The holiday season is just around the corner, and some people might consider Brookings to have a rather small selection of stores for Christmas shopping. Instead people can jump in their cars and travel about an hour to Sioux Falls, order things online, paying shipping and handling fees, or try something a little bit different like home shopping parties.

Home shopping parties are get-togethers put on by sales consultants of products such as Mary Kay or Avon Cosmetics, Lia Sophia jewelry, Pampered Chef cookware and many more. As the name suggests, these parties are held in the comfort of a host’s home or residence hall day room if the consultant happens to be an SDSU student.

“The goal of home shopping parties is to create a nice, welcoming environment,” said Katie Jo McGuire, a senior music education and range science major, and Mary Kay Cosmetics consultant. “You want to make your clients feel comfortable and not pressured to buy anything,” she said.

“The seller was very nice, and I did not feel any pressure to buy anything. After all, we’re college students, and we’re not expected to have money,” said Jessica Slama, a freshman psychology and Spanish major, who recently attended a home shopping party.

During Mary Kay and Avon parties, everyone who comes and gets an opportunity to test out certain cosmetic products.

“At parties we do free facials, give away prizes and different things like that,” said Mary Kay consultant Katie Hearnen, a freshman pre-nursing and psychology major. “It’s a really great way to get friends together and have a little fun,” said Hearnen.

McGuire said the parties generally have a theme like facials, a foot spa, lips or eyes.

Parties usually range from four to ten attendees. “Being a consultant is a great way to meet people and expand your social network,” said McGuire.

“I would recommend a home shopping party compared to buying your cosmetics at a department store, because with a home shopping party, you have a personal consultant to help you with your purchases, whereas in a department store, you probably will not,” said Hearnen.

“I throw a party about every other week,” said McGuire, “I get the word out by calling friends and word-of-mouth.”

“I use Facebook, postcards and sometimes just calling people cold-turkey” said Hearnen.

“I love Mary Kay, so I like to introduce the product to people,” said Hearnen.

“It’s a lot of fun, and there is such a wide age range for the products,” said McGuire. “It’s all about feeling good about making other people feel good,” she said.

#1.883036:3264344819.jpg:homeshopping_SF.jpg:Hope Bowden and Kimberli Nebelsick apply their makeup during a Mary Kay party hosted on campus.:Stephanie Fischer

On Dec. 11, the Academic Senate and the Students’ Association will be co-hosting an Academic Integrity Forum in room 169 in The Union from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The forum will discuss definitions of plagiarism and cheating as well as ideas for updating the current policy.

“It’s a vague, out-of-date policy that is understood differently between faculty and students,” said Eric Hanson, Students’ Association’s administrative assistant as well as head of the senator sub-committee for the forum. “For example, the process for appealing a charge of academic dishonesty is not clear, guidelines aren’t apparent regarding technology and policies are handled differently from department to department.” The current policy can be found on course syllabi.

A sub-committee of three senators was created to research and focus on the three areas of academic integrity. These include the prevention of plagiarism, other institution policies on plagiarism (both with the regents system and without) and a study about cases of plagiarism. The committee members include Hanson, Assistant Professor and Reference Librarian Laura Wight and Padu Krishnan, a Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Hospitality professor.

The Academic Integrity Forum will “give students and faculty some broad definitions on plagiarism and cheating,” said Madeliene Andrawis, the Academic Senate chair. “It’s open to any faculty and students. It will bring more awareness to the whole issue and help students realize the consequences. However, students shouldn’t feel like they’re being targeted.”

The ideas discussed at the forum will be brought before the Academic Appeals committee.

“The primary goal of the forum is to clearly outline the policy and develop where we go from here,” said Hanson. “Plagiarism is not a major issue at SDSU.” He said it is more of an issue in specific departments that deal a lot with writing.

“So far it’s been dealt with between students and faculty or students and faculty heads,” said Andrawis.

Coming to discuss the policy and answer student and faculty questions is Jim Shekelton, a lawyer for the Board of Regents who writes and interprets policies. He will be answering any questions from the faculty or students regarding plagiarism, cheating and fabrication. “He had already been examining the academic integrity policies before I came to him, so he’s well-educated in the matter,” said Hanson.

“This provides an open setting for students and faculty to come and have their concerns and voices heard,” said Students’ Association President Alex Brown. “It is a good opportunity to partner with the Academic Senate and help open up lines of communication.”

Brown recommends that questions be e-mailed to Eric Hanson (eric.hanson@sdstate.edu) prior to the forum so that Shekelton can review the questions and prepare answers. “This is a great chance for students to bring up issues and concerns about cheating and get questions answered,” said Hanson. “It’s a great opportunity for students and faculty to work together.”

“We are building the future of this country and it is good to have that future built on honesty and integrity,” said Andrawis.

Do you ever find yourself bored on the weekends, wishing there was something worthwhile for you to do? There is group in Brookings known as the Coalition of Guerrilla Knitters or-more affectionately-the Stitch and Bitch group.

They are a group of people who meet at Cottonwood Coffee on Main Street in Brookings every Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon to do just what their name suggests: knit and chat.

The group was started in Brookings two years ago by Ivy Schwartz-Smith, an SDSU alumnus.

According to their blog, guerrillaknitters.blogspot.com, during their meetings they “plan tactical engagements and recall successful ambushes on the unsuspecting public.” It’s a low-key social group that knits for fun as well as for good causes.

They have a different winter project every month. Some of their past projects include knitting Teddy bears to send to children in Africa and making hats for premature babies. They also do things like knit scarves and hats for foreign exchange students who have not seen snow before “and would be very cold without them.”

“Anyone is welcome,” said Schwartz-Smith. “If you want to learn how to knit, we’ll teach you.”

There are a number of SDSU students involved in the Coalition of Guerrilla Knitters, including junior environmental management major Josh Wagner and Amanda Kauer, a junior French major.

Kauer said she joined the group because she really likes to knit. “You can talk to these ladies about anything,” she said. “No one is really stuck up. I would really recommend this group for anyone because all the ladies are great and always ready to help you out.”

The Coalition of Guerrilla Knitters is a group that is spreading throughout the state. Former SDSU students Carrie Greywood and Rayelle Loose moved to Spearfish and started a “Coalition of Guerrilla Knitters Western Chapter.”

“We teach knitting, spinning and crocheting,” said Schwartz-Smith.

People of all different skill levels are welcome. The people in the group range from veteran knitters like Schwartz-Smith to intermediate knitters like Kauer-who has been knitting for four years-to people whom have never picked up a pair of needles.

Knitting is not all this group does. According to the blog, they discuss important issues like “The Outing of Albie,” referring to author J.K. Rowling’s announcement that the Harry Potter character “Albus Dumbledore” is gay.

They also play games such as Scrabble.

“We can play Scrabble in four different languages,” said Schwartz-Smith “You can come even if you don’t want to knit, but we’ll probably end up teaching you.”

#1.883119:4139217994.JPG:stitch and bitch.JPG:Ivy (far left) knits a yellow infant sock while SDSU student, Josh (far right) carefully stitches a multicolored scarf at Cottonwood Coffee on Main Avenue in Brookings.:John Dahmen

The Let’s Play School of Performing Arts is a place for people of all ages in Brookings to go and learn valuable skills in different fields of the arts and to hire several types of entertainment.

Let’s Play was started by Heidi and Randy Grimsley two years ago. They offer classes in piano (ages 4 through adult), voice (ages 4 through adult), band instruments (ages 7 through adult), theater (ages 6 through adult), songwriting (ages 5 through adult), children’s chorus (ages 6 through 14), drawing (ages 7 through adult), painting (ages 7 through adult), and guitar (ages 6 through adult).

They also offer singing telegram services, party patrol, Santa check-ups, orchestration and arrangement services, and a professional vocalist and/or pianist.

Party Patrol specializes in children’s parties. Costumed characters come and play games, paint faces and bring goody bags and prizes.

When you purchase the Santa check up, Santa Claus himself shows up to see how naughty or nice someone has been.

“It’s available year-round, and Santa’s twice as surprising in the spring, summer, or early fall!” according to the Let’s Play’s Web site, www.letsplayarts.com.

“We try to offer things that aren’t available elsewhere,” said Grimsley.

Both Randy and Heidi are alumni of SDSU with degrees in music education, and theater communications. Each has been performing since they were eight and both were in family bands as children.

They started a Let’s Play in Illinois and operated it for 10 years, but they decided to move back to Brookings. “We actually met onstage in a play at SDSU. We played husband and wife. Then three years later, we got married,” said Heidi. She was one of the musical directors for Cabaret.

As well as providing classes for the community, Let’s Play gives SDSU students opportunities to teach and gain experience in their fields. Micah Wetzel, a senior music and business major is a guitar instructor for Let’s Play.

“I was trying to find as many opportunities as I could to get my name out there, and Let’s Play gave me a chance,” said Wetzel.

He gave a few lessons on his own before he was hired, but Let’s Play increased his number of students dramatically.

“I think Let’s Play is important to the community because it brings opportunity to Brookings.” said Randy.

There are classes for all ages and several opportunities for SDSU students to get involved.

“It gives the community a reliable source for arts related programs,” said Wetzel.

Let’s Play has not only helped students working towards degrees in music or theater, but design as well. They hired a student to do their Web site.

“Why not reach out and let the students do some of these things?” said Randy.

#1.883121:1760085120.jpg:letsplayarts.sf.jpg:Erin Brubakken teaches Francie Grimslen during a musical theatre workshop of Annie.:Stephanie Fischer

In response to Roxy Hammond’s “Religious Intolerance: My way or the highway to hell,” I would just like to say that Christians are getting a really bad rap.

Let me start out by saying that I didn’t disagree with everything Roxy said. I agree that going up to people and telling them that if they don’t repent, they are going to hell is not the best way of handling things. She was right in that aspect.

However, I have different feelings on, “I am constantly blasted by people who feel they have the right to tell me that I will be damned to an eternal hell, and to judge my way of life simply because they call themselves Christians.”

It’s almost as if non-Christians think that Christians have a game going on. Like we have a huge tally board when you walk into church and every person we convert, we get another tally. Not to mention the competition between youth groups, whoever gets the most people converted by the end of the month gets a pizza party! That may be the way some other religions think, but Bible-based Christianity is not like that.

To quote from the movie Déj

From Oct. 22 through Oct. 26, the University Program Council and Student Leaders in Service are co-sponsoring the “Share the Warmth Clothing Drive” to help families from Brookings that are in need of winter clothing.

The clothing drive is a collaborative effort between the university and the Brookings community. The goal of the drive is to collect as many gently used winter coats, hats, gloves, scarves and mittens as possible to give to families in need.

“This is an easy way to make a big difference,” said senior nursing major Hanna Lindberg. “There are actually people in Brookings that have to go to work or school cold in the winter because they can’t afford winter clothing.”

Lindberg, a member of the University Program Council, is the coordinator of the event. “I just think that there is a real need for things like this in Brookings,” said Lindberg. “All the donations will benefit the community.”

All the apparel that is collected will be handed out at the Harvest Table, a place where low-income families can go to receive a free meal, no questions asked.

There are collection sites in every residence hall behind the front desk. There will also be a drop-off site at the Union from Oct. 22-26 from noon until 2:00 p.m.

It was requested that only gently used and somewhat modern coats are donated. “It should be something that you wouldn’t mind wearing,” said Lindberg.

Amanda Jacobs, a freshman broadcast journalism major who intends to give a few things to the drive, said, “Donating clothes is great because it gives you a chance to help people out and connect with the community.”

There are other things you can do if you don’t have anything to donate. Jillian Verdoon, a senior nursing major, intends to crochet a scarf to give.

“People are always searching for a way to make a difference,” Verdoon said, “and this drive is the perfect way to do just that. Someone who needs a coat gets one, and in return you get more closet space!”

If you would like to find other ways to get involved contact Hanna Lindberg at the University Program Council or join the “Share The Warmth Clothing Drive” Facebook group.

On Oct. 1, President Bush signed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 which will increase funding for Federal Pell Grants by more than $11 billion and cut the interest rate for Stafford loans in half.

The Federal Pell Grant is awarded to low-income students to ensure their access to a college education, and because it is a grant, students do not need to pay it back.

Currently the maximum amount eligible students can receive from the Pell grant is $4,310. By 2008 the maximum amount will increase by $490, by 2010 it will increase by $690 and by 2012 it will increase by $1,090, bringing the total maximum award to $5,400. That’s nearly enough to pay for one whole semester of college at SDSU.

“I think it’s great that the government is helping college kids out because most students already have enough debt to deal with,” Tricia Langholdt, a senior psychology and childhood development major said.

The act will cut the interest rate of the Stafford loan in half. The current rate is 6.8%, and by 2008 it will be reduced to 6%, in 2009 it will be 5.6%, in 2010 it will be 4.5% and finally in 2011 it will be at 3.4%

These cuts will only apply to loans taken out on or after the dates mentioned. If a student graduated and is in the process of paying back a Stafford Loan, their interest rate will remain the same as it was when they borrowed the money.

The Stafford loan is an unsubsidized Federal loan, which means that the government pays the interest while the student is in school. The Stafford Loan and the Pell Grant are both applied for when a student fills out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

“The College Cost Reduction & Access Act is a positive thing for students,” Jay Larsen, the financial aid director at SDSU, said. “Eligible students will receive higher amounts of money and more students will be eligible to receive government assistance.”

In addition to increasing funding for Pell Grants and reducing the interest rate on Stafford Loans, the act also “eases the burden on our men and women in uniform,” President George W. Bush said in a news release. Soldiers on active duty will be able to defer payments on their loans, and when they return home they can now defer payments for over a year.

The College Cost Reduction & Access Act of 2007 is good for students but not for the private student lending market. Since the government is offering to give eligible students more money, those students won’t need as much help from other lenders.

Nathan Anderson from the Student Loan Finance Corporation in Aberdeen, S.D., said, “It will force consolidation of the private student lending market.”

The College Cost Reduction & Access Act of 2007 will increase funding for Federal Pell Grants, reduce the interest rate for Federal Stafford Loans and provide flexibility in payment options for the men and women of the armed forces. It is one step closer to making college education accessible to everyone.