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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2023 THE VOLANTE

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South Dakota: Second Highest Rape Rate Sydney Johnson

Sydney.G.Johnson@coyotes.usd.edu

Since 1960, the rape rate in South Dakota has been steadily increasing according to the South Dakota Department of Health. However, in the last 30 years, South Dakota has exceeded the national rate and most years placed in the top five states for highest rape numbers per 100,000 inhabitants in the United States.

In 2021, South Dakota had the second highest rape rate in the United States with 72.6 per 100,000 people. This came behind Arkansas which had a rate of 77.2 according to The South Dakota Network Against Family Violence & Sexual Assault’s Efforts to Address Sexual Assault Prevention & Response Report by Bridget Diamond Welch at the Center for Rural Health Improvement.

The rape rates for states do not include rape on tribal land or on college campuses unless documented by local police.

Rape is defined by the United States Department of Justice as “the penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.”

In South Dakota, the definition of rape is contingent on if the act of sexual penetration meets one of the following circumstances: 1. If the victim is younger than 13, 2. If the act is committed through the use of force, coercion or threats, 3. If the victim is unable to give consent due to physical or mental incapacity, 4. If the victim is unable to give consent due to alcohol, drugs or anesthetic and 5. If the victim is between 13-16 and the perpetrator is at least three years older.

Programs in Place

The state created an action plan in 2019 to try and curb the rising numbers of rape incidents that would run through 2024. The South Dakota Rape Prevention Education State Action Plan was created

by Taylor Pfeifle, the Rape Prevention Education director at the South Dakota Department of Health.

This plan outlined two prevention strategies, the Green Dot and Shifting Boundaries.

Green Dot began in 2016 and is “a college bystander intervention approach that identifies leaders and teaches them how to engage and promote the change of social norms to reduce

sexual violence behavior on their campus.”

This program targets college campuses in South Dakota to stop the increasing trends of sexual violence seen through the Campus Climate Survey, Campus Safety and Security Data and through the Ethel Austin Martin Program report from SDSU. The second program is Shifting Boundaries, which targets middle school students through a two-part intervention which hopes to reduce dating violence and sexual harassment among youth. The two parts include a classroom-based curriculum that will highlight the consequences for perpetrators and a program-wide component that will increase staff surveillance in unsafe areas.

On top of Green Dot, SDSU decided to join It’s On Us, which is a national campaign raising awareness to sexual assault on campus. SDSU’s website says they plan to hold each other accountable to shift the way college students think about sexual assault and minimize the current 11.2% of all college students who are victims of rape or sexual assault.

USD has all freshmen complete a mandatory SafeColleges Online Training course titled Sexual Violence Prevention for Undergraduate Students.

This is an hour-long online course that details what sexual violence is and how consent is key.

Higher Risk for Native Americans

South Dakota’s rape rate doesn’t factor in the nine Native American reservations which see a large amount of sexual violence every year.

Four of the nine tribal areas had higher rates than the state rate of 72.6. These included the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. There may be more tribes that have a higher rate than the state, but the Flandreau Santee, Oglala Sioux and Yankton Sioux tribes had no available data according to Diamond-Welch.

These higher rates on tribal land could be due to the fact that interpersonal violence rises in rural areas and is seen to be more chronic and severe, Diamond-Welch explained in her report. Due to the rural nature, many victims could see increased psychological, social or health consequences when unable to access resources and services after the incident. These issues can be made worse on tribal land since seeking outside help as a victim may be

seen as a colonized process.

In 2020, only 9% of South Dakota’s population was Native American, yet they accounted for 31.1% of all rape victims in the state, according to the Sexual Violence in South Dakota 2020 Data Report from the Population of Health Evaluation Center and the Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment.

Pfeifle explained in the state’s action plan that Native American women are 2.5 times more likely to experience sexual violence than women in the United States overall. In 2016, 56.1% of Native American women said they experienced sexual violence in their lifetime.

Recent Numbers

The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program keeps track of the number of rape incidents that occur in each state every year through a process where each state’s law enforcement agencies submit information about each case.

In 2021, South Dakota reported 516 rape incidents which came from law enforcement agencies covering 88% of the state population (110 of the 145 agencies in the state).

Out of these 516 rapes, 117 (22.7%) were perpetrated by someone between 10-19 years of age and 117 (22.7%) were committed by someone 20-29 years old. The younger than 19 age group reported the highest number of victims (46.1%).

In 2021, 488 of the victims were female and 38 were male. White and Native American individuals had the highest victimization rate with 237 and 228 rapes, respectively.

Most of the rapes that took place in 2021 were done in a home by an acquaintance.

Other states in the surrounding area reported a larger number of rape incidents than South Dakota with Nebraska reporting 781, Iowa reported 1,331 and Minnesota reported 2,356. North Dakota and Wyoming were the only surrounding states with a lower number of rapes at 395 and 287, respectively.

For those victimized by rape or sexual violence, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is available at 1-800-656-4673. The South Dakota Department of Public Safety also has a Victims’ Assistance Program available that can provide shelter, advocacy, crisis counseling and other services needed by victims.

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Wednesday, March 1, 2023 | 3

UPD Speaks about Sexual Assault on Campus

*Information in the above graphic was gathered by the It’s On Us National Campaign.

Jozie Kumm

Jozie.Kumm@coyotes.usd.edu

USD has sent two timely warnings since Jan. 1, 2023, regarding sexualbased violence. There is concern whether these acts are getting more frequent.

However, Bryant Jackson, the UPD Chief of Police, said that these occurrences are rare for USD. However, sexual assault can be confused with sexual abuse and rape.

Jackson describes someone being physically attacked in a sexual way and said that sexual assault can happen to anybody.

“Sexual assault may be defined differently between various state laws and federal definitions,” Jackson said. “While the definition may be slightly different depending on the jurisdiction of the incident, the definitions are generally similar.”

According to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) website, “sexual assault is a continuum of behaviors defined to include sexual assaults committed by offenders who are strangers to the victim/survivor and sexual assaults committed by offenders who are known to, related by blood or marriage to or in a dating relationship with the victim/survivor.”

A victim has many options to report an incident, which you can report through UPD, Vermillion Police Department or a campus police officer.

Jackson said their main goal is to report and investigate the incident in the most nontraumatic way for the victim.

“UPD’s first priority is to ensure we have a victim-centered, traumainformed approach,” Jackson said. “An officer will meet with the victim and

explain the investigative process. The initial responding officer will work with the victim to collect any possible evidence and gather information about the suspect. A detective will complete a detailed trauma-informed interview with the victim. Working with the victim, the detective will complete a criminal investigation. The victim will be connected with resources and support systems that are available to them, which may include a victim’s advocate or Title IX support. The State’s Attorney’s office provides the victim with information regarding any legal process or court proceedings.”

According to Jackson, the best way to ensure your safety on campus is to download the USD Safe App if planning to walk alone around campus at night.

“The (USD) Safe App provides a number of resources on a variety of safety topics. Houses, apartments and dorm rooms should be kept locked.

This includes when you are inside your room or away from your room,” Jackson said. “Always secure your personal belongings. Prior to going out, ensure you have a plan. Go with friends you trust and protect your drink.

Do not leave your drink unattended, and know your limits.”

Another way to be proactive to others’ safety is to always be wary of your surroundings. At last resort, Jackson said to step in or report any suspicious interactions and behaviors.

Jackson recommends looking into RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.

“You may have heard the term “bystander intervention” to describe a situation where someone who isn’t directly involved steps in to change the outcome,” Jackson said. “Stepping in may give the person you’re concerned about a chance to get to a safe place or leave the situation. You don’t have to be a hero or even stand out from the crowd to make a big difference in

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The Volante

Title IX Office: a Free Resource for On-campus Assaults Charles Streeter

Charles.Streeter@coyotes.usd.edu

Many students don’t know that USD has an office dedicated to ensuring that every student is protected against discrimination on campus.

Title IX is a section of U.S. law that protects students on college campuses from discrimination based upon race, sex, religion and other factors. In particular, Title IX extends the discrimination upon sex to include sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual violence, stalking and sexual coercion. Title IX obligations also extend to discrimination in recruitment, admissions counseling, financial assistance, athletics, pregnant students, LGBTQI+ students, discipline, single sex education and employment according to the Title IX office.

Located at Slagle 205, the Title IX office provides students that encounter discrimination on campus with resources.

Jean Merkle, the Chief Title IX Officer at USD, said the office can help students in many ways.

“I want to be seen as a resource office, not a

consequence or discipline office,” Merkle said.

“Everything is always kept confidential.”

Merkle said any student that comes to her for help is in control of the process, which she refers to as “driving the bus.” There are three options that any student has when they go to Merkle with a complaint.

The first option is simply for Merkle to record the complaint and keep it on record. Although no action is taken, documenting the complaint allows the office to keep records if multiple complaints are made against the same individual.

Second, the student can request an informal resolution where both parties convene to discuss a resolution.

The third option is a formal resolution. The formal resolution involves an investigation and hearing, which may result in legal consequences. In the process for Title IX, the individual bringing action is called a complainant, while the other party is known as respondent.

Title IX also requires all university employees to report violations to USD’s Title IX office.

“Employees have been trained to pass that information up,” Merkle said. “I don’t want to create

drama in the student’s life. It’s just to make sure if they need anything, I’m helping them.”

Although Merkle said her office has seen an uptick in complaints this semester when compared to this time last year, underreporting is still a problem.

“I have always believed underreporting is very real, I think people for whatever reason are just feeling comfortable coming forward,” Merkle said. “What I do isn’t supposed to be a scary thing, it’s supposed to be helpful so we can get them back on track after something bad has happened.”

Even with the increase, Merkle has seen no complaints brought against any student athlete, fraternity or sorority member this academic year.

The Title IX office may only record a complaint if a complainant requests to take one of the three courses of action listed above.

The Title IX office is located in Slagle Hall Room 205 and students can reach out to Merkle at Jean.Merkle@usd.edu or call 605-658-3665 during business hours. Additionally, the Title IX office website has other resources and information for students. Off campus harassments and assaults should be reported to the Vermillion Police Department.

Men’s Standpoint on Sexual Assault on Campus Thomas Pemrick and Jozie Kumm Thomas.Pemrick@coyotes.usd.edu Jozie.Kumm@coyotes.usd.edu

While sexual assault is mostly associated with women; anyone can be a victim of sexual assault.

According to the National Sexual Assault rates, around 8-10% of men will be a victim of sexual assault. Their rates are higher for men when they’re on campus rather than off.

These situations can vary greatly between a person’s experiences. Cindy Struckman-Johnson, a USD psychology professor, said that men who find themselves in these situations can be categorized into four sections.

The first category is when someone persistently tries to arouse them through physical touch, like kissing. The second category is when someone emotionally manipulates and deceives them. The third category is exploitation through intoxication by alcohol and drugs. The fourth and final category is by threatening the victim and forcefully attacking them

in a sexual way. Category four is the lowest reported

stereotypes that all sexual intercourse is good. However,

on campus.

she said most men do not see it this way.

These usually are when the victim is exploited

“They resent and many consider it to be a violation

in trusting relationships that don’t have established

of their body, their will and [goes against] other choices

boundaries. Another common situation is when men

to be with the person they want to be with. I do not

are in toxic relationships and their partner takes

think it is not very well recognized among the general

advantage of them.

population.”

Struckman-Johnson said men deal with negative

She suggests if someone was exploited to find a

emotions differently than women, which leads to less

counselor and recommend calling a hotline. Another

reporting.

way is to open up to a trusted friend.

“The number one reason… is the combination of

“[One thing I tell my students] is to understand

shame and an idea that it is such a confusing thing to

that it was not [their] fault,” Struckman-Johnson said.

happen to them… They are embarrassed and ashamed

“They were exploited, to put language to the word of

that it happened,” Struckman-Johnson said.

feeling self violation.”

She also said that from this unexpected event,

Here at USD, I CARE is our primary campus

men are afraid to report it because they feel as though

resource for sexual assault victims. Struckman-

no one will believe them. And in not doing so, they

Johnson highlighted the importance of organizations

commonly self-medicate through alcohol and sink into

like I CARE, but also recommended education and

depression.

training programs as way to bring more awareness to

Struckman-Johnson said that under certain

sexual assault as a whole.

News

The Volante

Toxicity Sold as Love: How the Media Affects Perceptions of Love Jordan Grothe

Jordan.Grothe@coyotes.usd.edu

While romantic comedies may be a favorite for many, they do not always portray love in an accurate or healthy way.

According to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), of the 118 movies that they counted from major studios, only 18.6% of the movies contained someone that identified as LGBTQ. Many popular films follow and promote stereotypical ideas that define both the male and female leads.

“From the male perspective, there is that the love interest is one a love interest, so she doesn’t really do anything outside of being a love interest. It’s very much the idea of being an object of desire,” Chair of the Theatre department Raimondo Genna. said. “[The female’s perspective] is struggling to have it all and make work her life, but she is unfulfilled or unhappy.

But that’s her focus. Then some guy comes in, and it’s, ‘oh, no, I’m not going to have that, because I’m focused on my thing,’ and then she feels unfulfilled, and her being in a relationship with the guy fulfills her.”

Unfortunately, this can cause viewers to distort their own personal image and feelings of self-worth.

“Women then see themselves, and that their value is based on their looks or how attractive they are. But it also teaches men how to think about them, and creates toxic masculinity, where they feel like, ‘I am in a privileged position and therefore you serve me,’ as opposed to having a partnership,” Genna said. “The continuance of that thinking because of how relationships have been portrayed and how we’ve been conditioned to think about relationships, not only through the media but also through other social normative behavior that is part of the media, and it just reinforces itself.”

Furthermore, most films only highlight typical heteronormative relationships, oftentimes leaving out the LGBTQ+ community.

“It’s really focused on male-female relationships, as opposed to any other types of relationships that there can be. It still is kind of like the dominant narrative of how we think relationships are, and this is what we’re conditioned to believe in,” Genna said. “If we don’t fall in that aspect, we feel like there’s something wrong with us as we’re growing up, or we were told that there’s something wrong with us if we don’t fit in those boxes.”

With the rise of movies like “365 Days” and “50 Shades of Grey,” it is important to know that many of these movies do not show healthy relationships. Genna said that “50 Shades of Grey” is a good example of a toxic relationship and distorts experiences.

Other movies, such as “Twilight,” also romanticize toxic behaviors.

“That kind of that level of passion …

I think this is where the idea of moms wanting that kind of passionate life (comes from). There’s something that is unfulfilled,” Genna said. “You can have passion and also mutual respect. They’re not mutually exclusive. But again, it’s about this idea of not passion, but it’s really that power. Power is sold as passion.”

Luckily for viewers, the cycle can be broken, and the romanticization of toxic relationships can be avoided or ended.

When the rose-colored glasses are removed, one can see the relationships in films for what they are: inaccurate and oftentimes, unhealthy.

“As we mature and begin to really question, ‘what is it that we’re being told and is that what we really want?’” Genna said. “Because we’re being taught and told a lot of different things that we just accept and never really question. And I think that questioning is really, really important.”

Wednesday, March 1, 2023 | 5

The Volante

Tavin Carncross Editor-in-Chief

Charles Streeter Managing Editor

Volume 148, No. 3 March 1, 2023 www.volanteonline.com

Jozie Kumm

Al Neuharth Media Center 555 N. Dakota St. University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD 57069

Bennett Clary

Adviser Tim Schreiner

News Editor

Rachel Pechous News Designer Verve Editor

Allison Horkey Verve Designer

Brock Weidner Sports Editor

Trevan Rychlik Assistant 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.

The Volante wishes to be viewed by students as respectable, objective, accurate, fair and trustworthy. If you have comments, concerns or questions, please contact The Volante at 677-5494.

The Volante is distributed Wednesdays during the academic year free of charge locally with the cost of $1 for each additional copy. One year subscription rates are $40, which solely covers the mailing costs.

The Volante does not endorse, promote or encourage the purchase or sale of any production service advertised in this paper.

Advertisements are the sole responsibility of the advertiser.

The Volante disclaims all liability for any damage suffered as the result of any advertisement in this newspaper. The Volante reserves the right to refuse any advertising.

Emma Daggett Opinion Editor Sydney Johnson Sports/Opinion Designer

Madison Martinez Photo Editor

Maddilynn Kallsen Social Media Director

Kaitlyn Kumm Advertising Manager

*Information in the above graphic was gathered by the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network

Sports

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2023 THE VOLANTE

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Oral Roberts Secures Top Spot in Summit League Tournament Tavin Carncross

Tavin.Carncross@coyotes.usd.edu

With South Dakota defeating Kansas City in the final game of the Summit League regular season, the teams will be focusing on the Summit League Tournament in Sioux Falls.

This year, the tournament will look a little different as all 10 teams in the conference will be traveling to Sioux Falls.

Unlike last year, the top six seeds in the tournament will not play on day one of the tournament.

Monday will be the host of the tournament’s semifinal matches at 6 and 8:30 p.m. and the Summit League Championship game will be played on Tuesday at 8 p.m.

No. 8 Denver Pioneers (1516 overall, 6-12 league) vs.

No. 9 North Dakota Fighting Hawks (12-19, 6-12 league) The first game of the tournament will be the eight versus nine matchup between the Pioneers and the Fighting Hawks. The Pioneers have the higher seed in the tournament due a better record against Western Illinois as they beat them once, while North Dakota was swept.

The Pioneers have four double-digit scorers on their roster with junior guard Tommy Bruner leading the way with 15.8 Submitted | The Volante Redshirt sophomore guard A.J. Plitzuweit is set to play in his first Summit League Tournament after missing the last two years due to injury.

points per game. He was followed by sophomore guard Tevin Smith (10.9), sophomore forward Touko Tainamo (10.8) and graduate student forward Tyree Corbett (10.1).

As for North Dakota, they won five of their last seven games which brought their rank up.

They are led by freshman forward B.J. Omot who leads the team in scoring with 12 points per game. Omot also averages a block per game and shoots 39% per game.

The two teams split their series this season as the Pioneers won the matchup in Denver 78-71 and the Fighting Hawks won the matchup in Grand Forks 86-63.

No. 7 Kansas City Roos (11-20 overall, 7-11 conference) vs. No. 10 Omaha Mavericks (822 overall, 4-14 conference) The Roos ended their season on a five-game losing streak and falling to the seventh position in the league. They are led by their leading scorers in graduate student guard RayQuawndis Mitchell and senior guard Shemarri Allen who are both averaging above 17 ppg. Allen did not play in the final two games of the regular season due to injury. Kansas City has the best defense in the Summit League as they allowed the least amount of points with 68.6 ppg.

After starting the season 3-3 in league play, Omaha dropped 11 of their last 12 games of the season. The Mavericks are led by sophomore forward Frankie Fidler as he scored a team high of 14.6 ppg. Fidler also led the team in rebounds per game (rpg) with 5.7.

The two times these teams met this season, Kansas City has gotten the upper hand winning both games 75-59 and 64-61.

This is the first of two play-in games on Friday at 8:30 p.m.

No. 1 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (27-4 overall, 18-0 conference) For the first time in program history, the Golden Eagles went undefeated in conference play which secured them the top spot in the tournament.

Oral Roberts (ORU) is led by the Summit League’s leading scorer senior guard Max Abmas. Abmas averaged 22.3 ppg this season along

with dishing out 3.7 assists per game (apg). They also brought in Arkansas transfer senior forward Connor Vanover who averaged 12.6 ppg and led the league in blocks per game with 3.2.

ORU was not only the top scoring team in the league, they were also third in the NCAA as they scored 84.1 ppg. They also led the league in blocks per game (5.35), apg (14.77) and steals per game (6.84).

They will await to play the winner between the No. 8 Denver Pioneers and the No. 9 North Dakota Fighting Hawks. Their game will be played on Saturday.

No. 2 South Dakota State Jackrabbits (1812 overall, 13-5 conference) Following their 2022 Summit League Championship title, the Jackrabbits finished the season second in the standings.

The Jackrabbits are led by sophomore guard Zeke Mayo who led them in scoring with 18.3 ppg. Mayo also led the team in apg (3.4), steals per game (1.0) and rpg (6.2).

SDSU had the seventh highest scoring offense in the Summit League with 70.9 ppg. However, the Jackrabbits stood tall on the defensive side of the ball as they allowed the second least points all season with 69.6 ppg.

They will play the winner of the No. 7 Kansas City Roos and the No. 10 Omaha Mavericks.

The Jackrabbits will play on Saturday.

No. 3 North Dakota State Bison (14-16 overall, 11-7 conference) vs. No. 6 South Dakota Coyotes (12-18 overall, 7-11) After losing nine of their 14 players this season, the Bison found themselves as a top four seed for the fifth year in a row. They ended the season winning their way into the third seed after beating St. Thomas on Feb. 24. They are fresh off a win as junior guard Boden Skunberg hit a game winner against Western Illinois on Feb. 26.

The Bison are led by junior guard Grant Nelson and Skunberg. Nelson led the Bison in ppg (17.9), rpg (8.9), blocks per game (1.7), steals per game (.9) and apg (2.1).

Continued on Page 7

Sports

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Wednesday, March 1, 2023 | 7

Nelson led the league in rebounds and was third in in scoring. Skunberg averaged 14.7 ppg and had the best free-throw percentage on the team with 88%.

Under first-year head coach Eric Peterson, the Coyotes finished in the sixth position in the tournament.

This position didn’t become secure until the final game of the regular season as they defeated Kansas City 82-48.

The Coyotes are led by three double-digit scorers in junior guard Kruz Perrott-Hunt (14.2), junior forward Tasos Kamateros (12.6) and redshirt sophomore A.J. Plitzuweit (11.5).

These two teams met twice this season with the teams splitting the series. The Bison won in Fargo

73-61 and the Coyotes won in Vermillion 71-62.

This game will be played on Sunday at 8:30 p.m.

No. 4 Western Illinois Leathernecks (16-13 overall, 9-9 conference) vs. No. 5 St. Thomas Tommies (18-13 overall, 9-9 conference) The Leathernecks earned the higher seed in the tournament over the Tommies based on their 2-2 record over South Dakota and Kansas City, while the Tommies were 1-3.

Western Illinois was led by senior guard Trenton Massner who was the Summit League’s second leading scorer with 19.3 ppg. Massner also led the team in apg (5.3) and steals per game (1.5). Senior guard Alex Rosner led the team in minutes per game with 36.8

and was second on the team in ppg with 13.7.

This is the Tommies first time in the Summit League tournament as they missed out last season.

They have three double-digit scorers with freshman guard Andrew Rohde leading the way with 16.7 ppg.

Rohde was followed by graduate student forward Parker Bjorklund (14.7) and graduate student guard Riley Miller (12.4).

These two split the season series with each other as Western Illinois won in Macomb 60-54 and St. Thomas won in St. Paul 82-69.

This game will be played on Sunday at 6 p.m.

Brock Weidner

The quarterfinals will be held on Saturday and Sunday with the semifinals on Monday. The tournament will end on Tuesday at 1 p.m. where the winner will claim an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

No. 8 St. Thomas Tommies (7-11 conference, 1216 overall) vs No. 9 Western Illinois Leathernecks (5-13 conference, 10-19 overall) The Tommies won four of their last five games ending the season with a 74-68 win over the three-seeded North Dakota Fighting Hawks.

This will be St. Thomas’ first Summit League Tournament appearance since joining the conference last year.

Senior guard Maggie Negaard, sophomore guard Jade Hill and sophomore center Jo Langbehn are all double-digit scorers.

They are averaging 12.8, 11.5 and 10.9 points per game (ppg), respectively. St. Thomas allows the second least points per game (64) only behind top-seed SDSU. The Leathernecks have lost their last three

games of the year after dropping both games last weekend versus the North Dakota schools.

Junior guard Anna Deets is coming off a 25-point performance against the North Dakota State Bison.

Deets is the leading scorer for the Leathernecks averaging 12.6 ppg, she is joined in scoring by redshirt junior Jada Thorpe who is averaging 11 ppg. Thorpe has come off the bench in the last 13 games. Western Illinois forces the second most turnovers per game (18.4) in the conference only behind North Dakota.

Western Illinois won the first matchup between these two 77-75 in Minnesota. St. Thomas returned the favor, beating the Leathernecks on the road 71-57.

No. 7 Denver Pioneers (8-10 conference, 12-17 overall) vs No. 10 Kansas City Roos (3-15 conference, 7-22 overall) The Pioneers went 2-2 to end the year with wins against No. 2 North Dakota State and No. 4 South Dakota. Denver lost their last game against Omaha 73-83.

The Pioneers are led by three Summit League newcomers in scoring: freshman guard Emma Smith (13.5), graduate student guard Ally Haar (10) and graduate student forward Mikayla Brandon (8.5). Brandon has recorded six double-doubles, one of which came against Kansas City. Senior forward Makayla Minnet leads the second-best blocking team in the conference with 72 blocked shots which is 30 more than second most in the Summit League.

Kansas City enters the tournament on an eightgame losing streak with their last win coming in the month of January versus the Omaha Mavericks. The Roos ended their season on the wrong side off a buzzer-beater against South Dakota on senior day.

Kansas City is led by three double-digit point scorers: graduate guard Manna Mensah, graduate guard/ forward E’Lease Stafford and junior guard Sanaa’ St. Andre.

Continued on Page 8

Jackrabbits Top Seed in Tournament after Perfect Conference Record Brock.Weidner@coyotes.usd.edu

This year the Summit League Tournament has expanded to all 10 teams. There will be two play-in games on Friday as the bottom four teams will compete for the last two spots in the quarterfinals.

The Women’s play-in games will kick off the tournament in Sioux Falls on Friday with games at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Sports Wednesday, March 1, 2023 | 8 Continued: Jackrabbits Top Seed in Tournament after Perfect Conference Record

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All of which scored at least 17 points in the regular season finale. The Roos lead the conference with 13.6 offensive rebounds per game and in blocked shots averaging 4.55 per game.

The Pioneers swept the season series against the Roos by the scores of 73-60 and 69-60.

No. 1 South Dakota State Jackrabbits (18-0 conference, 25-5 overall) plays winner of No. 8 Saint Thomas Tommies/No. 9 Western Illinois Leathernecks The Jackrabbits enter the tournament with an undefeated conference record and are receiving ten AP Poll votes.

South Dakota State is led by two-time First Team All-Summit and the 2020-21 Summit League Player of the Year redshirt senior forward Myah Selland. She leads the team in scoring (16.1 ppg) and steals (47). Selland is joined by two other Jackrabbits averaging double-digit in scoring: sophomore guard Haleigh Timmer (11.8) and senior forward Paiton Burckhard (10.9). SDSU is the top scoring team in Summit League averaging 78.4 points per game and they only allow 60.7 ppg making them the best scoring defense.

SDSU swept both Saint Thomas (61-51 and 99-57) and Western Illinois (85-63 and 81-58) this season.

No. 2 North Dakota State Bison (12-6 conference, 18-10 overall) plays winner of No. 7 Denver Pioneers/No. 10 Kansas City Roos North Dakota State (NDSU) ended the regular season on a four-game win streak helping them secure the second seed.

The Bison are led by senior guard Heaven Hamlin and freshman guard Elle Evans as both players rank in the top ten in scoring in the conference. Hamlin is averaging 16.5 ppg and is fresh off a 31-point game against Western Illinois on Feb. 25. Evans is averaging 13.3 ppg and has scored over 17 points in each of her last four games. She is also second in conference with 42 blocked shots this season.

NDSU split the series with Denver (71-43 win and 71-83 loss) while sweeping Kansas City by the scores of 75-66 and 86-75.

No. 3 North Dakota Fighting Hawks (11-7 conference, 18-10 overall) vs No. 6 Omaha Mavericks (8-10 conference, 13-16 overall) North Dakota (UND) saw their six-game win streak snapped in the regular season finale after falling to St. Thomas 68-74.

Leading the Fighting Hawks is senior guard Kacie Borowicz, who is second in the conference in scoring 20.1 ppg and is the Summit League’s top assist getter averaging 4.8 per game. UND boasts a conference best 9.64 steals per game as five Hawks average at least one steal per game.

The Omaha Mavericks ended the year off with a win over travel partner Denver on senior day as leading scorer and rebounder graduate student center Elena Pilakouta recorded her sixth double-double on the year in her last game at Baxter Arena. Pilakouta is averaging 13.4 ppg. The Mavericks are the best free-throwing shooting team in the conference making 78.3% of their attempts from the charity stripe.

The Fighting Hawks won both matchups over the Mavericks this season by the scores of 65-63 and 79-61.

No. 4 South Dakota Coyotes (10-8 conference, 14-15 overall) vs No. 5 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (8-10 conference, 11-18 overall) The South Dakota Coyotes are coming off a pair of wins this past weekend versus Oral Roberts and a buzzer-beating win against Kansas City.

USD is led by sophomore guard Grace Larkins who is third in the conference in three different categories: scoring (17.5 ppg), rebounding (9.1 rpg) and in steals

with 59 on the year. She is also second in assists averaging 4.5 per game. Joining Larkins in double-digit scoring is redshirt freshman forward Carley Duffney who is averaging 10.1 ppg. Since she joined the starting lineup on Jan. 21, Duffney has averaged 15 ppg. South Dakota is the most efficient 3-point shooting team in the Summit League shooting 36.1% behind the arc making 8.4 3-pointers per game.

The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles have lost their last games falling to SDSU and USD in their last home stand.

The Golden Eagles are led by senior guard Hannah Cooper who is the leading point scorer in conference averaging 20.3 ppg. Cooper needs ten points to be the first player to reach 600 points in a single season in the Summit League since the 2016-2017 season where fellow Golden Eagle, Maria Martinez, scored 822 points that year. Cooper leads the second-best scoring offense in the conference as ORU averages 79.9 ppg in Summit League play. She is joined by four others in double-digit scoring: sophomore forward Tirzah Moore (13.3), graduate student guard Ariel Walker (12.2), graduate student guard Delaney Nix (11.2) and junior forward Ruthie Udoumoh (11.2). Moore is the conference’s leading rebounder averaging 10.5 rpg.

The Coyotes were victorious in both games versus Oral Roberts with the scores of 101-57 and 77-63.

File | The Volante

Sophomore guard Grace Larkins leads the Coyotes in scoring, assists, rebounds, steals and blocks.

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, March 1, 2023

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Editorial: Dangers Gun Violence Poses to USD

Students and employees of colleges deserve a safe environment to learn and work. It’s the job of the university, state and federal government to ensure people feel safe to attend college.

Gun violence and mere exposure to gun violence can lead to poor academic performance, emotional stress and obvious physical danger. The safety of college campuses in the U.S. needs to become more of a priority.

Gun violence at colleges has spiked to a disturbing level in recent years. In a report by the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City, Ashley Cannon found that during 2001-02 to 2005-06 academic years there were 40 recorded shooting incidents on or near college campuses. By the 2011-12 to 2015-16 academic years the number of incidents increased to 101. The number of casualties increased

is important for “ Itstudents to be educated and aware of the seriousness of gun violence.

by 241% when comparing the same years.

It is not just mass shootings people need to be worried about: college students drink and it is common knowledge that alcohol use is associated with increased aggression, so it can be dangerous to have guns on campuses.

Mental illness is another significant problem among students,

”

rates of suicidal ideations have risen in past years. With access to firearms increases the risk of dying by suicide, the danger of allowing guns on campus is clear.

But what are ways the government can actually do something to improve campus safety?

The first thing they can do is make clear rules or regulations

The Volante Tavin Carncross, editor-in-chief Charles Streeter, managing editor Brock Weidner, sports editor

EDITORIAL BOARD THE STUDENTS’ VOICE SINCE 1887

Trevan Rychlik, assistant sports editor Bennett Clary, verve editor Emma Daggett, opinion editor

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proved program).

The only loophole is if people have licenses to carry in a state that does not prohibit guns on campuses. South Dakota residents and nonresidents who lawfully possess a pistol are not required to have a permit in order to carry a concealed pistol in the state. However, the South Dakota Board of Regents does prohibit the possession of firearms on the physical premises of SD institutions unless it’s by an authorized person.

It is important for students to be educated and aware of the seriousness of gun violence. For most, exposure to gun violence, at least through the news, is a common occurrence. Educating people about the scope of the problem is important.

OVERHEARDS

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

Context is for suckers.

“I can tell who had tomato soup, you have a certain sparkle.”

— Churchill-Haines

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

about gun safety and put it in an easy to find location. The Clery Act requires universities to describe in their reports if they have sworn officers and if they make arrests. There is nothing about their use of weapons. A simple addition to be added is to require the reporting of all shooting incidents on college campuses and incidents involving students near campuses.

There is always the option for Congress to ban guns from college campuses. Most institutions already have policies that prohibit possessing firearms on campus, but more can be done.

Already, federal laws mostly prohibit carrying guns onto the grounds of K-12 schools. The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 bans guns on public and private K-12 properties (except when carried by law enforcement or during a school-ap-

The deadline for letters is 5 p.m. the Friday prior to publication.

Letters must be typed and fewer than 300 words.

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“Ah yes, the sympol of capitalism. The umbrella.”

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“Like was there an ‘s’ shortage?”

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Opinion

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Wednesday, March 1, 2023 10

The Symphony: A Night of Beautiful Music

Elisabeth Kluin is a junior majoring in history and English.

The University of South Dakota Symphony Orchestra (USDSO) always presents a lively and entertaining performance. I had the pleasure of attending the matinee concert and was incredibly excited to listen to a full symphony created by the famous composer, Beethoven.

Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67” is a challenging and intricate piece that tests the limits of all musicians.

Due to the symphony’s limited rehearsals and unpredictable weather, it made the task of performing an entire symphony all

the more challenging.

The sound, passion and directing exceeded my expectations.

The entirety of the concert was a delight and truly a treat to listen to. The USDSO’s dedication to creating music was undoubtedly displayed throughout the concert.

Additionally, director Luis Víquez welcomes underrepresented artists and includes faculty originals. Such inclusions of music create a diverse and engaging concert full of light and dark sounds. I personally find these types of concerts enjoyable as I get to hear a collection and

variety of sounds and stories throughout the performance.

Furthermore, students of all levels get the opportunity to conduct the symphony orchestra.

Graduate student Kelly Coslet opened and directed a wonderfully upbeat piece titled “Huapango del Oso.” The concert was followed by an original piece by Dr. Paul Lombardi titled “Crumpled Helix.” I found the dissonance and resolve throughout the piece quite beautiful. Before Beethoven’s 5th, Dr. Tracelyn Gesteland performed a piece titled “Chanson perpétuelle,

Op. 37” which included wonderful vocals and instrumentals; a truly moving piece.

In the end, I found the entirety of the concert impactful, engaging and moving. Although I may be a tad biased as I have performed with the Symphony Orchestra on numerous occasions, I look forward to attending their concerts as an audience member this semester. I eagerly await their next concert and encourage students to attend!

Ways to Break the Procrastination Slump

Emma Dagget is a senior majoring in English.

Procrastination is a common problem for students, especially when our lives are full of things we need to get done.

Whether something else might have priority, you don’t know how to start or you just don’t want to do something, procrastination can cause a lot of unnecessary stress.

With midterms coming up it’s important to start studying or getting into good habits of studying.

The best way to stop procrastination is to figure out why

you are avoiding assignments. If it’s because you have something else you deem more important then it’s okay to push other things off, for a little while.

But if it’s because you are scrolling through social media, then try making a schedule to stay focused. Try setting a deadline for yourself by breaking a larger assignment like an essay into more manageable steps.

A lot of times it’s difficult to focus if you work in your room, so try going to the library or the MUC to work on home-

work. Create a space with minimal distractions so you can focus on the task at hand.

Some things are just going to be put on the back burner.

It might be because it is worth fewer points and that’s fine. As long as you get done what you feel is important everything will be fine.

Don’t keep pushing off assignments because you can finish them later. It can be difficult to start on school assignments, so be sure to make time specifically for homework.

Be sure to give your brain a break. Don’t spend three hours doing the same thing. Give yourself a snack break or go for a little walk if you can’t work anymore.

In reality, it’s better to submit something rather than nothing at all. Even if you finish something and you know it can be better, just get it over with. Or if you do need just a tiny bit of time, let your professor know, more than likely they will be willing to work with you.

Verve

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2023

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Club to Celebrate Culture with Food Charles Streeter

Charles.Streeter@coyotes.usd.edu

The International Club invites all of campus to their annual Festival of Nations this weekend.

The Festival of Nations will begin at 5 p.m. and end at 8 p.m. in the MUC Ballroom on Sunday, March 5. According to Andreea Picioroaga, the International Student Advisor for the Gallagher International Center, the Festival of Nations is a longtime USD tradition.

“The Festival of Nations is a way of international students giving back to the community and a way of sharing cultures from all over the world…,” Picioroaga said.

“It’s actually 25 years old, at least.”

International Club president, Pragati Rouniyar, said the event will kick off with a welcome.

“The emcees welcome everyone and we have someone from the international office give a speech,” Rouniyar said. “We might have one performance also and then we go dive right into the food.”

Following the welcoming, attendees will be invited to try var-

ious dishes made by students. The International Club expects around 30 different dishes for people to try. According to the Burr House, USD hosts international students from 51 countries.

Rouniyar said a traditional Native American dance will be performed by the Sungmanitu Oyate H’oka Drum Group after the main course.

For many, this is an opportunity to eat authentic food that is not readily available in Vermillion.

“It’s very difficult to have authentic food…,” Rouniyar said.

“So we take them on trips to Sioux Falls or Walmart and they can buy authentic ingredients.”

The International Club reimburses students for materials of up to $100 per dish.

Rouniyar said the event is a great opportunity to enjoy different cultures without paying to travel across the globe.

“They can still experience that diversity, that authenticness and see people all around the world and I feel like this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and at least

Karlee Phillips | The Volante The Festival of Nations event held last year allowed students and commuity members to make food and share it with the others. The International club is hoping to once again create a welcoming space to share food and culture. once they should come and enjoy,” Rouniyar said.

Picioroaga said the event does not have formal dress code requirements.

“This is just a relaxing oppor festival of nations tunity for the

community to come together, USD and the Vermillion community,” Picioroaga said. “I think being in a small town like Vermillion should not be boring. I think it’s a privilege to be in this job and to meet all of them (students), domestic in-

cluded.”

Students and children under the age of 10 may attend for free, faculty and community members must pay an entrance fee of $10.

that were recognized at the ceremony were all submitted by South Dakota students.

“We are putting South Dakota on the map and showing what we have to offer, by showing that our artists are just as important as any other state,” Marco said.

There are three different types of awards for students, these include the Golden Key, the Silver Key and Honorable Mentions. The Golden Key is the highest avail-

able award; students who win this award are automatically be considered for the national awards.

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards were founded in 1923, and since then they have recognized young artists and writers across the country. At this year’s ceremony, they invited the novelist Ukamaka Olisakwehe to be the keynote speaker.

“It will be amazing for students to hear from an accomplished writ-

er to help inspire them,” Marco said.

As a nationally recognized award, this is a great opportunity for high school students in the region to show what South Dakota is and who they are.

“Encourage high school students you know to sign up. These people could be your classmates in the future and help support the next generation of writers and artists,” Marco said.

Old Main Hosts Writing and Art Ceremony Alexis Johnson

Alexis.Johnson@coyotes.usd.edu

On Feb. 26, the South Dakota Scholastic Art and Writing Awards ceremony was held in Old Main.

This year marked the 100th year of the awards with 100,000 teenagers from the United States and Canada entered over 300,000 pieces of art and writing.

Every year, high school students have the opportunity to share their artwork and writing.

These students submit artwork and writing to their Scholastic region and are awarded based on their submissions.

Scholastic is a part of The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.

According to Cheyenne Marco, the South Dakota region coordinator, this is a good opportunity for young artists in the state.

This event covers students across the entire state of South Dakota, so the artwork and writings

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