The SD Film Society’s yearly film series got off to a big start last night when it showed the film “Out in the Silence,” a documentary from directors Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer. Immediately following the film there was a panel discussion with the two directors.

Wilson and Hamer are currently on a national tour to promote not only the film but also their campaign and bring awareness to gay rights and issues to small rural towns.

“The main message we are trying to get out is lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender people are deserving of fair and equal treatment under the law everywhere in the country, whether they live in big cities or small rural communities,” Wilson said. “We need to figure out ways to support people who live in small towns and communities that are trying to create places that are fully inclusive and welcoming of all and treat everybody with dignity and respect.”

The documentary is about the life of a boy in a rural community who is harassed after he comes out of the closet and openly admits that he is gay. The director is from the same small town and when he and Hamer had their wedding announcement published in the local newspaper, there was a huge backlash from the announcement but the commotion caused some good as well.

“The inspiration for the film was a letter I received from the boy’s mother explaining the situation and how she had nowhere else to turn to,” Wilson said. “I knew that we needed to go there and film it and use it as a way to bring awareness to this issue.”

Their hope is that through the tour and the film, they will be able to open up communities to not only accept the issues but also create environments accepting to those struggling with hiding their true selves for fear of harassment and ridicule from members of their families and communities.

“One of our goals is to speak to the whole community and let everyone know they are responsible for making the needed changes for all members on the towns to feel welcome and safe with who they are,” Hamer said. “We also want to let those who are gay, bi-sexual, lesbian and transgender and are living in those small towns in the closet for fear of retribution, that there are allies and supporters out there to help them. We want them to trust in their hope for a better and safer environment to live in.”

Prior to the film being shown, there also was a dinner with the directors at Pizza Ranch, hosted by the Gay Straight Alliance from SDSU.

“Our hope is to bring awareness and have more in the public that we’re here and to respect us and accept us into the community,” said Lawrence Novotny, senior chemist at SDSU and the advisor for the Gay Straight Alliance.

Presidents of the Gay Straight Alliance, Josh Bell, said overall SDSU and the Brookings community are very supportive and welcoming. However, instances of verbal and physical harassment occur from time to time. The Gay Straight Alliance has support campus-wide from various other organizations such as the Campus Women’s Coalition and the Society of Agnostic, Atheist and Free Thinkers (SAAFE).

“The Gay Straight Alliance is a growing organization and our focus is to create safe environments and a supportive atmosphere for our members,” said Josh Bell, the current president of the organization. “Our meetings are held on Thursday nights at 7:00 p.m. in The Student Union. We also have a Facebook group under the name GSA.”

#1.1599842:217224274.jpg:From left to right: Josh Bell, Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson, and Lawrence Novotny.:From left to right: Josh Bell, Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson, and Lawrence Novotny gather at Pizza Ranch prior to premier of the feature film ?Out in the Silence.?:Collegian photo by Frederic Cone

The new Jackrabbit Village is a hot topic on campus early into the 2010 school year.

The complex is comprised of three residence halls for a total of 233 rooms. The rooms in Jackrabbit Village feature higher ceilings, central air and more room per square foot. Each floor in the three buildings has a soundproof study room, two restrooms, air conditioning and a kitchen.

Jackrabbit Village is open to freshmen and sophomore students, but at a higher price than any other residence hall on campus.

“Jackrabbit Village does cost more than the other on-campus housing options because it offers many more amenities for its residents, making it more expensive to maintain and run

the facility,” Margaret Sykes, Jackrabbit Hall director, said. “However, the difference in price is not much more than the rooms in Caldwell Hall, which offer private bathrooms for its

residents as an extra amenity.”

Sykes said the perks of living in Jackrabbit Village include greater accessibility to experienced staff, as well as other luxuries that come with newer facilities.

One of those luxuries is central air conditioning.

Jacob Ballard, a sophomore manufacturing engineering technology major, said students in other halls complain about the heat and lack of air conditioning. He said that in Jackrabbit Village most of the rooms get too cold and they have to turn the air off at times.

Ballard had other reasons for living in Jackrabbit Village.

“I didn’t want to live in Caldwell and clean my own bathroom,” said Ballard. “Jackrabbit Village is close to a lot of my classes.”

Laci Lynn is a freshman nursing major. She chose to live in Jackrabbit Village because the rooms are bigger and because of the buildings close proximity to The Union.

“I think Jackrabbit Village is really nice and AC makes it more livable,” said Lynn. “I think it isn’t too cluttered because we only have one set of bunks.”

Sykes said that so far the overall reaction has been positive.

“So far everyone is really pleased with the new hall,” said Sykes. “They are enjoying the kitchen space, free dayroom cable and of course the AC. Everyone feels as if they have entered a hotel when they walk into the hallways.”

Right now the halls in Jackrabbit Village are simply named A, B and C. Sykes said that they will be renamed by the end of October. She said the university is waiting on final approval

before announcing the new names.

Mathews hall also got a facelift due to the construction of Jackrabbit Village.

Freshman pharmacy major, Courtney Nogelmeier said Mathews looks very nice after the renovations and she appreciates the atmosphere that it offers.

“I love that people with similar interests are on my floor and are mostly serious about learning,” says Nogelmeier.

Brown Hall

Known as the “healthy living hall,” Brown was built in 1959 for male residents. It has since been changed to a co-ed hall with the genders assigned to separate wings. The residence hall was named in honor of George Lincoln Brown who was called upon by the Board of Regents to serve as acting president on six different occasions.

Mathews Hall

Built in 1962, Mathews hall hosts 380 students including many engineering, health, and honors students. It was named after Hubert Mathews who attended SDSU in the late 1890′s. Mathews would later return to SDSU as an instructor in physics and chemistry. He is credited with organizing the electrical engineering department and engineering division.

Pierson Hall

Home to the “Hobo Hangout,” Pierson hall was named after Edith Pierson who was a former teacher and Dean of the Home Economics Department. Pierson hall was built in 1964 and underwent a major renovation in 2003. It now holds 440 residents.

Binnewies Hall

Binnewies is connected to the Larson Complex which includes a computer lab, campus C-store, and the Larson dining hall. Binnewies hall was built in 1969 and named in honor of Edward Ralph Binnewies who served as director of student affairs for over 20 years. It hosts 490 residents.

Young Hall

Young Hall is also connected to the Larson Complex. Young hall was built in 1969 and hosts 490 residents. It was named after Gertrude S. Young, who started teaching history at SDSU in 1909. Young was a professor for 34 years, and upon retirement she was awarded Faculty Emeritus of history.

Caldwell Hall

Caldwell is a suite-style dorm that hosts 300 students. The residence hall was named in honor of artist and professor, Ada Bertha Caldwell. In her career she instructed well-known artists such as Harvey Dunn! Mrs. Caldwell has inspired many other buildings on campus including the Sylvan Theatre.

Waneta Complex

The complex includes Waneta hall and Wecota Annex. It was named after a famous Sioux Indian Chief who fought in the War of 1812. Each hall is unique and offers different living environments for its residents.

Hansen Hall

Built in 1967, Hansen hall underwent renovations in the summer of 2003 and 2004. It now holds 440 residents and is home of the Agriculture and Biological Sciences Living Learning Community. Hansen hall was named after Dr. Neils Hansen who worked at SDSU for 42 years as a specialist in the areas of research and plant breeding.

SDSU Native American students now have a place to call their own. The new American Indian Education and Cultural Center, located in the former Telecommunications Center on Medary Avenue, has been decades in the making.

Ronald McKinney, Native American student advisor from the office of diversity enhancement, sees the opening of the new center as a first step toward building a stronger future for Native American students at SDSU. He sees the center as a place where students can receive assistance to support their educational needs and hopes the new facility will be a place where all students will feel welcome while providing them with a sense of ownership.

“The university has invested in us,” McKinney said. “Research has shown Native American students do better when they have a place to call their own.”

In spite of the cultural diversity embraced by SDSU, McKinney stated Native American students still feel isolated. For many, this will be their first time away from home and the college environment can be a real culture shock. McKinney sees the opening of the center as a positive step in Native American relations at SDSU.

“Cultural diversity is not just an office, it is a different way of thinking and acting. (There) has to be action behind those words,” said Valerian Three Irons, diversity and service learning associate with the office of diversity enhancement. “This center has been long overdue.”

While neighboring states have had Native American centers for 20 or 30 years, this new center opened its doors to students for the first time at the beginning of the semester. Three Irons sees the opening of the facility as “a good start.”

“You want a strong community. You want a strong foundation,” said Joseph Brewer, coordinator of American Indian studies. “That is a large part of success.”

This center is more than just a benefit to students; it is also a resource for tribal schools, colleges, groups and leaders. McKinney hopes the new center will help to facilitate exchanges between SDSU and other Native American organizations.

Three Irons would like to see the SDSU student population reflect that of the state of South Dakota. While Native Americans make up 15 percent of the population in South Dakota, they make up less than one percent of the student body at SDSU. Three Irons said too many of our Native students leave South Dakota to attend colleges in other states. While many Native students choose SDSU for their education, many more leave the state every year.

Leaders at the center see this as a first step in the future of Native American relations at SDSU. Now the new facility has opened its doors after decades of planning the staff is looking toward the future. Plans for building a larger facility are already under way.

“(The center is a) meeting place where you can be yourself,” said Solomon Derby, an SDSU graduate student. “This is a resource educational center for everyone.”

In fact, the one point everyone reiterated is that the American Indian Education and Cultural Center is a place for all students.

McKinney said a Grand Opening will take place in October. No formal date has been set.

#1.1573131:2981012643.jpg:A group of Native American students pose outside the American Indian Education and Cuktural Center.:Front Row, L to R: Dr. MaryJo Lee, Eliza Yellow Bird, Mary St. Pierre, Cassie Red Bird, Dalta Green, and Jocelyn Wallette; Middle Row, L to R: Valeriah Vasek, Jasmine Wallette, Leah Running Bear, Jaymee Starr, Kelly Philbrick, Ryan Hill, Leah Puckett, Jasonya New Holy, and Nellie Two Elk; Back Row, L to R: Ron McKinney, Melvin Hill, Daniel Johns, Keith Ranger, Kelsey Miller, and Stephen Monteau:COURTESY PHOTO BY RICHARD LEE

In efforts to make SDSU a greener campus, the Students’ Association is partnering with the City of Brookings to provide an alternative to driving that is faster than walking.

A bike-sharing pilot program, which would allow students to rent bikes for free, was proposed and passed by SA last March.

This pilot bike-sharing program was originally planned to start this fall, but due to complications with the legalities concerning the bikes, the program is postponed until the spring semester, said Brett Monson, SA President.

The Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield, S.D. has provided the bikes as part of Pedal Power from the Pen. Program, which is a program run by the inmates. Nearly 40 yellow, refurbished bikes were donated this past August from the prison free of charge. The bikes will remain in storage until the program begins.

Despite the setback, bike sharing will not be on the back burner this fall. SA members are already actively looking at various ways to promote the program to students.

“We’re going to take this fall semester to promote the program with advertisements and to get legal issues off the table,” said SA Senator Hassan Ali, who is coordinating the program.

Ali and other SA members are working to smooth out details of what students should do if they have a flat tire or get injured when using the bikes.

Ali describes the process of renting the bikes similar to how students in residence halls currently rent vacuums and kitchen appliances.

“We’re looking to have four bikes at each dorm and others at The Union,” Ali said.

Though details are yet to be decided, it is possible that all students will need to rent out a bike with their student I.D. and signature.

Along with SA members working to accelerate the program, the City of Brookings has taken an initiative this past summer to promote driver awareness of the anticipated increased bicyclists on the roads. Painted bicycle symbols, along with signs, have been administered to the main roads in Brookings to raise awareness, said Community Development Director Mike Struck.

These measures are part of a program called Sharrow, the name given to the partnership between the City of Brookings and SDSU created to provide a safer environment for bicyclists on the road. SDSU provided the labor, and the city provided the paint.

Sharrow consisted of stenciling in the streets to help raise drivers’ awareness that bicycles have the right to be on the road, said Struck. Brookings’ roads are not wide enough to have a designated striped lane for bikers, so Sharrow was a better fit, he said.

Eighth Street has the most prominent signs and stencils of the bicycle symbol, though portions of Medary Avenue and 20th Street, along with roads in front of Hansen Hall, have been signed and painted, Struck said.

“We’re still waiting until all construction is done on 12th Street to finish all of the Sharrow program painting,” Struck said. “The Sharrow-designated routes still allow people to ride and utilize the sidewalk, especially for younger and less confident riders.”

If the bike-sharing program is a success this spring, it may be a permanent feature of SDSU and Brookings transportation.

The Brookings school district is also looking to encourage their students to ride bicycles to school with a project called Safe Routes to School. Eventually Brookings City Council hopes to connect SDSU’s bike sharing program with the Safe Routes to School program. A grant within the Safe Routes to School program provided 30 bikes for each school to incorporate into physical education classes.

Though still in the infant stages of both programs, Struck said he is hoping experienced riders, such as SDSU students, act as role models and obey traffic laws so kids in elementary and middle school will pick up on such habits and follow a good example.