August 26, 2020

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NEWS

August 26, 2020

President Dunn cracks down on coronavirus GRACIE TERRALL News Editor University President Barry Dunn addressed the Students’ Association over Zoom during its first meeting regarding his concerns for the upcoming socially-distant semester. The weekend prior to the Aug. 24 meeting, Dunn and many other Brookings citizens witnessed hordes of students, backpacks in tow and masks nowhere in sight, no doubt on their way to sweaty, cramped parties. This, obviously, violates the guidelines SDSU has set up to keep students safe during the largest pandemic the United

States has seen in over a century. “I drove around Friday and Saturday night and felt absolutely helpless. I was very disappointed in the behavior of a few that put us all at risk,” Dunn said. The president confirmed that he is looking into ramifications later this week for those breaking student conduct codes and Brookings city ordinances. “I am going to do more,” Dunn said. “I am going to do more with those young people that had that party. I am going to do more with anyone that I can identify. This is out of hand and … if this behavior continues, every-

one’s going home and you’ll be in your parents’ basement for another six months.” Along with concern Dunn has for student safety, he also understands the unprecedented times SDSU, along with every other university across the country, is in right now. The changes to events, classes and social life on campus were not unexpected given the events of the past few months; however, students may still struggle with this new normal. “Our whole experience this fall is not what we expected, not what we wanted, not what we had dreamed of,” Dunn said.

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“I ask for your understanding and patience and leadership around the changes we made to assure your safety.” D u n n re co g n i ze s college students’ need for socialization and the enduring nature of parties, but he urges people to acknowledge the weight of their actions and how breaching social distance and mask mandates can affect more than just themselves. We have people on this campus that are much more vulnerable, and they need to be protected,” Dunn said. “They might be a custodial worker, they might be someone working in food service, might be a professor.”

Dunn also announced new, aggressive testing procedures that the campus will be imple-

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menting within the next few weeks.


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NEWS

August 26, 2020

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Back to the books: Jackrabbits return to campus GRACIE TERRALL News Editor

Sawyer Bernd, a freshman at South Dakota State University, awoke the first morning of classes anxious to start his first year of college. However, instead of making the trek across campus, Bernd settled into his desk, ready to listen to his Zoom lecture. Bernd, like all college freshmen across the country, is kicking off his college experience in an unconventional, isolated way. “It would have been nice to be in-person to actually meet my instructor and for that first impression to be faceto-face,” Bernd said. In response to the pandemic that swept across the nation early this year, SDSU implemented a hybrid lecture system to minimize the contact people have with each other in the classroom. Professors are encouraged to split their classes between in-person lectures and online Zoom meetings. When in the classroom, everyone is required to wear face coverings and spread out as much as possible. Although these measures are intended to keep everyone safe, students can already feel the disconnect with their peers and professors. “It sucks not being able to have those small conversations before class with people who have the same likes as me,” Bernd said. “Not being able to have that personal level with the instructor, that’s kind of difficult.”

Despite all of these changes, the university is working to ensure students still have as close to an authentic college experience that is allowed at this time. Provost of Academic Affairs Dennis Hedge oversees the academic operations on campus and was a part of the JacksRBack team that helped departments make the necessary changes for this semester. “We wanted to elevate our conversations on campus about [connecting with students during challenging times], and really ask faculty and staff members to be intentional about connecting with students,” Hedge said. Despite the abrupt change to online learning l a s t M a rc h , H e d ge reported no drop in the overall grade point average and attendance of students. He largely attributes this to students’ ability to retain information better with a multi-modality learning environment. “The opportunity to have a hands-on, face-toface experience, but then have that supplemented with something that you may do through an electronic learning platform, actually becomes a higher level of learning,” Hedge said. Hedge is hopeful that this unexpected form of learning will be beneficial for the Fall 2020 semester as well. As a matter-offact, students are already showing more interest in academia this year than in previous. The retention rate,

or the number of new freshmen that continued with their bachelor studies at SDSU, is up by over 3% from last year. According to Hedge, this time last year, the preliminary retention rate was at 78.51%. During the first week of classes, the retention rate was 81.60%. Hopefully, a successful partial-semester of online learning has prepared students for the hybrid system in place today. Students certainly seem eager to get back on campus and begin learning again. However, students must also do their part in keeping everyone safe if the university has any hope to remain open and operational. Bernd, coming from a town much smaller than Brookings, stresses about the heightened potential for contracting the virus. “I have to keep in mind to keep my friend group small and to keep up with hand sanitizer and stuff,” Bernd said. “It’s nice being in a bigger city to be a part of a bigger community, but I have to take precautions to take it more seriously.” Hedge also cautions people to take the pandemic seriously and to do their part so SDSU can remain open for students to continue learning in a hybrid environment until the risk is decreased. “We’re all a part of a Jackrabbit family, and that means not only do we have to look out for our own individual health and safety, but we’re in this together,” Hedge said. “We have an obligation to look out for each other.”

Collegian photos by FRANKIE HERRERA JacksRBack implemented new social distancing guidelines in all buildings and some outdoor spaces. The mask mandate across campus requires anybody who is inside a campus building to wear a mask.


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August 26, 2020

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LIFESTYLES

Meet The Collegian staff

Emily Seaton is the Editor-in-Chief at The Collegian. She is a senior graphic design major and minoring in film studies. When she’s not in The Collegian office or Grove Hall, you can find her playing Animal Crossing or Super Smash Bros with her Community Assistant staff on Westside. She listens to Frank Ocean, The Black Keys and Kid Cudi. Emily rewatches movies she likes so she can analyze them, but the first time around is always for entertainment purposes only.

J. Michael Bertsch, also known as Mikey, is a senior electrical engineering student with a focus on biomedical engineering. Big Mike’s interests include restoring vintage mopeds, playing guitar, singing songs and tweeting. After graduation, he will be attending graduate school (to be decided) working toward a Ph.D. In addition, he is the cutest boy in South Dakota. Twitter @hellyeahmopeds

Gracie Terrall, the News Editor at The Collegian, is a sophomore English and journalism major. When she’s not writing articles, Gracie can be found frolicking in the woods looking at bugs. If inside, she is probably watching an A24 film or listening to sad indie music. Gracie has a cat named Willow and a frog named Benjamin. Twitter @gracieterrall

Jordan Rusche is a sophomore double majoring in English and journalism and the Lifestyles Editor at The Collegian. From De Smet, SD, some of her hobbies include writing, music and watching really bad science fiction movies. If given the time, she will talk to you about cats, indie music and other really nerdy stuff for hours.

Frankie Herrera, the Photo Chief at The Collegian, is a non-traditional journalism major. Frankie is interested in cinema, so if you find him, most often he will be watching some type of film. And no, he is not a movie buff.

Hollie Leggett is a graphic designer at The Collegian. She is currently a sophomore graphic design major with a minor in journalism. You can often find her roaming around campus with a camera or an iced coffee in her hand. She has watched “That 70’s show” in its entirety five times and if she could only listen to one artist for the rest of her life, it would be Lana Del Rey.


sdsucollegian.com

LIFESTYLES

August 26th, 2020

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Meet The Collegian staff

Omar Imran, is a Graphic/Web designer at the Collegian. He’s an undergrad sophomore in Data Science with a minor in Graphic Design. His music choices are mainly upbeat and slow with a few exceptions, he loves Coldplay and Linkin Park. He likes to hang out with friends and travel. His favorite country is Brazil.

Originally from Minneapolis, Minn., Noah R. Mincheff is a junior student of History and German at South Dakota State University. Formerly an Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadet, Noah now applies his leadership skills as the opinion editor at the SDSU Collegian and as the Vice President of the Rabbit’s Foot Role-Playing Games Club. His primary field of interest is medieval Europe.

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Self-proclaimed old cat lady Megan Bertsch is a non-traditional business student, design minor and Collegian copy editor! Before coming to SDSU, she attended makeup and esthetic school and is still a makeup artist in her free time. She also loves coffee, plants, speaking French, dank memes and writing for the Collegian of course!


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sdsucollegian.com

From A1

AISC

A look into the new American Indian Student Center

Collegian photo by FRANKIE HERRERA

MEGAN BERTSCH Copy Editor The yellow and blue colored glass of the new American Indian Student Center shines with pride in the heart of campus. The new structure, completed in May, is a state-of-the-art facility that South Dakota State University’s American Indian student community is proud to call home. Before the renovations, the previous AISC was located in the basement of the Enrollment Services center on the west side of campus. One of the stand-out benefits of the new facility is the central location. “The idea of the (AISC) being in the center of campus was important so that our students could feel like they were connected to the university, that they were closer to their residential halls, they were closer to the student union and could interact more with other students on campus,”

Director of American Indian Student Center Erica Moore said. The building itself is also enriching to the American Indian student experience at SDSU. Upon immediate entry, the facility is primarily decorated with cultural elements and artwork. Above the main room hang the flags of the nine tribal communities of South Dakota. There are multiple original art pieces throughout the space created by Rapid City artist Donald Montileaux. Both pieces illustrate important, often devastating, events in history, highlighting the journey of indigenous people in South Dakota. Paintings of other cultural events circle the space as well. There is also a uniquely decorated drum room with a polished and repurposed tree split into columns to represent the seven council fires. “My favorite piece is our drum room. This is a tree that has passed on.

It was over 100 years old and they saved it,” Moore said. The students and staff are also excited for their large classroom, where they can teach and collaborate with the entire c a m p u s co m mu n i ty about different aspects of American Indian culture. “I would say the most exciting thing about our

building itself, is what it means to students and faculty alike. “It brings us closer to campus and allows people to know that we’re here,” said Aleksey Broken Rope, president of the American Indian Student Association. “Because, you know, we were off in the distance in a basement, and no one

“Because you’re actually putting the needs and wants of American Indian students at the forefront of your agenda. That really spoke to our students because it’s like hey, someone is recognizing us not as a second thought, but a first priority.” AMBER MORSEAU AMERICAN INDIAN PROGRAM COORDINATOR building is the ability to host different folks in this space,” American Indian Program Coordinator Amber Morseau said. Perhaps even more impressive than the new

knew where our center was.” Those working in the space respect the deeper meaning the new building represents for the Native American

community on campus. For them, the significance of this building extends far beyond a newer, conveniently located space. “For us to have this gift of the new building that only we have occupied this space, that speaks volumes,” Morseau said. “Because you’re actually putting the needs and wants of American Indian students at the forefront of your agenda. That really spoke to our students because it’s like hey, someone is recognizing us not as a second thought, but a first priority.” Morseau mentioned several programs the center will be hosting this year for those who would like to get involved. The center provides many outlets specifically for American Indian St u d e nt s i n c l u d i n g beading, sewing circles and their men’s drum group. It emphasizes how these activities act as a form of self care for the American Indian student population at SDSU.

Although it is called the American Indian Student Center, they host events for the entire SDSU community to experience. They’re working with the Multicultural Center on programs that create a center of learning for people who may identify differently, but still want to serve underrepresented communities. “We’re very welcoming. Just because it says the name doesn’t mean it belongs just to us,” Broken Rope said. What AISC staff want the campus community to take away when experiencing the space is the importance the center represents in retention and growth in American Indian communities, something they felt they did not have in school. “One of the things that I would like people to know is that this is a physical manifestation of the university’s commitment to our American Indian students,” Morseau said.


August 26, 2020

Collegian photos by FRANKIE HERRERA The new American Indian Student Center building houses a ceremony space, cultural artwork and lounge spaces for students to gather and interact with one another at the center of campus.

LIFESTYLES

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August 26, 2020

sdsucollegian.com

LIFESTYLES

Alumna works hard to keep campus safe

SDSU creates public health specialist position to combat COVID-19 JORDAN RUSCHE Lifestyles Editor The new guidelines, such as social distancing i n c l a s s ro o m s a n d JacksRBack kits, can be attributed to a variety of hard-working individuals. This includes the new public health specialist, an entirely new position to SDSU created to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Laura Dirks, SDSU’s public health specialist, is an alumna of SDSU, graduating in 2017 with an undergrad in chemistry and biochemistry. Afterwards, she began

pursuing her master’s degree at the Rollings School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta. She said she was inspired to do so because of one of her minors, health communication. “I always wanted to work in outbreak and response, and that’s actually what I tailored my education to at Emory,” she said. With the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “right across the street,” she began training in how to respond to potential outbreaks and diseases, working with student

organizations like the Student Outbreak and Response Team (SORT) and serving as part of the medical reserve corps that planned for Super Bowl LIII, also held in Atlanta. She graduated in May 2020 and accepted the position of public health specialist here this June. Dirks, ready to help plan for the upcoming semester, eagerly returned to her former college. “I loved the university, I loved my time here, so the chance to work in an area I was familiar with—I know the dorms, I know the campus— that was also a draw for me,”

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she said. She also explained that as a former SDSU student herself, she empathized with those students who had to leave campus in mid-March and wanted to help them return to school safely. “I also went home for spring break and never returned to campus,” Dirks said, “so, I understand that feeling.” So far, Dirks has offered her expertise to campus by serving as a member of both the COVID-19 Response Team and JacksRBack team, helping to organize and plan what academics, student life and other public health elements would be like coming back in the fall. Her biggest solo project included planning training for employees and students. “I’m so fortunate to join an institution … [where] there were so many individuals who already were focused and already working on these things, and they really cared about students’ and employees’ safety,” she said. With the nature of her work, however, there are some parts of Dirks’ job that aren’t always so pleasant. She explained that attempting to balance implementing health guidelines while still giving students the opportunity to learn and interact in person proved to be a very difficult task at times.

“We know students want to be on campus, and we want students on campus, so just figuring out the best ways to do that is certainly the most difficult part,” she said. Despite the challenges, Dirks enjoys seeing everyone back to campus wearing face coverings and following the guidelines she helped to put forth, and says that it shows her that students care about returning to SDSU. While the future of this semester is still unknown at this time, Dirks does have some advice for those students who may feel unsure of these new changes and returning to school amid the pandemic. “It is really important to take care of both your

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physical and mental health this semester,” she said. “Do your best to maintain a daily schedule, stay active and connect with friends and family in a safe way either in person or virtually.” She recommends reaching out to faculty, friends and other people here on campus if students are feeling stress or anxiety due to current events as well. “Reach out to your instructors, advisors and classmates if you need,” Dirks said. “And if your stress or anxiety is interfering with your dayto-day life, schedule a virtual appointment with Student Health counseling staff.”


sdsucollegian.com August 26, 2020

OPINION

Editorial

Student Body will be missed Cause of death: COVID-19

Death is not our business; do not make it so Dear Student Body, We are student journalists. Our business is news; we give voice to the students and inform the Brookings community at large. We are not undertakers. As other student news outlets such as Notre Dame’s The Observer stated previously, we do not wish to write your obituary. We do not wish to herald your passing nor craft your memorial. Death is not our business; do not make it so. COVID-19 is not the first pandemic to touch South Dakota State University. In 1918, when Spanish Flu ravaged the world, SDSU’s sleepy location did not spare its students the same suffering and death as those in New York or London. Despite the medical advances of 102 years, COVID-19 is just as new to us as it was to 1918’s society; as a result we have no vaccine and no therapeutics. To scoff at their plight and pretend ours is different is foolish, as we are hardly better off. One weapon we possess that 1918’s campus did not is that we understand how COVID-19 spreads. We are informed enough to collectively make decisions which will determine whether next year’s issues celebrate the retreat of the virus or remember those students which it snuffed out. We decide. Each time we go to the grocery store, and we step out without a mask, we decide whether we suffer the inconvenience of going back for it or go without and risk serving as the virus’s weapons. Each time we receive an invitation to a party, we decide whether we entertain ourselves from the safety of our homes or if we congregate in large numbers, potentially condemning others to death with our lack of self-control. We write this letter to us all, who wield the power of choice, asking a question: Will you allow the virus to wield you as a weapon against your fellow human-being, or will you protect your neighbor against the virus’s advance?

Best regards, The Collegian Editorial Staff

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August 26, 2020

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sdsucollegian.com

OPINION

Semester of savings: Tips for new students LORNA SABOEWOUNDED HEAD Family Resource Management Field Specialist SDSU Extension

Welcome to South Dakota State University! Whether you are new to campus or continuing your studies, creating a budget for the new semester can bring out the forward-thinking financial manager in you. With the uncertainty created by COVID-19, developing a spending plan is more important than ever. How long will you be on campus? Will your job be available if the campus closes again? What can you do to keep yourself healthy while purchasing necessities and meeting

your basic needs? There are many great budgeting resources available to everyone for finding the resources and tools that help you to balance your income and spending needs to fit how you like to do things. Throughout the semester, The SDSU Extension Family Finance site has articles that provide information about a variety of financial topics. For now, let’s focus on the budget, otherwise known as a spending plan. A balanced budget accounts for all income and expenses with a positive or net-zero balance at the end, and a good one makes a plan for savings. Find a budget template online or just write

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2 1 5 8 7 6 4 3 9

down all your income and expenses to figure out if it is balanced. College life brings different expenses than when you lived with mom and dad. Here are a few questions to ask yourself as you figure out your expenses and income. Is this my situation right now? It’s all fine and dandy to say that you will get a job this semester and make an extra $100 a month, but until you have that job offer in hand, it’s better to be a little more stingy in the meantime. You might get a position that pays more and means you can add more to your savings and latenight ice cream runs, or you could feel the burn of competing with all the

other incoming students and be out of luck longer than you thought. Either way, it’s best to be prepared, and you can come back and revise your budget later when you know for sure that circumstances have changed. What could go wrong? The things that are going well right now might not always be that way. I’m sure that a six-year-old, hand-me-down laptop will get you through another year, but you should probably set aside some emergency money just in case it dies during finals week. The best budgets take into account tomorrow’s expenses as well as today’s. Set your goal, create a timeline to hold yourself accountable

The Collegian 8/26/20 Crossword

CROSSWORD

PuzzleJunction.com Across 1 Sandwich filler 5 Dropsy 10 Moravian, e.g. 14 Knowing, as a secret 15 Scythian 16 Prefix with graph 17 Swamp poplar 19 NYSE banner events 20 1944 Judy Garland flick, “___ Me in St. Louis” 21 Demagnetize, as a tape 22 Highlands hillside 25 Decriminalize 28 Chemical weapon 30 Kind of stop or home 31 Hair dyes 32 News source 33 Mule of song 36 Gannon University city 37 Aardwolf 39 Pond organism

and continually add funds in incremental amounts until you have that gold star in your pocket. Making sure that you have enough money allocated to your car so that you can cover gas and oil changes helps you know that those once-in-a-while expenses won’t catch you unaware. Remember, your emergency fund is there to fund ONLY real emergencies, not your midnight chocolate cravings. How will I stick to it? Falling apart on one aspect of the budget can throw everything else out of balance, and before you know it, you’re three pizza boxes deep into your next month’s rent. College finances don’t always leave a lot of wiggle room

40 Serpentine letter 41 Coffee choice 42 Recording a show 44 Quod ___ faciendum 45 Breaks away 46 Mensa member 49 Manipulates 50 Auto mishaps 51 Little terror 53 Kind of trout 54 It may not be grounded 60 Doozy 61 Vote to accept 62 African flower 63 “Peter Gunn” guitarist Duane 64 Bench-clearing incident 65 Pond duck Down 1 Personal quirk 2 Afternoon hour in Italy 3 “___ so fast!” 4 Picnic crasher 5 Distaff suffix

either, so find a method that helps you follow through with your plans. Some good recommendations are to write everything down, use cash if swiping a card is too easy for you and keep your budget updated to be as relevant to your situation as possible. Search for an app that you can use that links your bank accounts so all your transactions are instantly tracked. Remember that budgets and spending plans are personalized things, so what works for you might not work for your roommate and vice versa. Learning how to create a realistic budget and sticking to it is one of the best things you can do for your future.

PuzzleJunction

Across 6 Wooden pins 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1 Sandwich filler 7 Play too broadly 15 16 14 5 Dropsy 8 Warhol subject 10 Moravian, e.g. 19 17 18 9 Recipe wordas a 14 Knowing, 20 21 secret 10 Apparition Scythian 22 23 24 25 26 27 11 15 Bolivia’s capital 16 Prefix with graph 12 17 GotSwamp out ofpoplar bed 28 29 30 NYSE banner 13 19 Bud holder 31 32 33 34 35 eventsopposite 18 Alpha’s 20 1944 Judy 37 38 39 36 21 Additionally Garland flick, 41 42 43 40 22 Brewskis “___ Me in St. Louis” 44 45 23 Hindu 21 Demagnetize, as aristocrats 46 47 48 49 a tape 24 22 “Alfred” Highlands 50 51 52 hillside composer 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 Decriminalize 26 25 Jack-o’-lantern 28 Chemical 61 62 60 feature weapon 27 30 Treat Kindwith of stop or 64 65 63 home dioxide carbon Copyright ©2020 PuzzleJunction.com Hair dyes 28 31 Prayer pronoun 61 Vote to accept 38 Himalayan 12 Got out of bed 32 News source 43 Sharp 58 Extinct flightless 29 33 Refuse creature, perhaps 62 African floweras a tack 13 Bud holder Mule of song 63 “Peter Gunn” 18 Alpha’s opposite 36 Gannon bird 39 Primatologist’s 44 Brasserie receptacle guitarist Duanescenario 21 Additionally 45 Actor’s 59 Unagi, atstudy a sushi 32 TieUniversity the knotcity 41 Camera part 64 Bench-clearing 22 Brewskis 37 Aardwolf 46 Insipid bar 33 39 Item with a 43 Sharp as a tack incident 23 Hindu Pond organism 47 Did ladder 44 Brasserie duck yard work aristocrats 40 Serpentine letter 65 Pond 45 Actor’s scenario 24 “Alfred” Coffee choice 48 Archimandrite 34 41 A de Mille 46 Insipid Down composer 42 Recording a 50 Ice sheet 35 Falls behind 47 Did yard work 1 Personal quirk 26 Jack-o’-lantern show 52 Countertenor 38 44 Himalayan 48 Archimandrite 2 Afternoon hour in feature Quod ___ 50 Ice sheet Italy 27 Treat with faciendum 54 Bell and Barker creature, perhaps 52 Countertenor 3 “___ fast!” verse carbon dioxide Breaks away 55 so Flowery 39 45 Primatologist’s 54 Bell and Barker 4 Picnic crasher 28 Prayer pronoun 46 Mensa member 56 Skimmer, e.g. study 55 Flowery verse 5 Distaff suffix 29 Refuse 49 Manipulates 57 Flamenco shoutreceptacle 56 Skimmer, e.g. 6 Wooden pins Auto mishaps 41 50 Camera part 51 Little terror 53 Kind of trout 54 It may not be grounded 60 Doozy

7 8 9 10 11

Play too broadly Warhol subject Recipe word Apparition Bolivia’s capital

32 Tie the knot 33 Item with a ladder 34 A de Mille 35 Falls behind

57 Flamenco shout 58 Extinct flightless bird 59 Unagi, at a sushi bar


sdsucollegian.com

OPINION

August 26, 2020

A11

Man on the street: student opinions on back to school NOAH R. MINCHEFF Opinion Editor

ALEXA DULAS Student “I am super excited to be back on campus. I think what the university is doing is wonderful, all the precautions that they’re taking. It will be very beneficial to our learning that we are here, especially because I am a nursing major and I just started the program. So I think it will be very beneficial for us to stay here as long as possible, for people’s mental health and social [health]. My only concern is if people act irresponsibly off of campus and then bring it into campus, but you also can’t control people outside of the classroom. But I’m excited to be back and thankful for everything the university is doing. N: “Do you think it’ll last?” “I hope so, I’m praying that it’ll last.”

ZAKARY ZWIERS Student “I think that it’s great that we’re coming back to campus. I think it’s important to take precautions and do whatever you can to stop the spread of the virus, but ultimately, it’s better to have some sense of normalcy, because the people that are going to get it are going to get it no matter what we do. So I think it’s important that we’re getting back.”

Volume 136 • Issue 1

MORGAN BRIGGS Student “I’m very hopeful for staying on campus because I trust the JacksRBack team and President Dunn and everybody’s plan to keep us safe. Because I am a nursing student, my major really requires inperson contact in classes, and so I trust that students will do their part to keep us safe and keep us here.” MOISE SUKADI Student “I feel a little bit nervous, because I have to wash my hands all the time, every time I touch the door handle I have to put sanitizer on it. In class it’s very complicated because I am doing Spanish and we have to converse every time in class. With the masks sometimes you don’t understand what the teacher is telling you and stuff like that, so sometimes it is complex but it’s okay. It’s better than online classes. I did online classes, and I feel like I’m on break or holiday but I have to study five or six hours a day. I prefer to go to class, do my thing, finish and I’m free you know? N: “Do you think we’ll be able to stay?” “I hope so, I want to, but since today, I think we won’t finish the semester. Because in my Spanish class, one or two people are in quarantine because of the pandemic, so it’s going to be hard. I don’t know, on the weekend, you can see downtown, it’s full of people. A lot of people and they don’t wear masks, some people don’t respect the restrictions, so I don’t think we’re going to finish the semester face-to-face.”

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.

Emily Seaton Editor-in-Chief

Jordan Rusche Lifestyles Editor

Omar Imran

Graphic Designer

Josie Nelson

Ad Sales Representative & Designer

J. Michael Bertsch Managing Editor

Gracie Terrall News Editor

Hollie Leggett Graphic Designer

Elise Heesch Ad Manager

CLYDE GREGORIE Student “I’m a freshman so I’m super excited to get on campus. I’ve been waiting to get out here since, well, since school got out in March for us in high school. It’s kind of odd having everybody wear masks on campus and having one way signs everywhere; especially with staircases in the Union, that’s kind of difficult to get upstairs [because] you have to find a certain staircase. Some of the buildings are hard to navigate with the one way signs too, it’s hard to get to the right place at the right time when you haven’t been in there yet. I hope that we can stay on campus, I know they’re gonna try to keep us here… I’m hopeful. Hopefully everybody does what they need to with their masks, keeps everybody at a safe distance.” N: “Do you think we’ll be able to stay?” “I don’t know, it’s kind of tough. Especially if the university decided to send everybody home that would be a tough decision to make; I think that time will come eventually when they have to make the decision, so hopefully they make the right one for us to stay safe. You got a couple thousand students that need to keep their health and safety in mind.” LIN ZENG Student “I think the return to campus is good for most of the people who are not afraid of the virus, and they want to have a wonderful new year- new semester here. I believe it’s nice to have a lot of boys and girls on this campus to start a new life. I think it’s great to have lots of people around.”

Susan Smith

Noah R. Mincheff Opinion Editor

Lillie Albers

Adviser

Frankie Herrera Photo Chief

Public Relations Coordinator

Lesly Abarca

Ad Sales Representative

Megan Bertsch Copy Editor

Emily Urban

Ad Sales Representative

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.

Main line: 605.688.6164 Newsroom: 605.688.6166 Editor-in-Chief: 605.688.6178


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August 26, 2020

sdsucollegian.com

SPORTS

Pandemic puts athletics on pause: Fall 2020 update J.MICHAEL BERTSCH & SKYLER JACKSON Managing Editor & Reporter

What began as an extended spring break in March turned into a several-month-long delay for South Dakota State University athletics sporting events. This delay continues for SDSU and schools across the country. Provided is a comprehensive look at athletics for the fall semester. Summit League News The Summit League announced a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force with representatives from all nine full-time conference members. Assistant softball coach Kiki Stokes will represent SDSU in the task force.

According to a press release from The Summit League, the goal of the task force is “to discuss and set forth initiatives that promote and advance diversity and inclusion on each of their campuses [...] with an emphasis on raising awareness of social injustice and racial and gender inequality.” Jackrabbit Academics SDSU student-athletes made up the highest number of academic honor roll recipients from the Summit League for the 2019-2020 academic year. Out of the 1,563 student athletes, 221 were from SDSU; whereas 216 were from University of South Dakota and 180 from North Dakota State. One Day for STATE As a result of the COVID-19-related can-

cellations and postponements, there has been a significant drop in ticket sales. As such, One Day for STATE could serve as a large fundraiser for the athletics department. One Day for STATE is a 24-hour fundraising marathon focused on private gifts from faculty, students, staff and alumni. In 2019, over 3,700 donors raised $1,348,477 for SDSU departments and colleges, with athletics the second highest dollar amount of the day. Football The Missouri Valley Football Conference announced the 2020 season is postponed until the spring. In the spring, the MVFC will play an eightgame conference season, ending with FCS playoffs.

More information from the MVFC will be provided in the coming weeks. Men’s Basketball SDSU will be playing Northern Arizona Monday, Nov. 30 at the Sanford Pentagon, per a release by the Sioux Falls venue. Aside from this matchup, no other nonconference games have been announced at this time. Women’s Basketball After a foot injury cost junior forward Myah Selland 24 games last season, she has been granted a medical hardship waiver and another year of eligibility by the Summit League. In the nine games she played before suffering a season-ending foot injury, Selland, who was

an All-Summit League Honorable Mention selection following her sophomore campaign, averaged 13.8 points and 5 rebounds per game. Golf Both men’s and women’s golf have been postponed until the spring season. However, from Aug.

5-9, senior Teresa Toscano competed in the 120th U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. Toscano, the No. 43 seed, advanced to the Round of 16 where she was eliminated by Gabriela Ruffels of the University of Southern California.

POSTPONED UNTIL SPRING 2021    

CROSS COUNTRY SOCCER VOLLEYBALL FOOTBALL

INTRAMURAL SPORTS Softball leagues starting Sept. 7 2v2 Golf league starting Sept. 7 4v4 Flag Football league starting Sept. 14 Cornhole league starting Oct. 12 4v4 Volleyball, men’s and women’s leagues, starting Oct. 26 Table Tennis Singles tournament Aug. 27 Sand Volleyball tournament Sept. 5 Disc Golf Singles tournament Sept. 19 Badminton Singles tournament Oct. 4 Lawn Games tournament Oct. 30


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