USD Removing The Blue And Gold On Campus

by Breanna Fuss, Reporter
November 14, 2012 4:52 PM


Its just days before the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University square off for the first time in nine years. And USD officials are having a little fun with the renewed rivalry between the two schools.

The University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University may be rivals on the football field, but off the field, the two schools have a much different relationship.

“The larger context is that we corporate a lot academically with South Dakota State University, for the good of the students,” said Matthew Moen, Dean of The College of Arts and Sciences at University of South Dakota.

Matthew Moen, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at USD said he wanted to poke a little fun at the more than 100-year rivalry.

So all week USD students who have some old SDSU gear can swap it out. In return they will get a USD shirt at a t-shirt swap in Muenster University Center.  
 
"We will recycle that, provided it a good home in Brookings, which will do this Friday and in return we will give you a red t-shirt for USD,” said Moen.

 But the t-shirt swap is about more than making sure students are wearing the right colors for Saturday's game. It's also about promoting the university's new major.

“We launched the program in the fall of 2012, and its an undergraduate degree in sustainability,” said Meghann Jarchow, an assistant professor with the sustainability program at University of South Dakota.

Meghann Jarchow, one of the professors with the sustainability program is concerned that students may not know the program exists. And if they do, they may think it sounds boring.
 
"I mean I think sometimes with sustainability it seems like doing without this, and turning off the lights. But really there are fun and light-hearted things you can do,” said Jarchow.

So Jarchow said having students recycle a rivalry school’s gear is a good to show a different, fun side of sustainability.

In the end, Moen said he hopes SDSU has a little fun with the swap too.
 
"Well we hope they take in the good spirit in which it is intended,” laughed Moen.

As of Wednesday USD had collected six SDSU shirts.

Moen said no matter how many shirts they collect; it’s a win for USD because along with promoting the new program, they will get rid of all rival shirts on campus.