1.20.21

The Volante

THE STUDENTS’ VOICE SINCE 1887

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International Artwork in I.D. Weeks Library

Track and Field start strong in first home meet

Since December, USD international students have had their artwork displayed in the I.D. Weeks Library. The students have been able to share their cultures through the artwork. Learn more on page A5.

USD men’s and women’s track and field kick their season off as they host their first home inivitational. The Coyotes won the team competions last Saturday with mulptile personal bests. Read more on page A6.

GALLAGHER CENTER HONORS M.L.K. DAY OF SERVICE WITH MUCH-NEEDED FOOD DRIVE Tyler Boyle

Tyler.Boyle@coyotes.usd.edu

The USD Gallagher Center participated in the Martin Luther King Jr. (M.L.K.) Day of Service on Jan. 18 by partnering with the Vermillion Food Pantry and Feeding South Dakota to host a week-long food drive leading up to M.L.K. Day. This was the first year the Gallagher Center put on the M.L.K. Day of Service Food Drive, nevertheless, it was a success, said Kim Albracht, the assistant director for the Gallagher Center.

“Normally, (the Gallagher Center) has had groups that have gone to various community organizations to volunteer on M.L.K. Day but this year with the pandemic that wasn’t as easily possible,” Albracht said. “This was an easier way to safely allow people to do something to honor Dr. King so that’s why we decided to go with the food drive.”

The Gallagher Center had been advertising the food drive for several weeks on social media and through signs on USD’s campus to promote the food drive. Albracht said marketing the food drive was the hardest part about putting it on because the food drive occurred immediately after winter break.

“We come back from such a long break and M.L.K. Day comes up so fast when everyone gets back (to campus),” Albracht said.

“The biggest challenge really was just making people aware of the opportunity to participate because we needed to start right away when people returned to campus.”

Through this promotion, the Gallagher Center was able to get over 20 volunteers to help with organizing and putting on the food drive.

The food drive started on Monday, Jan. 10 when a group of volunteers drove around neighborhoods in Vermillion putting door hangers on people’s doors telling how someone could participate in the food drive.

There were several ways in which Vermillion residents and USD students participated in the food drive. Some participated by dropping off food in a bin at the Muenster University Center.

Others signed up online to leave food by their front door for the food drive’s volunteers to pick up the food on Jan. 18. The last option that some chose to directly donate money to the Vermillion Food Pantry online.

On Jan. 18, volunteers went around town to collect the food people were donating as well as record the total amount of food collected during the food drive.

Albracht said the drive collected a over 650 pounds of food.

The next day, another group of volunteers gathered all of the food donated during the food drive and delivered it to the Vermillion Food Pantry.

The Gallagher Center’s food drive was held while Clay County, South Dakota and the United States are experiencing a dramatic increase in food insecurity and hunger. This is mostly due to the economic fallout since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S. last March.

Codylee Riedmann, the executive

Tyler Boyle | The Volante

The Gallagher Center Food Drive raised 737 food items for the Vermillion Food Pantry and Feeding South Dakota. director of the Vermillion Food Pantry, has worked at the Vermillion Food Pantry for almost two years and said he has seen an increase in food insecurity in Clay County since the start of the pandemic.

“People are struggling right now,” Riedmann said. “I know tons of people who lost their jobs. A lot of people don’t have that source of income they normally do and that’s taking a hit.”

Riedmann said the hardest part about working with people who need the Vermillion Food Pantry’s service is getting people not to be

embarrassed or ashamed that they need help.

“I always try to let people know there is no shame for using our service,” Riedmann said. “There is sometimes a stigma people have about going to the Pantry but we really try to treat them as customers and try to give them a positive experience instead of just handing out food.”

This past year the Vermillion Food Pantry has specifically tried to help more senior citizens in Vermillion, Riedmann said.

“It’s been really hard for (senior

citizens) more than anyone I would say because of everything that’s been going on,” Riedmann said. “(Senior citizens) can’t feel comfortable going outside and that adds another stress to coming to (the Vermillion Food Pantry).”

The Vermillion Food Pantry is located at 9 Court Street in downtown Vermillion.

The Vermillion Food Pantry’s hours and the contact information to partner with the Vermillion Food Pantry can be found on their website: https:// www.vermillionfoodpantry.org/.

USD Study Abroad program Charlie’s Bookstore: Now a pickup window prepares for future trips Sydney Johnson

Maddi Kallsen

maddilynn.kallsen@coyotes.usd.edu

USD’s Study Abroad program doesn’t have a clear view of what summer 2021 will look like. Travel has been restricted due to the pandemic.

International travel affiliated with USD is suspended. Virginija Wilcox is the director of the USD program located in the Gallagher Center. Decisions on summer 2021 for traveling are indefinite, Wilcox said.

“Once those decisions are made and communicated with us, we will share the news with the students accordingly,” Wilcox said.

There is still hope international travel will resume for the summer.

Most programs need early registration, so the Gallagher Center is encouraging students to continue looking for future opportunities to travel abroad, Wilcox said.

Jessica Winterringer, the Study Abroad advisor, said students still have positive attitudes toward the program which she doesn’t see changing any time soon.

“It’s still seen as a life changing experience with lasting benefits,” Winterringer said.

Opportunities to get involved are provided even with the suspended travel. A Study Abroad Expo will be hosted by The Gallagher Center on February 3rd 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Muenster University Center Ballroom Wilcox said.

Those involved with the Gallagher Center and study abroad program are preparing for the future.

“Our team has worked on establishing various safety and health-related protocols,” Wilcox said.

The COVID-19 Group Travel Protocol is one of these protocols.

The travel protocol follows CDC guidelines including wearing a mask, social distancing, hand washing and watching personal health status for signs of sickness, said Holger Oswald the Faculty Led Coordinator for the Gallagher center.

“The partnerships we have established with our international direct exchange partners as well as program providers here in the U.S. give an additional layer of safety assurance for our students,” Wilcox said. “These partners have safety measures and assistance established all around the world, so USD students can rest assured that the on-site assistance will always be provided.”

Participation for students is still possible and highly encouraged.

“While international activity is currently restricted, USD students can participate in domestic exchanges through the National Student Exchange to institutions within the United States and we’ve seen an increase in student numbers through this program,” Winterringer said.

Advising appointments are hosted by the study abroad advisor who can be reached through Coyote Connections or email (theworld@usd.edu).

Submitted Photo | The Volante

USD Study Abroad allows students to experience international countries such as Greece, Australia and Ireland.

Sydney.G.Johnson@coyotes.usd.edu

Charlie’s Bookstore has been a staple in the Coyote community for textbook purchases and USD merchandise, but is undergoing changes as USD students adjust to online textbook purchases.

Charlie’s replaced Barnes & Noble in April of 2019 with Akademos to create an online platform for students to purchase textbooks.

The online bookstore, which goes by the name of TextbookX, has allowed the bookstore to reach more students.

Caroline Briggs currently acts as the textbook coordinator. She is the liaison between USD faculty and the Akademos program.

Briggs said the online platform lent itself to many benefits.

TextbookX allows 100% of the online textbook sales to support student scholarships.

“Akademos employs four USD students as TextbookX brand ambassadors who assist with bookstore social media content, answer student order questions and manage textbook deliveries at Charlie’s on campus,” Briggs said.

One of this year’s TextbookX ambassadors is Emma Salzwedel.

Salzwedel spends her days processing incoming books and sending out notifications to students when their books have arrived on campus.

She also works a lot with

customer service and helping to answer any questions students have about the textbook buying or selling process.

“I think it is a little tricky for students to comprehend our new online bookstore at times because it isn’t well projected to the students,” Salzwedel said. “I don’t think students understand that they don’t come to us to buy or sell books, but rather we are connecting them with someone who does.”

The USD bookstore is now completely online and has simply becomes a pickup window inside the Charlie store.

This new virtual version of the bookstore has made the process of getting students their needed textbooks easier and more affordable, Salzwedel said.

“The program finds the textbooks that your professor says that you need, and it scans all third-party markets,” Salzwedel said. “It finds you some of the cheapest prices and connects you to various marketplaces, so it’s a combination of both convenience for our bookstore workers and convenience for students.”

As Charlie’s Bookstore continues to adapt to the new online platform, they encourage students to not be alarmed by the lack of a physical bookstore on campus, but rather take advantage of the many benefits that come along with having a completely virtual bookstore, Briggs said.

Peyton Beyers | The Volante

Charlie’s Bookstore encourages students to take full advantage of the opportunites of the online bookstore.

News

A2 Wednesday, January 20, 2021

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STUDENTS RETURN TO CAMPUS AFTER WINTER BREAK

Peyton Beyers I The Volante

The Muenster University Center (MUC) is bustling with students and faculty reconnecting after the long winter break. While masks are required in the MUC, students take advantage of eating in the MUC to gather with friends.

CITY OF VERMILLION POLICE BLOTTER

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welfare checks

Jan. 10 Vermillion PD officers conducted a traffic stop for speeding.

The driver was arrested for driving while intoxicated, possessing a fake I.D. and underage drinking. The adult passenger was also arrested for possessing a fake I.D. and underage drinking.

Jan. 10 Officers stopped a car for having expired license plates and cited the driver.

Jan. 10 Vermillion PD officers performed a welfare check at a residence. Officers arrested one adult female for violation of probation.

Jan. 11 Officers assisted social services with a visit regarding the

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welfare of a child.

Jan. 11 Officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle near a public park.

Jan. 11 An officer stopped a vehicle for driving at night with no headlights on. The driver was warned and released.

Jan. 11 Officers were called to a medical facility in response to a person who was having a mental health crisis. Officers quickly determined that further law enforcement assistance was not needed.

>> Jan. 10 - Jan. 16

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expired licenses

suspicious vehicle

Jan. 12

Jan. 13

Officers responded to a report of a vehicle burglary. Multiple reports were received of a similar nature and an investigation is

Officers responded to a report of a burglary and theft. The case is under investigation.

ongoing.

Jan. 12 The School Resource Officer is investigating a case of suspicious activity at the middle school.

Investigation is ongoing.

Jan. 12.

Officers received an anonymous report of illegal drug activity. The case is under investigation.

Jan. 13 An officer spoke with a subject about an ongoing dispute. The dispute was found to be civil in nature.

Jan. 14 Officers responded to a check welfare request for a subject laying down on a sidewalk. Officers located the subject and found him to be intoxicated. Officers ensured the subject was fine and cleared the scene.

Jan. 14 Officers responded to a report of a hit and run. Officers located the suspect vehicle and found the driver to be intoxicated. The driver was arrested and multiple charges are pending.

Jan. 15

Officers were made aware of a male possibly violating his parole conditions by drinking.

The suspect male was intoxicated, and his parole officers wanted him taken to jail.

Jan. 16 Officers responded to a local business for a report of suspicious activity. Officers spoke with several employees on scene and did not find any criminal activity.

Jan. 16 Officers stopped a car to interview the driver about a wanted person. Officers learned the driver had a suspended license and substituted license plates on the car he was driving. The driver was arrested

New president, vice president candidates announced Maddi Kallsen

maddilynn.kallsen@coyotes.usd.edu

Ally Feiner and Katie Brust announced their candidacy running for SGA president and vice president at this week’s SGA meeting.

“We’re really looking forward to getting started on this campaign season and we can’t wait to talk to students about how we can make USD a better environment,” Feiner said.

Jacob Carsten, a USD law student, was a guest speaker coming to do outreach. The law school is leading a tax clinic that helps and represents people in need.

“Our main goal is to help serve people who have any tax dilemmas with the IRS,” Carsten said.

Senator Armand Kahn reported on the Athletic Board of Control. Khan said all sports are currently in session and ground will be broken for a new pool within the next year.

“There is still a two million dollar gap in fundraising that is still needed,” Khan said.

Academic progress rate reports came back regarding athletes and all teams passed with good GPA’s.

The athletic department is funding separate testing out of their own budget. Athletes in contact sports will get tested three times a week.

Schedules for sports are currently out but some cancellations have happened and are to be expected.

“Everybody’s trying their best to have the competitions we can have and have a good season,” Khan said.

The Sociology Club asked for an increased budget in order to fund two guest speakers within the new Senate Bill 67. The speakers would cover The Innocence Project, a group working to exonerate individuals wrongly convicted and to reform the criminal justice system. The group requested $2000.

SGA President Abuk Jiel discussed the new election steering commit-

Peyton Beyers I The Volante

SGA held their first meeting of the new year and had two senators annouce their candidacy for president and vice president.

tee appointments. The steering committee oversees the election process and makes sure candidates adhere to SGA’s governing documents.

“When putting this committee together, I wanted to make sure there was a good mix of senators with experience in the senate as well as individuals that aren’t as connected to SGA,” Jiel said. “This is a group of people making sure the election is as fair and transparent as possible.”

Senator Caitlin Kroemer and President Jiel are working on a weekly event, Wellness Wednesday, for students to participate in forms of self care. On Jan. 27th at 11am resources for counseling center, online forms of therapy and skin care face masks will be handed out in the MUC. “SGA Wellness Wednesday came about when senators themselves and students talked about how important mental health is,” Jiel said.

The Volante Volume 145, N0. 14 January 20, 2021 www.volanteonline.com Al Neuharth Media Center 555 Dakota St. University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD 57069

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Alle Anduaga verve designer sports editor

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A3 Wednesday, January 20, 2021

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USD spring semester COVID plans for vaccine rollout Madilyn Sindelar

Madilyn.Sindelar@coyotes.usd.edu

Jacob Forster | The Volante

The recycling program is currently introduced in North Complex and Brookman Hall, but is projected to expand soon.

USD brings recycling to North Complex, Brookman Hall Jacob Forster

Jacob.R.Forster@coyotes.usd.edu

USD expanded its single stream recycling program into residence halls this semester.

Anna Moore, USD’s campus recycling coordinator, said the program started in 2018, and involves collecting recyclables on campus which are brought to Millenium Recycling in Sioux Falls. This semester, bins were installed in North Complex and Brookman Hall.

“The plan is we’ll see how it goes this semester in these two buildings, and then expand it to the rest of the residence halls in the fall if everything goes well,” Moore said.

Since 2018, the single stream recycling program has collected over 100,000 pounds of material on campus. However, in a 2020 Zero Waste Atlas Campus Assessment of the campus, USD received an overall score of 36%, below the average score of 40-50%.

“I was asked by the stainability committee what steps can USD do to get us to at least be average,” Moore said, “They said, there’s a lot of big things we can do to become a stellar school, but like, can we just get to average? Can you just give us quick things that we can do?”

Moore said the most important way for USD to increase recycling on campus is to make recycling as convenient as possible.

“Almost every room you go in on campus has a landfill trash bin,

conveniently located and emptied regularly by custodians,” Moore said.

“In comparison, most buildings have a handful of recycling bins, if that.”

One step USD could take to make recycling more convenient would be to implement paired trash and recycling bins across campus.

Moore’s faculty mentor, Mark Sweeney, said his role is to use the results of the Atlas assessment to help facilitate positive changes for stainability on campus.

“USD is doing a great job but there are many ways we can improve,” Sweeney said. “Right now, we are working on expanding recycling to all areas on campus.”

Sweeney said he hopes USD can become a model for other colleges and universities on stainability.

“SDSU recycles more than USD,” Sweeney said. “We need to beat them at this game.”

While the recycling program on campus is also limited by its limited staff of only four students, Moore said she thinks what the program has achieved is impressive.

“I think that what we have achieved with only four students working is remarkable,” Moore said.

In order for the recycling program to work, Moore said the bins need to stay free of contaminants, including food, liquids, and plastic bags. If a recycling load is contaminated, the entire load has to be sent to the landfill.

The spring semester is underway, and while classes and professors may change from the fall, one thing hasn’t.

The COVID-19 pandemic is still a threat to campus life and classrooms, yet USD is prepared to handle any outbreaks and the upcoming vaccine rollout this spring.

As students are welcomed back to campus, all staff and students are required to abide by the guidelines set up by the USD COVID-19 task force. These include face coverings in all indoor public spaces, practicing social distancing, reimagined campus activities, the USD Sentinel Testing program for free drive-thru COVID tests and the Wellness Center opening in Phase 1.

These measures are put in place to avoid a spike on campus, which happened in Sept. However, members of the COVID-19 task force are very optimistic by next fall campus life will be back to normal.

The decision to open the campus back up for the spring in Phase 3 was based off the fall semester, Kevin O’Kelley, assistant V.P. for compliance, said.

“We found that we were able to prevent transmission of COVID-19 from student to student in the classroom,” O’Kelley said. “We found the classroom was not a vector of transmission of COVID19. (There were no cases from a student getting sick from a professor or the other way around. There was little transmission from student to

student in the same class. We don’t know if these students also socialized, but found that the classrooms were safe.”

The goal for 2021 is to avoid another COVID-19 surge. In order to avoid that asymptomatic testing is available for all students courtesy of the University. During the fall semester, in order to receive a test students were required to be presenting multiple COVID -19 symptoms.

“Now the testing is widely available and free. We have had thousands of students get tested, and the asymptomatic ones that are sick are the ones that get other people sick. It’s the cases that are sick and don’t know it that are spreading it around to others. Now we are able to nip that in the bud greatly,” O’Kelley said.

The university itself is not vaccinating any students.

However the South Dakota Department of Health will collaborate with the South Dakota Board of Regents to determine population numbers for vaccines, according to the Department of Health.

The different phases for COVID-19 vaccine rollout determine when staff and students can receive the vaccines. As of Jan. 18 the state will enter into Phase 1D which includes those 65 and older, including university staff and faculty in that age range. Certain USD students may already receive vaccines due to their work or underlying conditions.

USD nursing students were able to receive their first round of the Moderna vaccine Jan. 15.

“I was excited to receive my vaccine because I am going

to be working on the COVID floor for my last semester of nursing starting in February,” Gabi Gillana, senior nursing major, said. “The vaccine didn’t hurt, but the next day there was a small lump and red circle around the vaccination site and my arm was a little sore.”

Even though vaccinations are beginning to make their way through the USD population, the University will not change any safety precautions until every that wants a vaccine receives one, O’Kelley said.

“When you get vaccinated we still need to wear a mask. All of the precautions we’ve been taking need to continue because we do not know who has been vaccinated. For example, if someone can pick up the virus from person A, receive the antibodies but not get sick, but pass on the virus to person C. Some diseases work that way and some do not but we don’t know about COVID yet,” O’Kelley said.

The student and campus body need to stay vigilant because the virus can still do a lot of damage to shut the campus down but the end is in sight, Kurt Hackemer, provost and vice president for academic affairs said.

“But if we can be careful one more semester we can stay open and we can hope for a much more normal fall for the next academic year.” Hackemer said.

Currently USD is operating with 95% of classes with a face to face component and two thirds completely face to face, above the national normal, Hackemer said. According to the COVID19 dashboard there are 17 active cases on campus.

USD student introduces new voting registration initiative Tyler Boyle

Tyler.Boyle@coyotes.usd.edu

A new voter registration initiative was introduced to the Young Democrats of South Dakota last week

by Addison Miller, a sophomore political science student at the USD. Miller calls the initiative “Passive Active Registration” with the goal of increasing the number of newly registered Democrats by 50% in areas deemed possible and necessary to achieve Democratic victories in future South Dakota elections.

The initiative, if passed, is planning for Young Democrats of South Dakota to supply certain businesses around South Dakota with voter registration forms and for those businesses to collect filled out voter registration forms.

Then, a volunteer would come by weekly

to pick up these forms at the businesses and mail them in for the people who filled out.

“Most young people have never mailed a letter in their life,” Miller said. “That’s how we lose a lot of young voters in this state. They just don’t know how to register so this can be a way we can help fix that.”

The voting registration forms will not be limited to just Democrats.

Miller said anyone will be able to come to these businesses to register to vote, no matter the party someone is registered for.

However, Miller said since the initiative is through a Democratic organization targeting younger voters, they will likely choose businesses and locations they believe will help increase voter registration amongst young Democrats the most. If the initiative passes, Miller said

they plan on starting out with businesses in Vermillion, Brookings, Sioux Falls and Sioux City.

“We’re going to help you register to vote no matter what you believe,” Miller said.

“This is a non-partisan effort, we’re not just going to throw out forms we don’t like, but we are a partisan group… So are we hoping this will benefit us? Of course.”

Miller said the current plan is to start implementing the initiative by midMarch of 2021, prior to municipal elections around the state.

Read more about Addison Miller and voter registration. volanteonline.com

Peyton Beyers | The Volante

Students are encouraged to get tested at the Sanford Health Clinic for free if they have been exposed or are symptomatic.

History Club set to start back up after semester off DeAndre Hill

deandre.hill@coyotes.usd.edu

The History Club is a student-led organization for students interested in history. The club reflects the interests of students by what they think is important and what they chose to do.

Starting on Jan. 28 the History Club is set to start back up after taking a semester off. Along with many other clubs and activities, COVID-19 affected the club’s operations due to restrictions on public meetings and the cancellation of events.

David Burrow, the faculty sponsor of the History Club, said that moving to remote learning in the spring of 2020 had an effect on the club and its members.

“Because of the move to remote learning things got canceled,” Burrow said. “I think the people who were

leading History Club all of whom graduated in the spring of 2020 didn’t have time for elections to pick new officers or pick people to revive the club up in the fall.

With the COVID-19 protocols and everything in the fall it just seemed like it would be too complicated to figure out a way to meet.”

This semester the club is looking to meet up as safely as possible depending on how many members join after their first meeting.

With the club having plans to conduct various events throughout the semester, this leaves them with the task of doing so within the COVID19 guidelines.

Mark Springman, the interim president of the History Club, plans to start off the club by showing movies in a smaller and controlled environment.

“Something I want to try to do is show some of the legendary movies that really have these subcultures and try to promote what makes them different while watching them on your own instead of going to see them in a crowd,” Springman said. “That might not be the best thing with the spacing requirements.”

With Springman being the Interim president and a senior, this leaves room for a new head of History Club this semester and for next fall.

“What I would hope for is that the club, when it meets again this year, will have some people who are sophomores or juniors who could take over the leadership,” Burrow said. “It’ll really depend on the students because History Club does a great job when there are students in it who are really engaged.”

USD COVID Task Force Guidelines for In-Person Meetings • • • • • • • • Submitted Photo | The Volante

Sophomore Addison Miller is bringing a new voter registrator initiative to South Dakota to make voting easier for young adults in the state.

No handshakes, high-fives or fist bumps.

Do not serve food or coffee.

Maintain a minimum of six feet of separation. This may mean moving the meeting from your office to a larger meeting room. This may also mean removing or rearranging chairs, desks and tables in a meeting space.

Offer a remote viewing/participation option to reduce the number of people present.

Students, faculty, staff and visitors are required to wear face coverings in all indoor public spaces as a safety measure for themselves and others.

If food is served, Aramark will follow COVID-19 protocols.

Cleaning materials should be available to disinfect tables before and after the meeting.

Limit length of meetings to decrease exposure time

Find more information at https://www.usd.edu/covid19

Opinion WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021

Be Your Own Personal Rockstar

THE VOLANTE

VOLANTEONLINE.COM/OPINION

EDITORIAL

PAYTON RYZ is a junior majoring in communication studies.

The mere mention of school triggers negative emotions in members of any age group. Children would sooner choose chaotic, messy activities over organized rows of desks and seven-hour schedules.

Teens and adults dread the classroom to an even greater extent, as it transforms from a simple part of their daily life to the greatest stressor in it.

There is an increasing aversion to academic activities outside the classroom from reading for enjoyment to independent research to simply maintaining stimulating conversations.

Individuals are generally quick to lay the blame on modern technology, but computers and their counterparts are little more than distractions, and people would likely employ them less if formulated education were less demanding.

In the past century alone, attending college has become less of a privilege and more of a prerequisite for life. So, after spending 12 years in a desk completing repetitive tasks and standardized tests, young adults are granted the opportunity to accumulate massive debt when many of them possess little to no genuine life involvement.

When high school seniors are asked their post-high school plans, the conventional answer would be that they are attending either a four-year institution or trade school.

Students who choose to take a year to work or travel are deemed unmotivated, burned out, and usually expected to fall off the academic track. Thus, the students take time to determine their life goals outside of the school setting are few.

Not everyone can be grouped in the gap year category, as some students who choose the college path directly after high school thrive and maintain the star pupil label. Some students not geared in the same way struggle with a steep decline in motivation and desire to succeed academically.

They are more engrossed in their phones and television shows because of the mindless entertainment and freedom they provide from the rigidity of regular days.

The lack of flexibility in America’s education system reveals that it was cultivated to create a nation that ultimately produces more workers than thinkers.

The same kids given near full-time jobs in grade school move hastily on to a costly college environment, and in this time of ambiguity they select majors and career paths that will likely be utilized until retirement age.

Perhaps there is no ideal blueprint for education, and the one operating now is best suited for the masses, but when pure desire for knowledge begins to become mindless memorization, change is necessary.

Mental Health Sick Day: Break from the Stress EMMA DAGGETT is a freshmen majoring in English.

File Photo I The Volante While there are many exciting events this semester students and faculty have to remember that COVID-19 still exists and is still very dangerous.

Editorial: These masks might not be comfortable, but they are necessary After almost a month-and a-half break, students were welcomed back last Monday to the USD campus to start off the spring semester.

This semester is looking to be a big one for USD students as we are also welcoming back several sporting events. Many have also found that there seems to be more options for in-person classes and even more students in these classes.

It seems that USD is getting a little taste of that “normal” preCOVID-19 lifestyle.

With no sports and no breaks last semester in order to do finals online after Thanksgiving, and many classes operating online already, student life just wasn’t the same for many of us.

This semester though, seems that it will start bringing back some of the in-person activities and interactions that we all have been missing out on for several months now.

While all of this is undeniably exciting, we all have to remember one thing as students and members of the Vermillion

Community, which is that COVID-19 still exists and is still very dangerous.

As students at USD, we must remember to protect ourselves and keep others safe by always remembering to wear a mask when on campus.

On top of wearing a mask, we must also be vigilant about how we are feeling. If a student or professor is experiencing any kind of sickness, they should stay home. While many people might not be concerned about sicknesses other than COVID-19 right now, the fact is they can still make people unhealthy.

Many classes have remote learning options prepared in case someone were to get COVID-19, so it should be just as easy to do this for students and professors with other sicknesses, as students and faculty safety should be the top priority.

As members of the Vermillion community we must not forget these precautions when offcampus as well. Many students go downtown or attend other social gatherings in Vermillion.

COVID-19 still exists even within our friend groups, and we should continue to prioritize safety.

If we disregard the warnings and precautions given to us, we risk much more than our own personal health. By not practicing these precautions we also risk our classes going back online, sports being cancelled again, restaurants closing back up and much more.

Our community is still very sensitive right now and the USD campus will be a large factor in keeping the community open and operating.

These masks might not be comfortable, but they are necessary.

So next time you’re done having a MUC date with all your friends or think about maybe heading to Char Bar perhaps slip a mask on and remember to protect the pack.

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The Volante THE STUDENTS’ VOICE SINCE 1887

EDITORIAL BOARD Bailey Zubke, editor-in-chief

Tyler Boyle, sports editor

Madilyn Sindelar, managing editor

Rachel Pechous, verve editor

Mental illness is a legitimate issue and people should be able to take mental health sick days.

When you have the flu, you stay home and take care of yourself. You should stay home and take care of any mental sickness as well.

Taking a sick day when you have a fever, feel nauseous or have any physical symptoms is normal and happens all the time. While mental health days are allowed in most workplaces, it can be hard for people to take the time off.

People feel guilty that they take time off for themselves. They ask, “If I’m able to go in and work on something why would I stay home?”

People should not have to take personal days or sick days when they are dealing with a mental illness.

When you are too stressed, anxious or tired you and your work will suffer.

Mental health sick days are for self-care. It’s not a “treat yourself” day. It’s a way for people to get the rest and care they need to get back to feeling like themselves. Sick days might not get a person back to 100% but it gives them a break and a chance to step back. It can help them come back with more energy.

People need to understand when they are close to a burnout. It’s better to take that step back and just breathe before you reach the end of your proverbial rope.

Scheduling mental health days in advance benefits you because you know that you will have a break soon.

It’s also important to realize that these are sick days, not personal days.

Mental health can become too much and turn into physical symptoms. Body aches, headaches, nausea and many other things can come from poor mental health.

If people do not get the rest and care they need, their productivity will decrease. Taking time to relax yourself and recharge can reduce stress and helps improve your performance when you return to work.

Recently, the negative ideas about mental illness have started fading away, but there is always more that can be done. People have become more comfortable talking to employers so they can get a day away from stress.

Emma Daggett, opinion editor

CONTACT US The Volante welcomes letters to the editor in regards to campus, local, state and national issues. Letters will be edited for clarity and length and will be printed as space allows.

Please limit letters to 300 words or fewer. The Volante reserves the right to hold letters for publication in a later issue.

Submissions must include the author’s name, address, telephone number, year in school and major or job title. Letters must be exclusively for The Volante.

We will not publish anonymous letters.

Send letters to: Al Neuharth Media Center 555 Dakota St. Vermillion, S.D. 57069 Fax to: 605.677.5105 Email to: volante@coyotes.usd.edu Via our website: volanteonline.com The deadline for letters is 5 p.m. the Friday prior to publication.

Letters must be typed and fewer than 300 words.

IT’S A NUMBERS GAME

80

The billion pounds of food wasted each year in America.

From feedingamerica.org

Verve

Wednesday, January 20, 2020 THE VOLANTE

VOLANTEONLINE.COM/VERVE

A PEEK INTO AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT’S WORLD

Alle Anduaga | The Volante

Students Anita Shrestha, Subharaj Pal, Yazmin Moktan and Leila Ghasempor’s artwork is displayed on the first and second floor of the I.D. Weeks Library for International Education Week.

Alle Anduaga Alle.Anduaga@coyotes.usd.edu

In December, The Art of International Education Week took place. The university libraries currently has the work of USD international students Anita Shrestha, Subharaj Pal, Yazmin Moktan and Leila Ghasempor displayed on the first and second floors of the library building.

The display allows the international students to share a piece of their culture with others.

Their artwork will be on display until the end of January for all to view and experience a glimpse into life

internationally.

Recent graphic design major graduate Anita Shrestha was able to share her artwork through international week after having to cancel her exhibition show due to COVID-19 last May. Shrestha is an international student from Nepal who is still experimenting with her style of art.

Shrestha said her family background is artistic as she comes from a family who owns a handicraft company that creates various forms of art like statues, carpet, silver jewelry, wood carvings and more.

“Being away from family, you miss home and home is something

that is close to my heart and I thought people here would be interested and excited to learn about it,” Shrestha said.

Part of Shrestha’s exhibition consists of posters of the Nepal calendar, descriptions of festivals, indigenous people and traditional foods eaten during certain times of the year.

Shrestha also has an arrangement of the Wheel of Life in Nepal, a painting of the elephant god and a display of an altar piece along with a pot and offering plate.

“This is basically me trying to bring my culture, the traditions that we have back home, here for people

to see visually,” Shrestha said. “Very vibrant colors, more people and music.”

Senior and art major specializing in graphic design Subharaj Pal is an international student from India who chosen to turn his hobby, drawing and painting, into a degree in designing.

“My most favorite thing to do is paint but I came into graphic design because it is a practical side of art,” Pal said “It is where art is applied in real life to create something.”

Pal displayed a graphic art piece of his called “Expand the Horizons” to inspire others to explore.

“Expand the Horizons” is a

graphic partly made out of the use of words to form different continents outside of the United States.

“I wanted to say ‘expand your openness of your mind and study abroad and look at things around the world to give you new ideas about how the world works,’ Pal said.

Pal views international art as a great opportunity for both international students and native students to get to know and share more about each other.

The international students art will be available for all students, staff and faculty to view in the I.D. Weeks library until Jan. 31.

Clarinet Day will explore history, significance of clarinets Miles Amende

Miles.Amende@coyotes.usd.edu

On Jan. 23, USD will host the 2021 South Dakota Clarinet Day, an event for clarinetists of all ages and skills to come together and celebrate the instrument. Though it’s usually in-person, this Clarinet Day will be held over Zoom.

The event will feature a masterclass led by Chigaco-based clarinetist Elizandro García. Assistant Professor of Clarinet and host of Clarinet Day, Luis Viquez, said García explores a lot of avant-garde music, and is a fantastic educator. He said García will focus on deep-listening and improvisation in his masterclass.

“I don’t recall any other clinician talking about that to the clarinet students here at the University of South Dakota,” Viquez said.

Usually, Clarinet Day would include a recital featuring Viquez and the guest musicians. This year, there will be a special activity in which participants will be encouraged to play their clarinets with García over Zoom.

These exercises will encourage players to move, react and even dance while they play or listen to music. Viquez said he is looking forward to this activity because he thinks it will help USD students improve their musicianship.

“When we train musicians in classical music, we follow a lot of rules,” Viquez said. “Unless we are playing jazz, sometimes we forget about the aspects of improvisation and exploration of music, and I think that part of being a musician is to have expressive ideas of your own.”

The event will also include a presentation on the history and cultural significance of the clarinet by Deborah Check-Reeves of the National Music Museum (NMM) titled “Clearly Clarinets: Tools of Human Expression.”

Check-Reeves, the Curator of Education and Woodwinds at the NMM, said her presentation will look at clarinets as indicators of what has happened in history. She said while modern clarinets have been around since about 1700, beatingreed instruments — similar to clarinets — have existed since 3000 B.C. “What does this say to us today, except that the clarinet… was important, even in a culture from that long ago,” CheckReeves said. “I think they can be regarded as tools, just as a

Clarinet Day VIRTUAL EVENT

January 23 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Open to EVERYONE who wants to learn the history and music of clarinets.

Featuring Guests Elizandro Garcia Dr. Luis A. Viquez Dr. Deborah Check Reeves If you are interested in joining contact luis.viquez@usd.edu to register Rachel Thompson | The Volante shovel or a bow and arrow can be considered a tool, except a very special kind of tool that enabled us to express ourselves musically.”

All of the instruments Check-Reeves will use are from the NMM’s collection. Her talk will show the clarinet’s wide and varied history, as well as discuss how the instrument isn’t in its final form despite numerous innovations.

“It wasn’t until I was a graduate student before I was introduced to the fact that the clarinet didn’t always look the way it looks today, and it was a revelation to me,” Check-Reeves said. “One of my personal goals of this presentation is to give participants a foundation in the history of the instrument that

they have chosen to play.”

Viquez said he feels very lucky to be able to collaborate with the NMM and use their resources for the event.

“I am in a position that a lot of clarinet professors at major universities would like to be in, because just around the corner we have examples of how the clarinet looked during the times of Mozart or Beethoven,” Viquez said.

The 2021 South Dakota Clarinet Day is open to everyone and will take place Jan. 23 from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Those interested in participating should contact luis.viquez@usd.edu to register.

Wellness Center bingo offers new way to reach fitness goals Bennett Clary

Bennett.Clary@coyotes.usd.edu

The USD Wellness Center has created a new bingo program to help students and members reach their health goals through fun activities with the chance to earn prizes.

Dottie Kerkman, the fitness and special events coordinator, said the new bingo program at the Wellness Center is a great way for members and students to hold themselves accountable to accomplish things that are healthy for their bodies.

“We have done bingos in the past but decided that having a bingo that could be done anywhere, not just the [Wellness Center], would be beneficial for all members and students at this time,” Kerkman said. “This bingo is also different because it has all categories of wellness in it: fitness, social, mental health, and nutrition.”

Kerkman said that previous bingo programs have been more focused on fitness classes or could only be completed at the Wellness Center. Wendy Johnson, the associate director at the Wellness Center, said since this is an incentive program, the goal is to blackout your bingo card.

“The participants choose different squares of activities to do each day and receive a sticker or check mark once completed,” Kerkman said. “Once they black the card out, they will receive a prize.”

Graduate student Clay Laplante said that since the bingo program promotes health and wellness in an easy way, students should be interested in participating. Laplante also said the prizes are a great incentive to participate in the program.

“It doesn’t seem like it’s too difficult to do,” Laplante said. “(It) sounds like something people who are getting into fitness can do.”

Kerkman said that the Wellness Center tries to offer a bingo every year, but sometimes it’s more fitness class related or entirely done at the Wellness Center. This year is different, she said, because it can be completed entirely online if participants want.

“This is unique in that we are infusing more than just the physical aspect of wellness,” Johnson said. “For example, we offer Boot Camp, this is physical wellness. We offer Stress Management, this is emotional or mind and body focus for wellness. This program takes many spokes of wellness

Bennett Clary | The Volante

Clay Laplant, a graduate student, learns more about the Wellness Center bingo program from Center faculty member.

and merges them into one program.”

The Wellness Center has taken measures to protect their members during the pandemic and Johnson said that they worked hard to adapt their programming to be flexible for those who are not using the facility.

Kerkman said the tasks can all be done remotely and that members can register online or through the USDFit app to receive their card physically or virtually.

Kerkman also said they have prizes such as shaker bottles and coffee mugs to encourage participation.

“This is a great, fun way to start doing healthy things for your body and get back on track for the new year,” Kerkman said.

Students and members can register until Jan. 22 in person, online or through the USDFit app. The program runs from Jan. 18 to March 5.

Sports

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 THE VOLANTE

VOLANTEONLINE.COM/SPORTS

Peyton Beyers | The Volante

Sophomore Helen Gould (left), Freshman Brylie Hartwig (center), Junior Haley Arens (right) lead the pack in the women’s mile at the USD Invitational on Saturday in the DakotaDome.

TRACK & FIELD STARTS STRONG AT THE DOME Bailey Zubke

Bailey.Zubke@coyotes.usd.edu

The Coyote men’s and women’s track and field won the team competitions of the USD Invitational Saturday inside the DakotaDome.

USD hosted South Dakota State, Drake and Omaha in the invitational. The Coyote men tallied 136 points, with South Dakota State (80) and Drake (46) following. On the women’s side, USD tallied 188.5 points. SDSU took second with 134 points, Drake (60) and Omaha (58.5) followed.

The Coyotes also had multiple personal best and nationally ranked results Saturday. Gennifer Hirata got the day started in the women’s pole vault with a collegiate season lead 13-8.5 vault. Landon Kemp, Deidra Marrison and Makiah Hunt all vaulted at 13-2.5. Helen Falda competed unattached due to no eligibility left for the indoor season and also vaulted at 13-2.5.

Carly Haring, who holds the best high jump mark in the nation, won the high jump at 5-9.75.

Callie Henrich won the women’s shot put (471.75) and weight throw (61-2.25) for USD. On the track, the USD women won the 400, 800, mile and 3000-meter runs. Sara Reifenrath, a freshman runner, won the 400 with a time of 56.64. Alli Wroblewski (800), Haley Arens (one mile) and Jonna Bart (3000) all brought home victories. Holly Gerberding added a win in the 60-meter hurdles.

On the men’s side, Ethan Bray tied his career best of 18-1 in the mens pole vault. The vault ranks second in the nation currently, and was his best mark last season. Bray qualified for the NCAA Championship last year with that mark.

Jack Durst climbs to fourth in the nation after clearing a 7-0.5 bar in the high jump. He won the men’s title with that mark. Hugo Morvan won the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.05 seconds.

Freshman Jacob Jenkins joined the top ten list in USD history in the triple jump. He jumped 48-0.5 in the triple jump and 22-1.25 in the long jump, good for second place in the meet.

The Coyote men had a very successful day on the track as well, winning five of the six individual races. Ardell Inlay (60-meter), Damar Francis (400), Dylan Blake (800) and Merga Gemeda (3000) each won races with Morvan.

Falda, along with three other Coyotes, competed unattached due to not having any indoor eligibility left. Falda, Zack Anderson, Kamberlyn Lamar and Blake Vande Hoef all competed in practice for outdoor season later this spring.

Anderson jumped 7-1.75 in the high jump, which would have won the event. Lamar posted a 9.01 second 60-meter hurdles and a 36-8.25 in the triple jump. Vande Hoef cleared 6-8.75 in the high jump.

Morvan, Reifenrath and Hirata were all named Summit League Athletes of the Week for their performances over the weekend.

The Coyotes host another meet this weekend. The Dakota Realty Invitational takes place Saturday inside the DakotaDome. The meet starts at 10 a.m. Parents and USD students are allowed to attend, with masks and social distancing measures in place.

Peyton Beyers | The Volante

Redshirt Sophomore Jack Durst clears the high jump bar at the USD Invitational on Saturday in the DakotaDome. He won the high jump with a leap of 7-0.5.

Madisen Martinez | The Volante

Senior guard for VHS Lexi Plitzuweit became the sixth player in Tanager girl’s basketball history to notch 1,000 career points against the Ponca Indians on Dec. 17.

The youngest Plitzuweit, GVSU commit, hits 1,000 career points Tyler Boyle

tyler.boyle@coyotes.usd.edu

Entering a road match-up against the Ponca Indians on Dec. 17, Lexi Plitzuweit, a senior guard for Vermillion High School, knew she had a chance to do what only five other Tanagers had done before: score 1,000 points in a career.

After 18 points and 32 minutes of gameplay, Lexi did it. She became the sixth girls basketball player in VHS history to notch 1,000 career points.

“It’s really cool to have my name mentioned with some of the really great players who played at Vermillion High School,” Lexi said. “I couldn’t have done it without everyone who helped me get here.”

While being only the sixth player to accomplish this at VHS, she was the third person in her family to reach this milestone.

Lexi’s mom Dawn Plitzuweit, the head coach of USD’s women’s basketball team, scored 1,000 career points at her in college at Michigan Tech in between 1990 and 1995.

In addition, her older brother A.J. Plitzuweit, a junior guard for USD’s men’s basketball team, scored over 1,000 career points for the Tanagers from 2016 to 2018.

Despite Dawn and A.J. Plitzuweit’s past accomplishments and both of them being out of town getting ready for games of their own, they both made an effort to reach out to Lexi when she scored her 1,000th career point .

“We were traveling on a bus at the time because we were traveling in between Bradley and Oklahoma, so I had to watch her do it on my phone,” Dawn Plitzuweit said. “I texted her pretty soon after she did it and told her congrats… (Lexi) texted me back saying ‘Me and Chloe are 1,000 point twins.’”

Lexi texted her mom this because Chloe Lamb, a senior guard for USD’s women’s basketball team, scored her 1,000th career point for the Coyotes the same day Lexi scored her 1,000th point for the Tanagers.

A.J. Plitzuweit said he made sure to let Lexi know he was thinking of her too.

“I made sure to tell her congratulations and I told her I was proud of her and to keep winning some games,” A.J. Plitzuweit said.

Lexi Plitzuweit said the most difficult part about reaching 1,000 points in a career was adjusting to her change in roles from her freshman to senior year.

“It was hard to really go from year to year and understand how and why my

role changed for the team and how I fit into it,” Lexi Plitzuweit said. “For me it was just important to figure out what the team needed me to do in order for the team to win.”

Lexi said she has applied this same attitude toward this season after achieving the rare 1,000 career points milestone.

“The 1,000 points is great and all but I am more focused on how the team is doing,” Lexi said. “I definitely don’t take (the accomplishment) for granted but I know the team’s goals are way more important than mine.”

The Tanagers currently hold a 6-2 record this season, including a 4-0 record at home.

Lexi Plitzuweit said Vermillion’s goal this year is to get to the state tournament and make some noise if they get there.

“We just have to look at each game and focus on improving every game, getting better and becoming the best version of our team,” Lexi said. “If we do that, then I think we’ll be in a pretty good position to achieve some of our bigger goals.”

After this season, Lexi Plitzuweit will be preparing to join the Grand Valley State University Lakers women’s basketball team.

GVSU is a Divsion II school located in Allendale, MI and is one of the top Divsion II women’s basketball teams in the nation. The Lakers are currently ranked 7th in the nation for Division II women’s basketball.

However, GVSU’s current success is not the only thing that sold Lexi to committing to the Lakers.

Dawn Plitzuweit’s first head coaching job was at GVSU. In addition, the current head coach of the Lakers, Mike Williams, coached with Dawn for several years at GVSU and the University of Michigan. Williams is also the God Father of her brother A.J. “It was interesting when we went there for Lexi’s first visit because there was so many people there we knew from when we were there back in the early 2000’s,” Dawn Plitzuweit said. “I didn’t know how (Lexi) would take it... but she had to hear a lot of: ‘Oh! I remember you when you were this big!’... Apparently, it didn’t bother her too much I guess.”

Lexi Plitzuweit and the Tanager’s next game is an away game against Garretston Jan. 22. Garretston is currently 8-1 on the season and is considered one of the best teams in Class ‘A’ in South Dakota.