I am terrified.

Not of school shootings. But of a way of thinking, I fear has become too common.

An Illinois high-school student now faces disorderly conduct charges for doing his homework. The assignment? To write freely, without reservation. The student, Allen Lee, did, and last week his essay garnered an arrest and an ousting from the Marines.

His work contains profanity and references to violence. And authorities over-reacted.

Arrested for doing his homework? When did we become so scared of free expression?

The right to write belongs not only to journalists, but to all. And those seeking an education should be among the first to defend that freedom.

Lee did not make threats toward a specific person. Sure, his writing may be troubling, but he is not the first to write incendiary material. Nor will he be the last.

As opinion editor, I read things every week I don’t agree with. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Free speech breeds free thought. Let’s keep it that way.

For engineering instructor Jerry Visser, using technology in teaching goes beyond posting schedules and quizzes online.

He wants to connect with his students.

The instructor has become one of the first SDSU educators to use podcasts as part of his courses.

He uses a blog and Facebook to engage his students as well.

“As I started looking at it (Facebook), I realized … if I’m trying to communicate with the students, that’s the place to reach them,” he said. “I’m trying to figure out what makes today’s students tick.”

Through his Facebook page, Visser posts notes to notify students about course material, quizzes and the podcasts he records.

“My purpose for this (podcasts) is not for lectures, it’s more of a study guide,” he says.

His manufacturing technologies class joins the list of two accounting and one journalism class now offering podcasts through iTunes University, said Patricia Edler of the Information Technology Office. The Cooperative Extension Service podcasts portions of its “Garden Line” show as well, she said.

Podcasting technology has been in place at SDSU since fall 2006, she said. Student tech fellows have been trained to help faculty use the option.

“One question set before each faculty member is how can technology enhance their teaching,” Edler wrote in an e-mail.

Since podcasting is new to many educators, Instructional Design Services staff meet with faculty at a college’s request, “as well as providing one-on-one consultations with faculty at any time throughout the year,” she wrote.

“I was ready to do it, and they were ready to have a faculty member try it,” said Visser, who had already planned to use the technology in his courses.

To record his podcasts, Visser uses equipment in the Pugsley Continuing Education Center.

“It’s not seamless yet,” he said. “Even though I’m excited and want to do it, it’s still not convenient.”

That factor, along with faculty reluctance to experiment with the technology, may be part of the reason why podcasting hasn’t caught on at SDSU, Visser said.

In order to become popular, a “critical mass” of both faculty and students will have to want the technology available.

“In my opinion, it’s going to require students to expect (podcasting),” he said. “I don’t know if it will or will not happen at SDSU.”

Like other university professors across the nation, Visser said he worries about technology becoming a substitute for class time.

“I still want students to come to class,” he said. “And I don’t know how to completely resolve this issue.”

Even with the technology, Darrin Eichacker, a senior manufacturing engineering technology major, still attends class. He called the podcasts a “nice resource to have on hand.”

“I like it as a resource outside of class,” he said.

Eichacker said he uses the class feature weekly to help him study for quizzes. The reaction among his classmates has been mixed, he said. He estimates about half of the class uses the podcasts.

Visser said another reason he uses technology is to let students know it exists and how it works. For example, he uses other podcasts as a way to research his field.

“I think he’s right on base with that,” Eichacker said. “At least I know that it’s out there and I can use it getting into a career.”

While Visser’s class is Eichacker’s first with podcasts, the senior said he would take another class that offered the technology.

“I’m probably more prone to use it now since I know what a valuable resource it is.”

It was wet. It was dirty. It was everything I’d hoped it would be.

I can’t believe I waited five years to do this.

Somehow, during my time at SDSU, I had skipped over a spring ritual that doesn’t get any messier.

For the first time last weekend, I put an end to the trend. I took the plunge – or several – into the world of Oozeball.

For 19 years, the lure of mud volleyball has driven students outdoors to take part in the event sponsored by Staters for State.

“It’s fun to see people that are really muddy and having fun, pushing their friends in,” said coordinator Scott Schramm.

This year, 31 teams participated – a higher number than usual, according to organizers.

Schramm credits “the Facebook effect” with the increase. An Oozeball group helped draw people to the event, he said.

I didn’t need much convincing. As a reporter, I had the rare opportunity to work and play at the same time. I couldn’t wait.

After I arrived at the Hansen Hall lot on Saturday, met my team members and duct-taped my shoes to my ankles, I took a look at our competition. Team apparel ranged from ragged to ridiculous. While some wore faded t-shirts and shorts, others coordinated outfits.

Jessica Scheid, team captain for The Dirty Backdoors, wore a pink hat, black tights and a pair of wings.

“We’re big into costume parties,” said Scheid, a junior and first-time Oozeballer. “So we just thought we’d be scandalous – intimidation factor. We’ll just be giving it our all in a funny way.”

Others seemed to take the game more seriously. Just a few feet away, another team practiced in the sand volleyball court. I asked Ben Gietzen, a freshman member of The Natural Disaster, about his team’s approach.

“Just hit the ball over the net is the strategy,” Gietzen said. “If we can do that more than the other team, I think we’ll win.”

Strategy? My team, The Nads, decided not to worry about it. Instead, we fueled up on Diet Coke and waited for our team name to be called.

After a rousing cheer of “Go Nads,” we took the court.

Our first game proved disastrous, as we suffered a crushing 15-3 loss. The game wasn’t without highlights, though, as I celebrated my first Oozeball dive. With spectacular effect, I hit the ball well out of bounds.

Playing mud volleyball proved harder than I thought. I shouldn’t have been surprised. I struggle playing volleyball on a regular court. The feeling of being weighed down by thick, wet clay only added to the challenge.

After our first game, The Nads decided strategy might not be a bad idea. We decided to communicate and no matter what, completely cover ourselves in mud, win or lose.

To our surprise, we claimed narrow victory in our next game, 16-14, and in our third, 17-15.

#1.883444:3423634818.jpg:IMG_0208.jpg:Players return a volley in a game during the Oozeball tournament on April 22.:

“It’s not the destination, but the journey that counts.”

As I struggled to find the physical strength to continue, those words gave me confidence.

Clich

You know that feeling.

Your head hurts, your body aches and you have chills. And you’re not alone.

Student health staff have seen a spring surge of Influenza A on campus, according to Brenda Andersen, associate director of SDSU Student Health and Counseling. She said so far, more than 20 cases have been diagnosed in March. A number of those cases have been students from Young Hall.

While an increase in cases later in the season may be unusual, “it can happen,” Andersen said.

She compared the situation with that of a couple years ago when a flu vaccine shortage occurred.

This year, in order to prepare for an avian flu pandemic, student health had extra vaccine on hand, Andersen said.

But despite the surplus, students didn’t seem to get their shots. That may have factored into the recent outbreak.

“We couldn’t give it away,” Andersen said. “We had the worst turnout we’ve ever had.”

Staff at both student health and Avera Brookings Medical Center have seen patients with influenza-like illnesses as well.

Those illnesses show flu-like symptoms-like body aches, fever, cough, headache and sometimes a sore throat-but don’t test positive for influenza, said Lonnie Kuck, nurse manager at Avera.

Clinic staff have seen more influenza in children and young adults, Kuck said.

Those infected with the flu can be contagious for up to one week before showing symptoms, Andersen said.

If students do have symptoms, they should make an appointment with a health professional so other illnesses, like strep throat and mononucleosis, can be ruled out, she said.

In some cases, anti-viral medicine can be prescribed with an early diagnosis, she said.

After a couple days, however, she recommends flu victims use ibuprofen and cough suppressant and drink plenty of fluids.

“The key thing is people need to still do those basic things to stay well,” Andersen said. That includes hand-washing, covering coughs and using hand sanitizer.

“(Students) just really got to take care of themselves.”

The flu lasts about four or five days, Andersen said, but fatigue may linger for a few days longer.

“It seems to be people are getting over it a little quicker,” she said.

She recommends students still get the vaccine, which costs $10.

“I think the key is staying home if you get diagnosed with it,” Andersen said. “Most teachers are pretty understanding of that.”

A new partnership with a national lab promises to provide new research opportunities for SDSU faculty and students, officials said at an agreement signing on campus last week.

On Thursday, Feb. 22, officials from SDSU and Argonne National Laboratory signed a memorandum of understanding, forming a partnership between the two organizations.

“I view today as a monumental day for SDSU,” Kevin Kephart, vice president for research, said at Thursday’s ceremony.

He called the event a “turning point for science and technology at South Dakota State University.”

Located outside of Chicago, Argonne ranks as one of the U.S. Department of Energy’s largest research centers, according to its Web site. Its research areas include energy, environmental management and national security.

The lab works to provide research opportunities for students as well as faculty.

SDSU’s work with the lab will focus on researching biofuel, nanotechnology and solar energy, Kephart said.

SDSU President David Chicoine served on the lab’s board of governors during his time in Illinois. He helped connect Kephart with Norman Peterson, assistant to the director of Argonne.

“The goal is to develop opportunities for SDSU faculty and students working in partnership with Argonne to pursue fields of science and technology that are of mutual interest and that, importantly, advance science and technology-driven economic development in South Dakota,” Chicoine said in an earlier press release.

Peterson said the partnership aims to focus on areas in which both SDSU and the lab would benefit.

“What we wanted to create was a win-win partnership,” he said.

“Partnerships like this are frequent and they are many, but very few of them work as effectively as I think this one is going to work. And it will work effectively because of the leadership involved, the leadership of both institutions.”

Peterson said the next step in the partnership will involve forming research teams from South Dakota to go to Argonne.

While in South Dakota, lab representatives visited Rapid City to discuss the Homestake Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory, Kephart said.

SDSU will participate in research at the Homestake DUSEL lab as well, he said.

The three-day South Dakota visit had been organized last October, Peterson said.

Brookings Mayor Scott Munsterman and Chicoine both spoke at the ceremony. Chicoine invited those in attendance to return in five years for an “accountability session” to chart the partnership’s progress.

History has always been a part of Brian Baskerville’s life.

From family vacations to Sunday afternoon movies, “Everything I did was historically-related,” he said.

“It never really got old.”

And in South Dakota, Baskerville has plenty of fellow history buffs.

A Board of Regents press release reported that history enrollments in state universities have increased 37 percent in the last four years.

At SDSU, the program has increased from approximately 165 majors in 2004 to roughly 225 currently, said April Brooks, history department head.

“It’s not because there are teaching jobs out there,” she said.

Instead, students majoring in history are those planning to become professors or pursue careers in public service, library science and law, she said.

“I think that’s because law schools are beginning to ask for diversification.”

Corporations have become another popular career option for history grads, she said.

“(History students) can research. They can write a report.”

Baskerville, who plans to work in the Peace Corps and go to grad school, agrees.

“I think that the job market is actually a lot better than people think it is,” he said.

Brooks said the rise in history majors has brought changes for the department, including the addition of two new adjunct professors.

A course in the history of the American West “is a new thing for us, and will likely draw lots of students, she added.

Outside the classroom, a new history club drew about 20 students at its first meeting in October, said Baskerville, a leader in organizing the group.

Officially recognized in December, the club is “open to everyone that’s got a passion for history.”

“We just wanted an organization where history majors could get together,” said Baskerville, a fifth-year history major and president of the history honor society Phi Alpha Theta.

The club provides an opportunity for more faculty involvement and improved faculty-student relations as well, he said.

Last fall, the group met about half a dozen times, with about 10 students at every meeting, he said. This semester, the group will likely meet twice a month.

Activities include watching documentaries and movies, reviewing members’ research and playing Trivial Pursuit.

“We try to keep it fun and loose,” he said.

In March, the club plans to host an on-campus debate between Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry from Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia.

“We’re going to try to make it exciting for the students,” Baskerville said.

For more information on the history club, send e-mail to: sdsuhistoryclub@hotmail.com.

Name: Sarah Renee French

Hometown: Rapid City

Major: Fourth-year advertising

Past University Program Council involvement: This is my third year on UPC. My first year I was the community service coordinator and helped out with Hobos “Can” Do It and Hobos vs. Hunger during Hobo Days. Last year, I was the showcase coordinator and was in charge of Cavorts. Both years, I was in the Pride of the Dakotas, and so I helped before and after the parade, but during it, I was always marching with the band.

How were you chosen Grand Pooba? The Grand Pooba is a position on the University Program Council. UPC accepts applications in the spring for any coordinator position. Among other things, they look for past experience (i.e., if someone was committee member).

I was selected for this position last spring. I just had to fill out a returner application, go through an interview and I was chosen. Again, the same goes for any of the other nine positions on the board.

What are your thoughts about being Grand Pooba? Excited. That is the first word that comes to mind when I describe my thoughts and feelings about being Grand Pooba. I am also honored as the one who is in charge of “the biggest one-day event in the Dakotas.” I am also very lucky to have this role during President Peggy Miller’s last year at SDSU. It just won’t ever be the same without her.

What has been the best part of your job so far? The best part of the job so far was when a few committee members and I dressed up as hobos and sold Hobo Day buttons at the Beef Bowl. It was fun to talk with alumni and hear about their Hobo Day experiences.

What about the worst, or most challenging, part? The most challenging part of this experience is trying to balance school, work, UPC and me time. But it’s worth it!!

What are you looking forward to most? I think that “Hobos on the Prairie” will be a huge success. Students are encouraged to dress up like prairie/cowboy folk. The theme was chosen in conjunction with the 125th anniversary of SDSU. I think that the theme represents SDSU at that time.

I am so much looking forward to everything this week. I am so excited for everything to work out. From the beginning of the Jackrabbit Rally, to the end of the football game and everything in between. This is going to be a very memorable Hobo Days and a great time “to be a Jackrabbit!”

#1.884147:3425313533.JPG:GrandPooba01.JPG:Sarah French, 2006 Grand Pooba:Courtney Smith

At first, Stefanie and Tracie Fauth may not look like sisters.

Both tall, one brunette and one blonde, the girls from Miller seem quite different-until they begin telling stories. Stories about childhood memories, future dreams and a shared love of music.

That love of music drove the Fauths to audition for the TV reality show “American Idol” in Minneapolis.

“I liked the show,” said Stefanie, who planned to audition since this summer, when a friend encouraged her to go to the Minnesota tryouts.

“I decided when I heard Stef say, ‘Please come with me,’” Tracie said. “I never watched the show. I was just curious about the process.”

Other SDSU students made the journey to audition as well. Fifth-year political science major Becky Charles auditioned, thanks in part to a call from her friend, Olivia (Gentry) Lefers.

“We hadn’t gotten the chance to do something, just the two of us, for a really long time,” Charles said.

“It was an amazing experience.”

Charles arrived when the registration lines opened on Wednesday morning, Sept. 6. “It was huge. There were so many people,” she said.

“You met a lot of really cool people when you were in the lines.”

After showing identification, auditioners received a ticket and wristband.

Both Fauths and Charles estimated about 5,000 people showed up for the auditions, which took place on Friday, Sept. 8, in the Target Center.

All contestants were divided into voice parts and learned to sing Prince’s “1999″ a capella, in addition to “an hour and a half of cheering,” Tracie said.

Stefanie said she was sad to learn how everything had been set up for TV. “We were doing all this stuff to make sure the crowd shots looked nice,” she said.

“We’re trying to act all excited at six in the morning,” said Tracie, a freshman communications major specializing in theatre.

Contestants were divided into groups and put into 12 lines, each staffed with a producer and production assistant, Stefanie said.

“That was a long frickin’ day,” said the fifth-year Spanish major. Her group auditioned at 2 p.m.

Charles had to go first in her line. “I just had to let ‘er rip. And I did.”

All three girls noticed the costumed contestants. One dressed as William Shakespeare received a golden pass to audition for Simon, Paula and Randy after he had already been told to go through the ‘not-winner’ door, Charles said.

“I’d do it again (audition) just for the people-watching,” she said.

“Everyone asked me if it was something I would do again. I would not,” Stefanie said.

“They’re looking for ratings,” not necessarily for the best musicians, she said. “It really shoots your spirit down when you see all these good people get shot down.”

Even so, Stefanie said she didn’t regret the experience. She said she plans to begin writing music again.

“Going to the ‘American Idol’ thing made me realize it’s not about the fame. It’s about the music,” she said.

Charles has been singing since age six. Now, she sings primarily for weddings. Even with her experience, she said, “I felt like I was going to throw up.”

She sang “Somebody to Love,” by Queen.

Even though she said she had no intentions of making it further than the audition, the “American Idol” experience may prove good practice for Charles, who plans to move to New York City and work in international government after she graduates. She said she promised her family and friends that she will audition for a Broadway show.

Broadway may become a destination for the Fauth sisters as well. Both girls have acting ambitions and plan to try out for more reality TV. Stefanie plans to audition for “The Next Food Network Star,” while Tracie plans to try out for “America’s Next Top Model.”

#1.884238:850382805.JPG:Idol01.JPG:Becky Charles belts out a tune, just like for her American Idol tryout.:Erin Lester

Those waiting to satisfy a Big Mac craving in Brookings won’t have to wait much longer to get their fix.

After closing in May, the McDonald’s on Sixth Street will re-open for business Sept. 8.

Customers will likely notice the difference in the restaurant’s appearance, including changes in seating and the addition of flat-screen TVs.

“Every area … is purposely designed,” said owner Mike Hartshorn.

Decorated in “earth tones,” the new McDonald’s features both group and bar-style seating. A new Playland area includes electronic games and television.

But the changes go beyond appearances. The restaurant will offer wireless Internet access, and move toward 24-hour drive-through operation in the next few months, Hartshorn said.

He described the changes as “just modernizing the whole thing.”

In addition to more efficient seating and more employees, the restaurant will feature a new side-by-side drive-through that allows the store to handle two orders at a time, Hartshorn said.

“It’s all electronic. It’s all visual,” he said.

The store design, nearly a year old, will become the new look for McDonald’s restaurants nationwide.

“There are very few of them out,” Hartshorn said.

The project cost $1.8 million, he said. The Sixth Street construction project provided an opportunity for renovation, which included a change in the restaurant’s entrance and exits.

“We really worked in concert with the state, the city to make it all work,” he said.

The grand opening celebration will feature giveaways, food discounts and an eventual visit from Ronald McDonald, Hartshorn said.

#1.884399:939480252.jpg:mickeyds.jpg:Construction on the McDonald’s building just off Sixth Street comes to a closeas the re-opening date nears.: