Issue: Some students are concerned about Residential Life and the traditions associated with Hansen Hall; however, in making their argument, they equate agriculture and farmers with “hicks.”

Over 250 students have “liked” the Facebook page “Keep the Ag Tradition alive in Hansen Hall.” The group was made in response to Residential Life trying make the all residence halls more inclusive. Apparently, people who are invested in Hansen Hall believe what they call the “ag tradition” of Hansen Hall may be lost in the process.

Residential Life made it very clear they are not trying to do away with any traditions but rather making sure everyone feels at home and included in every hall. Will this lead to a breakdown of tradition in Hansen Hall? Residential Life denied that it would, but if students are still concerned, they should bring those concerns to those in charge. Their worries deserve straight answers, and students should contact the Residential Life at 605-688-5148 or talk to their Community Assistants and Residence Hall Director.

We’re always glad when students are passionate about something and take positive action; however this Facebook group also insults a large number of people. From the group description:

“So considering all of the traditions and foundation built on Agriculture why is our university trying to phase out the “Hick Hall’ feel? … This is a state school founded in agriculture people. Let’s remind the ResLife folks that being a resident in Hansen isn’t a punishment. Being labeled as a “Hick’ for living there should be something to be proud of!”

We don’t appreciate equating the numerous ag related majors, students who grew up on farms, or the many farmers and agricultural business people of South Dakota to hicks, which is a derogatory term describing people from the country who are unintelligent and unsophisticated. That’s not something to be proud of, and saying part of the “ag tradition” is being proud to be a “hick” is offensive and only furthers a very untrue, negative stereotype.

Stance: Students rallying together for a common concern, whether the concerns are valid or not, is great; however insulting a huge portion of South Dakota and SDSU in the process by equating hicks with agriculture is inappropriate and downright offensive.

UPDATE: The group has changed the original quoted description. It now reads: “Being labeled as an ‘Aggie’ for living there should be something to be proud of!”

Like other universities, SDSU has Greek chapters that make up the Greek Life community on campus. However, one aspect of the Greek community that many universities have, though SDSU lacks, is a Greek Row or Greek Village.

Since the late 1960s, land has been designated on 20th Avenue (next to

Farmhouse and AGR) for a Greek Village, which after many years of negotiating, is in the process of coming into existence.

“Former President Briggs had a real desire to see Greek Life expand and wanted to bring the Greek community closer, so land was set-aside for this,” said Marysz Rames, vice president for student affairs. “After a variety of approaches, the university was finally able to negotiate a way for Greek chapters to build their houses.”

According to Rames, the majority of the land has sat vacant for so long because chapters were unable to get bankable loans to pay for the project. In order to help chapters acquire the loans, the State College Development Association, a financing group that promotes the enrichment of SDSU, is stepping in by leasing the land from SDSU and then leasing it out to the individual Greek chapters. By doing this, chapters are now eligible for the needed bankable loans.

“The State College Development Association is acting as a third party in the process. They will lease the land from SDSU and then turn around and lease it to individual chapters that wish to build a house on one of the open lots,” Rames said. “Each chapter will be responsible for funding their own house and working out all the details that come along with that8212; including the size of the house and how many rooms it has. The university is not contributing any funding to chapters for this.”

Kam Nelson, a junior communications and theater major who participates in

Delta Chi fraternity said there are many advantages to having a Greek Village but there could also be some disadvantages as well.

“To implement anything you have to see it from so many points of view.

Although this might be an excellent addition for Greek Life, it could also be viewed as showing preference to students in Greek Life over those students who don’t participate in it … having a Greek Village could also give off the stereotype that it’s a place to party when Greek Life at SDSU has never been about that,” Nelson said. “I am very proud to be Greek and as we continue to move forward in this I think we must approach it with the white glove treatment and make sure it doesn’t negatively affect Greek life.”

Rames said having a Greek Village would not show preference to students who participate in Greek life.

“This is not showing preference to Greek students. Although we are providing the land, we offer other organizations like the University Program Council and The Collegian office space when not all students are a part of those organizations but it provides the opportunity for those students have resources to be successful. Which is the overall goal8212; providing resources for students to be successful and this is just another way to do that.”

According to Nick Wendell, assistant director for student activities, individual chapters have independence when it comes to the design and appearance of what their houses will look like once completed.

“Each chapter has the freedom to decide what kind of house they would like to build. However, the look of each house will be consistent with the existing community and will be organic to the neighborhood. If there is a certain type of shingle or landscaping requirement, than chapters must abide by those. That way the community stays cohesive,” Wendell said.

Addie Wolcott, Greek Life advisor, said she is excited about the opportunity for each chapter to have its own house in a central community.

“Having a Greek Village will raise the community feel and have all the chapters together in one place, which will unite them as a group,” Wolcott said. “This will be a beautiful feature to add to SDSU and take Greek Life to the next level.”

Although the Greek community at SDSU is smaller compared to other universities such as the University of South Dakota or the University of Minnesota that have active Greek programs, only three to four percent of students at SDSU participate.

Wolcott said a Greek Village could promote and attract more students to becoming Greek.

“A Greek Village would be a positive recruiting tool for the 10 chapters to raise numbers. Our peer institutions have Greek Villages or a Greek Row, and by implementing one at SDSU it would not only benefit Greek Life but SDSU in general,” Wolcott said.

Wendell also said a Greek Village would have several positive effects for SDSU.

“Having a Greek Village would give Greeks a physical footprint in the community. Each Greek chapter has differing philanthropic efforts and missions in the community already so by putting them together into one place it increases the Greek profile and gives them a more substantial community presence.”

Several students who participate in Greek Life are excited about the opportunity for a Greek Village. This includes Sarah Wettergreen and Anna Retterath, who are both junior pharmacy majors and participate in Kapa Psi fraternity.

“I think it would be beneficial to have a Greek Village because it would bring people together in one community,” said Wettergreen.

“When you join Greek life you’re not just joining one, but are a part of the Greek community as a whole. This would be a good way to get everyone unified and together,” Retterath said.

Dan Schmidt, a junior advertising major, does not participate in Greek Life but would not be opposed to having a Greek Village.

“I mean, I really have nothing to do with it, but who am I to stop anyone from having a Greek Village,” Schmidt said. “If they gather the money themselves they should be able to.”

Amber Uptagraff, junior nursing major, also said building a Greek Village is a good idea.

“Right now no one really knows about Greek life so having a Greek Village would enhance each chapter,” Uptagraff said. “Also, right now I don’t even know where most of the chapters houses are besides ARG and Farmhouse so having them all together in one place would be a cool feature.”

Ralph Lauren, Prada, Dior, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Chanel, Burberry and Marc Jacobs: a dream team of fashion designers with killer fall collections most of us wish we had.

Thankfully for us, designer knock-offs of the hottest fall fashion trends are popping up in storefronts across the U.S. The best looks at affordable prices can be found right here in Brookings and its surrounding areas.

Nancy Lyons, a professor in apparel merchandising, said military looks are the hottest trend for fall.

Military can range from a uniform-like jacket with embellishments to a trendy use of fashion camouflage. High boots or booties, dog tag necklaces and army green skinny jeans accessorize the look.

Megan Krahn, a senior apparel merchandising major, said animal prints are making a statement for the second year in a row.

Animal prints, or the safari look, consist of an animal print shoe, nude or khaki pants and a faux fur vest with a neutral shirt. Animal prints this season are more muted and used as accessories like purses, scarves or shoes.

In the September issue of Elle magazine, it said pairing feminine lace and ruffles with tough leather or rugged pieces went from runway to retail. Lyons said mixing the two styles together creates a unique look of girly-meets-edgy.

“I am not a trendsetter, but I enjoy trends more comfortably like wearing statement accessories with my favorite classic pieces,” Krahn said.

Statement accessories are fun, colorful and expressive of one’s personality. You can try by wearing your favorite plain outfit and jazz it up with an expressive scarf, jewelry piece, handbag or shoes.

Outerwear for Krahn is a way to “change up” your style. Krahn said pea coats and trench coats in fun colors, prints, plaids or embellishments can add to your outfit by making you appear fashion-forward even while walking to class.

Straight from the September issue of InStyle emerges two radically different fall silhouettes: minimalism and volume. Both come fresh off the runway of high fashion shows.

Minimalism style is simple, scaled down clothes with muted tones like black or camel. Volume has voluminous shapes that channel the retro vibe of the 1950s. You can channel the silhouettes by wearing tight fitting dark clothes for minimalism or a full skirt and a puffed-sleeve cardigan for volume.

The hottest trend on the jean scene for fall is the jegging and trouser jeans.

The jegging is a cross between a skinny jean and a legging, hence the term jegging. According to Gliks associate Jenny Jasper, jeggings are hard to keep in stock because they have been “flying off the racks” since school started.

Jasper said most shoppers pair jeggings with belted or loose tops and longer sweaters or shirts.

The trouser jean has a fuller leg style and is more of a classic look instead of trendy, Lyons said. The trouser jeans look best with tighter fitting tops and tucked in button downs.

For men, senior graphic design major Derek Kramer said fashion is not a major priority.

Kramer said v-neck tees, slim-fit jeans, male “scarfing,” capped beanies, watches and Converse Chucks are staples for men’s fall fashion.

“You need to have a classy watch like Fossil to be in the who’s who of fashion and Chucks go with everything and have been around for years,” Kramer said.

Krahn said she finds her fall fashions at American Eagle Outfitters, The Gap and Kohl’s. Lyons said Express and The Limited have fashion-forward fall clothing as well.

“At Kohl’s, people who have a budget can still be fashionable because of knock-off designer brands like daisy fuentes by Daisy Fuentes and LC by Lauren Conrad,” Krahn said.

“Don’t overlook Target either. They have guest designers and are in the price range for college students,” Lyons says.

Kramer said if you don’t have time to get out and shop for fall fashions, amazon.com is a customer-friendly site.

Amazon.com has a new feature that shows customers what others bought with the selected item, and sells complete outfits with a pick-and-choose option as well for a quick and easy home shopping experience.

Those, my friends, are the hottest fall fashions, and don’t forget to support the SDSU Jackrabbits by wearing your blue and yellow apparel on Fridays!

Standing at 165 feet. 179 steps. 32 seconds. Can the speed record for climbing to the top of the Campanile be beaten?

The Pius XII Newman Center, the Catholic campus parish, is giving students that very chance. Thursday, Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. students can try their hand (or feet) at breaking the old record set in 1992 by Troy Bauman, a former SDSU quarterback. Prizes will be awarded for the first and second place finishers in both the men’s and women’s categories, even if the record is still standing at the end of the Challenge.

Meghan O’Connor, the student director of the Newman Center, organized the event.

“The challenge is a fun event to excite students about being back on campus. I mean who doesn’t love a challenge?” O’Connor, a junior consumer affairs major from Sioux Falls, said.

Mark York, a senior agronomy and mathematics major from Lake Wilson, Minn., plans on attempting to break the record this upcoming Thursday.

“I’ve been training some, but I don’t want to speculate on how I’ll do,” York said. “I wouldn’t want to talk the talk without being able to walk the walk.”

York has been involved with the Newman Center since his freshman year.

“It’s a really cool community and I’ve loved being able to get involved,” he said. “I am really happy to see an event that is not run-of-the-mill.”

The Newman Center is working in conjunction with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) group to run the event. Michael Preszler, a senior advertising major from Stewartville, Minn., and student leader with FOCUS, had a bit of a different view on the event’s intention.

“This is an event to help convey the message to students that Catholics can have fun too,” Preszler said.

The Challenge is first in a list of events designed to bring the campus community together. The next big event in the works is a Barn Dance to be held Oct. 8 at barn located just outside of Brookings.

One monthly event the Newman Center is extremely excited about is the once monthly “Big Deal”. The Big Deal is a night of praise and worship, along with the opportunity to ask questions and listen to a speaker.

For more information contact Meghan O’Connor at mmoconnor8773@jacks.sdstate.edu.

#1.1573420:1044873222.jpg:SDSU challenge: race to the top:SDSU challenge: race to the top:Sara Carlson