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THE STUDENTS’ VOICE SINCE 1887
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Search for funds for fine arts facilities continues Morgan Matzen
Morgan.Matzen@coyotes.usd.edu
Students and faculty have seen issues with the outdated infrastructure of the Warren M. Lee Center for Fine Arts (FA) for years, including the HVAC system, leaks in the ceiling highlighted by moldy ceiling tiles, acoustics and sound leakage, old water fountains and sinks that don’t drain. Faculty have begun to search
for funds in what they estimate will be a $30 million project to address structural issues and complaints over-cramped space. In general, space is the main issue, with many of the FA’s 319 students and some faculty noting they need more classroom space, graduate studio space, storage space, faculty and graduate office space. A public forum for fine arts students was held last Wednesday by College of Fine
Arts dean Larry Schou and SGA fine arts senator Kevin Huizenga, senior musical art major. One main topic of discussion included issues with the facility, which was built in 1973. Three fine arts students were in attendance of this forum held at 4 p.m. Huizenga said the low attendance was due to classes held at the same time. SGA’s State of the University Report states that “while many
colleges have seen significant fundraising, the funding in the College of Fine Arts has shown unable to provide students resources, supplies, and building improvements.” The FA was listed as a facility with “restrictions that prevent the achievement of full academic potential.” At the forum, Schou said it is a struggle to find donors that want to give to renovation causes. “I’ve always been told the state doesn’t let you renovate until you
have all the money raised, and then you go to design,” Schou said. “Initially, we have to find donors and people in the country that would have interest in brick and mortar.” Schou said finding the donors can be frustrating and timeintensive. He said he’s been working on this project for years, and in the meantime, he’s had to focus more on fundraising for See FINE ARTS, Page A3
Peyton Beyers I The Volante
The drawing room in the Warren M. Lee Fine Arts building remains unfinished after funding ran out during construction 45 years ago, leaving the room without a second floor.
Undergraduate enrollment hits new record
Kelli Susemihl
Kelli.Susemihl@coyotes.usd.edu
This semester, USD has seen the largest enrollment class in its history, with 1,427 first-time, undergraduate students. This is a 6.4 percent increase over the 2017 incoming freshman class. In a university news release, university president Sheila Gestring said she is thrilled to see the high enrollment numbers. “Now, more than ever, is a great time
to be a Coyote,” she said. “As we move forward, we have tremendous reason for optimism.” Gestring said Iowa and Nebraska students contributed to the increase. Enrollment of Iowa students increased by 8.4 percent, while enrollment of Nebraska students increased by 25 percent. “Offering resident tuition rates to incoming students from Iowa and Nebraska has been critical to our success,” Gestring said. “This is
significant for South Dakota and its workforce goals, because more than 30 percent of non-resident students who attend a South Dakota public university stay in the state after graduation, making USD one of the most effective workforce recruiters.” South Dakota enrollment rates also increased by 7.2 percent. The university also saw an increase of 13.7 percent of domestic students of color, and a slight increase of four additional international students.
McVicker Plaza opens doors, welcomes USD, community Lexi Kerzman
Lexi.Kerzman@coyotes.usd.edu
The McVicker Plaza had its grand opening on Friday evening. The event featured speeches from both community and USD faculty members. Made up of the new Charlie’s store and the Vermillion Area Chamber and Development Company (VCDC) offices the McVicker Plaza’s purpose is to bring the University and the community together. Scott Pohlson, USD Vice President of Enrollment said the plaza will help build the relationship between the university and the community. He said he believes the community of Vermillion offers a unique experience for students. “What we think is cool about USD and why we think it is important to bring students downtown is that it is few and far between for a community this size to have a university as big as we have,” Pohlson said. “And by understanding that component of community involvement is really important for life.” Nate Welch, VCDC CEO and president spoke at the grand opening and thanked the community members for showing up. “I want to thank you, each and every one of you who showed up,” Welch said. “Thank you for always showing up when
we asked for you. As a community, as we continue to move forward we all need to remember the saying ‘decisions are made by those who show up,’ so again I thank you for showing up.” After thanking community members, Welch shared how the idea for the plaza began. He said in March 2016 Pohlson called him and shared his idea of a retail store in downtown Vermillion. “He asked me if the University of South Dakota could handle a retail store,” Welch said. “I said yes, and in the meantime, our organization was looking for an office. In about 15 minutes we mapped out that framework on how we would do this and how would be able to do all of the things we envisioned.” The two decided on a retail store on one side, to represent the university, and offices on the other side, to represent the community. When the plan was finalized, Welch and Pohlson shared a toast with their cups of coffee. Welch presented Pohlson with a picture of their cups, for irony, Welch used a USD mug and Pohlson a City of Vermillion one. “And now a couple years later we were able to renovate that space,” Welch said. “It was because of that vision and the willingness and ability of our community and See VCDC, Page A6
Peyton Beyers I The Volante
One of the Wellness Center’s racquetball rooms has been refit as a functional training space.
New functional training space at Wellness Center Rachel Newville
Rachel.Newville@coyotes.usd.edu
Lexi Kerzman I The Volante
VCDC committee members celebrate the grand opening of the McVicker Plaza on Friday Sept. 21.
Escape Fitness has refit one of the Wellness Center’s racquetball rooms as a functional training space. New boot camp classes in the space started last week. Steve Mayer, the director of the Wellness Center, said that the feedback has been positive, and the change came out of looking at the growth in popularity for functional training and looking at how to best utilize the space. “We were sitting here looking at our two racquetball courts, knowing that we’re not getting a ton of usage and we have 800 square feet of unused space in one room and 800 square feet of unused space in the other room,” he said. Around the same time the Wellness
Center staff was exploring ways to use the unused space, they saw an Escape Fitness display, where they were refitting racquetball rooms with “rigs” at a conference. Mayer said many other universities across the country have converted their racquetball rooms to functional training spaces as well. The space is open for anyone to use, with only eight hours of scheduled class time a week. The classes are functional training boot camps. Mayer said the current boot camps will be different than past classes, where attendees had to go to the same class at the same times every week. The current system runs off of a punch pass. Students and community members can buy a punch pass and See WELLNESS, Page A6