SUNY Plattsburgh’s independent student newspaper since 1997
FRIDAY, March 19, 2021
CARDINALPOINTSONLINE.COM
VOLUME 104 - ISSUE 5
Special meeting sets next year SA fee BY ADEEB CHOWDHURY Associate FUSE Editor
ELARA MARTIN/Cardinal Points
Vaccinated people don’t need masks BY OLIVIA BOUSQUET Co-News Editor
The Center for Disease Control released new information March 8 regarding fully vaccinated people loosening up on certain restrictions. Fully vaccinated people can visit other fully vaccinated people without wearing masks or social distancing, as well as low risk, unvaccinated people from a single household. Individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Fully vaccinated people can also refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure. With New York State restrictions constantly changing and more people getting the vaccine, what does the new CDC information mean for fully vaccinated people in the SUNY Plattsburgh community?
“Essentially what happens is the Center for Disease Control can make a recommendation, and then it gets evaluated by the New York State Department of Health,” Student Health and Counseling Center Director Dr. Kathleen Camelo said. “We can always be more stringent than New York State guidelines, but we can’t be less stringent. We’re watching and waiting to see what New York State recommends.” SUNY Plattsburgh can expect to continue to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines of social distancing and wearing masks for the remainder of the semester. While certain previous COVID-19 restrictions ease, such as drinks in the library and sports competing, SUNY Plattsburgh’s fully vaccinated people should not expect to see any changes to their restrictions. “From a biological perspective,
these new regulations make perfect sense because the immune system of anyone who has been fully vaccinated has been stimulated to a point where it can fully fight the virus and prevent the onset of disease symptoms,” SUNY Plattsburgh immunology professor Dr. Nana Ankrah said. “From a social perspective, because we have a mixed population of fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people, these new guidelines might be challenging to monitor and enforce. It would appear very strange and concerning to walk past a room and see a group of people with no masks on, since there’s no immediate way of telling if everyone in the group has been fully vaccinated. This has the potential to lead to some unpleasant interactions between people in public.” According to Ankrah, with-
out an established threshold for herd immunity from the vaccine, it will be hard to determine when everything can go back to prepandemic conditions. For the time being, college life remains under strict guidelines. “We’re still seeing cases on campus and until those numbers go down, we are pretty much staying on top of things and making sure that social distancing is in effect, just based on our positivity,” Camelo said. While SUNY Plattsburgh’s current positive case percentage lingers around 1%, it isn’t until 5% positive cases over a 14-day period that the campus would go on a two-week pause. Despite being fully vaccinated, those individuals are still required to attend weekly pool testing. VACCINE l A2
The SA held a special meeting March 11 to vote on a re-introduced bill to set the 2021-22 SA fee to $95, after the same bill had failed to pass earlier in the month. The SA mandatory fee was $105 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but was reduced to $55 for the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters. This was done to provide relief to students struggling financially due to pandemic complications, as well as adjust to the dramatic decrease in activity among clubs and organizations. However, more on-campus activity is expected for the next school year as pandemic restrictions begin relaxing. For this reason, SA Treasurer Saugat Gautam had introduced a bill in March that would set the 2021-22 fee to $95. However, the bill failed to pass, receiving only four supporting votes. Senators voiced concerns that the higher fee may not be what the Plattsburgh community needs presently, pointing to the expected reluctance among students to pay more than they currently are, as well as the fact that more activity is not necessarily guaranteed next semester. After the previous meeting, Gautam revised his approach and the wording of his bill. SPECIAL l A2
Professor records videos for students BY JOHN CHURCH Contributor
At SUNY Plattsburgh, students have an abundance of resources at their disposal. Recently, a video series was recorded by Advanced Placement Daily, to help high school and college student’s access classroom resources. AP Daily helps students learn the course material for a specific class. AP Daily offers students a wide variety of videos covering multiple topics no matter the subject. Whether a college student is looking to learn topics for their general education courses, or a high school student is looking to pass their AP exams, the AP Daily video series is for anybody who is ready to learn.
AUDREY LAPINKSI/Cardinal Points Damaris Gonzaga takes a refreshing drink of water in Feinberg Library after recent policies allow students to bring in refreshments for long studying days.
Feinberg Library allows drinks again BY NATALIE ST. DENIS Associate Opinions Editor
On March 5, Feinberg Library began permitting students to bring drinks in spill-proof cups. This is a shift in the no food, no drink rule Feinberg had implemented since the start of the pandemic. AlPHYSICS l A2 though food is still not al-
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lowed, students can now bring in their own drinks with them while still remaining cautious. The Chief Information Officer and Dean of Library and Information Technology Services Holly Heller-Ross said there were “numerous factors” that prompted the change in rules. Her supervisors were noticing student
employees would get dehydrated during their multiple hour shifts. Additionally, students were feeling frustrated that other parts of campus were beginning to ease restrictions. Spring athletic teams were given permission to have their seasons, volunteers at the COVID-19 testing site on campus were seen sip-
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ping drinks, and campus staff can also be seen with drinks during meetings. Yet, the library was still strict with their policies. “The dean carefully considered the students’ requests and checked with the staff in the library to make sure that they were comfortable with easing those restrictions,” Instruction and Reference Services coordi-
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nator Elin O’Hara said. The new change was looked over and approved by the Operational Continuity Health and Safety committee. “It was time. New York State is loosening up some of the regulations. More people are allowed into restaurants, and sports
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VACCINE Continued from page one According to Camelo, within the past week, fully remote local students are now required to get pool tested as well after the Student Health Center noticed an increase in fully remote people testing positive. “We feel pretty confident,” Camelo said. “But, we’re taking that extra step just in case we start to learn about a variant that might not be protected by the vaccine. So, we’re being extra cautious.” On March 17, all public-facing employees are eligible to receive the vaccine. Camelo expressed her excitement for
Detective Burghy has SPECIAL nothing to report this Continued from page one week. The Campus Blotter will continue to be posted online at cardinalpointsonline.com.
After the previous meeting, Gautam revised his approach and the wording of his bill. He aimed to better convince his fellow senators that a $95 fee was vital if the SA plans to function properly next semester. He pointed out during the recent meeting that numerous essential services on campus, such as the Shuttle, Feinberg Library, clubs and organizations rely on SA funding. If the SA budget did not accommodate these services, they would cease to exist.
“We cannot allow that to happen,” Gautam said. “Everyone uses this. Everyone needs this.” During the previous meeting, a number of senators expressed concerns that a higher SA fee was unnecessary at the time and may be further detrimental to students’ finances. However, the more recent meeting saw several senators chiming in and echoing Gautam’s reminder that a $95 fee will be essential if the SA to fulfill its responsibilities during the next school year. “The consequences if we don’t pass this bill are very extreme,” Senator Carter Mosher said. “And it’s not asking for much,
PHYSICS Continued from page one
Campus COVID-19 Tracker Total number of positive COVID-19 cases over the past 14
84
days:
Number of active COVID-19 cases:
Number of students and employees in quarantine:
47 119
Associate Professor of Physics at SUNY Plattsburgh, Dr. Ken Podolak was one of 10 college professors to contribute a video to the Physics 1 portion of the AP Daily series by making a few videos of his own. “The series has different professors teaching different subjects,” Podolak said. “The math and world history are taught by different faculty members. In the physics portion of the series, I teach students about electrical circuits, and it’s as if I were teaching a college class, except it’s a prerecorded lesson without students having to watch it live. Students can go back and watch the videos over when they like. Teachers can assign the video in class or out of class. But there’s more than just me. I was able to just contribute to the AP physics version of it.” Similar to Moodle at SUNY Plattsburgh, AP Daily has a site, where students can learn to master a specific subject. Teachers can register students to sign up for the website in their classes. Aside from watching prerecorded videos, students are tasked with questions, assignments, engage in lesson plans and other activities to help them with their classes. “The videos are useful,” Podolak said. “Something could happen to a teacher or professor and they might need a substitute teacher. They can put on the videos to teach students certain topics. It provides the flexibility in this COVID era we need to help students.”
Continued from page one
Number of COVID-19 tests by the Student Health Center since
31,984
Aug. 15, 2020:
CP Corrections In Issue 4, the article “Support Services host ‘Feed a Cardinal’ should clarify that the surprise bags are only for students in quarantine. Also, there is no longer a Student Affairs office on campus, therefore, Michele Carpentier’s official title is vice president for Enrollment and Student Success. In Issue 4, the article “Plattsburgh State Cardinals prepare for a new season” should note that the spelling of Kris Doorey’s name was misspelled. If you see an error in Cardinal Points, email cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
more people at the college being able to get vaccinated and she hopes for it to be open to everyone soon. While campus life may not change for the rest of the academic year, the new information from the CDC can bring hope that the vaccine is effective. Fully vaccinated people should continue to stay on the side of caution and continue to wear masks in public and social distance. “[The vaccine’s] impact on society has given us an indication that things are getting better and that the vaccine is effective,” Ankrah said. “It’s actually going to yield results; one of the results is going to be that you can actually meet with people that you care about.” Email OLIVIA BOUSQUET cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
either—it’s just 40 extra dollars. And considering the duties the SA has, that’s pretty small.” President Rudaba Ahmed, too, reminded the SA of the fact that their duties as an organization will very likely expand the following year. “Campus will be much more open next semester, and there will be a lot more activity everywhere,” Ahmed said. “We need to meet higher costs once that happens, since we’re the ones supporting clubs and organizations.” Ahmed also assured the SA that if anyone had concerns or questions they would like to share privately or after the meet-
The AP Daily video series is available to both high school and college students looking to expand their knowledge in a specific discipline. Through the AP Physics portion of the video series, students will gain a tangible understanding of the natural world, problem solve, and predict how and why things behave the way they do. Students can also find the AP Daily videos on AP’s YouTube website. AP publishes videos once a week, showcasing different lesson plans from a variety of professors. “Students who watch these videos will get a better handle and understanding on specific topics and lessons,” Podolak said. “The more students experience things, try things and learn from other people, the more they will benefit in school and eventually in their careers.” The AP Physics series is helpful to any student. No matter a student’s major, the course material within the videos give students an advantage in their academic lives. “Ken is a very good teacher,” third year student Jonathan Sinopoli said. “He’s very welcoming and approachable. He’s a very funny guy. I’ve had him as a teacher in the past. I haven’t watched any of the videos in the series, but knowing Ken, he’ll create a good foundation for students to understand material from. This video series will be good for students as well. Especially the students who need to finish their Gen Eds, the ones who need to complete prerequisites.” The AP Physics Daily 1 series goes over algebra-based physics, electricity, magnetism and mechanics. By watching these videos, students will understand how electrical wiring works,
DRINKS Unit Coordinator for Classroom and Customer Support Services Carol Bleaux said. “So, it was time for us to do the same thing,” The library is ensuring patrons will still be safe during the pandemic even with regulations beginning to loosen. “We are still adhering to all the safety protocols around distancing, around cleaning, masking whenever you’re not just taking a quick sip and we’re also still doing our monitoring,” Heller-Ross said. Monitoring consists of a regular sweep around the building to make sure students don’t need help, that there are no technology issues and a population count is also done to guide how the library should be structured based on the number of people utilizing it. “At the same time that we’re doing those regular things, we are looking for the COVID-19 safety protocols and making sure people are adhering to them.
Friday, March 19, 2021
ing, they are welcome to approach her. Once voting commenced, it became clear that attitudes had shifted since last time. The bill passed with every present senator voting in favor. “Last week, senators chose to view this proposal as an increase on the SA fee - when it was actually a decrease,” Gautam said. “I think this time we presented solid rationale showing how it’s a decrease and how this will help continue to make our campus active, vibrant and engaging.” Email ADEEB CHOWDHURY
cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
why things fall down and what occurs with the stars in our solar system. “Physics is a topic that students have to think a lot about,” Sinopoli said. “Physics in general, isn’t something that’s just a black and white. It’s complex, but it helps people think in a logical manner. Being able to watch the video series online before class, during class or in your free time I think would be a big help.” Online learning has come to the forefront during the COVID-19 pandemic, while in-person learning has taken a backseat. The AP Daily video series is accessible to all students online. The videos are 30 to 45 minutes long. They’re informative and thorough. “Students tend to find videos of people discussing these topics for free on YouTube,” Podolak said. “But the AP Daily series provides high quality videos with professors who are experts in their field discussing material. These videos have a leg up on those other materials because you know the credentials of who is delivering the lesson plan, it’s thorough nature and having the videos certified by AP. I definitely consider this an advantage compared to your typical Google search.” The AP Daily series provides a unique opportunity to students that will help them learn and grow their understanding on specific topics. Even with remote learning, students can easily access videos on any subject. Whether it’s physics, math or geography, AP has a wide variety of topics to choose from to help any student succeed.
Email JOHN CHURCH
cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
We will continue doing this and I do believe that we will be successful in allowing people to have drinks without increasing their risk of spreading or catching disease,” Heller-Ross said. Heller-Ross also mentioned that because SUNY Plattsburgh has increased testing for COVID-19 this semester, the campus environment is safer overall. However, O’Hara also wanted to alleviate any frustrations that students were experiencing. “Particularly those students who want access to a quiet location where they can complete their coursework and not having access to a drink while they’re doing that has been incredibly frustrating to some.” O’Hara said. “This was our way of being responsibly responsive to students’ needs.” At this time, only drinks are permitted and not food. The Feinberg Library is looking forward to allowing food at some point in the future.
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cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
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Friday, March 19, 2021
This Week in Photos: Drinks Photos By Audrey Lapinski
Feinberg Library eases up on restrictions to allow students to bring in drinks.
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President and Executive Director of the Sigma Nu Tau Entrepreneurship Honor Society Nancy Church started the non-profit 2009 which has expanded throughout 35 campuses.
Sigma Nu Tau chapter helps students excel BY MATAEO SMITH Co-News Editor
Sigma Nu Tau was created in SUNY Plattsburgh 2009 from a desire to honor those students embarking into the world of entrepreneurship. Eleven years later, 35 campuses have joined and continue to offer support to the scarce major. The Honor Society was created in 2009. At the time, Former President & Executive Director of the Sigma Nu Tau Entrepreneurship Honor Society Nancy Church was the chair of the marketing and entrepreneurship department. While there was an honor society for SUNY
Plattsburgh marketing majors, there was not one for entrepreneurship students. Church’s attempts to find an existing honor society for entrepreneurship students to no avail, so she decided to start a new honor society. In May 2009, the marketing and entrepreneurship department conducted its first members of Sigma Nu Tau. “We wanted them to have their own Honor Society. Entrepreneurship is really growing,” Church said. “A number of programs offering entrepreneurship are really growing in the US. So we figured other schools might be interested in this as well.”
When it started the first year, it was called the “Entrepreneurship Honor Society” and was available only to SUNY Plattsburgh students. Church and the rest of her department decided early on to offer chapters to other schools which forced them to “really step up.” According to Church. The first step was to get approval from the college. A $1,000 grant that was utilize to print brochures and buy lapel pins along with honor cords was obtained after hiring a lawyer whose objective was to assist the department in finding financial support. In 2011, the department was able to apply for and
get 501C3 nonprofit status from the IRS, which makes it so those who make donations to Sigma Nu Tau, can take a tax deduction making Sigma Nu Tau a full non-profit organization in New York State. The marketing and entrepreneurship department created brochures and application forms and a website. The first two schools chartered were Kent State University in Ohio and Belmont University, in Nashville. “So, when you charter a chapter, that means they invite their own students into Sigma Nu tau,” Church said. “They stand out very strongly in my
mind for being the two that wanted to be first among the chapters.” The first thing Church did after expanding the honor society, was organise the Student Entrepreneur of the Year program which selected one student as part of Sigma Nu Tau to Honor. Students from any school affiliated with the honor society had to apply and explain their entrepreneurship activities throughout the year. Sigma Nu Tau’s goal is to create a network of student entrepreneurs willing to guide each other through the uncertainty of the profession. Senior Sigma Nu Tau Intern Peter Puglia receives a
lot of hands-on experience from the honor society. He said it really exposes him to the business side of entrepreneurship which he finds valuable for his adult life. Puglia said he’s always doing podcasts, videos or applying for another scholarship. He believes Sigma Nu Tau is an, “excellent tool for the major.” Sigma Nu Tau will continue to expand and aid entrepreneurship majors through their career of starting from scratch.
Email MATAEO SMITH
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R I UN
ON COFFEE
AND CARDINAL POINTS NEWS
CARDINAL POINTS WORKING THE NIGHT SHIFT FOR PSUC SINCE 1969
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The Virtual North Country Regional Business Plan Competition’s purpose is to test the minds of entrepreneur students by challenging them to think of a start-up business plan.
Competition sparks new business ideas BY JOHANNA WEEKS Staff Writer
The 2021 North Country Regional Business Plan Competition is taking place March 26 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. online via zoom. Students with a business or start-up idea will compete individually or on a team to sharpen their entrepreneurial skills. This competition is an integral part of the entrepreneurship education program. It is a learning experience open to all students. SUNY Plattsburgh associate professor of marketing and entrepreneurship Richard Gottschall has been involved in business plan competitions for 15 years. He said these competitions are important to motivate students and their understanding of entrepreneurship. “It’s a great activity that gets people together to talk about their business ideas and it’s a very important part of the entrepreneurship education,” Gottschall said. Students will compete in one of six different tracks: AgTech & food, energy & environment, military & first
responder, tech & entertainment and consumer products & services. Melanie Feliz who started her business, Mel’s Delights, when she was 12 years old, said the competition has been beneficial to her. “I’m very excited to share my business with others. I’m on the verge of planning for future goals such as opening my own shop, expanding my services and product line as well,” she said. “Mapping that out has helped me better focus on what I want to do with my business on a long-term basis. I am super passionate about my business as well as entrepreneurship because I am very big on going out and doing things on my own for myself.” Competing against others who have the same interests is beneficial and motivating. Gottschall explained that competitions offer students the opportunity to push themselves. “If you want to be an entrepreneur, you have to do the things that entrepreneurs do,” Gottschall said. “Pursuing an entrepreneurial venture makes classroom learning more relevant.” According to Olivia Forcino, a SUNY Plattsburgh en-
trepreneurship and marketing major, the research, pictures, and floor plans she made gave her a good understanding that her business plans are feasible and if she decides to go through with it, she has a great base plan. Forcino said the hands on experience was helpful. “I really enjoyed the competition. It gave me the opportunity to actually create a business plan and think about my future plans,” Forcino said. The competition offers cash prizes. In addition, students have a chance to network and make connections with mentors. Winners can earn up to $2,000 and start making connections with professionals such as lawyers or accountants. “Entrepreneurship gets more serious at some point than a class assignment, it’s self motivated,” Gottschall said. “There’s the potential to get a lot out of it.”
Email JOHANNA WEEKS
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FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2021
Cuomo scandal calls for resignation BY CARLY NEWTON Staff Writer
As of now, seven women have come forward with sexual harassment allegations against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Each allegation has been denied by Cuomo, but as more women come forward, it seems like his time as governor is running out. First elected in 2011, Gov. Cuomo is currently serving his third consecutive term as the governor of New York. Cuomo’s latest approval rating of 43% is the lowest it has been since he first took office. In recent weeks, many prominent democrats and republicans have argued that Cuomo needs to resign — including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. But will Cuomo resign? Hopefully he will, but that is unclear. Currently, Cuomo is adamant that he will not step down as governor. In an article published by The Hill, Cuomo said during a press conference, “Wait for the facts.” He believes that the investigations into the allegations will prove him innocent. Members of Congress are not willing to wait; 14 members of New York’s congressional delegation have demanded he resign, and each day the number of lawmakers calling for his resignation is increasing. “Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of the people of New York. Governor Cuomo must resign,” U.S. Representative from New York Jerry Nadler tweeted.
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The first woman to come forward, Lindsay Boylan, a former adviser to Cuomo, said that Cuomo had kissed her on the lips as she was leaving his office, and while on a plane ride where he suggested they play strip poker. Since Boylan’s allegations first went public, six more women have come forward detailing their own experiences with the governor. In a New York Post article, “Ex-Albany reporter
Jessica Bakeman is the 7th woman to accuse Gov. Cuomo of sexual harassment,” Jessica Bakeman talked openly about her experience with the governor at the beginning of her journalism career. She said red flags went up after posing for a picture with him. “He took my hand, as if to shake it, then refused to let go. He put his other arm around my back, his hand on my waist, and held me firmly in place while indicating to a photographer
he wanted us to pose for a picture,” Bakeman said, in the New York Post article. Bakeman, a former student at SUNY Plattsburgh, was also quoted in the article as saying, “It was about power. He wanted me to know that he could take my dignity away at any moment with an inappropriate comment or a hand on my waist.” Cuomo’s bullying and power-driven antics are finally being exposed to the public. At this point, even
if he chooses not to resign, Cuomo might be removed by impeachment. If he is impeached, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will become the new governor of New York: a move that would make her the first female governor in the state’s history. On March 11, an impeachment investigation officially began. According to an article published by the Associated Press, the investigative team led by Attorney General Letitia James, has the power to
subpoena documents and interview witnesses. “James’ office sent a letter last week instructing the governor’s office to preserve all evidence related to the harassment allegations,” professor of political science, Harvey Schantz said. “That could include documents and emails to and from Cuomo’s staff, calendar entries and communications involving the transfer of one of his accusers to another office.” SCANDAL l A8
Childhoods attacked by cancel culture BY ALEXA DUMAS Opinions Editor
The newly elected Biden administration feels like a fresh start to some, while others fear the change in power will do more harm than good. Biden’s approval rating is seen at 53.6%, while his disapproval rate is at 40.3%, as of March 17. In 2021’s emergence, not only has new government representation been put into place, but aspects of American childhood have been recently examined. Most children grew up reading books by Theodore Giesel, better known as Dr. Seuss, in their homes, elementary schools or even at their local libraries. Seuss’ rhyme scheme, colorful scenery and odd-looking characters are a staple of growing up in the United States. Recently, six of his books have been under review by Dr. Seuss Enterprises and publishing was stopped as of March 2, due to racial stereotypes. The six books that will be discontinued are “McElligot’s Pool,” “On Beyond Zebra!,” “Scrambled Eggs Super!,” “The Cat’s Quizzer,” “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street” and “If I Ran the Zoo.” Elaine Ostry, associate professor of English, teaches a course on children’s literature. She stated that “older children and teenagers have a better understanding of historical context when it comes to stereotyping in literature, while younger children may have a
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harder time understanding.” “When you’re thinking about young children, you have to be very careful with what kinds of images they see and what kind of messages they receive,” Ostry said. “We have to come to a point in society where we understand that not everything that we grew up with was great.” Not only is the text important, but the illustrations that children see are as well. Books such as Seuss’ 1937 work “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,” paint a harmful image of
the Asian culture. The illustration depicts “a Chinese man who eats with sticks,” as stated in the children’s book, while the man has yellow skin and is eating a bowl of rice with chopsticks. Publishing companies can edit, update and remove illustrations that may be offensive. “You can edit children’s books,” Ostry said. “You can update them, edit them. I wouldn’t do this for older readers because I think an older reader can understand when something is part of a histori-
cal period that has different attitudes. It’s much more likely that they have a context for these things.” Educators may have a different approach to the books as well. Junior general and special childhood education major Kristen Kavanagh believes classroom teachers should still use the Seuss books as a learning tool for young students. “If kids were to be looking through it on their own, I think they would kind of be learning inappropriate things, because
they might not understand that it is inappropriate today,” Kavanagh said. “So if a teacher is walking them through it, it’s kind of that teachable moment. If they’re reading the book— say this was back then. That’s what was accepted. Now it’s not.” Some conservatives, such as the U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, have turned to social media to claim that he still liked Dr. Seuss after the decision was made to stop publishing the books. This was seen as a stab toward his liberal constituents who agree with Dr. Seuss Enterprises’ statement. “Dr. Seuss is not canceled,” Kavanagh said. “You can still celebrate the books that he’s written as an author without saying that. I’m kind of upset that people are relating it to cancel culture. I feel like it almost is making a media spectacle out of it, where they’re making the focus him being canceled rather than talking about why the books are no longer being published.” The Dr. Seuss books are not the only aspect of American childhood that is feeding into the trend of “cancel culture.” Hasbro, the popular toy company, issued a statement Feb. 25 that it will no longer be calling the Potato Head toy line “Mr.” and “Mrs.” This decision was to allow for more gender-neutral toys for children of all ages.
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Friday, March 19, 2021
Tom Holland goes sour in ‘Cherry’ BY CAMERON KAERCHER Contributor
Joe and Anthony Russo’s films are household names. Some of these include big blockbusters such as Marvel’s “Avengers: Endgame” and “Avengers: Infinity War.” These two films grossed more than $4 billion, and the laundry list of Marvel superheroes involved made these movies impossible to ignore over the past few years. Now that the decade-spanning story arc of the supervillain Thanos is over, the Russo brothers are moving on from Marvel. Their latest feature is an adaptation of Nico Walker’s semi-autobiographical novel. “Cherry” stars Tom Holland as an Army medic that returns from the Middle East, suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder. His mental instability leads to a dependency on opioids, which then leads into an addiction to heroin. When he ends up owing a large sum of money to a lead drug dealer, he becomes a serial bank robber. As the latest iteration of “Spider-Man” and Peter Parker, Tom Holland has fit the bill perfectly. His nerdy and awkward interactions with his love interest in the Marvel films make him a protagonist to root for, and his quips make him an exciting superhero. Here, Holland is inhabiting a totally different persona as Cherry.
Physically, he is almost unrecognizable, as his eyes seem hollowed out by the atrocities of war, and his head is fully shaved. The change from playing a teenage superhero is verbal as well. When he is feeling the worst effects of his addiction, his speech is cutting as he argues with his wife. As storytellers, the Russo brothers really swing for the fences now that they are not making films for the Disney corporation. This leads to some fascinating stylistic choices, but an overall messy film. The first act depicts Cherry’s life at home before enlisting in the army. Here viewers are introduced to Emily, his future wife, played by Ciara Bravo. The film adopts an almost storybook quality with dreamlike lighting. When Cherry first sees Emily in class, she is lit heavenly for a quick second to show his overwhelming attraction for her. These techniques can be seen as a way to show the headrush of a fresh relationship, but it feels disconnected from what is coming next. After a potential split with Emily, Cherry enlists in the military. The cinematography of the boot camp sequences directly evokes Kubrick’s “Full Metal Jacket” with wide-angle lenses and rows upon rows of stone-faced men who are “born to kill.” It feels as if a completely different group of people are making this film. It doesn’t help that the size of the frame
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shrinks, leaving a large black border around the video. This change in aspect ratio lessens the impact of the boot camp as it should feel larger than life, not smaller in scale to what we have seen before. After Cherry leaves the army, the story becomes increasingly dark and depressing. The depiction of addiction is blunt and difficult to watch. The cycles that he and his wife succumb to are disheartening. The Russo
brothers pull off this difficult tone while still preventing the film from slipping into a miserable exploitation of addiction. The film runs at a pretty lengthy 142 minutes. With tonal shifts, being this dramatic and so much story to tell, one wonders if this would have been better served as a multi-part miniseries. To experience so much of life in such quick succession is exhausting and it is not an easy film to recommend.
However, the Russo brothers have not been able to make something as formally experimental as this in a long time. It is always more interesting to watch a film that tries to do a lot and isn’t perfect, than to watch a film that does a straightforward story pretty well.
Email CAMERON KAERCHER cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Positive cases stun college life BY NATALIE ST. DENIS Associate Opinions Editor
The COVID-19 pandemic caused society to reinvent basic activities such as socializing. The term social distancing has quickly become a part of society’s vocabulary over this long year. Although distance has been implemented to stop the spread of the coronavirus, it has also inhibited social interaction— at least in ways people are so accustomed to. Individuals have found new ways to stay connected with their loved ones. Zoom calls on birthdays, Facetime instead of traveling to see loved ones, and other forms of communication. But what about meeting new people? For first year college students, making new friends is crucial to navigating through the unZOE NGUYEN/Cardinal Points charted waters that are as-
sociated with a brand new environment. The pandemic has made this process harder than it already is. Freshman general and special childhood education major, Alexandria Gregory, is off-campus, remotely learning this semester. “It’s hard to make that connection over screen time,” Gregory said. “So, it’s hard to make friends like that.” Zoom has become second nature to this generation. Even though education has been adapted to fit on computer screens, some things just can’t work through a video call platform. Like forming a human connection. It is still difficult to converse with others during in-person classes. Between masks and the desks being at least sixfeet apart, students find themselves yelling to try and be heard. Some students were lucky enough
to make a friend or two in class. But think ahead to the future when people can roam campus without a mask. Would you be able to even recognize a friend you made? The mask serves as a shield against a deadly virus, but in turn, is shielding the identity of the person underneath. Students have found it difficult to make friends the past two semesters because more classes are offered virtually. Gregory said she still remains connected with those friends through Facetime and texting. She misses getting together with bigger groups of people, but she is hopeful for the coming semesters. “I hope I get to expand my friend group,” Gregory said. “I want to meet more people.”
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Vintage artists promote music BY HALES PASSINO Staff Writer
What will become of beloved rock music? In recent months, various artists like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Mick Fleetwood and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, and David Crosby have all sold publishing rights to their song catalogs. It has raised some questions. What does this all mean? Why are they doing it? Today, inflation and interest rates are historically low. Buyers at music firms are far more willing to purchase in
these conditions. It’s also a compelling case for artists who want to sell their catalogs too, as the times are changing with varying consumer preferences and reduced royalty rates. In December 2020, folkrock icon Bob Dylan sold the publishing rights to his entire catalog of over 600 songs for an estimated $300 to $400 million. Universal Publishing Music Group, the company Dylan made the deal with, will profit from any Dylan song someone covers, streams or uses in a film. Meanwhile, Neil Young sold only 50% of his in-
come interests and worldwide copyright to Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited, according to Andy Greene of Rolling Stone. David Crosby’s deal with Iconic Artists Group involves his solo material as well as his work with various bands from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young to the Byrds. Crosby’s financial details were not revealed. Buckingham’s entire catalog, consisting of all of his hit songs with Fleetwood Mac as well as 50% of his unreleased compositions, were also purchased. MUSIC l A8
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Opinions Editor Alexa Dumas
Friday, March 19, 2021
Editorial
Protests enact police reform Since the wrongful death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota last spring, and many other Black Americans, the United States needed to initiate progressive police reform bills to combat the issue of systematic racism in law enforcement. After a summer of protesting, the Black Lives Matter movement has pushed reform on the local, state and national legislature. On March 3, the United States House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which is a police reform bill that would ban chokeholds, alter qualified immunity for law enforcement, ban no-knock warrants, mandate data collection on police encounters, prohibit religious and racial profiling, and redirect funding for mental health services in communities. The law passed in the House by a vote of 220-212, along party lines. The bill will be brought to the Democratic-controlled Senate, which has a better chance of passing. This is opposed to the Republican-controlled Senate in July 2020 that failed to pass the law. President Biden also is in favor of the bill. On Feb. 25 he tweeted, “I am pleased that the House will vote next week on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. I encourage the
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House to pass it. Following Senate consideration, I hope to be able to sign into law a landmark police reform bill.” Derek Chauvin, the former police officer charged with Floyd’s murder, is currently on trial for second-degree murder and manslaughter in Minneapolis, after being recorded kneeling on Floyd’s neck. Not only has the federal
SCANDAL Continued from page six Schantz mentioned that it is too early to say what the outcome of the crisis will be for Cuomo, but the withdrawal of support has continued to hurt him. “We might be in a pause as everyone waits for the outcome of two official investigations of the governor, one led by the State Attorney General Letitia James and one by the Assembly Committee on the Judiciary,” Schantz said. “The fate of Cuomo largely depends upon the findings of these twin investigations. The Governor has been hurt by the apparent withdrawal of support from the Democratic Party leaders in both the Assembly and Senate, Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.”
CHILDHOOD Continued from page six “I think that it is important to move away from thinking about gender as a binary system, one in which there’s only a male and female gender, and move towards one in which understands gender identity as a spectrum,” Kolleen Duley, assistant professor of gender and women’s studies, said. Toys like the newly rebranded Potato Head can allow for children to become more comfortable with themselves and conform less to what a more
conservative society views in the case of gender. Duley stated that, “The more that we allow children to be their authentic selves and the more options we give them outside of this rigid binary, the more they can be free to accept who they are.” The largest way to empower society to change is education, and the best way to start is with the younger generation. “I think that the more early education we can give children, allows them to view not
COLLEGE Continued from page seven Finding a friend group is important to the college experience. Some students, like freshman fitness and wellness major Nicole Svantner, are going far from their hometowns to study at SUNY Plattsburgh. Svantner lives almost four hours away, so finding that friend group was important, especially because she isn’t on campus this semester. Luckily, Svanter is on the tennis team, which helped her make some connections in the 12 practices they had before the season
MUSIC Continued from page seven On the Internet, comment sections have been flooded with worries from fans in regards to what will happen with the music. Initially, these sales are thought of as the end of an era. COVID-19 put a line through live music in 2020. Without the ability to tour and the uncertainty of when touring can begin again, this has taken quite the toll on veteran musicians who make a large portion of revenue
government passed police reform bills, but so have many state governments. One year after of the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, the state of Georgia passed a bill to remove the citizen’s arrest law. Georgia’s citizen’s arrest law dates back to the Civil War, which was used to capture runaway slaves. The repeal of the law is a turning point for the state to enact more pro-
tections for minorities. Travis McMichael, a civilian, fatally shot Arbery while he was jogging Feb. 23, 2020. McMichael’s father, Gregory McMichael, claimed Arbery attacked his son and he had tried to issue a citizen’s arrest. The video of Arbery’s murder circulated online. The McMichaels pleaded not guilty to an array of crimes, including malice and felony murder charges, counts of aggravated assult, false imprisonment, and criminal attempt to commit false inprisonment. These men shouldn’t be let go so fast after shooting an innocent man. In cities and states across the U.S., “Breonna’s Law” has been enacted to ban no-knock search warrants from police. This law was passed in Kentucky weeks after the tragic death of Breonna Taylor, an unarmed Black woman who was fatally shot in her home by three Louisville police officers. Virginia recently passed the law in December 2020, while Florida and Oregon have similar laws banning no knock warrants. Police reform is the next step in creating racial equality and a fair justice system in the United States. Without progressive bills such as the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, racial justice will not be served.
For an impeachment of Gov. Cuomo to be successful, Schantz detailed the support that would be needed. “In the State Assembly, it takes a majority of 76 votes in order to impeach the governor. If you add the votes of Democrats and Republicans, there is already a majority that wants the governor to resign. There have already been 40 Assembly Democrats calling for the governor to resign. The Speaker, however, would prefer to wait until 54 Democratic Assembly members want to impeach.” As we wait to see what happens next, Gov. Cuomo will rightfully continue to feel pressure from members of congress to hand in his resignation. This pressure may eventually lead to Cuomo resigning before he is impeached and forced out against his will. Time will tell. Email CARLY NEWTON cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
only their toys but themselves as not exclusively assigned to the gender they were born with,” Duley said. “The better positioned we are to build a diverse and inclusive future for all of us.” Not only can children start to express themselves and accept who they are, but they also must see themselves represented in the toys they play with and the books they read. “Books are mirrors for children; they’re windows for them,” Kavanagh said. “They can see themselves in books, and they should see themselves or learn about other cultures. Maybe we can rewrite the Seuss books, or get differ-
ent illustrations in them, and change them to make it more modern and more reflecting of what society looks like today.” Learning and growing from the past and rebranding to become more inclusive shouldn’t be “canceled.” These new values that children’s companies are making will create a more diverse and self-expressive environment for new generations to grow up in. Children should feel represented, and it should start with a book just like “The Cat in the Hat.” Email ALEXA DUMAS cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
was cut short last semester. “It definitely helped with making friends and a friend group because I am a freshman, going into college,” Svanter said. “It definitely helped with adjusting.” Once the pandemic ends and the world goes back to normal, or as normal as possible, students will hopefully get that college experience of meeting so many new, different people that we grew up hearing about. “I’m hoping that I get a normal college experience since I don’t really know what it’s like,” Svanter said. “I haven’t experienced it yet.”
in this fashion. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean the public will see classic songs from these artists being used frivolously in fast food commercials. It’s fathomable they’ll keep the artists’ interests and the meaning of their work at heart. “Given our current inability to work live, this deal is a blessing for me and my family and I do believe these are the best people to do it with,” Crosby said in a Rolling Stone magazine article. Another perspective to consider is where these artists are at in their lives. Many of the ones selling their publishing rights are older and there is the sad reality
Taken from 100 participants
Editorial Board Editor in Chief Jess Johnson
Managing Editor Alana Penny
Co-News Editor Olivia Bousquet
Co-News Editor Mataeo Smith
Opinions Editor Alexa Dumas
FUSE Editor Alana Penny
Graphics Editor Nghi To
Photo Editor Audrey Lapinski
Multimedia Editor Sareem Jabbar
Associate Opinions Editor Natalie St. Denis
Associate Graphics Editor Sareem Jabbar
Associate FUSE Editor Adeeb Chowdhury
Public Relations Chair Heaven Longo
Web Editor Jason Smith
Faculty Adviser Shawn Murphy Advertising: Maureen Provost
Contact CP: Editorial Board: 518.564.2174 Advertising: 518.564.3173 Fax: 518.564.6397 118 Ward Hall SUNY Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, NY 12901 cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Email NATALIE ST. DENIS cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
they may not be keen on touring anymore. In addition, the money they are earning from selling publishing rights is astronomical. The deals are upfront and it leaves the artists without having to ponder what royalties they’ll bring in. Why shouldn’t they get to enjoy that profit while they’re still around? It can also help them set their families up financially for the future. Call them sell outs, but it’s a smart move at the end of the day. Email HALES PASSINO cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
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Award Winning
Cardinal Points has received the following awards from the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP): ACP Hall of Fame Inducted in Fall 2010 All American Spring 2018, four Marks of Distinction Spring 2016, five Marks of Distinction Spring 2014, four Marks of Distinction Spring 2012, four Marks of Distinction Spring 2011, four Marks of Distinction Fall 2010, five Marks of Distinction Fall 2009, four Marks of Distinction Spring 2009, four Marks of Distinction Fall 2008, four Marks of Distinction Spring 2005, four Marks of Distinction Spring 2004, four Marks of Distinction Fall 2003, four Marks of Distinction Fall 2002, four Marks of Distinction Pacemaker Recognition Fall 2010, Honorable Mention 2006-2007, Newspaper Finalist
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STAR Continued from page twelve
Unlike other magazine practicums, this course is only offered during the Spring semester of each term. Depending on what role you register for on the North Star staff, the course can be for either one or two credits. North Star’s staff looks for fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, art and multimedia content (consisting of either visual arts or live arts) to make up the entirety of the publication. For special purposes, each genre has certain requirements for submission. For fiction and nonfiction, there is a 7,000 word count maximum, for poetry they’ll accept up to 5 pieces from one student, up to 5 visual art pieces at a time and one one-act play. Also unlike other magazine practicums, this magazine only features the work of student submissions. This means that students taking the course aren’t the ones who’s pieces are being published, but instead they promote North Star to get student submissions they then vote on to be published. If the class is in agreement to publish a student’s work, they then make edits and publish it in the magazine. Students can submit up to 5 pieces for voting. River Ashe Maynard, a senior who’s part of North Star’s staff this term, is currently a managing editor for the publication. She serves as the “gobetween” between section editors and the head editor. Section editors handle selecting edits for submissions while the head editor takes care of the behind the scenes work like the budget and printing. As managing editor, Maynard role is to help with recommending edits if section editors need it and to take care of anything the head editor doesn’t have time to do. Each year, the North Star staff of that term comes up with a different theme for the magazine- even if the theme is “no theme”. This year’s theme is “creation in isolation,” however, this does not have to necessarily be based around the pandemic and quarantine or even about isolation itself. “It’s something you created when you felt alone or when you were just isolated in some way whether physically or metaphorically,” Maynard said. Like nearly all other courses, this practicum has been impacted by COVID. Since North Star relies only on PSUC student submissions, they usually promote through flyers they hang around campus. With COVID regulations like social distancing and online learning, less people are on campus than previous semesters which means less people seeing these flyers. As a result, the North Star staff has been receiving fewer submissions so far this semester. Maynard and other staff members have found it difficult to put out new pieces consistently. Still, they continue seeking submissions by having two social media representatives who promote the magazine on different social media platforms. Between that and advertising through things like the Student Digest, Maynard tries to remain positive but still acknowledges the fact that North Star’s staff has definitely become limited.
Email CHRISTYN PETTWAY cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
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Ensembles get creative adjusting to COVID restrictions BY TYLER DAWSON Contributor
This past year has been quite the rollercoaster for the community, country and the world. It seems as though COVID has affected the Plattsburgh area in particular, being a college town. Students are mostly in hybrid learning formats and the halls have a sense of emptiness. Myers Fine Arts Building— where music would float through the halls and echo throughout the staircases— have seen a drastic change in the past year. The college ensembles, Symphonic Band, Concert Choir, and Gospel Choir at SUNY Plattsburgh have seen quite the change in performance, accessibility and safety. After discussions with each of these ensemble directors, it was clear that there was some struggle from the current situation. “Last summer was really strange. Nobody knew what the fall would look like,” Daniel Gordon, The director of the Symphonic Band said. “Will we be face to face, no face to face, hybrid? Nobody knew. So I told the class at the beginning of the semester that we were going to have to figure this out together.” Having discussed the impact of COVID on per-
forming, Gordon said in the first or second week, the directors came up with the idea to do a COVID-related concert. “Since we were all silenced by music, we decided to perform John Cage’s silent piece 4’33” Gordon said. “We also did John Cage’s Living Room Music. What a perfect piece! We can’t go anywhere and we can do it with our masks on!” Gordon said the 4’33” piece was just four minutes and thirty three seconds of silence and the Living Room Music is a piece consisting of just household instruments that they could easily find at home. This semester, the plan for the Symphonic Band is to have a “COVID Concert” as a follow up to their performance last semester. Gordon further explained “It (COVID) totally changed the way we do things and we came up with some really good ideas. I do have to say, I am really proud of the students here.” The Concert Choir, under the direction of Professor Timothy Morningstar, faced different challenges. “We prepared one piece and we had rehearsals in 300 with masks,” Morningstar said. “We split one day live and the other on Zoom. On Zoom I would work in sectionals, just so-
pranos or basses.” Morningstar spoke of how tedious it was to do the same piece over and over again over the course of the semester. The benefit was that there was a final product which was recorded and streamed with a target at the end of it. Morningstar said that last semester was “reimagined, reenvisioned, and reinvented. Since we found a mechanism that works, we are able to increase the amount of music this semester.” Morningstar finished by saying how students have really stepped up especially music students and engaged. “As professors, we provide the tools and a lot of reimagining. But in my opinion, it is the students who should be applauded because of their commitment. It would be easier for everyone to say ‘I want to stay at home and do it remote’ but our music students are very committed to making music.” Concert Choir isn’t the only choir on campus. In fact, the Gospel Choir consists of the most members between the community and students. Doctor Dexter Criss, director of the SUNY Plattsburgh Gospel Choir, says that “it has been a slippery slope for all of the arts and performing groups, even before
COVID.” Criss said how gut-wrenching it was to say to his choir members that he might not see them again in class. The Gospel Choir started back in the fall in which it was split into two pods. The first section was the students and the second was the community members. “In its heyday, we would have 100 members in the choir and that would be about 80 students. As of right now, we have 20 students in the students pod and roughly 25 community members.” Criss said most of the community members in the choir including himself have been vaccinated and that the choir is face to face as of right now. “I can’t remember the last time I faced a person singing with a mask off,” Criss said. The impact of the pandemic has been hard on the community. Whether it is gathering for an ensemble, going to class, or eating, the coronavirus has taken a toll on everyone. With vaccines rolling out, we would like to think the end is near. The community is hopeful that soon, the pandemic will be over and normalcy can be restored.
Email TYLER DAWSON cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Bernhard dedicated to sport, biomedical science BY JONAS WARD Staff Writer
Matt Bernhard is a biomedical Sciences major with a minor in chemistry on the men’s basketball team at SUNY Plattsburgh. He got his start playing basketball at a young age. “My brother and I used to go at it on Nerf hoops and Little Tikes hoops when we were really little,” Bernhard said. “When I got old enough to actually play basketball, it came natural to me and was a lot of fun.” Bernhard plays both point and shooting guard, depending on the situation. He chose Plattsburgh because he felt welcomed when he visited campus. He also received a scholarship to attend. “I was blessed to receive the Presidential Scholarship, as well as offered a spot to play on the men’s basketball team, so that combination was a dream
derstand that it was the smart thing to do.” Bernhard also loves to watch basketball. He has been a fan of the sport for a long time and enjoys keeping up with games and teams. “I’m also a huge sports fan,” Berhnard said. “So I love watching any and every game that I can. I’ve been a Knicks fan for as long as I can remember. His favorite players of alltime are Michael Beasley and Pierre Jackson, but currently it is Damian Lilliard. When he is not in classes or practice, Bernhard enjoys working out and listening to music. Bernhard is a dedicated student and athlete that enjoys a good game. He misses playing alongside his friends and hopes the DAKOTA GILBERT/Cardinal Points pandemic will come to an Matt Berhard enjoys working out and listening to music when he’s not playing basketball or doing class work. end soon. come true for me,” Ber- that Plattsburgh was the has been greatly affected. tire season was canceled “The pandemic really before we even got on the nhard said. “Also, meet- perfect fit for me.” Email JONAS WARD Due to the pandemic, ruined my senior season,” court. It’s unfortunate ing the team and coaches cp@cardinalpointsonline.com when I visited solidified Bernhard’s senior season Bernhard said. “The en- and upsetting, but I un-
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Weekly Tarot Reading
BY RIVER ASHE Staff Writer
This week’s reading comes from the Fairy Oracle by Arthur Rackham and Jaymi Elford. This is only a 36-card deck, but the artwork and profound meanings of the cards more than make up for the missing number. Each card is drawn in a style that resembles watercolor and pen sketches, and depicts some of the less conventional, attractive sides of the fae folk. The card meanings have been interpreted from the guidebook sold with the deck, written by Jaymi Elford. This booklet comes with interpretations in six languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, and Russian. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) pulled Teachers. This week, you will be asked to look for answers in unlikely or unusual places. Teachers can be anywhere— be sure you keep your mind open for them. “Nature has much to share. All you have to do is listen,” the guidebook said. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) drew Enlightenment. This card depicts the beautiful Helena, who rejects any love that does not fit her ideal. This week you will be asked to really consider your path. Allow yourself to be open to realizations. “Look to the higher sources to guide your inner compass,” Elford wrote. Aries (March 21-April 19) pulled Rest. This week, you should finish whatever it is you’ve been working on and step back. Respite is desperately needed and deserved. Be sure to give yourself a break, or risk burning out. “It is time to sleep, perchance to dream,” the guidebook stated. Taurus (April 20-May 20) drew Ob-
servation. Pay attention to your surroundings this week. Do not ignore those who seem insignificant. Anything and anyone can be a learning experience in this time. “What you see is what you get,” Elford said. Gemini (May 21-June 20) pulled Punishment. Be appreciative and thankful for any and all gifts given, physical or otherwise. They can always be taken back. Take a moment to express gratitude to your benefactors or “pay the price,” according to the guidebook. Cancer (June 21-July 22) drew Shared Wishes. Everyone has wishes, but many are too ashamed to share theirs for fear of mockery or rejection. Share your desires and goals with the ones you love this week; perhaps they can help you reach them. “Wishing on dandelions has been around for a long time. It is said that when you pick one and blow, you can receive any wish your heart desires,” Elford said. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) pulled Defense. This card warns you to be on your guard and be aware of your surroundings this week. Something, whether intentionally harmful or not, will try to throw you off balance. “Take preventative measures and be prepared. You never know what lurks in the brambles,” the booklet warned. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) drew Enticement. This week you will be asked to leave your comfort zone and jump into the unknown. There are greater things in store for you than the ones that are familiar. “Embrace the change, the chance to do something new,” Elford encouraged. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) pulled Reevaluation. You are stuck in a situation brought about by your own choices. This
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week you will have the chance to reevaluate those decisions and free yourself from this sticky situation. The guidebook also advises, “get help from those you trust” if you can’t do this alone. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) drew Distraction. “Distractions are a part of life,” Elford wrote. You must be careful not to let them carry you away from your path. Be sure to limit the interruptions and distractions in your everyday or working life this week to avoid falling off the beaten trail. Sagittarius (Nov. 22—Dec. 21) pulled Fond Farewell. This week, you will be asked to make a difficult goodbye. Whether to a person, place, object or idea, this will be hard. You will be upset by this
turn of events. “This is the only way you can clear yourself, so you can move forward towards the next realm,” the guidebook said. Capricorn (Dec. 22—Jan. 19) drew Secrets. The time has come for you to open up and trust the people around you with your secrets. Carrying such a heavy burden can be a lot to handle, but the people in your life love you and want to help. “Sometimes the secret can help lighten your load and brighten your day,” Elford noted.
Email RIVER ASHE cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Remembering Bluegrass for Next Generation BY EDWARD ROCK Contributor
The Bluegrass for the Next Generation (BGNG) project was a unique program at SUNY Plattsburgh that many colleges do not have the opportunity to offer to their students. Being a fiddler and a music major, I was surprised and extremely happy to join such a program when I came to SUNY Plattsburgh. Unfortunately, the Spring 2020 semester was the program’s last, as it ran out of funding and is not being offered anymore. I sat down with the Coordinator of the BGNG program, the accomplished bluegrass banjo player Stephen Light of the Sociology Department, to talk about the program. “Way back in 2012, the man who was the donor for the program was retired and lived in Florida,” Light said. “But he really was a fan of the Gibson Brothers, who are alums of SUNY Plattsburgh, and so he chose SUNY Plattsburgh as a place to donate some money with the idea of getting students more aware of Bluegrass.
He donated a considerable amount of money.” The program was originally established to support music student scholarships, introduce a Bluegrass course on campus, provide funding for instruments and lessons for students as well as guest presenters and artists-in-residence, and create a student Bluegrass band which became the Cardinal Pickers. “The project went on from 2012 to now, which is almost 10 years,” Light said. “We were able to do all those things. So it was a great success.” Other faculty and staff played a major role in the BGNG program during its lifetime. Tim Hartnett was a librarian at Feinberg Library, but he was also a very important member of the BGNG Executive Committee. Tim died in April 2020, much to the dismay of those that knew him. “Tim was well loved,” Light said. “There were several key people involved with this and I would have to say that Tim and Stuart Voss were probably the two key people in the project
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from the start to the finish.” Stuart Voss is an emeritus faculty member of the History and Latin American Studies Departments. Voss was very involved in the project and was on its board of directors for many years. “The BGNG Project was quite visionary, premised on the idea that Bluegrass music could reach a wider audience among younger listeners,” Voss said. “Over the near decade of its existence, it succeeded in building a small group of musicians on campus—through academic instruction and club activities—who steadily improved to the point of
becoming an accomplished ensemble.” However, the project never acquired a significant number of student listeners —ie., the ‘New Generation’. In addition, the original group of faculty/staff who formed the organizing committee dwindled in interest and numbers.” Another issue for the program was the initial donation was the only major funding the program received. “Sadly, the initial vision—at least on the Plattsburgh State campus— proved unsustainable.” Voss said. Tom Venne is a guitar-
ist and singer in the bluegrass band Beartracks, and he was affiliated with the BGNG program for several years as an instructor for guitar, vocals and the Bluegrass Ensemble. “I thoroughly enjoyed working with the students and with the music department faculty. Becker, the department chair, was especially welcoming, inclusive and supportive of the BGNG program,” Venne said. “I am grateful that I was able to be a part of the BGNG experience. It was exciting to see the progress made by students involved, both as musicians and as entertain-
ers. Their enthusiasm for Bluegrass music and performing made it a pleasure to be involved with the program.” Despite the program seeming to end with a fizzle due to the coronavirus pandemic (several concerts in the Spring 2020 semester were cancelled), it will forever remain an important part of the lives of those that participated in it.
Email EDWARD ROCK cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Jane Kent shares story, art BY JEREMY BINNING Position
Jane Kent, born in Manhattan, is an artist whose works have been included in collections such as the Brooklyn Museum and The National Gallery of American Art in Washington, D.C among others. Besides public displays of her work in such prominent galleries, she has also enjoyed quite a few awards and fellowships including the Barbara and Thomas Putnam Fellowship at MacDowell (formerly MacDowell Colony) and the Yaddo Artists’ Fellowship. Kent has been in the art world from a very young age. As a child she played the classical flute and took art her senior year of high school, before applying to only one college. She attended the Philadelphia College of Art, majoring in printmaking. After graduating in 1974, Kent moved to London, where she lived for two years. In London, Kent worked under another artist where she learned more about printing editions. With this knowledge and experience under her belt, she returned to America. She settled in Princeton, NJ where she got a job in the art department Princeton University working in a shop before going on to teach at the university for two years. Kent’s method and media usually involve starting with a mezzotint ground base before layering on gouache to compose bright, and often contrasting, abstract compositions. Mezzotint is not Kent’s only medium. She employs other methods and materials in her creative process. Some of the works in her public portfolio employ
silkscreen, monoprint, offset print, and linoleum. Kent’s affinity for the abstract runs quite deep: one artist in particular whose work she admired is Michael Hurson for the “mix between abstraction and figuration.” As an abstract artist herself, Kent’s work is not particularly direct in dealing with its subject matter but it does not present itself in a daunting manner—her prints are not cluttered a great deal so that one is obscured and her use of vibrant, contrasting colors present a clear view of all in the image. Diane Fine, chair of the art department at SUNY Plattsburgh, said what she “admire[s] and appreciate[s]” about Jane Kent’s work is “the strength of her work” found in “its powerful simplicity.” Fine also noted Kent’s love of poetry and the intermingling of both in her work. Two notable, and easily accessible online, examples of this are her collaborations with author Richard Ford: Skating (2011) and Privacy (1999). Both of these works involve the juxtaposition of Kent’s abstract visual language as well as poetry written by Ford. Not only is the interplay of the poems and the images interesting in itself but it is certainly also commendable to Kent that she maintains interest, affinity, and understanding in other genres of the art world. She has an upcoming project, Unpublished Poems by George Caroline coming soon. Her prints can be found on her website at https://janekent.net.
Email JEREMY BINNING cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
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Student Art Spotlight
Zoe Nguyen Sophomore art major concentrating in graphic design and photography I’m Zoe Nguyen. I’m an international student from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I am a Sophomore Art Major with two concentrations in graphic design and photography. One of my favorite mediums to work with is black and white photography and my photographs are a means for me to express myself. Most of my works explore the human forms and their beauty.
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North Star provides outlet for student writers, artists BY CHRISTYN PETTWAY Staff Writer
North Star, formerly known as “ZPlatt,” is SUNY Plattsburgh’s literary and arts magazine. This magazine is edited and published by students majoring in English, who are required to take the course for practicum credit as a junior and/or seniors.
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