B2 Plain Talk: Heritage Edition October 10, 2014 www.plaintalk.net Celebrating A Century The University Of South Dakota’s Dakota Days By Alan Dale The Plain Talk A century has passed and a new millennium has begun in recent times. Both have one thing in common: They each encompassed the passing moments and created memories of the University of South Dakota’s Dakota Days celebration. That celebration is the USD Homecoming and the events that lead up to the finale on a Saturday full of football fans who celebrate the Coyotes’ squad. This Saturday the Coyotes take the field for a Homecoming game as they have 100 times before. The year’s Homecoming game on the 100th anniversary of Dakota Days will feature the Coyotes and the Northern Iowa Panthers with a 3 p.m. kickoff this Saturday at the DakotaDome. That game will wrap what promised to be a glorious week of fun and celebration in and around the USD campus. For a century the university has given so much to its students, athletes, and everyone else who has contributed to the pageantry of Dakota Days. Be it getting the campus to that glorious week, playing a major part in the festivities, or just being on the periphery, everything in and around the school and in Vermillion is touched by Dakota Days. So was The Plain Talk. That is why we have dedicated our annual Heritage edition to honoring people who have played a huge role in making USD campus life Fred Borsch, was given a coyote pup by Ollie Wiswell, who found Tootsie near Custer Peak in 1947. Fred raised Tootsie in Galena, South Dakota, a mining ghost town. Tootsie was named official South Dakota coyote during the “Days of ‘76” in 1947. Fred took Tootsie into town often, even to ride in parades. She died in 1959 following surgery for a tumor. and Dakota Days such a magical existence in Vermillion. They come in all shapes and sizes and background. They are dancers, teachers, fraternity and sorority members, athletic trainers, athletes, students, administrators, and future leaders. What they all have in common is an essential role in forming the blood that creates a powerful heartbeat called Dakota Days. Did we interview someone representing every student organization or background role that plays a huge part in the success of USD? No, not even close. There aren’t enough years in the day to give that many people that much respect and attention. But we did our best with the help of the USD Alumni Association and President Jim Abbott’s office. We appreciate all the people we interviewed past and present to tell just some of the stories of students current and former. In some of our pieces we found a way to tie the past with the present and in other instances we let today’s Coyotes tell the tale of what it means to be a student at USD. What it all came back to was how special this place on this particular week wrapping in this upcoming weekend. Dakota Days… A 100-plus reasons to appreciate the University of South Dakota and Vermillion. KNUTSON FAMILY DENTISTRY Dr. Richard Knutson Dr. Matthew Knutson Dental Excellence for Children & Adults The Student Government Association Office, pictured above, is a busy place on campus. Serving as the bridge between the University and the Vermillion community, the state, faculty and staff, the office works hard to make sure that information that the students need gets to them in a timely fashion. Lyssa Henrich/For The Plain Talk Passion Drives The Student Government Association By Angela Morrow The Plain Talk President of the Student Government Association (SGA) Tyler Tordsen, a senior in the Political Science and Economics programs, shares his views on who the SGA is. “(The SGA) serve as the bridge between the greater university, Vermillion community, the state, the administration, faculty and staff for all students,” Tordsen said. They serve as a source of information and assistance for the University of South Dakota students. They also help fund campus organizations. “More specifically to one of our larger goals is to be the, not just the advisor, but the organizer of various student organizations,” Tordsen said. “We disperse all the student fees to student organizations. I guess the GAF fees (General Activity Fees); we get a portion of student fees that we divvy out to all the student organizations that are funding eligible so they can put on events for all students. So we work with them on their constitutions and on budget requests and just on projects that they want to work on. “On top of that we meet weekly too as the government, Student Government Association. We can bring up various concerns, create legislation that impacts campus. We just kinda work with a variety of different groups.” This is where the passion comes in. SGA members act as leaders in the community. They represent the voice of the students. “I think the biggest thing is that you have to have the passion to help,” Tordsen said. “You have to be able to listen. You have to not be afraid to speak up. The biggest thing is serving as a leader because these people are elected by their peers.” SGA members connect with the students to give them a better college experience. Communication is key here and one way the SGA communicates is by asking the students what they want. “(SGA members) are supposed to represent them so we really encourage them and we do a good job of reaching out to our students,” Tordsen said. “Hey how’s it going, what’s your USD experience like? Is there anything that you would like to see changed, or anything that you would like to try or what would help you become more successful?” The SGA continues to serve the student body after graduation. This year as part of the Dakota Days celebration, the SGA is helping with a special Alumni event. This is another example of them bridging a connection with currents students and the greater community. “We have the Onward Campaign Kickoff Friday night and that’s the red tie,” Tordsen said. “They call it the Red Tie Gala and that is going to be in here in the expansion. They’re shutting down the first floor of the MUC and it’s a huge Alumni event. “This year SGA is going to help be ushers and hold the doors and visit and mingle with alums and kind of tell them what it’s like to be a coyote now. So I guess that’s how SGA’s playing into Dakota Days specifically.” Have a safe and fun D-Days! Go Yotes! Cosmetic • Implants General Practice •Single Visit Crowns Braces For Adults & Children •Invisalign HOURS: Monday – Friday, 8:30 – 5:30 1714 East Cherry Street, Vermillion 605.624.6291