South Dakota State University's Independent Student-Run Newsource Since 1885

The Collegian
Nathan Lukkes, executive director of the South Dakota Board of Regents, speaks during a town hall in the Hobo Day Gallery on the SDSU campus on April 28, 2026. Lukkes talked about the state of higher education, potential tuition raises and artificial intelligence.
Regent talks AI, tuition pressures at SDSU town hall
The University Police Department sits on the northeast side of campus, east of Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
SDSU POLICE DAILY CRIME LOG
Arbor Day attendees work together to plant a tree on April 23, 2026, outside of Brown Hall.
Trees planted on campus for Arbor day
SDSU launches Center for AI Innovation and Emergent Technologies
A group of attendees visit last year's May Day event in the Volstorff Ballroom in the Student Union, in Brookings, SD.
May Day Music Festival Returns to Campus
SDSU’s Luke Luskey runs for home during a baseball game against Minnesota Morris on April 29, 2026 at Erv Huether Field. Luskey had three runs, a hit and an RBI over the course of the game.
Baseball comes to a close
SDSU’s bench celebrates during a basketball game against Mayville State on Oct. 29, 2025 at First Bank & Trust Arena.
A LOOK BACK AT THE PAST
Senior Kaylee Kurdish swings at a pitch from St. Thomas pitcher Ava Kleinfeldt Friday, April 24. The Jacks took a 11-5 loss during the first game of the double-header and then took another loss later in the day to get swept 2-0 in the series
Jacks look ahead to NDSU after sweep
Grant Sorensen swings at a pitch during a baseball game against the University of Northern Colorado on April 24, 2026 at Erv Huether Field in Brookings, S.D. Sorensen had a run, a hit and two RBIs in the game.regular-season game of Kraft’s collegiate career.
Hit-by-pitch record tied
Ellie Harris runs during the Gary Wilson Invitational. Wilson broke the school 200 meter dash record with a time of 23.49.
Harris bests own record in Minnesota
Monarch performs at the May Day Music Festival in the Volstorff Ballroom on Friday, May 1, 2026.
May Day Music Festival brings live music, vendors to VBR
A group of attendees visit last year's May Day event in the Volstorff Ballroom in the Student Union, in Brookings, SD.
May Day Music Festival Returns to Campus
Grace Fromknecht, who plays Mrs. Lovett, and Jacob Stevens, who plays Sweeney Todd, perform “My Friends” during the first act.
SDSU Theatre Presents Sweeney Todd
Emma Raisanen, History Club president, left and Karli Haack, History Club fundraising manager (right) table in the Student Union this week to get the word out about the 80s Rock Battle of the Bands.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Laura Diddle directs one of the choirs in the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center. Diddle will retire after 23 years at SDSU.
‘It’ll be bittersweet’
Collegian Media staff first row, from left: Brayden Byers, Taylor Tennant, Emily DeCock and Bella Hartman. Second row, from left: Ean Wetzel, Emily Attrill, Andrew Lewno and Cordell Vitense.
From the editor: What being a journalist has taught me about life
Photo by FOTOGRAFÍA EDITORIAL on Unsplash
Guest Column: Volunteering Can Fast Track Your Creative Portfolio
Guest Column: April marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Guest Column: April marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Every year, the Journalism Education Association hosts a poster contest for Scholastic Journalism Week. This is the winning poster designed by Theo Slade, a student at North Springs High School, Atlanta.
Press Under Pressure
"Embrace Local Journalism" is the theme of this year's National Newspaper Week, which takes place Oct. 5-11. Collegian Media is home to South Dakota State University's student-run newspaper, radio station, website and newscast. The Collegian newspaper has been printing since 1885.
‘Telling the stories of our community’
South Dakota State University's Independent Student-Run Newsource Since 1885

The Collegian
South Dakota State University's Independent Student-Run Newsource Since 1885

The Collegian
FEATURED STORIES
COLLEGIAN RADIO ON KSDJ
NEWS
Arbor Day attendees work together to plant a tree on April 23, 2026, outside of Brown Hall.
Trees planted on campus for Arbor day
Isabelle Persons, Reporter • April 28, 2026
SDSU celebrated Arbor Day with a tree-planting event on campus. Read more about the new trees and SDSU's commitment to sustainability.
SDSU launches Center for AI Innovation and Emergent Technologies
Willem Lim, Reporter • April 28, 2026

SDSU is expanding its role in artificial intelligence (AI) and research with the launch of a new Center for AI Innovation and Emergent Technologies,...

A group of attendees visit last year's May Day event in the Volstorff Ballroom in the Student Union, in Brookings, SD.
May Day Music Festival Returns to Campus
Ava McIntire, Reporter • April 28, 2026

The May Day Music Festival, organized by the University Program Council (UPC), will return to campus May 1 with live music, prizes and activities...

SPORTS
SDSU’s bench celebrates during a basketball game against Mayville State on Oct. 29, 2025 at First Bank & Trust Arena.
A LOOK BACK AT THE PAST
Jacob Brende, Sports Editor • April 28, 2026

FOOTBALL SDSU’s football team looked a lot different then it did the previous year. Quarterback Mark Grownowski, safety Tucker Large and...

Ellie Harris runs during the Gary Wilson Invitational. Wilson broke the school 200 meter dash record with a time of 23.49.
Harris bests own record in Minnesota
Nathan Thompson, Sports Reporter • April 28, 2026

The Jackrabbits were busy last weekend with athletes spread out over three meets, many SDSU school records were bested this week, as athletes...

South Dakota State running back Julius Loughridge (15) jumps across the line of scrimmage during an NCAA college football game against Drake on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025 at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings.
NFL Draft recap
Cordell Vitense, Sports Editor • April 28, 2026

The NFL draft just took place, with the first round taking place Thursday, April 23, followed by the second and third rounds on the following...

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Grace Fromknecht, who plays Mrs. Lovett, and Jacob Stevens, who plays Sweeney Todd, perform “My Friends” during the first act.
SDSU Theatre Presents Sweeney Todd
Kennedy Foster, Reporter • April 21, 2026
SDSU's State University Theatre and Dance performed "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" for an audience of over 1,750 people.
Emma Raisanen, History Club president, left and Karli Haack, History Club fundraising manager (right) table in the Student Union this week to get the word out about the 80s Rock Battle of the Bands.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Mason Salway, Reporter • April 21, 2026
The SDSU History Club and Rock Band Club are hosting an 80s Rock Battle of the Bands at the Coolidge Sylvan Theatre on April 25.
Laura Diddle directs one of the choirs in the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center. Diddle will retire after 23 years at SDSU.
‘It’ll be bittersweet’
Nathan Kalous, Reporter • March 24, 2026
After 23 years, SDSU Director of Choral Activities Laura Diddle will direct her final concert at the Spring Festival of Music.
THE COLLEGIAN REPORT
TRENDING STORIES
1
Pictured is the Target construction site on the East side of Brookings on April 13, 2026. The store is set to open this summer.

Brookings Marketplace progresses

2
The Nathelle and Lawrence DeHaan Equestrian Center sits north of campus in Brookings off the Highway 14 Bypass on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026.

Former SDSU equestrian coach pleads not guilty to grand theft

3
The construction of the Target and Aldi stores is ahead of schedule, leading to quicker openings. Aldi is scheduled to open on Nov. 20 and Target in spring of 2026. Pictured above is construction of Aldi, on Oct. 21, 2025, in Brookings, S.D.

New Marketplace making progress

4
The University Police Department sits on the northeast side of campus, east of Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

SDSU POLICE DAILY CRIME LOG

5
Lainey Wilson on stage during her performance in Sioux Falls.

Concert review: Lainey Wilson returns to Sioux Falls on first headlining arena tour

OPINIONS
Photo by FOTOGRAFÍA EDITORIAL on Unsplash
Guest Column: Volunteering Can Fast Track Your Creative Portfolio
Isioma Ngozi Ononye • April 17, 2026
SDSU graduate student Isioma Ngozi Ononye explains how volunteering is a good way to build a portfolio, expand your network and find mentors.