3.3.21

The Volante W E D N E S D AY, M A R C H 3 , 2 0 2 1

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VERVE (B3)

SPORTS (B1)

USD’s weekend of music

Summit League Tournament preview: Men’s Basketball

USD’s Symphonic Orchestra and Chamber Singers both had their first concerts of second semester last weekend. Learn more about how each group prepared and stayed safe during their performances on page B3.

Preview the Coyote men’s basketball team as they lead up to the Summit League Tournament as a No. 2 seed. Learn more about the players and their preparation on page B1.

TRANS RIGHTS MARCH HELD IN RESPONSE TO HOUSE BILL 1217

Rachel Thompson | The Volante

Protesters marched against H.B. 1217, a South Dakota bill to ban trans women from participating in women’s sports. Protests were held in seven different cities across South Dakota.

Rachel Thompson

Rachel.R.Thompson@coyotes.usd.edu

In seven cities across South Dakota, people gathered Saturday morning to make a statement and to protest a bill against trans lives and their future in sports.

All events had mandatory mask requirements and were held in Pierre, Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Brookings, Watertown, Eagle Butte and Vermillion.

The protests were led by The Transformation Project. In Vermillion, April Matson and Dylan Daniels led the event with speeches based on their own experiences and lives and led a march around the block of main street.

This protest was in response to South Dakota House Bill 1217 being passed through the senate. The bill plans to ban trans women from participating in women’s sports because of the belief that trans women will have an unfair advantage over other teams players.

“The bill is a huge step back when we’ve been working to

get schools safe for all students. How are trans people being represented when the legislators take these issues out of our hands and puts them in the hands of cisgender representatives,” Matson said during their speech.

H.B. 1217 would affect all public schools, even public colleges.

The bill would require women to provide documentation verifying their biological sex.

“They’re really going for these vulnerable spots. It’s already such a vulnerable population and the few resources like these youth do have, legislators are targeting these places to try to make it so they don’t have any safe spaces to go,” Dylan Daniels said.

Mark Daniels discussed how every time a bill that affects the trans community is presented, many young adults are sent to mental health facilities due to the stress. About 50% of trans youth attempt suicide, according to a survey by The Trevor Project.

Dylan Daniels and Matson suggest one way to help trans people feel more validated and to advocate for their rights is to

normalize saying their pronouns.

“We know when these things are happening to us that we have to fight against them but it’s time for us to bring legislation forward to protect our trans youth,” Dylan Daniels said in his speech.

Senate Bill 166 planned to extend protections for hate crimes against the LGBTQ and Two-Spirit people. This would have been the first bill to identify Two-Spirit people but it did not pass the senate.

Vermillion voters approved of the home rule charter in November so that Vermillion could have more control over local matters. The Transformation hopes to see Vermillion make schools a safer place for trans youth and to see overall more protections for LGBTQ, Two-Spirit, and trans youth.

No further protests are planned currently. To stay updated and informed you can go to The Transformation Project for South Dakota website.

“Trans people and Two-Spirit people are in South Dakota and we are not going anywhere,” Dylan Daniel said.

USD encourages COVID-19 tests before spring break Sydney Johnson

Sydney.G.Johnson@coyotes.usd.edu

With only two days left until the campus is vacated and students return home for spring break, the University is preparing for the COVID-19 repercussions that could be seen after the Coyotes reconvene again after the break.

USD is continually stressing the importance of getting tested and is offering students “Know Before You Go” PCR testing from March 1-5 in the Muenster University Center (MUC) or the residence halls.

This saliva testing opportunity combined with the rapid antigen tests that the university is encouraging students to take prior to returning to campus, are being paid for in full by the State Department of Health.

“With the combination of the PCR test before students leave and then encouraging the rapid antigen test before they return, we believe that we will have done everything in our power to protect the pack,” Assistant Vice President of Research Compliance Kevin O’Kelley said.

Throughout the spring semester USD has seen an exponential drop in COVID-19 cases within students and faculty. In the fall, USD experienced 243 self-reported positive cases at its peak, however during the spring semester the number of cases has never exceeded 23.

The current case count is at four, as of March 3, with two student cases and two

employee cases.

“There are many fewer sick students this semester compared to last,” O’Kelley said.

“This is because of two things; one, a lot of people got sick in the fall and people who were sick in the fall didn’t get sick in the springtime. Two, people who are sick in the fall can’t spread the disease from person A to person C. They’re in the middle and they’re immune so they’re not spreading COVID-19.”

This overall decrease in on-campus positive COVID-19 diagnoses and the increase in testing awareness allowed USD to relax some of its fall semester safety precautions.

During the spring, the Wellness Center was able to be reopened, basketball and volleyball games were able to have a limited crowd in attendance, and the football team is preparing to have a crowd at their games as well.

While USD isn’t advising students to avoid travel during their time off, they have advised students to continue taking safety precautions while with family and friends over their break.

“Students are capable of learning,” O’Kelley said. “They know by now to keep six feet apart, to wear a mask, and to avoid chaotic situations. We are not the COVID police. We’re not going to tell people not to do things, we just advise them to be cautious and overall, we just trust our students.”

While taking all necessary precautions while home for break is important, the university is still urging students to get tested. While it is voluntary, the testing is also free and only takes a few seconds so it is the least we can do to protect the pack, O’Kelley said.

Rachel Thompson | The Volante

News

A2 Wednesday, March 3, 2021

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SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA HOLDS FIRST CONCERT OF SEMESTER

Bennett Clary I The Volante

USD’s symphonic orchestra held their first concert of the spring semester in Aalfs Auditorium Thursday, Feb. 25. The orchestra was socially distanced and all performers were masked.

CITY OF VERMILLION POLICE BLOTTER

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underage citations

Feb. 21 Officers encountered a group of adults who were shoving each other while in front of a bar in the downtown district. Officers questioned the involved parties and released them.

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Feb. 21 Officers investigated a report of damage to an electrical box near a residence. Officers investigated and determined the damage was the result of a vehicle striking the box.

Officers located the driver, who had failed to report the collision and charged him with hit and run damage.

Feb. 21 Officers encountered a male who was standing in the street and urinating on a vehicle. The male was arrested for possessing a fake I.D., underage drinking and public urination.

Feb. 21 Officers investigated a report of a hit-and-run accident in which the suspect fled the scene without reporting the collision. One female passenger was injured in the collision. Officers investigated and coordinated their search with regional law enforcement agencies. The suspect was located and arrested a short time later in a neighboring county.

Feb. 21 Caller reported that a vehicle had driven into their wooden fence by their back yard.

Officers located the vehicle and driver nearby. The driver was found to be intoxicated.

One adult male was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Feb. 21 Officers responded to a report of a domestic dispute. Officers found no criminal activity had occurred.

Feb. 22 Officers responded to a non-injury accident.

>> Feb. 21 - Feb. 27

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domestic assaults Investigation showed one of the drivers made an unsafe backing maneuver and was ticketed.

Feb. 23 Officers stopped a car for speeding. Officers suspected the passengers in the car had been drinking alcohol and were under the age of 21. Some of the passengers were ticketed for underage consumption.

Feb. 23 Officers responded to a damaged property report at a local business. The case is under investigation.

Feb. 23 Officers located a subject with an active warrant out of Clay County. The subject was arrested and transported to the Clay County Jail.

Feb. 23 An officer saw a man who had a warrant for his arrest out of Clay County. The man was arrested.

hit–and–run

Feb. 23 Officers stopped a car because they knew the driver had a suspended license. The license was confirmed as suspended, and the driver was ticketed.

Feb. 25 Officers stopped a car for speeding and cited the driver for the offense. The car was towed for not having insurance.

Feb. 23 Officers received information of criminal activity in a different jurisdiction. The information was forwarded to the appropriate jurisdiction.

Feb. 26 Officers responded to a report of a dispute between persons.

Officer’s investigation led to the arrest of one of the subjects. Multiple charges are pending.

Feb. 23 Officers responded to a report of a loud car. Charges are pending.

Feb. 24 Officers responded to a report of a domestic assault.

Investigation showed a male had committed simple assault against his girlfriend and he was arrested.

Feb. 25 Officers stopped a car for speeding and ticketed the driver.

Feb. 27 Officers were called to the hospital for a report of a male who’d sustained serious injuries in a fight. Investigation continues.

Feb. 27 Officers responded to a report of a male who was acting suspicious. The underage man had been drinking, possessed a fake ID, and was arrested.

SGA candidate team preps for voting day Bailey Zubke

Bailey.Zubke@coyotes.usd.edu

Typically the Student Government Association (SGA) has multiple teams running for president each year, but the 2021-22 campaign has one team, Ally Feiner and Katie Brust.

Feiner, a sophomore studying political science and criminal justice, is running for president. Her running mate is Katie Brust, a junior studying studio art and biology, who ran for SGA president last year, losing to the current president and vice president Abuk Jiel and Carter Larson.

“The reason why I decided to run for president was because this past year I really saw the effects that COVID and regulations had on all my peers, and I feel like I have a good connection between various different types of peers on campus,” Fiener said.

The focus of Feiner and Brust’s platform is mental health and international student

scholarships.

“So our platform mainly is, we focus a lot on mental health because we feel like that's been really prevalent because of COVID this year,” Fiener said. “But also we really think that it's important to establish a scholarship for all international students here at USD.” Brust said that they want to make students more aware of the Cook House and the services it provides students.

Read more about the SGA candidates.

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The Volante Volume 145, No. 20 March 3, 2021 www.volanteonline.com Al Neuharth Media Center 555 N. Dakota St. University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD 57069

Ally Feiner (right) and Katie Brust (left) are the sole team running for SGA president and vice president this year.

editor-in-chief

Maddi Kallsen news assistant

Chloe Fullenkamp news designer

Rachel Pechous verve editor

Bennett Clary verve assistant

Alle Anduaga Tyler Boyle sports editor

Mission statement The Volante covers issues relevant and interesting to USD students. Faculty, staff and community members are welcome readers, but the newspaper is written and presented for a diverse community of students from the students’ point of view. The paper should provide a variety of information, entertainment and educational opportunities for the readers. The Volante encourages everyone to write letters to the editor.

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news editor

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Emma Daggett opinion editor

Lauren Johnson opinion designer

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A3 Wednesday, March 3, 2021

News

South Dakota legislator pushes for limitations on death penalty Rachel Spinks

Rachel.Spinks@coyotes.usd.edu

Arthur Rusch, a South Dakota state senator, introduced a new bill in the state legislature to limit the death penalty in South Dakota only to those convicted of killing a law enforcement officer, corrections officer or firefighter.

The death penalty was banned in South Dakota in 1915, but reinstated in 1939. A total of 20 people have been executed in South Dakota since 1877.

Rusch, a former South Dakota judge who sentenced Donald Moeller to death in 2012, said that his experience with Moeller’s case specifically is what motivated him to push for this new bill.

“I spent basically a year preparing for that trial, researching all the legal issues that could come up on that to make sure that I wouldn’t make mistakes,” Rusch said.

After a 6 week trial the jury determined that Donald Moeller was guilty, and Rusch sentenced Moeller to death.

“That whole process is a difficult process, and you know anybody who’s been involved in the death penalty trial will tell you death is different,” Rusch said.

Rusch said that being the only legislator in the history of South Dakota who has personally sentenced a man to death gives him a deeper understanding of the consequences of those actions. After failing to completely abolish the death penalty, Rusch worked with multiple legislators to create a more limited bill where only those convicted of killing an enforcement officer or firefighter are allowed the death penalty.

“Our thought was, we’ve failed on the other ways, so we would try a new one,” Rusch said.

Rusch said that the main challenge with this proposed bill is that there are many different views on the death penalty.

“There are legislators who said, we’re not killing nearly enough people,” Rusch said, “That just goes against my religious and moral principles to be looking at it that way.”

His other motive for revoking the death penalty was the cost.

“Every county is in crying to the legislature every year about how they’re short of money, that they don’t have money for their roads and their bridges and things like that,” Rusch said. “But yet, you know, a death penalty case will cost them 1-2 million dollars.”

Rusch said that the death penalty has such great cost not only financially, but also mentally.

“I had a jury who had a nervous breakdown during the trial because of hearing the gruesome testimony,” Rusch said.

“After the trial was over, I had to hire a psychologist to let the jurors come and get counseling after that to help them through it.”

Rusch said determining whether someone is innocent or guilty has immense pressure especially when the decision will determine whether someone lives or dies. One example is the case of Thomas Egan, who was hanged in Sioux Falls for killing his wife. Egan was revealed innocent 40 years later when his stepdaughter admitted to the crime.

Rusch said that there have been many cases across the country in the last few years where murder convictions have been reversed based on new newly discovered DNA evidence.

“If there’s any possibility at all of killing innocent people, then we really ought to be thinking about that,” Rusch said.

Rachel Thompson | The Volante

Coyote Business Consulting Group Version 2.0 moves forward

The Volante | volanteonline.com

Sustainability department urges students to respond to dining surveys Miles Amende

Miles.Amende@coyotes.usd.edu

USD’s sustainability department has partnered with the Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN) to begin campaigning to reduce plastic use on campus.

Campaign organizer Codylee Riedmann said the department is currently working to reduce waste created

by USD dining services.

USD’s contract with Aramark expires in May 2022, and the university wants to develop a new contract by December, Riedmann said. To receive feedback from students, the university has sent emails to the student body offering a campus dining survey, which Riedmann said will help with future sustainability.

“We think that is one of the biggest areas that we can really make an effect eliminating a lot of waste and making smarter decisions,” Riedmann said.

The group is hosting a “beyond waste” student summit Saturday, March 6. After spring break, they will host a roundtable with the summit attendees to gather further opinions.

“Really, what we’re trying to do is(get) students involved in helping the university to make more environmentally friendly and sustainably conscious decisions when it comes to waste,” Riedmann said.

The upcoming summit takes place from noon until 4 p.m. Those interested in attending can contact Riedmann at Codylee.Riedmann@coyotes.usd.edu.

Vermillion Fire EMS responds to fire at Norton Hall

Peyton Beyers | The Volante

Firefighters responded to a small fire on Norton Hall’s first floor Monday, March 1.

Submitted Photo | The Volante

(Left to right) Coyote Business Consulting Group faculty co-chair Tyler Custis, Beacom Business School Dean Venky Venkatachalam and co-chair Elizabeth Manser Payne planned this year’s version of CBC. Jacob Forster

Jacob.R.Forster@coyotes.usd.edu

USD’s Coyote Business Consulting Group kicked off its 2021 session Monday. The program, launched last year during the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, connects USD students with South Dakota businesses, allowing students to gain real-world experience and businesses to take advantage of students’ knowledge.

Venky Venkatachalam, Dean at USD’s Beacom School of Business, said while last year’s program had 52 students working on 26 business projects, this year’s, which the business school is referring to as Version 2.0, has 60 students working on 30 projects along with 16 faculty advisors.

These 30 projects include businesses all across the state of South Dakota, and Venkatachalam said the focus in selecting candidates was on rural economies, small towns and small businesses. Venkatachalam said the focus on small businesses was especially important since small businesses employ 60% of the state’s workforce.

“So the backbone of South Dakota’s economy is small business, and we are very proud to have the South Dakota Small Business Development Center as part of the Beacom School of Business,” Venkatachalam said.

Venkatachalam said the business school took feedback from businesses, students and faculty advisors from last year’s group to make adjustments. This included asking all three groups for their comments on how they thought the experience could be improved, as well as collecting data from businesses who participated.

“So I made a remark last time, last August, when we made the final presentation,” Venkatachalam said.

“We will come back bigger and better. So what is the definition of bigger? What is the definition of better?

That both are driven by the feedback from students, feedback from faculty and feedback from businesses.”

Elizabeth Manser Payne, one of the faculty co-chairs of this year’s Coyote Business Consulting Group, said the 2020 session was about eight weeks long, while this year’s goes from March 1 to June 15. Manser Payne said she thinks the group will be able to do more with the expanded time frame.

“A major difference is that now that we have our feet wet and have developed a process,” Manser Payne said. “We can better serve our business clients and their needs.”

The business school received more project submissions

this year than they would be able to handle, and Venkatachalam said in choosing candidates, the group wanted to have a good representation both of industry sectors and geographic regions.

“The challenge is always we get many more projects than what we can handle,” Venkatachalam said. “And we have to say no to some projects, it’s very difficult. And the similar thing, we have more and more students want to be part of this, but we can handle only a finite number of students. So how do you say no to some students?”

Businesses the group selected include the restaurant, technology, software, and healthcare industries, with a focus on small businesses. Venkatachalam said the COVID-19 pandemic has presented businesses with unique challenges.

“The economy has not recovered yet, the COVID pandemic is still there, even though there are signs that this pandemic is slowly declining,” Venkatachalam said.

“There are early signs, but the economy is very much a challenge. And the small businesses are struggling.”

Tyler Custis, another of the faculty co-chairs, said projects this year include helping a manufacturing firm forecast demand for its product, developing a plan to help Native American artists sell their work, and helping a biotech company navigate the FDA process of vaccine approval.

“Students will face many challenges in order to deliver a top-notch deliverable to the businesses,” Custis said in an email interview with The Volante. “However, they all have tools in order to be successful in the project.”

The group sessions were conducted over Zoom last year due to public health concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic. Manser Payne said while Zoom conferencing presented challenges last year, now it will allow the group to engage with clients more quickly and on a personal level.

“No matter where our business client is located in South Dakota, it’s easier now to say, ‘Hi, how are you? My name is Liz Manser Payne from the Beacom School of Business. How can I help you?’” Manser Payne said.

Manser Payne said the advantages of the group include that it allows the school to get in touch with area businesses, and to work with students outside the classroom.

“The CBCG is a great opportunity for our business students and the faculty advisors to give back to the community. I find it rewarding,” Manser Payne said.

Bailey Zubke

Bailey.Zubke@coyotes.usd.edu

Vermillion Fire EMS was called to Norton Hall Monday afternoon for a small fire on the first floor of the hall.

The sprinkler system was set off and the hall was being evacuated as the Fire Department and University Police arrived. There was an active fire on the first floor when responders arrived. Fire personnel extinguished the fire after ensuring all residents were out of the hall.

A press release from the Fire Department stated there were no injuries during the incident.

After putting the fire out, all four floors of the hall were ventilated and students were able to return to the hall around 6 p.m. The resident whose room was the source of the fire was put in temporary housing. All other residents have been able to return to their rooms.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

Peyton Beyers | The Volante

The fire cause the sprinkler system to set off on the first floor. Residents were able to return the halls around 6 p.m.

Opinion WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021

THE VOLANTE

VOLANTEONLINE.COM/OPINION

EDITORIAL

Creepy Clowns

IT’S A NUMBERS GAME

EMMA DAGGETT is a first-year majoring in English.

The fear of clowns is called coulrophobia. While many people aren’t terrified of clowns, they are unnerved by them.

There are a few different possibilities as to why clowns make people uncomfortable.

The first is clowns are tricksters. It’s their job to make people laugh and play pranks on people. I personally don’t like when pranks are pulled on me and try to avoid clowns. When I see a clown, I know to be on my guard. I don’t want to be sprayed with water or hit by a pie.

Another possible reason people hate clowns is because of all the books and films that have come out.

All the movies and books make people terrified that the clowns are going to come after them. Movies such as “It,” “Clownhouse” and “Saw” have made people uncomfortable. Clowns have become a boogeyman.

There is also the fact that there was a serial killer who dressed up as a clown and murdered a bunch of people. In the 1970s, John Wayne Gacy killed more than 30 young men. He became known as the “Killer Clown.” This pushed people even further away from the jokesters. More recently, in 2016, there were many sightings of people dressed as evil clowns and running around. It was known as the clown panic and scared a lot of people.

The final reason that people are uncomfortable with clowns is because of a phenomenon called the uncanny valley effect.

“TheConversation.com” said when “something is close to, but not quite, human, people (develop) a sense of unease and discomfort.” It’s where things appear to be human, but something isn’t quite right. Clowns have similar features: eyes, a nose, and a big mouth, which humans have, but the proportions are off. The phenomenon is also why some people find dolls and humanoid robots so scary.

Clowns were meant to be a joke. It was a way to make people laugh. Now, people prefer to steer clear of them because of the uncertainty behind the mask. Books, movies, and news stories have made people nervous to be around clowns.

26 The percentage of people who have lost a job because of their identity.

18 File Photo I The Volante Spring break should be enjoyable, and taking a COVID-19 test can help ensure safety of family and friends on campus and at home.

Editorial: Happy one-year anniversary, COVID: Get tested before spring break

We’re all excited for a welldeserved week off. Time to spend away from Zoom classes, note taking and studying for dreaded exams. However, before returning home to families and friends or before traveling to a warmer destination you should take advantage of the free COVID-19 tests being offered on campus all week long.

As we approach the one-year mark of the world shutting down to COVID-19 next week and life looking completely different the past year, it’s nice to know that with vaccines being administered quickly and continued mask wearing, we’re much closer to having life back to normal and hopefully mask-free one day.

We’re not there yet though, and it’s important we remain vigilant in wearing masks and getting tested to ensure COVID-19 numbers on campus don’t rise. That’s why getting tested before spring break is crucial.

Getting tested provides you with the knowledge you’re healthy and not knowingly spreading the virus, and ensures you’re protecting your family and friends from COVID-19 as well.

Break should be spent enjoying the freedom of a week without 9 a.m.’s, but knowing you’re COVID-19 free can make you and those around you more comfortable.

Getting tested also protects your fellow students on campus.

By testing, you can ensure you’re protecting the pack by quarantining if needed, and it gives the university accurate data of how COVID-19 is being transmitted across campus.

The university is offering free testing for COVID-19 in the Muenster University Center and residence halls all week during the day. You can receive a $10 Charlie’s gift card and other treats and prizes. All you have to do is show up and do your part by participating in

The number of U.S. states that have definite laws protecting transgender people.

700,000

the saliva test and signing up for a testing account online.

The 10-minute process is the easiest way to “protect the pack” and your family members before you travel next week.

Saliva tests are 83% accurate for COVID-19 detection according to JAMA Internal medicine.

The saliva test is less invasive than the nasal swab test and is more comfortable for those who test. Saliva tests are a molecular PCR test that detects the virus’s genetic material according to the Minnesota Department of Health. All you need to do is build up enough saliva for a proper sample and hand it over to the test supervisor. You’ll then wait to learn your results which will appear on your mobile device after making an account.

By getting tested, you can enjoy your spring break and catch up on sleep, hang out with friends or convince your mom to do a few loads of laundry without worrying about carrying COVID-19.

The estimated number of people who identify as transgender in the U.S. as of 2011.

15,500 The number of transgender individuals serving in the military.

207 The amount of companies that provide healthcare for their transgender workers.

From www.marieclaire.com

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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 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 N. 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.

Opinion

The Volante I volanteonline.com

Soak up the sun PAYTON RYZ is a junior majoring in communication studies.

The warm weather is coming, and like Sheryl Crow says, I’m going to “soak up the sun, I’m gonna tell everyone to lighten up… I’m gonna soak up the sun.” We all have to go enjoy the fresh air, the spring breeze and the bright sunshine to loosen up and feel free from loads of school work!

Spring break is less than a week away, and I’m hoping for some amazing weather so everyone can enjoy outdoor activities to lift their spirits. Whether you’re travelling somewhere far for a vacation, going home or staying right here in Vermillion, there are lots of things you can do to enjoy the nice weather!

Go for a bike ride around town and the bluff and stop for ice cream. Walk downtown for lunch or dinner.

Take your work break and eat lunch on a bench outside! Go for a short drive with the windows down, the music blaring and head to Clay County Park or the Mulberry Bend Overlook. Both of these locations are within five minutes of town and have a few trails to explore along the river.

Breathe in the fresh air, play some music, or listen to birds’ chirpings, leaves rustling in the wind, the ground crunching beneath your feet or the ripple of stepping into a puddle of melted snow.

We all know the feeling of warm weather

and sunshine after a long harsh winter and how it always brings a smile to your face. This feeling is due to the increase in serotonin in your brain. Serotonin gives you more energy and a feeling of calmness, positivity and happiness.

Getting more sunlight and time outside will also help you get better and longer sleep, which is especially important after the buildup of sleep deprivation from the first part of the semester. During spring break, start your days early, spend time outside, hang out with friends and family, have fun in the evening and you will sleep amazingly after having a packed day of positivity.

After this crazy year of COVID-19 changing our lives, take the week of spring break to reflect and spend time outside to rejuvenate your soul and body. The sunshine also helps give your immune system a boost during these stressful times.

We all deserve to pause, slow down, and enjoy the little things in life, including the beautiful Earth, which is amazing to watch bloom as it warms up. A beautiful day will bring you a lot of joy!

If you are reading this, I truly hope you will make plans to enjoy the sunshine for at least an hour a day during spring break and can plan safe, fun activities whether it’s beautiful or a little cloudy out.

The fresh air will make you feel so much better!

Let’s all walk in the sunshine, humming to Sheryl Crow singing “I’m gonna soak up the sun!”

Read more student opinions on our website. volanteonline.com

Wednesday, March 3, 2021 A5

Caffeine: The balance between asset and addiction ELLA BEYERS is a sophomore majoring in political science.

Whether it’s in the form of tea, coffee, energy drinks or other sources, most people would probably agree, they can’t function without their daily caffeine.

As a college student, I can confirm this, as I noticed my coffee addiction spike dramatically after just a few months at USD. It’s obviously a normal occurrence to see these kinds of increases, but it’s important to be aware of the benefits of treating coffee and other similar drinks

as a boost rather than developing an unhealthy dependency on caffeinated beverages.

The right amount of caffeine will ultimately improve mental functioning, decrease fatigue and improve short-term memory. These perks are essentially the holy grail for students cram-studying for an upcoming exam or finishing a tedious term paper.

In terms of physical uses, caffeine can provide aid burning fat during the postworkout recovery phase. It seems like the perfect thing to include in anyone’s everyday routine, so the negative effects concerned with consuming too much of it seem minor in comparison.

Because it’s a

irritability when they aren’t provided with the amount of caffeine their body has adjusted to.

Obviously, there is little harm with daily cappuccinos, an energy drink for a long drive or a tea to help get through the study session, but it’s important to pay attention to what the body needs more than what it wants.

It’s easy to forget bodily health contributes just as much as mental health when it comes to overall motivation and the ability to work and learn efficiently.

Caffeine consumed in moderation can be extremely helpful and beneficial, so the goal is to keep it an asset rather than an addiction in everyday life.

Trials and tribulations of a former Victoria’s Secret employee SOPHIE SWANSON is a junior majoring in English and Special Education.

If you’ve ever stepped foot into a modern-day mall, chances are you’ll find yourself walking past a Victoria’s Secret or Pink.

These stores consist of pumping music, flowery smells and lots and lots of lingerie.

However, in recent years and with the importance of body positivity in fashion making its way through the ranks, sales for this franchise have plummeted, and although the company

is attempting to make a comeback, we have to wonder if this is the end of the road for them.

As an old employee, I am happy to announce that I will be going over several insane things I have witnessed during my time working at Victoria’s Secret. I am sure all my fellow retail workers understand the overwhelming confusion and hilarity that comes with having a sales job. Most of it still feels like a fever dream to me.

One day while working at the front of the store, I witnessed a young girl walk in. She stopped by a display filled with leggings, stared at them, projectile vomited everywhere

and then just walked out. I have never seen so much vomit in my life, it looked like a war zone. We had to throw out the damaged leggings (about $1,000 of damage) and I was the lucky one who got to spend two hours cleaning up the store.

Another time we had a woman ask for a dressing room. While someone went to unlock it for her, she looked rather unwell.

When someone went to clean out the dressing room after she left, they found that she had gone to the bathroom in the middle of the dressing room floor.

I cannot count how much merchandise we’ve had stolen from us over the brief period

I worked there. We are not allowed to confront customers in any way if we see or suspect them of stealing, so there would be times when teams of people would come in with garbage bags, take anything within grabbing distance and just run out. They didn’t care about sizing since they just sold them for profit on eBay or other selling sites.

If I could write every endeavor I experienced while working at the store, I would probably fill up three notebooks.

If you take anything away from this, it’s to be kind to retail and food service employees.

They have to put up with much more than you think.

Want to make your voice heard?

If you are interested in writing Opinion for The Volante, email The Volante at volante@coyotes.usd.edu.

OVERHEARDS

Here you’ll find the weirdest, funniest and stupidest things we’ve heard during the week.

Context is for suckers.

“They’re secretly lovers. Wait... I shouldn’t have said that.”

— Neuharth

“Community” hypocrisy JOHN LEFFERTS is a first-year majoring in philosophy.

“It’s always better to err on the side of not ticking off the NFL.” — The Heights

“I guess I’ll just get a loaf of bread like a peasant...”

— Walmart

“It’s just like riding a bike except the bike is on fire.”

— Neuharth

“I don’t know how to tell you this, but teens are gonna put this in their butts.”

— Freedom Forum

“I would love to be Caillou for Halloween.”

— The Heights

“You should be on fire right now.”

— Beede 2

“He moaned in my ear.”

— Elm Street

“I prefer Garfield: The tail of two kitties.”

— The Heights

“Woohoo I just ordered a Bunyan guard.”

— Neuharth

“My band’s name is Spurious Regression. It’s a Gospel Punk fusion with some Death Metal in there.”

— Beacom

nervous system stimulant, caffeine can increase anxiety levels, cause issues with insomnia, trigger digestive problems and increase blood pressure in the long run. A reliance on coffee has also been proven to be a primary culprit when one is dealing with chronic or abnormal fatigue levels.

Speaking from a personal point of view, I’ve found myself to be less attentive to my school work and more exhausted in general when I’ve drank more than just my morning cup of coffee.

It’s become more of a necessity for the majority of adults, and when it evolves from an energy boost to a requirement for daily function, individuals are more prone to mood swings and heightened

I’ve been watching “Community” with my roommate, suffering through this tiresomely “self aware” show. Yes, I know the show is 10 years old but I don’t like it, and now you have to know about it!

For those late to the party, “Community” is a show about a community college. This show seems to always shock me into watching it at some kind of meta-level. Every line seems to have a cynical overcalculated quality: smart but stupid, woke but mean, passive-aggressive but chill, tolerant but meticulously politically correct, etc.

The main character, Jeff, navigates another infuriating balance-binary: immature but mature. I feel like I’m not watching

art, I’m watching unsubtle propaganda about how to obey the social norms of 21st century America.

Sometimes the writing can be bold with the older cast members but mostly that is presented as inappropriate and weird.

“Community” jokes mostly go something like this: “Faux pas with racist overtones.”

“Uh, we like, don’t do that here.”

(The audience is meant to laugh at this point!)

A lot of this comes from Chevy Chase’s character, but he refuses to play the debased boomer that his lines depict, and so a lot of his delivery falls flat.

He seems unwilling to totally offer up his dignity.

Boomer solidarity, or boomer pride?

Listen reader, if I wanted cringey content, why should I watch this sitcom? It tries to represent itself as containing cringe but not being cringe itself. Maybe so, but there are whole subreddits

dedicated to real, authentic cringe out in the wild. I much prefer that!

The writers seem to essentially believe in masculinity but also that they need to pretend not to. Hence the lead man Jeff of “Community” is an improbable lothario.

The way the female lead, Britta, is written in relation to Jeff rubs me the wrong way: he appreciates the radical ex-anarchist but he (Jeff, the writers, whoever) fundamentally knows better than her, actually “understands” the world, but is sensitive enough to appreciate her radical critiques too. This is why he is “right” for her.

Yuck! This father-knowsbest type made “cool” and wrapped in “sexy” just doesn’t do it for me.

Ultimately, I find myself annoyed because the show wants to have its cake and eat it too. The result is a finished product that is fundamentally “safe.”

News

A6 Wednesday, March 3, 2021

The Volante | volanteonline.com

Charlie’s Cupboard fights food insecurity

Peyton Beyers | The Volante Charlie’s Cupboard has supported over 1,000 students since opening. The pantry serves about 300 students per month as they supply different cultural and dietary needs for students on campus.

Bennett Clary

Bennett.Clary@coyotes.usd.edu

The student-led organization Charlie’s Cupboard opened last September after two students were introduced to food insecurity on campus.

Co-president senior political science and criminal justice double major Hannah Booth said Charlie’s Cupboard had a lot of support on campus and from the Vermillion community that allowed it to support over 1,000 students since opening and grow into the organization it is today.

“We created Charlie’s Cupboard kind of as a way to remove that stigma that surrounds food insecurity,” Booth said. “Charlie’s cupboard is open to all students with a student ID so we don’t ask any questions. Any student can come and get services that they need.”

Co-president senior health services administration and accounting double major Carson Zubke said both

he and Booth were shocked a few months after opening to learn that food insecurity hides in plain sight and lives with the people they least expected.

“It’s a misconception that food insecurity is just missing meals some of the time,” Zubke said. “They can also be making the decision between buying coffee between classes or buying groceries after you get done for the day. It’s even between buying your lunch and getting the shampoo and toothpaste and deodorant you need.”

Zubke said that in the future they hope to expand and offer more services that students can take advantage of to create a community within Charlie’s Cupboard.

“I think my favorite part is kind of just seeing that support from the campus and from the community,” Booth said. “It’s really just great to see the community come together especially at a time during the coronavirus and everything, when we need to support each other. It’s great to be able to provide that support for students and hopefully it continues to support students long into the

future.”

The pantry serves about 300 students every month. Zubke said that the Cupboard does a lot of work to make themselves aware of the different cultural and dietary needs of students on campus.

“We want to be able to provide budget-friendly cooking classes for students and do some more programming to show how food insecurity impacts students and how it impacts our community,” Zubke said.

Zubke said that since opening, Charlie’s Cupboard has become a community area. He said that students will see people they haven’t seen in a while and just catch up for a bit or students will sometimes bring their friends.

“We’re all struggling with something and I think that once you recognize that you’re not alone and people are here to support you, then it’s not really so scary reaching out for help,” Booth said.

More information about Charlie’s Cupboard can be found online or emailed at CharliesCupboard@usd.edu.

Phi Delta Theta adds take-out option to annual Chislic Feed Jacob Forster

Jacob.R.Forster@coyotes.usd.edu

Phi Delta Theta held its annual Chislic Feed fundraiser last week. The event raises money for the Live Like Lou Foundation, which helps families with ALS through scholarships for children whose parents struggled with ALS and through contributions to research.

The event is organized through the Vermillion Eagles Club, a local chapter of the international nonprofit organization.

Phi Delta Theta president Charles Done said the fraternity members sign up on a job sheet and start cooking 30 minutes before the event starts.

“So, Eagles Club, big shout out to them. They always let us rent this out for free. They let us do our own thing,” Done said.

Zach Schild, philanthropy chair for Phi Delta Theta, said organizing the event involved coordinating with the Eagles Club, reaching out to other Greek life organizations on campus, and promoting the event with posters on campus.

Done said the event included signin sheets for Greek Life members, with houses charged based on how many of their members attended.

“That’s a big way to get people in here,” Done said.

The event is mostly attended by students in Greek Life and athletics, as well as Eagles Club members.

Done said the fraternity orders

around 150 pounds of meat for the event, purchased at a discounted price.

“We tell them it’s for philanthropy, and they’re usually very nice about it, give us a couple bucks off for every pound,” Done said. “Sometimes we’ll have leftover stuff, but not usually.”

Schild said for this year’s event, the fraternity had to come up with a plan for COVID-19. To deal with this, the event offered drive-up takeout service, where donors who didn’t want to dine indoors could park out front of the Eagle’s Club and take their chislic to-go.

“We’re reserving a couple parking spots on Main Street, and then having people drive up and do takeout orders there,” Schild said.

Other measures to deal with COVID19 included requiring masks except during dining, and setting tables up six feet apart, as well as increased use of disinfectants.

Prior to the event taking place, the fraternity had raised $3,500. Schild said that number is comparable to the total raised at last year’s event. Done said one donor gave a matching donation for the first $1,000 raised.

“We’ve crushed our goal so far,” Done said.

“This might be our highest-earning year ever for the Chislic Feed, which would be pretty cool,” Schild said.

By the end of the Chislic Feed, Phi Delta Theta had raised $5,500 and went through around 130 pounds of chislic.

Jacob Forster | The Volante This year’s Chislic Feed on raised $5,500 and went through around 130 pounds of chislic. The proceeds from the event raised oney for Live Like Lou Foundation.

Submitted Photo | The Volante Maria Liston conducts field research at the Sanctuary of Ismenion Apollo in Thebes, Greece.

56th Student History Conference moves online Allison Horkey

Allison.Horkey@coyotes.usd.edu

The University of South Dakota’s Department of History and USD’s chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the national honor society in history, hosted the 56th Annual Student History Conference on Feb 25.

The conference was held over Zoom this year.

The Student History Conference is an opportunity for students to present their papers written about the history and featured a plenary lecture from the University of Waterloo’s Marie Liston.

Maria Liston’s lecture, “Plague and Pestilence in Byzantine Thebes, Greece,” discussed a Byzantine-era cemetery that was most likely associated with an early hospital or monastery.

Clayton Lehmann, professor at USD’s Department of History and organizer of the annual Student History Conferences, said over 200 people had registered for the event that presented 19 student papers and Liston’s lecture.

“It’s remarkable to see the terrific work of our students. And they’re presenting with confidence, I mean they start out having really good material. And they present it to each other and to their professors and they make us proud of us professors. It’s really wonderful to see that,” Lehmann said.

Liston is a professor at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. Liston has a bachelor’s degree in Classics, a master’s in Classic and a bachelor’s degree and PhD in Anthropology.

“The site is covered in these early Christian graves roughly fourth to seventh century A.D. And so, again, I was one of two people who were helping out with graves a little bit, and then it turns into this massive project,” Liston said.

Liston said she has been asked to give more talks about plagues since the pandemic began but having studied plagues of humanity in her past gives her a positive outlook for COVID-19.

“It makes me enormously grateful for the medical care we have you know that we don’t just have to sit this out until it kills everybody, or we get over it, but it also gives me hope in the sense that I’m very aware that people, human beings and human society have survived,” Liston said.

“We’ll get through this, just like societies have gotten through bubonic plague and smallpox and measles and polio, all the devastating diseases.”

Liston studies human remains at excavation sites.

A site like the presumed hospice or hospital site in Thebes had multiple different kinds of diseases which could be identified on the bones.

Liston said the excavation also unearthed mass graves which she says were probably graves of victims of an early bubonic plague.

The circumstances of the graves and other items found at the site are also tools to learn more about the society at the time.

Liston said the affects of COVID-19 would also be interesting study topics in the coming years.

“There are all sorts of interesting things happening to our economy right now it’s not quite clear what’s going to happen, but it’s going to keep graduate students in history and sociology and economics and anthropology busy for decades,” Liston said.

The event is a good opportunity for students, Lehmann said.

“For the most part, students’ work is presented, pretty much just to the professor, sometimes also to other students in a given class, but this is a setting where they can present their work to other students from around the region,” Lehmann said.

Lehmann said the biggest challenge was moving the conference to a virtual platform and that he missed the conversations and food he would have typically enjoyed if the event was in person.

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SUMMIT LEAGUE TOURNAMENT PREVIEW: COYOTE MEN MAKING ADJUSTMENTS Kaleb Martin

Kaleb.Martin@coyotes.usd.edu

USD men’s basketball earned the No. 2 seed in the Summit League Tournament after splitting last weekend’s series with North Dakota State. The team is forced to change their lineup after losing starting point guard A.J. Plitzuweit to a knee injury late in Saturday’s game against the Bison.

The Coyotes ended the regular season with a 13-10 record posting an 11-4 mark in conference play. USD heads into the tournament down their second-leading scorer in Plitzuweit and will also be without their freshman forward Nikola Zizic.

Head coach Todd Lee said that the team did not have much time to adjust for their regular-season finale against North Dakota State after losing Plitzuweit just one day prior.

“It will be good to have a week to prepare and put guys out there in positions and get them used to playing in certain spots,” Lee said.

Lee expects junior guard Mason Archambault to be available for practice this week and the Summit League Tournament this weekend.

Lee said he anticipates most of the team’s offense to run through senior shooting guard Stanley Umude, but said the team needs other players to get involved.

“We definitely need more balance; we need other guys to step up,” Lee said.

Umude leads the Coyotes this season with 21.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Junior guard Xavier

Fuller, who averaged eight points per game this season, is expected to have an increased role in the offense moving forward. Forward Tasos Kameteros heads into the Summit League Tournament coming off a careerhigh 22 points in Sunday’s game against the Bison.

The Summit League tournament will take place March 6-9 in Sioux Falls at the Sanford Pentagon.

The Coyotes will take on No. 7 seed Western Illinois in the first round at 8:45 p.m. Saturday. USD swept the Leathernecks in the regular season, defeating them 65-60 and 84-74.

South Dakota State claimed the Summit League regular-season championship and will take on No. 8 seed Omaha at 5:45 p.m. Saturday. On Sunday, No. 4 seed Oral Roberts will take on No. 5 seed North Dakota at 5:45 p.m. followed by No. 3 seed North Dakota State vs. No. 6 seed Kansas City.

Winners of the quarterfinal matchups will play on Monday, with the winner of SDSU/UNO taking on the winner of ORU/UND at 5:45 p.m., followed by a matchup with the winner of USD/WIU and the winner of NDSU/UMKC. The Summit League Championship is set for Tuesday night at 8 p.m. The Summit League tournament champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA national tournament.

All quarterfinal and semifinal matchups will be aired live on Midco Sports Network. The championship game will be aired on ESPN2 and available to watch on the ESPN app.

Peyton Beyers | The Volante

Senior guard Stanley Umude dunks after driving the ball to the net in a game against NDSU.

Senior women’s basketball players make decisions on extra year of eligibility Bailey Zubke

Bailey.Zubke@coyotes.usd.edu

Peyton Beyers | The Volante

Senior guard Chloe Lamb evades the NDSU player guarding her to help her team secure a win.

Senior guard Liv Korngable dribbles away from her NDSU opponent.

Peyton Beyers | The Volante

As postseason play approaches for many USD sports, senior athletes are pressed with deciding on whether to extend their time at USD an extra year to compete one last season. Two Coyote women’s basketball players announced their plans Monday at USD’s pre-Summit League Tournament press conference.

“I mean I have told other people I plan on coming back,” Chloe Lamb said. “I’m looking forward to having another year. It kind of works out with school and what I want my future to be and so as of now, I’ll be back.”

Lamb is studying Kinesiology with a focus on exercise science. She is also minoring in coaching.

“I’ve got a coaching minor, and hoping to get into coaching, hope I can get a GA (graduate assistant) position, somewhere, looking at Coach P over here,” Lamb said. “No, but hopefully I can get into that and stay in college basketball and, hopefully, that puts me in a good position.”

Lamb’s classmate Liv Korngable also announced her plan to return for the 2021-22 season, but had to make some adjustments to make it happen.

“I also will be coming back next year,” Korngable said. “Unlike Chloe,

my path kind of shifted with my career path. I interviewed for some physical therapist programs this fall, so I was planning on doing that. But when I was given the opportunity to take another year. I couldn’t pass that up. I think, you know, I get to be a PT for the rest of my life but I can only play college basketball with such a special group for so long, so I think I would I’d be dumb not to take the opportunity.”

One of the five seniors announced that she wouldn’t return for another season. Claudia Kunzer told Jay Elsen of Midco Sports Network that she wouldn’t return for another year of Coyote basketball because she wants to be able to give her all in her nursing program, and she felt as though she couldn’t give it her all in both simultaneously.

The other two seniors on the women’s basketball team haven’t made announcements on their plans for next season yet. Hannah Sjerven said her focus is on the Summit League Tournament following Sunday’s game and Monica Arens, who didn’t play this season due to injury, told The Press & Dakotan’s Jeremy Hoeck she hasn’t made a decision yet.

The women’s basketball team kicks off the Summit League Tournament Saturday, facing Oral Roberts at 2:45 p.m. in the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.

Coyote volleyball picks up pair of wins at SDSU Bailey Zubke

Bailey.Zubke@coyotes.usd.edu

USD volleyball extended its win streak to four over the weekend, defeating South Dakota State 3-1 on Sunday and 3-0 Monday.

The Coyotes were without Elizabeth Juhnke Sunday, and dropped the opening set 25-21 before winning the final three sets and the match. The last time the Coyotes dropped a set to SDSU was Nov. 2015. The Coyotes had won eight straight matches via 3-0 sweep, and nine straight overall, before Sunday.

Sami Slaughter led the Coyotes with 20 kills on 45 attacks. Mattie Johnson made an appearance in the rotation, collecting her first career kill and tallying 12 in the match.

The Coyotes’ winning streak versus SDSU extended to 11 games Monday. Juhnke returned to the lineup and picked up 12 kills. Slaughter added 10 for USD.

After scoring at least 20 points in each set Sunday, the Jacks were unable to get to 20 points in a set Monday.

Crystal Burk led SDSU in kills both nights with 15 on Sunday and 10 Monday.

Madison Jurgens reached a career milestone Sunday.

Jurgens became the sixth Coyote to eclipse 3,000 career assists. She had a season high 48 assists Sunday, and has a total of 464, on the season. She is 132 assists away from climbing into the top 5 all-time.

The Coyotes are 7-1 in conference play this season.

They face Oral Roberts Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.

There are two big weekends that follow this weekend’s matches. The Coyotes travel to Denver March 12 and 13 to take on defending tournament champion Pioneers.

USD then returns home for the final home weekend of the season against Kansas City, the current top team in the Summit League at 9-1

Peyton Beyers | The Volante

Sophomore middle blocker Madison Harms spikes the ball towards their opponent.

B2 Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Sports

The Volante | volanteonline.com

Coyote women’s basketball seeks NCAA Tournament bid Sydney Johnson

Sydney.G.Johnson@coyotes.usd.edu

Throughout the women’s basketball season, uncertainty loomed.

Would the season begin on time? Would they be able to play non-conference games?

Would they make it through their conference season? Would an end-of-the-year tournament be possible?

The women didn’t let this uncertainty stop them, and instead they took the opportunity to play the 2020-21 season as a blessing, coach Dawn Plitzuweit said.

“After March 12, 2020 when the announcement was made that the NCAA tournament was canceled, we were just waiting around to see if we were actually going to be able to keep playing, and thankfully we’ve been able to do so,” Plitzuweit said.

Now, with the uncertainty gone, the women are heading to the Summit League Tournament with the second seed in the tournament.

They will have their tournament debut Saturday in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where they will take on the seventh seeded Oral Roberts Golden Eagles in the Sanford Pentagon.

USD previously played Oral Roberts on Feb. 20 and 21, where they won by at least 22 points in each game. The Golden Eagles, however, have had the last week off from play due to COVID-19 cancellations. They instead were able to prepare for the Summit League, but the Coyotes still competed in conference play against North Dakota State on Feb. 27 and 28. “(Oral Roberts) has great athleticism so they can really push it up and down the court and score quickly,” coach Dawn Plitzuweit said. “They can defend at a very high level, rebound, and shoot the ball really well, so

we’ve got to really be locked in and focused. I think the advantage we have is that our players understand how good they are.”

With a win against Oral Roberts in the back of their mind, the Coyotes are ready to take full advantage of what every member of their team has to offer.

In the games against NDSU, sophomore guard Macy Guebert stepped up to the plate and was able to make the moves needed to help USD secure a win.

“This last weekend especially, (Macy) had huge performances for us,” senior guard Chloe Lamb said. “She does the more intangible things, and she does them really well, like boxing out, getting rebounds and keeping her kid off the glass. All of that was huge for us this past weekend. She’s someone that’s going to come in and put in the work and she does the little things really well that people don’t always see.”

Another obstacle the Coyotes are going to have to deal with going into tournament play is the absence of a crowd. At the beginning of their season, the USD women’s team got used to creating their own energy, but at their recent conference games the Coyote Crazies and fans have supplied much of the needed cheers and momentum.

“Creating energy is something that every team has had to go through,” Lamb said.

“We’ve got a pretty good bench and hype squad so it’s not something that we are too worried about. I’d say (creating energy) comes naturally from all of us. Claudia Kunzer usually takes care of that for us pretty easily.”

After an abrupt end to their season last year, the women’s team is ready to make their comeback and they have more drive to accomplish all their goals after not receiving the ending they wanted last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think there’s always been a feeling of unfinished business,” senior center Hannah Sjerven said. “We may have won last year, but we didn’t really get the satisfaction of going to

the NCAA tournaments afterwards. For us, it’s almost like it wasn’t quite real. We won, and that’s a huge accomplishment, but we don’t feel like we’re done yet.”

Peyton Beyers | The Volante

Freshman guard Maddie Krull (42) goes up for a layup in the game against NDSU.

Track places second, third at Summit League Championships Madilyn Sindelar

Madilyn.Sindelar@coyotes.usd.edu

Leah Dusterhoft | USD Athletics

Freshman Sara Reifenrath sprints during the Indoor Track Summit League Championships where she secured two individual titles.

The Coyotes recorded a second and third place finish at the Indoor Track Summit League Championships Saturday and Sunday.

On the women’s side freshman sprinter Sara Reifenrath led the way capturing two individual titles and one relay title. She also broke two school records and was named the league’s Newcomer of the Championship.

Reifenrath brought home the gold in the 200 meters, 400 meters and 4x400 meter relay.

Her times of 23.73 in the 200 and 53.55 in the 400 are new USD school records.

“I think I knew I could do it. It was just cool to be able to go out there and just do my best and push myself.” Reifenrath said.

Reifenrath and her teammates Madison Jochum, Holly Gerberding and Danielle Thompson finished first in the 4x400 meter relay and clocked in at 3:46.46, the sixth fastest time in USD history.

Gerberding brought home a gold medal of her own after defending her pentathlon title.

“The pentathlon is a series of five events,” Gerberding said. “My first race was a hurdle and I tied my PR so I was super excited about that. The highlight of it was my long jump. I really popped a big PR and finally broke the 18 foot barrier.”

In the pole vault sophomore Gen Hirata won her first Summit League title vaulting a PR of 14-3 ¼ landing her seventh in the NCAA in the event. Her teammates Landon Kemp and Makiah Hunt joined her on the podium for second and third place respectively. Kemp vaulted 13-8 ¼ and Hunt finished with a 13-2 ¼.

On the men’s side, Brithton Senior defended his 60-meter hurdles title and won gold, clocking in at 7.99 seconds. Senior’s

prelim time of 7.77 seconds moved him to 10th nationally.

“I really enjoyed the race even though it wasn’t a competition in my heart,” Senior said.

“I just went out that day and felt really good and I know I could have ran faster if I had competition. I feel good about nationals since I am seeded 10th and not 16th like last year.

Junior Jack Durst jumped a 6-10 ¼ in high jump to win the meet, he also placed fourth in triple jump. His teammates Ethan Heitman and Travis Larson finished second and third with heights of 6-8 ¼ and 6-6 ¼ respectively.

In the men’s pole vault Ethan Bray claimed the Summit League title with the height of 18-5 ½.

“I felt really good going into the day and my body got pretty loose easily,” Bray said. “I was super excited and confident going into it just based on how I had been jumping the last few weeks. I jumped six inches higher than the next guy down from state and I knew he would be good competition and I never want to lose to him.”

The South Dakota Coyotes will wrap up indoor track season by sending a group of Coyotes to Fayetteville, Arkansas March 11-13 for the NCAA indoor meet. The Coyotes competing that qualified are Bray, Eerik Haamer (pole vault), Girata and Senior. More Coyotes have the possibility of competing once COVID-19 and injury scratches are announced.

“I really like jumping at the University of Arkansas, it’s a really nice track setup they have down there,” Bray said. “I’d like to get top three at nationals. I’m seeded fourth right now. I’m really not worried about placing as long as I go down there and give it everything I know I can do.”

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USD DISPLAYS MUSICAL TALENTS DESPITE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Alle Anduaga | The Volante

The USD Chamber Singers performed at the Spring Choral Showcase directed by Dr. David Holdhusen.

CHAMBER SINGERS PERFORM AT SPRING CHORAL SHOWCASE Alle Anduaga

Alle.Anduaga@coyotes.usd.edu

USD Chamber Singers performed at the Spring Choral Showcase Sunday, Feb. 28. In previous years, the three USD choirs would perform together, but due to COVID-19 performances had to be adjusted.

The Chamber Singers is the premiere vocal ensemble at USD with a repertoire of primarily a cappella style performances.

Dr. David Holdhusen, conductor of USD Chamber Singers, said the typical 40-member choir is currently comprised of 32 undergraduate and graduate students due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“It is my hope that if everything goes back to normal for the fall, that we will be back at 40,” Holdhusen said.

The Spring Choral Showcase consisted of a total of 10 pieces varying between being performed as a large group and small groups of 8-10, as well as separate men’s and women’s groups for the treble pieces.

“Everything that we are doing is a capella and it is a wide range of music, everything from an early Renaissance double-choir piece to Cohen, “Hallelujah” from “Shrek” and “Africa,” the Toto song,” Holdusen said.

Senior K-12 vocal music education major

and USD Chamber Singers Vice President, Nate Engbers, said this new performance setup is unique because of COVID-19 and trying to limit the amount of time the choir is together as a whole.

“It is interesting, a group of eight sounds completely different than a group of 32, you know, so it is kind of cool that you can pick out and hear individual voices,” Engbers said.

Senior music education major and President of USD Chamber Singers Emily Muirhead said she has been involved with the choir since her freshman year and this year has brought some changes amid the pandemic.

“We’ve changed our rehearsal setups, from previous years. You know, normally we just do full group music, but right now we have some smaller groups going on,” Muirhead said. “Those are really cool opportunities that we don’t normally look for. But, you know, the pandemic has allowed us this opportunity to get creative and do some different things.”

The Chamber Singers have been rehearsing in the band room and in smaller groups along with wearing masks to uphold COVID-19 safety precautions.

The Spring Choral Showcase was attended by invitation only and live streamed on the USD webpage.

Bennett Clary | The Volante

The USD Symphony Orchestra performed their winter concert conducted by Dr. Luis

Viquez in Aalfs Auditorium.

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PERFORMS WINTER CONCERT Rachel Pechous

Rachel.Pechous@coyotes.usd.edu

The USD Symphony Orchestra presented their winter concert Friday. Due to COVID-19, the performance had limited attendance by invitation only and was live-streamed for any others to virtually attend.

Director of Orchestras Luis Viquez said that they have followed all USD mandates but preparing the orchestra for this concert had its challenges due to COVID-19.

“We have had students in quarantine, we have had people missing several rehearsals. But we always find creative ways to accommodate to all those difficulties,” Viquez said in an email interview with The Volante.

To practice while ensuring social distancing guidelines were being followed, Viquez said the orchestra was able to spread out in the house seats, but that this also had its own difficulties.

“The orchestra is spread apart all over Aalfs Auditorium, which has made rehearsing to become a huge challenge because it is hard to listen to each other while social distancing,” Viquez said.

Viquez said he spent many hours preparing for the winter concert, but he didn’t have to do it entirely alone.

“We also have the help of our music faculty, who work closely with our students, I would like to particularly thank Dr. Ioana Galu, Dr. Susan Keith Gray, Dr. Sonja Kraus and Dr. Amy Laursen for all their assistance with the concert,” Viquez said.

The USD Symphony Orchestra is just one of USD’s music ensembles and it also serves as a class for students. This concert featured three student soloists: Bailey Quade as soprano, Nicole Gerdes on piano and Jade Bolin as conductor Viquez said have all been “working really hard!”

Viquez said the Symphony Orchestra provides students, staff and faculty of USD with opportunities of hearing high quality orchestral music for free.

“People usually would pay to go to hear the major symphony orchestras in our area, all concerts of the USD Symphony are free and open to the community,” Viquez said.

Freshman music education major Emily Weisenburger said the orchestra has also provided her with many opportunities.

“The Symphony Orchestra has offered me a place where I can grow, thrive, meet new people and learn about other people as well,” Weisenburger said in an email interview with See ORCHESTRA, Page B4

Rachel Review:“I Care a Lot” really doesn’t Rachel Thompson

Rachel.R.Thompson@coyotes.usd.edu

Netlflix’s new movie “I Care a Lot” keeps audiences stuck in a captivating distress as watch probably the most unethical of people fight for what they want.

The movie follows Marla Grayson, acted by Rosamund Pike, as she continues to build her little empire by taking advantage of elderly. When victim gets old and develops health problems and is no longer able to take care of themselves, Grayson swoops in to become their legal guardian, taking their care into her own hands rather than that persons’ family. She then takes all their assets away for herself. Her new ward seems to be an amazing find but turns out to be a huge mistake.

The whole concept of the film is dark, yet brilliant. It mirrors our own world so closely that you could believe that these crimes could be played out today. The main character technically isn’t doing anything illegal but the whole situation makes it feel like our legal guardianship should be looked at again just to make sure.

For a film with the title “I Care

a Lot,” the main character Marla Grayson really doesn’t care at all, not about some of the basic stereotypes of storytelling and especially not about the ethics or morals of the characters. The film is driven by the sense that the world revolves around it, and it’s amazing.

From what I have seen in people’s reactions to this film, many people hated it because of how awful the characters were.

They weren’t just evil rich people who made their fortune dealing in drugs or something like money laundering. They were taking people’s lives and people’s loved ones away from them. I guess that thought is far more despicable to an audience.

For me, I wasn’t exactly repelled from the movie by it’s dark nature.

I found it kind of fascinating and thrilling. While there are some plot holes it’s just a really clever film that makes its own rules.

The character Marla Grayson is probably my favorite part of the film. She has such an organized way of doing things and is extremely determined. There aren’t many leading con woman films out there—at least not done as well as this one. The last one I can think of

would be “Ocean’s 8.”

The aspect of Grayson’s character that was shocking to me was how she was a con woman with the inhumanity of men we typically see in these types of movies. She is used to getting what she wants, she demands respect, and she does it at the expense of others. But she deviates from most con men by following the rules and playing the system she is in.

Also amazingly, the film has great representation of a lesbian couple. It’s not acknowledged as shockingly lesbian, and their relationship isn’t toxic, it just exists and it’s perfect.

Peter Dinklage plays the antagonist Roman, who could be argued as a worse person than Grayson, but his motivation for his acts in the film are forced to be sympathized with. It’s almost cruel to the audience to have to overlook such awful actions and focus on the ones that are just presented in the story.

The ending of this film is unexpected and satisfying, but also unsatisfying in the same way. It’ll be up to the audience to decide how they wanted to see the story end.

Press Photo | Netflix

Verve

B4 Wednesday, March 3, 2021

The Volante | volanteonline.com

Dakotathon continues during COVID-19

Submitted Photo | The Volante

The Dakotathon is a 24-hour dance marathon that raises money for Children’s Miracle Network.

Bennett Clary

Bennett.Clary@coyotes.usd.edu

This year’s Dakotathon, an annual fundraiser at USD, will be held virtually because of COVID-19 restrictions.

However, this hasn’t stopped students from choosing to participate.

Junior medical biology major Leah Drengenberg said she had never heard of Dakotathon until the end of her freshman year, but had heard of dance marathons.

Drengenberg said she was sitting in class when people came in to talk about the Dakotathon and she decided to join with her friend. That year she raised around $200 and decided to keep doing it.

“We just raise money all year long up to the day of the dance marathon which is in April,” Drengenberg said. “This year our goal is $146,000. Then everything goes to the Sanford Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls.”

Junior business management major Delaney Kottke said she didn’t realize how much of an impact she would have

on the kids. Kottke said it makes her feel like a better person overall.

“Once you become a part of it, you see what it does for the families, the kids, and what just a simple $5 can do for the kids and their families,” Kottke said.

Drengenberg said her favorite part is watching students come together to help a cause outside of the university. She said that the cause is close to each student, but means something different for all of them.

“We all work together to strive for the best impact we can have on the kids,” Kottke said. “We couldn’t be where we are today if all of us weren’t working together and putting all our best foot forward and all the hard work that we put in.”

No matter what part students play in the Dakotathon, Kottke said their work will still have an impact on the kids.

Kottke said that it always pays off in the end to see the kids smile and enjoy the students’ company.

“If you raise money, cool,” Drengenberg said. “If you don’t, oh well,

you signed up. I think they ask that you raise like $20 because that covers the t-shirt costs or the free merch they give you. But even if you don’t there’s no consequence.”

Kottke said that hearing the kids and families talk about their hardships has changed how she views everything in life.

She said that this experience has helped her break out of her label of being just an athlete and given her the opportunity to meet people she wouldn’t normally interact with.

“I want people to know that it’s not all about raising money,” Drengenberg said. “You get to do fun activities. I’ve met so many new people through it. Before I really only just met athletes because I’m an athlete here, and since joining it, I’ve met a lot of people from different organizations.”

Donations are accepted until and on the day of the Dakotathon on April Submitted | The Volante 17. More information can be found at Juniors Leah Drengenberg, Delaney Kottke and alum online.

Josh Sorbe pose during their first Dakotathon.

Spring break amid a pandemic

Rachel Thompson | The Volante

This years spring break many students are choosing between staying home and going on vacation.

Rachel Spinks

Rachel.Spinks@coyotes.usd.edu

As the middle of the semester approaches, students are busy deciding their plans for spring break.

Last year, USD students went home for spring break and didn’t return until the fall of next year.

This year, many students have decided to stay at home because of COVID-19 risks, while others have plans to travel this spring break. In a survey of 150 USD students, 57% have decided to stay home this spring break.

“This year for spring break I am just going home and working and making a lot of money because I’m going on a trip at the end of May,” junior Taylor Davis said.

Many students said the main reason for not traveling this spring break is because

of money.

“I’m trying to save up money and not spend it, so I just decided this year to stay home and work,” Davis said.

Many students are taking spring break to work in their hometowns.

“I’m staying at home and working with special needs kids at a school in Sergeant Bluff,” freshman Hallie Brester said.

While most students are staying home for spring break, 31% have plans to travel to popular locations like Arizona, Florida and the Black Hills.

“I’m going to the Black Hills and Colorado with a group of my college friends from Vermillion and some friends from SDSU,” freshman Carlie Corder said.

COVID-19 is not stopping USD students’ travel plans for spring break.

Corder said, “there is always a concern (for COVID19) for large group of people, but we aren’t concerned about it.”

While several students who are traveling for spring break are not worried about COVID-19, numerous students are concerned about spreading the virus.

“I’m going to Clearwater, Florida with some friends from high school,” Hannah Kuck, a freshman at USD, said.

Kuck said she is a little concerned about COVID-19 because she is traveling to a very populated area, but she is still excited to spend time with her friends.

With COVID-19 cases staying below 25 since December, many students decided to travel for spring break, while others chose to spend time at home.

Bennette Clary | The Volante

The USD Symphony Orchestra held their concert inside of Aalfs Auditorium.

ORCHESTRA From Page B3

The Volante. “I learn music, I grow in my skills as a musician, but being in orchestra also has allowed me to meet so many different people and hear their stories and perspectives on life.”

Weisenburger also said the orchestra helps to show performers what they are capable of even if they do not see it themselves.

“It is a place where everyone can be safe and have their voice heard. My teacher, Jeff Paul, remarked that I might not speak a lot, but you put an instrument in my hands and I have a lot to say—musicians have a lot to say, and it is honestly an inspiration to be able to work with so many amazing people every single day,” Weisenburger said.

Despite alterations due to COVID-19 Viquez said this concert still meant a lot to him as well as the orchestra.

“We are just delighted and thankful that

we can still make music together! There are many professional orchestras that cannot return to in-person activities because of the pandemic—I tell my students to never take these performing opportunities for granted,” Viquez said.

Weisenburger said she also hopes this winter concert was able to bring hope and encouragement to the audience.

“The world has felt like such a hostile and cold place with everything that is going on. To be able to play music with one another again in-person is a gift, and I hope that the audience was able to relate to the music and also realize that life is beautiful and shouldn’t be taken for granted,” Weisenburger said.