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Craig Smith to leave USD for Utah State. Sports B1
The Volante W E D N E S D AY, M A R C H 2 8 , 2 0 1 8
THE STUDENTS’ VOICE SINCE 1887
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Rambo pleads guilty to sexual assault Devin Martin
Devin.Martin@coyotes.usd.edu
Morgan Matzen I The Volante
Hundreds of Vermillion residents, K-12 and USD students and educators joined together for the March For Our Lives in downtown
Vermillion Saturday afternoon.
March for Our Lives calls for gun reform Morgan Matzen
Morgan.Matzen@coyotes.usd.edu
Hundreds of Vermillion residents, K-12 and USD students and educators alike marched on Main Street Saturday afternoon. This march was one of hundreds of sister marches across the country in support of victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla., as well as the Great Mills High School shooting in Maryland. Marchers gathered at the First United Methodist Church for coffee and snacks, then walked towards the Clay County Courthouse at 1 p.m. chanting “Enough Is Enough” armed with signs reading “Arms are for Hugging,” “Art not Artillery” and “Listen to the Children,” among others.
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I remember doing lockdown drills as an elementary school student, so it hits close to home. Katie Meirose, junior
Katie Meirose, a junior acting and anthropology double major, was a student organizer for the march. She tabled in the Muenster University Center ahead of the march in order to get the word out to students. “I want students to understand that this is an issue that needs to be addressed,” Meirose said. “A lot of gun violence is preventable when taking the right measures. Every voice matters,
especially young voices. Get out there and vote, and get out there and make a difference.” Meirose said she remembers having to do lockdown drills as an elementary school student. “I grew up with school shootings,” she said. “I remember doing lockdown drills as an elementary school student, so it hits close to home and it’s time we really take a stance.” March organizer Ellie Pyles,
the office manager of First United Methodist Church, said she asked the pastors if the church could host the march. Pyles said it’s “heartbreaking” to see mass shootings in the news, and it’s “impressive” that students all across the country are taking the lead on the issue of gun safety. “This is something that people care about, that a lot of people think that enough is enough and we’re sick of seeing reports of mass shootings every week,” she said. “There’s already been another school shooting since Parkland, it just happens a lot more frequently and I think a lot of people are at a tipping point. This is a chance for people to get out there and let folks know that enough is enough.” See MARCH, Page A6
Spirit Squad provides opportunities for fan engagement, student representation Devin Martin
Devin.Martin@coyotes.usd.edu
The cheer team, Charlie Coyote and the dance program are all part of the Spirit Squad organized by Brooke Poppe, the new coordinator of spirit teams and programming. Poppe started in this new position last Thursday, and said she accepted the position because it offered the most pride for students. “With the basketball team doing so well, I got to see the teams in action and so I think that something that brought my interest to USD was the pride that everyone has in the program, within the school (and) within the community,” Poppe said. “I think everything that is being done is awesome and I think (USD) has awesome traditions that we’ll just build on.” Poppe said the most important aspect of Spirit Squad is fan engagement. “I think it’s an opportunity for fan engagement,” Poppe said. “The Spirit Squad and Charlie are there to provide those ingame moments and build the atmosphere so that the teams can feel that sense of urgency as well as interacting with alumni and creating the brand that is already there and executing that well.” Poppe said she’s excited to learn and prepare for the fall semester. “I’m excited to learn. I’m just in the early stages of starting and I have a lot of questions and a lot of things to catch up on and I’m eager to do that and kind-of getting the ball rolling for the fall.”
Charlie Coyote
With Charlie Coyote being
the face of the university, Kim Grieve, dean of students and vice president of student affairs said that having a well-known mascot is important. “Faces at universities change, faces in athletics change but Charlie is the one thing that’s always there,” Grieve said. “Charlie the Coyote is the face of the university and athletics because he’s consistent.” If a student also chooses to be Charlie Coyote, there are numerous benefits such as a half housing scholarship, paid travel expenses, paid wages and Summit League and Missouri Valley conference experience. Charlie Coyote’s main job is to entertain at athletic events and community events as well as connect with students and community members. Grieve said if individuals want to request Charlie Coyote for an event, a request form and payment are required. The form goes to Poppe. “People go on and request him for a community event or for a campus event,” Grieve said. “Sometimes for a foundation event as well. Let us know when, the time, the date, and then we just make sure Charlie is available and at the event.” Grieve said being Charlie Coyote is “hard work,” and that the university appreciates the work that goes into being the mascot. Charlie Coyote is usually reserved for five to six events in a month, Grieve said. “If you commit to be a Charlie, we need to make sure that you have lots of time available and that you’re willing to sign up and be there for events,” Grieve said. “Oftentimes it would be hard to work many hours, so
A former USD football player arrested last fall on rape charges has pleaded guilty. Danny Rambo Jr. pleaded guilty RAMBO on Feb. 9 with a class one misdemeanor for sexual content without consent with a person incapable of consenting. Rambo was originally charged with one count of seconddegree rape. Rambo will serve 10 days in jail starting Nov. 1 as his sentence. The jail sentence started with 180 days but was reduced by 170 days. In addition to the 10-day sentence, Rambo will pay $2,400 in fines and court fees and is enrolled in counseling to address any “sexual issues.” Rambo is not permitted to visit bars or possess or consume alcohol, marijuana or other controlled drugs. He must also provide passwords and usernames to his electronic devices and social media accounts so his counselor can monitor his activity. Dale Williamson, another former USD football player who was arrested on rape charges last fall, has a trial scheduled for April 30.
Seven businesses fail alcohol compliance checks Morgan Matzen
Morgan.Matzen@coyotes.usd.edu
Logan Rahn I The Volante
Charlie Coyote’s main job is to entertain at athletic events and
community events as well as connect with students and community members.
we want to make sure there are some benefits and that they know that we really appreciate all the work that they’re doing and we recognize it’s hard work to be Charlie.” Erayna Lister, a senior addiction studies major and captain of the cheer team, said being Charlie Coyote is a good way to represent the university. “He livens everything up a little bit by just joking around as Charlie or just interacting
with the crowd, I feel like he ups the atmosphere a little bit,” Lister said. Lister said there’s always a very talented person being Charlie. “I feel like you never hear about other mascots in the area. But I always feel like you’re hearing about Charlie Coyote,” Lister said. “He’s really fun, interacts with the crowd, never gets in too much trouble.”
Seven local alcohol license holders failed compliance checks with Vermillion police on March 22. Underage confidential informants attempted to purchase alcohol at 10 locations in town. Three businesses — Bunyan’s, Main Street Pub and Cherry Pit Stop — all passed the compliance checks. Each of the employees who sold alcohol at the seven failing businesses — both Casey’s General Store locations, Coyote Convenience, Dakota Brick House, Eagles, Freedom Store and Leo’s Lounge — were charged with furnishing alcohol to a minor. Vermillion police chief Matt Betzen said this is one of the worst years for compliance checks since 2012. Betzen said this most recent round of compliance checks is an unusual number of passes and fails for Vermillion. “Really seven or eight of those businesses should have passed, and they obviously didn’t,” Betzen said. “If this type of failure rate continues, then we’re looking at maybe changing some of the remedial actions we would take.” Betzen said certain businesses in town create a culture where they’re willing to serve minors. “Generally speaking I expect that this is a trend, I wouldn’t even hesitate to call it a trend,” he said. “It’s the first time we’ve done (compliance checks) this year, that will likely correct itself and will see an improvement in the future. At least that’s my hope and my belief is that that’s what we’ll see.”