It’s been open for more than a year and residents couldn’t be happier with the modern living arrangements in Caldwell Hall.

“We’ve found that students like this style of living,” said Residential Life Director Mike Kervin.

The hall was designed so that two rooms share one restroom. The hall is different from others on campus because it doesn’t feature some of the recreational rooms and game rooms found in the other halls.

“Since it’s so close to The Union and HPER Center, it didn’t make sense to add that, we did it on purpose,” said Kervin.

Caldwell Residence Hall Director Hannah Bendroth is new to the hall this year, but feels students truly appreciate the living atmosphere that Caldwell offers.

“I think students have a desire to work hard and meet the requirements to live in Caldwell. I also think once in, students have a great deal of respect for the building because they enjoy living here,” said Bendroth. “They have the chance to live with their friends, and Caldwell just offers an apartment-like feel to its residents.”

Bendroth said students are happy with the hall because it’s a new building. It’s brighter and has a home-like atmosphere. There are requirements for residents who want to live in Caldwell. They must be sophomores with at least a 2.5 grade point average. Compared to other halls on campus, it’s also more expensive to live in the modern living hall.

#1.883955:1511991303.jpg:Caldwell01.jpg:The newest hall on campus does not disappoint its residents.:Courtney Smith

Even with the unusual warm weather, winter is still fast approaching. And as a reminder to students, SDSU Student Health and Counseling Service is planning to hold flu shot clinics throughout the week.

SDSU Student Health and Counseling Service Associate Director Brenda Andersen wants students to know that now is the time to get vaccinated.

“Prevention is just like personal hygiene. Students need to stay healthy so they can be successful in school,” Andersen said.

Senior agriculture education major Kelly O’Donnell says she has never gotten a flu shot.

“I don’t think its something I have really needed, I’ve never gotten the flu and so for the last few years, I’ve just been taking my chances.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has designated the week after Thanksgiving as National Influenza Vaccination Week. According to the CDC, the week is designed to raise awareness of the importance of the flu vaccine through the flu season months, typically November to early April.

“We’ve found that more people get ill from seasonal influenza than anything else,” said Andersen.

“Like most college students on campus, I assume not all of us can afford to spend the money to get the shot,” said O’Donnell. “It’s not really a priority for me.”

Vaccinations are recommended for anyone who wants to decrease their risk of influenza.

“Our plan is to have a variety of clinics set up all across campus. If students see us then maybe we will help remind them that they need to get a vaccination,” Andersen said.

“Even if clinics are made available across campus, I still don’t think I would get the shot. I’ve been healthy so far, I think it would just be a waste to get it now,” said O’Donnell.

According to the CDC, between 5 and 20 percent of people in the United States are infected with influenza, about 36,000 people die and more than 200,000 are hospitalized because of influenza complications.

“So far, we have not diagnosed any cases yet this year,” said Andersen.

Students can purchase a shot for $20 or the FluMist for $32. Andersen says if anyone has questions about getting vaccinated, they should contact Student Health or their primary care physician.

#1.883957:1966735993.jpg:FluShot01.jpg:Freshman Jacob Temple gets a flu shot in The Union on Monday.:

A 21-year-old female says she was raped by three masked men during the early morning hours in downtown Brookings on Nov. 1.

“This is still an ongoing investigation,” said Jeff Miller, a lieutenant with the Brookings Police Department. “At the time of the incident, we didn’t feel this was a risk to the public and that is why we did not release the information right away.”

Now the Brookings Police Department is asking for the public’s help in solving the alleged rape.

“We have exhausted all efforts at this point and are hoping people are familiar with the night or can remember anyone wearing masks,” Miller said.

According to police reports, the woman said the men were wearing Halloween masks. One mask depicted a demon with a red face and black horns, another was a clown with green hair and the third mask was a zombie with a distorted face and bald head. The woman also told police that one of the men was wearing a red Nike shirt.

“There have never been any cases like this before in Brookings where a person is taken off the street and assaulted by a group of people,” Miller said. “This is very unusual.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Miller at the Brookings Police Department by calling 605-692-2113.

You can go anywhere from here. Sound familiar? Those are the words President Peggy Miller used to announce that the Pride of the Dakotas has been invited back to perform in the 2008 Tournament of Roses Parade is Pasadena.

“To the best of our knowledge, we are the first collegiate band whose team is not playing in the game, invited back for a second performance in the parade,” said director Jim McKinney.

Their first appearance was in 2003.

McKinney received the invitation three weeks ago after submitting an application prior to the May 1, 2006 deadline.

“It was a long time to wait,” said McKinney. “We wanted to announce the invitation at just the right time and thought it would be great to for President Miller to announce at the indoor concert.”

Junior Amy Barton was surprised by the announcement.

“Since high school I knew I wanted to be in a collegiate marching band. I watched the Rose Bowl Parade when I was little and dreamed of going,” said Barton. “I never thought it would happen, but now it has, I’m really excited about next year.”

Now the Pride is busy making plans for their appearance in 2008.

“We were really happy with how everything was organized for our first trip,” said McKinney. “We have a blueprint to follow when making arrangements for 2008.”

And despite the announcement just being made on Saturday, some reservations are already completed.

“We have already reserved the same hotel, along with the Queen Mary for our New Year’s Day celebration. We will perform once again at Disneyland,” said McKinney. “Our itinerary will be very similar to 2003 because it was so successful.”

Adult travelers are also expressing interest in going along to support the Pride.

“In 2003, we took roughly 300 adults with us,” said McKinney. “We hope that we meet or even exceed that number in 2008. The Alumni Association does a great job of organizing all of that for us.”

While plans are underway for the trip west, McKinney hopes the invitation and trips help SDSU.

“The first trip really increased our numbers, hopefully the second will help even more,” said McKinney. “Hopefully this opportunity will help students decide that SDSU is where they want to be.”

An enraged professor tapped the brakes on the entire Hobo Day Parade Oct. 28 by blocking a float he believed broke rules barring political entries.

While a compromise was worked out on-the-spot, the organizations involved have since complained, saying the parade’s policy just isn’t good enough.

Microbiology professor Scott Pedersen was at the wheel of a yellow pickup serving as a float for a new student group called Skeptics, Agnostics, Atheists, Freethinkers, and Empiricists, or SAAFE. The organization has provisional status as a student organization. According to its Facebook profile, it is set up to “promote science and freethinking.”

But when Pedersen noticed the Brookings Right to Life float, he stopped his pickup, putting it squarely in the path of the anti-abortion float. He then got out of the pickup and approached the Right to Life group.

“Basically, he refused to move,” said Alex Brown, a senior political science major who was riding in a float just behind Pedersen’s pickup. “I could tell he was yelling. I did see him strike the side of the float with his hand. And he was yelling about ‘Why they were even here, why would they let them be here.’”

Parade officials, including Marysz Rames, vice president of student affairs, were quickly on the scene to deal with the problem. After some heated discussion, a deal was struck. The Right to Life float would paper over statements considered out-of-bounds. And after some further discussion, Pedersen and his pickup-truck float were allowed back in the parade.

According to the parade policy, floats can be entered into the parade only by recognized SDSU organizations or by community service organizations.

In a written statement, Pedersen said he didn’t believe SDSU was officially supporting “Pro-life/Pro-republican causes.” But, he said, “an SDSU-sanctioned parade official offered tacit support to Pro-life and Pro-republican campaign efforts through the differential application of their own parade rules.”

Rames disagreed completely.

“The parade and decisions made had nothing to do with taking a political stand. Decisions that were made came down to making sure all entries were compliant with the parade policies,” she said.

“I think the UPC and students involved with the organizations were very responsible. I applaud their actions and their response to being compliant.”

The policy also caused some last minute decisions to be made by organizations already approved to take part in the Hobo Day Parade.

“On Friday afternoon, we were asked to make a decision in less than two hours on whether or not we were going to take part in the parade,” said Jacks for Life President Takara Hrdlicka.

“The Grand Pooba Sarah French was contacted by another organization that was questioning our participation because of the name of our organization.”

“We’ve been approved as a campus organization for over a year now,” said Hrdlicka. “We took part in activities throughout the week and were looking forward to taking time off from campaigning to join other groups on campus to celebrate homecoming and show our school spirit. Our float had no political motives at all, that wasn’t our intention.”

Tom Klosterman, a member of Brookings Right to Life, whose float was stopped by Pedersen’s actions, said there needs to be a change in the policy of what can be in the parade.

“I don’t think the students that created the policy realize it’s pretty limited,” he said. “It seems like the students weren’t comfortable with it.”

“Hobo Day is a time to celebrate the school’s homecoming and that’s the goal of the Hobo Day Committee,” said UPC adviser Nick Wendell.

Rames said the students did their job.

“Nick and the Hobo Day Committee worked really hard to make sure all entries were treated equally,” said Rames.

The committee, Wendell and Rames plan to sit down and review the current parade policies to make changes they feel will improve the parade.

No official word yet on what those changes may be.

#1.884039:4110551614.jpg:Pedersen 1.jpg:Another view of the pick-up used to temporarily block an anti-abortion Hobo Day Parade float Oct. 28:
#1.884038:2411878750.jpg:Pedersen 3.jpg:The pick-up used to temporarily block an anti-abortion Hobo Day Parade float Oct. 28.:

Two college students have found a unique way to pay their way through college. Lacey Roland and Amy Christie have both started their own business. The two sell Mary Kay cosmetic products.

“It’s a great way to earn extra money and has taught me how to deal with real-life situations,” said Roland.

“I loved the products and had the opportunity to purchase them for half the price,” said Christie.

The two have been operating their own businesses for the past few years. Each spends a few hours each week handling orders, doing paperwork and visiting with customers.

“I can create my own work schedule, which is nice. I set my own appointments, so my business all depends on how much I am willing to work and put into it,” said Roland.

“I have about 100 clients and keep products on hand. It’s fun,” said Christie.

If you’ve thought about staring your own business now or in the future, visit www.entreprenuer.com for helpful information on ways to make it a success and resources to use. The website also offers visitors the chance to talk with other entrepreneurs.

A lack of clear communication has created confusion about who can participate in Saturday’s Hobo Day parade.

In an election year, two campus political groups say they have been given different rules for parade participation, and one candidate said he has been turned away.

Larry Rudebusch, Libertarian candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, was told he could not participate in the parade unless a student organization on campus sponsored him.

College Democrats say they’ve been told they cannot walk along the parade route, and need to remain on the float. College Republicans say they’ve been told they cannot have more than 10 people on the float at anytime, but can have people walking alongside the float.

Parade policy states political candidates and organizations cannot pass out literature during the parade, and must stay in their vehicles or floats at all times.

Grand Pooba Sarah French said each year the Hobo Day Committee, University Program Council adviser and the Grand Pooba review the policies from previous years and make changes as needed.

“In the end, I make all the final decisions,” she said.

According to student organizations on campus, those decisions have all been different.

“Last year, Stephanie Herseth walked the entire parade route. And there were only four of us holding a banner behind her. We didn’t even have a float,” said Donni Anderson, president of the College Democrats.

“It’s just a confusing story.”

“We have policies in place. They are meant to be followed, but with so many people on the committee and they are all focused on their areas, it’s easy for students to give out the wrong information,” French said.

The Grand Pooba said ten people is the maximum number allowed to ride on a float at one time, but people can walk beside it for safety reasons. She said if candidates cannot find a student organization to sponsor them, they can enter the parade as special entries, as long as they have floats.

Rudebusch said he wasn’t told that was even possible.

“They are making it pretty difficult to get in the parade; they shouldn’t even have these policies anyway. I’m kind of disappointed now. I haven’t made up my mind yet on whether I’ll participate in the Hobo Days at all, not just as a candidate for political office, but as an SDSU alumni.”

Both Herseth (D) and democratic candidate for governor Jack Billion plan to have a presence in the parade, Anderson said.

She said her group plans to let Herseth participate however the representative chooses.

“We’ll probably just go and hand out stickers before the parade. But not after it starts,” Anderson said.

The Party Depot just off Main Avenue in Brookings has everything a shopper could want.

That hadn’t always been the case. Owner Cheryl Meyer decided this year was the time to try costumes. Her selection now includes hundreds of costumes, masks, accessories and party favors to choose from.

Lewis Drug and Wal-Mart offer costumes this season as well.

The Party Depot has grown so much from the time it was first opened seven years ago, said Meyer. She credits much of that to her customers.

“We carry what customers have wanted or requested,” said Meyer. “We decided if we wanted to try costumes, we better do some looking and we did. We joined a buying group which advised us on what to purchase and how to make our prices competitive. We also attended an international Halloween show in Chicago to get more ideas.”

Now Meyer is waiting for the big flood gates of people looking for costumes.

“There’s Snow White, the bar maid ? they’re all kind of cut the same and are just different colors with a short slip thing underneath,” said Meyer.

She said so far, shoppers have been trying to piece together their own outfits and have found much of what they need right in her store.

The Party Depot is open Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact Meyer at 697-9333.

#1.884117:1454895326.jpg:halloween02.jpg:SDSU students show off their costumes at a recent costume dance held at Volstorff Ballroom:

If you live on campus and are looking for a place to spend some time away from your textbooks and classes, the Hobo Hangout may be the place to go.

Located in the lower level of Pierson Hall, the large open area offers students the chance to watch TV, play some pool or just hang out with friends. Snacks are also available for student to enjoy.

Pierson Residence Hall Director Joseph Cooper said the hangout is a great place for students to get away.

“It’s on campus, students don’t have to travel too far and it’s a safe place to be,” he said.

Last spring, a group of students approached Residential Life Director Mike Kervin and asked to use the open space. They wanted to create a place for students to hang out.

Kervin said he couldn’t say no to the opportunity.

“It’s a great idea, it’s in a central location and it works for students, they may not know about it now but hopefully they’ll hear about it soon,” he said.

The Hobo Hangout is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 7 p.m. to midnight. Students are asked to bring their student ID cards if they plan to rent any equipment or play any of the games in the area.

If your group is interesting in renting a space in the Hangout, contact Cooper at 688-4416.

#1.884074:2250990039.JPG:Image: Students can chill, play pool at Hobo Hangout:Students have a new place to chill: Hobo Hangout in the basement of Pierson Hall. Pool, darts, foosball and snacks are available.:

SDSU has joined nearly 80 other universities in supporting an American Association of State Colleges and Universities initiative this fall. The goal is to register as many students as possible and get them out to vote come Election Day.

Robert Burns, political science professor, said SDSU hopes to get more than 500 new voters on campus this fall.

“If students want to have issues that are most important to them on the public agenda, registering to vote and voting is essential,” he said.

One organization is making it easy for students to get that done. The Campus Women’s Coalition is offering free rides to vote at the courthouse. Coalition member Brittany Henderson said more than a dozen students took advantage of the free service last week. The group plans to offer rides once a week every other week until Election Day.

“Students should look around campus for flyers, or even talk to their RA’s and spread the word about the opportunity to get out and vote,” Henderson said.

Justin Goetz, vice president of the SDSU College Democrats, said young people can have a strong voice in political matters.

“The only way we can truly be in control of our lives in this democracy of ours is by being as active in it as possible,” he said.

The last day to register to vote is Oct. 23. For more information about items on this fall’s ballot, visit www.sdsos.gov.

#1.884182:3553273762.jpg:voting2.jpg:Brittany Henderson, senior sociology major, talks to Maddison Parmelee, a sophomore pre-physical therapy major, about the upcoming issues in the November election. SDSU is one of nearly 80 universities pushing for students to get politically involved by registering to vote.: