SUNY Plattsburgh’s independent student newspaper since 1997
FRIDAY, OCT. 2, 2020
CARDINALPOINTSONLINE.COM
VOLUME 103 - ISSUE 5
SA struggles to engage students BY ADEEB CHOWDHURY Staff writer
AUDREY LAPINSKI/Cardinal Points
Students held a demonstration outside of the Angell College Center last Friday after the Louisville grand jury’s decision to not charge officers for murder after Breonna Taylor’s death.
Demonstration, virtual space held for Breonna BY ALANA PENNY FUSE Editor
After more than 100 days of protests and months of investigation into her death, the two officers who shot Breonna Taylor in her home, were not charged with her death. One of the officers was charged with endangering Taylor’s neighbours by recklessly firing his gun. The
GEO hopes for study abroad BY EMMA VALLELUNGA News Editor
When the thought of traveling seems more like a daydream to most people right now, SUNY Plattsburgh’s Global Education Office is helping students plan for their future when the fate of study abroad and international student admissions programs feels unknown during the COVID-19 pandemic. GEO Coordinator of Study Away Brooke Layhee said all study abroad programs were canceled for this semester due to the pandemic. Only three students are currently studying out of New York state on national student exchange programs in New Jersey, Florida and Hawaii. ABROAD l A4
grand jury made their decision Sept. 23 and protests in Louisville have been taking place since. Last Friday the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion held a virtual processing space for students, faculty and staff. Attendees were put into Zoom calls based on their racial identity, black, indiginous and people of color or people of whiteness, and
then separated students from staff. At the end, everyone met on Rugar Street to show solidarity and support for BIPOC students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the Plattsburgh community. Rebecca Coolidge, a senior social work major and intern for the Center for Diversity Equity and Inclusion, facilitated the students of whiteness group. There were
about six students in the group. She said the groups were split to allow students of whiteness to process their emotions surrounding Taylor’s death and the outcome of the trial without hindering their BIPOC peers’ processing. This is so that in the future, they can support their BIPOC peers without inflicting anymore trauma on them. They opened the group
meeting by listening to a poem by Aja Monet, a contemporary poet, called #SayHerName. Assistant Professor of political science John McMahon said the poem brought up the idea that white people’s freedom is ‘tied up’ with black people’s freedom.
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It was evident from the start that SUNY Plattsburgh’s Student Association Executive Council’s meeting on Sept. 28 would take a more somber tone than usual. Throughout almost the entire meeting, members reflected on and discussed a clear shortcoming of the SA this year — encouraging student engagement and participation in college events amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Coordinator of Activities Lauren Safford began by asking what events students want. She pointed out that the Activities Coordination Board Committee, which she oversees, has been struggling to devise events that will attract participation from the student body. SA Adviser Jacob Avery agreed, pointing out the SA had hosted eight events so far this year, four of which had zero students attending. Events like Coffee House have not enjoyed much success recently, signifying that new events and ideas are needed to energize the student body. ENGAGE l A5
CAs, CDs keep campus housing programs alive BY NICKIE HAYES Staff Writer
A pandemic like COVID-19 is something that constitutes a great feat for community advocates and community directors who are trying to create new programs for students living on campus. Samuel Rivera, a senior nutrition major with a minor in chemistry, is a CA for Mason Hall. He said because of COVID-19, he has not had as many opportunities to connect with residents since the start of this semester. Rachel Green, a sophomore education major concentrating in English, lives in Hood Hall. She said that CAs, CDs and staff have tried to make everything feel as normal as possible. The programs in each hall vary depending on what the CDs and CAs come up with in team meetings and through brainstorming sessions. In Mason Hall, CAs have
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done virtual events. However, they have made it interesting by doing karaoke, trivia and a photography bingo. Photography bingo was the first activity of the semester in Mason that was not fully online. The students went around campus, taking pictures and figuring out the clues of what places they had to find. Rivera said it was like a scavenger hunt bingo. “We are just trying to make some of living on campus resemble what it normally is,” he said. Rachel Gamache, a second year graduate student, working toward her masters degree in speech language pathology, is the CD for Kent and Macomb hall. In Kent and Macomb, they have made a semesterlong Olympic Games program for their residents. Specific to Kent and Macomb Halls, each activity within the program a student attends, participates in, or possibly wins, earns a cer-
tain amount of points. The point system in their program model allows for students to win larger than normal prizes at the end of the semester. Some of the programs will be held in person and outside. They will follow the campus guidelines like social distancing. Programs held in person and inside are regulated by the set maximum occupancy for the area, and there is a maximum of 10 people who can be at a program in general. Green said in Hood Hall her CA provided an online monopoly program for her and the other residents, and the basic floor meetings have also been online. Rivera said this year, they do not have a spending budget for their programs, like they usually had in past years because of COVID-19. He explained that it is on a per-request basis. Gamache said there are resources on campus that CAs and CDs can
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use when creating their programs that have been previously purchased in the past as materials. Green said because she is in a suite, she can still have normal interaction with the four other students, and it
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makes residence life on campus a little easier. The main difference for her from last year to this year overall is to be more mindful. HOUSING l A4
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NEWS
News Editor Emma Vallelunga
Friday, Oct. 2, 2020
Sept. 26
University Police found individuals throwing pumpkins in Lot 18 behind Moffitt and Wilson Hall. There was no damage discovered upon investigation. Also in the wooded area behind Lot 18, a student under the age of 21 was found in possession of alcohol. Student Conduct charges were filed.
Sept. 28
An individual came into the UP station to report something stolen from their unlocked vehicle in the upper section of Lot 18.
Weekly Cartoon
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Democractic mayoral candidate Chris Rosenquest was a guest on Late Night for the Planet with professor Curt Gervich and students Samantha Beck, Emma Stewart, Hadar Pepperstone, Clarice Knelly and Chloe Bashy.
Student-run podcast interviews Plattsburgh mayoral candidates BY DREW WEMPLE Staff Writer
Members of the local, student-run environmental podcast Late Night for the Planet had the chance to sit down and talk with two Plattsburgh mayoral candidates in a particularly unordinary fashion. Late Night for the Planet broadcast their Zoom call with the candidates Sept. 23 via a Facebook livestream that had an overall reach of about 2,000 people. The group usually meets at Olive Ridley’s on Court Street once a month to record its shows, but due to COVID-19, they have transitioned to Zoom calls. The premise of the talk show is a group of students discussing various environmental issues. This month’s episode was politics and the environment. The stream began with
a brief introduction from all of its attendees before they welcomed on their first guest. Chris Rosenquest, the Democratic candidate, was asked first, why he decided to run. “I had a strong desire to fulfill my life’s purpose,” Rosenquest said. “I want to contribute to my community in a way that will make a profound difference.” It became clear that Rosenquest had a very strong connection to his campaign. He said he made the decision while sitting in his car just waiting for a red light to change one day. “If I didn’t do it, I’d be on my deathbed wondering,‘What if?” Rosenquest said. After Rosenquest’s response, the group moved into questions surrounding his plans as mayor. He then received question-
ing about the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The DRI is what the City of Plattsburgh deemed to be a part of a phase one DRI community that would receive $10 million for economic investment. Rosenquest discussed how he would like for the city to invest more in its lake and riverfront areas instead of the city’s initial plan to build apartment complexes on Durkee Street. The group then followed up by asking Rosenquest about his thoughts on the Black Lives Matter movement. Rosenquest, a person of color, doesn’t support defunding the police. “I’ve experienced racial injustices in my community,” Rosenquest said. “It shaped me. It is time for people in our country and community to be treated equally.” Rosenquest finished up by discussing the Plattsburgh community rela-
tionship to the college community. He advocated for community conversations. “The community needs to be more welcoming, and the students need to be more engaged,” Rosenquest said. Then, the group moved into a game called ‘Where is it?’ They shared their screen with Rosenquest, and they began to show him a series of four pictures. He had to guess where in the city each of those pictures was taken. They showed him tiny snapshots of the bird mural on Court Street, an LGBTQ+ flag outside Plattsburgh’s Planned Parenthood, a wall of ivy on the side of the Plattsburgh City library and an airplane turbine alongside the roundabout on Rt. 9. Rosenquest guessed them all right.
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Campus COVID-19 Tracker Number of active COVID-19 cases within SUNY Plattsburgh community:
0
AUDREY LAPINSKI/Cardinal Points
Demonstrators stand outside the Angell College Center last Friday with fists raised in protest against the grand jury’s decision.
Number of recovered COVID-19 cases BREONNA within SUNY Plattsburgh community: Continued from page one
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“I strongly believe that addressing and redressing antiblack racism is something that white folks need to take collective and individual responsibility for,” McMahon. “And I think that something like the Say Her Name: Breonna Taylor space is part of
the self-reflection and education work that is necessary for that.” Coolidge said the space showed her how many supportive students of witness there are at SUNY Plattsburgh. She said this is important to have because forcing a BIPOC student to think about and discuss situations like Tayor’s death with a person of whiteness can lead to more trauma for them. “It helped me to see other people
with my skintone who were just as outraged and saddened by what was going on and the things that we were seeing and hearing in the media and social media,” Coolidge said. “It really helped me validate that we are fighting for the right thing when we are working towards equity and equality.”
CP Corrections There are no errors to report this week. If you see an error in Cardinal Points, email cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
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News Editor Emma Vallelunga
NEWS
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Friday, Oct. 2, 2020
History major David Ross wears a reversable mask his grandmother made for him. “[The pandemic has been] very isolated. Not very good for extroverts,” he said. “Food is not good,” Ross said about campus life this semester. “Quality of food definitely declined. A lot less people and a lot less crowded.”
This Week in Photos: Masks Photos by Audrey Lapinski Masks have become a part of our daily life during the pandemic. They are essential to our health and safety, but they’ve become more than that to others. They’re fashionable, political statements and even a reflection of the wearer’s personality. That’s no different among SUNY Plattbsburgh’s students. Social work major Brooke Cipollone wears a mask decorated with giraffes. “[The pandemic] has been kind of lonely. Social distancing and staying home puts a damper on things,” she said. “It’s been so strange. There’s not enough people [on campus]. It’s like an apocalypse.”
Biochemistry major Shreshth Kumar wears a mask of the night sky SUNY Plattsburgh provided over the summer
“[The pandemic] has been interesting. I’ve had some introspection and a bunch of other things so yeah, it’s been helpful I think,”
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ABROAD Continued from page one No university partners with SUNY Plattsburgh have officially canceled their programs, except for the University of North Wales in Australia. About 30 students have applied for next semester’s NSE and study abroad programs, but for study abroad, Layhee said there’s no guarantee those will still run as of now. “We’re working with students who do have an application in our system for spring to have contingency plans and be aware that things can look very different with COVID,” Layhee said. GEO is waiting on guidance from SUNY for whether they’re in support of sending students abroad, which won’t come until mid-November. When students from multiple programs were abruptly sent home last semester, Layhee said most students who are applying for the spring are aware of what could happen if another coronavirus outbreak happened in their host country. “We learned a lot this past spring, and we’re going to do our best to inform students so that they know what could happen and what they can do to help themselves,” Layhee said. For international student admissions, Vogl said
the yield for the number of students accepted to SUNY Plattsburgh from other countries was down considerably from any previous year. GEO is currently processing the admissions applications of about 50 applicants who have deferred their admission from fall to spring. Vogl said this number is ten times higher than the office normally would have for any semester. “I think that’s directly related to COVID, not just [because of] public health issues but also the financial issues,” Vogl said. “Other countries are sustaining the same kind of financial catastrophes that we’re experiencing in this country, some even more so. I think they’re all hoping January will be different than August.” In terms of study abroad programs, Layhee is also a member of the COVID-19 Committee of the SUNY Council on International Education. The group recently developed and approved a Student Risk Assessment Tool for all SUNY students interested in studying abroad. The survey outlines 10 self-assessment questions for students to gauge their individual risk of studying abroad during the pandemic. It asks students whether they’re concerned about contracting COVID-19, whether they have the resources to return to the U.S. on short notice if necessary or whether their academic
HOUSING Continued from page one When in the dorm rooms, students have the ability to take off their masks, but as soon as they leave their dorm, a mask must be worn. All COVID-19 campus wide protocols must be followed as well. In the common areas of the residence halls, students are asked to wear their masks, social distance and not eat. When it comes to enforcing the new regulations, the CAs and CDs are taking these precautions seriously. “We came down with the hammer in the first week. In the instances of someone not wearing a mask, they had an immediate judicial write-up, just to set the tone right away,” Rivera said. “If
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NEWS
News Editor Emma Vallelunga
plans would be impacted if their program was canceled. When the points are added up, students can use the evaluation of their risk tolerance as low, moderate or high to decide whether studying abroad is right for them. “Students don’t necessarily process all the consequences that we know could be the consequences of a shutdown, so they really need to have thought about it in order to make a clear decision,” said GEO Associate Vice President Jackie Vogl. While study abroad applications are down for next semester, Layhee said GEO is pushing for students to plan ahead, specifically marketing toward freshmen to start thinking about the possibility of studying in another country — when COVID-19 is hopefully less of a worry. “We really haven’t been pushing that like we normally do, just because it really is unknown,” Layhee said. “Hopefully, by the time they’re able to go, things will be ready for them.” However, GEO is continuing to promote studying abroad in a positive light. Many virtual information sessions have been hosted this semester by GEO. Vogl said holding these sessions, where other SUNYs and universities abroad can Zoom in from anywhere, has opened up even more exciting opportunities for
you want to be on campus, this is what you have to do.” Both Rivera and Gamache said they have not had any trouble regarding students safety due to others not following the proper COVID-19 regulations. Green said there is an abundance of signs and posters all over the building reminding students of the new protocols. She said some of them are appealing to look at, while also providing other important COVID-19 information for students. The adjustment period when moving back on campus can be difficult in itself, but now with the new world students are currently living in, it can be much more difficult. Gamache said she feels students have been adjusting well and are finding ways to interact, along with meeting new people while still social distanc-
Friday, Oct. 2, 2020
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students to learn about studying abroad. “It used to be we would have physical, face-to-face study abroad fairs, and we would only go to select ones because we didn’t have enough staff or funding to cover the whole country or state,” Vogl said. “And now, with them being virtual, we can connect with students at all the other SUNY campuses about our programs right from our own desk.” Ellen Miller, GEO’s graduate assistant, said some students do have concerns about traveling right now but advises students to
plan ahead as best they can. “I do think that health and safety for the students comes first, but I also do want students to have that opportunity to go abroad, so I would tell [students] to be unique in their study abroad search and also be flexible,” Miller said. “Our main mission is to not only get Plattsburgh students to go abroad but also foster that intercultural exchange.” Miller studied abroad in Norwich, England, during the spring of 2018, and she values her time abroad as an experience she’ll never
ing. “The overall atmosphere on campus is as positive as it can be right now, but it is definitely not what I have experienced in the past three years,” Rivera said. Against all odds, students are still doing their best to enjoy their time on campus this semester. They are just happy to actually be on campus. Green said that she is still delighted to be on campus because she can be with her friends, and is able to be on her own and do her thing. Rivera’s concerns for this semester are to make sure people’s mental health are OK because the isolation that comes with being on campus can be overwhelming. He said he is trying to be the person whom his friends or residents can come talk too if they are feeling down.
forget. Miller said she feels sad for the students who can’t have a study abroad experience right now but is staying positive for a future when traveling won’t look so scary. “Things look really uncertain now, but I hope people are able to get back out into the world when it starts to turn itself back on again,” Miller said. “And even if that takes a while, GEO is still here [for students]. We’re not going anywhere.” Email EMMA VALLELUNGA
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“We are making the best of the situation we are in, and I think a lot of people are trying to enjoy themselves in a safe manner,” Rivera said. Gamache said one of her goals is to enforce the new policies while still creating a warm and inviting community, take students ideas and implement them the best she can so students are happy with their time here, even if it is a different environment than the students are used to. “It is not too big of a change, we’re all still here,” Gamache said. “We really just have to be thankful for that, and find the happy parts in that situation.”
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NEWS
News Editor Emma Vallelunga
PODCAST Continued from page two
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City of Plattsburgh Republican candidate Scott Beebie speaks on Late Night for the Planet with students Samantha Beck, Emma Stewart, Clarice Knelly and Chloe Bashy.
ENGAGE Continued from page one “How are you using the tools you have?” Avery said, encouraging the executive council to consider. “How are you using coordinators? How are you reimagining PR and marketing to better fit the times we’re in?” The conversation naturally centered on creating fresh, engaging events and interesting methods of promoting events.
Coordinator of Public Relations Naomi Tegybelu offered the idea of hosting a scavenger hunt with some element of social distancing. Coordinator of Academics Ahmed Metwaly suggested the PR board email short, simple surveys to students to ascertain what kind of events they would be interested in attending, as well as PSAs and videos to help promote SA activities. He said participation can also be incentivized using gift cards and prizes.
After the group finished their line of questioning for Rosenquest, he left the meeting and they welcomed Republican candidate Scott Beebie. The group wanted to ask Beebie the same questions they asked Rosenquest. “We wanted to have that comparison point,” junior Clarice Knelly said. Knelly was part of the group of students asking the candidates questions. “We wanted debate style questions, just not a debate.” The group discussed the BLM movement with Beebie as well. Beebie spent 28 years of his career in law enforcement as a police officer. He strongly believes in the community having a solid
Coordinator of Clubs and Organizations Ivanna Menezes argued that virtual events are simply not compelling to students, and it does not make much sense to try to host any more events online. “Virtual events are essentially Zoom meetings,” Menezes stated. “And people are tired of Zoom meetings. We have to recognize that.” The executive council agreed it was high time to hold each other accountable and ensure the SA’s duties are being fulfilled, seeing
conversation about the BLM issue. “We need to be educated and learn from each other,” Beebie said. “Because I can’t talk about what I don’t know.” Part of his discussed plans as mayor is to host town council meetings on campus to encourage campus involvement. He also suggested that Plattsburgh, “needs a mechanism” to stop people from just traveling through to get to other destinations. “We need to promote Plattsburgh positively,” Beebie said. This led the group into asking Beebie about his thoughts on the DRI. Beebie said he had spoken with people throughout the city, and they told him they felt betrayed and lied to. The community felt that the city
that the first semester of the academic year is already halfway completed. The meeting continued with a discussion of current activities and projects the executive council members are overseeing. SA President Rudaba Ahmed said she is continuing to develop a mentorship program with the Career Development Center in hopes of promoting improved career prospects and opportunities for students. Hosting voter registration drives for the SUNY Plattsburgh
Friday, Oct. 2, 2020
wasn’t taking their concerns into account with their decision, according to Beebie. “I want to start at the water’s edge and move inland,” Beebie said, conflicting with the city’s current plan. “We need people to know this environment exists.” Once Beebie signed off and the show came to a close, Knelly said all of the Facebook comments and questions posted were all surprisingly positive of what the group was doing. “People were genuinely interested,” Knelly said. She added that Late Night for the Planet’s next talk show will follow a similar trend as they plan to host several city council members.
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community was also a recurring topic. Coordinator of Student Affairs & Diversity Mariam Rosee Kebe described an in-person registration event she is planning, and Tegybelu voiced similar ambitions. Tegybelu is also planning to utilize the popularity of TikTok videos to launch an awareness campaign regarding social distancing, mask-wearing and student safety.
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FRIDAY, OCT. 2, 2020
Trump acts out against Gen Z
would be unconstitutional and a violation of due process. A federal judge ruled to block the ban on downloads for the app hours before restrictions were to fall into place. TikTok was granted only a temporary injunction, so it’s too early to celebrate our coveted app overcoming orange donny and his cronies. “The ban would have been an extraordinary action at the very time when the need for free, open and accessible communication in America is at its zenith,” John Hall, one of TikTok’s attorneys, told CNN. It’s relieving to know Mr. grab them by the p—y will half-ass his way through an illness ravaging American cities, but will do his best to banish a Chinese app for our safety. Though the ban was supposed to distract his critics from the pandemic and wash a few specs of dirt from his name, the other half of people think he might be trying to scath China as part of his agenda to accept minimal blame for the pandemic. Donald Trump is concerned only about salvaging his seat in the White House after this acrid mess of a year. China is not the reason more than 200,000 people in the U.S have died of COVID-19. China is not the reason why face masks are now as common as underwear. China is not the reason why unemployment has reached woefully high levels since the great depression. That orange monster is, but he refuses to take any of the blame. Stay away from TikTok. Also remember to vote Nov. 3.
BY MATAEO SMITH Web Editor
TikTok lives to see another day — for now. In August, the Trump Administration took a hiatus from blaming China for COVID-19’s deadly rampage throughout the United States to focus on TikTok. Apparently, it’s more important to impede China’s alleged security breaches than containing an omnipresent virus. Trump’s impetus to ban TikTok, compared to containing COVID-19, is night and day. This man was ignoring the Center for Disease Control experts, refused to increase testing — because apparently, more tests reveal more positive cases — and attempted to reopen the country on Easter Sunday about three weeks into lockdown. We all know the real reason, however. Gen Z is a force to be reckoned with in terms of TikTok. Within TikTok’s plethora of content lies liberal TikTok: a land where abortions should be free and Breonna Taylor’s killers should be brought to justice. Gen Z formed a plan to purchase Trump rally tickets to guarantee a skeleton crowd. You’d think Trump would attack them on Twitter, but sadly he’s more childish than we’d thought. Banning TikTok would silence Gen Z and eradicate an app where he’s called out on his BS. Since his executive order to ban the app Aug. 6, Trump has threatened Apple and Google with fines up to $20 million, as well as supposed prison time for its workers. He also insisted the app halt all updates in the U.S preceding the ban Nov. 12. Government representatives argued TikTok was an “immediate danger” to national security given its ownership by Bytedance, a chinese multinational
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internet technology company. The U.S couldn’t risk American user data being in the hands of the chinese government, despite Bytedance’s assurance that American user data is kept state-
side. CNN reported TikTok was supposed to be taken off the Google Play and Apple store Sept. 20, but TikTok hired lawyers who refuted the ban
Email MATAEO SMITH cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Shuttle drivers quit over COVID-19
Inconsistent SA shuttle schedule hurts campus students
BY OLIVIA BOUSQUET Staff Writer
Toothpaste may be running low, clothing goes on sale, snacks need to be bought and work should start on-time, so students rely on the campus shuttle bus to get them to necessary stores. SUNY Plattsburgh’s campus shuttle runs from 11 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday. And it’s free of charge - well, except for the one-time fees paid at the beginning of the semester. But, students have been frustrated with the inconsistency of arrival times. The College Auxiliary Services implemented new sanitation guidelines, which were put in place by New York’s Public Transportation guidelines. The reopening required all passengers to wear masks and have hand sanitizer readily available. Students must sign-in on a sheet for contact tracing, which would allow tracers to find out if students were near anyone with a positive COVID-19 case. Drivers are required to wipe down high touch points before and after each round, and no air conditioning or heating is allowed, air ventilation should be coming only from open windows. The campus shuttle has bench seats that could seat up to 15 passengers, but now the seat behind the driver is blocked off for bags and students must try to distance themselves as much as possible. However, students can still smush up against each other, which doesn’t allow for proper
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social distancing during their trip. While the cleanliness of the shuttle doesn’t seem to be the problem, students are more frustrated about the constant delays. As the cooler days approach the North Country, students don’t want to sit on cold metal benches waiting for the shuttle longer than they should. Students should be able to rely on the campus shuttle to get them to stores. “I totally understand the Student Association and the stu-
dents’ frustration around this because myself and my team have been struggling with it too,” College Auxiliary Services Executive Director Dana Kellerman said about the inconsistent arrival times of the shuttle. “We’ve always had a pretty lean driver schedule here historically before I started, then we built a pipeline of drivers. So we had those that were regularly scheduled to meet the requirements of our commitment to the [Student Association].” Kellerman felt prepared for the
semester and the arrival of students, until three of her four drivers quit the morning of campus opening after speaking with their families and doctors. Most of the drivers were older with higher risks to contracting COVID-19. The process of getting new drivers is extensive, with background checks that can take up to five to 10 days and new drivers having to recieve specialized training. “We were fortunate that we now have five drivers, so that will enable us to bring the shuttle back up to its normal
running schedule, actually starting [Sept. 24],” Kellerman said. “But, it’s taking from the start of campus to now to get us back and here, we thought we were being proactive.” Students get on and off the shuttle at the Angell College Center. The shuttle follows a route with four stops starting at WalMart, Champlain Centre Mall by Target, Market 32 and ends at Family Dollar. The shuttle arrives and departs on the hour and 30 minutes after the hour, but from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday two vans will be operating. “I was out there for like 15 minutes waiting for [the shuttle] and then one girl came outside and said, ‘shuttles are not going to run until 4 o’clock,’” SUNY Plattsburgh junior Alicia Fisher said. “That’s when I started walking.” The shuttle should be a reliable service for students, especially those without any other way to get around Plattsburgh. Fisher said taxi cabs, Lyft and Uber are all too expensive, and can take a long time before picking anyone up. Students should not feel their only option for quick transportation is to walk. Hopefully with the new drivers, the campus shuttle will be running more effectively than before. There are an anticipated five regular drivers and two backup drivers to be working soon. Kellerman encourages students to reach out to College Auxiliary Services via email with any improvement suggestions. CAS will try to implement as many solutions as possible. Email OLIVIA BOUSQUET
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CARDINAL VOICE
Opinions Editor Jess Johnson
Friday, Oct. 2, 2020
Capricorn creates toxicity BY ABIGAIL AZADIAN Contributor
Capricorns, take a seat. You’re not the boss of everyone — stop projecting your control issues on to other people. Capricorns build a dam to control water signs’ flow. Whenever there’s an opportunity to control something, Capricorn rushes to seize it. They don’t even think about whether they should control the situation — most of the time it’s a no. Around Pisces, Capricorns cannot stand for their unconditional love. Capricorns love conditions, rules and strict structures. Likewise, they also love to punish and take JASON PARENT/Cardinal Points revenge.
Cancers are warm and fuzzy, but not enough to warm up a Capricorn’s heart. Capricorns have no problem crushing all of the warmth and love Cancers have cultivated. Scorpios can’t be around Capricorns because Capricorns care too much about their reputation, and Scorpios can see right through the bulls—t. Capricorn around other Capricorns is a competition of who can be the boldest in the room. If one is ever caught in the situation, one should remain there and find something to do on their phone. Capricorns would notice if somebody walks out of a room, and would take it personally if a person doesn’t want to be around them.
Virgos can’t stand to be around Capricorns because Capricorn can’t change when the circumstances change. Taurus is too kind and forgiving to be around Capricorn’s narcissistic behavior. Capricorn will despise Aries for capturing everyone’s attention while doing absolutely zero work. This is because Capricorns can’t comprehend that some people don’t have to work at becoming fun or pleasurable to be around. To some people, unknown to Capricorn, laughing, smiling, and having fun comes naturally.
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Gabbie Hanna’s poetry burns the internet BY MAHPHARAH KHAN Contributor
Gabbie Hanna’s poetry is an abomination to all amazing poets of the past and of the present. She slaps words on a page and calls it “art”. It looks more like bulls—t. A poem titled, “Iron” reads: “When I was young my mom used to check if the iron was hot by touching it, and, I don’t know, I just feel like there’s a metaphor in there somewhere.” This piece comes from Hanna’s 2017 poetry collection, “Adultolescence,” in which she attempts to describe the beauty of the mundane. This is a fascinating perspective, but Hanna fails to do so due to her laziness. Hanna believes the intent behind her poems exonerates her from having poor writing quality. Her poor writing infantilizes the seriousness of the topics mentioned in her poems — it is a shame.
Hanna is not a poet; she gained recognition through the social media platform Vine as “TheGabbieShow.” Then, as Vine died out, Hanna moved to YouTube as “Gabbie Hanna” and gained a large following. In other words, her poetry book is a money-maker rather than an authentic work of art. Writers have always studied those who came before them, and it is essential to be an avid reader in order to become a writer. One cannot write well without reading; it creates an intrinsic requirement to appreciate literature in order to write and convey one’s feelings well. It is obvious that Hanna does not appreciate literature — it is evident in her poetry, and it is evident in what she says. Hanna made a YouTube video back in April introducing her new poetry collection titled, “Dandelion.” She states: “People aren’t scrambling very often to read the ‘Iliad’ or the ‘Odyssey.’ They’re great works, but it’s not what people want to sit down and read,” Hanna said. “I assume, if it was anything like when I was in school, most students aren’t
jumping for joy when they’re assigned Shakespeare. But, people are really into books like ‘Milk and Honey.’” There are many problems with this statement. If people aren’t rushing to read the “Iliad” or the “Odyssey,” why are they still being read, taught and discussed today? Why is Shakespeare still taught today? These writers spoke about the human condition and what it was like to experience love, pride, betrayal, happiness, anger and more. We still experience these feelings — writers like Homer, Shakespeare and many other classic writers are timeless. Just because it was written in a different language or time doesn’t mean we cannot relate to it. Also, does Hanna know that the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey” are epic poems, not books? She clearly doesn’t. Hanna explains that people are really into books like “Milk and Honey.” This insinuates that Hanna is only concerned with what will make her money. Young adults today love aesthetics, and Hanna knows that if her work is
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pleasing to the eye that it will sell. Who would’ve thought that poetry was about profit? The epitome of Hanna’s laziness is shown in one poem titled, “IDK”: “I dunno, yanno?” That could literally be a tweet.
Hanna really has the audacity to call her work “art”. It looks more like the garbage pail to me. It’s stupid.
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‘Time’ shows an intimate family portrait BY CAMERON KAERCHER Staff Writer
For better or worse, Netflix has changed how people perceive documentaries. Their miniseries like “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness,” has brought true stories of crime into popular culture. However, there is an undeniable sense of sensationalism and showmanship about them. If one were to summarize the story, they would sound like a carnival barker. “Step right up! Marvel at a gun-toting polygamist that owns a zoo and was arrested for murder for hire!” Filmmaker Garrett Bradley’s latest documentary offers a humanistic counterpoint to these stories. “Time” centers around Sibil Fox Richardson, a mother of six, fighting for the release of her husband, Rob. At the time of filming, he had served 19 years of his 60-year sentence. Sibil was arrested for the same incident, but only served three and a half years. During a discussion with Eugene Hernandez, director of the New York Film Festival, Bradley recalled that she was originally prepared to make a short film about Richardson’s story. As filming wrapped up, Richardson gave Bradley about a hundred hours’ worth of home movies, shot on 4:3 video. The sudden influx of extra footage proved to Bradley this project deserved a feature-length. The new footage also created a full story, as the film
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already had a plot. The true story is of a family that ends up being shaped by an absence, about children that are growing up without ever meeting their father, and a mother/wife learning to cope with this loss. This also sets up a potential issue as it could feel like two different people are making the movie; Bradley is directing the contemporary footage, while the Richardson family is shooting the flashback footage. However, it never feels messy. It just feels like a nec-
essary piece to the puzzle. The home movies show car rides, first days of school and time spent with grandparents. The film also has generational stories as well. Bradley interviews the grandmother of the Richardson family to hear what she has to say about her daughter. We also watch Sibil’s children grow up over the course of the film. We see them from crawling on all fours wearing diapers to speaking in front of their class about running for student government. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January, where Bradley left with the Directing Award in the U.S. Documentary competition. This win is more than deserving, as her directorial voice is so personal because she ignores the easy drama. She never shows a court proceeding or news report on what happened. The story is in the small things that happen between the big things. For example, a phone call that gets cut short delivers more drama than any trial footage could. The final 15 minutes of the film are the greatest of the year. Editor Gabriel Rhodes proves that documentaries deserve awards recognition outside of the type of film’s usual categories. It perfectly ties up the story’s themes and humanity, making “Time” one of the great documentaries of the year. “Time” will be released online through Amazon Prime Oct. 23.
Email CAMERON KAERCHER cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
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Opinions Editor Jess Johnson
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CARDINAL VOICE
Friday, Oct, 2, 2020
Editorial
NGHI TO/Cardinal Points
Trump turns first debate into s--tshow “Sh—tshow” was the word seemingly on everyone’s lips immediately following Tuesday’s debate. And there’s no better way to sum up the first time Donald Trump and Joe Biden shared a stage this election cycle, other than calling it a sh—tshow. We’re in the middle of a pandemic. COVID-19 has killed more than 200,000 Americans. Meanwhile, unrest has swept the country for months, in wake of social injustice and the murders of Black Americans by the hands of the police. But instead of giving those issues — issues Americans care deeply about — the proper attention they deserve, Trump chose instead to be divisive, to throw insults at Biden’s alma mater, his son and our intelligence if he thinks
those tactics could distract us from the reality we’re all living right now. Which is exactly like Biden said Tuesday — we’re sicker, poorer and angrier. Angry at the underlying faults in our society and angry at Trump’s complete lack of leadership. As insane as it is for a sitting president to not denounce white supremacy, it’s not all a surprise with Trump. There wasn’t a single part of his performance Tuesday night that was a surprise. It was discouraging to watch, and maybe that’s exactly what Trump wants. Maybe he wants to remind you that despite what you saw and have seen, there will be millions of Republican voters casting their ballots for him anyway, that he has nominated another
pick to the Supreme Court who could be the deciding factor in stripping away existing rights, that he has white supremacists on his side and that it is a very real possibility that you might have to endure another four years of what you just watched. He wants to suppress your voice and to doubt the system. Maybe one of Biden’s more important moments in those 90 minutes was when he reminded Americans that, in fact, our votes do count. “The fact is, I will accept [the results] and he will too, and you know why? Once the winner is declared after all the ballots are counted, all the votes are counted, that’ll be the end of it,” Biden said. “That will be the end of it.”
the world and systems in place critically, while Capricorns accept traditions. Geminis would lose their minds around Capricorns. A Gemini is too light-hearted and hilarious for a stoic Capricorn. Continued from page seven In the end, Capricorns only know toxicity and will create the most toxic environment. They are not only a stick in the Sagittarius cannot stand to be around Capricorn because mud, but they are also a root in the mud. they will always doubt the rules. Meanwhile, a Capricorn They are simultaneously the rock and hard place you are thrives when people don’t question them because they only stuck between. know to act authoritarian. Air signs! They’ve been changing the lightbulbs, playing with the switch trying to get y’all to lighten up! Libras would Email ABIGAIL AZADIAN love all the material things Capricorn can bring into their cp@cardinalpointsonline.com lives, but couldn’t have fun with them. Aquarius thinks about
ZODIAC
GARBAGE Continued from page seven In her YouTube video titled, “Time to Talk About My Bad Poetry,” she introduces her new poetry collection, “Dandelion,” and contradicts herself throughout the entire video. The title says it all — she knows her poetry is horrible. She states that her work is open for criticism, yet says her poems were too “deep” for anyone to understand. Hanna’s poetry was somehow able to be published — her collection is for sale at any bookstore. Once a writer demands a reader to pay money for their work, anyone has the right to criticize it. Her poems are funny because they are so ridiculous, but they also deserve the constructive criticism they get because Hanna conveys that she wants to be taken seriously as an artist and a writer. If she is serious about it, then she should be open to criticism. That is how all writers become good ones. The truth is: Hanna cannot handle any criticism. The funniest poem she’s written, “Relative” states: “Time is relative beauty is relative family is relatives.”
This poem is so cringy that it can’t even be read aloud. Hanna tries to experiment with word play but does it badly. Some poets agonize over word order or what better word there is to use, meanwhile Hanna is overcome by her laziness and doesn’t care, simply because she has a following and she knows it will make her money — even if it is bad. There is a misconception that modern-day poets are lousy ones. This is not true. There have been poets who have found support through online platforms such as Instagram — they’re called “insta poets,” and while this may have a negative connotation, it shouldn’t. Literature should be accessible, and Instagram makes it accessible. Just because it was posted to Instagram doesn’t mean it’s bad. It is hard to be an aspiring writer and to eventually become published. Poets can gain a following through social media easily, and it’s a great thing. Of course, their poetry has to be wellwritten. Writing quality cannot be abandoned for any poem. “Constructive criticism doesn’t belittle people, it doesn’t name-call, it doesn’t say your work is bad or terrible,” Hanna said in her poetry video. Constructive criticism does not belittle people. It encourages the person to be better — in Hanna’s case, to write better. Constructive criticism does have the right to say a piece of literature is bad. People have read classic authors
who are highly respected, and will still say their works are bad, for whatever reason. Having a high-status and a large following does not excuse you from criticism — something Hanna does not understand. People have criticized Hanna’s poetry just to have a laugh, but there have also been people who point out specifically why her poetry is bad. They do not denounce her character — they denounce her writing. YouTuber Rachel Oates made a few videos about Hanna’s poetry and she talks in depth about why her poetry is bad. She doesn’t just trash it, which shows how people aren’t “out to get her” like Hanna has claimed before. She reads Hanna’s poems, talks about them and then compares it to a poem using similar techniques and explains why certain writer did it better. So, it gets more annoying when Hanna claims there is no constructive criticism when there is — she is just not receptive to change because she believes she is right, all of the time. If Hanna really wants to become a good writer and poet, she should listen to her peers and be open to receiving constructive criticism. However, her bank account probably looks real good to her right now, so it’s probably safe to say that we can get more laughs in the meantime. Email MAHPHARAH KHAN cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
CARDINALPOINTSONLINE.COM
Taken from 100 participants
Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Fernando Alba
Managing Editor Jess Johnson
Opinions Editor Jess Johnson
News Editor Emma Vallelunga
Graphics Editor Nghi To
FUSE Editor Alana Penny
Multimedia Editor Sareem Jabbar
Photo Editor Audrey Lapinski
Web Editor Mataeo Smith Faculty Adviser Shawn Murphy Advertising: Maureen Provost Peter Taylor Luka Tsiklauri
Contact CP Editorial Board: 518.564.2174 Advertising: 518.564.3173 Fax: 518.564.6397 118 Ward Hall SUNY Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, NY 12901 cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
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
FUSE Editor Alana Penny
Friday, Oct. 2, 2020
Porcaro embraces old routines,new regulations BY ANGELICA MELARA Staff Writer
SUNY Plattsburgh athletes are getting back into their old routines as sports teams start back up with practices. One of the teams that started having in-person practices this week was the women’s lacrosse team. “I’m really excited to get back in the swing of things,” senior midfielder Frankie Porcaro said. Porcaro began her lacrosse career in eighth grade with her twin sister Chloe. Frankie said her original interest in lacrosse was sparked by her twins’ best friend. “The game just looked so fun, and we started to practice in our backyard,” Frankie said. “Try-outs were held for the club team, and once we joined, we also got involved with the middle school team which then led into high school.” When Frankie and her sister originally wanted to start playing lacrosse, the fact they had each other motivated them to join. “We started late, but we knew we had each other, so that was something that motivated the both of us to start playing,” Chloe said. Chloe would later become her biggest competitor. The two would play against each other at the field to practice, and wanted to be better than each other, which helped make them better players. “We’ve always been competitive towards one another, so going throughout our lacrosse careers, we motivated each other to become better,” Chloe said. “Our competitive nature within each other was our biggest motivator.” Frankie is a business administration and marketing major. One of her academic motivators is Wanda Haby, professor of supply chain management and international business.
“I got an internship through her, and she also asked me to join a club I’m currently in,” Frankie said. Frankie is a part of SPE Voices, and the American Marketing Association, which are two clubs she joined because of Haby. “She definitely expanded my knowledge of other clubs and activities that will help me in the future,” Frankie said. Lacrosse practice started Sept. 29. Each team is required to follow COVID-19 rules and guidelines, each practice is split into two groups. According to Frankie, the lacrosse team had been provided with a workout packet to stay busy over the summer. However, she would mainly go on runs to maintain her endurance because lacrosse requires a lot of running. When it comes to her teammates, Frankie mentioned going on the ferry to away games is something cool and memorable they all share together. Her and her teammates have shared many memories like going to the Plattsburgh Bed Races, and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee picnics. The bed races are a part of an event that is held in downtown Plattsburgh where each team gets a bed with wheels, and someone from the team lays on the bed. While someone is on the bed, the other members of the team have to push them to the finish line while racing against another team. “Each year, people from other teams participate in it,” Frankie said. “Racing against the other teams and hanging out with your own is always fun.” The picnics that SAAC provides for the student athletes involve the members of the sports teams meeting at Memorial Field. Athletes play games, and at the end, have a dance competition. “Every sport gets divided,” Frankie
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Frankie Porcaro has been playing lacrosse since she was in eighth grade. It was an activity she and her twin sister bonded over, pushing each other to get better. said. “Once everyone is divided, you get put into groups, so you get to meet someone from every different team.” According to head women’s lacrosse coach Julia Decker, something that can be seen on and off the field is Frankie’s bubbly personality. “She’s always really happy and smiley and is someone that just exudes joy,” Decker said. Decker also mentioned that Frankie has been able to find her voice, and has grown as a leader since she started at Plattsburgh. “People are naturally attracted to that,” Decker said. A moment that stands out to Decker that shows who Frankie is as a person was during a practice when the field
was icy, and Frankie slipped. “It was so funny,” Decker said. “It probably hurt a lot, but she managed to just laugh about it, so that shows that she’s not too serious of a person, and it just made sense that she would laugh about it.” Looking into the future, Decker hopes that just like any other athlete, Frankie continues to play lacrosse. “She has a good head on her shoulders, and I know she’s going to be successful in whatever she does, and I just hope that she ends up doing something that she loves,” Decker said. Email ANGELICA MELARA cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Dawson builds on, develops new skills BY NATALIE ST. DENIS Staff Writer
Tyler Dawson is a senior, double majoring in music arts management and music and a triple minor in business, economics, and public relations. Since he was 9 or 10 years old, he knew he wanted to grow up to do something with music. Because of this, he claims he was “one of the lucky ones.” Dawson followed in his brother’s footsteps in attending SUNY Plattsburgh after he fell in love with the campus. He already knew a few students here too. “More or less felt like home coming here,” Dawson said. He originally came to SUNY Plattsburgh with just a music major, but he was always interested in being a part of the business aspect of music as well. He soon branched out to other academic studies. He decided to minor in business and economics, because he felt he wasn’t educated enough in those areas and was eager to learn more. He also struggled with the math component of economics in high school, so he knew exploring it more in college would help him. Dawson said he added a public relations minor strictly because he was bad at public speaking and wanted to improve the social aspect of that. Additionally, after the music department chair, Karen Becker created the Music Arts Management Program, Tyler was quick to join. Dawson decided to broaden his horizons after speaking with William Pfaff, a professor of music, when he arrived his freshman year. Dawson was extremely nervous about being in the music program. Pfaff was the first person to let him know that he should broaden his focus, so he could have additional knowledge of something if music were to end up not being what he wanted to do in the end. Dawson enjoyed taking the four music theory
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Tyler Dawson spent his summer helping out the music program at the high school in his home town and teaching younger children to play instruments. He recently purchased a new drum set and a violin to practice in his free time. courses taught by Pfaff. He mentions how he was able to learn about not just music, but about life. He also liked the music technology course he took with Adrian Carr, adjunct lecturer of music. Dawson noticed how that course helped him grow. “I was making music normally, but that course took my knowledge to a whole new level.” Carr was able to notice Dawson’s passion for music in his work ethic. “His passion for music comes through in everything we did,” Carr said. “He would choose interesting pieces to mix. He has a great love for a lot of different types of music.” His passion for music can also be seen through his other involvements during his college career.
Tyler’s first instrument was the guitar, so he instantly jumped to join the guitar ensemble on campus when he heard about it. He has been a part of it for a majority of his years at SUNY Plattsburgh. Earlier last year, Dawson worked with the high school in his town as they were building a new forum for the music program. He was able to teach younger kids in the area how to read and write music and play guitar. Recently, he bought himself a new set of drums and violin to teach himself as much as he can with all his free time due to the pandemic. Dawson makes sure to dedicate most of every single day to school. He finds himself making schedules for large amounts of time.
Doing so allows him to keep accomplishing everything he wants to even if that means taking 23-25 credits at a time. Dawson’s adviser, Karen Becker, is always of help to him. “If he starts to struggle at all, I’m quick to intervene and offer my help or guidance,” Becker said. Dawson said Becker has helped him with everything from personal issues to college questions. She has always been there for him. “She’s more or less my mom here,” he said. Becker has seen Dawson overcome a challenge with an internship that was canceled due to the pandemic. He used this as a chance to effectively problem solve instead of giving up. He found an internship in
Lake George instead. “He really turned it into a positive, turned it into something he was very successful at,” Becker said. Carr was also able to see how Dawson pushed through the struggles that came with the pandemic. When everything got shut down last March, Dawson did not let that stop him. He worked through assignments and made the best of it. Dawson continued to do well in Carr’s course and even continued to go above and beyond by doing extra credit projects. “He wanted to get the most out of it and everything presented to him, so that’s what he did and it was a pleasure to see as a teacher,” Carr said. This motivation was not always the case Dawson admits. In high school,
he was very unmotivated. He said his brother was the smart one in the family, and he was always so above and beyond academically. Seeing this quality in his brother really pushed Dawson to do more. “It turned into more of a competition actually, between my brother and I,” Dawson said. “I really wanted to prove that I was able to do more than what I was showing at the time because I was actually very lazy,” he added. Looking back, Dawson would tell his freshman self “get your butt in gear” and “the more you do, the more you will have for the future.” Dawson has changed his freshman attitude of just getting the assignment done on time and not going the extra mile. Now he finds himself applying for certifications amongst other things that he wants to learn more about. “I think that’s why I added so many things because I wanted to be better or the best at what I did in the future as a career. I want to stand out,” Tyler adds. Becker mentioned how he is much more confident now then when she first met him. “Tyler is that rare combination of soft-spoken yet highly motivated and highly driven student,” Becker said. Carr said how his skills will help him succeed in his future career. “The positive attitude that he embraces, I think that’s a very important trait to bring out into the workplace today,” Carr said. “He’s flexible. He can figure out what’s needed, and he’ll adjust to accomplish the goal.” Dawson will be a part of the first graduating cohort of the Music Arts Management program next May, and he hopes to have a career in the music industry.
Email NATALIE ST. DENIS
cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
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FUSE
FUSE Editor Alana Penny
Friday, Oct. 2, 2020
Abscess – Colored Pencil “This work reaches more into the darker side of my work. It reaches into fears of being alone, and really has a new meaning now with the pandemic. “
Student Art Spotlight Kelsey Rambach Fine arts major
Still Life Featuring Gudetama – Colored Pencil
“This work was made as a study of color and has a comical touch with the addition of Gudetama.”
Kelsey Rambach is a BFA major who calls Saranac, New York home. They enjoy working markers, colored pencil, and digitally. Kelsey is also the secretary of PAVA, Plattsburgh’s visual arts club, and a designer for DoNorth. Her work ranges from realistic portraits to spookier Halloween based work.
Self Portrait – Colored Pencil “This work was showcased in the Remington art gallery in Ogdensburg, New York.”
Sommerleigh – colored pencil “This was my final for Drawing III, and I really wanted to focus on hair and the anatomy. Sommerleigh is one of my closest friends and volunteered to be the model for this work.”
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Continued from page twelve students who were able to travel from her home country to Plattsburgh and choose to continue with the hybrid system of studying rather than completely online like other international students chose. After her long and tiring trip to Plattsburgh,Torrecillas was surprised to see that her adviser from the Global Education Office brought her basic necessities and groceries for her as a welcome gift. While many international students are fluent in English, in most cases it is not their first language. This language barrier specifically comes into play in these online classes as the chances of being unable to understand someone is even higher. Nishizawa admits she is very self-conscious about her knowledge of English but with continuous interactions with friends and teachers, she feels she will excel at it. “From my standpoint, everything has a positive and a negative aspect,” Torrecillas said. “In the case of online classes, the positive aspect is the availability of quality education even in this global crisis with all the essential safety measures. But the negative aspect will be the very limited interactions with classmates resulting in difficulty making friends.”
Email TAIBA AZEEM
Friday, Oct. 2, 2020
CARDINAL WORD SEARCH
INTERNATIONAL
“I can very conveniently study in my comfort zone without being uneasy,” Torrecillas said. Meanwhile,self-identified morning person, Hana Nishizawa, a freshman journalism major, finds it quite troublesome to continue her online classes from her home in Japan. With the 13-hour difference, most of her classes are after midnight. She finds her concentration level decreasing and finds it especially hard to actively participate in her 3 a.m. Zoom call lectures. International students not only come from different countries and cultures, they are also used to different curriculums of study. Even in normal circumstances, it takes more than a semester for international students to adjust to their new situation and way of study, but in these not-so-normal circumstances there might be even more unconventional methods the students must adjust to. “In Japan, we usually do not have discussions in class, we just take notes during the entire lecture,” Nishizawa said. “Even asking questions is discouraged. But after attending a week of classes at Plattsburgh, I have gotten a culture shock, as the professors actively interact with students, and this participation is graded too.” Torrecillas is one of the few international
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FUSE
FUSE Editor Alana Penny
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ONLINE LACROSSE HYBRID PRACTICE SISTER GUITAR MUSIC BUSINESS ECONOMICS
cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
ARIES
March 21 - April 19
frustrations will be amplified this week. Letting it out without thinking could escalate the situation but you have to find a way to feel heard.
TAURUS
April 20 - May 20
You will probably feel lucky and more appreciated by the people who support you. This could manifest in different ways: acts of service, gifts, affirmation, etc. Show them you’re grateful for them as well.
GEMINI
May 21 - June 20
You are a tendency to overthink and you might feel like you can’t trust what people have to say this week.
CANCER
LIBRA
CAPRICORN
June 21 - July 22
September 23 - October 22
December 22 - January 19
You feel like you are finally able to catch a break. Take some time to reflect on what you have endured.
There’s been some major upheavals for you and your loved ones recently. You might feel like you are able to breathe but it will only be for a moment.
Some tensions have been lessened for you. Mostly because you are now able to name the problem.
LEO
July 23 - August 22
They might be a new focus on your communication or routine this week. You might finally be able to find the words you’ve been searching for.
VIRGO
August 23 - September 22
You might find your time be consumed by over analyzing everything as per typical. However you can’t spend your time like this.
SCORPIO
AQUARIUS
October 23 - November 21
January 20 - February 18
Don’t approach everything and everyone with distrust. Your paranoid gets the better of you which leads you to only see situations one way (before they even happen). Take things as they are sometimes.
Saturn has gone direct, and you are able to see the light at the end of tunnel. There may still be trouble with getting there though.
SAGITTARIUS
PISCES
November 22 - December 21
February 19 - March 20
You might feel like you’ve been conflicted in money matters and/or your values, but have just received some clarity. There’s still work to be done.
There’s been a lot of trouble with your friends lately. You might feel torn between all the different roles you play. You know what you have to do, but it involves hard decisions. Make the right choice.
Student art spotlight, A10
International students study from home BY TAIBA AZEEM Staff Writer
Every semester, more than 300 international students find a stable home at SUNY Plattsburgh, but this semester has been even more unique and challenging for foreign Cardinals than usual. Due to the pandemic, SUNY Plattsburgh has been offering a blended academic delivery model, focused on on-campus instruction, research and scholarship activities as far as possible, while keeping faculty, students and staff safe for the fall semester. This has led to many international students waiting with bated breath to attend college in the U.S, but will study remotely through online classes. Cintia Chmia Torrecillas, a first year graduate student, finds the entire process of online classes liberating as she can easily continue her studies while sitting in her room in pajamas.
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NGHI TO/Cardinal Points