The Volante
THE STUDENTS’ VOICE SINCE 1887
W E D N E S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 4 , 2 0 1 6
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Gender inclusive housing, CDC important outlets for LGBTQ+ students By Ally Krupinsky
Ally.Krupinsky@coyotes.usd.edu
In its second year of implementation, gender inclusive housing along with efforts by the Center for Diversity & Community has made a positive impact for LGBTQ+ students. About 30 students opted for gender inclusive housing this fall, said Housing Director John Geske. Gender inclusive housing is available in North Com-
plex, McFadden Hall and Coyote Village, and is an option for students who identify as non-binary or simply want to be a part of an accepting living community. Geske said gender inclusive housing is “key” to the mission of Housing and the overall university to provide equal access to healthy eduction, growth and social opportunities for all students. “For us, it’s extremely important,” he said.
Jordy Bachmann, a fifthyear student and secretary for Spectrum: Gender and Sexuality Alliance, said GESKE he would’ve taken advantage of gender inclusive housing in his earlier years of school if the option were available. “It creates a safe space for
people,” he said. “I do have a few friends who were in the gender inclusive housing and they all thought it was a really great experience. They loved it… There are allies as well so you know it’s a safe space.” Bachmann has lived in McFadden Hall for two years and in Coyote Village for the three years before that. This is the first year he’s had his preferred name on his door. “It always feels awkward when I see my legal name any-
where, so to see the name I go by for pretty much everyone on campus on my door, it meant a lot,” he said. Bachmann always clarifies that he prefers to be called Jordy on the first day of class with his professors. He said he normally doesn’t tell his professors his preferred pronoun unless he gets to know them a little better. When Bachmann does tell people his preferred proSee LGBTQ+, Page A3
CRIME SPREE Mason Dockter I The Volante
Several suspects have been identified in the string of crimes that occurred over the weekend, and the investigation has been forwarded to the South Dakota State’s
Attorneys Office.
Close to 40 windshields shattered, State’s Attorney’s office to continue investigation By Mason Dockter
forwarded its case to the South Dakota State’s Attorney’s office. crime spree took Currently, there is a group of Vermillion by storm this past weekend, between four and six individuand the collateral als suspected of the vandaldamage is staggering — at ism, Betzen said. Some of the least 39 car windshields were individuals are high school smashed, along with the students while others windows of two buildings. are adults. Vermillion Police The sprawling nature of the Department Chief Matt Betzen incidents made the case somesaid the department has what difficult for the departidentified several suspects in ment to piece together. the string of crimes and has “It’s kind of a big mess be-
cause there’s so many crimes (in this case),” Betzen said. One of the biggest pieces of evidence the department had to go on was video surveillance provided by area businesses. Betzen said that help from the community played a major role in helping the department solve this case. None of the suspects are currently in custody, Betzen said, because none of them are considered a danger to the
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USD pilot recycling program heading to next round of discussion
Mason.Dockter@coyotes.usd.edu
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It’s like the boy who cried wolf — you never really know when it’s actually real, but I feel like we’re ready.” Jonah Eggers, first-year student
Fire drills prepare students for actual fire By Siannah Martius
Siannah.Martius@coyotes.usd.edu
Surrounded by about 1,000 of their peers in their residence hall, any student can expect to hear the fire alarm at any time. Students deal with fire alarms regularly; whether it’s a drill, smoke from students trying to grill hamburgers in their kitchenette or an actual fire. Jonah Eggers, a North Complex resident and first-year business major thinks that he and his peers are prepared in case a fire does occur. “I think we’re pretty prepared, but the fire drills happen more than they should,” Eggers said. “It’s like the boy who cried wolf — you never really know when it’s actually real, but I feel like we’re ready.” Although Eggers thinks the periodic fire alarms going off makes them seem less real, Hunter Smith, USD’s Safety Officer of four years who conducts
safety inspections and fire drills, would disagree. “I think redundancy is key in getting the drill down and knowing what to do if there is a fire,” Smith said. North Complex, which can house up to 1,136 students, is lucky to have not had a serious fire, Smith said. “North Complex has had a little bit of luck,” Smith said. “You’re dealing with a lot of incoming freshmen who still have a lot to learn about the world, and things happen.” Matthew Taggart, captain of the Vermillion Fire Department, said the age of the 50-year-old building doesn’t correspond to the safety it provides. “The age of a building doesn’t necessarily reflect its safety,” Taggart said. Although North Complex is 50-years-old, Smith keeps the building up to code and makes See FIRE, Page A3
By Rachel Newville
Rachel.Newville@coyotes.usd.edu
The USD waste and recycling study report is almost finished and ready to be taken to the Executive Committee to review a pilot program. The report includes data from multiple studies done last year. Including recycling rates, a waste profile assessment, infrastructure assessment and sustainability survey. According to the report, done by the Verdis group, an Omaha-based environmental consulting firm, the recycling rate for the fiscal year of 2015
public or a flight risk. The vandalism spree has probably reached its end, unless a copycat vandal emerges or if one of the suspects decides to continue the vandalism, Betzen said. The vandalized cars were spread throughout Vermillion, and a number of them were concentrated near Prentis Park and nearby sorority houses. Many of the cars had shoe prints visible in the dust on their hoods.
was 6.9 percent recycling and 93.1 waste. The waste profile assessment included multiple parts like a waste audit and dumpster peek. The waste audit found that 43 percent of materials in the trash were compostable. The other 37 percent of waste was appropriately going to the landfill. Junior and psychology major Aimee Wieczorek said she feels the university could probably do a better job. “I mean it looks like we are doing a good job but if
Kristine Hunt, a sophomore majoring in communication sciences and disorders, is the owner of one of the vandalized cars. Hunt said that she discovered the damage to her vehicle at about 11 a.m. Sunday morning. “One of my friends called me and told me about it (the damage),” Hunt said. On Sunday morning, as the owners woke and found their smashed windshields, the See DAMAGE, Page A3
that much is still going to the landfill that isn’t very good,” Wieczorek said. Wieczorek’s friend, Sydney Bush, a sophomore communication disorders major, also agreed that USD could work on their recycling program. “I think recycling could be better in the dorms. But it needs to be easy, too. I know at my sorority house it’s really easy for me to recycle,” Bush said. “We could do a better job if it was easy.” The dumpster peek showed the committee that, more than likely, there are several dump-
Submitted graphic I The Volante
Dr. Meghann Jarchow’s SUST 489 course collected data last spring for a waste audit. These are
the results.