For many, “home” is one of the safest places they can think of. A sanctuary to unwind, express freely and most of all, to experience love and closeness from family or a spouse.

For domestic violence survivors, however, when the day ends and it is time to go “home”, the torment of abuse and control just begins.

Home becomes a prison of violence and power, where the perpetrator is the one who once promised support and kindness “for better or for worse”.

Since 1974, the Brookings Domestic Abuse Shelter has been a safe haven, as well as, a place for orientation and understanding for survivors of this plaguing phenomenon that, according to statistics, will affect one in every four women during her lifetime.

In order to continue providing all the different services to victims and survivors of domestic violence, the 24-hour shelter is holding its fourth annual “Cycle to Stop the Cycle” fund raising bike ride on Sep. 11 at 9 a.m.

The ride will start at the Brookings Chiropractic Center and there are three different routes available to accommodate all biking levels: 6, 24 or 40 miles. Though pre-registration began on Sep. 3, participants can register up to one hour before the start of the ride. Fees are $30 per individual and $60 per family.

“Fund raisers are vital for the shelter to keep meeting the needs of clients,” said Niki Hoese, associate director at the shelter, adding that in 2009 alone, there were over 2,000 client contacts, with 412 receiving services and 66 receiving actual shelter.

“We provide services to any individual in need; they can feel safe while they are here,” she said.

The shelter began as the Brookings Women’s Center focused on supporting the appropriate development of families in the area. At a local level, the initiative centered on domestic abuse education, information, support groups and referrals to other agencies. At the state level it contributed in legislative matters and training on domestic violence.

Eleven years after the Women’s Center’s founding, community leaders began efforts towards an actual shelter to provide additional services for victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

The shelter took shape in 1987 at facilities owned by the First Lutheran Church. In 2005, after fundraising efforts and a grant sponsored by Brookings County, the BDAS took roots in its current location.

Some of the key services offered include temporary shelter, rape response at the hospital, comprehensive legal assistance and orientation, support groups, referral to local resources (such as food stamps, housing, clothing), some financial aid and counseling.

“We always try to be very involved in the situation. Every person we meet is so different, each situation has particular needs,” Hoese said.

Although the number of clients served at the shelter has not increased significantly, Hoese said they also had not seen any significant decrease in the community’s needs at the shelter.

The “Cycle to Stop the Cycle” event will also feature games, massages, snow cones and live music to entertain all riders and supporters.

Participants with the most pledges will be eligible to win free massages, a one-year pass to the South Dakota Children’s Museum, a GPS or the grand prize, a bike donated by Sioux River Bicycles & Fitness. This year, the event is featuring a wrap-up celebration and its musical guest of honor is Brookings band Sonic Screwdriver.

Some of the campus organizations involved in the bike ride includes Campus Women’s Coalition, HEROH and Greek Life.

“We have always received great support from so many organizations on campus,” Hoese said.

If students or members of the community are interested in offering support but are unable to participate in the bike ride, they can get in touch with the shelter by calling 605-692-722 or e-mailing cycletostopthecycle@brookings.net to request pledge brochures to sponsor the rider of their choice.

Hoese also said that they will need volunteers to help with signage in the routes, cheerleading, setting up and other duties &- all different ways to show support for the shelter. The volunteer meeting will be on Sep. 9 at 5:30 p.m., at the Brookings Chiropractic Center.

#1.1573298:2763313918.jpg:The Brookings Domestic Abuse Shelter gears up this weekend to stop the cycle of abuse.:The Brookings Domestic Abuse Shelter gears up this weekend to stop the cycle of abuse.:PHOTO BY BRIGITTE NORBY

For some, the Saturday after finals will signify the end of another hectic spring semester at SDSU. and their days will be filled with cleaning out dorm rooms or catching up on sleep. For others, it will mark the beginning of an entirely new chapter in their lives, where they will be leaving papers, homework, all-nighters and other assorted college antics behind forever and embarking upon a promising ride in “the real world.”

On May 8, a total of 1,406 Jackrabbits will be celebrating the completion of their undergraduate or graduate career at SDSU in two separate ceremonies in Frost Arena. The commencement ceremony for undergraduates will begin at 10 a.m., while graduates will have their event at 2:30 p.m.

Mediacom’s Channel 2 will also be broadcasting this solemn celebration of academic achievement.

The keynote speaker for the undergraduate ceremony is 2009 Distinguished Alumni Brigadier General Mark A. Clark, featuring an address titled “Life’s Compass.” Clark is director of operations for the U.S. Special Operations Command. In the graduate ceremony, Carol J. Peterson, provost and vice president emeritus for Academic Affairs will be delivering the keynote address.

According to a press release, the SDSU Symphonic Band will hold a pre-commencement concert under the direction of Eric Peterson at 9:20 a.m., just prior to the undergraduate ceremony.

Meanwhile, the graduate students will be honored with the music performed by Professor Emeritus of Music Charles Canaan on the organ, as well as Music Department Head David Reynolds on the trumpet. Steven Grives will be leading the SDSU Chamber Singers’ performance as well, the press release stated.

Several distinguished academic authorities are scheduled to participate in the graduation ceremony, including Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Laurie Nichols, Terry Baloun from the South Dakota Board of Regents, Kevin Kephart, vice president for research dean of the Graduate School, Lt. Col. Dana Nielsen from the Air Force ROTC and Maj. Kory Knight from the Army ROTC, among others, including honorary marshals for each ceremony.

Imagine you’ve just eaten a spoonful of ice cream. Imagine tasting its creamy sweet texture making its way onto your taste buds as the flavor of vanilla invades your mouth, complemented by tiny but savory crumbs of luscious chocolate cookies: a perfect match creating ecstasy in your mouth. You cannot help but sigh, “Mmm, nothing beats cookies and cream.”

As a Jackrabbit, you have the privilege of saying it was your alma mater that brought this gift of the dairy gods to the world. SDSU is one of the self-proclaimed homes of the famous Oreo-flavored ice cream. And it does not stop there for SDSU.

Through the dairy and the meat lab, the university produces much more than top-notch athletes and notable graduates.

In 1972 Shirley W. Seas, then-professor of dairy science, was taking a judging trip from SDSU to Atlantic City, N.J., when the team stopped for a meal in a small restaurant. Seas saw that the staff was putting crumbled Oreo cookies on top of fresh ice cream and after tasting it, deemed the combination delicious.

Once the team returned to State, they bought packages of Oreo cookies and put them in vanilla ice cream. One of the campus cafeterias served as the quality control subject in testing six gallons of the new ice cream.

“We have never heard so many compliments on a product,” said Seas on a document found at the SDSU dairy. “The fame of Oreo-flavored ice cream spread like a fire going through a dry grass field.”

After this initial test, the sky was the limit. Today, Oreo-flavored ice cream remains one of the most popular at SDSU. In order to allow use of different chocolate cookie brands, the name of the ice cream flavor has been adjusted to “cookies and cream,” but according to Seas’ document, SDSU continued using real Oreo cookies.

The dairy plant produces many of SDSU’s impressive exports: 62 flavors of ice cream, 17 varieties of cheese, and butter. Howard Bonnemann, 13-year dairy plant manager, said the dairy plant, staffed by more than 20 students, also provides all the bulk milk for campus dining.

Cheese lovers have expressed their voice at the dairy, proclaiming smoked provolone and bacon and cheddar cheeses as the most desirable, according to sales, said Bonnemann.

At one point, the Dairy Bar used to offer around 100 flavors of ice cream, but some have been phased out as a result of consumer demands. The dairy plant is always experimenting wProxy-Connection: keep-aliveCache-Control: max-age=0

h different flavors; some are successful, like the Jackrabbit, which is lemon custard and blueberry, while others, like grape nuts and jalapeño, were met with little enthusiasm by student palates.

There are also seasonal flavors, such as mango for India Nite, pumpkin for Thanksgiving and peppermint for winter holidays. The dairy plant produces around 600 gallons of ice cream per week, Wylie Scalise, senior agricultural education major and part of the farm crew, said.

Just a short walk away from the Dairy Bar is Adam Rhody and his crew at the SDSU Meat Lab, where students and the community can find assorted cuts of beef, lamb and pork, as well as a variety of flavored brats.

Rhody, the manager of the Meat Lab, said there are several ready-to-eat products, such as the Hungry Hobo Smokey Stix, ham, sliced beef and a microwavable pot roast that is available only during the fall and winter.

“We do everything from hoof to plate,” Rhody said concerning the meat lab’s operation, which is mostly staffed by students. Most of the cattle processed at the meat lab are raised locally, Rhody said.

The meat lab takes custom orders for cuts of meat, such as rib eye or T-bone, where thickness and packaging are up to the customer, as long as they allow two weeks for special orders.

“You do something different every day, and we are basically getting paid to learn,” said Emily Evans, a junior animal science major and staff member at the Meat Lab.

Evans said she grew up on a dairy farm, and as part of the meat lab crew, she gets to see “the other side of the spectrum.” A fan of the beef sticks and the jalapeño-cheddar brats, Evans said her work is a lot of fun.

One of the most curious products from the Meat Lab is the Jackrabbit Brat, a rather peculiar sausage that showcases the Jacks’ honored yellow and blue through the cheddar cheese and blueberries in the brat.

At $4.49 per pound, Jackrabbits’ taste buds can celebrate the sweet glory of the yellow and blue.

“The Jackrabbit Brat is a very good product for us. We made 50 pounds three weeks ago, and we sold out,” Rhody said.

The fierce wind from the north blowing through the golden landscape lined with cornfields, as the faint noises from massive black cows echo in the distance: this is the prairie, the vast environment that sparked the inspiration of one of South Dakota’s most famous exports in visual arts, as well as one of the many distinguished students at SDSU. Students have oftentimes walked on the road bearing his name and it’s only logical to wonder: Who exactly was Harvey Dunn?

Dunn was born on March 7, 1884 in Manchester, S.D. &-about an hour west of Brookings. In 1901, while still a young teenager, Dunn attended SDSU (then known as South Dakota State College) as a preparatory student, under the wing of Industrial Arts professor and artist Ada Caldwell.

One year later, Caldwell realized Dunn’s incredible potential and encouraged him to attend the Art Institute of Chicago, said John Rychtarik, curator of exhibits at the South Dakota Art Museum.

“This man [Dunn] was born and raised in the country, came to SDSC and went on from here to study with one of the most important illustrators of the time and to establish himself as a credible name in the arts,” Rychtarik said. “He was a genius.”

Following his time at AIC, Dunn befriended Howard Pyle &- a major name in the American illustration scene at the time8212;became his student and then went off to develop his own unique style.

Rychtarik explained that in Dunn’s early career, he was primarily an illustrator, painting informative pieces that would be later published and reprinted in publications like Harper’s or the Saturday Evening Post, as well as in books.

“He was a very proficient and fast painter; he would complete many works in a very short period of time,” Rychtarik said.

At one point, Dunn was able to finish 55 painted illustrations in just a little under three months, according to the SDAM’s website.

One of the most interesting artistic periods for Dunn’s career was during his service in the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I, where he served as a war illustrator in France, Rychtarik explained.

Many of his war sketches are now housed in the Smithsonian Institution and the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. His illustrations, as well as paintings stemming from the war sketches are also found at the SDAM’s permanent collectiProxy-Connection: keep-aliveCache-Control: max-age=0

, said Rychtarik.

Dunn’s inspiration shifted gears toward his maturity, focusing more on the landscape familiar to many Jackrabbits who have grown up right here in the prairie Midwest.

“In his later years, he began painting nostalgic pieces focused on the prairie landscape and the place where he grew up,” Rychtarik said. Before his military service, in 1915, Dunn and fellow artist Charles Chapman founded the Leonia School of Illustration. When he returned from the war, Dunn continued illustrating and teaching from his studio and in other artistic institutions in New York.

One of Dunn’s most well known works is The Prairie Is My Garden, an illustration of a pioneer woman with a commanding view of the prairie, protecting her children from unexpected danger.

Adam Karnopp, director of orientation at SDSU, has a personal connection to this important work. Karnopp’s grandmother’s uncle, Ed Soreng, actually roomed with the artist during their time at SDSC. Soreng, at one point, came into possession of the piece.

“My grandmother is not sure if Ed bought it or was given it by Dunn,” Karnopp said, adding that Soreng later donated the piece to the SDAM.

In 1950, Dunn had his first exhibition in his home state, where he showcased more than 40 of his pieces at the Masonic Temple in De Smet, S.D., Rychtarik said. Following that exhibit, Dunn donated 42 of his paintings to SDSU. After the move of Dunn’s pieces from Pugsley Hall to the SDAM in the 70s, the collection is up to more than 100 pieces.

“Students should be very impressed with his work, the variety of his style and his attention to details,” Rychtarik said. “He was able to capture the spirit of each person and the essence of a story.”

Dunn died at the age of 68 in New York City.

Next time you are in class or grabbing lunch at The Union, notice how many of your classmates and friends are female: the women you cheered for during the SDSU vs. USD basketball game, the classmate you saw perform in her traditional dress at International Nite, the friend who helped you mend your heart with cupcakes and Wedding Crashers.

Any one in four of them will be sexually assaulted during her college career; one in three, globally, will be subject to any form of violence, simply because she is female.

In an effort to not only raise awareness, but also empower and involve individuals in finding a solution to the issue, the Campus Women’s Coalition is hosting the Week to End Violence against Women, said Catherine Grandorff, graduate student and one of the organizers of the event.

CWC will have a booth from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with information on the different activities they will be hosting each day from April 19 through 24.

“The Week to End Violence against Women is not just a reaction to the recent assaults reported on campus; it is a real issue that happens, even here in Brookings,” said Grandorff.

“It’s our problem. We either are women or have a woman in our life that we love, and we have a responsibility to end violence against them.”

Alongside the American Humanics student group, CWC will be featuring its version of The Clothesline Project, a clothesline display of shirts decorated to tell a woman’s story &- whether she is a survivor, a loved one or anyone wishing to express his or her feelings on the issue of violence against women. The shirts will be hung in The Union during the week and students are encouraged to participate by designing their own shirts to place on the display.

The featured T-shirts have been designed by families and women in the Brookings Domestic Abuse Shelter who wanted to share their experience, said Niki Hoese, assistant director of the facility.

According to the Clothesline Project Web site, the shirts’ colors have different meanings: white honors women who have died as result of violence, yellow for victims of assault, red, pink and orange for survivors of rape or sexual assault, blue and green for survivors of incest or sexual abuse, purple for women attacked due to sexual orientation and black for females victimized for political reasons.

Two films will be featured during the week-long event: One in Four on April 21 and Welcome to the Party on April 22 at 7 p.m. in Rotunda E, with discussion after the screening. The first film talks about men’s role in ending violence against females, while the second centers on sexual assault at parties.

“Men can stop rape. They are an important part to the solution; they can be a source of support, empathy and love,” Grandorff said. “To them I say, “be outraged that this is happening, be angry and fight this’. [Those engaging in violence] are giving you a bad name.”

Additionally, there will be three sessions on self-defense training, led by SDSUPD officer Cora Olson. Attendees who have already signed up will choose between April 13 or 14; April 19 or 20 and April 21 or 22 to learn techniques on fighting or avoiding an attack.

Grandorff, who was part of the pilot program of self-defense classes, said she learned many practical things in these sessions, but the most important thing was the empowerment she felt after attending. “I learned that I am powerful, that I have strength. I also learned to get in the mind of an assailant, understanding how they work,” she said.

Nevertheless, Grandorff warned that despite taking self-defense classes, nobody is ever immune to assault. “It is never your fault; it is always the assailant’s fault.”

The Week to End Violence against Women will culminate with two active events on April 24. At 10 a.m., there will be a 5K Run/Walk kicking off in downtown Brookings where SDSU students can support the Brookings Domestic Abuse Shelter by registering for $10 a half hour before the walk.

Hoese said that the 5K is a good way, especially for men who wish to get involved, to support a cause while at the same time enjoying a nice day.

“We want their support, to make a statement that violence is wrong, that they are a part of the solution,” Hoese said, adding that this is one of the reasons why the shelter’s board is comprised of both men and women.

That day, at 7 p.m., CWC is hosting a Take Back The Night rally starting on the west side of The Union, where participants will walk through campus and finish at the Volstorff Ballroom for a free dance.

The Brookings Domestic Abuse Shelter, which assisted more than 400 individuals and had 2,160 client contacts via phone or in person in 2009, is also hosting events. On April 21, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Days Inn, the shelter will have a fundraising luncheon featuring SDSU alumnus and author VJ Smith’s lecture on “The Exceptional Employee.”

Hoese said that this month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the shelter has also been distributing informational materials, cooperating with CWC and hosting presentations about the issue in the Brookings community.

“Why do we have something called “the rape lot’ on campus? Why should women be afraid to walk alone at night? It is unacceptable,” said Grandorff. “We have to empower both women and men to see they do everything they can to change the cultural climate on violence against women.”

Let’s face it: Most people in their 20s are usually not in the best economic situation. Whether it’s due to college payments or working a meagerly-paying job that barely pays the bills, there are no “moneybags” among this age group, let alone many trying to start their own business. Yet, at SDSU, there are two such people who now have a chance to make their entrepreneurial dreams a reality after qualifying in an important statewide competition.

On April 20, the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be hosting the Governor’s Giant Vision Business and Student Awards Competition at the Sioux Falls Ramkota. The competition is gathering 12 qualifying business applicants and eight qualifying student applicants to compete for financial awards to put their business ideas in motion.

While new business ventures have a chance to win up to $20,000, student ideas can win up to $3,500 as a means to turn the project into a tangible venture. Brian Grode, an entrepreneurial studies and agricultural systems technology major, along with Tom Eitreim, also an entrepreneurial studies major, have made it into the final eight student qualifiers for the award.

Applicants had to submit a three-year financial outlook for the company, including real-world estimates on how the company would do over time. Additionally, applicants had to submit a 10-page business plan with every detail about the business venture, said Grode.

Eitreim, 21, came up with the business plan for Help Around the House, a company that will offer person-for-hire assistance to people who want to do special projects in their homes or need physical aid in clearing windows or doing yard work, among other things. Eitreim said his inspiration came after trips back home made him realize his grandparents usually needed help doing some of the more physical tasks around the house, such as clearing gutters or moving heavy objects.

“If all these chores were done by someone else, it could help elderly people remain in their own home &-instead of a nursing home8212;for longer. It would help them maintain their independence,” Eitreim said. Yet, Help Around the House not only seeks to benefit the elderly, but simply anyone who needs an extra hand in performing repairs or typical house projects.

“There’s still some work to do on [the business] but I’m happy about having qualified in the competition,” said Eitreim, who came up with the business plan in a little more than a month. He said the competition was a good opportunity to get feedback, build experience and network with others in the state.

“If you have an idea, just do it. There are lots of resources around the state and if you have a drive to do it, there are great opportunities in the state,” said Eitreim. “Just try to get that ball rolling.”

Grode, 25, explained that he began his project &-BFG Enterprises8212;nearly two and a half years ago. This is one of eight total business ventures he is leading in the state. BFG Enterprises is a company that manages the rental of houses and mobile homes in Brookings.

“I own or sell the properties, collect rent, do the repairs, pay the utilities, do the taxes &- pretty much everything,” he said. With BFG Enterprises, Grode received the first prize of $500 for his business plan in 2009, as a result of a business writing class and subsequent competition at SDSU, while two of his business ideas made the top five in the Idea Competition in February.

“[BFG Enterprises] was self-funded for one and a half years, and then I finally got a bank loan to keep it going … I even sold my car and started driving a Geo Metro just to save money and get my business going,” said Grode, who with all his business ventures &-including a snow removal and an irrigation and seeding company8212;manages about 20 employees.

“I do all this with no special help or education from SDSU,” Grode said. “Classes are amazing, but for me they are more for networking than anything else.”

Regarding the Giant Vision Award, Grode said he was “very hopeful and excited” to have qualified for the event, especially since qualifiers are guaranteed at least $500 for participating.

“To student entrepreneurs, I say “don’t give up’. I went to 26 banks before finally qualifying for a loan for my business,” he said. “Networking is half of the work. It’s not about what you know or who you know, but who knows you.

Imagine a vast territory with hundreds of thousands of years of history, more than 400 living languages, a fiery cuisine and some of the most diverse identities known across the globe: this is India, represented once again by SDSU students and faculty at this year’s India Nite.

On March 28, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Volstorff Ballroom will turn into a cultural showcase featuring dances, performances and flavors from the Southeast Asian nation, available to SDSU students who were able to purchase tickets for $7 per person.

India Nite 2010 &-sponsored by the International Relations Club and the Indian Students’ Association– will feature at least five to six dance performances which will represent all the major regions of the country, said Gagan Deep, a dairy science graduate student and president of the ISA.

“One of my favorite parts of India Nite is the ambiance, all the colors and the vibrancy from the performances,” he said.

The various dances included in India Nite seek to represent all the different ethnic groups in this nation. The bhangra dance, which began as a celebration of an ancient harvest festival, comes from the Punjab region of India, located in the north. The eastern region will be represented with a Bengali dance, in addition to other classical representations, including a traditional clothing exhibition.

Eastern traditions meet Western culture through the Bollywood dance performance, which will feature a medley of contemporary songs from the renowned Indian film industry, accompanied by dynamic dance moves and colorful outfits. The performance is divided into three mini-segments, the first being a contemporary comedy dance, followed by a more “westernized” party dance and then concluding with a regional fusion dance, said Rumela Bhadra, agricultural and bio systems engineering graduate student and also a performer at India Nite.

“Dance and music have always been a part of every culture and religion in India for many years,” said Bhadra, who is also helping out with preparing some of the dishes for the event.
Indian food enthusiasts should expect to find several options to quell their appetite, for the India Nite menu will include chole &-a chick pea-based dish, mutter paneer &-a north Indian curry dish made with peas and cheese, vegetable biryani &-a rice-based dish, raita &-a yogurt-based sauce and gulab jamun &-a dairy dough-based dessert. In addition to all the exotic flavors, India Nite’s fare will include the refreshing taste of mango ice cream, manufactured right here at SDSU’s dairy.

More than 450 guests are expected to attend India Nite, which sold out just three days after the tickets went on sale, Deep said. Around 80 people, including students, faculty and their families have been involved in the program, which has been enduring its finishing touches for around one month.

“It hasn’t just been Indian students working or volunteering to help with logistics, there are also Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Nepalese … all of the Indian subcontinent, and even some American students are involved,” Deep said. “At India Nite, students and the community can get to see how one country can be so diverse.”

“I’d rather see another windmill in the prairie than another dead soldier on the field,” said Leighann Dunn, a veteran of the Iraq conflict and former member of the National Guard, concerning what she considers the United States’ dangerous dependency on foreign oil.

On March 30, alongside fellow veteran Eric Gage, Dunn will speak on the potential security threats linked to oil dependency and the destabilizing consequences of climate change, as part of the Operation Free: Veterans for American Power Tour. The forum, sponsored by SDSU’s Sierra Club, will take place at 7 p.m. in Rotunda D.

Operation Free is an effort made by a coalition of U.S. veterans and national security organizations that kicked off in 2009, with the purpose of raising awareness, as well as promoting action to address what they consider to be threats on national security posed by climate change.

The Veterans for American Power Tour has been taking veterans across the country to discuss these issues and attempt to inform Americans on their energy habits’ possible impact on national and international security matters.

“While I was in Iraq, I noticed our extreme dependency on foreign oil. Without oil, we could not run our entire operation,” Dunn said, adding that just one tank on the field gobbled up to 300 gallons of fuel a day. “The main targets attacked by enemy forces were usually convoys carrying oil and water, essential for us to run our operations.”

At the present, the CIA and the Department of Defense have recognized that climate change is a threat to the national security of the United States, Dunn said. According to Operation Free’s Web site, this is one of the reasons why they believe it is imperative to cut the country’s dependency on oil and begin developing alternative energy sources in American soil.

“We import around 66 percent of our oil from hostile nations. You have countries that sell us oil and then turn around and may be funding terrorist groups,” said Dunn, who also had a chance to attend talks during the 2009 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Denmark.

While in Copenhagen, Dunn said she had a chance to speak with high-ranking military officials from different countries and learned about various security issues directly linked to climate change.

As an example, she cited the increasing number of “climate refugees” from Bangladesh going into China and India because floods and changes in weather patterns have caused them to lose land and the ability to grow crops.

In countries like Kenya or Sudan, people become desperate after they see their land disappear and their crops destroyed due to climate change, which in turn makes them vulnerable targets for terrorist groups to recruit individuals and produce conflict, Dunn said.

One of the main points Dunn wants to make is the fact that the U.S. needs clean energy legislation, in addition to economic incentives to facilitate the use of alternative sources of energy by the general population.

Yet not everything is bad news in the panorama of clean energy progress in the U.S. Dunn said that there are currently 300 military vehicles in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., using alternative energy; at the same time, she said that the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force is presently working on developing synthetic jet fuel.

“This is about defending ourselves, our national security and our freedom. Future wars will be fought over resources like water and oil,” Dunn said. “It is important to recognize this situation.”

During the forum at SDSU, Gage and Dunn will have a more detailed discussion, answer questions, and will be showing an informative video on how climate change is directly related to national defense and security.

“It’s already happening. People are already out there dying because of our dependency on oil,” Dunn said.

The Students’ Association passed a resolution inviting administration members to discuss the restructuring of committees, including their request that three committees be remanded to SA and another to be turned into an appeals committee.

Resolution 09-22-R, passed at the March 15 SA meeting, invited members of the Committee Restructuring Task Force and President David Chicoine, Provost Laurie Nichols, Vice President for Student Affairs Marysz Rames or a member of their staffs to further discuss the proposal for committee restructuring in the CRTF’s draft vetting document.

Some of the changes in committee structure suggested by the CRTF included the reduction of the number of committees from 54 to 18. Committees such as Academic Appeals and Student Affairs would disappear, as they would be integrated into other committees. Others were modified, merged into other committees, changed names or were remitted to report to heads of departments and colleges.

After the CRTF presented its recommendations in the past, SA senators were concerned that the Vice President of Student Affairs would control the Student Union Activity Council, the University Food Service Advisory Committee and the Wellness Center Advisory Council.

In the midst of the SA discussion, Vice President Michael Kendall moved to amend the resolution to request that the SUAC, UFSAC and WCAC report to SA instead of reporting to the Vice President for Student Affairs, as the CRTF vetting document recommended. The amendment also requested for the University Activity Fee Budgeting Committee to become an appeals committee, in order to curb redundancies in case a student group was unhappy about funds allocation

Kendall’s move stirred up discussion among the senate, with Catherine Grandorff, state and local chair, expressing concern that, without proper consideration and discussion with administrators, the amendment would be “premature.” She said the amendment would not ensure the students’ control over the committees and without first discussing with officials the ideas in Kendall’s amendment, SA may seem too aggressive, which could jeopardize their negotiations.

“It could ultimately undermine us,” Grandorff said.

Rames said she was “perplexed” concerning the amendment, since in her view, having SUAC, UFSAC and WCAC report to her office would likely make them more robust committees. She said she was excited about the potential advisory capabilities the committees would have, the possibility of a “partnership” between administration and students, and the opportunities of hearing feedback from students.

Senator Kate Wegehaupt voiced her concern regarding continuity in these committees under SA, especially due to the yearly change of leadership in the senate. Meanwhile, Senator Anthony Sutton said it was important to consider what was best for both the university, as well as for the future of students.

“We are here to serve students,” he said.

Senator Tim Goldammer said he thought there was a good opportunity to have administration sit alongside students in a committee, yet he said that it was crucial for students to be in charge of committees that control buildings funded by student fee dollars.

“We want to be able to control what we paid for but still be open to (faculty and administration) being in the committees,” Goldammer said.

All final recommendations concerning committee restructuring are due to the provost by April 1.

Editor’s note: The 2010-2011 Students’ Association took office after this discussion during the March 15 meeting, so the titles used in this story are from the 2009-2010 senate.

The structure and number of committees across campus is changing in an attempt to improve governance, efficiency and accountability.

On March 1, the Committee Restructuring Task Force, represented by Students’ Association advisers Zeno Wicks and Dan Hansen, presented a vetting document to SA explaining the suggested changes in committee structure.

One of the biggest changes detailed in the document is the reduction of the number of committees from 54 to 18.

The CRTF document suggested the elimination of some committees, such as Academic Appeals and Student Affairs, whose functions would be integrated in other committees, while others were recommended to be merged with existing committees, underwent modifications that added additional functions or changed names or were remitted to report to heads of departments and colleges.

“Shared governance arising from committee work which is substantial, sustained and genuinely invites faculty, staff and students to shape the university,” seems to be the main purpose of the changes cited by the document.

According to the document, most committees would comply with a joint administration-senate leadership, while SA would be mostly in charge of a few committees.

Final decisions in committees suggested to report to department and colleges would be made by university vice presidents, deans and department heads.

Among these committees are the Student Union Activity Council, the University Food Service Advisory Committee and the Wellness Center Advisory Council, all of which would report to the Vice President for Student Affairs Marysz Rames – though under current CRTF guidelines, the SUAC and WCAC would be chaired by a student representative.

In their presentation, Wicks and Hansen said the CRTF document is a draft, and they are open to suggestions.

Another of the recommendations for the committee made by the CRTF was that they become action committees, while at the same time complying with their advisory functions.

One of the biggest concerns among the SA senators was the fact that SUAC, UFSAC and WCAC would be controlled by the vice president for student affairs. Vice President Michael Kendall suggested that these committees be remanded to SA, as well as making the University Activity Fee and Budget Committee an appeals committee.

“There is a difference between student ‘representation’ and student ‘control’. There is a bigger voice with ‘control’,” said SA senator Anthony Sutton.

Patrick Weber, senator for the Graduate School, said he preferred the UAFBC to be an appeals committee in order to avoid redundancies since now student groups must make similar budget presentations to UAFBC that the groups made to SA. Almost always, the UAFBC goes along with SA’s recommendation for funding.

“This is an important idea we should move forward with,” Weber said.

Wicks and Hansen also said that with a fewer number of committees, members would work together on more duties and be able to serve on subcommittees in different areas.

Regarding Kendall’s suggestion, Doug Wermedal, assistant vice president for student affairs, asked senators for serious reflection and more careful examination of the CRTF recommendations before making any final decisions about remanding the committees in question.

The senate moved to table the motion until next meeting.