“Main Street offers a plethora of resources, on many different levels,” said Catherine Bigbee, UPC adviser.

SA manages events like the Campus Community Fall Festival (C2F2). Don’t forget to stop by and ask about Student Discount Cards. Students can contact the SA offices at (605) 688-5181.

Greek Life

“Greek Life is a great support for any student,” said Addie Wolcott, program adviser for Greek Life. “It’s a great way to become more involved with the community.”

Rohit Anand, a 2011 SDSU graduate, agreed.

“[Greek Life] helps you become a better leader,” Anand said.

To find out more about Greek Life, call (605) 688-6129 or stop in anytime they are open.

Card Services

Students can have their photo taken and receive their student ID’s during summer orientation, acording to Card Services manager Kendall Rohrbach.

Student ID’s allow students to purchase food as well as grant them access into various buildings on campus. Students can also load as little as $1 of Hobo Dough and/or $25 of Flex Dining meal plan funds once they receive their ID.

Student ID cards cannot be used in ATM’s or as debit cards. Excess Hobo Dough can only be removed before graduation or upon leaving SDSU. However, remaining Flex Dining money cannot be returned.

Call Card Services at (605) 688-6943 for more information.

University Bookstore

“We have a lot of [irons] in the fire,” said Derek Peterson, University Bookstore director.

By June 1, 2011, the bookstore will provide much more than school supplies and clothing. Students will be able to purchase desktops, laptops and possibly mobile computing devices. Before purchasing software for the school year, students may want to wait and ask about the lower educational prices available through the bookstore.

One of the possible changes is an events area, where students will be able to test new applications and devices, as well as participate in various training sessions to learn how to use products and supplies. One proposed idea is art classes for students not taking Drawing 111.

The bookstore will be open in the summer: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with extended hours during orientation. Regular hours are Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the school year. Call (605) 688-4163 concerning questions about the purchase of computers, software or supplies.

eSDSU

Students with computer issues may want to make eSDSU their first stop.

“We troubleshoot and repair hardware and software,” said Jeff Lang, Laptop Technician.

eSDSU is a free service for all students to use for their various computer service needs.

They install a free anti-virus program to ensure that students’ computers are able to connect to the network safely and securely. Since SDSU pays for anti-virus for every student, students should wait before buying an anti-virus program prior to the first week of classes.

Many locations on campus have wireless Internet, and if students need assistance connecting to the SDSU wireless network, eSDSU provides an instructional sheet that makes the process easier then ever on both Mac’s and PC’s.

They also help students with back-ups and re-formatting computers to their original state. Lang recommends that students purchase a hard copy of their Operating System (OS) if the only restore copy they have is on their computer’s hard drive. If students have questions, they can call (605) 688-6808.

Information Exchange

Other than the bookstore, the Information Exchange is likely to be a student’s most commonly frequented resource on Main Street.

“We provide information about campus locations, [letter] stamps, ticket information and purchases, laptop check out, bum-a-bike leasing and room reservations,” said Amy Miller, Information Exchange Student Manager.

They also provide faxes, copies and visitor parking passes. Students can also cash person checks up to $75 and business checks up to $300 for a $1 transaction fee.

Information Exchange is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Also, it is open some weekends during summer orientation and Hobo Day. For additional information, students can contact Information Exchange at (605) 688-6127.

“Once admitted, [the returning student’s] next move is orientation,” said Adam Karnopp, Director of Orientation at The Union. Karnopp said non-traditional students have a “diversity of needs, wants and expectations [and] orientation is a good place to start.”

Attending either a one-day or two-day orientation during the summer months is your best choice. However, if you find yourself unable to attend, there is usually a one-day orientation on the very first day of the semester.

Starting spring of 2011, the SD Board of Regents approved a Bachelor of General Studies degree for returning adults who have earned 64 credits or more and would like to obtain a degree. Returning adults have a new “single-point of contact” within the College of General Studies, Student Services Facilitator Carey Kilmer. Kilmer helps students get prepared, from credit transfers to academic advising.

Kilmer said there are nine focus areas in general studies from which students can choose to successfully complete the program. These nine areas include: Allied Health, Business, Education, Fine Arts, Humanities, Social Science, Science/Engineering/Math, Technology and Wellness. Students need 128 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in order to successfully complete the program.

Kilmer assists adult and returning adult students, connecting them with the university and appropriate campus resources while helping them navigate through the admission and enrollment systems. She also provides general support for non-traditional students as they explore coming or returning to SDSU and as they progress through their degree program.

There are a variety of outlets for students to use in order to finish their general studies degree, Kilmer said.

“We offer this program on the main campus, online, and through the University Campuses in Pierre, Rapid City and Sioux Falls,” she said. “One [graduate] will finish this spring, and a couple more this summer.”

Contact Adam Karnopp directly at (605) 688-6283 for orientation assistance and Carey Kilmer at (605) 688-4959 for assistance with completing your academic requirements.

SDSU student Cy Fixen completes the Boston Marathon April 18. It was the pharmacy major’s third time running in a marathon. - Submitted Photo

About 200 feet before crossing the finish line, Cy Fixen collapsed.

Then one of the 27,000 other runners helped the exhausted Fixen cross the line to finish 2,473rd in the Boston Marathon April 18.

“I don’t know who the guy was, but I’m really grateful,” Fixen said.

Fixen, a senior pharmacy major, has been training for the Boston Marathon for six years.

“During the week I run anywhere from 5 to 10 miles a day,” Fixen said.

Fixen has run two other marathons. To qualify for the Boston Marathon, he needed a time of less than 3 hours and 10 minutes. Fixen completed his first marathon in 3 hours and 18 minutes and his second in 3 hours and 6 minutes.

“The [South Dakota] weather made training challenging,” Fixen said. “You have to find somewhere you can run.”

Fixen said running is his “stress relief.”

On his return trip from Boston to Brookings, Fixen reflected on the race.

“The last five miles were tough,” he said. “The thing about [the Boston Marathon] is it is mostly downhill for the first half of the race, and then you get into the hills. [That] is when the real psychological battle starts.”

The last 5.5 miles, near Boston College, is a section known as Heartbreak Hill – named so after the 1936 marathon. At this point, runners “hit the wall,” depleted of glycogen, and the final leg of the race becomes a contest of sheer willpower.

Fixen finished the more than 26-mile run in 03:07:18, with a pace of 7:14 per mile. According to the Boston Marathon website, that places Fixen within the upper 11 percent of all participants in the 18-39 age group.

“It was an emotional finish,” Fixen said, sounding a little choked up. “To have so many people cheering you on … it was cool.”

Fixen’s family and friends were there to cheer for him and to keep a careful watch on him as he reached the 25-mile mark.

“They said I looked good as I ran by,” Fixen said. “When I finished, I was running on fumes.”

A day after the race, Fixen said he needed a few days to recover.

“Today’s sore, tomorrow will be the worst,” he said.

Fixen tried to put the whole experience into words.

“It’s hard to put my finger on it,” Fixen said. “When you run across the finish line, it is an unbelievable experience. It’s hard to communicate the feeling. It reminds you that you’re glad to be alive.”

Until Cy Fixen spent a year in Boston, Mass., he never imagined one day he would be competing in the 2011 Boston Marathon at 10 a.m. EDT on April 18.

Fixen, a senior pharmacy major, traveled to Boston with his parents, and was joined there by his brother and sister-in-law for today’s marathon.

“I thought those people were crazy,” Fixen said, just before he boarded his plane at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. “I lived in Boston for a year. When I attended my first marathon, cheering people on, seeing how the runners looked so into it, I got hooked. There was so much energy, and the crowd was amazing.”

After attending his first marathon as a by-stander, Fixen’s drive to become a runner at the Boston Marathon has been a six-year journey.

“During the week I run anywhere from 5 to 10 miles a day,” Fixen said.

But these days are just recovery days from his Saturday and Sunday runs.

“I run short runs or take off a day after running 20 miles on the weekend,” he said.

Fixen has run two other marathons. To qualify for the Boston Marathon, he needed a time of less than 3 hours and 10 minutes. Fixen completed his first marathon in 3 hours and 18 minutes and his second in 3 hours and 6 minutes.

“The [South Dakota] weather made training challenging,” Fixen said. “You have to find somewhere you can run.”

When Fixen is not out running along county roads and highways, he is at the Wellness Center either running on treadmills or the elevated running track.

Fixen said running is his “stress relief.”

“I have been running less in preparation for the marathon, and my body is getting anxious to run,” Fixen said. “I have a lot of stored-up energy.”

Fixen said his parents have been supportive of his participation in the marathon.

“They love it,” he said. “I think they think I am a little crazy.”

See The Collegian on Wednesday for Fixen’s results and to read about his experience.

Tonna Hartman grew closer to her grandparents and found a new outlook on life after falling 13 feet out of a tree while trying to retrieve a radio-tracking caller from a dead raccoon stuck in a tree.

Web Editor

With finals looming around the corner you might think to yourself, “could this get any more difficult?

Now imagine you are a senior reaching the last few weeks of the fall semester, when you find yourself at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, wondering if you will ever be able to walk again.

That is exactly what happened to Tonna Hartman, a senior wildlife and fisheries science major. Over the Veteran’s Day holiday last fall, Hartman volunteered to recover a radio-tracking caller from a dead raccoon stuck in a tree.

“If you have a group of guys who won’t climb a tree, odds are, you shouldn’t either,” Hartman said.

However, she had participated in frequent free climbing activities over the summer and was confident she could recover the collar.

She climbed the tree.

Hartman fell approximately 13 feet and broke her lower back.

“I have two titanium rods fusing my L2 – L4 vertebrae,” Hartman said.

The surgeon who operated on Hartman had a lot of experience with this type of injury, having had the same surgery himself.

“Dr. [Charles] Miller made me feel like he really cared,” Hartman said.

The accident would be enough reason for many people, not just college students, to develop a negative outlook on life.

Not Hartman. She looks upon this incident as a blessing.

“The initial impact caused me to lose the feelings in my lower body,” said Hartman.

However, she stayed calm through the experience with the support of her grandparents.

“I got closer to my grandma … she had to help me a lot.”
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Rohit Anand is recognizable to many SDSU basketball game attendees as the t-shirt guy. He is also a senior computer science major, a regular at The Union and is often seen talking to a variety of friends.

What people do not know about Anand is that he was voted Mr. SDSU on Dec. 1 at the Performing Arts Center.

Anand registered for the Mr. SDSU competition through Residential Life at the University Program Council office. The contest included a formal wear fashion show, interview round and a lip syncing contest.

“I wanted [to run] for Mr. SDSU because of my passion for the State-A-Thon,” Anand said.

The State-A-Thon is a phone-a-thon that benefits the Children’s Miracle Network. Rather than using his Mr. SDSU title for personal gain, Anand said it is a way to facilitate awareness about this years State-A-Thon, which is set for 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. March 19 in the Volstorff Ballroom in The Union.

The $475 Anand won for being Mr. SDSU went to the State-A-Thon.

“This was a great way to promote State-A-Thon,” Anand said. “SDSU has been helping the CMN for over 10 years.”

Anand is the Recruitment Chair for CMN at SDSU. As a State-A-Thon Morale Leader, Anand’s goal was to raise $150, which he already exceeded with his winnings. So he raised his personal goal to $750, according to Anand’s profile on the benefit’s website.

“The State-A-Thon brought in $33,483 last year … and unlike other fundraisers, 100 percent of the funds raised goes to Sanford Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls,” said Ashton Wenz, the State-A-Thon Coordinator for UPC.

Rohit’s title as Mr. SDSU “has helped create the highest participation in 10 years,” Wenz said. This year’s goal is $40,000.

“We are well on our way,” Wenz said.

The students have raised enough money over the years to have the SDSU CMN committee sponsor a room at the children’s hospital.

Andy Kvernmo, development officer for Sanford’s CMN, said he is happy that SDSU students feel passionate about CMN.

“We feel fortunate [SDSU has] chosen us,” Kvernmo said. “SDSU has raised approximately $162,000 to date … We love it!”

Kvernmo went on to say students like Anand not only help CMN, but they gain important career skills as they participate in functions like the State-A-Thon.

Aside from the 12-hour phone-a-thon, there will be a special performance by Plastic Musik at 8 p.m. that evening, which will be open to the public. The money raised to bring in bands was donated by the UPC and other sources and does not affect the donations received by the State-A-Thon.

If anyone wants to help support CMN, they can register for the State-A-Thon or donate money to the event.
#1.2042952:337827801.png:Rohit.png:Rohit Anand shoots a t-shirt into the crowd during a break at an SDSU home basketball game.:Collegian Photo by Robby Gallagher
#1.2042955:854342884.png:Rohit_Anand_Mr_SDSU_Trophy.png::

The Innovation Center is on the northeast side of campus, just off of the I-29 overpass.:The Innovation Center is on the northeast side of campus, just off of the I-29 overpass. Former S.D. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin accepted a position in which she will oversee the progress made by the Innovation Campus. - Collegian Photo by Stephen Brua

Students who are not aware of the SDSU Innovation Campus may be missing out on future employment opportunities.

The Innovation Center is located on the northeast side of the SDSU campus, just off of the I-29 overpass exit. The campus itself occupies 125 acres, with over 80 acres available for development. The site has the potential of housing up to 40 buildings, with 1 million square feet capable of supporting up to 3,000 employees.

From the high-tech conference room that has high-definition video conferencing and a Smart Board, to administrative and web hosting services, businesses that lease space from the Innovation Campus have access to everything they need to make a small business grow.

Since the Innovation Center’s ground breaking ceremony in November 2007 and its official opening in October 2008, the Innovation Campus has been providing class A office and laboratory space to SDSU and businesses alike, said Teresa McKnight, CEO and executive director of the SDSU Innovation Campus administration office.

McKnight has over 20 years of experience in developing incubation centers and directed a 173-acre research park for the Utah State University.

To date, there are 20 companies occupying space within the Innovation Center and it is at 84 percent capacity, with over 50 employees and 13 SDSU students. An additional wing, which will provide 18,000 additional square feet to the existing 28,000 square-foot building, will be added to the Innovation Center in the spring.

One of the companies located in the Innovation Center is 9 Clouds.

“9 Clouds has grown into multiple businesses since moving into the Innovation Campus,” said Scott Meyer, Chief Outreach Officer of 9 Clouds. “We continue to assist and educate businesses and individuals on using digital technology. Now we also develop iPhone and iPad apps with our mobile app company Snapp.”

Meyer said being based in South Dakota is not a hindrance.

“There is a stigma that South Dakota is not a hub of technology,” Meyer said. “We’ve found the opposite. Anything being based in South Dakota gives us insight into how the average American uses technology, which is quite different than the coasts.”

Aside from the Innovation Center, a 28,000 square foot Seed Technology Lab provides additional office space with specialized labs and a greenhouse.

Herseth Sandlin’s Return to Brookings

At the beginning of this year, former S.D. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin accepted a position on the SDSU Growth Partnership Board. The position, which is currently held by Don Larson, will allow Herseth Sandlin to oversee the progress made by the Innovation Campus.

“The arrival of Herseth Sandlin will help strengthen our alliance with our D.C. delegation and help build a strong base of Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies as potential clients”, said McKnight. “Stephanie’s appointment means strengthening the board to push forward an aggressive marketing campaign to recruit anchor research and development companies and continue to construct facilities to accommodate future tenants.”

Herseth Sandlin was eager to take the position and found that it would be a great opportunity.

“When Don Larson with the Brookings County Commission reached out to me last December about the possibility of serving on the Growth Partnership Board as the Commission’s representative. I knew it was a terrific opportunity to continue my advocacy for South Dakota,” Herseth Sandlin said. “The Innovation Campus is the state’s first research park, and this is a wonderful opportunity to be part of a skilled and serious team seeking to ensure its success.”

Herseth Sandlin went on to talk about how important she believes the Innovation Campus is to the state of South Dakota.

“Some of the best jobs of the future for Brookings and all of South Dakota will depend on research, the acquisition of new knowledge and applying and marketing that knowledge for commercial purposes,” Herseth Sandlin said. “I am so pleased to be working with other members of the Board and our community to build on the strengths of SDSU, cultivate business partnerships and recruit entrepreneurs–all essential to the successful development and growth of the Innovation Campus.”

Future of the Innovation Campus

As the Innovation Campus continues into its third year, McKnight hopes that the facility will continue to grow to its full potential.

“Looking into the future, our goals are to have a large number of SDSU students employed at the Innovation Campus, ” said McKnight. The Innovation Campus looks forward to fostering cooperation between SDSU researchers and groups with private and government partners. We would like to have several large anchor research and development companies locate to the Innovation Campus.” The development of the Innovation Campus is a long-term project. “Based on national standards, it takes 10 years to reach a successful level. We are two years into this and we are already seeing market demand increasing,” said McKnight.

I have known Heather Murphey for over 13 years. She was one of my most respected and admired friends. Heather never had a “filter.” She spoke her mind straight from the heart, a trait I always respected.

I first met Heather in 1995, as a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, a medieval/Renaissance organization dedicated to the re-enactment and re-creation of the Middle Ages. Heather had a gift for knitting and crafts and recently informed me I was her inspiration for sewing and costuming, a talent she translated into making handcrafted dolls and doll costumes.

Heather was intelligent, bright and witty. Rarely did I not crack a smile whenever I saw her, anticipating a playful barb or a poignant question. She always brought a smile to my face and joy to my heart.

Heather had always wanted to be a mother. Last week when we met at the local HyVee store in Brookings, a young child passed by pushing a bright green shopping cart and Heather said, “I want one of those.”

I responded, “A small green shopping cart?”

“No,” she joked, “but that would explain my back issues.”

I will miss our spontaneous talks. Our meetings these past three years were mostly impromptu, as we both had busy schedules. However, she always had a way of lifting my heart and leaving me with a smile. Heather will be missed.

The American Indian Education and Cultural Center, located in the former Telecommunications Center on Medary Avenue, has been decades in the making.

According to the American Indian Education and Cultural Center, a grand opening ceremony and an open house for the new center will be Nov. 5. The grand opening will begin at 4 p.m.; the open house is from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The facility’s purpose is to provide academic and cultural support to the 334 Native American students attending SDSU. It contains an art gallery and lounge area, a study room, a computer laboratory, wireless Internet access and faculty offices.

“The American Indian Education and Cultural Center on Medary Avenue (across from the SDSU Campanile) on the SDSU campus offers Native American students an “on-campus home” where they can find support, resources, fellowship and cultural activities,” said Ron McKinney, the Native American Student Adviser for SDSU’s Student Support Services.

In spite of the cultural diversity embraced by SDSU, McKinney said Native American students still feel isolated. For many, this will be their first time away from home and the college environment can be a culture shock. McKinney sees the opening of the center as a positive step in Native American relations at SDSU.

“It serves as a resource, not only for Native American students to connect culturally, but for the public and all SDSU students, faculty and staff to utilize for cultural and educational opportunities,” McKinney said.

The ceremony will feature remarks by President David Chicoine, a traditional Native American honor song, guest and student speakers, a prayer and a traditional Native American meal.

The menu will feature dried buffalo meat and dried corn soup, frybread, wojapi and corn wasna. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

A historical building of Brookings was moved through the streets on the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 22. The three-story apartment building, originally constructed for a banker in 1902, was relocated from its original location south of the Brookings’ Public Library to its new home of 144 Third Ave., west of Rental Depot.

The moving process of the historic building was completed by a cooperative effort between the City of Brookings and county of Brookings, in order to construct a new Brookings City & County Government Center. Stephanie Vogel, county commission assistant, said the entire project has gone, “relatively smooth,” despite rumors to the contrary. Vogel said the project is moving forward on schedule.

Kevin Grunewaldt, a 2002 SDSU graduate of the construction management program, owns the apartment building. Grunewaldt said earning a Bachelor’s of Science gave him the necessary tools to manage a project of this scale. “Networking with people … and learning how to estimate big and small projects,” in construction management helped prepare him for the task.

When factoring the size of the building, stationary objects like railroad crossing lights and passenger vehicles, were used to navigate the three-story building downtown required a small army of equipment and manpower to accomplish the goal.

“My only concern was sidewalks,” Grunewaldt said. He said the weight of the building could have easily crushed city walkways as the house was transported to its new location.

Dale Henderschiedt, construction supervisor for Brookings Utilities, said the moving company could have easily raised or lowered either side of the building in order to navigate through downtown Brookings without incidents. Henderschiedt said, “two power lines had to be temporarily disconnected, four streetlights were taken down and one traffic signal arm had to be swung out of the way,” to allow the building to pass. Henderschiedt said Brookings Utilities had been preparing for this move for weeks, rerouting power from the two lines crossing Main Street, so businesses and residents would not be affected during the actual move.

Vogel said the only issue during the move was complications created by the heavy down pour of the previous night, which caused the basement of the new location to be muddy and difficult to navigate.

Grunewaldt said he was concerned about the afternoon rain that could delay the placement of the apartment building at its new location.”The semi drove straight through the hole,” in order to put the house in its final resting place, Grunewaldt said.

The historic apartment building is currently awaiting a new basement. “The walls are not all true, so plumb-bobs were used to place the cement walls on the new footings,” Grunewaldt said. The building was placed at its new location on time by 5:30 p.m. The transport process lasted about ten hours from start to finish.
#1.1655475:2678783653.jpg:The historical building just behind the Rental Depot was moved from its original location.:The historical building just behind the Rental Depot was moved from its original location to make room for a new Joint City County Building.:Collegian Photo by David Hubbard