The South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship is here to stay, at least for another year.

The Opportunity Scholarship provides qualifying incoming freshmen with $5,000 in funds to be applied to tuition costs at a higher education institute in South Dakota.

Earlier this year, there was discussion in the South Dakota Legislature that the scholarship wouldn’t be available to freshmen entering college in the 2005-2006 school year because of low funding. It was also rumored that current recipients may not get money for anything but their first year of college.

About 360 SDSU students received the scholarship and some were upset at the prospect of not getting the money that was promised.

“I was kind of angry that they were even thinking about getting rid of it because they should have looked into the cost before implementing it,” said Tyler Poppen, an 18-year-old freshman environmental management major.

However, the money has been appropriated and qualifying incoming freshmen and current recipients can expect to continue to receive the scholarship funds.

“There was some concern about whether the scholarship could be funded because so many students met the criteria to receive it, but the scholarship is being offered again this year,” said Marysz Rames, dean of Student Affairs.

The future of the scholarship beyond this year is uncertain, but if the citizens of South Dakota have any control, the scholarship will be offered indefinitely. Most see it as a useful tool to keep students in South Dakota and at the same time, recognize them for their hard work.

“I can’t say what the governor and the legislators will decide about the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship, but I think that there are a lot of South Dakotans who support it and will work to keep it,” Rames said.

Students who were freshmen in the fall 2004 semester were the first to receive the scholarship.

One thousand dollars is awarded for each of the first three years of college attendance and $2,000 is awarded for the fourth year. Scholarship recipients must maintain a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and must complete at least 30 credit hours during the academic year. To retain the scholarship, they must also meet the minimum passing scores set by the Board of Regents (BOR) on all sections of the BOR college proficiency examination the first time they take it.

Many have either seen or worked with J.D. Henriksen in theater productions at SDSU. Henriksen became involved with drama during his sophomore year of high school and has been in a number of SDSU plays since.

However, the well-known actor is now taking a different approach to drama; he is directing the upcoming play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Once a year, State University Theater gives a senior the opportunity to direct an experimental play, and Henriksen decided to try it for fun this year.

“Directing is a lot of responsibility, but you get to take on each character as you are envisioning the production as a whole,” said the 23-year-old communication studies/theater with theater option major.

Although directing is a big job, Henriksen does have some help with the production. A staff is helping as needed to make the production run smoothly. They help design the set, control the lights and set the props.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead presents an inside-out view of Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet, Prince of Denmark as seen by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two minor characters summoned to the Danish court in order to determine the cause of Hamlet’s supposed madness.

“Some people would classify this as a tragicomedy because, as it states in the title, the two main characters die in the end; there’s really no hiding that. It’s funny, though, because the two main characters get confused about what is going on around them in Denmark,” Henriksen said.

One of the decisions that Henriksen has made as director is to “double” cast members. The play script calls for 15 to 20 cast members, but Henriksen is working with a cast of 10.

“I decided to double some people up for the play; that’s something you don’t see very often around here,” Henriksen said.

The play will be held on April 26 and 27 in the Performing Arts Center’s Fishback Studio Theater. It will begin at 8 p.m. both nights. Free tickets will be available at the door on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The Brookings Domestic Abuse Shelter Fundraiser will be held on Thursday, April 14 at the Brookings Inn Convention Center. The “Honor Your Office” luncheon will begin promptly at noon and will last for about an hour.

The program will include lunch, presentation of thanks to donors and sponsors of special projects and entertainment. This year’s event will be the 17th annual fundraiser for the shelter.

All of the money raised from the luncheon will go into the shelter’s general fund which provides a haven for victims of domestic abuse, stalking, and sexual assault.

“It is certainly open to the public, and we encourage everyone to come out,” said Niki Amundson, Rural Advocate for the shelter.

Every year the shelter schedules entertainment for its fundraiser luncheon. This year comedian Al Katz and his “Step Over the Line” show will be the headliner. Katz strives to find everyone’s borderline of humor and then barely step over it.

Katz has had multiple television appearances, including stints on Showtime Comedy Club Network, Comedy Central, The Oprah Winfrey Show, HBO and The Today Show. Additionally, he has worked with Joe Namath, Tom Hanks, Robin Williams, Dennis Miller, Burt Reynolds and Jay Leno.

Tickets for the event are $15 in advance. For more information about the fundraiser or for tickets, call 692-7233 between 9 a.m and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Many college students don’t think ahead to next week, let alone to “their future.” Creating a budget now can help students avoid money problems later. Unfortunately, the majority of college students don’t have a written budget, possibly one of the most important components to being successful during college.

“When you are in high school, you don’t really have to worry about bills and stuff like that. When you get to college, you have to think about bills and school costs, especially if you live off campus, so making a budget is wise. You obviously don’t want to spend more than you have,” says Ruth Burroughs, a freshman pre-veterinary/biology major.

One of the major causes of debt across America is the unlimited use of credit cards. College students especially use credit cards to pay for anything and everything. It often leads to unforeseen problems. If people cannot pay off their card balances in a timely fashion, the interest adds up and becomes overwhelming. Some people even have multiple cards, which they use to pay off other credit card balances.

“Credit cards can cause big problems for students. I don’t think that many realize that they have to pay off balances by the end of the month or they will accumulate interest,” says Jaime Borchert, a junior sociology/criminal justice major.

This interest can be up to 12 percent and it may be compounded often. The interest rate and compounding schedule are determined by the individual card companies, so it is important to read the fine print carefully before signing anything. Creating a budget can help keep you on track by holding you accountable for your money.

To build your budget, calculate monthly income including money from jobs, allowance, and stipends from grants and scholarships. Next, consider living costs, including fixed costs (those bills that come monthly), school expense, and personal or entertainment expenses. Subtract your costs from total income, making sure that it’s a positive amount. If cost of living exceeds income, re-evaluate expenses and try to find ways to save money, even if it means giving up Saturday rituals of eating at Taco John’s.

Another obvious way to save money is to get a job if you don’t already have one. If you are confused as to how to obtain a job, the CAP Center is a great place to start. It is located on the second floor of the Medary Commons building.

“If students want to cover all their bases, they should register with us and with the One-Stop Career Center; we work with students looking for internships, part-time, and summer jobs, while the Career Center deals more with full-time opportunities in a broader area,” says Susan Fredrikson, the Employment Development Director for the CAP Center.

Looking for job openings early is a good idea because it gives you time to talk to potential employers, build a network, and find the best job for you. They can sometimes be completed for credits, but it is up to the discretion of your department.

Getting involved in your school and community is also important. This could be as simple as being active in an organization or a community service project that you are passionate about. The activities you participate in throughout college can be used to pump up your resume.

“It’s a good idea to have a resume ready. Some employers require them; others do not, but it is a way to show that you are prepared either way” says Fredrikson.

There is no better time than the present to learn to manage your money or to increase your skills and experience. Preparation in college will allow you to enjoy life after college, when you are doing what you have always wanted to do.

SDSU students were given the chance to learn about writing in the Midwest.

The 29th Annual Great Plains Writers’ Conference was held March 21 in the Lincoln Music Hall on the SDSU campus.

This year’s theme was “With a Smile in Our Voice: Humor in Midwestern Writing and Storytelling.” The conference featured many diverse speakers who spoke about anything from the humor of our regional dialect to the Native American oral tradition. Some SDSU students participated in readings of their own works and a discussion about modern poetry. A screening of the film “Fargo” concluded the conference.

Although some students enjoyed experiencing the humorous side of Midwest literature, they were somewhat offended.

“I really liked the Lakota humor session; I thought that it was extremely interesting and I wish it would have lasted longer,” said Stephanie Malecha, a freshman biology major. “I wasn’t impressed with the session about how to talk Minnesotan. I don’t think some things were as accurate as the speaker made them seem.”

Even though people had mixed reactions about some of the sessions, at the end of the day, the conference was still a success, especially considering the student turnout.

“The response was excellent. It was one of the first years that we literally ran out of seats. We were delighted with the student turnout. No session had less than 100 audience members,” said Mary Ryder, conference coordinator.

The purpose of the conference was to identify humor in our culture and learn to laugh at it.

“If we are not able to appreciate and laugh at ourselves, I don’t think we really understand who we are. The purpose of the conference was to acknowledge that people find our region comical, but it is grounded in reality. We are comical, and our very specific regional traits define who we are,” Ryder said.

One of the more popular sessions featured George Frein, a renowned Mark Twain impersonator. He spoke wearing the characteristic white Twain suit. He relayed Mark Twain’s style of humor to the audience using irony and examples from Twain’s works and life. Audience members learned a lot about Twain’s character and American humor in general.

Professor Jerome Kills Small spoke about the legacy of humor in the Native American culture in another session. He discussed the humor that can arise from racial misunderstandings and the traditions of the Lakota nation. Kills Small stressed that we shouldn’t speak in a racist or sexist manner, but we should see the humor in the inevitable misunderstandings that may occur between different races. Because we don’t fully understand other cultures, we are bound to make mistakes. That is part of what makes us human, he said.

The conference was sponsored by the South Dakota Humanities Council and the South Dakota Center for the Book; the SDSU College of Arts and Science; the Department of English; Brookings Friends of the Arts; and private contributors Zeno and Roxanne Wicks and Kathleen Donovan.

Many readers are familiar with the hit MTV reality show “Pimp My Ride.” As an avid fan, I have watched the team “pimp” many a “ride,” but if you don’t religiously tune in, let me catch you up. Every episode, the team members install anything from booming subwoofers to neon lights to platinum rims on worn-out cars, promising that “no matter how busted the ride is, they can turn it into a dope-ass date magnet.”

Usually, the team does the work for a guy desperate to have a car that he can pick chicks up in, but sometimes they do work for the sisters. In one memorable episode, they put a rotating shoe rack into the trunk of a girl’s transformed pink caddy. Having a nice ride is something that both men and women value today.

“I think that a lot of the time, girls have nicer vehicles than guys do because we keep them up. We’re all about the air fresheners and cleaning inside,” says Jennifer O’Donnell, a 20-year-old freshman animal science major from Lemmon.

Even though women may value cleanliness more than pimped out elements, guys like to have fun with their vehicles, adding custom detailing, gigantic tires, tinting to their windows-whatever it takes to personalize their rides. Owning a personalized vehicle isn’t necessarily cheap.

“I put a stereo in my car and lights under it, but after that, I went broke. I like it because it attracts a lot of attention,” says Jeremy Hoffman, a 19-year-old sophomore landscape design major from Rapid City. Hoffman’s 2002 Toyota Celica does attract attention on the SDSU campus at night because of its multi-colored changing lights. Like Hoffman, others see the investment of pimping a car as a wise one.

“Many first impressions are gained by the looks of a person’s car. A pimped-out car can be the difference between a girl giving you that interested second glance or the laugh that tells you she thinks you’re pathetic,” says Patrick Shaffer, a 19-year-old freshman biology/pre-dentistry major from Gregory.

If you are interested in pimping your car and have the bucks to shell out, you should pay a visit to one of the many tinting or detailing shops in Brookings. They take the guesswork out of the job, working with you to create a look for your vehicle that is as unique as you are. If, gentlemen, you are just looking to impress your date, a trip to the car wash might be all it takes to turn your vehicle into a dream machine. And remember, a new air freshener never hurt, either.

On February 27, the stage of Doner Auditorium lit up with the excitement that is pageantry for the Miss SDSU and Miss Brookings Pageants.

The theme for the pageant was “It’s Classic!” In accordance with this theme, throughout the competition, audience members enjoyed song and dance from the ’50s and ’60s. Entertainers performed such pieces as “Dancin’ In the Street,” “I Will Follow Him,” and “Don’t Be Cruel.”

Eight talented women competed for the titles of Miss SDSU and Miss Brookings 2005. Each young woman was judged on the basis of personal interview, accounting for 40% of the total score; talent, 30%; swimsuit and formalwear competitions, 10% each; and onstage question, 10%.

All contestants prepared a talent to perform onstage. This year, all of the talent presentations were musical. The talent portion of the competition is a time for the contestants to show judges a unique part of themselves through something that they are passionate about.

At the end of the competition, Karie Pallansch was crowned Miss SDSU, and Rebecca Murtha was first runner-up. Megan DeBoer clinched the title of Miss Brookings, with Erin Brubakken becoming first runner-up.

“My favorite part of the competition was meeting all of the girls and hanging out with them. I really like the talent competition too,” said Megan DeBoer, the newly-crowned Miss Brookings. DeBoer is a 20-year-old music merchandising/business major from Brookings.

Along with the titles comes responsibility for winners to make a difference in an area that they are concerned about.

“I want to get involved in economic development on campus. I know that there are a lot of professors and organizations working with commerce, and I would like to be a listening ear. I would be a positive voice in promoting economic development. You can do anything with a positive attitude,” said Karie Pallansch, the newly-crowned Miss SDSU. Pallansch is a 22-year-old communications studies major from Veblen.

Those involved with the pageant see different reasons why the experience is good for young women.

“Being able to represent the Brookings community has been great. It is such a great community. Mostly, I hope that someone learned something from my platform over the last year,” said Amy Vickroy, the outgoing Miss Brookings.

“The scholarship for the contestants is the number one benefit of being in the pageant. The next would be the poise and confidence that the girls gain because that will help them when they interview for a job and in life,” said Kristi Richter, the executive director of the pageant. Richter was Miss SDSU in 1992 and went on to become Miss South Dakota.

Area first-graders also enjoyed the spotlight. Each contestant escorted a Little Sister, who joined her onstage for introductions and a walk in formal wear. The Little Sisters and the contestants bonded onstage and off.

“My favorite part of the experience was the Little Sisters. They were fun and my Little Sister, JoAnne, was so cute,” said Rebecca Murtha, the Miss SDSU first runner-up and competition Miss Congeniality.

The winners will represent the community and vie for further scholarships at the Miss South Dakota 2005 Scholarship Pageant in Hot Springs, SD on June 16-18.

There may be more changes to the University Student Union than just a new building when it opens July 1.

One possible change is extended hours of operation. Previously, the union was open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, but the option of keeping it open for an extra hour until midnight is being discussed.

“When we started to plan the new student union, the focus group suggested extending the hours that it would be open,” said Kathy Lusk, director of the University Student Union. “The extra time could be used for student events, study groups, meetings or just hanging out. We took the idea to the students, and they seemed receptive to it, so we are moving forward with the plan.”

Lusk said that the cost of keeping the building open for another hour would be minimal.

Extended hours would give students another place to study while meeting the demands of their unusual schedules.

“… I think extending the hours would be a good thing because a lot of students are night owls. For me personally, it would be a great thing. It’s a place to go other than your dorm room,” said Joy Gibbons, a freshman biology major from Worthing.

It would also help students when working on group projects.

“I think having the Student Union open for another hour will give students more of a chance to study in large groups,” said Brad Blaha, sophomore agricultural education major.

Dining services will also change again next year. Several dining options inside the union will replace DePuy dining hall next year. These will be run like before, with students paying for exactly what they want, rather than an all-you-can-eat buffet.

“We are looking at having five eating concepts, though what we will have hasn’t been finalized yet,” said Dave Menzel, director of Dining Services.

The five eating concepts being considered are: The Grille, hamburgers and chicken strips; Home Zone/Fast Tracks, wraps and homestyle food; Stir Crazy, a Mongolian barbecue/stir-fry; Basil’s, a create-your-own pasta bar; and Tortilla Fresca, a Mexican eatery.

Students are eager to have the dining options available in the union again.

“I … think it’s fine that we are going to lose DePuy because this campus is lacking places for an a la carte supper,” Blaha said. “Being on the west side of campus, Medary is basically my only option; the union will be another place I could go for supper.”

Lusk said other changes within the dining area deal with the layout of the area and seating.

“We have added 150 … seats to the student union and opened up the serving area so it has more of a mall feel and people don’t have to stand in long lines,” said Lusk.

Rooms in the union will also change. For instance, the ballroom of the union has been moved from the second floor to the first floor and expanded from 4,800 square feet to 9,000 square feet. The bookstore has also been expanded to hold more items and allow people more room while shopping. Five new meeting areas will be open in the Student Union for various collegiate clubs to use as well.

Spring break may be months away, but countless students look as though they have just returned from Cancun.

Coco Chanel was onto something when she decreed the tan a fashionable look in the 1920s. Over eighty years later, tanning is more “fashionable” than ever before. Twenty-eight million Americans annually tan in an estimated 25,000 salons, and SDSU students appear to be keeping up with the trend.

Kelsey Brandrite, an employee at Year Round Brown in Brookings, says, “We see mostly college students tanning here but also some older people.”

A gorgeous tan, which used to be reserved solely for the sunnier summer months, seems now to be a year-round essential for people of all ages. The prospect of donning a dress for the upcoming formal sends some to the tanning salons while others are tanning simply because they enjoy doing so.

“Tanning is relaxing, and I think I look healthier after I have a slight tan,” says Tanya Merritt, a freshman animal science/pre-vet major.

Besides the golden glow and relaxation attainedfrom tanning, there are other benefits. Before a trip to a sunnier climate, vacationers often get a base tan at the salon to reduce the risk of burning in the intense sun. Tanning also helps some people control their acne by clearing out their pores.

Of course, there are dangers to tanning as well as benefits. According to www.skincancer.org, UV radiation, such as that emitted from the lights in indoor tanning beds, is the cause of three common types of skin cancer-basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Burning heightens the risk of skin cancer, which often occurs when inexperienced people use indoor tanning beds. Very fair-skinned people often cannot tan, only burn, and bring out freckles with each attempt. Without the proper eyewear, you can burn your eyes, potentially causing blurred eyesight or blindness. Tanning often also leads to wrinkled, leathery skin later in life.

Even with knowledge of the dangers, some believe the benefits of tanning outweigh the potential dangers.

“If you tan a moderate amount of time and slowly increase your time, you should be just fine,” says Shelly Stueber, who works at the Carousel tanning salon and is a junior ag business major.

Stueber also recommends using tanning lotion, which helps you to tan faster and retain your tan 60 percent longer.

“Tanning lotions are effective because they moisturize your skin. When you moisturize, you don’t lose that top layer of tanned skin, so you can keep your tan for longer,” she says.

For those who don’t want UV exposure but still want the bronze look, there are safer self-tanners and spray machines, such as the Magic Tan at Year Round Brown. The Magic Tan is convenient, taking only one minute to do, but it only lasts four to seven days, so frequent trips are needed to keep your tan looking its best.

Another bronze alternative is self-tanner sprays and lotions that can be found wherever beauty products are sold. You need to reapply these sprays and lotions often to keep a good-looking tan.

You have many options if you do decide to be tan. With many great deals at salons where professionals can help you, getting that bronzed summer look early can be easy -whether you hit the bed or not.

The holiday season is upon us again, and for many, this means more than food, friends, and time away from work or school; it is an excuse to combine the three and throw a party. While hosting a party does involve some work, it doesn’t have to be a huge hassle if you simply follow a few guidelines.

Recently Cheryl Meyer, owner of the Party Depot, held a workshop for people to learn a few party-throwing guidelines.

Meyer stressed the importance of time, saying, “You need to nail down details early and give yourself plenty of time.”

For a great holiday party, begin planning today. You should decide how many people you’d like to invite, when and where you will hold the party (keeping in mind the number of guests you plan to invite), and the theme of the party.

Meyer suggested a Mexican theme for a new twist on a holiday party. You can create your own invitations from red, green, and white construction paper, shaping the invitations to look like the Mexican flag. After writing all of the party information and an R.S.V.P. date (so that you know how many to plan for), have the invites delivered at least a week ahead of time, but not so early that invitees will forget about the party.

Also, you should always have entertainment planned for any party. Having guests play a few traditional Mexican holiday games works well for this party. You could allow guests to take turns trying to break open a Santa pi