The Volante W E D N E S D AY, F E B R U A R Y 6 , 2 0 1 9
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SGA candidate teams promote campaign platforms Volante Staff
Volante@coyotes.usd.edu
by Cecilia Gillen, Kelli Susemihl and Lexi Kerzman At the first Student Government Association (SGA) meeting of the semester, three pairs announced their plans to run for SGA executive office. The three pairs running for SGA president and vice president are Kevin Huizenga and Sidney Juffer, Carson Zubke and Hannah Booth and Matthew Yetter and Dalton Gehle. All three teams have been developing their
campaign platforms and gaining the student signatures required to appear on the ballot. Huzienga and Juffer’s platform is ‘Acclimate, Involve and Develop’ (A.I.D). Zubke and Booth’s is ‘Innovate, Cultivate, Empower’ (I.C.E.). Yetter and Gehle are running on a ‘ten-point promise.’
Huizenga and Juffer
Huizenga, a senior musical arts major, and Juffer, a sophomore accounting major, team’s slogan is “A.I.D. for the University’s Next Generation” ‘acclimate,
involve and develop.’ Huizenga said his first act of business would be approaching the “acclimate” section of their slogan. “The first thing we would like to tackle would be creating a more thorough and integrated orientation for freshmen and incoming transfer students,” he said. “It’s a very whirlwind week (for freshmen)... and I think it misses some key areas of this university.” These key areas include learning how to use apps and programs the university provides, such as University Involved or the new
USD Safe app, Huizenga said. “We have all of these amazing technologies and apps that can bring this university together and give students a very cohesive idea of what all is available on campus, but they just haven’t been given the proper channels to learn how to use those,” he said. Huizenga has been on the SGA Senate for two years, and as a fine arts senator, said he feels like he has a unique perspective to bring as SGA president. “I’m running because I really love this university, and I’ve always noticed that there’s been
some under-representation in programs that are not the big names of the school,” Huizenga said. Juffer has served on the SGA Senate for a year. She said Huizenga and her recognize similar problems around campus. “When Kevin approached me, he talked about a lot of ideas that he wanted to change in the university...and a lot of the ideas he brought up, I honestly could see myself in,” she said. Their closeness, but See SGA, Page A3
SGA
EXECUTIVE
TEAM
CANDIDATES
CARSON ZUBKE & HANNAH BOOTH
KEVIN HUIZENGA & SIDNEY JUFFER
MATT YETTER & DALTON GEHLE
Photo illustration by Molly Schiermeyer & Leah Dusterhoft I The Volante
Death of USD student announced
Austin Lammers
Austin.Lammers@coyotes.usd.edu
USD student Kali Teasley passed away at Sanford Vermillion Medical Center Friday morning. Kali Teasley, 24, was a 2018 graduate and graduate student in USD’s doctoral program, specializing in audiology. Teasley was born in Great Falls, Mont.
The cause of death was not announced. Visitation will be Feb. 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30. p.m. at Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer, S.D. Funeral services will be held at the Custer Lutheran Fellowship Saturday, Feb. 9 at 10:00 a.m. “Please keep Kali’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers,” Kim Grieve, Dean of Students, said in an email sent to
the USD community Friday evening.
The following resources are available to students: • • •
USD Counseling Center 605-677-5777 Dean of Students office 605-677-5351 UPD - 605-677-5342
Condom dispensers empty indefinitely, options elsewhere Cecilia Gillen
Cecilia.Gillen@coyotes.usd.edu
The condom dispensers located in the single stall restrooms on the first floor of North Complex and Burgess-Norton halls were last filled in May of 2018. As of now, there is no plan to refill them. The dispensers and condoms were provided by Sanford Health in Jan. 2017, and they continued to cover the cost of supplying the condoms. Ashley Hartnett, director of housing, said housing stopped having Sanford Health refill the dispensers in order to be respectful of the cost and quantity of their donations. “When we started this project, the demand was so high that Sanford Health... wasn’t able to keep up.” Harnett said. “So we started using the condoms that we were given in other capacities to make sure they still got distributed, just in a different format.” Cindy Benzel, student health manager for Sanford Health, said in an email interview with The Volante that the dispenser system wasn’t as effective as hoped. Instead of refilling the dispensers, Sanford Health provides condoms to be handed out at educational programs university housing puts on, like Sex After Dark or individual programs in the halls
where Sanford health presents on STD awareness, Hartnett said. “Supplies come from the State Department of Health and are typically distributed by USD housing as needed through programs and education events happening on campus,” Benzel said. These events are put on more often during the fall than the spring in order to educate sooner, Hartnett said. Krista Honomichl, president of Students for Reproductive Rights, said she thinks the university should not have stopped Sanford from refilling the dispensers. “I don’t think that the university should cut off a service because they’re worried that somebody else is donating too often,” Honomichl said. However, Honomichl said she had some concerns about the dispenser system because of its open accessibility. “It needs to be a little more closed off so there isn’t that potential for somebody going in and tampering with the condoms, because it’d be really unfortunate if a student thinking they’re practicing safe sex isn’t because somebody went in and like poked holes,” she said. In addition to handing out condoms at programs, Hartnett said resident assistants can request condoms from Sanford Health. See CONDOM, Page A3
Peyton Beyers I The Volante
Littly Italy’s and Asian Buffet closed their doors unexpectedly. Little Italy’s closed due to family illness, but Asian Buffet has not given a reason for closing.
Two local restaurants close their doors Molly Sperlich
Molly.Sperlich@coyotes.usd.edu
Peyton Beyers I The Volante
Condoms used to be provided in the first floor bathrooms in North Complex. They can now be purchased at vaious P.O.D. marketplaces but cannot be found in dispensers.
Two Vermillion restaurants, Little Italy’s and Asian Buffet, have closed their doors with little warning. Nate Welch, CEO of the Vermillion Area Chamber & Development companies, said he is unsure of the exact reasons these restaurants closed, because neither were a member of the chamber. “We have not been able to keep in constant communication with them,” Welch said. “Often those who aren’t members aren’t very engaged, and we don’t get to work with them on a daily basis.” If a business is part of the chamber, Welch said they will often have a better understanding of how a business is doing.
“In the nature of us engaging with our members on an intent scale to understand and help their businesses we often usually find out a bit sooner,” Welch said. Asian Buffet has not offered any information into why they are closing, but Little Italy’s currently has a sign on the door that states they are closing due to an illness in the family. Welch said the chamber hates to see a business close, as it is their job to help businesses grow. He also said the impact of these restaurants closing can vary based on the business type and their popularity. “You probably won’t see much of a change especially when it comes to sales tax revenue or options for good quality food,” he said. “Understandably See CLOSE, Page A3