SUNY Plattsburgh’s independent student newspaper since 1997
FRIDAY, April 16, 2021
CARDINALPOINTSONLINE.COM
VOLUME 104 - ISSUE 9
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Plattsburgh students lose faith in DEI BY MATAEO SMITH Co-News Editor
Given the disclosure of a racist comment posted on Facebook by a SUNY Plattsburgh Administrator last May, students of color have found difficulty maintaining their trust of the diversity office. A 2014 graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh, troubled by a racist post that appeared on Facebook last May, reached out to the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Michelle Cromwell and the president’s office to share her concerns. The alumna, who requested anonymity out of fear for her safety, said she received no response from the office. The original post, published on a local resident’s Facebook page, addressed the George Floyd killing saying, “He needs a good ol fashioned lynching.” In the reply section to that post, an administrative
employee of SP responded that, “LOL 1 less to deal with.” That exchange the alumna to try to determine if the user who replied had any relationship with the college. In that process, she discovered the poster was Rebecca Barnes, an administrative assistant of the Health and Wellness Department. Once that was clear to her, and having no response from the diversity office, she turned to the college’s Facebook account’s inbox to message and inform the admins of Barnes’ comment. Sophomore Cassey Acevedo was “extremely disappointed“ in the SUNY Plattsburgh Diversity Incidents Response Education and Communication Team’s handling of Barnes statement, which consisted of a private exchange among the team and Barnes to discuss how her words could cause harm to the community. The situation could have been handled
differently,” she said. “Most of the time when things like this occur the school elaborates on what happens, and pushes it under the table.” Acevedo said she had lost her trust in SUNY Plattsburgh’s ability to help its students of color after learning of the Facebook reply. The subtle response of the college gives her reason to believe that many other faculty members share Barnes’ views. Coincidentally, Senior Ezekial Kempster speculates the same, as he has watched SUNY Plattsburgh defend those who’ve made racist comments. “A school that can make space for people who will spew this type of hatred without consequence is sending the message to its marginalized students that there is no space for them,” he said. “We can’t continue this cycle of racist comments being made/racial violence happening and then having some little
panel about it where white faculty members speak and the campus community just sits back not getting listened to.” The ordeal has created a disconnect because students feel that the attempts of rectifying the situation made by the university is disingenuous or just falls on “deaf ears” said a Plattsburgh senior who asked for anonymity to protect their job on campus. The Senior said they would not feel comfortable reporting any incidents on campus, whether it be of discriminatory,racist or violent nature on this campus, because the university and it’s administration had made it clear to the Senior over the years that they are more concerned with avoiding a scandal rather than the safety and well-being of their students, especially those of color. DEI l A2
In-person graduation brings mixed feelings BY ADEEB CHOWDHURY Associate FUSE Editor
Seniors express mixed feelings about graduation after SUNY Plattsburgh announced plans for an in-person commencement ceremony April 9. Student reactions ranged from questioning the logic behind not allowing parents; to being grateful for the opportunity to walk across the stage at all. An SUNY Plattsburgh press release outlined the plans for smaller, inperson commencement ceremonies scheduled for May 15 in the Field House. Graduates will be given an event time according to their major. Individual ceremonies are tentatively scheduled for 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. An additional 6 p.m. online ceremony will be held for those unable to attend in person. According to the press release, the ceremonies
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As the semester concludes its eleventh week, the college store began selling caps and gowns to graduating seniors. “will include elements of the college’s traditional commencement events” and “will be available by livestream for all to view via the college’s website.” A recording of the cere-
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monies will also be available online afterwards. Numerous seniors were anxious they would have to graduate college via Zoom, their fears intensified by news that other
universities in New York State had opted for a fully online ceremony. “Literally all I wanted was a chance to walk across the stage in person,” Senior Chrysa Ra-
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bideau said. “That was the bare minimum for me. I knew we wouldn’t have a totally traditional ceremony because of the circumstances, but the fact that we can at least graduate
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in person is enough.” In accordance with state and county health department rules, in-person attendance at the commencement ceremonies will be limited to the Class of 2021 graduating seniors and graduate students. All attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours. Campus facilities will not be open to guests or spectators. Safety guidelines such as masks and social distancing will be maintained as well. “As a first-generation student, I know the milestone that graduation represents,” President Alexander Enyedi said in the press release. “I want to acknowledge how challenging this year has been for everyone. Each of us, students, faculty and staff have navigated the pandemic and done so much under the most challenging conditions.
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