Art exhibit relates to water, birds
SPORTS
Men’s soccer showcases strong talent
OPINION
Are endless construction projects worth it?
Students starved for on-campus dining
BY GRANT TERWILLIGER Staff Writer
With fewer dining options on campus this semester, College Auxiliary Services expanded hours at some dining locations to make up for the Sundowner’s renovations, but some students think that it’s not enough.
Kent Cafe, Clinton Dining Hall and Halal Shack were given extended hours to accommodate a larger number of students as a result of the Sundowner being closed for renovation during the fall semester but students still suffer long lines.
ry Services recognized student feelings about the available dining options this semester.
wrote. “We are committed to making significant improvements and rebuilding your trust in us.”
KENT
“Sometimes people just want to go and get something quickly, but it actually ends up taking a long time,” Cunningham said. A&C
In an email sent out to students and staff, College Auxilia-
“We want to acknowledge that our dining services have not been meeting expectations. We hear you and we agree. We apologize that we’ve let you down,” CAS Executive Director Catherine Keleher
One of the biggest challenges for the limited dining options on campus is the number of people waiting in line to get food, over-
Indoor gardens grow produce, bring new life to ACC spaces
BY ALEKSANDRA
SIDOROVA News + Managing Editor
Herbs and vegetables are taking root in vertical gardens installed in the Cardinal Cupboard and the Learning Center with the hope they nourish student bodies and minds.
Ecology student Kacia Coke teamed up with academic adviser Joanne McGovern to apply for a Green Grant of up to $5,000 to fund the indoor gardens for two years. They started the process in October 2023, received approval in March and ordered the gardens over the summer.
The gardens have already started to shift the mood at the Learning Center. Staff discuss the plants’ growth daily. Passersby step inside to ask questions and examine the sprouts.
“People just really like to see things growing,” McGovern said. “It makes people happy, and that’s what the Learning Center is supposed to be about, too — growing and learning.”
First-year Holden Karrick, majoring in biology, said the plants remind him of his home in Willsboro, New York.
“Every time I see plants, I always try to make sure they know that I know they’re there and I love them,” Karrick said.
McGovern described the environment the plants create as cozy, hoping they spark joy during “dreary” win ters. Karrick said he sees plants as a “construct of life energy.”
“It adds tran quility, peace of mind,” Karrick said. “Not a lot of people can really sit somewhere and be peaceful — they need an environment for it. … I feel like even the people who don’t like plants will slowly but surely get in a better mood.”
The stands, produced by the company Tower Garden, also include grow lights with timers, pH kits to measure the acidity of the soil, and resources on how to in clude the garden into a class curriculum.
For a decade, she “wor shiped these things from afar,” never having her own garden, either. Now, she cares for one at work.
whelming kitchens. Isabelle Cunningham, a first-year majoring in psychology, said hiring more staff could help.
Students spend Labor Day in classrooms
BY KAMIKO CHAMBLE Staff Writer
Many schools had the day off for Labor Day on Sept. 2, such as fellow SUNY schools Canton, Morrisville, Geneseo, Brockport, and Westbury. One of the schools that did not have off was SUNY Plattsburgh, a decision some students disagreed with for cultural and social reasons.
“To me Labor Day signifies a time to honor and recognize the sacrifice and progress made by workers in this country,” said Jazmine Perry, a sophomore who majors in psychology.
Perry found it unfair that she had to go to class while peers in other schools celebrated. Students were also stuck on campus with no transportation because the shuttle wasn’t running for Labor Day. Not only that, but some college offices were closed for Labor Day as well.
According to SUNY Plattsburgh’s website, all employees, except teaching faculty, have the day off. Non-faculty staff who work on that day can use the holiday at a later time.
Leslie Edwards, a sophomore double majoring in sociology and law and justice, thinks that if students are going to classes, staff should be in the offices.
“If the school is going to treat it like a holiday for adults, they need to fully treat it like a holiday for students too,” Edwards said.
JAYNE SMITH/Cardinal Points
Students fill Kent Cafe as they wait to place and receive orders. Dining venues have seen longer lines as a result of the Sundowner closing.
Detective Burghy has nothing to report
Weekly Meme
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Reach our editors at cp@cardinalpointsonline.com.
Student Association
SA fee increase raises $800K
BY ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA News + Managing Editor
The Student Association raised more money for this year thanks to the SA fee increase, but its overall budget falls short of last year’s.
The SA has almost $800,000 to invest in the shuttle, trips, events, clubs and organizations this academic year, according to SA Liaison Tyler Hargraves. The SA sets $10,000 aside for
additional allocations every semester.
Unlike last year’s budget, the entire amount was raised through student fees, which have increased from $80 to $125 per student starting this semester. Despite the $200,000 gap between the two budgets, this year’s budget is enough to cover SA expenses.
Last year’s budget was $1,050,047, with about $400,000 sourced from unallocated funds, money not spent two years
before. There were no leftover funds flowing into this year’s budget, which Hargraves said the SA anticipated and prepared for by increasing the SA fee.
Students can directly participate in managing the SA’s budget by joining its Finance Board, which makes decisions for allocations of $300 or less.
The board meets every Friday at noon in Meeting Room 1 on the second floor of the Angell College Center. A student must attend three meetings be-
fore they can become a board member. Students can also run for elected positions or tell SA officials what they want to see on campus. The SA Senate approves allocations of more than $300 when it meets 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays in the Cardinal Lounge, also on the second floor of the ACC.
BE OUR STUDENT ASSOCIATION REPORTER!
Attend SA meetings and write about what happens, with the opportunity to earn one academic credit. Contact Editor in Chief Collin Bolebruch at cp@cardinalpointsonline.com or News Editor Aleksandra (Aleks) Sidorova at asido001@plattsburgh.edu.
Couple arrested in connection with Cornelia Street shooting
BY CARLY NEWTON Press-Republican
Two suspects are in custody following a shooting Sept. 3 in the City of Plattsburgh that left one person dead.
According to Plattsburgh City Police, Chazz Johnson, 24, and Erica Colon, 21, both of Plattsburgh, were arrested after Markus Dixon, 31, also of Plattsburgh, was found shot three times in the chest area near 137 Cornelia St. at 2:23 a.m. Sept. 3.
At a news conference at the Plattsburgh City Police station that afternoon, Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie said Dixon received treatment on location after being found and was transported to Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The Plattsburgh City Police Department, Tri-County Special Response Team (comprised of members of the Clinton, Essex, and Franklin County Sheriff’s Departments, Ticonderoga and Malone Police Departments)
LABOR
Continued from page 1
Students use the shuttle to access food, groceries and entertainment. Additionally, students were down a meal option — Halal Shack was closed for mechanical reasons unrelated to the holiday.
Holidays are times some students prefer to spend with family.
“I believe they can make it a three-day weekend so kids who are from the city or who aren’t from here who have traditions can get time to spend with their families,” Edwards said.
Student Kahmil Wallace noted that some students are workers, too.
“Since most students, if not all of them, are aware of what it’s like to work a job, we need to be allowed to celebrate Labor Day just like everyone else,” Wallace said.
and the New York State Police subsequently commenced an investigation into the matter.
The investigation took statements from people who were present during the shooting or shortly after the shooting took place and then followed those leads throughout the city, Wylie said.
DOWNTOWN ALTERCATION
Wylie said Johnson, a Black male, and Colon, a white female, resided at the Pioneer Motel on Route 9 in the Town of Plattsburgh, and were taken into custody there the morning of Sept. 3. During the investigation, it was determined Johnson and Colon were boyfriend and girlfriend.
Wylie said Colon was involved in an “altercation” with Dixon Downtown near Pizza Bono before the shooting took place. He said witnesses indicated that Colon was struck by Dixon, who then left the area to walk back to his home.
Wylie said, after that incident, Colon called Johnson, who came to pick her up and they located Dixon, who was then shot and killed.
HANDGUN RECOVERED
Wylie said several search warrants were executed throughout the day, one being at the Pioneer Motel, where a handgun was recovered. He said that the handgun was consistent with the rounds found at 137 Cornelia St.
Wylie said Johnson was charged with murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree; Colon was charged with conspiracy in the second degree, as well as possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
Wylie said Colon does not have a previous record to his understanding, but Johnson does have a previous criminal history for possession of a firearm in Sullivan County, New York.
Police said the shooting does not appear to be a random act of violence and there is no ongoing threat to the community.
Labor Day is special to students as they have traditions that they’ve been practicing from childhood. This is their time to come together, put their differences aside and celebrate as a community.
“Labor Day means ‘carnival,’” Edwards said. “I say that because on Labor Day I am used to going out on the parkway with my friends, family, and walking with the parade. I am free to do whatever I want without judgment. It’s a time to embrace your Caribbean culture in the States.”
ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points
CAMERON GREAVES/
GROW
Continued from page 1
McGovern said she felt inspired by nationwide initiatives, such as the Green Bronx Machine, that improved student attendance, academic performance and nutrition by introducing fresh produce — and opportunities to grow it — into learning.
“It’s growth and thriving, I think that’s super important,” McGovern said. “You can thrive. It just takes some TLC, and if you don’t have all those supports, we’ll find those supports for you.”
The plants take about 20 days to grow, and would allow the Cardinal Cupboard to give off-campus students experiencing food insecurity access to fresh produce.
“Who eats all of their vegetables and fruits and berries on a daily basis?” McGovern said. “No one, because they’re way too expensive.”
McGovern anticipates the first harvest — arugula,
DINING
Continued from page 1
they have a lot of love and support around them.”
Email ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
CLINTON
College Auxiliary Services has seen a lot of student interest in employment so far, especially at newer locations, but they are still experiencing staff shortages.
Although Keleher noted that Kent is a student favorite, one can have too much of a good thing and grow tired of eating the same thing over and over again. Fredi Schneider, a sophomore majoring in childhood and special education, said Kent is her least favorite place to eat.
“I know that’s such an unpopular opinion, but I don’t know, I just ate it so much last year,” Schneider said. “I just can’t bring myself to eat it.”
Clinton is the largest dining hall, now open until midnight every day. It has four to five stations and the salad bar open every day depending on the day of the week and the amount of traffic.
“Once the Cardinal Nest is finished and open for the spring semester, Late Night will return to the (Angell College Center). In the meantime, Clinton will be the spot for late night dining,” Keleher wrote in an email response.
Clinton is a hit or miss with students. Some feel that the food is lackluster and that there are not many options available, in addition to being out of the way.
“I avoided Clinton for the first week and a half of school because I was scared to eat there,” Schneider said. “I think it’s awful now I have to trek to Clinton to eat, and I don’t really like the Clinton food.”
Some with dietary restrictions, such as being vegetarian or vegan, feel that there is a lot of selection at Clinton compared to the other dining locations on campus.
“I think that, being vegetarian, there’s a lot more selection here,” said Kasey Eaton, a first-year majoring in biochemistry. “Like, you go to Kent, you can really just get a sub and a fruit, but here you have a lot more options.”
OTHER OPTIONS
Another popular option for
on-campus dining is the Halal Shack in the ACC.
“I like Halal the most. I just feel like the food, I’m always in the mood for it, and there’s good options,” Cunningham said.
More options are coming to the Halal Shack this semester, including Jamal’s Chicken and Baba’s Pizza, which Keleher said would be available between 8 to 10 p.m. by mid-September.
The Cardinal Market and Starbucks allow for students to buy their own food and prepare their own meals at home.
“There, I can try to get different things,” Schneider said.
“I could get ramen, mac and cheese, and I make food from there, so it just gives me more options.”
Tim Hortons and Einstein Bagels, which have meal swipe options, are popular options as a result of their close proximity to academic buildings.
“I probably use, at this point, like seven Meal Swipes a week, and a lot of times it’s just for convenience, if my classes are over that way,” said first-year undeclared student Lucy Voelkl.
College Auxiliary Services is beginning an initiative to rebuild trust with students by hosting appreciation events starting next week with specialty menus and giveaways.
Email GRANT TERWILLIGER cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
JAYNE SMITH/Cardinal Points Students line up outside of Tim Hortons.
ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points
The plants begin their life as seeds in moist rockwool, a spongy material. Between Sept. 6 and Sept. 11, the seedlings at the Learning Center developed green leaves. They will soon be ready to move to the pots built into the tower gardens stands.
ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points Boost, a mobile app students use to place orders for pickup, has not been working for Kent Cafe and Halal Shack.
Dialoguing with water at SUNY Plattsburgh’s fall gallery
BY PHILO YUNRUI WANG
Associate A&C Editor
Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh holds the remnants of 300 shipwrecks beneath its waters. Above, the skies are traversed annually by 300 different species of birds. Beneath the surface, microbes are decomposing wastewater, their mysterious patterns curiously finding their way onto Christmas postcards. This intersection of natural history and human influence poses a captivating question: How do all these elements relate to us and our environment?
An exhibition featuring “Climate’s Shipwreck Ballad by Robin Lasser & Transmutation Traces by Marguerite Perret” is on display on the SUNY Plattsburgh campus. In this exhibition, Lasser’s and Perret’s works reveal the ecological and life clues around us while also subtly examining the poetic observation of human dichotomies. The exhibition is located on the second floor of the Myers Fine Arts Building, in both the Burke Gallery and the Slatkin Gallery, and is open throughout the entire fall semester until Dec. 9.
“From a birds-eye view, after the ice of the lake melts, faint outlines of some of these ships are visible on a clear day,” Lasser writes in the “Climate’s Shipwreck Ballad Series.”
For Lasser, the 300 shipwrecks and the 300 bird species that annually fly over Lake Champlain are the “poetic starting point” for this series.
“The first steamship to founder on Lake Champlain marks in time the early stages of the Industrial Revolution. It is almost like these floundered ships are a living buried archive of the time frame in which the climate change we’re experiencing now has been produced,” Lasser said in an interview.
In “Lost at Sea: Birds and Trees as Climate Refugees,” Lasser writes, “Heat, an ancient and primal force, whispering to the trees and birds, urges them to seek new realms.”
For trees, this means taking root deeper, spreadinhg seeds farther and finding living space in new environments; for
birds, it means adjusting migration routes, changing breeding times and seeking new food sources. Climate refugees impact countless other species in their joint adaptation and survival.
Following this heat pointer through the network of life, when facing human societal border issues, migration is deemed a biological instinct to seek better living conditions, which is another perspective that other life forms share with us.
“Contents at wastewater treatment plants are literally the substances we want to send away so that we never have to think about them again. These include the material of our own bodies and the waste it generates.” Perret writes in “Wastewater Is Us: A Complex System.” which, along with her work “Venus Cloacina in Triplicate,” metaphorically traverses the sparkling waves in the kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms of the goddess Venus the Purifier, symbolizing the alienation and beautification extremes people imagine about wastewater treatment.
“The wastewater treatment plant offers no social hierarchies. It is ultimately purely egalitarian,” Perret writes. Indeed, the unknown system akin to “alchemy” that purifies wastewater is composed of flora and fauna that arrive in the treatment tanks through the air or are brought there by various species. These organisms grow
and are able to metabolize the toxins in wastewater and decompose waste.
In the experimental short film Rotifer Sanctuary, co-produced by Lasser and Perret, the wastewater treatment plant in Plattsburgh provides a sanctuary for rotifers. As microbes responsible for decomposing human waste, their numbers have greatly diminished due to the warming waters of Lake Champlain and the invasion of zebra mussels.
“The music in the ‘Rotifer Sanctuary’ was composed in collaboration with a tree growing next to the wastewater treatment plant on the shore of Lake Champlain,” Lasser said in an interview. The tree’s electrical signals were assigned instruments, tones and pitches. The tree’s song reflects its thirst, hunger and breathing patterns. Transmutation is an ancient word that means changing one substance into another.
sumption. Water’s transmutation has always been a climate transformation, and thus, a human transformation.
audience, will all engage in dialogue here.
“In a very real way, we are living in an era of transmutation because the world around us is changing so fast, giving rise to pandemics and other challenges associated with habitat disruption, loss of biodiversity and climate change.” Perret writes in “Transmutation Still Life Nature Study Tables.”
The work is filled with rotting, broken organic bodies that are riddled with the colonial traces of modern trade and mass con-
During this reflective, poetic and caring exhibition, a play without words “The Water Station” directed by Julia Devine will be performed from Oct. 3 to Oct. 6 each evening at 7 p.m. in the same gallery space. “The Water Station,” a story about migrants seeking food, love and meaning on their journey, was created by one of Japan’s leading contemporary playwrights and directors, Ōta Shōgo.
“The encounter between ‘The Water Station’ and the exhibitions by Lasser and Perret happened naturally,” Devine said at the first gathering with performers. The resonating elements are being shared this fall semester — the performance, the exhibitions, as well as the
Email PHILO YUNRUI WANG cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
For more information about “Climate’s Shipwreck Ballad by Robin Lasser & Transmutation Traces by Marguerite Perret,” please visit https://www.plattsburgh.edu/ plattslife/arts/art-museum/museum-exhibitions.html
For more information about “The Water Station,” please refer to https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/arts/theatre-calendar.html. View the artists websites Robin Lasser https://www. robinlasser.com Marguerite Perret https:// www.margueriteperret.com
PHILO YUNRUI WANG/Cardinal Points People are invited to interact with provided postcards.
Provided by Tonya Cribb
Feliciano gives the gift of inpiration, art
BY CINARA MARQUIS Arts & Culture Editor
Whether it’s for a birthday, a holiday or just a random act, making gifts has always been Angelic Fajardo Feliciano’s favorite way to give.
“You’ve never really lived unless you’ve pulled an all-nighter the day before making a gift,” Fajardo Feliciano said.
It means more to Fajardo Feliciano when a gift is made by hand. She also finds it cheaper and more enjoyable as compared to buying one.
Fajardo Feliciano’s art has always been greatly influenced by her family. The gifts that she makes have allowed her to explore her creativity and find inspiration in everything.
“It’s an artist’s eye thing, where if you see something, it hits you and you get inspired. When there’s something about a scene, or the way light is hitting a certain object, the color, it could be anything really,”
Fajardo Feliciano said.
Making many gifts has allowed her to hone her art skills, too.
“I’ve always had a knack for art. I was self-taught as a kid and always drawing little doodles in my sketchbook,” Fajardo Feliciano said.
Fajardo Feliciano explained that she loves everything about art, especially charcoal and watercolor, because of the freedom they give her.
“I love that I can do whatever I want with it,” Fajardo Feliciano said. “I love how expressive you can get with charcoal. And I like building up layers with watercolor to see what colors you get. It looks fancy and I like that.”
Portraiture has always attracted Fajardo Feliciano, so she mainly creates works depicting human faces and bodies, which is reflected in her gifts. She also enjoys the still lifes she does in art class.
Fajardo Feliciano was a bachelor of fine arts student before the program was closed. Now she is a senior in the bachelor of arts program.
Due to the arts department at SUNY Plattsburgh being understaffed, the BFA program was put on pause late in 2023.
The BFA differs from the BA program in that students pick a concentration in an art medium and build their expertise in that particular area.
While the BA concentrations require four classes in a certain discipline, the BFA requires seven. It is this rigorous coursework that attracted Fajardo Feliciano to the program.
“I’m upset about it,” she said. “I came here from Puerto Rico specifically for the BFA.”
Despite the program’s pause, Fajardo Feliciano still finds another space for creativity. The Plattsburgh Association of the Visual Arts, a SUNY Plattsburgh club for art experts and beginners alike, has allowed her to be more involved in art.
Through PAVA, she gives the gifts of art and inspiration to her peers by helping organize events and manage the club. She is currently the secretary of PAVA and is excited about the club as well as her upcoming graduation.
Visit the Bachelor of Arts gallery at the Myers Art Museum to see Angelic Fajardo Feliciano’s and others’ exhibition.
Find out more about the Plattsburgh Association of the Visual Arts at https://rb.gy/ pyte04.
New heights reached in social work masters program
BY CINARA MARQUIS Arts & Culture Editor
The fall 2025 semester marks the launch of the masters of social work program at SUNY Plattsburgh.
“It’s very exciting that we’re able to help grow not only the social work program but also fill in these needs within our communities,” said Julie Piepenbring, MSW program director and assistant professor.
Piepenbring said that she is incredibly excited about the MSW. This year the program has a blend of students who achieved their BSW at SUNY Plattsburgh and students who have graduated from other colleges and universities. There are also students engaging through a teach-out program from the College of Saint Rose.
Undergraduate students are well prepared for generalist practices such as case management services or community work. With a graduate degree, however, there is advancement and more work opportunities in clinical and macro settings open up.
“There’s a lot of opportunities in the career market for BSWs (bachelors of social work),” Piepenbring
said. “But we are also seeing in the community a high demand for social workers with a graduate degree, both nationally and within our region.”
The introduction of the MSW program is a testament to our commitment to expanding educational opportunities and addressing the critical needs of our community.
Enyedi
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 11% increase in demand for social workers through 2028. Not only is the career expected to grow but the salary is too, the median annual salary for a social worker with an MSW is nearly double that of a social worker with a BSW, according to Indeed.com.
The MSW program is academically rigorous and
based on interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation and advocacy. It combines interpersonal clinical skills and versatile advocacy strategies based on empowerment and social justice. Students will complete a minimum of 950 hours of fieldwork in various settings across diverse fields. The MSW at SUNY Plattsburgh is a hybrid program in which students can work online. Students can take classes online, but they also need to take some courses in person on campus including two years of fulltime study. Students with a BSW from a Council on Social Work Education accredited institution with advanced standing can graduate from the program in just one year. Graduate students will be prepared for advanced practice on the micro, mezzo and macro levels of social work practice, which includes individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities and the government.
Provided by Angelic Fajardo Feliciano
Feliciano’s studio wall in the Myers Fine Arts Building is filled with various works including por-
Provided by Angelic Fajardo Feliciano (Left) “6 Views,” colored pencil, 2023 (Upper right) “Still Life,” 2023 (Bottom right) “Expression -
CARDINAL CALENDAR
Sept.
16 to Sept. 23
MONDAY 9/16 TUESDAY 9/17
Consent Awareness
Week Tabling Begin
The week long campaign will push to raise awareness and of affirmative consent skills.
Angell College Center and Clinton Dining Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Caribbean Mocktails with Club Carribean
Come drink delicious tropical non-alchohlic drinks inspired by the islands and enjoy cultural music and activities.
The H.U.B. from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
WEDNESDAY 9/18 THURSDAY 9/20
BridgePSU Group Discussion
Join the multipartisan political group to discuss poltics with other students.
Olive Ridley’s from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
LGBTQIA+ Resource Committee
Join the DEI for the first meeting to discuss resources available for LGBTQ+ people in Plattsburgh.
Online from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., the Zoom link can be found on Cardinal Link
FRIDAY 9/21 SATURDAY 9/22
Consent and Boundaries Workshop
Come learn in the interactive sex-positive workshop designed for students.
Alumni Conference Room from noon to 1 p.m.
SUNDAY 9/23
4th Annual Dash for SAS Color Blast 5K
All proceeds from the dash will benefit Plattsburgh’s Sexual Assault Services Program.
Zeebstock
Celebrate a day of peace and music at with Zeta Beta Tau.
Memorial Field from noon to 5 p.m.
Quake’s Silent Disco
Bring your headphones to dance to Quake’s collaborative Spotify playlist.
Burghy’s Den from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Comedy with Hari Kondabolu
Renowned comedian, writer and podcaster will be in Plattsburgh for his comedy show.
Strand Center for the Arts at 7 p.m.
WATER
Continued from page 4
Watch the videos of the exhibition “Climate’s Shipwreck Ballad by Robin Lasser & Transmutation Traces by Marguerite Perret” on Robin Lassers Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/user15891387
The Star card represents certainty. A wave of calmness and a renewal of strength will help bring positive energy into your life. The future ahead of you looks bright.
The reversed Sun card signifies negativity. False impressions and a lack of clarity may lead to overconfidence. Stay grounded and limit your spending this week.
The reversed Justice card refers to dishonesty. You may be avoiding responsibility for a misguided action. Be more honest with yourself and others, but give yourself some grace too as everybody makes
The Chariot card signifies willpower. You are overcoming obstacles with your great ambition. Keep your determination, as triumph is on the horizon.
The Magician card refers to strong will. This card encourages you to take time to make clear what you want in your life and strive for it.
The reversed Fool card entails foolishness. Reevaluate your intentions and motivations, as you may be holding yourself back from great things.
The High Priestess card signifies intuition. Trust your instincts and dig deeper to access wisdom within and outside of yourself. Ask questions, especially about what you find uncomfortable or
The Moon card signifies intuition. Trust your instincts and be mindful of deception this week. You are equipped to face your fears, so let yourself face them.
The reversed Judgement card is about denial. Take action this week, no longer is the time to delay or avoid potential problems, you are missing out on life. Address them and move on.
The World card entails fulfillment. Keep doing what you are doing. Your motivations empower you to continue striving for success — it is nearly in your hands.
The Temperance card depicts moderation. Have patience with whatever you are facing now. Balance will come with time.
The reversed Trial card refers to hesitation. Embrace flexibility and new perspectives this week, it will help you move forward from any uncertainty you are facing.
Aries (March 21 –April 19)
Cancer (June 21 –July 22)
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
Gemini (May 21 –June 20)
Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22)
Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22)
Scorpio (Oct. 23 –Nov. 21)
Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22)
Pisces (Feb. 19 –March 20)
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 –Dec. 21)
Capricorn (Dec. 22 –Jan. 19)
Aquarius (Jan. 20 –Feb. 18)
U.S. Oval at 10 a.m.
Provided by Robin Lasser
“Rotifier Sanctuary: Wastewater Treatment Plant, Plattsburgh New York” highlights the work of microbes.
Provided by Robin Lasser
“Theatre of Wastewater Reclamation” is a mini-opera created at the wastewater treatment plant in Oklahoma.
Provided by Robin Lasser Screencap from Lasser’s mini-opera.
Provided by Robin Lasser “Excavating Watershed Stories: Towards Social and Environmental Equity”
This week in photos: Starting the Semester Strong
Photos by Aleksandra Sidorova, Jayne Smith
Campus organizations and offices gathered in Memorial Hall to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention Tuesday, Sept. 10.
The event featured tables from the Accessibility Resources Office, University Police, the Student Association and Morgan’s Message, all of which focused on student wellbeing.
Student Zainab Kapasi takes a break from tabling for the Accessibility Resources Office.
Hockey and lacrosse player Taya Balfour tables for Morgan’s Message, a campus club dedicated to athlete mental health.
Marco Ayala, Finance and Operations Administrator for the Student Health and Counseling Center, engages students in a “common thread” exercise. The exercise
intended to show students they have more in common with others than they might think.
TRIO Student Support Services Academic Success Coordinator Lauren Gonyea relives fond memories, holding a ball she played with as a Cardinal athlete in 2010.
Cards showcase depth in hot start
BY COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Editor in Chief
Last season, the Plattsburgh Cardinals men’s soccer team fielded 24 different players. Twelve of them scored a point.
The 2024 Cards have surpassed both of those marks, with 26 and 13, respectively, through just two games. Oh, and they’re 3-0-2.
The Cardinals defeated two top-25 teams to open the season in the Northwestern Mutual Cardinal Classic tournament — beating Man-
hattanville 5-0 on Aug. 30 and Baruch 6-0 on Aug. 31. They then followed it up with three positive results, tying UMass Boston 1-1 on Sept. 7, defeating Endicott 4-1 on Sept. 8 and then tying Clarkson 1-1 on Sept. 11.
Plattsburgh has fully embraced its “brand-new” identity set forth by head coach Chris Taylor, rolling out six new regular starters and rolling out all but three of its players. Eight of 11 first-years have already seen the pitch.
The Cardinals’ profound depth has been a backing
force of its non-conference success — not just guys who will step on and play 30 minutes, but also the ones who play five.
“We hope that some people really step up and claim certain roles as guys off the bench, and maybe even push the starters,” Taylor said. “You never know when the opportunity is coming, but when you get it, it’s up to you to take it.”
The group of 11 first-years is the largest Taylor has recruited over his seven years, and that figure doesn’t in-
Phelps, Cantwell push Cardinals to second win
BY MICHAEL PURTELL Sports Editor
At a collegiate tennis match, six players compete in three doubles games and six athletes compete in singles. For Plattsburgh State’s roster of eight, every meet is an opportunity to prove its team’s strength across the roster.
The Cardinals scored a 4-3 home win over the Russell Sage Gators in an out-of-conference game to go up 2-0 on the season Saturday, Sept. 7. The meet went undecided until the final game ended, with senior Meghan Phelps breaking the tie for Plattsburgh.
“It was a nail biter, that’s for sure,” head coach Kelci Henn said. “It was an anxious match, but we prevailed, and we proved that we are the better team today.”
Senior Sophia Gottschall won the Cards their first point by winning no. 4 singles 6-1, 6-0.
Sophomore Jacklin Mitchell
secured no. 3 singles 6-1, 7(7)6(4).
The match looked dire for the Cardinals when the Gators took the point for doubles and won #1 and no. 2 singles, leaving junior Kristy Cantwell at no. 5 singles and Phelps at no. 6 singles in must-win situations.
Both Cantwell and Phelps joined the team for the 2023 season, and saw limited starts throughout the season, neither appearing in conference play. Both began the 2024 season with their first conference wins against Oneonta in singles and doubles. Their position against Russell Sage was the perfect opportunity to cement their spots in the starting lineup.
“They didn’t start out as starters, but they really proved that they’re meant to be here. They’re here to stay,” Henn said.
clude the two transfers.
The Cardinals’ staff wasn’t uncritical of incoming players, but as Taylor described, the team netted more of its top prospects than the coaches expected. Landing ready-to-play rookies aligns perfectly with the team’s structure. Plattsburgh’s best players — John Hayes, Brian Coughlan, Modou Badjie and Teddy Healy — are all seniors that needed instant help to maximize the team’s potential.
SUNYAC tennis shrinks: How can it recover
BY COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Editor in Chief
When New Paltz declared its departure from the SUNYAC, the first thing I thought of was women’s tennis. The Hawks — the team that just won the baseball, softball and both basketball championships — leave conference tennis in a dire state. New Paltz has won five of the last six tennis championships and has not finished worse than second since 2002. This season, there are six teams and four playoff spots. Next season, five programs — Plattsburgh, Fredonia, Oswego, Cortland and Oneonta — will fight for four playoff berths. Just one unfortunate team will be left out of the spring postseason in 2026.
My concern is that such a level of competition is not sustainable. If it’s harder to miss the playoffs than make them, why is there a regular season, especially if the title is played at a neutral site?
The conference must seek expansion, even if it means breaking the identity of the SUNYAC. It owes it to the players for there to be a meaningful season.
A small league is possible, as seen by the SUNYAC’s seven-team field hockey league that has operated for decades. However, next year, it will be reduced to four. In response, the SUNYAC is adding Salisbury University. Salisbury is located in Maryland, making it the firstever non-New York SUNYAC team.
Sept. 9. TENNIS > 9
p.m.
COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points
Colter Cheney-Seymour heads in a goal against Baruch at the Field House Soccer/Lacrosse Complex on August 31.
MICHAEL PURTELL/Cardinal Points
Megan Phelps returns the ball mid-volley in her deciding no. 6 singles match at Memorial Hall on
WSOC > 11
Men’s soccer
Tennis
As of Sept. 12
Men’s lacrosse
Nedbalski hired to head Cards
BY EMMA DEO Staff Writer
Top to bottom, Plattsburgh men’s lacrosse has one goal – bringing back a winning culture.
The Cardinals sat atop of the SUNYAC rankings in the not-so-distant past, bringing home the 2017 championship. In the past five seasons, the team has won just three conference games and is now under the guidance of their third head coach in that span.
Zachary Nedbalski will now lead the Cardinals for the 2025 season.
“We wanted someone that had head coaching experience, and he built a program from the ground up,” Athletic director Mike Howard said.
Nedbalski spent a decade of his career coaching at Methodist University, where he amassed a 77-74 record and earned conference Coach of the Year honors twice.
“You can never predict how long or short someone will be there, but he seems like a guy that is really committed to being at Plattsburgh for the long haul,” Howard said.
Darry Thornton, who coached the Cardinals in 2023 and 2024, will now lead the Augustana College men’s lacrosse team, as announced by the Augustana athletic department.
With so many coaches rotating through Plattsburgh’s program, the upperclassmen have experienced unique bonding opportunities.
“I think the coaching change brings us closer together. Now we all have to stay closer and help him adjust,” said Anthony Faber, graduate student attacker.
This change could be the spark the team needs to secure conference wins again.
“We want to start winning again. Bring back that winning culture. That’s the main goal,” Faber said.
Last year, the team had a 4-12 (0-7) record. The Cardinals ended the season
with an eight-game losing streak, with their last win being an 11-7 decision over Johnson and Wales University on March 20. After such a season, the change in leadership did not come as a total surprise to the team.
“We all knew the coaching change was in the cards, just based on team performance and not winning a SUNYAC game,” Faber said.
While this change gives the team an opportunity to come together and rebuild the success the program was founded on, the repeated turnover has presented issues for the team.
“He [Nedbalski] wants to be here for a while and that’s what we want as a team. When I leave here, I want to make sure that the guys coming in have that culture and have a coach that wants to stay,” Faber said.
Bringing a tradition of success back will not happen overnight, but the athletic department, coaching staff and players are devoted to starting the process now.
“We won the championship in 2017 — you don’t expect necessarily
to do that this year — but we are very committed to having our men’s lacrosse program back enjoying the success that we were a few years ago. I don’t want there to be any doubt about that,” Howard said. This culture also extends off the field. Aside from offense and defense, Nedbalski prioritizes his players as students and young men.
“Some of my greatest moments — even though we’ve been to multiple conference championships and won a conference championship at my previous school — is seeing my guys walk across the stage in four years,” Nedbalski said.
TENNIS
Continued from page 8
Cantwell took no. 5 singles first, with a win in three sets, 6-2, 5-7 and 10-7. All eyes turned towards Phelps, who had just won her first game in a tiebreaker. She was unfazed by the spectators, partly because she had no idea what the team’s score was.
“During the match I wanted to stay focused and relaxed so I could maintain my composure,” Phelps said. “It felt good to win, but I didn’t know that I was the deciding factor of the match. When they told me it made me happy for the team.”
All of Plattsburgh’s starters competed in both singles and
doubles at the meet, a result of the small roster. Cantwell and Phelps were playing Gators, who were fully rested heading into the singles matches. For them to pull out wins in such circumstances “demonstrates really clearly, their grit, their energy and the endurance that they’ve really put a lot of work into,” Henn said.
Cantwell accepts the challenge of playing two matches back to back with open arms.
“If they can’t see you’re tired, then you’re not tired,” Cantwell said. “I don’t care that I just played a game, I feel new.”
The team’s ability to develop players into quality starters like Phelps and Cantwell will be crucial for finishing the season strong. Senior Andrea Bringham
will be another name to look out for throughout the season. She will make an impact on the team in the same way Cantwell and Phelps have, Henn said.
The Cardinals will face the reigning SUNYAC champions, New Paltz Hawks, on their home court tomorrow at 1 p.m. New Paltz swept Plattsburgh 9-0 in their match last season.
“It’s definitely intimidating, but I think we’re really hungry this season,” Cantwell said. “I think with these two wins under our belt, we’re really excited to go play.”
COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points
A group of last season’s seniors embraces John Eiseman (52) on April 20.
COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points
Darry Thornton addresses the Cardinals in his last Plattsburgh home game April 20.
via Plattsburgh St. Athletics Zachary Nedbalski
MICHAEL PURTELL/Cardinal Points
Kristy Cantwell and Hallie Hurwitz ready to receive a serve against Russell Sage at Memorial Hall on Sept. 9.
New-identity Cardinals struggle to take flight
BY JUSTIN RUSHIA Associate Sports Editor
With an opportunity to face two of the top-25 ranked teams in the country, the Plattsburgh State women’s soccer team fell short of its goal of making a name for itself early on the national stage after losing both games.
“The goal of making the NCAA tournament hasn’t changed,” head coach Whitney Frary said. “There’s two ways for us to get into the tournament. I think the main one for us now is to win the SUNYAC.”
The Cardinals kicked off their regular season Aug. 30 with the Stand on Their Shoulders Invitational in Geneva, New York. Plattsburgh’s first task: a match against William Smith College, the 20thranked team in the nation. Just 78 seconds into its season, Plattsburgh conceded its first goal.
The new-look Cardinals have only two returning players who were consistent starters from last season: goalkeeper Lauren Haley and defender Casey Granger. With so many spots needing to be replaced on the field, competition for a starting spot is at an all-time high.
“We’re just trying to find the other pieces and who works well together, especially in the formation we’re playing in,” Frary said. “It’s all about combinations and cohesion.”
Plattsburgh struggled to find its footing on both ends of the pitch in the first half, allowing 11 shots on net while managing only one for itself. Eight of the 11 William Smith shots were on net compared to just one for Plattsburgh, and three of those William Smith shots found their way past Haley and into the back of the net.
“As a goalkeeper, you have to have a short-term memory and focus on the next play,” Haley said.
The second half was the same sorry, with the Cardinals being outmatched on both ends of the pitch.
Plattsburgh conceded four more goals while being shut out, losing its first match of the season 0-8. Plattsburgh shot less times then William Smith scored, with a final shot differential of 5-24.
“William Smith played faster and had better touches throughout the game,” Plattsburgh defender Granger wrote in a text.
The Cardinals shifted their focus to the second game of the Invitational, a match-
up against the 24th-ranked team in the nation, The College of New Jersey. Plattsburgh had another chance to prove itself against a powerful opponent.
The Cardinals started stronger in the second game of the season and were better suited to the fast pace of play typical of high-ranked teams. One minute into the match, Plattsburgh earned a corner kick and recorded the first shot of the game.
It didn’t take long before TCNJ took control of the game, breaching the Plattsburgh backline to bag the first goal of the game eight minutes in.
TCNJ continued to exert offensive pressure on the Cardinals, earning a penalty kick that found its way past Haley, giving TCNJ a two-goal advantage.
Both teams battled back-and-forth for the next 10 minutes of the game, making multiple substitutions and experimenting with line-ups. That was until junior midfielder Hannah Myers opened the scoring for the Cardinals, finding the back of the net for the first time of the season.
Plattsburgh was on the backfoot heading into halftime. It allowed 12 shots on goal compared to three of their own. Haley did everything she could to keep the Cardi-
nals in the game, making save after save to give Plattsburgh a fighting chance.
The second half did not go in the Cardinal’s favor, allowing three more goals while tallying zero shots on net. Haley finished the game with 12 saves.
“The goal to make the tournament is still the same,” Granger said.
Plattsburgh had to reroute its focus to Wednesday for its next challenge: the Vermont-State Castleton Spartans.
Historically, the Cardinals have had the upper hand against the Spartans, having a record of 31-2-1. This game followed the history books and resulted in a 1-0 Plattsburgh win.
“In practice on Monday after the games, at first, we had to relearn why we play the game,” Haley said. “It’s a privilege to play, and you just gotta have fun with it.”
The match was defined by good defending and physical back-and-forth play throughout. Both teams committed a foul before they managed a shot on net.
The first half ended with both teams taking four shots apiece, none of which found the back of the net.
“You can’t teach grit,” Haley said.
Ask an Athlete: Jacklin Mitchell
BY COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Editor in Chief
Jacklin Mitchell was a standout player for the Plattsburgh women’s tennis team last season. The tennis talent was named SUNYAC Rookie of the Season for her performance in the 2023-2024 season.
Mitchell had a strong start to her sophomore season, winning both her singles games handily. For the opening week of the season, she was named SUNYAC singles Athlete of the Week.
This question-and-answer was conducted with Jacklin over email Sept. 11.
Question: What have been the biggest differences you’ve noticed between going from a 14-person roster to eight?
Answer: Everyone on the team has had to step up a good amount to take bigger roles considering the amount we have and who we lost from the previous year. We do feel small sometimes but it has only made us closer, and the closer we are, we can have much more support for one another to push us forward this season.
Q: The team’s most important games will come down to a single stretch in Binghamton. How does the single-location, back-to-backto-back environment affect you as a player?
A: The environment around the back-to-back singles matches in Binghamton is by far one of the most important parts of the season and it is definitely stressful being able to watch your opponents play out other teams before we play them. In a way it helps though because we are able
to see the way that the other teams play. Over the course of those days it gets super tiring after the back-toback matches but I believe our team’s energy will beat that and give us a second wave to come out strong.
Q: Tennis has the highest percentage of local players on its roster — how has it been playing at a level with women you have maybe competed against?
A: Thinking back to high school, I don’t remember playing any of my teammates now because we only played one position that we usually stuck with for most of the season. You could only play either singles or doubles, not both unfortunately. Coming into tennis my freshman year, it was really nice knowing there were other locals, just because maybe I knew what to expect. Also it is great being able to play with my teammates over the summer right at our home courts, almost like we never left.
Q: What is the best piece of tennis advice you’ve received?
What would you tell someone who wants to pick up the racket?
A:. Tennis is a lifetime sport, you can play it almost your whole life and it is truly such a fun sport. I have had many friends that I have asked to play with me even if they have never touched a racket before and it’s always such a fun time because it just makes them wanna learn and get better. Tennis is also such a mental game: It took me years to figure out how to keep composure on the court and sometimes it can still get to me, but it only makes you stronger during the game. Some days you can play to the best of your ability and maybe the next day it is a complete switch-up and everything you hit is going into the net and outside the lines. But I strongly believe if you take it slow and tell yourself you can do it, everything goes smoothly.
In the second half, Plattsburgh and Castleton continued their gritty, defensive style of play.
The Cardinals fired two shots within the first three minutes of the half.
Twenty minutes into the second half, the Cardinals got on the board with a goal from junior midfielder Claire Bottjer, who was assisted by Junior Midfielder Jillian Bezio.
“It was such a sense of relief,” Frary said. “I think everybody was like, ‘Oh, yeah, we got this.’”
Plattsburgh prevented the Spartans from equalizing, giving the Cardinals their first win of the season.
The Cardinals next opportunity to earn their first win of the season will come against RIT, Saturday, Sept. 14.
“I think a lot of teams are underestimating us because we lost such a large class,” Frary said. “Every team needs to form and create themselves, and I think that’s what we’re doing right now.”
9
TEN - The Cardinals have nine singles wins in two meets, more then players on the roster (8).
14
MSOC - 14 different Cardinals have recorded points for the team in the teams opening five games.
21
WSOC - Opposing teams are averaging 21 shots against the Cardinal defense. The Cards have taken 23 total shots.
1
MSOC - Colter Cheney-Seymour scored one goal in one shot. He currently has a perfect 1.000 shooting percentage.
COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points
Hannah Meyers fights for possession against a Skidmore athlete at the Field House Soccer/Lacrosse Complex on Sept. 11.
COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points
Jacklin Mitchell faces off against SUNYAC rival Oneonta in the 2024 season opener Sept. 2.
Continued from page 8
One first-year, forward Ryan Shalvey, found the back of the net against Baruch.
Despite playing the 15th most minutes in the game, he contributed in a way only five others did.
Shalvey has played just 10 minutes since. These nonconference games have been a learning experience for Taylor and the Cardinals, and so far, it’s proved there are contributors down the bench.
“This is the performance, these games right now. You need to prove yourself early for (SUNYAC) games,” Shalvey said. “Every kid wants to get on the front foot early and just prove themselves to get into games.”
Owen Langer, a rookie forward, played in four minutes against Endicott. During those 240 seconds, Langer won free kicks and connected with his teammates in the middle of the field.
Alongside Langer on the bench are 15 other outfielders, all with the ability to serve a niche role on the pitch.
Against UMass Boston, Taylor moved Coughlan up the field to create more offensive opportunities. In his place, he inserted junior
Colter Cheney-Seymour. By the time the team scored, Cheney-Seymour had impressed to the point where Coughlan wasn’t moved back.
The next day, against Endicott, Cheney-Seymour remained on the bench in favor of fellow junior Tony Kochelev.
“Different personnel are going to be needed for different moments and different situations and different teams,” Taylor said. “It’s just going to give us options.”
“ You never know when the opportunity is coming, but when you get it, it’s up to you to take it. ”
Chris Taylor
Three of the six new starters are new members of the team entirely — all of which are defensemen. First-years Lucas Arbelaez and Jack Murphy and transfer Randall Ashong join Coughlan to form Plattsburgh’s top back line.
As an almost entirely new group, a period of growth and meshing is expected before the unit sees its full form, goalkeeper Healy said before the season.
“It’s definitely going to take time for us to become a big unit,” Healy said Aug. 20.
But between its two tournament wins, it allowed six total shots, including zero in the second half.
This season, opponents have averaged 5.8 shots to Plattsburgh’s 15.4.
The defensive group is bound to see change, as the midfielder and forward groups both saw new starters against Endicott. As substitutes continue to show what they can contribute in limited minutes, their playing time will increase and they could earn a starting position.
“Iron sharpens iron,” Taylor said. “If someone’s not in the starting lineup, but they’re really pacing and pacing and trying to get that spot, then the starters have got to hold them off or get better.”
Keeping a fluid rotation will help keep everyone on the same page as they approach the late season. Sitting on the bench is difficult, CheneySeymour said, but when everyone is involved, it keeps the depth chart both close with one another and ready to run when their numbers are called.
“(Trying to keep everyone engaged) is probably the hardest thing to do in college soccer,” Taylor said. “Sometimes it’s not about
playing the very best player. It’s about rewarding the person that embodies your values the most.”
Following this strategy lights a fire under the top players’ feet. Having 18 backups breathing down their necks will only push them to improve, instead of remaining complacent with a guaranteed spot on gameday.
“The competitiveness can boost the kids below and then also above because they have to keep working to keep their spot, where maybe in the past, that wasn’t as much of a factor,” Cheney-Seymour said.
The Cardinals are now ranked no. 16 by the United Soccer Coaches ranking for the first time since 2016.
Plattsburgh will next take on Union on the road tomorrow, Sept. 14 before hosting Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Wednesday, Sept. 18 in the final pre-SUNYAC games. Until then, there will be many friendly competitions in practice.
“When we have a big win, that’s everybody’s win,” Taylor said. “It’s not just the guys that get on the field.”
Email COLLIN BOLEBRUCH
cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
VOLLEYBALL
Plattsburgh State women’s volleyball dropped three games in the Skidmore Classic in Saratoga Springs, New York, last weekend, falling to 0-6 on the season, winning just one set overall.
The Cardinals lost the first game to Nazareth 0-3 on Sept. 6, losing sets 1525, 13-25 and 19-25.
Sophomore Darby Collyear led the team in points, followed up by sophomore Liya Girma with six. Sophomore KC Burke contributed seven digs and first-year Anabella Almeida finished with eight assists.
The Cardinals then lost the next game to the host Skidmore 0-3 on Sept. 7, losing sets 19-25, 9-25 and 20-25.
Girma led the way with 9.5 points and Collyear contributed seven. Burke doubled her previous day’s total with 14 digs and Almeida again had the most assists with 11.
Plattsburgh lost in the final game to Connecticut College 0-3 on Sept. 7, losing sets 20-25, 16-25 and 14-25.
Girma had her best performance, leading with 13 points and sophomore Iris Mulvey stepped up to record 6.5. Girma also dropped 13 digs and Almeida again had 11.
Plattsburgh will have two more chances to win its first game under first-time head coach Eimile O’Brien this weekend when it travels to Castleton, Vermont to play VTSU-Castleton and SUNY Delhi on Sept. 14.
STATE
Continued from page 8
That wasn’t the only precedent broken this offseason — Hobart & William Smith and Skidmore College will join the SUNYAC’s ice hockey leagues, making them the first private colleges admitted to the conference.
The league could seek to lure teams that are already affiliate SUNYAC members — Ithaca, St. John Fisher, Alfred State, Utica, Skidmore, William Smith, SUNY Delhi and RIT. However, most seem comfortably seated within the Empire 8 — the league Geneseo and Brockport fled to — and the Liberty League. Delhi stands out.
Delhi competes in the North Atlantic Conference, the same league the SUNYAC just stole Canton and Morrisville from. Delhi has joined the SUNYAC in track and field, a sport the school excels at.
It could be easy for Delhi to make the jump to women’s tennis or even full-time membership. The NAC requires Delhi to make trips to Maine and Massachusetts, and the school could make easy cuts to travel with a conference jump. Delhi is the strong favorite, in my opinion.
However, the problem with adding the Delhi Broncos is the lack of experience the program holds. The team ceased play in 2020 and is now competing for the first time in five years. Is it a safe, stable option? The precedent and location of the school may outweigh that point. Joining the SUNYAC also may strengthen the program.
It is important to note that the Broncos scheduled two SUNYAC teams this season — losing 0-9 to Oswego on Sept. 4 and rescheduling a game at Plattsburgh.
Two more NAC members — VTSUJohnson and VTSU-Lyndon — make for possible candidates. Plattsburgh already regularly plays VTSU-Johnson in tennis. The Cardinals also play VTSU-Johnson and VTSU-Lyndon in other sports as well. The schools’ distance from other members, such as Cortland and Oneonta, raises its biggest obstacle for full-league membership.
Outside of Delhi, the options lie completely up to opportunity. The SUNYAC could get lucky and pry away VTSU-Castleton, a common Plattsburgh opponent, from the Little East, or an Empire 8 or Liberty League school.
The best choices will possibly be schools looking for a change in Massachusetts, New Jersey, or even more likely, Pennsylvania, which sits just minutes away from the tournament’s site in Binghamton, New York.
My prediction is that the SUNYAC will add SUNY Delhi or one or two teams of public or private Pennsylvania schools, bringing the league count to six or seven. Alfred State also stands as an outlier option.
Email COLLIN BOLEBRUCH cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
EMERY
Bob Emery, former Plattsburgh State men’s hockey head coach, recently landed a job within the Dallas Stars’ organization as a scout, according to themackreport.com.
Emery served as the Cardinals’ head coach from 1989 to 2019, posting a record of 624-215-65 and winning two NCAA Division III National Championships in 1992 and 2001. Under his watch, the Cardinals won 16 SUNYAC titles, and made the NCAA Tournament 18 times. The former Card holds the 14th most wins and the second highest win percentage at .726 in NCAA men’s hockey history, across both divisions.
Emery most recently acted as director of hockey operations for Division I Merrimack College, a position he was hired to immediately following his retirement and concluding with his NHL hiring.
Emery is believed to be one of three Plattsburgh State men’s hockey alumni to hold an NHL scout position, following former coach Herb Hammond, who was in the pros from 1988 to 2005, winning a Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1993-94, and former player Joe Ferras, who has been with the New Jersey Devils since 2017.
MENS
9/7 @ Hamilton (L) 9/14 vs. Canisius 9/21 vs. St. Lawrence 9/28 @ Hobart 10/5 vs. Clarkson 10/12 @ Paul Smith 10/19 @ Potsdam
WOMENS 9/15 @ Oswego (10 a.m.) 9/22 @ Hamilton 9/29 vs. Colgate 10/5 vs. Cortland 10/13 BYE WEEK 10/19 vs. Clarkson
COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points Liya Girma dives after the ball against Plymouth St. in Memorial Hall on August 30.
COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points
(Left to right) Jake McGowan, Brian Coughlan, Aaron Cohen and John Hayes celebrate the Cardinals’ home victory over Manhattanville with an embrace Aug. 30. MSOC
Constant renovations disrupt routines
BY ELLA STUDDARD Staff Writer
Are these renovations really working towards the benefits of the students and staff, or are they doing a little too much?
Six projects still remain in progress and nearly $39 million, in total, has been invested into renovations the past four years, according to the State University Construction Fund. There has been a flurry of opinions scattered across the campus during the first few weeks of classes regarding this subject.
Sundowner is down, and this has caused general outrage campus wide. The lack of food options and the copious selections of coffee have drawn a clear line of disruption in many students’ diets. Renovations placed to help with dining accessibility have accidentally hindered it.
“Better Clinton food,” one student said when asked about changes they wanted to see on campus.
There are too little options and a lot of frustration. In an optimistic light, some students believe with the lack of dining options it allows them to venture outside of their normal picks.
One junior said that, now relying on new dining options, they have been able to see more of the campus this year compared to the last. With low food options, the inclusion of Starbucks has been received positively among the campus population.
Many students feel their voices have been heard and there is a clear undertone of excitement for The Cardinal Nest, that’s opening next semester.
Convenience was the word of the day when it comes to the renovations that are actually finished. ADA — or the Americans with Disabilities Act- accommodations can be spotted around campus. Ramps, handicap doors and wheelchair accessibility have been included in various buildings.
Matthew Edward, Senior, spoke outwardly about Memorial Hall and how much it’s improved despite its lengthy construction time.
“Redcay-it’s gross in there.” Edward said related to the changes he wants to see on campus.
Redcay Hall is one of the many buildings that have yet to see any renovations in the past years Other students also mentioned Macdonough Hall and Wilson Hall .
When comparing Redcay, Macdonough, and Wilson to other buildings, with an exponential amount of renovations, unfortunately, they seem deeply behind, and students have noticed.
The thoughts are clear. The parking lot construction is annoying and the Sundowner being closed has led many students astray when it comes to a late night snack.
There are still changes needed, especially for ADA accommodations, but what has been done is admired. Students feel their voices are considered. Hopefully doing too much will become doing enough.
Students react to presidential debate
BY NADIA PASCHAL Opinion Editor
It’s 2024, which means it’s officially time for another presidential election. These past few years in the political sphere have been chaotic to say the least.
With controversial picks on both sides and a last-minute change for the Democratic Party, this upcoming election has constantly been covered and scrutinized by the media.
This debate featured Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump, and Democratic candidate and current Vice President Kamala Harris.
While Trump has had plenty of
time to prepare for this upcoming election, Harris only recently entered the race in July, after President Joe Biden declared that he was no longer running.
The debate covered many topics, including healthcare, the economy, abortion, immigration and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, not all questions were fully answered, and left the American people wondering what exactly these candidates’ stances were on these issues.
Much like the most recent presidential debates, when asked certain questions, politicians often skirt around the question, preferring to push their forefront beliefs and the topics or opinions they want to discuss. This
tactic has not been uncommon in recent previous elections, which is concerning as these are issues that directly affect every citizen. Politics impacts every aspect of our lives even in a
where the effects, especially economic decisions, may seem more noticeable.
Junior Molly Ryan, who will be voting for the first time come November, tuned into the debate that aired on Tuesday, and had many thoughts on
what she saw. She was pleased to see that the debate featured live fact checking, which immediately disproved any false claims that
ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points
The Sundowner, one of the dining halls on campus, in its current state of renovation. It is expected to reopen in the spring.
NADIA PASCHAL/Cardinal Points
The recently added Starbucks in the Cardinal Market.
‘Inside Out’ from the outside in
BY KOLIN KRINER Public Relations Chair
Taking the world by storm nearly a decade after the first, “Inside Out 2,” directed by Kelsey Mann, hit theaters this summer, offering — quite literally — a whirlwind of emotions.
The film follows a now teenage Riley, played once again by Kaitlyn Dias, as she enters puberty and is introduced to a new range of, more complex, emotions.
The first movie introduced us to Sadness, Anger, Fear, Disgust and Joy, who spent the first movie learning that it’s okay to be sad, and that sadness is a needed emotion.
This movie, however, implemented more complex emotions that everyone can relate to as you transition between child to teen.
Anxiety, Embarrassment, Ennui and Envy take to the cast, adding more depth to the emotions Riley feels. Anxiety serves as a phenomenal villain to the plot: the climax of the film literally gave me goosebumps at the film’s portrayal of what can happen if you let anxiety take control.
I have little to no qualms with the film, as I am glad they gave Fear, Anger and Disgust a larger part in the film. However, I wish they dived a little more into Embarrassment, Ennui and Envy, as I felt they were added so there would be more emotions, but served basically nothing to the greater scheme of the film. Not to say they each didn’t get little moments here and there, but I was still left wanting more from these new emotions.
This movie was funny, clever and never had any dull moments, and like its predecessor, was full of heart.
I hope if there is an Inside Out 3, (the movie did make more than $1 billion so it is very likely), it will dive more into the other three new emotions, especially that of Envy and Ennui, because
as you grow, so does boredom and desire, just as much as anxiety does.
I give this movie a 4.5/5 stars, docking half a point for the existence of Bloofy and 6, two characters that serve no purpose but popping a vein in my forehead any time they appeared on screen.
DEBATE
“Fake news” and false stories have been rampant in the past few years, so it was refreshing to see ABC take extra precautions regarding any statements from either politician.
While Trump and Harris discussed a wide array of policies, Ryan thought that some topics were debated for too long, leaving no room for other issues.
“They really went into depth with [immigration] and I think there are bigger issues in my opinion,” Ryan said.
Ryan had hoped to see gun control being brought up, especially after yet another school shooting occurred in Georgia this week. With stories like these being published so frequently, this is an issue that plagues the whole country and causes many Americans to live in fear when doing even the most mundane activities.
Junior Jayden Dabiew also tuned into the debate, and her candidate of choice is clear.
“I think Kamala’s got this in the bag. I really think she’ll pull through hopefully,” Dabiew said.
Dabiew also said that she was inspired to see Harris running for office and strongly believes that if she’s elected she would turn the country around.
“His morals are so corrupt,” Dabiew said about Trump.
There seems to be a trend of many voters, especially younger ones, choosing not to vote or follow any political news. Ryan urges people to vote and be politically active, and said that she has already requested an absentee ballot.
“The same people who don’t vote are the people who are going to complain when someone they don’t like wins,” Ryan said.
It’s important that voters know exactly who and what they are voting for, and follow some kind of news outlet to be aware of what is going on where they live, both locally and nationally.
“Even if you don’t know who you want to vote for, just putting a vote in really helps,” Dabiew said. [If you don’t vote] you’re kind of losing your own ability to choose.”
Political debates, especially presidential ones, should be easily accessible for all people, and both candidates should make clear stances should be made.
“I think they need to do a better job at answering the questions, because as an American citizen, you want to understand what they’re talking about,” Ryan said.
Despite many concerning statements made during the debate, it seemed somewhat more civil than the past few that we’ve seen, which is certainly an improvement.
The United States has been divided for years and hopefully, no matter who is voted into office, they will work for the greater good of the country and all of us.
Awards
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
Donald Trump.