Eight words went through Jill’s head again and again as she drove back to Brookings.

“Do you want to know if it’s twins?”

That was four years ago, in the second semester of Jill’s freshman year, when she had an abortion. Her husband David is still the only one who knows.

“I got pregnant, and I got scared,” she said.

At the time she and David were dating, and neither wanted to have an abortion. But it was the only way Jill could hide the pregnancy.

“I considered adoption,” she said. “But then I thought, ‘I’m going to get big. I’m going to show. People are going to know that I’m pregnant.’”

Despite what she chose, Jill has always been against abortion.

“I thought growing up, ‘How could someone do that? How could they kill their baby?’” she said.

But she couldn’t bear the shame.

“I come from a very conservative family,” she said. “Looking back, they would have accepted it eventually. It would have been fine, but immediately I was just struck with fear.”

In the United States there are two main types of abortion: in-clinic and a pill form. Jill decided to take the pill because it seemed like the easiest option.

David was “just as confused” about abortion as Jill was, she said. He didn’t want her to do it, but he said he would support her in whatever she chose. She called Planned Parenthood in Sioux Falls, the only abortion center in South Dakota, and asked about the pill.

“They said, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s not a problem,’” she said. “Like really nice. There was not a tone of somberness.”

One weekend when David was gone, Jill drove to Planned Parenthood by herself.

“They make you fill out so many forms beforehand just to make sure you’re absolutely sure,” she said. “I remember just going through the motions filling it out — just no emotion.”

After paying $330 with cash, she sat in the waiting room.

“No one looked at each other,” she said. “No one tried to talk to each other or anything.”

Eventually a nurse called Jill into a room for an ultrasound.

“‘Do you want to know if it’s twins?’” the nurse asked.

Jill said yes, and the nurse told her it wasn’t. Then the nurse asked if Jill wanted to know the sex of the baby. Jill said no.

She was then taken into another room where the nurse gave her the pills.

“It was very — it was really strange,” she said. “They treated it almost like you were going in for a headache.”

First, she had to take a pill that stopped all development of the baby. It was her last chance to back out.

“And I did it,” Jill said. “I took it.”

Then she was asked to put four smaller pills on the inside of her mouth, which caused her uterus to contract so her body would expel the baby. All Jill felt were cramps.

Then came the 59-mile drive back to Brookings.

“I just remember I drove home and sobbed,” she said. “I just lost it.”

Jill called her husband that night, who had been looking at baby pictures online that day. He “just sat at his computer, and he sobbed,” she said.

“I remember laying on the couch for two days,” she said. “I had done something that every part of me knew was wrong.”

Now, four years later, Jill is still “haunted” every day.

“After I had done [the abortion] I started researching it,” she said. “It has a heartbeat. It has fingernails. It has all that stuff. It is a human that I murdered.”

Jill was raised going to church and has always called herself a Christian. She has been involved in churches in Brookings, as well as different campus ministries. After the abortion, she can clearly remember a turning point.

“After a while God met me, and I don’t remember exactly what it was, but I just remember sobbing one day, screaming for forgiveness — crying out to God for forgiveness,” she said. “And I just felt peace.”

But she is still weighed down by guilt and the pressure of keeping a secret.

When she was pregnant, she thought telling her family was impossible. Now, hiding the abortion is worse.

“I’ve prayed for courage to tell them,” she said. “And I’m still praying for that. I’m just not ready for my mom to see me like that.”

She’s worried about what her friends would think, too.

“Whenever the topic comes up I get really uneasy,” she said. “But I don’t try to play the victim card because I know exactly what I did.”

Jill wants other women to make a different choice than she did.

“You’ll never regret letting your baby live,” she said. “… You will regret [aborting it]. I’m a strong a person. I don’t cry easily. But I regret it every day.”

One year ago, Mark York and Anthony Sutton were in the same position, beginning their leadership of one of the most important groups on campus, The Students Association (SA).

“It’s bittersweet,” York said. “There are so many things that we would both like to keep working on, but it’s kind of time.”

At York and Sutton’s first meeting with SA as president and vice president, a list of over 30 goals were handed out to the senators. The senators were told to mark the five that were most important to them. What resulted was a set of five goals that SA poured their collective focus into over the past year. The first and main goal was working to fund the Wellness Center and Performing Arts Center expansions.

Much work has been completed in that area this year. Research in coordination with the Wellness Center is being utilized to decide how to best move forward. Meanwhile Phase II of the PAC became part of the Board of Regents’ 10-year capital improvement plan.

“We kicked the ball down the path … we had very lofty goals,” Sutton said. “Now it’s up to the next group to keep it on the priority list.”

Despite their success, not every goal was met.

“It’s tough because we have learned so much and now we are done, it would be really nice to be able to apply what we learned,” York said. “But I don’t think we were unsuccessful by any means.”

The other goals on the list have also been points of pride for York and Sutton. Meeting with each active student group at least once per semester is one idea that evolved over time. Originally they tried to make it physically to one group meeting for each organization. This became difficult, so they organized an open discussion available to all students in the Bailey Rotunda.

Pushing for the creation of bike lanes was one goal that York and Sutton’s senate achieved conclusively. After a great deal of lobbying, the Brookings City Council passed a resolution to create more bike lanes around the city.

York and Sutton both said that the experience of managing SA was challenging and rewarding. York said the most difficult part of his job was motivating people.

“I expected the unexpected,” York said. “We came in with our goals … but you always have things that come up that you won’t see.”

Sutton felt managing a busy schedule and knowing how to delegate responsibilities was his largest challenge.

“It opened my eyes to what an effective leader can do to make other people better,” Sutton said.

Sutton has one year left as a political science and history double major. He is also the undergraduate representative to the Strategic Planning Committee that oversees the big picture of where the university is headed.

Mark York is graduating in May and already has plans for his short-term future. After he graduates as an agronomy and mathematics double major with a minor in chemistry, he will be taking his GRE to prepare for a graduate degree in economics.

Before starting graduate school, however, he will head to the African nation of Mozambique, for an internship on a grain and chicken farm there. Following that, he has another internship lined up for the fall in the Congo.

Both of the former leaders are facing a drastic change in their lives without SA, a change Sutton summed up with just a few words, “It’s a lot of work and then it’s done.”

Several senate candidates gathered in and around the SA office April 4 anxiously awaiting the SA election results. When the numbers were posted at around 7:50 p.m. elated shouts of victory were accompanied by the somber looks of defeat.

The presidential race was anything but tight this year as Jameson Berreth and Wyatt DeJong collected a total of 1,279 out of 2090 votes cast. That amounted to just over 61 percent of the votes cast – a landslide by any account.

“I’m very happy, very relieved, and I’m so glad we got so many students out to vote,” said president elect Jameson Berreth.

Jared Ellefson and running mate Libby Trammell came in at a distant second with 434 total votes, while Brady Duxbury and his running mate Josh Johnson received 377 votes. Berreth’s running mate said the margin of victory is not what really mattered.

“For me personally it’s not the margin,” DeJong said. “I’m just very thankful for the students’ confidence in us.”

Senate candidates had their own victories to celebrate as well. When the results were posted on the SA office window Kaytlin Pelton, an incumbent, literally shouted for joy upon seeing her name highlighted as one of the College of Agriculture and Biology victors.

“I’m excited for the outcome and I’m excited to continue working on what I was working on before,” she said.

Hassan Ali, the top vote getter for the College of Arts and Sciences, was no less excited about the results. He said that the new Senate will be very active over the course of its term.

“I think some great candidates won,” he said. “Next year will be a year of activism.”

It wasn’t all smiles when the announcements were made; every election has its winners and losers. One of tonight’s was sophomore Daniel Vellek who missed out on a Senate seat by just three votes.

“I had a hard campaign,” he said. “I think I reached a lot of students. This just goes to show that every vote counts.”

The vote totals for each candidate can be found below. (those elected are underlined)

President and Vice President

Brady Duxbury and Josh Johnson: 377 votes

Jameson Berreth and Wyatt DeJong: 1,279 votes

Jared Ellefson and Libby Trammell: 434 votes

Senators for Respective Colleges

College of Agriculture & Biological Sciences

Ben Sesso: 174 votes

Ben Stout: 206 votes

Bradley Cihak: 137 votes

Brett Lynch: 148 votes

Cody Wehner: 237 votes

Derek Haupert: 171 votes

Jeremy Noem: 128 votes

Kaytlin Pelton: 289 votes

Olivia Siglin: 284 votes

College of Arts and Sciences

Ben Ruggeberg: 116 votes

Bryce Kummer: 56 votes

Caleb Finck: 133 votes

Courtland McCranie: 112 votes

Dan Roberts: 118 votes

Denielle Meyerink: 189 votes

Erica Swanson: 119 votes

Hassan Ali: 214 votes

Jameson Goetz: 172 votes

Jim McLain: 154 votes

Matilyn Kerr: 122 votes

Shannon LaJoie: 116 votes

Vanessa Dykhouse: 184 votes

College of Engineering

Austin VanderWal: 129 votes

Daniel Vellek: 123 votes

Logan DeBoer: 130 votes

Michael Rauenhorst: 126 votes

Umar Mohammed: 108 votes

College of Nursing

Amir Mohamed: 75 votes

Lindsey Hompe: 68 votes

Madeline Moeller: 121 votes

College of Pharmacy

Ashley Weber: 74 votes

Colleen O’Connell: 85 votes

Jessica Nowak: 82 votes

Murphy Mack: 77 votes

Education and Human Sciences

Amanda Chicoine: 144 votes

Brandi Murley: 96 votes

Laura Barber: 168 votes

Graduate School

Raj Bhandari: 107 votes

Thomas Shileny: 35 votes

Nicolas Nelson, a junior at SDSU, said he is most looking forward to the energy expected to fill the room. However, he said he is apprehensive because he is one of two students from SDSU officially participating in the show.

“I have only met a few of the performers and I am considered the new kid,” he said.

The drag show is expected to provide GSA the opportunity to network, make connections and form bonds with other colleges.

Joshua Sulloway, a junior at SDSU, said many students were showing a lot of interest in drag shows and that led to a student vote, which then resulted in the planning of the drag show.

“There is so much that has to be done [to put on the drag show]. The contacting of drag queens, behind-the-scenes work and notifying the UPD and Brookings police department are just a few things that need to be taken care of,” he said.

After the drag show, the participants will be walking around the Brookings downtown area in their outfits and the use of the UPD and the Brookings police is mainly a safety precaution.

There is the misconception that the GSA drag show is similar to Hobo Day’s Miss Homelycoming, when in fact that is not the case.

“Miss Homelycoming is thought of as more of a joking matter, while the drag lifestyle and show are more culturally based,” Sulloway said. “Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Miss Homelycoming, but you can hardly compare the two shows.”

There has been very little opposition to the GSA drag show. In fact, Sulloway said he and the rest of the GSA are receiving the opposite response. However, Sulloway is not ruling out any opposition before the performance, and is keeping a watchful eye out for participants. 

The Senate Appropriations Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a plan to authorize the South Dakota Board of Regents to spend more than $200 million in the next 10 years to construct new buildings and either renovate or demolish existing buildings at state universities.

The projects at the six universities, including SDSU, would be financed by up to $107 million in bonds, which would mostly be covered by students. No state tax dollars will be used to fund the projects and private donations are expected to cover the rest of the costs.

The bill will now be passed on to the full Senate for final approval.

A matchup between SDSU and USD has the potential to bring out the best and worst in fans. No matter which side shines through on Jan. 12 and 16, they will bring out one more important thing: their wallets.

Christi Williams, assistant athletic director of Ticket Operations, said every seat is expected to sell out for both games and the 6,107 capacity limit will be met. This is significantly higher than the average of 1,800 tickets sold for regular conference games.

All those people, not to mention a house filled with rivals, means the Athletic Department is not taking any chances when it comes to safety.

“Every time you get more people you increase security,” Williams said. “The rivalry aspect was taken into account slightly, but the increase had more to do with the fact that we have so many more people than that we need more security. It’s nothing different than any other major game.”

Much like a football game, people and their bags will be searched upon entering the arena. Williams said she and other staff working the event are pushing for good sportsmanship among the audience and no one wearing an offensive shirt, holding an inappropriate sign — or especially concealing a dead animal — will be let into the game.

Although the rivalry died down for a few years when SDSU went Division I and USD remained Division II, Mayor Tim Reed said some heat can be felt from a rekindling of the rivalry now that USD is transitioning into a Division I spot.

“I hope we don’t go back into the ugly parts of rivalry,” he said. “I hope the animals on the floor doesn’t happen — we want an event that represents Brookings, SDSU and USD positively.”

Frost Arena is not the only place in Brookings planning to be bursting at the seams Jan. 12. Ryan Brunner, project coordinator for the Brookings Economic Development Corporation, said the Brookings community in general is expecting to receive its own fair share of Coyotes and Jackrabbits swarming in and out of gas stations, shops, restaurants and taverns.

“People make an evening of it,” he said. “They go out to eat before or after the game, not just downtown but in all of the food and drinking establishments in Brookings.”

Despite the games being on weeknights rather than a weekend, Brunner said the warmer and drier weather is a helping hand in getting people here safely. He said if Brookings or the surrounding area had snow then that might keep some people away who didn’t want to face the roads, but blue skies and no snow mean this year that’s not an issue.

Brunner said the EDC estimates that a one-day visitor will spend $60 during their stay in Brookings after factoring in going out to eat, buying gas on their way out of town or shopping. With the bus loads of people traveling from Vermillion, Sioux Falls, and everywhere else, Brunner said he suspects the Brookings community “will do very well” in terms of bringing in the money.

“When we win on Thursday it will bring a lot of people out and it’ll be good for us all,” he said.

Cubby’s Sports Bar and Grill is always a lively pre and postgame hangout, before and after the game on Jan.12 that will be no different. Chris Stoltenberg, a manager at Cubby’s, said they expect a “mad house” by 4 p.m. before the game. Several huge reservations have been made of 40-plus people, including a large amount of out-of-towners, which will result in standing room only as the night progresses.

“Well, now that the rivalry is back in full swing, it’s going to be an extremely busy night in Brookings in general and a big night for us,” he said.

Two instances of vandalism last semester in The Union caused damage totaling $1,500. If the same person committed both crimes they could be charged with a Class 4 Felony, said SDSU Police Department Chief Tim Heaton.

Both illustrations were done in black permanent marker with matching artistic techniques and similar messages. Union Director Jennifer Novotny listed a few.

“Free thinking, evolution, free your mind — that sort of thing,” she said.

The first crime was committed Oct. 12, between 10 p.m. and midnight, Novotny estimated. The drawing was on a booth in Einstein Bros. Bagels, scrawled on the plastic seat cover and expanding up the wood paneling.

Outside help was hired to completely replace wainscoting wood and the upholstery, totaling $1,500.

The second occurrence was reported to the SDSUPD Nov. 18. It was in a stall of the men’s bathroom in the lower level of The Union. Novotny said there were drawings covering “the entire stall.”

Union staff estimated the repair cost could have been another $1,500, or possibly up to $20,000 if the stalls needed to be replaced completely. However, one of the custodians spent nearly three hours coming up with a chemical mixture that took off the marker from the sides of the stall, and the stall door was then repainted for less than $25.

“It’s pretty awesome,” Novotny said. “We thought we were going to have to rip out the whole stall.”

At this point, after two unresolved offenses, Novotny said she and the Union staff are at a loss for what action to take.

Security can only go so far. Fingerprinting is not an option with the particular locations. And surveillance cameras have their limits, which include bathroom stalls.

“We can’t do a lot,” Novotny said. “… We’re just looking for other good stewards of the building,” to help identify the person responsible.

She said a cash reward is available for anyone who is willing to come forward with information. Anonymity could be provided, as well.

Novotny does not think this property damage was hateful; the person may have just needed an outlet. She is brainstorming possible solutions for this, and she has considered the possibility of putting up large Plexiglas sheets for students to write on.

“Maybe there’s a more mature way to express your ideas than Sharpie,” she said.

There were 18 reported vandalism cases last semester on the entire campus, according to the SDSUPD’s crime logs. Heaton said this is average in comparison to other semesters and there is no sign it’s going away.

“We have a sense that this is probably going to continue to occur,” Novotny said.

The lot east of The Union is now a pay lot. (photo by Kathy Kroeger)

The pay lot east of The Union will be in operation starting Jan. 9 and free of charge until Jan. 15.

To enter the lot, press the blue button on the device and pull the ticket once dispensed. Upon exiting, insert the ticket into the machine and proceed to exit.

After Jan. 15 the rates will be $2 for the first hour and $1 for any following hour, or $8 a day. These rates will apply from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Between 4 p.m. and 2 a.m., Monday through Friday, the lot will be free of charge. During this time frame the automated gates will still remain down to ensure proper car count for the lot. On the weekends, the gates will be raised and the lot will be free to park.

From 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. any vehicle left in the lot will be ticketed for overtime parking, which is Parking Violation 4.4.7 and towed immediately at the owner’s expense. All vehicles towed from lot will be placed in the Remote Lot east of the Performing Arts Center.

For more information about The Union’s parking situation, read this week’s issue that comes out Jan. 11.