SUNY Plattsburgh’s independent student newspaper since 1997
FRIDAY, SEPT. 11, 2020
CARDINALPOINTSONLINE.COM
VOLUME 103 - ISSUE 2
Pi Kappa Phi, nine members suspended from campus following party BY FERNANDO ALBA Editor-in-Chief
DAKOTA GILBERT/Cardinal Points
A student checks in to her scheduled pool test at Algonquin Dining Hall during SUNY Plattsburgh’s first round of pool tests last Wednesday. SUNY Plattsburgh announced it would adopt pool testing when newly appointed SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras visited the campus Aug. 21.
Zero cases recorded after first pool tests BY DREW WEMPLE Staff Writer
SUNY Plattsburgh marked the launch of its COVID-19 pool testing last Wednesday. The college tested 449 students in Algonquin Hall in its first round of pool testing. Additional rounds were scheduled for Wednesday and next week. SUNY Plattsburgh adopted pool testing rather than individual testing because of the cost and efficiency of testing larger groups of students. One pool test can test samples of 10 to 25 students and costs less than the price of one individual sample test. SUNY Plattsburgh President Alexander Enyedi, alongside newly appointed SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras, announced the pooled surveillance testing back on Aug. 21 during Malatras’ first visit to SUNY
Plattsburgh’s campus as SUNY chancellor. On-campus students were notified of a time and day of their scheduled time to get tested in emails sent Sept. 1. The order for testing was determined by residence halls. Dr. Kathleen Camelo, director of the Student Health Center, clarified the order for testing with her following statement, “We just tried to pick the dorms that have approximately the same number of students so testing days would be equal.” Scheduled students then made their way to Algonquin Hall for the first batch of testing Sept. 2. Several greeters, some who were volunteers from Greek life, welcomed students as they arrived at Algonquin Hal and were there to make sure the process started as smoothly as possible. Greeters first checked Student IDs, asked if students if they had any symptoms such
as shortness of breath, fever, cough, etc., then asked if the students have engaged in any activity that might compromise their results, such as eating or drinking 30 minutes prior, teeth brushing or mouth washing within the past three hours and smoking or vaping. Students then hopped in a line that wrapped from the entrance to Algonquin Hall all the way into Little Al’s cafe. The line had markers that encouraged students to stay six feet apart. When it’s their turn, the student steps up to one of the testing stations. The stations were plastic folding tables that had an industrial sized bottle of hand sanitizer, half full test tube racks and a qualified nurse seated behind it. TESTING l A4
Dining prices raised Meal plans’ costs rise by 4% as three venues close in ACC BY EMMA VALLELUNGA News Editor
On-campus food and dining is different at SUNY Plattsburgh during the coronavirus pandemic. Some aspects have changed, some remain the same and some might never return. VENUES CUT IN HALF Before distance learning began last semester, there were eight dining venues on campus: Clinton Dining Hall, The Sundowner, Subway, Scoops, Griddles/ Sono, Einstein’s Bros. Bagels, Tim Horton’s and Samuel D’s. This semester, only four remain. The locations of Subway, Scoops and Griddles/Sono have JASON PARENT/Cardinal Points been closed. Colorful decals on the floor of the Angell College Center College Auxiliary Sermark where students should stand waiting in line to envices Director Dana Kellerter the Sundowner.
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man said this change was brought on by a few different factors, and the venues that SUNY Plattsburgh did close had been decreasing in popularity for a while. They were not closed solely because of the pandemic. “We track all the metrics of the students going in,” Kellerman said. “They were closed because of a decrease in attendance.” The Dining Advisory Committee is a subcommittee within CAS made up of a small group of rotating students, a few dining associates and campus dietician Jeff Vallee. The DAC gives feedback to CAS about which services are doing well and which ones are not. “The goal of the DAC is to find that really nice balance where it allows us to project the best cost at the greatest value in options,” Vallee said. But while Subway and Scoops have closed, the menus of Griddles/Sono are still available. Items like Griddles breakfast sandwiches, Sono bur-
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rito bowls and Scoops ice cream have moved to The Sundowner. Vallee said closing the venues and moving the items from one location to another evens out sales and traffic. “We’re not losing Griddles,” Vallee said. “We’re bringing the concept over to the Sundowner. I didn’t have an issue with that, and neither did the [DAC] students. The only thing we’ve really lost is Subway.” With fewer dining options, SUNY Plattsburgh, like many other SUNYs, had to raise their student meal plan costs by 4% due to COVID-19 and the rise in food costs across the U.S. by 4.1%. Kellerman said there are no plans to move any other dining venue into the space where Subway and Griddles/Sono used to be, also known as Burghy’s. It remains as additional seating in case of overcapacity in The Sundowner.
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Pi Kappa Phi was issued a cease and desist activities order, and nine of its student members have been issued interim suspensions, Presid e n t Alexander Enyedi a n nounced to students via email last Friday. The cease and desist order came after SUNY Plattsburgh’s University Police became aware of and broke up a loud party the fraternity held at 5088 South Catherine St. Aug. 22 — two days before classes started. A cease and desist activities order prevents Pi Kappa Phi from functioning as a student organization. Despite that, some members of the fraternity allegedly broke the cease and desist order and conducted recruitments activities, some of which were prohibited even without the cease and desist order, according to University Police Chief Patrick Rascoe. Student conduct charges were then filed against nine members of Pi Kappa Phi and were also placed on interim suspensions. Student members of Pi Kappa Phi also allegedly violated local laws relating to alcohol, nuisance, hazing and endangerment, according to Enyedi’s email. The suspended students are not allowed on campus until further notice and cannot physically attend classes or go to campus facilities. “I am grateful for the work of University Police and collaborative work with the Plattsburgh Police Department over the past week in bringing these matters to court and the Office of Student Conduct,” Enyedi wrote. “We will remain aggressive about educating students and sharing the consequences. We take our responsibility seriously and we will not have a second chance to do this over.”
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News Editor Emma Vallelunga
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NEWS
Friday, Sept. 11, 2020
Aug. 21
University Police assisted the Plattsburgh City Police Department with an investigation into a violation of the NYS Pause Act, where a large group of students were gathering at Sailor Beach.
Aug. 22
A call was placed to University Police about a fraternity party at the Pi Kappa Phi house on South Catherine Street, which violates the NYS Pause Act.
Aug. 24
Resident Life staff in Adirondack Hall reported the odor of marijuana. University Police investigated, found a student in possession of a small amount of marijuana and referred them to Student Conduct.
Aug. 25
The fire alarm went off in MacDonough Hall. A student was found in possession of a small amount of marijuana and referred them to Student Conduct.
An on-campus student called University Police reporting a stolen bike from the storage room of Adirondack Hall.
Aug. 29
JASON PARENT/Cardinal Points
Burghy’s, which used to house Subway and Griddle’s/Sono’s, could host cooking classes in the future.
DINING Continued from page one Kellerman also said Burghy’s and Scoops inside the Campus Express Store have the potential to be turned into a lounge space or spare cooking class kitchens, but the Student Association will decide what becomes of those spaces.
In Moffitt Hall, a student was reported for harassCAFE OPENING SOON ment. Noah Kowalewsky was arrested and charged However, one new dining venue is supposed to with third-degree menacing and a class B misde- open this semester. Kent Hall’s renovation was finmeanor. Kowalewsky was arraigned in Plattsburgh ished this summer, and a dining space that overlooks City court and released. the Saranac River was built into the basement. Kent Cafe will serve fresh sandwiches, soups and more. It
A student called University Police to report a will reflect a similar menu to the former Little Al’s location attached to Algonquin Dining Hall. Little dumpster fire burning in front of Moffitt Hall.
Sept. 3
A student reported their debit card missing in the Angell College
Weekly Cartoon
Al’s officially closed at the end of last semester, and Algonquin has been closed since 2018. Vallee said a majority of Little Al’s customers were Anytime Meal Plan holders, which means students could get as much as a New-York-style deli sandwich, two choices of sides, a dessert and a drink for a single retail swipe. “With everything going on, I think Kent [Cafe] has the opportunity to be [popular],” Vallee said. “Everyone that I had ever shown Little Al’s to were always blown away, because for what you get and what you pay for, [it] could basically be two meals. They saw the value in it, but they never knew it was there.” But Kent Cafe is not open yet. The venue experienced some delays, according to Kellerman. While construction on the space was finished, the equipment installation was delayed due to the pandemic. Once the cafe is equipped and the health inspection passed, Kent Cafe is scheduled to open by early October if no other plans are postponed. “We’re all keeping our fingers crossed that as soon as that stuff is in there, we can train the dining associates on the new menu and get it running,” Kellerman said. DINING CHANGES Every dining venue on campus has adopted new restrictions to comply with COVID-19 safety precautions. Face coverings are required upon entering the venue and can be removed while sitting and eating. Tables have been reconfigured six-feet or more
TESTING Continued from page one The nurses wore powder blue hospital scrubs, blue gloves, and large clear face shields covering everything from their forehead all the way down to their chin. Nurses issued students with a cotton swab, which they were instructed to swab the inside of their cheek, avoiding their teeth, for at least 15 seconds. Jessica Tafuri, a freshman living in Whiteface Hall, was tested in the first round last Wednesday. “it wasn’t that bad. Definitely weird for me, but not that bad,” ROBERT SANCHEZ/Cardinal Points she said. After the swab, Tafuri put her cotton piece in a red-capped test tube that contained a biological solution and mixed the two to-
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apart to comply with social distancing protocols. Enhanced cleaning procedures, such as frequently wiping down tables and high-touch areas, have been implemented, and PPE like masks, gloves and plastic partitions have been provided for employee safety. Clinton, where the hall was renovated to accommodate a buffet-style and self-service dining experience, has now reverted back to service stations. Dining employees serve customers everything on paper or plastic, including drinks. There are no more dishes or silverware to wash. “[New York State Department of Health] required for dining services [on campuses] that were going to continue to serve to reduce their capacity by 50%,” Kellerman said. “Students have been great by abiding by that.” CAS has also continued to allow sick students to use their online ordering service through Chartwells. The service is reserved for students who may be quarantined or in isolation due to COVID-19. “Every morning, they can go in, see the menu for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and then we deliver it,” Kellerman said. “We implemented it right before COVID-19, because we had a few students who got sick, and it’s worked pretty well.” Clinton is also known for throwing themed dinners and entertainment, or legacy events, every semester with holidays like Oktoberfest or Mardi Gras to give students a more fun dining experience. But due to COVID-19, those dinners may have to wait. “Typically, the biggest take-away from a legacy event is the social aspect,” Vallee said. “It has entertainment, it has activities, and it’s packed. We won’t be doing it the same, but I see us doing the same menu for a day. Focus on the food but not so much the entertainment.” Kellerman is hopeful that on-campus dining will continue to be enjoyable for students despite the inconvenience of closed venues and less options that the pandemic has brought to so many college campuses nationwide. “For us, a lot of it has been really trying to make sure that from a dietary perspective, we’re able to continue to provide good service, make sure students have a variety with healthy meals and as much farm fresh goods as we can,” Kellerman said.
gether. Each test tube had a barcode that linked to an app where students can login with their student ID to track their test results. The next step would be to pool the samples together to properly follow this surveillance test. One of the Health Center nurses who was running one of these testing stations took the time to explain the technicalities of the next steps. “We take 12 red tubes and combine them into one large test tube with a matching code,” Daniel Snyder said, “We’ll run the COVID test on the large tubes, checking for any positives.” If any of the large tubes yielded a positive result, the school is forced to then go back and individually test each student from the 12 original samples. Snyder adds that SUNY Upstate may come in and perform the individual testing themselves, this secondary testing requiring the more common nasal swab test.
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The expectation from Snyder was that fewer than 1% of samples would come back positive. The first round of results came back last Friday when it was announced that no samples were tested positive. This statement was followed with many positive reactions from students, but Camelo is adamant that nothing will change. When asked what would happen if the campus had little to no positives, in regards to classroom and campus protocols, Camelo said: “It would mean what we’re doing to prevent this is working,” she said. “We do not want this to create a false sense of security. We don’t want to let our guard down.”
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News Editor Emma Vallelunga
This Week in Photos: Tests Photos by Dakota Gilbert and Gerianne Downs
Friday, Sept. 11, 2020
College students are tested regularly, but not quite like this. Sept. 2 marked the first day SUNY Plattsburgh students were tested for COVID-19. Nearly 500 students walked through the testing site in Algonquin Dining Hall, and zero results came back positive. More students were tested Wednesday with more to come next week.
Greeters met students at Algonquin Dining Hall to check their student IDs, asked them if they had any symptoms such as shortness of breath, fever, cough, etc., then asked if they engaged in any activity that might compromise their results, such as eating or drinking 30 minutes prior, teeth brushing and/ or mouth washing within the past three hours and smoking or vaping.
DAKOTA GILBERT/Cardinal Points
Students waited in a line last Wednesday that wrapped from the entrance to Algonquin Hall all the way into Little Al’s cafe. When it’s their turn, students approached one of the testing stations. Nurses wore powder blue hospital scrubs, blue gloves and large clear face shields covering everything from their forehead all the way down to their chin. Nurses issued students with a cotton swab, which they were instructed to swab the inside of their cheek, avoiding their teeth, for at least 15 seconds.
GERIANNE DOWNS/SUNY Plattsburgh
After providing a swab sample, students put their cotton piece in a red-capped test tube that contains solution to mix the two together. Each test tube has a barcode that links to an app where students can login with their student ID to track their test results.
GERIANNE DOWNS/SUNY Plattsburgh
SUNY Plattsburgh tested 449 students in its first round of pool testing last Wednesday. Zero samples tested positive for COVID-19. More students were tested Wednesday with even more of the approximately 1,600 on-campus students scheduled for testing next week.
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News Editor Emma Vallelunga
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Friday, Sept. 11, 2020
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An in-person class being held inside the Warren Ballrooms in the Angell College Center Thursday morning. The large room encourages students to stay socially distant.
Large in-person classes move to ACC BY ASHLEY ST. JOHN Staff Writer
A part of SUNY Plattsburgh’s solution to in-person instruction during the pandemic includes holding large classes in the Angell College Center. The Warren Ballroom and the Alumni Conference Room in the ACC have been used so that students can remain socially distanced while taking a class this semester. Desks have been moved into these rooms and spaced at least six feet apart from each other. Upon entry, all students are asked to sanitize their hands and then sanitize their desks as an extra precaution. While the move to these bigger rooms were necessary to help contain COVID-19, both students and professors are having a difficult time adjusting. With the rooms in the ACC being larger than regular classrooms, some students find it difficult to hear when their professors are speaking, especially because rooms like the Alumni Conference Room are carpeted, which muffles sound much more than a hard floor would.
Some professors who teach in the ballroom are finding it harder to hear students too just because of the size of the room. “When students try to answer a question, they speak too softly, and I and the class can’t always hear them, so I have to repeat what they say,” History Professor James Lindgren said. “I got a lapel microphone, but I don’t want to use the microphone at the lectern because it’s so far from the students, physically and psychologically.” Lindgren has been a professor for 36 years at SUNY Plattsburgh, 40 years all together. This semester he teaches U.S. Civ II and Cold War but only his U.S. Civ II is being taught in Ballroom B. Along with the issue of hearing students, Lindgren finds it difficult because the lighting in the ballroom isn’t as bright as light would be in a normal classroom. Lindgren said that they’re all doing their best. He’s used to teaching in Yokum Hall, where the corner rooms are up-close-and-personal so he got to know his students. Now, he said, the ballroom is cavernous, and that he won’t be able to get to know his students as well, especially with the masks cov-
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ering the bottom half of their faces. Isabella Minutillo, a junior biomedical sciences major, has two classes in the ballrooms. She has her genetics class in Ballroom A with Nancy Elwess and physics in Ballroom B with Ken Podolak. Minutillo also finds it a bit difficult to hear other students because of the mask restrictions so she said her professors will repeat what students say so that the rest of the class can hear. Minutillo said that for the most part it’s not too bad because she’s used to big lecture rooms, specifically Hudson 106, but that it’s strange being in the ACC rather than Hudson. She said that, rather than the three whiteboards given in Hudson 106, the professors now use a projector to write things that they need to show the students. “When I think of the ACC, I think of rush events and philanthropy [sorority] events, not school,” Minutillo said. “They’re trying their hardest to make it as normal as possible. It’s just weird.” Email ASHLEY ST. JOHN cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
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NEWS
News Editor Emma Vallelunga
SA Senate presents revised budget, appoints senators
BY ADEEB CHOWDHURY Staff Writer
Even in the midst of uncertainty, the Student Association remains steadfast in its goal to support, lead and inspire the SUNY Plattsburgh community. The semester’s first student senate meeting saw the approval of a revised budget, introduction of brand new members and plans for fresh activities. A key part of the meeting was SA Treasurer Ha Nguyen’s presentation of the updated fall 2020 budget. COVID-19 complications have led to uncertainty surrounding face-to-face events, meetings and logistics of many budgeted items, such as traveling, which has rendered much of the previously allocated funds unusable. Therefore, departments in charge of administration budgets, such as theater, the Learning Center/library, and Greek life, were contacted and have provided new figures. For example, the budget for music production has been lowered from $12,475 to $5,778. However, these new figures have been carefully calculated to ensure that students are still able to access these resources to the extent they need. Only superfluous expenses for services no longer usable this year due to COVID-19 restrictions have been eliminated. “Clubs budgets have been kept at a level sufficient for printing [and making copies to promote meetings/ events] if they had requested so in the previous spring budgeting season,” Nguyen said. If any club or student group needs to request funds for any reason, they must apply through Additional Allocations. The newly established FinanceActivity Ad-hoc committee shall review such requests up to $300. Larger requests will be reviewed by the senate. Additional Allocation forms are available online and should be submitted two days before each committee meeting. The total available funds for clubs
is $57,506 this fall. $333,713 has been allocated for services including SA activities open to all students, and $35,345 for theater, performance and arts departments. Prior to the revision, these figures were $161,041 for clubs, $365,617 for services and activities and $49,174 for performance and arts. The meeting also included the addition of fresh faces. Ahmed Metwaly was approved and sworn in as coordinator of academics unanimously. SA President Rudaba Ahmed personally testified to Metwaly’s leadership instincts and work ethic, and Senator Moussa Keita joined in with praise toward his refreshing forward-thinking nature. Ahmed, who has been interested in the Student Association since first coming to SUNY Plattsburgh, stressed the importance of making sure students receive guidance in all areas of academics. “What we’re going through right now is truly unprecedented,” Ahmed said. However, Ahmed is committed to “helping students in any way possible, whether that be issues with remote learning, coursework and anything else they may be struggling with.” Cristal Garcia was unanimously approved and sworn in as a brand new senator. She expressed her eagerness at experiencing new activities on campus, joining the senate being paramount among them. According to Ahmed, Garcia has consistently displayed exceptional leadership skills and involvement in student issues, especially those concerning inclusivity and diversity. Garcia also has particular interest in encouraging student input in campus services. She presented herself as an aspiring change-maker, determined to work for her community. Surabhi Parte was also approved as the new Student Association secretary. She described her excitement at the prospect of being a part of the association and commented that it had been
one of her goals since joining the university. “It’s truly an honor for me to be able to work with the Student Association,” Surabhi said. “I [am confident] that we will conquer all hurdles related to COVD-19 and manifest [our visions] quite gracefully.” Malik Donadelle was approved as Student Association photographer and videographer with full votes. Senator Naomi Tegybelu enthusiastically endorsed Donadelle, discussing his skills and remarked that he is the perfect candidate for the job. Donadelle described his excitement at the opportunity to “capture moments of these historic times we are facing,” and added that “doing it for the Student Association is a great start.” A new Rules and Procedures Policy was approved as well. Authored by Executive Vice President Jennifer Stanton, this outlines the responsibilities of senators, including the requirement to not miss more than three meetings. The policy also encouraged greater senator involvement in office hours, requiring higher attendance and for members to stay for longer. Finally, the senate discussed its new vision for navigating this uncertain year. Ahmed requested members to reach out to students and stay in touch with their needs. Senator Princess Danso encouraged more club activity through remote learning, and Senator Shannon O’Brien emphasized the need for an active arts department to promote a sense of community and spirit. Stanton mentioned a wide array of online events planned for the semester, including a Virtual Coffeehouse, as well as new ideas to promote student safety guidelines.
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Friday, Sept. 11, 2020
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FRIDAY, SEPT. 11, 2020
Partying policies push campus safety BY OLIVIA BOUSQUET Staff Writer
It’s time to put down the red solo cups and put on a mask, SUNY Plattsburgh students. President Alexander Enyedi cracked down on immediate suspensions after 43 students were caught partying at Sailor’s Beach Aug. 21. A police report said students were not following social distancing guidelines, and no face masks were worn. Students were required to leave campus Aug. 26, without any knowledge of a return date. “I would’ve hoped it would get people to stop and be more self aware,” SUNY Plattsburgh junior Maddy Zophy said, “but we are in college and we can’t tell people what to do.” Zophy had a normal college experience and doesn’t feel the need to party now, but she does feel bad for the freshmen. Fraternity parties were a weekly occurrence with hundreds of students wandering around downtown Plattsburgh. There was no need to socially distance from friends, or even wearing a mask for something as simple as going to brush her teeth down the hall. “I understand the school is trying to protect the community and the campus,” Zophy said, regarding the suspensions, “I feel like this was a stunt to be used as an example for the rest of campus.” The first-round of pool testing, a 10 to 15 second swabbing of the mouth, provided great success with zero positive cases of the 463 students tested. This is due to the diligence around campus, students wearing their masks and social distancing. Hawkins Pond has been quiet with few students soaking up the last days of summer on
the benches. The campus halls feel barren. But the problems lie behind the view of administrative eyes. “It’s frustrating to see people are going to parties without hesitation,” SUNY Plattsburgh freshman Colleen Edwards said. “It could potentially send everyone home; it affects everyone on campus.” Freshman Michael Brockway lives on campus in a suite of five, ranging from freshmen to seniors. The suite agreed to avoid parties and people who haven’t been adhering to social distancing guidelines. Students are being smart and aware of the pandemic’s repercussions. “I’ve been spending time by running a lot, fishing, exploring the local area and walking,” Brockway said. “I’ve been making good use of my time in other ways than partying and hanging out in large groups.” SUNY Plattsburgh students were required to send health screening forms prior to campus arrival, along with a continual daily self-screening. The staggered move-in of students allowed for less contact with others, along with precautionary measures in the dorm buildings. Water fountains are closed off, and limitations on entrances and elevator occupancy all work to reduce potential contact. SUNY Oneonta however, was in-class for one week before Gov. Andrew Cuomo sent in a SWAT team of 71 tracers and eight investigators. Aug. 30 SUNY Oneonta suspended classes for two weeks after large, off-campus parties caused over 100 positive COVID-19 cases. New York State guidance requires schools to return to remote learning for two weeks once cases reach 5% of the student population or 100 cases.
HANNAH DOWNS/Cardinal Points
Unfortunately for SUNY Oneonta, students were sent home Sept. 3 indefinitely for the fall semester when 389 people tested positive. The 6,000-student college is the first of the SUNY schools to stop inperson classes. College students are fortunate to be attending inclass courses. The student body actions should be held to the highest standard, in reflection of the school and of the individuals. Incoming students can be disheartened by the unusual circumstances, but it’s better than Zooming from bed at home. SUNY Plattsburgh’s serious protocols for students during the pandemic are saving the campus and community from an outbreak.
At the beginning of the semester, the Inter-fraternity Council met with each Greek organization to discuss rules and regulations during the pandemic. SUNY Plattsburgh fraternities/ sororities are not allowed to have social events with alcohol, and social events without alcohol must be approved by a committee. Each event must be submitted with guidelines on how social distancing will be possible and masks are mandatory. “Accountability is on the individual organizations,” IFC President Nicholas Avenia said. Greek life members are responsible for paying high dues, regardless of residing on campus or not. They care about staying, and have
been helping by volunteering at testing centers and outside of residence halls to enforce mask protocols through the community service app, Helper Helper. No one wants to be sent home. Except for the nine Pi Kappa Phi brothers, who were recently suspended for violating campus conduct standards. Partying risks the fraternity’s future on-campus, along with serious repercussions such as a judicial review and enrollment status. “We have to keep fraternities and sororities accountable, but we also have to keep the student body as a whole accountable,” Avenia said. “Housing and Residence Life seem to be doing a good job so far.”
Hand sanitizer is placed strategically around campus in high-traffic areas. Signs are posted across campus where to enter buildings and to wear a mask. Pool testing will continue. Students, faculty and staff are noticeably working to make campus safe. The semester is still in the beginning stages. Students cannot slack on washing hands, social distancing and wearing masks. If students remain resilient throughout the year, students won’t face the agony of packing up early to go home, again.
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‘I’m Thinking of Ending Things’ portrays relationship anxieties BY CAMERON KAERCHER Staff Writer
To watch a Charlie Kaufman movie for a realistic story, would be like listening to Cardi B to find lessons about existential pain. His most notable credit is co-writing the Oscar-winning screenplay for “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” a film about a broken-up couple who undergoes a medical procedure to erase each other from their memories. The concept of failed relationships comes back for his latest directorial feature. Adapted from Ian Reid’s 2016 novel of the same name, “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” portrays a young woman, Jessie Buckley, going on a road trip with her boyfriend, Jesse Plemons. While driving through the country-side to meet his parents, David Thewlis and Toni Collette, the young woman can’t help but think about breaking up with him. Even character names can be ZOE NGUYEN/Cardinal Points surprising in this film, so it is best
not to divulge too much. Kaufman’s work shares a lot with Reid’s novel, which is a fantastic read if one has the time, but the film adaptation still stands strong by itself. It is a purely cinematic work because it cannot be adapted back into a novel. The most talented writer could not convey Robert Frazen’s editing or Łukasz Żal’s cinematography because the film’s cinematic language is fluid. The writing would have to oscillate between English, French and Wingdings. If you can read a film as an interpretation of a person’s inner anxiety, rather than a literal A to B to C story, it will make more sense — evidently, it really doesn’t make sense. When the family is having dinner with Jessie Buckley, they keep forcing smiles and act on edge while being worried and not at all concerned with embarrassing their son. It is one re-animated chicken carcass away from David Lynch’s “Eraserhead.” There is great tension built through the way
Kaufman shoots this sequence, with long takes to emphasize the awkward silences and claustrophobic blocking of the characters. All four core performances are phenomenal; if there will be an Oscar ceremony this year, they should all be nominated. Toni Collette outdoes herself. Her performance in Ari Aster’s indie-horror hit, “Hereditary,” was rightly showered with praise for being so emotionally raw. There is a similar sense of brokenness here, but there’s another layer: she’s trying to hide it. It feels more nuanced and it leaves a lasting impression. A very important aspect of Charlie Kaufman’s writing is its self-aware nature. His screenplay for “Adaptation.,” would be the apex of that trait; a movie about a writer trying to write a screenplay about a New York Times article. Oh, and that protagonist’s name? It’s Charlie Kaufman.
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CARDINAL VOICE
Opinions Editor Jess Johnson
Friday, Sept. 11, 2020
Libras lack own personality BY ABIGAIL AZADIAN Contributor
Libras — grab some tissues, because no one is actually going to continue to buy into your fake persona. You’re not innocent. Libra suns tend to trigger savior complexes in people, mostly Earth signs. However, Capricorns are out of the question for Libras. Libras tend to be sad — for like five minutes, but don’t worry, if you put something shiny in front of them they’ll forget all about it. This zodiac likes the idea of Virgos until Virgos’ critical attitude towards everything kicks in which doesn’t take long. Libras don’t like to keep Virgos around beJASON PARENT/Cardinal Points
cause Virgos keep giving them reality checks they can’t handle. Libras are too frivolous to ever have something long lasting with Virgos. Mixing Taureans with Libras is a petty fight so bad no reality television show would want to air. Y’all are cute. Fighting over which one has better taste. Everyone knows y’all would bring home a dumpster on fire and call it art. It’s not edgy or unique, it’s lunacy. Will Libras ever stop romanticizing garbage? To be clear, Libra suns’ taste in lovers? Trash. Taurus and Libra alike, are ruled by Venus, but Libras make it known to everyone. It’s not because they actually care — they’re doing it for attention.
The water sign of air signs, Libras spiral too often to ever be on their A-game. Libras and Pisces are delusional on their own, but together they can trick anyone into their fantasy world. Libras and Pisces would make great writers with their imagination, if they could ever stop crying to actually pick up a pen and write. Cancers and Libras play therapy with each other. By “therapy,” they basically validate each other’s poor decisions and call it support. In order to see a growth in Libra, one must be around somebody who will call them out on thier lies and toxic behaviors. ZODIAC l A8
USPS struggles amid election race BY RIVER ASHE MANYARD Contributor
The United States Postal Service is one of the most crucial parts of the American infrastructure, making sure that citizens in almost every part of the country get their mail and important , packages. It is so crucial, it is written into the United States Constitution. However, it is not government funded, and relies on the sales of stamps, packaging and the costs of shipping to survive. The USPS delivers to low-income and remote areas where Amazon and FedEx do not, charges a fraction of the price than other shipping services do and makes sure residents in rougher neighborhoods can receive and send packages with relative ease. Despite this, President Donald Trump has begun trying to dismantle it piece by piece, determined to make matters worse, during a global pandemic in the middle of an election year. He also bashed USPS in a tweet December 2017: “Why is the United States Post Office, which is losing many billions of dollars a year, while charging Amazon and others so little to deliver their packages, making Amazon richer and the Post Office dumber and poorer? Should be charging MUCH MORE!” The first step of his campaign to sabotage the mail-in voting system was put into place with the appointment of the new postmaster general, Louis DeJoy. DeJoy is one of the President’s top
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donors, according to Newsweek. He has contributed more than $360,000 in funding Trump’s campaign since the beginning of the year. He also used to own a very successful rival company to the USPS, called New Breed Logistics, but sold it for a reported $615 million, according to The New York Times. DeJoy has been a hugely detrimental addition to the USPS. He has sent memos to employees, telling them to stop recording their hours of overtime work, and to leave mail behind if it would make their routes slower, men-
tioned by Business Insider. Extra and late trips for left-behind mail are now prohibited, meaning that DeJoy has prioritized saving money over making sure that mail gets delivered promptly. This would not be such an issue if the use of the USPS didn’t plummet during the COVID-19 pandemic, and, if so many Americans did not depend on the system for key items such as the delivery of life-saving medications and the sending of mail-in votes in the upcoming election — something that has been encouraged, if not mandated, be-
cause of pandemic restrictions. Since his appointment, various people on Twitter have claimed to see the removal of USPS mail trucks and post boxes. One user named Ricky Davila tweeted a picture of locked mailboxes in Burbank, California, on Aug. 16. The image caused a flurry of concerned activity, with people insisting that this was clearly blocking people from using the facilities and showing what would happen when the election came around. These images have been debunked as normal post office happenings. However, the locked mailboxes were shown to be open on the other side, and the fear of mail tampering is real and rampant across social media. Besides having a postmaster general meddling in one of the most important services in America, Trump has shockingly admitted that he wants the post offices to fail, stating in an interview with Fox Business: “They need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots. If they don’t get those two items, that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting because they’re not equipped to have it.” His attitude towards the USPS system is both conniving and classist and reveals a deep-seated fear of his that could easily become reality.
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‘Anna and the French Kiss’ storyline runs sour BY MAHPHARAH KHAN Contributor
“I’m weird. I’m a weirdo. I don’t fit in, and I don’t want to fit in.” The “I’m not like other girls” epidemic has unfortunately reached young women for quite some time now. This phenomenon states that some women are better than other women because their personalities, outfits and indie music taste isn’t like how other women portray themselves online. This is a laughable notion because these ‘‘different’’ women think normal activities, such as sleeping and eating habits, is what sets them apart from the mainstream media. It’s supposed to seem “relatable” and “quirky.” OK. Stephanie Perkins manages to encapsulate misogyny and girl-on-girl hate all in one book. Anna and the French Kiss follows Anna, who is sent to an American boarding school in Paris for her senior year of high school. Her only personality trait is that she likes movies and wants to be a film critic. While there, she meets Étienne and they are immediately attracted to each other. They are held back from being together for one reason: Étienne has a girlfriend. This does not hold them back, however. They emotionally and physically cheat, and receive no repercussions for their actions simply because everyone can see how “special” their love is. They are soulmates and this means that all is forgiven even though they hurt others in the process. Sounds like any teen romance film — ever. Throughout the novel, Perkins conveys that because Anna is not like the other girls and because
she is pure — in other words, a virgin — , she is more deserving than those who are not. This notion links purity with morality, which is a toxic message to send to teenage girls who are the target audience for her books. Because there has been a rapid increase in social media since the book’s release in 2010, it is even more dangerous for girls to adopt this mindset because the media is extremely accessible now. Teenage girls are impressionable and if an author who is way older, tells them they will only get what they want if they are pure, it will damage their view of themselves and their relationships with others. This encourages the idea that sex is bad, virginity is good. This stems from the misogynistic notion that sex is only valuable to produce children, when in fact, it is much more than that. Perkins heavily implies that Étienne and his girlfriend, Ellie, have sex. However, when Étienne hears a rumor about Anna having sex with another guy, he is nervous and it clearly bothers him although he and Anna are not together. When Anna finally tells Étienne that the rumor isn’t true, he breathes a sigh of relief, conveying that it would have been a problem if the rumor had been proven true. Perkins’ message is clear: it was OK for Étienne to have sex, but not for Anna. This detail is rooted in misogyny, and it shows to teenage girls that they will win the affections of the boy they like simply because they are pure. This message is not only detrimental to girls and women but to boys and men as well.
MISOGYNY l A8
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Opinions Editor Jess Johnson
Friday, Sept. 11, 2020
We can watch the film, experience it and then bring it with us to our friends. It is a conversation starter. What is the janitor’s relationship to the boyfriend and girlfriend, why does the girlfriend reference “A Woman Under the Influence,” and Continued from six why does a teenage character have a rash all over her hand? In a time where definite answers about our future are few In July of this year, Kaufman published his debut novel, and far between, “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” gives some “Antkind,” about a film critic who in multiple instances dicomfort. vulges his hatred for Kaufman’s films.
CINEMA
If this sounds daunting, it’s because it is. That is why cinema is a shared experience. One big positive in the film’s release plan is the film didn’t play at festivals months before its nationwide release date. There aren’t a lot of over-hyped reactions to early screenings to sift through, just the standard early press reviews. A majority of the film still has to be dissected and it can be done publicly by us.
ZODIAC Continued from seven Libras don’t invite Scorpios to their subpar dinner parties for this reason. Also, crying in the shower counts — stop playing yourself. Giving life to the fire signs until the fire is uncontrollable, Libras are the perfect contender. Leos need Libras to fuel their egotistical flame, and Libras are there to take Leo’s personality as their own. Aries and Libras are sister signs, but that doesn’t mean they get along. Like siblings, if they’re in a room together, they’ll fight for the room’s attention. Just drop it, Libras, you’ll never win
Continued from seven If people in low-income, liberal, or predominantly colored neighborhoods aren’t faced with the usual gerrymandering voting problems and can vote by mail, the chances of him being kicked out of office are astronomically higher. Luckily for America, Postmaster General DeJoy may not be in his position much longer. Allegations have come to light accusing him of forcing employees in his other company to make contributions to the Republican party, and then reimbursing them through company bonuses and funds, according to Newsweek. The reimbursement of a political contribution is a felony offense.
Continued from page seven Perkins confirms to the majority of men they are right; women need to stay pure until they are married or with their soulmate as is suggested with Anna and Étienne. When men hear that women have had sex, it suddenly threatens their masculinity, which propels them to call women sluts, “thots” or dirty. Men will even get angry, which signifies their insecurity with their own masculinity, and how they always have to assert power with the topics associated with sex. Who are men supposed to have sex with if women are supposed to stay pure? This is why women aren’t exaggerating when we say we are afraid of men; when we act as an independent being while embracing our sexuality, we are ridiculed and abused for it. Étienne’s behavior can also be linked to how men prefer women are virgins and have been “untouched.” This thrills and excites them because it satisfies their sick desire of “taking” their virginity and being the only one who has touched them. This also perpetuates the stereotype that men are experienced and women are not. In reality, experience tends to be equal among the sexes, and men’s stereotypes are just ignorant. Abigail Azadian is a senior English language arts major at SUNY Plattsburgh. She suggests that in order for this narrative to end, there must be a shift in the language we use. “The language makes it a conquering thing. Someone is taking something from you or you’re losing something. That whole mindset makes it possessive, like a conquest or a game and whoever wins gets the toxic masculinity trophy,” Azadian said. There is a scene where Anna and Étienne sleep together in her bed, but they do not have sex. They still sleep together, despite knowing about Étienne’s girlfriend. Anna says: “I must be a masochist to keep putting
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against an Aries. Next time, don’t enter a competition — you are too sensitive to handle this type of rejection. Many Sagittarians are smart enough to not bring Libras around them, because they can’t take Libras’ lies and the latest personality they got from a movie/ book/friend/lover. Honestly, Libras with other Libras is a combination for a dumb outcome. No decisions get made because Libras need other people to make up their minds for them. Geminis are way too fast for Libras. Plus, Geminis change their personality so much, it’s hard for Libras to change theirs at the same pace. It’s a lost cause. Aquarians bring knowledge and facts that Libras love to ignore. Libras love to act smart, but really they’re just reiterat-
ELECTION
MISOGYNY
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ing the last podcast they heard. Aquarians have no problem popping Libras’ self-centered bubble to remind them of the bigger picture. Geminis and Aquarians can see right through it and will hold them accountable. Libras’ true match isn’t with any zodiac sign. Instead, they’re a perfect match for attention, expensive clothes and questionable decisions. Any zodiac sign will want a Libra while they’re dining out, because they are the sign that will flirt with the server to get free dessert. Of course they’re doing it for validation, but who doesn’t like free dessert?
Email ABIGAIL AZADIAN cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
President Trump is being forced to go along with the investigation, saying in a news conference on Monday that he would be, “open to investigating and potentially removing the head of the U.S. Postal Service over allegations of campaign finance violations,” according to Politico. It is clear from his previous remarks that he was, and is still, in full support of DeJoy’s actions. With 60 days left to go until the election, Americans need to be able to depend on the United States Postal Service to get their votes in and voices heard, as well as rely on it for its prompt and cheap delivery of mail across the U.S.
myself in these situations. I need help. I need to see a shrink or be locked in a padded cell or straightjacketed or something.” One cannot entirely blame Anna for her feelings at this moment. You can’t control who you are attracted to, but you can control your actions, however hard it may be. Anna associates pain and sickness with the feelings of desire and love — this is not love; rather, it is infatuation. Anna and Étienne abandon all conscience and continue to cross the line although they are fully aware their behavior is inappropriate. Christine Seifert discusses the problems with how virginity is explored in young adult literature in her book, “Virginity in Young Adult Literature After Twilight.” She mentions the image of love associated with pain, as not only Anna does but many other characters in young adult literature. “Tempting themselves in highly charged sexual situations but not being able to give in to the desire is a form of erotic pain. Readers vicariously experience this masochism. Readers might easily link masochism with romance, a problematic equation for teens who are just learning sexual scripts,” Seifert said. Another example of this is when Étienne is drunk: “His face is buried between my thighs. Under favorable circumstances, this would be quite exciting.” They want to fully give in to their desire, but are unable to because of Ellie. They continue to tempt themselves, believing that it is appropriate to act in such ways. They act like Ellie does not exist even though she seems to be their only obstacle. They do not care about her anyway, and it is extremely cruel and irresponsible to keep her in the shadows about the nature of their relationship. Cheating has always been abhorrent, but it has reached new levels with growing technology. Men and women are able to hide their sneaking around more, but at the same time it is easy to find evidence that one’s significant other may be cheating. Technology adds another layer of distrust if one has a history with
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cheating because it adds to the manipulation — people and situations can be easily fabricated or deleted. Seifert also notes: “Feminist scholar Jessica Valenti calls America’s obsession with abstinence “the purity myth,” a cultural idealogy that conflates passivity — the act of not having sex — with superior morality. As Valenti argues, ‘you can be vapid, stupid, and unethical, but so long as you’ve never had sex, you’re a ‘good’ (i.e. ‘moral’) girl and therefore worthy of praise.” Anna certainly is vapid, stupid and unethical, but she is still painted as a moral character despite her severe errors in judgement. We, as the reader, are supposed to feel bad for her and we are supposed to root for her even though all of her actions say otherwise. Étienne basically insults Ellie by calling her “nothing” compared to Anna, which perpetuates the “I’m not like the other girls” narrative. Why does he have to put down another girl in order to fully convey his true feelings to Anna? Why do men find their confidence in belittling other women? Because they can’t find it anywhere else. “I think you can read anything as long as you have a critical lens,” Azadian says. “If girls have never thought deeply about the idea, then it could be a good book for them to learn from it.” The problem with “Anna and the French Kiss” lies with the fact that it is seen as a quirky and cute young adult teen romance, despite the cheating that takes place. If girls should read this book, they need to be aware of how this story perpetuates certain misogynistic notions. “Anna and the French Kiss” serves as an example of what authors should not include in their young teen romances. A cliche narrative.
Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Fernando Alba Opinions Editor Jess Johnson
News Editor Emma Vallelunga
Graphics Editor Nghi To
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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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Criss overcomes obstacles, helps others BY ANGELICA MELARA Staff Writer
Local Sibley Day Care staff member and senior at SUNY Plattsburgh, Danielle Criss is a human development, family relations major with a concentration in child care management. Growing up in the North Country, and attending Plattsburgh High School, Criss discovered a passion for teaching kids. During her high school years, she joined a mentoring program where she mentored middle schoolers. This is where she found out she wanted to pursue education. She later earned her associate degree in adolescent education at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse. Criss had many influences as a child that helped her realize she wanted to be an educator, her father and grandmother being two of them. When she was younger, Criss struggled with a learning disability, however, her father would sit with her to do assignments and when she got frustrated, her father would help her to calm down, and would tell her to try again. This is when she learned that she shouldn’t be ashamed of her disability, and just needed to advocate for herself to understand what she needed. “Growing up with a learning disability at first you just think, ‘Well I’m dumb, and I can’t do this’, or ‘Why is this the case for me,’” Criss said. “It definitely made me stronger and more resilient in figuring out this is how I have to handle a situation.” When she transferred to SUNY Plattsburgh, the faculty of the Student Support Services helped her a lot. “Between my writing coach, Natasha, my academic adviser Isaac and my testing service coordinator, Laura, I was able to get the services I needed,” Criss said. She also explained that everyone in the SSS office is very easy to get a hold of and always made sure she was on top of her tasks. “They gave me little bits of encouragement, but also pushed me to know that I was at school for a reason, and they are here to help me accomplish my goals,” she said. Laura Cronk, Criss’ testing service coordinator describes Criss as being “Caring and loving.” She also said that Criss is always there for others even when she is going through something herself. Having helped her so much, Cronk is able to see how generous, empathetic and devoted Criss is. She explained how after her transfer, Criss immediately joined many groups around campus. Some of the organizations Criss is a part of include the Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir, Praise Dance, the Chinese Association and the Korean Association. Something that she said she’ll miss this semester is the Night of Nations, an event held on campus where everyone is invited to celebrate their different backgrounds and cultures. After transferring to SUNY Plattsburgh in her junior year, she decided to further her studies by switching her major to Early Education. “Working with little kids is kind of my passion,” Criss said. This is one of the reasons as to why she decided to apply to Sibley Day Care. Criss’ mother is the one who originally informed her about the job openings at the daycare. With her only experience working with little kids being babysitting when she was younger, she was hesitant to send in her
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Danielle Criss works at the daycare in Sibley Hall, the same daycare she attended as a child. She hopes to be an infant head teacher in her own classroom. application. However, she sent in the papers and has since been working there for three years. Something that Criss finds funny about her experience with working at the daycare is that some of her coworkers were her caretakers at the daycare when Criss and her brother originally attended. “When I got there, it was the same people working there,” Criss said. “It’s been over 10 years, so it’s interesting that the same people that took care of me are still there. They look and act the same.” Usually, Criss works at the daycare full-time in the summer, and during the school year, will work only one day a week. However, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, her work at the daycare has increased. She explained how there has been a push for locals to continue to work throughout the year. Looking into the future, Criss said she would love to be an infant head teacher and have her own classroom. She has a love for decorating, organization and a Pinterest board of ideas that she’d love to incorporate into a real life classroom. A difference in her work life is wearing masks each day. Adults at the daycare must always wear masks, and parents are no longer allowed to take their kids to the classrooms. The children are not required to wear masks, but must be dropped off outside of the building where they are escorted by a staff member to their classrooms in order to help stop the spread of the virus. Criss usually works with kids ages one to five, and because little kids are “constantly putting their hand in their mouths or touching each other or sneezing on
each other, we try to do the best we can with keeping them clean and keeping the area clean.” Criss explained that when the kids go down for a nap, the room is disinfected, and once all the children have gone home for the day, the staff members deep clean the room. There have been many changes in Criss’ life due to COVID-19. When she’s not at the daycare, she is doing her assignments for her in-person classes. She commutes to school each day at six in the morning, but her day gets easier when she visits her father’s office on campus. She’ll occasionally stop by his office for a hug or to get some money for lunch. Something else that helps her get through the school day is the memory of her late brother Dalton. Having passed away a week before the start of his first freshman semester in the fall of 2019. He was going to study criminal justice with a minor in music. “It’s a bittersweet feeling thinking we would have been walking the same halls again like primary school,” Criss said. Criss is a very optimistic person, and is able to see the light in every situation. This is what she does with the memory of her brother. She uses the memory of him as motivation to keep going with her studies. She said that this is what is able to help her keep a smile on her face. Email ANGELICA MELARA cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
PLATTSBIRD Continued from page twelve
She joined forces with artist Amy Guglielmo, known for her ability to educate and inspire young artists, in 2016 and attracted resident attention with tile-making events for the Mountain Lake Mandala mural on the outside of Our House Bistro, which honors the city’s Tibetan culture and community. Murals are still painted around the downtown area four years later. However, the latest art may be the most powerful, according to locals. The migrations mural outside on Court Street portrays a majestic, blue tree heavily splattered with red dye. On the long branches, lay a plethora of birds from various corners of the earth its signature feature. “The mural blends colorful creations by local artist Gharan Burton, born and raised on the Caribbean island of Dominica, and Amy Guglielmo, born and raised in Plattsburgh, New York,” Devine said. “The mural is dedicated to the immigrants and visitors to our city.” Last Saturday, a team of
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The birds on the mural symbolize Plattsburgh’s multicultural community. It took four days to paint. artists made up of SUNY Plattsburgh international students, international artist residents, and local artists painted a variety of birds to symbolize Plattsburgh’s ever-growing multicultural and intercultural community according to Devine. The endeavor lasted for four days.
Some of the birds depicted in the mural include: parrot, zebra finch, North American finch, goose, nuthatch, blue bird, heron, chickadee, crow, arctic tern, cardinal, dove, kievit, owl, red winged blackbird, female mallard duck, garlic rooster, loon, peacock, hummingbird,
robin, oriole, pelican and many more. In the future, Devine plans to have more birds pop up in unexpected places downtown. In the works is a site where you can learn about each artist and the bird they painted. “As an instructor at SUNY Plattsburgh in the
theatre and English departments and former coordinator for the shortlived Center for Community Engagement at the college,” Devine said, “I’ve always been passionate about involving students in the community. The students bring so much life and culture to our
small town.” SUNY Plattsburgh art major Winosha Steele Micheal said she braved the dry, intense Plattsburgh heat in order to paint the beautiful frigate bird, one native to her hometown island Antigua. Micheal spent four days painting a cardinal to represent SUNY Plattsburgh, the frigate bird and the jamaican doctor bird as per request by Island Vybez owner Showayne Telfer. Telfer owns the only convenience store with jamaican products like drinks and cuisine within miles of the North Country. He wanted Micheal to paint the doctor bird to symbolize his and his family’s existence within the downtown area. Micheal agreed and added the doctor bird to her list. “I feel like the mural welcomes everyone to Plattsburgh,” he said. “It’s good for the community, and I can teach my daughter about her heritage.” The migrations mural can be found on the outside wall of 17 Court St. near the town hall area.
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“This is an extracurricular drawing I did for a friend. I really enjoy creating colorful, trippy art.”
“I love winter, skiing and Whiteface, so I decided to make a cool sculpture to show my love and appreciation for the sport.”
Student Art Spotlight Morin Bissonette junior art major concetrating in ceramics and sculpture
“Here are some photos I took on a film camera. I really enjoyed the process of developing the pictures in the dark room.”
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FUSE Editor Alana Penny
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Recreation office hosts e-sports tournament BY NICKIE HAYES Staff Writer
Students looking for a way to stay involved from the dorms should look to SUNY Plattsburgh Recreation, because they are holding a campus wide ESports Tournament. The games available to participate in are FIFA 20, Madden 21, NBA 2K20, NHL 20 and Rocket League. COVID-19 has definitely taken a toll on the variety of activities SUNY Plattsburgh has to offer. However, this has not stopped the school from providing students with alternatives. Max Tompkins, a senior triple major in accounting, management and information systems and business administration, and a minor in business analytics, has been given the opportunity by Karen Waterbury, the director of Recreation and Club Sports, to oversee the ESports Tournament.
ARIES
Tompkins has been working in the SUNY Plattsburgh Recreation office since his freshman year. Imleague.com is the website allowing him to create the ESports tournament. It allows Max to connect with the student participants using their Plattsburgh email accounts. Tompkins said Waterbury chose this activity because she was inspired by what SUNY Oswego was providing for its students. Thus, leading to the decision to create a regular five week season tournament. “Oswego was having two day tournaments, and that sounded like a good idea,” Tompkins said.“I know a lot of people who play NBA 2K, FIFA, and stuff like that.” He thought that those students would be interested in playing one best-ofthree game per week like how they used to do three-versus-three games in the basketball gym. His goal was to provide
CANCER
freshmen, along with all the other students at SUNY Plattsburgh with some competitive natured games and interaction between students. “I rather have that, then have another 43 students suspended to go to a beach party,” Tompkins said. Tomkins said that FIFA 20, Madden 21, NBA 2K20, NHL 20 and Rocket League aligned best with the Plattsburgh Recreation because they are based on the traditional sports held in the fall semester. He also stated that there could be an extension for sign up dates. The start dates for each game tournament were Monday for FIFA 20, Tuesday for Madden 21, Wednesday, for NBA 2K20 and Rocket League and Thursday for NHL 20. Tompkins said that there are bracketed finals after the regular five seasons. “I am going to figure out how to do the playoffs, and it is not set in stone, just because of bracket sizing,” Tomp-
LIBRA
kins said. So, if students do not do as well in the regular five seasons, there is still an opportunity for the players to get into the finals. There are nine leagues between the five games, and nine people will be taking home the champion shirts, which is the prize for the playoff winners. The use of either Xbox or Playstation is always a hot-button topic within the community. For the students at Plattsburgh, Tompkins said the Playstation is going to be the more popular console used by the participants. There will be something different for every student, even through the madness of COVID-19.
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CAPRICORN
March 21 - April 19
June 21 - July 22
September 23 - October 22
December 22 - January 19
You appear to feel some disconnect between your identity and people around you. You don’t feel seen for who you are and it frustrates you. Remember that people don’t know what is going on beneath the surface and you tend to only let people see the parts of you that you know people will clap for.
This weekend you’ll want to keep to yourself and you may seem a bit moody. This is not a large worry though, by the end of the week you’ll feel very productive. You might even want to start a home project or simply tidy up around your home.
You might feel like your energy is rapidly draining. Part of you wants to be with friends— to go out and have fun. Yet, there’s another part of you that just wants to stay home and spend some time alone. You’ll perk up by the end of the week.
You will have a lot of trouble with communication across ages. You just don’t know how to tell anyone what you think. You don’t have to have an answer for everything or reply to everyone right away. Sometimes it is better to see how things turn out on their own.
TAURUS
LEO
SCORPIO
AQUARIUS
April 20 - May 20
July 23 - August 22
October 23 - November 21
January 20 - February 18
There’s been a large focus on your professional and public life. You have currently been awarded with promotions which means more responsibilities. You know you can handle the work, but you also have felt drained more often than not. Take some time to rest.
You might feel a lot of pressure to perform your best in areas of school and work. You typically overachieve and want to be the best of the best, but lately you’ve been having trouble getting into a routine. Start by taking small steps in whatever direction you are heading.
You will feel like you have to make a split with some of your habits in order to be emotionally stable. But you’ll also feel like you can somehow work it all out. Sometimes cutting ties is necessary to grow.
There will be a big change in your focus. If you haven’t already, you are going to want to start becoming closer to people around or start dating again. If you’re in a relationship, your bonds will be stronger.
GEMINI
May 21 - June 20
There’s been a lot of friction in your group of friends that has been weighing heavily on your mind. Being ruled by Mercury, you should try writing your thoughts as a way to cope with your feelings. It will also organize your scatterbrain.
VIRGO
August 23 - September 22
The end of the week you’ll feel like everything is finally coming together. There’s still work to be done but you can take a pause for now and enjoy what you have accomplished so far.
SAGITTARIUS
PISCES
November 22 - December 21
February 19 - March 20
You feel like there have been many restrictions placed on you at this time, and unsure about how to adjust. There’s been a major upheaval in your priorities. This has caused a lot of frustrations, but you are finally starting to adapt.
You don’t feel quite yourself, but that’s okay. You’re learning a lot of important lessons right now, especially boundaries. Be patient and diligent with yourself. Remember to not waste time on things that will distract you.
Student art spotlight, A10
l a ur m s n w n r e N ado tow n w o d
s wa h a g u r a re b ts wn 9 l a t n to P lA f ow o D d ty IR Ci ty ’s B e S ci th TT ht the A g H ou ve PL IT t h to g i e SM r t in O o ev ugh AE ribut D o T s lia MA Cont Ju vine Y r B r. de De u n a l s, co l o o F ur of ot C o f m ro p s c oje t y l d Pr e c i e r a t th sev Ar ic hia, l ub lp h P ilade g h ur sb to P t t a ve l P i r t : Na t A . de art tsi in u O i ng k lac
Aurelie Wolf/Cardinal Points