Cardinal Points Issue 10 Fall 2024

FRIDAY, NOV. 22

WHAT’S INSIDE:

FALL 2024 | ISSUE 10

A&C

SPORTS

OPINION

Barista serves coffee with artistic twist

Men’s hockey loses, women’s ties Oswego

Reality TV reshapes ideas of beauty, success

Depts. advised not to award scholarships to leaving seniors

BY ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA News + Managing Editor

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

The anthropology student commons is a lively hangout and study spot in Redcay Hall. Students are unsure what will happen to their space when the department moves to Beaumont Hall by April 2025.

Planned department moves promise progress, sow worry

BY KAMIKO CHAMBLE AND ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA Staff Writer, News + Managing Editor

This time next year, Clinton Community College and SUNY Plattsburgh will have shared a campus for one semester. Over the course of the spring 2025 semester, SUNY Plattsburgh will be making

room by relocating departments and offices.

The department of gender and women’s studies has already been relocated into a retrofitted space in Hawkins Hall. The remainder of the moves to be phased over the spring semester of 2025, according to President Alexander Enyedi’s email to the campus Nov. 1.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions will relocate to the 10th floor of Kehoe Administration Building in January 2025. The Global Education Office, currently on the 10th floor, will move to the second.

Along with the typical proceedings of a school year’s end, academic departments hold their own ceremonies celebrating their students — sometimes bestowing a monetary award upon an outstanding graduating senior. In the second week of the semester, administration said the practice needs to stop.

David Gregoire, assistant vice president for Institutional Advancement, explained in an email response that the office, which helps manage gifts to the university and relationships with alumni, has obligations to the donors themselves as well as state law.

“While there are a few instances when a donor has asked that their support provide funding to a graduating senior, the focus of the Foundation is on enhancing the experience of currently enrolled students participating in SUNY Plattsburgh programs,” Gregoire wrote in an email response.

The New York Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act, signed in 2010, binds not-for-profits such as the Plattsburgh College Foundation, which supports most departmental scholarships, to spend gifts as the donor notes.

The Foundation could be violating the terms of the endowments if it allows scholarships for leaving students because most donors specify they intend to support “students enrolled at SUNY Plattsburgh” — which graduating students no longer are.

According to the law, the Foundation must report the name of the scholarship recipient to the donor.

“When an award is made to a graduating senior at the end of their senior year, the Foundation cannot provide that information to the donor as it has promised to in the agreement,” Gregoire wrote in an email response. “Not only is this not in keeping with the intent of the agreement but also has the potential to harm the relationship with the donor and potentially impact future support for SUNY Plattsburgh and its students.”

MOVE > 3

SENIORS > 3

Grad enrollment English students interview grows college’s Pulitzer-winning author student numbers

BY ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA

BY KAMIKO CHAMBLE

News + Managing Editor

Staff Writer

For the first time since 2021, SUNY Plattsburgh has more than 4,500 students. The student population stands at 4,541 — thanks to a growing interest in the college’s graduate-level programs.

President Alexander Enyedi’s email to the campus Nov. 1 noted that 715 of SUNY Plattsburgh’s students are in masters programs. The number is double that of last year’s. Transfer student enrollment grew by 31% and first-year enrollment grew by just 1%, according to the email.

Director of Graduate Admissions Carrie Woodward said, “The graduate programs with the largest absolute increases are childhood education, school building leader certificate, adolescence education, special education and data analytics.”

The increases to the graduates program are mainly attributable to the addition of online modalities for several programs, including accounting, business administration, global supply chain management.

NUMBERS > 2

Leading up to the interview with a Pulitzer-winning author, the students in English professor Anna Battigelli’s ENG389 class scrutinized each other’s questions to perfection. Skyler Misiaszek, a senior majoring in English literature with minors in history and public relations, said she practiced asking her question about 100 times.

Misiaszek recalled feeling “starstruck” when Jennifer Egan, whose work she had been studying for almost three months, joined the Zoom meeting.

Battigelli told her students on day one that they would interview Egan through Zoom on Nov. 13.

Egan’s novel “A Visit From the Goon Squad” won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2011. Students also read her stories “The Keep,” “The Invisible Circus,” “Look at Me” and “Manhattan Beach.”

“I can think of no one better to learn about the creative process from than Jennifer Egan,” Battigelli said.

David Shankbone via Creative Commons

Novelist Jennifer Egan in 2007. She had published her book “The Keep” — a favorite among SUNY Plattsburgh’s ENG389 students — a year prior.

about their books, Misiaszek said: “Is (a character) really dead?

Why so much sex?” But the real purpose of such interviews is to glimpse into the writer’s mind, Battigelli said, so she pushed her THE INTERVIEW A literature student’s first students to ask broader, more instinct may be to ask writers difficult questions.

“I don’t think we needed Egan to tell us how to read the novels, because I think we can do that on our own,” Battigelli said.

“We studied what she says about literature, the value of literature.”

EGAN > 3

2

▪ News Editor Aleksandra Sidorova

▪

NEWS

Friday, Nov. 22, 2024

Student Association

Oct. 31 University Police arrested a reckless driver on Rugar Street at 8:14 p.m. Appropriate charges were filed and the case was closed.

Nov. 2

UP is investigating a case of criminal mischief and stolen property at Whiteface Hall occurring at 1:52 a.m.

Nov. 4

UP closed its investigation of a campus wireless speaker that was stolen from the lounge in Ward Hall on Oct. 18.

Nov. 10

UP responded to a report of theft in Mason Hall at 1:43 p.m.

Nov. 11

UP logged a stolen item at the Angell College Center at 1:39 p.m.

Nov. 13

UP reported theft from the Cardinal Cafe at 9:19 p.m.

Nov. 15

UP filed two reports of theft from the Angell College Center — one at 12:33 p.m. and the other at 3:32 p.m.

UP also reported theft in Whiteface Hall. All aforementioned cases have been closed.

Nov. 20

UP is investigating a shooting on Oak Street. The emergency notification sent to the campus at 2 a.m. described the suspect as a Black male with a handgun.

He drove away in a hatchback SUV, “possibly a Subaru.”

Weekly Meme

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

Representatives of Black Onyx: The Black Student Union request funding for the club’s annual fashion show.

Biketopia may charge for bike rentals next semester

BY ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA News + Managing Editor

Biketopia may introduce a bike rental fee next semester so that it isn’t as reliant on additional allocations from the Student Association Senate, the club treasurer said at the Senate’s meeting Nov. 13.

Biketopia requested $700 for spare parts such as brakes, chains and tires and tools to maintain the 90 bikes they own and rent to students.

Bicycles need maintenance every 100 to 200 kilometers, which is important for safety, Biketopia Treasurer Joseph Salisbury said, but the club has bikes in varying conditions.

“A lot of bikes have brakes that have never been changed,” Salisbury said.

Salisbury also said the club would be unlikely to request as much funding next semester because some of the $700 would carry over, and fewer parts and tools would need replacement.

The Senate approved both requests, but several senators expressed concern about the club’s lack of income.

Salisbury said the club plans to introduce a bike rental fee next semester or bill for repairs outside of regular wear-and-tear, so that the club is less reliant on additional allocations from the Senate. Additionally, the club is improving its system to log and keep track of bikes and renters.

Black Onyx: The Black Student Union requested $800 to support its annual fashion show featuring

Black designers both onand off-campus. The additional allocations supplement the club’s remaining budget for the semester, totaling to around $2,000 for the event.

The club representative said the fashion show is the club’s only major event this semester, with 100 to 120 students expected to attend.

The Senate approved Black Onyx’s request.

Email ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Cardinal Points is the only news source reporting on how the Student Association, SUNY Plattsburgh’s student government, spends students’ money.

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.

NUMBERS Continued from page 1

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

SUNY Plattsburgh has also recently launched an online social work program, which will enroll its first full cohort of new students in fall 2025.

Another program high in demand is the masters in clinical mental

health counseling, given the growing need for mental health providers. Rates of mental illness in New York are increasing while providers’ capacity are decreasing, according to reports by state Attorney General Leticia James and state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

Tim Thomas, graduate student majoring in clinical mental health counseling, said he has had a good experience in the program, but he needed time to adjust to its rigor.

“Being in the graduate program is much more work and you have to apply yourself,” Thomas said.

“There’s no handing assignments in late. If you miss a class or two, your grade drops a letter. Classes are much longer — it’s intense.”

Email KAMIKO CHAMBLE cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

CP Corrections There are no errors to report this week.

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GOT A NEWS TIP? Reach our editors at cp@cardinalpointsonline.com.

CAMERON GREAVES/Cardinal Points

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▪

EGAN Continued from page 1

Egan told the students about her writing process — first, she writes a manuscript by hand, rereading the writing only the following day to get back into the flow. The next time she sees her writing is when she types the manuscript on a computer when the initial draft is complete.

“Seeing a sentence in typeface in front of me invites backtracking,” Egan said.

The first draft is a cliche-ridden mess, she said. She also admitted she forgets characters’ names and personalities during the process.

“Of course, it reads terribly,” Egan said. “The only question is how bad it will be.”

Additionally, Egan requires herself to write a certain number of pages every day, making writing a habit.

Egan also spoke about writing characters with experiences unlike her own in a time when reader demand for diverse characters is high, but authors’ attempts at representation can be met with backlash.

▪

NEWS

News Editor Aleksandra Sidorova

via The Book Cover Archive

“If we’re not allowed to write about people unlike ourselves, then I have to stop writing fiction,” Egan said.

The representation has to be based on research and done in good faith. To capture experiences unlike her own, Egan interviews people who are like her characters. Egan is also a journalist, but she has adopted the interview style of an oral historian — starting broad and letting the story tell itself.

THE READING

Misiaszek first read “The Keep” in a previous class on Gothic literature, which Bat-

tigelli also taught. That book was enough to draw her into the class about Egan’s work.

“I really adored it because it was funny. It was witty and I loved the profanity,” Misiaszek said. “I would recommend that book to people over that semester.”

Marcel Gibbs, a senior triple English major — studying English literature, English language arts and creative writing — also started with “The Keep.” He picked the book up in the summer, when Battigelli shared the reading list with her students.

“I immediately liked it,” Gibbs said. “Love ‘The Keep.’

Top favorite, better than all.”

Egan’s writing features edgy characters, tragedy befalling them, exploration of dark and sensitive themes such as selfharm and suicide. However, Battigelli, Gibbs and Misiaszek all describe Egan’s books as “fun.” The stories feature multiple converging storylines, defy reader expectations and provoke questions.

“They’re not consumable content sometimes, but I think that’s good,” Misiaszek said.

“And I think we need writers like that to, dare I say, take people who are afraid of be-

ing brave and looking into the swampy in one area, or for one dark corners of the world and decade, you can best believe shining some light.” that it’s going to change at some point in time. So it gave me a little hope, especially TURNING THE PAGE Universities across the coun- now, in trying times.”

Misiaszek is looking to work try have begun offering courses dedicated to Egan’s work, for nonprofit organizations. but Battigelli’s is the first such Egan’s work and interview course at SUNY Plattsburgh. help Misiaszek understand the Battigelli, though, will retire in human psyche, which she said goes well with her desire to May 2025.

“I probably won’t be teaching help others.

“In nonprofit, I want to help this class, but it certainly has raised questions,” Battigelli said. people, and in order to do that, When Egan received her Pu- I’m going to have to run towards litzer at 49 years old, 16 years the danger,” Misiaszek said. after she published her first “Not everyone’s brave enough book, she achieved what some to do that. Some writers will early-career writers would conceal it and make it flowery consider the “endgame,” Mi- and fluffy, but I don’t think you siaszek said. She noted, how- learn anything from that.”

Gibbs wants to teach high ever, that Egan still continues writing even more than 10 schoolers. He said he would like to give his future students as years later.

“It’s how can we not only be a unforgettable an experience as good writer, but be a good writ- he had interviewing Egan.

“If we’re reading a certain er for ourselves and in our own book and the author is alive, I’ll way?” Misiaszek said.

Egan’s insights also prompted definitely try and figure someGibbs and Misiaszek to ponder thing out,” Gibbs said. “That’s going to be a core memory for the nature of humanity.

“I liked how she answered those students.” my question,” Gibbs said.

“Even though it changes throughout decades, the human psyche isn’t really stagnant. Even if things are

MOVE Continued from page 1

Anthropology, sociology and criminal justice will move by the end of April 2025. The Center for the Study of Canada will also move to 102 Broad St., which houses expeditionary studies, by then, too.

Enyedi said: “I am excited by this emerging paradigm shift of how SUNY delivers its academic mission to New York students, and I am pleased that the system chose us to develop a model with CCC that might someday be used elsewhere. I fully support this strategic initiative and am committed to ensuring that the transition is as smooth as possible.”

Some students, however, are disappointed by the choice. Sophomore history major Quinn van Lone, who recently added an anthropology minor, doesn’t have any classes in Redcay. However, he spends at least three hours a day in the anthropology student commons in Redcay studying or attending Anthropology Club meetings.

“I don’t know what it is about it, but it’s a very relaxing study environment for me,” van Lone said.

The anthropology department was part of why van Lone chose to attend SUNY Plattsburgh, and the commons were key to helping them connect with the campus community.

“I learned about this school because of an anthropology student here,” van Lone said. “When I came here, I didn’t know anybody else, and they knew I wasn’t the best at navigating new situations, so they invited me into this space and I started making friends with everybody here.”

SENIORS Continued from page 1

Although the Foundation has worked to remain compliant with notfor-profit laws, awards such as the George and Nina Winkel Humanities Award or Hudson Scholarship in Science & Mathematics, have been known to be given to graduating seniors.

“The issue has been raised in the past,” Gregoire wrote.

Institutional Advancement continues to discourage such use of endowments, but in the cases that departments decided to nominate a graduating senior, the office tried to make sure the student receives the funds.

“IA believes in putting (current) students first,” Gregoire wrote.

Unless a donor specifically requests that their funds support a graduating student — such as the Anna Liem Nursing RN to BS Scholarship and the Tony Papa Memorial Award for art students — the Foundation will prioritize supporting students who will continue to be enrolled at SUNY Plattsburgh, Gregoire wrote.

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

The anthropology department decorates Redcay Hall with artifacts and vibrant wall art.

Van Lone said he was frustrated to learn the news that the department is moving, and the commons along with it. The commons make them feel safer and more comfortable than other study spaces such as Feinberg Library.

“It’s hard for me to get comfortable in a situation, and I’ve only just recently realized how much I like it over

Friday, Nov. 22, 2024

here,” van Lone said. “Subconsciously, I worry that the move would upend more than I’m expecting it to.”

Anthropology Club members aren’t certain whether there will be a new space for them in Beaumont.

“Having a place that you know is safe and that you know is yours — it’s been set aside specifically for you and

Email ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

your group — means the world,” van Lone said.

Van Lone is, however, curious to see how SUNY Plattsburgh will share its campus with Clinton Community College.

The decision to co-locate Clinton Community College on the SUNY Plattsburgh campus by fall 2025 is part of a strategic vision by SUNY Central leadership to create shared efficiencies and foster collaboration that will benefit students from both institutions.

SUNY Plattsburgh is opening space for Clinton Community College’s academic delivery needs while ensuring that their own departments are supported.

“I view this as an excellent opportunity to make the best use of our existing resources and build stronger connections to CCC that serve the educational needs of our community,” Enyedi said.

SUNY Plattsburgh is working on updating and retrofitting the new spaces that have been designated for their departments, coordinating with external contractor partners to ensure each location is well prepared to meet the needs of its occupants.

“I see this as a tremendous opportunity to strengthen ties within the SUNY community, to the benefit of both institutions,” Enyedi said.

SUNY Plattsburgh is planning a new Admissions Welcome Center set to open in the former Algonquin Dining Hall by Jan. 24, 2028. This facility would provide a welcoming and informative experience for prospective students and their families.

Email KAMIKO CHAMBLE and ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Cardinal Points also reached out to departments of art, anthropology, the Center for Earth and Environmental Science, global supply chain management, nursing and teacher education. Only the Center for Earth and Environmental Science responded by Nov. 13.

The Center for Earth and Environmental Science has one scholarship designated for a graduating senior, but otherwise follows Institutional Advancement’s guidelines, according to Mark Lesser, associate professor of environmental science and interim chair of the Center’s Awards and Scholarship Committee.

“Often, graduating students who might be contenders for a scholarship based on merit have already received that, or another award, in previous years,” Lesser wrote in an email response. “So in the end, we help as many students as we can given the resources we have.”

Email ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

CAMERON GREAVES/Cardinal Points

FRIDAY, NOV. 22, 2024

Community discusses PFAS: Poison in plain sight

BY GRANT TERWILLIGER Staff Writer

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are long-lasting chemicals that contaminate our food sources, water sources and soil.

They’re everywhere, harmful, and they are found here in our community.

“The risks can include reproductive and developmental effects, increase the risk of certain cancers, reduce the body’s immune response and increase cholesterol levels as an emerging concern,” said SUNY Plattsburgh senior Maddy Lehman.

Molly Mentzer, a gynecologist who has worked in Plattsburgh for about 10 years at the Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, Provided by Curt Gervich found that PFAS have become Maddy Lehman (left) and Taylor Towne lead November’s Late Night for the Planet. part of our bodies.

“It’s in breast milk, so we’re definitely giving it to our newborn babies,” Mentzer said.

Chemical PFAS were introduced into the manufacturing of daily products such as cookware, clothing and cosmetics in the 1940s. The solution to PFAS is still up in the air but it is more up to the producers than the consumers to stop the spreading of PFAS. At Olive Ridley’s Taphouse and Grill, students participated in Late Night for the Planet, a monthly student-hosted game and talk show; this time students learned about PFAS in the environment.

Late Night for the Planet was created by professor of environmental science Curt Gervich alongside students.

CLIMATE > 6

Designer learns how to navigate creativity in career

BY CINARA MARQUIS Arts & Culture Editor

Across a multitude of diverse industries, artist Casey Callahan has experienced her fair share of imposter syndrome. As a graphic designer, art director and occasional illustrator, Callahan finds herself constantly facing change in attempt to follow, predict and create unique trends.

“Sometimes I’m a risk-taker, which often leads to me being a big mistake-maker,” Callahan said in her lecture with the Visual Artist Series.

Organized by SUNY Plattsburgh faculty and students and funded by the Student Association, the Visual Artist Series aims to bring seven to nine artists from a wide variety of mediums to campus each year. It offers public lectures, workshops and demonstrations.

Callahan spoke in Yokum 205, Nov. 19 about her history, education, work and experiences with imposter syndrome.

FINDING THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT

The work was characterized by a stern atmosphere that expected late nights and intense concentration, and, with such large-scale clients it was intimidating.

“My main job with T-Mobile was working pretty exclusively on retail, so huge print campaigns, quick poster designs and big holiday collections,” Callahan explained.

While she did gain a lot of experience, Callahan felt disconnected from her work.

“I didn’t feel a lot of connection to the clients, and there was a lot of middleman between me and seeing how consumers interacted with my design work,” she said.

Callahan got attention from her illustration and typography posts on Instagram and ended up getting a job with Brit + Co, a women’s editorial magazine.

This role allowed her to focus on illustration for social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram, a refreshing change from her previous work at WongDoody.

She gained even more creativity from her next job with Reuben’s Brews, a brewery in Seattle.

“This is where I really feel like I gained a ton of confidence in what I was doing because I got to see the consumer really interact with what I was creating,” Callahan said.

At Reuben’s Brews, Callahan worked on packaging design, which she found immensely satisfying. The jobs free environment enabled her to find and embody her personal style.

Eventually though, Callahan landed at her current job — Burton, a snowboard and outerwear company based in Vermont.

At first she started creating campaign designs for Burton’s events, eventually though she moved onto designing snowboards and being the companies art director of snowboards.

Born and raised in Oklahoma, Callahan is a big believer that individuals are the products of their environment.

“The environement really creates the type of person you are,” she explained.

Moving from Oklahoma to Seattle and later to Vermont, Callahan emphasized how each place had significantly shaped her in different ways.

“What I did in school versus what I did in Seattle versus what I do now in Vermont are all wildly different,” Callahan said. “If you had asked school-me what I’d be doing now, I probably would have never believed you.”

Callahan’s professional journey began when she graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s of fine arts in digital communication.

She began working with WongDoody, a marketing agency with IMPOSTER SYNDROME clients such as Adobe, Amazon, As Callahan navigated her United Airlines and Starbucks role at Burton, she encountered

imposter syndrome, especially given her unfamiliarity with Vermont and snowboarding.

“I didn’t want anybody to know (I had never touched a snowboard). I was like, I’ll just go to the mountain a bunch and I’ll learn, and then I’ll eventually be good,” she said.

However, despite her inexperience with the sport once she let down her anxiety about being knowledgable enough she was able to learn from others and build confidence.

To combat her imposter syndrome Callahan identified five key strategies: get out of your head, curiosity, the freedom of letting go, letting down guardrails and playing.

To get out of your head Callahan recommended artists to take a break and do anything besides being creative.

“No two people are seeing the world at the same time in the same lens,” she said, so be curious about what others have to say.

Adaptability is important to working as a graphic designer, Callahan explained that letting go of something that just doesn’t work always brings new opportunities. This idea follows too into letting down your guardrails, sometimes you just need to acknowledge you tried and move on.

“Sometimes it’s okay to pick a route and try it, and if that doesn’t work, move on to another route,” Callahan said.

Play is also incredibly important to Callahan, every good design comes from experimentation.

“Allow yourself to have some fun and not take yourself too seriously,” she said.

ADAPTING

Callahan advised new graduates to explore various roles, to her, building a solid foundation is important before landing one’s dream job.

“It’s like a bad relationship. It taught you what you don’t want, but you needed it to know that,” she said. “I think just trying a lot

Provided by Casey Callahan

Reuben’s Brews Pint Defiance IPA design by Casey Callahan. of different things at first is, in my opinion, the best thing you could do for yourself.”

At Burton, Callahan tries to find balance between her and her artists creative voices and the wants of buyers and stakeholders. Unlike the beer industry, where clients and stakeholders are more relaxed, Burton includes an approval process involving merchandising, creative directors and professional riders.

Dealing with rejections is hard but Callahan has learned to accept feedback with humility and confidence.

“Once you hear somebody out and they have good reasoning for (their idea), you realize you were married to an idea that wasn’t working for the environment we were in,” she explained.

In a specialized industry such as snowboarding Callahan has learned though to let go of the pressure to please everyone.

“It’s all about finding the balance and remembering why you started creating in the first place,” she said.

For more information on Callahan’s work and creative journey, follow her on Instagram @caseyskylar

Email CINARA MARQUIS cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

5

▪ Arts & Culture Editor Cinara Marquis

▪

ARTS & CULTURE

Friday, Nov. 22, 2024

“Cardinal Creatives” is a weekly column that celebrates creators in Plattsburgh, both present and past.

By spotlighting diverse talents throughout our community in all forms, we create a window into Plattsburgh’s art scene.

Andrew Circelli: Barista who draws on coffee lids

BY PHILO YUNRUI WANG Associate A&C Editor

the caramel syrup button vanished from the kiosk.

“I told him, ‘I know your receipt initials. I’ll add it for you every time,’” Circelli said.

“When the IT guy finally came, I made sure that was the first thing we addressed. And then the student came and he saw it — he had such a big smile on his face.”

These small gestures reflect his philosophy of work.

“Students have enough to deal with. They’re rushing between classes, stressed about their day,” he said. “If I can make them smile, even for a second, then I’m doing something right.”

At Einstein Bros. Bagels on SUNY Plattsburgh’s campus, students often come for a quick caffeine fix between classes, but some leave with more than just a cup of coffee — a tiny piece of art. Behind the counter, barista Andrew Circelli, a 2012 graphic design graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh, transforms everyday coffee lids into small, hand-drawn treasures.

It all began this Halloween when Circelli decided to draw 99 dragon faces with cheerful “Happy Halloween” messages on lids for students.

“I just wanted to do something nice for them,” he said.

“Chartwells does the decorations and gives out candy, but I feel like it’s not personal. I wanted to show the students that I care.”

That day, his hand hurt from the effort, but the reaction from students made it worth it.

“I remember a couple of peoOLD-FASHIONED ple noticed, and it warmed my ARTIST heart,” Circelli said.

Despite his talent, Circelli But those 99 lids were just considers himself “invisible” in the beginning. today’s fast-moving online art world. The digital art program that Circelli uses was released 20 years ago.

“I still use Flash MX 2004,” he said. “It’s old, but it works. I want to upgrade, but I wouldn’t know where to start.”

Alexjohn Rodriguez, another staff member at Einstein Bros.

Bagels, said: “I once saw Andrew stick some doodles of dragons on the trash. I asked him, ‘They’re really nice; can I take them home?’ Now, I keep them DRAGONS ON LIDS all in a book in my backpack.”

Dragons are a recurring Circelli’s hesitance to share his theme in Circelli’s art. work stems from his modesty.

“They’ve always been my fa“People tell me my art’s good, vorite,” he said. “In the West, but then I look at artists who do they’re symbols of greed, but I Magic: The Gathering cards and prefer the ones that are kind — think that my stuff is baby comdragons that give you gold or pared to that.” even give you a hug.”

His love for creating hasn’t Drawing on lids, however, is faded, even as he juggles the demands of his job. no easy feat.

“Most of my work is doodles “The material’s not meant for and sketches,” he said. “My pens. I’ve burned through a lot primary hobby is world-buildof them trying to make it work,” ing. I once spent three years he said. “But I’m stubborn, so I figuring out how an organic enmake it work.” gine would work for a dragon Circelli’s designs have be- merged with a fighter jet. It’s all come increasingly intricate. He for fun.” creates these pieces in his free time at home, refusing to let his BEYOND art interfere with work.

TRANSACTIONS “I don’t risk drawing on lids In many ways, Circelli’s art is a during work hours,” he said. “I quiet rebellion against the transbring them home and then bring actional nature of food service. them back to give out randomly.”

“Most companies want professionalism, not personality,” he said. “But I think it’s important to let students know they’re seen.”

He described himself as a listener rather than a leader.

“I’ll never be the kind of person to run a business,” Circelli said. “But I’m the person who notices when a coworker is struggling and steps in to help, even if it’s not my job. That’s just who I am.”

When management noticed what Circelli was doing, they valued and encouraged the initiative.

CARAMEL BUTTON “I’m so impressed, and we Circelli’s care for students extotally support it,” said Antends beyond his artwork. If a drew Lipson, director of operkiosk malfunctions or an option ations at Chartwells. “Our goal disappears from the menu, he isn’t just to work; it’s to care for would notice and take action. the people here.”

There was one student who Angelina Briggs, marketing came in every day for hot choc- manager at Chartwells, higholate with caramel, but one day lighted how employees like

“Barista Dragon,” 2024, by Andrew Circelli.

Provided by Andrew Circelli

PHILO YUNRUI WANG/Cardinal Points

Circelli works on the orders.

Circelli go above and beyond to connect with students and create memorable experiences.

“We believe that personal touches, like those Andrew brings to his role, enhance the customer experience and create a welcoming atmosphere,” Briggs wrote in an email. “We support employees by providing opportunities for them to express their ideas, fostering an environment where creativity is valued and recognized.”

‘FROM ME TO YOU’

Circelli has worked at SUNY Plattsburgh’s Einstein Bros. Bagels for 9 years, making him one of its longest-serving employees.

“I’ve seen people come and go. I’ve worked in other places, but I always try to stay here. It feels more personal,” he said.

For Circelli, his job isn’t just about coffee. It’s about connection.

“I want people to remember me, and I want to remember them,” he said. “When I hand them a lid with a drawing, it’s like I’m saying, ‘This is from me to you.’”

So the next time you grab a coffee at Einstein Bros. Bagels, take a closer look at the lid. You might just find a piece of Circelli’s heart — and a dragon, of course — waiting for you.

Email PHILO YUNRUI WANG cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

PHILO YUNRUI WANG/Cardinal Points

Circelli makes a latte at Einstein Bros. Bagels.

Provided by Andrew Circelli

“Study Group,” 2024, by Andrew Circelli.

6

▪ Arts & Culture Editor Cinara Marquis

▪

ARTS & CULTURE

Friday, Nov. 22, 2024

CARDINAL CALENDAR Nov. 22 FRIDAY 11/22 Vagina Dialogues Join Womxn in Leadership for a Lunch & Learn to explore vaginal anatomy, health, screenings, and more, with a Q&A session.

Cardinal lounge at 1:15 p.m.

Sticky Floor, Glass Ceiling come to learn practical strategies for overcoming professional challenges, building confidence, and excelling in your career.

Cardinal Lounge at 3 p.m.

Provided by Curt Gervich

Late Night for the Planet is a monthly game and talk show hosted by SUNY Plattsburgh students.

CLIMATE Around the World

Battle For The Culture

Join the Global Education Office for the diverse cultures on campus with food, drinks, games, and more.

Cheer on BSU and other campus groups as they compete for the grand prize, with mini prizes for participants.

Burghy’s Den at 6 p.m.

Giltz Auditorium at 7 p.m.

Thanksgiving Break is coming.

Whether you’re heading home, staying on campus, or traveling, we hope you take this time to connect with loved ones, enjoy some great food and unwind from the busy semester.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Aries (March 21 – April 19)

Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

Gemini (May 21 – June 20)

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

The Strength card depicts determination. You are aware of your inner strength and use it to your advantage. Be confident in your personal power and commit yourself to your goals.

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.

The Devil card represents ambition. Be decisive and driven — let go of what is holding you back and take action. Liberate yourself and break free from any baggage that is holding you back.

The reversed Moon card refers to uncertainty.

Use your intuition and knowledge from learned experiences to find clarity within yourself.

Continued from page 4

to speak up and get involved in New York State’sregulatory agencies.

“I mean, you have to take on a personal level of interest and responsibility to you know, go to the various agencies for your state, health department, your local municipalities, the air force, in many cases,” Cashman said. “We’re below the standard, but we monitor it all the time, because as new information comes into the system, you need to know what is going on, and the detection rate is critical for the health and safety.”

In Plattsburgh, the concern is mainly the former Air Force Base which used firefoam filled with PFAS. After the air base was decommissioned the PFAS-filled firefoam was sent to the fire departments.

PFAS can be distributed through the air and have ended up all around the world as a result. Hotspots can be found near factories that use the chemical as well as airports due to fire retardants made up of PFAS.

In response to the chemicals, the Plattsburgh city government working to address the problem and further improve the water supply.

“We launched a $24 million water and wastewater capital plan, and we were really addressing some of this, because part of our municipality falls within the former boundaries of the Plattsburgh Air Force Base that has a number of hotspots,” Cashman said.

Lehman said that although PFAS are an issue there are alternatives for products in order to lower the amount of PFAS in our systems.

Lehman said “It does seem a little gloomy sometimes, but there are alternatives, we’re moving in a good direction with this, just by increasing research and whatnot, getting our minds on it and making movement.”

Maddy Lehman and Taylor Towne hosted the show. Guest speakers included Mentzer, professor of geology Ed Romanowicz and Michael Cashman, Town of Plattsburgh supervisor.

There are numbers for the levels of PFAS that are allowed to be in water: The New York State Department of Health has a number and the Environmental Protection Agency also has a number for the allowed levels of the chemicals. As research develops, there should be more awareness and new policies regarding the safe level of PFAS in our water.

There have been a lot of experiments using different chemicals to remove PFAS from the ground Email GRANT TERWILLIGER and groundwater with differing cp@cardinalpointsonline.com success. One option is hemp, which Romanowicz said is good at removing PFAS from the ground.

Other methods include carbon activated filters or reverse osmosis systems that remove contaminants from the water.

Romanowicz is head of the Center for Earth and Environmental Science department at SUNY Plattsburgh and is conducting research on PFAS in Vermont.

“So there are ways to help people right away, to try to at least eliminate the problem,” Romanowicz said. “I think a lot of them are pretty experimental, (though), and it’s not clear how effective they are.”

Cashman has been working with PFAS issues locally. According to Provided by Curt Gervich Cashman, one option of trying to help fix the issue is up to individuals (From left) Mentzer, Cashman, Romanowicz, Lehman and Towne.

Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22)

The reversed Chariot card represents stagnation. You may be facing unresolved obstacles in your path, take a step back and reevaluate your goals.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21)

Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22)

The Fool card represents renewal. This card urges you to embrace new beginnings by taking a leap of faith. Remember to have faith in the future, even when you do not know what to expect.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19)

Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22)

Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21)

The reversed Temperance card depicts an imbalance. You may be making reckless, rushed decisions in your life and struggling with stability. Take control of your impulsive behavior and express moderation.

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.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18)

Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20)

The reversed Empress card is about smothering.

You may be feeling a sense of burnout this week stemming from insecurity.

You cannot pour from an empty cup, so take some time to nurture yourself.

The Judgment card depicts destiny. Now may be the appropriate time to take decisive action in your life. Listen to your instincts and be sincere with those around you.

The reversed Star card entails doubt. It may feel like everything is turning against you, like all of your hopes are gone, but it is only pessimism. Take time to replenish your energy.

The High Priestess card signifies intuition. Trust your instincts and dig deeper to access wisdom within and outside of yourself.

7

▪ Photography Editor Jayne Smith

▪

PHOTO SPREAD

Friday, Nov. 22, 2024

Jazz Ensemble Photos by Jayne Smith

Jazz Ensemble director Matthew Pray conducts the band.

Saxophonist Kevin Alexandrou plays a solo on “Bob-omb Battlefield.”

Saxophonist Elijah Schenk solos for “Mambo Natural.”

Pianist Gio Choi watches for the conduction of Pray.

Bassist Toby Couture strums along to “Wave.”

FRIDAY, NOV. 22, 2024

CARDS SUNK IN OSWEGO

Men’s hockey

Women’s hockey

Cards, Lakers tie

BY MICHAEL PURTELL Sports Editor

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points

Junior forward Jake Sacratini fights on the board against Simon Fraser on Nov. 9.

Cardinals find direction in loss

no need to panic, but we Arena with Plattsburgh-hating fans Moffat: ‘There’s have“There’s to tighten up a little bit,” head wearing white. Oswego reported 3,006 in attendance. no need to panic.’ coach Steve Moffat said.

“The guys feed off that,” Moffat

OSWEGO

BY COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Editor in Chief

Every team has a biggest rival — a team they circle on their calendar, talk smack to and play their hardest against. It gets heated, and it gets even hotter when that team has your number during the season.

No. 12 Plattsburgh Cardinals men’s hockey (2-2, 1-1) dropped its SUNYAC opener 1-5 to the Oswego Lakers (2-21, 2-0) on the road Nov. 15. The Cards then rebounded with a 7-1 win over the Canton Kangaroos (2-4, 0-2) in Canton the next day.

The Cards are now .500 on the season, a ways off from last year’s 9-0 start.

Since the canceled 2020-21 season, Plattsburgh has a positive record against every SUNYAC opponent — except Oswego. The Cards are 3-6 against the Lakers, with just one of those wins coming in the regular season.

The last time Plattsburgh lost a conference opener was 2022, when the Cards fell to the Lakers 1-5 in Oswego. That season, Plattsburgh defeated Oswego in the SUNYAC Championship.

“We’ve only played four games, so the season’s still young,” Moffat said.

Last weekend was Oswego’s “Whiteout Weekend,” an annual tradition to pack Deborah F. Stanley

The Cardinals traveled to Oswego and tied the Lakers 2-2 Saturday. The Cardinals maintained a 2-0 lead for a majority of the game, then allowed two goals in just 30 seconds in the last five minutes of the third period.

“It’s a feeling of disappointment,” captain Mattie Norton said. “It feels like a loss for us.”

The team moved up to No. 6 in the United States College Hockey Online coaches’ poll after the game.

Norton said the team improved as well, claiming the game was “the best game (the team) played all year.”

Oswego took the shootout tiebreaker. Both teams received a point in the standings for the tie.

The Cardinals are putting the end of the game behind them, and are taking away from the game the play that empowered them through the first two periods.

“Our sole focus right now is ‘How do we build off that and keep moving forward?’” Norton said.

Plattsburgh was energized by the Nov. 8 Cortland loss, where the young team learned every game matters.

“We just need to work on getting everything tightened up on the ship and move on to next weekend. We’re excited to play,” Norton said.

The Cardinals will hit the road to play the SUNYAC’s Canton Kangaroos today at 3 p.m. Tomorrow, the Cardinals will host a conference match against the Buffalo State Bengals, also at 3 p.m.

Email MICHAEL PURTELL

said. “They were playing bigger, faster and stronger than we were.”

Oswego struck first with 4:47 remaining in the first. A Laker chased a puck up to the right faceoff circle, hitting a wide-open man on junior goalie Eli Shiller’s doorstep. Shiller saved the shot, but couldn’t get back up for the rebound and Oswego went up 1-0.

Shiller saved 34 pucks on the night, as Plattsburgh trailed in shots 24-39.

Moffat thought the Cards played well in the first, killing two penalties and saving the other 19 shots — though they shot only seven of their own.

cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points

MHKY > 10

Mattie Norton prepares to move the puck Nov. 11.

Women’s basketball

Alums honored at hot-hand win

BY EMMA DEO Staff Writer

Plattsburgh State Cardinals women’s basketball celebrated the program’s 50th anniversary with a dominant 67-40 win over the Utica University Pioneers to end the Cardinal Classic tournament.

Prior to the game, the Plattsburgh State Athletics department hosted a ceremony honoring several alumni of the program.

Twenty-one alumnae RSVP’d the event, including Castleton head coach Kathleen Payne, a Plattsburgh Hall of Famer.

SUNYAC needs 10th

BY COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Editor in Chief

Having reported on SUNYAC sports for three years now, I want the sports section to expand beyond Plattsburgh. In this column, I will explore membership issues, rivals’ seasons and the conference the Cardinals call home.

When the SUNYAC lost Geneseo, Brockport and New Paltz, it lost perennial playoff locks in multiple sports.

All three schools qualified for fall playoffs in every sport in 2023-24, outside of Brockport tennis.

In response, the conference added Morrisville and Canton. Out of five fall team sports, just Morrisville volleyball made the postseason.

Essentially, 15 fall playoff-quality teams left, and the SUNYAC gained just one.

SUNYAC > 10

RESULTS

50TH ANNIVERSARY CEREMONY Frannie Merkel, who COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points Cheryl Cole (left) and Brittany Marshall share a high-five. competed with the wom-

Friday, Nov. 15

Saturday, Nov. 16

Tuesday, Nov. 19

WHKY @ Potsdam W 3-0

XC @ NCAA Division III Mideast Region Championships M 15th W 20th

VB vs. Skidmore L 0-3 WBB vs. VTSU Castleton W 52-45 MHKY @ Oswego L 1-5

MBB @ Norwich L 64-70 WBB vs. Utica W 67-40 MHKY @ Canton W 7-1 WHKY @ Oswego T 2-2

UPCOMING

en’s basketball team from 2016 to 2018 was among the alumnae being recognized before the game Saturday. In her rookie year, Merkel led the SUNYAC in field goal percentage and blocks per game and ranked second in the conference in rebounds.

“Plattsburgh reminds me of family. It’s almost the same but in a good way. Coach (Cheryl) Cole is still around, Ben Sarraf is still around. They pushed us to our limit and are still pushing these girls to their limit,” Merkel said. “I love seeing it not stay the same but still have that feeling of Plattsburgh basketball.”

WBB > 11

Saturday, Nov. 22

Saturday, Nov. 22

Tuesday, Nov. 26

WBB vs. St. Lawrence L 60-64

WHKY @ Canton 3 p.m.

WHKY vs. Buffalo St. 3 p.m.

MBB @ Middlebury 7 p.m.

MBB vs. St. Lawrence L 56-66

MHKY vs. Cortland 7 p.m.

WBB vs.Clarkson 3 p.m.

MHKY vs. Morrisville 7 p.m.

▪ Sports Editor Michael Purtell

9

▪

SPORTS

Friday, Nov. 22, 2024

As of Nov. 21

STANDINGS M. HOCKEY

W. HOCKEY

TEAM

SUNYAC

OVERALL

TEAM

1-Buffalo St

2-0

SUNYAC

OVERALL

3-1

1-Oswego

2-0-1

2-Oswego

4-0-1

2-0

2-2-1

2-Cortland

2-1

3-Cortland

4-1

1-1

3-2

3-Plattsburgh

1-1-1

2-1-1

4-Fredonia

1-1

2-4

4-Buffalo St

1-0-1

2-1-1

5-Plattsburgh

1-1

2-2

5-Canton

1-3

2-4

6-Potsdam

1-1

3-3

6-Morrisville

1-1

4-1

7-Canton

0-2

2-4

7-Potsdam

0-2-1

2-2-1

8-Morrisville

0-2

1-5

M. BASKETBALL

W. BASKETBALL

SUNYAC

OVERALL

SUNYAC

OVERALL

1-New Paltz

0-0

1-0

1-Canton

0-0

3-0

2-Oneonta

0-0

3-1

2-Fredonia

0-0

3-1

3-Oswego

0-0

3-1

3-Morrisville

0-0

2-1

4-Morrisville

0-0

2-1

4-Oneonta

0-0

2-2

5-Fredonia

0-0

1-2

5-Plattsburgh

0-0

2-2

Cheer bolstered by new faces

6-Plattsburgh

0-0

1-2

6-Potsdam

0-0

2-2

BY JUSTIN RUSHIA

7-Buffalo St.

0-0

1-2

7-Cortland

0-0

1-1

Associate Sports Editor

8-Cortland

0-0

1-2

8-Oswego

0-0

1-2

0-3

9-Buffalo St.

0-0

1-2

0-4

10-New Paltz

0-0

0-2

9-Canton

0-0

10-Potsdam

0-0

TEAM

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points

TEAM

STATISTICS M. HOCKEY GOALS

#

ASSISTS

#

POINTS

#

T. Ramm, F

3

J. Lanyi, F

5

J. Lanyi, F

7

Four players

2

K. Weaver-Vitale, D 4

Three players

6

J. Sacratini, F

4

PLUS-MINUS

#

SAVE %

#

J. Sacratini, F

+6

J. Hearne

.897 J. Sacratini, F

T. Ramm, F

+6

E. Shiller

.896 K. Weaver-Vitale, D 15

B. Butler, D

+5

SHOTS

J. Belgrave, F

# 18 13

W. HOCKEY GOALS

#

ASSISTS

#

POINTS

#

M. Norton, D

2

C. Wall, F

3

C. Wall, F

3

Six players

1

M. Olshansky, F

2

M. Olshansky, F

3

E. Procyk, F

2

Four players

2

PLUS-MINUS

#

SAVE %

#

SHOTS

#

E. Procyk, F

+2

C. Lewis

.943

M. Norton, D

20

Four players

+1

K. Ruegge, F

18

Three players

11

M. BASKETBALL PTS AVG

#

AST AVG

#

REB AVG

#

K. Tabb, G

14

K. Welch, G

4

J. Love-Smith, G/F

6.7

F. Infante, G

10

K. Tabb, G

2

I. Ezike, G/F

6

K. Welch, G

9.7

F. Infante, G

1.3

Infante, Welch

5.3

STL + BLK

#

FG %

#

3PT

#

I. Connell Jr., F

10

N. Pondexter, G/F .455

K. Welch, G

3

I. Ezike, G/F

8

K. Tabb, G

.444

Four players

2

J. Love-Smith, G/F 7

S.Vidrini, G

.429

W. BASKETBALL PTS AVG.

#

AST AVG.

#

REB AVG.

#

P. Couture, G/F

17.3

I. Walcott, C

12.5

J. Greek, G

3

I. Walcott, C

9.8

P. Couture, G/F

2.5

P. Couture, G/F

J. Greek, G

8.3

8.3

S. Deisz, G

2.3

J. Wilson, G

4

STL + BLK

#

FG %

#

3PT

#

I. Walcott, C

17

P. Couture, G/F

.433

J. Greek, G

8

P. Couture, G/F

10

I. Walcott, C

.386

L. LaFountain, G

4

J. Greek, G

8

S. Deisz, G

.375

J. Wilson, G

4

GAME OF THE WEEK

WHKY vs. Oswego

Payton Couture had a monster weekend, scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 boards in a win over Castleton, her second doubledouble of the season. She also had 12 points and 8 rebounds in the win against Utica.

Payton Couture vs. Castleton and Utica: 33 points 18 rebounds 1 double-double

The women’s hockey team traveled to Oswego to face the undefeated Lakers in a highly-anticipated SUNYAC matchup on November 16. The game concluded in a 2-2 tie, with Oswego winning in a penalty shootout.

OSW PSU Period 0 0 1 0 2 2 2 0 3 0 0 OT 2 2 Final

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

PAYTON COUTURE

Taylor Seymour cheers on the Cardinal women’s basketball team in Memorial Hall on Nov. 19.

After experiencing a significant decline in membership and facing numerous challenges in the aftermath of the pandemic, the SUNY Plattsburgh cheerleading team has seen a recent resurgence.

Today, the team has 15 active members and is in the healthiest spot it has been in years.

Alexis Albright has served as captain of the cheer team for the past two and a half years, and joined the team in fall 2022 — the first season when cheer was held without COVID-19 restrictions. At that time, the team had only six members.

“I think such precautions that were previously in place hindered people’s perception of what joining the team would be like,” Albright wrote in a text.

The pandemic precautions prohibited the cheer team from performing stunts, which Albright said is arguably the prominent and most fun aspect of the sport. The team could only perform dances and call cheers from the sidelines at basketball games.

To combat these issues, the cheerleading team undertook a series of initiatives to revitalize their roster.

The first step Alright and the team took was fighting to ensure that stunting could make a comeback for the following season since it is such a vital aspect of the sport and helps draw in new members.

The team dedicated much of their time to creating flyers to distribute in the residence halls. They also set up tables in the Angel College Cen-

ter on several occasions to promote the return of stunting and to inform potential new members that no prior experience was required.

“Cheer can seem intimidating to join for the first time in college if you have no prior experience, so making sure everyone feels welcome is very important to me,” Albright wrote.

The team also used their own personal connections to see if anyone wanted to join.

“I joined the team in February 2024 because Lexi convinced me to try it out, and I fell in love with the sport,” cheerleader Mackenzie Thompson wrote in a text.

This season, the team almost doubled its roster size from the previous season.

With a revitalized roster featuring 15 members, the team has executed a wider range of complex stunts.

“Our routine includes everything we work on, so it’s multiple stunts, a dance, a jumping sequence and a cheer,” Draper wrote. “We’ve been working on one big one for a little over a month now.”

Thompson and Albright both emphasized the importance of trust in cheerleading. This is especially crucial during stunts, where the flyers — athletes who are lifted and tossed into the air by their teammates — must have complete confidence in their bases to catch them safely on their descent.

“It’s important for the team to be friends outside of games and practices, specifically for the flyers,” Thompson wrote. “If the team on the ground is out of sync, it can be dangerous and affect the person in the air.”

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points

Mackenzie Thompson (back) and Kirsten Draper cheer mid-routine.

Albright believes that having a cheerleading team on campus is important for building school spirit and getting the community involved at sporting events. She points out that cheer teams support Cardinal sports, help unite students, encourage them to join school activities and offer chances for personal growth and teamwork skills.

“I hope that having us on the sidelines cheering for them helps give them confidence and motivation to help them win,” Albright wrote. “Just knowing that people are rooting for you is really important for any sport or athlete.”

Email JUSTIN RUSHIA cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Ask an Athlete: William Jasmin, MHKY William Jasmin is a firstyear forward from the men’s ice hockey team from Saint-Clet, Québec. The 6-foot-4 forward brings a colossal size to the Cardinal offense, as the tallest player on the roster alongside senior Luk Jirousek.

William made his SUNYAC debut last weekend against Oswego, and the following day recorded his first official point with an assist against Canton. William also recorded an unofficial goal in the exhibition match against Simon Fraser.

As one of four Québécois on the roster, there is a culture shock from coming to New York even though Plattsburgh is just a stone’s throw away from the Canadian border. The moose said he’s still working on his English.

Question: During your recruitment process, what became the most interesting part of Plattsburgh and the hockey program?

A: The most interesting thing about Plattsburgh is Memorial Hall’s new gym and recovery room, with the hot and cold bath since

it’s more difficult to get hit in the head. The only consequence I could see is that maybe sometimes when someone watches clips about me they may think that I’m slow. In reality, when they see me in real life they realize quite quickly that I’m able to skate and play hockey like all the other players.

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points

William Jasmin shoots during warm ups Nov. 9.

Q: How have you gotten along with the other Québécois on the roster?

How is it being so close to home?

A: I get along well with the Québécois, even though they are all older than me. When I need help with the language, whether it is to express myself or to understand, they are always there to help me. Being so close to home is so advantageous because it allows my family or friends to see my games without problems, as they did not have the same opportunities to attend them during the last four years being much further from home.

I’m someone who loves to take baths for recovery. As for the hockey program, everything that surrounds the facilities at the arena are DI caliber in my opinion. To finish we have the best arena, which is packed almost every game.

front of my friends — I do not think you can ask for more. Seeing the crowd stand up when you score and hearing your name announced for the goal is something that just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine.

Q: What was your first game at Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena like? What was it like to get your first score at home?

A: My first game at home was absolutely amazing. I don’t think I could ask for better as my first experience. I have never experienced anything like it in my entire life. In addition I scored my first goal in my first game at home in

Q: What pros and cons come with your size at the position?

A: There are a lot of benefits to being tall I’d say at my position, because some teams are specifically looking for big guys like me in their lineup.

Being tall helps with concussions, in my opinion.

I’ve never had one beThis question-and-answer cause players are gener- was conducted with William ally shorter than you, so over email Nov. 20.

10 ▪ Sports Editor Michael Purtell

MHKY Continued from page 8

Plattsburgh held the deficit to one through the second, playing its best period of the game. The Cards won the shots battle nine to six, and earned two power play chances. This was the longest stretch Plattsburgh has played while down all season.

“We just tried to fight back as hard as we could,” rookie forward Tyler Ramm said. “It was definitely tough with that environment, but it was our own destiny. It was in our control the whole time.”

The Cards finished the second in a “pretty good spot,” Moffat said. Then, the wheels fell off in the final stanza.

“We got off to a horrible start in the third period and it took the wind out of our sails a little bit, and also amplified them up even that much more,” Moffat said.

Oswego netted the winner just a minute after returning from intermission. A Laker received a pass in the left faceoff circle, and then hit a teammate drifting unmarked in front of the net. Shiller couldn’t follow the puck around the crease, and Oswego scored as he hit the deck.

The Lakers kept easily finding holes in the Cardinals’ defensive zone, senior defenseman Jack Ring said.

“Obviously, it can not happen,” Ring said. “Coaches teach you at a young age, if you’re lost in the D zone, just go to the front of the net. I don’t know if it was just the pressure of that big of a game, but guys weren’t doing that.”

Moffat agreed that the Cards’s D zone coverage was loose. Ring said they’re “not hitting the panic button yet” on defense.

“I’ve played with like three different D partners,” Ring said.

“Once we find something here that Moff likes, he’ll definitely keep it going and then you get to build that chemistry.”

▪

SPORTS

Oswego’s third goal was a snipe from the high slot.

Plattsburgh started its third power play with six minutes left, pulling Shiller for a twoman advantage. Working off a one-time attempt by graduate defenseman Kevin Weaver-Vitale, rookie forward Shane Bondy cleaned up in the crease for his first career goal. Ramm was also credited with an assist.

The Lakers’ fourth goal was coast-to-coast on an empty net.

The Cards put Shiller back in.

As Oswego crashed the left corner boards, the puck popped out to an open man in the low slot. A short give-and-go gave the Lakers their final goal with 1:21 remaining.

The Cardinals then hit the road for Canton.

“We have a real skilled team that works very hard,” Ring said.

“So it should not take us too long to get things going here.”

CANTON

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points

Junior forward Joshua Belgrave keeps a Simon Fraser defender at bay at the Ronnie B. on Nov. 9.

Plattsburgh scored a season-high seven goals on the ‘Roos. Ramm netted two, followed up with one each from Ring, Bondy, junior defenseman Brannon Butler, senior forward Jake Lanyi and sophomore forward Aaron Catron.

Junior forward Jake Sacratini had three assists. Ring, Butler and Lanyi added two each.

The Cardinals started senior Jacob Hearne in net, who saved 24 shots and allowed one.

Plattsburgh led shots 40-25, and killed five penalties while going scoreless on three power plays.

Senior forward Luk Jirousek, did not play after a collision against Oswego. Moffat said he is considered “day-to-day.”

Moffat was happy with how Plattsburgh bounced back in such a short time, especially in cleaning up the defense.

The coach recognized that the team is still learning through six inconsistent games, and that they need to

adjust their game based on their personnel.

“We were trying to play the game that we played the last two years, and it was like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole,” Moffat said on Monday.

“What we’re in the process of doing in the last 72 hours or so is trying to figure out what our identity is and how to best maximize our skillset.”

Moffat noted that the scoring group is physically larger and much younger this season.

“We’re going to continue to build the team that we have, not the team we necessarily thought we had,” Moffat said.

The Cardinals lost their nationally-ranked status in Monday’s United States College Hockey Online poll, but is still ranked No. 13 in DIII Hockey News’ poll.

THIS WEEKEND

Tonight, the Cardinals host the Cortland Red Dragons (3-2, 1-1) at 7 p.m. in a rematch of the SUNYAC Championship. Cort-

land defeated Plattsburgh 3-2 at Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena in overtime in March.

The Red Dragons are coming off a 3-5 loss to Buffalo State, who finished 4-10-2 in the conference last season.

SUNY Plattsburgh Student Association and Campus Housing & Community Living will host “Dominate the Dragons” tonight.

A van will make continual trips from the Angell College Center from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m.

Pizza and soda will be served to the first 150 students in attendance, and a poster contest with prizes will be held in the student section at the Ronnie B. Tomorrow, Plattsburgh takes on Morrisville (1-5, 0-2) for its fifth-annual Teddy Bear Toss at 7 p.m. After the Cardinals’ first goal, fans traditionally throw teddy bears onto the ice.

Casella Waste Systems has annually donated hundreds of bears, available for a suggested donation. Fans can also bring new bears. Traditionally,

cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

100

Women’s hockey coach Kevin Houle achieved a total of 499 career wins with a 3-0 victory over Potsdam on Nov. 15. He will have two shots to reach 500 this weekend.

Men’s basketball player Kareem Welch dished out 11 assists against Norwich, which is more assists in a single game than any other Cardinal achieved last season.

Men’s hockey coach Steve Moffat reached 100 career wins with a 7-1 win over Canton on Nov. 16. He’s coached hockey since the 2013-14 season.

Verdict: I think this is very unlikely, but it’s a dream pick. It would fix a lot of the league’s problems, making the league stronger and more secure. The New England Small College Athletic Conference pulled Hamilton away from the LL using hockey, so maybe that sets a precedent.

Morrisville and Canton’s programs will improve with time, but for now, the quality of play across the SUNYAC is worse off.

What is preventing Cortland or Oneonta from jetting off for a better league.

To combat this, the conference needs to find a full-time member with solid programs across the board if it returns to 10 schools.

RUSSELL SAGE

SUNY DELHI, ASSOCIATE XC/T&F

Pros: The Fighting Tigers would enter with some impressive basketball programs, with both teams being named NAC runner-ups. The women’s team

Email COLLIN BOLEBRUCH

11

Continued from page 8

SUNY COBLESKILL, ASSOCIATE XC/T&F

all proceeds are donated to the nonprofit Christmas Bureau in Clinton County.

The two-game stretch will also serve as parents’ weekend for the team, as players’ families attend the games and mingle. Moffat called the weekend “invaluable,” and that the families need to be close for the team to be close. Ramm said he’s looking forward to it.

“We don’t want to lose in front of our parents,” Ramm said. “You want to give them a good time” Winning this weekend will go a long way ahead of the LayerEight tournament next week.

“At the start of last year, we just kept sweeping weekends,” Ring said. “Once you keep doing that, the team’s confident, you’re playing with confidence. It’s tough to beat us when we’re doing that.”

499

SUNYAC

Pros: Delhi impressed the North Atlantic Conference this fall, reaching both soccer championships. After disappointing seasons from Morrisville and Canton, Delhi could add some juice to the SUNYAC. The Broncos also sponsor women’s tennis and swimming and diving. Plattsburgh soccer alum Matthew Pitarresi is Delhi’s sports information director and is familiar with the SUNYAC. Delhi being public and instate can maintain the league brand.

Cons: The Broncos aren’t very strong across the rest of the board. The department itself has only made the transition to Division III from NAIA in 2021, and therefore doesn’t have much of an NCAA resume. Delhi also does not currently support baseball or women’s lacrosse.

Verdict: Delhi would certainly benefit from joining the SUNYAC, and could build up its programs under a new conference.

I worry that Delhi couldn’t immediately compete, but if the league strikes out on bigger fish, the SUNYAC shouldn’t dismiss an application.

Friday, Nov. 22, 2024

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points

Senior wing Jeremiah Love-Smith takes on Skidmore’s D at Memorial Hall on Nov. 8. went 25-2 last season and defeated Oneonta by over 30. Cobleskill baseball is also good, defeating Plattsburgh, sweeping Canton and staying competitive with other SUNYAC teams. Cobleskill is also public and in-state.

Cons: Like Delhi, Cobleskill has also recently transitioned to Division III. Outside of basketball, the Tigers have left plenty of room for improvement, including winless men’s lacrosse and women’s soccer teams. Cobleskill doesn’t support women’s tennis, which will lead the league to look for associate members.

Verdict: While Tigers basketball looks like a strong addition, I don’t think adding Cobleskill does much in the way of convincing stronger athletics programs to stay in the SUNYAC. Again, if the SUNYAC struggles to add teams, Cobleskill is certainly an option.

The point of adding to the league would

be to instantly insert a school that will compete in multiple sports.

SKIDMORE, ASSOCIATE ICE HOCKEY

Pros: The Thoroughbreds come from a prestigious conference and regularly schedule SUNYAC teams. Skidmore posted some good seasons in most sports and reached the NCAA Tournament in tennis and women’s soccer, and joining the SUNYAC would be the best-case scenario for league competitiveness. The department hosts field hockey, swimming and diving and tennis, which would go a long way in solving membership issues.

Cons: It could be very difficult to convince Skidmore to jump ship from the Liberty League, but having already joined in some capacity cracks the door open.

Skidmore is also a private school, and could make the SUNYAC turn away from the SUNY moniker. I don’t think this move could happen for another few years.

Pros: Russell Sage hosts most SUNYAC sports, including the much-needed field hockey and tennis. The Gators also aren’t strangers to scheduling SUNYAC teams.

At the moment, Sage sits as a mid-to-low tier Empire 8 team, and could look to try and gain some traction in a new league.

Regardless, it looks more solid across the board than either NAC options.

Cons: Sage is also private, and poses the same branding questions as Skidmore.

Again, the Gators haven’t seen any great seasons in the last year, and I’m not sure the SUNYAC can afford another project.

Verdict: I don’t think Russell Sage is a bad option, but if the SUNYAC wants to pull from the E8, it could reach for Alfred or SUNY Poly. Realistically, this is a solid private, in-state option. The point of looking at the Gators is acknowledging that the conference could go for a private, non-affiliated school to preserve competition.

If the SUNYAC wants to maintain its brand, it will have to acknowledge that it’s putting out a lower-quality product. However, the league has shown it’s not afraid to stray away from in-state public schools, adding private, like Hobart & William Smith, and out-of-state associates, like Penn State Behrend.

I don’t think an admission would be immediate, like Morrisville and Canton were, because the conference should wait for a high-quality athletics department to ditch their league. Imagining a Cortland monopoly makes me sick!

Email COLLIN BOLEBRUCH cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

11 ▪ Sports Editor Michael Purtell

▪

SPORTS

Friday, Nov. 22, 2024

Trombley, Cardinals build mental strength

BY MICHAEL PURTELL & COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Sports Editor & Editor in Chief

Every athlete has been told to get their head in the game, but it isn’t always easy to stay focused on athletics. Gena Trombley is the secret weapon for several Plattsburgh State programs, helping Cardinals hone a winning mentality in sports.

Trombley is a Plattsburgh alum and women’s soccer Hall of Famer who was hired by multiple programs at Plattsburgh State as a mental performance consultant. Starting last year, she has been involved in helping members of teams such as softball, tennis and men’s basketball navigate the mental barriers of athletics and life.

“Athletes don’t have a lot of outlets, so to come in as an unbiased voice and give them an outlet to talk to somebody that isn’t a coach or a player is so valuable, and that’s so much of what they need,” Trombley said.

‘LIFE HAPPENED’

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points

Gena Trombley returns to the world of Cardinal athletics as a mental performance consultant. the student vocalized that there were no outlets in the area, Trombley was inspired.

“The whole reason why I did this was to work with Plattsburgh athletics. I really want to give back to this whole area, because nobody here does it,” Trombley said.

Determined to give back to her alma mater, Tombley earned her master’s degree in sports psychology from the University of Western States in Portland, Oregon. Now, she is awaiting her Certified Mental Performance Consultant Certification, using her hours working for Plattsburgh to help bolster her case.

In the meanwhile, she can be found in the Plattsburgh dugout, teaching what she’s learned to whom she can.

“I want to just spread this knowledge to any athlete,” Trombley said. “I want to advocate for the athletes all over the place.”

Trombley graduated in 2006 with a degree in psychology and a minor in coaching. Two years after graduating, she decided she wanted to get involved with athletics in some way again, and began studying massage in Rochester.

After two years in western New York, Trombley came back to Plattsburgh to start a business as a massage therapist for athletes. Over time, her business grew and “life happened,” Trombley said. She got married and had three kids.

Then, in 2021, one of her clients brought to her attention a new way she could help athletes flourish — not physically but mentally.

The Plattsburgh student explained that they struggled on ‘THE MENTAL SIDE OF the field because of family isTHE GAME’ sues and had no one to talk to Sports psychology is someabout how her struggles affected her athletic career. When thing that is on an upward trend

WBB Continued from page 8

Merkel also competed with the softball program during her time at Plattsburgh State, coming back as a volunteer assistant coach in 2022.

“It’s a really great community that I never left so when you have so many people to support you, look out for you, help you with job situations, it’s really great networking and I am so lucky to have that,” Merkel said.

The Cardinals added a patch to their jerseys in honor of the alumnae, which has remained in following games.

CASTLETON Plattsburgh finished the Holiday Inn Express Cardinal Classic 2-0, beginning with a scrappy 52-45 win over the Vermont State University Castleton Spartans. Senior guard/forward Payton Couture led all scorers with a 21-point double-double, her second in a row.

“Working our plays always works well for us, looking for the open players and knowing our offense and where everyone will be,” Couture said.

The Cardinals opened up the first quarter with a 3-0 lead, holding the Spartans scoreless for the first six minutes. Baskets from Couture and sophomore guard Selma Deisz extended Plattsburgh’s lead to 7-2.

Plattsburgh went into the second quarter with a 15-10 lead. Junior guard Jaden Wilson extended the Plattsburgh advantage to 17-12 with a layup, until the Spartans went on a 10-0 run, pro-

across athletics of all levels.

“It’s already in professional leagues, so now it’s moving its way down,” Trombley said.

Baseball and softball are the sports at the forefront of embracing mental counseling because of all the downtime during the games, Trombley said. It can be integral to an athlete’s performance to keep their thoughts productive during trips to the dugout so that when it’s time to bat the athlete isn’t distracted.

“It really comes down to the mental side of the game, because it keeps going — whether you’re with it or not,” softball’s Megan Pillus said.

‘ITS LIKE TALKING TO YOUR FRIEND’

For the teams that pay for Trombley’s services, Trombley first speaks with the coach to get an idea of the team’s goals and identity and then meets with the team as a group. The meeting is informal, but Trombley gets whatever she can from whoever is willing to speak, whether that’s off the court issues, chem-

istry concerns goals for individuals or sport-specific areas.

“At first it kind of caught everybody off guard,” Pillus said.

“But we all talked to her really fast, and she kind of filled a bunch of roles. She was kind of like our school mom, she was our therapist. She heard all the rants. She’s like our best friend, but she’s really good at making you think deeper on things.”

Athletes are then free to approach Trombley at their own comfort to seek out individual meetings. There they tackle more personalized problems, and Trombley looks to improve their lives on and off the playing field by building a personal relationship with all of the athletes.

This season, these meetings with softball happen during the offseason, so that athletes have time in lower stress environments to adapt the skills they learn from Trombley.

Some students can find seeking out help from a consultant can be daunting, but softball’s Michelle DeFina says it’s anything but.

“It’s not awkward at all. She talks about life,” DeFina said.

pelling Castleton to a 25-19 lead. The teams traded leads back and forth for the rest of the quarter, but the Cardinals headed to the locker room at halftime at a 32-29 deficit.

The third quarter opened with nearly five minutes of scoreless basketball, until a Spartan layup extended their lead to 34-29. Shortly after, sophomore guard Julia Greek splashed a three-pointer to cut the Spartan lead to two. Couture then put up four straight points, giving the Cardinals a 36-34 advantage. The Spartans ended the quarter with a 6-0 run, putting Castleton back on top 40-36.

The Cardinals squashed this comeback with a 9-0 run to open the final quarter, holding this lead until the final buzzer. Plattsburgh State’s defense dominated to end the game, propelling the Cardinals to a 52-45 win to open the weekend.

UTICA Plattsburgh State followed this game with a commanding win over Utica University.

The Cardinals had a phenomenal offensive showing Saturday afternoon, shooting 43.9 percent from the field and splashing 12 three-pointers. Greek led all scorers with 13 points, with Couture and junior center Imani Walcott each contributing 12.

Three of the 12 came within the first three minutes of the game, two from Couture and one from Wilson pushing the Cardinals to an early 9-0 lead. The Cardinals did not give up this lead for the entire contest. Plattsburgh State closed the quarter on a 10-0 run, putting them on top 22-6. Fifteen of the

“It’s like you’re talking to your friend about yourself.”

DeFina’s meetings with Trombley were focused on mental awareness on and off the pitch, and brought her to “the top of her confidence” in the sport.

When Trombley isn’t running meetings, she’s in the Cardinals dugout cheering on athletes and observing the behaviors athletes meet with her about. She is available to talk and cheer on the athletes when she sees them succeed.

“It’s actually really nice to have somebody in the dugout that’s not necessarily my coach.” Pillus said. “I’m not going to go to Gena for feedback on my skills, but she acts like a sounding board to get my emotions out: the good, bad, whatever. She takes it, absorbs it and then gets me back on track,“ The biggest thing about Trombley’s work is that it extends past just athletics. Lessons from Trombley can be applied broadly, helping athletes now during their athletics career, but long into the future.

“Her lessons are strategies that you can use for the future in anything that you do.

It just helps to learn it through sports,” tennis’ Ava Carey said.

Trombley’s lessons are all about picking up what the athletes can. Not every problem can be solved through athletics — and especially not in college — but things can always be improved.

“I just always tell my teams and my clients ‘if you can just take one thing from this, that’s all I want. That’s all I ask for you to do, but you don’t have to completely buy it,’” Trombley said.

“I’m not asking everybody to buy in, but just know that if you can just take one thing, it’s going to make the biggest difference.”

Email MICHAEL PURTELL & COLLIN BOLEBRUCH cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points

Julia Greek puts the ball on the deck against St. Lawrence on Nov. 19 Cardinals’ 22 points were a result of a three-pointer.

“I’d say it was our first team win of the season, a lot of players got involved and were shooting really well,” Couture said.

Sophomore guard Lauren LaFountain added to the Cardinals’ onslaught of three-point shots, opening the second quarter at a 25-8 advantage. The Cardinals’ offense continued to dominate, ending the second quarter with another LaFountain three, pushing the Cardinals up 37-13 at the half.

“It was one of the first times of my career that at halftime I was able to tell them to keep doing what they’re doing,” head coach Ben Sarraf said.

In the third quarter, the Pioneers put the pressure on with an 8-0 run, but this was not enough to shut down the Cardinals’ offense. Plattsburgh State headed into the fourth quarter with a 30 point edge over the Pioneers thanks to a buzzer beater three from Greek.

Plattsburgh State continued this dominance all the way to the final buzzer, heading to the locker room with a 67-40 win over Utica.

“I think we went into this game more confident,” Couture said. “Knowing that we can do it and trusting our shot and trusting each other to play well.”

Email EMMA DEO cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

FRIDAY, NOV. 22, 2024

Reality TV glorifies fame, beauty standards

BY LILLIAN MURRAY Contributing Writer

Growing up, I had always enjoyed watching reality television shows such as Jersey Shore and America’s Next Top Model. I was drawn to shows that seemed authentic and real rather than the scripted shows on Nickelodeon and Disney.

As I got older, it was evident that my perception of reality TV was flawed, but I still enjoyed the chaotic and unfiltered narratives.

Reality television is designed to be entertaining and involve real people and situations. Initially I had thought that reality TV was not scripted at all and these people just had crazy lives or dreams.

Once I realized that the stories and characters are not entirely fabricated, just embellished greatly, I found it easy to compare myself to them and lust over the characters.

Popular reality television shows highlight this glorification including shows such as “Keeping up with the Kardashians,” “America’s Next Top Model,” “Simple Life,” and “American Idol.” Viewers, for the first time, held the ability to see “actors” in an apparent authentic light. It became a lot easier to resonate with the characters being shown.

Specific girls on these shows, such as Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Paris Hilton and Arianna Madix, made enormously successful careers by emphasizing their beauty, relationships and fun lives. Watching these women rise to fame in real time and in a light that shows their unseen lives had a strong influence on viewers.

CAMERON GREAVES/Cardinal Points

It made the idea of being a famous celebrity seem achievable if you focus on certain narratives aligning with physical appearance.

Originally watching these shows, it was just entertainment through a more transparent and relaxed lens. This slowly encouraged the idea that if I wanted to be like them, I could.

When watching these shows at a young age, I was subconsciously normalizing the lifestyle of girls twice my age who are dedicated to weight loss and care solely about appearances.

As a young impressionable kid, it can become a normal thought that these girls are on TV because of their looks, and if

you focus enough on your looks and weight, you can be a glamorous celebrity just like them.

One thing that has definitely stuck with me and many other girls was the idea that an ideal way to better yourself or change is through a physical transformation. Within these shows, we see a lot of drama and feelings, usually followed by the actress changing her physical appearance.

One notable example is Jenner using plastic surgery to improve herself. Throughout “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” we see Jenner continuously getting new lip fillers, botox and implants throughout her body. I honestly anticipated growing up

and getting botox would be a common thing among women my age or older, and was surprised to see that it was an abnormal thing for people who are not famous.

Another example of a reality star changing her physical appearance in order to better herself is Khloe Kardashian, who has been in the reality industry since her teenage years.

At the beginning of Kardashian’s career, she received a ton of backlash, most of which was about her weight. Throughout the show we are shown her weight loss journey in full transparency, as she said she wants to include viewers to inspire those to better themselves.

Despite the amount of diversity throughout the reality television industry, the narratives that turned these women from actors on a show to superstars are all the same.

Women who prioritize relationships and physical appearance demonstrate that their exciting life will get you fans and fame.

These actors’ narratives can be impressionable on everyone, but developing girls are particularly vulnerable because it now appears easier to copy these stars’ lifestyles, due to the new transparent light shown with reality TV. Email LILLIAN MURRAY cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Student musician lists ‘24 top albums

BY LOGAN TOLEMAN ContrIbuting Writer

via Wikimedia Commons

Vice President Harris discussing plan to prevent medical debt being inlcuded in credit scores.

Loss of hope after election not an option

BY NADIA PASCHAL Opinion Editor

It’s been two weeks since the presidential election, and emotions are still high. Tension, fear, disappointment, anger and sadness are rampant across the nation but the dust is slowly beginning to settle.

The future of our nation seems uncertain and we all are faced with the looming question of what comes next?

It’s a simple answer — that is up to us.

Vice President Kamala Harris gave her official concession speech Nov. 7. It was hard to watch and digest but regardless, Harris’s words comforted me in a strange way.

“Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn’t mean we won’t win,” Harris said in her speech.

This quote has rattled around my brain and been my mantra ever since. Despite her loss, Harris’ messages of keeping our hope and continuing to make change resonated deeply for me.

It is a choice to remain hopeful, albeit a difficult one. I know that the moment I lose that hope and succumb to total despair is when my ability to make a difference is lost forever. It’s when the messages of hate and ignorance take over.

The United States of America was built on the power of all its people, and when we give up our power, it can fall into the wrong hands.

Political activism is crucial to this country and our rights, but so is the well-being of each individual. Every day I check

the news or social media, I am faced with either concerning news or upsetting remarks that diminish the feelings of those who are frightened. It’s overwhelming and seems impossible to escape.

If you haven’t already, it’s OK to take a break from being updated. Unsubscribe from your news subscriptions or reminders and log off of social media for a while. If you burn yourself out, you’re never going to want to enter the ring to fight for change again.

There is strength in numbers and although we may seem outnumbered right now, I believe to hold onto hope is powerful enough on its own.

Email NADIA PASCHAL cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

As 2024 wraps itself up in a neat little bow and the music industry slows down heading into December, I started to reflect on the bizarre landscape that the music scene has brought.

Many artists committed themselves to total sound changes, hopping on the increasing mainstream popularity of country music, such as Post Malone and Beyoncé.

Others experimented with the odd and eclectic — Tyler, The Creator, I’m looking at you.

While there were many incredible releases, I have dwindled down my top three releases of the calendar year.

HONORABLE MENTION: “Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing (REBORN)” by Set It Off

Florida-based pop-rock group Set It Off decided to take one of their biggest songs to date, “Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing” from 2014’s “Duality,” and turn it into their modern, more

“

Serrani manages to take a basic chord progression and develop it into an incredibly moving track.

”

metalcore-adjacent sound — a la “Taylor’s Version”.

The band completely ditched the brass components in favor of a string symphony, brought the main riff down an octave and replaced the post-chorus with a slamming breakdown.

Lead singer Cody Carson’s soaring voice is enough to lure you to sleep with his incredible falsetto and scare you to death with his impressive, out-of-character scream during the breakdown.

If this is a sign of things to come from the band, then I consider myself beyond excited.

HONORABLE MENTION: “Standing In The Promenade” by tyler serranni

Rutland, Vermont native tyler serrani made his Plattsburgh debut on Sept. 21 at ZeebStock — a music festival hosted by Zeta Beta Tau — to incredibly positive reception.

Many individuals I have spoken to have complimented how diverse his setlist was, switching between high-energy anthems to moments of incredible emotional vulnerability.

This dynamic contrast is perfectly captured in his single “Standing In The Promenade.” Serrani manages to take a basic chord progression and develop it into an incredibly moving track with a ton of layers, each contributing to the emotional pain that is conveyed in the chorus.

MUSIC > 13

13 ▪ Opinion Editor Nadia Paschal

▪

OPINION

ness with standout moments such as “Christmas”, “Blueberry Sunday” and Continued from page 12 “Oh My God, I Love Your Aquarium.” If you value an entertaining listening experience, I would highly recSerrani once again ommend this hidden gem. proves that he is a lyriStandout track: Japanese cal painter using clever Sweet Potato rhyme-schemes to portray the gravity of his intrinsic TWO: “KO RABWA” by turmoil. This track is one Topia that you’ll find yourself To put it bluntly, “KO singing by yourself withRABWA” by Vermont naout even realizing it. tive Topia is an absolute emotional rollercoaster. Its THREE: “The Food EP” by lyrical content was enough thayerperiod & Seato make me tear up at the moreTheSeal end of my initial listen.

What do you get when This album is an incredyou take two of the North- ibly introspective piece of east’s best producers, art dealing with a plethoadd a dash of flavor and a ra of heavy subject matter, smidge of unhinged insan- from childhood struggle, ity? You get “The Food EP.” home life, personal battles I have been listening to and loss. this album non-stop since All of this is reflected in it was released because of the instrumentation of the how absolutely baffling album with a series of emoit is. It is genuinely one tional acoustic guitar pasof the funniest albums I sages that evoke a sense of have ever had the pleasure nostalgia, reflecting heavily of listening to, given on the album’s continued the juxtaposition of the reflection upon childhood. content of the lyrics and Standout tracks on this the quality of production. album include the gorgeous Anything that thayerpe- “SAVEU”, the powerful, riod touches is golden, and trumpet driven “THISMYthis album is no exception. FATE,” which features a His bars on this hyperpop sound effect from Countmasterclass are absolute er Strike: Global Offensive gems, only rivaled by Sea- funnily enough and the moreTheSeal’s absurdist soul crushing “so stay (we sense of humor. For in- love you) #ripisabelle #suistance, the line on “Octo- cideawareness”, which pus Salad” that wonderful- closes out the album, and ly states, “One time I ate at is dedicated to a fan who Applebee’s, DISGUSTING”.) tragically lost her life.

On top of the outstanding This album showed peoproduction and humorous ple that Topia is more than lines, the tags and callouts just a hip hop artist, but a throughout the 21 minutes singer as well. “KO RABWA” are nothing short of mad- is Kiribati for “Thank You,”

MUSIC

Friday, Nov. 22, 2024

Editorial Board

Provided by Dominic Bates

Musician tyler serrani performing at Zeebstock. but the thanks is owed to song dealing with heavy Topia, who absolutely hit subject matter, such as relithe mark on this one. gion, betrayal and grief.

Standout track: “SAVEU” Tracks like “Blinding Faith” offer some of ONE: “You Won’t Go Be- Knocked Loose’s most fore You’re Supposed To” crushing riffage, and lead singer Bryan Garris’ gnarby Knocked Loose Kentucky hardcore group liest vocals, while the two Knocked Loose has been tracks “Moss Covers All/ facing constant criticism Take Me Home” cause an for over a decade, yet they incredible sense of anxinever faltered or waivered ety, giving off the vibes of an analog horror video. in their mission.

The punishing tracks Many skeptics were conthroughout the album cerned that as the band’s come to a capstone at the mainstream popularity last track “Sit & Mourn” continued to grow they would begin to sell out, but which features haunting that could not be further ambient guitars, a new from the truth. “You Won’t trait from the band. This Go Before You’re Supposed album absolutely dominatTo” is one of the heaviest al- ed the hardcore scene, and bums in their discography. is the strongest album that I was hard-pressed to find I have heard this year.

Standout track: “Suffoa single song on the album cate (feat. Poppy)” that did not captivate me.

The album has an incredibly uneasy feel to it throughout all 27 minutes, with each

Editor in Chief Collin Bolebruch

Managing Editor Aleksandra Sidorova

News Editor Aleksandra Sidorova

Arts & Culture Editor

Sports Editor Michael Purtell

Opinion Editor Nadia Paschal

Graphics Editor Cameron Greaves

Photography Editor Jayne Smith

Multimedia Editor Vacant

Sumeet Vishwakarma

Cinara Marquis

Web Editor

Public Relations Chair Kolin Kriner Faculty Adviser Jack Downs

Contact CP cp@cardinalpointsonline.com 118 Ward Hall SUNY Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, NY

Email LOGAN TOLEMAN cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Hi! I’m Nadia Paschal, opinion editor.

Winter is right around the corner, and I love the cozy feeling and nostalgia that’s in the air this time of year.

Here’s some trends I think are cool and others I’m lukewarm about.

Winter ins and outs

Ins

Outs

Awards Cardinal Points has received the following awards from the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP):

Volunteering

Staying inside all season

It’s the holidays, which means giving back and spreading some cheer. Helping out locally or even on a larger scale can make a difference and be a great gift.

It’s getting colder and darker earlier, but that doesn’t mean we can just hibernate. Break your routine of staying in bed all break, or your friends and family will really start to get concerned.

If you’re not the most athletic, like me, winter sports might be something you avoid entirely. You just might not have found the right one though.

Ice skating, skiing — green trails only — and even sledding are my favorite physical activities this time of year.

It’s the season of sales and Black Friday is coming up soon, but don’t let them trick you into buying things you don’t really need. Impulse buys may be fun in the moment, but your bank account will thank you later the less you spend.

Winter sports

Red

It might be cliché, but red is such a good color this time of year. It goes well with so many things, and there are a variety of shades that you can experiment with.

Self care

Whether that’s physically, such as keeping up with skin care to fend off dry skin or, mentally such as refusing to argue about politics with relatives during the holidays, it’s OK to put yourself first sometimes.

Reading

I know this is not the most popular pastime among college students but it’s always fun to cozy up by the fire and get lost in a good book.

Overspending

Tropical getaways

Winter is my least favorite season and I hate the cold, but unfortunately, in upstate New York, it’s something we have to live with. Why not appreciate it while it’s here?

Muted outfits

Neutral colors seem to be big around this time of year, but to me it just seems boring. Even just a few colorful accessories can make you stand out from the monotonous white landscape.

Peppermint

Maybe I’m just being biased, as this is a seasonal staple but personally I’m sick of being bombarded with the scent and taste of peppermint in every home and store I walk into. There are so many other winter scents and flavors you might be missing out on because you’ve bought into the peppermint hype.

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 Fall 2001, four Marks of Distinction Fall 2000, four Marks of Distinction First Class Spring 2013, three Marks of Distinction Fall 2012, three Marks of Distinction Fall 2011, three Marks of Distinction Spring 2010, two Marks of Distinction Spring 2008, three Marks of Distinction Spring 2007, one Mark of Distinction Fall 2007, three Marks of Distinction Pacemaker Recognition Fall 2010, Honorable Mention 2006-2007, Newspaper Finalist