A refinery planning to locate about 10 miles from campus has struck a chord with students and brought them to the streets, telephone lines and projector screens to share information with the community and voters. Some have joined hands with Save Union County efforts, while others volunteer with Citizens for Hyperion or work directly for the company.
No one questions that the refinery will change the community, but "how" depends on what you're looking for, said Economics Professor Mike Allgrun.
Some professors and businesses have already spoken about leaving the area if the refinery comes, he said. But others, like business school Dean Michael Keller, are excited for the net economic boost that will liken Vermillion to Sioux Falls and be the biggest investment the state has ever seen.
Hyperion is an oil refining company based in Dallas that began working with the state, university and community more than two years ago to measure support for a 3,800 acre-large operation that would produce 400,000 barrels of mainly transportation fuels from Canadian sour crude per day.
"I'd be surprised to find a half dozen ($10 billion investments) in history," Keller said. "In my view, it's a testament to the ingenuity of man; to others, the destruction of mankind. It kind of depends on your outlook."
Some students feel Hyperion has brought a focus to campus that makes the refinery sound environmentally beneficial and call it "greenwashing."
"They're claiming to be the cleanest or most-green ever built. I don't think it takes much to be the cleanest oil refinery. I think it's good they're trying," said Alaina Mudder, a SAGE member.
Students Advocating Grassroots Environmentalism (SAGE) has been working with Save Union County to raise public awareness by canvassing.
Mudder would like attention and funds focused on renewable energy sources like wind and solar power.
Chris Berry, College Democrats president, said many members are actively protesting and concerned about global warming. He thinks an independent assessment of Hyperion's impact should be conducted.
"They've been kind of secretive and ambiguous. It seems more like propaganda to me," Berry said. "On principle, I tend to think more science than posters."
College Republicans will help Union County voters get to the polls June 3. The vote outcome will determine if Hyperion can continue rezoning land towards the Elk Point location or choose an out-of-state location.
Drew Peterson, College Republicans president, said his door-to-door conversations with Union County voters have shown strong support for Hyperion, and that Hyperion's Elk Point office is open to any conversations with citizens.
"I believe Hyperion when they say something, but they don't make the (reporting) rules," Peterson said. "They're the ones who went out there and got the signatures. They're almost petitioning themselves."
Hyperion has applied for a number of permits with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and has to follow EPA guidelines.
But Save Union County feels regulations are not enough, and that the opinion is swinging against Hyperion.
"The students of Vermillion should be especially involved, because even if we don't get to vote on it, the only thing we can do is change minds," said Tanner Spracklen, a SAGE member involved in the canvassing.
He said Vermillion will see substantial air and water quality changes, but his biggest concern is on a global level: CO2 emissions.
"We're going to more than double the pollution of the whole state concentrated in one area 15 miles from Vermillion," he said.
A Midwest native, Spracklen would like to see the environment preserved for generations to come.
"I'd like to be able to come back to the same atmosphere that I left when I do leave after school," he said.
But others see the nation's need for another refinery as inevitable and would rather see it placed inside the country where regulations can keep emissions in check.
Keller sees oil as a viable product increasing in demand daily and says the need for the refinery is not questionable.
"Would you rather have it in Mexico where they hardly have any regulation?" he asked.
The increased year-round base population would support more restaurants, businesses and services in the area, Allgrun said. This will raise price and wage competition, and heighten the overall quality of life.
Developers are already purchasing land near the Highway 50 exit off Interstate 29 in anticipation.
Rent could go up from incoming workers, but students would be earning more with part-time jobs, Keller said.
And for some students, the low number of jobs in the state is a big issue.
"It's important for citizens in the state to support efforts that will create jobs and retain jobs that are there for the next generation," said freshman Morgan Peck, a member of College Republicans.
Hyperion plans to bring $13.7 billion yearly to the state and employ more than 1,800 people in permanent jobs.
"USD probably pulls 60 percent or more of the base constituency from South Dakota. Wouldn't it be nice if that when they graduated they could stay in this area where there parents are from?" said J.B. Mercer, USD graduate and Citizens for Hyperion chair.
Opponents who accept the national need for a newer refinery think it belongs in a "brownfield."
"Some of us live right in the area. We don't want our friends and family to be subjected to an oil refinery literally in their backyard," Berry said.
"We have a beautiful campus and I think that's a lot to lose," Spracklen said.
Allgrun said pollution effects could change the value of Vermillion.
"If it's horribly ugly, there's some aesthetic issues," Allgrun said. "If it stinks, huge impact there. People could say, 'Every time I've been there, it reeks.'"
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