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CRAZY HORSE - Crazy Horse Memorial is treading new ground this spring, offering a college-credit class in traditional Lakota arts through Black Hills State University.

The classes themselves aren't new. Crazy Horse has offered classes through BHSU for six or seven years on topics such as Lakota history and culture.

What is new is that this is the first time Crazy Horse has stated that it's offering the course at the Indian University of North America.

For years, the Ziolkowski family has talked about plans to eventually include a museum, medical center and university at Crazy Horse Memorial. After attorneys said there was no reason not to, Ruth Ziolkowski decided to start using the university name now.

"It's just the beginning of our goal," she said Thursday. She noted that her late husband, Korzcak Ziolkowski, lived in a tent when he first arrived at Crazy Horse more than 50 years ago. Who knows where the university will be in 50 years, she asked?

This spring's class, Art 143, Traditional Lakota Arts, will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays, starting Jan. 22. Donovin Sprague will teach the three-semester-hour course, which will cover basic traditional art techniques such as quillwork, beadwork and featherwork.

A lab fee of $20 will be charged, along with tuition. Students can register until the first class on Jan. 22.

For more information, call Sprague at Crazy Horse Memorial, 673-4681, or Black Hills State University at 642-6771.