SUNY Plattsburgh’s independent student newspaper since 1997
FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2021
CARDINALPOINTSONLINE.COM
VOLUME 104 - ISSUE 3
Provided Photos
Albert Mihalek’s professional staff headshot in 1975 after he graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh alongside his toast given at his daughter’s wedding in June 2018
Retired executive assistant to the dean dies BY MATAEO SMITH Co-News Editor
Retired Executive Assistant to the Dean of Arts and Sciences Albert Mihalek—who spent nearly 43 years of his life a part of the SUNY Plattsburgh community—died in his Plattsburgh home Feb. 14 leaving behind a benevolent memory among friends and loved ones. “He was one of those unsung heroes that
you often see in large organizations,” Co-Associate Dean of Arts and Science Stephen Light said. “ Someone who knows how to make things happen. Someone who knows the right people to call.” After graduating from the college in 1975, Mihalek joined the staff as an assistant to the dean for 22 years before becoming executive assistant Sept. 1997. Mihalek provided administrative services
to about two-thirds of the college’s faculty along with overseeing the greater percentage of the college’s academic programs. He assumed responsibility for academic facilities such as labs and art studios while keeping the budgets of several departments balanced. His substantial work ethic echoed throughout Ward Hall’s dean’s office which framed Mihalek as a legend in Anthropology Professor An-
drew Buckser’s eyes who would stand in awe as Mihalek spent late nights and weekends in his office. “He didn’t have a lot of patience with people who he didn’t think were working hard enough or not doing their job,” Light said. “ But his standards were impossible, because he worked all the time. And so you couldn’t work harder than Al” Mihalek’s dedication to his work often
came from his need to help others. Retired Professor Kathleen Lavoie said Mihalek never second guessed aiding a student. Problems pertaining to a student unable to attend a field trip due to financial troubles were solved within two hours using “back channels” to get a particular amount of money to said student in a timely manner which occurred often according to Lavoie. His kindness would some-
times enable some faculty members, one in particular who impusivly decided to take a van load of students to New York City to a sociology event, to return to his office in need of his services. Lavoie advised against these actions to no avail as Mihalek continully aided the same individuals the following years.
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Virtual student day deems success
BY OLIVIA BOUSQUET
Co-News Editor
Over 800 students attending SUNY Plattsburgh utilize the services from the Student Accessibility Services. Students can receive accommodations for extended time on exams, note-taking services, tutoring, access mobility services, registering emotional support animals, housing and advocacy services. On Feb. 25, SUNY Plattsburgh partook in the third annual Student Empowerment Day, which advocates for funding from the New York State budget to go toward supporting students with disabilities in college. Typically, SAS travelled down the Albany capitol building for a day-long conference with presentations and meetings with NYS representatives. According to Student Accessibility Services Assistant Director Jennifer Curry, the conference, which began two years ago, ranged from 300 to 500 people.
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Game on for Giving raises more than 80 grand BY NATALIE ST. DENIS Associate Opinons Editor
SUNY Plattsburgh’s fifth annual “Game on For Giving” concluded its donation period Feb. 15. The event was created as a joint effort between the Institutional Advancement Staff and the SUNY Plattsburgh Athletics Department. It serves as a EMPOWER l A2 way for alumni and other
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community members to stay engaged while the university is also able to raise money for the sports teams. The first year of “Game on For Giving” took place on Valentine’s Day, where it developed the slogan, “show your love for Cardinal Athletics.” But, it quickly evolved into a two-week campaign in the following years. Mike
Howard, the director of SUNY Plattsburgh intercollegiate athletics, has been at Plattsburgh for five years and has seen the program at its start and watched it grow. “I was asked ‘How many donors do you think you can get?’ I said, ‘Well, I’d like to think 500 is a reasonable number to start with.’ I remember there was some skepti-
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cism that, ‘Well, are you sure you can get 500 ‘cause that’s a lot the first time out?’ We exceeded 500 and I think surprised some people that we did that,” Howard said. 1,940 supporters donated to the cause this year. More than $81,000 was raised to support the teams. The donations go toward making improvements to fields and fa-
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cilities, purchasing new equipment, travel and team apparel. This year, “Game on for Giving” started Feb. 1 and ended Feb. 15. The event fosters healthy competition between the sports teams. The team with the most donors takes possession of the Cardinal Cup trophy.
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@CardinalPoints
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Detective Burghy has nothing to report this week. The Campus Blotter will continue to be posted online at cardinalpointsonline.
OLGA MUKA/Cardinal Points
Clinton returns to silverware Staff Writer
Total number of positive COVID-19 cases over the past 14
60
days:
Number of active COVID-19 cases:
49
Number of students and employees in qurantine:
62
Number of COVID-19 test by the Student Health Center since Aug. 15, 2020:
25,783
CP Corrections In Issue 2, Cardinal Points said that a ticket was needed for SUNY Plattsburgh members to get the weekly pool testing. This was incorrect. Students do not need to continue signing up each week. In Issue 2, Cardinal Points misstated a school of arts in “Arts Council connects students, visual arts.” The correct title of the school is “Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University.” If you see an error in Cardinal Points, email cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Friday, Mar. 5, 2021
Two SUNY Plattsburgh students laughing while enjoying a meal at Clinton Dining Hall during a class break.
BY JOHANNA WEEKS
Campus COVID-19 Tracker
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NEWS
Co-News Editors Olivia Bousquet & Mataeo Smith
Clinton Dining Hall has changed it’s COVID-19 restrictions from last semester. The rules are less strict, but still aid in following the social distancing guidelines. Specifically, the plates, silverware, and cups are now all reusable, the drink station is selfserve, and the ice cream machine and cereal dispensers are available for the students to use. All dining halls capacities have been reduced by 50% with dining tables separated by six feet. Students must follow the posted social distancing dining guidelines, while hightouch areas are cleaned frequently by dining associates during meal service. Students are being asked to not enter the campus dining facilities if they are not feeling well. All dining venues will offer meal take
out options and maximum dining occupancy limits are posted and will be monitored. “Our primary concern is to keep our students safe. It is important to understand, however, that there also needs to be personal accountability on every student that enters any of our dining facilities,” Food Service Director Christopher Mihalyi said. “Our on-campus rules and guidelines are only as effective as our student’s willingness to follow them. Social distance, wear your mask, wash and sanitize your hands—these are not new expectations. We also strive to ensure all of our signage is appropriate and up to date.” Mihalyi stressed that the rules and operations within the dining hall follow the COVID-19 guidelines set by Clinton County. “The rules were not much stricter last semester compared to this one,”
Mihalyi said. “The biggest change is the reopening of the self serve beverage line in Clinton. This is allowed by Clinton County Health Deptartment and we follow their strict guideline of sanitizing all public facing touch points multiple times over the course of an hour.” According to Connor Nielsen, a SUNY Plattsburgh biology major, the current dining hall guidelines aid in following the social distancing policy. Similarly to Mihalyi, he agrees that the restrictions were not that strict last semester. He thinks that the dining hall will be more efficient with the self-serve drink station. “I think the guidelines make sense. When we waited in line for our drinks, nobody was six feet apart. I think there is less contact because it’s quicker,” Nielsen said. “I feel like the rules weren’t really that strict to begin
with and I don’t think that any of the covid cases are linked to the dining hall.” According to Mihalyi, the dishwasher in Clinton was inspected right before reopening Jan. 3. “Both by a third party maintenance company and our chemical provider to ensure it was holding proper sanitizing temperatures and that the chemicals were being dispensed at the proper concentrations as dictated by the NYS Deptartment of Health,” Mihalyi said. “We also have the dishwasher inspected at least once, if not twice a semester and do regular checks to ensure temp and sanitizing concentration is within guidelines.” Clinton Dining Hall has and will continue to follow all the Clinton County and CDC health guidelines.
Email JOHANNA WEEKS
cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
EMPOWER Continued from page one However, the conference had to be altered this year to adhere to safety guidelines for the pandemic. The virtual Student Empowerment Day was held over Zoom for an hour and a half, instead of the fullday conference. The past two years, SUNY Plattsburgh would bring about a group of 10 to the conference, which was much more limited than this year. Any student who registered to partake in the conference was able to attend. Curry expressed the benefits of having a virtual conference was to include more SUNY Plattsburgh students and encourage people to attend. Even without knowing how many SUNY Plattsburgh individuals attended, there were about 400 people in attendance. Curry said that despite the challenges of the pandemic, “the outcome went pretty well considering it was virtual.” “[The NYS Disability Services Council] had to condense it down to make sure that everybody was participating,” Curry said. “They couldn’t really do breakout rooms because of the sheer amount of people participating in that one platform, so they basically had like video collages and music, just to kind of move in transition from thing to thing. But, they had students who participated and gave live
testimonies. They talked about their own experiences across all SUNY and CUNY campuses. And they had a video that they made called ‘Come On, New York,’ which demonstrated a beautiful diverse, cultural mosaic of students across New York State.” The NYS Disability Services Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing expertise for people in college needing services. The organization values diversity and inclusion, which is seen in their activism for bettering the services to students with disabilities. “The end game is highlighting the importance that there are students with disabilities in college,” Curry said. Curry believes for students to have access to equal opportunities and accommodations, funding is crucial for SAS success. While Student Empowerment Day is a new movement to help bring awareness to college students with disabilities, Curry expressed that it’s not the only time SAS is working to bring funding and awareness to these students.
Email Olivia Bousquet
cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
MIHALEK Continued from page one Mihalek taught his daughter to always try to help others along with other advice she appreciates to this day. Having practically grown up in her father’s office in hudson hall during his tenure, Mihalek witnessed him actively volunteering within the college’s community with a particular soft for the daycare center of Sibley Hall—which is dedicating a bookshelf to his memory given his passion for reading. Mihalek spent warm days during the pandemic driving to the beach to read in front of a beautiful view. It will house books in accordance to Mihalek’s favorite categories like fatherhood and pets. Sibley is currently accepting monetary donations in order to build the book shelf with a plaque of Mihalek. He was known for his acute knowledge throughout the dean’s office and unintentionally taught hius collegues life lessons that had helped them years later. “I learned to step back and look at the big
picture, to take my job seriously but find humor in things to make the day better, to look at all the options available when faced with a difficult task and to make the best of every situation,” Administrative Assistant Melanie O’Connell said. “He was truly one-of-a-kind and will be missed by the entire campus community” Humor seemed to be Mihalek’s panacea for any given situation. Every employee in the dean’s office wes required to submit an annual report of their performance the preceding year, so everyone gathered the necessary documents in a plain binder. Mahalek decided to change the cover of his binder to something different for a laugh. Lavoie recalls an intsnace when his binder cover showcased the “Three Stooges” tv show. His colleagues refer to these particular instances as “stupid laughs.” “Al was the master of the stupid laugh,” Lavoie said. Email Mataeo Smith cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
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NEWS
Co-News Editors Olivia Bousquet & Mataeo Smith
Friday, March 5, 2021
This Week in Photos: Vaccine Photos By Olga Muka
Nursing student Amanda Maria prepares the vaccine.
SUNY plattsburgh nuring students Krysten Lyman and Lynn-Patrice Midy talking to another student about vaccinations.
SUNY Plattsburgh opened its doors at the fieldhouse to give vaccinations to the eligible students and local community members. Social distancing and masks were required for the shot.
Mary Noto steadily prepares a COVID-19 vaccine shot.
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Co-News Editors Olivia Bousquet & Mataeo Smith
NEWS
GIVING Continued from page one This year, the team with the most overall donors was awarded $1,000. Additionally, the team that gets the most alumni donors was awarded $2,000 and the remaining $2,000 goes to whoever achieves the highest percentage increase in alumni donors compared to last year’s event. The women’s soccer team won the Cardinal Cup trophy this year, for the third year in a row. They had 505 total donors, 230 of which were alumni. Therefore, they also placed first in the alumni donor challenge earning them another $3,000 provided by Cardinal Hall of Famer Richard Semmler from the Class of 1968. “Because of our extremely generous alumn, we were able to really have some fun with it starting three years ago and then we’ve kind of just tried to defend the title ever since,” Head Women’s Soccer Coach Tania Armellino said. Senior Abbie Seamans, who plays midfield on the women’s soccer team, was excited about the team’s third win, “I think it’s really awesome for our program. It’s definitely helpful for everything that we do during season and out of season. I think it just kinda shows our commitment to Plattsburgh State Athletics as a whole,” she said. She also spoke on the ways she was encouraged to find individuals willing to donate. “Our coaches are actually advocate with us. They are constantly sending us pictures to use. They really just show us how important it is to our program and to our school, which really motivates us to wanna get more donors,” Seamans said. Howard spoke on the importance of keeping alumni engaged with the athletic
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Friday, March 5, 2021
department throughout the year. “It’s not just a one time, ‘Hey, we’re asking you to give some money.’ We’re trying to engage them throughout the entire year and the more success we’ve had with that, the more success this campaign has had,” Howard said. SUNY Plattsburgh alumni often connect the teams to other individuals wanting to donate and support the athletics department. Howard said there are many fans of SUNY Plattsburgh in the North Country who also donate, so the cause becomes a whole community effort. Armellino believes “Game on For Giving” is an event SUNY Plattsburgh should continue. “By supporting your team and the department, you’re supporting the university and I think it just continues to highlight Plattsburgh State [and] highlight Plattsburgh State athletics,” Armellino said.
Email NATALIE ST. DENIS cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
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Co News Editors Olivia Bousquet & Mataeo Smith
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Friday, March 5, 2021
PSUC collabs with Clarkson for new program BY JOHN CHURCH Staff Writer
Ever since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, SUNY Plattsburgh students’ lives have changed one way or another. Many students have been taking more online classes than ever anticipated in their collegiate career. Nothing about online schooling has been easy for anybody. However, online schooling may have gotten a little bit more inclusive with SUNY Plattsburgh’s new online 4+1 agreement with Clarkson University. “The 4+1 agreement is the agreement between SUNY Plattsburgh’s global supply chain management program and Clarkson University’s Master in Science in supply chain management program,” Dr. Kwangseek Choe, associate professor and chair of supply chain management and international business, said. “The ‘4+1’ means that students must complete their undergraduate study at Plattsburgh and graduate with a degree in global supply chain management. Then, students go on to complete one
year at Clarkson University’s Master of Science in supply chain management program.” The cohort-based program allows supply chain management students to turn their bachelor’s into a master’s degree. Students applying for the program are required to take 11 courses in a 10 week module quarter system. Upon completion of the program, students will earn 30 credit hours. The program is 100% online, so students can learn from the comfort of their dorms or bedrooms. “We have redesigned our global supply chain management curriculum here at Plattsburgh,” Choe said. “The Master of Science in supply chain management at Clarkson university has six courses that are very similar to our own at Plattsburgh. So, these courses are in good alignment with our own global supply chain management curriculum.” The one-year MS in supply chain management program offers a unique opportunity to students which will prepare them for their careers. Through the program, students will learn the necessary skills to help them succeed before starting in the
working world. Before graduation, students will learn to solve problems using analytical tools, learn to communicate efficiently, and solve critical problems in a business environment. “The MS in supply chain management program at Clarkson University offers a lot of interaction and hands-on experience in supply chain management.” Choe said. “Students bring their experiences and what they have learned in class and apply it to real life situations. The 4+1 agreement is a great opportunity for Plattsburgh students to pursue their academic and professional goals. Supply chain is an industry on the rise with positions all over the world that need to be filled, and the supply chain industry is in high demand for well-educated professionals. Last year the job placement rate for Plattsburghs’ global supply chain program was 96%, so I am confident that this program will increase that number.” Once Plattsburgh global supply chain management students earn their degree, they can apply for admission to Clarkson to enroll in the Mas-
ter of Science in supply chain management program. Students can begin the program during any quarter of the calendar year, however, students usually start in June. On average, students will take two classes per quarter, which puts them on course to complete the program within a year. “If students graduate from colleges with non-supply chain management majors, they may be required to take more than 11 courses including prerequisites,” Choe said. “Students from SUNY Plattsburgh with a major in global supply chain management are required to take those 11 courses only. No prerequisites will be required.” Clarkson University offers automatic admission with GMAT/ GRE equivalent scores exceeding 550 and a 3.0 GPA. There are no application fees for the program. An application and transcripts are all students need for an automatic admission. Since Plattsburgh is a partnership institution within the agreement, there are exclusive scholarship opportunities available to students. These exclusive opportunities include
the Fellowship Award, which grants students at least 15% off tuition. Students can qualify for a higher level of merit-based scholarship. Students who have also graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a GPA of 3.4 or higher are eligible to receive the Supply Chain Management Excellence Scholarship of $2,000. “The business environment is ever changing and very competitive,” Choe said. “Students will need to improve their competitive edge, and this program will do just that. I really want to emphasize the wide range of excellent career opportunities this program will give students. So, be prepared. This pandemic will not last forever and the business environment will not be the same.”
Email JOHN CHURCH cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
CARDINALPOINTSONLINE.COM
FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2021
Bob Dylan influences the decades BY HALES PASSINO Staff Writer
For the better part of 60 years, Bob Dylan has been a prominent folk-rock figure and influential individual. He has released 39 studio albums, won many honorable awards like the Nobel Peace Prize, Kennedy Center Honors, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and has also created a long-lasting legacy. Dylan continues to serve relevancy to each decade within his work. The versatility within Dylan’s work is admirable and showcases his abilities as a storyteller extraordinaire. The themes within his songs range from love and religion to various societal struggles and political protest. In 1963, he performed at Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington alongside other performers like Joan Baez and Peter, Paul and Mary. During this time, he was about halfway through recording his third album. “The Times They Are A Changin’” debuted on Jan. 13, 1964. Seven months later, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to Rolling Stone. The late George Harrison once said, “If Dylan hadn’t said some of the things he did, nobody else was going to say them. Can you imagine what a world it would be if we didn’t have a Bob Dylan? It would be awful.” Here are three of Dylan’s most powerful protest songs. Not only do they express awareness of prejudice that’s always existed, but they also brought forth a call to action against discrimination.
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“Blowin’ In The Wind,” released on Dylan’s second album “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” in 1963, is composed of hard hitting, open-ended questions that have stood the test of time. It explores a lot of rhetoric pertaining to freedom, peace and war with references to white doves and cannonballs, which made it an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. One of the most powerful lyrics of the song states: “Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly Before they’re forever banned?”
The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s parallels the Black Lives Matter movement, in the sense that society is continuously working toward justice against racially-motivated violence and discrimination. “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carrol,” featured on the 1964 album “The Times They Are A Changin,’’ is a protest song that tells the story of the 51-yearold African American barmaid Hattie Carrol. She was brutally murdered by William Zanzinger, a young rich tobacco farmer. He harassed her at a bar with
slurs and hit her with his cane because she did not respond as quickly to him as he would have liked. Carrol complained of not feeling well afterwards and passed away from a stroke. Meanwhile, Zanzinger only faced the small price of a six month sentence, which is stated in the lyric: “And handed out strongly, for penalty and repentance, William Zanzinger with a six-month sentence.” Violent stories like Hattie Carrol’s hauntingly still occur on the daily. The lack of punishment towards those deserving
of it, like Zanzinger, display the dire need for reform within the judicial system. In June 2020, #SayHerName circulated due to global outrage towards the deaths of innocent black women. For this, Hattie Carrol must be remembered too. Say her name. “Hurricane” is a single from Dylan’s 1976 album, “Desire.” In the song, he tells the story of American-Canadian boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter.
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Coming-of-age re-imagined in ‘Minari’ BY CAMERON KAERCHER Contributor
This year’s Golden Globes nominations caused controversy online as “Minari” was only nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. It prompted Lulu Wang and Daniel Dae Kim to speak out online against the categorization. How could a film that was shot in America, made by a director born in America, and distributed by an American company end up in a category with the word “foreign” in it? In Jan. 1944, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association held the first Golden Globes awards ceremony. It would take five years for the awards show to start including an award for Best Foreign Language Film. The categorization is straightforward because the majority of the film’s dialogue has to be a language other than English. This comes with a caveat. A Foreign Language Film is not allowed to be nominated for the two other Best Picture awards at the Golden Globes. While the rule does provide an opportunity for more films to be nominated for “Best… Film” of the year, this separates the films from English speaking and nonEnglish speaking. “Minari” tells the story of a KoreanAmerican family adjusting to life in Arkansas after moving from California. Jacob Yi, played by Steven Yeun, purchases a farm and mobile home for his wife and two children. Yi tries to follow the American dream by creating something from the bare green field. This pursuit runs the risk of Yi losing sight of what is most important along the way. The family’s dynamic is shaken up more when Jacob’s mother-in-law, Soonja, played by Yuhjung Youn, arrives.
ZOE NGUYEN/Cardinal Points
At the core of the story, David, played by Alan S. Kim, is coming of age. He is dealing with other white kids and their passively racist comments. They may not mean to cast hatred, but their comments and questions are insensitive. It’s a sad accuracy for the period of the late 1980’s. He’s trying to figure out what it means to be “American,” while his relationship
with his Korean grandmother affects that process. David is a stand-in for writer-director Lee Isaac Chung. His autobiographical connections were disclosed in a recent piece written by himself and published in the Los Angeles Times. He writes, “I knew about snakes and tired farmers, about fields you pass by every day that,
on golden occasions, transform under moving clouds to reveal every inexpressible thing you want to say about life.” In an interview between Variety and the seven-year-old actor, Alan S. Kim explained his motivations for coming on to this project: “I wanted to get a chance to be famous.” Both of these men accomplish their goals. Chung’s direction and work with cinematographer Lachlan Milne bring the farm landscapes to life. The sun-kissed fields and warm blue skies are a sight for sore eyes in the middle of this bleak winter. In a way, it is the perfect escapist late February release. Kim has also become a star through “Minari’s” popularity. His Instagram account has 4,000 follower. He has been profiled by Vulture Magazine and he is on the longlist for the BAFTA nominees for Best Supporting Actor. His youthful humor and excitement is on full display in the film. It is impossible to not be won over by Kim’s performance. Both of these components complement each other as the audience sees the world as David experiences it. “Minari” is one of the best films of the year, and it is baffling that it can’t compete in the main categories at the Golden Globes this year. While last year’s awards success for “Parasite” was a great step towards inclusion, there is still a lack of diversity. To quote Bong Joon-ho at the Golden Globes last year, “Once you overcome the 1-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”
Email CAMERON KAERCHER
cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
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CARDINAL VOICE
Opinions Editor Alexa Dumas
Friday, March 5, 2021
Troubled relationships define ‘The Girl on the Train’
BY CARLY NEWTON Staff Writer
Rachel Watson, a 32-year-old divorcee and alcoholic, rides the same train everyday so she can get a glimpse of her old house. The house in which her ex-husband, Tom, lives in with his new wife, Anna. Rachel becomes intrigued by a couple that resides in a house down the road from her old house. The man and woman soon began to occupy Rachel’s thoughts as she watches them everyday. She imagines and creates scenarios in her head of the couple living a perfect life. But, her perception of them shatteres when she witnessed the woman kissing another man. Not long after, the woman disappears, and Rachel makes it her mission to find out what happened to the woman who seemingly had the perfect life.
Rachel Watson is the main character, but “The Girl on the Train” switches between the perspectives of two other female characters. It is told from the point of view of Megan, the woman who goes missing, and Anna, the woman Rachel’s husband cheated on her with and then got married to. The timelines of the characters aren’t always the same, which makes it more intriguing to read. The day after the woman, who’s name is revealed as Megan Hipwell, disappeared, Rachel awoke in a daze of confusion. She remembered being at the pub the night before, then going to Tom and Anna’s house. Trying to piece together the night before, Rachel found a painful, tender lump on the side of her head and her hair matted with blood, along with bruises on her legs, dirt under her fingernails and a cut on her lip.
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‘Remote’ sees pandemic release BY NATALIE ST. DENIS Associate Opinions Editor
Los Angeles trio, Wallows, released their “Remote” Extended Play (EP) in Oct. 2020. The indie rock band is composed of Dylan Minnette, star of the popular Netflix drama “13 Reasons Why,” Braeden Lemasters and Cole Preston. They released the “Remote (Deluxe)”EP Feb. 19. This deluxe edition consists of three new songs: “On Time,” “Quarterback” and “Another Story.” These released alongside “OK,” which was released as a stand alone single in March last year. Additionally, it features a remix of “OK” with Solomonophonic and Remi Wolf, who helped co-write the popular song “These Days” for their previous “Spring” EP. The release date didn’t just consist of dropping the new quarantine-recorded tunes. Wallows hosted a live Q&A and performance through a music website called Bandsintown. The band also released a music video for HANNAH DOWNS/Cardinal Points the new song, “Quarter-
back,” which looks like it is filmed on a family video camera with a fish-eye lens attached. New apparel is up on their website, featuring graphic designs on a long sleeve shirt, hoodie, hat, t-shirt and crewneck. The new merchandise has piqued the interest of fans, but it is expensive. Because of the high merch prices, many fans are choosing to sit home and listen to the new EP in their old Wallows merch they snagged before they rose to fame. Freshman communication sciences and disorders major, Keely Huling listened to the EP and didn’t have anything negative to say about it. “I feel like a lot of music sounds the same nowadays,” Huling said. Different does in fact describe their new music very well. Some of the songs take a few plays to grow on listeners. Fans may have to listen to the songs a few times before they can decide if they like the new style. Especially coming from their previous, more altrock album “Nothing
Happens,” which Huling described as “more like a garage band.” Wallows seemed to have branched out and made an effort to test the limits with their newer, electronic-synth style. “I feel like the new EP is kind of [an] acquired taste. So, if you like that kind of music you’ll really really like it. But, if you don’t, then I feel like you’re gonna say it’s bad,” Huling said. Huling said “Coastlines” is her favorite from the EP because of the way it grabbed her attention as soon as she started listening to it. Another popular fan favorite off the EP is “Nobody Gets Me (Like You).” Braeden Lemasters sings in this upbeat, catchy song. This was the first single released before their EP dropped in October. “Virtual Aerobics” was the second single released from “Remote.” Listeners may interpret the title as a potential word play on the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced everything to be virtual. RELEASE l A8
Foreign concerns for President Biden BY DECLAN O’CONNOR Contributor
The newly elected Biden administration will soon need to make a decision about the United States’ level of involvement in Afghanistan. This plan of involvement will affect the U.S. military and the continual effort in the conflict. President Joe Biden’s background in Afghanistan goes back to his time as the Vice President in 2009. While working in the Obama administration, he argued that the United States needed to reduce its military role in the region. Instead, with the disapproval of Biden, the Obama administration decided to send an additional 100,000 troops to Afghanistan. In Feb. 2020, the United States signed the U.S.-Taliban Peace Deal to end the 18-year-war. The Taliban, a Sunni Islamic fundamentalist political movement and
military organisation in Afghanistan and a group classified as a terrorist organization by the United States, were fundamental in starting the peace process. The deal allows the U.S. to withdraw troops in exchange for the Taliban’s promise to prohibit Afghanistan to be used as a safe haven for other terrorist organizations in a certain region essential to the Afghan government. President Biden’s choice comes down to two simple decisions: withdraw all troops by the May 2021 deadline, as former President Donald Trump promised, and risk a Taliban resurgence or stay longer and possibly deter the Taliban’s ability to undermine the Afghanistan government. To fully understand the consequences of this upcoming decision, former veteran and Chair and Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Daniel Lake made it apparent that there is no perfect an-
swer to President Biden’s upcoming decision. “It is very possible that the Taliban will increase its efforts to destabilize the Afghan government,” Lake said, when discussing the possible withdrawal of the United States military. Keeping American troops in Afghanistan may secure the safety of the government, but it will not allow the U.S. to stop the progress of insurgency or have any essential benefit for America’s national security. Insurgent groups, such as the Taliban, control more territory in Afghanistan than they did in 2001 when the U.S. invaded. This makes it even harder for the U.S. to deter the Taliban from undermining Afghanistan’s government. For the United States to actually defeat the Taliban and insurgency groups, they would have to severely increase their involvement in the conflict, which would require even more
time and resources. Not to mention, even if these resources were at United States’ disposal, it would be difficult to accomplish a goal that is not essential to American national security. The withdrawal of the U.S. military from Afghanistan is necessary, but it doesn’t hide the unfortunate truth. The U.S. doesn’t have the resources or ability to actually prevent the Taliban’s growth, due to the fact that it’s not worth the sacrifice of wasting more money in an unwinnable war. The U.S. military has been in Afghanistan since 2001 and has not made any progress because the country doesn’t have the necessary resources available to be victorious. It’s simply time to leave Afghanistan and stop wasting time, money and soldiers in another war. Email DECLAN O’CONNOR cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
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FUSE Editor Alana Penny
Friday, March. 5, 2021
Allen stays politically active, focuses on present BY ADEEB CHOWDHURY Associate FUSE Editor
Guided by her unwavering ambitiousness, junior Lucy Allen has truly embodied her personal philosophy that students should strive to make the most of every opportunity they are given. Her long standing sense of initiative and drive, both in the classroom and beyond, has helped her establish herself as a leader in the SUNY Plattsburgh community. Allen has called Plattsburgh home since her childhood. She fondly recalled finding comfort and company in her numerous pets—a diverse group that included, among others, a jack russell terrier named Henry as well as multiple cats. High school was a turning point for Allen. While attending Plattsburgh High School, she developed a deeper sense of understanding of herself and where she wanted to be headed in life. “It was a really pivotal moment for me,” Allen said. “I really came out of my shell and became a lot more confident. I was the class president, and that role helped me realize that I enjoy leadership.” Allen considered heading somewhere outside Plattsburgh for college but in the end decided to stay closer to home. She said that there is something quite remarkable about going to college near where you grew up—all the thrills and excitement of university life, but also a certain sense of comfort. “It’s like being at home, but not at home at the same time,” Allen said. “It really is a special feeling.” Although she is in her second year of college, Allen is technically a junior and expects to graduate next year. Throughout high school, she earned numerous college credits from advanced placement courses and through Clinton Community College. She said this gave her quite an edge in terms of college academics and graduating early,
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Lucy Allen is a member of the SUNY Plattsburgh Legislative Review Board, the Rotaract Club and the Honor Students Association. She plans to complete an internship in Washington D.C. and she would strongly encourage other students to take advantage of such opportunities as well. Allen is double majoring in political science and Latin American studies as well as a minor in Spanish. Though such a workload often proves quite demanding, she embraced the challenge with open arms and does not shy away from her goals. “The decision to study political science was an easy one, actually,” Allen said. “My family has always been very politically aware and active. I grew up watching the news regularly and learned about politics even as a kid. So when this major was recommended to me, I knew it was absolutely perfect.” Allen’s interest in politics has proven to
be a vehicle for action beyond the classroom throughout high school and college. From interning for the New York State Senate campaigns of Tedra Cobb and Mike Derrick to working with Amnesty International to write letters to political prisoners and activists across the globe, it is clear that Allen has made political engagement a priority for herself. Some of the issues that matter the most to her include racial justice, climate change and poverty alleviation. Her second major in Latin American studies has also proven quite eventful. “It’s a very diplomatically-centered field of study,” Allen said. “Recently, we were interviewing actual international ambassadors. That’s honestly kind of crazy.” Another exciting aspect of Latin Ameri-
can studies is that each student may participate in an internship in Washington, D.C., as part of the major. Allen is certain that she will avail this opportunity and is currently exploring internships with Partners of the Americas, the National Defense University Foundation, the American Academy of Diplomacy, and other organizations with a like-minded mission. Allen’s engagement with the student body through various activities has become an important part of her life. She is currently part of the Legislative Review Board, the Rotaract Club and the Honor Students Association. Some of the highlights of her experience with the Rotaract Club include participating in a fundraiser for polio research and treatment, volunteering to help children trick-or-treat safely during Halloween, and attending a conference in Ottawa early 2020. “The Legislative Review Board, too, is another activity I’m very proud to be a part of,” Allen said. “The work we do is integral to the Plattsburgh community. I was actually surprised to learn just how essential LRB really is.” When asked about her future educational and professional plans, she laughed. “If you had asked me that a few years ago, I would’ve given you the whole spiel about where I want to be ten years from now,” said Allen. “But right now I want to focus on things one by one and have my foot in different doors.” What she knows for sure is that she wants to continue being politically active, have a diversified skill set and also experience different cultures and expand her knowledge of the world by traveling. “I’m going to focus more on learning and being myself,” Allen said. “I don’t want to stress out so much about where I want to be that I forget where I am right now.” Email ADEEB CHOWDHURY cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
African Unity stays active during COVID BY JEREMY BINNING Staff Writer
African Unity has been a part of SUNY Plattsburgh for years now. Since the club began, it has hosted countless shows and events as well as fundraisers. The goal of the club is to spread cultural awareness about African culture. The group usually meets Monday nights unless there is a specific event that they must meet for. The meetings are usually held in the Angell College Center. “Based on my experience, the first part of the meeting is for the board to go over planning and business,” Butterfly Boire, an adviser for the club said. “The second half of the meeting is open to the campus and centered on a topic that a member of AU will present on, sometimes in collaboration with one another or others on campus.” Students can join African Unity by reaching out to a board member and expressing their interest. President of the club, Tiemoko Soumano, was elected last year and will remain so until the end of this school year. “As president, my number one priority is to continue to serve as Plattsburgh students’ motivation to continue to be themselves and enable them to take pride in their differences and continue to strive forward no matter the obstacle,” Soumano said. “Each of our meetings is geared towards self-actualization and improvement while having a fun twist to ensure their creative side as well.” “African Unity is not a club geared towards just African students, but all students who want to break out of their shell and learn more about the world,” Soumano said. “Last but not least, establish a working relationship between students, faculty and teachers so there
can be effective and ongoing communication moving forward. Also can’t forget about having fun.” COVID-19 has affected everything since the outbreak, so meetings involving the group did change in order to accommodate protocols. “Holding Meetings since COVID has definitely been a change due to the fact that we are no longer able to hold face-to-face meetings,” Soumano said. “We now hold Zoom meetings bi-weekly. The turnout is not what it used to be but it is steadily increasing.” Soumano feels the new protocols in regard to COVID-19“lessens the impact of certain meetings and events.” Despite the virus, the club still has plans for the semester going forward. “We have a couple of ideas in the works, such as a big discussion forum including members from various clubs and organizations tackling various issues and questions, which will be recorded on Instagram Live. Also we will have Pie a Au Member to showcase to the public that we are still fun and active, and we are still deciding more and fun activities for the public.” Soumano said. African Unity has an impact in the community and brings people together to celebrate African heritage. “The fashion shows they have are my favorite because of how creative it is,” Nicholas Cousins, an undergraduate student, who is not in the group but attends shows whenever they have them, said. “I also like the performances that they have. They display a lot of talent and I think they’re a really great club for the campus.”
Email JEREMY BINNING
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Whitney finds community on, off rink BY JONAS WARD Staff Writer
Taylor Whitney, a communication studies major at SUNY Plattsburgh, is a force to be reckoned with on the women’s hockey team. She enjoys the community the team exposed her to. Whitney loves her teammates and she also loves her coaches. Whitney looks forward to a challenge when it comes to a game. She said she joined the team for the atmosphere, team, coaches and winning culture. Along with being on the women’s hockey team, Whitney is dedicated to communication studies. She was not sure what she wanted to pursue, but she knows she wants to continue her schooling when she graduates. “I chose [communication studies] for the broadness since I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” Whitney said. “I’m getting my master’s in mental health counseling and it’s a good bachelor’s degree to have for that.” Whitney calls herself passionate, hardworking and approachable. When not in a class or a game, Whitney loves reading,being outdoors and taking care of her pet. “I am a mother to my beautiful kitten named Kiggy,” Whitney said.
Brian Savard is Director of Communications for Athletics at SUNY Plattsburgh. He has come to know Whitney because of the women’s hockey team. “Taylor is incredibly fun to watch,” Savard said. “She’s a smart player who always seems to put herself in the right place at the right times. I can’t imagine there are too many second-line centers in Division III who are better than Taylor.” Savard believes that Whitney is an incredibly good player for the team. Savard also said Whitney is a hard worker outside of the hockey rink. “She definitely treats her teammates well,” Savard said. “The women’s hockey team is incredibly close knit, and she certainly adds a lot to the team’s chemistry. As a student worker for me, Taylor always makes herself available to work other teams’ games when women’s hockey isn’t in season. She’s never afraid to take on whatever job I give her to work at games.”
Email JONAS WARD cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
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Taylor Whitney enjoys spending time outdoors, reading and taking care of her cat, Kiggy in her free time.
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Student Art Spotlight
Friday, March 5, 2021
Shannon O’Brien
BFA art major concentrating in photography with compliments in drawing and sculpture I’m Shannon O’Brien and am currently a BFA student with a concentration in photography and compliments in both drawing and sculpture. In my many mediums, I use my work to connect to the viewer and speak to them in a language I am most comfortable in, art. My work tends to explain and express how I feel in a moment of time. In photography last semester, I focused on my emotional frustrations created by the global pandemic. While in my drawings I am currently working on, I am conveying the reflection of emotions. Looking back at old pictures and drawing them after the fact, knowing what happened after the fact these photos were taken. Showing a change in emotional perception. I am interested in combining the mediums I work best in. In sculpture I experience this idea by exploring the use of videos.
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Opinions Editor Alexa Dumas
Friday, March 5, 2021
Editorial
NGHI TO/Cardinal Points
Just say no to parties
After almost a full year of COVID-19 regulations and restrictions, students have had to adjust to virtual education and social distancing. Once the announcement was made that students could return to campus for limited inperson classes, some jumped at the chance. As students started arriving, the parties began. Why do some students feel the need to continually attend parties during a pandemic? When will students learn that attending parties will cause an academic suspension? These questions will remain as students on campus constantly break social gathering regulations issued by the college and the state. SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras issued a uniform sanction document on Sept. 25, 2020 stating the severe penalties for
students who host or attend parties on and off SUNY campuses. The document explains that students who are involved with a party or large social gathering in any form shall be issued “a suspension from live attendance at the institution of at least one year with continued access to their academic program via remote learning only (if available and as subject to campus policy and process), a suspension of at least one year or permanent dismissal from the institution.” Since the fall semester, numerous students and campus fraternities have been issued suspensions due to hosting or attending parties with a large number in attendance. Suspensions don’t seem to hinder the fun, though. The health and safety of other stu-
LEGACY Continued from page six In 1966, Carter was wrongly imprisoned at the height of his boxing career because he “fit the description” for a triple homicide that occurred at a bar in Patterson, New Jersey. Carter spent nearly two decades behind bars due to a conviction based on racist premise. His story came to be a symbol of racial injustice in America. After reading Carter’s autobiography, Dylan met the boxer and then went on to write a hit protest song. Hurricane was performed on the Rolling Thunder Revue tour and brought attention to the issue at hand. Carter was eventually released in 1985 and it’s probable the song contributed towards the exposure needed for his freedom. That freedom can be seen in the lyric: “The man the authori-
SCENARIOS Continued from page seven Rachel’s dependence on alcohol gets her into a lot of messy and dangerous situations throughout the course of the story. Her tendency to black out when she drinks makes it very clear to the reader that Rachel is an alcoholic. An Insider article, “How to talk to someone about their alcohol use and what resources can help,” is beneficial for anyone who may know someone struggling with alcoholism. In the article, clinical psychologist Aimee Chiligiris said: “Try
Continued from page seven But in an interview with Coup De Main Magazine, Minnette mentions that it speaks of the beginning stages of liking someone. “‘when you’re sort of dancing around the fact you guys like each other virtually through texting,’ and I was thinking that’s the virtual aerobics,” Minnette said. The new editions to the EP offer calmer tones compared to the other songs previously released in October. “Another Story” is just under two min-
ties came to blame, For somethin’ that he never done.” In August 2020, a similar situation took place. A man by the name of Ronnie Long was released from an 80-year prison sentence. He was wrongfully accused of rape and burglary back in 1976. Long spent 44 years behind bars until the state of North Carolina admitted they could no longer defend the case, as it was based on police misconduct fueled by racism, according to CBS News. Long’s family and friends never lost faith in his innocence. These specific songs of Dylan’s educate and bring forth intense feelings of disgust towards the innermost evil side of society. Though we must never forget the tragedies and injustices, we must work towards a day where the messages within songs like Dylan’s do not still ring true.
utes and depicts a weary story of a broken relationship. The band is still able to incorporate the synth vibe into this rather dim-lit song, just without the accompaniment of other upbeat instruments. The sad synth tone pulses in the background of the lyrics. The lead vocalist varies in each song. Dylan Minnette has typically been the front man, but “On Time” features drummer Cole Preston’s voice— which isn’t heard often. “[O]n time isn’t just a song,
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FUSE Editor Alana Penny
lice to where Megan might be. Paula Hawkins’ “The Girl on the Train,” is a murder-mystery that will make the reader question who to trust, especially Rachel Watson. Every character in this book has something to hide, even if they don’t know it yet. The narration in “The Girl on the Train,” uses undependable voices to push the story forward. This tactic will make any reader wary of each and every character in this story. No one is who they seem to be.
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to look for an opportunity to express concern when both of you are open to communicating and not under the influence of substances. Let them know what you observe in a caring and nonjudgmental way.” In a way, this is how Rachel’s roommate lets her know that her drinking is going too far. Days later, Rachel was still trying to unravel Megan’s disappearance from what she read in the newspaper. The paper mentioned that Megan and her husband, Scott, got into an argument that day, but Rachel took notice that there was no mention of Megan cheating. This is when she realized what she had witnessed on the train could potentially help lead the po-
RELEASE
dents do not seem to be a concern for those who party. As the number of campus COVID cases rise, the number of parties seem to increase. Continuing to party during the pandemic is just plain selfish. If students want college life to be back to normal, safety precautions have to be met each semester. The effort has to be made by the whole campus, not just the students who value the health and safety of others. Partying will only cause the campus to close and in-person classes to come to a halt. Online learning has its difficulties, but shouldn’t it be a joint effort to keep everyone safe while receiving an education? Stop. Attending. College. Parties. For the safety of others, and yourself.
[it’s] a cultural reset, [it’s] the oxygen you breathe, [it’s] a lifestyle, a reason to breathe, and escape from this cruel world filled with thieves, [it’s] an art, the first gift you open on [C] hristmas, a hug from a loved one, everything you’ve ever wanted,”@TRIVIASOOBIN tweeted. Another unique route Wallows took is the lack of silence between songs. Huling says this was one of the coolest parts of the album. She mentions how usually there are a good three seconds of silence as a separation between songs, but this wasn’t the case on this album. Blank space wasn’t included
Email CARLY NEWTON cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
as a buffer between each song. Specifically when “Dig What You Dug” went right into “Nobody Gets Me (Like You).” “That was really cool because they changed the chords at the very end and then all of a sudden you realize the next song already started,” Huling said. The “Remote (Deluxe)” EP was the third extended play Wallows released next to their debut album “Nothing Happens.” This new, funky sound could pave the way for the band to reach new heights in the music industry. Email NATALIE ST. DENIS 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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FUSE Editor Alana Penny
BURGHY
Friday, March 5, 2021
Continued from page twelve Students aren’t the only ones who enjoy how relatable the posts on the account are. It can be seen as a negative look on SUNY Plattsburgh, but it is not the feeling the creator has. “There have been some people who think I’m only negative or that I hate Plattsburgh,” Burghy said. “That’s not true, and if it was I would have transferred a long time ago. I love Plattsburgh, and I love being a student here. The memes are just to make people laugh.” The account also hosts the highly anticipated weekly Friday TeaTime. Students use an anonymous forum feature to gossip and share secrets with anyone who follows the account. “I kept doing tea stories every few days and I realized I had been doing it on Fridays,” Burghy said. “At some point, it just became a regular thing. Because of the pandemic, people aren’t as social as we used to be. The Friday tea stories are a way for people to see what’s happening in other friend groups without having to leave their rooms.” Freshmen who haven’t had the normal college experience find themselves trying to understand college life before the restrictions. “In what’s become of college, especially as a freshman we are just experiencing college now, so we don’t know college before the pandemic,” Raphael said. “Since the person running the account is not a freshman, they have experienced more of college. Sometimes it can be comedic relief, even just for a few moments.” While most students enjoy the meme account, there has been a backlash from some students who do not adhere to the social gathering restrictions. The account is known for being against partying during the pandemic, and it is apparent in the posts. “I ended up blocking three people because of it,” Burghy said. “My page is not a place for people to spread COVID propaganda and although I didn’t want to block any students, I had to.” Students have also noticed that the burghys_sextape account has a zero-tolerance policy for other students who have continued to party since the large suspension in Aug. 2020. Many students side with Burghy on this issue. “I feel like there was a lot of backlash on it because they made comments on how there shouldn’t be partying in a pandemic and that students shouldn’t be going out to frat houses,” Corley said. “Burghy, although the account is funny, also brings about these types of issues as well.” After the recent suspension of the Chi Phi fraternity, the account posted a meme making fun of the students who attended a party at the fraternity. Students who felt ostracized from the post reported the account and it was taken down briefly from Instagram. “I was so devastated,” Linares said. “It was gone one Friday for a whole day. I was so hurt, so I went looking for a backup account, but I never found it. The next day it just came back, so that was awesome.” The notion that the account may be gone has been in students’ minds. The owner of the account has mentioned that they have resided in MacDonough and Mason Halls for the fall and spring semesters. It can be assumed that Burghy is an upperclassman. The future for the account after the current owner graduates is still up in the air. “I’ve thought about a few different options but what I’m probably going to do is have some sort of competition,” Burghy said. “Whoever makes the best memes, I’ll give the account to as long as they promise to keep it anonymous as well.”
NGHI TO/Cardinal Points
Weekly Tarot Reading BY RIVER ASHE Staff Writer
This week’s reading comes from the Yggdrasil Norse Divination Card set by Haukur Halldórsson and G. Hauksdóttir. This is a unique 81-card deck depicting the Norse pantheon as described in ancient transcriptions of myths called the Poetic/Prose Edda. The meanings of the cards have been interpreted from the guidebook sold with the deck titled Bifrost: A Guide to the Yggdrasil. Aquarius (Jan. 20—Feb. 18) drew Frosti, the personification of impermanence. Drawing him indicates a need to live in the moment-focus a little less on the big picture and more on what is happening now. The Bifrost said, “Frosti represents the moment; like music he only exists in the moment we listen to it, and like the frost in the window, only existing until you breathe on it.” Pisces (Feb. 19—March 20) drew Skrimir, the giant master of illusion and archenemy of the gods. According to the guidebook, Skrimir is also known as “Loki of the outer worlds,” and he represents deception and lies around you. Be alert and conscious of the people Email ALEXA DUMAS around you this week. cp@cardinalpointsonline.com Aries (March 21—April 19)
pulled Bragi, the God of poetry, fiction and language. Drawing Bragi means that it is time to admit to yourself what you truly want and use the power of language to manifest it into being. “Bragi’s presence indicates that the power of words and phrasing will work in the seeker’s favor,” the guidebook said. Taurus (April 20—May 20) drew Gersemi & Hnoss, sisters representing the want to achieve some kind of beauty; their names translate to mean “treasure” and “price”. Something in the upcoming week will move you towards your goal, be it personal or financial. Halldórsson and Hauksdóttir wrote,“The sisters signify an unseen wind in the seeker’s sail that will help or push them along on their quest.” Gemini (May 21—June 20) drew Muspell, lord of misfits. The guidebook stated that “Muspell stands for the catastrophic,”indicating that this is not a good card to draw. He could indicate that someone in your life wishes you harm, or act as a foreshadow to events that will sabotage your plans or goals. Cancer (June 21—July 22) pulled Nanna, the embodiment of loyalty and persistence. You will become aware of the love and loy-
alty of someone you are close to, whether a lover or secret admirer. Know that their love for you is endless. The Bifrost said “Nanna can be called on for steadfastness, calmness and loyalty as well as reconciliation and renewal in a relationship or marriage.” Leo (July 23—Aug. 22) drew Hel, ruler of the underworld and fear. Something this week will cause you to freeze with insecurity and be held in the clutches of your most intimate personal fears. Hel’s card indicates that you are stronger than your fears and to not be so harsh on yourself. The guidebook said, “She represents the paralyzing and unreasonable inner judge we use to pass judgement on our actions and ourselves.” Libra (Sept. 23—Oct. 22) drew Aegir, the God of the ocean. Aegir represents abundance and hospitality, indicating a warm social life (be careful of the pandemic, of course) and a time of plenty in your future that has been built with your personal strength and efforts. Halldórsson and Hauksdóttir wrote, “This card is associated with the currents of the ocean and its strength and vastness; those are the elements of Aegir.” Scorpio (Oct. 23—Nov. 21) pulled Gandalf, a Dwarven
sorcerer and academic (not to be confused with the Lord of the Rings wizard). The Bifrost explained that “his presence in the spread stands for a mentor, teacher, and educator that furthers the seeker in his journey of life.” You are being encouraged to ask questions this week. Be inquisitive and thirst for knowledge. Sagittarius (Nov. 22—Dec. 21) drew Thor, the God of storms, lightning and thunder. You will find yourself in the role of the protector this week, whether the situation is severe or mild. However, be careful that being in this position does not make you cocky, as arrogance could be your downfall. According to the Bifrost, Thor is “ready to take on any challenge by any means necessary and has confidence in abundance, which actually often gets him in trouble.” Capricorn (Dec. 22—Jan. 19) drew Surt, a primordial fire giant. The guidebook stated that “His presence stands for wrath and disharmony” and he is an indicator of some kind of danger to you. Something is about to happen that will upset the harmony in your life, big or small, and it will be up to you to figure out how to navigate this curveball.
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Students run hair, nail, food businesses out of dorms, apartments BY CHRISTYN PETTWAY Staff Writer
Outside of classes and campus life, some SUNY Plattsburgh students have found that starting a business is a beneficial way to spend free time and make money. These small businesses provide services to students without having to travel far. Hair, nail and food businesses can all be sought after here, it’s all a matter of knowing who you can go to. Alicia Fisher, a junior math major who hopes to go into math education, runs a hair business. Fisher started out doing her sister and cousin’s hair, but after her mom suggested she make an Instagram page for it, @doneby_denise was born. Mostly wanting to do braids and box braids, Fisher’s business is currently at a standstill due to COVID-19. When the COVID outbreak first took off in March, Fisher was able to do hair for a few students and close friends. She followed mandatory mask regulations and made sure to take the temperatures of all her customers at the door. After covid continued to rise and the number of cases around the world increased, she decided to stop promoting the business on Instagram. “I haven’t gotten many requests to do hair mainly because I stopped advertising and didn’t feel comfortable with doing hair with either my roommates around or in someone else’s apartment where I might be exposed,” she said. For now, Fisher is accepting DM requests on Instagram from students who want a braided hairstyle, as long as the customer has been recently tested and has had limited contact with other people. Hillary Salazar, a sophomore currently majoring in criminal justice, runs a nail business. Salazar thought of the idea to start her own nail business after constantly being disappointed when she’d get her nails done from other people. As a result, she decided to teach herself. When she first began, Salazar struggled to put money toward all the things she would need for a successful nail business because materials were expensive and sometimes hard to find, especially when trying to buy items for specific nail designs. Even with these struggles, Salazar has found starting this business to be beneficial because it has forced her to become organized.
“I adjusted my schedule for myself so I would have time for my business, school and a social life. Salazar began gaining exposure through close friends and sorority members who would share her Instagram page to their stories and feeds. Since covid, Salazar hasn’t been able to take in just anybody. Like Fisher, she has been careful to only provides nail services to people recently tested who wear masks during the entire time she does their nails. She also requires customers to sanitize when entering and exiting her workspace. Sophomore journalism and public relations double major Melanie Lonzo, a customer of Salazar’s, gives her nails a 10/10. “I didn’t need a fill-in until 3-4 weeks later, and I usually do a lot of work with my hands but they still lasted a long time,” Lonzo said. Salazar is still accepting appointments through direct messege on her Instagram page @nailsbyhills_ for anyone who wants their nails done. Cathy Concepcion, a senior majoring in biomedical science, runs a food business. @Cats.concina on Instagram offers “good quality meals’’ to students on campus. While other small businesses have been negatively affected by the pandemic, Concepcion doesn’t find herself in the same position. After constantly cooking for herself and her friends during the start of quarantining, a friend convinced her to start a business. Concepcion thinks covid has actually helped her business. “A lot of restaurants got shut down and campus no longer provides the same food options they once did, so students are always looking for different things to eat and try,” Concepcion said. Some of Concepcion’s meals have consisted of rasta pasta, mango chicken, mango salmon and other foods not offered in food chains here in Plattsburgh. Concepcion’s menus always include vegetarian and/or pescatarian options for students who have food restrictions. Senior and sociology major Jonathan Benjamin used to buy from Cats.concina every week when she was still putting out new orders every week. “Every week you’re getting something new, unlike the food on campus. Plus, you get a good amount of food that’s still going to be less than $20 bucks even when I get a drink and dessert,” he said.
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Students with small businesses have been accomidating for COVID by taking fewer appointments and requiring masks, taking temperatures and limiting services.
To keep up with her business, Concepcion had to learn to balance her business with her extensive workload. When Concepcion first began her business, she would post the week’s menu on Fridays, giving customers until Wednesday to place an order on the ordering sheet in her bio and receive their food on the day of their choosing- either Thursday or Friday. But with her hectic schedule, Concepcion now only takes orders through DM, and has let customers know she’s usually available Monday-Wednesday for anyone who would like to order food.
Email CHRISTYN PETTWAY cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Student art spotlight, A10
Students flock to campus meme account BY ALEXA DUMAS Opinions Editor
The pandemic has seen many aspects of a normal college life fade into the shadows for a safer time. As more students make the move off campus to attend classes remotely, the campus experience isn’t the same as in previous semesters. An Instagram meme account based on campus life at SUNY Plattsburgh is changing that narrative. A picture of SUNY Plattsburgh’s mascot is the face of the popular account, burghys_sextape. The creator of burghys_sextape, who remains anonymous, started the account after returning home from campus last March. The following of the account was slow at first, but it has gained almost 2,000 followers. “I had been home due to COVID for a few days and I got bored and decided to make an account for Plattsburgh,” Burghy said from an email account named You’ll Never Find Me. “Originally it was supposed to be a finsta account for our college and I never intended to get more than 50 followers, let alone close to 2,000.” Students who found the account thought it was going to be a regular meme account. They didn’t anticipate gaining an attachment to what it had to offer students. “I thought it was a bogus, meme a week about Plattsburgh account,” sophomore biomedical science major, Will Corley said. “As time went on, the memes started to get really funny. It’s really entertaining considering we are in a pandemic and there isn’t much that students can do as far as entertainment goes.” The account quickly became one of the most talked-about aspects of student life. Burghys_sextape has allowed students to feel like they are a part of the SUNY Plattsburgh community, even if they are attending college remotely. “I like how relatable it is, especially the memes,” Junior Political Science major, Lisette Linares said. “It is very interesting that we all have the same experience with the account. Since I’m off-campus, I still feel like I am connected to other students.” With relatable memes and anonymous Q&A forums, students find a sense of community within the account. The anonymous aspect of the unfiltered forum posts keep students guessing who sent them in. “I enjoy the fact that it is run by a student,” Freshman English major Chana Raphael said. “It can be really random so you never really know what you are going to see on those posts.” BURGHY l A11
SAREEM JABBAR/Cardinal Points