The Volante
SUMMER 2020
02 | TABLE OF CONTENTS
volanteonline.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS 04 2019-2020 Year in Review 06 SGA 07 Census Patriot’s Plaza 08 National Music Museum Food pantry 09 Graduation
OPINION 10 Editorial 11 Reflection on senior year
VERVE 12 2019-2020 Year in Review 14 Farewell to Sellers 15 AIGA International Students 16 Community Mural Theater department update 17 Dogs of USD
SPORTS 18 20 21 22 23
@TheVolante @the_volante
2019-2020 Year in Review Balancing Act Sophomore profile Trio of seniors Freshman quarterback On both sides of the net
The Volante
Volume 145, N0. 25 Summer issue 2020 www.volanteonline.com Al Neuharth Media Center 555 Dakota St. University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD 57069 Adviser Kyle Miller
Lexi Kerzman editor-in-chief Sara Cappiello managing editor Miles Amende news assistant Bailey Zubke sports editor Madilyn Sindelar sports assistant Peyton Beyers photo editor Alison Boysen opinion editor Leah Dusterhoft executive designer Tori Harwell page designer Lauren Johnson page designer Heidi Schneider social media director DeAndre Hill social media assistant Jackson Sadler advertising manager
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THE VOLANTE
LETTERS | 03
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR:
The Volante is here to be your voice Lexi Kerzman
Lexi.Kerzman@coyotes.usd.edu
2020 has turned the entire world upside down. Our perfect schedules were cleared. Our travel plans were postponed. Classes were redesigned. Everything we knew is gone. While things we once took for granted are changing to luxuries, it is important to learn from what we are going through. Through this pandemic, I have learned how to relax and reflect. Before spring break I was taking 12 credits, working 15-20 hours a week, working out daily, serving as Editor-in-Chief and trying to maintain a social life. It goes without saying: I was busy. I had every second of my day planned out and was staying up until 3 a.m. just to get everything done. While I miss my perfectly timed out schedule, taking time to recharge has been incredibly beneficial for me. Not being able to be in my beloved newsroom every day — for way too long — has made me appreciate our late nights even more. I miss staying late just because. Our staff’s in the newsroom much more than just print
nights. We often aren’t even working when we’re there. Our newsroom is our safe space. It’s where we go to be creative and be ourselves. While I miss the newsroom, I miss those who filled it more. The Volante has brought me my best friends. I miss the energy that comes from us being together. Being away from our office and The Volante staff, I have remembered why I spend so much time in the newsroom. In the newsroom, we are free to work together and be creative with one another. I miss our ability to tell stories and brainstorm and decide which of those stories are news stories and which ones are just for us. Not being able to see everyone and work together has been extremely hard. But, despite how hard it is, I know it is making me a stronger leader. If we as The Volante staff are able to work together — while being states apart — when we can finally be together again, we will be unstoppable. While no time is ideal for a global pandemic to interrupt our lives, it is happening now. I hope despite all the changes, you are holding onto the good. I hope you still call your college friends, take time to study and learn, care for yourself
physically and mentally and I hope you are still reading the news. While we aren’t in our newsroom, we are still here for you. We know now more than ever we need news sources to tell the important stories. While our regular E-editions are over for the year, we will still be active online and we encourage you to follow us on social media. We are here to keep you connected to the USD campus while we are all far apart. And when we all eventually come back together, I hope you appreciate every moment. College goes fast and now more than ever we understand just how fast. Go to a play next semester, go to tailgate, check out a student art show, go to an event put on by the Center for Diversity and Community — take advantage of all that happens on our campus. And if you can’t go to an event, read The Volante. We will be there reporting on what is happening at USD. We are the students’ voice — and eyes and ears when we need to be. Pick us up and cherish your time at USD.
L E T T E R F RO M T H E M A N AG I N G E D I TO R :
A look back on the semester
Sara Cappiello
Sara.Cappiello@coyotes.usd.edu
For some people, a crazy, unpredictable schedule can be daunting. One day, you’re sitting in class, completely focused. The next, you’re scrambling to prepare for an interview, while last night’s homework sits unfinished. But for me, this is normal. Welcome to the life of a student journalist. I’m going on my sixth year being a student journalist and my third year being a student journalist for The Volante. At this point, I’m quite familiar with the unexpected nature of being a journalist. You don’t have a set schedule. Your life isn’t the same every day. And as a student journalist, you get used to this at a young age. In the last three years, being involved in The Volante has given me countless opportunities to push myself to the limits, test my skills and face challenge after challenge. But nothing could’ve prepared me for this past spring semester. Every story I’ve written, every skill I’ve
learned and every obstacle I’ve combated in my time as a journalist came into play this semester. It started off normally, or as normal as it can be in a crazy, stressful newsroom. This spring, we had a younger staff and more dedication and loyalty than I had ever seen in The Volante. This staff not only faced the fast-paced, overwhelming responsibilities that come with being a student journalist, but they craved the challenging work, just like me. It was what I have worked for all these years. This is exactly where I wanted to be. Being a managing editor is a demanding job, but it didn’t feel like work. It’s been the most challenging, yet the most rewarding position I’ve held on The Volante. And this semester, it came with a twist. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, our whole newsroom was turned upside down. Giving up wasn’t an option. It never is, as a journalist, especially a student journalist. In the last few weeks of our semester, we adjusted The Volante so it was an online newspaper, accessible to anyone who visited
our website. We became more active than ever on our social media. We kept moving along because nothing could stop us, not even a pandemic. Looking back on this semester, I’m so full of appreciation for The Volante staff and the experiences I’ve had being a part of it. Not many managing editors, or reporters, can say they worked through a pandemic. But I can. And so can the other amazing student journalists who made this possible. This fall, I will enter my final semester on The Volante staff. It’s bittersweet, handing off my managing editor position and preparing to say goodbye. But I have no fear for the future of The Volante. With student journalists like this around, there’s not much that can’t be covered. I want to say thank you to my Volante staff. You are all amazing and dedicated. I want to say thank you to our editor-in-chief, for trusting me. And finally, I want to say thank you to our readers and supporters. You help us keep going.
04 | NEWS
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2 019 - 2 0 2 0
A Year In Review
Flamez Tobacco Opens
Flamez Tobacco added a store in Vermillion, as well as Sioux City, Iowa. The store — which was previously only open in Minnesota — is licensed to sell tobacco, vaping products and drinking accessories. Brian McDonald, store manager, said he hopes the store makes an impression in Vermillion with customer service. “I think we’re friendly and people want to come back, so we have gotten to know the community,” McDonald said.
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
2019 Dakota Days
Many local eating and drinking establishments prepared to serve many customers over the D-Days weekend. Allison King, co-owner of R-Pizza, said their fridge was stocked with 400 pounds of cheese balls and pizza cheese to prepare for D-Days. John Guagliardo, the owner of Carey’s Bar in Vermillion, described D-Days as a 72-hour party. He said preparing for the large number of people is critical to keeping everyone happy. “If you’re not used to high numbers, it’s not (going to) work,” Guagliardo said. “You’re making two drinks while four people are shouting orders at you.”
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
Charlie’s opens second location
Charlie’s Bookstore and Fan Shop opened its second location in the Muenster University Center. Michelle Cwach, Vice President of Marketing, Enrollment and University Relations at USD, said the new locations was created to fulfill the school’s desire to offer a broader selection of textbooks at affordable prices for students. “Charlie’s focuses on affordability and customer service, and because we are a part of the university and not a third-party vendor, our students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members come first,” Cwach said.
Prentis Plunge
Roughly 100 dogs and their owners gathered at the Prentis Plunge pool to practice swimming techniques. The event, a collaboration with the City of Vermillion, helped fundraise for the Heartland Humane Society, a nonprofit organization. Judy Zwolak, president of the Board of Directors of the Heartland Humane Society, said the event was a great time for families and children. “It’s so much fun to be able to bring your dog to the public pool and you can get in the water and all the dogs have fun playing with each other,” Zwolak said. “They love playing with each other; you’ll see them running around in the grass as well as getting in the water.”
THE VOLANTE
NEWS | 05 Wilson Florist Prepares for Valentine’s Day
Emily and Aaron Sudbeck, Willson Florists co-owners, start their Valentine’s Day preparation in November. With Valentine’s Day on a Friday this year, the local flower shop prepared for a higher number of walk-in orders. One of the challenges Sudeck said the shop faces is the limited amount of time to work with on Valentine’s Day compared to other holidays. “For Christmas, we have a month. This is a two-week mad dash. It’s the most we have to do in the shortest time,” Sudbeck said. “Normally, we might have fifty orders in a week. For Valentine’s Day, we have hundreds.”
Classes moved online due to COVID-19 pandemic
In-State Tuition
The South Dakota Board of Regents announced a tuition break for students from North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado and Montana, starting in the 2019 fall semester. USD recruited 15 first-year students from those states according to data from the USD Institutional Research, USD Undergraduate Applications Tracker. Mark Petty, dean of enrollment, said it’s important for the school to recruit outside of South Dakota. “Having students who enroll from out of state communities allows us to be diverse and inclusive and allows students to bring their own experiences and share those with us here in Vermillion,” Petty said.
DECEMBER
JANUARY
The South Dakota Board of Regents announced all public institutions would finish their semesters online in response to COVID-19. USD President Sheila announced later that the graduation ceremony was postponed until further notice. On April 7, the extension grew when the Board of Regents announced that the public institutions would be required to teach their summer terms online.
FEBRUARY
MARCH
Med school dean announces retirement
Mary Nettleman served as the dean of the Sanford School of Medicine for the last eight years, until her retirement in July. Nettleman is a physician and previously worked in academic medicine at medical schools in Iowa, Virginia and Michigan. During her time as dean of the medical school, Nettleman helped to establish a modern curriculum for the school which allows a variety of students to find a way to successfully complete their education. She also helped launch what she calls a kindness initiative to emphasize while confidence is an important part of being a good physician, compassion and empathy are also important.
Strollers Controversy
A tweet from the USD Strollers Twitter account sparked a conversation on the value of Strollers and racism on USD’s campus. Strollers co-president Aeron Peters said a majority of the organization’s humor has been offensive throughout its 97-year history. CDC Director Laura Chandler, Lamont Sellers, associate vice president of diversity and members of the Union for African American Students (UAAS) all delivered statements in response to the incident at a forum hosted by the CDC. The forum was originally set to be held in the CDC, but due to the large crowd had to be moved to the MUC Ballroom. Photos by Molly Schiermeyer, Peyton Beyers, Aaron Mercado and Lexi Kerzman
06 | NEWS
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Untraditional beginnings for new SGA President, Vice President Miles Amende
Miles.Amende@coyotes.usd.edu
With classes moved online and campus buildings closed, Student Government Association President Abuk Jiel and Vice President Carter Larson haven’t had a traditional beginning to their administration. Although SGA currently convenes over Zoom conferencing and all legislation is done remotely, Jiel and Larson continue to make big plans for USD. The pandemic began affecting Jiel and Larson’s administration before their term officially started. Their swearing-in was postponed as spring break was extended, during which time they began preparing to function remotely for the remainder of the semester. The following week, Jiel and Larson were sworn in over Zoom conferencing. Jiel said the transition to Zoom has thrown a wrench in the administration’s plans and the distance from campus complicates communication with senators and constituents alike. “We’re not able to be on campus and bounce ideas off of each other,” Jiel said. “We don’t have that constant state of being around students and hearing their concerns and what they think of SGA.” Despite the difficulties in conducting SGA meetings remotely, Jiel said Zoom allows students to work together regardless of how far away they are. “Personally, with the cards we’ve been dealt, we’ve been doing a great job transitioning and conducting the budget process over Zoom,” Jiel said. “It’s definitely been hard, but we’ve gotten through it.” On top of a shift to remote meetings, SGA has also welcomed several new senators to its ranks. Jiel said having so many new senators might be seen as
a shortcoming, but with new senators comes new and better ideas. Larson said new senators don’t have prior experience to color their attitude toward the legislative process. “All the new senators come in with different ideas and opinions,” Larson said. “They come in with a clean and open mind without having opinions from previous terms.” SGA also has a full senate, which Jiel and Larson said is a good indication SGA is reaching out to students and students are dedicated and willing to work. So far, the administration has begun looking at redesigning the USD Involved website. Jiel and Larson ran on student outreach as part of their campaign and the two think making the website more user-friendly will facilitate student involvement on campus. “When you’re a student coming in your freshman year, sophomore year, or you’re a transfer student, you’re kind of lost,” Jiel said. “You think ‘how do I fit into this? Where’s the things that might interest me that aren’t necessarily in my major?’ (We want to) make sure students are able to access USD Involved more easily.” The newly passed Senate Bill 1, a bill which allows SGA to host “Organizational Development Workshops,” also enhances SGA’s impact on campus, Jiel said. Originally, SGA planned to have on-campus and community leadership attend Campus Leaders Mixers to instruct students on how to continue leadership in their professional lives. The bill allows SGA freedom to host events which reach students not in leadership positions. “We’re looking to make sure students know what we have on campus and for them to get the most out of their experience while on campus,” Larson said. Over the summer, Jiel and Larson plan to meet with state
Peyton Beyers | The Volante Student Government Association President Abuk Jiel (right) and Vice President Carter Larson (left) are working on plans for fall 2020.
representatives to connect the interests of USD and state government. They will also make plans concerning the function of SGA in the event campus remains closed for the fall semester. Whether or not students return to campus in the fall, Jiel and Larson said they plan to stress the importance of student organization outreach. Larson said the administration has considered hosting a second student organization fair so as to reach more students, especially transfer students. “There’s so many organizations on campus students may not know about, we feel rather than just having a beginning-ofthe-year fair for freshmen, (we might host another fair) a couple of weeks into the year or in the second semester so it’s easier for transfer students and students that aren’t just freshmen to get
involved,” Larson said. Larson said such action would also help organizations recover from lack of recruitment during the spring 2020 semester. “We understand that morale might be low for some organizations because a lot of them try to find new members throughout the spring, so we’ll be really pushing outreach,” Larson said. Jiel said though the beginning of the administration has been rough, SGA will work hard to serve the students of USD. “Our advisor, Kim Grieve, said SGA starts off pretty slowly, and we’ve seen that, but we also have had legislation pass and over Zoom, I think that’s a great start to our term,” Jiel said. “I definitely feel like if we are back in the fall, we’re going to be able to pick up where we left off.”
THE VOLANTE
NEWS | 07
Involvement in 2020 census crucial for Vermillion Sara Cappiello
Sara.Cappiello@coyotes.usd.edu
Every ten years, the U.S. Census Bureau takes a count of the entire country’s population. This year, Census Day fell on April 1 and every city, town and community across the U.S. needs to be accounted for. In Vermillion, the Complete Count Committee from the Vermillion Chamber and Development Company (VCDC) was responsible for ensuring an accurate and full count of each person in the community. Nate Welch, VCDC President and CEO, said it’s extremely important for every person in Vermillion to register for the 2020 census, especially USD students. “We want to make sure that not only people understand that responsibility, but also are encouraged with that because we do want to make sure that all of our residents, which include our students counted in Vermillion,” Welch said. The number of people counted in each census affects the way in which federal funding
happens, Welch said. State, local, country and city funding all depend on how many people are in a certain area. Normally, residents would fill out a form online or send one in the mail to be counted in the census; however, due to the coronavirus, the census was much different than in previous years. Vermillion, along with cities all over the country, revamped plans for the census to ensure each person is still counted, despite the circumstances. James Purdy, assistant city manager of the city of Vermillion, said the coronavirus has thrown a wrench into plans for the 2020 Census, but that didn’t stop the city from keeping their residents informed and aware. “While many of our Census related events have been canceled or postponed indefinitely, we have seen a tremendous amount of creativity to deliver digital messages,” Purdy said. “The Census being online has been tremendously helpful.” The VCDC worked with USD to create
digital and online content specifically aimed at students. Purdy said although USD students may not be in Vermillion due to the coronavirus, they should still register for the census. “The important thing for students to remember is that the pandemic does not change how they should fill out their Census Questionnaire,” Purdy said. “They still resided in Vermillion the majority of the year.” According to the 2010 census, the population of Vermillion was just over 10,600. Welch said factoring in the USD population helps a lot with the numbers. Students living on campus are registered and counted in the census by the university, while students living off-campus are responsible for registering themselves. “I’m hopeful that we’re going to see some growth numbers when it comes to Vermillion in the population,” Welch said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what those numbers come to.”
Patriot’s Plaza will honor veterans past, present, future Miles Amende
Miles.Amende@coyotes.usd.edu
USD does not have an official monument honoring its veterans, but after years of planning and fundraising, that will soon change as the construction of the Patriot’s Plaza begins this summer. Located near the Business School, the Law School and the Al Neuharth Media Center, the Patriot’s Plaza memorial will honor USD’s three Medal of Honor recipients—Joe Foss, Arlo Olson and Bud Day— as well as all USD veterans past, present and future, Jaedon Foreman, Vice President of the Veteran’s Club, said. The plaza will be over 3,500 square feet and will contain a bronze bust of each Medal of Honor recipient. Each branch of the military will have a flag and the plaza will contain a courtyard for students to relax and reflect. The project will cost just under a quarter of a million dollars, Foreman said. The Patriot’s Plaza committee is currently in the final stages of planning the memorial. The committee has yet to select a construction firm to build the plaza, but Foreman said construction will begin soon, and the pandemic has not altered the committees’ plans in any way. “The idea was to have construction start as soon as possible, so construction
The Patriot’s Plaza monument will be revealed on Veteran’s Day, 2020.
will hopefully start in the beginning of June,” Foreman said. “We’re hoping to get it done by mid-September.” Foreman has been part of the project since 2017 and was involved in planning how to get USD’s administration — then headed by previous USD president James Abbott — to approve the project. Once the project became established, the committee began planning the specifics of the project. “It’s been a discussion on campus since my freshman year,” Foreman said. “The committee was formed by alumni and from the spring of 2017 and on, it’s been
Submitted Photo | The Volante
awesome to see all of their hard work and all of their ideas come to fruition. To see it become a reality is really awesome.” Foreman said campus support for the project is meaningful to the planning committee and USD’s veterans alike. “It means a lot that USD and the administration is getting behind it because we have a pretty big service member population on campus,” Foreman said. “I think it’s great that we’re recognizing those who served from USD and honoring the ones that deserve it.” The plaza will be dedicated on Veteran’s Day, 2020.
08 | NEWS
volanteonline.com
National Music Museum construction on track to finish amid COVID-19 Nik Wilson
Nikolas.Wilson@coyotes.usd.edu
While COVID-19 has canceled a wide variety of events throughout 2020, it hasn’t stopped construction of the National Music Museum (NMM). The project began in September of last year and is expected to finalize in July. Matt Collinsworth, the Director of the NMM, said the team will adjust accordingly as the construction progresses. “We recognize the pandemic could result in changes to guidelines and schedules as we move forward,” Collinsworth said in an email interview with The Volante. “We are fully confident that our partners will work with us to achieve the best results possible in the most reasonable manner.” Carol Robertson, the NMM’s manager of membership services, said the team has worked on
exhibits remotely, and has been relatively unaffected by the virus. Robertson said the team has a long list of changes coming to the museum, which includes 4,600 square feet of new exhibit space, a new performance hall, conservation and photography labs and a dedicated classroom. “The collections at the National Music Museum are truly one of the best in the world, and this new facility will give it the home it deserves,” Robertson said in an email interview with The Volante. No instruments have been harmed during the construction process, Robertson said. The team moved the instruments to their new Center for Preservation and Research, which is an off-site facility that temporarily houses most of the museum’s 4,000 instruments. NMM staff, USD students and visiting researchers will be able to study thousands of instruments
and related artifacts in this facility. The artifacts and instruments are meant for research purposes only and are not on display in the museum. The NMM’s improvements will be noticeable to visitors, Robertson said, especially because the museum is altering its exhibits with modern museum standards and state-of-the-art technology. “From invention to performance, each piece in our collection has a story to tell,” Robertson said. “In our updated facility, National Music Museum guests will be able to explore and explain the varied disciplines required to create and play each instrument.” While visitors will notice changes to the museum, some of the upgrades might go unnoticed. Robertson said USD provided funds to upgrade the HVAC system, facilities infrastructure and additional security.
Rodger Kelly, the Deputy Director of Operations, said he is excited about the new layout of the building. “It’s so cool seeing the architecture of the Carnegie building incorporated into the new spaces,” Kelly said. “In the Carnegie building, walls are being patched and painted, the marble in the former recital hall is being cleaned, and new electrical is being installed.” Kelly said the museum’s general contractor, Journey Construction, estimates the project will be complete in late July unless the coronavirus pandemic causes any new delays. “Working with Journey Construction and USD has been an exciting and rewarding experience,” Kelly said. “Communication has been excellent all the way around. Everyone is committed that we have the best result possible.”
Food programs adapt to serve citizens Miles Amende
Miles.Amende@coyotes.usd.edu
In the wake of COVID-19, meal providers such as the Vermillion Food Pantry and the Vermillion Welcome Table have been forced to close their physical doors. Despite the drawback, these food services are continuing to provide meals to people in need. The Vermillion Food Pantry ceased walk-in services at the Community Connection Center of Vermillion, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. On March 16, the pantry began delivering boxes of food to families in need, Theresa McDowell Johnson, director of the pantry, said. The boxes are prepared based on family size and contain nonperishable food items, as well as any available meat, produce and bread. The pantry has distributed 110 boxes so far, which McDowell Johnson said is more food than the pantry would typically donate in
an average month. “We typically have between 250 to 275 families come to the pantry, so we’re up a little from where we would be. I anticipated that because we’re also servicing individuals that would perhaps go to Tanager Takeout,” McDowell Johnson said. “We have various students that have also been coming to the pantry because they had anticipated getting some meals with USD Dining but can’t because of limited hours.” With the Food Pantry’s physical location closed, the service is relying on monetary donations to buy food wholesale rather than collecting food from the public. Donations are being accepted at CorTrust Bank. “It’s easier for us if individuals would donate funds,” McDowell Johnson said. “Even if they give us $5, we’re able to stretch those dollars. We’re able to buy food for at least six people.” Despite the situation,
McDowell Johnson said the Food Pantry will distribute food for a long time. “Clay County and Vermillion have always been a very generous community,” McDowell Johnson said. “We will be able to go for an extended period of time.” The Vermillion Welcome Table — a service that provides free meals every Monday night — has been put on hiatus. The Welcome Table switched to carry-out dining on March 9, which continued until March 23, when the service was suspended, John Lushbough, head of the Vermillion Welcome Table, said. “We decided to cancel, mainly because we had no way of ensuring the safety of people that were putting the meal together and people that were coming to get the meal,” Lushbough said. Tanager Takeout and the Weekend Backpack Program, two services for food-insecure students overseen by a partnership
between the Welcome Table and the Vermillion School District, have also been suspended due to school closures. Lushbough said the Welcome Table plans to reactivate Tanager Takeout and offer services at the same time as these free meals. In the meantime, the Welcome Table has donated its resources to the Vermillion Food Pantry and is encouraging families to go to the Food Pantry. Several weeks into the pandemic, the Welcome Table plans to stay on hiatus indefinitely. The Welcome Table is considering resuming operations in the summer, but Lushbough said these plans are tentative. “It’ll be another four (weeks) at the minimum,” Lushbough said. “I can’t imagine we’re going to feel comfortable doing anything before the end of May. It’s just too early to tell right now.”
THE VOLANTE
NEWS | 09
Graduating into the unknown Lexi Kerzman
Lexi.Kerzman@coyotes.usd.edu
The graduating class of 2020 is finishing their time at USD while not actually being on campus. Due to COVID-19, classes were moved online for the rest of the semester and the commencement ceremony was postponed. On April 28, USD officially announced the ceremony would be held on Oct. 24, 2020. The future date for graduation, however, is subject to change as the COVID-19 situation continues to develop. In an email sent to graduates, President Shelia Gestring said she is proud of the resilience shown by this year’s graduating class. “There is so much to look forward to as you close this chapter and prepare for the journey ahead and we are excited to
celebrate you and your accomplishments on campus this fall,” Gestring said. “We will continue to follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as we make decisions that prioritize the health and safety of the Coyote community.” Macy Halverson, a senior business administration major, said she thinks an online ceremony might be more beneficial now because the fall graduates might not be able to return to Vermillion. “I can’t imagine how difficult it has been making some of the decisions they’ve had to make, so I applaud the administration for their hard work,” Halverson said in an email interview with The Volante. “USD has done as good of a job a university could have done given the circumstances.” While this year’s seniors are not walking across the stage, they are still preparing for the workforce and life beyond USD.
File Photo | The Volante USD will hold their annual graduation ceremony on Oct. 24 for the graduating class of 2020. The ceremony was postponed due to COVID-19.
Emilee Shostrom, a senior simultaneously earning her BBA and MBA, is looking to begin a career in either supply chain or the analytics field. Due to the COVID-19 situation, some jobs she applied for are no longer available. “It is making it harder for me to plan ahead,” Shostrom said in an email interview with The Volante. While Shostrom said she was disappointed with the end of her college career, she said going through a pandemic will only make her and the rest of the class of 2020 more prepared for life beyond USD. “This pandemic is going to make us stronger and more prepared for the world,” Shostrom said. “Our class doesn’t give up easily, so this goes to show how resilient we are.” With their untraditional end, Halverson said she thinks the class of 2020 will be remembered as the “quarantine class.” Shostrom said her time at USD was amazing and said she hopes the class of 2020 is remembered for their strength. “(I hope we are remembered for) rising up during this time and staying strong,” Shostrom said. “I hope in the future people will recognize a class of 2020 student and know what we had to go through and respect us for it.” The official plan for USD’s graduation commencement ceremony is still unannounced. Shostrom said she hopes USD announces the official plan soon. “I will miss (USD),” Shostrom said. “Just because we didn’t have a ceremony and things ended in such a weird way doesn’t mean we won’t get to experience other fun things. We have our memories of our time here, so we just need to focus on the positives during this time.”
10 | OPINION
volanteonline.com
EDITORIAL
Heidi Schneider I The Volante The class of 2020 graduation ceremony won’t take place until Oct. 24 according to an email from USD President Gestring. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, that date is subject to change.
Dear Class of 2020, We’re sorry it ended this way for you. Of course, no one could have anticipated this kind of ending when you started your college journey four years ago. The ending of your college experience is going to be a little, no, a lot different from others’. But you have to be resilient and push through. We can’t let this get the best of us. Going into the job market may look scary now and your outlook may seem bleak, but
there will still be jobs after we find a way to contain COVID-19. We need to be strong and not wallow in our sadness about what’s going on, but encourage each other as we tread in uncertain waters. Graduating in a pandemic just means we’ll have to work harder than other classes to be successful, but it’s not an impossible task to achieve. To all of those graduating into the medical field and going on
OVERHEARDS
Here you’ll find the weirdest, funniest and stupidest things we’ve heard during the week. Context is for suckers.
“Should I put a photo of the back of my throat as my bumble profile photo?” — MUC
the front lines, thank you so much. Your work is invaluable and you are doing some of the most important work. Walking across the stage was an accomplishment so many of us were looking forward to; a rite of passage acknowledging all the hard work we’ve done in the past four years. Sadly we get that until October, but it doesn’t take away our accomplishments. While we didn’t get to spend more afternoons studying in
the MUC, tear up the sticky Char dance floor, or cheer on our Spring athletic teams, we still got to have those amazing experiences throughout our years in Vermillion. We all know USD and the Vermillion community will always have a special place in our hearts. They welcomed us with open arms and hearts and shaped us into the people we are now. We’re going to be okay. We’re going to make it. We’re Yotes.
The Volante THE STUDENTS’ VOICE SINCE 1887
EDITORIAL BOARD Lexi Kerzman, editor-in-chief
Ali Boysen, opinion editor
Sara Cappiello, managing editor
Tori Harwell, opinion presentation editor Bailey Zubke, sports editor
“These fries don’t have any salt! They have no calories!” — Delzell
“I came home without my underwear, but I did come home with a dollar!” — MUC
“I’m surprised that the boys of SAE haven’t tried making hacky sacks cool again.” — MUC TV room
“Yeah I was talking to him, but he’s balding, and now I’m over it” — Burgess
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 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.
THE VOLANTE
OPINION | 11
A reflection on my college experience TORI HARWELL is a senior majoring in English
It’s finally the end of another school year and it has just hit me I graduate in May and this will be my last ever end of the school year. While underclassmen are scrambling to get through finals and making their summer plans, seniors are grasping at the memories of college life before being catapulted into adult life. And as scary as it is, I am now one of those people. Before I go, I thought I’d share some reflections on my experiences and the things I learned in my four years at USD.
When in doubt, say “yes.”
Every choice you make
has a consequence. Do things you’re going to look back on and remember 10 years from now. If that means watching a new Netflix series in the Coyote Village theater until six in the morning, then do it. If that means applying for a job that you’re not sure you’re completely qualified for, do it. If that means deciding to eat MUC dining food for lunch... Rethink that one. Say “yes” with boundaries, of course.
Find your balance.
Every college student struggles with this. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the last four years — and that I’m still working on — it’s that there has to be a balance in everything you do. It’s absolutely amazing to have a flourishing social life, but that should not come at the expense of your work. There are ways you can balance being with your friends and doing the things that need to
get done, and that’s different for everyone. Find what works for you and do that so you can make the most of your college experience while still being successful.
As cliche as it sounds, get involved.
Please. For the love of God, just do it. I wish I would have done more sooner. For the first two and a half years of college, I focused solely on getting my work done, completely ignoring all of the things that presented themselves to me. My junior year I joined The Volante and it was one of the best things I could’ve done. After two and a half years, I’d finally found my people. I finally found the people who would become my life-long friends: people I can laugh-cry with in the middle of the night because I started my paper the night before it was due; people who will support each other through our successes
and failures. I can’t imagine my life without the people who surround me today. And all because I joined the student newspaper.
it.
Enjoy every second of
I used to laugh at the people who told me that college would go by in the blink of an eye. And then it did. Soak in every single second of these crazy, chaotic, stressful four years. Spend as much time with your friends as you can. The days go by faster and faster the closer you get to leaving. Take advantage of the time you do have. My time at USD has been fun, but it’s unfortunately come to an end. Not too long ago, I was an intimidated student, unsure about the path I was on, but running head-on into it anyway. With graduation coming, that hasn’t changed much.
Now is an uncertain time
SARAH BECHEN is a junior majoring in media & journalism
“Now is an uncertain time.” We hear those words muttered every day by celebrities, politicians and even the institutions we attend. It’s not just now that times are uncertain. Times will continue to be uncertain after social distancing isn’t active anymore and the campus festivities return. This pandemic will affect our lives for years to come. Hearing celebrities talk about how everything is going to be okay from their mansions with pools - while
we’re in tiny apartments with our alcohol - is disheartening. No one, not even celebrities, knows what the heck is happening or what is going to happen and everyone is trying their best. There’s a lot of pressure right now to be mocking those celebrities and influencers and continue to work out and eat healthily, but if your mental health won’t allow for that, then focus on yourself. To be blunt, we can’t do that. We have school and jobs and lives to maintain and that is pressure enough. Now in this “uncertain time,” we’re expected to be working out, eating healthy, keeping up on our school work and keeping our mental health in check. I don’t
think so. That is a ridiculous expectation that is unachievable. We should be receiving awards for getting out of bed, making three meals a day and completing homework by the due date. We are living through a pandemic for the love of all things good. No one else can say their twenties - what is supposed to be the best years of your life - were spent staying six feet away from your friends. We own that and we get to decide what that looks like for us. Crisis Text Line is an amazing website to visit if you are confused or scared. According to Crisis Text Line, during this time it is important to prioritize mental check-ins.
Journaling this experience will help you get the thoughts out of your head and give you a piece of history to look back on. Crisis Text Line also recommends tuning into Lizzo’s meditation Instagram live, which is always a move. It’s also important to shut off social media and turn on social interaction. Rather than scrolling through the perfect representations of people’s lives, have conversations about why they’re struggling too. It’s okay to not be okay. If you are struggling with your mental health, or anything, in this time of crisis Text HOME to 741741 to receive help from a live, trained Crisis Counselor.
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A Ye a r i n R e v i e w : D i v e r s i t y E v e n t s Diwali
Diwali celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. It’s a time of feasting, setting off fireworks and gift-giving. The festival usually lasts five days, each with its own observances and traditions.
Great Plains Music Festival
This fall, USD held the first annual Great Plains Music Festival. Inspired by Darin Wadley, percussion professor, the music festival showcased over 23 musicians performing original contemporary music. “Usually, when someone is performing new music, people usually stay away,” Wadley said. “Everybody loves Bach, but something new is always exciting and sharing that with the community is something I really look forward to.”
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
Fall Drag Show
Every fall, USD Spectrum Alliance hosts a professional-amateur drag show. This fall’s drag show included professional drag queen Martina Shakers in her fifteenth year as emcee as the event. USD students also made appearances as drag queens.
OCTOBER Plain White T’s
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
The Plain White T’s headlined the annual fall concert on Oct. 10 hosted by the Campus Activities Board (CAB). The alternative pop group, known for songs such as “Hey There Delilah” and “Rhythm of Love” were selected among a list of 36 potential artists compiled by CAB last spring. Two local acts – Tenenbaums and Would You Kindly? – opened for the Plain White T’s. This was the first time CAB has featured USD alumni in the fall concert in several years.
Margarita Bike Ride
Completing a 45-mile bike ride may seem like a daunting trek, but margaritas at the finish line are motivation enough for some. This September, 84 cyclists from across the region gathered in Vermillion for the 18th annual Margarita Bike Ride. The ride benefitted the Welcome Table, an organization that provides meals every Monday night for Vermillion community members. It also helped Recycle 605, a group that collects recycled bike materials and donates bikes to those in need.
THE VOLANTE
VERVE | 13 Ruby Ball
Over 300 people enjoyed a lively evening filled with dancing, performances and companionships when the Union of African American Students (UAAS) hosted their second Annual Ruby Ball. The Ruby Ball was just one of the celebrations that took place throughout Black History Month this year. For the second year, the Ruby Ball raised money for Dakotathon.
Latte Art Competition
For the second year in a row, baristas gathered at The Bean in downtown Vermillion to compete in the Art for Art – Latte Art Throwdown. 16 Baristas battled it out to see who could make the best latte art. The money raised at the event went to the Vermillion Mural Project, which is designed to create public art spaces for members in the community to express themselves through visual art.
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
Asian Lunar New Year
Kicking off Asian Lunar New Year, the Asian American Student Association (AASA) and the Center for Diversity and Community (CDC) held its largest event of the semester on Feb. 11. On the Chinese lunar calendar, 2020 is the year of the rat. The calendar goes through a 12 year cycle, each year represented by a different animal, the rat being the first in the cycle.
Stilwell Art Exhibition
The annual Stilwell Art Exhibition reception was held on Jan. 24 this year and featured student artwork ranging from a painting of a blanket, a Beyonce tribute to an Aphrodite sculpture. The annual art exhibition is meant to honor art students and their work. Out of the 70 students who submitted work for the show, 45 were selected this year. Later, the student’s work was judged by a nominated juror. Cameron Stalheim — a 2010 USD alumni and the Coyote Legacy sculptor was this year’s juror.
Photos by Chloe Fullenkamp, Miles Amende, Lexi Kerzman, Deandre Hill, Lauren Johnson, Maddi Kallsen and Jacob Forster.
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Sellers say goodbye as they prepare for future move Sara Cappiello
Sara.Cappiello@coyotes.usd.edu
This summer, USD will say goodbye to two influential figures on campus. For the last few years, Lamont Sellers and his wife, Mimi Sellers, have built relationships with students and faculty and helped share the importance of diversity at USD. Lamont Sellers has been the associate vice president for diversity for the last six years. Sellers said he’s blessed to have worked with so many amazing students and professionals in his time at USD. “There are a lot of memories and it’s hard to pick just one,” Lamont Sellers said. “But, the impromptu conversations with students, although sometimes heated discussions, are what I enjoyed the most.” Lamont Sellers interviewed at USD in August 2014. During his time here, he said he’s seen many positive changes, particularly in the Center for Diversity and Community (CDC). “When I came in 2014, there were only a few chairs and a couple tables in the CDC and
very few people that came by,” Lamont Sellers said. “Now, seeing what it has become with new furniture, amazing programming and all the students is a tremendous change.” In addition to increased engagement in the CDC, USD has evolved in other ways since the Sellers have been working here, he said. Mimi Sellers, has been the senior secretary for USD’s student center for the last four years. Through being directly involved with students, Mimi Sellers said she was able to develop real, personal relationships with the students she encountered. “The student/staff participation at the games and around the campus has really doubled,” Mimi Sellers said. “In addition, there has been visible growth to those of us who are people of color. Along with all of that, USD has allowed me to fulfill part of my purpose, which was to be a listening ear for our students.” The Sellers will be leaving USD this June and their next destination is Boone, North Carolina, where Lamont Sellers will be the new director of intercultural student affairs at Appalachian
Submitted Photo | The Volante Lamont Sellers (above) will be the new director of interncultural student affairs at Appalachian State University this fall in his new home, Boone, North Carolina.
Submitted Photo | The Volante Mimi Sellers (left), senior secretary for USD’s student center and her husband Lamont Sellers (right), associate vice president of diversity, will be leaving USD this summer.
State University. After being the associate vice president for diversity, Lamont said he’s excited to be involved in student affairs. “I have had great experiences working with Presidents Abbott and Gestring in promoting inclusive excellence and improving our campus and community,” Lamont Sellers said. “However, my energy and drive really comes from working with students, so I’ll be happy to get back to working more closely with student leaders.” Lamont Sellers will also become a USD alum this summer when he finishes his doctorate in educational leadership. Although he looks back on his and his wife’s time at USD fondly, Lamont Sellers said there have been some challenges along the way. “There have been some rough days, especially in the past two years, having to plead my case for
the work that I do in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) with the state legislature,” Lamont Sellers said. “However, I have amazing colleagues, students, alums, and community that support the work of DEI and were there to lean on.” Looking forward, both Mimi and Lamont Sellers said they are excited to take the experiences and memories from USD and start the new chapter of their lives in Boone, North Carolina. “I am looking forward to seizing the moment,” Mimi Sellers said. “It sounds cliché. But South Dakota allowed me to find my own voice and it made me a strong woman of color. So now I have a story to tell others about making it in a place where you stand out not just because of the color of your skin but because of you as a person.”
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VERVE | 15
AIGA’s designs celebrate USD spirit year round Chloe Fullenkamp
Chloe.Fullenkamp@coyotes.usd.edu
Throughout the year, USD’s American Institute for Graphic Arts (AIGA) chapter used creativity and ingenuity to make different designs and products to celebrate USD. Through sweatshirts and stickers to design competitions, AIGA spread the word about their group via social media all year. For the last six years, AIGA has created USD’s Dakota Days sweatshirts to raise money for their annual spring break trip. The sweatshirts, coined “Verm Drinking Team sweatshirts” sold out this fall as AIGA sold more than 350 shirts and created a Teespring website to create more revenue. Tyson Schultz, AIGA president and a creator of the 2019 Verm Drinking Team sweatshirts, used social media to promote the sweatshirts which featured a twist on Calvin Klein’s “In my Calvin’s ad campaign. “We really wanted to make a push with a campaign and we were really successful with our marketing this year,” Schultz said. After D-Days, AIGA turned its focus to the Design Jam Color Clash graphic design competi-
tion against South Dakota State University. The competition was held the same weekend as the USD versus SDSU football game, but Schultz said the competition was bigger than the rivalry. “The other designers at State are going to be our future peers and coworkers, so it’s important to reach over the SDSU and USD rivalry and create connections,” Schultz said. The competition was attended by student and professional artists and was a good opportunity to meet professionals in the industry, Schultz said. Leading up to Spring Break, AIGA held different Student Art Sales which featured art from many different student artists in the USD Art Department. The proceeds from the sales helped fund AIGA projects and trips. Before Spring Break, AIGA sold limited edition Drinking Team shirts for Valentine’s Day and Spring Break. The Valentine’s Day twist on the iconic Drinking Team shirts also sold out this year. The Spring Break shirts were sold in bright neon colors and featured Charlie Coyote with sunglasses — creating a summer
Submitted Photo| The Volante USD’s American Institude for Graphic Arts chapter creates the design for USD’s Dakota Days sweatshirt every year, in addition to competing in competitions and selling personal artwork.
theme on the original Drinking Team shirts. During March, AIGA sponsored the Design March Madness Skateboard competition where USD artists could submit their own design for skateboards. The competition was run through Instagram, where people could vote on which design they liked best. “We really want to emphasize
that it is all fun and games, but we always reach over to create connections,” Schultz said. Since the cancellation of classes, AIGA has not been able to meet and continue to create shirts and products to fund their organization, but look to continue the traditions next year, Schultz said.
International Office looks forward to fall semester Sara Cappiello
Sara.Cappiello@coyotes.usd.edu
Every fall, along with a fresh class of first year-students, comes a new class of international students at USD. The preparation for the fall semester has begun, and, for the USD International Office, this means organizing paperwork, planning orientations and connecting with new international students. Patrick Morrison, associate director of the international office, said with all communication with
students being strictly digital, there have been some obstacles in preparing with the fall. “The International Office is always looking for ways to keep our students engaged and supported on campus and right now that is our main goal,” Morrison said in an email interview with The Volante. “Our admissions team are busy processing applications for fall and we hope for a return to normalcy — or at least as close to normal as can be expected — by August.” Normally, the international students attend a comprehensive two-day orientation before
the traditional campus-wide welcome week, Morrison said. This is also paired with a longer pre-orientation delivered digitally. “With the new technologies being utilized on campus, such as Zoom, we are looking at ways to make the pre-orientation content even more interactive and robust to help reassure and prepare our new students for life at USD,” Morrison said. Because of the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, Morrison said it has been challenging to figure out the best ways to prepare international students for their first semesters at USD.
“We are dealing with students from over 50 countries and therefore 50 different COVID-19 outbreaks,” Morrison said. “But, there has been a tremendous level of understanding on all sides that has made the situation much easier to work with.” By the end of the summer, Morrison said he hopes life at USD will return back to normal. “If we are in a position come August where we are able to welcome new international students to USD and students, faculty and staff are all back in Vermillion, we’ll be very happy indeed,” Morrison said.
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Community Mural Project continues painting Vermillion Maddi Kallsen
Maddillyn.Kallsen@coyotes.usd.edu
The Vermillion Community Mural Project is a subsidiary part of the Vermillion Cultural Association, created by Amber Hansen, an assistant professor at USD. The second part of the mural will be finished by the end of the summer, Hansen said. “We will complete the painting as an image of hope and hopefully (it) is something that inspires and captivates the community,” Hansen said. Reyna Hernandez, Liz Skye, Jenae Porter and Inkpa Mani are the artists creating the mural. In the summer of 2019, the
first part of a two part mural, titled “Eúnkichetupi” — a Lakota word meaning, ‘we come back to life,’ —was finished. The second part is titled, “Wanáhca” — a Lakota word for ‘flower that blooms.’ Hernandez said both sections of the mural hold meaning. “The themes of the mural apply to today in so many ways,” Hernandez said. “The second part is centered around the idea of growth and blossoming. The painting will be divided into a top and a bottom portion. Each portion will take around two weeks to paint, Hansen said. The community paint day
which was originally planned– is no longer taking place for safety reasons. If it’s safe to gather at the end of the summer there will be a group paint day, Hansen said. But for now, the current plan is for the artists to solely work on the mural. “Normally the first day of painting is shared with the community but hopefully as we work, there will be an opportunity for the community to come paint,” Hansen said. The role of art in life is now amplified as people look at the world from a different perspective and point of view, Hansen said. “I think we’re starting to see things in a different way be-
cause of the shift in our social and visual landscape. Artists are always trying to see the world in a different way,” Hansen said. Throughout the summer, the Vermillion Community Mural Project will still be working on connecting the community, while social distancing. “Art is part of the universal thread that connects us,” Hernandez said. “This indigenous narrative has themes everyone can relate to.” There are ways to connect with the Vermillion Community Mural Project, Hansen said. Updates are provided on their Facebook page.
USD Theatre looks forward to students returning, renovations Lexi Kerzman
Lexi.Kerzman@coyotes.usd.edu
Coming back to campus will be different for every department after being away since the middle of March However, for the USD Theatre Department, they will be returning to a newly renovated theater. The Knutson Theatre is set to be renovated this summer. So far, the renovations have not been postponed. Dr. Raimondo Genna, Chair of the theater department, said. The project may end up being delayed if the COVID-19 situation worsens in South Dakota, however. “If the project is delayed, it will have an impact on our season, but we will adapt,” Genna said in an email interview with The Volante. “What is more important is that we do everything we can to make sure everyone is safe.” Upgrades to the theater, Genna said, include a new rigging system above the stage, upgraded electrical system,
new seats in the auditorium and a new paint job. “We are excited to see these renovations completed and improve the theatrical experience for our students, our USD audience members and for the greater community as a whole,” Genna said. The seats in the Knutson Theatre are from the seventies, so Genna said he is most excited for that upgrade. “All of the renovations are needed, but our current seats are the original seats … and are painful to sit in,” Genna said. “Such discomfort has a negative impact on audiences’ enjoyment of the shows.” Beyond the renovations, Genna said he is simply excited to have his students back on campus. He said having to switch to online learning was challenging for both students and faculty, as much of the theater department is handson learning. When classes were moved online, all USD-hosted events were cancelled through the rest of the semester. These
Submitted Photo| The Volante USD’s production of Men on Boats was the last theater production of the spring semester due to COVID-19.
events included Ron L. Moyer One-Act Festival and The Drowsy Chaperone show. Next year, after in-person classes resume, the theater department will begin working on their first show, William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. This show, along with Angels and Demons, will be held in the arena. The first production sched-
uled for the new Knutson Theatre is A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, followed by A Man of No Importance. After that, the annual Ronald L. Moyer One-Act Festival will be held in the arena. The season will finish in the Knutson Theatre with She Kills Monsters and finally the bi-annual Spring Dance Showcase.
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THE VOLANTE
USD dog Instagram accounts create online community Lauren Johnson
Lauren.Johnson01@coyotes. usd.edu
Submitted Photo | The Volante Grant Schuchert, law student, started an Instagram account for his French bulldog, Delilah. The pair have been inseperable since they met.
Baker Kasey Jensen, a first-year sports marketing and media major, used to watch her neighbors’ Great Pyrenees. When her parents later let her get a dog, she already knew what kind she wanted. She later started her beloved Great Pyreness, Baker, an
Instagram account because she had seen other people making them. She said his personality was perfect for other people to watch. “When I was looking at Instagram, I had found an account that had three of these dogs,” Jensen said. “They were fun to watch on there because
Pet Instagrams are popular among celebrities such as Lady Gaga and Nick Jonas and now more pet owners are getting into this trend. This semester, The Volante featured multiple dog Instagram accounts — starring a Great Pyrenees, a French bulldog and a British labrador. These pups are just some of the online communi on campus at USD.
the dogs had hilarious personalities.” Jensen also said Baker’s style on Instagram is being fun and careless. “Baker tends to be lazy, but is a big sweetheart,” Jensen said. “All he wants to do is sleep outside and loves the snow. He is pretty much a polar bear.”
Delilah Grant Schuchert, a law student at USD, got his French Bulldog, Delilah when he returned home from working in Alaska last summer. He instantly felt a connection with her when they met and the pair has been inseparable since then, Schuchert said. “She goes everywhere with me,” Schuchert said. “Even when we go to bed she has to be sleeping underneath the covers by my
Submitted Photo | The Volante Baker is the pup of Kasey Jensen, a first-year sports marketing media major. He is a lazy sweetheart and loves the snow.
Chief
Submitted Photo | The Volante Molly Sheppard, USD alumna, started an Instagram for Chief to combine her passion for social media and photography with the love for her pup.
feet every night and halfway through the night she comes up to snuggle her head right next to mine.” Schuchert said he started an Instagram for Delilah because he wants to share her cuteness. “Getting Delilah was one of the best decisions of my life,” Schuchert. “I highly recommend people to get a dog and create an Instagram account for them.”
Molly Sheppard, a USD alumna, got her 10-month-old British labrador, Chief, from Double TT British Kennels out of Emporia, KS. Sheppard said in an email to The Volante she felt like Chief picked her the day they met. The reason behind starting Chief’s Instagram was to combine her passion for social media and photography with the love for
her pup, Sheppard said. “I love showing off his crazy quirks to everyone,” Sheppard said. “And it’s nice to keep all of his posts on his account so it doesn’t totally dominate my aesthetic for my business account.” Sheppard said Chief is a sassy, laid back, happy boy who loves going on walks and snuggling. “His Instagram always reflects the weird situations he gets
himself into or the fun stuff we make him do,” Sheppard said. “I am so glad we added him to our family because he completes us.” The three owners all said having an Instagram for a pet can be a way to watch them grow up and share their personalities with others. It’s also a way for people to join a growing community that brings dog owners on campus together.
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Oct.1 - DakotaDome Documentary released over D-Days The DakotaDome has been a staple of Vermillion and USD for the last 40 years and to honor that, USD’s marketing team created a documentary about the history of the Dome which premiered during Dakota Days week.
A Year
in
Nov. 2 - Women’s cross country places second in Summit League Championships USD had won the last five Summit League titles in women’s cross country, but couldn’t keep the streak alive this season. North Dakota State hosted the event and edged USD 45-48.
Nov. 16 - USD places second in Triathlon National Championships for second consecutive season
Review
Jan. 19 - USD dominates SDSU in mens’ basketball The Coyotes’ sluggish 2-3 start to conference play ended in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center in the second game of a doubleheader with SDSU. The Coyote men were one point shy of 100 in their 99-84 victory over the Jacks in front of 5,349 fans. The win ended a four-game winning streak for the Jacks against USD.
Feb. 21- Nilsen breaks NCAA record At the Nebraska Tune-up in Lincoln, Nebraska, Senior pole vaulter Chris Nilsen cleared 19 feet, 5 ½ inches to set the NCAA indoor record. Nilsen continued to win the Summit League title and qualify for the NCAA meet.
Feb. 22 - USD swim and dive teams place second to Denver in Summit League Championships
THE VOLANTE Leah Drendenberg became USD’s first All-American in triathlon with her third place finish in the college nationals meet in Tempe, Arizona. The Coyote placed runner-up for the second straight year with Arizona State winning the championship both years.
SPORTS | 19
Nov. 23- USD takes down SDSU For the first time since 2000, the Coyotes won a football game over SDSU, beating the Jacks 24-21 inside the DakotaDome. The Coyotes had lost 10 consecutive games against the Jackrabbits dating back to 2000. The Coyote defense stepped up in the fourth quarter to hold onto the win.
Dec. 17- Coyote Volleyball hosts NIVC Championship game The Coyote volleyball team made a perfect run through Summit League play with one regular-season loss, but falling to Omaha in the semifinals of the Summit League tournament kept them out of the NCAA Tournament. The Coyotes then hosted Georgia Tech in the NIVC Championship, falling to the Yellow Jackets 3-1.
Over the last year, Coyote athletics have continued their growth in the national spotlight. The volleyball team broke the school record for consecutive wins and hosted the NIVC Final. Chris Nilsen set a new NCAA record and the women’s basketball team was nationally ranked for the last two months of their season. Here is a look back at 10 of the most noteable moments in USD athletics over the last year.
For the third straight year, the USD men placed runner-up in the Summit League Swimming and Diving Championships. The women did the same for the second straight season. Denver won the title for both mens’ and womens’.
March 10- USD wins Summit League title and 30th win on the season The No. 17/11 Coyote women won their second Summit League title in school history over SDSU 63-58. The Coyote women swept SDSU for the season, winning all three matchups and earned the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
March 12- NCAA cancels winter and spring championships Basketball tournaments, track and field meets, softball and baseball tournaments, among other sports, had their NCAA tournaments canceled on March 12 due to COVID-19. USD’s womens’ basketball team was set to play in the NCAA Tournament. Five track and field athletes were scheduled to compete in the indoor NCAA Championship.
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The Coyote women’s basketball team ranked 11th in the USA today Coaches poll to end the their spring 2020 season.
Peyton Beyers | The Volante
Balancing act: Ranked basketball, nursing Bailey Zubke
Bailey.Zubke@coyotes.usd.edu
The Coyote women’s basketball team ranked 11th in the USA Today Coaches Poll and 17th in the Associated Press poll to end the season, but these student-athletes still find time to be students. Juniors Monica Arens and Claudia Kunzer are nursing majors. Both players joined the nursing program in February and play vital roles on the Coyote women’s basketball team. Arens and Kunzer have taken all but one class together since freshman year. Kunzer said Arens does a good job keeping her accountable. “Monica is usually telling me, ‘Claudia we need to go study.’ I’ll say, ‘Oh really are you sure, I gotta watch one more episode of my show,’ and she will say ‘No, we gotta go study,’” Kunzer said. “(Then I’ll say) ‘all right, let’s go study.’” Kunzer also said both players were aware of the time required to be a nursing major and athlete. “We know what we’re getting into when we decided we wanted to do the nursing program,” Kunzer said. “I think everyone around us, coach Plitzuweit, our nursing advisors, teammates and roommates, they’re all helping us. We have that mindset where we can do this. We know what’s going on.”
The Coyote women played 14 games away from Vermillion this season, five of which happened over winter break. Trips to Boston, Green Bay and Salt Lake City in the nonconference play take students out of school for multiple days depending on when the games are played. Kunzer and Arens agreed the professors at USD are understanding of the team’s travel and work with their schedules. “Honestly one of the best things about USD is the professors,” Kunzer said. “They’re here to help us. We miss a class, ‘Oh we’ll come meet with you, you need a time, tell us what time you need and we will come meet with you,’ so I think that’s what’s really special about USD.” Arens and Kunzer said head coach Dawn Plitzuweit recruits players who can work as hard off the court as they do on the court. “Coach Plitzuweit does a really good job of if we’ve been on the road for three days,” Arens said, “we’ll (the coaches) give you a day off to catch up on what you need to to get caught up with and then we’ll meet again the following day. She does a really good job of making sure we’re staying on top of things.” As the season comes to a close, both players said they know stakes are getting higher, but their school work never becomes an afterthought. “There’s things here and there
Peyton Beyers | The Volante Junior Monica Arens takes a shot against Missouri this fall. Arens and Kunzer have officially been accepted into the nursing program.
that you might procrastinate on a little bit, but I think that says a lot about our team,” Arens said. “We’re all so competitive that in any area, whether it’s school, relationships,
friendships or basketball, we want to be the best that we can be in every area of our life.”
THE VOLANTE
SPORTS | 21
Rising sophomore looks to build off freshman campaign Madilyn Sindelar
Madilyn.Sindelar@coyotes.usd.edu
Summit League Freshman of the Year, Elizabeth Juhnke, made an immediate impact when she joined the Coyote volleyball team last fall. The six-foot outside hitter from Lakeville, Minn. was a part of the 16-0 Summit League regular season team and led the Summit League with 520 kills. Juhnke said making an immediate impact was exactly what she wanted. “I had been working so hard in club and in high school to become the best player possible coming into college,” Juhnke said. “Having the opportunity to represent my school as a freshman and play as much as I did — I am very lucky but it also took a lot of work.” Most recently, Juhnke along with her teammates, sophomores Madison Jurgens and Lolo Weideman took part in the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryout at the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado in February. However, Juhnke was the sole Coyote named to the USA Volleyball U.S. Collegiate National Team-Anaheim Roster. Juhnke said this was an experience that was once in a lifetime. In Colorado Springs, she played alongside collegiate players from across the country. “We got the experience to play alongside some of the best players from these big schools which were a super cool opportunity that many people don’t get the chance to experience. ” She is one of 28 players selected on the team and plans to train in Anaheim June 2127 alongside the U.S. Women’s National Team. “I was just happy that I got the experience to go and play in front
of the USA coaches,” Juhnke said. “I was pretty excited to hear that I get to go out and play next to the Olympic team. I think it will be a really cool experience and I’m excited to represent (USD) out in California.” As of right now the team is still planning to play in California this summer, Juhnke said, but due to COVID-19 things could change. After coming off of a runner up NIVC finish the Coyotes are looking for another successful fall season Juhnke is confident in. However, preparing for the fall is looking different than it has in the past. “It’s a new season and for how great last year was it’s now time to focus on the 2020 season,” Juhnke said. “I think now with getting our spring season taken away it has become a little different because we are not able to be working on our volleyball skills.” The women’s volleyball team is focused on building relationships to have a strong connection to the court in August. “Building relationships with our teammates and doing what we can to get stronger,” Juhnke said. “It’s hard to do a lot right now with the situations we are in but it’s being creative and finding different ways to connect with each other.” Juhnke said she believes the close connections with her teammates are what drives them. “We all had the drive to win. Going into the season I don’t think I could’ve predicted the season we had. (My teammates) knew exactly how to get me out of my head if I was struggling and knew how to get me back on my game,” Juhnke said. “A huge thing for me as a player is my confidence and my teammates were really good at instilling confidence in me.”
Submitted Photo | The Volante Freshman Elizabeth Juhnke bumps the ball during a match this season. Juhnke qualified for the USA Volleyball U.S. Collegiate National Team-Anahiem roster.
2019 Season Statistics
34
34
Matches
Assists
520
.240
Kills
356 Digs
Hitting Percentage
87
Blocks
22 | SPORTS
volanteonline.com
Trio of Coyote seniors reach career milestone Bailey Zubke
Bailey.Zubke@coyotes.usd.edu
USD men’s head basketball coach Todd Lee sat down for a press conference following the Coyotes’ Jan. 19 99-84 win over South Dakota State visibly wet, but it wasn’t from sweat. “Total team win,” Lee said. “Hags (Tyler Hagedorn) gets to 1,000 points and that’s why I’m soaked. Because they (the team) gave Hagedorn a bath or water shower.” Tyler Hagedorn became the third Coyote starter to eclipse 1,000 career points in a 10 day stretch. Hagedorn joined Triston Simpson, Tyler Peterson and 46 others in the illustrious 1,000 point club. Simpson and Peterson joined the club on Jan. 11 when the Coyotes defeated Omaha 91-81. Each of these three stars have seen their successes grow through their time with the team.
Running the floor
Simpson, a Lincoln, Neb. native, started every game in the 2017-18 and 18-19 seasons. He also started the first seven games of this season before suffering an MCL injury in November. Simpson missed the remainder of non-conference play (seven games) before returning to action on Dec. 29 against Western Illinois. Three games later, inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center, Simpson scored his 1,000th career point against Omaha. Simpson played his first game without a knee brace on Sunday against South Dakota State, where he scored 21 points. Simpson’s performance earned him praise from SDSU head coach Eric Henderson. “Everyone talks about Hags, everyone talks about (Stanley) Umude and rightfully so,” Henderson said. “They’re very good
players but the most important player on this team might be Triston Simpson. A lot of Coyote fans would probably agree with me.”
Mr. Reliable
Peterson is from Lino Lakes, Minn. He became a starter midway through the 2017-18 season. He has started all but one game since. Peterson scored his 1,000th career point later in the same game as Simpson. Peterson tallied 18 points against SDSU, a new career-best. Peterson has also been shooting at a better percentage than any previous season at USD.
Hags Prevails
Hagedorn, a native of Norfolk, Neb., redshirted the 2018-19 season due to a foot injury. During his junior year, Hagedorn lived in the shadow of Matt Mooney. After leaving for Texas Tech for his final year of
eligibility, Mooney is now with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. Hagedorn decided to stick around and the decision is paying off. Early in the first half of the game against South Dakota State, where Hagedorn tallied 24 points, he reached the 1,000 point milestone. “It’s been a long, up and down, weird career I’ve had but I’ve loved being here the whole time,” Hagedorn said. “I really love all the teammates I’ve got to play with and it’s really cool I’ve got family here that got to see that. But the best part about it is we got to come away with a win against the Jacks.” Lee said he was not aware of Hagedorn eclipsing that milestone until the locker room celebration following the game, but he also praised all three seniors who have reached the milestone in the last 10 days.
Freshman quarterback gets early start with team Bailey Zubke
Bailey.Zubke@coyotes.usd.edu
Graduating early from high school was important for USD freshman quarterback Carson Camp. He graduated this fall from Normal Community West High School near Bloomington, Illinois so he could start at USD this spring. Camp said he hoped by getting to USD this spring and working with his teammates over the spring and summer, he would have a better chance to win the starting job at quarterback next season. “I think it was a great opportunity I needed to take,” Camp said. “I felt like if I did a good job in spring ball, I felt like going into summer I could be at a good pace to compete for the job as a freshman.” Camp started film sessions and weight training along with classes in January and said it was an adjustment for him. He had to get used to college life and had to start new in the middle of the school year. He said it was a struggle to make
friends since everyone else had already found their friend groups, but he didn’t let it bother him. The Coyotes have welcomed Camp to their team, but he said he is still out to prove himself. “The football guys were always respectable, but they didn’t know who I was, just a kid from central Illinois trying to fit in and trying to get with the program,” Camp said. “That was kind of hard from a social aspect, but it didn’t affect me a lot. I’m starting to make friends and a lot of the guys are starting to respect me.” Camp has worked with the receivers and other quarterbacks to build up chemistry and learn the playbook. He gave credit to Tyler Tsagalis and Jakob Parks for helping him with the playbook. With quarterback Austin Simmons graduating this spring, Camp said the rest of the quarterback room all knows only one of them gets to take the field next season. However, he said, there is no tension amongst them. “We (the quarterback room) are
jelling for the most part,” Camp said. “We know what the stakes are, that one player is on the field, but we all respect each other. We all know that everything’s a grind.” Even though Camp only lived in Vermillion for half a semester before COVID-19 shut down the facilities on campus, he said he misses Vermillion as a whole. Camp also said he misses the encouragement from head strength and conditioning coach Clete McLeod. “I just really miss coach McLeod yelling at me,” Camp said. “Him coaching me up and making sure my technique is good. He’s a great weight room coach and a guy who cares for his players.” The Coyotes’ 2020 season is set to kick-off Sept. 5 in Ames, Iowa against Iowa State. The home opener for the Coyotes is Sept. 19 against Missouri Valley Conference foe Missouri State. “I’m ready to take this program to an elite level,” Camp said. “I know that starts by getting the job first, but hopefully by the time that comes, we’ll win some championships,
playoffs, whatever you want to call it. We’ll be an elite program by the end of my senior year.”
Submitted Photo | The Volante Freshman Carson Camp got a jump start on his time with the Coyotes this spring.
THE VOLANTE
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On both sides of the net: Coaching, caretaking Bailey Zubke
Bailey.Zubke@coyotes.usd.edu
Mothering three young children and managing a team of 17 young adults requires the same elements: work, time and dedication. USD head volleyball coach Leanne Williamson wears both hats. Williamson found herself on the road almost every weekend for the first month of the 2019 season, away for non-conference volleyball tournaments. Her husband was overseas serving the country during that time. Williamson has led a 31-2 Coyote volleyball team to its first regular-season Summit League title, as well as a runner-up finish in the NIVC tournament. “I’d love to say it was easy, but it wasn’t, it’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Williamson said. When work and home collide Williamson became the head coach of the Coyote volleyball team in 2014. Since taking the reigns, she has seen her fair share of success with a 122-57 overall record and a 7022 record in Summit League play. Williamson won the 2016 Summit League Coach of the Year award and led the Coyotes to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018, but she said she doesn’t take the credit for it all. “This is their team, it’s not my program,” Williamson said. “I’m a small part of it in the grand scheme of things. I’m going to help them, I’m going to be their biggest advocates.” Williamson, like most coaches, recruit players who can lead, but Williamson coaches to help her players lead themselves. In the middle of that first season, Williamson was pregnant with her first two children, twins Jaxson and Logan. Williamson presented the team at the time with a question, and they responded
the way she hoped. “I was going to go into labor at some point in time and I just asked them, ‘what are you going to do if I’m all of a sudden not there one day?’” Williamson said. “They’re like, ‘well, no offense but you don’t play the game,’ and we’re like, ‘perfect.’ That’s what we (the coaching staff ) wants, and I don’t feel like I’m bigger than I need to be. I am a small part of their program.” Kinsley, Williamson’s youngest at less than a year old, has traveled with the Coyotes throughout the season, making her first appearance in Indianapolis on Aug. 30. While Williamson’s husband, Tyler, was overseas, she carried the parenting workload alone until late October, when he returned from duty. Leanne Williamson said while it is the hardest thing she has ever done, it is also one of the most rewarding things. She would have loved for her husband to be in Vermillion for the majority of the season, she said, but she understood. “I really tried to leave work at work,” Williamson said. “If I was watching film it was when the kids were sleeping and just things like that. The other thing is, I had a great support system.” Williamson’s parents and in-laws, along with friends and coaches, helped her through the first part of this season. The team was there for her, too, just like in 2014. They recognized Williamson’s life outside of the arena and were helpful and understanding when she had to leave right after practice, she said. “I wouldn’t say I was perfect in that situation, but I tried not to let stress affect the different parts of my life,” Williamson said.
The 1-0 Mentality
Each coach different style,
presents a method or
Peyton Beyers | The Volante
Head coach Leanne Williamson watches her team during a match this fall. The Coyotes won 31 games this season under Williamson’s direction.
mentality to the sport they coach. For Williamson, it’s simple: 1-0. “She’s always said that about just winning the day, winning this practice, winning this drill,” senior libero Anne Rasmussen said. “I think that does get implemented into our practices. We talked about, how can we be the best we can be that day, and how can we improve that day?” Rasmussen said the mentality helped throughout the season, easing pressure surrounding the win streak or how far they have left to go in the season. The 1-0 Mentality has taken the Coyotes further and further nearly every season. Williamson acknowledges it can be easy to dissect the big picture or the past, but the focus should be on the 1-0. “I think in sports it’s very easy to dwell on past accomplishments, past struggles, past losses, past wins,” Williamson said. “If you’re winning a lot, you can feel like you’re just going to win because you have won a lot. But if you have a loss, if you
have a bad game maybe as an individual, you start dwelling on that.” The mental ability to clean the slate is one of the best parts about Williamson as a coach, Rasmussen said. “She’s remained pretty steady, whether we’re losing a ton or winning a ton, through my four years here,” Rasmussen said. “She’s always been that steady presence. She’s always held us to a high standard. And that doesn’t change with our win-loss record. She knows what we’re trying to reach, we know what she expects us to reach, and every day in the gym we show that.” A few years ago, Williamson began referring to goals as expectations. The team is aware of the expectations, and that they are attainable through 1-0 mentality, she said. “Not that we’re going to hit absolutely everything, but we don’t want these to feel lofty,” Williamson said. “We want these to feel like something that is attainable every single year.”