THE VOLANTE
STDs on the rise in SD Page A7
DECEMBER 11, 2013
REDESIGN COMIING JAN. 29, 2014
More than 60 turn out for SGA meeting
THE STUDENTS’ VOICE SINCE 1887
Stigma of assault Campus SaVE Act requires procedural changes by March “I would take her to the hospital to get checked out; who knows, he may have some STDs.” “Contact counselors. They know what to do.” The previous two statements are examples of advice given to a hypothetical college woman who shared an incident of rape, and were documented in an online survey by USD Associate Professor Yumi Suzuki. Megan Card The Volante
TRENT OPSTEDAHL/THE VOLANTE
Senior Taylor Moore expresses his concern for why the Student Government Association should pass Senate Bill 62 during SGA's meeting Dec. 10.
Senators refer diversity bill to new committee Nathan Ellenbecker The Volante
Senators of the Student Government Association may be in position to act as the representative voice of the student body, but some student were angered by Tuesday night’s meeting to find their own voices cut short by SGA proceedings. “I just wanted to be heard,” said graduate student Lydia Graslie. Graslie was among the largest student gallery in recent memory, with more than 60 people in attendance, as discussion focused on a proposed bill, to reserve four senate seats for “traditionally marginalized” on-campus organizations. If Senate Bill 62, which was referred to a committee, passes through the University of South Dakota SGA, the legislation would save four seats within the student senate for representatives pooled from the 10 designated “traditionally marginalized” student groups, said Alexis Oskolkoff, the senator who proposed the bill. These organizations are required to be open to students of all racial backgrounds. “We always say we encourage diversity and we embrace inclusive excellence, but this is the first
READ BILL 62 Read Alexis Oskolkoff 's legislation to reserve four at-large senate seats for traditionally marginalized student groups at
volanteonline.com
Traditionallymarginalized student groups 1. Spectrum 2. Asian American Student Association 3. Association for the Advancement of Women’s Rights 4. African Student Association 5. International Student Club 6. Korean Life 7. Latino American Student Organization 8. Union of African American Students 9. Indian Association 10. Tiospaye U. time we actually opened up to this subject,” Oskolkoff said. During discussion, Executive Director of the South Dakota Board of Regents Student FederaPlease see LEGISLATION, Page A8
The 2013 Clery report for the University of South Dakota documents four reported forcible sex offenses on campus in 2012. In the past 12 months, Sandie Sullivan estimates 10 to 15 students have reported their own accounts of sexual assault, not to mention anonymous phone calls received by her staff at all hours of the day. Sullivan is the executive director for Vermillion’s Domestic Violence Safe Options Services, and she said the frequency of which college students contact S.O.S. is “hit or miss.” “There are times when you think it won’t stop, and other times, there is nothing for a long period of time,” she said. Sullivan has been working with sexual assault survivors for more than 21 years, and said her first emotional re-
The proposal to bring a multicultural student center to the University of South Dakota is one step closer to becoming a reality. According to Jesus Trevino, associate vice president for diversity, an official proposal has been submitted to President James Abbott and the executive council to be vetted and approved or returned with recommendations. “Ultimately, the vision is to have a central area where there are lots of activities going on around issues of diversity,” Trevino said. Two locations are being considered for the proposed multicultural student center — the former Continuing Education building and the current Commons facility in North Complex.
Campus Activities Board and the university provide 11 days of finals week activities.
Verve, B4
Source: Clery Center for Security on Campus
Please see ASSAULT, Page A7
90 percent of sexually assaulted college women
will have met their offender in the near past Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Remembering Mandela, A8
SEE THE PROPOSAL
The Volante
VERVE
1. Transparency: Expansion of documented crime statistics 2. Accountability: To ensure prompt and fair investigations 3. Education: More provided programming 4. Collaboration: Collection and dissemination
sponse to USD’s Clery report statistics surrounding sex offenses is “that has to be a really low number.” “My viewpoint — it is happening a lot more than just that,” she said.
Multicultural center proposal submitted to Abbott, council Trent Opstedahl
Campus SaVE ACT There are four main aspects to the campus SaVE Act.
Read Trevino's multicultural center proposal online at
volanteonline.com Trevino said the goal of the proposed multicultural student center is to deter away from the traditional perception of diversity. “Diversity has become very complex,” he said. “It is not a problem to be solved, but it is an asset that can be very valuable and used to achieve a variety of educational and institutional outcomes related to teaching, learning, research and the preparation for students to engage in a diverse world.” ASSOCIATED PRESS
Please see FORUM, Page A6
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volanteonline com Visit The Volante’s website for daily updates of on-campus events.
Please Recycle
Nelson Mandela at the Mandela Foundation. Mandela died Dec. 5 at the age of 95.
SPORTS
USD men's basketball takes on Green Bay Saturday at the DakotaDome.
Sports, B1