Open Forum
Various committees addressed the Students’ Association on Monday and three commemorations were adopted by senators for the month of November.
Robyn Marschke, assistant vice president of assessment and institutional research and assessment, addressed the senate and spoke about the results of the 2024 Climate Survey.
The 2024 Climate Survey measures the “perceptions of the institution, stability and attitudes towards other people, accessibility and safety on campus, awareness, procedures and policies around sexual misconduct and overall satisfaction (for students attending the university)” Marschke said.
There is also a similar survey given to employees at SDSU.
The student survey received 559 responses, roughly 6% of SDSU students that were invited to participate. For the employee survey, there were 875 responses, which was 47% of employees asked to participate, according to Marscke.
Two reports were provided to the senate, one being an executive summary of the student and employee surveys, and the other being a frequency report of just student survey results.
The student survey had two questions that focused around the culture at South Dakota State. The highest scoring perception was personal attitudes and behaviors and the lowest being perception of peers.
Marschke stressed the importance of more students participating in the surveys because it can improve the culture of the university.
“To maintain the momentum we have here and to enhance the overall culture, we are really trying to emphasize collective ownership over the survey results and everyday practices to make everyone feel like they belong here and to improve the overall student success,” Marschke said.
Marschke said that the survey results were mostly positive, but encouraged the senate to push for people to complete the next survey and for them to focus on three factors: perceptions of the institution, campus safety and a co-curricular environment.
Focusing on improving these factors would help improve the culture at SDSU, Marschke said.
The next survey will be released in spring 2026 for students and staff to complete.
In other news in Monday’s meeting, staff from Little International addressed the senate to report on their spending of funds through SA. They also discussed upcoming events, including the 102nd Little International that is taking place March 28 to 29, 2025.
Currently, there are 160 staff members for Little International.
“It takes all 160 of us to put this huge event on,” Miles Hoffman, treasurer of Little ‘I,’ said.
“One thing that’s unique is that we’re not just all agricultural majors,” Teigen Hadrick, the 102nd Little ‘I’ manager, said. “We kind of stem from across campus, whether that’s nurses, early elementary ed, we really pull from a large demographic.”
Little International plans to visit schools in Brookings to educate young students about agriculture and to introduce a new agriculture in-class program.
“It helps bring the agriculture community into classrooms and surrounding areas,” Hoffman said. “It helps teach kids general knowledge about agriculture, fun facts about Little ‘I’ and other things that we’re really excited about.”
Next, the SDSU Rodeo Club spoke about their funding from SA and past events they have done, including State-A-Thon, Black Hills Stock Show, Running Womens’ Night and Horse Club Roping Night.
AThe Rodeo Club said they received $91,765 from 284 donors during One Day for State.
Committee and Staff Reports
SA President Trinity Peterson welcomed back Black Student Alliance and International Relations Council Ex Officios to SA meetings, as the Board of Directors reinstated them.
Peterson also said that there have been concerns with Larson Dining with availability and food service times, after meeting with the University Food Services Committee.
The Armed Forces Association announced events that are happening this month including its “Warrior Week” happening this week.
Events include a movie night with free popcorn and a drink at Cinema 8 for military-affiliated students on Nov. 5, and a vet-to-vet career guidance at the Veterans Affairs Office from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In the Veterans Affairs Office on Nov. 6 there will be a pancake feed at 12 p.m., a writing workshop from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and a game night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Additionally, there will be a “Iron Warrior” Weight-Lifting Competition on Nov. 7 at the Miller Wellness Center from 2 to 3 p.m. Also, there will be free meals at Weary Wills for military veterans and their dependents from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) said their annual Drag Show had a large turnout, had no disturbances and received donation money. Ex-Officio, B Wilson, said that the show will be “bigger and better next year.”
The International Student Organization (IRC) plans to go ice skating with international students and a study session near finals.
University Program Council (UPC) will have a “Speed Sketchers” event where a caricature artist will draw photos for free for students in the Union on Nov. 6. UPC will also host a CPR Training course that will be on Nov. 13, at the Hobo Day + Campanile Room in the Union. The training will be free for the first 12 students to attend.
Chi Omega will host a Car Smash event on Nov. 6 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in between the big lot and the Performing Arts Center.
Chi Omega is also partnering with AGR for a Make-A-Waffle bar event, where students pitch in $5 to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation on Nov. 7 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the AGR House.
Last, the University Food Service Administrative Committee (UFSAC) reported that there will be new machines coming to the market including boba, coffee and ICEE machines, as well as a waffle bar. Also, there will be tabling at the Student Union to evaluate student feedback to campus dining.
Unfinished Business
There were three new commemorations for the month of November:
Native American Heritage Month will be recognized (Commemoration 24-4-C.)
November will also be recognized as Veterans & Military Appreciation Month (Commemoration 24-6-C.)
Last, First Generation College Celebration Day (FGCC) will be recognized on Nov. 8 (Commemoration 24-5-C.)
Announcements
There will be no Students’ Association meeting next week due to Veteran’s Day on Nov. 11.
