Saturday full O’ journalistic fun

Not sure what you did with your Saturday — sleeping, shopping, homework, watching football, sleeping — but many of us here at The Volante took the day to gather insight about the practice of journalism from a couple members of the profession and to share with each other knowledge many of the Volante veterans have accumulated over the years.

Taking time out of there busy day were Keloland.com’s Web Producer, Jonathan Garcia, and the new Managing Editor of the Argus Leader, Patrick Lalley. These are two gentleman with unique insight into the world of journalism and they chose to impart some wisdom upon members of The Volante today. A big thanks to both of them!

A lot of what was discussed dealt with the nuts and bolts of journalism and would bring you to tears, I’m sure, however, the reason for this post is to simply make the statement that we take very seriously what we do at The Volante. Besides SGA, we tend to generate a large amount of hate mail for one reason or another. This is a relatively large community and you cannot please all the Yotes all the time. It is important to remember however, that The Volante is on-the-job training. We are a serious news organization, but there are some who are new to the journalism fold and they are learning as they go, therefore errors will happen.

Part of what today was about, was a chance to provide even more training that cannot always come from the classroom or the reporter’s beat. We are here to serve the community of USD and also that of Vermillion as a whole. Beginning this fall 2008 semester, The Volante began reporting on day one through our Web site. We will not publish our first print issue until this Wednesday, Sept. 17, but we have already been out there covering the events of USD, trying to better serve the students and live up to our motto: “The students’ voice since 1887.”

We intend to make our print issues even better than years past. Part of that improvement w

Lee Medical School dedication

One construction/dedication down, only two more to go. Finally, USD can say, “Look what we’ve done! Isn’t it grand?”

And, truth be told, the building is grand. The inside is spectacular. Hundreds of people gathered to hear President James Abbott, Sen. Tim Johnson, Dr. Ron Lindahl, Dean of the medical school and several others in Friday’s dedication ceremony. Luckily, there was plenty of balcony space on the two floors above the ground seating area.

If you missed the ceremony, there are photos below to show you what you missed. Or better yet, check out VolanteOnline.com and read Nick Woltman’s report and watch Drew Quandt’s video of the event.

–Michelle Rydell

Tibetan monks travel to USD

Today I went to the Brown Bag Lunch program featuring an ensemble of monks from India, which was held at USD’s National Music Museum.

I had never been to a brown bag lunch program, and I was impressed by the amount of people who attended. About 100 people showed up to listen to the group of five monks, who are from the Gaden Shartse monastery in Mungrod, India.

The brown bag lunch program, “An Auspicious Moment: Sampling the Sounds of Tibet,” featured traditional Tibetan instruments from the National Music Museum’s collections.

The monks are in the area to build a sandmandala in the Levitt Gallery on Morningside College’s campus in Sioux City to raise money to equip a hospital located at their settlement in India.

Look back to VolanteOnline.com to view photos, hear audio of their performance and more updates.

holding pattern

Tonight/later this morning we will have an online edition of The Volante. Right now (8:10 p.m.) we are on hold as each of the sections edit their stories. No surprise, but the bulk of our first batch of stories will be construction related. Nick Woltman will have an interview with President James Abbott regarding all of the construction projects on campus, especially that of the student center. The biggest addition to our web content this year will be video, and we have Abbott’s interview available in three parts, plus comments from SGA President Ryan Budmayr, and a guided tour of the MUC — Muenster University Center — AKA student center.

That is all for now, we’ll see you at volanteonline.com.

Online issue coming tomorrow

Now it starts… the first official day of classes is today. There are a number of campus events happening today, such as the Freshman Convocation, the SAC Fair, and yes, classes begin at 4 p.m. this afternoon.

The Volante will be back on the beat today preparing an abridged online edition which will hit the Internets tomorrow morning. We’ll have an unique look at the under construction student center, an interview with President Abbott, plus Verve, and Sports will tackle the start of the D-1 football season for the Yotes.

The Volante is online all the time and we’re back in print on Sept. 17.

Students crowd Dome for kickoff game

Students, alumni and family members crowded the stands at the DakotaDome tonight during the first football game against St. Ambrose University. 

The Coyotes slammed their opponent 52-0. Check out Sports editor Matt Dahlseid’s report later tonight.

Photos by Molly O’Connor, The Volante.

More than 175 students volunteer to move in university’s largest freshmen class

The largest freshmen class in university history was aided today by one of the largest groups of student volunteers housing officials say they have ever seen.

More than 175 students volunteered to help move in incoming freshmen, said Kirsten Compary, acting dean of students. Compary said more members of the Greek community helped this year compared to years past.

The day seemed to go by smoothly, thanks to a new comprehensive plan created by university officials and the Department of Public Safety. The plan included a color-coded check in at the DakotaDome and designated routes to eliminate congestion on roads filled with construction.

Check back with VolanteOnline.com throughout the week for more USD news and updates.

Tailgating kicks off D-1 season

Lines were long at tonight’s tailgating event before USD’s first football appearance as a Division 1 university.

Nearly 500 people lined up to eat the burgers, chips and beans provided for free by Aramark. As students checked in earlier today at the DakotaDome, university staff and volunteers handed out two tickets for the football and two tickets for the tailgating party for each car.

In addition to the incoming freshmen and their families, USD students of every age- from seniors to senior citizens- gathered to cheer on the ‘Yotes in their probable victory against St. Ambrose University. 

The USD Marching Coyotes could be heard warming up from the field across in front of the Fine Arts Center as students settled into the shady corners of the lawn. A DJ from the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity kept the music going from 5 p.m. until kickoff.

Later tonight, local band The Kickback will play in front of the tennis courts. During half-time, Coyote Athletics will be giving out 12 credit hours of free tuition for the spring 2009 semester.

Read Justin Rust’s move-in day report and video on www.volanteonline.com.

Stay tuned to The Volante’s coverage of the game, after-party and more.

smooth as silk

By all accounts, Move-in Day 2008 at USD has been a calm and ordered affair, making the day (at least until this moment) a success. Check-in at the Dome was relatively smooth, getting each dorm resident their packet which contained their Coyote Card (for freshmen), a checklist and their room key. No one had to get out of their cars and traffic was maintained by Vermillion Police and USD Public Safety.

A Public Safety worker helps a student find their way through check-in line at the DakotaDome.

At the dorms, all the greek houses were on hand to help unload and carry students belongings to their rooms. Many parents appreciated the help and commented about how easily it made moving their kids into the dorms.

Later today we’ll have video and an audio slide of Move-in Day 2008, and tonight we’ll have full coverage of USD’s first football game of the year.

Let the new year begin

Starting today, USD officially begins the Fall 2008 semester as students begin moving into the residence halls. The Volante will have video, photos and more on VolanteOnline.com throughout the day. But this is just the tip of the iceberg for the day. Tonight, the Coyotes turn the page and start of new chapter — division one athletics. The football team takes on St. Ambrose University at the Dome. Game begins at 7:00 p.m. and we’ll have full coverage of the tailgating, the game, and of course, the new D-I atmosphere.

It will be a busy day, and certainly a busy week for The Volante as we will do something we’ve never done before, release an all online issue of The Volante on Wednesday. Our first print issue will be Sept. 17, but as of today, and more so the third, we will have news, sports, verve, and opinion at VolanteOnline.com. Keep your eye on the Web site, as we’ll have a completely revamped site in the next couple weeks!

Welcome back my fellow Yotes! Let’s have a great year.