April 14, 2021 by SDSU Collegian

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April 14, 2021

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A HELPING HAND FOR THE LAND Spruce Up SDSU volunteers help clean up community

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PRECISION AG College of Agriculture, Food and Enviornmental Sciences’ new building will be the ﬁrst in the world for research on new agriculture technologies.

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DRAG SHOW Residence Hall Program Committee hosted a drag show alongside the Gender and Sexualities Alliance and the Oﬃce of Multicultural Aﬀairs.

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April 14, 2021

NEWS

Students’ Association swears in new leadership, senate body J. MICHAEL BERTSCH Managing Editor (He/Him) Students’ Association President Hattie Seten took the podium for the last time during the April 12 meeting as SA transitioned to the 2021-22 Senate body. “I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as Students’ Association President in a year unlike any other, and I am proud of the senators who served campus,” Seten said. After a year of service, the 2020-21 Senate is now officially done with its term and the newly elected president, vice-president and senators were sworn in at the end of the meeting. But the 2020-21 Senate made sure to ﬁnish strong, passing seven items and presenting four awards. This includes a resolution in favor of allowing Introduction to Global Citizenship and Diversity (AHSS-111) to fulfill a General Education

requirement, as well as two ordinances and three amendments which change SA’s rules and bylaws. The last order of business for the Senate was to officially approve the General Budget for Fiscal Year 2022. The Students’ Association Finance Committee recommended a total allocation of $415,335 for student organizations, clubs and programs. Most of the organizations funded by this budget saw a decrease in funding from FY21 to FY22, but some, like the School of Performing Arts, saw an allocation increase of $11,000 for FY22. After approval of the budget by the Senate, Pres. Seten and Vice Pres. Reis Bruley welcomed the new president, Andrew Rasmussen, and vice president, Rachel Schöön to the podium for the oﬃcial transition of power, a moment the two have been eagerly awaiting

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since the election. “Rachel and I are excited and optimistic about this exciting new term on the Students’ Association,” Rasmussen said. “We have established a variety of goals we will strive to accomplish and look forward to working with our campus partners to make them a reality.” After swearing in the recently elected Senate, Rasmussen and Schöön approved the new executive board, a group of four students in addition to the president and vice president that oversee different areas of SA operations. The 2021-22 executive board is: Blake Pulse as Chief of Staff, Kordell Feldhaus as Finances Chair, Anna Shane as Government Affairs Chair and Lindsey Moser as Communications Chair. “I personally look forward to building upon the relationship of SA and the campus community to make SDSU the best place it can be,” Rasmussen said.

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Collegian photo by HOLLIE LEGGETT (SHE/HER) Andrew Rasmussen is sworn as Student Association president by former President, Hattie Seten.

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NEWS

April 14, 2021

South Dakota College Republicans to hold state convention GRIFFIN TONSAGER Copy Editor (He/Him) South Dakota’s College Republicans (CR) chapters will hold their annual convention at South Dakota State University Saturday, April 17 to elect a new executive board for the organization. Delegates sent from statewide university chapters will elect this new executive board and vote on amendments to their constitution. These elections and amendments will affect all CR chapters across the state. College Republican chapters will send up to seven delegates to

Saturday’s convention to participate in the forum and proceedings. The chapters expect delegates from chapters including Northern State, Augustana, University of Sioux Falls, School of Mines and Black Hills State. In addition to these standard procedures, the convention will host a legislative forum featuring guests such as Congressman Dusty Johnson and Public Utility Commissioners Kristie Fiegen and Chris Nelson, among other invited legislators. The convention will be held in the McFadden Biostress Lab on SDSU’s

campus and will be a relative return to normalcy for the convention, as last year’s event was held virtually. The convention is open to all students and can be attended in person or virtually by contacting your respective CR chapter. “We’re excited to be getting back into the groove of having in-person events where we can safely get to see each other and about some of our successes that we’ve had as College Republicans in the state,” said Brock Brown, this year’s CR convention chairman. The two SDSU stu-

dents who are running for statewide positions with CRs are Rachel Schöön, a junior communications and political science double major running for reelection as the statewide treasurer, and Holly Tofte, a sophomore political science major running for reelection as the statewide secretary. “I’ve really enjoyed the position and the responsibility that comes with it,” Schöön said. “We have a lot of high achievers in this organization, and it has been the most helpful club that I have ever been involved in as far as professional development goes.” Preceding the conven-

tion will be the annual Lincoln Day Dinner at the Swiftel Center Friday, April 16. The dinner will serve as a kind of social for South Dakota Republicans in the Brookings area and CR members the day before the convention. The Lincoln Day Dinner will be emceed by Sen. V.J. Smith (R-Brookings) and several statewide Republican leaders will be in attendance. The dinner will be open for anyone who would like to attend, and tickets to the event can be purchased through the Brookings County Republicans.

These two events will be the extent of the CRs 2021 statewide meeting. “We’re excited to facilitate the election of the new executive board, as well as bring in some speakers and allow members and delegates to have the opportunity to hear from some statewide elected officials … to get a better understanding of what it means to be a College Republican,” Brown said.

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SUBMITTED South Dakota State University’s chapter of College Republicans is one of six chapters to attend Saturday’s convention.

NEWS

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April 14, 2021

New Precision Ag building anticipated to open in June EMILY MATEJKA Reporter Construction of the Raven Precision Agriculture Center is tentatively set to finish this June, allowing the first classes to be held there in fall 2021. The completion of the building will allow South Dakota State University the world’s first building dedicated to one of the agriculture industry’s fastest-growing technologies. Classrooms in the building will provide space for agricultural and biosystems engineering courses, but the facility will also house classroom space for general university classes, according to Van Kelley, department head of the agricultural and biosystems engineering department. It is anticipated that about 2,500 students will make their way through the building each day. “I expect we will see a lot of growth in response to this building,” Kelley said. “Once we’re able to invite prospective students and their families to come through the building, they’ll see all the various types of labs they’ll participate in, and I think it will be a very good recruiting tool for the university.” M a r k S a n d a g e r, director of development for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, said the $46 million structure will be the first building in the world dedicated to research

in precision agriculture and will feature some of the newest agricultural technologies. Some of these amenities include an auditorium-style classroom that will have the capability to house a skid loader into class for observation and teaching. A n o t h e r f e a t u re includes a full-sized chassis dynamometer that will have the capability to run machinery while observing the engine and measuring drivetrain output. There will also be a shop with the space to hold a combine, a shop with heated ﬂoors, teaching labs, research labs, Mesonet weather station technologies and full-size GPS computer mapping monitors. But according to Kelley, the backbone of the building’s intent is the opportunity to create a collaborative space for faculty, students and the industry. Part of this will be accomplished by combining the agronomy and agricultural engineering departments. “We wanted to bring together the agronomy faculty and the agricultural engineering faculty and get them offices literally side by side where they’re going to coffee together and seeing each other in the hall,” Kelley said. “They’ll have these new formal conversations so that we create an innovation center around precision agriculture.” When considering the need for a faculty collab-

orative space, Kelley said he also worked closely with architects to create collaborative spaces for students. These spaces and features also will allow industry partners the chance to connect with students and the future of precision ag. “If students are working or collaborating with the industry on a particular independent study, we also have some small cubicles that we can reserve so that students can have a regular place for their team to meet if they are collaborating with industry,” Kelley said. “We really focused on trying to get students connected to industry, as well as each other.” Industry partnerships were one of the biggest driving factors for the funding and implementation of the Raven Precision Ag Building. SDSU established the first four-year precision ag program in the country in 2016. Sandager said this has been a big incentive for agricultural companies to invest in the building and stay connected with the SDSU precision ag program. Raven Industries Inc., a Sioux Falls-based precision agriculture company, led industry donations with $5 million, earning them a spot in the building’s title.

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SUBMITTED The interior of the new Raven Precision Agriculture Center, which is still under construction.

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SPRUCE UP

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April 14, 2021

Students work to clean up campus after winter months campus they call home. “As the snow melts and the spring winds blow, this trash becomes highly visible,” McLaughlin said. Students, faculty and “‘Spruce Up SDSU Day’ student organizations is a great way to come gathered April 13 for the together as a Jackrabbit twelfth annual “Spruce community to keep our Up SDSU Day” where campus clean.” Students had the they cleaned the sidewalks, parking lots and opportunity to sign up as a student organization or lawns across campus. As South Dakota as an individual group. State University starts to These groups were then warm up, the trash and assigned a section of garbage left behind from campus to pick up trash, the winter months has which included Jackrabbit started piling up, leaving Village, the greenspace the campus a little rough. outside the Wellness Event coordinator and Center, Southeast parking SDSU’s Sustainability lot and around various S p e c i a l i s t Je n n i f e r classroom buildings. Hannah Owens, a McLaughlin said that the event continues on freshman graphic design major, was one 1:22 of the so take [Titlestudents of Show] Adcan (9.75x5) COL.qxp_Layout 1 4/6/21 PM part in improving the people who didn’t sign up BROCK BROWN & GRACIE TERRALL Reporter & News Editor

with a group, but rather chose to independently sign up to help clean. “I’m a student living on campus, so I am sure I have added to some of the trash that’s out here, even if not intentionally,” she said. “I’m just cleaning up after my own mess.” According to McLaughlin, organizations like TRIO, Greek Life chapters, faculty and services staff also participated in cleaning up campus. Events like this have been held in the past, with the first starting in 2009. Lewis Brown, then the dean of the College of Engineering, started a “Spruce Up SDSU Day” to rid the campus of the garbage Page 1 left over from winter. Today, the event is run by

Collegian photo by GRACIE TERRALL (She/Her) Hannah Owens and Tessa Holiens were among those who helped clean up around campus, picking up litter in front of Thorne Hall.

Facilities and Services. “I think it’s important to be involved in the place that you’re living in and to be a part of making that place better,” Tessa Holiens, a freshman interior design major, said. “It’s really important

to foster the good community. Anything I can do to make SDSU better is a very welcome opportunity.” Holiens accompanied Owens in picking up trash outside of Thorne Hall. They both expressed the

importance of the SDSU community helping make campus a better place, and the importance of leaders following through on their commitments to do so. Read full story online at sdsucollegian.com

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Drag show introduces students to queer culture JORDAN RUSCHE Lifestyles Editor (She/Her)

Collegian photo by HOLLIE LEGGETT (She/Her)

The Residence Hall Program Committee hosted a night of song, dance and drag in the Volstroff Ballroom April 7. Sponsored by groups like the Gender and Sexualities Alliance (GSA) and Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA), the drag show was part of RHPC’s “Back in Da Club” event series, both to offer more entertainment to students and to help OMA with some of their scheduled events. “ We k n ew t h a t (Florencio Aranda) was gone, and they don’t have a director of OMA, or they just have an acting director, so we asked if our committee could jump in and help them out,” said Brian Dominguez, one of the coordinators for RHPC and the organizer of the drag show. Dominguez and Bailey Biegler, the president of GSA, were both impressed by the event’s turnout. According to Dominguez, about 60 people signed up for the event ahead of time and over 100 arrived in person, with another 15 online. “We almost filled the room,” Biegler said. “Brian’s group did a good job putting up posters and getting the word out.” Those in attendance, like interior design major Chloé Speas, expressed their enjoyment of the event and hoped the school would continue to sponsor events like it. “I thought this event was a really fun way to liven up the end of the

semester,” Speas said. “It was really energetic and really respectful but a fun way to have a party.” One of the performers, who goes by the stage name Domita Sanchez, said she enjoys performing for younger audiences who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend shows. “This is my third or

to minimize spread. However, Biegler thinks RHPC, the performers and those in attendance followed protocols well by wearing masks and face shields and following capacity guidelines. “While people were nervous, and I was nervous as well regarding everything being COVID-19 safe, I went in

“It’s a mindless type of event where you can go and feel celebrated and celebrate some queer culture and learn about queer culture,” BRIAN DOMINGUEZ Area Coordinator fourth college event, and I think it’s just great to bring drag and entertainment into the college setting because we usually perform in bars and those places, and those are only 21+,” she said. Biegler said drag shows held by South Dakota State University are generally well received by students and the Brookings community. “Everybody enjoys the drag shows that we have,” she said. “It’s a very popular event, and that is typically our big event for the year.” GSA has put on their own drag shows in the past, usually with the support of OMA. This year is the ﬁrst time a drag show has been hosted by a group other than GSA. Biegler said she and other members of GSA were nervous at ﬁrst to do the show during the pandemic, as the nature of the show made it challenging

knowing the people who put this together … they are COVID-conscious as well,” she said. Hosting drag shows on campus does more than provide entertainment, however. Dominguez said events like the drag show allow students to be themselves without feeling their identity is being confronted or threatened. “It’s a mindless type of event where you can go and feel celebrated and celebrate some queer culture and learn about queer culture,” he said. Biegler also thinks the drag shows on campus allow students a chance to experience and interact with something new. “A lot of people who first come to college, especially that live in South Dakota, have never experienced a drag show before,” she said. “It’s this experience that you hear about, but you’ve never seen it … so it’s really

important that we have those events on campus so that people who haven’t experienced that before, whether they are a part of the LGBTQ+ community or not, going to a drag show is something you need to experience.” Mikko Blaze, another performer at the show, agreed that having drag shows on college campuses allows students to learn about other groups of people. “It builds community first of all, but it’s also an opportunity for people to get exposure to different types of lifestyles,” he said. “At the end of the day, doing drag is all love and it’s all about expression.” RHPC plans to finish out the “Back in Da Club” series with Dark Roast Comedy Coffee House with Brent Pella at 7:30 p.m., April 14 in the Hobo Hangout in Pierson Hall, followed by Mentalist Sean Bott performing at 7:15 p.m., April 30 in the Volstroff Ballroom. Though GSA doesn’t have any more events planned this year, Biegler said with the approval of October as LGBTQ History Month last semester, the organization has begun discussing possible events to tie into the celebration next fall. “We would probably plan our drag show to be around then,” she said. “I know there were ideas being shot around for hiring speakers, because they are really popular in the Multicultural Center.”

April 14, 2021

LIFESTYLES

Collegian photos by HOLLIE LEGGETT (She/Her) The RHPC hosted a drag show in the Volstroff Ballroom April 7.

LIFESTYLES

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April 14, 2021

10-year CAFES tradition honors contributors to agriculture SAMANTHA ANDERSON Reporter The 10th annual Ag Day is set for April 22, and this year’s theme focuses on being “ag proud” and sustainability in the future. “We worked really hard as an executive team, and we really want to be able to spread agricultural awareness and agriculture literacy on our campus, as it is something that’s really near and dear to a lot of our hearts,” Ag Day chair Abby Mueller said. As deﬁned by PREXY Council Vice President Ally Ringeisen, sustainability is “growing crops or raising animals in a way ... that leaves (the land) the same, if not better, for future generations.” This year’s event is geared around sustainability because it is topical in today’s society, and it isn’t something that is going to go away any time soon, Ringeisen said. She thinks the problem does not just lie in a farmer’s absence of using sustainable practices, but also in neglecting to publicize and explain the sustainable practices that they are already using. The main event for this year’s Ag Day is an industry expert panel

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presentation addressing the topic of sustainability set to take place in the Student Union’s Volstorﬀ Ballroom East from 6-7:45 p.m. The panel includes South Dakota residents who have shown promising efforts to conserve and sustain farmland. Two of the panelists are recipients of t h e E nv i ro n m e n t a l St ewa rd s h i p Awa rd Program - Lyle Perman of Lowry, South Dakota, and Brian and Jamie Johnson of Frankfort, South Dakota. Jared Knock of Willow Lake, South Dakota also will be speaking about his involvement in conservation-minded agriculture while working at Millborn Seeds. Fo l l ow i n g the panel, there will be a short awards ceremony revealing this year’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental S c i e n c e s Ad vo c a t e , CAFES Teacher of the Year and CAFES Club of the Year. As a campus that already embraces agriculture, Ag Day allows SDSU students – especially those in CAFES– to show their passion for agriculture with others on campus and ultimately come

together with a common goal of advocating for the agricultural industry. All CAFES students are asked to wear their Ag Proud T-shirts on Ag Day. Last year’s Ag Proud T-shirts and this year’s “Sustaining the Future” stickers will be available for CAFES students to pick up Tuesday, April 20, in Berg Ag Hall 156 and in the Animal Science lobby from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., as well as at the Ag Day event Thursday evening. There will also be tabling in the Union by a variety of CAFES clubs. “You know I’m really proud of our students for adapting to the current times and making adjustments on the ﬂy … but yet sticking to their values about what events are important to them,” PREXY Council adviser Mary Christensen said. Ag Day was started 10 years ago to help combat negativity toward agriculture on campus. The PREXY Council executive team decided to host an event that told a positive story about agriculture and use it as an opportunity to educate the campus community, Christensen said. Unlike past years where a meal was provided with the main

The Collegian is the independent student newspaper at South Dakota State University in Brookings, S.D. The Collegian is published by and for South Dakota State University students under the First Amendment guarantees of free speech and a free press. Opinions expressed on these pages are not necessarily those of the student body, faculty, staﬀ or administration. The Collegian is published weekly on Wednesday during the academic year of SDSU.

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speaking event, this year will look different in order to comply with COVID-19 protocol. Plans include limiting the in-person capacity at the event to 100 students who will enter on a firstcome-first-serve basis. Those unable to attend the in-person event

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are encouraged to watch on Zoom. Ag Day has become a favored tradition and legacy on the SDSU campus, said Christensen, who has watched the tradition unfold. It’s turned into something that those PREXY Council members never realized would

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happen at the time that they planned the first event. “Come on out, bring your friends or Zoom in,” Mueller said. “It’s going to be a great event.”

Letters to the Editor Send letters to letters@ sdsucollegian.com or to USU 069 Box 2815, Brookings, S.D. 57006. You can also post comments online at www.sdsucollegian.com. Please keep to less than 250 words.

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OPINION

April 14, 2021

EDITORIAL Issue: It’s okay to be cautious, but please still get vaccinated It was announced Tuesday by the CDC and FDA that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine distribution has been put on pause because of reports of blood clots within certain individuals. Because of this, South Dakota State University has canceled the third vaccine clinic for April 14, which would have used J&J vaccines. The previous two clinics that took place March 24 and 30 also used J&J vaccines. While this is certainly something that needs to be looked into, it’s important to remember that only a very small percentage of those who received the vaccine have suffered from this condition. Only six out of the 6.8 million people

who have received the vaccine have experienced blood clotting. By that percentage, people are more at risk for blood clots while using birth control than the J&J vaccine. Even though the possibility of these effects may seem alarming at first, it should not be a reason to skip all forms of the COVID-19 vaccine. So far, the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are reportedly safe. It makes sense that during the emergency rollout of all three vaccines, if there were to be something faulty with one, officials would take extra precautions and diligently review the vaccine before allowing the public to receive it

again. Just because they are being cautious does not mean we need to be afraid of all COVID-19 vaccines. It’s also important to continue getting vaccinated to help slow the spread of COVID-19. To reach herd immunity and get back to some form of normal, it is imperative that people get vaccinated. Experts have said that if 70-90% of people are vaccinated against COVID-19, people would start to build up immunity. For those who haven’t gotten their vaccine yet, the Brookings Health System is hosting a vaccine clinic for the twodose Moderna vaccine April 15 and April 22. SDSU students are encouraged to sign up for these clinics so they can still

receive their shot. Symptoms for possible blood clotting due to the J&J vaccine include headaches, abdominal pain, leg pain and shortness of breath. If anyone received the J&J vaccine in the last three weeks and is experiencing similar symptoms, they are advised to contact their medical physicians. The Collegian Editorial Board meets weekly and agrees on the issue of the editorial. The editorial represents the opinion of The Collegian.

The Collegian 4/14/21 Crossword

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

an 3/31/21 Sudoku

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To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

1 2

6 8 2

3 4 1 2

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Solution

Across 1 Disfigure 4 Uncertain 8 Highlander 12 Dutch East Indies island 13 On the ____ 14 Harmonium 16 Leave 17 Voiced 18 Indochinese peninsula 19 It. river 21 Balmy 23 Ooze 24 Fr. bud 25 ____ Khayyam 27 Astern 29 Twosome 30 Brazilian port 31 Beverage 34 Redo a lawn 37 Take the count 38 Possess 39 Pain 40 Saltwater fish 41 Elderly 42 Haggard novel

43 After spark or fire 45 Signature witness 47 Mortar box 48 Decompose 49 Signature witness 50 Costello, for one 51 Shame 52 Circulars 55 Indifferent 58 Work hard 60 Small three-masted vessel 62 Love (It.) 64 Regrettably 66 Titaness 67 More expansive 68 Carryall 69 Lacerated 70 Zest 71 Let it stand! 72 Before (Poet.) Down 1 Saying 2 Excuse 3 Ritual 4 Wedding words 5 Arrange

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Across

1 12

4 13

8 14

11 15

1 Disfigure 4 Uncertain 17 18 16 6 Panache 7 Scream 8 Highlander 21 22 23 19 20 8 Cry 12 Dutch East 25 26 27 28 24 Indies island 9 Impudence 13 On the ____ 10 Fiend 29 30 31 32 33 14 Harmonium 11 Docile 37 38 34 35 36 16 Leave 12 Gr. 17 letter Voiced 40 41 39 15 Snooze 18 Indochinese 43 44 45 46 42 peninsula 20 Debauchee 19 It. river 22 Pulpit 48 49 47 21 Balmy 26 School type, 50 51 52 53 54 23 Ooze for short 24 Fr. bud 58 59 60 61 55 56 57 28 Enemy 25 ____ Khayyam 64 65 66 62 63 27 Astern 29 Scot. river 29 Twosome 30 Fishing gear 68 69 67 30 Brazilian port 31 Robe 70 71 72 31 Beverage 32 Pitcher 34 Redo a lawn Copyright ©2021 PuzzleJunction.com 33 Rooney orthe Gibb 37 Take count 62 sophia Love (It.) 9 Impudence 40 Write out 38 Possess 34 Reckless Aviator 10 Fiend 64 51 Regrettably 41 Consumed 39 Pain 35 Reverberation 66 52 Titaness 11 Docile 43 Affirmative 40 Saltwater fish Loathe 36 Outbuilding 67 53 More expansive 12 Gr. letter 44 Oaf 41 Elderly Tractor name 37 Record 68 Carryall 15 Snooze 45 Brazil, for one 42 Haggard novel 54 Glance over 40 Write out spark or 69 Lacerated 20 Debauchee 46 Cameo stone 43 After 55 Power tool 70 Zest 22 Pulpit 49 Distend fire 41 Cosumed 71 56 LetLeave it stand!out 26 School type, 50 Two Women 45 Signature 43 Affirmative 72 57 Before for short actress Sophia witness Soft(Poet.) drink 44 Oaf47 Mortar box 28 Enemy 51 Aviator 59 Grains 45 Brazil, for one Down 52 Loathe 48 Decompose 61 Fem. suffix 29 Scot. river 46 Cameo stone 30 Fishing gear 53 Tractor name 49 Sand feature Energy unit31 Robe 1 63 Saying 54 Glance over 50 Costello, for 49 Distend 65 Congeal 32 Pitcher 55 Power tool one 50 Two Women actress 2 Excuse 3 Ritual 33 Rooney or 56 Leave out 51 Shame 4 Wedding words Gibb 57 Soft drink 52 Circulars 34 Reckless 59 Grains 5 Arrange 55 Indifferent 6 Panache 35 Reverberation 61 Fem. suffix 58 Work hard 36 Outbuilding 63 Energy unit 7 Scream 60 Small three8 Cry 37 Record 65 Congeal masted vessel

A10 OPINION

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April 14, 2021

Plan ahead for loan payments post-graduation LORNA SABOEWOUNDED HEAD Family Resource Management Field Specialist, SDSU Extension (She/Her)

In one month, approximately one-fourth of South Dakota State University students will graduate. As you work toward securing your first professional job, now is also the time to review your student loan situation. For federal loans, you have a grace period of six months after graduation before you need to make your first payment. For private loans, the grace period may be different. Whether you have a few months or longer to make the ﬁrst payment, now is the time to assess your situation. Check the balance of your loan For anyone who has federal student loans, your go-to website is Federal Student Aid. Your log-on for this site is the same you have used to complete the FAFSA. From this site, you can check the balance on your

federal loans. Each year you borrowed will have a new loan listed. The interest rate for each loan may be different because it is set each year. Check monthly payment amount and when the first payment is due Because you will most likely have multiple loans listed, you need to add all the payments for the loans to learn what you will have to pay each month. All federal loans have a six-month grace period, so the first payment will be due in November if your graduate date is May. For more information, listen to the podcast Challenges to Repayment. Review repayment plans Where things get confusing are all the different repayment plans. Everyone starts with the traditional repayment plan. You will make 120 monthly payments (10 years) of the same amount until the loan is repaid. This is the least expensive option in terms of the amount of interest that you will pay on the loan, but probably has the highest monthly payment. If you know that you

can’t afford the traditional repayment plan amount, then you need to consider the other options for repayment plans that are described on this site. You will see examples of the cost (amount of interest you pay) of the loan. If you haven’t secured a job and don’t know what your income will be in November, learn about your options, then revisit once you have more information about your financial situation. For more information, listen to the podcast Steps to Loan Repayment. Don’t forget about private loans Everything that has been covered so far relates to federal student loans. If you have private loans, you need to check the balance of the loan, learn what your monthly payment will be and when your first payment is due from the specific lender. You have probably received monthly statements ever since you received the loan. Private loans do not have the same flexibility with repayment plans as federal loans do. If you have both private and

federal loans, you will need to make payments to both. If you have private loans from more than one ﬁnancial institution, you will have to make a payment to each. Loan consolidation Consolidation combines all loans into one new loan and recalculates an average interest rate. Your payment amount may be the same. If you have a wide range of interest rates, consolidation is a good idea because you can most likely lower the interest rate and save money on the cost of the loan. To consolidate federal loans, look for information on the Federal Student Aid website. For more information, listen to the podcast Loan Consolidation. Never consolidate federal student loans and private student loans together. Federal loans have more repayment flexibility. You lose any beneﬁts provided by federal loans once you consolidate. For example, in the past year, loan holders have received an interest rate of zero due to the pandemic. Any federal loans that were consolidated into private loans did not get that treatment.

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April 14, 2021

A11

A12

April 14, 2021

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SPORTS

Dakota Marker game set for this weekend

GOJACKS.COM Running back Pierre Strong Jr. had 124 rushing yards in the game against Youngstown State, marking a new season high for him.

SKYLER JACKSON Sports Reporter (He/Him) A share of the Missouri Va l l e y Fo o t b a l l Conference title and the Dakota Marker is at stake this weekend as South Dakota State heads to Fargo to take on North Dakota State. The game was initially set to take place April 3, but was postponed because of a positive COVID-19 test in the Bison program. The No. 4 Jackrabbits

(4-1) are heading into this game after a three-week break, with last week’s game against USD being canceled because of the Coyotes’ pandemic issues. The second-ranked Bison (6-1) got back on the field last Saturday against Northern Iowa. Over the extended time away from the field, the Jacks are now wellrested and healthy, but coach John Stiegelmeier is concerned about rust. “Not having tackled, not having blocked live a whole lot, those things

that are fundamentals in the game,” Stiegelmeier said. “I think the mental part of the game we’re fine with because we’ve had so much time, and we’re healthier than we’ve ever been.” Stiegelmeier mentioned that the break also gave his team a chance to further prepare for the Bisons. “We’ve always called a bye week an improvement week,” Stiegelmeier said. “Don’t go out to practice just to practice. Have a mission for every day and

explain that to the players, so they see it develop during practice.” For the third-ranked offense in the Missouri Valley, SDSU will rely on true freshman quarterback Mark Gronowski to get the Jacks past NDSU’s defense, ranked second in the Valley For Gronowski, this will be the most significant start of his young college career to date. “Bottom line is he’ll have some nerves,” Stiegelmeier said. “I’ll be nervous. Hopefully, we’re

not too nervous to make the right decisions and make the right plays.” Running back Pierre Strong Jr. will also start. In the Jackrabbit’s last game against Western Illinois, Strong didn’t suit up because of an injury. D e f e n s ive l y, t h e Jackrabbits head into the game with the third best scoring defense in the conference, allowing 15.6 points per game. Stiegelmeier understands the importance of this game and everything that is at stake, but he’s

excited about his team, and he’s ready to get back on the field. “Our players know how big this game is. It’s a conference championship, it’s the marker trophy, an automatic qualifier, and it’s a higher seed,” Stiegelmeier said. “I think if one of the teams wins handily, they have a chance to potentially be the No. 1 seed in America.” The game is set to kick off Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the Fargodome.