Symphonic Band celebrates women composers
Men’s hoops lock down in opener
Students vote on newest museum collection piece
BY ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA News + Managing Editor
The Student Association Art Acquisition Board opened its independent semesterly decision — which art piece to buy for Plattsburgh State Art Museum’s collection — to the general student body Nov. 4. The presentation and vote were part of the Art Acquisition Board’s session for SUNY Plattsburgh’s
Black Solidarity Day social justice teach-in. The session received “glowing reviews” in a survey the Black Solidarity Day Steering committee sent to the campus Nov. 7.
“This year was the first year they actually hosted a session to let people know about the (Art Acquisition Board),” said Allison Heard, vice president of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “A lot of students did not know about it.”
This semester, the board’s goal was to diversify the museum’s art
collection, buying from a Black artist. The budget every semester is $4,500. Board members gave presentations about three artists they researched and were considering buying from: Nyame Brown, Nathan Murray and Sheherezade Thénard.
Thénard won with 32 out of 62 votes. The Arts Acquisition Board is in contact with Thénard, in the process of buying their painting.
Alum follows Trump back to White House
BY COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Editor in Chief
President-elect Donald Trump announced that SUNY Plattsburgh alumnus Dan Scavino will return to the White House to serve as assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff in a press release Wednesday. Trump will be inaugurated Jan. 20, 2025.
Scavino ’98 was Trump’s director of social media from 2017 to 2021 and deputy chief of staff for communications from 2020 to 2021. He was also a senior advisor to Trump’s 2024 campaign.
The announcement said that Stephen Miller, James Blair and Taylor Budowich will join Scavino on the White House senior staff.
“I know they will honorably serve the American people in the White House. They will continue to work hard to Make America
Great Again in their respective new roles,” the release quotes Trump.
The release mentions that Scavino is one of Trump’s “longest serving” and “most trusted” advisers. While working a high
school job, Scavino was selected to be Trump’s golf caddie at the Briar Hall Country Club in Briarcliff Manor, New York, which Trump later purchased in 1996.
Feedback shows teach-in success
BY ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA News + Managing Editor
This year’s Black Solidarity Day social justice teach-in saw more student involvement than years prior, according to feedback the planning committee received since Nov. 7.
More students of all ethnicities proposed and hosted sessions, as did class groups, said Allison Heard, vice president of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
“We have more diverse representations of students that participated in the day,” Heard said.
Faith-based club grows its membership sixfold
BY ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA News + Managing Editor
The Newman Association, a club where students can grow their Catholic faith or learn about it, was on the verge of shutting down during the thick of COVID-19. Two years later, it is thriving with around 30 members.
A new adviser, different outreach strategy and open-minded community all came together, allowing the Newman Association to increase its membership sixfold and fill the Newman Center with activity.
“First, I want to credit God,” treasurer Matthew Edwards said. “I think that was totally divine intervention, just bringing the right people in front of us.”
OUTREACH
Riley McQuade joined the Newman Association in 2020, when there were seven members.
As a sophomore in 2021, McQuade found herself the president of a club barely in standing with SUNY Plattsburgh: It had four officers and a non-board member. The club had to grow because neither the college nor Holy Cross Parish — representing the Catholic church in Plattsburgh — would financially support it otherwise.
I think that was totally divine intervention, just bringing the right people in front of us.
Matthew Edwards, club Treasurer
Growing the club had already been McQuade’s goal.
“The club had become something super important in my life,” McQuade said. “It strengthened my faith in a way I didn’t think it could strengthen it before, and that was before we had the on-fire people in the club that we have now.”
Without financial support for the club’s outreach, the Newman Association took to grassroots recruitment efforts.
“Word of mouth was very powerful for us,” McQuade said. “Once the five of us started talking to people more, getting to know more people, we got more people involved — people we never thought in our lives would come.”
ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points
Students cast their ballots, deciding which artwork would join Plattsburgh State Museum’s art collection. There were more students than ballots available, and eventually they started writing their picks on scraps of paper.
via Wikimedia Commons Dan Scavino stands next to President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Jan. 19, 2021.
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Student Association
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canceled its Nov. 6 meeting.
Cardinal Points is the only news source reporting on how the Student Association, SUNY Plattsburgh’s student government, spends students’ money.
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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.
ALUM
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Scavino studied communications at SUNY Plattsburgh and was selected for the Communications Department Advisory Board by professor emeritus Peter Ensel.
Scavino’s former adviser, Shakuntala Rao, told the Press-Republican in 2016 that he was one of
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the “best students” in the department and was “focused, ambitious and had excellent work ethics.”
Scavino worked for Coca-Cola and Swiss pharmaceutical company Galderma after graduation.
In 2004, Trump hired Scavino as assistant manager of the renamed Trump National Golf Club Westchester, where they originally met. Scavino eventually earned the rank of general manager and executive vice president.
Thénard’s art focuses on her Afro-Caribbean heritage, colonial experiences and connection to land. Many of Thénard’s paintings are self-portraits. The work the board presented to students was “Between Land and Sea,” a 20 by 24-inch oil and pastel painting on a 2-inch-thick canvas. Costing $4,000, the board may spend the rest of the budget on a frame or transfer it to next semester.
San Francisco artist Brown was the runner-up with 20 votes. His work centers themes of diaspora — ethnic communities away from their homeland — and afrofuturism, referring to a cultural movement that uses themes of science fiction and futuristic technologies to explore Black culture and history.
The work the board was considering purchasing was “Afrotech,” a 4 by 6 feet watercolor painting of a red Black robot. The piece costs $4,000.
Lastly, Murray explores racial and cultural identities, including his own as a biracial white Nebraskan and Black Jamaican, through the facial expressions of ceramic busts. The busts are hollow and come in both full- and half-sizes.
The board proposed purchasing “Defender of the Downtrodden,” a half-size bust of civil rights activist and former Nebraska Sen. Ernie Chambers. The piece costs $2,500 and received 10 votes.
Email ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Scavino joined the initial Trump presidential campaign in 2015, where he helped the businessman become the first commander-in-chief with no formal political background.
The Plattsburgh graduate is Trump’s longest-serving aide, and a 2019 Politico report called Scavino “indispensable” to Trump.
Email COLLIN BOLEBRUCH cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
purchasing.
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The efforts were tailored to each member’s strengths: The club made posters, tabled, relaunched its Instagram account and mastered Cardinal Link.
The club became so skilled at using the online platform SUNY Plattsburgh introduced for campus clubs that McQuade helped train other clubs.
The Newman Association also made efforts to be visible and get to know church-goers in the greater Plattsburgh community.
“I remember in the last year or so, all of a sudden, we were getting a ton of people in the church who were like, ‘Can we cook for you?’” said Erica VanValkenburg, the current president of the Newman Association. “At least one person said, ‘I can’t cook, but can I buy you a pizza?’”
Desiree Kirk, campus minister, director of religious education at Holy Cross Parish and adviser to the Newman Association, said this support comes from the community seeing the Newman Association be active outside of their immediate college environment.
McQuade and Kirk also spent hours meeting with college and parish staff, making a case for the Newman Association to operate. The club used to identify itself as strictly Catholic, which didn’t help the existing preconceptions of churches being exclusionary.
“To be a religious club at this school is a challenge — it wasn’t always met with the acceptance that I feel like they’ve achieved now,” Kirk said. “We are lucky that we have our church and the college supporting us to grow. We’re very blessed in that sense.”
The club is now a social club first and a faith group second, VanValkenburg said. Kirk stepped into her role at about the same time as McQuade took leadership. Newman Association members said Kirk’s attitude was part of what helped the club grow and invite more students to join.
“Bless her heart, because I don’t have the same talent. She doesn’t judge a soul,” Edwards said. “I think one of the things on people’s minds is judgment — ‘Am I going to be judged because I’m different than these people?’ — and she is
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the most open-minded, welcoming person that I know.”
COMMUNITY
One Easter, none of the Newman Association members went home. Instead, they stayed to watch two of their members undergo the rite of Christian initiation and take their first Communion, joining them in the faith.
“We wanted to see that because we saw their growth,” McQuade said.
The club primarily meets for Sunday dinners at 6 p.m., after evening Mass at the Newman Center. The Newman Center, across the street from Kehoe Administration Building, is technically part of the SUNY Plattsburgh campus, and non-religious clubs and organizations may use the space. Some sororities and fraternities have been holding meetings at the Newman Center.
In the past couple of years, though, the Newman Association has diversified its events, most recently hosting a cooking competition, a hike, a camping retreat and a trip to an apple
In its first year, the Black Solidarity Day Steering Committee included five faculty and staff members, including Heard. The year after, the committee expanded to include student volunteers, and this year, the department hired an intern — senior public relations major Naomi Adebayo.
As an intern, Adebayo helped students brainstorm the sessions they hosted.
About 400 people attended the sessions in-person and 856 tuned into the livestream hosted by Plattsburgh State Television. However, feedback indicated that organizers didn’t make it clear the events would be broadcast live with no editing or delay.
The committee is considering adding training sessions before the teach-in next year to help presenters feel more comfortable during live broadcasts.
One of the hits new to this year’s social justice teachin were the cooldown zones, providing resources for attendees to unwind in-between sessions. Next year, the cooldown zones would likely move to Burghy’s Den, as this year’s feedback suggested, Heard said.
The committee established the cooldown zones in response to last year’s feedback that the schedule overwhelmed attendees, both in the number of sessions to choose from and the weight of the topics discussed.
There were also fewer sessions this year, to make the choices less daunting.
“Students want to be able to go to everything — they wish they were in two places at once,” Adebayo said.
The Steering Committee is still trying to figure out the ideal scale of the event, Heard said.
“Sometimes, going big can make you also feel like you’re not able to connect with every session,” Heard said.
Another aspect of the event that attendees said they appreciated was free T-shirts given out to session hosts. The shirts had been an idea outside of the previous year’s budget.
In the survey, participants spoke favorably about the variety of food trucks, which included the Mexican restaurant Lomeli’s.
SUNY Plattsburgh is the only university in the United States to host a whole day of conference-style sessions to acknowledge Black Solidarity Day. The occasion was created in 1969 by Panama-born activist, historian and playwright Carlos Russell — always the day before Election Day, which this year was Nov. 5.
Adebayo said, “I feel like the teach-in helps us in the sense that we’re educating ourselves on issues that affect us on a day-to-day basis.”
orchard. The Newman Association is also planning for its Friendsgiving and Christmas celebrations.
The wide range of events allows the club to appeal to more people, VanValkenburg said — such as her boyfriend, who is an atheist.
Incorporating faith into daily activities can help believers strengthen it, but doing so also allows more opportunities for newcomers to learn about the church.
Edwards didn’t grow up Catholic, but the Newman Association was an opportunity for him to learn about the faith and eventually join it as a college student.
Many of the conversations at the club’s Sunday dinners revolve simply around the members’ daily lives. Students have stayed as late as 11 p.m., Kirk recalled.
Members also note the variety of majors the club represents, from theater to nursing. Edwards is a senior criminal justice major, VanValkenburg is a junior majoring in environmental science with an English minor and McQuade graduated from the combined
childhood education and special education teaching program.
YOUTH AND RELIGION
The Newman Association is one of the only resources aimed at college students Holy Cross Parish has. Club members identify themselves as “baby adults,” McQuade said — still learning to navigate life. The physical space and relaxed social environment the Newman Association creates help them grow in their faith.
For one, they have space to make mistakes during occasions as serious as Mass. The clergy take on more easy-going attitudes as well.
“We can joke and make light of our mistakes and have fun, which, in a typical Mass, that’s not what happens,” McQuade said.
They get “goofy,” in McQuade’s words, but take sacraments such as the Eucharist, or Communion, seriously.
Generation Z is the least religious generation yet, with about a third not identifying with any religion at all, according to a survey published by the Survey Center on American Life in 2021. The survey found that 8% of Gen Z respondents identified as Catholic, compared to 12% of millennials and 18% of baby boomers.
About 20 Newman Association members regularly go to Mass.
“It’s a choice, and I think that that is something that’s really beautiful,” McQuade said. “Any time I see a young adult either come back to church or enter into the church, it just reminds me of the gift that I was given growing up Catholic. I was allowed to have that choice.”
Attending Mass every week helped VanValkenburg navigate her transition to college life. McQuade still attends Newman Association meetings, even though she graduated in May. Kirk’s top priority is supporting students in whichever way they need, whether it’s advice or saying a prayer for them. Kirk said, “My vision of what campus ministry is is to help them feel safe and secure in whatever path they want to take in their faith.”
Email ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
ALIYAH EGAN/Cardinal Points Newman Association members sit at a table, having their Sunday dinner Nov. 3.
Prof. confronts injustices’ legacy of racial oppression
BY PHILO YUNRUI WANG Associate A&C Editor
Although introduced repeatedly, H.R.40, a United States congressional bill advocating for a commission to examine the legacy of slavery and explore reparations, continues to be rejected. The lack of legislative traction stirred up discussions on Black Solidarity Day.
Monica Ciobanu, criminal justice professor, led a session called “Racial Injustices and the Politics of Memory in the United States” on Nov. 24.
Ciobanu explored how America’s seemingly past human rights abuses — particularly slavery, segregation and mass incarceration — continue to echo in modern society. She challenged students to reflect on the role of historical memory and reparation as a means of healing racial injustices.
Throughout the session, Ciobanu highlighted pivotal missed opportunities for racial justice in the United States, beginning with the Reconstruction era in 1863. She detailed how the promises of Reconstruction went largely unfulfilled as reparations were denied to freed slaves, while former slave owners received compensation for loss of property.
This oversight set the stage for continued racial oppression, notably through Jim Crow laws and, more recently,
systemic discrimination within the criminal justice system and housing markets.
“While the U.S. has been slow to adopt transitional justice practices, other nations like Canada and Australia have taken earlier steps in acknowledging and addressing their colonial pasts,” Ciobanu said.
The session shifted toward the backlash against addressing racial injustice, with Ciobanu describing the growing counter-movement against historical truth and restorative justice. The recent attempts to alter educational
content on slavery and racial history, such as the Florida Board of Education’s push to frame slavery as a “benevolent institution,” were mentioned in the discussion.
“These denials are reminiscent of past efforts to downplay the brutality of slavery, which only perpetuates a culture of ignorance and denial,” Ciobanu said.
In closing, Ciobanu underscored the inevitability of historical reckoning while acknowledging the current social resistance to reparative measures.
“The past never truly goes away,” Ciobanu said. “While widespread societal change might not happen immediately, conversations about the United States’ legacy of injustice will persist and resurface.”
As Ciobanu noted, for meaningful reconciliation to occur, the United States must confront its past openly, allowing for collective healing and the possibility of a more inclusive future.
Email PHILO YUNRUI WANG cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Symphonic Band honors women composers
BY CINARA MARQUIS Arts & Culture Editor
After last semester’s concert, a member of the ensemble raised an important question to Daniel Gordon, the Symphonic Band director and music professor at SUNY Plattsburgh — why does the band never perform music by women composers?
“I realized that in over 30 years of directing the Symphonic Band, I have programmed only a couple of pieces by women composers,” Gordon wrote in an email. “So I decided to dedicate an entire program to that theme to rectify the situation.”
Tonight the Symphonic Band is honoring women composers with a full program of songs, all of which were composed by women. The performance will take place in the E. Glenn Giltz Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. There is no admission charge. Gordon wrote that he believes music is more meaningful when listeners understand how it relates to other things.
“(The performance) also had the possibility of looking prescient about the presidential election,” he explained. “There was the chance that we would be performing a program of women composers only a couple of weeks after electing a woman president. But it didn’t turn out that way.”
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Mutual aid transforms charity into solidarity
BY CINARA MARQUIS Arts & Culture Editor
Mutual aid is the voluntary, reciprocal exchange of support within a community to overcome barriers to meeting common needs. The grassroots approach to social justice emphasizes solidarity and connection over charity.
“Community Mutual Aid Networks: A ‘Youth’-Led Approach” was a Black Solidarity Day workshop presented by Taj Ellis, Educational Opportunity Program senior counselor and Cassie Joseph, EOP director. The presentation explored how youth can make tangible differences within their communities through mutual aid networks.
The session started with an icebreaker where participants were asked to submit words that conjured “community” to a word cloud.
“Authenticity goes along with belonging, right?” Ellis said. “If you can be yourself and still belong, where you don’t have to pretend to be someone else, that’s the ideal community.”
Other words like family, togetherness and security came up.
Mutual aid is collaborative; instead of being a vertical framework like charity, where support comes financially from the rich and trickles down to the poor, mutual aid operates horizontally, spreading support across the community.
“We are all on the same playing field,” Ellis said. “We are supporting one another across the community.”
Mutual aid has brought power to marginalized class communities throughout history, Ellis explained. As a first-generation
American, he described the Jamaican practice of susu.
Susu goes by many names, including pawdna and merrygo-round; it is a rotating loan club. In the susu, community members all contribute the same amount of money to a common fund; the total of the fund is disbursed to a single member in the group. The recipient of the pooled funds changes so eventually every participant will receive the sum of the susu.
“So we’ll all throw (funds) into a pot every week and then every week someone gets a draw from that pot, allowing a surge of income for people who definitely need it,” Ellis explained. “The reason why mutual aid works is because no one has more than the other. We are all taking a hit to support someone now. All of us win.”
Another key point to mutual aid is that there are no hierarchies — mutual aid is a system built up by the oppressed and for the oppressed.
“This is a connected experience (in which) all of us support,” Joseph said.
Youth have always been at the forefront of social justice, marching in protests, advocating for change and sharing resources. College students, especially, have called for activism across the globe and started mutual aid networks within their communities.
At SUNY Plattsburgh, mutual aid looks like the Cardinal Cupboard, a student-run food bank that addresses food and hygiene supply insecurity. Mutual aid also looks like peer support groups like the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation
Circle hosted by the office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Community networks such as clubs and organizations or community and programming advocates within campus halls, also act as mutual aid networks to support student engagement. Resource sharing, such as textbook exchanges and study groups, helps support peers both academically and emotionally.
EOP is also a form of mutual aid. The program helps students overcome financial and academic barriers to attending a SUNY college.
Joseph, a former EOP student, was enabled to attend SUNY Plattsburgh and the University at Buffalo thanks to her hard
work and help from the program. Her favorite part of her job today as EOP’s director at SUNY Plattsburgh is watching students grow and providing them with opportunities they may have never had before.
At the end of the session, participants created their own mutual aid networks.
To create a mutual aid network, groups need to first identify an issue and a goal; they must pool resources and form partnerships to create a support network. Following this framework, participants came up with projects to address issues on college campuses.
Groups at the session came up with mutual aid networks tackling the stigmatization of men’s
mental health, a lack of financial support for international students and student trainings in de-escalation tactics and first aid to address police violence.
Check
the SUNY Plattsburgh resource pages for aid and assistance: plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/ student-support/index.html plattsburgh.edu/faculty-and-staff/index.html
City to host Miracle on Margaret Street
Something magical is coming back to Margaret Street as the city hosts its ninth annual Holiday Parade and tree-lighting ceremony on Dec. 7.
The City of Plattsburgh and The Strand Center for the Arts are teaming up once again to bring a day full of festive activities and holiday cheer.
This year’s festivities include children’s art activities at The Strand, “The Nutcracker Ballet,” a Merry Mugs fundraiser, music and dance performances, the holiday parade and tree lighting ceremony.
“Miracle on Margaret Street is a chance for everyone to come together and enjoy the holiday season,” said Emma Stewart, community engagement coordinator for the City of Plattsburgh. “We’re excited to see the creativity in this year’s parade displays and to share a day of fun and tradition with the community.”
STRAND ACTIVITIES
The Strand Center Gallery & Printmaking Studio will be offering free, family-friendly art experiences starting at 3 p.m.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to have their photo taken with Santa during the Photos with Santa Fundraiser in the Strand Center Gallery, with photos sold at $10 each.
leading up to the tree lighting on the Strand’s front lawn.
This year’s performance of “The Nutcracker Ballet,” presented by Lake Placid Center for the Arts, will be held in the Strand Center Theatre at 1 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www. strandcenter.org/theatre-events for $22 each.
Buddy the elf’s spirit and winter wonder to life with dazzling lights, iconic scenes and all things festive.
“From snowball fights to decorating with candy canes and syrup, let’s celebrate the joy, wonder, and magic of the North Pole. Join us for a spectacular display of lights, laughter, and holiday cheer that’s sure to warm hearts and bring the community together,” a City of Plattsburgh news release read.
and all community groups can sign up by completing the online form, which can be found at www.discoverplattsburgh.
The Strand’s popular Merry Mugs Fundraiser returns to the Strand Center Gallery.
Attendees can also purchase a handmade mug to support the Strand’s Clay Studio programming. All proceeds from mug sales go directly to the Clay Studio’s programs.
All activities run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.,
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HOLIDAY PARADE
The City of Plattsburgh announced the 2024 Holiday Parade Theme: “Elf the Movie: Holiday Adventure.” Inspired by the classic 2003 film “Elf.” This year’s theme invites parade participants to bring
The annual Holiday Parade trophy is waiting to be awarded to the best group, and this year the city has expanded its judging categories for more chances for groups to place in the contest.
Space is limited, but floats and walking groups are encouraged to sign up for the parade until the deadline of 4 p.m., Nov. 22. Local businesses, schools
com/events or on the city’s Facebook page. For more information on signing up or volunteering, email events@cityofplattsburgh-ny.gov or call 518536-7510.
In keeping with tradition, parade participants will be judged on their representation of holiday spirit and the theme. The winner will be chosen by the Mayor Chris Rosenquest, the 2023 and 2024 parade grand marshals, a member of The Strand Center for the Arts, and members of the Common Council.
The city plans to announce its 2024 Holiday Parade grand marshal closer to the event, so stay tuned.
The pre-parade “warm-up” show will begin at 5 p.m. and include musical performances, sing-a-longs and a performance from the Center Stage dance group.
The parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. It will travel down Brinkerhoff Street, making a turn onto Oak Street, to Court Street and traveling east on Margaret Street, where it will finish at the intersection of Margaret and Broad Street.
The tree lighting will be held at the intersection of Margaret and Brinkerhoff streets, on the lawn of the Strand Center for the Arts, immediately following the end of the parade.
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After the ensemble member came to Gordon last semester, he found himself asking many questions — why are there so few women composers? Does music composed by women sound different from music written by men?
He found that they are complicated, nuanced questions embedded with traditional values, societal norms and gender stereotypes.
“We can’t answer all of those questions with this concert, but at least we can give women composers the voice that they deserve,” Gordon wrote.
“As for whether or not music by women composers sounds different from music by men composers, I invite anyone to come to the concert and judge for themselves.”
PROGRAM
“Women Composers,” directed by Gordon, will consist of a variety of compositions written by women.
“Albanian Dance ‘Shōta’” was composed in 2005 by musician Shelley Hanson. Hanson’s compositions have been performed on every continent except Antarctica.
“Syntonos” was composed in 1986 by the prolif-
ic composer Anne McGinty. She was the first woman commissioned to write an original work for the United States Army Band. The song “Hall of Heroes” premiered in 2000, with McGinty conducting.
“Fort McHenry Suite” was composed in 2000 by Julie Giroux. The suite includes “Rockets’ Red Glare,” “Dimly Seen Through the Mists of the Deep” and “When Freemen Shall Stand.” The collection is named after the Battle of Fort McHenry, the event that inspired the lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
“Through the Forest” was composed in 2017 by Hanna Lehtonen. The Finnish conductor, music educator, composer and producer was a director of the Suomen Tyōväen Musiikkiliitto summer music festival in Finland, where Gordon taught and performed in residency.
“American Labor Songs” was composed in 2018 by Kemberly Archer. The suite, which includes “Medley (one),” “Which Side Are You On?” and “Medley (two),” was created after Archer founded a union chapter at the Illinois Education Association.
PERSONNEL
The Symphonic Band consists of both students and community members.
On piccolo are Trevor White and Ashley Filion; on flute are Khristina
Heffernan, Lindsey Pulver and Breeley Rawls; on oboe is Edna Stroinski; on clarinet are Oliver Lain, Emma Kurtzberg, Vincent Ferrara, Beth Delles, Shannon Breen and Amy Mountcastle; and on bass clarinet is Kaelyn Morgan.
On alto saxophone are Ewan Erhardt, Laura Holtman and Aleena Landeta; on tenor saxophone are Elijah Schenk; and on baritone saxophone is Joshua Farrell.
On trumpet are Joe Marocco, Sam Mosier, Sara Dean, Sara Brunell, Rayne Jacobs and Kirk Lancto; on french horn are Lydya Felix, Samantha Marocco, Tom Whitney and Bruce McRae; on trombone are Cody Walke, Timothy Lloyd and Hillary Sponable; on euphonium is Casey Belrose; and on tuba are Eric Weller, Riley Breyette and Glenn Myer.
On Percussion are Ngozi Permaul, Luke Gearhart, Mike Lewandowski and Isaac Bulriss.
GET INVOLVED
The Symphonic Band is a one-credit college course within the music department — MUS 393. The group meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 to 4:45 and is open to all regardless of major and without audition requirements.
“A special aspect of the Symphonic Band is that all students who register
for credit get an automatic small scholarship every semester just for being in it,” Gordon explained. “In other words, they get paid to play.”
Festive decorations can be seen all over downtown Plattsburgh during the holiday festival.
CARDINAL CALENDAR
Nov. 18 to 24
MONDAY 11/18 TUESDAY 11/19
Emo Night
Join artists Nick and Katie in an acoustic set of popular emo songs.
Old Soul Design Shop at 8 p.m.
“Cardinal Creatives” is a weekly column that celebrates creators in Plattsburgh, both present and past. By spotlighting diverse talents throughout our
Lecture by Casey Callahan
Come listen to graphic designer. Art director and illustrator Casey Callahan the final artist for in this semester’s Visual Artist Series.
Yokum 205 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY 11/20 THURSDAY 11/21
Annual CTA Variety Show
Watch the College Theatre Association’s annual variety show featuring an eclectic set of performers.
Warren Ballrooms from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Write-A-Thon
Join the Amnesty International Club’s Write for Rights event to help write letters of advocacy.
Cardinal Lounge from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
FRIDAY 11/22 SATURDAY 11/23
Hygiene Palooza
Stock up on essential hygiene products for free and learn expert tips on cleanliness in a variety of workshops.
Alumni Conference room from noon to 4 p.m.
Bruno endeavors to inspire future generations with art
ART’s Play Auditions Audition for the Adirondack Regional Theatre’s “The Play That Goes Wrong,” a comedy.
5 Latour Ave. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
SUNDAY 11/24
Fall Faculty Recital
Join Marilyn Reynolds on violin and viola, Janine Scherline on clarinet and Rose Chacler on piano for the faculty recital.
Krinovitz Recital Hall from 2 to 3 p.m.
BY CINARA MARQUIS Arts & Culture Editor
From the moment Abbigail Bruno picked up a pencil for the first time, she knew that art was her calling. Now, as a sophomore art major, she’s nurturing her dream to become an art educator.
Bruno’s lifelong passion for art has always been in the Plattsburgh area, where she was born and raised.
“I’ve been drawing since I was little and have always had a love for creating,” Bruno wrote in an email.
She enjoys creating works in a stylized version of realism, allowing her to showcase her traditional artistic abilities as well as her creativity.
At SUNY Plattsburgh, she is studying art with a concentration in drawing. Bruno explained that she does not have a favorite medium and instead enjoys exploring each one individually.
“Each is unique in its own way, just as fun and beautiful to create with as the next,” Bruno wrote.
“Being versatile in each is wonderful because you have more ways to create anything you can
possibly imagine. Coming up with ideas you get to then bring to life makes what I do that more special to me.”
With every stroke of the brush, Bruno is working towards her passion of sharing art with youth. Her persistent drive to make her dream come true keeps her inspired and dedicated to her craft.
Her commitment to becoming an art educator shows through in her exploratory work, where she examines different colors, values and textures. SUNY Plattsburgh has allowed Bruno to not only hone her skills but prepare herself for her future in teaching art.
“Staying passionate as well as motivated all stems from the drive to meet my end goal of becoming an art teacher,” she wrote.
In classes, she can share her love and knowledge of art with peers.
“To cut a lot of reasoning short, I love what I do each and every day, no matter how challenging it can get,” she wrote.
Email CINARA
Think carefully this week and make space for learning. There will always be something to learn.
The Star card represents certainty. A wave of calmness and a renewal of strength will help bring positive energy into your life. The future ahead of you looks bright.
The reversed 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 reversed Sun card signifies negativity. False impressions and a lack of clarity may lead to overconfidence. Stay grounded and limit your spending this week.
The Temperance card depicts moderation. Have patience with whatever you are facing now — balance will come with time and distance.
The reversed Chariot card represents stagnation. You may be facing unresolved obstacles in your path; take a step back and reevaluate your goals.
The reversed World card signifies delays. This week may not go how you planned. Mourn, but do not let your disappointment consume you — there is always more for you out there.
The reversed Hierophant card refers to unfaithfulness. Challenge common beliefs and question everything this week. You can create your own values and traditions.
The Magician card refers to strong will. This card encourages you to take time to make clear what you want in your life and strive for it.
The reversed High Priestess represents withdrawal. You are harboring repressed emotions; instead of holding onto them, let yourself feel them and find contentment.
The reversed Emperor card represents immaturity. You may be facing challenges with commitment or confidence that are leading you to shy away from meaningful connections and opportunities.
The Lovers card refers to passion. Possible romantic partnerships are blooming this week. Harmony will follow you everywhere.
Aries (March 21 –April 19) The Hermit card refers to contemplation.
Cancer (June 21 –July 22)
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
Gemini (May 21 –June 20)
Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22)
Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22)
Scorpio (Oct. 23 –Nov. 21)
Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22)
Pisces (Feb. 19 –March 20)
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 –Dec. 21)
Capricorn (Dec. 22 –Jan. 19)
Aquarius (Jan. 20 –Feb. 18)
MARQUIS cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Provided by Abbigail Bruno Stippling is when an individual marks a surface with numerous dots.
Provided by Abbigail Bruno (Above) Bruno stipples with ballpoint pens. (Above right) Charcoal still-life, detail. (Below right) Bruno painted pink peonies across three canvases.
Platts Got Talent
Photos by Jayne Smith
Toleman reacts to winning the first place prize of $500.
Evan Field-Hoffman (left) and Bella Lambert sing “Suddenly, Seymour” from the musical “Little Shop of Horrors” together.
Logan Toleman strums “28” by Zach Bryan.
Saanvi Moryani sings “Die with a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars.
Alison Hebert performs a tap dance routine to “Beat It” by Michael Jackson.
Cards grind out first game win
BY JUSTIN RUSHIA Associate Sports Editor
In the preseason, head coach Mike Blaine and the Cardinals (1-0) stressed the importance of defense in their scheme.
Plattsburgh stuck to its word and hung tough on the defensive end of the ball. The team finished with nine blocks, eight steals, and 30 defensive rebounds.
The Cards came away with a 7058 home-opener victory over Skidmore College (0-1) in front of an electric Cardinal crowd last Friday.
“The eagerness of and the intensity of our on-ball defense were going to be important,” Blaine said.
“They had a big, physical team, so we couldn’t sit back. We had to dictate the terms. And I think, by and large, we did an excellent job of that.”
This Plattsburgh team boasts one of its strongest rosters in recent years. During the match against the Thoroughbreds, 10 of the 18 players took the court, nine scoring and three achieving double-digit points, including senior guard/ forward Ikechukwu Ezike, senior
guard Kevin Tabb, and senior guard Franklin Infante.
“I think everybody coach put out there worked well together,” said Franklin Infante, senior guard. “We trust coach and who he decides to put out there. We also trust each other.”
Infante played 34 out of the 40 minutes, more than any other Cardinal. In his time on the court, Infante tallied 11 points, two assists and two steals while committing zero turnovers at the point guard position.
Cards lose conference opener
BY MICHAEL PURTELL Sports Editor
Talent across NCAA Division III women’s hockey is growing. The proof? The Plattsburgh State Cardinals lost its conference opener for the first time in its existence.
Plattsburgh State’s (1-10) conference rivalry with Cortland (3-0-0) grows more and more with every game. The most recent chapter — an 0-2 away loss to the Red Dragons on Nov. 8. The loss is the team’s third in a row to the Red Dragons, including last season’s SUNYAC Championship match.
“I just know I want to beat them every single time,” sophomore goaltender Chloe Lewis said.
THE GAME High level hockey was guaranteed.
Emily Kasprzack fights for possession against Cortland March 2.
The Cardinals entered the game as the third-best team in DIII hockey, according to the coaches’ poll published by the United States College Hockey Association. The Red Dragons are the highest-ranked conference opponent on Plattsburgh’s schedule this season, ranked 10th. The teams kept pace with each other offensively, with the Cardinals putting up 28 shots to the Red Dragons’ 29. A key difference between each team’s shot diet was timeliness. Cortland came out of the gates swinging, putting 10 shots on the Plattsburgh nets in the first third of the match — including the game winning goal — while Plattsburgh only got off four.
Coming off of a strong win against No. 14 Norwich and a long ride to Cortland, the team was sluggish to open the game.
“I think coming from Norwich we were a little too loose,” Lewis said. “That can’t happen again.”
CP volleyball 2024 season award picks
BY COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Editor in Chief
As we catch up with SUNYAC volleyball, the playoffs are underway. Four teams — New Paltz, Cortland, Buffalo State and Morrisville — are competing today for a spot in tomorrow’s SUNYAC Championship.
The reigning champions Cortland faces serious competition, and Morrisville volleyball is having a fantastic transition to the SUNYAC. Before we see who will come out on top, I’d like to give my two cents on who could win the annual awards.
Player of the Year: Emily Huppee, Morrisville Huppee’s offensive output has translated to the SUNYAC to a ridiculous degree. She leads the league in multiple major statistics, including kills with 521, kills per set with a spectacular 5.01 and points with 595 for a whopping 5.7 points per set. Huppee also added 220 digs and received four Offensive Player of the Week Awards. The Mustangs finished third in the conference at 6-3, and have advanced to the semifinals.
Runner-ups: Ella Wittman, Buffalo State; Kylie O’Brien, Fredonia.
Defensive Player of the Year: Mikenzie Martens, Cortland Behind Martens defensive prowess, Cortland swept every. Single. Game. The Red Dragons finished 9-0 in the SUNYAC with zero set losses. Martens, the reigning recipient of the DPOY, led the league in digs with 462 and was second in digs per set with 5.02. Her defense led the league in blocks with 210 and blocks per set with 2.26. Martens won five Defensive Player of the Week awards and propelled the Red Dragons to the semifinals.
Runner-ups: Anna Moller, Oneonta; Kayla Sheasby, Morrisville.
Rookie of the Year: Priscilla McReynolds, Oswego Oswego has gone from 3-6 and no playoffs in 2023 to 5-4 and a fifth seed, thanks in large part to the McReynolds’ contributions. The rookie is fifth in the league in points with 351.5, fueled by 299 kills and 2.99 kills per set. Her Lakers have racked up kills, ranking fifth in the SUNYAC, and qualifying for the playoffs.
Runner-ups: Maeve Musielak, Fredonia; Elena Savage, New Paltz.
Coach of the Year: Fred Wallace, Morrisville Morrisville’s success as semifinalists in the NAC was legitimate, and it’s shown in the SUNYAC. The Mustangs finished the regular season 6-3, good for the third seed and a home game in the conference playoffs. Wallace and his team sport multiple All-SUNYAC candidates, including Emily Huppee, Kayci Olson, Kayla Sheasby and Cassandra Bellmore. Morrisville will compete today for a shot at the SUNYAC title.
Runner-ups: Erin Glickert, Cortland; Maria Roberts, Buffalo State.
Plattsburgh State women’s basketball will recognize the 50th anniversary of the program at its Cardinal Classic game against Utica. Twenty-one alumnae are expected to join the current team for an unspecified celebratory event, set to take place around 2:45 p.m. at Memorial Hall.
COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points
Kevin Tabb clamps up a Skidmore player in Memorial Hall on Nov. 8. Tabb had three steals in the game.
COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points
WHKY > 11
Women’s hockey
MBB > 9
7-Cortland
8-Oswego
9-Plattsburgh
10-Buffalo
Ask an Athlete: Jessica Mare, WSOC
Jessica Mare is a senior midfielder for the Cardinals women’s soccer team and was Cardinal Points’ Most Improved Player for the Fall 2024 season. She became a starter this season and bagged three goals across 14 starts, including two game winners and the first goal of her collegiate career.
Jessica’s minutes on the field ballooned in her senior season. She finished this year with 950 minutes of playing time. She recorded her first goal this season against Fredonia. She came to Plattsburgh State in her sophomore season after transferring from American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Jessica is originally from Deer Park, New York.
Alongside her tenure on the soccer team, Mare competed on the Plattsburgh track and field squad as a sprinter and jumper.
Question: What factors contributed to your transfer, and how difficult was the decision?
Answer: A big factor that contributed to my transfer was definitely the team. When I was looking for a new school, the biggest thing I was looking for was
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a home away from home. For me, a home isn’t four walls or the fancy classrooms, but it’s the people you surround yourself with. I wanted to go somewhere brand new, where I wouldn’t know anyone and where I could make my own experiences. No one I knew was attending Plattsburgh or has already attended Plattsburgh. It was a difficult decision to make being so far away from home, but at the same time it was the simplest and best decision I have ever made.
Q: You saw the field more this season than you ever have, what did the experience mean to you?
The senior guard also came in clutch for the Cards, hitting a buzzer-beater three that electrified the crowd and sent Plattsburgh up 10 going into halftime.
“We had a fantastic crowd at Memorial (Hall) tonight. The students and the folks in town did a great job coming out and supporting us,” Blaine said.
Plattsburgh only has one listed center on its roster this season — Aidan McGuire, who did not see the court today. In most cases, this might imply that a team with no traditional center lacks interior defense, but this couldn’t be further from the case.
The Cards allowed only 26 points in the paint, which was 44.83% of their total points allowed.
NJCAA transfer Irwayne Connell Jr. played a prominent role in Plattsburgh’s defense, racking up six of the team’s nine blocks by himself. Ezike made up for the remaining blocks, finishing with three.
Ezike led the team in scoring with 15 points and was second on the team in rebounding with eight rebounds.
“Coach did a good job of letting us know who was in the game so we knew who could switch and who couldn’t,” Ezike said. “But that’s all stuff we do in practice. We’ve been raising the bar, and practice is hard-
A: This experience for me was a big moment in my life because for two years of not seeing the field, working hard everyday on the field and in the classroom, there’ve been so many times where I just wanted to quit. If it wasn’t for my teammates, I definitely would have quit. Having them made me want to show up everyday and keep working hard to get better because they believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. Having that foundation and family has helped me accomplish more than I could have ever imagined. Being at the final game, it felt like I had finally crossed the finish line after a four year race.
Q: What was your time on the track and field team like?
A: Joining the track and field team was a great opportunity for me to go back to my old roots. I have been running track since I was 12 years old. It helped me remember a piece of who I was in a brand new place, made me feel a sense of myself again. I have met friends I will never forget and will have for the rest of my life. That team really helped me find who I was at a new school and gave me the confidence again that I was lacking.
Q: Your last game was a win with a score. How will you look back at that moment?
A: That is a moment I will never forget. I can walk away from this sport with no regrets, having that moment of my friends, teammates, and family seeing my final impact on this sport — I couldn’t have asked it to end any better way. I will look back at this moment as closing a book with a happy ending.
This question-and-answer was conducted with Jessica over email Nov. 13.
er than the game, to be honest.”
Plattsburgh’s intensity on defense allowed them to push the ball forward quickly and often in transition, and it finished with 18 fast-break points.
“I think playing Ikechukwu Ezike and Jeremiah Smith together gave us a lot of quickness and athleticism at the wing/forward spots. So it allowed us to put a little bit more heat on the ball and get clean rebounds to get out into transition,” Blaine said.
Love-Smith led the team in rebounds with 10, a quarter of the team’s total rebounds.
Senior guard Kevin Tabb, Plattsburgh’s usual offensive initiator, got into foul trouble early and played only 20 minutes. Tabb averaged 29.8 minutes per game last season. The guard still scored 13 points on an 83.76 true shooting
percentage. He also racked up a team-high three steals.
This opened the door for JUCO transfer and former high school teammate of Tabb’s, Kareem Welch, to get many opportunities to initiate the offense. Welch finished with a team-high four assists.
“I think we did a good job adapting to our circumstances,” Blaine said. Plattsburgh will continue its run of non-conference games to end the season against Norwich tomorrow.
“I was very pleased,” Blaine said.
“The guys have been itching for a long time to see some different colored shirts. I think that eagerness showed in our play in a lot of forms and fashion.”
COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points
Jessica Mare readies for a corner kick on Oct. 26.
Email JUSTIN RUSHIA cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points Infante drives past a Thoroughbred defender at Memorial Hall on Nov. 8.
(Min. 25% team shots)
Cardinals search for stability in early games
BY COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Editor in Chief
The Plattsburgh Cardinals play 25 regular season games. After splitting two, there’s now 23 left for them to get into playoff shape. It’s a long season.
No. 9 Plattsburgh State men’s hockey lost 3-5 to Plymouth State on the road Nov. 8. The loss is the first for the Cardinals (1-1), while the Panthers (22) earned their first win. The Cards followed up with a 6-5 exhibition win over Simon Fraser University, a club team from Burnaby, British Columbia, at home Saturday.
“It’s really hard to win at this level and you need a level of consistency which we have not shown yet this year,” head coach Steve Moffat said. “The good thing is we’ve shown that we can play the right way, we just have not done it consistently yet.”
Plattsburgh dropped to No. 12 in the United State College Hockey Online rankings as the conference season begins tonight.
PLYMOUTH STATE
Plattsburgh scheduled Plymouth State as an early non-conference challenge. The Panthers reached the tournament in 2023-24 and defeated SUNYAC Champion Cortland in the first round.
They were ranked No. 11 to start the season.
The Cardinals played six forwards new to the team, and the offense is still finding its stride. A week after scoring six goals on VTSU Castleton, Plattsburgh trailed Plymouth State in shots 31 to 40 and relinquished three separate one-goal leads.
“We need to improve in every aspect of the game,” said Jake Lanyi, senior forward. “I don’t think we showed up to our expectation.”
Goal scorers against the Panthers were senior defenseman Spencer Bellina, first-year forward Tyler Ramm with the first of his career and Division I transfer junior forward Jake Sacratini.
Lanyi had two assists and four Cardinals, including Ramm and Sacratini, had one.
Junior Eli Shiller started his first game of the season in net, saving 35 shots. Plymouth State’s fifth goal was on an empty net.
Neither team scored on power play opportunities, with Plattsburgh shooting twice on two chances and killing Plymouth State’s only attempt.
Bellina scored the lone goal of the first period. In the period, Plattsburgh was outshot nine to 13. The Cardinals fought to keep the puck out of their zone for the final 3:24, as Shiller saved six shots in a two-minute span.
Four men’s soccer players named to All-SUNYAC team
The State University of New York Athletic Conference announced its annual awards Wednesday, featuring four Plattsburgh State Cardinals among all-conference selections. Four selections is the most Plattsburgh was awarded in a single season since its runner-up finish in 2019.
Seniors John Hayes, midfielder, and Brian Coughlan, center back, were named to the First Team. Senior goalkeeper Teddy Hayes was honored on the Second Team and graduate midfielder Thomas O’Neill earned Third Team.
Hayes finishes his career with four all-conference selections, including three Third Team nods. He was the offensive nucleus for the Cardinals this season, posting career highs of 16 goals and 34 points. Hayes had three braces, including one in the playoffs, and finished the season on a five-game scoring streak.
Coughlan adds his third All-SUNYAC honor — after consecutive Second Team
The Panthers equalized the game 1:37 into the second. The Cardinals responded at 13:58, but quickly saw the game tied again less than a minute later.
Plattsburgh took a 3-2 lead quickly in the third, only to have it again answered less than five minutes later. The Panthers delivered the final blow with less than five minutes remaining.
“I thought we spent too much time in our own end, so we’re pretty gassed on the way back,” Sacratini said. “It’s hard to set up a good in-zone when you’re tired and have to chase pucks around.”
SIMON FRASER
Plattsburgh returned to Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena the next day before its official home opener next weekend. The Cardinals played in front of 1,730 fans for Military Appreciation Night.
The Red Leafs, who have been vying for NCAA DI sponsorship, are touring the United States. They played DI St. Lawrence University the night before, losing 0-4. Though just an exhibition, the competition was a serious test for the Cardinals in a big win.
“I liked how we responded, and to be able to get that win against a pretty good team,” Moffat said. “It was a pretty important game.”
selections — in his first full season as a defender. Leading the team in minutes with 1,600, he helmed a defense that finished second in goals against average with 0.82 and goals allowed with 15. Coughlan also tallied four goals and three assists.
Healy enjoyed a career year for his first selection. Starting 17 of 18 games, he posted nine shutouts and allowed just three goals at home all season. Healy finished with 37 saves, a 0.725 save percentage and an 11-2-4 record.
O’Neill, a transfer from New Paltz, was a much-needed all-around boost for Plattsburgh in his first All-SUNYAC season. O’Neill scored two goals — both game-winners — and had two assists in his final year.
Haley earns second career all-conference nod
The State University of New York Athletic Conference released its annual awards Thursday, which included Plattsburgh State senior goalkeeper Lauren Haley on the All-SUNYAC Third Team.
Moffat pointed to keeping the puck out of the defensive end, blocking shots and finishing ahead as small things the Cardinals did right that will translate to winning.
Plattsburgh looked much stronger offensively, winning shots 36 to 22 and scoring twice on eight power play chances.
Six Cardinals scored: Firstyear forward William Jasmin with an unofficial career first, first-year forward Brody Spencer-Ha, Lanyi, Sacratini, graduate defenseman Kevin Weaver-Vitale and sophomore forward Aaron Catron.
Senior defenseman Jack Ring tallied two assists and seven Cards had one. Senior Jacob Hearne was the starting goalie, saving 17 shots.
The game was extremely chippy with 17 penalties, including three majors and subsequent ejections.
The Leafs and Cards traded goals, leading to a 2-2 stalemate halfway through the second period. Sacratini took the lead at 16:49, his fourth goal in four games including exhibitions.
Weaver-Vitale scored from the blue line 3:06 into the third, taking the golden two-goal lead. However, just like in Plymouth, New Hampshire, the Cardinals were equalized in minutes, with two Leaf goals in the next 6:33.
“We need to keep the gas down,” Moffat said. He
This is the second career selected for Haley, who was named to the First Team last season. She was active in the box for 15 starts this season, saving 70 balls for a 0.729 save percentage. Haley posted six shoutouts, including three to end the season, and led a defense that averaged 1.88 goals against.
Women’s hoops starts 0-1
Plattsburgh State women’s basketball dropped its season opener, losing 48-57 to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on the road last Friday.
Senior guard/forward Payton Couture and junior center Imani Walcott both recorded double-doubles, the 10th and 13th of their respective careers.
Couture posted 19 points and 10 rebounds on 50% shooting. Walcott had 16 points and 10 rebounds, adding four steals and two blocks.
Just two other players logged a point: Sophomore guard Julia Greek dropped seven and junior guard Jaden Wilson had
emphasized that the team was too content with small leads.
Crisis was averted as Catron sniped an unassisted gino on the breakaway with 1:30 remaining. The victory puts Plattsburgh back on the upswing going into SUNYAC play.
THIS WEEKEND
The Cardinals return to Deborah F. Stanley Arena to take on their signature rival, the Oswego Lakers (0-2-1), tonight. In 2023-24, Plattsburgh finished 0-2 against Oswego in the regular season, before eliminating the Lakers in overtime of the SUNYAC Semifinals.
Oswego entered the season ranked second in the preseason conference poll, and has consistently received votes in the USCHO poll.
Tomorrow, Plattsburgh will play its first-ever SUNYAC game featuring Canton (2-2), which played as an independent last season. The Kangaroos ranked sixth in the SUNYAC poll, above playoff participant Potsdam.
The Cardinals have already departed for what is their first overnight trip of the weekend.
“I know our guys are really looking forward to it,” Moffat said. “It’s a great opportunity to see where we really stand.”
Email COLLIN BOLEBRUCH cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
six. Both also added six rebounds and Greek had three steals.
Plattsburgh led for most of the first half and went up by 10 points.
RPI regained the league with 1:41 left in the half and never lost it.
After scoring 21 in the first quarter, Plattsburgh posted periods of eight, seven and 12.
Plattsburgh hosts the Holiday Inn Express Cardinal Classic this weekend, facing VTSU Castleton tonight at 5:30 p.m. and Utica tomorrow at 3 p.m. Saturday will serve as the program’s 50th anniversary celebration, with 21 alumnae RSVPed
Philips selected for exclusive NCAA communications program
Caleb Philips, director of athletic communications, was one of 30 athletics staff selected nationally to participate in the Division III Athletic Communications Emerging Elite Program. He will visit the NCAA national Office in Indianapolis, Indiana from Dec. 9 to 10.
COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points
William Jasmin nets the Cardinals’ first goal in the exhibition match against Simon Fraser at Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena on Nov. 9.
Student equipment manager stays sharp
BY EMMA DEO Staff Writer
Behind the scenes of Plattsburgh State men’s hockey, junior broadcast journalism major Alex Duval runs the show.
As the equipment manager of the men’s hockey team, Duval is responsible for inventory, maintenance and organization of 28 Cardinals’ gear. This is no small feat, and at Plattsburgh State, Duval does it all.
“My season starts when the ice is put in, and doesn’t finish until it is melted,” Duval said.
Before Plattsburgh State, Duval attended Plattsburgh High School. During his first year of high school, Duval began working at the Field House driving the ice resurfacer, doing the men’s hockey team’s laundry, moving the nets and drilling holes in the ice.
After the Cardinals hosted a national tournament game in Duval’s first year at Plattsburgh State, losing in a heartbreaker in overtime against Norwich, Duval was heading upstairs to do his usual lockup routine.
Once he got upstairs, head coach Steve Moffat signaled for him to come over and talk to him. He explained that their current equipment manager was graduating and that they would have nobody for the next season. He asked Duval whether he was interested in filling the position.
“At that moment, I was thinking back to all of the college hockey games that I went to growing up — the good and the bad. You still feel like you’re part of the team even though you’re just watching from a distance up in section K,” Duval said. “At that moment, it was a no-brainer.”
Adapting to a new system and team with guys who were significantly older was difficult for Duval at first, but a lot of the guys who were new to the team made the transition easier.
Duval’s main focus is making sure everyone is on the same page. The coaches are calling the shots and asking for certain things to be done, but Duval is the one maintaining the equipment. Wednesdays and Thursdays are the busiest preparation-wise, as Duval is tasked with making sure everything is running smoothly for a weekend slate of games.
Thursdays are generally reserved for skate sharpening, but every player is different. Some like it to be done every day, while others prefer their skates to be sharpened less often. Each player has a different preference for the sharpness of their skates as well.
In the locker room, Duval has access to a Sparx machine, which is an automatic tool used to sharpen the blades using different grinding rings that correspond to a different feeling on the ice. While this tool is useful, Duval finds more joy in using the manual sharpener.
“The nice thing about working at the Field House is that whenever I have
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The team was revitalized for the rest of the game, getting 12 shots off in both of the final two thirds. None were able to make it past last season’s SUNYAC Goaltender of the Year, Molly Goergen. Goergen is an emblem of Cortland’s success as a program, and was the Cardinals’ biggest obstacle in the match. She had 28 saves in the shut-out.
“They have a great goalie. Obviously, it’s never fun to say that about an opposing team, but you give credit where credit’s due,” senior defenseman Mattie Norton said. Norton would know as well as anyone, as she was tied for the most shots in the game by a Cardinal with four. First-year defender Yoo Seoyung and for-
downtime at work I can get these things done,” Duval said.
Skate sharpening may seem like an unimportant, mundane task, but if the blades are slightly uneven, the player can’t turn as effectively or can even trip and fall.
Last season, Duval once spent 20 consecutive hours preparing for games, sharpening skates and traveling with the team. Duval’s operation is solely his, but players and coaches will help whenever they can to lessen his workload.
“It’s a lot. It’s around the clock,” Duval said.
For Duval, Friday night games are busier, but Saturday game preparation is slower, like a debrief. After a Friday night game, Duval will do a damage report, counting how many sticks were broken and figuring out what needs to be replaced.
Aside from taking many laps around the lower level of the Field House, Duval’s pregame routine consists of checking in with players and seeing what they need to be done before the game. Players will leave their skates at the base of their locker if they need to be sharpened and Duval will grab them and get their skates game ready.
Duval then gathers the backup sticks on a cart and wheels them onto the bench. He likes each player to have two extra sticks, which is more than they will probably need, but Duval prioritizes keeping things running smoothly in any situation.
Duval keeps a detailed spreadsheet of each player’s stick preference and
whether they are right or left handed. This is also shared with the coaches in an effort to keep everyone on the same page.
Along with the extra sticks, Duval keeps extra blades and miscellaneous extra items such as tape, pens, highlighters and a toolkit on the glass behind the bench during games.
While the Cardinals are skating on the ice, Duval is on the bench with the rest of the team. He helps out with broken sticks and even changes out broken or chipped skate blades right on the spot. Duval takes a lot of pride in his stick handoff skills. Hisattention to detail is crucial in a game where every second counts.
ward Kayson Reugge recorded four each as well.
“With hockey, everything is on the fly,” Duval said. “It’s important that you can adapt to that especially as a player but as a manager too.”
After the final buzzer sounds and the skaters head to the locker room, Duval packs everything up and prepares for the team’s next game.
“I don’t even call it a job. I call it an opportunity. It’s a mentality,” Duval said. It’s an opportunity to be blessed to be part of a team you watched growing up.”
“Obviously, we have a lot to learn from that game, and we can’t take it lightly, but we also have to focus on the games coming up,” Lewis said.
The loss has inspired more passion than sorrow, Lewis said, pushing the team and especially the freshmen to “buy into Plattsburgh State hockey” on a deeper level.
The captains — Norton, Ciara Wall and Bridget Orr — have been encouraging that mindset.
Email EMMA DEO
cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
them back for it,” Norton said. First, the Cardinals are focused on securing their first SUNYAC win of the season. Plattsburgh’s next two opponents are not easy-pickings.
THE RESPONSE
The Cardinals struggled to screen the goalie as effectively as they had against Norwich, Lewis said. This makes it hard to control rebounds or develop higher quality shots, a critical difference in helping the offense flow smoothly. It’s one of the many lessons Plattsburgh took away from the match.
“Our message has been that when it happens, we want to feel that loss. We want to feel the frustration, the anger, the pain from it,” Norton said. “Then we need to come together and feel it as a team.”
The Potsdam Bears will be first on the schedule, and Norton said she expects them to “give a full 60 minutes on the gas pedal.” The game will begin in Potsdam today at 6 p.m. Tomorrow, Plattsburgh will travel to Oswego to take on the Lakers at 3 p.m. The game will be another shot at revenge for the Cardinals, as Oswego was the only other SUNYAC team to defeat Plattsburgh last season.
For a program that has lost only four conference matches over the last three seasons, a loss is never routine, but just like any other team, one loss does not mean the season is over.
The team’s vigor has two main targets: next weekend’s two-game road trip to Potsdam and Osewgo and the late January rematch against Cortland.
“That was a great hockey team that we lost to, and hopefully next time we’re going to get
“Coach (Kevin Houle) has been saying we’ll let them worry about us — we’re not going to worry about them,” Norton said. “We’ll take our game to them.”
COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points
Alex Duval stands ready on the Cardinal bench during the men’s hockey team’s exhibition match against Simon Fraser on Nov. 9.
EMMA DEO/Cardinal Points
Alex Duval aligns the backup blades pregame at Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena.
COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points
Emma McLean corrals the puck in last season’s SUNYAC Championship against Cortland March 2.
Opioid epidemic still poses critical risk in U.S
BY NADIA PASCHAL Opinion Editor
The opioid epidemic has been a serious problem plaguing this country for years now, and it has shown no signs of stopping.
Thousands of people across the United States are affected by this crisis, whether that’s through experiencing addiction personally or through knowing someone struggling. I have had experience with this crisis and have seen how it affects people.
OxyContin first started being prescribed in the ‘90s, as pharmaceutical companies pushed doctors to prescribe it to patients with cancer, arthritis or other ailments that caused high levels of pain.
Since then, OxyContin has expanded into other drug markets, being found in drugs such as heroin, cocaine and even cannabis. If mixed with other drugs, those who are already dealing with addiction may experience an even worse effect, leaving them more susceptible to an overdose.
There was a 2.2% increase of suspected opioid overdoses in 2022 compared to 2021, according to a report put out by the New York State Department of Health.
A common form of opioid is fentanyl. It’s a synthetic opioid that is typically prescribed to manage severe pain. However, because it is cheap and easy to produce, it has found its way into other drugs, ones that college students are especially likely to use.
In fact, the leading cause of death for 18 to 45 year-olds in 2021 was fentanyl overdose according to Stanford student affairs.
The damage done in rural communities is easier to see because of smaller populations. It is also often more personal, as you’re more likely to know those affected.
In my first year on campus, my friend’s roommate was hanging out with some friends of hers and smoking
weed. Later that night, her roommate was dropped off at her dorm by her friends, who all quickly left.
The weed was laced with fentanyl. She was experiencing a seizure and had to go to the hospital. She was never the same after that night, and it was only her first week at college. She dropped out not long after this incident.
I see it all the time at my part-time job. Customers come in sweating with dilated
pupils and slurred speech, all common symptoms of opiate use. Most of the time they are kinder to me than those who do not struggle with this issue. It breaks my heart every time they come in.
I, like many others, have heard the same spiel time and time again. We’ve been through the D.A.R.E. program, seen the presentations and sat through those cautionary tales our parents gave before going off to college.
It wasn’t until I saw how dire and real the effects opioids have on people that I started taking it seriously because it’s not just a myth.
Be careful. Look out for your friends. We are not invincible, nor immune to addiction or harm.
Large news outlets biased, unethical
BY GRANT TERWILLIGER Staff Writer
In the United States, adults on average consume around one hour per day of news media and there are thousands of publications in the country. Finding out what news sources are truthful and unbiased is difficult.
Being a journalism student, I often think about the modern day biases and unreliability of larger news networks in regard to politics and sensationalism.
I question how competing newsrooms let politics, exaggeration of news stories and bias into their content.
Is the idea of unreliable journalism a 21st century issue or a 19th century issue? I think back to the competition between Joseph Pulitzer of the New York World and William Randolph Hearst of the New York Journal.
In the 19th century, they negatively revolutionized journalism with their use of inaccurate and exaggerated stories that were meant to draw attention rather than publish stories that tell the truth.
Corporate newsrooms have shifted far from the general ethics of journalism and as technology has advanced, bigger newsrooms were able to keep up with the changes to the industry, but local papers fell behind and lacked finances to continue.
The journalism law of ethics is to seek truth and report it as fully as possible, act independently, minimize harm and be accountable.
“The demographics are getting smaller over time, because young people aren’t as connected to whatever their local news networks are as op -
posed to whatever they see on Instagram or whatever else,” sophomore political science major Nate Alexander said.
In my opinion, local newspapers are more reliable and ethical, usually reporting on the most important things in the area that directly affect the reader and focus on enriching the community’s knowledge. That doesn’t necessarily mean that smaller publications are necessarily free from bias though.
The law of ethics can be broken by any journalist or publication, so it is important to realize that although local journalism has a better chance of being reliable and trustworthy it is not always the case.
Larger news networks may have truth behind their stories too, but you should always
compare different publications regarding a story.
“I think big news networks are trustworthy, you just have to take it with a grain of salt and see if other news networks cover the story in the same way to eliminate bias from the story,” said sophomore journalism major Christian Tufino.
The fairness doctrine — a law introduced in 1949 by the Federal Communications Commission — also plays a big role in this affair. This law required holders of broadcast licenses to present both sides of a controversial story.
The fairness doctrine allowed for journalism to become more equal and unbiased, but some people claimed that it erased freedom of speech.
In 1987 the FCC abolished the fairness doctrine which
allowed biased news to spread like wildfire among news networks wanting to express their own opinions.
“I think I’d say Fox News is definitely the most unreliable because I know the big ones are CNN, NBC and then Fox News,” Alexander said. “They’re all biased to some extent, because all news media is, ultimately, but I know Fox News has a lot.”
As we move more and more toward a technological and misinformed future, it is important to try to seek out the reliable news sources and read multiple different news sources to stay correctly informed on the world around us.
via Cardinal Points archive
Naloxone, more commonly known as Narcan, can be used to reverse the effects of an opiate overdose. via Adobe Stock
Currently, only 4% of adults in the United States prefer getting their news from print publications, according to Pew Research Center.
2025 Grammy Awards predictions
BY NADIA PASCHAL
It’s always exciting to see what songs and which artists are nominated for the Grammys each year, although it was disappointing to see how little variation there was this time around.
I shouldn’t be too surprised though, as the music that did make the cut was literally everywhere. All the time. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of most of the artists in these categories, but it would be nice to see some other stuff featured.
There are so many artists in each mainstream category, and only so many words I can fit on this page, so first I’ll cover the artists that are in almost every category. Next, I’ll discuss some of my predictions for the most popular categories.
HEAVY HITTERS
It’s no surprise that Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” is featured in multiple categories. The album as a whole was out of the norm for her usual sound.
I’m always in support of artists who branch out and try new sounds, rather than continuing to pump out the same formulaic songs. She could put out an entire album of white noise and still be nominated. She’s absolutely untouchable and for good reason. Beyoncé has earned her status.
Sabrina Carpenter is another powerhouse within this year’s GRAMMYS. Her album “Espresso” was absolutely everywhere this summer — stores, radio and every social media app. It was fun, catchy and the definition of pop music.
“The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” by Chappell Roan is one of my all-time favorite albums by one of my favorite artists.
Although it came out late 2023, it wasn’t until early this summer that it really gained traction. Roan’s career has skyrocketed ever since.
Charli xcx’s “Brat” took the music industry by storm this summer, with numerous hits and features with other artists. The electronic beats were staples at every club and party.
Charli was nominated for album of the year, and if she doesn’t take that home, she’s going to win at least a few in the dance and electronic category.
Billie Eilish put out her third studio album “Hit Me Hard and Soft” this May.
“BIRDS OF A FEATHER” was the one of the most popular songs off it, and is in quite a few categories. I have never been the biggest fan of Eilish but she’s grown on me over the past few years, and I’m really rooting for her to win.
RECORD OF THE YEAR
I was astonished to see the first nomination on this list were The Beatles for “Now and Then.” Don’t get me wrong, I love them. They’re an absolute classic. But what year is this? Why are they on here?
After doing some research, I found that this track was originally written in 1973 by John Lennon as a demo and was finally released this year. It just seems so out of place to have them on here with all of the other modern hits.
That being said, I think they have a very strong chance of winning, because of their timelessness. It would be an amazing tribute to both the remaining members of the band, as well as the ones that are no longer alive.
I think “Espresso” is also a reasonable guess for this category. One of the lead
singles off of Sabrina’s album of the same name, I would not be shocked to see her win this one.
Another song I was shocked to see on here was “Fortnight” by Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone, for entirely different reasons. It wasn’t the worst song off the album, but that’s not saying much considering the album in its entirety was honestly really bad. Swift has already won so many awards, for much better work and there are stronger artists than her in these categories.
Prediction: “Now and Then”
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
I was unaware André 3000 put out a new album until this list came out. “New Blue Sun” came out November 2023. Maybe I’m just in the wrong circles, but I didn’t hear anything about it.
Touching on “The Tortured Poets Department” by Taylor Swift a little more, this album flopped so hard. Despite the mass amounts of variants and live versions she put out, it couldn’t save the fact that this album was never really good in the first place.
Prediction: “Short n’ Sweet”
SONG OF THE YEAR
Seeing “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey on here honestly made me laugh. I never want to discredit any artist’s work because who am I to judge? Everyone has different tastes, but this song is not serious enough to even be in consideration for song of the year.
Usually, I don’t listen to rap — but “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar had even me hooked. He dropped this track mid-feud with Drake, and although the score has been settled, this song still holds up.
I’ve already raved about Carpenter, and am happy to see her nominated for another category, but unfortunately, I don’t think
she’s going to win this one. “Please Please Please” is a good song but not the best of her new album.
“Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan was a massive hit this summer, and topped the charts. If she were to win only one category, it would most likely be this one.
Prediction: “Good Luck, Babe!”
BEST NEW ARTIST
There are eight artists in this category, but I would say only two have a chance at winning this award — Carpenter and Roan.
Picking between these two is an impossible decision for me as I love their music so much. Speaking logically though, this feels like a tossup, but I’m leaning more toward Carpenter winning.
Although Carpenter’s not technically a new artist, she’s now in the public eye more than she ever was before. Her tour has been one-of-a-kind and she has built up a recognizable brand, so she’s cemented herself as a pop icon for a long time to come.
Moving onto Roan, who has also built up a huge brand — her album was phenomenal, and she has a commanding presence. Although I absolutely love her, she has been having mixed reviews due to how she’s handling her new superstar status.
Picking between these two is an impossible decision for me as I am constantly blown away by both of them, but only one can win.
Prediction: Sabrina Carpenter
With the same musicians dominating almost every category, it could go one of two ways — one artist sweeps this year’s Grammys or a few people win in multiple categories.
Awards
Cardinal Points has received the following awards from the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP):
ACP Hall of Fame
Inducted in Fall 2010
All American
Spring 2018, four Marks of Distinction Spring 2016, five Marks of Distinction
Spring 2014, four Marks of Distinction
Spring 2012, four Marks of Distinction
Spring 2011, four Marks of Distinction
Fall 2010, five Marks of Distinction
Fall 2009, four Marks of Distinction
Spring 2009, four Marks of Distinction Fall 2008, four Marks of Distinction Spring 2005, four 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,
via Adobe Stock
This upcoming Grammy Awards on Feb. 2 2025, will mark its 67th year.
Wikipedia
“Brat” by Charli xcx reached No. 1 on U.S. charts in under 20 weeks
Opinion Editor