Insulin Legislation Tediously Inches Along
Lacey Barke, Editor-In-Chief
September 25, 2019
“It’s not easy to swipe my debit card and pay 500 dollars for medicine that, seven years ago, my body just naturally made,” Mitch Riibe commented in regards to the expensive cost of insulin. Riibe an SMSU student who has diabetes, and according to the CDC, Riibe is merely one of the 100 million adu...
Minnesota’s Hands-Free Law: What You Need to Know

Isabella Erickson, Staff Writer
September 22, 2019
On Aug. 1, the Minnesota’s hands-free driving law went into effect, thus banning the use of hand-held devices by drivers. This bill was written to address (and curb) the rise of distracted driving. According to the CDC, distracted driving crashes kill roughly 9 people a day, and injure over 1,000. There...
AOS Open Mic Night and BBQ

Sabrina Pankratz, Commentary Editor
September 22, 2019
The first AOS open mic night of the year was moved indoors due to chilly weather and possible rain, but that didn’t stop students from attending. Rheanne Sabinske, a freshman on campus, attended with her friend, Olivia Chester, on Friday to enjoy the music. “I just like that everyone is coming...
SMSU Guards against Phishing Scams
Casey Weilage, Staff Writer
September 22, 2019
Shawn Hedman, Director of User Services gave clear insight on the problem that is phishing and how it affects SMSU students. “It is an attempt to get information from other people, so it is an outside person sending a message, trying to gather information,” Hedman said. “Whether it b...
OneSearch: McFarland Library online search receives update
Meghan Sullivan, Staff Writer
March 28, 2019
OneSearch received a new look recently. Since the system was launched on Jan. 31, students and faculty have all had to make adjustments with the new system. If students at SMSU are occasionally frustrated with the change in the system adopted by the Minnesota State system this year, they should know...
Tenth SMSU President chosen

March 28, 2019
Dr. Kumara Jayasuriya has been named the 10th President of Southwest Minnesota State University. He will follow current President Connie Gores who began her tenure at SMSU in 2013. His appointment was approved by the Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities on March 20th. SMSU...
FarmHer: Women in agriculture speak at film screening

Hanna Vos, Staff Writer
March 28, 2019
In honor of Women’s History Month, the SMSU Women’s Studies Committee and SMSU Feminist Club hosted a film screening of the documentary FarmHer. The film follows Marji Guyler-Alaniz as she photographs female farmers as they go about their daily lives. Following the film screening, a panel of diverse...
New SAFAC Chair Appointed

Sabrina Pankratz, A&E Editor
February 28, 2019
“Originally, I wasn’t supposed to become SAFAC Chair until next year in the fall,” said Ezekiel Thompson. “However, due to the fact of this last week’s Student Senate meeting with Allie Gaylord being removed as chair. We took a vote on it and they would like me to step in her place.” Thompson...
Baker to be future EPSH Department Chair
Hanna Vos, Staff Writer
February 28, 2019
As she sat in the teal chair, Professor Lori Baker seemed to exude professionalism. Her office was cozy and inviting. She had comic strips, children’s artwork, and a poster from the band U2 pinned to a bulletin board. Pages and pages of work from her years of teaching at SMSU were crammed onto a hulking...
Trump declares national emergency over border wall
Dalton Dahl, Staff Writer
February 28, 2019
President Donald Trump declared the situation on the U.S.-Mexico border to be a national emergency on Feb. 15, as he seeks to fulfill his campaign promise of a wall to be constructed on the border. Taxpayers’ money that had already been allocated by Congress for other purposes will be redirected for...
Mendler: A teacher of teachers
Collin Drey, Staff Writer
February 28, 2019
Education majors and teachers were able to enjoy a visit from teacher of teachers Brian Mendler on Feb. 1. Mendler has made a name for himself for being an inspiration to aspiring teachers, but for what reason has this man deserved this? Mendler is well-known for being a teacher that dealt with ADHD...
Preview of candidates for University President
Desiree Bauer, Commentary Editor
February 28, 2019
This past fall, SMSU President Connie J. Gores announced that she will be retiring after this school year. There has been a search for the next president since then, and it was recently announced that the search committee has found four finalists. These finalists are scheduled to visit SMSU from Feb....