yearly charitable event is the same as it always has been, only under a different name. This year, it was renamed Dakotathon to reflect the names of other South DakoSEE DANCE, PAGE A8
Megan Card
Megan.Card@coyotes.usd.edu
More than 150 strangers held hands, stepping to the beat of the drums in an attempt to perform their own version of a Native American circle dance. They stretched through the entire Muenster University Center Ballroom April 6 doing this; stumbling, laughing, keeping time. Angelica Gabriel, director of Wesley Campus in Vermillion, was alongside her Haitian husband, Raphaél Gabriel, for the dance — one of many activities featured at this year's Festival of Nations. "I don't know what heaven looks like, but I'd like to think it's something like this," she said. There was traditional food, clothing and performances from around the world throughout the three-hour event hosted at the University of South Dakota by the International Student Club. At least 15 food stations were featured with dishes ranging from a French beef bourguignon to the Haitian rice and beans with red sauce
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Participants in the Festival of Nations perform a traditional dance from India April 6 in the Muenster University Center Ballroom.
on the side. About 30 nationalities were represented around the ball-
room, said ISC adviser Carrie Prentice, associate professor in communications studies.
This is the sixth festival Prentice has overseen. Each year, she said, between the "food, beautiful clothes, music and laughter," this event promotes a greater respect between cultures. "Maybe this sounds cheesy, but this is how we make peace in the world," Prentice said. Tickets sold for $12 per adult, and proceeds went to event expenditures, ISC and a scholarship designated for international students, Prentice said. Festival of Nations is "a bridge" between the local and international community in the region, said ISC President Didarul Islam Manik, a USD graduate student. "The celebration is engaging, full of energy and not just embrace, but exchange each other's traditions," he said. Manik is from Bangladesh, and has been in the United States for about nine months. But he said he has great initiative to lead these kind of cultural exchanges, a trait that perhaps led to his election as ISC president after only 15 SEE NATIONS, PAGE A8
Academic Affairs office continues to weigh professor evaluation switch Austin Ashlock
Austin.Ashlock@coyotes.usd.edu
MALACHI PETERSEN I THE VOLANTE
A Dakotathon participant twirls a glow stick Sunday April 6 in the Muenster University Center ballroom.
A shorter professor evaluation form could be approved by Academic Affairs at the University of South Dakota by the end of the semester, interim Provost Kurt Hackemer said. The current diagnostic form of evaluations, which is 47 questions long, could potentially be replaced by a shortened 18 question evaluation, pending approval
by Academic Affairs. " T h i s would go into effect for the fall 2014 semester," Hackemer said. The disHACKEMER cussion to s h o r t e n professor evaluations format was brought up by the deans in winter 2013 after questions were raised about
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student fatigue while filling out the evaluations. Since then, USD Academic Affairs and Hackemer have looked into whether the long and short format effects the data it provides. "What we know based on stat analysis is that both forms are equally good at telling us whether the course is a good course," Hackemer said. "What we know in terms of measuring the quality of
a course or subject, there is no difference in what long and short forms can do. But statistically, this is something the developers or the form back up." Senior Sarah Merrigan is studying to become a teacher and said shortening the professor evaluations would be beneficial in making up for those who rush through evaluations, and don't take them SEE FORMS, PAGE A7
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