Oct. 28, 2020

SDSU BOOKSTORE PHESANT STATE COLLECTION

October 28, 2020

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Svarstad removed from SA role J. MICHAEL BERTSCH Managing Editor (He/Him) The Students’ Association Senate voted to remove Sen. Christopher Svarstad from office due to a violation of item three of the organization’s code of ethics, which states Senators must “discuss professional matters, especially those concerning colleagues, in a professional manner.”

Near the end of the Oct. 26 meeting, the Senate entered an executive session for consideration of the removal proceedings. This session was closed to the public and followed the procedure outlined in Resolution 20-13-R. Though all testimony during the executive ses-

NEWS

October 28, 2020

sion is held in private and not available to the public, during The Collegian’s interview with Svarstad, he referred to student senators as “babies,” “wimps,” “corrupt liars” and “dirty politicians.”

This procedure included a plea of “guilty” or “not guilty” from the defendant, opening statements by both sides, complainant witness testimony, defence witness testimony, rebuttals and closing statements by both sides.

“We have to give a fair trial and give that member the opportunity to fairly explain themselves,” Students’ Association President Hattie Seten said. “Then we go through all the steps. There’s opening statements on both sides. There’s tes-

timonies on both sides from witnesses. There’s a rebuttal, closing statement. Everyone has that same opportunity.”

But Svarstad was not present at the meeting.

“I told the Senate on Sunday that my mother fell on the ice and she got really badly hurt, she’s badly bruised, she’s terribly hurt. I said I can’t be at the meeting because I need to take care of my mother,” Svarstad said. “I took care of my mother last night, and they totally violated my due process and went forward with this kangaroo court without me.”

According to the Students’ Association bylaws, a hearing must be conducted in front of the entire body at the Senate meeting that follows the initiation of removal proceedings, which were

made Oct. 19. Additionally, Robert’s Rules of Order, the parliamentary procedure used by the Students’ Association, state that if the accused is not present for a hearing, the trial proceeds without them.

“These are the documents that we need to follow for our organization,” Seten said.

“Our organization says a hearing happens in one week, so that means that that hearing needs to be held on that day. It would be improper to not follow our bylaws.”

Svarstad, however, does not agree that the rules are in the best interest of students.

“These rules are a total sham and a bunch of bullshit,” Svarstad said.

“They are a smokescreen for violating people’s due process.”

Robert’s Rules states

that the accused has the right to due process, meaning they must be informed of the charge, given time to prepare a defense, to appear and defend themselves and to be fairly treated.

“When the first motion was made, it was made provided on what grounds the motion was being made (the violation of item three of the Students’ Association Code of Ethics),” Seten said. “As far as time to prepare a defense… our bylaws say that happens in one week, so it’s time to prepare a defense. He’s also given written notice of when that hearing is going to occur, including the time, location and date, everything that Robert’s Rules tells us to do. Robert’s Rules also says, if not present, then we’re supposed to con-

tinue as scheduled.”

Despite the policy described in Robert’s Rules, Svarstad does not believe the due process was given.

“It’s a violation of due process, it’s as simple as that, because the school is a subsidiary of the federal government,” Svarstad said. “... They are bound by the laws like everybody else. Yes, they have their own little bylaws, but those bylaws are a sham and a total travesty.”

Svarstad believes the Senate violated his First Amendment rights by making the motion for removal.

“They said it was a violation of professional communication, some other bullcrap like that, it’s all it is a bunch of bullcrap,” Svarstad said.

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October 28, 2020

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CAHORTS

The seating may be limited, but the talent sure isn’t

Collegian photo by HOLLIE LEGGETT (She/Her) Music education major, Emily Kallem (left) practices for her Friday night performance. Data science graduate student, Cyrus Taheri, prepares for his stand up comedy act for this Friday.

HOLLIE LEGGETT & GRACIE TERRALL Page Designer & News Editor (She/Her) & (She/Her) Jacks Got Talent is making its way to the stage as one of the few live events during the week of Hobo Day. Last year, Emily Kallem stood on the stage of the Larson Memorial Concert Hall and won second place for the Hobo Day Jacks Got Talent show.

Now, the music education major takes the stage once more to perform “Vienna” by Billy Joel. For

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“I was just exercising our First Amendment rights and they are impeaching me because I actually voiced my First Amendment rights,” Svarstad said.

According to the trial procedure, the Senate

Kallem, performing for Jacks Got Talent is a way for her to have a more creative outlet aside from her traditional music classes.

“I usually don’t get to sing fun, popular music or get to do anything fun that I would do in my free time,” Kallem said. “So it’s kind of fun because I could do literally whatever I want.”

South Dakota State University students can showcase their unique talents and compete for cash prizes. First place winners win $300, second place gets $200 and third place, plus one crowd favorite, receive $100.

The Jacks Got Talent show, or Cahorts, put on by the Universities Program Council (UPC), is one of the major events during the week of Hobo Day that students and Brookings community members can attend. The event, happening at 7 p.m., Friday Oct. 30, will have in-house seating for the first 120 guests and livestreamed via Zoom for others interested in the event.

“There are a variety of acts including singing, dancing, comedy and even a color guard routine,” Saloni Singh, UPC showcase coordinator,

said. “Many of our performers are returning participants from last year, as well as some who have never competed before.”

One of these acts is Cyrus Taheri, an international data science graduate student from Iran.

Taheri will be performing a stand-up comedy skit about dating and his life so far in America.

“When I moved to the U.S., I got homesick and got into standup comedy as a way to chill down and relax myself,” Taheri said.

“I started telling jokes to some of my friends and getting good feedback, so why not give it a try.”

Jacks Got Talent has been happening for years during the week of Hobo Day. According to Abby Mikel, president of UPC, Jacks Got Talent is a way to bring Brookings together.

“It’s a way to build a community and make everyone on campus feel more like family,” Mikel said. “When we all come together for this one special event or special week, it just makes you feel like you’re part of something bigger.”

Although seating is limited, Jacks Got Talent will have a packed show with 12 contestants per-

forming various acts. Even during a pandemic, SDSU is still able to continue their traditions during the week of Hobo Day. “You get to see a lot of people on campus that you would have probably never seen before do some really cool stuff,” Kallem said. “It’s just a fun night to get away for a couple hours and watch some people, then decide who you think is best and see some really good talents.

We have a lot of really good talent at SDSU.” To RSVP, visit the UPC page on Jacks Club Hub.

body voted and determined Svarstad was guilty of the violation.

The Senate also determined the penalty violation according to the Students’ Association Bylaws, which state that “violations of the Code of

Ethics shall be grounds for removal from any elected or appointed positions within the Senate …”

Though removed from the Senate for the 2020-21 school year, Svarstad could potentially be elected back to the Senate

as soon as next year.

“Generally, within the Students’ Association, … you generally shouldn’t make rules for a senate that’s not your own Senate,” Seten said.

“So that means, having removed him, my under-

standing is that he would be able to run for election to be on the next Senate in the spring semester.”

This may or may not be in the cards for Svarstad, though he does plan to continue working with students.

“My plan is to continue to fight for the students. I love this school.

I’m a fourth-generation Jackrabbit,” Svarstad said.

“I’m going to continue to use my very opinionated voice and continue to speak out for them.”

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October 28, 2020

Hobo Day event helps combat food insecurity on campus

Collegian photo by HOLLIE LEGGETT (She/Her) Jack’s Cupboard is located on the southeast corner of Ben Reifel Hall and is open Wednesdays and Thursday from 3:30 to 5:00p.m.

JORDAN RUSCHE Lifestyles Editor (She/Her) The spirit of Hobo Day has not faded this year despite the challenges of COVID-19. Some events, like the annual Bum-AMeal, have transitioned into a way to more closely help the community instead.

Give-A-Meal, a weeklong event from Oct. 26-31, is an opportunity for South Dakota State University students, staff and alumni to give back to the community through monetary and physical donations to Jack’s Cupboard, a food bank on campus for students in need.

“It’s a positive idea to help students,” Kendra Eichten, the Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator, said. “I know some students who are running low on block [meal plans], so this [Jack’s Cupboard] helps them get through

the rest of the semester.”

Those who wish to donate are encouraged to either drop off items at the various locations both on campus and in the Brookings community. Some needed items include rice, canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, bread, toiletries, snack items and many others.

Another option is making a monetary donation through Rabbit Raisers, a fundraising platform for a variety of causes including Jack’s Cupboard.

According to Eichten, the funds provided through these donations go towards purchasing perishable items like milk, eggs and fresh fruits and vegetables, along with any other necessary products.

The ongoing fundraiser is currently half-way to its $10,000 goal.

G ive -A- Me a l wa s created to fill the space left by Bum-A-Meal, the traditional Hobo Day

event where students are hosted by members of the Brookings community and given free meals.

Due to the pandemic, this event would not be possible this year, so an alternative had to be found.

“We as a committee wanted to continue the Bum-A-Meal tradition, since this is a favorite,” Eric Sundall, an events coordinator on the Hobo Day committee, said. “It was decided that a food drive for Jack’s Cupboard would replace Bum-AMeal this year. All collections go towards students in need.”

Though the event is different than what is expected during the week of Hobo Day, Sundall feels Give-A-Meal still incorporated the Hobo Day spirit.

“Hobo Day is about community and making everyone feel welcome,” he said. “This event helps those in need and makes the community a better place.”

As for next year, though the committee would like to bring back Bum-A-Meal, there’s no telling what the future

may hold for this brand new event.

For more information on donation sites on campus, plus a full list

of requested items, visit the Give-A-Meal page on the sdstate website under Hobo Day 2020.

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Students’ final thoughts on election candidates JACOB BOYKO Reporter (He/Him) As the contentious and bitter presidential campaigns enter their final stretch of the race, voters all around the country are weighing their options and casting their ballots.

T hu rs d ay n i g ht ’s presidential debate, moderated by NBC’s Kristin Welker, was President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden’s last nationwide opportunity to make a pitch to the remaining undecided voters who will ultimately decide the winner of the election in just under one week.

Two politically active South Dakota State University students, Blake Kennington and Grace Nelson, shared their thoughts on the final debate and what effect they predict it will have come Nov. 3. Kennington is leaning toward Joe Biden’s ticket, citing the forward-thinking policies regarding nuclear energy, the plan to combat climate change and “not inciting racial division.”

“Trump has a really abrasive personality and his personal quirks have not made this country any better and has not improved our reputation on the world stage,” Kennington said.

Nelson, on the other

hand, is leaning toward Donald Trump’s ticket and highlighted the president’s foreign policies and her overall distaste for the Democratic ticket as main factors.

“I prefer Trump’s policies and firm hand on foreign affairs. I think he’s a businessman first and a politician second,” Nelson said. “I think Biden has been in politics too long and too much of his identity comes from being ‘Obama’s right-hand man.’”

In the debate, the candidates discussed their plans on handling the COVID-19 pandemic, race relations, election security and climate change. Both Nelson and Kennington

agreed the debate was more constructive because President Trump took on a much more relaxed demeanor compared to the first debate, which critics say was marred by interruptions and incivility.

“In general, Trump had a higher tendency to interrupt than Biden did.

I think Trump presented himself as the more fiery and energetic candidate while Biden presented himself as much more calm and less aggressive,” Kennington said.

Nelson agreed, saying the president was more “restricted” this time, but argued Biden had the better debate overall.

“The debate showed

me B i d e n’s more respectful and polite character. Because of his decorum, I think he performed better overall,” Nelson said.

Though they agreed that Biden presented himself in a way voters will find more appealing, neither thought the debate was anything other than a draw.

“Trump was able to give surprisingly concise answers, especially compared to the last debate,” Kennington said.

“I think Biden’s worst moment was his comment about phasing out oil, which I think will benefit Trump in battleground states like Texas and Pennsylvania with a

huge dependency on oil.”

In Nelson’s opinion, Biden didn’t win the debate because of his poor policy representation. She believes that the former vice president is “swayed easily” and would be a puppet for the more liberal wing of his party.

Nelson and Kennington walked away from the debate with the same Nov. 3 plans they had going in.

“I’ve been following the election cycle for so long and I know what I like and dislike about both of them, so nothing in the debates really shocked me,” Kennington said.

Collegian graphic by OMAR IMRAN (He/Him)

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Local theaters struggle, adapt to COVID lifestyle SYMMONE GAUER Reporter (She/Her) Movie theaters are doing what they can to bring audiences back to the big screen amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s been a tough challenge.

Labeling some seats off-limits, requiring masks and filtering the air are just some of the precautions they are taking, but the public hasn’t been quick to return.

Despite the differences, some patrons are enjoying the theaters all the same.

“To me, it was actually pretty normal … Honestly, it didn’t seem like any different experience,” Abby Noltner, a junior nursing student at South Dakota State University, said. She saw the new sci-fi film “Tenet” in theaters late September with a friend.

Cara Teigum, a junior agricultural leadership student, also saw “Tenet.”

“I don’t know that all that much changed except less people,” Teigum said.

She noted that there were only a handful of people in the theater besides her and her friends when she went.

“You know how you leave a movie and you talk about it? I’m pretty sure we talked about it for another two hours — just could not stop talking about it. I was holding on the whole time,” Teigum said.

But “Tenet,” the cerebral thriller directed by

Christopher Nolan, did not produce the results the movie industry was hoping for.

The New York Times said Warner Bros. promoted the $200 million film as a “’global tent pole of jaw-dropping size, scope and scale,’” and it was part of the reason many theaters in the U.S. opened back up before Labor Day. “I don’t want to call it an upscale-type picture, but it was,” said Dick Peterson, owner of Brookings Cinema 8. As a third-generation theater

The results were the same all over the country, according to data from The Numbers. “Tenet” grossed only $50.6 million at the domestic box office, which is underwhelming compared to the $188 million box office gross of Nolan’s 2014 film “Interstellar.” “Tenet” is faring better at the international box office with a gross of nearly $282 million. This is, in part, because more international theaters have reopened during the pandemic than in the U.S. Brookings Cinema 8

“The short answer is that we were losing more money being open than we are being closed,” KEN THEWES Regal’s Chief Marketing Officer owner, Peterson realized “Tenet’s” target audience was perhaps too narrow.

Christopher Nolan’s films are described as deep and often confusing, and Tenet’s time travel plot was no exception.

“Either you like Christopher Nolan or you don’t. ‘Tenet’ [is a] good picture, it just didn’t do the business we anticipated,” Peterson said.

Todd Frager, the manager at West Mall 7 Theaters in Sioux Falls, agreed. “‘Tenet’ performed very … I don’t want to say it was too bad, but it was pretty weak here in the Midwest,” he said.

reopened to the public May 22 and is now operating only Fridays through Sundays and Tuesdays. With over 1,200 seats between the eight theaters inside Cinema 8, Petersen said only 337 seats are available for patrons because of social distancing measures.

The fall is already a poor time of year for moviegoing, according to Frager. Now, because of the pandemic, many film companies have either pulled their films to release through streaming or pushed the release dates into 2021.

Many theaters, like Cinema 8, have been

showing older films to fill the void.

Sydnie Peters, a fifth-year senior double majoring in agricultural leadership and dairy manufacturing, has been taking advantage of the classics. She went to showings of all three “The Lord of the Rings” films at the Brookings theater.

“I’m a big ‘Lord of the Rings’ fan, so that’s what caught my interest. And then they were playing the extended editions, which I’ve never seen before, so I [thought] ‘Oh, my gosh, I need to see these,’” Peters said. “It’s just such an awesome opportunity to see some of my favorite movies in theaters.”

Unfortunately, the movie-theater business is still hurting—and that’s everywhere. Regal Cinemas, the second largest movie theater chain the country, temporarily closed all its theaters Oct. 9.

“The short answer is that we were losing more money being open than we are being closed,” said Regal’s chief marketing officer Ken Thewes in an email. “Not all locations are allowed to open, and studios are withholding/ delaying their biggest movies, so there’s limited consumer interest where we are open. It’s a bit of a chicken-and-egg issue.”

Many small theaters are in the same position. Data from Statista shows the number of indoor movie theaters in the United States has

declined by 21% in the past 20 years. Teigum said her hometown theater, which was already talking about closing before the pandemic, will likely stay closed.

Layoffs are another issue.

“It hits all of us,” Peterson said.

The Brookings theater company, which also runs the theater in Pierre, is down 63% in employees, having gone from 81 people before the pandemic to only 30 part-time staff, despite them being open for business.

“It’s been just devastating,” Frager said of the pandemic. “We were getting it from both ways.

We had the community that was cautious about coming to a movie theater, and along with that, a lack of product — it was just a perfect reason not to go to movies.”

As theater owners, Peterson and Frager understand the position film companies are in. Many can’t afford to advertise their films right now, and the uncertainty in releasing poses another issue. Other studios continue to push back release dates, and some are seeking to recoup losses by turning to streaming.

“Film companies have to stay in business — I get that they have to make those decisions,” Frager said.

Still, theater companies do not view streaming as a major threat to the business, which was

the case even before the pandemic.

Since television shows make up a large percentage of streaming content, the impact has been greater on network and cable than it has been on the movie theater industry. According to an article from CNBC, Netflix typically offers a “cost-plus” model for TV shows with the standard commission being 30% plus production costs.

Katie Sorenson, a junior double major in public relations and communication studies, is one who prefers streaming services like Netflix because she would rather watch something shorter.

“It kind of runs in my family that we don’t really watch movies very often,” said Sorenson. “And I do enjoy, more so, that Netflix

October 28, 2020

has shorter shows.”

For films, while heading directly to streaming means immediate cash for studios, many films have more opportunity to profit by theatrical releases.

Thewes explains it makes more sense financially for a $100 million blockbuster film to be released in theaters first, since films with theatrical releases are often sold to streaming services not long after the fact, which maximizes its revenue.

Another article from CNBC uses Marvel’s “Black Widow” as an example, which cost between $150 million and $200 million to produce.

Such a film could bring in anywhere from $750 million to $1 billion at the global box office.

“Some movies are

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Collegian graphic by OMAR IMRAN (He/Him)

fine for streaming and some are made for the big screen,” he said. “‘Avengers: Endgame’ was a much different experience when viewed … at a movie theatre versus watching on your phone or TV.”

typically have more success with direct-tostreaming, a chance at a theatrical release, such as was the case with “The Broken Hearts Gallery.”

In Sorenson’s experience, she would only go to the theaters if there was

“Some movies are fine for streaming and some are made for the big screen,” he said. “’Avengers: Endgame’ was a much different experience when viewed … at a movie theatre versus watching on your phone or TV.”

KEN THEWES Regal’s Chief Marketing Officer On the other side of things, the pandemic has given smaller-budget, independent films, which

a really good movie, but this also is congruent with one of the trends of moviegoers: their irregularity

in going. While the “hardcore moviegoer” numbers are dwindling, there are more occasional moviegoers making up for the loss in terms of revenue.

Occasional moviegoers like Sorenson and Noltner who see films less than once a month made up 40% of U.S. audiences in 2019, according to Statista, whereas only 14% of people frequented the theater more than once a month. The other 46% of patrons go to a movie theater once a year or less.

“I didn’t go on a regular basis, so it was almost like a treat,” Noltner said.

According to Statista, the number of movie tickets sold in the U.S. and Canada was highest in 2002 at 1.58 billion, a number that has been on a steady decline since. In 2018, 1.31 billion tickets were sold, and in 2019, the number was 1.24 billion.

Despite attendance being on the decline, box-office revenues have been rising.

The domestic box office hit an all-time record of $11.9 billion in 2018, with films such as “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Black Panther,” “A Star is Born” and “A Quiet Place” released that year.

The global box office hit an all-time record in 2019 with a total of $42.2 billion, a year that also holds the third highest domestic record at $11.3 billion.

That year saw “Avengers: Endgame,” “Toy Story 4,” “Joker” and “Frozen II.” This year was set to be another big year, with releases such as “Wonder Woman 1984,” “Black

Widow,” “Coming 2 America” and “Tenet.”

“We were excited about our future, especially after the first of the year,” Frager said. “It was extra disappointing that COVID happened, because we really thought 2020 was going to be a big year for us.”

While the pandemic leaves many industries struggling, there is hope for the future.

“I think we’re going to see an uptick in box office ticket sales … and then it’s probably going to level off a bit after that,” said Rocky Dailey, an SDSU professor who teaches film classes. He says it’s the experience people have been missing out on over the past six months that will bring them back to the theaters, along with the new releases.

“I look forward to it,” Peterson said. “I think the vaccine will be here, and I think that the people will feel comfortable.”

West Mall 7, for example, is hoping to bring in more patrons with the addition of beer sales in their concessions.

Frager figured the pandemic was the perfect time to reapply for a malt-beverage license from the Sioux Falls City Council because beer sales could boost business.

“We want to give our adult moviegoers a different option, and potentially bring in some patrons that maybe wouldn’t come to this theater otherwise,” Frager said.

H i s go a l i s t o start selling before

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Thanksgiving and then start to see a comeback, but more importantly, the Sioux Falls company wants people to feel safe coming to the movies.

Several SDSU students are excited for that day. Peters even said the pandemic has had a positive impact on her desire to see a film in theaters. “[It’s] definitely something I’m going to try and work into my schedule more, because I remembered how much I enjoy going to the movies,” Peters said. “You can watch anything at home, but there’s just something, a different feeling you get, being in a movie theater and seeing it on a big screen. Having big surround sound, all dark, it’s an experience really, not just a movie.”

Dailey said the movie theater industry has endured many challenges in its existence, when the first films were simply people walking out of a factory.

“And even then, there were people who said it was a fad,” he said.

Then, it was sound that was a challenge for the theaters, then television, then VCR, then streaming. But the experience of a theater is a form of escapism, as Dailey calls it, and an event bigger than life, something a pandemic isn’t going to change.

“They’re going to survive,” Dailey said.

“They’re just going to look different.”

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LIFESTYLES

A “perfectly splendid” show: The Haunting of Bly Manor ARYN LOOYENGA Reporter (She/Her) The Haunting of Bly Manor is the second series of Mike Flanagan’s “The Haunting” anthology. This production is based on Henry James’ novel “The Turn of the Screw,” similar to Shirley Jackson’s “The Haunting of Hill House” novel-based first series.

The narration of The Haunting of Bly Manor begins with a wedding rehearsal and a character who wants to share the haunting story of one of her dear friends. Her story starts by introducing a small family with two children living in Bly Manor, a place in the countryside in England. They have a gardener, housekeeper and cook, but look to fill an au pair, or live-in nanny, position.

As one of the main characters, Dani, struggles with her own trauma, she takes the position to care for the children, Miles and Flora. While in the house, she starts seeing and experiencing strange things.

T h ro u g h o u t t h e series, each character at Bly has their own episode of telling their past to understand their present and future. With love affairs, drama and troubling times, the people

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of Bly manor never seem to leave the property. The story after the rehearsal ties everything into place, from the first second of episode one to the last of episode nine.

It says it right in the title: Haunting. While I didn’t think this show is as scary as The Haunting of Hill House, it has its creepy twists and turns.

The source of eeriness

is solely within the house.

Much like the first series, the majority of scenes are dark, within an old, haunted-looking house.

It also has many connections that one may not grab onto after the first watch. The presence of these connections are seen only by watchers with good eyes.

The performance and production is “perfectly

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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splendid.”

Every actor is good at holding their character, especially the children.

10-year-old Benjamin Evan Ainsworth played Miles, and Amelie Bea Smith, 9, played Flora. Ainsworth began acting at a young age, starring in Disney’s “Flora and Ulysses.”

Smith began as a voice actor for “Peppa Pig.”

Emily Seaton Editor-in-Chief

Some of their English accents seemed forced, but their ability to act as completely new characters is shocking.

To watchers who expected an add-on to The Hill House series, there are no longer family relations to one another.

Originally, it frustrated me that there wasn’t a connection to The Hill House series. I really

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liked it and I wanted to watch more, but I thoroughly enjoyed learning a completely new story, despite the effort to recognize new characters.

The first few episodes are in their present time with Dani, experiencing strange things that only she understands. Following those episodes, it falls into an explanation of everything happening, with certain episodes focusing on sole characters. This is how the story makes sense, but I wished there were more connections throughout that led back to that present time.

While I have not read the books that these stories are based on, I’m fascinated by how James and Jackson maintained their ideas within their novels.

I like the idea of multiple series based on different plots, as well. Most shows need to be watched in seasons chronologically, but these two were completely separate.

I definitely recommend watching The Haunting of Bly Manor, as well as The Haunting of Hill House. The last episodes when everything falls into place makes it worth the watch.

Letters to the Editor Send letters to letters@ sdsucollegian.com or to USU 069 Box 2815, Brookings, S.D. 57006.

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LIFESTYLES

October 28, 2020

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South Dakota Art Museum celebrates 50 years with 50 works MEGAN BERTSCH Copy Editor (She/Her)

Collegian photo by MEGAN BERTSCH (She/Her) South Dakota Art Museum’s 50 Works for 50 Years exhibition shows a journey through time.

To honor their 50th a n n ive r s a r y t a k i n g place May 31, 2020, the South Dakota Art Museum launched an exhibition from their own archives titled 50 Works for 50 Years: Collections Retrospective with a variety of pieces representing the museum in different ways.

The exhibition features 50 pieces for each year the museum has operated, from a Thomas Hart Benton piece representing 1970 to an Andy Warhol print for 2019.

Each piece was hand-selected from the thousands of works the museum has collected over the years and serves a specific significance to the museum and South Dakota State University.

“I think we have just over 7000 objects in our collection,” Taylor McKeown, collections curator, said. “Jodi [the exhibition’s curator] was ultimately the one who selected the works for the show, but she certainly talked to us because there is a lot to pick from.”

Jo d i Lundgren, Interim Director and Exhibitions Curator, described picking the pieces like putting together a puzzle. The works represent many local artists with close ties to SDSU as well as those from across the state and country. Some are traditional historical works from the founding of the state while

others are modern and contemporary.

“It really is piece to piece what we feel is the most significant thing,” Lundgren said.

“Sometimes it’s the artists, sometimes it’s the collector or somebody who helped us to acquire the piece or the subject matter of the piece. Sometimes it’s all of them.”

Lundgren also explained how the exhibition fell at the right time in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic as it would have been difficult to do an exhibition from outside sources.

“Borrowing shows or borrowing works from artists is tricky right now, so it works with the pandemic situation,” Lundgren said.

of all the works are available to view online too, for those who don’t want to leave home to experience the exhibit.

“People can engage both in the gallery and then take that [experience] home with them ... We’re all kind of stuck at home and essentially forced to explore what’s around us. This is such rich material for people to explore,” Lundgren said.

The curators also recommend visiting the museum in person as a break from the stresses of the unique semester.

Because the classes usually held there are online, they’ve noticed a dramatic decrease in foot traffic and students exposed to their artwork. There are many

“We are all kind of stuck at home and essentially forced to explore what’s around us. This is such rich material for people to explore” JODI LUNDGREN Interim Director and Exhibitions Curator “We’ve kind of adjusted schedules and extended things, but it’s definitely a good time to reflect on what we have, what we’ve done and what we are.”

The museum is also utilizing new ways to come and view the artwork. Each piece has a QR code guests can scan to learn more about the work and how it is connected with the museum.

They are sharing information about more years of artwork every week, so there is always something new to discover. Pictures

procedures put in place to keep the museum a safe space, and all students are invited to spend time there and soak up everything they have to offer.

“Our traffic is quite down, which is standard for most museums right now,” Lundgren said, “but there’s a lot of space here.

There’s a lot of room to properly social distance yourself. So we want people to know they can come here and spend a lot of time very comfortably and very safely.”

A10 October 28, 2020 sdsucollegian.com

OPINION

EDITORIAL Issue: Make time to go vote The 2020 election is just around the corner, and with an election year as controversial as this, voting is imperative.

While it may be too late to submit a ballot by mail, you can still vote in person on, or before, Election Day. Before you head to the polls, do your research. Look at example ballots for your district online and inform yourself about the policies and politicians you’ll be voting on.

Plan ahead. Make room in your schedule to vote, even if that means standing in line for a while or taking a

“sick day” from class. Early voting allows you to hopefully beat the stress and hours of waiting Nov. 3, but there still may be a crowd depending on how busy your polling station is.

To vote early, the Brookings City and County Government Center is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Nov. 2. On Election Day, the voting centers for Brookings County are the Brookings Activity Center, Bethel Baptist Church, Holy Life Tabernacle Church and Aurora Little Hall. These locations are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In the state of South Dakota, employers can give workers up to two hours to leave and vote; however, they are not required to do so if the employee has two consecutive hours where they may vote outside of their work schedule.

In the event that you do have to wait in line, make sure you bring a mask and social distance. Bring your driver’s license with you as well, or all that time waiting will be for nothing.

If you decide to vote in person on Election Day, be prepared for a wait, but stick it out. If the line discourages

you, remember that voting is your civic responsibility, and why would you want other people making those decisions for you?

We at The Collegian urge everyone, whether it’s today or Nov. 3, to get out and vote for the administration you want to represent you for the next four years.

The Collegian Editorial Board meets weekly and agrees on the issue of the editorial.

The editorial represents the opinion of The Collegian.

CORRECTION OCT. 21 In the Oct. 21 issue, the story “Students’ Association vice president moves to remove senator” referenced a “dispute between” Sen. Christopher Svarstad and Communications Chair Blake Pulse. This verbiage does not accurately reflect the events of the meeting. Additionally, the story did not contain comments from Vice President Reis Bruely and Communications Chair Pulse. These changes have been made to the online version of this story on sdsucollegian.com

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sdsucollegian.com

OPINION

October 28, 2020

A11

Halloween, paying homage or appropriating?

Collegian photo by OMAR IMRAN (He/Him) Though a witch’s hat is a Halloween staple, however, cultural headwear like sombreros or headdresses, should not be used as a Halloween costume as it is disrespectful to the cultures they are associated with.

ANDRE GARY-MACK Opinion Editor (He/Him) Cultural appropriation is something that has infiltrated society with the help of mainstream culture and social media.

This is the season to display our most creative sides through costume and traditions, but there most certainly is a difference between paying homage to a culture and their traditional attire and cultural appropriation.

Cultural appropriation is defined as the u n a c k n ow l e d ge d o r inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices and ideas of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society. For example, any of the Kardashian women wearing cornrows in their hair. While some may argue that it is just hair, it is more about the history

behind the hairstyle and why them wearing something like that is more offensive than paying homage.

For Halloween, these lines can be blurred.

It is difficult to understand where something becomes offensive and how we appropriate a costume.

According to Kas Williams, South Dakota State University’s chief diversity officer, education is the key to understanding what is culturally appropriate and what is offensive.

“It starts with saying hello and getting to know someone,” she said regarding what can be done on campus to change the narrative.

Take the ever so popular “Indian Chief ” costume worn for decades by many people, from kindergartners in a school play or classroom Halloween party to Cher

and the Village people on stage.

SDSU is a land grant university with a deep rooted Native American s t u d e nt p o p u l at i o n .

So why is dressing as Pocahontas, Indian Brave or Big Chief problematic? Some people wear these costumes out of naiveté and others in blatant disregard, disrespect and irreverence.

“Sometimes [you] get a pass. But to say [you] did not know, especially when we are in 2020 when there is too much education and knowledge out there, is no longer an excuse,” Williams said.

Making a mistake and painting yourself in black face as a white student wanting to be Obama for Halloween is not acceptable, but can be forgiven the first time. Maybe.

When you do it a second time, it’s deliberate.

If you want to dress up or represent another

culture for Halloween, do your homework.

Understand why the Hispanic and Latino community paint their face or wear masks like

Careteas. Know the symbolism behind a Native American chief and why they wear a headdress. We are living in a racially sensitive society and political

unrest right now.

It is important now more than ever to really understand one another.

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A12

October 28, 2020 sdsucollegian.com

SPORTS

Icy weather makes perfect time for ice fishing

Collegian graphic by HOLLIE LEGGETT (SHE/HER)

STEPHANIE HENKE Reporter (She/Her) As the weather cools down, ice fishing in South Dakota heats up. Here’s a few tips on how to catch your limit.

There are eight lakes in Brookings County, six in Hamlin County and 12 in Kingsbury County.

Some of the most popular include Lake Sinai in Volga, Lake Thompson in Kingsbury County, Oakwood Lake in Bruce, the pond on Hwy 81 East (also called Twin Lakes) and Lake Poinsett in Hamlin County. Each lake offers something different, and you need to know where to spend your fishing time.

Twin Lakes is great for a quick fishing trip. It is home to walleye, bass,

pike and perch. Lake Sinai is just southeast of Twin Lakes and is stocked with walleye and muskellunge.

“Sinai is a tough lake to fish. You need to go to the middle where it’s deeper,” Scott Nelson, an employee at Gas ‘N Mor, one of Brookings’ most popular bait shops, said.

Nelson suggests Lake Thompson and Poinsett when looking for a good bite.

Fishers usually catch something on Thompson, which is filled with walleye, crappie, perch and northern pike. The lake is also part of Lake Thompson Recreation Area. This could make for a good weekend trip or a more dedicated, all day trip.

Poinsett offers walleye, bass, pike and perch on a large, 7,978-acre lake.

Both lakes are more of a trip, both being about a 45-minute drive from Brookings.

Before you head out on the ice, tackle is important. Wyatt Beyer, former South Dakota State University student and vice president of the South Dakota State Fishing Club, suggests a few different options.

Walleye, perch and crappie usually respond to jigging wraps and spoons. For smaller fish, lighter tackle usually gets the best results. Little tungsten jig heads are nearly universal.

South Dakota allows one fisherman to cast four lines. For this reason, Dave Lucchesi, the area fisheries supervisor for the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department (GFP), recommends using

a tip-up with a minnow to allow you to spread out on the ice, increasing your chances of catching fish.

As for bait, wax worms are always a good bait to have in your pocket for any species. Perch enjoy maggots or minnows as well as wax worms.

According to Beyer, grubworm and minnow tend to work well. Lucchesi suggests chub, creek chub and minnows for walleye fishing.

“A lot of bait and tackle depends on what people think they [the fish] like that day,” Nelson said.

Finding the fish is the next challenge. Knowing the topography of the lake you fish on is important.

Oakwood Lake only reaches depths of nine feet, making it best for perch fishing. Lake Sinai

can reach 33 feet, making for better walleye and northern pike fishing.

Using a topographical map, which are available online, can give you a sense of where to set up, since drilling holes in the ice is harder than driving your boat to a different spot or casting on the other side of the boat.

To make it even easier, Lucchesi suggests an app like Navionics.

“Navionics shows you where you are. It makes it easier to place yourself exactly where you want,” Lucchesi said. “Fish may be out in the middle or come out to the points.”

Lucchesi also says to take note of fish behavior.

Fish tend to follow similar patterns in regard to temperature, time of day or season. Often, fish will swim lower when

the temperature drops or higher when the temperature rises. Taking this into account can narrow the search for the perfect spot.

Other devices that can help are more advanced tools. Using a Vexilar—a sonar device used to show depth and movement—or an underwater camera can bring you a step closer to your limit.

Of course, expensive gear isn’t necessary to catch your limit. Nelson suggested a beginners tackle box should include plain hooks, red and gold, split shots, bobbers and jigging wraps. A homemade piano wire can work just as well as a $200 pole, and worms found in your backyard can be just as effective as a bag of chubs.

Read full story online at sdsucollegian.com