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SEPTEMBER 23, 2026
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FORMER COACH FILES LAWSUIT PAGE 3
BROWN ALLEGES SHE WAS WRONGFULLY FIRED AND DISCRIMINATED AGAINST
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SDSUCollegian.com
September 23, 2026
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LATEST OFFERING OF RESIDENT EVIL RATED 3.5/4
As with any film adaptation of a piece of media, especially when it’s a video game, every film is either labeled as the “worst” or occasionally the “best” thing ever, either “springing the genre forward” or “setting it back for years.” To read the full review, visit SDSUCollegian.com
TEACHING WITH TRACTORS
A longtime Brookings resident and former SDSU supervisor of agriculture education, has spent nearly six decades building a collection of more than 1,200 toy tractors. For more, look for this story coming soon.
STUART ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
The South Dakota State University School of Design is hosting artist Elizabeth Morisette as the Stuart Artist-inResidence this month until Oct. 2. To learn more, look for this story online later this
September 23, 2026
SDSUCollegian.com
NEWS
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Former SDSU equestrian coach sues South Dakota Board of Regents
the complaint, according to court documents. The charges alleges Brown used university and taxpayer Former SDSU equestrian coach resources to pay for veterinary bills Kamerra Brown is suing SDSU and the and boarding for her horses for about South Dakota Board of Regents (SDa year. BOR), alleging race and sex discrimiThe charges were dismissed without nation and retaliation following her prejudice in May 2026 at the request termination in 2025. of Assistant Attorney General Nolan Brown filed the federal lawsuit Welker. A dismissal without prejudice Sept. 10 in the U.S. District Court for generally means the case can potenthe District of South Dakota in Sioux tially be brought again. Falls. In November 2025, Dunn denied Brown was hired in August 2024 as Brown’s grievance, according to court SDSU’s equestrian head coach. Acdocuments. cording to court documents, she was Brown’s lawsuit alleges she was the first Black head coach in SDSU qualified to perform her job and had history and the first Black head coach successfully performed her duties in collegiate equestrian history. COLLEGIAN MEDIA PHOTO before her termination. In August 2025, Brown received “At all times, Brown was qualified Kamerra Brown served as equestrian head coach from 2024 until Fall 2025. what the court documents identito perform the essential functions Brown is now suing SDSU and the Board of Regents regarding discrimination in her termination. fy as an “initial notice of intended of her position, and her performance disciplinary action for misconduct evaluation reflected that Brown learned that Louie did not have a and returned to SDSU in the fall, reasons – termination,” from Holly met or exceeded expectations in all Van Vlymen, SDSU’s associate athletic Coggins test and spoke with the SDSU according to court documents. categories that were evaluated,” the barn manager and director of equesIn August 2025, Brown received a director. Brown was terminated on lawsuit states. trian operations about the horse’s termination notice that, according Sept. 17, 2025. Brown is suing SDSU and the Board travel. to the lawsuit, accused her of falsify“As a result of the defendant’s conof Regents under Title VII of the Civil The lawsuit alleges the barn ing documents to transport Louie to duct, Brown has suffered and continRights Act of 1964, alleging race and manager gave Brown a Coggins form Indiana. ues to suffer loss of income, mental sex discrimination and retaliation. belonging to another horse and sugBrown disputes that characterizaanguish, embarrassment, and other She is seeking compensatory damgested she replace the other horse’s tion. The lawsuit alleges the Coggins damages in an amount to be deterages for lost income and benefits, name with Louie’s. Brown followed form was never completed or used to mined at trial,” the court documents loss of career development, mental the suggestion, according to court transport Louie. say. anguish and other damages, as well documents. After her termination, Brown filed According to the lawsuit, as punitive damages. The The lawsuit says SDSU’s a grievance with SDSU Presthe termination stemmed amount of damages would veterinarian did not sign the ident Barry Dunn and the from an incident involving be determined at trial, acform. The form was discarduniversity’s Equal Opportuthe transportation of a cording to the lawsuit. ed, and Louie later received nity and Compliance coordihorse, Louie, from South SDSU Director of Univera Coggins test at a local vetnator Oct. 1, 2025, according Dakota to a student-athsity Marketing and Commuerinary clinic. The test came to court documents. lete’s home in Indiana for nications Mike Lockrem said back negative, according to While the grievances were the summer. the university does not comcourt documents. pending, Van Vlymen initiBefore horses travel across ment on pending litigation. According to the lawsuit, ated a criminal complaint state lines, many facilities Collegian Media contacted the barn manager handled against Brown, alleging require a negative Coggins the SDBOR for comment but HOLLY VAN VLYMEN had not received a response she used SDSU resources test, according to Penn State KAMERRA BROWN the remaining preparations for Louie’s transportation, to pay for veterinary bills Extension. The blood test deas of publication. and Brown did not see the horse’s and boarding for two of her horses, termines whether a horse is a carrier This is an ongoing story that ColleCoggins form of health paperwork according to court documents. of equine infectious anemia, a viral gian Media will continue to update. before he was picked up. Brown was later indicted on feldisease affecting horses. Stay in the know at sdsucollegian. Louie spent the summer in Indiana ony grand theft charges based on According to the lawsuit, Brown com. RYANN DAVIS Editor-in-Chief
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SDSUCollegian.com
NEWS
September 23, 2026
Students’ Association passes land acknowledgement
RYANN DAVIS Editor-in-Chief
Ordinance 26-1-O passed during Monday night’s Students’ Association (SA) meeting, establishing a formal and acknowledgement for all SA Senate Meetings. The ordinance was created in collaboration with the American Indian Students’ Association (AISA). AISA Vice President Michael Hall said he was proud of the work done to represent the local indigenous community. “I’d encourage everyone here tonight to really look at it (the land acknowledgement) as not just a blanket statement that we’re trying to have at the start of meetings to try and get through,” Hall said. “But something that holds importance and is very significant to our community here on campus.” SDSU’s land acknowledgement , created through the Wokini Initiative, will be read after the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of each SA meeting. During unfinished business, several senators spoke in support of Ordinance 26-1-O. “I think there’s absolutely no reason you shouldn’t do this (the land acknowledgement),” Government Affairs Chair Jacki Mollison said. “I think it’s been too long and it’s good that we can do this now.” Senator At-Large Paul Fasen said he spoke with members of his constituency after initially reading the ordinance and asked them whether or not they care about the land acknowledgement. “Resoundingly, the constituents that I talked to said that they didn’t care,” Fasen said. “One person actually said that he would prefer it if we didn’t include this land grant.” Fasen said his job is to represent his constituents but questioned why land acknowledgments are included
RYANN DAVIS / COLLEGIAN MEDIA Students’ Association President Sophie Spier speaks to her senators during Monday night’s SA meeting on September 22, 2026. This meeting established a formal land acknowledgement for SA agendas.
at certain events. He suggested the ordinance could be amended. Vice President Megan Christoffels said she researched universities where land acknowledgments have been discounted. She said some universities discontinued the acknowledgments because they were being used without further discussion. “With the initiatives that we have, the Wokini Initiative that we talked about, and the relationships that we’re looking to foster, this is super important to continue the conversation,” Christoffels said. After further discussion the ordinance passed.
IN OTHER NEWS Title IX/Equal Opportunity Coordinator Michelle Johnson addressed the Senate during open forum. Johnson provided senators with information about her office and said they should be prepared to direct students to appropriate Title IX resources. She told senators they are the “face of the university” and may be approached by students with questions about Title IX. During staff reports, Chief of Staff Sharples-Schmidt said he attended a Parking and Traffic committee meeting and learned that, according to the FBI, electric scooters are considered motor vehicles.
“So every time one (electric scooter) is stolen, the university people who are handling that have to fill out a report for a stolen motor vehicle,” Sharples-Schmidt said.
“When we stop having conversations about difficult topics, about history, we’re bound to repeat them.” Megan Christoffels, SA Vice President
September 23, 2026 SDSUCollegian.com
NEWS
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Officials announce parking changes
SAVANNA BARBER Reporter
SDSU Parking Services officials have changed requirements for the pay lot east of campus, expanded parking options and plans to install a new parking gate this fall. Many SDSU drivers have a hard time finding parking whether they are commuters, residential students, staff or visitors. And while drivers on campus often focus on the crowded lots near campus buildings, Parking Services says many alternative spaces remain available. Vice president of the Student Association, Megan Christoffels, talked about the new changes. “Most recently, the Wellness Center is economy commuter now, not just Wellness Center parking.” The parking space was converted from a standard commuter lot to an economy commuter one after parking officials noticed it was underused. “That lot was only being utilized about 50% on an average school day,” said Kendell Rohrbach, Director of Card and Parking Services. Visitor spots can be found in some commuter parking lots and reserved parking. There is also a lot near the American Indian Student Center. Day permits can be purchased and pay lot parking is available. According to Parking Services, many students are unaware of parking options available to them. One of the most common misunderstandings involves economy commuter lots. Students with residential and standard commuter permits may park in economy lots during the day, though overnight restrictions still apply. Rohrbach also said pay lots are free for the first 30 minutes. According to the Parking Services website, it is $1.50 per hour after the first 30 minutes. Parking Service Officials designed the pay lots this way so students can grab food from the Student Union while being able to park close for free.
HALEY CHAMPEAU / COLLEGIAN MEDIA Southeast resident parking lot 158 located east of Binnewies Hall from file photo taken Spring 2026.
Campus parking enforcement and ticket jams. The new system is occurs Monday through Friday from expected to provide smoother oper7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Residential lots may ation and better reliability. Parking be monitored during evening Services hopes the upgrade hours. Some overnight will encourage greater use of enforcement is handled by the pay lot near the Student the University Police DepartUnion. ment. Although parking frusAlthough no new parktrations remain common ing lots are currently among SDSU students, Parkplanned, students can ing Services officials believe expect upgrades to parking the university provides more infrastructure. The most flexibility than many stuimmediate improvement is dents realize. Officials point KENDELL ROHRBACH a new parking gate by the to added parking capacity, Student Union scheduled to lot redesigns, safety improvebe installed in October before ments and new technology Hobo Week. as evidence of continued efforts to “The old gate is not working well at improve parking on campus. all,” Rohrbach said. Rohrbach said students from larger He said the existing gate frequently universities are often surprised by experiences mechanical problems SDSU’s parking accessibility.
“A lot of people that come from other campuses tell us we have it so much better,” Rohrbach said. He added that campus planners consider SDSU a “10-minute campus,” meaning most destinations can be reached within a short walk. Christoffels said, “I know it’ll never be perfect, but we do a lot of stuff like that to try and get little changes here and there that help out a little bit.” To learn more about parking, look at the Parking Services interactive map on SDSU’s website. “Read the parking traffic regulations. Just reading through those helps you understand so much more about not only the rules, but why the rules are the way that they are,” said Christoffels.
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SDSUCollegian.com
NEWS
September 23, 2026
RUN AROUND THE FARM
CAFES to host race to connect community, agriculture SHAYDA NESS Reporter The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences is using a 3.9 mile-walk/run later this month to connect students and the community to on‑campus agriculture units. The Farm to Finish Line race kicks off at 8 a.m. on Sept. 26 at the SDSU Ruminant Nutrition Center. Once the race wraps up, participants and community members are invited to stay for Breakfast on the Farm from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The race began with an idea from Allie Arp, director of marketing and communications. “I wanted a way to connect the community with SDSU and inform people on where their food comes from,” she said. Arp wants people to get into the units and experience the reason so many students come to South Dakota State for their education. She also hopes they have a positive experience, make connections, and remember the great time they had here on the farm. Working in CAFES has shown her how important it is for people to see firsthand where their food comes from, she said. John Blanton, associate dean of the college and director of the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, said he hopes the event will help people understand the importance agriculture plays in daily life, as well as build pride in their university. “This is not your typical race and fun run,” he said. “It is a cross‑country‑style race that will take participants through our working farm, including barns with animals, across corn and soybean fields, and (near) some of the largest equipment used in modern precision agriculture. Along the way,
COURTESY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
runners and walkers will have the added bonus of enjoying the unique fragrances associated with our farm operations.” Although the race is slightly longer than a typical 5k, the added length allows runners to move through several of the units on campus. While participants will not run through every unit, the race will include most. Arp said she designed the course to avoid going through all units so future races can change the route and highlight new facilities year to year. Check‑in will be available Friday night from 5:30 to 7 p.m. or Saturday morning prior to the race from 7 to 7:30 a.m. The race is set to start at 8 a.m. and continue until 9:30. Every participant will receive a blue finisher’s ribbon. Awards will be given to the top two
men and women in each category, and a Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion will also be named. After the race, a free breakfast will be served from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Ruminant Nutrition Center. The meal will include eggs, sausage, bacon, hashbrown casserole, fresh fruit, orange juice and coffee. During Breakfast on the Farm, there will be hands‑on activities such as making butter, planting seeds in baggies, and much more. According to Erica Summerfield, adviser of Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT), “This is a great opportunity for community members to learn more about agriculture and for our members to help promote the industry here at South Dakota State University.”
IF YOU GO Friday Sept. 25 •
5:30 -7 p.m. - Check in for Farm to Finish Line race registration and packet pickup at the SDSU Ruminant Nutrition Center (3727 Medary Ave., Brookings, SD 57006)
Saturday, Sept. 26 •
7 - 7:45 a.m. - Farm to Finish Line race registration and packet pickup at SDSU Ruminant Nutrition Center
•
8 a.m. - Farm to Finish Line begins with a cowbell start
•
9:30 a.m. - noon - Breakfast on the Farm event at the SDSU Ruminant Nutrition Center
September 23, 2026
SDSUCollegian.com
NEWS
GET IT WHILE IT’S HOT
New vending machine popular in Hansen Hall GABE DUHS Reporter
FOOD OFFERED
There’s a new option when it comes to buying hot food on the west side of the SDSU campus. In partnership with Automated Retail Technologies (ART), Sodexo has deployed a hot-food vending machine in the Hansen Hall C-store. The unit arrived on Sept. 1 and officially opened to students the next day. “Students seem happy to have something a little unique,” said Andrew Curran, Hansen’s residence hall director. “There are not many vending machines that dispense hot food, so there has been a fair amount of interest in it.” Just Baked is a fully automated machine designed to give students increased access to hot food, with
• Glazed donuts • Pretzel filled with cheese • Sausage breakfast burrito • White Castle sliders • White chocolate chip cookies • Spicy chicken potstickers • Turkey melt sliders • Turkey sausage biscuits • Pomodoro pocket extended operating hours throughout the day. By downloading the Just Baked Machine app, students can see what offerings are available, how many items remain in the machines and order ahead before visiting. Jacob Smith is Sodexo’s senior marketing specialist. He said that to start with, the machine will offer some
“best-sellers,” such as the White Castle sliders, glazed donuts and the breakfast burritos. But, he promised, there a other alternatives. “The variety of products we’ll offer in Just Baked will rotate continuously as new things become available and we hear student feedback,” Smith said. “ The machine prepares the food within two to four minutes and dispenses the hot and ready product. It accepts only card payments, Hobo Dough, and flex dollars. “I would eat this every day if I could,” said Lexie Capperman, a student who was using the machine on a recent day. Curran said there have been discussions about creating a hot-food option on the west side of campus for some time now. The goal is to provide students
GABE DUHS / COLLEGIAN MEDIA Students check out the new vending service offered at the Hansen C-Store.
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living in Hansen, Waneta and Meadows with easier access to warm food without having to walk across campus, particularly during the winter months when travel can be more difficult. More than 100 students visited the kiosk in the first week of operation, said Sodexo C-store retail manager Samuel Brovold. The most popular items in the machine have been the White Castle sliders, breakfast burritos, glazed donuts, and cheddar cheese filled pretzels. The Sodexo-ART partnership began in 2024 and the companies have been deploying the automated kiosks to hospitals, airports and universities. It isn’t known at this time whether more of the machines will be popping up in other locations on campus.
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SDSUCollegian.com
NEWS
September 23, 2026
NEW HOME FOR HEALTHCARE
TAYLOR SCHMIDT Reporter
A building in the heart of Sioux Falls that will help SDSU crank out much-needed healthcare workers is now open. Staff, students, and alumni gathered Thursday, Sept. 17, for a ribbon-cutting and block party at the SDSU Metro Center to celebrate the grand opening. The building, at 33rd Street and Minnesota Avenue, is complete and operational after a year-long renovation. After having a scattered presence in Sioux Falls for the past 30 years, the facility will house nursing, pharmacy, respiratory care, medical lab science and public health in one location. “This building is a strong visible presence for South Dakota State in the fastest growing city in the region,” SDSU President Barry Dunn said. “Our healthcare education programs have been in Sioux Falls for three decades, but in separate locations and not visible to the public. In the beautiful new Metro Center, they are located in one building, in a near-perfect location for students to access their clinical experiences, and highly visible to the Sioux Falls community.” The 44,000 square-foot building was gifted to the SDSU Alumni & Foundation in 2024 by Avera to help educate more healthcare students. Donations totaling $19 million has transformed what was once a grocery store and then an old Avera medical equipment facility into a state-ofthe-art healthcare learning hub that houses a simulation lab, classrooms, clinical spaces and student success areas shared by all majors. The space currently hosts close to 400 students, but Dunn said he expects as many as 1,200 future healthcare workers will use the building within the next five years. “SDSU already graduates more healthcare workers than any university in the state or region,” Dunn said. “This facility gives us the capacity to
Photo courtesy of UNIVERSITY MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Leadership from SDSU, Avera, the city of Sioux Falls, the state of South Dakota, SDSU Alumni & Foundation and more gather for the ribbon-cutting outside of the SDSU Metro Center on Sept. 17 in Sioux Falls.
increase by 40% the number of Sioux Falls healthcare graduates we will educate.” About 40,000 cars pass the location daily, Dunn said, increasing the university’s visibility and communication awareness. Plus, the building’s central location provides easy access to both Avera and Sanford hospital complexes. “I chose Sioux Falls just because being at Sanford and Avera you get double the experience, double the clinical time, you get two level-one trauma centers,” said Vanessa Thomson, an SDSU nursing student. Thursday’s event included an opening ceremony, ribbon-cutting, tours and remarks by several key university and community leaders. “Avera is proud to partner with SDSU to expand health sciences education and prepare skilled, compassionate professionals our community needs,” said Jim Dover, Avera president
and CEO. “This new home for SDSU’s Sioux Falls programs will strengthen clinical training and connect students with meaningful careers for generations to come.” While the building was gifted by Avera and is now owned by the SDSU Alumni & Foundation, plans are in the works to transfer ownership. “The plan is that it’ll be given to the university, hopefully within the next year,” said Steve Erpenbach, CEO of the SDSU Alumni & Foundation. The facility offers lecture spaces along with six clinical rooms, allowing learning simulations there. It also has a “PRISM Room,” which is an engaging simulation room designed to put students in any setting. Thomson said the new technology and flex rooms that change into different scenarios are a “great advancement for SDSU.” The facility will also include offices
for Admissions, SDSU Connect, the Center for Online and Professional Education and a student success coordinator. The Metro Center is expected to grow the university’s impact on Sioux Falls and South Dakota. “An exciting aspect of bringing these academic programs in Sioux Falls together under one roof is creating more opportunities for interprofessional teaching and learning,” said Dennis Hedge, SDSU provost and vice president for academic affairs. Thomson said the new technology and flex rooms that change into different scenarios are a “great advancement for SDSU.” The facility will also include offices for Admissions, SDSU Connect, the Center for Online and Professional Education and a student success coordinator. The Metro Center is expected to grow the university’s impact on Sioux Falls and South Dakota.
September 23, 2026
SDSUCollegian.com
NEWS
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‘Without water, you have nothing’ Drought conditions plague farmers, ag industry
AVERY ZEISLER Multimedia Reporter Roughly 614,800 South Dakota residents are in areas of drought, according to the Drought Monitor. Assistant Professor of Crop Production and Extension Specialist David Karki said,“If you look at the drought monitor, pretty much the whole state is in some sort of color (drought rating). The further west you go, the worse it gets.” The drought only continued to worsen this summer. Karki said last fall and spring DAVID KARKI were dry. He said spring had no real winter precipitation. South Dakota relies heavily on winter precipitation for crop health. “Anyone knows that in the ag industry without water, you have nothing,” South Dakota Farmers Union District 8 Leadership and Rancher Oren Lesmesiter said. Lesmeister said that when the heat hit early, the spring crops were trying to flower and the heat devastated the crops. Farmers and ranchers rely on the crops they plant to also feed their livestock. The drought has very intensely impacted Lesmeister’s cattle operation. “I can’t use pastures I would like to use because they don’t have water right now,” Lesmeister said. A lot of people need hay throughout the winter months. Currently farmers and ranchers are having to feed hay to supplement feed because there is not enough grass for the cattle to eat. As cattle producers burn through this hay, it only continues to shrink their supply. It is important that they
SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988 Farm Aid Hotline: 800-327-6243 SDSU Counseling Services: 605-697-9355 go into the winter with enough hay to feed livestock through the season. This summer the drought impacted the growth of grass, alfalfa and other forages producers use to make hay for their cattle. This means producers were taking hay out of their supply and not adding any back in. The drought also hindered the corn’s growth. Most producers had to turn their corn crop into silage. The silage is not as nutrient packed as it would be in a typical year because of the prohibited growth. The government has recently come out with different assistant programs to help farmers get through this year financially. Not only has this year been hard on the livestock and crops, but it also took an extreme mental toll on a lot of farmers and ranchers. According to a brief by the National Rural Health Association, “Suicide rates among farmers is 3.5 times higher than the general population.” Lesmeister talked about how important it is for farmers and ranchers to talk about their mental health and wants more individuals to realize it’s okay to ask for help.
AVERY ZEISLER / COLLEGIAN MEDIA An unhealthy ear of corn sits on a dry cornstock. Nearly the whole state has experienced droughtlike conditions this year.
Ashley Howard Lecture Portraits of the Black Midwest
Presented in connection with America in Art, join the South Dakota Art Museum and SDSU Black Student Alliance for a presentation and community dialogue with Dr. Ashley Howard, History Professor at the University of Iowa. Learn about Black Midwestern histories and participate with your questions and comments.
Thursday, October 1 —5:30 Refreshments —6:30 Lecture South Dakota Art Museum Auditorium | Lower Level
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SDSUCollegian.com
NEWS
September 23, 2026
for Jackrabbits $3.5 MILLION When Jackrabbits work together, anything is possible. Nothing proves this more than the success of this year’s One Day for STATE.
Of the 6,949 donors, 678 identified as current students and 1,145 as faculty and staff. Thank you for joining in the One Day for STATE celebration!
During the 24-hour celebration, 6,949 donors came together as one, raising over $3.5 million to transform lives at SDSU, bolstering scholarships, academic programming, research, athletics, and student support.
Another highlight was inspiring donors from each of the fifty states to make a gift, unlocking $50,000 in challenge funds in the process.
In just one day, alumni, faculty, staff, parents, students, and friends worked together to fuel support and uplift every corner of the university.
The yellow and blue community celebrated, shared, and gave. Most of all, we turned one day into countless new opportunities for our Jackrabbits family. One day of giving. A lifetime of impact.
24HOURS 6,949DONORS $3,538,288RAISED 8,190 6,407 GIFTS
GIFTS WERE
$100 LESS OR
678
STUDENTS DONATED
1,145
452
FACULTY & STAFF RECENT ALUMNI DONATED
$14,375 $143,918
DONATED
$16,203
SDSTATEALUMNIFOUNDATION.ORG/ODFS
GIFTS MADE FROM:
ALL 50 STATES
GIFT FARTHEST FROM BROOKINGS
STRATHFIELD, NSW, AUSTRALIA 8,832 MILES AWAY
September 23, 2026
SDSUCollegian.com
NEWS
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Internship opportunities ahead
HAILEY ORR Reporter
More than 118 employers will gather at South Dakota State University Oct. 7 for the annual CAFES Career Fair, giving students opportunities to connect with recruiters, explore career paths and pursue internships. The annual event, previously held over two days, will be condensed to one day this year, with hours extended from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to Jordan Feist, coordinator of employer engagement at SDSU. Most employers attending the CAFES Career Fair represent agriculture-related industries, including agribusiness, livestock production, crop science and food processing. Employers will be set up throughout the Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium 553 Suite level, where students can visit booths and speak with recruiters. Many students attend the career
fair hoping to secure internships, find employment opportunities and build professional connections. Feist said students who prepare ahead of time can feel more confident and make stronger first impressions. Feist recommends that students visit the Office of Career Development in the Student Union for help with resumes and elevator pitches. He also encouraged students to research employers through Handshake before attending the fair. “Every student’s got access to Handshake, just your Jack’s email,” Feist said. “You can get in there and look at all the companies that are coming, and you can kind of pick a list of five or 10 or however many you want to talk to.” Rather than simply handing a recruiter a resume and asking what positions are available, Feist encouraged students to shake hands, introduce themselves and approach recruiters with confidence.
Students should also bring multiple copies of their resumes. Feist recommended bringing five to 10 copies because recruiters may keep resumes on file for future opportunities. Communication skills can also play an important role in making a strong first impression, according to Wendy Alexander, a human resources representative at POET in Sioux Falls. Alexander said students should be prepared to introduce themselves, maintain eye contact and have genuine conversations with employers. While a strong resume is important, recruiters also look for candidates who can communicate effectively and show interest in the company. “The main thing that would knock somebody out of the running, even if they had a great resume, great experience, great education, would be their inability to communicate,” Alexander said. Researching employers before
attending the career fair can also help students stand out to recruiters, according to Alexander. Candidates who ask thoughtful questions and demonstrate knowledge of a company’s work often make stronger impressions than those who arrive unprepared. For some SDSU students, the career fair has helped lead to internships and full-time employment. McKenzie Mockler, a spring 2024 SDSU graduate and crop production territory manager at Corteva Agriscience, attended the career fair as a student and secured internships with CHS and later Corteva Agriscience. She accepted a full-time position with Corteva after graduation. Mockler said the career fair helped her build professional connections and gain internship experience that eventually led to a full-time position. She said the event allowed her to network directly with employers and explore career options before graduation.
Photo courtesy of CAFES Last year’s CAFES career fair in Club 71.
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SDSUCollegian.com
SPORTS
September 23, 2026
Cross Country wins big in Duluth
NATHAN THOMPSON Assistant Sports Director Due to the cancellation of the Greeno/Dirksen Invitational, the SDSU men’s cross country team instead travelled to Northfield, Minnesota to compete in the St.Olaf Invitational. The women’s team did not compete this week. The SDSU men won the St.Olaf invitational with a team score of 24. In second place was St.Olaf, with a score of 94. SDSU had all of their top seven finish within the first 16 runners, and their top five all finished in the top 11. SDSU brought five fresh-
OWEN STUWE
men, three sophomores, one junior and one senior. None of their regular scorers raced this weekend. The entire trip was likely made in large part to give freshmen a chance to race an eight kilometer. St.Olaf was voted the 22nd best NCAA DIII cross country team in the country, so SDSU was projected to win just due to the fact that they are DI. Weaker competition is no reason to detract from the success the team enjoyed. The men were led by freshman Owen Stuwe, who placed second overall with a time of 25:33. Passing 21 people in the final mile, Stuwe was in third place until with his final two strides he powered ahead of Minnesota Duluth’s Isaac Dickenson, finishing 0.2 seconds ahead, robbing Dickenson of second place. Head Coach Rod Dehaven said Stuwe “raced very smart,” calling the race “an outstanding start to Owen Stuwe’s career.” Not far behind Stuwe were his teammates Sully Anez (25:37) and Luke Johnson (25:40). Their fourth and fifth place finishes would put the exclamation point on SDSU’s strong start, with three in the top five. SDSU’s fourth and fifth runners finished in seventh and eleventh place. Sophomore Jared Lutmer finished in 25:44. Four runners back was Caleb Morris, rounding out the top
Gans Creek Classic Sept. 25-Gans Creek Cross Country Course
Columbia, MO Distance: • Men: 8k • Women: 6k
Course Map
five with a time of 25:48. Tate Grabow finished 12th overall and sixth on the team with a time of 25:50, and Keaton Olson was 16th overall, seventh on the team with a time of 25:57. One of the most exciting things about the race for SDSU was the team spread. In cross country, the top five runners score one point per place (first place=one point, second= two, etc). The closer your fifth runner is to your first runner, the less points you allow to be stolen from you. SDSU’s first five runners all finished within 14 seconds of each other, and their top seven all finished in the same 23 seconds. After their (impressive) 43 second five man spread at Augustana Twilight, it bodes well for the team’s future to have all these underclassmen so close to each other. Looking to the future, SDSU is currently scheduled to run both the Augustana Invitational in Sioux Falls, as well as the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Missouri. Both meets are scheduled on Sept. 25. The women’s team will resume competition at these meets.
Early Season Recap
0:23
The amount of time between SDSU’s first runner and seventh runner at the St. Olaf meet.
0:50
The amount of time between SDSU’s first runner and seventh runner at the Augustana Twilight meet
5:08
Owen Stuwe’s average mile pace across the eight kilometer race.
4:38
Jackson Dutcher’s average mile pac paceduring his five kilometer race at Augustana Twilight.
2
Highest placing by a Jackrabbit this season (Dutcher, Stuwe).
Augustana Invitational Sept. 25-Yankton Trail Park
Sioux Falls, SD Distance: • Men: 8k • Women: 6k
Course Map
September 23, 2026 SDSUCollegian.com
SPORTS
Gophers rout Rabbits
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Minnesota wins in four sets, SDSU falls to 4-7 CORDELL VITENSE Sports Director
USD
Jackrabbit volleyball had a tough trip to Sioux Falls when they played in the South Dakota Lottery College Volleyball Classic as they went 0-2, losing to Washington and No. 14 Minnesota.
WASHINGTON
The Jacks faced Washington Friday, Sept. 18 and took a 3-0 loss at the hands of the Huskies. The Jacks were dominated in the first set, losing 25-11. Washington started the set on an 11-0 run before SDSU put a point on the board. Unfortunately for the Jacks, 11-1 was the closest they would be to the lead for the rest of the set. The second set started somewhat similarly to the first, as Washington got out to a 6-1 lead. The Jacks scored three straight points to cut the lead to 6-4. The two teams traded blows back and forth, with the lead holding around three to six points until SDSU went on a run to tie it up at 18-18. The set was once again tied at 19-19, but from that point SDSU was outscored 6-2 to lose 25-21. SDSU started the third set stronger than the previous two, only down 7-5. The Jacks continued to hang around and closed in to 11-10. But from that point on the Jacks got outscored 14-6 as Washington handed out a 25-16 loss and the sweep. In the match, Sylvie Zgonc led all scorers with 12 points while adding six digs. For Washington, three scorers had 11 or more points, with Kylie Kleckner scoring 11.5 and Julia Hunt and Simona Mateska scoring 11.
MINNESOTA
On Saturday, Sept. 19, the Jacks took their second and final loss of the tour-
RYANN DAVIS / COLLEGIAN MEDIA SDSU huddles up as they face NAU at home during the SDSU Invitational on Sept.4. SDSU would win the game 3-1 as they went undefeated in the tournament.
nament, losing 3-1 to Minnesota. At the start of the first set, Minnesota got the lead but couldn’t pull away and SDSU tied it up at 8-8. The Jacks tied it up two more times but couldn’t get the lead. Minnesota stretched the lead to 13-10 and then 19-13. SDSU closed the lead to 21-19, but it wasn’t enough as Minnesota went on to win 25-22. In the second set, Minnesota held an 11-8 lead to start the set, but Minnesota then ripped off six straight points to go up 17-8. The Golden Gopher run was too much to overcome and the Jacks fell 25-14. The third set saw the Jacks take their first lead of the tournament, holding a 2-1 advantage over Minnesota. Minnesota got their first lead of the set at 6-5 and the Jacks didn’t tie it up again until 12-12. The Jacks regained the lead at 14-13 but didn’t hold it for long as Minnesota took it right back with a 2-0
run. The Jacks then returned the favor with a 2-0 run of their own and even though Minnesota hung around, the Jacks never relinquished the lead and went on to win 25-20. Minnesota started the fourth set with a 2-0 lead, but SDSU then ripped off four straight points to take an early lead. The Jacks continued to hold the lead up 8-7, but Minnesota got hot and went on a 7-0 run to go up 14-8. The Jacks couldn’t weather the storm and fell 25-17 to lose the match 3-1. Zgonc continued her solid tournament against Minnesota with 16.5 points and eight digs. Sophomore Hannah Klein also reached double-digit points with 11.5 while adding seven digs. McKenna Wucherer had a big match against the Jacks, scoring a match-high 27 points on 25 kills while recording a double-double with 11 digs.
The Jacks will now open conference play against a familiar opponent in the USD Coyotes. SDSU will take on the Coyotes at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, in Vermillion. In last years two matchups against the Coyotes, SDSU won both, winning the first in three sets and the second in five sets. In the team’s first matchup in Vermillion, USD took the first set 25-22 before the Jacks won the next three with a combined score of 75-56. Zgonc and Klein were big factors in the victory, combining for 38.5 points. In the second matchup of the season, the Yotes once again took the first set 25-22 before SDSU won the next two. USD bounced back to force a fifth set, but SDSU came out on top 15-8. Zgonc and Klein were a driving force, combining for 42.5 points, with Zgonc contributing 28 of that. For USD, Lauren Medeck let the Coyotes in the first match with 15 points but didn’t play in the second meeting and it was Ava Ball leading the squad with 19.5 points. This season, Medeck leads the way with 143 kills in 11 matches. Medeck also leads the squad with 157.5 points, 3.93 points per set and an attack percentage of 24.3%. Senior setter Avery Van Hook recorded 84 combined assists in the two matches against the Jacks last year. To start the 2026 season, she’s recorded 303 assists for a mark of just over 10 assists per set while scoring 34.5 points and adding 123 digs, the second most on the team. Following this matchup SDSU will travel to Omaha to take on the Mavs, then the Jacks will go to St. Paul to face the Tommies.
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SDSUCollegian.com
SPORTS
JACKRABBITS ICE PENGUINS
OWEN BOYD / COLLEGIAN MEDIA SDSU wide receiver breaks a tackle from a Penguin defender Saturday, Sept. 19. O’Groske caught seven passes for 94 yards to help the Jacks march past the Penguins 27-20.
ERIC HEGGESETH Multimedia Sports Reporter South Dakota State University cashed in on the first whiteout game in Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium history, pulling off a 27-20 victory in a top-ten matchup on Saturday night. Second-year Head Coach Dan Jackson talked about the whiteout theme after the game. “Shoutout to our fans,” Jackson said. “It was supposed to be our bye week and we had nearly 19,000 anyway and they are unbelievable. We ask them to wear white and they wear white”. Jackson also discussed his team’s
performance. “As far as the play on the field, I am so proud of our players,” Jackson said. “And I thought it was a clinic put on by our coaching staff.” Josiah Johnson was a standout for the Jackrabbits, carrying the ball 30 times for 238 yards and two touchdowns. Those 30 carries are the most by a Jackrabbit since Zach Zenner did so in the Jacks’ 27-24 loss to NDSU in the second round of the 2014 playoffs. “Keep pounding the ball and they will fold,” Johnson said postgame. The Jacks offense showed off early, taking 10 plays to drive 80 yards down to the four-yard line. And on the 11th
play of the drive, Johnson punched in his first touchdown to put the Jacks up 7-0 after the extra point. The Jacks were able to contain reigning Walter Payton Award winner and Youngstown quarterback Beau Brungard on the first Youngstown drive. Youngstown stalled out after a ferocious showing from the Jackrabbit defense as they punted and pinned SDSU at the five. Chase Mason and his Jackrabbits set up for the ensuing drive and it looked promising. SDSU marched down the field and on a second-andgoal from the six-yard line, Corey Blair took a handoff and ran it close to the
September 23, 2026
When: Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. Where: Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium TV: Midco Sports & ESPN+ Radio: Jackrabbit Sports Network WNAX 570 AM (Yankton) KJJQ 910 AM (Volga) KSDJ 90.7 FM (Brookings) Records: Eastern Illinois 1-3, SDSU 3-1 Last meeting: Nov. 24, 2012 at SDSU Series: 1-0 SDSU Last week: EIU 49-13 L; SDSU 27-20 W EIU on offense: The Panthers average 290 yards per game while scoring 20.75 points per game. The Panthers quarterback Cole LaCrue is responsible for seven of the teams 11 touchdowns on the year. LaCrue has thrown for 584 yards on the year and five touchdowns while adding 163 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. While the numbers might now be jaw dropping, LaCrue has avoided big mistakes having zero turnovers on the season. Jacks on offense: SDSU averages 508 yards per game and scores 43 points per game. The Jacks are headlined by a running game that averages 276 yards per game. The head of the snake is Josiah Johnson who has rushed for 428 yards and five touchdowns on the season. EIU on defense: 465.8 yards allowed per game; 41 points allowed per game. The Panthers give up an average of 161 rushing yards per game and 304.75 yards pass per game. Jacks on defense: 336.8 yards allowed per game; 18.75points allowed per game. Chase Van Tol is one of SDSU’s key defensive peices as he has recorded 14 tackles and recovered two fumbles on the year. Quick facts: Josiah Johnson carried the ball 30 times which was the most by a Jackrabbit since Zach Zenner did so in the 2014 playoffs. The Panthers played in the 114th Mid-American Classic agaisnt Indiana State last weekend. The Panters are now 43-61-9 in their 114 matchups.
September 23, 2026
SDSUCollegian.com
SPORTS
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Mason finished the game with 137 yards passing on nine completions with only four misfires. Mason also added 45 yards and a touchdown on the ground. The Jacks’ leading receiver was Lofton O’Groske, who caught seven passes for 94 yards. Brungard finished the contest with 292 yards through the air and 2 touchdowns, going 27 for 35 and one interception. He also had some work on the ground on his own rushing 13 times for 48 yards. Wyce-EI led the Penguins in receiving with seven catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. The Jacks move on to 3-1 on the year and 1-0 in Valley play. YSU falls to 2-2 on the year and 0-1 in the Valley. After the win the Jacks moved up one spot to No. 2 in the FCS rankings only behing Montana State.
EASTERN ILLINOIS
OWEN BOYD / COLLEGIAN MEDIA Jackrabbit running back Josiah Johnson celebrates a first down against Youngstown State on Saturday, Sept. 19. Johnson’s 238 rushing yards and two touchdowns helped lift the Jacks past the Penguins.
goal line, but he lost the ball and it was recovered by Youngstown State’s Williams-West. The ball was recovered in the end zone for a touchback and it set up the Youngstown offense at the 20-yard line. The first quarter ended with the Jacks on top 7-0. Starting the second the Penguins were set up with the SDSU student section to their back from their own 22. Brungard’s penguins were unfazed as he quickly completed two passes for 40 yards collectively. On an ensuing third and two, Brungard scrambled and was thought to have a first down but was marked short, setting up a fourth and one. He again scrambled and converted to move the chains. SDSU was able to get to Brungard on third down for a sack and Youngstown settled for three after 12 plays and 59 yards, which took a staggering five minutes and 17 seconds. Youngstown was able to force a Jackrabbit punt, which All-American Max Pelham was able to corner at the
Youngstown six-yard line. Once again, with the SDSU Boisterous student section behind them, the Penguins went to work marching nine plays, 94 yards, including a pass interference penalty which the Jackrabbit faithful found questionable. Brumgard finished the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Alex McDonald to give Youngstown a 10-7 lead. SDSU got the ball back and Chase Mason showed off, completing two passes on the seven-play drive and running for a touchdown from 18 yards out with under a minute to go in the half. Brungard threw an interception and the Jacks capitalized with a Tristan Alvano field goal to end the half and put the Jacks up 17-10. Chase Mason suffered a lower leg injury during the Alvano field goal series and was ruled out for the second half of the game. Jackson commented after the game on it. YSU punted out of the half and on the following Jackrabbit drive, Johnson gave the Jacks a 24-10 lead with
his second touchdown of the day, this time from 16 yards out. When the Penguins got the ball back Brungard led his squad down the field. On first and 10 from the 11, Brungard found a man in the corner of the end zone, but the pass was ruled incomplete by officials, saying he did not maintain possession with a foot in bounds. YSU successfully challenged the play, bringing them within one score. SDSU got a field goal on the next drive, then both teams traded possessions back and forth, setting up SDSU at their own 38 with just under seven minutes to go. A controversial no-call on third down set up Alvano for a missed field goal attempt. A phenomenal 45-yard completion from Brungard to Lynn Wyche-El had YSU at the 16-yard line of SDSU. Trailing by two scores following the two-minute timeout, YSU elected to kick a field goal and make the score 2720, but SDSU ran the rest of the clock out to take the win.
South Dakota State will finish the homestand on Saturday night with the Panthers of Eastern Illinois. The Jacks will be without Chase Mason for the game as his time table to return is uncertain. Eastern Illinois comes into Brookings 1-3 on the year. The Panthers’ defense is giving up 41.0 points per game and the offense is averaging over 20 points a contest. Redshirt junior transfer from Wisconsin, Cole Lacrue, is under center for EIU. So far this year, he is completing 59% of his passes and has thrown for 584 yards and two scores without an interception. Redshirt senior and Akron transfer Charles Kellom starts at running back and has rushed for just shy of 300 yards this year on 46 attempts, going for 4.3 yards per carry. EIU plays a team game defensively with 16 players so far with double-digit tackles. Senior Ja’Waun Nickson leads the team with 27 tackles. EIU has four sacks this season. Kickoff is 6 p.m. and it is Family and Hall of Fame Weekend. The game will be televised on Midco Sports and streamed on ESPN plus. Radio coverage will also be available across the Jackrabbit Sports Network.
SPORTS
SINGLE ISSUE FREE SDSUCOLLEGIAN.COM
SEPTEMBER 23, 2026
SDSU’S STUDENT-RUN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1885
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CROWD PLEASER PAGES 14-15
JOHNSON RUSHES 30 TIMES FOR 238 YARDS, LEADS JACKRABBITS PAST PENGUINS